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DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based FICTION
All Installations of Star Wars are owned by Lucasfilm and Disney. All Installations of Dune belong to Herbert Properties, Legendary Entertainment, and Warner Bros. And any other references to other works all belong to their respective authors/companies and whatnot.
Alright folks, looks like Single Romance is the name and Padme is the game! Thanks to everyone who voted, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 10:
Queen's Shield
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
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Location: Theed Royal Palace
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 12:21 A.M
The ten of them crouched at the end of the hallway, silently studying the scene before them.
At the far end of the corridor stood the massive doors leading into the throne room. Clustered in front of them were more than three dozen armed terrorists, some taking cover behind decorative pillars while others watched the surrounding corridors for any sign of an attack. Both Cherub-class auto turrets that had once guarded the entrance had been blasted apart, their scorched housings lying motionless on the polished marble floor.
Standing at the center of it all was Iayabella Estrange.
Her hood had been pulled back, revealing her white hair beneath the palace lights. Two reprogrammed B1 battle droids stood directly behind her like silent bodyguards, their E-5 blasters held at the ready.
Cade slowly looked over his shoulder toward the eight Winged Shields accompanying him. "Do any of you have thermal detonators?" he asked quietly over the squad frequency.
The soldiers glanced at one another before one finally answered. "No, sir. We used the last of them a few minutes ago."
"Damn." Cade turned his attention back toward the throne room. "There are too many of them for us to engage in a straight firefight."
No one argued.
They all knew he was right.
"PADMÉ AMIDALA!" The sharp female voice echoed down the corridor, immediately drawing everyone's attention toward Estrange.
"Come out now," she shouted, her voice filled with conviction. "And no one else has to get hurt!" She paused just long enough for a cruel smile to creep across her face. "Well... except you and that vile captain of yours, Mariek Panaka."
"That's not happening, Estrange!" Captain Mariek's voice rang out from the opposite side of the massive throne room doors, every bit as strong and defiant as Cade remembered.
"How about you and your cronies put down your weapons and surrender?" she shouted back. "You can't win! You've attacked the Royal Palace itself! Even if you manage to kill the Queen and me, every last one of you will either end up in prison or dead!"
Even from this distance, Cade noticed movement among the terrorists.
Several exchanged uneasy glances. One woman slowly lowered her rifle. Another shook his head nervously. There was doubt. Not much. But it was there.
Cade's eyes narrowed. He recognized an opportunity when he saw one.
"Everyone," he whispered over the comms, "take aim at Estrange."
Eight rifles silently rose.
Alongside them, Cade rested the stock of his M1 against his shoulder. "On my command..."
"Yes, my lord," the Winged Shields answered almost as one.
Beside him, Padmé shifted her grip on the Royal Guard's blaster pistol.
"Padmé," Cade whispered, never taking his eye away from the sights.
She looked toward him.
"Things are about to get loud."
She gave him a determined nod. "I'm ready, Cade."
A faint smile crossed his face. "I know."
Slowly, Cade leaned around the edge of the pillar until he had a clear line of sight. The sights settled on the back of Iayabella Estrange's head. One squeeze of the trigger. One burst. The battle would be over before it truly began.
"Alright..." Cade murmured.
"Three." Every rifle settled into place.
"Two." No one moved.
"One." He drew a breath.
"Fi—"
"ATREIDES SCUM! KILL THEM!" The shout came from behind.
Cade's instincts took over. He spun on his heel, bringing the M1 around in one fluid motion. Before his conscious mind had even identified the targets, his finger squeezed the trigger.
Five crimson blaster bolts erupted from the rifle.
The first terrorist took two rounds square in the chest. The second barely managed to raise his blaster before the remaining shots tore into him, throwing his body backward into the wall.
The sudden exchange of fire echoed throughout the corridor.
"...What?!" someone shouted from near the throne room.
"Down there!"
"AMBUSH!"
Cade cursed under his breath. Their cover was blown.
A heartbeat later, the hallway exploded into chaos.
More than three dozen terrorists swung their weapons toward Cade's position and unleashed a storm of crimson blaster fire. The corridor lit up as hundreds of bolts screamed through the air, filling it with a sea of red.
