It was early when Marcus went down the stairs and entered the kitchen, founding Lena there in her nightgown, with frying pan in hand.
„Morning beautiful!" he greeted her, sharing a hug and a kiss with her. „Have been wondering why the other half of the bed was empty."
„Good morning mister." she replied. „I just thought that it's time for me t play master of the kitchen, after you made all that stuff until now. Plus, I like the early hours. Quite surprising that I'm not tired after last night." she said flirtingly, pulling her fingers along his jaw.
„Amen to that." chuckled Marcus. „I'd say it was... wild."
Ever sincs that almost fateful night, they spent their time happily together as a pair, sharing kisses, hugs, their bed, their bathtub... And during the whole time they were thinking if they had ever felt themselves so good in their life. And the answer was easy: no.
Everything however has an end. And slowly, but steadily their vacation came to it's own. The last night they were standing down on the beach, enjoying the unusually bright and pleasant night. There was almost not a single cloud, Raithal's moon and the stars were shining with all their strength. Far in the distance icebergs of various sizes were drifting in the ocean, reflecting the light. And there was quiet. Sublime and calming quiet which they will not be able to enjoy for a while again.
„And what now?" asked Lena, breaking the silence.
„I guess you refer to us." replied Marcus.
„Exactly."
„Do we want to give us up?"
„As for me, not by any means." stated Lena confidently, looking at him.
„Same here." added Marcus. „But promise each other that we do not bring what's between us into work. And never ever say a single word to anyone. Not even to those we trust."
„I'm not that foolish." said Lena. „I only hope that we do not get transferred too far away from each other."
Marcus gently smoothed her face, placing a soft kiss on her lips. „Wherever you are, I'll always find you." he assured her.
„Oh my, how romantic is someone." smiled Lena. „Let's finish this war as soon as possible so we can be together like this again."
„I'm all in." said Marcus as they kept hugging each other on the moonlit shore.
X
„Captain Marcus Rienar, reporting for duty." said Marcus to the officer on duty at the gate of the military base, handing him his identifier.
„Lieutenant-colonel Lena Barani." the young woman followed him.
„You shall go to your units right now, less than an hour ago the entire base was ordered to stand by and soon there will be a briefing." said the officer.
„What happened?" frowned Marcus. This was a sharp turn right after the free time.
„I don't know anything, it will turn out in the afternoon."
„I see..." Soon after this, Marcus and Lena were strolling through the wide square of the base. „As we agreed." he whispered to her looking forward.
„Not a single word." said Lena.
„Not a single word."
Then, after two whole months they parted ways and went to their respective units; Lena to her regiment and Marcus to his Star Destroyer, the Sovereign.
It didn't take long before all the senior officers were summoned to the main building's briefing room. The army and naval officers all stood in the spacious premises, encircling the large holo projector in the middle. And by that projector stood the base commander, the grey-haired Brigadier General Perlan, known for his sternness and ruthlessness in battle. He was already in the army before the Clone Wars, then he continued his career to serve the Imperial cause with all of his heart. Next to him was Admiral Querses, commander of the naval contingent on Raithal.
„All officers are here Sír." reported a sergeant with a salute.
„You must be wondering what is so important." started Perlan his speech. „As you probably know, a few months ago our forces found evidences that the Rebellion's base is located close to Elrood. Now the search payed off." he said and activated the projector. In the darkened room the officers saw the 3D image of a star system of six planets „The enemy is hiding on the ice world of Hoth in the Anoat Sector of the Outer Rim Territories. Lord Vader's Death Squadron is already on the way there, and we've been ordered to send reinforcement. The three following Star Destroyers join them: Conqueror, Saber, Sovereign. The loading of supplies in already under way and the appointed troops are going to be embarked soon as well. You shall rendezvous with the Death Squadron at Hoth, immediately after they arrived there. Good luck soldiers! Clear the Galaxy off the infection!"
Being part of the assault that probably ends the war and brings the final glory for the Empire? „This must be my birthday." thought Marcus with a satisfied mental grin. He looked around but couldn't find Lena in the dense crowd of fellow soldiers. What does she think? Is she proud? Worried? Or envious? Anyhow, knowing that they'll be separated smuggled bitterness into his heart despite of the joy.
„Dismissed!" ordered Perlan and the various officers went to do their duty. Marcus still couldn't see Lena as he was heading out of the briefing room. Do they really have to separate until who knows when without even saying goodbye?
Two hours later he boarded the Sovereign and took command of his ship.
„Captain on the bridge!" shouted Zack Mersalli, the Destroyer's first-officer and in civil one of Marcus' friends, making the compliment to stand into attention.
„At ease." said Marcus. „How are things going?"
„The ship is combat-ready Sir." reported Mersalli. „Fuel, provisions all loaded. All that is left is to get the ground forces on deck. They will arrive to the ship in thirty minutes "
„Alright, tank you first-officer." nodded Marcus. They might have been friends but during service things were different. „I'll be personally supervising the embarkment; take command of the bridge until then."
„Unserstood Sir."
