The doors to the hangar slid open admitting Anden. He walked through his head inclined downwards as he tapped through information displayed on his datapad. Although his head was down he maneuvered through the crates and personal as smoothly as a skilled pilot navigating through the chaotic order of an asteroid field. His astromech droid rolled as best as it could behind him attempting to keep up. Beeping occasionally to itself.

“Master Anden-”

“Bex...Haven't we had this talk already?” Anden asked finally looking up at his droid as they met at the foot of the ramp to his shuttle, the Eloquence.

“Yes Sir.”

If the droid's face had been capable of smiling it would have. Anden smiled for and with him. He let it go. Since he had returned his droid had insisted on using only proper titles when speaking to him. As much as he tried the droid would not budge. Together then began walking up the ramp.

“I have a course set to take you back to the Talon.” Bex said, his servos whirring smoothly as they reached the deck of the shuttle.

“That won't be necessary, Bex. I've been accepted into the program” Anden asked wondering why the droid had done so.

“A wise choice on the Navy's behalf, Sir.” Bex admitted honestly.

Honestly. It might have been odd to think that a droid was possible of thinking to reply in any other way. For Anden's droids, it was. Over time both of his droids had developed unique personalities as he never had their minds wiped. And that was how he thought of it. Their minds, not their memory.

“You flatter me.” Anden said chuckling.

“ I will send a message to Quin. He is to remain in temporary command of the time being. For now our journey is going to be a short one. I have been cleared to begin my time at Cappadocious Station. The Duty awaits.”

“A fine ship to begin with, Sir.” Bex said. With nothing more the droid turned and made his way towards the cockpit.

“That it is.” Anden said to himself after the droid had left.

As he walked to the ship's  he thought that this temporary command of the Talon may become indefinite. In truth he had no idea where this course in his life would take him. He plugged in the communication sequence and waited for the relay to the frigate to connect. Soon a half-sized image of Quin, Anden's fast become friend, appeared.

“Quin.” Anden smiled with a nod, “How is everything going on our ship?”

“Everything is as it should be on your ship, Sir.” Quin replied, smiling as well.

“Not you too.” Anden wanted to groan, but refrained.

“Aye, Sir." The round man said with a broad smile.

"When will you be returning?” Asked Quin. Anden could tell by the tone of his voice that he was expecting it to be a quick return.

“It will be some time.” Anden admitted openly.

“Mmm...” Quin said, looking off to the side and nodding to someone outside the view of the transmission.

“So they have found a way to make use of you after all have they.” Quin said, his tone changing suddenly.

It was the way he was. Accepting. Always trying to make the best of the situation. Anden knew that they wanted him to return. Everyone aboard, they had become family to him despite the short time they had been together. How could they not be? After two months of fighting to survive and striving to repair their damaged ships enough to escape it was inevitable. Not every one that he had fought with was on the ship though. Five had died. And two, two had left. He had wished for them to stay with the group and even...if they would accept- come with him when he left to return to the Vast Empire.

But he knew their background. With the ship they had crashed in there was no other explanation of how they made use of it and made their living. He never questioned them. Never questioned her. He had learned what in her life had led he to living that way. In his heart he wanted to be with her, but she left taking a part of him with her.

“That they have. Going back to training.” Anden smiled.

“Training?” Asked Quin, unbelieving.

Anden could hear a few coughs. In his mind imagined his other family standing by listening to the conversation. It made him smile all the more.

“Aye.” He replied.

“Training.” Quin didn't seem to be able to get away from the thought that he would choose training over them and he had to fight the urge not to laugh as the coughing and chuckling continued.

There were no secrets on board the Talon. Everyone was family there. It was not run as most ships of its kind were run in the galaxy. He guessed that may have been one of the reasons why she had left. It was something alien to her. She knew what she liked and that was not it. For a time he thought that she might have liked him enough to stay. And after she left, well...the reason for him stay diminished greatly.

“Any word from our friends?” He asked. The background noise went quiet immediately.

“No. No word.” Quin said.

His closest friend new the real reason that he had returned to the Vast Empire. He never said it. But Anden knew he knew. And in Quin knowing, that meant the rest of the ship knew. It was just the way it was.

“You'll do them well, Quin. Keep her running.” Anden said, using the phrase they had come to use so often in their time together.

“Aye Aye, Sir.” Quin replied with a salute, “Give 'em hell.”

“I'll see that I do. Anden out.” Pushing the control to close the communication.





At  Cappadocious Station...

In his personal cabin, Anden gathered the belongings he would be taking with him onto the Duty. He didn't know how long he would be gone at any one point in time. So he took anything he might need. Looking around and making sure he had everything turned to his droids who waited for him just outside the cabin. He was going to be taking them with him, if anything to have them stay at his quarters on the station. If that was not allowed he had already made other arrangements.

They were greeted by a clean cut young man in an officer's uniform immediately after disembarking the shuttle.

“Master Chief Petty Officer Beliam... I'm Petty Officer Korac. I'm here to show you to the Duty.” The young man said in a controlled voice and saluting Anden, “We've been waiting for you.”


Anden shook his hand after returning the salute and let Korac show the way to a hover cart where Anden stowed his belongings on the back. All around there where others arriving in transport shuttles. Enlisted and Commissioned personnel alike.

“We weren't expecting to have anyone come in to take command for some time.” Korac said noting Anden looking around at the arrivals.

“On leave?” Anden grinned.

“You know how it is, Sir. You take it when you can.” The young officer said smiling.

“True enough.” Anden grinned.

He wondered if any of them had been informed of who they were getting as new captain. As of yet he had not even had a chance to give a full brief of what had happened since his capture by the New Republic. He was sure that eventually he would be cornered into it. He smiled.

He just hoped that who ever the poor soul was that they would be ready for what would be quite possibly the longest brief that they would sit in on for their entire naval career.

OOC:

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