The Smoke be for the Fires: (Book 1)

[Akirapryde]

Welcoming Home
Republic Heavy Cruiser Defiance
En route: Coruscant System

Captain Heartman set in his ready room going over notes and mission reports from the Immortals' unit. His demeanor was calm as he took a drink of his coffee while reading the After Action Reports (AARs). He moved notes around his desk as he continued to read each report submitted. He liked keeping them in some order of events so a larger picture can be seen. Sadly there weren't as many reports as he had hoped for. The high number of losses were simply unacceptable. He made a mental note to speak to Fiolla (AKA Talon) about this. Good news was there are plenty of helmet cam videos to make up for the loss of AAR. The mission looked rough from the very beginning as they were shot down by enemy fire and didn't let up till they were picked up just a few hours ago.

He was impressed with Fiolla's leadership skills and her ability to command her troops under high stress situations. She was a sound commander with a very good head on her shoulders. He frowned as he continued reading the reports. Sure she was a brilliant field commander but she was being held back by the Jedi. More notably, Jedi Daz. Their rivalry was clearly noted in almost all of after action reports. He would question her orders and authority with no concern of who his actions looked to her troops. His inference to her leadership rippled through her command. Captain Heartman knew that the Jedi were well respected and seen as powerful leaders. For this Daz to act the way he did undermined her leadership of her troops. And basing on what he saw, nearly all the time, Daz was wrong.

He shock his head, “Either she learns to deal with him or he will ruin her career.” he said softly putting his coffee down. He had seen this before, brilliant military commanders held back by the moral convictions of Jedi. Fiolla was a gifted in her skills and training as any Jedi was in their own right. She was no where near the failure like his own son. Who was nothing more then a disgrace to the family as a whole. 'such a promising career thrown down the drains over such a stupid little thing' He thought to himself.

David (AKA Dave) Herron Heartman IV was Captain Heartman's only son. Like Fiolla, he had a brilliant mind and was as dedicated to advancing his career. During his Academy days he played Gravball and was the MVP of the Army/Navy game. Pushed himself up through the ranks of other cyphers till he was one of the leading cyphers the Republic Intelligence Corp had ever seen. And was picked up just a year out of the Academy by them. Captain Heartman remember how proud everyone in the family was for Dave. He was a rising star and everyone respected him for his hard work. Then that day came when she entered his life and ruined it.

She was a recently freed Twi'Lek slave and Dave was helpless to her charms. Captain Heartman did everything in his powers to protect his son from the clear threat she represented. However, his son was in love. In hoping for some compromise, Captain Heartman offered to buy her back in to slavery and his son can keep her as a house slave. Just for looks, no one had to know the truth about what she really was. A more suitable wife could be found and all Dave would have to do is make sure no one knew that he was in love with a alien slave female. Being as stubborn as his father, calmed the more then fair offer was insulting.

Then Dave foolishly announced a year later that she was with his child. It was one thing to flaunt her around in the family's face but Dave had cross the line. He lost his post at the Republic Intelligence Corp. Only a week before he was to be shipped out to an outer rim post as a supply officer, there was the accident. Captain Heartman remembered that night clearly. His own son accused him of being behind the accident. Her airspeeder had lost power to the control systems and crashed. The best doctors would work hours to save her life but sadly, their unborn child would not survive.

Captain Heartman made one last plea to his son. That through this horrible accident Dave could rebuild his life and all that he had lost. All he needed to do was send her away. He had no ties to her now and that all things could be fixed through hard work and a bit of time. It was the last time Captain Heartman spoke to his son. Dave made it clear that night that he loved her and would never leave her side. Later, they both boarded the transport and left for his outer rim post. Captain Heartman never saw his son after that. For him, his son died that day.

Then came Fiolla, she was a young raising star in the Academy and Captain Heartman saw a great future with her. Even before she was out of her second year he already started pulling the strings that were needed to make sure that she had all the chances she needed to excel. He opened doors for her that normally would have taken years to open. And while he helped her from a distance, she still had preform. She had to earn these 'lucky breaks' along the way. He followed her Academy days very closely from a distance. Then the day came for her advance graduation. He pulled in every favor he had and even went in to debt with her parents to ensure she was posted to his ship.

Her training and his guidance never let up. She had the heart to push herself harder then any other soldier he had. She was truly a raising star and for him, a means to make up for the failures of his own lost son. “I will be damned if Daz will ruin her career. I have worked too hard for her to have him screw it up.” he said harshly as he leaned back in his chair. He hated the idea that the Jedi have such freedom to ruin such promising careers. He smiled at the thought, 'the Senate is starting to see this as well.'

