Space. A place were no life can exist. A place were many species have lost their lives in countless of battles. The Clone War. A bloody war that was meant to be a war for freedom. A war between the Republic and the Separatists. If you would have told someone that the Clone War would come to an end; very soon, they would have told you, you were crazy.
But it did end. The Clone War had come to an end and the great Jedi purge had taken care of almost all Jedi traitors. The Jedi's, traitors to the Empire. They were almost completely wiped out, said for a few survivors… including Obi Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda.
Anakin Skywalker. Once a Jedi, now a Sith. He was no longer the weak and fragile Anakin Skywalker. No, he was Darth Vader. Slayer of Jedi's and the Emperor's apprentice. He was the chosen one—at least, that was what he was told all those years ago by the traitorous Jedi Order.
Many years had passed and the Empire had grown stronger and stronger ever since. But there was the Rebel Alliance. They were the enemy, and they were to be destroyed. The destruction of the Death Star proved that they were a greater threat than first anticipated.
And now he stood there, alone and thinking of his next move, in the bridge of his personal flagship: The Executor.
"Lord Vader?" Asked a voice form behind the dark lord.
Vader turned around, facing the Imperial Admiral with slight anger and annoyance. "What is it, Admiral Piett?" Vader asked, annoyed at the fact that the Admiral had interrupted him from his thoughts.
"We are almost near our destination," Admiral Piett replied, clearing his throat. "May I ask something, my lord?"
"Make it quick, Admiral." Vader replied, crossing his arms.
"I still do not understand why you insisted we leave eighty percent of Death squadron at Coruscant. Without the rest of Death squadron our forces will be-."
Vader held up his hand, motioning for Piett to stop. "Admiral, your concerns are of no interest to me. We have the Executor and three Imperial-class star destroyers. If you think that a Rebel fleet can win against this kind of fire power, then you are wrong, Admiral." Vader turned around and continued to look out at the blue sea which was called hyperspace.
Admiral Piett shook his head and turned around to walk to the command deck. Two Imperial officers stood at the center holo-pad, awaiting their instructions.
"Admiral," one of the officers said, looking rather nervous. "We have a situation, sir."
"What is it now, sergeant?" Admiral Piett asked, walking towards the holo-pad.
"Our hyper-drive seems to be damaged. I am afraid that if we continue any further the hyper-drive will sustain even more damage," the sergeant took a quick glance at lord Vader. "Should I inform lord—ack!"
The sergeant put his hands around his neck, gasping for air as he felt his trachea being crushed. Admiral Piett and the other officer both turned their heads, already knowing what was about to happen.
"You should have told me before we entered hyper-space, sergeant," Vader said as he slowly balled his hand to a fist. "You are lucky this was your first mistake, sergeant." Vader said as he released the sergeant, who fell to the floor, gasping for air as he began to cough furiously.
"Order our ships to leave hyper-space. Have the maintenance crew take a look at the hyper-drive and fix whatever it is that is causing the damage." Vader said as he turned around again. "Make sure it is fixed as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord," Admiral Piett replied, a shiver running down his spine as he watched two Imperial officers—including the one who he was just talking to—helping the sergeant to his feet.
"He doesn't mess around, does he?" The sergeant asked, rubbing his throat. "I'll have to make sure that I don't make the same mistake twice. Or else, it'll be bye; bye life."
"It would be wise to shut your incompetent mouth," Admiral Piett snapped at him, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Have you contacted the other destroyers?"
"N-No."
"Then get on with it! Or do I need to inform Lord Vader of your sloppiness?"
"No sir!" the sergeant replied, activating the holo-pad as three other Imperial officers came into view.
"Yes?" one of the officers asked.
"Our hyper-drive is damaged. Lord Vader has ordered us to exit hyper-space and hold our position until it is fixed." The sergeant replied.
"Of course," the officer replied. "Order all ships to exit hyper-space and hold their position. Prepare a shuttle for assistant maintenance crew to board The Executor."
A muffled 'yes, sir' could be heard.
"Thank you, captain," the sergeant smiled.
The captain nodded his head and the hologram faded.
The crew of The Executor watched as the massive dreadnaught exited hyper-space. The three Imperial-class star destroyers soon followed. An unsettling screeching noise could be hear; echoing through the command deck.
"Perhaps the damage is greater than we thought, Admiral," The sergeant said, getting Piett's attention.
"Then you best order maintenance to do their work quickly, then." Admiral Piett replied as he walked away from the holo-pad, and towards Lord Vader.
The sergeant gulped, nodding his head as he pressed a few buttons on the holo-pad.
"Lord Vader," Admiral Piett addressed the Dark Lord.
"I already know, Admiral." Vader replied, not bothering to turn his head to Piett. "Do you see that?" Vader asked.
Admiral Piett tilted his head in confusion, looking through the windows of the bridge; he saw planet. A planet that had a strange resemblance to Naboo, or even Yavin. "My Lord," Piett began. "Do you know where we are? Because quite frankly my Lord, I do not."
"Check the Imperial data-logs for any information of this planet," Vader ordered.
"Yes, my Lord." Piett replied, bowing his head respectfully as he walked to one of the crewmembers behind one of the many computers. "You heard Lord Vader, find out if this planet is listed in the Imperial data-logs."
