Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas, and I do not own Star Wars or any of the other authors characters etc mentioned in this story. I am making no money off this, so please do not sue me.

24. Vision of the Future

On Yavin 4, at the Jedi Academy, a Jedi named Loran Lutz is having another vision of the future, gathered around her, are several Jedi including Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade, to her of her vision.

Loran Lutz visions of the future have been very accurate her Jedi training has been focused on enhancing her visions for the future. Lutz current visions have been of a reoccurring vision, but each time she has this vision again, as the weeks and months have passed these visions are getting stronger and more vivid with more detail than the previous visions.

There are now several Jedi present each time the Loran Lutz has this one particular vision, the final time that Loran Lutz has this vision, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade along with several other Jedi are present.

With her eyes closed focusing on the force, Lutz says, "I see a great darkness converging on this galaxy, I see this darkness conquering many planets and systems, for many years this darkness will conquer and kill. Strangely I cannot see the enemy force that will conquer, however I can see that this enemy will kill billions of beings across the galaxy."

An astounded Mara says, "In the billions?"

Lutz now crying slightly at the images that she is seeing in her mind, replies, "Yes, many planets populations will be wiped out, so many deaths, these visions are the worst."

Luke nods slightly, then says, "Loran, shift your concentration focus on the forces fighting the 'Great Darkness'"

Lutz takes a deep breath and replies, "Yes Master" then shifts slightly as she concentrates "I see a joint fleet stretching out to fight this darkness."

Mara asks, "Joint fleet?"

Lutz in a now distant voice replies, "Yes I see vast fleets of warships moving against the darkness to come."

Mara shakes her head at the answer, then asks, "What I meant to ask was, what forces make up these fleets?"

Lutz replies, "I see, New Republic, Imperial and other ships that I cannot identify these warships number in the thousands, possibly larger. I see the images of so many warships, with so many different markings, all working together against the darkness to come."

Luke frowns and thinks to himself for several moments then asks, "Can you foresee who is leading this joint fleet?"

Lutz focuses the force, she is now pushing herself to the very limit of her force capabilities, for several minutes she says nothing, then she says, "I see a control room with a vast map of the galaxy, around the central display I see a mix of Imperial and New Republic officers. Some of the Imperials faces I recognise such as Admiral Pellaeon and Admiral Daala, some I do not. Those New Republic officers faces I also recognise Generals Wedge Antilles and Garm Bel Iblis."

Mara now every curious asks, "Can you see who is in overall command?"

Lutz focuses more intensely with the force and replies, "No, for some reason the force is blocked around the commander, all I see is a dark area around the commander no more. I do not understand why the force cannot seem to provide an answer to that question, however I hear his name over and over again, echoing in the background."

Luke asks, "What is the commander's name?"

Lutz suddenly opens her eyes and says, "Mitth'raw'nuruodo" then she passes out. Several Jedi healers then take the unconscious Lutz to the Jedi healing centre.

Once Lutz has been carried from the room, Luke looks at Mara, who is still staring at the area where Lutz had been meditating with her mouth slightly open.

Luke says, "Well what Lutz just said sounded like gibberish to me."

Mara still staring at the area where Lutz had been meditating says, "No it was not gibberish."

A slightly puzzled Luke asks, "Well what does it mean then?"

Her voice suddenly grim, Mara replies, "Mitth'raw'nuruodo what Lutz was pronouncing is Thrawn's full name, what we call 'Thrawn' is what Thrawn referred to as his core name."

Jedi Knight Kyp Durron who had been listening says, "Impossible, Thrawn is dead, his own bodyguard killed him."

Mara looks at Kyp Durron says, "Would you bet your life on that? Because I would not, remember this, "never underestimate an Imperial Grand Admiral", the New Republic did once before and Thrawn was able to bring the New Republic its knees with a small fraction of the remaining Imperial military forces available at the time."

Kyp Durron frowns at Mara and replies, "No, I would not bet my life on it."

