Star Crossed Fanfic

[Pu-239]

Yay!!!!! First Post!!!

[Illuminatus Primus]

Thrawn seems a bit stiff. He's operated on his own before, albiet 'only' in the Unknown Territories, shouldn't he of all people have been expecting a 'New Empire'? Thrawn, out of any Imperial officer, seems like the best candidate to roll with the punches.

He is. Especially since he thinks he would be, ideally, the best candidate for ruling the galaxy back home. Palpatine he served out of neccessity and practicality; he really only cared about order and power and defending the Chiss.

Thrawn was never a super-Imperial stiff loyalist. Unless he's putting on airs, he's kind of out-of-character. I wouldn't be suprised if in the real timeline he had some eventual plan to depose Palpatine.

[JodoForce]

Nemesis never killed any of the captains, but he did kill the one guy who disagreed with him early on.

When was that?

[Trytostaydead]

After reading the VOF series by Zahn, I was always under the impression that Thrawn had no particular loyalty to the Emperor per se. It was my impression that he threw in his lot with the Empire because it afforded him the most resources and flexibility to use them. Even those who rebelled against the Empire he used, like Baron Fel and he wanted Mara Jade to join him.

Is a Sith Lord just reprehensible to him then?

[Darth Yoshi]

Yay!!!!! First Post!!!

What the hell kind of smoking have you been crack? You're a little late for the first post claim.

[Pu-239]

Yay!!!!! First Post!!!

What the hell kind of smoking have you been crack? You're a little late for the first post claim.

Read the cleaned starcrossed thread.

[Mr Bean]

Indeed as I mentioned in PM Stravo

Thrawn is off, almost way off here


I'll repost what I said a few months back

How does one write Thrawn?
Thrawn is three things, The first is Control, Thrawn is always in Control of the situation, He is always ready to deal with what comes up and knows everything possible about his oppents
Two, Thrawn is The Perfect General, He always knows the mood of his Troops and despite the fact he sets a very hard Standered he drives everyone to achive it and wins their Loyality. Not in big things, but in small
Third Thrawn is Mysterious, His motivations are clear, He never says anything strait out, Wheels within wheels at all times

And this Thrawn?

Well... He's not Thrawn... He's Daala to be honset

[Darth Yoshi]

Well... He's not Thrawn... He's Daala to be honset

Ouch. Although I did expect Thrawn to have more control of the situation than he did.

[Kuja]

No one liked that guy, and it was noted that he had not killed anyone when they started this campaign of conquest, he killed the Security chied when they first arrived.

Ah.

Read it again, he was frozen, the only thing moving were his eyes. Within the subspace bunker she could seize control of his systems because he was more primitive than Data, his systems were easier to seize control of which translated to the other androids when she beamed up. In my mind she is Uber Borg and thus she should be able to seize control of automated systems by dint of her power as teh Borg queen.

*rereads*

OH. I misinterpreted that part. By frozen, I thought you meant he was waiting for orders or some kind of thing.

Once on the ship she used the centrlized control of the Datas against them. They were all linked via the subspace transmitter and she used her power to jump from one to the next. More realistic answer, had to edit in order to get this chapter under a certain length..

Ah.

And that he is, the political situation is very tense. If he pisses off the fleet then there's a civil war and his losses would be heavy and then the rebels may take advantage of the situation. He wants absolute control so that he can secure his flanks (take out the rebels) THEN deal with the rebel Imperial faction. Thing is that Nemesis is pushing and pushing very hard so he is giving Thrawn very little wriggle room to keep the family together..

Yeah, but even the way he speaks...he just seems too rigid.

It will be soon revelaed...that is IF he got to Jerjerrod..

-_-'

[JodoForce]

Yay!!!!! First Post!!!

What the hell kind of smoking have you been crack? You're a little late for the first post claim.

Read the cleaned starcrossed thread.

And what does that tell me?

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Yay!!!!! First Post!!!

What the hell kind of smoking have you been crack? You're a little late for the first post claim.

Read the cleaned starcrossed thread.

...You missed the last chapter by a day?

[Pcm979]

It will be soon revelaed...that is IF he got to Jerjerrod..

Meh?

Otherwise, good chapter.
(Wait 'till Thrawn takes a look at Nemesis' favorite Tatooine wall carvings! )

[Soontir C'boath]

*sigh* good read. Though I did skip the romulans.....i guess i'm just in it for the action

Cyaround,
Jason

[Frank Hipper]

Jesus Stravo, that was the best yet. Adare is the perfect pschopath, and as I hoped, Vader is so much more than appearances suggest, the Queen's onion layered plans, I REALLY dig it.
Normally I go for the action scenes like C'boath said, but reading your battle scenes, which are excellent, I'm thinking, "let's get on with the good stuff!

[von Neufeld]

Great fic!
Who will die next? I'm guessing that the Shadow fleet will soon either be mauled by the Imperials or Assimilated by the Queen.

[Stravo]

Chapter 43: Cloak and Dagger



Grand Admiral Thrawn sat alone in his private quarters on the Executor. They had been hastily modified to resemble the quarters of his old flagship. A large area with holographic representations of artwork from all throughout the galaxy surrounded him in a soft light. A single long table in the center, suitable for small, intimate meeting between him and his staff dominated the center. He sat on a lone chair at the back of the office, a dim light illuminating the area around the chair only and a gorgeous view of the star field beyond and his fleet in formation around the command ship.

