But with the flanking fire from One and Two continuing to blast away at the Vigilant’s starboard hull, even just a single Lioaoin in front of the Vigilant would make escape problematic. Presumably, the Lioaoi and their Nikardun masters knew that and were counting on it.

Unfortunately for them, they’d all forgotten about Thrawn.

The Vak patrol ship shot past the Vigilant on full power, ducking through the scattered laserfire from the Lioaoin ships, charging straight toward Attacker Four with lasers blazing. Ar’alani held her breath, waiting for the Lioaoin to respond, wondering if she and Thrawn had read the situation correctly.

They had. For those first crucial seconds the Lioaoin didn’t return fire, having apparently been ordered to shoot at the Chiss warship but avoid combat with Nikardun and the local Vak forces. She could envision the frantic calls from the Lioaoi to Primea, the questions running up the chain of command, transferring over to the Nikardun warship, the furious corrections coming from the general in charge, possibly heading directly to the Lioaoi, possibly having to go the reverse path so as not to give the Chiss confirmation that the Nikardun were even involved—

And as the farce finally played itself out, the Lioaoin ships belatedly opened fire.

But it was too late. Thrawn’s surgical attack had already destroyed Four’s combat ability, tearing into the ship’s heavy laser sites and blinding their missile fire-control sensors. For a moment the other three Lioaoi continued to fire, but as the Vigilant drove through Four’s shadow their weapons went silent lest they hit their comrade. Thrawn’s fighter finished its run and turned toward the Vigilant—

And jerked suddenly as a final laser shot sliced across its aft thrusters.

“Hit on patrol ship!” Wutroow snapped.

“Tractor beam!” Ar’alani snapped back. “Bring him in.”

“On it,” Wutroow confirmed. “Tractor engaged…locked…bringing him in.”

“Starboard spheres: One final volley,” Ar’alani ordered. “Keep them back.”

“Vak warships moving up,” Biclian warned.

But it was a waste of effort, and everyone knew it. The Vigilant would be far enough out of Primea’s gravity well in twenty seconds, and would have Thrawn aboard in thirty. The only ships close enough to stop them were the Lioaoin cruisers, and thanks to her and Thrawn’s combined attack they, too, were out of luck. “Sky-walker Che’ri, get ready,” she called.

“She’s ready,” Zistalmu’s wife said.

Ar’alani scowled. “Sky-walker Che’ri?” she asked pointedly.

“I’m ready, Admiral,” the girl’s voice came back. Her confirmation was quieter and maybe a little more tentative than Nana’s, but it confirmed to Ar’alani that Che’ri was, indeed, ready.

Ar’alani had had other caregivers insist on speaking for their young charges instead of letting them speak for themselves. She’d never liked it then, either. “Good,” she said. “As soon as we confirm Captain Thrawn’s aboard, we’ll go. Captain Wutroow?”