Ceasing Hostilities
Second Sister came before Thrawn and said coldly, "You are under arrest, Grand Admiral Thrawn."
Thrawn merely smiled with great composure. "Should I be grateful that you still address me as Grand Admiral?"
Second Sister said, "Since His Majesty the Emperor personally granted you that rank, we will naturally respect it—even if you have committed grave crimes."
Thrawn countered, "The Emperor who granted me that rank is already dead."
Second Sister glanced at him, then simply turned away and ignored him. She waved a hand. "Take him away."
Thrawn frowned. He had noticed several details... There was a fist-shaped insignia on the Inquisitors' cloaks, one that did not conform to the old Imperial system. Furthermore, judging by Second Sister's words, they still seemed to respect Palpatine's decisions?
The two Death Trooper soldiers Second Sister had brought, clad in black polymer-alloy armor, shoved Thrawn and took him away.
Immediately afterward, all the Imperial warships present began turning around and withdrawing from the battle, no longer fighting the Fourth Empire fleet to the death. The three Super Star Destroyers within the atmosphere in particular turned directly around and flew toward the other side of Coruscant.
But even so, this fleet had already suffered unimaginably severe losses.
Especially the warships fighting outside the atmosphere—retreating was not simply a matter of wanting to retreat.
For example...
Iron Fist!
Imperial Marshal Niel Declan had now descended into madness. After Palpatine's death, his mind had already suffered a devastating blow. Then, at Thrawn's request, he had activated Battle Meditation once more to support the Imperial fleet's counterattack.
By now, his mind was nearing collapse. The Dark Side had eroded his will, turning him into a bloodthirsty, deranged madman.
His eyes were bloodshot, his fingers dug deeply into the edge of the console, and he