Negotiations
Mitth'raw'nuruodo—or Thrawn, as nearly all knew him—scrolled through his datapad as his shuttle prepared for reversion back into normal space. He had been quaintly alarmed when the family head withdrew Thrawn from his first military posting along the Chiss border with the Outer Rim to instead handle a terse negotiation in the Kinoss system with an interloper. He had not trained as a negotiator. He suspected his training to handle foreign species and the threats they posed to the Chiss had led the Ruling Families to select him for this task.
Kinoss, the most important western holding of the Ascendancy and a human has wandered into it, Thrawn thought as he analyzed the data provided by Admiral A'lanari's adjunct. He had learned painfully little about the 'Darth Gladiolus' he would negotiate with. Her ship resisted every effort to slice its databanks and withdraw information about her world. How fascinating that this strange threat—and it must be a threat if someone of my caliber has been requested—would reach that system first. I would love to know more of her people; perhaps what I gleam about them can be used against the humans of the Republic.
The swirling vortex filling the forward viewport turned to lines, which then faded into sparkling dots. Thrawn spotted the thirty corvettes in the admiral's task force in high orbit around Kinoss. It was an absurd use of ships and personnel.
But then the admiral had been spooked by the Sith Lord's coming. Thrawn had only realized the truth about their strange interloper upon reading her full and proper name. Darth was the title of Sith Lords long ago. Thrawn had studied the Sith and their history; not because he feared facing them in conflict, but as a means to further understand the many peoples of the Republic, especially the Jedi who remained instrumental to its security.
The pilot turned to Thrawn. "We've received guidance to Icespire, sir."
"Bring us aboard," commanded Thrawn. He leaned back and wondered what he should expect from Darth Gladiolus, the first Sith Lord in a thousand years.
Sev'rance Tann was surprised when Lord Gladiolus requested her presence for when the Sith Lord would greet, and later speak with, the negotiator deployed by the Nine Ruling Families. She wondered who they had chosen and from which house. A candidate from the Mitth or Nuruodo families was likely; they were the most involved in military affairs and thus would have people better suited to deal with a Sith Lord. Still, she hoped the negotiator would not be one of them, for their presence—and report—could damage her hopes of promotion through the ranks.
"You worry over matters you cannot control," Lord Gladiolus drawled as they headed for Icespire's flag hangar. "That is foolish, and you have yet to strike me as a fool, Sev'rance Tann."
"I am not worried over something I cannot control," Sev'rance replied. "I only wonder who the Ruling Families sent for the negotiations."
Lord Gladiolus hummed. "You have not contradicted my words, Commander. Be mindful of how your thoughts appear to others; care with them shall aid you throughout your military career. Connections will be as valuable as results. More so, perhaps, given all I have learned of the Chiss." She smiled and Sev'rance immediately knew the Sith Lord was about to say something that would get any other Chiss executed. "Take Admiral A'lanari, for example. She is a fool, yet she has command and power because of her connections."
"Are you certain of that?" asked Sev'rance, unable to resist her doubt. "Her relation to the families which oversee the military—"
"Use her for political purposes and give benefits as a result," Gladiolus finished. "And since you are wondering how I know this, I have skimmed her thoughts and mind. Despite her remarkable confidence and dedication, she possesses little in terms of psychic defense. I do not believe her to be so weak as to fall prey to mind tricks, but those are not necessary when other means of manipulation remain viable against A'lanari."
"And what means of manipulating Admiral A'lanari do you possess?"
Gladiolus smirked at Sev'rance in lieu of replying. The Chiss hated that smirk, though she easily prevented any sign of her anger from revealing itself. Though given all she had learned of the Sith Lord before her, Gladiolus knew what Sev'rance felt. The Sith Lord had a nasty tendency of knowing things she should not and of jabbing at the typically calm and careful veneer of the Chiss around her.
"How do you plan to manipulate the Admiral? Or is it the Ruling Families you seek to influence?"
"Why would I tell you? What we desire from the good admiral differ, Commander Tann. You seek to advance yourself; I seek to advance a civilization."
"Yet you believe the goals of the Chiss and your humans can co-exist, Lord Gladiolus." Sev'rance risked her safety and thrust a finger at the Sith Lord, stopping them. "Do not deny it! We both know that you lust after all you can gain from the Chiss, whereas we gain little from the bargain. Somehow, you think you can deceive whoever is sent to negotiate that aligning with your backwater people will not risk the safety of the Ascendancy!"
Gladiolus stared at the finger for several long seconds. Her sulfuric eyes flickered up to meet Sev'rance Tann's crimson eyes. The Chiss nearly recoiled. "You are daring to speak to me so," the Sith Lord said softly. "I have not been spoken to in that fashion in a very long time." And then her lips twitched up into an amused smile. "You have impressed me. Your threat will be punished in due time. But for now, I will permit you a respite, Sev'rance Tann. Be grateful for my gracious attitude toward your insolence. I doubt your superiors would treat you so lightly."
