Star Destroyer Valhalla
The great length of the command cruiser slid through the inky blackness of space, the only thing giving away her presence the running lights that glowed all down the vessel’s hull and the massive ion engines that glowed with an eerie blue in the darkness of deep space.
The mammoth command ship, flagvessel of the infamous Black Fleet, was alone, travelling the stars on a mission known only to a select few members of the Ubiqtorate High Command. Her existence was unknown to most of the citizens of the Empire – only the crews who had built her and those who served aboard her, all sworn to secrecy, were aware that the great ship had left her berth many months ago and was now under the command of a young Imperial captain.
In the grand ready room, set below the ship’s bridge, two figures sat around a table large enough to seat a dozen, speaking in hushed tones as the ship continued its quiet journey through the stars.
“The Project is moving along at record pace.” Admiral Bhindi Drayson said, taking sip from the steaming mug of coffee in front of her. “We’re almost ready for a field test.”
“And the Captain? She has no idea?” Bhindi shook her head.
“Trinity has no idea.”
“Do you plan to tell her?” The man was tall and thin, wearing a brown travelling cloak and bald, with a thin beard and moustache. His eyes were dark and cold – those of a man used to dealing with death. He was Yuri Katarn, Chief Engineer of the New Order and commander of the research facility Arc Hammer.
It was he that was responsible for the creation of the Project, which was the primary discussion taking place between the two at the moment.
“Sometime. At the moment, no. I believe she will operate better not knowing where she comes from. She is happy – as she should be. It’s a damn shame she was shot on Exocron, though. It could have unravelled everything.”
“The doctors discovered it?” Yuri questioned.
“Of course. They’re aboard the Valhalla now, of course, and sworn to secrecy. But one can never be too safe. The secrecy of the Project is paramount.” Her voice lacked any emotion as she said it, and any other man might have been put off by her cold heartedness in discussing the deaths of these people.
“When will it be done?” Was all he asked.
“As soon as possible. We cannot allow any word of the Project to spread beyond only those who need to know. Trinity’s injuries were regrettable, but we must deal with the consequences.”
“I did tell you sending her into combat was risky.”
“Yes. But it turned out all right, didn’t it? She performed excellently in combat, at any rate.”
“Very true, Admiral.” Yuri said with a thin smile. “Very true indeed. You say we are ready for a field test?”
“How soon can the combat units be ready for deployment?” Bhindi asked, glad to change the subject away from the Captain and the Kathol Sector war.
“We have ten thousand ready for deployment now. We can have another fifty in three weeks, at the maximum.”
“No. Ten thousand will be plenty.” Bhindi said, doing calculations in her head.
“I take it you already have a target in mind?” Yuri asked, leaning forward on his elbows and watching eagerly. He was an engineer, but tactics and strategy had always intrigued him. As a teenager, he had excelled at the game of paintball, a mock-warfare game in which teams equipped with guns that shot tiny balls of paint played for supremacy. It had been a crude game, but Yuri had discovered both his loves by leading his team to win several tournaments, and by modifying his personal gun until it was without a doubt the finest marker on the planet.
“Two, actually. Both in the Minos Cluster.” She tapped a key on the side of the table, and a holographic display of that sector of space appeared. “This is Karideph. It’s a world similar in climate and habitat to Imperial Centre. But, more remarkably, it has the same sort of construct across the entire surface of the planet.”
“And an invasion is necessary to bring them to the side of the Empire?”
“The planet is controlled by former elements of the Rebellion. It was reportedly once a stronghold for the Alliance, so I expect it will not happily join the ranks of the Empire. There have also been increasing reports of pirate activity in the region. And you know the Empire’s stance on pirates.”
“Useful, to their own extent.” Yuri muttered, and Bhindi laughed.
“Yes, indeed. These pirates, however, are enemies of the Empire, and they make no secret of it. They must be taught that the Empire does not settle for their enemies to flaunt their hatred so openly.”
“Agreed, Admiral. You mentioned a second target?”
“Of course.” She indicated another planet in the display. “Pergitor. It was settled centuries ago by the Jesa Corporation, who attempted to strip her of her resources. One of their mines reportedly set off a major earthquake and volcanic eruption, killing off most of the native life and driving the Jesa Corporation off the planet. For obvious reasons, the remaining citizens keep indoors. They now produce a number of high-grade alloys for use in vehicle and starship construction.”
Yuri nodded.
“They seem like fine choices. Are you sure there is nothing of any more interest with Pergitor?” He added thoughtfully. Bhindi smiled and nodded.
“There might be. According to some of my sources, it also served as a base of operations for the pirates in the next system. If it’s true, we kill two birds with one stone. And even if it’s not, Pergitor’s resources can be put to good use by the Empire.”
“I’m sure the Empire will find good uses for it, too.” Yuri said, chuckling. “Perhaps the next-generation Imperial Army transports.”
