Rivejer Tullius
I did not remain in the Argazda system for long after Nereus arrived. From the onset, he appeared to have a far better handle on the situation than I did - and certainly more than the Directory. However, the haste of my retreat could not be credited entirely to that fact. The conversation between Nereus and I had remained at the forefront of my mind. I could admit that I was not a very courageous man - privately, at least. My bouts of fear or anger-driven suicidal bravery had smothered any attempt to claim I was prone to flight in combat. Then again, perhaps I had always been adverse to personal confrontation? I had fled Naboo as a teen and hadn't been to the world since - avoiding my family.
Of all the people I could have ever expected to confront me on my facade of competence - and none of them were particularly likely - Nereus was the least of that group. Beyond his work as my paymaster, he and I had not interacted much beyond the lounging at Black-15.
I was offended by what he had said, at least in part. Tireless work was the mentality that made Arrowhead Command such an effective instrument to start with. The mere notion that I was not stable or diligent enough to maintain that rate was itself anathema to my entire professional career!
However, the heat of that argument was sapped from my mind when I considered what came of the man I had emulated. Blitzer Harrsk was a renegade, a traitor stripped of rank and title. He was off in the Deep Core, battling loyal Imperials and other warlords in a vain attempt to seize power for himself. Was he truly the right sort of man to emulate? I didn't know.
That led into another issue that conversation dredged up, one I had not accepted as a problem until I was forced to consider them. I was a man dedicated in his entirety to his work. Was I self-destructive?
There was a twinge in my arm, a phantom sting from needle-marks that had long since vanished. The medical staff had been particularly keen to keep me clean, no matter how I tried to justify that pick-me-up. That was not the sign of a healthy mind, maybe there was some truth to Nereus' words? However, I had no hobbies. Even my most diligent of subordinates had something that they did for fun, or they had lives and families outside the military - like Maab and Harand. What did I have? Who did I have?
It was a depressing thought, now that I had sat down and considered it. My mind went to the locked cabinet in my office, where several unopened bottles of liquid numbness would chase away those thoughts.
I sipped my caf slowly. Exchanging once vice for another was probably a bad idea.
"Cutting power to hyperdrives." The navigator announced, before the swirling vortex of hyperspace seemed to smash in on itself.
"Rerouting power to sublight engines and shields in three, two…" Another officer counted down as we dropped out of hyperspace. The pressure on my mind vanished as the Glorious entered the inky blackness of real-space. "... One. Reversion complete."
A klaxon blared after those words and the crew rushed to raise our shields back up. They had already been combat ready, Milgern not wanting to take chances on an ambush. I had complimented that paranoia before now, but in light of Nereus' words I had to wonder if I was harming the stability of my fleet rather than helping it. Unending paranoia was not a good thing, even if it was well-founded.
Thankfully, we were not ambushed the moment we arrived in the system. As the rest of the fleet dropped in around us and adjusted themselves into the preset formation, I took in the system.
Aar enjoyed a level of development roughly similar to Argazda. The Aaraa, a reptilian species, were far better travelled than the Argazdans and so enjoyed a larger network of space stations. They were, based on the records I had procured, a species known for their mercenaries. Credits from all over the galaxy were sapped back to Aar, making the world more wealthy than its size and population would typically have brought. They even fielded their own small customs fleet, made up of third-hand Imperial Customs Corvettes and Frigates. However, that collection of ships was currently hiding in the shadow of their trade station - as the Imperial garrison had come out to play.
Two groups faced each other, made up of Star Destroyers and their assorted escorts. Turbolaser fire had not yet been exchanged, but it was clear the stand-off was ready to shatter at a moment's notice. Cursing my luck, I moved back to the holotable and set my cup on its edge.
"Communications, open channel." I ordered, as I had not yet been given access to the sector's entire communications. A clerical oversight, I was sure - so I had to start with yelling at them over open comms.
"This is Commodore Rivejer Tullius, acting Commander of the Ciutric Hegemony's fleets. Whoever is in command here will open a direct line with my flagship, the Glorious, immediately." I affected a stern tone, though it matched my current mood. With the Pestages, the constant troubles we faced on the way here and the Ciutric Hegemony trying to tear itself apart, dealing with an internal civil war was not how I wanted this tour to end.
I did not need to wait for long before attempts to communicate were made - direct lines to the Glorious. Two came from Star Destroyers - the rival pairs between the opposing groups. The other came from Aar, a written message rather than an attempt to connect. I forwarded it to my datapad, finding it to come from the local planetary Governor. The man demanded, though politely, to get these ships out of his system - trade caravans had seen the Star Destroyers squaring up for a fight and fled. I closed the message and accepted the pair of calls.
"Who is in command here?" I demanded instantly, though I had a hint that this would not be a harmonious discussion.
"I am in-" Began the Captain of the Insidious.
"This system is-" The commanding officer of the Brutus.
It devolved from there. The two men began to argue, shouting over each other. I let this run for a time, flabbergasted and debating how to deal with this. I cast my mind to the Directory, holding in-person meetings gave me a greater degree of control. For the time being, as I was controlling the group communication I muted both Captains.
