Star Wars: A Risen Rebellion

[The Empire of Tau]

Returning back to his console, Tuckjust receives the message. “Half a million? What a small amount for the project,” Tuckjust mutters to himself. Pressing in code into his console, Tuckjust records another message to Thrawn. “Will do.They shall be sent to you shortly,” Tuckjust ensures as he storms up a written message to the Imperial Labor Core. “Mobilize half a million POW workers from the 308th Industrial Region Group, and ship them off to Ilum,” Tuckjust types, sending the request to the Imperial Labor Core administration. “Better not keep Veers waiting,” Tuckjust says to himself, going off his console.

[The Alternian Imperium]

The Golden Axis: Nu Profet, Axis Highest Leader

Some slight time had past, with the success of the Axis fleet delivering the Katana fleet, and the go ahead of turning the Axis territory into a "Free Economic Zone" for the galaxy, and more importantly the Empire, it was time to further the binds of their relationship. A looking glass of what's to happen next, there was may thing that had been covered on further in the meeting that then led to what's for the future.

Project Synapse:

Having moved onward onto the Unknown Regions, Nu Profet diverted a massive collective fleet of cruisers and hundreds of cargo vessels, carrying new prototypes for the construction of a special new project for the Empire out in the middle of the Unknown Regions, classified under the name of "Synapse". It is unknown to what it is, as only quite a few select people know, with only Nu Profet knowing in the Axis. As a diversion, he moved most of the attention another project:

Annexation of Arkanis Sector:

In a large push for both disguising Synapse, and a movement for more systems to rule over, the remaining Axis fleets had mobilized across the Arkanis sector, to conquer it and give it a new leadership after the Desilijic Kajidic had fallen from grace: it requires a much finer leader to move it from scum and villiany, into a vast land of riches and development: though, to smooth out the bumps involved in taking former Hutt territories and such, Profet decides to make contact with the new clan leader of the Desilijic clan and hope to make quite the peace with them, already an owner of their family's Ardos disk, a sign of respect from Jabba himself.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

With his schedule seemingly cleared of meetings for the rest of the day, Thrawn returned to his office and his great mind laboured over a matter that tasked him since he assumed the role of Minister of War. The Chiss born Grand Admiral scoured over every datapad, holo, and transcript that came from the Imperial Navy High Command since the Battle of Endor, and Thrawn came to some unsettling conclusions.

"Fleets simply do not disappear," he spoke gravely to himself as he leaned back into his chair and thought. The remnants of Death Squadron that survived Endor should be much larger than what I folded into my fleet, and there's of course the matter of High Admiral Blitzer Harrsk and Zero Command."

Thrawn tapped his arm rest.

"There have been no reports from any held Imperial space, nor have we received intelligence that these 'phantom fleets' engaged the Rebellion. That leaves only one place..."

---

Aboard the Nal Hutta

Newly appointed commander of the Fourth Fleet of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Xim tasked himself with assembling his forces for the defensive task at hand. With Ackbar's plans for a multi front attack looming, most of the Rebel Navy was needed elsewhere, but left enough to hold the major Rebel bastions.

One of Xim's communication officers arrived with a message for Xim, who quickly read the message over. His bulbous eyes opened more than usual. He informed the officers that he would be taking a short leave.

"Where will The almighty Xim be going?" asked the officer.

"Nal Hutta," he replied.

[Parcia]

Jenna Cyrus

“In which sector, along which Hyperspace routes, and around which other star systems is Fortuna located?”

She grimaced. The whole point of the Station's location was to be no were. Frack it, she would take the pain. "Ryloth" and again, she regretted that choice but bear her teeth and clenched every muscle in her body.

“What were you heading to the Core to buy, specifically? Was this purchase intended to aid the rebellion or serve as a detriment to the Empire?”

She groaned. "The equipment we bought was to secure our station from retaliation by pirates." Not technically the whole truth, but a truth none the less.

