Bilbringi

The massive shipyards situated above Bilbringi had not been so busy since the end of the last war. Dozens of keels had been lain in the last months, new superstructures being raised in every berth available. Half a dozen ships had been released for testing just today; they could be seen slowly making their way out of the system.

None of the vessels were larger than a thousand meters: the deadly angular Star Destroyers had been shifted to Kuat and Fondor while Bilbringi concentrated on the newest warships the Empire had to offer.

Captain Ariel Trinity felt the shuttle settle into the forward landing bay of one of the new vessels - an angular ship that looked nearly identical to the scores of Immobilizer 418s kept by the Empire, but was yet vastly different. Half a dozen designs now shared the keel of that ship, and she found herself now aboard the latest: the Interdictor class Fleet Support Vessel.

Designed by the Imperial R&D Department as a replacement for the old 418, the Interdictor was visually the same, but the four large globes atop her superstructure now housed a far more potent weapon: high output gravity well projectors, capable of stopping all hyperspace traffic within an area the size of a planetarty body (though naturally this range could be dialed down where deemed neccessary).

"Captain, welcome aboard." The man who spoke wore the uniform of the Bilbringi Shipyards, and he smiled broadly as she glanced around the shining landing bay of the new ship. "We've got a crew in place for you, we're ready to commence testing when you are."

Trinity nodded, gesturing for the man to lead the way. She had never actually been aboard an Immobilizer before, though she assumed the floor plans were similar to this ship.

The bridge was small compared to the Star Destroyers to which she was accoustomed, but it served: additional stations for the monitoring of the gravity wells filled in the area that was on an ISD reserved for an Admiral or equivilent rank.

"Helm, ready to take us out?" She asked, slipping easily into the role of a commander and looking about the bridge. The stations were mostly consistent in location with her regular command.

The ship shrugged out of its moorings and began to move. She was not swift by any means, but servicable - compared to the Eternal, though, she was downright sluggish.

They made their way out of the docks and into the clear zone reserved for testing hyperdrives, and once permission was granted made their first jump. It took them a short distance, where they met the Eternal and a handful of escorts, who would make up their guard and partners in this test.

"Right. I'm told all systems have been tested and show positive," Trinity said, "but that the new gravity wells have yet to undergo testing in combat situations. So, shields to full, prepare to raise wells on my mark."

There was a moment in which nothing happened - owing no doubt to the Bilbringi shipyards crew that where by no means up to Imperial standards. And then a chorus of reports that the ship was ready to fight.

"Good. Coms, the Eternal may jump when ready. Weapons, once she's clear raise our gravity wells, maximum output, anchor centre." That would extend the field outwards in equal directions from the ship; she could conveivably extend her fields entirely in front of back and remain at one end of the field, as well.

"Gravity wells steady, Captain." The report came, and Trinity smiled.

A moment later, the Eternal reappeared, a great distance behind the Interdictor.

"Commander?" She asked over the com.

"Got pulled out, Captain. Those field extended further than we thought."

Trinity smiled. This was good news.

"Excellent, Commander, thank you." She shut off the com and spoke again to the bridge crew. "Bring down those gravity wells, let's see what else this ship can do."

The remainder of the test went well - the ship easily proving itself an able Interdictor, if not quite so lethal as her predeccessor in firepower.

"But," Trinity said as the vessel returned to Bilbringi, "with the range of her gravity wells, she has no need to be."

Meanwhile, Haldir System

"Major Franz reports the enemy has pushed our forces back here and here," the aide said, pointing out two spots on the holomap. The commander cringed: the Empire could ill afford a successful counterattack against either of those points, nevermind both.

Why command had decided Haldir III was worth the effort of invading he would never understand - the enemy was staunchly anti-Imperial, the system was far from the Empire's main transit routes and offered nothing in the way of resources. The expenditure to take it would no doubt cost far more than the planet would ever return.

And yet, here they were.

Command had seemingly decided halfway into the campaign that Haldir III was not worth the trouble afterall - fully three quarters of the soldiers were not even fully trained, but sourced from the Carida and Averam acadamies: the aide himself had barely just graduated, somewhere in the middle of his class.

Utterly useless. But orders were orders, and order said to take Haldir III. At all costs.

