Yeahyeah it's been a while again. I'm sorry if you're disappointed at the amount of time between chapters, but I'm slow and it's the summer holidays and I have a job. Also, my beta has either disappeared or is on holiday himself, so I've tried my best but mistakes have probably slipped through.

Anyway, back to the story. We pick up where we left off!

The four stormtroopers left had them – there would be no escape this time. Peeko noticed the curly-haired Earthling look at him and nodded back in appreciation. It's alright kid, you tried your best to save me. It ain't your fault thought the rebel agent. He'd been sure they'd leave him behind when he saw the thing lift-off, and they were right to do so, but suddenly there had been the kid's hand stretched out towards him, and then half the body right up until the point he was hanging outside the machine completely. Unfortunately, a stray shot had hit the man holding him and he'd fallen out. These guys fit perfectly into the rebel alliance: help whoever needs help, no matter where they from or how long you've known them as long as they're on your side.

"Hands up!" shouted one of the white-clad tinheads. "You're our prisoners now. Walk. This way – we'll follow. And don't try anything stupid or we'll cut you down." His voice betrayed a small hint of anger as he pointed in a direction with his blaster rifle; understandably considering they'd lost their armored support and quite a few men lay scattered around, killed by explosions, rifle fire and the choppers' guns.

It was somewhat surreal to be walking with your hands in the air through a warzone – tracers were still going up into the sky, they even heard the occasional scream – but the stormtroopers seemed unfazed, clearly having done this kind of thing before. They were making their way through what he assumed was a shopping area of some sort: bright signs begging for the passer-by's attention, odd animals and incomprehensible phrases blazoned across walls and shop windows filled with clothes, primitive screen technology and toys. Occasional smashed windows, blaster burn marks and bulletholes seemed to indicate that this had been a contested area until recently. There was also row after row of abandoned wheeled vehicles, and Peeko wondered if the kid could drive.

Suddenly, the kid stopped, turned and shouted in basic. "Stop! I was wondering if I could ask you a favour, invader."

"We don't do favours, now move!" came the terse reply, but the kid didn't budge despite the blasters aimed at his face.

"Look," he said, pausing to take a deep breath and pointing to a vending machine attached to a wall. "I'm dying for a smoke. If one of your men could shoot the machine open over there, I would take a packet and I'll do whatever you want. I'm addicted, and my body doesn't function without it."

The Imps looked at each other perplexed and Peeko had to stop himself from laughing out loud. He'd seen cigarras like these all over the galaxy, and they were no more vital to the correct functioning of the body than alcohol. However, the Imps clearly weren't so sure, and perhaps considered it a vital piece of intel to pass on to the brass. If they'd found one of the planet's population's weaknesses, they could avoid death.

"Alright," came the eventual reply. "You two," said the superior pointing at two of his subordinates, "take him there, get those blasted drugs out and come back. We'll look after this other guy. Go!"

Moritz walked up to the machine and waited for them to blast it open. Two red bolts and a shower of sparks later, the metal door swung open and he was greeted by the sight of an entire carton of his favourite red Gauloises. Bingo, he thought, taking off his small pack, emptying its useless contents (such as clothes, rain gear and other such nonsense) and stuffing the cigarettes in, apart from one packet which he immediately opened. There was a nervous moment as he searched his pocket for a lighter, but he found it quickly enough.

"Activate your rebreather," said one of his guards to the other as the Earthling lit up. "We don't know what's in that, and I'm not spending the rest of my life looking for it! Now come on let's go, this place gives me the creeps. It's another half a click to base."

They didn't see the brief hand signal pointing to the floor Moritz gave to the rebel agent before all hell broke loose. The two prisoners dove for cover has red hot blaster fire combined with bullets tore through the stormtroopers' armor and killed them all before they knew what had happened.

Peeko looked up to where the gunfire had come from, men and women pointing their still smoking barrels through high windows along both sides of the street. Mortiz got up and patted himself down to check everything was still there and picked up the barely lit cigarette, taking a deep drag, satisfaction flooding his face. He looked back at the confused captain and grinned, slowly making his way towards him.

