"Gone to the transport ship to talk to the admiral," Doriana said, finishing with his tunic and starting to pull on his boots. "Car'das went with him."

And that was another problem, he reminded himself soberly. Like Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Car'das knew far too much about what had happened out here. And unlike the Chiss, he definitely would soon be traveling back to the Republic. After he dealt with Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Doriana would have to make equally sure that Car'das never told his story to the wrong people.

The rescued Geroons had been herded into the cargo bay, the only place aboard the transport big enough to hold them all. Most were sitting cross-legged in small groups, talking quietly among themselves, the most recent arrivals still working on the food sticks and hot drinks Admiral Ar'alani's warriors had provided them. All of them looked a little dazed, as if having trouble believing they were actually free of the Vagaari.

Standing to the side just inside one of the bay doors, trying to stay out of the way of both the Geroons and the Chiss crewers moving about them, Car'das looked out at the mult.i.tude, his heart and mind fatigued beyond anything he'd ever experienced. A thousand times in the past day he'd wondered what he was doing in the middle of this whole thing; wondered how in the galaxy Thrawn had managed to talk him into playing bait for the Vagaari.

But it had worked. It had all worked. The Geroons had been freed, not only these particular slaves but probably their entire world as well.

Admiral Ar'alani had already said that when the transport returned the slaves to their home she would bring along a task force of Chiss warships for protection. Any Vagaari still hanging around the system wouldn't be lunging around there for long.

And as for Outbound Flight .. .

He closed his eves. Fifty thousand people dead, the entire populace of the six Dreadnaughts. Had that really been necessary? Stratis had said it had, and Thrawn hadn't contradicted him. But had that really been the only way?

Car'das would probably never know for sure. Distantly, he wondered what Mails was going to say when she found out what her n.o.ble hero had done.

"Even now, they don't seem to believe it," a voice murmured from his left.

Car'das opened his eyes. Thra.s.s was standing beside him, a strange expression on his face as he gazed across the crowded bay. "Syndic Thra.s.s," Car'das greeted him. "I didn't realize you were aboard."

"Admiral Ar'alani suggested I come," Thra.s.s said, his eyes still on the Geroons. "She seemed to think she and I and my brother could now resolve the question of the Vagaari goods being held at Crustai and allow you and your companions to go on your way."

He turned his eyes onto Car'das. "Now that you and I have apparently served our purposes."

Car'das held his gaze without flinching. "I have no problems with having been a part of your brother's plan," he said evenly. "Neither should you."

"I was manipulated and controlled," Thra.s.s said, his eyes flashing with resentment.

"For your own protection," Car'das countered. "If Thrawn and Ar'alani had brought you into the plan, your future would have been just as much on the line as theirs were."

"And as they are now," Thra.s.s pointed out darkly. "The Nine Ruling Families will not stand for such an illegal and immoral attack."

"Number one," Car'das said, lifting a finger. "This system is within the patrol region of the Chiss Expansionary Fleet. That makes it Chiss territory. Number two: the Vagaari arrived in force with the clear intent of causing harm. That makes Commander Thrawn's actions self-defense, as far as I'm concerned."

"They were here only because you had so enticed them."

"I'm not bound by your rules," Car'das reminded him. "Besides, as Admiral Ar'alani will attest, your brother had publicly labeled me as a possible spy. If I got desperate enough to go to the Vagaari for help in freeing my companions, you can hardly blame that on him."

Thra.s.s's lip twisted. "No, Thrawn has always been very good at hiding his hand when he wishes to do so."

"Which seems to me takes care of the legal aspects," Car'das concluded.

"As to your other objection-" He gestured toward the Geroons. "-I defy you to look at these people and tell me how freeing them from tyranny could possibly be immoral."

"The morality of an action is not determined by the results," Thra.s.s said stiffly. His face softened a little. "Still, in this case, it's a hard point to argue."

"I saw the way the Vagaari treated their slaves," Car'das said, shivering at the memories of the Geroons the Miskara had murdered in cold blood.

"In my opinion, the universe is well rid of them."

"I would tend to agree," Thra.s.s said. "But Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano may not see things so clearly."

