Merry Christmas readers!:)
Right before the rebel attack
Not far from the Crispin Imperial Depository was the local base of the Imperial Navy. A stormtrooper was strolling down the long corridor, not wearing his armor. Luckily his unit got rest for the next two days. It could be said that he was having a good time. He got rest, compared to Vandor the weather was pretty clear and nice and everything was quiet. He felt that nothing could interrupt this calmness. What could possibly interrupt?
He looked out the window at the base. It looked just as it should on a regular morning. Docked Star Destroyers, TIE Fighters, shuttles, transport ships and other space ships, clear skies… Clear skies? What is happening up there? Oh kriff…
The trooper bursted into the living quarters where some of his comrades were still sleeping. "Hey! Hey!"
"Leave us alone damn it!"
"Shut up!"
"The rebels are here!"
In the next moment it was like an earthquake. They heard a huge explosion from outside and the lights in there went out multiple times.
The Imperial soldiers inside there didn't receive an order to get ready to fight; there was no need for it. They just reached for their armors, blasters and went to defend the base.
Before the Imperials could react anything, the first wave of Y-wings already struck down. Their task was to destroy as many defense cannons and other military targets as they could with bombs, rockets and blasters. They were followed by X-wing pilots who mainly targeted the TIEs, making it impossible for the enemy to take off; most of the Imperial starfighters were destroyed on the ground even before their pilots could board them.
The third wave bombed what the previous two left, and that was when Admiral Ackbar ordered his capital ships to start the bombardment. The strategy was to not give the Empire a chance to strike back. From thousands and thousands of meters above powerful laser beams were raining down on the naval base, damaging the grounded Star Destroyers and everything around them.
X
Hera pulled up the Ghost from a nosedive after Zeb shot out a gun turret on the ground. Most of the Imperial guns and rocket launchers around the Depository were still silent; the rest of the crew must have done a very nice blackout.
"So far so good." commented the twi'lek general.
"If it stays like that, I'll call this a good day." replied Zeb as he kept firing.
"At first I'd like to see if those four are safe." said Hera and looked at the Depository's entrance. Momentarily she couldn't see the rest of the Ghost crew, only a smaller army of stormtroopers who barricaded themselves from the rebel ground forces that already landed on Vandor's surface and charged the Depository. "Come on guys! Get out!"
X
"Isn't it beautiful?" asked the Seventh standing with crossed arms and a satisfied smile on her face.
By beautiful she meant the ruined equipments, the torn pieces of metal and the flaming and sparkling wires and cables.
"You have one taste of art haven't you?" asked Ezra.
"Art? 't was never really my thing."
"Ask Sabine. She can provide you and insight into it."
"An artist Mandalorian who prefers to talk with her enemy in her cell? She really is an unusual one of her people."
"Believe me; she knows what she's doing when it comes to fight."
"Talking about fight." said someone. "It's time for us to go." It was Kanan followed by Sabine."
"While heading outwards, we are still expected to "cause trouble" right?" asked the Seventh.
"Yes, we are." nodded the older Jedi. "A large storage room filled with vehicles is nearby. We go through there and do what we can."
"I'm at your disposal." grinned the Mirialan and as an emphasis she already reignited her crimson blade.
X
The rebels broke through the defense at the gate and already were deep in the tunnel. Standing up straight would have been suicidal for anyone in there; the blaster fire was so intense that the air was almost glowing.
Captain Larus Meron was kneeling behind a brace at the foot of the wall, firing his service pistol. "Sergeant! Where's the reinforcement?"
"They are not here yet sir!" replied a stormtrooper who was handling a radio. "I'm trying to reach them but I have problems with the communication!"
"Damn it!" cursed Larus. "Keep firing!"
"Captain! They are retreating!" another trooper happily reported. He was right, the rebel soldiers pulled back to the gate.
"They'll come back. Don't let your guard down!" He was right, barely two minutes later they heard the battle cries of the rebels again. "Fire!" And the fierce battle continued.
This was repeated three more times. By the time the rebels launched their fifth attack, Larus got shot once on the shoulder, twice on his right arm and once on his right leg. But he fought on determined, like nothing happened though the wounds hurt him.
Not far from him a stormtrooper on his right, behind the barricade got killed by a shot and fell. "Lieutenant, come, plug that hole over there!" Larus ordered Lena and his sister – who was slightly injured on her head, and blood was flowing down on her temple – rushed to strengthen the defense there with her own pistol.