"Servus, my dears!" called a man in greeting. "What brought you six here? Sorry, but your friends weren't invited. Come on, follow me."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Aboard the Dragonfang

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Kobarrn took a second to take in his surroundings. The incessant flurry of activity since they'd cracked the jamming encryption and sensors were back online was distracting. Men ran from console to console carrying datapads of orders, there was never-ending chatter as back-up units were sent down to the planet or bombing runs approved. These were some of the Galaxy's finest, he decided, and soon they would have someone better than Theese to look after them: him.

"Sir!" shouted a man from behind. "We have a report that three men speaking Basic have been captured on the surface. One was apparently the Hero of Yavin but has already escaped, the others were caught in an area relatively near one of the enemy command centers. We've lost contact with the unit taking those two back to base too. Interestingly, one of them was clearly an Earthling."

The Hero of Yavin? What is he doing here? "Thank you," replied the captain. "I shall be going down to the nearest POW camp in that area very soon. Maybe someone down there knows something."

Kobarrn thought of the glory this could bring him – it would finally tip the balance completely in his favour if he managed to capture the rebel icon. I can't let Theese find out. I'll report this matter to the Emperor myself, he thought as he walked back to his office. A terrible smirk appeared on his face at the realization that he was so close to victory.

Moments later the blue hologram stood before him, staring impassively as it spoke.

"I trust your encryption of these communications and the fact that I am talking directly to you makes you realize the extent of my expectations here," rasped the Emperor. "I have already sent... appropriate back up. If Theese is as clueless about this as you say, it could work to your advantage. Loyalty and obedience will get you very far, young captain. You will report the findings of your interrogation of the prisoners directly to me as soon as you are finished. I shall instruct you on the manner in which you shall proceed. Understood?"

"Yes my Lord, it will be done."

"Good," said the Emperor after a pause, before vanishing.

Kobarrn was in awe. He had just spoken to the Emperor himself! The man who was putting order back into the galaxy, making it possible for trillions of humans to live safely without fear of getting killed by ruthless thugs or, Force forbid, other species. He was going to accomplish his mission and get every last word out of anyone who knew anything down there – and if that didn't work, he was sure he would find a way to make it an interesting option for someone to tell him. There were more possibilities than simply truth serums and torture.

His first task, however, would be convincing the admiral to let him down to the planet's surface again. The last time had been on the disastrous assault on that base that was still holding out fairly easily against their assaults. The problem was that they were so frustratingly deeply entrenched; even the Empire's mighty war machine had trouble targeting a single mountain for destruction.

Knocking on his superior officer's door and waiting to be called in, he prepared himself mentally to control the upcoming rage.

"Ah! Just who I wanted to see!" boomed Theese excitedly. "I need you to go down to the planet's surface and investigate the matter with the rebel ships that landed. You're one of my best and smartest men Kobarrn!" Too smart for your own good, I won't add. I'm not sure what you're up to, but I'd better get rid of you before it gets too late.

"Of course sir, we wouldn't want an incompetent fool to lead such an investigation." Such as yourself, perhaps?

''''''''''''''''''

Cellars near the Vienna Underground stop Neubaugasse

''''''''''''''''''

"The situation is fairly critical now that they have reinforcements," explained the leader of the block's resistance, leaning over a paper map. "The Empire has control over every bridge connected to the city now, and have developed impregnable positions here, here and here."

He pointed at positions on the map that Moritz recognized as specific crossroads and landmarks, such as the parliament they had driven past a few hours earlier. One of them had been the Western train station, presumably where they were being brought, and not even a kilometer away.

"We are in contact with Alpha Base using old-style wire telephone technology," he continued, unfazed by the questioning look Peeko gave him. "Harder to detect and impossible to jam unless they cut the connection. I'm guessing once I report your arrival they will show a great deal of interest."

He paused for a while, clearly lost in thought. "However, before I do that I would like your help in disabling the rail system. They're using it to send prisoners away – I'm guessing they can't spare the transports. Where exactly the POW camp is, I don't know, but I'm sure it would be a pain in their side to have to ferry them by spaceship or whatever. Also, I'll be glad when my district isn't full of enemy activity."

"I'll give you guys some time to have a rest, and then we'll move in. Captain, if you could stay here and help me understand the enemy a little bit it would be much appreciated."

