CHAPTER 47
Posterity
Part II
Steadfast – 2 BBY
Eli had no idea if Nerah had made it through to the grysk base by now, but that hope, and lack of report of her death, was about the only thing that kept him going. The Steadfast was in just about as dire of a position as it could be in, and as the Chimaera engaged two warships, albeit one slightly damaged, on its own…they would receive no help. Luckily for him, Ar'alani didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by the odds, despite having no shields, no support, and the smaller ship. Eli knew better than to think those meant certain defeat, but he wasn't overly optimistic either.
Perhaps this was why Ar'alani had relegated him to his mundane work and post before now. Maybe Eli wasn't cut out to deal with the pressures and demands that came with the task before him. He'd already spent most of the battle with his mind locked inherently on Nerah, and a commander could never afford to pick and choose who he cared about and focused on.
"Prepare plasma sphere volley on my mark!" Ar'alani barked, her tone stern, clear and precise. Eli heard the tubes below load, and before long, the weapons station confirmed all clear. "Fire!"
The golden spheres rocketed through the open space towards the fully-stocked grysk warship as they were unleashed. Eli knew that point defense systems were useless against the spheres, as their energy merely passed through them, so he was halfway interested to see what they would come up with. To his surprise, the warship did nothing, merely tanking through the initial damage seemingly to buy time for their fighters to pull out from their loading bays…and crash themselves directly into the rear-most spheres. Eli watched in shock as fighters suicided into each plasma sphere, disintegrating them entirely, but also dissipating the energy harmlessly away from the warship.
The bridge fell silent at the sight…and Eli braced himself.
"Lieutenant!" Ar'alani called out, and Eli was out of his trance before she even finished. "Prepare yourself. I am having our scans forwarded to your station," she said, and immediately he was looking at the readouts of the grysk warship that was in a standoff with them. "Thrawn sent you here to find a pattern. This is your chance to ensure our victory. Get to work."
"Yes ma'am!" he accepted…so maybe she did trust him…or maybe this was just a test. Both were honestly good enough. Even so, he would have to work fast, as the grysk warship was only getting closer the longer he took to pick out a weakness to exploit.
"Admiral, enemy preparing laser fire!"
Ar'alani hissed to herself. "Barriers?"
"Still scrubbing!"
They had nowhere to go…no Chimaera to cover them, and everyone knew there would be no escape from the coming bombardment. The Steadfast's hull was strong…but unlike shields, it didn't just recharge or grow back.
Eli was still running through those numbers when the lasers started pounding.
Grysk Base – 2 BBY
May you walk unhindered, undaunted, standing against the unrelenting evil where all others falter. May your bloodlust never quench, may your hunger for victory never sate…
And may we never need you again.
Nerah stood at the precipice of a land never walked, a space never traversed, and waited. Her eyes remained forward; her HUD ever visible through the red, unfeeling optics that now bore upon whoever dared to witness them. Darkness was supposed to terrify her, as it did all creatures of the light…but here, darkness was her ally.
His methods were crude, but nonetheless effective.
She walked, taking her first steps into a world where none had stood with their own freedom, her boots unyielding, her armor slick and gleaming.
She will live, but there will be…pain.
Her fist clenched…knuckles cracked.
A body is not meant to undergo such transformation past adolescence…all others in our history have died.
Nerah came to a door, its breaking-wave design displaying a depiction of initial prosperity…only leading to decay…servitude and death.
But your species is different. They offer a resilient physiology…one accustomed to change. I believe she is the one I have been searching for.
Her MAHI illuminated itself over her forearm, and she began to tap into its interface.
Do you believe she could succeed…that she could become what our enemies cannot destroy?
She waved her hand, and the system began to struggle…the gray lights flickering around her.
She can…but it will come at a cost.
The lights stabilized.
Her emotion.
Her MAHI faded.
Her individuality.
She felt her fingers rest underneath the barrel of her rifle.
Her freedom.
The door slid open, revealing a turbolift waiting on the other side. She stepped in, and faced the entryway.
I am afraid I cannot accept such a price. I must ask you to reconsider.
The door slid closed, and she watched the alien calligraphy change as each floor was passed by.
There is…another way…but she will not be invincible.
Her breath was like ice, cooling her face as she continued to rise.
Invincibility can just as easily be an illusion…and just as effective.
She slung her blaster behind her back, and cracked her knuckles in each hand's grip.
If that is what you desire, then that is what she shall have. Her pain will be less, but are you willing to send her against an evil so terrible without such assurances?
It is not about what I desire. I wish her to retain her freedom, individuality, emotion…all things that are dear to her, and shall remain as such. What you fail to understand is that none of this is my doing. She understands the necessity of changing the way our people fight for the greater good. This is a decision she must make for herself.
The calligraphy began to slow.
Very well then. My dear…is this what you desire?
A ding signaled the end, and everything went silent.
"It is."
Instinct took hold as the door slid open, and Nerah's rifle roared to life as her bolts tore black, burning holes through the aliens that had awaited her. Some of them didn't even have weapons, but she had left pity behind once her boots had set foot within this base. One armored one lunged out from her left, but she held them off with her rifle, beating them with its butt before quickly reorienting it back forward and punching three holes in their chest. Her blaster pistol came out next as she slung the rifle over her shoulder, pulling the trigger twice for two headshots that left two more running bodies still and motionless, tumbling to the floor. Bolts whizzed by her from across the large cargo room, and she ducked behind two crates, finally getting a chance to take in the surroundings with her. Seemed mostly like supplies…foodstuffs perhaps, but also drugs and containers of fluids.
A snarling alien scuttled around on four legs and leapt at her, only to have its bug-like mandibles held at bay with an outstretched hand as she crushed its exoskeleton, tossing the oozing corpse aside as more came, now leaping from above. She rolled away from her previous spot, fishing out her shotgun attachment from her belt and slid it over the barrel of her E-11D. The loud bang that followed each pull of the trigger resulted in more splattering of sticky, yellow blood that spewed with each blast that tore through muscle, bone and flesh. One bit at her achilles, only to catch armor, and then her boot crunching it underneath in a killing stomp. The rest screeched in some horrific merger of terror and anger as they continued to attack, only to meet more and more shotgun blasts that tore through the brethren mercilessly and horrifically.