“Have you, any of your subordinates, any ships under your command, or any ships you formerly commanded or owned, or any ships you currently own, destroyed Imperial vessels or personnel on purpose?”

This was an easy one, they hadn't actually Done anything to the Imperials as of late. As such, the answer was simple. "No."

“Do you know the location of the Rebel High Command, or the location of active Rebel based anywhere? If so, name the systems. All of them.

Another easy one, they haven't even established contact with it. "No, we don't even know their public fracking holo com code."


“Have you been involved in rebel plots, being defined as any plan or operation to the detriment of the Empire?”

This was a tricky one. What they did was technically Evasion as well as aiding since the deployment of the fleet to Kashyyyk.
"No..." Annd the pain hit again. It had elevated from her abdomen to her whole body, as if she fell in to a pit of active Stun batons.

She tried to focus her mind, tried to find something to keep her anchored and centered on. Then she started to hum a tune, absent mindlessly. An old Spacer's Tune that her father, the old bastard had taught her.

“Have you or your forces, or ships under your command, actively participated or attempted to participate in the Battle of Kashyyyk, or any other engagements against the Empire?”

Getting the pain to stop was tempting, really tempting, but she couldn't the cost in return would be too much.

"No!" This time she actually felt her other eye light up in pain, not knowing that her left eye had burst a blood vessel as well, she also didn't know that the crack in the durasteel table beneath her had grown from a hairline crack to one more noticeable.

“Are you intentionally hiding any facts or construing truths as to prevent me from obtaining my goal of discovering the location of the fleet you command, the location of your facility, and or your participation in the Rebel Alliance?”

She took a moment, once the pain in her eyes and...everything else and eyed the officer. "No."

[Pantorrum]

Cell Block C
On Board the Intimidator

The officer frowned. He was becoming tired of the young ladies antics, but not vocally so. His voice remained calm, quite, and seemingly kind. “I do not understand,” he said patiently, “why you chose pain when an option of peace and easiness exists. All of this is unnecessary, it brings me no pleasure for you to experience this pain. You must understand the Empires objective is not to hurt you, it’s to learn from you. Please cooperate so you don’t have to endure this anymore.” He gave a smile, a rather convincing one really.

“I’m going to go through the list, every question you lied about I will ask you again for the next hour. If your answers do not change by that point, when the toxin is at its strongest, and your pain at its height, then I’ll be done with this toxin because evidently it’s to ineffective against you.”

Over the next hour, he’d interrogate the young woman. He repeated each question she lied about several times, and each time she’d lie again and fee the terrible sting of pain. The shocking blow of each lie became more and more dreadful with each question, until eventually the pain was so tremendous that most people would outright die from it. So many pain receptors were firing in the brain, literally every piece of her body would feel as if it was ripping itself in half. But the officer wouldn’t stop. After all that failure, after all that pain Jenna had experienced, the officer had acquired many truths. Even from her lies, just not the specifics he was looking for.

For example, he’d learned that she had indeed participated in plos and operations against the Empire. She had a base named Fortuna, she’d participated in battles and engagements against the Empire, including Kashyyyk, she did indeed Command a fleet of warships, she was heading coreward to buy defenses for her system. He’d learned many things, many vague truths. Some helpful, some not. Which is why he persisted one more time. With the toxin at its height, with the pain worse than every before, he asked one last time.

“I can go all day,” he lied. This was in fact the last question, but he couldn’t give her hope. “Along which hyper space route would Fortuna be found? In which Sector does it lie? To which system did you last deploy the ships you command? Be careful, Jenna. You’re already slowly dying, another lie may finish you off. I would hate to see you kill yourself to hide such a simple truth. This can all be over right now, one way or the other.”

Admirals Quarters

Admiral Dyss sat and watched the live recording of the interrogation. He had acquired little more than verification of what he already knew...she was a rebel against the Empire. He wanted more, he wanted specifics and new facts. But instead he’d received verifications. He was upset, but reasonably so. He’d expected so much more. And he rarely was every disappointed. A man of tremendous success, he’d grown accustomed to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.

