Star Wars: Darkness Rising

Chapter 5: Siege above Sarvchi!

Ezra was waiting on the bridge when the Phalanx ships arrived. Thrawn was standing beside him as the fifteen brand new ships jumped out of hyperspace. Ezra had been told that the Nightdragons were to accompany him to Sarvchi where he would then proceed to Avidich to try and take back the world. Ezra had assigned another group to take back Rentor at the same time he began his attack. His hope was that things would catch the Grysk off guard and allow for two major victories. The phalanx warships were impressive. The were half a size larger than a standard Second-Class Imperial Star Destroyer, and Ezra knew that the skeleton crews and troops on them were eager to get to work. Ezra quickly calculated his numbers in addition to the five hundred thousand on the Phalanx ships. Ezra couldn't help but wonder why Ar'alani had such faith in him. He had a mostly Chiss force, but he did still have the soldiers from Thrawn's Star Destroyer. Ezra looked at the ships once again. He had decided to name his new command ship The Phoenix Ghost to remind him of the good times. Right now, he needed to talk to Eli, and the commander got his attention. "And we're certain that there are no more supplies? That our new ships didn't bring any?" he asked. Eli was still on the ground, supervising the final parts of making the base liveable. Ezra shook his head. "We're certain" he said. "They've come loaded with troops, fighters and weapons, but none of those are going to help you." Eli sighed. "I'm guessing that we don't have anything we can spare?" he asked. Ezra shook his head. "I wish, everything we could possibly spare has already been sent down, wrap up the offload and anything you're needed for, and bring all your men back to the ship, we need to get going" Ezra ordered. Eli nodded, and the transmission ended.

Ahsoka was thinking about how to tell Sabine what had happened when the ship jolted. They had entered hyperspace. Where they were going, she had no idea. Just as she was about to go along with improvising in how to tell Sabine, another unwelcomed figure came up behind her. She had sensed Thrawn of course, but that didn't matter. "Something troubling you?" he asked. Ahsoka didn't turn around. "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" she asked. She could feel Thrawn's smile. "Because I am not a Jedi, or a Sith. Not like you and Lord Vader were" he said. "Did you know he believed you dead?" he asked. Ahsoka tensed. "How did you know who I was?" she asked, trying to learn more about Ezra's mysterious arch enemy. "Because his wife told me about you... she told me on Mokivja many years ago. she didn't confirm her relationship with Skywalker of course, but it was rather obvious to anyone who paid enough attention. Just as it was for me to determine his true identity as Darth Vader" Thrawn said. Ahsoka smiled. "You think you're so smart... yet you were outclassed by an eighteen-year-old Jedi padawan. What makes you think you can take me on?" she asked. "Because I know that like him, you will not turn away from those who need help... the biggest weaknesses of people like the Jedi: they cannot help but rush into danger!" he said. "But that isn't what you're interested in, you want to know if I'll stop you from leaving with him, don't you?" Ahsoka smiled. "You truly think you could stop a former Jedi, a Mandalorian and someone who fought Vader and survived from leaving?" she asked. Thrawn stepped into her view. "I wouldn't have to... young Bridger won't leave us when he knows he could help us, he doesn't have the training to do so. Not like you, or Anakin Skywalker!" he said. Ahsoka allowed a brief flash of anger to show. "You have no right to mention his name!" she snarled. "Oh that's right... it was his attachments that led him to become the man who tried to kill you... wasn't it? I wonder, who was he so desperate to save? It couldn't have been you... no... it was your friend, your political mentor... his wife..." he said. "Padme Amidala-Skywalker!" Ahsoka forced herself not to react again. "Whats your point!?" she demanded. "That no matter what you do, Ezra Bridger is exactly what your master was... a slave to his emotions!" he said, smiling. Ahsoka glared at him. "What do you want Thrawn?" she asked. Thrawn almost laughed. "Nothing that you can give me!" he said. "Try me!" Thrawn smiled ever so slightly. "Perhaps one day I shall... for now, I have another question" he said. "How are you going to tell Sabine Wren that you failed to keep her best friend from taking the Rakata's Blood Oath?" he asked. "What does it matter to you?" asked Ahsoka "Unless you put him up to it?" Thrawn seemed impressed. "And what would you do if I did? Kill me?" he asked. Ahsoka shook her head. "No, I'd let my Mandalorian friend do it" Ahsoka said simply. Thrawn smiled. "Anakin Skywalker never mentioned how dethatched you could be when you wanted to..." he said. Ahsoka wasn't amused. "Despite our bond, he never knew everything about me, so skip to the part where you tell me what you want Thrawn!" Ahsoka ordered. "I want you to do what you best Commander Tano... I want you to fight our war..." he said. Ahsoka clenched her teeth. "Is that all...? You know you could have just asked us instead of trying to force us to, or kidnapping our friend!" she said. Thrawn started walking away. "We're all apart of this conflict now Commander... and as for me kidnapping Ezra Bridger, we all must make sacrifices in war, you could stand to start learning that some time soon" he said, and Ahsoka was alone, yet again in the corridor.