Seated in his command chair on the bridge of his flagship Doomweaver, General Kazrus of the Grysk Hegemony gazed out at the scattered debris and shattered ships filling the view ahead. Everything was proceeding as planned with the Fariivi. Turning his attention to the display before him, Kazrus reviewed the information of the recent encounter with the Empire of the Hand. The Kwenast had been humiliated by the single light cruiser that had been sent, with a few of their warships either destroyed or crippled, and the loss of many starfighters. He sneered in contempt. The Kwenast were weak, and they’d allowed the Hand’s light cruiser to escape.

  Thankfully, despite the Kwenasts’ incompetence, the Hand hadn’t been able to get a good look at the Grysks’ new orbital station. That facility was incredibly important, and it could have been disastrous if the Hand had learned its secret while there were relatively few Grysk warships there guarding it. Fortunately, more Grysk ships were on the way to guard the system.

  The Kwenast needed a firm hand to guide them. The additional Grysk warships were on route to help do just that. Kazrus looked out the viewport at the world below his fleet, and then again at the field of rubble and broken ships before him. His reading of the Fariivi species had proved correct. They were a particularly resilient species, and they had a strong and powerful navy.

  Kazrus hadn’t just been trying to destroy the Fariivi military and grind it to dust. No, their ships were powerful, and he wanted to bend that power to the Grysks’ will. The Grysks typically preferred to use political machinations to lock others under their control, but unfortunately his studies of the Fariivi culture showed they respected military prowess.

  Kazrus had looked into less bloody options to conquer the Fariivi, but he’d found the only way to bring them to serve the Grysks involved Kazrus having to destroy half of the Fariivi fleet. It had brought the remaining half firmly under his control, and although he would’ve preferred the entire Fariivi armada serving the command of the Grysks, it had been worth it.

  Soon, it would be time to move his fleet to the Kwenast homeworld, and eventually to personally launch an attack on the Empire of the Hand. Certainly the Hand will have brought reinforcements to Nyar Three by the time of his attack. It would be much more difficult than if the initial assault had succeeded. Kazrus lamented the fact that he had been unable to command the initial attack himself. In his absence, the attack had failed, and there were likely to be many more ships guarding the Nyar system.

  Kazrus allowed himself a cruel smirk. It would be difficult, yes, but he took pleasure in the thought that he would be the one to crush these insolent Imperials. More ships at Nyar Three meant the Grysks could deal a larger blow to the Empire of the Hand, although it would likely cost more lives and ships to do so. With the conquering of the Fariivi, the Grysks had gained control of the remaining ships in the Fariivi fleet, and those could be thrown at the Hand to weaken them.

  Aside from the Empire of the Hand, the Grysk’s conquests were going well. They continued to gain territory and strength. Pushing into the areas where the Hand was more active would be where the real difficulties began, as shown by the defeat at Nyar Three. But Kazrus looked forward in anticipation to destroy this particular group of the Hand. The Hand’s commander had given the Kwenast her name, and the same ship had appeared to be commanding the forces at Nyar Three.

  Commodore Laceeya was the name relayed to him. She was proving to be a formidable opponent. This wasn’t the first time she had dealt blows to the Grysk Hegemony. From the identification of ships at the skirmish at Nyar Three, he’d concluded she had been commanding the battle that had defeated the Grysk forces. Other studies of past battles had included reports of the same group of warships defeating Grysk forces. Yes, he would find much enjoyment in her destruction, when the time came.

  The swirl of hyperspace shifted to the blur of starlines, which then collapsed into stars. The Ethereal had finally arrived back at Nyar Three.

  “Frenara, full scan,” Laceeya ordered, narrowing her eyes as she visually scanned the space ahead. Beyond the viewport, Laceeya could see the distant form of Nyar Three, a small disk in the endless void of space.

  “Yes ma’am,” Frenara acknowledged, working his control board. “I’m seeing six capital ships…They appear to be all ours, Commodore.”

  “Good, thank you Ensign,” Laceeya said, with a satisfied nod. “Take us in Apoyarp.”

  “Will do, ma’am.” Apoyarp’s voice promptly replied.

  The subtle hum of the thrusters increased as the ship cruised in the direction of the planet. As the Ethereal approached, Laceeya began to make out the distant shapes of capital ships as the 546B cruiser neared the planet.

  Looming over the other smaller ships, the grey wedge of the Victory-Class Star Destroyer stood out against the background of Nyar Three. Repair barges were positioned around it, working on completing repairs. The small barges were tucked up against the ship, fixing weapons and sensors and patching the hull, though they still remained easily and quickly able to detach if necessary, in case of attack.

  Laceeya breathed a sigh of relief seeing the Victory-Class, Shadow’s Bane, and the other ships safe. Although she’d been fairly certain it wouldn’t happen so soon, Laceeya had been worried the Grysks would mount another attack while she was away. After her recent nightmare, the irrational fear that they would return to Nyar Three to find that horrible scene from her dream waiting for them had been lurking in her mind.

  The six warships that Frenara had counted meant the Crux had returned from its mission. Looking closer, Laceeya could see the smaller triangular shapes of the two Raider-Class corvettes, one of them the Crux. It was difficult to tell from the distance, but there appeared to be no new visible evidence of damage.

  That was good. Hopefully it meant Commander Denau’s mission had gone smoothly.

  Wetting her lips, Laceeya spun to face the consoles behind her. “Rikal, contact the commanders of the other ships and tell them I’d like to speak with them.” She ordered.

  “Yes ma’am.” Rikal said, pressing a few buttons on her console. A minute later, she’d established communications with the other commanders. “Channel is open, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Rikal,” Laceeya said, stepping closer to the communications console. “This is Commodore Laceeya,” She straightened her back instinctively as she spoke into the microphone. “I’d like to convene a meeting as soon as possible between us all.”

  “Undwestoid, ma’am. Will we be holding the meeting on the Ethereal, Commodore?” Senior Captain Farwick asked.

  It was usually standard protocol to hold such a meeting on the ship of the highest ranking officer. “No,” Laceeya answered. “We’ll do it on Shadow’s Bane.” The Victory-Class Star Destroyer was much larger than the Ethereal, and she figured it would be a bit more convenient for all the visiting officers to land in the larger hangar bay of the Victory.

  “Understood, Commodore,” Farwick acknowledged. “I’ll get right to preparing for your arrival.”

  “Thank you, Senior Captain,” Laceeya said. “Everyone else, I’ll see you aboard Shadow’s Bane in 15 minutes.”

  With a chorus of acknowledgements from the other officers on the comm channel, they signed off. She exhaled slowly, pursing her lips. Absently staring into the distance, her mind ran through everything she needed to discuss with the others.

  “Shall I accompany you to the Shadow’s Bane, Commodore?” Harax asked into her thoughts.

  “Yes please,” Laceeya said, blinking a couple times. “I’m going to head down to the hangar in just a minute.”

