19 BBY - "Coruscant, the metallurgy lab"
"I suppose you're wondering why Spenc and I asked you two here tonight." Cadet Rosita Turuy said. "You said it was to play cards." Vanto replied. A soft smile came across Orbar's face. "Rosita and I wanted to pick your friend's brain on tactics and strategy." He began. "I'm having some trouble in a couple of my battle simulation classes." Orbar continued. Rosita's eyes darted towards Thrawn. "We figured you could help, with all your military experience... If what we heard was true." Rosita added on. "I am happy to share my experience." Thrawn said. "Have you a specific question?" The smile on Orbar's face grew wider. "I'm interested in the idea of traps." He declared, grabbing a few of the cards laid out in front of him. "Take these cards, for instance; if I'm holding a king's lane, there's no way any of you can beat me..." Orbar added on. "But you won't know that until it's too late."
Rosita smiled softly. "Our question is... How would you prepare for that kind of situation?" She asked. Thrawn picked up a set of his own cards. "A king's lane is indeed unbeatable. But do recall that there are three equivalent runs in the deck..." He began. "Any of them would stagger yours and lead to mutual deadlock." At that moment, Rosita's smile faded. "Do you have any idea what the odds are against getting two king's lanes in the same deal?" She asked in demand. Thrawn's eyes darted to the cards. "As you say, such runs are rare; more likely, you hold a prince's lane at best, or a cube or triad." He replied. "In that event, what you described as a trap would more likely be termed simply a bluff." Thrawn continued.
Orbar sighed heavily. "Okay, but you're avoiding the question. I didn't ask for a dissertation on game theory." He said. "I asked what you would do if I held an unbeatable hand." "There is no such hand." Thrawn declared. "As I suggested earlier, I may have a king's lane of my own. In that case, a challenge would mean mutual destruction." He continued, setting his cards back down on the table. "And that is never the preferred option." Vanto's eyes darted to Thrawn, then back to Orbar and Rosita. "You have not yet made your challenge." Thrawn said. "It is not too late to choose another." Orbar set his cards down on the table. "But none would be more satisfying." He shot back. "As you wish." Thrawn calmly replied. "A moment, if you will..." He added on, reaching under the table and revealing the plaque he had received earlier. "I believe you were about to make a challenge?" He asked.
Vanto's eyes widened with shock at the sight of the plaque; as did Orbar's and Rosita's. Just then, the door behind them hissed open, and Imperial Officer walked in. "What's going on in here?" The Officer asked in demand. Immediately, Thrawn stood up, fastening the plaque to his uniform. "Cadets Orbar and Turuy are running a test, sir." He replied. "My translator and I are observing their progress." The Officer's gaze became fixated on Thrawn's plaque. "L-Lieutenant..." He said softly. "I.. Very well. Carry on." He continued, turning around and walking back out the door. Orbar and Rosita let out two sighs of relief, staring down at their own cards. "There is no guaranteed winning hand, Cadet Orbar." Thrawn declared. "I suggest you not forget that."
19 BBY - "Coruscant, Monument Park"
"Well, that was fun..." Vanto said, as he and Thrawn walked through Coruscant's Monument Plaza. "So you knew he was going to pull that?" He asked. "You yourself suggested his tactic this afternoon." Thrawn replied. "What did you learn tonight?" "Anticipate your enemy." Vanto replied. "Figure out what he's doing, then try to stay a step ahead of him." He continued. "A step ahead, or to the side." Thrawn said. "When an attack comes, it is usually best to be out of the target zone if possible." He added on. "Yeah, I can see how that could be handy." Vanto replied. "Though I guess you can't always choose..." He began. Before he could finish, however, a cloaked figure grabbed him by the collar, shoving him to the ground.
