From the blue

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Time seemed to stand still in the massive Senate chamber. The hush of the members was only interrupted by the faint sound of the generators powering the rooms lighting and environmental filters. The massive milky white dome above reflected a large percentage of the light from the chamber as the fog created was filtered and evacuated from the room as the room fought against the incredibly cold exterior.

The center senate dome of Csaplar was more adequate for the twenty eight colonial governors and their aides positioned around the four house aristocra and their Syndics. The walls had been decorated and prepared for this meeting as they were always. They massive House emblems hang across from each other with the emblems of the twenty eight colonies hung around the entire circumference of the chamber. In the center sat the Grand Prefect who acted as the intermediary between the four houses and had the final vote when the senate was at an impasse.

The door to the left opened and in walked a group dressed in the black uniform of the CEDF. Four men entered fallowed by Admiral Stela’shlit’nuruodo. He fallowed the other CEDF commanders until they made their way to the center of the chamber. They then sat in the seats facing the house aristocra and the Grand Prefect. Lash remained standing and awaited the senate to acknowledge him. House Caspla was the first to address him.

“Admiral Lash, It is good to see you once again. I hear your champagne with the lizard people went well. They were set to cause problems for the Known regions if we had not intervened. As for the current situation at hand. We have intelligence which leads us to believe the Known regions stability is in danger of shattering and we all know we cannot have that.”

Lash stood regal and silent as the Syndic to the speakers left handed him a data pad. The Caspla Aristocra paused to look over the data then continued his speech.

“The War between the remnant of Palpatines Empire and the Alliance to restore the republic has stalled and caused the Empire to look upon itself for a new foe. The war between the rebels and the empire is none of our concern. They can fight until the last of us are gone and it would not change the situation we have with the known regions and the other people of this galaxy. The controlling power means little to us so long as they are blind to our true power and motives.”

The Aristocra to his left looked to his counterpart and the Caspla representative stopped speaking. The Irokini Aristocra then began speaking.

"Our outer listening posts have received Intel that the Empire is not as it seems. It is common knowledge they have a new Empress. What is not common knowledge is a large percentage of the Imperials do not agree with her right to the position and that many of the special operations sections of the former empire are actively looking to discredit her and even un-thrown her. More importantly is the intelligence we have been getting concerning the enigmatic Inquisitoriate and their activities. More than one Imperial Intelligence agency is actively investigating them in secret.”

An aide walked from the back of the chamber and handed Lash and the four other Chiss commander’s data pads. The men looked over the data briefly as another of the Senate Aristocra began speaking. Lash looked up from the Data pad to see the Nuruodo Aristocra speaking.

“We want you and your group to investigate the Empire and see that the sovereignty of the Ascendancy remains stable. As always we leave the operational range of your group to you Admiral Lash. We also assign you the temporary title of Syndic so that you may communicate and execute the will of the Ascendancy officially. You will have any and all resources available to you at your use as well as a small Stel conscript regiment which will act as your personnel guard. We trust your wisdom and intellect in this matter and will be monitoring you and your efforts. Please make haste and see to it house Nuruodo nevermore has issue with the Empire or any other Known Regions power.”

Lash nods in understanding and turns and walks out, followed by his group commanders, of the senate chamber. Lash walks down the decorated hallway and into an Anti-chamber just off the main Senate chamber. He and the men of his group enter and sit at the small table in the center of the room. Lash looks over the pad given him by the Nuruodo Aristocra aide. The information seemed complete enough but many things were missing. The data on the Imperial Inquisitoriate was scarce and incomplete. Lash knew of the organization and had heard the normal rumors but he chose to ignore them for the time being. His men were looking over the data as he was. The battle weary men only days before crushed the vermin Ssi-ruuk and seen to it they would not be a problem to anyone in known or unknown space for years. Now as they return to be given such a mission was a travesty. The Ascendancy had been at odds with Thrawn for years and the politics had eaten away at the senate. The CEDF was no more than a tool and Lash had been out of the main stream of the Politics of the last decade and the Syndics knew not where his allegiance lay. He looked at his men then back to the Data scrolling on the pad before him. He was being sent away once again. Sent away to where the dealings of the senate could not be monitored by him or any of his group. Away from the politics and workings of the new breed of Chiss government. He sat the pad on the table and stood. The room was warm and well lit by small windows to the outside wall. He walked to one and looked out upon the endless expanse of ice which was Csilla. He had not seen the Capitol world of the ascendance for twelve years. His work as group commander had kept him from his family, his wife, and his home for more then what seemed a lifetime. Now as he looked forward to returning to the world he had known so long ago he had once more been ask to give his life up once again for the Ascendancy.