"Cover!" Cade shouted.
The entire squad threw themselves back behind the stone columns just as blaster bolts hammered into their previous positions.
Cade, however, noticed something that made his blood run cold. Instead of staying with her followers and directing the fight, Estrange turned and bolted.
"Shit!" Cade hissed. "She's running!"
"What?!" Padmé's eyes widened before anger flashed across her face. "No! We can't let her get away this time!"
Cade looked at her for only a heartbeat before giving a firm nod. "And I won't."
Turning toward his soldiers, he roared over the deafening blaster fire, "Cover me!"
Without hesitation, three Winged Shields broke from behind cover just enough to unleash disciplined bursts of crimson blaster fire down the corridor. Their barrage forced the terrorists to duck back behind pillars, buying Cade the opening he needed.
He took off at a sprint. "Protect the Queen!" he ordered as he raced past Padmé.
The next thing he was about to do was either incredibly brave...
...or incredibly stupid.
"Ah, hell." Planting one foot on the windowsill, Cade launched himself through one of the palace's towering windows.
Glass exploded outward in a shower of glittering shards as he crashed through. He tucked instinctively, hit the stone balcony outside with a heavy roll, and came back to his feet in one fluid motion.
An insurgent standing guard on the balcony simply stared at him in stunned disbelief.
The man never even raised his weapon.
Four crimson blaster bolts slammed into his chest in rapid succession, sending him collapsing against the balcony railing before crumpling to the floor.
Cade didn't break stride.
He burst back into the palace through a side entrance and charged down a connecting corridor. His boots thundered against the polished floor as he approached the bottom of a short flight of stairs that led up into another hallway that led toward the throne room.
Three more robed terrorists appeared at the bottom. They barely had time to shout.
Cade fired from the hip as he ran, dropping all three with precise bursts before sprinting straight past their falling bodies. Sliding to a stop at the intersection, he quickly swept both hallways with his rifle.
Nothing.
"...Fuck!" he growled. "Where'd she go?"
"Quickly!" a frantic female voice shouted somewhere to his left. "That Atreides dog is after me!"
Cade couldn't help but smirk. "Well... I guess it's that way."
He exploded into motion. Years of relentless training propelled him forward with frightening speed. His legs pumped like pistons as he accelerated down the corridor until the marble walls seemed to blur in his peripheral vision.
Two robed terrorists stood guard where the hallway split in opposite directions.
Both spotted him.
"What the hell?!" one shouted. "How'd he get here so fast?!"
The second man's eyes grew wide. "How the hell is he moving that fast?! Is he even human?!"
Both fumbled desperately for the blaster pistols hanging at their hips. Neither managed to pull them from their holsters.
Cade fired twice.
Then twice more.
The four blaster bolts struck center mass, dropping both men before they could even draw their weapons.
Coming to a stop at the intersection, Cade quickly searched both corridors.
There.
At the far end of the hallway to his right, Estrange glanced over her shoulder.
The moment their eyes met, the color drained from her face. "Shoot him!" Estrange screamed, panic overtaking her voice. "Protect me!"
Behind her, the two reprogrammed B1 battle droids immediately reacted. "Roger, roger."
A heartbeat later, the hallway erupted in crimson blaster fire as the droids opened up, forcing Cade to dive behind the nearest marble pillar while Estrange disappeared around the corner once again.
A blaster bolt slammed into Cade's shoulder plate, the impact spinning him half a step as pain shot through his arm. He gritted his teeth but refused to slow down. Planting his feet for just a moment, he brought his M1 back up and fired several controlled bursts. Seven crimson bolts hammered into the first B1, blowing its torso apart and sending it crashing to the floor in a heap of smoking metal.
The second droid continued firing as it marched forward.
One of its shots struck Cade square in the knee plate.
The impact knocked his leg out from under him, sending him crashing down onto one knee. Pain flared through his leg as warning lights briefly flickered across his helmet's HUD.
"Tch! Damnit!" Cade snarled, slamming a fist against his armored knee. "I can't let her get away!"
Forcing himself back onto his feet, Cade ignored the protest from his leg and broke into a limping sprint. He fired another burst as he ran, the blaster bolts punching through the second droid's chest and head. The machine staggered another step before collapsing face-first onto the polished marble floor.
