Across the Stars

A lone ship, a Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser, sits in orbit over the city-covered planet of Coruscant.  Small fighters and shuttles flew about around it's massive bulk, running simulated engagements or evacuations.

On the bridge, a lone unicorn, olive-brown coat a stark contrast to the blue uniform he's wearing, stood at the forward viewport, staring out into the deep black of space, sighing quietly to himself.  Behind him, a young junior officer approached and stood behind him, saluting.

"Captain, Jedi Master Skywalker's shuttle has just docked on C-Deck," the junior officer declared.

"Thank you, Ensign... I'll meet him in my Quarters in a bit," the captain replied, looking down at the PAC-20 Hoof-Communicator on his left foreleg.

"Yes sir" the ensign nodded, turning quickly and trotted off the bridge.

The young captain stared out for several moments longer before sighing quietly, closing his bright blue eyes.

"Alright Cayden... let's go see what the good Jedi Master wishes of you this day..." he said to himself, turning on the spot and walks off the bridge, heading down the durasteel-plated corridor and pressed a button to call the lift down.  He waited several moments before the dual-doors slid open and he walked inside, tapping the button for B-Deck 4, closing his eyes as he hopped up onto his rear hooves, sighing again as the doors closed.

The lift hummed quietly, yet still audible enough for the unicorn to listen to it.  The doors hissed as they slid open and he trotted out, heading immediately to his right, going deeper into the ship.

Soldiers and officers alike stood to the side and saluted as he walked past them.  He watched each one as he went by, mentally making a note to remind them all to not salute him.

Oh, you know they will... they drill saluting into their heads from day one in basic... just hope they don't salute you during a combat situation he thought to himself, smirking a bit as he typed in a code on a panel, walking into the room.

The door slid shut with a hiss, locking behind him as he walked into the room, watching the light-brown earthpony dressed in black Jedi robes stand at his viewport, staring out at the planet below.

"Captain Cayden Tavers..." the earthpony said, not turning from the window.  "It has been quite some time..."

Cayden smiled, standing at attention.  "Indeed it has, Master Skywalker.  Two years, I believe it's been.  Not since the whole "Emperor-reborn" crisis..."

"Those were dark times indeed, Captain.  I recommended you for a promotion, as did other decorated officers..." Luke said, turning to face the Onderonian unicorn.

"I refused the promotion, sir.  I like my command here on the Katana, sir... adding more ships into the mix would dwindle my ability to effectively command her," the unicorn replied, smirking.  "But you're not here to talk about the past or why I'm not an Admiral... are you?"

The Jedi shook his head.  "No Cayden, I'm not... I'm here for two reasons.  One... to inform you that your request for leave has been granted."

Cayden smiled.  "That's very good news.  But... I'm curious as to what the second thing is..."

"A special assignment I need you to do for me before heading home.  How much do you know about the Celestials?" the robed-pony asked, walking to a desk and places a hoof on top.

"The Celestials?  Not much... just that they died out about a hundred thousand years ago..." the captain replied.  "Why do you ask, sir?"

"There's a planet I need you to investigate for me.  It used to be one of theirs', a homeworld of sorts... now devoid of life."

The unicorn nodded, smirking.  "I can have the Katana ready to go in-"

Luke raised a hoof to stop Cayden.  "No... just you, Cayden.  I don't want the New Republic knowing about this just yet..."

Cayden's ears perked a bit and he nodded.  "Yes Master Skywalker.  I can swing by this planet on my way to Onderon..."

The Jedi smiled.  "Excellent.  Everything you need to know has already been sent to your datapad."

"Alrighty then..." the olive-brown stallion said, smirking.  "Is there anything else, Master Skywalker?"

Luke shook his head, smirking.  "Nothing else, Captain.  Safe travels, and may the Force be with you."

Cayden nodded and bowed slightly.  "May the Force be with you too..."

The earthpony returned the bow, then left the room, leaving the young Captain all alone.

Cayden sighed, looking after the Jedi and watched the doors close.  He tapped his PAC-20, scrolling through his messages and sees one from the Jedi.  He opened it and read the file over.

"Kala... definitely a strange name for a planet..." he smirked, continuing.  "Desert... lots of ruins... may contain random space junk, very nice..."  Cayden chuckled a bit, then stoped, his face turning a bit darker.  "... also home to the last known population of Tarentatek... oh boy, no wonder the Jedi haven't been here... and whatwith the war going on, they're going to be something mighty fierce..."

The Onderonian unicorn walked to a trunk and tapped several buttons on the side, engaging the repulsorlifts mounted underneath, and started pushing it out of the room, heading down the hall to the lift.  He pressed the button and walked inside, tapping the button for G-Deck 1.

The doors slid closed with a hiss, the lift slowly going down deeper into the ship, the lights dimming some to represent the fading day according to the clock of the planet below.

The doors slid open quickly when the lift stopped, the officer inside stepping out into the hall and makes his way through the belly of the ship, trotting towards the Main Flight Deck.

After several minutes of walking, Cayden stepped onto the Main Flight Deck, looking over all the ships neatly parked inside.  He looked over multiple fighters and transports before his eyes fell upon one parked all the way into the back, flight crews and droids running about underneath it as they finished prepping it for launch.

He walked up to the ship and stopped some thirty feet away, staring at it in all it's beauty.  The E-9 Explorer... not the most elegant or combat-capable ship... but definitely one of the cheaper and more modular ships on the market.  And... with the modifications you had installed, it's easily one of the more powerful and well-built ships of it's class Cayden thought to himself, smirking.

One of the crewmen noticed Cayden and immediately saluted out of habit, the others noticing and also turn and salute.  The Onderonian smirked at the young crewmen and returned the salute crisply.

"Is she ready to go, Petty Officer?"  The captain looked at the young PO that saluted him first, smiling.

"Y-Yes sir!  Your ship has been prepped to your exact specifications and is ready to go!" she replied quickly, smiling a bit to the officer.

"Excellent..." he said, smirking.  Cayden walked up to the E-9 and climbed onboard, closing the loading bay and walks to the cockpit, checking the instruments.  Perfect... I'll put in a good word with her commandi- oh wait, that's me! he smiled at his thought, chuckling a bit as he flips the comm on.

"Control, this is the Destiny requesting permission to launch," he said into the comm, smiling.

"Copy that Destiny.  Request for launch granted.  Safe travels, Captain Tavers," the pony on the other end of the comm replied.

"You too, Katana..." he sighed, pushing the trottle forward and took the yoke in his hooves, flipping a switch and feels the ship shake twice as it lifted off the deck.  The landing gear retracted back into the ship as it began flying out of the hangar.  He banked the ship to port slightly, pressing several keys on a console to his left as he plotted his course to the planet the Jedi Master gave him.

The Onderonian stopped before he pulled the lever to engage the hyperdrive, thinking about going back to his ship, then shook his head, smirking, and pulled the lever.  The ship's engines roared to life, accelerating forward quickly.  The hyperdrive whined loudly, then plunged the ship into hyperspace, leaving the Katana and Coruscant behind.