Sev'rance grimaced, for she understood why the Sith Lord spoke so. She increasingly suspected Lord Gladiolus treated her in a fashion to tempt her to switch allegiances. Annoyingly, Sev'rance could see how it would work—and why it would make sense to the woman before her. After all, recruiting a promising naval officer from another civilization would be a massive boon for the Sith Lord and her people. If even a quarter were akin to this woman, they would be a fierce, ferocious people. The Republic would quell in the face of their coming.
And the Jedi will see them for the threat they are. They will move to remove Gladiolus from the picture. She is the one who has spearheaded this transformation. From all she has mentioned, it is likely her people would have never advanced to the point they could challenge any species beyond the borders of their pitiful system.
"I can sense your thoughts, Commander," Gladiolus remarked. They continued along. "You must guard them fiercely, else others seek to use them against you."
Sev'rance nodded despite her uncertainty about how to guard her thoughts from one like Lord Gladiolus.
They reached the doors into the flag hangar. They hissed open to reveal that Admiral A'lanari and her command staff were already gathered, watching a silver-hulled shuttle settle on the hangar floor. Lord Gladiolus swept forward, ignoring the narrowed eyes of the command staff. The shuttle's ramp lowered quietly. A moment passed before the negotiator from Csilla disembarked, black polished boots clicking as he transferred onto the floor.
Sev'rance paused. She recognized the cool aristocratic face that scanned the hangar. She had been passed over a merit adoption into House Mitth in favor of this man. Frustration boiled in her gut
"Lieutenant Thrawn," Admiral A'lanari said, stepping forward and nodding. Her eyes had flickered to Thrawn's lapel, double-checking his rank. "Welcome aboard Icespire."
"A pleasure, Admiral." His crimson gaze swiveled to Gladiolus. His lips twitched into a weak smile. "Lord Gladiolus. Welcome to Chiss Space."
"Thank you, lieutenant." Sev'rance noted how one of Thrawn's eyebrows rose hearing the way Gladiolus pronounced 'lieutenant' as ' left-enant'. "I have enjoyed the hospitality of your people."
"Indeed," Thrawn murmured as his gaze drifted to Sev'rance Tann. Recognition flashed in his eyes. But he said nothing as his gaze returned to the Sith Lord. "If we may part for now, I can ensure the admiral's staff will be prepared to meet within the hour."
"I'd rather hash out an agreement here and now," Lord Gladiolus said. "But if you must insist on a recess, then I will permit it. The admiral will enjoy her chance to complain about me before hearing whatever proposal you brought from your Ruling Families on Csilla."
Thrawn's smile thinned. "You are remarkably perceptive for a human."
"I learned from the best."
Thrawn nodded. He then approached the admiral, who ushered him from the hangar. Sev'rance believed they would head for the conference room the admiral previously used.
Gladiolus swept away, and Sev'rance followed. They did not exchange words until they passed through the doors into the flag hangar.
"What a fascinating man," Gladiolus murmured as the doors hissed shut behind them. She turned to Sev'rance, sulfuric eyes glowing. "You will tell me everything you know of this 'Thrawn', along with what you suspect he will offer for the negotiation."
Sev'rance remained tight-lipped as she considered her options. They were halfway back to the Sith Lord's quarters when she relented. "We attended the academy at the same time. Few managed to ever beat him in war games, especially once we neared the end of our term."
She continued on, trying to not ramble or reveal Chiss secrets. Sev'rance hoped her words would not betray her people. But given Lord Gladiolus's perceptiveness, she might fail regardless of what she did and did not say.
Thirty minutes later, Darth Gladiolus settled into a familiar seat. Thrawn sat across from her with Admiral A'lanari to his right. Sev'rance Tann, the commander she worked to subvert and influence, sat on her direct right. The admiral glowered at her underling; Sev'rance only had eyes for Thrawn.
"The Ruling Families are wary of permitting any foreigner onto the surface of Csilla," Thrawn began. "Your arrival in our space has led to concern of a potential invasion from the west. Few believe it will amount to little beyond fighting along the outskirts of the Kinoss system, but they desire to avoid a preventable war, especially one against the first Sith Lord in a thousand years—presuming, naturally, that rumors from Republic space prove false."
"So you have heard rumors of Sith Lords?" Gladiolus asked. She had found time during her wait to read the history and battle reports from the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. Something about the official documentation concerning the battle struck her as false. The Sith committing suicide? She could fathom a Sith Lord sacrificing their life to cleanse a world of Jedi Knights and Masters, but an entire Sith Order given to such a cause?
She suspected foul play. And whoever that had been, they were key to the evolution of the Sith. They might have founded the Sith who, despite their secrecy, allowed enough rumors to float around they managed to reach the Chiss centuries after Ruusan.
