edboy4926: Thanks, as always for the review. It helps to get the desire to update going. As to your question about Gundam UC Zeon. I have never watched that show. I watched some of the original (I think) Gundam Wing years ago but not since then. I got the idea for the sudden attack from the original intent of the Japanese on Peral Harbour. The attack was meant to take place a few moments after the Japanese ambassador formally presented the declaration of war. It did not turn out as planned but it shows the subtle line between pre-emptive strike and an official act of war. I figured this is a tactic that Kuvira would use for both its military advantage and lessening harm to the propaganda image she is so determined to keep up for the galaxies people.
Guest007: Thanks for the review it made me chuckle with how passionate it was. As to your question of how will this work? Will the canon be held to or will the First Order win? I am trying to tell the story how I honestly think it would be with a capable commander like Kuvira in charge. This admittedly does make it hard sometimes as at many moments in the TFA and TLJ, the heroes only survive due to Hux's idiocy or protagonist powers. So, it will be a challenge to keep the story going (the heroes not dying immediately) while keeping Kuvira's leadership qualities as good as they are. Any way I hope I don't disappoint you and I welcome any ideas.
Guest: Thanks for the review. I will try to keep you entertained
Miss Luny: Thanks for your review. Yeah I rewrote that part quite a few times. I mean how do you accurately describe the emotions and situation of something like that. I think we can all agree that seeing that moment in the cinema was a moment of just 'What the Hell just happened?' mind overload. Still I am glad that you liked how I portrayed it in the end.
TishaLiz: Thanks for the review. They are always appreciated as is any feedback.
AlwaysChillin98: I am glad that you like seeing things from multiple people's points of view. That is one thing I have always loved in fanfics. And in a way that is the point of the story. Seeing things from the 'bad guys' point of view. As Obi Wan makes it clear. Our perceptions of good and evil depend on our POV. The 'villain' always believes they are the hero. And since I support the Empire and First Order anyway. I want their side to be told as well as I can. While still giving the 'heroes' their moment as well.
Kksambo: Thanks very much for the review. Like you I have always found the rebels to be very short-sighted and very self-righteous with their actions. If they blow up a factory filled with Imperial workers. Its for the good of the galaxy. But if the Empire does that to a rebel factory it is tyranny?! I have always hated how the Star Wars world is so one-sided. With all the perspectives being from the Jedi and Rebels side. The point of this story is to try an add some balance to the mix. Also like you I have my problems with Rey. As I said last chapter. She should have no loyalty or connections to the Resistance and yet she seems to automatically want to join them? Also, her life on Jakku should not have made her a 'Mary Sue' like you said. So, I am going to try and flesh her out some more and make her more realistic to her background. She and Kuvira will have a meeting face to face very soon.
Random Reader: Thanks for your support. Takodana is this chapter so I hope it lives up to your expectations.
Chapter 11 – Battle of Takodana. Part 1
Takodana – Maz's Castle Courtyard
Han – POV
A crowd of onlooker's files out from inside Maz's castle as they turn all eyes on the red stars that have appeared in the sky and the flashes of light that match nothing that even the widest travelled spacer has ever seen before. Desperate to identify the strange phenomenon, they chatter in dozens of different languages and dialects. But even to a person who could not understand a single word. It would have been obvious that they were exclaiming in fear and horror.
And Han was very well versed in all the languages that they were using from his days as a smuggler. But even with all the strange stuff he had seen in his life he could not fathom what he was seeing in the sky above Takodana. It looked like a new star had been born in the galaxy. Or an existing star had gone nova.
That might have explained the sight if there were not four other smaller red lights in the sky clustered around the main one. The idea of four stars going nova at once all in one place was next to impossible. And that fact that Han had an incredibly bad feeling about this did not help his state of mind. He had always trusted that bad feeling and his instincts had never steered him wrong.
The fact that it was emanating from the general direction of Hosnian Prime also did not make his mind anymore at ease. He was a smuggler and a smuggler who wanted to live needed to know the galaxy hyperplanes and navigation maps as if they were tattooed on the inside of their eyelids. Years of study and practice had allowed him to trace roughly where most planets were in the galaxy even if he was standing on another planet in the middle of broad daylight. That was how he knew that those lights had come from the sector that housed the New Republic capital.
