The Testing Grounds

[Butch Mahan]

Mahan stood aboard the the Baas-class Space Station, Boundary, several vessels were scattered around, many of them conducting their own tests and training. But what had brought Mahan to this lonely space station was the Tyrant class Star Destroyer, the soon to be standard heavy Star Destroyer of the Imperial Remnant, to replace all these old, but refurbished vessels, some built hundreds of years ago. Mahan was placing a lot of hope on this vessel, if it went through its final phase of tests well, he could justify its mass producing within the week's end.

Mahan stood alone near a viewport on the space station, his arms crossed behind him. He spoke into an open comms channel, "Begin the tests."

[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


Kara was already in transit, being hailed and called by the Imperial Remnants Admiral like a dog. Kara didn't care, though. She was doing this in service of Graf. If she has to keep the new Admiral happy, a few barks here and there wouldn't hurt, it'd certainly keep his ego boosted! "Beginning Hyperspace exit, Agent Kara." The captain of Kara's personal Imperial Frigate sounded off. Kara and the captain were sitting on the bridge and watching the stars fly passed as they came through. "Warm up the weapons captain, the Admiral wants some tests done. I want this dreary sky to light up red and white. Like blood and skeletons." She giggled, pulling her hand up to cover her mouth as her eyes blinked shut for a moment before breathing again - laughing too hard could put the girl into a doozy!

"Exiting Hyperspace," one of the Officers spoke up. "We have arrived, Agent Karacan. Boundary station in sight."

"Hello Admiral! I'm here, what kind of tests will we be doing today?" Kara called out over the public hail. More than likely the Admiral wouldn't be ready for an immediate hail, so an Officer would pick it up. Her cute but sinister voice maybe causing the officer a little fright so suddenly.

 

[Butch Mahan]

An emotionless commander approached the Grand Admiral. He spoke in a monotonous accent, "Grand Admiral Mahan, a Special Agent Rigten is hailing us, requesting orders." Mahan nodded, "Order them to prepare battle simulation eight-niner. They are to engage the Tyrant Class Star Destroyer, Prototype One, simulation fire only, no matter fire." The officer gave a small bow, "Yes sir." Mahan returned to his view. This war game would prove the ferocity of the Tyrant heavy star destroyer. The beta class heavy cruiser would not stand a chance, they would be decimated, theoretically. Mahan could not wait for his brainchild's enterprising entry into the Imperial Navy, and soon it would populate the orbits of Imperial planets.

[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


Karacan waited until there was a response. Apparently the Admiral didn't pick up the comms, just sending a transmission. "Agent Karacan, receiving transmission from Boundary Station... The Grand Admiral is instructing us to perform the simulation eight-niner," the Officer continued, "It seems we're to simulate an engagement with the new star destroyer, Prototype One." Kara grimaced. How rude! The Admiral wouldn't even chat... but, a pretend game with that big destroyer? Eh, Kara could be off doing better things, but... the things she does to make people happy. "Captain, engage simulation eight-niner as instructed, but I want live fire... of course, don't hit them too badly, miss most of the shots, will you? You have control..." Kara said as she released the command of the ship over to the Captain.

"Alright men, you heard her, fire up the weapons, full power. Move forward to Sector three, delta-niner. Engage that Star Destroyer! Prefix angle thirty-five degrees, now open fire!" As the slow Seducer started to move across space toward the Prototype Star Destroyer at an angle, all of the Seducers began live firing. But they were off angle, on purpose. Very few shots hit the Star Destroyer, if any... but the light show lit up the Star Destroyers deck and viewports like a christmas tree, proving to be a floodlight in the dark, brightening up the dreary and dark metal of the station and other shits. "Relay to the station; Live fire instructed by Agent Karacan, with set prefix angled off for minimal hits," the Captain ordered, the Officer sending a transmission.

 

[Butch Mahan]

Mahan's eyes widened in anger as he saw the Beta class heavy cruiser open fire on the Tyrant, who in turn was firing shots only visible by holo HUD. In an uncontrolled rage, he approached the officer from before, "Instruct Agent Karacan to halt fire from her vessel, if she does not respond, hail the captain. Order the Prototype One to engage ion canons on the Beta class heavy cruiser, and to disable it. Finally, order three Sentinels to be prepared and loaded with full complement of Navy troopers, they are to await my personal boarding and are to fly towards the Beta class vessel." Mahan was furious, and agent [member="Karacan Rigten"] had hell to pay.

