The Emperor
Chapter 4: A Spark Before the Fire
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS
"Morning General" Lieutenant-Colonel Bradley Stryok said as he entered the command tent set up by Major General Frall's staff. The older officer was bent over a holo table with several battalion commanders. The general waved off Stryok's salute and gestured for him to come closer to the table.
"The rebels are really putting up a fight in the Huan Zone" Frall said as he gestured to one of the islands near the center of the world. It was covered lightly in thin trees around the edges of the island, forming a thin circle after the rocky beaches of the island before coming to the center of the island, where it was mostly solid coral rock with a few small mountains placed along one edge of the island. "We have secured almost all of the islands in the zone" The General said, referring to the imaginary 'Zones' they had created to designate the massive amount of islands on the planet, grouping them together based on distance.
"Except this one" Fall said and gestured at the island they had been looking at. "The island's name is Piia, almost completely bare of life, it's more of a mining island, despite being among the largest islands on the planet" Fall explained as the holo table displayed several red lines along the island. "The rebs have about twenty, maybe thirty five hundred men on that rock, all of which are dug in and armed to the teeth" The General stated. "Bradley, I'm sending your battalion in with the 58th and 94th as well as a detachment of the 33rd Artillery Battalion. We need to wipe out this stronghold before they can shore up more men and supplies."
"I understand sir" Stryok said as he looked at the island that would soon be the battleground for his battalion. "Sir" he said and saluted. The General returned the salute and Stryok then made his exit.
"Incoming!"
Artillery fire slammed into coral rock, sending white hot fragments sailing into the air, arcing through Imperial uniforms as they were cut down by rebel fire. "Keep moving!" Sergeant Juccio shouted as loud as he could, running in his green Imperial Army uniform as the rebel fire intensified. "Don't stop!" He screamed as he jumped and landed in a crater. Laser fire began to rip up their lines while more troops got behind what small form of cover they could find. A light rain of dust from the bombardment fell on their helmeted heads before the sounds of a engines could be heard.
Seconds later and a flight of Tie bombers flew overhead before dropping their payloads, painting the island a blinding bluish white before the detonations finished and the sky returned to a sky blue as red laser fire continued between the two sides.
"I need a E-Web up here!" Juccio shouted as the enemy shells began to fall again. The requested heavy turret was eventually delivered and the crew rapidly assembled it. The opening fire from the gun managed to hold off a few rebel gun spots, but the arty was still strong. "Move forward!" He shouted before the line moved forward, covered by the lone turret. The result was mayhem, troops continued to fall, blood continued to spill and their strength was slowly, ever so slowly being sapped as they pushed towards the tree line, trying to get out of the sithspawn of a landing zone.
"If I meet the officer who decided to land us outside of their AA range, only to drop us in their Artillery range, i'll kill em!" One of Juccio's troops shouted as they finally came into the treeline, now somewhat safer from the artillery.
"Well-" Juccio started to say, only for a burst of laser fire to tear through the woods, hitting the soldier who had just spoken as well as three others. They dropped instantly and Juccio was already hollering for medics and to drop to the floor when a new barrage of shells hit the deck.
He was pretty sure he was in hell. Fires were everywhere, smoke was stinging at his eyes and half the men around him were bloody messes as rebel troops started pushing forward, a solid line of them!
Realizing they were about to be pushed back, Juccio jumped up and began firing as he ran backwards. "Form up! Form up!" He screamed as something hot exploded inside his leg, he ignored it and limped on. He made it to the line of craters where they had originally been holed up. "Get those guns online! Pull everyone up here now!" He screamed as the E-Web gunners began to reassemble their guns, which they had almost been about to move to the tree line.
Another dosing of artillery hammered their lines before a long line of rebels, two or three thick, came rushing out of the woods. They raced towards the half dead Imperial troops as the E-Webs finally began to open up, turning the rebels into puddles of mush for once.
"Are there any mortars up here?" Someone shouted.
"Medic!" Another yelled.
The entire skirmish became one giant scream fest after that.
"Their gonna breach the line!"
"Fire! Fire! Fire!"
"My leg!"
"The gun's jammed!"
"Grenade!"
"Ahhh!"
Half an hour later and the tattered rebels, which had made it into their line of craters and had fought with the Imperials hand to hand, made a disorganized retreat. The ground was covered in corpses and bathed in blood. The troops on both sides were exhausted and tired, their bodies at the very limit it seemed.
Sergeant Joccio was pulled of the line, four laser wounds adorned his body, two in his left leg, one in his right arm and another in the center of his back, just to the left of his spine. He had a broken left hand and a cracked collar bone. His skull was slightly bruised and his jaw was broken as well. He had still tried to keep on fighting the rebels when his own troops knocked him out for transportation out to a medical tent.
