"Captain, ETA to jump point is 3 minutes." A voice spoke up, coming from one of the dozens of stations that lined the windows of an Imperial Star Destroyer bridge, its origins aimed at Captain Luca.
"Good, retransmit the message to Commodore Rysell. And activate protocol Aurek-3-13, I want every active combat station manned and secured. We cannot allow any mistakes in this battle, we will be heavily outnumbered and outgunned." Luca spoke, aimed at the comms officers. Who nodded, and alarms began blaring through the ship.
The Imperial-II Class Star Destroyer found itself within the familiar grasp of hyperspace travel, its heading being Riflor.
Though, it was alone. The presence of the 'Swift End' had been left back in the jump-point. As the 'Leviathan' headed towards Riflor Space alone.
None of the officers onboard the bridge, except Captain Luca knew why. But most simply summed it up to not wanting to risk the destruction of the only cruiser within the Squadron equipped with an interdictor field.
But the officers onboard the 'Leviathan' were skilled, and rarely allowed secondary thoughts or non-related feelings to enter their minds. Preferring to be single-handedly locked onto the task at hand, namely the efficient control of their Imperial Star Destroyer.
And at the center of that, was Captain Luca.
By this time, he'd have commanded a bridge a dozen times. And watched Aaron command even more.
The Commodore often enjoyed personally leading every skirmish, but the ones that brought him little joy, challenge nor achievements were often left to Captain Luca. And through it, he too had gotten a fair grasp on the works of command.
The crew was a machine, instincts and protocol taking over their minds. As all guns were double-checked, reactors were safeguarded, Stormtroopers were organized into defensive positions, TIE Fighters were led to their cockpits.
And when the large screen displaying ETA reached 144 seconds, the Blast Doors opened, and Commodore Aaron Rysell walked in. Flanked by his standard Wraith Squadron, and Lt Colonel Lux and Colonel Catcher.
Both Catcher and Aaron had risen in ranks, and their ranks no longer required the constant face-to-face work that was previously a necessity. Yet they kept it up, always remaining side by side in the most crucial of moments.
Colonel Catcher had by far entered the Commodore's circle of advisors, which resulted in him following him to most command positions, a partnership that the both of them enjoyed.
As Rysell entered the bridge, his Wraith Troopers formed up on the doors. And so did Captain Lux, though he remained slightly closer to the Commodore.
Catcher meanwhile, followed Aaron as he walked up to Luca.
"Everything in order?" He asked the Captain, as he turned around to face Rysell.
"Aye, pre-combat procedures are running as we speak. Alongside security checks, but every man should be at their stations by now." Luca said, and Aaron nodded. His gaze falling on the crewmen who worked across the bridge.
Aaron turned towards Catcher, who stood beside him.
"How goes your task, is everything in order?"
"Yes, sir. All personnel have been accounted for, and placed in their designated vehicles. We're just awaiting your call." He responded, and Aaron nodded. Turning towards the large screen.
'ETA: 53 Seconds.'
"Redirect all power to the turbolasers, prioritize range."
The operations officers began typing on their stations, while Aaron, Luca and Catcher remained silent.
The 53 seconds quickly passed, and the familiar flickers of hyperspace disappeared. And the planet of Riflor came into sight. With the fleet appearing as black dots on the horizon, for Aaron had willingly exited hyperspace at the very end of the system.
Without much hesitation, Aaron turned towards Catcher. "Launch them."
Catcher nodded, placing his right hand on the comms-chip on the right side of his helmet, before sealing the helmet. His voice was muffled entirely by the helmet, as he spoke.
Aaron walked up to the sensor pad, watching the screen as 4 signatures were activated for a split second, before disappearing. Making the sensor officer's eyes widen, and he turned towards Aaron in confusion, noticing that the Commodore didn't react in the slightest, and he spoke in an almost whisper.
"Tell nobody of your sighting, and clear the data from our archives." He whispered before walking off, and nodding towards Catcher. Signaling a successful launch, though few on the bridge knew of it.
"What now, sir?" Luca asked, as they were close to half a parsec away from the Separatist Fleet. And it would take minutes, perhaps dozens of minutes for them to reach them. And that was if the Separatists set out to meet them.
