Chapter 25
(Imperial-Class Star Destroyer, "Scorcher" above Coruscant.)
Black cape flowing behind him, and Valek in tow, Kun walked down the ramp. Immediately his vision was met with a mix of white troopers. Gray walls, and a darker shade of gray for imperial officers.
Speaking of officers two stood at the foot of the ramp, both heads held high and hands clasped behind their backs.
Very nice indeed. Kun's simple review of the assorted men went through his mind.
Continuing down the ramp, Kun signaled with his hand for Valek to step closer to him. As he came to the end of the ramp he looked at the two officers intently. Causing the one furthest from him to reposition his footing, as Kun's stare bothered the man. "Who is the ranking officer here?" The dark lord barked his demand. To which the green eyed officer closer to him stepped in place and announced himself.
"Darsin Refflet, Imperial Commanding Officer, and Admiral of the 86th Imperial fleet, my lord!"
Kun was taken slightly aback by the show, this admiral Refflet just put on. "Very good admiral, you may be at ease. As well as your comrade here." The two men visibly relaxed.
Admiral Refflet turned to Kun now and bowed, being ever so proper.
"My fellow officer here is lieutenant Kest Adnett, my lord. We both are at your full service. Of course so is all the fleet and her forces." The admiral added, Kun gave an approving nod to the two officers.
"Very good admiral. I want you two to escort me and my apprentice here to my quarters."
Saying this the dark lord already began walking down the center of the lined stormtroopers.
The two officers scurried to walk side by side with their new commander.
"This here is my apprentice. You will address him as, Agent Zalliste. Also he is given full rank above all, except for me of course. I want all intelligence gathered on the rebel base discovered on Dantooine. Also I will require all historical data pads, and be sure they are of the original documentation. You understand, no imperial tampered documents!"
The dark lord barked order after order causing the two officers to have to ponder and remember what he said.
"Of, of course lord Kun. Is there anything that we can further acquire for you?" The admiral was well to do. In fact Kun even thought he was extremely fit for his fleet, and command. The sith lord couldn't believe his continuing luck.
Exiting the docking bay and entering an equally gray corridor, Exar further ordered.
"No, I require nothing else. My orders though are to make for the Yavin system. Once there begin orbiting the fourth moon of Yavin prime. We have unfinished business there. When we are there prepare all transport shuttles, we have guests to pick up." Exar further pointed out to the men.
"I want scouts sent to Dantooine, have them report on the rebels current situation. I want an estimate on their numbers. I also want you to immediately plot a course to Dantooine, and head there once our passengers have arrived!"
Again the two officers were thrown off balance by the stream of barking demands that flew from Kun's mouth. Admiral Darsin glanced over to his lieutenant. Who had a shared look of both shocked, and astonishment. "Um, yes of course, my lord. All will be done per your orders." Admiral Refflet responded bowing deeply.
Coming up on an intersecting corridor, Darsin pointed out Kun's route to him. Following the admirals directions, Kun marched on in great strides.
After a long drawn out walk to an elevator then more then four corridors more of walking the four arrived at the High Command suite. "This is your suite sir. It has been prepared for you. It has three rooms. A refresher, an office room. A meeting room, with a holo link to the officers meeting room, so you don't have to make the trip there. A HoloNetwork connector. As well as a kitchen, with a stocked conservator." The admiral finished.
Opening the suite, it was well kept and clean. As well as the universal gray of the empire.
"Good, now admiral begin the tasks I've assigned you. Don't disturb me until you have my datapads then until we arrive at Yavin! Do you understand?" Darsin merely bowed in understanding.
Exar gave a terse nod and entered the suite, Valek right behind him. Allowing the door to close in front of the two officers.
Both turning as well as relaxing, and moving back down the corridors.
"That was very, interesting. Wouldn't you say admiral?" The younger lieutenant spoke to Darsin. Nodding he too made his thoughts known.
"I rather enjoy having a commander who knows what he wants. Not an idiot that wants to order us around without knowing procedure, or what to do."
As the two neared the next corridor, Refflet again spoke.
"Is it only me lieutenant, or did you get that lord Vader vibe from him?"
Adnett turned to the admiral and gave a vigorous nod. "Well this is a lesson, do not take this man for granted. Or underestimate him. I do believe we are dealing with a very important, and dangerous man. Pass the word to the officers. Nothing to upset lord Kun, whatsoever! You understand, lieutenant?"
"Yes sir I do." Refflet and Adnett continued down the rest of the corridors in a calm silence. Until they broke off to perform their duties.
Soon the 86th fleet and all fifty of its ships were jumping to hyperspace. Its destination, Yavin IV.
(Kashyyyk, two days later.)
The initial impact of the empire's rise left worlds such as Kashyyyk, in turmoil. Today it was under Imperial rule, but few Wookiees were seen in open daylight these days. Most chose rather to stick to the great forests and live within the colossal, Wroshyr trees.
The Wookiees lived in fear. Fear of the empire and its slavers. Or the Trandoshans who worked for outsourced slavers, in the Outer Rim. Thousands were in work camps, thousands more were missing, shipped of to some unknown place. Thought to never be returned.
Indeed it was a sad time for the Wookiees.
A young Wookiee had ventured out into the open to see forests far off set aflame. It was terrible.
In fact he gave a huff of sadness. As he imagined what it would be like to have all returned to the days of old.
Before the empire, before the stormtroopers. Even before the droids of the Clone Wars. For he longed for the Kashyyk his mother spoke of. The one his father died for. Another moan of regret rose from his throat.