Her armor tattered in bodily fluids, Nerah slung over her rifle and reached for the hilt at her belt, igniting the dark blue primitive blade in a screech and whine as she cut down a piece of scaffolding with a clean cut. The metal screamed and bent before the entire collection of boxes and cargo spilled out onto the floor in front of her, allowing her to now traverse the more open areas without more fire from across the way. Leaping into the new corridor created by the spill, some new bipedal aliens struggled to rise back to their feet, but Nerah's pistol screamed across the room with each bolt fired, dropping each helpless alien before they could even rise. Arms collapsed around her from behind, and she felt natural thorns try to dig in to her armor, only to be met with a harsh, cringe-worthy nails on chalkboard sound. Nerah dropped her weapons and gripped each wrist, crushing them in her grip as she pulled the arms away, twisting them together until she heard a harsh bellow of pain…and the sickening crack of dislocating joints and fractured bones. Her hands pulled up to their head and snapped their neck, leaving them to fall where they had stood.
More came.
Reaching for her blade, she swiped it up and somersaulted, pushing it forward as another plantoid alien charged her and ran itself through her blade, before having its thorned arms severed and grabbed. Nerah used the loose limb to smack the arm-bound thorns into another's face, drawing dark green blood from their rough cheek while Nerah ducked under two swings and bisected the third. The other writhed on the floor, screaming as they tried to pull the thorns away, but Nerah's retrieved blaster pistol silenced their agony. A bolt pounded into her shoulder plate and she shifted slightly…only to slowly turn and fire back the way it had come.
A commanding roar called out over the loudspeaker in an alien language, and soon Nerah found herself being charged by another group of four-legs, their eyes rabid, tormented and hungry as their vicious mandibles clacked together. Her blade screeched and screamed as it glided through the air, cutting down the first two before the next slashed at her, only to meet air and a free hand. Her grip remained strong as she tossed one away and leapt into the air with a graceful flip, avoiding any vile retribution while also dodging any enemy fire that poured from the far side. As her boots hit ground, her wrist-mounted sonic emitter unleashed its horrific noise upon the four-legs, and she watched them write and screech in agony, before Nerah deactivated her blade and killed all four of them with perfect headshots.
Kicking a nearby crate with a strong leg, she rolled forward and leapt across the remaining space, and landed on a furry humanoid alien, the impact cracking bone and spilling blood, before the ring of her pistol silence them. The remainder of the aliens tried to turn their blasters to fire, but she was already forward, her pistol holstered, and blade reignited as nothing but charred, burning flesh remained in her wake.
She breathed. Those had all been client species…not a single grysk warrior among them. The intercom continued to blare out in an alien language…the tone vicious…angry.
They wouldn't get an answer. Not yet.
More work to do.
Steadfast – 2 BBY
Eli kept his hand clenched around the armrest as the Steadfast continued to rock and shake with each harrowing volley of spectrum lasers its hull was supposed to absorb, all the while trying to make sense of the data before them. So far, he had a lead he was following, but no solid conclusion, and it felt as if the closer he got, the more senseless it all became. The Steadfast was staying true to its name, however, and pressed forward with each hit, sending its own volley of spectrum lasers and the remainder of its missiles leftover from the previous attack. The effect wasn't as devastating, especially with their barriers still intact, but it was buying them time with each forced miss from the enemy ship.
There…it all clicked, and Eli had his solution.
"Admiral! I think I've got something!" he called out, just in the middle of a lull in the enemy's attack. "There are power fluctuations near the topside aft portion of the ship every time they fire weapons or readjust. I think that might be their targeting system!"
"Send it to my command console, hurry!" Ar'alani beckoned, and Eli wasted no time forwarding the targets he had outlined. She studied it for a moment, before eventually nodding. "Senior Captain Khresh, prepare a plasma sphere volley."
"We're down to six spheres, ma'am," he replied, and for the first time, Eli swore he could see the chiss sweating at his station. "Should we send them all?"
Six spheres? That was it? Eli was pretty sure he knew what Ar'alani had in mind, but he wasn't sure that would be enough to really draw enough attention from what was about to happen next. Then again…how much attention did they really need? Still, if they exhausted their entire supply, Eli wasn't sure spectrum lasers could finish the job, not without the Chimaera's, or someone else's, help.
"Four should be enough," Ar'alani countered. "Lieutenant Vanto…inform the Imperial pilots of this discovery, and tell them to prepare their run on my command."
"Yes ma'am," he tipped his head, feeling a bit of a smile break his expression as he keyed in the order, and then activated his comm for Captain Fel as he switched to Basic. "Squad Commander Fel, prepare to attack at these coordinates."
"Copy that. ETA thirty seconds," Fel replied through the comm.
"Admiral…" an admonishing voice pierced the confidence Eli had gained. "There's a problem…Senior Captain, I believe we only have five spheres remaining…no, make that four."
Eli heard Khresh hiss out a curse. "The grysks punctured the loading tube, Admiral…we're leaking the substance."
Ar'alani seemed to take a hesitant breath. "How long until we're depleted?"
"Twenty seconds, Admiral."
Her eyes widened just about as far as Eli's heart dropped. If that were the case, then the Defenders would be jumping in without cover, left to merely hold off all the enemy fire without any support to draw away the enemy fighters that would move to intercept them. Eli knew the Defenders were good…but how good were they really. Regular TIEs would be torn to pieces without a doubt, bombarded by the warship's point defense systems and their fighter support craft.
"Reduce firing velocity!" Ar'alani called out quickly, focused back on the battle. "When ready, fire!"
It was eight seconds before those cannons fired…and Eli only watched three spheres make it out at the slow pace Ar'alani had described. The Defenders wouldn't be around for at least another fifteen…and while the speed of the spheres could take enough time to reach their enemy…would the grysks take the bait?
Ten seconds passed, and the spheres were only half the distance to the warship, while the fighters hadn't even budged.
"Oh no…" he heard Vah'nya whisper under her breath, trembling slightly. "They overcompensated."
Abruptly, and out of the corner of Eli's eye, a lone TIE Defender screamed into the scene, unloading a full salvo upon the stationary fighters. Two were caught completely by surprise, torn asunder by the unseen attack before the fighter raced across the warship, now being tailed by the entire swarm of starfighters as it broke towards the approaching plasma spheres.
"What the hell?!" Khresh blurted. "Who is that?!"
Most eyes turned to Ar'alani, but she had nothing to say…in fact, she hardly even reacted, until Eli finally saw a small smile break her lips.
"A woman of conviction," she replied.
"Nara…" Vah'nya gasped, and Eli felt his own eyes widen. That was Nerah's starfighter, which meant that the Mandalorian had done something brazen, just as Vah'nya previously predicted.
