IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: In case notifications change on your story follow lists, my username is changing to GoldenHeart-Stories. This is to better reflect my studio and all of my future productions. Thank you, long live imagination, and enjoy the Halloween Special!

- Michael


GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS...

A Michael J. Pineda Production...

THE FROZEN FORCE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Chapter: 37 (Night of the Wampa: Part I)

"True leaders act through influence, not authority."

A politician in peril! Senator Dia Veritaz of the Republic's Ethics Committee has gone missing. After attempting a rescue mission on her kidnapped handmaiden, the senator sent out a distress signal from the Outer Rim planet of Hoth. Her signal has reached those in the Jedi Order and a team has been assembled. While she tries not to dwell on her sister's painful recovery, Elsa Dellian rides a Republic Venator alongside Master Yelena. As the Jedi prepare to embark on a search and rescue mission, time is of the essence...


Venator-class Star Destroyers were a symbol of Republic might. Their triangular frames were common over the Core Worlds and typically meant reinforcements had arrived on tired battlefields. There was something calming about being aboard one for Elsa Dellian. She sat by the nearest viewport of its many floors and observed Coruscant's fading cityscape. A titanic capital ship such as this was far less likely to make her motion sick, but just in case, Elsa had her packet of pills on standby. The cruiser's frigid ventilation helped her relax and take in the calming sight. The Venator rose with Coruscant's sun and heralded a fresh start for so many. Elsa could only hope that same new beginning was true for Anna. A clone trooper's hefty groans pulled her away from the scenic vista.

"No," he griped. "My other left."

Elsa shifted in her seat and observed two turquoise-clad clones hauling a crate across the platform. The opposite clone huffed, "You know...for a heavy gunner...you sure don't pull much weight, Doubles."

Doubles halted while keeping the crate suspended. "Oh? Well I could just drop this here and have you drag it the whole way, Rip."

"That's basically what I'm already doing," Rip jeered.

Elsa stepped between them before the conflict could escalate any further. "Why don't I take the middle?" she asked and the clones froze. "If that's alright." The troopers tilted their helmets to each other before nodding to her. "Just tell me where we're taking this. Lead the way!"

"Can't you just use the Force?" Rip grumbled while hoisting the back end. "I've seen you all use it before."

"I could," Elsa grunted while trying to heave the crate. "But then we wouldn't be working together." They placed the crate in an elevator and shook out their hands. "So I believe I heard your name was Doubles, right?" Elsa inquired. "And you're Rip." The clones nodded while Elsa hummed in thought. "A clone in your battalion once told me all troopers earned their nicknames. How'd you get yours?"

Doubles pat the twin dashes sprayed on his chest armor. "I'm typically the humble sort," he said. "But I can take down two targets with one shot."

Rip's cackle brayed through his helmet. "Don't believe this joker for a second," he jested. "First of all, you have to be as blind as a rathtar to shoot a Z-6 rotary cannon and miss. This guy was bred to spray lasers across battlefields and nothing else. Now tell her the truth."

Doubles sighed. "It's cause my designation's CT-7744. You know...doubles." He nudged Rip and scoffed. "Way to kill my story, Rip."

Elsa smiled faintly and turned to the other clone. "Then how did you get your name?"

"He just exemplified it," Doubles complained. "He rips on everyone, so watch out."

"Hey!" Rip snapped and jabbed a finger. "Not everyone.But if I see banthacrap, I'm gonna call banthacrap." He gestured to Elsa and nodded proudly. "I want to make a good impression for our new commander here."

Elsa raised a confused brow, but Doubles spoke up before she could. "Which new commander?" he joked and made things all the more bewildering.

"Oh I'm sure this won't be weird at all," Rip muttered as the elevator dinged. The doors slid open and revealed the Venator's expansive command bridge. While clone officers oversaw the two lower stations, the admiral on duty turned from the main pathway. As she spun, the cruiser rocketed into the vortex of hyperspace and illuminated the room in a mystifying blue.

"Right on time," Admiral Taka lauded. "And it looks like your Padawan tagged along."

Two silhouettes emerged from behind the admiral and Elsa made one out to be Yelena. "My apprentice is always ready to help," she complimented.

Elsa's eyes narrowed as she noticed the other figure. The clone's armor remained an icy blue, just like her robes. A proud pauldron of similar color signified his new rank. What was most unique to Elsa was the presence of a prominent snowflake painted across the face of his helmet. Smaller fragments dispersed to the corners and reminded Elsa of how he'd gotten his name. She didn't have to see the clone's face to sense his familiar presence.

"Frost," she greeted.

"Commander Frost," Rip corrected before saluting.