“Maybe so.” She stood, stretching her arms and yawning. The hour was late – the night shift had taken over control of the warship nearly three hours ago.
“Did you have a commander in mind for the attack?” Yuri asked, still sitting but not leaning back and regarding the Admiral with a detached look.
“I was thinking of Captain Trinity.” She said. Yuri dropped forward, frowning.
“If you think it… wise. Is she fully recovered from the Kathol Sector ordeal?”
“Certainly. She’s on leave at the moment – involuntary, I might add. But she’s itching to get something done. And she would be under the supervision of Iceheart.
Icheart, of course, was the Director of Imperial Intelligence, Ysanne Isard. She had been through dead for some time before Simon Kaine had recruited her services from somewhere, back in the days of Regent Exercon and Grand Admiral Zell.
“I trust your choices, Admiral, as always.” Yuri said, standing. “And I know that Captain Trinity is fully qualified for command. Can the fleet spare the necessary assets to subdue two sectors? The Project soldiers are on thing – but normal troops will be required to supplement them, and to maintain order once the worlds are taken.”
“The clone factories on Kamino are working overtime in the face of a Coalition invasion. And of course the facilities on Byss are not entirely occupied with the Project.”
“No.” Admitted Yuri. “But the manpower required to hold two systems must be great.”
“It is, that’s true. But let’s not forget that military recruitment is at an all-time high as well. We’ve put nearly ten million recruits through the various schools in the last six months. The people of the Empire are prepared for war. And they don’t want their worlds overrun by the aliens.”
“No, I’d image they wouldn’t.” Yuri agreed. “I’ve heard that even those serving under the aliens are unhappy with their rule. Hardly a government I would welcome to my doorstep after living under the rule of the Empire.”
“They believe they’re fighting for a just and noble cause.” Bhindi said casually. “Who can blame them? They’re entitled to their beliefs, certainly.”
“But not to the point that they infringe upon other citizens’ rights.”
“Of course not. Hence the preparing of the fleet in the face of invasion. If and when the aliens strike, the Empire will be ready.”
“And hopefully by that time, the Project will be fully functional as well.”
“Let us hope, Yuri. You know as well as I do how much good the Project could to the Empire in a time of war.”
With a smile, the scientist stepped around the table and clinked his glass with Bhindi’s.
“To the Empire.” He said simply.
“To the Empire.” Bhindi echoed, taking a sip from the glass. “Long may it reign.”
The great length of the command cruiser slid through the inky blackness of space, the only thing giving away her presence the running lights that glowed all down the vessel’s hull and the massive ion engines that glowed with an eerie blue in the darkness of deep space.
The mammoth command ship, flagvessel of the infamous Black Fleet, was alone, travelling the stars on a mission known only to a select few members of the Ubiqtorate High Command. Her existence was unknown to most of the citizens of the Empire – only the crews who had built her and those who served aboard her, all sworn to secrecy, were aware that the great ship had left her berth many months ago and was now under the command of a young Imperial captain.
In the grand ready room, set below the ship’s bridge, two figures sat around a table large enough to seat a dozen, speaking in hushed tones as the ship continued its quiet journey through the stars.
“The Project is moving along at record pace.” Admiral Bhindi Drayson said, taking sip from the steaming mug of coffee in front of her. “We’re almost ready for a field test.”
“And the Captain? She has no idea?” Bhindi shook her head.
“Trinity has no idea.”
“Do you plan to tell her?” The man was tall and thin, wearing a brown travelling cloak and bald, with a thin beard and moustache. His eyes were dark and cold – those of a man used to dealing with death. He was Yuri Katarn, Chief Engineer of the New Order and commander of the research facility Arc Hammer.
It was he that was responsible for the creation of the Project, which was the primary discussion taking place between the two at the moment.
“Sometime. At the moment, no. I believe she will operate better not knowing where she comes from. She is happy – as she should be. It’s a damn shame she was shot on Exocron, though. It could have unravelled everything.”
“The doctors discovered it?” Yuri questioned.
“Of course. They’re aboard the Valhalla now, of course, and sworn to secrecy. But one can never be too safe. The secrecy of the Project is paramount.” Her voice lacked any emotion as she said it, and any other man might have been put off by her cold heartedness in discussing the deaths of these people.
“When will it be done?” Was all he asked.
“As soon as possible. We cannot allow any word of the Project to spread beyond only those who need to know. Trinity’s injuries were regrettable, but we must deal with the consequences.”
“I did tell you sending her into combat was risky.”
“Yes. But it turned out all right, didn’t it? She performed excellently in combat, at any rate.”
“Very true, Admiral.” Yuri said with a thin smile. “Very true indeed. You say we are ready for a field test?”
“How soon can the combat units be ready for deployment?” Bhindi asked, glad to change the subject away from the Captain and the Kathol Sector war.
