Voicetesting!!

[artisticallydone]

If you allow me the benefit of experience and perspective outside the personal, I would only have one wish: that the clone survive. My clone. His presence would have been invaluable in combating the enemy from outside the galaxy.

After all, I am not overly tied with the Empire; I adapt well to changing circumstances.

Like these.

I will take the opportunities you give, but know that I will be a demanding subordinate.

Comments

I love you for creating Thrawn, Just sayin'.

[likesnicemen]

There are some faces I would rather not see around here.

thank you!!

[artisticallydone]

Be at ease, Councillor. We have no need to be enemies in this place.

[likesnicemen]

Neutral ground or not, I cannot help but be wary in your presence, Admiral.

But I will say this - with your intelligence, had you been second in command and not Darth Vader, the Empire might have defeated the Rebel Alliance then.

[artisticallydone]

It would have.

[He says this with matter of fact confidence. He is not bragging.]

Which is not to say that you were not a tenacious and creative fighting force. Spirit can go a long way.

[likesnicemen]

[For her part, Leia does smirk ever-so-slightly at his agreement. But coming from Thrawn, it's not bragging, or boasting, certainly unlike the way Han might boast about all his 'triumphs.' ]

I think there's something to be said for our fighting spirit. It helped us win that war, and become the New Republic, governing the galaxy fairly.

You could have done great things on our side.

[artisticallydone]

It did.

[ He, in fact, has admiration for that fighting spirit. He thinks it explains what he could not, at first, understand: the capability of such a diverse coalition for unity in goals. ]

...Forgive me for being blunt. I still have doubts that the New Republic, though it survived the tests of war, will survive the tests of peace.

The Empire's self-image - that of endless numbers of human males, all finely trained and battle tested - we both know is largely fictitious. And we both know that the Empire would have improved if it cultivated talent from all of its inhabitants. However, that very unity of self-image, and the value of loyalty and obedience and discipline, was what allowed me to grow in power as much as I did.

I could prove myself skilled and intelligent, and insightful. I do not know if, by the standards of the Rebellion - the New Republic - I could prove myself good, which is what you demanded from your leaders.

[ He is, again, simply being honest. The way he approaches reality - the greatest good for the least waste - is ruthless, and it is not in many ways compatible with the New Republic's ideology. ]

I have no idea what our canon points are so I'm just winging it!

[likesnicemen]

[Leia respects the rules of a neutral ground, and she is a patient leader. She would hear out her adversaries, if they would do the same, without resulting in bloodshed. And the time of the Empire under Thrawn's leadership had meant many close calls for her family, herself, and the New Republic. ]

The Empire under the leadership of Emperor Palaptine and Lord Vader, was not as unified as the Rebellion was. [She squared her jaw a bit, almost unconsciously, when speaking of the late Darth Vader.] My father ruled by fear and terror, killing unnecessarily and abundantly. To this day, I am not sure I will ever truly forgive him, but my brother did, in Vader's final moments. As far as I know, you are not nearly as wasteful as him. You doubtless admire intelligence and talents in others. Perhaps, in another world, or parallel universe.... we could have joined forces.

You may have glowing red eyes, Admiral, [She smiled a little, daring to show her sense of humor,] but I don't think you're inherently evil, as Palpatine or Vader might have once been considered to be.

NEITHER DO I he's vaguely post-death somehow

[artisticallydone]

I would not say evil. I would say pragmatic, and pragmatism taken to an extreme is distasteful.

[ A hint of a smile appears around his lips. ]

When I was a younger man, perhaps I would have thought to make a different choice. Those of my race believed I was - disrespectful. Without true understanding of the value of authority. It seems what I did not understand became the opposite.

I advised the Emperor against those decisions time and time again, you know. It was not for the protection of innocent lives. It was, as you say, to avoid the waste.

haha it's dear-mun, anything goees

[likesnicemen]

There are times when it's necessary to take action, and not waste time discussing plans and theories. I was being... delicate when I called it waste. We try to spare innocent lives, but in battle, I'm sure you understand sometimes it is difficult. But time and again I've seen the Empire kill innocent lives to make a point, or just on a whim. That seemed to have changed with you, and I do appreciate that.

And what would you have done, had the Empire survived under your leadership?

[artisticallydone]

United the galaxy, in order to defend against outside threat.

I believed the Empire would be a necessary step in that process. I'd thought the Republic had simply collapsed, and that the Empire replaced it - by the time my impressions were corrected, and I realized what a force the Rebellion was, it still seemed the correct choice to end a rebellion rather than overthrow a government a second time. The galaxy can only take so much chaos.

[likesnicemen]

[Leia listens to him thoughtfully, a serene expression on her face. She raises her brow after he's done speaking.]

Not that different from what we've always wanted. But the Empire was never willing to negotiate a truce, and to bring about peace with the Rebellion. We've done what we've thought is best for our people.

[artisticallydone]

But I knew the threat was coming.