The bridge fell silent as blood dripped onto the floor, staining the usually pristine deck. The officers of the Chimera turned in shock. The Grand Admiral's gaze did not turn from the battlefield. Behind him, the now-deceased body of the Grand Admiral's assassin - or would be assassin - lay sprawled on the floor. His blade rested in his palm. Further back was the Savior of the Empire, as he would later be called. TX-4412, a rising star in the Grand Admiral's inner circle, lowered his weapon and called for the body to be disposed. Captain Pellaeon nodded his head in approval.
Thrawn stood up and calmly requested that everyone return to their stations. That they did with an efficiency that could only be developed by working with the Grand Admiral. Thrawn walked over to the comms officer, who immediately looked up to await orders.
"Summon the 2nd Fleet, but to hold back."
"Yessir."
Admiral Ackbar slumped back in his chair, not unlike how he did in the Battle Over Endor. However, in that previous battle he slumped out of relief. In victory. Now, it was out of fear. Of defeat. Before, he might have had a chance to defeat Thrawn. But a second fleet jumped into the system behind him and there was no way he could fight off both of them. Fortunately, they hadn't opened fire yet. Though how long that would remain the case was most certainly a concern.
"Admiral!" shouted the comms officer, "Incoming transmission from the Chimera!"
"Put it through," grumbled the exhausted Admiral.
A glowing hologram of Grand Admiral Thrawn emerged from the ship's main comms system. Ackbar stood up and approached it, almost defiantly.
"Admiral Ackbar. I believe this is the first time we have met. I hope that this is our final engagement as well. I am offering you the chance to surrender now. Do so, and I will spare your people. I am an honorable man, and I hope that we can work together in the future. We have much to discuss. But for now, fighting further will accomplish nothing."
Ackbar paused for a moment and sighed, before dejectedly asking; "What are your demands?"
"Simply put, an immediate cease-fire between our two fleets, you and whatever high command are present to be transported to my ship, and for your fleet to accept my takeover."
"I-... I accept"
A small smile curled from the corner of Thrawn's mouth. "Excellent. I await your arrival. You fought valiantly, Admiral. You should be proud."
With that the hologram cut out. And with it, came the New Republic's last hope of survival.
The Empire had returned.
Glory to the Empire.