1964, Chiss Territory (Part 1)
A shuttle took off from the Eternal Super Carrier and flew toward Admiral Qiyala's flagship, the Nightdragon-class Heavy Cruiser Sentinel.
Incidentally, the Duchy of Dawn's official shuttle was still the Neimoidian Scyk-class shuttle produced by Haor Chall Engineering, a subsidiary of the Trade Federation. This shuttle model was simply too iconic. Even in the original Star Wars storyline, the Scarab-class shuttle remained in service until the late Galactic Empire.
Of course, the Scarab-class shuttle had undergone numerous modifications. The current model boasted better performance, significantly improved protection and comfort, a more attractive appearance, and a style much closer to the Duchy of Dawn's shipbuilding aesthetic.
Lieutenant General Brent, commander-in-chief of the Second Exploration Fleet, and Captain Keth Maxwell, its deputy commander—a strange pairing whose ranks were worlds apart but whose positions were nearly equal—were aboard the shuttle. They were accompanied by two negotiation experts, one protocol droid, and two attendants.
They had not brought any guards, because Keth Maxwell had said that if a conflict broke out, he could handle it. If he could not, sending guards would be useless. Lieutenant General Brent had considerable faith in this troublemaker's combat power. After all, Keth had thoroughly demonstrated it in the training grounds during the fleet's voyage.
Besides, the absence of both the commander-in-chief and deputy commander of the Second Exploration Fleet did not mean the fleet was undefended. On the contrary, it had become even more dangerous—because the one left behind to command it was a T-series tactical robot!
If Brent and the others were kidnapped or detained, the T-series tactical robot would ruthlessly carry out its preprogrammed combat orders, even if that meant their deaths.
As the shuttle flew before Admiral Qiyala's flagship, Keth Maxwell gazed through the viewport at the vessel, whose design