Chapter 14
Location: Kuat City, Planet Kuat
The troops of the 3rd Legion arrived in Kuat City on a handful of shuttles wearing their dress uniforms in the shuttle bays of their craft with everyone being extremely excited to see a big city for the first time. Their black uniforms and red markings had the new medals of a hard fought battle and well-earned. Inside one of the first red-painted shuttles was Eva and Wyatt, ready for some time off and a few drinks. The RVC had been pulled out for rest and refitting after Clone reinforcements had finally arrived to push south. Their forces were now able to repair their ships, replenish their fighter squadrons and replace their losses. To the basic soldier, crewman, and pilot, it was a time to drink and party.
"Where to first Wyatt?" Eva asked as she pulled on her hat.
"Bar?" Wyatt suggested.
"Bar. Whoo! Proton Bombers!" Eva yelled loudly as she threw her hands over head.
They both had their POW Medals on their chest, a Distinguished Unit Citation, a Harrin Campaign Medal, and then Wyatt had a single Medallion of Honor, a scarlet ribbon with gold medallion hanging around his neck. They each had their silver single gray block and two black tipped code cylinders in their chest pockets. They each had arm patches of the RVC's crest, a repeat of the symbol of the ancient Havoc Squad of the Old Republic and Tanaab's own image with the 3rd Legion's logo and name on the right and left arms, respectively.
All it had was their service records and personal information. They both walked along while looking up at the large silver and glass buildings stretching into the night sky. People were everywhere, skylanes criss-crossed the skies. They were amazed at the sheer size of this place, being a pair of Tanaab farm kids.
"Never seen anything like this!" Wyatt breathed out in amazement as he walked and looked up at the buildings that towered overhead.
"Tanaab has nothing like this," Eva agreed, "Haven't seen this much metal since I first saw the fleet!"
"I know. Oh, bar!"
They both ducked into a bar called "Five Parsecs", a lively bar that drummed with music and pulsed with multi-color lights. They walked in to see a plethora of different people in unique and sometimes rather sketchy if such clothing was even allowed. They both immediately walked in, and saw that they were getting looks from all over the bar as they walked in wearing their uniforms. They didn't quite know what to think of it, some looks were ones of awe, some were of curiosity, and others were just plain snooty when they saw their planet of origin.
"Let's get a drink," Wyatt suggested and pointed at the bar.
"Adrees, two glasses," Eva said as she went up to the bar.
"Okay soldiers," the barkeep said in response and poured two tall glasses.
"Wyatt," Eva proudly stated, "To the Third!"
"To the Third!"
Both of them lifted the drinks and drained both glasses within moments after which the bar tender was prompted to refill them. They clapped both of their glasses together and were proud to drink again. While both of them were drinking they noticed a few other members of the Corps walked in, a few from their unit and a few from a few others. Soon the drinks were flowing and Wyatt and Eva found themselves having downed three drinks in short order. The effect was nice, and Eva, who had skipped ship-board lunch, ordered some bar food, fried Dantooine Onions with a few dips. The food came quickly, and they dove into it, enjoying the piping hot crunchy food and the cooling ranch sauce they dipped it in.
"Why are we eating so early?" Wyatt asked Eva as he dipped some of the curled onion strings into the ranch.
"You wanna drink more don't you?" Eva laughed.
"Oh right," he chuckled as he took a drink again as Eva decided that they'd stayed long enough once they finished their food.
"Come on, let's go," she said and knocked back her fourth Adrees.
The two left the bar, and walked back into the open and saw another bar next to them called "Dead Space" and walked in to a similar bar but this one had booths, and was more of a diner than an actual bar. Wyatt could smell some real food and tugged Eva down into the closest available booth. The young blonde stumbled slightly, having been lighter and shorter so the beer was hitting her earlier.
"You need something more than some bar appetizers Eva, how about dinner and some water before we keep bar hopping?" he asked as she sat down and could tell by her eyes that she was getting buzzed. He was too, but he was still in full control and at no risk of tipping over like she was.
"Fine, I want some meat, not the dried preserved stuff we get on the ship," she declared.
"You're a Tanaab girl, that's for sure," Wyatt laughed.
Now a waitress droid rolled over and stopped in front of their table.
"What kind I get you kiddos?" the programmed question was asked by the droid.
"Nerf steaks, half pound, with potatoes and mixed vegetables, for both of us, and water," Wyatt said with a nod.
"You got it," the droid said and moved on to get the waters.
