For a long moment the Grand Admiral didn’t move, and as Pellaeon watched, the smirk on Ferrier’s face slipped a bit. “You were on Trogan two days ago,” Thrawn said at last, still not turning around. “You met with two men currently wanted by the Empire: Talon Karrde and Samuel Tomas Gillespee. You also persuaded a small and unprepared task force under one Lieutenant Reynol Kosk to launch a rash attack on this meeting, an attack which failed. Is all this true?”
“Sure is,” Ferrier nodded. “See, that’s why I sent you that message. So you’d know-”
“Then I should like to hear your reasons,” Thrawn cut him off, swiveling his chair around at last to gaze up at the thief, “why I should not order your immediate execution.”
Ferrier’s mouth dropped open. “What?” he said. “But-I’ve gotten in with Karrde. He trusts me now-see? That was the whole idea. I can dig out the rest of his gang and deliver the whole bunch to you …” He trailed off, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
“You were directly responsible for the deaths of four stormtroopers and thirty-two Imperial army troops,” Thrawn continued. “Also for the destruction of two Chariot command speeders and their crews. I am not the Lord Darth Vader, Ferrier-I do not spend my men recklessly. Nor do I take their deaths lightly.