A long time ago, in a galaxy far away...

It is a time of conflict in the Galaxy as Civil War rages. Four months before, the forces of the sinister GALACTIC EMPIRE nearly eradicated the fledgling REBELLION at Hoth. The Rebellion has since fled into the Outer Rim to recover from their defeat and evade the Empire's Agents. Despite this crushing blow and retreat, agents of the Alliance continue to spark fires of rebellion across the galaxy.

The people of Telos, long burdened by the rule of the Empire, have offered the Rebellion assistance. In return they have requested the destruction of the monstrous Grand Moff Sylaks and his flagship PROVOCATOR.

The leaders of the Rebellion, eager to recover from the crushing blow, have sent forces to perform this task and at long last gain a foothold in the Galaxy.

Kwymar Sector

Seatan System

Planet: Rel Seatan

The first three hours after midday were traditionally the hours of rest. Even the Empire had allowed this tradition to continue as the people of Seatan worked and at times partied long into the night afterwords. Today though, the population was neither resting nor working, instead they were assembled in the squares of their towns and villages. Imperial Army Troops and armored vehicles surrounded the normally friendly people with weapons drawn and set on kill.

Children shuddered or complained to their parents, most of whom were just as confused by this summons and tried in vain to assuage them. At 2 hours past midday, the setting sun was blotted out. The terrified civilians shuddered as the shapes of four Imperial Star Destroyers flew over them, their weapons pointed downwards.

Then as the Star Destroyers passed overhead, a massive shape followed. While only slightly longer than the preceding vessels, it's width dwarfed the Star Destroyers. Imperial loyalists and bootlickers in the crowd bowed and some cheered as they saw the shape.

The majority of people were horrified as they saw the shape of the Provocator, Grand Moff Sylaks ship, surge over them. Some of the more hysterical broke down in tears of fright imagining their upcoming demise. The Imperial troops simply stared at the scenes in the crowd ready to shoot.

The Provocator, a Secutor Class Battlecruiser, sailed past the citizens uncaring for the scenes it had created. On its bridge, Grand Moff Holton Sylaks observed the activities of the crew with a critical eye. After a half hour, Captain Dez Faerian approached him.

"We're approaching the town of Garan, should I prepare your shuttle?" The captain asked phrasing it as a suggestion.

"Prepare it. Have the crew prepare Grizzly as well." Sylaks replied. The captain grimaced and said "So the rumors are true, I take it?"

"Despite Lord Vader's victory, rebellions will continue until the Empire delivers a new superweapon that can quell this lawlessness." Sylaks growled, his eyes darting to and fro the various consoles and the crew operating them.

The captain nodded and gave the orders to the necessary crew via intercom. He then turned to the Grand Moff and said "Should I contact the-?"

He was cut off as Sylaks replied, "I have done this. How is your fuel?"

Captain Faerian replied, "We're near the dregs of our fuel, we have enough for a few jumps."

The Grand Moff winced, "Don't worry captain, once this affair is over the Provocator will be receiving a much deserved refit with larger fuel tanks." The captain let out a weak smile and replied "Very well."

The Grand Moff then eyed a screen and said "Summon my bodyguards as well. Have them meet me in the hangar."

"Very well." The captain walked to the intercom and the Moff walked towards the turbolift.

Garan

The sports fields outside of the town were usually a place of merriment. Today though they were a place of punishment. Two hundred rebels sat in the middle of the field, Imperial armored vehicles and army troopers stood around them.

The leader of the army troopers, a Lieutenant, glared at them.

"I should shoot them all now." She growled, "It'll spare them the honor of being in the presence of the Grand Moff." The troopers around her normally would have laughed at this sentiment but the death of General Kraner and the long hours of fighting had changed their perspective.

Plus, the Lieutenant had kept them alive through her orders.

As the clock struck four, three shuttles flew towards the group. Two were only people carriers but the other was a cargo carrier which carried a bizarre vehicle, a TIE cockpit in between two tracks. The three ships landed, technicians rushed out to prepare the tracked vehicle.

As the pilot entered the tracked vehicle to begin checks, a hiss emerged from the two personnel vehicles. Out of the larger of the two, several Dark Troopers emerged sending a shiver of fear through the ranks of the Army Troopers. Out of the smaller came the Grand Moff whose demeanor had changed from cross to beaming.

"Lieutenant Kraner." He called. The Lieutenant turned and said "Yes sir?"

