EPISODE I - EIGHT: He doesn't deserve this.
Captain Tanga sat in repose on his bed. Sipping a cup of caf, he reviewed the past month's mission log from High Command. There wasn't much listed and it appeared as though there was a lack of direction in regards to what the First Order wanted to accomplish--at least it did to an untrained eye. Bardet Tanga slowly stroked a finger across one of his heavy, well-groomed eyebrows. It gave him focus and calmed him. A coherent picture began to form out of the pieces that laid before him. Those pieces included: increased ore mining for durasteel production, the stockpiling of munitions, and now the energy harvesting on Aporoth. The First Order was clearly doing everything in their power to build their fleet and increase their presence across the galaxy. Perhaps the time had finally come to display their might and wipe out the Republic once and for all.
Tanga didn't actually relish being Snoke's watchdog and having to make sure Benemir Strim kept the energy facility running. Tanga felt he was too old for such a task and still young enough to offer more to the First Order than this. Strim had a particularly long history of shady deals and financial failures that stretched back to the last days of the Empire. He barely recalled a time in his life that Strim's name wasn't a part of the collective consciousness in the developed systems. Apparently, the First Order found some sort of value in his process--something beyond the mere fact that he could fund just about anything or manage to find an interested party who could if he wasn't willing to shell out the credits. It mattered not because this was not a plan he engineered, he was only charged with the task of making sure it got done. Moreover, he was happy to not be higher up the food chain like General Hux, council member of High Command and commander of the Absolution.
Tanga rested the datapad against the wall and buzzed the comm station. "Lieutenant Gates?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you patch me through to General Hux? I'd like a private channel."
Gates sat at his console and flipped a few switches. "I'm hailing the Absolution for you and patch through to your quarters once I've made the connection."
"Thank you, Gates. I'll be awaiting your signal." Tanga paced the floor of his darkened room. He had a few ideas about the harvesting of Aporoth and was feeling bold enough today to make his recommendations to Hux. He'd been compliant for long enough and thought it was time for him at least offer his .2 credits.
A hollow tone broached the silence. "Captain Tanga, I have General Hux on the line."
"Put him through."
"Captain Tanga," Hux began in his brusque staccato. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."
Bardet mentally took a step backward. In his own estimation, Hux was unstable and prone to outbursts--anything could set him off. The mere fact that he was making an early report or that said report could contain information that would displease him was enough to cause the starship captain to err on the side of caution. Not that backing away from a hologram would offer him any safety from Hux's eventual retribution.
"Uh... yes, well," he stammered as their eyes locked. "Well, it seems that Benemer Strim's focus is turning away from the project on Aporoth. Our last communication was a bit... how shall I say? It was even less enthusiastic than the previous one."
A puzzled looked flashed across Hux's face as he teetered on what would be described seething anger.
Tanga scrambled to complete his thought so Hux didn't have an opportunity to lash out at him for not getting to the point. "It's not that he said anything per se, but he," he paused again to choose his words carefully. "Well, given his past attention span to his commitments, it seems that holding him at the Pashtoon complex isn't really doing much to stay focused. It appears as though he doesn't really act like someone in charge."
Hux pursed his lips and angrily frowned. Words were clearly making their way from his tense vocal chords and past his tense jaw. "This is why I put you in charge of the Strim. You are supposed to be overseeing this operation. Strim is merely a figurehead there--someone to fund the effort; someone we've given the illusion of power to as a means to curry his favor."
Bardet felt embarrassment come over him. The back of his neck felt like it was on fire and his ears grew warm. It was unlikely that the general could see his face was flushed over the transmission. His mind quickly began to rebuild the dam that had just burst so that he might save his dignity and his hide.
"Yes. Yes... I'm fully aware of that. I was hoping that it wouldn't be necessary for me to intervene too much as the First Order has all of us working hard to establish our position in these recent months. This comes as a disappointment to me and I obviously need to redirect to Aporoth immediately and set this right."
"That sounds like a splendid plan, captain." Hux unclenched his jaw and exhaled. "I appreciate that you are committed to emboldening our presence in that sector, but that raw energy is crucial to the construction of one of our primary weapons."
"I shall prepare for departure immediately," Tanga quickly confirmed.
"Thank you, captain. And only send me a report when there is something worthy to report. I expect that you shall have your hands full in getting our charges at that facility motivated."
