Point of No Return
Chapter 3 more questions than answers
Authors Notes I don't own Star Wars just my OC's and the plot of this fic is loosely based on the plot of the South Korean horror film R-Point.
Saiken
The squad watched as New Blood's body was being put into a body bag as Viper removed New Blood's id tags.
Agent Drillik said "There must be more rebels here."
Viper said "Agent Drillik. Our mission is to find the missing soldiers. Remember that."
Drillik nodded as Viper said "We're heading to those Sith Temple ruins. If there are rebels hiding out near there, we'll lay a trap for them next time they go there. Move out."
The men followed Viper all the while wondering how many rebels were left on Saiken.
As the men arrived at the Sith Temple ruins, they saw incense has been lit recently and Viper had a booby trap thermal detonator placed near the lit incense by Razor.
Once the trap was set Viper had the men head back to the base, as they did Viper and Drillik made sure they were behind the others so they could talk without being overheard.
Viper asked "Why did Imperial Intelligence want you on this mission? What's their interest in Saiken?"
Drillik was silent for a few moments before he said "Over the last few centuries a lot of ships have landed on Saiken but very few if any has gotten off the planet. Imperial Intelligence want to know why. Some higher ups think this place would make a good penal colony for rebel scum."
Viper said "So we're just meat thrown to the wolves to see how hungry the animal is?"
Drillik replied "Essentially. Yes. They also want this matter of Echo Squad 43 resolved as one of the soldiers was the son of a higher ranking Moff who has been asking questions."
Viper said "I think we can both agree something weird is going here on Saiken. What do you know about the Sith massacre against the natives centuries ago?"
Drillik replied "All I know is a lot of them were killed. The Sith wiped them out. They did it because these natives used sorcery combined with some force ability which made them a potential threat."
Viper then said "Well them doing that back then has caused this mess we're in. Just shows some people never think long term, even the great wise Sith get it wrong sometimes."
Drillik nodded in agreement as the two of them caught up to the squad who were now back at the base just as the sun started to set.
As the men started to eat dinner Blaze asked "Any of you know where New Blood was from?"
Headshot replied "He said that he was from Imperial Center and his family isn't well off. He joined to make sure his wages would help his family out."
Gunny nodded and said "We should send the family some money, help them out."
Some of the men nodded in agreement as Viper was informed by Tech that communication to command had been restored.
Viper went on the com and asked to speak to Admiral Kunon but an officer kept refusing which caused Viper to snap and say angrily "Get me Admiral Kunon now. It's urgent."
Soon the Admiral was on as Viper said "Sir I have an update for you on the mission. One of our men is dead, private New Blood."
The Admiral was silent before he asked "Viper are you screwing this mission up. Private New Blood is one of the men your there to find!"
Viper was in shock as he heard this as was Tech and Agent Drillik and the rest of the squad entered the room when they heard the admiral yelling at Viper.
Viper finally said "Sir. I don't understand."
Admiral Kunon asked "How many are in your squad now Viper?"
Viper answered "One is dead. Nine are left."
Admiral Kunon said "Viper listen to me very carefully. You started this mission with nine got it? I'm looking at the mission file right now, you were nine to start. Are you telling me you picked up a ghost along the way to Saiken?"
Viper was in total disbelief as were the others and asked "Kunon. Are you joking?"
The admiral now enraged asked "Do I sound like I'm joking. Let me speak to agent Drillik now!"
Agent Drillik didn't make a move to the com and Viper saw the imperial agent nod to and it was all the confirmation Viper needed to end the communication with Admiral Kunon.
Soon most of the squad were standing around all silent over the revelation they learned and thinking about it. Trying to come up an explanation for this.
The silence was broken by Razor who said "It's bizarre but I don't remember his face, he wasn't with us at the outpost right?"
Headshot asked "What?"
Razor said "He wasn't with us at the outpost. I never saw him on the transport ship. But he was there when we landed here on Saiken. He was there when we took the picture."
Kid thought about it and said "Your right. I never saw him at the base, but he was there when we took the photo after we landed."
