Disclaimer: You know the Drill. Lucas owns Star Wars, I don't. We've established that fact, methinks. Just so we've cleared that up. Here goes, my very own Stormtrooper. Annnnddd...begin.
Storm Trooper
Part I: Indoctrination
"And so, as you leave this school to ensure the survival of the Empire, you will become part of a tradition. And you will become the Emperor's Hands and Eyes. For the Glory of the Empire and your homes, rise up and claim you're place the Empire!"
Following this statement, one hundred and sixty-three young men and women in crisp, grey uniforms stood, arms raised in salute. In the background, the Emperor sat on his throne, passively watching as even more of the galaxy's young joined his legions of stormtroopers.
In the ranks of stoic faces, Dev Astar awaited his number. On Indoctrination Day, the cadets were stripped of name and individuality and given two letters and three numbers. This was their new name until discharged.
"Astiv, Kyp. PG-968, Iron Will Squadron. Report to Commander Meekly.
"Astar, Dev. TX-116, Black Storm Squadron. Report to Commander Turke."
Dev swelled with pride as he marched over to his new superior. Black Storm was an elite unit that operated outside of normal chain of command.
Turke was examining his data-pad when Dev approached. Three Stormtroopers in matte black armor, helmets in hand, talking quietly among themselves.
"Astar, eh? I heard you scored very high on all your tests and on marksmanship. Graduated in the Top Ten for your class. That's why I'm stuck with you. You have been awarded an honor here boy, one most loyal Imperials would kill for. Do you even know what Black Storm is, boy?"
"Sir, Black Storm is an elite group ofsoldiers who preform above and beyond the call of duty. They, we, are the first in and last out. Black Storm is the best," Dev recited. "They can do everything from regular infantry work to assassinations, sir!"
Turke regarded the young trooper.
"One of those, I see. Well, boy, we'll brake you in."
As soon as Dev's shuttle reached the Black Storm command v ship, he was awed. BS Command was a Victory-class Star Destroyer, painted blood red with black streaks. The name on the side was Crimson Dawn.
The shuttle docked in the bay, and Dev's jaw nearly dropped. Dozens of stormtroopers moved as one in P.T. drills and weapons checks. It was like they were one brain in fifty bodies. Dev whistled.
A lieutenant jogged up to them. He was holding a data-pad in his hands and a CDEF blaster pistol in his holster. The holster was a non-regulation speed holster, Dev noted.
"Sir, HI-289 reporting. This the cherry?"
"Yes, 289. Introduce yourself, boy."
"Sir, TX-116 reporting for active duty, Sir!"
289 looked Dev over, trying to decide what to do with him. Finally, he turned and jogged down a corridor. Dev jogged after him. He stopped at a grey door with the inscription 'Bunks 5A-K.' inside were about thirty bunks. Troopers sprawled on the bunks, reading letters from their girlfriends, or huddling over the latest Holo-Net release, or listening to the Imperial March.
"This is your platoon. Troops, this is TX-116."
The platoon briefly looked over, but said nothing. One guy muttered "Damn Cherries." Obviously there was a dislike of new recruits in this outfit.
"Your bunk, 116. You may store your spare uniforms in this locker, any personal weapons in this locker, and armor in this locker."
"Adequate."
"Deposit your stuff, and follow me to receive your armor and weapons."
Dev followed 289 down another hall. They stopped about five minutes later at a turbo-lift and rode it to Deck Four. 289 got out and led Dev to the Armory.
Inside, a suit of black stormtrooper armor rested on hooks. Next to it, an E-11 blaster rifle and an SC-14 pistol were waiting for him.
"These are going to be your new best friends, 116. Know them inside and out, and love them."
Dev ran his finger over the armor, making sure it was real. It was. He asked when he would get to wear it, and was replied to by a laugh.
"Right now," 289 said. "We're leaving for Chandrila.
Dev sat in the Crimson Dawn's briefing room with other members of his unit. Next to him, US-426 and MC-705 sat, seemingly unmoved by the information they received. Behind him, PG-158, BV-263, some of the few females in Black Storm, IE-005 and RD-093. They listened as Turke explained the situation.
"Rebel troops have taken control of Chandrila's Capital Building in an attempt to drive out the local Imperial garrison. These are not half-assed mountain boys, but well trained and well armed soldiers. Our TIE wings have eliminated the air threat, and mechanized ground forces have surrounded the city. Here's the catch: The Rebels have seized high-ranking and irreplaceable Imperial officers, so the MechInf. can'tjust knock the city down.Black Storm is to go in and eliminate the Rebel forces. You men have been selected because you are the freshest," Turke said
"Whose men?" 158 asked, causing a few of the troops to smirk.
"You're all men in my unit. If all goes to plan, you'll even get a new mate. Now you will be inserted here," Turke started again, pointing at a red circle on the holo-chart. "Make your way through this skyrail maintenance tube and rescue the Imperial officers. Three AT-STs will be waiting for you outside the city limit for transportation. Good luck."
The stormtroopers already had their weapons, so a quick trip to Landing Bay 3 to obtain extra ammunition and a Lambda shuttle ensured the troopers were locked, loaded, and ready to rock. As theeight hand-picked commandoes boarded the ship, Dev felt his stomach flutter. Not even 36 hours out of Cardia and he was on his first mission. At this rate he'd be a full-bird colonel in three weeks.
"Wow," he said to 263, who was a Sergeant Major. "You must been in, what, nine days?"