"Attention!" Frost ordered and the clones straightened their postures. "Status report?" he asked.

"We have the trackers, sir." Doubles answered. "Ready for inspection."

"Excellent," Frost replied. "While the safety of Senator Veritaz and her aid is my priority, so too is that of this unit." He gently lifted the crate's lid and examined a portion of the stacked trackers. "These devices can only increase our chances of success. Take them down to the barracks and have every blaster equipped with one."

"Yes sir," Doubles groaned.

He, Rip, and Elsa started hauling until Yelena threw up a hand. "You can stay with us, Padawan," she said.

"They could use the assistance," Elsa insisted. "Plus, it's nice getting to know the troops."

"While your dedication to the men is appreciated-" Frost said. "I assure you they can handle their task. Those two like to cause scenes in order to get help whenever they can."

"Wait, what?" Elsa blurted. By the time she turned, the clones she'd met were already rushing for the elevator. Oh now they can lift the crate no problem, Elsa thought.

"To be young and trusting again," Yelena sighed.

"Mhm," Taka murmured. "I miss the simplicity of things. When I started serving this Republic, enemies were as clear as the vortex we're flying through. Now we've got corruption at record highs, more planets falling into Separatist control, and what are we doing? Going after a senator who has no business being in the Outer Rim. Even if one of her staff was kidnapped, a rescue mission on her own was doomed to fail."

"Maybe she didn't trust her Republic," Elsa suggested and the others turned. "Senator Veritaz is part of the Ethics Committee. Partnered with the Judiciary Branch, her group investigates senators and other government officials. Maybe she's seen enough corruption to lose faith in our system. She thought her request for aid would be turned down or take time...time she didn't think her handmaiden had. So she took matters into her own hands."

"It's very possible," Frost concurred. "I'll admit, the Republic isn't always the quickest when it comes to requests for aid."

"During our venture to Felucia-" Yelena recounted. "We learned that the troops their are suffering serious casualties yet receiving minimal assistance."

Taka sneered and shook her head. "If it were up to me, I'd turn for Felucia to assist in a heartbeat."

"Perhaps you're on to something, Elsa." Yelena considered. "It wouldn't be the first time a senator has taken extreme initiative. Senators like Padmé Amidala are no strangers to such methods. At this point, it is no secret that the rumors circulating around the upper ranks are true. It was Amidala who discovered the location of Dooku's new droid foundries. By what means remains a mystery, but the fact is that those in the senate are becoming reckless."

"If they'd keep to their senatorial platforms-" Taka muttered. "Perhaps less of them would go missing."

"With all due respect," Elsa asserted. "We do not have the full story on the matter, nor do we know if Veritaz is alive. We should refrain from passing judgement until we learn more information."

Taka's nostrils flared and she glanced at Yelena as if she should say something. "I believe we're all just antsy to get to Hoth," the master deduced and Elsa stormed off. Rather than initially speak with her own apprentice, Yelena chose to quell relations with the admiral.

Elsa found comfort in the sound of plastoid boots stepping behind her. "So you're a commander now?" she inquired.

"We both are," Frost replied. "When Commander Surge died from the halkavirus, I rose to keep the 213th in line. Someone had to maintain order amidst the pandemic and I was promoted for those actions. When you're not bred into a leadership rank, these promotions are often seen as heroic milestones. I'm not a hero, but whatever rank I achieve during my service will be utilized for the betterment of those around me."

Elsa offered a gentle smile. "How were things left on Rodia?" she asked.

"After your sister's wild endeavor, vaccination distribution was slow. I won't lie to you, we lost a lot of lives. Countless Rodians died and several more troopers got infected. You can only be so safe, you know?" Elsa nodded and Frost sighed. "But in time, we were able to establish a fair system. Unlike Governor Stada's divided distribution, we set up a randomized lottery until more doses were available. There's no way I can say what happened on that planet was a complete success. There was no victory without serious loss and it will take quite some time before the planet fully recovers. But we did our duty. We served until the government could better tend to its people." Frost chuckled. "It was so different. I was bred to keep the Republic safe and I always thought that meant blasting clankers."

"There's so much more to it," Elsa assured. "More than I think either of us can ever fully understand. But it must've been nice to help a community instead of getting shot at on the frontlines."

"It was eye-opening," Frost admitted. "I can't say the same for some of my men though. Surge's ideology casts a heavy shadow, but I think of what you told me when we first met." Elsa raised a brow as Frost continued. "About the gonk droid."

Elsa recalled her words from that fateful morning. "We may be pieces in the grand machine of life. Others may even look just like us, but we serve unique purposes. If one of us disappeared, the rest would be in disarray."

