15. Mitth'raw'nuruodo Return's
"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job." Winston Churchill
Deep within the Unknown Regions is the headquarters of the Empire of the Hand is based on a planet called Nirauan, with the fortress call the Hand of Thrawn.
Within this fortress is a fully equipped command centre and library with all the information on not only the Empire of the Hand, but also other information as well.
Thrawn's Quarters
Hand of Thrawn fortress, ten years after Thrawn's death during the Battle of Bilbringi.
The commander of the Hand of Thrawn fortress who is also the commander of Thrawn's own personnel Household Phalanx guard, Chiss Commander Kres'ten'tarthi, with General Fel being his nominal superior officer while Admiral Parck is not present.
As such Commander Kres'ten'tarthi can always be found in the command centre of the Hand of Thrawn fortress monitoring what is going on.
A Chiss engineer monitoring the power levels notices a strange power fluctuation, and says, "Commander I have a power fluctuation on grid nine."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi calls up the information on his display and replies, "Reroute that power grid and get maintenance onto it."
The Chiss engineer replies, "Yes sir" and then tries to carry out the orders, but the engineer is unable and then says, "Commander, I am unable to reroute grid nine, as the main computer says I have insufficient clearance to do so."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi checks what the operators has just told him and he confirms that it is true, Commander Kres'ten'tarthi then uses his own command codes to reroute grid nine, this also fails, at this time General Fel enters the command centre.
General Fel leans over Commander Kres'ten'tarthi shoulder to see what the problem is, seeing that there is a power drain grid nine, General Fel moves to his own station and get a more detailed view of the problem.
After several minutes General Fel suddenly discovers where the power drain from grid nine is originating from, Thrawn's own quarters, in the Hand of Thrawn fortress, Commander Kres'ten'tarthi has also reach the same conclusion as well. Both of them look at each other, with both of them coming to the same unspoken conclusion, that Thrawn's quarters had been sealed ten years ago on his death. When Thrawn was, last at his fortress he had told Admiral Parck that he would return ten years after his death and Thrawn always kept his word.
Admiral Parck was well aware of Teshik's efforts in rebuilding the Empire, but Admiral Parck was not interested in Teshik's efforts, only in carrying out Thrawn's final orders. Since Thrawn's death ten years ago, the Empire of the Hand had explored the equivalent to the size of fifty sectors, expanding the size of the explored space equivalent to 250 sectors in size, an impressive achievement.
Even though the forces of the Empire of the Hand where small (equivalent to two full Sector Groups in numbers of ship), the Empire of the Hand has its own shipbuilding facilities. Admittedly, they are very small but they do provide the necessary replacement ships and new ships for the Empire of the Hand.
Now just after the tenth anniversary of Thrawn's death his quarters where showing signs of activation and the bases computers are not allowing the power demands to be shut down without the use of Thrawn's own command codes.
General Fel is the first to speak, he says, "Commander Kres'ten'tarthi come with me please and bring two guards."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi replies, "Yes sir" and indicates to two Chiss guards to follow them.
A short distance later, all four of them are at Thrawn's quarters that have been sealed since his death ten years ago, Commander Kres'ten'tarthi breaks the seal, then enters followed by General Fel, with the two Chiss guards remaining outside.
After looking around Thrawn's quarters in silence, neither of them can find the reason for the power drain in Thrawn's quarters, as all the equipment appears to be turned off, Commander Kres'ten'tarthi says, "What now?"
A mechanical voice says, "Identity recognised, access granted" with that a secret entrance opens up, with a blast of dust coming out of the opening, General Fel and Commander Kres'ten'tarthi exchange glances, then enter.
As they both descend, General Fel manages to discover and then deliberately trip a conner net that he sees just in time. A conner net is a small net that can be used as traps against intruders. In this application, they can be lethal.
General Fel and Commander Kres'ten'tarthi now proceed more slowly downwards, soon they will discover Thrawn's secret cloning chamber.
