"Damage report gentlemen?" Thrawn demanded as his entire staff was gathered in the briefing room aboard the 'Inquisitor', only difference was that this time master Skywalker was present. The man's presence here was... troublesome to say the least, but he was confident not even the master of all Jedi could elude three thousand stormtroopers ready to barge in at his signal. His blue eyes seemed to hover on Thrawn alone - nothing new, he was looked upon as a criminal all the way through his career in the Navy, and in the later stages of his career in the Chiss Defense Force. Being a criminal in another's eyes was nothing new to him - especially when he knew he was right and they were wrong.
"Frigates 'Jayhawk' and 'Ariel' are out of comission, heavy repairs are in need." Naismith reported from his seat, barely a meter and a half tall in a grey uniform, he somehow seemed to expand beyond his body, his presence hovering in the room like a giant's.
"Twenty six TIE starfighters lost, heavy damage on the 'Champion' and the 'Colossus', nothing we cannot replace." Torroro confidently boomed.
"Seventy TIE starfighters lost in the initial wave, the lack of shields is a major drawback sire." the commander of the 'Shadowfox', captain Overholt, reported.
"I agree, if we can provide shielding to our starfighters it will severely improve their output, and cut down our losses, giving us more time to deliver more troops from Iridonia and Almania. We lost three detachments just in capturing the yammosk." Hotan added from his chair.
"I am aware of that gentlemen. The question of the day would be in my opinion, what are you doing here, master Skywalker?" Thrawn said, voicing the opinion of all present staff, with the exception of Lomeir who brought Skywalker here in the first place.
"Lomeir told me that you can help the Jedi. You know better then me admiral, that if the New Republic falls, the galaxy falls. Not even you can hold off the Yuuzhan Vong if they turn their full attention to your forces." Luke said, looking straight into Thrawn's eyes, and he saw, not for the first time in his life, a frightening convinction, and dedication to an old ideal, to avenge old friends long gone. Apparently Luke wasnt the only one growing too old for this.
"If they dont turn their full attention to us soon, they wont have anything to throw at us. Master Skywalker, with all due respect Im more then confident in the Admiral's capability of repelling the Yuuzhan Vong. What you saw today, is what Ive been seeing almost every day for the past week. On Iridonia, in the Cron Drift, in the Tion Cluster, and so on and on." the small figure of admiral Naismith nodded to Luke.
"I belive I see what master Skywalker is getting at." Thrawn interrupted before Luke could reply, and then continued when he was satisfied that all present were listening.
"I belive the phrase 'you scratch my back I scratch your back' would perfectly fit. Am I right, Skywalker?" Thrawn said as he eyed his old... adversary he could say, if what he read about the man's encounters with his clone were true, then he was more then capable of seeing the lines between.
"Yes admiral, absolutely. Help the New Republic, and we will help you." Luke said, the flesh around his eyes wrinkling as he smiled.
"The Empire does not waste its time on negotiations with the Rebellion. We shall assist the Jedi - merely because the Jedi might prove to be quite useful to the Empire in the long run. Now, moff Frey has informed me that Iridonia's Manufactured Arms has supplied us with thirty thousand heavy repeaters, and reported that they will will have another seventy thousand finished in a month." Thrawn cut him off.
Almost everybody in the room whistled in awe.
"Seventy thousand? In a month? The Zabrak are quite good workers it seems - and warriors." Hotan said, and to his friend, Lomeir accross the table.
"I concur. Master Skywalker, do you have anything to add?" Thrawn said as he fixed his gaze like a turbolaser on Skywalker.
"Yes admiral. The jedi might need assistance in a matter around Talfaglio." Luke said.
"You refer to the refugee convoy trapped there?" Cayel said, looking up from his datapad.
"Yes captain."
"What kind of assistance are we talking about?" Cayel continued.
"Completely up to you gentlemen."
"Our report confirms that there is at least four cruiser analogs, a warship analog, twenty frigates plus a skip carrier. That gives us two hundred coralskippers to deal with just from the carrier, not to mention that the larger wvessels have squadrons of their own."
"So you cant help us?" Luke asked, forseeing where this was going.
"On the contrary master Skywalker, the good captain was simply stating that we will need extra time to resupply our strike force and summon reinforcements. Admiral Naismith - Will you accompany me on this mission? As a servant of the Barrayaran Empire you do not exactly fall under my authority, as Im shure you realize."
"Indeed admiral. Tell me, do you belive that this assault fleet can be routed?" Naismith asked, looking straight into Thrawn's eyes.
"Is that a trick question admiral?" Thrawn said with a light smile.
"I thought so. Im in, and the Dendaari are at your command now, admiral. No questions asked." Naismith said with a curt bow, drawing a look of light suprise and amusement from Thrawn.
"Very well. Captain, what is the status of the two Imperial Star Destroyers you informed me of?"
"Nearly finished sir, Moff Frey indicated that they would be finished within a day."
"Alright, master Skywalker how much time do we have until the Jedi attack?" Thrawn said as he rose from his chair, causing all in the room to quickly get on their feet.
