Present, interrogation room aboard the Mon Cal Cruiser Home One, Bilbringi Shipyards

"Wait, what happened to Zaarin exactly?" Deanna asked in confusion.

I couldn't blame her for being confused; I'd been too exhausted at the time after over an hour of combat, between the running fight leading to that final engagement and To-Phalion Base, and the assumed loss of the Knight to give it much thought until later. Zaarin was dead, why did I care how?

"Thrawn had another ace up his sleeve, something he didn't even share with me."

"A booby trap then?"

I shook my head smiling fondly at the memory of Thrawn's conversation with me later that day, "no, nothing so obtuse. When he discovered that Zaarin had an interest in the project he falsified the reports on the Vorknkx's operability. The cloaking device did work, however it could not be engaged in conjunction with the hyperdrive. It would result in a reactor overload and possibly cause a detonation of the ship's power plant."

Deanna leaned back in her chair, looking stunned as she shook her head in amazement. "He planned the entire thing, from the time Zaarin found out about the cloaking device to Zaarin's attempted escape. He planned every part of it."

"Well not all of it, he had no way of knowing that Iriana would throw the Knight at the Glory like that or that the Glory would be able to jam us so effectively. Ironically if I hadn't told Iriana to move when I did, then the Glory probably would have suffered far heavier damage, possibly even preventing her from running as far as she did before the damaged prow made it impossible for further hyperspace jumps."

"But that move gave her second officer the chance to save not only his own life but hers as well."

I nodded, remembering those last moments standing aboard the Knight when we'd all realized that the Glory's jamming was in evidence. Only seven of the bridge crew, those who had not been in the command pits, had managed to get out the airlock in time to save themselves; all those faces had been added to the numerous other losses that had already haunted me.

"Were those your only casualties the entire campaign?"

"Shockingly yes, we were one of the few units in the entire task force that could have been called elite. We all had enough flight hours and training to have an edge, even our reinforcements, as I already said were top notch. Our training regimes just made them better. Zaarin never had anyone that could touch us; he just had a lot more fighters. For the brief period that Stele was in the campaign, his unit never lost anyone either. We were the only two units to have that distinction though."

"What happened after that?"

"While the Knight underwent repairs the crew was given shore leave. A few of us, myself included, were invited to Coruscant to see Thrawn's promotion to Grand Admiral…."

Approximately five years earlier, Imperial Center, the Imperial Palace

"It's nice to finally be able to address him by his proper rank, don't you think?" Toth asked idly as he sipped at his drink; ever since disgorging his stash to the entire crew after the last battle he'd been sober, a state he wanted to remedy quickly.

"I'm just glad we can put this behind us." Garin said simply, he wanted to be back aboard the Knight again as soon as possible and go back to the duties previously assigned to the unit. Being with the main fleet again had reminded him why he hated the chain of command.

"Hey you two," they turned to see Kalan and Matrin walking towards them. "Harth sent us to find you; we have a friend who wants us to come with her."

Matrin gestured with his thumb and Garin spied the red head from the last party they'd attended and Thrawn's secret promotion as well standing in the exact same spot with Harth, his face turned sour.

"The Emperor again, what does he want this time I wonder?"

"We'll just have to find out I suppose," Toth said, downing the remainder of his drink in one go before nodding. "Okay, I'm ready."

Kalan and Matrin exchanged glances before grinning, both of them handed Toth their drinks simultaneously.

He took them and eyed the two glasses in bewildered horror. "You expect me to choose?" He asked in mock distress, Garin couldn't help it, he started laughing. At least the three of them could still make jokes despite the unwanted summons.

Once more they found themselves following the red head down a hidden corridor, though at least this time they had more of an idea of where they were going.

Garin quickened his step to walk besides their escort. "Since we seem to be running into each other rather frequently, can I ask your name?"

She didn't break her stride, just looking at him quietly for a moment. Garin had the unnerving feeling that he was being judged on the spot.

"Jade," she finally said quietly.

"Garin," he replied with a smile, "that's a lovely name."

She gave him a look that asked if he were an idiot, he shrugged. "I had to say something didn't I?"

He gestured over his shoulder, "that one is Toth, the one in the back is Harth, and the two children are Mat and Kal from left to right."

