Putting in the request to have Luke assigned to the Chimaera was easy. So was getting the almost immediate denial. As it turned out, the young man believed he was set to join Black Squadron for a good reason, as it seemed his patron to the school intended to have him do so...

Said patron being Darth Vader.

"I can grant a field education leave?" the dean of the school offered, as if that would be enough to placate Thrawn. "But I can't overturn Lord Vader's request, not even for a troublemaker student."