One week earlier...
"Arden! Hey man! How ya doing," Sian exclaimed at the sight of his life-long friend in the cantina on Coruscant.
"Sian," Arden replied, obviously not as excited about this reunion as Sian was. "I'm fine." Arden was exactly as Sian had remembered; the same slick, long, black hair and the tall stature, standing over Sian by half a foot.
Sian, however, had changed a bit. He had lost his messy, short brown hair, and had obtained a carefully combed head of hair. His standing stance was much different, standing with his arms behind his back instead of slouching, with his arms tucked into his pockets. On his Imperial uniform, instead of no insignia, he now held the insignia of a Fleet Admiral. "Good to hear, my old friend," Sian announced gleefully, wraping an arm around his friend's shoulder. Arden shook it off without much hesitation.
"Not in the mood right now, Sian." Arden leaned back over the counter of the bar, holding his drink tightly in his large right hand.
"What's wrong, Arden?" Sian leaned over the counter as well, looking at the side of Arden's now very pale, skinny face. He looked drunk.
Arden sighed loudly, taking a sip of his drink. "The Rebellion took over Corellia yesterday."
Sian interrupted before he went any further, "Yes, I know. I was in the command of the Star Destroyer fleet above Corellia. We tried the best we could t-" Arden cut him off.
"My family was on that planet, Sian. I just lost my family to the mercy of the Rebels. THAT is what's wrong with me," Arden said, his voice rising for a yell. He then turned to face Sian. "And YOU and your damn fleet retreated from a couple squadrons of X-Wings."
"There was more to it than that,..." Sian replied softly. "Those were just the scouts. If we had stayed, we would have been attacked by more than half of the entire Rebellion fleet. If we had stayed," he repeated, "I would have been killed, along with my fleet. I had no choice but to retreat."
Arden scoffed, and turned away. All at once, his shoulders sunk in defeat and he turned to face Sian once again. "I have come to a decision, Sian. Up until now, I have stayed neutral in this Galactic Conflict. After yesterday's outcome, I have decided to join the Imperial Fleet." He had look pained in saying this.
Sian grinned. "Wonderful. Welcome to the fleet, Admiral Arden."
Arden widened his eyes. "That quick, huh? Aren't we supposed to contact your superior?"
"Ah, but that is exactly what I am going to do. I'll contact Admiral Piett this evening and ask for your recruitment," Sian said, extending his hand out to Arden. Arden took it. "Once again, welcome to the fleet, Admiral Arden."