Dow 2 Chaos Rising

[Riitta Palazzo]

Beyondthe edge of the galaxy lie the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, possessing hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within their swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them.

With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back and aided by his comrade, Admiral Ar'alani, Thrawn begins to piece together the answers he's looking for. But as Thrawn's first command probes deeper into the vast stretch of space his people call the Chaos, he realizes that the mission he has been given is not what it seems.

Three alien warships attack the Chiss capital planet of Csilla, but are quickly defeated by the Chiss defenses. In the aftermath of the attack, Supreme General Ba'kif delivers a report to the Chiss Syndicure, the ruling body of the Chiss. However, many in the Syndicure are not impressed with the report, as it does not name their attacker, leaving them without someone to punish. While the speakers from the Mitth and Ufsa families verbally spar (their rivalry involving the establishment of a new mining field on Thearterra), Ba'kif notifies the Syndicure that four additional Expansionary Fleet warships have arrived from Naporar to boost Csaplar's defenses. While the politicians in the Syndicure take turns expressing their family's outrage, Ba'kif tries to decipher the purpose of the enemy's attack, eventually considering the possibility that it was meant to distract them from something else. When he returns to his office, one of his aides tells him that he was able to successfully locate Senior Captain Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Thrawn), who is in his final round of physical therapy on Naporar. Thrawn is recovering from injuries he sustained during operations against the Vagaari pirates, which despite being a successful military campaign, caused a great deal of political hassle. Despite the fact that the Syndicure would likely cause a fuss, Ba'kif prepares transport for him and Thrawn to Dioya to investigate a derelict ship.[5]

Aristocra Mitth'urf'ianico (Thurfian) arrives on Rentor to meet with newly promoted General Ba'kif about a promising recruit named Kivu'raw'nuru (Vurawn). Ba'kif explains that the recruit's grades and aptitude make him a prime candidate for the Taharim Academy on Naporar. The Mitth family still have two appointment slots left for the year, and Ba'kif has arranged for Vurawn to be pulled out of class for an interview with Thurfian. If selected, Vurawn may become a merit adoptive of the Mitth family, someone from a different family (in Vurawn's case, the Kivu) who is adopted into a larger and more prestigious family (like the Mitth). Thurfian is intrigued, as Vurawn looks like someone who would make a name for himself (and by association, his family) in the newly formed Expansionary Defense Fleet. Plus, if the Mitth adopt Vurawn into their ranks, the Irizi family (their chief rivals) wouldn't be able to claim him. Thurfian decides to interview Vurawn.[5]

After conducting his own interview, Thurfian takes Vurawn to a Mitth compound to begin the process of becoming a merit adoptive. On the way, Thurfian receives a message on his questis signaling that Vurawn has already been accepted. This startles Thurfian, as the process normally takes two to three months, and he wonders why he was sent to interview Vurawn if the selection had already been made. Vurawn asks Thurfian if something is wrong, despite the fact that Thurfian didn't visibly react to the message (demonstrating his exceptional observational skills). Thurfian informs Vurawn that he has been accepted as a merit adoptive of the Mitth, changing his name to Mitth'raw'nuru (Thrawn). Thrawn expresses hope at eventually becoming a ranking distant in the Mitth family, but Thurfian believes that someone from an "insignificant" family like the Kivu will never achieve that rank.[5]

Ba'kif reflects on the history of the Chaos, the region of space surrounding the Chiss Ascendancy. Millennia ago, a series of supernova explosions and heavy electromagnetic flux caused the region to become unstable, with the hyperlanes constantly changing. While this serves to protect the Chiss from invaders, it also makes it difficult to find any enemies lurking within.[5]

Ba'kif and Thrawn arrive in Dioya to investigate a destroyed refugee ship. Thrawn deduces that the ship was not attacked by pirates, as the damage inflicted on the ship was intended to destroy, not immobilize. The ship is also unrelated to the ones that attacked Csilla two days ago, as it shares no artistic or architectural similarities. However, both Ba'kif and Thrawn believe that the attack on Csilla was intended to distract them from the attack on the refugee ship. Their shuttle pilot, who was on the patrol craft that initially spotted the wreckage, says that they saw the ship's attacker, who fled into hyperspace rather than attack them. As Thrawn and Ba'kif prepare to board the ship, the shuttle pilot expresses doubts that they will find anything useful inside.[5]

