18 BBY - "The Blood Crow"
Onboard the Gozanti-class Imperial Cruiser 'Blood Crow', Eli Vanto sat on the bed in his quarters, staring aimlessly out the window into space. For the past eighteen months now, he had been serving as the aide to Lieutenant Thrawn onboard The Blood Crow, effectively putting his knowledge of Sy Bisti to use. Did he want the assignment to begin with? No; but if Thrawn deemed it necessary to have his translator accompany him on this ship, then so be it. Now all he had to do was wait until Thrawn returned from the main hanger bay, where he was conversing with the ship's Captain, Filia Rossi, for all Vanto knew.
At that moment, Vanto heard footsteps from outside the open door to his quarters, and turned his head, seeing Thrawn walk in. "Well? Is she making you throw it all out?" He asked. While Vanto had been waiting in his quarters, Thrawn was out in the middle of space, salvaging some old Separatist war equipment; two Mark-One Buzz Droids, a Droideka, and even part of a Hyperdrive Ring. "Why do you assume that, Eli?" Thrawn asked in reply. "Because Virgilio let you have it, and Rossi wants to wipe every trace of him off The Blood Crow." Vanto said, referring to the ship's previous Captain. "I've seen her type. I bet she used her connections to get Virgilio transferred." He continued. "As it happens, Ensign Vanto, she allowed me until the end of our current patrol to bring the items to full function." Thrawn said.
"Generous of her." Vanto remarked. "I presume there's a catch?" He asked. "I reminded her that they would become her property." Thrawn replied. "I also mentioned that the Buzz Droids are Mark-One models, which have a Doonium shell protecting the brain core." He continued. "It was removed in later versions, so the high value of the metal meant that the cost outweighed the defensive benefits." "Dad always put on extra security whenever we were lucky enough to carry a crate of Doonium." Vanto said. "Rossi is no doubt congratulating herself on putting one over on her poor, naive weapons Officer." He added on. "Hopefully she won't figure out that the Buzz Droids are already fully operational; otherwise, she'd probably take 'em right now."
18 BBY - "Lambda-class Imperial Shuttle"
One month passed, and now Vanto found he had another assignment with Thrawn; while on patrol, The Blood Crow had discovered a seemingly abandoned Derelict-class freighter out in the middle of space. Judging by the ship's recently obtained flight records, it was called 'the Dromedar', and apparently had shipments of Tibanna Gas onboard. Now Thrawn and Vanto were being sent to investigate the freighter and bring the gas back to The Blood Crow as soon as possible. "If I understand correctly..." Thrawn began. "The most disagreeable part of retrieving the Tibanna Gas cargo is the dust?" He asked. "Yes, sir." Vanto replied. "It tends to get everywhere." "Everyone hates retrieving static-locked cargo." Technician Layneo, one of the other three Imperials accompanying them, remarked. "I'm sure that's why Rossi put you in charge, Lieutenant."
"I bet fifty credits we won't find anyone on that freighter." Technician Jakeeb said. "Automated beacon, dead in space... Odds are they got dust in the hyperdrive, couldn't fix it, and took off." He continued. "If static-locking has such serious disadvantages, why is it still used to transport cargo?" Thrawn asked. "It's really only used when transporting Tibanna Gas, sir." Layneo replied. "The stuff's highly explosive and highly valuable; far too valuable for the Empire to abandon, even if salvaging it is a pain." She continued. Just then, the intercom came on within the hull of the ship. "Engaging locking collar..." The pilot of the ship announced. Thrawn and everyone else felt the shuttle lurch, as it began to dock with the Dromedar. "Okay, we're set. Atmosphere inside's reading normal, lights are on low, and temperature's mid-range. Gravity's functional and standard." The pilot said over the intercom.
Thrawn took his comlink off his belt, activating it. "Life-form readings?" He asked. "Nothing useful, sir." The pilot replied. "The static-locking's still screwing all that up." For a moment, silence fell upon the four Imperials, broken only by the lurching of the shuttle. "Scrub's finished." The pilot finally announced over the intercom. "Negative on any dangerous chemicals or microorganisms. We're good to go, Lieutenant." She added on. Thrawn's gaze shifted towards Vanto. "Ensign Vanto, take Techs Layneo and Jakeeb to the engine station." He ordered. "Ensign Barlin and I will go forward to the bridge." Thrawn continued. "Copy that." Vanto replied, unbuckling himself from his seat, alongside everyone else onboard, before they entered the freighter and split up past two different halfways.
