PART I - FROM THE ASHES

Chapter Four

Commander Hagger stood, hands clasped behind his back, silently surveying the starfield stretching before him. However his eyes were blind to the beauty of the heavens, seeing only a multitude of potential systems to conquer, with each giving just a hint of resistance, he hoped, making victory that much more sweet.

The stars winked in mute challenge to his unspoken desires, luring a sly smile to touch his cold lips.

To behold the majesty of such a view would humble all but the most obnoxious of men. Hagger was oblivious that he ranked among that select few. And had he been aware would no doubt be proud of the fact.

One day, he mused, the galaxy will know to tremble at my approach. I'll not be a mere commander forever. It's all just a matter of time. My destiny will carry me.

He wallowed in his reverie. A pastime he'd found himself guilty of entertaining most frequently of late. Did this mean something was about to happen? Something that would sweep the galaxy? The Rebel Alliance were amassing some plot, and the Empire was ready to counter it. Maybe that was the cause of his recent daydreaming.

Sooner or later the Emperor himself will notice my strategic intellect in the field. Singling me out for promotion. Obviously recognizing me as a worthy and most valuable ally, with potential for greatness!

This was Hagger's secret ambition. To be an aide to the most powerful man in the known galaxy, Emperor Palpatine. For whom he had the utmost respect, but to a point. Unlike the Emperor, Hagger didn't need any witchcraft or mystical Force to guide him. True this Force had its uses. It seemed incredibly accurate in predicting future events. But it was hardly a comparison to an Imperial starfleet.

It was hard work and guts that had got him where he was today. He'd ascended the ranks with moderate ease. The rules were simple. Seize every opportunity... let nothing go.

Hagger was proud to serve the Empire, though he considered himself part of the Empire and not its servant. He was on the winning side, and winning was the only reason he played. Fairness was something you try to avoid at all costs. A landslide reaping greater rewards with far fewer losses. That was why he had enrolled into the Imperial Academy at the tender age of seventeen. And that was why he enjoyed commanding the Imperial Star Destroyer 'Maelstrom'. The odds were all stacked in his favor.

Taking one last look at the tranquil starfield, he turned to scan the main bridge behind him, its crewmembers bustling about their individual tasks. Everything was just the way he liked it, orderly and efficient. His staff were exemplary, ahving been under his command for over two years, and his strut reflected his pride as he left the forward viewports and strolled the command walkway.

He was of slim build, athletic-looking in his mid-thirties. His uniform was pristine. Buttons and belt gleaming. His cap cocked to just the right angle. His face long with pitted cheeks, and his eyes a chill gray.

The crew pits to either side were alive with flashing lights and active panels. He liked to be in the midst of things, spending more time on the bridge than anyone else aboard. Rarely could he be found in his private quarters. He loved his ship. He loved his job. And he hadn't time for anything more.

Devoted he was.

His attention was caught by the communications officer standing over a seated technician.

"What is it Nicholls?" Hagger interjected as he approached the two.

"Sir." Nicholls straightened. "Weve received a hailing from an approaching Lambda-class shuttle which just came out of lightspeed just inside our scopes. All codes have cleared."

"Have we an identification?"

"The 'Zenith' sir."

"The 'Zenith'," repeated Hagger to himself, a puzzled expression wrinkling his brow. The name he knew but the placement and the relevance eluded him. He looked down at the viewscreen following the sleek ship's advance, formation lights winking. "The 'Zenith'..."

"Shall I give a clearance sir?" "Immediately," Hagger confirmed distractedly.

"ST-818. You are cleared to proceed."

"This is Imperial shuttle ST-818," came the response over the monitor speaker. "We are beginning our approach."

Hagger watched closely, his eyes glued to the monitor screen as the sleek shuttle banked right and headed straight towrds camera. The 'Zenith'.... He tapped his finger upon his lower lip. Now where do I know that name?

- - - - -

"Admiral Nunn. This is a somewhat unexpected pleasure sir." Hagger forced the words, hoping they came across as genuine.

They did not.

"Yes. I'm sure." The tone in the reply reflected the detection of Hagger's insincerity, making the commander wince at his own blatant arrogance.

The two stood at opposite ends of a large oval table which was jet black and of a glassy luster, surrounded by tall-backed empty seats. Both men had their own personal escort. The stormtroopers standing at full attention behind their respective officers. Though in a show of higher ranking, the admiral had eight to the commander's two.

Hagger regarded Nunn wit a masked loathing. His encounters with this man had been few and far between, but it seemed with each engagement Nunn had made at least one statement which betrayed his incompetence. Hagger had formulated his aversion almost immediately the very first meeting. The 'Zenith' was the admiral's personal shuttle. That's where he knew the name.