“What do you think Commander Horet?”

The older of the Chiss sitting at the table looked up from the data pad at the Admiral standing near a window with his back to them. His hands cupped behind him and his uniform as sharp and clean as it had been the day they left the Stel Colonial training grounds decades before.

“Admiral, it seems the humans of the empire are in for a long and turbulent reign. The new empress seems to be a positive aspect but we know very little about her. Even her own people suspect her and many openly disapprove of her. As for the Inquisitoriate, well old friend our own Intel can find little of nothing about them or their operatives. Most of the information we have on them is from Palpatines new order. We also have a small bit of data on the Inquisitor which visited Ascendancy space seven years ago. Outside that we are in the dark.”

Lash stood quietly thinking over what his oldest friend and best commander had said then closed his eyes. The Ascendancy truly needed him and his men to look into this, but he knew his being assigned to this mission had more to do with his political neutrality than his renown as a commander. The senate wanted him out of the way and he being the best and most decorated officer for the mission meant nothing to them. He turned to look at the four men at the table.

“Prepare your ships for departure. We will jump for Khar in eight standard hours.”

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Lash sat quietly in the darkness of his unlit meditation chamber. He Had insisted it be installed upon his assignment to the Known Regions. He looked forward to many relaxing hours in its sense depriving darkness. Years had gone by since Thrawn's actions with the Empire and his untimely return to Nirauan. His opinion of the man aside Thrawn had leveled the playing field between the Chiss and the Empire by giving the Ascendancy the time it needed to progress and prepare itself to a point which it could protect itself from the empire if needed.

Lash's legs burned as he stood to exit his solitude chamber. He had spent most of the day walking the halls of the Ascendancy Defender meeting with every section leader and inspecting the ship. The paint was still tacky and much of the work being done was behind schedule. He insisted the Ascendancy be fully prepared once the fleet had reached Thule. To his disgust many of the section chiefs insisted he remember the ship was new and had not had a proper shake down cruiser before the fleet left for known space. Lash needed men he knew would do the job not prefect purchased family members who had their position bought for them by which ever house had forked out credits to put such self important individuals as he now had aboard his ship. He would rectify this problem once they had reached Thule and made contact with Phantom Corp.

As he walked from the foyer into his command chamber three Chiss men stood waiting in silence. He exchanged glances with the first man in the formation then walked to his desk. The men made no attempt to move or make any noise or motion for that mater. They were as tall statues formed against the wall. Lash sat and took the data pad siting directly in front of him and looked over it. He notices the five men had mentioned the ship was new had been transferred to maintenance where their concern for the well being of this, the newest weapon of the Chiss Ascendancy, would not go unrewarded. They would excel in their new task if they continue to be as diligent about the ship as they had been this day.

The Deck beneath his feet shuttered as the massive ship exited hyperspace. moments later his com badge chirped.

"Commander, We have exited hyperspace and are making fore Thule at half speed. We will be in orbit within the hour."

Lash pressed the transmit button and informed the communications officer that hee would be on the bridge in fifteen standard minutes. He had also informed the officer to invite Officer Jutel. The Com officer acknowledged Lash's orders and closed the com channel. Lash knew Jutel was already on the bridge but he wanted to make an appearance of concern that the political officer attached to the fleet was present for the meeting with Phantom Corp. Not that he did as he detested the political department of the fleet and saw no use for it. Chiss politics had grown complicated as of late and Lash was not one to set off a cival war over his hatred for the man and his office.