"About a week." Cayel replied while pocketing the datapad.
"Splendid. Captain, begin conducting extensive repairs. I want all counted for Star Destroyers in the system to be operational within a week, and ready to depart for Talfaglio on master Skywalkers mark." Thrawn said and extended a hand to Luke, who accepted it without reservation.
"Frigates 'Jayhawk' and 'Ariel' are out of comission, heavy repairs are in need." Naismith reported from his seat, barely a meter and a half tall in a grey uniform, he somehow seemed to expand beyond his body, his presence hovering in the room like a giant's.
"Twenty six TIE starfighters lost, heavy damage on the 'Champion' and the 'Colossus', nothing we cannot replace." Torroro confidently boomed.
"Seventy TIE starfighters lost in the initial wave, the lack of shields is a major drawback sire." the commander of the 'Shadowfox', captain Overholt, reported.
"I agree, if we can provide shielding to our starfighters it will severely improve their output, and cut down our losses, giving us more time to deliver more troops from Iridonia and Almania. We lost three detachments just in capturing the yammosk." Hotan added from his chair.
"I am aware of that gentlemen. The question of the day would be in my opinion, what are you doing here, master Skywalker?" Thrawn said, voicing the opinion of all present staff, with the exception of Lomeir who brought Skywalker here in the first place.
"Lomeir told me that you can help the Jedi. You know better then me admiral, that if the New Republic falls, the galaxy falls. Not even you can hold off the Yuuzhan Vong if they turn their full attention to your forces." Luke said, looking straight into Thrawn's eyes, and he saw, not for the first time in his life, a frightening convinction, and dedication to an old ideal, to avenge old friends long gone. Apparently Luke wasnt the only one growing too old for this.
"If they dont turn their full attention to us soon, they wont have anything to throw at us. Master Skywalker, with all due respect Im more then confident in the Admiral's capability of repelling the Yuuzhan Vong. What you saw today, is what Ive been seeing almost every day for the past week. On Iridonia, in the Cron Drift, in the Tion Cluster, and so on and on." the small figure of admiral Naismith nodded to Luke.
"I belive I see what master Skywalker is getting at." Thrawn interrupted before Luke could reply, and then continued when he was satisfied that all present were listening.
"I belive the phrase 'you scratch my back I scratch your back' would perfectly fit. Am I right, Skywalker?" Thrawn said as he eyed his old... adversary he could say, if what he read about the man's encounters with his clone were true, then he was more then capable of seeing the lines between.
"Yes admiral, absolutely. Help the New Republic, and we will help you." Luke said, the flesh around his eyes wrinkling as he smiled.
"The Empire does not waste its time on negotiations with the Rebellion. We shall assist the Jedi - merely because the Jedi might prove to be quite useful to the Empire in the long run. Now, moff Frey has informed me that Iridonia's Manufactured Arms has supplied us with thirty thousand heavy repeaters, and reported that they will will have another seventy thousand finished in a month." Thrawn cut him off.
Almost everybody in the room whistled in awe.
"Seventy thousand? In a month? The Zabrak are quite good workers it seems - and warriors." Hotan said, and to his friend, Lomeir accross the table.
"I concur. Master Skywalker, do you have anything to add?" Thrawn said as he fixed his gaze like a turbolaser on Skywalker.
"Yes admiral. The jedi might need assistance in a matter around Talfaglio." Luke said.
"You refer to the refugee convoy trapped there?" Cayel said, looking up from his datapad.
"Yes captain."
"What kind of assistance are we talking about?" Cayel continued.
"Completely up to you gentlemen."
"Our report confirms that there is at least four cruiser analogs, a warship analog, twenty frigates plus a skip carrier. That gives us two hundred coralskippers to deal with just from the carrier, not to mention that the larger wvessels have squadrons of their own."
"So you cant help us?" Luke asked, forseeing where this was going.
"On the contrary master Skywalker, the good captain was simply stating that we will need extra time to resupply our strike force and summon reinforcements. Admiral Naismith - Will you accompany me on this mission? As a servant of the Barrayaran Empire you do not exactly fall under my authority, as Im shure you realize."
"Indeed admiral. Tell me, do you belive that this assault fleet can be routed?" Naismith asked, looking straight into Thrawn's eyes.
"Is that a trick question admiral?" Thrawn said with a light smile.
"I thought so. Im in, and the Dendaari are at your command now, admiral. No questions asked." Naismith said with a curt bow, drawing a look of light suprise and amusement from Thrawn.
"Very well. Captain, what is the status of the two Imperial Star Destroyers you informed me of?"
"Nearly finished sir, Moff Frey indicated that they would be finished within a day."
"Alright, master Skywalker how much time do we have until the Jedi attack?" Thrawn said as he rose from his chair, causing all in the room to quickly get on their feet.
"About a week." Cayel replied while pocketing the datapad.
"Splendid. Captain, begin conducting extensive repairs. I want all counted for Star Destroyers in the system to be operational within a week, and ready to depart for Talfaglio on master Skywalkers mark." Thrawn said and extended a hand to Luke, who accepted it without reservation.
