Chapter Five

A Meeting of Leaders

Kalvnik shifted his weight across two feet, struggling with rising impatience. He and his crew had been stashed away on a Chiss ship for at least several hours, and no attempts to contact the Eclipse had ended in success. He suspected it was something about the ship. Not that asking about it had done any good. Either something was getting lost in translation, or the Chiss wanted them to be cut off from everyone else.

He liked to believe if the Chiss were going to kill them, they would have done so already. Or at the very least, left them with the diseased of their kind. According to them, anyone whose body was touched by the disease had no chance of recovery. Mnggal-Mnggal would take control of you even as it caused your insides to rot, forcing you to attack your own kind until there was nothing left but decay. And from the way the Chiss talked, the disease wasn't native to Csilla, but brought back by soldiers after a failed conquest. Judging by what AP-9 had translated, it was as though they believed it was everywhere.

This information was helpful, and the Grand Admiral deserved to know it right away. Kalvnik and his team would have to try again when they got off the ship. But for now, they were trapped.

"If you organics are done with your pointless sulking, I have news about where we're being taken."

"Spill," Grey spoke before Kalvnik had the chance.

"They are bringing us to their governing body, the Aristocra, who saw us the same time we saw their battle. This scouting party does not know what their rulers will do with us, but they seem to believe we'll be sent away."

That did them no good. They'd come here with the hopes of finding more than just bad news. It had been their hope that the Chiss could trade with them for resources (or at the very least, that they could be stolen from easily). The Empire knew the Chiss were too tough, and their Imperial resources too limited, to try and subjugate them, but this disease seemed to have severely weakened the supposedly proud Chiss, and with good reason.

Kalvnik could only imagine what being infected must be like. He would do whatever it took to keep him and his men from succumbing to such a fate.

"Do we have a choice in the matter?" he finally asked.

If a droid could roll their eyes, he had a feeling AP-9 would have. "Does it look like we do?"

"I merely think the Grand Admiral should be informed of what's happening, here. Perhaps she would want to meet the Chiss governing body herself, and negotiate with them about what can be done here. We weren't sent here to handle such matters."

"And we'll tell the Grand Admiral that the second we're off this ship," Grey assured him. "You heard what our navigator said: don't be surprised if she's on the line the next time we call. After everything, I'd think she wants some answers from us."


"What are you doing down there? I demand answers," Sloane shouted into her comm link the second a connection was established. "Last we saw, you were fighting Chiss, and running off with more. Start there, Lieutenant."

"The Chiss we were fighting were diseased, Grand Admiral. Csilla is struggling with a plague that causes its victims to become aggressive as they die. The plague isn't native to the planet, but the Chiss are convinced it's everywhere in this sector of space. Had the scouting party not taken us in their ship, we probably wouldn't have been able to fight the sick Chiss off." Kalvnik's report was muffled, but direct. Was he not alone while reporting? "But right now, they're taking us to their governing body. The scouts are saying they have no idea what will happen to us. We're set to appear before them at any minute."

A plague? The impression Sloane had of the conflict had been civil war at first, simply because they hadn't seen any spacecraft or other sentients besides Chiss. This would explain the corpses Kalvnik's crew had discovered.

This was dangerous. The scientists weren't done with their preliminary analysis yet, so she had no idea if the Chiss plague could harm humans. If it could, they were in serious trouble. They had barely survived war. She wasn't about to let the last vestiges of the Empire fall to disease on her watch. They had to get ahead of the issue before it got out of hand. Or anyone else found out about it.

But they couldn't just leave Csilla now. They still needed resources, and planetary scans had indicated large reserves of oil on the planet. They weren't likely to get much food from the ice planet, plague or no, but they needed that fuel. If Sloane could sit down with this governing body and get their soldiers back, maybe she could also get her hands on what the Empire needed to keep going.

"I'm coming down there. We will track your location and meet with this governing body. Your mission, as it stands, is nearly complete. Once you are aboard the Eclipse, debrief with Vice Admiral Canady. Leave AP-9 with me."

"Yes, Grand Admiral. We look forward to your arrival. We-" the lieutenant was cut off by shouting. No way those words were Basic. "-have to go."

Sloane stood right away, ready to call for a guard when Brendol Hux stopped her in her tracks. "How long have you been here?"

"This fine scientist was waiting to tell you of his discoveries while you were on the comm link. We were… conversing." As usual, Brendol's response gave Sloane nothing but a rise out of her. For the first time, her eyes landed on the unassuming middle-aged man in a labcoat.

"Josef Sieve, Grand Admiral," the scientist offered by way of introduction. He held his hand out to shake, which Sloane squeezed, making him wince. She really defined poised aggression nowadays.

"You weren't thinking of going down to Csilla's surface by yourself, now were you?" Brendol had an agenda in mind with these questions. Sloane could sense it.

She refused to play into it. "Of course not. That would be nonsense. I will naturally be taking a guard along. A grown one."

