Private The "Ash" of the Ash Worlds

[Sarah Vulke]

Captain Charles
​

It had not taken long for the enterprising Captain Charles to capture Sarah's interest once again.

Beyond the world of Mahporeem lay the greater stretch of the Ash Worlds, a region regarded by much of the galaxy as a lawless backwater. Untouched by the order and discipline Imperial culture sought to impose upon the stars, the sector had long festered with the same instability and barbarism the Empire once claimed it would tame. Unsurprisingly, that reality sat poorly with the remnants of Imperial authority now gathering strength within the region. Their very doorstep crawled with the sort of opportunists, warlords, and decaying nobility they believed had no right to endure.

It came as little surprise, then, that Captain Charles and the crew of the IMS STRYKER were already preparing an expedition to expand Imperial influence deeper into the sector.

Sarah found a quiet amusement in how swiftly the Imperials had returned to their old instincts. Barely had Imperial Unity fractured before they were once again speaking of expansion, pacification, and civilization. It was as inevitable as gravity itself. Wherever disorder lingered, the Imperial machine would eventually attempt to sink its claws in and reshape it into something useful.

Their target this time was the world of Doan.

For all intents and purposes, Doan represented everything the Imperial ideal despised. Petty nobility ruled over a fractured and inefficient mining economy, squandering a world rich in untapped industrial potential. Corruption, lawlessness, and incompetence had reduced the planet into little more than a wasted opportunity—one that stronger powers would have exploited generations ago. The old Empire would never have ignored such a valuable world, and so Sarah could understand exactly why Captain Charles had set his sights upon it.

Having secured permission to join the expedition, Sarah made her way toward the staging grounds on Mahporeem. The ruins and scattered industrial debris of the settlement stretched around her as personnel hurried between supply crates, transports, and loading crews preparing for departure. Somewhere within the organized chaos stood Captain Charles himself, likely buried beneath manifests, logistics reports, and the endless burdens of command.

As she approached, she spotted him exactly as expected.

Straightening slightly, Sarah offered a crisp salute before allowing herself to relax once more.

"Captain," she said smoothly, a faint smile touching her lips. "It's always a pleasure."

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | Departing Mahporeem​

---

It had been two weeks since Captain Charles and his Officers found a sector map containing the planet Doan. During those two weeks Charles and his Officers had been able to coordinate refits, mission planning and resupply all at once. It was quite tiring honestly, but logistics won wars which mean the more effort put in the better. Meanwhile the Crew was well rested and clearly enjoyed their time off judging by the less than sober faces Charles had seen while walking around the landing pad.

He was also pleasantly surprised when Private Vulke had offered to join them on their mission. He returned the crisp salute with one of his own. “The pleasure is mine”. He responded before stepping aside to let her onboard.

The rest of the Crew were boarding as well. Charles made one last round confirming everything with the Mahporeem ground crew and his Engineer teams. Then he too boarded the ship. Once everyone was onboard and everyone briefed by their respective leadership he ordered the now MIN Stryker to launch.

Bright blue engines propelled the Stryker rapidly though the atmosphere and into space. “Navigation Officer input coordinates to the Doan System. Helm Officer prepare for hyperspace jump on my mark”.

“Aye sir” came the immediate responses.

He looked back at Mahporeem through the windows on the bridge. He thought of those refugees again. The worn faces, the camps, people who deserved better. Doan better be worth it thought Charles.

“Let’s go” and with a flash the Stryker accelerated into the unknown.

 

[Sarah Vulke]

Captain Charles
​

The newly commissioned MIN STRYKER would serve as Sarah's home for the duration of the expedition.

Seated amongst the ground crews in one of the few spaces the vessel generously allowed for personnel transport, she quietly prepared herself for the journey ahead. It had been some time since she had participated in an expedition under another's command. More often, she had been the one leading forces into the unknown—to forgotten worlds, buried vaults, ancient ruins, and hidden secrets lost to history.

This time, however, command belonged to Captain Charles.

Oddly enough, Sarah found that she did not mind.

So far, the man had proven himself composed, efficient, and confident without slipping into arrogance. Good qualities for the unknown that awaited them. Worlds like Doan rarely welcomed outsiders, especially armed Imperials arriving beneath the banner of "order." The locals would almost certainly resist, and the planet itself was unlikely to offer favorable conditions. Dust, heat, unstable loyalties, and desperate people were rarely an ideal combination.

Still, part of her looked forward to it.

If nothing else, it would provide an opportunity to dispense at least a measure of Imperial justice and impose some semblance of localized order upon whatever miserable stretch of the world they claimed first.

The journey itself was brief. A single hyperspace jump separated Mahporeem from Doan, and before long the familiar sensation of transition gave way to the quiet rhythm of a vessel preparing for atmospheric insertion. Around her, the soldiers of the STRYKER seemed unusually enthusiastic for what was, in essence, a venture into hostile territory with little more than discipline, training, and luck to preserve them.

