Chapter 3- new arrivals

Sitting in the officers mess all of the high ranking officers waiting in their seats. They were all anxious to see the newly commissioned commander Enders. And they were supposed to eat together so they waited for him looking a bit longingly at the piles of food that the chef had cooked for them. When he arrived he was wearing his uniform smartly and was given a push from the chief into the room. The chief then turned back towards the crews mess. Once the door closed everybody got food and asked questions, mostly at the same time. While piling a plate with waffles he answered questions about the battle, were he was born, and who his parents were. Those had an obvious effect and after the first time they weren't mentioned again. Once he answered the questions and ate everybody stared at him eventually he couldn't take it and said, "What is it?"

"Oh don't worry," said the captain, "they waited for you and none of them expected you to be squared away by now. You see we didn't realize you would come back so quickly so there was nobody sent to meet you at the ship."

"Oh that's okay the chief showed me around and got me a uniform, how do you people get around this place, its huge?"

"Ah good old chief." Smiled one.

"Well at least he got good help," said the chief engineer.

"Right, back to your posts we are going to run a few exercises today to show what this ship is capable of to our new companion and I want all routine maintenance done before the day is out. We need to be ready for major operations understood?"

There was no response, they all just stared. "The ship will be back on duty in two days I expect that we will be ready by then, get to work."

After that they filled out complaining and talking about how to get the stuff done in time. When they were gone the Captain took Commander Enders to the bridge and they watched the tie fighters launch. Just before diner there was one exercise left to complete. Sean who had been watching quietly all day turned to the captain and asked, "This is the exercise were they have to capture a shuttle full of rebel spies without destroying it right?"

"Yes it is; it is one of the few that my men have some trouble with."

"Do you mind if I join the exercise and talk to the pilots involved?"

"You will fly with them into combat; I just didn't know you were qualified with the tie."

Sean nodded and replied, "I'll fly the shuttle first so call the pilots and tell them to wait."

Sean walked down to the hanger and introduced himself to the pilots of the shuttle and the tie's. Then he asked them why they had trouble with it. The response was that the tie didn't have an ion cannon and that it was hard to hit the engines because they were heavily shielded. The shuttle pilots said it was hard for them because the shuttle was not nearly as maneuverable as the fighters. Sean smiled and told the tie's that he would go with them the second time but he would go with the shuttle the first. They groaned when they heard they would have to do it twice but were too worried about having a new officer to complain. Then Sean went back into the shuttle and told its pilots that they would learn something and that he would teach them as much as he could afterwards.

"Commander you are cleared to launch."

"Thanks tower, launching now."

With that the shuttle took off and Sean's hands flew across the consoles. Once outside he told the tie's to attack. Then he took all of the power the ship had weapons, shields, life support, everything and fed it to the engines. As low power blaster shots flew by he started to dodge.

Mother of god did he just jump away in that shuttle. He flew it like it was a fighter, and he got away. "Were did he go with that shuttle?"

Just then the shuttle remerged from hyperspace next to the star destroyer. "Sir that was a wonderful little exercise you run here. If someone can have a set of pilot gear for a fighter and a holo projector I think I will have to teach a short lesson for all of them and run this a few times. Also sense we probably won't make it to diner, can you send down some food for them, I hate to fly on an empty stomach."

"Alright commander the stuff will be there and afterwards can you meet me in my ready room to tell me how you learned to fly like that."

"Alright Captain see you then."

The pilots sat with rapt attention as Sean told them what they had done wrong and what they had done right. It was the second day of exercises and to many of them it seemed an eternity. Still they all respected the commander by now. He had flown with them and during a few simulated battles done an excellent job of winning with them still alive. They had eaten diner two hours before and now that his critique was finished he wanted to have them attack the ship again. When he had first told them it was an exercise that morning it had seemed madness to attempt such a thing but he had shown them how. They got into their ships as he headed for the bridge were he would try to and inevitably stop them with a hail of simulated blaster shots. They had only succeeded at the attack once, and that time he was flying with them directing the attack while dodging shots himself.

Fifteen minuets later it seemed as though their earlier conclusion that he was insane seemed very appropriate. They had all been killed and there was almost no damage done to the star destroyer... the result forecast in the text book. All of the pilots were sitting in the chairs they had left in the corner of the hanger. They had been using them on and off all day. He walked down into the room and they all looked at him. "Pilots, it was a nice try but you do have to remember the firepower this ship possesses. A rebel cruiser isn't quite so large but it can still kill you if you happen to be right in front of it Bryson."

They all laughed even him, he had been the first tie shot down, as he came across the bow of the ship right into the sights of a blaster turret.

"Well guy's that was the last exercise you get for today. Engineering finished building my TIE so we can start dogfights together tomorrow. You are all allowed to sleep in; it's been a rough two days.

They cheered and laughed as he walked out then dispersed. Sean himself walked towards his cabin. He didn't even make it to the room. A messenger ran up to him and said, "Sir you're needed in the captains ready room apparently someone important wants to talk to you."

"Thanks."

As he sprinted toward the ready room he wondered who it could be. Probably the fleet admiral with orders or some politician wanting to speak to me and the captain. He was wrong.

"Hey Captain who is on the com..." As closed the door he froze. The face on the screen was none other than Vader.

"Commander I trust your tardiness has a good excuse?"

He swallowed then answered confidently, "Off course lord Vader I was in the hanger with the tie pilots. We have trained all day and I'm proud of how much they have accomplished."

