Germanican Naval Headquarters, Germanica
In the corridors of the Germanican Command Building, the only sound that Commander Kai Kadosa could hear was that of his own boots as he strode down the deserted corridors. It was early morning - which explained the absence of lesser officials and staff officers. In fact, it was still several hours until dawn.
What the hell can that VA have in store for me that can’t wait? Kadosa thought. He had been woken from his sleep just half an hour before by a loud computer generated noise designed to wake a sleeping Germanican as fast as possible. He was then informed by the computer to report to Vice Admiral Dalsek’s office. Immediately. That was where he was headed now.
He had only been in this building a few times before and as on each of those occasions the thing that struck Kadosa the most was the walls. They reflected the nature of the organisation they represented: Weapons and warrior designs, Hieroglyphics of the honour code in the Old Germanican language standing above reconstructions of martial weapons from the previous millennia. Kadosa had often thought that the most dangerous thing a man could do would be to have a magnet in his pocket while walking these halls.
Approaching the door of the Vice Admiral’s office, several floors up the imposing building, Kadosa halted. Taking a moment to look over his uniform, he saw that his service boots were gleaming, his collar starched and his trousers pressed. He smiled. As he knocked on the door, he saw the title inscribed in gold letters: “Commander-In-Chief: Expansion”. Expansion, he thought. A polite way of saying ‘Conquest’…
“Kadosa. Get in here!” A voice broke off his musings. Rather than the voice of Dalsek’s pretty young secretary, it was the voice of the Vice Admiral himself.
Lemme get this straight…you call me in early in the morning, only a week after I got back from my last mission, and whatever you have to tell me is something you can’t risk your secretary knowing, he thought. What’s going on?
Kadosa opened the door and stood to attention in front of the desk. Behind it sat Dalsek. Tall, even by Germanican standards, the man had an imposing figure and a beard to match. He had made his name years ago during the time when the Galactic Empire was fighting the Rebellion. As a Commander in charge of small escort vessel, he had set the record for kill-to-loss ratios, and taught both sides a think or two about respecting neutrality.
“Let’s not bullshit, Kadosa: You did well on your last mission.” He read off a sheet. “Captain incapacitated so you dropped him off on a transport heading home with a guard and continued your mission.” The older man looked up and fixed him with his pale grey eyes that had seen more horrors of war than Kadosa could even imagine. “Which you completed successfully I might add.”
“Sir,” Kadosa broke in. “How is the Captain?”
The Vice-Admiral leafed through some more papers in a disinterested manner. “He left this morning, Commander. He made a full recovery, you’ll be pleased to hear, no doubt.”
“Sir.”
“Commander?” said the Commander-in-Chief of Expansion, fixing the younger man with his eyes for the second time in a few minutes.
“Sir?” Kadosa straightened up and focussed his gaze past the Vice-Admiral’s left shoulder and onto the wall behind, because of the tone of the older man’s voice. This didn’t sound good.
Taking a moment to stand up, the Vice Admiral walked around his desk, slowly and deliberately and began to speak in the same way: “Commander. I hereby, and with full and absolute effect as of this moment, promote you, in the name of our Supreme Commander, to the rank of Captain - With all the rights and responsibilities therein.”
Kadosa stood stunned. The older man saw his expression and grinned. Then, stepping forward, he actually reached out and shook Kadosa’s hand. “Congratulations, Captain. You deserve it. You impressed a hell of a lotta people on that last mission of yours. Including Dorn himself – these promotion orders come directly from him. Don’t thank me yet – there’s more.”
The Vice-Admiral turned his back and walked back behind the desk. He sat down and then looked up. “We’re giving you the Icarus, Kai.” This was the first time Kadosa had ever been referred to by first name by any of his superiors. I suppose this is some sort of milestone, is it? He thought. I’ve passed a test, and now I’m one of the inner circle?
“She’s an Acclamator-Class ship. She’s just coming out of refit.”
Captain Kai Kadosa grinned, and opened his mouth to speak but the Vice Admiral raised his hand. The older man had his eyes on Kadosa’s face, as if waiting to study his reaction to what he said next. “Kai, there’s more. You’re being placed in command of a Task Force being ordered to the planet of Etel-gar.”
The smile died on Kadosa’s lips. He knew the next question and his mind raced as the Vice Admiral sat back in his chair.
“What do you know about the planet of Etel-gar, Captain Kadosa?”
