Ch5
Thrawn made it to the bridge in short order. The doors of the bridge opened to a hectic Lieutenant giving out orders.
"Have the ship turned ninety degrees. Frontal canon ready to fire."
"Belay that order, tilt the ship thirty degrees portside and have the aft cannons ready to fire."
"Sir!" The aging man that was the ships Lieutenant saluted Thrawn smartly. "Lieutenant Pellaeon, welcome aboard the Breaker, my Bridge is at your command." He acknowledged the formality with a slight nod of his head. "I want a signal scrambler directed at those Dreadnaughts."
"Yes sir." One of the sensor officers busied himself giving out orders to his team while Pellaeon looked on in a mildly confused manner as he clasped his hands behind him in a military manner. "You're wondering why I ordered disruption signals targeting those Dreadnaughts."
"Yes sir, it seems that this would be a waste."
"Quite the contrary," Thrawn stated walking over and settling into the command chair. He eased himself in and leaned back his wounds throbbing and his body thankful for more respite. The good Lieutenant followed him observing the viewport as he did so. "Those ships may appear rather advanced however a closer inspection will show that they are a good century old and Togorian in ownership."
"Togorian?" Pellaeon asked in confusion.
"Indeed." His right hand flew over the controls as a display of the two Dreadnaughts was brought up. "You see this addition of a battering ram to the bow, and its design, here," he enlarged the markings, "carved into the weapon is indeed Togorian in origin. The weapon is crude but efficient, if you are up against another Dreadnaught that is. So you see Commander we are in no danger. They couldn't hurt us with those ramming devices even if they tried." He closed his eyes against the wave of dizziness that racked him as he lifted his hand to his ringing comm. "Baron, how are things on your end." The slightly labored breathing of Fel came in though he could also here the undercurrent of quad lasers being utilized. "We're holding up fine; just take care of those Dreadnaughts."
"Take you squadron and lure the Togorian crafts starboard, then scatter in twin formation up and around the Destroyer."
"Right, on it. Kriff!" Thrawn cut the channel but not before he heard the Captain cut his engines for a tight falcon maneuver.
"Sir?" The Lieutenant queried. He forced his eyes open. "Have the men ready the starboard cannons and shoot at will once the Baron's ships are clear of them. "Yes sir." He eyed the viewport clasping his hands before himself as he observed the viewport and the two Dreadnaughts that still peppered the Imperial Star Destroyer with their own weaponry, but the shields held well. Pulling up a screen then gazing back out the viewport his eyes narrowed as the two Dreadnaughts began turning their battering rams and then accelerating their speed.
"Lieutenant, prepare the ships accelerators and thrusters. On my mark I want the ship swung around three sixty degrees and starboard shields powered up to maximum."
"Yes sir."
He opened the channel to Soontir Fel. "Fel scatter your ships when I give my mark." The Dreadnaughts were halfway in range when a thin and feral smile graced his lips. "Mark." The ship swung around. If the Dreadnaughts understood what was to occur they were already going too fast to change their trajectory. The Imperial Star destroyer slammed into the smaller vessel which hit into the second Dreadnaught and the both propelled violently away from the ship.
"Power down the thrusters and accelerators, the battle is finished"
"Baron I want you to drop sonic mines around the perimeter of those Dreadnaughts."
"On it, Kriff Commander you could have warned me!" He chuckled mildly as he heard Fel cursing under his breath at what he'd just witnessed.
"Lieutenant, set a course for the Fueling station. I want a squadron of Stormtroopers at the ready for deployment."
"Yes sir."
"Open a transmission to the pirates." Gripping the armrests he hissed lowly, as heat rose up his spine, the large gash on his abdomen suddenly feeling warm and wet under his bandages. The Lieutenant's eyes were on him frowning thinly and he nodded for the man to answer the accepted transmission.
A hulking mass of a catlike creature with grey and orange fur appeared on the holo. Wearing sparse armor and holding a large vibro axe in his hands. He looked down at the Lieutenant face twisted in anger and grudging respect.
"It appears you have the bigger ship." The alien growled lowly.
"The Empire does not tolerate piracy. I suggest you retreat before we are so inclined to make you." Pellaeon growled in anger.
"I can't do that. Victory or death." Relaxing slightly as the pain passed Thrawn pressed several of the controls so that he could answer from where he sat.
"I assure you victory can come in many forms." The cool and modulated voice of Thrawn put in as on the pirates ship the image of Thrawn sitting in his command chair appeared fingers laced together lips pressed in a thin line. The pirate took an involuntary step back growling that he'd been so startled by the alien when it had been a human he'd expected.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Your people's activities have increased throughout various sectors. You require fuel for your ships no doubt and your new Warlord thought it somehow wise to have his men attack an Imperial fueling station. Granted this station is near the outer rims however the sector is still within the Empire's jurisdiction and as such the run is a suicide, even a smuggler would know that. It appears Captain that your current Warlord or someone close to he wishes your clan's death. Or perhaps, and this is more likely, your death in particular."
