The next morning, Luke was woken by light streaming into the windows. He was pondering laying in bed a little longer, or getting up just as Lourdes came into the room. "Ah, good morning Commander" she greeted, "Its good to see you awake once more"
Luke smiled, Well, she made up my mind for me, he thought. "Good morning, Lourdes. How are you?" he inquired, sitting up.
"Very well, thank you Commander" she replied with a smile. "Karin is bringing your uniform" she told him.
"My uniform?" Luke repeated.
"Yes, Captain Llewellyn has sent your uniform. You are to go to the Military Headquarters as soon as possible for debriefing." Lourdes answered.
"Of course" he now remembered the day before. He had been assigned as Commander, an assistant to Captain Llewellyn.
Karin came in a few moments later, a garment bag in her hands. "Good morning, Commander. Your uniform is inside. The request from the Captain is that you come as soon as possible, she has a meeting with some members of the senate, and she wishes for you to be introduced to your subordinates before then. Your transport is outside" she told him, hanging the bag on the mirror.
Lourdes smiled, "Yes, you went from stranger to Commander in a day. That is unheard of, but I suppose it has to do with the senate, yes?"
"Yes, the senate was worried about the lack of males in the command" Luke answered.
The women laughed, "Were they indeed?" Lourdes asked, "I'll bet good money that the Captain wasn't too keen on that remark"
"Oh, she handled it with the highest of diplomacy" Luke said sarcastically, his mind flashing to how furious the Captain was at the insinuation that she was inept at her duties.
They laughed again, "Oh, she's always been a little diplomat. Her father used to tease that she would be a marvelous senator, except the fact that she hates the senate. Well, I suppose what one dislikes in others is what they find most abhorrent in themselves." Lourdes informed him, "She actually might have been a diplomat – before fate set in" the gleeful attitude the women had turned cold.
Luke was puzzled, he was still unsure of certain things about this new world, which (no doubt) his new position would afford him. "Tell me, what was her father like?" Luke asked.
Karin smiled, "He was one of the kindest of men, very self-sacrificing. But, afraid. As if he feared that the Empire – if they knew where he was – would kill him. No one knows his background but the queen." she thought for a moment, "Which, I suppose would be expected." she told herself.
"How did he die?"
Lourdes sighed, "During the Civil Wars, which were what separated this side of the Eridanus from that one" she pointed in the general direction of Echtra, "His Majesty was killed trying to protect his eldest son. That was, seven years ago?" she looked at Karin for confirmation, who nodded. "The eldest son, Taniss was his name, died from wounds he sustained in the last battle. It was then that Queen was enthroned, and her other son Prentiss, was made the Captain."
"You say this was seven years ago? How old is the Captain?" he asked, the math did no equate.
"Oh," Lourdes thought for a moment, her eyes raised to the ceiling, "I would say that she's . . . twenty-one summers perhaps. Does that sound about right Karin?"
"Twenty-one? No, I would say twenty, because Prentiss would be twenty-two summers, and he is two years her senior, remember?" Lourdes shook her head, and Karin continued "Taniss was seventeen when he died, he would be twenty-four now. Prentiss was two years his junior, in between him and the twins. And Taniss was four years older than the twins." Lourdes understood, and agreed, confirming that Ariadné was indeed twenty summers.
Luke commented that she must have been thirteen when her father died, and Lourdes nodded, saying "Yes, she was such a little thing. Although she was closer to her mother, she still felt the affects. Thirteen is a terrible time to lose one's parent, it is the most consequential. If it wasn't for Regis Organa, I don't think she would have had any paternal guidance through these last few years"
Karin looked at the holoclock on the wall, "Oh, dear, would you look at the time! Good thing that you were eating as we talked. Quickly, Commander, you must get dressed" she said, shoving his uniform at him and pulling Lourdes out of the room to give him privacy.
Luke was then left to dress, his mind elsewhere. Thirteen, and lost her father and eldest brother. Is it any wonder she is as sickly as she is? He thought of Prentiss. When did he come to the Alliance? It wasn't this year, or last. . .
It had to have been three years ago. He counted back, and figured that Ariadné was about seventeen when her brother left. Seventeen and she was given a position that a man would find difficult to fill, let alone a woman. With senators breathing down her neck constantly. Seventeen and all alone.
He finished dressing, and went out.
Justiss was outside with the transport, waiting. "Ah, there you are, Commander. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps you'd changed your mind. If we didn't leave soon, the Captain and her command would be done with their meeting, and you wouldn't have the chance of meeting all those who are now below you." he greeted.
"No, Sergeant, I have not changed my mind in any way shape or form. I am as decided as I was yesterday." Luke replied.
