Chapter 4

Politics of the Unknown

The Confederate Recusant-class warship rumbled through the void of space. Looming as a scythe over the unknown and up until now, previously uncharted planet below. The ship, known by its very limited organic and far more numerous droid crew as the Waywind. The droid vessel had, in the ensuing weeks following the declaration of the tenuous ceasefire, been sent on patrol along the furthest bounds of Confederate space. The borders were still to be properly mapped out by the political leadership on both sides, but for now, it fell on the Confederacy to snuff out all pirate activity in those systems as it controlled at the time of cessation's call.

The Clone Wars had allowed pirates, smugglers, the hutts and their cartels, along with Black Sun and similar ilk to run rampant across the galaxy. Goods were scarcer as the need for resources to conduct the war pulled more and more away from the civilian sectors. Some worlds, or sectors did better than others. Local goods produced were more than enough. But, for worlds or systems that weren't so lucky, crime and the black market became an economy into and of itself.

The Waywind was hardly a patrol ship meant to police the varied hyperlanes of the galaxy. But, it, along with the vast reserves at the command of General Grievous, and the lackadaisical Council, were what was available.

The Captain of the Waywind sat in his command seat. A two and half meter tall and broad male member of the togorian species. Feline in origination, his blackened-gray fur showed along his long and muscle defined arms. Over top of his body a set of simple verpine designed armor lay. Gray and without symbol or denotation except for the emblem of the Confederacy at its center. Wrapped around his torso, leading to his bare legs except for a waist cloth that reached his knees. A similarly dark blue cloak at his back between him and the seat signifying his command position, as he saw it. Worn in honor of General Grievous, as this togorian honored through similar dress. His green cat-like eyes remained narrowed as he awaited a call from the ground team sent down to the world below.

His snouted face curled its lips back. Gently baring razor sharp teeth for but a second as a grumble elicited from his maw. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair. His shoeless angled paws extended their claws them from their retracted resting state. Stretching them as he waited, and waited. It had been two days since the Waywind had come to this unknown system. Hunting down a small pirate flotilla of cargo ships sneaking goods from the Republic into Confederacy space. The ships had broken ranks upon sighting the Waywind on intercept approach. The Captain, ordered all the pirates fired upon. Blowing five freighters into oblivion and killing the crews without mercy. His loyalty was without question. His people were renowned for it, and he felt incredible loyalty toward the Confederacy. Not only because he believed in the cause of Separation from the decadence of the Republic, but because he had suffered under the so called 'laws' of that government.

It was under the Republic he and many other males on hunt upon their homeworld were picked up by slavers and sold as slaves like so much cattle. Not to the hutts, and not even to the galaxy spanning mega corporations. But, as exhibition pieces! A 'unique' species rarely seen in the Core Worlds. Rich benefactors would buy 'aliens' as humans called them and put them on display. Collar them like reeks or tamed kath hounds from Dantooine. There, in a cage on a world within the outer bands of the Core, he languished. Until the Confederacy came. During the Durge's Lance Campaign undertaken by General Grievous, he had been found, released, and killed...many Republic citizens. Earning him a place among the Confederacy, and even the General's notice. If just for a moment's glance.

That's how Mazger came to serve the Confederacy. But, he shook his head. His ears flicked from where they sat angled back atop his head. He had completely derailed his own train of thought. Feeling his clawed hands allow the flesh rending claws to come free of their sheaths as he did so. A relishing memory of screaming richly dressed Republic women and their spawn cowering in corners of lavish homes. The piercing wails of the children and mothers. The bleeding out fathers. Their pets released and burning their homes. Rending their flesh...they had been considered animals, after all? Why not show their one time owners what happened when rabid wild animals broke loose?

Nonetheless, Mazger sighed and refocused.

