Thrawn Plays a Deadly Game in This Look Inside Star Wars’ Next Novel

Grand Admiral Thrawn might not but be Grand Admiral in Timothy Zahn’s newest trilogy of novels that includes his most iconic Star Wars creation, however even earlier than his time within the Empire, it’s clear that Thrawn has at all times had a knack for guiding himself by way of essentially the most harmful methods to get what he needs—and his newest journey is proving to be no exception.

Lesser Evil, the third and remaining chapter of the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, picks again up within the time earlier than Mitth’uncooked’nurodo—Thrawn, to his mates and enemies alike—left behind the Unknown Regions of the Star Wars galaxy’s edges, and the Chiss Ascendancy that lay past it. The younger army Captain finds himself on the coronary heart of a plot that threatens to not simply disrupt Chiss rule over the sector, however tear the Ascendancy aside altogether. As the Nine Ruling Families draw nearer and nearer to an unprecedented civil warfare, Thrawn should bear the burden on his shoulders of saving his folks from doom in opposition to a foe as intelligent, conniving, and calculating as he’s. And, in true Thrawn type, he finds that the reply to the Ascendancy’s future may lie in its historic previous.

Before he can discover these solutions although, Thrawn has to navigate his solution to them in any means he can… even when it means piloting his cruiser Springhawk into the guts of his enemies’ operations to play a lethal recreation of probing his foes’ data and defenses. Read on for io9’s unique excerpt from the e-book beneath—or, for those who’d choose to listen to it in audio type, take heed to it from Marc Thompson’s studying of Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil’s audiobook, additionally making its debut right here on io9!

PRH Audio · Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil)- Excerpt 2

“Conquest.”

Generalirius Nakirre gazed out the viewport of the Kilji warfare cruiser Whetstone on the dozens of buying and selling ships orbiting the planet Zyzek. “Conquest.”

“An interesting concept, is it not?” the being often called Jixtus recommended.

Nakirre eyed his visitor. It was unsettling having to take care of a being whose clothes of gown, hood, gloves, and veil wrapped him in whole concealment.

Especially provided that such full anonymity gave him a critical negotiating benefit over Nakirre and his Kilji vassals. Once Jixtus discovered the way to learn the emotional responses mirrored within the patterns of ripples and stretches that moved by way of the dark-orange Kilji pores and skin, he would acquire perception that went far deeper than Nakirre’s phrases.

But Nakirre had agreed to journey right here with the alien, and the Kilji Overlords had affirmed his determination, and so right here they have been.

And fact be advised, Jixtus did have some intriguing concepts on how the way forward for the Kilji Illumine may very well be formed.

“People who would otherwise ignore the wisdom and guidance of the Kiljis would be encouraged to listen,” Jixtus continued. “People who would otherwise scorn and scoff at your philosophy could be silenced or sent where their rantings would not disturb or disrupt.”

“It would allow us to bring order,” Nakirre agreed, pictures of unprecedented stability operating by way of his thoughts. Conquest.

“Exactly,” Jixtus stated. “Order and enlightenment to billions who currently struggle and flail helplessly in darkness. As you well know, encouragement and persuasion—even passionate persuasion—can move a culture only so far. Conquest is the only way to bring Kilji insight to the whole of a region.”

“And you believe these beings are prepared to receive such insight?” Nakirre requested, sweeping his hand throughout the viewport on the service provider ships floating placidly of their orbits.

“Is there ever a time when enlightenment would not be beneficial?” Jixtus countered. “Whether they realize it or not, whether they accept it or not, the Kilji path is what will ultimately bring them prosperity and contentment. What purpose delay?”

“What purpose, indeed,” Nakirre agreed, gazing on the ships. So many retailers, so many countries, all standing helpless earlier than the may of the Kilji Illumine. Which ought to he select first?

“As I promised, we will guide you as to the nations most quickly and easily conquered,” Jixtus continued. “There are representative traders here from each of the four the Grysks feel are the most promising. We’ll speak with them in turn, perhaps sample the goods they’ve brought for sale. You will then—”

“Generalirius?” Vassal Two known as from the sensor station. “A new ship has arrived. Unknown configuration.”

Nakirre seemed on the visible show. The newcomer was certainly not like any of the opposite ships already in orbit. Representatives of some new nation, little doubt, right here to hitch in barter and commerce.