That could not be good.
Beside him Chewie was clearly think the same thing as he softly growled and stared up at the sky as well.
"It was the Republic!" Han and Chewie turn as Finn arrives, moving quickly through the crowd. He makes his way over to them quickly all while looking up to the sky. "The First Order, they've done it." He says as if he can't quite believe it.
In truth he couldn't.
He knew what the Starkiller project was meant to do. Even an idiot could take one look at it and know what it was meant to do. And he had been stationed on the planet for almost a year while on the janitorial detail. He and everyone else who was assigned to that base were given a briefing of the planet weapons purpose and the strict classification of information relating to it.
It was made clear that breaching this classified information to fellows within the First Order would result in severe punishment and demotion. Sharing the information with anyone outside of the First Order was automatically meat with the death sentence.
He had known all that time that the High Command was not pouring all these unfathomable resources into the weapon project without intending it to be used at some point. But the sheer scope of the weapon and the projections of what it was supposed to do made it seem more like a fantasy then a reality. In his private thoughts, he had never seriously considered that the weapon would actually work. Or that they would actually use it,.
But clearly it did, and they had.
The sheer realisation of the loss of life that had just happened was enough to make his mind shutdown to auto-pilot. He didn't even really remember heading back to the castle until he was standing next to Han and Chewie. Only when he noticed a missing member of his former party did his mind seem to snap back into place.
"Where's Rey?" He asked.
Rey – POV
Rey races through the forest and finally comes to a stop, overwhelmed and exhausted. At an emotional breaking point, she has no idea where to go, who to turn to. Then she hears a beep and turns to see BB-8, catching up with her.
She did not realise that he was following her. To be honest she had not even paid attention to where she was going. She had just wanted to get away from that castle, away from that basement and above all, away from that lightsabre.
The vision that she had was so pronounce and so vivid. It was as if she had actually experienced those moments herself this very day. Then when she had come out of that vision and had seen Maz holding out the lightsaber too her she had not known what to do or what was going on. Then when Maz had piled on with the sudden preaching about how her future lay with these 'Jedi' and Luke Skywalker. She had had enough and ran.
But what really made her run was Maz's blunt comment the future and people she was waiting for on Jakku, were never coming back. The moment when Maz claimed that Rey already knew that they were not coming back for her.
She could not take that. It was all too much. So, she had runaway. She had run away from the swirl of the thoughts, doubts, wants, questions and excuses. She had wanted to get back to Jakku, where everything was simple. Where her concerns had been simply finding enough salvage to sell and make it through another day. Another day which could be the one when her parents came back for her. Like she knew they would.
Instead she was being forced to confront all of these things that she could not understand or comprehend. The fact that Finn had lied to her all this time. The fact that BB-8 held some galaxy changing information. The talk about this 'only' war between light and darkness, Jedi and Sith. And now the vision with the lightsaber and the 'presence' that she could now feel within her.
It was overwhelming
So now she had done as any frightened child would do. She had run away and hid. Determined to get back to the one place that felt familiar and that made sense to her. Jakku.
That was how she now found herself in the woods a distance away from Maz's castle. With the droid that was the starting point for all her problems lately following her chipping concernedly.
"What are you doing? You have to go back." She commands in a tone that allows no debate. But the droid seems to not notice that and continues to beep at her rabidly with questions and platitudes. She shakes her had and steps toward the droid for emphasis.
"BB-8. No, you can't. You have to go back, you're too important. They'll help you." She pleads before she suddenly breaks off due to an earth-shattering noise. A noise that sounded like an explosion.
Then, another sound, louder now, and it causes both of them to look up. Though the tree line she sees dozens of First Order TIE fighters flying in formation across the sky. Their iconic howling noise echoing through the tree's and sending birds flying in fright.
Between the fighters appear to be bulky ships that she can only assume our troop transports and they are all heading directly to the lake where the castle is located. Rey's heart sinks as she realises that her friends are in danger!
With that thought racing through her mind she runs back towards the castle with BB-8 rolling along behind her.
Eventually she breaks though the tree line and watches in growing horror as the battle unfolds in front of her. Although battle is a generous term. 'Target practice' would be more appropriate.
