2403, Mal-Tuk's Death (Part 2)
Luminara Unduli breathed a sigh of relief. "This fleet has serious supply problems now. We should abandon Palanci Planet first and return to Bilbrin Planet. We can reconsider after the supply line has been fully secured."
"If we do that, this opportunity will have been wasted!" Mal-Tuk's expression darkened. "The entire fleet will turn back to Palanci Planet, complete resupply as much as possible, then advance east and attack Arkania Planet!!"
"Arkania Planet? That mining world?" Luminara Unduli froze for a moment.
Clearly, Mal-Tuk could not possibly give up his current gains and withdraw. Yet he neither continued pursuing Thrawn's fleet nor risked plunging deep into Imperial territory by heading south to attack Borleias Planet and open a route to Scipio, the Empire's financial center.
Instead, he chose Arkania Planet. It seemed like a compromise.
"That may still be somewhat risky," Luminara Unduli said.
"No! This is the safest plan available!" Mal-Tuk shouted. "Thrawn's fleet may have ample supplies, but the repair facilities those temporary military bases can provide are not enough to truly restore his damaged warships! In other words, his fleet is actually in poor condition. He still lacks the ability to fight me head-on!"
He spun around and glared viciously at Luminara Unduli. "Doesn't Thrawn want to strike at my supplies? Then I'll solve the supply problem right where I stand!"
He raised a hand and jabbed a finger hard at Arkania Planet's location on the holographic star map. "Take Arkania Planet, and I'll gain the rare metals they have stockpiled. I can also use the factories on the planet to refit my warships! And with so many mining vessels and transport ships operating there, their stores of Coaxium and Sublight fuel must be substantial as well!"
"But Thrawn's fleet will still