Domus Publica
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The First Refusal
Rear Admiral Thrawn entered the Emperor’s sanctum unescorted, and passed by the silent guards whom he knew to
be lurking somewhere in the shadows. Even he, with his exceptionally good nocturnal vision, found it hard to track
them. He no longer bothered trying.
He moved toward the throne, which he found to his surprise empty and facing him. The Emperor stood behind it,
gazing out the large window at the cityscape beyond, watching as the violent thunderstorm poured and wailed and
roared.
The Grand Vizier stood nearby, and eyed Thrawn with the same calculating look wherewith he regarded every
sentient being that approached his Master - with the Grand Vizier’s permission.
“Welcome, Admiral Thrawn,” the Emperor said without turning, in his familiar, deceptively quiet voice. Though
Thrawn suspected there was more to the Emperor than was readily visible, he could prove nothing, least of all how
much more.
“My Emperor,” he said, and bowed, despite the fact that the Emperor was not looking. What was proper was
proper; one did not deviate from decorum in the Emperor’s sanctum. He stood at attention, holding the datapad he
had been given earlier in his right hand.
“A delicate situation has arisen in the Darnetwul sector,” the Grand Vizier announced. “The Moff Governor has
declared his intention to secede from the Empire.”
“Irrelevant,” Thrawn answered crisply. “The Imperial Charter specifically rejects the legality of secession. It is an act
of treason, and, when committed by an officer of the Empire, an act of lèse majesté, and therefore high treason, per
the Imperial Code.”
“Moff j’Irnia has possession of certain articles that necessitate the immediate sterilization of his headquarters at
Aster.”
“Immediate sterilization,” Thrawn repeated. “You do not intend to neutralize his fleet first?”
“His immediate removal is a matter of grave concern to us,” the Grand Vizier said, unnecessarily. The mere fact that
Thrawn was here, now, in the presence of the Emperor and his Grand Vizier, was testament to how grave that
concern was.
“This briefing I was given regarding Task Force Θ144?”
“It has been determined that this task force will be sufficient to elude Aster’s early-warning systems and overcome
its defenses.”
Thrawn seemed to digest this in a few heartbeats. “I presume, then, that Θ144 will engage and neutralize such forces
as may intercept it while returning to loyal space?”
“That is your department, Admiral Thrawn,” the Grand Vizier answered, his tone low and frosty. “It is ours to
command, yours to obey. The how of your part is irrelevant to us.”
Thrawn’s glowing red eyes never deviated from their proper positions, staring straight ahead. He did not look at the
Grand Vizier, and, with effort, made no overt indication whatsoever of his displeasure at being reminded of his
inferior position.
The Grand Vizier was dangerous, he reminded himself. He could be a powerful enemy.
“Of course, Your Excellency.”
“You have read the briefing completely?”
“I have.”
The Grand Vizier extended his hand, and Thrawn handed the datapad over to him. “And you understand your
mission?”
“I do.”
“Then you will take the task force to Aster and effect its immediate sterilization.”
“I will not.”
A thunderbolt cracked in the distance, and the darkened throne room was briefly illuminated by the flare of lightning.
The Emperor himself turned slowly, quietly, and looked at Thrawn. The Chiss officer’s posture stiffened ever so
slightly. “What did you say?”
“I said, I will not.”
The Emperor looked at him, his facial expression patient, expecting. Thrawn swallowed calmly, and he continued,
fully aware that his career and life were in deadly danger. “I will not risk your ships and the lives of your men fighting
a battle I am not prepared to win.”
“I don’t recall asking your opinion,” the Emperor said mildly.
“No, my Emperor, you did not. However, I feel I am entitled to - “
“You are entitled to nothing,” the Emperor interrupted. “I do not tolerate such insolence from Grand Moff Trachta. I
do not tolerate it from the Grand Vizier. I do not tolerate it from Lord Vader. Why should I tolerate it from you?”
“Your Imperial Majesty sought me, and my services,” Thrawn said stiffly, defaulting to the more formal style,
“Presumably for my expertise in military - “
“I have a great many experts at my beck and call, Admiral,” the Emperor said coldly. “A number of them are your
equals. You will take the task force to Aster and you will destroy it.”
