Keeping Faith

by chisscientist

Grand Admiral Thrawn survives Bilbringi but is critically injured, leaving Pellaeon in charge until he recovers. But can even Thrawn's brilliance and Pellaeon's quiet loyalty save the Empire from its own past? AU

10. Intermission

And so Bilbringi returned to Imperial hands. By five months after Bilbringi's return to the Empire, the situation had changed completely.

The New Republic's ascendance had ended, and the Rebels were forced back, and back, and back, losing ships and their crews as they went, some to captivity and some to death. As Rebel fortunes darkened, people and systems began to desert, some reapplying for admission to the Empire, which Thrawn swiftly granted.

While the Rebels still held Coruscant, most of the important nearby planets had fallen to the Empire, and it seemed only a matter of time before Coruscant fell. Panic had taken deep root in Rebel councils, and there were arguments about whether the seat of government should be moved to somewhere safer. Some of the more easily frightened counselors ceased coming to Coruscant, leaving their seats vacant. Unknown to the rest of the New Republic, the Bothans had entered into secret negotiations with the Empire.

In the Empire meanwhile, hopes were high as people saw the New Republic wavering. On board the Chimaera, morale was as high as it had ever been, and few doubted that the Empire would soon rule the galaxy once again.

In an odd corner of the Empire, however, an event occurred that would shake both Thrawn's empire and the New Republic to their very foundations.