trans_9 | After action [open]

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After action [open]

Thrawn had gathered and reviewed every scrap of information Stacy had about the disastrous battle with the Ohm--every after-action report, every camera angle. Now, in the Sensorium, he was watching the skirmish unfold in three unsettling dimensions. It was a reconstruction, only as good as the crews' accounts and his own tactical skill. The latter, at least, was formidable.

Parts of the battlefield were empty, grayed-out in a literal "fog of war," where Thrawn had too little information to fill them in. They shifted and flowed as the fight progressed, crewmembers and Ohm disappearing into them and then popping back into existence where the records picked up again.

Gradually, however, the blank spaces were disappearing, as Thrawn ran various scenarios and decided on the most likely. Combat would pause, reverse itself, and then resume with tiny differences, again and again, as bit by bit, with infinite patience, the Grand Admiral recreated the battle to his satisfaction.

If he had any say in the matter, no confrontation with the Ohm would go so poorly again.

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Thrawn paused the simulation and looked over at Kyle, waving off the apology. "How are you feeling?" he asked, not noticing or not caring how out of place the courtesy would have been had their old roles still held.

If Thrawn wanted to ignore their old roles, and the rules that went with them all the better in his opinion. At the very least it showed he was adapting to the situation. "I'm alright, but I'm still worried about the others. Some of them took a real beating."

He stepped into the Sensorium, and looked over the data Thrawn was viewing. "Reviewing all the reports I see. What do you think?"

Wedge thought it was worth working with him, and Kyle couldn't disagree with that. Still he wasn't looking forward to the man's assessment. He knew how rough the response to the Ohm had been, and just how much luck had to do with any of them still breathing right now.

"I think the crew is fortunate not to have suffered even greater casualties." As though to drive home his point, in the simulation, a building collapsed on Tycho. Thrawn shook his head. "Putting the entire crew on leave at once was not a good idea, either, though I don't know how much say Stacy would let the Captain have in the matter."

"We probably are, and you're right. We should have had shifts. We let our guard down, and it cost us." There was no point in sugar coating it or kidding himself. Thrawn knew what he was talking about. "Our command, and control was lacking as well. We didn't have someone back here to have an overview of the situation in space, and help direct us."

"The constant churn in the roster works against that." Thrawn made a dismissive gesture with one hand, and in response, a section of the battle blanked itself out and replayed, the units taking slightly different paths this time. "There needs to be a command structure put in place, and quickly. If the Ohm have any ability to learn at all, the next battle will be worse."

"We should have more stability within the squadron after we push everyone through some training. Don't know what we can do about the ship's command structure though. I suppose we could form our own team to be on the bridge to keep us updated." It wasn't an ideal solution though. The best people for that job were also their most experienced pilots, and they needed them flying so the new members of the squadron had a chance of coming back.

"Colonel Celchu mentioned something about elections?" It was not a possibility that filled Thrawn with joy, as was obvious in his voice. That was how pirate crews organized themselves. It was not a stable enough system for a ship of the line.

"I heard the same. Hopefully they'll be soon." Kyle didn't have a lot of faith in the current mostly non existent command staff. It was nothing against them as people, but they simply lacked the experience to be commanding during a war. "Thinking of running?"

Thrawn was certainly qualified.

Thrawn snorted. "If I have to. I doubt there's anyone more qualified awake." It wasn't just ego, justified though the arrogance may have been. If there had been anyone else of Thrawn's capabilities aboard, they'd already have instituted a chain of command.

An uncomfortable truth, but it was still a truth. "It might come to that. Might even be the best thing for the ship, and crew."

Kyle couldn't believe he what he was suggesting even as it came out of his mouth. This had to be insane, but then so was this whole situation. Whatever Thrawn had done before he was here now, and he seemed inclined to help. Shouldn't he extend the same chance of redemption to him that he'd given to so many others?

"'Might?'" Thrawn asked, the slightest hint of a wry smirk playing at his lips. He was not a man burdened with false modesty. "We're a long way from home, Katarn," he added. "Old enmities are counterproductive here."

"Okay, you're right. You'd be able to lead this ship better than any of us." In spite of himself Kyle couldn't help but grin a little. "There's going to be convincing the rest of the crew of that however. I assume you already have a plan for that?"

Because he'd very shocked if he didn't.

"I'm not going to convince the crew of anything. You are." Thrawn met Kyle's gaze. "No one who seeks out power should be trusted with it. People know this, even if most can't quite articulate it. Therefore, I have no intention of campaigning on my own behalf." He laid out the Machiavellian reasoning calmly. War was, after all, the extension of politics by other means, and if it came to that, Thrawn could play politics every bit as well as he could wage war.

Somehow Kyle should have seen that coming. Of course Thrawn was right once again, but it didn't mean he had to like the idea. Campaigning for a Grand Admiral, it really couldn't get much weirder. "Can't say I disagree, but winning a political campaign isn't something I know a lot about. Always tried to avoid doing more than voting if I could help it."

It was hard enough just remembering to find time to vote with all the missions he had on his plate.

"They're analogous to military campaigns, though of course the propaganda component is primary, since outright violence is generally frowned upon." Thrawn waved a hand contemptuously. "As though social coercion were any more moral than physical."

Kyle let the comment slide. From a purely historical perspective of course that was true, but it was still a bit of a challenge to his belief in the Republic. Some people in it however did seem to have a bad tendency to resort to violence for politic ends. "I'll do what I can to make sure it stays civil, but I'm sure you're well aware I'm not a very eloquent speaker. Hopefully they'll listen to some common sense though. Just don't let these people down if they place their trust in you."

"No eloquence needed," Thrawn said. "Merely conviction. You're willing to back an old enemy. That says enough on its own."

He fixed Kyle with that unsettling red stare. "If you thought I was going to let anyone down, would we be having this conversation?"

"I hope it's enough." With some luck it just might.

"Alright I apologize. You're right. I'm still just adjusting to this situation." Twenty-two years fighting Imperials, and here he was allying with one. "I guess that means you think we actually have a chance of not all dying horribly then?"

"Apology accepted," Thrawn said with a nod, and without a hint of sarcasm.

"That would be overstating the situation, I'm afraid. I do think if any such chance exists, it would be greater under my leadership." It was as blunt as Thrawn had yet been, and was if anything more disconcerting than his usual graceful conversational redirection.

That was worrying. It snapped into clear focus just how bad the odds were against them."I guess at least it couldn't be much more desperate of a situation."

Force don't make him regret saying that.

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