The Garwian seated behind the desk as they were ushered in was younger than Thalias had expected for what sounded like such a prestigious post. He sat motionless and silent as they walked up to the two guest chairs facing the desk and sat down. Looking over Thalias’s shoulder, the alien nodded to their guide, and she heard the door shut behind them.

“I see you’ve risen in your profession, Second Defense Overlord,” Thrawn said calmly. “Congratulations.”

“As you have likewise, Senior Captain Thrawn,” Frangelic said, inclining his head. “And your companion?”

“My hostage,” Thrawn corrected.

Frangelic seemed to draw back in his chair. “Since when do the Chiss keep hostages?”

“Since long before we took to the stars,” Thrawn said. “It’s sometimes invoked as a security matter between families. We rarely speak of it openly to strangers, but since she is here you must be brought into my confidence. I trust you’ll keep it a private matter?”

“Of course. Has she a name?”

Thrawn looked at Thalias, as if he was trying to remember it. “Thalias.”

“Thalias,” Frangelic greeted her gravely. He studied her a moment, his eyes seeming to trace some of the spirals and ridges of the makeup curling around her face, then returned his attention to Thrawn. “Let me be clear from the outset. The Ruleri have met in special session over the past hour, and they have informed me that their feelings are mixed concerning your return to Solitair. They feel your last interaction with the Garwian people…the word betrayal wasn’t actually spoken, but the thoughts and attitudes tended in that direction.”

“I remember things differently,” Thrawn said. “But that is the past. Right now, both the Ascendancy and the Unity face an uncertain and dangerous future. I bring a proposal that aims to address both problems.”

“Interesting.” Frangelic eyed him. “Continue.”

“I believe we both face a new enemy called the Nikardun,” Thrawn said. Keying his questis, he handed it across the desk. “We know of three, possibly four, nations in the region that have either been quietly conquered or are currently under siege.”

“We know these nations,” Frangelic said, studying the questis. “As well as two others that seem to have drastically changed both their governments and their attitudes toward outsiders.”

“So you agree there is a threat?”

“We agree something has changed,” Frangelic said. “The Ruleri are divided on whether or not the changes constitute a threat.”

“What do you think?”

Frangelic hesitated. “I think the situation needs to be studied further,” he said. “I assume your proposal is along those lines?”

“It is,” Thrawn said. “You see listed there four nations that I believe may hold useful information. Any Nikardun in those areas would be instantly aware of a Chiss presence, which precludes me from investigating in any official manner. My hope therefore is that I can travel unknown and unacknowledged to one of those nations aboard a Garwian ship.”