Thrawn watched Gallear advancing torward the exit of his chambers for a moment, then shifted his attention to the upcoming meeting. Things were strained to say the least. What they needed was battles and planets to liberate in the name of the Empire. He fired up the holomap and started his search, then thought better of it and raised from his command chair. He streched slowly, and walked torward the doors to his quaters, they opened with a hiss, opening the bridge to his view. He strode torward the front viewpoints, all conversations stopped as he walked over the bridge above the crew pits, many pairs of eyes looked up to him, instead of cowering in fear before his passing. It has begun. He came near the viewpoint and the main command chair, clasped his hands behind the small of his back, and gazed outside. Beneath him was Almania, the landing shuttles going up and down transporting clones on their way down, and transporting supplies and prefab shelters on their way up. Orbiting the planet, the assault frigate 'Ariel' and its captain Fletchir Degtir waited for the convoy to finish unloading their clone cargo, and loading their aid to the Zabrak on Iridonia. Slowly, a shuttle exited the 'Ariel's hangar, gracefully spread its wings, and started accelerating torward the 'Reaper'. Imperial presence in Almania's sector decreased considerably after their newly aquired ship, the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer 'Stormlord' left for Iridonia, and after the Carrack-class cruiser 'Corolev' left to the Rim to preform its propaganda& ship aquiry mission. In the distance, a fizzle passed through space. A brief fizzle, which was abruptly ended by two Victory-class Star Destroyers exiting hyperspace. Half a nano-second later, which streched like eternity, the sensor officer from the crew pit barked out:
"Two Victory-class Star Destroyers exiting hyperspace in AL-103 sector, identification is... 'Fearbringer' and 'Iron Fist' sir." the officer visibly relaxed at his post.
"Communications, hail them." Thrawn said. He could hear the soft sound of Captain Cayel's footsteps approaching him.
"Trouble sir?"
"No captain, Admiral Torroro has returned. In style." Thrawn allowed a small smile to spoil his otherwise cold and emotionless fasade.
"Sir, we are recieving a transmission from the 'Fearbringer'." the communication officer said.
"On screen ensign." Cayel automatically said. Infront of Thrawn, a holoprojection started, showing a man built like an ancient wrestler with bullet-like head. Admiral Torroro.
"Greetings son, anything interesting happening while I was away?" Torroro boomed with a good dose of pleased lazyness.
"Ahh, admiral. I see you aquired a Star Destroyer. Impressive. That brings our total of Star Destroyers to four." Thrawn allowed a smile to the older man. Even though he was older then Torroro in total years, he couldnt really count that period he spent in suspended animation is valid, so he was once again 40 years old.
"Four? Not bad son, not bad. Kessel has happily accepted to be counted among Imperial worlds. I left the 'Dark Eye' to maintain a presence there, and I sent the 'Iron Heart' to escort the two corvettes captured at Kessel to Iridonia. Might I suggest that we start deploying forces to planet protection?" Torroro asked.
"Indeed Admiral, we will discuss that once you come aboard the 'Reaper', we are having a Fleet staff meeting. Captains Degtir and Frey have already arrived, we are only waiting for you to start the meeting." Thrawn said back, and granted Torroro one of his eye flashes.
"Very well son, I'll be there in a hip." Torroro said back and closed the connection.
Thrawn paused for a few minutes infront of the viewpoint, gazing outside, but Cayel was not shure if Thrawn's mind eye was seeing the Star Destroyers and the shuttle exiting the hangar. With a sigh, Thrawn turned around and marched torward the turbolift, casually motioning with two fingers over his shoulder to Cayel. Cayel sighed, and followed.
The door slid open, and Grand Admiral Thrawn strode inside the room, seated around the table, admiral Torroro and captains Frey and Degtir rose to their feet respectfully. Thrawn, followed by Cayel, made his way to the head of the table, while Cayel seated himself near Torroro.
"Greetings gentlemen. I assume you have reports on your missions?" Thrawn started.
"Yes sir." The three officers replied in unison.
"Admiral Torroro, you start first." Thrawn said.
"As you wish sir. My group encountered severe resistance on Kessel, a Victory-class Star Destroyer and two corvette's. We captured them, not without taking a few hits ourselves, and within a few hours Kessel surrendered. I have sent the 'Iron Heart' to escort the two corvettes to Iridonia, and 'Dark Eye' remained at Kessel to keep an eye on things. I brought the Victory-class Star Destroyer here. Mission was a full success." Torroro finished quickly, apparently satisfied with his doing.
"Captain Degtir your sensor officer mentioned some strange scans. Anything to add to your report?" Thrawn inquired.
