(( As info: we've started this thread somewhere else, but picking it up here. So the first few posts seem just from me... but I'm not talking to myself :) ))<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefashionisto.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F02%2Fbenhillcampaign1.jpg&amp;hash=b0be5d67a7be4342efbd4dd633d1253f" href="https://www.thefashionisto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/benhillcampaign1.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Jack Dankorin</u></a>was watching from<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stooch.tv%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fksw_01.jpg&amp;hash=5466c74bdb66104a610d36b0034d1324" href="http://www.stooch.tv/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/ksw_01.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>the bridge viewports</u></a>. The commodore had an easy stance as he kept his eyes on the distant stars. Behind him in the crewpit there were some murmurs of his crew as they guided the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fstarwars.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FVictory_II-class_Star_Destroyer&amp;hash=ee73a379f81731c9fa4e77d008e2967a" href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Victory_II-class_Star_Destroyer" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Victory class 2 star destroyer</u></a>into orbit of Belderone. It was the next stop in their endless patrol cycle, but he had come with a specific purpose as well. Dankorin commanded the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic3.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20091207040153%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2Fd%2Fdd%2FTheOuterRim.jpg&amp;hash=597221dde6b2b8bf715c9daaead4dee8" href="http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091207040153/starwars/images/d/dd/TheOuterRim.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Trogan Sector</u></a>fleet. The Trogan system belonged to the outer rim, a side route of the main Perlemian trade route (top right side). He controlled the area from Jomark to Comolex, with about ten inhabited systems. Imperial command had been lax here before his appointment. But the commodore belonged to the strict disciplinarians. He had used his small sector fleet to get smuggling under control first, leaving the governments with their petty squabbles and silly projects. The commodore believed that he who commanded trade, commanded the governments.<br/><br/>Because of his implementation of a clear system of taxes and reasonably secure hyperspace routes, trade in his sector had flourished. He had also expanded his fleet with a few ships he had taken off smugglers and pirates, mostly<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic1.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20070106183240%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2Fb%2Fb0%2FCorvette-CHRON.jpg&amp;hash=20bec09c92ed32be68e6fb048b6d027f" href="http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070106183240/starwars/images/b/b0/Corvette-CHRON.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Corellian Corvettes</u></a>and smaller transport ships. The even smaller criminal vessels were sold off local defense forces or to honest companies for a reduced price, agina to stimulate trade and his popularity. The six corvettes he had gained that first year were updated to fit his needs. He had installed heavier arms and replaced the cargo hold with a docking bay. All six were now small fighter carriers, able to patrol routes in pairs, with four fighters each for further firepower.<br/><br/>Two of the five<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic1.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20130911163360%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2Fb%2Fbe%2FGR-75_transport_SWGTCG.jpg&amp;hash=2192dedd644276bf4f56e19b5087f359" href="http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130911163360/starwars/images/b/be/GR-75_transport_SWGTCG.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Galloway transports</u></a>he had commandeered had also been transformed to fighter carriers. They each loaded up a squadron of Tie's. The other three transports were used to carry cargo and personnel around. The transports usually worked by hooking up pods in the empty shell, but for the carriers they had used the shell to build the hangars in. It had been a huge amount of work, but with the small shipyard facilities here at Belderone they had just managed it.<br/><br/>While other commanders in neighbouring sectors had tried to hold onto power in the conventional way after contact from Coruscant decreased, he had done everything possible, creatively, to expand his firepower, increase his control and gain some independent means. He wouldn’t be dependent on the core worlds of the Empire for his supplies. When he had come here the Empire was already showing signs of decline, of rot. Now the rumours coming from the Core were that the Emperor had died in a grand battle over Dagobah. His Navy superiors seemed to have partly forgotten about Dankorin and his out of the way sector. The reports that did reach him showed an increasing level of chaos.