{"product_id":"thrawn-alliances-star-wars-9781984821027","title":"Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)","description":"\u003cp\u003eI have sensed a disturbance in the Force.  Emperor Palpatine paused  stretching out his thoughts to the two men standing before his throne  awaiting their reactions.  No. Not men. Of course not men. Men were insignificant  pitiable creatures  fit only to be ruled  or intimidated  or sent to die in battle. These were far more than mere men.  A Chiss Grand Admiral  a strategic and tactical genius. A Sith Lord  ruthless and powerful in the Force.  They were watching him  Palpatine knew  each trying in his own way to glean some understanding as to why theyd been summoned. Grand Admiral Thrawn was observing his Emperors voice  face  and body stance. Lord Vader  in contrast  was stretching out with the Force toward his master.  Palpatine could feel all that. But he could also feel the tension between these  his two most useful servants.  The tension wasnt simply because each wished to be the one standing alone at his masters side at the center of Imperial power. That was certainly part of it.  But there was more. Much more. Thrawn had recently suffered a serious defeat  permitting a small group of rebels hed successfully trapped on the planet Atollon to slip through his fingers. That failure had earned Vaders contempt.  Thrawn  in his turn  strongly opposed the Death Star project favored by Vader  Grand Moff Tarkin  and Palpatine himself  pushing instead for his own prized TIE Defender project on Lothal. So far Thrawns opposition had not reached the level of open resistance  but the Emperor knew it was only a matter of time. Vader knew that  as well.  But Palpatine hadnt brought them here to offer an opportunity for reconciliation. Certainly not to mediate personally in their conflict. There were other  far deeper considerations.  Thrawn had given his oath of loyalty to the Empire. But that loyalty had never been fully tested. Vader stood beside Palpatine as the Sith Masters apprentice But his pervious life among the Jedi could not simply be ignored nor casually dismissed.  Here  with this intriguing Force disturbance  was the opportunity to deal with both issues.  Palpatine raised his eyes briefly toward the high window in his throne room. The Star Destroyer Chimaera was visible in the distance  a barely discernible arrowhead shape floating high above Coruscants buildings and skylanes. Normally  military craft that large werent permitted closer than low orbit. But Palpatine had wished the  to be present during this meeting  a subtle reminder to both of his servants of what had been given to Thrawn  and what could be taken away.  Vader spoke first  as Palpatine had known he would. Perhaps you sense the rogue Jedi Kanan Jarrus  he said.  Or the creature Admiral Thrawn claimed to have encountered on Atollon.  Palpatine smiled thinly. Of course he wasnt sensing Jarrus. That particular disturbance had long since been noted  codified  and dismissed  a fact Vader knew only too well. The suggestion was nothing more than a reminder to Thrawnand to Palpatineof the Chisss humiliating defeat.  Thrawn gave no visible reaction to Vaders comment. But Palpatine could sense a hardening of his attitude. Hed already promised the Emperor that he would deal with Jarrus and the Phoenix rebels who had so recently slipped through his fingers. Much of that failure had been due to factors not under Thrawns control  which was why Palpatine hadnt taken the Seventh Fleet away from him.  But Vader had no patience for failure of any sort  no matter what the reasons or excuses. For now  he was waiting; but he was more than ready to step in to solve that particular problem if the Grand Admiral failed.  This disturbance comes from neither  Palpatine said. It is something new. Something different. He looked back and forth between his servants. Something that will require both of you working together to uncover.  Again  neither of them visibly reacted. But Palpatine could sense their surprise. Their surprise  and their reflexive protest.  Working together?  This time  it was the Chiss who spoke first. With all due respect  Your Majesty  I believe my duty and my abilities would be best used elsewhere  he said. The rebels who escaped Atollon must be tracked down and eliminated before they can regroup and join with other cells.  I agree  the Emperor said. But the Seventh Fleet and Commander Woldar can deal with that without you for now. Grand Moff Tarkin will also be joining the commander while his new assignment is being prepared for him.  Palpatine sensed a flicker in Vaders emotions  perhaps a hope that Thrawn would mistakenly believe this was the right time and place to once again raise objections to the Death Star project. Palpatine paused  offering the Grand Admiral the opportunity to do just that.  But Thrawn remained silent.  While Woldar and Tarkin find and deal with the rebels  the Emperor continued  you and Lord Vader will take your flagship to deal with this other matter.  Understood  Your Maj\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67923544604725,"sku":"ByrdShop_1984821024","price":90.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781984821027.jpg?v=1794106976","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/thrawn-alliances-star-wars-9781984821027","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}