  “Understood, Commodore,” Harax said. “I’ll join you when you depart, ma’am.”

  Laceeya gave him a nod in response. “Senior Lieutenant Shyka,” She said. “You have the bridge while we’re gone. Try not to get into too much trouble.”

  “Yes ma’am, I’ll try my best,” Shyka replied, a smirk lifting the corner of her lips. “But no guarantee,” She tilted her head to the viewport, indicating the other ships. “I saw the Crux is back. I guess we’re going to find out what command decided to send for reinforcements.”

  “I guess so,” Laceeya agreed. “Cross your fingers.”

  “They’ve been crossed this whole time,” Shyka said. “Hopefully that helped.”

  Laceeya felt a faint smile play across her mouth. “I’m sure that influenced Admiral Parck’s decision.” She said wryly.

  “I do my best.” Shyka said, shrugging.

  “We’ll be back soon,” Laceeya announced, striding over beside Shyka. “Don’t throw any parties on the bridge while we’re gone.” She murmured.

  Shyka grinned, cocking her head fractionally to the side. “Like I said, no guarantees.” She said sardonically.

  Laceeya rolled her eyes, smiling to herself as she walked away. Harax fell in stride beside her as her long legs quickly covered the distance to the rear of the bridge.

  Exiting through the doors, Laceeya and Harax walked down the grey-paneled corridor to the turbolift. They waited a moment for the turbolift car to arrive, before the doors slid open and they entered, keying in their destination as the ventral hangar bay. As the pair stood in silence while the turbolift whisked them along, Laceeya chewed her lip in anticipation. She was really hoping for some good news from Commander Denau. She sighed softly, wishing that she was bringing better news herself.

  With a hiss the turbolift doors split open, and after walking down another short hallway Laceeya and Harax arrived at the hangar. There were four ships arranged in the hangar bay, two LAAT/le assault transports and a pair of TIE Reapers. Laceeya’s personal Reaper already had its ramp lowered, with a white armored stormtrooper standing on either side, waiting for the two officers to enter.

  Quickly crossing the empty space in the hangar, Laceeya gave a brisk nod to the two stormtroopers and strode up the ramp to enter the ship. The TIE Reaper differed significantly from most TIE models, as instead of a starfighter it was primarily used as a dropship or transport for elite troops. Coming in at 24 meters long, it was solidly built and featured strong shields, dual laser cannons, and a fast hyperdrive. Surprisingly fast and maneuverable for a transport ship, all the qualities had come together for Laceeya to choose the Reaper as her personal shuttle.

  Although perhaps not as refined of an experience as a Lambda or Sentinel shuttle that many high ranking officers chose, Laceeya preferred the Reaper’s additional agility and capability as a fighter. She loved to fly.

  With the sound of boots on metal, the two stormtroopers followed Laceeya and Harax inside, and the ramp rose to close behind them.

  “I’ll be in the cockpit, Captain,” She told Harax, and headed up to the control cabin of the ship. “Be sure you all strap in and hold on tight.” Laceeya called back over her shoulder as she ascended the short ladder. She arrived in the cockpit, where the pilot and copilot sat waiting.

  “Commodore,” The pilot greeted her. “I was just preparing to take us out, ma’am.”

  Peering out the viewport, Laceeya could see the large starboard side hangar bay doors grinding their way open to allow the ship to exit. “That won’t be necessary,” She said. “I’d like to fly us over myself if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course, Commodore,” The pilot said, hastily climbing out of his seat. “She’s all yours, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Ensign,” Laceeya said, giving him a smile as she slipped past him to situate herself in the seat. Fastening the harness around her, she rested her hands on the controls and scanned the familiar layout of buttons and switches in front of her. Keying in commands and flipping the appropriate switches, the twin ion engines fired up with their distinctive roar.

  It was extremely rare for an officer of her rank to fly herself in such a manner, Laceeya knew. However, she’d always loved flying. The feeling of freedom and control, the hum and vibration of the engines, the connection with the ship. Laceeya cherished it all, and she greatly lamented the fact that she wasn’t often able to experience the joy and thrill of piloting a ship.

  Easing the Reaper up on its repulsorlifts, she delicately throttled the thrust up, sending the ship smoothly forward. The Reaper glided through the magnetic containment field that kept the artificial atmosphere inside the hangar, exiting the Ethereal into the darkness of space.

  Increasing the thrust, the ship sped up. Laceeya held the yoke to the right, turning the Reaper into a gentle sweeping turn away from the planet. She throttled up again, rocketing the ship forward for a moment. Cutting back thrust and carefully modulating the etheric rudder, she turned the yoke hard to the left, the ship sliding its rear out and shifting into a dizzyingly tight turn.

  Straightening the ship back out, Laceeya spared a glance out the corner of her eye at where the pilot was seated. He was gripping tightly to the edges of his seat, looking rather uncomfortable. Laceeya smiled to herself. She’d often found that skilled pilots had a tendency to make for the worst passengers.

  She flew the ship in a couple more tight maneuvers, and glanced down at the chrono. It wouldn’t be a good look for her to be late, she thought, as she swung the ship away from open space and towards the Shadow’s Bane where it lay in orbit around Nyar Three. Two TIE Interceptors swooped around, arranging themselves in escort positions off to each side of the Reaper. The copilot transmitted their clearance code, and Laceeya dipped the ship beneath the prow of the Victory-Class.

  Approaching the hangar, she slowed the ship and entered, the Interceptor escort shooting past on either side. The ship imperceptibly passed through the magnetic containment field, and Laceeya carefully guided it over to the designated landing area.

  Flipping a few switches, she tilted the yoke slightly, and gently set the ship down with an almost imperceptible thud. “Excellent landing, Commodore.” The pilot complimented.

  “Thank you,” Laceeya said, a genuine smile crossing her face. “It feels great to be in a cockpit again.” The sensation of flight had managed to momentarily distract herself from her thoughts and worries. Brushing her hand gently across the console, she found herself wishing she could keep flying it. She loved the ship, like the Ethereal, it was so much more to her than just a chunk of metal.

  “You’re a great pilot ma’am,” The pilot said. “It’s always an honor to fly with you.”

  “Thank you, Ensign,” Laceeya said, unfastening her restraints and giving him a nod. “We’ll be back before too long.”

  Leaving the cockpit, Laceeya joined Harax and together exited down the ramp. Waiting outside stood Senior Captain Farwick, flanked by two stormtroopers. He straightened to attention as Laceeya approached.

  “It’s an honor to have you on board, Commodore,” Farwick greeted, his deep and commanding voice booming. “And you as well, Captain.” Farwick was a powerfully built man, broad-shouldered with dark skin. He wore the typical dark grey Imperial Navy uniform and cap, with the distinctive red stripes of the Empire of the Hand running down the sleeves and around the cuffs. The row of five blue tiles of the rank plaque fitted to his chest marked him as a Senior Captain.

