Chapter 2401: Mal-Tuk's Death (Part 1)
Just as Admiral Mal-Tuk resolved to launch an all-out assault on Vakar Planet, Lieutenant General Thrawn sat calmly in his seat on the bridge of his flagship, the Chimaera, coldly watching the holographic star map before him.
"General, just as you predicted, Mal-Tuk transferred his entire main fleet to Palanci Planet before fully clearing out the remaining forces on Bilbrin Planet," his adjutant, Vos Parker, said with deep admiration.
Thrawn smiled faintly, set down his wineglass, and said, "Mal-Tuk's judgment was not actually wrong. The main reason our fleet could not confront his head-on was that, after two defeats, many of our warships were in terrible condition and urgently needed repairs and refitting. So he seized this advantageous window to pursue us relentlessly and deny us any time to rest. That was the correct decision. And... he must also believe that we are trading space for time."
Vos Parker paused, then asked, "Uh... General, aren't we?"
"What we gained by abandoning Bilbrin Planet, a fortress built over centuries, was far more than just time." Thrawn shook his head. "Mal-Tuk wanted a route into the Core Worlds, so I gave him one. He wanted a forward base, so I gave him one. He wanted to grasp the movements of our main fleet, so I gave him that too... But a decisive battle? Heh heh..."
Thrawn rose to his feet, tapped the holographic star map twice, then shook his head and sighed. "No."
He turned to Vos Parker. "Signal all ships. Begin hyperspace calculations immediately. Ensure that we can initiate a hyperspace jump within ten minutes."
"Yes, sir!" Vos Parker replied loudly, standing at attention and saluting in excitement.
10 BBY, February 13, 8:00 p.m. Galactic Standard Time. Admiral Mal-Tuk led the vanguard out of