Or maybe not. The design of the craft was not that of a service provider. Its form, the systematic groupings of bulges alongside its sides and shoulders, the distinctive sheen of a nyix-alloy hull . . .

“These are not traders,” he stated. “That is a warship. Is it not?” he added, turning to have a look at Jixtus.

Only to seek out the Grysk silent and unmoving. The veiled face was turned towards the visible show, the robed determine as nonetheless as if the being hidden beneath the gown had turned to stone.

Usually Jixtus had a remark for all the pieces. For as soon as, he didn’t.

“If you’re concerned, you need not be,” Nakirre reassured him. The newcomer was about two-thirds the scale of the Whetstone, most likely not more than the equal of a Kilji picket cruiser, with a comparable ratio of weaponry. Should they select to provoke fight, he had little doubt the Kiljis would win.

He might solely hope they wouldn’t be so silly. The destruction of their ship would imply these aboard would by no means hear the Kilji philosophy and thus might by no means obtain true enlightenment.

“Generalirius, the warship is broadcasting a message,” Vassal Four stated. He touched a change—

“—to all assembled merchants and traders,” a clean, melodious voice came visiting the Whetstone’s bridge speaker, the Minnisiat commerce language phrases articulated with clipped precision. “I am Senior Captain Thrawn of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet warship Springhawk. I have news for any Watith who may be present. Are there any of that species to whom I may speak?”

“Are there?” Nakirre requested, wanting again at Jixtus.

Jixtus stirred, breaking no matter paralysis had overtaken him. “Are there what?” he requested, his voice odd.

“Are there any Watith?”

Jixtus appeared to collect himself collectively. “I don’t know. I didn’t notice any of their ships when we arrived, but I also wasn’t looking for them. I suggest we hold here and see if anyone answers him.”

“If no one else stands forth, I will speak with him,” Nakirre declared. “I would learn what news he bears.”

“I would advise against that,” Jixtus warned. “The Chiss are a devious species. He is likely asking that question in the hope of drawing you out into the open.”

“Drawing me out?” Nakirre requested. “How would he even know I’m here?”

“I didn’t mean you specifically, Generalirius,” Jixtus stated. “But be assured he’s hunting for information. That’s what this particular Chiss does.”

“If no one wishes news,” Thrawn continued, “perhaps someone will give us the location of their world, so that we may return our prisoners to their people.”

Nakirre checked out Jixtus with shock. “He has prisoners?”

“No,” Jixtus bit out. “He doesn’t.”

“He says he does.”

“He lies,” Jixtus stated. “As I told you already, he’s hunting for information. This is a trick.”

“How do you know?” Nakirre persevered.

Again Jixtus fell silent. “Tell me how you know, Jixtus of the Grysks,” Nakirre repeated, making it an order this time. “If the Chiss mounted a raid, there would of course be prisoners. If there was a battle, even the most fearsome often leaves survivors. Tell me now, or I shall ask him.”

“There was a battle,” Jixtus stated reluctantly. “But there were no survivors.”

“How can you be certain?”

“Because I was the one who sent the Watith against the Chiss,” Jixtus stated. “Twenty-three Watith went into that battle. Twenty-three Watith died.”

“I see,” Nakirre stated, pretending he was happy.

Only he wasn’t.

Because an observer who had spoken of Watith deaths would even have warned that the Springhawk had survived that battle. Yet Jixtus had clearly been stunned by the Chiss warship’s arrival. Was it merely the Springhawk’s look right here at Zyzek, and never the easy truth of its survival, that had startled him?

And how did he know that this Chiss was searching for info? Did Jixtus know him personally?

For a second Nakirre thought-about asking these questions. But there could be no acquire. Jixtus was withholding info, and would undoubtedly proceed to take action. That was the best way of those that lacked enlightenment.

No matter. There was in spite of everything one other supply of data shut at hand. “Vassal One: Yaw rotation to face the Chiss ship,” he ordered. He waited till the Whetstone was lined up exactly on the incoming warship, then keyed his mike. “Senior Captain Thrawn, this is Generalirius Nakirre of the Kilji Illumine warship Whetstone,” he known as. “Tell me how you come to have Watith prisoners.”

“I greet you, Generalirius Nakirre,” Thrawn stated. “Are you an ally or trading associate of the Watith?”

“Sadly, I am not yet either,” Nakirre stated. “But perhaps soon.”