Lash sat quietly for the remainder of the time in his office. He stood and walked to the doorway. As he left two of the three men took position behind him and without a word walked with him to the elevator. As the men stood in the small circular tube Lash closed his eyes and longed for an easy way to achieve his goals. A way to stabilize the Known regions and the power base of each and every faction as it was needed to maintain such stabilization to ensure the Sovereignty of the Chiss ascendancy and to keep it safe and prosperous.

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

The doors opened to a brightly lit control room. Lash waited for his retinue to leave the lift then walked out and to the center of the room. As he left the lift everyone in the room stood and remained silent until Lash made it to the Tactical podium.

"As you were"

Silently the men and women of the command crew went back to their various duties. Lash pressed a button on the tactical podium and the four meter thick blast doors began to side open leaving the transparasteel window. Lash looked out at the small round star of the Thule system.

"Commander, we are at four billion kilometers and closing at half speed. We will have Thule in sensor range in seven minutes."

Lash nodded then looked at the man standing beside Kethal. He notice Jutel had the standard Political attire minus the House Chaf emblem. Why would he leave a badge of honor such as a house honor badge was beyond Lash but at the moment he dd not care how or what the political officer presented himself as long as he stayed out of the way.

"Thank you General for your report. Minister Jutel, How are your accomidations?"

Lash had no desire to converse with the man but procedure limited his options and made minister Jutel a necessity. Political Tension in Csaplar was growing and some of the wealthier members of the Chiss Ascendancy had become very powerful since the purging of the Ssi Ruuk. Many of the less powerful colonies have claimed the senate with unequal distribution of resources, as well as undocumented military actions carried out by house Nuruodo against the indigenous people of the planet Fortessa.

"Opulent and comfortable Commander. Your staff is very efficient and your staterooms are modest yet roomy. I shall enjoy a proper dinner once we have finished with the chore at hand."

"Ah yes dinner. I will see that the dinning hall is prepared and set for guests."

Jutel was silent for a moment. Lash knew Jutel wanted a dinner alone with his so he could feel out Lash and get to know where he was positioned in this rift which was growing in the Ascendancy. The whole reason he was here was to keep tabs on the operation in case something went wrong. If that something indeed did go wrong Jutel was there to make sure the Chaf would be the first to know and first use it against Lash and House Nuruodo. He knew the man was surprised and was glad. Keeping Jutel on his feet and off his back was All Lash was interested in at the time.

"Are you expecting guests Admiral? I had no idea were would be joined for dinner.Who is this who will be joining us?"

Lash looked over the tactical view screen and the display of the Thule system. for now it was as void as an asteroid belt. nothing was moving.

"I have a feeling we will not be alone tonight minister. As for who, I know not. I know we are not alone and are being watched. It is far to quiet even this far out from Thule. They have to be under radio silence or we would have picked up traffic from the surface by now."

The political officer stood silently, the smile leaving his face. Lash was almost amused as the man to his left grew silent. Men like him did not belong in battle. They were politicians and in general non-combatants.

"General go to yellow and launch the Kssints. Have them carry out order Gamma nine. Also launch a wing of Nssis."

Moments later twenty four large craft began to exit the massive forward hanger bay. The ships moved into a make shift formation then were gone.

"Kssints moving into position Commander, all fighters are launched and forming up."

Lash turned and walked to the navigation station. the officer there was busy working on various jump co ordinates and preparing the computer to receive the hypsat data.

"All Kssints report in position and launching payload."

Lash watched the officer begin working the code as the navigational beacons began transmitting. all at once a three dimensional display began to form of the Thule system. Mapping co-ordinates and tagging key contacts for future labeling.

"Very good General have the Kssints return and rearm. I am hoping we wont find a fight but I want to be ready if we do."

