"I never thought the day would come when the First Order would engage in diplomacy, are you sure this will work?" General Hux asks Pates as they sit in the officer's lounge room of the transport ship as it makes its way to the capital city of Bardotta.
The officer's lounge is much more luxurious compared to the stark, utilitarian Stormtrooper hold on the lower level. While the lighting is still bright and oppressive against carbon black walls, there are stiff, geometrical lounge sofas near viewing windows, along with a long glass dining table filled with various drinks and treats. General Hux sits in one of the lounge chairs, his body stiff and uncomfortable in such a relaxed position. On the space behind him sits a small plate, on which the remains of a few pastries lie.
"The people relied on the trade agreement for their medical supplies, without them they're unable to work, I think it's a fair agreement," Pates argues, as she stands in the middle of the room and faces him.
"This isn't the way of the First Order. We crush primitive planets like these under our heel, not kowtow to their every whim."
Her arms behind her back, Pates is serious, but sincere, "We used subterfuge to bring down the New Republic. If New Republic forces had been aware of our growing military might, they would've destroyed us before we'd even begun. Engaging in early military contact would've given us, at best, another prolonged Galactic Civil War, if not another Clone Wars. Military might is necessary, but detrimental in the wrong situation."
"Yes, but that was the New Republic, the foremost power in the galaxy. Now that power belongs to us…" Hux lingers on those last words, his voice lowering, before glancing back up at Pates, "we shouldn't have to negotiate with planets that are completely under our control. What does their government mean when First Order banners fly in every town?"
"Local governments still handle day-to-day operations," she points out, "and they're a source of hope to the people. …what would Arkanis be without the Hux family?"
The general cracks a smile, leaning back in his chair, "You know how to flatter me."
Pates sits down next to Hux, her upper body slouching against the lounge chair, "Armitage…I wouldn't stick my neck out on my very first assignment if I didn't believe it was the right decision."
Hux nods his head, his lids lowering as his expression becomes somewhat sad, almost wistful, "I know."
He reaches out, and runs his hand through her hair, finding a lock that'd come loose at the front of her bun and twirling it around his finger. Pates's first instinct is to draw closer to him, but something shifts in her eyes as she catches herself.
The two are thrown out of their spell as the ship jolts to one side, glass from the dining table falling and shattering on the floor. Pates and Hux stand as the automatic doors slide open.
"We are under attack," there's a sense of urgency, but very little surprise in Kylo Ren's tone as he enters.
Pates and Hux glance at each other, their intimate moment disappearing without a trace as the two of them change to more guarded, serious expressions. The two of them follow Ren to the ship's deck, where two Stormtroopers are piloting.
"General Hux, we've identified the craft as a local Bardottan ship," one of the Stormtroopers explains.
Hux grits his teeth, "Return fire, this craft is far inferior to First Order firepower-"
"That may be true, but no doubt they'll try to get aboard. You, search the ship," Kylo Ren interjects, pointing to the Stormtrooper co-pilot.
The Stormtrooper gets up out of his seat, heading out of the cockpit as Kylo Ren takes over, pressing buttons and taking hold of the wheel with an expert's touch.
"Hmph, he thinks he can fly a ship," General Hux scoffs.
The enemy ship fires a barrage of lasers at the First Order transport, and Kylo Ren steers the ship in return, the sleek craft barreling forward at top speed, spinning wildly as it dodges every bit of fire. Pates and Hux scramble to find something to hold onto, as even the Stormtrooper pilot is in awe of Kylo Ren's calm maneuvering focus.
Just then, a cry is heard from the back of the ship from the copilot, redirecting everyone's attention. Kylo Ren looks up at his Inquisitor.
"Don't just stand there, we have an intruder!"
"Yes, commander!" Pates snaps back to attention, pushing past General Hux to check out the back room. Hux reaches out to stop her, but she darts past him before he can reach.
"You can't protect her forever," Ren's cold and dismissive as he looks back to the front of the ship.
The back room where Pates and Hux had been conversing is now dark and quiet, with someone having killed all the lights in the room. The Stormtrooper copilot now lies dead on the ground, splayed out on the red carpet.
Pates presses a tiny button on her helmet, pulling down the front portion of it to conceal her face. She then activates her lightfoil, the laser creating a shroud of purple light around her. Giving it a light flourish, she glances around the room, assessing her surroundings. The room is deathly silent.
A burst of red light careens from the left as Pates ducks. The blaster fire hits the wall behind her, bright sparks dazzling off of its surface. Pates spots the assassin taking cover behind a set of couches, a native Bardottan in aging gray armor, a metallic mask covering his face and pronounced beak.
Pates charges towards him, and he fires another shot. Pates throws her lightfoil in front of her, and the laser makes contact with the blaster fire, the blade itself absorbing the light until it winks out of existence. Pates then takes her lightfoil with both hands, cutting down on the assassin. The blade cuts into the old armor, searing it open but only barely grazing the skin. The attacker falls onto his back, dropping his blaster.
Pates raises her lightfoil against his throat, "Who do you work for?"
"You are impostors…all of you…" the assassin locks eyes with Pates, as he reaches for his blaster, "your lightsaber can't even deflect blaster fire…nothing but a band of murderers and thieves. Here to steal what the New Republic built."
Pates snarls, but before she can respond, the assassin snatches his blaster and knocks her over the head with the end of the gun. Pates falls over, and the assassin makes a break for the large viewing windows. With a firm kick, he shatters the glass, and as Pates stands to pursue him, he looks back at her.
"You…I sense conflict in you…may the Force guide you to the Light."
Before Pates can stop him, the Bardottan assassin leaps out the window, skydiving towards the mountains below. Pates leans out, and spots another Bardottan ship zip under the First Order craft, catching him and turning around to take off. Pates grabs a small metal ball from her waistband and throws it down. It snaps onto the back of the ship, emitting a red pulse of light as the ship speeds off.
"Well, did you get him?" General Hux asks as he enters the room.
Pates sighs, "No, he got away. But I managed to attach a tracking device onto his ship-"
"So far you've failed to impress me as an Inquisitor, Pates," Kylo Ren confesses, as he follows behind Hux.
Taking a deep breath, Pates does her best to look her boss square in the eye, "I apologize for my poor performance thus far, Commander Ren. Please, in time I will prove myself worthy."
Hux grimaces at Ren, but Pates speaks again, snapping away his attention, "Gentlemen, if you would both sit. I have something I wish to discuss."