Prom night

[Cass Sabach]

[Open]

It was close to graduation day at the Imperial Academy and many students were having their well deserved rest while others were doing their best to save what little hope they have of graduating. One particular student wasn't worried in the slightest about graduation, while she only scored the bare minimum on the frontline exams, she proved an above average pilot and an excellent gunner, having a perfect score with turrets and bombers. Tactics were adequate, while she did excel in it compared to other scores in the Academy, she knows that the world doesn't turn around the school and all her scores won't have an exact translation on a real battlefield, its not good to grow overconfident when her journey is just at the beginning, everything is just adequate until there is an opportunity to prove her worth.

It was getting close to dark at the academy's courtyard and many students were already leaving as well as staff. The young woman who was a tad bit too short and had a tired look on her face kept "playing" with a flat holo device displaying the board of a battle in space between a few ships and starfighters, while it looked like a game it was more of a simulator of battle calculations made by her and she sighed as the last ship was destroyed, doing the process of manually setting up the battlefield to try again and learn from her previous mistake, she enjoys taking records of old battles and reenacting it on simulations, playing on the loosing side and doing her best to win and while most of the times its an impossible battle, its a good exercise to improve her results on situations that defeat is imminent, no matter the outcome her performance must always be optimal.

At least its what she has heard a dozen times from her uncle, the only member in the family that is enrolled with the military. Easy to an engineer say that. Cass comes from a family of researchers and doctors and definitely not fighters, needless to say that only her uncle visits at the Academy, even though her family are avid Empire supporters due to having business in planets protected by the Empire, they don't approve of a family member putting themselves in a dangerous profession.

[Professor Mors]

It had been some time since Doren had last set foot on academy grounds. Normally, Vassyl did not much mind the occasional visit to Carida. He enjoyed meeting incoming cadets, listening to and critiquing their ideas. After all, it had been little more than three years since the now-Captain had once stood where they stood. Now however, clad in a parade dress and dotted with military honors, Doren’s notoriety had made these academic gatherings much less inviting. Older faculty and discredited fleet officers who had been pigeonholed into instructional roles followed after the young Jaeman as soon as he’d landed. Pleas for publication references or letters of recommendation fell on much-irritated ears. This particular graduation was proving to be the worst yet!

Whilst being held hostage in an especially long-winded professor’s office, the appearance of a desperate student finally presented the naval officer with a brief window of escape. Having no desire to be captured again before the evening was through, Vassyl carefully crept out onto the main academy lawn, hedging his bets that the other well-to-do’s were busy indulging their various agendas inside the main hall. As the fading crest of Carida’s sun began to slip below the horizon, Doren stopped short. His gaze fell on a petite shape in the distance, contrasted by the waning twilight and the unnatural blue outline of a holoprojector. Breathing a sigh of relief, Vassyl recognized this was no staff member, but a lone cadet, absorbed in her studies.

The Captain was about to move on, when his eyebrow curled up in confusion. Studies? Surely final examinations had already come and gone. That begged an obvious inquiry: what was this particular student up to at this late hour? Striding forward at a modest pace, Doren’s synthleather boots offered a rhythmic ‘squeek squeek’ as he made his way over the freshly-trimmed grass. As he grew closer, Vassyl managed to catch the familiar graphics of a naval simulation, provoking a light smile across his complexion. This cadet clearly did not let the graduation date stand in the way of her continued education. Coming to a halt so as to not startle her outright, Doren ceased his advance some few feet away, his charcoal gray shortcloak fluttering about in the evening breeze. “You’ve a commendable devotion to the old training modules”, Vassyl called out in a friendly tone, “Which battle has your interest today, Miss-?”.

[Cass Sabach]

The closer it gets to the graduation the more visits the Academy gets from renowned officers and soldiers, some of them enjoyed the nostalgia while exploring the academy they frequented years ago, others keep a keen eye for talent and of course students go after both of them desperate to get a recommendation or to get information on their desired branch, others just for admiration. Cass love their visits because it usually leaves a quiet spot in a corner for her to concentrate in her studies or run another battle simulation in complete peace and quiet.