  “I appreciate you allowing us to host the meeting here,” Laceeya said, inclining her head in thanks. “I figured it would be more convenient for everyone.

  “As I said ma’am, it’s an honor,” Farwick repeated. “If you’ll follow me this way?” He held out his hand in a gesture for the pair to follow.

  As they strolled across the hangar, Laceeya glanced to the other side where TIE Interceptors were suspended on racks from the ceiling, with catwalks running between them for access. She grimly noticed the numerous empty racks, each symbolizing a ship destroyed in the recent battle with the Grysks. And each missing ship was likely a pilot who had been killed, Laceeya thought darkly.

  Farwick led them out of the hangar and through a hallway to a turbolift shaft. They rode in the car for a minute or so before exiting to walk down another corridor. Stopping at a door where two black uniformed navy troopers stood guard, Farwick nodded to them and they opened the door. He stepped aside, politely allowing Laceeya to enter ahead of him.

  In the room the other officers had all arrived and were seated around the circular table. Upon Laceeya’s entrance, they all stood, coming to attention. She felt her face warm slightly as they did. She knew it was a gesture of respect, but she still felt a bit embarrassed about her arrival inconveniencing the other officers.

  “It’s good to see you all,” Laceeya said, inclining her head in greeting and walking over to take a seat at the table. Harax and Farwick filed in behind her, likewise taking a seat. “Commander Denau, I’m relieved to see you made it back from your mission safely.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Commander Jynna Denau, who was the commander of the Raider-Class corvette Crux replied.

  “First things first,” Laceeya started, getting straight to business. “Were you able to contact High Command?”

  “Yes Commodore, I was,” Denau confirmed. “I was fortunate enough to speak with Admiral Parck. He sent along this message for me to give to you.” She pressed a button on the edge of the table, and a small hologram of Admiral Voss Parck was projected from the center of the table.

  “Commodore Laceeya,” Parck spoke. “I’ve received word from Commander Denau of the recent Grysk attack at Nyar Three, and of the communications relay being inactive. She also conveyed your suspicions of other Grysk activity in the region, and mentioned you and the Ethereal were on a scouting mission to the Kwenast system. Commander Denau sent the data from the battle, and I wanted to tell you I was very impressed by how you handled the situation. You saved countless lives.”

  The hologram of Parck paused for a moment before continuing. “The Commander told me that you believe another Grysk attack at Nyar Three is imminent, and that you were requesting reinforcements to bolster your forces.” Laceeya crossed her fingers internally, hoping that command had the ships to spare to send to Nyar Three. “She said your ships all sustained damage, and that the situation was very serious. I’ve dispatched a number of ships to join you. Five VT-49 Decimators, the Viper, Nightstalker, Firefly, Sunbeam, and Elysium, will be permanent additions to your task force. The Shadow’s Bane and First Light will likewise be permanently reassigned to your command.”

  It took Laceeya a moment for the words to fully sink in. She was being put in permanent command of all those ships?

  VT-49 Decimators were small gunships coming in at 38 meters long, but they carried two quad laser cannons and dual concussion missile launchers with a total of 40 missiles, making them exceptionally powerful for their size.

  “Admiral Faro and her forces are still tied up dealing with a large Ssi-Ruuvi holdout in the southwestern region of the Chaos.” Parck continued. Laceeya grimaced, a shiver running through her spine. She’d fought the Ssi-Ruuvi herself, and they were a horrifying species. “Her mission is proceeding well, but it will require additional time to eliminate the enemy to complete her mission.” That was reassuring to hear. Being captured by the Ssi-Ruuvi was a fate worse than death, and they were a truly terrifying evil that needed to be eradicated.

  Laceeya had faced them herself, and seeing what they were capable of had proven how frightening a threat they were. Most of the Ssi-Ruuvi forces had been fought and destroyed by the Hand. The location of the group Admiral Faro was facing must be a recent discovery.

  ”However, I’m sending Vice Admiral Boadil’cu‘nor and his fleet. I don’t believe the two of you have met,” Parck’s hologram said. “He’s an excellent officer. His fleet includes three Gozanti cruisers, the Charger-C70 cruiser the Lumina, The CR-90 corvette Valla, the Raider-Class corvette Prowler, the Arquitens-Class light cruiser Fortitude, the Lancer-Class frigate Skystrike, the Carrack-Class light cruiser Korro, the Dreadnought-Class Heavy Cruiser Starlight, and the Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer Voidhunter.”

  Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, Laceeya sat back in her seat. She’d expected some reinforcements to be sent, but she hadn’t thought it would be such a large force. She certainly hadn’t expected additional ships being assigned permanently to her task force and command. Relief flooded through Laceeya at the news of Vice Admiral Ilcunor’s fleet.

  Despite being incredibly thankful for the reinforcements, she couldn’t help the slight sick feeling growing in her stomach. With the addition of Shadow’s Bane and the other vessels to her task force, thousands of additional officers, crew members, and warriors were placed under her command, shifting the weight of more responsibility onto her shoulders. The fear of failure seemed exponentially greater with so many more lives directly under her leadership.

  Laceeya bit her lip. It was selfish of her, she thought, to be thinking about such things. The important thing was that reinforcements were on their way to aid in fighting the Grysks. It was excellent news, and a huge relief, to hear that Vice Admiral Ilcunor and his fleet would be joining them. She had a feeling the Hand would need all the ships they could get to defend against the Grysks.

  “Additionally, a few additional repair and supply ships are being sent to Nyar to help expedite repairs. Vice Admiral Ilcunor is preparing his fleet,” Parck continued. “And he will be on his way by the time you receive this message. May warrior’s fortune smile on your efforts. Parck out.” With a curt nod, the hologram of Parck winked out, leaving the room in silence.

  “Thank you, Commander,” Laceeya finally said, sitting back in her chair as she mulled over everything. “Could you make me a copy of this message?”

  Denau reached down to pull out a datacard, setting it on the table. “I have one right here ma’am.” She said with a faint smile.

  “Perfect,” Laceeya said. “Did everything else go alright with your mission?”

  “It did, Commodore,” Denau answered with a nod. “Everything else was fortunately uneventful.”

  “Good. I can’t say the same for the Ethereal’s trip to the Kwenast system,” Laceeya said with a sigh. “The Kwenast had a trap planned for us at their homeworld. We managed to escape into hyperspace, returning in the direction of the Nyar system.” She pursed her lips. “However, shortly after making the jump, the ship was pulled out of hyperspace.”

  Laceeya continued, giving a recap of the recent events. She told them about the two Grysk ships, the destroyer that they had previously encountered and the frigate carrying the gravity well generator. “We had to enter the Sharasil nebula to escape after the Kwenast flotilla arrived from hyperspace.” She explained. “With the Grysk frigate armed with a gravity well generator, there was no way for us to fight our way through all those ships and escape.”