"Right." The Commander said, observing the map. "Pull back our divisions here and here," he indicated the two spots where the enemy had made their advances, "and draw them in. Bring these troops in once the enemy is encircled and we'll crush them."

"Sir - if we move those troops the enemy will break the line again and we'll be pushed back even further. It's not-"

He got no further; a blaster bolt pierced his throat and threw him backwards into the wall behind him. The entire unit - a mobile command centre - shook from the impact.

Pocketing the blaster, the commander frowned. If Command wanted Halir III so badly, the least they could do was supply him with decent soldiers, damnit.

He had no idea...

From 'Acheivement of Ambition'...

If Imperial Centre is the heart of the New Order's government, then Yaga Minor isthe heart of its military. Even the capital paled in comparison to the presence the Imperial Fleet keeps in orbit: dozens of warships, tens of thousands of starfighters. And more every day being completed by the orbiting shipyards and planet-based construction facilities.


No expense is spared in making the planet a fortress: shield generators dot the landscape, turbolaser emplacements jut from forests, mountains, even floating platforms that keep her oceans clear of enemies.


The heart of the Empire's military dominance in the galaxy. The heart of the largest Protectorate in the Empire.


This is the capital of the Ubiqtorate.


This is the seat of Moff Bhindi Drayson's power.


The woman that weilds more power in the galaxy today than did Grand Moff Tarkin in the so-called "Golden Age" of the New Order.


Bhindi Drayson. Her name struck fear into the hearts of those she governed. And those who had the audacity to oppose her. With her Black Fleet the woman Moff had brought more worlds to the Empire's banner than any single person before her.


Inside of the Empire and outside, she was a force to be reckoned with.


Moff Bhindi Drayson. She was already one of the most powerful people in the Empire. And she was soon to become even more powerful.


Word had floated down from Imperial High Command - the office of the Regent himself - that Bhindi Drayson was to be the next Grand Moff. The first since Zell.


Despite all the bias that remained in the IHC towards aliens and woman, Bhindi Drayson was to rise to one of the most powerful positions in the Empire.


Bhindi Drayson's rise to power was marked by the fall of Kulthis, the rebel world that had so foolishly turned against the Empire. Kulthis was now a dead planet, destroyed by the unforgiving orders of Bhindi Drayson.


Orbital Command was abuzz: Bhindi Drayson's promotion, too, was to be marked with something unseen in the Empire since the days of Palpatine.


"You are clear for arrival." Were the only words needed.


Within a minute, the formerly empty space above the capital (a rare event) was replaced by the massive shape of something that few of the Empire's soldiers, never mind her citizens, had seen.


Some would describe her as "death incarnate".


Whatever the news reporters chose to call her, what she was was immediatly evident.


With precision born only of the Imperial Fleet, the Executor slipped into orbit.


Yaga Minor was blessed with a perfectly clear day, and from their homes on the surface the people could see the arrowhead shape of the Super Star Destroyer cast in shadow on the ground.


From orbit, the view was spectacular. The massive shape of the Executor III filled space, stretching nearly thirteen kilometres. About her flew entire wings of TIE Interceptors in parade formation.


Planet side, even as the shadow of the great ship touched the stadium, the announcement of Bhindi Drayson's rise to the rank was given. Her promotion was met with applause so thunderous the platform party had to activate the noise cancelling ear pieces with which they had been equipped.


And then Grand Moff Bhindi Drayson addressed the galaxy.


The Past

"Impossible." Zell muttered, his eyes wide, "fucking impossible."

"Improbable, more like." Simon Kaine returned, a thin smile creasing his face.

"She's a woman, Kaine. A bloody woman!"

The Supreme Commander nodded.

"She's also the finest officer in the Empire. If you can name someone more deserving of his command, I'd like to hear it."

"Yeah, I can." The old man returned irritably. "You."

Kaine laughed.

"The Galactus is more than sufficient for my... needs." He said, referring to the Reign class Star Destroyer that was his flag.

"Fine. Gevel. Gevel could take it."

"Gevel does not want it, Zell. You know that. At any rate he could not take command without at least the rank of Admiral, which you and I both know he will never have."

"But she's a woman, Kaine!"

"Things change." Kaine said softly.