Author's note: This is the first chapter where I jump back in time.
CHAPTER 4 – COMPROMISES
ALDERAAN CAPITAL CITY
HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER
ABOUT ONE HOUR BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION OF ALDERAAN
Lieutenant Kassandra Steele watched in helplessness and frustration as the last of her sister stormtroopers in the main council chamber below was cut down by rebel fire. She took aim with her DTL-19 Heavy Blaster rifle and sent a prolonged burst of blaster fire towards the rebels who were swarming into the chamber, killing a couple and causing the rest to dive for cover.
More rebels poured into the chamber below and fired up at her position. Kassandra's sister troopers beside her in the public gallery fired down at the rebels. Multi-coloured beams of light flew in all directions as the rebel forces and stormtroopers engaged each other with intense blaster fire.
The once magnificent circular shaped High Council chamber of Alderaan was now a scene of death and destruction. The dead bodies of council members, rebel troopers and stormtroopers lay strewn all around. The rows of chairs in the council chamber and public gallery lay in ruins. The once grand podium at the centre was now just a pile of burnt out wood and rubble. The once finely adorned walls were now cracked and burned form blaster impacts.
Kassandra recognised that the attempt to hold the chamber had been a failure. They had hoped to hold it until the signal, confirming the imminent destruction of the planet, was received from imperial high command. But the rebels had successfully recaptured the chamber, attacking in force through the numerous entrances around the High Council building. The factor that gave the imperial stormtroopers the advantage of surprise at the beginning of the mission was now their undoing.
There were just too many entrances and not enough stormtroopers to hold them. Kassandra knew that they would soon be surrounded and eliminated. But until then, she would fight to her last breath. The male synthesised voice of a sister trooper holding one of the corridors nearby sounded clearly through the com in her helmet.
"Enemy forces have broken through. We are about to be overrun."
"Damn it!" Kassandra cursed under her breath. The rebels would soon enter the public gallery and attack them in the rear. The battle would soon be over.
Two hours before, her stormtroopers had stormed the High Council chambers and killed most of the members of the Alderaan government. The rebels had responded with surprising rapidity, launching attacks against the various entrances of the High Council building. Kassandra and her forces had resisted the rebel assault with all the determination and fanaticism of loyal imperial stromtroopers, causing the enemy countless casualties. But being severely outnumbered, the stormtroopers were pushed back into the council chamber itself, where they were surrounded.
Kassandra ordered some of her troopers to watch the back entrance of the public gallery. Then she adjusted the com in her helmet to address all units fighting in the area of the High Council chamber.
"All units. The enemy has broken through and surrounded us." She said in the male synthesised voice of her helmet. "Fight to the last man, to the last blaster bolt. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Galactic Empire!"
Even though all her stormtroopers were women, Kassandra still referred to her troopers as men when speaking through her com. This was partly out of tradition. But it was also to ensure that enemy forces monitoring their communications did not realise that all the stormtroopers were female. If the rebel forces found out they were not facing a typical stormtrooper unit, there was a remote chance that they may deduce the real reason for the imperial attack: To facilitate the destruction of Alderaan without allowing anyone to escape.
Of course, if any of the rebels removed the helmets of the dead stormtroopers who had fallen in the battle so far, they would see that they were women. However, Kassandra did not believe that the rebels would discover they were facing an all female unit until it was way too late. The rebels would more likely tend to their own dead and wounded before inspecting the fallen stormtroopers. Also, since it was known that the stormtrooper corps included women in their ranks, discovering fallen female troopers would not necessarily raise suspicion. At least not immediately.
Suddenly, rebel troops burst into the public gallery behind Kassandra's position. Kassandra's stormtroopers opened fire on them, causing most to fall as soon as they entered the doorway. However, some rebels managed to avoid being hit and fired back.
Just as Kassandra was about to raise her blaster to meet the new threat, a blaster bolt caught her in the chest. Mortally wounded, Kassandra collapsed helplessly to the floor. As her life slipped away, the last of her sister troopers in the public gallery dutifully fought to the last woman in the name of the Emperor.
