The Dying Dawn [SWG; Closed]
Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 6:28 am
Secret Research Facility Ganymede | Edge of Wild Space
The white metaled yacht came out of hyperspace within a very specific sector of the Ganymede system, it's transponder sending out an encrypted code. Though empty of most parochial lifeforms and valuable matter, the system's anonymity and reclusive location was excellent enough to be the location for a private research and development center. For ten years the project had been a well kept secret amongst the top brass of the Thrashian Imperial government, with only the leading members of the Regent's cabinet and the military high command having direct access and knowledge.
“Not exactly the most desirable place to take your new wife on a honeymoon,” commented Dheinalia Vera Nuruodo.
“I thought a remote location where the two of us could enjoy each others company would appeal to you,” riposted Thrawn, his blue skinned hands grasping the controls of the pleasure yacht firmly. He shot a glance of his glowing red eyes at his new wife. “Or maybe I was wrong?”
“We'll take the diplomatic approach and say you were wrong,” smiled Dheinalia. “I know for a fact that we're in that one secret research facility of yours that my father always tried to keep tabs on.”
“Tried.”
“And that you're using our honeymoon as an excuse to disappear off the comscan to go and check in on whatever it is you have some crazy scientist or engineer brewing up for you,” continued Dheinalia.
“Finished prototypes.”
“And...you had better make this up to me,” Dheinalia finished, crossing her arms and staring meaningfully at the side of Thrawn's head.
Thrawn tapped on the controls of the yacht navicomputer for a few more seconds and then locked the handlers in place. He pushed his seat back and then turned to face his wife. “I know this is by no means – how shall I put it – agreeable to a newly wed, but I promise you that I won't neglect you.”
“Oh?”
“I've set in our course and reduced our acceleration. We'll arrive at my facility in a little under 50 hours, two cycles time just the two of us on this – our brand new pleasure yacht which comes equipped, I will remind you, with a full suite, champagne selection, and a droid chef that I stole from Dorn van Kuat's best hotel.”
Dheinalia stood up and walked over to her husband. She smiled, leaned down and kissed him. She stood back up and using one hand, gripped him by the collar and started walking to the back of the cabin. “Then come on Grand Admiral, you've got a giant new bed made from Alderannian silk to conquer with me.”
Grinning ruefully and shrugging, Thrawn stood up and followed his wife.
Ganymede
The planet below may be bereft of any atmosphere, but the moon that orbited above it was much more amenable towards oxygen-breathing lifeforms. Possessing a hyper-dense core, the moon where Ganymede was located had an unusually high gravity level. The research team located there took no small advantage in testing various bits of technology in a natural high gravity local, even though the facility itself had gravitonic generators that allowed its occupants to exist at a more easy-going level of gravity. “Real world conditions are more ideal,” was the byword of Dr. Brennic, the team leader of the R&D team at Ganymede.
Grand Admiral Thrawn's yacht landed on the moons surface sixty hours after entering the system. The Grand Admiral made no excuse of his tardiness nor commented on it, by which the research team took their cue and failed to mention it.
Waiting inside of the main hangar facility was a platoon of white armored clone troopers, each one armed and ready for combat even though they were hundreds of light-years from the nearest combat zone. Captain “Viper” CT-1023 snapped to attention when Thrawn stepped down the exit ramp of the pleasure yacht, his platoon doing likewise.
“Officer on the deck!” The sound of thirty-two pairs of armored heels clashing together made an impressive and smart sound.
Thrawn saluted in return. “At ease, Captain. Escort me and the Lady Nuruodo to Dr. Brennic's office, if you wouldn't mind.”
“Of course sir,” replied the clone captain, non-pulsed at the surprise of hearing about the recent nuptials; a better reaction than most of the higher echelons of the Thrashian military had been able to muster, seeing as how the image of the all-commanding and professional Grand Admiral Thrawn clashed quite horrifically with the idea of a male in a state of martial bliss.
“Any trouble in the system, Captain?” asked Thrawn, as the captain led him and Dheinalia through the complex.
“Nothing of note,” replied Captain Viper. “The last unscheduled appearance of a ship in-system was about forty cycles ago. Our patrol craft were not able to identify it, but it never came within the inner system, choosing to stay in the outer.”
“Curious,” frowned Thrawn.
“We've tightened security in that particular sector. I'm sure you've already seen my requisition request for a Bellator-class Star Destroyer to be deployed here.”
“Seen and denied it,” replied Thrawn.
“As you say, sir.”
