[4 BBY]

[Gymnasium Alpha, Command Deck, Imperial Navy M-series Heavy Battlecruiser (formerly Mandator II-class Star Dreadnought Indominable) Lightbringer, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet (the Army of Light) in orbit Bakura, Bakura System, Bakura Sector, Wild Space, United Federal Empire]

"It's not the Stormcrow I know, but it's….state of the art and has all the necessary training facilities" I said, in part to myself, in part to the only other organic in the room with me as I surveyed the training facility deep within my flagship for the next few months. With my arms across my chest, fingers scatching my small, neatly trimmed, beard as I studied the various devices, all shiny and new and as-yet-unbroken "Design directions were followed at least"

"Did you believe they would not…um, ah, Master?" my teenage, and not overjoyed, apprentice queried, likely preferring we moved unto the ships library or other facilities for what many would consider recreation "You are, ah…"

"Many things Apprentice, currently an Admiral, but the M-series refits have taken forever it felt like. Was a Moff when this all started, then was made a Lord, and it still wasn't finished…and I wouldn't put it beyond them to have some last-minute changes to minor stuff like this" I admitted with an amused sigh "And no need to be so formal Tionne, not all the time, or nervous…"

I smiled at the effort not to pout perhaps, or hold back the mild annoyance "Or being grumpy you have to put up with this for a few months before being aboard the Stormcrow. It does help go towards the lesson of do your research"

Tionne of Rindao was a Rindaon, a near-human species, and was yellow-blonde haired, with faintly pinkish-white skin, and now my 'padawan' for the next year or two potentially. She made a face for a second, then gave a defeated sigh "Because it was available information you'd be doing fleet review…it just didn't specify"

"Security concerns as always, there are many across the galaxy who dislike me personally or the Empire as a whole…for various reasons, so there's that" I gave a nod, then motioned at the gym, or rather the vessel we were on "That and the fact the Lightbringer isn't supposed to be in active service for another year. It certainly wouldn't be out pirate-hunting of all things in Wildspace the Confederates or Republicans will think!"

'That and there's a mock up in a military depot system just begging for an attack if anyone is dumb enough to go for a ranged strike' I mused, though I found the possibility highly unlike despite the hopes of Emperor Tarkin and the Imperial Security Agency. Officially I was out here integrating and organising new vessels, which was technically true, and dealing with all the nasty folk beyond the Empire's borders. Unofficially it was ensuring the various Imperial projects, such as Bakura's industrial expansion, was ready to be officially revealed in the following year…and generally terrorise the pirates, smugglers, and 'barbarian' raiders just beyond the borders of the Empire. That and to work up a few strike squadrons for the Fleet as secretly as we could in preparation for them being deployed to the other fleets should matters require the reinforcement.

Tionne frowned, clearly thinking seriously about the matter "Will they?"

I shrugged, walking over and testing out a few of the weights without committing to actual exercise "That is hard to know apprentice. Perhaps? I suspect they'll know something, but efforts are always made to obfuscate by all sides. It's part of the dangerous game that all the successor states play, us included"

"It costs so much though"

"Yes, indeed, very wasteful, but…" I paused, shook my head sadly "Less costly than when the veil fails and lives are lost because of that. Now, ask your questions, you've been nothing but formal and officer like since you've arrived Tionne a few hours ago…"

I hopped up on one of the benches, sitting on it with a weary sigh, motioning at the person who'd requested my training, and, unlike others, I'd accepted after research and interviews "Relax! There'll be, hopefully, no more officer duty for a while. So, ask away. Time to get properly acquainted"

'Or rather calm your nerves, as I've a fair idea why I'm in for, and what your in for. But best to see how you'll answer those questions' was view on things and…

"Why Apprentice?" she asked seriously, or…grumpy, but serious, teenager mood serious "It is historically a Sith title, a Jedi learner is a Padawan"

"True" I agreed with a nod, and officially she was taken on as an apprentice learner, which was amusing how the Jedi referred to padawans on the fallen Republic's documents when I was young often off "Why do you think that is so?"

"Because…Padawan means Apprentice Jedi?" she asked curiously after a moment, then looked a bit embarrassed "Um, ah…some of the other students…um, said it might be pettiness?"

