Mitth'ali'astov, known by the core name of Thalias, raised as Al'iastov, was a Chiss female Caregiver and former Force-sensitive sky-walker. She was born on Colonial Station Camco to a poor and unrenowned family, and was brought to The Expansionary Fleet complex on Naporar for sky-walker training when she was young. She started navigating when she was seven. At one point, she served as a navigator aboard the Tomra, where she met Thrawn. Her Third Sight only lasted until she was thirteen, a year earlier than a typical sky-walker. She was adopted by the Chiss Ascendancy's Mitth family as a merit adoptive. She then became sky-walker Che'ri's Caregiver, assigned to take care of, teach, supervise, and parent the young navigator. She later became a Trial-born after completing the Trials, with Mitth family Patriarch Mitth'oor'akiord personally welcoming her as a Trial-born of the Mitth. Thalias was born around 52 BBY.

Thalias accompanied Thrawn on many missions, pretending to be a family hostage, multiple times. She found it hard to leave Che'ri behind, as she remembered how hard it was without a caretaker while she was a sky-walker. As the first caretaker in decades who had been a sky-walker herself, Thalias had a much closer relationship to Che'ri than was usual.

When the Springhawk came upon the refugees led by the Magys on Rapacc, the Magys insisted on speaking only with Caregiver Thalias, as Thalias had once touched "The Beyond." The Magys, a Force-sensitive of an unnamed species, sought suicide of the remaining two hundred members of her species so they could "join the Beyond" and heal their homeworld, which had been devastated by a civil war. Thalias sought to prevent the mass suicide of what may be the last survivors of an otherwise extinct species, and sought to provide hope of rebuilding to the Magys. She convinced Thrawn to bring the Springhawk, with Magys and an escort aboard, to the Magys' homeworld, where they were attacked by forces affiliated with the Grysk Hegemony.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Al'iastov, born to an unknown family on Colonial Station Camco, was taken in to be a ozyly-esehembo for the Chiss Ascendancy. She was trained on Naporar. On one mission, she had been aboard a warship escorting a diplomatic mission. The ship had hired a navigator from the Navigator's Guild to continue the illusion that the Chiss didn't have any navigators.

When she was thirteen, she began to lose her Third Sight abilities. After completing the final test of her Third Sight abilities on the Chiss ship, Tomra, she didn't know what was going to happen after she lost her Third Sight. On the way back to her quarters, Thalias met Cadet Mitth'raw'nuru (Thrawn), who was trespassing in a restricted area of the Tomra. After introducing herself with her real name and lying about her identity (she claimed to be the captain's daughter, as she was taught to do), Al'iastov explained that she was concerned about her future. Thrawn reassured her that she would have many possibilities for her future, and that she had the power to choose her own path. Thrawn even got down onto one knee, placing his face slightly below Al'iastov's. Al'iastov remarked to herself that grown-ups never did such things when speaking to her. However, Captain Vorlip stopped Thrawn from talking with her before he could continue. After Thrawn was sent away, Al'iastov, inspired by Thrawn's encouragement and compassion, decided she would request to join the Mitth.^[1]

After being discharged of her sky-walker tenure at Naporar, Al'iastov went to Avidich, where she was adopted into the Mitth family as a merit adoptive, thus changing her name to Mitth'ali'astov (Thalias). She then received her Mitth family schooling on Jamiron. She also spent time on three other Chiss planets.^[1]

Becoming a Caregiver[]

Thalias, knowing of Thrawn's military success, wanted to observe him again. She submitted datawork to come aboard the Springhawk, Thrawn's command ship, as a Mitth family observer (the family of a ship's commander had the right of observation). However, someone in the Mitth family conveniently kept delaying the processing of her request. Thalias would have to fill out new forms and chase down more and more Mitth family officials for approval. These factors resulted in her request being submitted past the deadline. Thus, she was denied to go aboard the Springhawk. Thalias asked if there were any other available jobs aboard the Springhawk, and a personnel officer told her that a new sky-walker had appointed without a caregiver. Thalias and the officer discussed how all sky-walker caregivers had been sky-walkers themselves only 100 years prior. Thalias did not want to relive the memories of her sky-walker life, but she realized that accepting this position was now the only way aboard the Springhawk, so she agreed. As the ship's personnel officer told that more datawork will need to be filed in order for her to be accepted into the position, Syndic Mitth'urf'ianico (Thurfian) conveniently appeared and asked about Thalias. Thalias explained to Thurfian that she was prevented from boarding as a Mitth observer due to someone in the family delaying her datawork. When Thalias told him about the caregiver opening, Thurfian immediately began filling out the necessary forms, explaining that every ship needed a sky-walker and caregiver, due to the looming threat looming over the Ascendancy (an attack on the Chiss capital world of Csilla had just occurred). The personnel officer, hearing Thurfian's urgency, proceeded to allow Thalias to board the Springhawk. The personnel officer then gave Thalias her orders, instructions, and authorizations on her questis and informed her that the Springhawk leaves in four hours and that she should read all the required documents to be prepared for her new role. On the way to the Springhawk, and in exchange for helping her get on the ship, Thurfian demanded that Thalias spy on Thrawn and relate any wrongdoings back to him.^[1]

It had been a while since Thalias had read a Chiss military timetable, but, nevertheless, she was able to arrive at the Springhawk well in advance of the departure time. When she arrived at the sky-walker suite, she saw the Springhawk's new sky-walker, Che'ri, sprawled across a chair playing what she thought was a tap-click game on her questis. Instead of immediately introducing herself to Che'ri, Thalias, remembering how touchy it was for a sky-walker to meet a new caregiver, went to settle into her private quarters. After a bit of time, Thalias introduced herself to Che'ri and engaged in small talk. Che'ri questioned why Thalias had not already known her name, but Thalias assured her that the caregiver assignment was very last-minute. Thalias then discovered that Che'ri, instead of playing a tap-click game, was actually making drawings/collages of pre-existing assets in her questis. Thalias assured that her passion for artistry was a talent to be cherished. This acted as a bonding moment between the two, as previous momishes (caregivers) had called her art "silly". Che'ri explained that she had had eight caregivers before Thalias, and was surprised when Thalias said that she herself had four. Thalias told Che'ri about her time as a sky-walker, and they began to bond further. The two discussed and bonded over the incompetencies of the sky-walker/caregiver system of operation. Eventually, Che'ri asked Thalias if the Springhawk was going into a battle, as she was not told why she was onboard. Thalias reassured Che'ri that Senior Captain Thrawn will get them through any challenge they would face. She asked Che'ri if she would like to read about Thrawn's military career, to which the girl refused, stating her dislike of reading. Thalias sent the files anyway, and, after Che'ri complained about there being too much to read, she promised to create an abridged version at a later time. Thalias then left to meet with the ship's first officer.^[1]