HIGH COUNCIL BUILDING
MAIN ENTRANCE AREA
"Sir, we have received a message from Lieutenant Steele." Heard Lieutenant Gloria Corianna through the com of her stormtrooper helmet.
"Report!" Replied Captain Victoria Rodano. Both Rodano and Corianna stood together in the main entrance hall of the High Council building. Both women were wearing their full stormtrooper armour.
"She has confirmed that they are surrounded." Confirmed the communications trooper. "She has issued the last-stand order to her unit."
Rodano sighed and turned to Corianna. "OK, lieutenant. It's time to lock-down the main doors linking the High Council Chamber to the entrance area."
"Captain. Request to lead four troopers to the chamber." Suggested Corianna. "I believe we could break out the troopers who are surrounded."
"Request denied, Lieutenant." Rodano turned to Corianna and spoke firmly. "It's too late for that. Lock-down the doors as ordered!"
"Yes, sir."
Reluctantly, Corianna signalled two sister stormtroopers to enter the lock down codes on the doors at the back of the entrance area. The two troopers did as ordered and the doors were definitely locked-down. No one would be entering from there without some significantly heavy firepower or explosives.
Coranna looked at the entrance area of the High Council building around her. The once grand hall was now covered in the dust and debris of battle. Dead bodies littered the floor. Apart from herself and Rodano, another eight fully armed sister stormtroopers stood alert in the hall. Five stood near the narrow entrance and watched for rebel activity from outside. Another three were held in reserve, waiting to intervene should the rebels try anything.
After sweeping the High Council Building of enemy targets and capturing two high profile prisoners of the Alderaan government, the stormtroopers had tried to hold the High Council chambers. It proved to be an impossible task, with Alderaan military forces infiltrating the building through a number of entrances.
Facing overwhelming numbers, Captain Rodano had retreated with a small number of stormtroopers to guard the entrance area, leaving the remainder of the her forces to hold the rest of the building.
The entrance area had proved to be the most defensible part of the whole building. With the heavy doors protecting the rear, the stormtroopers only had to defend the narrow entrance at the front. The Alderaan forces had launched a few sporadic attacks on the front of the building. But after their infantry was mowed down by accurate blaster fire and a couple of their armoured vehicles were destroyed by imperial MiniMag PTL rockets lauchers, they had halted their attacks. For now.
Instead, the Alderaan command had sent in assault infantry to infiltrate the various back and side entrances all around the High Council building. The tactic had been effective. After two hours of intense fighting, the Alderaan forces had occupied the rest of the building and eliminated over 70 stormtroopers who had initially taken part in the operation. However, Corianna was sure that her fallen sister troopers had caused more casualties that they had received.
Corianna felt frustrated at having to wait for the Alderaan forces to attack. She wanted to take the fight to the enemy. She also felt that she could have led a relief force to the High Council Chamber and rescued at least some of the troopers surrounded there. In fact, she still believed it was possible even now. Corianna turned to face Rodano.
"Captain. Permission to speak, sir ."
"Yes, Lieutenant. Follow me."
Rodano led Corianno into the small office where trooper Kareen Keeler, the red haired communications expert, was monitoring the airwaves with her communications kit. Keeler did not have her helmet on. She was wearing headphones and using a microphone that would synthesise her voice to make her sound male. Anyone listening to Keeler's communications would not immediately realise that she was a woman.
Rodano took off her stormtrooper helmet. Corianna did likewise.
"OK, Corianna. You can speak freely." Rodano brushed her hands through her short brown hair.
Corianna looked at her captain's face. Compared with most of the other female troopers, Rodano was mature, possibly in her early thirties. Corianna and most other troopers were in their early twenties. Corianna believed that Rodano must have been one of the first female troopers to enter the stormtrooper corps over ten years before. Possible even the very first. Which partly explained the heady rank of sergeant Rodano had originally attained, before receiving a promotion to captain from Major Denlin two weeks before.