"We have. I can supply more information, should you desire it, but the most recent of these rumors is still over a century old. I doubt you will find anything investigating it."
Gladiolus nodded. She had no reason to believe the Sith would remain stationary if they had gone into hiding as she suspected. They would have remained active in galactic affairs, all the while remaining patient in their effort to subvert and destroy the Jedi and their Republic. Such designs irritated her, but she understood the reasoning behind them. Whatever reckoning awaited the Sith and the Jedi within the Known Galaxy would not play out as it had a thousand years prior. The Jedi would expect to fight the old war and would be destroyed as a result.
Unfortunately for this new breed of Sith, Darth Gladiolus would not permit them to act as they pleased. She was the Dark Lord of the Sith. They would bow, or they would perish.
"Unfortunate, but unsurprising. If the Jedi remain ignorant of those Sith, then I can rely on the influence of the dark side to learn where they are and how to handle them as I see appropriate."
Thrawn raised a curious, prompting eyebrow.
"I know nothing of them, good ambassador. Why should I treat them as children when they might be a greater threat than any Jedi?"
"…you have managed to almost impress me, Lord Gladiolus." He straightened and said, with a great deal of confidence, "That does not answer the question of why I should permit one as yourself to step foot on the surface of Csilla. More so, the proposed requests I received suggested you desired to develop deeper ties with the Chiss than merely stepping on our homeworld and passing through our space."
"That is true. I would see our peoples become allies or perhaps even friends. We can mutually gain from the other. Yours possesses wisdom and technology, while mine is still filled with a youthful passion I see has burned out of your race."
"Yet your proposal would benefit your people more than mine," Thrawn pointed out. "If you truly wish to find friends amongst the Chiss, you must create a greater need for you and your people than you have."
Gladiolus pursed her lips. She understood what Thrawn drew her attention to. Her people were backwater peasants compared to the developed, seemingly erudite Chiss. While the confidence and energy of her people would create shockwaves across the galaxy, that alone was not enough for the Chiss. And it would never be enough as long as they remained in a position where they could lose more compared to the humans of Earth.
There must be something else, Gladiolus thought. She drew upon the dark side of the Force and focused her thoughts on Thrawn. She sought his interests, his fears, the strange little attributes that made him special. She could sense that true: Thrawn would be a special man, one of great impact and influence. Yet how? How would he shake the galaxy to its foundations? How could Gladiolus use Thrawn as she sought to use Sev'rance Tann?
And then it struck her: art. He possessed a keen interest in art, especially in the way expression revealed the hopes, dreams, fears, and desires of a people.
How fascinating, Gladiolus thought. She smiled slyly before saying, "Should you permit me to land on Csilla, I shall grant you, Thrawn, my personal permission to walk Earth so you may witness and even analyze the artistic wealth my world possesses. It should impress even one such as yourself"
Thrawn stiffened; his eyes blew wide. Though he possessed no pupils to reveal his emotions and thoughts by where he stared, she still sensed every shift in his person. He had never expected her to know any truth within his heart. She had not expected such a foolish reaction from Thrawn, but then what did he know of the Force? One could study the histories and philosophies of the Sith and the Jedi all they wished, yet they would barely grasp an understanding of the Force. Only by possessing the potential that emerged from Force-sensitivity or having that power used upon a person could they learn to understand its power and majesty.
"…I am tempted to accept your offer," Thrawn confessed. "Yet I must ask: why do you believe I require your benevolent generosity to acquire images of the artistic works of your people?"
"Because I possess none aboard the Dearg Due." A lie, and a carefully masked one. She had some stores of artistic information, but they were too limited in number and too diverse a collection to be truly useful. I have done all I can to mask where my homeworld is; you would wander the cosmos for a century and never stumble upon Earth."
That was also a lie—and a bold one at that—but Gladiolus spoke as though she truly believed it. And if she believed it, then Thrawn would be prompted to accept her words. He stared at her, considering the veracity of her words. Could he see through her deception? Or would she deceive him and further ensure the safety of Earth?
I hope he recognizes how daring an offer I have made him. Were the Chiss not so necessary for my future goals, I would have never considered the option. But then, he must only be one of a few among his people who might find Earth to be fascinating.
Gladiolus hated the reality she was on the back foot when negotiating a guarantee concerning Earth's position amongst the great galactic civilizations. They might only possess a single world at present, but with time they would expand. Earth's humans, like the Chiss and the Sith and the Hutts, would carve out a chunk of galactic space wholly theirs to dominate and rule as they wished.
And it would be upon them to defend their dominion.
"So you claim," Thrawn eventually said. "I do not believe your world is completely hidden from us. But I will admit that your aid in discovering that system would be preferable to wandering our western reaches without any astronavigational data—presuming, naturally, that your shuttle does not maintain the records of your journey from your homeworld to Kinoss."