Discovering Rapacc[]

After a battle over the Paataatus Hiveborn homeworld of Nettehi, Che'ri brought the Springhawk out of hyperspace in a quadruple star system. Thrawn ordered the Springhawk to take a break, to which Thalias, recognizing Che'ri's coming overload spell, thanked him. Thalias asked Che'ri if she would like to be helped back to her quarters, to which she declined. Thrawn shared his concern for Che'ri, and Thalias explained sky-walker overload spells and asked if Che'ri can stay on the bridge until she feels well enough to stand and walk back to her suite. Thrawn agreed, and Thalias asked him about the purpose of their mission. Thrawn explained that the Springhawk was investigating the origins of a derelict refugee ship found in the Chiss Dioya system. Later, Che'ri was able to depart back to her quarters. On the way, Thalias and Che'ri discussed overload spells. Thalias shared that she had only ever had to deal with a triple star system, and she commemorated Che'ri for being able to handle a quadruple star system. In the sky-walker suite, Thalias drew a bath for Che'ri, fed her, and put her to sleep.^[1]

Three hours later, Thalias returns to the bridge and sees an alien ship in the distance. She speaks to Samakro, who is assuming command of the Springhawk while Thrawn is aboard the ship with a survey team. The ship had been orbiting the system's planet and only became visible after Thalias had left with Che'ri. Like the derelict ship at Dioya, everyone aboard this ship is dead. Samakro interrogates Thalias about her being a Mitth family spy, citing her desire and troubles getting aboard the Springhawk. Thalias assures Samakro that she does not want to cause any trouble, to which Samakro states that she "just will". Thalias agrees to not get in the way of anything and to accept criticism when she eventually does. Samakro jokes about having a brig aboard if Thalias doesn't follow through on her end of the deal. Thalias counters this threat by stating that she is the only one who will be able to take care of Che'ri, to which Samakro jokes that all caregivers do is cuddle and mix up soup for the sky-walkers. Samakro then explains to Thalias that the alien ship's hyperdrive had failed, causing them to die of asphixiation. Thrawn hails the Springhawk, instructing Samakro to prepare Ready Room Two for the examination of the alien bodies. Samakro confirms that four tables, equipment, and a team of medics are standing by. Thalias follows Samakro, who reluctantly allows her to join him. Samakro prompts Thalias to lead the way to Ready Room Two (she doesn't know the way), reminding her that she would be better off standing out of the way.^[1]

In the examination room, Thrawn explains that most of the bodies have light pink skin, purple eye splotches, and eathery heat crests, but one body had grey skin, was tall and thin, and had large joints and colored tattoo scars. This alien is identified as a Void Guide. The Void Guides were a group within the Navigators' Guild, a force-sensitive group who hired their precognition abilities to people in the Chaos looking to travel at optimal speeds. Thalias states that she is also familiar with the Navigator's Guild. Thrawn, Thalias, and Samakro theorize that the Void Guide (who tried to delete all navigation records) was trying to conceal the origins of the ship.^[1]

As Thrawn begins the biological examination of the alien bodies, Thalias departs for her quarters. When she returns, Che'ri tells her that she had a nightmare. Thalias tells her that she had also had nightmares as a sky-walker and explains the brain's process of putting together a dream from both the immediate memories and the deep fears of an individual. Che'ri asks Thalias if she had ever gotten lost in space. Thalias states that sky-walkers only start to get lost when their Third Sight abilities start to fade. She explains that tests of these abilities are conducted in safe areas (defined hyperspace lanes in the midst of the Ascendancy). Thalias tells Che'ri to trust in her abilities.^[1]

At the Springhawk's next destination, an unknown, blockaded box system, Thalias is asked by Thrawn to accompany him on a mission to one of the system's abandoned asteroid mining stations, to which Thalias agrees. Notably, Thrawn wants Thalias to accompany her on this mission because he predicts that having a female with him will lessen the likelihood of a violent confrontation (his analysis of the refugees on the second refugee ship suggests that the culture holds females with high esteem). He also wants all available personnel (including all females) stationed on the Springhawk in case something were to go wrong with the mission. The Springhawk successfully makes its way within the system, undetected, with the help of Ar'alani's Vigilant. Before this, Che'ri was brought aboard the Vigilant for safety purposes.^[1]

Thalias boards a shuttle with Thrawn and departs to a nearby abandoned asteroid mining station. On the way, Thrawn asks Thalias about her sky-walker career. Thalias had hoped for Thrawn to not notice that detail about her. Nonetheless, they discuss sky-walker burdens, with Thalias describing how fears of inadequacy are common amongst the sky-walker corps. Thrawn states that danger is an implicit part of both a military officer's and a sky-walker's job. Thalias retorts by stating that military officers volunteered to serve, while sky-walkers weren't given any choice. Thrawn concedes the point, and Thalias admits that sky-walkers do not begrudge their service to the Ascendancy. Thrawn then makes Thalias aware that a heat signature has been detected by their shuttle's sensors, indicating that a ship is heading in their general direction. Thalias suggests notifying the Springhawk, but Thrawn says that Samakro probably is aware of the potential threat. Thrawn asks Thalias if she had ever fired a charric, to which Thalias responds by stating that she had only ever fired one on low power settings at a range. Since they will arrive at the mining station well before the other ship, Thrawn intends to invite the ship aboard the mining station so that he can speak with them. This would have the side effect of diverting any attention away from the Springhawk's location.^[1]