“The key to Ganymede's continued existence is that its existence remain a myth. If I were to deploy a cruiser like a Bellator-class Star Destroyer then it would draw unwelcome attention.”
“...”
“Permission to speak freely, Captain,” said Thrawn, curious as he always was by the way how all clones seemed to develop their own personality and tweaks. It was a phenomenon that no geneticist or gene-therapist could ever explain to him in exacting detail. The human brain was simply too greatly complicated.
“I'm just thinking sir that, if not a Bellator, then perhaps another TIE Scythe squadron would be enough. That and I would formally request that my company be brought up to full strength. I only have three of four platoons necessary for a full company, and two of my platoons are understrength as it is – no replacements having been shipped in since three years ago when you stationed us here.”
Thrawn considered the captain's words. “That isn't an unreasonable request, Captain. I shall make the arrangements for another TIE Scythe squadron to be stationed here and I will see if I can get you adequate replacements.”
“I would appreciate that sir.”
“May I ask you a question, Captain?” interjected Dheinalia. Both men looked at her, almost as if they had forgotten that she was there the whole time.
“O-Of course, my Lady.”
“Just how many staff are here at Ganymede?” Dheinalia motioned to the right.
They had come to a long hallway that had its walls made from transparisteel, allowing passerby an impressive view. The hangar complex had been roughly half a mile squared in size, huddled against the side of a small mountain. The vestibule that they were walking through at that moment was situated along the ridge line of a mountain arm, moving inwards to a hidden valley that comprised the real Ganymede facility. The buildings were elegantly shaped with white metal, a sharp contrast from the russet color of the ground and dark green hues of the vegetation surrounding them. The main facility was situated against the mountain itself, rising to four levels that could be seen from the outside. There were however numerous other tunnels and higher floors built within the mountain.
“There are sixty-seven theoreticians, physicists, and mathematicians; one hundred and twelve molecular engineers, materials engineers, biomolecular engineers, structural engineers, robotics engineers; and over seven hundred lab technicians and equipment handlers. There is also the production line facility that is equipped with three dozen droids. My seventy-six troopers provide ground security and the 74th TIE wing provides system security,” the Captain said off by rote.
“That's impressive,” commented Dheinalia, privately sorry she had asked.
“Wait until you've seen what my R&D team have cooked up,” grinned Thrawn, taking her hand and moving forward again.
The white metaled yacht came out of hyperspace within a very specific sector of the Ganymede system, it's transponder sending out an encrypted code. Though empty of most parochial lifeforms and valuable matter, the system's anonymity and reclusive location was excellent enough to be the location for a private research and development center. For ten years the project had been a well kept secret amongst the top brass of the Thrashian Imperial government, with only the leading members of the Regent's cabinet and the military high command having direct access and knowledge.
“Not exactly the most desirable place to take your new wife on a honeymoon,” commented Dheinalia Vera Nuruodo.
“I thought a remote location where the two of us could enjoy each others company would appeal to you,” riposted Thrawn, his blue skinned hands grasping the controls of the pleasure yacht firmly. He shot a glance of his glowing red eyes at his new wife. “Or maybe I was wrong?”
“We'll take the diplomatic approach and say you were wrong,” smiled Dheinalia. “I know for a fact that we're in that one secret research facility of yours that my father always tried to keep tabs on.”
“Tried.”
“And that you're using our honeymoon as an excuse to disappear off the comscan to go and check in on whatever it is you have some crazy scientist or engineer brewing up for you,” continued Dheinalia.
“Finished prototypes.”
“And...you had better make this up to me,” Dheinalia finished, crossing her arms and staring meaningfully at the side of Thrawn's head.
Thrawn tapped on the controls of the yacht navicomputer for a few more seconds and then locked the handlers in place. He pushed his seat back and then turned to face his wife. “I know this is by no means – how shall I put it – agreeable to a newly wed, but I promise you that I won't neglect you.”
“Oh?”
“I've set in our course and reduced our acceleration. We'll arrive at my facility in a little under 50 hours, two cycles time just the two of us on this – our brand new pleasure yacht which comes equipped, I will remind you, with a full suite, champagne selection, and a droid chef that I stole from Dorn van Kuat's best hotel.”
Dheinalia stood up and walked over to her husband. She smiled, leaned down and kissed him. She stood back up and using one hand, gripped him by the collar and started walking to the back of the cabin. “Then come on Grand Admiral, you've got a giant new bed made from Alderannian silk to conquer with me.”
Grinning ruefully and shrugging, Thrawn stood up and followed his wife.
