Chapter V
On one side of the airfield platform E-6 the Imperial armor units are neatly lined up while Stormtroopers and officers are lined up in formation on the opposite side. Standing between the two formations is the element commander for Tenth Army on Thakwaa, High Admiral Vince. The admiral swallows a lump of air in his throat as he watches a Lambda-class t-4a shuttle descending down onto platform E-6. The shuttles escorts, two TIE Interceptors, speed by low overhead to land on a seperate platform.
The shuttle touches down as the pressure relief valves hiss with steam. High Admiral Vince tries to steady his right hand from shaking as the shuttle ramp deploys. The Admiral swallows another lump of air as if trying to take a hard pill to the sight of Grand Admiral Thrawn walking down the ramp, with his two Death Troopers at his side pulling security. High Admiral Vince marches up to the Grand Admiral and solutes.
"Welcome Grand Admiral Thrawn," he says, "To Imperial Outpost 592B. Your visit is most unexpected, Grand Admiral."
Thrawn waves his blue hand in the air, "Save the formalities, Admiral. I'm here on official business sent by the Emperor." Thrawn motions for his guards to stay by the ship as he walks before the ranks towards the compound, High Admiral Vince walks beside him.
"The Emperor, Grand Admiral?" Vince asks, "May I ask what are his concerns on Thakwaa? There isn't another cycle scheduled after Tenth Army pulls out."
"The Emperor is generally concerned with all planetary systems. Especially when its occupants are showing resistance to the Empire. I am aware that one of your patrols has just recently been ambushed by unknown assailants."
High Admiral Vince coughs in his throat, "That would be true, Grand Admiral."
Thrawn stops, "Would be true? Are you questioning me, High Admiral Vince?"
"N-No, Grand Admiral. It is true."
"I have been prepared for this attack before you ever were. Why do you think I sent the order to increase your patrols?"
"Because our security was lacking, Grand Admiral."
"No. Because I knew it would draw your attackers out from the shadows. I wanted them to resist, and they did as planned."
The High Admiral shakes his head, "But the bodies of the alleged fighters were never found, Grand Admiral."
Thrawn starts to walk towards the compound again.
"True. Their demise was not a guarantee, but they did leave their mark and with it a trail of clues."
"Sir?"
"Take me to where the attack took place and I will show you."
"Of course, Grand Admiral."
Little of the street remained where the insurgents attacked the patrol. Thrawn's TIE fighters destroyed much of the street and Tunka City. Thrawn's white uniform stands out as he walks up to the two destroyed tanks with High Admiral Vince and his Death Troopers alongside. Stormtroopers pull security around the street in case of another attack by the rebels. Thakwaash civilians who saw the attack firsthand are being interrogated by officers and protocol droids who help translate Thakwaese to Basic.
High Admiral Vince gives Thrawn an overview on what happened in the skirmish. He tells him that three troopers were killed by a landmine, the rest died by blaster shot or trauma. The tanks were destroyed by grenades.
Thrawn stands up straight after closely observing the destroyed vehicles. "The first tank was tank was destroyed by a grenade, that part is true." Thrawn observes. "However the trailing tank, was not."
"How then, Grand Admiral?" Vince asks.
"The tank was destroyed through the cockpit. A grenade could easily destroy the tank from it, however the apparent blast radius from the impact is much larger than any simple hand grenade. No, this was made by a cannon shot. And judging by the position of the tanks gun, this was self inflicted."
Admiral Vince becomes confused, "But that doesn't make sense. Why would the gunner have shot his own vehicle?"
"He didn't. He had no control of the weapons system." Thrawn looks over the tanks turret and notices a shocking detail. "There is scoring around the turrets rim, implying mechanical failure."
Vince scoffs, "But these tanks are brand new, just recently manufactured. This was the first time they were even used."
"The only other solution is that the turret, and the gun, were moved by force. The question is: how?"
A Thakwaash escorted by a lieutenant and a black Imperial protocol droid approach High Admiral Vince. The lieutenant solutes and says, "Sir, one of the bystanders saw the attackers flee and can identify what they were."
The Thakwaash speaks its native tongue and the protocol droid listens intently. Thrawn doesn't look, but he listens to them from the tanks.
"There were six of them." the protocol droid translates, "all carried blasters. One, a Thakwaash wearing a pilots jacket and could speak Basic." The Thakwaash speaks some more and the droid translates. "Another, a green Rodian alongside three humans. Two of them, a male and female who had black hair, the last one was shoroaded with a mask, but by it's stature she guessed to have been a male. Finally, the last one was a female wearing a hooded cloak, however she could tell it was a Togruta."
Admiral Vince looks at the protocol droid, "Ask where they went."
