A Most Sacred Honor

Posted on Sat Jan 24th, 2026 @ 4:36am by Captain Reina Akikawa

1,129 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Remaining Steadfast
Location: Kuat Ship Yards
Summary: Captain Akikawa boards the ISS Steadfast.
Timeline: MD0 - 1200 Hours

The pulsing rhythm of an old Terran Military march played over the speakers of the old shuttlecraft. Reina Akikawa sat in one of the jump seats in the rear of the small craft, eyes closed, taking in the rhythm and the power that it projected. Only those who truly understood the importance of projecting power could understand the significance to the tune.

Reina's shuttle had only lifted off from the surface of the planet Kuat within the hour. Before that. Reina had collected her few permitted personal effects from the barracks where she had been staying while her command had been formalized. Now that it was official, Reina was on her way to see the ship that for so long only existed in works of propaganda, but now, was as real and tangible as the craft that Reina sat in.

Her thoughts and musings were interrupted by a message over the comms:

"Captain, we are approaching the Steadfast." An English accented voice called out.

Opening her eyes, Reina rose from her jumpseat, which folded back into the unused position. Adjusting her uniform to make herself look presentable, Reina shut her eyes briefly, and muttered "For the Order." to herself in her own English accent before stepping forward into the cockpit.

The cockpit of the old shuttlecraft was cramped, to say the least. Though the shuttlecraft had been well-maintained by the Order, or at least as good as they could with what they had, there was a reason why this century old workhorse had been retired from frontline service, though still perfectly capable of serving the Order in an auxiliary capacity.

Reina stood behind the young pilot at the controls and stared out of the cockpit windows. Looming into view, there she was: The Imperial Starship Steadfast. The newest Galaxy-Xyston class Star Destroyer. Proudly bearing the name of two of the Terran First Order's founding vessels. She looked as beautiful and deadly as she did in Reina's dreams; her subconscious filling the blanks of the propaganda.

"The Order must be placing a lot of faith in these Galaxy-Xyston ships." The pilot commented. "If they're willing to give one the name of Palpatine and Pryde's flagships."

"The true Heir to the Empire." Reina agreed. "Take us in to dock."

As the pilot maneuvered in to dock, the shuttle flew low over the Steadfast's saucer section, allowing Reina to take in the full scale of the technological marvel that the Order had built: The ship's name and registry easily outclassed any other that Reina had seen. The ship's yellow markings and its impressive arsenal showcased the true might of the Terran First Order, and projected it as something to be feared. At last, the shuttle arrived at the aft of the saucer section, smoothly gliding through the shuttlebay's forcefield and touching down.

Once they had touched down, Reina turned and left the cockpit, grabbing her bag from near her folded up seat as the ramp folded down. Slinging it over her shoulder, Reina stepped down the ramp as the new ship smell met her nostrils. Already, several officers had lined up as the shuttle's ramp had opened, and when Reina emerged, they stood to attention and saluted her.

For a moment, Reina stood on the ramp, observing the shuttlebay and the goings on around the shuttle. It appeared as if these officers had lined up of their own free will, and no person in charge was in sight to greet her and give her the tour.

"You there:" Reina pointed to the nearest officer to her left. "What is your name, rank, and position?"

"Lieutenant Myles Grint, Engineering Officer, Ma'am." The portly officer responded.

"Well, Lieutenant;" Reina said, perking a curious brow. "Are you the one in charge around here?"

"No, ma'am." Grint replied. "Foreman Aresko is a busy man. He doesn't have the time to be showing people around."

"For a ship as important as the Steadfast, I'm surprised that Aresko didn't make time..." Reina voiced her displeasure clearly. "But, no matter, I suppose I'll just have to show myself around, then."

Grint seemed as if he was ready to apologize when Reina spoke again.

"Well, don't just stand there: Get back to bloody work!" She ordered sharply.

"Y-yes, ma'am! Sorry, ma'am!" Grint quickly saluted before making himself scare, rejoining the team overseeing the delivery of supplies to the Steadfast.

Reina turned to the rest of the gathered officers, bag still slung over her left shoulder:

"As for the rest of you, if you do not know my name, you will learn it if you are assigned to this vessel: I am Captain Reina Akikawa, commander of this Star Destroyer. You will follow my orders without question or hesitation. If you do not follow orders or show loyalty to the Order, your time on this ship, and in the Order as a whole, will be short." She paused to let her words sink in. "However, if you do follow orders and show loyalty to myself and the Terran First Order, you will be handsomely rewarded. We are all soldiers of the First Order! We serve the Supreme Leader and are the heirs to the Terran Empire by birthright! FOR THE ORDER!

The whole room saluted, and the words 'For the Order!' echoed through the shuttlebay.

"Dismissed!" Reina called with a sharp nod.

As the gathered officers began to disperse, Reina began to walk confidently towards the exit of the bay, depositing her bag into the hands of an officer who volunteered to deliver them to her personal quarters. Getting his name and rank, of course, on the off chance her personal effects didn't show up. Reina's first stop was the bridge. Her bridge. After that, she would see about setting up her ready room before finally setting up her personal quarters.

Entering the turbolift, Reina called out "Deck One." Initiating the turbolift's ascent towards the indicated deck, which housed the main bridge. The Steadfast had a second, smaller bridge to be used as part of a new tactical mode called 'Saucer Separation.' Though the name didn't sound quite as impressive as 'Multi-Vector Assault Mode', Reina nonetheless wanted to try out the new mode. If anything, to prepare her new crew for the scenario when they would need to use it.

The turbolift's ascent slowed and eventually completed. The doors swooshed open. Her bridge was waiting for her: Reina Akikawa was about to take command of the First Order's technological terror, wondering how her name might be etched into the history books when the Terran Final Order would be brought about:

Posting by

Captain Reina Akikawa
Commanding Officer
ISS Steadfast

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