The use of his new rank made him involuntarily smile.“Sir, the planet of Etel-gar was colonised by the Old Republic millennia ago for its plentiful natural resources, I believe. There was no indigenous population, only the colonists. It’s not far from some of the major trade routes but it’s certainly not in the heart of things. Of course, the resources of the planet soon ran out and it lost its importance. The last I heard, it had become a home for some sort of cult. I can’t tell you any more than that I’m afraid, Sir.”
Nodding, the older man took up the story. “Mmm. Yes indeed, Captain. All that which you have said is true. The ‘cult’ to which you referred is the “Holy Theocracy of Dran’im”. I’ll leave you to look that up in your own time but suffice us to say that they have declared us to be ‘infidels’ and have commenced attacks against Germanican shipping in the vicinity.”
Infidels? Kadosa started to smile but it died on his lips when he saw the expression of his superior.
“Captain Kadosa.” The Vice-Admiral’s voice was hard – the voice of an experienced commander in difficult times. “You are to neutralise the planet as a base of operations against our shipping and to take any steps you feel are necessary to ensure that it remains under our control. Do I make myself clear?”
“Sir. The Coalition, Sir? What about them? And the Empire?” Kadosa burst in.
“You tell me.” The Vice Admiral replied instantly. This was obviously the answer he had expected.
Kadosa thought, speaking slowly as he worked his way through an answer. “Sir. They’re too far away. They won’t care. Not only that, but noone likes having a lunatic in the galaxy – if the attack our shipping, what’s to stop them attacking other peoples’? Perhaps there will be some formal noise against what we’re doing…..but informally, they’ll thank us.”
Dalsek smiled. “You deserve your reputation, Captain. Now get out of my sight. You have a ship to launch.”
Kadosa’s Quarters
It was three hours after his promotion, and Captain Kadosa was sitting in his cramped service quarters reading up on his ship and his orders. Kadosa had no family of his own – there were his parents and his siblings, who he went to visit as often as he could, but there had never been a special woman in his life. The Germanican Fleet was his family, as he said.
Sitting back in his only comfortable chair with what he considered a well-earned glass of port, Kadosa began to read:
“Classified
Re: Icarus: Modified Acclamator-I Class Medium Frigate
The Icarus was constructed ten years before the Battle of Yavin. It had a long, but relatively undistinguished service record with the Empire and was scrapped just two years ago. At that time, Germanican operatives made arrangements for the ship to pass to us. Since that time it has been undergoing refit at an orbital shipyard facility.
The modifications include…..”
Here the text descended into a list of technical specifications that Kadosa knew he would have to read through at some point.
Despite the age of the Icarus, Kadosa was fully aware that he was in command of one of the most powerful ships in the growing Germanican Fleet. Nearly a thousand of Germanica’s finest warriors, technicians and officers would be aboard that vessel; all under his command. The thought was intoxicating.
“To the Icarus.” He said, draining his glass. Then he gathered up his few belongings that hadn’t already been shipped to his new command and stepped out of the door.
The Bridge of the Icarus
“Captain on the Bridge!” bellowed the young Duty Officer. The entire bridge crew stood to varying degrees of attention and, as a man, turned to get their first look at their new Captain. Most of them, Kadosa knew, had arrived only a few days ago to make the final preparations to depart. But some, however, had been working on this vessel since she first entered the shipyard. One of these was his first officer, a man by the name of Tanero.
“As you were.”
Walking over to his command chair in the centre of the bridge, he sat down.
This, he thought, pausing a moment to let the feeling of sitting in his own command chair sink in. Is what it’s all about.
Kadosa pressed the button to activate the ship’s onboard Tanoi system: “Crew of the Icarus, this is Captain Kai Kadosa speaking. We will be departing the shipyard in two hours…”
Here he noticed some panicked looks being exchanged between the bridge officers, but noone said anything.
“…and I expect all stations to be ready. I trust you not to fail me, or our Supreme Commander. That is all.”
Short but sweet, he thought, watching hurried orders being given to finish the preparations. He knew what the junior officers were thinking: Don’t let it be my department that holds up our departure….
“Sir?” A young Germanican officer wearing lieutenant insignia on his arm had appeared at his side.
“Yes?”
“Lieutenant Deliat, Sir. Communications. We’ve receiving a transmission from Command, Sir. It’s marked classified.”
“If I’ve memorised my ship’s layout correctly, then that door just over there should lead to a corridor where I will find the wardroom. Have the transmission routed there.”
