“It was just a question,” Qilori said hastily. For all his bland and almost comical appearance, this Haplif creature had a definite blood streak in him. “I don’t know anything about this sort of thing. Who will I be navigating for?”
“A minor Chiss official from a minor Chiss world,” Haplif said. “That’s all you need to know.”
Qilori tensed again, feeling his winglets flatten across his cheeks. “May I ask if you anticipate any military action?”
Haplif snorted. “What’s the problem, Pathfinder? Are you afraid of a little laserfire?”
“I’m afraid of professionals who think they can casually stray out of their area of expertise,” Qilori shot back. “You talk of weaving a path to destruction. Fine. This is obviously some sort of con game, and I have no doubt you know what you’re doing. I just don’t want it to morph into warfare you might not be ready for. Especially since I’ll be squarely in the middle of it.”
“There will indeed be military action, Pathfinder,” Jixtus said. “But it won’t involve Haplif, and you won’t be anywhere near it. Is that good enough?”
Qilori felt his winglets quiver. Arguing with Jixtus was undoubtedly dangerous. But walking into a Chiss battle would be worse. “With all due respect, sir, that depends on who’s doing the shooting,” he said carefully. “There are Chiss I would never face if there were any other alternatives.”
“Yes, yes, we know all about them,” Haplif said impatiently. “Supreme General Ba’kif, Admiral Ar’alani, one or two of the younger commodores—”
“And Senior Captain Thrawn,” Qilori interrupted.
Haplif made a rude sound. “A senior captain? You must be joking. My lord, we’re wasting time—”
“Patience, Haplif of the Agbui,” Jixtus said, a note of curiosity in his voice. “You’ve mentioned that name to me before, Pathfinder, have you not?”
“I have,” Qilori confirmed. “He was the one who took down General Yiv.”
“Nonsense,” Haplif said. “I’ve seen the reports. It was Ar’alani who led the battle over Primea from the Vigilant, assisted by Senior Captain Lakinda of the Grayshrike and Mid Captain Samakro of the Springhawk.”
“I didn’t say he defeated the Nikardun,” Qilori said stiffly. “I said he took down Yiv. That he, personally, took down General Yiv.”
“Yiv had his own Battle Dreadnought,” Jixtus said mildly.
“Thrawn had a one-person freighter,” Qilori said. “Are you starting to understand who this Chiss is?”
Haplif shook his head. “No. I don’t believe it.”
“I was there, Haplif,” Qilori said. “I saw it; and on one level I don’t even believe it. But it happened.” He looked back at Jixtus. “Again with respect, sir, if you listen to me on anything, please listen to me on this. If Thrawn gets involved in this operation, it’s over. And not in a good way.”
For a long moment, the room was silent. Qilori waited, his cheek winglets fluttering. In the vast emptiness between stars. If Jixtus decided to take offense at Qilori’s words or his tone …
“I had wondered why the officially listed commander of the Springhawk wasn’t named in the rolls of the battle,” Jixtus said at last, his voice more thoughtful than angry. “Perhaps it would be wise to arrange for this Senior Captain Thrawn to be elsewhere when Haplif’s web-weaving comes to its completion. Would that make you happy, Qilori of Uandualon?”
“Yes, sir,” Qilori said, feeling his winglets settle down a bit. “Though I’d be happier if he could be eliminated entirely.”
“What, a military man who can defeat a Battle Dreadnought with a freighter?” Jixtus asked drily. “Still, another good thought. I’ll see what I can arrange.”
“Thank you, sir,” Qilori said. “What do you want me to do to help?”
“You?” From behind Jixtus’s veil came an amused chuckle. “Please. If General Yiv couldn’t handle Thrawn, I doubt you can.”
“Besides, I thought you wanted to stay clear of the shooting,” Haplif muttered.
“At any rate, you have your assignments,” Jixtus said. “And no, Pathfinder, I’ll make my own arrangements for this Thrawn. Hints and rumors in the right ears should remove him a sufficient distance from Haplif’s web.” He gestured, a wave that encompassed both Qilori and Haplif. “You may go.”
“Thank you, sir,” Qilori said. He worked his way out of his chair, looking sideways at Haplif as he did so. If the Agbui resented the fact that Jixtus had taken Qilori’s side of the argument, there could be trouble once they were together and out of Jixtus’s sight.
But there was nothing ominous he could see in Haplif’s expression. Apparently, he was the kind of good soldier who didn’t let his pride get in the way of following his commander’s decisions.
That, or he was too busy getting out of his own chair right now to worry about such things.
“You will leave your ship here, Qilori,” Jixtus continued. “Haplif will bring you back to retrieve it when the job is finished.”
“Yes, sir,” Qilori said, trying to keep his winglets steady. He’d taken the ship out on a recompensed favor, and there would be livid hell to pay back at the concourse if he held on to it too long.
But he’d survived one argument with Jixtus. He had no intention of risking a second. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Haplif, now back on his feet, had given Jixtus a little bow. Qilori did likewise, then turned to follow Haplif toward the hatch—
“One more thing, Qilori,” Jixtus said.
Qilori turned back, his winglets twitching. “Yes?”
“You’ve navigated many Chiss ships, have you not?” Jixtus asked.
“Yes, sir,” Qilori said. More of them than he’d ever wanted to, actually.
“Freighters and long-range transports?”
“Some,” Qilori said, wondering where the hooded alien was going with this. “A few diplomatic ships, as well.”
“Any warships?”
“One or two.” Qilori winced at the memory. “Thrawn hired me to navigate for him a couple of times.”
“And yet, it appears that most Chiss military craft don’t hire navigators at all,” Jixtus said. “Would you agree?”
“I don’t know,” Qilori said, his winglets fluttering again. “I can only speak from my own experience. Though now that you mention it, I don’t recall other Pathfinders talking about such jobs.”
“That leaves two possibilities,” Jixtus said. “Either the Chiss have their own group of navigators, some aliens hidden on an obscure world of the Ascendancy …” He paused. “Or they have a means of finding their way through the Chaos without navigator assistance.”
Qilori frowned. “What other means could there be?”
“It is said that millennia ago, the Chiss adventured into Lesser Space, taking part in wars between two hostile factions over vast and ever-shifting regions,” Jixtus said, his voice again thoughtful. “Those factions reportedly had special navigational techniques that involved computers or mechanical constructs. Even now, those in that part of the galaxy use such techniques.”
“I see,” Qilori said as he saw where Jixtus was going. “You think the Chiss may have brought some of those devices back when they got tired of the wars and withdrew to the Ascendancy?”
“Possibly,” Jixtus said. “And no, I don’t expect you to solve this mystery for me at this time. But be aware that the mystery exists, and be watchful.” He gestured toward the hatch. “Now go.”
“Yes, my lord,” Haplif said. With another bow, he turned again and left the meditation room. Qilori did the same, then hurried to catch up.