Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars nor am I associated with those that do. This is a non-profit fan work written for the purpose of entertainment.
The Imperial: Arrowhead Command
Chapter 3 - Wrath
"The damage goes a lot further than the ion cannons and their capacitors. The Conqueror is a refit sector defense ship - she wasn't designed for the kind of fighting she's been in over the last few days. We ran more plasma through those guns than the last three months combined."
I tapped a finger on the conference table with my free hand, my other holding a datapad. Reports scrolled idly by, barely registering as I let the words of my chief engineer wash over me. The man spoke gruffly, his vaguely familiar accent pulling on some distant memory of Carida.
"This wasn't in any risk report I read," Screold spoke on my right, her sharp glare moving from her datapad to the engineer. I raised my gaze in time to see the engineer shrug hopelessly.
"The Conqueror was refitted at Rendili, guess they cut some corners."
"That was long before I was given command of this vessel; you've had nearly all that time to find and report these problems," I looked back at the datapad, my lips pressing into a thin line as I spoke. I couldn't afford another refit, which meant begging Command for more funding to get the Conqueror into a proper shipyard - maybe I could get one of those modern refits?
My communicator began to beep on my wrist. The dull flashing drew my attention down and away from the engineer.
"I want a full report on my datapad by the time we arrive in the Core on all potential risks that could crop up," I order as I rise, feeling moderately insulted as the engineer doesn't meet my gaze. Screold rose a heartbeat behind me, hastily stowing her datapad and following behind me as I left the conference room.
A pair of Navytroopers straightened as the doors opened. They were both part of a new shift, we had been meeting for that long apparently. I paid them no mind, my communicator signaling me off to another more important meeting.
Grand Admiral Teshik.
"Has the Eleemosynary been linked with our battlenet?" I ask Screold as we walk, the heavy thuds of our footfalls being the only sound in the barren hallway.
"Yes. The vessel has been designated as the flag and command vessel of the 2nd Flank Squadron, per your orders." Screold huffed from behind me, her annoyance with the fact evident in her tone. I did not blame her, even if I did not share her opinion on surrendering command of the section. Angering a Grand Admiral was a foolish prospect, doubly so when I was unsure who was in charge of the fleet or where they were now.
"Good. Return to your station, Lieutenant." I dismissed Screold if only to keep the glare I was sure was pressed to my back to turn elsewhere. The woman responded mechanically before we separated - her to the main bridge and me to another private conference room.
What few crewmembers I passed were noticeably less on edge than when we were engaged previously, though they were all quick to salute me as I passed. Disciplined to the last, I could at least rely on that to calm me in these trying times.
The conference room opened, and I stepped inside. My nerves rose, but I quashed them with all the fury I could muster before claiming a seat. Establishing a connection with the Eleemosynary took some time - their communications relay was damaged alongside half of everything else on the vessel - but soon enough a hologram flickered to life further up the table.
Teshik's gaze was straight forwards, toward the other head of the table. He blinked once, turning his gaze down to the middle - where I was seated with my hands crossed over the table. Teshik blinked again, almost appearing surprised to see me, though he was difficult to read. I quickly got to my feet, saluting the officer with a snap of my heels. Teshik waved me off.
"Sit opposite me, Tullius. I'm not turning to talk to you for this whole meeting." The man gruffly ordered, waving that same hand toward the other end of the conference room. I hesitated for all of a moment before quickly striding to the other end, and sitting again.
"The situation on my vessel has stabilized," Teshik announced without preamble, "Once we arrive in Vasha, this section will move to blockade the world as quickly as possible. I see you transferred command to my flagship."
It was a statement, not a question, yet Teshik sounded almost surprised by the fact. I didn't give it much thought, having hoped to get ahead of his order before he could make it. I did not want to appear as if I were withholding command from him, after all.
"Yes, sir," I responded simply, with Teshik nodding to himself.
"Good. Your initiative has been noted, Captain. Unfortunately, my flagship is unable to act as a command ship at this time. I will be transferring my flag to your ship, prepare for my arrival once we are in the system."
"Of course, sir."
"Now, there are certain expectations I will have of you during my command of your section…"
Ashsca Screold
I shifted slightly in place, fighting down the nerves that rose in my stomach as a shuttle drifted into the hangar bay. Lines of Navytroopers flanked a wide walkway between the shuttle's designated landing spot and the entrance to the hangar, where I stood. In front of me and the rest of Tullius's chosen staff was the man himself, still as a statue as he watched the shuttle land with calculating eyes.
It was at times like this that I was reminded there was more to Rivejer Tullius than met the eyes. For every instance of him seeming flighty or nervous, there was another when he was the opposite. The look of energetic, almost sadistic, glee in the heat of battle, or a stoic calmness when making ready to meet with the Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik.
I adjusted again, trying to emulate my Captain to what I hoped was an effective degree. The other officers around us were in various degrees of concern themselves, though some hid it better than others. Wyatdrew stood to my side, and seemed to be taking the arrival better than the rest. His face held the same passive expression that Captain Tullius did, but the hands folded behind his back twitched with nerves.
I was not given long to ponder, as the shuttle turned and landed to face back into into the void. A boarding ramp lowered, gas spewing out and settling around the landing gear. Heavy footfalls preceded the arrival of two soldiers. They were both tall, with deceptively gangly limbs and jet-black armor. Glowing green light emanated from their similarly colored helmets, casting them in an eerie light. Deathtroopers - I'd never seen one this close before. Both held blaster carbines close to their chest, their heads turning minutely to study the gathered force. When they reached the bottom of the ramp, both stepped to one side and turned inward - facing one another.
Similarly heavy steps followed them down, though its source was more than a head shorter. It was the whir of machines and a mechanical thunk that explained the deceptive weight. Osvald Teshik, more machine than man, moved with purposeful haste - sparing neither his guards nor the assorted naval security more than a moment's consideration.
Without prompting, Captain Tullius suddenly lurched forward - a heartbeat of hesitation passing through me before I followed. I was a quarter pace behind him and Matread as we approached the Grand Admiral, signified by our uncoordinated footfalls. I winced with every off-beat step, silently wishing that Captain Tullius would slow down his long strides and that the unerring stares around us would focus elsewhere.
Teshik met us halfway, two more guards following behind him. At five paces between us, Tullius came to a sudden stop - his heels snapping loudly alongside ours. This time, I matched his movements perfectly - raising a hand in salute to the Grand Admiral as one.
"You did not strike me as a man that stood on ceremony, Captain." Teshik's voice was stony and cool, every bit as intimidating as the legends said. His organic and synthetic eyes moved in concert, pointed directly into Captain Tullius's face. Inwardly I flinched, thankful that such a glare was not pointed at me. Tullius did not flinch nor look away, instead lowering his hand and moving it behind his back.
"My apologies, Admiral," Tullius responded diplomatically. Teshik's gaze finally moved from my Captain, moving first to Matread and then to me. He couldn't have been looking at me for more than a second, but in that moment I severely wished he would move on again. Let the Captain and Admiral have their staring match and leave the small folk to their own devices.
"Take me to the bridge, we have little time."
"Of course, sir."
And that was all there needed to be said on the matter. We fell in step with the Grand Admiral and his guard. Tullius and Teshik walked side by side, Matread and I behind them as we were flanked by the latter's guards. Orders given before Teshik's arrival kept the hallways clear of crewmembers, allowing us unharassed access to the turbo-lift and command bridge.
Where the rest of the ship had appeared empty, the bridge was a storm of activity. The crew did not need to appear busy - with our arrival in the Vasha System, the crew was preparing the ship for combat. That did not stop them from freezing when one of the Navytroopers stomped a foot and loudly announced: "Admiral on deck!"
The crew nearest to us dropped what they were doing to salute. They were dismissed just as quickly by Teshik, his passive gaze passing over the bridge at large.
While I idled at the entrance to the rear command section, Tullius had already walked over to the holo table at its center. With the swipe of the keyboard, the room was shut off from the rest of the bridge and dimmed as the holoprojector flickered to life. A model of the second world in the Vasha system appeared, the titularly named Vasha. It was a sun-scorched desert world, and the only majorly populated one in the system. It would not have been worth mentioning or noticing were it not for the small trade center and fuel station in its orbit. For the native Vashan, the appearance of three Star Destroyers must have been something out of a nightmare.
"I've taken the liberty to scan the local system, Admiral," Tullius began as Teshik joined him at the holotable, his guards fanning out across the bridge. I swallowed nervously before walking over, carefully placing Tullius between myself and Teshik. Matread went the same direction, placing himself on my other side - again, as far from Teshik as was polite to get. Teshik gave no sign he noticed, his eyes on the hologram as Tullius spoke.
