No action this time. A breather after the slaughter of meatbags at the senate...
Jyn leaves the senate building, and returns to the Emperor's office. Upon entering, she lowers her hood, and removes her mask. She then approaches Emperor Palpatine's desk, and kneels on one knee.
"Rise." Palpatine says. Jyn stands up.
"The senate has been dealt with, father." Jyn says.
"I know. I watched you on the security monitors. Masterful performance as usual, my dear. I now have another task that needs your skills." Palpatine says.
"Of course." Jyn says.
"You know of the disappearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the circumstances of it." Palpatine says.
"Yes, father. The jedi, Ezra Bridger, was apparently responsible. He used the force to control a large group of space faring creatures, who then took Thrawn's fleet into hyperspace to who knows where." Jyn says.
"Indeed. Ever since the incident at Lothal six months ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn has been out of contact. Imperial intelligence reports that his fleet was briefly in the Ilum sector less than a day after its disappearance. Then the fleet left minutes later, heading toward the Unknown Regions. There have been no sightings since then." Palpatine says.
"Ilum? Operation Starkiller is in its early stages, years from completion! Thrawn hasn't even been cleared to know about it! What would he be doing there? Why did he not return to Lothal?" Jyn asks, irritation evident in her voice.
"I do not know. Let us hope that the Grand Admiral has not betrayed us. I have assigned a fleet of twelve star destroyers and four interdictor cruisers to your direct command. I want you to go to the Unknown Regions. Find Grand Admiral Thrawn's fleet. Escort it back here, or destroy it if Thrawn has betrayed us!" Palpatine says.
"What of Bridger? Do you want him brought back alive?" Jyn asks.
"No. He is the last of the jedi. If you encounter Ezra Bridger, kill him!" Palpatine answers.
"Yes, father. I will leave at once, and I will not return until my task is complete." Jyn says.
"Go then, my child. The power of the dark side will be with you." Palpatine says. Jyn bows, then puts her mask and hood back on. She turns toward the exit, and leaves the office.
Two hours later, Jyn enters the bridge of the Star Destroyer Vindicator, which she has chosen as her personal flagship for the mission to find Thrawn. She is accompanied by HK-47 as she approaches the ship's commander, Vice Admiral Rax, a long time associate of the Emperor, and one of the few in the Empire to know that Palpatine, Jyn, and Vader are Sith lords.
"Lady Thana, all vessels are ready to depart on your order." Rax says.
"Very well, Admiral. Give the order." Jyn says.
"Yes, milady." Rax says. Jyn and HK-47 exit the bridge as the Vindicator jumps into hyperspace.
On the Death Star, Governor Tarkin is contacted by the Emperor, who appears as a large hologram in the governor's office.
"Governor Tarkin, I am contacting you to inform you that the senate has been disbanded. You, along with the other Grand Moffs, will now have direct control of your territories. I have also received your status report regarding the Death Star, as well as your recommendation that it be used to destroy the rebel base on Yavin 4. Do you have anything else to report at this time?" Palpatine asks.
"My emperor, you will be pleased to know that we have captured Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, and it was her vessel to which the Death Star plans were transmitted." Tarkin answers.
"I see. Were you able to recover the plans?" Palpatine asks.
"No, my lord. The princess no longer has the plans in her possession. Lord Vader believes that the plans were downloaded into a droid and sent to the surface of Tatooine. He has dispatched forces to identify and retrieve this droid. So far, the search has been fruitless. The princess has been quite uncooperative, and I intend to have her terminated. As she is no longer a member of the senate, do I have your permission to proceed?" Tarkin asks.
"No governor. Keep her alive for now. I want her to live long enough to see Alderaan destroyed." Palpatine says.
"Understood. I will set course for Alderaan once the rebel base on Yavin 4 has been destroyed." Tarkin says.
"Actually, governor, I want you to go to Alderaan first. The rebel base can wait. The rebellion is unaware that we know where their base is, and will be unprepared for an attack." Palpatine says.
"Will Lady Thana be returning to assist in the destruction of the rebellion?" Tarkin asks.