...
On the surface of Riflor, in the main political building within the planet. A pair could be seen rushing through the halls, one was lavishly clad. The other was clothed in a more servant-like style. And as they spoke, their relationship became clear.
"Chancellor Kaas, as stated before. An Imperial-II Class Star Destroyer appeared in sector 3.-78.10, at the very edge of our system. Their presence was detected at XX:34, and they've since remained in position." The one not clothed in a lavish outfit spoke, as panic struck the Chancellor.
"Why has he not moved? Is he awaiting reinforcements?" He asked, his voice slightly pitched. His hair black, a long ponytail falling on his back.
"We do not know, Your Majesty. But an ex-Imperial has identified it as the 'Leviathan', the flagship of Commodore Aaron Rysell, of 32nd Squadron." The servant spoke, and the Chancellor halted for a second, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Commodore Rysell, he's the one who has risen through the ranks rapidly these past years? His skills in combat are the target of dozens of rumors." He pondered.
"Aye, Chancellor. He commands the 32nd Squadron, which consists of over 3 Star Destroyers. And a few dozen other warships, a Squadron capable of rivaling our own." The servant spoke, and Kaas continued his walk.
"I did not think the Empire capable of reacting this sharply, the ships bought from our coffers have yet to arrive. We need to stall them." Chancellor Kaas spoke, turning sharply right and entering a massive chamber, with a large HoloTable in the middle.
"Patch me through to Admiral Phoenix." The Chancellor ordered his subordinate, who quickly got to work on the table. And less than a second after, Phoenix appeared. Clad in the same clothes that the Imperial Intelligence agent had spotted him in.
"Chancellor, what is it you require?" The infamous voice of Jango Fett rang across the room, yet it was sort of muffled. As if the man had suffered damage to his vocal nerves, or mouth. Perhaps a mix of both, Kaas wondered.
"What will you do about the Imperial Star Destroyer lingering within my system? I do hope you have no untimely desires in regards to hunting them down?" The Chancellor asked, his eyes narrowed slightly as Phoenix remained entirely still.
"Possibly, we wouldn't want them to receive reinforcements, would we?" He asked in a form of arrogant tone, yet the Chancellor scoffed.
"Do I need to remind you of our own reinforcements? If you can refrain from acting on impulses for half a rotation, you can handle the full 32nd Squadron with relative ease. No advanced strategies needed." He argued, yet he felt as if his word had little effect on the estranged Admiral.
"Perhaps, or perhaps I am searching for a battlefield which requires strategy? Perhaps I search for the thrill of it?" He asked a rhetorical question, and Kaas's right eyebrow was raised slightly.
"Then I may have gotten an incorrect read of you, my belief was that revenge was your main priority?" He asked cautiously. And Phoenix laughed slightly.
"Indeed, it is, but I do wonder how I'd suffice against the new genius of the Empire. But relax, I will only send a portion." Phoenix said, before flickering out of existence. Leaving the Chancellor and his servant alone in the room.
"Sir, what is your command?"
"Initiate martial law, the very stability of this planet is directly under threat. Enforce mandatory enlistment across the surface, and utilize our 'benefactories'. We'll need to utilize their names to buy further naval warships. I suspect we'll suffer casualties today."
The servant nodded, and rushed out of the room. Leaving Chancellor Kaas to himself.
Sometimes I do wonder if this was the right choice, if temporary control was worth the risk of permanent results. Will my legacy be a terrorized planet, perhaps a destroyed surface, or a massacred population.
Acting against the Empire is a risky maneuver, yet my goal is not the independence of Riflor. But to cause a wave, a wave of never-ending rebellions. But one must first take the lethal step, to pave the road for the next. And if all works out, I shall be known as the grandfather of the Empire's destruction.
Sadly for our Chancellor Kaas, the Empire's grip over the Galaxy was far stronger than the man had suspected, and his sacrifice would not start a wave of revolution. But spark a justified example.
For the Empire was growing tired of these planets, and sooner or later. An example must be shown. An example that would be at the very forefront of public perception, a notice that the Empire was still capable of ruining a planet. Even after the destruction of the Death Star.
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