Ossus- 3 hours after Thrawn's first attack
"Where?" The Captain asked, his face twisting into a mask made of fear and sorrow. "Who...?"
'We're not sure.' The miniature hologram responded, looking Tellien straight in the eye. A mixture of confusion and anguish flooded his face. An entire Rogue Jedi task force, gone in twenty minutes- thousands of young men and women, now free-floating atoms in space. Killed by a phantom enemy. 'But... the ships were Imperial-esque. Dagger shaped, but longer, thinner, sleeker. More carved, I...'
"There is no need to explain or apologize, Captain Shirapen. You could have done nothing." Tellien's voice carried an honest sympathy. The high-ranking Captain and naval apprentice of Gash Jiren was no stranger to losing men in battle. "Nothing. As it is, you are to be commended for saving those you you could."
Shirapen glanced down. 'Yes... but... it was just so... fast. They came like wraiths. Nothing could stop them... everything we put up, they tossed aside... it was like our opponent knew what we would do. Whoever he was.'
"Perhaps he did." The handsome Corellian glanced away, worrisome thoughts in his mind. One protruded above all, as he glanced at the holonet feed on his desk. "The question continues to be asked by Senator Musaile; where is Gash Jiren? After the Asthentian Admiral's mysterious and hasteful recalling of the Rogue Jedi Order military forcess, many Senators are calling to question Jiren's fitness to lead-" Tellien shut off the feed.
'What do you mean?'
"I don't know, yet. Get back to Ossus immediately."
Ossus- Firia Cityscape, 4 Hours after Thrawn's first attack
The duracrete forest of ruined buildings opened into what could be described as a clearing, of sorts. In the center of the building before him, surrounded on all sides by the half-broken walls which once connected to a building, was a temple not unlike those on Yavin 4. Taller and thinner, this one was, made entirely of dull durasteel. At the top of it was a small crystal sealing, made completely of blue, exhuding a saphire light into the dusty air around it.
In Gash's hand, was the Blade of Klain, still bloodless, drawing him onward. He wore only his dark navy blue cloak.
The mystical sword, recovered from the deep chambers of Ziost, was leading him onward, without a doubt. The Blade drank of the Force energies of it's victims, and now, it sought the largest one it could find.
And within Gash's soul, he knew who that was. The ruler of Ziost; the only man who could recover the Blade in his hand. Gash's tanned face masked the fear in his heart, but as he stepped slowly towards the durasteel temple, opening the massive doors with the Force, he knew what lay within. Through the dank halls, he walked, each step taking him further from commanding the empire he'd created.
The narrow corridor was dark, yet seemed to gleam with some kind of mysterious light. And that light became bright crimson as he stepped into the open chamber.
Xireon Jiren.
The Sith standing before Gash was a mirror image of the Jedi Master, in form and face, yet opposite in spirit. Clothed only in a black cloak and hood, Xireon smiled mockingly.
'Father,' He said, stepping off the raised platform on which he stood.
"Son."
Hyperspace- ETA Ossus 5 Hours
Thrawn turned to the captain beside him, the blue faced alien smiling in a fashion which curtled the younger man's blood. Even the human who stood by the Grand Admiral appeared to be Chiss, though he was not; his face and grey uniform were illuminated blue by the swirling clouds of hyperspace just outside the bridge of the Chimera II.
The smile abated, and Thrawn's tone took on something of a philosophical manner.
"You see, Captain Heirel, you know my methods of predicting my enemy's movements, yet you do not know the specifics; only the method itself, not the interpretation."
'Ah... yes, sir.'
"Yes." That dangerous smile returned. "You see, the art of modern Ossus is carefully shaped. Symetrical, orderly, well planned. The Rogue Jedi favour planned assaults, rather than simply leaping into a system and using surperior force."
'I see...'
"No, you do not." Thrawn became stern, glancing up at his new assistant. Like the now-Admiral Gilad Pelleon, this man would one day take command of the Syndic Mitth'raw'nuruodo. "Do not claim so again. We will counter their desire for order and planning not by erratic motion; we will conform to their expectations exactly, striking where he hopes to be struck. We will adopt tactics we can easily dispose of."
'Yes, sir... but then, how, may I ask, does the Black Fang enter into this? It seems we have planned RJO's downfall so effectively... why even bother with the devious plots?'
"An enemy who knows he has no choice but to obey his master is far more likely to do so. Fear."
