Outbound Flight

He turned his eyes onto Car'das. "Now that you and I have apparently served our purposes."

Car'das held his gaze without flinching. "I have no problems with having been a part of your brother's plan," he said evenly. "Neither should you."

"I was manipulated and controlled," Thrass said, his eyes flashing with resentment.

"For your own protection," Car'das countered. "If Thrawn and Ar'alani had brought you into the plan, your future would have been just as much on the line as theirs were."

"And as they are now," Thrass pointed out darkly. "The Nine Ruling Families will not stand for such an illegal and immoral attack."

"Number one," Car'das said, lifting a finger. "This system is within the patrol region of the Chiss Expansionary Fleet. That makes it Chiss territory. Number two: the Vagaari arrived in force with the clear intent of causing harm. That makes Commander Thrawn's actions self-defense, as far as I'm concerned."

"They were here only because you had so enticed them."

"I'm not bound by your rules," Car'das reminded him. "Besides, as Admiral Ar'alani will attest, your brother had publicly labeled me as a possible spy. If I got desperate enough to go to the Vagaari for help in freeing my companions, you can hardly blame that on him."

Thrass's lip twisted. "No, Thrawn has always been very good at hiding his hand when he wishes to do so."

"Which seems to me takes care of the legal aspects," Car'das concluded. "As to your other objection-" He gestured toward the Geroons. "-I defy you to look at these people and tell me how freeing them from tyra

"The morality of an action is not determined by the results," Thrass said stiffly. His face softened a little. "Still, in this case, it's a hard point to argue."

"I saw the way the Vagaari treated their slaves," Car'das said, shivering at the memories of the Geroons the Miskara had murdered in cold blood. "In my opinion, the universe is well rid of them."

"I would tend to agree," Thrass said. "But Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano may not see things so clearly."

Car'das frowned. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"He and vessels of the Fifth Ruling Family are on their way here," Thrass said grimly. "I had a brief communication with him just before leaving Crustai. I suspect he intends to place Thrawn under arrest."

Car'das felt his throat tighten. "Does Thrawn know about this?"

"No."

"We need to tell him, and fast," Car'das said grimly. "Do you know where he is?"

"I believe he and Admiral Ar'alani have gone across to inspect Outbound Flight."

"Then let's get over there," Car'das said. "Come on-my shuttle's in one of the portside docking stations."

With a creak of not-quite-aligned metal fittings, the turbolift door reluctantly slid open. "Looks like we've got air seals again," Uliar commented, peering upward into the car. The ceiling was mostly intact, but one of the scams had cracked open and at its edge he could see the faint rainbow discoloration of a massive radiation surge. Had one or more of the reactors gone up? Unlikely. Even down here in the core they should have heard something that catastrophic.

"That shaft's going to be a mess, though," Keely muttered, stepping tentatively up beside Uliar. "And the Dreadnaughts themselves will be worse. This could take awhile."

"Then let's not waste any more time talking about it," Uliar said. He started to step into the car

"No," Jinzler said, reaching out to touch his arm. She, too, was gazing at the car ceiling, a look of concentration on her face. "I'm going alone."

"Alone's never a good idea in this kind of situation," Keely warned.

"Alone for a Jedi is sometimes the only way," she said. Her eyes came back to him, and some of the concentration faded.

"Don't worry. As soon as I've found someplace safe, I'll come back and get you."

"You sure you don't want at least a little company?" Uliar asked, eyeing her closely. He didn't really want to go poking around up there, not with all the destruction and bodies and all. But he didn't like the idea of letting this Jedi out of his sight, either.

"Very sure," Jinzler said. "Go back and wait until I come for you."

"Whatever you say," Keely said, plucking at Uliar's sleeve. "Come on, Chas."

"Okay," Uliar said reluctantly, stepping back as Jinzler got into the car. "Make it fast."

"I'll try," Jinzler said, giving him a reassuring smile.

She was still smiling as the door creaked shut between them.

They found Thrawn and Ar'alani on the bridge of the main command ship, standing amid a bustling crowd of Chiss crewers methodically checking out the still-active control consoles. There were a lot of bodies there, too, lying haphazardly all over the deck. For once, Car'das hardly even noticed. "Ah-my brother," Thrawn said as Thrass and Car'das made their way through the maze of consoles. "Are the Geroons being properly cared for?"

"Never mind the Geroons," Car'das put in before Thrass could answer. "Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano's on his way with a fleet of Fifth Family ships."

"On whose authority do they fly?" Ar'alani demanded.

"The Aristocra's own, I presume," Thrawn said, his eyes narrowed in thought. "How soon until they arrive?"

"They could be here at any time," Thrass said. "I suspect he's coming to raise charges against you."

"In that case he would hardly need a fleet of vessels," Thrawn pointed out. "No, the Aristocra has something far more profitable in mind."

"Outbound Flight?" Car'das asked.

"Actually, I expect he's hoping to take possession of the remains of the Vagaari fleet," Thrawn said. "But you're right. Once he sees Outbound Flight that priority will definitely change."

"He can't do that," Thrass protested. He looked at Ar'alani. "Can he?"

"Not legally," Ar'alani said, her voice tight. "But as a practical matter, if he's brought enough vessels, there'll be no way for us to stop him."

"The Council of Families-" Thrass began.

"— will certainly object," Ar'alani cut in. "But the procedure will be long and complex."

"And in the meantime the Fifth Family will be coaxing the secrets from their new prize," Thrawn said.

Thrass hissed, a startlingly reptilian sound. "We can't allow that," he said. "Possession of Outbound Flight by any one Family could destroy the balance of power for decades to come."