Standing to leave his Bridge, Kadosa added as an afterthought: “And signal Commander Tanero. Have him report to me immediately.”
As the door to the wardroom slid open, Kadosa found himself pleasantly surprised. The entire room had been designed in the style of Germanican warships. The walls had been decked in dark wood, there hung spears on the walls, and the chairs around the table were a dark red leather. The room oozed martial legacy, but it also oozed wealth and comfort. This was a room for officers alone. Pressing a button on the door, he isolated the room from the outside world and with a vocal command to the computer, he had the transmission start. The image of Vice-Admiral Delsek appeared on screen.
“Some advice, Kadosa,” The older man scowled. “Never put a fucking admiral on hold.”
“Sir, I thought this was a classified transmit----“
“And don’t interrupt a fucking admiral either.” Something was obviously bothering him.
Kadosa remained silent.
“I've just spoken with our Supreme Commander….” There was a pause. “I tried to convince him that it was inappropriate for a head of state but…Kadosa, Reem’s coming with you. What part he wants to play, I couldn’t tell you, but if anything happens to him, Kadosa….”
Shit. Kadosa thought. Not only do I have to put down a planet full of religious fruitcakes to whom we’re ‘infidels’ but I have to do all that with my Commander-In-Chief watching.
Kadosa had a strong suspicion that Delsek knew what he was thinking. There came a knock at the door.
That’ll be my second in command, thought Kadosa.
“One moment.” Kadosa barked at the door. Then he turned back to the screen. “Sir, the Icarus will not fail. And if the Supreme Commander wants to witness our success personally, so much the better!”
And then he’ll know exactly which Captain was behind it, he added to himself, thinking of what this could do for his career.
“Very well. Good luck Kai. Delsek out.”
The screen went blank. With a voice command, Kadosa had the doors unlocked.
“Come in.”
In walked a Germanican who was possibly five years his senior. The new arrival stood to attention and saluted. If we spent even half as long teaching officers how to think instead of how to march, he thought wryly. Well, we’d have a hell of a lot of smart officers…
“Commander Tanero, Sir. Reporting as ordered.”
“At ease. These formalities are starting to piss me off.”
The first officer grinned – clearly he was of the same mind. “Right you are, Sir.”
“Take a seat, Commander. We’ve got a VIP coming aboard…”
In the corridors of the Germanican Command Building, the only sound that Commander Kai Kadosa could hear was that of his own boots as he strode down the deserted corridors. It was early morning - which explained the absence of lesser officials and staff officers. In fact, it was still several hours until dawn.
What the hell can that VA have in store for me that can’t wait? Kadosa thought. He had been woken from his sleep just half an hour before by a loud computer generated noise designed to wake a sleeping Germanican as fast as possible. He was then informed by the computer to report to Vice Admiral Dalsek’s office. Immediately. That was where he was headed now.
He had only been in this building a few times before and as on each of those occasions the thing that struck Kadosa the most was the walls. They reflected the nature of the organisation they represented: Weapons and warrior designs, Hieroglyphics of the honour code in the Old Germanican language standing above reconstructions of martial weapons from the previous millennia. Kadosa had often thought that the most dangerous thing a man could do would be to have a magnet in his pocket while walking these halls.
Approaching the door of the Vice Admiral’s office, several floors up the imposing building, Kadosa halted. Taking a moment to look over his uniform, he saw that his service boots were gleaming, his collar starched and his trousers pressed. He smiled. As he knocked on the door, he saw the title inscribed in gold letters: “Commander-In-Chief: Expansion”. Expansion, he thought. A polite way of saying ‘Conquest’…
“Kadosa. Get in here!” A voice broke off his musings. Rather than the voice of Dalsek’s pretty young secretary, it was the voice of the Vice Admiral himself.
Lemme get this straight…you call me in early in the morning, only a week after I got back from my last mission, and whatever you have to tell me is something you can’t risk your secretary knowing, he thought. What’s going on?
Kadosa opened the door and stood to attention in front of the desk. Behind it sat Dalsek. Tall, even by Germanican standards, the man had an imposing figure and a beard to match. He had made his name years ago during the time when the Galactic Empire was fighting the Rebellion. As a Commander in charge of small escort vessel, he had set the record for kill-to-loss ratios, and taught both sides a think or two about respecting neutrality.
“Let’s not bullshit, Kadosa: You did well on your last mission.” He read off a sheet. “Captain incapacitated so you dropped him off on a transport heading home with a guard and continued your mission.” The older man looked up and fixed him with his pale grey eyes that had seen more horrors of war than Kadosa could even imagine. “Which you completed successfully I might add.”
