Timoti Zan - Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil

SENIOR CAPTAIN THRAWN | Mitthrawnuruodo Trial-born

ADMIRAL ARALANI

THALIAS | Mitthaliastov Trial-born

PATRIARCH THURFIAN | Mitthurfianico blood

MID CAPTAIN SAMAKRO | Ufsamakro merit adoptive

SENIOR CAPTAIN ZIINDA | Iriziindaro Trial-born

SUPREME GENERAL BAKIF

CHERI sky-walker

THE MAGYS

SYNDIC THRASS | Mitthrassafis cousin

CAPTAIN ROSCU | Clarrosculry blood

PATRIACH LAMIOV | Styblamiovodo blood

QILORI OF UANDUALON Pathfinder navigator (non-Chiss)

GENERALIRIUS NAKIRRE ruler of the Kilji Illumine

JIXTUS Grysk

UFSA

IRIZI

DASKLO

CLARR

CHAF

PLIKH

BOADIL

MITTH

OBBIC

BLOOD

COUSIN

RANKING DISTANT

TRIAL-BORN

MERIT ADOPTIVE

PATRIARCH head of the family

SPEAKER head of the familys delegation to the Syndicure

SYNDIC PRIME head syndic

SYNDIC member of the Syndicure, the main governmental body

PATRIEL handles family affairs on a planetary scale

COUNCILOR handles family affairs at the local level

ARISTOCRA mid-level member of one of the Nine Ruling Families

SUPREME ADMIRAL

SUPREME GENERAL

FLEET ADMIRAL

SENIOR GENERAL

ADMIRAL

GENERAL

MID ADMIRAL

MID GENERAL

COMMODORE

SENIOR CAPTAIN

MID CAPTAIN

JUNIOR CAPTAIN

SENIOR COMMANDER

MID COMMANDER

JUNIOR COMMANDER

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER

LIEUTENANT

SENIOR WARRIOR

MID WARRIOR

JUNIOR WARRIOR

For thousands of years, it has been an island of calm within the Chaos. It is a center of power, a model of stability, and a beacon of integrity. The Nine Ruling Families guard it from within; the Expansionary Defense Fleet guards it from without. Its neighbors are left in peace, its enemies are left in ruin. It is light and culture and glory.

It is the Chiss Ascendancy.

Prepare for breakout. Senior Captain Mitthrawnuruodos voice echoed across the Springhawks bridge. All officers and warriors stand prepared. Were not here to start trouble, but I intend to be ready for it.

First Officer Mid Captain Ufsamakro scowled to himself. Of course Senior Captain Thrawn didnt plan to start trouble. He never did. Yet somehow trouble always seemed to happen.

If that pattern was determined to continue, it couldnt have picked a better spot for it.

Bad enough that Zyzek was an alien system. Worse that Chiss records had nothing about it beyond its location and that it was a trading center for several of the small nations to the east and southeast of the Chiss Ascendancy. Even worse that Thrawn believed this to be the system where Captain Fsir and his fellow Watith had been recruited to launch their ambush attack on his ship.

Worst of all that no one else knew the Springhawk was here.

They should have gone straight back to the Ascendancy. They should have left the planet Hoxim and the skirmish Samakro had privately dubbed the Battle of the Three Families and headed back to Csilla for repairs, debriefing, and what was likely to be a memorable job of sweeping the whole mess out the door. All the other Chiss warships, the ones crewed exclusively by members of the Xodlak, Erighal, and Pommrio families, had done exactly that, making the slow jump-by-jump back home while their commanders no doubt struggled to write all this up in their logs.

But not the Springhawk. The hours Thrawn had spent studying the Watith freighter before its destruction had somehow convinced him that Zyzek was where Fsir had come from. From there, it was only a small leap of tactical logic to swinging by that system on their way home and taking a look.

Samakro understood the strategy. On one level, he even agreed with it. The Springhawk had Sky-walker Cheri to speed it on its way through the twisting hyperspace pathways of the Chaos, while any observer whod been lurking around to report on the battle would have some lesser navigator or none at all. The fact that Thrawn could get to Zyzek ahead of that news could be a major advantage in information gathering.

But that was one small plus, and it was piled on top of a whole stack of minuses.

Breakout: Three, two, one.

The star-flares collapsed into stars, and the Springhawk had arrived.

Full scan, Thrawn ordered. Pay special attention to the ships in the various orbits. Ill want as complete a catalog of ship types as possible, along with where in the orbital stack they are.

Yes, Senior Captain, Mid Commander Elodalvumic acknowledged from the sensor station.

Kharill, assist her with the cataloging, Thrawn added.

Yes, sir. The voice of Senior Commander Plikharillmorf came over the speaker from secondary command. Dalvu, mark which sectors you want us to handle from here.

Yes, Senior Commander, Dalvu said. Marking them now.

Watch for movement, either inward as an attempt to hide from us or outward in an attempt to flee, Thrawn said. Were here to see if we can create a reaction. He nodded toward the helm. Azmordi, start moving us inward. Sky-walker Cheri, stand ready in case we need to leave quickly.

Yes, sir, Lieutenant Commander Tumazmordiamir said from the helm.

Yes, Senior Captain, Sky-walker Cheris caregiver Mitthaliastov echoed.

Samakro let his eyes sweep slowly across the bridge. Dalvu, Kharill, Azmordi. Officers hed served with a long time, dating back to when hed commanded the Springhawk and continuing through Thrawns current tenure as captain. He knew them and their abilities and trusted them with his life.

Thalias, on the other hand

He focused on the caregiver as she turned back to the viewport, her hand resting reassuringly on Cheris shoulder. Thalias was still far too much of a mystery to him, with uncertainties and doubts swirling around her.

Worse, from Samakros point of view, she carried the stench of family politics. Syndic Mitthurfianico had done some fancy maneuvering in order to get her aboard the Springhawk, and Samakro still didnt know what Thurfians game was.