By this time the sides were fighting each other from close quarters as the rebels were becoming more and more daring and they began to charge the Imperials directly. Lena shot one of them from barely two meters, just when he stepped on top of the barricade with his weapon ready to fire.
"Lena, watch out!" yelled Larus and with a quick move he shot the Trandoshan rebel that was just about to shoot his older sister, but then he immediately had to turn his weapon against his own attackers again.
In mean time Lena Meron finished another charging rebel. However it seemed that if they kill one another one replaces him immediately, they kept coming and coming."
"Lena, Lena!" The older sibling noticed why Larus was yelling again. A rebel in front of her was aiming directly at her with his rifle. She aimed, pulled the trigger and… And nothing. Her pistol let her down in the moment she needed it the most.
"Lena!"
For the relief of both of them said rebel got shot on the chest and fell on the ground now harmlessly.
"Your welcome Captain." said someone from behind Larus. He turned back and saw a stormtrooper with his blaster still pointing at the rebel who wanted to shoot Lena.
"I owe you one corporal." nodded Larus, panting heavily.
"Don't mention it Sir." saluted the trooper and Larus returned the gesture. "But if I may suggest keep firing at these bastards."
"I'm afraid we'll have to pull back and regroup."
"I'm sure we can stop them here."
"I like your optimism corporal but we cannot endure one more charge like that. We'll have better chances at the end of the tunnel."
"If you say so Captain."
"Everyone retreat!" Larus shouted.
X
For a rebel intruder who was supposed to destroy Imperial military equipment that storage room was like canaan. AT-AT's, AT-ST's, speeders, TX-225 assault tanks, troop carriers, various piece parts, etc., etc.
"Okay. Sabine, go and plant some of your explosives. The legs of the walkers will be a good place for them for example." said Kanan as they were hiding behind a huge pile of bins.
"Got it." nodded the Mandalorian.
"Be careful. We're covering you."
And with that Sabine left them.
"How do you like the rebel life so far Spectre Seven?" asked Kanan.
"I'm having fun actually." replied the Seventh.
"Yeah, I took notice of that."
"Look Jarrus, I know that some of my methods are not necessarily compatible with your taste."
"Something like that."
"But look into yourself and ask yourself please. Have you never done anything "bad"? Anything wrong in the name of the Rebellion?" asked the Mirialan.
Jarrus didn't reply at first, but she felt the struggle inside him.
"I know what I'm fighting for is good. The Empire took everything from me once. I will not let it to do it again with me or anyone else. That's what I'm fighting for. My conscience is clear." stated the blind Jedi.
"I see. But you know, those stormtroopers and officers in grey also believe that what they're fighting for is good."
"They're either misled or evil like their Emperor." said Ezra.
"I don't know. I've met quite a lot of them during the years and I can tell you: there are many of them whom you wouldn't describe as "evil". If they wore rebel uniforms, they wouldn't be different from you." said the Seventh. "What's evil after all?"
"Not an easy question, but if you ask me, it's the total lack of empathy. As for me, evil is the inability to understand another fate." replied Kanan.
"And would you fight the Empire if it was not "evil"?"
"It's the Empire, and I don't need to know anymore."
"But what's the Empire?" asked the ex-Inquisitor. "A bunch of planets, moons and asteroids? A state? A belief?"
"In my opinion the Empire is a terrible nightmare that was forced on the people." said Kanan.
"Lots of them support it you know."
"They're victims too. Our duty is to open their eyes. I personally do not care if the galaxy is governed by the senate or a monarch. The problem is how this galaxy is ruled currently."
"You know best."
A few seconds later all hell broke loose as the air was filled with shouts and blaster fire.
"I guess Spectre Five was not careful enough." said the Seventh and reached for her lightsaber.
"Let's go!"
After being noticed, Sabine was firing back at the stormtroopers from behind a TX-225.
"Sabine, keep them busy here! Ezra and I open the way out! Spectre Seven, you cover for us and Sabine at the rear!"
It wasn't easy though, as they were under heavy attack from three sides, the blasters and grenades made it hard to even move.
Suddenly a rocket impacted close to Sabine, breaking the left leg of the AT-ST that was standing behind her in half. She heard the creaking sound and when she looked behind, the walker was already leaning toward her. She couldn't jump away due to the enemy fire. All she could do was staying there and wait for the many tons of steel to crush her.
As if it could help she lowered her head and covered it with her hand. But nothing happened. She should have been crushed by now.
Sabine looked up and saw the one-legged walker hanging in the air.