"We all have a part to play," Frost said. "Each life is sacred and I step forward on that principle." He stood firm and saluted Elsa. "It's an honor to undertake this rescue mission alongside you, commander."

Elsa tried not to snicker. "Thanks...commander. So what's the deal with that?"

"Well when Jedi lead a military operation, they outrank the clones in command. Since you and your master are running this mission, Yelena is considered a general. As her Padawan, you are given the rank of commander. Even if I am one too."

"So what I'm understanding is...we're commander buddies?"

Frost tensed up and nervously straightened his pauldron. "I wouldn't call us that in front of the troops but...yeah." Elsa snickered while Frost recomposed himself. "I'm going to get the boys fitted in cold assault armor. We'll meet you in the hangar upon reaching Hoth, Commander Dellian."

Commander Dellian, Elsa thought while Frost departed. She never would've imagined receiving such a title before her sister. Anna can't know about this, she told herself. At least not anytime soon. Relations are already tense as they are.

"Padawan," Yelena called.

Speaking of tense relations, Elsa thought. "Apparently it's commander now," she replied.

Yelena simpered. "This experience will be unlike any other, Elsa. Contrary to aiding with a relief mission, you'll be in an actual position of leadership now. These clones now look to us for orders."

"I understand this responsibility," Elsa replied. "I also understand that their lives are just as important as those of the women we are going to save."

The duo stared into the void of hyperspace as Yelena continued. "Just remember to not let attachment cloud your judgment. Remember the mission and trust your instincts. Concentrate on the Force."

"Master," Elsa inquired. "I'm curious. Aside from our shared experience on Rodia, have you ever led clones before?"

Yelena sighed. "No, Padawan, I haven't."

"Then with all due respect, this will be a learning experience for both of us." Elsa replied. "Can we at least agree that clones aren't bred to be expendable?" Elsa's heart sank when Yelena didn't respond. The Padawan bit her lip, swallowed hard, and followed up her question. "Master, please tell me you don't think they are."

"Elsa," Yelena lamented and brought her voice down to a whisper. "In a single year, the Kaminoans bred over 1.8 million clones to serve this Republic. They were created to fight for the liberties Count Dooku is denying countless worlds. Those duties come at a price."

"That's a fancy way to justify their slaughter," Elsa murmured and Yelena glowered. "There are faces beneath those helmets."

"Conditioned faces," her master uttered. Some of the clone officers overheard Yelena's words and glanced up from their stations. "Engineered to withstand combat stress and endure what others cannot."

"Just because they can endure doesn't mean they should have to," Elsa defended. "At the end of the day, they're still men. Conditioned or not, they still have emotions. They get angry...they get frightened. Yet if they're still willing to sacrifice everything for me, I owe them the same in return." Elsa huffed. "Now if we're done debating, master, we must get a briefing together."

Yelena walked alongside Elsa and observed how much she'd grown. There was a time her apprentice would've been far too timid to speak to her in such a way. Yelena was unsure whether to be proud or concerned over Elsa's fluctuating confidence. Like a good diplomat, she's focusing on the task at hand, the master thought. She knows my opinions are my own and while they may conflict against hers, she needs the battalion united if this plan is to succeed.

Elsa and Yelena equipped a set of fur-lined, cobalt-colored jackets. The Republic's eight-rayed symbol shined from patches on each of their shoulders. While their Aren-native conditioning didn't require any further layers, Hoth's harsh temperatures would test their resolves. Elsa buckled on a set of bulky boots and retrieved some anti-fog goggles. She finished strapping her gloves and backpack on when the Venator lurched out of hyperspace.

As Elsa and Yelena entered the hangar, they immediately heard Frost yell, "Jedi on deck!" The troops marched into position and stood at attention. Elsa was astonished to see the 213th Battalion equipped in armor she'd never seen before. Their typically separated plastoid pieces appeared bulkier and welded together. "General," Frost greeted. "Commander. Say hello to the HT-77 cold assault armor set." He gave his heavy chest a knock. "Thermal seals and insulated flaps to regulate temperature. Anti-glare and fog-resistant visor lenses. And refined audio comlink systems to counter weather interference. The 213th isn't happy to be back on Hoth, but this armor is a game changer. Right boys?" The clones hollered in agreement until one gripe snaked its way through.

"I don't know, commander." Rip groaned. "My nose itches and this armor's more of a one piece now. I can't just take my helmet off. And what if I need to use the refresher?" Doubles clunked him over the helmet with an open palm. "Hey! If this equipment breaks, it's coming out of your paycheck."

"We don't get paid, genius," Doubles hissed.

