Intro

I was always told that I was nothing. I was born for a good marriage that would benefit my family. Nothing mattered except a beautiful face and a perfect body. Why did we, the illustrious Tarkins, need to do anything? Our family was one of the oldest in the galaxy and my grandfather the great Wilhelm Tarkin elevated our name to something even more than just aristocracy before his unfortunate demise. With his death was the decline of the family name. The prestige and affluence of the Tarkins have rotted away until we were nothing but penniless gentry. Until I subjugated Kamino.

Grandfather was so fortunate. He got to work with Darth Vader. I had no one worth working with except myself. Everyone was so shortsighted, never looking ahead. That was the problem, fear quenched all ambition. All but mine. I climbed through the ranks and earned my title. Grandfather was different from the mundane crowd. He had vision. I like to think I have it too. He named me Artemis, the huntress.

"Little hunter," he called me, "you can be more than what our family expects of you. You are intelligent and willful. One day, with hard work, you might even become a Grand Moff like me! Would you like that little hunter?" I nodded, my eyes shone with visions of power and my mind filled with plans to achieve it. "I will! I'll be the best Grand Moff ever!"

I shook my head, clearing away the memory. I bowed my head to Supreme Leader Snoke as some politician pinned my new rank to my chest. My black uniform were heavy with the honors I have achieved. "All hail the Grand Admiral of the First Order!" He shouted. My chin lifted with pride. Yes I, Grand Admiral Galaxia Artemis Tarkin was one step closer towards Moff.

Chapter 1: The Huntress

I spun in an excited little circle in the privacy of my room. The Supreme leader had summoned me for a private-most likely a special assignment. I called a servant in to dress me. As the girl pulled my silvery hair into an elegant French twist, I tried to compose myself. Checking to make sure the hair was secure, I dismissed her, satisfied.

I put the string of pearls around my neck and slipped the Tarkin signet ring on my left index finger. Splaying my hand for a better look, I admired the massive Burmese Sapphire in the center. I slipped on my high black pointy toed stilettos and took a deep breath.

I followed the red uniformed guards into the bleak throne room. In the center of the room was the tall deformed alien in a good lamé robe who held my loyalty. For now.

Bowing, I smiled as Snoke congratulated me warmly. Then, he pointed a long spindly finger at the two men beside him and immediately, I stiffened. What was this, was he putting me under the command of these men? "This is General Hux and Kylo Ren. I will be giving them to you to aid you in the next campaign. I trust you will whip them into shape."

I was relieved but I gritted my teeth and nodded curtly. "Yes, thank you. This is most generous but Supreme Leader, you know I work best alone."

Snoke gave me a gimlet eye. "Admiral Tarkin, don't make me regret my promotion."

I bit my tongue to staunch a snippy retort. "With your permission, will I have full authority over them?"

He nodded then dismissed me with an imperious wave.

I went back to my rooms in my flagship Orion to change from my formal dress uniform to something more comfortable. I took the opportunity to stew. I couldn't believe it! I'm finally a Grand Admiral and the first order I get is to baby sit a General and a testy Knight of Ren. Why oh why did they make another Death Star?! It was destroyed just like the one that my grandfather built. I glared angrily ahead and tried to marshal my thoughts. How can I use these men?

I brushed my silvery hair and gestured at my hair dresser to attend to my locks while I stared at the screen. Irritating. After a week of celebration and revelry, the paperwork has piled up. Today was the first day I was able to look at reports and the ones coming from the planet of Kiros were unsettling. Another annoyance was that I had to somehow fit Ren and Hux into my chain of command. I didn't want to deal with Ren or Hux today but it was the first day of command after my so-called promotion. Getting rid of Hux would be simple, stick him on a planet that needed some subjugation and done. Ren on the other hand, that was going to be difficult. I didn't know his role in the military or his level of authority. Snoke's decision to saddle me with him chafed at me. I frowned unconsciously and the woman behind me paused.