Ganymede
The planet below may be bereft of any atmosphere, but the moon that orbited above it was much more amenable towards oxygen-breathing lifeforms. Possessing a hyper-dense core, the moon where Ganymede was located had an unusually high gravity level. The research team located there took no small advantage in testing various bits of technology in a natural high gravity local, even though the facility itself had gravitonic generators that allowed its occupants to exist at a more easy-going level of gravity. “Real world conditions are more ideal,” was the byword of Dr. Brennic, the team leader of the R&D team at Ganymede.
Grand Admiral Thrawn's yacht landed on the moons surface sixty hours after entering the system. The Grand Admiral made no excuse of his tardiness nor commented on it, by which the research team took their cue and failed to mention it.
Waiting inside of the main hangar facility was a platoon of white armored clone troopers, each one armed and ready for combat even though they were hundreds of light-years from the nearest combat zone. Captain “Viper” CT-1023 snapped to attention when Thrawn stepped down the exit ramp of the pleasure yacht, his platoon doing likewise.
“Officer on the deck!” The sound of thirty-two pairs of armored heels clashing together made an impressive and smart sound.
Thrawn saluted in return. “At ease, Captain. Escort me and the Lady Nuruodo to Dr. Brennic's office, if you wouldn't mind.”
“Of course sir,” replied the clone captain, non-pulsed at the surprise of hearing about the recent nuptials; a better reaction than most of the higher echelons of the Thrashian military had been able to muster, seeing as how the image of the all-commanding and professional Grand Admiral Thrawn clashed quite horrifically with the idea of a male in a state of martial bliss.
“Any trouble in the system, Captain?” asked Thrawn, as the captain led him and Dheinalia through the complex.
“Nothing of note,” replied Captain Viper. “The last unscheduled appearance of a ship in-system was about forty cycles ago. Our patrol craft were not able to identify it, but it never came within the inner system, choosing to stay in the outer.”
“Curious,” frowned Thrawn.
“We've tightened security in that particular sector. I'm sure you've already seen my requisition request for a Bellator-class Star Destroyer to be deployed here.”
“Seen and denied it,” replied Thrawn.
“As you say, sir.”
“The key to Ganymede's continued existence is that its existence remain a myth. If I were to deploy a cruiser like a Bellator-class Star Destroyer then it would draw unwelcome attention.”
“...”
“Permission to speak freely, Captain,” said Thrawn, curious as he always was by the way how all clones seemed to develop their own personality and tweaks. It was a phenomenon that no geneticist or gene-therapist could ever explain to him in exacting detail. The human brain was simply too greatly complicated.
“I'm just thinking sir that, if not a Bellator, then perhaps another TIE Scythe squadron would be enough. That and I would formally request that my company be brought up to full strength. I only have three of four platoons necessary for a full company, and two of my platoons are understrength as it is – no replacements having been shipped in since three years ago when you stationed us here.”
Thrawn considered the captain's words. “That isn't an unreasonable request, Captain. I shall make the arrangements for another TIE Scythe squadron to be stationed here and I will see if I can get you adequate replacements.”
“I would appreciate that sir.”
“May I ask you a question, Captain?” interjected Dheinalia. Both men looked at her, almost as if they had forgotten that she was there the whole time.
“O-Of course, my Lady.”
“Just how many staff are here at Ganymede?” Dheinalia motioned to the right.
They had come to a long hallway that had its walls made from transparisteel, allowing passerby an impressive view. The hangar complex had been roughly half a mile squared in size, huddled against the side of a small mountain. The vestibule that they were walking through at that moment was situated along the ridge line of a mountain arm, moving inwards to a hidden valley that comprised the real Ganymede facility. The buildings were elegantly shaped with white metal, a sharp contrast from the russet color of the ground and dark green hues of the vegetation surrounding them. The main facility was situated against the mountain itself, rising to four levels that could be seen from the outside. There were however numerous other tunnels and higher floors built within the mountain.
“There are sixty-seven theoreticians, physicists, and mathematicians; one hundred and twelve molecular engineers, materials engineers, biomolecular engineers, structural engineers, robotics engineers; and over seven hundred lab technicians and equipment handlers. There is also the production line facility that is equipped with three dozen droids. My seventy-six troopers provide ground security and the 74th TIE wing provides system security,” the Captain said off by rote.
“That's impressive,” commented Dheinalia, privately sorry she had asked.
“Wait until you've seen what my R&D team have cooked up,” grinned Thrawn, taking her hand and moving forward again.