"Nerf steaks huh?" Eva asked with a goofy smile as she cupped her chin on her hand, "Sounds like date food."
"It's food from home, you know Tanaab has the best nerf steak," Wyatt half-scoffed, "Eva how drunk are you?"
"Just enough to not care," she smirked.
"You need to eat, seriously," Wyatt reminded her.
"I have this," she responded, pulling out a small bottle, "Drunk pills, that's what they're called, take one and it neutralizes the alcohol temporarily."
"They gave us those to take before we come back aboard," Wyatt responded with a shake of his head.
"And…" Eva said with an annoyed roll of her eyes.
"We're eating first, then we drink more, but not too much in one spot!"
Eva rolled her eyes as the food arrived, smelling perfect, and that was enough that they both began eating with gusto. It had been a long time since the two Tanaab natives had a piece of home outside of the parcels sent to them from home that would arrive every so often. But they thoroughly enjoyed eating and took their time, even had some house berry pie at the compliments of the chef on the house. Their uniforms ended up buying them the meal and the three glasses of water they each had before they went to the bathrooms, relieved themselves, took a second to admire themselves in the mirror and met outside the diner, now practically sober.
"Well, wanna branch off a little further to find ourselves a new bar?" Eva asked as she walked out.
"Sounds good," Wyatt nodded and the two began walking and saw quite a few more people in the street now including other RVC personnel.
They started walking and Eva was quiet, and almost uncomfortable as she walked next to him and finally she couldn't stand it any longer as they walked further and further.
"Wyatt is this a date?" she asked firmly.
"Huh? Hold on a date? I didn't ask you out I thought," he responded.
"Well you don't see any members of the squad with us, it's just the two of us, we've had drinks, we've had dinner, kinda constitutes a date."
"Aren't we not allowed to though? Regulations?"
"Oh screw the regulations! We've known each other longer than the RVC has had claim to us," she waved off quickly.
"Do you want it to be a date?" Wyatt carefully asked, unsure of what she was trying to get at exactly.
"I-I don't know, we can say it can be like a date."
"Like a date?" Wyatt questioned, "Alright, I guess so."
"Sounds good, now let's find a place to get drinks that isn't swarming with RVC," Eva nodded as they walked along a terrace and then a window smashed open as a pair of civilians came flying out, punching and fighting one another, "Not this one. I want a promotion not a demerit."
"Agreed."
As they walked away four white and red armored Clone Troopers came around the corner and saw them walking along the string of bars. The two RVC troopers walked past them, noting that they were MP's by the marks on their armor and the fact they held blaster rifles. The Clones turned their heads to look over at them as they passed and once they did both young troopers felt relief come over them that they didn't have to deal with Military Police. It was an accepted principle that MP's just aren't pleasant. That feeling was quickly reversed however when they heard one of the Clones call out to them.
"Hey, you two!" one of the troopers called out and the two looked at one another before turning to look at the troopers walking towards them and two walked to their sides.
"Where's you get this?" the Clone sergeant asked and pointed at the Medallion of Honor on Wyatt's upper chest below his collar.
"Harrin," Wyatt responded, "I was awarded aboard ship on our way back from the front."
"Is that so?" another of the Clones sarcastically replied getting a look from both troopers before the sergeant piped up again with his hand held out.
"Let's see some ID."
"Here," Eva said and pulled out one of her code cylinders and Wyatt did likewise and the Clone took both and plugged Eva's into his pad, "Private First Class Eva Quartin," he said and held up his datapad to her face to double check. Seeing as he didn't have to do so normally with his Clone brethren it was a bit awkward for him.
"Yes sir," Eva grumbled uncomfortably.
"Captured in action on Harrin and heavily interrogated, by Sabaoth Squadron, hmm…that checks out then," the sergeant said and pointed at her medals, and then turned to Wyatt, "Now for you."
"You know what we do to people who wear medals they didn't earn right?" one of the Clones threatened.
"They rot in a cold cell," another answered.
Wyatt snarled without baring his teeth as the sergeant plugged his cylinder in and the information came up on his pad.
"Private First Class Wyatt Lullian, also in action on Harrin, captured alongside Private Quartin here…decorated for conspicuous valor and credited with destroying fifty droids storming a damaged Separatist assault ship. Seems in order," the sergeant said and pulled the cylinder and handed it to Wyatt and then the other to Eva, "Enjoy your leave."
"Stay out of trouble kids," one of the Clones said as they turned to continue their patrol.
Eva turned and gave them a proud middle finger as she backed away, "Yeah stay out of trouble, fekking Clones."
