Chapter Text
Prologue
Flying among the planets that made up First Order space, the Star Destroyer Finalizer was an imposing vessel. It bristled with weaponry, a floating city built for inspiring terror and imposing violence. On the bridge, a console lit up, streams of text flowing across the screen. The officer on duty, young and eager to prove herself, felt a burst of exhilaration at what she was reading. This was great news, important news, the kind of news that mobilized starships and sent entire fleets halfway across the galaxy. The kind of news one didn’t need to be afraid to deliver. Lt. Amata stood, straightening her uniform with a brisk tug, and informed her superior of her intention before she set off in search of the intel’s true recipient. Another officer was at her station before she reached the door.
The ship was massive, on the impressive scale preferred by the First Order. Even at such a late hour it buzzed with activity, with officers manning terminals or overseeing operations, while troopers drilled and patrolled the vessel. As there was no true day on a ship, only a regulated cycle with alternating shifts, it didn’t really matter what the time was. Even so, she retained a sense of a day/night cycle, remnant of a lifetime spent planetside, and according to that cycle it was night. Everyone maintained an attitude of disciplined readiness, but it was miles from the overbearing adrenaline-fueled rush of action. A rush they might all be feeling very soon. She passed a double column of Stormtroopers heading in the opposite direction, watching the overhead lights glint on twin rows of perfectly white armour as she stepped into the lift.
The officers quarters were close to the bridge for obvious reasons. Bypassing the majority of the high ranking officers’ rooms, Amata turned down the narrow corridor that branched from the main hallway. Everyone knew not to come this way unless it was absolutely necessary and most were perfectly happy to follow the unwritten rule. Despite the fact that she came bearing good news, she couldn’t help but feel increasingly nervous as she approached the door at the end of the hall. The man behind it was at best temperamental, and at worst, well, there was a reason they’d starting drawing lots when the news to be delivered was bad. She’d been lucky enough not to be on the receiving end herself, but even coming with good news was no guarantee he wouldn’t unleash his famous temper on her for disturbing him, particularly so late in the ‘day’.
Thrusting her chin high, the lieutenant reached a hand out to the door control. Before she made contact the door slid open, revealing the hulking, black-cloaked figure of Kylo Ren. It was as if he’d known she was there. Having heard the second-hand reports of his power, it wouldn’t have surprised her if he had. Careful to look into the slitted eyes of the chrome-edged mask - replacement to the one lost on Starkiller Base - and not to give in to temptation and peek around him to see the darkly lit room behind, she steeled her spine and presented herself with confidence. He tended to respond better to confidence.
He stood silent, waiting for her to speak, but he wouldn’t wait long. Amata was pleased to hear the controlled sound of her own voice, not giving away either her fear or her excitement, as she reported, “We’ve received an intelligence report from the Core, my lord.”
The mask distorted his voice, making it deeper and sounding more aggressive than anyone else she knew. His reply was a simple, impatient, “And?”
“There’s been a sighting.”