"Gentlemen!" I raised my voice, as though I could not hear them I knew they both were probably still shouting in their separate calls. "Officers do not carry themselves like this. You two are to report to my ship within the hour. We will be holding this meeting in-person. Send a confirmation that you understand."
It took a moment, but a nonverbal confirmation signal came from either ship. I closed the call, preparing myself for what would certainly be a tasking discussion. I contacted Harand to call him over, wanting an ally in that room I could rely upon. After a moment of consideration, I then contacted Captain Pestage as well. She seemed to know the Captain of the Insidious, Captain Rochecauld, and could provide some insight to this conversation.
A few minutes later, a new communication came in - forwarded from Corvis Minor.
"Commodore Tullius." The Victory Star Destroyer Captain appeared mildly perturbed as he contacted my fleet, immediately putting me on edge. It seemed no one wanted to talk to me and share good news. The woes of command.
"Corvus Minor is being harassed by pirates."
He then went on to detail the situation. Corvis Minor itself was not under attack - the pirates were not foolish enough to try and engage the local fleet directly. They could escape the Victory Star Destroyer, but the Strike Cruisers were fast enough to keep pace and engage the fleeing pirates. However, they were using nearby satellite systems or uninhabited rocks as bases for their raids. They targeted convoys along the hyperlane and the Captain had no way to deal with them effectively without abandoning Corvis Minor.
"I will send someone to assist." I promised. The Captain bowed his head thankfully and the communication closed. I raised Captain Pax, giving him his first independent assignment.
I flicked the activation switch on my datapad absently, waiting for the arrival of the two troublesome Captains. As the Commodore, it was more of a social faux pas to greet these lower officers myself - or so Milgern subtly hinted. So, I sent Screold - I had not given her much to do since moving her to the secondary bridge.
I sat at the far end of the table from the door, flanked on my sides by Harand and Pestage-Neron. Harand was reading through his own datapad, appearing rigorous in his swiping but the dullness in his eyes telling me he was not as attentive as he appeared. Pestage-Neron, meanwhile, was the model of prim and proper. Back straight, hands folded in her lap, eyes on the door.
I flicked the datapad back on and glanced at the file before me. It was a report on one Captain Defel Rochecauld, Captain of the Insidious. He was stately, with a skeleton face and sunken eyes. He was pale, telling of a man who spent the majority of his time in space and out of view of a star. A swipe of my finger brought Captain Rumian Alessandro's file forward. It was an exercise in opposites, Alessandro had a wider and more jolly face. A neatly maintained moustache covered his upper lip and his skin was more tanned. He commanded the Brutus.
I flicked the datapad back off, setting it back down and putting an end to the monotonous sound. I saw Pestage-Neron glance at me through the corner of her eye, or else to glare at me for being so obnoxious. I adjusted the datapad slightly as I sat up straighter, clearing my throat and addressing the woman.
"Are you familiar with these two men?" I asked her, the woman turning fully now to face me.
"Passingly so with Alessandro. Rochecauld is a Ciutric native, I have known him for years."
"A friend?"
"In a manner of speaking."
So she would be a biased voice in whatever I decided to do with these two. Still, her perspective would be uniquely useful - she had interacted with these men, if only in passing.
Aar originally fell under the oversight of Commodore Trast, who fled alongside Delany out of Hegemony space. His second had left with him, leaving what remained of the local squadron in the hands of the two Captains. With no clear chain of command, the two were evidently left to bicker over who was in command now.
A low beep from my personal communicator warned me that one or both of the Captains had arrived and were on their way here. I straightened in my chair as Harand set his datapad down. My guards flanked either side of the door in their usual pairs - two inside and two out. As always, they cut an intimidating figure - hopefully these Captains would be kept in order by their presence. That had not worked with the Directory, but I suspected they were less aware of what these men were.
The door opened to admit Captain Rochecauld - his towering figure to match his deathly thinness. He considered us each in turn, shallow eyes drinking in our appearances. Though we had not seen each other during the holocall, I suspected Rochecauld had done his own research into who I was. He seemed to dismiss Harand first, the least of those present despite holding a similar rank. My rank plaque gave me away as a Commodore, or a ranking officer in any case. He recognised Pestage-Neron instantly, though he kept his focus on me. After a heartbeat, he saluted me.
"Captain Defel Rochecauld, reporting."
"Take a seat." I gestured to one of the seats, which he took. Silence returned to the room. Rochecauld met Pestage-Neron's gaze and nodded to the younger woman, but neither of them spoke. I began to tap my fingers on the table, fighting the urge to lean back into my chair again. Rochecauld seemed to be on edge, as he tensed as the tapping began. Pestage-Neron glanced at me again from the corner of her eye, a reproachful glare I suspected. Minutes later, another beep warned me of the next arrival.
Captain Alessandro stepped in as the door opened, saluting immediately before even considering the room.
"Captain Rumian Alessandro, Captain of the Brutus. Reporting." The man announced gruffly, his eyes locking down onto me. I gestured to the opposite side of the table from Rochecauld, who was considering the other officer with a baleful glare. The room temperature seemed to drop a few degrees immediately, but I kept my expression straight.