Her ability to resist the power of the ISB interrogation was most interesting indeed, and Dyss had noticed the crack forming in the interrogation table. This puzzled him greatly, he’d never seen anything like it before. He could think of few people strong enough to crack apart a Durasteel table, or few people with the mental fortitude to withstand an IT-O droid. And as fate would have it, most of them were wiped out by the Empire over two decades ago.

“Interesting,” he said to himself. “Such power, it cant be,” he said with a frown. “Fault Durasteel,” he muttered to himself. “Poor construction.”

He pressed a button and made the live feed disappear, and brought up the Captain of the Intimidator.

“Yes my lord,” the Captain said. His face was surprised, as he likely wasn’t expecting such a sudden appearance.

“Captain,” Dyss said plainly. “Contact our informant, the Pilot from the Jenna Cyrus operation. Have him contact us with full haste, tell him there’s 5,000 credits if he can give me information I’m looking for.”

Nodding, the Captain gave confirmation. “Yes sir I will do so immediately.”

Bridge of the Intimidator

The Captain turned to his subordinate, a serious expression on his face. “Open up long range transmitters, this matter is of tremendous importance to the Admiral.”

The Officer nodded, and the Captain paced over to a large grey command console. A serious frown on his face, he broadcast a message to the pilot.

“I am Captain Darius of the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Intimidator. High Admiral Dyss congratulates you for he role you played in the capture of Jenna Cyrus, and has another mission for you. A simple task, for 5,000 credits. Do make contact with us, as we have a few important questions about the whereabouts of Jenna’s facilities.”

[Britanania]

Posting for Pruss

Imperial Safehouse, Coruscant

Solun sat quietly within the safehouse, his chair beside the door. Across from him sat the young Empress, happily playing with her current nanny. He’d cast aside his crimson armor for a set of mercenary gear, suitably degraded to assist him in blending in with the locals down here. Two more of his fellow Guardsmen stood outside, another seated in a building across the hab within sight line, and two more were inside along with him. All wore gear akin to what Solun had, trading in their pikes for vibro-blades and blaster rifles.

They had done all of this due to intelligence indicating an infiltrator in the Palace staff, apparently tasked with the mission of capturing the Empress. Solun didn’t question the veracity of the data, nor it’s source. The Regent had given them the command to hide and protect the Empress, and that they would do. What they did not know would be their death.
Outside the Guardsmen died quietly, hook-blades slitting their throats; The sniper sat across the hab died less messily, the blaster wound in his skull signifying that. All that remained were Solun and his fellow Guardsmen within, though they would do little but die.

Solun took a sip of his caf and moved to stand, popping his neck as he did so, managing to get another breath in before the door to the hab blew, shrapnel striking him in the lower spine, dropping him to the floor in paralyzed agony. There he unwillingly laid, blood issuing from his mouth as the attackers stalked in. The nanny screamed, pushing the child behind her in some futile showing of maternal instinct. The remainder of the Guards flooded into the room, weapons at the ready. They managed three steps before they died in a hail of blaster fire, the smoke clearing enough for Solun to get a clear picture of his attackers. Small, scaly beings, barking to each other in some guttural cipher he could not place. He watched as the Nanny died, the girl being grabbed by the creatures as they left. The last of them stopped next to Solun, peering down at him with cold-blooded eyes. It gave him no sign before it brought the blade in its hands down on his throat.



Centax-II, Coruscant Orbit

Attar clasped his hands behind his back as he gazed down at the heart of the facility from the viewport, thousands upon thousands of Spaarti cylinders at the work, attached with legions of ysalimiri, gestating a new legion of Imperial strength, the crimson robes of his Guard dotting the facility. Smirking to himself he turned, walking to view a holo-projector. The device showed images of several medical labs, in which procedures were actively being conducted on test subjects. Some were receiving hormone injections, others engineered organs, and even more, with some receiving everything. The first steps of Project Myrmidon had begun, and Attar was pleased for it. Soon the Empire would have the Guardians she deserved, stronger than any man or alien.

