Location: Chimera
Date: 5 ABY
Thrawn sat back in his chair, datapad in hand, his eyes tracing over the galactic map before him. The stars twinkled with promise and threat alike, each system representing a potential battlefield, a piece in the larger game he was orchestrating. He sipped slowly on his diet Fizzyglug, the faint fizz tickling his throat, a small indulgence in his otherwise strict regimen. His fingers tapped idly on the edge of his desk, his mind drifting for a moment to the recent changes in his habits. He had cut back on his meals, tightened his training, and even switched to zero-calorie drinks to maintain his peak physical condition. His body, like his mind, needed to be at its best. No room for weakness, not in the times ahead.
The faint hum of the Chimera's engines provided a constant backdrop as he waited. Rukh was due soon, and though their relationship had evolved since the betrayal, Thrawn was always cautious. Turning enemies into assets required a delicate balance, but Thrawn prided himself on his ability to see past personal affronts, to view the larger picture. The Noghri had once been loyal to him, and though they had sided with the Vong, Thrawn's offer of survival should be as compelling. Now, Rukh served as his double agent, feeding information to the Vong while carefully controlling what reached their ears.
A quiet hiss broke the silence as the door to his quarters slid open.
"Ah, Rukh. Welcome," Thrawn said without looking up, his voice calm, as though he'd been expecting the Noghri at that precise moment.
Rukh moved with silent grace, his presence barely more than a shadow against the dim light of Thrawn's quarters. "Grand Admiral," he said, his voice low, respectful, "I have news."
Thrawn set his datapad down gently. "Good. Let us hear it."
Rukh stepped closer, standing at attention as he spoke. "The Vong are planning an invasion from multiple points. Ertegas and Honoghr will be among the first systems targeted."
Thrawn nodded, his red eyes gleaming. "And Kessel, no doubt. They will use these systems as staging grounds for their fleets and troops." He steepled his fingers, considering the implications. "Honoghr and Kessel are close. Honoghr, of course, sided with the Far Outsiders after their promises to restore their world. The former Kessel slaves, always desperate, would be swayed by the Vong's offer of better conditions. They are easy prey."
Rukh tilted his head. "Yes. They have promised them much in exchange for loyalty."
"And Ertegas?" Thrawn asked, his tone almost casual. He already knew the answer.
"The Far Outsiders supported the peasant revolution there. They helped oust the wealthy families and have been supplying them with food and resources in exchange for allowing their forces to soon station on the planet."
Thrawn hummed in approval, a faint smile playing at his lips. "A clever move on their part. But short-sighted. The breadbasket will soon find itself in a dire situation if they continue to give away their resources to the Vong."
There was a brief silence, as if Rukh was considering his words carefully. "The Vong want information about your plans, Grand Admiral."
Thrawn looked at him then, his gaze steady and unflinching. "And you know the terms, Rukh. You will give them what I allow. Tell them we suspect an invasion is imminent, but that the New Republic remains unaware of their staging points. Let them believe their plan is secure."
Rukh nodded, his expression unreadable. "Understood."
Thrawn dismissed him with a slight wave of his hand, watching as the assassin slipped out of the room as silently as he had entered. The moment the door slid shut behind him, Thrawn turned his attention back to the datapad. He zoomed in on the three planets—Honoghr, Ertegas, and Kessel—each marked with a small red indicator.
Honoghr and Kessel, so close to one another, made sense. Honoghr, desperate for restoration, would have accepted any offer that promised a return to its former glory. And Kessel, well, it was a planet of former slaves. The Vong's promises of better working conditions and more resources would be a tempting lure.
Ertegas, however, was the most intriguing. A breadbasket world, far from the other two systems. The recent peasant uprising had thrown the planet into chaos. The wealthy families who once controlled the land had been overthrown, their properties redistributed to the poor. The Vong had likely had a hand in that revolution, offering support in exchange for a foothold on the planet. It was a typical Vong strategy—subtle, insidious, and effective. Thrawn admired it, in a way.
But it was also flawed. The Vong, in their arrogance, had underestimated the power of scarcity. The peasants of Ertegas would soon find themselves unable to meet the demands placed upon them. And when the food ran out, their loyalty would falter.
