Still learning as I go, so any criticism is more than welcome as always. Many thanks to Oldman543 for some rather excellent beta reading.

Chapter 3

General Kiev was a monstrous size of a man. Tall and thickly built, with a shaved head he looked as if he could wrestle a Banther and win. His sight instilled terror in the all but the most experienced troops in his legion. He was fair with his men, but they all knew mistakes were not tolerated under his command. Born on Coruscant into poverty he had a violent upbringing. His father ran a small cantina on the lower levels. It was here that he learned to fight, both with his hands and with a blaster, as bouncer at the cantina.

After his father was killed during a bar fight shortly after Kiev's eightieth birthday, he found himself left without a home. With his mother to support, he decided that the only way out the slums for them was to join the Coruscant Defence Force. During his training, it became clear to his superiors that he possessed leadership qualities and a great mind for combat. He completed his officer training school at the age of 20, shortly before the outbreak of the clone wars. During the clone wars he became a battle hardened veteran, fighting several campaigns, and earning several field promotions up to the rank of Colonel.

After the Emperor's rise to power and the rapid expansion of Imperial armed forces, there was a large demand for senior experienced officers. As a prime candidate he was immediately promoted to general, given his own legion of stormtroopers, and attached the Imperial Navy.

The General was already seated in the Captains dining room when Nithan and Wilfons arrived.

"Gentlemen." Kiev stated, rising from his seat and giving a quick salute.

"General, long time no see." Nithan replied in a surprisingly humorous tone.

"I was beginning to think Wilfons and I would dine alone for the rest of this trip. I assume you've been preoccupied."

"You assume correctly General, now let us dispense with the pleasantries."

The General laughed "Well it's good to see you. Your first officer here was beginning to bore me."

Wilfons chuckled "Oh please Kiev, if I had to hear one more fictional story of how you single handily destroyed the separatists at Kashyyk, I'd throw myself out of an airlock."

"Commander, whether you believe me or not, really does not matter to me in the slightest. The fact of it all is this, you spend your time ferrying me and my glorious troops round to do the real work. You're my driver, nothing more."

Both of the fleet officers started laughing loudly. The Captain spoke with a joking tone. It was now his turn to berate the General. "Kiev, I'm not sure what is more worrying, the fact you believe it yourself, or that they let you wear that uniform. We all know that when it comes to winning battles, the outcome is decided well before you ground pounders even fire a shot."

The General threw himself back into his chair laughing. "Well Captain, it's good to have you back at our table."

"My table General, my table. Since you were here first, you can pour your drivers a drink."

The General chuckled loudly and the three settled into supper.

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The evening drew on, and after a hearty meal and several bottles of the finest wine from the late Alderaan the three officers banter delved into more serious conversation.

"Well gentlemen I raise a toast to the finest friends a man can have." Nithans declared raising his glass. The other two men raised their own. After a moments silence the General spoke.

"Whatever comes of tomorrow my good Captain, you should know that you're an excellent officer, and an even better friend."

The Captain sighed. "Thank you General, you're an ok officer I guess. But as to what tomorrow brings, I really do not know. But whatever it is I fear this may be the last time we dine."

Wilfons smiled "It is possible that you are over reacting completely Captian, I mean there is a thousand reasons they need you back at Coruscant. A ship re-fit, training, assessment, just because you have been ordered to return, it does not necessarily mean it's anything serious."

"I had considered this, but I haven't been ordered to return to Coruscant for over 5 years. The last time was the shambles with the Pirates at Kothlis. Remember?"

"How could I forgot, but if you remember we were proved correct."

"Indeed we were." The Captain smiled and took another sip of his drink. Remembering how they destroyed a convey of refugee ships at Kothlis after being despatched hunt down a group of pirates which had been harassing local shipping. Nithan had decided to destroy them after they did not respond to hails. After sifting through the wreckage it became apparent that it was just a harmless refugee column. He had been summoned in a similar fashion as now, but after a lengthy investigation it was found that the pirates had hijacked the ships several days in an attempt to evade capture. He had narrowly avoided court martial, by luck rather than judgement. The brutal nature of his tactics had served him well early in his career, but with the rebellion at the gates things had changed.

"Perhaps your right, but this is different. Very different." said Nithan solemnly.

Wilfons choose this moment to speak his mind. "You know my feelings old friend, if there is a case to answer then all you can do is plead it, beside perhaps it may not be as bad we think."

"No, I think it will be. I don't believe there is a place in the fleet for somebody like me anymore. Politics cloud everything. With us having separated from the rest of the fleet for so long it's not like I have many friends left in Admiralty, or even on Coruscant. This time next week I could be a Lieutenant on a listening post in the outer rim." The Captains tone was serious and the concern and fear were noticeable in his voice.

"My father used to say that there is a positive in everything. It's hard to see, but think of the peace and quiet." Kiev spoke up, hoping to inject a little humor into what was now becoming a very serious meal.

"If you're made a Lieutenant, I'll become an engineer on that listening post with you for sure. It may not be so bad, I am fairly sure we can fit enough wine on a shuttle to last a few years."

"This is my burden, and only mine. Whatever happens tomorrow I promise you that I'll make them understand that my actions during this mission were mine alone. I promise you now this will not affect your career, either of you for that matter."

"In that case I'll resign my commission. I will not allow you to suffer alone."

"Wilfons, you will do no such thing. I'll keep you out this. If you want to help, I ask you to do one thing for me."

"Anything, say the word."

"Promise you will visit my wife on Coruscant and ensure she is well looked after."

Kiev and Wilfons glanced at each other in bemusement. It was very rare for the Captain to speak of his wife. They both known him many years and could count on one hand the occasions he had mentioned his wife.

"I promise you as a friend and your first officer that as long there is air in my lungs your wife will be cared for." Wilfons declared raising his glass with one hand and placing the other over his heart.

"Thank you Wilfons, and too the both of you. Now it's late and I should try to sleep before we arrive."

"Then I bid you good night Captain, we have drank as comrades and warriors tonight. Tomorrow we shall say our farewells."

The Captain took a small bow and made his way to the door. The remaining two officers offered him a toast as the door hissed shut behind him. After the Captain had left Kiev turned to Wilfons. "A man with the weight of galaxy on his shoulders."

"Indeed. What do you make of all this, should he be so worried?"

"Yes, he has been a brutal man over the years. Once upon a time he would have been a hero, but now, well… times have changed. That business on Rojan, he didn't need to lay waste to those colonys. My troops could have extinguished resistance in a few days, if not hours."

Wilfons sighed "You're right; there was no need for that. He's a good man, and a fine officer, but you can't arrive in orbit and glass a hemisphere and not expect people to take offence, even if they are only aliens."

"My thoughts exactly Commander, my thoughts exactly."