#stybla

[anastasiiaosypova]

These were things I've created while working on the Team Vigilant (except the obicc symbol that I've chosen from the poster art for the Chaos Rising).

Nightdragon man-of-war Vigilant logo like those different patches army units have.

I think after all the years in CEDF, Vah'nya deserves her own insignia/pin. Also needed fleet insignias for the bridge crew as well.

[sisterventress]

Patriel love (Thooraki x OC)

It’s an affair... one that they’re *certain* won’t have any consequences...

[chissmas-elf]

Hello! I am the Chissmas elf - admin for the Merry Chissmas fest!

[admiral-arelami]

Squealing with excitement as I read this new chronicle of Ba'kif. Everyone, please check out this fic by @contentment-of-cats. It has everything you can hope for: Papa Labaki swaddling the bebes, Ziara and Thrawn shenanigans, and of course Pyrondi blowing things up. If you want humor, light angst, and a hopeful ending, it's all here!

Ba'kif: Chronicle of the Ice Bear

For @admiral-arelami by request and with delight. I love me some Ice Bear.

~

When he was Labaki, standing on the cusp of captain and major, he went to Lamiov and had the hardest discussion of his life. He had a new baby daughter, a little blue moonfruit in a fleece cuddler. His wives were many, and his 'Kifies' at oldest were ensigns.

"I do not wish to marry again, or to father children I might have to leave behind." Colonel was next, and unless one fucked up horribly, field rank was after that. "I never want them to see the back of me, and know that I had the choice between family and Ascendancy."

Stybla'ba'kifodo was Blood-Born going nine generations back, honored and honorable, he committed young to the Ascendancy and joined the Marines right out of secondary. Lamiov tried to assure him that whatever happened should he don the white uniform, his wives and babes would be cared for.

Labaki pursed his lips and blinked hard. "But not by me, Patriarch. Not as I promised. If I must break my word to them, let it be with the least pain for them all going forward."

No warm lover next to him in bed, no nest of wives and children sleeping around him safe and warm. No hand on a rounded belly, feeling the life moving within. No sweet-smelling bundle of baby in the crook of his arm, no little one on his knee, no young adult who knew everything rolling eyes at hopelessly old ticsi. No skinned knees, no milestones to celebrate, no star days with cake and delight at toys. Despite his yearning, he would be a piss-poor example of honor and duty if he shirked, but he'd be a father who left if he upheld his duty to the Ascendancy.

Lamiov sighed. "The Universal Analysis Group would take you in a heartbeat. Labaki, it's not all or nothing, nor as binary as you see it."

Lamiov was an optimist, and Labaki loved that about him. However, after rising through the ranks of the army, Labaki had very little optimism left.

"I know my duty, cousin. The Ascendancy needs people in those white uniforms who live their vows, not just give lip service to them."

Lamikav sensed his mood when he came back home, and all his wives gave him a wide berth. He burgled Lataem from her cradle and stole out to the garden with her travel bag. Tae was a 'surprise' baby, the next youngest of his child-herd was starting the sciences junior academy this year, and soon little Tae would be the only one at home. The little moonfruit was fat and round as a baby should be, her deep blue flecked with pink and purple across her cheeks. Her mother, Mir, was a former sky-walker and merit adoptive, and some of her mother's serene demeanor was present in Tae.

Tae made a soft grunting noise and pushed at his chest with an impatient fist once freed from her swaddle.

"I know for a fact you have been fed. You are playing me for a sucker." Unimpressed, his child gave him a look that conveyed an insubordinate 'so what?' and pushed on his chest again. "Fine, fine. You'll make me get up in the middle of the night to burp you when you're so gorged you can't move, then you'll puke all over your Tati."

Labaki took out a nursing pack, broke open the heating element and allowed it to come to the proper temperature.

"I spoke to Cousin Mio. He's trying to convince me to go to the UAG. Part of me wants to, since it means I could stay and watch you grow up." Offering the nursing pack to his daughter, he settled in with her in the crook of his arm. "But that means not standing against things that ought to perish. Patronage, self-dealing, corruption, duplicity. But that doesn't mean anything to you right now. All you want is to be warm, drink milk, and be told you are the most beautiful baby to ever exist."

Her Majesty ignored the flattery and he had to break the latch to slow her down.

"I do not want to leave, but my promotion makes it likely that I will see that white uniform in the next ten to twelve years. You won't be grown by then."

-

Five years later, after the Siege of Bogo Rai, Major Labaki became Colonel Labaki. His family welcomed him home, new honor chains bright on his chest, and a long medical leave to let him heal the rest of the way. His first grandchild, Kiwu'lai'torus, was a fat little moonfruit in a cuddler and Tae was a curly-haired cyclone in the garden, always ready to claim his knee and the only one still of age to do so.

"Baba!"

He could still toss her in the air, only a little unsteady as he caught her on the way down. They could talk over the secure comms, but not see each other. The Chaos disrupted comms signals unexpectedly, and the only true secure method was by using courier ships.

"Some men came to see me after I took some tests at school and a nice lady."

It was unworthy of him not to want his own children to become sky-walkers. He knew that. "What did they want to see you about?"

"I don't know, but I didn't like them. They were all slippery and slimy when they talked. They went away."

Labaki looked at Mir, her lips thin and fists clenched in her robe. "They-?"

Mir shook her head, lashes wet. "They test all children starting at age five up to age seven on entry to primary. It was a decision of the Syndicure and the Admiralty. No exemptions for anyone."

