Star Wars: Thrawn

by Timothy Zahn

There was a slight pause, and Eli had the eerie sense that Thrawn was giving the Emperor one of those small smiles he was so good at. “I do not need their permission to protect them, Your Majesty. Nor do I expect their thanks.”

No matter how far down the social scale a person was, he added sourly to himself, there was always someone lower.

A shiver ran up Eli’s back, the ghosts of the old stories whispering through his mind. Chiss didn’t make idle boasts or promises. And once they set their minds to something, they succeeded or died in the attempt. Maybe he really thought he could make admiral someday.