"I believe we can still bring back some of our troopers, sir." Corianna spoke respectfully, but with conviction. "I believe that we can push back the Alderaan forces and break them out."
"No, Lieutenant." Replied Rodano. "I will not risk any more of our forces. We have barely enough to hold this area should the enemy launch a concerted attack. I have already made a mistake in trying to hold the chamber. I shall not make another by sending more troopers to their early deaths unnecessarily. We need all the troopers we have to complete the mission."
At that moment, trooper Keeler signalled that she had a new message.
"Yes, trooper. Report!"
"We have lost contact with all forces in the rest of the building. All are down."
"It's too late now anyway, Lieutenant."
Rodano leaned forward, putting both hands on the desk in front of her. She stared at the wall, an expression of frustration etched on her face. "Damn it! I didn't think they would attack so soon. I was sure they would try to secure the spaceports first before coming here. I thought they would try to escape the planet believing that an invasion would come."
They knew from media reports that the nearby Private spaceport defended by Lieutenant Shtern and her platoon was holding against sporadic enemy attacks made by poorly armed and equipped enemy forces. It seemed that the Alderaan military had concentrated all their best forces on the High Council building. This seemed to surprise Rodano. But it did not surprise Corianna. She was from Alderaan and knew her people better.
"The Alderaan people may be deluded by the lies and propaganda that the traitors in their government feed them, captain. But they are not cowards." Responded Corianna firmly. "They will not run. They are proud people and would want to recapture the High Council building. It is the symbol of their culture and identity."
"And I thought they were pacifists." Smirked Rodano.
"More lies from the Alderaan government. The Alderaan people may not start an open war, but they will fight to defend themselves if attacked. I told you before not to underestimate their fighting spirit, captain." Even though Corianna spoke of her enemy, she spoke the words with pride. After all, she was from Alderaan and shared the same natural fighting spirit. Except she used it in noble service to the Emperor.
"Yes, you did tell me that, lieutenant." Rodano nodded to Corianna in acknowledgement. "You were right. I should have listened to you."
Corianna found that Rodano's frank admission of error in front of subordinates like herself and trooper Keeler unusual. No male officer would ever have admitted an error in front of a subordinate. In fact, Corianna even considered Rodano's admission of error as inappropriate for a commanding officer. However, given that every stormtrooper left alive in the High Council building knew they would all be dead in less than an hour, Corianna accepted that such subservience to protocol was not necessary.
Suddenly, there was the sound of blaster fire from the front of the building. Corianna and Rodano put on their helmets and rushed out to the main entrance. The stormtroopers there were exchanging heavy blaster fire with attacking Alderaan forces. Having captured the rest of the building, Corianna reflected that the enemy would now trying to dislodge them from the entrance area.
Corianna rushed towards the doorway of the main entrance. Before she got there a huge explosion knocked her off her feet. She saw that a large part of the entrance had been blown in, knocking a other stormtroopers to the ground. At least two did not get up again.
Corianna scrambled to her feet and rushed to the entrance. She could see a hover tank moving slowly towards them, firing at them with dual heavy blasters. Alderaan infantry ran alongside the tank, also firing their blasters.
Corianna ducked behind a block of fallen rubble as blaster bolts rained down on her position, impacting on the block of stone in front of her. With fragments of stone flying against her helmet and armour-plating, she was thankful for her stormtrooper armour at that moment.
Unfortunately, the armour was no protection from a direct hit. A fact that was demonstrated when one of her stormtroopers, Rana Smitson, received a direct hit to the torso and collapsed to the ground. Under the heavy blaster fire, her armour plating crumpled as if it was plastic.
Corianna was about to order a rocket support. But she didn't have to. From the back of the entrance area, a rocket fired by one of her sister stormtrooper sped past her and struck the armoured vehicle squarely in the front. The vehicle stood no chance against the armour-piercing warhead and exploded violently. The vehicle blew apart, sending hot fragments of metal in all directions. Again, Corianna was thankful for her armour as the burning hot razor-sharp fragments rained down on her position.