Labaki held Tae close, his heart hammering in his chest. Only command bridge officers and flag rank were supposed to know about sky-walkers, but he had married one. He saw the bodies of two of them carried off the Saber after Bogo Rai.

"But I'm not going." Tae stomped a foot that didn't touch the ground. "The lady said I was too stubborn for induction."

Mir smiled, but it was strained, and Labaki knew the signs of a dazzle headache. He picked up Tae and slung her over one hip, then slid an arm around Mir. "Tae, Mir, come and have a lie-down with me. I'm tired from my trip."

"Will you read to us, Tati?"

"Of course."

It was not until many years later that he understood what 'induction' really meant.

~

The day came.

Ba'kif sent a prayer of thanks to his ancestors that Tae had been accepted to the Academy of Sciences on Sposia and would leave before his ceremony. By now she knew what the white uniform meant. Once he left, his family would mourn as if for his death. Even if he should die in the line of duty, he would have a memorial on Naproar.

"I don't want to go." Tae's arms held to his middle and her tears soaked his shirt. "Can't I stay until it's time for you to go?"

Ba'kif's tears fell on her head. "No, love. I'm sorry. You need to start your life, not cry over mine. When it's time for me to retire, you'll be a grown woman. I hope you'll remember me."

He'd likely end up on Sposia, but not anywhere near the academy. The UAG facilities were the most highly secured in the Ascendancy, much to the irritation of the Syndicure, the Nine, the Forty, and the CEDF.

"I will always remember you. Why do you have to go?"

His heart broke inside his chest. Yai, his oldest, was weeks away from having his first grandchild. His wives would be treated as widows, his children as orphans.

"Because before you or any of your brothers and sisters were born, I made a promise to protect the people of the Ascendancy. When I become a general, after my ceremony, I must protect them all as I would protect you." His voice didn't break, and he could be proud of that. "I hoped that this wouldn't come until you were ready to fly on your own. Please, just remember that I am so proud of you, and love you still so much."

Mir pilots the shuttle that will take Tae and Lamiov to Sposia. When the ramp went down, he bid them farewell, and watched as the ramp went up again, and the shuttle lifted into atmosphere. He said his farewells at the homestead, where the mourning lamps were lit once he left the boundary stones. The Admiralty shuttle waits for him at the CEDF post in the secure section of the spaceport.

~

When he was Supreme General, he got a taste of what it was like to raise young ones again. Only this time the young ones had a Taharim education and were additionally too smart for their own good. He took them aboard his vessel and managed to persuade Ja'fosk to give him a free hand with both Ensign Ziara and Ensign Thrawn. Ziara stuffed Thrawn through a four-year education in three years, and essentially took him everywhere she went like a child with a favored plushie. Wags joked that the boy was the Irizi Blood-Daughter's first command, and that he had a fine future ahead of him as a trophy husband once the Mitth let him go.

After dealing with both of them at the academy, Ba'kif knew that Ziara didn't dare to let Thrawn out of eyeshot. He and Ja'fosk were quick to learn that lesson, and set to making sure that both young officers were crosstrained on every station aboard the Ferocious.

In time both moved on to their own commands, but where Ziara rose high Thrawn stuck at senior captain. Dy'lothe, also known as the Late Admiral Dy'lothe for his habit of getting there when the battle was over, stopped Thrawn's promotion to commodore with Ers'ikaro. Both men openly flaunted their connections with the Syndicure and their allegedly former families - the Clarr and the Dasklo. Both men voted to exile Thrawn, along with Af'arilk, agaainst Ar'alani and Ja'fosk.

Thrawn agreed to the intel insertion from his world of exile, and he'd be picked up in three years. But no humans came to that world for five. Thrawn could rightly believe that he's been abandoned and Ba'kif had broken his word. Indeed, Ar'alani confirmed that for him in a visit to Sposia after his return to being Labaki and elevation to Patriarch.

~

The Syndicure passed down the sentence.

Ar'alani, Ba'kif, and Thrawn would be executed at dawn. Their heads would fall under the sword. The Syndicure under Thurfian and the Admiralty under Dy'lothe had been unanimous. Now they could only wait in their cells as the hours ticked toward dawn. Ba'kif sent farewells to his family that he hoped they'd received. It was unheard of to depose a sitting Patriarch, Indeed, it was tantamount to a declaration of war, but he'd named Tae as his successor and Thurfian would kiss Dhav'uul dealing with her.

The ground shook hard and Ba'kif frowned.

That was not an icequake.

He could hear nothing from his cell, but some hours later the ground shook twice more in quick succession and the lights went out. The north glacier reservoir had been shored up ten years ago to handle excess melt. If it had breached, he wouldn't have to worry about losing his head or even drowning - the water was so cold he'd die of shock.

The door to his cell handcranked open, and a squad of guards gestured him out. One moved to put shackles on him only to be shoved back by the sergeant. He moved slowly - the questioning had been hard on him at the age he was now. He could see two more squads ahead of them, Thrawn on a stretcher and Ar'alani in a four-hand carry. Thrawn opened his eyes, smiled, and closed them again.Ba'kif vowed to peel the skin from Thurfian, Dy'lothe, and all their little brown-nosers, then roll them in salt and stake them alive over ice-roach nests.

They exited the Mitth compound into a dark so thick that Ba'kif could have spread it on toast. If memory served, they were heading toward the commercial spaceport and customs instead of the Admiralty or government center port. He was with Ar'alani and Thrawn in one transport. The guards answered no questions, only drove, through they passed over a medikit when Ba'kif asked for one. Ar'alani and Thrawn were in rough shape.

The headlights of the vehicle picked out something that made him blink.

