From the bridge of the Apollyon, Prolov locked his gaze on the much larger Finalizer. It was an imposing sight and far more technologically advanced than what he was accustomed to in his experience. The only ships rivaling the dark First Order vessel were the Executor-class vessels in the former Galactic Empire.

Who is the First Order? What do they want from us?, Prolov thought, keeping his eyes locked on the Finalizer. A smaller black shape emerged from the port side of the ship. As the shape drew closer, and Prolov recognized it as the same class of shuttle that he had captured earlier at Endor. No fighter escort for that Ravage-class shuttle, He continued in his thoughts. They want me to think they trust us. But it's much more complicated than that. They know us. Their historical studies have instructed them how to initiate contact with us, and we will play along with their game until logic dictates otherwise.

Prolov gazed down at the communications station. "Ensign is Colonel Veriss in the lair."

The ensign nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good," Prolov replied. "Relay his holograph to the bridge."

Prolov turned to face the hologram of Colonel Veriss seated on a chair raised above the floor of his tactical room known to Prolov and the crew as "The Lair." Behind Veriss, a solar eclipse in all of its stages was emblazoned upon the bulkhead.

"Admiral, I have two squadrons of TIEs and TIE Interceptors on standby as ordered.", Veriss said with his usual blank features. In all of the decades Prolov had known the man, who was his best friend and Commander of the fleet's aviation and intelligence divisions, he had never seen Veriss crack even the hint of a smile. His deceptively benevolent features offered nothing but blank stares during conversations with subordinates and occasionally throwing in chilling sneers at any men who fell short of his expectations. "Sir, I have also placed Diamond, Blade, and Gamma Squadrons on hyperspace deployment sleds in triangulated positions just beyond the boundaries of this sector. If the First Order tries anything, we will be ready."

"Good work, Colonel," Prolov replied with a grin. He had to fight to keep from calling Veriss by his first name, which was a custom between the two men when they were alone. He would have made Veriss his second in command of the fleet had it not been for the Colonel's aptitudes for leading and developing men and equipment for the aviation and intelligence divisions. "Tell me, what have you detected?"

Veriss glanced at a display. "They are testing us, sir. Sending a commander of their stormtrooper division to rendezvous with us without fighter escort is meant to throw us off and entice us to act. If we were to launch escorts of our own, we would be easily viewed as the aggressor. It would give them an advantage over us. They also know that it would be foolish for us to go against technology and equipment decades ahead of our own. Therefore, risking Captain Phasma's well-being is merely theatrical. They know there is an extremely low probability that we will be of any threat to her or her entourage."

"My thoughts, exactly," Prolov said while taking a glance at the approaching shuttle. "Do you have your agents in place, Colonel?"

"You know me better than that, sir," Veriss said with an expression that came close to a grin but yet maintained its hardness. "They are in place, along with a few extras added here and there to err on the side of caution."

"I would expect nothing less from you, Colonel," Prolov said. "Carry on."

Veriss nodded before his hologram vanished. Prolov stared through the viewport where Veriss's hologram had been a couple of seconds before. A few extras added here and there to err on the side of caution, Prolov pondered to himself. He sees the danger in this as well. A wise man allows caution to be his guide. Overconfidence and bravado would be devastating to this fleet. And it's a risk that I'm not willing to take.

"Now, that is an impressive starship, sir," Captain Jorr, Commander of the Imperial Star Destroyer Corrin, said bringing Prolov out of his concentration. "We have truly traveled into the future."

Captain Aveen stepped up to the viewport and nodded. "I concur. That vessel is far removed from our time. Whatever occurred after the battle of Endor and Jakku, it's obvious that the First Order took advantage of the Imperial Research and Development programs."

Prolov turned to face the pair of Captains. "And that's exactly why we will proceed with caution in this matter, gentlemen. They possess information that they have perceived as our recorded history. It is wise to suspect they will attempt to use it to their advantage. Based on that suspicion, I have taken extreme measures to keep every detail that can be used against us out of their sight."

Jorr turned his head towards Prolov. "I hope it is enough, sir."

