A/N: Kudos to everyone who figured out just who the smuggler was. Anyways... there is the next installment and I really hope you guys approve of it.
In this chapter a few new elements within the UNSC are shown, as well as some screen time of everyones favorite "Laser Brained" smuggler. Not to mention the appearance of a new CBMI vessel.
Now that is over with, on to the STORY!
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[ Cloak and Dagger... ]
Not too long after the rise of the Galactic Empire, the newly installed Emperor Palpatine came up with the idea of relocating the entire "Alien" population of Imperial Center, (Formally known as Coruscant), into special "Protected Zones" which would be located all over the city planet. This move, the Emperor reasoned, was to protect these populations from the "genuine prejudice" that had suddenly begun to sweep through the galaxy, as well as to reflect the various different cultures of each of the Galaxy's alien ethnic back rounds.
The government did not waste any time in promoting these zoned off areas, having the media paint them as places of hope where the alien populations of Imperial Center could be free to celebrate their unique and diverse cultures in peace. A place of hope and dreams, a human senator once commented when interviewed about the zoned off sectors
But in reality these so called "places of hope", were nothing more than places of great despair and broken dreams. These protected zones were nothing more than segregated areas of the city planet, that were used to separate the alien populations of Imperial Center from the largely "human" population. Conditions within these segregated areas were best described as poor, horrid. Basic utility services such as a reliable and sanitary water supply were scarce and the populations that called these areas home, were constantly targeted and brutalized by the very same storm troopers that were assigned to protect them.
These places were built on lies and false hopes, many of the residents that once held places of power and influence before the fall, soon found themselves living in absolute poverty. Forced to live in conditions that were best described as inhuman, all the while the skyline of the prosperous new order that they had once welcomed with open arms, loomed over there new "homes" as if it were mocking them for their foolish arrogance.
But within this scene of despair and squalor, was the one thing that these zones promised but never delivered. The one thing that the Emperor Palpatine tried to stamp out but had failed to destroy. Hope.
Despite the government's best efforts them in the dark, the alien populations were well informed about the numerous rebellions that were sweeping across the Empire and the stories that came out of these reports, filled these segregated communities with a sense of hope that one day the Empire will fall and things would finally get better. Especially when they found out the the Terran government declared war on the Empire after the Imperials attacked and destroyed a Terran outpost. Many of them wondered just how long will this conflict will last for, or how long would it be before the Terrans finally came to free them from their misery.
But as the segregated populations of Imperial Center wondered just when help would finally arrive, they were completely unaware that located somewhere in one of these zones the UNSC, or rather the Central Bureau of Military Intelligence, had a group of operatives that were busily trying to find a way to shorten this new conflict.
"Central Spike" was the code name given to the CBMI's latest covert operation. The particular operation called for groups of CBMI agents to be deployed well behind Imperial lines, where they would proceed to gather as much information on the Imperial government (Political figures, policies, System Moffs, ect.) and feed it back to CBMI Andromeda headquarters on Worth. But obviously it was not as simple as it sounded.
These groups were often on their own and were usually cut off from the UNSC. Which meant that if they were to be discovered, there was little to no hope for a rescue team to come to their aid. So dangerous was this operation to the UNSC, that the teams which were sent in weren't even assigned an Artificial Intelligence to aid them in their task. The risk of discovery was just too high.
But yet there were still a large number of persons within the intelligence body, that were willing to sign themselves up for such a dangerous assignment. One such operative was a native of Earth, who's uncle had actually been the head of the UNSC's intelligence body some years ago. She had grown up hearing about how her Uncle Victor had served with pride within the CBMI and had earned a number of awards for his duty to the UNSC. It was those stories that inspired the young Russian to join the CBMI and following her late uncle's footsteps.
Now she was leading an Central Spike team in the literal heart of the Galactic Empire and for the last few month, her team had been engaged in tracking the movements and gathering information on certain persons of interest within the Imperial government. But a few weeks ago Commander Suri Yozhov and the rest of her team were informed by a number of "paid" individuals that the Empire had not only built a new super weapon, but were planing to deploy it very soon.