"As our records indicate, the only noteworthy stations are these three over Vasha-II. This trade station and the two refueling stations tethered to it. Defenses appear nonexistent, but I have probe droids ready to launch on your order."
Teshik grunted but said nothing else, reaching one hand up to run along his remaining facial hair.
"... There isn't time. Has the local government attempted to open contact?"
"No. Based on their estimated technological level, it's unlikely they will notice we're in the system for another hour at least."
Of course, an out-of-the-way world like this wouldn't have top-notch scanners like the Conqueror. They probably didn't even have a Cronau detector anywhere in the system.
"Then let's not give them any warning. Captain, have a course laid out for a micro-jump, I want us on top of them before they have a chance to react."
"Sir." With that, Tullius left the command room - the lights gradually brightening again. The chaos of the bridge was stoked again as Captain Tullius began barking out his orders. Before I had a moment to think, Teshik's piercing gaze was on me.
"Lieutenant, patch me through over the fleet communications."
"Yes, sir!" I said, perhaps a bit too loudly, before quickly manipulating the console Tullius had been using. After a few moments, all ships in the section were linked back to the section channel - awaiting their orders. At my nod, Teshik leaned over the holotable himself.
"All section elements, this is Admiral Teshik. Relaying formation orders now. Stand by for microjump coordinates."
Intimidated though I was by the Grand Admiral, I still watched him order the fleet with an eager eye. If for no other reason than to compare him to Captain Tullius. For all of his mild mannerisms, he was a brute in his tactics. A student of Arrowhead Command to the core, his answer to any problem was attack, attack, attack. Keep pressure on the enemy, run his ship ragged, and pummel them so that they could never react. While it was rare for the section to receive real combat experience, I'd seen it repeated time and again in simulators. His saving grace was an inherent understanding of his ship's capabilities and an observational mind, not letting his emotions get the better of him even as blood lust seemed to jump to the forefront of his mind.
Teshik was Tullius's opposite in many ways. Where Tullius kept the ships tightly packed - centered around a Star Destroyer which was the backbone of any formations - Teshik stretched them into smaller dedicated wolfpacks. The Strike and Victory cruisers broke off on their own, over the Eleemosynary's starboard side. The Carracks separated into their small pack, keeping beneath the keel of the Conqueror. The Intimidation sat on the Conqueror's port side, at a greater distance than the Grand Admiral's ship and with only a pair of slow-moving Lancers as its escorts. Each ship served a purpose in Teshik's formation, and likely more than I could appreciate.
Each ship moved to its designated position without complaint. I might have said they were on their best behavior under Teshik, but I knew better. There was no room for insubordination - active or passive - in Arrowhead Command, and Tullius may well have been the word of Harrsk himself. No one made it this far in Arrowhead without knowing how to keep their mouths shut and follow orders.
All ships reported green - finding their positions and awaiting further orders.
"Navigation," Teshik said simply, not looking away from the feed. The one-word order was relayed to the navigation officer on the main bridge, who responded by feeding the jump coordinates back to the communications officer.
"Received, Conqueror. We wait for your mark." Intimidation reported Milgern. The only reaction from Teshik was the barest quivering of his eyebrow. Inwardly, I wondered what that meant - were we too slow? Faster than expected?
"Captain, take us in," Teshik ordered, the slightly modulated voice of Tullius responding in affirmation. The subtle hum of the hyperdrive spooling up came from deep within the Conqueror before the squadrons' holograms vanished. A split second later, they reappeared - a stone's throw away from Vasha's meager station.
Only one ship deviated from its path - the Eleemosynary, as could be expected. It was careened into the middle of the Intrepid's formation, the Victory frigate forced to maneuver before it scraped over the larger ship's hull. Their navigation was more damaged than we had feared.
"Eleemosynary, check your position. You are out of formation." I leaned forward and pressed a button on the holotable, opening a channel with the damaged Star Destroyer and one of the Strike cruisers - the Contester, "Contester, pitch forward by 45 degrees and give the Eleemosynary room. Sending the flight path now."
I quickly transmitted the order to the other Star Destroyer, watching as the more nimble cruiser dipped down from hugging the Eleemosynary's port side. Teshik's flagship turned hard, racing to retake its position on the Conqueror's starboard side. Seeing them move, I took a step back - chancing a glance at Teshik as I suddenly worried if I'd overstepped. I need not bother, Teshik was already speaking with a communications officer.
"We maintained our element of surprise, Admiral," The officer was saying, "They are attempting to hail us now."
"Patch it through to the holotable, I will expedite this," Teshik ordered gruffly, turning back to face the holotable. I stood back, giving him room as the hologram flickered. The display map vanished, only for the Imperial rondel to appear - evidently, the Vashan did not have very advanced communication systems.
"Vasha Station, this is Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik of the Galactic Empire. Your fuel reserves are being appropriated, failure to comply shall be treated as an act of rebellion against the Empire. Confirm your understanding."
I noticed that Teshik didn't even bother pulling out one of his code cylinders to send confirmation of his identity, whether the Vashan people believed him or not the squadron spoke far louder.
There was a long moment of drawn-out silence, and for a moment I wondered if the Vasha were foolhardy enough to refuse three Star Destroyers. Eventually, a chittering voice came through - toneless and inhuman.
"... We understand, Imperial. We will… comply." Despite the emotionless tone, it still felt as if there was some semblance of hopelessness in the alien's voice. Teshik closed the communication with a stern nod, his part over as Tullius took over organizing the refueling efforts. I almost stepped forward to the holotable to assist - Tullius couldn't see the squadron from the forward bridge - but was stopped. My attention was drawn to Teshik's face, or what little of his organic half that remained. His expression was troubled, far from the stony exterior he presented moments before. One hand had risen to his breast pockets, fiddling with a code cylinder for a long moment. Finally, he turned to face me fully, seemingly to have reached some conclusion.
"Lieutenant, all ships are to report the full amount of fuel they take from this station. Inform the Vashan that they will be compensated according to the local going rate of hyperfuel in this sector."
I blanched at the Grand Admiral's words, mild panic setting into my mind. As a command ship, the Conqueror carried some liquid currency - Imperial credits though Tullius had always kept some Hutt peggats close at hand - but it was never expected for us to be far from the fleet. Whatever the price of hyperfuel was in the Moddell Sector, it was substantially more than we could afford. I swallowed nervously, wondering how I would explain this to Teshik - and then inevitably to Tullius.
"Directly from the… Conqueror's stores, sir?"
"From mine. Forward the total to the Eleemosynary."
With that, he returned to the holo display, watching the fleet with another unreadable expression.
I hesitated for a moment, more than a little surprised at the Grand Admiral's words now that the fear had passed. Grand Admiral was not known for his compassion - to those within the military or those outside of it. While it was expected that refueling depots would be compensated within the Core or along well-traveled hyperspace lanes, it was far less common out here in the middle of nowhere. Who would the local government complain to? Some sector busybody who was just as eager to tell a squadron of ships "no" as the local government was? Even the 2nd Flank Squadron was guilty of this - occasionally being sent off to scout a nearby world before quickly regrouping with the main force. Sometimes, we might raid a local depot to top off our hyperfuel reserves before leaving.
Shock faded to shame, if someone as calculating and stoic as Teshik would stop to repay a no-name world - from his credit stash no less - then who were we to not do the same? Tullius might, he had a canny practicality and a mind for politics that was necessary among command staff, but only if he had something to gain. I had never seen Tullius do anything out of the goodness of his own heart, even if there did not appear to be an immediate benefit to his actions. Meanwhile, I was honest enough with myself to know I would never act as Teshik did - my collar warmed at the thought. I glanced at Matread from the corner of my eye, his lack of a reaction to Teshik's orders making me squirm more. Had the flight officer also been expecting us to repay the small world? Would I have thought the same as him, were I not the second-in-command of the Conqueror? Had the power gone to my head so quickly, to view the common folk of the galaxy as plebeians that should feel honored that we graced them with our presence?
I straightened at that thought, shame giving way now to a resolute confidence.
No. I thought as I saluted Teshik, No. I am Ashsca Screold! I will not shame myself nor my commander by taking from loyal Imperials without a thought! I will prove that I am not some common thug in a uniform!
"Of course, sir." I responded with an even tone, "But I must insist, at least allow us to shoulder some of the costs. After all, it is our vessels that will be taking on the most fuel."
Teshik gave no visible reaction - another sign that this was expected from him - beyond waving a hand.
"If your Captain insists, Lieutenant."
With a determined nod, I turned from the Grand Admiral and marched toward one of the command room's staff, but not before pausing as a realization hit me.