Flashback 2 days ago Saiken
Kid smiled as he took the holo photo and said "I want to be in one too!"
Viper nodded and said "OK one more."
Kid handed the holographic camera to another soldier as he stood with his comrades and all smiled as the picture was taken.
End of flashback
Gunny dropped his plate of food in shock before he stood up and said "Enough! I don't want to hear anymore."
Gunny went off to clear his head as he thought back to the last time he saw his old friend Daemon alive.
Flashback 6 months ago Imperial outpost
Gunny smiled as he left the mess hall richer from the bet he made on the pod races.
He then saw Daemon run up to him who asked "Gunny. Did you get it yet?"
Gunny smiled and said "Relax mate I'll get it for you in a few days. Relax."
Daemon said "OK. You told me your cousin reserved this for me. I want to give it to my girlfriend for her birthday."
Gunny said "It'll be here don't worry. Don't you have a mission to go on."
Daemon nodded and Gunny said "I'll give to you when you come back. Be safe out there."
Daemon smiled as he ran to the hanger bay with his helmet which had the words aim and fire written on the back of it.
Gunny felt the necklace in his pocket and knew his friend would happy to give his girlfriend this gift after coming back safe from a rescue mission and went to the barracks to count his winnings from the bet.
End of flashback
Viper sat in his room as looked at the datapad with information on the missing squad and was shocked when he saw New Blood in the holo image of Echo Squad 43.
Saiken Day 3
Agent Drillik found it hard to sleep as he thought about the secret orders he was given by the head of Imperial Intelligence.
He had been given the id tags of the sole survivor of Echo Squad 43 and was told to use them to end the mission if need be. And at this point, he was tempted to use them, to save the lives of this squad if nothing else.
As this was going on Tech was fast asleep next to the communication equipment as more communications came in from lieutenant Vask.
Meanwhile Viper was walking around the second floor of the base and saw the alien woman in the white dress again. Viper had his armour on and weapons as he followed the woman who walking away from the base.
Viper was determined to get some answers.
On the other side of the base Gunny and Kid were on patrol outside as it started to rain and Gunny asked "You knew about the helmet the whole time didn't you?"
Kid said "Cut it out!"
As he began to walk off Gunny yelled "Where are you going?!"
Kid shouted "Going to answer natures call damn it!"
Viper was at the moment in hot pursuit of the alien woman and as the woman got further away. Viper stopped and looked around, as thunder cracked around him, Viper found himself in the middle of a grave yard of Republic soldiers from over 3000 years ago.
Viper then remembered what the Mandalorian Kawan told him, the republic base was a medical base for Republic soldiers during the Mandalorian Wars and that all the republic solders were wiped out.
Viper moved on and found another grave yard of Imperial soldiers 300 years after the republic soldiers died and recognised one of the names of the graves. Lieutenant Vask.
Viper recalled Tech telling him of communications from lieutenant Vask and was shocked, the men were getting communications from the dead.
Viper ran back to the base and his cigarette lighter fell out of his pocket.
At the same moment Gunny had gone for a walk and saw Kid fiddling with the necklace he brought here to Saiken. He had hoped to give it to Daemon if he was found alive. If he didn't find his friend, he'd give the necklace to Daemon's girlfriend like he should have done months ago.
Gunny grabbed the necklace and said "I spent a fortune on this. Cost me 2 month's salary."
He heard a voice say "I know It's not yours. You got it without getting one drop of blood on your hands."
Gunny punched the man in front of him and smiled as Kid's head was knocked back , but was shocked when he recognised the face of the man sitting next to him as the helmet fell to the ground.
It was Daemon.
Gunny was in shock and said with fear in his voice "It's can't be. You're dead."
Gunny was so scared he ran off as Kid saw him go off and said to himself "Guy's losing his mind."
As Viper arrived back at the base he saw Drillik looking over the datapad on Echo Squad 43 and asked "Should we tell the men about this? Confirm New Blood is part of Echo Squad 43?"
Viper said "How then could we explain him showing up like he did. These men are smart."
