Star Wars OPEN Paradoxical Echoes: An Original Trilogy Game (Always Accepting New Players)

IC: Natalia Markova
Senior Officer Quarters, Darkest Night

"Give us two hours, ladies," The older tech said, Keizar gave a nod turning on her heel to exit. Natalia moved to follow but, was stopped when the man mentioned her name. She paused, her roommate stopping as well one foot already out the door. "The name is Sandy. You probably don't know me, but I'm the guy you saved fresh out of the Imperial Academy. Your Gozanti-class Cruiser---"

The Sentinel, her first posting, at least in her record. It was supposed to be just a simple Cadet Cruse, an easy trip to give the graduates some experience on a working ship in His Imperial Majesty's Navy before moving on to their permanent postings. Though many of her classmates treated it like a vacation, and celebration, an extension of their Graduation Party. Natalia remembered that close call, though not the man she had saved.

__________________________________
Several Months Ago…

"You hear about Ricards," One of the fresh graduates on the bridge of the Gozanti-class Cruiser whispered to another as Markova took her place at the helm, a place Ricards was supposed to be.

"Yeah, still in the infirmary after last night, alcohol poisoning." another bridge officer replied. Natalia quietly prepared to for the transition to real space. "Man went hard."

"I wasn't there but…"

"Cut the chatter you two." The captain barked from the center of the bridge coming to stand just behind the freshly commissioned officers. "Helm time to transition."

"58 seconds sir," Natalia replied in her soft quiet voice.

"Speak up Helm." The captain ordered in a clipped tone.

Natalia merely pulled up a countdown and displayed it on the central holo-projector. The captain narrowed his eyes at the young woman in front of him.

"Whisper" the equally young man next to her said rolling his eyes towards his comrade. Whisper, the nickname her classmates had given her due to her soft voice. Natalia had learned to tune them out she had a job to do.

The countdown ticked down to zero and Natalia calmly transferred over to the sublight engines. Ahead of them was the Naval Station, the last stop before being shipped out to their assignments.

"Helm begin docking procedure." The Captain spoke, Natalia nodded her head. As she sent the commands to begin lowering thrust, the sublights weren't slowing.

"Captain this is engineering," A young female voice crackled through the bridge com, "The sublight throttle is non responsive, we are working to fix, we're going to shut down the engines, will take a few moments to come back up."

Natalia's eyes widened, there wasn't time, they were moving too fast, kill the engines they would collide with the station before they could come back up. The station tractor beams were out in the sector they were screaming towards and the repulser system wasn't designed to handle stopping a craft of this size, coming in this fast. Without the engines they would turn a possible tragedy into a certainty.

"No," she said hands moving taking control of the large cruiser.

"Helm?" The Captain asked again peering down.

"Don't shut down the engines!" She snapped her voice finally raised a horse whisper.

"Why?"

"We're moving too fast we'll crash before the engines come back." She was already vectoring the thrust pushing the nose off it's direct line towards the station. There was a gap between a docking spar and a center of the station. If she could get them through there they would have clear space to restart the engines. She couldn't get them there without thrust to guide them.

"Helm did I give orders to change our heading?"

Natalia didn't respond focusing on her task. At the speed they were traveling they would collide a minute and a half and be past the point of no return in 20 seconds. She needed to change their course now, no waiting for the captain to order her.

"Helm we are off course do you have a plan?" The captain continued a little worry in his voice.

"There's a gap beneath the docking spar it will get us on the far side of the station, away from the lanes."

"That is too small a gap helm bring us to heading…"

"It is just wide enough," Natalia corrected, pulling up an overlay that gave the measurements of the space she was driving for. It was possible, it would be close, but possible. "Sir there is no other path. All of them end in the destruction of this vessel, the Station or both." The sluggish cruiser groaned and creaked as the nose came up and yawed towards the opening.

"Validusia Control," the captain commed to the station, "clear our projected path we have a runaway situation."

Natalia didn't hear the other side of the conversation, she had to thread a needle with a 32 meter wide vessel and no brakes. All around her rookies and veterans held their breaths, trusting in the skills of a young navigator. The navigator herself was calm and collected, she had done the math and, checked it twice, just as she was trained. The gap came closer and closer, her hands not failing, her course dead on. She knew she'd succeeded, though everyone around her was still uncertain.

They passed under the spar and off into the blackness of space. The cadets cheered a few hugged or laughed. The navigator remained unmoved.

"Engineering restart the engines." The captain ordered through the integral comm system. "Helm…" Natalia didn't look to the captain. "Steady as she goes."

"Understood."
__________________________________
Present Day

"Looks like you got a fan Markova." Keizar said nudging her roommate with her elbow. "Only thing that happened on my Cadet Cruise was me getting wasted and locking my brother in his bunk." A smile bloomed across Keizar's lips, "You should have seen his face when he was explaining to the captain why he was late getting to his post."

Natalia just looked at the floor. She was just saving her ship, doing what she was trained to do. If it was that incident that got her here, got her thrown into a combat she was woefully unprepared for. She questioned if she did the right thing, for only a moment, she wondered if she should have intervened should have saved all those people if her reward was getting stationed here. It was ridiculous of course she couldn't in good conscious let her crew and all the imperial subjects on board the station die through her inaction. Though some small part of her wondered if it was worth it, if what she was suffering through was worth the lives she saved.

"Come on Markova let's, let these guys get to work." Keizar pulled Natalia along, she didn't really resist only nodding her head towards Sandy.

"Just doing my job." She said as she left. She wished she could get back to that day, back to a time before she took lives, before her hands were bloodied. When all she had to worry about was killing her crew with an errant turn or poorly timed acceleration.

The pair walk down the hall heading towards the entertainment deck. Keizar shook her head and rubbed her eyes still not fully awake yet. Natalia kept quiet her datapad clutched to her chest. She didn't want it far from her, it kept her sane. It was a companionable silence as the two navigational officers walked the halls. The ship felt calm though Natalia still felt nervous this heavy feeling in her stomach preventing her from relaxing. Keizar seemed untroubled by recent events, other than getting woken up early. She didn't know what her roommate had gone through down on the planet though she had heard of the team that went down to there, Natalia among them.

"So," Keizar started looking to Markova, "How are things down there, on the planet. Doesn't look too good from up here."

Natalia turned her grey eyed gaze to the other woman a pained look playing out across her face.

"Ok," Keizar returned to silence. Silence again overtook them.

They arrived at the Entertainment deck and made their way to a mess.

"You want coffee?" Keizar asked moving towards the line. With the late hour on ship the mess was mostly empty other than a few listless and bored crewmembers drinking coffee and chatting.

"Sure, cream and sugar."

Keizar cracked a smile at that letting out a slight hum.

