T-minus 5: Vice Admiral Thrawn

"All thoughts are worth listening to, whether later judged to be of value or not."

Vice Admiral Thrawn, as quoted in Vradek's "Interviews"

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"Captain Niriz?" a nervous voice spoke behind the Imperial captain. "We've just recieved word from the sentry ships, sir: the scouts confirm a battle taking place in the Tybalt region. One large capital ship being attacked by multiple enemy contacts. The capital ship is of unknown design, but we do recognize the others... its the Ebruchi."

Captain Dagon Niriz stood with his hand's clasped behind his back. "Finally." He said softly. "The last of the Ebruchi pirate fleets." The Imperial star destroyer Admonitor had been battling the Ebruchi fleets in this region of space for the last year and a half, and Niriz was looking forward to finishing their objective. The Ebruchi were a sentient species native to the Unknown Regions. Vaguely humanoid with creamy white skin and wormlike tentacles surrounding their mouths, Niriz found them positively morbid looking creatures. They were ruthless pirates whose home world was not known and whose history was devoted to conquest. While they were seen as war-like, the Ebruchi themselves tended to use small starships for travel rather then large fleets of bigger ships. Many believe that the race were barbaric nomads who have traveled in space for so long that they had forgotten, as well as forsaken, their terrestrial heritage. The last time the Admonitor engaged an Ebruchi fleet they had lost the Victory class Star Destroyer Strikefast, leaving them with the Admonitor, the Imperial Star Destroyer Imperator, the Interdictor cruiser Inhibitor, two Carrack class cruisers, four old Dreadnaught class cruisers and a picket line of eight Lancer class frigates. He turned to the reporting officer. "Did the scouts have any problems?"

"Only a little sir - the wing commander said that the Ebruchi took a shot at them, but that he lost them."

Captain Niriz shook his head. "Have we identified the capital ship being attacked?"

"Unfortunatly sir, no." The officer said looking at his datapad. "Spherical in shape, it boasts a huge amount of firepower, but is slow and seems to possess heavy armor."

"I'll relay that to the Admiral." Niriz said. "Dismissed." the officer saluted and left Captain Niriz to ponder the situation. The captian turned and headed towards the Admiral's quarters. The Vice Admiral's command room was two levels below the bridge. A secondary bridge, meditation room... and perhaps more. It was the place Vice Admiral Thrawn had led them to many victories, and Captain Niriz often wondered why such a room hadnt been standard issue through the Imperial Fleet.

Now came the part he hated. Taking a deep breath, he touched a comm signal on the wall. "Captain Niriz to see Vice Admiral Thrawn." he announced. "I have information about the Ebruchi pirates."

The door slid open and he stepped into the dimly lit entry room. He knew that Vice Admiral Thrawn's bodyguard enjoyed scaring the hell out of anyone reporting to the Admiral... but Ovruk took particular pride in scaring him. And once again, Captain Niriz was not dissappointed when he felt the breath of air on the back of his neck. "Captain Niriz." he heard the Noghri whisper. Captain Niriz was secretly pleased that he didnt jump and only gritted his teeth, much to the Noghri's dissapointment. "If you'll excuse me, Ovruk. I have a report to make."

Ovruk shrugged his small shoulders and returned the twin fighting knives to their scabbards under his tunic. "You may enter." he said in that gravely voice.

Straightening his tunic, Captain Niriz stepped through the doorway -

- and into the middle of a space battle.

The room was darkened, and watched as small holographic representations of Ebruchi fighters traded blasts with the huge spherical vessel and its defense fighters orbiting what looked like a world covered with water. Unlike traditional holographics, these images were practically flawless. If he looked closely enough, he could see the individual pilots in miniature form within the strange alien fighters.

"What do you think, my friend?" Came a voice from his right. Captain Niriz turned to face the alien Vice Admiral. He sat motionlessly on his admiral's chair, his shimmery blue-black hair glinted with reflections of holographic laser blasts, his pale blue skin looking cool and subdued and very alien on his otherwise human frame. His eyes were nearly closed as he leaned back against the headrest, only a glint of red showing betwen the lids.

Captain Niriz studied the battle, watching the pitched battle over the waterworld. "I do not recognize the capital ship, but they appear to be very heavily armored, and well armed with solid state weaponry, as opposed to our turbolasers they use rail guns and mass drivers. Their fighters are a strange blend of space superiority class, and atmospheric capable and..." He looked closer, and came to another conclusion. "And what appears to be wave rider technology. The fighters appear to be able to even go underwater."