The Imperium fleet was off in the distance, closest to Romulus, it seemed the naked attempts at symbolism were the order of the day, he mused. The fleet looked more ragged around the edges, battle damage clearly visible on several stardestroyers, one in particular looked as if it has been through hell and back, missing portions of its bridge tower, the nose of the arrow shape vessel simply torn away, engines shattered.

The fleet was a flying symbol for all that they had endured in this galaxy. Thrawn’s fleet on the other hand was pristine and immaculate, floating menacingly in perfect fleet formation.

The war for the hearts and minds of the conquered was fully underway.

Thrawn toyed with a small chess piece on the armrest of his chair. A three dimensional chess board was set up in front of him and he was playing a computer opponent, hardly challenging but he was learning the rules of the game.

Thrawn was playing for several reasons.

Three dimensional chess was a past time of many Starfleet personnel and according to the personnel files on James Kirk it was also one of his favorite past times. Thus, to know the man, to find the key to how his mind worked, he played this game. Secondly, it was a porthole to this galaxy’s way of thinking. If he was to know the military mind set of those he faced, he would need to know on what planes their minds wandered. Third, The Emperor had a set in his throne room. Thrawn did not question Palpatine on where he had gotten the set, as far as Thrawn knew, no one in his galaxy played the game. The Emperor was hardly known as a gamesman, so what purpose did it serve? All he knew was that a game was in progress and Palpatine was not playing it, he seemed to be observing. But who was playing and why? Finally, Thrawn needed to get his mind off other problems, other emotions that were eating at him.

Thrawn was troubled.

He knew before he arrived in this galaxy that he would be facing threats the likes of which he had never seen. He would have to play the game of statecraft and warcraft simultaneously. He would also have to think on terms of intergalactic scale. He would have to do battle against the Emperor’s most trusted men, Sith Lords with only one ace up his sleeve. They did not know it yet, but he had discovered a way to destroy their precious link to the Force. But he would NOT play this card unless the endgame was at risk.

Darth Vader would be easy to manipulate and destroy.

Thrawn slid a bishop up to the second level.

Vader was a known quantity. He was driven by desire and ambition. He sought the throne itself, of that he had no doubt. But Vader was subtle, oh it was hard to believe but he was incredibly subtle. He maneuvered others to oppose the Emperor and stood quietly on the sidelines, the Emperor’s ever obedient servant. Tarkin had been his most successful attempt. Tarkin had eyed the throne of power with a measured gaze and the Death star was the path to that throne.

How long? How long until Tarkin used the mighty war machine against his own Emperor. Tarkin was a leader, not a follower. Tarkin had also been a brilliant tactician and leader of men. Thrawn both mourned and was relieved by his passing. Mourned because he did not think that anyone else in the Imperial war machine was a credible threat to him. It would have been exhilarating to test his abilities against such a man. Relieved that he did not have to test his abilities against such a man for surely such a conflict would have devastated the galaxy.

Vader was now maneuvering his son into the equation, emboldened by Skywalker’s so called conversion, Vader’s moves were becoming less subtle, easier to foresee and counter. How long before his ambition made him tip his hand? Thrawn moved a rook into a defensive posture as a knight swung out from the opposing side’s lines into a threatening move to his soft left quadrant. Or, would the Sith lord err on the side of caution and strike down his son to cement his position and trust with the Emperor?

Thrawn would force him to commit.

The computer committed the knight into an attack on the rook.

If Vader chose the route of ambition, both he and his son would be exposed as traitors and they would be exposed to Thrawn’s ace in the hole. Thrawn moved his own knight deep into the computer’s lines and exposed an attack by his bishop against a weak phalanx of pawns. It also opened up a direct move by a rook against the computer’s last bishop. If Vader slew his son to maintain his position, Thrawn would have eliminated the far more potent threat of Darth Nemesis, for there was no doubt after meeting the young man that he had all the attributes of a dangerous political enemy. He was smart, charismatic and daring. Vader was hardly charismatic, choosing to lead from fear and terror, Nemesis actually inspired his people and made them love him. He would be extremely difficult to dislodge without turning this entire so called Imperium against Thrawn’s fleet.

But with Nemesis gone at Vader’s hands there was merely the dark specter to deal with.

The computer chose to move ahead and take his exposed rook instead of letting him take the bishop. Thrawn did not smile, did not show any reaction as he brought out his queen. She had been slowly moving along the board in barely perceptible tangents and now she struck, slicing deep into the Computer’s last quadrant and opening up end game as he flushed out the King.

The Computer had been busy looking at the triple threat and not seeing the less serious one until far too late. Thrawn had intentionally hampered his Queen’s efforts to minimize her threat. The most powerful piece in the board became invisible because it seemed useless, stiff, and impotent.

The computer began the long harrowing march to save the King.

Thrawn was angry at himself.

He knew better, he truly should not be, there was a method to his madness. He was faced with the threat of rebellious Imperial fleets, plotting Sith lords and a raging galactic war. His worst case scenario come true.

