Thrawn called Darth Sidious next from his office, using the number on the data crystal presented to them after the first conversation. Seni saw him stiffen as Sidious appeared and knew he didn't like having to do this. "We are going to repel or destroy Outbound Flight by using it as bait for a threat to our section of space."

"Do as you must, Commander. There must be no part of it capable of being possessed by the Vong. I trust that you are aware Kinman is to bring back whatever is left?"

"He failed to mention that, but I have no intention of allowing such a vessel to linger here. I must make it clear I am not doing this as a favor or for free. Doing this puts my career at great risk even with the approval of a superior officer, while endangering my people."

"I intend to make a new empire where threats like the Vong get dealt with, your military career would be assured, and people like yours can be safe doing as you wish assuming you join. Kinman mentioned you have slaves who looked like they were from Republic space and I can see he was right if they are prisoners. I consider myself quite knowledgeable about other races and while very little is known about your people, I do know that no one would put armor on those they didn't value."

"You don't know everything, Darth Sidious. We don't consider our slaves less valuable, they are merely a lesser part of society with a few rights instead of all of them."

"How very interesting. I will admit I do not know much about the Chiss, though there is one interesting thing I do have on them- participation in the wars between the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire a millennia ago."

Thrawn's jaw clenched just visibly. "That was not a proud time for my people."

"I am certain it was not, considering it let both sides read your people and left them quite vulnerable. The Republic may have forgotten your existence entirely, but the Sith have not. I am willing to overlook the past however in favor of the future. You doing this to protect your people also benefits me and I will not forget it. We both know there are worse threats out there and I plan to put a stop to them with the force of my Empire. If you ever wish to join, I daresay you will make quite the impression. In the meantime, should you ever feel inclined to free your slaves, I am certain I could give them places in my new world order."

"I will keep that in mind."

"I am sure that you will. Contact me when it is done." Sidious's image dissolved.

Thrawn pressed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "I am sorry, Seni. I didn't want you to find out like this about our involvement during the Sith Wars."

"It explains the interest in the Jedi and how well you could read the fate of the Republic. Looks like you were spot on. The Sith are coming out of the shadows and this time they don't plan on getting beaten back." Since learning shah-tezh she had noticed her analytical side was much stronger and she could see possibilities not unlike Thrawn. "It's going to tear the Republic apart, bit by bit. Thustra will probably be first."

She hadn't realized she was crying until one of his hands brushed the tears from her cheeks gently. "They will need you."

"Sephi social classes are more rigid than Chiss. I am no one to them even with my father's connections."

"Those will mean nothing in a few years. Selfishly, I would invite you to stay here, but we both know the danger is too great once the Fifth Ruling Family gets wind of the events unfolding. You would not be safe in Chiss space for quite some time and I know you would risk everything to stay if I asked. I will lose my rank and barely keep my career from the protection of my Family, but they would not include you as an outsider at present even if I made you part of it."

"I'm hitting too close to home, as we say in Basic." She managed, feeling her cheeks tinge at his implications.

"A very straightforward statement. Basic is not dissimilar from Cheuhn. My men tell me your captain is cutting corners to finish his ship and perhaps that is for the best, as you all must disappear with everyone else from that part of space. By the time the Admiral convinces my brother to marry her and arranges the wedding, you will be a guest under the protection of the Expansionary Defense Fleet and the Eighth Ruling Family- though we will still have problems. Other Syndics are not like Thrass and wish for my success. Syndic Prime Mitth'urf'ianico is the main one who seeks to sabotage my career despite recruiting me when I was simply Vurawn."

"Why?"

"I suspect he thinks my actions will lead our Family and possibly the entire race into ruin."

"You are trying to stop that and keep them from getting destroyed."

"He doesn't share such sentiments and is waiting for me to step so far out of line that nothing can protect me from being exiled."

"Is that even possible?"

"If it comes between a choice of protecting my people and my career, you know the answer."

She sighed as his glowing eyes held hers unwaveringly. "Most of them won't understand your sacrifice, it's hardly fair for you to have to give all of that up."

"Sacrifices are not often acknowledged by those who they are for. I become the Outcast publicly so that I can infiltrate the Beast's lair and see how much of a threat it is to my people."

"Sidious gave you an ultimatum."

"More than one. Not only did he point out that he knows about my people and our actions, but also that there is no way you are a slave. Your brother was not present for this conversation, though Sidious may have seen or will see Jorj in the security footage of the Trade Federation if it is not conveniently lost before they are allowed to leave."