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


The officer started getting a priority transmission from the space station, "Captain, it's the Boundary! They are ordering an immediate ceasefire or they will engage us with the prototypes live weapons!"

"Oh gosh," Kara interjected, "We can't have any fun, can we? Alright, alright, Captain... halt fire, change to holo weaponry. Continue with your original plan, the test is still going on."

The captain agreed and spoke to the officers in control, telling them to switch over to fake weaponry. His plan of attack was still being carried out, meanwhile Kara was raising Boundary station to try and get a transmission. "This is Agent Karacan, get me contact with the Grand Admiral. Priority transmission. Code: Delta, delta, five, beta. You can't just let us have a little fun, can you, Admiral?"

 

[Butch Mahan]

Mahan marched with anger towards the nearest hangar of the Boundary, preparing his speech to the special agent, and the CO of the ship. Who was this Imperial agent to assert her own command over an Imperial Navy Asset, not only that, but to circumvent his own orders, that was unacceptable to such a senior officer. Moving quickly, he was followed by a mid-level officer, "Sir, the heavy cruiser has halted live fire, shall we belay Ion barrage and boarding?" Mahan nodded, "Belay the Ion cannon barrage, but the boarding shall continue." The officer made a short bow, heading off in a different direction than Mahan.

The Grand Admiral donned his cover as he entered the hangar, over a hundred and fifty Naval troopers boarding their transport craft. Some along with the deck crew, were loading the three transports with specialty weapons, such as the E-web heavy repeating blasters. When he entered, an order was called out, and the entire hangar deck stood at attention. Mahan shouted, "At ease!" The hangar returned to their duties. Finally they began to wrap up, all of the black dressed, wide helmeted, Naval Troopers boarding in a rush. With the final trooper boarding his transport vessel, the Grand Admiral boarded. The three transports would arrive in only minutes.

[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


"You're making a big ruckus over some pot shots from a weak little frigate, Grand Admiral. But this is my ship."​

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The Hangar was locked down and the blast doors shut, the lights were dimmed but not too much so the crew couldn't continue their duties. The Loudspeaker yelled Kara's voice.​

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"I came here to help you do some 'test,' and what would a test be if you didn't know what the little fresh spawn ship could handle?"​

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The crew in the Hangar Bay were either doing their necessary duties, or standing at attention to the Grand Admiral. They weren't attempting anything against him.​

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"The Captain told you they were purposely missing. The shots that hit your ship didn't even scratch the paint. I'm here on behalf of Tanomas Graf. And it's because of him I'm taking your orders. Now, I won't tell you to put your weapons down, but I will ask that we talk like the civilized people we are. My people don't need to be harmed."​

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Graf was going to be upset she opened fire on a prototype star destroyer. Maybe he would even scorn or punish her. But she wasn't wrong, it wasn't going to do anything to it. So the reasoning with the Admirals choice to board her ship seemed very over reacted. If anything, he could have ordered her to his location and punished her that way. But he entered her territory. This ship was hers, approved by Graf, repaired and given to her by the First Order. The men aboard were carried over from the First Order, men approved by Tanomas Graf. Nothing on this ship had the imprint of the Imperial Remnant unless Karacan said so. The men were swayed to her position for reasons the Grand Admiral wouldn't understand. But none of this meant she was an enemy of the Imperial Remnant. That's like all Agents or Inquisitors, however. None of them from the Empire or the First Order ever followed protocol like any Officer or Soldier. They were reckless, messy, and a lot of times... got the job done.​

 

[Butch Mahan]

Although the Grand Admiral, his three transports, and the one hundred and sixty three Naval troopers, were stuck inside the hangar, they were already preparing to escape. Whilst Mahan answered the special agent's call, the troopers were already emplacing charges and setting up the E-webs. Standing straight inside the transport, he activated the hologram transmitter, finally answering the numerous calls by Special Agent Rigten. He spoke authoritatively, "Agent Karacan, you are to open the hangar doors in two minutes, turn yourself over to my troops, and inform your captain to dock with the Boundary." Mahan did not wait for an answer before ending the conversation, turning his attention too the hangar door. She had two minutes, then things would get messy.


