"Something is not right about this," Phasma said as she walked alongside Prolov in the corridor leading to the hangar bay. "Hux is not being completely transparent with me."

"He's a flag officer, Captain," Prolov replied. "He is under no obligation to tell you everything."

Phasma turned her head toward the Imperial Admiral. "And are you under no obligation as well?"

The pair paused. Prolov narrowed his eyes and glared at Phasma. "What does that mean, Captain? I have been very forthcoming with you, probably more than I should have. I would expect you to find my offerings rather sufficient."

Phasma leaned in towards Prolov. "There is something important that you are not telling me. And Admiral, may I remind you that I have also been forthcoming with you?"

Prolov laid his hands on his hips. "There is nothing else that you need to know. I am a flag officer myself, and to preserve the security of this fleet, I must protect classified information."

"Protect it from us?", Phasma countered. "We opened our doors to you and your fleet, Admiral. And I fail to see any hospitality emanating from the New Republic or the Resistance."

"What is this Resistance you speak of, Captain?", Prolov asked. "Another band of criminals that your precious First Order cannot control?"

Phasma studied him for a moment. His interest is piqued. Perhaps it's time to lay more bait in front of him. "They are criminals," she finally said. "Though I believe your term for them is rogues."

Nice move, Phasma, but I refuse to bite. Prolov glanced up at her. "Let me make something clear, Captain. With all due respect, I have no interest in committing my fleet and its resources to fight the First Order's battles. That said, understanding your sudden temperamental shift eludes me."

"As can be said for yours, Admiral," Phasma returned with a sharp tone. "With all due respect, of course." You can't see that I am conflicted emotionally, can you? She thought. I don't understand my sudden attraction to you. And I don't know if I want to understand it.

Prolov paused at the closed blast doors leading to the hangar bay and turned toward Phasma. "Let's put this to rest, shall we? Your abruptness is neither necessary nor appreciated. And you would do well to refrain from testing me further, Captain."

Phasma crossed her arms. "Do I detect a subtle threat, Admiral?"

Prolov moved closer and glared up at her. "Take it as you want. But understand that I possess abilities far beyond your comprehension. It would be a pity if I had to give you a personal demonstration. Do we have an understanding, Captain?"

Phasma nodded. "Indeed, we do."

"If you allow me, I will escort you to your shuttle," Prolov offered with a gesture toward the opening blast doors.

"I think I can walk myself, Admiral," Phasma replied before moving quickly toward the Raptor-class shuttle.

"As you wish, Captain," Prolov replied with a smile.

He watched her walk up the ramp before returning to the corridor. A chime rang out. He pulled a circular holoprojector from his pocket. The image of Colonel Veriss appeared.

"Yes, Colonel, what is it?", Prolov asked.

"Sir, I questioned the First Order pilots and released them on prescribed coordinates to a location where a Captain Cardinal requests to meet with me," Veriss replied, remaining rigid. "Shall I proceed?"

Prolov shook his head. "Not at the moment. I have a more pressing priority for you. Contact the Star Destroyer Gladius. They have information concerning our assault on Geneel that may interest you. In the meantime, send a scouting party to rendezvous with Captain Cardinal."

Veriss bowed. "Consider it done, Admiral."

On the shuttle, Phasma stared out of the forward viewport, watching the Apollyon's hangar bay transition into the void of space. She relaxed her posture and kept her eyes on the stars. They suddenly twisted before morphing into the blue vortex of hyperspace.

The holographic image of Captain Peavy, commanding officer of the Finalizer, appeared before her.

He stared at her while standing at attention. "Captain Phasma, I have been instructed by General Hux to make sure you have safely removed yourself from Prolov's Star Destroyer."

Phasma furrowed her brow under her helmet. "Safely removed? I do not comprehend you, Captain."

Peavy exhaled. "You weren't informed of the Council's decision?"

Phasma leaned forward. "Enlighten me, Captain Peavy."

Peavy's lip quivered. He glanced around at his surroundings for a moment. "By order of the Allegiant General Pryde, the dimensional gates built by General Jerek are marked for immediate destruction." He paused and drew in a breath before continuing. "And in the best interests of preserving the secrecy of the First Order's endeavors, Prolov's fleet must also be eliminated. General Hux has ordered you to report to Starkiller Base at once."

