Chapter 13: The Southern Volcano
Vader piloted his shuttle toward the south pole of Kashyyyk. His troop transports with him. Just half an hour after taking off the ship convoy came up at the base of a huge volcano. They landed and Vader studied the thing. It seemed to be a genuine mountain yes, but there were several huge dirt mounds around it covered in snow and frozen so tightly the could be mistaken as hills. The mouth of the volcano had definitely been carved or blown out.
This was defiantly some sort of base. But Traya must have had help building it, or maybe she did not build it at all. Vader, Yoda, and Leia exited the shuttle and the troopers exited their transports. For the second time today the general approached Vader.
" Milord, we should begin to climb the mountain now, their radar will certainly have detected us. They will have needed an army to build this place so it will defiantly be sent to attack."
" I agree general." Vader replied. " Let's start climbing."
" Right away milord!"
XxX
Forests were growing on the mountain's side. They were not lush as would by typical on a volcano. They only went halfway up because the peak of it was not fit for trees. It was mostly pine. The troops threaded through the trees like ants. It was a giant army. Vader, Yoda, and Leia were somewhere in the middle of the mass.
" Milord!" A trooper cried running over to Vader.
" Yes trooper, what is it?" Vader asked not stopping.
" There is a huge cave up ahead. We think it is an entrance to the mountain."
" Excellent. But we will not take the whole army in just yet. I want about half to go through the cave. The other half I want to go to the peak."
" Yes milord, I'll alert the general right away."
" He will lead them to the peak. I will lead them into the cave."
" Of course."
XxX
It was indeed a cave. It had a giant mouth as well, big enough for the Lambda class shuttle to enter with its wings extended. Vader kept the troops he had behind the line of trees. He sent a small scout party into the cave.
Seconds after they entered there was the sound of blaster fire and dozens of men began to pour out of the cave each armed with some type of blaster. Without ordering his troops Vader flew out of the line of trees and activated his lightsaber in mid air. Yoda and Leia did the same.
Vader landed in front of one of the men and cut him down. His troops began to pour out and fire upon the enemies. They dropped like flies. Barely seven storm troopers were lost and Vader led them into the cave.
The army found themselves in a huge durasteel walled room. Crates everywhere, some marked, others blank. This was a storage area. Vader ordered the troopers to fan out and exit. In lines they spread from the room and began to kill the men in the halls. Ahead of Vader was a computer terminal. He strode up to it and switched it on. The menu came up and Vader typed his way into the system.
He was able to pull up a complete graphic, three-dimensional plan of the whole base. It actually went from the very peak to the base. On the floor, that this storage room was on was a huge throne room. Yoda felt they should start there. Vader heeded his advice.
He Yoda and Leia flew down the halls toward the throne room, cutting everything down. They reached the huge doors and opened them. There they stood, in a huge throne room, it was somewhat like the Imperial ones. A raised platform with a chair, a situation table in the middle, catwalks above. Yes, it had all the works.
Vader looked up onto the platform and his blood boiled in anger. Prince Xizor stood on it. In rage Vader tapped into the force and hurled Xizor right off the platform before he could even utter a syllable. He would have murdered Luke long ago, but that was behind him now. Traya smiled down at them.
" Welcome back Lord Vader." She said.
" Go to hell." Vader spat.
" I've been there thank you. The netherworld of the force, I found it quite lovely."
" Sick."
" Perhaps. I do not think we have anything to discuss though, do we Vader?"
" We have some to discuss."
" Well being your old teacher I will have to answer any questions you have. And I suppose I will apologize to you for killing Luke, he had to die as do you all."
" You tried to kill Leia!"
" Revenge is a dish best served cold Vader. Xen assistant could not prepare it properly." Traya said ignoring the accusation, in a sense.
" I underestimate her." Xen spat. " Won't happen again, and this time she'll die."
" We'll see." Leia growled.
" Damn straight."
" Silence!" Traya said. " Let us begin the battle."
" With pleasure." Xen and Leia said in unison.