The Alderaan infantry running beside the tank were not so fortunate. Most were blown to pieces or flung like ragged dolls far from the exploding tank, ripped to shreds by the shrapnel that cut through their unarmoured bodies. A couple of dead rebels and body parts were even thrown into the entrance area. Corianna had to duck again as the limbless torso of a rebel flew over her and landed with a dull thud behind her position.
Corianna ordered her stormtroopers to advance and open fire. Immediately, the other stormtroopers moved forward to new cover nearer the entrance and laid down heavy fire on the rebel infantry who had momentarily been halted by the explosion. Corianna fired her DTL-19 Heavy Blaster rifle, knocking down Alderaan infantry as they tried to struggle forward.
Despite the loss of the tank, Corianna observed more Alderaan troopers continuing to advance towards them, only to be met by the accurate blaster fire from the stormtrooper defenders. Corianna was amazed by the courage and determination of her Alderaan compatriots who were willing to advance and die in an open frontal attack against well dug-in armoured stormtoopers. She could not help feel a swell of pride as her countrymen advanced into the hail of blaster fire and were mowed down by the dozen.
For a moment, Corianna felt a tinge of regret as she witnessed the bravery of the Alderaan forces. A regret that such courage could not be used in service of the Emperor. But that very thought made her realise more than ever why the decision to destroy Alderaan was the correct one. If Alderaan mobilised its full resources and fighting spirit in support of the rebellion, she recognised that it would cause great problems for the Empire, even though the imperial forces would undoubtedly be victorious in the end.
This was vividly demonstrated when another sister trooper, Vivian Slaater, was thrown to the ground by a direct hit from a rebel blaster. Corianna saw that trooper Slatter did not get up again, meaning that her wound was very serious, if not fatal.
Eventually, the Alderaan forces fell back, after taking significant casualties. Corianna checked round her troopers to confirm casualties. One of the troopers with medical training was already treating the wounds of her sister troopers. Rodano ordered Corianna to join her in the communications room to provide a status report on the battle.
"We lost five troopers." Confirmed Corianna after entering the communications room and removing her helmet. Rodano had also removed her helmet. Trooper Keeler was also still in the office monitoring the dashboard of her communication equipment.
"Damn it!" Hissed Rodano. "Another attack like that and we will be overrun."
"We shall fight to the last man." Corianna stated defiantly. "We will ensure that they pay dearly for any attack."
Rodano smirked. Both she and Corianna both knew well they would all be dead in just over half an hour when the planet was destroyed. Losses suffered by either side would be irrelevant.
"I don't intend to fight to the last man. I intend for us to hold until the signal is received as per the mission objective."
Rodano turned to Keeler who was sitting with helmet off, earphones over her head.
"Trooper Keeler. What is the status of our forces in the private spaceport?"
"They are reporting in as usual." Replied Keeler. "The rebels are still only making sporadic and poorly organised attacks."
"Good. At least they are holding" Said Rodano. "It looks like the rebels are only sending their better quality units against us for the moment."
Corianna reflected that it was no surprise that her sister troopers in the private spaceport were holding firm. Most of the best and experienced fighters had been assigned to that mission. Rodano had expected the bulk of the attack to fall on the private spaceport. She had been proved wrong.
"And what about the commercial spaceport. Any news from there?"
Because of the covert nature of the operation at the commercial spaceport, there was no direct communication between the forces under Lieutenant Loreno and central command under Rodano. Strict radio silence was maintained.
"Everything seems quiet there for now." Replied Keeler. "The rebel media appears to still believe that the Princess Leia Organa Battalion guarding the commercial spaceport is part of the Alderaan military. In fact, they are praising Bail Organa for forming the unit and deploying it to defend the infrastructure of the planet."
"It looks like Lieutenant Loreno has exceeded our expectations, lieutenant Corianna." Rodano smiled slyly at Corianna. "It looks we will hold the commercial spaceport to the very end."
