A Gamble of Three
by Senth
Disclaimer: this story is purely imagination and creativity....duh...no money being made off this work and I am not affliated with George Lucas nor any of the Lucas co.'s. Enjoy my story!
Time Frame (of this story): sometime during Empire Strikes Back.
Authors Note: This story was inspired by the Bounty Hunters' Series and a special RPG campaign my friends and I set up recently.
* * *
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
STAR WARS: A GAMBLE OF THREE
The war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance rages on
but not without the dangerous involvement from neautral parties.
As the Empire works to consolidate its power over all worlds the
evil Emperor Palpatine finds that he needs to work with the vile
scum of the galaxy in order to tighten his grip around renegade
worlds. Using Prince Xizor as his pawn as well as the resources
of Black Sun, Palpatine begins the construction of the Second
Death Star.
Meanwhile a new threat arises from the Outer Rim one that has
the power to topple the power of Black Sun. A small and aloof
pirate group has grown in power and in sources and has begun
the plundering of heavily guarded Imperial Ship Yards. The enig-
matic Red Fyre Pirate Affiliation is now out for bigger game and
is taking full advantage of the Galactic Civil War.
Angered and wanting blood, Palpatine decides to take the
oppurtunity to introduce Prince Xizor to his own alien protege,
Grand Admiral Thrawn. But neither Thrawn nor Xizor have
any liking for each other. Now this is a competion for more
than just catching a Pirate Admiral, it is a contest for prestige
and power and the Emperor's favor.....
* * *
Chapter 1 - Introductions
The Emperor's throne room within Imperial Palace was unlike those found within the Star Destroyers or Sky Hooks. The cathedral walls rose up in opulent green marble and although the room still held a gloomy atmosphere Prince Xizor, owner of Xizor Transport Shipping (XTS) as well as secret leader of the crime organization Black Sun, was not perturbed by the way the Emperor attempted to make his subjects feel smaller than anything else.
Emperor Palpatine saw on his throne up the black steps of the dais. He was claoked in his usual black robes his old face, in which an expression of warning seened to be embossed, was shadowed by that dark cowl and his pale knobby hands clutched the arm rests of his throne. Now he leaned back on that chair, his small form fit comfortably in it though to Xizor it seemed that death would take him at any moment. 'Though not soon enough' he noted mentally. Behind the throne was a wide panoramic transparasteel window which gazed down at the metropolis world of Coruscant, now Imperial Center. The sun shone down upon it showing the bright technological details of oit's sky scrapers, institutions, buildings, and it was lively with ships and air busses moving in an organized fashion.
How bright that world seemed outside as compared to the dark somber atmosphere within one of Palpatine's many throne rooms, Xizor thought, What is it like to have so much power? He wondered, To rule worlds and to command a vast army? He guessed that Palpatine believed lives to be expendable as long as his will was done. Xizor also believed Palpatine thought him expendable as well.
"So good of you to come, Prince Xizor." Palpatine welcomed him though there was no welcome in his voice. Xizor bowed low putting on his act of humility.
"I come at your call, my master." Xizor replied smoothly. The Emperor gave no sign of acknowledgement but stood up from his throne his small black cloaked figure carrying an air of danger just as it always had. Palpatine remained at the top of the dais clasping his hands together and looking down at Xizor his yellow eyes boring into him as if trying to see something beyond. But Xizor never let anyone see anything beyond the constant act he put on to please others when he wished to.
"Of course," Palpatine rasped, "As always. I have called you here for a very important reason, Prince Xizor. It is of the matter of Red Fyre." He began. Xizor smiled inwardly. His sources had informed him that Red Fyre had begun pirating Imperial Ship Yards in the Coorperate Sector. How fitting, he thought smugly, that the Emperor would come to ask me for aid. Though Xizor did not believe that to full extent. He knew that the Emperor would loathe the help of anyone. The shriveled old man wanted glory for himself and didn't like sharing it with others.
Xizor straightened up his strong green figure that was rickly embellished with expensive robes. The Faleen Prince clasped his elongated fingers at the small of his back. Looking at the Emperor as if slightly suprised. "Red Fyre pirate Affiliation, my liege?" Xizor feined suprise, "I have heard of their exploits in the Outer Rim from my shipping captains, your highness."