"Enough come on, let's find ourselves a bar."
Location: Executive Building, Planet Coruscant
The building was not the same one that Drexel had once visited, security was much tighter, and there were not as many Senators around. But beyond that the mood here was one that was just different. Yet he walked in to a fairly admiring crowd, the Senate Commandos that escorted him treated him with an almost reverence that he hadn't really expected from such men. He entered the Chancellor's office, and saw that there were several Jedi in the room, all of them Jedi Masters save for a couple more senior Jedi. One of the Jedi caught Drexel completely by surprise, Master Yoda was sitting in the chair as he walked in and saluted the Chancellor first and foremost.
"Chancellor," he said smoothly, with all the sincerity he had, and dropped the salute, "Thank you for your invitation."
"Ah, Admiral Drexel, thank you for being able to make the trip from Kuat on such short notice," the old man said with seemingly genuine sincerity and kindness, "Please, have a seat, there is much to discuss."
"Thank you sir, Master Jedi," he said to the Jedi in the room that he was now able to place their names.
Alongside Master Yoda was Masters Ki Adi Mundi, Aayla Secura, and Plo Koon. All three were accomplished Jedi Generals, but Drexel still had no trouble in picking apart all of their tactics and strategies. Yet he remained highly respectful of them, having known the great importance of frontline leadership. The Jedi never lacked the bravery or willingness to fall short in this category.
"Now to business, I am proud to say that your leadership of the Republic Volunteer Corps has been exemplary Admiral," Palpatine said, heaping on the praise right off the bat, "And it has garnered my personal attention. As such, I am signing an executive order and an appropriations bill the will soon be passed by the Senate folding in all planetary militias and defense forces under the command of the Chancellor's office."
The Jedi all looked at one another in surprise. Normally such a move during peace time would be tantamount to political suicide and conflict would arise almost instantly. But these were treacherous times, and the Chancellor had every logical reason to do so.
"Chancellor, as logical a decision as this is," Plo Koon offered, "I must urge caution. To federalize local militias into the Grand Army to fight the Separatists may only further push neutral systems into the hands of the Separatists."
"Your note of caution has been considered Master Jedi," Palpatine waved him down, assured in his overall plan, "But rest assured this concern has been taken into account. The method by which these forces shall be commanded will be a new branch of the Republic Military, which itself is then further split into separate branches. Purely defensive local planetary forces shall not change their ways. But, a new force shall be created specifically for Republic control and operations on the frontlines. This force, will be, in effect, a grand expansion of the Republic Volunteer Corps. All of it, under your direct command Admiral."
"Chancellor, these two branches, I assume you have devised a way to adequately distinguish the field army from the defense planetary forces?" Drexel questioned, curious to hear more.
"Ah yes, of course. The overall umbrella branch that these two forces shall operate under is to be called the Republic Volunteer Corps, but Republic controlled field units will have a special distinction from strictly defensive forces to distinguish them from the Grand Army. This force, which is a direct expansion of your current forces Admiral, is deemed to be called the Republican Guard. According to law, as it shall be in the books, the Republican Guard is a reserve component of the Republic Military and is only to be activated during times of war. And the RVC is the normal local forces under nominal local command, but shall be administered by federal authorities," Palpatine explained, much to Drexel's intrigue.
"Chancellor, a wise precaution for winning the war this is, but caution you the Jedi Council must. Too few are we, to command such numerous forces," Yoda advised.
"They won't be under Jedi command Master Yoda," Palpatine declared, much to everyone's distress except for Drexel.
"Chancellor, with all due respect," Aayla Secura interjected, "The Jedi have long commanded the Republic's army in the field during times of war."
"Master Jedi," Drexel interrupted, holding a hand up to stop her, and Palpatine inwardly smiled, knowing Drexel was about to support him in his stance, "The Jedi Order have not commanded armies since before the Ruusan Reformations. I have studied your tactics and strategy and I have deemed your command abilities to be sorely lacking. Your order is rusty, you've grown too used to being peace keepers, while you are warriors of great skill and bravery, you're not equipped to lead an army or a fleet. Much of the reason for your success has been from beneficial circumstances afforded to you in the form of fine soldiers and fine equipment. But your casualties and mistakes in the field…to volunteer forces with families and loved ones at home in such a charged environment, such a command record is unacceptable. I'm sorry but I must agree with the Chancellor, the volunteer units should be commanded by career officers with training not in peace, but war."