"Yes mylord. First, I will inform you of the proceedings with the clone transport. So far, our transport rate is 1,000 clones per run, 40 prefab shelters, and 10,000 military rations per return to Iridonia. On our last run, we picked up strange scans from the area of hyperspace distortion on the edge of the galaxy, something which seemed like a wormhole opening. Before we re-entered hyperspace, I belive that we picked up warships on our sensors, but we cant be shure." Thrawn slightly straightened up in his seat.
"Very well. Captain Frey?" Thrawn continued.
"Yes sire. Things on Iridonia are going smoothly, we will soon have shelters for all the Zabrak population, and the rations we supplied have helped greatly. Iridonia's economy will soon be producing at full capacity." Frey finished his report.
"Very well gentlemen. I belive there are some... things I need to explain to you." Thrawn said.
"Yes sir." they said in unison.
"I am not the Thrawn you knew, the Thrawn you followed at Bibirlingi." Thrawn cooly said. *There. All done. How soon before they space me?* he thought. The tension in the room jumped to astral heights.
"But... but..." Cayel started, but the words died in his throat. Torroro was growing... paler. Degtir and Frey followed his example.
"But how? Allow me to explain, captain." Thrawn continued.
"Please do sir." Cayel gulped.
"I am not the Thrawn that died at Bibirlingi, correct, but I am neither a clone." he said.
"How then?" Torroro said bleakly.
"The story goes back a long time ago, in the time of the Outbound Flight, after I was exiled to Nirauan, and when Voss Parck found me and brought me before the Emperor. The Emperor foresaw the end of the Empire, a bit cloudly though. Therefore, I agreed to be cloned and be put into suspended animation, so that I may rise again and lead the Empire to its deserved glory. A few months ago, the computer revived me from suspended animation, on Valonar IV." Thrawn finished, and leaned back.
"So how did you find out about all that happened since you went in suspended animation... sir?" Cayel said, the color returning to his cheeks. As to Torroro's.
"The computer was programmed to accumulate records of events, when I awoke, I discovered that it intercepted quite a few Imperial transmissions." Thrawn answered.
"Grand Admiral, I... I appriciate that you told us the truth. Since we met at Hoth, you proved to me, and to others," , Torroro accompanied this with a wave that took in the officers at the table, "that you deserve to lead the Empire. I personally think that your clone that beated the New Republic to its knees was a pale imitation of yourself. Grand Admiral, I will be happy to serve in your Empire." Torroro finished.
"Agreed." Frey and Degtir said.
"Thank you gentlemen. Captain?" Thrawn turned his gaze to Cayel.
"Damn sir, at least you have been honest and upfront about it. Count me in, for the glory of the Empire." Cayel said.
"Indeed captain, for the glory of the Empire." Thrawn said, and rose from his chair.
"Gentlemen, please accompany me to the bridge. We have a wormhole to investigate." he said and went torward the door.
* * *
"Ahh, there you are my Lord Auditor coz." a tall, attractive officer wearing Ops captain tags, strode inside.
"Yes Ivan?" Miles responded his voice a shade below subtle annoyance.
"Long-range sensors reported ships about twenty lightyears away from our position, after that they dissapeared from our sensors." he said.
"Ships? Here? This was supposed to be a destination without planets, let alone ships. Exactly why noone guarded its exit on Komarr." Miles said thoughtfully.
"Yep. Really ruins your plans for a honey moon with Kat." Ivan sighed.
"One questions what are you doing here Ivan. The whole thing gives a scent of conspiracy." Miles mused.
"Maternal conspiracy, yes. Ma' is getting heated up wanting to settle my life too after she finally settled Gregors." Ivan said.
"So thats why you reported for ship duty. Couldnt you just request some embassay duty, like on Earth or someplace far far away from your Vor flower your mother wants to ruthlessly force into marriage with you?" Miles asked.
"No." Ivan said.
"Why?"
"Someone has to gossip about your honey moon after all."
"I'll keep it in mind to search mine and Ekaterin's room for hidden camera's and listening devices before we hit the sheets." Miles said dryly. Ivan gave him a sneer.
He and Ekaterin were wrestled from their sleep by a loud banging was coming from the door. Ivan's voice flew to them:
"Miles, open up, we got problems!" Ivan's voice was shaky.
"Ivan you idiot..." Miles started in a sleepy voice, but was cut off by Ivan:
"DONT even start it, get dressed and draw your Auditor ass to the bridge, we got company."
Completly awake and mumbling things about cousins running from ImpSec guards carrying plasma arcs, his hand went for his pants and shirt, and within three minutes he was fully dressed with his comb doing strafing runs on his hair supported by his hand. Half a minute later, he exited his room leaving Ekaterin dressing up herself. Ivan was nowhere to be seen. The alarm started howling, and Miles quickened his step to the bridge.