[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


Karacan listened to the transmission and got upset when the Admiral hung up with that single threat. Pretty convenient for such an arrogant man to be so prepared. He must have suits ready when he blows open those hangar doors... or did he not think Kara was prepared to vent the room? Destroy the blast doors, able to withstand blasts? Eh, they were just words to Kara, she didn't know what bombs they had. But this 'test' had gone too far. The Grand Admiral had stepped over his boundary for something meaningless to him. He wanted an ultimatum? He got it.

The Captain and Kara had gotten close. Not friends, or lovers, but acquaintances. Much more than she ever gave. They had a... mutual understanding. But after leaving the First Order, it was unknown who he would side in the end. But it wasn't the First Order, and it wouldn't be the Imperial Remnant.

"Grand Admiral. I'm giving you access to a comms terminal nearby. Request Emperor Grafs presence. You aren't handling this well, and even if I am wrong, it's his decision. You can't tell him he is wrong. I am shutting down all forcefields in that room. If you push further, I will put the ship on a collision course, and shut down all but shields, and set the reactor to blow. My people are my people, but while I can be civilized, you forget I care about absolutely nothing. You will never find me, just like the First Order were unable to stop me when I stole one of their ships. Make your choice."​

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It's true, Kara had not shown a lot of loyalty to the Imperial Remnant... maybe even cost them more than she gave them, but she was no different when she was in the First Order. The only difference was doing missions for Graf when he was an Admiral. Getting him intel, shipments, information.... Her loyalty was always questioned. But her faith, no matter her psychotic state, would never fail. It was a new aspect to her. Either way, now was the chance for the Prototype One to really test its weapons.​

 

[Butch Mahan]

Grand Admiral was displeased with her answer, nonetheless, it was time to get this over with. Nodding to the explosive specialists, they set the detonators to explode. After a few silent moments, a blast carved a more than human sized hole right into the hangar doors. Before the Naval Troopers rushed in, Mahan called his orders, "Fire on those who resist, detain Special Agent Rigten! Bring her to the brig where I can interrogate her!" Several of the troopers, mostly officers, acknowledged with a yes sir, some nodded, others did not respond. The wide helmeted, black dressed soldiers charged the opening, several being killed in the process, but after two minutes of a short gunfire exchange, Mahan's forces had control of the first corridor, as more troopers advanced, several carried over an E-web Heavy Repeating Blaster, placing it two meters ahead of the hole in the wall. Slowly his forces were moving across the ship, but it might not be fast enough to stop the crazed special agent. Realizing this, Mahan attended the comms terminal, his personal one too weak to make the connection, with the right frequency, he transmitted, "Tyrant class Star Destroyer, Protoype One, disable the Beta Class Heavy Cruiser with Ion Canon barrage. Repeat, do not oversaturate, disable their engines and as many of its weapons systems as possible. Use TIE bombers if needed. Grand Admiral, off. "

[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]

"Vent most of the ship, Captain. Order everyone to surrender... That survive. Open half the doors and docking bays from the hangar to here, but keep the Bridge, Engine and Reactor rooms locked down. All power to shields. Shut down life support, all power and other systems except in the rooms I said before. Give it some gas to the Prototype. The ship is under your control now, I'm vanishing. Thanks for being a good boy." Kara spoke to the Captain as she activated a comms transmission to the Emperor [member="Tanomas Graf"] that only read out as S.O.S. from Karas registration, before walking out with a Titanium suitcase. Was the Admiral that willing to possibly go against the Emperor? Or was this the plan all along? Kara wouldn't be surprised if there was an order set out to experiment on her. She'd have to find out. Upon reaching one of the sealed rooms and entering, she got the room set up. Some of her crew in there were scared, some emotionless, like the rest onboard. The Admiral would start to notice this as he continued. Half the crew not only didn't show any concern, but were still doing their duties, only acting in self defense before the surrender order was called.

Kara changed her shape and face to someone random, allowing her to blend in with the rest of the crew, and she waited, along with a standard issue Naval and Army Stormtrooper armor. She would conceal the suitcase after she was done, but right now she looked like another crewmen.

