Galactic Empire: Serving the New Order

[dead_radish]

*Joric sighs, and shakes his head, watching Dralon's back as it recedes.* One blaster shot, and we explain to high command that he was in fact working with the rebels. He was put down.... So easy, but best not to complicate things. "

OOC: The officer that ordered us back - do I recognize him? Is there any reason to suspect that he is anything other than an Imperial Officer? Sense Motive/Spot/Profession as necessary.... I just find his use of "Your superior officers" a bit suspicious.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Joric:

Spoiler

You don't recognize the officer, but he seems genuine enough. There's nothing to indicate that he is anything else but a little disgusted before he leaves.

Following the corridor back, you find your way to the turbolift and head up to the hangar and to your ship. Once there, a group of eight stromtroopers escorts you into the ship and you find that there is already a pilot and a few other troopers within. All are watching you carefully, but no one speaks at all.

As your shuttle leaves the hangar and heads back up into orbit, you catch sight of a large squadron of TIEs flying the other direction, back towards the training complex. Once aboard the Dominator, your escort leads you down the familiar corridors of the Star Destroyer and to the turbolift. After another long walk, you reach the briefing room. Apparently, the Vice Admiral is going to get straight to business.

Entering the small room, you see Vice Admiral Zercone standing in front of the holoscreen, waiting. Watching. Silent. Silent until all of you have sat, and then finally, he snaps, "What in the name of the Empire were you thinking down there? Do you all simply assume that because you are a part of my fleet you are immune to protocol?! Do you think that it makes you better than those men down on Carida? Do you think you're simply above reprimand because of your station or your family?!" his voice then calmed, but it felt dangerous still, "Tell me why I should throw all of you off of this ship right now."

 

[Lobo Lurker]

"Tell me why I should throw all of you off of this ship right now."

OOC: I'm assuming that you meant ...whyt I shouldn't...

Archimedes holds his tongue and instead sifts through his thoughts and hopes. ...this is your chance Dralon. Be the hero when the cost is high... be the officer that all officers should aspire to. Be the officer that a Storm Trooper would want to serve. We'll willingly die if ordered, but we deserve officers who will respect and deserve our sacrifice... be worthy...be worthy... He frowns at his thoughts. He hadn't realized how much the Imperial Military hierarchy had gotten to him. He wouldn't call himself disillusioned. But he was aware of the reality of the situation.

He continued waiting for his superior officers to do thier unspoken duty...

 

[Veritas]

Given that he is now the commanding officer of this squad, Rannick stands at attention and speaks.

"Sir! We were sent into a sensitive situation, where things may not have been the way they seemed on the surface. Caution and skepticism were high on our minds. An error in judgement was made, but the error was made in the effort to root out a cancer that threatened the Empire. If we were overzealous in our actions, it was only due to our desire to do that job in the most effective manner possible."

"Mistakes are made in battle. I know that perhaps more than anyone here. However there are always benefits to any event. Due to this event, loyalty to the Empire will not be an issue at this academy again."

"As acting commanding officer of this squad, I stand ready to accept sole responsibility for the squad's actions and accept any consequences you feel are necessary."

He remains at attention awaiting the Admiral's reply.

 

[dead_radish]

AMG and Veritas:
[sblock]
Joric will speak telepathically to Rannick.

"It's not worth your career, sir. Dralon was a loose cannon. Lay the blame at his feet, make an example of him, hell, call him a rebel, and keep yourself out of it! I'll back you if needed."
[/sblock]

To everyone else: Joric stands, eyes unfocused, and waits patiently.

 

[doghead]

Devlin, human male ISB Agent.

Devlin listens to Rannick. Its a little much to claim that unending loyalty to the Emperor will be the result of shooting the commanding officers son. But perhaps the sheer boldness of the claim will work for him. Devlin is rather impressed that Rannick offered to take sole responsibility for the mess. It makes Devlin's job of saving his career a whole lot easier. There is no way he is going to allow everything he has achieved be distroyed because no one saw that Dralon should never have been promoted past Deckhand.

Devlin considers the best way to approach this.

ooc: *Diplomacy +8 * P(Military officer) +3 * Sense Motive +3

Devlin requests permission to speak frankly. If granted he continues.

"Admiral, I belive it would be a waste of a good officer to accept's Rannick offer. He was not in charge when General Harmon's son was shot. Rannick was not the one who pulled the trigger, and Rannick was not the one who insisted on compounding the error by insulting the General and his son.

