Nine years, ten months, and ten days after the Battle of Yavin…
Or forty-four years, ten months, and ten days after the Great Resynchronization.
(Five months and thirty days since the arrival).
— Are the data confirmed? — I inquired, tearing my gaze away from the screen of my personal datapad.
This time, however, it was not Captain Pellaeon who had provided me with the datapad.
Though he was present in my quarters at that moment.
— The ships have been stationed there for quite some time, — Agent Cross declared with utmost seriousness. — Every vessel involved in retrieving data from the relays has returned to the same point.
— The buzz droids report the presence of Tyranny, Titan, Shieldmaiden, Annihilator, Eviscerator, and Red Dragon, — Captain Pellaeon interjected, adding his five decicreds. — All six remaining Star Destroyers of the Ubiqtorate.
Indeed, Agent Blackhole had only six Star Destroyers left at his disposal out of the original ten.
Adjudicator, Black Star, Eradicator, and Crusader had been taken from him, one way or another.
That left only four Imperial I-class and two Imperial II-class vessels.
Of them, Red Dragon was the flagship, its starfighter wing composed of TIE Avengers.
A formidable ship, capable of causing significant trouble in open combat.
As was its starfighter complement.
A perfect scenario — all of the enemy's forces concentrated in one place.
The only question was whether Blackhole's known six Star Destroyers were all he had. Or did he possess other ships not part of the fleet stationed at Tangrene?
I knew the answer to that question with a high degree of certainty.
Because I had taken steps to minimize the risk of a trap when targeting such a prize.
And Annihilator, Eviscerator, and Tyranny — the three Star Destroyers that had been retrieving data from the relays — had done me a great favor.
The data was delivered to the Ubiqtorate fleet's staging point by Morrt project buzz droids, the very ones recently deployed by naval special forces teams.
Including Captain Makeno's unit.
— Sir, — Cross spoke up. — I joined the Dominion on the condition that you would help me find and eliminate Blackhole.
I fixed the former Imperial agent with a steady gaze.
— There's no need to remind me of the terms of our arrangement, Agent Cross, — I stated firmly. — They were sufficient to ensure that you and Elli Stark feel comfortable and secure.
— Sir, — Jahan replied with restraint. — This is the best moment to strike. Assemble a large fleet, use those Dragons of yours to disable the Ubiqtorate's ships. Then board them and capture Blackhole. His capture would be of immense benefit to the Dominion's cause! Palpatine's plans and directives, the Ubiqtorate's network, data that many can only dream of obtaining!
Not to mention the data from the Imperial Palace, which both we and the enemy irrevocably lost due to Mr. Ghent's ingenuity.
— I appreciate your concern for the Dominion's welfare, Agent Cross, — I responded. — However, the strike against the Ubiqtorate will be executed precisely when it is deemed necessary. Not a moment sooner, whether that aligns with your desires or not.
— Sir, — Cross raised his voice slightly. — Now is the most opportune time!
— I disagree, — I declared, and shades of pain and frustration flickered across Cross's face, though he quickly regained his composure. — I will not repeat my stance. If you are dissatisfied, you are free to leave us and wage your war against Agent Blackhole alone.
Jahan remained silent.
— In that case, kindly return to your duties, — I said, subtly indicating that it was time for him to leave my quarters and return to his own.
Which the agent did a minute later.
— Is the attack on the Ubiqtorate being postponed? — Pellaeon inquired.
— Not at all, Captain, — I countered. — Everything is proceeding strictly according to plan.
— But I got the impression you intended to delay the timing and location of the offensive, — Pellaeon frowned. — You made that point quite convincingly to Cross.
— Agent Cross needs to be taught a lesson and reminded that we are not gathered here to address his psychological wounds or facilitate his personal vendetta. We are working for the good of the Dominion. Whether he likes it or not, he must understand that decisions, even unpopular ones, are made by the state's leadership in the interest of tactics, strategy, and the future of our citizens, not to appease him. Incorrect assumptions lead to flawed judgments, which, in turn, lead to ruin.
The Star Destroyer's commander remained silent, offering only an approving nod.
— Following our latest propaganda broadcast on the HoloNet, we've secured the necessary respite to personally contribute to damaging the Ubiqtorate's fleet and operations, — I explained. — And we will use it solely for the Dominion's benefit. Not because Agent Cross pleaded for it.
— Do you think your latest speech will prompt the enemy to reconsider their intentions regarding Lianna? — the commander of Chimaera asked.
