The bridge of the First Order Star Destroyer Finalizer was a furious storm of data streaming from displays as crew members worked diligently to analyze the information that flowed into the computer systems. Everyone pulled double duty, keeping their attention on their tasks while also listening to General Hux expressing his frustration in the background. Hux's eyes darted back and forth from display to display as he attempted to assess the situation before him. He had to make sense of it all, as well as regain order among his crew.

"Are these reports accurate?" he exclaimed as he reviewed the screen of a datapad handed to him. Silence suddenly filled the bridge. Around him, crew members looked up from their duty stations as he continued to glare. "I asked if these reports are accurate! I demand answers!"

Off to the side, a slender crew member stood up. His forehead was moist with sweat from nervously listening to Hux's tirade. The crew member took a breath as he gathered the strength to speak up. "As far as we know, sir, they are."

Hux's face flushed with anger. "What do you mean as far as you know? Explain yourself, Ensign Newlin!"

"Our probe scans in the sector picked up the activity first," Ensign Newlin replied in a voice shaky with nerves. "Commander Jerek sent a patrol craft into the area to investigate but no one has heard back from them yet."

"Have you tried to contact them yourself, Ensign?" Hux asked firmly. He was becoming even more irritated with each moment that passed.

Newlin nodded uneasily. "Yes sir, we have tried to contact them several times. There has been no response."

Again, the bridge fell silent. Hux looked around at the surrounding officers at their stations. His eyes turned back towards Newlin. "I see, Ensign. Can you, at least, tell me where they came from?"

"Sir, we do not know at the moment," Newlin replied nervously. "They were first detected when they emerged from hyperspace near Endor."

Hux stood for a few seconds taking in the information. He turned towards the holotable behind him and pressed a button bringing up a display of the Endor moon. Hux adjusted a control on the holotable, revealing the images of the eight Imperial Star Destroyers. He studied their profile for a moment, examining the lead vessel. Its markings were familiar to him, but his mind could not recall where he had seen them.

He looked up from the holotable at Newlin. "Have you thought to run a check of the Imperial archives to ascertain the identity of these vessels, Ensign?"

Newlin shook his head as he spoke. "No, sir."

Hux grimaced at Newlin. "That is the first thing you should have done-"

A chime signaling an incoming HoloNet message cut him off. A Lieutenant looked up from a display with shock clearly showing on his face. "General Hux, we have an incoming transmission from-" The Lieutenant paused for a second and then gasped. "...the Galactic Empire!"

Hux shot a glance teeming with surprise at the Lieutenant. "The Galactic Empire? Let me guess; it's originating from Endor."

The Lieutenant looked up at him with eyes full of shock. "Correct, sir. Someone identifying himself as Imperial Admiral Garren Prolov wishes to speak to you, sir."

Gasps arose from the members of the crew on the bridge. Hux's face contorted with a mixture of shock and amazement. Admiral Garren Prolov was a legend among the First Order due to his impeccable work in establishing firm control over his sectors in the Outer Rim during the heyday of the Galactic Empire. The markings on the Star Destroyers made sense now as Hux remembered reading about them in his studies of Imperial history sometime back. However, Prolov was far more famous than his ships.

"Put it through," Hux ordered, trying to contain his emotions as Admiral Prolov had been an influence of his for most of his career.

On the bridge, a holographic image of Imperial Admiral Garren Prolov appeared suddenly. "Time certainly has a peculiar way of passing by almost without notice, doesn't it, General Hux? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Imperial Admiral Garren Prolov, and I send a warm greeting to you and your crew."

Behind a visibly stunned General Hux, the tall form of Phasma appeared in her shimmering chromium armor. She paused at the sight of Prolov's hologram and stared at the image with widened eyes. Hux turned and motioned for her to remain outside of the holoprojector's range. She nodded as she stepped back.

The silence on the bridge blended with a kaleidoscope of emotions flowing like a well-fed stream. Hux's face was chalk-white, far paler than its normal fair complexion. He locked his gaze on Prolov's hologram with an expression worn only by someone who had been struck hard in the abdomen.

Phasma, on the other hand, was in a different state of mind. Her beautiful blue eyes peered at Prolov beneath her helmet, measuring up the man whom she had come to admire in her studies of Imperial history. He was daring, calculating, and calm under fire. He was known to step outside of the proverbial box as he conducted his Imperial service through methods that concerned and even angered those above him. In spite of all that, he had achieved impeccable victories. In many ways, he was much like his mentor, Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Before Phasma joined the First Order, the hierarchy of the newly formed military junta had held men like Prolov in high regard. Being a protégé of Grand Admiral Thrawn only added to his appeal. The First Order leadership had even developed several awards named after Thrawn and the men under his command.

