Author's Note

edboy4926: Thanks, as always for the review. The more that are added the more I am inspired to continue updating as fast as possible. Hux is actually a big help here as I am very often faced with the problem of making the rebels not be immediately destroyed (so Starkiller is a problem) and making the defeats not Kuvira's fault. Thankfully Hux's idiocy and schemes provide me with an option for that.

In regard to the Darth Vader comic. The final issue gave us (more or less) confirmation that Darth Vader's dark side spirit has spoken to Kylo Ren at some point. I am inclined to believe that Dark Vader's spirit has 'split' in the same way Revan's spirt did on Yavin long ago. There is some evidence that Anakin and Vader are really two separate personalities within one boy like a kind of schizophrenia. I also think that it is possible that Darth Vader's mask also acts the same way as Momin's did.

I will not reveal to much of what I am considering but I am defiantly interested in using all the things that the Darth Vader comic gave us.

TishaLiz: Thanks again for the revirw. I am glad you liked the fight scene. It has been mentioned recently that despite Kuvira the story is proceeding more or less the same way as the movie. Admittedly up until now the movie storyline has made it difficult to introduce new parts as everything happens so fast from Jakku to Takodana. But now there is a bit of leeway, so I have been trying to add more original aspects to the story. As for what Hux will suffer for this? Well, I have some ideas.

Miss Luny: Thanks for your review and compliments. I am glad you liked the Kuvira and Rey dialogue and fight scene.

Chapter 15 – The Old and the New

Vados

Hask – POV

Gideon Hask had travelled far and done much in his life. He had travelled from his home world of Kuat, across the galaxy in his service to the Galactic Empire in the Imperial Navy. He had fought on over a dozen planets, and travelled hundreds of light years in his tours of duty. He had been wounded in many places and each time he had survived to carry on the journey of his life with more determination then before.

But through it all, he had never forgotten how it had all begun. That day when his parents had died when he was just ten years old. He still remembered the Kuat police explaining to his sobbing ten-year-old self how a rebel terrorist infiltrator had detonated a bomb within the Kuat shipyards that his parents had both been working at. He remembered how he had cried and begged the universe too give his parents back to him. Only to be met with cold apathetic silence.

But most off all. He remembered how the rebel bomber had shouted and yelled as she was being taken away to be executed for terrorism.

How she had yelled out that she was fighting for truth, justice, democracy, freedom and other empty platitudes. That she had been fighting the 'good' fight and she was doing it for all of them. That she had not been targeting the workers of the factory. That her aim had been to demolish on of the dockyards that was busy constructing a new star destroyer.

'As if that made everything alright again'. He thought with a sneer.

It was for that reason that when his 'guardian' figured boarding school was a good substitute for an actual parent and enrolled him at the Future Imperial Leaders Military Preparatory School on the planet Vardos in the Jinata system. He welcomed it.

Because he knew from then on, that what he was doing there mattered. That he was at that school to become an officer in the Imperial Navy. That he was going to rise through the ranks and become the person who would hunt the rebels down. He knew then that he would make them pay for their treasons and terrorist actions. He would make certain that no other small child would lose their parents to those bastards ever again. And if they did, then he would make sure they could watch the murderous criminal pay for it as well.

He had been granted his wish. After leaving Vados he had studied at the Coruscant Imperial University where he graduated at the top of his class. He then served aboard the Mandate and earned the Crimson Star for exceptional performances against his enemies along with a promotion. After the Battle of Yavin, Hask, along with Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio, Del Meeko and Seyn Marana, was drafted into Inferno Squad, a Special Forces unit in the Imperial Military, by Admiral Garrick Versio.

Even though they had lost Marana soon after. Hask had been truly happy in this point of his life. He had a purpose in his efforts to hunt down the rebels and save the galaxy from them. He had a new family in the members of Inferno squad and a new home among the Corvus and the Imperial fleet. As he remembered the nights spent laughing, drinking and having fun with his squad. The places where they had been together across the galaxy. And the shore leaves when they had gathered together to enjoy their lives together away from the battles and the rules.

Looking back, he knew now it was the first time he had really felt at home since he had lost his parents so long ago.

But it had all come crashing down with the battle of Endor. They had cut through the rebel forces on the planet with ease, as Iden led the way and Del and him backed her up. Even as they did so they knew that the Imperial fleet and the new Death Star were in orbit above the planet demolishing the pathetic rebel fleet one ship at a time.

