“—which three hundred officers and warriors from the Defense Force were quickly brought in to crew,” Lakjiip said, ignoring the interruption. “By the time the aliens arrived in force, the cruiser was reactivated and able to quickly drive them off.”
“But that was a security issue,” Lakuviv pointed out. “That’s not what we’ve got here.”
“I don’t think the declaration has any specific requirements,” Lakjiip said, tapping back and forth between pages.
“No, it doesn’t,” Yoponek confirmed.
“The Patriel just has to declare an emergency,” Lakjiip continued, ignoring the boy’s interruption, “and send a message out to all Defense Force and Expansionary Defense Fleet personnel.”
“And their captains just let them go?” Lakuviv asked, feeling a sudden stirring. So the Patriarch’s office wasn’t even involved in the procedure?
Lakjiip shrugged. “Unless a ship is engaged in combat or what’s called an imminent threat situation, the commander has to authorize fifteen days’ leave to anyone who’s called to answer such a summons.”
“Extraordinary,” Haplif said, shaking his head. “I’ve never heard of such an arrangement anywhere else the Agbui have visited.”
“If a particular ship is close enough to the declaring planet and there are enough family personnel to justify it, the commander may agree to swing by and drop them off,” Lakjiip said. “But most of them will be dropped at the nearest planet and required to make their own way.”
“Does the family then reimburse them for that expense?” Haplif asked, his forehead skin bunching again.
“That, or they use travel passes,” Lakuviv said, his mind spinning with possibilities. Celwis had the warships, and with a family emergency declaration they would have the officers and warriors to crew them. All he needed was the Patriel’s approval, and the nyix mine was as good as theirs. “Those are permits that allow them to travel free on any civilian transport within the Ascendancy. Most of the Forty Great Families give them to their military personnel.”
“The Coduyo do,” Yoponek put in.
“So do the Xodlak,” Lakuviv said.
“I see.” Haplif tilted his head a bit. “Do I take it from the expression on your face that you have a plan?”
“You take it correctly,” Lakuviv said. “Thank you, Yoponek, for bringing that bit of history to my attention. I don’t think I’d ever heard of that arrangement before.”
“You’re welcome,” Yoponek said. “Of course, the last time it was used was three decades ago, so it’s not surprising you hadn’t heard of it.”
Which could have been a subtle insult, Lakuviv knew: a high-ranking official of another family being unaware of important political history and law. But right now, he couldn’t be bothered even to resent the boy’s audacity. “I think now that you and Yoponek won’t be needed tonight, after all,” he went on. “If you’ll collect anything you brought, I’ll have the driver meet you at the skycar and fly you back to Lakphro’s ranch.”
“Now?” Haplif asked, sounding suddenly wary. “But you said Patriel Lakooni was on her way. What if you need me to talk to her?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll convince her,” Lakuviv assured him. “It’s getting late, and I’m sure you have work to do tomorrow. Spices to harvest, or something of that sort.”
“Very well,” Haplif said. He seemed still uneasy but willing to go along. “Come, Yoponek. Thank you for your hospitality, Councilor Lakuviv.”
“The guard outside will escort you to the skycar,” Lakuviv said as the alien and Chiss midager headed for the door. “I’ll let you know if and when I have good news.”
“You will have it,” Haplif promised. “Great rewards emerge like gloriosi from the silken sheaths of great risks. Whatever risks you take on behalf of the Agbui, they will be repaid a thousandfold.”
“I’m sure they will,” Lakuviv said.
He watched in silence until the door had closed behind them, then turned to Lakjiip. “I want the names and ship assignments of all Xodlak members in the Expansionary Defense Fleet,” he said. “Also see if you can get a listing of what officer and crew positions we’ll need to fill on the frigate and cruisers.”
“Understood,” Lakjiip said, working her questis. “I wouldn’t worry too much about the positions, though. It’s still Xodlak policy that family members who join the fleet must also become familiar with our own warships and their operation. Everyone we get should be able to step into any shipboard position with a few hours’ orientation.”
“Let’s hope so,” Lakuviv said. “Regardless, that’ll be for them to work out. Do we have a comm specialist on staff?”
“We have two.”
“Get me one of them. Make it the one who’s best at keeping secrets.”
“Yes, sir,” Lakjiip said, eyeing him. “What happens if you can’t persuade the Patriel?”
“I’ll persuade her,” Lakuviv promised grimly. “Trust me. I’ll persuade her.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Yes, I got the brooch yesterday,” Lakbulbup’s voice came over the comm. “Pretty little bauble, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” Lakphro said, a little tartly. Finally. Lakris had been going crazy trying to find her “lost” jewelry, and he was running out of ways to deflect her questions and veiled accusations about whether he might have done something with it.
Even worse, he was running out of ways to suggest she not tell that Agbui girl, Frosif, about the disappearance. The sooner Lakbulbup got this project up and running, the better. “Did you find someone to analyze it?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ve got a couple of names,” Lakbulbup said. “But while it was still on its way here I had another thought. Have you ever heard of an Expansionary Defense Fleet officer named Senior Captain Mitth’raw’nuruodo?”
“I don’t think so,” Lakphro said, searching his memory. The name did sound a little familiar, though, now that he thought about it.
“He was one of the minor players in the battle against the Nikardun over the Vak homeworld of Primea about three months ago.”
“Ah,” Lakphro said. “Three months ago we were having a calving crisis. You keep track of these military affairs better than I do.”
“I would hope so, seeing as it’s part of my job,” Lakbulbup said. “My point is that Senior Captain Thrawn has a reputation for knowing a lot about alien art and artworks.”
“I’m happy for him,” Lakphro said, looking furtively at the door. At this hour his daughter probably wouldn’t walk in on the conversation, but his wife might, and she would want to know who he was talking to on Naporar and why. “But I don’t need an art critic. I need a metals specialist.”
“I know that’s what you asked for,” Lakbulbup said. “Here’s the thing. I’m wondering if Thrawn might be able to tell us something else about the brooch, just as it is. Maybe something important.”
“Like what?”
“No idea,” Lakbulbup admitted. “But once we take it apart for testing, even a little bit apart, that chance is gone.”
“I don’t know what he could possibly see that we can’t,” Lakphro said. “It’s a bunch of metal threads, and they’re woven together in a pattern. End of story.”
“Like I said, I don’t know, either,” Lakbulbup said. “But I remember hearing a show once where a music critic who’d just listened to half a minute of a new recording was able to pop out with the piece, the conductor, and the ensemble playing it. If he could do that from the sound alone, who knows what someone like Thrawn could do with just a look?”