Project Boussh: The Clock Is Ticking
by Brad Corletti

Captain Niriz rose to attention. "Grand Admiral."

Grand Admiral Thrawn nodded. "Captain. I wish to discuss a few
matters."

"Of course, sir."

"First, I'm ordering that prisoner 23498111 be interrogated as soon as
the medical staff certify her ready."

"Sir? I don't understand. It was a standard acquisition. The officer
in question had her sent up to be placed under medical care, with a
standard 'captor interrogation only' flag."

"The officer in question, Captain, is not part of this task force."

The captain blinked. Thrawn continued, "Major Defel is in Procurement
and Logistics, back in the Imperial remnant. His service record hints
that he was in fact given the rank, rather than having earned it
through service."

Niriz nodded his understanding. "You wish to determine his status
through the prisoner."

Thrawn smiled. "Of course. The more variables in play, the greater the
need for intelligence. Which brings me to my second matter. Eugor
Atner is overstepping his bounds. I will have to remind the man that
he will get nothing if he doesn't follow my plan."

"Have him brought to me, and I will remind him who holds the power in
this system."