Star Wars: Project Flashknife/Chapter 1

Chapter 1
Ekamolos Vetoko entered the observation deck of the Alliance of Sentient Races cruiser, Shining Light. The large room consisted of a transparent crystalline metal, giving a view of the stars around the Shining Light, and the planet Crilvio. In the center of the room, General Basslen sat in a gravity chair suspended perhaps a third of a meter from the ground. He turned as Ekamolos entered and gave him a nod. "Good to see you, Vetoko. I take it you've regained your memories?"

"Yes, sir," Ekamolos replied.

"Very good. Come, sit," he said, beckoning to another gravity chair. Ekamolos obligingly sat, and his commanding officer faced him critically.

"I'm going to need proof that your memories have returned," Basslen grunted, before taking out a cigar and lighting it. "What ship are we on?"

"The Shining Light, sir. A fifth-generation cruiser, and one of the oldest opperational ships in the Alliance of Sentient Races fleet," Ekamolos answered.

Basslen frowned. "Good, but I need more. How many commanding officers have you served under before me?"

"Eight, sir."

"And how many squadrons have you been placed in command of?"

"Two, sir."

Basslen narrowed his eyes, as if he were trying to blame Ekamolos for something, but he couldn't. "All right, then. So here's why you're down here."

The general took a tiny hologram projector out of his uniform, set it on the floor, and activated it. A hologram of a desolate planet popped into existence in front of them.

"This is an unnamed planet that was recently discovered. The council decided that it looks good for housing a population. They're sending seven colony ships there to build a city, and assigned three cruisers to protect them. The Shining Light will be one of those cruisers."

"Sir, how does this involve me?" Ekamolos asked.

"We'll be sending a strike force to make sure that the planet is uninhabited before the colony ships get to work," Basslen explained. "The cruisers will also be securing the area around the planet. Somepjuk Tuvucle, commander of the cruiser Selfless, will be running the whole show. You haven't met him, but you have met his deputy more than once, and he'll be in charge of the ground forces. You'll be in Commander Insika's personal squadron."

"Vorvus Insika?" Ekamolos asked. "Are you sure?"

"Don't ask me that," Basslen said with a slight smile. "Tuvucle put you there."

"With respect, sir, I don't think he will be pleased to have me in his squadron."

"Actually, he requested that you were in his squadron...and Lieutenant Sylvso."

Frustration began to burn in Ekamolos' gut. It was clear why Vorvus Insika wanted him and Diseni Sylvso in his squadron.

He was going to be with some irritating and burdensome squadmates, that was for sure.

The observation deck doors opened, and as if he had known he was being spoken about, Tolac Commander Vorvus Insika entered. He stood almost three meters tall; his toad-like face and long, slender limbs were scarred, cut, and burned, but his powerful muscles rippled beneath his black skin. Probably the most unusual feature of the Tolac was the fact that his left mandibles had been severed in battle, earning him the nickname of "scarface".

Insika strode confidently toward General Basslen. "Greetings, Excellency," he rasped. "You requested my presence."

"I did, Commander," Basslen said, turning to Ekamolos. "It's time for Vetoko here to be transferred to the Selfless.

"Of course, General," Insika said politely, smoothing a crease from his silver uniform. "Come, Vetoko; you shall be introduced to your squadron."

Ekamolos stood, gave a final respectful nod to General Basslen, and followed the Tolac out of the observation deck. Due to being dwarfed by the massive alien, Ekamolos had to jog in order to keep up with Insika's powerful strides.

Once they were out of earshot of the observation deck, Ekamolos growled, "I know why you want me and Diseni in your squadron, Insika."

"And why do you suppose I do?" Insika asked, pretending to be mildly curious.

"You know why. Stop pretending that you don't."

Insika parted his remaining mandibles in a questioning look. "Because you are both skilled in battle?"

"No, that's not it. For the last time, stop pretending that you don't know."

He turned the corner and nearly collided with a Shnict. The small reptilian yelped in surprise, then gave Ekamolos a dirty look and continued.

"I truly do not understand what your point is," Insika said as they approached an airlock with a dropship attached.

"Now, if we are to communicate successfuly as a squadron, you must make yourself clear. Do you understand?"

Without waiting for an answer, Inskia tapped the code to open the airlock, and entered the dropship. "I will power up the engines; you close the airlock."

Furious at his commander's feigned ignorance, Ekamolos clenched his fists. Then he let himself relax; there was no point to becoming angry.

He turned around, and, taking one last look into the Shining Light, closed the airlock.