— Not immediately, but certainly, — I agreed. — That's why the operation at Ossus was conducted the way it was — to ensure the enemy received data on our capabilities. And to give them something to ponder.
Pellaeon nodded understandingly but then gave me a questioning look.
— But in that case, will the New Republic's attack on Linuri, involving Lusankya, not take place?
To be honest, I was utterly astonished.
— Elaborate, Captain, — I requested.
— Since the enemy now knows about our technological advancements and has received what amounts to an open declaration of our near-future intentions, they will recall their ships from Linuri to prepare for a strike at the target you've designated, — Gilad offered his perspective.
And, to give the man credit, his reasoning was logical.
Except for one small detail.
His conclusion was fundamentally incorrect.
— The New Republic's attack on Lianna, led by Lusankya, will proceed exactly as scheduled, — I clarified.
Seeing the confusion on the man's face, I elaborated.
— It's not strictly necessary for Republic ships to have Republic crews, don't you think?
Gilad was silent for a few seconds, piecing together all the threads…
Then he gave a good-natured chuckle, understanding my implication.
— Exactly what we've already done with Lianna, — he nodded in acknowledgment.
— And not only with her, Captain, — I confirmed. — Now, — I projected a hologram in the center of my room, — I'd like you to share your perspective on the situation.
Gilad, furrowing his brow, closely examined the hologram of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer projected before him.
A standard three-dimensional image, pulled from the Imperial Navy's archives.
It even had a name.
And Gilad read it.
Judging by the sweat beading on his forehead, he even had an inkling of what this Star Destroyer was.
And its "glorious" history.
— Sir, you don't mean to say that this cursed ship…
— Is our next target, Captain, — I confirmed. — As I told Agent Cross, the strike against the Ubiqtorate will occur when it is necessary for the Dominion. Not a day later, nor a day earlier.
— But this is… — Pellaeon pointed at the hologram of the Imperial Star Destroyer with a slightly trembling hand. — This is…
— Agent Blackhole's flagship, Captain, — I explained. — The buzz droids established this fact with a high degree of certainty. The fate of this ship is rather unenviable yet noteworthy. It seems you're familiar with it as well, Captain.
— As is the entire fleet, — Pellaeon said hoarsely. — It's pure hell incarnate.
— No surprise that Agent Blackhole chose it as his residence, — I agreed. — At the same time, based on Agent Cross's data, there's reason to believe that Blackhole previously used the Star Destroyer Singularity as his flagship. That ship reportedly had an advanced cloaking system — both sensor and visual. Curiously, that ship's trail went cold, just as Blackhole's own story abruptly ended. And now, he's back, but with an entirely different flagship. If Agent Cross's data on Blackhole's activities are accurate, an interesting discrepancy arises: his past doesn't align with his present. And it's not just about him having a new ship.
— I dread to think what we might find aboard that flagship, — Pellaeon admitted candidly.
— A considerable number of Imperial secrets, I presume, — I stated. — And at least one type of Imperial superweapon, which we are obligated to destroy.
— If they've preserved even a functional prototype…
Pellaeon gave me a meaningful look.
— That's precisely why we're dividing the operation into two phases, running relatively parallel to each other, — I explained. — And we'll deploy an unprecedented number of battle droids in the upcoming assault. Considering this ship's history, I have no desire for casualties among our personnel.
Pellaeon glanced at the hologram, grimacing as if all his teeth ached at once.
Internally, I agreed with the Chimaera's commander.
But I didn't even have the right to show the sentient beings around me how afraid I was.
Afraid of realizing just how deep this rabbit hole was, into which the current leader of the Ubiqtorate was inviting us to dive.
***
The H'ken system was located in the Korva sector of the Outer Rim, in quadrant P-4.
From the bridge, Commander Darron observed as a squadron of Republic X-wings emerged from a twenty-kilometer asteroid belt, heading toward his Star Destroyer, Captain Rensen.
— Offer them a chance to surrender, — the ship's commander ordered. — Inform them they are in Dominion-controlled territory. Any attempt to resist will result in their destruction.
— Ignored, sir! — reported the duty officer.
Well, the Republic pilots had made their choice.
— Release the corvette, — the commander ordered. — Raise deflector shields, deploy interceptors. Eliminate the enemy at the mid-perimeter defense line.
Captain Rensen allowed the support corvette to engage the enemy first.
Shortly after, the Star Destroyer's starfighter group joined the fray.
