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The advantage of Hera's typical technique is that it's controlled, and understated. She draws as little attention as possible to the act while she's carrying it out, giving her time to plant evidence and leave the area before most have even realized what has happened. But, once in a while, a particular job calls for a little more showmanship than this. Her work is never supposed to leave any uncertainty as to what it means, and who is behind it. But sometimes, there can also be value in sheer brazenness.

Which means that Hera's most recent target, Captain Orfanidis, was stabbed in the chest in his own quarters aboard the ISS Laran. At least the follow-up requires slightly less work – Hera doesn't even bother hiding her weapon. She hopes they find it. She hopes they find her DNA on it. She hopes they know exactly who did this, and that they walk in fear of when she'll do it again.

But if she plans to do it again, it also means she has to get away. Which is why she waits just long enough to ensure Orfanidis is dead before she drops her blade, and checks her time, before she steps back out into the hall. The moment she does is just as the ship's assigned cleaning "staff" is passing through. They're all wearing shock collars, so that they don't need a monitor, and are dutifully keeping their eyes down. Already disguised accordingly, it's easy enough for Hera to step in among them, and walk with them as they pass through the staff quarters.

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"Vidat Sorec will do, but I'll send word to Organa, see if we can get her Betazoid friend assigned to this ship."

He inhales, eyes drifting briefly closed.

"It will be an interesting personality match, certainly, but Amilyn is canny, and she does tend to have a deft hand."

"She might help him change his ideas of Betazed, in any case."

Hera takes a breath, then does look down to the tea.

No use in letting it get cold.

"Small beginnings may serve us very well."

He smiles faintly, lifting his own teacup and taking a sip.

"Your own actions speak to that, no?"

Hera takes a sip of her own tea, and then says, "He seems persuaded, for the moment."

"Then let us build a chain of such moments, and in the end he will be ours."

Thrawn's voice is very mild, but his expression is anything but.

"It will certainly broaden the available mission options, no?"

"Yes, sir."

Hera's eye flicker down, just for a few seconds. It's a rare occurrence; she usually makes a point of maintaining his gaze.

"It doesn't sound as though the Terrans were making very good use of him."

"They have a very narrow -- and very brutal -- lens through which they view the world."

Thrawn's voice is dry.

"Which is to say, I believe you are correct in that assessment. Though it will take time to bring him to full utility -- no doubt he harbors prejudices that will make him difficult to work with, on occasion."

"If he's being truthful, then I think we've already pushed through much of his resistance."

He did seem to have moved past 'live a Terran, die a Terran' after all.

"Though that must be why Terrans won't allow anyone but themselves very high in their ranks. They know they don't give much reason for loyalty."

Thrawn huffs out an amused breath.

"Best not to get too confident at this juncture, but your thoughts are sound. I simply don't prefer to have to crisis manage after the fact. But if you can see your way to continuing to push him closer to us . . . you and Amilyn, as I think you've worked well together in the past . . . "

"I think so, sir."

The truth was she and Amilyn really only had a few things in common, but one was they both could be very, very patient. And that tended to mitigate their considerable difference.

"I'll make sure this stays on track."

"I have great faith in your capabilities," Thrawn says, nodding as if this conversation puts paid to any potential lack of success.

And, of course, he takes another sip of his tea.

"Keep me apprised of your progress, as always."

Hera nods, also taking another sip of the tea.

Then, "Is there anything else you would have me keep in mind?"

There are many things he might say to that, but --

"Only that you might choose to think of this operation as a test."

This one will do.

It's not that different from how she chooses to think of most operations.

But she does ask, "What kind of test are you thinking of?"

"Command capabilities. The Rebellion's leadership would prefer to have more officers of that particular caliber to head cells. To spread their influence, as it were, and the disruption of which we are all so capable."

He returns his teacup to its saucer, then settles back into his chair.

"I understand."

It made sense. If she can ultimately gain the loyalty of someone who had so thoroughly scorned her, she should be able to do the same with a group already dedicated to their purpose.

"If that's where I'm needed."

"It may well be."

Thrawn steeples his fingers, gaze gone distant.

"I am not sure yet if it will be sooner than we fear, or later than we hope."

"I hope - long enough for me to finish my current assignment."

As that's what she should hope for.

"That would be preferable."

Thrawn's voice remains mild.

"But contingency plans will need to be put in place, regardless."

Hera nods.

She lifts her cup again, and after another small sip of tea -

"What were you thinking of?"

"One route where we take him with us, and finish the work along the way, and another where -- "

Were this someone else, perhaps he would be more delicate (or less so).

" -- he does not."

But it's only what she could have expected.

"I meant what I told him."

She blinks away long enough to set her cup back down, but then meets eyes again. "If it goes the wrong way, I'll take care of it."

Thrawn just nods, a quick, barely-there movement.

"Then the bulk of the planning should fall upon the course where we take him with us, and the question of how best to do that without allowing him the opportunity to . . . disseminate details we would rather he did not."

"He's guarded, and clearly used to isolation."

There's only the slightest pause after she says this, before she continues, "I don't think that will change quickly, even as he comes around to us."

"So judicious choice in his initial companions, much as we were already planning, and . . . "

Thrawn waits, as ever, for Hera to fill in the blanks.