"Alright, be right back."

Natalia took a seat in the corner where she could watch all the comings and goings, and not leave her back exposed. It wasn't out of some prior training or built in paranoia, she just didn't like people walking up behind her. Once she was seated she returned to her datapad, finding whatever access she'd gotten into Imperial intelligence gone. The connection she'd been using was closed, the security reset, revoking her credentials. Thankfully it wasn't because she was caught, at least she didn't think she was. She followed up on a few things, tracing Dax and Calder through the Lespawn security cameras Dax was hard to track he had a sense for where the sensors would be and avoiding them. That didn't make it impossible, just difficult.

She lost track of time until Keizar put a warm cup of milky coffee in front of her.

"It's powdered cream, I put a lot in...no sugar."

Natalia took a sip it was a little bitter but, not too terrible. She noted Keizar's pitch black coffee.

"That's why I usually take it black ship never runs out of coffee, but, it will run out of cream and sugar." She took another sip, "Or it could be that I was raised on the stuff, dad in the Navy and all that."

Natalia returned her attention to her datapad, taking sips of her coffee every now and again.

"Wish I brought my datapad." Keizar muttered turning to the side.

Her table partner didn't notice too engrossed with what was on her datapad, and the hope that she might find something, anything that could right this wrong.

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Captain Duke P. (Patrick) Totter
Ready Room, Darkest Night


"....is that understood, Captain Totter?"

Duke nodded to the hologram of the admiral on the desk, "Perfectly, Admiral."

"Good," the admiral spoke, a smile appearing on his face, "We will see the Darkest Night on Javin then within the next forty-eight hours. Fleet Command out."

As the hologram fizzled out of existence, Duke sat back in the chair. Commodore Englewood's chair, not his.

The Captain looked around the ready room and he smiled at a memory, as if all of sudden good memories of things long gone replayed themselves here, in this room, as he sat. Then he leaned forward and used the console to bring up several contacts, before sending a priority message to both the Stormtrooper Legion Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Alexey Vasiliev, and the Star Destroyer's Chief Medical Officer, Surgeon-Commander Debgate.

"This is Captain Totter. Please report to the Commodore's Ready Room immediately."

He leaned back in the chair again and sighed. Debgate was going to kill him with the news he had to tell her.....


TAG @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Jengleheimer Voss 'aka Jingle'
Darkest Night, Hallway outside Command Medical Bay

At Andrews response he had to hang his head. No matter what people tell you about all enlisted going through the same boot camps or all being soldiers, it just wasn't really true. Not when the chips were down and the red fruit paste was missing. Taking another breath to calm himself he mustered the will to do this, "It'll do. Get your droid to take distance images of the entire area immediately, especially damages, and send the images to Chief of Security and Maintenance."

Giving the man a moment to relay those orders and get things going before he continued. "Now, tell me if we need to get the other Mess ready to work double time until I can talk the Chief of Security into letting us resume keeping this ship fueled?" This was really a question about the boots on the ground. If they were cordoning off the area or just taking the ruffians out, one meant a lot of trouble, the other some hardship and mostly just crew choice to go to the other Mess instead.

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Army Mess Hall Chef Patrick Andrews
Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night; Lepsawn Star System


Andrews was nodding his head as the Master Chef spoke and then gave a verbal reply, "Yes, sir," Andrews said, watching as more Imperial Navy Troopers flooded the area and soon, a few other Navy Troopers entered with holo cameras, body bags, and yellow caution tape to make off the area. One trooper was outlining the bodies with digital holo imaging technology---the replacement of the classic white chalk---to identify crime scenes and help form conclusions of the events. Although truthfully, all they had to do was look at the holo security footage to see the events, "Yeah, we'll need to get the other Mess Hall working double time."

Patrick looked back to the 434-FPC Personal Chef Droid, "Hey----" Andrew's voice trailed off as he turned and looked at the droid, who still had a smoking blaster hole through its robotic head, "---oh Force. Jingle is going to kill me."

A pair of Navy Troopers walked up just then, looking at the four cooks. One of them spoke, causing Patrick to jump in surprise, "We'll need statements from you four."


TAG @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Second Squad, Joker Platoon; Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night


Animal sighed as he watched the turbolift's data screen count up the floors as they went from the auxiliary hanger---via the turbolift---across to in between the Crew Quarters and Trooper Barracks, then up. Apparently there had been a "problem" with a new transfer to their platoon. Their were several deaths and Major Hardneck, in no uncertain terms, told Joker Platoon to resolve the issue. The Old Man picked Second Squad to check it out. They were given no indication as to who this transfer was. No rank, no operating number, no name. All they knew that whoever this person was, it was a transfer. It could be a trooper, it could be an officer. No one knew as of yet. Facts were still coming through the gossip vine about who fired first.

Animal looked around the turbolift at the rest of the squad, "Gear up!"

They were all covered in dirt and mud from their recent deployment to Lepsawn 1-9. Their armor was dented in places and a few had glancing blaster scorch marks from blaster fire along their armor. They were tired, hungry, and Animal was in no mood to deal with some trigger happy transfer.

As he put his helmet on---the interior caked with sweat and smelling like a rancor's mother from the deployment---Animal checked his T-21B Heavy Blaster. The whole squad was running low on ammo, but he had enough in his energy clip for a blaster fight, about 10 shots---and given his ability to flip the long range scope out of the way for close quarters combat, the T-21B would make easy work of anyone. Luckily he still had another energy clip in reserve on his utility belt---he snatched it off a dead trooper during the fighting as a 'just in case' to supplement his blaster energy reserves---although he sure hoped it didn't come to that.

The turbolift came to a stop and Animal and squad debarked, quickly walking past the two sentry Imperial Navy Troopers who were stationed there after the live blaster fire exchange. No one spoke in the squad, as the Stormtroopers were an imposing scene as they marched in lock step formation, not slowing down for anyone. Technicians and crew members---barred from leaving the level as various Navy Troopers conducted interviews---scurried out of the way, least they get trampled by the Imperial troops. Every 15 yards, on opposite walls and off set, was a single Imperial Navy Trooper standing sentry along the way. The Stormtroopers even made them try to blend in with the wall.

Finally, they reached the mess hall. Locked down like an Imperial Garrison with yellow caution tape and a whole squad of Imperial Navy Troopers guarding the way, let alone all the Navy Troopers and crime scene techs inside the mess hall.

Animal was in no mood for policy as one of the troopers tried to stop them and ask for identification---the 9 man squad brushed past him, almost trampling the poor soul---as they went under the yellow tape and into the mess hall. Animal put up a hand, stopping the march. He looked around at the bodies. This was no simple blaster malfunction with a reactor leak in the detention block.