He had been certain that this was it the culmination of the quest he had been working his whole life to bring about. The utter destruction of the treacherous, murdering, self-righteous, hypocritical rebel alliance.

But then the Death Star had exploded into smoke and ash. Just like his life in that moment.

After that everything had started to unravel.

At first the mission to the Imperial dockyard was a great success. They had defeated the rebel attack force. Preserved their docked star destroyers. And destroyed two of their valuable Mon Calamari cruisers. After that victory he had allowed himself to feel hopeful again. That despite the loss of the Death Star and the Emperor and Lord Vader. The war was not over. The rebels might win a few battles, but the war would be theirs in the end.

But then the mission to Vados had happened.

Hask had not fully agreed with Operation Cinder either. He had known that it was going to cause more problems than solutions. And he was not so blind that he did not see it for what it was. The dying wish of a megalomaniacal emperor, who had decided (in the manner of a spoilt child) that if he could not live, no one else should either.

But the Empire was his home, the only home he had ever known since the rebels destroyed his last one. And a good son of the Empire followed his orders, no matter his personal misgivings. Besides, he would rather die then fight for the same cause that had killed his parents years ago.

So, he had stayed loyal. Believing that his family in Inferno Squad would do the same.

They had not. Iden and Del had betrayed the Empire, they had betrayed everything they had ever fought for. And they had betrayed him.

But he had remained loyal and finished the mission anyway. And was given a promotion to Commander by Admiral Versio. But apparently even fighting her own father was acceptable to the traitor Iden Versio and she and Del could not join the rebellion fast enough after Vardos.

He had fought them again at Bespin and finally at the end, during the battle of Jakku.

In that moment he could not imagine how it had come to this. If someone had told him before the Endor mission that one day his closest friends and him would be trying to kill each other, he would have shot them on the spot.

But in the end, the Empire had been defeated. And what was even more painful, was that Iden had shot him out of the sky and left him for dead on the deserts of that force forsaken planet.

Hask had nearly died. By all rights he should have died. But he had refused. He had refused to let Iden and Del get away with their treachery and disloyalty. He refused to let the Empire that he had fought for, the Empire that he had loved to die this way. He had refused to let his parents' deaths and all the people who had died like them to have been in vain.

But most of all, he refused to let the rebellion win. He had refused to let them win after everything they had done. He refused to let them win a war that they themselves had started for their own stupid naïve idealism. He refused to let them go on to claim victory and rewrite the history holo's. To have them create and perpetuate the myths and legends of the glorious rebellion and the evil tyrannical empire. To have them highlight and condemn Imperial actions and crimes while casually sweeping theirs under the rug of history.

He had refused!

So, before the so called 'New Republic' had sent its forces out to round up loyal Imperials like common criminals, he had fled with the rest of the Contingency. Faced with no other option they had boldly launched themselves into the depths of the Unknown Regions. From their he had helped to ensure the dreams and ideals of the Empire survived in form of the First Order.

The struggles had been hard. And for a time, they had begun to wonder if they would simply die out in the Unknown Regions, forgotten and un-mourned. They had faced the unknown every day but somehow they had stayed together. They had kept going with the same courage and efficiency that had been the hall marks of Imperial culture. Until finally they had found safety, and after thirty long years of hoping, and dreaming and fighting they had laid the foundations of the now mighty First Order.

For nearly thirty years he and the other true loyalists had tended and preserved the fire of the Imperial dream. Meanwhile they had recruited a new army and built a new fleet. Neither was as large as their Imperial equivalent, but they were both much more advanced.

And now he stood on the command bridge of his very own Resurgent class Star destroyer, aptly named the Retribution. All the while observing the charred ruins of the once utopian world of Vados.

He figured it was fitting that he was back here again to resolve this. It was at Vados that he had begun his journey at the Imperial academy. It was at Vados where he had gone through the tragedy and crucible of betrayal and risen stronger for it. It was at Vados where operation Resurrection had been concealed from the indolent eyes of the New Republic.

And now it was at Vados where he would finish what he had started nearly thirty years ago with the death of his treacherous former commander, friend and de-facto sister Iden Versio.