"That's a Gozanti."

"It's one of theirs," the driver spat. "They interdicted the whole system along with the Stybla fleet. She didn't bother to open communications, but cratered the Syndicure as soon as she was in orbit. Then she did the same to the Admiralty and the Mitth reservoir - drained the whole thing into the agriculture caverns."

Thrawn was smiling and Ar'alani rolling her eyes. "Thrawn. She didn't even open negotiations first."

"You don't even know it was her, Ara."

"Shoot first and ask later. I know who it is."

"Captain Little Dragon of the Chimaera." Pyron'di. "And Commodore Old Lion." Pel'laeon.

Ba'kif shut his eyes and breathed out a long sigh of relief. "I shouldn't have worried, Thrawn. I knew they'd come boiling out after you like a nest of firewasps."

They stopped near the boarding ramp, but Ba'kif was almost bowled off his feet by Tae.

Who yelled at him. Shook him. Cried and hugged him. Yelled at him again. "Sesi's so mad at you!"

Medical crews surrounded each of them as the Gozanti lifted off, escorted by a dozen TIE-D fighters for the quick flight to the Chimaera. Ba'kif didn't fight being laid down in the medsled. He was old, tired, and hoped meanly that the Syndicure had been in session when Pyrondi cratered it.

Once they locked onto the Chimaera's docking ring, the captain came to see them. "We'll be taking the prisoners off first."

"Prisoners?" Thrawn lifted his head and Ar'alani pushed it back down to the pillow.

"Mm. The Nine have been deposed. Thurfian, Zistalmu, the Clarr, Dasklo, and Obbic patriarchs, speakers, and syndics prime have been turned over to-" Tae coughed and looked amused. "Old Lion and Little Dragon." He might have some explaining to do concerning Il'yana, but Ba'kif wasn't too worried. "Tati, the UAG is foaming at the mouth to get hands on those ships not to mention that bac'tah..."

Ba'kif closed his eyes, pain medications easing his injuries, the medics already starting work.

[julesdraws]

wanted to practice fat body anatomy ended up creating a beautiful chiss lady???

anyways i shall name her Lakari, short for Stybla'ka'rino

[autismmydearwatson]

If I had a nickel for every time some rich Ruling Family tried to snare Thrawn out of the Mitth and adopt him only for him to effectively decide he had better places to be I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice

[starwarsrecrimination]

Canon Character Design: Thurfian

Mitth'urf'ianico first appeared in Chaos Rising, the first of the Thrawn: Ascendancy novels, as a Syndic of the Mitth Family with aspirations towards becoming the Family's Speaker, the head of the Family's delegation to the Chiss Syndicure, its supreme ruling body. By the end of the trilogy, he has attained the role of Mitth Patriarch, the highest-ranking member of the Family. Though late in his years, in Recrimination Thurfian continues to act with cunning and strength of will in order to safeguard the Mitth against any threat or instability, whatever the cost.

The illustration below was created using @/elenaillustrate's Picrew, which can be found here.

[Image ID: An illustration made using Picrew. The subject is an older Chiss man, with blue skin and narrowed solid red eyes with thin light white rings. His long dark hair is tied in a high ponytail and allowed to flow slightly behind him, and he wears a thin gold circlet with red and white gemstones. He has several red and gold piercings in his left ear, including a golden cuff in the shape of a bird of prey which perches on the upper part of his ear. His red tunic has a high collar and gold piping, and his hand clutches the golden hilt of an ornamental sword, held close. The expression on his face is calm and slightly disdainful. The background is a dark blue sky with a white circle framing the subject. End ID.]

[vaarians]

List of Terms: Chiss Ascendency Edition

(If I missed anything, please add in reblogs; I feel like I've forgotten stuff. Some of these are just assumptions based on the context around them.)

For all your Chiss Ascendency writing/roleplaying needs:

General Terms

Cheunh - Chiss Language

Minnisiat - Trade Language

Tybroic - Ancient language of the Stybla

Chaos - Name for the Unknown Regions by a native

Lesser Space - Main part of the Star Wars Galaxy

Syndicure - main governing body

Nine Ruling Families - head ruling body

Comm - Phone

Questis - Tablet

Data Cylinder - Storage Device

Univers - Universal Currency in the Chaos

Credit Chit - Money

Tube Car - Type of rail transport

Tube Car station - Rail Station

Skycar - Car

Skytruck - Truck

Dayroom - Sitting Room

Yapel - Waffles

Striped Fruit Squares - Poptarts

Nutpaste - a Nut Butter or Spread

Caccoleaf - coffee

Galara tealeaf - tea

Grillig-Juice packet - Capri Sun

Cooker - Oven/Stove

Nyix - Thicker metal used mainly in war ship building

Star Day - Birthday

Lurestick - electronic catch pole

Communication Triad - Three Poled device used to transmit communications across the Chaos. The bigger the Triad, the longer range the communication.

Animals

Yubals - Cows

Packbulls - a different breed of Cow? Donkey? Horse?

Whisperbird - hummingbird

Stingfly - Bee?