<br/><br/>In total, he commanded two Victory 2 class Star Destroyers, (his flagship, the<i>Valorous</i>was the pride of his fleet), four Nebulon-B frigates, eight old Carrack light cruisers, the six Correlian Corvettes and a couple of transports. As general command of the sectors rested with him he not only had about 4000 stormtroopers of the fleet under his command, but also the generals commanding the stormtrooper batallions on the ground were under his jurisdiction, measuring in the tens of thousands. The ten planets mostly had local defense forces as well. If it was necessary though, the Imperial strong arm could deploy about 35.000 elite stormtroopers and more then double that amount in regular troops on a whim. All that besides the local defense forces and police units on the planets.<br/><br/>Being so far from high command Jack knew he had to fend for himself. It had not been easy to get the schematics of the TIE interceptors. But they were relatively cheap to build. So he had set up a production facility for them. Not in Belderone but on Jomark. He would spread out his resources to not lose them all in one swift strike. Most imperial officers would have used those facilities to hoard more cash for personal gain, but not him. He had used all the creativity and resources he had to his disposal to ensure the sector was stable, governed properly and steadily. He had given the governments of the systems reasonable freedom to make their own policy. But they all paid a part of their taxes to him. Security and stability. It meant the sector knew relative peace and little rebel interference.<br/><br/>He also had to settle for a few compromises. In the core worlds no alien would have worked in Imperial factories, here, in the outer rim, he had no other choice. So he had taken on alien workers, with some precautions of course; no Rhodians for instance. And most work was still checked by humans anyway. The training facilities he had set up were still 100 percent human though, no exceptions... Well... For just one facility. In the forests of Jomark he had set up a special training facility for his Intelligence operatives. The Intelligence operation was funded with the sale of smugglers ships and cargos they captured. They actually gathered their own income.<br/><br/>On the ten planets and the neighbouring systems (under control of other Imperial officers) he had a vast network of operatives in place. They were deployed to keep check of illegal operations, which his troops could mop up, but also to spy on the governments. To make sure their loyalty to the Empire was unquestioned. Lately they had made sure the government head on the second planet in the Belderone system was replaced. They had secret dealings with the Hutts, after an official came into power who used to be a known smuggler. The man had been found dead in his bed, it seemed to be a natural death... but Jack knew better. He personally kept a close link with the lieutenant commanding the intelligence operations. This hands on mentality was his usual way… he smiled slightly, it was the same with his next mission.<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unboundworlds.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F09%2FPellaeon.jpg&amp;hash=65a50dd1a235e4b6c73c275fb96e9e3a" href="http://www.unboundworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Pellaeon.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>Nathaniel Ducram</u></a>just stepped up behind him. With a light throaty sound the man made his presence known. Jack turned on his heels, his hands still behind him as he watched the captain. The captain of a Star Destroyer was powerful in his own right. But Nathaniel would have to defer nearly every decision to the Commodore he was carrying as a supercargo. It would be a good thing for the captain to be in command on his own for a week. Abilities declined when they weren’t used. And Ducram had spent little time commanding his own ship since the commodore arrived three years ago.<br/><br/>"Commodore, we've established orbit over Belderone, the<i>Interloper</i>and some support ships are acting as a screen as per your orders.". Normal procedure, the Nebulon-B and a few support craft were first responders to give the sluggish<i>Valorous</i>time to get up out of orbit if anything happened. Jack had seen the shipyard they were approaching from the viewports before he had turned. His captain went on. “Are you sure about this, sir? I mean…. Someone else can…”<br/><br/>“No.” his answer cut off the captain of the Vic II. A light gesture of his hand ended all discussion. “You can run through the patrol schedule the next week without me. There has been no sign of Rebel activity, smuggling you can handle. I have every confidence in you captain.” He placed his hand on the captains shoulder. “I will see you in a week at Jomark.”