Did she leave her own sister alone on that base? Did she leave her to die?
No…no, Ar'alani would never have allowed that, nor ordered her to do so…and Eli knew better. Nara was a woman of honor, and if she was here now, she had every intention of returning to that base to rescue her sister.
Just after she rescued the Admiral she so obviously cared for.
Some grysk fighters seemed to discover the ruse, but five seconds was far too quick for any of them to readjust their courses. The TIE Defenders erupted from hyperspace, racing towards the grysk warship in attack formation, and unleashed everything Thrawn had been holding back since the waystation. Caught between stopping the plasma spheres, chasing Nara, and now protecting their central targeting systems, the fighters spilt apart, and that was their last mistake.
It was perfection. The Defenders bore down upon the warship, leaving stark destruction behind with their laser batteries, close quarters missiles, and virtually impenetrable shields with their unmatched speed. The fighters were torn to shreds while the major grysk systems were bombarded by the Defenders, and Eli watched as the attempted spectrum laser attack was brought to a halt as their systems were forced to transfer to backup methods. Fighters attempted to suicide into the plasma spheres, but Nara was on the scene, blowing each one to pieces before they could even come close to pulling off the maneuver.
It all resulted in a triple-blast of plasma spheres into the grysk warship, the entire bow erupting in a bright light that cracked and bent, leaving the warship to limp forward…still intact, but about as badly damaged to say continuing their battle with the Steadfast would be ill-advised. The Defenders pulled to their own starboard, and soon they were back off to hyperspace, leaving their tattered destruction behind. Nara's Defender made a flyby to the Steadfast's port side, and traced along its hull.
"You're welcome," was all she said, and Eli heard groans and hidden growls from various members of the bridge crew…but more dry than actually distasteful.
"Your help is appreciated, Commander," Ar'alani replied. "Now get back to that base before someone sees you."
Eli already watched the blip on the sensor display reverse its course and make way back towards the floating base…and he heard Vah'nya chuckle to herself.
"I like her," she said.
Eli cleared his throat. "Yeah…I think I do too."
Grysk Base – 2 BBY
Nerah didn't feel like herself anymore. She was something else…something more primal than the woman she thought herself to be. When she was young, she was the jittery one…the brains…the smaller twin clinging to her scowling sister. There was nothing wrong with that, certainly in hindsight, and part of her longed for a simpler time…one with more hope than the fear she had always felt. When Nara had killed her father, that fear began to recede…and when Thrawn had brought her from the Empire, freeing her from any trace of what that man had left behind, it had been gone forever.
She had no fear…as there was nothing left to be afraid of. No ties to protect, no bases to cover…only her.
Here, she was well and truly alone…and that was necessary.
"Nerah?"
No…
She didn't dare turn. It was just a blissful desire…her mind playing tricks. It was all just…voices…sounds.
"Nerah…"
Her boots were already shifting by the time her eyes had met that voice. He was on his knees, Eli Vanto…his skin cut and bloodied. His eyes sullen and black with bruise…and a blaster pointed at his head. The screeching from the intercom morphed from an unrecognizable language…to a deep, raspy and dark tone of Sy Bisti.
"Chiss…" the voice hissed. "You have made a grave mistake coming here…and you will now watch as everything you love dies around you."
Nerah held steady, her rifle leveled at the alien holding their blaster up to Eli's skull.
"Nerah…help…us," Nara's voice followed, and she turned to her left to see her sister, Thrawn and Ar'alani all lined up on their knees, their bodies in similar, if not worse shape than Eli's. All of them had been tortured…Nara worst of all, her armor stripped, her wrists scabbed and bloody, while her entire body had been lacerated down agonizing portions, whilst still remaining together.
"Your friends have been defeated. You are alone…again," the voice continued, while other aliens appeared, holding blasters steady. "You can spare their lives, and perhaps we shall allow them to live…perhaps even watch as we continue to bleed your sister until she finally relents."
Nerah felt herself shiver, her anger rising as her teeth chattered. This…this had to be a trick. Thrawn wouldn't lose…not to the grysks. He just…he just couldn't, not with their plan, its brilliance…
Even you can miss something…
The lone thought perpetuated through her mind…their final conversation before she had left him on the Chimaera. Did he miss something? Did the grysks know more about him than they had lead on?
"I…I thought I had them. I…I failed," Thrawn kept his head bowed, before looking up to her with more emotion than she'd ever witnessed. "Nerah…please. I can't watch you suffer. You're the only chance we have."
"Our lives depend on you, Nerah," Ar'alani almost begged. "Do not let us suffer any longer."
Nerah trembled once Eli began to speak, blinking as she held her rifle steady. "Nerah…you know what you have to do. You know what it will take for us…to…" he winced in pain before crying out as the alien behind him stabbed him in the shoulder, the agony in his voice pulling tears from her eyes…but she didn't dare cry his name. Not in front of the grysks. Not in front of these monsters.
"You are in control. I will allow them to live on should you surrender to us now."
Nerah took a breath…and lowered her blaster. Steps were taken towards her, but her voice rang out, and they stopped.
"Thrawn…what am I to you?" she asked.
Thrawn looked up, and she saw him give her a pained smile. "Nerah…you are like a daughter to me. One I would never send into danger without absolute certainty of your safety. I should have told you…but…I love you, Nerah."
Nerah felt a tear roll down her face, and her shoulders slouched, dropping her rifle.
The intercom switched to an alien language once more, and the steps resumed.
Nerah's hands shot forward as her holdout blasters unleashed a complete salvo of blasterfire upon the aliens holding the captives…and the captives themselves.
"You are not Thrawn," Nerah growled.
Ar'alani, Thrawn, Nara and Eli all dropped dead in an instant, their bodies morphing into aliens of layered hide, their bodies skinny…and eyes black.
"DIE!" she screamed, and pulled so hard on the hand that had gripped her shoulder that she dislocated it instantly, before breaking it free entirely with a harsh yank. The alien screamed in agony as its stub poured blue blood onto the floor, and once Nerah had her blasters safely secured back into her sleeves, she charged forward. Her boot smashed the disemboweled alien's skull, beating another across the head with their arm as she grasped another's neck, crushing it with a squeeze and tossing their body aside. Shots rang out, but Nerah took another as a shield, marching forward to get into range before kicking the body in their direction, and drawing her blue blade.