Justiss looked him over, "Well, I see Her Highness wasted no time in finding you a uniform. It has been quite some time since we've had a commander. I'm surprised she was so trusting, not even her own brother was offered that position – and I know that he wants it badly. He's not taking this well" he informed his new superior officer.
Luke laughed, "Well, I'm afraid I didn't ask for this. It just happened" he said.
The Sergeant chuckled, "Oh, I know" he said, revving the engine and taking off.
When Luke arrived at Headquarters, he was immediately ushered to the third floor. Upon reaching the third floor, he was directed toward one of the conference rooms. He could hear voices as he approached the door, the Captain was speaking.
"No, Ensign, I'm afraid that the senate has no say in this matter. Thanks to their most effective loopholes in policies. I don't know how us military would survive without them" laughter rumbled in the room, they obviously all understood that.
"But Captain, surely there are loopholes the senate will find which will nullify your decision" a woman said.
The Captain laughed, "Ah, you are correct Corporal. But there's always another loophole with which I will use. Long live the senate and their thousand-word bills which they use to clarify everything, yet leave everything else to interpretation" Luke heard laughter again. She truly had no love for the senate.
"So, when do we meet this Commander?" another woman asked.
"Well, Lieutenant, I'm expecting him at any time. Though, hopefully before we're finished" she replied.
Luke stepped in, for he saw that as his cue.
The room was filled with women, except for Lieutenant Llewellyn, Justiss, and two others. One of the women spotted him first, "If that is the Commander, Captain, then I congratulate you on your choice. His uniform suits him, its been a while since I've seen that particular uniform." she said. Luke recognized her voice as the Lieutenant. He looked down at his jet black uniform, it was different than the rest of the room. The gold bar on his jacket shoulder indicated his rank, as did the other insignias on the others uniforms.
Ariadné turned and saw him, "Ah, Commander. So good of you to join us, I was beginning to wonder if perhaps you had changed your mind, and I had brought these good officers here for nothing. But I'm happy to see you here after all." she said, pulling him to the front of the room. "Allow me to introduce you to our staff" she then proceeded to point out the various officers.
"We shall begin with our lowest ranking officers." she said, "Corporal Eirena Clovis" she pointed to a red-head with striking green eyes. She stood and saluted, "At your service, Commander" she said. "Corporal Taina Wyn. . ." another woman stood, saluting and returning to her seat.
"You already know Sergeant Xavier. Sergeant Renalds. . ." a brunette stood, saluting and sitting down with a curt, 'Commander'.
"Second Lieutenant Myrna Windress" she pointed to a young woman who appeared about 25. The Lieutenant stood, "It is a pleasure to know you, Commander Starkiller, I hope you will be very successful in your endeavors here. We definitely need help" she said kindly.
"Thank you Lieutenant Windress, I am still quite out of my depth here. But I hope that with your cooperation, and those of the present company, I will be able to work adequately here." Luke replied.
"We will do all we can to help you, Commander" Windress replied, taking her seat once more.
Ariadné then introduced him to the men in the group. "My brother, First Lieutenant Corliss Llewellyn" she introduced. The young man that Luke had seen the day before, stood. His hazel eyes were full of curiosity, disappointment, anger, and jealousy. Luke understood the younger man, he saw Luke as an interloper. Someone who took his rightful place. Still, he treated Luke with the cold politeness of a politician.
"Commander, its good to have you here." he said.
"Thank you Lieutenant, I hope to be a help while I am here. I will be needing your help, as an adviser. For I have much to learn, and I will not always be asking questions of the Captain." Luke replied, wishing to mend any animosity that the younger man had for him.
"I will keep that in mind Commander" Corliss replied with a smirk.
Ariadné continued to introduce him to the other men – the only ones who were above the Captain in rank: Major Neil Organa, and Colonel Kendall Windress. Luke wasn't surprised that the two men who were her commanders, were the sons of the men who she considered family.
"Well, now you have been introduced to the room, we shall continue with debriefing. You listen for now, but tomorrow you will be expected to contribute" Major Organa said.
Luke smiled, and sat down in the empty chair which was now reserved for him.
After the meeting, Ariadné went back to her office – Luke trailing right behind. The debriefing had been very informative, and Luke learned more than he ever anticipated.
Ariadné had been informed by several battlements on the riverbank, that there was an unsettling amount of activity in Echtra. Scouts had been seen on the opposite side of the river, seemingly planning something regarding the river itself. Naturally, the battlement personnel were unsure of what was going on, for they didn't dare to cross the body of water to find out. The Colonel, the Major, the Captain, and the Lieutenants debated on what to do with this information. Though all agreed that it was not serious enough to concern the senate.