"So you know as well as I do that they have the capabilities to be a threat to my project." Palpatine told him still looking down at Xizor. His stare would have been unsettling to any of his underligns but Xizor remained impassive. "They have gotten away with two of my destroyers in Bilbringi and I know very well they will come back for more." He walked over to the window and glanced out for a moment then looked back to the humanoid Prince, "I want them annihilated." He stated cruelly.
"And how may I be of aid to you, master?" Xizor offered patiently. Patience and oppurtunities would arise, that was an old adage he would never forget. Palpatine sat back down in his throne placing his cold hands back on the arm rests.
"Many of your sources have been useful to me." Palpatine told him, "Although there were some implications with your plans against the Bounty Hunters Guild and some other Hutt syndicates I have been somewhat impressed by your work. Since you hace connection with the scum of the Outer Rim I want you to discover a way to destroy Red Fyre completely but I want both of those star destroyers intact. Since you have your sources I have decided to let you work with one of my best Grand Admirals." Xizor heard the door behind him swoosh open and a blue skiined humanoid with glowing red eyes and blue black hair walked in and bowed.
"Your highness." The blue skinned creature intoned. And alien Grand Admiral!? Xizor was caught off guard by this, someone would pay for the lack of information on the Emperor's Grand Admirals.
"Prince Xizor, this is Grand Admiral Thrawn and he will be the one to capture Red Fyre with your help of course." Palpatine ordered.
"Your wish is mine, your highness." Xizor said looking at the humanoid with interest. iInce when does Palpatine have aliens in his human male dominated hierachy? This creature must have some gift of some sort, Xizor decided. Even so, he considered as he looked into the humanoid's red eyes, Thrawn was dangerous.
"Good. Grand Admiral Thrawn, I am sure you will have no problem working with Prince Xizor, he is one of my more...'important' subjects." Palpatine told Thrawn. Thrawn's stolid expression did not betray him.
"Yes, Emperor." The alien replied.
Again their gazes met and this time they held on to each other's for a moment longer as if in challenge.
Well, thought Xizor narrowing his eyes slightly at Thrawn, this will be interesting.
* * *
MORE TO COME
by Senth
Disclaimer: this story is purely imagination and creativity....duh...no money being made off this work and I am not affliated with George Lucas nor any of the Lucas co.'s. Enjoy my story!
Time Frame (of this story): sometime during Empire Strikes Back.
Authors Note: This story was inspired by the Bounty Hunters' Series and a special RPG campaign my friends and I set up recently.
* * *
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
STAR WARS: A GAMBLE OF THREE
The war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance rages on
but not without the dangerous involvement from neautral parties.
As the Empire works to consolidate its power over all worlds the
evil Emperor Palpatine finds that he needs to work with the vile
scum of the galaxy in order to tighten his grip around renegade
worlds. Using Prince Xizor as his pawn as well as the resources
of Black Sun, Palpatine begins the construction of the Second
Death Star.
Meanwhile a new threat arises from the Outer Rim one that has
the power to topple the power of Black Sun. A small and aloof
pirate group has grown in power and in sources and has begun
the plundering of heavily guarded Imperial Ship Yards. The enig-
matic Red Fyre Pirate Affiliation is now out for bigger game and
is taking full advantage of the Galactic Civil War.
Angered and wanting blood, Palpatine decides to take the
oppurtunity to introduce Prince Xizor to his own alien protege,
Grand Admiral Thrawn. But neither Thrawn nor Xizor have
any liking for each other. Now this is a competion for more
than just catching a Pirate Admiral, it is a contest for prestige
and power and the Emperor's favor.....
* * *
Chapter 1 - Introductions
The Emperor's throne room within Imperial Palace was unlike those found within the Star Destroyers or Sky Hooks. The cathedral walls rose up in opulent green marble and although the room still held a gloomy atmosphere Prince Xizor, owner of Xizor Transport Shipping (XTS) as well as secret leader of the crime organization Black Sun, was not perturbed by the way the Emperor attempted to make his subjects feel smaller than anything else.
