Please feel free to review. If fact please do, if it's just to let me know you have read what I've done so far. And of course thanks again to Oldman543 for his input.

Chapter 4

The pin point lights of passing stars streaming across the view ports of the Dark Thunders bridge as Captain Nithan tried to decide if it was anxiety or the effects of last nights drinking he felt brewing in his stomach. He heard Wilfons approaching from behind as the first officer walked across the runway above the crew pits.

"Good morning Commander." Nithan said without turning around in a uncharacteristically sarcastic tone.

"Feeling fresh I see Captain."

"As fresh as could be expected."

The two officers were interrupted by Lieutenant Meers. "Sir, five minutes till we exit hyperspace."

"Very good Lieutenant."

The Lieutenant, the young Mr Meers was a relatively new officer aboard the Dark Thunder. Fresh faced and clean shaven he appeared a lot younger than he actually was. Meers had a wealthy upbringing, his family originated from Correila, his father was a high level state politician. A strong supporter of the Empire and the Emperor, he instilled these values in his son. Meers had originally trained as a fighter pilot, but lacked the skill and reactions to be an effective combat pilot. However, he did show an extraordinary knack with navigation and communications. He completed his training as a Ensign 1st class and was assigned to a Nebulon-B frigate protecting shipping lanes. Once he had enough experience, his father used his limited connections to help his son's career. He was re-assigned to the Dark Thunder. Although the Dark Thunder was not a particular prestigious vessel in comparison to the rest of the fleet, it was a huge step up from a frigate. It would also present the young Meers with plenty of opportunities to prove himself and perhaps gain a command of his own.

The pricks of light soon decelerated into stars as the Dark Thunders hyper drive cut out a few hundred thousand kilometres from Coruscant. The planet, a huge city world, was surrounding by an almost alive light that could be seen even that huge distance. Nithan and Wilfons could just about make out the outlines of the hundreds of Star Destroyers assigned to defend the Imperial Centre.

"Sir we are being hailed by the outer perimeter defence force." Meers called out.

"Well Lieutenant Meers, set engines to cruising speed. And transmit our clearance codes." Wilfons commanded this as if had done this a hundred times. Truth be told he had only came to Coruscant a handful times since being assigned to the Dark Thunder. Before walking onto the bridge he had looked up the correct protocol for making this approach. Being the most important planet in the Empire the defense forces enforced a strict set of guidelines even for obviously friendly military vessels such as an Imperial Star Destroyer.

"Yes sir." Meers called out while setting about his duties.

Wilfons turned to his Captain. "Well this is it then my friend."

"One way or another all will be revealed" The Captain replied. Wilfons had no words of encourage for the Captain, last night conversations had convinced Wilfons also of the worse.

"Sir, we are cleared to proceed to directly to grid 167.24 and hold position there."

"Understood, make it happen Lieutenant."

Holding grids were assigned to Imperial Navy vessels away from the vast civilian traffic. This served to purposes: Planet bound military traffic could be prioritized so they could make immediately make planet fall. Also by using holding grids, any military vessel with business on Coruscant could be added to the planets own defense forces strength. The grids meant the ships could be best placed to repel any attacker foolish enough to attempt a raid on Coruscant.

The two senior officers stood in a comfortable silence, marvelling at the vast array of vessels civilian and military alike as the ship pushed forward past the ever increasing security. As the Dark Thunder grew closer it had to manoeuvre past the huge queues of civilian traffic, it soon became apparent the grid they had been assigned too was already bristling with 7 ISD II's. The newer Star Destroyers were holding position in a jump formation, a formation used for making coordinated hyperspace jumps.

"What do you make of that then Commander?" Asked the Captain.

"I see as much as you do Captain. Wherever they are destined somebody is in a lot of trouble when they get there."

The pair were interrupted by Meers. "Captain, the office of Grand Admiral Takel requests your immediate presence at the Imperial Palace. They have provided a flight plan and clearance codes for the planetary shields Sir."

"Very good Lieutenant, have my shuttle ready and transmit the relevant data for the journey." The Captain ordered appearing calm as if this was completely standard. On the inside however, the suspected hangover and worry was clearly anxiety twisting his stomach into knots.

"Shall we proceed to the hanger then Captain?"

