More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“The past is the past,” Vader said. “The present and future are all that matter.”
Whether a soldier called it a motto, an aphorism, or a war cry, his personal experience was that most of those who continually spouted them turned out to be not very good at their jobs once the shooting began.
Ambushes were always easier to turn when the attackers didn’t know they’d been spotted.
Thrawn was silent for a moment. “Just remember that the goal in war is victory, not revenge.”
It was one thing to lose a battle, as Thrawn had at Atollon. It was worse to lose both a battle and one’s dignity at the same time.
“But many myths are rooted in fact. We must now seek to divide the one from the other.”
Vader clenched his teeth. “One cannot simply ask for trust, Admiral,” he warned harshly. “Trust must be earned.”
“Courage is a virtue,” Thrawn said. “Foolishness is not.”
The grand admiral was smart and subtle, but never used his brilliance to show up or humiliate anyone. He demanded results, but never perfection, and had amazing stores of patience for those who were truly working to their fullest ability. He cared about his people, to the point of standing up for them even against the disapproval of powerful men like Lord Vader.
“Completely unexpected, I assure you,” Thrawn said. “The side effects of combat can be unpredictable.”
“You wondered earlier how we would defeat two ships nearly as large as ours. You now have an answer?” “Yes, sir,” Faro said. Her voice holds grim anticipation. “We persuade them to let us take them on one at a time.”
Anakin Skywalker is dead,” he said. Thrawn lowered his head. “I know.” Vader nodded slowly. I know. Not So I have heard. Not So I was informed. But I know. “We will not speak of him again,” he said. “You will not speak of him again.” “I understand, my lord,” Thrawn said. “But I will always honor his legacy.”