She smiled thinly. Gladiolus believed in the safety of her data. Yet she understood a chance always existed for an outsider to access that information without her permission. Perhaps the Chiss would find the means to seize that data; perhaps they would acquire enough to stumble upon the trail of the probes left in her wake, even now still relaying information about "human space" back to Earth.
Those could betray us, she realized. Gladiolus breathed slowly, masking any uncertainty or discomfort over her sudden realization. I was so concerned with expanding outward and venturing forth from my home that I did not consider others could use the probes like bread crumbs to find Earth.
Hopefully, nobody would stumble upon that trail and trace it back to Earth. Gladiolus had no means of guaranteeing that beyond forging an alliance with the Chiss so enduring the blue-skinned aliens would prove wholly deserving of trust.
If she was to acquire that from them, then she needed to make an ally of Thrawn. For now, she could permit them to be equals. But with time, he would kneel before her like all the rest.
Thrawn watched the Sith Lord carefully. Her sulfuric eyes bore into his when they were not wandering her face, taking in her strange black markings; cheeks and brow, forehead and down her nose, and even over her lips. She masked her thoughts and emotions. Whether that was due to her powers with the Force or a product of other training, he knew not. Had he known more about the Sith, perhaps he would understand the woman's mindset. He would prefer to possess information concerning her homeworld, yet he had a feeling her training as a Sith overrode whatever she learned and internalized through her upbringing.
I cannot be certain how old she is, he thought. Though we Chiss mature in a decade, humans need twice that time to reach their full growth—and even then, they do not always emerge as… developed as a Chiss.
Regardless, he needed to remain wary of her. Somehow, this 'Lord Gladiolus' divined his interest in art during their 'negotiation'. It had served him well during his training; much was revealed, if only subconsciously, through one's art. To possess something of that nature from the woman across from him would be of great benefit—and could prevent him from having to make a subpar agreement. The Ruling Families had granted him more power to agree or disagree with proposals at his discretion than he thought prudent. He thought it too much power—and it chanced him drawing the ire of a family at odds with the Mitth. They would certainly use his errors to punish House Mitth and risk his merit adoption. Thrawn could lose the backing of the Mitth family. With that, his military career would end before it truly began.
"So you understand my hesitance to hand over coordinates to my homeworld without a valuable exchange of goods and knowledge," said Darth Gladiolus. "No doubt your fate rests on the verdict the Ruling Families make regarding whatever decision we reach."
"Indeed. You clearly understand us better than we understand you."
"A shame you have no art from my world," she drawled knowingly. "Then you could pry back my subconscious and manipulate me into giving you all you want."
Thrawn nodded, knowing he could not argue against what she said. The Chiss woman with Darth Gladiolus glanced between them with furrowed brows, apparently not understanding exactly what played out before her. Thrawn recognized her and found her placement peculiar. Why would Sev'rance Tann, granted her own command under Admiral A'lanari, join this Sith Lord? Was she being influenced away from her oaths and people, or had she received better treatment from the Sith Lord than the admiral she should be serving faithfully?
"A great shame," Thrawn agreed. "Were I to personally command the Chiss Expeditionary Force to your homeworld, would you be more agreeable to granting us the passage?"
"I would be willing to consider it, but I would place harsh restrictions upon what your people can and cannot do—and trust that I will know if you violate my terms. Also know that I shall ensure your punishment should you violate said demands." Gladiolus leaned forward, piercing him with her sulfuric eyes. "But you must understand my hesitance. Yes, I know the passage to Csilla. But I am not so reaching as to force my way into your home system and plant my boots on its icy surface without permission. After all, the Chiss would be a natural ally for my homeworld."
"I would love to hear how we are 'a natural ally' for you, Lord Gladiolus."
She smiled and leaned back. "Isolation. That is the state my homeworld has existed in since the first records of human life were inscribed into clay. Twenty thousand years ago, when the Jedi first emerged in the Core, we had yet to build a civilization. Domestication had been achieved in some corners, but most lacked agriculture.
"And yet now we can venture beyond the boundaries of our planet. While we have barely extended beyond the moon which orbits our world, the distance between that and the reliance on animal strength for industry and travel was less than a hundred years."
"I do confess that your people's accomplishments are impressive," Thrawn began, grasping at a vague suspicion in the back of his mind. "Yet I cannot shake the feeling your homeworld is not governed by a single body. Somehow, you strike me as one who departed a world severely divided along lines that would alienate even the Chiss, let alone the people of the Republic."
He nearly smirked when Darth Gladiolus pursed her lips. Thrawn had been uncertain that his words would cut deep. After all, he knew little of her people and world. Yet her aggression and demands, the protective way she spoke of her home and her people, made his suspicion obvious with hindsight. And though he had only expressed a suspicion—a hunch, if he were to be openly frank—he managed to strike home.
"I… I cannot disagree with the reality that my homeworld is divided among many lines." Darth Gladiolus almost sneered. "Yet I know the prospect of facing other peoples from beyond our world will unite us in a fashion nothing terrestrial could ever achieve."