"Cadet Dralon holds that dishonour.

"Rannick was the one who stepped up and lead when that was needed. And he showed great professionalism and restraint in not shooting Dralon for insubordination as the cadet continued to insult and criticise Rannick throughout the attack on the rebel positions. Instead, Rannick put the mission objectives first and kept his focus on achieving them."

 

[Veritas]

AMG and dead_radish
[sblock]Rannick is slightly startled to hear the man's voice in his head, but he maintains his composure. He thinks loudly, in case Joric can hear his thoughts "If Dralon were still in charge, it would be him up here, either by choice or us forcing him. But I'm in charge now, and it falls on my shoulders as commanding officer. The Admiral should know that Dralon shot the kid, but I'm not going to hide behind that arrogant fool."[/sblock]

If Devlin was allowed to speak, Rannick looks impressed with his ISB associate, but holds up his hand to forstall any more from him and responds before anyone else can. "Yes, sir, it's true that Dralon pulled the trigger on the General's son. And he acted in an insubbordinate manner to both the General and myself. But Dralon is no longer in command of this squad. I offer myself because *I* am in command of this squad and a squad commander is responsible for those under his command. Therefore, I am ready for whatever orders the Admiral has for me."

 

[ImperialMilitary]

Dralon rolls his eyes and snorts and then stands, preparing to speak in his own defense. I pulled the trigger, I take all responsibility. Because I don't regret it at all. He was a pathetic private, I did the Empire a service. Do you know who's son I am? We'll see how far this charade gets.

 

[Lobo Lurker]

Dralon rolls his eyes and snorts and then stands, preparing to speak in his own defense. I pulled the trigger, I take all responsibility. Because I don't regret it at all. He was a pathetic private, I did the Empire a service. Do you know who's son I am? We'll see how far this charade gets.

<inward sigh> ...he's doing the right thing for the completely wrong reason...

"SIR, Permission to speak freely SIR!"

If granted: "The why's and howfore's of our mission objectives were left up to us. No matter the manner in which the mission was accomplished, it was, in fact, accomplished. Perhaps we made some errors in judgement but isn't one of the most important things that we ar taught during our command training is that indecision kills? Perhaps Private Dralon had a reason for acting as he did, perhaps he did not. The long-view is that A) the mission objectives were completed and B) we acted as a unit... irreguardless of what our personal feelings might have been. If we are guilty of those two things then I, for one, am willing to accept any judgement you deem appropriate. The major's intention of saving the rest of us from blame is noble, but I stand by my actions. I did them. I participated in the Private's death and with my aid, the mission was a success. Before you dole out any judgement upon Major Rannik or Private Dralon, know that I stand ready to accept whatever punishment you deem necessary for doing our job."

Diatribe completed, he sits back and awaits the Admiral's judgement, whatever it may be.


OOC: fyi, NCO's of Sgt. rank and above do recieve a form of officer training... at least in the US military)

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

The Vice Admiral waits for everyone to finish speaking before waving them all silent. He paces across the room a moment and then looks straight at Archimedes, "But you did NOT complete your mission objectives. You were only allowed to stay on that planet because you were needed. When you were not, you were recalled here. The Rebels have escaped."

He went silent before stepping back to the center of the room and looked over all of you again, "Your orders were not to kill everyone in that facility. Your orders were to assist the General and his men in aprehending or killing the defectors and the Rebels. To do that obviously requires meeting up with the General. Killing his envoy, be it his son or not, immediately destroys any chance of success. Your delay is what let those Rebels escape."

Again, the Vice Admiral went silent, but this time it lasted longer. It was almost a disturbing silence before he spoke again, in a calm but stern voice, "Major Rannick, you were not in command of the unit at the time of the incident. As the General has informed me, you performed your duties as were necessary.

"The one who is responsible will be dealt with. Private Dralon, you are to be transported to Coruscant. It seems that the Emperor's top advisors wish to speak of why you allowed the Rebels to escape...your father is one of them who is curious. Lieutenant Tyrcus will accompany you as an escort. It seems that his superiors do not wish him to be involved in an operation with such a blemish on its record. The two of you will be leaving in one hour.

"As for the rest of you, you will remain here with the fleet an apart of the Krayts. There will be new members joining the squad and hopefully they will assist in the prevention of any repeats of today. We are leaving the system immediately after Private Dralon's shuttle is gone."

And without another word, the Vice Admiral left the room. He didn't even look at any of you when he passed by.