Thrawn's Cloning Chamber
General Fel and Commander Kres'ten'tarthi run into two more of the disguised conner nets along the way, both of which General Fel insisted on tripping and disposing of, though Commander Kres'ten'tarthi was not convinced that that was necessary but on the other hand he could not see how it could hurt, either. If the first net hadn't triggered any reaction and there is no indication that it had, then taking down the other two probably wouldn't do anything, either and at least it gave the service droids something to do, that back out of their way.
As they both went deeper, the background hum had also increased as they travelled down the tunnel, reaching a volume where Commander Kres'ten'tarthi could definitely tell it was coming from above them. They are now both directly under the fortress's huge power generator undoubtedly sealed safely away inside solid rock beyond their reach this would explain the power tap into grid nine, this area must have been constructed when the fortress was first built.
Eventually, after perhaps another hundred meters or so, the tunnel ended in a large, well-lit room. General Fel and Commander Kres'ten'tarthi both stood together at the archway entrance.
General Fel states, "I knew he'd have a place like this stashed away. Even in his own fortress, hidden away from his own people. I just knew it, but until now I did not know where it was."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi nodded silently in agreement with General Fel, gazing into the chamber. It was roughly circular, dome-shaped at the top, sixty meters across at the base, and a good ten high at the centre, all carved out of solid rock. A three-meter-wide ring of tiled floor ran around the outer edge at the level of the tunnel, dropping then a meter down to the main floor, which was also tiled. Five meters up the sides, behind a protective railing, a balcony deeply indented into the rock ran two-thirds of the way around the room, its inner walls lined with electronic equipment.
On the main floor to their far right was a more modest version of the command centre on the upper floor of the Hand of Thrawn fortress. This one was only a single ring of consoles, cantered not on a galactic holo but on the wide, squat cylinder of a super storage library/computer information base. Again, as in the fortress above, a handful of glowing lights indicated the equipment was waiting patiently for orders, now that the equipment was activate. The rest of the main floor was empty except for a row of furniture lined up against one edge of the raised walkway beneath a plastic sheet.
From the first moment they had entered the room, General Fel's full attention was focused on the deep alcove coming off the main room over to their left. Sealed there behind a solid transparisteel wall was a complete cloning apparatus: a Spaarti cylinder wrapped in nutrient tubes and flash-learning cables, surrounded by support equipment. All of it tied into a humming fusion generator and floating gently in the centre of the cylinder, asleep or perhaps not even yet truly alive is a blue-skinned adult humanoid, a humanoid with an exceptionally familiar, if a much younger face.
Grand Admiral Thrawn.
For several monuments, they both just stand there looking at the Spaarti cloning cylinders occupant.
General Fel facing the Spaarti cloning cylinder says quietly, "Ten years, just like you said," Speaking to the clone of Thrawn floating in the Spaarti cylinder, then pausing for a moment again, and says, "He said that he'd return in ten years, he always kept his word."
Then General Fel suddenly laughs aloud, realizing what Thrawn had just achieved and says, "The old fraud" the words that General Fel mutters are in sharp contrast to the awe General Fel that could see in Commander Kres'ten'tarthi eye's. General Fel could sympathize, the alcove and its occupant where intimidating in their subtle grandeur, and in their equally quiet threat that the occupant of the cloning cylinder posed to the Empires enemies. Not only that what is could mean for the Empire of the Hand.
General Fel was now looking at the controls, but not touching them, says, "Look like Thrawn had the cycle set on a ten-year timer and just reset it back to zero every time he dropped by for a visit, along with updating the flash teach equipment with a scan of his updated memories. Looks like we now know what triggered the power surge on grid nine. As this small power generator is enough to power this single Spaarti cylinder for decades, but the reawakening requires much more power. This much be what Thrawn meant by 'awaiting his signal' very clever."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi who seemed to come out of his daze, says, "We need to get him out of there."
