II
A bridge crewman handed Barrin a datapad shortly after the Adjudicator dropped out of hyperspace in the Lurkon system. It was a general-issue status report from the Executor on the efforts of Vader's fleet in pursuing the small band of rebels. Apparently, the errant rebels had taken refuge inside an asteroid field, and Vader had taken the fleet in. Several Star Destroyers had been destroyed with all hands in collisions with asteroids, including Tyrin's Inquisitor. Barrin felt his heart jump as he read that his old Academy classmate was dead not in battle but because of Vader's foolhardy charge into an asteroid field. Was the capture of those rebels worth the loss of those Star Destroyers and the thousands of men aboard them? Then, further down, another name caught his attention.
Needa.
Needa hadn't even died with his ship. The Avenger was still unscathed, now commanded by her first officer. The only cause of death listed was execution for dereliction of duty. Needa was one of the most respected, responsible officers in the fleet. Dereliction of duty? Barrin couldn't see it.
Barrin handed the datapad back to the crewman, who moved to a console to enter its text into the ship's archives. The captain continued to stare out the forward view port at the globe growing steadily before the ship.
"Bad news?" Commander Vesperon asked, noting the pained look on Barrin's face.
"A report on Vader's pursuit of one rebel ship into an asteroid field. Imperial casualties are mounting."
"They are dying for the Empire, sir. That is a noble death."
Barrin glanced at his executive officer. "We can serve the Empire better by living to fight another battle, Commander. Vader is throwing away Star Destroyers to pursue one small rebel ship. Those lost Star Destroyers could have been put to better use pursing more lucrative rebel targets, and at less risk than charging headlong into an asteroid field."
"Perhaps Vader thought—"
"Vader is mad!" Barrin glanced around the bridge; if his men had heard his outburst they didn't acknowledge the fact. They were all attending to their duties faithfully.
"Be careful, Captain. Vader is the Emperor's favorite confederate." Vesperon leaned toward the captain and spoke quietly into his ear. "The Emperor has faithful ears everywhere, and you don't want those ears reporting back to him that you question his confederate's sanity."
"Or I end up like Needa?"
"Precisely. And death by execution is not an honorable way for a loyal Imperial officer such as yourself to die."
"Counsel taken, Commander." Barrin smiled. "How long until we reach the orbit of Tureen?"
"Half an hour, sir."
"Have my shuttle and a squad of stormtroopers ready."
"Yes, sir."
"And have the ship's best cryptographer ready to join me."
"That would be Lieutenant Hadeen, sir."
"Inform Lieutenant Hadeen that he will be accompanying me to the surface."
"Right away, sir."
Barrin watched Vesperon stride to a group of consoles to relay the captain's orders, then turned his attention back to the spinning globe.
* * *
Barrin was walking slowly down the debarkation ramp while it was yet lowering to the tarmac. The lower lip contacted the duracrete just in time for Barrin's boot to step down. Behind him, a squad of stormtroopers and the top cryptographer, Lieutenant Hadeen, filed out of the shuttle. They had grouped at the craft's prow as Moff Ruykin and some of his guards walked up. The administrator's expression was forcibly neutral.
"Did you succeed?" the Moff asked.
"Orba the Hutt is in custody," Barrin replied.
"You didn't execute him for crimes against the Empire?"
"His crimes don't warrant capital punishment."
"Slavery doesn't warrant an execution?"
"Orba the Hutt isn't involved in the slave trade, my lord."
The matter-of-fact statement made Ruykin take a step back from the captain. He toyed with the insignia on his uniform.
"The information in Daelin's journal was incorrect," Barrin continued.
"Oh?"
"Which means the Imperial subjects who were abducted from this planet are still enslaved. I think Daelin has some information in his journal that is yet unseen, which is why I brought my best slicer." Barrin gestured toward Lieutenant Hadeen. "Perhaps there are entries on his personal computers buried so deep your people couldn't find it."
"No need to bother your top slicer, Captain. I'm sure he has better use of his time. I'll have my people work on Daelin's computers."
Barrin raised an eyebrow. "It's no bother, my lord. Hadeen is down here anyway, so he may as well get to work."
"It's not necessary, I assure you."
"Is there a reason you don't want my slicer searching Daelin's computers?"
"Uh…no, Captain. I just wanted to prevent him from wasting his time on mundane matters."
"I'm sure Lieutenant Hadeen appreciates your concern, but you see he enjoys slicing into computer systems."
"Fine. I'll have my people take him to Daelin's stateroom."
"Thank you." Barrin turned to Hadeen. "Lieutenant."
Hadeen stepped forward. "Aye, sir."
The cryptographer and two stormtroopers moved toward the Moff's guards who had been designated to guide them. Ruykin toyed with his insignia.
"Your crewman is safe within the complex, Captain. No need for a stormtrooper escort."
"It's my policy, my lord," Barrin said. "None of my priority officers are to go anywhere without a stormtrooper guard. No offense to your local guards, but I feel better when my men are protected by my own stormtroopers."
"Yes." Ruykin reached for his insignia, then dropped his hands. "I would probably adopt a similar policy if I commanded my own ship. Now, can I finally be a hospitable host and offer you a meal?"
Barrin smiled, inclined his head. "Very well, a meal would be nice, my lord."
* * *
Moff Ruykin's chef was a culinary genius, Barrin decided as he savored the delicate steak filet on his plate. The Adjudicator's mess cooks were adequate, but as a warship she didn't have the luxury of gourmet chefs.
"So, the Hutt is still alive?" Ruykin asked.
Barrin nodded. "He and his cohorts are in the Adjudicator's brig."
"He surrendered?"
"Not exactly. He tried to run, and I had to disable his ship's drives."
"Why not simply shoot him out of space and end his pitiful existence?"
"He can't answer questions about the whereabouts of the people he abducted if his atoms are scattered over the Dor Tann system. At the time, I thought he was behind the slavers."
Ruykin raised his glass. "Well then, may I raise a toast to the Adjudicator and her fine captain."
Barrin raised his own glass. "You may, as long as you toast my fine crew as well."
The administrator's lips quirked. "Yes, to your crew." He sipped from the goblet. "I would like to congratulate you on your success in capturing Orba the Hutt."
"He's a small time operator," Barrin said, setting his glass aside and picking up his utensils. "Daelin's report made his organization out to be bigger than it actually was."
"So you say. Regardless of whether or not he was truly involved, I'm certain the true power behind the slave trade will be suspending their efforts on Tureen. The appearance of a Star Destroyer is enough to scare away most slavers."
"Until I leave."
"They won't return, Captain. It won't be economical for them to dismantle their infrastructure here and then rebuild it later but with a higher risk of exposure to an Imperial investigation."
"Perhaps, but I intend to continue this mission until the slavers are toppled and I find the Imperial subjects who were abducted."
"Captain, those unfortunate folks are probably scattered all over the galaxy by now."
"Then when I find evidence of their whereabouts I'll recover as many as I can, as well as transmit the information to Coruscant so other ships could recover the rest."
"You certainly are diligent, Captain." Ruykin sipped from his goblet. "Perhaps a trifle too diligent."
"If I can't free those Imperial subjects from their enslavement, my lord, I wouldn't consider myself diligent enough."
"Wouldn't you rather be ridding us of those rebels?"
Barrin's utensils paused over the steak. "I'm upholding Imperial law, my lord. I am doing my part to maintain law and order in the galaxy."
Ruykin drained his glass and refilled it from a decanter. The two men ate in silence from then on. Barrin didn't fail to notice the administrator's expression. The man was certainly anxious for Barrin and the Adjudicator to be away from Tureen. Which convinced Barrin that he should remain.