The redhead chuckled. "That's not what I was after. Are you sure you should be speaking for all Imperials in front of foreign governments, Grand Admiral?"

"Am I not the leader most qualified for the position, Hux?" Surely he wasn't implying he should be brought along for the trip.

"It's just that… some individuals on this ship would be more comfortable if the Empire remained more just than a military organization. I was discussing the matter with some civilians of former prominence-" Those merchants from earlier, Sloane thought. "-and they haven't been comfortable with your leadership thus far."

"And just what are you implying? Why would a military man be concerned about a lack of civilian leadership?"

"Oh, I'm not. I just figured you would want threats of mutiny to be the last thing on your mind at this critical juncture."

The nerve of this Hux! Whatever his game was, Sloane wasn't about to play. She did not have time for this. "Who said there was any concern about mutiny on this ship?"

"No one. I just think some people would be comforted by the inclusion of non-military officials in decisions and talks going forward." From that statement on, Sloane came to the conclusion that this wasn't about Brendol. No doubt he received some form of benefit from the situation, but really, he was just here to jockey for somebody.

And Sloane was determined to subvert him. She wasn't about to let anyone get away with questioning her leadership. ...But she also wasn't about to project an image of outrage or insecurity. That would only make the prophecy self-fulfilling.

So Sloane pretended to consider his request, though she was determined to circumvent the core of it. "What sort of civilian would have any interest in visiting a potentially hostile alien planet in unknown space?" She wanted him to name his nominee so they could get to the heart of this matter.

"...well, the scientists would," Sieve spoke out, interrupting Sloane and Brendol's banter. The small man's presence was so unassuming, Sloane had almost forgotten he was there.

So had Brendol, it seemed. He shook his head. "You researchers and your need for discoveries. I admire it, but I would never do it."

It was in that moment a thought occurred to the grand admiral. This was perfect. "Fine. If the non-soldiers of our ship are feeling idle enough to consider suicide, I will implement tasks beyond what their current roles entail to ensure they keep their minds occupied. I will start by inviting our Imperial researchers on a first person tour of Csilla. We can go together to collect different types of information."

Brendol didn't look as surprised as Sloane had been hoping for, but he always had a good poker face. "Well. Whatever you insist, Grand Admiral."

Sieve looked positively giddy at the prospect. "Oh, no doubt my colleagues are far too fearful. Our initial studies pose a grim analysis, indeed. But how will our knowledge ever advance without those who are poised to take risks, hm? How will Imperial technology remain light years ahead of all others if we-"

"Agreed." She hoped she didn't regret her choice. "I will discuss new jobs for some of the ship's occupants at a later time. Until then, Mr. Sieve will come with me."

Sloane walked with purpose towards the designated soldiers' barracks, intent on picking a guard. She was so confident in what she just did that she missed the look shared behind her.


Arin stared blankly into the eyes of the dark female human before her. Even without a language barrier between them, there was no way the Chiss were comprehending what was being said.

Sure, there were parts that made sense. "I am the Empire leader", "Thank you for returning my soldiers", and "Your disease be very frightening". But after that, when the white suited woman began asking for oil? Had she not been listening to anything the Aristocra had said? Could she not understand them, as they could not her?

Arin had heard the scouting party's report. She knew Kenitt personally. She even agreed with him about the potential that these humans presented to the Ascendancy as an organization… if they could shake off the chains of resignation. Arin was more hopeful than anyone in that regard. But working with the humans required a mutual understanding, and it was that very task that was proving difficult.

Her father repeated himself, simplifying his language for the occasion. "We have no oil for you. We need ours. Mnggal Mnggal has the rest."

The machine companion turned to the woman calling herself Ra'slone, translating what Arin's father had said into slow, drawn out syllables. Ra'slone snapped something back, shocking her male human companion. He too was dressed in white, though only with a thin outer cloth. Surrounding them were ten humans in white armor, their guns sleeker than anything Arin had seen before. The two central humans seemed to argue for a brief moment. The woman had the last word, however, so Arin guessed she had won.

The machine let out something akin to a sigh, then turned back to the Aristocra. "We will help you fight Mnggal Mnggal if you let us take oil from Csilla. Help us, and you will be our ally as we…" the machine trailed off, thinking. "As we take the galaxy for ourselves."

Outraged whispers took to the air as soon as the last words were said. Almost everyone in the Aristocra scoffed upon hearing the humans' request. "You pitiful humans will not take the galaxy. The Chiss are the galaxy's proudest warriors. We were stronger than your kind will ever be, and even we were brought to our knees. You too will go extinct, along with your Empire. That is our fate. It is your fate as well."

"That is not true!" Arin spoke up for the first time this meeting. "You saw what happened in our last battle! Fire works against Mnggal Mnggal! The Empire has ships. According to this leader, they have people. If we fought with allies, we could burn Mnggal Mnggal off the face of our planet."

"Ari'nitan'colgrana! It is not your place to speak." She was silenced immediately. "Only members of the counsel may address our guests directly."