— Two interceptor squadrons — direct them at the enemy, — Darron ordered. — Two more — to escort the destroyer and act as containment forces. Assign the fifth squadron to the search group. Deploy all ARC-170 reconnaissance fighters. If Republic pilots are here, there must be at least a support base.
Or a ship providing the enemy with fuel and supplies. Operating in the Dominion's rear without significant support was, without question, bold. But foolish.
And the former Rebels were anything but fools.
From the first moments of the battle, it was clear that the Republic pilots were not the most formidable opponents.
Yes, they managed to fight, even downing a few fighters, but the speed at which Captain Rensen's pilots dispatched them was astonishing.
Neither the X-wings' deflector shields nor their missile launchers helped — TIE Interceptors pressed forward relentlessly, annihilating an enemy caught between the asteroid field on one side and the destroyer and corvette on the other.
Attempts to break free from the diabolical trap were unsuccessful — the enemy squadron was being obliterated.
One craft after another.
What they had hoped to achieve by sending twelve X-wings against two dozen interceptors remained unclear.
Ten minutes into the battle, after destroying ten Republic fighters and damaging two more, Captain Rensen received the long-awaited report.
— Commander, reconnaissance groups report the discovery of an enemy base — an old mining colony on a large asteroid. There's also a small freighter.
— Blockade it, — Darron ordered. — Prepare stormtroopers for boarding. I want to know what the Republic is doing here and how much they've learned about the Dominion's operations in this sector.
***
The planet Beta II, in the system of the same name in the Korva sector, was originally a hospitable world with a humid atmosphere.
The Galactic Republic had colonized the planet long ago, turning a tropical paradise into a thriving port world.
As drought struck the planet over the years, it was eventually abandoned.
Data from Obroa-skai indicated that Beta II's atmosphere was now classified as Type II.
In layman's terms, this meant that celestial bodies of this type had adequate levels of atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen. Without further warnings, one might assume it was as comfortable as a Type I atmosphere, preferred by humans and most other oxygen-breathing species.
However, due to insufficient pressure or the presence of pollutants and other gaseous impurities, such atmospheres typically had harmful effects on humans and most other species over shorter periods.
Many sentient species could breathe in a Type II atmosphere, depending on their physiology. Planets with Type II atmospheres often supported some form of native life.
A typical example of a planet with such an atmosphere, due to its volcanic nature, was Mustafar.
And now, Beta II was in the same category.
Captain Dorya sat in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, rereading the lines of the intelligence report about the planet he was tasked with conquering for the Dominion.
Beta II no longer had a native population.
After the atmosphere underwent drastic changes, the local inhabitants abandoned it. In their place, smugglers and other illicit riffraff settled in, drawn to the abandoned settlements and port facilities.
Intelligence reported that, due to a lack of resources to counter surface dust and sandstorms, these interlopers had burrowed deep underground.
The planet's caves and canyons had been expanded and connected by tunnels through their efforts. A veritable underground city, capable of withstanding nearly any attack.
The thick rock layers allowed them to hide from most scanning devices or, at worst, survive an orbital bombardment of the surface.
It was no surprise that the remnants of Ennix Devian's faction had entrenched themselves here.
Those very scoundrels who, one way or another, were outside the Ghost Nebula when Commodore Shohashi's ships paid it a visit.
Data on other bases belonging to these miscreants had been uncovered by intelligence, likely obtained from captured Devian fighters, as Dorya suspected.
Not that it mattered much, in truth.
What mattered was that reconnaissance fighters and spy droids had confirmed the presence of enemy starships in the system.
— One minute until exiting hyperspace, sir! — the duty officer reported.
— Sound battle stations, — Dorya ordered, setting aside the datapad and moving toward the central platform. — Prepare the corvette for detachment. Order the task force to establish a blockade.
They emerged from hyperspace at the precise coordinates.
First came Relentless, followed by ten heavy cruisers supported by two dozen Corellian corvettes.
And two ships the enemy clearly hadn't expected to encounter anywhere but in their nightmares.
The Interdictor-class Star Destroyer Sentinel immediately activated its gravity well projectors, preventing the enemy from escaping into hyperspace.
And there were plenty who would want to flee.
Six Venator-class Star Destroyers, twenty-two Corellian corvettes, four Acclamator-class assault ships, and a good dozen Arquitens-class light cruisers.
A fine catch.
— Order for Dragon-Seven, — Dorya said, noting on the tactical hologram that the newest Venator, equipped with a V-180 ion cannon, was already preparing for battle. — Open fire on the destroyers.