He could spot an Imperial Stormtrooper uniform a mile away in a rain storm. Animal held up two finger, the four (which meant two troopers stood sentry at the entrance, the other four spread out throughout the mess hall). Then he lowered his hand and the two troopers marched with Animal up to the Stormtrooper transfer in question, as the other stormtroopers spread out to their assignments. As Animal neared the transfer and could identify rank, he cursed silently in his helmet.

Sith. It was an officer. Probably the replacement for Captain Grimnar.

"Lieutenant," Animal said through the filtered helmet speakers; he didn't need to salute or stand at attention, he was on orders from a major to check out what the heck was going on. Until such a time he felt the situation was secured, then he would go through the formalities of higher rank, "Master Sergeant DW-418121. We were dispatched from Major Hardneck to check on an Imperial Stormtrooper transfer for Joker Platoon involved in a blaster exchange. I'm assuming that's you?"



TAG @TheSilentInfluence

 

IC: Jengleheimer Voss 'aka Jingle'
Darkest Night, Hallway outside Command Medical Bay

After Andrews ended the conversation with the statements that the staff were all fine and would do what needed to be done Jingle ended the comm line and immediately opened one to the other Mess Hall for enlisted. Giving them a warning that the other Mess Hall may be down for an extended time and to expect double duty and request any cooking assists needed from the Command Mess Hall until at least the kitchens in the blasted up one were cleared. So hopefully only for one meal shift would the weight bear down on two instead of three Mess Halls for the gargantuan ship.

Ending that rather one sided comm message he dialed up a number he rarely enjoyed punching in. Chief of Security, man wasn't even proper rank and file, not to mention. . .well Mandalorian really said it all. Hitting the proper relay he put in a request to speak with him, whether that would happen or not depended on whether the Chief would take a Chef's call at a time like this. Although he was the Chief Chef, so there was some hope as this incident was squarely within his domain onboard ship.

TAG: @Bravo , @Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Elena Shan
Mess Hall, Darkest Night

As she looked over to the crime investigators closing off the scene, Elena breathed a little easier. She stepped a little closer to Trooper Church to give them room and spoke quietly, "I'm sorry about your friend Trooper. Let me know if you need anything. I'd like to write to his family and Lieutenant Showrunner's." She turned to the door as it opened again and watched as more Imperials filed in.

Elena watched the troopers carefully approach and the Master Sargent introduce himself. She nodded respectfully back and replied, "Yes Master Sargent. I am Lieutenant Elena Shan, Joker Platoon." There was a pause as she took a breath." I was having a late dinner when we heard an argument from another table where these...rebels-" Elena spat out the word in disgust, "-were Lieutenant Showrunner went to see what was wrong, and brought them over to me. I asked to see their papers and their identification. When they only handed me their orders, I knew something was a miss." Elena took a breath and glanced at Trooper Church. I hope he's doing alright. I wonder how much fighting he's seen.

Turning back to the Master Sargent Elena started talking again, "That's when they pulled out their weapons, I stabbed the one closest to Lieutenant Showrunner and made him get to cover but we ended up getting pinned down. If Lieutenant Showrunner hadn't started firing when he did, we probably would have been seriously injured." Elena frowned. "What I would like to know, is how an Imperial ship on heavy lockdown allowed these Rebels acting as ISB agents to get through security with shoddy orders. They didn't add up properly when I looked through them, which is why I asked for identification in the first place. I hope that we can figure out who didn't read it properly, because the last thing we need to get our starship attacked and taken over by Rebels."

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Commodore Valentino Mazzanti
Departure Point A-dash-Eight (Docking Bay 94), Naval Station Validusia, Expansion Region


Valentino slowed his walk at the next set of docking bay numbers above the double blast doors where two Imperial Stormtroopers stood quietly on either side as sentries and a third Stormtrooper---in his officer's black uniform---stood ready to intercept any would-be trespassers between both troopers. Judging from his previous experience in the observation deck, this was probably it, but he wanted to double check his orders. Nothing worse then being in the wrong secured area. That normally meant paperwork and lots of questions, both of which he disliked almost as much as he disliked the Rebellion.

He looked down and checked his paper orders---Docking Bay 94. He looked up at the numbers above the doors, Docking Bay 94. He came to a stop almost directly in front of the doors and looked at the Stormtrooper officer---he looked to be a Captain---and handed him his orders as he put his duffel bag down besides him. Hmmm. A captain screening entries? Either that was overkill or Valentino's day was getting better and better.

"Commodore Valentino Mazzanti," he spoke to the infantry captain, "Transfer from Coruscant."

"Last posting?" asked the infantry officer as he looked over the orders. Standard protocol to double check identity, assuming the one asking had been given a answer to that question beforehand.

"Imperial Weapons Division," Mazzanti answered.

The captain nodded, looked up, and handed back the orders as he snapped his feet together and straitened his body, "Welcome, Commodore!" The Stormtrooper officer stepped back in perfect parade drill style, turned, and inserted a Card Key into a slot, followed by several digits on the keypad, then withdrew the card and door opened. The officer remained off to the side and Valentino picked up his duffel bag and headed through the door. The door quickly shut behind him, leaving the 3 Stormtroopers on the other side.

Looking around the massive hanger, Mazzanti whistled at the Vigil-class Corvette that sat in the hanger on its landing struts. Aside from the 3 refueling technicians who managed the large refueling tube into the corvette, the hanger was relatively empty of personnel. Two more Stormtroopers stood flanking the cargo lift extended out to the floor under the corvette and two more Imperial personnel---one in an Imperial Navy uniform and another in a scientist uniform with duffel bags on the floor by them---were standing roughly halfway between the entrance to the docking bay and Valentino. Assuming he was dressed in a similar fashion with a duffel bag, Mazzanti assumed these were the other "passengers" the orders spoke about.

"Excuse me," the Commodore announced as he approached the two men, "I'm assuming we're all on this same journey together?"

The older scientist gentlemen coughed. his cough sounding like the final stages of soon-to-be-death, "Doctor Van Halfin The Third," the old man extended a frail looking hand and Valentino shook it.

The other, younger gentlemen, spoke next, extending his hand, "Chief of Security Gotz Richter."

Mazzanti nodded to both, "Commodore Valentino Mazzanti. Pleasure to meet both of you. Are you gentlemen being assigned to the Darkest Night?"

"We are," the older scientist remarked, adding, "I'm going to assume your orders are classified like ours?" the old man coughed again, this time he had to wipe his mouth with a small rag in his back pocket, "Nothing could possibly be afoot with a dying scientist assigned to Darth Vader's personal staff, a Chief of Security assigned to CompForce and in the Imperial Navy, and a Commanding Officer once assigned to the Imperial Weapons Division."