With the light…she saw it in their eyes…their broken, soulless eyes.
Fear.
Each swing made contact, each one with the intent to kill, and each one did exactly that. The smell of scorched flesh fed into her nostrils, and the final survivor felt their neck slowly close against her forearm. She pressed, on and on as they squirmed…before the vertebrae finally popped, and their breath left their mouth.
She breathed, and the body fell.
"Whoever you are…send your legions…send your abominations," she beckoned in Sy Bisti. "Send your whole damn army. I don't care. Nothing will stop me from reaching you…and when I do…" she stepped towards the intercom, letting it get the full image of her helmet.
"You will feel what it means…to break."
Chimaera – 2 BBY
Faro had never been much for purposefully extending a battle. That approach only cost more lives the longer it persisted, lives that didn't need to be sacrificed if victory could already be achieved. In this case, she could understand, and while this battle hadn't been particularly easy, they were winning it, especially with the Steadfast moving in for the kill. She imagined now that Commander Nerah was the only piece Thrawn was now waiting on.
The Defenders reemerged from hyperspace and made another run on the twin warships, their shields and speed too much for their defenses to do anything to stop them, let alone slow them down. Faro was now seeing the full power of an unfamiliar weapon against an enemy, and how devastating it could be with a certain lack of intel. She'd have to keep this in mind for later, as she imagined Thrawn would probably pull another one of his little brain tests surrounding this topic.
It certainly had made the bridge unusually calm for this much action…and it only made Faro think. Why hadn't the grysks destroyed themselves yet? Before, if they had suffered even minor damage to their hull, they either fled or self-destructed. The Steadfast had already blown one half to pieces, and yet they still fought on. Did they have assurance of victory waiting in the wings…or was this really their last stand?
Thrawn, in fact, seemed a bit more distant. She didn't want to quite say disinterested, but he wasn't far from it. He probably just knew something she didn't…as always.
But what was it?
She tried to think, using her previous experiences to pin down the catalyst of their slowed advance…when she felt it click. Ever since Nerah made her run and subsequently landed on the base, the grysks had been more subdued, more cautious about their attacks. It was almost as if surviving had suddenly mattered to them overnight…but she couldn't quite pin down why.
"Commander Nerah has the grysk commander's attention," Thrawn answered for her, coming up beside her to look out the viewport. "They will no longer destroy themselves until he sees this through."
If that was the case, then Nerah must've kicked the hornet's nest enough to draw his full attention upon her, and had now neglected to inform his subordinates of the new TIE Defenders that were tearing them to shreds. It made sense…but it was also reckless, and the sign of an easily distracted commander.
"I…expected more, to be honest, Grand Admiral," she admitted. "Expected them to fight harder than they have thus far."
"Oh, they are," Thrawn assured her. "Some of the most critical battles within a war are the ones you cannot see. While I do not have any grysk artwork to study, I imagine today that will change."
Faro blinked. "You think they'll risk oblivion just to defeat one woman?"
"The lives aboard these vessels are meaningless to them, Commodore. Their commander has already abandoned them to their fates. All that matters now is defeating the vanguard I have sent forward. If she falls, the Ascendancy will likely go with her…and perhaps even the Empire."
Faro shivered. Surely one person couldn't spell the end or the beginning of an entire society…but she knew better. Thrawn didn't exaggerate, and he seemed quite convinced that this battle of wits was the real conflict at stake here today. She didn't fully understand why, but maybe that was for the best at this moment. Faro fully expected Nerah to succeed, and when she did, perhaps then Thrawn would be able to explain.
For now, they had a battle to complete.
Grysk Base – 2 BBY
The scatter of blaster bolts roared into her target, and the organic, fleshy alien leaked blood and bits of internal organs before sliding down the wall, and dropping dead. With her MAHI latched in to the internal security, mining data, decrypting languages, Nerah only had to wave her hand for the door to the command center to open.
There he was…a real, true grysk, sitting alone in his command chair…tapered skull, deep-set eyes. Slinging over her rifle, she leveled her blaster pistol his way as she approached, situating herself directly before him…and couldn't help but look out the viewport and notice that the Chimaera and Steadfast were still very much intact and fighting.
"You lost," she declared in Sy Bisti, drawing what looked to be a scowl from his harsh, grey face. "Your perversion ends here."
The grysk kept his beady, black eyes fixated on her, before slowly rising from his chair to display his full, muscular form and impressive height. He towered above her as he approached, his cape draping behind him as his armor rubbed against each plate with his movement. "You are small," he growled. "Yet strong. That is a paradox I wish answered."
"You won't get your answer," Nerah growled. "I have come to claim vengeance…and to send you precious Hegemony a message."
The grysk's eyes narrowed, and she watched as his pointed, animal-like teeth bore out in anger. "The only message you will send is the sound of your death throes to your precious Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo!"
In an instant, Nerah watched an arc blade ignite from the staff he had held, and she was forced to duck beneath the incredible reach, sidestepping around multiple stabs and jabs before somersaulting backwards, and coming to a halt. The grysk spun his staff with both of his strong hands in a ready stance, his growl terrifying…his eyes rabid and focused entirely on her.
She had managed to wrestle his full attention, just as Thrawn said she would.
Her blue blade screeched to life, and with a twirl, she parried his first to jabs, feeling the strength behind each of his hits come up to par with her own as they fell into a lock, Nerah standing her ground as the lightning from his staff sparked into her helmet. She did not bend or falter, and instead pressed the attack, trading more harsh parries and deflections. Unfortunately, because of his far superior reach, she would never be able to get in the hits that truly mattered if he kept her at a distance, and the speed and power he displayed would never let her in, no matter how strongly she pushed back.
When fighting a larger opponent, you must first break their reach. This can be done with spouts of agility and using their own weight against them.
Nerah analyzed his attack patterns the best she could, waited for the harshest swing, and then ducked. The arc blade whizzed above her, carrying him just enough off center for her to kick at his knee and force it to hyperextend. He grunted slightly, but recovered in time to swing with his free fist and collide into Nerah's chest. Winded, she tumbled from the blow before flipping back to her feet and taking a deep breath. Her chest felt like pins and needles, but she did her best to ignore it, deflecting the next attacks and being forced back on the defensive again.
"You are but a worm, Vigan'era'hrorra," the grysk spat, pushing back against her defense. "And soon you will be mine, just like the rest of your precious Ascendancy."