I'd just promised Admiral Teshik funds from the Conqueror's reserves - reserves that belonged to Captain Tullius.
Sithspit. I thought.
Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik
The forward bridge was a sea of movement, officers running this way and that as they prepared the Conqueror for her next voyage. Officers watched their subordinates with keen eyes, never too far in the event of an unforeseen situation. Less like hovering disciplinarians, but more like a calming lighthouse in a sea of madness. Discounting Lieutenant Screold, all of the bridge officers were older men and women - veterans of conflict as far back as the Stark-Hyperspace War. They operated like a well-oiled machine, the level of discipline I would have expected aboard my ship, but not that of a Captain of Tullius's age. He ran a tight ship, telling him as much as we left Vasha. Tullius did not preen under the compliment, merely nodding as if to say "Of course" or "Nothing less would be expected". Even if I didn't know who he operated under, I would not be surprised to learn it was Blitzer Harrsk.
Though I'd never served alongside the Admiral, his reputation preceded him. Blitzer was aggression made manifest - his tactics, his treatises, and his lobbying always favored attacking. Never stop attacking, never give the enemy a moment to breathe, and always run the enemy down even if it means breaking formation. I did not agree with his methods, though his results spoke for himself. A shadow of that doctrine was clear in how Tullius managed himself - first in the engagement he faced before my rescue, and again when he raced to my assistance. His vessels raced ahead, eagerly falling upon ill-prepared rebel cruisers, turning orderly formations into a disorderly brawl where his superior firepower would be at its most effective. He was crude, and entirely lacking in elegance, but no one could deny that he was successful. His first two proper engagements and he escaped two with scant few losses. Ordinarily, it might have ended there - Tullius was a young, but effective officer and a product of Blitzer Harrsk's training. However, the last couple of days I'd spent aboard his flag made me wonder just where Blitzer had found this young man.
Upon meeting Tullius, I'd found him to be an unassuming, almost deferential, officer. That did not lend itself to his aggressive and suicidal tactics. A part of me feared I'd been saved by some political boot-lick rather than a competent officer, but that changed as I saw how he commanded his bridge. I had expected Tullius to be mostly bluster based on my arrival, with threats and naval commissars keeping a fearful crew in line. The truth and reality of Tullius's flag could not be more different.
I came to realize that the meek, mild-mannered persona was merely a front, for someone so weak-willed could never command the respect of his crew. Tullius was a canny and practical man, but also one who could wear the velvet glove and approach a situation with tact. When Teshik moved his flag to the Conqueror and all but demanded command of the squadron, Tullius had acquiesced without hesitation. When the Captian's Lieutenant approached him about matching my payout to the Vashan fuel depot, he accepted the request with a nod as if he'd already been planning it. When a ship fell out of formation - my ship - his staff did not hesitate to step in and usher the vessel back into formation. Tullius trusted his staff and his staff trusted him.
It was this relationship between officer and crew that pulled on a distant part of my mind, memories forgotten in the disdainful politics of the Imperial Navy. I, for all of my power and influence, had lost the one thing I had protected more feverishly than all else: my humanity. When had I become more machine than man? Had my compassion and empathy died in the Hapan cluster? In the years after, as I was scorned and feared by peers and subordinates alike? It wasn't something I had not appreciated until I was trapped and dying on the Second Death Star. I never learned the name of the young officer who saved me, nor did I see what happened to him. His face was burned into my mind, however. Someone who had, without prompting or thought of reward, saved my life before vanishing into the collapsing station.
When I had deliberated and agonized over doing what was right, even so small as compensating an alien fueling team, Tullius had done so without blinking. How could I, as Grand Admiral, struggle to do what a Captain could without debate? The answer was clear to me, as I overlooked the forward bridge and the boundless energy of Captain Rivejer Tullius, that I had become everything I once scorned. Cruel, disregarding those who followed me, viewing everything as an expendable resource in my path or campaigns.
Tullius dabbled in the calculus of war, using his ships as battering rams, but he also did what was right even when he did not need to. More than something minor, he had thrown his life and those of his crew on the line to save me and mine. When I'd allowed my ego to overtake my reason, I had consigned my men to death.
I blinked and looked away, keeping the mess of emotions from rising to my face. My mind moved now, from Tullius to the situation I found myself in now. I had no plan beyond Endor, and now I was skirting the edges of the Moddell Sector in another fleet's ship, desperately seeking asylum before trying to escape to friendly space.
The visions of the future that had plagued me for the years since my defeat in the Hapan cluster now became all the more concerning. I'd seen wars past, between the Tionese and Hutts or the Rebels and the Imperials, but my mind was taunted by visions far more sinister. Worlds rent apart in a war larger than a dozen Clone Wars - brother turning on brother as Star Destroyers wrenched each other apart. Great living fleets descended upon the galaxy, slaughtering all that stood in its way and enslaving the rest. Nightmares, dreams, visions; I wondered if I had gone mad.
If there were an ounce of truth to all I had seen - and I feared with each day there was - then the Empire needed to be ready. Before it could tear itself apart, before the perfidious Rebels could begin picking at its corpse, I needed to try and save the Empire.
"Wrath Station is requesting identification, Admiral," Tullius brought me from my stupor, standing next to the communication station. The question of whose authority he should use - his or mine - went unasked. I reached into my breast pocket and pulled out a code cylinder, approaching the other man. Wordlessly, I inserted the cylinder into the communications officer's console, pressing my thumb to the top and activating the biometric scanner.
"Patch me through."
"Sir."
There was a few moments of silence before a voice came from the console.
"Identification received. Please maintain your current distance from Wrath Station and board through hangar bay Aurek-5."
"That will not be necessary," I replied, "This squadron requires immediate refueling and emergency repairs."
"... Be that as it may, Admiral, Grand Moff Randd insists you come aboard and meet with him."
I blinked, more bemused at this not-so-subtle refusal from the communications officer. I could push the matter, my authority as a Grand Admiral supersedes this "Randd". However, forcing compliance could cause new problems. Even against an administrative station like Wrath, the Eleemosynary was too heavily damaged. The Conqueror had fried its ion cannons, so only the Intimidation was operating near one hundred percent combat readiness.
"Two Star Destroyers are holding at the egress point into the Spar Trade Route; the Inflictor and Destroyer," Tullius announced, seeming to read my mind. I grit my teeth for a moment, running mental simulations of how a potential battle or retreat could go. We had numbers, but two Star Destroyers would cause too much damage to make an operation worthwhile.
"Death Squadron?" I asked, wondering as to where these ships came from - two Star Destroyers didn't just come from nowhere. Tullius pondered that for a moment before turning back to the officer who had reported their presence. The technician merely shook his head.
"Unidentified, beyond their IFF codes." Tullius summarized.
I'd suffer the Grand Moff's demands for now.
"Very well. Prepare for my arrival."
As the communication channel closed, I turned to Tullius.
"Have my shuttle prepared, you will join me at the station."
"Sir." Tullius agreed, unflappable as could be expected.
Rivejer Tullius
Wrath station was a sight I had not expected to see. It was a typical Imperial prefabricated station, so its appearance was not all that surprising but rather a station of its class being here of all places. Unlike the majority of Gollan Arms' military stations, Wrath was far taller than it was wide. A round wheel-like structure dominated the "top" when an elongated spine jutted "down" to the desert world. It was a military-civil hybrid station more common in the midrim, and expensive to maintain without a local support base.
Why it was here was anyone's guess, but my relief came because a station of its size always had hyperfuel and supplies in spades. More than enough to get us on our way, in any case. Grand Admiral Teshik's authority should expedite the process - in theory. Already, I could feel a migraine taking hold in my head - the amount of credits I had just thrown away at Vasha was absurd. I have no idea what possessed Screold to offer our stores to Teshik, but it was only years of Imperial discipline that kept me from throttling her. Still, I could take solace in the fact that Teshik would be less inclined to pay a military station for supplies as he would a civilian world - though the idea of paying did not match my understanding of who Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik was.
Unfortunately, Teshik's authority was in theory only. The station was under the command of a Grand Moff, one Randd, who was not so eager to let us go. His two Star Destroyers holding at the egress point into civilized space forced us to play nice. Randd wanted to meet: Teshik, as the ranking officer, needed to go and I, as the commander of the largest force in the system, needed to join him. The rivalry between the Grand Admirals and Grand Moffs was legendary, and the last place I wanted to be was between them. Unfortunately, refusal was not possible.
Not one to make a wasted trip, I packed my logistics staff into Teshik's shuttle with us - hoping to get my resupply and this meeting done in one fell swoop. Teshik did not refuse their presence, which I took as a good sign as we left the Conqueror's hangar.
