Early Christmas Take 2
Dec. 14th, 2005 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
govcampbellAnd now for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kadath's present.
Title: Journy's Begining
Words 1,306
Setting: ANH+8 (Shortly before the Thrawn Campagin begins.)
Journey’s Beginning
The planet ahead was dead, a ball of frozen ice where nothing could survive. Orbiting above, circling in a lazy, yet precise polar orbit, the Imperial Star Destroyer Admonitor drifted through the inky blackness of space. The man watched out the view port as the system’s single, dying sun set behind the curve of the planet.
“Captain,” the lieutenant said softy at his shoulder.
Captain Dagon Niriz turned slowly to face the man. “Yes, what is it Lieutenant Hetchel?”
“The Grand Admiral wishes to see you, sir, in his quarters,” Hetchel said.
“Very well, thank you Lieutenant,” Niriz said.
“Sir.” Hetchel drew himself up to attention as Niriz turned on his heel.
Niriz walked down the bridge catwalk, absorbing the hum of muted conversation and the buzz of electronics. He truly believed that he had the best crew in the entire Imperial fleet, and they had never disappointed him. Or the Grand Admiral.
Niriz had been by the Grand Admiral’s side for many years now, throughout the campaigns in the Unknown Regions, and their successes had lead Niriz to never question the Admiral’s judgement.
But lately, there was a gnawing at the back of Niriz’s mind, something that wasn’t quite right. He trusted Thrawn’s judgement implicitly, but in this particular case, he wondered if he ought not speak his mind. The Grand Admiral had not disapproved of such behaviour in the past, he had, in fact, encouraged it.
All this Niriz contemplated before arriving at Thrawn’s chambers. The door to the anteroom slid open with a hiss, and for a moment, Niriz was standing in the dark.
“Damn you, Rukh, the Grand Admiral wishes to see me,” Niriz bellowed into the darkness.
“You may pass,” the gravel-ly mewing, voice said from the darkness as Niriz felt something brush over his throat. Niriz swallowed involuntarily, and moved on quickly through the now open door, into the Grand Admiral’s command room.
The displays showed a wide variety of art, some of which, to his surprise, Niriz recognized.
“You wished to see me, sir?” Niriz said, approaching the command chair in the centre of the displays.
Thrawn was sitting in the chair, his spotless white uniform shining in the soft glow of the display lights. In contrast, his blue skin blended into the darkness of the room, giving the illusion of man that wasn’t there, sunken into the chair. All that spoiled the illusion were the two, narrow, glowing red slits of the Admiral’s eyes.
“Yes, Captain,” the Grand Admiral said, in his cool, modulated voice. A silence stretched on for a moment. Niriz waited patiently. The Grand Admiral would speak in his own good time. “Do you perhaps recognize any of the works here today, Captain?”
Totally prepared for the apparent non sequitor, Niriz turned in place and gazed around the room. “A few, sir,” he said. “That painting over there, the landscape, looks particularly familiar.”
The Grand Admiral nodded fractionally. “Yes, I would expect as much. It’s a well-known landscape, by a Corellian artist of some distinction.”
“Corellian?” Niriz did not bother to mask his surprise.
“Yes,” Thrawn opened his eyes, fully, gazing at Niriz. Niriz prided himself on being able to hold the gaze. “You are surprised, Captain.” It was an invitation to explain himself.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz said. “I was not aware we were going to be running into any Corellians out here.”
Thrawn smiled tightly, but did not respond. He paused a moment. “I sense, Captain, that you have been working up to asking me what you fear is an impertinent question.”
How Thrawn had known, Niriz had no idea, but he did not waste time trying to figure out how. “I suppose that’s true, sir,” Niriz admitted, and Thrawn gestured for him to go on. “I’ve been wondering, sir, why we haven’t returned to the Core Worlds?”
A silence stretched on for a long moment, and Niriz was seized by a sudden fear that he’d gone to far.
“A reasonable question,” Thrawn answered at last. “Would it surprise you then, if I told you, I’ve been making preparations for my return?”
Niriz was caught flatfooted. “Yes, sir, actually,” he admitted. Thrawn demanded honesty. “I’m pleased to hear that, sir.” Niriz bit his tongue before he continued.
“But…?” Thrawn said, smiling. “Please, Captain, don’t let a sensible question die unspoken.”
“Yes, sir,” Niriz stammered, chastened. “Why now, sir, with all due respect? Why not six months ago, or even a year?” Niriz began to warm to his topic. “The Empire is a shell now. A year ago, there might have been a chance…” Niriz stopped himself.
Thrawn smiled lazily. “I’ll forgive your indiscretion, Captain. I had my reasons,” Thrawn said. “And by no means do I consider the situation lost,” Thrawn said, an edge coming into his voice.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz replied, unconsciously straightening a little.
The smile returned. “The precise combination of factors is now at hand, Captain. The Rebellion had exhausted itself, it is tired of war, they are not pressing home the advantage,” Thrawn explained. “And the Empire has rid itself of the pretenders and hangers on that would only sap the strength of a new effort. The time is now,” Thrawn declared.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz replied. “What shall we do to make preparations?” he asked.