Emperor Palpatine saw on his throne up the black steps of the dais. He was claoked in his usual black robes his old face, in which an expression of warning seened to be embossed, was shadowed by that dark cowl and his pale knobby hands clutched the arm rests of his throne. Now he leaned back on that chair, his small form fit comfortably in it though to Xizor it seemed that death would take him at any moment. 'Though not soon enough' he noted mentally. Behind the throne was a wide panoramic transparasteel window which gazed down at the metropolis world of Coruscant, now Imperial Center. The sun shone down upon it showing the bright technological details of oit's sky scrapers, institutions, buildings, and it was lively with ships and air busses moving in an organized fashion.
How bright that world seemed outside as compared to the dark somber atmosphere within one of Palpatine's many throne rooms, Xizor thought, What is it like to have so much power? He wondered, To rule worlds and to command a vast army? He guessed that Palpatine believed lives to be expendable as long as his will was done. Xizor also believed Palpatine thought him expendable as well.
"So good of you to come, Prince Xizor." Palpatine welcomed him though there was no welcome in his voice. Xizor bowed low putting on his act of humility.
"I come at your call, my master." Xizor replied smoothly. The Emperor gave no sign of acknowledgement but stood up from his throne his small black cloaked figure carrying an air of danger just as it always had. Palpatine remained at the top of the dais clasping his hands together and looking down at Xizor his yellow eyes boring into him as if trying to see something beyond. But Xizor never let anyone see anything beyond the constant act he put on to please others when he wished to.
"Of course," Palpatine rasped, "As always. I have called you here for a very important reason, Prince Xizor. It is of the matter of Red Fyre." He began. Xizor smiled inwardly. His sources had informed him that Red Fyre had begun pirating Imperial Ship Yards in the Coorperate Sector. How fitting, he thought smugly, that the Emperor would come to ask me for aid. Though Xizor did not believe that to full extent. He knew that the Emperor would loathe the help of anyone. The shriveled old man wanted glory for himself and didn't like sharing it with others.
Xizor straightened up his strong green figure that was rickly embellished with expensive robes. The Faleen Prince clasped his elongated fingers at the small of his back. Looking at the Emperor as if slightly suprised. "Red Fyre pirate Affiliation, my liege?" Xizor feined suprise, "I have heard of their exploits in the Outer Rim from my shipping captains, your highness."
"So you know as well as I do that they have the capabilities to be a threat to my project." Palpatine told him still looking down at Xizor. His stare would have been unsettling to any of his underligns but Xizor remained impassive. "They have gotten away with two of my destroyers in Bilbringi and I know very well they will come back for more." He walked over to the window and glanced out for a moment then looked back to the humanoid Prince, "I want them annihilated." He stated cruelly.
"And how may I be of aid to you, master?" Xizor offered patiently. Patience and oppurtunities would arise, that was an old adage he would never forget. Palpatine sat back down in his throne placing his cold hands back on the arm rests.
"Many of your sources have been useful to me." Palpatine told him, "Although there were some implications with your plans against the Bounty Hunters Guild and some other Hutt syndicates I have been somewhat impressed by your work. Since you hace connection with the scum of the Outer Rim I want you to discover a way to destroy Red Fyre completely but I want both of those star destroyers intact. Since you have your sources I have decided to let you work with one of my best Grand Admirals." Xizor heard the door behind him swoosh open and a blue skiined humanoid with glowing red eyes and blue black hair walked in and bowed.
"Your highness." The blue skinned creature intoned. And alien Grand Admiral!? Xizor was caught off guard by this, someone would pay for the lack of information on the Emperor's Grand Admirals.
"Prince Xizor, this is Grand Admiral Thrawn and he will be the one to capture Red Fyre with your help of course." Palpatine ordered.
"Your wish is mine, your highness." Xizor said looking at the humanoid with interest. iInce when does Palpatine have aliens in his human male dominated hierachy? This creature must have some gift of some sort, Xizor decided. Even so, he considered as he looked into the humanoid's red eyes, Thrawn was dangerous.
"Good. Grand Admiral Thrawn, I am sure you will have no problem working with Prince Xizor, he is one of my more...'important' subjects." Palpatine told Thrawn. Thrawn's stolid expression did not betray him.
"Yes, Emperor." The alien replied.
Again their gazes met and this time they held on to each other's for a moment longer as if in challenge.
Well, thought Xizor narrowing his eyes slightly at Thrawn, this will be interesting.
* * *
MORE TO COME