A Daughter's Dream

[Mia Annis]

Commander Rhoden's admittance of his family left Mia slightly dumbfounded. She had heard stories of course; families on both sides of the war. Family member fighting family member. She always wondered what she would do if she ever discovered of any of her family turned to the rebellion.

She shuddered at this dark line of thought. So deep she was in thought she hardly noticed the commander going through his datapad, until he bade her to follow him.

Slightly taken aback, she hesitated slightly, only beginning to move right when the fanfare signaling the ceremony began. Upon the commanders assurance they would continue their discussion later, Mia moved to take her seat.

Almost trancelike she walked, past her fellow classmates she had been with a few years. She noticed how most of them seemed quite a bit more calm than she was, who could barely remain still in her seat. The anticipation of graduating was almost too much, and something about the way the commander was talking to her unhinged her a bit, as if he was sizing her up.

Her thoughts immediatly quieted down when the ceremony begun. This is it! was all she kept thinking. She gave the chancellor her undivided attention as he briefly introduced the guest speaker.

While she did not recognize him, she applauded politely as he walked onto the stage. When he began speaking, she let herself relax in her chair a bit. She settled back for what she thought was going to be a typical graduation speech, but she was incorrect

"We are at war"

Those words snapped her back out of her slight haze. She thought about what the Captain was saying.

The Empire held the greatest navy in the galaxy. If ahe ever doubted that, all she ever had to do on her home was to look up in the sky. She was proud to join the ranks of the galaxys greatest military force, but as he continued speaking she felt something she hadn't felt before this moment.

She felt small.

The captain talked about the great battles the Empire fought, defeating the rebels and the sith. Her fellow classmates let out a cheer, their bravado loudly filling the halls.

But she did not join them in cheering.

She knew her classmates. Willing to kill any enemy of the empire without a second thought. She found herself asking if she could the same. Sure she was excellent at all the simulated scenarios the academy gave her. She had no doubt she was "ready" for this. But she was uneasy..... she had never killed anyone before... but she was in the freaking military now. It was time to put those thoughts aside.

As the captian finished his speech, she began cheering with the rest of her class, invigorated by her new personal resolve she made just then.

A short (but it seemed like forever to Mia) time passed until assignment mandates were being passed out. Mia awaited with baited breath as one by one, her classmates were being given their assignments. She frowned inwardly when her good friend was assigned to command security on Mygeeto. "What a boring assignment" she thought. When her name was called, she held her breath.

"Cadet Mia Annis. Hereby elevated to the rank of Ensign, designated for active service within the Third Expansionary Fleet, formal assignment pending: Congratulations".

She let out a sigh of relief. She stood and acknowledged the small round of applause she was receiving. A fleet post was most certainly good news, although she was quite curious as to what 'formal assignment pending' might mean. She had not heard anyone else that night with such vague orders. She pondered a bit to herself as she sat down.

She continued to ponder all the way until the completion of the ceremony. She celebrated with the rest of her peers, although the slight nag in the back of her mind put a bit of a damper on her spirits. As she was making the rounds talking ro all of her classmates, she noticed the commander she talked to earlier, standing in the back.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden waited in the background while the ceremony concluded and the newly minted Ensign partook in brief celebrations. Finally he stepped forward again, "Ensign." he said, looking around carefully to ensure no one was listening in "I would like you to accompany me to the Hydra and spend a few days aboard." he paused, "This is an optional assignment, but pending any more critical orders you will not be reassigned during this time." Rhoden fixed her with his gaze, "And do note that we may well be attacked, or that we may engage in classified operations. You will be expected to keep classified information secure, and should the time come you will be expected to fight."

Rhoden's lip twitched, "Unlikely though your personal endangerment may be I." he said, "But if you compromise the security of the men and women under my command you will answer for it." Rhoden raised a single eyebrow, "Thinly veiled threats aside, this would look stunning on your resume. Or at least whatever cover story that we put in would."

Rhoden noted the Captain out of the corner of his eye and urged her to accept quickly, he had no intention of allowing the man to swipe her off to some posting within the bowels of some massive hulk of durasteel.

[Professor Mors]

"That was quite the speech Captain", Heiys began, swirling about a glass of fine Borleian brandy, "One might almost mistake you for a politician". "Hardly", Doren growled back incredulously, "Though coming from you I've no choice but to assume that was a compliment". Major Brant's grin doubled in length as he silently confirmed Doren's statement, adding, "Speaking of compliments, did I detect a hint of favoritism while you made your way through the posting?". The Captain's face quickly poised into a reflexive scowl, "What do you mean by that exactly? I'm not sure I appreciate your insinuation, Major". "Oh, was I insinuating?", Brant offered with a teasing innocence, "Perhaps I simply imagined the inflection with which you announced Ensign Annis' assignment". Both men stared at each other in silence, Heiys' eyes glittering with glee, as if he'd just told the most well-timed joke in history.

Finally, with a sigh, Doren relented, "Admittedly, her resume stood out among the bulk of other prospective applicants. The Third could use someone with her talents". "There's the confession I was looking for", Brant cooed with satisfaction, and continued, "In the interest of sharing, I should tell you that you aren't the only one smitten with her resume". Vassyl raised an inquisitive eyebrow, to which the Major responded by pointing to the familiar frame of Commander Carbine off in the distance. "Ah", the Captain commented knowingly, "I'm not surprised. Still, if the Inferno Squadron suits her fancy, I am hardly in a place to refuse her". Having finished his beverage, Doren returned the goblet to a nearby table, and gave Heiys a slight nod of farewell. As Vassyl made his way towards one of several side exits, he paused, and called back to his reluctant counterpart, "Nonetheless Major, I shall send for the Ensign for later on in the evening. I've no sense for giving up prematurely".

[Rhoden Carbine]

OOC: Did Doren scare you off?