Perhaps that was the nature of Imperials.

She already knew the intended landing site: an isolated region near one of Doan's outer mining facilities, positioned alongside a naturally advantageous ridge, easily defensible terrain .It was a sensible choice, much like many of Captain Charles' decisions thus far.

The more Sarah considered it, however, the more she found herself wanting to speak with him directly.

Understanding the true motivations behind an expedition was always important. Some officers merely sought reconnaissance. Others pursued prestige, influence, or advancement within whatever fragmented remains of Imperial authority still existed. A rarer few genuinely believed they were bringing civilization and order to broken worlds.

Captain Charles, she suspected, could very well be any of the three.

Rising from her seat, Sarah began making her way through the corridors of the STRYKER with an unhurried calm, eventually approaching the bridge and requesting an audience with the Captain, if only for a moment.

She would need to tread carefully.

Too little guidance, and the STRYKER's crew could quickly find themselves swallowed by local resistance and poor operational decisions. Too much, however, risked revealing that Sarah Vulke possessed far more familiarity with military expeditions, occupations, and planetary operations than any ordinary private realistically should.

And so, Captain Charles would soon receive a message from one of the bridge officers.

Private Sarah Vulke was requesting permission to speak with him.

Apparently, she had something interesting on her mind.

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | 3 Hours from Doan​

---

"Three Hours until arrival sir." reported his Helm Officer.

"Good." responded Charles. "That should be enough time to discuss how to approach the planet." "Navigation, Sensor and Voss?" he motioned towards the hologram table already displaying Doan and nearby space.

"Gentlemen, we already have chosen an excellent landing site but I believe we have to figure out a way to get there without attracting too much attention."

"Agreed." replied Major Voss. "Despite the advantageous terrain it would be difficult to secure the site if they ended up hostile and could pin point our landing site before we even got there."

"What about this route…" said his Navigation Officer. The discussion continued until Charles received a message. He held up his hand immediately.

"Send her in."

Charles didn't look away from the hologram. Half his brain was still thinking, calculating. He had learned a long time ago that time between departure and arrival was never wasted. That was planning time, prep time, motivation time. The calm before the storm.

When Sarah entered he gestured towards a chair across from him.

"Private Vulke, it seems you have something on your mind."

He had noticed the way she watched things, constantly cataloging, analyzing, calculating. It was easy to recognize the habit because he had it himself and two people in the same room with the same habit tended to notice each other eventually.

His Officers exchanged brief glances and left the table. Quietly excusing themselves as they left, leaving Charles and Vulke alone at the table with the rotating image of Doan between them.

Charles waited. In his experience the most interesting conversations belonged to the person who spoke second.

 

[Sarah Vulke]

Captain Charles
​

Walking onto the bridge, Sarah found the sight strangely comforting.

The crew operated with sharp efficiency, officers and technicians quietly filtering out after her arrival to grant the Captain and his guest a measure of privacy. That alone intrigued her. Why dismiss the bridge crew? Surely they did not obstruct productive discussion.

Or perhaps Captain Charles saw more in her than she had initially assumed. If that were true, then this conversation might become considerably more interesting.

Sarah entered with a relaxed confidence, her movements less rigidly military and more reminiscent of someone accustomed to navigating polished banquet halls and quiet political gatherings rather than troop transports and warships. There was a softness to her stride, controlled and deliberate, while a faint smile touched her lips as her gaze settled briefly upon the holomap dominating the bridge.

Only then did she turn fully toward the Captain, straightening just enough to offer him a proper salute.

"Sir."

The gesture was crisp, though not without a subtle ease to it. Moments later, her attention returned to the holographic display.

"As I am sure you have already deduced," she began smoothly, "we each possess certain aspirations tied to this expedition. The planet we are travelling to is openly hostile to Imperial ideals, ruled by an old and corrupt elite that would rather see our heads decorating spikes than permit genuine order to take root."

A quiet scoff escaped her.

"Barbaric, certainly. Though it does raise an important question."

Her violet eyes drifted across the glowing terrain markers before settling back upon him.

"What exactly are your goals with this expedition, Captain? What do you hope to achieve for the glory of the Imperial cause…"

Her tongue rolled lightly against the inside of her cheek before she continued.

"…and for yourself?"

There was no accusation in the question, just a genuine curiosity.

"The coming regime will require leaders with quality, composure, and vision. Traits you seem to possess in abundance." Her tone remained measured, thoughtful. "If we are to avoid repeating the same failures that doomed the TIC and countless Imperial projects before it, then we will need to do more than simply plant flags and bark orders at frightened miners."

She slowly shifted her posture, folding one arm behind her back as she turned toward the stars beyond the bridge viewport.

"…we will need to make necessary changes."

The words lingered in the air with deliberate weight, dangerous in the way genuinely intelligent observations often were.

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | The Bridge​

---

Charles let Vulke’s words hang in the air for a long moment. Not enough to make it awkward just enough for a thoughtful answer. He looked at her then back at the Hologram display.