Using one of the "universal ports" that many species in the region had adopted over the centuries to accommodate varying sizes of ships, the Chiss shuttle arrives at the mining station. Thalias notes that the air, while stale, was not overwhelming, indicating that whenever the inhabitants had pulled out, they had done so in an orderly fashion. Walking through a corridor, Thrawn definitively confirms that the refugee ships had come from this system. Thalias is dumbfounded as to how he can come to such a conclusion. After examining two floor schematics, the Chiss make their way to the station's control center. Thrawn turns on the exterior lights of the station and leads Thalias to the largest equipment bay to await the aliens' arrival.^[1]

In the equipment bay, the aliens arrive, and Thrawn puts himself in front of Thalias, hoping that the gesture of guarding the female would relate to the alien's culture. However, much to Thalias's surprise, he suddenly placed himself behind her. Four aliens of the same species as those found on the second refugee ship emerge. After determining a common language, Taarja, the alien spokesperson asks the Chiss what they are doing. Thrawn tells him that he and Thalias are explorers wishing to preserve the art of cultures not able to preserve it themselves. He and Thalias then introduce themselves to the alien. The spokesperson asks Thrawn why he is standing behind Thalias. Thrawn explains that he was shielding her from the aliens who were sent to shoot them from behind, having detected the change in the air when they arrived in the secondary hatch. Thalias is once again impressed by Thrawn's alertness and ability to analyze air currents, remembering her first encounter with him aboard the Tomra. The spokesperson clarifies that Thrawn's arrival had made them concerned and that violence was not their intention. The Chiss learn that these aliens are the Paccosh from the planet Rapacc and that they are being blockaded by the Nikardun (led by General Yiv the Benevolent). Upon learning of the Nikardun intentions, Thalias questions how the Paccosh group was able to travel to the mining station if the Nikardun had such a stranglehold over them. The spokesperson reveals that the Nikardun ordered the Paccosh to arrive at the station to see if its sensors picked up any useful information about the Vigilant (the Vigilant was used to hide the Springhawk's arrival).^[1]

Thalias then asks the Paccosh spokesperson what they are intending to do with her and Thrawn, and while the Paccosh consult with each other, Thrawn uses this opportunity to compliment Thalias on her delivery of the question, explaining that their consideration for females may modify their answer. Thrawn also advises Thalias, to her dismay, that they will have to use the charrics if the Paccosh intend to take them as prisoners. The Paccosh spokesperson informs the Chiss that the Nikardun would want them captured if they knew of their presence. Thrawn then asks what the Paccosh require, with Thalias trying to draw even more attention onto herself my adjusting a few strands of her hair with her hand. After being promised that the Chiss would not be detected by the Nikardun and upon learning that the activation of the station's external lights could have been remotely done by the Paccosh, the Chiss are allowed to leave in peace.^[1]

On the way back to the shuttle, Thrawn and Thalias discuss new revelations concerning the Void Guides on the refugee ships. He notes that the first refugee ship left hyperspace too far away to properly communicate with the Chiss Ascendancy. Thalias and Thrawn deduce that the ship's Void Guide must have done this to give the Nikardun an opportunity to attack the refugees. Thrawn also deduces that the Void Guide must have been taken by the Nikardun, as no such body was found aboard the derelict ship. Thrawn also helps Thalias come to the conclusion that the Void Guide on the first refugee ship died in the attack. If the Void Guide survived, then the location of the second refugee ship in the quadruple star system would have been compromised. Thrawn also notes that it was the Paccosh, and not the Void Guides, that suggested the quadruple star system as the rendezvous point. The Chiss prepare to return to the Springhawk and pick up Che'ri from the Vigilant.^[1]

The Tower Dimension and the Lioaoin Regime[]

After the Springhawk returns to Csilla, Thalias and Che'ri are temporarily transferred to the Vigilant, due to the Springhawk's need for repair, where they would navigate ambassador Boadil'par'gasoi (Ilparg) to the Tower Dimension capital of Urch. During the journey, it became apparent that Ilparg did not understand the difficulty of navigating the Chaos, as he repeatedly states his displeasure of Che'ri's "slow" navigation within her earshot. This makes Che'ri upset, and it takes Thalias a lot of effort in order to get her to sleep that night. Upon the arrival at Urch, Thalias notes that a navigational detour made the Springhawk several hours late. This only further upsets Ilparg, prompting him to make another derogatory comment about Che'ri. As Thalias starts to confront him about his comments, the Vigilant is contacted by Urch, stating that they are not welcome. It later becomes apparent that the Vigilant is in the midst of a Nikardun-orchestrated trap. The Vigilant's first commander, Kiwu'tro'owmis (Wutroow) describes the net pattern as a mirror payback, and Che'ri asks Thalias what that means. Thalias does not know, but Thrawn explains it to them. Che'ri becomes anxious about their situation, but Ar'alani soothes her. Ar'alani and Thrawn ask Che'ri if there is an optimal escape vector out of the system, and Thalias tells her that coming up with a correct answer is better than coming up with a quick answer. Once Che'ri selects the optimal escape vector, the Vigilant must perform a risky maneuver that would take it within Urch's atmosphere. The Vigilant is able to escape the system, but Thalias becomes anxious enough to transfer her grip from Che'ri's shoulders to the back of the girl's chair. Thrawn has to remind her to let go after the Vigilant successfully escapes into hyperspace.^[1]

Ar'alani wishes for the Vigilant to go to the Lioaoin heartworld to demand answers for what had just occurred at Urch. Upon arrival, the Chiss find that the Lioaoi have allied themselves to the Nikardun. They were not being subjugated like the Paccosh. When Che'ri brings the Vigilant out of the system, Thalias intently listens to a conversation held between Ar'alani, Thrawn, Wutroow, and Ilparg, in which they discuss this revelation. Ar'alani then ordered Thalias to, at her earliest convenience, wake Che'ri and instruct her to reroute the Vigilant to the Garwian Unity capital world of Solitair.^[1]

Family Hostage at Primea[]

