Laphisto had put off attending the simulation for as long as he reasonably could. The invitation had sat unanswered for days before he finally relented. Not because he saw much value in it, but because eventually enough people had insisted that his presence mattered. Whether it actually did remained up for debate. The second issue was harder to ignore. Due to Carbonite poisoning, he was basically blind. In battle, it rarely mattered. The Force compensated where his eyes could not, warning him of incoming attacks, guiding his movements through instincts sharpened by years of warfare. A battlefield was predictable in that regard. There was danger. There were threats. The Force responded. A training simulation filled with officers, strategists, and politicians standing around a holotable offered none of that.
With a sigh, he paused outside the doorway, one hand resting briefly against the frame before exhaling through his nose. Then he stepped inside. Conversation immediately washed over him. Voices overlapped across the room while boots shifted against deck plating and uniforms from a dozen different backgrounds moved around illuminated holoprojectors and tactical displays. His jaw tightened slightly as he took it all in. Soldiers were simple. Warriors were simpler. Put him in a barracks, a trench line, or the command deck of a warship and he could hold a conversation for hours. Jedi, diplomats, academics, and career-focused officers were another matter entirely. They all seemed to speak a language that had little to do with war and even less to do with survival.
Rather than linger near the entrance, Laphisto moved deeper into the room. The newly issued
LO-60A armor carried a heavier profile than its predecessor, the reinforced plates producing a muted metallic rhythm against the floor with every step. Walking alongside him was his right-hand man, Commander Tarrian, The commander removed his helmet as they approached an empty holostation, tucking it beneath one arm while reaching for the controls. Blue light spilled upward from the console, bathing both figures as tactical interfaces flickered to life. the man relayed information to laphisto giving him sight in places he couldn't see.
Without ceremony, introductions, or attempts at conversation, the officer began entering fleet designations. One
Edaar-class Star Destroyer. Three
Air'mar-class Heavy Cruisers.
Eight corvettes. Ship icons materialized above the table one by one, arranging themselves into formation as streams of tactical data scrolled across the projection. Laphisto rested both gauntleted hands against the edge of the console and angled his head toward the display. The glow reflected faintly across scarred armor plating and the dark lenses covering his damaged eyes.
Around him, conversations continued uninterrupted. Officers discussed deployments. Commanders compared force compositions. Others exchanged greetings and introductions. Laphisto offered none of his own. His attention remained fixed on the holographic fleet hovering above the table while the simulation continued to assemble around him. The force allocation was complete. The fleet was entered. For now, that was enough. Remaining silent, he stood beside the holotable and waited for someone to issue the first order.