Whiskercub - Domesticated Cat

Groundlion - Big Cat

Growzer - Domesticated Dog

Firewolf - Type of Wild Dog

Blinkbirds - Hawk or Predator Bird

Nighthunter - Large constrictor serpent-like creature

Military Terms

Breacher - Missile with acid inside of it

Plasma Sphere - glop of fluid used to disable ships

Spectrum Lasers - Turbolasers tuned to a ship's electrostatic barrier frequency

Crippler Nets - electronic nets used to cripple ships electronics systems

Electrostatic Barrier - Type of ship shield

Gunboat - Starfighter

Missile boat - Starfighter

Heavy Cruiser - Destroyer type warship

Light Cruiser - Smaller warship

Patrol Cruiser - Smaller warship

Nightdragon Man of War - Largest Ship in the Fleet

Defense Fleet - Stays inside the Ascendency Border

Expansionary Defense Fleet - Protects the Ascendency from outside the limits of the Ascendency

Family Fleet - Fleets supplied by one of the Nine Ruling families

Military Ranks

Enlisted Ranks

Cadet

Senior Cadet

Junior Warrior

Mid-Warrior

Senior Warrior

Lieutenant

Lieutenant-Commander

Junior Commander

Mid-Commander

Senior Commander

Junior Captain

Mid-Captain

Senior Captain

Flag Ranks

Commodore

Mid-General

Mid-Admiral

General

Admiral

Senior General

Fleet Admiral

Supreme General

Supreme Admiral

Political Ranks

Patriarch - head of family

Speaker - head of family in the Syndicure

Syndic Prime - head syndic

Syndic - member of the Syndicure

Patriel - handles family business on the planetary scale

Councilor - handles family business on the local level

Aristocra - mid-level member of the Nine Ruling families

Family Ranks

Merit Adoptive

Trial-Born

Ranking Distant

Cousin

Blood

Ruling Families

Ufsa

Irizi

Dasklo

Clarr

Chaf

Plikh

Boadil

Mitth

Obbic

Forty Great Families

Xodlak

Kiwu

Pommrio

Erighal

Stybla

Sayings

"Son of a growzer," - Son of a bitch

[netmors]

STAR WARS: Eleventh Fleet AU

And again the concept art in the "Eleventh Fleet"...

This time will be the Supreme Admiral Ba'kif and beholder Brierly Ronan. A post about human will be the following, and now “thoughts out loud - part third” about the old, who has seen life, chiss.

Admiral's design was exemplary "officer, concise and practical", only thing that showed his high status - the white form and honor chains (which are "individual", and not all, like Thrawn's, kriff, I will have to redo the chains in the future).

Kivu'raw'nuru, the future Mitth'raw'nurudo, unconsciously adopted such a practical image for himself.

At the beginning of the stories of Karyn and Eli, former Supreme General took the highest position in the hierarchy of the Chiss navy fleet. Perhaps it was this event that the fleet saved from the catastrophe that led to the civil war in the dominance, and then the war with the grysks, which lasts up to the events of the "Ahsoka".

The cost of salvation of fleet personally for Ba'kif became a scar passing on the left side of the face. Ronan couldn't completely remove him with the help of the created bacta's analogue, but he saved his face from more serious damage.

The future director of the UAG is a universal analytical group, in fact, a lot will do a lot for its unexpected protector. Admiral, in turn, will secretly help his protege. It is Ba'kif who will help Lyron (chiss interpretation of the name Brierly Ronan) to attract, and then make Stybla's Family with his ally.

And Ronan was able to make an analogue of hot chocolate, and Ba'kif now drinks this drink in liters. And when Vanto showed that you can still add different “toppings” to the drink (Eli made such drinks for Un'hee), the seasoned admiral discovered a whole “marvelous new world”. However, this is a secret for nine seals.

And the reserves for the preparation of the "caf" were captured by Ar'alani and Mak'ro.

By the way, Stybla Family is no less interesting "house" than the same Mitth. One information about them is worth it. But more on this is another time.

Hmm, and in addition to the thoughts of Ba'kif … If you imagine how the character sounds, then the voice acting of Peter Kallen, the voices of Optimus Prime, would be just perfect. Well, Andrei Yaroslavtsevin the russian version too (seriously, listen to his voice, he voiced Prime very well) ///v///

[thrawns-backrest]

A reworked illustration for my patriarch fashion headcanons. Click for better quality and as always, headcanons under the cut.

Patriarchs (featuring Thurfian and Lamiov)

With Patriarchs we see the appearance of long jackets, wide lapels and tall structured collars (attached to the outfit separately). The most prominent difference for ruling patriarchs is that the outerwrap robe fastens with two twin knots rather than one.

The jackets are both long-sleeved and sleeveless depending on the intricacy of the undergarments and the wearer’s desire to show them off.

Patriarchs wear distinctive headpieces (will cover in another post) and conform to the traditional long hairstyles. The separately attached collars are modified in the back to better allow for these styles. These collars were originally meant to demonstrate proper posture and fit best when the wearer was standing or sitting upright. Their rigidity and restrictiveness has decreased with time but they still serve to highlight the wearer’s stance.

For Patriarchs the top of the white underwear robe is visible above the underrobe collar – normally underwear garments are supposed to be concealed but these robes were given tall necklines to prevent chafing to the neck from the structured collars worn on top. Because of this function they were made from fine silk. Eventually they became a status symbol (both because of the expensive material used and the fact that it was used in combination with structured collars) and began to be worn more visibly.

The overskirt, coming in several variations, is another characteristic item. Being the most traditional element of the patriarchs’ ensemble, it’s become obscure in other ranks and distinctive as a result. The pleating is meant to demonstrate an abundance of fabric, often embroidered, and its only use is for layering and decoration rather than practical purposes.

Somewhat counterintuitively, Patriarch robes have less lavish lower hems (absent the usual flaring cut) to allow for ease of movement and compensate for the extra weight added by the jacket length, overskirt and other weighty decorative elements and accessories.