"Get him!" Another hooded figure shouted. Thrawn turned his head towards Vanto, only to feel a pair of knuckles drive themselves straight into his face. Thrawn staggered back, when another figure kicked his feet out from underneath him, causing him to fall. Two figures pinned him down against the ground, while the third cackled maniacally. "Well, well, well... Looks like we caught the alien freak." The figure said, drawing a VibroBlade from within their robes. Acting quickly, Thrawn leaped forward, freeing himself from the grasp of the other two figures. The third attempted to drive the VibroBlade into Thrawn's shoulder, but Thrawn caught the figure's wrist, jamming his elbow straight into his face. "Hey, you! Bright eyes!" Vanto exclaimed, kicking the figure in the chest before he could have time to react.
One of the other two figures attempted to kick Thrawn down, but he dodged the attack, seizing the figure by the ankle and throwing them down onto the ground. The third figure punched Thrawn in the face, and then the ribs, before reaching for the collar of his uniform and yanking him onto his knees. The figure reached for something within their robes, but as they did so, Thrawn heard several footsteps coming from a few meters away. His eyes darted to the right, seeing a squad of Clone Troopers charging towards him. "Run!" One of the figures shouted. Immediately, Thrawn's attacker let go, rushing away from him, alongside his comrades. Slowly, Thrawn stood up, locking eyes with Vanto. "Are you alright?" He asked. "Yeah... I'm fine. You?" Vanto asked in reply.
"My injuries are minor, despite appearances." Thrawn replied, gently stroking his jaw as he did so. "Your assistance was most timely. Thank you." He added on. "Sorry I couldn't do more." Vanto said. "One of the attackers almost choked the life out of me. I gather you heard them coming?" He then asked. "There is a particular tread all predators tend to use." Thrawn replied. "A balance between silence and speed; a balance that humans use to their advantage." Vanto stood up, adjusting the collar of his uniform. "Well, I know I've had just enough training to see I'm not very good at this." He remarked, chuckling to himself as he did so. "You are welcome..." Thrawn replied, turning his attention back to where the attackers ran off. "...And now I believe it is time for us to see Headmaster Gentis." He added on.
19 BBY - "Coruscant, the Royal Imperial Academy"
"So you say Cadets Orbar and Turuy set up the assault in the Plaza?" Headmaster Gentis asked, his eyes darting between the datapad in his hands and Thrawn and Vanto, both of whom stood with their arms at their sides. "Did either of you happen to hear them calling in the men who attacked you?" "No, sir, we didn't." Vanto replied. "But the comlink records should give you the necessary indicators." Gentis set the datapad down on his desk. "Yes, they should... Unless the assailants were an entirely separate bunch." He said. "They were not." Thrawn quickly replied. "They came across the southwest corner of the Plaza ground, moving with speed and stealth." He added on. "The only way for them to have independently identified us was with elecrobinoculars."
"Which none of them had." Vanto remarked. Gentis bit his lip, shaking his head with anger. "Orbar's family has a lot to say about what happens on Coruscant." He said. "I've put up with Orbar's antics for almost four years because of it." Gentis continued. "They would not risk going outside their closest circle of friends." Thrawn declared. "I assume those suspects would be from the same social level as Cadets Orbar and Turuy?" He then asked. "If you're suggesting I'm going to look the other way on this, Cadet, I strongly suggest your revise your thinking." Gentis replied. "Yes, I am concerned about the potential political fallout here; however, I cannot let this slide. And I won't." He added on. "I am gratified to hear that, Headmaster." Thrawn said. "Allow me to suggest an alternative means of action." Gentis locked eyes with Thrawn. "Go on." He ordered.
"After the attackers have been found, I recommend they be transferred to starfighter pilot training." Thrawn said. Gentis's eyes widened with surprise. "You don't want them to be punished?" He asked. "Pilot training is hardly what I'd consider a punishment." "It is not intended to be." Thrawn replied. "All three of the attackers show the aptitude necessary for fighter-craft pilots; the way they moved was the mark of a pilot's instinctive combat abilities." He added on. "I believe the starfighter program at Skystrike Academy is equally capable to the one here at the Royal Academy?" Gentis stroked his chin carefully, deep in thought. "Skystrike's far better with pilots than we are..." He finally replied. "And there's no reason to tell Orbar or Turuy where their fellow conspirators disappeared to, is there?"