Thrawn uncharacteristically frowned a little. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Captain. But I’m afraid you misunderstand. I will be returning the Core Worlds. You will remain here, with the Admonitor.”
Niriz nearly staggered physically under the blow. “Sir?” Niriz asked questioningly. He was unable to deny to himself that he was hurt.
“I have always appreciated your loyalty, Captain,” Thrawn said. “And it is this loyalty I value most highly. There is no other I would trust with continuing the mission here.”
Niriz felt the burden lightening. Compliments such as that were rare from the Grand Admiral. Surely he must justify that trust. He felt like a fool for thinking that Thrawn would simply abandon him after all the years they had been together. “Of course, sir, thank you sir.”
Thrawn’s lazy smile returned. “You have earned it, Vice-Admiral Niriz.”
Niriz shot to attention under the Grand Admiral’s gaze. “Sir, I’m honoured…” Niriz let it fall, unsure how to express his gratitude for the magnitude of trust Thrawn had just placed upon him.
Thrawn waved it away, and paused. “Do you know where this art comes from, Admiral?”
“Well, sir, you said that at least one work was Corellian,” Niriz said, and hazarded a guess. “Perhaps from the Diktat’s Palace?”
“And you think perhaps I mean to set up my base of operations there?” Thrawn asked.
“It does have the advantage of being centrally located, with a significant industrial base,” Niriz said. “And the system is still nominally loyal to the Empire.”
“All excellent observations, Admiral,” Thrawn congratulated him. “Unfortunately, all wrong. No, I prefer to be closer to the Fleet.”
Niriz nodded.
“These works currently located in several different locations. Some are from the Imperial Academy on Carida. Others are from the Raithal Academy. The others belong in various private collections, most on the planets in the Corellian system. The original copy of that landscape you picked out is, in fact, currently missing, in the private collection of a man who is, unfortunately, beyond my reach at the moment.”
Niriz nodded. “Have you been using them to select a target for your new campaign?” Niriz asked.
“No,” Thrawn smiled. “Actually, I’ve been using them to select a new student.” He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to slits. “Admiral, instruct Communications to contact the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera, Captain Gilad Pellaeon, commanding.”
“And what shall the message say, sir?” Niriz asked, withdrawing his datapad from its pocket to take notes.
“Tell him…” the Grand Admiral paused.
“…Tell him to expect me.”
kadath's present.Title: Journy's Begining
Words 1,306
Setting: ANH+8 (Shortly before the Thrawn Campagin begins.)
Journey’s Beginning
The planet ahead was dead, a ball of frozen ice where nothing could survive. Orbiting above, circling in a lazy, yet precise polar orbit, the Imperial Star Destroyer Admonitor drifted through the inky blackness of space. The man watched out the view port as the system’s single, dying sun set behind the curve of the planet.
“Captain,” the lieutenant said softy at his shoulder.
Captain Dagon Niriz turned slowly to face the man. “Yes, what is it Lieutenant Hetchel?”
“The Grand Admiral wishes to see you, sir, in his quarters,” Hetchel said.
“Very well, thank you Lieutenant,” Niriz said.
“Sir.” Hetchel drew himself up to attention as Niriz turned on his heel.
Niriz walked down the bridge catwalk, absorbing the hum of muted conversation and the buzz of electronics. He truly believed that he had the best crew in the entire Imperial fleet, and they had never disappointed him. Or the Grand Admiral.
Niriz had been by the Grand Admiral’s side for many years now, throughout the campaigns in the Unknown Regions, and their successes had lead Niriz to never question the Admiral’s judgement.
But lately, there was a gnawing at the back of Niriz’s mind, something that wasn’t quite right. He trusted Thrawn’s judgement implicitly, but in this particular case, he wondered if he ought not speak his mind. The Grand Admiral had not disapproved of such behaviour in the past, he had, in fact, encouraged it.
All this Niriz contemplated before arriving at Thrawn’s chambers. The door to the anteroom slid open with a hiss, and for a moment, Niriz was standing in the dark.
“Damn you, Rukh, the Grand Admiral wishes to see me,” Niriz bellowed into the darkness.
“You may pass,” the gravel-ly mewing, voice said from the darkness as Niriz felt something brush over his throat. Niriz swallowed involuntarily, and moved on quickly through the now open door, into the Grand Admiral’s command room.
The displays showed a wide variety of art, some of which, to his surprise, Niriz recognized.
“You wished to see me, sir?” Niriz said, approaching the command chair in the centre of the displays.
Thrawn was sitting in the chair, his spotless white uniform shining in the soft glow of the display lights. In contrast, his blue skin blended into the darkness of the room, giving the illusion of man that wasn’t there, sunken into the chair. All that spoiled the illusion were the two, narrow, glowing red slits of the Admiral’s eyes.
“Yes, Captain,” the Grand Admiral said, in his cool, modulated voice. A silence stretched on for a moment. Niriz waited patiently. The Grand Admiral would speak in his own good time. “Do you perhaps recognize any of the works here today, Captain?”