Lash turned to the political minister and gave the man a grim smile. It wont be long now minister and we will get a chance to meet our dinner guest.

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Data began to scroll down the operations view screen. The mapping satellites had finished scanning the system and now transmitted the data back to the Ascendancy Defender. A large Hologram appeared in the center of the Command deck which displayed the Thurra system. The large primary Thurra was in the center with its two orbital planets. Thule and its moon Sivvi orbited at two hundred million kilometers from Thurra followed by Enenpa in its elliptical orbit at one billion three hundred kilometers. Both planets were on the core ward side of the planet opposite the Ascendancy Defender's position. It would be four hours before Thule moved from behind Thurra and almost forty hours before Enenpa crested Thurra. The Hologram began to name and list any and all orbital objects. It was very apparent that something was wrong. The map was showing the star and its orbiting bodies. It had the Ascendancy Defender and all the Mapping satellites deployed but the Kssints attack craft. It had the large Asteroid belt between the Ascendancy Defender's current location and the inner system. It even showed a few small craft in the vicinity of Enenpa. What it did not show was anything orbiting Thule itself.

Lash looked over the hologram and turned to walked to the sensor station. Minister Jurtel watched the Chiss Admiral. He had been ordered to watch the man and see if he showed any signs of supporting the Rouge Thrawn. The senate on Csilla knew little of Lash and his feeling towards the Thrawn matter. Supporters of the Exiled Commander had been rallying for the ascendancy to support Thrawn and the Empire Of The Hand. They were in turn exiled, as Thrawn was, and expelled from Ascendancy space. The rouge empire Thrawn and his Imperial cohorts had formed have been massing forces near Nirauan. For what, the Ascendancy did not know, but many among house Chaf and house Csapla feared it meant to move against the Ascendancy.

Lash stood over the Sensor station looking at the data screen. It was clear someone did not want anyone seeing what waited for them over Thule. This did not matter Lash was going to Thule. Lash turned back around to face the Chiss political officer.

“Minister Jurtel, I am afraid our dinner guests my be delayed. I will be taking a shuttle to Thule to greet them personally. Would you care to join me minister?”

Lash turned before the man could answer and began walking to the turbo lift. Minister Jurtel started to speak then paused as Lash turned and walked away. He was well aware the Chiss admiral did not like the Chaf or Csapla or any other family with strong Political Ties. The Admiral had been on the edge of Chiss space for over twenty years on and off and had no desire to move into the political spotlight. Lash had been offered the Elisya seat in the senate after his first successful champagne against the Vagarii pirates near Cormit fifteen years ago. His refusal shook the senate and since Admiral Lash had been assigned any and all assignments which would keep him away from politics and out of the senates affairs. They did not trust Lash for this and his added popularity among many of the house phalanx’s marked him a very powerful advisory if Lash sided against the Senate.

Lash stopped at flight control and ordered his shuttle be prepped and moved into launch position. He turned and spoke as the door to the repulsor lift began closing.

“I will meet you in launch bay three Minister.”

Jurtel stood silently and watched the door shut. Lash had invited him but by the mans behavior he could tell it was only out of concession. A man like Lash with such disrespect and ill will towards a senate representative was surly a threat to the senate and the Ascendancy as a whole.

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Lash sat at the controls of the heavily modified Sentinel landing shuttle. The shuttle, now with the lower stabilizer wings replaced by fixed thruster pods, sat by itself in the large command hanger of the Ascendancy Defender. All around flight crew readied the shuttle and did last minute status checks before the launch. The lead fueler cleared the bow of the craft and gave a signal to Lash meaning the shuttle was fueled and ready. Behind him he heard Minister Jurtel board with his two aids and Major Krink. Krink was House Chaf and Lash did not trust the man. More and more military power was being obtained by the family which had put them in a powerful position in the senate when it came to diplomacy. A self judicat ing legislative power was growing in the senate and many among the CEDF and House Phalanx’s were starting to support it. Not even the Chiss, as perfect as they are, can be free of political infighting. The door hissed as it closed and Lieutenant Getri walked up and sat beside Lash in the co-pilots chair. He fastened in and powered up his command consul then turned to Lash.

