Kowes silently watched at the information gathered by Intel. The only difficulty was which target to pick. Even with the admirals specific request, he had a difficult time picking the easier one. With a smile he rase from the pilot seat in the shuttle, and went into the passenger part. Which was crowded with stormtroopers.
"Yes major?" said the stormtrooper leader.
"Strap in boys, we are ready." said Kowes.
"About time..." mumbled the stormtrooper leader.
Kowes shrugged not bothering to acknownledge that comment. He strode into the cockpit, throwing himself into the pilot seat, flipping the shields system and the weapons system online. In front of him, the 'Reaper' slowly orbited Iridonia. iSoon, it will not be alone./ithought Kowes.
Intensifying his concentration, he flipped the commlink on.
"Yes major?" a cool voice said, without any trace of emotions.
Kowes could percieve the pale blue face and the glowing red eyes, staring at him.
"We are ready sir."
"Good luck major."
"Thank you sir!" said Kowes, breaking the connection, and orienting his shuttle towards the cooordinates supplied by the navigation
computer. The Sluis Van shipyards would be in for a suprise. He thought with a diabolical grin on his face.
The shuttle seemed to stop,its engines flared up for a second,and then it entered hyperspace.
"Captain?"
"Yes admiral?"
"Are the repairs done?"
"The last repairs are finished as we speak admiral."
"Add a commendation to each engineer's file, and inform the entire personell that with the victory we scored, our path toward our ultimate victory has inevitably begun." Thrawn said with a smile on his lips, his red eyes glowed with satisfication.
"Yes admiral."
The Sluis Van shipyards werent as busy as they where sixteen years ago, thought Kowes. He still remembered the defeat the Empire suffered here, and now, sixteen years later, the Empire will get what it came for. Starships. Four Golan II defence platforms, one Lancer frigate carrying a squadron of X-wing fighters.
The target slowly drifted infront of them. Lancer frigate the 'Trident'. Kowes practicly sneaked up on it, until inevitably the frigate noticed them andasked for identification. When Kowes did not respond, they launched their squadron of X-wings and opened fire. Kowes went into a roll immediately, avioding a barrage of turbolaser fire, and getting an X-wing in his range, Kowes elegantly pressed the primary fire button on his stick. The X-wing exploded into a thousand sparks.
Seeing the death of their comrade, the remaining X-wings ganged up on Kowes, but it was futile. Like a wounded lion slaying the dogs that dared attack it, Kowes took another three X-wings out of the sky.
The remaining two X-wings retreated, and Kowes ignored them, but after he released two homing mines, which released Kowes from any starfighter problems. He could concentrate on the starship now.
Kowes executed a sharp turn, bringing the Lancer into the shuttle's range.Dodging deadly torbolasers, Kowes lashed with a volley of ion fire on the Lancer's interstellar communication system. Slowly, and skillfuly, he disabled the engines, shields, and several turbolaser batteries before he called the Lancer.
"Lancer Frigate 'Trident', this is Major Kowes of the Empire, prepare for boarding or be destroyed!"
"Shuttle 'Alpha', ", the voice said with a defeated sigh, "we shall prepare for boarding."
"Good. No harm shall be dealt to you or your crew, you have my word." said Kowes.
"You wanted to see me admiral?"
"Ahh, ensign! I wished to talk to you about several issues."
Lomeir strode inside the dimly lighten room as usual, the admiral was studying art. Lomeir paused for a second to take a look at the todays display, and found himself fighting for words.
"Where did you get this?" he said in suprise.
"The Sarin dynasty 30 years B.E.?" asked Thrawn in light amusement, then answered,
"Imperial Inteligence got it for me."
"Its a wonder a copy of it still exists." said Lomeir.
Thrawn studied him for a while, then when the silence became unpleasant he spoke: "Are you an artist?"
"We are all artists." said Lomeir bluntly.
"Explain." said Thrawn lightly.
"You are an artist of war. I am an artist of rage. Everone is an artist. Even the lowliest rebels are artists."
"Interesting way to put it." said Thrawn in a dreamy voice.
