Overture to a New War

Imperial Center, Imperial City

Near the center of government was a grand hall currently filled with newly graduated cadets of the Imperial Academy. Usually such fanfare was reserved for the respective worlds and academies that acknowledged and saw off the cadets to their new assignments, but this year, by a special order from High Command, notably the specific request from Ysanne Isard, had them all, from every branch of the academy, shipped to Imperial Center for their graduation.

Near the front of the cadets stood several key individuals in their pristine dress uniforms. A half dozen individuals representing their respective service branches. Naval cadets, army cadets, starfighter cadets, stormtrooper cadets, commando cadets and the engineering cadets. Standing in two columns, the starfighter and engineering cadets representatives stood behind the naval cadet representative, while the stormtrooper and commando cadets representatives stood behind the army officer cadet representative.

The tensions of rivalry was palpable in these six individuals. The resentment of the Stormtroopers and Storm Commandos to be considered in any ways inferior to the main Army was needless to say. But the Engineering department had always considered itself more an army unit than a naval one. The sole individual who seemed aloof amongst the six, was the naval cadet representative, Valerius Morlenoth.

1.9 meters in height, fair skinned with silver hair. The young man seemed as confident as he was uncaring about his place amongst the six. He had entered the academy when he was sixteen years of age, he had been chosen to train as a TIE pilot, but had, upon completion of his basic training, requested reassignment to the army training. From there, he was selected into the elite Stormtrooper training regimen where he learned the rudimentary know-how required to be a soldier before he was transferred to the Naval officer's training. Many lauded him some sort of genius of war, but by his own admission, Valerius was no genius. Just a quick learner.

Just as a jack of all trades is a master of none, Valerius was never truly the top of his class as a pilot, a soldier, technician or a stormtrooper. He was simply above average. All of this changed when he underwent the curriculum of the Naval officers. His grasp of tactics and strategy, logistics and planning were second to none. He was not the brightest student to come through the halls of Carida, but he was the best of his year. For eight years since he had first walked through the gates of the Imperial academy at age sixteen, he had now reappeared as the naval cadet representative for this year, at age 24.

His dabblings in other branches being the key reason behind his delay, he was one of the older graduates today. Because he had trained in all of the major branches, he did not feel any had any rights to a heirarchy in terms of importance. What Valerius had done, in fact, was to learn how best to use these different service branches, as a capital ship commander. His intent to join the naval cadets was never in his eight years in doubt.

As he approached the podium to address his fellow graduates and thank their teachers for all that they had done, the man who was infamous amongst his peers for his cold glint in his eyes, prepared to address his future comrades in arms.

Valerius approached the podium. No papers in hand, he clicked his boot heels, saluted the headmasters, the guests of honour and made a shallow bow towards the Imperial banners. Clasping the podium, the tall, young man faced his fellow cadets. Those who he had trained alongside, those who he had dined with, those who he had competed against in healthy rivalry. Those who he will from this day forth, forevermore, call brothers in arms.

"Headmasters and instructors of the Imperial Academy. Honoured guests and alumni. My fellow cadets and I are honoured this day that we may at last put our training to use on the fields of battle in the defence of our glorious Empire. Two years ago, we lost a great man. A visionary well ahead of his times. A man who sacrificed his all for the peace and prosperity of this Galaxy, our Galaxy.

Emperor Palpatine had given us a vision of the future. A future filled with hope and order. But he was murdered for his great work. For two years, without his fatherly guidance, his people, his children, have torn their father's estate asunder driven by greed. Driven by panic. His most favoured sons have revealed their true colours. They are no better than those who murdered our venerable Emperor.

This day marks the beginning of our war. This day will be remembered by our children...by our children's children. It will be remembered as the day the Empire struck back. The day that would mark the beginning of a new era. An era where Palpatine's visions became a reality! We are proud to stand at the forefront of this new age, this new epoc and we thank all of our instructors at the academy for the great good we shall do in the Empire's name from this day forth."

Saluting the banners, Valerius stood to attention before returning to his place. The ceremony continued at its own pace, and by the time the cadets appeared out of the great hall with their new comissionss, the sun was already setting over the Imperial City.

"An impressive speech, Cadet Morlenoth. One would almost think you had political aspirations..."

Valerius smiled to the thought, such foolishness. Politics was a thing of the past. He had plans, they all did, and it revolved around the Imperial military. The speech was the one farewell present to the instructors who were obsessed with the indoctrination of their future soldiers to the virtues of the New Order.

"Don't be so foolish, Cadet Ashford. Its unbecoming of you. We all know what that speech was."

Johan Ashford was slightly shorter than average but sported a handsome face, blonde hair and blue eyes. The typical virtues spat out from COMPNOR's propaganda campaigns. An expert pilot, he was the representative for the starfighter cadets and had been a close associate of Valerius' since the days he had entered the academy.

"Being foolish is part of being a TIE pilot, Val. Those who got enough brains stand firmly on the ground or stay inside heavy armoured hulls like you or me."

Olav Jeremiah, stormtrooper Cadet representative, a ground pounder with too much blood in his head was taller and broader than Valerius, but had never won a fight against the older naval cadet. Mostly due to Valerius' mastery of several Close Quarter Combat techniques that tended to wear down the blunt and wasteful movements of Jeremiah's. Dark brown hair cut extremely short, tanned skin with enough scar tissue to make one wonder about his common sense with an informal, almost insubordinate level of relaxation in his attitudes.