"Milady?" she asked. "Not you, continue," I dismissed her. If only I could dismiss him like that. Snoke didn't trust me. Not even after almost 10 years of service, why did he promote me then? Gritting teeth I stood and let my servant dress me. Reading the data pad as she buttoned the tiny clasps of my blouse, I tried to ignore her. I read the report detailing the economics on my other systems but I was too preoccupied with what to do with the men.

"Enough," I snarled. The servant backed away, bowing hastily. Annoyed, I slipped on my ink black stilettos and shrugged into the velvet uniform jacket she held out. I exited my rooms and my attendees flocked towards me. Scanning digipads and signing documents while I walked, I instructed my aides to prepare for a cohort of the knights of Ren. I was not entirely sure what their abilities were but I was assured that they were elite warriors. Useless information. I had elite warriors. I needed to know if they had Force abilities.

I was pissed, I was going to be in charge of a vital operation and yet I was stuck with 2 men whom I had never worked with and yet Smoke put them in a position of power and authority without my say so. Situations that I can't control are deadly. I entered the bridge and was immediately confronted with a situation. Ren and Hux glared at each other, nose to nose like 2 male rancors fighting for dominance.

Right. Time to work. My crew saluted as I entered the bridge. I introduced the men quickly and went straight to my chair. I crooked a finger and the 2 followed me. Hux immediately went to stand at my right while Ren trailed to my left like a malevolent raven. Sitting, I crossed one leg elegantly over the other, letting one heel come off and balance on my toes. Sweet relief, pointy shoes were elegant but were torture on the toes.

"Hux, due to your utter incompetence, I am reassigning you," I announced. I had thought about how I could use him. He had excellent marks and was highly recommended but for some reason, his military efforts lately have been dismal. I attributed it to the fact that he was a general, trained in ground warfare rather than an admiral like myself who studied space warfare.

"Why you were commanding spaceships is beyond my comprehension and I will put you on the ground where you belong. For some unknown reason you were assigned to space but I am correcting it now." I studied his reaction. Hux's icy blue eyes stared at me but he had an excellent poker face, I didn't even see a tic in his jaw. I remembered a time when those eyes melted for me and we traded forbidden kisses in empty rooms. How things have changed.

Brushing aside stray thoughts, I forged onwards, "I need you to subjugate Kiros. Bring it back under Empire rule. I want the people on my side though," I warned. "Eliminate the Rebels but no unnecessary risks, no account of genocide or mass murder is to reach me, understood?"

Hux's eyes flashed in anticipation. I took a gamble giving him the point on this operation. I did not know whether he would succeed but I knew from experience that when assigning operations, the ones given to those who had the most to prove would be the most successful since they had the most to lose.

The Kiros operation had dragged on for months. The Togruta were a peaceful civilization with a deeply traditional culture but more importantly, their textiles were unmatched and incredibly valuable. So much so that when taxed, they could pay for a new battle cruiser. However, a pesky rebellious group had thrown my plans to a screeching halt. Now the people of Kiros were either sick or starving to death. I don't want a planetary death on my hands. I didn't tell him that I was recruiting the planet for my eventual territory as Moff. I have a good couple hundred systems under my command already but it didn't hurt to add another. My systems like me they think I am merciful. I don't tax them unnecessarily and I for the most part, let them govern themselves. I only sent emissaries to settle major disputes. I suppose they liked my rule far more than the Supreme Leader's since I have never dealt with a rebellion. Part of my wished for one just to inspire some fear but I suppose I can just make do with obliterating the Rebels.

I signaled to my Huntress to attend him. "Here is all of the information we have gathered on Kiros, feel free to research on your own if you need to. Included are all of our past maneuvers and future plans. They are not set in stone, change them if necessary. I give you permission to do so. Run it by the officers first." I motioned him forwards. "I am assigning Luna to you, she will assist you in all that you need.