Unsaid is that meeting the Chiss will help unify them, as well.
Thrawn nearly smiled at his realization. He had nearly discounted the woman across from him. Yet here she was, using the creation of an alliance with a foreign race to hammer her people into a single, cohesive people. He wondered when the Chiss had been so separate that they could not coalesce around the identity of their race. Ten thousand years ago? Five?
The Ruling Families are meant to civilize us, yet is that truly true? Or have we convinced ourselves that is how our history has played out regardless of the truth?
Thrawn locked those treacherous thoughts away in a slice of his mind where they could be safely stored until he could dare entertain them. Many would interpret them as treasonous.
Trust a Sith Lord to inspire discord and conspiracy among all they touch. We Chiss have old connections with them—connections from millennia ago—and those bonds only brought tears and grief to the Chiss.
He knew the dangers of repeating the errors of the past. Yet the prospect of building a new alliance that could benefit the Chiss remained tantalizing. And given the fears of the Far Outsiders whispered about in the halls of Csilla, another ally could prove instrumental in the fight yet to come.
"I believe we can reach an agreement, should you agree to focus the energies of your people toward a particular use that will benefit both parties—and alleviate the concerns of the Ruling Families."
Darth Gladiolus frowned, seeming unable to glean an understanding of what Thrawn meant through the Force. And then she blinked, proving his hopes for naught.
"Do tell, then. I would love to hear what frightens the Chiss."
The Sith Lord returned not to the quarters graciously granted to her by Admiral A'lanari, but to the Dearg Due. Gladiolus activated the navigation computer and entered the coordinates the negotiator, Thrawn, had supplied. From her first observance, it appeared to be nothing but a clump of stars and planetoids along the galactic edge. Yet when she leaned back and permitted herself a brief moment to meditate on that particular site, something foul and cloying crept up on her. Her skin crawled with foul feelings, as though something truly evil had slithered into her.
She breathed out heavily. While what she sensed concerned her greatly, it did not prove Thrawn's claims of dangers beyond any singular people's capabilities true. What he suggested meant a threat lingered on the edge of the Milky Way possessing the strength to destroy every galactic civilization that could stop them from achieving complete dominance. She doubted the claim, yet what she sensed almost gave his claims credence.
Almost, but she knew the power of an almost. Luna Lovegood had almost been her apprentice. Hermione Granger had almost been hers. Arrogance had blinded her in the past; she could not permit it to blind her further.
Gladiolus considered the other measures agreed to: Chiss would be permitted entry into "human" space, but they could not colonize nor mine human systems. They were pleased with their current boundaries and believed it foolish to make an alliance unworthy enough for betrayal. For her part, Gladiolus would use all the power and influence she possessed to prevent her people from trespassing into Chiss Space. Unfortunately, their history revealed that many would be dearly tempted to slip across the border should it prove economically beneficial to their livelihood. Her people, in particular, had a habit of adopting a mindset that they could go where they wished—as long as particular pleasantries and compliments were paid forward and they managed a victory or three.
She sighed. Should this alliance work as she hoped, then humanity would leapfrog into the galaxy with the Chiss as their ally and backer. But could it last? She already foresaw her people thinking themselves greater; after all, humans dominated the greatest galactic civilization. She knew, thanks to the example of Lord Salazar Slytherin, that those other humans could intermarry and reproduce with her people. Some—many, she feared—may be drawn by the siren song of "democracy" within the Republic. But from what little she gleamed from her time among the Chiss reading about the Galactic Republic, she knew their democracy was an illusion. It, like every other of its kind, would perish.
I should revise my knowledge of the Romans and how their republic transformed into an empire. We may witness similar events play out within this 'Galactic Republic'.
It was tempting to cast herself in the role of Julius Caesar or Augustus. Gladiolus could sweep in and dominate the Republic, should she find a way to neutralize the threat of the Jedi. Perhaps she could make allies to help defame and tear down the Jedi while priming the general populous for the inevitable destruction of the Republic.
And by doing so, they would cast their lot in with the Sith. Darth Gladiolus knew her order did not rule by committee or by popular vote. Theirs was the belief in the primacy of will and power. Strength above all else.
A smile creeped onto her face. Strength above all else. What a wonderful, pleasant thought. Gladiolus remained uncertain how she would convince a world trapped in the false belief of democracy's ascendancy that power and will would always win out. Perhaps she would need to use the Force to dominate minds until a time arrived when she could enforce her primacy without overt manipulation.
Or perhaps I can use the expansion to come to grow my power. Just as other empires yoked their wanton and wandering vassals, so too shall I bind every human system to the will of Earth. Let them hate me, resent me, wish to throw me down and be independent. I shall use that will to destroy my enemies, and bind every child of Earth to my will, and to the eternal will and glory of the Sith.