Yoda looked at Drexel with an air of surprise and dismay. While he did not like such criticism directed against his beloved order, he had nothing to respond with. So he held his peace.
"I must agree with the Admiral," Palpatine said calmly, "The Jedi shall remain in command of their Clone troopers and the volunteers shall have their own commanders. We have winning formulas here my friends, we mustn't deviate from what works."
"But we can still help the Jedi," Drexel said as he looked at the Jedi, "We have experience in matters of war and can pass those lessons on to the Jedi so they can better utilize their forces."
"Appreciated this would be Admiral," Yoda nodded in response, knowing that Drexel was not his enemy and having spoken with him before knew him to be a friend, "Much we can learn there is."
"I am so glad that we are coming to an understanding," Palpatine said proudly, "Admiral Drexel the orders shall be going out soon and I know you shall have additional work to do and as do I I'm afraid."
"Yes Chancellor," everyone nodded and stood and bowed in response as the group departed.
"Oh Admiral," Palpatine said as he was about to leave, "A moment."
"Yes sir."
The Jedi were shown out and Palpatine waited for the door to close.
"The estimates of the strength the Republican Guard are quite substantial. Some estimates have as many as five million people under your command in the field," Palpatine stated calmly, "I do believe that you may need a larger, more substantial rank to suit this sort of responsibility."
"Full Admiral is the more most senior rank I know of," Drexel mentioned, "Did you have something in mind sir?"
"Yes, I consulted my advisers and they recommended that you be granted an ancient rank, more of a ceremonial position in the past, but I do believe your performance has deemed you worthy of its weight," Palpatine said with great reverence as he walked to his desk and lifted a fine velvet coated box, "I had this made for you, and I do hope you shall accept it."
"As an admiral in service to the Republic I am at your service sir," Drexel said as he was handed the box, and opened it.
Inside was a rank plaque, but it was not one he was expecting. It had six blue tiles stacked three by two, a row of three red tiles under three yellow tiles to the side of the blues and four code cylinders alongside the plaque. Drexel was not exactly sure what rank this would mean. He wasn't familiar with any other ranks that used this tile combination.
"It is the rank of Grand Admiral, it's a position that has not been used in many thousands of years by the Republic, and even then, the number of holders of such rank is quite a short one. I do believe it is time to bring it back from history."
"I'm honored," Drexel said as he looked at the rank plaque.
"However there is the matter of it having its own separate uniform," Palpatine mentioned.
"A separate uniform?"
Location: Kuat Drive Yards, Planet Kuat
"Good to have you home son," Admiral Kuat said to her son as the two Kuati officers walked along the viewport-lined wall facing the busy and crowded shipyards.
"Just glad that Admiral Drexel gave me this assignment," the younger Kuat, Lieutenant Wain Kuat responded, "It's always an interesting time seeing what KDY has coming down the line."
"I have to say Drexel's request for this kind of ship are not what we had expected, battlecruisers and star destroyers we know, but…this new class of ships? Is he that confident the Corps will be able to adequately crew them?"
"The Admiral's tactics and strategies have proven that this ship can be extremely useful. And I saw the numbers myself, we're growing mother, growing much faster than anyone could have imagined."
"Well," Admiral Kuat said as she stopped and looked out at the slipway section where KDY was building the ships in question, "There they are, four thousand meters, all six mere weeks from completion."
"It's amazing how quickly that we can build our ships. I mean, look at it, two months ago it was a design that Admiral Drexel was showing me."
The ships they were looking at were Revenge-Class Heavy Carriers, beasts designed for the purpose of massive starfighter carrying capacity. Each was a shade under four thousand meters long with two separate bridges, one on the top and one on the bottom just in front of the massive engines powering it forward with the same basic layout as a Venator. Four massive reactor bulges stuck out like the one on the bottom of the Imperator-Class but were augmented with dedicated shield generators for protection. The open tip of the dagger shape of the ship was similar to that of the ancient Sith Harrower-Class Dreadnought with massive hangars that were protected by the ship's long prow stretching out in front and had two large ventral hangar bays with several smaller hangars on the sides. Turbolasers, laser cannons, and ion cannons were scattered across its hull and made the ship extremely powerful in its own right. But its slated advantage was its advantage in being capable of deploying over six hundred starfighters from its hangar bays in rapid succession. These ships were the epitome of a new kind of warfare pioneered by the success of the Republic Volunteer Corps and refined by the experiences of the Venator-Class Star Destroyer.