“Everyone is aboard and fastened in Admiral.”

Getri looked over his controls and the status of the shuttle scrolling down the information window on his command console. He turned back as Lash spoke.

“Very well lieutenant, open a com channel to flight command and clear us.”

Getri began talking to flight operations on his com transceiver as lash finalized the shuttle for takeoff.

“Flight ops says we are clear sir.”

Lash pulsed power to the Repulsor coils enough for the shuttle to break lose and hover a meter or so above the deck. He looked once more over the display them eased power to the drive system. The shuttle moved slowly at first clearing the side hanger bays and moving out into the main hanger corridor. The massive hanger corridor ran down the center of the Ascendancy Defender and connected all five hanger bays. The fifty meter wide cavern opened on either side and the bottom for fast launch operations. Above along the corridor's cieling hang squadrons of claw craft waiting to be used to defend the massive Chiss vessel.

Lash reached the edge of the lower hanger opening and throttled up the engines and shot out of the bay. The shuttle moved out from the underside of the massive ship and towards the Thule system. Lash looked over the display at the system before him. Dead in the center of the display was a dead spot where the navigational satellites, launched when they had first arrived, were being jammed.

“Plot a jump lieutenant, get us as close to that dead zone as possible.”

Lash knew there was something there. A whole planet for one, but what else. What did he know about this world. The last time he had been here was fourteen years ago when he had transported his elite guard here. Now it seemed Thule was being hidden from sensors and the amount of traffic the Chiss sensors were picking up outside the dead zone was much more than a world of Thule’s standing should have.

“Plotted sir, we will be within seven hundred meters of the jammed zone. What ever they have hidden in there, we will see it then sir.”

Lash remained silent. It was rare for him to personally fly a mission but he did not want to risk anyone else but him on something like this. He had no idea what he would find and he wanted to be ready for anything.

“Once we come out of micro jump began a manual plotting of all bodies we see. Factor in orbit velocity and movement vector. Run a scrolling micro jump plot out in case we need it lieutenant.”

Getri nodded an affirmation and prepared the navsat jump plotter incase it was needed. Lash powered down the engines and the shuttle slowly came to rest. He looked over the controls one last time then engaged the micro jump drive. The Shuttle accelerated then stopped in a flash. The small ship had jumped over three billion kilometers and now sat just out of the gravity pull and jamming range of Thule.

[Mephis]

It was likely more tumultuous then the boom of thunder over a landscape. The sound of it could likely never be matched by any planet side equivalent. Not the crack of lightening or the explosion of a volcano. Not even the titanic rumble of tectonic plates struggling against each other. That such a momentous occurrence was marked by silence was the wonder of space.

There was merely a flash. Then pins of light stretching through space suddenly shunted into dagger like form. An Imperial fleet had emerged from hyper space nearly on top of the Chiss destroyer. Each dagger like capital ship instantly belching out a cloud of star fighters. The fighters idled momentarily until their wings departed their mother ships fully then, in trained sequence, formed up and pressed forward.

Before the crew of the Ascendancy Defender could count the number of capital ships closing in, their comm system chirped to life.

"Chiss craft. You are in violation of Imperial space. This is a restricted sector. You will recall your fighters and escorts, power down any weapon systems and refrain from raising shields. If you refuse this will be seen as an act of aggression and you will be destroyed. Comply."

One of the chiss ensigns manning a scanning station suddenly craned his neck, swatting off his headset with a marked expression of pain. He had been confirming scanning results of the Imperial fleet that had jumped in. When four of the confirmed six Interdictor cruisers suddenly activated their gravity wells. The gravity fields caused a brief jump in static feedback which had traveled through the ensigns station and into his headset. The Chiss pinched his ear sorely before turning to his superior with his report. "Twenty six capital class Imperial ships. Scans still confirming the number of escorts and fighters but they are already numbering in the hundreds."

