Chapter XXXIX

Darth Vader returned to the Executor accompanied with Mara Jade, whatever his intentions with her is unknown to Thrawn. The Grand Admiral on the other hand, returned to the Chimaera to sit at his desk and compile record accounts of the past several days to be stored in his private files for later review.

Captain Pellaeon joins Thrawn as they walk to his study. Pellaeon admires Thrawn's calm and collective persona given his mutual cooperation with Lord Vader. The Captain is well aware of Vader's often cruel leadership, he knows of men under Vader's command who were executed for minor offenses.

"This Rebellion is finished then?" Captain Pellaeon asks.

Thrawn nods slowly, "Indeed, and the Jedi both Light and Dark with it."

"Then we will be leaving this system I take it?"
"In time, yes."

The Stormtrooper commander standing at the door of Thrawn's study comes to attention as Thrawn opens the door. The two walk in to find sitting comfortably at Thrawn's desk, is Grand Moff Tarkin.

Thrawn bows courteously, "Moff Tarkin, your presence is unexpected. To what do I owe the honor?"

"A word in private, may we?" Tarkin asks cooly.

"Of course."

Thrawn nods towards Pellaeon implying for him to leave, to which the Captain graciously obides. Thrawn waits for the door to slide shut behind Pellaeon before approaching Tarkin. Moff Tarkin clasps his hands together and leans into Thrawn's desk.

While maintaining a stern face, Tarkin says, "I wanted to personally congratulate you on your victory against the Rebellion."

"I appreciate the compliment, Moff Tarkin. However, this Rebellion is far from finished. Granted their leadership has been dismantled, but their forces have been dispersed around the galaxy in individual cells. With their leadership gone, they have lost their ability to effectively organize as a whole. They're next move will be to go into hiding for a short time, but they will resurface. Question is, when?"

"And to whom they will rally to next." Tarkin adds.

Thrawn is aware it is not like Moff Wilhuff Tarkin to be here in person to simply congratulate him and discuss the Rebellion's next move, there must be another reason for his visit. Otherwise he wouldn't have had Captain Pellaeon leave the room, and he may not wish to share via hologram at the risk of it being tapped into by the Rebels.

Thrawn says nonchalantly, "There is another reason however for this meeting, is there not?"

"Indeed there is. The Emperor himself wishes to personally accommodate you for your retaliation following the battle on Thakwaa, and the discovery of an uncharted system in the Imperial database."

"I shall be returning to Coruscant then?"

Tarkin nods slowly, confirming Thrawn's question.

Thrawn thinks for a moment before asking, "And what of the Inquisitors? Will they be accompanying me to Coruscant?"

"No. Rather, I have requested Lord Vader for the assistance of the Grand Inquisitor in handling the of another Jedi." Tarkin frowns a bit more, clearly frustrated by the matter. "This one resurfacing in the spice mines of Kessel, on a mission to liberate the Wookies I had sent as a work detail."

"I see." Thrawn nods, "Then I shall ready the Chimaera to depart for Coruscant."

Tarkin sits up straight, "On the contrary, the entire Seventh Fleet will moablaize to Coruscant. The Emperor wishes to address your staff for their part in this victory. As we speak, I have detached elements of my fleet to this system, to set up a blockade in the absence of your fleet."

"With all do respect, Moff Tarkin, a blockade may not be necessary. It is unlikely the Rebel cells will return to the planet, given their communication with their base - or what was once there base - has been severed, they wouldn't dare perform a recovery mission at the risk of a now possible Imperial presence."

Tarkin gets up, walks around the desk, and stands beside Thrawn.

"A valid argument, however the blockade is an assurance that the these Rebels will think twice on returning." Tarkin turns to face the door. "There is one more thing."

Thrawn stares into the pale blue eyes of Tarkin, his curiosity raised.

"What I am going to tell you must not leave this room."

Thrawn nods, his curiosity now peaked.

"The woman Lord Vader brought onto the Executor from the planets surface, she is to be brought with the Seventh Fleet to Coruscant, in secret. You are to personally deliver her to the Emperor with no questions asked. By no means, is anyone to know of her presence."

Thrawn cunningly smiles, "As you wish, Grand Moff Tarkin. I will ready the Seventh Fleet for departure."

"See to it you do. The woman will be transported to the Chimaera under the pretense of a Rebel taken prisoner."

The Grand Inquisitor stares out of the viewport of the Executor's bridge, quietly marveling the sheer size and power of Darth Vader's ship. A Lambda-class shuttle departs from one of the hangars and moves towards the Chimaera. He closes his eyes to feel the Force of Panatha bellow before they depart from the system.

From behind, Captain Piett walks along the catwalk and up to the Grand Inquisitor.

"Grand Inquisitor," Captain Piett gets his attention, "You have a transmission awaiting you. The call is transmitting from the Lothal System and by an Agent Kallus, who requests to speak to you only."

The Grand Inquisitor opens his eyes, "Clear the Security Foyer."

"As you wish."

Captain Piett turns around to clear the Security Foyer as the Grand Inquisitor ordered. Moments later the Grand Inquisitor enters the dark and empty empty room adjacent the bridge and steps up to the holotable in the middle.

A hologram of an Imperial Agent appears in the middle of the holotable. The Grand Inquisitor bows his head and closes his eyes, his hands clasped behind his back and under his lightsaber.

"Excuse the intrusion, Inquisitor, but in the course of my duties I have encountered a Rebel cell, the leader of that cell made good use, of a lightsaber."

"Ah, Agent Kallus, you did well to call."