Chapter One: Now

Chapter One: Now

The Imperial Star Destroyer Admonitor cruised steadily through hyperspace, the starlines straight-lined past the bridge viewports. The starlines almost matched the pristine gray-white of the bridge, complementing each other nicely.

"Status report completed, sir," a young lieutenant reported from the portside crew pit. "All systems fully functional. All personnel at the ready."

"Thank you, lieutenant," Captain Dagon Niriz said, turning away from the viewport. He ran a practiced eye across the bridge crew, noticing a subtle straightening spine, a quicker keystroke, a furrowed brow. It had taken quite a bit longer than he had hoped, but the crew was finally melding well enough to start anticipating problems and solving them before they came to his attention. It made his job much easier, especially the paper work that a captain had to put up with.

Niriz loathed paperwork.

But the man coming across the bridge from one of the communication stations enjoyed it, so Niriz felt no guilt in giving away more and more of the dreaded work to his first officer. Commander Voss Parck nodded to the captain. "General Habanero is readying his squadron of troops and support personnel in the shuttlebay. He should be prepared by the time we reach orbit."

"Good. I don't want this continuing on any longer than necessary. It is bad enough that these local rebels attempted to kill one of the leaders of this world –"

""The Junior Overlord died from his wounds, after all."

"Wonderful," Niriz snarled. "They also had to kill the garrison leader and half a squad of stormtroopers. If these idiots are trying for anarchy, they are going about it the right way."

The ship gave a subtle lurch as the starlines faded into remote pinpoints of light. Ahead of them, the planet Ansi rotated around the far yellow sun, Nosai. The green world, full of forests and farmland, was ideal for the food production necessary to support the growing Imperial presence. Having a political madman ruining the world was inconvenient at best, a reason for hungry, disgruntled troops at worse. They wouldn't starve, but other worlds would have to pick up the excess, meaning revolts and forced labor.

"I doubt, Captain," said a deep, cultured voice behind them, "that this Komani's goal is anarchy." Admiral Thrawn stepped up behind the two officers, surveying both the planet and the bridge with his luminescent eyes. Finding everything fit, he turned to the two men. "I also doubt that he has any plan in place if he should manage to take power. Has Habanero checked in yet?"

"He should be ready as soon as we get down to the shuttle bay," Parck reported, checking his chronometer. "Will you be joining the admiral, Captain?"

Niriz snorted and shook his head. "As you know, Commander, I am still on half-days from the last planet fall disaster. I am sure that you miss the fresh air of primitive worlds, so enjoy on my behalf."

Parck noticed the slight smile on their commander's face, and nodded. "Perhaps I shall, after the admiral and General Habanero secure the planet. Enjoy a little shore leave. The forests are said to be excellent for hiking."