263 looked at him with her pale blue eyes. She just looked for a minute or two, then put her helmet on. Humor must not have been an outstanding trait in this outfit.
The shuttle made it's descent with little incident. The pilot gave all the correct codes, and within four minutes of disembarking the Dawn, the shuttle landed about 3/4 klicks from the skyrail. The commandoes got out and leapfrogged their way to the maintenance tube.
426 had each of them crawl through, one at a time. Dev tried not to think about the fact that the skyrail was 68 meters over the ground, with very little standing between them and certain death except some thin plasti-steel. They made their way through the narrow tube for about an hour, then reaching the objective.
093 was on point. He snaked a fiber-optic line through the tube's access hatch. He held up his hand in the universal okay sign, indicating it was clear. Once all the stormtroopers had cleared the hatch, 426 made his plan clear.
"Okay, 005, you'll remain here. 263, you'll take 116 with you down this passageway here. 705 and 158 will make their way to this chamber," 426 said, marking their routes on a mini holo-chart. "093 is with me. If you find an officer, bring him back here to 005. Clear?"
All the troopers responded simultaneously. It was shaping up to be another mechanically perfect Black Storm team.
263 moved stealthily down their assigned route. Dev did his best to keep the noise down, but he was still a 'cherry'. His steps made the faintest whisper, but that was still enough to get them in deep shit if a sentry was walking about. 263 held up a closed fist. Dev stopped and waited for 263's assessment. She held up three fingers, then pointed twice to the right, and once to the left. She pointed to herself, then to the right, pointing Dev to the left. Next, 263 held up three more fingers, then a thumbs up. This translates as: STOP. three enemy soldiers. Two on the right, one on the left. I'll take right, you left. We go in three seconds.
263 ticked down. Then she and Dev popped around the corner and sent precision blaster bolts at the Rebels. Dev immediately dropped his, then watched as 263 blew holes in them with her rifle. One Rebel managed to return fire, snapping off a quick shot.
263's upper right helmet exploded. Armor fragments bounced of Dev's own suit. He quick downed the Rebel, and turned to 263. Surprisingly, she was unharmed. But her right eye and part of her nose and head showed, and had slight 3rd degree burns. Dev noticed now that she had white-blonde hair.
"Bastards. You grease that scum?"
Dev nodded. He helped back on her feet, and radioed in that they had engaged enemy troops. They continued onward, and found two officers dead, both executed. There was one still alive though, and Dev untied the aging officer.
"Thank-you son. These Rebels don't know how to treat an officer."
"Of course sir. Here, take my sidearm. I'll be escorting you back to the insertion point."
The officer looked slightly confused.
"Your comrade? She is staying here?"
"263? She can handle herself. There are a few sentries she wants to test out the new silencer on."
263 had unfolded her stock and screwed the silencer into place. She looked through the E-11's scope. That's why the Imperial stormtroopers loved the E-11. It has a folding stock, so it could be use effectively like a pistol in CCC (Close Corders Combat), an the scope allowed a regular trooper to play sniper if conditions were right.
263 had taken down one sentry when Dev left. When he came back, she was pinned down in the room by a dozen Rebels. Dead bodies laid scattered around the doorway, still smoking, a testament to 263's skill.
Figuring that the element of surprise was over, Dev lobbed a flashbang into the Rebel horde. The stun grenade gave him and 263 enough time to slot every one of the enemy troops. They returned to the hatch to find that the rest of the team had rounded up all the surviving officers. There was a banging on the hatch.
"The tube is out. Idea's for rapid exfil?" 426 asked.
"I saw some modified landspeeders in the garage," 705 said. "They fit five people, easy. We 'borrow' a few, then speed to the Chicken walkers."
"If there are no other ideas, then let's go with that," 093 cheerfully exclaimed.
The officers protested at first, but they were convinced that dying was not high on the List of Things to Do.
The Imperial force reached the garage only three minutes later. The whine of blasters firing told everyone to duck. The strike force traded shots with the rebels until 093 hot-wired a landspeeder. Dev took careful aim and hit a charging Rebel in the face. It blasted apart into scorched chunks, bits of skin landing on and sticking to 426.
"Nice," he said.
"Don't mention it, Loot."
The team got four more speeders. Everyone piled in and 005, who was in the turret of the lead speeder., blew the garage doors open. The surviving Rebels chased after the landspeeders in their own, firing shots that boiled the transpari-steel windshields. The speeders just kept booking until they reached the Chicken walkers. The Rebel speeders were no match for the heavy-duty AT-STs. They fired a single salvo with their concussion grenade launchers, then with their heavy-blaster cannons. The speeders rained down on the country side, but noone was hurt. No Imperial that is.
The troopers exited the speeders and boarded the walkers. 005 wouldn't get out so Dev tapped him on the shoulder. His head lolled to one side and Dev knew that 005 was dead. Sure enough, the back of his neck and shoulders were gone, in their place blackened tissue.
"116 to BS Leader, I have one down, repeat one down."
"Copy, 116. You know what to do."
005's corpse was just going to be dead weight. In the event that a stormtrooper couldn't be carried of the battlefield, there was a thermal detonator on the trooper's back pelvic plate. It would go off and take the speeder and 005 with it.
Several quit minutes later, the AT-STs arrived in a clearing were an Imperial HLC waited for them. The craft loaded up, and flew off. Inside, the surviving stormtroopers both celebrated and mourned. They had lost a comrade, but had completed a high-pri mission and gained a new member who had proven to be worthy of Black Storm Squadron.