Chapter 3: The Enemy

Grand Inquisitor Kael smiled as he surveyed his handiwork over the planet Kuat. All Grand Inquisitor Kael had wanted to do with his life was build ships, and here, in the greatest ship building facility in the universe, he was actually living his dream.

He turned from the twin Super Star Destroyers being constructed in the main hangers. The Annihilator and the Brawl... terrible names for ships of such artistry... were in the final stages of construction. But it was the other three ships he was building... what he was calling Sword Class Super Battlecruisers, that had his attention at the moment. Thinner and longer than their Destroyer class cousins and less armored, but faster and more streamlined with heavier fighter compliment. The first of the class, the Vengeance, was to be a gift to Inquisitor Jerec to make up for the loss of his personal flagship during the Battle of Yavin. The other two, Darkness and Shadow, were to be givin to other members of the Inquisitorius...

... or taken from them by the Grand Admiralty

He rolled his cat-like slit-pupiled eyes when he saw the arrival of the Grand Admirals shuttle. Some of the Grand Admirals wanted to claim the Annihilator or the Brawl for themselves. "Ah, the fine art of ambition.' he said to himself. If they discovered that the Darkness and the Shadow were near completion, they would want them too. No matter how he designed ships, or how he constructed them, the people in charge never saw the art he placed in his work... all they saw was a weapon of war.

Fortunatly, his friend Vice Admiral Thrawn had been sent as well. He looked forward to seeing the Chiss tactician. Of all the brass of the Empire, Kael liked Thrawn the most. He wasnt egotistical, or as... fanatical.. as some of the Emperor's lackeys.

But the largest vessel under construction in the Kuat shipyards was held in the Tertiary Construction Holdings over the northern continent of Kuat itself. He turned his gaze towards the immense Eclipse class Super Star Destroyer. All that the ship consisted of now was a base superstructure, thousands of construction workers, droids and machines moved about the gigantic hull. It was to hold a keel-mounted superlaser once finished. Not as powerful as the Death Star, but enough to destroy any vessel foolish enough to challenge it. Kael admired the smooth lines, imagined it how it would look when it was finished. It was a shame that no one would see the beauty of such a vessel, and would only be intimidated by it. He thanked the Force that he wouldnt have to argue with the Grand Admirals over who would be in charge of such a ship, for its completion timeframe was over five years away. He also knew that a second one was being built at the Byss facility orbiting the planet Abyss. He knew that the one here would be complete first, and he took pride in that fact.

He heard reports that the Executor, being constructed over Fondor, had finally finished its maiden test flight and was even now under the command of Lord Darth Vader. The flagship of Death Squadron itself. There was another headache he was glad he avoided. The first of the Super-class ships finished, Kael and its main designer Lira Wessex had created a ship that actually pleased both of the Sith Lords.

Kael smiled at the thought of Lira. He hadnt seen her in a long time.. even though she was married to that borish Moff Wessex from the Relgim sector, that didnt stop them from becoming lovers. She played the part of loving wife when Wessex was around, because she needed his pull in the military. But when she was with Kael, she was a different person entirely. She was like him... a designer of ships, a lover of art, and the combination of the two. She was the only person in the universe that Kael actually trusted enough tell her some of his secrets...

not all of them, mind you...

Working in the heart of the Empire as a spy for the Rebellion did have its risks. But he was in such a position of power that not many of those risks could happen. And he had other secrets and abilities no one knew of. As Grand Inquisitor, Kael had access to prisoners, weapons of war, and even Emperor Palpatines personal library on Coruscant. Feeding the Rebellion information on ships, Imperial fleet layouts, and other things gave him a sense of completeness. Being able to do the thing he loved, like build ships at Kuat... was just icing on the cake.

Now, he took a deep breath and braced himself for the coming storm. He turned to face the main door, closed his eyes, and used a calming technique he learned from Vice Admiral Thrawn when dealing with the Grand Admirals.

The first one through the door was Grand Admiral Grant, of House Melantha of Tapani. Kael took another breath. "This should be stunning." he said to himself. Grant barely acknowledged him with a slight nod. "Are they almost finished?" he asked Kael. The Grand Inquisitor shook his head. "They will not be finished for another two months. which is six months ahead of schedule."

Grant stood near the window, but not too close to Kael. Grant despised aliens... and halfbreeds in particular. "Put more men on it. I want the Annihilator for myself."