Valentino's eyebrows went up as now held his new company in a newer light. That's probably some of the information on the datacard he had received earlier. He could see, however, that the security chief took offense to the doctor's words and was less then pleased.

"That's classified information," the chief barked sternly at the doctor, "And how did you know that information?"

The old man laughed---coughed again---and wiped his mouth again, this time chuckling some into his rag, "What are you going to do? Arrest me? If it was so classified, you wouldn't of said anything or at the very least, denied it! I'm personally assigned to Darth Vader's staff! I know more then all of you combined!" the older man chuckled, coughing again.

The blast doors to the docking bay opened and in walked several squads of Stormtroopers, all in dress uniform with duffel bags. The troopers came to a halt before the three Imperial officers as the blast doors closed and the lead trooper, a captain, asked, "Commodre Mazzanti?"

"I'm him," Valentino replied.

All the stormtroopers dropped their duffel bags and saluted, "Captain Kurt Stein, TK-9131!"


TBC

 

IC: Lieutenant Enoch Steadfast
Mess Hall, Entertainment Deck, Darkest Night


However much Steadfast and Chief Shinzon disagreed, the Senior Lieutenant was somewhat disappointed to see the veteran law enforcement man depart. He felt the two were finally coming to an agreement of mutual dislike in a professional work environment without the need to kill each other. At least publicly. Privately, Steadfast wouldn't put it past the security chief to kill him in his sleep.

Sigh.

Maybe the tough-as-tails chief would come back one day. Steadfast would certainty welcome the challenge. Reaching the other mess hall (the other one he had checked), Enoch took a breather. Walking throughout the corridors with a cane was quite the workout. He scanned the mess hall and---there she was---Navigational Captain Natalia Markova.

Then his comlink buzzed. It was Master Chef Jengleheimer Voss. All of the security chief's calls were routed through to the Second Officer now. "Steadfast here for security. Go ahead Voss?"

With Commodore Englewood likely not to recover---and the vast majority of the officer & enlisted ranks not knowing that information yet---it would be Steadfast's job (formerly Shinzon's until a new Security Chief was officially named) to track down reliable sources of information before rumors and fanciful tales started circulating among the crew by people who were never there. It would make investigating work much harder.

While waiting for Voss's return message, Enoch made his way over to get some coffee first, it had been a long night and only seemed to be getting longer. He made his way to the table where Natalia and another woman were sitting. "May I?" the Third-in-Command officer asked, indicating a open seat across from Natalia.


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Second Squad, Joker Platoon; Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night


Animal listen to the Lieutenant. At least her story seemed legit enough, but that's for him to judge. He followed up on her last comments about the traitors allowing to be docked in the first place.

"That's above our pay grade," the Master Sergeant offered as a firm suggestion, "And I would leave it at that right now."

The Master Sergeant sure hoped this new firebrand officer would keep her opinions to herself, least she attract the wrong type of attention. She was new. And whether she was new in uniform or not was a mute point. She was new here on the Darkest Night, one of the most dedicated warships in the whole of the Imperial Navy. Her crew---from enlisted to officer---was the best of the best. And her Stormtrooper legion, Death's Whisper, was second only to the 501st Legion itself. They're commanding officer, Commodore Peter Englewood, was rumored to be dying and the Stormtroopers were just getting back from nearly a 24 hour straight operation dirt side. Blame could be thrown each way, from the Star Destroyer's ranking officers to the security detail of Imperial Navy Troopers. But it wouldn't be wise to upset Chief of Security Cain Shinzon. The man was a professional and he had been dealing with his own dirt side op rumor had it. So command would have fallen to the Chief's second in command. But still, that was one of Shinzon's trusted officers under his command. It would be just as bad as casting blame on the Chief himself, since Shinzon would most likely see it as a reflection upon himself.

Right now, regardless of your opinions or rank, was not a good time to go around shooting at your own with allegations of less then acceptable duty. It would look poorly on one's self. There were Stormtroopers and Naval security troopers to handle this situation, so let them handle it and try to amend what errors they can.

Animal spoke something into his internal helmet communication that couldn't be heard outside of the helmet and the rest of his Stormtroopers fell into a escort formation around Lieutenant Shan with Animal flanking just behind her and to the right. The Master Sergeant spoke into his external communications, so Shan could hear him, "We'll head to our Army Quarters now. Until further notice, Lieutenant, you'll be confined to quarters. Plus side, you'll get to meet the rest of the platoon," Animal gave a hand motioned and barked an order, "Move out!"

The Stormtroopers escorted the Lieutenant out, keep in precise formation the entire time. No one spoke until they reached the quarters, which one of the troopers at the front of the formation keyed the pad and the door opened. Inside the quarters assigned to Joker Platoon, the other troopers of the platoon had arrived and were in various stages of removing their armor and body suit, as well as showering needs.This would be a first for the platoon: a female.

The horsing around, name calling, and general good nature goofing off continued until Animal removed his helmet and barked, "LISTEN UP!"

Suddenly everyone stopped, knowing the Master Sergeant's voice and they looked to see Second Squad standing there with the Lieutenant.

"We have a new transfer, Lieutenant Shan. Respect is expected, do you get me?"

There was silence as a few coughs echoed throughout the quarters, followed by a glance here and there to their fellow troopers. Finally one of the bold troopers spoke up.

"A female, Master Sergeant? I mean, since when do women have a part in Joker Platoon?"

Animal felt his blood boil, his face must have shown it as the trooper backed off a little bit. While Animal couldn't necessarily disagree with the trooper---Joker Platoon had been a traditionally all male unit---the Master Sergeant also understood orders and that gender, skin color, nationality, political or social views, and religion meant nothing when the blaster bolts were flying so close to your face that you could feel the heat of the blaster bolt against the helmet armor. The only thing that mattered was if the person could do the job. If they did their job, they were welcomed. If they couldn't do the job, then they would be removed like anyone else, regardless of gender or skin color.

"Yes, trooper, a female," Animal clenched through his teeth, "The same gender that gave birth to your sorry excuse of a human being!" Animal took a breathe and repeated his opening statement, "This is Lieutenant Shan, a recent transfer. Respect is expected, do you get me?"

All the troopers in the quarters snapped to attention, "WE GET YOU SIR!"

Animal looked at the Lieutenant, "Care to show me your bunk? I'll make sure no one bothers you, Lieutenant." Animal walked with Elena towards her bunk, troopers who were changing out of armor and running to and from the sonic showers resuming.


TAG @TheSilentInfluence

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Entertainment Deck Mess 2, Darkest Night

Natalia was still reviewing the footage taking sips of coffee without breaking eye contact with the screen of the datapad. She was working like a woman possessed. Keizar was at this point used to this, the being ignored part at least. Natalia was always doing her own thing or on rare occasions, sleeping. Keizar was content to watch a few holos before going to sleep but, her roommate when they were together was always in her bunk, the telltale light of her datapad shining through the privacy screen.