Its main hangar was open, its starfighter wing swarming around the ship, with numerous TIE fighters ready to engage.
A pity that Dominion industry couldn't yet replace line fighters with interceptors across the entire regular fleet. In time, that would come.
For now, they would make do with what was available.
Dragon-Seven fired.
A single salvo from its main ion cannon, reminiscent of its predecessor, disabled the first enemy Star Destroyer.
The second had barely begun opening its hangar when it was struck by another shot.
The third managed to expose its hangar bay — and took the next salvo directly there.
The fourth shot from Dragon-Seven hit the first of the second trio of identical destroyers, preventing it from launching its starfighters.
The fifth shot was intercepted by an Acclamator-class assault ship, buying the enemy time to deploy their fighters.
The sixth shot corrected that oversight.
The seventh salvo struck the final enemy Venator.
— Now the Acclamators, — Dorya smirked, watching the enemy fleet move to engage his ships.
Half an hour later, transport ships arrived in the system, delivering droids to board the six captured Venators, four Acclamators, fifteen CR90 corvettes, and five Arquitens.
The loss of two of his own corvettes didn't particularly concern Dorya.
He observed as Dragon-Seven bombarded the planet's surface with its ion cannon, employing a new tactic devised by Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Another method of suppressing enemy ground defenses…
Why not use such an approach?
A day later, Dominion stormtroopers completed the capture of Beta II's main base and began a thorough sweep of every corner of the planet.
***
The Spawn Nebula, located in the Korva sector, was approximately thirty minutes by hyperspace jump from Beta II.
According to intelligence, this was the second most significant base of Ennix Devian's faction.
Originally, this position was prepared for use in battles against the New Republic.
Deep within the nebula, a space station built by Devian's supporters operated, its purpose to keep his fleet in constant readiness.
Intelligence suggested that up to a hundred enemy ships of various classes could be stationed here.
That was why the Red Star task force had been dispatched.
Crimson Dawn emerged from hyperspace, its massive wedge slicing through the nebula's reality.
The enemy fleet was thrown into disarray, suddenly facing a single Bellator-class dreadnought, two Imperial-class Star Destroyers, twenty Dreadnought-class heavy cruisers, and thirty Corellian corvettes advancing in a unified crescent formation.
Concealing from the enemy the fact that additional Dominion starships were moving in behind them.
Against such an armada, the enemy could muster twenty Venator-class Star Destroyers, thirty-seven Acclamator-class assault ships, forty-one Consular-class corvettes, and two Imperial-class Star Destroyers.
Judging by the identifiers of the latter, they were among the earliest models of that class.
Erik ran his finger along the engraving and, with a characteristic snap, pocketed his chronometer.
— Broadcast on open frequencies, — he ordered. — This is Commodore Shohashi, Dominion regular fleet. Ennix Devian is dead, his fleet in the Ghost Nebula defeated. Your base at Beta II has been attacked, its fleet captured. Grand Admiral Thrawn offers amnesty and the opportunity to serve under his command to all who lay down their arms. Resistance is futile and will only lead to your destruction. Those wishing to preserve their lives must respond on channel thirteen. You have five minutes to decide.
He deactivated the comlink and glanced at Lady Ventress, standing motionless nearby.
The Dathomirian witch, arms crossed, watched intently as the enemy fleet reorganized.
In these circumstances, Erik needed every advantage — especially in the initial phase of the battle.
And the aid of a Force-sensitive individual was a significant asset.
— Your opinion, Lady Ventress, — he inquired, noting that the enemy fleet showed no signs of surrendering. Instead, their ships were forming what resembled attack formations, clearly intent on breaking through and escaping the nebula.
The problem, and why they couldn't do so immediately, was that Shohashi's forward forces were backed by support ships.
Among them was the Interdictor-class Star Destroyer Eternal Wrath, which had already blocked any possibility of sending a distress signal beyond this section of the nebula.
Close by were two Immobilizer 418-class cruisers.
And five of the ten operational Dragons.
— They won't surrender, — Ventress declared confidently. — You don't need the Force to see that the enemy is clearly intent on winning this battle. I can tell by their maneuvers.
— Leave tactics to me, — Shohashi advised. — I'm interested in their emotional state.
— Despair, — Ventress stated. — And grim determination.
Which meant logic was no longer relevant to these people.
So, there would be a battle.
Their choice.
— Prepare the guns and missile launchers, — Erik ordered, addressing the duty officer. — Dragons, take combat positions.
