Ah! General Reader, you are a patient one...ok, that was horrible. Moving on from that, I present to you, another update of this story! This chapter…I don't know what to feel about this Chapter. I don't know if it's good or bad, but I am going to leave that up to you. So with that said, enjoy!
The hallways of the Star Destroyer were filled with the dead Stormtroopers as Clone Troopers stood at attention as Naruto walked through the hallway, inspecting the handy work of his Troopers. Flanking him to the right was Satele and to his left was Jyn. As Naruto reached to door leading to the bridge, he was greeted with a Clone Trooper whose armor was marked with yellow marking. The Trooper took notice of Naruto and stood at attention.
"General." The Trooper saluted as Naruto nodded.
"At easy Commander Cody." Naruto stated as the now named Commander Cody nodded.
"Sir, the prisoner is being detained at the bridge." Cody stated as Naruto nodded at the old Clone Trooper. The doors to the bridge open as Naruto and his companions entered the bridge. In the center of bridge, flanked by two Clone Troopers, was a Chiss, not just any Chiss.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn." Naruto spoke as the Chiss Admiral narrowed his eyes are the blond. Thrawn is a renowned Admiral within the Imperial Navy as his strategies and tactics has almost never failed the Empire. However, as much of a genius military mind Thrawn was, even he could not foresee something that he isn't aware off, namely the young man before him.
"And whom do I have the pleasure of speaking too?" Thrawn questioned calmly, as if his vessel wasn't attacked, disabled, and then boarded. It was like the man acted as if he was never in any kind of danger. Naruto grinned at that. Thrawn was a cold, calculative type of man. He might be more forgiving to those who served under his command, and towards those he conquered in the name of the Empire, he was perfectly able to carry out atrocities if it meant they served his plan to secure the Empire.
"Naruto, an honor Grand Admiral Thrawn." Naruto answered with a slight bow as Thrawn raised an eyebrow. Was this boy mocking him or was he showing respect? He couldn't tell since the young man before him hide his emotions quite well, and his facial features were neutral, not giving away a single clue.
"Then the honor is all mine." Thrawn stated as Naruto chuckled before he walked past Thrawn and started out of the bridge.
"Admiral Thrawn, I am a big fan of your strategies and tactics. Where as most Imperial Admirals believe that the Empire's sheer numbers and might win the day, you do not. I wonder why?" Naruto questioned the Chiss. While Naruto already knew the answer, he wanted to hear it from the Chiss.
"Overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers and firepower is but one way to crush them. However, it is not that which destroys the enemy." Thrawn started as Naruto hummed while everyone listened to the twos conversation.
"Indeed, it does not destroy the enemy." Naruto commented before pausing, allowing Thrawn to continue.
"Such methods only strength the enemies resolve to oppose, it further their cause, legitimizes it. It makes their fallen martyrs, which the enemy rally's around, with the hope that more people like them will one day prevail." Thrawn continued as Naruto nodded.
"Then, hope is what they rally around?" Naruto questioned as Thrawn brought his hands back behind him as he started at Naruto's back.
"Hope is what all rebellions are made out off." Thrawn answered, his voice holding no emotions as Naruto started to laugh.
"And in order to crush these rebellions, you must crush their hope first." Naruto stated as Thrawn nodded as he walked up next to Naruto. The Clones quickly readied their weapons, but Naruto singled them to stand down.
"And in order to crush that said hope, you must understand the enemy, their cultural, species, history, religion, and so on. This allows oneself to find that which the enemy holds most dear to." Thrawn picked up from where Naruto left off. Thrawn had studied many cultures and species, which in-turn allowed him to conquer his foes with complete success. Naruto smiled as he turned to Thrawn.
"Tell me Admiral, why do you serve an Empire who despises aliens? Surly you are aware that the Empire is quite Xenophobic towards Aliens. The fact that you are an Admiral within the Imperial Navy is repulsive to many in the chain of command. You are aware of their hatred towards you?" Naruto questioned the Admiral who turned to the stars, deep in thought.
"My people exiled me, because I tried to warn them, to help them. The Empire found me, and gave me a position of power to ensure that the threats that linger past out galaxy face a united front." Thrawn answered as Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"So, you serve the Empire why exactly?" Naruto questioned again, not seeing what Thrawn really meant.