"Of course," replied Peeko. "You need all the help you can get. First of all..."

Moritz didn't hear the rest because he'd shot out of there to sit down on a chair in the make-shift base. He had no idea how big it was, just that he was underneath McDonald's. He'd instantly recognized the smell of the place because he'd worked in one for a few months after school. With a chuckle as he lit a cigarette he remembered when the biggest fear he had in his life was making someone wait more than three minutes for some disgusting food, meaning they'd moan and complain all the time, possibly try to hit him if they were drunk.

"Can I schnorr a cigarette off you, Corporal?" asked an older, clean cut man, bringing him out of his reminiscing. He seemed like a tough guy.

No. "Sure, you can have one," answered Moritz annoyed but unwilling to fight over it. After a brief moment of silence, he decided to ask. "So, how'd you get here?"

"Verfassungsschutz." That was all the man really needed to say, seeing as it meant he was from the intelligence services. Really it meant constitutional protection, but there was little doubt that merely protecting constitutional order was a bit lower in the order of priorities these days.

"Heh. Do you know what's going on in the world? We weren't allowed to listen to the broadcasts from a few days after the initial assault – they took away our radios."

The man looked at Moritz grimly. "That's because they've stopped. These guys here obviously knew who to hit the hardest."

What came next shocked Moritz to the core: everyone was losing.

"The Americans got hit really hard, and that took some of the heat off us when Alpha Base got attacked. The Imps there had proper air- and bombardment support, and far more troops were landed there than here initially. They didn't make the mistake of underestimating them like they did us. There were huge battles from Washington DC to Montreal through to San Francisco, right down to the hick towns with fifty rednecks who own a gun. I think it changes a lot of your fighting chances when you're a gun-nut. Not necessarily more likely to survive, but you're definitely scarier and more likely to kill than someone who never used a weapon until a couple of months ago.

"Anyway almost everywhere in North and South America has fallen. There are pockets of resistance like ours but that's about it. The big cities are down, and only a handful of military bases survive. A lot of African nations fought back but were almost instantly defeated. I'd say the exceptions are South Africa and Lybia, who both surprised the invaders with a hell of a fightback. Rumor has it that in deserted areas they just exterminate whatever they come across, armed or not. Africa just got colonized again. Poor bastards never had a chance, and not enough help. Not much we could do about that really."

The man blew out the blue smoke from the cigarette, leaning his head back on the wall, before slowly turning back to Moritz.

"Australia and New Zealand are down as is most of Oceania including the islands. They've landed garrisons everywhere from Fidji to Hawaii in the Pacific. Indonesia got brutally crushed by those walkers, they had nothing to punch through their armor. Millions of dead there, civilians just trampled by those machines. Easily one of the most brutal parts of the war apart from what I'm getting to."

He took a long drag from his cigarette again, noticing that it was burning itself away as he spoke. He didn't want to waste any Nicotine.

"You may know China, India and surrounding smaller nations such as Thailand and Vietnam banded together and formed a base similar to Alpha in the mountains there?"

"I've heard vague rumours, yes." answered Moritz.

"Well, they didn't get underestimated either. They had over a million troops gathered there, a bit like us with groups from different nations taking turns on the front lines. They didn't have a lake to take down those huge walking tanks, and they met the white helmeted troops from the start. Like your friends we killed earlier."

"Seen those before today too," interrupted the soldier proudly. "I was on that mission to get the fighters on the first day. Had a little spat with them but they got cut down by a Black Hawk's minigun."

"Well, there were thousands of the bastards there, and not many miniguns. They wiped'em out, including all the heads of state from the region. They just killed them all. The countries are all under Imperial control with the usual pockets..."

"What about us? The Europeans? How are we doing?" Moritz wanted to know. "Have they slaughtered civilians here?"

"Not as much as you'd expect," said the agent. "Of course, yesterday's fighting will have brought new wrath all over the world and I have no idea what has happened there. I stopped getting news from other continents three days ago, so for anything after that you know as much as I do. All I know is that for some reason they were unwilling to hit our cities as hard as in some other places. I can't understand why yet but I'm sure there's a good reason.