The office filled with the sound of buzzing as someone desired his attention. Captain Heartman cleared off his desk and made sure he looked his best. “Come” he ordered once he was ready.

The door hissed opened as his chief medical officer walked in, “Trailue,” Captain Heartman said pleasantly to a member of his command staff, “What brings you up this high in the ship?” he asked. Trailue and Captain Heartman went all the way back to the Academy. Back then Captain Heartman was the Captain of their Gravball team and Trailue was the teams leading Sprinter. They were best friends back then and now they are closer then brothers. It was Trailue's own sister that Captain Heartman married and fathered Dave with. Between the two men there were little secrets.

The Veteran Doctor nodded as he walked right up to the Captain's desk, “This David.” he said placing a data storage device on the captain's desk. “We found it on the female Jedi named Lysire.”

The captain picked up the device and looked at it. “It seems to be incomplete?” he said softly examining it. It seemed to be a data storage device from a Datapad or Compad.

“I personally took it to security first for their professional opinion. It is pretty serous, David.” he said calmly as he put another datachip on the captain's desk. “This is what they had to say.”

Captain Heartman picked up the second chip and loaded it in his terminal. He waited for the complete report load. Leaping back in his chair in shock, “Who knows about this?” He said looking at the doctor. There was genuine concern and surprise in his normally well controlled face.

The doctor knew that this question would be coming, “Myself, the nurse that found the chip, and Commander Shallder from security. That is it, no one else is aware of this information.” The doctor informed. He had known right away when he was in security the nature of what was going on. “I have already taken steps to ensure that the nurse understands that she is not to speak of this to anyone.”

Captain Heartman leaned back in his chair with a great weight on his mind. Something like this does not happen out of chance. This could be what he was waiting for. But he had to play his part first to get what he needed for Fiolla. Regardless of how he felt about the Jedi and their ways, he had to do his duty to Fiolla. It was time for her career to truly shine. “Thank you Doctor you have done a great job so far. Effective immediately, this Jedi, Lysire, is confined to quarantine. Make up some medical reason. Make sure it is sound. This other Jedi, what is his name..” The Captain trailed as he went through other AAR's. He knew the name he was looking for, but right now he had to get in to part for what was going to come. “Daz, he will demand to see her. Listen to me, under no circumstance is anyone to speak to her or see her.” The Captain ordered. “May Odin for give me, we may have to execute her.” He said leaning back in his chair once more. There was concern on his face. “You are dismissed Doctor. I have things I have to tend to now.” he said waving the Doctor out of the office.

Trailue knew what was going to happen and he was happy that the Captain kept that part of it to himself. While they held little secrets, it is a known fact that Trailue has a trust problem with others. The two know this little fact well and work around it. He remembered the day he talked to his wife about Captain Heartman and his son. He thought she could be trusted but instead she ran to Dave and told him all that she knew. She claimed in her defense that Captain Heartman was being cruel and unjustly unfair. Trailue nodded and turned sharply and left the office.

He activated his intercom, “Grillus, I want you to send a priority message to the Jedi Council. Inform them we have a Succubus situation on our hands and need their guidance. Inform me once they are ready for the holocon. And Grillus, NO one is to know about this message nor any record of it.” He ordered harshly.

The voice over the intercom responded with a snap, “Aya Sir...”

Captain Heartman paused a moment leaving the channel open, “Inform the XO and Commander Shallder, I need them in my ready room.” he said a bit more softer but urgency was still in his voice.

The voice replied once more, “Aya Sir!”

The Captain turned the intercom off and slowly rose up from his chair. He walked over to a wall cabinet. He entered a short code on a pad that was on the side of the cabinet. The framed picture on the front of the cabinet slowly rose up reveling a small shrine. With the greatest of care he pulled out the tray that held the shrine. He knew he had time as the XO was on the other side of the ship and Commander Shallder would wait for the XO arrive. He placed the shrine on his desk and keeled before it.

He closed his eyes softly and bent over till his head rested on the floor of his office with his arms stretched out above his head, “Wōđanaz, far-wanderer, grant me wisdom, Courage, and victory. Friend Donar, grant me your strength. And both be with me during this trying time of conviction.” He said softly and in great reverence to the shrine. He slowly rose back up to a keeling position. He Reached up under the blouse of his uniform and drew out a dagger decorated in ruins and small gems. It was clear that this dagger was a family heirloom. “Please accept this blood scarface and answer my prayers.” he said softly as he drew this blade across his own palm.