Still keeping an eye on her surroundings she noticed a man approaching, he certainly didn't look like staff member, as he drew closer she noted that it was a parade dress with his military honors, definitely not someone from the Academy. Switching her attention back to the holoprojector as she made another attempt at the simulation, until the man spoke to her, at first she seemed a little bit surprised with his words, many people know this form of training module but most just assume that the lone student is just playing a game. Quickly regaining her posture and dividing her attention between the simulation and the Captain, she replied "Battle of Tinnel IV"

Her eyes danced around the battlefield, checking each ship's movement as it went on, she was clearly playing on the opposing side, while she was still with the same focused expression on the holoprojector she was a bit nervous about matching up against the Empire in front of one of its defendant. "Its enjoyable working on the losing side, while its frustrating to lose and develop a love and hate relationship with the person who invented the Imperial Star Destroyer. Thinking like the enemy and knowing the strengths and weakness of our own forces will give an edge in a battle. Training in a battle against the odds is the best way to practice, always prepare for the worst scenario." She made a pause as she was a few steps away from having her last ships wiped, evading the attacks that destroyed her fleet on the previous simulation and a few moments later shutting down the simulation as the last ship goes down, a victory for the Empire.

[Professor Mors]

“Ah yes, the opening skirmish during the Quanta Insurrection, if I’m not mistaken”, Doren commented softly, taking a few steps closer to better examine the simulation. Vassyl could not help but chuckle at the young woman’s opening remarks, and offered a light-hearted cross-examination, “I confess, there is a certain thrill in gunning against the odds. However, fighting a losing battle is seldom enjoyable in practice”. The Captain’s smirk wavered some as he considered the irony of his words: truly, he understood the boons of defeat better than most. The young Jaeman fell silent for a time, watching the mystery pupil time her salvos with ruthless accuracy. Though it was merely a facsimile of combat, that sort of snap decision making was not easily learned outside of the battlefield.

“With regards to the Imperial Class”, Doren continued on, addressing the youthful tactician’s second remark, “They surely paint a large target. It’s not your responsibility to try and speed them up or shield them from the beating they’re likely to take one way or another”. Vassyl squinted some, observing the delicate maneuvers of virtual corvettes and support frigates, “All you can do under the circumstances is make effective use of your picket ships- though it seems I’ve made a moot point in saying so”. Quieting himself once more, Doren watched the battle draw to a close. The original engagement was lost less due to resources and more to the incompetent deployments of the commanding officer at the time. Nonetheless, this student of war turned an ugly situation into a handy success with discipline and grace. Presenting a courteous golf-clap, Vassyl concluded, “Very well done. Forgive me for not being more forward the first time- but tell me: what is your name Cadet?”.

[Cass Sabach]

"Agreed. Fighting a losing battle can be anything but fun. On a simulation on the other hand is an entirely different thing, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain, we adapt, fighting styles evolve and we learn by our mistakes." She gives something that closely resembled a smile, she didn't seem too expressive although she was focused. "I'm sorry Captain, I'm sure I don't need to go on about learn and adapt with someone with such a high standing on the Empire. I'm sure that my calculations and simulations are merely a joke to someone who has been on a real battlefield, the Empire is extremely strict with merit, one wouldn't reach the rank of Captain with honors by just looking good on an uniform."

This conversation so far has picked her full attention and interest, its a shame she doesn't have a recorder on her at the moment, it would've been useful to study what information he shares with her, he no doubts knows about ships way more than she does, while they have simulations on the Academy, nothing can come closer to the thrill of being on a battleship, it is a joy to see them dock on the Imperial docks or fly over the Sky on a parade, she always dreamt of being in one since she was a little kid.

"Forgive my manners Captain! I'm Cadet Cass Sabach!" She stood up and saluted still with the focused expression on her face, it never changed so far, she was always a bit socially awkward, never able to express emotion too much, she was hard to read if someone looked too much into it, but some would find her simpler than most people. "Captain... I apologize in advance if I sound too forward but could you give an attempt at beating the simulation?" She asked offering the holoprojector, she had never seem someone with real experience playing out his strategies in the simulated combat, it was too good of an opportunity to let it pass.