Luke changes the subject back and asks Mara, "So you were on a full-name basis with the guy?"

Mara turns to look at Luke and replies, "Hardly, but I did know his full name and there weren't a lot of people in the Empire who did. In fact, only about a dozen or so senior Imperials knew Thrawn's full name. Thrawn's full name was never put on any official database this was by order of the Emperor himself. I am one of the last Imperials left who knew Thrawn's full name."

Curiosity gets the better of Kyp Durron and he asks, "You know anything about his history? His early history with the Empire, I mean?"

Mara shakes her head and replies, "Not really, some Imperial commander ran into him on a deserted world just inside the Unknown Regions just after the creation of the Empire while chasing smugglers. He was impressed by his tactical ability and brought him back to Coruscant rumour was his own people had exiled him there. When the commander that found him brought Thrawn back, he supposedly received fast track advanced training, after that the Emperor himself rapidly promoted him through the Imperial ranks, until Thrawn held the rank of Fleet Admiral. After that, Thrawn was what you might call a Fleet Admiral without a portfolio or the Emperors trouble-shooter, sort of like Lord Vader but much more subtle, Thrawn did earn a reputation as a brilliant strategist. Just before that Battle of Endor he was secretly promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral, a ceremony that I attended as the Emperors Hand, and after that he just disappeared for nearly five years."

Kyp asks, "Why?"

Mara replies, "I don't know, this is one of the many secrets that the Emperor kept to himself."

For several moments, no one says anything, then Luke asks, "If Thrawn is back from the dead or if he was not killed at Bilbringi, why has he waited so long to return. When the Emperor returned, why did he not have Thrawn join with the Empire?"

Mara replies, "I don't know, but on the other hand I do not doubt Lutz's visions that she has been having."

Kyp asks, "What is Thrawn waiting for, if he is back why is he not reuniting the two remaining Imperial factions into one?"

Mara replies, "I don't know and that is what is worrying me more than anything else. A Grand Admiral usually does not 'hang around' for several years or even decades, unless there is a very good reason and I am wondering what that reason is? However Thrawn never does things by the book, if he is waiting there is usually a very good reason. Knowing Thrawn whatever he is planning it will be brilliant and probably very artistic."

Kyp says, "Either way it will not be good for the New Republic?"

Mara replies, "Maybe, however Lutz did say that Thrawn would be leading the fleet that resists this coming invasion."

Kyp says, "An Imperial leading the New Republic military that sounds a bit farfetched"

Mara replies, "Yes it does, however if this invasion threatens the Imperial they most likely side with us."

Luke chips in, "With Thrawn's reputation, it would be likely that he would lead the military forces against this invasion, of all the military leaders that I have encountered he was or should that be is, the best?"

The discussion about Lutz's visions goes on for several more hours, with the various options being discussed including that Lutz's visions may not come true, however it is decided that Lutz's visions as they have been getting stronger they must be a vision of what will be, until Luke asks the question, "Who should we inform about these visions?"

Mara answers, "The New Republic must be told about this."

Luke replies, "I agree, but should it be to the full New Republic Senate or just the New Republic Security Council?"

Mara thinks for several moments than says, "Not the full New Republic Senate that would be a bad move, as this unknown enemy may already have spies inside the New Republic. I would suggest the New Republic Security Council, is a good place to start."

Luke replies, "I agree, I will ask Leia to set the ball rolling that should get me into see the New Republic Security Council along with Lutz at my side to explain her vision."

Mara grins and says, "Well with Borsk Fey'lya as Chief of State you are going to have 'fun' convincing the New Republic Security Council."

Luke replies, "Thanks" and gins at Mara.

Several hours later after Luke has contacted Leia and explained what he had needed, Leia had agreed to get an appointment with the New Republic Security Council, after all the New Republic Security Council would be hard pushed to refuse a Jedi Master request. Once Luke has ended his communication with Leia, Mara informs him that Lutz has fallen into a deep coma, the Jedi healers feel that Lutz last vision may have overwhelmed her and she needs time to recover.

