Thrawn Chimaera : Galactic Civil War

Chapter Seventeen

Ziinuuvitas glanced when the door behind them hissed and Konstantine and his captain entered the War Room of the Chimaera, joining them.

She exchanged a short look with Thrawn before his eyes landed sternly on the holo projector that displayed the map.

"The blockade over Synistahg is proceeding as planned. Martial law has been declared on Mykapo, but a small pocket of resistance continues to be troublesome." Konstantine's Captain said.

"Mykapo has no armed militia or starfighter corps." Thrawn drawled. "What resistance is there to be so troublesome?"

He spoke in his usual cold, stern tone, raising his left eyebrow slightly, keeping the hands behind his back.

"One ship calling themselves the Iron Squadron recently attacked an advance patrol with the aid of this rebel vessel." The captain said, bringing up the image that she feared.

"Aaah... The Ghost." Thrawn practically whispered. "They're likely evacuating the treasonous inhabitants before we can arrest them." He explained. "As for this Iron Squadron, very curious."

"Nothing that can't be quickly handled Grand Admiral. Should I commence preparations?" she asked him, looking up at his face.

She was hoping he would say yes: give Konstantine a new mission and let her deal with the Ghost (in a way that would make it seem like she wasn't helping them).

"No..." he looked at her in return and offered a gentle reply with the yes... before he glanced back over his shoulder, coldly and changed his tone. "Admiral Konstantine, go to Mykapo and lock down the system."

His low tone chilled her to the bones and she was glad he often spared her from it.

But what was that look just now? Was he thankful for her help? Did she actually help him that much?

Maybe he really was the worse with politics.

"I will deploy a squadron of ships." Konstantine said with confidence.

"No, Admiral." Thrawn raised his hand. "I want you to handle it yourself. A single light cruiser should be more than sufficient for a man of your talents."

The Grand Admiral was obviously mocking Konstantine. But it sounded like she was the only one to hear the subtle sarcasm in his tone. Or maybe the others were just dense.

So that's his plan. He want's Konstantine to be in a place where he will certainly fail. Eventually he'll either die or his mistakes will be impossible to ignore even for the rest of the Navy.

"You would send me in one ship?" Konstantine asked.

Ah. Not so confident after all, brave Admiral Konstantine.

"Unless you're not up to it." The blue man taunted.

"I will leave immediately." Konstantine replied with a deep head bow.

The two men left the room and they were alone again.

"If the Ghost is involved, I would rather wait before making a move." He tells her. "The Iron Squadron was the group led by Commander Jun Sato's own brother. The son went missing after his death, presumed dead. Now, in the light of the recent events, and the obvious change of tactics from that Squadron, it's clear that the boy lives. A child, seeking to avenge his father. They attack any imperial vessel on sight, and don't even seem to comprehend which targets would be better to eliminate. There were reported instances when, given the choice, they attacked cargo ships instead of military ones. No doubt the Ghost has been dispatched by Sato to rescue his nephew from what can easily be a quick death."