How would they feel?

“It’s Supreme General Ba’kif.”

“Ba’kif?” Wutroow repeated, frowning. “What’s he doing—? Oh. Right. Thrawn.”

“Probably,” Ar’alani said. []

“Senior Captain Thrawn recorded a message for you before he left Sposia. Are you secure?”

“Yes, sir,” Ar’alani said. Beside her, Wutroow made a questioning rumble in her throat. Ar’alani shook her head and gestured for her to stay by the chair. “Ready to receive.” [] Ar’alani listened in silence as the message played out. “Measured by sheer boldness,” she commented when it was finished, “I think Thrawn has finally outdone himself.” []

“Any idea who else you’re going to ask into this madness?”

“I have some ideas,” Ar’alani said. “I’ll start with Thrawn’s friends.”

Ba’kif grunted. “I’m guessing that’s a short list.”

Ar’alani nodded heavily. “Yes. It is.”

~

“Signal coming in, Mid Captain, [] It’s the Vigilant.”

“This is Mid Captain Samakro aboard the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet warship Springhawk,” he said formally.

“This is Admiral Ar’alani,” Ar’alani’s voice came back. “Welcome to Senior Captain Thrawn’s last stand.”

Samakro grunted. “Not really funny, Admiral.”

“Sorry,” Ar’alani apologized. []

“Where’s everyone else?”

“Thrawn and Uingali are out at that asteroid cluster you passed on your way in,” Ar’alani said. [] “With all that clutter it’s fairly hard to see into, which would make it a perfect sniper nest. Thrawn thinks he has a better plan for it.”

“I’m not surprised,” Samakro said drily. “What does Uingali think?”

“They’re keeping this one very close to the table,” Ar’alani said. “If they come back with Uingali convinced, that’ll be your answer.” []

“How many of your old subordinates were you able to contact before you left the Ascendancy?”

“More than I expected, frankly,” Ar’alani said. []

“How did they sound?” Samakro asked.

“Receptive,” Ar’alani said. []

“And Senior Captain Thrawn does have something of a reputation,” Samakro pointed out.

“As a commander or an ungimbaled laser?”

~

Now, imagine saying to these people, this *family*, that the man they trust and love will soon be known by most of the unlettered fandom as an unmerciful and remorseless villain.

How would they feel?

Yeah. THAT.

[Art: BarBCraftsShop]