 

[Butch Mahan]

Fear grasped Mahan's face as the shield that kept the ship controlled atmosphere flickered away, causing a massive suction of air from the hangar. Immediately Mahan began flying out to the vacuum of space, flailing about like a aquatic being out of water. As he flew backward, he caught hold of one of the Sentinel Transports, holding on to dear life as his grip tightened on the metal siding. Dozens of men and women flew by him, being sucked out into the vacuum of space. Navy Troopers, officers, and enlisted crew alike, none were discriminated by the unforgiving hell of space. As the last square meters of air escaped the hangar, as did equipment, Mahan floated towards the opened cargo bay of the Sentinel Transport. His eyes were strained, his lungs gaping for air, his face turning a pale blue, he finally reached the inside, slamming the panel controlling the bay door, enclosing the ship to allow its life support and oxygen filters to reboot the atmosphere of the ship. Despite the pounding fists and the gaping cries, scant of air, Mahan did not open it. They made their sacrifice to the Remnant, and Mahan wouldn't let them default on that.

Mahan, taking deep breaths, checked the cockpit. No pilots. They must have left the craft before the ship was vented, explaining why the bay door was left open. Mahan cracked his knuckles, it had been a long time since he had flown, but he could definitely fly this over to the Tyrant. He opened a comms frequency to the Prototype One, "This is Grand Admiral Mahan, prepare a boarding party and prepare for my arrival," Mahan paused for a moment, "And acquire a file on special agent [member="Karacan Rigten"], use my clearance cod, three-one-eight, I want information on this, agent."

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


Time had passed, and Kara had stripped down of her personally fancy uniform in front of other crew members and slipped in to the standard issue black naval stormtrooper armor. Her height adjusted, she finally fit inside it. As the crew didn't know what to do, they stood there, alone, afraid. Kara looked over and stared... Graf had given her the ability to care, and she could start to see where she was going wrong.... but the clarity could not grasp her yet, unfortunately she wouldn't be able to develop as her life was coming to a close, soon. "Stay inside this room, okay? The Remnant aren't heartless like me, they should follow protocol for you. You didn't fight back at all and you only did your crew duties as ordered. You should be questioned and released, or put back into service. I'm sorry," she finished as she turned to a comms panel on the wall and activated it. "Captain, are you there? Pick up, it's Kara."

"This is the Captain speaking, Kara, how are you?"

"Release my Death Squad, this is not going to end well for the Admiral."

"But Kara, the helmets aren't configured, they'll attack any-"

Kara slammed her fist against the wall, "Dammit! Activate my Death Squad, now!"

Kara pressed her forehead against the wall and internally screamed, becoming upset. Not angered, but sad. She came back to life a life beside Graf, it's all she wanted. She didn't want to be with him, or be close to him, but he was the first person she trusted, and now this insubordinate jerk off of an Admiral had screwed all that up for her. He is the Grand Admiral, though. Maybe Kara wasn't that special to Graf as much as the Admiral was... or Graf planned her execution because she was too dangerous. "WHY?!" she screamed. She pulled away from the wall, stressed out and in a mass fit, she reached to the case and grabbed her large Power Hammer.

"They are activated, and are roaming the ship, Agent Kara."

Kara heaved her breaths. "Captain, call in my old gunship, I want it to have fun with the Admiral and any more reinforcements he might be sending since I cleaned house earlier."

"But Agent Kara, I thought the weapons didn't really work, what did you want to do with it?"

"Just tell the droids to jump in and start ramming any transports it sees, and don't stop."

"Understood, Agent Kara. Also, it seems the Admiral is accessing your records, even the local ones on this ship. Is there anything else?"

Kara thought for a moment, shaking her head and laughing, "The Admiral would have to ask Graf himself what I really am! Most of my records are with the First Order! The new Emperor accepted me and I never had a formal examination. Oh, wait... but he'll know I stole that cruiser from the First Order, and killed every one of Grafs high valued targets... do you... do you think he'll be afraid of me, Captain?" She giggled maniacally as she thought. The comm was silent for a moment until Kara spoke up to see if he was still there. "Captain? Did we lose comms yet?"

"No. Our shields are still holding for the moment, but they'll be gone shortly. That new ship really has the firepower. We would have been knocked out earlier, otherwise, without this power transfer. Will this be our final conversation?"

Kara sighed, thinking. "Captain, I want you on an escape pod."

"Ah, so I see. But why would I abandon my ship, and you? Everyone else has left you, Kara, I-"

"Sydden!"

