Had Thrawn been trying to glean additional information on the new Lioaoin tactics, as he’d claimed? Or was it possible he was starting to lose the judgment and tactical insight that had raised his name to such prominence?

Thrawn had implied he’d initiated his current meeting with Ba’kif. But maybe it was the other way around. Maybe Ba’kif had noticed the same troubling subtext in the after-action reports and was having some of the same doubts as Samakro. Maybe he’d called Thrawn in to find out what was going on.

And if the general decided Thrawn was no longer capable of commanding the Springhawk…

Samakro took a deep breath. Stop it, he ordered himself. Even if Thrawn was relieved of command, that didn’t necessarily mean Samakro would be restored to it. The Springhawk still had an important name, and the Ufsa family wasn’t the only one who would love to have one of their own in charge.

Still, it was an interesting thought.

“An interesting thought,” General Ba’kif said, pursing his lips. “The question is whether that thought is dangerously inspired or merely criminally insane.”

“I don’t see why either adjective has to be attached, sir,” Thrawn said, his voice carrying his usual mix of respect and confidence. “The small scout ship I’m proposing—”

“You don’t?” Ba’kif interrupted.

“No, sir,” Thrawn said calmly. “A scout ship could easily slip the three of us past any sentries or watchers General Yiv might have placed along the way. The data we collect would not only give us a better idea of how large this so-named Nikardun Destiny is, but also offer hints as to how solidly those behind Yiv’s battle line are being held and controlled.”

“To what end?”

“There are several possibilities,” Thrawn said. “We might be able to foment revolt among some of them—”

“Preemptive action,” Ba’kif interrupted again. “Never get past the Syndicure.”

“—or possibly lease bases or supply depots from them—”

“More preemptive action.”

“—or, if there are unconquered peoples scattered among them, we might learn how they were able to resist the Nikardun.”

Ba’kif frowned thoughtfully. That last could indeed be quite instructive. Even better, a straightforward data-gathering mission wouldn’t generate nearly as much outrage among the Aristocra as Thrawn’s other suggestions.

But even there, the whole thing was swimming in risk and uncertainty. “Independence and resistance are a difficult combination to maintain,” he pointed out. “Any halfway-competent conqueror would never permit it.”

“Unless Yiv isn’t aware of the situation,” Thrawn said. “In fact, as you suggest, that’s probably the only way such a situation could continue.”

“So independence, resistance, and vacuum-tight secrecy,” Ba’kif said. “The odds against these theoretical allies existing are getting rather tall. Do you need anything else from them? Proficiency in small arms, maybe?”