Reaching up towards the small shrine he closed his bloody hand and squeezed his fist. At the same time he returned the dagger to its hiding place under his uniform. Small droplets of blood fell on the shrine. He closed his eyes and waited for a moment before slowly pulling his hand back. He slowly rose up to his feet and pulled his handkerchief from his pocket. Rapping his hand within it he made sure that he would not drip blood anywhere else in his office. He carefully picked up the shrine and returned it to its hiding place. He reached back to the control pad so to trigger the picture panel to lower and conceal the shrine again.

Captain Heartman slowly returned to his desk and set down. He thought carefully of the events that were about to unfold. He knew each of the players involved and knew how they were going to react. Each had to be played just the right way for this to work out right. The buzzer sounded once more. “Just in time,” he said softly, then echoed loudly, “Come!” The door opened up as two Naval Officers walked in.

Commander Shallder was a well respected security officer who had been recruited in the past by a number of Republic ships and bases. Like Docter Trailue, Commander Shallder went back to the Academy and played on the same Gravball team as them. He was the best Assaulter in the league and Best man at Captain Heartman's wedding. The man was loyal to his Captain and to the 501st. While the option to move forward and advance his own career, Commander Shallder remained with the 501st . Shallder was a large powerful man and unlike most security officers, he loved to carry his Republic issued blaster rifle slung to his back. He walked in and took notice at once to the wound on his Captain's hand. He nodded softly and, “Captain.”

Commander Garn Niklos was a Nautolan. Captain Heartman didn't have anything personally against the man. The problem with Commander Niklos was he was forced on the 501st by the Senate thanks to their new 'integrated military' policy. Commander Niklos was a fine officer and surely a good man, but before the Senate passed their integrated military policy, the 501st was solely an Azgardian unit. To make matters worse, Commander Niklos was a former Jedi before joining the Republic Navy. Like all Jedi, he was simply not to be trusted. The bulk of the Azgardians within the 501st held little trust for the man. Which was clearly seen throughout the ship. However, Captain Heartman would never allow any member of the 501st to disrespect any Republic Officer either in public or private. He made his position clear to everyone in the unit before Commander Niklos and the other transfers arrived.

Before the Captain could speak Commander Niklos spoke up, “You hurt your hand Sir?” Motioning to the Captain's wound.

Captain Heartman glanced down at the bloody rag over his hand. “Yes, I cut it while cleaning my combat knife.” he said coldly, his lie was prefect and undetected. Even Shallder who knew better actually bought the lie. “More importantly I need you two to look at this. I know you have already seen it Shallder, however XO you need to see it. This is all protocol and I want to make sure that we are doing things as per Republic Law.” he said softy showing them the stored information on the datachips before any more distractions could be put forth.

Both men looked at the information and then when they were done they nodded. It was the XO who spoke up first, “By the Will of the Force, where did this come from Sir?” he asked.

Captain Heartman looked coldly, “The Jedi Padawan Lysire. It was hidden on her person. Our medical staff discovered it while tending to her wounds and took action.” He then looked at Commander Shallder, “You handled it personally correct?” Captain Heartman waited to get Shallder's nod then continued, “Can you tell if this is authentic?”

“I had a close friend who can be trusted check it out. It is authentic and more importantly, it is still active.” Commander Shallder said placing his own data on the table for the captain to review.

Heartman leaned forward and picked up the data and looked at it. “We need to alert the Senate at once about this, Sir” Commander Niklos said. Things like this had to be handled in the right way.

Captain Heartman looked up, “Not till we speak to the Jedi Council. I want them involved in this. It is only respectful.” Captain Heartman said playing his first piece on the field. Niklos might have been a Jedi before but his loyalty to the order was trumped by his loyalty to the Republic. He knew how Niklos would react and that no matter what was said here, what Niklos would do in the end.

“Respectful? Sir? We have a crisis on the verge of taking place and you wish to speak to the Council first? Sir this is against protocol. We have to send a message to the Senate at once.” Commander Niklos commented in confusion.

It was Commander Shallder who spoke up next, “Had we not discovered this, it would be a crisis. However, we have it now. The Jedi is, well, not speaking to anyone about it. So the crisis is under control. Deliberate in action is how the Captain works, Sir. If we act before we know all the details then we risk losing ground.” The Captain only nodded knowing that Shallder more then understood what was going on. Captain Heartman trusted Shallder more then anyone on the ship for a reason.

Before anyone could speak again, the intercom came to life, “Sir, I have Master Tra Vae and the council on the line.”

