Greater Good (Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy, #2)

by Timothy Zahn

“And yet, it appears that most Chiss military craft don’t hire navigators at all,” Jixtus said. “Would you agree?” “I don’t know,” Qilori said, his winglets fluttering again. “I can only speak from my own experience. Though now that you mention it, I don’t recall other Pathfinders talking about such jobs.” “That leaves two possibilities,” Jixtus said. “Either the Chiss have their own group of navigators, some aliens hidden on an obscure world of the Ascendancy…” He paused. “Or they have a means of finding their way through the Chaos without navigator assistance.” Qilori frowned. “What other means could there be?” “It is said that millennia ago, the Chiss adventured into Lesser Space, taking part in wars between two hostile factions over vast and ever-shifting regions,” Jixtus said, his voice again thoughtful. “Those factions reportedly had special navigational techniques that involved computers or mechanical constructs. Even now, those in that part of the galaxy use such techniques.” “I see,” Qilori said as he saw where Jixtus was going. “You think the Chiss may have brought some of those devices back when they got tired of the wars and withdrew to the Ascendancy?” “Possibly,” Jixtus said. “And no, I don’t expect you to solve this mystery for me at this time. But be aware that the mystery exists, and be watchful.”