"And what of it!" Thrawn smiled thinly he had him now. "I propose an alliance. The Empire assists you in claiming your birthright."
The catlike eyes narrowed to slits. "And in turn?"
"You sign up with the Empire hunting smugglers or whomever else we have need of you to hunt. For a price of course."
"You really think the Empire will deliver? Don't take me for a fool. It'll be snowing stars on Togoria before that happens."
"Oh I assure you something can be arranged." Tapping at his console Thrawn looked back up. "I am transmitting a holo frequency, contact it within forty eight hours. That is if you are still interested."
The pirate glared down at Thrawn. "And what of my men on the station?"
"Unfortunately they have massacred good imperial officers. Some of them unarmed logistics and technician personal." The crimson eyes narrowed. "Make for hyperspace and contact me if you so wish, otherwise I suggest for your sake we never meet again because I assure you the next time I will not be merciful." The transmission ended and Pellaeon frowned at the feeds from the trooper helmets that were coming in.
"You let them leave?" Thrawn sighed at the bloody display of corpses and bodies that were coming in through the feed of the Stormtrooper helmet cameras before shutting off the display. "Should I not have? The ones responsible for the massacre will be made an example off."
"And the pirate Captain who orchestrated the bloodbath."
"That was no ordinary pirate captain Lieutenant." Pellaeon frowned waiting on the elaboration. "The sigil on his pauldron was that of the first family of Togoria, and the etchings on his war axe indicate the right to rule, the weapon itself inherited by birthright."
"Meaning Sir?" The Lieutenant straightened as if had felt he had spoken out of turn. "I apologize for my question. I am not familiar with the Togorian hierarchy."
"It is fine Lieutenant not many are. That sigil and weapon make him out to be the son of Warlord Thrake, the late Warlord that held sway with mandalore."
"But are you sure Sir that your offer was wise?" A thin smile graced Thrawn's lips, "We shall see. He will accept the offer I think it is Imperial Command that may need some persuading. But the agreement would be beneficial to both sides."
"And ensure the Togorian's don't tangle with our military operations?"
"That as well Lieutenant."
Thrawn accepted the transmission as his comm rang. "This is Fel, the Dreadnaughts and fighters are retreating. I don't see a pursuit are we allowing them to leave?"
"We are Lieutenant, I have given them an offer, let us see what they shall do with it."
"Understood. So what? We head back to our shuttle or can we keep the Star Destroyer."
"We return to the shuttle and make way for the Alderaan system."
"Understood." Thrawn rose and Lieutenant Pellaeon saluted sharply. "Thank you for the assist Commander, we'll be awaiting a replacement as we resume to patrol the sector."
Thrawn gave a nod. "We'll see each other again no doubt."
"I hope we will." Each gave the other a nod of respect before they went their separate ways. Pellaeon to write a report on this mess and skirmish at the fueling station and Thrawn to his shuttle which resumed its route to Alderaan and the Alderaanian sector.
-0-0-0-
The doors to the officers briefing room hissed open lowly just as the escorting Imperial shuttle rose smoothly within the docking bay of the Star Destroyed known as the Executor. The shuttle banked up slowly as it left the hanger bay its pilot accelerating to light speed the stars about it blurring for a hyperspace jump and making for Corellian space.
"Commander welcome back to the Executor. I trust the mission was uneventful?" Colonel Veers frowned thinly at Commander Thrawn clad in mandalorian armor as he broke open a seal on a sixty year old Alderaanian vintage.
"For the most part yes."
"A cause for celebration then." Thrawn rested his mandalorian helm on the table gripped at its edge just as he reached it before straightening and accepting the cup now filled with the aged vintage. The moment was almost imperceptible but Veers caught it choosing to peer into his cup as Thrawn took a long draught of his own. "How are our other operations proceeding thus far Colonel?"
"Quite well all things considered…Ensign Dorm and three Stormtroopers were executed." Resting his cup on the table Thrawn looked up sharply.
"When?"
"Not four hours ago…" Thrawn busied himself with removing his armored gloves as the silence stretched between them, Veers still frowning at the four men that he was forced to choose to send to their deaths. The sudden and heavy footfalls caused a cold shiver to go up his spine. The footfalls were followed by labored breathing, Darth Vadar paused in the doorway before making to stand before the two men. "My Lord." Both bowed in unison as the mask studied the both of them but all too quickly remained on Thrawn alone. "You are wounded."
"Yes my Lord."
"See to it that you are placed in a bacta tank for a deep immersion."
"Yes my Lord." Thrawn did not hesitate to make his leave pausing only briefly as he bowed his leave once more. "I have forwarded copies of my mission report to your datapad as requested. The child in question is receiving a medical and vaccinations as we speak."