...

...

...

"I'll start evacuation procedures... for those who can escape. Give them hell, Kara."


The Seducer began launching escape pods, but it was few and far between. A large majority of the crew was already dispersed into open space, and very few other places held any. But the Captain.... he would not be leaving the ship. "Stupid fething Admiral," she winced and groaned as she adjusted her body to conceal something under the armor. "One day someone is going to show him he doesn't rule squat."

 

[Butch Mahan]

The Prototype One was quick to destroy the rogue gunship, calculating its impact with the Grand Admiral's shuttle. The shuttle was not save from shrapnel, as several pieces of the hull struck its tri-wing appendages. But it managed to land in the hangar of the Tyrant class Star Destroyer. Mahan stomped out angrily, from what he had learned this wily agent was a shapeshifter, he'd need identity scanners. An officer approached the Grand Admiral, "Sir, we are in position to destroy the rogue frigate, shall we-" Mahan interrupted, "No, prepare another boarding party, with suits that can survive the vacuum of space. Prepare a suit for myself as well, I shall put an end to this insurrection myself." The officer saluted, carrying out Mahan's orders. The Duros Grand Admiral would end the day on his terms, and his terms alone.

[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


With the ship nearly ghosted of its crew, all that remained were those troopers of the Admirals, roaming the ship. But they were only the ones left that weren't blasted out into space, the ones that were able to get any locked down doors open and get inside. Some areas still held air. None refreshed, and limited... but still pockets of oxygen if they were able to get themselves inside without making it all escape. Kara was in a standard issue Naval Trooper uniform set of armor, and roaming the ship, killing troopers that were left behind. Some communications from the left over troopers made their way to the Prototype One, and the Admirals shuttles, but the few that had particular attention of officers, were ones that were cut short, but the sound of flesh being beaten, cries of agony, and.... giggles.


As the ship still slowly drifted towards the Prototype One, now with most of its power gone, it left what power it had, and emergency power, to the bridge. The captain of Kara's ship decided to attempt to get a message with the Admiral. To be technical, the chain of command was from the Captain, to Kara, to the Emperor, so it's why the Captain followed Kara's orders. However, he still did follow the Admirals orders, as noted when he halted live fire. Over public frequency, the Captain broadcasted. "This is the Captain of the Seducer, may I have a word with the Admiral?"

 

[Butch Mahan]

The Grand Admiral was fitting on the equipment when he received word of the frigate captain's request to speak with him, "What?" Mahan asked. The Lieutenant repeated what he had said before, "The captain of the Seducer wishes to make contact, with you personally, sir." Mahan took a deep breath, "Take me to the communications suite, I shall have this 'word' with the captain." Mahan was led on by the Lieutenant as Naval troopers passed them going the opposite way, towards the hangar where they were being assembled for attack. The Lieutenant opened the door, and stood to the side, letting Mahan enter first. Mahan ordered the comms technician, "Open up a channel with the Seducer." The technician bowed, and began making the connection. Mahan began, "Captain, you wanted to speak with me?"


[member="Karacan Rigten"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Butch Mahan"]


"Ah, greetings Admiral. Thanks for accepting my request." The Captain spoke over the radio, looking out the bridge viewport as the chaos washed over this little bit of space. The gunship debris flying, the ion cannons, the Seducer floating into the prototype. "You know, I left the First Order because of this exact kind of behavior. Forgive me, I don't mean you have bad behavior, but it is the kind that damages morale of the crew. As an Admiral, morale is more than likely not your concern, only of the Captains. All you have to deal with are Ship Leaders, not... the Ship, really. I will... get to my point for you." The captain took a breath as he stood at attention, his hand clutching his wrist behind his back as he stood there on the bridge, "I just want to know, what do you gain from this? I'm not trying to talk you into stopping, or, force forbid, surrender, haha. But... While I stand here, and watch this, it's all just massacre. You may ask me why I take orders from a psychotic mad witch. Well, why do you take orders from one, lonely man, or why do you do what you have to do to succeed? Orders? Pride? Bah. We both know how this ends for me, but I wanted you to know, none of this was personal. I was just following orders. We both know a Captain without his ship is no Captain at all. So, I don't know if you'll capture Agent Kara, but not me. If it means anything, you did obtain that rank through effort. So I salute that."