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“Which yards?”

“Ayddar cannot say. The names given are either not known to us, or are unknown code names for places we do know.”

“Or they may not exist at all—the yards or the ships,” said Drayson. “Don’t rule out the possibility that the order of battle is padded with paper assets. If neither Daala nor Thrawn could lay hands on these ships to throw at us—”

“That is a consideration.”

Drayson frowned. “What are the chances that some or all of them were simply renamed, and we have seen them since? We’ve certainly known Imperial Command to play that game.”

“Ayddar tells me that, at most, that could account for five of the missing vessels.”

“Which would still leave a substantial force unaccounted for,” mused Drayson. “How long after the destruction of the Gnisnal did the Black Sword Command withdraw from the Rim?”

“Less than a year.”

“Long enough for at least some of those vessels to have been completed or repaired,” said Drayson.

“More than half, if the projected commissioning dates in the order of battle were met.”

“So the Empire may have taken upwards of twenty more ships than we knew back with them to the Deep Core.”

“Yes. But there’s another possibility, which concerns me rather more,” said Ackbar. “The Empire preferred to establish military shipyards in every sector they controlled, so that no one facility was critical to the war effort, and damaged ships did not need to travel far for repairs—”

“Which would suggest that those unidentified yards were likely located somewhere in Black Sword Command’s patrol area.”

“Which would mean that as many as twenty Star Destroyers could be very much closer to us than the Core.”

Drayson squinted at Ackbar. “Ordinarily, I’d expect the Empire to destroy any assets they couldn’t take with them.”

“I would be happy to know that they had done so,” said Ackbar. “But we haven’t found any ruined shipyards in that area. Though that is not conclusive—there are large areas of Kokash and Farlax which have never been properly surveyed. Including the Morath Nebula and the Koornacht Cluster.”

“Ah,” said Drayson. “I see where this is leading.”

“Hiram, I don’t want to know how you might know the answers. But I know you have resources not available outside your office. I am concerned by this business with Nil Spaar. Negotiations have been at a standstill for weeks, and yet Leia still urges patience. And I wonder to myself, could the Yevetha be hiding these ships for Daala? Is it possible the Duskhan League is still allied with the Core?”

After a moment’s measured consideration, Drayson said, “I have no information to support such a thesis. Or to rule it out.”

“Then I am at a loss as to how to proceed,” Ackbar said. “The negotiations in progress make this a delicate matter. I cannot make accusations without evidence. Nor can I ignore a potential threat of this magnitude.”

“What would you do if the decision were yours?”

“I would begin a search for this Black Fleet, and not stop until we have found it, or its wreckage, and made certain it is not sitting on our doorstep. We must know the fate of these ships.”

Drayson nodded thoughtfully. “Then I think you should take Ayddar’s information to Princess Leia, and make that recommendation. Perhaps she’ll allow you to persuade her.”

“I fear otherwise,” said Ackbar. “Still, I can but try.”

“I wish you success. In the meantime—can you see your way to—”

Ackbar pressed a datacard into Drayson’s hand. “The list of the missing ships, and the mystery shipyards.”

Two other runners were in sight now and drawing nearer. With a perfectly practiced casualness, Drayson made the datacard disappear into a pocket. “I’ll do what I can,” he said, and flashed a stage smile. “Nice seeing you again, Admiral.”

At the pace at which Drayson then struck out down the track, Ackbar doubted that any other runner would head him.

Chapter 8

“Let me make sure I understand,” said Princess Leia, turning away from the broad windows of the executive conference room to face Admiral Ackbar and General A’baht. “No one has seen any of these vessels for ten years