[i] Onboard the bridge of the "Glorious" Ravager[/i]

"I'm sorry, you'll to run this by me one more time. What are you doing in the outer rim?"
The Commandant grimaced and mentally face-palmed. Ul-tera was a good man and a noble leader, but he could be really annoying sometimes. Why he didn't trust her proffesional judgement was beyond her, as she'd proven on multiple occasions she knew what she was doing.
"My lord," Bal-sha said slowly "We have it on good authority the Dominion is going to make a move on the Tandun System. We have to be there to stop it."
"Why? We have no interests in the Tandun System. We have no interests in the Outer Rim. What differance does it make if a few Independent Systems fall? Why should we care?"
"We should care because it's the Empire. And the last thing we need is more Imperials."
Now it was Ul-tera's turn to grimace. Bal-sha was a capable commandant, but sometimes she got a bit too emotional on the job.
"Commandant, those are our men and women on your ships. I don't want you to engage unless it's necessary. I don't care if the Emperor himself had resurrected and was on one of those ships, you will not attack unless you have to."
"With all due respect, sir, it was the Empire that made Xa-fel the way it was."
"The Empire is dead, Bal-sha." The Commandant shivered at the mention of her name. Ul-tera always called her Commandant on the job. If he was calling her by name, he must be serious. "The successors are not Imperials, as much as they'd like to be. Leave them be."
Bal-sha couldn't keep the childishness out of her voice "But Sir, they might..."
"Commandant, there are many in the Collective who hate the Imperials as much as you. But we have to keep things cordial for now. Currently, they don't have a reason to attack us. Please, don't give them that reason"
"...Fine. I'll keep watch for now. But if they attack us, I won't hold back."
"That's all I ask. And hurry home once you're done. I have something you might like"
The communication screen blinked shut, allowing the Commandant to step back. She hated this. The Empire could take the entire system, and she would have to sit and watch.
"Order the ships into a defensive position, boys" she barked "And wait for the fireworks"