18 BBY - "The Dromedar"
"Really hate derelicts, sir..." Layneo nervously remarked, as she, Jakeeb, and Vanto walked down the halls of the freighter. "Too many ghost ship stories when I was growing up." She continued. "I've heard my share too, Layneo." Vanto replied. "Most are just fantasy. The rest are real incidents, embellished out of all recognition." He added on. "I'm sure this place will look a lot cheerier once Barlin gets to the lighting controls." Jakeeb said. "Yeah, I don't think so, Jakeeb." Layneo replied. "All the light in the..." She continued, when a bright, orange light suddenly flashed in everyone's eyes. "Freeze!" A voice exclaimed from across the hallway. Immediately, Vanto started running towards the light. "You hear me? I said freeze!" The voice shouted. Vanto, however, didn't listen. "I will shoot you where you.." The voice began, only for Vanto to draw his own blaster, stunning the individual where they stood.
Pretend this is Vanto hereMeanwhile, onboard the bridge of the ship, Thrawn tapped his foot lightly, whilst Ensign Barlin continued rearranging the wires within the control panels. "Okay, and... Done!" Barlin exclaimed. Suddenly, the lights above the two of them turned on, now fully revealing the mess that was the bridge of the Dromedar. Behind him, the door hissed open, and Thrawn turned his head, seeing Vanto walking in. His gaze soon became fixated on another man walking next to Vanto, who wore the clothes of a scoundrel. "And who may our new guest be, Ensign Vanto?" Thrawn asked. "Lieutenant, may I present Nevil Cygni." Vanto replied, gesturing to the other man. "He apparently mistook us for someone else."
"Did he now...?" Thrawn asked in reply, making eye-contact with Nevil. "Who did he mistake us for?" "Please believe I thought you were..." Nevil began nervously. "We were attacked. By pirates." He continued. "Who were they?" Vanto asked. "Did they mention any names?" "No, no names." Nevil replied. "At least none that I heard. I sort of... Ran. Hid in the captain's storage locker." He added on. "I know what you're thinking; I'm a coward. I should've stood with the others, and fought back, but then.. Then they took them. All of them." Thrawn continued peering into Nevil's eyes, curious. "I heard someone say they were headed back to their base to get a slicer and the ship running." Nevil then said. "What happened to the hyperdrive?" Thrawn asked. "I've got Layneo checking it out." Vanto replied. "Best guess is someone locked it down before the pirates could get to it."
"Yes, that was it!" Nevil exclaimed. "Captain Fitz locked the hyperdrive. I remember them threatening her." He continued. "I heard... Screams." "You thought we were the returning pirates?" Thrawn asked. "Yes! I was scared!" Nevil replied. "Didn't focus on the uniforms, but when I saw who you were.. I guess I'm lucky you didn't shoot me for pulling a blaster." He added on. "Imperial Officers have better self-control than that." Vanto remarked, shifting his attention to Thrawn. "Orders, sir?" He asked. "Report the situation to Captain Rossi." Thrawn replied. "Inform her that I will make a thorough examination of the ship." At that moment, Layneo came rushing in. "Stay clear of the power compartment, sir." She said. "The hatch interlocks show a bad leak in the main reactor." "Oh, yes. Don't go in there..." Nevil said. "Sorry, I should've warned you about that."
Thrawn's eyes darted to Nevil, then back to Vanto. "Tell Captain Rossi I recommend bringing a full operational crew aboard while we attempt to restart the hyperdrive." He ordered. "If we are unable to do so, I recommend disengaging the static-locks and transferring the Tibanna cylinders back to The Blood Crow." Thrawn continued. "Ah.. Yes." Vanto nervously replied. "Sir, I suspect the Captain will find your suggestions... A bit excessive." He added on. "She may." Thrawn said. "Nevertheless, those are my recommendations." Without saying another word, Vanto took his comlink off his belt, patching Captain Rossi through. "Captain Rossi?" Vanto asked. "What is it, Ensign Vanto?" Rossi asked through the comlink. "It looks like we may need to restart the hyperdrive on this freighter. Lieutenant Thrawn has requested to have a full operational crew aboard to assist with that, due to there being a leak in the main reactor." Vanto replied.
