Chapter 2 – Strategizing

As soon as the Emperor's orders had been given, Piett commanded the fleet to disband. The only Star Destroyers to remain with them were the Avenger, the Torrent, the Devastator and the Eliminator. Once the Emperor's coordinates had been sent to the ships, the small armada made the jump to light speed, coming to a stop on the edge of the Unknown Regions.

Their first sight of the planet they were to conquer appeared through the Executor's viewpoint as they exited hyperspace. Piett and the rest of the bridge crew stared in awe as the gigantic sphere of shifting colours hung before them in the blackness of space. Its landmass was divided into two continents: the west was covered in green with a snow caped top, while the east was home to vast stretching deserts. Piett had seen many planets during his time in the Imperial Navy but this one was different somehow. He supposed it was just the pure mystery of the place, an undiscovered land, untouched and unspoiled, waiting to revel its secrets to the Empire. The thought gave Piett a small shiver of excitement. But the Admiral knew better than fantasizing. He had a mission.

Once all four ships arrived, Piett ordered the Star Destroyers' captains and all superior army officers on board to the Executor's bridgefor a briefing. Within minutes, the Imperials stood around the bridge's holotable. Piett took his place next to General Veers and cut right to the chase.

"I take it you have been briefed on the Emperor's instructions?" The officers nodded in reply. "Good."

The Admiral gestured to a black plated protocol droid who activated an image of the planet in the middle of the holotable. "We have been tasked to capture this planet for a new weapons program. From what we know it has a primitive society with no advanced technology. Pulse wave scans tell us that the landmass is split into two densely populated continents, equalling to a population of fifty-five million. If we are to complete our mission, we must work out our strategy." Piett turned to address Veers. "General, what is the status or our troops?"

"Five legions, totalling to sixty-four thousand Stormtroopers, plus a full division of AT-ATs supported by AT-STs and hover tanks," the General reported. "As well as fifty heavy cannons for artillery support and two mobile HQs for base operations."

"Sixty-four thousand men to subjugate fifty-five million people?" one of the captains inquired. Piett recognised him as Captain Vernon, who had replaced the late Captain Needa as commander of Star Destroyer Avenger. "Even with all our men and weaponry this will be no easy task."

"Primitives armed with little more than sticks, most likely," another captain put in. It was Captain Senlac of the Star Destroyer Devastator. "They'll be no match for Imperial Stormtroopers."

"It is not their capabilities that are an immediate threat, Captain Senlac," Veers told the man. "We will be stretching our troops thin to police a population that size. Which is why we must demonstrate a grate show of force once we land, to brake the natives will and drive them to a permeant state of fear. Admiral, may I?"

Without hesitation, Piett stepped aside to let Veers fully take up the briefing. They had discussed earlier that it was probably best for Veers to handle all ground operations. Piett felt somewhat relieved: being further away from the action meant being further away from Lord Vader. The Admiral suddenly realized that Vader hadn't joined them. He saw the Dark Lord staring out of the viewpoint at the planet, oblivious to the ship's ensigns working around him, as if the planet had some kind of hypnotic hold over the great warrior. Piett concluded that Vader would join them in his own time and returned his attention back to the briefing.

The 3D hologram of the planet had been replaced by a flat image of the two continents. The General continued. "Here is my plan: The eastern continent is sparsely populated, nothing but hostile deserts for miles. The western continent has a more tolerable environment, with more resources available to us. So, we land on the northern regions of the western continent while our ships launch aerial bombardments on the east and south. Once our base is established we will deploy our forces across the planet to subdue any survivors."

"General, if I may interject." All eyes turned to a young man wearing the black uniform of a Stormtrooper Corps. officer. His uniform bore the rank indicator of colonel. "As we know nothing of this world, doesn't it make sense to secure the cooperation of the natives. Just bombing the populace won't guarantee that. If anything it will make them resent us even more."

Veers was stunned. He was clearly not used to having anyone speak against him, least of all his own officers. And here he was, being talked up to by an officer who look so young he could only have been out of the Imperial Academy for two years.

"Are you suggesting we work with these savages?" Captain Senlac demanded.

"Of course not!" the young man shot back. "But maybe we can get them to work for us."

"A sound notion, Colonel." Everyone jumped with at start at that rasping voice. Darth Vader had joined them at last. "Getting these primitives help would be most beneficial."

"Thank you, Lord Vader." The young officer bowed his head in thanks.

All officers around the holotable were stunned to silence. Darth Vader, the great and powerful enforcer of the Empire and its Emperor, who was infamous for killing a man over the mildest of inconveniences, had just agreed with a lowly officer. They all paused to take in this miracle. Piett took this time to study this young man. He was of medium height, with straight facial features and piercing blue eyes. Despite his youth, he stood with the air of authority usually displayed by an officer ten years his senior.

"What is your name?" Vader asked, breaking the silence.

"Zellaby, my Lord. Colonel Jan Zellaby."

Vader slowly nodded in acknowledgment. "You may continue, General," he suddenly said to Veers.

"Ah… of course. Where was I? As Colonel Zellaby pointed out, acquiring the natives help may be of benefit to us." He fixed Zellaby with a cold glare as he spoke. "Therefore we will postpone bombing until we have established a strong foot hold. As for landing on the planet…"

"I will take charge of the first wave," Vader interrupted. Veers did not dare respond. "One Star Destroyer will enter the atmosphere with an advance force. General Veers, you will take charge of the walkers and tanks. Colonel Zellaby, you will command the ground troops." Veers' glare became more envious as the colonel accepted his duty. Vader continued, pointing at a spot on the southern area of the western continent that scans had identified as some kind of city. "This is where we will make our land. A strong show of force in a populated area will let these primitives know not to cross us." He turning to one of the four captains. "And your Star Destroyer will be the one to lead our attack, Captain Yareli."

The only female officer around the holotable stepped forward. She looked to be in her early thirties and was very tall, at least six foot ten. Under her officer's kepi her blonde hair was tied into a tight bun. A jagged scar covered her left cheek, making her otherwise pretty face look fierce. Her eyes possessed a steely look that indicated she was not to be crossed. "As you command, Lord Vader," she responded with a click of her heels.

"Admiral, have a TIE fighter squadron make a reconnaissance flight of the planet," Vader issued his next order to Piett before addressing his officers. "Go and prepare! Move!"

As the assembly dispersed on the Dark Lord's command, Piett noticed Veers still staring after Colonel Zellaby. Something about the young man had obviously gotten under the General's skin. Pulling out of his thoughts, Piett turned to Captain Scree. "Launch a squadron. Tell them to find a suitable place to land."

"Yes, sir," Scree responded sharply.

Leaving his second-in-command, Piett joined Darth Vader, who had returned to the viewpoint. Veers soon joined them. Together, the three Imperials looked upon their new world.

The Empire had arrived.

And soon, this world would bow to them.