He had been nominated by his lieutenant for the Imperial Legion of Honor and Imperial Medal of Valor for his actions...but first he would have to live to earn them.
"Your up early" Mara commented as she sat down next to Luke, who was sitting in the Temple cafeteria, a tray of untouched food before him as he read up on the latest skirmish on Cakkiiwo II where nearly twenty four hundred Imperial Army troops had landed on a mining island and been given thirty percent casualties due to heavy rebel defenses.
"Looks like your dad will be gone for awhile" Mara commented, reading the report over his shoulder. Luke tried to ignore the closeness of the red head as he answered.
"You say that like your planning something" He said as he closed the datapad down and stored it in his belt.
"Maybe I am" Mara said as she leaned back a bit, eying Luke. "Who's to say we aren't going to sneak out tonight?" She challanged.
"I say" Luke muttered. "We can't sneak out. I can't sneak out. If I get caught who kno-"
"Luke" Mara said calmly. "Stop worrying and just be in the fountain room tonight, and wear something comfortable, not your robes" She said before winking at him and walking off, leaving a very confused Luke Skywalker.
"This is a horrible idea" Luke muttered as they began to scale down the side of the temple. "If we're caught..."
"For the most troublesome Knight in the order, you sure do hate breaking the rules" Mara complained.
Luke shook his head. "Breaking the rules? Fine. Breaking the rules while on probation? No." Luke said as they neared the ground.
"Your dad's gone for a couple of weeks, it's a natural thing for their young kids to do" Mara said.
"Not young" Luke shot back.
It took them a bit longer, but they eventually made it to the the ground. After that they snuck over the security fence, using the force to keep the electricity off their hands. After that it was a cake walk.
"Where are we going?" Luke asked as they walked down the streets of Coruscant, which were tinted a multitude of colors, however the sun had already set, thus leaving the entire city in a twist of twilight and colorful lights.
"To relax a little" Mara said as they came to a medium sized building with a large sign over the door that said in giant yellow, orange and pink lights 'Nexus'.
"You brought me to a club? Mara do you have any idea how much trouble we are going to get into?" Luke asked as they walked inside, the guards outside paying them no mind. You really couldn't anyways when the two young adults were diverting their attention with the force.
"That's why I plan to get so hammered tonight that we don't have to worry about it tomorrow" Mara replied as they stopped before a turbolift. Hitting the call button, they waited a few seconds before entering the metal tube, which quickly sped back down several levels into the underground club. Halfway down the tube the lift was in became glass and they saw the massive crowd in the center of the room girating to the loud, thumping music blaring from literally thousands of small projectors, filling the room to the brim with the electric sounds of the band that was hammering away at the front of the room. Around the sides of the room booths were set up and a bar appeared to be located at the rear of the room.
"Mara you will be the end of me..." Luke complained as they exited the lift.
(A/N: this song would never really appear in SW, but it's gonna anyways!)
The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged, but I can't control it
So stay away from me
This beast is ugly
The music was blaring as they finished yet another round of some purple and green alcoholic drink that Mara had insisted that they try, saying something along the lines of "Will blow your mind."
I feel the rage, and I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake
And I can't control it
"I love this song" Mara said, a bit of a slur in her voice as she stood up, a slight sway to her normally graceful stance. "Let's dance" She said and grabbed Luke, who was in the middle of downing his drink, by the arm and yanked him onto the dance floor.
Hiding under the bed
In my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Make it end!
As they entered the already heated dance frenzy, the song began to kick up.
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a Monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a MONSTER
I feel like a Monster
As the song began to speed up and the beat began to pulse harder Mara began to move against Luke. At first he wasn't sure what to do, but in his drunken state he simply went along with it, his mind in no state to realize how this could end. Or the consequences...
My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged
But I can't control it
Cause if I let him out, he'll tear me up, and break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Make it end!
The two continued grinding, dancing, sliding. They were apart of the mass of bodies on the dance floor, gyrating to the loud, rhythmic beat.
It's hiding in the dark
It's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me
It wants my soul! It wants my heart!
No one can hear me scream
Maybe it's just a dream
Or maybe it's inside of me!
Stop this monster!
Luke had his hands wrapped around Mara's waist now, holding her flush against him, her back to his chest as they moved to the music. Mara had already moved her hands up behind her head and wrapped them in Luke's hair as well.
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I Feel like a MONSTER!
I'm gonna lose control
Here's something radical
I must confess that I...
The music shout up louder and the lead singer screamed in a loud voice, almost sounding like an animalistic growl or roar.
FEEL LIKE A MONSTER!
Luke felt Mara loosen up in his arms and suddenly she weighed a ton as the alcohol hit her and she fainted. He barely realized he was destined for a similar fate before his own vision faded to black...
Well I gave you a song fic at the end, so what do you think? Too OC? Review pweeze!