“Sir,” Kadosa broke in. “How is the Captain?”
The Vice-Admiral leafed through some more papers in a disinterested manner. “He left this morning, Commander. He made a full recovery, you’ll be pleased to hear, no doubt.”
“Sir.”
“Commander?” said the Commander-in-Chief of Expansion, fixing the younger man with his eyes for the second time in a few minutes.
“Sir?” Kadosa straightened up and focussed his gaze past the Vice-Admiral’s left shoulder and onto the wall behind, because of the tone of the older man’s voice. This didn’t sound good.
Taking a moment to stand up, the Vice Admiral walked around his desk, slowly and deliberately and began to speak in the same way: “Commander. I hereby, and with full and absolute effect as of this moment, promote you, in the name of our Supreme Commander, to the rank of Captain - With all the rights and responsibilities therein.”
Kadosa stood stunned. The older man saw his expression and grinned. Then, stepping forward, he actually reached out and shook Kadosa’s hand. “Congratulations, Captain. You deserve it. You impressed a hell of a lotta people on that last mission of yours. Including Dorn himself – these promotion orders come directly from him. Don’t thank me yet – there’s more.”
The Vice-Admiral turned his back and walked back behind the desk. He sat down and then looked up. “We’re giving you the Icarus, Kai.” This was the first time Kadosa had ever been referred to by first name by any of his superiors. I suppose this is some sort of milestone, is it? He thought. I’ve passed a test, and now I’m one of the inner circle?
“She’s an Acclamator-Class ship. She’s just coming out of refit.”
Captain Kai Kadosa grinned, and opened his mouth to speak but the Vice Admiral raised his hand. The older man had his eyes on Kadosa’s face, as if waiting to study his reaction to what he said next. “Kai, there’s more. You’re being placed in command of a Task Force being ordered to the planet of Etel-gar.”
The smile died on Kadosa’s lips. He knew the next question and his mind raced as the Vice Admiral sat back in his chair.
“What do you know about the planet of Etel-gar, Captain Kadosa?”
The use of his new rank made him involuntarily smile.“Sir, the planet of Etel-gar was colonised by the Old Republic millennia ago for its plentiful natural resources, I believe. There was no indigenous population, only the colonists. It’s not far from some of the major trade routes but it’s certainly not in the heart of things. Of course, the resources of the planet soon ran out and it lost its importance. The last I heard, it had become a home for some sort of cult. I can’t tell you any more than that I’m afraid, Sir.”
Nodding, the older man took up the story. “Mmm. Yes indeed, Captain. All that which you have said is true. The ‘cult’ to which you referred is the “Holy Theocracy of Dran’im”. I’ll leave you to look that up in your own time but suffice us to say that they have declared us to be ‘infidels’ and have commenced attacks against Germanican shipping in the vicinity.”
Infidels? Kadosa started to smile but it died on his lips when he saw the expression of his superior.
“Captain Kadosa.” The Vice-Admiral’s voice was hard – the voice of an experienced commander in difficult times. “You are to neutralise the planet as a base of operations against our shipping and to take any steps you feel are necessary to ensure that it remains under our control. Do I make myself clear?”
“Sir. The Coalition, Sir? What about them? And the Empire?” Kadosa burst in.
“You tell me.” The Vice Admiral replied instantly. This was obviously the answer he had expected.
Kadosa thought, speaking slowly as he worked his way through an answer. “Sir. They’re too far away. They won’t care. Not only that, but noone likes having a lunatic in the galaxy – if the attack our shipping, what’s to stop them attacking other peoples’? Perhaps there will be some formal noise against what we’re doing…..but informally, they’ll thank us.”
Dalsek smiled. “You deserve your reputation, Captain. Now get out of my sight. You have a ship to launch.”
Kadosa’s Quarters
It was three hours after his promotion, and Captain Kadosa was sitting in his cramped service quarters reading up on his ship and his orders. Kadosa had no family of his own – there were his parents and his siblings, who he went to visit as often as he could, but there had never been a special woman in his life. The Germanican Fleet was his family, as he said.
Sitting back in his only comfortable chair with what he considered a well-earned glass of port, Kadosa began to read:
“Classified
Re: Icarus: Modified Acclamator-I Class Medium Frigate
The Icarus was constructed ten years before the Battle of Yavin. It had a long, but relatively undistinguished service record with the Empire and was scrapped just two years ago. At that time, Germanican operatives made arrangements for the ship to pass to us. Since that time it has been undergoing refit at an orbital shipyard facility.