The enemy didn't employ any effective tactics — they charged Shohashi's ships in a disorganized mass, firing all weapons.
For starters, they had no idea what awaited them.
Both Imperial-class destroyers and three of the twenty Venators lost their deflector shields with the first salvo from the Dragons. Moments later, they were reduced to harmless debris drifting in the nebula.
The Dominion's Venators, along with the rest of the Red Star task force, responded to the enemy's fighter launches by deploying their own fighters and interceptors.
By the time the two forces closed to a distance of seventy-five units, the enemy could boast only seven operational Venators. The remaining ships were still functional, but the Dragons picked them off like wild beasts with a laser rifle.
The Consular-class corvettes could have posed a threat to Red Star if not for the missile launchers of Crimson Dawn.
Anti-ship missiles streaked through space, detonating upon reaching their targets or encountering defensive fire.
The Acclamators attacked with proton torpedoes from a distance of fifty-five units.
This delay proved costly, as by then the enemy's Venators no longer posed a threat.
Now, five ion cannons fired at near-point-blank range to counter the rapidly approaching enemy cruisers.
Two assault cruisers, ignoring the streams of fire directed at them, lost their deflectors and most of their weapons but pressed forward toward freedom.
They were heading straight for Crimson Dawn, and their intentions were no surprise to Erik.
— Their commanders are attempting to ram, — Asajj reported.
But Shohashi had already deduced as much from the number of escape pods jettisoned into nearby space.
— Refine targets for the turbolasers, — the commodore ordered.
Redirecting its heavy guns, Crimson Dawn unleashed a devastating barrage of turbolaser energy on both Acclamators.
Without deflectors, both ships were nearly defenseless against such treatment.
Pummeled by fire from the fast dreadnought's guns, they sustained breach after breach but courageously pressed forward.
The dreadnought's weapons mauled the assault cruisers, carving massive holes in their hulls and burning through them.
One cruiser exploded when a squadron of TIE bombers attacked with proton torpedoes, hastening its grim end.
The second attempted to veer off, exposing its companion to the brunt of the attack.
But the commander of the first ship seemed to forget that they faced more than just Crimson Dawn.
Imperious, holding the left flank of the fast dreadnought, unleashed a hurricane of fire on the enemy.
The destroyer's commander angled the ship to bring more guns to bear. The exposed flank of the enemy only aided Imperious's artillery in inflicting greater damage. The ruthless maneuver, known as "deck slashing," was one no ship could withstand for long without support.
Engaged in dogfights with Dominion fighters and interceptors, the enemy's fighters were in no hurry to aid the doomed ship.
The assault cruiser was charred, lifeless. Moments later, it erupted in a blinding sphere of pure energy as a pair of heavy cruisers joined the bombardment.
The other two assault cruisers, swarmed by interceptors and pummeled by the flagship's broadside artillery, couldn't hold out any longer than their counterpart.
Their fate was sealed by the ion cannons — enveloped in white-blue lightning, these starships ceased to show signs of life.
— They're panicking, — Ventress declared.
Erik saw confirmation of her words with his own eyes.
His attack plan inflicted maximum damage on the enemy while keeping his own ships protected on all sides.
He had disabled most of the enemy's starships, preventing them from launching an overwhelming number of top-tier fighters. Now, TIE series craft mercilessly obliterated the Republic's antiquated machines.
Erik watched as a Consular-class corvette, pinned by three tractor beams, struggled helplessly while the broadside battery tore it apart, blasting off chunks with each salvo.
The same scene unfolded on the left flank and lower hemisphere, but with three enemy corvettes.
— The station is preparing to launch a new wave of fighters, — Ventress said, opening her eyes.
— Dragon-Six, strike the station, — Erik ordered.
It took a few seconds for the designated Venator to maneuver into firing position. The enemy managed to launch its fighters, but this was an annoyance, not a critical issue.
The enemy intensified pressure on the left flank.
Hit by proton torpedoes, one heavy cruiser ceased returning fire. Its communication systems also went silent.
Seconds later, a combined salvo from the enemy's remaining five cruisers ended the cruiser's existence.
The starship erupted in flames, leaving only shapeless debris in its place.
The offending cruisers veered onto evasive vectors. One opened fire with its right turret guns to strip the shields of a neighboring heavy cruiser, while another unleashed a barrage of proton torpedoes, triggering a massive detonation that instantly destroyed the second cruiser.
In essence, Shohashi's enemies executed a brilliant maneuver: under relentless attack, two ships perfectly coordinated their efforts to eliminate a common foe.
