Retired 2nd Lieutenant Denethor sat in a half moon booth with three of his closest friends outside of the Vast Empire Navy in a bar called the Nova Star in the starport on Berchat in the Vectra system. Since his retirement from the VEN, he’d spent most of his life on Berchat. There he decided to open his own establishment. He spent most of his nights sitting in this booth in his bar; looking around and smiling each time he saw that this was the most popular watering hole on the planet.

Many of his old squadron mates and other compatriots in the VEN came here on their leaves, enjoying the discounts that were given to them for knowing the owner. Business was going very well, he was making three times as much as when he was in the VEN. Life was good, he was always surrounded by his friends. There was however, something missing. It didn’t take a professional to figure out that it was withdrawal from being an active member of the Imperial Service.

Despite that hole, he couldn’t justify returning to the Navy with his booming business and social life. It’d been many months since his retirement and he’d seen many of his old fellows return to high-ranking positions after leaving themselves. The NHC was full yet again, and the activity in the Navy was just as booming as his business. Returning now, due to his history of his ability to restart and refresh squadrons with activity, would be pointless. The Navy was obviously doing well. What need was there for him to return and possibly change things.

Yes there were plenty of times people would ask him to come back, but usually in a drunken stupor. After they expressed their inebriated wishes, he’d call his driving service and have his bouncers escort them to their hotels.

Denethor was obviously distracted because his friends burst into a bout of laughter that forced him to chuckle awkwardly.

    “You alright Kam?” his friend Elliot Koss asked him

“Yeah,” Denethor replied, “Just thinking.”
   
        “As always,” his other friend Decker Todd muttered.

“This time’s… different.” As he said this he looked up at the entrance of his bar and saw yet another familiar face. It, however, was a face that he hadn’t seen in over a year: a face that he knew was going to try to change a lot of things.

The man spotted him immediately and made his way over to his booth. He stopped before Denethor’s booth and his friends suddenly got quiet, eying the stranger waiting for him to announce his purpose for bothering their friend.

    “Hello Denethor,” he said, “Long time, I see you’re doing well.”

“Evening Darkhawk,” Denethor replied, “Yes, things are good, and I’ve heard that things are going well for you as well.”

    “I’m doing very well, yes” the newly appointed Naval Tactical Officer said, “You obviously know about my newly appointed position.”

“Yes, I’m very proud of you, a lot more power than either of us had as Lusthawks, no?” As he said this, he beckoned to the closest waitress to bring another drink to the table.

Darkhawk chuckled at the reference of their early days in the Navy in Aegis squadron,
    “Yes, loads more.”

“So what can I do for you Commodore?” As he said this he used his body language to tell his friends to clear the booth so he could speak with Darkhawk alone. They obliged and got up from the booth. Denethor motioned to Darkhawk to sit once he had a seat available to him. The waitress came over with a glass of membrosia and set it down in front of Darkhawk. He sipped it, set it down, and looked Denethor in the eyes.

    “Well, let’s cut the pleasantries shall we? I’ve been asked to come here by the rest of the High Command to inform you of some things that the Navy is planning. We’re starting up a Task Force Fleet consisting of multiple grades of warships. I will continue with the details after I inform you of the proposal that the NHC has sent me here to give you. Inside this fleet we will need ship captains, and we wish for you to come back to the Navy and become one of those ship captains.”

Denethor only had to think about his answer for a short moment before replying to Darkhawk’s proposal.     “I’ll do it.”

Darkhawk smiled and drank more of his membrosia.
    “The council will be glad to hear that, and that especially includes myself. It’s good to know that you’ll be returning to active duty. You’ll be captain of the Corellian Corvette Ferrum Umbra, and hopefully move up the ranks quickly. Everyone that is coming into this task force will be starting in their own Corvettes, so don’t feel like you’re starting out lower than everyone else.”

He continued into the details and after he was done, he ordered another membrosia and Denethor called his friends back to the table, introducing them to Darkhawk and they spent the night conversing about old times.

The next day Denethor met with Elliot Todd, the manager of the Nova Star, and asked him to take over the bar to make sure it runs smoothly as Denethor returns to active duty. 
“I’ll still own the bar,” he said to Elliot, “And I’ll visit during leaves, but I’ll need you to run everything. You’ll get a substantial raise due to taking over the majority of my duties, of course.”
    “It’ll be in good hands Kam,” Elliot replied, “Don’t worry. I know that you need this return to service.”

“Thanks Elliot, this means a lot. Good luck with everything, I’ll check in regularly.”


By the end of the week, 2nd Lieutenant Denethor was stepping onto the deck of the Ferrum Umbra’s bridge. He was clad in his freshly pressed officer’s uniform, clean-shaven, and had decided to not wear the officer’s hat. As he stepped onto the bridge a young woman turned from a work-station and quickly saluted, announcing “Cap’n on deck!”
Every head on the bridge snapped to him and they all stood up, saluting as they did so. Denethor saluted back and walked up to the command deck. The young woman who had announced him stepped up to him and stood at attention.
    “Good morning sir, I am Chief Warrant Officer Alexon San-Creon. I am your Executive Officer, I have heard much about your former service, and am looking forward to meeting you.”

Denethor extended his hand and shook hers, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to discovering your abilities.”

He looked out the viewport at the sea of stars and the three other Corvettes and the one Strike-Class Cruiser, the flagship of Task Force Alpha.

This is going to be interesting