General Rakev
Feb 9th, 2009, 10:04:26 PM
One year ago...
Iria buttoned the last button at the neck of her tunic and folded the collar over, looking at herself in the mirror as she finished her early morning routine. It was something she'd done by muscle memory for years. From her childhood days in the Caridan Military Academy, to her days in the Officer Corps in the Imperial Army, and through her short and bright career, she'd never strayed from her destiny as a military woman.
The pips on her uniform were those of a Colonel, and she'd fought fiercely for them in the Imperial Army. Unlike the Navy, where bright and disciplined women could find easy success, the Army had remained a Boy's Club of a sort. What separated Iria Rakev from her male peers was something in short supply and high demand - Caridan upbringing and discipline. The military caste of Carida had a long-standing tradition of distinguished service across multiple theatres. Even before the Galactic Republic formed its own army, Caridan officers were called on in the occasional and far-flung conflicts throughout the galaxy. They developed a reputation for brilliant thinking, daring initiative, and strict discipline.
The war against the Confederacy had brought the Caridan tradition for martial excellence to the forefront. Iria's father had commanded clone armies, and fought alongside Jedi Knights under orders of the Senate and the Chancellor. By the time that the Republic had become the Empire and the Jedi were cast out as traitors, Iria was already a junior officer. By then, the rich military heritage of Carida was married to a true purpose of Galactic unification. Her early career in the Imperial army was this singular pursuit. She helped to conquer worlds, to secure the homefront, and to pursue the rebellion to the fringes of the galaxy in pursuit of relentless victory.
So how had it all gone wrong?
Iria stared straight ahead at her reflection, awash in a mixture of emotion. How could she not feel pride in her uniform, the symbol of her lifelong committment and dedication to the Empire, and to finally bringing the galaxy together under one rule, as it had been for thousands of years? Somewhere along the line, her zeal and dedication had crossed paths with something ugly. The Emperor's New Order seemed to renounce entire races as disloyal on a weekly basis. Entire civilizations were dispersed, either to work camps, to military colonies, or were even executed. The stormtrooper corps, which she had commanded alongside army regulars, were never fully trustworthy. She'd seen more than a few legions of stormtroopers turn against the chain of command that controlled them, under orders of the Emperor. There was no due process. Comrades she worked with for years were ground under the system with the slightest insinuation of disloyalty.
It all led back to the here and now. Colonel Iria Rakev turned from the mirror, collected her attache case and duffel, and exited her quarters for the last time, dimming the lights as she left.
There was no going back now.
Iria buttoned the last button at the neck of her tunic and folded the collar over, looking at herself in the mirror as she finished her early morning routine. It was something she'd done by muscle memory for years. From her childhood days in the Caridan Military Academy, to her days in the Officer Corps in the Imperial Army, and through her short and bright career, she'd never strayed from her destiny as a military woman.
The pips on her uniform were those of a Colonel, and she'd fought fiercely for them in the Imperial Army. Unlike the Navy, where bright and disciplined women could find easy success, the Army had remained a Boy's Club of a sort. What separated Iria Rakev from her male peers was something in short supply and high demand - Caridan upbringing and discipline. The military caste of Carida had a long-standing tradition of distinguished service across multiple theatres. Even before the Galactic Republic formed its own army, Caridan officers were called on in the occasional and far-flung conflicts throughout the galaxy. They developed a reputation for brilliant thinking, daring initiative, and strict discipline.
The war against the Confederacy had brought the Caridan tradition for martial excellence to the forefront. Iria's father had commanded clone armies, and fought alongside Jedi Knights under orders of the Senate and the Chancellor. By the time that the Republic had become the Empire and the Jedi were cast out as traitors, Iria was already a junior officer. By then, the rich military heritage of Carida was married to a true purpose of Galactic unification. Her early career in the Imperial army was this singular pursuit. She helped to conquer worlds, to secure the homefront, and to pursue the rebellion to the fringes of the galaxy in pursuit of relentless victory.
So how had it all gone wrong?
Iria stared straight ahead at her reflection, awash in a mixture of emotion. How could she not feel pride in her uniform, the symbol of her lifelong committment and dedication to the Empire, and to finally bringing the galaxy together under one rule, as it had been for thousands of years? Somewhere along the line, her zeal and dedication had crossed paths with something ugly. The Emperor's New Order seemed to renounce entire races as disloyal on a weekly basis. Entire civilizations were dispersed, either to work camps, to military colonies, or were even executed. The stormtrooper corps, which she had commanded alongside army regulars, were never fully trustworthy. She'd seen more than a few legions of stormtroopers turn against the chain of command that controlled them, under orders of the Emperor. There was no due process. Comrades she worked with for years were ground under the system with the slightest insinuation of disloyalty.
It all led back to the here and now. Colonel Iria Rakev turned from the mirror, collected her attache case and duffel, and exited her quarters for the last time, dimming the lights as she left.
There was no going back now.