Phasma's jaw dropped open. What kind of deceitfulness is this? She thought. Treat Prolov and his fleet as welcome allies only to savagely destroy them to preserve secrecy that has already been irreparably compromised. If Prolov prevails in eluding your schemes, I will no longer bear the First Order's flag.

"Understood, Captain," Phasma replied solemnly while thinking, You're provoking a man who will prove to be a devastating adversary, and the way I feel now, I will have no issue in joining him in his retaliatory strikes against all of you.

Across the galaxy in the Unknown Regions, a snow-covered planet moved on an elliptical orbit around a faint and dying sun. A massive trench several kilometers across and just as deep stretched across the planet's equator like a savage scar on a person's face. In the center of the trench, an enormous circular opening pointed out into space like the eye of a giant cyclops.

Captain Peavey approached the viewport and stared at the frozen landscape. His feelings right now were as icy and foreboding as this desolate planet. And the orders to leave the command of the Finalizer to his subordinate officer to accompany Hux to this god-forsaken world only added to his frustrations.

A klaxon suddenly blared out, pulling him from his ruminations. He turned to the sensor station. “Report, lieutenant!”

“We have a malfunction in the thermal oscillator on levels three and four!” a young woman called out from the station. Her dark brown eyes scanned the information erupting on her screen. “Containment fields are failing, sir!”

Hux moved past Peavey and glared at her. “Abort charging! Prepare to purge energy on my command!”

The control room on Starkiller base rocked violently, launching Hux towards a console as if he had been propelled from a catapult. He winced under the pain radiating through his ribs. Captain Peavey raced to the injured general and helped him to his feet.

Hux shoved away from his subordinate officer. “Release energy, now!”

Another jolt rumbled through the room. Stations sparked in brilliant showers of hot metallic debris. Just beyond the control room, the massive emitter of the weapon shimmered in a gold light before sending a beam of energy harmlessly into space.

The moans of wounded personnel filled the room in a morbus chorus. A thin layer of smoke blanketed the interior like a fog hovering over a lake in the early morning. Hux drew in a breath of air. A sharp pain, like a blade piercing his flesh, moved through his body. He bit his lip to prevent an emotional display in front of his subordinates.

A sound like rumbling thunder suddenly shook the room. Hux glared at the sensor station. “Report!”

The lieutenant wiped blood from a cut above her right eye and glanced at the display. “Explosion on level four of the oscillator. Heavy casualties reported, sir!”

“Run a diagnostic on all systems!” Hux ordered sharply. “I want to know the cause of this failure!”

“As do I, General Hux,” Allegiant General Pryde said as his hologram appeared. He studied Hux for a few seconds before continuing. “You inspected the oscillator prior to charging, did you not?”

Hux nodded. “Diligently. I noticed nothing of concern, sir.”

Pryde’s cold gaze was like a spear plunging into Hux’s soul. “I see. We have experienced a rather severe setback in developing this weapon. I demand an immediate investigation as it is apparent your inspection may have overlooked a crucial detail.”

Hux clenched his fists. “Are you insinuating that I failed to be thorough in my inspection? I assure you that I covered everything as instructed.”

Pryde remained unmoved by Hux’s protest. “Apparently, you didn’t, General. Or else we have a traitor in our midst.”

Another defensive response will bring suspicion upon me. Time to change tactics, Hux thought before replying. “I assure you, sir, that I will get to the bottom of this and bring any conspirators to swift and severe justice!”

Pryde narrowed his eyes. “I have a much more suitable individual in mind for such a task.” He motioned to his left. The shimmering hologram of Captain Phasma appeared. “Captain, I expect you to investigate this matter thoroughly. Find those responsible for either the failure or act of treason and bring retribution upon them by any means necessary. At this point, anyone is a suspect until proven otherwise.”

“Consider it done, sir,” Phasma replied in her beautiful voice. Beneath her helmet, she smiled while staring at Hux and thought, Watch your steps carefully. I have you exactly where I want you, General.

Pryde continued to glare at Hux. “See to it that Captain Phasma has all the necessary resources she may require. Carry on.”

Pryde’s glare continued to cut into Hux as his hologram faded. Hux turned his attention to Phasma’s hologram. “You will have all you need, Captain. I assure you of that.”

