7 Extraction (2/2)

”Imperium?” Garrick raised a brow slightly. He was under the assumption she had joined the Rebel Alliance or the New Republic, but it appeared she had joined a new Imperial remnant? The title of the man who had been said to run this remnant, he was familiar with. He was an Authoritarian Leftist, an Imperial for the people. Rumored to have a fetish for near-humans and humanoid aliens.

”At this point the Empire is going to fall, father. Gallius Rax is going to use the New Republic purge the ranks of his Remnants. I can't lose you too,” Iden's voice sounded of sentiment, yet it wasn't weakness.

Garrick Versio could see the strength brimming in her eyes and her tone of voice. He closed his eyes and smiled as his head slowly lowered.

”You have followed through with the last Orders of a Deadman,” a new voice appeared with made him immediately raise his head. His eyes centered on Grand Moff Rune, the signal was coming from the Attribution. ”If you wish to preserve the Empire and its ideals, you will join the Imperium.”

Gideon simply stared into space as he heard this. Preserve the Empire and its ideals? Wasn't this what they were fighting for? His eyes narrowed on the man who stood there in the projection.

”Where is this Imperium going to be situated...? The Empire is being pushed out of, and pulling out of, several systems as we speak.” Garrick pointed out with his hands folded behind his back, his eyes squinting sternly as he wanted to test this man.

”The Imperium has secured indefinite support from over sixteen sectors and the newly forming Tion Principality. Among these sectors that will be housing the Imperium is the Albarrio sector, Atrivis sector, Braxant sector, Carrion sector, Cassander sector, Clacis sector, Dynali sector, Obtrexta sector, Myto sector, Perinn sector, Prefsbelt sector, Raioballo sector, Relgim sector and Velcar sector. Kuat and Fondor governments and shipyards are also currently supporting the formation of the Imperium.”

Hearing the fact that this man had already gotten all these connections going, only mere weeks after the fall of the Empire's greatest weapon and their leader, made Garrick shiver. He could only surmise that this man knew that the Empire was going to fall and was taking full advantage of this. Even as an admiral in the ISB, he didn't know about this.

Garrick looked in the general directions of the Star Destroyers which were slowly approaching, though he obviously couldn't see through the walls. ”Is this a recruitment mission, or an extraction mission, Grand Moff Rune?” He asked as he narrowed his tone down to his typical arrogant voice.

Gideon raised a brow as he looked over towards the Admiral, ”Extraction?”

Garrick sighed in disappointment as he got no verbal response, other than a smirk on the Moff's face. ”You're not looking to take the Dauntless or its crew with you, are you?”

”Their loyalty to you, Admiral Versio, is commendable.” Grand Moff Rune then looked towards Gideon who looked a little bit unstable, fidgeting at his holstered weapon. ”But an Empire without its people, isn't an Empire at all.”

Gideon's eyes widened as he looked to Garrick again, he was referring to Operation Cinder, the burning of Vardos at the Order of the Late Emperor Palpatine.

”You're outgunned, outnumbered and your technology is severally outdated.” Rune exclaimed the Dauntless and its 'limited' capacity to fight back against him should they assault his Destroyer.

Suddenly the door to the main bridge unsealed, ”Sir!” The Lieutenant from before barged in, ”There are squadrons of an unidentified class of TIE fighter launching from the unknown Destroyers!”

Gideon and Garrick turned their heads just in time to see Squadrons consisting of hundreds of TIE Predators fly by at their highest speeds. Their screaming engines caused the portview windows to reverberate, resonating with the sound.

”A new class of tie fighter...?”

”With Hyperdrive, shielding and additional heavy weaponry. It can act as both a fighter and a bomber. A superior space variety fighter.” Rune gave him the basic information pertaining to what he was seeing outside of his ship. ”The Empire you made strong, will continue to exist.”

Admiral Versio and Gideon looked at one another, their remnant was small and they hadn't fallen under the command of Fleet Admiral Rax as of yet. Versio then looked back towards the Grand Moff and his daughter's projections. ”You said an Empire isn't an Empire without its people. Will you accept Imperial Refugees?”

Scoffing slightly at the question the man asked him, ”Of course.”

Gideon blinked a few times hearing this, somewhat confused of what was going on. That was until his eyes were brought upon Garrick's face.

”All hands abandon ship! Collect as much supplies as you can carry and report to the hangar for immediate evacuation.” They were scuttling the Dauntless.

”My Apprentice will be with you shortly...” Garrick and Gideon both froze for a moment as they heard this line right as the Grand Moff's transmission ended.

Gideon was confused once more, his face scrunching up. ”Did he just say, Apprentice?”

Admiral Versio was well aware of Darth Sidious and Darth Vader's Master and Apprentice relationship. He hadn't expected the Grand Moff to have his own apprentice.

Suddenly the nearby ventilation shaft busted open, a small form then entered the room. A girl with blue eyes and white hair looked up at the taller men, a silvery cylinder in her hand.

Instinctively Gideon drew his blaster and went to fire, but as he did so the cylinder's pure white blade activated and deflected the bolt into a nearby terminal. Causing its screen to shatter and internals to combust.

They all stood there confounded, their sight centered on the pure white weapon, before looking at the young girl. ”Shadow Disciple Kraytia reporting,” she boasted a light Pantoran accent from her stay in the Pantoran System. ”Mission parameters, escort Admiral Versio to the Corvus.”

”Commander Hask, evacuate with the rest of the crew.” He said without looking directly towards the last member of his Inferno Squad. He didn't wait for a reply as he casually followed after the girl as she lead him towards the emergency docking hatch on the side of the command structure.

”Sir?” Gideon called after him, but didn't follow. Just as the Admiral disappeared from view, he followed the orders though he wasn't happy about it. He was loyal to the Empire, and it seemed loyal to Admiral Versio as he was his commanding officer with a sound mind and hadn't committed treason.