Kael was about to protest when he was interrupted by another voice. "Oh no, Grant. The Annihilator will be mine." Kael and Grant turned to see Grand Admiral Takel sniff something from a small snuff-box, and then click it shut with a small shudder. "I have already foreseen it."

Grant almost went into hysterics as he stormed towards Takel. "You and your little visions! Your pathetic! And I know your an alien lover!'

Takel ignored Grant's anger, and walked over to the observation dome to stand near Kael. "To each his own, I always say." Grant followed him, and then the argument started.

Kael once again went through his calming exercise. This would be a very long day.

Finally, Kael saw someone he could actually speak with. Grand Admiral Teshik stood in the doorway, not wanting to gain the attention of his fellow Grand Admirals. Leaving them to their bickering, Kael wandered over to the Grand Admiral. "I see that Grant and Takel are arguing again." Teshik said in a subdued voice. Kael nodded. "All in all, I was just going to give you one of the Super Star Destroyers. There is one called Whelm being constructed over the planet Anaxes.. do you want it?"

Teshik smiled at Kael, and nodded. "I like you Kael. You don't play to the tunes of the other Grand Admirals. You choose by merit, not by political standing. Are you going to give one of the Super's to Vice Admiral Thrawn? He deserves one as well."

Kael nodded. "You know that the moment I publicly try to give him a such a vessel, the other Grand Admirals... especially Il-Raz and Grant, will be up in arms. I'd be lucky to walk out of the meeting alive."

Teshik nodded. "So your going to do it anyway." it wasnt a question.

Kael grinned and nodded. "You know me too well, my friend. I will placate the more... adamant Grand Admirals by giving them the Super Star Destroyers.. while I will give Thrawn one of my smaller Super-battlecruisers." he turned as the doors behind them opened, and finally Kael grinned in a heartfelt manner. "Speak of the devil..."

"...and he shall appear." Thrawn finished, smiling as they both hugged each other, clapping each other on the back. "It has been too long, my friend." Kael said, ignoring the stares from Grant and Takel. "Tell me, what news from the Outer Regions? Any new ships you've seen?" the Grand Inqusitor asked.

Thrawn smiled as he held a small holo, visions of a Kentarian Battlesphere hovered over it. "Just this. Kentarian.. a full schematic." Kael grinned as he accepted the holo. "Ive always wanted to get into a battlesphere. But the Kentarians are so secretive. Exceedingly polite, but still secretive."

Grand Admiral Grant once again tried to start an argument with the half-breed Inquisitor. "Feh, aliens.. why not just take what you want from them? They are uncivilized creatures all. The Empire should just take what they want, not waste time with placating them."

Vice Admiral Thrawn turned his glowing eyes towards Grant. "It is a wise and strong man who knows when to ask permission instead of just shooting first and taking what they want."

Grant was having none of it. "And only a fool appeases aliens!" he snarled. "What has the Emperor taught us!?"

Kael decided to get in on this argument. "That we're very good at killing things that disagree with us?"

Grant glared at the Grand Inquisitor. "We know how brutal the Clone Wars were! It was aliens that started it! Aliens that marred the universe with war! Only a fool appeases aliens! Or appeases those who seek such appeasement."

Kael smiled at the carefully laid trap Thrawn sprung. "Emperor Palpatine appeased me. Are you calling the Emperor a fool?"

Grant hesitated. "No. No, I'm not. Of course, I serve at his will."

Their argument was interrupted by the door opening again, and Grand Admiral Grunger stepped into the room. "News from the front. Lord Vader wishes us to meet aboard the Executor. He has sent word for Zaarin, Batch and the others to meet him in the Eridos sector. The first reports are coming in from the probe droids."

Kael nodded to them all. "I see that you have more pressing matters to attend to." he bowed to Thrawn, and clasped his hand. "Safe journey, my friend."

Thrawn nodded, as the other Grand Admirals walked out of the room, Grant glaring at them both evilly. When they were finally alone, Kael smiled. "I sense a great amount of anger in that one."

Thrawn turned his glowing eyes towards the open doorway. "If anger could fuel ships, Grant could power a fleet of Death Stars."

Kael actually chuckled. "Was that a joke? Thrawn... that was actually funny."

But Thrawn wasnt laughing. "The sad thing is.. its the truth."