Grand Admiral

Volume 1 Chapter 7 - Limits of Trust

Another chapter. I will continue to try to make direct speech more understandable. Enjoy reading.

One - inhale - and the arms bend at the elbows at a right angle.

Two - exhale - and the upper limbs straighten.

— The data requested by Lieutenant Tschel — repetition of "one ." - Serial numbers...

Breathe again...

I've already heard all this from you, Lieutenant Colonel," the Grand Admiral's voice didn't even waver. - Further.

— They belong to the ships that suffered in the Battle of Endor, — and again bending the arms. — — The hyperdrive has been removed, — and the arms flex again, — from a Karakka-class light cruiser. — Seven of these ships were damaged in the battle and sent for repairs - straightening - to a base in the Outer Rim. - Bending again, - Three weeks later, the ISB became interested in the reason, - and again the body lowers to the deck, - along which the starships were not commissioned in the designated lines, - a smooth rise. — It turned out that the ships were not at the shipyard. He repaired the hull, but not the main hyperdrives; they were not fully restored  — like the two dozen Tartans that were being repaired at the same base — if the Grand Admiral hoped to wear him out with simple physical exercises, it was in vain. Despite his "office" position, the lieutenant colonel was in excellent physical shape at his age. — However, the ships were handed over to the "imperial officer" for transportation to their duty stations. It was established that this was one of the deserted officers who later joined the military leader Zsinj and became his right hand. Some of the ships - in particular the Karakkas - surfaced later in his fleet and were destroyed. Based on some signs, we realized that the equipment on the ships was replaced with identical equipment, but from other types of ships.

— Someone dismantled the Tartans to make the Karakkas more combat-ready? - asked Captain Pellaeon.

— The ISB suggests that yes,  — said Astarion, once again descending to the deck. - Nine years ago I couldn't get to... the one who stole our ships... but now...

— Enough exercise, Lieutenant Colonel, — said the Grand Admiral.

Astarion cheerfully returned to a vertical position, straightening his jacket.

— So, you are an ISB operative for the fleet, — Thrawn said thoughtfully. — It's curious why they sent you from the Ubictorate and not an Imperial Intelligence agent, as we requested. Considering the fact that the ISB and Imperial Intelligence are competing government agencies that have often declared unspoken war on each other.

— Because the Ubiqtorate is a bunch of arrogant snobs who only care about staying in their posts longer and lining their pockets, —  the lieutenant colonel thought, remembering how humiliating it had been to negotiate to join the active fleet. He was refused by the ISB - during the Imperial Civil War, many operatives were killed and the survivors were even recalled from the ships of the fleet, as long as there was something to cover the remaining territories. Maintaining order and countering enemy intelligence is just as important, if not the most important. I had to jump over my head, go through acquaintances in the Ubiqtorate, and arrange a small "business trip" for myself. But anything is better than wasting time on Orinda trying to figure out which bureaucrats stole how much money from repairing government starships.

— It happened so, sir, — the lieutenant colonel answered clearly.

— I see, — Thrawn said dryly, looking at the commander of his flagship:

— The situation with the Tartans is beginning to become clearer, Captain Pellaeon. Now doubts about the veracity of our pirate are at their maximum. Most likely, he is trading with us starships that were stolen in the past.