“Actually, I did,” Thrawn said. “But I thought we could talk first.”

“About?”

“About why you asked to come aboard the Springhawk.”

A warning bell went off in the back of Thalias’s brain. “I came to take care of Che’ri,” she said cautiously.

“That’s why you were aboard,” Thrawn said. “But it’s not why you asked to come. One of my officers informed me that the Mitth sent you to investigate my performance as the Springhawk’s commander. Is that true?”

Thalias felt her hand squeeze itself into a fist. “I assume that would be Mid Captain Samakro?”

“Does it make a difference where the information came from?”

“It might,” Thalias said. “Did he give a reason for telling you that?”

“Not specifically,” Thrawn said. “I believe he’s concerned about cohesion in the command structure if family matters interfere.”

“That may be what he says,” Thalias said. “But I’m guessing he’s hoping for some of that family interference.”

“To what end?”

“To the end of the Mitth deciding they don’t want you commanding the Springhawk and having the Expansionary Fleet move you somewhere else,” Thalias said. “That would open the way for Samakro to take back command.”

“Your analysis holds several logical flaws,” Thrawn said. “First, the Nine Families don’t dictate military assignments. Second, Mid Captain Samakro has no reason to wish command of the Springhawk. With his experience and capabilities, he’ll surely be offered a more prestigious ship than a mere heavy cruiser.”

“The Springhawk is pretty prestigious,” Thalias told him. “Maybe more than you realize. But even if it wasn’t, the Ufsa family would still want it back. It got taken away from them, and they’re notorious for resenting anything they see as a political backslide.”

“I see,” Thrawn said.

Thalias peered closely at him in the dim light. From the slight frown around his eyes, it was clear that he didn’t see at all. “But to answer your question, no, the Mitth didn’t send me,” she said, picking her words carefully. “In fact, the family fought me the whole way. I was just lucky that I was able to join the ship as a caregiver instead of a family observer.”

“Interesting,” Thrawn said. “Did they give a reason for not wanting you as an observer?”

“They didn’t actually say anything, one way or the other,” Thalias said. “They just kept throwing barriers in my way. New forms I suddenly needed to fill out, new people I had to chase down to approve my request, new people on Csilla or Naporar who had to be brought into the loop. That sort of thing.”

“Perhaps they didn’t think you were qualified to observe,” Thrawn suggested. “Or perhaps there was interference from other families.”