Samakro stared at the hatch for a long moment after he left, his blood burning inside him. He didn’t especially like Thrawn. He certainly didn’t like the way he skated to the edge of the line and occasionally blew straight past it. Sometimes he left chaos and messes behind him that other people had to clean up, and Samakro hated that, too.

But he also had no damn interest in the Aristocra, the syndics, or anyone else outside the fleet chain of command interfering with military matters. The Springhawk and Vigilant would go to the Lioaoin heartworld as ordered, they would deliver the Ascendancy’s message, and they would return. Both of them.

And with any luck, they would return covered with honor. Because that, too, was how the Springhawk did things.

Guaranteed.

The two ships reached the rendezvous system, an easy jump-by-jump from the Lioaoin heartworld. There the commanders and their senior officers met aboard the Vigilant for a final briefing and consultation.

Samakro wondered if either Ar’alani or Thrawn would mention their private goal of delivering the Chiss message with as little damage to the Lioaoi as possible. But neither of them did.

Probably just as well, he decided. This whole thing was tangled enough without dragging in any last-minute complications.

The conference ended, and the Springhawk’s officers returned to their ship. Che’ri and the Vigilant’s sky-walker were taken off their respective bridges and ensconced in their suites out of immediate harm’s way. Ar’alani gave the order, and the ships entered hyperspace for the final jump.

And then they were there.

“Status reports,” Thrawn called calmly from his command chair.

“All systems ready,” Samakro said, pacing back and forth behind the helm, weapons, defense, and sensor stations. “Counting twelve Lioaoin midsized warships in low orbit. Vigilant is moving inward.”

“Lieutenant Commander Azmordi, keep us in formation,” Thrawn ordered. “Let’s see how long it takes them to notice us.”

“Four of the warships rising from orbit,” Dalvu reported from the sensor station, her fingers tapping at keys. “Make that six…no; make it all twelve.”

“Not long at all, apparently,” Thrawn said conversationally.

“You’d think they had a guilty conscience,” Samakro commented, trying to keep his voice steady. Two warships that size would be trivial for the Vigilant and Springhawk to handle. Four would be reasonable. Six would be a stretch.

Twelve…

“They’re trying to frighten us away,” Thrawn said, as if he’d sensed Samakro’s sudden concerns. Or more likely, he’d sensed the entire bridge crew’s concerns. “Don’t worry, they aren’t all coming for us.”

“Certainly looks like they are,” Dalvu said under her breath.

“Watch your tone, Mid Commander,” Samakro admonished her quietly. “The senior captain knows what he’s talking about.”

“Perhaps you should explain to her why they’ll send no more than four ships against us,” Thrawn invited.