"Britain, Germany, Italy and France got a good beating, but not as bad as the Russians. These guys certainly did their research on who would be dangerous. That's why they weren't too clued up about Alpha Base here in Austria. It was new, specifically upgraded for now and top secret. Everything else, the who's who if you will, was easily recognizable. I just feel sorry for Tokyo – they didn't even have a chance to get ready. The whole city has been destroyed."

Both men let out a sigh at the realization that they were pretty screwed. Moritz remembered the motto that had caught on so easily and well just a few weeks ago. He hadn't heard it in some time, but now seemed as good a moment as any to say it.

"Never give in."

At that, the intelligence officer nodded, and a runner came to get them. "Come on, briefing is in five minutes, the colonel wants everyone there!"

'''''''''''''''''''''''

POW camp, 30km South of Vienna

'''''''''''''''''''''''

After the shuttle landed Kobarrn was welcomed by the prison camp commander. A suspicious-looking officer by the name of Malruk, he did his very best to be as curteous as he could to him so that things would go smoothly. The POW-camp commander did the same in the hope that the surprise arrival didn't show up any... findings about his wardens or failures in security. Kobarrn disliked him intensely from the start.

"Of course, any facilities you require will be made available to you at but a moment's notice," said Malruk grinning widely. "Should you need the services of a woman – or perhaps a man – you can choose whoever you may like."

Kobarrn stopped and looked at the idiot walking next to him. His eyes seem to drill through the cowardly officer's eyes, and the man saw that this had not been the right thing to say. The captain was about to utter a reprimand when an odd voice interrupted him. To him, it was the most beautiful, melancholy voice he had ever heard. It stopped and started, the pitch rising and falling in a hypnotic way. Wonderful singing. Not even anything he'd heard at the Coruscant Galactic Opera compared – and then another voice joined in and he was mezmerized. It seemed to have a similar effect on the prisoners in the row after row of group cages that had been set up, tears welling up in their dirty faces or simply stunning them to silence as they simple listened. Walking to the source of the pleasant disturbance, he looked through the sea of silent faces before finally reaching the cell he was in search of. Two women in neighbouring cells were seemingly singing to each other through the wire mesh, their faces filled with sad emotions, ignoring him and the other Imperials completely.

"They got picked up in Vienna near some sort of opera. We think they were conducting psychological warfare," whispered the prison warden. "It's chilling, isn't it? Such a terrible noise."

"Be quiet and bring that translation droid here!" whispered Kobarrn agitatedly.

The warden did as he was told and they waited for the song to end in silence, Kobarrn feeling emotions swirl within him that he had never thought he would feel again. He knew right away that if he could hear this beautiful voice every day his search was over. He had found what would make him happy. The woman he was fond of had short black hair, perfect curves (in his opinion) and one of the most stunningly pretty faces he'd ever seen. He motioned at her to come towards him, and her face immediately betrayed her fear. He tried to smile warmly, and told the droid to reassure her that nothing was going to happen to her.

Confused, she made her way towards him, hands clasped behind her back. He could feel his blood pressure rising as she got closer – he was intoxicated as her aroma wafted over to him.

"What is this song you were just singing so wonderfully?" he asked, waiting for the droid to translate the question.

"Something you murderers would never understand!" she answered defiantly. "It is about love, enjoying the freedom and beauty of nature together!"

He smiled almost apologetically at her. "It is one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard. Please, tell me what it is called?"

The droid translated again and she looked genuinely surprised at his seemingly benevolent insistence. "It is from an opera called Lakmé by Leo Delibes, the song is the Flower Duet. It is my favourite song because it allows one to sing in perfect harmony with someone else, and when it works the effect makes me shiver with delight."

He just smiled, thanked her and turned to leave, but she shouted for him to wait and come closer to the fence, which he agreed to doing. She made a sudden move, bringing one of the arms that had been behind her back forward and towards him.

"Watch out! She's got a weapon!" shouted a guard from the wall behind her, bringing his blaster rifle to his shoulder and firing a shot into her upper back. She stumbled in shock as the bolt hit her and tripped forwards, catching herself on the wire mesh and dropping a small white flower onto the floor. She whispered something as Kobarrn shouted to cease fire and bring a medic in surprise, adding that he wanted to see the idiot who'd fired off the shot immediately. Panic ran through him as he opened the gate and pulled her out, the warden having to beat back her enraged cell mates as he did so.

