The Imperial outpost on Bilbringi was in a state of panic. The fleet commanded by Grand Admiral Thrawn had retreated without destroying the New Republic assault force that had attempted to steal a Chrystal Gravfield Trap. Word had gotten around quickly that Thrawn was dead, and chaos ensued as it did at the time of Emperor Palpatine's death.

Invasion warning alarms blared, only adding to the chaos. Few were actually taking up defensive positions, mining facilities being evacuated and the several Carrack-Class cruisers stationed at Bilbringi were being prepared for retreat. Stormtroopers, engineers, Naval troopers, officers, all attempting to cram their ways into the shuttles taking off to the cruisers in orbit. Those that didn't escape had only the choice to fight or surrender to the incoming New Republic ground assault force.

The Lambda-Class shuttles exploded in midair. Turbolaser fire came from above, several Correlian Gunships and Gallofrey-Class transports descended onto the planetoid, escorted by X-Wing and A-Wing squadrons. All those who believed themselves to be fortunate enough to escape on the shuttles died in the blaze of laser fire. The ground forces are all that's left.

An AT-AT collapsed as a Y-Wing's proton torpedo collided into it's side, a flurry of shrapnel and sparks flew from the towering machine. Several ground based turbolaser batteries fired up into the sky, and a Gunship came down. Several bomber squadrons descended on the base, bombing the defensive installations into oblivion. Light laser cannons fired blindly as the sensor arrays on the turbolasers were destroyed. The Imperial offensive was over. The defensive would begin.


"Fabel, put the blaster down." A man in an officer's uniform ordered. "We are surrendering. There is nothing we can do here but die." He looked sullenly at his subordinates, weapons in hands.

"Lieutenant," One of the officers replied in an argumentative tone. "We need to hit the rebels as hard as we can while they're here. We can kill as many as possible and set back their assaults." He said hopefully

"Crewman Kalist, we are not going to fight. This is a pointless battle. It would be better for us to save ourselves for this time and hope we may continue our fight later on, when we can do something relevant." The Lieutenant said harshly, glaring at Kalist. He sat down, and said, "If you want to go off and die, you can. Take your weapons and go to the front lines if you wish to."

Several of the troopers began to arm themselves. "But know this," The Lieutenant continued. "I will not be held responsible for your actions. You are all fools, rushing blindly into the field." His eyes had a glint of anger in them, but at the same time a sadness. "You're going to die if you go out there. Nothing can stop that. Stay and surrender."

"I'm sorry sir." Kalist said. "It's better to die with honor than to surrender in defeat." Kalist signalled for the other six to follow him, weapons ready, armor on. The doors of the barracks opened, they ran out, and they closed again. A door to death.
"Sir." An ensign said. "We will stay here."

He looked at the three remaining crewmen, thanking something or someone quietly as he looked them over. An ensign and two crewmen. "Fabel, you will take command if anything happens to me." The Lieutenant said. "As of this point, we are no longer Imperial officers. You may refer to me as Huff, or Thelcar."

"Yes sir." The three said.

"I am no longer sir either, your commanding officer is now a traitor to the Empire for surrendering, as are you." He glanced at each of them sadly. "We can keep our fight alive later, but the law says we are to be court marshaled if we do survive."

"Alright, Thelcar." One of the former crewmen said. "Do we just stay here? Leave the door unlocked and put a sign up?" He said sarcastically. And to his surprise, Thelcar responded to his idea unusually.

"Actually, Ordol, that is a good idea. At least we might not be stormed or bombed if they know we have surrendered." Thelcar said, unlocking the door and typing a surrender note to be displayed on the keyscreen on the other side of the door.

Ordol Cavi sat down, surprised. He just sat there, silent, for the rest of the time. Mal Fabel on the other hand, began pacing. "How do we know the rebels won't bomb us to hell anyways?"

"We don't." Jerot Ruana said, "We just hope we don't. Now can we all just have a few minutes of silence?" He said, sitting down, closing his eyes.
"Even if we do stop talking, all we will hear are blaster shots." Thelcar said. "We might as well talk, maybe about something-"

Thelcar was cut off as the door opened and several New Republic troopers entered. "You are now prisoners of the New Republic." The Sergeant of the squad said. "Come peacefully and you won't be hurt."

Ordol got up and walked over to the squad. Jerot did so too, quite more at ease than Ordol though. Mal was quite reluctant, and Thelcar joined them. They were escorted outside, into the now ruined Bilbringi outpost.

Kalist's squad hadn't made it ten meters from the barracks. Their bodies were on the ground, an E-Web Repeating Blaster placed another twenty meters forward, obviousl controlled by rebels. The Anti-Aircraft turret emplacements around the barracks section of the base had been disabled too, no turrets or droids swiveling to inspect the wandering soldiers. But they weren't wandering, or walking to a training excercise. They were prisoners.

Two TIE fighters flew over head, three X-Wings behind them. Flurries of red lasers came from the wingtip mounted lasers, and clipped a TIE fighter. A wing came crashing down five meters from the captors and prisoners. The New Republic officers were proffessionals and were not swayed by the crash, and ushered Thelcar and his squad onward.

A ring of Gallofrey-Class transports was waiting for the approaching soldiers. T2b-Tanks were emplaced around the transports, along with plenty of troops with them. Unless the Imperials could get an AT-AT or a bomber in, they couldn't get out of this situation. But those routes were checked, bombers had taken out the vehicle garissons and intercepted any fighters attempting to escape or fight.

The sergeant hit Thelcar with the butt of his rifle. "Get in the ring. Once you're in, you will be transported elsewhere. You scum won't be in my hands anymore." He spit on Thelcar's boot.

Thelcar glared at him, but didn't do anything. Mal dropped to the ground and attempted to kick the sergeant's feet out from under him, but ended up on the ground being beaten by several of their captors. "I'd kill you if it were up to me. Your 'New Order' should die with you." The sergeant said.

Mal got up, and allowed himself to be escorted by the rebels. Reluctantly, he passed through the defensive ring into the New Republic outpost on Bilbringi. So were the rest of the captured Imperials, obviously not enthusiastic about boarding a rebel ship without being in command.

"All right," The sergeant said, gesturing forward. "You're to be assigned as prisoners to Major Goltze." Goltze came forward, several vanguards beside him. The vanguards took the prisoners and pushed them up the Gallofrey's ramps.

Thelcar turned his head as he went up the ramp. There were plenty more Imperials in the ring, all unarmed and looking miserable. Groups were being separated and reassembled, ushered into the transports.

"Imperial prisoners," Major Goltze announced. "Gallofrey one, two and three will go to Carida, you'll be stationed in your own work camps. Let's see how you like it there." He finished without dismissal or anything the Imperial's considered to be standard.

By the time Goltze was finished, Thelcar, Mal, Ordol and Jerot had gotten in the transport. The vanguards took each of them to their cells. Thelcar and Jerot were placed together in the same cell. Mal and Ordol were forced to continue down the lower deck, transformed from a cargo hold to a prison. Eventually, their cell came and they too were imprisoned.

More gray-clad Imperials were escorted into the craft, each cell being filled. There must have been several hundred Imperials in the cargo hold. All going to Carida, the position of one of the largest outposts for the Empire before the rebels got to it. Their positions were reversed now. The Galactic Empire being pushed into the corner of known space, the New Republic gaining ground, and day after galactic day, worlds would continue to turn from their original allegiances.