He had already killed Del after Lord Kylo Ren had dragged whatever information that he had wanted out of his head. And now he would end it and put his past to rest with the death of Iden. The fact that he would also get the chance to kill their daughter was just an added bonus. He did not consider himself a sadistic or needlessly cruel person, but he felt justified in that action.

Iden and Del had taken away his family and almost destroyed all that he had loved. Well now he would get to return the favour.

"Commander, Admiral Kuvira's shuttle has entered the system and is requesting landing clearance." His bridge officer stated as the upsilon shuttle appeared on the monitors and scopes of the bridge crew.

Hask stiffened as he was suddenly brought back to the mess that the spineless weasel Hux had managed to force him into. Hask had known better then most what a vindictive superior officer could do to a career and Hux was more vindictive then most. So, when he was instructed to close down Project Resurrection and ensure that Grand Admiral Kuvira presence was 'required' at Vados at the current time. He knew that the implied suggestion was no suggestion at all.

For a while Hask had been panicked. He had considered briefly about simply telling the Grand Admiral why he had called her here and about Hux's machinations. Afterall it was an open secret that Kuvira despised Hux possibly even more then he hated her. She would probably believe him if he told her the truth. But he had quickly dismissed the idea. Even if Kuvira believed him, there would be nothing she could do without proof and then it would be his word against the word of a superior officer.

And then Hux would proceed to make his life hell. Assuming he did not just have him killed, publicly or privately it made no difference.

But if he greeted the Grand Admiral and did not have an exceedingly good reason to have called her away from High Command and Starkiller base. Then he would probably just die at her hands instead. Kuvira was far more patient and forgiving then Hux or Supreme Leader Snoke. But there had been people in the past who had failed or provoked her, only to end up as nothing more then a statistic.

But then he had been provided an out. Project Resurrection had been a project that Kuvira had been very closely involved in. She would have wanted to ensure that the entire project was effectively closed down and that no evidence was left that their enemies could use. But while important, it would not have been enough to justify calling the Admiral out to Vados personally.

But then Iden had given him one final gift of their past friendship. She had brought herself, her kid and most of all the veteran of the Rebellion and famous Resistance member Shriv Suurgav.

While Shriv was not of particularly high rank within the Resistance. He was known to possess knowledge on the Resistance's allies that were scattered across the galaxy. These allies ranged from powerful individuals, to resistance cells, to entire planetary governments that might by sympathetic to their cause. Kuvira, like Hask, knew that the destruction of the main Resistance base, would be a crushing blow.

But not necessarily a mortal one.

There would still be Resistance supporters spread across the galaxy and there would be survivors that would attempt to unite then into a new Rebel Alliance against the First Order dominion. After all that was what had led to the rise of the rebellion and the eventual fall of the Empire. Admittedly, how many would still be eager to join after Kuvira's masterful plan to lay the war guilt irrefutably at the Resistance's feet was unclear. But the possibility of history repeating itself was too great.

And Hask knew that Kuvira was determined to not have that happen again.

And with Shriv Suurgav in their grasp they would be in a fantastic position to cripple the Resistance's attempts to gain allies and begin to unite a combined war effort. That was a prize that Admiral Kuvira would want to be a part of. And it just might prove to be his life line in this mess Hux had forced him into.

He turned back to the bridge officer. "Tell the Admiral that I am heading down to the surface to meet with Administrator Gleb in the city ruins. I will rendezvous with her at the coordinates that I will send once aboard my shuttle. Inform her that I also request a meeting via holo while in transit to explain the situation on the planet surface. We should be expecting guests to arrive in system very soon." He relayed to his subordinate. With that he turned and walked down the bridge walkway and headed to the hanger where his personally shuttle would be waiting for him.

As he walked he took the time to look around at his star destroyer, his soldiers, his command. When he came face to face with Del it had been a vindicating experience. To see him looking up from his knees as he sat there in dirty smuggler rags with his unshaved beard making him look like a vagrant. Meanwhile the Corvus, which had once been a valued ship of the Empire had become, what? A cargo freighter?!

To see Del reduced to that. And then to have Del see him as he was. A Commander with his own star destroyer, in his perfect black officer uniform, with polished boots and soldiers ready for his command, was glorious. It confirmed once again that he had made the right decisions with his life and had risen high because of it. Meanwhile Del had been left to rot in obscurity and purposelessness.