Corianna felt a pang of jealousy as she considered the success of Loreno. Being from Alderaan, Coranna was originally supposed to lead the covert operation in the commercial spaceport. But when they had discovered that Corianna's brother was the Director there, they were forced to change their plans. As a result, Corianna was reassigned to the mission against the High Council building, while Loreno was put in charge of the mission to capture the commercial spaceport. This involved promoting Loreno directly from trooper to lieutenant.
Corianna's feeling of jealously soon changed to guilt when she reflected how unfairly she had treated Loreno. Corianna always knew that the modest Silvia Loreno was officer material. But with both Loreno and Corianna originating from Alderaan, Corianna had always seen Loreno as one of her her main rivals in the company. For that reason, Corianna had deliberately held Loreno back, refusing to promote her.
In truth, Corianna was not at all surprised that Loreno had successfully captured the commercial spaceport. It was not the first time Loreno had successfully contributed to a covert operation. A couple of weeks earlier, both Corianna and Loreno were involved in an covert operation to assassinate a prominent imperial diplomat. They had pretended to be from the Alderaan military during the operation so that the government of Alderaan would receive the blame for the attack.
Looking back, Corianna recognised that Loreno had performed well in the assassination mission and had been one of the key elements in the success of the operation. However, Corianna had refused to give any credit to Loreno after the mission, foolishly worried that it would undermine her own position as Rodano's second-in-command. But now she admitted that she had been wrong.
Corianna also reluctantly admitted that she had betrayed Loreno and herself. Corianna had always felt bitter about the neglect and lack of recognition she had received from male imperial officers. To her disgust, Corianna realised that she had done exactly the same thing with Loreno.
Now that her final mission for the Empire was reaching its end, Corianna was pleased and relieved that all had turned out well for Loreno in the end. Or as well as it could under the circumstances. Loreno had finally received the recognition she merited and would end her life in the command position she so deserved. Justice had been done.
At that moment, the synthesised voice one of the stormtroopers by the main entrance sounded over the com.
"They're coming again, sir. We can see at least three armoured hover vehicles approaching with supporting infantry. We are taking position to repel the attack."
"We cannot stand an attack of that force." Rodano frowned as she spoke .
"We have enough rockets to take out two of the vehicles." Corianna spoke with a confidence she genuinely felt. "And we can take out the third with mines. We can still hold."
"Even if we survive this one, we will not hold against the next." Said Rodano "No. Lieutenant. We need to buy more time."
"What are we going to do, captain?"
Rodano did not answer Corianna. Instead she turned to Keeler.
"Trooper. Patch me through to rebel command." After speaking, Rodano put on her helmet. The rebels would only hear the sound of her male synthesised voice. She did not want them to know that she was a woman.
"Yes, sir." Keeler pressed a couple of switches on her dashboard.
When Rodano spoke to rebel commander, she did so in the commanding voice of an arrogant imperial officer, as if giving an order to an inferior.
"Cease fire immediately! We are sending out a prisoner."
At first, there was no reply. Then a few seconds later a male voice sounded over the com.
"Please clarify."
"Cease fire now. We are sending out Rouge Organa."
There was another few seconds of hesitation, probably as the rebel officers consulted with each other.
"OK. We will give you ten minutes."
Rodano switched her com to a different frequency and contacted her troopers at the building entrance.
"Status report!" She said briskly.
"The rebels are withdrawing." Replied a trooper. "They are falling back."
"Good. Bring Rouge Organa out to the front." Rodano turned to Corianna. "Lieutenant. I will release Miss Organa. I will tell her that we will kill her dear brother unless the rebel attacks against us cease immediately. You are to ensure that our troopers are ready in case the rebels try anything."
"Permission to speak frankly." Said Corianna firmly, biting her lip.
Rodano turned to face her lieutenant. She removed her helmet and waited for Corianna to speak her mind.
"Permission granted. But speak fast."
"Captain. These hostage tactics are better suited to pirates and criminals. They are not appropriate for imperial stormtroopers." Corianna spoke with conviction. "We should fight honourably to the last man, without reverting to such cowardly tactics."