The image dissolved and Bardet hated himself for allowing Hux to get the upper hand. He'd served the First Order as it built itself back up from the ashes of the Empire as they hid in the farthest corners of the galaxy. Armitage Hux owed his position to an in from his late father, Brendol Hux. Despite having a hand in his father's death, he still managed to secure a place in this military, along with all the other undeserving upstarts who were commanding starships and platoons of stormtroopers. No, he didn't deserve any of it. None of them did. Nothing had been earned and nothing had been learned. That's the problem these days, but he has to adapt or die.
So, to Aporoth it was. "Lieutenant Gates, prepare the ship and set a course to Aporoth."
Tanga didn't actually relish being Snoke's watchdog and having to make sure Benemir Strim kept the energy facility running. Tanga felt he was too old for such a task and still young enough to offer more to the First Order than this. Strim had a particularly long history of shady deals and financial failures that stretched back to the last days of the Empire. He barely recalled a time in his life that Strim's name wasn't a part of the collective consciousness in the developed systems. Apparently, the First Order found some sort of value in his process--something beyond the mere fact that he could fund just about anything or manage to find an interested party who could if he wasn't willing to shell out the credits. It mattered not because this was not a plan he engineered, he was only charged with the task of making sure it got done. Moreover, he was happy to not be higher up the food chain like General Hux, council member of High Command and commander of the Absolution.
Tanga rested the datapad against the wall and buzzed the comm station. "Lieutenant Gates?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you patch me through to General Hux? I'd like a private channel."
Gates sat at his console and flipped a few switches. "I'm hailing the Absolution for you and patch through to your quarters once I've made the connection."
"Thank you, Gates. I'll be awaiting your signal." Tanga paced the floor of his darkened room. He had a few ideas about the harvesting of Aporoth and was feeling bold enough today to make his recommendations to Hux. He'd been compliant for long enough and thought it was time for him at least offer his .2 credits.
A hollow tone broached the silence. "Captain Tanga, I have General Hux on the line."
"Put him through."
"Captain Tanga," Hux began in his brusque staccato. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."
Bardet mentally took a step backward. In his own estimation, Hux was unstable and prone to outbursts--anything could set him off. The mere fact that he was making an early report or that said report could contain information that would displease him was enough to cause the starship captain to err on the side of caution. Not that backing away from a hologram would offer him any safety from Hux's eventual retribution.
"Uh... yes, well," he stammered as their eyes locked. "Well, it seems that Benemer Strim's focus is turning away from the project on Aporoth. Our last communication was a bit... how shall I say? It was even less enthusiastic than the previous one."
A puzzled looked flashed across Hux's face as he teetered on what would be described seething anger.
Tanga scrambled to complete his thought so Hux didn't have an opportunity to lash out at him for not getting to the point. "It's not that he said anything per se, but he," he paused again to choose his words carefully. "Well, given his past attention span to his commitments, it seems that holding him at the Pashtoon complex isn't really doing much to stay focused. It appears as though he doesn't really act like someone in charge."
Hux pursed his lips and angrily frowned. Words were clearly making their way from his tense vocal chords and past his tense jaw. "This is why I put you in charge of the Strim. You are supposed to be overseeing this operation. Strim is merely a figurehead there--someone to fund the effort; someone we've given the illusion of power to as a means to curry his favor."
Bardet felt embarrassment come over him. The back of his neck felt like it was on fire and his ears grew warm. It was unlikely that the general could see his face was flushed over the transmission. His mind quickly began to rebuild the dam that had just burst so that he might save his dignity and his hide.
"Yes. Yes... I'm fully aware of that. I was hoping that it wouldn't be necessary for me to intervene too much as the First Order has all of us working hard to establish our position in these recent months. This comes as a disappointment to me and I obviously need to redirect to Aporoth immediately and set this right."
"That sounds like a splendid plan, captain." Hux unclenched his jaw and exhaled. "I appreciate that you are committed to emboldening our presence in that sector, but that raw energy is crucial to the construction of one of our primary weapons."
"I shall prepare for departure immediately," Tanga quickly confirmed.
"Thank you, captain. And only send me a report when there is something worthy to report. I expect that you shall have your hands full in getting our charges at that facility motivated."
The image dissolved and Bardet hated himself for allowing Hux to get the upper hand. He'd served the First Order as it built itself back up from the ashes of the Empire as they hid in the farthest corners of the galaxy. Armitage Hux owed his position to an in from his late father, Brendol Hux. Despite having a hand in his father's death, he still managed to secure a place in this military, along with all the other undeserving upstarts who were commanding starships and platoons of stormtroopers. No, he didn't deserve any of it. None of them did. Nothing had been earned and nothing had been learned. That's the problem these days, but he has to adapt or die.
So, to Aporoth it was. "Lieutenant Gates, prepare the ship and set a course to Aporoth."