Totally prepared for the apparent non sequitor, Niriz turned in place and gazed around the room. “A few, sir,” he said. “That painting over there, the landscape, looks particularly familiar.”
The Grand Admiral nodded fractionally. “Yes, I would expect as much. It’s a well-known landscape, by a Corellian artist of some distinction.”
“Corellian?” Niriz did not bother to mask his surprise.
“Yes,” Thrawn opened his eyes, fully, gazing at Niriz. Niriz prided himself on being able to hold the gaze. “You are surprised, Captain.” It was an invitation to explain himself.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz said. “I was not aware we were going to be running into any Corellians out here.”
Thrawn smiled tightly, but did not respond. He paused a moment. “I sense, Captain, that you have been working up to asking me what you fear is an impertinent question.”
How Thrawn had known, Niriz had no idea, but he did not waste time trying to figure out how. “I suppose that’s true, sir,” Niriz admitted, and Thrawn gestured for him to go on. “I’ve been wondering, sir, why we haven’t returned to the Core Worlds?”
A silence stretched on for a long moment, and Niriz was seized by a sudden fear that he’d gone to far.
“A reasonable question,” Thrawn answered at last. “Would it surprise you then, if I told you, I’ve been making preparations for my return?”
Niriz was caught flatfooted. “Yes, sir, actually,” he admitted. Thrawn demanded honesty. “I’m pleased to hear that, sir.” Niriz bit his tongue before he continued.
“But…?” Thrawn said, smiling. “Please, Captain, don’t let a sensible question die unspoken.”
“Yes, sir,” Niriz stammered, chastened. “Why now, sir, with all due respect? Why not six months ago, or even a year?” Niriz began to warm to his topic. “The Empire is a shell now. A year ago, there might have been a chance…” Niriz stopped himself.
Thrawn smiled lazily. “I’ll forgive your indiscretion, Captain. I had my reasons,” Thrawn said. “And by no means do I consider the situation lost,” Thrawn said, an edge coming into his voice.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz replied, unconsciously straightening a little.
The smile returned. “The precise combination of factors is now at hand, Captain. The Rebellion had exhausted itself, it is tired of war, they are not pressing home the advantage,” Thrawn explained. “And the Empire has rid itself of the pretenders and hangers on that would only sap the strength of a new effort. The time is now,” Thrawn declared.
“Yes, sir,” Niriz replied. “What shall we do to make preparations?” he asked.
Thrawn uncharacteristically frowned a little. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Captain. But I’m afraid you misunderstand. I will be returning the Core Worlds. You will remain here, with the Admonitor.”
Niriz nearly staggered physically under the blow. “Sir?” Niriz asked questioningly. He was unable to deny to himself that he was hurt.
“I have always appreciated your loyalty, Captain,” Thrawn said. “And it is this loyalty I value most highly. There is no other I would trust with continuing the mission here.”
Niriz felt the burden lightening. Compliments such as that were rare from the Grand Admiral. Surely he must justify that trust. He felt like a fool for thinking that Thrawn would simply abandon him after all the years they had been together. “Of course, sir, thank you sir.”
Thrawn’s lazy smile returned. “You have earned it, Vice-Admiral Niriz.”
Niriz shot to attention under the Grand Admiral’s gaze. “Sir, I’m honoured…” Niriz let it fall, unsure how to express his gratitude for the magnitude of trust Thrawn had just placed upon him.
Thrawn waved it away, and paused. “Do you know where this art comes from, Admiral?”
“Well, sir, you said that at least one work was Corellian,” Niriz said, and hazarded a guess. “Perhaps from the Diktat’s Palace?”
“And you think perhaps I mean to set up my base of operations there?” Thrawn asked.
“It does have the advantage of being centrally located, with a significant industrial base,” Niriz said. “And the system is still nominally loyal to the Empire.”
“All excellent observations, Admiral,” Thrawn congratulated him. “Unfortunately, all wrong. No, I prefer to be closer to the Fleet.”
Niriz nodded.
“These works currently located in several different locations. Some are from the Imperial Academy on Carida. Others are from the Raithal Academy. The others belong in various private collections, most on the planets in the Corellian system. The original copy of that landscape you picked out is, in fact, currently missing, in the private collection of a man who is, unfortunately, beyond my reach at the moment.”
Niriz nodded. “Have you been using them to select a target for your new campaign?” Niriz asked.
“No,” Thrawn smiled. “Actually, I’ve been using them to select a new student.” He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to slits. “Admiral, instruct Communications to contact the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera, Captain Gilad Pellaeon, commanding.”
“And what shall the message say, sir?” Niriz asked, withdrawing his datapad from its pocket to take notes.
“Tell him…” the Grand Admiral paused.
“…Tell him to expect me.”
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
*giggling like a school girl*
Date: 2005-12-15 04:35 am (UTC)Like I said on AIM, Thrawn is a total bastard. You got that "you seem to be having emotions, Captain" thing he does down quite well. Poor Niriz. I'm interested to see how you handle the Thrawn/Pellaeon meeting--one of my friends did a piece on it, and I want to compare your take with hers.