"That's...the point of the joke," Rip facepalmed. "Nevermind."

"Listen up," Frost ordered. "We've just entered the Hoth system. As many of you know, this is a search and rescue mission."

Yelena activated holograms of the missing senator and Hoth itself. "Senator Veritaz's last known location is marked by this scarlet waypoint, where she sent a distress signal to the Republic. Weather reports from Admiral Taka state that blizzards are ravaging the planet."

"Our gunships can only take so much when those winds pick up." Frost explained. "We're going to start with an overhead sweep of the land enroute to the waypoint while avoiding these storms."

Yelena nudged Elsa and glared. She willed her Padawan to speak as a commander. Elsa took a deep breath and stepped forward to address the troops. She didn't realize how loud she had stomped and it echoed across the quiet hangar. All heads turned to her and while they were faceless, Elsa could feel the heavy stares beneath those visors. Elsa cleared her throat. "Well..." Her heart pounded as her eyes darted between the hologram and the clones. "Um..." Her knees buckled together and her shoulders tightened. Yelena didn't assist her, for she wanted the Padawan to lead on her own. Frost stepped in to help, but Yelena raised a hand to stop him. This wasn't like speaking her mind in the past. Elsa felt the weight of responsibility hanging over her shoulders. She realized that each clone looking at her could be a body bag. She considered such to be equally true for the senator, her handmaiden, and any adversaries they could face. So many lives were at stake as Elsa struggled to talk.

I don't know what to say, she thought as time slowed around her.

"Well, what do you want to say?" Evara, Wraith of the Force, asked within.

A truth I fear I'll be judged for, Elsa confessed.

Evara's tone was bold and fearless as she uttered, "Then be judged, Elsa. Enrage some, enlighten others. Confuse a few and make them question it all. But by the Force and no matter what, speak up. Say what you feel and accept what comes. What better way is there to live than free?"The wraith's voice faded as Elsa breathed deeply. "In her report-" she began. "Dia Veritaz stated that her handmaiden had been kidnapped. We don't know what we're up against on Hoth, but if the story's true...this fight may not be over. You are soldiers of the Republic and I thank you for your services. But your relief efforts on Rodia are proof that you are all more than armor and blasters on a poster. You are men and you are alive. Take from this what you will. Judge me by my age or rank if you must. But here I judge you by your actions, not by where you came from. And it is because we all have value, that I ask you to think twice the next time your finger nestles a trigger. Consider who stands on the other side of your blaster. It could be someone's child...or someone's mother. Friend or foe, we have a duty to uphold. But any victory means nothing if we lose sight of who we are. So we're going to Hoth, not as soldiers but as rescuers. Because at the end of the day, all we have is each other. And wherever you go, I will stand with you." Elsa sighed. "Thank you for your time."

The clones and Yelena stood in silence as Elsa stepped away from the hologram. "You heard her," Frost complimented. "We're in this together. Gunship's will be up in five minutes troopers. Get to your stations!"

As the clones scrambled across the hangar, Elsa overheard Doubles talking to Rip. "She brought a tear to my eye. I don't know if I can wipe it since I can't get my helmet off."

"Well boo-hoo," Rip grumbled. "Why don't you use your tongue or something?" They proceeded to shove each other like a pair of irked siblings.

Elsa smiled at the clones until Yelena placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did well," her master complimented. "Just don't expect all of them to show as much restraint as you're considering."

Elsa scoffed. "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Since we're both learning here, I suggest you keep an open mind with the troops. Where you see numbers, I see names."

Yelena sneered before accompanying Elsa and Frost aboard one of the gunships. Its hatches sealed and the dimly-lit crimson lights took over. "Enjoy the heat while it lasts, boys," Frost quipped and snatched one of the handholds. "Here we go."

Elsa felt the deckplate lift from the hangar as the gunship's engines whirred. Before they could go any further, Elsa remembered to pop one of her flight sickness pills. As she stashed the capsule away, one of the clones asked, "What other surprises have you got in that backpack of yours?"

"Anything that can help," Elsa assured and then leaned in. "What's your name?"

"Quad," he grunted. "I've got your back if you've got mine."

The gunships pierced Hoth's atmosphere and leveled out above its surface. "Commander," the pilot called.

"Yes?" Frost and Elsa answered in unison.

They looked each other over as the pilot replied, "We're proceeding to the waypoint. Nothing showing up on our readouts so far."

Frost patched his comlink to all three gunships. "Pilots," he said. "Maintain low altitude and report all findings. Remember, Hoth's harsh climate could erase traces of life very quickly. We need to act fast to recover what evidence we can."

"So general," Rip asked Yelena. "That mind trick that Jedi use...could you do it to me?"