Opposite the Chiss, the planet Thule suddenly lit with activity. Even with the Ascendancy Defender's scans being jammed the crew could make out small slivers of movement with the familiar silhouette of ships appearing in the distance.

Riding out from Thule's, still under construction drydocks, Inquisitor Mephis stood comfortably on the bridge of the Star Destroyer Sabnok. Alongside in formation were three other Destroyers molded between a sheet of fighters.

Mephis turned to commander Paulder at his right. "Advise that departing shuttle to power down as well."

Commander Paulder was quick to respond, snapping to relay the command to the communications trench but just as he moved to speak an ensign reported the shuttle had vanished.

Again, marked by silence and light, a ship emerged from hyperspace. The shuttle careened in from it's micro jump into the middle of the Imperial fleet launching from Thule.

"Chiss craft break left! BREAK LEFT!" A tie pilot screamed into his comm as he yanked back on his controls but it was too late. The fighter glanced off the shuttles right side sending both craft into an uncontrollable spin.

"I can't..arrghh.. hold it! It's too mu-" The last words spoken as the tie fighter's velocity increased out of control ripping the ship to pieces in a brief, yet beautiful, flash of debris and flame.

Although equally out of control for the same amount of time the sturdier shuttle's hull bore the pressures better. The moan of durasteel played on nerves but the Chiss pilot managed to slow their velocity. Leaving the shuttles crew face to face with several Star destroyers and a swarm of angry fighters.

"Dispatch recovery teams." Mephis advised in a voice of unsympathetic calm. "Lock tractor beams onto that shuttle and have it escorted into the bay. It looks like our visitors have some explaining to do."

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Commander Horet watched the holo display from the his command chair. Below him his crew monitored Prefect Lash’s shuttle as it moved into jump position. He could see the a magnified view of the small craft as it slowed and prepared to jump. Horet had served with Lash since the young Chiss too command of the 86th border defense wing twelve years ago. The prefect was a gifted officer yet Horet still worried about him. He was unpredictable and took too many risks. One day Lash would take one risk too many and Horet hoped he was not there to see that. Alerts began to sound through out the ship. Horet turned and walked to the Sensor control console.

Aboard the shuttle Lash noticed the ships reverting from hyperspace on the navsat scanner as he engaged the hyper drive. The second long jump ended with a flash. Lash looked out at Thule and the defense fleet around it. And the fighter five hundred meters in front of him. Lash took action and fired the starboard thrusters. The shuttle careened as Thule’s gravity pulled on it. The force of the thrusters working against that gravity, the shuttles mass and the inertia of the shuttle were not enough. A second later the fighter crashed into the shuttle collapsing its shielding and striking the starboard stabilizer. The shields had taken the brunt of the force but the impact had sent the shuttle into a spin. Lash began to fire the thrusters alternating from port to starboard until he had the shuttle under control once again. It was only a moment when his control over the shuttle was superseded by the Tractor beam of a destroyer moving to intercept him.

Onboard the Defender Horet had received the Imperial Fleet’s ultimatum. He had issued an order to power down all systems and set the ship to condition green. He walked to the communications console and opened a channel to the Imperials.

“Imperial Fleet, This is commander Cahor’etlan’rennin. We are on a diplomatic mission here and will not offer any resistance. Our representative is in the shuttle which is now being taken aboard one of your vessels. I have been unable to make contact with him and request assistance in ascertaining his and his men’s current condition. We monitored an unfortunate collision between one of your fighter craft and our shuttle. You have our apologies, We were not aware the Empire had taken control of Thule. I and my crew will stand down and await your response.”

Horet ended the transmission and closed the channel. He did not much care for backing down but he was out of his element and under orders.

“Anything from the shuttle or our people on the planet?”

