I was born on 8 March 3269 in Achenar as the son of an Imperial Ambassador, and as you might think, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Thanks to my father’s career choices and connections I was left pretty free to enjoy my early years as I pleased.

A few years after my birth the family relocated to Olympus Village on Mars and it really did open my possibilities of living the good life. No need to say that my parents were not too impressed.

My father’s postings took me around mainly federation-controlled systems and I must admit I enjoyed mixing with the locals. With hindsight it gave me a good understanding how those federation softies were thinking. OK, there were of course a few nice persons as well that I met. Mainly women though. The men were just so righteous and full of themselves.

To my shocking surprise (well, not really) on my 16th birthday my father, His Excellency the Ambassador, announced to me that as we were stationed in Eta Cassiopaiae it would be a great opportunity for me to enlist in the Federation navy. Really?

Sure, I do understand his point of view, as much then as now, as he once told me that the only difference between diplomats and spies is that the former do their job in the open and the latter not so much. Nevertheless, I felt he just wanted to plant his pawn in the Federal Navy for his future use.

To everyone’s surprise (probably most to mine) the raw discipline of the FN was welcomed by my restless soul that I actually enjoyed every step (OK, a little lie there) of my basic training (which was miserable) and qualified middle of my class to the officers course.

I didn’t expect too much of the OC at that time but I to surprise my superiors saw potential in me and halfway through the course they reassigned me to the peacekeeping mission which followed the Battle of Biggs Colony in Altair. As we all know, that peacekeeping mission went south pretty quickly and in the ensuing battle my unit lost our commanding officer and 65% of all troops.

With the remaining crews and ships, we regrouped a few light years from the ambush and did some quick thinking which allowed us to move back in, in a true “peacekeeping” spirit and we took control of the system and destroyed the rebel forces, which resulted in us receiving praise also from the Empire.

Following that battle, I was called to testify in front of a Federation committee on perceived war crimes and as I was one of the few officers in the battle of non-federation origin, I was worried they might think I was motivated by vengeance. At the end, I passed and they seemed to value my report on the events.

A few weeks later, I received a short message just saying to report to Admiral Winston’s office at stupid o’clock a few days later. Though not keen on early mornings I went to see the Fleet Admiral, and his welcome was nothing I expected. Not that I expected much. A “how are you” would have been nice but as soon as I walked into his office and saluted him he just gave me his ice-cold look and told me to sit down.

He sounded just like my father.

What he said next sounded even more like my father. He was fully aware of my colourful past in Achenar, Sol and a few other places my father has been posted. He clearly was not impressed. Nor was he stupid. He saw the same potential in me my own father saw in me and which I still had failed to see at the time.
Admiral Winston went straight to the point saying, “Kid you are no hero of the battle of Biggs Colony but in times like these we need people like you. And before getting cocky, you should know I can crush you faster than you can say sidewinder”.

After a few minutes in his office it was very clear that he and my father were very much alike. They both saw me as a pawn in the Empire/Federation power struggle. Both wanted to use me as a pawn in their powerplay in the galaxy. Worst of all was that I knew from family weekends that the two were very good friends. So I decided to play along.

It turned out not to be a bad choice after all. As Admiral Winston’s protégé I was sent to few rebellion crushing operations and other uprisings. The result was that he was able to send me to the Turner Space Combat Academy for high command training.

At that stage, when I was only in my 26 Achenarian years, I was quite happy to play my role as double edge tanto, not really sure who I would have to cut if it came to that. Honestly, I enjoyed too much the perks of being an Admiral while still carrying a diplomatic passport from the Empire. The fast recreational ships and lovely hostesses from all around the Federation that came as perks were of course a welcome addition to my daily life.

Those happy crazy days lasted a few years and then I heard of my father’s sudden death. I’m still not sure if it was natural or political, the latter being often the normal cause of death in the high circles of the Empire in those days.

Having received the news on my father I asked for some personal leave and flew back to Achenar for the funeral ceremony. It was quite a shock to be back in the Empire after spending these last years in the Federation and having seen things from their perspective. I requested from the Federal Navy messaged FN for extending my leave as I needed to find myself again.

After the funeral I met with an old friend I hadn’t heard from in ages and when she proposed lunch, having no better alternatives, I agreed. We went to this small eatery I knew from the old days serving average food but I was more curious about her story than the food they served so I didn’t mind.

Her first word to me froze me. She called me The Admiral. The name I had only used very selectively until now, mainly just to annoy my father for sending me to the naval academy as a child. This old friend obviously knew more about me than I expected. She is slightly younger, and fiery, but also of imperial entitled heritage, and she wound up in the Federal Navy like myself, but for very different reasons, so naturally she looked up to me as a mentor, as she too, was rising up fast through the ranks.

Before we could place our order my friend, Commander Stareynolds, surprised me even more by waiving to a near-by woman asking her to join us. She introduced her simply as Julia.

“So Julia, how are you” I asked. We talked for about an hour or so about petty politics but then she told me she would like me to meet a person she didn’t want to name at that stage but she hinted that it was somehow related to the Battle of Biggs Colony and my father.

That person turned out to be close aide to the Emperor and a close friend of my late father. The following day, when Julia introduced me to him, he told me the Empire was grateful for the role me and my unit played in the battle, crushing the rebels and since then, he and my father had planned on getting me back into the service of the Empire.

He then made me a proposition I could hardly refuse. He would personally see to it that I inherit most of father’s titles, including King of the Empire, if I worked directly for him. The deal was I would be able to mind my own business as a valued citizen of the Empire free of his movements with covert support from the Imperial Palace. In return, I was expected, based on my experience and rank at the Federal Navy, to provide any intelligence, aide and support for covert actions when the Empire so requires. The deal also involved taking Commander Stareynolds under my wing.

While I had been serving in the Federal Navy, I had pledged allegiance to Zachary Hudson but now I felt more than ever that I need to return fully to the Empire so l officially defected from the Federation and publicly pledged to Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval.

Following that I returned most Federation issued vessels but of course I kept a few as I managed to list a few Federal ships as my private fleet with the help of some creative Imperial agents.

It has now been two years since those days and I have enjoyed my life as a space cowboy more than ever exploring, trading and bounty hunting while also occasionally smuggling goods or participating in military operations in conflict zones when the Empire needs that kind of services.

With my life now in order I intend to pursue further exploration of our galaxy with my trusted fellow Commander Stareynolds, who I have now personally recalled to Empire, and go sightseeing at Beagle Point in the near future. Maybe the Restaurant at the End of the Universe is there. To be seen.

Long live the Empire
Commander JKurittu