He entered the bridge which was bustling with frenzied and, like Miles, sleepy officers.
"Whats going on Ivan?" He barked at his cousin.
"Unindentified warships just appeared on our sensors. Distance about four clicks, they are approaching us from behind." Ivan replied, not taking his eye off the tactical display.
"How soon until we get visual?" Miles asked.
"About a few seconds sir." a lieutenant replied from his post.
"Very well." Miles said.
The starfield outside of their viewport was rotating to the starboard side of the bridge, and soon enough, two arrow-headed ships came to view, flanking a much smaller ship, which looked like a rod with two extensions at the top in a ninety degrees angle.
"Look at the size of those things..." Ivan whistled.
"Almost as big as the 'Prince Serg'." Miles agreed.
"Sir, they are hailing us." the ensign with the greekie accent said.
"Alright, open channel." Miles said, subconciously shifting to a mode he hasnt used in a long time. He relaxed, his face changed to a poker-faced expression. Ivan raised his eyebrows in suprise, but before he could speak, the screen infront of them was filled with a nightmare. A man with fiery red eyes, pale blue skin, blue-black hair, and a spotless white uniform of unknown rank filled the screen.
"Attention unknown vessels! I am Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Navy aboard the 'Reaper', identify yourselves or be destroyed!" the freak in white boomed, with an extreme amount of venom in his voice.
"This is Imperial Auditor lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan of the Barrayaran Imperium aboard the," Miles paused frantically searching for an appropriate name in his head, "aboard the Triumph II" he finished with dignity.
"Barrayaran Imperium? Im afraid I never heard of a goverment under that name." the man gently raised his eyebrows.
"Now that you mention it, I havent heard of a goverment called Imperial Navy before." Ivan added from the side.
"The Imperial Navy is a military section of the Galactic Empire." Thrawn explained.
"Ah." Miles responded thoughtfully. Could it be arrogance that drove these people to name themselves as Galactic Empire?
"Well lord auditor, might I propose a meeting? There are a few... interesting details about your ship my technicians are interesting. If you dont kind, we will meet aboard the 'Fearbringer', Admiral Torroro's ship has the most appropriate meeting room, and is well equiped for any... difficulties we might encounter." Thrawn said sweetly.
Yea right. If we dont act like good guests, they will blow us out of the sky, Miles thought, but said differently.
"Very well, our delegation will be there shortly." he responded.
"I will await you." Thrawn's emotionless face noddded an elegant bow, as he dissapeared from the screen.
"Alright Miles, say it." Ivan said.
"Say what?"
"That you need me to accompany you in the delegation aboard this, this, Fearbringer vessel."
"Why Ivan, I meant to go myself. But when youre offering, ofcourse you can accompany me."
"We are gonna be sorry for this, I just know it." Ivan finished as he and Miles went for the shuttle bay.
Moments later, their shuttle was slicing through space like knife through butter, torwards the looming dread in from of a giant arrow-head shaped vessel.
"Two Victory-class Star Destroyers exiting hyperspace in AL-103 sector, identification is... 'Fearbringer' and 'Iron Fist' sir." the officer visibly relaxed at his post.
"Communications, hail them." Thrawn said. He could hear the soft sound of Captain Cayel's footsteps approaching him.
"Trouble sir?"
"No captain, Admiral Torroro has returned. In style." Thrawn allowed a small smile to spoil his otherwise cold and emotionless fasade.
"Sir, we are recieving a transmission from the 'Fearbringer'." the communication officer said.
"On screen ensign." Cayel automatically said. Infront of Thrawn, a holoprojection started, showing a man built like an ancient wrestler with bullet-like head. Admiral Torroro.
"Greetings son, anything interesting happening while I was away?" Torroro boomed with a good dose of pleased lazyness.
"Ahh, admiral. I see you aquired a Star Destroyer. Impressive. That brings our total of Star Destroyers to four." Thrawn allowed a smile to the older man. Even though he was older then Torroro in total years, he couldnt really count that period he spent in suspended animation is valid, so he was once again 40 years old.
"Four? Not bad son, not bad. Kessel has happily accepted to be counted among Imperial worlds. I left the 'Dark Eye' to maintain a presence there, and I sent the 'Iron Heart' to escort the two corvettes captured at Kessel to Iridonia. Might I suggest that we start deploying forces to planet protection?" Torroro asked.
"Indeed Admiral, we will discuss that once you come aboard the 'Reaper', we are having a Fleet staff meeting. Captains Degtir and Frey have already arrived, we are only waiting for you to start the meeting." Thrawn said back, and granted Torroro one of his eye flashes.
