Scene: Interior of a First Order Star Destroyer. A First Order Army officer takes a seat at a desk, apparently well pleased. There’s a knock at the door and another officer walks in.
Captain Arlis: Come on in XO, how are you today?
Lieutenant Fivret: Good
morning, sir, I’m fitter than a Mandalorian helmet, thanks.
Congratulations on taking command of the armor company of the 501st. As
you know, this unit carries on the lineage of the 501st Imperial Legion,
“Vader’s Fist,” so you’ve got command of the best unit in the entire
First Order Army.
Captain Arlis:
Thanks, LT. Really excited to take over this outfit and work with you.
So what I really want to do is start implementing some of my ideas for
training that I’ve been thinking about for a while now.
Lieutenant Fivret: Yes,
sir, I understand that. But as a new commander, you’ve got about 150
appointment memos to sign, for everything from Droid Inspection Officer
to Blaster Maintenance NCO. You’ve also got to get your policy memos out
there. Battalion is really pushing to see your policy in reference to
the consumption of alcoholic beverages, based on the last time one of
our troopers was found operating under the influence of too many
Bantha-blood Fizzes. Had to impound his speeder and resulted in a lot of
paperwork. And then there was the fight that shut down the
cantina…needless to say, you’ll need to sign the memo that places it off
limits, as well as a policy memo dictating the need to respect Navy
personnel and not call them “filthy Calamari.”
Captain Arlis: Oh, okay, yeah, sure, I can get on that.
Lieutenant Fivret: Good,
sir, because you also need to get your command hologram done. According
to your First Order Officer Record Brief, you are entitled to an
additional star on your Death Star II Campaign Medal from when you were
enlisted and another First Order Commendation Medal, so we’ll get supply
to get you hooked up with those. A protocol droid from the S-1 will be
in later to take care of the hologram.
Captain Arlis: Ok, yep, I’ll go do that.
Lieutenant Fivret: But
also, sir, we’ve got that New Equipment Training for the AT-M6 which
we’re getting fielded in the next quarter. That’s a full replacement of
the old AT-ATs, by the way. So you know what that means: new gunnery
tables, new equipment for the maintenance section, reorganization of our
table of organization & equipment. So that’s beginning tomorrow.
Captain Arlis: Wait, tomorrow? But I thought tomorrow was a field day where I could observe training?
Lieutenant Fivret: No
sir, tomorrow the company begins the new equipment fielding and as part
of that we have full components inventory. Which works out well, since
you need to conduct your change of command inventories. And yes, you’ll
have to inventory all of the AT-ATs prior to turn in and then the
AT-M6s.
Captain Arlis:
Got it, inventories until I’m more tired than a Hutt after a brisk
walk. That should keep me busy for the foreseeable week or two.
Lieutenant Fivret: Well,
it would, sir, but you’ve also got your command climate survey to do
for the unit. Battalion wants to know what the feelings are down at the
trooper level, so we’ll be hosting several droids down here that will be
initiating feeling scans on our troopers right after first formation.
Should be able to see the results of that by tomorrow afternoon in time
for the safety briefing.
Captain Arlis:
Safety briefing? What the hell is happening to this force? Back in my
day we loaded up in our walkers and went out and broke things and killed
people!
Lieutenant Fivret: Yes
sir, but then Yavin 4 happened and then our armor failed at Endor, and
so the First Order Center for Lessons Learned has us do mandatory safety
stand-down once a week to examine our armor tactics. Lose a few death
stars, as you know, not to mention all your key leaders, and it’s no
wonder that the present leadership requires safety briefs. Well, that,
and all the lost trooper-hours from twisted ankles when troopers
dismount their walkers improperly.
Captain Arlis puts his head in his hands
Lieutenant Fivret:
I understand, sir. You wanted to come in here and make change and
conduct training, but really, the only thing the First Order needs you
for is as someone to sign things and take the blame when things go more
sideways than a Jawa crawler. It’s not you, it’s the system.
Captain Arlis: Thanks, LT. I really thought this would go differently.
Ah yes, the 'joys' of command...
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