[what to say to all of this? Thrawn is always a little careful about his misinterpretations in Basic without his aide, and lack of language barriers on the Barge still won't permit him from speaking one of his native languages.
He looks at the crane in his hand, silent, brooding. His crew was loyal til the very end - to the Empire, yes, but to him especially, hand-crafting their uniforms to reflect the underside painting of the Chimaera in solidarity. He doesn't need the list of names; he could tell Hanna all of the ones he's interacted with at least once by heart.
This is a strange mourning ritual; something he'll need to look up later, more Earth-centric than anything either Chiss or Imperial space would have. On Csilla, prior to his exile, Thrawn would have had a monument of his own in the wake of his death, standing prominently next to his patriarch's. Doubtless Thurfian would have rejected it out of hand, now, but Thrawn never cared for being remembered or commended even when he was alive.
How to properly mourn his imperial dead? Hammerly, his chief sensors officer, who delayed outside Imperial officers to afford him more time at the expense of her career; Pyrondi; his weapons officer, who was always ready to try his unconventional ways of conducting battles; Xoxtin, his chief hanger master, who stood up to Darth Vader's own irritating First Legion death troopers without blinking. Rukh was already gone, pre-deceased him for some time. Fifty thousand others, just on the Chimaera alone. A devastating loss for the Empire, to be sure, but this is more of a personal acknowledgement. If he had the time, Thrawn would burn their names into the minds of those who were responsible for their deaths, chief among them himself.
At least he doesn't need to count Karyn Faro or Eli Vanto among the dead.
What to do with this delicate piece of paper in his hand? He could crush it in an instant; hardly a fitting tribute for those whose own lives were snuffed out just as quickly and easily.
He makes a promise, then and there, to bring them back. Bring them all back. His first deal has to go to the Chiss, of course. They must be protected or they'll die just as fast as the Chimaera's crew. But after that...yes. He will make certain that these flimsy memorials will not be necessary.
Thrawn glances up, his glowing red eyes refocusing, realizing he's sat in silence for far too long to be polite. In all actuality it looks like he's forgotten Hanna was even in the room with him.]
I thank you for your offering, but these will not be needed.
no subject
He looks at the crane in his hand, silent, brooding. His crew was loyal til the very end - to the Empire, yes, but to him especially, hand-crafting their uniforms to reflect the underside painting of the Chimaera in solidarity. He doesn't need the list of names; he could tell Hanna all of the ones he's interacted with at least once by heart.
This is a strange mourning ritual; something he'll need to look up later, more Earth-centric than anything either Chiss or Imperial space would have. On Csilla, prior to his exile, Thrawn would have had a monument of his own in the wake of his death, standing prominently next to his patriarch's. Doubtless Thurfian would have rejected it out of hand, now, but Thrawn never cared for being remembered or commended even when he was alive.
How to properly mourn his imperial dead? Hammerly, his chief sensors officer, who delayed outside Imperial officers to afford him more time at the expense of her career; Pyrondi; his weapons officer, who was always ready to try his unconventional ways of conducting battles; Xoxtin, his chief hanger master, who stood up to Darth Vader's own irritating First Legion death troopers without blinking. Rukh was already gone, pre-deceased him for some time. Fifty thousand others, just on the Chimaera alone. A devastating loss for the Empire, to be sure, but this is more of a personal acknowledgement. If he had the time, Thrawn would burn their names into the minds of those who were responsible for their deaths, chief among them himself.
At least he doesn't need to count Karyn Faro or Eli Vanto among the dead.
What to do with this delicate piece of paper in his hand? He could crush it in an instant; hardly a fitting tribute for those whose own lives were snuffed out just as quickly and easily.
He makes a promise, then and there, to bring them back. Bring them all back. His first deal has to go to the Chiss, of course. They must be protected or they'll die just as fast as the Chimaera's crew. But after that...yes. He will make certain that these flimsy memorials will not be necessary.
Thrawn glances up, his glowing red eyes refocusing, realizing he's sat in silence for far too long to be polite. In all actuality it looks like he's forgotten Hanna was even in the room with him.]
I thank you for your offering, but these will not be needed.