Prolov's expression remained stern. "The feeling is mutual, Captain Jorr." He gestured towards Aveen. "Captain Aveen, were my instructions transmitted to the remainder of the fleet?"

"Yes, sir," Aveen replied, looking away from the viewport. "I made sure they were encrypted before their transmission. Captain Jensen assured me the transmission had been received as intended."

Prolov nodded before turning his eyes back to the approaching shuttle. "Good work, Captain.

"Sir, Captain Phasma's shuttle requests permission to land in our hangar bay," an ensign at the communications station called out.

Prolov glanced down at the young officer in the crew pit. "Permission, granted." He gestured towards Avven and Jorr. "Gentlemen, let's greet our guests."

"No further communication from General Hux?" Aveen asked as the trio stepped away from the bridge. "Isn't that rather peculiar, sir?"

"Perhaps he is delegating communication responsibilities to Captain Phasma," Prolov replied without turning his attention away from their path down the corridor. "Seeing he is a flag officer, I'm certain he also has other responsibilities that need his attention."

"Sir, it's a perfect way to protect himself," Jorr chimed in. "Sacrificing his stormtrooper captain instead of himself is an ingenious plan seeing that he has no idea of whether we are friend or foe."

"Excellent insight, Captain Jorr," Prolov said with a smile. "General Hux's studies of our history have inspired him to exercise caution. And we have wisely chosen to follow suit in this situation."

No, you don't know me at all, Hux," Prolov thought, following his men into a turbo lift. "To you, I am an unfathomable enigma concealed within a paradoxical puzzle. Unsolvable to the point any who attempt to unravel its vast mysteries will drive themselves utterly insane. Carelessly dive into those depths, and the abyss will consume you in impenetrable darkness…

First Order Captain Evin gazed out of the forward viewport of the Oppressor and grinned. His ship was more than capable of handling the six outdated Imperial Star Destroyers that Prolov ordered to remain behind at Endor. The additions of the First Order Star Destroyers Vicarious and Malice to aid in the capturing of Prolov's fleet brought Evin much relief. Such a mission would be considered insubordination under normal circumstances, but the occurrences of late in the galaxy were far removed from normalcy. He had learned those hard lessons under the tutor of time in the study hall of life experience.

"Battle Stations!" he snapped with a quick turn from the viewport. "Charge main cannons!"

His young first officer, Commander Arlyn Spaal, stepped up to him. "Sir, aren't you rushing to judgment? Prolov hasn't presented any threat to our fleet."

Evin's expression softened, visually examined the athletically built and beautiful young woman. Her jet-black hair was neatly pulled back and covered by her duty hat. Her dark brown eyes accentuated her sharp, gorgeous features. He sheepishly grinned as he entertained thoughts of embracing her intimately. One redeeming aspect of the First Order that he greatly rejoiced in was their seemingly endless supply of female recruits.

In the time since he had joined the First Order as a Captain, he always requested young female officers as his trainees to potentially become starship commanders. Just before they were to be reassigned to the own commands, he would seductively entice them to engage in intimate encounters clandestinely with him in his quarters. He called such encounters his personal "christening" of new starship captains. Of course, being a man who, despite his age compared to his younger subordinates, was tall, muscular, and handsome with a full head of light brown hair with small traces of grey only aided in his christening efforts.

Spaal was like the rest in that she was beautiful and highly intelligent. However, her significant difference from them was that she had not yet given in to Evin's attempts at seducing her. Time was running out for him as she was due to be reassigned in two weeks as the new Captain of the Star Destroyer, Emperor's Scourge. And if she never gave in to his advances, Evin wouldn't take offense, nor would he entice her to reconsider. He was a stern disciplinarian but also an honorable man. He adamantly refused to force a woman into an intimate encounter against her will. And he would instantly execute any man under his command who dared try to commit such a despicable act.