'Yes, sir.'
"Where?" The Captain asked, his face twisting into a mask made of fear and sorrow. "Who...?"
'We're not sure.' The miniature hologram responded, looking Tellien straight in the eye. A mixture of confusion and anguish flooded his face. An entire Rogue Jedi task force, gone in twenty minutes- thousands of young men and women, now free-floating atoms in space. Killed by a phantom enemy. 'But... the ships were Imperial-esque. Dagger shaped, but longer, thinner, sleeker. More carved, I...'
"There is no need to explain or apologize, Captain Shirapen. You could have done nothing." Tellien's voice carried an honest sympathy. The high-ranking Captain and naval apprentice of Gash Jiren was no stranger to losing men in battle. "Nothing. As it is, you are to be commended for saving those you you could."
Shirapen glanced down. 'Yes... but... it was just so... fast. They came like wraiths. Nothing could stop them... everything we put up, they tossed aside... it was like our opponent knew what we would do. Whoever he was.'
"Perhaps he did." The handsome Corellian glanced away, worrisome thoughts in his mind. One protruded above all, as he glanced at the holonet feed on his desk. "The question continues to be asked by Senator Musaile; where is Gash Jiren? After the Asthentian Admiral's mysterious and hasteful recalling of the Rogue Jedi Order military forcess, many Senators are calling to question Jiren's fitness to lead-" Tellien shut off the feed.
'What do you mean?'
"I don't know, yet. Get back to Ossus immediately."
* * * * *
Ossus- Firia Cityscape, 4 Hours after Thrawn's first attack
The duracrete forest of ruined buildings opened into what could be described as a clearing, of sorts. In the center of the building before him, surrounded on all sides by the half-broken walls which once connected to a building, was a temple not unlike those on Yavin 4. Taller and thinner, this one was, made entirely of dull durasteel. At the top of it was a small crystal sealing, made completely of blue, exhuding a saphire light into the dusty air around it.
In Gash's hand, was the Blade of Klain, still bloodless, drawing him onward. He wore only his dark navy blue cloak.
The mystical sword, recovered from the deep chambers of Ziost, was leading him onward, without a doubt. The Blade drank of the Force energies of it's victims, and now, it sought the largest one it could find.
And within Gash's soul, he knew who that was. The ruler of Ziost; the only man who could recover the Blade in his hand. Gash's tanned face masked the fear in his heart, but as he stepped slowly towards the durasteel temple, opening the massive doors with the Force, he knew what lay within. Through the dank halls, he walked, each step taking him further from commanding the empire he'd created.
The narrow corridor was dark, yet seemed to gleam with some kind of mysterious light. And that light became bright crimson as he stepped into the open chamber.
Xireon Jiren.
The Sith standing before Gash was a mirror image of the Jedi Master, in form and face, yet opposite in spirit. Clothed only in a black cloak and hood, Xireon smiled mockingly.
'Father,' He said, stepping off the raised platform on which he stood.
"Son."
* * * * *
Hyperspace- ETA Ossus 5 Hours
Thrawn turned to the captain beside him, the blue faced alien smiling in a fashion which curtled the younger man's blood. Even the human who stood by the Grand Admiral appeared to be Chiss, though he was not; his face and grey uniform were illuminated blue by the swirling clouds of hyperspace just outside the bridge of the Chimera II.
The smile abated, and Thrawn's tone took on something of a philosophical manner.
"You see, Captain Heirel, you know my methods of predicting my enemy's movements, yet you do not know the specifics; only the method itself, not the interpretation."
'Ah... yes, sir.'
"Yes." That dangerous smile returned. "You see, the art of modern Ossus is carefully shaped. Symetrical, orderly, well planned. The Rogue Jedi favour planned assaults, rather than simply leaping into a system and using surperior force."
'I see...'
"No, you do not." Thrawn became stern, glancing up at his new assistant. Like the now-Admiral Gilad Pelleon, this man would one day take command of the Syndic Mitth'raw'nuruodo. "Do not claim so again. We will counter their desire for order and planning not by erratic motion; we will conform to their expectations exactly, striking where he hopes to be struck. We will adopt tactics we can easily dispose of."
'Yes, sir... but then, how, may I ask, does the Black Fang enter into this? It seems we have planned RJO's downfall so effectively... why even bother with the devious plots?'
"An enemy who knows he has no choice but to obey his master is far more likely to do so. Fear."
'Yes, sir.'