As the Vigilant travels to Solitair, Thalias is invited into Ar'alani's office, where Thrawn is waiting for her. Thalias expects him to be studying Garwian artwork, but she is surprised to instead find him studying a star map of the nearby region. He points out four nations to Thalias: the Lioaoin Regime, the Paccian Governance, the Tower Dimension, and the Paataatus Hiveborn. He mentions that the first three nations, all located near the Chiss Ascendancy's northern and north-eastern zenith borders, are either allied to or have been subjugated by the Nikardun. Thalias questions the inclusion of the Paataatus Hiveborn in Thrawn's study. Thrawn states that even though the Paataatus isn't necessarily next to the other three nations, they show signs of a Nikardun subjugation (Thrawn notes that the Paataatus are gearing up for another attack, which deviates from their usual culture). Thrawn believes that he must study more nations to see if they, too, have succumbed to the Nikardun threat. He also believes that the Garwian Unity would be willing to help in his endeavor. He asks Thalias to be his "family hostage". When Thalias expresses confusion, Thrawn explains that a family hostage is a merit adoptive, exchanged between families, that act as a servant. If rivalries between the two respective families rise, the "hostage" would be killed. Thalias has never heard of this concept before, and Thrawn explains that he just made it up. He believes that Yiv will have the same reaction and might reconsider or delay his plans against the Chiss due to this new information. Thrawn asks if Thalias is willing to go with him to Solitair, and she has doubts as to how Che'ri will take her departure. For the greater good of the Ascendancy, however, Thalias decides to go along, stating that she would need some practice on how to act like a hostage. Thrawn informs Ar'alani that Thalias has agreed to go with him, and Ar'alani asks Thalias if she has any recommendations as to who should take care of Che'ri in the meantime. Thalias says that she does but needs more time to consider her selection. Ar'alani states that she has half an hour to come to the bridge with her decision. When Thrawn ends the call with Ar'alani, he asks Thalias if she has already decided, to which Thalias affirms. She is not sure that Ar'alani will approve of her decision, though. In the bridge, Thalias informs Ar'alani that she wants the admiral to take care of Che'ri, and Ar'alani. reluctantly. accepts. In their quarters, Thalias informs Che'ri that she has to temporarily leave. Che'ri did not take this well. She asks Thalias to get her some graph markers before she leaves, but Thalias says that she couldn't get any before she leaves. Che'ri yells at her over this, exclaiming that she hates her. As Thalias departs with Thrawn to Solitair, Ar'alani notices that her posture is more subdued than normal.^[1]

On the journey to Solitair, Thrawn had insisted on coating Thalias's face with heavy plaster makeup. Much to her dismay, this was to be a part of her hostage disguise. Upon arrival, Thalias and Thrawn meet with Second Defense Overlord Frangelic. Thrawn introduces Thalias as his family hostage, which surprises Frangelic. Thrawn asks Frangelic to keep Thalias's "status" confidential, as the Chiss rarely talk about this aspect of their culture, to which he agrees. After some discussion, Frangelic proposes that Thrawn and Thalias accompany a Garwian diplomatic mission to the Vak Combine homeworld of Primea to investigate their situation with the Nikardun. Thrawn accepts, and Frangelic decides to accompany them as a security escort. Thrawn also suggests that Frangelic introduce him as an art expert looking to verify a theory that the Vak Combine and Garwian Unity had contact with each other tens of millennia ago. Thrawn asks Frangelic if he could refer to Thalias as his "companion", rather than his hostage. Thrawn additionally asks for a medium-sized shipping container for the Chiss' return. Frangelic grants both requests.^[1]

During their journey to Primea, Thalias wishes to obverse the operations of a navigator up close, as she was never allowed to be in the same room as them during her tenure as a sky-walker. When she arrives at the Garwian bridge, she tricks the commander into letting her observe the navigator, and, to her surprise, she sees Qilori in the navigator's chair. She tells Thrawn of this new revelation. Thrawn, not alarmed, informs Thalias that he can use Qilori's presence to the Chiss’ advantage. Upon arrival at Primea, the two Chiss attend a diplomatic reception. Thrawn observes that Qilori and a high ranking Nikardun are in attendance, and formulates a plan to converse with the latter. Within earshot of Qilori, Thrawn admonishes Thalias of her inadequate makeup, noting that a family hostage must have proper decorum. He instructs her to depart to fix it. Qilori overhears this, recognizes Thrawn, and brings him to the Nikardun, who is revealed to be General Yiv the Benevolent. At the conclusion of Thrawn and Yiv's conversation, Thalias returns to Thrawn with new makeup, and Thrawn describes her as a "person of no consequence" to a curious Yiv. After the Chiss depart the reception. Qilori and Yiv discuss Thalias's portrayal as a "family hostage". While Yiv believes it to be a bluff, Qilori notes that there is a slight hesitation in the Nikardun's voice.^[1]

Knowing that Yiv would try to capture them, Thrawn and Thalias had a plan to discretely leave Primea. Before departing Solitair, Thrawn and Frangelic prepared the medium-sized shipping container for their escape. Making their way to a Vak spaceport, Thrawn would talk to as many Vak citizens as possible, hoping to sow the seeds of Nikardun distrust amongst the population (the Combine valued each and every citizen's opinion when making decisions). At the spaceport, Thrawn and Thalias would get into the shipping container, which was grouped with other such containers. It was suited with furniture, food, water, and a somewhat suitable bathroom facility. In the container, Thrawn would interrogate Thalias about her installation aboard the Springhawk. Specifically, Thrawn accuses her of being a Mitth family spy, and Thalias asks him if Samakro had been the one to tell him that. Thalias discusses the implications of Samakro potentially wanting control of the Springhawk again, but Thrawn, like always, does not understand political aspects. Thalias responds to Thrawn's initial question by stating that she is not a Mitth family spy, and she explains that the family had actually blocked her requests at every turn. Thrawn deduces that if the family tried to block her entry into the Springhawk, Thalias must have been the one to initiate the attempt, and he asks her why. Thalias reluctantly tells Thrawn about her simple desire to see him again after he changed her life aboard the Tomra. Thrawn, to her surprise, remembers the incident, and remarks about how Junior Commander Vorlip sent him fifty downmarks for entering a restricted part of the ship. This surprises Thalias, as Vorlip was impressed by Thrawn's ability to analyze the airflow and overall feel of the ship as it moved through hyperspace. Thalias states that Thrawn had given her hope, as she was not sure where her life would go after the end of her sky-walker tenure. Thrawn shares to Thalias that he had an older sister who had disappeared when she was five and when he was only three. He states that he assumed she had died until he learned of the sky-walker corps when he reached bridge rank. Thrawn expresses sorrow because he will likely never see her again, but Thalias tells him that he could surely search the records if he wants to locate her. Thrawn declines, noting how most sky-walkers just want to disappear after their tenures. Thrawn and Thalias would start to play cards. Over the course of the next two days, the shipping containers were lifted into the spaceport, where Thrawn and Thalias would infiltrate one of the Vak sentry fighters, restraining any Vak personnel along the way with tava mist. Thrawn and Thalias were able to escape Primea with the help of the Vigilant, despite being attacked by four Lioaoin warships.^[1]