The admiral was a portly, white haired man who, in Hagger's opinion, was far more suited to the administrations of some remote and desolate moon base rather than being in charge of operating an entire Imperial starfleet. It was Nunn's aire of pompousness and his old-fashioned way of handling situations that made Hagger incredulous as to how the fool had ever achieved such status.

"There has been a.... development," began Admiral Nunn with great authority. "You men may leave." He announced, waving the stormtroopers in the direction of the doorway. He sat then as his escort began filing out.

Hagger nodded to his own escort to follow suit and hesitated before sitting, unsure as to what development entailed. He was confused with the admiral's unannounced arrival. It suggested that the admiral intended staying for some significant period of time. Perhaps even commandeering the 'Maelstrom'. Hagger dreaded to think at just how long he might have to suffer this pompous oaf.

"We're not to be disturbed." Nunn added as the senior trooper reached the door control panel. "See to it."

"Yessir. " came the reply.

The hatchway snapped shut with a sharp hiss and the two men were alone.

"What kind of development?" Hagger asked. Completely uncomfortable with the whole outlook.

"An interesting one. Unexpected, you might say."

Hagger noted the emphasis on the word he himself had just used so sarcastically to greet the admiral, and wondered if the incident would appear in Nunn's report as something more than it really was. The admiral had a way of exaggerating things. This intrusion was becoming less and less pleasant by the moment.

"Our spies have informed us of a minor battle in a region of the Outer Rim Territories" Nunn continued. "The planet of Tatooine to be precise."

"This is hardly unusual sir," Hagger replied, eyebrows raised. "The planet has been a haven to every pirate and smuggler this side of the galaxy for many years now. Ever since that bloated Hutt seized power-"

"Commander."

Hagger paused, mouth still open in mid sentence. He noticed the admiral's mottled face redden.

"Would you kindly let me finish." It was a statement, not a request.

"Sir." Hagger apologized weakly.

"Apparently it's not just some small skirmish between ganglords this time. Jabba was involved, yes. However this was no insignificant feud over smuggling routes of ryll spice.

"Now our information is sketchy and there are very few hard facts, as is always the case on Tatooine, for the reasons you have just mentioned. But what we do know is that Skywalker himself was involved."

"Skywalker. You mean the Rebelion?"

"Hard to believe that the Rebellion would reveal itself in such a minor skirmish. Our suspioions lie more with the theory that Skywalker paid Jabba a personal visit. You are no doubt familiar with the recent events on the Bespin mining colony, Cloud City?"

Hagger nodded.

"Skywalker. Alone. Rescuing his rebel friends single handed. But with the exception of one person, Captain Solo, who becomes a prisoner to Jabba the Hutt."

"Am I to assume the Emperor wishes us to track down Skywalker?" Hagger asked. "With all due respect Admiral I feel this to be nothing more than a ghost hunt."

"Maybe you would like to inform Lord Darth Vader yourself? I'm sure he would be most interested to hear your opinion."

Hagger cringed back at the suggestion. "No sir. But you must see my point. Those rebels will have their escape plans worked out. They're probably on the other side of the galaxy by now."

"Commander, do I have to remind you of your rank? This is a direct order and it will be carried out. Even if it does turn out to be a ghost hunt. We still have to be sure, and I will not be the one to tell Lord Vader otherwise. Besides, there is more to this mission than Skywalker.

"Another significant detail is that Jabba the Hutt was killed in this battle. Undoubtedly this is going to have a tremendous effect on the entire Outer Rim."

"And what of the syndicate?" Hagger asked, curious. "Jabba must have been quite a net worth."

"His businesses, stocks, vehicles and treasuries are all open to confiscation if we step in before anybody else does. We are talking about the region of Mos Eisley after all. Hardly a law abiding corner of the Tatoo system. According to our sources there is no next of kin to Jabba. The only known will and testament bequeathing his holdings is rather sketchily made out to his father.

"His father, Zorba the Hutt, is..." Nunn referred to his datapad. "...currently serving time on the prison planet of Kip. That leaves only Kumac the Elder, Zorba's brother, as the closest to an heir. Though I'm sure we shall hear many such claims and counterfeit documents as soon as word spreads.

"The Emperor wants those assets before those on Nal Hutta lay claim to them. It's our job to seize them as quickly as possible, and by force if necessary."

"A covert mission?"

"Yes Commander, it would appear so."

"Why this secrecy? Why the request for a private audience? This all sounds standard procedure so far."

The admiral seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in Hagger's confusion. He rose and walked casually about the table, mulling over the wording of his response. Making the commander wait. Reveling in the fact that he knew something the surly officer did not. He paused near Hagger's chair and rested his knuckles on the tabletop.

"Have you by chance heard rumor of the 'Hoard'?" Nunn asked in a low voice.

Hagger blinked, thinking he had perhaps misheard. The 'Hoard'?. He had no idea what the admiral was talking about. "No sir. Should i have?"