A tactically sound decision that would have earned their commanders honors and awards in the past.
In the current reality, they received only two concentrated salvos from Crimson Dawn's broadside guns, vaporizing their superstructures.
The fast dreadnought continued its merciless work.
Erik noted that some of his corvettes had broken through the remnants of the enemy fleet and were already delivering stormtroopers to the station.
Boarding ships in the current situation was impractical — the battle was still ongoing, and the crews hadn't yet felt the full effects of ion exposure.
But once their air ran out, that would be a separate reason for negotiation.
Crimson Dawn unceremoniously shredded Consular-class corvettes with anti-ship missiles, reducing them to scrap.
Too old to be of use intact.
Too fast to be targeted by the Dragons.
Well-protected enough to withstand broadside ion artillery.
Erik remembered Thrawn's primary tenet: capture as many starships as possible.
Whether they'd be useful in the future was another question. The key was their potential for restoration.
But the commodore accurately assessed his odds and knew he had captured enough operational, large starships to disregard such outdated "small fry."
The Dominion had plenty of corvettes.
But assault cruisers and Star Destroyers were another matter.
— The crew of that corvette intends to surrender, — Ventress said unexpectedly, pointing to a Consular hiding behind the immobilized hulk of a stricken Acclamator. — But they fear you won't accept their surrender and will order them destroyed.
— Contact that starship, — Shohashi ordered. — Transmit guarantees of their lives being spared if they immediately allow our boarding parties aboard.
The Consular's crew agreed.
As a result, half an hour into the battle, it was the only surviving ship of its class.
Not because Commodore Shohashi felt like showing humanism.
Erik was simply saving time.
Capturing antiques, so be it. Antiquities, in the end.
***
Leia collapsed her hands onto the tabletop.
Then rested her forehead against them.
She desperately wished to be back in her childhood, in her room in the palace on Alderaan, where she could always find a solution to any of her childish fears.
She'd sit in a corner of the room, curl up, and cry, repeating, "No, no, no, it's just a nightmare!"
But the Alderaanian princess had grown up, and thus, she needed a larger corner.
— Some time ago, the New Republic announced to the entire galaxy that it defeated my fleet at Mustafar, captured trophies, and practically hinted at my demise, — Grand Admiral Thrawn's hologram spoke. Leia barely noticed how the enemy looked or stood — he was always impeccable. — What an inconvenient lie. Because the New Republic did not participate in the battle at Mustafar — I fought Imperial traitors. And the abandoned ships in the system weren't trophies but burdensome scraps of metal I couldn't restore on-site. Well, — the hologram raised an eyebrow, — I'm grateful to the New Republic for repairing those ships at Sluis Van. As it repairs all Imperial starships captured in the past. I hope Coruscant has finally remembered its soldiers and is preparing for an exchange. It will take a lot of Imperial equipment to make that happen…
Han, sitting nearby, glumly stared at Lando and Talon Karrde, seated in chairs near the holoviewer.
— …because the number of captured Republic soldiers is rapidly increasing, — Thrawn continued. — Three Republic ships: two destroyers and a cruiser-interdictor were captured by me in the Zonju V system, on the border with Wild Space. This was part of a search operation the Republic initiated after my withdrawal from the Mustafar system. To reiterate, allow me to remind Republic politicians that only one ship left in the system belonged to the Dominion. The rest were trophies I couldn't take with me. You believed your own propaganda so much that you sent a task force under General Antilles to destroy a peaceful Dominion archaeological expedition on one of the planets. To engage a single destroyer, you sent fifteen ships…
Leia squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying.
Thrawn, without a doubt, avoided naming the planet or mentioning her brother's name but made it clear to those in the know that he was aware of far more than he let on.
— Eight of those ships I captured, and now they will serve the Dominion, — Thrawn declared. — I hope General Wedge Antilles, along with the only two survivors of Rogue Squadron, Tycho Celchu and Corran Horn, made it back to their base on Elom and will face trial. Though I'm certain no one will condemn or even reprimand these sentients for abandoning the crews of still-fighting ships to flee. The New Republic, by default, doesn't care what happens. Judging by the fact that, in two days, the New Republic hasn't bothered to inquire about the fate of even these prisoners captured in the engagement with General Antilles's forces, I'll have to decide their fate myself…
Leia let out a sob, expecting the worst.