  Laceeya looked around the room after she had finished recounting their mission. The other officers all looked thoughtful or concerned. The threat of the Grysk activity was certainly ominous, and they all realized that.

  “You mentioned a new orbital station at the Kwenast homeworld, ma’am.” Captain Temana, the captain of the Paladin, spoke up.

  “Yes,” Laceeya confirmed. “We were too far away for our sensors to get any useful readings on it. Based on its size and the apparently quick time it took to construct it, as well as what we know about the Kwenast, the only likely explanation is that it’s a Grysk operation of some sort.” She paused, chewing her lip thoughtfully. “But we don’t know what.”

  Beside her, Harax cleared his throat. “We believe there is something unique about the Kwenast homeworld that led the Grysks to choose that planet as its location,” Harax added. “Again however, we have no confirmation of this.”

  “Could it simply be a ship servicing station?” Senior Captain Farwick asked. “We know they have plans to move into this region. They’ll require stations such as that to service, refuel, and repair their ships.”

  “It’s possible,” Laceeya agreed. “But the Kwenast already have a large orbital station for that purpose. Which of course doesn’t mean it couldn’t be another station with a similar purpose, but…” She trailed off.

  Farwick sighed. “It sounds like we won’t be able to find out what it’s for without a closer look, Commodore.” He said.

  “Agreed,” Laceeya said. “But it’ll have to wait for the moment. At least until reinforcements arrive.”

  “Is there anything we can do to help the Kwenast?” Commander Tholirr, the commander of the Raider-Class corvette Blitz, spoke up. He was a Chiss, roughly a decade older than Laceeya, and was thin with a sharp jaw.

  “I’ve been trying to think of ways to do so,” Laceeya said, biting her lower lip in thought. “But it’s not easy to get a group out of Grysk control, much less when we don’t know how the Grysks obtained their service. For all we know they willingly joined the Grysks, as we’ve seen some species do, or they could've been coerced or forced to do so. The Grysks could be holding important Kwenast people hostage in exchange for their service, or found a way to get the leaders or government in their hands. But I’m pretty sure the Kwenast wouldn’t willingly join them without Grysk manipulation.”

  Commander Tholirr nodded solemnly.

  “The situation with the Drika’tun show how dangerous it can be.” Laceeya reminded the others.

  The Drika’tun were a species they had encountered in the past that had been under Grysk control. Laceeya and her task force had tried to get in contact with them, to aid them in escaping servitude from their Grysk overlords. The Drika’tun had ended up agreeing, but when the Ethereal arrived to take out the few Grysk ships in the system, they sprung a trap. It turned out the whole thing had been orchestrated by the Grysks, and the Drika’tun had no plans to turn against them.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Thankfully, Laceeya had prepared for the possibility, and had left the rest of her task force positioned at the edge of the system. When the Grysks and Drika’tun launched their attack on the Ethereal, Laceeya ordered the other ships to jump to the planet she was at, flanking the main enemy force from behind. The Hand was able to win the battle and escape.

  “I do, Commodore,” Tholirr said grimly.”I just hate to see the Grysks using these people as tools, and that we have to fight and kill them.”

  “I know. I hate it too,” Laceeya agreed with a sigh. It was tragic, many of the Grysks client species suffered heavily under their rule, and their military forces were used in a more expendable role, as they weren’t Grysk lives or ships, sent to fight their battles and die. Yet despite this they remained staunchly on the Grysks’ side, even when offered assistance for the possibility of escaping their service. The hold that the Grysks obtained over them was so tight, that they didn’t dare fight it.

  Only by fighting back against the Grysks could they prevent this from happening to other worlds and peoples. Even if at times it meant fighting groups or species that had never previously portrayed any hostility.

  They continued discussing other matters, reviewing the state of repair of the ships at Nyar Three. Progress had been made, slowly but surely.

  The meeting lasted a while longer, as the officers conversed over various important topics and issues. After the meeting had concluded, Senior Captain Farwick and Commander Khrinai, the commander of the Lancer-Class frigate, First Light, hastily walked over to Laceeya. They straightened to attention.

  “Commodore Laceeya,” Farwick said. “We’re honored to have been permanently assigned to your task force, and to serve under your command.” The two of them stood stiff and straight.

  “At ease,” Laceeya said, giving them a smile. “Thank you. But the privilege is really mine, I couldn't ask for two better officers.” Laceeya had worked with the two of them many times, like the recent battle at Nyar Three.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Commander Khrinai said. She was a relatively short middle aged Chiss woman, with her dark hair scraped back into a tight bun beneath her cap.

  “Shall I walk you back to your ship, Commodore?” Farwick asked politely.

  “We should be able to find our way back on our own,” Laceeya replied. “But thank you for offering.”

  “Very well,” Farwick said reluctantly. “I’ll at least have a couple troopers escort you.”

  Laceeya pursed her lips. She didn’t find it necessary, but clearly Farwick was trying to be polite and respectful. “Okay. Thank you, Senior Captain.”

  He gestured to two stormtroopers that were standing guard, and ordered them to escort Laceeya and Harax to the hangar.

  The small group started off down the corridor, headed to the turbolift that would lead them to the hangar. “I’d say that went rather well, Commodore.” Harax spoke up. “The news from Admiral Parck, that is. I wanted to congratulate you on the additional ships placed under your command. You’ve earned it ma’am, and I am sure they will find you to be as excellent a commander as there is. I know I certainly have.”

  “Thank you Captain,” Laceeya said, giving him a smile. His words meant a lot to her. She trusted and greatly appreciated him, but Harax had never been what one would call overly warm or emotional. Any words such as that meant even more coming from him. “That means a lot. I couldn’t ask for a better first officer myself. Imagine if you weren’t around and I got stuck with Shyka as my first officer.” Laceeya said with a wry smirk.

  Even Harax, serious as he usually was, gave a small smile at that.

  They walked together through the corridors of Shadow’s Bane, returning to the hangar and entering their TIE Reaper. She again made her way to the cockpit, savoring the brief time at the controls of the ship. Carefully maneuvering the Reaper, she smoothly set it down back in the ventral hangar of the Ethereal.

  Laceeya and Harax exited the ship into the hangar, the large bay doors sliding shut. They made their way back to the bridge, where a few of the other officers had gathered around the holotable.

  Shyka looked up upon their entrance. “How’d it go, Commodore?” She asked expectantly as Laceeya and Harax walked up to join them.

  “Surprisingly well,” Laceeya answered. “Commander Denau brought a message from Admiral Parck.” She lifted the datacard with the copy of Parck’s message. “Reinforcements are on their way.“ Inserting the datacard in the appropriate slot on the holotable, she played the message for the other officers to see.

  When the message was complete, the hologram vanished, leaving the bridge in silence.

  “Wow,” Shyka said incredulously. “That is good news.”