My mild embarrassment at the reception I gave the Grand Admiral upon his arrival was mitigated somewhat by the sheer distaste he showcased aboard Wrath. An army of Stormtrooper awaited us, arrayed in perfect formation like cadets on their graduation day. I had an excuse, I had never welcomed a superior officer aboard my vessel who expected or appreciated the ceremony. Not Captain Thoath and certainly not Harrsk, though I doubt he had been aboard the Conqueror even before I took command of it. In hindsight, I should have expected that Teshik of all people would not care for the ceremony. Still, while I had not known better, this Grand Moff Randd definitely should have.
"Captain," Teshik spoke as I stared at the viewscreen.
"Sir?"
"I will be leaving as soon as I humor this Grand Moff. Once I am refueled, you are to make haste as well. I don't know what Randd wants, but I don't intend for us to be entrapped here. As soon as your ships are ready, leave - am I understood?"
I blinked owlishly at the Grand Admiral, who had turned to face me while he spoke. Somehow, his expression was even more deadly serious than before. I dared not question him, and nodded my affirmation.
"Of course, sir."
"Once your ships are prepared, make way to the Core. It is unlikely the fleet is still at Annaj or Yag'Dhul." Again, I confirmed my understanding, and the conversation was over. The implication did not leave as quickly. If the Grand Moff tried to seize my ships or bar me from leaving, I was expected to fight my way out and if necessary, deny my squadron to him.
The shuttle touched down, and soon we were all discounted and walking between the lines of gleaming Stormtroopers. Grand Moff Randd awaited us, with a motley assortment of officers - many of whom were injured - arrayed behind him. He was not an especially tall man, bald with a full black beard. His uniform was a faded green, hardly the extravagant outfit I would expect from a Grand Moff.
"Admiral Teshik, welcome aboard Wrath Station," Randd greeted with a booming voice, jovial as if he hadn't arrested our movements for a simple meeting. I fought to keep my distaste from my face, but Teshik had no such reservations.
"You asked to meet, Moff, and I am here. Let's make this quick." I'd never heard the word "Moff" spoken with such contempt, and I briefly wondered about the foolhardiness of it. If Randd was affected, he did not show it. He merely nodded before turning his hard gaze to me.
"And Captain Rivejer Tullius of Arrowhead, I presume? At least, as far as the Conqueror's registry claims." I nodded sharply at the man's words but did not respond verbally. I fully intended to leave this situation in Teshik's hands - let them find me stand-off-ish, so long as they didn't steal my ships. Randd spared my lacking response no more focus, turning back again to Teshik.
"This way, we've received only sparse reports of what happened at Endor, I wager you would have a better time painting the picture, Admiral," Teshik grunted his response but signaled for the rest of us to follow all the same. I walked at a half pace back to his right, the rest of my staff fanning out in no particular order behind me. Teshik's Deathtroopers, unspeaking obelisks of black armor, kept a loose perimeter around our number.
The collection moved with a deafening silence - neither Randd nor Teshik trying to strike up a conversation. Their groups followed suit, though a part of me wondered as to where most of these Imperials came from. I briefly met the eyes of a darker-skinned woman to my right, curiosity naked on her face before she quickly looked forward again. A ginger bearded man was attempting to get the attention of my logistics chief, to little success. They were all as interested in getting information about Endor and Death Squadron. A part of me wondered if they too came from Endor.
Slowly, we bled their number - many of the assorted officers were injured while others left without apparent reason. When we reached a conference room, only Randd and his guards remained - pure white Stormtroopers to match the jet black of Teshik's Deathtroopers.
Randd sat at one end of the table while Teshik took the opposite. With nonverbal gestures, I signaled for my staff to line up behind Teshik - alongside his guards - before I stood behind him at his shoulder. The room appeared a little lopsided, but that didn't stop the political juggernauts from beginning their little discussion.
"We have received piecemeal news from passing ships, but no information is ever the same. Is it true, then? The Emperor is dead? The Death Star is gone?" I still felt a shiver of disbelief run up my spine at those words - it felt like a sick joke, to claim that the Emperor was dead.
"It is. The station was destroyed by the Rebels, I had been aboard shortly before its destruction. We were forced to retreat in the disarray." Even Randd seemed momentarily shocked by the revelation, his genial front broken by the truth's confirmation. He brought a gloved hand up to scratch at his beard, his expression distant.
"We'd heard tales from passing sections," Randd repeated, more to himself now, "But for it to be true… And the Rebels?"
"Suffered as much as the fleet did, but they are still present in the sector," Teshik said. Randd's expression broke, his lips set into a thin line as his eyes squinted in some internal calculus. His piercing gaze moved from some far-off corner of the room to Teshik, across my gathered staff, before finally landing on me. There was something in his expression, a twitch I could not read but I felt bode poorly for me.
"And what of Arrowhead, Captain? I've not had a report of them passing by." I opened my mouth to respond, only to be cut across by Teshik.
"Our reports indicated that Admiral Harrsk and Arrowhead fled the moment the Death Star was destroyed, the cowards that they were. The Whirlwind appeared to be operable." My teeth snapped shut with a clack, briefly overtaken by a moment of anger: one for the dismissive fashion in which Teshik cut me off, and two for insinuating that the men and women of Arrowhead Command were cowards - little more than the Admiral himself! Blitzer Harrsk may be a hardass and glory-hound, but he was the best of the best! It was an honor to serve under him! However, smartly, I kept my mouth shut - this was a game of politics, and I would keep my peace.
Randd gave no visible reaction, though his gaze remained unerringly on me. He had to be gauging my reaction, attempting to see how Teshik's words affected me. Whatever he saw seemed to satisfy him, as his eyes left me soon after.
"I suppose we cannot always expect our peers to be as courageous in the face of death, Grand Admiral. However, the presence of these rebels is concerning. The local fleets will need to be rallied, am I to assume that you will remain in the sector to do so?"
"No," The Admiral refused with a shake of his head, "I must return to the Core as quickly as possible. As soon as my flag is refueled, I will be leaving."
"And Captain Tullius?"
"The same," Teshik grunted, not sparing me a glance, "But only after the whole section is ready. I expect those ships to be ready as quickly as possible."
"Naturally, Admiral." Randd agreed with a bow of his head, "Your flagship should be ready within four hours. Shall I have rooms set aside for you in the meantime?"
"That won't be necessary," Teshik refused again, but I spoke quickly after him.
"Yes, Governor. For my men as well."
Teshik did not react to my words, though Randd did nod to me - the almost genial expression returning in full force.
"It would be our honor, Captain Tullius. I will have my staff show you there. Admiral Teshik, if I could have a bit more of your time…"
Despite my misgivings of Randd, I could at least appreciate him sucking up to me. The room I was given was utilitarian, but its adjoining office was nicer than any I had within Arrowhead Command or outside it. Tasteful paintings, potted plants, a comfortable chair, and a wide desk - I wondered briefly who this office was meant for and what Randd must have for himself.
"I want this to be as quick as possible," I said to my gathered staff, standing behind the desk as I addressed them, "You should all have a direct line with the section, so have all the supplies prepared where you can. Report back to me if there are any problems. I will be in communication with the Conqueror to organize the order for refueling and resupply; the list will be forwarded to you then. Any questions?"
There were none, and so they were all dismissed. Soon, I was left in the quiet loneliness of my temporary office. For the first time in the last few days, I had a chance to unwind. It had been stressful situation after stressful situation, and with Teshik on my ship, I hadn't had a moment to breathe. With careful slowness, I pulled my service cap from my head and set it gently on the desk.
Then, I cupped my face. My eyes were closed, a and distant thumping at the back of my head briefly calmed as I massaged my eyelids. My hands slipped up, their cool leather leaving my face and combing through the mess that my hair had become. I hadn't had the chance to shower in days, I could only imagine the mess I appeared in. A long, drawn-out, weary sigh left my lips in an unbroken chain - feeling all at once the weight leave my shoulders as I enjoyed the moment of peace. I slunk down further, pressing my cheek to the chilly durasteel as my arms lay flat around my head. I was far from the picture-perfect Imperial officer now, but with no witnesses, I found I did not care. This comfort was short-lived, however. A chime - unexpectedly pleasant - rang from the door to my office - warning me of a visitor. Seeing as my staff had communicators and had only just left, it meant that I had unexpected conservation coming my way. The idea of ignoring it was shunted aside just as quickly, so I sat back up. After straightening my uniform, trying to fix my greasy hair, and fixing my service cap, I pressed a button on the desk.