"Gentlemen, it brings me no joy to be a disciplinarian. However, the attitude you have displayed over a minor disagreement over seniority is deeply disappointing. Especially when this matter should have been brought before Commodore Pestage long before it devolved to this state."
The two men seemed to bristle with anger at the reproach, but kept their tongues - I was already showcasing that I was a departure from the hands off approach of my predecessor.
"We did. Commodore Pestage deferred that decision to us." Alessandro admitted, his tone easy despite his clear edginess - trying to appear more friendly than his counterpart. Rochecauld was thunderous, his scowling glare sent toward Alessandro before speaking.
"By seniority, command would fall to me. Unfortuantely-"
"Our rank is the same!" Alessandro interrupted Rochecauld, slamming his hand on the table before pointing an accusing finger at the other Captain. "You had barely waited a day before trying to kill me."
Alarmed, I curled an eyebrow. Harand's eyes narrowed, glancing toward me before looking at the two again like they were particularly distasteful. Pestage-Neron merely frowned, showing no other outward reaction to this news.
"I did-" Rochecauld tried to start again, only for me to silence him this time.
"Tried to kill?" I drawled, hoping the annoyance in my voice was clear. It seemed to be, as they fell silent and faced me. "Captain Alessandro, elaborate."
The man seemed victorious, though it brought him no joy as he spoke with a furious tone.
"I was scheduled to have dinner at a local restaurant on Aar's surface. I was forced to remain with the fleet, but my second still went. He was poisoned and died there at the restaurant!"
"He died." Rochecauld bit out. "From a heart attack. Because he was ninety-two."
The discussion devolved into mere name calling and minor gripes, but I came to a realisation. These two were children!
Lieutenant Julia Cinna
The Endymion burned through hyperspace, following my comrades toward Corvis Minor. As the Commodore was dealing with a feud between fleet officers - typical Outer Rimmers, but what else was there to expect - Captain Pax was sent to hunt down pirates. It was a nice change of pace, something to focus on beyond the unsubtle investigations from CompForce. It was not direct, but every request or order I made was interrogated by Captain Pax - more justification needed than I felt necessary. I was still not completely sure if Pax was in my corner.
My ship dropped out of hyperspace, trailing behind and below the Vivisector.
"Helm, get us back into formation." I ordered, the deck officer repeating the order and giving directional commands to the helmsman. The Cruiser pitched up and drifted into formation, joined by the rest of the Vindicators. Presently, the Corvis Minor system was quiet - its garrison centered around the most populated planet. We moved toward the squadron at sublight speeds, Captain Pax likely speaking with the local Commander to get a feel for the situation.
We came to rest over the planet, sitting in close proximity with the main space station. A couple of hours later, Captain Pax put out a meeting call for the squadron. Standing at my holotable, I joined the call - the hologram of the Endymion remaining in place as this was audio-only.
"The local fleet believes that pirates have sliced into the local HoloNet relay and are tracking convoys that way. They have engaged smaller caravans at the edge of the system, but they are mostly targeting hyperlane interchanges.
Interchanges referred to minor jump points along hyperlanes where ships needed to drop out of hyperspace to make directional changes. Typically, they were set at uninhabited systems or smaller rogue planetoids - something with a large enough gravity well to be tracked outside the system and used as a reference point. They were rare in the Core and Mid Rim, as worlds and systems were a stone's throw away, but out here populated systems were simply too distant from each other. Historically, they were also hotspots of pirate activity - especially in the current political situation.
"We will remain in-system and wait for the next distress beacon, see if we can not track them down."
We waited in Corvis Minor for a little under a week - Pax voiced his suspicions that the pirates were spooked by our arrival. However, they finally made their appearance and attacked a convoy out of the Ciutric system - a trio of freighters guarded by some Interceptor Frigates.
"Raise forward shields." I ordered as we dropped out of hyperspace, looking out over the edge of a small system. A dwarf star orbited by a distant planetoid that seemed ready to escape the pull of its system centre. Corvis-B was a satellite system of Corvis Minor, just far enough that the local garrison was not eager to come themselves.
"Raising shields to full, aye sir."
We drifted into a spearhead, the Endymion moving the edge of the right flank. We burned as fast as we could toward the engagement.
The escorting Frigates were engaged as the freighters tried to flee out of range of their pursuers. The pirate force was a large, though typical, force. Marauder Cruisers engaged their opponents at range while another harassed the merchants. A single Vindicator would be enough to chase off their group, five was horrifically overkill.
Lacking fighters, we had to wait until our comparatively short-ranged turbolaser batteries were in range to engage. The Marauders continued to harass the merchants up until the last moments, cutting their losses and running off. They berated and mocked us over open comms, their ships too fast for us to catch even at the best possible speed. I was ordered to break off and chase down the lone Marauder while the rest gave chase.
This Marauder was quieter, focused on escaping before I could get in range.
"Cronau radiation spike." The sensor officer announced, moments before the Cruiser vanished into hyperspace.
