Chapter 2 In the meantime…
Quote: There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my soldiers do. If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm. Mental toughness is essential to success. You never win a battle unless you beat the soldier in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's for the analysts. You've got to win the war with the soldier in front of you.
In the dark corners of the galaxy, where surreptitiously acquired information was wrought and sold, traded in whispers from one furtive creature to the next, rumors had been heard of a gathering of the Imperial forces, somewhere out near a planet called Aurora Prime. Like a fist clenching together, into a hammer that would crush the Alliance forever, and end once and for all it's crazy dreams of freedom.
In a time when the Empire's only chance of survival lies in the hands of the lone pilot…Restoring the Imperial Reich
That was the hope of the Emperor's Hammer. It failed.
Tron had spent years with them and they hadn't struck back at those who'd taken what was rightfully theirs. The New Republic had never been attacked, only swatted away while the fleet that he served with defended the territory the had come about by chance and had no dreams of making alliances with the rest of the Imperial Remnant.
Dispondent and angered, Tron left with a small portion of the fleet in tow and headed towards Bastion. It was now sixteen years since the battle of Yavin and the day the Empire was given it's first major blow. Palpatine was all but dead now and that included all of his clones as well, destroyed by traitors and rebel scum.
Onboard the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Krieger…
"Captain, how long before we revert to real space?" Asked Tron from his usual standing position at the front of the command bridge, staring out into the blue tunnel of hyperspace.
"It's only a few hours until reversion, sir." Reported his newly promoted executive officer, Captain Dor Reder. Reder had been actually given command of the Krieger back when he served under Admiral Gaen Drommel. Upon Drommel's untimely demise aboard the Super-class Star Destroyer Guardian, Captain Reder and his crew headed the Krieger towards the Minos Cluster. There they were intercepted by Admiral Tron Dlarit and stationed around the planet Sif, under Tron's direct command.
"Very well, I'll be in my ready room." Tron turned on the walkway and began heading towards the rear doors of the bridge, "Call me when we enter the Eriadu system." With that he entered the turboshaft and went to his ready room which was in all actuallity a reburished emergency battle bridge which now also served as the conference room for the command staff that Tron had assembled.
The room was decorated with Thyferran art, holo-images of past starships that Tron had served on or commanded as well as group holo-photos of the people he'd served with and known throught out all of his career in the Empire. A photo of his family was displayed prominently on his desk, it pictured his father, his sister and himself. Their mother had died when Erisi and he were very young and no images remained of her in any library, the family library having been destroyed by the rebels.
Yet another thing to destroy them for. His list of reasons for revenge had grown quite large, and due to the lack of motivation on his former superiors part, he hadn't been able to make it any smaller. Tron had never married, he was married to the Empire as the saying goes, and never had time to make the commitment for a relationship since he was always committed elsewhere.
Three hours later…
"Sir?" came the voice of Captain Reder over the private intercom. "Sir? We've reverted to real space and are on the fringe of the Eriadu system now and await your command.
Tron roused from his nap and tapped the intercom button on his desk, "Thank you Dor. Have a recon flight sent out to see the current state of affairs and who all is command of the Seswenna Sector. I'll need to set up a meeting with them regarding our return to the Imperial Navy's command."
"Aye, sir." Reder closed the private intercom and walked over to his communications officer and his flight officer. "Send a recon flight to investigate who we need to talk with lieutenant." He ordered his flight officer and then turning to the recently promoted communications officer he said, "Have the following message prepared to be sent. 'Admiral Tron Dlarit and the Imperial starships under his command wish to ally themselves with the leader of the Imperial Remnant.' and then have it repeated until a response comes in. Notify me at once when one does."
"Yes, sir." Replied the lieutenant commander.
Reder walked over to the next officer who would be of assistance to him, the logistics officer. Commander Derrin was a fine officer, if a bit pompous at times, and had the latest information on the Seswenna sector up before Reder made it all the way over. Reder had had a good career with the Empire, he was a tall man of 1.8 meters and at the age of 51 years he was in as good of shape now as he was when he graduated the academy on Carida.
"Commander?" Reder asked, knowing that Derrin had already pulled up the data to impress him, though there was no need. "What can you tell me of the struggles in the Seswenna sector or at least of it's current state?"
"Well, sir," began Derrin bringing up a display of the former world governed by Grand Moff Tarkin, "it is currently still under Imperial rule thankfully and though we are still unsure as to who is ruling it, we do know that the Imperial Council and and Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, former captain of the Chimaera and executive officer to Grand Admiral Thrawn."
"I see." Reder turned to the communications officer and motioned with a movement of his finger for the officer to join them. "Lieuntenat Commander, has our recon team reported in yet?"
"Negative, sir. They should be making contact with us in the next five minutes as per regulations." Reported the officer.
"Very well, it seems this would be moot anyhow, we need to contact Admiral Gilad Pellaeon." Said Reder. "He'll be the one the Admiral wishes to speak with."
"Aye, sir, I'll send a message to him at once. Reports suggest the Remnant was made Bastion their new capital and that is where he should be located."
"Recall the recon squadron then, we'll arrive at Bastion in person." Ordered Reder, then walking over to the private intercom that was linked to Tron's ready room he advised the admiral of the updated information and his plan. The admiral agreed on the course of action and gave Reder the go ahead. Walking up onto the command deck and looking straight ahead at the planet Eriadu, Reder gave the crew their new orders. "Officer of the watch, bring us about for a jump to the planet Bastion. Navigator lay in a course and transmit it to the helmsman for jump."
Within moments the ship stretched and jumped into the blue wormhole vortex of hyperspace.
Stay tuned for "Chapter 3: The next stage," taking place in the New Jedi Order era and getting the story off to it's official start.