He could have simply tried to overwhelm them. But that would have been a terrible waste of resources and a risk he could not take.

Instead, Thrawn played the fool.

They did not know him, they only heard rumors, rampant speculation and they saw that he was not human. He was not a Sith lord as such did not have the Emperor’s ear as they did. He was simply a figure head, a Grand Admiral sent to bring some discipline to the ranks and bear the flag. They did not know the truth.

They did not know the depths of the final plan. The Emperor was setting the stage for something greater. The promise of the possibilities were enormous, almost too much to believe. But if there was even the possibility that what Palpatine promised was true, Thrawn could not allow such an opportunity to pass.

So Thrawn would play his part well, the rabidly loyal Imperial officer. He would drive them to unite against him or to rally to his cause, it did not really matter which it would be, since either way served his purposes well. It did not matter to him whether they were destroyed in opposing him or elevated by joining him. Whatever the choice, Thrawn controlled the ends. He had a goal to achieve and nothing would stop him from doing so.

The King was slowly cornered, rooks and bishops herded it through the multiple levels of the board. His glowing red eyes intent on the tall white piece as it continued on its dash fro freedom. the computer unable to launch a counterattack, he patiently herded the king. As he would patiently herd Vader, Nemesis, the fleet, the rebels, everyone and when the time was right and all the final elements were in place – he moved the queen, cutting off all escape and checkmating the white king.

The white king toppled over and the board cleared.

He would finally have them all and unveil himself as the greatest threat of all.

The door chime sounded.

“Come.” he said after a moment of silence.

The door opened and Jerjerrod stepped in cautiously.

“Someone is here to see you. They said they were summoned but I don’t remember that order.”

“She has been summoned.” Thrawn replied coolly as he set up the board again. The game was mildly addictive. Soon it would be time to test himself against a true opponent.

“Oh…” Jerjerrod looked slightly confused. “She is one of Nemesis’ people.” Jerjerrod whispered.

Thrawn smiled softly as the board winked back into play. He paused it and glanced up at his aide.

“I know. Please, let her in.”

“Of course, Grand Admiral.” Jerjerrod began to bow to leave when Thrawn held up a hand.

“And Captain, you and I need to discuss a mater of security.”

“Sir?”

“I checked the logs. You have been visited by Kahn Noonian Singh three times in the last few days. He spent an average of 12 minutes each visit.”

Jerjerrod nodded.

“Yes sir, but the visits were fully supervised, he was under armed escort by two stormtroopers and none of his so called ‘supermen’ were allowed on the officer’s level and the guards remained in the room while we spoke.”

“And at no time was he alone in your quarters or were you alone with him?” Thrawn asked casually as he watched the computer’s opening move.

“No, sir. You ordered me to never allow Kahn any unauthorized access to the ship.”

“Or to the men. Watch him, Jerjerrod, watch him closely. He plays the brash egotistical fool, but he is smart that one. He is constantly plotting. He will do anything to achieve his petty revenge on captain Kirk. Kirk will die, but he will do so at my hands at my choosing and by my command. I will break him then I will kill him. Heroes must be hated before they can be destroyed and nothing shatters the mystique of a hero more than defeat.”

“Of course, Grand Admiral.”

“Now send her in.”

“Yes sir.”

Jerjerrod bowed and walked out. Thrawn did not trust Jerjerrod’s interpretation of events. Something was amiss but he would hold his hand, as he had done since he first came here. All the poisons must come out, all the little and large threats must be exposed. It would make killing them all child’s play.

A figure stalked into his quarters and his eyes glanced down at the small blaster snuggly resting in the holster underneath the table.

“You summoned me?”

“I see that an Emperor’s Hand is as perceptive as they say.” Thrawn replied without looking at Mara Jade while she stood stoically before him, arms crossed across her chest.

“The signal you gave me is known to a handful of men in the galaxy. Last time I checked you were not one of them.” She replied sharply.

Thrawn did not smile or react, instead he casually moved a pawn. His eyes remained fixed on the board, hands drawn together under his chin as he contemplated all the moves. Mara watched him closely. She had heard of him but never met him. He had a reputation for brilliance that she was sure was true for one simple reason. He was not human and he was a Grand Admiral.

“Ms. Jade, you are out of the loop. The Emperor informed me of your presence in Lord Nemesis’ fleet. he gave me the secret signal to activate you.”

“Activate me?” She asked softly.

“Why yes.” Thrawn continued as he moved a bishop out to challenge. “You see, the Emperor has a mission for you. I was to make an assessment and if I found what he feared you would be brought into play.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. What would or could the emperor know of our predicament in this galaxy?”

“Don’t you?” Thrawn asked, finally looking at her with a piercing gaze his glowing red eyes.

Mara returned the gaze steadily. Inside her heart was shattering, she felt as if she were falling into a deep pit.

“You have your orders.”

“You said nothing.”

“I did not need to, Ms. Jade.” Thrawn gazed at her for a long moment of silence. “You are part of this fleet for one reason and one reason only.”

Mara blinked. She could feel it looming over her like a sword. Inevitability.

“I have discerned that he is no longer acting in the interests of the Empire just as the Emperor feared. You will act accordingly.”

“There are other possibilities and solutions.” She replied defiantly.

