Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3)

by Timothy Zahn

Ronan scowled. His working assumption had always been that people in positions of power and authority were lazy or incompetent or both, Director Krennic being the sole exception. Now Governor Haveland had added felonious to that list. There would be a certain satisfaction in turning Vanto over to the navy. But there would be far greater satisfaction in watching ISB haul Haveland off in binders. He snorted and blanked the display, sending the data back to Faro’s secure folder. Time to sort all that out later. Standing up, he crossed to the door and walked out into the aft bridge. And stopped short just outside the office door, his breath freezing in his throat. The bridge and aft bridge were bustling with activity—apparently, the Chimaera was preparing for action of some sort. Standing on the command walkway, a circle of calm in the middle of the commotion, were Thrawn and Vanto. Standing beside them in the midst of that calm were Ar’alani and the girl Vah’nya. The frozen breath inside Ronan turned instantly to boiling blood. This was an Imperial Star Destroyer, the very symbol of the Empire’s strength and determination. Thrawn had no business—he had no right—to bring outsiders to the heart of that power.