— Dominion specialists are compiling a database of captured New Republic military personnel, — Thrawn continued. — Since the Coruscant government doesn't wish to retrieve its soldiers, all those in our custody will be available for ransom by private individuals — family members and loved ones. I specifically warn those looking to profit from others' misfortune: any attempt to deceive our exchange process specialists will result in prosecution under Dominion laws. A list of those captured and the confirmed fates of deceased New Republic military personnel will be published soon on a dedicated HoloNet portal…
— This is surreal, — Lando spoke first. — Leia, is it true? Not a single soldier has been exchanged in all this time?
— The Provisional Government refuses to engage in the process, — Leia said, wiping away tears. — It would essentially acknowledge the scale of our defeat…
— That's extremely unwise of them, — Karrde remarked. — The Dominion has already launched the resource they mentioned. Names, ranks, places and times of capture, health statuses…
— And the price for their ransom, — Han added, having already reviewed the records.
— The worst part is that these alphabetical lists include data on soldiers who've defected to the Dominion, — Calrissian said. — And there are already tens of thousands of them… What game is the Provisional Government playing? What are they waiting for?
— I don't know, Lando, — Leia admitted. — When I spoke with the Provisional Government, Mon Mothma steered the conversation elsewhere…
A heavy silence fell.
— Something else concerns me, — Karrde said suddenly.
— What's that? — Han asked.
— Fey'lya once attacked Ciutric IV with Bothan fleet forces, — The Claw reminded them.
— My memory isn't that short, — Solo quipped.
— Then here's the question, — Talon smirked. — Why are there no Bothan specialists or officers in the lists of prisoners or defectors? Only the deceased…
Han's face fell.
Leia looked at The Claw questioningly.
Lando shook his head ruefully.
— Perhaps Bothans aren't eligible for exchange, — Leia suggested.
— Look at it more pragmatically, Princess, — Karrde advised. — The Bothans have likely already ransomed their prisoners. And now, having tested the system with them, Thrawn is offering it to you. Even if someone ransoms half of these prisoners, that's already billions. In aurodium, no less.
— That much? — Leia gasped.
— The rates are tiered, — Karrde noted. — Based on rank, position, and other criteria…
— Thrawn's essentially engaging in slaving, — Han grimaced. — Anyone with enough credits can buy a couple hundred of our fighters…
— Only relatives and close associates, — Karrde reminded him. — My contacts say the exchange system is extremely rigorous, using Imperial and Republic citizenship databases. The Hutts already tried — among the first. Seventeen of their agents were arrested instantly. From what I know, the Hutts quietly ransomed them and don't dare escalate the conflict.
— Those are details, — Han scowled. — I'm more concerned about the kid and Irenez. Wedge is alive, and Bel Iblis has already deflected the threat from him. Rogue Squadron is on the brink of destruction again, and then there's this new Dominion destroyer and a heap of upgraded junk…
— A new destroyer? — Karrde's interest piqued. — Upgraded old starships… What are we talking about?
Calrissian busied himself with his drink.
Leia shot her husband a warning glance.
— What's the difference? — Solo asked the Alderaanian princess wearily. — He'll find out eventually. This way, he might be lenient when we need information.
Leia threw up her hands.
— Wedge, Celchu, and Horn brought data on Dominion ships they encountered at Ossus to the Third Fleet's base, — she explained. — There was an Imperial-class Star Destroyer, visually identified as a 'one.' Engine emission scans indicated it was Booster Terrik's destroyer. But when Wedge's fleet attacked, it turned out the Dominion found some clever engineer who stuffed that ship with turbolasers and lasers from bow to stern. In essence, two Mon Calamari star cruisers, four escort frigates, and a good portion of starfighters couldn't even dent it. It's over-armored, over-armed, shielded… As if the Dominion decided to build a ship solely for line-of-battle combat, but with a starfighter complement…
— That's rather odd, — Karrde said, clearly intrigued. — Why go to such lengths to refit a ship? The costs must be substantial. And against the New Republic, and as recent events show, against various Imperial Remnant factions, he's effectively using what's at hand — standard 'ones' and 'twos.'
— He's got a ship that can single-handedly take on groups of our warships, — Leia noted.
Karrde chuckled good-naturedly.
— Princess, dreaming doesn't suit you, — he said. — MC80s could never go toe-to-toe with an Imperial-class unless the latter's crew was utterly incompetent. Thrawn doesn't surround himself with inept commanders — the fact that he has the 'Butcher of Atoan' in his service speaks to that. And from my information, Commodore Shohashi quite effectively achieves any objective set before him. No, this new destroyer type is meant for something else entirely.