Luke makes the decision to see the New Republic Security Council and not to delay the meeting until Lutz has come out of her coma, as coma's can last for month or in rare accessions years. Luke feels that he can convince the New Republic Security Council than Lutz visions warrant an investigation on whether this alien race is out there.

Luke sets off in his X-Wing starfighter for Coruscant.

Coruscant, New Republic Security Council, Meet Chamber

For the first hour of the meeting, Luke explains why he is here along with Lutz visions about the coming invasion of the New Republic, when Luke gets to the part about the Empire and the New Republic siding together, several members of the New Republic Security Council state there disgust at that idea.

Borsk Fey'lya, who his chairing the meeting remains silent throughout Luke's briefing

When Luke states that Grand Admiral Thrawn may be alive, Borsk Fey'lya then says, "That is nonsense, Grand Admiral Thrawn is dead we all know that. Furthermore if Thrawn was alive he would not have allowed a peace deal between the Empire and the New Republic."

Luke replies, "It may be the case that Thrawn has allowed this peace deal through to give time for the Imperial military to rebuild?"

Borsk Fey'lya replies, "It is not, we have agents watching all the main Imperial shipyards and other military facilities, via our embassies within the two Imperial factions and since the peace deal, these Imperial military facilities have been at peacetime levels. They are not preparing for war."

Luke replies, "All I can offer in reply is the visions of one of my Jedi."

Borsk Fey'lya asks, "Then why is this Jedi not standing beside you?"

Luke replies, "After her vision, she fell into a coma and has not yet woken up from it."

Borsk Fey'lya eyes narrow and says, "I see, so you want me to go to the New Republic Senate and ask them to put the New Republics military forces on a high state of alert, on the pretext of a Jedi that had a vision who is now in a coma, am I right?"

Luke who is not going to be goaded by Borsk Fey'lya replies, "I am not asking for the New Republics military forces to be put on alert, but to check to see if this potential threat to the New Republic is genuine or not."

Borsk Fey'lya shakes his head and says, "As you cannot provide a location to start searching for this threat, my recommendation is that your request is denied until you can provide this council with a location, so that this council can investigate this so call threat." Around the room, the other members of the New Republic Security Council all nod in agreement with Fey'lya comment.

Luke who is trying to remain calm replies, "You need to check with all the New Republics agents thought the Republic, to see if they have spotted any unusual activity at the very least."

Borsk Fey'lya fur ripples slightly then he shakes his head and says, "No I will not do this either, this would cause unnecessary panic amongst the people, as such check throughout the New Republic would be noticed."

Luke seeing that the New Republic Security Council will not be moved whatever he says, replies, "Very well if that is the way you wish to go, I will abide by your decision."

Borsk Fey'lya says, "Thank you Jedi Master" then in a consolatory move, Borsk Fey'lya says, "When this Jedi has come out of her coma, bring her before this council, then we can better decide whether or not to proceed with an investigation."

Luke replies, "I will, thank you." Then Luke thinks to himself, it may be too late by then.

After the meeting, Luke explains what has happened to Leia, who is not surprised at Borsk Fey'lya response, as Borsk Fey'lya has had time since becoming Chief of State to put his people in key positions throughout the New Republic. With several key commanders "retiring" including Admiral Ackbar and Hiram Drayson Director of Alpha Blue, the New Republics clandestine intelligence agency.

Within the next few months Lutz vision of the future will start to come true, even then Borsk Fey'lya will not take action that will threaten the 'peace of the galaxy'.

Imperial Cloning Efforts

On Yaga Minor, the Cloning Research Centre has been making progress over the past few years on producing new Spaarti cloning cylinders so that mass production can begin.

Grand Admiral Thrawn's long-term plans are now starting to bear fruit it is almost time to inform Fleet Admiral Daala that he is alive.

To be continued.