The air was practically crackling with danger for Thrawn now. Neither man had raised his voice, but the tension in the
air was greater than had they been shooting at one another. “I will not.”
Once more, rolling thunder interrupted the charged silence between them. Thrawn was acutely aware that he was
being studied by two rival intellects - two very powerful, very intelligent, very dangerous men. He stared straight
ahead, and gave no external sign that he was conscious of the Grand Vizier’s and the Emperor’s scrutiny.
The Emperor seated himself in the throne, and leaned back into it, as was his wont. “Very well, my friend. You shall
not. Grand Vizier,” he said. “Admiral Thrawn is demoted to captain, effective immediately.”
The Grand Vizier bowed in acknowledgment, but did not speak. Thrawn nearly arched an eyebrow in surprise; he had
expected somewhat more permanent a punishment for his insubordination.
“And you are to arrange,” the Emperor continued, now seemingly wholly oblivious to Thrawn’s continued presence,
“for the traitor to be neutered.”
Thrawn resisted the impulse to wince.
“As you command, my Emperor,” he said, his voice level and cool. He bowed at the shoulders, as was customary in
the Imperial Navy.
“You are dismissed,” the Grand Vizier announced. Thrawn bowed again and spun about, and walked in a careful and
measured pace to the exit of the room.
“Fascinating,” the Grand Vizier remarked, once Thrawn had departed. “Why does he risk so much to defy you?”
“He knows that the task force will be destroyed,” the Emperor said. “And he will be satisfied that in the future I will
listen more closely to his counsel.”
“And he will believe he has the ear of the Emperor.”
The Emperor licked his lips gently as he turned the throne to look out into the storm. “When the task force is
destroyed and he is vindicated, our friend Mitth’raw’nuruodo will believe he knows better than I.”
“And he will come to believe that it is he who is using you,” the Grand Vizier said, closing his eyes and smiling to
himself.
“His overconfidence is his weakness,” the Emperor said, half smiling to himself at the thought. It was such a common
flaw in men of genius. They were so quick to underestimate others. His eyes flashed with amusement as he watched
the heavens shake and shimmer, the great storm rolling across the Imperial City... his city.
The Emperor laughed. “Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen....”
be lurking somewhere in the shadows. Even he, with his exceptionally good nocturnal vision, found it hard to track
them. He no longer bothered trying.
He moved toward the throne, which he found to his surprise empty and facing him. The Emperor stood behind it,
gazing out the large window at the cityscape beyond, watching as the violent thunderstorm poured and wailed and
roared.
The Grand Vizier stood nearby, and eyed Thrawn with the same calculating look wherewith he regarded every
sentient being that approached his Master - with the Grand Vizier’s permission.
“Welcome, Admiral Thrawn,” the Emperor said without turning, in his familiar, deceptively quiet voice. Though
Thrawn suspected there was more to the Emperor than was readily visible, he could prove nothing, least of all how
much more.
“My Emperor,” he said, and bowed, despite the fact that the Emperor was not looking. What was proper was
proper; one did not deviate from decorum in the Emperor’s sanctum. He stood at attention, holding the datapad he
had been given earlier in his right hand.
“A delicate situation has arisen in the Darnetwul sector,” the Grand Vizier announced. “The Moff Governor has
declared his intention to secede from the Empire.”
“Irrelevant,” Thrawn answered crisply. “The Imperial Charter specifically rejects the legality of secession. It is an act
of treason, and, when committed by an officer of the Empire, an act of lèse majesté, and therefore high treason, per
the Imperial Code.”
“Moff j’Irnia has possession of certain articles that necessitate the immediate sterilization of his headquarters at
Aster.”
“Immediate sterilization,” Thrawn repeated. “You do not intend to neutralize his fleet first?”
“His immediate removal is a matter of grave concern to us,” the Grand Vizier said, unnecessarily. The mere fact that
Thrawn was here, now, in the presence of the Emperor and his Grand Vizier, was testament to how grave that
concern was.
“This briefing I was given regarding Task Force Θ144?”
“It has been determined that this task force will be sufficient to elude Aster’s early-warning systems and overcome
its defenses.”
Thrawn seemed to digest this in a few heartbeats. “I presume, then, that Θ144 will engage and neutralize such forces
as may intercept it while returning to loyal space?”