Thrawn stared at her, no reaction on his face. He slowly turned his attention back to the board. He paused long enough to slide a small black object down the long table opposite his desk where he sat. The object stopped short as Mara held out her hand and stopped it.

She slowly lifted it up and examined it. It was a standard Imperial holodisk, standard in all but one detail. It had the Emperor’s personal seal stamped in the onyx shell. She glanced up at Thrawn sharply but he no longer seemed to care that she was there.

“You will find what you need on that. The Emperor himself has spoken in this regard. You are his hand. When next we speak, Ms. Jade I expect to either hear of your spectacular failure or see Lord Nemesis’ lightsaber in your hand as proof of the deed. Failure is not an option. The only possibility or solution is your own death. I have many resources at my disposal. I will not insult your intelligence by threatening you, but please, keep this in mind. If you find it difficult and you feel that by warning Lord Nemesis you clear your conscience and that he might protect you, I have this.”

He held up another black holodisc as he countered a strike by a knight.

Mara stared at it. The Emperor’s personal seal was tamped o the disk as well.

“What is that?” she asked softly. Doom had crept into her heart and all she could see was Lord Nemesis and his bright eyes. His soft smile and touch. The way he looked at her, the electricity that passed between them whenever he looked at her. The thought that perhaps she could be free and in power. The most secret desire of all, the need to see her children rising to seize an Empire. Children. Was it even possible that she had considered it?

“Your records, Mara jade, from the moment of your birth to your current assignment.”

Mara’s eyes widened.

Thrawn continued his maddening stance of not looking at her as he played.

“How did you—”

“The Emperor thought that perhaps there was a possibility that your assignment would engender in you personal feelings for Lord Nemesis. He is after all a handsome young man, dashing and charismatic. Quite frankly, I simply expect the worst in a situation.” Thrawn replied as he sacrificed a pawn.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Lord Nemesis will learn of your full status as an Emperor’s hand and more importantly he will know that you have been ordered to assassinate him. He will assume that you are going to carry out that order and kill you before you are able to. I have a dozen ways in which this data can fall into his hands without suspicion.”

Mara set her jaw in a grim smirk.

“He is not a fool.”

“No, of course not, you trust him implicitly. He is a Sith Lord no?” Thrawn replied frostily.

Mara stared hard at the Grand Admiral and fought the doubt in her head. Who was playing whom? What game was going on here and why did she think that when the chips were down she would be left holding the bag.

“He shares everything with you, no? You are his trusted aide and confidant? So by all means trust that he would not eliminate you should you become a threat.”

Mara took a deep breath and pocketed the holodisk.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Grand Admiral Thrawn.” she said coldly and turned on her heel to leave.

“Ms. Jade?” Thrawn called out. She stopped at the doorway.

“There is no other type of game I am interested in playing.”

She was about to respond when Jerjerrod roughly squeezed by her holding a datapad.

“Grand Admiral!”

Thrawn lifted one eyebrow in surprise and annoyance. Jerjerrod stopped himself and took a breath.

“Apologies, Grand Admiral. The news was very important.”

Thrawn wordlessly extended his hand. Jerjerrod handed him the datapad. Thrawn examined it, his eyes darting along each line and his expression slowly becoming more interested.

“How long?”

“The signal was on for 12 seconds before getting cut off but it was enough time for us to triangulate the position to within 15 light years. Admiral Piett dispatched a squadron of probe droids to commence immediate reconnaissance of the 15 light year cube of space.”

Thrawn nodded slowly.

“And we’re certain of the source?”

“It matches the data we had on her before her deployment in this fleet action. The signal was not faked but masked. It is obvious that it was transmitting from a point in space that has at least some rudimentary cloaking system in place. We only picked it up in the hyperspace band confirming our suspicions of the source.”

Thrawn nodded and scrolled down the readout.

“Excellent, Captain. See Ms. Jade out.”

“Of course.” Jerjerrod bowed and motioned for Mara to follow him. She glanced back at Thrawn who was in motion. He slapped the com panel.

“Admiral Piett.”

“Grand Admiral?”

“Alert all commands, we are deploying the fleet immediately. As soon as the first probe droids transmit exact positions we jump to hyperspace.”

“And the Imperium fleet, Grand Admiral?”

Thrawn smiled softly.

“Inform them that we have found some lost Imperial property.”







Captain Ochoa wondered what he must look like with a beard. He absently rubbed his chin feeling the thick bristly hair. He had never grown out his facial hair like this, he was always one for prim and proper appearances. Of course, that was no longer an option.

He heard the footsteps approaching and paused.

They stopped in front of his cell door and words were exchanged. The doors snapped open with a menacing hiss. The Imperials certainly knew how to build a brig. Federation brigs were Spartan affairs but there was at least a nod to comfort and civility. This place took all that away and even the doors sounded menacing.

“Why haven’t you been eating?” Han asked sharply as he entered.

Ochoa could feel the air of his passing. He moved so fast and with a regal stride. He smiled softly.

“I’m not hungry.”

“The guards could care less if you eat. They will not save the food for you and eventually when you refuse food often enough they will stop asking.” Han replied.

“You don’t say?” Ochoa replied.

“Is this funny to you? Why am I even wasting my time?” Han exclaimed.