Cade didn't even spare it a glance.
He pushed himself onward, half sprinting and half limping as adrenaline overpowered the pain. Bursting through a pair of towering dark green doors adorned with ornate gold inlays, he emerged onto one of the palace's exterior pathways.
The cool night air struck him immediately.
It carried with it the scent of freshly cut grass...
...mixed with smoke, scorched stone, and explosive residue.
Somewhere nearby, fires still smoldered from the earlier fighting.
Cade hurried down a short flight of marble steps, his boots striking the stone path with uneven rhythm as he pressed onward. Decorative lamps bathed the area in a warm golden glow, illuminating broken hedges, shattered statues, and the occasional scorch mark where blaster fire had struck.
Then he saw her.
A grin spread across his face.
Standing near the smoking crater where the palace's sewer entrance had once been stood Iayabella Estrange.
She wasn't alone.
Two Winged Shields had her boxed in from opposite sides, their M1 Atreides rifles trained squarely on her chest. Neither soldier wavered. Their fingers rested on their triggers, ready to fire the instant she made the wrong move.
"You can't get away this time, Estrange," Cade called out as he limped toward them.
The older woman slowly turned. Her face was a storm of emotions. Anger. Fear. Frustration. Hatred.
Keeping his rifle trained on her, Cade limped down the short flight of stairs and crossed the stone pathway until only a few feet separated them. The pain in his knee throbbed with every step, but he ignored it. His attention never left Iayabella's face.
"A lot of people are dead because of you," he said, his voice cold and controlled. "Innocent people."
"Their deaths are for a greater cause," Iayabella replied without hesitation. "A worthy cause. Their friends and families will understand once my work is complete and Naboo is restored to its rightful state of peace."
Cade let out a quiet scoff.
"Do you think that's what Nute Gunray thought when his battle droids marched through this palace?" he asked, taking another step closer. "Do you think he told himself innocent lives were acceptable losses for a better profit margin?" He watched her expression carefully before delivering the final blow. "Do you think he thought the same thing when your husband and those orphans under your care appeared on his casualty report?"
"How dare you!" she screeched.
She lunged at him with surprising speed for someone her age, but both Winged Shields immediately grabbed one of her arms and yanked her backward before she could get anywhere near him.
"That monster and I are nothing alike!"
"Aren't you?" Cade asked, tilting his helmet slightly. "You both justify your actions as necessary sacrifices for some grand vision. You conspire with criminals. You murder anyone who gets in your way or disagrees with you." He gestured toward the palace behind them with the barrel of his rifle. "I truly don't see much of a difference. Hell, you even reprogrammed Trade Federation battle droids to help carry out your attack."
"I am not the same as Nute Gunray!" she screamed again, her voice raw with rage.
"Tch." Cade lowered his rifle slightly and looked toward the two Winged Shields. "Cuff her and bring her with us. I need to get back to the Queen and inform her that Estrange has finally been captured."
"Yes, my lord," one of the soldiers replied, already pulling a pair of heavy black restraint ties from a pouch on his belt before securing Iayabella's wrists behind her back.
"Yes, Lord Atreides," the second soldier answered.
Cade had already begun turning away.
He stopped.
Slowly...
...he looked back over his shoulder.
The whole area suddenly became very quiet and very tense.
"I'm sorry," Cade said calmly. "What did you just call me, soldier?"
The man hesitated.
"Uhh... Lord Atreides, sir?"
"Uh-huh." Cade nodded once. "That's what I thought."
In one impossibly smooth motion, he snapped his M1 Atreides back onto target and squeezed the trigger. Thirty blaster bolts ripped across the disguised insurgent's stolen armor, throwing him violently backward before he collapsed lifelessly onto the stone pathway.
"Shit!" Estrange screamed. "He knows! Shoot him!"
The disguised terrorist reacted at nearly the same instant, ripping his stolen M1 Atreides around and holding the trigger down. Crimson blaster bolts poured from the rifle as the man desperately tried to cut Cade down.
Cade only had time to register the first man's body hitting the ground before six blaster bolts slammed into his own chest.