That was a good day. He only hoped that Iden proved half as salubrious for him.

Iden Versio - POV

Iden walked through the ash covered streets of the city that used to be her home. The ignorant, (and Shriv) could have mistaken it for snow. They could have actually though that it gave the planet some beauty back. But that was before they learned that it was simply the atmospheric ash left over from Operation Cinder. That it was simply the final touches on the ruined, desolate landscape. The legacy of the Empire, visited on one of its most loyal worlds, by the command of their own emperor.

The planet that had once been a model Imperial world. The planet that had once been the symbol of an Imperial utopia. Was now little more than a tomb.

She wanted to pause for a moment and just remember. Remember what Vados had once been. To remember her father and her mother, and a thousand other memories that had happened on Vados. The good and the bad. She felt that she owed this poor tortured planet some form of tribute, however small the gesture was.

But she was not here to stroll down memory lane. She was here to find her husband and make Gleb and all of Jinata Security pay if even one hair on his head was harmed!

With that thought she and Shriv opened the main tower door and strode in blaster rifles aimed forward and ready.

When no shots came flashing forward to meet them they allowed their eyes to adjust to the dim light from the door and the all-encompassing darkness that filled the entry hall. And the first thing that they laid eyes on was the clearly deceased corpse of Gleb lying on the floor in front of them. The administrators form was clearly illuminated by the light from outside. And the clearly fresh blaster wound on her chest was so clear it was almost on display.

What was also clear to Iden was that she would not be getting any answers about her husband from Gleb. Although she could not say that she was sorry to see the bitch's corpse in front of her. She had after all been planning on doing that herself if she gave answers that Iden didn't like. She might have done it anyway to finally remove this memory from her past.

She supposed that was a hanger on from her Imperial training.

"It's Gleb". She called to Shriv as she straightened up from her firing position and heard Shriv move closer.

"It was Gleb!" A voice called out from the darkness. A voice that Iden new sounded so familiar.

Iden turned to raise her blaster up at the source of the sound. But before she could even aim her weapon a red blaster bolt fired out of the gloom and slammed into her weapon. The rifle was thrown out of her grasp and clattered to the floor. But before she could make a grab for it she saw two sights that she had never wanted to see again.

The first was stormtroopers. It weird how they ranked among her greatest things to avoid given how many times she had fought beside them in the days of the Empire. But after all that had happened she had prayed that she would never have to see that iconic white armour again. In a way she supposed she had got her wish. These were not Imperial stormtroopers. These were troopers of the First Order. But that just hammered home the knowledge that their legacy continued even three decades from the battle of Jakku

The second was the person that had uttered the familiar voice.

Gideon Hask. Her former friend and squad mate had come back from the dead it seemed. In another time long ago, she would have been overjoyed to see him. Now all she could think was how much things had changed. And how much she wanted to put a blaster pistol to his head.

"Drop your weapon." Another voice commanded from within the darkness behind Hask. Behind her she heard Shriv drop his weapon as well. Before she could do anything else another series of blaster bolts fired from the darkness and slammed into the both her discarded weapon and Shriv's on the floor, ensuring that both rifles were now lying smoking and useless on the ground.

She briefly saw the outline of the person that had fired the shots before the darkness closed back in around them. But she could not make out their face or any details beyond their outline. But now she had to focus on Hask as he came forward to stand before her. He was decked out proudly in the uniform of the First Order. Strangely it seemed to suit him better then his Inferno squad uniform ever had.

"The protectorate had outlived her usefulness to Project Resurrection and the First Order." Hask said, with the air of one commenting on the weather, rather then the abduction of children. She could not help but sneer back a response.

"Project Resurrection. Kidnapping children?!" She asked in a tone that was half accusatory and half mocking. Maybe some part of her was trying to hammer the point home to the remains of the person Hask had once been. The person that had been her friend.

But it clearly did not have the desired effect as it seemed not to phase Hask at all. "Rescuing them. Forging them into an army the likes of which, the galaxy has never seen." Hask proclaimed with an unmistakable note of pride in his voice as he spoke. Meanwhile he moved down the steps away from his concealed companions and moved towards Iden and Shriv while his troopers kept their blasters trained on them.

