EXT. SPACE -- BAJILON PRIME
Somewhere in the depths of the Arkanis sector sits the crystalline planet Bajilon Prime. In orbit above Bajilon Prime is a long metal cylinder with a clawed torus built around its diametre. This is Akkad 14, a space station built by the Separatists during the Second Clone War. While it has long since been appropriated by the Empire, it still serves its purpose as a way station between the Geonosis system and the greater Galaxy.
INT. AKKAD 14/CMDR. JEFFREYS' QUARTERS
Inside her quarters, buried within the covers of her bed, is COMMANDER SHERIDAN JEFFREYS. A lean, lovely blonde nearing middle age, Jeffreys is locked fast in the deepest, most peaceful sleep.
At that moment, just as Bajilon's blue sun rises out beyond the room's large transparisteel viewport, the chronometre off to the right side of the commander's bed begins to ring a fierce wakeup call. Groaning, she rolls over in bed, burying her head inside her pillows in a desperate attempt to block out the noise.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Shut up, shut up, shut up ...
When the chronometre refuses to comply, Jeffreys resorts to a final desperate act. Reaching under her mattress, she pulls out a small blaster. Turning over, she levels the weapon at the chrono, takes careful aim, then pulls the trigger. A blue stun bolt flares out, catching the chronometre and frying its systems, silencing it now and forever.
Sighing, Jeffreys lowers the blaster. Getting up out of bed, she then meanders over to her desk. Opening a drawer, she pulls out a recorder wand. Raising it to her lips, she turns it on.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Memo to self: Order a new chronometre at the next earliest convenience.
Deactivating the wand, she replaces it back inside the desk.
INT. AKKAD 14/CORRIDOR OUTSIDE JEFFREYS' QUARTERS
The door leading into Jeffreys' quarters slides open, allowing the commander to step out into the corridor. Now showered and clad in her gray Imperial uniform, she is the very picture of no-nonsense efficiency.
Turning on her heel to her right, she begins making her way along the corridor. At that moment the large door at the end of the corridor behind her left slides open, allowing a PORTLY BARABEL to step inside.
PORTLY BARABEL: (grins) Commander Jeffreys!
Stopping in mid-stride, Jeffreys turns to regard the Barabel. Seeing his unwelcome grin, she sighs deeply.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Mr. Kurasij, without the proper clearance, Red Deck is off-limits to non-military personnel.
KURASIJ (PORTLY BARABEL): Yes, this is known to me. What of it?
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Get off Red Deck, Mr. Kurasij.
KURASIJ: You wound me deeply, Commander. Do you regard me so poorly that you'd immediately assume I'd use improper channels to procure access to the command section?
CMDR. JEFFREYS: (sighs) I haven't the time for your games, Kurasij. Get your ass off Red Deck before I call Gardo in to haul it off to the brig!
KURASIJ: (takes a step forward) Surely, Commander --
Reaching to her side, Jeffreys pulls out her comlink. Raising it to her lips, she activates it.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Gardo?
GARDO: (O.S.) Commander?
KURASIJ: (raises his hands up as he takes a step back) Nevermind, Commander. I can see you are a busy woman. Perhaps we can establish a dialogue at a later date, yes?
Wasting not a single split-second, the Barabel departs Red Deck.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: (into the comlink) Nevermind, Gardo. False alarm.
Deactivating the comlink, the Commander resumes her walk.
INT. AKKAD 14/COMMAND CENTRE
The doors leading into the command centre slide open and Cmdr. Jeffreys steps inside. Within the circular room several men, women, and beings of indeterminate gender man their stations, each monitoring the interstellar space beyond them for incoming ships or communications. Installed in the wall before them all is a large viewport looking out into the star-studded darkness of the Bajilon system.
OFFICER #1: Good morning, Commander.
Walking over to her station, Jeffreys takes a seat.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Morning? There is no morning in space, Daneils.
DANEILS (OFFICER #1): Of course not, Commander.
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Daneils?
DANEILS: Yes?
CMDR. JEFFREYS: Be a good boy and fetch me a mug of caf. I'll never be able to think straight if I don't get some caffeine into my system ASAP.
DANEILS: Right away, ma'am.
Leaving his station, Daneils hurries to grab the commander a cup of caf.
EXT. SPACE
Out in the blackness of space, past Bajilon Prime and the space station, a large starship emerges from the depths of hyperspace. Unseen, the ship moves toward Akkad 14. Coming upon the station, the starship casts a vast, overwhelming shadow over the much smaller habitat.
INT. AKKAD 14/COMMAND DECK
OFFICER #2: Commander, a cruiser's just emerged right on top of us from hyperspace! It's a --!
EXT. SPACE -- BAJILON PRIME
Red turbolaser blasts lance out from the unseen cruiser, striking Akkad 14 dead centre. Unable to withstand firepower of such magnitude, the station's deflector shields wink out. Before another moment can pass, Akkad 14 explodes into a raging fireball, killing everyone aboard instantly.