“That is your department, Admiral Thrawn,” the Grand Vizier answered, his tone low and frosty. “It is ours to
command, yours to obey. The how of your part is irrelevant to us.”
Thrawn’s glowing red eyes never deviated from their proper positions, staring straight ahead. He did not look at the
Grand Vizier, and, with effort, made no overt indication whatsoever of his displeasure at being reminded of his
inferior position.
The Grand Vizier was dangerous, he reminded himself. He could be a powerful enemy.
“Of course, Your Excellency.”
“You have read the briefing completely?”
“I have.”
The Grand Vizier extended his hand, and Thrawn handed the datapad over to him. “And you understand your
mission?”
“I do.”
“Then you will take the task force to Aster and effect its immediate sterilization.”
“I will not.”
A thunderbolt cracked in the distance, and the darkened throne room was briefly illuminated by the flare of lightning.
The Emperor himself turned slowly, quietly, and looked at Thrawn. The Chiss officer’s posture stiffened ever so
slightly. “What did you say?”
“I said, I will not.”
The Emperor looked at him, his facial expression patient, expecting. Thrawn swallowed calmly, and he continued,
fully aware that his career and life were in deadly danger. “I will not risk your ships and the lives of your men fighting
a battle I am not prepared to win.”
“I don’t recall asking your opinion,” the Emperor said mildly.
“No, my Emperor, you did not. However, I feel I am entitled to - “
“You are entitled to nothing,” the Emperor interrupted. “I do not tolerate such insolence from Grand Moff Trachta. I
do not tolerate it from the Grand Vizier. I do not tolerate it from Lord Vader. Why should I tolerate it from you?”
“Your Imperial Majesty sought me, and my services,” Thrawn said stiffly, defaulting to the more formal style,
“Presumably for my expertise in military - “
“I have a great many experts at my beck and call, Admiral,” the Emperor said coldly. “A number of them are your
equals. You will take the task force to Aster and you will destroy it.”
The air was practically crackling with danger for Thrawn now. Neither man had raised his voice, but the tension in the
air was greater than had they been shooting at one another. “I will not.”
Once more, rolling thunder interrupted the charged silence between them. Thrawn was acutely aware that he was
being studied by two rival intellects - two very powerful, very intelligent, very dangerous men. He stared straight
ahead, and gave no external sign that he was conscious of the Grand Vizier’s and the Emperor’s scrutiny.
The Emperor seated himself in the throne, and leaned back into it, as was his wont. “Very well, my friend. You shall
not. Grand Vizier,” he said. “Admiral Thrawn is demoted to captain, effective immediately.”
The Grand Vizier bowed in acknowledgment, but did not speak. Thrawn nearly arched an eyebrow in surprise; he had
expected somewhat more permanent a punishment for his insubordination.
“And you are to arrange,” the Emperor continued, now seemingly wholly oblivious to Thrawn’s continued presence,
“for the traitor to be neutered.”
Thrawn resisted the impulse to wince.
“As you command, my Emperor,” he said, his voice level and cool. He bowed at the shoulders, as was customary in
the Imperial Navy.
“You are dismissed,” the Grand Vizier announced. Thrawn bowed again and spun about, and walked in a careful and
measured pace to the exit of the room.
“Fascinating,” the Grand Vizier remarked, once Thrawn had departed. “Why does he risk so much to defy you?”
“He knows that the task force will be destroyed,” the Emperor said. “And he will be satisfied that in the future I will
listen more closely to his counsel.”
“And he will believe he has the ear of the Emperor.”
The Emperor licked his lips gently as he turned the throne to look out into the storm. “When the task force is
destroyed and he is vindicated, our friend Mitth’raw’nuruodo will believe he knows better than I.”
“And he will come to believe that it is he who is using you,” the Grand Vizier said, closing his eyes and smiling to
himself.
“His overconfidence is his weakness,” the Emperor said, half smiling to himself at the thought. It was such a common
flaw in men of genius. They were so quick to underestimate others. His eyes flashed with amusement as he watched
the heavens shake and shimmer, the great storm rolling across the Imperial City... his city.
The Emperor laughed. “Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen....”
This short story was originally published in late 2004. It was republished on 26 January 2007.
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