The impacts struck like hammers. His armor absorbed the worst of it, but the force still lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing onto his back. Air exploded from his lungs. His vision blurred, and pure adrenaline took over.
Rolling onto his stomach, Cade shouldered his rifle and fired back without thinking. Nine crimson bolts streaked through the air toward the remaining false Shield.
Click.
His rifle fell silent. "...Dammit!"
Rolling hard to his left, Cade disappeared behind a waist-high stone wall just as fresh blaster bolts chewed into the spot where he'd landed. Chunks of decorative masonry exploded overhead, showering him with dust and fragments.
Dropping the empty rifle, he reached for his BM-1.
His gloved fingers fumbled against the holster for a frustrating second before finally yanking the heavy blaster pistol free. As he thumbed off the safety and prepared to lean back out, he heard Estrange's furious voice echo across the area.
"Why did you actually cuff me, you buffoon?!" she shrieked at the surviving disguised terrorist. "Cut these off! Now!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The insurgent replied hurriedly.
However, before the imposter could even reach for the restraints, Cade leaned out from behind the stone wall and fired.
Eight crimson blaster bolts crossed the distance in the blink of an eye.
Every one of them struck center mass.
The disguised terrorist staggered backward as his stolen armor absorbed the impacts before finally giving way. He collapsed onto the stone pathway with a pained groan, his rifle clattering uselessly from his grasp.
Ignoring the sharp protest from his injured knee, Cade forced himself back to his feet with a cry of pain. Keeping his BM-1 trained ahead, he limped toward Estrange.
The older woman had completely lost her composure.
"No!" she cried, stumbling backward. "No! Get away from me!" She spun around and broke into a desperate run toward the smoking crater that had once been the entrance to the palace sewers.
She made it all of three steps.
Cade thumbed the selector switch over to stun and fired.
The blue stun bolt slammed into her side, sending electricity coursing through her body. Estrange cried out before her muscles locked up completely, and she crumpled onto the stone pathway in an unconscious heap.
Cade didn't spare her another glance.
Instead, he continued limping toward the wounded imposter.
The man was still alive.
Barely.
He writhed weakly on the ground, coughing blood inside the stolen helmet while struggling to draw another breath.
Stopping over him, Cade switched the BM-1 back to lethal. The pistol's barrel settled directly against the front of the man's helmet.
"I'm only going to ask this once." His voice was completely devoid of emotion. "What happened to the men and women wearing that armor?"
The imposter let out another wet cough before giving a weak, blood-filled chuckle. "Cough... cough..." He struggled to breathe. "Where... do you... think... dog?" His words came out slurred and broken. "They're..." Another cough interrupted him. "...dead."
There wasn't even the slightest hesitation. Three crimson blaster bolts erupted from Cade's pistol. The first shattered the visor. The second and third punched through the helmet beneath. The man's body immediately went limp.
Silence settled over the ruined area.
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3 Days Later...
Cade stood a few paces behind Padmé on the broad marble steps of the Theed Royal Palace. Gone was his armor, replaced by his usual black slacks, black t-shirt, and dark green vest. Beneath the clothes, however, fresh bacta patches still covered the wounds on his shoulder, chest, and knee. Behind him stood the survivors of the Winged Shields. Of the twenty-seven soldiers who had accompanied him to Naboo, only fifteen remained. They stood at parade rest in two immaculate ranks, their polished armor gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.
The losses weighed heavily on Cade's mind.
Master Sergeant Cooper Jask...
Aurek Squad...
Ten good soldiers who had willingly stayed behind to buy him and Padmé time to escape. They had paid for those precious minutes with their lives, but their sacrifice had turned the tide of the battle. Together, Jask and his squad had killed twenty-three terrorists and three reprogrammed B1 battle droids before being overwhelmed. Without them, Cade doubted he and Padmé would be standing here today.
His gaze drifted over the thousands gathered throughout Palace Plaza. Citizens packed every available street and courtyard, stretching nearly as far as he could see. Holographic police barriers kept the crowd a safe distance from the palace steps while police landspeeders hovered nearby, officers maintaining a careful watch over the proceedings. Surrounding the podium itself stood nearly a hundred veteran Royal Guards, their ceremonial armor immaculate despite many having fought only days earlier. At their head stood Captain Mariek Panaka, her injured shoulder still wrapped beneath her uniform but her posture as proud and unwavering as ever.