In terms of curiosities, the Stybla are an interesting case both because their Patriarch is allowed to wear ruling family regalia despite not being one of the nine and because they preserve some older elements in their garments from the time they were the only ruling family. Like the hanging gold pin style of displaying their family crest.

All in all, cuts, accessories and colors vary depending on the wearer’s preference and current fashions but most patriarchs conform at least partially to established traditions.

[cloudwhich]

enjoy this rambling i found in my notes app after i listened to the ascendancy trilogy audiobooks for the first time. i was working on my final animation project and i literally had to stop and write this down in the studio at like two am

it is SO heartbreaking ‘re-reading’ thrawn ascendancy. Like it just hurts my soul a little bit. I’m near the end of the third book after the final battle and GOD. Every character mentioned has such a distinct personality. Everything meshes together. The perspectives come from every single person EXCEPT thrawn. In a book about him. GENIUS.

The eventual trust that forms between Samakro and Thalias as well… after so much drama… honestly. Both of them as characters are so potent and persuading… they are real in my mind. And in my mind they are happy. (Also. I think I ship it)

AND ZIINDA… my love for her. A flawed character, but likable for relatable reasons. Her old doubts shadow her but she Persists. And does the right thing!!!! Also the way she’s voiced in the audiobook is just so fun. Like a reserved, slightly southern accent. Her and Sakmaro’s voices are so good. Each characterizes them PERFECTLY. Thank god for good voice actors to read my Star Wars audiobooks 🙏

IT WAS A PUNCH IN THE FUCKING GUT when Thrass was first mentioned because I knew what was coming. As did everyone else. But the memory interludes… good god. Those two deserved to live and thrive together it HURTS. And seeing Thrass’ view of thrawn through his perspective… they are BROTHERSSS. THRAWN NEEDED THAT BRO. And the words repeated from outbound flight in the last flashback… I cried in the studio. A single tear ran down my face bro PLEASEEEEE and I am DREADING the final flashback. I know the pain that awaits me. And then Thrawns final exile… why WHYY

Oh. Wutroow and Aralani my favorite command duo. Ever. Such a good dynamic it makes me wonder… (I can’t prove it. But they kissed once.)

But don’t get me STARTED on aralani and thrawn. Don’t. Because I can’t even. Equally stoic and skillful, but Thrawns autistic socially awkward ass wouldn’t survive a second without Ziara . And also… Don’t play. We all heard what she said about their museum “outing”. Ziara thought thrawn was taking her out. But she still enjoyed watching him ramble about art. Then she asks to GO BACK TO HER QUARTERS WITH HIM to “show him her wire sculptures”. And all that oblivious man does is Study. The. Sculptures. And psychoanalyze her. and THEN. Yall SPARRED??? Oh my god. Please. They probably had the most situationshipy friendship ever that only Aralani realizes ever had that connotation to it. I think after that ‘date’ ended she was like yeah. he’s either gay, autistic, or completely oblivious but i like his weird ass mind so imma keep him around

Oh. And Ba’kif was Stybla?? Did not know. I fuck w the Stybla not gonna lie. big fan of family drama

also. I find it so fucking funny when the officers get pissed off and curse or go out of standard protocol. I be giggling and kicking my feet when one of them says “damn”. Or when they swear under their breath WHAT DID YOU SAYYY I NEED TO KNWO

final thought: let Wutroow curse. Homegirl is itching to drop an f bomb let her do it

[thought-42]

Anyway in an Ascendancy au Ezra Bridger gets adopted by the Stybla because he’s an alien artifact send tweet

[hydr0phius]

Some crack summaries (and just general notes) of Greater Good like how I did with Chaos Rising

Ar'alani: We have technology to aim our weapons with but I'm going to just eyeball this shot here.

...

Thalias: *enters the bridge, is exhausted*

Samakro: Wow, you look like shit.

Thalias: Thanks so much. I really appreciate that.

...

The side of Thaliamakro in this book has me giggling and kicking my feet. If they don't get together romantically I am still here for the friendship. I love them skdjfhsdjf. SAMAKRO SHE'S NOT A SPY THOUGH, MATE-

...

Laknym & Thalias: *open their mouths to explain something to Che'ri or to ask a question of each other while they're down in secondary command*

Kharill: SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Thalias: We're-

Kharill: SHHHHHH. NO. NO TALKING. SHUSH.

...

The ominous things being hinted at about the Stybla family's past (the most vicious warriors etc). I'm intrigued. Tell me MORE.

...

*Samakro & Thrawn talking about keeping the Magys on the Springhawk & it's low key an argument*

Samakro: And what do you suppose the Syndicure will think of this?

Lakinda, internally: I hope I don't get dragged into this.

Thrawn: Actually, I wasn't going to tell them *looks at Lakinda*

Lakinda, now officially in the argument: Uhhhh

...

Lakinda: STUPID THRAWN TAKING ALL THE DAMN GLORY!!!!! I DISLIKE THIS MF-

...

Thalias: *wakes up*

The Magys in hibernation:

Thalias: Who the fuck put that the- wait, I said Thrawn and Samakro could put it here. Uh. *proceeds to dress for the day throwing side eye looks at the hibernation chamber and wondering if the magys is just suddenly going to wake up and jump scare her (she's not)*

...

Thalias: *opens the door*

Che'ri, instantly looking inside: WHat's ThAt-

Thalias: A coffin!

Che'ri:

Thalias:

Che'ri: That's a bit weird.

Thalias: The Magys is in hibernation to stop her from offing herself.

Che'ri: o h.

...