The modifications include…..”
Here the text descended into a list of technical specifications that Kadosa knew he would have to read through at some point.
Despite the age of the Icarus, Kadosa was fully aware that he was in command of one of the most powerful ships in the growing Germanican Fleet. Nearly a thousand of Germanica’s finest warriors, technicians and officers would be aboard that vessel; all under his command. The thought was intoxicating.
“To the Icarus.” He said, draining his glass. Then he gathered up his few belongings that hadn’t already been shipped to his new command and stepped out of the door.
The Bridge of the Icarus
“Captain on the Bridge!” bellowed the young Duty Officer. The entire bridge crew stood to varying degrees of attention and, as a man, turned to get their first look at their new Captain. Most of them, Kadosa knew, had arrived only a few days ago to make the final preparations to depart. But some, however, had been working on this vessel since she first entered the shipyard. One of these was his first officer, a man by the name of Tanero.
“As you were.”
Walking over to his command chair in the centre of the bridge, he sat down.
This, he thought, pausing a moment to let the feeling of sitting in his own command chair sink in. Is what it’s all about.
Kadosa pressed the button to activate the ship’s onboard Tanoi system: “Crew of the Icarus, this is Captain Kai Kadosa speaking. We will be departing the shipyard in two hours…”
Here he noticed some panicked looks being exchanged between the bridge officers, but noone said anything.
“…and I expect all stations to be ready. I trust you not to fail me, or our Supreme Commander. That is all.”
Short but sweet, he thought, watching hurried orders being given to finish the preparations. He knew what the junior officers were thinking: Don’t let it be my department that holds up our departure….
“Sir?” A young Germanican officer wearing lieutenant insignia on his arm had appeared at his side.
“Yes?”
“Lieutenant Deliat, Sir. Communications. We’ve receiving a transmission from Command, Sir. It’s marked classified.”
“If I’ve memorised my ship’s layout correctly, then that door just over there should lead to a corridor where I will find the wardroom. Have the transmission routed there.”
Standing to leave his Bridge, Kadosa added as an afterthought: “And signal Commander Tanero. Have him report to me immediately.”
As the door to the wardroom slid open, Kadosa found himself pleasantly surprised. The entire room had been designed in the style of Germanican warships. The walls had been decked in dark wood, there hung spears on the walls, and the chairs around the table were a dark red leather. The room oozed martial legacy, but it also oozed wealth and comfort. This was a room for officers alone. Pressing a button on the door, he isolated the room from the outside world and with a vocal command to the computer, he had the transmission start. The image of Vice-Admiral Delsek appeared on screen.
“Some advice, Kadosa,” The older man scowled. “Never put a fucking admiral on hold.”
“Sir, I thought this was a classified transmit----“
“And don’t interrupt a fucking admiral either.” Something was obviously bothering him.
Kadosa remained silent.
“I've just spoken with our Supreme Commander….” There was a pause. “I tried to convince him that it was inappropriate for a head of state but…Kadosa, Reem’s coming with you. What part he wants to play, I couldn’t tell you, but if anything happens to him, Kadosa….”
Shit. Kadosa thought. Not only do I have to put down a planet full of religious fruitcakes to whom we’re ‘infidels’ but I have to do all that with my Commander-In-Chief watching.
Kadosa had a strong suspicion that Delsek knew what he was thinking. There came a knock at the door.
That’ll be my second in command, thought Kadosa.
“One moment.” Kadosa barked at the door. Then he turned back to the screen. “Sir, the Icarus will not fail. And if the Supreme Commander wants to witness our success personally, so much the better!”
And then he’ll know exactly which Captain was behind it, he added to himself, thinking of what this could do for his career.
“Very well. Good luck Kai. Delsek out.”
The screen went blank. With a voice command, Kadosa had the doors unlocked.
“Come in.”
In walked a Germanican who was possibly five years his senior. The new arrival stood to attention and saluted. If we spent even half as long teaching officers how to think instead of how to march, he thought wryly. Well, we’d have a hell of a lot of smart officers…
“Commander Tanero, Sir. Reporting as ordered.”
“At ease. These formalities are starting to piss me off.”
The first officer grinned – clearly he was of the same mind. “Right you are, Sir.”
“Take a seat, Commander. We’ve got a VIP coming aboard…”
