Chapter 6 – Honored Dead

Sean strode onto the bridge in a crumpled flight suit. It was still sticky with drying sweat and he had his helmet in his hands. "Commander Enders reporting as ordered."

The captain smiled and walked over to meet him. "You look a bit under the weather but that was a wonderful success."

Sean frowned and replied quietly, "It would have been a success if I got all my men back, sir."

"Do not worry about a couple of conscripts' commander; anyways I was wondering if you would join me in the captain's mess for dinner tonight?"

Anger flared in Sean's eyes but he kept calm and replied, "They were my pilots, sir, and I shall be dinning with the unit to hold a memorial, perhaps some other time."

Frowning, the captain replied, "Very well, have a good meal." Then he turned around and walked away without waiting for a response.

As Sean walked back out the door the chief followed him, "That was not a wise thing to do sir."

"Chief, I shared drinks with that man, talked to him about my parents, and he just told me that the lives of my men, my friends are meaningless."

The chief frowned. The superior attitude that the captain possessed was not nearly as bad as some others, but it was a common thing among imperial officers. If Sean didn't learn fast then he would find himself in some trouble, "Sir, that is true however his opinion is that of the fleet, and far less abrasive than some, would that you keep this in mind when you hear him speak."

Sean just smiled, "As always chief trying to keep me outa trouble, I will but not today. I couldn't hear bout that now." After a pause of thought he continued, "Why don't you come join us, we'll be eating in about an hour, and drinks taste best with company."

The chief nodded, then he thanked his friend before walking back to his room for a few short minuets of rest. In an hour he showered and headed off to the squadron room.

The Knights had brought down food from the cafeteria and set it on a table against the wall. After heaping good food onto their plates, everyone took the single mug of drink they were allowed. All of the tables in the room had been pushed together to make a single long table save one. On it sat the helmets of the dead men, they were burned and twisted but they had been recovered from space during salvage and they each had a picture of the man who had worn them alongside. At the head of the table sat their commander. When everyone had arrived and taken their seats Enders stood with his mug. He had thought for an hour about what to say then decided to wing it as he was terrible at speeches, "Lord, today we have sent you three of our friends and many of our enemies. They were Knights; they died well and have earned their places by your side. Protect our families and our fallen that we might continue to win victories in their name."

Everyone smiled and took a sip of their drink, the warm feeling in their bodies taking a bit of the sharpness of their grief. The knights ate in a respectful silence and looked around to remember the faces.

Their commander sat with them wearing no badges of rank, no aloofness, he sat as one of them. For that short time all that mattered was that they were surrounded by their friends. They remembered the lost as having been great men, perhaps better than they had known.

When the comm. buzzed in the officer's mess the captain stood to answer it. He nearly spit out the food as he was chewing when Darth Vader's face appeared on the screen. "You have engaged rebel forces today?"

"Yes, Lord Vader, I was going to make my report to you after dinner."

"I am not interested in your report; my men tell me only the Tie's were engaged. Where is the new commander?"

"He is dinning with his men lord, and he would have been there when I reported to you."

It was impossible to tell if Vader actually scowled under his helmet but the captain was sure he had. "He is eating with the fighter pilots?"

"Yes Lord Vader, he is holding some sort of memorial for his dead men."

Vader considered this for a minuet then replied, "Tell him to report to me when he has finished. Also put him on notice that we have been hearing of increased pirate activity in the sector, I hope you may put an end to that." Vader trailed off leaving little doubt as to what the consequences would be should they fail.

"Of course Lord Vader. I will have the Commander com you as soon as he finishes."

When Captain Barden walked into the squadron room he was unable to keep his surprise from showing on his face. The commander sat at one of the tables playing cards with a couple of pilots. The whore he had been given, sat on his lap and they looked at their shared cards. The men chuckled and cut jokes in his presence and for many of them he laughed. The others were reading or watching a holo vid on a screen at the front.

He's gambling with the men. Sith and he looks pretty friendly with most of them. What's gone wrong here that the place looks like this, thought the captain as he observed the scene. Then one of the pilots spotted him and yelled out at the top of his lungs, "Officer on Deck."

The whole room jumped to attention including the commander and his woman. Standing together they even managed to make the movement seem graceful.

Fuming at the circumstances he had found Enders in the captain opened his mouth to deliver a sharp reprimand.

He was cut off before he could start, "As you were," then to the woman, "gimmie a sec."

"Captain what can I do for you?"

Frowning Barden replied, "First you can explain the lack of discipline of your men and why you are participating, then you can come with me to present your report to the fleet."

Sean turned his head to look at his men now going about their business albeit with worried glances at the two standing in the doorway. When his gaze returned to the captain he replied, "None of my men has exceeded his alcohol ration or done anything to warrant trouble, were do you see the problem?"

Barden's anger returned a hundred fold and it seeped into his tone, "You may conduct your command as you will but this is a navy ship and it will abide by navy discipline."

"These men have lost friends today and may lose more tomorrow, it is hardly fair to deny them time or a measure of comfort. As for me being here, they are my men, and they will not follow me into hell because they hate me. I earn their loyalty by my actions."

Teeth grinding but unable to come up with a suitable response Barden did a parade ground about face and walked with Sean in tow to the bridge.