“Let me get directly to the point,” the Clarr said. “Six days ago, your picket force was sent against the Paataatus in reprisal for their probes against our southeast-zenith border. During that battle, one of your ship commanders, Senior Captain Mitth’raw’nuruodo, disobeyed a direct order. Is this true?”

Ar’alani hesitated. Truthful, but spiraled. “He disobeyed a lesser order, yes, Syndic,” she said.

The Clarr frowned. “Excuse me?”

“I said he disobeyed a lesser order,” Ar’alani said. “At the time, though, he was obeying a greater order.”

“Well, this is certainly fascinating,” the Irizi put in drily. “The Irizi family has been honored to supply officers and warriors to the Defense Force for generations, and I don’t recall ever hearing of greater and lesser orders.”

“Perhaps priorities would be a better term,” Ar’alani amended. “A warrior’s first priority is of course to defend the Ascendancy. The second is to win the current battle and war. The third is to protect the ship and crew. The fourth is to obey a specific order.”

“Are you suggesting the Expansionary Defense Fleet operates like a free-form melee?” the Droc asked.

“More like a free-form sculpture if Thrawn is involved,” the Ufsa added under her breath.

A couple of the others chuckled. The Clarr didn’t so much as smile. “I asked you a question, Admiral.”

“Certainly the fleet isn’t as chaotic as your comment would make it appear,” Ar’alani said. “Ideally, the senior commander’s orders are perfectly in line with all those priorities.” She cocked her head, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to her. “In fact, I would venture to say it’s much the same with you.”

The Clarr’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

“Your first duty is to the Ascendancy,” Ar’alani said. “Your second is to your individual families.”

“What’s good for the Nine Families is good for the Ascendancy,” the Plikh said stiffly.

“No doubt,” Ar’alani agreed. “I simply refer to the hierarchy of goals and duties.”

“Even within the families,” Wutroow put in. “I imagine you treat blood differently from cousins, ranking distants, Trial-borns, and merit adoptives.”

“Thank you for your statement of the obvious, Senior Captain,” the Clarr said acidly. “But you weren’t brought here for a discussion of family relationships. You were brought here to explain why Captain Thrawn was permitted to disobey a direct order from his superior without suffering any consequences for his actions.”

“Forgive me, Syndic,” Wutroow said before Ar’alani could answer, “but I have a question.”

“Admiral Ar’alani, kindly inform your first officer that she’s here to answer questions, not ask them,” the Clarr snapped.

“Again, forgive me, Syndic,” Wutroow said doggedly, “but my question has a direct bearing on Captain Thrawn’s actions.”

The Clarr started to speak, hesitated, then pursed his lips. “Very well,” he said. “But I warn you, Captain, that I’m not in the mood for frivolous deflection.”