"Calculate all possible destinations based on their last trajectory." I ordered immediately. I would not let this pirate get away. While the crew was green, they were well-trained - within half an hour, I had a list of possible systems on the way out of this one. Choosing the closest, I ordered a jump to lightspeed. I wanted to capture the ship and force them to surrender. From them, we could learn what nest this band was operating out of.
Unfortunately, I would not get the chance. It was the second destination, a rogue planetoid, that had been the pirate's target. The Marauder was destroyed, split in half by the Surveyor Frigate under Captain Calox. The gregarious man greeted me amicably as he left, acting as if he had done me a favour.
I returned to Corvis-B in defeat, but it seemed the rest of the pirate flotilla had escaped as well. This continued for days, each time the pirates narrowly escaping our forces. The Corvis Minor garrison remained obstinate, refusing to leave their charge open to attack. So, when Captain Pax recalled the officers, it was to outline his new plan.
RZ997-01-AB was a particularly large asteroid around the halfway point between Ciutric and Corvis Minor. For the last century, it had been used as a midpoint stop for incoming civilian and military traffic. The Endymion was dwarfed sitting next to it, but for ships entering the system we were unmissable. My ship displayed its transponder openly, putting any passing traffic at ease as they knew we were Imperial. However, despite the calm, I was thunderous.
Captain Pax's master plan was to lay an ambush for the pirates - to trick them into an engagement and try to damage or capture one ship. To accomplish this, he decided that one of the Vindicators would lay as bait for the pirates to attack, for which I was selected. Was there some hidden reason? Some faith he held in my ability to survive a possible attack alone?
No. Because I was a woman. Better than that, I was a Core-born woman - one that spoke with a 'proper' and 'sophisticated' accent. That, Pax had wagered, would make me a more attractive target.
Of course, anything sounds sophisticated next to Tullius. I thought bitterly. The man's accent sounds like a Caridan forced to swallow a lemon!
I kept those thoughts to myself, naturally.
"You are clear to jump, Magenta." I said clearly into the communication line, despite my thunderous expression. The cargo freighter vanished into hyperspace toward the Ciutric system. I had been talking into the open comms line all day. The pirates had yet to bite; I suspected that would remain the case. These vagabonds had been avoiding us ever since we arrived, they would not be willing to attack even a lone Cruiser when they did not know where the rest were. I could not even talk to the Captain or the rest of the squadron as Pax feared that may spook the pirates.
"Cronau radiation spike." The sensor officer noted absently, his bored tone doing little to draw my attention. "South-west."
I nodded slowly before pausing, conjuring a map of the local space in my mind. To the north was Corvis Minor, to the south Ciutric. There was nothing but empty space and uninhabited systems until you reached the Celanon Spur. There was a moment of concern that flashed through my mind. It could always be a merchant trying to take a shortcut or skirt the taxation at Vinsoth or wherever else, but paranoia has served me well in my life. Dealing with the unseemly sorts that targeted me for my species or family had given me a healthy confidence in my instincts.
"Power to shields, order all crew to battle stations." I order, turning from the forward viewport and pointing at the communications officer. Concern and alarm were evident in the faces and surface thoughts of my crew, but they rushed to follow my orders. "Sensors, forward coordinates to the helm. Helm, that's your target - face it."
The Endymion twisted, facing what appeared to be empty space. The reading we had received indicated they were already in the system. The sensors were already hard at work trying to track the incoming ships - who did not have their transponders online.
"Engine radiation." The crewmember announced at last. "Size range… Heavy Frigate to Light Cruiser, three plus. Tightly packed."
I folded my hands behind my back, one hand grabbing the wrist while the other tightened into a fist.
"Do we have a visual?" I asked.
"One moment." The holotable flickered to show a cluster of glowing readouts grouped together in a rough pyramid formation. After a minute, it was revealed not to be three smaller ships but rather one big ship with three individual thrusters. A Recusant-class Light Destroyer, matte grey and in what the records indicated was a wartime configuration. The Marauder Corvettes moved in a small pack - hidden from the radiation sensors by the mass of their leader.
It was a lot larger than I was expecting and it was closing fast. Marauders were expected - a bit heavily armed and organised, but nothing out of the realm of possibility. A Recusant was a rare ship to see, given their need for constant and intensive maintenance. Doubly so in the hands of pirates. They might have been viewed as fragile against Imperial or even Venator Star Destroyers, but it was a far more even match compared to the Endymion.
"Send the distress signal." I ordered immediately, not wanting to bother with waiting until the pirates were engaged. We could not run, the Marauders would make leaving the planetoid impossible and we needed to stay close so reinforcements could reach us.
"No response. It is possible we are being jammed." The communications officer announced. Immediately, I was nearly thrown off by the panic that resounded through the minds of my crew. I took in a breath, fighting the shakiness out of it - it was one thing to face an enemy force along with comrades, it was another to do so alone. Still, I rallied my confidence and hoped I showed it well in my voice.
"Prepare for battle." I order simply, moving to the front of the bridge. Given we were not communicating with Captain Pax, I had to hope they decided to make contact first and realise that we had gone dark.
