Epilogue

[Fel]

Fel threw his helmet on the floor of his temporary quarters. The helmet was made of strong stuff, but the deck of an Imperial Star Destroyer was just a little bit tougher. The helmet skipped off the floor, bounced, and came to a stop.

After all this time, he had hoped for at least SOME answers. He'd had twelve straight hours of debriefing. Instead of answers, it was questions. Questions. Questions. Questions! Tell us more about this. Explain this. What happened when...

Still no answers.

Four of his squadron had died on this mission, and he had no answers for why they had died. Yukostra, Arkada, Wistalin, and Gann. Yes, technically two of them were missing in action, but that was well known to be fleet-speak for "dead, no body found". Terix had been seriously wounded ejecting from his fighter, and it was doubtful he would ever fly again. Some injuries cannot be healed with bacta.

Others had been luckier when ejecting. Renzen had been picked up in a hurry. And on the flight deck after the mission, he sent so much time grinning at one of the Imperial Security Bureau agents on the floor there that Fel was certain that Renzen had been ISB, and that other officer was his superior. Obviously Renzen was not expected to return.

Actually, in Fel's opinion, Renzen was enough of a pain in the neck that he would have understood his superior's desire to see the guy thrown down a reactor shaft, or play catch with blaster bolts. It seemed so unfair that he made it back, but not Arkada, who was a promising officer.

Speaking of not being expected to return, the other thing weighing on Fel's mind is how upset Grand Admiral Daemon was with him. No doubt over the destruction of the Interdictor cruiser. Fel figured he had best prepare his dress uniform for the court martial. If only these were his quarters...

For the moment, anyway, Fel attempted to sleep. It was difficult, but his exhaustion after twelve hours of debriefing helped in that regard. He fell asleep shortly after getting into his bed...

==========

"Lieutenant?"

Fel bolted upright in bed. Someone in the quarters! His eyes a bit blurred, he fumbled around for his blaster, but it was too far away. "What? Who are you?"

Seated in the chair in the working space of the quarters was an officer wearing black. "You may call me Kardock."

"Kardock?!? THE Kardock? Whom we just rescued?"

"The same."

Fel was at a bit of a loss for what to say. "I assume that Sapan and Irinek gave you an acceptable ride back then..."

"They did. But that's not why I am here. Not really." Kardock's deep voice seemed quiet in the silence of Fel's quarters. "I wanted to thank you for the rescue. It was most appreciated..."

This sort of thanks by Imperial Intelligence was highly irregular. Most of the time members thereof would never identify themselves... "You are most welcome, sir..."

Kardock interrupted. "I recognize, for obvious reasons, what an undercover operation entails. It is my determination that you are entitled to some answers to your questions, provided they do not compromise any additional operational security."

"Thank you, sir... I..."

Kardock interrupted again. "You no doubt wish to know who I am. I can only tell you that I am Kardock and with Imperial Intelligence. I am obviously a person of serious importance within II."

"The Rebels had some secret Force weapon that we apparently knew wasn't going to work. So were we really there to investigate, or was this just a really elaborate rescue?"

"A rescue. The Force weapon was a ruse. The Rebels are more than a little obsessed with The Force as the solution to all their problems. Look at how many acolytes Skywalker has. All of that about how the Force was more powerful in the past? Simply the fact that legends are distorted as time passes. Deeds seem greater as the years go on."

Fel wondered, "Was that particular plan some way of signalling your capture?"

"Yes. We chose something that would seem so exciting to the Rebels that it would circulate through many committees. The farther it travels, the more likely it reaches the ears of II. There is a saying: If more than two beings know of a secret, it is not a secret anymore."

Fel nodded. "So knowing that the Rebels couldn't keep this under wraps, you 'released' it while under interrogation, and the Rebels thought they had seized the Sabacc pot..."

"Correct. As you can see, this was effective."

"Why then could we not have performed a standard rescue mission? We have done so before for other officers," Fel said.

"Too risky. My importance in Imperial Intelligence is... significant... and a frontal assault posed several risks. I could be killed in the assault, either intentionally by the Rebellion, or unintentionally by the assaulting forces. Also, it is clear that the Rebels were unaware of my exact importance to the Empire. That sort of rescue operation would have almost certainly revealed my status to them. Obviously undesirable."

"Obviously," Fel agreed. "Why was I chosen for this assignment?"

"We needed a competent Lieutenant with a good record," Kardock said.

"Yes, of course, but why me and not Steel? Or Tirion? Or...?"

Kardock smiled. "We also needed someone who is not a superstar. People notice when someone like them defects. They are brilliant pilots. It would be a much harder sell to the Rebellion that they wanted to defect. You, on the other hand, are a much more likely candidate. Credibility is everything."

"Understood. One more question - am I facing court martial, and therefore execution, for the destruction of the Red Claw-II?"

"Nominally, yes. But don't worry about that - it will get taken care of. I shall see to that." Kardock paused a moment. "Any further questions, lieutenant?"

"Just one more. Are you the head of Imperial Intelligence?" Fel could not keep the question in.

"I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you." Kardock paused as Fel grimaced. "That was a joke, Lieutenant. I cannot tell you. Well, now I must be going, but your work for the Empire is appreciated, Lieutenant." And with that, Kardock got up and left the quarters.

Something about his demeanor told Fel the answer was... yes.

==========

True to Kardock's word, no court martial was ever convened to try Lieutenant Fel for the destruction of the Interdictor cruiser. A classified inquiry was concluded, but it was done strictly as a formality. No charges were brought, and the craft was designated "destroyed in the line of duty." All officers aboard received posthumous commendations for bravery.

Despite that, Grand Admiral Daemon thereafter always seemed somehow displeased with Fel, and the loss of the Red Claw-II was always under the surface of their interactions, until the day when the Grand Admiral went missing...

The mission to rescue Kardock was officially suppressed from the record, and all officers involved were sworn to secrecy on the matter. No officer wears a medal or award from this, and they must content themselves with the knowledge that their contributions were worth it for the glory of the Empire...

As for what happened to Kardock... that information is classified.