  Laceeya nodded in agreement. “Vice Admiral Ilcunor just recently returned from a mission, so the timing there worked out perfectly.”

  “I’d say so,” Shyka agreed. “Congratulations on your new command as well, Commodore.“ She said with a broad smile. “You’ve definitely earned it.”

  “Thank you, Shyka.” Laceeya replied. She was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of the additional ships that had been newly assigned to her task force. In the back of her mind, however, she couldn’t help but think that she didn’t deserve it. The images of death and destruction from her recent nightmare were still fresh in her memory. What if she caused that to happen?

  No, Laceeya told herself, she wouldn’t let that happen. Yet she knew more battles with the Grysk lurked in the future, where many were likely to die.

  “Commodore?” Lieutenant Apoyarp’s voice pulled her out of her dark thoughts.

  “Yes?” Laceeya said, turning slightly jerkily to face him.

  “I was just congratulating you on your new command.” Apoyarp said, looking just a bit puzzled.

  “Oh. Thank you, Lieutenant.” Laceeya replied, flashing him a smile in thanks. She hadn’t realized she’d zoned out. Shyka cocked her head to the side, giving her a slightly troubled look. She knew of Laceeya’s recent nightmare, and knew her well enough to probably guess what she was thinking about.

  The other officers offered her congratulations as well, all of them saying how deserving Laceeya was of her new command, and how honored they were to serve alongside her. Their words were all very touching, and they served as yet another reminder of the pride she had in being able to serve alongside the officers and crew of the Ethereal.

  Laceeya had worked her whole life for this, dedicating her existence towards protecting the Chiss and then any other innocent people she had the ability to. She’d always wanted to make a difference, to help protect those who couldn’t protect themselves, to make the galaxy a brighter and safer place. Being assigned additional ships as a part of her task force would provide the opportunity to make a more significant difference. That was, after all, the Empire of the Hand’s purpose. She should be proud to have accomplished what she had, to have recently achieved the rank of Commodore at such a young age and now command a task force of this size.

  Yet the hollow feeling in her stomach remained, the fear that she would let down her subordinates, the fear that she would cause their deaths. Laceeya noticed Shyka was still looking at her with a slightly worried expression.

  “You all deserve just as much credit as I do,” Laceeya said, after thanking the others for their encouragement, trying to bring her focus back to the present instead of giving in to her fears. “All I do is stand here looking important.”

  Shyka rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.” She said. “You’re always trying to deflect your own importance, aren’t you?” She gave her a lopsided smile.

  Laceeya shrugged noncommittally. “I wouldn’t be able to lead a task force and fight battles all on my own,” She said. “I couldn’t do it with all of you.”

  Later that day, Laceeya and Shyka were striding down the corridors of the Ethereal, on their way to the mess hall. Recently, with all the trouble the Ethereal had been in, Laceeya had found herself rushing her meals and just forcing down tasteless ration cubes, which were quick and easy to eat while providing all the necessary nutrients. That said, they left a lot to be desired in the flavor department. She always enjoyed the opportunity to visit the mess hall. It was encouraging to see the other officers and crew relaxing, and for her to try and do the same.

  “You know, I’ve always wanted to see some big waterfalls,” Bren was saying as they walked. “Some really big ones. I’ve seen pictures and holos, but I’ve never seen a big one in person.”

  Laceeya smiled. “We’ll have to find some to go to together,” She said. “If I’m invited, that is.”

  “I’m still thinking about it,” Shyka said, scrunching up her nose as if in thought. “But…I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have something pretty to look at.” She shot Laceeya a smirk.

  “Glad to know I’m good for something,” Laceeya said, rolling her eyes. Joking aside, Laceeya couldn’t even remember the last time she’d gone on any sort of vacation. War, or preparing for it, had been the biggest constant in her life for the past decade almost. It didn’t look like that would change any time soon either. She longed to be off somewhere, just her and Bren alone, out in nature together looking at beautiful waterfalls and trees and mountains. Without the looming shadow of the Grysk threat hanging over them. That sadly felt like a far off fantasy.

  The evils of the Chaos such as the Grysks, didn’t rest. How could Laceeya rest with all that was happening?

  “We’ll go someday,” Bren assured her. “Growing up on Commenor, we always lived in the city and I never got to see a whole lot of nature. But it’s always fascinated me.”

  “Me too.” Laceeya said. as the pair arrived at the door to the mess hall. She reached to press the control panel to open the door, but Bren laid a hand on her arm to stop her.

  “I wanted to congratulate you again on your new command,” Bren said with a smile, taking Laceeya’s hand in her own. “I’m so proud of you, Laceeya.” She glanced over her shoulder at the vacant corridor behind them, before leaning in and giving Laceeya a gentle but long kiss on the lips. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” She murmured, looking into Laceeya’s glowing red eyes.

  She felt her face warm slightly, and grinned sheepishly. “You’re too sweet. But I think that title belongs to me,” She countered.

  “I guess we’ll have to share it,” Bren said, cocking her head slightly to the side. “We’d better go eat,” Bren added, nodding to the door to the mess hall. “We don’t want the Commodore mad at us if we’re late to our next shift.”

  Laceeya rolled her eyes, smiling.

  The doors slid open, and Laceeya reached up to her rank plaque, unpinning it from her chest and sliding it into her pocket, as Bren did the same. It was something done to signify that here, there was no rank, and any sort of formality towards superior officers could be set aside.

  The two of them grabbed their trays of food, heading over to a nearby table where a few TIE pilots and officers sat gathered around. A couple of the TIE pilots looked especially somber, mourning the death of their friends in the recent battle. Laceeya grimaced to herself. It seemed wherever she went she was reminded of the realities of war. The seat where Joak Cartova typically sat was left empty.

  One of the pilots, Major Safiram, looked up upon their approach, his solemn expression brightening slightly. “Good to see the two of you down here,” He said. Safiram was the commander of the Ethereal’s elite TIE squadron. “We were just talking about the time Joak ate too much before simulator training and threw up inside his helmet.”

  “What a great thing to think about while you’re eating,” Laceeya said sardonically. At least it was good to see them remembering the amusing moments and good memories with their fallen comrade. It was reassuring to see them smiling. She and Bren took a pair of seats next to each other with the group, being sure to leave the spot where Joak had sat open. “I think almost every time I’ve heard this story has been during a meal.”

  “Hey, it’s an important time to remind someone,” Safiram said, an innocent expression on his face. “After all, if I’d been able to tell Joak a similar story, maybe he would’ve thought a little more about eating a big portion of a food he knew upset his stomach. Of course he’d never risk such a thing before a mission, but for simulator training I guess he thought he could get away with it.”

  One of the other pilots, Vyron Kyst, shook his head and smiled. “That was Joak all right,” He said, his voice turning grim as he lowered his eyes. “I’m going to miss him.”