An hour stretched by as the hostile force closed - their slow approach becoming far less cautious when it became clear we were alone. I stood at the holotable, arms crossed as I watched the encroaching pirates. The Recusant sat behind a line of size Marauders, the smaller Corvettes forming an arrowhead at the fore. New contacts filed out, each Corvette carrying a complement of twelve snubcraft. With no fighters of our own, we would need to rely upon the Endymion's point-defense batteries to protect us.
The fighter craft were identified as mostly Z-95 Headhunters, an old but still dangerous fighter craft if outfitted properly. I realised belatedly that this was the first time I had ever seen a Headhunter in my career.
The pirates opened the engagement with an alpha strike - launching the totality of their fighters ahead of the fleet to assault my ship directly.
"Shields double front." I ordered preemptively.
Some seventy well-armed fighters raced directly at the Endymion. We opened with a stream of fire from the turbolasers, not in the hopes that would destroy them but to dissuade some of their number. This worked in part, as some of the wings broke off and tried to scatter. Others continued on, racing straight for my vessel. The laser cannons and point-defense ion cannons began to fire, splashing some of the incoming Headhunters. The lead element fired, not with laser cannons but glowing proton torpedoes.
Exceptionally well armed for pirates. I noted. The glimmering flashes of light slammed into the shields, detonating brilliantly outside the viewscreen. The shields held, it would take more than a few fighter-graded missiles to punch through our shields. However, the Marauders were bearing down on us, chasing as fast as they could behind the fighters. Beyond them was the Recusant, far more heavily armed than my Endymion. The majority of its anti-capital ship weapons were faced forward, undoubtedly a cost-cutting measure but served to make an otherwise unremarkable ship exceptionally dangerous.
Facing that ship from the front would spell certain doom, as breaking our shields was an inevitability. Even if we could overwhelm the Marauders, breaking that Recusant in a face-to-face slugging match was a recipe for disaster. No matter how I tried to plan it, there was little chance of survival in holding my ground.
It was at this juncture that I cast my mind back to Kuat. Commodore Tullius, who I now regretted insulting even if only in my mind, had run us through a vicious battery of wargames. Some were of his personal experiences since Endor, others more popular simulations. However, in those wargames, Tullius was a more cautious commander. Waiting for the enemy to come to him, using his flagship as the anvil. It was not that I now needed to emulate. I had read the reports from Bakura and N'zoth, and so I knew that the Commodore's recent tactical outlook was a vast departure.
This was all to say that beating the Recusant by holding my ground would not work, I needed to close the distance - steal the advantage given to it by its bow-mounted cannons. I needed to charge.
"Helm, bring engines to full burn." I ordered, moving from the holotable and looking again at the viewscreen. Our immediate space was filled with vibrant green bolts as my ship lashed out against the snubcraft. The Recusant was now visible with the naked eye, a glowing dot charging directly at us.
There was a beat of hesitation before the navigation officer responded.
"Full burn, aye sir."
"Plot a course for that Recusant's starboard side - I want us on top of him." I ordered, feeling my heart race as the Endymion lurched forward.
"Course plotted, sir."
"Shall I redirect our shields, sir?" Another officer asked, a hint of alarm in his voice. With the majority of our energy dedicated to the forward deflector shields, it left our flanks weakened.
"Halve the forward shields, dedicate power as necessary." I order, leaving that issue in the hands of the officer. He would keep his eye on where attacks were coming from and focus our shields accordingly. Unlike most ships of its size, the Endymion had a robust and efficient shield generator designed for a much larger ship. We could snap our shields around to quickly counter new threats.
The Recusant did not slow its advance as it opened with heavy volleys from its forward long-range batteries. Massive flashes filled the view screen, but our shields held. The Marauders were smarter, some of them were in any case. They cut their speed, trying to turn and track the Endymion as it slid by.
The Recusant's crew finally seemed to realise the issue, as the ship tried to turn and lead us with its forward guns while still gunning its engines. It was moving too fast to track us, and the Endymion rapidly overtook its turn. We crawled up next to the much larger ship and it seemed this action confused the crew. It tried to keep turning to bring its forward batteries to bear, while at the same time trying to roll and fire its downward-facing broadside cannons. This led to the ship awkwardly spinning, bringing nothing to fire at us except its point-defense guns.
"Cut speed." I called, unable to hide the victorious tone of my voice. The Endymion slowed and tore into the starboard side of the larger Recusant - finding purchase in the lightly armoured hull for a moment before their shields caught up. The turbolasers continued to fire despite this, hoping to-
CRASH!
I was nearly thrown from my feet, stumbling into the forward viewscreen. Some crew members were not so lucky, tossed from their chairs or sent sprawling onto the bridge floor. I pushed off the view screen, my hat sliding to the ground as I brought a hand to my smarting nose.
"What was that?" I demanded.
"Lieutenant!" One officer called, making me turn. I followed his pointing finger to the holotable, where the hologram of the Endymion and Recusant dominated the space. The Recusant had continued turning, despite us now being too close to aim its forward guns at us. So, the larger slip had slapped the Endymion's rear with its bow - arresting its turn as if trying to physically push us away.
