[Black Fleet Crisis(68)

“Diplomatically put, ” said Drayson, smiling pleasantly.

“Hiram has some information for you, ” Ackbar continued. “I would listen to him carefully. I myself have found it valuable to do so in the past-and to have his counsel, as well. ” He nodded at Drayson.

“And now I will say good night. “

“Wait-where are you going? ” asked A’baht.

“This conversation is not meant for my ears, ” said Ackbar. “I am going to the water column, to sleep. It is quite late, you know. “

A’baht watched him leave the room, then turned to Drayson. “I have the curious feeling that being favored with an introduction to you is less an honor than a portent. “

Drayson smiled. “It signifies that Ackbar trusts you implicitly, and that’s no mean compliment. But I won’t deny it-introductions to me seem to have a way of costing folks the blessings of a peaceful sleep. “

“Just so. Well-what did you want to talk to me about? “

“Your travel plans, ” said Drayson. “Come, let’s sit. “

“I’ve been trying for months to establish some assets in the Koornacht Cluster, ” said Drayson. “It hasn’t been easy, even for me. ” He smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Traders will go to the fringes of the Cluster, but the deep Cluster worlds belonging to the League are another story. Apparently the Yevetha have a straightforward method of dealing with trespassers—they execute them on sight. And frankly, I find that to be reason for concern in its own right. “

“They like their privacy. “

“Perhaps a little too much, ” said Drayson. “Which is consistent with the behavior of the viceroy here. The Yevetha stay in their ship, and the viceroy limits his outside contacts to a few hours every other day with Leia. I don’t know if there are ten of them in there, or a thousand-“

“You don’t trust them, either. “

“No, I don’t, ” said Drayson. “I’m certain that Nil Spaar has been lying to Leia. The viceroy is a player. I haven’t quite figured out the game, and I can’t tell how far beyond normal diplomatic posturing the lies go. But one thing I know for certain is that they’ve been learning about us faster than we’ve been learning about them. That’s another reason for concern. “

“You think they’ve been studying us. “

“They’d be fools if they weren’t, and I don’t think they’re fools, ” said Drayson. “That Yevethan spaceship has had access to the Republic hypernet and the planetary NCI channels since the second day it was here. And the viceroy has had unimpeded access to the Chief of State of the Republic. Meanwhile, I can’t even confirm how many League worlds there are, or their names and locations. I’ve been shut out completely, and I’m not accustomed to that happening. “

“Is that why you’re having this conversation with me instead of with the princess? “

“That’s one reason, ” said Drayson. “The other is that you’re going out there with thirty warships, and she’s not. “

“Can you tell me anything about what I’m likely to find? “

“Some. There are several worlds on the fringe of the Cluster which are inhabited by species other than the Yevetha, ” said Drayson. “Along the border, there’s a sizable colony of Kubaz, two small mining installations owned by the Morath, and a commune of H’kig cultists who apparently left Rishii over a doctrinal conflict. A little farther in, there’s a nest of Corasgh established by the Empire and then abandoned, and a droid-run Imperial factory farm, likewise abandoned, which represents a free lunch for any cargomaster willing to risk the trip. “

“The droids are still tending and harvesting crops? “

“Yes. Put a ship down at the loading docks, and the droids fill the hold without even being asked! ” said Drayson. “Now, all of those are new since the last general survey of that sector, and there could be more. Based on that survey, there are also at least five indigenous sentient species in the Cluster, none of which have achieved hyperspace travel. Some haven’t even gotten off the ground. “

“Not a very likely place for the Empire to put a key forward shipyard. “

“Not with the Yevethan worlds nearby. “

“Do you think they have the ships? “

“It would have been unusually sloppy of the Empire to allow that to happen, ” said Drayson. “But I don’t rule it out. “

“It would be nice to know. “

“Wouldn’t it? But I don’t. Chances are you’ll end up finding out and telling me, instead of the other way around. ” Drayson rubbed his eyes, then finger-combed his short black hair. “But here’s something I keep thinking about. The Yevetha had just achieved interplanetary spaceflight at the time of the general survey. Very bright, technically clever, rather proud of themselves, but no threat to anyone. “