Car'das frowned. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"He and vessels of the Fifth Ruling Family are on their way here," Thra.s.s said grimly. "I had a brief communication with him just before leaving Crustai. I suspect he intends to place Thrawn under arrest."

Car'das felt his throat tighten. "Does Thrawn know about this?"

"No."

"We need to tell him, and fast," Car'das said grimly. "Do you know where he is?"

"I believe he and Admiral Ar'alani have gone across to inspect Outbound Flight."

"Then let's get over there," Car'das said. "Come on-my shuttle's in one of the portside docking stations."

With a creak of not-quite-aligned metal fittings, the turbolift door reluctantly slid open. "Looks like we've got air seals again," Uliar commented, peering upward into the car. The ceiling was mostly intact, but one of the scams had cracked open and at its edge he could see the faint rainbow discoloration of a ma.s.sive radiation surge. Had one or more of the reactors gone up? Unlikely. Even down here in the core they should have heard something that catastrophic.

"That shaft's going to be a mess, though," Keely muttered, stepping tentatively up beside Uliar. "And the Dreadnaughts themselves will be worse. This could take awhile."

"Then let's not waste any more time talking about it," Uliar said. He started to step into the car "No," Jinzler said, reaching out to touch his arm. She, too, was gazing at the car ceiling, a look of concentration on her face. "I'm going alone."

"Alone's never a good idea in this kind of situation," Keely warned.

"Alone for a Jedi is sometimes the only way," she said. Her eyes came back to him, and some of the concentration faded.

"Don't worry. As soon as I've found someplace safe, I'll come back and get you."

"You sure you don't want at least a little company?" Uliar asked, eyeing her closely. He didn't really want to go poking around up there, not with all the destruction and bodies and all. But he didn't like the idea of letting this Jedi out of his sight, either.

"Very sure," Jinzler said. "Go back and wait until I come for you."

"Whatever you say," Keely said, plucking at Uliar's sleeve. "Come on, Chas."

"Okay," Uliar said reluctantly, stepping back as Jinzler got into the car. "Make it fast."

"I'll try," Jinzler said, giving him a rea.s.suring smile.

She was still smiling as the door creaked shut between them.

They found Thrawn and Ar'alani on the bridge of the main command ship, standing amid a bustling crowd of Chiss crewers methodically checking out the still-active control consoles. There were a lot of bodies there, too, lying haphazardly all over the deck. For once, Car'das hardly even noticed. "Ah-my brother," Thrawn said as Thra.s.s and Car'das made their way through the maze of consoles. "Are the Geroons being properly cared for?"

"Never mind the Geroons," Car'das put in before Thra.s.s could answer.

"Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano's on his way with a fleet of Fifth Family ships."

"On whose authority do they fly?" Ar'alani demanded.

"The Aristocra's own, I presume," Thrawn said, his eyes narrowed in thought. "How soon until they arrive?"

"They could be here at any time," Thra.s.s said. "I suspect he's coming to raise charges against you."

"In that case he would hardly need a fleet of vessels," Thrawn pointed out. "No, the Aristocra has something far more profitable in mind."

"Outbound Flight?" Car'das asked.

"Actually, I expect he's hoping to take possession of the remains of the Vagaari fleet," Thrawn said. "But you're right. Once he sees Outbound Flight that priority will definitely change."

"He can't do that," Thra.s.s protested. He looked at Ar'alani. "Can he?"

"Not legally," Ar'alani said, her voice tight. "But as a practical matter, if he's brought enough vessels, there'll be no way for us to stop him."

"The Council of Families-" Thra.s.s began.

"-will certainly object," Ar'alani cut in. "But the procedure will be long and complex."

"And in the meantime the Fifth Family will be coaxing the secrets from their new prize," Thrawn said.

Thra.s.s hissed, a startlingly reptilian sound. "We can't allow that," he said. "Possession of Outbound Flight by any one Family could destroy the balance of power for decades to come."

Car'das nodded, a hard knot forming in his stomach. The thought of getting their hands on droid technology alone had been enough to lure the Vagaari to their destruction. How much more of an edge would the droids plus the rest of Outbound Flight's technology give Chaf'orm'bintrano's family?

"We'll have to stall him," Ar'alani said. But she didn't sound very confident. "We must keep his people off this vessel until the Defense Fleet units I've summoned can arrive."

