Episode VIII Rise of the Dark Jedi

Apprentice and Master

The black Upsilon-class shuttle slowly entered the docking bay of the star destroyer Finalizer stationed in orbit around Kamino. It's sharp edges and jagged wings complemented the stern and deadly man residing in it.

Waiting for its arrival were three officers dressed in the sleek black officer's uniform of the First Order Navy. The first, with the most fine-lined red ribbons, was Admiral Raph; a tall dark man with a stern face and hard edges. He lived and breathed confidence, evidenced by his tall stance and turned-up chin, even as Kylo Ren's shuttle approached.

The second, with only one fewer ribbons, was Vice Admiral Dentin; her blond hair tightly bound under a military cap, her face no less stern, but a hint of uncertainty was in her eyes. The last was the intelligence officer, Major Winn; a shorter man than the other two, with very short blond hair. Major Winn was tense and the most nervous of the three. He knew he had to give an adverse report, and being the lowest ranked officer of the three, he felt suspicious that they would order him to attend-- especially since he had never been asked to report to Kylo Ren before.

The shuttle landed and exhausted its steam vents. The door opened and the ramp lowered. Kylo Ren, still wearing his helmet exited first. Although the rest of the men and women on the ship were worthy of fear and therefore respect, the three officers were only watching Kylo Ren as he approached. He strode up squarely in front of Vice Admiral Dentin. "Admiral Dentin, please tell me the status of the CR-100 Corvette and the freighter."

Vice Admiral Dentin, recognizing the error in Kylo Ren's salutation, glanced quickly at Admiral Raph. Admiral Raph was obviously put out, but officers are known for taking advantage of any opportunity, and Vice Admiral Dentin was no different.

"Sir, the small Corellian freighter entered light speed only moments after becoming visible from the atmosphere. The Corvette, although heavily damaged also escaped--"

"We successfully eliminated all but one of their A-Wings, Sir," Admiral Raph interrupted. "But Major Winn's analysis of--"

His voice cut short mid-sentence as his breath halted and he found that he suddenly could not talk. His hands grasped for his throat. The arteries pulsating on his neck. The sternness of his face melting away in panic. For moments that seemed to take hours, his body seemed to hang, writhing, although his feet on were still on the floor. Dentin and Winn watched in silence trying to keep their composure. Winn had thought Admiral Raph was going to try to make him the scapegoat, and now it looked like he was right. However, Raph had not calculated for reporting to a sociopath either--to Winn's benefit. Eventually, Raph crumpled to the floor.

"You were saying, Admiral Dentin," he resumed.

"Yes, Sir, because Kamino is in the neighboring galaxy, the analysis of trajectory only leads back to our own galaxy and cannot be reliably trusted. But it suggests that the Rebel Corvette headed for the center of the galaxy, and the bounty hunter's freighter for the outer rim, possibly the mid-rim. That's as narrow as we can estimate."

"That'll be hundreds of viable systems each at least. Useless! Set a course back to Coruscant. And remember, Admiral Dentin, learn from Raph's mistakes. And do not disturb me until we arrive."

"Yes, Sir." Dentin and Winn said in unison.  Winn joined the affirmation nervously without considering that he was not addressed.  He followed it with a cough and shifting stance.

Kylo Ren pushed past them with his knights following in his train. Three medics rushed in to minister to the hopeless ex-admiral.

Kylo led his knights directly to his communication chamber and stopped outside the door.

"Tanut, Siciah, and Kiam, remain here until I am finished speaking with The Master. The rest of you, find General Hux and report to him the details of the battle," he ordered.