disclaimer: I don't own anything in this except the character…and maybe not all of them, either.
You step out of the Cantina in Mos Espa and right into the barrel of a blaster pistol accompanied by a blinding light.
"Good Afternoon, Lieutenant." You say, crossing your arms. The light and pistol are lowered and the grinning face of Lieutenant Chase Ketti appears.
"You like it?"
"You're not going on any undercover missions." You say trying to remain serious. You continue towards Docking Bay 13, where your shuttle awaits you.
"Why not?" He whines, shoving his blaster into its holster.
"Because who's going to forget a guy with a stupid grin and a red and orange checkered blaster?" You retort with a shake of your head.
"But what's wrong with a pretty blaster?"
"Chase, that "pretty blaster" is what's going to get you killed!" He grinned again as you step up to the control panel at the entrance to Bay 13. You type in your admittance code and the door slides open. Ketti follows you into the Docking Bay and up the ramp of your Lamba-class shuttle, the Krypter.
"But I like it." Your Lieutenant says crossing his arms in a mock pout. You discretely roll your eyes and walk up to the bridge of your shuttle.
"Captain Lept?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Take us back to the Agonizer." The Captain nods.
"Very good, sir." You sit back in your seat and strap yourself in as the shuttle is cleared and takes off. Lieutenant Ketti takes a seat next to you and fallows your lead then leans over and grins. He opens his mouth to comment on some move you've made and you hold your hand up in a silencing gesture.
"Don't even think about it, Chase." You warn in good nature. His face falls then brightens.
"Wanna hear a joke?" You start to shake your head then sigh and reluctantly nod. "What's the difference between a bantha?" He asks leaning over again. You raise an eyebrow at him then decide it best not to question his logic.
"What?" Ketti grins.
"One of its legs are both the same!" He laughs almost hysterically at his own joke then, when you don't respond, settles back in his seat with an exasperated sigh.
"You have no sense of humor do you." You smile and shake your head.
Lieutenant Ketti manages to keep quiet the rest of the way to your flag ship, the Agonizer, an Imperial- class Star Destroyer.
"Welcome back, Admiral." Commander Vallae greets you. You nod to him and continue towards the turbolift bank. "Was your trip productive?" You nod again as you step into a turbolift. The Commander hesitates, unsure if he is to follow you or stay but steps in when you wave him forward. When the door closes and the lift starts to move upwards, you break your silence.
"I spoke with Admiral Trinka." Vallae nods which encourages you to continue. "He said he can help us, but we have to lend him two squadrons of bombers. The Commander tisks at the boldness of the Admiral.
"Did you agree?" You shake your head.
"No. He would not be putting his best in the alliance. He wanted more from us then he was willing to give." You stop talking as the door opens again onto the hallway outside the bridge. The Commander respectfully lets you go ahead of him onto the bridge.
"Welcome Back!"
"Hello, Admiral."
"Good to see you, Admiral!" You smile at your bridge crew, waving to them and thanking them for they're welcome. You had always been loose with your crew, leaving formalities to tight situations and scolding. Something, in itself, you never enjoyed doing. Perhaps that is why the Empire keeps you at the bottom of their list of favorites. But your crew is also one of the best in your fleet, not afraid of their superior officers like so many other crews are. You don't think fear is the best way to get your crew to do what you ask of them.
"Okay, boys, it looks like we're on our own. Trinka wasn't willing to help out without a generous contribution to his cause so we're going in alone." Your communications officer, Pratt, informs you're that the other Commander's in your fleet are checking in. You nod and full-body holograms of Commander Fel'Chee, of the Revenge, General Plak Holten, of the Ice Stream, and Commander Geld, of the Faithful appear before you.
"What's our status?" General Holten asks after executing a smart salute. A tall man, Plak barely made it into the hologram, and a few inches of his feet we're missing.
"We don't have Admiral Trinka's support, he wanted to much in return for lousy help. We're going in with just our fleet. Even without Trinka's help, we should do just fine." You address your bridge crew as well as the General and Commander's of the other two Star Destroyers in your fleet. "The Rebel base is on Fe'leek, just north of our southern boarder. Too close." The men agree. "We've been given the task of flushing them out, chasing them further into our territory where Grand Admiral Vennali and his fleet are waiting." You pause and look over their faces, knowing they know the consequences of failure so you don't remind them of it. You turn slightly to face the Commander's of the other Star Destroyers, showing your crew that they are no longer in the conversation, and begin drawing tactics for running the Rebel's off Fe'leek.
This is going to be interesting. Its from the point of view of an Admiral in the Imperial Navy. I guess we're just going to have to see where this one goes. (Please review!) - liljediwriter