"What the…"
That was when she noticed the Seventh standing with outstretched arm, holding the AT-ST above her with the Force. The Mirialan gestured her with her head to get away from there as she could barely hold the walker.
Sabine left her position still firing, and the Seventh could finally let the AT-ST fall.
Meanwhile Kanan and Ezra opened the way and the four members of the Ghost crew continued their way out of the Depository.
X
Larus and lots of other soldiers took positions in the first storage room at the end of the tunnel behind various military vehicles. Luckily for them they could mobilize a few tanks. Meanwhile Lena and her soldiers were hiding in a smaller room that was at right angles to the end of the tunnel, right from Larus, so they could surprise the enemy from the side.
They didn't have to wait long before the rebels arrived and the fighting resumed. With the tanks and the reinforcement they were much effective this time and could hold the attackers in the tunnel.
Despite of this they still couldn't expect a fast and easy victory. It turned out that the rebels had bazookas with them and soon one of the tanks was already flaming. For Larus it took a lot of effort to concentrate on the battle and not on the screams of the tank's crew as they were burning to death inside the TX-225, and that they could do nothing for them.
The rebel blasters, grenades and rockets cut big holes in the Imperial defense and the line was shattered.
That was when a rocket hit the storage room's wall high above the room where Lena was. Larus saw as huge pieces of metal and rock were falling down, straight to where his older sister was.
He forgot about all the damn rebels and tanks and the battle. He was on his feet in the blink of an eye and sprinted toward her.
"Look out!" That was the only thing he could shout before the many quintals of debris overlaid them.
X
When Lena regained her consciousness she was laying on her side on the cold floor. There was almost completely dark inside there only a little light came in through the gaps in the barricade, formed by the debris.
Though every parts of her body hurt terribly, she managed to sit up and look around. All the stormtroopers who was there with her were lying dead. But there was another person on the ground beside her. And her eyes widened in terror when she noticed who it was.
"Larus! Larus! Talk to me!" she shook her brother's shoulder but he didn't react. No it can't happen. It can't happen that he…
She pulled him with her until she reached the wall and could rest her back against it. She hugged him tight, resting his head on her shoulder. She didn't dare to try if he had a pulse at first but then she finally touched his wrist and let out a sigh of relief. He was still alive. Yet his unconsciousness and his wound worried her very much.
"It's gonna be alright." she whispered to him, placing a hand on his hair. "It's gonna be alright little brother. I'm here."
X
After a long run Kanan, Ezra, Sabine and the Seventh reached the storage room where the tunnel ended.
"Ah! It's good to see you Jarrus!" the commander of the rebel attack force greeted them.
"Colonel." nodded Kanan. "What's the situation here?"
"We got this far when the Admiral decided that it would be too risky to go further inside. We've been ordered to take what we can and leave. After that the fleet will bombard the Depository."
"Our losses?"
"Unfortunately we've lost quite a lot of our men. But their sacrifice got us a lot of supplies and materials. We even captured a few tanks. We already took out most of it."
"It was a nice work if I may say Colonel."
"Thank you Master Jedi. But it would be much harder or maybe impossible without you. We should thank you."
"Now let's get out of here if I may suggest."
"Good idea. Can I ask you to stay her for a bit longer to cover for us until we are out from here?"
"Of course. See you out there." nodded Kanan and the rest of the rebels left through the tunnel.
"This was a harsh one." commented Ezra.
"Indeed." said Sabine. "And thank you." she turned to the Seventh.
"Thank what?" asked Kanan.
"Nothing special, she just saved my life."
"Then let me thank you too." said the Jedi.
"It's okay, just don't get too emotional." waved the Seventh. Nevertheless, the praise felt good to her soul. Is what she did called heroism? Perhaps. She didn't think about herself as a hero. But she hoped that she did something "good" this time. Maybe slowly, step by step she'll be able to repay for all the horrible things she did.
"You hear that?" asked Sabine.
"Hear what?" asked Kanan.
"Listen."
They stayed silent and heard silent, repressed coughing not far from them.
"It's coming from there." pointed Ezra at the collapsed wall that was hit by the rocket.
"Help me you two." said Kanan and with the help of his Padawan and the Seventh they removed the wreckage with the Force and light entered the ruined room.
Dead stormtrooper over dead stormtrooper. And an injured female Imperial lieutenant sitting at the foot of the wall, hugging a fainted Imperial captain. Though she was clearly in a bad state, the wounds of the latter one were way worse.
The blonde woman weakly raised her head and when she saw them she pulled the captain even closer and tightened her hug on him protectively.
