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Empire Reforged
Chapter 19: Command Eyes Open
Location: IPV-120 Vigilance, En Route to Centares Sector Command
Date: BBY 8 – 1600 Hours
The corridor outside Lucan's quarters hummed with activity.
Troopers offload stripped crates. Holtz's engineering team escorts shielded data cores to the secured server vault. Valk walks past with three datadiscs clutched tightly in her gloved hand. Everyone moves with purpose.
The Vigilance was no longer on patrol.
It was carrying evidence.
Lucan stood at the observation window, uniform fresh, boots polished, hair regulation-short. He hadn't slept in twenty-three hours. He didn't feel tired.
The stars crawled slowly past the hull, the hyperspace corridor rippling like a wound in reality.
Darran entered without knocking.
"We've received Command acknowledgment," she said. "Priority relay. Decoded and flagged with red-stripe urgency."
Lucan didn't turn.
"Read it."
She cleared her throat.
> "Lieutenant Virex: Sector Command has reviewed your submitted logs, cargo documentation, and encryption analysis. Your report has been relayed to Fleet Intelligence and flagged for Strategic Priority Level Five."
"Effective immediately, your current command is suspended for fleet refitting and reassignment. You are ordered to report to Centares Command Facility within thirty-six hours. Your core officers are to accompany you under sealed transfer status."
"Preliminary commendation pending full debrief. Security clearance upgrade authorized."
Darran lowered the datapad.
"That's the fastest turnaround I've ever seen."
Lucan nodded.
"They're not surprised."
"No. But they're interested now."
He turned.
"Get the crew ready. I want all data archived, all systems clean. If we're being reassigned, I want the Vigilance to leave orbit in better shape than when we found her."
"You're really letting it go?"
"She was never mine," Lucan said quietly. "She was a test."
Darran hesitated.
"They'll want you for more than just a debrief. That signal chain… the archive, the coordination — it wasn't local. This ran far deeper."
"I know."
"And?"
Lucan's voice was calm. Cold.
"I intend to follow it."
—
By 2100 hours, the Vigilance exited hyperspace near Centares. The orbital command ring loomed ahead — a gleaming, half-shadowed wheel bristling with long-range sensor dishes and rotating comm towers.
"Centares Control," Valk transmitted. "This is IPV-120 Vigilance, reporting under sealed authorization vector X-ray Kilo Nine-Nine."
The reply came almost instantly.
> "Vigilance, you are cleared for Dock One. Sector Command has requested immediate crew disembarkation. Transport crews will receive encrypted handoff protocols."
Lucan stepped onto the bridge.
"Secure helm. Power down weapons. Begin data handover."
Tarris turned from the console. "Feels like we just declared war."
Lucan gave a faint nod.
"We declared readiness."
—
The docking clamp sealed with a heavy thunk.
Lucan was the first down the ramp.
He wore no armor, no coat — just his officer's uniform, polished to regulation perfection. Darran followed, then Holtz, Valk, Tarris, and Corren — each of them walking like they knew they no longer belonged to a forgotten patrol ship.
They walked like professionals.
At the bottom of the ramp, two officers waited.
One bore Fleet Intelligence colors. The other, Centares Command insignia.
"Lieutenant Lucan Virex?"
Lucan saluted. "Reporting as ordered."
The Intelligence officer stepped forward.
"You've caused quite a stir. Six courier routes intercepted. Three smuggler nodes deconstructed. One sealed rebel depot buried in ice. And you did it with a decommissioned IPV and no support."
Lucan didn't blink. "The enemy didn't wait for permission."
The man smiled slightly.
"We don't reward recklessness. But we do reward results."
He handed Lucan a new datapad.
"Your next ship is under prep now. Arquitens-class light cruiser, assigned to outer patrol with intelligence liaison clearance. Crew transfers approved. Assignment code: Silver Lance."
Lucan took the pad.
"I'll need additional clearance for full deployment."
"You'll get it," the man said. "After debrief."
Lucan nodded once.
And turned to his crew.
"Let's get to work."
Because the real fight — the one behind the shadows — had only just begun.