The sight of that was so absurd that I was temporarily lost for words. What could possibly be going through the pirate Captain's mind to try that?
Finally, the Recusant's crew seemed to realise this was not working, as they began to turn port and bring their starboard broadside back.
"Helm, hard to starboard, bring us alongside them." I barked. The Endymion made a flat spin to match the Recusant, bringing us both into our broadsides. However, at this range - damn near scraping against each other - the Recusant could not swivel the majority of its guns to shoot at us - the same could not be said to the turrets covering the Endymion.
The Recusant needed space, and so its engines roared to life again. I watched through the forward viewscreen as the trio of massive engines burned hard, and slowly the Recusant drifted by - forgoing any attempt to engage us at close range. One of the engines detonated as an enterprising gunnery officer turned his guns on one, but that did little to stop the ship.
"Helm, bring us about." I ordered. "Where are the Marauders?"
Nearly on top of us again, charging forward to buy the Recusant time to get far enough away. However, as the Recusant got to a more effective range, it did not try to turn and fight. An alarm blared from the holotable, Captain Pax had finally arrived. As the Recusant fled, I brought my ship around to face the Marauders. Too late did they realise their Captain was using them as a distraction to escape, or too late for some of them in any case. Two of the Marauders broke off while the other four found themselves trapped against the Endymion, unwilling to turn and present their rears to the superior Cruiser.
Four Marauders and a damaged Recusant, not a bad first showing for Lieutenant Julia Cinna. As it turned out, the last merchant to leave had spotted the Cronau radiation as he left and noted the lack of transponder codes. He decided to inform the garrison at Corvis Minor, just in case there was something going on.
The pirates were not eager to protect their Captain when their ships were eventually disabled. When we tracked the pirate base down, I took a certain pleasure in watching the Recusant be gutted by the Corvis Minor garrison's flagship.
Rivejer Tullius
"... We then uncovered their base and destroyed it." Pax's hologram sat on my desk, staring up at me as he gave his report. I frowned, tapping my fingers on the table.
"A Recusant in the hands of a pirate is one thing, but you're sure it was a wartime production model?"
"I confirmed it myself. Even after the Victory Star Destroyer split it in half and the crew abandoned it, it kept fighting."
"How did pirates maintain a droid brain as infamously temperamental as a Recusant?" I wondered aloud. The Clone Wars veterans had few nice things to say about Separatist ships, the Recusant least of all. How they were described, one would assume the only Light Destroyer was as much a hindrance to friendly forces as it was a help. Everyone seemed to have a story about a Recusant ramming a friendly ship to reach an enemy one, or wandering off to chase a retreating corvette.
"The Captain did not survive his crew, but those we captured believed their former leader was working with a mysterious benefactor."
"Nothing concrete?" I asked, tapping my fingers again on the desk's surface. I had dealt with my fair share of pirates, at least during my ORSF days - they could scarcely figure out which end of their blaster to point, little more than maintaining an expensive piece of military hardware. It was more than funding they were receiving, which told me they knew more than they were letting out.
"Hold the prisoners and return to the fleet." I ordered. "We'll see if Major Cardon can get something more substantial."
I was loathe to use Cardon for anything, but if he got results then he got results. I knew his lot were closer to soldiers than interrogators, but I had always assumed enhanced interrogation came standard in the training of every CompForce member.
"Sir." I ended the call, letting the hologram die.
"What, Separatist remnants?" Harand asked, shifting in his seat. Across from me were the two Captains, Harand and Pestage-Neron. We had been meeting to discuss what to do with the Second Fleet. Captain Pax's report had come sooner than expected, but it carried with it more questions than answers.
"It's possible." I allowed, but Pestage-Neron seemed to be of another opinion.
"According to convoys coming in from the Hydian, raids have become more frequent all along the Hyperlane. Better organised and armed than they've been in decades." I turned my eyes to Pestage-Neron, this was news to me. Before I could voice as much, Harand beat me to it.
"We are only just now learning about this?" He demanded harshly, his tone showcasing his annoyance. Pestage-Neron quirked an unimpressed eyebrow at the man before turning her attention back to me.
"I only received the report a few hours ago. I planned to discuss it once this disciplinary hearing was finished."
Disciplinary hearing. I wished it was a disciplinary hearing - that would hopefully end with me having at least some of these morons arrested. The issues between the Captains were deep seated and plentiful, only reaching a fevered pitch recently. Weeks had been wasted here trying to fully understand the depths their rivalry went, splitting the fleet in two between them. I had never viewed execution favourably as a disciplinary choice, but I certainly wanted to wring both of their necks.
"We will need to increase patrols, if there is an upswell in piracy then I want it to stay outside the Hegemony." I ordered, moving the topic ahead. "We have wasted enough time here already. Obviously, these two will need to be separated."
That had been decided from the first day, but my secret wish was that one of the two had committed some wrongdoing I could sting them with. I had even hoped that Pestage-Neron, being an ally of Captain Rochecauld, could have provided some evidence to sink his rival. Unfortunately, aside from this incident, both were competent and reliable.
