Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [64]
“When the Empire occupied the League worlds, did they establish any shipyards there?”
“Oh, yes,” Nil Spaar said. “Several of them. This history I am well acquainted with. We Yevetha are skilled in matters of making. It is a gift of our very being. These hands”—he waggled six long, glove-covered fingers before his face—“are sure. These minds”—he tapped his thorax, just below his neck—“learn quickly. But the Empire made our gifts our curse. Thousands of my people were made to work as slaves to repair the very machines that were used to oppress us, and to wage war on your Rebellion.”
“When the Empire left Koornacht—”
“They took all that they could with them, and destroyed what they could not. The shipyards, the spaceports, the power stations that fed them, even our own few vessels—killing more than six thousand Yevetha in the process. It was one final act of savagery to end a reign of cruelty,” said Nil Spaar. “But, tell me, Princess—how is it that you ask this question? I know your face, and this is not idle curiosity.”
“No,” Leia admitted. “My defense advisers have become concerned about the possibility of old Imperial capital ships in the patrol area of the Black Sword Command—Farlax and Hatawa. It’s more a matter of bookkeeping than anything else, but I’ve had to give my permission for some further investigation.”
“Your advisers are only prudent to insist on it,” said Nil Spaar. “They serve you well to worry over such things. Tell me, how many ships are they seeking?”
“Forty-four. Viceroy, I can’t offer you anything but my goodwill. But you could be of great help to me in what should be a small matter,” she said. “If you could ask your historians to look at the list of missing ships, and relay what you can about the fate of any that may have been in Koornacht—”
“You ask us to revisit old unpleasantries,” said Nil Spaar.
“I’m sorry. I was only hoping to keep the search vessels as far from Koornacht as possible—perhaps even make the search unnecessary.”
“I did not say you should not have asked. I would, in your position.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Nor did I say we would not help,” Nil Spaar went on. “My mission is to protect my people. If I can help put the fears of your advisers to rest, then I am serving that duty. Give me the list. I will transmit it to the proctor of records and antiquities, and we shall see what can be learned.”
“I want you to know, Admiral, that I do not plan to make a habit of idle exercise,” said Ackbar, wheezing as he walked along the cinder track beside Drayson.
“I thought you should know that Leia gave him the list.”
“What?”
“At the third session, this evening.”
“She should not have done that,” Ackbar said darkly. “What could she be thinking?”
“She asked the viceroy for a report on what the Yevetha know about the missing ships,” said Drayson, his voice calm. “In effect, she asked him to search his own pockets, so the Fifth doesn’t have to frisk him.”
“How foolish of her.”
“But logical, from a certain point of view. She trusts him.”
“Do you?”
“I’m not paid to be trusting,” said Drayson.
“And if the Yevetha are holding those ships?”
“Then these conversations with Nil Spaar are every bit as important as the princess believes them to be.”
“I do not like the way he has separated her from her staff. She should have talked to us before doing this,” Ackbar said, shaking his head slowly.
“But she didn’t,” said Drayson. “There’s one bright spot to consider, though. When he transmits that list home, we should finally be able to break their encryption key. The list is more than long enough, with highly distinctive sequences.”
Ackbar did not seem to take much comfort from Drayson’s words. “In the meantime, we may have tipped our hand—and the Fifth Fleet sails in two days. What am I to tell General A’baht?”
“Nothing,” Drayson said firmly. “There’s nothing we can tell him yet. Let’s see how the viceroy responds to Leia’s request. That may tell us something useful.”
The list Leia had given Nil Spaar was now yellowed by disinfectant and sealed