The Imperial Deputy Marshall sat behind his desk, like on many other mornings here at the starport. And as on some other days he pondered the choice of putting on this red badge he's holding recalling the times he'd threatened to take it off and walk away.
Opening the bottom drawer he takes out some fine Alurian Rum and pours a double. Toasting the picture of The Emperor on the wall he downs the shot, stands up and drops the red badge in the open drawer, pushing it closed with his boot. He walks away, pausing at the door to look up and down the street, observing it's not as busy as some days.
No longer an Imperial Deputy Marshall. Maybe he'd go back to trading. His old ship was still out there plying the lanes under his old crew, dropping in now and then to pay his shares. Maybe, some other day...
...not today though, he had other duties. No longer an Imperial Deputy Marshall he pins on the new badge, the golden Imperial Marshall badge, and the new powers and responsibilities it carries.
Some other day...
January 31st, 2012 12:37 PM