Nerah roared, sliding off his staff and forcing him to tumble, before pulling her blade up to slash through his left eye. He screamed, backing off to cover the new wound, but Nerah didn't dare give him a chance to reprieve. She advanced relentlessly, cutting at his defense as he backed off, trying her best to take advantage of his roiling pain and lack of depth perception. He deflected each attack as best he could, but her superior and unnatural strength was starting to factor in, taking its toll upon the staff as he continued to wield it cleanly.
His feet faltered.
With his staff heaving forward inaccurately, she spun around and dug her blade deep into his chest. He grunted, his arms beginning to go limp as the staff clanged against the ground.
"That was for Un'hee, you son of a bitch," she spat, and then pulled it free, letting his body fall to his knees…and his face to the floor.
Nerah breathed, holding her blade beside her, and flicked it extinguished.
"If you're watching this…know that this is but an inkling of the power the Ascendancy and Galactic Empire have to offer in our war against your species," she declared, turning towards the empty monitor. "I don't care how many you send against us. I'll kill them all, one by one, until every last grysk and your precious children are lying out as carrion for the scavengers…for I am its vanguard, and you are my prey."
She stepped forward. "So run…run as far as you can, but know that there is no place in the galaxy where I won't be waiting."
There was no response, but she was certain…out there, somewhere, whoever commanded the Hegemony had heard every word she had said…and they would be after her…after all of those she held dear.
She would be ready.
Alerts blared through the station, and by then, Nerah already knew what that meant. Activating her ping via the frequency she had given to Nara, she raced for the nearest airlock.
TIE Defender – 2 BBY
Nara had been able to snoop back to the base after her little excursion, and once her gauntlet blinked with Nerah's signal, she had detached from her original airlock to the one her sister had specified.
With only one…minor issue.
"It'll blow before you'll have time to secure the airlock. I'll have to go vacuum," Nerah called in, and Nara heard the sound of warning blares and rushing air.
"Nerah, I like your boldness, but when you pull that seal, you'll get blown away at an unknown vector and unknown speed. I'm also traveling too fast for you to hold on."
"Then you'll have to slow down and use directional jets," her sister suggested. "I have air and pressurization, so it'll be fine," she insisted, and Nara could hear the final blares of depressurization warning.
"Nerah…" Nara warned, positioning herself to make the run.
"No time to argue. Pulling hatch in three—"
Nara's grip turned cold against her yoke. "Nerah! You stupid bitch! Don't fucking—"
"One."
She heard the airlock blow, followed by Nerah's yelp in surprise as she was kicked out into the vacuum of space. Nara's primal protective instincts kicked in as she raced forward, doing her best to follow the ping on the sensor board. Within seconds she spotted her sister against the black, starry backdrop, her body somersaulting perpetually through space at a constant velocity.
"Kick in repulsors on my mark!" Nara called in, racing forward to catch up. Simultaneously, the two grysk warships attacking the Chimaera exploded, throwing their wreckage directly in the direction of Nerah's trajectory.
She'd have to pull something fancy.
"Now! Kick them in now!"
The base blew soon after, but just in time for Nara to drift her Defender in such a way that her shield envelope surrounded Nerah's body as soon as she brought herself to a stop, and slammed against the viewport of her fighter.
"Ugh…" Nerah winced through the comm, now holding tightly onto her fighter as they drifted. "That was fun."
Nara trembled, pointing her finger. "Oh, that is only funny because I saved your sorry ass."
Nerah chuckled. "I missed you too, big sister."
Chimaera – 2 BBY
"With all the data I've been able to pull from Nerah's MAHI, it looks like this was the only grysk base in the sector. While they didn't have a telling map as to where their current operations extend, I can confirm that the grysks had been intending to invade the Galactic Empire within the coming years," Eli confirmed, clicking through the information on the conference room display. He'd felt like a long day of work was finally coming to an end, especially since once Nerah returned, he'd been running through data for the past few hours while the medical team checked on her. He had wanted to be the first one to greet her…but so far, that hadn't been in the cards, and he worried that fact wouldn't change even after they were finished here.
"It is possible we have merely delayed their efforts," Ar'alani noted, standing just behind him, while Thrawn sat calmly beside Commodore Faro. "But perhaps we have bought ourselves much more time to prepare for their next attempts…unless, Nerah's efforts have now only emboldened them to strike harder."
There was an obvious undertone of blame and annoyance in Ar'alani's voice as she turned to Thrawn, and it only made Eli wonder further as to the degree of agreement the two had about the woman in general. Ar'alani didn't seem to trust her, either that or just didn't have the same faith that Thrawn maintained…or perhaps it was a divide Eli couldn't possibly understand right now, not without knowing more about the history between Ar'alani and Thrawn surrounding the twin sisters.
"Both possibilities can be used in our favor," Thrawn argued. "The grysks will now either retract their efforts, or make them more visible. Either way, they shall be now easier to defeat."
"You are not taking into consideration the inevitable loss of more chiss civilian lives should the grysks decide to increase their attacks," Ar'alani argued.
"The Ascendancy should be perfectly equipped to increase its own defenses."
Ar'alani huffed. "Still, after all these years, you forget that the Syndicure still does not wish to commit to full-scale war."
"Then you must have proof. The same proof I will be presenting to the Emperor personally, once our operation has concluded," Thrawn offered. "The depth of this opportunity cannot be understated, Admiral. I implore you to press harder than ever to entice the Ascendancy into action."
Ar'alani still didn't seem entirely at ease or convinced of his reasoning, but she had nothing further to say on the subject. "Speaking of which, we have scoured the wreckage for anything we can discern from the grysk technology. There are some pieces I wish you to take…as they appear to be pieces of artwork."
Eli watched Thrawn's brow raise a little. "I will gladly take them for my future study. Thank you, Admiral."
"You are welcome," she inclined her head, and then straightened herself properly. "If that is all, then I must return to the Steadfast to continue our mission. I suppose this is where we shall…part ways."
There was a measured amount of distant pain and sorrow in her voice, a hint Eli had never heard from her before…but unfortunately, his mind wasn't entirely on the two of them. He felt his own heart sink, knowing the inevitability that he and Nerah would once again be pulled away from each other, and the thought of leaving in such a state was utterly unthinkable.
"Just a moment, Admiral, if you please," Thrawn interjected. "I have yet to make my final report to Grand Moff Tarkin, and I would wish for you to be present to observe."
Ar'alani hesitated, but Eli noticed a bit of that pain fade. "Very well. Lieutenant Vanto, if you wish to bid farewell to Commander Nerah, now would be the time."
