The End of the Imperial Fleet

On the planet of Balderann, in a city called Stonepool, a few Galactic beings were having a drink in a very cosmopolitan bar with a wider variety of Humans, Draxs and other creatures that liked a beer and bar-atmosphere. It was evening and the patrons were dressed in typical drab but comfortable gear, typical of the middle-classes of the Galactic Empire. A young man, Adrian, and a friend of his he had recently met, a Drax named Larry, were playing Electro-Darts.

Adrian was a dark-haired human who spent much time in the local bars. He was chatting with Larry as they played and sipped their drinks. 'This is a good type of beer we have here! Better than normal. An old Dantooine Ale, you ought to remember that one!' said Adrian. 'Although I have heard that is mostly because of the sailors of the Imperium that have landed. We need to make an impression. Though I do wonder why they are here.'

I must say that is typical of you middle classes. The Galaxy is in turmoil after having been under a vicious Dictatorship and you wonder about beer!'

'Well, none of us love the Empire but we are a bit cut off here in the North-Eastern rim. Enough so that the various Galactic wars mean little to us.'

Larry finished his ale. 'All I can say is that you've been very lucky so far,' he concluded. Larry was a Drax, common enough in those sectors of the Galaxy. He was a bit shorter than a human, dark skinned and with more hair, in particular on his face. That was a depressing note to end the evening, thought Adrian. But as he recalled, a lot of the Galaxy had been facing dark times in recent years.

Later that day, Adrian was doing some shopping in one of the local markets. Adrian was wondering whether to buy a punnet of strawberries or local fruit grass. The buildings were low-built and of round metal. Patchy grassland surrounded his home city. Adrian's friend Mandy, a girl who ran the local market stall, said to him, 'Say, isn't that your friend, Larry?' So it was and Adrian went over to say hello. Larry looked grim.

'I'm not sure I'm going to be very good company today. I've got a lot on my mind. And stuff to do.'

Adrian responded to these gloomy statements by slapping the slightly furry creature on the back. 'Oh don't be so miserable. Maybe we could have a drink! It could be a cold day.' He smiled.

'Hold it!' said a gruff voice. Two Imperial soldiers of the former galactic government, which still controlled much of the outlying areas of the galaxy, stood opposite the pair in an intimidating manner. 'What do we have here? Scum, let's see your identification,' the soldier ordered. The Governing Imperial Empire were very pro-human and even intelligent creatures like Larry were often subject to brutal treatment. Adrian had a more enlightened opinion, but he was a little shocked at his first witness of Imperial brutality. Still, many were.

One Stormtrooper prodded Larry's chest with his rifle whilst the other pondered the ID. 'Is it correct, looks like it, but so what? I don't like Draxes. Not after the battle of Bothan. And I am in a bad mood. Let's just kill him anyway.' They pointed their blasters at Larry.

'Hold on,' objected Adrian in the rather crazy optimistic idea that he could reason with the two. 'I can vouch for this man, he's done nothing wrong!'

The Stormtroopers laughed. 'Man?' said one, 'An odd looking man!'

'And why should we believe you anyway?'

'Come on, he is human at least,' one of the Imperials argued.

'Still, let's at least break a limb or two from this boy, he is annoying!' the other decided, and Larry was violently thrust back against a wall. Adrian then decided that enough was enough, the Imperials were going way too far and so he would help his friend, though he realized he had little in the way of weaponry. A viroblade for his cooking was about it really. Not much use against crack Stormtrooper blaster rifles.

The next happened in a blink. From nowhere Larry produced a blaster and fired at one of the Stormtroopers. Adrian gave the other one a mighty shove.

'Someone get that furry maggot!' a Stormtrooper cried, but Larry was out and away.

There were other Stormtroopers around and they were in communication. Adrian heard one say, 'And we'll have that scum-loving friend of his and all!' Some of the Stormtroopers raised their rifles at him and in the busy marketplace Adrian wondered if he should surrender. This would not have been a wise option as the Imperials would have taken him to one of their prison planets were Adrian wouldn't have lasted long.

Adrian heard a whisper, 'Here son, follow me.' He saw Larry crouched low in a nearby alley. Adrian made a six-meter dash to cover as the Stormtroopers fired at him. 'Come on, with me!' Larry whispered. 'I imagine I can give these guys the slip!' Adrian was forced to follow the Drax along the stony streets of his town, chased by Imperial troops.

But Larry was correct about the Stormtroopers not following them. The two hid behind a rock then, when all was clear, slipped out of town. Adrian saw in the sky above a large, metallic, triangular Imperial warship fly slowly over.

'They were a bit harsh on you I thought,' said Adrian sympathetically.

'Yes, I thought those IDs foolproof. But perhaps they just didn't like me. They are a bit like that; Stormtroopers have a sixth sense. Perhaps they can sense that I am here on the run. I have a past I haven't shared with you.' Larry was referring to his various run-ins with the Imperial authorities that had included full-scale fights. Adrian had heard of the freedom fighters that had fought so heroically against the evil and dictatorial might of the Galactic Empire.

'You with the Rebellion?' asked Adrian, wide-eyed.

'Ex-Rebellion. They are the galactic Government now remember.'

'Not around here. We're in Imperial territory.'

'Anyway, I suppose I was kind of with the Rebellion. Though actually, I mostly fought my own war… with my own rules.'

'I hold no love for the Empire, even in its current form. But we are deep in its territory; there is little we can do.'

'You might find out what you can do! And you're probably better off sticking with me now.' Adrian thought he could see bitterness in Larry's eyes. 'Drop down, there's a probe coming!' Larry said as a searching Imperial probe buzzed overhead. There was a beep and Larry pulled out a communicator. He didn't reply with much more than a 'Thank, you Leia!' and put it away, switching it off quickly. 'I would have liked to have talked longer, but you never know who is listening. Do you know I had to buy an entire new device, one normally used by a native of this world to blend myself in? But I did get useful information on the Imperial fleet, thanks to my partner…'