Clone Wars Gambit: Siege Read Online Free PDF Page B

villagers of Lanteeb were little better than their meat animals. Even with the groundcar’s transponder disabled it was only a matter of time before the Jedi were found.
    Found and killed, their involvement here obscured forever. They defeated me once. They will never defeat me again
.
    A day at the most, surely, it would take him to eliminate his fleeing enemies. Count Dooku would never know how close the Project had come to disaster. He had everything under control…
    “Droid!” he said, coming out of the refresher. “Droid, I have orders for you.”
    KD-77 stood patiently in the corner. At the sound of Durd’s voice, its photoreceptors lit up. “Sir.”
    “This is a priority task,” he said, dabbing a dampened hand-cloth at the sticky, half-dried vomit down the front of his tunic. “Doctor Fhernan must believe that the hostages are still hostages. I want credible holoimagery created to convince her. Several weeks’ worth. Understood?”
    “Sir,” said the droid. “Consider it done.”
    What else? What else? Oh, yes. Of course. Barev. The trouble was that he hardly knew the man. Argat he’d had time to psychologically dissect and learn how to manipulate. But Colonel Barev had only just arrived. They’d barely been introduced.
    But he is human, and humans are greedy and driven by fear. They want to live for as long as they can. I can use that
.
    He sent for Colonel Argat’s replacement.
    “A bad business, this, General,” said Barev.
    He was short even for a human. Though not yet middle-aged, most of his reddish hair was gone. What remained had been shaved close to his pitifully vulnerable skull. His eyes were blue and small. His crooked teeth stuck out. His skin was sickeningly pale and covered in—what did the humans call them? Oh, yes.
Freckles
. At least his voice was pleasantly deep. Too many humans squeaked, like rodents.
    “Bad?” Durd nodded. “Yes. Very bad. Your men at the spaceport have failed me, Colonel.”
    Colonel Barev’s eyes narrowed almost shut.
Ha
. “I’m sorry, General? Failed you?”
    Yes. Yes. Bluster. Humans did not do well with bluster. And they did not like it when their safety was threatened.
    “Are you deaf, Colonel?” he demanded. “Yes.
Failed me
. Did the Jedi appear out of thin air? No. They came here in a ship. They passed preliminary security checks and docked at the spaceport. And then your men gave them clearance into the city. Your men endangered my vital Project, Colonel Barev.”
    “Strictly speaking,” said Barev slowly, “prior to my arrival Colonel Argat was responsible for any security lapses.” A small muscle beside his right eye spasmed. “The fault is his.”
    With a small effort Durd smothered his delight.
Yes, yes, Barev, I have you now
. Self-preservation was a great motivator.
    “A mere technicality, Colonel. Argat is dead. I executed him myself, with Count Dooku’s blessing.
You
are in charge now. Therefore
you
are responsible.”
    “Dead?” Barev’s throat convulsed in a swallow. “It was my understanding Argat had been recalled.”
    Now he let himself smile. “Yes. That’s right. Recalled to his deity—isn’t that how you humans put it?”
    Instead of answering, Barev turned and walked to the office window. Beyond it the secured compound enclosure was crowded with vigilantly patrolling battle droids.
    “Things could be worse,” said Barev, his hands loosely clasped behind his narrow back. “Doctor Fhernan is uncompromised. The Project is secure. As for the Jedi… well, really, General Durd—how much damage can two men do?”
    He felt his lips thin in a snarl. “You are a fool if you underestimate them, Colonel. I want them found, is that clear? I cannot have my Project further disrupted. Count Dooku is waiting, and he is not a patient man.”
    Colonel Barev’s shoulders tightened. “You needn’t concern yourself, General—or involve Count Dooku. The Jedi are on borrowed time.”
    “How do you intend to find