[Parcia]

Jenna Cyrus

She kept humming the old tune in between her screams and answers, doing her best to keep the blurry edges of her sanity in place.

“I can go all day,” he lied. This was in fact the last question, but he couldn’t give her hope. “Along which hyper space route would Fortuna be found? In which Sector does it lie? To which system did you last deploy the ships you command? Be careful, Jenna. You’re already slowly dying, another lie may finish you off. I would hate to see you kill yourself to hide such a simple truth. This can all be over right now, one way or the other.”

The Audacity of the man, the sheer durasteel balls this piss ant officer had to say such things to some one like her. For once, instead of pain, her anger flares, her rage welled up in her chest and she snarled at the man. A Good death is it's own reward. To his question though, she thought, then smiled.

"Smuggler's Run. Before finally slamming her head on the table as pain racked her body again. She kept checking to make sure she was still live though, mostly by focusing on the anger, as well as the pain behind her eyes.

[Pantorrum]

The Interrogation Room

The ISB Officer took more of something, possibly nothing, but he made all effort to connect some vague dots. Perhaps the Cyrus girl had inadvertently given him some information she didn’t intend to.

“Ryloth, Smugglers run, are there any other systems along the Corellian Trade Spine you wish to name off? Because as luck would have it, you’ve been consistently naming systems in the same backbite of the outer rim. I believe,” he said happily, “that I know the general region Fortuna is located in.”

He turned back to his datapad with a look of disappointment, seeing that time had expired. Nearly 2 hours of torture had come to an end. “I’m afraid,” he frowned innocently, “that our time has expired.” He picked up a needle and skillfully injected a counter toxin into the young woman. “I really do hate to see you go,” he said in a whisper. “I felt like we really established a relationship here. Undoubtedly you’ll come to realize it would’ve been easier if you had told more truths.” Smiling, he turned to a Naval Troopers who had been standing in the corner the whole time.

“Trooper, take Jenna to the main Hanger. She is, per the High Admiral, to be delivered to Grand Admiral Thrawn immediately.” He turned to her. “Mind yourself,” he said sternly. “You will be meeting a cunning genius. One way or the other, he’ll extract from you whatever I couldn’t. We have our methods and he has his, but regardless you will bend to the will of the Empire.”

The trooper unfastened her and picked her off the table. She’d likely be weak, fatigued, aching, and in tremendous pain throughout her body for some time. In fact, it was likely she’d find it hard to even stand. Another trooper arrived and helped support her. It was then, just as they were leaving, that the ISB officer held up his hand.

“Wait,” he said in his consistent calm voice. Without alarm, he turned to Jenna. “How did you do that to this table? That shouldn’t be possible,” he said with a wrinkled brow. “This table is solid Durasteel, 3 inches thick. A fully grown wookie couldn’t pick this up let alone crack it...” his words tapered off into a whisper at the end.

[Parcia]

The Interrogation Room

The ISB Officer took more of something, possibly nothing, but he made all effort to connect some vague dots. Perhaps the Cyrus girl had inadvertently given him some information she didn’t intend to.

“Ryloth, Smugglers run, are there any other systems along the Corellian Trade Spine you wish to name off? Because as luck would have it, you’ve been consistently naming systems in the same backbite of the outer rim. I believe,” he said happily, “that I know the general region Fortuna is located in.”

He turned back to his datapad with a look of disappointment, seeing that time had expired. Nearly 2 hours of torture had come to an end. “I’m afraid,” he frowned innocently, “that our time has expired.” He picked up a needle and skillfully injected a counter toxin into the young woman. “I really do hate to see you go,” he said in a whisper. “I felt like we really established a relationship here. Undoubtedly you’ll come to realize it would’ve been easier if you had told more truths.” Smiling, he turned to a Naval Troopers who had been standing in the corner the whole time.