This unknown planet was where the few stragglers of the initial attack on the pirates had made a callous random hyperspace jump to. Through a lucky crack of their communications channel, Mazger and his ship's droids had overheard the random coordinate set. Following after them and popping out over a planet. The likelihood of a random jump bringing random jumpers to a world that, by sight and initial scans, seemed to support life, was incredibly low. More likely, the random jump would have passed through the planet, and its gravity affected the hyperspace jump. Forcing the ships both fleeing and chasing to exit hyperspace in its local zone of gravitational pull. Which seemed all the more true as the droids calculated the input coordinate set, and where they were in relation to their jump point. But, all of that was brainy...stuff.

Mazger didn't much care about any of that.

His bridge crew of blue marked B1 droids attended their stations. Hitting keys and tending to the various systems of his ship. He sat in the relative silence, but for their whirring servos and joints. Some walking to adjoined nearby stations and interfacing with their fellow droids. Overlooking various input and outputs along the monitors. While outside the bridge the odd wing of vulture droids could be seen buzzing in intercept formation. Protecting the Waywind from the great nothing headed their way.

Down on this unnamed planet, one of the fleeing ships had descended. Seeking to lose the Confederates on its tail in a forested treeline. Eventually, however, an explosion ripped through the forest! The ship had collided into something...Mazger wasn't sure what yet. But, the pirates had been blown to bits. A job well done. But, Mazger had made the mistake of sending a crew down to the world to collect whatever could be salvaged from the wreck. Trying to find who had been the employer of the pirates or what they had been transporting. That's when the droid squads began going dark.

A single B1 unit ceased contact with its squad. The droids reported it, and Mazger had waved it off as a droid stumbling in unknown terrain. An acceptable loss. Then the rest of the squad ceased responding, and he knew that wasn't normal. A fly over by several vulture droids, along with a scan by an HMP gunship showed several of the droids were laid out on the forest floor where they had last been in contact. Carbon scores on their chassis. Along with potential signs of an EMP grenade. Potentially.

The fly over had brought about a new revelation, however. A small camp clearing had been spotted. Rudimentary coverings made with tree leaves and various furs. But, more interesting was the portable power source. A large battery of unknown design, but clearly meant to power electronic devices.

At this news Mazger dispatched three squads of droids. Three, twenty unit strong squads each with five B2 supers leading them. They were to converge on the camp, set up position and look for whoever had deprived Mazger of his droids.

Day locally for the droids turned to night. Then, the local beasts, unknown and unrecorded began attacking the karking camp! Several large predators with fanged mouths, and hulking beasts snarling and seemingly in a feeding frenzy launched themselves at the camp and began mauling the droids. Some of them having more success than others. The droids focused fire and soon slaughtered many of the beasts. Only a few B1s and a single B2 being lost.

Then, the portable battery exploded! Destroying all but one B2 that reported the attack as monotone as ever, before it too...ceased contact.

At that point Mazger realized he was being toyed with, and he didn't know by who, or why? But, his feline blood boiled. His thoughts went to the pirates. It made the most sense. The ships he had chased had come to this system. Their random jump may well have been calculated in spite of what their communications were meant to lead him to believe. A ploy to lure him, or any other tracker here to be attacked by a well trained and fortified base of pirates and smugglers. For his trouble, Mazger was down what amounted practically to a platoon of droids. Easily replaceable? Yes, but losing them to unknown forces on an uncharted planet? Unacceptable.

So, Mazger had dispatched his ace, and the best units he had on his ship. Two four unit squads of very valuable, and not at all cheap, BX commando droids. Each squad also sporting two magnaguard units usually held in reserve for when or if General Grievous needed them. They were plenty, and all were uploaded with personal fighting techniques and training modules designed by Grievous himself. It was merely rare for any commander to utilize them without the General's presence. For this circumstance, however, Mazger felt the use was justified.

A twin chime rumbled at his seat console. Mazger jolted slightly and pressed his furry right hand's digit into the reception key.