"Which as the captor, you have access to."

He gave a soft chuckle. "Precisely."

Over the next five days, Thrawn's trap was set directly in Outbound Flight's path, and during all the preparations, the video footage of Jorj and Seni onboard the Darkvenge disappeared without notice. Thrawn told Dubrak he needed to be ready to leave, and Dubrak tried not to seem overly eager as he agreed. The crew of the Bargain Hunter was moved back aboard the Springhawk and it settled somewhere not visible to wait.

"Have Kinman and the Vicelord join us," Thrawn told his warriors aboard the Darkvenge as it grew near to the time Outbound Flight was supposed to arrive.

"This is preposterous!" Kav was saying loudly as he walked onto the bridge with Kinman. "How does this Commander know his plan will work?!"

"Why don't you ask him yourself, Vicelord?" Kinman replied dryly, looking like he was trying not to roll his eyes.

"I have been tracking two different frequencies since your arrival. Your Outbound Flight and a race of nomadic pirates called the Vagaari are not far away now. Outbound Flight will get here first."

"According to the original itinerary, they should already be here."

"I don't know the speed capacity of the vessel, however, I have been a part of long voyages before and learned that the schedule and what happens are often two different things."

"Captain Pakmillu is Mon Calamari, a species that would sooner die than not be on time."

"If there was a mutiny as you say, I doubt he had much say in the matter."

"Fair point. Still, with C'baoth in charge, I would think he might try to push the ship to go faster."

Thrawn twined his fingers together. "Perhaps he did and they were forced to stop and make repairs, thus the delay."

"I suppose that is possible."

Seni kept her mouth shut, even though she felt certain Thrawn was right. She had already been to the armorer and was the only one from the Bargain Hunter there, however, she wasn't there for any of them, standing slightly behind the right armrest of Thrawn's command chair.

Her brother Jorj was still acting like a paranoid child, though grateful the Neimoidians had no more footage of him at least. She wished he would snap out of his sulking, but perhaps almost being identified by someone from their part of the galaxy had been his too-close-to-home experience. Maybe it would even make him consider a career change. The pieces were all set on the demesne, waiting to be moved and she could see all the potential paths.

"Why are we here anyway?" Kav demanded, interrupting her thoughts.

"So you can tell a firsthand account of this victory to your masters."

"You sound awfully confident for someone who keeps their slave too close, Commander."

"Seni is here of her own free will and no longer required to answer to anyone besides herself," Thrawn replied off-handedly. "Something you cannot manufacture in your mechanical slaves, Viceroy."

Kinman looked like he was trying not to laugh as he hid behind his datapad.

"Bah! They are loyal to whoever we tell them to be! Freedom of choice causes nothing but chaos!"

"Well spoken for a race that once blockaded a planet in their own space and got away with it."

Kav went pale. "Those charges were cleared! How would you know of that accusation?! Her?!"

"She couldn't have known about it, being in Wild Space for the past five years before her time here. No matter, it looks like one of our guests has arrived."

Sure enough, Outbound Flight blinked into existence in front of them. Its heavy artillery sent shivers down Seni's spine, knowing what their real intention was. Colonization could have been part of the plan to establish bases to launch their attacks, drawing the attention of their target to wherever they settled and passed through.

"That is the same we stopped! How in the galaxy are you doing that?!"

"You have your secrets and I have mine, Commander Stratis." Thrawn's eyes flicked over to the agape man from the Republic as if he could guess his thoughts. "Open a channel on my command."

"Are you crazy?! There is no way a stubborn man like C'baoth will be talked down!"

"I am counting on the fact that he won't." Thrawn turned to his communications officer. "Do it."

"We are hailing them, Commander."

"Very good. Outbound Flight, this is Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Springhawk. You are violating Chiss space, however, you have more pressing matters than me to worry about. I have been tracking a group of nomadic pirates we call the Vagaari and they have been following in your wake to remain undetected by your sensors and mean to attack you outside our borders. These raiders are not to be taken lightly like some thugs in an alleyway, for this is an entire race that can appear and leave an entire planet stripped of valuables as they disappear into the stars. Even with all the armor and shields your ship has, it doesn't stand a chance against them. If you allow me to escort you back the way you came, they cannot give you any trouble."

The silence that followed was almost maddening. Kav looked annoyed while Kinman chewed his fingernails down to the quick and Seni felt unusually calm because she could see Thrawn was unperturbed as they waited.