— The same reason he mounted ion cannons on old Venators, — Han said suddenly. — And why he's arming Victory-class ships with turrets from Imperials. And why he's rearming his fleet from TIE fighters to interceptors.
— Rearming Victories, — Karrde said, as if savoring the phrase. — That's something I didn't know.
— He's preparing for a fight against a far stronger enemy than the New Republic, — Lando declared, draining his glass. — That's why he's assembling a fleet. He keeps the old ships within the Dominion and upgrades the stronger ones, tempering them on the front lines. Against us and the Imperial Remnants.
— And that's why he hasn't mentioned a word about capturing Luke, — Leia whispered, clutching her head. — Great Force, you're right! The answer was right under our noses!
— Even simpler, sweetheart, — Han said bitterly, filling his glass to the brim. — He told us himself.
— Oh, so you had a personal conversation with the Grand Admiral, — Karrde noted, taking a new glass and filling it from a bottle at the center of the table, where everyone in the Solo couple's quarters was gathered.
— Not the most pleasant part of our past, — Leia said, glancing out the window.
She and Han, as official New Republic representatives, had been assigned quarters on Sluis Van's orbital station. From here, they had a stunning view of the Sluissi shipyards and docks, packed with Imperial and cargo ships, not to mention the numerous starships the New Republic had pulled from every possible storage depot and was now hastily refitting.
— And yet, — Karrde reminded them of his presence. — What did Grand Admiral Thrawn say? What is he so urgently preparing for, if he's chosen not to spend months building new ships but is instead upgrading old ones?
Leia looked at Han.
The former smuggler shrugged indifferently.
Calrissian pretended to be engrossed in the hologram of the Grand Admiral frozen above the holoviewer.
— Thrawn literally told us everything, — Leia said, reassessing their long-ago conversation with the Dominion's leader. — That he doesn't wish to fight us. And that he'll pay a visit to Coruscant that we won't like…
— The one after which the population of the former Imperial Center decided to move far away from the New Republic's capital? — Karrde clarified. — Remind me, how much did Coruscant's population shrink after the meteorite bombardment?
— It's now just over fifty billion, — Leia whispered, desperately searching for reasons to believe Thrawn hadn't been honest with them then. And finding none. — No one wants to live where the government can't protect its citizens…
— Sounds like Dominion propaganda, — Karrde remarked. — So, what about the reasons for Thrawn's actions? From what I know, he went to war against you because of Bel Iblis's actions. And the Bothans were egging him on…
— Just a pretext to justify his campaign, — Han said in a defeated tone. — As was his supposed "reaction" to our attacks — also just an excuse. The real reason is something else entirely…
— The intrigue builds, — Karrde said, growing serious. — But will there be an answer?
— Yes, but you won't like it, — Lando broke the silence.
— I'll manage, — The Claw assured, setting his glass on its stand.
— The Sluissi won't like our revelation either, — Han said. — Thrawn didn't mention for nothing in his message that he knows where Imperial starships are being repaired.
— You think he plans to strike here? — The Claw asked.
— I'm almost certain he's tired of playing with us and is openly stating where his grand rehearsal will take place, — Solo declared. — Before the most painful aria from one wrinkled bastard begins. We need to warn Bel Iblis that Thrawn is only distracting us with Linuri while preparing a strike on Sluis Van.
— He's pulling our operational fleet to one part of the galaxy so he can sweep into this sector with fanfare and take the starships, — Leia's eyes widened. — Great Force! We don't have crews for them! And we've practically brought them all online!
— A tempting target, — Lando said, sighing heavily. — In the end, he takes all the ships the Alliance seized from the Empire, maybe even grabs our mothballed ones or destroys them. And he gets a sector-sized fleet. I don't know how many ships that wrinkled bastard has, but in Thrawn's hands, such an armada would be unstoppable.
Talon Karrde squinted at his glass, then shifted his gaze to the Corellian.
— Sounds like news so serious that mixing it with whiskey is a bad idea. Even the Princess and General Solo have gone pale enough to sober me up…
— Palpatine is alive, — Leia uttered. — And he's preparing to attack the galaxy to destroy everyone who contributed to the downfall of his Empire.
Karrde was silent for exactly one second.
Then he reached for a new bottle, uncorked it, and took a swig straight from the neck.
— Who do I need to pay to hear the full story? — he asked, setting the half-empty bottle of Corellian whiskey on the table.