"Report!" His hissing voice commanded. Elongated syllables rumbled from his grumbling snouted maw. Watching as the holocomm set ahead of his chair whirred to life. Showing one of the commando droid squad leaders. The black painted chassis, and the luminous photoreceptor slits staring back while another commando moved just out of sight of the comm unit behind the calling droid.

"Captain Mazger, the destroyed camp has been searched. All units have been destroyed. Several weapon units have been taken, sir."

"Blown up in the blast, perhaps?" Mazger offered, and the droid took just a second to recalculate the question it had undoubtedly already asked itself.

"Doubtful, Captain." The lower thrum and seriousness of the BX's voice sounded back. Far more eloquent and direct than the B1 series. More in line with the OOM progenitor series. Though B1s weren't necessarily stupid. Just designed for numerical superiority. Nevertheless, Mazger nodded.

"Understood. Anything else found?"

"Affirmative." The droid turned the comlink on his end and showed the ground. Between two large ferns or bushes there was soil. Tread on and over. "This soil has been disturbed more than several times. Creating an unnatural path in the dirt. Likely, whatever organic utilized this camp created this trail while venturing into the forest."

"I see… How is this helpful?" Mazger wondered as the comlink returned to the droid's upper body.

"Several pathways such as this lead into the forest and back to this camp. Likely, whatever organic or potential party of organics that used this base, have adjoined outposts or camps. These trails undoubtedly lead to them." Mazger nodded. Feeling his fur bristle as he went over the possible next actions he could take. His right hand came up and slid through the fur along the underside of his chin.

"What's your general assessment?" Mazger wondered.

"Highly doubtful there is more than one organic who occupied this camp."

"Evidence for your deduction, droid?"

"Amenities conform to a bipedal lifeform, but only for one unit. A single cot, watering canteens unsuited for large numbers. As well, remnants of the battery unit indicate use for select items. Several light fixtures, a transceiver dock missing the transceiver, and so forth, Captain. At most, the potential for a maximum of three organics remains potential. Lack of resources present would indicate unsuitable conditions for larger numbers."

"At least in this camp."

"Affirmative." The droid nodded its coned head.

"The deduction skills of your droid prove remarkable." A voice, buzzing, murky, and unexpected sounded. Mazger jumped and went rigid in his seat. Sitting up more attentively as the almost regal accented voice spoke calm and collected. The commando droid tilted its head around itself. Several of its compatriots falling into defensive kneeling postures, aiming down various sights as they silently communicated to one another.

"The last time I had the pleasure of working with droids of a similar design their functions were brutally effective. Though they were of far simpler intention."

"And who is this?! Identify yourself!" Mazger snarled.

"I apologize for the intrusion. Your comm channel was wide open, Captain was it?" Mazger sneered as the voice remained unfazed by his own ire. The question, the male voice asked, seemed all too genuine and for some reason Mazger couldn't explain...that also irritated him.

"It is." Mazger grumbled at last. His mind reeling as he remembered the commando droid's report. The missing transceiver…

"I take it you're one of the people whose camp my droids currently occupy?"

"Correct deduction, Captain."

"Which means you and your friends are also responsible for destroying a platoon of my other droids too." Mazger accused.

"Ah yes, that would be my work. I apologize for the mess, Captain. I deemed the destruction necessary to garner your full attention."

"And what made the several-dozen strong platoon worth of my units seem as though my attention had not been suitably garnered already...whoever you are…?" Mazger elongated, fishing for a name.

"My name in your Basic language would be Mitth'raw'nuruodo." His voice suddenly took on a far more tongue-heavy inflection ending with pronunciations from the throat of the being, as he pronounced his name. Mazger grimaced at the many syllables.

"But, I find it far more effective for people using this language to call me by my core name."

"Being?"

"Thrawn, Captain."

"Thrawn eh?" Mazger sniffled his annoyance. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Thrawn. Now, back to my original question. What made you destroy all my droids?! And how many others are there on the planet with you?!"

"You have come to several erroneous assumptions, Captain. Alas, I am alone here on this world. At least, as far as I am aware. I have been in exile on this planet for several years."