Ba'kif: *giving the new orders for Thrawn to be shifted out to the Paataatus again, except there's a lot of political shit going on at the same time*

Samakro: *needling for a bit more info in a subtle way*

Thrawn: *no fucking idea what's happening, but not too pleased about going to the Paataatus hive-home world when he's got a Magys in hibernation in Thalias' room and a puzzle to solve back on Sunrise*

...

Jixtus having music and beanbags at his meeting with Haplif. Haplif struggling to get out of the beanbag with dignity. Jixtus telling him he should bird watch more often.

...

Thurfian: *frothing at the mouth with sheer rage after hearing about the scuffle over Sunrise with the unknown dreadnaught + Lakinda's assistance*

Zistalmu: *approaches*

Thurfian, internally: What if I just laid into him? What if I gave him a verbal lashing? A bit of a tickle up? I'd feel better if I tore something to shreds-

(Also Thurfian): Don't do that. Focus on the end game. FOCUS ON THE END GAME.

Zistalmu: You look happy.

Thurfian: Fuck you-

...

Lakjiip: Look at this *hands Lakuviv the metal report from the Agbui jewellery*

Lakuviv:

Lakuviv: THat's fucKING NYIX ALLOY-

Lakjiip: I KNOW

...

Haplif: *does anything*

Lakphro: What are you planning??? I'll find out. I'll know-

...

Lakjiip: Tell no one of these brooches.

Lakphro: Of course.

*later*

Lakphro: *calls his cousin who is married to a scientist who has connections with other scientists that work with metals etc* Hey so there's this jewellery I'm going to send it to you in the mail-

...

Lakbulbup: Send it through express post.

Lakphro: Have you SEEN the rates for that lately????

...

Qilori of fucking Uandualon. Back again and causing havoc we're all going to see later. He's going to be the reason the skywalkers are targeted by the Grysk, isn't he...

...

Shimkif: Marry me.

Haplif: wHAt-

Shimkif: It'll gain Yoponek and Yomie's trust. It'll be fake too

Haplif: Oh ok.

...

Shimkif: Sorry I was gone so long. I was busy poisoning birds.

Haplif: Amazing.

Yomie: I found another migration up north.

Haplif, internally: No the hell you did not-

...

Haplif: I don't like birds. I've had enough of birds.

Shimkif: *poisons Yomie*

Haplif: Nice, we're out of here.

***

RIP Yomie, you had the brains to figure the Agbui out, but your silly fiancé did not and now we're in a bit of a pickle. Haplif giving Yoponek the brooch he took from Yomie's corpse to Yoponek and telling him she left it for him to pin it to her dress on their wedding day when they met again and Yoponek just believing that day will come and meanwhile Yomie's floating in the damn VOID-

I'm sad about them.

...

Ar'alani: You need to identify yourselves.

Battle Dreadnaught: We've been begged by the people of this world to protect them from threats.

Ar'alani: Oh, so you've talked with the Magys, too?

BD: The what?

Ar'alani: The leader of the people of Sunrise.

BD: Never heard of it.

BD: We were begged though. We will get rid of you if you don't leave.

Ar'alani: Mate-

...

Ar'alani: You need to bring that asteroid's missile with you

Lakinda: Ok.

*later & with no asteroid missile (too slow to get it out intact in time to provide aid to the Vigilant)*

Ar'alani: uUUhhhhh we might not do well with this now...

*more battle. Lakinda lays into the damaged side of the Dreadnaught and pretty much takes it out after Ar'alani draws enemy fire to her ship.*

Ar'alani: Yeah, nice.

...

Lakinda: Oh my stars, what if Thrawn's not even that good? What if it was just Ar'alani all along- no. No, he is good. He just learned from the best. *is a little bit obsessed with Ar'alani and Thrawn's history*

...

Ar'alani: Ok, Csilla said you have to go help Thrawn with the pirates, but I know you have beef with him-

Lakinda: I do NOT have beef with Thrawn.

Ar'alani: You get this annoyed look and tone whenever you interact with him even if he's not being annoying.

Ar'alani: Anyway, as Admiral I can just keep you here if you don't want to go.

Lakinda: No, it's fine.

Ar'alani: Sure.

...

HHhhh ok. Haplif is getting so much Chiss info and Lakuviv and Co. are completely unaware they're being played and I'm scared about how this whole thing with the Nyix mines is going to play out.

...

Lakbulbup: Hey so there's this guy called Senior Captain Thrawn and he's good with analysing art-

Lakphro: Yeah fine. Send the brooch to him.

...

Captain Fsir: aaaaa help, we're being attacked by Vagaari scouts.

Thrawn, off mic to the bridge crew: This is a set up.

...

Thrawn: I have a plan but I need to see inside your ship first.

Fsir: What-

(He got invited over and took them down so fast at the "pirate base" because of it lmao).

...

Lakooni: *comm dies after she sends the emergency family summons* LAKUVIV. Your comm is shiet

Lakuviv: That officer you were talking to was me, I'm sorry it had to go this way *pulls a blaster on her* if you'll follow me to my private rooms-

Lakooni, absolutely furious: I'm going to fuck you up so bad for this, do you even know? Do you know what you've unleashed? I'll end your entire career, you backstabbing son of a bi-

Lakuviv: *raises blaster a bit higher*

Lakooni: FIne.

(I can't be the only one whose mind went straight to the gutter and wondered if AO3 had anything with them jxfkjeasdfkjsd)

...

Every time someone says "yeah, we'll swing by," (which is a lot actually now that I think about it) gave me a bit of a giggle. It made conversation feel more real.

...

Lakinda when the summons came through: Ok but does Thrawn NEED me there? no. He just needs my ship *leaves*

...