"Not without good reason," the master sternly replied.

"My undersuit's riding up on me and I'm trying to forget about it. Is that a valid reason?"

Yelena rolled her eyes as the rightmost gunship called in. "LAAT-9 reporting in," its pilot said. "I've got a visual on a dark mass over the glacial ridge. Looks like a settlement of some kind."

"Out in the open?" Frost inquired. "That's suspicious. Pilot, take us over to investigate. I want LAATs 7 and 9 in the air on a perimeter sweep. There's no need for all three of us to land and be vulnerable."

"Smart move," Elsa complimented as the gunships diverted their course. They hovered over a ravaged campsite and observed the wreckage. Tattered tents protruded from thick mounds of clustered snow. A curved, icy gully served as the only cover the encampment would've had from the winds. "Not the best spot for a base," Elsa deduced.

"It doesn't look like there's much to recover either," Yelena added. "There's no need to get all of the troops grounded. Elsa and I can investigate."

Frost looked to Elsa to see if she agreed. The Padawan pursed her lips but ultimately concurred. "I'll keep the gunship secured for your return," Frost said.

The hatch barely opened as Hoth's harsh winds howled through. Elsa and Yelena leapt out into the snow to trudge towards the encampment. The Jedi knelt beside some wreckage and pulled up a battered tentpole. "Whoever was here left in a hurry!" Yelena yelled over the winds.

"Or tried to, anyway!" Elsa shouted back. "Any footprints have been snowed over by now!"

Yelena counted the amount of tent remnants she found circling the camp. "There's more than ten! These couldn't have been the senator's!"

Elsa thought for a moment before formulating a response. "What about the kidnappers?" she considered.

Yelena's eyes widened beneath her goggles as Elsa's deduction made sense. She gestured towards several snapped poles and a torn tarp. "Blaster holes!" she identified. "Perhaps we're not giving the senator enough credit! Maybe these are the kidnappers and she rescued her handmaiden from here! Then she couldn't escape and sent a distress signal further north!" Elsa nodded in agreement as they proceeded back to the gunship. While they were returning, Yelena's boot clanged against something metallic in the snow. Elsa spun as her master dug through and recovered a cylindrical dispenser. She was about to open it when the winds started to pick up speed.

They hurriedly boarded the gunship and rejoiced in what little warmth was available. "What'd you find?" Frost asked.

"A possible enemy encampment," Elsa replied. "We need to proceed towards the waypoint for more clues."

As the gunship took off, she watched Yelena pry open the peculiar cylinder. She gave the dispenser a shake, sniffed its contents, and recapped it. "Rhydonium," she identified and grimaced from the odor. "Volatile fuel." She clipped the cylinder to her utility belt while Elsa raised a brow. Yelena simply shrugged at her. "Might come in handy," the master suggested.

Everyone's grip tightened as the gunships experienced turbulence. "Damn," the pilot growled. "Blizzard's picking up. Engaging boosters." Regardless of the craft's extra power, limited visibility only increased difficulty. A heavy sway off course forced the pilot to make a decision. "Commander Frost," he said. "We gotta set down. Winds are getting too extreme for the gunships."

"Blast," Frost cursed. "And we were almost to the waypoint. We can try pushing through, but it could have serious consequences."

"So can landing and weathering out the storm," Yelena interjected. "Lose time or save it. The choice is yours."

"It's not about time," Elsa considered. "Rather, it's about lives. It doesn't matter how close we are if we end up crashing. Land the gunships and we'll proceed on foot. When conditions improve, the pilots can meet up."

"Solid plan," Frost concurred while Yelena cautiously nodded. "Set us down! Infantry, prepare to disembark!"

"Oh fantastic," Rip moaned.

"Suck it up," Doubles snarked and grabbed his heavy blaster cannon from the rack. As the craft landed, Elsa listened to Doubles testing his Z-6's spinning barrels. The six, laser spewing muzzles spun until they became a blur and Doubles powered them down. "I love that sound," he whispered.

As the hatches prepared to open, the gunship's lights powered down momentarily. In those moments, a brief pop caught Elsa's attention. Her and several clones flinched as a quick fire sparked from someone's weapon. The flame was quickly extinguished by its laughing wielder. "Last chance for anyone to get warmed up," Rip joked.

"Oh shut up," Quad snapped.

"I was only testing my flamethrower," Rip jested.