His heart leapt, but he kept himself under control as he rose from his chair. "Thank you, Admiral. I'll do that."
Stiffening to Thrawn and Faro, he turned on his heel, and then began the slow process of finding the right words to say.
Once Eli was gone, Faro felt her heart race for a moment with anticipation. Thrawn had hinted that the situation with Assistant Director Ronan had been kept well in hand…but he had never illuded to how. Perhaps now, as Faro stood beside Ar'alani outside of the holocam's range, her answer would finally be given.
As the lights lowered, the images flickered, and eventually two forms of Grand Moff Tarkin and Director Krennic solidified into view.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn. I trust you are here to deliver your report," Tarkin said, looking as passively disinterested as usual.
"I am, Grand Moff," Thrawn inclined his head. "That is, if Assistant Director Ronan has not already."
Tarkin seemed to gesture, and another image appeared, this one of High Agent Gideon…and that's when it all clicked for Faro.
"Assistant Director Ronan is safely in my care," Gideon reported. "We rescued his derelict ship in the sector you identified, Grand Admiral. Aboard we found a body with the exact match of Lieutenant Aldo Rain, killed by suicide we presume."
Krennic's eyes narrowed harshly, but before he could unleash a high-volume tirade upon Thrawn for putting one of his own men in danger, Tarkin gestured for silence. "And what did he have to report in regard to the Grand Admiral's success in halting the attacks upon Stardust shipments?"
All eyes were now on Gideon, and Faro felt her heart sink as he bowed his head. "I regret to say that because the Grand Admiral had relinquished the Assistant Director from his care and did not retrieve him…that he has failed his part of the bargain."
Tarkin seemed to freeze for a moment, while Faro caught a distant smirk on Krennic's lips. "You do realize that this will mean your project will also not receive the funding it needs to continue?"
Gideon seemed to hesitate, but nodded. "I do; however I cannot change the Assistant Director's mind. All I can do it relay his thoughts."
That was complete and utter blurrg-shit, and Faro knew that he knew that. A High Agent in ISB couldn't get a lowly officer to alter his decision, let alone just lie about it? Was Gideon really this soft that he couldn't bend the truth, just as he probably had his entire career?
Or…did the High Agent know exactly what he was doing. Perhaps this had been his plan all along, or he had been in league with Director Krennic to pull funds from the TIE Defenders while Alpha Red was kicked some discretionary credits under the table. Surely Thrawn couldn't just accept this.
"I see," Tarkin noted. "Grand Admiral…is there anything you would like to add?"
Now was his time to explain it all…how they had discovered a vast conspiracy in which Stardust had been utterly compromised, and they had just exposed it for the whole Empire to see. He should be lividly waiting in anticipation to verbally tear both of the men to—
"I do not," Thrawn said, and left it at that.
Faro blinked…and then wondered if this was part of the plan as well.
"Very well…then I must unfortunately accept Director Krennic's request for the funding from the TIE Defender project," Tarkin said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "However, rest assured that once Stardust has reached completion, I shall push forward to the Emperor that the TIE Defenders be the first project on our list to receive available funds."
"I thank you, Grand Moff. However, now that I am here, may I make a suggestion to you, Director Krennic?" Thrawn asked.
Krennic gave him an almost mocking shrug. "Any suggestions are more than welcome, Grand Admiral."
"Over my investigation, it has been made very clear to me that Stardust is far from an…invincible endeavor. I believe that it will become more susceptible to threats more so from within the project itself as it nears completion, and that you must reconsider you security methods that you have used thus far," Thrawn said. "Might I suggest that you consider placing Lord Vader in charge of Stardust's security?"
Krennic scoffed. "I hardly think that's—"
"An excellent idea," Tarkin agreed. "While Lord Vader is currently on assignment, I will place this before the Emperor for his consideration at his earliest convenience."
Faro felt her lips curl upwards for a moment at Krennic's scowl, even if Gideon's expression remained entirely neutral.
"If that is all, gentlemen. I bid you all good day," Krennic grumbled, and then keyed off his hologram, to which Gideon followed suit.
"I trust your search for Admiral Reyna Vorchenko will continue?" Tarkin inquired, to which Thrawn inclined his head.
"New data and revelations have been brought forward with this operation. It appears your initial comment had been correct, Governor Tarkin. I thank you."
Tarkin inclined his head. "Best of luck to you then, Grand Admiral. Do not underestimate her. After all, she was my student once."
"Indeed. I shall keep you apprised."
With that, Tarkin keyed off his image, and the room lights slowly returned to their regular brightness.
After getting Ar'alani caught up on the proceedings in a language she could understand, her scowl became evident.
"He betrayed you," she stated flatly, referring to Gideon. "Sold you out for his own gain."
"I know," Thrawn nodded. "It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it was not preferable. However, if the Emperor deems this as the best course of action for the Empire, then so be it."
"He betrayed you, Mitth'raw'nuruodo," Ar'alani implored, and for once, Faro felt herself to be in full agreement with the chiss woman. How could Thrawn just…stand there and accept this? She was sure Nerah would also feel the same hot rage broiling within Faro's chest now that the holocall was finally over, and would be just as confused as she was.
The Empire…if it did really succumb to this new rebel threat, it would be because no one could trust each other.
"Just as you cannot convince the Ascendancy of the grysk threat, I cannot convince the Empire of its need for my starfighters," Thrawn said. "In time, perhaps, but now, we must continue to fight with what we have."
Ar'alani didn't seem as convinced, but eventually she bowed her head. "As you say."
Thrawn then turned to Faro, and she decided just to keep it to herself. Thrawn had made his decision, and by now, there was nothing else to do about it. She stiffened. "I will prepare the bridge to begin our final survey."
"Thank you, Commodore," Thrawn inclined his head. "Your service has been exceptional thus far, especially in this operation. It has been noted."
Faro felt a bit of the anger within her fade, until she finally let it go, accepting the compliment. "Thank you, sir."
Nothing more to do about it.
Nerah removed the last piece of armor from her trembling arms and laid it out in the neat bin that had been prepared for her. Most of it was covered in fluids and substances she didn't want to think about, dried and sticky…and rancid to her nose. Her body felt rattled, famished and tattered as she slid into a more comfortable dress black uniform, the pants coming on first. It was good to be back in her quarters again…especially after such a long, harsh day, one that had already changed her forever.
Was she a monster?