“Vulke, this planet, this sector, no the whole Outer Rim has been neglected for so long. By the Republic, the Empire, the Sith.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“My grandfather used to tell me about his experiences in this part of the galaxy. Back when he was in the Imperial Army. People scavenging for food, corrupt and decadent lords and crime bosses calling the shots, the people chafing but too concerned with their own survival to make their stand.”

He tapped the map zooming in on Doan.

“When Imperial Forces landed, he saw not only mistrust but also a glimmer of hope in these people’s eyes. A hope for change, a hope that they can live in stability and peace.”

He kept his eyes on the hologram straightening ever so slightly.

“You know all these governments, the empire included brought order, stability, peace to people who already had it. They never gave it to the people who actually needed it to thrive.”

He turned his attention back to her.

“Civilization is built on those three pillars. The Outer Rim never had them but imagine what they could become if they had them.”

He let that sit for a moment.

“The Outer Rim needs an empire that builds not takes. I can only think of one group who can.”

“Us Imperials.”

He turned back towards the hologram zooming back out so it showed the entire sector.

“As for what I get out of it?”

He paused thinking of Banks.

“I lost good people Vulke, a lot of whom I called brothers. People who believed in something worth believing in.”

“The least I can do is ensure their sacrifice was not in vain and leave something greater than myself behind, a legacy.”

 

[Sarah Vulke]

Captain Charles
​

He truly was the picture of an Imperial.

From his story, to his convictions, to the way he viewed the galaxy around him, Captain Charles embodied the qualities the old Empire had once prided itself upon. Discipline. Purpose. Duty. There was something deeply admirable in it, even now.

And worse still, he was right.

The call of the dead was always stronger than the comfort of the living. The desire to ensure that sacrifice—no matter how small, no matter how horrific—had not been made in vain was one of the few genuinely noble instincts left within the remnants of Imperial culture. Far nobler than the endless squabbling warlords and decaying bureaucrats still clinging to scraps of authority in a dying galaxy.

Kriff. He reminded her far too much of Reicher.

The thought struck deeper than she wanted it to.

Immediately, Sarah forced it back down where it belonged. This was not the time for sentimentality. Not now. Not when there was still a mission to accomplish and a future to shape. Whatever ghosts lingered behind Captain Charles' mannerisms or ideals, they could not be allowed to cloud her judgment. Because men like him were necessary.

When she finally spoke again, her tone had lost much of its earlier softness.

"We can drink to that," she said quietly. "Too many good soldiers have already been left to rot for causes that collapsed around them. Neither of us wants to see more names added to that graveyard."

Her gaze drifted back toward the holomap.

"The ideal you offer is strong, Captain. Stronger than most men realize. Belief is a dangerous thing—the sort of spark that decides whether a man picks up a plowshare… or a blaster."

A faint sigh escaped her.

"This will not be an easy operation. We simply do not possess the manpower or logistical support necessary to impose lasting Imperial order across the planet. Not yet." Her finger lightly traced one of the ridge lines displayed across the map. "Our priority should be establishing a sustainable base of operations planetside, securing the immediate area, neutralizing local resistance cells where necessary, and opening negotiations with regional leadership before they have the opportunity to unify against us."

She paused, then slowly turned to face him fully. Her eyes locked onto his, studying every subtle movement and expression with careful precision.

"I can help you accomplish that," she said evenly. "But there is one thing I need to understand first."

For a moment, the bridge seemed unusually quiet.

"Your grandfather's galaxy is not so different from ours. The Imperial story is perhaps the greatest tragedy of the last thousand years—an empire that could conquer worlds, but never truly learned how to keep them."

There was a clear certainty in her voice.

"One day, perhaps, we may be able to change that."

Sarah took a slow breath.

"But when we reach the surface…" she continued, her voice lowering slightly, "when things begin collapsing around us, when plans fail and people panic…"

Her gaze never left his.

"…I need you to trust me."

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | En Route to Doan​

---

Charles was quiet for a long moment.

He had noticed her reaction but he did not know what it was for. Oh well, some things were better left unturned. He would figure it out in due time.

More importantly, the way she read the map, the way her finger traced the ridge line and pointed out strategic positions. That was the tactical reading of a senior officer not a private. That assessment she had just given too. Something was not as it seemed with the Private.

But he knew he couldn't just point it out. That would just make things awkward and served no practical purpose.

"That's how it is unfortunately Private. Everyone dies, some more honorably than others."

Charles turned towards Vulke and straightened up.

"As for trust, I don't give blank checks Private. Nobody worth trusting does."

He held her gaze.

"Trust must be earned. You have been straight with me and proven yourself reliable. That is more than I can say for most people."

He turned back towards the hologram still displaying Doan.

"When things start getting chaotic on the surface, as they usually do, I won't look over my shoulder at you."

He paused. Now staring out the viewport.

"Don't make me regret that."