"'Alone?'" Mazger repeated with a scoff. "You alone have caused me all this trouble? No friends helping you set up traps to blow up my droids, and lure animals into your own camp?"

"The local fauna were attracted by a bushel of local berries on the planet. Their smell seems to draw them in. From past experience their prey graze near them. Your droids fired on one of the predators and sent them all into a frenzy, Captain."

"You brought the damn animals there in the first place!"

"That I did." Again...this Thrawn was far too calm for Mazger. Agitating him.

"And…?!" Mazger pressed! Still not having his question answered.

"It seemed prudent to me to introduce a certain degree of confusion to the situation, Captain. After all, I took notice of your droid starfighters chasing another ship into one of my monofilament wire lines."

"So that's what destroyed the pirate ship…" Mazger intoned. To which, Thrawn confirmed.

"Correct. It was placed between two trees in hopes of catching assorted flying prey. Food is hard to come by on this planet, and the wire cuts better than any blade. Regardless, my point – it seemed to me with the introduction of your droids onto the planet you and your forces were searching for stragglers among the debris. Having reached it myself I deduced from the cargo it had been on a smuggling mission of some sort. I have seen such before. Introducing myself in that light would have likely caused you to believe I was affiliated with the pirating gang you were after. Either from the ship itself or having been stationed on the planet, would it not?" Mazger remained quiet a long moment. Reflecting on his own deduction but moments prior. His eyes narrowing as he watched the commando droid remain silently standing. Only holding its personal comlink in hand and letting the Captain hold this vicarious conversation with Thrawn's garbled voice.

"Perhaps." Mazger relented with a purr-like grumble. "That still doesn't explain destroying my droids?"

"It does, if you look at it from my point of view, Captain."

"How's that?"

"The pirates would assuredly respond with force. Your droids would have fired on any 'pirate' with orders to do so in kind. It would make the most sense to assume their aggressive retaliation considering the prior interaction, per the aforementioned ship battle. Therefore, I eliminate an obvious threat with the first squad."

"The second? The platoon?"

"An overreaction, if you forgive me the remark, Captain." Thrawn simply informed, causing Mazger to sneer subtly. "It was reasonable to assume that in an environment where one did not understand what or who had destroyed your force of modern battle-capable automatons the reaction would be overwhelming force. Show strength and utilize shock and awe to destroy whatever you perceived as a threat. And, finding my camp was also an unfortunate circumstance. Your droids took it and blocked me from being able to reach my transceiver."

"So, you orchestrated the attack to get it." Mazger deduced.

"You are correct. Though it sustained some damage in the ensuing chaos. The explosion near totally destroyed my communicator. Spare parts from your droids were welcome."

"And this missing blasters?"

"For my own protection, Captain." Thrawn simply replied. "As we both know you sent even more deadly iterations of your droids. I'm looking at them this very moment. Quite fearsome seeming." To that the commandos all tilted and turned about themselves defensively. Scanning near and far for any signs of the being. The sound of the magnaguards activating their electrostaffs could also be heard, the cloaked droids whirling them in their hands and bending their knees in defensive postures.

"Well…" Mazger began with a sigh. "You've more than proved you're capable, Thrawn. Though it leaves a final question. What do you want?"

"Ah, good. You've broached the subject yourself." Thrawn seemed surprised which served to only cause Mazger to cock his furry brow with no small amount of irritation.

"As we have hopefully come to establish, I am not affiliated with whatever pirate force you were chasing, Captain. My exile here was ordered by my people due to...differences of doctrinal opinion. I played no small part in orchestrating my own exile. Reasons I shall not get into at this moment, but I believe my time on this planet has come to an end. I had originally thought of stowing away aboard one of your ships, but this seemed to me the more practical option."

"After you destroyed a good number of my droids." Mazger repeated. To hear a breathy single laugh utter from Thrawn's unseen maw.