[Professor Mors]

Without hesitation, Doren returned Cass’ salute with a crisp reciprocation of his own. “Apology accepted, on both counts”, the young officer admonished calmly, “I am Captain Doren Vassyl: it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cadet Sabach”. A bemused smile overtook Doren’s countenance, an enthusiastic eye floating over to the presently dormant holopad. “Its been some time since I last held one of these”, the Captain commented wryly, “Nowadays I spend more time watching recordings than physically interacting with them”. Though his grin did not waver, Vassyl’s stomach knotted up some as he reviewed the preliminary values for the Tinnel recreation. Miss Sabach certainly was going to make things easy, and Doren could hardly back out now.

Letting slip a preemptive sigh, the Captain took point on a bench near where Cass had been standing prior to his arrival, and initiated the rendering sequence. Not wanting to disappoint, a gloved thumb and forefinger curled about Doren’s bearded chin as he narrowed his focus on the task at hand. First, Vassyl took a moment to assess his opening stance. As aforementioned, the main dilemma of the conflict lay in the commander’s inept deployment prior to the skirmish. Foolishly assuming that they’d set the stage for ambushing a smaller force, the tactician of old had ordered his smaller cruisers to lie in wait off and away from the command ship. Sadly, not only had they misjudged enemy numbers, but now they were facing a much larger enemy on two different fronts.

Had the Imperial fleet detachment been separated more evenly, a pincer might have been a viable option. However, the present configuration would not allow for such a move. Still, it logically followed that Doren would attempt to recombine his errant units into a unified front, just as historical predecessor had done. And yet, that maneuver was easier said than done. What had spelled doom in the long-time for Empire’s vanguard back then was the devastating puncture-wound the enemy fighter screens had inflicted in the first act of the battle. To be sure, Doren knew he could not avoid that outcome. Every pilot that was deployed over Tinnel IV lost their lives in combat- there was no changing that fact, even in a virtual recreation.

Nonetheless, that did not mean those brave souls could not or would not make the bitterest differences. Accessing the program’s advanced controls, Doren input select commands not to the Imperial’s interceptor wing, but rather, the often ridiculed bomber division. The original TIE bomber was about as frail as dew caught on a leaf. The frame was slow, ill-defended, and made for a painfully obvious target. In spite of this, the chassis did accommodate a decent weapons grid, and one which Vassyl meant to make use of. Hammering out attack vectors for the bomber’s laser systems in particular, the Captain waited patiently for a proper line of sight- and then unleashed a delayed, yet poignant barrage out at the opposing fighter screen.

Imping off of the interceptors own’s offensive, a combined ratio of three-to-one saw marked results. Enemy units were thinned considerably, with an especially devastating effect on the secessionist's own bomber squadrons. That said, it was much too early for Doren to start celebrating. The hostile fighters, were quick to recover, and while Vassyl’s own wings had just entered effective striking range of the enemy cruisers, the thought of making a second attack one was but a distant fantasy. That posed the second dilemma: what to attack while proton payloads were still an option. Without much need for deliberation, the Captain swiftly set his sights on the smaller, but no-less armed escort ships dotting the outer edge of the enemy’s formation.

Doren had two primary reasons for doing so. At the foremost, Vassyl had no desire to any one of his precious cruisers disabled by the bushel of ion cannons the faster picket cruisers held in spades. Moreover, far more threatening than the turbolasers on the larger hostile capitals was the impending combined salvo of the smaller, more maneuverable vessels. Thankfully, though Doren was forced to watch the last of his TIE’s fizzle out into nothing on what would always be there last mission, he took comfort in the flaming husks of various corvettes they had left in their wake. Now, it was time for the second decisive phase. Briefly removing his hand from his face, the Captain took a moment to pop his knuckles accordingly- and then dove back into the fray.

As with his now-defunct fighter screen, Doren set about bullying the other smaller ships in the enemy’s flotilla. Utilizing his own ion reserves with razor precision, Vassyl went to work disabling the larger vessels when it could be managed, and harangued the fast but vulnerable picket ships with a two to one rate of fire. Understanding that the lead Star Destroyer would be a sponge one way or another, the Captain flatly refused to spare any turbolaser fire on the opposing flagship until all other carriers and assault ships had been neutralized. Releasing one definitive exhalation, Doren finally set the holoprojector aside as a victory notification flashed into view. He had not cleared the scenario as quickly as Cass had, and the damage values across his remaining forces were significantly higher. At the very least, Doren had managed to maintain his honor, and quietly boasted a more robust hit ratio on his selected targets, with some enemy units barely clinging to hull integrity.