Onboard the ship, Ba'kif and Thrawn discover bodies of refugees, all of whom were slaughtered. They both conclude that this was a refugee ship. Ba'kif tells Thrawn that the refugees are from an unknown species, and that analysis of the ship's log revealed that it had traveled to places in the Chaos unknown to the Chiss. Thrawn notes that the ship's design and the alien's clothing give him an "overall feeling", but he is unable to put it into words. Over Ba'kif's frustrations, Thrawn reassures him that he will be able to recognize the aliens if he sees them again. Ba'kif then outlines the next step of his plan: investigate the ship's origin. However, he anticipates that developing a task force will be tricky, given the current state of the Syndicure. Thrawn volunteers to investigate on his own, requesting his former ship, the Springhawk.[5]

After Ba'kif's lobbying, Mid Captain Ufsa'mak'ro (Samakro) becomes Thrawn's first officer aboard the Springhawk, with Senior Commander Plikh'ar'illmorf (Kharill) becoming second officer. Kharill is furious that command of the Springhawk has been taken away from Samakro and given to Thrawn, and he goes to Samakro to suggest they file formal complaints. Kharill also suggests obeying Thrawn's orders as unenthusiastically as possible. However, Samakro tells Kharill to prepare for the change in command, and that if he ever sees Kharill disobeying an order, he will personally bring charges upon him. Samakro (who is himself furious that his command has been taken from him), prepares to do his job as first officer, and hopes that Thrawn will not cause another political fiasco.[5]

Thirteen year-old sky-walker Al'iastov exits Third Sight after leading the Chiss Defense Force Transport Tomra through hyperspace. As she returns to her quarters, she realizes that her life as a sky-walker is over, as she was unable to navigate the ship properly through hyperspace (the pilot had had to correct their course as they traveled). As she tears up, she runs into Cadet Thrawn in the halls, who is on his way to the Taharim Academy. After introducing herself and lying about her identity (she claims to be the captain's daughter), Al'iastov explains that she is concerned about her future. Thrawn reassures her that she will have many possibilities for her future, and that she has the power to choose her own path.[5]

Their conversation is interrupted by Junior Captain Vorlip, who is angry at Thrawn for being in a forbidden corridor. Thrawn explains that he thought the "Authorized Personnel Only" sign was referring to non-military personnel, and that he just wanted to get a feel for the ship. Curious, Vorlip instructs Thrawn to close his eyes. She then spins him around a couple of times. When he stops, Vorlip instructs him to point towards the bow of the ship (while his eyes are still closed). When Thrawn points in the correct direction, Vorlip instructs him to return to his quarters, giving him nothing more than a light scolding.[5]

As Thrawn leaves, Al'iastov apologizes to Vorlip, who reassures her that she has done nothing wrong. Vorlip muses that it took her fifteen spaceflights in four different ships before she was able to develop the spatial awareness that Thrawn just demonstrated (this was Thrawn's first spaceflight). Al'iastov asks Vorlip about her future, and she explains that she will be adopted into one of the Nine Ruling Families. Her new family will pay for her education and help her find a new career. When Al'iastov expresses concern that she will be abandoned, Vorlip assures her that she brings prestige to the family and will not be thrown out. Al'iastov expresses interest in being adopted by the Mitth family, and as she heads to Vorlip's office to fill out paperwork with her caregiver Mafole, she vows to remember Thrawn's name.[5]

Mitth'ali'astov (Thalias) has her request to board the Springhawk denied, as her family has failed to file it before the deadline. Since there is no way she can board the ship as an observer, she asks if there are any other jobs available. The personnel officer tells her that a sky-walker has recently been appointed, but she does not have a caregiver. While Thalias doesn't have any experience with children, she is a former sky-walker. Because of this, she is unsure of whether she wants the job, as it will force her to relive past memories of unpleasant caregivers. However, she realizes that accepting the job of caregiver is the only way she will be allowed on the Springhawk, so she agrees. As the personnel officer is telling Thalias that more datawork will need to be filed, Syndic Thurfian appears and asks the personnel officer about Thalias. Thalias explains that someone in the Mitth family delayed her datawork, preventing her from boarding as an observer. When she explains that there is an opening as a caregiver, Thurfian begins filling out the necessary forms, explaining that every ship needs a sky-walker and caregiver as the Ascendancy is currently under threat. Hearing the urgency in Thurfian's voice, the personnel officer concedes and allows Thalias to board the Springhawk. As they approach the Springhawk, Thurfian explains that he has a favor to ask of Thalias.[5]

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