The Carratosian didn't notice her roommate stealing a glance or two at her datapad, the other woman furrowing her brow. It was an odd choice of entertainment but, Keizar didn't say anything. She sat back watching the people come and go. She noticed Steadfast first not that she had much else to distract her. Natalia didn't not until the Senior Lieutenant was at their table asking to sit.

Her head snapped up pulling her datapad close to her chest on reflex.

"May I?" The current security chief asked, not that Natalia knew or cared that there had been a change in that position. Her head turned to Keizar then back to Steadfast and back again. She was always so strange in social situations. She didn't know if she should say yes or no. What was the answer she looked to Keizar once more. The other officer just shrugged her shoulders.

"No one's sitting there." She said.

Natalia gave a nod still keeping her datapad close to her chest.

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Lieutenant Enoch Steadfast
Mess Hall, Entertainment Deck, Darkest Night


The other officer answered and Enoch nodded, scooting out the chair and taking a seat, putting his cane up against the table. He noted Markova's guarding with the data-pad. He then looked to the other woman and asked, "You're Captain Keizar, correct?" he paused a moment, then added, "Captain Markova's roommate?" he paused again, looked between the two officers, then added, "Captain Keizar, could you give Miss Markova and I a few moments? There's some questions I need to ask her."


TAG @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: Commodore Valentino Mazzanti
Hyperspace, en route to Javin Oversector Command & Administrative Complex, Vigil-class Corvette


Valentino put the plate on the the table and sat down. He was use to larger mess halls, but the corvette's would do for now. His similarly riding comrades sat down with food as well (apparently the Imperial Navy was starving its transfers across the board), although the new stormtroopers sat by themselves a few tables away. Captain Kurt Stein sat with the officers, however, to discuss their new arrangements.

"So," Valentino started as causally as he could towards Stein---because within the next 48 hours, this laid back environment that they now enjoyed would turn into the strict ranking hierarchy of the military and certain addresses would have to be used---as he put some food in his mouth, chewed & swallowed, then spoke again, "You said you were being transferred to Joker Platoon?"

Kurt nodded, "Yes, sir. As their Commanding Officer. I guess their last CO got sent to pasture on their last mission. Stormtrooper Command wanted someone of my experience and knowledge for such a coveted position with the Corps. I hear you'll be the Darkest Night's commanding officer?"

Valentino nodded, "That's what they tell me," he said in between bites.

"Captain," asked Chief of Security Gorz Richter to the infantry officer, "Could you give us a minute?"

The captain looked between the other officers, nodded, and picked up his plate, "Certainty," he said, departing for the table with his fellow stormtroopers.

Valentino was miffed and he stared lasers at Richter, "What was that about?"

Richter looked between Doctor Van Halfin The Third and the Commodore, "Lets stop the games. We're all here for a reason. What is the reason? You don't collect a group like this for some usual deployment. Captain Stein was part of Vader's personal security detail and later in charge of advanced protection landing teams wherever the Dark Lord went."

"How did you know that?" Halfin inquired.

Richter stared at the man, "I have ways."

"Then your ways should tell you what we're doing here. Or you, as good ole CompForce, trying to find where one of us slips and you can turn us in for treason?"

"That's---" Richter started, but Valentino's raised finger stopped him short.

"Let me make this very clear, Security Chief Richter. Crystal clear. I don't care who you work off the books. On the books, you'll be under my command. As such, its my way or the air lock. And don't think for a moment I don't mean it. Not many things get past me, Security Chief. You'll learn that very quickly," he held his stare a moment longer to make the point, then looked in between Halfin and Richter, "I don't care what your orders say, either of you. I know what my orders say and as such, when we reach our destination, I can inform you of our mission. Until then, we're simply transfers to new duty posts," Valentino stuck his fork into a large piece of meat and slammed it home into mouth, chewing and talking next with a full mouth, "And until we're officially under my command, I would like to eat some steak and enjoy it without worrying about who can pee further then who."


TBC

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Entertainment Deck Mess 2, Darkest Night

Natalia was quiet, as she normally was as Steadfast took his seat. Having a chance to take a breath she closed what she was doing and put it on the table.

"You're Captain Keizar, correct?" The Duros asked of the other woman. "Captain Markova's roommate?"

"Yes." Keizar answered.

"Captain Keizar, could you give Miss Markova and I a few moments? There's some questions I need to ask her."

That drew a somewhat confused and slightly worried look on Keizar's face. Natalia looked to her roommate a blank expression on her face.

"Sure," Keizar replied getting up from her chair. "Have fun you two." She smiled holding up her cup of coffee. Natalia watched as Keizar moved to a seat far enough away that she wouldn't hear what was said but, would be near enough to walk up again.

Taking another moment to settle herself, putting a lock of black hair behind her ear, Natalia looked to Steadfast.

"Is this regarding the incident on Lespawn?" There might have been several incidents on the planet below but, there was only one that really mattered. She was with the away team when the Commodore was poisoned. Her and the others had already been questioned on the ground though maybe there were more questions to be asked. "I have already given a statement to the troopers on the ground."

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Elena Shan
Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night

Elena understood the guard and while walking to her barracks, she understood that she should probably keep her mouth shut about the incident from now on. Elena followed Animal into the trooper barracks, and stood next to him silently as he introduced her. When one of the troopers protested, she gave him an even stare as Animal handled it before showing him her bunk. It wasn't much, she had a top bunk which was nice; and it had a shelf built in next to it. Fancy for Imperial Trooper Barracks. Elena hoisted herself up on the bunk and sat, turning around to look down at Animal with a small smile.

"Thank you for that." Elena said with a nod. "It never made much of a difference with my old unit on Onderon." She frowned as she thought of them, and added, "Was it bad down there?" She asked, referring to the planet below. Was it as bad as Onderon? She wondered, though Elena didn't say this out loud. Elena looked over the Trooper's Barracks before he could answer and added, "I would appreciate any advice you could give me Master Sargent."

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Lieutenant Enoch Steadfast
Mess Hall, Entertainment Deck, Darkest Night


"Oh, no," he shook his head with a smile, "I'm not here to redo work already done. Like anyone else, I believe everyone gave accurate accounts. Even security holo cams can't seem to find a good angel, however," Steadfast produced a memory crystal and scooted it across the table to her, "Sometimes having access to secured files help. Having a second set of eyes on that footage wouldn't hurt, especially if its under the radar. That memory crystal will help you access the files associated with this investigation. All the camera angels, filed witness reports...everything. It won't be much, because we don't have much. But, before we get a new security chief in play, I figured I'd give you a shot at accessing those files," Steadfast stood up, grabbing his cane, and scooting in the chair, "Oh, before I forget," he dug into a breast pocket and produced a holodisc, which he gave her, "It's from Commodore Englewood. Its a recording. He does it for every new officer he receives for the bridge staff. They're typically private for just him, but he always says he wants his officers to know about them in case something happens to him. He also records them for other crew members every now and then, on a case-to-case basis. Maybe you'll find what he said useful or memorable. You never knew with Englewood."