"Why did you wish to see me?"
"Ahh, pardon me. I wished to see you for two things. One, for your actions against the Yuuzhan Vong you are promoted to Lt. congradulations." Thrawn said, then paused as if waiting for a comment from Lomeir. When it was clear he would not add anything to the discussion, Thrawn carefully continued.
"Lieutenant Lomeir,I am aware of your talent."
At this words Lomeir dropped into a crouch, his blade drawn at his side, ready to charge at Thrawn.
"How did you find out?" snarled Lomeir.
"I combined two and two. A Force sensitive species and you rising a crate in the middle of the battle helped in discovering this." said Thrawn cooly, as if he didnt notice the danger he was in.
"You wont get me alive." shouted Lomeir.
"I do not plan to hurt you."
"You lie. The Emperor hunted down my people, and has slain all those strong in the Force!" snarled Lomeir.
"The Emperor was a fool." said Thrawn peacefully.
"Oh yes I... what did you say?" said Lomeir in wonder.
"The Emperor was a fool." repeated Thrawn.
"What kind of a Imperial are you Thrawn?"
Thrawn ignored the disrespectful way Lomeir adressed him, and continued on.
"I need you Lomeir. This is a chance I offer to you and to the Zabrak. I offer you an alliance with the Empire.The Empire lies in ruins, and you are a part of the puzzle I need to completly, utterly and totaly destroy the Rebellion and the Yuuzhan Vong." said Thrawn.
"How?" asked Lomeir dumbly.
"In time and with training, you will be able to increase coordination between my troops. They will fight better and react better." explained Thrawn,and then he smiled. The glow in his eyes intensifyed.
"I can hardly belive I could make your men fight better." said Lomeir.
"In time you will. Now, is the defence parimeter around the base secure lieutenant?" said Thrawn, his face was emotionless again.
"Yes sir, we have improved the defence capabilities, and our troops are finishing placing the mine field as we speak." said Lomeir, holstering his sword, and rasing to parade-style stature.
"Good work." Thrawn said, and flipped a switch.
"This is Thrawn. Navigation, set course for Valonar VI."
"Valonar VI?" asked Lomeir.
Thrawn explained again.
"Yes major?" said the stormtrooper leader.
"Strap in boys, we are ready." said Kowes.
"About time..." mumbled the stormtrooper leader.
Kowes shrugged not bothering to acknownledge that comment. He strode into the cockpit, throwing himself into the pilot seat, flipping the shields system and the weapons system online. In front of him, the 'Reaper' slowly orbited Iridonia. iSoon, it will not be alone./ithought Kowes.
Intensifying his concentration, he flipped the commlink on.
"Yes major?" a cool voice said, without any trace of emotions.
Kowes could percieve the pale blue face and the glowing red eyes, staring at him.
"We are ready sir."
"Good luck major."
"Thank you sir!" said Kowes, breaking the connection, and orienting his shuttle towards the cooordinates supplied by the navigation
computer. The Sluis Van shipyards would be in for a suprise. He thought with a diabolical grin on his face.
The shuttle seemed to stop,its engines flared up for a second,and then it entered hyperspace.
"Captain?"
"Yes admiral?"
"Are the repairs done?"
"The last repairs are finished as we speak admiral."
"Add a commendation to each engineer's file, and inform the entire personell that with the victory we scored, our path toward our ultimate victory has inevitably begun." Thrawn said with a smile on his lips, his red eyes glowed with satisfication.
"Yes admiral."
The Sluis Van shipyards werent as busy as they where sixteen years ago, thought Kowes. He still remembered the defeat the Empire suffered here, and now, sixteen years later, the Empire will get what it came for. Starships. Four Golan II defence platforms, one Lancer frigate carrying a squadron of X-wing fighters.
The target slowly drifted infront of them. Lancer frigate the 'Trident'. Kowes practicly sneaked up on it, until inevitably the frigate noticed them andasked for identification. When Kowes did not respond, they launched their squadron of X-wings and opened fire. Kowes went into a roll immediately, avioding a barrage of turbolaser fire, and getting an X-wing in his range, Kowes elegantly pressed the primary fire button on his stick. The X-wing exploded into a thousand sparks.
