Many thanks to all your have read the previous chapter, please continue to review critcism is most welcome. Also I am desperately looking for a beta reader, if you know of anyone or are interested yourself please let me know.

Chapter 2

With the Dark Thunder's older hyperdrive it was a arduous journey to the Imperial Centre, a long 11 days from the outer rim. The trip that would normally take half that for a new Imperial II Star Destroyer, it took the older vessel across some of the busiest hyper lanes in the galaxy. Even using the hyper lanes set aside for exclusive military use, it meant the trip had to made in dozens of smaller jumps, as opposed to the most direct route.

This gave Captain Nithan a great deal of time to mull over the vague message that he had received prior to leaving the outer rim. He had been racking his brain trying to think of any reason command might have to bring him in at such short notice. His tactics had often been harsh and sometimes genocidal when alien species were involved., but when command sent him on assignment they knew what too expect. The truth of the matter was that with the growing rebellion, command often preferred the option with the lowest casualty rate, on both sides. Outrage at civilian casualties were becoming more common place further fuelling the rebellion, even if they were only alien. This is were Nithan fell short, he would rather glass entire continuants than risk Imperial lives.

The ship was already ten days into it's journey, but the Captain had only been seen on the bridge on a dozen of occasions. On the exit journey at the start of the Dark Thunder's mission he had kept an almost constant vigil on the bridge. He had spent the entire exit journey drilling the crew, constantly sounding battle stations and having fighter crews scramble in an attempt to keep his crew sharp during that long trips. For the last nine days, he had spent the majority of time in his quarters or making random inspections of the ships aging equipment. The inspection were not unusual for the crew, but this time it was different, the Captain seemed to more interested in talking to his crew than having them strip down and service their equipment.

The day to day running of the ship had fallen even more so to Commander Wilfons. Wilfons as experienced officer, had served as Nithan's first officer since joining the crew of the Dark Thunder over six years ago. Wilfons now in his late forties was a tall man, slightly over weight, but his large frame carried it well. Clean shaven with a thick mane of jet black hair actually looked younger than the Captain despite being his senior in years. During happier times Nithan jokingly would blame it on the stress of command.

When Wilfons joined the Dark Thunder and met Nithan for the first time, he was immediately impressed by him. Nithan knew his ship well, and his crew, which Wilfons regarded as one of the most important things of command. During their time together, and over the course of several long campaigns the two officers had become close friends. He did not necessarily agree with the Captains readiness to orbitally bombard planets and murder civilians, but he did understand it. Overtime the first officer accepted that this was his way, and was without a doubt that Nithan had saved countless Imperial lives in doing so. This was not to say that on occasion that this did not way heavily of Wilfons conscience.

Wilfons was standing in front of the front view port gazing out over the front of the ship, while the pin pricks of stars streamed past. "Lieutenant Meers" the Commander called.

"Yes sir" replied the Lieutenant, looking up from the radar console in the pit below

"Lieutenant, how long have you served aboard this ship?"

"18 months sir"

"Well Lieutenant, I am stepping of this bridge for a short time, and I believe 18 months should be more than enough experience to warrant you watching this bridge while I am gone, I expect you to contact if anything occurs"

"Errrrr, wh-y-y Yes sir" The young Lieutenant replied obviously stunned but pleased at being given some extra responsibility.

"And I mean anything Lieutenant, remember you are to watch and report, not to do a dam thing, understood?" Wilfons called empathizing on the word anything, already leaving the bridge.

"Yes sir" The Lieutenant replied snapping a salute.

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A couple of minutes in the turbo lift and Wilfons was already walking towards Nithan's quarters. Wilfons pressed the buzzer on the door control. After a short wait, just as the Commander was about the press the button again, the door slid open.

"Captain" Wilfons asked as if it was a question

"Commander, what do I owe this honour?" Nithans asked staring up from his huge oak desk which he was sitting behind.

"I don't see you much on the bridge lately. If you were a junior office I'd go as far to say you were neglecting your duties" Wilfons stated as he walked in, allowing the door to hiss shut behind him.

"Good job I'm not a junior officer then, well not yet any how"

"Don't be negative, not you or anybody else with the exception of the Admiralty know what you are being recalled for. I trust this is what your recent disappearing act is all about?" Said Wilfons with a gentle tone, all the time while taking a seat opposite the Captain.

"Well it is ha-----"

Wilfons interrupted the Captain "That was rhetorical, so listen up , we have served together for long enough now for me to say this as an comrade and a friend" Wilfons drew a breath before continue what appeared to a well rehearsed speech. "Hiding away in here and wondering around the ship gains you nothing, but the sake of my sanity and yours, command your ship, what happens tomorrow happens. Don't come to regret anything. Whatever you have been recalled for can not be undone, but know that in my eyes and the crews you have never dishonoured the Empire. I know for a fact that the entire crew would give their lives for you if you asked. That includes me, and if necessary I will plead that to Admiralty."

Nithans was slightly stunned at his first officer comments "Well my old friend, as much as that reassures me, my destiny is my own. My fate shall be my burden to bear, and nobody else's. But thank you, it means a lot to hear you say it"

"I mean every word Captain, and so would the crew, say the word and we won't even return to Coruscant"

The Captain sat up in his chair, raise one eyebrow "No, we will return and I will not have another word spoken about that. Life as a criminal is no life at all. Do I make myself clear Commander?"

Wilfons cracked a smile at the way the Captains tone had changed from friend to a grand Imperial office in a split second "Well that a bit more like it Captain, and yes crystal clear sir. Now I have been suffering the good General's war stories on my own long enough for this trip. I trust your be making an appearance this evening for one final meal, after all it is your table?"

"Commander, I think I might even enjoy hearing Kiev's ridiculous tales of glory one more time. Now if your here, who's in charge of my ship?" The Captains mood now noticeably improved.

"Ah, I thought you might ask that. I thought it might be wise to allow the young Lieutenant Meers the honour of minding the bridge while I retrieved you from your strop"

"Meers, Your kidding me?"

"Nope, this is what happens when you go missing, and your first office has to make decisions"

"Well we should be getting back to the bridge before that green fool crashing my ship into a planet"

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