Emperor Palpatine and Sate Pestage walked into the Emperor's throne room, flanked by the Royal Guards. Immediately, Palpatine took a seat in his signature chair that mirrored those aboard each of his ships and the Death Star. He remained silent for the entire trip up the lift and all the way into his personal room. Turning in his chair, he looked out through the transparisteel window, looking out at the view of Imperial City. Just like the rest of the galaxy, it was his. That thought always offered him solace, and he needed it now.

"Is there anything I can get you, my lord?" Sate asked.

"Leave me," Palpatine replied. Sate immediately bowed and left the room, leaving the Emperor with only the Royal Guards in the room. "You too," he said to the guards. They did as instructed and left the Emperor alone, leaving the room and standing guard outside the door rather than in. The Sith Lord closed his eyes and thought for a moment, contemplating his decision on whether or not he should comm his blue friend, the trusted Chiss who was patrolling the Unknown Regions.

After a few passing moments, Palpatine pressed a button installed into his chair. Immediately a voice came through. "Yes my lord?"

"I have a message to deliver, and it is the utmost importance. Patch me through to Thrawn."

The Chiss Commander swiveled in his chair, staring off into the vast blackness of space. Since he had eliminated the filthy rogue Admiral Zaarin from the galaxy, Thrawn had set his deep red eyes upon nothing but stars and space pirates in the unknown region. He was sure Palpatine knew of his tactical genius, but Thrawn felt almost banished. His assets to the Empire seemed to be going to waste.

The few occasions Thrawn had been to Imperial City, he had enjoyed himself. The world was artistic, in it's own way. The cool concrete and steel offset it from any other world he had been to. It seemed so odd to be on a world without vegetation or even anything green (or that wasn't painted green, anyways). Thrawn stood-bored of the stars-and turned to walk off the bridge. Before leaving, stopped next to Lieutenant Thra'siin'forano, "You're in charge Lieutenant. Call for me if you can't handle how bright the stars look."

"Yes, sir." The Lieutenant assumed Thrawn's position at the front of the bridge. Thrawn laughed to himself as he left, amused by the Lieutenant's unwillingness to use or even approach the Grand Admiral's chair. He walked the dull, grey hallways of his personal Interdictor class Star Destroyer, The Vengeance. Mitth'raw'nuruodo entered his private chambers and looked out the transparisteel window. His intuition told him the Emperor would be calling soon, and when he did, Thrawn would be ready to return to action, and rain havoc down upon the rebel's heads.