The crewmember nodded.
Several minutes passed, much to Vader's annoyance. He really wished he had crushed that sergeant's throat when he had him in his grasp. Vader looked at the planet his ship was orbiting around. It was an unfamiliar planet for all he knew, and yet it still showed resemblance to planets he had been to before. If this planet was still neutral, then perhaps he could descent to the surface and make the inhabitants of said planet join the Empire… if not, then they would suffer the consequences of declining such an offer.
"Lord Vader?"
"Yes, Admiral Piett?" Vader asked, this time turning to face the Admiral.
"I have good—or should I say, bad news. The planet is, in fact, not listed in any Imperial records. In fact, this entire system is not located in any Imperial records as well."
Vader's asthmatic breathing echoed through the bridge as silence befell the bridge. Everyone turned their heads to the Dark Lord, waiting for his judgement.
"Admiral, send a probe droid to scout the planet. And I wish to speak to the one in charge of navigation." Vader ordered.
"Yes, my lord." Admiral Piett replied.
Death was a common thing on The Executor. Mostly because of the failure of some of its crewmembers, who Vader would dispose of in his own way. The ship's navigator was just one of the many crewmembers who fell to the Dark Lord.
Vader had ordered a probe droid to be sent to the planet. And he was now in his meditation chamber, thinking of his next act to get his son to join the dark side. It was not uncommon for Vader to get lost in is thoughts. Sometimes, visions of the past haunted his mind, but he always pushed those aside.
His meditation, however, was disturbed by a very familiar Admiral. His sphere rotated and the upper and lower part separated. Vader's chai rotated as well giving him a clear view of Admiral Piett, who was standing in front of him.
"Lord Vader, the probe has descended to the planet's surface and is currently giving us live-feed of the planet. The planet itself shows resemblance to Naboo and Yavin, just as we speculated. There appear to be life forms on the surface, but they all appear to be animals. No signs of intelligence life have been spotted, my lord." Admiral Piett informed him.
"I will join you on the bridge shortly, Admiral." Vader replied.
Piett nodded, turning around to leave the room. Vader's asthmatic breath echoed through the room. Standing up, the Dark Lord began his 'trek' to the Executor's bridge. As he was walking to the bridge and entered an elevator, the Dark Lord felt the dark side of the Force flow through him. It was because of his hatred. His hatred for his old master, whom he had disposed of. He was enraged of the fact that his son, his own son did not know who his real father was. What lies Obi Wan must have been whispering in his ears. The Jedi were trying to overthrow The Republic, not the Chancellor.
But that's all in the past now. There was no more Republic. There was no more Chancellor. There was The Galactic Empire. The strongest force ever to be known to the galaxy. With an army outnumbering the Rebels a million to one, a fleet that could obliterate any planet. The Empire was the solution. The Empire would bring peace to the galaxy. The Empire was peace itself.
The elevator reached its destination and Vader stepped outside. The Dark Lord finally reached the bridge and watched as the blast doors opened. He stepped inside the bridge, sensing that all eyes were fixed upon him. Suppressing the urge of choking everyone on the bridge, Vader walked towards Admiral Piett, who was currently looking at the holo-pad.
"Ah, Lord Vader." Admiral Piett said as he motioned to the holo-pad. "This is live-feed from the probe droid. We believe we may have found a form of civilization."
Vader looked at the feed the probe droid was recording. He was not impressed… that was, until he saw what could only be described as the biggest fortification he had ever seen. It were walls. Humongous walls that reached over fifty meters in height. This was quite impressive.
Vader turned to Piett. "Admiral, have the probe droid get closer towards those walls. Do not let it be spotted by the planet's inhabitants. You are to be cautious until we have pinpointed what species lives on this planet. Do I make myself clear, Admiral?"
"No need, my lord. The inhabitants of the planet appear to be human," Admiral Piett replied as the probe zoomed in on the top of the wall. And to Vader's slight surprise, there were indeed humans present on that wall.
"It would appear that the humans are using the walls for some kind of protection." Vader said. Turning to Piett, the Dark Lord continued. "Prepare my shuttle for landing. If this system is indeed neutral, I will make them join the Empire."
"And what if they refuse? What if they want to stay neutral?"
"They won't."
"Sir, you might want to take a good look at this." One of the Imperial officers called out to them.
Both Sith and Admiral turned their heads to the live-feed of the probe. To say Piett was shocked, would be putting it lightly. Out of nowhere, a big flash of lighting stroke the ground. Suddenly, an enormous giant appeared out of nowhere. This giant was as tall as the wall itself. No, it was even taller! The humans on the wall had little time to react as the giant appeared right in front of them.
"What is that thing?" The officer asked in shock, looking at Vader. "My Lord?"
Vader said nothing as he turned away from the holo-pad and started to walk towards the bridge's exit.
"Lord Vader, where are you going?" Admiral Piett asked.
"To the hangar," Vader replied. "I expect my ship to be ready. I will call for additional support once I feel the need for it. You will not send in troops without my permission. Do I make myself clear, Admiral?"
"Yes, my lord." Admiral Piett replied.
And with that, the Dark Lord left the bridge, leaving his crew, and the Admiral standing there with confused expressions. Lord Vader was strong, but could he really take on that giant all by himself?