Vision of the future

'I need some suggestions here,' Flim said urgently.

'Thrawn's standard pattern would be to let the Preybirds begin to engage, then pull them back,' Tierce said. 'How the enemy responded to the probe was usually enough to let him figure out who they were.'

'That's fine for Thrawn,' Flim bit out apprehensively. 'Unfortunately, we're a little short of his brand of genius at the moment.'

'Unless Major Tierce took classes in the technique with the Royal Guard,' Disra added, snapping the datapad closed with a grand sense of triumph.

'Helpful as always, Your Excellency,' Tierce said absently, still sifting through the computer records.

'Glad you appreciate me,' Disra said. 'They're Diamala.' He had the satisfaction of watching both of them turn to look at him, a look of stunned surprise on Flim's face, the same surprise tinged with suspicion on Tierce's. 'What?' Flim asked.

'They're Diamala,' Disra repeated, enjoying the moment to the fullest. 'About three months ago the Diamalan Commerce Ministry bought twelve Marauder Corvettes to use in transport escort. And possibly for some rather shadier operations.'

'You sure?' Flim asked, peering at the display. 'It doesn't show here.'

'I'm sure it doesn't,' Disra said. 'Captain Zothip was trying to buy them and was outbidden. As I said, they may be reserving them for shady operations.'

'And how do you get from there to the assumption these are those ships?' Flim demanded.

'No, he's right,' Tierce put in before Disra could answer. 'That Diamalan Senator we dragged aboard the Relentless with Calrissian—remember? I never did think he was wholly convinced you were Thrawn.'

'And if our Intelligence reports are right, he was the one who helped drive the governmental split on Coruscant over the whole issue,' Disra reminded them.

'Yes, he was,' Tierce said, turning back to the computer keyboard. 'It appears he's decided to give us another test.'

'The question being what we do about it,' Flim said, looking across the room. 'And the Preybirds are almost there.'

'I know,' Tierce said, gazing at the computer display. 'Call them back.'

'Already?' Disra frowned at the tactical. 'I thought you needed them to—'

'I don't need anything,' Tierce cut him off. 'Call them back, and have Dorja set up for a Tron Boral maneuver.'

'A what?' Disra asked, frowning harder.

'A somewhat esoteric battle technique,' Flim explained, leaning over Tierce's shoulder and tapping the comm unit back on. 'That will do nicely, Captain,' he said smoothly. 'Recall the Preybirds, and prepare the Relentless for a Tron Boral maneuver.'

'Acknowledged, Admiral,' Dorja said briskly. 'Will you be joining me on the bridge?' Tierce looked up at Flim and tapped a spot on the computer display. 'You won't need my assistance,' Thrawn assured the captain, nodding acknowledgment to Tierce and leaning closer to read the indicated section. 'A Tron Boral maneuver, followed by a full-closure Marg Sabl sweep by the Preybirds, and I think our unknown assailants will reconsider their plans. Assuming they're still alive to do so, of course.'

'Yes, sir,' the captain said, and Disra could almost see the other rubbing his hands together in anticipation. 'Tron Boral maneuver ready.'

'Execute, Captain.'

Flim keyed off the comm unit again. 'And that should be that,' he said, leaning casually on the back of the command chair and gazing with interest at the tactical display.

'You see, we already have a battle plan to use against Diamala,' Tierce explained, looking over at Disra. 'Thrawn tangled with them a few times during his sweep through the Rebellion ten years ago.' He gestured toward the computer. 'All I had to do was pull up the record of one of those battles—'

'There they go,' Flim interrupted him. 'Running like hopskips.' Disra followed his pointing finger. Flim was right; the Marauders were indeed turning tail and heading for hyperspace. 'But we haven't done anything yet,' he protested, feeling slightly bewildered.