"Enter," I ordered authoritatively. The door opened and I was on my feet in a flash, the familiar form of Grand Admiral Teshik stepping through the threshold. My hand snapped up into a salute as Teshik approached, an appraising eye passing my temporary office before landing back on me.
"At ease, Captain. Time is short, and I have no more patience for the politics of leadership today. Wipe that scowl from your face and sit. We will speak, officer to officer, on what happens next."
I was caught flat-footed for a moment, wondering if my annoyance at him from before was so obvious, before snapping my heels together and retaking my seat. Teshik did the same, in one of the visitor chairs across from me.
"I will be leaving in three hours. I will head first to Annaj, then to Yag'Dhul. If I fail to find the fleet there, I will head to the Core. Once your ships are ready to leave, you will head straight to the Core - I suspect any remnants of the fleet will have scattered by then. In four days, your ships will be resupplied and refueled to leave."
"Sir," I said slowly, annoyance forgotten for confusion, "Would it not be better just to refuel and leave immediately? I can rearm once I regroup with Arrowhead Command-"
"No," Teshik refused out of hand, "The more time you spend here, the less likely Randd is to attempt something foolish. So long as he is comfortable, the risk to you and your men is reduced."
A brief tingle leaped up my spine at his words, the earlier peacefulness replaced by a twinge of fear. What the Grand Admiral was saying almost sounded as if Randd would have me killed, but to what end? Seemingly taking my silence as meaning anything other than abject confusion, Teshik continued.
"If the Grand Moff believes for a moment you have friends in higher places, or trust in powers beyond him, he will not hesitate to replace you with his loyalists. I suspect I do not need to explain to you what this means, and what you must do."
No! No, I don't bloody well understand! I screamed within my mind, What in the bleeding stars did you drag me into?!
But I did not say that, I didn't say anything. I was confused, scared, and now very far out of my depths. Why was Teshik telling me this? Why would Randd want me killed? Why didn't I just leave Teshik to die?!
I merely nodded, hoping my solemn expression was enough to convince him that I understood any of what he was talking about and thus make him leave. Thankfully, Teshik did just that - with a final nod to me.
"Then I will see you in the Core, Captain."
And he was gone just as quickly as he arrived, and I was left far more confused. Whatever was happening between the Grand Admiral and Grand Moff, I wanted no part of.
Teshik was not the last strange visitor I received. A couple of hours later, while I was meeting with one of my staff, a knock came at my door. Dismissing the man, as I didn't want to offend my hosts, I allowed the woman in the doorway entrance to my office.
She was young, relatively speaking. Younger than me by a couple of years at most, but she carried herself with a galaxy-weary confidence I could only emulate. She was of medium height, with dark skin and long curly hair tied into a non-regulation braid that went down to the middle of her back. Were I a stickler for regulations and on my ship, I might have written a citation for that. However, I was not on my ship, and the intensity of her gaze gave me pause.
"Captain," The woman said, snapping a crisp salute, "Commander Ciena Ree; 3rd Interceptors, ISD Ravager."
I blinked, pausing for just a moment as I processed her words. The Ravager was at Endor last I recalled, but its fate wasn't something I had been keeping track of. Commander Ree was a survivor of the battle same as me, though that raised the question of how she came to be here.
"At ease, Commander." I kept my voice level, allowing Ree to relax before indicating to the chairs across from my desk, "Please, take a seat. What is it I can help you with?"
With almost robotic movements, Ree claimed one of the seats and sat with rigid posture - looking every bit the model Imperial officer. I consciously sat up, suddenly conscious that I was slouching in my chair.
"Thank you for seeing me, Captain Tullius. I would like to request an immediate transfer to your fleet. If you have access to the Wrath's databases, you will find that I am more than suited in most any role aboard a naval vessel."
She was blunt, and to the point, and for the second time I found myself frozen with indecision. Quite honestly, I had no idea how to respond. I'd never been asked upfront by another officer to join my squadron, nor at all for that matter. Once the moment of shock passed, a more logical train of thought passed through my mind.
Commander Ree wanted off of Wrath Station but did not want to take more official channels. To accomplish this, she approached me directly. Why? I cast my mind to when Teshik and I arrived, had I seen Ree standing among the parade of officers? Were they all survivors of Endor, abandoned on Wrath for one reason or another? Randd had seemed very interested in keeping Teshik at this station, it was likely he had used the same tactic on Ree and her compatriots with greater success. She did not approach Teshik, who out-ranked her by a significant margin, and would realize that accepting her would go against Randd's wishes. Given that Teshik wanted to leave fast, he would not antagonize the Grand Moff. I, on the other hand, would likely not be so canny. I have a squadron and am a young Captain, I would care little for the wants of some Moff in the middle of nowhere. Indeed, that may well have been the case had Teshik not been in my office hours earlier warning me of that very possibility: angering Randd, that is.
Some part of my thought process must have shown on my face, for Ree backpedaled not a moment later.
"I was left here for medical concerns, Captain. With no outbound ships, I have no way to return to the fleet. I can assure you that my status will not affect my ability to work. No free rides in the navy, I know, and my injury was minor, so…" Commander Ree backpedaled so badly that she began rambling, which was a relief - I was worried I would be the first to start babbling. Using the break in tension brought on by my thoughts, I eyed my datapad and wondered how I could subtly pull it closer. I was, of course, going to refuse Ree - however competent she might be, I was not going to make an enemy of Randd. Remembering that this was my office and I could do whatever I damn well pleased, I grabbed the pad and made a show of activating it. Ree's rambling petered out to an uncomfortable silence as I quickly checked the status of Teshik's refueling.
Nearly done, and it would take some time for mine to be completed. I needed a way to get Ree to leave me alone… After a moment's consideration, I pulled her medical records up - Ah!
"These records seem to indicate otherwise, Commander," I said with the coldest voice I could manage, my mind grasping for memories of how Captain Thoath would show his displeasure toward subordinates, "A regrown liver, several feet of intestines lost, it's a miracle your spine wasn't snapped - which part of this is 'minor', Commander?"
Internally, I winced - at my tone and at the list of injuries that I didn't mention. The horrid scar the Commander had was a reminder enough for her, but I had no interest in bandying words. Ree paled for a second, her hand reflexively twitching in an aborted attempt to touch her abdomen, but she rebounded admirably enough.
"Captain Tullius, I-"
"Furthermore, there are policies and regulations for a reason. If you wish for a transfer, you will obtain a medical pass and an official notice of transfer - only then would I consider your request. Let me say, you have thus far done a poor job of convincing me, Commander."
Ree looked as if she'd been struck.
"That will be all, Commander."
As the Commander beat a heated retreat, I leaned back in my seat. Yes, I handled that quite well.
The Eleemosynary left on schedule, with the Lancer frigates having their turn to refuel and resupply. It was fast going, but then again they were the lightest of my ships. I had hoped that Teshik's warnings would not come to pass and that Randd would just ignore me. Yet, it was my hope that would not come to pass. Two days after Teshik had left and was likely halfway across the Rim, Randd "requested" that I meet him in his office. Two burly Stormtroopers marched me up to the pinnacle of the station, through a security ward where I was disarmed. Randd's security was far more stringent with the flight of Teshik. A foreboding shudder raced up my spine, but I kept my posture straight and my face neutral.
Contrary to what I expected, Randd's office was a spartan affair - though far larger than the one I was loaned. A large window stood behind him, though after a moment of investigation, I realized it was a screen rather than a transparisteel window - an added layer of security. Randd's guards were no Deathtroopers, but their height and girth cut an intimidating figure all the same.
Despite the disappearance of Teshik, Randd appeared as genial and friendly as he had upon our arrival - which itself put me on edge.
"Captain Tullius, thank you for meeting with me." Randd greeted me once I had reached his desk, "Please, take a seat."
I did as ordered, for there was no mistaking that this was not a request, and fell into a plush chair. There was a moment of silence as the Stormtroopers moved to take their places at Randd's side, a short dance that nearly stretched into awkwardness. Perhaps I had overestimated Randd's guards.
Finally, Randd spoke.
"The resupply of your squadron is underway," Randd said, "We are on schedule for you to leave in four days."
"Your station's efficiency is commendable," I said diplomatically as if the slow one-ship-at-a-time process were not agonizing for someone who had operated in the Core for most of his career.
"Thank you," Randd said, attempting to sound humble, "The organization and discipline of your men must be admired as well. Truly, a product of Blitzer Harrsk."
"Coward that he is?" I asked, still bitter over Teshik's words hours before.
"Let us not pretend that Teshik's words were anything except the product of bitter rivalry and jealousy, Captain. Admiral Harrsk has more than earned his accolades over the years, shared among his crew. The retreat from Endor was universal among the fleet, something Teshik seems to have forgotten."
