Chapter 25

Thrawn and Pellaeon talked over the contingency plans for the possibility of Palpatine attacking during the negotiations. Pellaeon did not like being left behind, but found it difficult to put his objections into words that Thrawn would listen to. He hated to have to use this argument, but...

"Yes, I know you're going to be taking multiple Ysalamiri, and you believe the storm troopers will be loyal to you, but can you guard against a siezure? There ought to be somebody other than you there with the ability to take intelligent action and reject any suggestion from the Emperor that he take you back with him for medical treatment - put them in storm trooper armour if you must, but take them."

To Pellaeon's slight surprise, Thrawn smiled as he responded. "One of the 'storm troopers' on the mission will be Lieutenant Mithel. He has shown an impressive knack for dealing with the unexpected. I need you on the Chimaera because I will need you to take command until I am able to get back."

Pellaeon opened his mouth to protest but Thrawn added "...if this meeting occurs at all. I suspect that Palpatine may not be willing to conduct any meeting with Ysalamiri present and I will not conduct one without them. An actual physical meeting is plan C. Plan A is that we end up meeting by holograph from our separate ships, plan B is that Palpatine refuses any meeting and we either sit there and stare at each other from our separate ships or he leaves in a huff."

Pellaeon nodded. He still didn't like it much, but it was as good as possible given that they couldn't refuse the negotiations without losing face.

"Actually, the main question is not what happens with the meeting, but what happens when Palpatine finds out about either one of the missions to Byss. News will probably reach him during the conference if it is extended. He is very likely to attack or order others to attack, and it is this we need to prepare for. That is why you must remain on the Chimaera." A smile played around Thrawn's mouth. "If I am not in a position to command, I need somebody capable there until I can get back. You'd be wasted in Lieutenant Mithel's position."

_________

After a journey remarkable only for Tannu's skill with cards, Mara and her team arrived on Byss. The echoing hanger where they disembarked was full of people. Excited people, chattering people and quiet people walking determinedly about their business. Mara's little group fit right into the latter category. Between the stormtroopers and Mara's prophet of the dark side outfit people gave them a wide berth and they slipped easily through the crowd. Sarvil quietly detached himself to go seeking Skylon, while Tannu headed for the computers of the Intelligence Section.

As they left the hanger the crowd bunch up and Mara caught a very interesting snatch of conversation. "I'm not at all sure about this negotiation thing. The Grand Admiral is treacherous, like all aliens, and I fear for the Emperor's safety. He should've taken more backup."

Negotiation? What negotiation? What was Thrawn doing behind her back now? Mara slowed, pretending to study the announcements on the flashing info board high on the wall while she listened to the pair of techs. Her escort slowed with her.

"With our Emperor's Force abilities, he should be safe enough. Besides, what use is a battle fleet when Thrawn is on the other side? It's the Force that will win. I bet twenty credits on it the other day."

"You obviously aren't very sure then," the shorter fellow said, snorting back laughter.

"I don't get paid till next week," the taller one said. They began to talk of other things and drifted away in the crowd.

Mara smiled crookedly in the shadow of her hood. Whether the negotiations were real or not, they would keep Palpatine away until she'd finished here. She wondered how Thrawn had managed it. Being on the same side as him definitely had its advantages.

Two hours later, Sarvil reported back that he had successfully located Skylon and were they ready to start the countdown to the distraction? "No!" Mara said into the tiny comm hidden in her hood. "We haven't heard back from Tannu yet. Can you hang on?"

"Yes. Contact me when you're ready, but don't make it too long." He clicked out. Mara grimaced. Everything now depended on Tannu. Unexpectedly, Sarvil commed back and she flicked it on again. "Skylon has the information here - Skywalker is in the Imperial compound of the Citadel, room 121B, two corridors from the main conference room. Han and the Wookie are both in detention cell 3941F."

"Excellent!" Mara said. "Start the countdown."

Next, she contacted Tannu, giving the come-back signal. They met under the main archway in one of the side hangers. From there they walked to one of the gardens where Mara pretended to meditate and plotted how they were going to get into the detention area. She had assumed they would be somewhere closer to Luke. As things were, Luke would be simple enough to get out - given Mara's prophet rank, and the fake ID she had for him. Han and the Wookie were going to be another matter entirely. Getting them out was all too likely to be blasters and lightsabers all the way.

Mara was sorely tempted to just leave them there - it wasn't as if she owed them anything, but the idea of getting Luke to move without even attempting to get his friends out so they weren't killed summarily when he escaped was not something she cared to consider either.

If they didn't have a plan, Luke would make one and run with it, probably with disastrous results. They hadn't dared take Ysalamiri onto Byss with the Emperor supposed to still be there, so they weren't going to be able to make Luke do anything. They ought to be able to swing the rescue. Maybe. And maybe just wasn't good enough.

Perhaps a token rescue attempt that would prove impossible. Do the minimum, claim it was impossible and haul Luke away. And if the idiot protested too much, well, that's what blaster stun settings were for. She got up, and they made their way back inside and inside the Citadel itself.

By the time the wait was up, they were well inside the Imperial Citadel. Mara waited, glowering impressively at a painting with her escort ostensibly waiting for her and trying to look like they were trying not to look bored. The minute came and... nothing happened.

Mara gritted her teeth and did not look at her timepiece. Thrawn had said that she would recognize it when it came.

There was an immense bang, and they were all knocked off their feet as the entire Citadel shook beneath them. The painting fell to the floor, landing three inches from Mara's head. She rolled and jumped back to her feet, checking once to make sure her group was intact before marching purposefully down the corridor with her escort at her heels. She let assorted panicking imperial bean counters, officers and officials dodge her, as she headed straight for Luke.

A/N: Yes, I'm back to working on this story and the next chapter is in the works. However, I found I'd written a bit that belonged before Mara's arrival at Byss so I had to retrofit it in here.