Thrawn tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the desk. Rukh had only given him a fraction of the information the Vong had shared, which was as expected. Rukh was not privy to the full extent of their plans, just as he was not privy to Thrawn's. It was a delicate balance of trust and manipulation, but Thrawn had long mastered the art of playing both sides.
He took another sip of his Fizzyglug, the cool liquid a brief comfort as his mind whirred with possibilities. The Vong would move soon, that much was certain. But Thrawn had no intention of letting them catch him off guard. Honoghr, Kessel, Ertegas—these were but the first pieces in a larger game. A game Thrawn intended to win.
Minutes passed in quiet contemplation. The light of the datapad flickered slightly as new reports streamed in from the fleet, but Thrawn barely glanced at them. His focus was on the map, on the paths and patterns he could see emerging from the chaos. Each decision, each move, was calculated down to the finest detail.
At last, he stood, the decision made. The Far Outsiders may believe they had the upper hand, but Thrawn knew better. They were predictable in their unpredictability. And with Rukh feeding them just enough misinformation, they would remain blind to the real threat.
The Core and Inner Rim would remain protected, as would his own interests. And when the time came, Thrawn would be ready to strike.
He placed the datapad back on his desk and stepped toward the viewport, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out at the vastness of space. The stars blinked back at him, indifferent to the wars being waged beneath their gaze.
But Thrawn was not indifferent. He would see the galaxy shaped to his vision, one way or another. And the Far Outsiders, for all their cunning, were merely another obstacle to overcome.
He allowed himself one last sip of his drink before returning to his work. There was much to prepare for, and time, as always, was a luxury he could not afford to waste.
XX
Several rotations later...
Location: Chandrila
Date: 5 ABY
Leia Organa sat alone in her quarters, fingers brushing over the datapad that displayed her jam-packed schedule. The view from the penthouse in the political district of Chandrila was impressive—rolling fields, the city skyline gleaming in the morning sun—but Leia barely noticed it. She had bigger concerns today.
Only recently, she'd held a closed session with a handful of senators. They spoke in low voices about the rumored invasion by a mysterious species from the Unknown Regions. Thrawn had briefed her on it—Vong, they were called, or "Far Outsiders." Whatever they were, it sounded like trouble. And today, trouble had arrived.
Behind the scenes, she knew Thrawn was handling his own methods. He had Rukh, his assassin, playing double agent among the Vong. How that would hold up under scrutiny was anyone's guess, but Leia had learned to trust Thrawn's careful planning.
But politics was all-consuming, leaving her with little time for anything else—least of all her family. Ben, her young son, spent his days at the New Jedi Temple, conveniently located on Chandrila, but the constant separation tugged at her heart. At least there, she knew he was under the watchful eyes of Jedi like Barriss Offee and Lyn Rakish. Offee, a healer, and Rakish, a former Inquisitor, had grown on her, even though Leia's instinct to protect Ben left her uneasy around ex-Inquisitors. Yet, she couldn't argue with their devotion.
And then, of course, there was Luke, apparently smitten with one of his Jedi students. Leia had teased him a little about his "partner," which he'd brushed off with that familiar grin. They didn't talk much about each other's personal lives—too busy with their own weighty responsibilities.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in, Threepio," Leia called.
The door slid open, and her faithful droid shuffled in, posture apologetic, which meant he was probably carrying some unpleasant news.
"Chancellor Organa," he began in his formal, nervous tone, "I'm afraid I have some troubling reports. In the past ten to twelve hours, we've received word of uprisings on dozens of systems. There are also... well, it appears to be a fleet. But it's... unusual."
Leia raised an eyebrow. "Unusual how, Threepio?"
"It's... organic, my lady," he said, sounding almost squeamish. "Reports say these ships are made of some sort of living matter. And it appears they're supporting the lower working classes, encouraging them to rise up."
Leia took a long, steadying breath. What had these invaders possibly promised to spark this chaos? Resources? Freedom from the established order? A voice to people who rarely had one? The idea wasn't far-fetched, but the implications were daunting.
"So, not an outright invasion, but stirring uprisings instead," she muttered. Clever. Disrupt the systems, weaken them, then come in for the kill.
She squared her shoulders, setting aside the uncertainty gnawing at her. "Alright, Threepio. Alert the Senate. I'll be in the building within the hour."
"Yes, Lady Organa." Threepio shuffled back, leaving Leia to her thoughts.