Seeing the death of their comrade, the remaining X-wings ganged up on Kowes, but it was futile. Like a wounded lion slaying the dogs that dared attack it, Kowes took another three X-wings out of the sky.
The remaining two X-wings retreated, and Kowes ignored them, but after he released two homing mines, which released Kowes from any starfighter problems. He could concentrate on the starship now.
Kowes executed a sharp turn, bringing the Lancer into the shuttle's range.Dodging deadly torbolasers, Kowes lashed with a volley of ion fire on the Lancer's interstellar communication system. Slowly, and skillfuly, he disabled the engines, shields, and several turbolaser batteries before he called the Lancer.
"Lancer Frigate 'Trident', this is Major Kowes of the Empire, prepare for boarding or be destroyed!"
"Shuttle 'Alpha', ", the voice said with a defeated sigh, "we shall prepare for boarding."
"Good. No harm shall be dealt to you or your crew, you have my word." said Kowes.
"You wanted to see me admiral?"
"Ahh, ensign! I wished to talk to you about several issues."
Lomeir strode inside the dimly lighten room as usual, the admiral was studying art. Lomeir paused for a second to take a look at the todays display, and found himself fighting for words.
"Where did you get this?" he said in suprise.
"The Sarin dynasty 30 years B.E.?" asked Thrawn in light amusement, then answered,
"Imperial Inteligence got it for me."
"Its a wonder a copy of it still exists." said Lomeir.
Thrawn studied him for a while, then when the silence became unpleasant he spoke: "Are you an artist?"
"We are all artists." said Lomeir bluntly.
"Explain." said Thrawn lightly.
"You are an artist of war. I am an artist of rage. Everone is an artist. Even the lowliest rebels are artists."
"Interesting way to put it." said Thrawn in a dreamy voice.
"Why did you wish to see me?"
"Ahh, pardon me. I wished to see you for two things. One, for your actions against the Yuuzhan Vong you are promoted to Lt. congradulations." Thrawn said, then paused as if waiting for a comment from Lomeir. When it was clear he would not add anything to the discussion, Thrawn carefully continued.
"Lieutenant Lomeir,I am aware of your talent."
At this words Lomeir dropped into a crouch, his blade drawn at his side, ready to charge at Thrawn.
"How did you find out?" snarled Lomeir.
"I combined two and two. A Force sensitive species and you rising a crate in the middle of the battle helped in discovering this." said Thrawn cooly, as if he didnt notice the danger he was in.
"You wont get me alive." shouted Lomeir.
"I do not plan to hurt you."
"You lie. The Emperor hunted down my people, and has slain all those strong in the Force!" snarled Lomeir.
"The Emperor was a fool." said Thrawn peacefully.
"Oh yes I... what did you say?" said Lomeir in wonder.
"The Emperor was a fool." repeated Thrawn.
"What kind of a Imperial are you Thrawn?"
Thrawn ignored the disrespectful way Lomeir adressed him, and continued on.
"I need you Lomeir. This is a chance I offer to you and to the Zabrak. I offer you an alliance with the Empire.The Empire lies in ruins, and you are a part of the puzzle I need to completly, utterly and totaly destroy the Rebellion and the Yuuzhan Vong." said Thrawn.
"How?" asked Lomeir dumbly.
"In time and with training, you will be able to increase coordination between my troops. They will fight better and react better." explained Thrawn,and then he smiled. The glow in his eyes intensifyed.
"I can hardly belive I could make your men fight better." said Lomeir.
"In time you will. Now, is the defence parimeter around the base secure lieutenant?" said Thrawn, his face was emotionless again.
"Yes sir, we have improved the defence capabilities, and our troops are finishing placing the mine field as we speak." said Lomeir, holstering his sword, and rasing to parade-style stature.
"Good work." Thrawn said, and flipped a switch.
"This is Thrawn. Navigation, set course for Valonar VI."
"Valonar VI?" asked Lomeir.
Thrawn explained again.