“Listen, Han, I’m shocked you came with all that’s been going on. From what I managed to gather from the guards there’s been some startling developments.”

“You can say that again.” Han sighed heavily. He could hear Han leaning back against the metal slab that passed for a bed.

“Want to talk about it?”

“What I want to talk about is your health. You’ve been steadily losing weight and I may have to report this. You wouldn’t want to be force fed by some medical droid would you?”

Ochoa smirked.

“I’m not a child. When I’m hungry I’ll eat. But let’s cut through it, Han, you came here because you need to talk. It’s been over a week since I’ve seen or heard from you.”

He could hear Han slowly leaning forward.

“You think I only come to talk to you, as if I depend on you?”

Ochoa frowned slightly and nodded to himself.

“Right, you come here and speak to the Federation Captain who has been your prisoner for two months now. I’ve talked all I’m going to talk and you still feel a need to come see me? What are you getting out of it Han?” Ochoa asked staring at the spot where he believed Han was sitting.

There was a tense silence for a moment.

“This has been a very bad week for us. The new Imperial forces aren’t exactly welcome here and they have made it obvious that they intend to take over.”

“I would have thought that you would be happy to have forces from home. This means the chances of you going home are greater and you no longer have to remain here.” Ochoa noted.

Han sighed softly.

“I like it here.” He said softly.

“How can you like it here? You’ve been fighting a war of aggression since you got here. You’ve not rested for a moment.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

Han stood up suddenly, Ochoa could feel him stalking about the small cell.

“This is something that we’ve built together, something that could last a thousand years. Maybe it allows us to have a clean slate and start fresh. Once the rebellion is over and the systems under our banner then maybe we can build something new here, something to atone for the corruption and disorder that plagues my galaxy.”

“I see.”

He could feel Han’s eyes on him.

“We have a chance to make it all perfect.” There was an odd tone, a fervent hope that colored his words.

“Han, I understand what you’re saying. In fact I am truly beginning to understand you as a person. But the foundation you would build this new world on would be weak. You’re building on the blood and death of millions if not billions. You would build your new world on a foundation laid upon the shattered dreams of many civilizations. The Federation believes that every race, every being in fact has an inalienable right to choose their own destinies. No man, no government can choose for another what sort of life they must lead.”

“Sometimes sacrifices have to be made.”

“Are you wise enough to judge what sacrifices those are? Can you peer into the future and see what all the consequences are of your actions?”

“You’d be surprised.”

“No I wouldn’t. I was told that you would be like this. I said that I knew you and you would listen.”

There was a short pause and he could hear Han’s wheels turning.

“Who told you?”

“You’re not the only one that visits me you know.”

“That’s a lie.”

Ochoa shook his head.

“He comes and goes no real schedule. I don’t think he’s a guard. He’s a pleasant enough chap but doesn’t like to play chess. I guess everyone has their flaws.”

“How long has this been going on?” Han asked darkly.

“I don’t know. The days and weeks have all blended together. He told me the oddest thing about chess. When I asked him to play for the first time he told me that the last time he saw a game of strategy the main point he took away from it was to let the Wookie win.”

He could feel the sudden tension in the air and Han stopped moving, seemed to stop breathing.
“What did you say?” he whispered.

“He also told me something else.”

“I have to go.”

“I have to tell you this, Han. You need to hear it!” Ochoa called out and started to clumsily get up, clutching at the smooth metallic wall for support.

“Leave me alone.” Han called back and started to open the cell door.

“Luke!”

Silence.

“I forgive you.”

Ochoa stood tall, looking in the direction of the open cell door.

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“You might call yourself Darth Nemesis, you may have taken the name of Han to honor a long lost friend when speaking to a blinded enemy in the hopes that here you would find some sort of assertion that you’re right but despite all of that your true name is Luke Skywalker. You’ve only forgotten it.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about you blind fool!” Han roared.

“Don’t I, Luke? You think you had me fooled? You don’t think that no matter what tricks you used you could disguise the voice of the man that tortured me for days and took my sight? Do you think I could ever forget you?”

“Ochoa…damn you.” Han’s voice suddenly changed. It became deeper, more majestic and dark. The same voice that callously introduced him to the perpetual darkness in which he stood right now, the voice of Darth Nemesis.

“No, Luke, the only thing I’m ashamed of is not confronting you about this earlier.”

Nemesis stared at the grizzled Federation Captain. Ochoa stood in the corner of his small cell, his Federation uniform torn in several places, including a missing sleeve but he remained the stoic picture of command.

“Do not say that name again.” Nemesis hissed and held up a fist. Ochoa began to choke.

“Luke, he wanted me to tell you...”

“Who little man? I tire of playing these games with you.” Nemesis hissed and Ochoa jerked backwards against the wall of his cell.

“His name…was… Ben.” Ochoa gasped as he felt his throat constricting against an invisible vise like grip.

Nemesis’ eyes widened and his grip loosened, his outstretched arm slowly dropping down to his side. Ochoa got his breath back and rubbed his throat as he was released. He coughed and spoke again, while Nemesis was still in shock.

“And he told me to tell you this: The Force will be with you. Always.” Ochoa’s voice suddenly morphed into an almost perfect replica of Ben Kenobi’s. The words uttered to him the last time he had seen the old man alive.

