Star Wars_ X-Wing 04_ The Bacta War - Michael A. Stackpole [114]
Yonka’s figure bowed to the room. “Madam Director Ysanne Isard, I regret not being able to bring you this message personally, but not that much. In the time I have been associated with you I have found you to be sociopathically self-centered, prone to irrational and impulsive reactions to situations, and prey to a preference for appearance over substance. I have no doubt these affectations were seen as skills by the late Emperor, and indeed may have enhanced your ability to comply with his orders, but by no means are these the traits that make for great, or even adequate leadership.”
Vorru killed the impulse to applaud. The fact that Sair Yonka wore a black suit of military styling, yet lacking any military insignia, struck Vorru as appropriate. Yonka was not abandoning his military background, just severing his connection to Isard. The first mynock to flee a ship burning into an atmosphere. Yonka’s tone of voice—even, but full of conviction—sharply contrasted with the fury clearly building in Isard.
“I have, upon reflection, come to the conclusion that further service to you would be to condone and support an evil that perhaps would seem insignificant when grouped with the Emperor, Darth Vader, and Prince Xizor. I sincerely doubt, however, the billions of victims who have suffered because of you would be so sanguine about you. I hereby resign your service and renounce allegiance to you and what you represent. The same goes for my crew, save those loyalists you had aboard the Avarice. When informed of the new order of things, they hijacked a Lambda-class shuttle and forced us to destroy them.”
Yonka clasped his hands behind his back. “I know your intent will be to hunt us down and exterminate us. There is no doubt that with the Virulence and Lusankya, you could do just that, but you won’t get that chance. Most of my career has been served in the Outer Rim—I know of worlds and systems that you could never find. Seek out the Avarice, and you will leave yourself vulnerable to enemies who can destroy you.”
The image faded to gray static, then evaporated, leaving Isard staring back toward Vorru. “You once told me he had a mistress, this Captain Yonka.”
Vorru nodded. “On Elshandruu Pica.”
“Have her killed.” Isard spoke softly, surprising Vorru with her ability to keep her anger from coloring her words. “And any children she has, any siblings, any family.”
“And not his family?”
Isard snorted harshly. “I got this hologram three hours ago. Extermination of the crew’s families began then. Do recall, as Director of Imperial Intelligence, I have been through this routine before. I happened to notice the information on Yonka’s mistress was not in his file. You were not collecting it for your own purposes, were you, Minister Vorru?”
The small man half-lidded his eyes. “Merely awaiting confirmation before I committed anything to bytes, Madam Director.” He opened his hands innocently. “I just wonder at your desire to go after his mistress. You don’t imagine she influenced him in this decision, do you?”
“No, of course not.” Isard folded her hands together. “She dies to cause him pain. Have her death holographed—I will play it for Yonka as I work on him.”
“As you wish, Madam Director.” Vorru bowed as he replied to her, but inside he felt only contempt for her. Aellyn Jandi will be far away and out of your grasp because it will frustrate you, Iceheart. “The Avarice’s departure puts us in a curious position. Our ability to guard our convoys has been halved, unless you plan to take the Lusankya out of orbit and press it into that duty.”
An eyebrow arched over her red eye. “And leave Thyferra vulnerable to an attack by Antilles or an uprising by the Ashern? You think me more mad than Yonka did.”
“Hardly that, Madam Director, just a person faced with difficult decisions.”
“This is why I have you to advise me, Vorru.” Isard glared at him, her gaze burning a blush onto his