He sensed that brief shift in the mood, but said nothing- he assumed Eli would speak about it if he wanted to, and he wouldn't push or pry.

"... I can imagine. I have some personal experience, with that too."

He was not most people's idea of a Sith. A runt, an alien. He'd had people working against him on every level. Imperials who couldn't stand the idea of an alien leading them. Sith who couldn't stand the idea of a free alien at all, much less an alien trained as a one of them. He'd expected to be nothing, to be nobody. And he'd fought it.

He'd fought it every step of the way, and come out victorious.

It was... Unfortunate, to say the least, the struggle. How much more could he have done, how much more could Thrawn had done, had the powers that be wanted them to be victorious rather than to make an example of them.

Of course, had he been encouraged rather than tripped up, perhaps he wouldn't be here, either.

"Some people can only fathom authority and power if it comes from... Certain sources. It's unfortunate. Not that I think that Thrawn has let this impede him in any way."

This Empire, from what he could see, was still somewhat of a meritocracy. Not as much as the Sith Empire had been, but still, he could see the shadows of Sith society lurking just out of view. It was strange, how much things could change, and yet also stay the same.

Win enough battles and the elite might grumble and growl but sort of accept it. But give them an out, give them failure, give them even a hint of weakness or reason to doubt... Not something he was going to ponder about now. It wasn't pleasant to think about, so he'd rather focus on something else.

"I'm glad he had you. Through the court marshals and everything else."