[O15 - Bannistar Station - PK] Another Short List

The halls of the Imperial star cruiser Reign were quiet. It was shipboard time 0200 and Cyril and Vesta Rooke were on the way back to their respective quarters, alone save for a single navy commando that had been assigned as Cyril’s bodyguard.

“Why did you say that?” Cyril asked. He didn’t have to say what “that” was, Vesta knew this conversation was bound to happen at some point after the last Provisional Council meeting.

“I think you know why,” she replied.

“I know you miss the glory days, Vesta, you’re not the only one.”

“Then shouldn’t we at least try?” Vesta inquired. After the apparent death of Grand Admiral Makati, the scattered elements of the 9th Fleet were in disagreement over who would take command. Makati himself had selected Cyril to replace him, but others within the fleet disagreed with his choice, citing Cyril’s lack of significant battle experience. Vesta supported him, but the heavy hitters of the fleet, Rath and Li, elected to strike out on their own. She had always hoped the fleet could one day be reunited, but it was ultimately Cyril’s call.

“They made their choice long ago, I doubt they’ll be interested in helping us now,” Cyril responded cynically. “We’re better off seeking help from someone else.”

“Could we get any support from Iron Lance Command? This is their jurisdiction, after all.”

“The last intelligence report has Grand Moff Byluir listed as missing. Apparently she took a battleship division somewhere deep into Hutt Space, and hasn’t been seen or heard from sense. That effectively rules out oversector and regional support.”

“Byluir shouldn’t have had control of regional command, why would it matter that she’s gone?”

“She shouldn’t have, but with her oversector encompassing so much of Hutt Space she wanted to have contingencies. Not that it would have helped if the Hutts truly wanted to do anything.”

Vesta thought for a moment. “The nearest sector groups are neutral, at least the ones that matter. The Lambda sector isn’t too far though, perhaps they could be good allies.”

Cyril shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Par Lankin managed to lose half his navy to a fleet from Bothawui, I wouldn't trust him to do any better outside his territory.”

“Perhaps the Ashlon Empire, then?”

“The remnant on Terminus? I’d rather make a deal with the Hutts than that circle of pretenders.”

“That doesn’t leave a lot of options.”

“No it does not.”

They stopped at Cyril’s quarters–months ago his paranoia had driven him out of the flag suite and into a smaller room he felt could be better protected.

Vesta shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt to reach out to the fleet,” she suggested. “We don’t lose anything if they refuse.”

“I suppose that is true. I’ll have Maiko try reaching Steadfast, Authala, and Minnelusa; perhaps we’ll even get a reply,” Cyril said. He wasn’t really convinced, but he had to do something.

“I’ll also see if we can spare a ship to figure out what is going on with Iron Lance,” he added.

It was all a long shot, and it would likely take some time to hear back, but if either plan worked it would be well worth it.