Thrawn smiled pleasantly. "Very good, Captain. My training is taking hold." He opened his eyes fully, revealing the glowing red orbs that were his eyes. That used to bother Captain Niriz when he first met the Vice Admiral, but now it only filled him with pride when the Vice Admiral looked upon him. "Thank you, my lord. Have you yourself identified them?"

The Vice Admiral nodded. "Yes, I have. My people have had contact with them in the past, An agreeable people, from a high gravity world. They call themselves Kentarians." He touched a control, and a holographic image of a huge alien creature appeared. Standing nearly eight feet tall, it was six feet wide at the shoulder, with muscles upon its muscles, it also appeared to have no neck, a huge head seeming to grow from the huge hump of its muscular shoulderblades. The only thing that ruined the image of a barbaric alien was its kind blue eyes. "They have sent out a distress beacon, Captain. It seems that the Ebruchi have hit their maneuvering thrusters and they are falling into the planet's gravity well. Kentarians seem to like water worlds, as our gravity feels a little strange to them."

Captain Niriz turned to face the Vice Admiral. "Sir, should we jump in and assist these... Kentarians?"

"Of course, Captain. Prepare the fleet for battle. Have the Inhibitor jump in first and activate its grav generators, then we shall use the mass shadow to jump out of hyperspace right on top of the Ebruchi. Have fighter crews prepared to launch as soon as we appear out of hyperspace. Have the Imperator lock tractor beams upon the Kentarian Battlesphere and bring it up out of the planet's gravity well. Have the Lancers surround the battle and pick off any Ebruchi fighters attempting to escape." He smiled as he stared at the holographic battle. "Lets be heroes for once, my friend."

Captain Niriz grinned at the prospect. "Very good, Admiral."

Two hours later... the battle was over. The last of the Ebruchi had been destroyed.

Standing with an entourage of Imperial Stormtroopers, Captain Niriz watched as Vice Admiral Thrawn met Shiplord Coros from the Kentarian Battlesphere "Horizon" step out of its rather large spherical shuttle escorted by three Kentarians wearing what looked like silver armor, making them appear to be three times larger than normal. Shiplord Coros stood at least three feet taller than the Vice Admiral, but knelt before him to be at eye level. "Vice Admiral Thrawn, on behalf of the Kentarian people, you have my thanks." the alien said in a voice that sounded like two asteroids grinding together slowly, deep and powerful. It rather reminded Captain Niriz of Darth Vader's voice.

Vice Admiral Thrawn smiled that pleasant smile as he saluted the Kentarian Shiplord. "No thanks are needed, Shiplord. The Ebruchi have been my enemies for the last year and a half. It is we who should thank you for holding them in place so that we might finally eliminate them." Captain Niriz grinned. They used to say that Thrawn was terrible at politics, but Niriz knew that Thrawn was a master manipulator who purposly lost his political standing on Coruscant so that he could be placed where he wanted to go, and that was here. Watching him give respect and honor to the Kentarians was a brilliant political move.

Shiplord Coros stood back up and bowed to those around the Vice Admiral. "You all have our thanks." Vice Admiral Thrawn escourted the huge alien to a gathering feast they had prepared, and for the next couple of hours the entire crew was allowed to enjoy themselves. Captain Niriz once again was amazed at how easily Thrawn inspired loyalty and courage amongst his fleet. Before, the crew would die for Thrawn... after this tremendous victory, they would be willing to fly into Hell itself for him.

That evening, after the Kentarian's had returned to their ship, Captain Niriz reported once again to the alien admiral. "Sir, we're recieving a priority transmission from the Emperor."

Thrawn nodded, and stood up as the holographic image of the Emperor appeared. "Vice Admiral Thrawn. Your victory over the Ebruchi is a triumph of the Empire over the Unknown Regions, you are to be commended."

Thrawn only nodded and said. "The crew should also be commeded as well, my lord."

Palpatine nodded, and looked at the alien admiral. "You are to bring your fleet to Imperial Center at once. I am calling forth the Grand Admirals, and I want you to be there. The Rebels have destroyed the Death Star with the help of a Jedi, and I will not have the Rebels rallying behind the Jedi. They are a threat to be eliminated."

Thrawn looked thoughtful. "A jedi destroyed the Death Star? Impressive. I will set course immediatly, my lord."

Palpatine nodded. "Excellent. Report to me personally when you arrive, Vice Admiral." And then the image faded.

Thrawn turned to the Captain. "Set your course for Coruscant, my friend."

"At once, my lord."