Turning he began to move back into the forest. Until the star and its light was blocked out.
Looking up what he saw scared the pup, into a jog home.
In the skies above loomed dozens of the great arrowhead warships. The Empire was re-assaulting!
The pup ran with all his might. For he knew the empire would come to take every last free Wookiee they could find.
Not again this cannot happen to us again! The pup cried in his head as he ran. Another mass enslavement of the Wookiees had begun!
The sky screeched with TIE fighters as they zoomed over the great trees. Eight transports landed on a nearby beachhead. Pouring out four garrisons of stormtroopers each. A Lambda landed, and out came the great obelisk of the empire, Darth Vader!
"All troopers are to hunt down all Wookiees in this forest. We will not stop until another five thousand are captured!" The dark lord commanded. A great succession of explosions rocked the area. All looked up to see TIE bombers beginning a bombing run. The Wookiees would soon have nowhere else to go!
Five more transports landed. This time three garrisons, if they could be called that. Of Trandoshan slavers flooded out. Each wielding repeating carbines, and an assortment of blades, along with grenade belts.
All scales and muscle, hired work to flush out the Wookiees.
The lead Trandoshan, by the name of Frosshka Revvissh, approached lord Vader with confidence.
Speaking basic the reptile spoke. "I hope our agreement will be honored, lord Vader. We have to eat to y'know." The mercenary spoke with a slither for an accent, and in no regard for proper speech.
Vader annoyed crossed his arms. "You credits will be honored, mercenary! Just keep your rabble under a tight leash and everything will go as according!" The reptilian smirked in his own freakish alien way.
"Actually the furry beasts will be wearing the leashes soon, don't you think lord Vader."
The mercenary chuckled his own raspy, yet slithery laugh. "Lucumba!" The Trandoshan then barked in his native language of Dosh. Telling his men to "move out." The lizards scurried into the dense forests, eager to plunder their hated celestial neighbors. Of their lives, goods, and of their freedom.
For a Trandoshan there was nothing sweeter then destroying a Wookiee's life.
Hearing the calls of the Trandoshans in the forest, Vader turned to his storm trooper battalions.
"Move out and support the slavers. Use only stun blasts, unless necessary to kill. You all have been given an array of sleeping darts, and smoke grenades. I expect good results with all of this in play!
Two battalion here are equipped with standard CR-28 flame cannon. Use it wisely! I expect you to show the
highest results with you equipment. Move out!"
With those barking orders the stormtroopers marched into the forests. It wasn't long until blaster fire was head reverberating throughout the forest. From an aerial view pockets of the forest were smoking in billow clouds to the sky. As the TIE bombers rocked the deep forest with bombing runs.
Wookiees ran in total fear. While some males fought with all they could. In the end the fighters were subdued and either brought to be enslaved. Or a Trandoshan knife would be thrust into the Wookiee neck. To let the poor beasts bleed a slow death.
Running pups who were unwanted for labor were set ablaze by the CR-28s let to burn alive. Their horrendous cries, and howls of pain falling on deaf ears.
Vader activated his com to the Exactor. The image of Admiral Ozzel soon materialized.
"Admiral, I want the 2-M repulsortanks down here immediately!" Vader ordered still standing on the beachhead. Ozzel bowed.
"It will be done, lord Vader." The admirals picture faded out.
Vader turned back to the forest before him. As the garrisons of troopers, and Trandoshans alike herded Wookiee slaves onto the beach. Where they were give heavy dose's of sedatives, enough for a Rancor really. Once drugged they were slave collared and caged to be put on a transport, and put on the Exactor.
By night, the forest under siege was alight with the flames of the Empire! Troopers hunted down the giant "walking carpets" or "moving targets." They rained fire down upon the Wookiees who ran. The repulsortanks blasted the trees roots to topple them over and destroy the Wookiee homes.
As the TIE bomber continued to blast through the night!
The more greedy Trandoshans rounded up unwanted pups and kept them to sell to the Hutts or other crime groups. The ground was littered in charred dirt, and dead bodies. The smell of burning fur, and pooling blood filled the air. As troopers ran over the remains, kicking them as they go. They shoot all dead ones to, ensure they were dead.
A pack of Wookiee mothers and pups were surrounded and surrendered to the stormtroopers. Who put them in groups, and massacred the pups in front of the mother Wookiees. Who in turn flew into rages and ripped the troopers apart. Until the Trandoshans arrived and gassed them with a sedative. Kashyyk was in chaos!
The next morning began with ten straight bombing runs. Darth Vader watched the entire ordeal.
They're only fur carpets. Let them burn. I care little!
This allowed the five thousand Wookiees be captured, by midday the second day!
An imperial officer approached lord Vader. "Lord Vader, we have all the Wookiees per your orders. What is next?" The young officer asked his towering leader. Who ominously stared down upon the man.
"Allow them to continue another two hours, then we proceed off this planet."
The officer backed away in mid bow, and left.
That night the imperials, and Trandoshans left Kashyyyk. They took the needed five thousand. Another two thousand along with them and the Trandoshans. While leaving a summed number of, four thousand three hundred, dead Wookiees scattered throughout the forests! The besieged forest was bombed and burned, destroying forty eight percent of its ecosystem!
A dark massacre of the Wookiees. Thousands dead and enslaved! One of the many dark acts of the emperor. One that will help spark uprising.
It was perfect for Darth Vader, and Exar Kun. As the eleven thousand effected Wookiees were left to suffer, and they did.