Her door pinged, and she went straight, securing her tunic and fastening her officer's bars. "Come in!" she replied.
The door opened, and her heart ran slow.
"Commander," Eli Vanto greeted. "May I…come in?"
Nerah struggled to regain her bearings, and eventually nodded wordlessly, her blue hands brushing off any lint that might be on her sleeves. She hadn't had time to do her hair, so it was a ruffled mess hanging around her head, and she did her best to pull it behind her ears and back as he shut the door.
She looked so terrible…not at all what she had imagined when she thought she'd see him again. She had it all planned out, how she was going to clean herself up, adjust her cosmetics and what she was going to wear. The uniform was fine, as he had one for himself…but everything else was just…
"I'm sorry," she apologized, blushing as she turned towards the refresher. "I look—" she stopped as she felt a hand grasp her wrist, and she looked back.
Eli was smiling at her. "You always get bashful about the way you look," he pointed out. "You always want to appear stronger, because that's what Thrawn taught you. Sometimes the appearance can be the difference between victory and defeat."
She paused, holding steady as she halted herself, and then turned back. "Am I really that predictable?"
"Sometimes," he said. "But never in a bad way. I like watching you work, the way you move…the way you blush whenever you get embarrassed."
Nerah swallowed, feeling her tongue flash instantly dry before she could even utter a word. "I-I…didn't know you…paid attention to me this way."
Eli seemed to have a double take, a bit of hesitation in his expression, but it faded. "I told you Nerah. I did my best to let you go when I left for the Ascendancy, but I couldn't. Being back here with you has been more than I could've ever asked for, and I…" he trailed off, and Nerah felt her hand wiggle itself to be in his, gently squeezing it as softly as she could.
"I don't want you to leave me again," Nerah finished for him, feeling her heart press into itself as it urged her onward. "I've spent my whole life being protected…but with you, I feel like I can be myself…like I can be the woman I always dreamed about."
"That's because no one could ask for a better woman," Eli insisted, and Nerah felt her heart beat a little faster, her smile slowly piercing her lips to join in his.
"You don't think I'm a…monster?" she asked. "All the people I've killed…all the things I've done?"
He reached out, and placed his hand beside her shoulder, giving it a gentle, heartwarming squeeze that almost made her groan. "No. You have a good heart…one I've even envied at times. You protect the people you care about, right down to the last breath."
She swallowed, feeling herself lean forward. "I'd do anything to protect you, Eli," Nerah promised. "Anything."
"I know," he said…and Nerah felt a madness snare her heart into its grip.
Her lips were against his before she had even noticed, her hand gently cupping his cheek in a soft gesture. They pulled away in an instant of realization, and she saw the shock in his expression…but also the understanding…and the desire in his eyes.
They kissed again, and this time Nerah didn't hold anything back, her arms wrapped around his neck as he moved to lift her by the legs, holding her smaller, yet strong form above to freely shower her emotions. Nerah felt herself fall onto her bed, and Eli came with her, the two of them rolling over until they could look each other in the eye as their round had ended.
Nerah caught her breath, but brushed her knuckles against his cheek. "Let's lie here…and just forget the galaxy for a moment."
Eli nodded, resting his forehead against hers as they shut their eyes, and let peace reign at last.
"Ch'ah ch'acah vah, Nerah," Eli said in Cheunh.
I love you.
The chiss smiled, and leaned in a kiss to his cheek, before letting her head rest and her happiness swell. "Ch'ah ch'acah vah cssi, Eli Vanto."
Steadfast – 2 BBY
The little girl in her grip held tight, but there was no desperate cling like the previous times Nara could remember. Now it just felt like a loving hug, one between two friends who were saying goodbye. It almost made her tear up, seeing Un'hee so at home after suffering for so long. She really was going to be alright.
"Goodbye, Nara," her little voice came out, and Nara smiled, tightening her grip.
"Goodbye, Un'hee…I'm going to miss you," she said, pulling away and adjusting the girl's hair to clear her face. "May your guidance be swift and precise, sky walker."
Un'hee giggled. "And you shoot straight and run fast."
Nara smiled. "You remembered. I knew I could count on you," she praised, and then rose to her feet, offering a hug to Vah'nya as well. "You look after her for me."
"I will," Vah'nya promised, just as they pulled away. "Thank you for all you've done, and for bringing Un'hee back to us. I will never forget you, no matter how much the Ascendancy may wish to."
Nara smiled, and patted her on the shoulder. "Thanks, Vah'nya. And if you're ever in trouble, you know who to call."
"I'll keep that in mind," Vah'nya smiled, placing her hand on Un'hee's shoulder.
Nara tipped her head, and finally turned to Ar'alani, who beckoned her to follow across the hangar bay, leaving the chiss navigators behind.
"With a day to spare. Should've expected as much from you," Nara quipped, drawing an eye roll from the Admiral.
"One day you're going to learn to keep that mouth of yours shut, and merely accept my gratitude without a snarky remark," she sighed. "But I imagine I'll be old and grey by then."
"I don't know. I might surprise you," Nara shrugged, and they came to a stop beside a chiss clawcraft fighter, which looked somewhat suspiciously similar to the TIE Defender she admittedly wanted to take for herself. "Never seen this model before."
"It's new," Ar'alani noted. "I had Thrawn swap out the navigational computer for one of Imperial make, so you would not require a sky walker to return to your space."
Nara narrowed her eyes as she ran her gloved hand over the white wing. "He did that for you, huh?"
"He seemed more than happy to, but I did not tell him I would be gifting the fighter to you."
Nara blinked, turning to see if Ar'alani was joking…but her expression was as straight as always. "You're serious?"
Ar'alani shrugged. "Consider it a promotion gift, Major Vigan'ara. And one long overdue."
Nara didn't know what to say, and perhaps that was the point, as the Admiral seemed to be relishing in the stupid look that was stuck on her face.
"T-Thank you, Admiral…but…don't you have to submit that to someone?" she asked, to which Ar'alani actually let out a small chuckle.
"Yes, I imagine I would, but I don't think that matters between us, does it?"
Nara shook her head. "No…I don't think it does," she said…but couldn't help but notice the pain in Ar'alani's expression, not to mention a feeling of final bliss. "Perhaps next time."
Ar'alani nodded, but her head bowed slightly. "I fear…I may never see you again," she admitted. "The war with the grysks only grows more vile each day that passes, and I worry by the time you return, there will be no Ascendancy left to save."