"I would suggest that the three begin their new training..." Thrawn began, quickly shifting his gaze to Vanto. "Ngikotholu. Is there a word for that in basic?" He asked. "Yes. 'Incommunicado'." Vanto replied. "Can they be held incommunicado, sir?" He asked, shifting his attention to Gentis. "On Skystrike?" Gentis asked in reply. "It's hard not to be incommunicado there, but you are correct." He continued. "I imagine even Orbar might learn to behave himself after three of his co-conspirators disappear without a trace." "For a human like Cadet Orbar, this uncertainty will prove to be a useful lesson." Thrawn remarked. "One can hope he will take it to his core, and become a better person and soldier of the Empire."
"It's worth a shot... If you're sure you want to do it this way." Gentis said. "Allow me to state it more strongly..." Thrawn began. "If you bring the attackers to court-martial, I will not testify against them." He added on. "Is this how you do things in the Unknown Regions, Cadet?" Gentis asked. "By bypassing the laws and regulations and getting what you want through blackmail or extortion?" "We attempt to solve problems." Thrawn replied. "This is the solution that is best for the Empire as a whole." Gentis let out a slow, deep breath, nodding his head. "Very well." He said. "I will inform the Emperor that the attackers will be transferred to Skystrike Academy affective immediately. As for the two of you, you are dismissed."
19 BBY - "Coruscant, the Imperial Palace"
Vanto found it hard to believe, but already had three months passed by since Thrawn was enlisted into The Imperial Academy; though the Cadets had treated him harshly for his early status as Lieutenant, as Vanto predicted they would, he ultimately made it to graduation with Vanto. Now, all that the two of them had to do was stand in line, alongside a myriad of other Cadets, while they waited to be given their desired assignments from a nearby computer terminal. As they waited, however, Vanto's eyes darted to the plaque strapped to Thrawn's chest. "Is that a new plaque Gentis gave you at the graduation ceremony?" He asked.
"Evidently, he forgot he had already given me one." Thrawn replied, gesturing to the plaque. "I guess you can keep the other one as a souvenir." Vanto remarked. "Or find another use for it." Thrawn said. Soon, he walked up to the computer terminal after another one of the Cadets, plugging a datacard into it. After a few seconds, the terminal beeped. "Interesting..." Thrawn began. "I am to be second weapons Officer aboard the Gozanti-class cruiser 'Blood Crow'." He continued. "Nice." Vanto said, expressing a huge smile on his face. Thrawn stepped off to the side, his gaze shifting to Vanto. "And you?" He asked. "I presume you asked for a supply Officer position?" "I did." Vanto replied. "Good chance I got it, too. The bigger ships are always hurting for supply personel..." He added on.
Stepping up to the control panel, Vanto plugged his datacard in. As soon as it did, however, Vanto's smile faded. "...The Blood Crow!?" He asked in demand. "Aide to.. Lieutenant Thrawn!?!" Vanto switched his attention towards Thrawn, a look of anger crossing his face. "Lieutenants don't get aides! Ever!" He exclaimed, pointing in Thrawn's direction. "You set this up with the Emperor, didn't you?" "The Emperor does not speak to me." Thrawn calmly replied. "Nor have I spoken to him since my first day on this world." "This didn't happen by accident!" Vanto shot back. "You must have said something. What was it!?" "The Blood Crow is scheduled for duty in border sectors where Sy Bisti may be spoken." Thrawn replied. "I merely pointed out that it may be beneficial to have two Officers aboard who understand the language."
"If you wish, I will refuse to accept you in that position." Thrawn offered. "No point." Vanto angrily replied. "The navy doesn't change orders just because junior Officers don't like them. When you're an Admiral, we'll see what you can do." He continued. "Very well." Thrawn replied. "I shall strive to achieve that rank as quickly as possible." Without saying another word, he turned around, beginning to walk away towards the exit door. Vanto's gaze shifted to the other Cadets plugging their datacards into the computer terminal, before following Thrawn towards the door. Chiss do not make idle boasts or promises. Vanto began thinking to himself, remembering what he had read about the Chiss in the Academy. Once they set their minds to something, they succeed... Or die in the attempt.
