The final leg of the shuttle ride was coming quickly to a close and Kalan felt his heart beat steadily increase each minute. He'd be fine once they arrived and the business started it was the waiting and it always had been. Before every combat mission he could feel it inside of him his body tensing as his mind went through numbers and scenarios. Once his boot hit dirt though it all was calm and clear it was then he truly realized he was alive and every sensation made everything before it a dream.
This was much the same and while no one would be shooting at him it was quite the moment. He had studied every detail he could on the Lancer class frigate and the Firestormin particular. Its record was impressive or at least it had been before it had been reassigned to patrol duty deep inside Imperial territory. It never got itself in any of the major battles but it had saved several Star Destroyers throughout its career. It was transferred to promote the building of more ISDs with larger TIE Fighter wings. Another attempt to shift the focus back to large capital ship focused budgets but it wasn't quite as simple as the Admiralty wasn't the only one with a finger in that pie anymore.
At present though the ship wasn't what it once was however. It's last series of commanders had allowed discipline to falter as they considered it a dead end ship. Even the VSD it accompanied was barely in working order. Emperor's Wrathhad once been quite the ship built in the earlier days of the Empire however continued system failures mostly due to electrical problems put it on a long list of ships needing to dock for repairs.
Of course if it did dock many thought it would be decommissioned due to costs. The decision makers decided in this a half working VSD would serve at least to demonstrate the might of the Imperial Navy in the inner sections of the Empire. No risks and a shock and awe show for locals who didn't know any better. Anything that came that far in would most likely be fighters and bombers anyway and the two Lancers were well equipped to deal with those pests.
As such Kalan found himself taking command of a ship with only four hundred and sixty-three men which should usually have just over eight hundred. It was well over the minimal crew needed but it left them stretched a bit thin over all decks. He did have enough gunners but just enough which meant at most times only a third of the gunner stations were manned. He already knew better then to request more crew more so in such a low threat sector.
Hearing their docking clearance over the comm Kalan double checked his uniform and nodded towards his small escort. The ship could hold forty fighting men it held only ten and all of them were being transferred on the very transport he was arriving in. He was getting ten new Stormtroopers several crew replacements and the addition of Overseer Firlifor and a pair of Enforcers. Kalan didn't mind the man and he hadn't asked for much so far. Simply to see all the reports that went over his desk including incoming orders and as the Overseer had the security clearance Kalan found it easy to comply.
Feeling the last small vibration as they landed in the hanger bay Prag stood a soldier and an officer. Waiting for his escort to fall in around him he marched out into the hanger deck. He had made a special request that there would not be any word about his arrival ahead and he was pleased to know there was not. Now he could see this ship with her pants down and see how bad it really was. Giving a small internal smile to the sound of the marching around him Prag was pleased to note every boot touching down at the same time. It seems the Overseers and Enforcers were soldiers after all and that would help him all the more for his entry.
He could read the shock and registration of what was going on from the faces on the hanger bay. Some whispering into comms to warn the rest of the ship, some attempting to move into formation and others simply wild eyed and confused. The first thing he decided had to go was the confusion. On any ship without its full compliment of crew it was necessary to know what to do instantly. More so on a ship that required every soul on board to be functional during combat. The second was their uniforms. Some were dirty and scrunched and others loose with a missing button or one simply left undone. The third and perhaps most deadly to a ship so under crewed was reaction time. Orders had only just begun to be yelled out as their new commanding officer walked by without so much but a half a dozen half hearted salutes he refused to recognize.
Whoever was in charge of the docks was simply incompetent, and the only excuse for this would be an ill timed trip to the head. The atmosphere was quickly changing though as it became charged with sudden rushing as the small hanger bay crew was pulled together into a formation and the doors opened as half a dozen junior officers began moving into the bay to greet their new commander. Including Prag's new X.O., Lieutenant Nathan Siddel. Siddel was an older officer only surviving his military career this far because his Uncle was some such and aide to some one with a long title. The only accurate description of his condition would be plump. His pants had a long streak of what could only be grease across his thigh no doubt he'd lose his napkin and his facail hair was against regulations. He was an embodiment of the condition of his ship.
Siddel looked shaken but offered a quick salute as his officers formed into badly lined up formation behind him. "Lieutenant Commander Prag, we hadn't expected you in on this shuttle. My apologizes on not being here to greet you properly. We..."
Raising a hand to silence Siddel's nasal and rather weak voice Prag felt disguisted. "It seems the Firestormhas forgotten the standards of the Imperial Navy. I am inclined to charge every man on this ship for dereliction of duty and a half a dozen other articles of Naval code you have broken here. Instead however we will handle this incident in house as I prefer." Shaking his head at the wobbly formation before him and the two at his sides at least of some effort he gave a quick fall in order and allowed them a moment to square up properly.
"It seems the Firestorm is not the ship it once was and much to its shame its still in fine condition. For I imagine if this ship could talk it would rather simply tell you to let her self destruct rather then bear the honor of being the least ready ship in the fleet. As her commanding officer I share her shame and I will not stand for it. You all have exactly fifteen minutes to get in proper uniform and fall back into formation here. This includes every man currently off duty I don't care if they are still asleep when they get here but they had best be in full uniform."
Pausing there for a moment he moved through the crowd locking eyes with his junior officers and higher NCOs. Anyone with a brain knew it was impossible the ship was too large and too unorganized to even hope but they didn't want to know what would happen if they didn't. "The clock starts now. Dismissed." The X.O. Gave a sharp salute before the entire crew rushed out the doors. There were no orders or organization attempts at the mass showing the promise of their late return. There was on small hope though as a junior officer fell out and ran towards the docking bay controls and got announced the orders ship wide. At least someone had a damn brain on the ship.
Turning towards the shuttle he walked back on board his mind ticking off each second away from
their time as the noise of their cacophony rose. It was going to be a long day but at least it was all started now and he felt calm and clear. He hated how
soft a soldier could get when no one shot at them every once in awhile or at least threatened to.
