A/N: Please feel free to skip ahead, but I though some folks would like to understand two factors that led to me writing this story. First, I was interested In the dynamics between General Hux and Kylo Ren: two ambitious, young leaders with great power who appeared to have a limited truce between themselves to pursue common goals and appease their master. That said, it is a very complex relationship that will lead to frustration, anger, and who knows what else… I figured it would be fun to explore.
Second, it occurred to me that though The Force Awakens has dramatically changed cannon, events and characters that existed pre-Return of the Jedi in the expanded universe were not necessarily suddenly irrelevant. Being a fan of Timothy Zahn's work, I wondered what it might be like if Grand Admiral Thrawn and had indeed been building up forces in the outer rim, but rather than returning as depicted in Zahn's novels had bided his time and come into contact with the First Order some time after The Force Awakens.
Hopefully I'm not the only one interested in these ideas, and you can find some enjoyment in the story ahead! Thanks for taking the time to read, and all feedback is appreciated!
STAR WARS
Allies from the Ashes
With the system's red dwarf star providing the only source for light, it was nearly impossible to make out the dull gray hull of the dagger shaped starship twenty kilometers off the bow. General Hux studied it carefully, and even in the low light quickly identified it as something based on the old Imperial class star destroyer.
Moments later, his sensor officer reaffirmed his observation. "We don't have an exact match in the system, General, but most of the superstructure appears to be that of an Imperial II class Star Destroyer. It appears to have been stretched by roughly six hundred meters, and has numerous other modifications."
Hux pulled up the readings on his own display. Imperial class star destroyers were still formidable vessels, but lacked the firepower and defenses of his flagship, the Finalizer. Even with the modifications, the vessel did not appear to be a threat. Hux smiled tightly. His goal here was dialogue, not destruction, but the General was a man he preferred to have the strongest hand when sitting down to a discussion.
"Should we hail them, sir?" another officer asked.
"When I wish to talk with them I will inform you of my intentions," Hux said calmly but with a hint of irritation. He turned to Captain Jec Terris, Finalizer's captain and a senior military officer whose career stretched back to the later days of the Galactic Empire. "Inform Master Ren that we have arrived. If he wishes to join me on the bridge he may do so."
Terris nodded in response, recognizing he'd need to rephrase the General's message before sending it to Kylo Ren. Hux may have wanted to reinforce the point he was in command here, but few officers were willing to help him do so if it meant upsetting the temperamental Ren. General Hux's position and relationship with the Supreme Leader insulated him from Ren's wrath; Terris enjoyed no such protections.
"General, Captain," the sensor officer said, "The unknown vessel is moving towards us."
"Any signs of hostility?" Terris asked.
"No sir, shield and weapons are offline."
As the vessel moved closer, Hux got a better view of its lines. The extension it its length was forward of the command bridge, giving it an unusual double-delta design. Two bulbous spheres protruded from the vessel, which Hux tentatively identified as gravity well projectors.
Terris had come to the same conclusion. "Keep an eye on their power readings and the local gravity; if either should change bring shields and weapons online."
"Interesting to see a vessel of that size with gravity wells," Hux remarked. "Most strategies call for deployment in smaller ships on the edge of the battle, allowing them to better adjust their gravity wells while remaining out of combat."
"Perhaps these vessels operate independently of fleets," Terris suggested, "Or maybe our contact has the resources to deploy gravity wells on all large vessels."
Hux thought about the Captain's second point. An ally with extensive resources would be quite useful. The First Order was immensely powerful, but the loss of Starkiller Base meant its military capabilities were far more limited than they had been only months before.
His thoughts were interrupted. "I see you've found them," a mechanical voice said from behind him.
"Yes, the coordinates we received were quite accurate."
"Have you contacted them?" Ren asked.
"Not yet." Hux smiled slightly. "They are the ones that reached out to us after all."
Ren was silent for several seconds, and Terris quietly hoped he would not question the General's decision. Right or wrong, the public airing of disagreements between two senior leaders of the First Order was not appropriate on the bridge of a Star Destroyer and damaged the unity of command he sought to achieve.
The Master of the Knights of Ren chose to let the opportunity to criticize Hux pass, and strode past the General without another word, fixing his gaze on the approaching ship. Hux watched, wondering if Ren could decipher anything from his inspection of the vessel. He doubted it; Ren's understanding of starships, weapons, and tactics paled in comparison to his own, but the man had proven to have unusually keen insights in certain situations.
The other ship was slowing now, taking up a position less than five kilometers from the Finalizer. Both ships hung in space, massive grey daggers pointed towards each other dimly illuminated by the red dwarf.
"Incoming transmission, General," the sensor officer announced.
"Put it through to my station," Hux replied. He sat down in his command chair moments before a quarter sized hologram of a man in an older style Imperial Officer uniform appeared. The man was slightly younger than Hux and wore the insignia of a Fleet Captain, suggesting that his rise through the ranks had been accelerated.
"I'm Chak Fel of the Star Destroyer Firestorm," the man said, his voice surprisingly warm for an Imperial Officer. "Welcome to the Car'du sector, and thank you for coming."
"General Hux of the First Order," Hux introduced himself. His voice was polite but far from warm. He did not bother to introduce Kylo Ren, who had come up beside him.
"As you know, my Commander wishes to discuss certain items of mutual interest," Fel continued. "I'd like to invite you aboard the Firestorm for a meeting."
"I feel anything we need to discuss could be handled aboard the Finalizer," Hux said, his voice cooling.
"There is no need to worry. I'm sure you've scanned our vessel and determined the technical superiority of your ship. We'd be foolish to engage in duplicity under such circumstances. Furthermore, is it not generally the custom when two friendly military leaders meet the ranking officer determines the location?"
Hux couldn't tell on the quarter sized hologram, but it seemed the other man was trying not to smile. He intended Captain Fel's amusement to be short lived. It was presumptive of their contact to assume he was the superior officer: whatever title or status he had granted himself, it was unlikely his position equated to a General of the First Order in terms of power, responsibilities, and resources. On the outside chance it did, however, the Supreme Leader would be most displeased if talks were delayed by posturing.
"I will come aboard your ship," Ren said abruptly, cutting off Hux's thought process. He tilted his helmeted head slightly to the right. "I am Master Kylo Ren of the First Order," the emotionless voice said. "As you said, it would be foolish to engage in duplicity… and not just because of my ship."
Hux felt his face redden with anger. That was not Ren's decision to make; whether it was some sort of power play or merely an attempt to annoy him he couldn't determine, but it was infuriating regardless. Here, during first contact with a potentially powerful ally, Ren decided to engage in childish games.
"Very well, we will make preparations for your arrival Master Ren. General, will you be joining him?"
Hux tensed further. No, Ren would join him. But there was no way to regain his authority at the moment without degrading himself to Ren's petulant level, so Hux merely nodded. "I will acquiesce to your request at the recommendation of my colleague."
"I look forward to your arrival," Fel said, the voice still warm and inviting. The hologram flickered slightly, and then disappeared.
"Prepare a command shuttle, a squad of troopers, and an appropriate escort formation," Hux ordered Terris. Have yourself and Commander Resdin meet me in the docking bay in ten minutes." The general turned abruptly and left the bridge.
Kylo Ren looked after him, then shifted his gaze back to the other ship. "I do not fear them," he said as quietly as his voice modulator would permit. "They will be our allies, or they will be our servants." He then turned and followed the same path Hux had taken moments before.