“Good, link them here to my table” the Captain ordered.

The lights dimmed as the holotable came to life with three figures. Everyone in the room was surprised to see only three members of the Council present. “Master Jedi Tra Vae, I was expecting the full council for such an important situation.” Captain Heartman said politely. The number of Jedi Masters told Captain Heartman a great deal. He knew that they already aware of what was going on or that the other members could not be trusted. They wanted to handle this very carefully and that played in to Captain Heartman's plan.

“The rest of the Council could not be made available on such short notice.” Master Tra Vae lied. He was a well respected Jedi Master and a very skilled lier.

However when it came to deception and deceit no one was better then Captain Heartman. He picked up on the lie almost as the words left Tra Vae's mouth. This only confirmed his first thoughts. “Master Jedi, I am transferring you a string of data. It is only a section of what we can transfer under the given situation. We discovered this on one of your Jedi Padawans, Her name is Lysire.” he said motioning for the transfer to take place. “I can assure you with great distress that the remainder of the information is authentic.”

Master Tra Vae seemed distracted as he reviewed the data. On board the Defiance, it was clear that the Jedi's had muted their side to discuss what they had received. There was clearly an emotional response to the data by them. Once more Captain Heartman picked up on that little fact. “Captain, this is truly disturbing. I take it you have already contacted the Senate?” Master Tra Vae was fishing.

Captain Heartman smiled inwardly, he had them, “No Master Jedi, I felt something like this should be communicated to the Jedi first. After all, I did not wish to act before all the facts were understood. And I know that Jedi have a better understanding of things then I do.” he said then paused. He was giving enough time for the situation to set in. Then almost as if reading from a script card, “Though you are right Master Jedi, I should contact them at once and notify them of the situation.” Captain Heartman said as he leaned forward showing the intent on his face.

Master Tra Vae seemed to be searching his thoughts for something, the looked back at the Captain, “Wait Captain, one moment please. This young Jedi that you got this data from is a rare Jedi. She is very gifted. I can speak personally for her loyalty to the Republic and to the Order. If this were to go to the Senate, her career and freedom would be place in peril. We do not need to pursue that path.”

Captain Heartman just listened while looking unconvinced, he knew that if he spoke now he would give up his position. Letting Master Tra Vae's fears consume him is much better then speaking of fears. “Captain, would you be so understanding to honor a request” Master Tra Vae asked respectfully.

Captain Heartman smiled inward once more, “My, Master Jedi? During such an important situation are you sure this is wise? Witness of this situation is fundamental for the protocols of this situation. I would not want to place anyone in jeopardy.”

Tra Vae was beaten before he even realized he had backed himself in to a corner. “Captain, I am sure.” There was nothing left then damage control.

Captain Heartman nodded and waved his officers out of his ready room. The other two images on the holocon faded and vanished. “We are alone over here Master Jedi. I am listening.”

Tra Vae nodded, “As we are here Captain. As I have said, this young Jedi is very gifted and very important to the Order. We can not have this situation slip out of control. This information that you have found. I need it and all records of it to disappear. What will it take for you, Sir, to take care of this for me, Captain?” Tra Vae said doing his best to keep up this face. It was a lost though, Captain Heartman knew already he had beaten the Jedi.

Captain Heartman just looked at the image of Tra Vae. Not once reveling the smile that bloomed deep inside. Commander Niklos would surely report this information to the Senate and his own loyal friends there would catch it and the situation would be contained that way. Niklos would be proven to be untrustworthy and that would be the end of it. Captain Heartman would make sure that there were no traces of the evidence here on his ship. Commander Shallder would make sure of it. Heartman trusted Shallder to do his part. Even if it was reported and leaked out, Niklos would look like he was going after his Captain with lies. It would end his career and they would no longer have to deal with him again. OR Commander Niklos would follow the orders of his Captain. The situation would end there. Niklos would more then prove his loyalty to his Captain once and for all.

Though what it meant for the Jedi made Captain Heartman very interested, he knew that they would want it buried due to recent events in the Senate. This would easily end their hopes of undoing the Senate's latest moves to control them. But there was something else this Jedi was hiding. Something much more serous then what was going on in the Senate. Captain Heartman wanted to get to the bottom of it, but not during this match. That will be for tomorrow's match. Now he wanted something else from them. “I am sure you are aware of the issues between your Padawan Daz and my Lieutenant Fiolla Heartman.” The nod from the Jedi was all that Captain Heartman needed, “Here is the price of what you ask for Master Jedi..........”