What in the name of the Sith just happened? He wondered, close to sobbing. He'd just met what he thought could have been the love of his life and she was already dead!

The medics arrived but after a quick search for a pulse declared her dead at the scene, admitting there was nothing they could do as the shot had destroyed her spine.

"Damn it!" shouted Kobarrn, holding her in his arms as rage started taking over. "I am an experienced officer! If she'd had a weapon I could have easily disarmed her."

Twenty meters away, he saw a trooper jogging towards them. "Is that him?" he called out, and the warden nodded. After gently laying the dead young singer on her back and closing her shocked eyes, he strode towards the sheepish-looking guard who stopped and saluted. Kobarrn jabbed his fist into the man's throat viciously, making him fall to the ground, gasping for air.

"Idiot!" he screamed. "It was a flower! A damned flower and you decided that was a threat? Were you even aware that this is a wire mesh fence which means she couldn't even have stabbed me? Wasn't she thoroughly 'searched' before being dumped into this pile of poodoo?"

He started kicking the man on the ground, speaking in rhythm with the thumping of his boot. "Tell. Me. Why. You. Shot. Her."

The warden decided to speak up. "Captain, I believe he has learned his lesso-"

A right hook interrupted him as it shattered his cheekbone and broke through teeth. He stumbled back in surprise but looked at the captain, incensed.

"You just thtruck a thuperior offither!" He spluttered through blood, lisping thanks to the now missing teeth. "I don't care what authority Admiral Theeth gave you, you will fathe court marthial!"

"Quiet, you incompetent fool!" Kobarrn replied calmly. "I'm here under the authority of Theese. Now bring me any military prisoner you have, starting with the highest ranks."

''''''''''''''

Alpha Base

''''''''''''''

"Good news everyone," announced Manali, Peeko's sergeant. "I've been able to adapt the nuclear fuel we collected to get the guns up and running, although I'm afraid the shield generator will only function in a very limited capacity with what we have."

Around him, the Rebel officers and troops nodded somberly before the Earthling ones, their translation only coming moments later.

"Don't be too happy," said Luke Skywalker. "We'll only be able to use them for a short period of time if we do. What with the radar announcing the arrival of yet another Star Destroyer moments ago, I have a niggling feeling that things are going to get a little tougher from now on."

He wasn't telling them the whole truth. He'd had a dark feeling creep over him the moment that Star Destroyer had entered the system. It must be him. He's here for me.

Manali took over again. "What's left of Earth's leadership has agreed that the planet is lost. The priorities for the Alliance have changed, and we will be taking most of our men away as soon as possible."

Several of the Earthlings began to grumble.

"Hey! You guys are the ones that wanted us to fight in the first place!" shouted one man, to the general agreement of most of his comrades. "Now you're leaving us to die?"

Before Manali could respond, someone else spoke up. "We'd have been better off if we'd just bowed down to our new alien masters!"

The silence was deafening, everyone shocked by the statement. Finally, General Köhler stood up and walked to the front. His eyes looked sad. "If this is what you think, then something terrible has happened. If this is what you think then you have lost hope, lost your pride, lost your loyalty and bravery. Anyone who believes what that man over there just said can follow him out of this room and never come back. Right now. Do it. You do not need to hear the rest of the operation's briefing."

The man in question was a certain Master Sergeant Chermak. A heavy man with round spectacles and a very thin moustache, he had always wondered why Earth had bothered to fight back. Now he knew, he was sure, that they were making a terrible mistake. The rebels were the bad influence. They had to be removed, somehow, for Earth to join the Empire before they were all annihilated. These fanatics would obviously fight till everything they had was destroyed. He would not accept that.

He shuffled through seats as he stood up and left, but as he reached the door he turned. "Everyone here knows I'm right when I say none of this would have happened if it weren't for these aliens. That's all."

With a triumphant smirk, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

Thanks for reading! Any reviews are much appreciated of course. Sorry again for the lack of updates for so long, but have you noticed how dead many fics gets in the summer? I'm not the only one!