Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
DarkerEvening: The Alliance has transmission stations set up on either side of the wormhole between the galaxies that allow communication between galaxies at great speed.
Rico: I'm working on some designs for new starfighters right now. They'll be revealed soon enough. And no, I don't plan on Imperial remnants having escaped to a new galaxy.
Sky: Well, she doesn't really need a political science degree. She already knows enough. And no, no further Andromeda planets have joined the Alliance since 2019.
Peter Hong Kong: I won't really be showing the Colossus anymore. Just wanted to mention it. As for Inferno Squad, I'm guessing you haven't read the other Terran Alliance stories I've written. I highly recommend you do, or some parts of this one won't make sense. If you haven't read them, I suggest you go read them. The three I most recommend in order to understand later parts of this story are titled are as follows: The Terran and the Mandalorian, The Terran Alliance: The Dark Soldier, and The Terran Alliance: The Odyssey.
Chapter 10- The Admirals
(May 20, 2049)
In the back of his work vehicle, Fleet Admiral Jonathan Page shuts the file he's been reading through as the vehicle comes to a halt. Looking out of the window, he sees that his driver hs parked just outside a small, one story house.
"Alright, Admiral. Here we are," Page's driver says.
"Thank you, Derek. Go ahead and just wait out here. I don't think I'll be here for too long," Jonathan says. He then opens the back door and steps out of the car. Jonathan then heads up the short walk up to the front door of the house. As he reaches the door, he knocks once to show he's there before just opening the door and walking into the house. He knows the occupant well enough that he can just walk in when he wants.
"Hello?"
"In the living room," a female's voice calls out.
Jonathan heads into the front living room, where a nurse, a woman in her early 30s, is waiting for him. "Miss Peters," Jonathan greets the nurse politely, shaking her hand.
"You came at a perfect time. He's just in the kitchen eating," Nurse Peters says.
"Good. How is he doing?" Jonathan asks her.
"He's doing alright, all things considered. Of course, he tires very easily. However, he hasn't had any major problems for the last week or so," Nurse Peters says. She then gestures towards the dining room and says, "Go ahead. He's waiting for you."
Jonathan nods in respect before he walks into the dining room. As he enters, he sees a blue-skinned man, weighed down and physically changed by very old age, slowly and carefully eating his lunch.
"Admiral Thrawn," Jonathan says with a smile.
Thrawn sets down his fork and knife and looks over at Jonathan. "Admiral Page," Thrawn says, only the faintest of smiles on his face. Thrawn was now in his early 90s, having lived longer than many Chiss. Thrawn had continued to serve as a Grand Admiral within the Starfleet for a long time after Galactic Civil War. Thrawn had held multiple commands, and at one point, had served as the Chairman of the Joint Command. He had hung onto his service as long as he could but eventually the General Assembly declared, when Thrawn was in his 70s, that he had to retire. However, Thrawn had continued to serve as an unofficial advisor for years.
However, now, Thrawn is confined mostly to home. Having lived longer than usual for a Chiss male, he was afflicted with many medical conditions that, combined with the aftereffects of a stroke two years ago, left him unable to just live on his own. For the last two years since his stroke, he had had to have a live-in nurse to help him through his daily life.
"How are you feeling, Admiral?" Jonathan says respectfully to his mentor. Throughout his last years in the Hammer Squadron and during his years as an Admiral, Thrawn had taken a greater interest in Jonathan. Over time, Thrawn had become something of a mentor to Jonathan. Jonathan had learned a lot about tactics and strategy and how to be a good admiral from Thrawn. After Thrawns' retirement, Jonathan had continued to share a professional, mentor-student relationship with Thrawn.
"You know if I was having a heart attack right now I may not tell you," Thrawn says with an air of humor.
"I know. You're stubborn as hell," Jonathan responds with a chuckle.
"How goes the situation in Andromeda?" Thrawn asks, cutting straight to business. Despite his retirement and sickly state, Thrawn has tried to be of as much help as he could to the Alliance during both the Grysk War and the rising tension with the First Order.
"Not so good. Honestly, it wouldn't be as bad if the New Republic would be willing to accept the truth that the First Order is hostile and wants to restore the Empire. But they are so stubbornly stuck in their mindset that they refuse to take action against the First Order. They are so desperate for peace they refuse to accept the possibility of war, or they sympathize with the First Order and are trying to prevent defensive action," Jonathan responds.
"Those who try to pretend a problem doesn't exist only make it worse," Thrawn mutters.
"Yep," Jonathan mutters. He pauses, then says, "The Admiralty and I have been torn on the matter. With the slow state of things in the Grysk War right now, we could possibly afford to divert fleet assets away from the war to be a deterrent in Andromeda…but if we keep them at home, it'll shorten the Grysk War. We have been going over this for months, but we just can't bring ourselves to divert any assets. Yet our fear is that we are making things worse for ourselves with the First Order."
"I taught you better than this, Jonathan. You should know better than to worry yourself such," Thrawn says with a slight smile on his face.
"I know, I know. You can only about the problems that are real and immediate. You can't afford to worry about hypothetical future problems," Jonathan mutters.
