Star Wars_ X-Wing 08_ Isard's Revenge - Michael A. Stackpole [31]
“Oh, I expect so.” Isard’s smile broadened.
“This is unacceptable. I will not tolerate the loss of even one world of mine!” Krennel narrowed his eyes. “You have been here for two weeks, have requisitioned a fortune in equipment, have authorized payment to agents all over, and so far have only succeeded in losing personnel and turning prisoners over to the New Republic. This is no way to deal with our enemies.”
Isard slowly shook her head. “I would have thought the lesson Grand Admiral Thrawn learned so recently would not have been lost upon you, Prince-Admiral.”
The low, slow delivery of her comment sliced through his anger. “Meaning?”
“Thrawn died because it was inconceivable to him that anyone could defeat him. While his string of victories made this attitude warranted, this belief also hampered him.” She pressed her hands together. “Look at the New Republic. They killed the Emperor. They took Imperial Center. They destroyed Thrawn. Now they believe they are invincible. The fact is, we will defeat them because they have this weakness.”
Krennel snarled. “I have never believed in lulling an enemy into a false sense of security.”
“Then believe this, Prince-Admiral: You will lose a world to the New Republic.” Isard’s voice took on an icy tone. “I know your strengths and I know their strengths. You cannot stop them, you can only force them to expend more resources than they want to take the world. Now the world I have chosen is a small one, a simple one, one of no value aside from being one bauble in the diadem you wear as Prince-Admiral. In choosing the battlefield, I can choose how the battle will go, and how we will make the New Republic pay for their victory.”
“You are wrong, Isard.” Krennel turned away from the scene on Commenor and met her stare evenly. “Only by standing up to them in an even fight will I be able to convince them I am too much trouble to take. I can and shall do that.”
Isard shrugged. “I suspected that might be your reaction, and I have planned accordingly. You will still indulge me, however, in our political pursuits, yes?”
Krennel hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. Have your envoy meet with the leaders of the Alderaanian expatriates. I can see giving them a new home.”
“And you would issue a statement of conciliation and apology for the destruction of Alderaan?”
He shifted his shoulders uneasily. “If it were necessary, yes.”
“Good. What we shall do, then, is this: We will have our negotiations going on, but we will not specify a world. We say we want to learn what the Alderaanians want in a world, and we will pick one to match. We will hint that our generosity is an overture for peace between your realm and the New Republic—perhaps even suggesting that you might like to join the New Republic. Then, when the New Republic attacks, we will note that the world they take from you would have been the one you were going to give to the Alderaanians. This should anger them and weaken their support for the New Republic. After all, the people who have suffered so much now have to suffer even more.”
“That ought to work.” Krennel nodded slowly, then gave Isard a wry grin. “You are very good at the political manipulation of people—almost as good as I am at killing them. If you confine yourself to what you are good at, I will as well, and our partnership will have a long future.”
“I will be happy to limit what I do, Prince-Admiral, if you will agree to a request.”
“And that is?”
“If Rogue Squadron survives its next encounter with you,” she smiled frostily, “you will leave their destruction entirely in my hands.”
Krennel smiled carefully back. “And if they do not?”
“Why then, Prince-Admiral, I will just find you bigger and better targets.” Isard bowed her head in his direction. “If you do manage to kill them, clearly nothing else will be able to stop you.”
9
Wedge Antilles started to seat himself halfway down the left side