-Coldheart-

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Disclaimer: The Star Wars franchise is property of the Walt Disney Company, and formerly Lucasarts. I do not claim ownership of any of the original storyline or the excellent characters that accompany them.

Rated M for language, moderate violence, and sexual themes.

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In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Just mere hours after the opening of the Battle of Hoth, the Imperial Star Destroyer "Oblivion" has received orders to participate in the orbital bombardment of the icy planet following the destruction of the rebel shield generator during the surface assault. The mile-long warship, commanded by the infamous Captain Stirling Austin Bartram, immediately set coordinates to rendezvous in orbit above the planet and made the jump to hyperspace.

Within the deepest reaches of the Star Destroyer, a squad of Rebel Troopers are held prisoner after being captured during a infiltration mission to sabotage the great Imperial shipyard over Kuat. Following a brutal interrogation of the soldiers seeking other hidden schemes of the Rebel Alliance, the Imperials begin the routine execution of the traitors to the Empire.

On route to the main hanger to be disposed of, veteran Rebel infantryman Deacon Byrne prepares a bold strategy with his companions to turn the tables on the faceless enforcers of the Galactic Empire...


-Prologue-

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"Keep walking, Rebel scum!"

A section of well-equipped Imperial Stormtroopers guided along the group of weary detainees through the seemingly endless colorless passageways of the Star Destroyer. A single file line of five Rebel soldiers, restrained with bindings and cuffs, followed the length of the hallways surrounded by troopers on every side. They were exhausted, injured, and barely able to continue the final journey to their deaths. At the end of the line was Captain Deacon Byrnes, a brown haired man of average height and solid posture.

Byrne's dark blue eyes slowly scanned the corridor, his sturdy arms twitched slightly in anticipation, and his facial features restless. He clasped his fingers against the binders on his hands, and tensed his muscles with each passing second.

He he glanced at the four other prisoners in front of him, and then at the white-clad soldiers beside him. A short moment passed, and Byrne jerked his left foot and touched the ankle of the young man in front of him; he looked over his shoulder; and nodded very slightly.

It was time.

In an instant, Deacon bashed the closest Stormtrooper in the side of the head with his heel. "-Woah!" Exclaimed the surprised imperial covering the rear.

Before he could draw his blaster, the Captain thrusted backwards and clocked the the breath out of the trooper.

"Blast them!" Said another.

The young soldier ahead of Byrne threw himself at his foe- grabbing ahold onto his weapon. The two violently thrashed to the side, causing the blaster to fire a burst of shots conveniently into the trooper's abdomen- "Gahhh!"

The young man ahead of the Captain whipped his hands over his head and around the neck of another Imperial and strangled him.

"Oh, crap! Blast them!" One of the troopers shouted, raising his weapon.