Star Wars: Dark Protocol

Chapter 5

Kuat drive yards

Lieutenant Commander Eurich Pruut stood in his temporary bunk room on one of the orbital facilities surrounding Kuat. He looked himself over in the mirror, making sure his uniform was crisp and his rank cylinders were perfectly aligned. He had received a message from Commodore Slate's aide that his presence was requested immediately. Satisfied that his appearance was perfect, Pruut stepped out into the hall and headed for the turbolift.

Concern plagued his mind. Slate's aide failed to mention the reason for the meeting. He couldn't think of having done anything to warrant a reprimand; his performance had been examplary. Maybe it had something to do with the fiasco at Dantooine.

The lift stopped and he walked out into the hall. Pruut moved quickly to Slate's office. It wouldn't do well to keep the Commodore waiting.

Two armed Stormtroopers stood guard outside of the office, flanking the door. Pruut snapped a precise salute.

"Lieutenant Commander Pruut reporting as ordered." He said.

One of the troopers reached over to the control panel beside him and palmed a switch to open the door.

"Proceed." The trooper said, his voice sounding slightly modified. The communication equipment in the troopers helmets made them all sound the same.

He entered the office, the door sliding quickly shut behind him. Commodore Slate sat behind an ornate wroshyr wood desk. Pruut stood before him at rigid attention. Absently, Slate looked up from the datapad he was reading.

"At ease, Eurich."

He spread his legs akimbo and clasped his arms behind his back.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Pruut asked.

"Yes. I was just going over your report of the late Captain Drunwes' engagement with..." He consulted his 'pad again. "'Dinner Squadron'?"

So it was the Dantooine fiasco.

"Yes, sir. That's what my communications officer was able to decipher through their encryption."

"So you noted in your report. By the way, intelligence reidentified them as actually being Wraith Squadron. Seems Antilles has a new wing under his command. But that's of no immediate concern. No, I wanted to commend you on your actions following Drunwes' failure." Slate stated.

"Sir?"

"Drunwes had an ego the size of a small moon, and it cost him his life. You recognized the situation for what it was; unfavorable. You saved the lives of countless loyal Imperials." Slate went on.

"Thank you, sir." Pruut said.

"No, Eurich, we should be thanking you. Bravado is no longer an action I wish to commemorate. Nor the unnecessary loss of life and expenditure of resources." Slate reached into his desk and pulled out another datapad.

"There's been an increase in pirate activity in several systems, including Reecee and Borleias. All pertinent information is in this datapad." He handed the 'pad to Pruut. "As are the details for your new mission. This is classified, Zeta Tau encryption."

Pruut pocketed the datapad.

"Outside you'll find one of my liaisons waiting to take you to your new station. You'll need this too." Slate pulled out a small box from another drawer in his desk. He handed it to Pruut who opened it and stared in awe, too surprised to speak.

"With a mission like this I can't have you taking orders from someone else. Dismissed, Captain."

Pruut snapped to attention and saluted, still too shocked for words. Slate returned the salute. As Pruut turned to leave Slate said one final thing.

"Oh, and Eurich?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Congratulations."

"Thank you, sir" Pruut stepped out into the hall.