On the Wings of Valkyrie

Chapter CXL

Admiral Firmus Piett was not fond of the new commander, not that he'd been fond of lady's predecessor either. Both were of the Emperor's newest servants, though the latter of the two had met his end to Lady Eclipse several weeks ago on Corellia. Piett would have been far happier with that outcome had one of the Hands not been assigned the post before even he knew of the former commander's death. This one, who insisted on being called Lady Palpatine (the other had insisted on Lord Palpatine), wasn't even much of a replacement. She acted and expected the same things the other one had.

One would think that would make things easy. One would be wrong. Very wrong.

The only slight, and Piett meant slight, grace was Lady Astarte, though she seemed to be in only a slightly better position than himself when it came to proving her loyalty to the Empire. Lady Astarte had taken over what was traditionally Lady Eclipse's role when she was aboard, shouldering the majority if not all of the datawork that Lady Palpatine ought to be handling instead of near constant communion with the Emperor in Lord Vader's meditation chamber. Lady Astarte's role took a small burden off of Piett's shoulders that was further assisted by the woman's own support of the 501st in general. Apparently she, unlike the Emperor and his servants, believed what was better known as Vader's Fist to be loyal.

Naïve girl. While it may be true a solid section of the members within the Executor were Imperials through and through, there were far more who were much more willing to follow their Commander to the edge of the galaxy.

And Lord Palpatine was not their Commander.

The question was what Lord Vader was planning and when the Executor and her crew could join. Piett had heard rumors of course, mostly of Lady Eclipse being sighted alongside Rebels, but he was skeptical that Lord Vader of all people would have directed the Lady to work with the Rebellion.

"Admiral," a voice that sounded far older than was due for someone of Lady Palpatine's most likely young age said, causing a shiver of fear mixed disgust to crawl up Piett's spine.

"Yes, my lady?" he questioned as he snapped to attention and turned to face her, not for the first time nor the last wishing that it was the actual Lady of the 501st. Piett could hardly stand the Emperor's newest servants. They were unnerving in a way he was not used to nor fond of. The Naval officer had always used fear to empower himself—only a fool wouldn't—and it had never failed him. It still didn't, as he was aware these new servants of the Emperor were capable of some of the feats the 501st's Lord and Lady were capable of, though not on the same level. The number of reports Piett had read that detailed how many of these new servants that could be killed off by either Lord Vader or Lady Eclipse in one fight alone proved that. That said Lady Palpatine was still capable, and thus a danger to less mystical men like himself. Between that, the fear of his own treason being discovered, and the fact that his placement had been assigned by Lord Vader himself and thus may or may not hint and disloyalty and cause him to be killed at any moment, allowed Piett to function more or less normally.

But he did not like Lady Palpatine in the slightest. The air she carried about her was different when compared to Lord Vader or Lady Eclipse, something more than just a chill and the instinct of danger. It was something uncomfortably unnerving. Lord Palpatine had it on him as well.

"We've been boarded," Lady Palpatine stated, her voice factual though her expression was of anger.

"....There is no evidence—" Piett began, stuffing down his confusion with what was hopefully a solid sounding reply only to be cut off.

"You! Alert the ship! Find them!" she shouted, spinning on another officer before turning her attention back to Piett. The Admiral got the very uncomfortable feeling that she was blaming him for a phantom threat. Regardless of how real it was, it could very easily get him killed. "And you! You allow this to happen!!"

"My lady, I would never—"

"Traitor!" she shouted, red blade snapping on and swinging down before Piett had a hope of reacting.

However, before the swing could be completed, it froze in midair, a hair's breadth from Piett's shoulder. He'd have thought that Lady Palpatine had second thoughts on the matter if it hadn't been for the green blade that had caught the red one.

"I let her in!" Lady Astarte shouted. Instantly, the two disengaged, Lady Palpatine's full attention and anger turning to the girl as she backed away, green blade raised.

"How dare you! Fire on this traitor!" As commanded, everyone on the bridge, Piett included, drew their blasters and prepared to fire, but before anyone had touched the triggers, a chill swept the room, this one familiar in weight and cold, a precursor to the identity of the person yet to arrive. The door opened, and two people strode into the room.

"Disengage," Lady Eclipse ordered as she walked onto the bridge as though she had never left the ship, a new purple blade burning in her hand. She was dressed for battle, in her dark armor and mask, though Piett did not fail to notice the addition of the Rebellion's Starbird on her left breast or the fact Rebel Commander Luke Skywalker was following at her right. "Or die."

Even now, after months away, her words were law. Almost every blaster on the bridge dropped to the ground. Piett simply holstered his weapon and backed away, happy to let Lady Eclipse deal with the matter at hand. Lady Astarte seemed to have a similar idea as she too slipped out of the way, her lightsaber deactivating and allowing a clear path between the two Sith.

"....I will be avenged," Lady Palpatine growled, apparently well aware that she was outmatched.

"No, you won't," Lady Eclipse stated, twisting her free hand. There was a snap, and Piett found himself looking into Lady Palaptine's eyes despite the fact he was standing behind her before her body collapsed to the floor. It was a disconcerting image on a number of levels. Piett had never bore witness to one of Lady Eclipse's executions before, though he supposed that it was quicker than one of Lord Vader's. "Now someone get that piece of filth off my Master's ship."

Piett nodded and gave a look to the appropriate officer—it had been awhile since the troopers on corpse disposal duty had been called upon, but it wasn't as though they'd gotten rid of the protocol—before walking forward and around Lady Palpatine's corpse to Lady Eclipse. To his surprise, Lady Astarte was already conversing with the 501st's Lady and Commander Skywalker.

"That was easier than I expected," the Rebel was muttering. "I thought hijacking the Executor was going to be a lot more difficult."

Piett couldn't help frowning in annoyance at the words: "I beg your pardon, but Lady Eclipse simply resumed her rightful command," the Admiral couldn't help but scoff. "There was no hijacking." His attention turned to the Lady. "Welcome back aboard, m'Lady."

She gave him a simple nod and a glance, her attention still mostly focused on the Rebel Commander and Lady Astarte. "Astarte, why don't you give Luke a proper tour while I finish up the details," Lady Eclipse asked, though it was more like an order than anything else. Piett couldn't help but notice that the Lady had used the Rebel's first name. Strange.

"But Lun—"

"Luke," she snapped, giving the boy a glare that had sent many an officer running, Piett included. The Rebel Commander only rolled his eyes to the amazement of anyone who was paying attention to him.

How has Luke Skywalker lived this long? Piett asked himself behind the controlled mask that was his stone cold expression. He wasn't the only one either, Lady Astarte was staring at the boy like he'd grown three heads. The Admiral looked to Lady Eclipse to find that from what very little he could see between her mask and hood, she looked little more than annoyed. Clearly, Piett was missing something.

"We'll be going, my Lady," Lady Astarte said, grabbing Skywalker by the arm and dragging him off the bridge, likely with the intent of preventing the Rebel from successfully ticking off Vader's Shadow.

"Now, Admiral," Lady Eclipse began, her predator-like attention falling on Piett with the familiar sense of soft though hidden fear. It was a safe sort of fear, as he knew that the Lady was not one to operate without Lord Vader's blessing which in turn meant he was safe for the moment. The Admiral worked better directly under the Commander, but the threat that came from his Shadow's presence could extend into the Dark Lord's own if he didn't like a report. The display of power that Lady Eclipse had just demonstrated with Lady Palpatine also helped Piett immensely. "What has occurred in my absence?"