To achieve her newest desire, she required the technology and knowledge of the Chiss. They knew that, yet they did not take advantage of that truth the way she feared. Were the Chiss weaker than she suspected? Or were they playing a game with her?
Only one way to learn the truth.
She activated the shuttle's comm and contacted Thrawn's shuttle elsewhere. Once the negotiator answered, Gladiolus said, "I approve of the agreement, Thrawn. Let us head for Csilla. I will meet with the heads of your Ruling Families and finalize the agreement between our people."
The Chiss nodded. "I will inform them of your intention. Once we have approval, we will depart for Csilla."
"Good," she crooned. "And let them know I shall seek passage onward. I have matters to attend to within Republic Space."
"I will let them know."
Twelve days passed before the Ruling Families finally approved her diplomatic visit to Csilla. Gladiolus had grown increasingly frustrated with their delayed response. She had presumed that by sending a negotiator they would agree to her passage once she acquired the agreement and approval of their representative. But apparently politics amongst the Chiss were just as bitter and cutthroat as on Earth. And while the Sith Lord wanted to make them sorry over that foolish delay, she still required the influence and power of these families. She would use them until the day when she could punish those who crossed her dawned.
As for those who ascended to claim the seat of the current family heads, Gladiolus would ensure they all knew exactly why they stepped into their seats. They would be grateful for her actions, or she would replace them with one more open to her influence.
Following their departure from Icespire, Thrawn's shuttle led the way to the jump point. The Dearg Due's sensor package remained on its passive settings as they crossed the Kinoss system; Gladiolus saw the way the thirty corvettes of Admiral A'lanari's fleet were arrayed. The admiral feared her, and so she had her ships prepared for a potential betrayal. While the Sith Lord saw the wisdom in the admiral's actions, her actions were premature. The time for a betrayal of the Chiss remained in the distant future. That assumed there would ever be cause to turn against her first galactic allies. Gladiolus would not toss away useful allies purely because of an insult. She would ruin any who did insult her and leave the rest alone with the knowledge her wrath was a focused, ferocious beast easily avoided through compliance.
The jump from Kinoss to Csilla required almost forty hours. While they could leap from system to system, they would be delayed enough that Gladiolus would risk her treaty with the Chiss, and she would not risk that after all the effort made to reach any agreement. It was simpler to travel the entire distance in hyperspace, despite Gladiolus's vague interest in other Chiss worlds.
There will be time to learn more about their space.
Gladiolus spent most of the jump in meditation and reading through the documentation about Csilla and the Chiss she gathered from Icespire's databanks. Sev'rance had been returned to her ship the day after Thrawn's arrival. Why she had been permitted to linger on the admiral's ship for so long confused the Sith Lord. Perhaps her favor toward Commander Tann convinced Admiral A'lanari that said commander could be used against the Sith Lord.
The navigation computer beeped ten minutes out from the Csilla system. Gladiolus, who had decided to perform maintenance on her lightsaber around thirty-nine hours into the journey, glanced up from her work at the sound. She used the Force to reassemble her weapon before heading to the Dearg Due's cockpit. She slipped into the seat. Eventually, the computer beeped again: five minutes.
The Sith Lord settled into her seat and waited out the final five minutes before reversion back into real space. The vortex vanished into star lines as the Csilla system came into view. Thrawn's shuttle had already crossed half the distance to Csilla; no doubt he had an expected course to follow upon return.
Her comm pinged. Gladiolus opened the connecting channel. An emotionless voice commanded, "Follow the provided guidance. Any deviation will be treated as open hostility. You will be shot down."
Gladiolus smiled at the brusque treatment. "Understood," she drawled. "Following guidance."
She activated the shuttle's autopilot and queued the Dearg Due to follow the provided course. She then leaned back and watched as a crystalline ice world drew closer and closer into view. Gladiolus wondered how such a world could support a humanoid race capable of traversing the stars. She guessed Csilla had not always been coated in ice. Or perhaps the Chiss had come to it from another world so long ago that they came to believe that Csilla, and not that forgotten world, had been the cradle of their race.
Twelve minutes passed before the Dearg Due entered Csilla's atmosphere. Gladiolus watched as a dark speck on the distant horizon grew in size and shape. Eventually, she determined her destination resided behind a set of closed hangar doors. She raised an eyebrow. Would they keep those doors closed until she arrived? Did they think to limit her access to the subterranean stronghold before her?
What fools to think they could keep a Sith Lord from wherever she wishes to go. I will gain my entry, whether by persuasion or by force.
It mattered not in the end. The doors opened once she got within five kilometers. They opened swiftly enough they could have been kept close until she got within a single kilometer had they wished otherwise. She found the decision peculiar. Why open it that way instead of opening it beforehand?
She doubted she would receive clarity once on the hangar floor. The Chiss enjoyed their secrets.