Shriv spoke up with clear outrage in his voice. "The Senate won't stand for this! This will be just the revelation for them to answer your ultimatum and join the Resistance against you." He declared with conviction. But if he was expecting Hask and the rest of the First Order personnel to be hindered by that declaration he was dead wrong. In fact, he was very surprised by the look of confusion that appeared on Hask's face and the way that the troopers briefly turned to look at each other as if in question.

"The senate? Surely you…." Hask began before realisation dawned on his face.

"Oh of course, you have been in hyperspace for your journey here. Out of contact" He said as a look of pure enjoyment spread across his face. "Well then let me be the one to tell you that the Senate, the Republic Home Fleet, and in fact the entire Hosnian system are nothing but ash and cosmic dust. The Ultimatum has expired. The war has already begun." He stated with clear contentment before adding. "And in your case the war has quite possibly already been lost."

Shriv and Iden stared at him in a look that was a mix of disbelieve and horror before Shriv managed to get hold of his tongue. "Those red lights we heard reports of?" He asked shakily.

Hask nodded in response with a look of nostalgia on his face. "It was beautiful wasn't it?" He asked rhetorically.

Shriv bowed his head as if in mourning. But Iden was looking at Hask with an expression of pure disgust. If what he said was true. Then billions of lives had been wiped out in a single galactic rotation. Men woman children, millions of non-sapient species on the planets and the entire star system itself! The scale of the deaths was on a level never before witnessed in known galactic memory and made the destruction of Alderaan look pitiful in comparison. That wasn't even counting the fact that it was simply the opening shot of a new galactic war that would certainly claim the lives of millions more innocent people.

And Hask was talking about it as if it had been nothing more than a charming fireworks display!

He even had the nerve to continue gloating at this 'achievement'. "You see the Republic spent decades doing nothing. While all along, we were preparing, for this day." Hask said with clear enjoyment in his voice. Then he turned away from Shriv to face his old colleague once again.

"You see Iden. I hope you appreciate, that today, of all days, I chose to be here with you." Ask said as he moved to stand closer to Iden so that they could stare each other clear in the face. As he continued to speak his voice lost the mocking tone of victory and instead turned to a tone that carried both furious anger and a small but clear note of hurt betrayal. His face also began to twitch in a way that hinted that he was fighting back powerful emotions. He was also blinking rabidly as if trying to hold back…tears?

"In the place that you took everything from me." He whispered.

Iden for a moment forgot her own hatred of Hask and was almost about to commiserate with him. To tell him that she had never wanted to fight him. That she had never wanted to go against him. That she wished he had come with her and Del when they had defected to join the rebellion.

In truth, she wanted to tell him that she had not even wanted to join the rebellion or abandon the Empire. She had served the Empire just as long and loyally as he had and so had Del. She would have continued to do so until her last breath if things had been different after Endor.

But then Operation Cinder had been put into effect. And once Iden saw what the Emperor had commanded from beyond the grave. And that the Imperial high command were actually willing to implement such a demented monstrous plan on loyal and peaceful Imperial worlds. She knew that this time she could not simply follow her orders and ignore what was happening. And so, she had deserted with Del while Hask had stayed loyal or indoctrinated depending on point of view.

But even then she had not wanted to side with the Rebel Alliance or the New Republic. They and their cause had meant nothing to her. It still didn't really. That was why she had not joined the Resistance despite Shriv and General Organa's many requests. The only reason she had joined them in the first place was that they were the only ones able to stop Operation Cinder. Also, the post-Endor Empire had proven that for the good of the galaxy and all it once stood for, it could not continue to exist. With that being the case a new regime would need to rise to keep some semblance of galactic order. And the New Republic had been the only option at the time.

She wanted to say this and more to her long-lost friend. But he didn't give her the chance before he continued speaking with his accusations.

"Yes, our squad, my family. And I have waited a long time to return the favour." He said as he got his emotion back under control and his victorious smugness regained its place.

The voice emerged from the darkness behind Hask again. "Commander while I want to ensure you gain your required closure. I must remind you that we are at war and time is a precious commodity." The voice was female, and clearly authoritative. Whoever was standing up there was obviously of higher rank then Hask;s Commander position. That alone got Iden curious about their identity.

Hask nodded in both appreciation and understanding and turned back to Iden. "First with Del." He stated as if he was not confirming what she had begun to suspect. That he had murdered her husband and his onetime best friend.

