Despite her unease, the brilliant, adoring smile on her face never wavered.
When she’d taken this assignment, Bria had already been a fairly good actress, able to conceal her true feelings automatically.
But by now, she thought grimly, I probably deserve an award. Too bad there isn’t an “Undercover Agent of the Year” trophy …
The thought was so ridiculous that it made her smile genuine, for a brief second. Moff Shild put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulders, pointing. “Look, my dear! Here they come!”
The small contingent of VIPs on the observation platform began applauding as the Imperial fleet have into view.
Bria smiled and clapped as the skirmish ships, the recon vessels, the bulk cruisers, and the Dreadnaughts glided slowly toward the reviewing platform. TIE fighters swooped and darted around the bigger ships like small insects poised to feed off a herd of grazers.
Shild was grinning ecstatically as he beheld his squadron. He gave Bria’s shoulders another hug, and she kept herself from shrinking away by an effort of will. “Today marks the beginning of a new era of law and order in the Outer Rim, my dear!” he said, in his “political” voice.
Then he added, in a conspiratorial whisper, “And the beginning of a new life for us, Bria!”
Bria looked up at the Moff inquiringly. “Really, Sarn? How so?” He kept his voice low, but it was still intense, still forceful. “Once my fleet has wiped out Nar Shaddaa, and brought the Hutts to their …
well, brought them to heel, my power in this sector will be unquestioned. And when I tap into the wealth of the Hutts—the lesser clans and Desilijic, at least—I will be able to afford to augment my military forces until I can take on much greater foes than a mob of thieving smugglers.”
Why does he always sound like he’s making a campaign speech? Bria wondered. Aloud she said, “Desilijic? Why not Besadii, too?”
“In a private communique, the Emperor made it clear that Besadii is to remain unmolested,” Shild said. “They’re useful to him, providing the Empire with trained slaves. Besadii must continue to prosper.”
Bria filed this information away as something to relay to Rion as soon as she could. Palpatine even has his fingers in Hutt internal politics? Is there anything the Emperor doesn’t try to turn to his personal advantage? Aloud she said, “Oh, well, that makes sense.”
“Yes, the Emperor is a canny fellow,” Shild said, still speaking in that almost whisper. “But … perhaps … not canny enough.”
Bria was puzzled. “What do you mean, Sarn?”
He smiled, his “public” smile, but there was something in his eyes that made Bria uneasy. “I fear that between the growing rebellions on the innermost worlds and the internal political squabblings in the highest echelons, our beloved Emperor has overextended himself. He is losing his grip in the Outer Rim Territories. The Imperial forces are spread so thin in these sectors that a strong leader with a powerful military force to back him could simply … secede … from the Empire.”
Bria looked at him, her eyes wide with shock. He was talking sedition!
Didn’t he realize that?
Shild mistook her look for amazed appreciation. He beamed at her.
“Oh, don’t think I haven’t thought of it, my dear. There’s no reason that the Outer Rim Territories couldn’t become another Corporate Sector, with no ties or allegiance to the Empire. If I had sufficient military might, I could lead the Outer Rim to independence and prosperity—it would be glorious!”
Bria had to clench her teeth to keep her jaw from dropping. What in the name of Xendor’s Minions has gotten into him? I always knew Sam was arrogant, but he sounds like a madman!
Was it possible that the Moff had fallen under some kind of …
influence? Bria knew there were some telepathic species of aliens, but she’d never heard of any that could do anything like this. Maybe Shild had simply gone crazy. That was one possible explanation.
But the light in Shild’s dark eyes was not that of a madman, it was the light of a man with a mission.
“And after leading the Outer Rim Territories to glory, my dear”—he gave her another one-armed hug—”it’s possible that I should turn my concentration … well, shall we say, toward more populated areas of the galaxy. There are unhappy worlds, here in the Empire, worlds that are looking for new leadership. I could provide that leadership.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing this! He’s talking about challenging the Emperor!
Bria was terrified to even stand here and listen to Shild. Palpatine had ears everywhere. Surely the Emperor would discover Shild’s outrageous ambition, and eliminate him as casually as she might slap a stinging insect. The Imperial fleet was moving magnificently past them now, passing in review. Shild dropped his arm from around Bria, stepped forward to stand on the very edge of the platform, looking slim and elegant in his Moff’s uniform. He saluted his troops as they glided past him.