"Technically correct about the padawan notation. You have the exact same notation in the files as my former Jedi master's new padawan, but, strictly speaking, it's because I'm not a Jedi. I'm, technically, an Imperial Knight, and an Imperial Inquisitor in addition to many other titles. Jedi Lord isn't an official title despite certain complaints. Therefore, I feel, and have felt when I trained Cal and Merrin, that the term padawan doesn't apply. I called them apprentice, so the tradition continues" then gave a faint grin "Also, your sources are correct in that it is mildly petty behaviour on my part. Grandmaster Kota couldn't care less, but it does irritate some few amongst the Jedi Order, let alone friends beyond the Empire's borders. Just because I treat your role seriously doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with formalities. Formalities are a big part of the lives of officers and jedi and various others…sometimes you have to laugh at the absurdities and not get overfocused on titles at the expense of actions and beliefs"

"Why…" she seemed to be searching for questions many as she sat on the ground in a meditative lotus likely trained by Luminara or Stass judging from the way she sat "I…why none since….till now?"

"I have children, and many jobs to go with those fancy sounding titles" I stated simply in answer "Time was not something that could be invested in educating, beyond general classes and organising said teaching, till rather recently. Not that I don't miss the twins right, or the other flagship, but what you learn here, now, as my apprentice is work I'll be undertaking as I train you. I take my training seriously, and that means having time to invest in performing that duty"

"I was, um…." Tionne frowned, looking up at me "Surprised you…choose me, over others"

"Then why apply for the role, hmm?"

"Because…because…I want to learn, and, ah, get access to the House of Wisdom?" she answered awkwardly, rubbing her knees "I thought…"

"There should be a fairly extensive library aboard this vessel. That'll be enough to judge your level in coming months" I nodded "But you wanted aboard, yes, I rather figured. Hence why we're working on the parts of your training that you don't like first and foremost before going to things I know you won't require any input from me to do"

"Why…I didn't think…" she mumbled "I was happy, but others were…"

"Better fighters? More military minded? More aggressive and less unsure than you?" I asked honestly, earning a nervous nod, or perhaps embarrassed. Then gave a snort "Everyone assumes that's what I want. I'm the Emperor's Wrath. The Warlord on the Border, sent in to punish and break the enemies of the Empire while clad in armour and wielding blaster and lightsber"

I sighed at her wordless nod "That, my dear apprentice, is why I do, rather than what I want. It's a duty, one that allows all those things you want, that I created with the House of Wisdom. You want to be a historian and archologist, yes?"

Tionne nodded again, awkwardly "I enjoy history a great deal too, as should be indicated by my…ahh, dynamic archaeology as some have phrased it, over the years. I support your dreams, though sadly my musical skills shan't be a major help for you, though I can teach you a bit about droids…anyway, music you'll see lots of that on this voyage. Most of it terrible, some of it glorious…oh, where was I? Oh, yes, training. History can be very, very, dangerous in this galaxy, with the ruins being explored being as, or more, deadly than actual battles. And while your knowledge based skills are excellent…"

I praised her, as she looked nervous as she'd grasped the next parts were less complimentary about her various skills as a Jedi learner. It was a positive trait to have in this job, or in the job she wanted "The problem apprentice, and the reason you've been so confused I choose your application, is that your combat abilities are sub-par…at best. I'm much more than just a lightsaber person when it comes to combat unlike many in the Jedi Order. Most of the others were better than you at that, I know, but wasn't, entirely, the criteria I was judging such on. Not that you'll be jumping for joy at training an improvement…"

Then shrugged "Ehh, that's a bridge for later. Anyway, training through Graduate Officer training, let alone as my aide and apprentice, opens doors that would be very useful for a future dynamic historian, even if you leave immediately after training and head back and be a prim and proper Jedi. Many of the others in your age group just want… I won't say glory, but they are overfocused on martial aspects, or wanting to be Jedi Knights and me training them would only reinforce that bias. It's a means to an end for you, and I respect you for making the effort you did in your thesis and approach"

"I don't really want to be high ranking soldier" she answered with a shrug "I think?"

"Don't worry, you don't have decide right this moment" I chuckled, as that idiocy was one of my major issues especially with the Order before the Fall "All I ask is that you give me your best effort as student, and I'll give you my best effort as teacher. Also as Fleet Admiral my Aide de Camp. How to run a starship and meet annoying, yet important, people is very much part of the curriculum in the next few months. And, if you can stand it, then we'll get to showing you how to teach as well! But, first, I'm hungry, so let us see what quality the chefs are at while we see how the library is…"

--