Padmé stepped forward, and almost immediately the conversations throughout the plaza died away.
"My fellow people of Naboo," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the sea of citizens through the palace's speakers. "Three nights ago, our world suffered another tragedy. Men and women driven by fear and hatred attacked this palace, murdered innocent civilians, members of our Royal Security Forces, and sought to overthrow the very government sworn to protect you."
The plaza remained silent.
"They claimed to fight for peace," Padmé continued, her voice filled with sadness rather than anger. "But peace built upon murder is not peace. Peace built upon terror is not peace. It is simply another form of tyranny."
Several people lowered their heads.
"I know many of you are grieving today. Mothers have lost sons. Children have lost parents. Husbands and wives have lost those they loved most. There are no words I can offer that will erase your pain, nor would I ever pretend otherwise. But I stand before you today and make this promise: those we lost will never be forgotten."
A ripple passed through the crowd as people quietly wiped away tears.
"Naboo has endured invasion. Occupation. Fear. Time and again, there are those who believe our kindness makes us weak." Padmé straightened, her voice growing stronger with each word. "They are wrong. Compassion is not weakness. Mercy is not weakness. Justice is not weakness. These ideals are what make Naboo worth protecting."
This time the applause began slowly before spreading throughout the crowd.
"Our guards stood their ground. Our police officers refused to abandon their duty. Ordinary citizens risked their own lives to protect complete strangers. In our darkest hour, the people of Naboo stood together, and because of that..." She paused, allowing herself a small smile. "...we prevailed."
The applause became thunderous.
Padmé waited patiently until it subsided before speaking again.
"I know many of you have been asking what became of the woman responsible for these attacks."
The crowd instantly quieted.
"Iayabella Estrange has been captured."
Angry shouts echoed through the plaza.
"Following a unanimous decision by the Royal Court of Naboo, she has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."
The square erupted.
Thousands of voices cheered in celebration. Some embraced family members beside them. Others openly wept in relief. Even the Royal Guards standing around the plaza allowed themselves faint smiles as the roar of approval washed over the palace.
Padmé let the celebration continue for nearly half a minute before raising a hand for silence.
"There is one final person I must thank."
She turned toward Cade. "When Naboo called for help, he answered without hesitation. He crossed the stars, placed himself in harm's way, and fought beside our soldiers as though this world were his own. Without his courage, his leadership, and the bravery of the men he brought with him, there is little doubt our story would have ended very differently."
She smiled warmly. "It is my honor to introduce the heir to House Atreides... my friend... Lord Cade Atreides."
The plaza exploded into applause once more.
Cade looked out over the massive crowd before glancing at Padmé, who wore a knowing smile. "...You planned this," he muttered under his breath.
"I might have," she replied with a barely concealed grin.
Still shaking his head, Cade stepped forward toward the podium as the applause only grew louder. Reaching the podium, Cade stared out over the sea of faces gathered before the palace.
Thousands...
Maybe tens of thousands.
Every street, balcony, and rooftop overlooking the plaza seemed packed with people, all of them looking up at him. For just a second, he seriously considered turning around, walking back down the steps, and pretending he'd never heard Padmé call his name.
'And that'd be a real great look now, wouldn't it? The heir to the Atreides Dynasty embarrassed to give a speech. Yeah.... I can't do that.'
Taking a slow breath, he opened his mouth, not a single word on his mind. "...Uh..."
Then closed it again. He took a second deep breath and decided that maybe a joke would help get him started. So very awkwardly, he began, "...I've suddenly realized fighting terrorists is a lot easier than giving speeches."
The plaza erupted into laughter.
Cade blinked. '...Well, that worked a lot better than I thought it would.'
A small, sheepish smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I'll be honest..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I wasn't expecting this."
A few more chuckles drifted through the crowd.
"I'm... not exactly good at talking in front of this many people." He gestured vaguely toward the enormous crowd. "I'd honestly rather be back on my ship drawing up blueprints, or in a workshop arguing with engineers over why something should be built one way instead of another."