Her remorse over the past vanished in an instant and she would have launched herself at him if she did not know that she had a blaster aimed at her back from the troopers behind her. Not to mention that Hask silent ally might have half a dozen blasters aimed at her.

"And now, with your daughter" Hask said as he gestured out the still open door to the ruined city. When Iden looked she saw with horror that a First Order Resurgent Star Destroyer had appeared silently over the city. Even as she watched it was unleashing green turbo blasts on the Corvus that had Zay on board.

"No Hask" She said but even if he had counter manded the order, it was too late. The Corvus was blasted out of the sky by the attack. As they all watched the burning wreckage of the once proud ship came crashing down on the city. Eventually it disappeared behind the remaining buildings and the explosion from its impact was all that could be seen as TIE fighters flew over the ships new grave.

"No". Iden uttered in horror as she watched the explosion erupt. Hask meanwhile never turned away from her. Clearly he wanted to savour the agony and grief that was displayed on her face. After he had sampled all that he wanted he turned to his troops.

"Find out what they know about the Resistance and then burn the city." He turned back to Iden, who also turned back towards him. "I had to live in your galaxy Iden. Well now its your turn to live in mine!" He snarled as he turned away.

In any normal situation Iden would never have done what she did next as it was literally suicide. She would have waited until she found an opening to escape and then she would have taken it and then thought of a plan. She would not even contemplate reckless or stupid actions.

But this was not a normal situation. She had lost her husband, her ship and now her daughter too. And she came to the realisation that she had nothing left in the galaxy. If she could go out having strangled the life out of Hask's smug smirking face. Then she could die with some semblance of happiness left in her soul!

That was why she launched herself at Hask's unprotected back as he turned away from her. Hoping that the troopers would be so stunned by her insane move that she could get lose enough to make contact. Then she would need only two seconds to implement the killing moves that she had learned during her Imperial training.

But before she could do it a blaster bolt fired out of the darkness from the steps and slammed into her shoulder. The force and the pain sent her spinning and she crashed to the ground as Hask spun round and the troopers moved in and started beating her into submission with their rifle butts, fists and feet. Meanwhile the other two kept their blasters trained on Shriv, lest he try to defend her.

After a few moments, the beating subsided and bruised, dazed and bleeding Iden Versio was hauled to her feet by one trooper while the other took careful aim at her chest.

"I have to say I expected better of you Senior Lieutenant Versio. Though I suppose it can be excused give the emotional trauma you have receive today." The voice from the shadows said in a tone that was not mocking, but simply factual.

Iden opened her swelling eyes and stared at the dark space. "Says the one who slinks around in the dark. What are you, an Umbaran?" She spat back.

For a reply, the figure moved into the light and she found herself looking at a young human woman in her late twenties. She had black hair done up tightly in a military fashion. She had tanned skin and an incredible set of emerald green eyes that bore into her like a Krayt Dragon looking at a defenceless baby Bantha.

Iden was not in the Resistance but she knew instantly who it was. These days anyone would after watching the holonet about the ultimatum from the First Order. And judging by the intake of breath from Shriv, he did too.

Grand Admiral Kuvira.

She was dressed head to heel in the black uniform of the First Order with a black greatcoat and the First Order insignia on her arms and belt buckle. She had her arms clasped behind her back. That lead Iden to ask the next question.

"How did you know I was going to attack him? And how did you shoot me so fast?" She asked blearily.

Kuvira shook her head in response. "I saw you enter the attack stance as you prepared to launch your attack at the Commander. Even then I was watching you carefully as I figured you might try to gain some form of revenge and your emotions might overwhelm your tactical reason." She said as she made her way down the steps.

"But I cannot claim credit for shooting you." She said as she gestured behind her.

Iden looked and she saw two more figures emerging from the darkness behind the Admiral. They were both clad in red armour and robes and bore a strong resemblance to the appearance of the Emperor's royal guardsmen. They were each wielding a long vibro-voulge which were not crackling as the energy that would emit from the blade in battle was shutdown. Even as she watched, one of them was placing a blaster pistil back within their robes.

She had never seen or even heard of troopers like these before. But based on their appearance and the way they fell into defence position around the Grand Admiral. It was clear they were guards and very well trained. She glanced at Shriv to see if he knew what troopers they were, but he looked as confused as her.

