"Which parts did you disagree with?"

Pellaeon's jaw clenches. He does not look at Thrawn.

"Many might say his anti-alien sentiment ran to extremes, sometimes to the detriment of the Empire as a whole."

"I thought the destruction of Alderaan was wasteful and shortsighted, myself," adds Thrawn, somewhat amused with Pellaeon's discomfort.

Callida raises her eyebrows.

"By what method was it destroyed?"

"One of the Death Star's more famous capabilities was the ability to destroy planets."

"Why," says Callida blankly, "would you build not one, but two."

Occlus rolls her eyes.

"Superweapons," she murmurs.

"And the Death Stars, yes," says Pellaeon.

"Why would you want to destroy a planet when habitable planets are so very useful," mourns Callida. "Almost anything else would be better for whatever destructive goal you're attempting to accomplish, except perhaps blowing up the stars the planets orbit."

"It is," says Grand Admiral Thrawn, "very memorable."

"Excellent, so everyone can commemorate the pointless destruction of potentially useful future resources, that is how a proper empire is run, not off of intelligent policies or shrewd governing or proper cultural adoption, but big stupid wasteful explosions -" She shakes her head, clearly annoyed.

Oh, Thrawn likes her. She's probably his single biggest potential inhibitor to galactic conquest aside from the Rebels themselves, but he can't help but appreciate her practicality.

Apparently her apprentice has thoughts on this topic. How delightful.

"If we join you, your policies will be different." This is not a question.

"Which would you suggest we replace, and with what?" asks Thrawn to Occlus, and then he looks to Callida for the answer.

"I am going to make," mutters Callida, "a list. At the top, 'Do not blow up planets without very good reason.' Followed by 'xenophobia is shortsighted' and - you didn't actually confirm or deny any of my earlier guesses, I assume genocide must be on the list if it has absurd planetary destruction, but what of the others?"

"Slavery is practiced but victims consist mainly of subjugated alien species, torture is not 'grievous' but it is a useful tool for gaining information when necessary."

Callida sighs heavily.

"I wonder if a Sith was the Emperor or not, my, it's just so very subtle."

"They cannot all be such shining examples as we." Occlus looks to Thrawn. "You will, I think, find all our suggestions entirely reasonable. And if not, we will of course entertain discussion of your objections. You will lay out your overall strategy to us, and we will be consulted on any future changes thereto."

"I trust that you have something to offer the Empire to make up for the trouble?"

Callida's not even sure she wants to work with these people at all, if they do things so incorrectly that they blow up planets. Maybe Thrawn isn't an idiot, but he is not his organization, though he leads it.

Besides, they haven't tried to get back to their own time, if they can, then all of this might be moot. ... Well, moot except for surreptitiously stealing their more advanced technology. If that's even possible.

"Experience in running an Empire that does not need to destroy planets to make a point. My own considerable power. And the proper form of battle meditation."

Occlus wants to see what else this Grand Admiral is capable of. And it sounds like there is something of an empty space in the galaxy that would normally be occupied by a group of Force-users. Perhaps she can make something of that.

And to properly study the Ourobouros she will need the resources of an empire.

"I see," says Thrawn, amused. He glances at Occlus, and then at Callida. If he has these two right, and he's nearly certain that he does, it's the apprentice with the battle meditation. How interesting.

"Describe the possible uses of your considerable power?"

"Divination. Alchemy. Creating objects of power. Various other ritual Sith magics. Training other Sith. And of course, any ground-based battle I take part in is a battle I will win."

"Interesting." He's intrigued. So many potential options. "Any characteristics you require in prospective students? Aside from Force sensitivity, of course."

"In the past, I have been very selective. Few meet my criteria. Under the circumstances, I may be persuaded to relax those standards. My primary requirement is a mind capable of keen thought. I will not teach an imbecile."