Nemesis remained silent, staring at the Federation captain.

“Luke, you are angry at Ben. After getting to know you I would say that you’re angry at the whole universe. But this is not who you are. Han, the gentle soul I grew to care for in this cell is a pale reflection of the true Luke Skywalker. Ben told me so much about you, he told me what drove you, how your aunt and uncle were killed by the very Empire that you serve now.”

“Be quiet.” Nemesis hissed.

“He told me about all you sacrificed, your hard work to try and become a Jedi knight like your father before you. But then you were betrayed, betrayed not because they wanted to use or manipulate you but because they wanted to protect you.”

“Quiet.” Nemesis interjected but it was an almost hesitant whisper.

“They did not want you to face the fact that the man you grew up idolizing and dreaming about was actually the second most evil man in the galaxy, a cyborg monstrosity that serves the Dark side. He is not the man that you idolized.”

“There is good in him.” Nemesis snapped without thinking.

Ochoa cocked his head.

“Good in a Sith lord? What would that matter to you if you were truly a servant to this Dar side that you mentioned? Why would Darth Nemesis care whether Darth Vader was still a good man?” Ochoa pressed.

“You know too much Ochoa.”

“True you can kill me now with a word, but would that kill the truth that sleeps in your heart?” Ochoa asked simply. There was no more fear. Ernesto Ochoa had faced death, been tortured to within an inch of his life, blinded, and fooled into caring for the man that had inflicted these horrors on him.

These same horrors now armored him.

The truth would finally be told and the blind would make the others see.

“Truth? Don’t dare speak of truth to me! Ben, your darling old chap was a liar! He took a moisture farmer with dreams of greatness and filled his head with ideas of vengeance. He bound him in thick chains of duty and honor and led him blindfolded through a minefield of lies and deceit and for what purpose you may ask? Why this kind old wizard wanted to forge this young man into a weapon to slay his own father! He used the son of his supposed good friend to kill that same friend!”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why were you made into a Jedi Knight? What choice did they have, Luke? You were the last hope, you alone could have ended the reign of terror that your father helped create. You saw what they could do with your own eyes, you lived a relatively sheltered life Luke. You ignored the horrors of the Empire, the deaths, the genocides, the rights trampled, the citizens incarcerated for simply having opinions different than your Emperor’s. Then they came down and slaughtered your aunt and uncle for what?”

Nemesis took a step back into the cell and with one smooth motion drew his lightsaber.


“And who led that mission? Who ordered those Imperial troops to do what needed to be done to find the droids?”

Nemesis activated the lightsaber and snapped it up in front of him, the crimson light illuminating Ochoa’s face.

“Your father ordered them to die! Your father brought you into the fight, he wrapped you in the chains of duty and honor, and he forged you into a weapon. If this is truly about consequences for people’s actions Luke then stop and think who set this into motion. Ben Kenobi who saved your life and gave you the tools you needed to survive and was more of a father to you in a week than Vader ever was in a lifetime or Darth Vader who did everything he could to destroy your life and the galaxy as well.”

Nemesis stood stock still as the words assaulted him and he held the lightsaber over his head. Ochoa’s eyes looked up at nemesis, the light playing off his eyes that did not respond to the flashing luminescence.

“Think it through Luke. Just this once abandon hatred, anger and fear. Let the cloud that has dropped across your vision part for one moment and ask yourself one very simple question.”

Ochoa’s eyes locked with Nemesis somehow and the blind man spoke.

“Why absolve your father of his crimes and condemn Kenobi for a sin of omission committed to protect you?”

Nemesis blinked.

“Consequences and repercussions Luke that is what I am talking about, that is why you came to me. Your father was not tricked on to the dark path, he freely chose to go on it, he embraced the dark side of the force and helped plunge your galaxy into a civil war that has had it drowning in blood since your birth. He became Darth Vader and purged his fellow Jedi Knights and slaughtered those who opposed the New Order. He hunted down and betrayed his friends, he protected the Emperor as he set up the very government which even now you try to flee from in my galaxy. Your father is at the very heart of the evil that has gnawed away at your life. If Kenobi and Yoda lied to you it was out of love to protect you from your father’s actions and in his sin they sinned. Now the question becomes, if you can forgive your father and surrender yourself to the Dark side which has brought you no real joy, how can you condemn the one man who was like a father to you?”

“I…” Nemesis’ voice trailed off and his lightsaber slowly dropped.

“Consequences and repercussions, Luke. You are solely responsible for your actions. Not Kenobi, not Yoda, not Leia, not the rebellion, not your father and not the Emperor. You Luke Skywalker are solely responsible for your soul. Your father did not trick you into joining him. You freely embraced it and now you spend your time trying to fool yourself into thinking that you can walk on the dark path and not get any blood on you. You try to build an empire based on order but you sow chaos in creating it and on Earth we have an ancient saying, “you reap what you sow.” Luke, the chaos you sow is going to come back to you, as it is for your Emperor. There is no getting around that. You cannot impose order at the end of a blaster. Order must be embraced. And what you are doing is playing a silly game that you did not sell your soul to be a slave to the darkside.”

“Bastard.” Nemesis spat.

“Then tell me I’m wrong.”