Addressing Luna, I spoke in a low voice. "I assign you to General Hux report every little thing he does. I want to know what he eats and how long he shits. Give him any assistance he requires. I'm going to let him have...Squadron F45. No, Squadron F31. And the 381st legion of stormtroopers. 10 tanks and 5 of my Hunters." My Hunters are my elite Assassins that are loyal to me. I freed them from slavery or rescued them from destroyed worlds then I gave them the choice to go free. The ones that remained I had them trained. But they were nothing compared to my Huntresses. Those women served only me. I saved from brothels, slavery, trafficking and gave them a better life. I honed them into gorgeous weapons trained in sex, in counterintelligence, and assassination. They are fanatically loyal, I trust them completely. But on the safe side both my Hunters and Huntresses are implanted with suicide chips. I haven't terminated any of my Hunters or Huntresses yet but no-one can be too careful. My Luna is a huntress and she knows that there is no room for defeat. If Hux failed, she would dispose of him.

I held out my black silk gloved hand. Hux took his cue to extend his leather bound hand for me to drop a personal com in his hand. I raised a brow and he nodded in understanding. He was to report only to me, he had full authority on Kiros. "General, I need Kiros. Do not fail me." Hux clicked his heels and left once I waved my hand in dismissal.

"I will go with you to Kiros. Ren," I turned to address the Knight "You will remain with me. We will go past the Kiros system to Mandalore." I kept my agenda for Mandalore a secret. Snoke didn't need to know that I didn't want to stay an Admiral forever.

3 days later.

3 days and I was ready to feed both Ren and Hux to a sarlacc. We were half way to the Kiros system. And already my jaw was sore from grinding my teeth. It's only been 3 days and it felt like 3 months. Ren and Hux were like cats and dogs. They hated each other and by extension I hated both of them. Ren would fly into a rage whenever Hux would needle him and then another part of my ship would be damaged. Ren had accumulated a staggering amount of damage to my ship. His anger was appalling, I had to address this properly.

I called Kylo and Hux into my office. Not looking up from my reports I addressed them. "2 million Imperial crowns' worth of damages. Damage to the 31st access panel. Destruction of an air conditioning unit. Damage to the PA systems. Complaints of excessive force. Complaints of threats. Complaints of insults. Complaints, complaints, complaints! Do you two want me to throw you out of the air lock?! Because I will happily comply!" I slammed my digipad down. Waving my hand, I threw up holograms of the reports and the men, creating a wall between us.

"My ship was a perfect machine before you two came along! My crew and my officers were happy, now they are afraid and annoyed. Tell me, General why I shouldn't assign you to Hoth." My voice lowered threateningly.

His didn't seem fazed. "Lady Admiral, it won't happen again." He made no excuses for his behavior and grudgingly, I accepted it.

"One last chance. If a complaint with your name on it appears on my desk again…." I didn't bother finishing my statement. Hopefully he picked up on the hint that I would have him killed. Hux clicked his heels together and I waved my right hand to dismiss him.

"As for you, Ren," I turned to him in aggravation. "You have racked up so many credits of damage! I want you to go to the slums of the Black Sun Syndicate and get back what they owe me." My reflection in his black mask stared ruthlessly back. I looked into my own deep blue eyes and glared.

"Lady Tarkin, I am not to leave your side. The Supreme Leader has commanded it." Ren's strangely distorted voice addressed me. I narrowed my eyes invectively. "Are you disobeying me? It is your fault for damaging my ship and I need it to be in perfect condition for when I storm Ryloth and if we break down in space before my rendezvous, I will upload your brain to a mind flayer."

Ren squared his shoulders. "It was a direct command. I will not leave your side." He was stubborn. He was making me look weak. A subordinate disobeying my direct command leads to rebellion. Fury overtook me and I stood, reached over, and slapped him. I regretted it instantly, my hand stung from his helmet and I fought down the instinct to rub my increasingly numb hand. To my satisfaction, his head was whipped to the side. I hope his neck hurts like a bantha tomorrow.

"Fine. I will collect those credits and you will go with me." I waved away the alarm from my aides. "Lady Admiral! You are much to valuable to go in person, send someone else!" One protested. I silenced him with a wintery glare. "Tell the bridge we are going on a little detour. Ren, get your knights. We're going to Ord Mantell."