SithLore

The shuttle was stuffy and dim, rotating troops, fresh recruits and cargo all jammed into the hold of the ageing ship. At the back, the Empire's newest intake of potential officers waits patiently for the next phase of their lives, a mixed bunch of Humans, Zabraks, Chiss and other loyal citizens of the Empire.

One such new recruit, Cadet Alixandr Britannic reads the daily news summary detailing the corruption and degeneracy rampant within the Republic. "Damn savages", mutters Alix, hailing from a staunchly Imperial family Alix was told the stories of his grandfathers serving on the bridges of Star Destroyers and on the Forest Moon of Endor when the second Death Star was destroyed by the treacherous Rebellion.

"This is shuttle ST-452 landing at Imperial Academy Landing Bay 04, Out", said the pilot.

With a soft landing the ramp lowered to show cargo specialists scurrying up the ramp to collect the the provisions whilst an Imperial Officer ushered Alix and the other cadets out onto the flight deck.

"Present your ID's and joining instructions to the Sergeant and move onto the line. Welcome to the Imperial Academy".

The hanger was buzzing with life, troopers marching, mechanics working on TIE Fighters and shuttles taking off and landing within seconds of each other. Looking up into the sky Alix could see the Star Destroyers of the Imperial Fleet silently guarding the seat of Imperial power.

As he approached the Imperial soldier, Alix noticed an individual standing in the background, not too close to be obvious but close enough to be noticed. "Papers, please", said the Sergeant. As Alix hand the soldier his documents, the officer came over, "So, why did you join the military son?", Alix replied "Uh, to protect my home, Sir", the officer responded "We'll see Mr. Britannic, we will see".

As the officer finished his speech Alix was handed his documents and moved to the line, waiting for further orders.

Rhoden watched from the shadow of another shuttle as the new recruits began their lives of service to the Empire. Following the unfortunate attack on the academy a mere few days ago Rhoden had delayed his departure from Bastion to ensure things returned to normal, considering he had been the target of the attack.

Scowling to himself beneath his helmet Rhoden pulled up a list of the new recruits and began reading through some of their information.

Remaining with the group of new cadets, Alix noticed the battle damage from the recent attack on the Academy, New Republic operatives attacked the Academy with such disregard for any civility or collateral damage, "The Republic scum will pay, they will pay", muttered Alix.

As he watched maintenance workers repair the damaged paneling and clear away the remaining debris, Alix came to think of the stories of his family, his grandfather had been at the battle of Endor and remembered vividly the emotion and pain his grandfather showed when talking of the destruction of the Death Star, he remembered the stories of his father fighting Rebels as a Stormtrooper Officer. As thus, Alix was still thinking, Army or Navy?

"Right, Cadets move to your rooms and begin to settle in, class starts tomorrow with a physical test and uniform issue", carried on the officer. "Yes, Sir", reply the cadets as Alix and his new classmates make way to the accommodation area. As he walks by he spots a masked man standing in the corner. As Alix walks past he spots the masked figure reading his own profile; NAME: ALIXANDR BRITANNIC, AGE: 19, HAIR COLOUR: BROWN, EYE COLOUR: BLUE. "Why is he reading mine? Why am I important?" thought Alix as he moved though the hatch into the Academy.

The cadets filed out of the hangar, Rhoden finished his cursory examination, there had been a few promising files. Rhoden felt a twinge of frustration, he was the elite of the Empire and he was sitting here at an academy looking over cadet's files. In the future, Rhoden decided, he would be spending his off-time somewhere a bit more quiet.

There was a distant crack and several yells, Rhoden almost sighed. It appeared the attackers had returned. At least--he thought--they're not shooting at me this time. Rhoden took off running, this time he'd be taking one of the attackers alive for... questioning.