“Yes, I understand that part,” Zistalmu growled. “I’m wondering why they think fourteen fighters constitutes any kind of threat. Do they expect them to scare us away?”

“Of course not,” Ar’alani said. “But a couple of wings of fighters isn’t as provocative as a group of full-class warships would be. That makes it easier for both sides to back down if neither really wants a fight. And if the intruder does want one, it’s not so much of a loss to the defenders if the fighters get blown out of the sky.”

“But we’re not going to do that, are we?” Zistalmu asked, his voice dark and ominous.

“Not unless we’re attacked first,” Ar’alani said. “Captain? Any word on my request?”

“Central Command says they don’t have that information,” Wutroow reported. “They say they have to refer me to the diplomatic service.”

“I trust they’re doing so?”

“So they say.” Wutroow pointed at the tactical. “Looks like they’re working into a lens formation.”

Ar’alani nodded. Or at least, thirteen of the patrol ships were. The fourteenth was moving forward, ignoring his companions’ more cautious stance. “Octrimo, that fighter on the extreme starboard seems to be spoiling for a fight,” she said. “Start drifting us toward him. Nice and easy—don’t make it obvious.”

“You think that’s him?” Wutroow asked.

“We’ll know in a minute,” Ar’alani said, checking the distance. The patrol ship was almost in range now. Another few seconds…

Abruptly, a double flare of laserfire blasted from the fighter squarely at the Vigilant.

“Hit on starboard ventral weapons cluster,” Biclian reported tersely. “Low-power blast, no damage.”

“Acknowledged,” Ar’alani said.

Zistalmu inhaled sharply. “What are they doing? I thought you said they weren’t trying to be provocative.”

“Targeting sensors have kicked into rapid record mode,” Wutroow called.

“Modulated laserfire coming in—” Biclian began.

“Thank you, Senior Commander,” Ar’alani cut him off. She’d known what Thrawn was planning as soon as he opened fire on the sensor cluster and had hoped she could slide it past Zistalmu without him noticing.

No such luck. “Modulated how?” the syndic asked. “Admiral? The laser is modulated how?”

“I’m not sure yet, Syndic,” Ar’alani hedged. “We’ll have to see what the computer makes of it.”

“Let me guess,” Zistalmu said, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “That’s Thrawn, isn’t it? And he’s somehow adapted the fighter’s laser to transmit a message. Is that it?”

Ar’alani mouthed a silent curse. So much for keeping the syndic in the dark long enough to bring Thrawn aboard.