Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [80]
“What is thy bidding, Master?” Grievous asked from behind Dooku.
Sidious turned slightly toward Grievous, but continued to speak to Dooku. “The Jedi have divided their forces. We must do the same. I will deal with the ones on Coruscant. I need you to deal with the rest.”
“My fleet stands ready, Master,” Grievous said, still without raising his gaze from the grid.
“The Republic is monitoring you?” Sidious asked the general.
“Yes, Master.”
“Can you divide the fleet—judiciously?”
“It can be done, Master.”
“Good, good. Then move however many ships are needed to crush and occupy Tythe.”
Again Dooku was stunned. So, too, was Grievous.
“Is that wise, Master,” the general asked carefully, “after what happened at Belderone?”
Sidious adopted a faint grin. “More than wise, General. Inspired.”
“But Tythe, my lord,” Dooku said with equal care. “Less a world than a corpse.”
“It has some strategic value, does it not, General?”
“As a jump point, Master. But a dubious prize, regardless, when far better targets exist.”
“It may prove costly to us, my lord. The Republic will almost certainly flatten it,” Dooku said.
“Not if the Jedi are convinced that it must be retaken rather than destroyed.”
Confusion wrinkled Dooku’s forehead. “How will we convince them?”
“We won’t have to, Lord Tyranus. Their own investigations will lead them to that conclusion. Moreover, Kenobi and Skywalker will oversee the counterattack.”
“Indeed, my lord?”
“They will not pass up an opportunity to capture Count Dooku.”
Dooku saw Grievous’s armorplast head elevate in surprise. “What leads you to believe that the Republic will not simply flatten me at this point?”
“The Jedi are predictable, Lord Tyranus. I needn’t tell you this. Look what they risked on Cato Neimoidia in an effort to capture Viceroy Gunray. They are obsessed with bringing their enemies to justice, instead of merely administering justice themselves.”
“It is their way.”
“Then you don’t mind serving as bait to lure them there?”
Dooku inclined his head. “As ever, I am at your disposal, my lord.”
Sidious grinned once more. “Hold Kenobi and Skywalker, Lord Tyranus. Entertain them. Play to their weakness. Demonstrate your mastery, as you have on previous occasions.”
Grievous made a meaningful sound. “I will do the same with their warships, Master.”
“No, General,” Sidious cut in. “I have something else in mind for you and the rest of the fleet. But tell me, can you tuck your charges somewhere safe for the time being?”
“The planet Utapau comes to mind, Lord Sidious.”
“I will leave that to you.”
“And when I have seen to that, Master?”
“General, I’m certain you recall the plans we discussed some time ago, regarding the final stage of the war.”
“Regarding Coruscant.”
“Regarding Coruscant, yes.” Sidious paused, then said: “We must accelerate those plans. Prepare, General, for what will be your finest hour.”
Fa’ale is doing fine,” Anakin said as he approached Obi-Wan jauntily. “Two more days of bacta and she’ll be on her feet. She says she’s through with Naos Three, though. She might even remain here on Belderone.”
Obi-Wan looked at him askance. “Your relationship with females is an interesting one. The more jeopardy they’re in, the more you worry about them. And the more you worry about them, the more they worry about you.”
Anakin frowned. “You’re basing this on, what, exactly?”
Obi-Wan looked away. “HoloNet gossip.”
Anakin stepped deliberately into Obi-Wan’s gaze. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
Obi-Wan sighed. “We won’t be returning to Coruscant.”
They were in a visitors’ lounge in the largest of the MedStars orbiting Belderone. For four standard days they had been awaiting instructions from the Jedi Council and visiting the medical ward to check on Fa’ale’s progress, and the strain of so much inactivity was beginning to show.
Anakin was staring dumbfounded at Obi-Wan.
“Hear me out before you go critical. Mace and Shaak Ti were able to locate the building in The Works. Not surprisingly, it turns out to have been the same one where Quinlan