Phasma offered a nod. It will be a pleasure if I find you to be complicit.

Hux watched her hologram vanish before turning to leave the room. A beep on his uniform’s comlink drew his attention. “Yes, what is it?”

“Sir, General Jerek wishes to have a conversation with you.”, a voice replied.

“I’ll take it in the holochamber,” Hux said with a sneer. “Patch it through as soon as I enter.”

What does he want at a time like this? He silently pondered while stomping his way to the chamber. Didn’t he make enough of a fool of himself in our previous meeting?

Hux stepped into the cavern-like dark chamber and continued to the holoprojector. He paused and watched the blast door slide into place, sealing the room from eavesdroppers.

Jerek’s smirking visage appeared in a gigantic hologram. “Greetings, General Hux. Before we begin, I have gone to great lengths to ensure this transmission has been encrypted to be viewed exclusively by you and me.”

Hux took the bait and lurched forward. “I don’t have time for this, Jerek! Why the secrecy?”

Jerek chuckled. “You never cease to amaze me, Hux. I’ll explain to you why. I know exactly what occurred on this precious Starkiller base of yours…and why it occurred.”

Hux’s face went blank as if someone had punched his abdomen hard. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Hux,” Jerek warned, narrowing his eyes. “You know what I’m talking about. You initiate an inspection of the thermal oscillator of your pet project, and then suddenly, it experiences a catastrophic failure at the most opportune of times. It reeks of coincidence.”

“Are you implying that I have jeopardized this weapon?” Hux growled through clenched teeth.

“Oh, come now, Hux. Don’t be difficult,” Jerek replied with a wave of his hand. “We both share a fateful commonality within our respective commands.”

What are you implying? Hux asked silently. He shook off the thought and glared at Jerek. “We have no commonalities, Jerek! You and I are as far apart as the First Order is from the New Republic.”

Jerek huffed and shook his head. “Are we now? You are greatly mistaken, General. We both dangle precariously on the precipice of self-destruction. Shall I prove it to you?”

The holographic image of the heavily damaged thermal oscillator hovered into view before quickly transitioning into a horrific scene displaying savagely burned bodies of First Order personnel. Various body parts lay scattered on the metal decking like meat scraps in a slaughterhouse.

Hux gasped. “Why are you showing me this, Jerek? I have launched an investigation and have assigned Captain Phasma to track down those responsible for this travesty!”

Jerek offered a smirk. “Perhaps I am conversing with the guilty party.”

Hux lurched forward, his face flaming with a red hue, almost matching his crown of crimson hair. “How dare you insinuate that I am the one responsible for this! I’ll have you up on treason charges for suggesting such madness!”

“I see I have struck a chord with you, General Hux,” Jerek replied, his smirk stretching into a sinister smile. “You’re actions have proclaimed a witness louder than any words you could ever mutter. You accepted the two containment field technicians I transferred to your command without thoroughly investigating their skills and motivations. By First Order mandates, you have committed treason against our esteemed Supreme Leader, which is subject to immediate death.”

Hux held up his hands and backed away from Jerek’s projection. “Wait a minute. Let’s not forget that you are also guilty of treason by transferring individuals to my command with prior knowledge of their sedition. In other words, if I fall, you will fall with me, General Jerek!”

Jerek nodded and stared at Hux. “It is of no consequence. By my accords, my soul is already damned, General Hux. Yours still hangs in the balance. You have a chance of redemption that forever eludes me.”

“What do you want from me?” Hux hissed.

Jerek’s expression went blank. “Execute the two individuals I sent you. That will appease the Supreme Leader. To compensate for your failure to cover up the First Order’s plans for the galaxy, we must use rather creative methods to blame all this on Admiral Prolov.”

Hux’s eyes widened. “How are we going to accomplish that?”

Jerek clasped his hands in front of him and glared at Hux. “Leave that to me. You will know when I have made my move to implement Prolov in all of this when you receive my signal.”

This is insanity. Hux thought before locking his gaze on Jerek. “What signal is that?”

Jerek motioned upward. “Look to the skies for the signature of Thrawn. And be ready, General Hux.”

“So be it,” Hux replied with a sneer. “I will go along with this.”

“Of course, you will, Hux,” Jerek said in a low voice. “Because if you fail to do so, then you will burn just like your men did in the oscillator explosion.”