  Laceeya saw Safiram swallow. He and Joak had been best friends, and she knew the loss of multiple members of his squadron had to be hitting him especially hard. Laceeya felt a pang of guilt. Ultimately, she’d sent them into battle. They were warriors, and they understood and knew the risk every time they hopped in the cockpit. But that didn’t make it any easier.

  “He was very brave.” Laceeya murmured, taking a bite out of the biscuit she had picked up. It didn’t help the dryness in her mouth. “We'll all miss him.”

  “Certainly saved me a number of times,” Safiram agreed gravely, his voice low. “And many others. Remember when we encountered that big pirate gang at Wejalor? They were attacking a group of traders, and Joak took out five of their fighters that were shooting at one of the traders’ transports. He charged right into a swarm of dozens of enemy fighters, no concern for his own safety, just trying to protect innocent people.”

  “Always putting others first.” Laceeya said softly, running a hand through her dark hair. She took another bite of her food, steadily chewing it.

  “Sure beats dry rations doesn’t it?” Bren said, gesturing towards her food. “I don’t know why they can’t make them at least taste like something.”

  “Careful what you wish for,” Laceeya said with a shrug. “Better tasteless than tasting bad.”

  “Good point,” Bren conceded. “But still. We have warships with the potential to glass a planet but we don’t have rations that taste decent.”

  “Maybe you should be put in charge of making dry rations,” Laceeya teased.

  “Not enough glory in it for me,” Bren said wryly. “You know how I need to feel important.”

  “Right,” Laceeya said, a smile playing across her lips. She took another bite of her food, savoring the taste and texture. Bren was of course joking, they certainly weren’t out in the Chaos fighting for glory. There wasn’t much to be had.

  “I wouldn’t want to give up the prestige of serving with the best Commodore in the fleet,” Bren said. “

  “Yeah, yeah,” Laceeya replied, rolling her eyes.

  “Hey, I’m serious. About the second part anyway,” Bren said, holding up her hands to forestall any comments. “Sadly, there isn’t much fame and honor left over for me with you stealing the show,” She said wistfully. “Thankfully you’ve got a pretty face that’ll look good for the holocams.” A sideways smile playing across her lips.

  Laceeya felt her face warm slightly from the compliment. Across the table, Safiram raised his eyebrows slightly, exchanging a look with Kyst.

  “Right.” Laceeya managed to say, feeling a little flustered from Bren’s flirty compliment in public.

  Safiram cleared his throat. “So, I wanted to ask you about something, Laceeya,” He said. “Do you miss the Ascendency? It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.”

  She nodded, images of the Stybla homestead back in the Ascendancy flashing through her mind. She’d been fortunate enough to spend time in the beautiful mansion there. She was a blood member of the Stybla, born into the family.

  “Yeah,” Laceeya said. “But honestly, home for me has been here on the Ethereal for so long,” She answered. “I’m so used to living aboard a ship.” She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “What I’d really like is to see more of the galaxy. There’s so many amazing things out there, and I hate that we only get to experience the planets we visit from space,” She paused for a second before continuing. “But yes, there’s parts of the Ascendency I really miss. Friends and family,” Laceeya recalled memories of her family, and the friends she’d made in the academy. She had no memories of her father, who had died when she was young, but her mother had been an influential figure in her life. ”But thankfully, I also have friends and family here.” She smiled at the others.

  “I feel mostly the same way,” Safiram agreed. “But I would like to go back at some point. It’s been so long.”

  Laceeya nodded in agreement. “It’s just hard for me to imagine returning with the threat of the Grysks. Knowing that they’re out there, building power and preying on others, and that one day they’ll return to attack the Ascendancy if we don’t stop them.” She bit off a chunk of her biscuit.

  ”I understand. There’s a lot to be done here. But one day we’ll be able to go home.” Safiram said. “Though I certainly don’t miss all the family politics.” He added, grimacing.

  “That’s for sure.” Laceeya agreed. The politics between the nine Ruling Families and the forty Great Families in the Chiss Ascendancy were intense. Laceeya’s family, the Stybla, were a member of the Forty, though one that kept out of the tangled political web more than most. The families were constantly bickering and competing for influence, with complex alliances and rivalries tying them all together,

  “I have no desire to go back home,” Kyst said. “Part of the reason I originally joined the military was to get away from that place. All of you are the only family I have.”

  “Sorry you got stuck with us,” Bren said jokingly, grinning. ”But we’re happy to have you regardless.”

  Kyst laughed and shrugged. “Could be worse.”

  “Can’t think of much worse than Bren.” Safiram said facetiously, a grin on his face.

  “Ouch.” Bren said, clutching her chest as if she’d been stabbed in the heart.

  Laceeya couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know,” She said thoughtfully. “There’s some benefits to having her around.”

  “Such as my dashing looks,” Bren said, striking a pose.

  “And her ability to blow stuff up,” Kyst put in. “That’s pretty important.”

  “I’m glad someone values my skillset,” Bren said, inclining her head toward Kyst. “But you’re forgetting my glowing personality.” She added.

  “I stand corrected.” Safiram said, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

  It was encouraging to see everyone joking after the recent losses, Laceeya thought. She knew they were all hurting inside like she was, especially the pilots. That’s how we cope, Laceeya thought to herself. It was cliche, but sometimes you had to laugh to keep from hurting as severely.

  “They really don’t pay me enough for my many talents.” Bren was saying wistfully.

  Safiram raised an eyebrow. “You’re not paid at all.” He said.

  “I guess I’ll have to go on strike,” Bren said with a lopsided smirk, shaking her head. “And maybe I’ll start a union for other disgruntled officers and crew.”

  Laceeya snorted softly. “I’ll send a message to Admiral Parck about your concerns,” She said with a straight face. “Or there’s always the option of a career in creating dry rations. Maybe the pay would be better.”

  ”It’s tempting,” Bren mused. “Though I’m not sure I could give up this excellent company.” She waved her hand to take in the others at the table.

  “How touching.” Safiram said wryly.

  Bren glared at him. “On second thought, maybe I could.”

  “What are you going to put on your job application?” Kyst asked. “‘No prior experience in the food processing industry,” He said, holding his hands out in front of him as if he was typing on an invisible datapad. “But I have spent the past five years in the middle of nowhere blowing stuff up.’”

  “I’m sure those skills carry over,” Bren countered, waving her hand dismissively. “How hard can it be?”

  Laceeya smiled, and Safiram laughed, shaking his head.

  “I’ve seen you try and cook before,” Laceeya said. “And it was not pretty.”

  Bren let out a long and weary sigh. “And here I was, thinking my friends would support me in my new career venture.”

  ”We just couldn’t bear to lose you.” Laceeya told her. Bren was joking about the whole thing of course, but that much was certainly true.

  Bren beamed back at her. “Lucky for you, I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

  Laceeya returned her smile. “I do feel pretty lucky.”

  “You two should get a room,” Kyst muttered, raising his eyebrows.

