"Five years." Hsiano Seiei, Admiral of the Fel Empire sighed in exasperation and dropped the datapad onto his desk. His almond shaped eyes seemed to grow a few extra wrinkles on the edges as he ran a hand through his gray and thinning hair. He reached out for his glass and took a curt sip. "Five years we must spend in this forsaken wasteland of space and for what? A long-lost signal from a scout dated from Pellaeons Remnant?"

Across from him stood , in a crisp Fleet uniform, a youngish looking officer. A line captains insignia sat on his chest. Below that sat five service ribbons and two small medal like pins in the shapes of hexagons. A scar ran down the side of his face, standing out from his dark brown skin. The scar gave his face a hard, stern look, aided by the short and lined haircut and his pressed, unsmiling lips. The only bright side to this boy was his eyes. They were a striking golden color and as they focused on him, the pupils narrowed into slits. The boy looked like a Sabre-Cat and those eyes were hungry.

Seiei wondered to himself if that would be an asset or a liability.

"So son…. how do you feel about this assignment to the Unknown regions, here on the very edge of the galaxy?"

"Sir." The boy spoke slowly and with deliberation, calm and just loud enough to be heard. "I am happy to do my duty to the Empire. As it is likely to be a difficult assignment, I am ready to assist in any capacity, Admiral."

He sounded like he believed it, Seiei mused. Not at all like a kid with a promising career flushed down the toilet by mere politics. "You've been the captain of the Assertor-class SD, "Pellaeons Peace" for the last two years, after serving as First Officer and Commander under the former captain. Your father, Captian Atvar Soto." Seiei stood, moving from behind his desk and leaning against it with his arms folded. "You fought during the Sothori Rebllion on your home planet."

"Yes sir." There was no reaction on the boys face, non at all. Just a grim dourness.

Seiei continued. "Your father attempted to commit treason, in the name of the King, his brother and the cause of Sothori independence, a movement funded by Alliance agitators. And you-"

"Executed him. As per Imperial Military Code, Directive 1045/c, in regards to treason and mutiny during a severe combat operation without an immediate superior available. I was in accordance with Imperial Military Law and was proven right and correct by tribunal." He looked at Seiei directly in the eyes. "If I may ask sir, of what importance-"

"Why does this matter? We are heading deep into unknown space. Far from the Empire, far from any type of support, and soon enough we will be far from the galaxy itself. We are here docked at Farpoint Station, gathering the twenty-seven ships needed, excluding the colony ships, but we will not be here forever. Soon we will head deeper into the unknown, heading to another galaxy. Yet we have no knowledge of it, aside from what the Chiss have deigned to tell us. We have few hyperspace routes and no outposts, bases colonies, nothing. Yet we are expected to create all of this and more within five years. I have enough ignorance of this new…world. I cannot be ignorant of those under my command." He approached the boy, and place a hand on his shoulder. "You proved your loyalty at Sothor, boy, and that you are willing and able to do what is necessary, for the good of the Empire. And for that, I am appointing you Vice Admiral of this flotilla."

For the first time, emotion touched the boys face. Confusion and hesitation clouded his face and he opened his mouth to speak. Seiei raised a hand. " The captains will protest , but as an Admiral in what could be considered an emergency situation, I have the right and the power. You may be rather inexperienced, but you are the best out of the Academy of New Carida, top of your class, five commendation, two medals. No one is more fit to be by my side. I expect you to do your duty, Vice Admiral Asa Soto,as you did at Sothor. You will do it again." Seiei moved to return to his desk, and sat in his chair slowly, wincing slightly. He was too old for this. "Report to your ship and alert those under you of your new position. And send someone to captain the new Imperator. The old captain is too stupid, the commander too foolish. Dismissed.