The communications officer had been monitoring all CEDF channels and had yet to receive any transmission from Lash or any Chiss from Thule.

“Our communications are being jammed sir. The interdictor fields are causing rolling static discharges which is effecting our sensors and communications. We are blind and deaf at the moment sir.”

Horet turned and walked back to the halo display. All there was now was the wait. Lashes shuttle was being taken into an imperial ship and the bulk of an entire imperial sector fleet was sitting on top of his ship. This is why the Chiss did not deal with the known regions.

Aboard the shuttle Lash powered down the engines and unbuckled from is chair. The shuttle was being pulled into the hanger of a destroyer and he and his men must make preparations before the imperials board. Minister Jurtel sat quietly beside one of the Chiss guards. Lash walked to the aft of the passenger compartment and unlocked the docking ramp so once the shuttle had been taken aboard they could greet there hosts. He hoped the imperials were gracious guests. A good dinner and visit with humans was a rare occurrence. Somehow he doubted he would get that chance here. They did not teach etiquette in imperial officers training it seemed.

[Mephis]

The status of a ’gracious guest’ would not be the first impression the squad of storm troopers invoked when the shuttle doors opened. Their armour, black as ink with a single red stripe that traveled off their shoulders to their gloved finger tips. These, not quite typical, soldiers stalked past the Chiss officers and into the shuttle taking in their numbers. Without speaking a hand gesture was made by the lead trooper to follow.

That was fifteen minutes ago. Stela’shlit’nuruodo had been escorted to a different shuttle, an Imperial one, in the same bay. The shuttle vibrated as it rocketed down through Thules atmosphere. Beneath the clouds the weather was dark. The sweeping sheets of rain nearly masking the city that had appeared beneath them. It was not, however, the darkened city that the collective group of Chiss strained to watch. Beyond the city a cropping of jagged mountains stood sharp and bare like the planets very teeth. Their peaks scorched black for good reason. Nearly ever second breath the Chiss took was marked by a humbling display of lightening. Their brilliant forking paths searing light into the planets night sky.

One of Lash’s officers turned, his face an awed mixture of curiosity and wonder. “Those mountains. They must contain some sort of metallic properties?”

“Yes, acting like a -huff.” Another of Lashes group tried to finish the theory but lost his breath when the shuttles twisting path decelerated suddenly to the hinting rumble of firing thrusters. “Ah, I believe we’ve arrived.”

Again, the black clad storm troopers motioned to follow. Lash lingered momentarily on the small bridge. The torrents of rain pelting him as he took in his surroundings. The landing pad he stood upon was part on an outstretched arm coming from a towering building which seemed to be near the center of the city. Half obscured beyond the towers edge he could see the beginnings of a colossal structure.. It’s shape was almost Imperial. Grand and symbolic like every Imperial structure was built to be but in it’s shape it held age beyond the Imperial era. A series of dagger like towers jutted into the sky around the buildings perimeter. Beginning at each tower the main section of the building rose up at an aggressive angle into a pyramid like shape. It’s obsidian walls seemed to drink in the light of the surrounding city. Tapestries of flowing red draped from the structure adorned with symbols not of the Empire. Not of anything Lash knew.

What was this?

A throat clearing grunt by the soldier behind him brought Lash back from his speculations. The Chiss group was ushered out from the pounding rain and inside the tower. Inside Lash was greeted with the typical Imperial design. Sterile white walls, a floor of polished black, although this was better furnished then typical Imperial accommodations. Then Lash understood why. Through a series of crystal clear sliding doors was a group of Chiss enjoying a meal around a large rectangular table.

The lead trooper turned and finally spoke. “Enter.”