“Trooper, take Jenna to the main Hanger. She is, per the High Admiral, to be delivered to Grand Admiral Thrawn immediately.” He turned to her. “Mind yourself,” he said sternly. “You will be meeting a cunning genius. One way or the other, he’ll extract from you whatever I couldn’t. We have our methods and he has his, but regardless you will bend to the will of the Empire.”

The trooper unfastened her and picked her off the table. She’d likely be weak, fatigued, aching, and in tremendous pain throughout her body for some time. In fact, it was likely she’d find it hard to even stand. Another trooper arrived and helped support her. It was then, just as they were leaving, that the ISB officer held up his hand.

“Wait,” he said in his consistent calm voice. Without alarm, he turned to Jenna. “How did you do that to this table? That shouldn’t be possible,” he said with a wrinkled brow. “This table is solid Durasteel, 3 inches thick. A fully grown wookie couldn’t pick this up let alone crack it...” his words tapered off into a whisper at the end.

Jenna Cyrus

She was indeed tired, her bones hurt, her abdomen hurt, her eyes stung like all hell, but she was...happy? Perhaps satisfied. She had let those clue slip on purpose. There was a few thousand light years worth of space in the outer rim and with the Sensors and scanners on the Station, they would see any incoming Imperial group long before the Imperial's would see them.

Of course, she didn't resist when the troopers held her aloft, and while she could walk under her own power, even with the pain, but welcomed the aid even if it was rough.

She did experience a moment of fleeting panic though, as he mentioned something about some crack in the table her world became fuzzy, her ears hummed with something new, something she hadn't felt before.

Of course, as she tried to come up with some smart ass quip, her brain decided she needed a break, and promptly shut down with out her consent and she passed out and fell in to the arms of the Troopers.

[Pantorrum]

Interrogation Room

The Major sighed, evidently he had pushed her to her physical and psychological limits. Instead of giving a response as he had hoped, she merry lost consciousness. An inconvenient fact, and a new mystery left unsolved.

“Very well,” he groaned. “Trooper, take her to the shuttle. I will accompany you and brief the Grand Admiral.” With that, he paced out behind he duo of troopers and the unconscious Jenna Cyrus. It would take several minutes, but they’d arrive at the Shuttle where 4 more Naval Troopers stood waiting. The group would board the shuttle, take their seats, and the shuttle would lift off. Racing from the hanger of the massive Executor Class super Star Destroyer, the shuttle would rapidly fade away in th distance as it descended into the twinkling cityscape of Coruscant.

They’d fly through several areas of the city, eventually coming to rest on a landing pad at the War Ministry. Exiting the craft, two troopers stood guard at the end of the boarding ramp. The ISB Major walked down swiftly, followed by two Naval Troopers on either side. Then behind him came the two troopers who were still holding up Jenna. Behind them, two more came out. The group kept a steady pace as they rounded the corners of each corridor, and eventually arrived at the Office of the Grand Admiral. The ISB Major turned to one of his staff members as the entered the waiting chamber.

“I am here with a prisoner that the Grand Admiral has an interest in seeing,” the ISB officer said hastily. “This is a time sensitive matter, I am here under orders from High Admiral Dyss.”

[Draos]

Planet Taris ORCS corporate headquarters

the Duros looked around casually it had been a long time since he had been to an Ecumenopolis the last time is when he visited Nar Shaddaa was over 2 years ago when he had first taken over the crew. He had founded ORCS but would not be running it since he wanted to control it from the shadow he had already sent a generous "donation" to the imperial council to keep their noses out of his business. He chose Taris which had a large population but was relatively remote enough that the Empire would really want to bother looking too deep as long as he didn't do anything to provoke them. Fein hoped this Venture would add some extra money as well as be a good front for his smuggling operations since he had a legitimate business he could take some of the profits of.