"One will remain here while the other leaves with us." I continued, voicing my thoughts as I had them. "We will have to separate his confederates, leaving two hostile forces together is a recipe for disaster."
I did not know what to do with the separated officer and his half-squadron. Leaving him at Ciutric overbalanced the defense fleet and limited the patrols within the Hegemony - I suspected I would face resistance from the Pestages if I tried to poach the First Fleet.
The Pestages. I fought the urge to glare at Pestage-Neron at the thought, Nereus' report and the scrutiny from the woman had soured me more against them by the day. Nereus' issues with that Clan had planted the seed of an idea in my mind, one that grew from the stress and anger these last weeks had caused me.
"Where will you want them to end up?" Harand asked, calmer now as he brought me back to the present.
"A work in progress." I admitted, planning to end the discussion there. Pestage-Neron decided to speak up.
"What about Vinsoth?" She asked. "You mentioned agreeing to protect the system, what with the absence of their own fleet."
I had forgotten about that, Vinsoth had seemed minor relative to the current situation I was in. Still, it was a good way to keep them as separated as possible while still part of the same fleet.
"Vinsoth is not within the Hegemony." Harand pointed out. "Will placing our own forces there not overstep the Hegemony's authority?"
"If Grand Moff Wessex wants us to move our ships from his system, he is welcome to request it." I argued, finding myself more agreeable to the idea. Technically, the Ciutric Hegemony fell under the authority of Grand Moff Denn Wessex and the 9th Sector Army. Reality was not always so cut and dry, though. The Hegemony's nominal independence meant it could dictate its own affairs and command its own fleet, while still ostensibly falling under his command. I did not know if there had ever been a situation where Wessex had been forced to test that authority, I doubted he would start throwing his weight around now. If the Hydian was as dangerous as Pestage-Neron had claimed, then the Grand Moff had far bigger problems than the Hegemony to deal with right now.
"I am in agreement with Captain Pestage-Neron. Captain-" I pause, a new plot hatching in my mind. "Captain Rochecauld will be moved to Vinsoth to oversee the garrison."
My hope was that Alessandro's bickering with Rochecauld made him less of an ally to the Pestages. Rochecauld was but one piece on the Pestage board, but putting him at Vinsoth was one less I needed to deal with here. I turned my datapad on and noted down that idea to ensure I did not forget it, also quickly dividing the squadron between them.
"I believe that is everything we need to cover?" I phrase it as a question. Harand nods, but Pestage-Neron again raises her concerns.
"You mentioned you wished to think about the command structure of the Second Fleet, have you decided on its new commander?"
Did I? I fought the urge to glance at my datapad, I had said a lot of things over these weeks and had no memory of this discussion. Still, it was something that I needed to consider. However, from what I had seen from the remaining officers in the Second Fleet, there weren't many good options. The two here at Aar were right out - their childish bickering meant giving power to one would make an enemy of the other. Captain Balatin at Argazda had been calmer, but showcased a distinct lack of creativity in how to deal with precarious situations. There was no one of significant rank or authority within the Second Fleet that I could reliably give its reins over to. I cast my mind further, for someone outside the fleet - but that offered little. I did not trust anyone remaining within the First Fleet - sitting at the heart of the Pestage power base. That left my own fleet, where I trusted the officers far more. Harand had experience in commanding a squadron-sized force under me, which meant his experience commanding a fleet was comparable to mine. I had faith in the man, though - he would keep a handle on them, I felt. However, that ran contrary to my plan of leaving the Hegemony eventually - I did not want to divide my officers across the fleet in case I had to pull them when I left.
"For the time being? The status quo will have to suffice. Perhaps someone will stand out?" I ended the discussion there, neither Harand nor Pestage-Neron having anything to add. I rose from my chair, taking my datapad up with me. "Call those two back to the conference room, we've wasted enough time as is."
Captain Alana Pestage-Neron
Once a final decision was reached, Commodore Tullius was swift in executing it. While he had acted with the utmost diligence over these last weeks in conducting his investigation, it was clear to all he was exhausted and furious with the situation. I did not blame him, I was similarly disappointed with Defel Rochecauld. The man had been my tutor in my early days as part of the fleet, someone outside my family that provided an education on how to conduct myself in the fleet. That he had become so embroiled in this childish bickering with Rumian Alessandro of all people was doubly bad. Captain Alessandro was a degenerate boot-licker, rolling over and supporting Keld in everything the late Admiral did. I toed the party line regarding Keld's fate, but I lost little sleep over the man's death.
"Sigmus to Doubtless, making final approach now." My pilot spoke up, his droll voice dragging me from my thoughts as we drifted back into the Star Destroyer's hangar.
