Grand Admiral

Volume 1 Chapter 12 -... to each according to his need

Volume 1 Chapter 12 —... to each according to his need

Nine years, five months and seven days after the Battle of Yavin...

Or forty-fourth year, five months and seven days after the Great ReSynchronization.

—In fifteen minutes we will be in the Tangrene system, Grand Admiral,— said Captain Pellaeon, who approached me.

Sitting in a chair on the bridge of the Chimera, I watched the numerous white and blue lights of hyperspace flicker before my eyes, stroking Ysalamiri, who was comfortably nestled in my arms.

—I understand you, captain,— I said in a calm tone. — Have you received a response from the Red Dragon?

—No, sir,— answered Pellaeon.

—Is that so? — I raised an eyebrow. —Curious. Responses from the commanders of other ships?

—None, sir,— Gilad declared. — Complete ignoring of requests sent by us. There is also no response from the Moff of the Morshdine sector.

—Continue to maintain the yellow alert level,— I ordered. and send someone to our dear friend the Jedi Master. Have him report to the bridge.

—Yes, sir,— Pellaeon responded.

So we fly — satisfied with ourselves, beaten, with a caravan of trophies behind us, not knowing what awaits us ahead. A dangerous combination, considering that I am the head of this «company of interests». A man in the body of a Chiss, trying his best, but not nearly matching the aura of the great commander Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Well, we can only hope that one of two things happens. Option for the development of events «Number One» —the Ubiqtorate will not try to grind us into powder in order to show who is in charge here. After all, the command of Imperial Intelligence and other intelligence agencies in Imperial Space are not idiots. They will not put their foot down because of my demands on the ships of their fleet. The Ubiqtorate has always been concerned with the good of the Empire. And organizing a public inter-imperial slaughter of some forces loyal to the Empire against others is not their style. That's what I was counting on when I gave Pellaeon the order for ships based on Tangrene. The Ubiqtorate will not risk open confrontation. They will most likely send someone higher than a simple coordinator to come to an agreement.

Option «Number Two». Now we will fly into Tangrene's orbit, and the ships of the fleet and everything, everything, everything they have are already waiting for us. And the meat grinder begins. In which, at the moment, given my still weak competence in the affairs of the space military fleet and the numerical advantage of the enemy, the only trump card is the notorious C'baoth. Rukh reported half an hour ago that the master was seen wandering around the residential compartments of the Chimera. Accordingly, the old boletus came to his senses. And if necessary, he will be able to provide us with all possible support. In a «battered fleet with trophies supported by the Battle Meditation of a crazy Jedi clone» versus «first-class Imperial military on ships with experienced crews» I would say that our chances are at least equal. At the most, I have more confidence that events will take place according to option «Number One».

—I am not your obedient puppet, Grand Admiral,— came the loud, but slightly shrill voice of the previously mentioned Jedi Master, who appeared from the Chimera's turbolift. — And I don't have to appear at your first request, like a naughty padawan!

There was silence in the control room. The naked challenge that the clone threw at me cannot go unnoticed. I need C'baoth to coordinate the military, whose professionalism has suffered greatly. But he must not be allowed to cross the boundaries of what is permitted especially in the presence of my subordinates. This undermines, first of all, my own authority. And this is unacceptable.