The Dearg Due followed the guidance until the shuttle was completely within the hangar. Gladiolus began the landing procedure before rising from her chair. She strolled to the entry ramp and waited until the shuttle fully landed before lowering said ramp.
With a cruel smirk adorning her face, Darth Gladiolus disembarked and stepped onto her first alien world.
Forty minutes later, Gladiolus found herself nursing a cup of what she discovered to be galactic coffee. Five Chiss officers sat across from her; two wore the same colors Thrawn bore when they met, while the other two wore a different set of colors. She surmised the colors represented two of the Nine Ruling Families.
The last, sitting directly across from her, wore a simple white uniform with golden plates across his shoulders.
None, she knew without being told, were of the Ruling Families.
"The Ruling Families have granted us permission to negotiate with you on their behalf," the man in white declared. "Names matter not here, Lord Gladiolus. You will be gone from Csilla shortly. The act of exchanging pleasantries would be a waste of time."
Gladiolus raised an eyebrow. She had expected to waste days—even weeks—on Csilla with the negotiations. Instead, they would send her on her way with an agreement that would no doubt benefit these Nine Families over both the common Chiss and her unique breed of humans.
"The terms laid out on this datapad," the man continued, handing one over, "should be clear and concise. Those open to negotiation can be manipulated. Those that are not open to debate have been made permanent."
The Sith Lord nodded as her gaze lowered to the data pad. She took it and began reading. As she went, a slight frown found its way onto her face. Most of what she read matched the basics hashed out with Thrawn; each race would be granted security and dominance within their space. The real issue, she slowly discovered, concerned the possibility of a mutual defense pact. While they would work together against any threat the Chiss had fought in the past—especially those whose space bordered both Chiss and the outlined 'Earthling Space'—nothing was said concerning the Galactic Republic. As far as she could tell, the Chiss would do nothing to prevent the Republic or the Jedi from sending troops through their space.
Then she reached the end of the sections concerning defense and alliance and read: 'Should the Senate of the Galactic Republic grant their Chancellor power necessary to construct and conscript a naval or otherwise defined military force, the Chiss will only prevent their passage should they revert into a Chiss system. Should they reach Earthling Space without entering a Chiss system, no Chiss ship shall aid in the defense of said space.'
"I find it fascinating that there is no mention of the Jedi," Darth Gladiolus drawled. She tapped the passage. Nothing happened. "What does the Ascendancy plan to do should the Jedi seek conflict with me and mine while the Galactic Republic fails to act?"
"The conflict between the Jedi and the Sith is ancient," the Chiss stated. "They are your enemy; you are welcome to fight them however you desire."
Gladiolus frowned slightly. "I would prefer to have the might of the Ascendancy alongside my forces than to face the Jedi alone. I do not doubt my power; I would be a fool, however, to permit my allies to sit aside while I fight my foes alone."
The Chiss nodded. "That matter can be renegotiated, should this alliance prove as fruitful as your claims suggest."
"Claims passed along by Admiral A'lanari or by the negotiator, Thrawn?"
The Chiss in white did not respond. After a minute, Gladiolus determined she would receive no response to her question. Best she end this meeting and attempt to claim whatever time she could on Csilla. She scanned through the rest of the treaty; nothing outright offensive jumped out, but she noticed more and more hints the Chiss would not be valuable allies against the Jedi. They would respect the borders of her people's space and they would trade with them happily. But should the Jedi—and only the Jedi—seek war against Earth, the Chiss would stand aside and watch on, regardless of events or agreements.
With time, I will bring them around. Sev'rance Tann shall ensure that fate. And if necessary, I will make an ally of Thrawn. I doubt he will happily serve me, though perhaps…
"The rest of the treaty is acceptable," Gladiolus stated several minutes later. She set the datapad down. The Chiss shifted, pleased their work was all but finished. "However, I have a condition before we finalize the treaty: Sev'rance Tann, commander of the Blackhawk, will lead the first Chiss venture into Earth space—and to my homeworld. I am willing to grant her—and only her—the coordinates required to reach Earth."
The Chiss exchanged pointed looks before the one at the center said, "That can be accepted, though she will not be allowed to select the ships that go with her."
Gladiolus considered the counter. She disliked the idea of the Ruling Families sneaking spies or saboteurs onto her world. But she knew that Earth would rely heavily on the Chiss to get their footing in the galaxy.
That is the purpose of this meeting. I must ensure good terms, all the while paving the route forward for my people to expand and dominate the galaxy. One day, these Chiss shall be our vassals. And on that day, I will do away with these 'Ruling Families' and install a proper governor to rule this race in their fashion—but solely at my discretion.
"Fine. I will accept that. Though know that should a single one of your people act outside the boundaries of our treaty, I will destroy them. Not you or whatever legal and punitive systems the Chiss have. I will see that justice is enacted."
The Chiss stiffened at her demand.
"Am I understood?" the Sith Lord asked softly.
"…quite clearly," the central Chiss said. "The Ruling Families will be displeased to hear your perspective."