The building was small as to make it not look suspicious as to where a new company would get such a large headquarters. Zal smirked knowing he had one of the best freighters out there the Brayl class capable of carrying 48,000 metric tonnes of goods it wasn't a cheap ship but he'd make a lot of money off it. It also gave him an excuse to have small warships to defend his freighters with. He looked up as the Destiny's Chance the Brayl Class Freighter and the StarDancer's Blaze the marauder class corvette carrying a squadron of modified R-41 starchasers launched for a delivery to Coruscant.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

The protocol droid bowed as best as its stiff hydraulics allowed it to bow and bode them to wait in the antechamber while it informed the Grand Admiral. The droid found Thrawn in his office looking over some datapads, although from the angle it wasn't sure what the Chiss was reading.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but an ISB Major sent from High Admiral Dyss has a prisoner." Thrawn looked up and raised a blue-black eyebrow.

"Oh? If the High Admiral says it is important, I'll see them."

The droid returned to the waiting room and informed the group that the Grand Admiral would see them.

[Parcia]

jenna Cyrus
The den of the Blue Lion

To say the hours up to her arrival at the office of some high admiral. Her...everything still hurt, her head, her bones, her eyes. Force did her eyes still hurt, the burst vessel in both eyes causing them to turn in to a deep red and giving her a constant headache. At the vary lest she was fed, some slightly out of date Imperial Army Ration with a simple mug of water. Having to eat it on the flight in, flanked by two troopers, with her arms and legs bound to the seat via binders was not the most comfortable thing to do, but at least she was fed.

She was quiet as they escorted her in to the office, and she was prepared to meet another grey haired, aristocrat rather then the...striking blue skinned Humanoid wearing the red, yellow, and blue ranks of Grand Admiral.

She kept quiet as the officer introduced her.

[Pantorrum]

War Ministry

The Major stood at attention after entering the wel decorated room. He was taken back at the sight of a blue alien as the leader of the Imperial Military. It must’ve been an extraordinarily well kept secret, because not even he- and ISB Agent, mind you, knew of this mans existence. He knew of a Thrawn, but the fact he was not of the same species was something he expected very few ever knew, and he suspected it was a secret expect for be kept.

“Your excellency,” he said quickly. “I have been sent by High Admiral Dyss to deliver to you Jenna Cyrus, heiress if the Cyrus Company and fugitive of the Empire.” He motioned to the guards who rightly forced her forward before the Grand Admiral.

“In my interrogation, I have uncovered several truths. She has participated in rebel plots against the Empire, she has a secret hidden base named Fortuna, has partaken in battles against the Empire along with the Rebel Alliance, and commands a fleet of warships.”

He sat the holochip Dow on the Grand Admirals desk. “Here is a full recording of our interrogation, my Lord. She proved unusually resistant to typical ISB methods, and inexplicably caused tremendous damage to an extremely thick Durasteel table. How she accomplished this is beyond my understanding, and how she withstood the power of OV600 is a mystery.”

The officer stood quietly, not sure what to expect. All he knew was that Jenna was a very valuable prisoner, and a highly wanted fugitive. Someone who made away with tremendous assets, right from under Imperial noses. And a known rebel collaborater. He had done his job, and now he was curious what Thrawn would say.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

After exchanging salutes, the ISB officer explained the situation to Thrawn. The Grand Admiral turned his attention to the prisoner they brought in.

An excessive amount of guards. Are they being careful with a reason? I cannot see Dyss sending these many guards unless this one requires it, Thrawn thought as he picked up the datapad. He read the report over quickly before he looked back up at the major.

"That will be all, Major. I will handle it from here," he told them as they left Jenna in his care. Thrawn turned to the protocol droid. "Can you get us some refreshments?" The droid bowed and complied with its master's wishes as Thrawn turned to Jenna. Taking a remote that the guards left, he deactivated the binds, knowing full well in her condition she was in no position to fight or escape.

"Tell me, Miss Cyrus," Thrawn began. "What do you think about art?"

