15th October 3301, 0420 in the private shipyard office on board Jameson’s Memorial station.

“But Sir!”, the confused associate started — he couldn’t fathom the request…. “how can we acquire this ship without working for the <gulp> Federation?”
 “Davon, Trust in the ability and inventiveness of the Empire”, Cmdr von Shadow assured. He had trained this one from a young age having spotted the potential a long time ago.
 Davon was trusted more than most in the Commander’s inner circle, having many times proved his unwavering loyalty following the release from his Imperial Slave bond.
 He almost acted as if he were still indebted, which in a moral way he was, having had almost 3 million Credits worth of debt erased at the single word of this Imperial King. But the Commander had seen ability of both a diplomatic and tactical nature and had wanted to claim him to work on his flagship when the Gutamaya shipyards finally startup manufacturer of the Imperial Cutter.

The associate had recently pulled down a copy of the Pilot Federation, showing nothing more than what was expected, an ever growing ‘Deadly’ total and other solid ranks with ‘King’ Imperial rank standing well above all others. But now, on refreshing the data slate in his hand stared incredulously. This King of the Empire ….. had the rank of Ensign within the Federal Navy Reserves. How was this possible?

“It is a little known fact that in my youth I worked for the Federation, my parents felt it necessary for me to endure the Federal ways to better understand our enemy. 3 long years in the Federal Naval College…..” the Commander looked troubled and pained reliving the memory…”I served and attained this rank. I normally keep it masked through some favours within the Pilots Federation. But now I once again feel it necessary to see how Federal Ship standards have progressed”

The protege stared thoughtfully at the glass of in front of him; Lavian Brandy with iced Water of Shintara, a personal favourite of the Commander. He took a drink quietly, handling the silence knowingly… “Silence is one of the great arts of Conversation” his Commander used frequently. Davon had researched the motto and now finally made the connection of how or why his Commander was quoting an ancient Earth philosopher.

Davon looked at the specification the Commander had requested him order. Medium fighter class Federal Assault Ship, spec’d for combat with no luxuries afforded. An unusual request for King von Shadow, who normally managed to include some niceties. A 66 million Credit spec …. almost exactly matching the sum of several large deposits into the Private Bank of Zaonce that the King used for this kind of transaction. Where had the money come from… and why was it being wasted on some bulky and unsightly Federal ship. What was the Commander up to … Davon knew better than to ask…