Towards the future I see

Chapter 20 Part 3

The matter with the plant was finished, when I came back. It turned out that rebels did indeed claim the remaining ships that weren’t processed yet. According to some reports rebels got seven ships. The report also mentioned that the star destroyer came in time to the planet. But Thrawn ordered not to attack. That was confusing. Actually, everything about Thrawn was confusing. After the matter with the stolen ships, Thrawn had summoned me to his office. Before I could even greet him, I was taken back as I saw his collection of art. I knew few officers who liked art but they never showed it openly as Thrawn did. Once again Thrawn asked if there was any information I could offer about the rebels. But I told him again that my knowledge of them was very limited. After a couple of times, he left the topic out. When I met Kallus he always asked the same questions. How I was and something similar. He sounded concerned. Why would he? Either way, I rarely saw him. He was mostly in different missions going after the rebels.
At one time, Thrawn went to Ryloth as there was news about rebel Twi'leks. That time I was ordered to stay on the ship. Which was fine with me. It gave me more time to go through my notes and I had a chance to practice my dancing. Later, Thrawn came back from Ryloth. He came faster than I thought. But soon I learned why.
He had summoned me to his office a little after his return. I entered his office not too surprised by his art collection anymore. He greeted me from his chair and gestured to a seat in front of his desk. As I walked to the seat I noticed something. A new piece of artwork was added to his collection.

“That is new,” I said.

“It is. I claimed it in Ryloth. It belongs to a rebel pilot named Hera Syndulla.” Thrawn said.

I went tense. Hearing the name of a friend I hadn’t seen for a long time, made me worried. That object was Hera's. How did it get here? How does he know it is hers? I had to push down the panic and keep the façade. I walked away to take the seat  I was showed and avoided looking at the object again.

“I heard that the rebels got away,” I said before I could register what I was saying.

“They earned their victory. Captain Slavin wasn’t well prepared and underestimated them.” Thrawn explained.

“I see,” I said.

I was relieved but I tried to hide it as well a possible. After that, Thrawn explained about the object he had brought. It turned out that it was more valuable to its owner than it appeared. I felt bad for Hera for losing it but I knew she would stay strong and keep fighting for the rebellion. And she still had the important thing in her life, her team, her family.

-

Time passed and many events did too with the rebels. But no direct contact has happened with them since Ryloth. For one part, I think that was a good thing. That didn’t mean that time in Chimaera wasn’t eventless. One such occasion happened a week after Thrawn came back from Ryloth. I was furious then.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn,” I called him angrily when I marched to his office.
He was standing in front of his desk and talking with Commodore Karyn Faro. She was instantly surprised about the sudden entrance and the tone of my voice. No one has ever heard me that angry. Her face quickly changed as if she was about to lecture me about coming in without invitation or at least knocking. But Thrawn was first to talk of the two.

“Lady Mira, something I can help you with?” Thrawn asked calmly as if ignoring my anger.

“Let’s start by answering a couple of questions, then we shall see what you can do about it,” I said still in anger. “Was it you who assigned my quarters to be moved?”

“Yes, it was I.” He answered.

“Did you do it with my consent or even inform me about it?”