"They won't be in time," Thrawn said. "We need to take Outbound Flight to a military base immediately and have it declared Defense Fleet property."

"How long a trip are we talking about?" Car'das asked dubiously. "This thing's taken a lot of damage."

"It will push the systems to their limit," Thrawn conceded. "But we must try. It would be better for Outbound Flight to be destroyed than to let any single family claim it."

There was a flicker of movement at the corner of Car'das's eye. He turned to the canopy.

Just as the last of a dozen large Chiss ships came out of hypers.p.a.ce.

"Too late," he said. "He's here."

Ar'alani muttered a word that had never come up in Car'das's language lessons. "We'll have to make do with the crewers you already have aboard," she said. "Quickly, before-"

She broke off at a twitter from Thrawn's comlink. Thrawn looked out at the ships, then reluctantly pulled the device from his belt. "Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo."

"Commander, Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano of the Fifth Ruling Family is signaling the Springhawk," a voice said. "He demands your immediate presence aboard the Chaf Exalted."

Thrawn's eyes flicked to Ar'alani. "Do not acknowledge his signal," he ordered.

"It was not a request, Commander," the voice warned.

"Do not acknowledge," Thrawn repeated, and clicked off the comlink.

"Thrawn, you can't simply refuse an Aristocra's direct order," Thra.s.s objected.

"I haven't yet received any direct orders from the Aristocra," Thrawn said evenly. "Car'das, find me the helm."

"Yes, sir," Car'das said, peering at the nearest consoles. And then Ar'alani's comlink twittered.

All eyes turned to her. "Clever" was all she said as she removed it from her belt and keyed it on. "Admiral Ar'alani."

"This is Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano," a voice boomed. "I've been unable to contact Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo, and I suspect he's refusing to communicate with me. As an Aristocra of the Fifth Ruling Family, I order you to find and detain him pending a hearing on his recent military activities."

Ar'alani hesitated, and Car'das held his breath. Then, with clear reluctance, she nodded. "Acknowledged, Aristocra. I hear, and obey."

She shut off the comlink. "I'm sorry, Commander," she said to Thrawn. "I have no choice but to place you under detention."

"This will destroy the Chiss," Thrawn said quietly. "The Defense Fleet, and only the Defense Fleet, can safely take possession of this vessel."

"I understand, and I'll do what I can to stall the Aristocra," Ar'alani said. "But in the meantime, you are under detention. Order your people to a.s.semble in the hangar to return to our vessels."

For a long moment Thrawn stood motionless. Then, slowly, he bowed his head and activated his comlink. "This is Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo," he said. "All Chiss warriors aboard Outbound Flight: return to the hangar bay."

"Thank you," Ar'alani said. "Now if you please?" she added, gesturing back toward the blast doors. "You, too, Car'das."

Car'das took a deep breath. "I'm not under Chiss command, Admiral," he said. "I'd like to stay aboard awhile longer."

Ar'alani's eves narrowed. "What are you planning? Surely you can't fly this vessel alone."

"I'm not under Chiss command," Car'das repeated. "And the Aristocra's order didn't mention me."

Ar'alani looked at Thrawn, then at the incoming Fifth Family ships, then finally back at Car'das. "Permission granted," she said. She started toward the blast doors "I'll also stay," Thra.s.s said.

Ar'alani stopped in midstep. "What?"

"I'm also not under Chiss military command," Thra.s.s said. "And Aristocra Charorm'bintrano didn't mention me, either."

Ar'alani sent a hard look at Thrawn. "We'll both be destroyed by this,"

she warned.

"The role of a warrior is to protect the Chiss people," Thrawn reminded her. "The warrior's own survival is of only secondary importance."

For half a dozen heartbeats the two of them locked gazes. Then, with a hissing sigh, Ar'alani turned to Thra.s.s. "Pesfavri is the nearest Defense Fleet base," she said. "You know the coordinates?"

Thra.s.s nodded. "Yes."

"Then we leave you," she said, nodding to him. "May warriors' fortune smile on your efforts."

She continued toward the blast doors. Thrawn lingered for a last, long look at his brother, then followed.

And a minute later, Car'das and Thra.s.s were alone. "You really think we can get this thing all the way to a military base?" Car'das asked.