No one said a word for a while; the Spectres just stared at them, while the lieutenant replied with a hostile face and look.
"Get away from us." the Imperial hissed at them.
"Take it easy. Believe me, if we wanted to kill you, you wouldn't be alive by now." said Sabine.
"And if you don't let us to help, you will be dead." added Ezra.
"Better to be dead than a captive of frigging rebels." grumbled the lieutenant.
"Let me disagree." said Kanan. "What Imperial propaganda posters do not tell is that we treat our prisoners humanely."
"And you want me to believe this?"
"You don't have to believe me. But you have to choose. We and the chance to survive, or lonely, painful death. Which one sounds better?"
No reply.
"Let us help. Please." said Ezra with a neutral, yet helpful tone and stepped closer.
Lena didn't know what to think. Actually, that rebel with the shield before his face was right. The question was if she could trust them or not.
"Please." repeated Ezra and knelt down beside her.
Finally Lena sighed. Alright, let's take the chance. "I don't care what happens to me." she said. "Just get my brother out from here." she coughed and loosened her arms around Larus.
"Both of you will be fine. Sabine, help me." said Ezra and together with the Mandalorian they lifted up the enemy captain, though his sister was visibly reluctant to let him go.
"Come." said Kanan and helped Lena up. "Can you walk?"
"I'll try my best." she mumbled while holding into Kanan's shoulder.
With the unconscious captain and the limping lieutenant with them, the Spectres were finally out of the Crispin Imperial Depository.
Outside, the former peaceful landscape was gone. Around the Depository the ground was littered with bomb craters, destroyed cannons, burnt out wrecks and grim due to the attack of the rebel starfighters.
The transport ships were carrying away the captured Imperial vehicles and equipments.
The Ghost was waiting for them down in the valley with Hera beside it. "Wait a second! What's that supposed to mean?" she pointed at the officers in grey. She didn't expect her crew to return with two wounded Imperials.
"It's good to see you too Hera." said Ezra, carrying Larus.
"It means that they need first aid and then a doctor." said Kanan, supporting Lena. "And that they are coming with us to the base."
"O-Okay. Come then."
The two officers were taken aboard the Ghost. Ezra and Sabine laid down the captain on a bed in one of the rooms while Hera took disinfectants and bandages from the first aid kit.
Still limping Lena took a chair and sat down beside him.
"You should rest." said Hera.
"Let me be with him. Please." said Lena, avoiding the look of the twi'lek.
"Let her Hera. He's her brother." said Sabine as she was cleaning a wound on Larus' shoulder.
"Huh. Alright. Can I at least treat your wounds?" asked Hera.
"Yes…"
Hera took a wet rag and started to wipe the clotted blood from Lena's head. "I'm General Hera Syndulla."
"I've heard about you before. I'm Lena Meron. His name is Larus." said Lena with a dead-pan voice.
"Where are you from?"
"… Carida. What about you?"
"Ryloth. … I've never been to Carida."
"I've never been to Ryloth either."
"…"
"…"
"Can I ask something?"
"You already did General." shrugged Lena.
"Why are you fighting?" asked Hera.
"For the citizens of the Empire. And for order and security in the galaxy."
"And does providing order and security require blowing up planets?" asked Zeb unfriendly, standing in the door. "What about Alderaan?"
"I don't know Lasat, I wasn't there."
"But I bet you cheered…"
"I know you'll not believe me but I don't care. No. I didn't cheer. I felt sorry for that planet and couldn't sleep for days."
"And yet, you're fighting for your precious Empire."
"Because all of you rebels are angels?" raised Lena an eyebrow. "You too kill everyone who doesn't support your "sacred cause"."
"Everyone." interrupted Hera. "One battle was enough for today; I do not want another one on my ship. For now let's just agree that we disagree."
Zeb rolled his eyes and left.
"General." said Lena.
"Yes Lieutenant."
"I'm not an unfeeling monster."
"I know you're not. If you were you wouldn't care so much for him." replied Hera, gesturing with her head at Larus.
"Will he be okay?"
"Yes. But he needs rest and a doctor. He'll get both at our base.
"I see. And… thank you."
"It's nothing. … I appreciate that you're talking to me."
"Yeah…"
"Alright. Come crew, let's leave them alone." said Hera and they left the room.
Shortly after this the Ghost took off with the transport ships. When they were out of the line of fire, the cruisers began their orbital bombardment on the Depository and on the naval base, although the latter one was already in a bad condition.
The Ghost jumped into hyperspace and headed back to Yavin IV.