[Hand Of Thrawn] - 01(35)

“There’s not much we can do about the timetable,” Tierce reminded him. “The three heading to the Bothawui system won’t be in attack position for several weeks.”

“Then perhaps we should scrap the comet aspect,” Disra said. “They can form up around some other marker.”

“There isn’t one,” Tierce said patiently. “At least, nothing that would be safe for them to use. You’ll just have to use your native charm to keep Pellaeon at bay.”

“I’ll do my best,” Disra said sarcastically. “And what sort of charm would you suggest I use on Captain Zothip?”

“What’s wrong with Captain Zothip?” Flim asked.

“Major Tierce called and told him we were cutting off their supply of clones,” Disra growled. “Zothip is rather upset.”

“We’ve been through this once already,” Tierce said with an air of strained patience. We need those clones ourselves now. Zothip has no cause to complain-he’s benefited well enough from having them aboard his ships. Anyway, what are you worried about? That he’ll come here and demand satisfaction?”

“You don’t know Zothip,” Disra said heavily.

“He’s scum from the fringe,” Tierce said, dismissing the pirate with a twist of his lip. “Buy him off or calm him down-I don’t care which,”

“I’m less worried about Zothip than I am about your attitude,” Disra countered. “From now on, major decisions like this are going to be made jointly. I won’t have you tearing down things I’ve built and then handing me the pieces to put back together.”

For a long moment Tierce just looked at him. “Let’s get one thing straight right now, Disra,” he said at last, his voice icy smooth. “I’m in command of the military aspects of this operation, All of them. That’s what you offered me, and that’s what I’m taking. Your part right now-your only part right now-is to supply the ships and men I need, and to handle any political aspects that crop up.”

Disra glared again at him. But it was a glare whose edge he could feel blunting. Just what sort of monster had he created here? “Is that all I am to you?” he asked Tierce quietly. “Your supply officer?”

Tierce smiled, a cold twitch of the corner of his lip. “Afraid you’ve lost control of this scheme you’ve created? Don’t be. My goal here-my only goal-is to avenge the Emperor’s death and wipe the Rebellion off every map of the galaxy. After that, my job is done. Ruling the new Empire that emerges will be entirely up to you.”

For a moment Disra eyed him, trying to read past his stony expression, trying not to let wishful thinking color his judgment. If the man was lying…

No. Tierce was a soldier; an uncommonly good one, but a soldier nonetheless. He had nowhere near the political skills or experience Disra himself possessed. Even if he grew to like the taste of power, he would still need Disra after the fighting was over.

“Most triumvirates are unstable, Your Excellency,” Film spoke up. “I know; I’ve seen many of them rise and collapse among pirate and smuggler organizations in the fringe. But this one is different. None of us can make it work without both of the others.”

“He’s right,” Tierce agreed. “So shut up your whining and do your part. Or it’ll be penal colonies for all of us.”

“Agreed,” Disra said reluctantly. “My apologies, Major. It won’t happen again.”

“Good,” Tierce said briskly. “Back to business. I’m going to need a copy of the decryption algorithm you used to slice into the Emperor’s and Thrawn’s private records.”

Disra frowned. “What for?”

“So that I can pull a complete list of the sleeper cells Thrawn planted around the Rebellion,” Tierce explained. “We’re going to need all the trained Imperial soldiers and pilots we can get our hands on.”

That seemed reasonable enough. “All right,” Disra said. “But I can pull the list for you.”

“It would be useful if I could get into those files myself whenever I needed to,” Tierce pointed out.

“It would also be useful for me to know a few things that you don’t,” Disra countered. “For the sake of balance and all.”

Tierce shook his head. “Fine. Go ahead and play your little games. Just get me that list.”

Disra inclined his head in an ironic bow. “Immediately, Major.”

No, there would be no more outbursts, Disra decided as he walked back across the office to the secret tunnel. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep a close eye on his partners in this triumvirate. And if they both still needed him, the time might well come when he no longer needed them.