He smiled at her as she approached him, "My dear Commander Spaal, you don't have the luxury of knowing Prolov as I did when we served together in the days of the Empire. He was a loyal officer and a man of exceptional character. But he was also a man who was extremely dangerous when threatened. He's in a new time now. Unfamiliar and foreboding. That alone is reason enough to be cautious in our endeavor."

"I concur, Captain," Spaal countered, narrowing her eyes. "however, it can be reasonably argued that our actions could be considered hostile. At any rate, we have undertaken independent action that will surely anger Supreme Leader Snoke."

Evin locked his gaze on the much younger woman, silently appreciating her beauty and her sassiness. Such arguments from a less attractive woman or any of his male subordinates would have been rewarded with a stern verbal reprimand, if not followed by physical correction.

He shrugged as he continued to study her. "If it fails, then you maybe be correct, Commander. However, we have a complement of ships and fighters far more advanced than anything Prolov has at his disposal. Once we surround the six remaining Star Destroyers in his fleet and train our cannons on them, they will have no choice but to surrender."

Spaal huffed and crossed her arms. "If they choose to do so. You should know from your experience during the Galactic Civil War that disciplined men and women can successfully utilize outdated and obsolete equipment to prevail in battle, sir."

Evin waved a hand dismissively and turned to the viewports. "I admit it is possible but also unlikely in our case. Commander, you must realize that in assuming all the associated risks, the rewards we will reap will be immeasurable. When we capture the main portion of Prolov's fleet and, in turn, force him into submitting to the First Order, we will be welcomed as heroes by Supreme Leader Snoke. General Hux said as much himself when he devised this plan. And if it fails, he alone will bear the responsibility."

Spaal nodded as she turned to gaze out of the viewport. "We all will, sir. And if we are successful, the Supreme Leader may very well reward us. But if we fail due to our overconfidence, then we may not survive to face him. This ship, even with its advanced tactical systems, still has its weak points. Considering Prolov was once involved with Imperial Research and Development, how do we know that he didn't contribute to the prototype designs that eventually led to creation of First Order technology and vessels? With all due respect, sir, have you considered that?"

Evin rubbed his chin as he mentally analyzed Spaal's question. He cast a sideways glance at her. "I assure you that even in light of what our dear friend Admiral Prolov may have contributed and may even know about the First Order, it won't be enough against the firepower we are bringing into any potential skirmish. I have full confidence that we will prevail regardless of the action undertaken by his Star Destroyers."

Spaal held her hands up in submission. "For your sake, I hope so, sir."

A chime rang out, drawing Evin's attention. "Helm, report."

"We are coming out of hyperspace in the Endor Sector, sir.", the helm officer replied.

Evin smiled and turned back to the viewport. "This is a day that will be long remembered- "

He gasped as the hyperspace vortex dissipated around the ship. The forest moon of Endor raced into view, surrounded by a thick sea of debris. In the distance, the Vicarious and Malice dropped out of hyperspace, forming a triangular perimeter around the debris.

"What is the meaning of this?" Evin hissed. "Where is Prolov's fleet?"

"Sir, Vicarious and Malice commands report there are no other vessels in the sector," the communications officer called out. "Their TIE S/E scouts also reported no other vessels on their scanners."

"This is impossible!" Evin exclaimed before turning around to face the crew at their stations. "They have to be here somewhere! Six Imperial Star Destroyers don't just vanish into thin air! I demand an explanation!"

Commander Spaal stepped up to Evin. "Sir, the sensors are operating properly. The data confirms that the Imperial fleet isn't in this sector. And according to historical data on Prolov's fleet, none of his ships have cloaking devices."

Another chime rang out. Evin charged up to the communications station. "Tell me someone has spotted them! Tell me we have found them!"

The communications officer shook his head. "No, sir. It's Supreme Leader Snoke. He demands you make contact with him immediately to explain our actions."

Evin wiped the sweat from his forehead with his gloved hand. "Very well. Inform him I will contact him in my holochamber immediately." He glanced over to Spaal. "Commander, you will be in charge until I return."

"Yes, sir!" she replied as Evin stepped off the bridge. She watched him exit and thought to herself, I hope Snoke christens you for a change, you pervert…