[Parcia]

Jenna Cyrus
in the Blue Lion's Den

"Tell me, Miss Cyrus," Thrawn began. "What do you think about art?"

Well, if that wasn't something to catch her off guard. If she were to be honest with her self, she had little opinion of it. Sure there painting she liked to look at, maybe a few statues she had seen on Corellia that had caught her eye, but she had never really gotten in to art as a hobby.

And so, she saw it like most other's in her position saw it: in its Utilitarian use.

"I...understand its usage, to preserve the history and...culture of different peoples, races, and nations, but It does not hold any real significance in my mind beyond that." She awaited Thrawn's answer.

She would rub her wrist's slowly, eyeing the man.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

The droid returned carrying a small tray with two cups, a cup of hot chocolate for Jenna and a type of tea for Thrawn. To show his goodwill, the Grand Admiral took the first sip as he considered the young woman's words before he replied.

"History and culture," the Chiss repeated as he drew his thumb up to his chin. "An understandable gloss. When you understand a species' art, you understand that species."

Thrawn stood and paced around the room for a spell before he spoke again.

"You're from Corellia, the reports told me. How would you characterise the Corellian based only on his art?"

[Parcia]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

The droid returned carrying a small tray with two cups, a cup of hot chocolate for Jenna and a type of tea for Thrawn. To show his goodwill, the Grand Admiral took the first sip as he considered the young woman's words before he replied.

"History and culture," the Chiss repeated as he drew his thumb up to his chin. "An understandable gloss. When you understand a species' art, you understand that species."

Thrawn stood and paced around the room for a spell before he spoke again.

"You're from Corellia, the reports told me. How would you characterise the Corellian based only on his art?"

Jenna Cyrus

She waited for him to sip his, before sipping hers and finding what she thought to be authentic Corellian Coco, something she hadn't had since she was a little bright eyed girl aboard her father's ship. She took another sip, relishing the rich flavor and thick liquid wash over her tongue and just for a moment, she was in another time and another place.

His question brought her back to reality though, and she focused on the task at hand.

"Corellians are a brash lot, headstrong, proud, and even a little bit snooty when it comes to their star ships. Their art reflects this, brought strokes, pronounced features and strong colors."

She couldn't help but smile a little, the file on her having her born o n that world were incorrect, having in fact being born on a Hauler roughly 30 light years away while in rout. She was a spacer through and through.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

Thrawn didn't reply to Jenna's words at first, but took in the face she waited to take a drink. He noticed the way she seemed to relish the taste and how she lingered over the beverage before she answered his question. Moreover, the Grand Admiral took note of the slight smile she made after her response--the first visual reaction she made since arriving.

The Chiss made his way back over to his desk where he pressed a button. The lights in the office shut off, leaving the space completely black save for the appearance of dozens of light sculptures that resembled glowing, floating pinkish flames. The Grand Admiral looked up at them in admiration.

"Beautiful, are they not? Corellian Flame Miniatures. Transoptical fibres, combined from pseudoluminescent plant material and Goorlish light sources. Very rare, and just as delicate."

Thrawn paused for another moment as he set his glowing red eyes on the young woman.

"Your analysis does not support the evidence, Miss Cyrus. You weren't born on Corellia at all. I don't doubt you spent time there, but your smile and your answer confirm it. Your family company, you rebelled after the Empire nationalised it, correct?"

[Parcia]

Thrawnness

She eyed him before tasking a sip again, more confident this time. This was a dangerous man, one with the eye of a hawk and the intellect to match, perhaps even surpass hers.

She did eye the flame Miniatures and for once, was fully entranced by their beauty for long enough to bring up more memories of her past. Then it hit her. He's using it against me, the art...damn, that's...smart...clever.

She returned her gaze to him and paused once again. "The Serpentia, a Baleen class freighter, and roughly 30 light years out from Corellia, they registered me there a few hours after they arrived. While I did spend a good portion of my youth there, I spent more time in the void." She kept her voice calm and even.