I was on my shuttle returning to the Doubtless, Tullius dispersing Captain Harand and I in preparation to leave the system. After these last few weeks, he wanted to return to Ciutric and finally fully outfit his fighter complement - something I was mildly concerned to learn he was unable to do at Kuat. Indeed, it seemed the man had paid for his entire fleet out of pocket - how a man who was until recently a mere Captain managed to accomplish that was the question. Tullius was perhaps the strangest officer I had ever met. He was reserved when faced with rebellion or dissent, opting for a softer handed approach - a far cry from the image I had built of the man based on gathered reports. A political piece in the game between Sate Pestage and the Admiralty, the man who had fought his way from Endor to Imperial Center - all while being mild and inoffensive in conversation. Indeed, outside incidents like Aar and Argazda, he was almost forgettable.
He was proactive as well, proving easy to distract from Ciutric itself. Though there were plenty of real problems to deal with, thanks to the efforts of Keld and Delany, plus the lack of action from Commodore Pestage. I had joined the Navy in part to escape the first half of my family, favouring the militaristic stance of the Neron Clan. Unfortunately, carrying the 'Pestage' brand apparently ensured I would always be in their orbit. Ironic, that an outcast member of the Pestage family was now the only tool they had available to distract Tullius.
Still, my efforts to get into his favour seemed to be bearing fruit. He was at least willing to explain his actions to me at Argazda - something Keld did only under extreme duress it seemed - and had taken my recommendation instantly despite only being a temporary part of his fleet. He was cold, but not completely aloof.
I was already mentally writing the report for the Pestage Patriarch.
Major Rik Cardon
"I apologise for my tardiness, Commodore." I said, sitting down across from Commodore Tullius. The suddenness of his call had seen me rushing to his office. These last few months had been quiet and devoid of work. Each time my men could have been deployed for an operation, Tullius either found some way to avoid conflict or else relied on the inferior forces he had at hand. I meant no disrespect to Maab or the Clone Talik, but CompForce had earned its reputation for a reason. Tullius was cautious after N'zoth - not without reason, but I was slowly feeling like he had lost his edge. So my quiet excitement was well-founded, for I suspected he had finally seen sense and decided to make use of us.
I had seen little of the Commodore after the last few weeks, busy as he was with the incompetents that permeated this 'Ciutric Hegemony'. The mere existence of such an independent sector was anathema to the unity the Empire presented, even if it belonged to the current Regent. I would have shot the two and been done with it, but then again I was not in command. If Tullius wanted them alive, then I suspected there was some reason for it.
"Major, I have two missions for you and your men. One will require a degree of subtlety."
"We are ready to serve, Commodore." I promised immediately, earning a thin smile from Tullius as he turned the datapad on his desk and pushed it toward me. I looked down at it, seeing it was a report from a 'Captain Pax', a name that I had become intimately familiar with due to the presence of the Zeltron girl. Many of the more radical adherents to the New Order were outraged that she was in the fleet, nevermind commanding a ship. I had made my stance clear to Tullius on her and would keep my men in line until told otherwise.
This operation was not related to her, but to the pirates Pax's Cruisers had been dealing with.
"The pirate base has been destroyed, but they were far too well armed and organised to merely be independent renegades. Pair this with what we have learned from passing caravans and we suspect that someone is organising piracy along the Celanon and Hydian."
"Rebels?" I asked, suspecting this to be an attempt to destabilise the Empire and naming the main group that would be behind it. However, there were others - the Hutt Cartels, other criminal organisations, or even one of the renegade traitors.
"That is what we need you to find out. Pax has captured a number of survivors, but they seem to know very little."
"You want us to make sure of that." I asked, Tullius nodding. We weren't Observ spooks, but every CompForce operative worth his salt could officiate a basic enhanced interrogation on someone as easy as pirates. Pirates had little loyalty and most had enough self-preservation that the moment they saw the CompForce armour, they folded. Still, it would be a chance to train a few of the greener operatives - no one would miss these criminal rodents.
"I will see it done." I agree, flicking to the next page on the datapad.
"The other mission is a greater concern and requires a softer touch. Officially, I am sending you to Ciutric-IV for training and cooperating with Colonel Maab to establish the place of CompForce along the Marines and on and on. In reality, you will be there to investigate the Pestage Clan."
I frowned, wondering where this was going. I might dislike the Hegemony as a concept, but the Pestage Clan was a loyalist group. Tullius continued when I didn't speak, explaining further.
"Captain Nereus has been attempting to take control of the fleet accounts and is facing resistance - he suspects it may be from the Pestages. The Pestages were also likely behind the death of Admiral Keld and the flight of Admiral Delany."
"Nothing substantive?" I asked, to which Tullius shook his head.
"That is where you step in. If Nereus and I are correct, the Pestages are actively hindering us - and are hiding something. Captain Alana Pestage-Neron - the Captain of the Doubtless - was… doubtlessly sent to keep an eye on me. I want to know what they are hiding."
"I will see what I can find." I agree immediately, trusting that if Tullius and that wily Nereus believed something was wrong, then there must be something. If indeed the Pestages are traitors, wrongfully hampering the Empire's efforts to stabilise the region, then they would need to be pruned.
It would be a shame, if the Pestage Clan turned out to be corrupt. A shame, but not surprising. Sate Pestage would stand as the sole exemplar of the family, a single healthy apple fallen from a decaying tree.
"Good." Tullius gestured to the door, dismissing me. "Good hunting, Major."