I decided not to mention that Teshik had fully intended to make his final stand in the system. I also ignored the Grand Moff attempting to disarm me - my suspicions aroused fully now. I might not be a politically inclined officer, but I knew how to recognize bootlicking behavior - Randd wanted something from me.
"We live to serve the Empire," Was all I offered, waiting for Randd to get to the point. My non-answer did not fluster him in the slightest, as the Grand Moff plowed on as if I hadn't spoken.
"Teshik, like so many others, fails to see their subordinates as anything more than resources to be expended. Tools to be used and discarded at their leisure. Others disagree with that assessment, all officers and service members of the Empire have their place in the New Order."
"Others like you?" I asked slowly, to which Randd's genial smile grew. Set into a stony face like his, it was unnatural.
"Like me, or Blitzer Harrsk." Randd agreed, and I only just stopped myself from snorting. Admiral Harrsk? I had plenty of respect for the man as an officer, not so much as a person. His infamous ego was well known in the fleet, and while Harrsk was not known to happily sacrifice ships he was not unwilling to do so.
"We all have our part to play," I said, though I nodded slowly in an attempt to seem like I was agreeing. I must have succeeded, as Randd continued unabated.
"Some greater than others. What those like Teshik or the Ruling Council fail to understand is that their positions are held up by millions of faceless officers - the real might of the Empire. While Palpatine pandered to their wants and whims, the true power of the Empire churned beneath them. They had little place in Palpatine's Order, and less in the coming New Order."
Oh. I realized with morbid fascination, Oh, this isn't petty politics at all.
My shock must not have shown on my face, as Randd plowed ever onwards.
"Officers like ourselves have been left to the whims of bureaucrats for too long, and it cost us the Emperor. Myself and many other officers believe the time has come to correct this power arrangement."
I was split on how I should react. On one hand, I wanted to laugh directly in Randd's face at the foolish notion that he and whatever cabal of outerrim play-pretend Warlords he had gathered stood a chance against the Empire. On the other, I wanted to get up, leave the station, and run as far and fast as I could. I settled for agreeable nodding, mindful of the blaster-armed Stormtroopers nearby. When I spoke, I opted for the softer approach.
"I am under orders to report to the Core as soon as possible, Governor," I said slowly, hands gripping the armrests of the chair. I fought back a nervous sweat as Randd seemed to ponder my words.
"There is no greater honor than refusing the orders of the incompetent or the disloyal, Captain," Randd said softly, a kindness in his eyes.
I opened my mouth to respond, to tell him off or to refuse - to call him a madman doomed to a firing squad on this forgotten station. That the Imperial Fleet would flatten his confederates and leave them forgotten to the annuls of history. I wanted nothing more than to call Randd for what he was: a tyrant desperate for whatever vestiges of power he could get his hands on. I didn't. My mind was cast back a few short hours ago.
If the Grand Moff believes for a moment you have friends in higher places, or trust in powers beyond him, he will not hesitate to replace you with his loyalists.
My hands tightened into fists on the armrests as the words died in my throat. I was suddenly very aware of the Stormtrooper around me, my holdout blaster held a few rooms over. Teshik's words made sense, his actions shown in a new light - and the danger I was in made all the more evident. If Randd believed I had loyalty to Teshik or Harrsk beyond duty, I would not leave this office alive. Before Screold had any clue as to what was happening, she would be replaced and my squadron would fall under Randd's control. There was nothing I could do, no last-minute revelations as to how I could survive. Like a rodent in a scuttled cruiser, I had no control over this situation. I could only play along and hope I would survive to see tomorrow.
I swallowed thickly, my throat desperately dry as I considered my next words.
"We… Have a duty to the citizenry of the Empire," I said carefully, "No matter who tries to stop us."
"Osvald Teshik is too blind to see this, but it is relieving to hear those words, Captain," Randd said, his implacable smile unmoved as he stared across at me. His eyes, however, were hard as flint, "I knew I had a good feeling about you, Rivejer. Once your ships are refueled, I will have new orders for you. Fear not, I will not take your ships or your command - it would be a disservice to a man of your rank."
I did not say anything, I did not think anything lest it show on my face. My expression remained stony and unchanging as I nodded slowly in response. Randd dismissed me soon after, and I gave him the sharpest salute I could manage before I marched from his office - every part the disciplined and honorable officer. I held this front as I reclaimed my blaster, through the station, and back to my loaned - now possibly permanent - office. I made it to the desk before my legs gave out under me, and I collapsed into one of the guest chairs.
My heart was racing and a ringing filled my ears as the weight of this situation fell on my shoulders. I was as good as dead, a traitor siding with a disparate warlord and his allies. If Randd didn't kill me, then the loyalist government certainly would. Marked as a traitor or forgotten as another lost loyalist, woe is me.
How dare he? A niggling part of my mind, that one not crushed by the weight of certain death or indecision, hissed out into the mire. I was not an emotional man, quick to defeatism and maybe a little overzealous in the heat of battle, but I liked to think I kept it all under control. Yet, after my forlorn thoughts began to fade, righteous anger rose to the forefront.
Damn Randd for dragging me into his little rebellion, damn Teshik for dragging me into his politics, damn the rebels for causing this mess in the first place! I was a Captain of the Imperial Navy, a ranking officer of Arrowhead Command! Commander of the 2nd Flank Squadron! I did not answer to Teshik or Randd, I answered to one man: Admiral Blitzer Harrsk. Admiral Harrsk had a way of handling uncooperative planetary governments, with the turbolaser. Randd would learn the lesson so many rebellious worlds did: that politics mattered little under the focused firepower of a Star Destroyer!
In my stupor, my mind envisioned the scene of the Conqueror and Intimidation rendering Wrath Station to scrap, burning away Randd's warlordism at the root. All his officers as well, anyone who had even considered rebellion against the central authority for good measure. Such was my fury at that moment that I hadn't even considered that I was still onboard that very station, only that Randd needed to be taught a very important lesson.
Eventually, logic and self-preservation reasserted themselves - I was quite embarrassed for a moment at my fuming and muttering. Randd would not get what he wanted, that much was certain. I would deny him Arrowhead Command's assets even… Yes, even at the cost of my own life. It was as Randd said, there was honor in refusing the orders of disloyal. But how?
The Conqueror was still damaged from Endor, and even with two fully functional Star Destroyers, fighting Wrath Station and her two guards was a tall order. Escaping the system was the best option, but I was likely under close scrutiny - Randd could not be foolish enough to not be watching me closely. I needed to get a message out to Screold, a distraction of some kind so I could get off of the station. Failing that, for her to take the fleet as far as she could get it. This relied on her personal loyalty to me being greater than her self-preservation and ambition. I had promoted her for competence when she was perhaps too young for such a position, so I could only hope that engendered enough loyalty to save her Captain.
Owing a subordinate a favor as big as that left a poor taste in my mouth, but it needed to be done.
With the plan forming in my head, I contacted all of my staff at the station and ordered them to send their reports to me. Compiling everything together, I chose a section at random - the starfighter resupply manifest. It was hardly Imperial Intelligence-worthy espionage as I slipped a message into the lines and lines of reports, but I hoped that Screold would see it. Worse came to worse, I could always activate the panic alarm built into my Captain's code cylinder. Screold would hopefully flee the moment she realized I was compromised and bring the hammer of the Imperial Navy down on Randd's head. Death disagreed with me, but the noble death of a loyalist disagreed slightly less.
The days stretched by. Screold and I spoke on occasion, but she did not indicate that she had received my message nor did I about sending one. Resupply was an organized affair, though I notably refused any new crew or pilots from Wrath Station's complement. I cited the need to vet them, playing up the persona of a stuffy and critical officer, before allowing anyone aboard my ships. Randd had said my ships were my own, and while I did not trust him in the slightest I could at least pretend that I did.
There were no problems, though. No more secret meetings or discussions with Grand Moffs - just overseeing the resupply of my ships. The Conqueror was going last - intentionally on my part. The rest of the section would be free to flee or fight as the need arose. The hours ticked by with nothing happening, the Conqueror was refueled - repairs would need a dedicated dockyard, so I was still without ion cannons on my flagship - nor was I arrested and executed by station security. Screold either hadn't seen the message, was planning something, or was hedging her bets on what to do. With the rest of my staff working down at the docking bay, I was left only to twiddle my thumbs and count the minutes before the Conqueror was ready to leave - and my window to escape closed.
An hour away, and I fiddled with my communicator - ready to order Screold to pull the section out of the system and sprint as fast as I could for the docking bay.
