Thrawn was waiting for them in the hangar bay, a helmet tucked under one arm, his white uniform partially concealed by an armored chest plate. Standing in watchful flanking positions on either side were four death troopers. He'd wished for Linnia to join him, to make this personable, but as always, that could not be done in the face of the mission. He was taking sizable risks, meeting with Eli the defector, and another of his kind, and his calculations fared meager chances of recovering with the emperor. But something in him just didn't care.

Ar'Alani stepped off the ship, Vanto in tow behind her. Thrawn swallowed, tears welling in the back of his eyes, but he'd become an expert at keeping them where they belonged. Her long dark hair was in a crisp ponytail high on her head, her lean figure confident in her white uniform. Eli had aged, a few wrinkles adorning his features, his hair shorter and slicked back. He looked chiss, his expression schooled, and Thrawn faltered a moment. He didn't look like Eli. His heart hammered in his chest. Had they ruined him?

"Admiral Ar'alani," Thrawn greeted Ar'alani gravely in Cheunh as she and Eli walked up to him. "It's good to see you again."

"And you, Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo," Ar'alani said, nodding. Her voice was studiously neutral. "I trust you are well?"

"I am," Thrawn assured her. "The Empire appreciates your assistance in defeating the Grysk warship."

"The Ascendancy was pleased to do so. I trust you suffered no casualties?"

"None" Thrawn said. "And you?"

"The same," Ar 'alani said.

Thrawn nodded; and finally, his eyes turned to Eli.

Eli stiffened to attention.

"Good day, Lieutenant Vanto," Thrawn said, nodding once with as much greeting as he could muster before turning back to Ar'alani. "We need to go to the observation post," he said, beckoning to her and Eli as he started toward his own waiting shuttle. "The boarding party has done its initial sweep. We should join them as quickly as possible."

"Of course," Ar'alani said, turning to follow. "Come, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Admiral," Eli said mechanically. They had broken him…

After examining the post and returning to his office, he found himself unable to focus on the task at hand. This was big, and covering it up would be difficult. There were many, many witnesses.

Ar'Alani had had the defensive look in her eye that she often had when sitting with a hostile leader for negotiations, but with the tears of a long lost friend hanging in them. Thrawn felt similarly. He didn't really know her anymore, it'd been ages since they spoken. Had she grown bitter, less patient with Thrawn's antics? Was she angry he hadn't returned? It'd been so long… he hadn't seen another Chiss in years, nevermind this Chiss, his closest friend. She was such a welcome sight, even the smell of her was something he hadn't realized he'd missed. The smell of a Chiss warship, the detergent the defense fleet used, all things he'd ignored for so long and now pined for. He wanted to go home. He wanted to speak his language and see Rentor and Csilla, and fight for his believes and his people. For so long the opportunity and acceptance the Empire offered covered his pain, his exhaustion. He'd become an admiral here, something the Chiss would never stand for back home. His hard work and tactics paid off here, unlike with the expansionary defense fleet, where politics would forever keep him from the recognition and merits he worked so hard for. But seeing her, seeing the ship… home was home, and the empty, clinical Empire could never remove him from the Chiss. He'd watched Ar' Alani, admired the tone of her skin and the glint in her red eyes… they were one and the same. She was his home. Thrawn found himself nervous by the interaction. Eli, in turn, didn't seem particularly pleased to see him. Was he too changed? Angry? They were two of the most important people in his life, had they lost interest? Grown irritated with past dealings and were annoyed to be back in his presence? Most did, and he wouldn't be overly surprised if they were. He knew he was a handful, and a burden to maintain on a political field. His social skills were subpar, and his allies herding him down the correct path wasn't something he was entirely ignorant about. Perhaps they decided keeping him at arms length was for the best.

He poured himself another glass of wine.