That earned another wave of laughter, a little warmer this time.
"So..." He cleared his throat. "I'll try not to keep all of you here too long." His expression gradually became more serious.
"When Queen Amidala contacted me and asked for help..." He paused for a moment. "...I didn't really think about politics. I didn't think about treaties or alliances or what I could gain by coming here." He looked over at Padmé, who smiled encouragingly. "I thought about a friend asking another friend for help."
Silence settled over the plaza.
"So... here I am." His eyes drifted toward the Royal Guards standing around the square. "Over the last week, I've fought beside your guards. Your police officers. Your soldiers." He shook his head slowly. "I've watched them stand their ground when it'd have been easier to run. I've watched them risk their lives for people they'd never even met."
Then he looked back at the crowd. "And I've watched ordinary citizens do the exact same thing." He pointed toward the people gathered below. "You all proved something these last few days. Naboo isn't weak." The words carried across the plaza. "It's kind. It's compassionate. But if someone threatens your friends or your families..." A faint smile crossed his face. "...you're a whole lot tougher than the rest of the galaxy gives you credit for."
The applause started almost immediately.
It spread like a wave through the crowd until thousands of people were clapping.
Cade froze. He blinked once before awkwardly scratching the side of his head, waiting for the applause to die down. "...Uh... thanks."
That somehow made the crowd laugh again.
When the applause finally quieted, his smile faded. "My Shields and I weren't the only ones fighting." He turned and looked back at the fifteen Winged Shields standing silently behind him. "Twelve of them aren't standing here today."
The plaza grew silent.
"Master Sergeant Cooper Jask. Aurek Squad. The Royal Guards who gave their lives defending this palace. They gave their lives protecting both me... and your Queen." He lowered his head. "So if you're going to cheer for anyone today..." His eyes lifted back toward the crowd. "...cheer for them."
For several long seconds, nobody moved. Then, somewhere near the front of the plaza, one person began clapping.
Another joined.
Then another.
Within moments, the entire plaza erupted into applause once more. It was louder than before. Longer, too.
Before, slowly it began to quiet down until only the faint sound of the wind could be heard.
Then Cade looked back up, and he swallowed before speaking again. "I..." He paused, suddenly finding it harder to find the words. "Thank you."
He looked toward Padmé. "You have a beautiful world." Then back to the crowd. "And after everything that's happened here..." He smiled. "...I think House Atreides chose the right people to call friends."
Another roar of applause rolled through the plaza.
Cade laughed quietly to himself and took a step back from the podium. "...That's all I've got."
He looked over at Padmé with an embarrassed grin. "Told you I wasn't much of a speech guy."
Padmé's eyes shimmered with pride as she looked at Cade. She had known he could do it! She grew worried when he began so awkwardly, but he bounced back! Instead of letting his awkwardness deter him, he had spoken from the heart, and judging by the thunderous applause still echoing through Palace Plaza, the people of Naboo had loved every second of it.
She wanted nothing more than to rush over and wrap him in a hug.
'Oh, Cade...' She thought, barely stopping herself from doing exactly that. 'That was amazing.'
————
Location: Zorbia II
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 3:02 P.M
Kylain Deova stood beside the massive viewport of XQ1 Platform Overwatch, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight beyond the transparisteel. Hovering above the dark side of Zorbia-Luna were the first two warships of an entirely new generation.
The Charon-class light frigates.
Each vessel measured four hundred and ninety meters in length and retained the same clean, angular profile Lord Cade had originally designed. Externally, they looked no different than the schematics he had first drawn months ago. The changes were hidden beneath the armor plating. The MAC was exactly the same as it was in the Halo Universe, as its power held up even in the Star Wars galaxy. The MAC is supported by six missile pod silos carrying a mix of concussion missiles and proton torpedoes. Four twin-barreled light turbolaser batteries lined the hull alongside ten point-defense laser cannons and four heavy port and starboard quad laser cannon batteries, giving the frigates a level of firepower well beyond what their size suggested. They weren't simply beautiful. They looked sleek, dangerous, and ready for the possibility of war at any moment.
Beside him, Karnath folded his massive arms across his chest and grinned. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Savage nodded.
