The Harbinger
Chimaera
Gilad Pellaeon POV
The Grand Admiral had removed me from my Star Destroyer Harbinger, such a name, but now I stand before the Admiral carrying news of the fleet's current status with my ship, currently under Commodore Faro's command, to meet with Thrawn's people. I then received the news of a reply from Imperial Center, and the Emperor is currently attempting to reach us. I leave the command bridge walking slowly and pulling my code cylinder handing it to the Guard. Who opens the door to the Grand Admiral's office who hears the door open. However, unlike any other time, we have interacted he has trashed his office he is angry and fuming the Jedi has pulled a trick that surprised even Thrawn himself. Though Thrawn is distraught he looks to me with a question that I answer, "The Seventh Fleet has regrouped to our coordinates but our situation is worse than anything I have experienced in my career. We have lost most of our corvettes, frigates, and cruisers. Commodore Faro has not informed us yet to inform us of your people's response. This is not even the worst of it. We can't find Bridger, whatever he did scrambled our tracking instruments, but we also now have communication with the Emperor!"
Thrawn looks to me with a glare mixed with fear in his eyes," We will respond to his orders but stay silent. I need to know what is going on, Bridge patch Imperial Center to my Quarters at once." The bridge patches in the communication and upon its activation the Emperor, Grand Moff Tarkin, Grand Vizier Pestage, Director Krennic, and Director Isard all appear. I stand at the back of the room by the door. " Your Majesty, I must apologize for my failure in predicting Bridger; he has slipped through my fingers and has left my fleet in chaos."
The Emperor whose voice hoarsely states," How is this possible Thrawn, Wherever you went you have left a road of glory. Now with Bridger, he has left me crippled in the Outer Rim. He rejected my offers and now runs rampant. I will have Vader deal with this but you will remain for his response to this unmitigated catastrophe!"
The voice cuts out with the others in it looking smug that Thrawn has finally fallen from his high pedestal. We wait and the communication is received by Lord Vader.
Bast Castle, Vjun
While seated the commanding officer of the most important Imperial warship in the Imperial navy second in command of the Devastator. Admiral Jhared Montferrat commanding officer of the famed Star Destroyer under the Emperor's infamous enforcer Darth Vader. However, with this respite, he is quickly interrupted from his musings by the Holocommunicator buzzing and alerting him to it. He looks up and answers the beeping communicator," This is Admiral Montferrat to Devastator, What is it?"
" Admiral we have a communique from Imperial Center for Lord Vader from the Emperor." The Crew responds as he hears the final part of the message the Emperor wishes to communicate with Lord Vader." Understood," The Admiral answers muttered it to the bridge crew but the Emperor his fear upon hearing his name shows. As his face changes to a ghastly shade of white from fear. Lord Vader was not that forgiving he had known from experience with many of his Forebearers in his post being executed he only got from Lord Vader via his Field Promotion to the Rank upon the death of his predecessor. The Admiral arrives at Vader's Meditation chamber as he stands regimented into place all he hears is the sound of Vader's respirator sound.
While standing there the Shadow speaks," What is it, Admiral?"
Admiral Montferrat responds," Lord Vader, there is a request for you from Imperial Center."
"I don't care for the politics of Tarkin or is it Krennic or perhaps Director Isard."
" My Lord, it is the Emperor who is requesting your presence, my Lord."
As the Admiral stood there waiting for a response hearing only the sound of Vader's respirator resonating throughout the room and then an answer," Prep the Holotable and bring him to listen to the meeting. For I believe Grand Admiral Thrawn has reestablished communications and this will concern about Bridger!" As the Admiral left the room, Vader rose from the Chamber and walked to the Holotable room while passing the Trophy Room full of artifacts of Vader's past triumphs. As Vader enters the chamber he is met by his Master, Thrawn, Tarkin, and Pestage.
" Ah Lord Vader you have finally arrived, we were addressing the failure at Lothal," the Emperor's voice crackling and uttering fear of what he wields," What is the opinion of these failures?"
" My Liege Project Stardust will handle the Rebel threat and we will destroy Lothal with it and all will fear the power that You alone command," Tarkin states with total arrogance.
The Emperor responds," Lothal is not on the list Tarkin for it serves a purpose in my long-term plans however Grand Admiral Thrawn has lost me Bridger for which he is a necessary part of my plans for Lothal. How do you plan to get him for me so I can have fun and maybe he can replace you, Lord Vader!" Vader raises his head to look at his Master with rage. " Or perhaps not You and Thrawn will discuss how to get the Enemy #1 of the Empire into my possession or must I remind you of the price of Failure My Apprentice, Thrawn!"
The Emperor followed by Tarkin and Pestage leave only leaving Vader and Thrawn to speak," Lord Vader this is something I can't agree with the Death Star will cause the Rebellion to spread and will create more Rebels faster than we could destroy them I also see no point in hunting Bridger but we are forced to hunt someone who is useless and alone." Thrawn finally stops his rant for Vader to speak.
" Bridger is a pointless target but holds symbolic power as both a Jedi and "the Voice of Freedom" his speech is still played in the hovels of the dispossessed, Traitors and Rebels. However, it may prove beneficial to my plans if he were to return to the Rebellion or perhaps to serve as a test for someone who will do as the Emperor wishes and bring him back to possibly serve as another Force wielder in my Arsenal." Vader finishes but feels a new presence enters the room wearing a cloak with Thrawn looking on confused by the cloaked individual. Vader seeing his chance he states," Ah where are my manners Grand Admiral this is Starkiller, my Secret Apprentice, he will succeed where so many others have failed. Apprentice this is Grand Admiral Thrawn he will inform me of your progress and is in command you are to obey him for he is a part of my long-term plans for the Empire."
Thrawn sees the hood fall and hears a voice speak from the mouth," It will be a pleasure to work alongside you Grand Admiral. I will have Captain Eclipse prepare the Rogue Shadow for my rendezvous though it will take time to do so Grand Admiral, Master." As Starkiller leaves Thrawn looks at Vader with a knowing look on his face.
"You are at Vjun aren't you and know where the Rebel base is," Thrawn states this accusingly at the Sith Lord. Behind the helmet, Vader was smirking knowing the Grand Admiral and him were putting together a political and military Operation to take over the Empire. A plan that had been in the work for the last fifteen years. To overthrow Palpatine, Tarkin, Pestage, and Vader's other enemies.
"I do know where they are following what you had laid out in the Attolon Technique alongside perusing the area via the Sith Tombs, especially anchoring in Naga Sadow's grand tomb. The base is on Yavin IV; the final piece was Dodonna's battlegroup name Massasi. They were an ancient Sith subspecies that formed the backbone of the oldest Sith armies lost after Exar Kun's time." Vader's answer to Thrawn is shocking but also reassuring however Thrawn feels there is a Caveat. " I have no interest in allowing their destruction because my plans need them to wreak destruction and even draw out Kenobi, Yoda, Tano, and Kota with them gone. I can build my Imperial Knights who will enforce my will and do what the Jedi couldn't." Vader's statement shows his commitment to an Empire under his rule, not Palpatine.
Thrawn smiles at Vader," This is something that I can agree to and support seeing as Palpatine's vision was never fully explained to anyone. The Death Star will fail the Empire; it must be destroyed so Palpatine can be killed and we can prepare for the Far Outlanders."
I don't own either Star Wars or Avatar the Last Airbender both belong to their respective owners. Critique to your heart's content but be polite. This is personally my favorite chapter that I have written so far. Yes, I brought in Starkiller from 'The Force Unleashed' one. This Chapter skips the Great Divide and the Storm.