Obviously the Central Spike team leader was very much interested in this new piece of information and began to follow up on many of the leads that her group had gotten. But just twenty-four hours before the attack on Truk, all of the informants that Suri had paid off over the last few weeks suddenly went quiet and had not been seen nor heard from since. It was only when Suri and two other members of her group went to the home of one of their informants, did they find out what had possibly happened to them..
Upon investigation they saw that one of their informant's apartment had not only been broken into, but it had also been ransacked to a point where all of his furniture had been destroyed. At first it looked as if the worse case scenario had taken place and the Imperial's had not only gotten to him first, but the information that he had as well. But they soon found out that their informant was a lot smarter that they had given him credit for, as he had actually hidden said data crystal in plain sight. More specifically in the apartment's crystal chandelier.
With the coveted crystal in hand, the trio made their way to a near by space port where the next phase of their plan would take place. With the aid of a freighter captain (Who was on their pay roll as well), the crystal would soon make its way off the planet , towards another individual who was also on the intelligence unit's payroll and from there, it would make its way towards the brass on Worth.
With luck the UNSC would be able to use this piece of information before the Empire could launch an full on invasion. Or at least that was Suri's hope anyway, as she sat behind her made shift desk and pondered her team's next move.
So for the CBMI officer and her team, had spent several weeks in their current base of operation and for a while it had served it's purpose quite well. But with the Imperial government now sending its troops into the Alien Protection Zones to recruit more and more forced laborers for their war effort, it would only be a matter of time before they were discovered. Hence, they were now in the process of moving to another location.
"Suri," a male voice said, bringing the officer out of her trance. "Everything is packed and we are almost ready to leave."
"Thank you, Jamie." Yozhov replied, as she got up from her seat and made her way to the exit to rejoin the rest of her team. "Are the charges already set?"
"Yes mam'." the younger man replied, as he held up an CBMI variant of the data pads that were commonly used by UNSC personnel in the field. "Once the door closes, the charges will go off and this room will cease to exist."
"Perfect." the CBMI officer replied. "What is the status of the Imperial patrols?"
"The next patrol is not due for another twenty minutes."
"Them we better get moving before they come." Suri replied in a firm tone, before she went off to help with the final preparations. Within a few minutes the Central Spike Team consisting of ten CBMI operatives, had collected all of their gear and ready to leave. "Is that everything?" Suri questioned on final time.
"Everything." another one of her team members replied. "Once that door closes, the room no longer exist."
"Very well, move out!" and with that order, the assembled group made their way out of their former base of operations and began their journey towards their next HQ. But no sooner had the doors closed behind them, small explosions could be heard coming from inside the now abandoned room and in a matter of seconds, the two doors that had concealed said room were suddenly pushed out of their positions and in their place, a solid wall of what appeared to be concrete now stood.
The room that once housed a CBMI Central Spike team, now ceased to exist.
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( Unknown Location along the Imperial-Confederacy boarder )
If there was one thing that could have been said about Han Solo, was that he was a very colorful individual to say the very least. Hailing from Corellia, Han had experienced a number hardships and perils in his life as a result of being orphaned at an very young age. He had no real family to speak of and his early years were spent under the forced servitude of a pirate known as Garris Shrike. Who used young Solo to conduct a number of illegal activities and scams.
But as time passed Solo was able to make his keep, while serving under Shrike and was eventually able escape the Pirate's grasp by stowing away on a freighter and making his way to freedom. From there Solo began to take on a number of odd jobs as the years passed, until finally, he was able to follow his dream and entered the Imperial Navy to become a pilot. As a cadet he became a star pupil at the Imperial Academy on Carida and graduated top of his class, at the rank of lieutenant.
But his military career was short lived, as an incident involving a Wookiee pilot of a derelict slaver caused him to be dishonorably discharged from the Imperial military. But for Han, it was the beginning of a whole new chapter in his life. A chapter that would see him becoming one of the greatest smuggles in the Galaxy.