Again Nunn paused, as though about to deliver a speech. His eyes searching the tabletop below his for clues. "This is highly classified information i am about to divulge, hence the private audience. Information from the Emperor himself."

Hagger was stunned, incredulous as to how the bumbling fool had obtained such standing with the Emperor as to carry this classified data. In all honesty he was both jealous and disappointed at the idea of it. That this man held the Emperor's trust in such confidential affairs. Could this Nunn have a side to his personality that Hagger had completely overlooked?

"His Holiness has his own means by which he collects intelligence," the admiral went on. "His undercover spies are his eyes and ears throughout the galaxy. And they report explicitly to him. His 'Hands' he calls them. Special agents, using the Force to communicate back over great distances..."

The Force, Hagger thought to himself skeptically. Trust Nunn to be taken in by the Emperor's mumbo-jumbo voodoo. He wondered if the admiral had spoken directly with the Emperor or whther he had received orders through Lord Vader. Hagger assumed the latter though Nunn made it all sound otherwise.

"...One spy infiltrated Jabba's palace and posed as some sort of guard. A mission lasting four years."

"Quite an undercover operation."

"Commander. These men are the best."

Hagger thought Nunn stressed the word 'these' in a way that implied he had a personal contribution to their being the 'best'.

Nunn stood with his chest out. "Their identities are known only by the Emperor." He relaxed a little and began pacing the floor, both hands tucked to the small of his back. "The spy uncovered some interesting facts. One being that Jabba kept a cache of gemstones as a readily transportable treasury, should he ever have need to leave in a hurry. A significant percentage of his stockpile, all in one tidy package. His nestegg. His 'Hoard'."

"Gemstones." Hagger said, almost to himself. It seemed to him they were talking of yet another ghost hunt.

"Lightweight. Immense value for their size. Ideal for storage and transportation. Easily smuggled and hidden away. It's really quite an ingenious way to bank one's funds. This Hoard would no doubt be of unthinkable worth when you consider the extent of Jabba's underground dealings. If it does exist, can you imagine the wealth such a cache must contain?"

Hagger could imagine. It did seem something the bloated slug would do, considering his paranoia. The value would be absolutely phenomenal. But it was all too incredible. "So where is this Hoard?"

"Nobody knows." Nunn said in a most flat tone. "Jabba kept both its existence and whereabouts to himself for obvious reasons. The undercover spy I mentioned ran into a Nimbanel, by the name of Mosep. Jabba's accountant. The two were in a Mos Eisley cantina and after much Abrax the accountant disclosed his secret. Fearing for his life because he had supposedly witnessed his master admiring the cache's contents."

"Fearing for his life and yet he not only tells a fellow guard, but then doesn't alert anybody after the fact."

"You're not a drinking man, Commander Hagger."

"No sir."

"If you were you would know that Abrax is a cognac which is very effective at loosening the tongue. Especially if mixed with a little avabush spice. It is also a remarkable amnesic."

"I see."

"Jabba may have changed it's location from time to time for added security. But if the accountant knows of the Hoard's existence, then so too could others within the palace. His trusted adviser for instance."

"The Twi'lek?"

"It's a possibility."

"It's also possible that Kumac the Elder knows about it."

"That is why we must move with all speed."

Hagger's mind began reeling with the prospects. The Empire would obviously benefit enormously if this cache did exist and were captured. He could personally transport it to the Emperor and in doing so bear witness to the new Death Star battlestation under construction. Surely the Emperor would be endebted to the officer that presents him with such a prize. This could mean his promotion. All he'd have to do do is show Nunn for the incompetent fool he was and take all credit for the operation's success.

The admiral was leaning close. His voice hushed and his breath foul.

"Can you imagine what would happen if news of this were to get out? What we'd have to deal with if it leaked? We'd have every bounty hunter and petty thief this side of the Horuz system swarming. Now do you understand the reason for this mission being covert? We cannot draw attention to ourselves. All communications must be coded."

"I understand Admiral." Hagger nodded slowly in agreement.

Nunn started back for his chair on the other side of the large table. "I know that this 'Skywalker business' seems trivial by comparison but for some reason it has been given higher priority. Anyhow it may be beneficiary to start our search at the site of Jabba's demise. It's altogether possible he'd keep his 'nestegg' close at hand.

"Now. Who is your most trusted officer?"

That was easy. "Captain Larsolette......sir."

"Then Cpatain Larsolette is the only person outside this room privy to this information. Do I make myself clear?"

"Extremely sir. I'll see that this is handled with the utmost discretion."

"Good. Then I suggest we reach Tatooine with all speed, Commander Hagger."

Hagger reached forward and thumbed the intercom array inset into the tabletop before him. "Captain Larsolette?"

"Yes sir?" came the electronic response.

"Recall all TIE fighter patrols at once and set a course for Tatooine."

"Sir?"

"I believe you heard me correctly Captain?"

"At once sir."

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