Apros when Grayshrike eventually meets up with Springhawk: Lakinda got called away on a family emergency order put out to all CEDF Xodlak that weren't in immediate battles or on critical missions.

Thrawn, pissed: WHAt-

Samakro, also pissed and angry at Apros: DID YOU TRY TO STOP HER?

Apros, not able to be pissed with Thrawn because he's higher rank, but able to be pissed with Samakro because they're the same rank and therefore fair game: YES. WHY THE FUCK WOULD I NOT?

Apros: oh btw, Thrawn, she said this had come for you *gives him Lakphro's brooch*

Thrawn: Ooh, pretty.

...

Thrawn to the Magys: Wakey wakey, do you know what this is? *holds up the brooch*

The Magys: The work of my people. It looks new, though.

Thalias: surprise, they're not dead.

The Magys: There is hope!

*when they've put The Magys back into hibernation*

Thrawn: We also have three families being scammed.

Samakro: *grumpy noises*

...

Lakinda, just woken up: What do you want?

Thrawn over comms: You're being scammed. There are no mines. It's a set up.

Lakinda: Damn.

Thrawn: I have a plan though!

Lakinda once he's explained: From the bottom of my heart, what the fuck-

Samakro: That's insane actually.

Thrawn: Well if you two come up with anything better, let me know <3

...

Samakro convincing everyone that Thrawn's plans are strictly military and that he's got no clue with politics and doesn't know how to play them anyway (which is still wild to me tbh. I don't believe it) and then even convincing himself on it too/that Thrawn's their best commander even if his plans are insane sometimes.

...

I'm still processing the 3 families showdown over Sunrise but Thrawn's plan worked a treat even with family politics fucking up Lakinda's end (my girl got thrown in the brig for talking to Thrawn/warning him that at the end of this the embarrassment at finding out they were being scammed would have worse fallout than the actual fight that they didn't think of when they were making the plan).

...

Lakinda: Oh my gods it was Ar'alani copying Thrawn's tactics the whole time-

...

Thyklo: Patriarch Thooraki is dead.

Thurfian: Ah. Condolences.

Thyklo: You're replacing him.

Thurfian: It is an honour.

Thurfian, internally: holy FUCK- Zistalmu is going to lose his damn mind lmfao.

[zhakyria]

Misc. Scenes. Pt. 1

This scene takes place at the end of Thrawn: Treason, right before Thrawn contacts the Emperor.

Thrawn entered his quarters to find Eli standing there. “Lieutenant Commander Vanto, should you not be departing for the Steadfast?”

Eli turned to face him. There was a touch of worry around his eyes, a set to his jaw and tightness to his features that indicated determination. “Forgive me sir, the Admiral requested that I give you this before we depart.” He held out a small box. 

Thrawn took the proffered box and opened it. Inside, settled against the foam, was a four pointed star, the emblem of House Stybla. He closed the box and held it back to Eli. “Tell Admiral Ar’alani and General Ba’kif that I appreciate the gesture. However….”

Eli held up his hand. “The Admiral made it clear that under no circumstances am I to take no for an answer.” 

Thrawn felt his throat tighten and an old ache return to his chest. He brushed past Eli and set the box on his desk. He leaned against it, gripping the front edge in an attempt to keep his emotions in check. “Is that all Lieutenant Commander?” He asked tersely.

“No, sir. Permission to speak freely?”

“I am not your commanding officer any more, Lieutenant Commander, permission is not necessary.”

“With all due respect sir, you were my Commanding Officer, and are a Grand Admiral of a foreign power. I ask as a courtesy.”

Thrawn straightened and turned a critical eye on his former aide. “Permission granted.”

“Sir, why do you stay? The Ascendancy needs you, our people need you, I….” He paused as if to say more, then shook his head. “The Syndicure refuses to recognize the threat the Grysk represent. They are unwilling to see that the Ascendancy is at risk of tearing itself apart from within.”

Eli had referred to the Chiss as their people. The ache in his chest grew in intensity. “My mission here is not yet complete.”

“I call bathashit, Sir.” Eli squared his shoulders. His hands balled into fists. “Your tie defender program is dead, and the Stardust project now continues with increased funding. We both know that that project should not be allowed to reach its conclusion.”

“I am well aware of that, but my position is already uncertain. My recent actions will not be looked upon favorably.”

Eli stepped closer. “Then promise me you will do what you can to end it.”

Thrawn wanted to make that promise and more. He brought his hand up to touch Eli’s face, then stopped and let his hand fall back to his side. “I cannot make that promise.”

“Cannot or will not?” Anger laced through Eli’s voice.

“The difference matter’s little.” Thrawn turned away, only to stop when Eli grabbed his arm.

“It matters to me.” Eli stared at where he gripped his arm, not meeting Thrawn’s gaze. The anger in his voice was replaced with trepidation.

Thrawn resisted the desire to pull Eli into his arms and make the promise he asked of him. “Cannot.” 

Eli released his grip on his arm and once more looked up at him. There was defeat etched across his face. “One more question, Sir. Why did you send me to the Ascendancy?”

To protect you, from the enemies that would use you to harm me.

This time Thrawn didn’t stop himself. He reached out and cupped his hand around Eli’s face, brushing his thumb across the freckles that dotted his cheek. Eli sucked in a sharp breath and his eyes widened. 

“You already know the answer to that, Eli.” His expression softened and he smiled, setting his forehead against Eli’s. “We walk different paths, ones that may not converge again, but know that I will be by your side, even if only in memory.”