"Attention! Attention!" the loud speakers barked from the overnight graveyard communications officer, "Prepare for hyperspace jump in two minutes."

Steadfast looked up at the speakers as the voice pounded over it, then he looked at his chronometer, "Well, you better get to bed. We all should. Its been a long day. If you find anything, you'd let me know right away? Privately?"


TAG @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Second Squad, Joker Platoon; Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night


"Was it bad down there?"

"Not any worse then any other dirt op," Animal responded, shrugging, "You had a few hot spots, but overall, action was light. Casualties were light. Which," the Master Sergeant looked around the barracks---at his troopers---and turned back to her, "Was nice for a change. Usually we're use to thicker situations."

"I would appreciate any advice you could give me Master Sargent."

"Look up the history of Dark Battalion," Animal responded, "Aside from the 501st itself, we're the best the Empire has. We're the premier infantry unit in the Outer Rim. We get assigned the worse of the worse in operations and are expected to be victorious. The other troopers," Animal sighed, "They'll come around. Here in Joker Platoon, we're close. Very close. We have our traditions, our way of doing things. And anything new that disrupts that---sometimes it hard on some of the guys. Especially," Animal looked off to the side as he remembered the blaster fire, yelling of orders, confusion, screaming, and even crying in his mind from Operation Home Base, "Those of us that made it back alive a few years ago. One day you'll understand if you're around long enough."

"Attention! Attention!" the loud speakers barked from the overnight graveyard communications officer, "Prepare for hyperspace jump in two minutes."

Animal smiled thinly, "Better get some sleep kid. We'll have a busy day tomorrow. I'll trust you to obey orders and I won't post a guard. Don't make me regret that decision. The Sergeant Major---Old Man we call him---he never sleeps as the legend goes. So don't try anything stupid in the barracks. He's not very forgiving," Animal pointed back that way, "Refreshers and sonic showers are back there."

With that, Animal broke away and went to his bunk, signaling the rest of his squad to do the same.


TAG @TheSilentInfluence

 

IC: Jengleheimer Voss ‘aka Jingle’
Command Level Hallway

"Steadfast here for security. Go ahead Voss?"

Staring at his communicator like a snake that had just bit him he was rather put off by talking not head to head. Apparently he would have to butter the Chief of Security up more with some 'homestyle' Mandalorian cuisine, that or put the fear of what was in his food into the man. Always try polite ways first, that was the proper way. Not that he felt like it at the moment.

Trying to work his frown out so it at least wouldn't be as apparent in his voice he took a deep breath before starting. "Alright. My Messhall if you know, is presently being shut down for an investigation. I was hoping the Chief of Security could see about containing the level of cordoning off the crime scene so that operations might at least resume even at a reduced capacity ASAP." Alright, the accentuation on the word Chief was definitely a slip in his strained state at the moment. Then again this wasn't the Chief of Security, so it was valid he felt.

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Elena Shan
Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night

Elena listened to Animal and nodded as he spoke of reading about the History of the Dark Battalion and how everyone was so close. She smiled a little, finding comfort in the knowledge that even though they were standoffish now, it probably would not stay that way after they fought together. Elena just hoped she could prove herself. Elena gave Animal a serious look when he told her about not posting a guard and she almost laughed. Where exactly would she run to?

"Understood Master Sargent. You don't have to worry about that." Elena told him honestly. "I know how to follow orders. That's not something I take lightly." She nodded goodnight to him and swung her legs back up on the bed, unlacing her shoes and peeling off her uniform jacket to reveal a standard tank top underneath. She carefully folded her shirt and placed it on the shelf and laid her shoes next to it before starting to place her belongings. As she laid down, Elena took a picture from her pocket and smiled to herself.

It was a picture of Erik, her brother and her before they had been admitted to the Academy. The Empire liked to keep records, but they had been kind enough to print extra pictures before they started their schooling. Elena pocketed her pictured and settled down to go to sleep, the sound of the others lulling her into a dream as she drifted off.

The explosions came in a barrage. Elena had heard of this, they would use artillery to draw out the Imperials by exploding one shell after the other in a line, hoping to hit where they had dug in. But this time their Captain had them dig deeper and further apart from each other. Elena trusted her Captain, but she still covered her ears as the explosions drew louder then further away, the smell of smoke and dirt in the air.

"You'll be alright." There was a hand pressed onto her shoulder as Elena let her hands fall to grip her rifle. "The first battle is always the hardest, it gets easier after that." His smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, but when the explosions stop he raises his hand. "Lets go. For the Empire!" He shouts as he jumps over the top of their foxhole. Elena counts to three and then follows, the Rebels shooting at them as fast as they can come over the top. She see's one trooper fall and then another, but Elena doesn't stop firing until an explosion knocks her off her feet-

Elena doesn't know who yells as she wakes, but she manages to jump from her bunk in a hurry, adrenaline pumping as she looks around desperately. You're not on Onderon. Elena tells herself, but she still feels tense as she looks around the dark room, dim lights from the fresher catching her gaze. She takes a deep breath and tries to calm her breathing. Elena slumps to the floor instead, shutting her eyes as she sits. You're safe.

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Entertainment Deck Mess 2, Darkest Night

"Oh, no," The Duros replied. "I'm not here to redo work already done. Like anyone else, I believe everyone gave accurate accounts. Even security holo cams can't seem to find a good angel, however," He produced a memory crystal and slid it to her. She quirked her brow why was she giving this to her. Did he know of her skill and accomplishments with slicing. Or had he just seen her with her head buried in her datapad. Either way he was giving this to her, it was more data, more to pour over, more to try and find. "...But, before we get a new security chief in play, I figured I'd give you a shot at accessing those files," Another bit of news, the security chief was to be replaced...What had happened to the previous one? It wasn't her place to question any further, she had enough on her plate to deal with, or at least what her mind wouldn't let her drop.

"Oh, before I forget," Stedfast paused reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a holodisk. "It's from Commodore Englewood. It's a recording. He does it for every new officer he receives for the bridge staff. They're typically private for just him, but he always says he wants his officers to know about them in case something happens to him. He also records them for other crew members every now and then, on a case-to-case basis. Maybe you'll find what he said useful or memorable. You never knew with Englewood." The reserved Navigator furrowed her brow. This was all getting thrown at her so quickly. She was getting a handle on it and she had more work to do. Though maybe it was good thing, kept her focused on other things, not the incident on the ground.