"A full crew!?" Rossi demanded. "Is he out of his mind!?!" "Ma'am, the cargo is extremely valuable." Vanto replied. "If we can move either the ship or the Tibanna..." "Or blow yourselves to atoms." Rossi interjected. "I'm not risking my crew." She continued sternly. "Anyway, it's a moot point, Ensign Vanto; a Makurth boss is shooting up a ho'din settlement on Moltok. We need to go stop a war from breaking out." "What if Lieutenant Thrawn and I stayed behind, possibly with one of the Techs along to assist?" Vanto asked. "We could try to get the ship started and work on the Tibanna while you settle the Moltok situation." Rossi sighed heavily over the comlink. "Inform Lieutenant Thrawn he can have up to three crew, assuming he can find that many volunteers." She said. "You'll stay with him regardless, of course; an important Officer like that can't be without his aide."
A look of annoyance crossed Vanto's face. "Yes, ma'am. I'll deliver your message." He finished, deactivating the comlink. "Barlin and Layneo will attempt to access the hyperdrive through what is known as an asymetric back door from the bridge." Thrawn said. "Meanwhile, we will direct our efforts towards acquiring the Tibanna Gas." He continued. Barlin and Layneo soon began to exit the bridge, before Jakeeb spoke up. "But sir, the static-lock seals the Tibanna cylinders from the outside." He protested. "How could we reach them then?" "By making use of the Buzz Droid I had acquired." Thrawn replied. Nevil's eyes widened with shock. "You collected a Buzz Droid!?" He asked, almost shouting. "Those things were designed to eat starfighters, right?" "A Buzz Droid has other uses." Thrawn replied. "Using it to cut through the hull will give us access to the cylinders. Though we would have to drain one of them into space where we cut through."
"But if the vapor were to spark, wouldn't that blow up the ship?" Nevil asked. "Fortunately, it will not be necessary to take such a risk." Thrawn replied, soon activating his comlink. "Ensign Barlin? Do I hear the hyperdrive going active?" He asked. "Yes, sir. We got through the lock, and we're just about ready to go." Barlin replied through the comlink. "Does Cygni have the destination coordinates, or are we just going to take the ship to ansion?" She then asked. "Neither, I'm afraid." Nevil replied, aiming a blaster pistol at Thrawn's chest. Immediately, Thrawn, Vanto, and Jakeeb raised their arms. "We're good. Three on the Tibanna, two on the bridge." Nevil said. "Perhaps Lieutenant Thrawn would be kind enough to order Barlin and Layneo to surrender quietly." He continued. "And why should I deprive them of their right and duty to defend their lives? Thrawn asked.
"Because if you surrender, none of you will be harmed." Nevil replied. "All we want is the Tibanna and the ship.. But I guess that goes without saying." He added on. Out of nowhere, Thrawn heard several blasters cocking all around him; eight, as far as he could count. "Blasters down. They've surrendered." Nevil said, turning to one of the pirates. "Angel, I said down. No shooting." He ordered. Angel's gaze, however, soon became fixated on Thrawn. "What the hell is that?" He asked, pointing his blaster in Thrawn's direction. "That is a Lieutenant of the Imperial navy." Nevil replied. "Now, keep your weapon down." Reluctantly, Angel lowered his blaster. "Lieutenant?" Nevil asked, making eye-contact with Thrawn, who immediately reactivated his comlink. "Ensign Barlin, a group of pirates are on their way." Thrawn said. "They've been ordered not to harm you if you surrender without resistance. That is an order."