"I swear," Frost muttered to Elsa. "There must've been a leak in that one's cloning vat." Elsa smiled and shook her head while Frost flipped a piece of equipment on to his blaster. "Alright, 213th. Time to try out our new toys. Synchronize your motion trackers." Elsa got to see what was in the crates from earlier as a series of beeps emanated from each clone's weapon. She peered over Frost's shoulder to follow along as he explained the equipment. A bright, cyan-colored screen was connected to his blaster. "The tracker will give you a readout of your surrounding area. Any blips speak for themselves and are detected forms of consistent motion." Clones practiced swaying their weapons and identified each other as clusters of dots on the trackers. "If the senator's out in this storm, these trackers will make our job a whole lot easier. Let's move it out."

The gunship's hatch opened as Hoth's harsh climate intensified. The clones from the first two gunships met up in the center and left Elsa confused. "Is there not a group from the third?" she asked.

"LAAT-9 just has two artillery units!" Frost replied over the winds. As if on cue, the raucous clanging of metal sounded behind them. Elsa initially gulped upon seeing a pair of clunky silhouettes emerging through the blizzard. Two AT-RT walkers flanked the infantry where Elsa could get a better look at them. Each bipedal walker was manned by a single clone from a saddle-like seat. The driver's tested their lone, nose-mounted blaster cannons before giving Frost a thumbs up.

As the battalion advanced towards the senator's signal, Elsa spoke to Yelena. "Do you think the walkers are really necessary?"

"We don't know what we're dealing with, Elsa!" she replied. "It's better to be over prepared!"

Visibility only decreased as they proceeded onward. Their footsteps slowed as the troopers bunched together. The blizzard's extremities persisted until the group was knee deep in snow. Frost trudged forward until a sudden beep sounded from his tracker. He threw up a fist to halt the unit as they too picked up movement. "Right side," Frost called in. "Twelve meters and closing."

Elsa's heart raced when the unit's first response was to prime their blasters. "Woah!" she gasped. "It could be the senator."

Frost's tracker beeped out of control as a sea of dots surged towards them. "Multiple unknowns converging," he reported. "Ten meters...Eight." The AT-RT duo steadied themselves.

"We don't know who it is!" Elsa blurted.

"You're going to give away our position," Yelena asserted. "Either make a call or-"

"Fine!" Elsa snapped. "Everyone stand down!" she shouted as several clones turned in disbelief. "Frost, you heard me."

The clone commander sighed but trusted Elsa with his life. "No one fires a shot," he ordered. "Lower your weapons. AT-RTs power your cannons down. Now!" The unit cautiously obliged and watched their trackers. "Six meters...four meters."

In that instant, a series of stomps and shrieks emanated through the storm. A herd of wild tauntauns scurried across the snowy plains. The furry, blubbery mammals departed as quickly as they had arrived. A straggler from the heard gave the clones a passing glance while snow clung to its curved horns. It bleated proudly before rushing off to join the others.

"Did you sense them?" Frost asked and Elsa shook her head.

"I was just patient," she replied as they ascended an icy slope.

"This was the origin of Veritaz's signal," Frost explained from the apex. "Search for clues!"

One of the AT-RT's made a clamoring racket while attempting to climb. Its driver angrily fiddled with the controls and slammed the dashboard. "Blasted walker!" he growled.

"How's the weather up there, Flak?" a clone called to the driver.

Flak furiously regained control of the AT-RT and stared his brother down. "Very funny, Blitz."

While surveying the scene, Yelena noticed a set of deep divots in the ground. Though they were coated in fresh snow, there were far too many of them to be a natural formation. "Over here!" she shouted to the others. They followed Yelena's lead as she slid down the slope and landed beside a battered engine. The sight was daunting as they examined the frozen metal.

"I think they crashed," Elsa said while they followed the markings.

A dark and dented mass took shape at the base of the slope. Closer examination revealed a downed, Republic starship with all of its landing gear still extended. "I don't think they ever even took off," Yelena dreaded. "Commander Frost, have the troops establish a perimeter around the crash site and search for survivors!"

The clones fanned out while Yelena and Elsa found an open hatch. They stepped under icicles, which had formed above the entryway. It was nice to take a temporary break from the constant blowing of wind upon entering craft. With the setting sun and cloudy skies, the Jedi resorted to using their lightsabers for illumination. Frost accompanied them as they traversed the blue-hued, chilly corridors.

"The craft's very empty," Elsa said. "If it's the senator's personal ship, she either left in a hurry or is quite the minimalist." She opened a plasteel compartment in one of dormitories and found a thrashed holoprojector. "Please still work," she willed and tried turning it on. Though it took a few moments, the blue projection of a youthful woman came into view. It appeared to be Dia Veritaz when she was first getting into politics. She looked to be about Elsa's age and her hair was much shorter. She was much more bright-eyed there than she appeared in recent imagery. I suppose that's what a political career does to you, Elsa wondered. Hang in there, senator. We're going to find you.

