“You are indeed wizards if you can glean so much from so little,” Fsir said. “Very well. Can you estimate how long this examination will take?”
“Five days at the most,” Thrawn said. “Likely only three or four. In the meantime, you’re free to continue your planetary survey.”
“Our survey was largely complete,” Fsir said, sounding doubtful. “Still, I suppose we could fill the time by beginning the follow-up study to find a suitable location for the transmitter. A more immediate concern, and the reason I asked for your time line, is that with the failure of these ships to return the Vagaari may send out a search party.”
“If they do, we’ll deal with them.”
“Yes,” Fsir said, his voice sounding uncertain. “I merely thought a wiser strategy might be to attack their base quickly, before they were alerted that there may be trouble.”
“In general, that is indeed a good strategy,” Thrawn agreed. “In this case, knowing as much about the enemy as possible offers a potentially better advantage even than surprise.”
“I yield to your deeper knowledge of such things,” Fsir said. “Very well, we shall wait until you are ready. Nevertheless, I urge you to move as quickly on your studies as possible.”
“We’ll get to it immediately,” Thrawn promised. “While my people are working on that, perhaps you could give me a tour of your vessel.”
“Why would you want such a thing?” Fsir asked, his voice suddenly guarded.
“I want to meet your crew and technicians,” Thrawn explained. “We’ll be going into a likely combat situation, and I need to assess your capabilities.”
“Combat is your venue, Senior Captain,” Fsir said. “We have no intention of getting near any battles.”
“The Vagaari may have other ideas,” Thrawn said drily. “Regardless, I need to know what your ship and people are capable of in order to properly plan my tactics.”
“I doubt we’re capable of anything, really,” Fsir admitted. “More to the point, we have a great deal of proprietary equipment aboard for our work on the relay station. My superiors would be highly displeased if any of our secrets were deciphered and appropriated.”
“In my experience, there is little that can be learned from simply observing the casings of electronic equipment,” Thrawn said. “Particularly since the labeling will all be in your script, which undoubtedly is unknown to us. Your navigational equipment can of course be shrouded to prevent me from obtaining any clues to your world’s location.”
“I suppose,” Fsir said, still sounding hesitant.
“Perhaps your superiors could be persuaded to look upon it as payment for our rescue of their people and secrets,” Thrawn suggested. “In addition, a visit would give you the opportunity to see if your legends of the Chiss are accurate.”
“Who suggested we even have legends of the Chiss?”
Thrawn smiled. “Come now, Captain. Everyone in the near reaches of the Chaos has legends of the Chiss.”
Fsir sighed. “Very well, Senior Captain. Give me some time to prepare and coordinate with my people. I’ll contact you when we’re ready.”
“I’ll await your call,” Thrawn said. “In the meantime, we’ll begin our work on the battle debris. Farewell.”
He tapped off his mike. “Mid Captain Samakro, have Shuttle One prepped and arrange for four armed guards to meet me there.”
“Are you sure four will be enough?” Samakro asked, pulling out his questis and logging the orders. “And do you want any other officers along?”
“Four guards will be sufficient,” Thrawn said. “And including other officers would make Fsir think we had ulterior motives in coming aboard.”
Thalias smiled to herself. Of course there were no ulterior motives. Certainly none Fsir and his fellow Watith would suspect. Not even Thrawn’s fellow Chiss really understood how much of a people’s culture and society he could glean merely by looking at their clothing and their ship’s décor.
“Also organize three shuttle crews to begin collecting debris,” Thrawn continued. “They’re to focus on larger pieces, but also gather samples of dust.”
“And bodies?” Samakro asked.
“Yes, if there are any,” Thrawn said. “Though I didn’t see anything in the explosions’ aftermath that looked intact. Mid Commander Dalvu?”
“I saw no bodies, either, Senior Captain,” the sensor officer concurred. “But even if nothing survived intact, there should be fragments.”
“Agreed,” Thrawn said. “If so, Mid Captain, make sure the collection crews watch for them.”
“Yes, sir,” Samakro said, still working his questis. “Is there anything in particular you want the analysts to look for?”
“Begin with the missile debris and electronics I mentioned to Captain Fsir,” Thrawn said. “Body fragments are to be analyzed for genetic material.”
He looked out the viewport to the distant Watith ship. “I want to know if Vagaari were flying those gunboats,” he added. “And if not, who was.”
Senior Aide Lakjiip’s eyes went a little wider as she read Lakinda’s personnel profile from her questis. “Senior Captain Xodlak’in’daro,” she said, sounding both surprised and a little bit in awe. “Senior Captain. Excuse me, but I confess I hadn’t expected anyone of your rank and status to answer the family summons.”
“I don’t know why not,” Lakinda said. “I’m as much Xodlak as you are.”
“Yes, of course you are,” Lakjiip said hastily. “I just … apologies, Senior Captain. We’ve been highly gratified by the response already, and your presence is a fantastic additional bonus to the operation. It underlines the immense pride we all have in our family.”
“I’m glad we’re all working together,” Lakinda said, studying the other woman. The emergency summons had come from Patriel Lakooni, and Lakinda had naturally expected that someone from the Patriel’s office would be in charge here. Why was a mere Councilor’s senior aide passing out the duty assignments? “What exactly is this all about?”
“I note that the ship you command, the Grayshrike, is a heavy cruiser,” Lakjiip continued, still peering at her questis. “As you may know, we have an old family frigate, the Midsummer, which has been stored here for the past fifty years. We’d be honored if you would agree to be its commander.”
“I’m happy to serve wherever Patriel Lakooni deems best,” Lakinda said. “What’s the Midsummer’s current status?”
“About ninety percent,” Lakjiip said. “Our local crews have been working on bringing it up ever since Patriel Lakooni sent out the emergency call three days ago. And as other officers and warriors began arriving, those work parties were of course steadily expanded.” Her lip twitched. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll have the time and personnel to give you both cruisers. However, the Apogee is the better of the two, and the overseers estimate both it and the Midsummer will be ready to fly within the next ten to twelve hours.”
“I see I made it just in time,” Lakinda said. “May I ask where Patriel Lakooni is right now?”
“She and Councilor Lakuviv are coordinating the operation from Councilor Lakuviv’s office,” Lakjiip said. “I’m sure she’ll be available to offer some words of encouragement before things heat up.”