Star Wars_ X-Wing 04_ The Bacta War - Michael A. Stackpole [10]
Isard smiled. “I find it rather delicious that she was forced to shoot Diric. He was useful, but really just a pawn. His love for her was enough, apparently, to get him to reinterpret some of my orders to him, though, ultimately, he belonged to me, not to her. I hope that hurts her more than killing him did.”
Vorru frowned. “If Loor was killed, how did Alliance Security sweep up your agents?”
“Loor apparently encoded a datacard as a safeguard against them just killing him. It seems the key, which he believed known only to himself, was also known to Corran Horn.”
“Ah, and Loor believed Horn dead.” Vorru chuckled lightly. “I find the irony something that would have tortured Loor.”
“Yes, but now his stupidity tortures me. The information coming to me from Imperial Center is severely limited. The official information service tells me more than my spies. This Horn has much to answer for.”
“I could have told you he would be trouble, but even I believed you’d killed him. Horn’s father and even his grandfather were very driven men. Of course, you have ample evidence of his drive, and now it’s focused on us, here.”
The color in Isard’s red eye seemed to flare for a second. “You refer to the mass resignations from the squadron and their vow to liberate Thyferra?” Her laughter, which sounded quite genuine and unforced to Vorru, nonetheless had few of the pleasing tones usually associated with laughter.
“I appreciate the contempt you might feel for their effort, but it cannot be discounted. Yes, we have three destroyers, two of the Imperial, one of the Victory-class, and a Super Star Destroyer to defend us, but your confidence in them is as misplaced as the Emperor’s misjudgment of the Rebel Alliance.”
Isard’s face became a frozen mask. “Oh, you think so, do you? You think I am repeating the mistakes the Emperor made?”
Vorru met her stare openly. “You undoubtedly don’t see it that way, but it is my place to remind you of the errors others have made so you don’t repeat them. You are correct, Horn, Antilles, and the others have nothing right now, and it does seem apparent that the New Republic does not support their effort, but that could change. And, yes, we control the bacta output for the galaxy, but we must be careful. If we make it too dear, forces will join to oppose us, and the former Rogues are in an excellent position to make the most of that opposition.”
Isard stared at him for a moment or two more, then abruptly broke her stare off. “Your caution is noted.”
“I will also point out that we still have the Ashern to deal with here. They may be a minority among the Vratix, but they have struck in the past at key production facilities. Their strikes over the past year or so have become more precise and effective. I think they will become even more so because of the rumors that some Zaltin personnel have joined them.”
“Yes, the Black-claw Rebels are a bother, but that’s why I have deployed stormtroopers to defend our facilities.”
Vorru smiled. “That was a good move, as was restricting them to play a defensive role. Establishing a Thyferran Home Defense Corps that will allow Xucphra volunteers to fight the Ashern themselves was also brilliant.”
“Thank you. Xucphra’s people will come to see themselves in an alliance with my stormtroopers in no time. Once a THDC force gets in over its head and my people rescue them, the humans here will see my stormtroopers as the stalwart white line that separates them from death. Those who are dubious about us will be won over.” Isard spread her hands apart. “Erisi Dlarit is heading up the fighter wing I have given to the THDC. She is a hero among her people, and having her so elevated proves to the Thyferrans that I understand how superior they are.