"Hi," chimed in Matrin with a smile, Kalan waved cheerily as Jade looked over her shoulder at the foursome behind her. Toth offered her the drink he was still carrying with him, she scowled at him and he just smiled in return. Harth didn't react at all to Jade's gaze, simply meeting it placidly as if she were any other person he might meet on the street.

"It's hard to believe that you're the ones who helped to eliminate that traitor," she said disbelievingly.

"Well it was the Grand Admiral actually," Kalan said authoritatively, "yeah," Matrin continued, "he's the brains, we're just the guns."

"I can see that," Jade responded, despite her annoyed tone Garin caught a smile in the dim light.

Then they'd reached the same door as before, guarded by the ever imposing Imperial Guardsmen, they really did give Garin the creeps, he had to wonder what exactly made men that eerily quiet. Stormtroopers were one thing, but the Guards were something else entirely.

The chamber looked the same as it had before, the Emperor sat upon his raised throne, Vader stood besides him, Thrawn, and this time Stele, were there as well. The former was a relief, but the latter was hardly comforting.

The Emperor waved to the red head as he had before, "enjoy yourself my dear, we shall speak later."

With that he turned towards Garin and the others, "I wish to congratulate you personally for your roles in bringing this insurrection to heel. Your performance has been exemplary and I cannot ask for a more skilled unit."

The unit had already received their decorations and citations and several members had been given medals for performing above and beyond. This was more than a 'thank you very much' ceremony. Garin looked at Stele; the pilot almost looked apologetic as their gazes locked. What exactly was going on?

The Emperor continued, his yellow eyes fixing on the five of them as he spoke in his withered voice. "Now I'm afraid that there will be some sad changes, due to a mishap during your last campaign, the missile boat is being withdrawn from service, I know that it formed a vital component of your unit, but I'm afraid that we cannot allow it to continue in active service."

Behind him he heard Harth's indrawn breath; there'd be no skipping over the order to revoke the boats this time, not with the Emperor telling them to nix them. They'd have to find another options, but what else was there? The gun boat perhaps, certainly none of the TIE bomber variants, none of them fit the unique mission profiles Hades operated.

"The other unfortunate change is that Grand Admiral Thrawn will be leaving us shortly, therefore you will be moved to Lord Vader's command."

Ice gripped Garin's chest and he had to force himself to stay calm as his heart rate accelerated. Working with the Dark Lord was supposedly a privilege, but the rumors about officers being murdered outright in front of their crews hung in the back of his mind. How could he protect his people against that? For another matter, how would Vader react to the non- and half-humans aboard the Knight? Would he allow their continued service? Daru in particular came to the front of his mind, he expected the Emperor to say more, but instead Vader spoke.

"The first order I am issuing you specifically Lieutenant Commander Durives is to relinquish command of Hades Wing and its attached units to Commander Stele who will be in command from this day forward."

There was a hushed silence, Garin had the sense to kneel and bow with a murmured "yes milord."

Present, interrogation room aboard the Mon Cal cruiser Home One, Bilbringi Shipyards

"Wait, they took your unit away from you?"

I had to admit, she sounded more outraged than I'd felt, in fact I'd been too terrified of the people whose presence I'd been in to feel outraged. Stunned perhaps, but outrage I'd never have dared, I probably wouldn't have been sitting here—well maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad thing—if I'd been stupid enough to be outraged.

"Yes, I'm still not entirely sure if it was Vader's whim or Thrawn's grace."

"Excuse me?"

I looked at her, "considering everything I've told you so far, how long do you seriously think I'd have lasted as a direct subordinate to Darth Vader?"

Her expression spoke volumes and I nodded agreement, "exactly. With Stele in command, it meant that I was relatively safe from Vader's more hostile moments. Add to that the fact that Stele seemed to have a special relationship with both Vader and Palpatine meant that I could stay alive."

"What did Thrawn have to say about any of this?"

I smiled; she would love this, "the strangest thing I've ever heard any officer say to me…"

Approximately five years ago, Imperial Center, Imperial Fleet Command

"I apologize Commander, this wasn't entirely my doing."

Garin blinked and turned from the art adorning Thrawn's office walls, "entirely sir?"

"The Emperor has a project that was compromised by a single missile boat that one of Zaarin's subordinates tried to use to defect to the Rebellion; he concluded that we must remove all of them from service to ensure security."