[Cass Sabach]

"Thank you captain" The girl replied to both acceptances with a slight bow of head, sitting next to him but keeping a respectable distance not to draw any attention, standing barely away from his field of view as she doesn't want to get in the way of the simulation. The only one with any military training that she saw having a go at it was her own uncle but he is an engineer and not a very battle oriented one at that, while he does understand a thing or two there is no comparison with a Captain.

She kept to herself and didn't say a word while he made his attempt at the battle, her eyes danced on the interface, shifting her attention to fighters that followed the Captain's orders, she knows that not a single pilot survived that battle and its impossible to change this outcome without messing with the simulation's statistics. There is no doubt that the Captain also knows that and it raises the question of what is he going to do with them? Try to keep them alive as long as possible? Use them as decoy? Put them on a more supportive role? Those are all the options that comes to her mind, at least its all she would be able to manage in a situation like that, she can think of more options but she isn't sure she can handle any other tactic.

The young cadet's eyes widened up just a small bit upon seeing the deployment of bombers, they're more vulnerable than the other fighters and aside from that its already a hotzone for a pilot, a skilled enough commander can organize a way to attack and take as many as possible down before the bombers are wiped out but its an arduous task, it would be easier to place them in a supportive role or wait for an ambush but it would also be less effective. Every pilot on the battlefield is dead and to every capable commander the truth would be bright as daylight, hopelessly trying to change that would lead to more loss of personnel or even worse, a defeat. One may judge it as a devious tactic and others see it as necessary sacrifices and either might be right but the one thing that matters is that its very effective and the Captain is proving so.

A resemblance of a smile escaped her lips as she saw the damage left by the relentless bombardment of the bomber squad, while most underestimate their use due to their lack of survivability, she has an appreciation for the good and honest glass cannon work that comes with their firepower, every fighter that goes down is more than dragging down their share of enemies, it was almost possible to see her fascination with the little dots fired from the fighters flew on the projection.

Cass was almost at the edge of her seat on the ending of the battle, it was surely breathtaking as the star destroyer made its play and what was left of the fighter screen went on to bully their enemies while the larger vessels showed no mercy and spared no shots on the enemy, either disabling their ships with surgical precision or destroying them entirely, as the victory screen flashed it was obvious that he did more damage to the enemy than she ever hoped for, truly an impressive display.

"Brilliant work Captain!" She said as she picked up the holoprojector to browse the statistics for the battle, she had a smile and a certain spark in her eyes as she viewed the numbers of his performance. "Absolutely perfect! Using the bomber's firepower was the right move and it certainly helped put your performance way above mine, I tried this tactic in the past but I couldn't manage it too well so it wasn't nearly as effective! That is why I kept them on a more supportive role. Is it OK if I save the replay, Captain? I'd love to study it!" She wasn't one for many words but his performance brought some well deserved praise.

[Professor Mors]

“You humble me with your praises”, Vassyl conceded in earnest, a grin of his own drawing up in light of Cass’ approval, “Though I wouldn’t go so far as to say my performance was flawless. In my experience, Miss Sabach, there are seldom such things as ‘perfect solutions’. We must strive to approach each tactical situation with an open mind and a cautious eye”. Catch himself at the potent beginnings of a lecture, Doren stopped short. Studious as this graduate was, a droning essay on the strategic philosophy was not likely to prove as gripping as the Captain’s recent exercise. “Still”, Vassyl moved to pet a cap on the subject, “I’m glad I was able to maintain academy standards- there’s rarely such a thing as an easy simulation”.