Kuvira then answered they unasked question. "Allow me to introduce these two fine men. They are part of the Praetorian Guard. They typically serve to protect the Supreme Leader at all times. But he was magnanimous enough to send two of them to join us on this mission to Vados." Kuvira said as she came down to face them with the newly identified Praetorian guards moving in lock step behind her.

When she got to where Iden and Shriv were being held she stopped and observed them for a moment. Then she spoke to Iden.

"I have long hoped to have the opportunity to meet you Iden Versio. Your Imperial military service record is very impressive. And actually, served as an example to me when I was younger and in training." She said as Iden's surprise rose along with her eyebrows. Then the anger and grief of today reappeared.

"You might have been inspired. But clearly you didn't understand. If you did, you would not be wearing that uniform." She spat.

Kuvira merely nodded. "I won't deny your treason against the Empire and your defection to the rebellion is a source of anger to me and to others." She gestured at Hask. "But I also know that it was not done out disloyalty but out of desperation and disgust at Operation Cinder. Your loyalty to the Empire. And possibly your future with the First Order was cast aside due to the madness of those in power. Yet another thing that Palpatine's madness and vanity cost us." She said with anger and irritation spearing on her face at the mention of the deceased Emperor.

For a moment silence. Then Kuvira's stoicism reappeared and she straightened up again. "But that is the past. And an Admiral must look to the future." She said as silence fell on the group again.

But then surprisingly Shriv broke the silence.

"Is it true?" He asked. The question directed at Kuvira.

Kuvira turned to regard him and so did Iden. But the next second, one the troopers slammed his rifle butt into Shriv stomach and sent him doubling over in pain. "You will address the Admiral with respect Resistance scum!" The trooper barked.

Iden had seen more then her share of sycophants in her time in the Imperial military. And from what she had observed that was not an ambitious toady trying to get on a superior's good side. That had seemed like genuine devotion and loyalty.

The Admiral waved the trooper back and he returned to his previous position. "My apologies for my slightly over zealous trooper Captain. Is what true?" She asked politely. That tone of voice also sent warning bells in Iden's mind. Officers and leaders who shouted and raged were prone to mistakes. Clearly the rumours of Kuvira's competence were not exaggerated.

Coughing and breathing deeply, Shriv tried again. "Is it true…..(cough)…about the Hosnian system?" He wheezed.

Understanding flashed in Kuvira's eyes. "Ah, yes it is true. The timeframe I set for the ultimatum expired and the New Republic senate had failed to deliver any answer. By the terms and conditions set by the ultimatum that was taken as an act of war. I sent my acceptance of that to the senate and after that it was official. Once all the rules of declaration were fulfilled we launched our opening strike on Hosnian Prime." She paused.

"I regret the amount of collateral damage, but our opening strike was an astonishing success. The New Republic military and political forces have been all but annihilated, baring a few hold outs scattered across the galaxy. And already we have received multiple declarations of secession and surrender to the First Order. As a direct result, the galaxy will hopefully see a swift end to this war." She summarised with notes of pride and satisfaction in her voice.

Shriv and Iden did not share her opinion on the situation.

"Collateral damage! That is what you call the murder or billions?! The deaths of civilians?! Of men, women and children?! Of entire worlds?! Collateral damage!" Shriv shouted and it took another blow to the stomach too stop him flying at the Admiral.

Kuvira remained unphased. "Is there some other terminology you would prefer I use?" She asked plainly. Clearly she was merely indulging their anger.

Iden continued for the once again coughing and gasping Shriv. "How about barbaric, monstrous, evil!" She hissed at the other woman who turned to regard her with a bored expression.

"Those words imply that the action was senseless and without cause. And as I have already stated that action has greatly increased the chance of a quick victory for the First Order and that the countless other worlds will be spared galactic war. A few billion lives to ensure the preservation of possibly hundreds of trillions." She elaborated to the disbelieving faces before her.

"I don't know about you, but I would call that, a bargain." She finished in a ton that spoke of notion but absolute certainty.

Iden and Shriv found it impossible to form words to respond. But it was clear to both of them there was no point. The gap between the Admiral's priorities and values was so far from their own that they might as well have been speaking two different languages.