"Lieutenant Corianna. You know what our objectives are in this mission. "Rodano sighed and shook her head. "Our first priority is to detain Bail Organa and lock-down the spaceports until the signal from imperial high command is received."
"Yes, sir. I am aware of our objectives." Replied Corianna.
Corianna knew they were to hold Bail organa and lock-down the space ports until they received the signal from high command indicating that the destruction of the planet was about to happen. The signal marked the point in time when it would be impossible for any ship leaving Alderaan to escape destruction. Any ship that left Aldeaan after the signal was received would be caught and destroyed in the blast wave of the subsequent explosion. That was why they were required to attack the High Council, lock down the spaceports and detain Bail Organa. They wanted to ensure that no member of the Alderaan government escaped the destruction of the planet.
"When the priority objective is achieved, then we can think about fighting to the last man."
"Yes, captain. But…." Corianna did not have time to continue. Rodano interrupted her.
"Lieutenant, you know fine well that everyone in imperial high command expects us to be overrun here." Continued Rodano. "They expect us to be swept away in a matter of minutes like the weak willed women they believe we are. Well, I will not allow us to be swept away. We will hold out until that damn signal is received. And I will use any tactic at our disposal to achieve that objective. Is that understood, lieutenant?"
"Yes, captain."
"Besides, lieutenant. We do not want to be up for decimation for failing a critical mission. Do we?"
Corianna smirked at the irony of the comment. When a stormtrooper unit fails a critical mission, it has to undergo a decimation process whereby at least one tenth of the troopers are executed as punishment for the failure. Obviously, since they would all die anyway when Alderaan was destroyed, they did not need to worry about being subject to decimation even if the mission failed.
Reluctantly, Corianna accepted her captain's decision as the obedient imperial stormtrooper she was. She didn't agree with Rodano's reasoning. Corianna believed that it was the duty of imperial stormtroopers to kill the enemy wherever they were to be found; whatever the circumstances.
Corianna wondered where Rodano got her ideas from. She had heard that Rodano had served with Major Denlin under an alien admiral who was rumoured to have blue skin and red eyes. Corianna considered that it was probably that alien who had given her such dishonourable ideas.
Rodano put on her helmet and walked out of the communications room. Corianna also put on her helmet and followed her.
Outside the communications office, a trooper was waiting with the bedraggled and terrified looking Rouge Organa who was gagged and bound by the wrists. Rodano walked up to Rouge Organa and pushed her towards the gaping hole in the wall that used to be the entrance to the High Council building. All the stormtroopers took up positions at the entrance and looked out for rebel activity.
"Captain? Do you have to go out yourself?" Said Corianna over the private com in their helmets. "Let me take her."
"No. I will do it, lieutenant. "Replied Rodano, also over private com. "It will give me an opportunity to see the disposition of the enemy forces."
Corianna could not understand why Rodano would want to risk herself like this. Then she remembered that Rodano and Bail Organa had spoken at least once in private since the start of the mission. She wondered if Rodano had made some sort of agreement with Bail Organa concerning the release of his sister. Whatever the reason, Corianna realised that it would not matter anyway. They would all be dead anyway in less than an hour.
Rodano exited into the Alderaan sunlight, shoving Rouge Organa in front of her. Two stormtroopers flanked them, blasters at the ready. Rodano pushed Rouge to the edge of the steps descending from the building entrance, before removing Rouge's bonds and gag. The Rodano spoke in her ear.
"If you attack us here again, your brother is dead. Do you understand?"
Tears in her eyes, Rouge nodded her head affirmatively.
Rodano pushed Rouge Organa forward. As Rouge walked forward towards the rebel lines, Rodano examined the rebel forces in front of her trying to estimate the type, quality and number of the units facing them. Seeing that Rouge had almost arrived at the rebel lines, Rodano and her two stormtroopers started to retreat slowly backwards towards the entrance of the building. Then the rebels broke the cease-fire.