Going through the long, seemingly endless corridors of the Destroyer's interior, stormtroopers, officers, technicians and other crewmembers stepped aside to make way for Marcus, saluting him. Returning the gesture he passed them wordlessly. He has never been too direct toward the personnel to keep prestige and authority but he was also just and fair, and this combination made him a great commander. No one told him this of course but everyone liked him on the Sovereign.
Down in the ship's belly, the boarding ramp was lowered, with land units already waiting at its end. „Is everything prepared?" asked Marcus the quartermaster.
„Yes Captain." reported the middle aged woman.
„Then don't make them wait in the cold any longer."
With one gesture of her hand, the N.C.O. gave permission to board the ship and the thousands of soldiers began to move in orderly, soldierlike ranks, their steps thundering loudly. The platoons of stormtroopers were coming after each other with various vehicles, tanks, transports between them.
Each unit was led by an officer marching before them. As Marcus was observing the coming soldiers, he suddenly noticed a very familiar - and beautiful – face. Leading one large group of soldiers was none other than Lena coming up the ramp. She saw him too, but kept her stoic mask and didn't reveal her thoughts with even a single gesture of her face. All she did was giving him a look with her narrow eyes.
Marcus, despite of his surprise, managed to express it with a single blink. So she'll join the operation too. What were the chances that she'll get commanded right to his ship? If this was a pure coincidence, then it was a huge one. On one hand he was unimaginably glad that she'll be close to him. On the other hand however it will be much harder to keep their relationship a secret, unless they can contain themselves. As for Marcus, he swore that he'll try his best but he also knew that it will not be easy at all.
After almost an hour, everyone and everything was embarked and the fleet of three Star Destroyers was ready to set off under the command of Vice-Admiral Gerion Meriaz, giving his orders from the Saber.
„All ships, check in." sounded Meriaz's voice from the radio.
„Conqueror ready."
„Sovereign ready." reported Marcus from the bridge.
„Permission granted to take off. Leave the atmosphere."
It was barely sensible as the Sovereign began its rise and slowly left the surface behind.
„Sublight engines ahead standard." commanded Marcus and the ship's bow began pointing toward the space as the Kuat engines roared up.
By now the smaller details of Raithal's surface faded away and it didn't take long before the three Destroyers exited frozen planet's atmosphere. This was one of the reasons why Marcus chose the Navy. The endless, silent vacuum of space has always been wonderful, calming and pleasing for him, even with the busy life on an Imperial Star Destroyer.
„Coordinates confirmed Captain." reported Mersalli. „Ready to set course for the Hoth System."
„Let's go then."
A few seconds later the shiny stars became shiny stripes and the fleet jumped into hyperspace.
„It takes only a few hours. A few more hours and the Rebellion is dead." thought Marcus satisfied as he couldn't wait. He was a bit disappointed to be honest that they will likely destroy them from a distance. Silently, he was hoping that at least some of that scum will escape the planet and he can finish them off in space. Well, it will soon turn out.
The journey was mostly eventless, except the general preparations as the Imperial ships speeded through hyperspace. It was shortly before arrival when alll major officers were summoned to the Sovereign's briefing room. In there Vice-Admiral Meriaz was already waiting for them in the form of a holo projection. Marcus and Lena stood at either sides of the room, but of course outside of sharing a look, they didn't interact in any ways.
„Attention everyone." began Meriaz. „We recieved intelligencie data from Admiral Piet. They just arrived to the target and we will be there soon as well."
Hearing this, Marcus frowned slightly. „Isn't Piet a captain?" he thought.
„Unfortunatelly the rebels detected them too early. The planet is protected by a shield, any attempt for an orbital bombardment is pointless. Our capital ships will keep Hoth under blockade while the land troops carry out a surface attack. Once the energy field is down, the ships can open fire. The main assault will be led by General Veers against the generators. The target of our forces are these trenches together with this landing field southeast from the base." pointed the fleet's commander at an area on the holomap. „Neutralizing them will make it easier for the troops to enter the base. Colonel Trex. The task is yours and your regiment's." turned Meriaz to Colonel Trex, Lena's immediate superior.
„Understood Sir. We'll Handler it." replied the middle aged man.
„Notify your troops and get ready within half an hour. Have a good hunt everyone! For the Empire!"
„For the Empire!" thundered the reply in union.
Unnoticed, Lena stayed behind as the other officers left the room, and a minute later the secret lovers were alone again.
„Someone's got lucky I see." grinned Marcus.
„Someone's envious perhaps?" raised Lena her eyebrows with a smile.
„Do not kill all of them down there okay? I want to be part of the fun too." joked the Captain.
„I'll see what I can do." shrugged Lena. „I'll try to hold myself back."
Marcus smiled again but then got serious. "On a more serious note: take care of yourself, okay? I'll be unimaginably angry if anything happens to you."
"Hey, don't worry Mister Protective. I can't be easily taken down." stepped to him Lena assuring. She looked around to see if they were really alone, then placed her palm on his face, giving him a deep kiss, which he returned. "The same goes for you of course."
"I'll handle it." said Marcus. "Now go. But come back."
"I'll be back before you drink a glass of that fancy Corelian wine." turned back Lena as she headed out the door, giving him a flirty wink.
And with that Marcus went to take command of the bridge.