"Elsa," Yelena beckoned her in a grievous tone. "Can you come to the cockpit please?"

The Padawan nervously pocketed the projector and followed her master's voice. What awaited her shocked her beyond belief. Yelena and Frost stood amidst a series of massive holes in the ship's hull. Chilling winds and icy fractals breached a formerly cozy cabin while Elsa tried to make sense of it all. "Whatever they hit had one hell of an impact," Frost said.

Elsa secured her jacket and approached the cockpit's viewport. Its thick, spaceworthy glass had been completely shattered by a single collision. Fragments crunched beneath her boots while she examined the ship's dashboard. "All of the circuits are fried," she said. "If they aren't, they've been torn off entirely." Yelena leaned over the pilot's seat but felt something odd rub against her fingers. She winced and spun to observe the sensation. A row of deep gashes had torn through the leather seating. Elsa's eyes narrowed on the tears and her lower lip quivered. "Are those...claw marks?"

Clones scoured their perimeter while enduring the escalating blizzard. Blitz tried to crack his neck, but the insulated flaps on his armor prevented him from doing so. Aggravated, he tried raising his head to stretch it out. "I can't see a damn thing," he grumbled to himself. Suddenly, Blitz heard a hectic clanging from his right. He laughed to himself and called in. "Still can't figure it out, eh Flak?" he taunted. "Who's bright idea was it to put you in charge of walker duty?" There was nothing but silence on comms as the wind overwhelmed Blitz. "Flak?" He shifted his blaster towards the AT-RT's position, but the motion blip faded. Confused, Blitz shook and gave the tracker a hit while investigating. "Flak, come in. I was just messing with you. I can't even drive one of those." Blitz continued towards Flak's last known position. "If you're jamming my signal on that thing, you're not funny. You're just a sleemo." Blitz closed in after finding the AT-RT's feet amidst the whiteout. "There you...are?" Blitz looked up to see that nothing but the walker's legs remained. Loose wiring fizzed and crackled from the centrifuge, leaving Blitz wondering where the upper apparatus and Flak had gone. He didn't waste a moment to engage comms. "This is Blitz. Flak's down. We-" The clone was caught off guard by an incessant beeping. He peered down at his blaster and noticed a dot speeding towards him on the motion tracker. A savage blur swept him into the blizzard while the rest of the 213th listened to his screams.

Instantly alarmed, Frost bolted out of the ship for a better view and called back. "All troopers! Fall back to the downed ship! Tighten the circle!" Elsa and Yelena followed him towards the ship's unsealable, ventral hatch.

Elsa's brows furrowed as she struggled to focus. "Master," she worried.

"I sense it too," Yelena replied. "Something's coming."

Night descended and coated the snowy plains in darkness. "What's going on?" Rip panicked while running. "What happened to Blitz?"

"I don't know," Doubles said. "Just get back to the ship. Which is this way...I think?"

The clones scrambled through the blizzard while Quad paused. "Getting some interference!" he shouted and checked his glitching motion tracker. He gave it a firm slam until the screen cleared and showed a plethora of encroaching dots. The mass of blipping organisms approached at alarming speeds until they were practically on top of their position. "That's impossible," Quad uttered. He looked up from his tracker as a monstrous face emerged from the snowfall. Its jagged maw opened and unleashed an ear-splitting roar. Its curved horns were as black as its eyes and the furry beast pounced over Quad. The clone yelled and frantically reached for the blaster he'd dropped. The rifle dipped further into the snow and the massive beast raised a clawed limb. Each of its feral swipes tore through Quad's armor and the other claw kept him pinned. Meanwhile, an entire pack of the creatures descended to attack.

"By the Force," Yelena gasped upon recognizing the cacophony of roars. "Wampas."

Laserfire rang out as clones fought to defend themselves against foes they couldn't see. While several wampas leapt from the upper slopes, others crawled out from icy crevasses and snowy mounds. Their roars were deafening as they swarmed the position and tackled the nearest troopers. "I don't have eyes on 'em!" Doubles shouted. "Damn it, where are they?"

"Just shoot!" Rip blurted.

Unable to distinguish clone from wampa on his motion tracker, Doubles got his rotary cannon spinning and fired blindly. His heavy weapon unleashed a wild spray of blue lasers into the blizzard's shroud. No amount of laserfire could be louder than the screams still coming from Quad as his wampa continued to strike. It slashed off another piece of his insulated armor and finally reached flesh. The wampa proceeded to maul him as he hopelessly punched at its thick hide. Quad's struggle lessened and the wampa ended him with a fierce swipe across the face.