"Captain, if you'll allow me – I have seen these droids before. A number of them. Certainly the Trade Federation units. I know from prior experience they are cheaply mass produced. Effective, though they may be, they are certainly not as valuable as men and women who must go through extensive training to conduct themselves to any form of military efficiency. If you forgive me the dismissal, I don't believe what I've cost you is of any true importance." Mazger scoffed, though mostly to himself. Shaking his head. Unwilling to agree aloud with what Thrawn said. The droids he had lost weren't going to break the Confederacy. Even the more valuable B2s could be easily replaced. It was...the principle of it that annoyed him. That, and the request of the seemingly arrogant man. Arrogant or self-confident. Either/or, Mazger didn't appreciate.

"So you expect me to give you what? A ride!" Mazger scoffed in laughter. His fur bristling at his own contemptuous laughter. "You have some nerve on you, Mitth'raw'nuruodo!" Mazger poorly repeated the being's whole name. "What makes you think I would even consider giving you room and board upon my ship?!"

"In some respect I can see your unwillingness, Captain. But, consider this – I did destroy, what did you call it? A 'platoon' of your droids with seeming ease. I am currently unseen watching your seemingly more effective droid units, and they cannot find me. And, I have managed to tap your communications. I have not presented myself to be of pirate or otherwise unwelcome manner."

"That's all a fanciful way of trying to say you pose no threat, while at once pronouncing just how much of a threat you can be."

"Effectively yes."

"And why should I allow an active threat aboard my ship? I again ask."

"Because, Captain Mazger, I can be a threat to you, or perhaps others?"

"What do you mean. Speak plainly!" Mazger snapped.

"Very well. I have a military background. As one could deduce I'm sure. I won't go into all the details right now. However, I have some skill, which you could attest to. Not only on a personal level, but where command is concerned. I also have contacts within the galaxy proper with whom I am eager to get back in contact with. As well, I may have information worth sharing concerning potential threats from the Unknown Regions, as I understand the rest of the galaxy to call it."

"Threats?" Mazger repeated. "What 'threats?'"

"I'm afraid that's for me to share with the necessary people, Captain. I appreciate your command and situation. However, I wouldn't quite be the responsible person should I freely give out information, verifiable or not, to anyone, no? Plus, this is a bargaining chip. We are bargaining, aren't we?"

Mazger couldn't help but laugh. Shaking his head at how brazen the unseen man was. His cat eyes lighting up in disbelieving mirth while his hair bristled and relaxed at his sharply changing mood.

"What's to stop me from ordering that entire sector of your planet carpet bombed? Or, better yet, why not use these turbolasers I have and turn that whole area you're on to glass? I don't think any of your 'skills' would save you then, now would they?"

"Correct." Thrawn simply and easily relented...only annoying Mazger more. "However, I think it would be a waste of your time, your resources, both available and already lost. As well as a waste of a potential resource."

"What makes you think I care?"

"You may not, Captain. I certainly don't know. Neither do I know for sure who or what government you may serve. What I do hope, though, is that whoever or whatever it may be would be intrigued to know what I know. Or, at least allow me chance to speak with those I have previously worked with on matters of importance."

"And who might that be?"

"That would be telling." Thrawn chuckled softly. Silence fell over them for a long moment. Mazger, the droids, and the unseen owner of the technology warbled voice. Mazger thought over the request. He wasn't much for showing this interloper any mercy or care. He or they, whatever was the truth, had destroyed several of his droids. His argument, Thrawn's, was apt though. They were easily replaceable. Even his reasoning for being cautious. Cautious to the point of violence. He sounded thoughtful, smart. Even if Mazger grew tired of the confidence. It reminded him of how the blowhards and braggarts who walked by his cage talked down to him. Less so...but still it itched at memories he didn't like. More importantly, however, Thrawn's implications of threats from the Unknown Regions…

That vast region of space, poorly explored, difficult to navigate due to the hyperspace anomaly that cut a whole third of the karking galaxy off from the rest. It was almost a spacefarer's nightmare. From which all manner of odd or 'creepy' tale would be spun. Missions into the unknown revealing monsters and abominations. Creatures of unimaginable scale, or horrific deities that roamed the dark. All sounding foolish to critical thinkers.