"A fine demonstration of the Imperial Army's strength against such overwhelming odds. Your family has been notified of your victory. With some changes." He handed a datapad over and the woman read it, her face changed to one of relief.

"Thank you." She replied, the Grand Moff saluted her and replied as she returned the gesture "I know what your family would think of the truth. Let's not have their vainglorious ideas on victory and protection ruin this victory."

She let out a smile and simply said "I will not fail you in the future."

The Grand Moff nodded appreciating the fire of determination in her eye. "So how many Rebels did you capture?"

"A bit over 200. All escape attempts have been foiled with stun setting. We switched over to lethal an hour before as instructed." She replied. The Grand Moff's eyes lit up and he asked "The shield generators?" Lieutenant Kernan replied, "The shield generators are laid down and hooked up."

"And the weapons are treated?" He asked intently.

"Yes, your excellency." She replied, adding in the last part belatedly. The Grand Moff seemed uninterested in the breach of etiquette and said, "Excellent, start the shields and have your troops line up alongside the generators. Single shot only, I want to be sporting. Let the vehicle crews rest, they've done enough work."

Her eyes raised a bit inquisitively but she barked out his orders. Army engineers started the generators and as the shields came online, the soldiers moved next to the generators.

The Grand Moff turned to the prisoners who looked perplexed at this.

"Rebels, you have betrayed your Empire and all it stands for. Order and security were put at risk when you attacked the army base. However, we are merciful. I will give you a challenge.

The length of this field is one mile. Run that distance and I will let you free." The soldiers and Rebels looked perplexed until the Moff pointed to the tracked vehicle.

"This citizens of the Empire, is the TIE Mauler. I dub this particular vehicle Grizzly. A Mauler usually wields three blaster cannons, Grizzly has no weapons. When I shoot my blaster in the air, the Mauler will charge into the shields and run over any who stand in its way. I am told it's a common tactic amongst Mauler pilots. The wounded will be given a quick shot by the troopers. So, to reiterate, only the strongest will survive." He then fired his blaster into the air and the vehicle roared into life.

The Rebels, initially looking defiant at the Mauler realized the upcoming terror approaching them and began fleeing to the safe zone. The Mauler entered the shielded area and to Lt. Kernans horror began running down rebels. As it caught up to each Rebel, the figure would be rolled over by the vehicles treads churning what were once human and alien bodies into ground meat who flesh gave the ground a dizzying array of colors and shapes.

The worst to see were those who weren't killed outright or crushed completely. Their screams spoke of unimaginable pain that was only rectified by a blaster from one of the soldiers.

Some rebels tried to climb onto the vehicle but were shot off by the Moffs Dark Troopers. They were not dead however and the Mauler returned to crush the life out of them.

After 40 minutes it was over with over 170 Rebels crushed and mutilated. The remainder looked shell shocked at this display of Imperial savagery.

The Moff turned to the survivors and said "Congratulations, you were truly the best of the Rebels. Now leave, I am a man of my word." The Rebels began to run when blue bolts struck them and one by one they fell stunned.

Lieutenant Kernan nearly called her troops to action when the Moff held up his hand. "I assure you, this was expected." As the last survivor fell, several alien beings emerged and began collecting the stunned.

The Grand Moff turned to her and said "Zy-Kruian. A race that lives near the edge of known space. They utilize cyborg warriors of various species to gain advantages over their opponents. I made a deal to protect Imperial citizens from potential raids by offering them rebels. I have yet to regret that deal."

She nodded, her stomach still churning in disgust but her mind being somewhat assuaged that Imperial Citizens like her younger sister were protected from this fate. "That explains the Mauler then. A fine way to weed them out." She spoke almost hesitantly.

The Moff missed the hesitation and replied "Indeed it is. Pilot Jerzek, send a communique to the sanitation department to dispose of the trash." He walked back to the shuttle with his guard escorting him.

As the shuttles lifted off the ground, Lieutenant Kernan shuffled away. Her eyes had left the field but the sights that day would haunt her dreams for the rest of her life. Today, she finally understood what the Imperial system allowed.

In his shuttle, the Grand Moff laid back feeling what would some would consider ecstasy. A good bloodbath, or the prospect of such, always seemed to bring out his best nature.

As he laid back into the chair aware in knowledge all was well in the galaxy, a transmission was received by the Provocator from the Golan Station protecting Telos IV.

A Rebel Fleet had arrived.