"Attention! Attention!" Natalia covered her ears shielding them from the sudden loud announcement "Prepare for hyperspace jump in two minutes."

"Well, you better get to bed. We all should. It's been a long day." the young woman rose finishing off her coffee and making her way to the exit. "If you find anything, you'd let me know right away? Privately?"

She gave a solemn nod at his request but, said little else. She doubted there would be time to sleep with everything going on, in and outside of her head.

Keizar got up from her seat draining her coffee as well before joining her roommate.

"Let's go see if those techs have finished up." The pair make their return trip just as quiet as before.

"So," Keizar started breaking the silence. "What did Steadfast want to talk about."

Natalia's response was cold quiet. Much like her response to what happened down on the planet.

Taking the hint the other woman didn't ask anymore questions.

They arrive at their room and go through their routines for going to bed...again. Natalia leaves her shoes neatly placed next to her locker before slipping into her bunk and pulling up her datapad. She puts in her earbuds and incerts the Holodisk. It might have been late but, her curiosity wouldn't let her sleep anyway.

What could be so important that the Commodore would record a message, then have it delivered upon an unfortunate event? Her mind wouldn't let it go until she knew.

Keizar fell back to sleep swiftly, only after saying a quiet good night to her family, starting with her mother and father and ending with her older brother Lux. It was her little ritual, to say goodnight to them, even though they were scattered to the galactic winds, for just a moment she could believe they were all together again, under the same roof.

TAG: @Bravo

 

OOG: @galactic-vagabond422

I don't have a direct character-to-character tag for you, as I'm transitioning all my playable characters to sleep. Feel free to extend your actions as you want---I can also give you info on the holodisc if you want.

@Mitth_Fisto

@Bardan_Jusik had to leave the game due to conflicting schedules. We hope to have him back in the near future if his other demands lessen. In the meantime, I've created a Story Character security chief to fill the void if/when he does return. His last post was here.


*******************


IC: Lieutenant Enoch Steadfast
Mess Hall, Entertainment Deck, Darkest Night


As the two Captains left the mess hall, Steadfast's comlink beeped again, this time with Master Chef Jengleheimer Voss' voice returning. Enoch listened, understanding the confusion and forgiving the edge in the chef's voice all in the same thought (after all, the chef hadn't slept for a while), "Master Chef, I'll make sure security understands the urgency of the matter. In light of that, see what you can negotiate with them. Its your mess hall, their crime scene. I think a common ground can be had. With security concerns, you'll be reaching out to me for the immediate future. Security Chief Shinzon was reassigned on a urgent timetable by Imperial Outer Rim High Command. His return is unknown at this time. Steadfast out."

Now, the senior lieutenant thought, it was rest time.


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422


***************


IC: Technical Services Division Technician Pack
Corridor, Officers Quarters


The two techs were done. They had cleaned up and left a note on services completed.

"Attention! Attention! Hyperspace in Ten, Nine, Eight---"

"I always hate this part," Pack grumbled as he braced himself against a wall.

"---Four, Three---"

"Especially not strapped into crash webbing!" Sandy replied.

"---One, JUMP!"

"Oh by the Fooooooorrrrrrcccceeeee!!!!!" Pack said as he felt like his stomach was being yanked out of him as the jump to hyperspace happened. He could feel as if his skeleton was being pulled from within his body as he looked at his free hand and saw a blurred scene of his hand stretching out further then physically possible---as if he was made of elastic---then the air around him blurred with strange colors and the sounds around him were muted as if in a strange contorted musical....

...then SNAP! they were in hyperspace!

He felt as if someone had yanked back on the elastic of his arm in that moment and snapped it back into place, the colors snapped back to normal, and the sound came rushing back to normal as if rushing through a tunnel. The worse part was the feeling of his skeleton being racketed back into place and the worse feeling that someone had upper cut him in the stomach.

"Oh boy," Pack said, fighting the sudden urge of to throw up, and looking around, "I'll never get use to that."

"Make that two of us," Sandy said, holding up two fingers and doubled over, "We need to stop being in the corridors when that happens."

"Or maybe someone should think about technicians and put in fold-out wall seats with webbing for the unlucky souls like us."

"We'd still miss out on the chairs even if they had them knowing our luck."

"True," Pack replied with, adding, "I need a drink after that."

"No argument from me. Then bed!" Sandy finished. The two techs grabbed their things and headed down towards the turbolift.


TAG @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: DW-418131 (Old Man)
Army Quarters, Darkest Night, Hyperspace


He sat off by the entrance way in and out of the quarters, enjoying a cigar as he sat in a flimsy metal fold-up chair with a A-180 Blaster Pistol in his lap. The glow of the cigar illuminated his face in a fiery orange as he took a drag off the cigar and then exhaled the smoke, the air in front of his face being a fiery mix of embers and smoke for a moment.

He watched as the new lieutenant---Elena Shan---sunk to the floor. He waited a moment, then said softly from a few bunks away by the door, "The dreams never go away, do they?"


TAG @TheSilentInfluence

 

IC: Elena Shan
Trooper Barracks, Darkest Night

Elena looked up startled for a moment, and noticed the man with a cigar in his mouth a few feet away. She sighed softly, and nodded; eyes meeting his as she tried to calm herself down. "No sir. They never do." She paused for a moment and added, "The first battle is always the hardest sir. I got...I got stationed on Onderon for two years, before I served on Courscant." She didn't know why she was telling him this, but Elena drew her arms around her legs tighter. "I didn't realise how merciless the Rebels were until then. We heard stories at the Academy, but to see it first hand..." Elena stopped suddenly, looking away as if draw to a far off memory. "I'm sorry sir...I'm probably keeping you awake."

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Commodore Englewood
Ready Room, Darkest Night (part of the 115th Naval Battle Group), Javin System


One Year Ago...

Englewood looked out at the distant planet of Javin, from this distance, still large and commanding, but not dominating the viewport from his Ready Room as it once did a day ago. Between the blue, brown, and green ball in the black void of space and Englewood was the might of the Imperial Navy or---more correctly put---the 115th Naval Battle Group. It was newly commissioned a few days ago by Moff Starski and was now in position to carry out its mission. Peter didn't put anything extra into what was about to happen, beyond what his order simply were: Operation Clean House.

Despite those official orders---Englewood turned from the viewport and walked over to his desk, sitting down and bringing up his mini-interactive holo communication device---he also had more secretive orders straight from Imperial Outer Rim High Command. Those orders were of such a secretive nature that not even Moff Starski knew about them and, as such, both the Imperial Security Bureau and Imperial Intelligence went to great pains to ensure the Moff remained in the dark. While Moff Starski was securing his future standing with the elite of the Empire, the Imperial Navy was using the 115th Naval Battle Group as a secretive test bed.