“You are wrong you simpering fool.” Nemesis roared.

“Say it and mean it, boy.” Ochoa replied stonily.

Nemesis thrust his fist forward and Ochoa crashed against the far wall of the cell again but this time there was a sick wet snap on impact as some of Ochoa’s ribs gave way. Ochoa grunted in pain and blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. He slowly turned his head in Nemesis’ general direction.

“Say it, Luke. Say that anything I said was wrong. Say that you did not embrace the dark side out of misplaced anger, say that you were more willing to forgive Vader for rending the galaxy apart but unwilling to accept that Kenobi and Yoda were lying to protect you from a harsh truth that has twisted you into this dark side slave.”

Nemesis thrust his face into Ochoa’s.

“You are going to die for this.”

Ochoa did not flinch.

“Kill me then. You couldn’t kill me before when I was helpless and you had squeezed me dry of all information and was utterly useless to you, so what makes you think you’ll kill me now?”

Nemesis began to growl.

“Why go through the charade of calling yourself Han then? Why test me, my resilience and will power. Why find out why I held on to my core beliefs?”

“And you have the answer?” Nemesis growled.

“Yes, you needed a conscience, someone to prove that what you did was right. If I broke down, if I lost faith in the Federation and its ideals then how could you feel shame for abandoning your cause in the rebellion?”

“Shame?” Nemesis hissed his lips inches from Ochoa’s face. His eyes were alight with rage as he peered into the blind man’s face and into his mind as well.

“Yes, Shame Luke, shame that you turned from the true path to walk in shadow.”

“Stop saying that name?”

“Don’t turn from the subject, Luke. Not now. People don’t usually get chances to walk back, to change the paths they are on. I am offering you that chance, now. I am showing you the path you are on and what will ultimately happen.”

“You a blind captain of a dead Federation are going to show me the truth?” Nemesis sneered.

“No.” Ochoa replied quietly. “I am going to let you see the truth within yourself. Why did you come to me in the first place if not to light the way. You leaned on me, you hoped that this moment would come, you tested your self and your will against me, and you used me as the springboard from which you launched questions against yourself.”

“Nonsense.”

“I met a good man, he called himself Han. Ben told me that was the name of your closest friend in the universe. He made me see that evil is not inherent in every man. He reminded me that just because a government or organization is evil does not mean that the people within are irredeemable. He made me believe in myself. But that was not all. That good man was not really Han, he was a man called Nemesis and he took my sight and my faith and dropped me into a long dark hole naked and afraid. But he did not kill me and by taking my sight, my pride and my sense of invulnerability he made me unlock things in me that I never knew I had.”

Nemesis stared at the blind, bearded Captain in the tattered uniform.

“For that I thank him and forgive him. But that was not all, for there was a good man named Luke Skywalker and he slumbers deep within Nemesis, only allowed to come out when he took the name Han. That good man needs my help and I gladly give it. If by my death I can bring him forth back into the light, then it was all worth it.”

“You forgive me? You think that means anything to me?”

Ochoa smiled softly.

“I think it means the whole world to you.”

The two men stood silently across from each other.

Nemesis turned away and activated the door to the cell. It slid open and he stepped back out, holstering his lightsaber as quickly as he drew it. Nemesis paused in the doorway, a hand on the threshold.

“Your bravery has saved you again, Captain Ochoa. You Federation Captains are a remarkable breed. You fight the inevitable, shaking your fists at the universe and you do not falter.”

Ochoa remained silent, his eyes remained unfocussed.

Nemesis absently punched his fist against the threshold.

“When and if he returns you tell that old man,” he began angrily. Nemesis’ face was blanketed in shadow then light streaked across his features as a cell opened farther down the corridor. “that I miss him.” He finished softly and stepped out of the cell.

The doors sealed shut again and Ochoa slumped against the wall.

“He knows, Luke, he knows.”






“I am extremely disappointed.”

“It was to be expected. Even the most optimistic calculations called for months before we could even begin to decipher the basics of their technology.”

“But this report says that we have been unable to even understand the FUNDAMENTAL basics of their hyperdrive and power generating technology.” Captain Durant replied darkly and dropped the datapad on the table with a loud crash.

“Sir, the weapons technology has proven easier to adapt and reverse engineer.” A technician added helpfully.

Durant frowned.

“What good is it to develop heavy turbolasers if we don’t have the power to fire them? Current calculations call for massive matter antimatter reactors, the likes of which power this installation to fire one such battery at an acceptable rate of fire. What kind of comforting news is it to the Shadowfleet that it would take a starbase to mount a single heavy turbolaser battery? The shield grids an even bigger hog of power. No, gentlemen, I think I have made it fairly obvious that all roads lead to their power generating technology. Without the knowledge of how to generate hypermatter all the weapons technology we can glean from the stolen ship is meaningless to us.” Durant replied coolly.

“What of the Battle over Romulus? Our spies tell us that Kirk was soundly defeated and even worst of all it looks as if the Imperials have received reinforcements.”

“It never rains but it pours. Right now, I am beginning to think that we may have no other option but to implement Operation Genesis.”

The room grew suddenly quiet. The assembled officers exchanged alarmed and troubled glances.

“Uh, Captain, Genesis is only a conjecture, an absolute last resort.”