"That will be all, thank you Commander." Confused as to whom this 'child' might be Veers thought that Vader might say something to him, but the man merely inspected the room briskly before turning on his heal and making for the bridge. This caused Veers to down his cup in one go before he sagged in relief against the briefing table. He wouldn't speak it aloud but the several days under Darth Vader had taken a lot out of him. Serving an imperial Commander was one thing, serving a volatile dark lord was another matter entirely.
-0-0-0-
Darth Vader stood as he observed the bacta tank within which a single body floated. That of his Chiss Commander. The unmoving mask peered at the depths of the green fluid thinking of another place and another time…a time and place in which their positions had been reversed…
He was tossed into his cell unceremoniously, grunting in pain and hissing as he attempted to sit up and ready himself for whomever it was the Emperor would send next to try to turn him. Pain…
Pain that was the only thing he felt these days. Pain and grief and despair and desolation. Dead they were all dead. The Jedi, the younglings, everyone. He should have been able to fight it. Should have ended himself when he still had the chance. But he'd been too weak, and the darkness had taken him. It should have been him that was brutally cut down. Him whose life should have bled and ebbed away as the rest of the Jedi watched, it should have been him not them! His mind screamed in the agony of the thousands of Jedi that had died at his hand, that he heard die through the force. He had killed them all and he hated every fiber of his being for it.
"You're only making it worse for yourself you know." The young and still maskless face of Obi Wan snapped towards the sound of the cool and leveled voice expecting another interrogator to take the place of the previous one. He sent an evened and rebellious glare at the force field which kept him contained in the cell within.
"Try all you want…I won't fall. He can't have me. Not again! Do what you will to me…I will not turn!" His hands clenched involuntarily as he sent another defiant glare, up from where he sat leaning against the cold tranparasteel wall, at the strange alien that now stood opposite his cell observing him with what seemed to be curiosity. His skin was a deep blue and his eyes a flaming red. Other than the blue black hair and differences in skin tone and strange eyes he looked rather human and lacked the distinct cruelty that marred some of his interrogators faces.
"You're right, I suppose in the sense that only you can allow yourself to be consumed by the dark side. However on the count of myself having nothing to hold over you…well…let us just say you do not strike me as a man that could allow innocents to suffer."
"There are no more Jedi for you to kill." Obi Wan, his eyes flashed in a self-contained disgust. "So you do in fact have nothing to tempt me with." A thin frown tugged at the edges of the aliens mouth. "No fortunately there are not. However there are still many inhabited planets out there… what is to say I don't start annihilating each one by one, making you watch as I do so? How long do you think you would last before you fell?"
"You're sick." The nausea dormant within his gut stirred uncomfortably as he shifted hands clenched before himself. He was starved, sleep deprived, beaten and bloodied what more could they do to him?
"On the contrary." The voice darkened. "You should be thanking me. I was sent to torture you after all and I am currently doing no such thing."
"Talking to you is torture in itself." The alien chuckled, and his own eyes narrowed at this. "You still have some life in you it seems, however I assure you this will not last long, the Emperor is none too pleased with your repeated rejections of his offer, it is only a matter of time before he tries other means."
"Well I'm not interested." The alien shrugged. "The choice is yours, not to worry I will be back should you change your mind, however till then we still have quite some time to spare." Obi Wan's eyes narrowed. "I'm assuming we won't just be talking in that time."
"Fortunately for yourself no, I need to catch up on several reports and I'm sure you would appreciate a break in the endless repetition of tortures that has become your life. That is… unless you want me to torture you? I could do that you know."
"That will be unnecessary." There was a slight shrug as the alien settled down on a low chair just outside his cell powering on a datapad. "You might want to gather yourself while we wait." He mentioned his voice bordering in distaste. "The next handler is rather well known by my person, and he is not one who takes his duties lightly."
Obi Wan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What's it to you."
The alien hummed shrugging fractionally. "Nothing I suppose, however I do know of the Jedi, I've done my research…their death was…such a waste…"
"Thank you I suppose." Obi Wan shifted finding a more comfortable angle for his battered and bloodied body. He sighed studying his hands as and then the alien who sat before him. This was going to be a long day or night whichever it was. He'd lost track of time, but he supposed for all it was worth it would be good to get some sleep. He shot a last look at the alien who sat outside his cell before allowing himself to drift off into a hopefully dreamless sleep. Had it been days or weeks since he last slept? He couldn't quite remember and as he drifted off he realized at this point it didn't quite matter.
But if nothing did matter…then what did?
Hmm...so I let one of my friends read the battle part and he said he felt it was too fast paced. I suppose that is so but I guess I just wanted a quick battle in before we get to the talking parts lol. Again tell me what you guys thought. And part 2 with Colonel Veers was actually inspired from a picture of Thrawn standing in mandalorian armor from when he went on a mission to take down the black sun or something like that with Vader standing in the room as well and the third guy doesn't look like Veers but I didn't know that at the time and just went with it. You can actually look it up if you want, it was one of the pictures that inspired the fic. And of course Obi Wan is a mess at this point in time in the past.
All that being said, I will say laters! And don't forget to tell me how much you loved the chapter!