As for the second question, she paused again. "I could try to rationalize it you, but you would, in turn as with most of your peers, see it as rebellion none the less."

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

Thrawn gave a slight smile when she admitted the truth.

The ISB agents are effective at times, I cannot deny their success, but in other matters, a different approach is needed. A more nuanced approach, he thought as she replied to his second, more germane question. At this, the Grand Admiral raised an eyebrow. He sat down in his chair and pressed his console, returning the room to its normal light and decorations before he leaned forward and steepled his hands.

"Indulge me," he said in an inviting tone. "At present, you have nothing left to lose."

[Parcia]

loook, a blu snek

The tone, at least to her, dripped with Venom. But...she could at least explain her reasoning for her actions before they likely put a bolt through her head.

"As I said, most would simply call it rebellion. I do not. My family has been around for centuries, as some of the galaxy's most legendary men and women come from my blood line and it is something I am proud of."

She took another sip of coco, eyeing the Flames as she continued. "And so, when the...less then reputable, yet reliable, contacts in the underworld gave me warning of a pair of Imperial Star destroyers coming to seize my assets, I chose a method of...protest that would draw as few rebellious accusations as possible: sold my company to a long time rival, legally, gave ownership of my various ships their owners, legally, and left the area, legally."

"This talk of aiding end embedding the rebellion is just tat, talk. I have, indeed and using the offered loyalty of the captains formerly with in my former employ to secure a...remote location to hopefully reestablish the company, and thus, continue the legacy of my family."

She paused once more, sipping more coco, before returning her gaze to his. "I have no real problem with the Empire, Admiral, and am rather surprised of its recent changes for the better as am many of my crew. And while the Alliance has...the best intentions, their reason for doing the things they have done is gone, or will be."

She took another ship and waited for his response.

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

The Grand Admiral took note of Jenna's words and gleaned as much he could from every possible detail, from the way she drank her beverage to the emphasis she placed on certain words. Thrawn remained stoic for several minutes after she finished talking and allowed for an uncomfortable tension develop as he thought.

She sips to comfort herself, almost. Coping mechanism, developed as a child? She's a Corellian by blood at least. And her repetition of legally--justification? Genuine belief? Hard to say.

Thrawn lowered one of his arms and drummed lightly on his desk.

"The intentions of the Rebellion," he said evenly "are far from noble, Miss Cyrus. However, I'm sure you care little for ideology or even politics. No, I sense a far more practical air. A pragmatic approach born from an entrepreneurial family and from recent events." Thrawn paused to gauge her reactions.

"Would it not be practical for us to help each other?"

[Parcia]

Jenna Cyrus

She could feel him watch her over, her movements, her emotions, the vary way she sipped the cup of coco. She vary quickly came to respect him for that, his attention to detail was...unnatural but executed in a fashion that gave him a certain quality that she couldn't help to admire.

Oh if he had ever worked for the company.

"The intentions of the Rebellion are far from noble, Miss Cyrus. However, I'm sure you care little for ideology or even politics. No, I sense a far more practical air. A pragmatic approach born from an entrepreneurial family and from recent events."

She would smile, perhaps his charm taking real effect, perhaps at the realization she met some one who could match her toe to toe mentally. It was refreshing, something she actually enjoyed...enjoyed talking to him? Force above you find him attractive.

"Would it not be practical for us to help each other?"

"If you are offering a deal, Grand Admiral, and it does so feel as such in my gut that you are, I am all ears."

[Britanania]

Imperial Palace--Imperial War Ministry

Thrawn resisted the urge to smile, as tempting as it was. The practices of the other officers had their uses, Thrawn understood that, and he knew that Dyss was a skilled soldier and fantastically loyal. However, he retained a little too much of Tarkin's tendencies. A mere vice as far as Thrawn was concerned, but in delicate matters like this vices were not needed.

"I can drop these charges against you, and you can go on your merry way. I know you have contacts with the Rebellion. I want information. Detailed information."