"The first of their line," Karnath said proudly. "The one farther back is the lead ship of the class, the Charon. The second is named the Acheron. I've no idea what the names mean or why the young lord chose them, but they're the names he wanted." He then pointed toward several enormous construction platforms farther out in orbit, where the skeletal frame of another warship was steadily taking shape beneath the glow of hundreds of construction droids and work lights. "As the young lord requested, the first Autumn-class heavy cruiser is already close to twenty percent complete and should be finished within the next several months. That depends on how quickly the droids and workers complete the starship construction platforms."
Savage looked from the pair of completed frigates to the half-finished cruiser and then to the platforms surrounding it. "You mean you're turning out warships even though the construction platforms themselves aren't finished?" he asked, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.
Karnath nodded. "Once each platform reached roughly eighty percent completion, only the secondary systems remained to be installed and calibrated. The primary fabrication systems were already operational, so there was no reason to delay production." He folded his massive arms across his chest as he looked out at the shipyards. "At this point, both platforms only need a handful of systems recalibrated and a few final additions before they're considered complete. If we ignore that work and dedicate everything to the Autumn, my engineers estimate she'll be ready in eight to nine months. If we spend another two or three weeks finishing the platforms first, the cruiser should still be completed in about eight months, with the possibility of finishing in seven if construction continues ahead of schedule."
Suddenly, the Shipmaster's comlink on his belt began to blink.
Savage unclipped it and answered immediately. "Yes?"
"Shipmaster, we've received a transmission from Lord Cade on Naboo."
The stern expression on Savage's face softened ever so slightly. "And what's the news?"
"The operation was successful. Lord Cade and Queen Amidala dismantled the terrorist organization and apprehended its leader, Iayabella Estrange." The ensign paused for a moment before continuing, his tone becoming noticeably more subdued. "Sadly, however, Master Sergeant Cooper Jask and Aurek Squad of Winged Shield Second Company were killed in action. They were killed after the insurgents breached the palace through the sewers and launched their assault in the middle of the night."
Karnath let out a low grunt. "The council isn't going to like hearing that more Winged Shields died under the young lord's command."
"No," Savage replied quietly, his jaw tightening. "They won't."
He remained silent for another moment before raising the comlink back toward his mouth. "Is Lord Cade returning to Caladan?"
"Yes, sir," the ensign replied. "He's already en route. He requested that once the inspection of the next generation of Atreides warships is complete, you return to Caladan. He wishes to make the journey here to Zorbia II himself, but first he needs to report to Duke Atreides and brief the Council on everything that occurred on Naboo."
Savage nodded. "Understood. Inform the crew we'll be departing for Caladan within the hour."
"Yes, Shipmaster."
"Shipmaster Savage, out." The comlink's solid white light faded to gray as Savage clipped it back onto his belt.
For a long moment, the three men simply stood in silence, looking out through the viewport at the two Charon-class frigates drifting majestically above Zorbia-Luna.
Karnath finally broke the silence. "I only met Jask a handful of times," the towering Gen'Dai said quietly. "But whenever morale seemed low, he always had a joke ready to lift everyone else's spirits. He was a damn good soldier, and one day I wouldn't have been surprised to see him commanding Second Company."
Savage folded his hands behind his back as he continued staring out at the shipyards. "He damn sure was. It's a loss not just for his family, but for the entire Atreides military. To have a mind so sharp and a heart so full of zeal cut down so soon..." He let out a slow breath. "But that's war. There's always loss. Sometimes it's the greatest general you've ever known. Other times it's some young lad dreaming of glory who ends up face-first in a mud-filled ditch before he ever gets the chance."
Neither man spoke again as an uneasy silence settled over the three of them.
Kylain remained where he was, his earlier excitement over the new warships fading as he looked back out toward the Charon and the Acheron. For the first time since arriving at Zorbia II, he was reminded that while those ships represented House Atreides' future, they would one day be crewed by men and women willing to lay down their lives just as Jask and Aurek Squad had done on Naboo. The realization weighed heavily on his shoulders. He helped design said ships. And so he would make them the best damn ships the galaxy had ever seen.
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A/N: Welcome to the Tenth chapter of my fic: Star Wars: House Atreides!