Now in command of a YT-1300 light freighter named the Millennium Falcon Han, along with his close friend Chewbacca (The Wookie pilot from the Slaver), undertook a number of smuggling operations for a number of employers through out the galaxy.
One such employer was a small Terran owned company called "Executive Decisions", which was based within the Confederacy of Independent Systems and for a number of months, Han and his vessel had conducted a number of cargo runs for them. He never once questioned his employers orders and as far as Han was concerned, it did not matter. Their money was still good and they haD never once failed to pay him handsomely for his services. But on this particular occasion, the Corellian native wish that he had.
After a brief rendezvous with a freighter out bound from Imperial Center, Han and his vessel was now on the Imperial-Confederacy boarder. The one place that no smuggler wanted to be, as both the Confederacy and Imperials did not take too kindly to smugglers operating within their space and considering that there was now a war going on, the chances of discovery was higher than ever.
"Well, here we go." Solo told his co-pilot and friend, as the duo sat within the Falcon's cockpit and prepared to broadcast the signal as specified by their employer. Chewbacca roared back, to which Han replied, "I know, I know! But if you ain't notice, are kinda short on cash right now and we need every job we can get."
Chewbacca roared again.
"Now don't start with that again." Han replied defensively, "Need I remind you this if it were not for that gambling, we would not have this ship? How was I supposed to know the game was rigged?"
Roar.
"Don't worry, once we get this over with, it's back to Nar Shaddaa." the Corellian replied, as he typed in the numbered code into his vessel's computer and began to broadcast the signal that was given to him.
For long minutes the Millennium Falcon's computer continued to broadcast the signal, all the while its two person crew waited anxiously for a reply. Both of them knowing very well what the outcome could be if an Imperial vessel were to come along unexpectedly. Suddenly the freighter's sensors began to pic up a strange energy reading, 30 kilometers in front the vessel.
Looking through the tick cockpit windows, both Han and Chewbacca saw something that had them in awe. For materializing in to existence in front of them, was what looked like a giant "wing" that was black and silver in color and had what looked like angular conning towers on the top and bottom of the "wings" apex.
"What the hell is that thing?" Han muttered, as he saw this strange craft drift towards his smaller vessel. Suddenly the speakers within the cockpit crackled to life and a deep voice said, "Unknown vessel, this is the Bletchly Park. We believe that you are in possession of something that belongs to us."
After the initial shock wore off, Han got to the controls of his vessel and replied "Wait just one minute. I have not heard the phrase your people said that you would give us once you arrive."
"You are not supposed to receive any such phrase from us when we arrived." the voice on the other end replied in a stern tone, catching the smugglers bluff with ease.
"Very well." Han replied, as he got up from his seat and made his way to his vessel's cargo bay. Within a few minutes, Solo had retrieved the data crystal that had been in his possession for the last couple of days and proceeded to place it into a special container that had been given to him as well. The smuggler then went over to his vessels nearest airlock and called out, "Chewie! Tell out guest to stand by for delivery!" and with that, he placed the container into the airlock and moments later, said container was jettisoned into the vacuum of space and towards the strange ship.
No sooner had Han returned to the cockpit, the other vessel hailed them once again and the same voice from before said "Package received. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, the money that had been promised to you have been added to your account."
"Yea but I gotta ask..." Han was about to say but before he could finish his question, the vessel in front of him veered off and vanished into nothingness once again. Leaving both Han and his co-pilot in a stunned silence, but it was the Wookiee pilot who was able come out of his trance and made a series of shorts roars at his friend.
"Alright! Alright!, we are going." Solo replied, as he got behind the controls and began to manipulate them. Moments later, the Millennium Falcon began to accelerate and went into hyperspace, en route to his base of operations on the Smuggler's Moon. Both crew members still completely unaware that their recent smuggling run, would have a profound effect on the galaxy's latest conflict.
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A/N: Now before you ask me any questions, I will say that more will be revealed in future chapters and don't worry, Han and Chewie will be back. As always PLEASE leave a review and if you do have a question, please inbox me so that I can reply.
I will not answer questions made by anonymous reviewers.