The exchange of expressions that followed that announcement likely would have gotten them both shot despite Thrawn's rank.

"I can't believe this," Garin murmured, "what about Stele?"

"It was decided that a more traditional commander was needed for Hades' more traditional role. You are still the executive officer however."

"Do you expect me to challenge Stele when he has the Emperor and Vader blessing him?"

Thrawn smiled simply, "I expect exactly that, and in fact I am counting on it."

"Permission to speak freely sir," Garin said, his voice stiff.

"By all means," Thrawn said as he sat at his desk, his expression amused.

"You're using me, and my people for something, and I have no idea what it is but I'm fairly certain no one else realizes you're doing it either and if they did there would be hell to pay."

There was a long pause, and Garin felt sure that he had overstepped his bounds this time, until Thrawn started applauding, each clap sounded like a cannon shot in the echoing room.

"You're proving why I have given you this entire opportunity Commander," he stood and turned to face the window. "I fully intend to make use of you after this mission is completed, the Emperor, though a brilliant politician perhaps, is not a brilliant strategist. He believes overwhelming force and sheer terror to be the means to an ends when it is actually creating a means to his end."

Thrawn turned to eye Garin darkly, his red eyes glowing. "By forcing himself upon the galaxy, Palpatine is fueling the very Rebellion he hopes to quell. All his schemes and machinations merely serve to inflame the fires of rebellion further. Sooner or later, the Rebellion will see their opportunity, if they can survive that long, and they will topple Palpatine. When that happens, I will need men like you, and those that serve with you, to help stabilize this galaxy."

Garin's eyes narrowed, "I can't believe I just heard that."

"Good, because you didn't, if any of this conversation goes anywhere beyond this room I guarantee that you will not lost a week within the Empire."

Garin wondered if Thrawn was threatening him or warning him; he wasn't entirely certain which it was and nor was he sure he wanted to find out.

"What do you have in mind Admiral?"

"That will have to wait, and so will you. Wait for my return Commander, and I will show you something worth fighting and dying for that will put all your doubts at ease."

With that, Thrawn walked past Garin, leaving him alone in the massive office with its hundreds of art pieces wondering just what he'd gotten himself into when he'd survived Russani.

"So what do we do?" Toth asked.

"There isn't much we can do," Kalan said gloomily, Matrin nodded agreement.

"I might have something to help Captain Arusi at least," Daru spoke up quietly.

She was the only one of the assembled group that wasn't an officer, or a human. The fact that she was in the officers lounge had not gone unnoticed either, but when you're sitting with a group of sullen veterans nursing their drinks, even officers tend to leave you be.

"What do you have in mind?" Harth asked, his interest in the conversation rekindled.

"The missile boats, they're being put into storage right? Did they say what state they have to be in?"

Everyone blinked and exchanged looks, finally Vic'que spoke up. "Alright tails, what do you have in mind?"

"Delay the turn over, give my people a month to strip down the missile boats and file some requisitions and I think I can give you something."

"How do you expect us to delay Stele and his boys?" Matrin asked dubiously, "they're like sand panthers, watching everything the rest of unit does."

It was true; in the week since Stele and Shrike squadron had been assigned to Hades a definite 'new versus old' schism had formed. Thankfully Stele hadn't tried to transfer anyone out of the unit, Garin wasn't sure he could have protected the Shrikes or Stele from the already hostile crew in that scenario.

"I'll deal with Stele," Vic'que said with an unusually pleased smile.

Toth eyed her questioningly. "Why are you so helpful? For that matter, why are you drinking with us, I thought you hated most of the assembled."

"I don't particularly like any of you; Stele is much more to my liking. However I am part of this unit, and even I can tell when something needs to be done. None of the options for the missile boat's replacement are acceptable," she fixed Daru with a cool stare, Daru returned it silently. "If you can give us an option more suitable to our unit, then I will do everything I can to keep Stele occupied and distracted."

"You aren't going to sleep with him are you?" Matrin asked, suddenly looking very disturbed.

Everyone looked from Matrin to Vic'que disbelievingly who shrugged as she sipped her drink. "I was raised to be a give away prize in a genetic pool. This is hardly demeaning if it benefits us in the long run."

Garin looked at his drink, and wished he'd ordered a double or three, things seemed to be spiraling out of his control and he couldn't see how this was going to get better. Even Vic'que was being helpful.