Chapter 2
"I just have a small question".
"And that is? ".
"Well for starters", Rae began, " why are we destroying our remaining ships? I thought you wanted a full on war against the New Republic."
"You see, my young admiral, we must learn to be patient. When the time comes, the New Republic will be taken by surprise", said Gallius Rax, emerging from his office. "Come now, we must not have the others waiting".
"Others?", Rae asked. She never really knew if any other high ranking officers made it out alive from the battle of jakku. She only knew her orders were to leave the battle and hold kashyyk until her fleet was destroyed. Rae and Gallius walked past several holograms of new models for their navy, some of them looked the same, with some minor modifications like the tie fighters. Others however were much more complicated.
Gallius Rax entered the conference chamber, followed by Rae Sloane. In front of them were several if not dozens of high ranking officers.
Each of them had a different opinion on the matter. As Rae sat down, there was immediate back lash on Gallius. "You", referring to Rax, "Why did you make such idiotic move?", yelled an Admiral. "We lost our major fleets in that suicidal battle", yelled another. "You should be dead with all the other stupid admirals!".
"Please. Calm down everyone. I'm sure he has an explanation to his actions. Tell us Galli, why make the empire fall in such hideous way?", asked Brendol Hux. Every one stayed silent, looking at the young fleet admiral. "Before his demise, the Emperor wanted to make sure the Empire fell. Without him, there will be no empire. So he entrusted me to end it, with operation cinder doing its job, making my job much easier", Gallius said walking around the table. "But that plan is now long gone. The Emperor is dead, the Empire is no more, today we will reorganize into a new order!", Gallius raised his fist into a salute. "We will reorganize into the First Order! To avenge our emperor, to bring back order, whose with me!".
Gallius waited for results. Canady, Hux, and Sloane all shouted "I". But the rest of the officers laughed at him, denying his request. "The New Republic is hunting us down. If we want to rebuild the empire, it'll get destroyed immediately", laughed an officer. "What is your 'Plan' to attack the New Republic by surprise?", asked another using his fingers to quote plan.
"My plan, is to build Starkiller Base, a similar super weapon as the death star, but the size of a huge planet, one capable of destroying entire systems instead of individual planets".
Everyone stayed silent. In confusion of another death star, repeating history over, and over again. A general, known by everyone as Cazada, stood up and said, "The empire already built two death stars, both failing the emperor. If this is your plan, to just build another death star in hopes to destroy the New Republic, well I got news for you kid, that plan is going to fail".
"The only reason you people are alive is because the emperor deemed you all to be worthy. But I'm starting to realize that he was mistaken", protested Gallius.
"Sloane, Hux, Canady. May I have a word with you all?", he asked. Walking out of view of everyone. The trio joined him, going out of site from the others. "Quickly. Put these on", Gallius whispered. They did as they were told, they also knew what was about to happen. Gallius then pushed a button, and several toxic gases were released. The group could hear the others starting to notice the deadly gas. There was a lot of screaming, and cursing.
The group walked back out into view.
They saw all the officers holding their last breath before being killed. "You fools!", yelled out Cazada, "Your plan will never reach potential. And mark my words, Galli, you…you'll never be alive to see it through". Cazada looked at Brendol, coughing and slowly turning purple, "D-Don't choose this path my dear friend…", Cazada grabbed Brendol by the arm, "Think about your son. Armitage! Give him a better life! You don't want to ruin his life by doing this…will you?"
Brendol took Cazada's arm and threw it back at him. Grabbing his pistol, Hux looked at his old friend and mentor of the imperial academy, "Sorry, but if I were my son… He would do the same thing", Hux said firing two deadly shots at Cazada's head. He looked down at the corpse, "nothing personal", he said before stepping on over it.
"So what now Rax?",Canady asked, walking over to the young fleet admiral. "Well, they were right about one thing. Having another death star won't completely end the war. No, we need someone to lead our First Order. Someone…someone", Gallius stopped walking, turning off the gas. He looked over to Rae, "Someone who is a brilliant tactician".
Rae blushed a little. "Are-Are you implying me?", Rae asked playing with her hair. Gallius looked at her, and laughed, talking his mask off. "No my dear. Though you are good. But I'm looking for one who RARELY lost a battle". Canady looked at him like he had three heads, "Are you suggesting the Chiss Admiral? Thrawn?". Gallius looked at him with a wide smile, "Bingo".
"I-uh, I hate to break this to you Galli, but the Admiral went missing at the battle of lothal, even if he survived, it'll take years to find him", grunted Canady. "That is why were are going to get help", Gallius said. Gallius grabbed him comlink, "Have starkiller enter please". A human in tight black jumpsuit walked in. A helmet covered her head, but she took it off. Revealing a beautiful young woman, with striking bright red hair. "This, is Mara Jade", announced Gallius. "An inquisitor? Those had been removed from the Empire after failing to kill a few jedi scums", asked Rae.
"She is more than just an inquisitor. She, like I was, the Emperor's second hand. She was the one who discovered the Rebels on Hoth, and she was a good friend of Thrawn", told Gallius, "With her force sensitive powers we can find Thrawn faster".
"Where do want me to start, Rax?", asked Mara. "Start in the Mandalorian System and work from there out", ordered Hux. Mara looked at Gallius, Gallius nodded in agreement. "As you wish, commanders", stated Mara before leaving for the hangar bay.
Once she left, Gallius started to mention about StarKiller Base. "We'll place it here. On Illum. It would be an ironic death for the New Republic. The sacred world of the Jedi, the protectors of peace and justice, and be used to destroy billions of lives. And the entire galaxy will bow down to the First Order, and we'll remember this, as the last days of the Republic!"
A/N: Hey everyone! So this is the official story line for Return to The Stars. We'll be back with the search for Bridger and Thrawn. Hope you all enjoy, and may the force be with you :).