Upon the Vigilant's return to the Ascendancy, Thalias, along with Thrawn and Ar'alani, would be interrogated, by the Defence Council and the Syndicure, for their roles in the mission at Primea. In retaliation for the Lioaoin attack, the Springhawk, now finished with its repairs, and the Vigilant would be sent to retaliate at the Lioaoin heartworld, and Thalias and Che'ri would be sent back to their stations aboard the Springhawk. During the journey, Thalias was very visibly exhausted from her interrogations. Before the battle between the Chiss and the Lioaoi began, Thalias and Che'ri would be sent to their sky-walker suite. There, Thalias would pretend to read a book while worrying about the battle. Che'ri, hearing thuds on the hull of the Springhawk, expressed worry. Thalias, trying to soothe her, would explain that the thuds are likely coming from leftover debris from enemy missiles. Over the course of their ensuing conversation, Thalias would explain the Chiss use of breacher missiles, something that Che'ri was not supposed to know the details of. Che'ri, upon learning of the existence of things supposed to be kept from her, expresses her annoyance of being treated like a child. Thalias again tries to comfort her, stating that the girl had experienced more stress than most Chiss would in their entire lifetimes.^[1]

Outmaneuvering Thurfian[]

After the Springhawk returns to the Ascendancy, Thalias and Che'ri are approached by Thrawn, who asks them to accompany him on a mission of unspecified purpose and duration. They both accept, but Thrawn has to discuss the mission with Supreme General Ba'kif first. Thalias and Che'ri wait outside of Ba'kif's office, but before Thrawn can emerge and start preparations for the mission. Thalias is approached by Thurfian, who wants to meet with her in his office. Thalias tries to stall, hoping that Thrawn could get her away from Thurfian. However, nothing works, and Thalias is forced to go with Thurfian to his office. On the tunnel ride there, Thalias, in a state of desperation, sends a request to the Mitth homestead to take the Mitth Trials. Arriving at his office, Thalias finds that Thurfian wants her to tell him everything she has observed about Thrawn. Thalias tries to stall further, but Thurfian reminds her of the deal that he made with her: she would get aboard the Springhawk and act as a spy for Thurfian. Thurfian threatens to rematch her to her original family (the one she had before becoming a sky-walker), stating that they are currently not doing well due to changes in mineral prices. Thalias asks Thurfian if her status amongst the Mitth is dependent on her betrayal of Thrawn, but Thurfian retorts by stating that not reporting any suspicious activity would be a betrayal. After Thalias halfheartedly states that she has never seen Thrawn do anything illegal or unethical, Thurfian states that he will soon begin her rematching procedure. Thalias pulls out her questis, where she sees and explains to Thurfian that her request to take the Trials has been accepted by the Mitth Patriarch. A trial-born Mitth could not be simply rematched to an old family. She also explains that Thurfian is instructed to take her to the Mitth homestead himself, to which Thurfian curses to himself and reluctantly agrees.^[1]

Upon arriving at the Mitth homestead, Thalias is surprised to see that it is a large cavern that features its own blue sky, artificial clouds, and even an artificial sun. Thurfian offers Thalias one last chance to back out of the trials, but Thalias reaffirms her determination and commitment. Reaching a large mosaic on the ground in front of the Mitth homestead mansion, Thurfian instructs Thalias that her first trial is to "find her path". Thalias realizes that the mosaic is a geographical representation of the Ascendancy and that she must retrace her life path on it. She steps on the location of her birth, Colonial Station Camco, and the location on the mosaic is illuminated with a green glow. Remembering that she received her sky-walker training on Naporar, Thalias then steps on that location. Assuming that her journeys outside the Ascendancy wouldn't be represented on the mosaic, Thalias steps on the locations for Rentor and Naporar, remembering her final sky-walker journey. After being discharged at Naporar, Thalias went to Avidich, to meet with the Mitth family. She then went to Jamiron, for schooling, and three other planets. After stepping on all the relevant locations on the mosaic, Thalias then steps on Csilla, which represents her current journey. After receiving one final green glow, a voice coming from the mosaic instructs her to enter the homestead for her next trial. After successfully completing more trials concerning general knowledge, logic, problem solving, and Ascendancy history, Thalias encounters a trial which requires her to cross a three-meter-wide channel without getting wet, only allowed the use of two-and-a-half-meter-long boards. She placed two boards at the center of the channel and angled each of them towards either side and placed another board on top of them. Since this wouldn't be enough to clear the waterline, Thalias had to repeat the process to get across. She then encounters a trial where she had to climb a tree to solve an ancient Mitth riddle. She also had to solve a riddle by observing a pattern in the flowers surrounding the mansion. After a short rest period, Thalias encountered more written tests and outdoor logic puzzles. Shortly after noontime, Thalias received instructions about her last trial. She was to ascend the mountain situated behind the mansion.^[1]