Agent Drillik said "We can't lie to them."
Viper then asked loudly "Tell me then how we can explain New Blood being with us without all of us sounding like we are going insane?!"
As the two men talked Gunny ran to the ruins of the Sith Temple hoping to hide from Daemon and was petrified as he saw his friend approach him.
A few moments later a loud explosion was heard at the base and the men knew where it came from. The Sith temple ruins. The booby trap had been sprung.
The squad found Gunny at the temple ruins bleeding from the arm that was torn in half from the trap as well as the wounds in his chest, he said "I didn't do it. It wasn't intentional. I swear!"
The men looked on as Doc tried to stop the bleeding and Drillik knelt down next to Gunny and asked "What happened here?"
Gunny reached out with his remaining arm and looked right past Headshot as he said with fear in his voice "Save me. Save me."
Headshot stepped away and said "Leave me alone!"
Gunny said "I wasn't going to keep it. I swear. I swear!"
He fell to the ground and said "I'm sorry." Before he died.
Viper closed Gunny's eyes before the body was put in a body bag as the men moved out. Going back to the base.
Once the men were back at the base several men were sitting on their beds unable to sleep as Wise said "There is something here with us. How else can we explain what has happened since we got here?"
Razor asked "What do you think is here with us Wise?"
Wise answered "Ghosts! Saiken is fucking haunted!"
Headshot walked over to Wise and grabbed him by the neck before he said "Can you see the ghosts? Can you control them? Open your eyes. There are no ghosts here. It's just rebels messing with us."
Agent Drillik walked over and said "All we have to do is find the id tags of one of the squad then we can call in for a transport ship and go back to the outpost."
Agent Drillik headed to Viper's room as the man sat on his bed looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought.
Drillik asked "What are we going to do? Abort the mission?"
Viper answered "Do you think command will believe us? Without proof. They'll think we're all mad."
Drillik said "In the morning we should search the place in two teams. All we have to do is find the id tags of one of the squad then we can get out of this hellhole."
As Drillik left Viper asked "What will you tell Imperial Intelligence about this place? They want it for a prison for rebels remember?"
Agent Drillik replied "I'll tell them this place isn't even suitable for a grave yard world. Let alone a prison."
With that Viper was alone and quickly fell asleep where he had the same dream he had been having ever since it happened.
He dreamt of the ambush on Kailto over 3 months ago.
Viper was on patrol with his men as one of the men, nicknamed Energy due his use of his power conversation habits on the base talked about his young son getting into play school back home.
Another of the men made a joke implying it was Energy going to play school, and was saying with entrance exams he might not get in.
Everyone laughed before an explosion happened and several rebels emerged out of hiding opening fire on Viper and his squad.
The squad returned fire and as Rebels died, more explosions went off. The rebels had laid mines on the path.
By the time the fight was over Viper saw he was the only man, he had lead these men down this path. It was his fault they fell into this trap.
Viper woke up just as the dream ended and took a drink of water to calm his nerves.
Saiken Day 4
Agent Drillik looked at the id tags he had been given before the mission and knew the only way to get what was left of the squad off Saiken alive was to plant the id tag and end the mission cleanly.
In the morning Agent Drillik and the squad were assembled outside the base as Viper emerged.
Drillik asked "You ok?"
Viper replied "Had trouble sleeping last night."
Viper then addressed the men and said "We'll be in two units one under my command. The other under the command of Agent Drillik. My squad will search in R-6 and Drillik's team will look in R-3. I want check in's every 30 minutes. Break into two squads now!"
The 6 men in front of him and agent Drillik split into two rows, 5 of them were in one unit in front of Drillik with only Doc In the other in front of Viper.
Agent Drillik said "Two of you go over there."
Razor said "I want to be your team."
Drillik said "I could make it an order."
Blaze moved and stood behind Doc and as Drillik was about to order one more to move, Viper said "This is fine. Let's move out."
Authors notes well that's the end of chapter 3 please let me know what you think of it read and review no flames though ok.