"Very well son, I'll be there in a hip." Torroro said back and closed the connection.
Thrawn paused for a few minutes infront of the viewpoint, gazing outside, but Cayel was not shure if Thrawn's mind eye was seeing the Star Destroyers and the shuttle exiting the hangar. With a sigh, Thrawn turned around and marched torward the turbolift, casually motioning with two fingers over his shoulder to Cayel. Cayel sighed, and followed.
The door slid open, and Grand Admiral Thrawn strode inside the room, seated around the table, admiral Torroro and captains Frey and Degtir rose to their feet respectfully. Thrawn, followed by Cayel, made his way to the head of the table, while Cayel seated himself near Torroro.
"Greetings gentlemen. I assume you have reports on your missions?" Thrawn started.
"Yes sir." The three officers replied in unison.
"Admiral Torroro, you start first." Thrawn said.
"As you wish sir. My group encountered severe resistance on Kessel, a Victory-class Star Destroyer and two corvette's. We captured them, not without taking a few hits ourselves, and within a few hours Kessel surrendered. I have sent the 'Iron Heart' to escort the two corvettes to Iridonia, and 'Dark Eye' remained at Kessel to keep an eye on things. I brought the Victory-class Star Destroyer here. Mission was a full success." Torroro finished quickly, apparently satisfied with his doing.
"Captain Degtir your sensor officer mentioned some strange scans. Anything to add to your report?" Thrawn inquired.
"Yes mylord. First, I will inform you of the proceedings with the clone transport. So far, our transport rate is 1,000 clones per run, 40 prefab shelters, and 10,000 military rations per return to Iridonia. On our last run, we picked up strange scans from the area of hyperspace distortion on the edge of the galaxy, something which seemed like a wormhole opening. Before we re-entered hyperspace, I belive that we picked up warships on our sensors, but we cant be shure." Thrawn slightly straightened up in his seat.
"Very well. Captain Frey?" Thrawn continued.
"Yes sire. Things on Iridonia are going smoothly, we will soon have shelters for all the Zabrak population, and the rations we supplied have helped greatly. Iridonia's economy will soon be producing at full capacity." Frey finished his report.
"Very well gentlemen. I belive there are some... things I need to explain to you." Thrawn said.
"Yes sir." they said in unison.
"I am not the Thrawn you knew, the Thrawn you followed at Bibirlingi." Thrawn cooly said. *There. All done. How soon before they space me?* he thought. The tension in the room jumped to astral heights.
"But... but..." Cayel started, but the words died in his throat. Torroro was growing... paler. Degtir and Frey followed his example.
"But how? Allow me to explain, captain." Thrawn continued.
"Please do sir." Cayel gulped.
"I am not the Thrawn that died at Bibirlingi, correct, but I am neither a clone." he said.
"How then?" Torroro said bleakly.
"The story goes back a long time ago, in the time of the Outbound Flight, after I was exiled to Nirauan, and when Voss Parck found me and brought me before the Emperor. The Emperor foresaw the end of the Empire, a bit cloudly though. Therefore, I agreed to be cloned and be put into suspended animation, so that I may rise again and lead the Empire to its deserved glory. A few months ago, the computer revived me from suspended animation, on Valonar IV." Thrawn finished, and leaned back.
"So how did you find out about all that happened since you went in suspended animation... sir?" Cayel said, the color returning to his cheeks. As to Torroro's.
"The computer was programmed to accumulate records of events, when I awoke, I discovered that it intercepted quite a few Imperial transmissions." Thrawn answered.
"Grand Admiral, I... I appriciate that you told us the truth. Since we met at Hoth, you proved to me, and to others," , Torroro accompanied this with a wave that took in the officers at the table, "that you deserve to lead the Empire. I personally think that your clone that beated the New Republic to its knees was a pale imitation of yourself. Grand Admiral, I will be happy to serve in your Empire." Torroro finished.
"Agreed." Frey and Degtir said.
"Thank you gentlemen. Captain?" Thrawn turned his gaze to Cayel.
"Damn sir, at least you have been honest and upfront about it. Count me in, for the glory of the Empire." Cayel said.
"Indeed captain, for the glory of the Empire." Thrawn said, and rose from his chair.
"Gentlemen, please accompany me to the bridge. We have a wormhole to investigate." he said and went torward the door.
* * *
"Ahh, there you are my Lord Auditor coz." a tall, attractive officer wearing Ops captain tags, strode inside.
"Yes Ivan?" Miles responded his voice a shade below subtle annoyance.