“Ah,” Thrawn stated. “You have come here to initiate new trade relationships, then?”

Nakirre’s pores and skin stretched in a wry smile. Jixtus had been proper: This Chiss was on the hunt for info. “Not specifically,” he stated. “We of the Illumine travel the Chaos teaching others the Kilji way of order and enlightenment.”

“A noble undertaking,” Thrawn stated. “Have the Watith been among your students?”

“Again, not yet,” Nakirre stated. “We are newly arrived in this part of space. But such things are for the future. Tell me how you come to have Watith prisoners.”

“For the moment, those details must remain confidential.”

“No matter,” Nakirre stated. “I will accept your prisoners and return them to their home.”

“Do you know where that home is?”

Nakirre hesitated. If he stated sure, Thrawn would probably ask for the coordinates and take the prisoners there himself. If he stated no, Thrawn would most likely refuse handy them over. “I have already made many contacts among the traders here,” he stated, selecting a 3rd possibility. “One of them can surely provide that information.”

“I appreciate your offer,” Thrawn stated. “But I cannot in good conscience accept it. If there are no Watith here to receive the prisoners, we will take our search elsewhere.”

“I would not have you go to such trouble.”

“That is my choice to make, not yours.”

“Enlightenment requires that I serve others.”

“You serve here best by permitting me to go my way,” Thrawn stated. “Or does your enlightenment require you to take away my freedom of choice?”

“Let him go,” Jixtus murmured. “Just let him go.”

Nakirre felt a ripple of anger. Anger at Jixtus; anger at Thrawn.

He wanted Jixtus and the Grysks to indicate him which nations have been most open to conquest and thus enlightenment. He didn’t want Thrawn. “You should learn of what you speak before offering judgment,” he stated, keying his board to start the Whetstone’s ramp-up to fight standing. “Someday soon I shall bring the Kilji philosophy to the Chiss.”

“I fear you will find little interest,” Thrawn stated. “We have our own ancient paths.”

“The Kilji path will prove superior.”

“No,” Thrawn stated, his voice flat. “It will not.”

“Again, you dismiss our wisdom without even hearing it.”

“In my experience, superior wisdom can stand on its own merits,” Thrawn stated. “It does not require a warship to force acceptance.”

“You also bring a warship to this place.”

“But I do not claim to offer others superior wisdom,” Thrawn stated. “Nor do I intend to impose my wisdom upon others.”

“He’s trying to goad you into attacking him,” Jixtus warned quietly, his voice sounding strained. “Don’t let him.”

Nakirre felt a stretch of contempt. Why shouldn’t he let the Chiss construct his personal destruction? The Whetstone was far mightier than Thrawn’s Springhawk. It could be the work of some minutes to destroy him.

“He’s trying to obtain data on the Whetstone’s capabilities,” Jixtus went on. “And on your abilities as its commander.”

And why shouldn’t he exhibit the may of a Kilji warfare cruiser? Whatever data Thrawn may acquire could be misplaced within the abyss of his loss of life.

Still, there have been others right here who would witness that battle. Perhaps it might be unwise to indicate them the complete may of the Kiljis earlier than the Kilhorde visited their worlds to indicate them the trail of enlightenment.

But to even look as if he was permitting the Chiss to dictate his plan of action . . .

“Warships, this is Zyzek System Defense.” A brand new voice came visiting the bridge speaker. “You are both requested to stand down.”

Nakirre felt a ripple of chilly amusement. The 4 patrol craft that had risen from the mass of service provider ships and break up into pairs to confront the Whetstone and Springhawk have been smaller and much more pathetic than the Chiss warship. Should they demand battle, it might take solely a single laser volley to ship them past all likelihood of enlightenment.

“The Kiljis cannot enlighten them if they are dead,” Jixtus reminded him.

He was proper, in fact. More necessary, maybe, it gave him a legit excuse to refuse fight with the Chiss.

“Zyzek System Defense, I comply with your request,” he stated. “Senior Captain Thrawn, you may keep your prisoners. I will see you again when I arrive among your people to change the ancient paths of the Chiss to the fuller enlightenment of the Kiljis.”

“I will look forward to our next encounter,” Thrawn stated. “Farewell.”

Thrawn Ascendancy’s third and remaining chapter, Lesser Evil, releases November 16.

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