As Thalias climbed the mountain, she started to see several groups of spikes. Some of these spikes were much larger than others. Later, as she turns a corner, an old man speaks to her. Thalias, startled, turns around and speaks to the man. The old man reveals to her that the spikes memorialize historical Mitth Aristocra who had brought in a substantial amount of merit-adoptives into the family. Thalias then realizes that the old man is the Mitth family Patriarch, Mitth'oor'akiord (Thooraki). Thooraki tells Thalias that he had been watching her progress but was called away during the water channel trial. He asks her how she was able to cross it, and Thalias tells him. Thooraki describes her method as elegant and reveals that he, personally, brought her into the Mitth. Thooraki tells Thalias that she is standing guard between his greatest achievement (Thrawn) and those who are determined to destroy him. Thooraki is concerned that Thrawn will not survive his political turmoils, revealing that some Mitth, who are vying for the Patriarch position upon Thooraki's imminent death, believe that Thrawn will overreach himself and make the Mitth vulnerable in their position amongst the Ruling Families. These Mitth would rather trade the potential glory that Thrawn would bring for a "safer" path forward, but Thooraki believes that the Mitth must take risks in order to maintain their current position of power. Thalias asks Thooraki what she can do to help facilitate Thrawn's future success. Thooraki tasks her to watch over him and help assemble his allies whenever necessary. Upon the conclusion of the conversation, Thooraki reveals that Thalias is now a Trial-born of the Mitth and instructs her to complete her climb and to further study the spikes along the way. He reiterates his belief that Thrawn holds the key to the future of the Ascendancy, and Thalias promises to look after him, even unto death. Upon completing her summit, Thalias returns to the Mitth homestead mansion, where Thurfian is waiting for her. He informs her that he is needed back at the Syndicure and that Ar'alani had requested Thalias to return to the Vigilant.^[1]

Hostage Once More[]

Four weeks later, Thrawn and Che'ri would return to the Ascendancy. While she waited, Thalias continually worried about their safety. Thrawn would hold a meeting with Ar'alani, Thalias, and Che'ri, where he would explain both the details of his previous mission and his plans for his next mission. During the conversations, Thalias would witness a definite increase in mental maturity and confidence in Che'ri. Upon the eventual acceptance of Thrawn's plan, Thalias and Che'ri, disguising themselves as Chiss family hostages (with the thick makeup), would leave for Primea, where they would return the stolen Vak patrol craft that Thrawn had used to escape the system. Contained within their makeup was a potent amount of tava mist. Upon reaching Primea, the Vaks would hail Thalias. Before answering, Thalias and Che'ri would discuss Thrawn's trust in them and Thalias's own distrust in herself. Che'ri stated that she was also distrusting of herself, but Thrawn had taught her how to fly (on her previous mission), causing her to believe in herself more. This alleviates Thalias's concerns, and she responds to the Vaks. She explains that she and her pilot are companions to Senior Captain Thrawn, who wishes to return the stolen patrol craft as a gesture of goodwill. Eventually, the Vaks allow her to land, and Thalias informs them that she has a written explanation, from Thrawn, that needs to be placed in the hands of their military leader. Upon landing, one of the Vak warriors demands Thalias to give him the message, but Thalias reiterates her instructions to deliver it to the hands of the Vak military leader. However, after the Vak warrior threateningly asks again, Thalias gives it up. The Vaks inform the Chiss that a navigator will take them back to the Ascendancy, but this navigator turns out to be Qilori, who takes them directly to Yiv's ship, the Battle Dreadnought Deathless. On the journey, Qilori warns Thalias not to try to escape, as Yiv wants her intact when he hands her back over to Thrawn.^[1]

On the Deathless, Yiv captures Thalias and Che'ri. He finds and confiscates a tava mist container on Thalias's belt. This was purposely placed by Thrawn to prevent Yiv from thinking that there could ever be any mist in the girls' makeup. Yiv reveals that he switched the message Thrawn sent to the Vaks with one of lesser political potency, also according to Thrawn's plan. In actuality, Thrawn had included a second message on the Vak patrol ship that informed them of the potential for Yiv to switch the message for something else. This would convince the Vaks that Yiv and the Nikardun were not to be trusted. Yiv also reveals to Thalias that Qilori is scheduled to be the navigator Thrawn hires to take him to Primea.^[1]

As Thrawn arrives, his plan goes into motion, and Thalias couldn't help but smile when she realized how Yiv had been trapped. Thrawn had successfully convinced the Vak Combine to betray the Nikardun and was in the process of destroying the entirety of the Nikardun blockade around Primea. As Yiv also realizes this, he becomes livid and starts to abuse Thalias, demanding that she reveal Thrawn's plan. Thrawn, upon seeing that Yiv was slapping Thalias, reveals that his plan was to trap Yiv in a box and successfully goads him into locking a tractor beam onto the freighter Thrawn had used to travel to the system. At this precise moment, Thalias and Che'ri begin to remove their hostage makeup, releasing the concealed tava mist. This disorients the Nikardun, and Thrawn is able to break into the bridgeport and board the Deathless. During the course of events, Yiv, himself severely disoriented, takes out his blaster, but Thalias and Che'ri are able to prevent him from using it. Thrawn knocks Yiv unconscious with more tava mist, binds him, boards the freighter with Thalias and Che'ri, and leaves the system for the Ascendancy.^[1]

Later, Thrawn meets with Thalias and Che'ri, and they discuss the outcome and aftermath of the battle. Thalias had previously talked to Ar'alani, and she informs Thrawn that some in the Syndicure want to press charges against him for putting Che'ri at risk. However, Thrawn reiterates that he carefully orchestrated the events so that Yiv was the one who put Che'ri in danger. Thalias tells Thrawn that he is improving at politics, but he dismisses the comment, stating that Ar'alani was the one handling the political aspects of the previous conflict. She had discovered something about the Vaks that he had missed. If the Vaks were to lose one of its citizens, it would take away an important thoughtline. This was the motivation behind the Vak entrance into the conflict against the Nikardun; because the Nikardun attacked and destroyed two Vak patrol crafts, the Vaks decided to join the conflict. Thrawn also comments that he believes Ar'alani to be a better commander than he is, but Thalias retorts, stating that Thrawn and Ar'alani were only different, not better or worse. Thalias also compliments Thrawn's ability to inspire trust in his subordinates, citing the many lessons Thrawn gave her in observation and analysis. Thrawn calls Thalias a Trial-born of the Mitth, and Che'ri congratulated her (it was the first time the girl had heard). Thalias thanks Thrawn for coming by to inform them of the outcome of the battle, as no one else had time to do so. As Thrawn left, Thalias reflected on the Mitth Patriarch's request for her to look after him.^[1]

