"Wait! There must be some mistake, sir!" Colonel Rael-Benting hurried over. In his urgency, he even addressed this officer of equal rank as sir. "We clearly won!"
The officer merely gave a disdainful snort and projected an image of Palin-Minor Planet from his personal terminal. On one side of the planet, the satellite orbiting in synchronous orbit above the capital stood out conspicuously.
Iron Moon! Once part of the binary-star defense system that so many Northern Territory naval soldiers had spoken of with relish, the satellite that had once constantly radiated a pale blue glow had now become a burning fireball.
That was right. Several days had already passed, yet the terrifying flames on the satellite showed no sign of dying out!
"Do you see it? This is the result of your dereliction of duty and disobedience of orders. If you think he is innocent, then I suggest you go to the other world and explain it to the six million victims on Iron Moon." The officer spoke coldly. "And let me remind you that Bilbrin Planet is also on the verge of being lost. That, too, is the consequence of this former admiral's rash advance and underestimation of the enemy."
"What did you say? Bilbrin Planet? No, that can't be right! Major General Vos-Parker is commanding the battle there!" Rael-Benting was utterly shocked.
"You forcibly withdrew the fleet before eliminating the Separatist forces on Bilbrin Planet, allowing the Separatists there to continuously harass our rear. Now, you have thrown away more than half of our fleet, lost Bilbrin Planet, and caused Iron Moon to be destroyed. So tell me, can you still righteously claim there is no guilt?" the officer said coldly.
Thrawn, who had remained silent all along, suddenly opened his eyes and said sternly, "That is correct.