Notes: You amazing readers are getting an early chapter, though I can't promise when the next one will appear.

Shannon sees a bunch of messages show up on her datapad. She opens one and it appears to be an image of a card written by a kid. She finds Admiral Tourville, who's trying to help teach Lieutenant Commander Eisenberg tactics with the Hyperspace game she'd installed on everyone's datapad.

"Hello there. Remember the program my cousin mentioned to me, encouraging kids to write to us? It looks like the first letters arrived. What do you want me to do about them, sir?"

Admiral Tourville says to his com officer, "I'll teach you more later." She nods.

"How many letters arrived on your datapad?" he asks. Shannon pulls out her datapad, and her blue eyes dart down to it, as she checks the number.

"Over 2000." Something on her datapad catches her eyes, and she taps her screen a few times, before continuing, "Oh, wait, it looks like our government sent an explanation note with these. Let's see." she says, before quickly summarizing, "They arranged to split the letters up among all the captured officers. We're expected to reply to at least some of them, but we don't have to do all of them right away. They'll be sending more every few weeks, and we will basically be pen pals with a smaller bunch of kids. My homeworld's government is sending a bunch extra to me, as well."

"Well, how about following the instructions they sent, Shannon." he replies. He pulls up the email app and sees he has roughly half as much as Shannon.

Shannon opens her first letter, which appears to have been written by a kid.

Dear Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Shannon Foraker of Elvana, Why is she using my formal titles, which I don't use off-world?

Your Grace, I'm Mara Jade, and I'm 11 years old. I live on your homeworld of Elvana. I have one sister, and live in the capital of Elvana. Oh, so this is one of the letters from the program set up by my homeworld's government. I guess it makes more sense that she's using my formal titles, but it does wreck my cover story (which I've used for my whole career, as it was never safe before the Republic to be my true self, and under the Republic, I was too busy) that I'm a Dolist from Elvana. I'm writing this letter to thank you for your sacirf sacrifice. You're not forgotten. Thank you, Mara. I hope I got the titles correct, so please don't bite me. I don't bite, unless you make much bigger mistakes (example: StateSec). Even though you don't seem to use your titles off-world, my teacher wants me to use them. I mean, as Grand Duchess of Elvana, I can override the teacher, but it's a bad example for formal interaction with the Queen in-person. My family and I went to the tech museum named after you last weekend! I presumed it was still under construction. It's so cool! Oh, good! All the computers and other tech stuff was awesome! I didn't know that there were still some pre-Diaspora computers around! They still exist, Mara. Your cousin, Duchess Orla, visited my school a few weeks ago, to celebrate Fleet Week. I can't believe I've been away so long that I've forgotten about Fleet Week being this time of year. Why did you decline having one of the new ships named after you? Oh, no. Some small issues, like the fact that I'm still alive. The tech museum was bad enough. Will you be my pen pal, Your Grace? I'll at least write a reply. After all, I at least officially, don't have anything better to do.

I remain Your Grace's most obedient servant, You could try "Yours faithfully" instead, kid.

Mara Jade

P.S. Here are some pictures to show you what the museum looks like, and a photo of Duchess Orla, as of Duchess Rublik of the Tirana System with my class.

Shannon scrolls through the photos. Looks like Cousin Orla is doing well, and she did a good job pairing that tiara with her SDF uniform, instead of the hat, when it's midsummer back home, she thinks.

Shannon starts drafting the reply to Mara Jade.

Dear Mara Jade,

Hello, Mara, I read your letter, and thought I should write a reply. I'll try to write more replies, but I don't know how much time I'll have on my hands, as I got over 1000 letters. Thank you for the letter, it was very nice. I will ask you to not use my noble title, because I'm sure the Manties read these, and my official cover story I use (this dates back to when it wasn't safe for me to use my title) is that I'm not a noble. Also, please don't be this formal with me in our letters. I know that you need to be formal when you meet nobles or royals you don't know well, until they say you don't need to be quite as formal, but I'm saying to tone down the hero-worship formality in our letters, as it hasn't ever ended well for me (I don't bite, unless you're like StateSec.). I had presumed the tech museum was still under construction. When did it open? I'm glad to see that Her Grace is doing well.

Don't worry, Mara, pre-Diaspora computers still exist. I didn't want a SDF ship named after me, because the tradition is that they're only named for dead people. I'm still alive, thank you very much. Also, if I did somehow get released, I don't want to have to deal with an eyesore like that. Thanks for not forgetting about us. Try your best in school!

With gratitude,

Vice Admiral Shannon Foraker

She rereads it, then sends it and starts on another one. This one appears to have been written by a little kid, with some help from an adult, and has a semi-scribbled crayon drawing on the front.

Dear Admiral Foraker,

I am Galen Nylund. I am 7 years old. I live on Solon, in the city. My class thinks of you as a hero. Stay strong against the Manties.

That was touching, Galen, Shannon thinks. She starts on a reply.

Dear Galen,

Thank you for writing. Me and the other officers that got captured really appreciate your letters. What do you like to do outside of school? What's your favorite color? What's it like on Solon? Do you have any pets? Your supportive messages and art is very nice. Be good for your family, and work hard in school.

With appreciation,

Vice Admiral Shannon Foraker

Author's Note: Did you get the Star Wars Legends name drop (as well as the The Force Unleashed one)? Is Galen's letter age-appropriate, with a generous amount of adult help?

Would you like more letters in the form of one-shots? If you do, or don't, please say something, as otherwise, I can't read your mind over what you want.