Then, there was a knock at my door - it opened before I could speak and a pair of Randd's burly Stormtroopers stepped in.
"Grand Moff Randd wishes to speak," One grunted. Neither had their blasters drawn, but their hands hovered close enough that I had to swallow my nervousness. I fought down my panic, had I been found out? Had Randd always intended to execute me and just said what he had to keep me calm?
"Then we should not keep him waiting," I said instead, rising to follow the pair. We did not go to Randd's office, which heightened my fear. Instead, they took me to a conference room in the depths of the station, where I was again disarmed and all but thrown into the room.
Randd awaited me, with two more of his guards at his back. Gone were the genial expressions and good-natured smiles, Governor Randd was deathly serious now. I was guided to the chair in front of him before my two guides left the room, leaving four of us behind. I kept my posture straight and my face neutral, as if I did not suspect what was going to happen here.
"Reports indicate that your section is almost ready to move out," Randd said without preamble.
"Yes, sir. Barring damages, we are ready to move at your order."
At that, Randd rose from the seat and began to pace the length of his side of the table.
"Good, good… We have wasted enough time here. My confederates have already begun gathering the forces - I refuse to be the last one there! The moment your ships are ready, we will set out - this station has served its purposes."
"Where will we be gathering?" I asked, part of me hoping to bring that piece of intel back to the Core and wherever Teshik or Harrsk ended up. Randd made a face, pausing for a second, before shaking his head and continuing his pacing.
"Unimportant, that information is on a need-to-know basis. Already, there are too many ears on this station that report to other powers - spies and traitors and rebels."
It seemed that in these last few days, Randd had battling with his paranoia about the future. A deserved fear, he would learn the depth of his folly for turning against the centralized authority of the Empire - and for threatening me albeit indirectly. Still, I kept my expression devoid of the dark smugness I felt.
Randd froze and turned to face me, now staring through me as he spoke.
"Before we can set off, we need to confirm the loyalty of forces." His tone burned away my internal amusement and replaced it with a growing sense of foreboding. The way he was staring at me… No, this was too well-timed. The Conqueror was almost refueled, and suddenly he called me into a meeting at the last minute. My mind went to the blaster I did not have on my hip, and then to the code cylinder in my breast pocket. I nearly panicked there, stopping the twitch of my hand reaching for the cylinder and warning Screold. My hesitation, I feared, may doom us.
"Too many officers here have loyalties outside the station. I intend to hunt them down before I can set out," Randd's hand reached up to his belt, near to his holster. I was suddenly very aware that both of the Stormtroopers already had their carbines out, holding them at rest. My heart began to race, pounding filled my ears, and my hand was ready to jump for my cylinder - to give Screold just enough time to escape.
"You, Captain Tullius, are-" Randd started to say, but my ears heard the opening of the blast door behind me. Without a moment's thought, I threw myself to the right. I toppled my chair and slid a little ways across the floor, my hand grabbing my code cylinder while my right hand patted at the empty holster on my hip. I'd rolled to my back, expecting the bark of blasters and a yelled condemnation from Randd.
"- to return to your ship immediately and- What are you doing?!" Instead, Randd, turned to stare at me, bewildered. His two guards twitched at my sudden move, but also just turned to face my now prone form. The chair rattled where it lay, near to the front door where a third clearly bemused Stormtrooper stood.
"I…" I swallowed, adrenaline still pumping through my veins as I tried and failed to form a coherent thought. What happened? Why wasn't I dead?
Randd's eyes narrowed, seeming to notice what I was about to do.
"Clearly, we need to work on trust both ways, Captain. I'm not going to kill you, get off the floor. And you, what is it, trooper?"
I slowly got back to my feet, face red with mortification and embarrassment from making a fool of myself. It was in those few seconds that I missed the next exchange - but I did notice that three Stormtroopers entered the room, all with blasters drawn. As one, they raised their weapons and - with a flash of blue - stunned Randd and his guards before they could get a word out.
I froze, mid-crouch, as the trio crumpled on the spot. My gaze flashed over to the Stormtroopers, not certain what had just happened or what it meant for me. It was at least a good sign that the trio lowered their blasters when they faced me.
"Captain Tullius," The unforgettable voice of a Clone said from behind that faceless helmet, "It's time to leave."
I blinked, my mind having a moment of total blankness as I struggled to understand what the man had just said. Time to leave? What? I didn't have any Clones on the Conqueror or any of my ships for that matter. Seeing my confusion, or perhaps just becoming impatient, the Clone offered me my service pistol.
"We don't have time to wait, sir."
"Quite… Quite right, trooper. We were cutting it close," I said, pretending I had any clue what was happening seeming to work so far. I holstered my pistol, "Lead the way, I want to be long gone before they realize what's happening."
"We need to rendezvous with Commander Ree and the rest of the conspirators, sir."
Ree? The Commander I had chewed out and kicked from my temporary office? For a moment, I wondered if I had left one potential execution and wandered into another, but… No, I would give her the benefit of the doubt, she had no more reason to be loyal to Randd than I did.
"Lead the way."
We left the conference room, the other duo of guards lying unconscious outside. I was surprised they hadn't had time to even open their communications channels before they fell, giving some warning to the station of the betrayal. Still, I wouldn't take a gift like that for granted.
The Stormtroopers led the way through the station with ease, having likely been here for some time, but soon enough we ended at a mess hall.
The crowd I met was a motley assortment of officers, crew members, Stormtroopers, and other assorted personnel, all idly waiting in the hall. My arrival seemed to send a thrill of excitement through the group, as they began muttering and shuffling about like schoolchildren. Command Ree stood at the center of it all, her irritated expression lighting up as I stepped through the door. Within a few paces, she was in front of me, snapping a crisp salute.
"Captain Tullius, sir. I got your message, we're ready to move out." I blinked, staring at her silently long enough that uncertainty clouded her face.
"The one you sent to your flagship? In the TIE reinforcement report?"
Ah, that. I had sent that, not that she or anyone but Screold was supposed to read it… On that note, if Ree had seen it, then was Randd preparing to execute me in that conference room? That revelation made me much more thankful for the Commander's quick actions, even if I was not forced to pretend it had all been part of my plan.
"It seems my faith in you was well-placed, Commander. I apologize for my earlier words, best to make Randd think I was completely isolated." I said, offering my hand to the woman. Ree almost sagged in relief, accepting my handshake with a firm one of her own.
"Your message didn't lay out a plan, we were expecting a signal from the Conqueror. But, when Randd ordered his thugs to take you away, we assumed the worst."
"Then it seems I owe you my life as well as my freedom," I said, this time much more willing to offer that favor. I released her and took stock of the gathered officers.
"These are all of your confederates, I take it? Have you been in contact with my ship?"
"Yes, sir. Most of those here are from Death Squadron, some are officers against Randd. We put up a jamming signal the moment we began moving, so we haven't had a chance to contact the Conqueror."
"Then there isn't any time to waste," I announced, drawing my service pistol for emphasis. The crowd was electrified, their own weapons coming out, "We need to get to the main docking bay before Randd's staff raise the alarm. Shoot to stun - many of those here are loyal Imperials."
I did not mention that, if we started killing, Randd could just say that I was the one trying to betray the Empire, and he couldn't stop me from escaping.
Despite the size of the group, myself and the Stormtroopers kept the group organized. Many were non-combat personnel or ship officers, not trained for direct blaster combat. Keeping them from running around like untrained conscripts was a challenge, but barked orders kept them in line. It was like herding recruits, but the Stormtroopers maintained their discipline and order.
Curiously, we did not run into any security staff. What crew members we found were stunned, but the Stormtroopers and Navytroopers were absent. The first sign of trouble came when the station suddenly violently shook. The lights flickered for a moment before returning in force - the reason why quickly made apparent as an alarm klaxon began blaring through the ship. A voice, panicked, filled the halls.
"All hands, man your battle stations! We are under attack! All non-essential staff, report to evacuation stations immediately!"
I turned to look at Ree, but she just shook her head - this wasn't them. Our answer came when we passed some transparisteel windows to find the Intimidation drifting by, blasting Wrath Station with its turbolasers and ion cannons indiscriminately. Clearly, its initial attacks had struck the station before its shields were up, as the shaking was minimalized. Still, the Star Destroyer was lashing out violently.
It was then that I realized a slight oversight in requesting help from Screold. While I was touched by her loyalty, I had failed to account for the fact that she was an officer aboard a Star Destroyer, under me, and in Arrowhead Command. None of those engendered subtlety, which coalesced into a full broadside from a Star Destroyer. A competent officer, but Screold had the tact of a power hammer.
