“Captain on deck”
Every face briefly turned as Captain Pell Gandala passed through the door and walked toward the front of the bridge. Just as quickly every face went back to station except for two officers standing by the front windows. Everybody in the Imperial Fleet looked interchangeably the same when in uniform. Commander Ghent was maybe a little taller than average and some blond hair showed beneath his cap. Probably his only distinguishing feature was that he was one of the few bridge officers who insisted on wearing a sidearm. He’d been boarded more than once and he was always spooked it would happen again.
Agent Bastra stood beside him had her typical ISB uniform. At least she didn’t wear the helmet. Standard fare otherwise. Black hair, olive skin, and typical build. She did not carry a sidearm. Gandala assumed that Bastra’s assurance of her station within the ISB meant she would never need it.
They both started nearly in sync when Gandala got near. “Good Morning, Ma’am”
“Good morning, Commander Ghent. Good morning, Agent Bastra. Status report commander.”
“We’ll be clear of the Kashyyyk Port Authority in a few minutes. The new stormtrooper legion is all aboard but they estimate three days of getting all of their equipment unpacked and organized. Colonel Vucora will meet with you when you’re available, as per protocol. TIE wing is all settled and Lieutenant Tafo has Redwing squadron on standby. Nothing noteworthy in other departments and we’ll be ready for the jump to hyper speed once we’re released by the Port Authority.”
“Thank you for your customary reliability, Commander Ghent.” Gandala said, “and I’m glad you’re still with us after all the change overs. It feels like half the crew has been replaced and I’m glad you’re still here, both of you, and we have some consistency.”
Ghent winced a little. “With respect, Captain, I’d really hoped for that promotion. I’ve benefited from your mentorship and I’m a better officer for it but I really felt like I would get my own command this time. I’m not sure who has it out for me but someone is keeping me out of a captaincy.”
Agent Bastra gave a knowing look to Captain Gandala. Nearly every captain sabotaged the career of a competent XO to keep them on their own bridge. Talent was too hard to come by and was jealously kept. Ghent seemed in the dark about it but Bastra’s ISB assignments had cycled her through enough ships to know the routine.
Agent Bastra took over. “Captain Gandala, I have some reports on the new personnel for your attention. We’ve embarked an above-average amount of malcontents. I’m not sure who has a grudge against you but my ISB agents will have their hands full with these stormtroopers. This legion might as well be a penal brigade top to bottom.”
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“Thank you, Agent Bastra. We’ll go over them in detail tomorrow morning. We have 6 days journey to Bothawui to get everything in shape. We’re being detached from 7th fleet and handed over to the Moff there. We’ll likely have months of local patrols and brush fires to put out so we can iron out the issues with the new crew. Commander Ghent, keep the conn. I’ll meet with Colonel Vulcora about settling the stormtroopers in.”
“With your pardon, Captain” Bastra added in, “I would rather brief you on the various command issues of the new legion before Colonel Vulcora gives you a false impression of their competence and commitment.”
Captain Gandala paused for a second to weigh her options. She’d often had better experiences with stormtrooper commanders than ISB agents. But Bastra had been stationed on board long enough to have dirt on her and it was worth it to keep in her good books.
“Agreed. We’ll meet in my office once we clear the system.” Pell looked down to the port data pit. “Lt. Cmdr. Sarlin, pass on to Col. Vulcora that I’ll meet with her tomorrow for a full briefing on the Legion. Also, explain the command breakfasts if you haven’t already and let her know when to be at the briefing room.”
Bastra shook her head, “I’ve known many captains and I’ve never seen anyone so keen on meeting with department heads and commanding by committee. Your lack of confidence might be why you’re not an admiral.”
Pell turned to Bastra and stared daggers right through her. “We both know why I’m not an admiral. I can’t change my ex-husband and I’ll shoot him whenever I’m next home on Naboo. Between then and now, I’ve found that it helps to have outside input.” Gandala honestly hated making repeated professions of loyalty.
A comms lieutenant came up from one of the data pits. “Priority message Ma’am. Moff Vandreen on Bothawui.”
Gandala, Ghent, and Bastra all looked at each other with frustration. Bastra opened up first. “He’s already trying to throw his weight around. We’re only officially his on arrival at Bothawui. Is he issuing orders now just to show off?”
The lieutenant continued, “Moff Vandreen is asking us to take on some passengers. There’s a VIP in transit: Baron Onir Targ. I said that we’d escort as per protocols and the Moff insisted that we embark the Baron and his party. Very specific that we would be good hosts to his guests.”
“And where is this baron?” Ghent asked.
“Already in transit. Hail just came in. Their shuttle will arrive in 10 minutes and they’re expecting to dock without delay.”
Commander Ghent rolled his eyes. “He’s making us a taxi. Moff Vandreen didn’t give us any time to protest. There’s something behind this and he’s not giving us a chance to figure it out.”
Captain Gandala shared his suspicions. “Agreed. All we have time for is to roll out the red carpet. Meet me at the hanger with dress uniforms on. Lieutenant, relay to operations to treat our guests according to protocol for an admiral. And get the Colonel to send rush some troopers over for an honour guard at the landing. If Moff Vandreen wants to show off his new toy Star Destroyer then we’ll play along for now. Agent Bastra, will you be joining us at the hanger bay?”
“I’d rather spend this time looking over our files on Baron Targ. I’ll access database at the ISB post on Kashyyyk before we leave the system and figure out what angle the Moff is playing with the Baron. Assignments to sector Moffs always turn into playing games with the Moff’s court and whatever petty garbage they have going on.”
Captain Gandala smiled. “I’m sure you’ll find all the dirt and let us know your preferred half of it tomorrow morning. Lt. Cmdr. Sarlin, you have the conn. Once our guests are aboard, move us out of the system and resume our course to Bothawui. Let’s go meet this Baron.”