"Good for them. Should they be fortunate, I will be far enough from Csilla when any nonsense occurs on Earth that they might have the chance to run their criminals through rushed trials and execute them however—"
"We do not execute criminals," the Chiss said. "Exile is the punishment levied against the worst of our kind."
"…as long as they are not exiled into my space, then I can live with this arrangement. They can petition for asylum, should they desire to live and contribute to Earth's dominion. I am happy to accept those who cannot find themselves exiled from a world rightly theirs."
The Chiss exchanged concerned looks. The emotion was not writ across their faces, yet she felt it nonetheless. She found it fascinating how the Chiss made a great effort to mask their emotions outwardly, yet churned with turmoil and fear. It made them easy to manipulate, for their inner lives were exposed to her. Gladiolus knew they believed themselves above her. No doubt the Chiss believed themselves superior to the humans of the Republic, and thus they would view her people in a similar light. For her to willingly accept those they would toss away made her a threat they had not fathomed until now.
"We will speak with the Ruling Families—"
"You will inform them that I will accept any refugees or asylum seekers as I see fit," Gladiolus snarled. The Chiss stiffened. "They can be angry. They can even protest my choice. But it has already been made and my people will know." She rose to her feet. "Now, I would like a tour of your world. I—"
"You will be dismissed from Csilla before this day is out, and sent on your way to the Redoubt," the lead Chiss said, his upper lip curling slightly. "Once you depart that region, you will no longer be within our space. You will be permitted transit west from there again, though you will be expected to jump straight from the Redoubt to whichever system you last visited before Kinoss."
Darth Gladiolus hesitated before nodding. She disliked the terms, but she understood where they came from. Had some inferior alien species come to Earth seeking aid in growth and development, she would have told their representative something similar. Even so, she could not help her offended feelings. She would have played the part of a kind and gracious host before sending her guests on their way.
"If that is what the Ruling Families have decided, then so be it." Gladiolus rose to her feet, peering down her nose at the Chiss before her. He flinched despite himself. "But do not think I shall forget their inhospitality. Had they come to me, I would have permitted them to witness the wonders of my homeworld before sending them on their way, content with the knowledge they had bound their fates to a world of people fierce in their strength.
"But they have made their choices, and I have made mine."
She turned and stormed from the room. A Chiss waiting beyond the door scrambled to not appear as though she were trailing behind Darth Gladiolus pathetically. The Sith Lord stoked her fury as she returned to the Dearg Due, keeping it just nebulous enough that she would not immediately turn around, hunt the heads of the Nine Ruling Families, and tear out their spines. The image pleased her offended heart. But her mind knew she could not act on that impulse. She still needed the Ruling Families.
And when I finally do away with them, I shall let them know why I have dispatched them so. Let the pain of their failure and foolishness bring despair to their hearts in their final hour.
A grin reached her lips by the time she returned to the Dearg Due. Gladiolus swept to the cockpit. She ran through the liftoff procedures mechanically before setting the navigation computer to calculate the jump from Csilla to the edge of Chiss space, to the place she presumed to be this 'Redoubt' the representative had spoken of.
Thrawn watched the Dearg Due depart Csilla. He had already read over the signed treaty and found himself troubled. He understood from his conversations with Lord Gladiolus that the Sith Lord feared the Jedi more than the Republic. Yet his people would do nothing when the inevitable war between Jedi and Sith once more ignited. He knew it would be folly to remain on the sidelines and spectate the conflict. The Jedi would continue to treat them with mistrust, for they had already aligned themselves with a Sith Lord. And should Gladiolus emerge victorious, she would punish them most severely.
I must prepare us for that inevitable war. Unless the Republic gets dragged into the conflict, we risk having to fight our new ally—and from all she told me, I fear what her people might do, especially once they catch up technologically. They might not have centuries of practice and tradition in space warfare, but they are a dangerous, conniving people. For them, war is an art.
He thought about the limited art caches the Sith Lord had from Earth. Thrawn had been truly surprised when she provided him a hundred or so loaded into the databanks of the Dearg Due. Already he found a great deal of mysticism and differentiation in her people. Unlike the Chiss or just about any other race in the galaxy, the humans of Earth were a divided people. That was reflected in their art. Each piece had a label referring to whom it came from.
Only death and love seem to be constants, and even then they are treated differently from people to people. Some embrace one, some another. A few even embrace them both, understanding their role in life.
Fear of death, fear of love's pain; they are a fascinating race.
A smile came to his face. Thrawn knew that Sev'rance Tann, the Blackhawk's captain, would be picked to lead the expedition to Earth. He would only need to ensure he was added to that expedition—and that he could take the time necessary to catalog all that strange little world had to offer. For if he understood them, then he could understand Darth Gladiolus.
And if he understood her, then Thrawn could ensure the safety of the Chiss, should the worst ever come to pass.