Suicidal Refugees[]

During subsequent missions to defeat the remaining Nikardun forces, the Springhawk is sent to Rapacc. Before arriving, Thalias, now Che'ri's official caregiver, expresses her apologies for missing the girl's tenth starday. Che'ri informs Thalias of Thrawn's arrival one-and-a-half seconds before he actually opens the bridge hatch. Thrawn notices that Thalias is already looking in his direction when he entered the bridge. When Samakro proposes to Thrawn that Thalias and Che'ri be brought to their sky-walker suite before arriving at Rapacc, Thalias became determined to not do so. Thrawn refused the proposal however, stating that Che’ri might be needed for a quick escape. Instead of leaving them on the bridge, however, he sent Thalias and Che'ri to secondary command, where they would watch the Springhawk arrive and confirm that the Nikardun, who previously were blockading the system, were defeated. Thalias joined Thrawn and Samakro as they descended to the surface of Rapacc to converse with the Paccian leader, Uingali foar Marocsaa, who had been present at the asteroid mining station months prior.^[3]

Uingali expresses sorrow that the two refugee ships he had sent to the Chiss Ascendancy did not survive, believing his efforts to be for nothing. Thalias, however, retorts by stating that the arrival of one of the refugee ships at the Ascendancy was the spark that eventually led to the defeat of the Nikardun. Uingali reveals why he wanted to speak with the Chiss. The refugees harbored at Rapacc are a matriarchal society led by the Magys. Instead of wanting to return to their homeworld, which was ravaged by a deadly civil war, the Magys instead wished for her people to kill themselves. Since the Paccosh are not in the best relationship with the refugees, Uingali hopes that Thalias would be able to speak with the Magys and attempt to talk her out of it. Thalias expresses doubt in herself, but Thrawn encourages her diplomatic abilities. Nonetheless, Thrawn hopes that he would be able to speak with the Magys, and the group departs for the refugees' location. On the way, Thalias listens to Thrawn and Uingali converse about Paccian history and culture while she feels guilty for not wanting to speak with the Magys.^[3]

Upon arriving at the Magys's location, Thalias is surprised to learn that the Magys will only talk to her. Thalias agrees to speak with her, but before she can do so, Thrawn tells her that she does not have to do so, considering that it is neither her business nor her responsibility. However, Thalias informs Thrawn that she has to at least try, which seems to prompt an approval from Thrawn. Thalias speaks with the Magys, where she recounts the story about how the Chiss had rebuilt their society on Csilla when its sun's changes in output caused the surface to become uninhabitable. The Magys informs her that the only way to rebuild her world is to die and join the "Beyond," and she tells Thalias that she only wanted to speak with her because she had touched the Beyond. Thalias realizes that this "Beyond" is the Magys's description of what the Chiss call "Third Sight". The Magys tells Thalias that her "time had ended" and that she and her people must die and join the Beyond. However, Thalias convinces her to join the Springhawk on a mission to investigate the status of the Magys's world. Thalias notes to herself that she is not authorized to command the Springhawk's missions, and wondered what Thrawn would think about the arrangement. However, to her surprise, Thrawn accepted the arrangement, explaining that Samakro had found Nikardun listening posts near the location that needed to be investigated. Thalias asks Thrawn if he knows what the "time had ended" comment meant, to which Uingali explains that the Magys is obligated to wait for nine of her months without any contact from her world before making a decision about suicide. He explains that, through time conversions, the Chiss only have about two Chiss weeks to convince her not to commit suicide. Thalias, upon hearing of this timeframe, states that the Springhawk must get moving fast, before realizing that, again, she had no authority to make such commands. Samakro and Thrawn smile at the ordeal, and Thrawn compliments Thalias's enthusiasm. Thrawn instructs for the Springhawk's officers to refer to and treat Thalias as a senior officer when she is around the Magys. He explains that the Magys clearly thinks of Thalias as a high ranking officer and that that misunderstanding must be maintained. Thalias does not think that this command is a good idea, however, and points out that the negative ramifications if the Magys ever found out she was being misled. She also expresses concern for Samakro not accepting the arrangement, to which Thrawn informs her that he "will accept the reasoning in time".^[3]

On the journey to the refugees' planet, the Magys asks Thalias to participate in a religious ceremony with her and her companion. This ceremony involved Thalias's use of an audiovisual kaleidoscope, which left her mentally exhausted. When Thalias stumbled into the bridge to pick up Che'ri, Samakro asks if she is alright, and she explains the situation. Samakro wants to bring Che'ri out of Third Sight in five minutes, sixty minutes after her previous rest period, but Thalias asks him to wait an extra ten minutes, explaining that her research indicates that Che'ri's personal sleep cycles are around seventy minutes. Thalias wants to see if structuring Che'ri's rest periods around her natural sleep cycles will improve the girl's mental health, and Samakro obliges. The Mid Captain wonders why he has never heard of this concept before, and Thalias theorizes that caregivers either don't know about it or choose to align themselves with simple sixty-minute cycles. Thalias asks Samakro what he thinks of the Springhawk's mission, noting his earlier lack of enthusiasm. Samakro states that it doesn't matter what he thinks and that his only job is to follow Thrawn's orders. He tells Thalias about Thrawn's theory that the Nikardun are consolidating their forces at the refugees' planet for a final assault on the Chiss. In actuality, this story was completely fabricated, and Samakro secretly hoped that Thalias would leak this theory to the Syndicure, thus revealing what he believes her status to be: a spy for the Mitth. Upon reaching the seventy-minute mark, Thalias brings Che'ri out of Third Sight and takes her back to the sky-walker suite for their long rest period.^[3]