The sound of shooting had Elsa running to quell the commotion. From the moment she stepped out, she immediately gazed upon the horrific sight of Quad's corpse in a wampa's jaws. The predator carried the clone's limp, shredded body by the neck and vanished into the mist for feeding. "Everyone get in the ship!" Frost shouted from the downed craft.

Doubles ceased fire, lugged his laser cannon over his shoulder, and ran for the ship. His heavy breaths echoed throughout his helmet as he tried to quicken his pace. "Almost there," he panted until a wampa lunged at him from behind. Doubles struck the icy ground as the wampa snatched him with its insidious claws. Before it could pull him further, a blue beam ignited amidst the darkness. Yelena brought her lightsaber swinging downward and sliced the wampa's arm clean off. The beast squealed in agony while she helped Doubles to his feet. Neither looked back and continued into the ship.

On the opposite end of the perimeter, Elsa struggled to keep the clones safe. She noticed a trooper about to get jumped and chose to Force-push the wampa. Her target was bigger than expected and used its claws to cling to the ground. Her eyes widened as it resisted her defensive push. Rather than engage her, the creature lunged leftward and dragged another clone into the mist. "No!" Elsa yelled. She hesitantly reached for her lightsaber, yet stopped herself. Her feet remained frozen amidst the turmoil just like her conflicted emotions. She didn't want to harm the creatures, yet they were decimating the very troops she'd sworn to protect.

"Padawan!" Yelena shouted betwixt the chaos. She threw up a hand and beckoned her to the ship. "Come on!" Her apprentice reluctantly obliged, but barely started running when a wampa snatched her leg. "Elsa!" Yelena wailed as her Padawan got a face full snow. For as much as she'd preached on the dangers of attachment, Yelena couldn't deny the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing Elsa in peril. "Hold on!" she called and motioned for several clones to join her. They were about to exit the ship when another wampa crashed into the ramp. It blocked them off entirely and clawed at the entryway.

"Blast it!" Doubles growled while Yelena jabbed her lightsaber.

"Everyone get down!" Rip exclaimed as the other's heard a familiar pop. They heeded his warning and the clone set his flamethrower to maximum. His fiery weapon discharged and set the wampa's fur aflame. The monster screeched and flailed as Rip kept up the pressure. "Burn, you kriffing fleabag!" While he scorched the beast, Frost seized an opening to slide out and assist Elsa.

The Padawan tried to remain calm as the creature pulled her close. I can do this, she told herself. She thought back to how she'd bonded with a sarlaac and even a fearsome nexu. If both of those feats had been possible, surely bonding with a wampa could be too. Elsa attempted to exude tranquility and raised a hand to the beast's face. It snarled while she focused intently through the Force. She tried to imagine its life as she had the nexu's, only there were other factors prodding her. This creature's pack was harming her friends...people who were counting on her. What would connecting to it even say about her? What would she feel? The battling emotions kept Elsa from calming and the wampa sensed her panic. As her animal kinship failed, the wampa furiously slammed her body into the snow. She was knocked unconscious on impact and the creature dragged her away.

"Elsa!" Frost called. The commander caught a glimpse of Elsa being taken and gave chase. Another wampa went for him, but the remaining AT-RT driver fired at it.

"Go, sir!" the driver assured. "I'll hold'em off!" Frost kept up his pursuit and disappeared into the raging storm. The AT-RT driver fired as quickly as the walker permitted. While he shot one wampa clean in the face, another sprung atop his apparatus. He fired the cannon into its torso as it continued to claw at him. With the cannon overheated, the driver desperately resorted to his sidearm. He wildly shot several pistol rounds into its head before he and the creature succumbed to their wounds.

While Hoth's winds howled, the slope became eerily still. Wampa shrieks became a distant echo across the frigid plains. The driver's corpse plummeted from his walker and sunk into the snow. His motion tracker quieted but the comlink on his vambrace chimed. "This is Admiral Taka to the 213th. Is anyone there? Commander Frost? General Yelena? Commander Dellian? Anyone! Please respond!"


TO BE CONTINUED...


Author's note: My friends and dearest readers, thank you so much for reading part one of the first Frozen Force Halloween Special! It means so much to have come this far through all of your support. There's so much more of this story to tell and I look forward to bringing it to you! Our heroes are in quite a chilling predicament and the adventure only continues.

NEXT WEEK, darkness has descended over Hoth. Elsa's been taken, clones are cut off in an intensifying blizzard, and the stakes only get higher. Brace yourselves for "Night of the Wampa: Part II" next Frozen Force Friday here at GoldenHeart Stories!

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!

~Michael