General Fel who is still looking at the controls says, "Agreed, a clone of Thrawn is still Thrawn, especially with Thrawn's memories, even if they are ten years out of date. Commander Kres'ten'tarthi go a fetch some help, but do not broadcast what we have found down here, only get a few people to start with, along with the necessary medical equipment."
Just as Commander Kres'ten'tarthi is about to reply, General Fel adds, "Put the base on alert, just to be on the safe side, have the fortresses shield raised."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi replies, "Yes sir." With that Commander Kres'ten'tarthi heads for the stairs back to the entrance, still in a daze about what they have discovered.
One Hour Later
A small team of a dozen medics and engineers are very carefully examining the Spaarti cloning cylinder and the flash teach equipment, along with the apparently large amount of information stored in the flash teach memory banks than would be normal for a clone.
One of the medics speculates that Thrawn uploaded a full scan of his brain this would give his clone the full life experiences of Thrawn, making the clone exactly like Thrawn up to ten years ago.
After several more hours, the small team is confident that the awakening process should be allowed to proceed, General Fel says, "Very well proceed awaken Thrawn."
With that order the small team of a dozen medics and engineers, activate the Spaarti cloning cylinder, the process of awakening does not take long, the Spaarti cloning cylinder drains the liquid suspending the clone of Thrawn, then downloads Thrawn's memories into the body.
After the process is completed, the medics lift Thrawn out the Spaarti cloning cylinder onto a medical gurney and start a medical examination of Thrawn's vital signs. Several minutes later one of the medics turns to General Fel and says, "Sir, the life signs are stable, I would recommend allowing him to awaken at his own pace."
General Fel breathes a sigh of relief, along with Commander Kres'ten'tarthi, General Fel ask, "How long until Thrawn awakens?"
The medic replies, "Anytime from a few minutes to a few hours. We will continue to monitor until he is awake."
General Fel says, "Good, Commander Kres'ten'tarthi, we will need Admiral Parck here as soon as possible, can you see to the arrangements and then return here?"
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi replies, "Yes sir I will" and leaves to makes the arrangements for Admiral Parck to come to the Hand of Thrawn fortress as quickly as possible.
Shortly afterwards, a courier ship departs from the Hand of Thrawn fortress, for Admiral Parck's current location within the Empire of the Hand.
Two Hours Later
Slowly Thrawn awakens and looks around the room, observing who is present and there expressions then Thrawn says in his usual tone, "So I was dead then?" this is more of a statement than a question.
Even so, General Fel responds, "Yes sir"
Thrawn then nods slightly and says, "A lot must have happened in the past ten years" indicating that the clone of Thrawn realizes how long it has been since the original Thrawn's death.
General Fel responds again, "Yes sir, a lot has changed. I would suggest for the moment you rest and let the medics check you out, Admiral Parck is on his way back here now."
Thrawn responds, "Good work General, once the medics have given me a clean bill of health you can start briefing me on what has happen since my 'leave of absence' over the past ten years."
General Fel replies, "I will start preparations right away, sir." Then leaves to begin perpetrations to explain Thrawn's return to Admiral Parck first.
Then the much more difficult task of explaining that Teshik has rebuilt the Empire and the so called New Republic has been crushed.
General Fel also will prepare a briefing from Grand Admiral Thrawn on the events of the past ten years the briefing will consist of a summery and a more detailed version.
When General Fel returns to the cloning chamber, he find that Thrawn is now dressed in his Grand Admirals uniform, General Fel can't help but smile at Thrawn in his uniform, this will give much need hope to the remains of the Empire.
Grand Admiral Thrawn, looks as General Fel and says, "General rebuilding the Empire this time will not be as easy as it was ten years ago, I assume the after my death the various Imperial factions either briefly united then started fighting amongst themselves again?"
