Chapter 5

Grall's training in the Advanced Leadership Development, was a difficult time. Not only did the members of this unit have to learn how to be a Strom Trooper, but learn tactics, strategy, and other tasks that would needed to be preformed while doing the duties of a member of the Imperial Army.

Throughout training Grall had been closely watched by the Commandant, and he knew it. It was like having his father back, so he pushed himself harder doing his best to achieve perfection. The training was complete in one- half cycle, and he was at the top of his graduating company. Grall would be the first one to get his orders for assignment, his would be presented to him during the graduation ceremony. Grall was surprised by his assignment, knowing that he had been a conscript, was assigned to the Elite Corps.

Before the day was done Grall had packed up his belongings as was on a shuttle bound for Coruscant. He sat in the cargo bay reflecting, he did develop a loyalty to the Empire, but it was mostly to take care of his mother. Never would he truly be as loyal as the others he would work with, but he would never let them know that. The journey was a long one and he spent most of that time recovering from his training. When the shuttle reached Coruscant, Grall had recovered from the mental and physical damage he had taken in training.

Seven and a half cycles had passed, he had been across the galaxy and back again helping the empire to gain control of every known system. "Commander, we have just come out of light speed and we will be docking with the research station soon." the pilot said from the cockpit. Grall looked to his commander and waited. The commander nodded, Grall slipped his helmet over his head and headed to the cargo bay.

"Stand Too," Grall commanded, "full gear on and be ready to disembark."

The troops did as they were ordered and got into formation in no time. He could hear the wings begin to fold up, docking was soon. The shuttle had come to rest, and the ramp lowered. The Strom Troopers marched out followed by Grall and the Commander. A man in a white uniform approached them, "Welcome I am Wangre Colkt, manager of this station." the man said.

The Commander responded, " I am Commander Dexzt, and this is Sergeant Grall." Grall nodded towards the man.

"Allow me to show you two around. My staff and I are so relived that the Empire has finally allowed troops to come and protect these facilities. This so called rebellion is making us nervous. A TIE fighter production facility, and now a Star Destroyer facility." the man said in a very worried tone.

The Commander spoke with all the confidence of a man in his position, "The rebellion, as you call it will be crushed in no time, any attempts to sabotage this station will be useless."

The three walked throughout the station. The manager showing the key places in the facility from where a thermal detonator would easily destroy the entire station. Then it was where the key points of research where being carried out. "Now Commander, this area is the most important area in this facility." the manager spoke with a very important tone, "this is where the new breeds of TIE craft are being developed."

They entered the control room, it was empty and dark. The manager switched on the lights. There were computers and terminals everywhere except for one wall, it was glass. Grall and the Commander looked at each other, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly the lights came on and a small hanger laid before them.

"What you two are seeing is the next generation of TIE fighters." the manager spoke with lots of pride when he began speaking, "The ones you see on the left is the TIE Advance x 1, we will be delivering one of them to Lord Vader when the Death Star is complete. Lord Vader will do the final tests before we go in to production."

"The craft on the lower right is the TIE bomber, I wish I could tell you more but I am assigned a greater task. The TIEs above those are my main project. The interceptor, it is faster than the standard TIE. Right now my main problem is handling because of it's greater speed and fire power." The manager continued on, "We even have one that is capable of traveling at light speed, but I don't think that version will ever make the production line."

The three began walking back towards the main hanger bay to meet up with the rest of the troops. "May I ask Commander? What is this I here that the Emperor is talking about dissolving the Senate?" ask the manager.

"Currently it is nothing more than a rumor." the commander stated, "As for the security ten of my men will be one at one time. With myself and Sergeant Grall patrolling and making sure everything is normal."

The group arrived at the hanger bay and the Commander sent the first guards out. Grall was pulled aside by one of the pilots from the shuttle. "Sergeant, I don't know how to tell you this but your mother has died." the pilot tried to show some feeling when he told him, " we just received the comm, I wish there was more to tell you. I am sorry."

Grall walked off to the other side of the hanger to be alone. He had done this whole life for his mother, now she was gone. He made a decision that instant, he would leave the empire, and do something else.