Star Wars_ The Black Fleet Crisis 01_ Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [34]
Curse you, Drayson—you could have told me he was a Hortek, Lando thought reflexively. But after that he guarded his thoughts as best he could. Besides being one of the few predator species in the New Republic, the Hortek had the reputation of being telepathic not only with their own kind, but, to an unknown degree, with a number of other species as well. It was an intimidating combination.
“General,” Pakkpekatt said, curtly acknowledging Lando. His gaze flicked to Lobot and the droids. “Who are these—people?”
C-3P0 stepped forward smartly. “Sir, I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations. I am fluent in over six million—”
“Shut up,” Pakkpekatt said sharply.
“Yes, sir,” Threepio said, retreating behind Lobot.
Lando stepped forward. “Colonel Pakkpekatt, this is my staff. I’d be happy to make introductions, but I have some late updates for you which perhaps ought to have our attention first. Is your ready room available?”
Pakkpekatt held his head high, studying Lando.
Reaching into my mind? You and I need to talk, and no one else here needs to hear what we say.
Pakkpekatt lifted a hand in the direction of the ready room door. “Captain, continue with preparations for departure,” he said.
The moment the door wrapped privacy around them, Pakkpekatt drew threateningly close to Lando. “So,” he said, “you’re the man who browbeat my officer of the day. Don’t expect to do the same to me.”
Lando smiled and opened up the distance between them again by slipping into a chair. “I wouldn’t even try, Colonel,” he said, adopting a relaxed posture. “Nor would I expect to need to. We’re here with the same goal, working for the same people—Princess Leia, the Senate, the Republic.”
Pakkpekatt made a sharp barking sound, the Hortek equivalent of a grunt. “I was told to wait for an observer from Fleet Command. Nothing was said about staff.”
“Why should anything need to be said? Do you go anywhere without your aides?” asked Lando, gesturing with both hands. “My staff has technical expertise which very well may be the difference between success and failure for this mission.”
“We have five protocol droids on board, all E series or newer,” Pakkpekatt said. “Yours are superfluous.”
“On the contrary, I consider my staff indispensable,” Lando said. “And I expect them to be extended every consideration due me as the Fleet Office’s field operative for this mission.”
Pakkpekatt moved closer, looming over Lando. “Operative—now, that’s a curious word, General. Were you led to believe that you’d have an active part in the conduct of the mission?”
“Were you led to believe otherwise?”
“I have been assigned to recover the Teljkon vagabond,” Pakkpekatt said. “I have no instructions about sharing my command or that responsibility with you.”
“I don’t want to share your command, Colonel. All I want is mutual cooperation. After all, the Fleet Office’s interests in this matter are at least equal to the Intelligence Service’s interests,” Lando said. “We were the ones who nearly lost a frigate to the vagabond.”
“Then you should understand that this is an extremely sensitive matter. We have no idea what we may find out there.”
“Colonel, if we find anything of value out there, it’s not going to belong to either one of us,” Lando said, flashing his best conciliatory smile. “Unless you simply don’t trust the Fleet Office, there’s no reason we can’t work together toward a common goal.”
Pakkpekatt loosed an eerie chittering sound, which caused a chill to run down Lando’s back. “What are you asking?”
“No more than you would. Run of the ship. Full and timely access to tactical data. Consultation on strategy. And if and when we board her, include us in.”
“Only that?”
“That’s it. All other command prerogatives remain yours.”
“I see,” Pakkpekatt said. “All we need do to keep you happy is take you along on the most sensitive part of the mission, and one for which