“We have ten thousand ready for deployment now. We can have another fifty in three weeks, at the maximum.”
“No. Ten thousand will be plenty.” Bhindi said, doing calculations in her head.
“I take it you already have a target in mind?” Yuri asked, leaning forward on his elbows and watching eagerly. He was an engineer, but tactics and strategy had always intrigued him. As a teenager, he had excelled at the game of paintball, a mock-warfare game in which teams equipped with guns that shot tiny balls of paint played for supremacy. It had been a crude game, but Yuri had discovered both his loves by leading his team to win several tournaments, and by modifying his personal gun until it was without a doubt the finest marker on the planet.
“Two, actually. Both in the Minos Cluster.” She tapped a key on the side of the table, and a holographic display of that sector of space appeared. “This is Karideph. It’s a world similar in climate and habitat to Imperial Centre. But, more remarkably, it has the same sort of construct across the entire surface of the planet.”
“And an invasion is necessary to bring them to the side of the Empire?”
“The planet is controlled by former elements of the Rebellion. It was reportedly once a stronghold for the Alliance, so I expect it will not happily join the ranks of the Empire. There have also been increasing reports of pirate activity in the region. And you know the Empire’s stance on pirates.”
“Useful, to their own extent.” Yuri muttered, and Bhindi laughed.
“Yes, indeed. These pirates, however, are enemies of the Empire, and they make no secret of it. They must be taught that the Empire does not settle for their enemies to flaunt their hatred so openly.”
“Agreed, Admiral. You mentioned a second target?”
“Of course.” She indicated another planet in the display. “Pergitor. It was settled centuries ago by the Jesa Corporation, who attempted to strip her of her resources. One of their mines reportedly set off a major earthquake and volcanic eruption, killing off most of the native life and driving the Jesa Corporation off the planet. For obvious reasons, the remaining citizens keep indoors. They now produce a number of high-grade alloys for use in vehicle and starship construction.”
Yuri nodded.
“They seem like fine choices. Are you sure there is nothing of any more interest with Pergitor?” He added thoughtfully. Bhindi smiled and nodded.
“There might be. According to some of my sources, it also served as a base of operations for the pirates in the next system. If it’s true, we kill two birds with one stone. And even if it’s not, Pergitor’s resources can be put to good use by the Empire.”
“I’m sure the Empire will find good uses for it, too.” Yuri said, chuckling. “Perhaps the next-generation Imperial Army transports.”
“Maybe so.” She stood, stretching her arms and yawning. The hour was late – the night shift had taken over control of the warship nearly three hours ago.
“Did you have a commander in mind for the attack?” Yuri asked, still sitting but not leaning back and regarding the Admiral with a detached look.
“I was thinking of Captain Trinity.” She said. Yuri dropped forward, frowning.
“If you think it… wise. Is she fully recovered from the Kathol Sector ordeal?”
“Certainly. She’s on leave at the moment – involuntary, I might add. But she’s itching to get something done. And she would be under the supervision of Iceheart.
Icheart, of course, was the Director of Imperial Intelligence, Ysanne Isard. She had been through dead for some time before Simon Kaine had recruited her services from somewhere, back in the days of Regent Exercon and Grand Admiral Zell.
“I trust your choices, Admiral, as always.” Yuri said, standing. “And I know that Captain Trinity is fully qualified for command. Can the fleet spare the necessary assets to subdue two sectors? The Project soldiers are on thing – but normal troops will be required to supplement them, and to maintain order once the worlds are taken.”
“The clone factories on Kamino are working overtime in the face of a Coalition invasion. And of course the facilities on Byss are not entirely occupied with the Project.”
“No.” Admitted Yuri. “But the manpower required to hold two systems must be great.”
“It is, that’s true. But let’s not forget that military recruitment is at an all-time high as well. We’ve put nearly ten million recruits through the various schools in the last six months. The people of the Empire are prepared for war. And they don’t want their worlds overrun by the aliens.”
“No, I’d image they wouldn’t.” Yuri agreed. “I’ve heard that even those serving under the aliens are unhappy with their rule. Hardly a government I would welcome to my doorstep after living under the rule of the Empire.”
“They believe they’re fighting for a just and noble cause.” Bhindi said casually. “Who can blame them? They’re entitled to their beliefs, certainly.”
“But not to the point that they infringe upon other citizens’ rights.”
“Of course not. Hence the preparing of the fleet in the face of invasion. If and when the aliens strike, the Empire will be ready.”
“And hopefully by that time, the Project will be fully functional as well.”
“Let us hope, Yuri. You know as well as I do how much good the Project could to the Empire in a time of war.”
With a smile, the scientist stepped around the table and clinked his glass with Bhindi’s.
“To the Empire.” He said simply.
“To the Empire.” Bhindi echoed, taking a sip from the glass. “Long may it reign.”