-On the bridge of the Star Destroyer Ultimatum.
Captain Sloane was finally starting to adjust to life as a full time captain of a Star Destroyer. After narrowly avoiding a disastrous start to her career, things became much more subdued in the following months. A problem would arise, the Ultimatum would arrive and deliver, well, an ultimatum, and the sheer intimidation factor of the vessel would inspire obedience.
At first she was obsessed with trying to find answers on just who this "Kanan" character was and if he really was sent by the Emperor. However, her search proved fruitless and other duties demanded her full attention.
"Comm message coming through for you Captain. Priority One." Alerted the communications officer.
"I'll take it in my cabin." Sloane replied as she turned and navigated the short distance between the bridge and her quarters. When she entered, a blue image of a blond haired man in a fancy outfit appeared before her.
"Baron Danthe, to what do I owe this honor?" Sloane asked earnestly.
"Greetings Captain, I was hoping you can solve a little problem I'm having." He stated in a refined voice. "You do remember my new appointment, correct?"
"Of course, the Emperor granted your lordship personal control over the Thorilide mining operation on Gorse." Sloane replied.
"Then you remember that since the new deposits you discovered are on the hot side of the planet, there are certain challenges when mining it."
Sloane remembered that the planet Gorse was locked in a strange orbital dance with its sun and moon, resulting in one side of the planet being constantly pelted with heat, while the other was dark.
"I believe that that's why you were chosen for the project my lord. Your heat resistant droids are the only kind that can operate in that environment." Sloane said in a tone that suggested he should get to the point.
"Yes, my dear Captain, that is correct. However, the precision mining explosives that we currently use to dislodge the Thorilide are not designed to operate at such extreme temperatures. We need a new solution. And due to the quotas the Emperor is requesting, I don't have time for Imperial R&D to come up with a new explosive." Danthe continued.
Sloane straightened her posture, ready to find out why she was needed. "What do you suggest my lord."
"There is a certain Mandalorian clan on Quesh that is producing an explosive that can be stored in a gel like form. The substance does not ignite or explode unless an attached detonator commands it to. Sounds like a perfect solution to my predicament, am I right?"Danthe asked with a cocky smile.
Sloane nodded, stood and attention and saluted. "What are your orders my lord?"
"They are what you may have guessed. Get the formula for this explosive and deliver it to me on Coruscant. If you succeed I may just be needing someone to escort to the Imperial founding celebration next month." Danthe offered.
Sloane considered. Every important person in the Empire would be at that party. For a Captain looking to make Admiral, a chance to mingle with the leadership families was worth more than any sum of credits.
"Consider it done, my lord." Sloane replied.
"Excellent! Oh and one more thing. I do rather enjoy monopolies on materials as vital as this one, if you catch my meaning." Danthe added as the blue image faded.
Sloane sighed and laid flat on her bed, her long black hair falling out of her hat. Excellent she thought. One easy mission and she would be rubbing elbows with everyone she needed know in order to secure her promotion. Her thoughts then immediately went to the job at hand. Mandalorians. They would have powerful shielding so attacking from orbit would be a waste time. She would need boots on the ground. A strike team that could either take the formula through stealth or force.
Sloane got up and grabbed he holo-communicator. "Communications officer, get me Agent Manke and Agent Kallus. I have a job for them."
Kanan stared out the cockpit windows at the eerie blue light engulfing the ship. He had heard that too much time spent watching the phenomena could drive a man insane but Kanan paid the rumors no mind. For him it was a ritual. He imagined that the light was washing away all of the connections and experiences he encountered at his previous destination. It was how he stayed sane after so many years on the run. Hiding from the Sith was hard enough without carrying all your emotional baggage around with you.
"You're awfully quiet." Hera almost whispered from the chair across from him.
"Just trying to focus on the task ahead, captain." Kanan replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"Meditating on it master Jedi?" Hera remarked playfully.
"No!" Kanan fired back clearly annoyed. "What happened on that day was a one-time thing, and never would have happened if you weren't about to be turned into Twi'lek paste."
Hera felt bad, having stuck a nerve. Clearly Kanan's Jedi past was a source of great pain for him. Hera knew that she needed him and his skills in order to get this Rebellion off the ground. Provoking him and setting Kanan up for an identity crisis was probably not the best use of his talents at this point.
"I'm sorry." She offered. "I wouldn't be breathing right now if not for you. Deciding to use those powers again must have brought back painful memories."
"Much less painful than seeing someone I care about killed before my eyes." Kanan replied, head turning towards Hera.
Their eyes met and softened, the sadness in both of them communicated that they both have seen that happen far too often in the past.
Kanan slowly inched over and started reaching for Hera's hand. Suddenly Chopper rolled into the cockpit making a ruckus on he was capable of. A flurry of beeps followed.
Hera stood up suddenly, breaking through whatever tension was left between them and addressed the droid.
"Okay Chop, I'll take a look at the Hyperdrive. We're still a few hours away from Quesh so we can run your tests." She said as she made her way to the back of the ship, leaving Kanan alone on the bridge.
Once she was out of view she let out and audible sigh. Hera did notice Kanan's incoming gesture and was happy for the interruption. Though his advances were nothing new, they usually came when the two were being more playful than serious. The fact that he might be ready to confide in her was a scary thought.
Hera certainly found him attractive and as much as he tried to argue, he was a good honest person who put himself on the line to help others. However, there was soon going to be so much more to him. Kanan was going to be a driving force in organizing this rebellion and eventually, with the right push, a Jedi.
That was a problem in and of itself. If she could get him to open up and embrace his past, Hera would effectively be forcing Kanan to push her away. Jedi did not believe romantic attachments.
So she could either give in to her desires and keep him from fulfilling his potential or guide him down a path where there would be no place for her. So frustrating.
Hera was snapped out of her thoughts with a zap.
"OW! Stupid droid! What was that for?!" She exclaimed.
Chopper waved his "arms" franticly and rolled his way to the engine room.
"Everything okay back there?!" Kanan yelled.
"Yeah, just great." Hera called back as she got to work on the Hyperdrive.
-End of Chapter 1
Another quick set-up Chapter. I promise they will get meatier when the mission begins!
Thanks for the early follows/favorites.
Shout out to Ryder Thorne for the first review!