<B>Fleet Support Shoto Battlecruiser <I>Kirishima</i>, Barrack Level 5 -- In hyperspace toward Gand.</b>
The Shoto Battlecruiser <I>Kirishima</i> was six days into its twelve-day journey from Senna's hyperjump point toward Gand, the nearest occupied planet and spaceport in the Imperium. Kara Vondar, Wing Commander of Talon Squadron, had been a silent presence among the barracks of commandos, occupying her cabin-- and the minds of the others about the battlecruiser-- in much the same uncommunicative but hard to ignore fashion as her squadron of Deathgliders occupied its berth in the largest of the vessel's cargo holds and hangar bay.
In the Commander's case, the silence had a purpose: She had spent the first half of her journey in intensive study, ignoring the company of her fellow Dragons for the company of recording rods and datapads. By now, Kara knew everything that the Farfalen's diplomatic and intelligence services had seen fit to tell her about the situation bordering the Galactic Coalition and the Imperium. Hence, the precautions now taken that all supply convoys going from Farfalen to the Tion Cluster were to be escorted by all naval forces of the Black Dragon Empire-- which in turn, got her this assignment as she returned home to the Tion Cluster.
Kara shook her head, thinking about it. "It's just a matter of time when the first stone will be cast," she murmured.
The file Kara had been given also contained the latest news about the Farfalen's famed Admiral, Vincent Harker. The virus that he supposedly defeated had once again taken him, rendering him bed-ridden and forced to return to the heart of the Kessel sector. Further reports have stated that he may not live to see this next runaround of the virus. It seemed the campaign on Senna had taken its toll on him and would be the last of his accomplishments.
Kara Vondar closed down her datapad and files for the evening, then stretched out on her bunk, dimming the lights with a gesture in the direction of the cabin's enviromental sensors. She might as well start getting her body accustomed now to the length of the hyperoute's journey.
She pondered about joining a sabacc game as she lay there, taking a thick brown cigarra from its package and igniting it.
<I>Could be fun...</I> she thought...