"You picking a fight, Olav? Cause me and my 'foolish' TIE pilots can sure score you a few more scars!"

"You want me to stop you two?"

Cadet Strauss Radek, representing the Stormcommando trainees, was a who had the bearing of a veteran already. A warrior to a fault, Radek had the respect and admiration of both Ashford and Jeremiah...or perhaps it was fear. Despite being a better combatant than Valerius, Radek held a sense of loyalty or respect to the naval cadet, and had become synonymous with Valerius as the most powerful close combat fighter in the academy's messhalls. Where Valerius was defensive in nature and had a grace to his every movement, Radek was a vicious hunter who pressed the attack with precise but crippling blows. As old as Valerius, he had nonetheless, received enough reprimands for disruptions at the messhall that he had been delayed by years to his graduation.

Karl Sturm nodded as he stepped behind Radek as if to back up the commando-to-be's threats. A cyborg, and an expert All Terrain vehicle pilot, his dextrous fingers would make any artificial vehicle bend to his will in minutes. Unsurprisingly, he was the army cadets' representative. Next to Valerius, he was the other individual who had the friendship and cameradery from the others, he was, unfortunately, often silent. Never wasting words when his actions could speak for itself. Ashford and Jeremiah nodded, meekly smiling as they returned in line behind Valerius.

"So, where did you get assigned to, Val?"

"The Chimaera."

The four of them nodded, it was a bygone conclusion really. They were the top of their class. They got dibs at their first choices and all five of them had gone for the Chimaera and her crew. It was, after Endor, the most prestigious warship and the most efficient. The veteran Captain knew his ship well and to be assigned there was to be promised a promotion fast track. They didn't need the help, but the less time they spent being stuck in the promotion ladder, the more time they would have in their lives to serve the Empire from a vantage point where they would matter.

As the five of them arrived at the lobby of the Imperial High Command, they were joined by the last of those who had been promised his future on a silver platter thanks to his performance at the academy. Valerius nodded to the younger cadet and offered his hand in congratulations. The Engineer cadet representative took it with a neutral smile.

"Cadet Julius Vladimir, glad you could join us."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir."

With this, the six most talented cadets of the Imperial Academy, fell under the command of Gilad Pellaeon.

ISDII Chimaera
Holding Orbit over Imperial Center

In the next hours after graduation, the six of them had been issued their uniforms, rank insignias and code cylinders. Making use of the facilities available at HQ, they all got dressed in their very own kit. On top of this, they all received their own standard issue armour and combat fatigues. Jeremiah received his Stormtrooper armour while Radek snugly entered his Stormcommando armour as if he was glad to be wearing his second skin again. The pleasure of being in uniform would not last, however, as they quickly got out of their combat field uniforms and got back into their standard ones. Their weapons and kit were issued in a single case which fit snugly into a larger luggage crate for their shuttle flight.

The six of them did not even go with the rest of their graduates to the messhall or cantina at HQ. They were flatly uninterested. They made their way straight to the shuttle pads and were the first off the planet. As they arrived at the hangar and disembarked on the Star Destroyer, Chimaera, they followed the instructions of the hangar crew and followed their respective mouse droids to their individual meetings with their newest superior officer.

Valerius was brought directly to the bridge, where he would help the Captain in his staff, until he learned the ropes and would be reassigned to command perhaps a turret or the tractor beam crew in months time.

"Ah, so this is the new lieutenant, straight out from the academy."

Valerius clicked his heels and saluted. Captain Pellaeon held a distinguished reputation amongst the cadets, not as flamboyant or as talented as some of the other heroes of the Empire, but competent and loyal, a hallmark to the instructor's obsessions. Naturally the young lieutenant was under no illusion as to the status of his new captain and commanding officer. While he was glad Pellaeon was his CO, he was under no circumstances obliged to feel humbled before the man.

"Lieutenant Valerius Morlenoth, reporting for duty, Captain Pellaeon."

"So young, but it will have to do."

Pellaeon smiled before turning away to get back to his duties, waving a Lieutenant Commander forward to finish the orientation for the young Lieutenant.

"Lt. Commander Oklem, Lieutenant. A member of Captain pellaeon's personal staff. I am in charge of coordinating the gunnery stations here at the bridge. I think my men can handle the situation without me for a few moments while I get you to your quarters."

"Appreciated, Commander."

The rest of the orientation went smoothly, without incident and with but simple but unusual questions coming from Valerius. With the officers' mess hall, the amenities and training centers, key turbolifts and plaaces of interest, including his own quarters which he shared with another lieutenant on a separate shift from him. They nonetheless had separate bunks and enough space for another individual if need be, priveledges of being an officer perhaps.

"Alright, here are everything you will need to know on the datapad. Keep it, we will be issued new regular orders from this unit. There is also a map of the vessel and its key areas. MSE droids could be issued for specific tasks if need be. You start your shift tomorrow from 0630 shipboard time. Until then, get used to your new surroundings. Your posessions and kit have been put in the footlocker at the end of your bunk."