Crisis of Faith Read Online Free PDF

of the main assault, angle up toward the juggernaut line’s southern flank, and attack the avenue’s shield generators from behind.”
     
    Nyama shook his head. “Nuso Esva will not sit idly by and let that happen. Nor will the Queen of the Red. The Soldiers lining the attack route will simply turn around and swarm against the stormtroopers.”
     
    “Of course they will,” Thrawn said. “When that happens, the stormtroopers will retreat, drawing them still farther from the
    juggernauts and the shields.” He smiled slightly. “And when they’re too far back to respond, the stormtroopers inside the tanks will emerge, cut their way through the remaining Soldiers, and destroy the shields.”
     
    Nyama snorted. “And all this against Quesoth Soldiers? You have far too much confidence in your humans, Admiral Thrawn.”
     
    “The stormtroopers of the 501st consist of humans /and/ nonhumans,” Thrawn reminded him calmly. “Including a number of your own people.”
     
    “Not anymore.” Abruptly, Nyama stood up. “I’ve heard enough. The Stromma council will not risk its warriors in this mad attack. Particularly not an attack against our allies. I hereby withdraw all of them from Imperial service, effective immediately.”
     
    Beside him, the conciliator’s mouth dropped open in clear disbelief. “What Council Liaison Nyama means—”
     
    “Council Liaison Nyama means exactly what he says,” Nyama interrupted. “Give the orders, Admiral Thrawn. Or I will give them for you.”
     
    For a long moment, the room seemed to quiver with the silence of approaching death. Nyama loomed over the still-seated Thrawn like a grass-covered mountain, his black eyes hard, his mouth set at an angle that warned against argument.
     
    Thrawn stirred. “Very well, Council Liaison,” he said. “If you don’t wish to assist in freeing your allies from bondage, your people will be ordered to your carriers.”
     
    “What I /don’t/ wish is for my people to die for nothing,” Nyama ground out. “And it /will/ be for nothing. In two years Nuso Esva and the remnant of his Chosen will find themselves masters of a deserted city. If at that time you still insist on having your vengeance, we will gladly march in alongside you and sing a song to your honor as you destroy him. But I won’t waste my people in a useless and futile battle.”
     
    He glared at the conciliator, as if daring the younger Stromma to dare try to soften his words. But the conciliator had learned his lesson, and remained silent.
     
    “Nuso Esva can do a great deal of damage in those two years,” Parck said. It wasn’t a particularly politic thing to do, he knew, speaking words of contradiction to a Stromma council liaison. But he had no intention of letting his commander take the full brunt of Nyama’s contempt alone. “And there are manufacturing facilities below Red City that he might use to devastating effect. Are you willing to simply stand aside and watch all that happen?”
     
    “The Queen of the Red invited Nuso Esva into her city,” Nyama said, sending an acid-edged glare at Parck. “Whatever happens now is on her head, and upon the heads of her people.”
     
    He turned back to Thrawn. “I return to my shuttle, Admiral Thrawn. I expect all Stromma under your command to be assembled at the /Admonitor’s/ hangar bay within the hour.”
     
    “I’ll give the order,” Thrawn said.
     
    Nyama held the admiral’s gaze another two seconds, then stepped away from the table and strode from the room.
     
    The conciliator stood up, his face pained. “Admiral—”
     
    “Go with your superior,” Thrawn said, his face impassive.
     
    The younger Stromma looked helplessly at the others around the table, then nodded and left without another word.
     
    “Well,” Fel said into the silence. /“That/ went well.”
     
    “Hardly unexpected, though,” Parck agreed heavily.
     
    “True.” Fel cocked an eyebrow at Thrawn. “You /do/ know,