Calgan's routine stride abruptly broke to a half stumble and clumsy few steps forward as he rounded the corner to step in to one of the many tactical briefing rooms aboard Home One to find Mon Mothma with a handful of ranking Generals and Admirals awaiting. Their low mumblings ceased and full attention shifted towards the tried and aged Lieutenant who stood at attention before the esteemed assembly, waiting to be addressed. Mothma began. . .
"Lieutenant Verose, welcome. It's good to see you made it off Hoth, you commanded the flank of the east line I understand during the defense? I'm still waiting for word on my son Jobin." Her gentle tone invoked fixation complimented by her soft features and radiant glow. She'd been a founder of the Alliance and remains one of it's most prominent and important figures. Her political career began at the young age of 19 as a representative of her native Chandrila. From his nearby home of Alderaan, in his younger years Calgan could remember an infatuation with the beautiful young senator, though he'd never met her even in all his years in the Alliance. Decades later now face to face she looked even more beautiful than in her tender youth. Full of grace and compassion.
Calgan processed her words but couldn't manage to force out a response until several awkward seconds passed. The admirals and generals assembled behind Councilor Mothma curiously glanced towards each other with shrugs and peaked brow lines.
"Lieutenant?," Mothma curiously questioned as his mind snapped back to him. .
"The east flank, yes madame Senator," he responded while adjusting his posture to stand a bit taller and blinking away the daze before continuing. .
"Sargeant Mothma had taken up cover fire position with his unit during the onset of the retreat. Last I heard his unit was pulling out under weather cover. Two of the transport groups remained when ours departed ma'am. ." he paused and stopped himself short of offering a hasty presumption of reassurance to a worried mother.
"I appreciate you sharing Lieutenant, it warms my heart with hope to at least hear an account of him. And as for you, I hear your ranks were the last to break along the front," she answered.
Calgan confirmed,
"Yes ma'am. We weren't hit as hard as the left and center, they were massa. . ." he hesitated with a slight quiver to his lip,
". .they were overwhelmed." Mothma glided forward smoothly while continuing the conversation and cutting to the meat of their encounter,
"Modesty doesn't suit a soldier of your acclaim Lieutenant. The east flank was hit hardest of all and you suffered sixty-three percent casualties. ." she summarily stated while approaching a small control panel and keying up a holovid with a broad horizon view playing small three dimensional clips of the battle on the ringed circular tactical display table in front of them.
Calgan's humbled demeanor prevented him from seeing himself as anything other than an individual working for what they believed in.
"Acclaim ma'am?" he inquired.
Mothma keyed another sequence of keys pulling up a much larger holovid displaying what appeared to be a record of Calgan's military service and covering some of the highlights while casually strolling about the room. . .
"You fought with valor at the Battle of Kalaan, aided in acquiring the X-wing in our action on Fresia for which you were awarded a silver star and a purple heart, helped organize and administrate the evacuation at Yavin Four, saved an entire company from annihilation in the grueling urban Battle of Restuss during your tour there and even commanded a Frigate at Turkana, which is puzzling given your army rank before finally being assigned to Echo Base. ." she intentionally came to a stop only a few feet away from Calgan staring directly in to his face with her calm gaze, meaning to illicit an explanation.
"Captain Shu'rook was suffering from a spore poisoning due to an infestation in the galley. The executive officer jettisoned in an escape pod when the Imperial armada arrived," the Lieutenant explained.
"And the Chief?" Mothma inquired about the usual third officer in line for command of a vessel.
"He was detained and locked in the brig ma'am. He attempted to flee the engagement against orders," Verose answered.
Mothma resumed her stroll and continued. . .
"I trust you are beginning to see what I'm getting at then Lieutenant?" she asked.
"Well. .no, not exactly Madame Senator. What is it I've been called her to do?" he answered and bluntly stated.
"You're a fifty-two year old Lieutenant who's opted out of commission advancements half a dozen times and have more experience than the sum of any three of these gentlemen behind me," she began to sum up while motioning to the high ranking collection of personalities behind her who expressed a bit of a ruffled mood with her bluff call, but declined to challenge the fact of her statement.
"It's time for you to be put to better use Mr. Verose. Your experience is accentuated only by your dedication and humility. Men respect you, superiors listen to you and soldiers follow you. I can't think of many other qualities I'd pick for a commander," she elaborated, now picking up a data pad and scrolling through briefly before handing off to Calgan and continuing. .
"This is your new assignment, you've been given priority security and requisitions clearance and assigned a modest assortment of military assets. You'll also be given your pick of the litter for your men. Unlike your previous promotions, this is not optional. You'll be taking an element deep under cover to set up operations and build a power base from the ground up, if the rout at Hoth has taught us anything it's that we have to spread our resources thin to ensure survival and permeation. Further details of your mission and objectives are all contained within that pad. You will depart in zero five hundred hours and go silent from then on save for our contacts. Are you clear on your status and new command?" the eloquent Mothma inquired again stopping just before Calgan.
"Clear as our purpose Madame Senator," Calgan responded again reinforcing the rigor of his posture.
"Good, then I congratulate you on your new assignment and send you on your way with our hopes and blessings. May the force be with you Lieutenant Verose, and I don't know if there is any justice to be had for Alderaan, but we will tirelessly pursue it and deliver vegeance for those who can no longer speak." she said reaching out with both of her hands to gently clasp his in a delicate shake that sent a warmth coursing through his usually numb veins.
She stepped off to the side as the few Calamari Admirals and couple human Generals proceeded in succession to briefly greet, condone and shake Calgan's hand and each offer an individual salute which was returned. As they departed the room Calgan watched the group move down the hall to board a turbolift. Mothma stepped in and turned to face out she met Calgan's gaze from down the steel walled corridor and offered him a small smile, nod and bow as the lift doors slid shut with a hiss.
Calgan delved in to data pad vested to his keeping and proceeded to carry out his orders. . .
Action Summary:
Purchased Starting Fleet at the Rendezvous Point
Pocketed Remaining Cash
Starting Fleet and all additional starting possessions enter Hyperspace bound for *****************