Doren paused as Cass excitedly scooped up the holorecorder. Perhaps Vassyl’s display was more impressive than he gave it credit for. More likely, he felt, was the sort of mystical aura a veteran such as himself might unintentionally exude in the presence of the uninitiated. In either case, Doren had no issue with leaving the data in Miss Sabach’s capable hands. Nonetheless, he did maintain one proviso. “You may have the replay to do with as you please”, Vassyl offered calmly, his lips curling into a slight smirk, “In return, however, I would ask for more insights on what led Cadet Sabach to this fine establishment”. Surely, Cass had her reasons for entering into the Imperial Military. Now, Doren would hear them. “Was it the promise of travel and seeing the galaxy?”, Vassyl teased lightly, “Or perhaps a family tradition?”.

[Cass Sabach]

The girl almost giggled when he mentioned family tradition, her entire family are hardcore Empire loyalists but they're not exactly fighters, they're more business related and they only dabble in the military when its something related to engineering and medicine. Her parents were strictly against her going to the military academy and not seeking out a supportive role. About other motivations like exploring and serving the greater good, while it does crosses her mind it isn't her main motivation.

"My family doesn't approve of my decision, they support the empire and I even have some family members on the medicine and engineering division, even they were against me joining up. Its a mix of overprotectiveness and fear of risk taking, my family doesn't like taking risks in general. I feel differently about it, of course I fear the risks but that won't stop me of following my dreams of finding my place amongst the stars." She says while making the holoprojector display a constellation of stars and a few star destroyers patrolling the stars, along with a fighter squad.

"Years ago when I was so little that I could barely acknowledge myself as a person, my uncle told me a story about the vessel he served at in the Empire and told me that every journey started and ended in a dance in the stars" She smiled as she remembered it "Of course not a literal dance, he meant either a battle or a trip, but I was too young to understand it and thought that it was a literal dance in the stars. After he told me the real meaning I was so deep into wishing to be a part of a crew that I began researching about pilots, gunners, battles, journeys, milestones, everything about starship that one could find on the holonet."

She closed the holoprojector and placed it away, keeping a straight posture as she was still speaking to a Captain, while she rarely displayed any emotion, she seemed to be comfortable. Now, she speaks on a quieter tone, not wishing anyone else to hear it. "And to be honest... I only became in love with the Empire after I joined the Academy. Of course I didn't hate it but at the start it was a means to an end, but after seeing a glimpse of what the Empire military truly is, be it the military might or the soldiers as persons, I knew I was in the right place."

[Professor Mors]

Doren could not restrain a bout of light, airy laughter that bubbled out from his core as Cass declared her budding love for the Empire and its Navy. There were innumerous horror stories and cautionary tales of independent parties milking the academy system for knowledge and resources- indeed, many famous rebel leaders saw their start in these same vaunted halls. Such being the case, it was ironic, and gladdening to see one young mind who had seen their loyalty nurtured amidst the various military rigors. “I am glad to hear you’ve developed a sense of patriotism during your time here Cadet”, the Captain praised in earnest, “I’ve every confidence it will serve you well in the future”.

“I can appreciate too”, the young Jaeman continued, “That your uncle instilled a poetic affection for astrogation in you. While naval work is not always so glamorous, should you end up serving on a combat vessel, I sincerely hope you maintain your artistic perspective as you go about your work”. All too often, the traditionalists were keen to knock any sort of originality from these fresh recruits. It Cass’ sort of thinking that allowed for versatility and creative tactical potential. At the very least, it would keep her enthusiastic in a field where enthusiasm was an otherwise rare commodity. “Far be it from me to tell your family how to raise their own”, Doren commented further, slowly rising to his feet, “But in this case, I am glad you struck out to forge your own path”.

“For now, I should try and sneak back to my quarters before I get hounded by less enjoyable company”, Vassyl declared, smiling down at his newest acquaintance, “Though I must thank you for the opportunity to brush up on my simulations: this has been a pleasant change of pace from all the alumni events”. That much was certainly true. What’s more, though he did not say so at the time, Doren was most intrigued to see where Miss Sabach’s post-academy career would take her. Surely, hers was a name the Captain would commit to memory. “Hold fast to your dream Cadet”, Vassyl moved to conclude, warily eyeing the horizon for any faculty lying in ambush, “It will foster patience, and maintain your drive to achieve whatever career stirs you. I look forward to crossing paths as colleagues from here on forward. Until then, good evening- and good luck”.