Red Opus

Chapter 15 - Surge

You didn't like Phasma very much.

You had decided that after the first few minutes in her presence. She had not taken kindly to Ren's sudden replacement, neither to the fact that she hadn't been informed prior to your switching. She looked you up and down, though mainly down. She was certainly a heavily impressive individual. You made a mental note to ask Hux for more information about her, she clearly was no ordinary Captain. You stood, arms fixed firmly across your chest, in front of both her and the rank of troopers at her rear.

"I wasn't informed of this. Who are you exactly?"

Her impertinence took you back. Even though she wasn't aware of your presence, your rank as commander should have been enough to at least warrant respect. Her accusatory tone reminded you of Hux, but was too heavy on the side of disrespect for you to overlook. Your ears began to burn, more from anger than embarrassment.

"Your Commander on this mission, Captain." You looked her up and down, hard to do when you stood at chest height. You added a touch of haughtiness to your voice before adding, "...and superior officer."

She hesitated briefly before answering.

"...Yes, Commander. My troops are ready to depart."

You nodded towards the ranks of troopers.

"By your lead, Captain."

She turned her enormous back to you, holding her blaster tight to her chest, and marched away towards the rows of white armoured soldiers. You took a deep breath, steadying your gaze across the rows of men. You wondered how many of them had been part of your squadron on Takodana, or formed the assault team on Abregado-rae.

Overlooking as Phasma shouted her commands, you watched the loading of troops from the side of the parade. As the final troopers loaded up, you followed Phasma at the back onto the largest shuttle. She stepped to the side and allowed you to pass through to the front of the ship. As you had seen Ren do many times before, you stood back, folded your arms, and watched the pilots. Piloting was fascinating to you, how they managed to memorise so many identical buttons and procedures was simply amazing. You watched in awe as the ship lifted from the dock and rose steadily out of the hangar, passing through the gravity field and out into open space.

Pressing the launch button on the holoprojector, you ground your teeth when you saw the entire planet description was written, rather than visually projected as a physical shape like they normally were. Your chest lurched, and you slowly turned to Phasma, asking as casually as you could.

"Captain, what do you know of Mygeeto?"

The chrome trooper turned to you, confusion sliding through the gaps in her mental armour.

"It's not a well provisioned planet anymore, and the area we are infiltrating is nothing but empty fields and wasteland. In honesty, Commander, there's really no reason we should need supervision on this mission. It's more of a clean-up."

Her obvious disliking of your overseeing her mission was apparent. You chuckled to yourself as you wondered if she'd be making the same comments should her overseer be Commander Ren, as planned. Her tone turned brutal and confident.

"The resistance scum don't stand a chance."

You nodded your chin upwards at her comment, agreeing in the most appropriate way before resuming your gaze across the stars.

The resistance. You'd come into contact with them only once before, on Takodana. They hadn't been trouble then, and you doubted they would be now. The stars began to fly past as incredible bright beams as you jumped to light speed, blurred flashes streaming past the visor in front of you. You gripped at your bicep through the fabric of your shirt. You didn't care who they were, but they threatened your Master's plans. Whilst they rejected his claim on the galaxy, there could not be peace. Did they not understand that submitting was the easiest way to win?