The droid complies and translates to the Thakwaash, to which she answered. "She says they ran out of the city and into the plains."
"Two troopers were found dead near the plains, clearly they encountered them." Admiral Vince thinks, "That will be all."
The Thakwaash, droid, and lieutenant leave as Thrawn walks up to Vince. "Are there any recent accounts of petty crimes before the attack?" Thrawn asks - or demands.
"Yes, Grand Admiral. A lieutenant reported his code cylinder had been stolen the night before the attack at a local cantina."
"Did he identify the thief?"
"Yes, it was a female Togruta. Do you think the theft and attack are related, Grand Admiral?"
Thrawn strokes his chin as he thinks, "Togrutas are not native to Thakwaa or anywhere in the Tunka Sector. She was an off worlder. The Thakwaash are not known to make friends with off worlders, therefore it is unlikely she was housed at any local estate. However, she could find shelter at hotels, particularly ones where she can maintain a low profile."
Thrawn sees something lying off to the side of the street, when he walks up to it he finds its a partially ruined sign. Thrawn is still able to make out what the sign says: Jarvana. He looks at the building where the sign once hung over the door. The building still holds most it's structural integrity, at least the ground and first floor still stand.
"What was this building?" Thrawn asks without facing Vince.
Vince thinks, "A hotel I believe. It is possible the Togruta stayed there."
"Very good, High Admiral. The hotel is discrete and if she stayed on one of upper floors she would have an overhead view of the street. Allowing her to get to know the scheduled patrol pattern. The hotel owner would have a log book of who rented out the rooms. Now the question is: who was she?"
Thrawn motions for Vince and his Death Troopers to follow him into what remained of Jarvana's lobby. Inside the old Thakwaash, Jarvana, sits behind his desk drinking away at a bottle of ale, he does not look at all pleased to see his Imperial guests. He growls at them, "You and your Empire destroyed my hotel. Do you have any idea what it will cost to repair it? I want the Empire to pay consultation!"
Admiral Vince dots his eyebrows in disgust of the greedy hotel owner. "He speaks Basic. Just as the Thakwaash said. He is behind the attack! Arrest him!"
"Come try it!" Jarvana half drunkenly taunts.
"Calm yourself, Admiral!" Thrawn demands, "The Thakwaash said she saw the attackers escape into the plains. And the Basic speaking Thakwaash was wearing a pilots jacket. He may have such jacket hidden away, but he is clearly too old to pull of an attack on two tanks." Thrawn gestures to his Death Troopers. "Search the building, report anything suspicious."
The Death Troopers do as ordered and search the hotels two levels. Thrawn steps up to Jarvana who takes another big swig from his bottle.
"Now." Thrawn says, "You are the hotels owner, and thereby must have a record book of all your hotels guests. Do you not?"
"I do." Jarvana agrees.
"Did you have any off world guests, specifically being, a Togruta female?"
"And so what if I did? I'm not just gonna hand over my customers information, it's bad business."
Thrawn smiles slightly, "But it's even worse business to be arrested by the Empire for alleged conspiracy. It's your choice. But know that if you do not comply, you will be arrested, and harshly interrogated in an Imperial prison."
Jarvana crosses his arms and groans, "I did. Her name was Sonya Larte, she checked out this morning."
The Death Troopers return from their search finding nothing. Thrawn motions for them and Admiral Vince to leave. As they exit they hear Jarvana call out asking who was going to pay for the damages. But Thrawn only thanks him for his compliance.
"We have a name, Sonya Larte." Vince says stepping out into the street, "We will post bulletins out for her arrest."
"You may, Admiral." Thrawn says cooly, "But you will find no one."
"Grand Admiral?"
Thrawn cunningly smiles, "Because Sonya Larte doesn't exist. That is not our assailants actual name."
High Admiral Vince asks again, "Grand Admiral?"
"Very interesting she chose the name 'Sonya Larte'."
"I don't understand, sir."
"Of course you don't. Not long ago on the moon known as 'Raada', Imperial forces arrested and interrogated a girl named Kaeden Larte for leading an uprising against the Empire on the desolate moon. She was severely injured during interrogation, and she escaped with the help of a Jedi. She, some farmers, and the Jedi escaped Raada, their whereabouts unknown. I believe the Togruta that used Kaeden Larte's name, is actually the Jedi that helped Larte escape, and has foolishly used her name as an alias. Don't you see, High Admiral Vince? It was a Jedi that destroyed the tank, and she is still on the planet. Hiding in the plains with her band of rebels."
Admiral Vince is awestruck, "That's incredible. We will heighten our security and cease transit on and off world. She will not escape."
"See to it that you do. I will further reinforce Tenth Army from my Seventh Fleet to enhance your search. The rebels game is becoming very short."