"Well good to hear you aren't wasting your time. I have comed because I have sent two people to you in a shuttle, they should arrive tomorrow. One is my best interrogator. The other is a gift to you from the emperor."

"The emperor," Sean stammered, the enormity of all this suddenly hitting him, "you talked to the emperor about me?"

"Yes I did," was Vader's response. Were he still human Vader would probably have laughed at how the admiral turned white when he realized what had been said.

"He was extremely pleased and thought it right to send you a reward. You will understand when the shuttle arrives."

"Yes sir. Can we stay and train for a while before setting out to hunt rebels lord Vader? I am worried about taking men into combat that I do not know well at all. We would be more effective if I had time to get to know them."

"How long would you require to train them?"

"Not long lord, about a week?"

"Granted, I may com again; try not to be late next time."

"Of course Lord Vader."

Once the screen went blank Sean let out a breath and turned to the Captain. "He really gets to you doesn't he?"

"Yes, Lord Vader is very powerful, and the stories don't do him justice." Then he grinned, "wanna bet what this gift of the Emperor thing is?"

"Nope, because I have no idea what the hell is going on around here anyway."

"Right so how are the pilots coming along, I never trained them this hard."

"Well, you weren't a fighter pilot; I just want to see them live through this and give me as much help as possible. Still in the end it's the big ship that does the most damage."

"True, but they are much better off and I haven't given you enough time to get ready and acquainted with a TIE."

"Nonsense, as long as I'm here I have to do something useful. I get way too bored to be effective if not. Even if operations start in a week I'm still going to need some help adjusting. I was wondering if I could spend some time with the chief going over rules, and how the navy works. I asked him and he said he'd do it provided I asked you."

Captain Bardon nodded, "Just don't put him in a TIE, the man wouldn't refuse but he's worth far more alive."

"Are you kidding of course, besides the old man will probably die of old age before we get to a fight."

They laughed a bit and drank some of that Corelian whiskey the captain had. After goodbyes they went to their respective quarters and slept.

The next day they got breakfast and sat on the bridge. Most of the ship was resting, and the bridge wasn't as crowded as normal.

The shuttle came out of hyperspace, so Sean shook hands with Captain Bardon and walked towards the shuttle bay. When he showed up the chief was waiting along with the storm troopers who stood at attention as an honor guard.

A squad of storm troopers walked down the ramp and took up positions next two his, then three people walked down the ramp. He looked at each member of the party. One was a black uniformed man, unmistakably the interrogator. The second walked behind him also in a black uniform like an assistant. The last was an incredibly beautiful woman. She was wearing a black skin tight jumpsuit. Damn who is she, gods she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She looked to be about twenty, with thick brown hair that fell past her shoulders. She was about five ten to match his even six. And she had curves in all the right places. Her skin was smooth and tanned; she wore only small gold earrings as jewelry.

"Commander, I am Dr. Matts, this is my assistant, Mr. Connor."

Sean nodded acknowledging him but unwilling to shake his hand. When the woman did not speak and no one moved to introduce her he asked, "Uh ma'am who are you?"

The answer came in a soft husky voice that was nearly addictive to Sean, "My name is Loren. I am here as a reward from the emperor."

"You're what?"

"I am here to stay with you because of what you have done for the empire," she said matter of factly.

Sean instantly had a picture of here naked lying on his bed but he squashed it and calmed down before answering. "Please send the emperor my regards and thanks."

"Chief where are you?"

"Right here Commander." Chief stood next to him waiting for his orders.

He turned and said quietly. "Get the interrogators squared away and make sure their quarters have a security cam in front. Then get some sleep, I think were both going to need it."

He frowned but nodded, "Yes sir. See you tomorrow."

"You too chief."

The interrogators were staring. "What is it, is something wrong."

"No sir it's just...unusual for an officer to address an enlisted man in that manner is all sir."

"Right well I've been in the navy for less than a week so I really don't mind if I every break any real big rules tell me because I might not know. As for chief, he's one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people I know, so I want you to show him respect even if you outrank him understood?"

"Yes sir."

He turned to the captain and indicated Loren's back, as she walked away, with a slight move of his head. The captain just grinned and shrugged very slightly. Knowing she was on the way to his cabin he said, "It's too bad."

"What?"

"If I had picked her up in a cantina or anything I would be fine with it but not as the emperor's present..."

The Captain chuckled and replied, "You'll figure it out...besides she's quite the looker even if you are too much the gentlemen to admit it."

"See you in the morning."

"You too."

With that Sean walked toward his cabin and the woman waiting inside it.

"Was wondering when you would get back." The flight suit top was zipped down pretty low now. Christ how the hell do I ask this? Well don't suppose she'll be offended I mean from the hanger...

"Loren, I try to be a gentleman, so I'm not gonna ask you to do anything...that you don't want to do so don't worry about what you were sent here to do, but I … do you want to stay?"

Loren just smiled. He's pretty handsome, I think I made out well, Janet got that guy old enough to be her father; the gentlemen act never lasts but I get a good looking fighter pilot. Cool.

Sean plopped down onto the small couch in his room and took off his boots. Once that was done he lost the top of the uniform. Then he went to the fresher to brush his teeth.

Loren giggled then laid down on the bed without her boots and fell asleep. When he got out of the fresher Sean saw her lying there sound asleep. He walked over and tucked her in before collapsing on the couch.