Upon arriving at the refugees' planet, which Thrawn would nickname "Sunrise", Thalias would witness the complete devastation of the planet. A battle subsequently ensued between the Springhawk and fifteen unidentified gunboats. The Grayshrike and a large Battle Dreadnought would also join the battle, and the Chiss would eventually come out victorious. After the battle, the Magys, convinced that her world is completely lost, orders for her companion to die. He complies, and the Magys strives to return to Rapacc to order the rest of her refugees to follow suit. Thrawn and Thalias try to convince her not to do so, but the Magys insists. She even goes as far as to threaten to kill herself aboard the Springhawk, explaining that the news of her death will inspire the rise of a new Magys, who will make the same decision to kill the refugees. To mitigate this threat, Thrawn orders for the Magys to be put to sleep in a hibernation chamber and put into Thalias's room for safekeeping. One day, as Thalias leaves her room, she finds Che'ri looking in. The sky-walker demanded to know what the object she saw was, and Thalias assumes that Che'ri used Third Sight to know when she was about to leave her quarters. Reluctantly, Thalias tells Che'ri about the Magys and her threat of suicide. Che'ri, horrified, deduces that the Magys's companion is already dead, and Thalias confirms this to her. Thalias also makes Che'ri promise not to tell anyone else about this matter, as only she, Thrawn, and Samakro are supposed to know.^[3]

Pirate Chase and Hoxim[]

Upon returning to the Ascendancy, the Springhawk is tasked with searching for a group of supposed Vagaari pirates. Over the course of the search, Che'ri was rarely needed due to the short jumps between each system along the search pattern. However, at one location, the Springhawk encountered a battle raging between a Watith freighter and three gunboats. The three gunboats would attack the Springhawk, but were subsequently destroyed. The Watith commander, Fsir, offered to take Thrawn to a local Vagaari pirate base, but Thrawn would insist on staying in the current system for a few days to analyze the gunboat wreckage. On the third day of this investigation, Thrawn would arrive at the sky-walker suite, where Thalias was surprised to see him. Thrawn had come to the suite to make a comparison between the Watith clothing style and that of the Magys. He could not establish such a connection, but as he starts to leave, Thalias stops him and demands to be informed of the situation with the Watith, stating that, because she took care of Che'ri, she was one of the most important individuals on the Springhawk. She also decided to reveal to Thrawn that she was tasked by Mitth Patriarch Thooraki to look after Thrawn and his political enemies, and, hearing this, Thrawn would decide to tell Thalias of the situation. He informs her of his belief that the Watith are attempting to lead the Springhawk into a trap, noting Fsir's desire to control when and where the Springhawk arrives at the supposed Vagaari pirate base. Thrawn shares his belief that they will be led to a large and powerful force at the destination, and Thalias asks him whether he plans to oblige the Watith. Thrawn responds that whoever orchestrated this must be destroyed.^[3]

Upon arriving at the supposed Vagaari base, Thrawn discovered that the Watith were indeed the coordinators of the gunboat's attacks on the Springhawk. Together with Mid Captain Csap'ro'strob (Apros), temporary commander of the Grayshrike, the Watith freighter was disabled by a salvo of plasma spheres. After the battle, Apros would give Thrawn a nyix brooch claimed to be made by a species called the Agbui. However, Thrawn saw a similarity between the brooch and the style of the Magys's clothing. He and Samakro came to the sky-walker suite to compare the two styles and to talk to the Magys. Thrawn confirmed the match, but Thalias and Samakro could not see what Thrawn was seeing. Upon waking the Magys, she demanded to know why the Chiss deprived her of her duty to command her people to touch the Beyond. The Magys then decided to kill herself then and there, but Thalias intervened and ferociously argued that the people on her world had survived, showing her the brooch. Upon seeing the jewelry, the Magys was convinced of her peoples' survival, and demanded to be returned to her people. However, Thrawn informed her that she needs to go back into hibernation as to not be discovered by the rest of the officers on the Springhawk (which would result in her being brought to Csilla for investigation and questioning). The Magys began to argue, but she would look in Che'ri's direction for a split second before reluctantly agreeing to do so. As the Magys went back to sleep, Thalias would apologize to Thrawn for her earlier interjecting, but he would forgive her, stating that he values results more than proper etiquette.^[3]

The Springhawk would then travel to the world of Hoxim, where it and the Grayshrike would prevent a civil war from breaking out between the Xodlak, Erighal, and Pommrio families. During the battle, Thalias and Che'ri are summoned to the bridge, where, to Thalias's surprise, Che'ri was taken to the weapons station instead of the navigation station. There, Che'ri was instructed by Thrawn to watch a fleeing freighter with Third Sight and inform the weapons officer, Senior Commander Chaf'pri'uhme (Afpriuh), if the freighter made a rotation. Thalias would object to this, stating that the operation exceeds the abilities of Third Sight. However, Che'ri, trusting Thrawn, accepted the proposition, and successfully indicated the freighter's rotation several seconds before it actually happened. Thalias was then ordered to take Che'ri to the Springhawk's medcenter for an examination.^[3]

Skills and abilities[]

Al'iastov lost her Third Sight at age thirteen, one year prior to the typical age at which sky-walkers lost that ability. As an adult merit adoptive of the Mitth, Mitth'ali'astov was proficient with computers.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Mitth'ali'astov first appeared in the 2020 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, written by Timothy Zahn.^[1]

Continuity[]

When Mitth'ali'astov was a sky-walker, she was not a part of any family. Therefore, her name was Al'iastov. However, the apostrophe in this name is in a different location than her "Mitth'ali'astov" name. No explanation has been given for this.^[1]

Appearances[]

• Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising (First appearance, simultaneous with Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising audiobook)
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising audiobook
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good audiobook
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil audiobook

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Del Rey (@DelReyStarWars) on Twitter: "When the #ThrawnAscendancy trilogy begins, you'll be going beyond the galaxy far, far away.... into a new world of stories. Take a look at the Dramatis Personae along with helpful info about the Chiss Ascendancy, both included inside #StarWar #ChaosRising." (backup link)