Nithan called into the right crew pit, his eyes locking onto the Commander Wright. Wright, a Commander 2nd class, was part of the third shift for ship while Nithan and Wilfons were off duty. Wright's regular duties would leave him in overall command of all the ships offensive systems. "Commander Wright, you have the bridge" Ordered the Captain. The two senior officers then made their way towards the turbo lift while Wright climbed the stairs out of the crew pit.

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It was a short 30 second ride in the turbo lift to the main hanger. When they arrived at the huge cavernous hanger, they were present with a Lamabda class shuttle resting on the deck. It wings folding up against the back drop of open space, kept at bay by the magnetic shield. There stood a lone figure at the ramp of the shuttle, General Kiev.

"Sorry Captain but I could leave without saying good bye." The General spoke loudly as the other two men still had a distance to walk.

"My thanks General, but it really isn't necessary."

"Well I feel it is."

The three men stood together at the end of the shuttle's ramp. Exchanging hand shakes as the shuttle ion engines could be heard humming in the background.

"So what do we know of Grand admiral Takel?" The Captain asked his two friends.

"A Grand Admiral" said Kiev as f it was a question, followed by a short whistle.

"Not a lot, I've not met any of 12 Grand Admirals. He is supposedly an excellent strategist, and one of the fairer of them from what I hear." Chipped in the Commander.

"I have heard something similar, perhaps things are looking up for me."

"I heard rumours. Rumours mind you, not saying this is true. He has a liking for the females, and not always human females at that." Said a grinning General.

"I have never put a lot of stock in rumours General. Well, my friends, farewell and good luck to you both." The Captain declared, making a formal salute. The other two men returned the salute in a similarly formal manner as the Captain pivoted on the spot and ascended the boarding ramp.

"Good luck Sir." Called Commander Wilfons with a note of compassion in his voice as the Captain disappeared into the shuttle. The pilot of the shuttle turned to see the Captain appear into the luxurious cabin behind him, saluting the best he could as he was already strapped firmly into his flight seat. The Captain returned the salute with a nod whilst taken his seat.

"Sir, permission to depart?" asked the Pilot.

"Pilot, permission granted."

With the Captain permission the pilot engaged the repulsor lifts and turned the shuttle smoothly and slowly as it lifted clear of the deck, and faced the vacuum of space. With a smooth depression of a lever the shuttle moved forward and out of the hanger its wing unfolding as it cleared the ship.

The Pilot expertly piloted the shuttle past the Golan Arms defence platforms and towards the planetary shield. As the shuttle grew closer the pilot transmitted the clearance code, with the military precession you would expect a small section of shield dropped allowing the shuttle through. Almost immediately the shield sealed itself once the shuttle was though. The shuttle descended into the lower atmosphere exposing the huge city below, approaching from behind two TIE Interceptors appeared forming up on each wing of the shuttle acting as an escort. The flight plan brought the shuttle to a landing pad on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace, the home of the Admiralty. The palace was a massive sprawling building, made of dozens of huge towers standing several kilometres high. Built over hundreds of years the palace had been expanded many times which showed in it's design. The pad was connected by a long ramp to the one the main towers, on the outer edge of the ramp to ominous turbo laser turrets tracked the shuttle as it slowed above the pad, descending slowly. The wings folded up and the shuttle smoothly touched down on the pad.

As it did so, a black uniformed officer marched across the ramp from the palace flanked by a pair of white suited stormtroopers. The shuttle boarding ramp lowered as Nithan hauled himself out of his seat, still memorised by the sheer scale of the palace. As he descended

the boarding ramp the black uniformed officers saluted, which Nithan stopped and returned.

"Captain Nithan. My name is Lieutenant Movak, I am attached to Grand Admiral Takel office. Welcome to Coruscant." The middle aged Lieutenant spoke with an Imperious tone, used to address superior officers almost as equals.

"Thank you Lieutenant." The Captain spoke, trying to sound as confident as possible.

"If you would like to follow me, Grand Admiral Takel has been awaiting your arrival."

Without another word Movak spun, with the stormtroopers stepping aside to allow the Captain to follow. The stormtroopers fell in behind as they crossed the ramp towards the great doors at the end.