<br/><br/>"Then… your shuttle is ready, sir.". The captain continued. A light nod came from his commanding officer. Nathaniel was twenty years his senior. Raised in an Imperial navy which power was unquestioned. Now, with the current level of chaos it was hard to keep a semblance of control in most sectors… not his sector though. The captain had deferred to the commodore because the man outranked him, but there was also a level of trust, admiration even. That this younger man could be so inventive to keep Imperial control on the edge of the outer Rim. He served the younger man without hesitation.<br/><br/>The captain gave the commodore a brisk salute. A turbolift ride later Dankorin was in the main<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vince-t.de%2Fxwa%2Fimg%2Fstandalone%2Fimperialhangar.jpg&amp;hash=b87e9895540ee58f2bb6183b622019d6" href="http://www.vince-t.de/xwa/img/standalone/imperialhangar.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>hangar</u></a>of the<i>Valorous. </i><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Forig00.deviantart.net%2Fbc61%2Ff%2F2015%2F118%2F8%2F5%2Flambda_class_t_4a_shuttle_ortho__1__new__by_unusualsuspex-d8r90pi.jpg&amp;hash=af56234c25a9cacab29347515eacd4cd" href="https://orig00.deviantart.net/bc61/f/2015/118/8/5/lambda_class_t_4a_shuttle_ortho__1__new__by_unusualsuspex-d8r90pi.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><u>A lambda class shuttle</u></a>was waiting for him. Its side wings folded up to park. But outside, in space, he would fold them down to the typical triangular pattern that belonged to this hyperspace capable shuttle. A salute to the technicians that were waiting at the ramp for him. A quick to and fro about the state of maintenance and if there were any quirks he’d need to watch on startup. Most commodores and admirals in the fleet were barge drivers once; they had always trained on the large spaceships like the<i>Valorous</i>. But not Jack. He had started off as a Tie-Fighter pilot. The death ratio of the eyeballs so high that most didn’t make it up the ranks. From the fighters to assault shuttles. Quite comparable to this Lambda one. He would have no qualms flying it. It would actually feel like a little holiday, this week of being alone.<br/><br/>He dumped his duffle bag in the back of the shuttle. Where cargo, passengers or troops would be ‘stowed away’. Minutes later he had ran through the startup sequence and gotten permission from control to leave the hangar bay. Ducrams own voice told him he had clearance. Jack smiled slightly, of course the old man would make sure everything went like clockwork when it concerned the commodore.<br/><br/>He set a course for the shipyards. Just to the right of them, his target. A mild grin appearing on his face.<i>Night caller</i>. Another corvette. The seventh of his fleet. It had also gotten the update with the small hangar bay instead of a cargo hold. The corvette didn’t have any Tie-Interceptors on board yet. This was the future. Of course human staff were preferable, but the ship in front of him was the solution for his personnel problems. For fleet actions he would need staffed ships, humans were more creative than computers in battle. But for regular patrol runs, why not replace more than ninety percent of the crew with droid automation? And still, droid automation could be taken offline for normal operations. His largest problem since the recruit flow from the core dried up, was trained officers and crew. This would solve a part of that problem, he could staff more ships and make sure the sector would remain in Imperial hands.<br/><br/>He would drive the barge through the test runs personally. When he had thought of it, he was pleased with himself. Not only would it give him the opportunity to leave Ducram in command by himself, but it also meant he would have a sort of time off for a week, for the first time in three years. He had made sure the ship could be driven by him, just one person. And he still had this Lambda shuttle as a backup. Soon enough he was landing in the small hangar. There was another Lambda shuttle still parked there. It would take him a few hours of meeting with technicians to run through the ship and the operations.<br/><br/>He had decided to take the<i>Night caller</i>to the Chandaar system first. It was outside his sector. He had no business there if he would look at his original, now three year old, orders. But he had learned that the sector was a mess. It was rife with smugglers, criminals and other questionable types. Probably those he had pushed out of his sector. Chandaar would be a good place to start a slow expanse of systems under his control. He could bring Pax Imperia, order and stability for the civilians. He was sure the Empire would appreciate his initiative, or that they might not give a damn. Just as they didn’t care much about the way he ran things. He hadn’t had anyone interfering with his business.