He straightened to his full height and clasped his hands behind his back. “We have delayed long enough. It is time for you to return to the Steadfast. May warrior’s fortune favor you, Lieutenant Commander Vanto.”

Eli stiffened to attention. “And you, Admiral Thrawn.” He then reached up and straightened Thrawn’s collar and brushed a wrinkle out on his shoulder. His hand lingered a few moments too long before he turned and walked out the door.

Thrawn stayed there, his eyes locked on the door until a chime on his communicator alerted him to the departure of the Admiral’s shuttle. Ten minutes later, he received another chime indicating that the Steadfast had jumped to hyperspace. 

He sat down at his desk and pulled the box to him. He opened it up and propped the Stybla star upright. It was his medal, the one that he’d left with General Ba’kif for safe keeping, the one he’d been given alongside the -odo honorific attached to his name. It represented a time in his life when he knew what was required of him.  

He keyed in the holofrequency of Emperor Palpatine. Perhaps there was still time to set things right.

[thrawns-babygirl]

Finally, my thoughts on Lesser Evil

The memories chapters in this book? Chefs kiss.

Exactly what I want out of the memories chapters in these books. Small insights into Thrawn's life outside being in command of a ship. If Zahn gave me a full novel that was just slice of life I would eat that shit UP.

Thurfian and Zistalmu getting divorced was hilarious, I love those two so much. They are so in love I love them. Little political gremlins.

Some spoilers under the cut

Oh my God, I knew it was coming, but Thrass' death chapter literally killed me. Like, Zahn you can't rip my heart out like that. Thrawn needs his brother man, come on.

The scene at the very end with Thrawn getting exiled hurt until the conversation between Ba'kif and Ar'alani. Like, I knew that it the plan to get him in touch with the Empire, but watching my man get his honour chains removed at the trial hurt so bad after all he's done for the Ascendancy. Like, my man has given EVERYTHING for his people and Thurfian is there rubbing his grubby little hands together thinking he finally bested our Senior Captain Blueberry.

Speaking of shit that hurt. The scene with Borika. Man. "I dont remember him" bruh. And the fact that Thrawn never got to meet her before he was exiled killed me.

Speaking of shit that killed me.

Thrawn sitting at the bistro, alone, thinking of Thrass during his last night on Csilla. Tim you monster. That shit hurt me so bad.

The final fight between the Chiss and the Grysk above sunrise was amazing, watching Thrawn command the entire Chiss fleet so effectively was sexy as fuck. Go off king, do your thing.

Roscu pissed me off the entire book, except for the very end, which I know was Zahn's intention with her character so props for good writing. She pissed me off.

Wutroow remains my favourite. I love her so much. The way she finesses Roscu into giving away information by saying Ar'alani was sulking, absolute queen shit. I love her so much.

Oh and the Stybla ceremony where thrawn gets the "odo" suffix on his name was lovely. Its little insights into chiss culture that I live for.

And the reveal that Ba'kif was Stybla before he became supreme general was also a nice touch.

Samakro realising he's actually come to respect Thrawn 🥺🥺 yes, thank you king.

The whole ending was so bitter-sweet. It was by far my favourite of the three. I loved it so much.

I've already read Thrawn (2017) and Thrawn: Alliances and a friend told me to read the Ascendancy trilogy before reading Treason and TBH I think that was amazing advice because now I have such a good background for the Chiss and Ar'alani's character that I didn't have before. So stay tuned for my mad ramblings about Treason in the coming days.

Tl:dr

Best book in the series, Thrass was pure husband material and was taken from us too soon. I now have so many chiss ships and nothing to do with them.

[marroniere]

fic: strength of heart (tenderness of the soul), thranto, E, WIP

Word count: 179,243 words so far (5000-word chapters are posted twice a week, 37 chapters overall)

Warnings: canon-typical violence, angst with a happy ending, mpreg, Thrawn dealing with his traumatic past

Excerpt:

A few minutes later, as Thrawn walks into his room, he stills. Never in his life has he been so sharply aware of the fact he may be seeing this house—and everyone who lives here, all the people who have become his family—for the last time. Death is always a possibility, especially in his line of work. He is, first and foremost, expendable. If he is to give his life, he will plan it in such a way that it wins a little time for those staying in the Ascendancy to protect themselves.

Only he doesn’t want to.

Instead of giving up his life, he would like to stay on Naporar, renovate certain parts of the house, expand his new art collection, add more ships to the Stybla fleet, raise Rikeil, Riste, Riat, and Larass to be brave, decent, curious, and hard-working people, show them the world or at least the Ascendancy worlds they have never seen, show them the planet he grew up on, wake up by Eli’s side every morning, have another child with Eli—the list is extensive.

When he thinks about those things, he realizes that they only make what he is fighting for even clearer.

He casts a glance at the small wooden cabinet by the window and opens its top shelf. Looks at its contents. The artifacts of all the lives he has managed to live and abandon. An old Imperial rank plaque. A ring with an engraving of entangled snakes. The same snakes he ordered engraved on the Chimaera’s hull. The first piece of art he was ever given, by an alien and a comrade-in-arms, a token of gratitude from the Paccian people. Thrawn never believed he deserved it. The Paccosh did far more in their own defense and the defense of Sunrise than he did. But he did allow himself to hold onto that memory.

Holding onto certain memories—of friendship, of camaraderie, of love—is beneficial. As well as holding onto certain hopes.

In the meantime, an idea comes into Thrawn’s head.

He traces the engraving on the ring with his finger.

Perhaps some things do not have to stay memories, old and distant.

Perhaps accidental allies can unite for more than one battle, even if decades have passed.