Among the medals, the Order of Prolov was reserved for those within the First Order who had proven themselves through unorthodox but effective means. Phasma had been rather remarkable the moment Brendol Hux brought her aboard the Absolution. Unlike most of her contemporaries, she had been awarded the Order of Prolov on three separate occasions.

She smiled beneath her helmet as she beheld the man who had become her hero. I've never been interested in any man before, Phasma thought to herself as she looked Prolov's hologram over. But you are an exception, Admiral Prolov. Do you remember me? Do you know that I was once that little girl who used to watch you in amazement from the cliffs on Parnassos?

"It is an honor to establish connections with you, General Hux. Tell me, how is Brendol doing these days?" Prolov asked with a calm tone.

Hux relaxed his posture as he stared at Prolov. "My father passed away a few years ago, and he subsequently left his vision for the Imperial Remnant to me."

"My condolences for your loss, General," Prolov offered in a solemn tone. He watched as Hux narrowed his eyes before continuing. "Brendol Hux was- "

"No great loss," Hux blurted out, drawing a curious stare from Prolov. He caught on to Prolov's silent rebuke and quickly recovered. "Forgive me for thinking out loud, Admiral. The loss of my father was quite a shock to me."

"It's understandable," Prolov replied with a raised eyebrow. He pursed his lips as he stared at Hux. "Shall we move on to more important matters, General?"

Hux nodded as he looked up to Prolov's hologram. "Agreed. First, I request that you release the men you have in custody. It will not be necessary to detain them any longer. Assure me of their release before we continue."

"Consider it done, General," Prolov said as he nodded to someone out of sight. "They shall be released immediately. Now that I've agreed to your terms, let's discuss the location where we can rendezvous."

"Perhaps you should take time to consider the changes to the galaxy that have occurred in your absence, Admiral," Hux quickly countered. "I feel it would be the best course of action for you and your fleet."

"Don't insult my intelligence, General," Prolov replied in a sharp tone. He glared at Hux, "We interrogated Commander Lorrs. We also conducted a search of the shuttle's databanks with the good Commander's assistance, of course. I assure you that I have a decent grasp of the current situation."

"Very well, Admiral," Hux replied. "We invite you to rendezvous with us in two days at Jakku."

Prolov nodded in agreement. "We accept your invitation, General Hux. We will bring the Star Destroyers, Apollyon and Corrin to the rendezvous point. Shall we meet aboard your vessel or ours?"

General Hux's face stretched into a smile as he looked directly at Admiral Prolov's hologram. "With your permission, we would like to come aboard your vessel, Admiral Prolov. I'm assigning our own Captain Phasma to act as your liaison for this meeting."

Phasma's heart jumped upon hearing Hux's words. Her face beamed with a huge smile beneath her helmet. General Hux turned to her with a grin. She nodded in acknowledgment of his orders.

"Permission to come aboard granted, General Hux," Prolov said. "We will be honored to welcome Captain Phasma and his entourage aboard the Apollyon."

General Hux's expression when blank at Prolov's response. "Sir, Captain Phasma will be honored to meet you." He emphasized the next few words. "She will be accompanied by a small complement of her soldiers when she comes aboard the Apollyon."

"Please forgive me for assuming gender. We will be delighted to welcome Captain Phasma aboard our ship." Prolov replied with a slight smile. "Both she and her entourage will be our guests of honor. We look forward to meeting her and you as well, General Hux."

"Likewise, Admiral. I will be transmitting information in regards to our meeting shortly. We will see you in two days at Jakku," Hux concluded, ending the transmission. He looked over to Captain Phasma, who remained in a rigid military-like stance. "Well, Captain, it will be your show when we arrive at Jakku."

After Phasma nodded and stepped out of the room, Hux turned to a panel on the bulkhead and pressed a button. "Bridge, send a priority message to Supreme Leader Snoke. I need to have a conference with him right away."

In the holochamber of the Apollyon, Prolov turned towards an officer standing behind him. Two stormtroopers guarded Lieutenant Commander Lorrs. "Ensign, escort Commander Lorrs back to his ship and allow them safe passage to Maruun III."

"Yes, sir," the ensign replied as he motioned towards the door. Prolov watched them as they began to move.

"Commander Lorrs," Prolov said, bringing the group to a stop. "I'm sending two of my Phantom Squadron fighters along with you. They will be in stealth mode as they make sure you do not deviate from your course. Play by my rules, and you'll live through this." Prolov cocked his head towards a young Imperial officer. "Escort Commander Lorrs back to his ship."

Prolov waited until they left the room before he turned to another officer standing beside a smaller holodisplay. "You may proceed, Commander."

