Hux frowned as he read the Starkiller progress reports. The physical plant of the base was on schedule. That was to be expected. The First Order had built bases on several occupied planets. Walls and basic infrastructure were easy. Superweapons, on the other hand, could not be ordered from the catalog. They required precision engineering that exceeded the techniques developed for the late, not completely lamented, Death Stars.

The Starkiller project could be the greatest engineering accomplishment in the history of the galaxy. The thought of being able to take out an entire stellar system at the push of a button was awe inspiring. Unfortunately, he was not convinced that the group of incompetents that comprised his development team were up to the task.

Hux sighed, leaned forward on his desk, and rubbed the fingers of his right hand across his forehead. This was supposed to be his legacy. His pride and joy. A weapon so fearsome that war would become obsolete.

He had researched the Expeditionary Battle Planetoid Development Initiative and the Tarkin Project (saddled with the ridiculous, though appropriate nickname 'Death Star') as part of his Academy graduation project. His work in finding and eliminating the obvious flaws in the construction of both earned him graduation with highest honors and an immediate billet on the Dreadnaught Ascension.

After graduation, he continued to work on the design and development of a new, better super weapon as a personal project in his spare time while he rose through the ranks of the First Order. His promotion to General was guaranteed by the interest shown by Supreme Leader Snoke in the potential of his weapon. And now infighting, graft, and mind boggling resistance from the Imperial retreads that populated the High Command was strangling his dream and turning it into a nightmare.

And that wasn't even factoring in Kylo Ren and his destructive tears through the Finalizer. He sighed again, sat back, and picked up his datapad to read yet another report on whatever was wrong now with Starkiller.

The door to his office hissed open and an ominous apparition in black robes darkened his desk. Hux huffed a little sigh and fought the impulse to roll his eyes. Think of a nightmare and up it pops, he mused.

"Go away, Ren. I'm busy," he sniffed, eyes never leaving the report he was reading. A leather covered finger crooked over the top of his datapad and pulled it down. Hux looked up into Ren's eye slits.

"Before you start your rant du jour I would appreciate you removing that ridiculous mask."

Kylo growled softly.

"I'm serious, Ren. I'm not going to talk to your bucket."

Kylo huffed as he loosened the seals and removed his helmet. He tossed it down on the corner of Hux's desk, where it landed with a thud.

"Happy?" he spat, glowering.

Hux glanced at the helmet. It had probably put a dent in the durasteel.

He looked up at Ren, his face neutral, not showing his annoyance. Ren, on the other hand, was in full glare mode.

"Oh, do sit down and compose yourself, Ren," suggested Hux.

Kylo reluctantly lowered himself into the guest chair on the other side of the desk. Hux leaned back and rested his arms on his chair.

"Now, what can I do for you today?" asked Hux.

"Skywalker."

Hux waited for Ren to enlighten him but the ninny just sat there staring.

"I don't have time for guessing games," Hux snapped. "What about Skywalker?"

"The Force has shown me where another part of the map is located."

"Really Ren? The Force showed you?" scoffed Hux. "Did you wave your hands around mystically and say 'bibbity bobbity boo?"

Kylo growled. Oh, Hux would pay for that remark. He reached out and slowly made a squeezing motion with his right hand.

Hux stared at him stoically as he felt the pressure slowly increase around his neck. "I know Supreme Leader expressly told you not to harm me. Should I consider this flirting with intent?"

Kylo pulled his hand back as if it had been burned, his face turning a bright ruby red.

Hux sat back with a feral smile on his face. "Now, some details if you don't mind."

"Fine," replied Kylo sullenly. "The map piece is supposed to be on Devaron. There are ruins of an old Jedi temple there."

"I never did understand this whole business of scattering map pieces around the galaxy like a trail of breadcrumbs through a forest," mused Hux. "Couldn't he have just set up an untraceable holomail account with instructions to contact him in case of the rise of another evil empire?"

"You're quite the cynic today Hux."

"Just being a pragmatist, Ren. Now, do you want the usual?"

"Yes. My Upsilon prepped and supplied for a month long trip, two squads of Stormtroopers, pilot/co-pilot team plus a relief team. Oh, and I want Phasma along this trip."

"You can't have Phasma. She's doing a security review on Starkiller."

"Maybe I'll tell Supreme Leader that I need her for this mission."

"Oh, by all means, be my guest, Ren. Just be advised that Supreme Leader Snoke personally approved her for the security review."

"Oh."

"Yes, indeed," Hux smiled at his clear win over the Force user. "When do you plan to leave?"

"Alpha shift. Will you have my ship ready by then?"

"Are you doubting my crew, Ren?"

"Just make sure they stock it with eatable ration bars this time."

"All First Order rations provide the nutrition required to sustain a standard trooper at maximum efficiency."

"One, it should be painfully obvious that I am not a "standard trooper." Standard ration bars are inadequate for me as a buff, high-level Force user. Two, the damn things taste like moldy cardboard."

Hux rolled his eyes. "The Stormtroopers have never complained about the ration bars."

"They grew up eating those wretched things," huffed Kylo. "I still have taste buds."

"Very well, Ren," conceded Hux. "I'll have the crew include a month's worth of rations bars normally allocated when members of the High Command are traveling on smaller crafts."

"Two months," counter Kylo. "I need more sustenance than those scrawny ex-Imperial emperor wannabes."

"I wouldn't call the High Command officers 'scrawny' Ren. Well padded, perhaps." replied Hux. "I can give you a month and a half worth."

"And you guarantee they won't taste like moldy cardboard?" asked Kylo.

"They won't taste like ambrosia, Ren, but the flavor will be acceptable," answered Hux. "I have tried them on occasion and they are quite tasty. I'll even ask the crew to stow some extra chocolate chip bars for you."

"Thanks, Hux. You're not that bad to talk to when you take that stick out of your arse and try to be a normal human."

"Get out of here Ren. And take your bucket with you,"

Author's Note: Summary: Starkiller still has issues. Kylo has a lead on another piece of the map to Skywalker.

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. It's been a busy summer and September is going to be interesting - and just as busy. This fic should be wrapping up in a couple more chapters.