Bridge, SSD Executor, Unknown System.

Admiral Kendal Ozzel listened with growing consternation to Commander Dornaj's report.

The minutes since they had arrived had been rather confused. Once that idiot Dornaj had stood his men down, he informed them, to their surprise and incredulity, that they had been gone for two entire days. Drugged, probably, he thought, recalling the holographic storm trooper's mention of an "examination room". He shivered.

"Once we ascertained that the bridge was deserted, and that you were not aboard the vessel, I assumed acting command of the Executor and the fleet", Dornaj was saying. Ozzel barely restrained a snort. The man had probably jumped at the chance. He was probably the first commander in the Empire to command an SSD, or an entire SD squadron. "We attempted to scan the station, but were unable to determine anything beyond its basic structure, composition, and energy output. We hailed the station repeatedly, attempting to ascertain what had occurred, but we received no reply."

"Why did you not fire on the station", Captain Piet asked. Of course. Piet was a competent officer, but rather lacking in imagination. Obviously he would have simply blown the station out of the sky, and the entire bridge crew and Lord Vader with it, instead of trying to take an unfamiliar but clearly advanced technology intact.

Dornaj swallowed nervously.

"One of my Lts. analyzed the internal sensor records, and concluded that you had been disintegrated by some sort of beam which penetrated our shields. I resolved that it would be unwise to risk the Executor in battle until a means of countering this weapon had been devised. Instead, I focused the fleet's efforts on intelligence gathering, and attempting to ascertain how we were transported to this system."

Its a logical reply, he thought, even if it smells of cowardice.

Dornaj continued.

"Our probe droids have charted most of the systems within one hundred light years. We have ascertained the presence of three other interstellar powers. We have identified two from intercepted communications as the Talaxians and the Viddeans, and are attempting to identify the third. All of their vessels that we have encountered appear to be no more powerful than a typical corvette-most of them considerably less so."

"And what of the vortex", Lord Vader broke in.

Dornaj swallowed again. The man really needs to grow a back bone.

"We have analyzed the scanner readings, My Lord, but have been unable to match it to any known energy source, natural or artificial, in our databanks. Our analyses are continuing. No further indications of the vortex's presence have been detected since your... departure."

"Could this station have transported us here", Kendal asked.

"Unknown, sir", the commander replied uncomfortably. "However, the energy readings of the station's field do not match those of the vortex."

"We could do with a few less unknowns, and a few more facts, commander", Piet said sharply, and in this case, Kendal agreed with his chief subordinate.

Dornaj shifted uncomfortably once again, and Kendal thought his eyes darted to Lord Vader, who was standing impassively beside him.

"My apologies, sir. However, we do have on other possible lead. A few hours after your... departure, we detected a massive energy surge from the station, which rapidly accelerated to over twelve thousand times the speed of light before it passed beyond the range of our scanners. However, it was not directed at us. We calculated its trajectory, but it was not aimed at any nearby system."

"A hyperspace weapon", Kendal asked, intrigued. There were rumours of experimental hyperspace weapons under development in secret Imperial facilities, but nothing official.

"The readings did not match those of known hyperspatial technology", Dornaj replied, earning a glower from his superior officer. "However, shortly after the energy surge, we detected a similar, but weaker surge returning towards the station, on a reciprocal of the previous trajectory. As soon as it passed, a small vessel... materialized between us and the station."

"Materialized", Piet asked sharply.

"Where is this vessel now", Lord Vader interjected, breaking his silence.

"We hailed them, My Lord. When we received no reply, I had the vessel tractored into our hanger bay. It is currently being examined for any indication as to its origins, and how the station might have brought it here."

"Very good, commander", Lord Vader intoned. "Proceed with your examination." He turned as that Lt. at Scanners approached. She was an attractive woman, Kendal thought, in a rather severe way. Perhaps some time he'd have to see if he could loosen her up. "Report."

"My Lord, Ensign Biel did not return with us."

"Are you certain", Piet asked sharply.

"Yes, sir", the Lt. replied, expression blank.

Piet turned to him.

"She is likely still a prisoner aboard the station, sir."

