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Empire Reforged
Chapter 38: Orders from the Throne
Location: ISV Silver Lance, Mid Rim Patrol Vector 7A
Date: BBY 7 – 3 Months After Centares
The silence of the patrol run shattered with the arrival of the priority transmission.
It wasn't routed through local command, nor relayed by a standard fleet chain. It came straight from Sector Group Command, encrypted to a level Lucan hadn't seen since the Centares report.
Tarris raised an eyebrow. "It's addressed directly to you, Commander. Not the Silver Lance."
Lucan stood from the command platform, already bracing for disruption.
"Patch it through to the briefing room."
—
The hologram flared to life without fanfare.
No insignia. No formal introduction. Just a voice behind the screen: calm, clipped, Imperial.
> "Commander Virex. You are hereby relieved of current patrol duties under immediate reallocation by Core Command Intelligence."
"New assignment: escort and support operations for ISB Officer Commander Veya Thorne."
"Location: Coruscant. Primary objective: counter-espionage investigation across classified military installations within the Core Sector."
"Secondary: maintain discretion. Naval presence is to be visible but silent. This is a ghost mission."
"Departure: within six standard hours."
The transmission ended without further instruction.
Darran muttered, "That's the most polite way I've ever heard someone say: shut up and move."
Lucan was already moving.
"Bring the crew to alert status. Set course for Coruscant. Clean uniforms, fresh diagnostics, and no external chatter."
Valk looked up from her console. "Is this a reward, or another leash?"
Lucan gave a faint smile.
"We'll know when we see the length of it."
—
The descent into Coruscant airspace was surgical.
The Core World's skyline sprawled like a living machine — veins of speeders, towers rising in geometric precision, layer upon layer of power, secrecy, and protocol. The Silver Lance was granted a rare priority docking corridor, slicing down through the upper lanes to a sealed military terminal flanked by TIE patrols and sensor towers.
The moment they touched down, three officers boarded.
No words. Just retinal scans, verification, and a datapad handoff.
Lucan reviewed it in silence. Then he saw the name.
Commander Veya Thorne
Imperial Security Bureau – Core Sector Liaison
Clearance: Alpha-Black
Operation: Glass Veil
—
He met her in the designated secure chamber below Docking Bay C.
She was already there when he arrived.
Mid-30s at most. Tall. Sharp-angled features framed by sleek black hair tied at the nape. Her uniform was flawless — not ornamental, but practical — pressed without being showy, with insignia stripped to the bare minimum.
She stood by the terminal wall, hands clasped behind her back, posture perfect.
When she turned to face him, her eyes were the first thing that registered: a pale, calculating grey. Not empty — but closed. Controlled.
"Commander Virex," she said, voice level. "You're early."
Lucan offered a respectful nod. "I try to avoid waiting where I'm not welcome."
Her lips curved — not quite a smile. "A rare trait. It will be useful."
She stepped aside, gesturing to the map now blooming across the terminal display.
"I won't waste your time. Five military installations across the Core Sector have reported data leaks and infrastructure sabotage within the last six weeks. One vessel was lost. Two projects have been delayed indefinitely. No arrests. No witnesses."
Lucan folded his arms, scanning the flickering icons.
"All internal sabotage?"
"No breaches from outside. Meaning the problem is within Imperial space. Likely within our own command structures."
He looked at her.
"And you?"
"I've been authorized to root out the rot. Quietly. Without command interference."
Lucan raised an eyebrow.
"That's a generous leash."
Her gaze didn't waver. "It's not a leash. It's a lit match. If I fail, they'll burn the entire region and call it purification."
He gave a short nod.
"Then let's make sure you don't fail."
She paused a moment longer than necessary.
"Your ship is fast. Your crew efficient. I read your Centares report. They sent me the only officer who didn't lie about what he saw."
Lucan didn't answer.
She turned back to the map.
"Your job is to keep me alive. Mine is to find the ghosts."
"Understood."
She stepped closer to the console, pulling up the first target: a weapons facility orbiting Chandrila.
"We deploy in five hours."
Lucan turned to leave.
"Commander Thorne," he said over his shoulder.
She looked back.
"Welcome aboard."