Fallout: An Empire Changing
Battlelord Ric "Tater" Hunter (Sith) / QUA / House Imperium of Clan Scholae Palatinae
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XS Stock Light Freighter “Holdout” - Outer Rim

Malodin’Blade, Chiss loyalist and partner of Battlelord Ric Hunter, sat behind the controls of the old freighter and kept her on a return course to Seraph. The war had ended but the two members of Scholae Palatinae had missed most of it. They had urgent business to attend to and it had kept them away during most of the fighting. Mal knew that some things had happened but the details were a bit unclear. Ric had been in his cabin on the holonet almost the entire trip back from Dantooine. He knew that major things had happened and knew that Ric would fill him in once he finished.
The cockpit door opened and Ric stepped through. He took his seat and let out a loud sigh. He looked tired.
“So what news from home, Boss?” Mal asked.
“I don’t even know where to begin. Things have changed. I’m not sure of all the details but once I get there, we’ll know much more. I tried to reach Kiera and she was busy on an assignment. Which means that Shadow has asked her to do something. I couldn’t reach Shadow directly. All the calls I have made to the Quaestors office have bounced back. I even tried to check the backlog of Aedile messages with no luck. It seems the war left the clan in a weird way,” Ric leaned back and rubbed his eyes.
Mal had seen him like this before. It had been when he started the hunt for Alex Malone, the rogue Jedi with a large bounty on his head. Mal had worried then that it was going to become an obsession and after recent events, it just might have. Mal knew that they had left at the start of the war because of a tip they had received about Malone and Rics stubbornness had led him to follow it. This time it had almost paid off, they had closed on Malone but once more he had slipped through their fingers.

A Few hours Later - Seraph

The freighter touched down at Imperiums small landing pad. Ric dropped the hatch and made his way to the building as Malodin finished securing the ship and getting it refueled and ready to go again if needed. With the recent upheavals in the Clan, Ric wasn’t sure what kind of situation he was walking into. He took the turbolift to his office and let himself inside. The first thing he saw was the light on his com unit was flashing so he sat and began to read.
The first thing he saw was a death warrant for Empress Elincia Rei. It seemed that during the War she had betrayed Scholae and become a target for Imperial retribution. Part of Ric was surprised but another part of him really wasn’t. The Empress had always had a very good way of making sure that she preserved herself and if the opportunity arose, he could see her turning traitor if it was in her best interest. He knew there had to be more to the story though and he would find out later what it was.
The next message was for him to report to the ISN Retribution as soon as he returned. This message was sent from Shadow and was marked urgent. His Quaestor was on the Retribution? Now that was a strange development. Maybe she was helping the new Emperor settle in to his or her job. He would find out soon enough.
Ric brought up the shuttle schedule and logged a flight to take him to the Scholae Palatinae flagship. He hoped to finally find out everything that had gone on in his absence. Ric sent a short message to Mal and warned him if he didn’t return that he was to get Keira and Major Harkness and flee the system. He had seen purges before when a new ruler came to power in the clan and didn’t want to be caught in one if he could avoid it.
Ric changed out of his armor and settled took a quick shower. He dressed in his robes and attached his dual lightsabers to his belt. Once he was ready, he left for the hanger and whatever waited for him.

ISN Retribution - Seraph Orbit

The shuttle landed on the hanger deck without incident. Ric could feel something in the air, some sort of current that he couldn’t quite pin down. It was a cross between excitement and fear. It was mildly unsettling to be totally honest.
He checked in with the deck officer to log his arrival and was told to report to the Emperors shipboard throne room. Ric made his way to the turbolifts and within a few moments entered the Royal Deck area of the ship. As he approached the throne room, the two Royal Guards blocked his path.
“I was summoned,” Ric said, handing over his identification. They scanned him with the palm mounted sensors and without a word stepped aside to let him pass. The doors to the throne room swished open and Ric entered quietly. He approached the throne and knelt before it. It the shadows, the figure sitting on the throne motioned him forward. Ric stood and approached the darkened throne.
Ric couldn’t conceal the shock on his face as he recognized Shadow Nighthunter. His Quaestor had become Empress.
“My Empress, what shall you have of me?” Ric said as he bowed his head.
“What I have always needed of you. Service and loyalty,” Shadow replied.
“As always, whatever is needed,” Ric felt a bit more at ease now.
“I do have a job for you. I need to to take the Quaestor position in Imperium. Now more than ever, especially after the recent events in the war, we need to be aware of all threats, both from within and without,” Shadow continued. “We need to rebuild Imperial Intelligence and to watch all.”
Ric had spent years with the Intelligence Division while he had served the remnant. He was sure he could fulfil this task.
“Anything for the Empire, my Empress,” Ric replied. He seemed to have a lot of work cut out for him but at least he was secure and not in danger of being purged.
“Now go and begin your work,” Shadow dismissed him with a wave of her hand. Ric bowed and turned to leave. “I know you’ve got this,” She said as he neared the door.
“I won’t fail you,” Ric said as he exited the chamber.

Ric looked over the after action reports from the war and was shocked to see some of the things that had happened. He wished he had been here for it but knew that there was really nothing that he could have done to prevent most of the damage that had been done. All he could do was to move forward and build his network up.
“Let's do this,” Ric said aloud to his empty office.