Javen
We entered the derelict station, blaster rifles ready. I had C2 keeping tabs on board the ship so I could have my entire team with me. I wasn't taking any chances.
The information we received from the Minister of Intelligence indicated the courier was a group of soldiers led by a high profile Imperial traveling with civilians for cover. They were to rendezvous at an abandoned space station with another group of Imperials who was to take the information to the next drop off location deeper in Imperial space.
Before we disembarked, Elara requested to only be referred to as 'Sergeant.' It would be obvious to whomever we encountered that we would have gotten information from an inside source, she reasoned, and didn't want her family to accused of treason by the Sith.
Not ten feet into the station we came across a man who was badly wounded. He was dressed in civilian attire, but the weapon that had fallen near him was clearly Imperial standard issue. Elara immediately went to help while I questioned him. "My name is Capt. Terral, Republic Army. Can you tell me what happened here?"
"We thought we were careful," he gasped out, "but they still found us."
"Who did?"
"Forces loyal to the dark council," he said, clearly in pain. "Set an ambush for us, we barely fought them off."
"You're a solider?"
"Sergeant 3rd class," he answered. "That is all you will get out of me Republic."
"Fair enough," I said rising. "The Sergeant will see to your wounds. 4X, stay and lend any assistance needed before meeting back up with us."
"Of course sir," 4X shouted enthusiastically.
We made our way deeper in, climbing over the bodies as we went. They were dressed in both military and civilian attire.
"The sergeant wasn't kidding when he said it was a hell of a fight," Jorgan remarked.
After exploring the maze of corridors, we finally made our way to a large docking bay. There was a ship at the far end of the bay, and surrounding it were the survivors from the battle all dressed in civilian attire. The few who weren't wounded were running around attempting to give what little aid they could to those laying on the ground. In the center of the chaos was an older man who seemed to be in charge. I signaled Vik to get Elara and 4X in here. Imperial or civilian, these people needed our help.
Movement in the bay ceased as Jorgan, Yuun, and I made our way to the man in the center of the room. If I had to guess, he looked like he was only in his fifties, although the stress seemed have prematurely turned his hair gray. He stood about a head shorter than me and had a scar that went from the middle of the left side of his forehead down to his left cheek bone. I couldn't see if the left eye itself was damaged due to the eye patch that covered it.
"Captain Javen Terral," I introduced myself when we got to him. "CO, Havoc Squad. This is Lt. Jorgan and Sgt. Yuun.
"What business do you have harassing innocent Imperial citizens," the man demanded. "We have done nothing to provoke you."
"Most of these people may be civilians, but you're not," I answered. The clothes didn't fool me, it was obvious he was Imperial military. "There's no point in trying to keep up this ruse, Moff …?"
He glared at me for a moment before giving a defeated sigh and saying, "Grand Moff will suffice."
"I think you know why we're here, Grand Moff," I said, putting my blaster rifle away. "I have no intention of harming anyone here and my medic would be willing to give whatever assistance she can."
"Why would you do that," he asked suspiciously.
"Andrew," a woman scolded coming up to him. She appeared to be the same age as the Grand Moff. If I had to guess she was his wife judging by her tone and the familiarity she acted around him. Her clothes had been stained red from tending to the wounded. "Will you stop looking a gift Nerf in the mouth? Right now we need all the help we can get."
"Any help you could give would be appreciated," the Grand Moff said. He gave his wife a defeated look before turning back, fire in his eyes. "If you so much as hurt one of the men under my command, I will see you killed."
"Andrew…" his wife said in a warning tone.
"It's fine ma'am," I said reassuringly, giving her a small smile. "I'd do the same in his position."
"There's the sergeant," Jorgan said, waving her over.
"So, Grand Moff, why were you and your men fighting your fellow brothers-in-arms," I asked.
"Those were no brothers of mine," he spat angrily. "You are here because of the Gauntlet, correct? Do you want to know the true purpose of the Gauntlet," he asked. Before I could answer he continued, voice rising in anger. "It was to finally rid ourselves of the Sith. To challenge the Dark Council means death, there is no way our soldiers could win in an open battle against them. But this weapon, it gives us the advantage we need to loosen their power over us. By destroying their ships before they can even engage us in battle… This weapon was going to be our liberator."
"But the Sith found out about it," I guessed.
"I have no idea how," he sighed. "We were so careful, so close to success. If the Dark Council knew enough to send troops here, then it is already too late and they now control the Gauntlet. I suppose shall have to rely on you to stop them."
