Chapter 3: Amass the Troops
Al'riti was coming out of hyperspace when he felt something. 'Yes, good, they are already here!' he thought. A sinister smile spread on his face when he saw what awaited him. Hundreds of capital ships, each carrying over one thousand Sith and Imperial forces, were waiting for his stolen freighter to board the Excalibur. Suddenly, a voice came over his comm.
"Unidentified Vessel, identify yourself or you will be destroyed!"
Al'riti sighed at the fact that an imbecile was in command of one of his best ships. 'I've gotta get rid of the fool when I get aboard my ship.'
"Identify yourself now!!!"
"Now you listen, you stupid excuse for a commander, this is Lord Valian! If you think that you are going to get away with keeping me from my ship, you are gravely mistaken!"
"Y-yes sir! I'll order the troops back immediately!"
Al'riti sighed. ' I never should have let that piece of bantha fodder become one of my main officers!' He watched as the TIE fighters and Interceptors turned back towards the ships that they came from. Two TIE Defenders came towards his freighter to escort him to the Excalibur.
On board the Excalibur, Al'riti went straight to the communications deck. "Lieutenant, tell Admiral Grone that I wish to see him immediately." The Lieutenant just nodded and went over to the Communications Officer to carry out his orders.
"Sir!" a muffled voice yelled after him. "Sir, aren't you worried that you may have been followed?" Al'riti turned to answer him. He was shocked to see that a minor stormtrooper had addressed him in such away. "Trooper, I am not worried. I am not worried because the Jedi are too stupid to know what to do. Although I am slightly saddened that I left my apprentice there. He would've made a great asset to our forces."
"Yessir!"
"That talent… that determination…that ability to lead! We need more people like him in this army!"
"Yessir! I agree, sir!"
"Quit sucking up, trooper. Or else."
The trooper stopped in his tracks. Darth Valian laughed to himself. 'This day will live in infamy!'