“And you don’t think this is it. The Shadowfleet was created centuries ago to protect the Federation and its ideals. In case no one has paid attention the Federation is gone. All her worlds save Andor are under Imperial occupation. The remnant Starfleet has been defeated and with the new influx of numbers they have no chance of defeating the Imperial forces. There is no chance of wining it all back. We cannot defeat them, that much is rapidly becoming true.”

“But Genesis, sir? Even if we were able to muster what was needed the Imperials would detect our efforts and stop us.”

“We always assumed that if Genesis were to be implemented it would be under the gun from a vastly superior enemy. There will be certain precautions in effect that will help us with what we need.”

“Are you serious?” One of the officers pressed.

Durant smiled.

“Like Cancer.”

“Sir, in order to implement genesis we would need approval from the shadow masters.”

“Hmmm…let’s see, every shadow Admiral in Starfleet was killed in the Battle for Earth or scattered to the far reaches of space. There is no one to get approval from. We must survive. This is the Imperative of the Shadowfleet, to protect the Federation at all costs. Your lives and mine were forfeit the day we joined the cause. It is time to ante up and save what’s left.”

“Sir, if we do this, we will have to abandon everything else, including the operations against the Empire. All our efforts will have to be devoted to the evacuation.”

“I am prepared to make that call.”

The response hung in the air. Genesis was the Shadowfleet’s basic admitting of absolute defeat. Even during the dark days of the Dominion War the very idea of Genesis was never raised. The operation would change the fate of the Federation forever. But it was also an undisputable sign that the Shadowfleet had failed. The Federation had not been protected and this last desperate act of survival was all that was left.

Before anyone could speak an alarm blared loudly and the conference room was bathed in an eerie amber glow.

“What the hell?”

Durant recognized the low rumbling warble. It could only mean one thing.

An android walked into the room, face as impassive as ever.

“Captain Durant we have a situation. The base is on amber alert.”

“But that can only mean-”

Durant raised a hand to silence the officer.

“What happened?”

“Our technicians stumbled across a transmitter buried within the depths of the power manifolds of the captured carrack cruiser. It was obviously designed to evade detection and once revealed began transmitting a homing signal.”

“And?”

“We have scramblers and cloaks in place throughout the structure, but the transmitter was utilizing a frequency we had not been prepared for. There was some signal leakage.”

“My god.”

Durant stood up.

“All captains to their ships. A-1, you are to commence Operation Blackout immediately. Anything we cannot take with us is to be destroyed. Recall short range patrols, we’ll need every ship here to defend the evacuation.” Durant looked at each of the assembled officers, grim determination on his face.

“Get ready gentlemen, because we’re expecting company.” He announced without fanfare.

The shadowfleet prepared for the battle to save its life.

[Crown]

FIRST TO POST (it's been awhile since I said that!)

Thrawn did not smile or react, instead he casually moved a pawn. His eyes remained fixed on the board, hands drawn together under his chin as he contemplated all the moves. Mara watched him closely. She had heard of him but never met him. He had a reputation for brilliance that she was sure was true for one simple reason. He was not human and he was a Grand Admiral.

Err I am not sure if this is artistic licence or something but Mara and Thrawn have met before. Just thought I should be an annoying twat and point that out like the bastard that I am (sorry).

[Pcm979]

2nd to post!

[Typhonis 1]

Great Chapter Stravo and First to Post

[Typhonis 1]

Rats too slow

[Pcm979]

Rats too slow

I read it first, silly me.

[Trytostaydead]

HUBBA HUBBA HUBBA! EXCELLENT CHAPTER STRAVO!

Thrawn kicks ass. Luke pretending to be Han for redemption. Federation about to get its last ass kicked. Great stuff!! BRING ON THE DANCING GIRLS!

[Stravo]

FIRST TO POST (it's been awhile since I said that!)

Thrawn did not smile or react, instead he casually moved a pawn. His eyes remained fixed on the board, hands drawn together under his chin as he contemplated all the moves. Mara watched him closely. She had heard of him but never met him. He had a reputation for brilliance that she was sure was true for one simple reason. He was not human and he was a Grand Admiral.

Err I am not sure if this is artistic licence or something but Mara and Thrawn have met before. Just thought I should be an annoying twat and point that out like the bastard that I am (sorry).

You're right...you are being an annoying twat j/k

[Crown]

FIRST TO POST (it's been awhile since I said that!)

Err I am not sure if this is artistic licence or something but Mara and Thrawn have met before. Just thought I should be an annoying twat and point that out like the bastard that I am (sorry).

You're right...you are being an annoying twat j/k

Bring it ON Mr Revisionist History!

[Pcm979]

FIRST TO POST (it's been awhile since I said that!)

Thrawn did not smile or react, instead he casually moved a pawn. His eyes remained fixed on the board, hands drawn together under his chin as he contemplated all the moves. Mara watched him closely. She had heard of him but never met him. He had a reputation for brilliance that she was sure was true for one simple reason. He was not human and he was a Grand Admiral.

Err I am not sure if this is artistic licence or something but Mara and Thrawn have met before. Just thought I should be an annoying twat and point that out like the bastard that I am (sorry).

Bah! This is the Straverse! And Mara's got a bad memory anyway.