Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn

Author:Timothy Zahn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction.Star Wars
ISBN: 9780345456830
Publisher: Del Rey/Ballantine Books
Published: 2006-01-31T08:00:00+00:00

Fourteen vessels,” Admiral Ar’alani declared, her glowing eyes sweeping the field of debris stretched out before them. “Possibly thirteen, if the two sections of wreckage to the right belonged to a single vessel that broke apart before exploding.”

“Is that the correct number, Car’das?” Thrass asked.

“Yes, that’s sounds about right,” Car’das agreed, his muscles wilting a little with relief. The fifteenth ship, the intact Trade Federation battleship, was nowhere to be seen. He just hoped that it was Thrawn who’d moved it, and that it hadn’t managed to skip out on its own. “Of course, I was just an observer,” he reminded them. “I didn’t have access to the sensor information.”

“Plus there were a considerable number of those,” Ar’alani continued, pointing at the charred sections of two droid starfighters floating past the bridge canopy. “Too small to be staffed.”

“They’re mechanical devices called droids,” Car’das said. “These in particular are called droid starfighters.”

Thrass grunted. “If the field of battle is any indication of their combat abilities, I would say they’re misnamed.”

“Don’t be misled by your brother’s skill at warfare, Syndic Mitth’ras’safis,” Ar’alani warned. “If these droids were as useless as you imply, no one would take the time and effort to build them.”

“I’ve seen reports of them in combat,” Car’das confirmed. “Against most opponents, they’re quite formidable.”

“Yet I still see no evidence that these weapons or their masters attacked first,” Ar’alani pointed out.

“I can only repeat what I said earlier, Admiral,” Car’das told her. “The mere act of launching the starfighters was an overt act of aggression. Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo responded in the only way he could to protect his forces.”

“Perhaps,” Ar’alani said. “That will be for a military tribunal to decide.”

Car’das felt his stomach tighten. “You’re bringing him up on charges?”

“That will also be for the tribunal to decide,” Thrass said. “But we’ll first need to examine the records of the battle and interview the warriors who were present.”

“At this battle as well as the earlier raid against the Vagaari,” Ar’alani added.

“I understand,” Car’das said, his heart starting to beat a little faster. Here was the opening he’d been looking for. “Speaking of the Vagaari, my colleagues and I were hoping we could settle the question soon about the treasure we were promised, so that we could be on our way.”

Ar’alani’s eyebrows arched. “Now, suddenly, you’re in a hurry to return home?”

“We’re merchants,” Car’das reminded her. “This has been an interesting and productive side trip, but the cargo in our hold is way overdue for delivery.”

“A cargo you would very much like to supplement with stolen pirate plunder.”

“Yes, but only because our customers will demand late-delivery penalties,” Car’das explained. “There’s no way for us to pay those without the items Captain Qennto has requested.”

“You should have thought about that before deciding to stay,” Thrass said. “At any rate, the matter of the treasure will have to wait until the tribunal has made its decision. If my brother is found to have violated Chiss military doctrine, he’ll have no standing to argue your side of the question.

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