Leia exhaled, staring out at the skyline once more. So, Thrawn had been right, and Vader's vision had been accurate, even if they couldn't predict exactly when it would happen. They'd both been preparing for this. She only hoped that Thrawn's contingencies would hold strong, that his presence would tip the scales in the Republic's favor.
She dressed swiftly and made her way to the Senate building. The streets of Hanna City buzzed with activity, citizens blissfully unaware of the storm on the horizon.
An hour later, Leia stepped into the political building, her heart pounding but her face calm. It was time to address her allies, time to rally them against a new threat that seemed as unknowable as the vast reaches of the galaxy.
XX
Location: Military Meeting, Political District, Chandrila
The meeting room was chaos. Chandrila's polished halls and high-tech display screens couldn't hide the pandemonium buzzing around the roundtable. Voices overlapped; urgent whispers fought to stay quiet, while others couldn't hold back from outright shouting. The sun was rising over the skylines of Hanna City, casting a pale light through the large windows that overlooked the sprawl.
Around the table, Admiral Ar'alani of the Chiss Expansionary Fleet kept a cool, almost serene gaze on her datapad. Beside her, Grand Admiral Thrawn and his ever-attentive Captain Eli Vanto quietly discussed something, barely noticeable in the flurry of movement. Across from them, Admiral Paelleon observed the exchange, nodding occasionally while occasionally squinting at his own datapad.
The Rebels, though? They were a little less... composed. Admiral Ackbar gestured, murmuring something that sounded like a gravelly curse under his breath. Han Solo, looking uncharacteristically alert for this time of day, glanced around, trying to take in all the data pouring in from the different screens. He'd gotten up before Leia—an unusual event—and Leia noticed he had that smug, sleepy smile on his face as she entered.
"Couldn't stay in bed, huh?" he teased lightly, crossing his arms as she took her seat. "Figured I'd let you get some extra sleep while I caught the early news. Quite a wake-up call."
Leia gave him a wry smile. "Appreciate the consideration. I assume you filled yourself in on the crisis?"
"Oh, yeah," he replied. "It's looking like a regular nightmare, but I guess that's typical."
Finally, with Leia's arrival, the room settled down. The murmur dropped as she straightened up, addressing the crowd of former Imperial military leaders, ex-Rebels, and Chiss officers with the calm authority they'd come to respect.
"Alright," she began, scanning the room. "Let's go over what we know. Reports are coming in from over a dozen systems. Uprisings, protests, strikes—whatever you want to call it—all of them happening simultaneously. Most involve the lower classes, peasants, and working-class groups... and they're receiving support. A fleet, if we can even call it that, of organic ships."
She waited a beat, letting the gravity sink in. Thrawn's eyes shifted, watching each person in the room with calculating calm.
Han cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "If it's not confirmed, I'll say it now. They've taken the Anoat Sector—Ertegas, Hoth, Bespin... gone. Another second wave is hitting the Outer Rim. Systems like Kessel, Kubindi, Honoghr—they're all swarming with these things."
Leia's jaw tightened, her gaze shifting to Thrawn and his colleagues. This was his domain, his area of expertise. If anyone had a plan, it would be him. She faced the two Chiss officers first—Thrawn, then Admiral Ar'alani, who stood beside him with her piercing gaze, still and focused.
The two Chiss had grown close lately; Thrawn had taken a personal interest in teaching Ar'alani about the history and art of the New Republic systems they passed through. She was fascinated, treating each piece of knowledge as if it were some sacred text. Thrawn, for his part, seemed to enjoy introducing her to the galaxy's cultural layers, a small fulfillment of his own, if anyone bothered to look close enough.
But now, neither one of them was thinking about art.
Leia nodded at Thrawn. "Thrawn, you've been warning us about this. What do we need to know?"
Thrawn's expression shifted, as calm as ever, but his words had a subtle weight that made everyone lean forward. "We're dealing with a species unlike any we've faced before, Chancellor. The Yuuzhan Vong. They've spent millennia developing a society based on warfare, with an impressive biological technology that rivals, perhaps even surpasses, the Empire's most advanced weaponry. Organic matter is a part of their warfare. Their ships, weapons—even their armor. They're as alien to this galaxy as any force we've ever faced."
Ar'alani added, "They're clever. Each move so far is calculated. By targeting the peasant classes, they destabilize systems from within, creating fractures before they ever need to fire a shot. It's slow, methodical."