But Shriv did not stay quiet. "The galaxy will make you answer for the atrocity. They will now see you for who and what you really are. The entire free galaxy will unite to stand against your evil. All you have done is create another Alderann to form a rallying cry around Admiral. You seem to hate Palpatine, but you have just repeated his mistake. And like him you will answer for it." Shriv said ending with a mocking bark of laughter.

The trooper made to hit him again, but Kuvira waved him back as she turned to regard Shriv with a look that some would call pity. "Like many in your Resistance you seem to have selective hearing Mr Suurgav." She said before she turned away to stare outside at the Vados sky. It was as if she was looking far past what was within her line of sight.

"I would be a fool to assume that this war is already over. But the senate and Republic fleet was destroyed less than one galactic rotation ago. Since then we have received thousands, perhaps millions of communications from Republic worlds. They have contained messages from planetary governments and corporations from many different races across many different worlds. But they do have one thing in common. They are all either announcing their secession from the New Republic and requesting the protection of the First Order. Or they are proclaiming their unconditional surrender and requesting our terms.

Our fleets are moving through Republic territory virtually unopposed. The small remaining Republic military forces are being swept aside. In fact, I have even received reports of them being fired upon by planetary defence forces and driven from the systems they thought were loyal. Whether that was done to prevent attack from us or out of hatred for the New Republic I am unsure. But what I am sure of is this. The New Republic has turned on itself instead of uniting as you proclaim.

But that is what happens when you strike a tree that is infected with rot. It collapses and breaks apart." She stated as all the group listened to her improvised speech. Kuvira took a deep breath as she seemed to revel in the situation.

"I try to not allow myself to indulge in petty pleasures. But I confess I have taken a measure of satisfaction I what has happened. The speed and way that the New Republic has shattered after the loss of your leadership is strikingly similar to what happened to the Empire after your rebels destroyed the Death Star above Endor. I find I cannot help but enjoy the irony of that." She finished as she turned back to face them.

"But as I said time is a valuable commodity and we must be going." But then she turned away from the entry doorway and headed back into the darkness as she moved towards the stairway that she and the others had emerged from. As she did the two Praetorian guards well back to either side of her as the troopers began to shove their prisoners along with them.

Iden asked the question. "Where are we going?" She asked as her hands were bound behind her back by binder cuffs.

Kuvira called back. "You will be taken on board the Retribution and interrogated on what you know about the Resistance. What happens after that depends on your conduct during that process."

Shriv then spoke up. "Then why are we going this way?" He said trying to keep his voice casual as he fished for information.

Kuvira didn't even turn as she spoke. "We cannot go that way. The remains of the Jinata Secruity force is waiting outside to ambush us once we exit the main tower door. I imagine it is in retaliation for Gleb's death or our intrusion here. So, once we leave out the back and reach our shuttle the Retribution will fire on them and reduce this district to ash."

At their stunned silences she added. "All star destroyers, Imperial class and Resurgent have lifeform scanners. Do they think we do not use them?" She asked sarcastically.

Authors Note

First off, sorry for the longer then normal delay for this update. Work, friends and the new year have been busy as I am sure all know. But I just wanted to raise a few points.

Firstly, to those who might be wondering. Yes, my comment about Iden Verio's future in the First Order being ruined by 'the madness of those in power' was a direct dig at the makers of Star Wars Battlefront 2. They completely went back on the Imperial/First Order storyline that we were promised in the trailers for the game. I felt utterly cheated by that.

Secondly. I did not originally want to watch Star Wars Resistance the tv series. I felt that it looked badly animated and a cheap sequel to Clone Wars and Rebels. But I started watching it because I needed more info on the Resistance and First Order Cold War conflict among other things. But I have to say that it is not a bad show. I admit the animation still bothers me a little. And whether or not it is a worthy successor to Clone Wars and Rebels is debateable. But I will say to those who have not yet given it a chance to watch a few episodes and see if it grows on you as well.

Finally, a quick question. A reviewer recently pointed out that despite some differences with Kuvira the story was just following the movies original plot. While I didn't think that was a problem as many popular OC fanfics I love do the same. I wanted to ask my readers to let me know in their reviews if they think this story needs more original events completely separate from the movies, games etc.

Please let me know your opinions as this is an important thing for me to know in my future chapters. The more readers who let me know the more I know what to give them.