A short while later, Barlin and Layneo returned, surrendering their weapons over to the pirates and being backed into the wall, alongside Thrawn, Vanto, and Jakeeb. "I trust you've decided which of your men will help me bring the Dromedar to port?" Nevil asked Angel. "Oh, yeah." Angel replied. "I've got your team, starting with me." He continued. "Getting the cylinders will take time, even with Lieutenant Thrawn's idea of cutting through the hull." Nevil said. "There's no need to come personally, Angel." Angel sighed heavily. "Well, you know, now things don't always go the way you want 'em too." He said. "Sometimes there's accidents, and sometimes there's trouble." Nevil's eyes darted to Thrawn, then back at Angel. "Let me sweeten the pot so we avoid any... Accidents." Nevil said, looking back at Thrawn. "What type of Buzz Droid did you happen to recover?" Nevil asked.
"A Mark-One." Thrawn replied. Angel's eyes widened with shock, as did Nevil's. "At current prices, that thing's probably a thousand credits just for the Doonium shell..." He whispered softly. "Two hundred credits each to keep five otherwise useless Imperials alive." Nevil added. Angel shook his head. "Fine..." He muttered under his breath. "Some of your men would be dead by now. Maybe even you." Nevil said. "Remember, if I hadn't persuaded these Imperials to surrender, they would have fought." He continued, turning his attention to the rest of the pirates. "Take these five to the cargo hold." Nevil ordered. The other pirates nodded, forcing Thrawn and the others out of the bridge and down the hallway, eventually reaching the cargo hold. The pirates shoved Thrawn inside a large container, followed by Vanto, then Barlin, and the two Technicians. Once they sealed the container door shut, a female voice spoke. "This is our rescue squad?" The voice asked.
Thrawn and the others turned around, seeing a group of Imperial Officers and Senators alike standing on the opposite end of the container. "Something like that..." Vanto replied, gesturing towards Thrawn. "This is Lieutenant Thrawn. I'm Ensign Vanto. Are you Captain Fitz?" He then asked one of the Officers, who was a woman and wore the plaque of a Captain on her uniform. "Yeah." Fitz replied. "So Cygni snoggered you too?" She asked. Vanto didn't say anything back, instead choosing to exchange a nod. Fitz bit her lip. "He got aboard the Dromedar with fake authorization, and then took us prisoner..." She began. "The ship's gone; the Tibanna's gone, and we're done. At any rate, they may as well kill us." Fitz continued. "I wouldn't give up hope quite yet..." Vanto said, shifting his gaze towards Thrawn. "Lieutenant?" Thrawn stroked his chin gently. "Not yet, Ensign. Patience..."
"What are we waiting for?" Fitz asked nervously. "For Cygni and the others to fix the hyperdrive and jump to Lightspeed." Vanto replied. "I am counting out the estimated time now." Thrawn said, pursing his lips, deep in thought. "You want him to get away with the Tibanna!?" Fitz asked in demand. "Be quiet, Captain." Thrawn replied, soon shifting his attention to Layneo. "Tech Layneo, if we isolate the bridge, can we fly the craft from here?" He asked. "Probably." Layneo replied. "It'll have to take some quick rewiring though." She added. "If the pirates are fast enough, they could disable some of the circuits before we can override them." Fitz said. "I think we can keep them occupied." Thrawn said. "Sounds great..." Fitz began angrily. "Except that the circuits are out there, and we're in here." Thrawn took his plaque off his uniform, flipping it around, before making eye-contact with Vanto. "Ensign, you once asked me what I would do with the spare plaque Headmaster Gentis gave me at the Academy..." Thrawn began, showing Vanto the back of the plaque. "...Now I believe you have your answer." He continued.
"That's a Beckon Call, isn't it?" Vanto asked, staring at the back of the plaque intently. Then, after a few moments, a look of realization came across his face. "You're going to remotely access a ship?" He asked nervously. "But The Blood Crow is long gone..." Vanto said. Thrawn's eyes darted to the plaque, and then to the exit door, just outside the container. "Beckon Calls do not only work on ships, Ensign Vanto..." Thrawn said. For a brief moment, silence fell upon the container. The Officers and Senators all looked at each other, confused. Then, Vanto tilted his head to one side, as if listening for something. "Does anyone else hear that?" Barlin asked, listening for whatever Vanto was listening for. "Yes, actually..." Fitz replied. "I'm hearing.. Some type of crawling noise." She continued. Vanto turned his head towards the bars of the container, and as soon as he did, he saw it; just outside the container, there was one of the Mark-One Buzz Droids Thrawn had salvaged just one month earlier.