Arin slumped in her chair, fuming. Why was she even here, then? Still, she listened from then on out.

"It is true your warriors are great," the machine was back to translating. This time, it held a sort of circular device in its hand. "We in the Empire once knew a Chiss. May you see… Mitth'raw'nuruodo."

A blue projection of a Chiss spouted from the circular device. When the Aristocra recognized who it was, their voices only became angrier.

"The traitor wears your clothing?! He abandoned us for your Empire, and for what? Where is he now?"

Arin, for her part, was fascinated by the image. She knew the story of Mitth'raw'nuruodo all too well. He had been a proud Chiss warrior who had set out searching for allies in the early days of Mnggal Mnggal's infection. But after going years without so much as contacting his home planet, and as conditions on Csilla continued to deteriorate, the Aristocra gave up hope for his return. They declared him a traitor who had fled their cause for safer skies.

Which is why Arin made sure she was listening when the machine continued to speak. "Thrawn served the Empire well, and wanted to return to Csilla one day. But he was caught up in a war of our own, and is believed to be dead in battle. It is his cause that we know your language, and that we are here. We believe you can fight as he did. He joined us. Will you not?"

"He abandoned us!" Several Chiss insisted. "He left to fight your battles while we faced our slow death."

Arin didn't quite agree. In a way, hadn't Thrawn done exactly what they'd wanted him to? Sure, he'd taken a long time, but better late than never. So long as the Chiss were not extinct, there was hope for their future. So long as the Chiss believed that, they could continue to fight on.

At its core, this was hope. A hope the Aristocra had forgotten how to see. But perhaps the Empire had not.

The Chiss female was beginning to like Ra'slone. But it was not Ra'slone who responded to their allegations, but the man. "Every disease has a cure, Chiss people. I will find it and study it and ensure it can infect no more."

For the first time in forever, the Aristocra laughed as one. "Mnggal Mnggal is more than a mere disease! It is a curse of the darkness, brought about by the magic of legend and the master who wields it."

"Tell me, dumb human: when is the last time you have seen a mere plague turn a whole planet to slime? When the Ascendancy first saw Mnggal Mnggal, it was on Mugg Fallow. Mugg Fallow was once a paradise. Now it is a sea of black."

"Go now, humans of Empire. We will hear no more of your boasts. Be grateful you may leave with your lives intact, and bother us no more."

Now Ra'slone was angry. She stepped in front of the machine, knocking the projection of Thrawn to the ground. Her words came loud, faster than the humans had spoken before. It was a struggle for her translating machine to keep up with what she was saying. "Dumb? You call us humans idiots, while you sit here ripe for hunting kill? Some strong warriors you are, if you will let an invader have your planet without so great as opposition. Would you rather die off than have hope? I have offered you a chance to burn your enemy away, all for oil in return.

"While you laugh and argue, your people die off. Being the last to die will not keep you Chiss from going extinct. You as government fails you. I am sorry to everyone ruled."

The man was stuttering, bumbling with words no Chiss could hear. He didn't seem to have any authority, so why was he here? That was one thing Arin did not understand.

Ra'slone did not wait for a response from the Aristocra. Instead, she turned her back to the congregation, guards circling them in tight formation as they marched out of the city center.

Just as Arin suspected, the Aristocra erupted into another round of chaos after the humans left. She used the disorder as cover to slip away to where the humans had gone.

Maybe Kenitt's friends were right, even if he himself was hesitant. Maybe it was time for the Aristocra to end, and for the survivors who wished to live to rebel. Before now, the idea of civil war had always been squashed. It was seen as a suicidal idea, a way to only make things worse. But the introduction of humans to the mix had given the talk ammunition, enough that Arin believed the movement would happen with or without her support.

She didn't want to be seen as a remnant of the old order. She had already lost her mother to the disease, and her father to himself. She had to catch the humans as allies before her rivals did. If she brought them to the Chiss still willing to fight, it would guarantee her power over the new day.

And if she failed? At least she could die saying she did something. That was more than some of her comrades could say.

"Wait!" She nearly ran into an armored guard on her approach. It pointed its gun at her, and she threw her hands up. "I come in peace, Empire. I want to say-"

Ra'slone was still angry in the voice. Not that it came through in the translation. "What do you want to say?"

"There are Chiss who agree with you. Chiss who will leave the Aristocra to join you. Give me a chance. I can bring them to you."

Pause. Murmurs. Then finally, a reply.

"Take us to them."


A/N's: First off, I apologize for taking so long to update. This story had to go through a restructuring before we were ready to continue, and because so much of this chapter is merely setup for future chapters, it was hard to achieve a balance of what should be told now and what ought to be saved for later. I'm sure that was noticeable here.

Still, there are two chapters left in this arc. Once those two are written and published, I will tell you all more about the choices for arcs going forward. I have several that I can write, but two happen at the same time after this first one, and it doesn't really matter which one is written first. So I'll be turning that choice over to readers when it comes.

Hope you enjoyed the update, thanks for reading, and I'll see you on the far side!