  Laceeya felt her face warm, unsure of how to respond. She glanced over at Bren, who didn’t look quite as embarrassed as Laceeya. “A room?” She asked slowly.

  “Oh come on Laceeya,” Kyst chided gently. “You don’t have to play dumb,” His tone softened. “We all know.”

  Safiram nodded. “It’s pretty obvious.” He agreed.

  Laceeya opened her mouth to speak.

  “Don’t worry, dont worry. We know you don’t give Bren special treatment or anything,” Safiram said gently. “It’s okay.”

  Laceeya bit her lip, feeling her face flush even more. Bren was just sitting back looking amused.

  “You’re all some real detectives aren’t you?” Bren said, rolling her eyes.

  “Hey, it doesn’t take a detective to figure this out,” Kyst teased. “A quick glance would probably give it away.”

  “He’s right,” Safiram said. “You two are our friends, you don’t need to worry about it, you know. And like Kyst said, it’s pretty obvious to anyone as close to you as us.”

  “I’ve just never wanted anyone to get the wrong idea…” Laceeya murmured.

  “Seriously Laceeya, you don’t need to worry about it.” Safiram said encouragingly. “We‘re your friends. We never wanted to push you about it, but we’ve all known for a long time. It’s okay.”

  Laceeya felt a bit silly thinking she could keep their relationship lowkey, and a bit silly for not telling her friends about it in the first place. These were her friends, they knew her and Bren well and they trusted them both. Of course they wouldn’t think Laceeya would use her rank to give Bren special treatment.

  “She’s just a little shy sometimes,” Bren said, putting an arm around Laceeya’s waist and smiling at her. Laceeya gave her a tentative smile in return. Bren narrowed her eyes. “Either that or she’s ashamed of me.”

  “Oh be quiet,” Laceeya said, rolling her eyes and giving Bren a playful nudge. “You know that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

  “I know,” Bren assured her.

  “I’m happy for you two.” Safiram said. “We can all tell how much you mean to each other.”

  “Thanks, Safiram.” Bren replied.

  He inclined his head in her direction. “Joak would always talk about how cute you two were together.” A pang of sadness washed through Laceeya at the mention of their friend's name.

  “That’s really sweet of him,” Bren said. She opened her mouth to speak, but paused. She swallowed heavily. “All the cuteness comes from Laceeya, of course.” She added, her voice slightly dry as she tried to remain cheerful.

  “Yeah right.” Laceeya countered. “You make it sound like the whole ship knows about us.” She nodded to Safiram.

  He tried to hide a grin. “To be honest, everyone probably does,” Safiram’s attempt to conceal his smile proved futile. “You know how word gets around on the ship. And like I said, it’s pretty damn obvious. Sparks fly between you two any time you’re in a room together.”

  Kyst was also grinning in amusement, and Bren simply had a sly smirk on her face.

  “You two probably thought you were really sneaky,” Kyst said, shaking his head. “But we figured we’d all play along and go with it.”

  “Nice of you to humor Laceeya.” Bren said, turning slightly to smile at her.

  Footsteps on the deck sounded as Apoyarp approached, holding a tray of food. The others looked up and greeted him as he slid onto a seat. “So,” He said afterwards. “What’d I miss?”

  Kyst and Safiram glanced at each other, breaking out into grins and laughing.

  “You’d think they’re a bunch of schoolboys.” Bren muttered, rolling her eyes.

  Apoyarp raised his eyebrows over his glowing red eyes. “What’s so funny?” He asked..

  “Well,” Safiram looked to Laceeya, as if asking for permission. She just rolled her eyes and held up her hands, shrugging. “We were just talking about the Ethereal’s greatest love story.” He gestured dramatically with his hand towards the two women.

  “Ah,” Apoyarp replied, a knowing smile playing across his face as he peered at Bren and Laceeya. “I see. So the secret’s finally out?”

  “Yes, and apparently these two think it’s the funniest thing ever.” Laceeya answered, scowling at Safiram and Kyst.

  Safiram grinned. “We just think it’s funny that you thought it wasn’t obvious,” He said. “But we’re just giving you a hard time. Seriously, I’m very happy that you both have each other.” Kyst nodded in agreement. “It’s honestly reassuring to see that even among all the death and war, there can still be beautiful things.” He said solemnly.

  “Thanks Safiram, that means a lot,” Laceeya said.

  “Romance always blossoms in the most unlikely and unexpected places.” Bren added philosophically. She threw a smile over in Laceeya’s direction. She felt Bren’s hand squeeze her waist gently.

  Laceeya smiled warmly back at her, looking into her brown eyes. She felt an immense swelling of gratitude that she was able to have this incredible woman in her life, and that she miraculously loved Laceeya in return.

  “How poetic.” Kyst put in.

  “Something for us all to aspire to.” Safiram said, grinning.

  Laceeya rolled her eyes.

  “Going to be pretty tough for you, Safiram.” Kyst joked.

  Safiram shook his head. “And here I was, thinking my squadmates would always back me up. The betrayal strikes deep.”

  Laceeya smiled. “Hey, friends are supposed to be honest. You can’t be mad at him for that.” She said innocently, a smile lifting the corner of her lips.

  Safiram shook his head. “Here I am, serving as the communal punching bag again.” He said.

  Laceeya shrugged. “I guess that’s what you get for teasing me and Bren.” She said with a wry smirk.

  The conversation continued a while longer, as everyone joked around with each other and talked about various things.

  There was a moment of silence in the conversation, after everyone had finished their meals. “So we have the ceremony soon?” Safiram questioned, his tone now serious.

  Laceeya took a deep breath and nodded. “That’s right.” She confirmed solemnly. “It’s in three hours.”

  The others nodded in silent acknowledgment. Laceeya admitted to herself that she was dreading the ceremony. It would drag strong emotions to the forefront of her mind. But no matter how difficult it may be, it was necessary, for everyone. As a leader, those under command were her responsibility, and both the fallen and the living deserved it.

  A few hours later, Laceeya and Shyka were again walking together down one of the numerous grey durasteel-plated corridors of the Ethereal, headed to the hangar. The large doors slid open, revealing a gathering of officers, crew, pilots and soldiers. Some sat perched on crates, others stood. They’d all come to attend the ceremony honoring the lives of the recent fallen.

  Laceeya swallowed, and stepped into the hangar. She could feel the eyes of the group on her, as she walked to take her place in front of them. It was always difficult to do this, but it was necessary. Her mind was swirling with emotion as she stepped up onto a cargo crate so everyone could see her.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Laceeya began, trying to prevent the weakness she felt inside from making its way into her voice. “I wish there was something I could say to ease the loss you’re all feeling. I wish there was something I could do to bring the fallen back. They fought for the safety of others, as all true warriors do.” She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts and trying to keep her composure.