General Fel replies, "No Admiral Grand Admiral Teshik has rebuilt the Empire, the New Republic has been crushed, Grand Admiral Teshik commands a vast Imperial military war machine. As we speak it is still expanding at a very rapid rate, even after the New Republic was crushed."
Grand Admiral Thrawn eyes narrow then he says, "Let move to my quarters and mu own briefing room, you can fill be in on the highlights of what has happened after that."
General Fel replies, "Yes sir" and walks with Grand Admiral Thrawn towards the stairs that lead to Thrawn's quarters, General Fel continues, "After a year of civil war the Emperor returned in a clone."
Half way up the stairs, Grand Admiral Thrawn says, "So the Emperor did have another cloning facility" then thinking for a few moment Thrawn asks, "I assume it was on Byss?"
General Fel replies, "Yes sir, it was, however Byss was destroyed" then as they slowly make there was up the stairs General Fel continues to fill Grand Admiral Thrawn on what has happened after that. By the time, the two of them have reached Thrawn's quarters and his briefing room General Fel has finished his summery of the events over the past ten years.
Over the next seven days General Fel gives a much more detailed briefing of not only what has happened over the past ten years but also the state of the Empire of the Hand and state of exploration of the Unknown Regions.
On hearing, the news of Grand Admiral Teshik victory over the New Republic, Thrawn's only comment is one word "useful" this was not the reaction, General Fel was expecting from Thrawn. Between these briefings, Thrawn has been studying his holographic art collection, along with the bios of those who are now leading the Empire and the New Rebel Alliance.
Thrawn says to General Fel, "This victory over the New Republic is very good, as it will allow much more freedom of movement then if we are still at war. I should be able to come to some terms with Grand Admiral Teshik, after all we have worked well together and from what I can gather Teshik has also cloned himself another body, so Teshik should understand why I did this."
General Fel replies, "Yes sir, should I prepare a ship for your meeting with Grand Admiral Teshik?"
Thrawn says to General Fel, "All in good time General, first thing is first, Admiral Parck will be arriving soon, then after that I will seek out Grand Admiral Teshik then we can start to move forward."
General Fel does not bother to push Thrawn on this matter and replies, "Yes sir"
After that, the rest of the senior command staff of the Hand of Thrawn fortress is informed of Thrawn's return.
Thrawn's Quarters
Back in his quarters, Thrawn has been thinking about how effective Admiral Parck has been at carrying out his orders, along with how to approach Grand Admiral Teshik, now that Teshik commands the entire Imperial military.
What Thrawn does not know is that Grand Admiral Teshik has discovered the location of the Hand of Thrawn Fortress and is on his way, Teshik's command squadron should arrive a few days after Admiral Parck has arrived in the Imperial class star destroyer Admonitor.
Two Grand Admirals are always better than one.
Nineteen Days Later
On the bridge of the Night Hammer Grand Admiral Teshik was watching the countdown for the moment when the Night Hammer and her escort ship drop out of hyperspace in orbit around a planet identified as Nirauan, the location of Thrawn's base of operations within the Unknown Regions.
Teshik thinks to himself, this base is really, well hidden, as it took me several years of investigation to find it though that is typical of Thrawn in preferring misdirection rather that direct confrontation to keep something secret.
As Hammer Squadron drops out of hyperspace, with the Night Hammer, coming out of hyperspace first, followed by the Eleemosynary and finally the 4 Victory II class star destroyers.
Grand Admiral Teshik is standing looking out of the bridge windows, can see the planet Nirauan ahead of them, he turns slightly towards Captain Frisk and asks, "Status report captain."
Captain Frisk who has been looking at his display at his command station replies, "Admiral, scans indicate that there is a lone Imperial class star destroyer in orbit, the star destroyer appears to be in geostationary orbit about a heavily shielded base. The shield appears to extend several kilometres beyond the base providing an 'umbrella' of protection for that part of the planet as well. The shield is strong enough to withstand the strongest bombardment even from a full broadside from the Night Hammer at close range."
