Lord Superior said regretfully. 'There is no longer any order emanating from Coruscant; no focused goals, no clear structures, no discipline. A thousand different alien species tug the galaxy in a thousand different directions.'
'Inevitably,' Thrawn said. 'That was why Emperor Palpatine first inaugurated the New Order. It was an attempt to reverse the collapse you now see coming.'
'Yet we were also warned not to trust Imperial promises,' Bosmihi hedged. 'The history of the Empire is one of brutal subjugation of nonhuman species.'
'You speak of the rule of Palpatine,' Thrawn said. 'The Empire has freed itself from his self-destructive anti-alien bias.'
'Your presence in a place of command is some evidence of that,' Bosmihi said cautiously. 'Still, others still say the bias exists.'
'Others still lie about the Empire in many ways,' Thrawn countered. 'But there's no need for you to take my word for it. Speak to any of the fifteen alien species currently living under Imperial rule, beings who cherish the protection and stability we offer.'
'Yes—protection.' The Lord Superior seemed to pounce on the word. 'The Empire is said to be weak; yet I perceive that you still have great strength. What guarantee of safety do you offer your member systems?'
'The best guarantee in the galaxy,' Thrawn said; and even Disra felt a shiver run through him at the veiled power and menace that was suddenly in the con man's voice. 'My personal promise of vengeance should anyone dare attack you.'
There was a noise that sounded midway between a swallow and a burp. 'I see,' Bosmihi said soberly. 'I understand that this is rather sudden, and for this I apologize; but on behalf of the Unified Factions of the Kroctari people, I would like to petition you for re-admission into the Empire.' Disra looked at Tierce, feeling his jaw drop a few millimeters. 'Re-admission?' he hissed. Tierce smiled back. 'Surprise, Your Excellency.'
'On behalf of the Empire, I accept your petition,' Thrawn said. 'You no doubt have a delegation standing ready to discuss the details?'
'You understand my people well, Grand Admiral Thrawn,' the Lord Superior said wryly. 'Yes, my delegation does indeed await your pleasure.'
'Then you may signal them to approach,' Thrawn told him. 'As it happens, Imperial Moff Disra is currently aboard the
'We will be honored to meet with him,' Bosmihi said. 'Though I doubt his presence there is in any way the coincidence you imply. Thank you, Grand Admiral Thrawn; and until the meeting.'
'Until the meeting, Lord Superior Bosmihi,' Thrawn said.
He gestured to the crew pit. 'Transmission ended, Admiral,' the comm officer confirmed.
'Thank you,' Thrawn said, rising almost leisurely from his command chair. 'Signal TIE
interceptors to stand ready for escort duty. They're to meet the Lord Superior's shuttle as soon as it clears atmosphere, flying in full honor formation. Captain Dorja, I'd like you to meet the shuttle personally and escort the delegation to Conference Room 68. Moff Disra will await you there.'
'Understood, Admiral,' Dorja said. He strode from the bridge, throwing Disra a tightly satisfied smile as he passed, and stepped into a waiting turbolift in the aft bridge. 'You might have said something,' Disra muttered to Tierce as the turbolift door closed behind the captain. The Guardsman shrugged, a microscopic movement of the shoulders. 'I wasn't absolutely sure this was what they wanted when they called,' he said, gesturing Disra through the aft doors toward another turbolift. 'But it seemed like a good guess. Kroctar has several potentially dangerous neighbors, and Intelligence reports the Unified Factions have become extremely disillusioned by Coruscant's inability to decide how tight a restraining bolt they want to keep on intersystem fighting.' They reached the turbolift and stepped into a waiting car. 'Kroctar's the first,' Tierce continued as the doors closed and they began to move. 'But it won't be the last. We already have transmissions from twenty other systems whose governments would like Grand Admiral Thrawn to drop in for a chat.'
Disra snorted. 'All they're trying to do is shake up their enemies.'
'Probably,' Tierce agreed. 'But what do we care why they want to rejoin? The point is that they do, and it's going to send shock waves from here to Coruscant.'
'Until Coruscant decides to take action.'
'What action can they take?' Tierce countered. 'Their own charter specifically allows member systems to withdraw anytime they choose.'
There was a beep from the turbolift comlink. 'Moff Disra?'