Leia folded her arms, letting the information process. "And our options?"
Before Thrawn could answer, Paelleon spoke up. "The Anoat Sector... they've practically overrun it in a matter of hours. I'm not sure conventional tactics will work against them. Our standard battle formations, our usual response times—none of it is fast enough to contain this level of coordinated uprising."
Leia looked back at Thrawn, meeting his cool gaze. "Thrawn, we'll need everything you have. Any contingencies, whatever you've planned in the event of this exact scenario."
Thrawn gave a slight nod. "I anticipated that their first targets would be peripheral sectors. My team and I have secured several strategic points throughout the Mid Rim—though we'll need to act quickly if we're to hold the line." He gestured toward the screen, showing a map dotted with potential strongholds. "We'll use planetary shields and disrupt hyperspace lanes as a temporary barrier. It won't stop them entirely, but it will slow them down."
Han scratched his head. "So... we lock down all major hyperspace routes and keep our fleets moving? Doesn't sound like a long-term plan, Thrawn."
Thrawn's expression barely shifted. "Not exactly, Solo," he replied smoothly. "Most of you are likely familiar with the Great Hyperspace Disaster. A strategy of blocking paths by causing intentional collisions, striking inward from the Outer Rim to the Core territories. We could intentionally crash ships along key hyperspace lanes. The emergence of debris in these systems would severely delay, or outright damage, any attempted attacks. At the very least, it would serve as a threat—a very credible one."
A faint, almost mischievous smirk danced across Han's face as Thrawn continued. The holomap flared to life with shifting lines and arrows, each representing a potential blockade along the outer sectors. "Here," Thrawn pointed, his finger hovering over a cluster of planets, "I have sketched out the primary areas we would need to target. As you can see, the Former Hutt Space remains untouched. However, this tactic would be ineffective in the Unknown Regions—its pathways are uncharted, too erratic. But that shouldn't matter; it would allow us to greatly weaken their primary forces, enough to regain a foothold."
Admiral Ackbar, standing across from Thrawn with his arms folded, looked positively scandalized. "But that would be genocide!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the hum of the holomap.
A stir of murmurs erupted through the crowd. Ackbar's outburst wasn't unwarranted, and Thrawn's casual tone in suggesting such a brutal tactic only made it sting more.
Thrawn held up a hand, calm and steady. "I do not make this decision lightly. I understand the position this would put the New Republic in, the implications for your reputation. Which is why I propose this—if you decide to enact these attacks, I will take full responsibility. You may claim that I acted on my own accord, that I stepped out of line."
Ackbar shook his head firmly, his voice rising once more. "We will not condone this under any circumstances! We stand for the values we've fought to uphold."
The tension in the room was thick enough to slice. Thrawn, ever unruffled, gave a small nod. "Perhaps not. But it may be your best option." His gaze turned to Leia, who'd remained quiet throughout the exchange, observing the debate as she weighed the severity of Thrawn's plan.
Leia cleared her throat, pulling the room's attention to her. She rose, stepping forward, her gaze intense but calm. "Let's hold off on any drastic decisions. Grand Admiral, your strategy is… bold, to put it mildly. But as Admiral Ackbar has said, we cannot make a decision like this lightly." She looked around, catching each officer's eye.
She turned back to Thrawn, her voice softening just a touch. "We'll take your plan under consideration, but for now, we need to also inform Lord Vader."
A ripple of unease moved through the room at the mention of Vader's name. Although he'd fought by their side for years now, the specter of his old reputation still loomed, impossible to shake entirely.
Thrawn inclined his head in a respectful nod. "Of course, Chancellor."
Just then, as if summoned by her words, the heavy, measured sound of mechanical breathing filled the air. The door hissed open, and Lord Vader stepped into the room, his remodeled suit sleek yet imposing, polished and modified since Endor. His cape billowed slightly with each step, and even now, the officers, rebels, and diplomats around the table stiffened, some even holding their breath. Though they all knew of his shift, the sight of Vader in any room still commanded a kind of raw, unshakable fear.
"Apologies, Chancellor, for my late arrival…" Vader's voice was a deep rumble, modulated but smooth, and there was a strange edge of calm in it—a far cry from the menace it had once held.
