Disra frowned at him. “So who’s going to go there? You?”
“I am the logical choice,” Tierce pointed out. “General Hestiv doesn’t know me by either name or sight, and I can make up a story that won’t link me to you. As long as Pellaeon’s grand tour of the Empire doesn’t drop him there the same time I am, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“Except how you’re going to get into the Special Files section,” Disra said.
Tierce shrugged. “I’ll use a copy of your decryption method, of course.”
Disra frowned a little harder. “You know, this is the second time you’ve tried to get that decrypt from me,” he pointed out. “One might wonder why you’re so anxious to get hold of it.”
“Would you rather the Rebels got to the Caamas Document first?” Tierce countered. “What in the Empire are you so afraid of, anyway?”
“I’m not sure,” Disra said darkly. “Perhaps that all you really want-that all you’ve ever wanted from the startis to get your nose into those files. Maybe I’m thinking that once you’ve gotten whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll vanish and leave us holding the bag.”
Tierce smiled tightly. “A minute ago you were upset that I seem to be taking over your grand project,” he pointed out “Now you’re worried that I might suddenly desert it? Make up your mind.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Disra bit out “What is it you’re looking for in those files?”
“I don’t know,” Tierce said. “The Emperor had many secrets, some of which are bound to be useful to us. But I can’t know which ones until I have a chance to look them over, can I?”
“If it’s all that simple and aboveboard, why didn’t you suggest it in the first place?” Disra demanded. “I could have let you look through the Bastion records.”
“Fine,” Tierce said. “Consider the request made. However, if I go look at the files at Yaga Minor I can take care of two problems at once, can’t I?”
Disra grimaced. Except that if Tierce did his searching at Yaga Minor, he wouldn’t be able to look over the Guardsman’s shoulder while he did it.
Across the desk, Flim stirred. “We’re all in this together, Your Excellency,” he reminded Disra. “Whatever secrets Major “Fierce digs up, he can’t possibly use them by himself as effectively as he can together with the two of us.”
“Exactly,” Tierce said, nodding. “In fact, I’ll go further. One of the files I’m hoping to find will only be useful in conjunction with the two of you.”
So there has something specific he was after. “And that mysterious secret is … ?” Disra prompted.
Tierce shook his head. “Sorry. I’ll definitely need help from the two of you to utilize it; but it’s possible the two of you won’t need me. No offense, but at this point I’d prefer to remain indispensable.”
Disra grimaced, but he could tell that this part of the conversation was now over. He’d pushed Tierce as far as the Guardsman was willing to be pushed, and had learned all he was likely to learn, and that was it.
At least for now. “You’re still indispensable as the master tactician of our little group,” Disra reminded him, waving a hand in dismissal. “But if this will make you feel a little safer-“
He broke off at a quiet beep from the desk. “What’s that?” Flim asked.
“My private comm,” Disra said, frowning as he opened a drawer and looked at the access code. What in the Empire-?
“You going to answer it?” Film prompted.
“Stay out of sight,” Disra said curtly, keying for the connection. “Both of you.” He straightened up and faced his desk display, arranging his expression into something hard and regal. The status report that had been on the display cleared and became a face&mdash
“All right, Disra,” Captain Zothip snarled. “Let’s hear it. What in blazes is going on?”
“It’s Your Excellency, Captain,” Disra corrected him. “And I was about to ask you that same question. You know the rules about contacting me this way.”
“Vader take your rules! I want to know-“
“You know the rules,” Disra repeated, the sheer iciness of his tone somehow silencing the other. “This channel is never to be used except in case of emergency.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Or are you trying to tell me something has happened that the Cavrilhu Pirates can’t handle?”
“Oh, it’s been handled,” Zothip said viciously. “It cost me two men and one of my best bases, but it’s been handled. What I want to know from you is how and why Luke Skywalker just happened to drop in for a visit.”