Barkesh was like many other planets annexed by the First Order. Although there would be some initial friction, which was fair enough, it needed to be ended as soon as possible. After the defeat handed to the Galactic Alliance in the Mustafar sector, the First Order had moved to incorporate Barkesh as a member of its burgeoning state. Although, physically at least, the Imperial Palace had deployed troops and extensive material to the system to deploy troops, thousands of bureaucrats from various departments had flocked to the planets capital. Officials from Treasury, to Tourism, and Agriculture to Science found themselves building Supreme Leader's influence. Offices for every department were being set up to ensure the transition from Alliance vassal to First Order territory was as smooth as possible. However, until the civilian government could become operable, the military would step in to administer the planet.
Admiral Carlyle Rausgeber was one of the senior most officers on Barkesh. His project, the First Imperial Modular Base was being rolled out some way away from the capitol, and on the southern plains, where Outpost Voku had been destined to begin construction. While star destroyers and engineers slaved to make the land malleable for such a structure, Carlyle had made his temporary base of operations in Barkesh's capital spaceport. It was from there, the fleet organised a defensive blockade, and mediated oncoming traffic.
Rausgeber stalked through the spaceports halls. It had been commandeered by a mixture of FOSB, and Naval personnel, who monitored traffic and tried to piece together the logs of Alliance ships, comings and goings. Although the spaceport staff were kept on, they were undergoing character assessment by FOSB personnel for potential sympathies for their former sovereigns. Carlyle entered the command room, flanked by his Shadowtrooper guards. Dozens of naval personnel sat at their consoles, monitoring telemetry being received from the ships in orbit, as well as trawling through data logs. It was a dark room, with no windows. The only light came from the glow of the data terminals. Carlyle passed by the rows of naval technicians and FOSB encryption personnel behind their data banks, until he reached the Commanding Officer, a corvette commander, pressed into the job of air-traffic controller.
"How long have you been on duty Commander?" Carlyle asked.
The officer stood to attention, and saluted, "Twelve hours admiral," The commander reported.
"Anything of note to report?" Carlyle asked, inspecting the man. He was clearly weary, his eyes carried dark rings underneath them.
"Nothing of note sir, the scheduled transports from Effekt were received. Along with the bronzium shipment from Zarnathea." The commander reported, "Other than that, we haven't had anything."
"What of the TIE flyovers, has anything come from them?" Carlyle asked, "We will not have these dissidents subvert our liberation of this system."
"The TIE's found nothing admiral." The commander reported, "We will continue flying them. If these guerrillas try anything again, we'll be sure to pick them up."
"Good, good," Carlyle commented drily. He wasn't impressed, but then again, it wouldn't be good for morale if he expressed his displeasure in any more explicit means. The senior officer then eyed the commander, and gently grasped the commanders shoulder, "You look like you need a kip." Carlyle said, "Go to the mess, get yourself something to eat, and then grab a few hours in the bunks."
The commander tiredly smiled, and saluted, "Thank you sir, but who will remain in charge here?"
"I will, until Captain Hadley returns to duty," Carlyle replied, making a mental note to make shifts shorter. "Now go have a break for karks sake."
"Yes sir, understood sir!" the Commander relented, before briskly marching out of the control room. Carlyle continued pacing up and down the control room like an eagle, eyeing the screens of his subordinates. The Shadowtroopers of his personal bodyguard unit, Skull Six silently ghosted him.
"Admiral," One technician began, "We have something sir."
"And what is that?" Carlyle asked, moving towards the technician.
"The FIV Desire has just picked it up, a small freighter headed towards orbit sir." The technician reported. "It isn't on the arrival schedule." The young officer eyed the admiral, as did just about everyone in the room.
"Make contact with it," Carlyle ordered, "Force it to land here, and undergo inspection. The usual." Carlyle reported.
"And should they refuse?" The Signals Officer asked.
"Then we give them the usual," Carlyle began with a smirk, "A few blasts, and we'll sift through the ashes."
The Signals Officer nodded, before moving to his communications station, opening up a line that was broadcast across all channels in space, via the stormcloud assault cruisers in orbit. "Unidentified freighter, this is First Imperial Naval Command. The system you are entering is sovereign territory of the First Order." The technician stated, "You are ordered to give us your vessel designation, cargo, and destination."
[member="Trextan Voidstalker"] | [member="Taheera Sollo"]