"I serve the Empire to ensure that those who invade our galaxy find a united front, under strong leadership, and military capably of defending itself. As it stands, the rebellion hinders that ability." Thrawn answered as Naruto hummed.
"If the Emperor knows about this threat, then why does he not simple do away with the rebellion? Why does he not focus on the so-called invaders that, as you claim, are going to invade?" Naruto questioned as Thrawn fell silent. This young man was correct, the Emperor was aware, and he was certain that the Empire had the resources and the capability to destroy the Rebellion. Hell, he himself had gotten so close to destroying, capturing, or even killing key rebel figures, but each time he was stopped or hindered by another Imperial.
"The Emperor has been playing you along Thrawn. He doesn't concern himself with these so-called invaders, his only concern is that the Dark Side rules supreme, not matter if the Rebellion or the Empire wins, it is the Dark Side which must remain unchecked. It is all that matters to the Sith, all that ever mattered." Naruto proclaimed as Thrawn frowned. For all his intellectual abilities, it seems that even he himself had put too much stock in the Emperor.
"Then what do you propose?" Thrawn question Naruto, who in turn smirked.
"Your skills are wasted serving under the Empire, and were as well with your homeworld. So, I propose you this; join me and my cause." Naruto offered as Thrawn raised an eyebrow, his cause?
"And what exactly is your cause?" Thrawn questioned as Naruto smirked.
"Why I am glad you asked. I aim to travel to a new galaxy, in which I will build my own Empire." Naruto answered as Thrawns eyes almost widened before he composed himself as he thought over the offered. A new world, a brand-new galaxy. So many unknown species, cultures, and, different history to learn.
"While tempting, but I cannot. The threat to this galaxy is far to sever to leave it alone." Thrawn answered as Naruto frowned. Thrawn would ensure that this galaxy was ready for the invaders, even if it meant that the galaxy hated him.
"I respect your decision, but know this, even with the Empire defeating the Rebel Alliance, they will still lose to this threat. Imperial Officers and Admirals are far to overconfident in their might. Their lack of discipline and rationality will lead them to their doom. The only thing that can stop this outside threat would be the Rebel Alliance." Naruto stated as Thrawn frowned at that. Everything the blond had said was true. The Rebels are more competent commanders, and battle hardened soldiers who had come to fight in conditions less then desirable.
"Then, you would allow the Rebel Alliance to prevail in this Galactic War?" Thrawn questioned as Naruto nodded.
"Indeed, and what would you do when the rebels win? You would be charged as a war criminal, despite your efforts to protect the galaxy. They would sooner hang you then pardon you." Naruto answered. Thrawn hummed at that. Yes, he would be tried at a war criminal in the eyes of the Rebel Alliance, and if Imperial elements kept on interfering with his work, then the Empire was doomed.
"Join me Thrawn. Fight for a cause where your skills are put to great use." Naruto offered once more as he extended his hand out to him. Thrawn thought over his options before he extended his own hand out and shook Naruto's.
"Very well then." Thrawn answered as Naruto smiled, victory at last.
"I am very pleased by your decision. Gather your things, my Troopers will aid you in transporting them to your new vessel." Naruto said as Thrawn nodded as a few Clone Troopers followed Thrawn to his former quarters.
"I can't believe that you managed to get the great Admiral Thrawn on your side." Jyn commented. She had heard about the Chiss Admiral from her father when she was young. Her father spoke of the Chiss with a bit of fear, saying that the man was very dangerous.
"Thrawn is a rational man, he understands what others do not." Naruto stated. To sum up Thrawn in one word, the man was a pragmatic type of man.
"What now?" Jyn questioned as she and Satele followed Naruto down to the hanger of the disabled Star Destroyer.
"Now? Well, for now we wait. There are other minor missions needed to be done, but I can take care of them on my own." Naruto answered as he kept walking.
"At least take be with you." Satele requested. She did not like the idea of Naruto venturing out alone. Naruto sighed at that. Satele could be quite…overprotective of him.
"I'll be fine Satele, besides, the Fleet needs a commander here." Naruto stated as Satele frowned, but nodded. She would not disobey his command. Naruto smiled as he kissed her on the cheek, causing her to blush, before he turned around and boarded a shuttle with some Clone Troopers. The shuttle slow exited the hanger and shot off, heading towards the Outer-Rim. Jyn turned to face Satele, who was looking at the shuttle.
