Chapter 330
**Dagon POV**
Several minutes passed as I waited in the briefing room aboard the *Finalizer*, pondering the situation. *I wonder why the hell these officers showed up? Or am I just lucky during the holidays? Trakhta said he had a shortage of them… Then where did they come from?*
"Sir, you wanted to go to Anaxes to pick up the officers, didn't you?" Kinaun asked.
"Yes, after the trip to Alland…"
Then, one by one, the same officers began to enter the hall following Grace. I stood up silently while the new arrivals lined up.
"Captain Pellaeon. Commander of the Acclamator-class vessel, the *Equalizer*. Reporting to your disposal," the gray-haired but sturdy man with the mustache saluted crisply. *I've seen him somewhere before…*
"Captain Ray. Landing craft *Zeal*. Sent by command to your command." This was a strange yet colorful black character, almost two meters tall. You rarely saw a black… ahem, Korun, in this galaxy.
But the third one introduced himself more modestly.
"Captain Tarkin."
*Seriously? Tarkin?* Yeah, a recognizable profile… *What's our 'Starman' doing here?* Although… Palpatine's man. That explained everything.
Then a very young boy stepped forward.
"The Prefsbelt Five Naval Academy's early graduation class, sir! Reporting at your disposal! Ensigns Pzaalon, Dakyumef, Ren, Zinj, Kelleman, Wapasi, Serata, Kessler, and Stargazer!"
"Well, they're a bit small… and these ones are just kids!" I stopped in front of two boys of about fourteen years old, who stood out from the crowd with the blue color of their hair.
"Who are you?"
"Sir! Hereditary Count Sauvy Stargazer! Hereditary Duke Kror Kessler!" the boys answered in unison. Their military uniforms and midshipman's insignia contrasted sharply with their angular, youthful appearance.
I turned to Kinaun for an explanation, as the most competent among us. He explained, "Apparently, these gentlemen are from Talienvan-Three. The entire aristocracy there is enlisted in the planet's guard from birth…"
"Well, the rest is clear. It doesn't matter that they have no experience, that they're kids. He's listed as an officer… Well, the staff officers signed the documents without looking." The boys, meanwhile, became despondent.
"And what should we do with you?" I muttered, then made a decision. "You know what, Rernatown. I'll have to take these heirs under my wing. And I will take Stargazer as my adjutant; you get Kessler."
"This is the optimal solution," Rernatown sighed resignedly, clearly glad to himself that they hadn't dumped both "midshipmen" on him.
Turning to Pellaeon — a familiar name — I asked, "Is your ship ready for takeoff?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Then land it on the pad… BD-5 and get ready for loading. Tomorrow we're flying to Alland… Sumeragi, give the orders there — have them load those hundred AV-7s and their ammunition! Next… Tarkin, you're flying with us. Since you're without a ship, you'll remain with headquarters for now. Your immediate superior is Major Lee Noriega. Ray, you report to Admiral Kobayashi. Now we'll take care of you…" I pointed a finger at the two young men. "You and you — step forward!"
"Midshipman Venus Kelleman!" The tall, slender girl contrasted with the short, slightly plump young man with a dandy mustache.
"Midshipman Zinj."
"You're flying with us too. The rest of you, you're under the command of Captain O'Connor. Check them out and run them through Tinsmith. Let's see what they're made of."
Looking around at everyone present, I sighed and shook my head. "So, what are we standing there for? Who are we waiting for? Get to work, gentlemen, get to work!"
The officers snapped to attention and began moving with purpose. Tarkin gave me a sharp, appraising look before following Lee Noriega. The two young hereditary nobles — Stargazer and Kessler — looked both excited and nervous as they fell in behind me.
As the room emptied, I allowed myself a small, tired smile.
More pieces on the board.
More tools for the war.
And more complications I would have to manage.
But that was the price of building something that could actually win.