Just before Rouge Organa reached the safety of the barricades, some of the rebels opened fire. Rodano was struck a handful of times by blaster fire. Most of the impacts were deflected or absorbed by her armour. But she received one serious wound to the abdomen, causing her to stagger back and fall under the impact. The two stormtroopers behind her opened fire on the rebel lines and advanced to help their captain. Corianna requested rocket support to cover Rodano's retreat. Almost immediately, a rocket fired by a stormtrooper from inside the entrance hall impacted on the rebel barricades, causing a fireball to rise in the air.
The rocket attack caused panic in the rebel lines and allowed the two stormtroopers to drag Rodano back into the cover of the entrance area. They leaned her against a pillar. One of the stormtroopers started treating Rodano's wounds.
At the entrance, the three stormtroopers posted there and advancing rebel infantry exchanged blaster fire. Corianna was in the thick if the fire fight as usual, picking off rebels with accurate shots from her DTL-19 blaster rifle.
Then the rebels suddenly ceased fire and retreated. Corianna then received a message from trooper Keeler.
"Rouge Organa wishes to speak to our commanding officer, lieutenant. The Captain is unconscious from her wounds."
"OK. Patch me through." Replied Corianna. "I'll speak to her."
A moment later, Corianna heard Rouge's voice over her com.
"Is my brother still alive?" The panicked voice of Rouge Organa asked frantically.
"Yes. But if you attack again. We will kill him."
"We need proof he is still alive. You have five minutes."
Corianna stood up and went to the small office where the bound and gagged Bail Organa was being held. His eyes opened in terror as the helmeted Corianna stormed in and grabbed him roughly by the scruff of the neck. She dragged him out to the entrance of the building and held him in front of her for the rebels to see, holding a blaster pistol to his head.
"Satisfied?" Was all Corianna said in her helmet com.
"Yes." Rouge Organa's voice replied coldly.
Corianna returned Bail Organa to the small office which was serving as his detention cell. The she went to check on Rodano who was sitting against a pillar. Rodano was clearly very badly wounded and was not in a condition to fight. Rodano removed her helmet. Corianna did likewise and crouched down in front of her.
"It looks lithe some of the people of Alderaan are not as honourable as I thought." Rodano smiled grimly. "It seems I misjudged the enemy again."
"Yes, captain." Corianna made no further comment.
"Status report, lieutenant!" Rodano gasped with pain as she spoke.
"It is all quiet, captain." Replied Corianna. "There is no activity from the rebels. Except an effort to collect their wounded."
"Let them. As long as they don't get too close." Said Rodano. "It won't do them any good in the end."
"They will probably redeploy their assault forces to the private spaceport. Shall we warn them, Captain?"
"No." Replied Rodano. "They always knew such an attack was likely."
"Yes, sir."
"In fact, break all communication with them." Ordered Rodano." We cannot help them from here. If they think we are overrun, they may fight harder."
Corianna could see now how determined Rodano was to complete the mission objective. She truly wanted to demonstrate the value of the all-female unit to the Empire. Even if no one would witness what they had achieved.
"They still believe an invasion is coming." Rodano's voice was full of bitterness. "If they hold, let them die with hope in their hearts."
"Yes, sir. Any further orders?"
"Get trooper Keeler to patch all communications through to me. She can join the defence at the front. I will listen for the signal from high command. All we have to do now is wait."
"Yes, sir." Corianna could not hide the bitterness in her own voice.
"Don't worry, lieutenant." Rodano smiled weakly at her. "You will have your moment of glory. When the signal comes through I will relinquish command to you. Then you can make your last stand."
"Thank you, sir."
Corianna put her helmet on and took up a defensive position at the entrance of the High Council building. Corianna had wanted to come on this mission to be in the thick of the action. Instead, now all she could do was wait. Wait for the end of the world.
Author's note
If you are interested in seeing my version of how a decimation process could turn out, please look at chapters 16 and 18 of my story: "Loyal Soldier of the Empire – Journal of an Imperial Stormtrooper".