'Threats,' though. That word annoyed Mazger. Just about as much as Thrawn's voice did. But...its implications… What did he mean?! Armies, navies? A warlike species, a disease? Or were there horrors in the dark? He imagined the former was closer to the truth. But, Mazger also couldn't deny that his mind imagined much from the latter. Stupid...such thoughts served no purpose! He came out here to hunt pirates…

Mazger pushed himself back into his seat. His eyes squinting as a realization dawned on him. 'Here.' He didn't really know where 'here' was. Except that it was a system on the very edge of known space with the Unknown Regions. Lending credence, as much as that...well annoyed him, to what Thrawn said. Again, his eyes widened and narrowed to slits. His air exhaling from his snouted nostrils as his fur bristled in his shifting mood. If nothing else...General Grievous could find ways to make this man talk if he would not otherwise. No matter who it was Thrawn was looking to reconnect with.

"Thrawn." Mazger spoke after the long moment.

"Yes, Captain?" Simple, and seemingly unfazed by the long wait forced on him.

"I tentatively accept your request to board my ship. Under conditions."

"I expected as much. Name them, Captain. I shall abide."

"Good." Mazger nodded to himself. "Surrender to the droids at your camp. Surrender your weapons too. Allow for a search of your person and you will be transported unharmed aboard my vessel. You will be provided quarters within which you will be confined. To remain there and be transported to my government's local base of operations. Where I shall see what they will want done with you, and whatever you have to offer. Skill, information or otherwise." Mazger's voice purred the words with finality. "Those are my conditions. Take them, or remain on your planet."

"I shall not be turned to glass from orbit?" Thrawn wondered over Mazger's prior threat.

"No. That'd be a waste of my time, and 'resources.'" Mazger smirked to himself. Using Thrawn's own logic. To which the unseen man breathed a near imperceptible chuckle.

"I accept, Captain. I shall approach your droids now."

"See that you do. I shall meet you in the hangar bay. Welcome aboard the Waywind. Preemptively, of course, Thrawn."

"I look forward to it, Captain. Thrawn out."

From there, the Waywind would, in time, return to known space. A message would be sent through the appropriate channels requesting further orders surrounding the newest...not prisoner, but 'withheld guest' of the Confederacy. There was some spike of chatter surrounding the finding of a chiss, of all beings. They weren't unknown to the galaxy, but very rare. Especially one foundin exile on an uncharted world. In time, the matter did reach the Supreme Commander, General Grievous. After which, all discussion was put at an end. Interest via the aware parties would dwindle all the same. It was a small matter of little concern to anyone who had learned of the situation with the upcoming peace Accords on everyone's minds.

The General would eventually order the Waywind to come to Capital of the Confederacy. The Raxus System with their newfound guest still aboard. Once there, Captain Mazger would be given small accolade by General Grievous, seemingly remembering the togorian. Then, Thrawn, kept in cuffs would be transferred aboard Grievous own ship, the newly minted, Hand of Providence, itself a Providence-class warship. There, the chiss would be taken to places unknown to the Captain of the Waywind, and anyone else in the Confederacy minus the rare select few.

L's Note: Oh my...Thrawn is here too? ;) No, dear readers Lord Kun did not forget our favorite blue menace. I wonder what will come from this? :D

Regardless, thank everyone who has reviewed for reviewing! It really does mean a lot and help give Lord Kun a pep to his writing step. If you see any grammatical errors despite my best efforts, let me know and I will endeavor to fix them. Hopefully y'all see fit to review on!

As for some of the guesses as to who was who last chapter...interesting ideas folks. We'll see if you were right as time allows. ;)

Till the next.

-L

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 08/20/2023