Timothy Zahn - Outbound Flight

“I was glad I could help, Syndic Mitthrassafis,” Maris said in Cheunh.

Mitth’ras’safis snorted and looked at Thrawn, and the hint of a wry smile finally touched his lips. “They really aren’t very good at it, are they?”

“You could try Minnisiat,” Thrawn offered. “They speak that better than they do Cheunh. Or you could use Sy Bisti, which I believe you also know.”

“Yes,” Mitth’ras’safis said, switching to an oddly accented Sy Bisti. “If that would be easier.”

“Actually, we’d prefer you stick with Cheunh, if you don’t mind,” Car’das said in that language. “We could use the practice.”

“That you could,” Mitth’ras’safis said. He hesitated, then inclined his head. “And since you were both instrumental in saving my brother’s life… I suppose it would be all right for you to call me Thrass.”

Maris bowed her head. “Thank you. We’re honored by your acceptance.”

“I just don’t want to keep hearing my name mispronounced.” Thrass turned back to Thrawn. “Now,” he said, his tone hardening again. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“The job for which I was commissioned,” Thrawn replied. “I’m protecting the Ascendancy from its enemies.”

“Its enemies,” Thrass said, leaning on the word. “Not potential enemies. Do you hear the difference?”

“Yes,” Thrawn said. “And no.”

Thrass lifted a hand, let it slap against his thigh. “Let me be honest, Thrawn,” he said. “The Eighth Ruling Family is not happy with you.”

“They sent you all the way here to tell me that?”

“This isn’t a joking matter,” Thrass bit out. “That pirate treasure ship was bad enough. But this last escapade was far and away over all the lines. And right under an admiral’s nose, too.”

“The Vagaari aren’t pirates, Thrass,” Thrawn said, his voice low and earnest. “They’re a completely nomadic species—hundreds of thousands of them, perhaps millions. Andsooner or later, they will reach the Ascendancy’s borders.”

“Fine,” Thrass said. “When they do, we’ll destroy them.”

“But why wait until then?” Thrawn pressed. “Why leave our backs turned while millions of other beings are forced to suffer?”

“The philosophical answer is that we don’t force anyone to suffer,” Thrass countered. “The practical answer is that we can’t defend the entire galaxy.”

“I’m not asking to defend the entire galaxy.”

“Really? And where would you have us stop?” Thrass gestured toward the wall. “Ten light-years beyond our borders? A

hundred? A thousand?”

“I agree we can’t protect the entire galaxy,” Thrawn said. “But it’s foolhardy to always permit our enemies to choose the time and place of battle.”

Thrass sighed. “Thrawn, you can’t continue to push the lines this way,” he said. “Peaceful watchfulness is the Chiss way, and the Nine Ruling Families won’t stand by forever while you ignore basic military doctrine. More to the point, the Eighth Family has made it clear that they’ll release you before they permit your actions to damage their standing.”

“We were both born as commoners,” Thrawn reminded him. “I can live that way again if I have to.” His lips tightened briefly. “But I’ll do what I can to assure that the Eighth Family doesn’t release or rematch you on my account.”

“I’m not worried about my own position,” Thrass said stiffly.

“I’m trying to keep my brother from throwing away a fine and honorable career for nothing.”

Thrawn’s eyes took on a distant look. “If I do throw itaway,” he said quietly, “I guarantee that it won’t be for nothing.”

For a long moment the two brothers gazed at each other in silence. Then Thrass sighed. “I don’t understand you, Thrawn,” he said. “I’m not sure I ever have.”

“Then just trust me,” Thrawn suggested.

Thrass shook his head. “I can trust you only as far as the Nine Ruling Families do,” he said. “And that trust is strained to the breaking point. This latest incident…” He shook his head again.

“Do you have to tell them?” Maris spoke up.

“With four warriors dead?” Thrass countered, turning his glowing eyes on her. “How do I keep that a secret?”

“It was a reconnaissance mission that got out of hand,”

Maris said. “Commander Thrawn didn’t go there with any intention of fighting.”

“Any mission to that region would have been pushing the lines,” Thrass told her heavily. “Still, I can try to frame it in those terms.” He looked back at Thrawn. “But it may be that nothing I say will make any difference. Action was taken, and deaths ensued. That may be all the Ruling Families will care about.”

“I know you’ll do what you can,” Thrawn said.

“But is what I can do the same as what I should do?”

Thrass asked. “It would seem that protecting you from the consequences of self-destructive decisions merely gives you freedom to make more of them. Is that really the best way to serve my brother and my family?”

“I know what my answer would be,” Thrawn said. “But you must find the answer for yourself.”

“Perhaps someday,” Thrass said. “In the meantime, I have a report to prepare.” He gave Thrawn a resigned look. “Anda brother to protect.”

“You must do what you feel right,” Thrawn said. “But you don’t know these Vagaari. I do. And I will defeat them, no matter what the cost.”

Thrass shook his head and went back to the door.

There he stopped, his hand over the control “Has it ever occurred to you,” he said, not turning around, “that attacks like yours might actually provoke beings like the Vagaari to move against us? That if we simply left them alone, they might never become any threat to the Ascendancy at all?”

“No, I’ve never had any such thoughts,” Thrawn replied evenly.

Thrass sighed. “I didn’t think so. Good night, Thrawn.”

Tapping the control to open the door, he left the room.

There,“ C’baoth said, pointing through the viewport as their transport came around the curve of Yaga Minor. ”You see it?“

“Yes,” Lorana said as she gazed at the massive object hanging in low orbit over the planet. Six of the brand-new Dreadnaught warships, arranged in a hexagon pattern around a central storage core, the whole thing tied together by a series of massive turbolift pylons. “It’s quite impressive.”

“It’s more than just impressive,” C’baoth said gravely.

“Therein lies the future of the galaxy.”

Lorana stole a furtive glance at him. For the past three weeks, ever since her official elevation from Padawan to full Jedi Knight, C’baoth had been showing a marked change in attitude.

He spoke with her more often and at greater length, asking her opinion on politics and other matters, opening up to her as if to a full equal.

It was gratifying, even flattering. But at the same time,it stirred some uncomfortable feelings. Just as he’d expected so much of her as his Padawan, it seemed that he now expected her to suddenly have all the wisdom, experience, and power of a seasoned, experienced Jedi.

This trip to Yaga Minor was just one more example.

Out of the clear and cloudless sky he’d invited her to come along with him to observe the final stages of preparation. It would have been more fitting, in her opinion, for him to invite Master Yoda or one of the other Council members to see him off on his historic journey.

But instead he’d chosen her.

“The crew and families are already aboard, stowing their gear and making final preparations,” C’baoth continued.

“So are most of the Jedi who’ll be accompanying us, though two or three are still on their way. You’ll want to meet them all before we leave, of course.”