"So…how do you know Naruto?" Jyn questioned her. She was trying to start up a conversation and build a better relationship with the female Sith, seeing that the two shared a common love interest. Satele kept on staring at the retreating shuttle before she spoke.
"He saved me." She answered as Jyn raised an eyebrow.
"Saved you?" Jyn questioned as Satele nodded.
"I was a slave when I was young. Someone who's worth was lower then dirt itself. Then he found me…" Satele elaborated as Jyn slowly nodded, understanding the circumstances and the two's history slightly.
"Is that when you…" Jyn started as Satele nodded once more.
"At first, I admired him, but that admiration turned into love. The same thing that is happening to you." Satele answered, while throwing a light glare at Jyn, who chuckled nervously.
"I-I didn't mean you get in your way…" Jyn answered as Satele sighed and turned around and began to make her way to the second shuttle.
"Knowing Naruto, I am sure he would hate infighting." Satele spoke as Jyn ran up to her as the two-boarded shuttle before it started to take off.
"Then, what do you propose?" Jyn questioned as Satele looked at her dead in the eye.
"We share." Satele proposed as Jyn raised an eyebrow.
"O…...k?" Jyn answered as Satele nodded and sat down and closed her eyes, off to her own world. Jyn too took a seat and stared out into space. Things might work out after all.
With Naruto, A few minutes later:
The shuttle exited out of hyperspace as the planet of Tatooine came into Naruto's view as the shuttle made its way to the surface.
"Are you sure he's here General?" Cody questioned as he turned to Naruto, who sighed.
"For the last time, I am not a General Cody!" Naruto stated as Cody chuckled.
"Sorry sir, just an old habit from the Clone Wars." Cody said as Naruto calmed down and turned to look at the planet as the shuttle jerked.
"Our agents reported that he is indeed here." Naruto answered Cody's earlier question as Cody nodded before the two exited out of the shuttle. Naruto then turned to the rest of the Clones.
"I want you all to guard this shuttle." Naruto ordered as the Clones nodded. Naruto and Cody then began to head off into the desert to finding their target.
A few hours later:
"I don't know how you can withstand the heat." Cody commented as he and Naruto made their way through the desert. They had been doing so for quite a few hours and Cody's armor was wet thanks to the sweat. Naruto chuckled as Cody sighed.
"Right, the Force?" Cody questioned as Naruto huffed.
"You took away the fun." Naruto said as Cody shook his head before Naruto stopped and looked at a small house. Cody stopped next to him and took in a few breaths as he tried to regain some strength.
"Seems like we are here." Naruto stated as he began to head towards the small house, but ducked as a light saber flew over his head. Cody quickly grabbed his blaster rifle, ready to assist Naruto, but he found himself thrown back by an invisible force. Naruto frowned as he stood back up, his light saber in hand. He turned to face the enemy, only to find an old man in brown cloak and a light saber.
"Who are you?" The old man questioned a Naruto shook his head.
"Is this how you treat your guests?" Naruto questioned as he relaxed, but the old man didn't, not after he saw the color of Naruto's saber.
"No Sith is a gust of mine." The old man stated as Naruto raised in hands in surrender.
"Relax old man. I'm not here to fight, just to talk. And I don't care what you think, I am not your average Sith." Naruto responded as he moved to the side, allowing Cody to walk up next to him. The old man's eyes slightly widened at the armor. He hadn't seen that armor in years…
"It can't be…" The old man whispered as Cody reached for his helmet and took it off, allowing the old man to see his face, the face of the very Clone he had fought side by side during the Clone Wars.
"General Kenobi…" Cody spoke, as the no revealed Obi-Wan Kenobi looked at his old comrade who had betrayed him during the Clone Wars.
So? How was it? Good, Bad? I hope it was good. How was that cliff hanger? Hehehe, I love my cliff hangers! What will happen next? Will Kenobi kill Cody? Will Naruto kill Kenobi?! Will I ever get the rights to Star Wars?! WILL EA FIX BATTLEFRONT 2s PROGRESSION SYSTEM!? Ok, sorry about that mini rant, but I hope chapter was good, and you can tell me that it was by leaving a review!