The ships were designed for rapid and simplified production, much like all KDY designs. Within the two months of the order for the construction the six behemoths sat in their slips, armor plating, emplacements, and final modular hull segments being moved into positions across their hulls around the clock by automated drones and rotating construction crews. They were set to become the pride of the RVC, and their primary strike platforms.
"What's it been like, serving under him?"
"Never a dull moment," Wain nodded, "When we launched the attack on Yag'Dhul not a single member of the staff got any rest until we returned to the Core. Especially before Harrin, trying to get the shipyards to release the Imperators."
The Admiral nodded, remembering the disturbance that those ships had caused when Drexel had requested them. The Imperators were still brand new, with only a few in service, but production was steadily increasing and their ease of production and the first-hand combat experience of these ships against the Separatists at Harrin had sealed their fate as a sought after Republic asset.
"I remember that. What have you learned being with the RVC?" she asked.
"Casualties will be necessary, especially the way the Admiral commands. But we've sacrificed pilots for entire ships," Wain responded after thinking on it a moment.
"You think Drexel will change tactics with more ships?"
"No I think he'll stick with what's working," Wain nodded, "We've destroyed nearly a thousand enemy ships for the loss of a few hundred Starfighters and eleven ships and a few thousand troops and crew. Hopefully, with an increase in size I might be able to get my own command."
"I'm not going to pull for strings for you to get command when you're not ready," Admiral Kuat reprimanded him all-too quickly.
"Who was asking for you to pull strings?" Wain responded defensively.
"I personally asked for you to be placed Drexel's personal staff," she replied, "You knew that."
"Of course I knew, or else I'd be serving in a basic position like any other lieutenant. Mother I can handle command, we need experienced officers of course, and I saw the plans to vastly increase the size of our escort corvette forces. I can command one of those."
"You're not going on one of those Corellian tin cans," the elder Kuat snapped quickly.
"It may not be up to you," Wain sighed indignantly.
"I…" she growled at him but had to hold her tongue as some other officers walked by. Once they were out of earshot she continued, but quietly this time, "I am your mother. You take command of a corvette in this war and it will be your first and last command! Tell me, how many of the eleven ships that you lost were corvettes?"
"Eight."
"And how many of their crews escaped death?"
"Not many."
"Exactly, you know just how fragile those ships are," she said affirmatively, feeling her point effectively made.
"If I'm still given the opportunity for command I have no choice but to accept," Lieutenant Wain shrugged.
"That's what I'm afraid of, and I'm already certain you'll try," she said with a sigh, knowing in her heart that her son was certainly ambitious, she just hoped it didn't get him killed, "But don't be disappointed if you get denied command. You're still technically fresh from the academy."
Both of them continued to walk after that, the reality of the situation reminding Wain that his ambition was still ahead of his experience. He had graduated from the academy mere months ago, and had been one of many aides on Admiral Drexel's staff ever since. Normally that didn't earn someone a place in command of a ship, but, the young Lieutenant was hopeful. There would soon be hundreds of ships that needed someone to command them, and Lieutenant Wain Kuat would try his luck to get one for himself.
Location: Kuat City, Planet Kuat
In a popular bar the black uniforms of dozens of RVC starfighter pilots were crowding the establishment as they kicked back drink after drink. In the center of it was Lieutenant Teela Abya, the highest scoring ace the RVC now had. A pilot now tallying forty-six kills Teela was a hero and was drinking like one. She had gotten to the very edge of being black out drunk when her section of shore leave arrived in Kuat City.
Knocking back another drink, this was one a local house specialty draft beer down the young blonde pilot shakily stood up.
"Gotta use the ladies room," she said to her squadron-mates.
She quickly scrambled to the side of the bright bar and stumbled into the refresher and grabbed a stall. Seeing as, in a period of four hours, she'd downed eight beers and several waters she really needed to pee, and it was a true relief when she was done. The young pilot came out and looked at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands to check to make sure that she had all of her uniform pieces still present. She saw her rank plaque of four horizontal blue tiles and two code cylinders were present and in place and saw her flight wings were in place over her medals. The RVC had a system of awarding pilots ace medals, one for every five kills, so she had two rows of four each with the numbers on the red ribbons and silver medal with the numbers going from five to forty. She also checked that she had the medals for each of the Yag'Dhul, Mechis, and Harrin Campaigns, each had a different color ribbon and a silver medal with the image of the planets they represented. She checked that her prized award, the Corellian Medal of Valor was around her neck. It was something she was very proud of to have this many medals so quickly in her career. She looked proudly at the silhouette of the Venator-Class Star Destroyer with the name of her ship, Dauntless below it with the word Task Force 1 above it on the patch her sleeve and the planet Corellia on the other patch.