The two men sit in silence for a few moments before Jonathan asks, "Do you really think there's little way to predict the First Order's actions?"
"The unpredictability lies in the fact that we know so little of their leader, Snoke. It's already clear that despite being descended from the Empire and using many of their same ideologies and tactics, Snoke has made many changes and adopted his own way of doing things. And we still know so little about him," Thrawn says.
"Did the Empire really have no records or knowledge of Snoke?" Jonathan asks.
"No. I know his species come from the Unknown Regions from the photos I've seen from the intelligence files you've shared with me. But the Chiss know almost nothing about them, and I had never heard of Snoke before I was brought here to Earth. If Pellaeon were still here, I imagine he might've known something, but…" Thrawn says, trailing off at the end, the two men thinking for a moment about the long lost battlecruiser Hood and their friends who had been aboard.
"I've spoken with the Joint Command and the Security Council. They are considering allowing us to launch an expedition into the Unknown Regions to try and locate major First Order bases within the region, despite worries about it turning out like the Hood. Although we know that Snoke and the main First Order leadership operates from a mobile base, we figured it was at least worth it to see if they had any bases set up on planets," Jonathan says. He pauses, then asks, "Do you have any suspicions as to planets within the Unknowns that would be likely candidates?"
The Empire maintained a presence on several worlds within the Unknowns. Two that come to mind are Ilum and Oristrom. However, I would give the likelihood of the First Order being on either world at 50 percent, maximum. If you wish to get a better idea, you will have to gain access to a First Order computer," Thrawn says.
"Agreed," Jonathan responds.
"You cannot afford to underestimate them now, Jonathan. Many of the Empire's most secret projects were carried out in the Unknown Regions. If the First order has continued or replicated any of these projects, it increases the threat even further," Thrawn cautions his student.
"I know. I know the First Order has surprises up their sleeves we're not prepared for. With luck, they won't attack until the Enterprise is complete," Jonathan mutters. Despite the fact he had retired from the Starfleet years before the Enterprise ever began construction, Thrawn had been been made aware of the project, partly because he was consulted for help in making alterations to the design before the ship began construction.
"Remember, never trust to luck," Thrawn says, again a small smile gracing his face.
"Right as always, Thrawn," Jonathan says.
"I cannot advise you much further at this point, Jonathan. I have given you what knowledge I have. You have everything you need within you. Trust in yourself, and lead," Thrawn says, fixing Jonathan with a firm look.
"Thanks, Thrawn," Jonathan says.
"Now, get out of here. I am sure you have work to do," Thrawn says with a smile.
"Yeah, I do. But I'm always willing to make a few minutes in my schedule for one of my mentors," Jonathan says with a chuckle.
Jonathan stands up and extends his hand. "I'll see you again soon, Thrawn. Until then, take care of yourself," he says.
Thrawn smiles a bit and takes Jonathan's hand. "Always," he says.
The two let go of each other's hand and Jonathan turns to leave. He gives a nod of acknowledgement to Nurse Peters before he exits the house.
Jonathan heads down the walk before climbing into the back of the car. As he buckles in, he says, "Alright, Derek. Take me back to HQ."
"Copy that, Admiral," Derek responds.
As Derek pulls away from the house and heads down the road, Jonathan's commlink begins to beep. Jonatha pulls the commlink out of his pocket and activates it. As it activates, Fleet Admiral Thomas appears.
"Arthur. What is it?" Jonathan asks.
"Admiral, we just received word from the Resistance. General Organa contacted us to inform us of recent happenings. They apparently finally located Lor San Tekka in a village on Jakku, and General Organa sent one of her top pilots, a Commander Poe Dameron, to Jakku to meet with San Tekka and pick his brain. Well, from what we can tell, the First Order arrived at Jakku as well. There's been no word from the pilot, and it's believed the First Order has captured him," Thomas says.
Jonathan is instantly in crisis mode. This is a dramatic escalation, and if what he fears is true, the First Order might have a headstart on locating Luke Skywalker.
"S***," Jonathan mutters. He then asks, "Did she say if Dameron managed to get any word out?"
"No. Nothing," Thomas responds.
"Alright. We can't stand by at this point. Tell Admiral Dubois that I want the Hammer Squadron redeployed to Andromeda to render full combat assistance to the Resistance, and order the 352nd to be put on standby for redeployment as well," Jonathan orders.
"Copy that," Thomas responds.
"And contact Admiral Jacobsen. Tell him we are now at Defense Condition 1. War threat level red. All Terran ships are to be on full alert," Jonathan orders.
"Yes, sir," Thomas answers.
Jonathan cuts the transmission and stares ahead. In his eyes, things have just taken a massive jump in the direction of war. Things are moving quickly, and Jonathan feels strongly that the next week will decide the course of the conflict with the First Order.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this one.
So, yes, Thrawn is still alive, but sadly, I will confirm not for too much longer. By this point, Thrawn is in his early 90s, and from what I know, that's like a human living past age 100. I will confirm we will lose Thrawn during this story.
So, next chapter will officially begin the events of The Force Awakens. It'll be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review and stay tuned!