"Long-range sensors reported ships about twenty lightyears away from our position, after that they dissapeared from our sensors." he said.
"Ships? Here? This was supposed to be a destination without planets, let alone ships. Exactly why noone guarded its exit on Komarr." Miles said thoughtfully.
"Yep. Really ruins your plans for a honey moon with Kat." Ivan sighed.
"One questions what are you doing here Ivan. The whole thing gives a scent of conspiracy." Miles mused.
"Maternal conspiracy, yes. Ma' is getting heated up wanting to settle my life too after she finally settled Gregors." Ivan said.
"So thats why you reported for ship duty. Couldnt you just request some embassay duty, like on Earth or someplace far far away from your Vor flower your mother wants to ruthlessly force into marriage with you?" Miles asked.
"No." Ivan said.
"Why?"
"Someone has to gossip about your honey moon after all."
"I'll keep it in mind to search mine and Ekaterin's room for hidden camera's and listening devices before we hit the sheets." Miles said dryly. Ivan gave him a sneer.
He and Ekaterin were wrestled from their sleep by a loud banging was coming from the door. Ivan's voice flew to them:
"Miles, open up, we got problems!" Ivan's voice was shaky.
"Ivan you idiot..." Miles started in a sleepy voice, but was cut off by Ivan:
"DONT even start it, get dressed and draw your Auditor ass to the bridge, we got company."
Completly awake and mumbling things about cousins running from ImpSec guards carrying plasma arcs, his hand went for his pants and shirt, and within three minutes he was fully dressed with his comb doing strafing runs on his hair supported by his hand. Half a minute later, he exited his room leaving Ekaterin dressing up herself. Ivan was nowhere to be seen. The alarm started howling, and Miles quickened his step to the bridge.
He entered the bridge which was bustling with frenzied and, like Miles, sleepy officers.
"Whats going on Ivan?" He barked at his cousin.
"Unindentified warships just appeared on our sensors. Distance about four clicks, they are approaching us from behind." Ivan replied, not taking his eye off the tactical display.
"How soon until we get visual?" Miles asked.
"About a few seconds sir." a lieutenant replied from his post.
"Very well." Miles said.
The starfield outside of their viewport was rotating to the starboard side of the bridge, and soon enough, two arrow-headed ships came to view, flanking a much smaller ship, which looked like a rod with two extensions at the top in a ninety degrees angle.
"Look at the size of those things..." Ivan whistled.
"Almost as big as the 'Prince Serg'." Miles agreed.
"Sir, they are hailing us." the ensign with the greekie accent said.
"Alright, open channel." Miles said, subconciously shifting to a mode he hasnt used in a long time. He relaxed, his face changed to a poker-faced expression. Ivan raised his eyebrows in suprise, but before he could speak, the screen infront of them was filled with a nightmare. A man with fiery red eyes, pale blue skin, blue-black hair, and a spotless white uniform of unknown rank filled the screen.
"Attention unknown vessels! I am Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Navy aboard the 'Reaper', identify yourselves or be destroyed!" the freak in white boomed, with an extreme amount of venom in his voice.
"This is Imperial Auditor lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan of the Barrayaran Imperium aboard the," Miles paused frantically searching for an appropriate name in his head, "aboard the Triumph II" he finished with dignity.
"Barrayaran Imperium? Im afraid I never heard of a goverment under that name." the man gently raised his eyebrows.
"Now that you mention it, I havent heard of a goverment called Imperial Navy before." Ivan added from the side.
"The Imperial Navy is a military section of the Galactic Empire." Thrawn explained.
"Ah." Miles responded thoughtfully. Could it be arrogance that drove these people to name themselves as Galactic Empire?
"Well lord auditor, might I propose a meeting? There are a few... interesting details about your ship my technicians are interesting. If you dont kind, we will meet aboard the 'Fearbringer', Admiral Torroro's ship has the most appropriate meeting room, and is well equiped for any... difficulties we might encounter." Thrawn said sweetly.
Yea right. If we dont act like good guests, they will blow us out of the sky, Miles thought, but said differently.
"Very well, our delegation will be there shortly." he responded.
"I will await you." Thrawn's emotionless face noddded an elegant bow, as he dissapeared from the screen.
"Alright Miles, say it." Ivan said.
"Say what?"
"That you need me to accompany you in the delegation aboard this, this, Fearbringer vessel."
"Why Ivan, I meant to go myself. But when youre offering, ofcourse you can accompany me."
"We are gonna be sorry for this, I just know it." Ivan finished as he and Miles went for the shuttle bay.
Moments later, their shuttle was slicing through space like knife through butter, torwards the looming dread in from of a giant arrow-head shaped vessel.