However she'd lost friends, five members of her squadron had died or been wounded in action. They had left with twelve young and eager Corellian starfighter pilots, and were returning with seven. But each was now at least a double ace, in the case of half of their squadron they were triple aces. However, having forty-six kills was an accomplishment, only rivalled by a Y-Wing pilot aboard the Dauntless that had notched up fifteen lethal strikes on Separatist ships. But the Dauntless had been hit hard, when the ship had left she had been one of more than four hundred pilots, they had returned with just over three hundred. The once pristine new Star Destroyer was scarred and several parts of the ship were so badly damaged they had been locked off and unable to be used without zero atmosphere gear and the crew had lost over a hundred of their fellow Corellians. It wasn't as easy as she'd originally thought it was going to be, the lack of sleep, lack of rest, constant worry, and the danger that they faced day in and day out had made their nerves raw, and this day of shore leave was just what they needed.
So when she walked back out she saw that her squadron and many others were gone, she looked around quite concerned in her alcohol induced haze. Panic rose as she looked for friendly faces and jumped when a hand clapped her on the shoulder. She whirled around and saw the familiar face of her wingman, fellow Flight Lieutenant Dev Zsen. He too was a bit wasted, but nearly as bad as she was so he had enough control over his mind to stay behind when he noticed the squadron leaving without her. He had three kill medals and the same campaign medals as she did.
"Hey Dev, you stay behind for me?" she asked with a lopsided smile on her face.
"Yeah, saw you weren't with the rest of us and stayed to make sure you weren't in the fresher or something," he replied, "Come on, let's go."
"Alright," she said and walked over towards the door but stumbled and nearly fell, and took the opportunity to grab a cold beer and started downing it on instinct.
"No no no!" Dev responded and grabbed the can from her hand, "You've had enough. I'm taking back to the ship."
"Oh you want me to all to yourself huh?" she slurred at the fellow pilot as he held her close and left the bar and began walking towards the shuttle landing point where RVC Star Commuter 2000/M's were going all night.
"There we are," he said as they got to the landing pad guarded by RVC troopers in white and red marked armor holding A280 Blaster Rifles, "Two for Star Destroyer Dauntless," he said as he pulled out his code cylinder and Teela's and handed them over to one of the guards.
After the troopers checked them out they were pointed without much in the way of words to the shuttle that would take them to the Dauntless, docked in orbit and undergoing some repairs. The shuttle had a pilot sitting there quietly and waiting to get the shuttle to lift off towards their mothership and worked their way into a seat. After verifying that they indeed were headed to the Dauntless the shuttle shut itself up and lifted off.
"Have fun you guys?" the pilot asked.
"Oh yeah, many drinks killed this night," Teela laughed.
"There's some water in the cooler there if you want," the pilot suggested.
"I think we're okay."
"Thanks Dev," she said as she leaned her head against his shoulder eyes groggy and staring out the cockpit window as the shuttle broke the atmosphere.
"For what?" Dev asked as he looked down at the blonde on his shoulder as he questioned what brought this on all of a sudden.
"Waiting for me. You're a good wingman," she patted him on the chest with a laugh.
"You're drunk Teela."
"Drunk, tired, happy, and horny, all the marks of a good shore leave," she giggled, bathing him in beer breath.
"You're something else."
The shuttle soared over the massive shipyards and flew towards a section that housed a long line of all-red Venator-Class Star Destroyers and Acclamator-Class Assault Ships. It was quite a sight to see beneath them, so many mammoths dormant after a long period of hard combat. Those ships had been fought hard and fought well as their scarred and damaged paint showed.
"We're coming in for a landing Dauntless, Shuttle Two-Five from Kuat City."
The shuttle landed aboard and saw the crew busy loading of new equipment and new starfighters being brought aboard. They didn't notice the shuttle land and the two pilots stumble out and made a bee-line for their barracks. The halls were quiet here at dock, many of the crew was on shore leave, and the majority of the rest were all sleeping. Dev walked Teela into their familiar barracks and turned on the lights.
"Come on, to bed," Dev said as he went and dropped Teela into her bunk and she groaned as she drunkenly laid down, and he then turned towards his bed as he started to unbutton his shirt. As he did that he heard the jingling of medals behind him and heard Teela's locker open as he assumed she was taking off her dress uniform and put it up while he did the same thing. He didn't expect what came next.
