Chapter Text
IT’S HARD TO TRUST
Admiral A'alani strode into the Chimera’s War Room, her piercing red eyes scanning the room as she took in the Imperial officers gathered there. She noted the crisp uniforms, the rigid posture, the unflinching discipline. It was the hallmark of the Empire and the Imperial 7th Fleet in particular, and it made her uneasy. She would never be truly comfortable dealing with aliens, especially humans.
"Greetings, Admiral," she said looking at Thrawn, before nodding to the assembled officers. Her Basic was getting better, but one look at the aliens’ faces told her that her accent was still thick. "I trust the preparations for our joint operation against the Grysks are proceeding smoothly."
"Indeed they are, Admiral A'alani," replied Captain Harrsk, the commanding officer of one of the large warships the humans called `Star Destroyers´. Chiss ships were just as capable, but there was something about those Star Destroyers that made them intimidating. Irrational, but effective, not unlike the Humans that commanded them. "We have coordinated our intelligence reports and developed a strategic plan that we believe will give us the upper hand against our foes."
A'alani nodded in approval. "Excellent. We must be vigilant if we are to prevail."
As they discussed the details of their plan, A'alani couldn't help but let her mind wander. Some people in the Ascendancy were worried about Thrawn. That he was forming unhealthy attachments with these Humans. That he was getting to close to the enemy. Especially Eli Vanto. She found herself watching him closely. Yes, he had changed… But it wasn’t Vanto, but his relationship with Captain Faro that bothered her. There was something about the way they interacted that made A'alani feel uneasy. They seemed to be in sync with each other, finishing each other's sentences and sharing glances that lingered just a beat too long for her liking.
A'alani frowned, pushing the thoughts aside. It was not her place to speculate about the private lives of others, especially not when they were in the midst of a crucial meeting. She refocused her attention on the task at hand, and together with the Imperial officers, she began to hammer out the details of their strategy.
For the next several hours, they pored over maps and data, discussing tactics and contingencies, and debating the merits of different approaches.
As the meeting drew to a close, Harrsk turned to A'alani. "I must say, Admiral, it's been an honor to work with you and your fleet. The Chiss Expansionary Defense Force has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and I believe we can learn a great deal from you."
A'alani inclined her head in acknowledgement. "The feeling is mutual, Captain. I have no doubt that our alliance will prove fruitful for both our fleets and the galaxy as a whole."
That was true, but A'alani also couldn't shake off her unease. Working with the Empire came with risks, and she needed to be cautious. Yes, she was impressed by the thoroughness and ingenuity of her Imperial counterparts. They had some interesting ideas and those droids and the use of artificial intelligence never sized to amaze her, but the Empire took. The Empire conquered. The Empire made no compromises. The Empire was a threat. But she also knew that Thrawn was right. They had to work together if they were to stand a chance against the unspeakable threat that loomed over the galaxy.
Finally, A'alani rose to her feet, nodding curtly to the Imperial officers. "Thank you for your time, gentlemen. We will see you on the battlefield."
As she strode out of the War Room, she couldn't help but glance back at Thrawn and Faro once more. They were deep in conversation, their heads bent close together, and A'alani felt a uncalled pang of jealousy. She knew that she had no right to be jealous. She and Thrawn had dated briefly in their youth, but that had been a long time ago. However, her jealousy was tempered by her prejudice towards Captain Faro, or perhaps humans in general. As A'alani walked through the corridors of the Imperial Star Destroyer, she couldn't help but notice the way the crew looked at her. They weren't openly hostile, but there was an unmistakable sense of wariness. It was understandable; the Chiss were an enigmatic species with a reputation that preceded them. But then again, so were humans…. A'alani wondered if Faro would betray Thrawn if she were to discover that he was giving information to the Chiss. Faro was fiercely loyal to the Empire and if Thrawn slept quietly while she was in command of his fleet, Ar’alani would do well not to underestimate the tiny human. But Thrawn trusted her. That meant she should trust her, right?
She could only hope he hadn’t…
No. It was a dangerous thought, and A'alani knew that she needed to put it aside and focus on the mission at hand. At least for now.
Perhaps she should talk to Thrawn later. In private.