Kendal frowned. He could hardly refuse to respond to an alien entity abducting Imperial officers, but the risks of a rescue mission for the return of a single junior officer would usually have rendered the mission out of the question. But it did provide a justification for securing the station.

"If I might suggest, My Lord", he said, turning to face Vader. The Dark Lord regarded him impassively, and Ozzel shifted nervously, intimidated by that silent, implacable presence, and annoyed at himself for being so easily unnerved. "We have detected no shielding around the station, and its hull should not be able to withstand our weapons. Whatever its offensive capabilities, its defenses appear highly limited. An ion canon barrage could be used to disable it and allow a boarding party to recover the ensign, if she is aboard. It would also provide us with an opportunity to secure this technology for further examination."

"The station's full capabilities are still unknown, admiral", Lord Vader replied after a moment. "Proceed, but target the station with heavy turbolasers. If the ion canons prove ineffective, you are to destroy the station immediately."

He nodded sharply, relieved and a little surprised that his proposal had met with the Dark Lord's approval.

"Yes My Lord." He turned to Piet. "Proceed, captain."

"Battle stations!", Piet barked, and the bridge crew scurried to their posts, as the deep wail of the Battle Alert began to sound throughout the ship. Clasping his hands behind his back in a posture of complete confidence, Ozzel strode to the centre of the bridge and gazed out at the distant station hovering before them in space, allowing himself a small smile of satisfaction despite the tension of an impending battle. A risky decision, but if they were successful, the rewards might be immense.

"Battle stations!" Firmus watched with approval as the Executor's bridge crew moved with calm professionalism to assume their stations, and the Battle Alarm began to wail in the background. This was his element, on the bridge of the Executor, his bridge, with the full firepower of the greatest warship in the Empire at his command. He was, he knew, not an imaginative man, yet he thought that he could almost feel the power of the vessel, blazing like an artificial sun beneath his feet. Commander Dornaj, having already surrendered command of the Executor, had excused himself, returning to his post in Engineering. Admiral Ozzel had taken up position in the centre of the bridge, and Firmus joined him a moment later, watching as the Command Ship's crew prepared for battle. It was not the decision he would have made- the safest course of action, to his mind, was to simply destroy the station with a surprise assault. However, he recognized the potential benefits, and it was not his place to question the decisions of his superiors. He did hope that they would be able to recover the ensign... ensign Beil? And teach this alien the error of abducting the Empire's officers.

"Turbolasers standing by!", he heard Commander Avin say. Then a moment later: "Ion canons standing by!" He glanced sidelong at Ozzel, who nodded.

"Have the heavy turbolasers maintain target lock and await my command. Forward ion canons, fire on my mark." He paused, savoring the moment. "Fire."

Twin pulses of blueish-white light streaked out across the void as he waited for the result.

"Two hits", the weapons crews confirmed a few seconds later. "Minimal effect."

Firmus tensed, glancing at Admiral Ozzel.

"Increase ion canon barrage", the admiral said. "All batteries."

Firmus grimaced. It was stretching the limits of Lord Vader's orders, but if it went badly, the blame would fall on the admiral, not on him. Unless we all die, of course.

"Fire all ion canons, maximum power."

"Sir!" The cry came from Scanners, and Firmus felt his gut tighten in anticipation. "We're detecting a power surge from the station-"

Without waiting for the admiral's approval, he gave the order.

"Turbolasers, fire at will!"

But it was too late. Even as the first of the intensified ion barrage shot out towards the station, and before the turbolasers could add their fury to the onslaught, a wall or wave of white and orange energy rolled out from the station, crossing the distance between them in a matter of moments.

"Brace for impact!" There was no time to do anything else. Firmus found himself thinking of his family back in the Core, his first days at the Academy, his first space command. He wondered if anyone would ever find out what had happened to them.

The wave struck the Executor, washing over her hull, filling the bridge windows with fire. The great ship shuddered slightly, and then-

It was gone. He could see the stars outside, the other ships of Death Squadron arrayed around them, but not station. No sun.

"Report!", he snapped, hoping that he didn't sound as shaken as he felt.

"Sir... our coordinates appear to have changed."

"I can see that, Lt.", he snapped. "Where are we?"

"We're still confirming that sir, but we appear to have been shifted out of the system, at least... 97 light years."