Teela, wearing only her tank top and panties walked up and spun him around. Before Dev could say a word she grabbed him by the back of his head and kissed him. They both stumbled back against the opposite locker as Dev pushed her back and broke the kiss.
"What the hell are you doing?" Dev snapped at her.
"We're all alone here relax," she said as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and went back in.
"You're drunk!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing, I took my sober pill, getting more sober by the minute. Besides," she said, "I know you've been checking me out. Come on, let's have some fun…"
"Oh hell," Dev groaned as he shook his head and went back into a passionate kiss, and he grabbed her by her hips as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and they both stumbled back and they fell back into her bed.
Clothes came flying off and Teela quickly pulled the privacy curtain closed and both ignored the hot and heavy noise they made was muffled by the walls of their barracks. Thankfully for both no one who passed the door had any clue they were breaking several regulations quite loudly. This was not the ending either of them had expected for the night and neither had a problem with that.
Location: Rendili StarDrive Docks, Planet Rendili
The large shipyards of Rendili StarDrive were not the same in scale as those of KDY, but there was enough mass of construction and manufacture facilities that when newly minted Lieutenant Jun Sato arrived aboard the transport to be mated with his new ship he couldn't help but be amazed. The young raven-haired graduate from Mykapo was here to take command of his first ship, a small robust little Hammerhead Class Corvette. He'd graduated top of his class from Mykapo's only military academy, and had taken an offer from the Republic Volunteer Corps for a commission and placement in the force. Soon afterwards he'd boarded a ship wearing the new uniform and lieutenant's rank plaque of the RVC and was off to Rendili.
He saw his destination from afar, a long dock complex with long docked lines of red-ainted Hammerhead Corvettes numbering in the dozens. They stretched all along the dock and were stacked with the small ships over one another as several were being launched and docked from their construction yards. He could see that there were so many here that he wondered how they'd crew them all. He looked with envy at the much larger Assault Frigate Mk. I Split-Bow Heavy Cruisers that Rendili was also building, noticing the immense size difference between the two classes of ships. Sato would have felt safer on one of those heavy cruisers, but he wouldn't trade the opportunity to take command of his own ship.
"Docking now, prepare to disembark," the speaker over the transport of officers called out.
"Here it comes," Sato said as he sighed and grasped his large bag of uniforms and equipment, checking that his SSK-7 Blaster Pistol was where it needed to be, in the holster on his uniform belt.
The door opened and the gaggle of officers walked into the long corridor where there were crewmen and women moving around the area with bags on their backs on in their hands. The group of young officers all lined up in front of a more senior officer with a datapad. They all checked that their hats were on straight and insignias were just right. The line of brownish gray officer uniforms had red on the line on their shoulders, a distinctive feature of RVC uniforms nowadays. They were called to attention and their boots clicked loudly as the disciplined graduated lieutenants alongside Sato went to attention.
"When I call your name step forward, you'll be given your orders and your ship's patch," the Captain said from the front.
Sato waited until his name was called, listening to each ship name one by one until he was certain he was next. He was disappointed that these Hammerhead Corvettes had some rather humble designations instead of something strong and powerful. But he was only commanding a small escort corvette.
"Sato, Corvette Bittersweet, dock seventeen," the man said as he handed over the locked case which had the ship keys, the encrypted controlling device that ships this size always had for the first in command of a ship, "Cylinder."
Sato handed over one of his code cylinders which was then plugged in and the information inside was updated to reflect his new status as the commander of his new ship. After saluting and being dismissed Sato walked down the corridor, past several blocks of red uniformed and helmeted crewmen and women being split up to their ships. Sato counted down the deployed gangways and the noses of the red Hammerheads he passed and finally saw the "Dock Seventeen" written above the gangway to his assigned ship several hundred meters down the row. He took a breath and entered the hatchway, and got his first view of his new ship.
The Bittersweet was as normal a Hammerhead Corvette as it got. The tubular hull and tall thin hammer in the bow was driven forward by three engines and was armed with five brand new dual laser cannons. Two were mounted behind the bridge, and the other three were mounted between the engines in the rear, able to swivel to fire at targets behind the ship or in front of the ship. It was well designed, made to be fast, well-armored, and hit hard. Sato was pleased with this little ship. He stepped aboard and saw the simple interior was clean and had a sort of 'new ship smell'. He saw the ship had a pair of barracks immediately off of the hatch he'd come through on the ship's starboard side for the ship's engineers and a mess hall for the whole ship. The engineering space was connected to the main junction of corridors that led to the three gunners stations in the rear. Sato moved into the neck of the ship and saw his own small quarters on the starboard side with his own refresher. Opposite of him was the larger refresher for the whole crew connected to a longer barracks for the rest of the crew on the deck above. Also here was a small armory and a cargo bay below along with his XO's own quarters with their own refresher. Next to the engine room was a medical room and a rec room that was fairly basic, with only three treadmills and three weight benches and a circular padded section for general workouts and stretches.
