The Hand Of Thrawn Duology_ Specter Of The Past Part 42

"First things first," Pellaeon said. "While the team is retrieving the debris, I want you to run the record of the battle through the Predictor. It's still online, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir," Ardiff said, smiling tightly with understanding. "That's why you let them do that second run against us, isn't it? So that there would be enough data for the Predictor to a.n.a.lyze."

"Exactly," Pellaeon said. "It didn't work very well at figuring out the tactics of a given enemy; let's see if it can work in reverse to figure out the enemy from the given tactics.

If we're lucky, it may be able to give us at least a hint of who out there might favor this particular combat style."

"And you're sure it wasn't Bel Iblis?"

Pellaeon looked out at the glowing cloud. "Have you ever heard of an A-wing slash, Captain?"

"I don't think so, sir."

"It's a New Republic battle technique," Pellaeon said, turning back to face him. "It requires highly precise timing, which is why it's hardly ever used. A group of starfighters, X-wings usually, heads directly toward the defense line guarding a capital s.h.i.+p. At the last second the X-wings disengage, veering around and away."

"Rather like what our Preybirds just did."

"Exactly as our Preybirds just did," Pellaeon nodded. "The defenders' natural reaction, of course, is to a.s.sume the attackers are attempting a flanking maneuver and veer to follow and engage. But what they don't realize until it's too late is that a group of A-wings has been flying directly behind the X-wings, hidden by the X-wings themselves and their drive glow. By the time they spot that second wave, they're too far out of line to block them, and the A-wings have a clear run through to the now undefended s.h.i.+p."

"Clever enough," Ardiff said. "I can see why you wouldn't want to use it very often, though it certainly worked well enough with proton torpedoes playing the A-wings' role.

What does this have to do with Bel Iblis?"

Pellaeon smiled tightly. "I was at the battle where he invented it."

Ardiff blinked in surprise; and then he too smiled. "In other words, it's not a tactic he'd be fooled by?"

"Not a chance in the galaxy," Pellaeon agreed. "But with those Corellian markings, I'd say someone worked very hard to make us think it was him."

Ardiff sobered. "Someone from the Empire?"

"Or someone from the New Republic," Pellaeon said. "We know there are factions on our side who don't want peace. I imagine they have their counterparts on the other."

"Probably," Ardiff said. "So what do we do now?"

"Whoever ordered that attack wanted us to think Bel Iblis was behind it," Pellaeon said.

"The small size of the force, plus the quick and unashamed disengagement, implies he didn't really care whether or not he actually inflicted any damage. His purpose, therefore, must have been to drive us away from here before Bel Iblis could arrive."

"And so we stay?"

"So we stay," Pellaeon agreed. "At least awhile."

"Yes, sir." Ardiff pursed his lips. "You realize, of course, that our unknown opponent may not give up this easily. He may attack again."

Pellaeon turned again to look out at the fiery debris. "Let him try."

To Be Concluded