The questioning and alarmed looks I received from the conspirators forced me to scramble and pretend everything was going according to some grand design. Why yes, it was part of my plan to attack the station I was aboard - I have complete faith in my troops to not vaporize me. No, I was not screaming on the inside each time the station rocked.
The next stage to Screold's, and now my, plan promoted her subtlety to that of a detonation pack, as we found the bodies of dead Navytroopers. This, I could not defend.
"The loyalty of my crew is touching, if not a little overwhelming," I said as if I were not as surprised as the conspirators were at seeing the clear battle damage. Poorly armed Navytroopers had likely been forced to contend with the Conqueror's compliment of Stormtroopers. It was a small mercy that the non-combatants had been sent to panic rooms aboard the station, or else this slaughter would have been even more one-sided.
My Stormtroopers were found at the docking bay, seemingly busy converting the room and surrounding hallways into a bunker. EWEBs, shield generators, checkpoints - I found Screold at the center of it all, where else would she be? Safe aboard the bridge? She wore armor and an Armytrooper officer helmet, a mismatched collection of grey and green. Still, despite everything I had seen up to this point, I was deeply relieved at her presence.
"Captain Tullius, we got your message." Screold announced, though she seemed immediately suspicious of my motley collection of followers, "We were worried we would need to fight our way through the station.
"Yes, you and everyone else, for that matter. Still, you're here now," I said, still walking toward the docking umbilical, "Lieutenant, this is Commander Ree and her confederates. She picked up my message. Commander Ree, Lieutenant Screold - my second. Status report?"
Introductions out of the way, I needed to find out the depth of whatever Screold had done. A favor to both officers, neither blinked at the speed at which I jumped to the next topic.
"The rest of the 2nd is holding outside the range of the station's weapon platforms. The Intimidation is providing a distraction - they're still tapped into our communications channel, so they believe Milgern had gone rogue." That wasn't likely, and not just because the station's communications had been sabotaged
"They won't for long. What about the Star Destroyers at the edge of the system?" I asked, shivering slightly at the processed air blowing in the boarding umbilical. I was always nervous crossing these, even if it was protected by the overlapping shields and armor of the station and ship. My disorganized crowd moved along behind, led by the conspirator Stormtroopers and watched hawkishly by mine.
"They haven't moved, likely not realizing what's happened," Screold announced as we entered the hangar of the Conqueror, its grey interior giving me some relief. Supplies had been shunted to the sides to make room for more ground hardware to be brought forward - I wondered if Screold had been planning a full assault on the station.
"We need to get to the bridge immediately."
"I have a tram waiting for you, sir."
I nod, making my way out of the hangar before remembering the crowd of assorted Imperials. I turned to face the group, briefly wondering what to do with them, before pointing at one of my Stormtroopers. After a moment of consideration, I pointed at Ree next.
"You two, find out who among this group is originally Wrath Station crew or staff and arrest them - they will be held in the detention bay until I decide what to do with them."
I would not have a bunch of potential Randd loyalists wandering my ship. If Ree was concerned with betraying her confederates, she did not show it, but I wanted to stop any dissent early.
"Once they are deemed loyal, they'll be added to the crew. But only then."
Pleased with my decision, I turned and left with Screold - the bridge awaited.
"Captain on deck!"
I stepped onto the forward bridge, arms at my back as I looked over my bridge crew. Familiar faces, it was the primary rotation for combat action - the most trusted and competent of my bridge crews. I put on a stern face, though I was proud that my crew had opted to go with Screold's mad plan to save me - a part of me wondered how many did that by choice.
"At ease. Report."
"We are picking up cronau radiation from the edge of the system. Scanners indicate that the Inflictor and Destroyer are getting ready for an in-system jump." The scanner technician announced.
"Then we aren't a moment too early," I said, "What is the Conqueror's status?"
"Ion cannons are still inoperable," Matread announced, "And we are operating at seventy percent TIE capacity."
Not great, but it was expected. They likely hadn't loaded new TIE Fighters into the ship before the Intimidation opened fire - though I would have preferred all my ships be fully supplied in the lead-up to our light. Still, we were operable and could fight - the same could not be said for the Eleemosynary.
"Lieutenant Screold has the conn, I'm moving to the command center."
"Sir."
I left the main bridge in Screold's capable hands, moving back to the rear section of the bridge with Matread. The door closed and lights dimmed, leaving us isolated from the controlled chaos of the main bridge. The display flickered to life - I quickly messed with the controls to bring them back to my preferred settings - and in a flash, the system was arrayed before me.
"Sensors, mark all non-Arrowhead assets as hostile," I ordered, watching the previously green Wrath Station and two Star Destroyers quickly shift their colors. I ran a hand over my cheek, planning out my next move. I opened a communications channel with the section using my code rather than the section, something Wrath probably didn't have. It was against regulation, but I didn't need Randd tracking my every movement.
"All ships, this is Captain Tullius. I am retaking command of the section. Intimidation, return to the fleet; combat maneuvers are approved." The communications squawked with Milgern's acceptance of the order, the large ship coming about and burning retrograde to cut its momentum. It put a lot of strain on a vessel of that size, but I needed speed in my section.
"All ships, plot a microjump to the system's western egress point. Maintaining formation is not mandatory. Screold? Get us out of here." With the inertial dampeners and amount of armor separating me from the hangar, I did not hear the station's docking umbilical tear apart. However, the hologram of the Conqueror escaped the clutches of Wrath all the same.
"Cronau spike!" The sensors officer announced, followed by Randd's Star Destroyers jumping across the system. We were still well outside their effective range, but they were closing fast. Screold brought us around Wrath, using its bulk as cover from the other Star Destroyers. Even then, we wouldn't have the time necessary to plot the appropriate coordinates to jump with the rest of the fleet. Luckily, I already had an idea.
"Intrepid and Steadfast, hold position and wait firing solutions. Intimidation, all remaining units, jump to the egress point immediately," I pointed at one of my attendants, "I want firing solutions and estimate time of arrival for concussion missiles for here."
I pointed at the hologram, the side of Wrath Station where the Conqueror would appear in the line-of-sight of the two Victory-Is. It was a credit to the competence and discipline of my crew that, a few minutes later, a dozen red lines arched from the pair of cruisers to Wrath Station. The plan was simple - the Victory-Is would fire their concussion missile payloads at the edge of the station. Based on their travel time, the Conqueror would go out around the other end before they arrived. The pursuing Star Destroyers would be forced to either give up the chase or run directly into a cloud of missiles.
"Sir, Governor Randd is on the line," One of the communications officers said uncertainly.
"Ignore him," I said, counting down the seconds until the perfect moment arrived.
"Fire now!" I ordered, and soon the red lines were replaced with glowing orange dots burning as fast as physical munitions could across the void.
"Sir?" It was the closest Screold would get to questioning my orders. To be fair, from her perspective, I had just ordered my cruisers to shoot at us. She didn't have the benefit of the holotable showing her the precise firing arches of all ships engaged.
"Keep us moving, Screold." I ordered, gripping the edges of the holotable as the plan played out. The pair of Star Destroyers, more modern than the Conqueror, were gaining, but not fast enough. The Conqueror broke her cover, launching off into the open void as fast as its engines could push it. Now, space is a big place, and no matter how wide of a spread Victory-Is had with their missiles, the two Star Destroyers could just go around. However, the two had enough momentum that they couldn't just move around - not without stopping or slowing down. By the time both Star Destroyers had slowed enough to avoid running prow-first into a missile cluster, the Conqueror and her escorts were long gone.
Back into the Rebel-dense Moddell Sector.
Capital Ships:
Eleemosynary (Briefly) - Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer - Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik
Conqueror – Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer – Captain Rivejer Tullius & Lieutenant Ashsca Screold
Intimidation – Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer – Lieutenant Milgern
Cruisers:
Intrepid – Victory I-Class Star Destroyer – Lieutenant ?
Steadfast – Victory I-Class Star Destroyer - Lieutenant Zanus
Viscount – Strike-Class Medium Cruiser - ?
? – Strike-Class Medium Cruiser - ?
? – Strike-Class Medium Cruiser - ?
? – Strike-Class Medium Cruiser - ?
Frigates:
? – Carrack-Class Light Cruiser - ?
? – Carrack-Class Light Cruiser - ?
? – Carrack-Class Light Cruiser - ?
? – Carrack-Class Light Cruiser - ?
? – Carrack-Class Light Cruiser - ?
Corvettes:
? – Lancer-Class Frigate - ?
? – Lancer-Class Frigate - ?
? – Lancer-Class Frigate - ?
? – Lancer-Class Frigate - ?