The Commodore sighed as those top secret orders floated in holo format before him. It was a long complicated order, but after refreshing past it, he brought up the first recruit to mind: Captain (Navigational Officer) Natalia Markova, her service picture and biographical information floating before him. She had only been on the Darkest Night for two days, but she was quickly becoming known for two things: natural skill and unorthodox listening skills. She had the raw skill to needle a Gozanti-class Cruiser through a space station's command spire and the unorthodox listening ears to modify orders to suit her unique skills. The Chief Navigator had already written her up once while, per his estimation, she performed a dangerous maneuver within port speeds. After reviewing the case, Englewood had dismissed the administrative action and noted to the chief navigator that if it wasn't for the unorthodox skilled Markova, that the Star Destroyer would have been rammed by the rogue droid cargo ship and, furthermore, that weapons fire was strictly off limits in the military & civilian populated port area and that---in keeping with port policy---weapons were not activated and the young Markova took action consistent with evasive maneuvering, even if the speeds were somewhat excessive themselves in hindsight and putting a Star Destroyer on its side was a daring feet all by itself. Englewood had put the final blame on port security forces, not on Markova.

Peter looked out the viewport from his seat, thought for a moment, then returned to the holo communication device, bringing up the devices recording feature.

"Command Officer's Personnel File Log B dash One dash Navigational. Entry One.

Captain Natalia Markova.

I hope, one day, she'll understand why she's here aboard the Darkest Night. And I hope---equally as much---that she'll forgive me. That they will all forgive me.

Captain Markova is young, almost too young, for where she's at aboard a Star Destroyer. As if she hasn't had the time to progress appropriately through the ranks. Just a month ago she was graduating from the Imperial Naval Academy as an Ensign and was quickly promoted to Junior Lieutenant due to her unique skills behind a warship at Naval Station Validusia. But then she was promoted again because, it is with such skills, that the Empire is in need of her talent now and not later. And because Sandy is the only other person, against my orders, that knows of my secretive orders (if this ever gets out, I'll be hung for failure of duty...or poisoned) and highly recommended her to the Darkest Night to me.

Markova shows the ability to think on her feet, think outside the box of structured military thinking, and keeps a youthful outlook to any situation at hand. All three of these traits she'll need, I think, sooner then later. I'm deciding to assign her to first shift, where I can watch her. Observe and account for her successes and failures. If my assumption is right---with where we'll be headed in little over a year from now---then she'll by my Chief Navigational Officer. We'll need someone who can fly a Star Destroyer like a starfighter.

End recording."


***********

4 months later
Ready Room, Darkest Night (part of the 115th Naval Battle Group), Greater Javin (Ivax Nebula)


Englewood looked a bit worse for wear as he sat down in his chair, his face a bit dirtied and blackened and his uniform showing likewise wear and tear in places. He cleared his throat as he took a sip of water and activated the holo communication log.


"Command Officer's Personnel File Log B dash One dash Navigational. Entry Twelve.

Captain Natalia Markova.

The Ivax Nebula has been kicking our rear. For over a month now, we've been tracking pirates, mercenaries, CIS Holdouts, and terrorist "Rebel" cells up and down, from Burnin Konn, Tokmia, and to Allyuen. We've ventured out well beyond these safe navigational points, beyond what lay on star maps and hyperspace routes. We've seen crazy things out here, things that I can't believe even existed or were possible. We've also seen dark truths where those who wish to do the Empire evil will hide. We've suffered our losses and have had those losses replaced, whether they be starships or personnel. But the Darkest Night has remained the tip of the spear. I think, hopefully, we're finally done here, as much as we can be at least. We've deployed a handful of satellites around several planets and have placed remote monitoring stations in the deepest parts of the nebula to keep eyes on even the darkest villains of this galaxy. But I have to say the mission, here, was a success. Several hundred arrests and loads of hostile equipment, supplies, and personnel either destroyed, taken, or killed. Whatever enemies the Empire had in this galaxy, they are sufficiently less now.

With that said, Captain Markova has demonstrated an ability to keep the hottest of pursuits going against truly superior starships in terms of speed and agility. We've been restricted many times in the use of our TIEs because of the hazardous nature of this nebula and its dense matter forming planets. In places, we couldn't even send out blastboats or shuttles with shields and had to rely solely on the superior protection of our capital ships. Even then I wondered if the environment of this nebula was too much----just yesterday we lost one of our Raider-class Corvettes. One moment it was there, the next, an ion storm swept through and disabled her. Before we could get to her, we watched internal pressures in the planet forming nebula crumple the Corvette like a soda can. We listened to their screams over the comms for a moment before I cut the line. By the time rescue forces got to the corvette, it was too late. All hands were dead in the most grizzly fashion of death possibly.

Despite these most disheartening events, Captain Markova has pressed pursuit and has challenged even my own command style as she has forced me to be more bold then usual. This has allowed us greater flexibility in attack and defense tactics. Despite our mass and size, just today, she flew us through an ion storm. Excellent piloting and coordination with other navigational officers. The storm came out of nowhere---as is often the case here apparently---and while our smaller support ships were able to withdraw, our speed was such in a pursuit of pirates that we couldn't slow in time to reverse course. Despite some damage---after all, we're not a starfighter or shuttle---we navigated the storm and came out on the other side still following the three pirate frigates, which lead us straight to an isolated and secretive space station deep in the nebula that the pirates were using as a base of operations. We immediately started blockade and bombardment measures, sending in ground forces to capture useful intelligence and the station. After the intel was gathered and useful assets captured, we destroyed the station and everyone else on it. No need for that rebel rift-raft in our beautiful Empire.

I've recommended Markova for the Crimson Star. Command told me it could take over a year for the paperwork to be processed and confirmed, but I'm pushing the issue. I'll make sure I present the medal myself to her.

End recording."


TAG @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: DW-418131 (Old Man)
Army Quarters, Darkest Night, Hyperspace


The Old Man shrugged and puffed on his cigar before stating in a foreboding tone, "The devil doesn't sleep, Lieutenant," he said, then finished, "Best get to bed best you can. By tomorrow, you may be my commanding officer," the Old Man took another drag off his cigar, before adding, "And Lieutenant, Onderon taught you one very important lesson: don't give mercy to the scum bag rebels. They'd kill your mother if it served their twisted ideology against the Empire. Show no quarter to those monsters. No quarter, Lieutenant. No quarter. And victory will be had after every last drop of their blood is spilled for their betrayal."


TAG @TheSilentInfluence