Grand Admiral

Volume 1 Chapter 13 - Skull and Bones

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

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

Well, we can conditionally say that coordinator Sergius can be trusted. At least in assessing the personality of the Moff and Captain I-Gor, he was not mistaken.

Well, now let's test his loyalty in a more serious matter.

Having informed Bravo-2 that I was interested in the crew of the ship on which Talon Karrde had previously served, I gave him half a day to prepare for the operation. This period was needed primarily so that our own naval intelligence officers could check whether the coordinator would send the information received to his former «masters». Didn't send.

But this allowed Captain I-Gor to prepare his ship for the upcoming flight.

It took me a lot of trouble to remember the place where exactly in the events known to me the Empire discovered the former commander of the Claw.

To independently search for information, I had only a few input data —what I was able to reconstruct from memory.

The captain's last name is Hoffner. He was found in a floating casino. Moreover, the establishment is not for the middle class. I also remembered that in the events known to me, the Imperials had to fire at an underwater casino in order to force the establishment to rise to the surface.

I had to spend a lot of time on my own at the computer before the scanty «clues» led to the result.

Planet Pantolomin. This world, almost completely covered by ocean, is located in the region of the Central Worlds, in the zone of influence of the New Republic. Sector Dolomar, Panto system. On the tactical coordinate network —in quadrant K-9. There are actually quite a few fashionable casinos and entertainment centers on the planet located on underwater tourist ships.

I just couldn't find out which of these ships Captain Hoffner was on, and whether he was present there now.

But Mr. Coordinator succeeded.

What he did not fail to inform me about at the end of the time allotted for preparation.

—Coral Vanda,— said the coordinator. — This is an amphibious tourist ship, for clients with high solvency. Captain Hoffner lives there in relatively expensive apartments. Spends indecently large amounts of money. Well known for his «big» gestures to staff. Passionate, arrogant. Does not play any machines or cards. However, he certainly participates in almost every game. Of course —with a sad result for your pocket.

To say that finding Hoffner in such a short time was a stroke of luck would be an understatement. But, I think, this is more a merit of the professionalism of Imperial Intelligence than an accident. The only question is whether the work of Imperial Intelligence in this context will become for me that very «act of betrayal» that will disrupt my plans.

— Is anything known about the other members of Karrde's crew? —I asked.

—Of the crew of the ship on which Karrde and Hoffner served, only these two remained alive,— answered the coordinator. —The rest either died in smuggler feuds or were killed by Imperial law enforcement.

—You did a great job, coordinator,— I said calmly. — As far as I remember, not so long ago the reputation of the Ubiqtorate suffered significant damage —the rebels struck Tangrene. We will not ignore this act. You and your people go to the Churba star system in the sector of the same name. On the planet New Cov, according to the information I have, there are agents of the person responsible for this crime. Your first priority is to contact the Governor and convince him to transfer some of the biomolecular mass being developed there to us in exchange for the fact that his planet will not be subject to Imperial invasion.