"I'm a pretty sure bet," I said with a cocky smile. Elara appeared at my side and was about to say something when she noticed the people in front of me and froze.
"Elara," the woman breathed out. "Is that really you?"
"Mother, Father," Elara asked, looking at the couple, not seeming to believe what she was seeing. "What are you doing here?"
"First the Minister of Intelligence, then Cipher 9, now this," Jorgan mumbled. "And everyone says the universe is so big."
I glared at him before turning back to the reuniting family. "Grand Moff Dorne, I trust this will alleviate any fears you may have of my medic."
"That it does, Captain," he answered, never taking his eyes off his daughter.
A worm of a man seemed to slink out of the shadows and appeared next to the Grand Moff. He was taller than officer although his shoulders seemed to stoop and he was clearly older. What would come off as frail in most people came off as disturbing with his sunken eyes and the small patch of white hair that seemed barely stick to the top of his head. "Elara, so good to see you again after all these years," he said with a voice that seemed to send a chill down her spine. I could sympathize; there was something off about this man.
"Father, what is Dr. Henderson doing here," she asked, hand immediately going to her side arm as she looked the doctor over.
"Now that is no way to treat an old colleague," he chided.
"Unfortunately, I needed his assistance for the Gauntlet project," Grand Moff Dorne answered, clearly not proud of that fact.
Elara looked as if she was going to say something when she was interrupted by frantic shouting from somewhere deeper in the bay. Immediately Elara took off in the direction of the noise, with all of us not far behind.
By the time we caught up, Elara was already leaning over a young twilik child trying to give an examination as the mother hovered over her still speaking frantically.
"Ma'am, you need to calm down," Jorgan said, stepping up and focusing the mother's attention on him. She seemed to take a few deep breaths as he asked, "Can you tell us what happened?"
"It was him," she said, angrily pointing and Dr. Henderson. "He did something to my daughter and now she won't wake up!"
"What did you do," Grand Moff Dorne demanded.
"Really, it was better for her this way," Dr. Henderson replied, looking bored. "If she lived, it would only be a matter of time before she was sold as some Hutt's sex slave. At least this way her inferior life has some meaning by giving it for science."
"You bastard," Grand Moff Dorne angrily shouted. "I promised you immunity for your crimes as long as you ceased these experiments."
"Ah yes, a place in your grand new order, where true science is stifled," he answered. "The Sith, however, recognize the genius in my work."
"You betrayed us?"
"From the beginning," Dr. Henderson answered with a disturbing smile. He looked over to see Elara fighting to save the child's life. "Elara, dear, I would not waste your time. As talented a medic as you are, there is nothing even you can do for her."
She seemed to ignore him as she started to preform CPR on the girl. I watched helplessly as it became apparent that the girl would not be waking up. I looked over at Jorgan who was trying to comfort the mother. Our eyes met and it was clear we both had come to the same conclusion. After making sure Yuun would keep Grand Moff Dorne from attacking Dr. Henderson, I knelt next to Elara.
"She's gone," I told her quietly, but she ignored me and kept at it. "Elara," I said gently as I tried to grab her arms.
"No," she said, pushing me away, continuing to work. "I refuse to see another innocent lost to this moster!"
"Such a waste of effort," Dr. Henderson remarked, "on a lesser being of all things."
"Enough," I ordered, moving to stare down at him.
"Or what, Captain?" he asked in a contemptuous voice. "One of your Republic judges will lecture me to death?"
"I prefer the Chiss version of justice," I answered, voice low.
"Even better, you'll exile me," he asked, laughing.
"That's right," I answered, "the same way my people would: with a side arm, a day's worth of food and water, and some basic cold weather gear before turning you out on some frozen desert."
The doctor stopped laughing and looked me over before saying, with more fear than confidence, "You wouldn't."
"For a child killer? Without hesitation," I answered. My attention was immediately taken away from him when I heard coughing behind me. When I turned around, I saw the young girl sitting up with Elara running scans on her. Jorgan and I looked at one another dumbstruck.
"We need to get her to the medical bay on the ship," Elara said, exhaustion clear in her voice. "From there to a Republic hospital where she can recover."
"4X, carry the girl and escort her mother to the ship," I ordered once I could speak again.
"Right away sir!" The droid effortlessly picked up the girl before turning to her mother and saying, "If you would follow me, miss?"
"Thank you so much," the mother said to Elara, tears running.
"It was my pleasure," she replied, still sitting, clearly drained now that the adrenaline was leaving her system. Jorgan walked over to assist Elara as mother and daughter headed off to the ship.