"Sir, our algorithms have confirmed the twenty-eight-year time jump. From our computations in regards to celestial mechanics, we have deduced that the star systems on the charts are precisely where they should be over such a period." Lieutenant Commander Bayda, the fleet astrophysicist, said as he motioned towards the holochart hovering in the center of the room. "And there are other anomalies worth mentioning, sir."

Prolov glanced at the display a few seconds before turning his attention to the slender Lieutenant Commander. "Go on, Commander."

Bayda adjusted the cap on his bald head before fixing his green eyes on the holochart. "We have noticed substantial movements of vessels twice as large as ours between the Outer Rim Territories and the Unknown Regions, sir. There are also indications of a ship of even larger proportions."

Prolov's interest seemed to peak at the Lieutenant Commander's words. He cocked his head towards Bayda and nodded. "Interesting. They claim the Empire has fallen, yet, we detect ships approximately with approximately the same proportions as some of the more advanced Imperial Star Destroyers and possibly even an Executor-class or and Eclipse-class. And if they are moving these ships between the Unknown Regions and the Outer Rim, then perhaps Grand Admiral Thrawn is the leader of this so-called First Order."

"I'm not for sure, sir," Bayda replied as he kept his eyes on the holodisplay. "We haven't been able to decipher their coded transmissions. However, our computations have concluded their movements in the Outer Rim are concentrated in both the Brolan and Maruun star systems."

"Brolan system is cluttered with debris from battles throughout thousands of years. Any ship traveling through that system must drop out of hyperspace to safely navigate through the heavy concentration of debris." Prolov stated as he stepped towards Bayda while studying the holochart. "Where are they heading once they leave the Brolan system?"

"Sir, that's what perplexes us. Ships traveling to Imperial Center from the prison complex in the Prelilia system must drop out of hyperspace for reasons you have mentioned. Any attempts to navigate around such a course would add weeks to the journey to Imperial Center." Bayda answered. "However, the First Order isn't using the Brolan system for navigation. Their ships have been leaving the Unknown Regions and traveling to the Brolan system before returning to their point of origin. And our mathematical computations have confirmed another matter, sir."

"Enlighten me, Commander," Prolov said in a calm tone.

Bayda glanced up at the information in the holographic images before looking back at Prolov. "Considering all of the available data we have accumulated at this point, we have concluded that our jump twenty-eight years into the future is permanent. Sir, perhaps it is best to inform the men of our situation-"

"Time only moves forward, Commander. Besides, we all knew the risks of traveling through hyperspace." Prolov said in a neutral tone, cutting Bayda off mid-sentence. Prolov glared at the Lieutenant Commander. "Everyone accepted those risks the moment they reported for duty in this fleet. And we will have to adapt ourselves to living with the consequences. For now, I want you and your team to continue to monitor this situation diligently. If any new information becomes available, report to me immediately. You have your orders! Get to it!"

After Bayda bowed in respect and left the room, Prolov turned his attention back to the floating holographic data. Suddenly, a chime broke his concentration. He stepped over to a panel on the bulkhead. "Yes, Captain Aveen. What is it?"

"Sir, General Hux is transmitting the requested data for our rendezvous as we speak," Aveen replied firmly. "However, the differences in our respective technologies are causing substantial interference. Shall I wait for all of the information to come through before transmitting it to you, sir?"

"No, Captain," Prolov replied as he shook his head. "Send me what you have. Transmit the remainder when you receive it."

Prolov turned his attention to a datapad on the desk that came to life with streams of text and images. A smile radiated from his features as he glanced to the lower right corner of the text to see that General Hux had authored the report himself.

"Ah, General Hux, do you not know that I learn a person's heart through their writing?" Prolov muttered to himself as he began to read through the paragraphs of the text. "Let's see how much of your heart I can learn from this…"

Another chime broke his concentration. Prolov glanced up to see the data waver before fading completely. With a flash of bright light, the darkness in the room was suddenly broken by the hologram of a tall figure in chromium armor with a black cape trimmed in red hanging from its shoulders. To the left of the figure, bold texts spelled out a name: Captain Phasma.

Prolov set the datapad on the desk and stepped towards the holographic image. His eyes locked on the figure, mesmerized by the impressive size and shiny stormtrooper armor. He moved closer with a blank expression on his face as he continued to stare at the stormtrooper captain.

He could only mutter a few words as he stared at Phasma's image. "We meet again…"

"Sir, the Council is awaiting your arrival in the conference room.", Captain Aveen's voice said through the room comlink.

"Inform them I am on my way," Prolov replied as he stepped towards the door. He looked back at Phasma's hologram and thought, "If you are the one who will test me then I will have no fear of anything you lay before me."