Unknown Space and Hyperspace

I want to prove myself, buir. What ever the aliit needs.

A'den felt a pride in his clan. He had always felt this pride, ever since NCO took him in. But this was different. He was now officially apart of this family. He wanted to make them proud.

A'den looked over the listings of potential jobs.

I don't believe I have ever been to Corellia, or anywhere near the core. It could be fun.

A'den looked at NCO, a smile on his face. A long trip could be a great first step as a new member of the aliit.

A'den smiled. He was sure there was an good story in what NCO spoke about.

Then I guess we need to head to the ship. Anything I should know about our destination?

A'den turned and began to walk back the way they came. As they entered the hangar, A'den smiled again. He never got tired of traveling. He entered the Galaar, a Kom'rk-class fighter/transport. He typed some on the navicomputer, filing their flight plan to Corellia. He began to do his preflight check, just as NCO had shown him many times before. NCO would be with him, but he felt that he would be leading this mission, which both excited and scared him.

Location: Unknown Regions - Tempered Wastes

Emerging from the infinite corridors of darkspace, a Yuuzhan Vong Miid ro'ik warship appeared, streaking across the vacant expanse as it decelerated from lightspeed travel. This particular ship, known as the Praetorite Command, was marked unlike others of its kind. The hull was black, not just in the areas where armour secretions covered the exterior, but even the yorik-coral itself. It appeared alone in this empty stretch of space.

Inside upon the bridge, the young Commander Alith Yin, leaned forward in his command throne. He reached up and stroked the cognition hood that was draped over his head, anchored into his flesh with hooks of bone. The hooks released and the hood came free, disconnecting the Intendant from the mind of the ship.

"Hold position." He ordered the bridge crew.

Alith rose from his seat and walked over to the villip choir. A warrior-caste subaltern manning the station got up from his post and bowed to the Intendant, before quickly stepping aside and letting the nimbler Commander take over. It was unusual for an Intendant caste member to hold the position of Commander, but an exception had been made due to the fact that Domain Yin dominated the reborn Praetorite command structure. Not all of the warrior caste were happy about it. Some had even voiced words of challenge towards the young leader. Their protests only lasted as long as their lives, which were shortened considerably when Alith's coufee slit their throat in one smooth motion. That was before, mind you, no one was likely to say anything now. Faintly glowing blue mqaaq'it peered at the villip choir, before a hand concealed by a glossy black cloaker reached forwards and activated the biot, attempting to connect with its twin aboard the Price of Pain. In moments the shape of the villip changed, transforming itself into a pefect replica of the Executor's head. When it spoke, it spoke with Nem Yin's harsh tone.

Alith, good, you survived the journey as well. I was concerned when we lost contact with you in deep space, what was it, three months ago?

"Six." Replied Alith, though he was certain Nem knew the actual number as well. Little escaped the Executor.

Indeed. Well, I am glad you didn't go quietly to the gods.

The young Commander grinned, or at least performed the closest thing a Yuuzhan Vong could offer to a grin, what with their faces already stretched taut over the thick bones of their skulls.

"Never quietly, Executor." He boasted, then got to the point. "Our situation?"

Too soon to say. I've established contact with the Prefect on Zonama Sekot. Domain Yin survives, as does the Praetorite command structure. They've done remarkably well despite their isolation.

"Haven't we all?"

Nem paused. True, I suppose. Either way, it looks like Sekot is a safe port of call for now, though I can not speak of the rest of the Unknown Regions. We once had a peace treaty with the Chiss, but that was some time ago and I doubt very much they would honor the agreement on our word alone. Contact will need to be reestablished.

"I am at your service, Executor."

The villip's depiction of Nem Yin's head turned from side to side.

No, that will require a subtler hand. I have other plans for your ship and crew. You will develop a working knowledge of the darkspace routes in the area, while cataloging the planets there within and the species that inhabit them. We can't guarantee our ongoing safety if we don't know whose out there.

It would likely be tedious work, but the Praetorite Command was equipped to handle that particular task, which made it all the more frustrating. There would be no getting out of this duty. He half expected it to be a boring slog, though perhaps there was some danger to be found to make things more exciting.

"And if we encounter resistance?"

Use your judgement, but I advise retreat whenever possible. There won't be any backup coming if you get yourselves in trouble. Consider that before biting off more than you can chew.

"I don't know." He sneered. "I can chew quite a lot."

Chew with purpose then. Not vainglorious pride.

"As you wish, Executor."

With little more needed to be said, the connection between the villips was severed, causing the biot to revert to its natural form. Alith sat there a moment, pondering his next move carefully. There were orders, and then there were 'orders'. Cataloging star charts was easy enough, if boring. He would have to find a way to make some sport of it. Eventually rising from the seat at the villip choir, Alith returned to his command throne and began to make preparations.