Leia straightened, keeping her own tone measured, betraying nothing personal. "No worries, Lord Vader. With your authority, you hold the final word on military policy and affairs." Her gaze flickered briefly to Thrawn. "I take it the Grand Admiral has informed you of contingencies?"
Vader gave a single nod. "Yes, Chancellor… I have reviewed Grand Admiral Thrawn's proposal and find it necessary to proceed with his plan. The hyperspace attacks will delay their invasion long enough for us to mobilize additional defenses. Alongside planetary shields, we will implement an algorithm to permit safe passage for supply ships. Our military integrity depends on such measures." He turned his helmeted gaze on Thrawn. "The invasion force must be kept at bay by any means necessary."
A wave of unease washed over the assembled officers. Even as a reformed man, the Dark Lord's words held an intensity that lingered. Leia could feel the tension mounting, the reluctance in the room palpable as if every former Rebel was holding in their collective objections. The New Republic officers exchanged wary glances, knowing that Vader's authority meant arguing further would be a waste of breath.
Leia herself felt that pang of resignation. For all their ideals, they were now forced to reconcile with this Imperial leadership. "While installing planetary shields will be costly, we can prioritize the Core and Inner Rim systems," she said, her voice steady but clipped. "It will be difficult, but necessary."
Vader's head inclined slightly, acknowledging her words. "Very well, Chancellor."
XX
With that, the meeting drew to a close, and the room slowly began to clear out. Officers and strategists gathered their datapads and holomaps, muttering in hushed tones, a few casting uneasy glances over their shoulders as they drifted out. No one openly challenged Vader, yet his presence weighed heavily on them all.
But Thrawn remained, composed and still, with a few loyal Imperial officers standing at a respectful distance behind him, waiting in silence. He stayed where he was, waiting for everyone else to leave.
Vader's gaze settled on him, the opaque mask somehow managing to express a form of curiosity. "Grand Admiral," Vader began, his voice steady, "a private word."
Thrawn inclined his head. With a subtle gesture, he dismissed his officers. They offered slight bows before filing out, leaving only the two of them in the dimly lit council chamber. The holomap cast an eerie, blue glow across the room, shadows bending around Vader's towering figure as he faced Thrawn.
"Lord Vader," Thrawn greeted, his tone respectful yet unfazed, as if he were speaking to any other high-ranking officer.
Vader was silent for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully. "Grand Admiral," he started, "when I informed you of my findings on Lothal over a year ago, I proposed something… unconventional." The mechanical timbre of his voice softened just slightly. "Back then, I suggested using a biological weapon on the Grysk. We intended it as a deterrent in case they made any aggressive moves."
Thrawn nodded, waiting for Vader to continue.
"But now," Vader continued, "the Grysk aren't our immediate concern. It's the Far Outsiders—the ones you call the Vong. Their invasion is here." Vader's voice took on a grim undertone. "I'm proposing we develop a biological weapon for these invaders as well."
Thrawn's eyes narrowed slightly, considering the suggestion. "Logical. However, the difficulty lies in the delivery. The Vong will be vigilant for any direct threat." He folded his hands behind his back, speaking thoughtfully. "If we're to implement this, the weapon must act in a way that's not immediately apparent to them. Perhaps something that affects their abilities subtly, without alerting them to its presence."
Vader inclined his helmet, his breathing filling the silence as he listened. "Precisely. It must be something that weakens their performance on the battlefield but doesn't drive them into a desperate search for a cure."
They stood in silence for a beat, the gravity of Vader's proposal settling in. Both of them understood the implications of introducing such a weapon into the conflict—it was an extreme measure, one that could have irreversible consequences.
Thrawn finally spoke, his voice steady. "We'll need to gather genetic material from any Vong casualties we encounter. With that, we can identify potential weaknesses and adapt our approach." He reached into his coat and retrieved his datapad, scrolling through it. "Once we've gathered enough samples, I can reach out to a system well-versed in bioweapon research. Their methods are discreet."
"Very well," Vader replied, the dark modulation of his voice echoing slightly in the chamber. "I trust your judgment. Once you're prepared, contact me with your findings."
Thrawn nodded, placing the datapad down. "I'll keep you informed at each stage of development."
They exchanged a slight, mutual bow—acknowledging both the gravity of their arrangement and the level of trust it required. Then, without further words, they turned, each departing from the room in separate directions, the chamber falling silent in their wake.