Several of the pit crews look up from there stations as very few planets defence shields can withstand a sustained bombardment from the Night Hammers armament for very long.
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "Communications, hail both the base and the star destroyer, tell them Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik wishes to speak to the senior officer present."
From the communications pit, the communications officer replies, "Aye sir, sending now."
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "Helm keep our distance, do not close any further, have the other ships also maintain their distance."
From the Helm comes the reply, "Aye sir."
Hammer Squadron steadily comes to a complete stop, well outside of both sides weapons range.
Hand of Thrawn Fortress
When Hammer Squadron dropped out of hyperspace, this set of the bases automated battle alert, it took only a few moments for Thrawn, General Fel, Admiral Parck and Commander Kres'ten'tarthi to reach the fortresses control room.
Thrawn's first reaction to the all black Executor class star dreadnought is "fascinating".
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi reports, "The ships IFF identifies it as the Night Hammer, Grand Admiral Teshik command ship and from the identities of the other warships, this appears to be the warships of Hammer Squadron as well."
Thrawn in a matter of fact tone says, "Well this saves us the bother of finding Teshik."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi reports, "The Night Hammer is hailing they are asking to speak to the commander of this facility."
Thrawn says nothing for a few moments then says, "I will deal with this, put them through to me."
Commander Kres'ten'tarthi replies, "Yes sir" then responds to the hail from the Night Hammer.
Night Hammer
On the bridge, Grand Admiral Teshik is awaiting the response, from the communications pit the officer says, "Sir, transmission coming in from the planet"
Teshik says, "Put it through"
In front of Teshik the holographic image of Grand Admiral Thrawn appears, from around the bridge there are a series of muffled gasps, even Captain Frisk is surprised by Thrawn appearance. Only Teshik seems unmoved by Thrawn appearing in front of him.
Thrawn says, "Greetings Grand Admiral Teshik, you seem to have done very well during my absence."
Teshik replies, "Greetings Grand Admiral Thrawn, I have made some progress in dealing with the so call New Republic." That is an understatement!
Thrawn says, "Indeed, I request permission to come onboard the Night Hammer, we have much to discuss?"
Teshik replies, "Permission granted"
Night Hammer, One Hour Later
The discussions between Teshik and Thrawn are short, both of them acknowledge that they are clones and that working together would be much better than fighting each other, as they had done in the past.
This time the roles will be reversed, with Teshik the public face of the Empire and Thrawn remaining in the shadows, at the same time Thrawn will continue the work to expand the Empire of the Hand, with Teshik providing resources that are coming directly to him from the CSA. These resources will allow Thrawn to expand the numbers of ships exploring the Unknown Regions in addition several deep ranged mining operations will be set up.
On one final point Teshik informs Thrawn of an extra-galactic threat that the Emperor informed Teshik about when Teshik was onboard the Death Star II at Endor, Teshik states that this alien force is preparing to invade the galaxy, though Teshik is unsure when this alien invasion will commence.
Thrawn is intrigued by this new threat, though the information that Teshik provides to Thrawn is limited, it is enough for Thrawn to begin to work on tactics to deal with this alien this alien threat. The other bit of information is that the members of the Imperial Council are unaware of this impending invasion, as the aliens have placed spies with several Imperial Council staff without the council member's knowledge.
Thrawn agrees that the minimum number of senior Imperial officers that need to be informed should be kept to a bare minimum and that none of the Imperial Council members should be informed that he is alive. As the Imperial Council Members, are very "leaky" when it comes to keeping secrets.
Teshik also informs Thrawn of the existence of Sanctuary Base along with the project that the Emperor gave Teshik, that is nearing and operational state.
Once Teshik has neutralized the new Rebel Alliance, he will be free to focus on this alien threat.
Both Grand Admirals have spare clone body's, either ready for use or soon to be ready in Thrawn's case either or both of them are killed.
To be continued.