"No, governor. My daughter is elsewhere, searching for Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the jedi, Ezra Bridger. She will not return for some time. You and Lord Vader will have to deal with the rebels. I want no prisoners! Kill them all, governor!" Palpatine says.
"Yes, my emperor." Tarkin says.
Two days later, in her quarters aboard the Vindicator, Jyn is seated at a desk, with her mask off. She is reading an ancient sith book, when her comlink starts to beep. She answers the device on her wrist.
"What is it? I gave orders to not be disturbed!" Jyn says, irritated.
"Milady, I apologize for the interruption, but the Emperor is requesting that you contact him, immediately." Vice Admiral Rax says, over the comlink.
"Very well, admiral. I will contact him at once." Jyn says. She deactivates the comlink, and gets out of her seat. She approaches the small holotable, and presses several buttons. She kneels on one knee as a hologram of Palpatine appears.
"My daughter. I bring disturbing news. The rebels have managed to destroy the Death Star, and Governor Tarkin has failed to destroy the rebel base. The rebellion has now become a much greater threat to the Empire. This defeat will inspire others to rebel against us." Palpatine says.
"I can be at Yavin in four days. The rebellion couldn't possibly evacuate their base in that short of time! I'll turn around and my fleet will deal with them! We will crush them for their insolence!" Jyn says, anger rising in her voice.
"I admire your enthusiasm my dear, but I need you to remain on your current mission. Find Thrawn and Bridger! The jedi must not be allowed to rise again!" Palpatine says.
"Yes, father." Jyn says.
"I leave you to your mission, my child." Palpatine says. His hologram disappears.
Three months later, in an uninhabited star system in the Unknown Regions, Jyn's fleet encounters the remains of a star destroyer. Jyn stands on the bridge of the Vindicator, next to Rax.
"Milady, probe droids detect no life readings." Rax says.
"Anything of use in the ship's logs?" Jyn asks.
"According to logs, the ship was abandoned five months ago, after the fleet was attacked by vessels of unknown design. The captain's final log says that the surviving crew transferred to other vessels by order of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and that they were on course to somewhere called Csilla. Isn't that the Grand Admiral's home planet?" Rax asks.
"Indeed it is, admiral. We now seem to have evidence of the fleet's destination, and possible current location." Jyn says.
"It would seem that the Emperor's suspicions might have been correct. It appears as if Thrawn has betrayed the Empire." Rax says.
"It appears that way. Recall all search teams, and redeploy probes to investigate Chiss space. I want to know what we are dealing with in case we have to go to war with the Chiss." Jyn says.
"Milady, I do not believe the Emperor would want us to commit to a long term conflict with the Chiss." Rax says.
"Your opinion is noted, admiral. The Emperor wants me to acquire Thrawn and Bridger by any means necessary. If I have to go to war with the Chiss, and annihilate them completely, then I will do so." Jyn says.
"Understood, milady." Rax says.
"Good. I now leave you to carry out my orders." Jyn says. She turns away from the admiral, and exits the bridge.
One week later, Jyn is in her quarters speaking to a hologram of the Emperor.
"We have tracked Thrawn's fleet to Chiss space, and according to my spies, Bridger is still with Thrawn. Not only alive, but working with him! It's clear to me now that Thrawn has betrayed the Empire." Jyn says.
"I agree. Eliminate him, as well as those that follow him." Palpatine says.
"Yes, father. There is one more thing I wish to discuss." Jyn says.
"What is it, my child?" Palpatine asks.
"I have had a vision. I have foreseen Bridger's death by my hand." Jyn says.
"I have foreseen this as well, but I must caution you. Bridger is unpredictable, and not to be taken lightly." Palpatine says.
"Understood. I will reach Thrawn's fleet in three days. We will destroy Thrawn and Bridger, as well as anyone who gets in our way!" Jyn says.
"Excellent, my dear. I leave you to your task." Palpatine says.
Next chapter: Jyn finds Thrawn's fleet. Untold destruction! Lots of death! Continue at your own risk...