Did general Ba'Kif feel the same? Was he actually relieved to have Thrawn gone? He withered a bit in his armchair. Perhaps sending him away was their way of making him someone else's problem. They missed him, perhaps, but maybe they thought he was best being corralled by another, no longer theirs to take care of.

He felt like a fool, believing Ba'Kif and agreeing to this. It was a charade for him, but they were relieved to be rid of him, and disappointed he'd managed to wrangle his way back into their affairs. With time away from him their lives surely got easier, and they saw what a nuisance he had been, reluctant to take him back into their lives and with him the hassle of his presence. He felt himself flush. He was indeed a fool.

The following morning, Linnia met up with Thrawn after breakfast as Ar'Alani and Eli were coming about. They were to meet privately, without troopers or Ronan, who was in a meeting with Krennic for the next few hours. They arrived in a very small shuttle, and used the cargo bay to be more discreet. They weren't being secretive… they were just… keeping secrets.

Eli got off the ship, finding Thrawn and Linnia in the hustle and bustle.

He walked over to them, smiling at Linnia and embracing her. She laughed, embracing him back. But there was a desperation in his hold that made her want to push him away and ask him just what it was that was haunting him.

Ar'Alani got off the ship, and Eli released Linnia and straightened his uniform.

Thrawn began speaking in Cheunh, the words twisted and strangled compared to Basic.

Ar'Alani regarded Linnia thoughtfully, "I am Admiral Ar'Alani, its a pleasure to meet you." she said in a heavily accented tone. Linnia shook her hand. "I'm doctor linnia Renta. With what thrawn has told me of your work I feel truly honored to be working with you." She looked to Eli for a translation and Ar'Alani half smiled, her gaze holding. "Thank you."

Thrawn had his usual expression, but was unusually quiet. He was frozen, and Linnia frowned. It wasn't the time to shut down. Ar'Alani began chatting with Thrawn in what she assumed was cheunh, and Eli smiled to Linnia. "Let's leave them, they're going to be going on about military operation. Let's go catch up over some chow."

Linnia smirked and they walked to her quarters. The mess probably wasn't the best place for a deserter.

"I was surprised to see you."

She smirked. "Why's that?"

He shrugged, "ahh you know, Thrawn's just so warm and inviting."

She laughed. "He is to me. Compared to all the fakes I've had to deal with he's refreshing."

"I agree." Eli said, and she slid him a glass of juice.

He eyed her. "How's he been doing?"

She shrugged. "He's been far more reserved since you left. I think once you were gone he sort of felt that gap between strategy and politics very sharply. Still as brazen as ever though."

He laughed. "He has quite the reputation in the ascendancy."

She tilted her head.

"He was quite the handful there as well, I'm sure you can imagine. But the ascendancy is brutal in the political realm. Everything you do is a political decision. Who you look at first when you enter the room can lay down a grudge decades long. You can imagine Thrawn is like a wookie in a detonator ship. Even families are all politics, choosing who was worthy and not by their connections and abilities."

Linnia frowned. "Sounds fun."

"Oh it is," Eli said, his gaze falling to his glass.

"How are you doing with all that?"

He shrugged. "Alright."

"Ok, how are you actually doing with all that?"

He smirked, but it faded quickly. "I'm the odd one out, getting busy work in the back of the ship analyzing pointless data. I'm a political hell show, and they know it. I'm only brought out when its necessary."

She pursed her lips, pulling toast from the warmer and putting it on a plate for him.

"Have you spoken to Ar'Alani?"

He shook his head, "She's not Thrawn. She doesn't have time for my wishes or concerns."

"She just might not present herself that way but she might. She was friends with Thrawn for decades, she clearly has some patience."

Eli swirled his glass, "That's true."

She sat, pouring her own caff. "You could talk to Thrawn about it, too."

He shrugged, "Thrawn seems… preoccupied."

"He is, but he's missed you terribly. He'll gladly make time for you."

Eli shrugged, "Its just really nice to talk to a human again. To be a human again."