Samakro eyed the display. The seven ships were flying in a Paataatus guard configuration: the frigate in the center with a cruiser on either flank and two cruisers each in a line in front and astern of it.
“Full magnification and status readouts,” Thrawn ordered. “Frigate first, then the cruisers.”
The image of a medium-sized ship appeared on the sensor display, blurred somewhat by distance and the tenuous planetary atmosphere it was currently orbiting through.
But it was clear enough to see the standard Paataatus heavy warship design: wide and flat, heavy armor with minimal point defenses on top, main lasers arrayed along the leading edge, missile tubes positioned underneath the bow. It was an unusual design among the various aliens the Ascendancy dealt with, but it fit well with the Paataatus tactic of approaching an opponent with lasers blazing, then pitching up to fire missiles as the attacking ship veered up and away to open a path for the next attacker moving in behind it.
“Mid Captain?” Thrawn invited.
“Looks Paataatus to me, sir,” Samakro said. “Certainly doesn’t match any of the Vagaari ship configurations in our records.”
“Agreed,” Thrawn said. “Which doesn’t conclusively prove anything, of course, given the Vagaari habit of conquering other aliens and adapting their technology. But it’s a strong indicator, particularly since I don’t see any major ship modifications.”
Samakro shifted his attention to the planetary data now streaming across the secondary sensor display. “I also see no evidence of large-scale damage on the planet’s surface,” he pointed out.
“Excellent observation,” Thrawn said approvingly. “The rumors spoke of an alliance, but they could as easily have been a distorted report of a Vagaari invasion. But the Paataatus would hardly have given up without a fight, which would likely have led to visible planetary destruction.”
Samakro nodded. Their joint conclusion didn’t address the original rumors, he knew. But Thrawn liked to trim the weeds from the edges of an operation, clearing out the unlikely options before focusing on the main thrust. In this case, they were going to find the Paataatus either alone or in full alliance with the pirates.
Either scenario could be trouble, but both left the Springhawk free to respond as soon as they were fired on without fear of tearing into victims or—unlikely with the Paataatus—innocent bystanders.
“Captain, we’re receiving a transmission,” Brisch called from the comm station. He touched a key—
“This is the Prince Militaire,” a Paataatus voice came over the bridge speaker.
Samakro frowned. Prince Militaire? He’d never heard of that rank before.
If it even was a rank. It could just as easily be a title or name or something unique to these aliens. Chiss diplomats had dealt with Paataatus negotiators a few times, but the inner workings of their government remained a complete mystery. Certainly the Expansionary Defense Fleet had had no interaction with them that didn’t involve shooting or being shot at.
“You are trespassing within holy Paataatus space,” the prince continued.
“Unusually talky today, aren’t they?” Afpriuh commented from the weapons station. “Sir, all enemy ships are holding station.”
“Talky and standing their ground,” Samakro said. “Not like them at all.”
“No,” Thrawn said. “It’s not.”
Samakro looked sideways at him. Thrawn’s eyes were narrowed, his attention shifting back and forth between the sensor and tactical displays. “You said we were going to ask them about the Vagaari?” Samakro reminded his commander quietly.
“Yes,” Thrawn said thoughtfully. He hesitated another moment, then touched the comm key on his chair. “Prince Militaire, this is Senior Captain Thrawn aboard the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet warship Springhawk,” he called. “We come in peace, with a question for you.” He keyed the mute.
Samakro frowned. “You’re not going to ask the question, sir?” he asked.
“Not yet,” Thrawn said. “Call this an experiment.”
“Paataatus ships on the move, sir,” Dalvu said. “Ten fighters moving toward us; orbiting ships reconfiguring. Remaining fighters holding station.”
“Watch closely, Mid Captain,” Thrawn said. “Let’s see what they do.”
“Yes, sir,” Samakro said, suppressing a snort. Actually, if the Paataatus followed their standard battle doctrine, what they would do was swarm their target and try to blow it out of the sky. And with the Springhawk out here all alone …
“There,” Thrawn said, pointing at one of the displays. “The orbiting ships. You see it?”
Samakro focused on them. The seven ships were on the move, shifting from sentry to defense configuration. One of the lead cruisers moved up to a position above the frigate, while one of the trailing cruisers moved beneath it. “Defense configuration,” he said. “Which suggests our Prince Militaire is aboard the frigate.”
“Correct,” Thrawn said. “But did you notice how the cruisers took up their new positions?”
Samakro frowned. “One of the leading ships moved up, one of the trailing ships moved down.”
“The first leading cruiser went up to dorsal guard position, while the one behind it stayed in vanguard position,” Thrawn said. “But the trailing cruisers did things in the opposite way, with the one directly behind the frigate dropping beneath it in ventral guard position while the one farthest aft moved forward to take its place.”
Samakro played the memory back. Thrawn was right. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I’m not sure I see the significance.”
“Fighters gathering, sir,” Afpriuh called.
“I see them.” Thrawn keyed off the mute. “Prince Militaire, this is Senior Captain Thrawn. As I’ve said already, we come in peace. However, if your current situation remains unchanged, I assure you that you’ll witness the full might of the Chiss Ascendancy.”
“Do you make threats against the Paataatus Hiveborn, Senior Captain Thrawn?” the prince demanded.
“I stand by the precise words of my statement, Prince Militaire,” Thrawn said.
“Do you intend harm to the Paataatus?”
“I stand by the precise words of my statement.”
“The consequences are yours.”
“I am prepared to accept them.”
“Then all is in your hands.”
“I am prepared.”
A tone sounded from the speaker. “He’s cut off transmission, sir,” Brisch reported.
“Understood,” Thrawn said. “Stand ready, all weapons.”
Samakro took a careful breath. What was Thrawn doing? “Sir, we have no authorization to initiate hostilities against the Paataatus.”
“Nor do I intend to,” Thrawn assured him. “Do you see anything odd about those fighters’ attack formation?”
Samakro shifted his attention to the tactical, trying to force back the sudden doubts, his own earlier thoughts whispering back to him. To trust him to get them through whatever mess he was leading them into …
He frowned. Paataatus fighters typically used a swarm strategy, driving in at full speed from all directions in a horizontally layered attack. But these ships had instead gathered in groups of two and three and were moving warily toward the Springhawk. “That’s not the usual Paataatus structure,” he said.
“Indeed it’s not,” Thrawn said, a hint of grim amusement in his voice. “But it is one we’ve seen before.”
An instant later the two nearest groups of fighters opened fire, their lasers blazing at the Springhawk.
“Incoming fire!” Afpriuh snapped. “Response, sir?”