  “Kaz Brebbis. Deris Meyonan. Erighal’tas’rueni. Joak Cartova.” Her voice cracked slightly on her friend's name, as she listed the fallen. “It can feel like there isn’t any meaning in death. I know I feel that way. We have to remember they died fighting for what they believed in. They may not be here, but our memories of them, the stories of them we tell, the lives they saved and improved, that is still alive. And it’s up to us to keep their legacy alive, to remember them and what they fought for.”

  Laceeya bit her lip, trying to focus her thoughts. She gazed out at the gathering. It was a touching image, seeing so many people gathered to honor those who had died. From the dark grey uniforms of officers, to the black flight suits of TIE pilots, the light grey of crewmen, black-clad navy troopers, and white armored stormtroopers, people from all roles and ranks had come. Laceeya feared her words were inadequate. A gathering such as this was always held if someone from the Ethereal died, but it never got any easier for her.

  “Thank you all for being here. It's an honor to serve with you. If you feel alone, if you lost someone close to you, turn to your friends here. Come talk to me if you need to. We’re more than just warriors fighting alongside each other. You’re far more to me than just the crew of my ship. We’re all brothers, sisters, siblings.” Laceeya said, pausing to try and work moisture into her dry mouth.. “This is war, and more deaths will happen. But I’m going to do everything I can to prevent that. More than anything, I don’t want any of you to die.” Laceeya’s stomach was churning uncomfortably, and the taste of bile rose in her throat. She swallowed heavily, trying to force the nausea she was feeling down. “If anyone would like to share anything related to our lost friends, feel free to speak.”

  She stepped hastily off the crate she had been standing on. Spotting where Bren was standing nearby, she walked quickly over to her.

  “It never gets easier,” Laceeya murmured to Bren, her voice wavering.

  “You did great.” Bren said softly, smiling reassuringly. “I know how hard that is for you to do.”

  Safiram spoke up, breaking the silence. He told a story of when he met Joak Cartova, and some of the good memories they had together. Safiram shared one of the times Joak had saved his life in battle, shedding a few tears as he remembered his best friend. He continued to reminisce over moments with each of the other fallen pilots. Laceeya knew how difficult it must have been for him.

  Laceeya bit down on her lip, trying her best to keep her emotions in check. It was an informal gathering, but she still felt as a leader she needed to appear steadfast and in control.

  But hearing the memories of her friend cut into her. Looking at the faces of others and seeing the direct impact that death caused was always incredibly painful. Laceeya again thought how their lives had been under her command, her responsibility. It was overwhelming to think about.

  Tears begin to form in her eyes. She glanced over at Bren. She had to be hurting too, but Laceeya knew Bren would try her best to remain strong and steady, for Laceeya’s sake. When she was struggling, Bren was always there, always ready to listen and comfort and support her. Laceeya felt a pang of guilt over that. She appreciated Bren’s support more than she could put into words, but sometimes she felt that she didn’t deserve someone like Bren, who was always there, ready for Laceeya to lean on her.

  Noticing Laceeya quietly crying, Bren stepped closer to her, putting an arm around her waist in silent support. Laceeya wiped the tears off her face, but they kept coming.

  A crew member spoke up next, sharing a heartfelt story of her memories of one of the fallen pilots. One by one, others around the hangar shared their stories of the dead. Some were calm and composed, and a few openly cried. It was a moving experience, and an environment where anyone could be open, where emotions could be let out.

  Eventually, the gathering broke up, and people began to disperse. Laceeya hastily wiped her face with her sleeve, inhaling deeply to try and pull herself together. Looking around, she saw many of the others moving to sit or stand in small groups of friends, finding comfort in the presence of others.

  There was a feeling of great sadness that hung over the room, but there was also a powerful sense of closeness and deep belonging.

  Safiram found his way over to where Laceeya and Bren stood. “Thank you for your words,” He said, solemnly inclining his head in her direction.

  “It’s the least I could do for them,” Laceeya said. “None of them will be forgotten.”

  “They certainly won’t,” He murmured softly. “This,” Safiram added, gesturing to take in the hangar. “Is why you’re such a great leader. Of course you’re an excellent tactician and strategist, but this is what makes everyone truly trust and respect you even more. We all know how much you care about and respect each and every one of us, how you’ll do everything you can to keep us alive. I don’t know that there’s any other commanders who care to the degree that you do.”

  She was silent for a moment. “Thank you Safiram,” Laceeya managed, wiping away a stray tear. “That really means a lot.”

  ”You know I mean it,” He said, reaching over to rest his hand on Laceeya’s shoulder for a second, giving her a tired smile. A small frown creased his brow as he met Laceeya’s eyes. “Hey, don’t look so sad,” Safiram said, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “I know my face isn’t the prettiest sight but I didn’t think it was bad enough to cry over.”

  Laceeya snorted softly, a tentative smile forming on her lips despite the tears in her eyes.

  “Probably a good idea to just always leave your TIE Pilot helmet on,” Bren mused. “Safer for all of us that way.”

  Safiram laughed. “Unless,” Bren continued thoughtfully. “We could find some way to weaponize it. Could be useful to have a weapon like that up our sleeve in battle. Or should I say under Safiram’s helmet.”

  Laceeya rolled her eyes, smiling. She found it very sweet how Bren always tried her best to cheer everyone up, especially Laceeya.

  Safiram held up his hands in defeat, smiling.

  “How’s your TIE holding up?” Laceeya asked, sniffling and wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She inclined her head in the direction of where Safiram’s TIE Defender hung on a rack.

  “She’s got some carbon scoring in a few places, but otherwise is still running great,” Safiram said, looking fondly at the Defender. He loved his ship, Laceeya knew. “The same goes for most of the other ships in the squadron, though Vyron’s Advanced V1 took some pretty bad damage.”

  “I’m just glad he’s okay,” Laceeya said. “That’s what’s most important.”

  “Yes,” Safiram murmured. “Not the first time he’s brought his ship back in a mess.”

  "Nothing that won’t buff out, right?” Bren put in, gesturing to the V1 that was missing the top half of one of its folding S-foils. The main body of the craft had a deep gash in the hull metal and scorch marks streaking across it.

  “Something like that,” Safiram said with a snort. “Though I’m not sure the mechanics would agree.”

  Laceeya’s eyes passed around the hangar, at the groups of chatting crew, pilots, officers, and soldiers. Many still appeared somber, but they were smiling and laughing as they enjoyed the company of their friends, and shared more memories of the fallen. Everyone was supporting each other, coping as best as possible with the loss of their friends and colleagues. She could see the very beginnings of the long process of healing, though Laceeya knew far too well that losing someone close never fully healed.

  Laceeya was filled with immense pride, looking out at everyone. They were so much more than just colleagues serving alongside each other, they were a tight knit family. Perhaps this wasn’t like the environment of most warships, but she was glad that this was how it was on the Ethereal. They weren’t just assets to be spent in battle, they were people.