He deposited his gear on his bed and looked around his quarters. He had a small mirror, a small desk, and a decent size cabinet with drawers underneath his bed against the wall. The room was a mix of whites and grays, with no creature comforts whatsoever. It had a lock on the door, which was unusual, and could see that he would have a lot of memories here.
He had everything he needed to keep tabs on everything the ship was doing, engineering readouts, navigational readouts, and full lists of cargo, and crew on duty were on a large screen in his quarters above the desk. He saw his crew roster numbered two officers, including him, and fourteen enlisted crewmen and women. Of those ten crew he had two chief petty officers, one engineer and one deck chief. He also had two pilots, six gunners, four engineers, a navigator, and a ship's medic. He had several droids aboard as well, four astromechs, a doctor droid, and a cooking droid.
A knock on the side of his open door and he saw the brownish gray and red uniform of his XO and saw that he was actually even younger than him.
"Sub-Lieutenant Kain Kolzaar, reporting for duty," the man said quickly, saluting and snapping to attention.
"Lieutenant Jun Sato, welcome aboard," Sato greeted the man, saluting him, and was taken back by the by-the-book at ease stance the young man took and saw the same planetary patch as his on his sleeve, "I see you're from Mykapo as well?"
"Yes sir, graduated two weeks ago."
"Good, I assume our crew is predominantly Mykapo-native as well?" Sato nodded as he decided to investigate that as well and checked the personnel roster and saw that he was mostly right.
"The enlisted men are yes sir, but our chief petty officers are Rendili-natives."
"Well, they are more than likely experienced, we'll have to rely heavily upon them. Where are they now?" Sato asked as he now decided it was time to meet his new crew.
"They've been sent to the mess hall sir, awaiting you."
"Well then, let's get them to work."
Sato tucked his hat on, and checked his uniform quickly before moving on to the mess hall where he saw the deck chief standing outside with Kolzaar behind him in perfect step. The deck chief nodded as he approached and entered the mess hall announce that he was coming in.
"Captain on deck!" came the call that silenced the talking crewmen and women who were in the mess hall and there was the screeching of chairs against the floor.
Sato took a deep breath, and entered the room to see that there was the twelve enlisted men with the engineering chief standing on the opposite wall. The deck chief saluted him as he entered crisply and Sato saluted in return. The four square tables had red uniformed crew around them standing at attention with their goggles and helmets on the tables and small metal packs on their backs with all having their symbol of the seal of the Republic on their separate shoulder pads and the patches of the ship and their planet origin on the opposite sleeve.
"Stand at ease," Sato said to them as he walked to the front of the room and the crew went to at ease, "Sit down, face me," after that had happened he began his somewhat prepared speech, "Welcome aboard the Bittersweet, I am your commanding officer, Lieutenant Jun Sato, this is your Executive Officer, Sub-Lieutenant Kain Kolzaar. We are proud to welcome to you aboard this shop and thank you all for the selfless manner in which you have all volunteered for service. I will never ask you to do anything that I myself would not or could not do myself. We have a long way to go, the Bittersweet has never left home, it's our duty to take care of her, and she will take care of us. Your chiefs are experienced and professional, they will teach you what you were not taught in training. We are the guardians of the fleet, the cruisers and the star destroyers are nothing without us, we are their shield. Remember that, and we will do our duty."
And that's a good spot to leave off. I finally remembered to get Sato into the story and I think that I did that quite well. As for the rest of the chapter I'm pretty proud of the personal interactions that I had written with the RVC troops and those Clone MP's. And yes I did make Drexel a Grand Admiral. I decided that the rank of Fleet Admiral was not large enough an encompassing rank for command of the massive fleet and army that the RVC will end up becoming. As for the Revenge Class Heavy Carriers the ship in question is one I like to reference in my stories. It's a fan created ship from show called "IMPS The Relentless".
So, as usual, tell me what you guys think, I'd love to hear from you guys now that things might start going into an AU-ish direction for the Clone Wars.
Next Chapter Preview: While the RVC grows the war continues.