"You know what they'll do, in the name of freedom" Ariadné had said, "Cause for more legislation to go through, preventing us from doing what would be required – in the name of democracy of course."
Lieutenant Llewellyn agreed with her, saying they should wait until more information came through.
"You don't want to wait until its too late, though. Thats dangerous" Corporal Wyn said.
Ariadné agreed, and told her that she would speak with the Queen on the matter. "She is our sovereign, she will know what to do before it is brought to the senate."
"Still, we should be cautious" Major Organa said, "We should reinforce the battlements on the beaches"
"Wtih who?" Ariadné inquired, "We hardly have enough troops to protect Cairn Corness if the battlements fall. We are too weak" she informed him.
"But we must try" he insisted, "We have to hold back this storm, if it forms"
"I agree, but I fear otherwise. With most of our men gone, and our military being mostly women, we will be powerless to hold back any great force from Echtra. Their power grows stronger, and we grow weaker. If it comes to it, we will not be able to hold back the storm, as you call it" Ariadné said.
The room had been silent before Lieutenant Windress spoke up, "We have to do something. We cannot stand idle as they plot and plan against us on the other side of the river. The Captain is right, we will be powerless. They cross the river at least once a month, weakening our defenses. We dare not cross the river, but they do not fear us"
"What would you recommend, Myrna?" Ariadné asked.
The Lieutenant paused, "Either one of two things. First option is: we enlist the Vogelfrei into our armies. They have more men which could bear arms"
"The senate would never agree" Colonel Windress said, "They hate the Vogelfrei"
"The second option, I'm afraid you will hate, Captain." Windress said.
"What is that, niece?" the Colonel asked.
The young woman looked about the room, "We must find help from outside of Tyrn" she said.
The room was silent, before Ariadné growled, "Never" she vowed, "I will never allow the shields to come down. And you're sounding like a senator. Trying to get me to do as they wish. They want the shields down, and I will not give into their demands."
"This war is more serious than most realize, as you said, we will be powerless to stop it without more troops" the brunette replied, her hazel eyes meeting the Captain's brown ones.
"Not the Alliance, if that is what you are insinuating" Ariadné replied.
"You were quick enough to trust one of them as your commander" the Lieutenant quipped.
Ariadné looked at Luke, "That is a different matter. He came here, and I took advantage of the situation, he needed somewhere to go anyhow. No offense Commander" she apologized.
"None taken" Luke had replied, listening as the conversation then turned to a different course, that of the Vogelfrei themselves. Ariadné, however, was definitely not pleased. It seemed to him that everyone wanted the Alliance, except her.
And so, Ariadné and Luke made their way through the winding hallways of the building, eventually stopping before a door. Ariadné entered, "This is your new office. It adjoins mine" she pointed to a door on the left side of the room. "How do you like it?" she asked him.
Luke scrutinized the room; it was plain, with a desk which had a holo, and a few other things which he would need. "We share a secretary of sorts, she gathers the information from the senate, and the Guardians, and brings it before me – well, us now" she told him.
"Its rather sanitary" Luke observed, she chuckled.
"Yes it is, that is why you are here. Make it the way you want my friend. Its yours" she told him, opening the door to her office and stepping in. "Make yourself comfortable, I'm afraid I have to leave –" she looked at a holoclock, "Ten minutes ago" she finished with resignation. "I'll send Yeira to talk with you about some of your duties with her. More or less, everything will go through you. Though you must be careful not to take everything on your shoulders, for I am still your commanding officer." she told him,looking him in the eyes.
"So...yes...well, I'll go now" she said awkwardly, "I shall speak to you in greater detail later. Until then, just make yourself comfortable" she said, opening the door which led to the hallway and walking out, "So long, Starkiller, I'll return as soon as possible" and with that she was gone.
Luke sat in his chair, still digesting all the information which he had learned that day. He wished there were a way to contact Leia, for she had to be worried about him – he had been gone for nearly two weeks now. There had to be a way to send a message outside of the forcefield, he would ask about it is, if the Captain didn't kill him the moment he brought it up.
He thought for quite some time, wondering just how all this could happen in such a short time. He came here, and now he was Commander in a world which would soon be thrust into the throes of turmoil. It was always his luck, always being the savior of people who would be going through the worst of times. For the first time, he wondered if he wouldn't have been wiser to have stayed on Tattooine, he would have been saved all these bad situations which he was made in charge of.
He laughed at the idea, but then he wouldn't have been a Jedi. . .which would be a terrible thing.