Nara swallowed, feeling that pang of guilt with once again leaving Ar'alani behind to clean up another mess…but the reality was still evident. House Vigan still wanted her head, and she would never survive long enough to actually help her people if she returned. The way home was still through Bo Katan Kryze…and turning the full force of Mandalore against the Grysk Hegemony.
That meant uniting the clans, unseating Gar Saxon…and admittedly destabilizing the Empire. Thrawn may be smart, but he was putting all his faith in a failed machine, and Nara had a sneaking suspicion that Ar'alani was beginning to suspect as much as well.
"I'll come back, Admiral. I promise," she vowed. "And when I do, I won't be alone."
Ar'alani tipped her head. "I do sincerely hope you are right, and I do believe you are capable of succeeding."
Nara smiled back.
"One last thing. You said you are of…Clan Kryze, are you not?" she asked, and earned a nod in confirmation. "According to naming custom, that would denote your name as Vigan'ara'kryze."
"Narak," Nara pronounced the new core name. "Doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well."
Ar'alani shrugged. "Nonetheless, something to consider," she said, and then turned to see Nerah approaching…leaving a somewhat crestfallen Eli Vanto behind to return to his post and station. She herself didn't look entirely positive…but she seemed to gain a little speed in her step once her eyes met with her sister. "I bid you farewell, then, Vigan'ara'kryze, and may warrior's fortune ever serve you."
Nara stiffened into a salute, and smiled her way. "Thank you, Admiral Ar'alani. Today was a great day for someone else to die."
"Indeed," the Admiral accepted her salute, and then turned away, leaving Nara to watch her go for perhaps…truly…the last time.
A tear made its way down her face, but a warm hug quickly followed, one she returned vigorously.
"You big dummy," Nara scolded, holding her tight. "Jumping out into space like that. That's not very good for your health."
Nerah chuckled slightly, but the raw emotion was still in her tone. "I knew my big sister would catch me," she said, and then pulled away, keeping her hands resting on her arms gently. "Thank you for everything you've risked. I know it…couldn't have been easy."
"It wasn't," Nara admitted, reminded of the explaining she'd have to do should Bo Katan ever find out she helped the Empire during her time away. "But…I got to see you again. That's good enough for me."
Nerah's brow arched a little as she bowed her head. "That's sweet of you, Nara…and yes, I am happy I was able to learn the truth about you, and be able to proudly call you my sister once again. I'm just…sad the two of us must go back to opposite sides of this war."
"I know," Nara said, brushing Nerah's hair with her hand. "But it'll be alright. So long as Thrawn keeps his eyes of Mandalore, I don't think we'll have any problems."
Nerah nodded. "I do hope that ends up being the case. For whatever it is worth, I would never do anything to harm you."
"Likewise, little sister," she promised, resting her hand on her shoulder. "And I'm sorry you and Vanto can't stay together. It…breaks my heart a little."
There was a bit of sorrow in her expression, but also a glimmer of hope that ignited Nara's spirits as Nerah revealed a holocomm. "He and I will be staying in touch, and I imagine Thrawn may be sending me to the Ascendancy from time to time to protect against the grysks. How he plans to do this without committing treason…I do not know, but that will be my chance to see him again."
Nara smiled. "Well, if you ever need a hug…a real hug, you know how to find me," she said, and then placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Nerah."
Nerah hugged her tightly, and Nara savored the last touch. "I love you too, Nara."
When they pulled away, Nara felt like the last loose end had been tied…and it was truly time to depart. "Until we meet again, Commander."
"Until we meet again," Nerah stiffened. "Major."
Nara smirked. "Look at you, back to taking orders from your big sister."
Nerah rolled her eyes as she stood at ease. "Get out of here before I decide to take you in."
With that, Nara turned away, climbed up into the cockpit, and waved Nerah her last goodbye…before her sister began to make her way back to her shuttle.
Back to the Empire.
Stay safe out there, little sister. And know that no matter what, I'm always looking out for you.
Somehow, she knew Nerah had felt those thoughts.
The Chimaera had left them nearly a week ago, and by now, Eli Vanto was already feeling a bit empty. The initial days were difficult, although placated by his promotion to Lieutenant Commander for his actions during their last operation, but the lingering desire to be with Nerah in flesh and blood was difficult to wager. Vah'nya had also turned a bit more distant than usual, which was unfortunate…but the good news was, more on the Steadfast were beginning to trust him, and as his Cheunh improved, so did his chances at making more friends.
His new permanent post aboard the bridge was also far more exciting…especially when another star destroyer emerged from hyperspace to greet them.
"Imperial vessel, this is Admiral Ar'alani of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet. We wish safe passage through your territory on our return to our own borders. We apologize for the infringement," she hailed in Sy Bisti, while Eli ran a scan on the ship. The readings were odd, as the model of star destroyer seemed rather outdated…yet heavily modified in some areas. Something about this didn't smell right.
"Not to worry, Admiral Ar'alani. We greet you in peace," a female voice replied in the same language, a voice unfamiliar to him. "This is also not Imperial space, so you have nothing to fear."
Ar'alani's annoyance seemed to be rising, and she made a silent command to be ready to prepare weapons just in case. "Then I assume you will allow us to go along on our way without any trouble?" she asked, and then lowered her tone. "Or do you wish to test our mettle?"
"Quite the opposite, as I said," the woman replied. "I am Admiral Reyna Vorchenko of the Galactic Alliance Fleet…and I wish to speak to you regarding potential assistance with this looming threat of the Grysk Hegemony."
And with that, the grysk arc is over. That will likely be the last you see of them for the remainder of this story, and it also concludes the character arcs of both Nerah and Nara, meaning they will now slide from the forefront back into the supporting roles they were meant to adopt.
This was fun, and I truly enjoyed writing almost a story in a story, and I can't thank Timothy Zahn enough for inspiring all of this. I truly do hope I do Thrawn, Ar'alani, Eli and all the other characters he's created justice and treat them with the respect that they deserve. This, of course, will not be the last you see of them, but for the near future, it's back to just Thrawn alone as Inquisition nears its real, official end.
The next few arcs will touch bases with some of our old friends and get us up to A New Hope, before everyone comes back in full force for the ultimate, super finale that I have planned. I know many of you have been waiting for the old gang to get back together, and I promise, it's coming soon…maybe sooner than even I think.
Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this through and through, and even to those who only read a few chapters. The fact that you took time out of your day to check out my work is an honor enough for me. Truly, thank you all.
Stay safe and stay tuned.