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

Lash politely accommodated the trooper, he slide the door open, and entered the room. Lash noticed the Chiss were dressed in imperial uniform, and not the black uniform of the CEDF. It appeared they were working under imperial order, but did not know if it was by choice or forced. He would imagine it was by choice knowing the men and women had had sent to this world so long ago. As he entered, the Chiss turned from their meal at the sound of the door sliding. They watched as Lash entered the Door then abruptly stood and stiffened. A female Chiss officer stepped from around the table and looked at the insignia on Lash’s chest and shoulder. The six burgundy chevrons inlayed on the shoulder indicated the man held the rank of fleet commander and was a member of house Nuruodo. The four insignia shields on his chest were burgundy and blue set in a gold trim. They indicated the man held the rank of syndic and carried with him the voice and will of the Ascendancy. A small blue and silver shield indicated he was a member of House Stel. All this indicated to the woman that the man before her was very important.

“Greetings Syndic, we are honored to receive you. We had heard of a Chiss ship entering the system and the accident with the fighter. We were worried our brethren my have been injured. May we offer you some food or drink?”

As the woman spoke, Lash looked around at the assorted Chiss standing around the table. He did not recognize any of them. They were all younger than he and none wore any type of Chiss insignia. He studied the group and took note of the imperial rank and the general response each had to him being there. Behind him the other members of lash’s group entered. Foremost was Jurtel. He walked in and the mood in the room suddenly changed. The minister did not wear military insignia on his shoulders and only the house Chaf badge on his chest. He looked from one to the next and turned to the woman standing at the end of the table. Lash let the remainder of his group enter then addressed the group.

I am Stela’shlit’nuruodo, This is Minister Chaf'Jutelan'cettio, we have come to this system seeking a group of specialist’s I sent here over twelve standard years ago. Are you part of this group?”

Lash looked once again at the Chiss men and women dressed in imperial attire. All seemed t look to this female as their leader. She wore the standard officer uniform and the insignia indicated she held the rank of Major. The remainder of the Chiss gathered around the table were lower ranking officers. She motioned for the Lash and Jurtel to sit once again.

“Sit and relax, I will explain.”

Lash took an empty seat at the opposite end of the table from the female commander. Jutel, begrudgingly sat next to him. Lash knew it was eating at Jurtel that he was made to obey. His position as Minister of Senate meant little here on imperial soil. His orders were to assist Lash and advise him while en route to Thule. Now on the planet he was little more than a guest in Lash’s Retinue. Once the other members of Lash’s group sat and introduced themselves to the Imperial group, the female spoke again.

“Syndic, honored guest’s, My name is major Kilan. I am commander of the Chiss regiment here on Thule. We are what is left of the group you sent here.”

Lash and the Chiss listened to her story of how the imperials hunted down most of the Chiss on Thule. How a small group hide for two years in the mountains while the imperials hunted them.

“There were only three hundred of us left when the Inquisitors found us. They recognized us for who we were. And gave us refuge and gave us a choice. We could leave Thule or serve under Imperial command. As we had no transport back to Chiss space most of us decided to stay. A few left and have wondered around from place to place in the known regions. Some have found a life here, some haven’t.”

A human ensign entered the room and poured some water into a glass and placed it and a bowl of fruit on the table for Lash and the other newcomers. His attention went back to the woman standing at the opposite end of the table. At the story of how his people came to be Imperials.

She ended her story and sat. Lash had come to discover what had happened to his people. He would never had imagined they would be hunted down, even by the Imperials. It had been under the new order and Palpatine, that such atrocities took place. Now the Empire was much different. He had gotten what he had come for. Now it was time to begin his mission here in the known regions.

“Major, I have been tasked with retrieving any of you who would like to return to the Ascendancy. I realize you and your people have a life here now and have been serving the Empire. I will not tell you to leave, nor will I ask your imperial benefactors to release you. This is up to you and the Chiss living here now. I will talk with the commanding body here and tell them as I have told you. If permitted I will then return to my ship. If we are permitted, by the Commanding body here. We will wait three standard days for any of you to request transit home. “

Lash noticed a mixed emotion sweep over the Chiss at the table. He did not care if the left or stayed. He had ascertained what had become of them and that the survivors were safe. Nothing else mattered. His mission here was done.