The First Order TIE's where flying around the castle like a swarm of pelko bugs as they sent blast after blast of green energy into the stone structure of the castle causing fires to burn and for the castles foundations to be shaken to the ground. Even as she watches, one of the fighter's blasts one of the castles towers and the explosion causes the tower spire break off and come crashing down on the building and eventually the rubble collided with Maz's statue, shattering it to dust.
The castle was almost completely reduced to a smoking ruin in less then five minutes and she was worrying first that her friends would be buried beneath tons of immovable stone. Then her mind jumped to wondering if they were even still alive, as she watched the flames burst out of control within the structure.
Already she thought she could hear faint screams and shouts echoing out from within the now burning and collapsing castle. She dearly prayed that it was just her imagination or the wind.
As she watched the destruction and the squads of white armoured stormtroopers that were moving into view from further down the lake edge where their transports supposedly landed. She saw something else as well.
She watched as an Upsilion class shuttle emerged out of the dust and smoke of the burning castle and set itself down on the ground near the entrance to the courtyard. She also saw that one of the TIE fighters was also lowering itself down to the ground. Even as she watched she saw the fight activate its landing stands to support and balance the solar wings on the surface.
She was not sure who was in either ship. But as she watched the stormtroopers move through the clearing gunning down any of the survivors without mercy. She found that she did not care. All she knew was that her only 'friends?' in existence might be dead and she knew who was responsible. Feeling red hot rage pulsing through her she moved forward to confront the invades.
Spotting a lone trooper nearby talking to his radio. She pulled her blaster pistol from her belt, aimed and fired.
Or at least tried to fire. As the blaster clicked and did nothing, and she realised with a curse that she had left the safety on. But by that time the trooper had noticed her and fired, causing her to duck.
She switches off the safety and fires back! She hits two troopers and retreats, calling to BB-8 to follow her as he runs back through the forest with the trooper's friends in hot pursuit.
Kuvira – POV
Kuvira fired her pistols again and brought down another criminal lowlife that had been scurrying out of the burning ruins of this castle.
Turning slightly, she saw a pirate duo shoot one of her troopers as they tried to make their way to a ship parked near the tree line. Before she could take them out they saw her and fired at her as well. She ducked behind one of the ruined columns of the courtyard and crouched low as more blaster bolts slammed into the other side of the stone.
With a face that was as composed as she would have been at her desk on the Reclaimer. She pulled a thermal detonator out of her flight suit and activated it. Within a moment she had flung it with all her accuracy at the two pirate bastards.
Unable to see the small explosive through the dust and smoke the pirates continued to fire at her defences and were unaware of the detonator landing by their feet.
Kuvira waited until a white flash and an explosion erupted from the pirate location. Followed by an agonising scream as she stepped out of cover and advanced quickly on the one remaining pirate. His colleague had been turned to paste at the centre of the explosion.
This one had not been as luck as both his legs had been blasted clean off and the right side of hi face was charred and blackened. He had dropped his weapon and was rolling on the ground paralysed with shock and pain. He was so lost in his agony that he did not react or defend himself as Kuvira marched past him. She only paused to turn and fire into his skull. Cutting his screams and suffering short. She did not bother to look back.
She moved past a blasted-out pile of rubble that might have once been an intricate and delicately carved mural on the wall. Now it just provided a local survivor a hiding place to leap out at her in an ambush attack.
The attacker, a human lowlife from the looks of him, came at her with a modified club of some sorts. Clearly he intended to bash her skull in with his improvised weapon. In most other cases his surprise attack might have worked as she was too close to effectively draw her blaster or aim it accurately in the short time she had before he collided with her.
But Kuvira was never such a fool to relay on one method defence.
As her attacker came at her Kuvira rammed her foot into his shin, causing him to stubble in his mad unplanned charge towards her. With his balance lost his arms flailed to try to regain his equilibrium. With his arms and weapon going wild, she brought her fist smashing into the side of his temple. With his brain rattled within his skull and the blow ringing against his skull's weakest point he was completely disorientated.
This allowed Kuvira all the time she needed to grab her vibroknife, attached to her belt and slash it across her enemy's throat.
Arterial blood spurted from the man's newly opened windpipe and gushed all over her uniform while she stood in close proximity to her victim. She stepped back as he clutched his throat and tried desperately to staunch the flow of crimson blood that even now was running down his hands and staining he front of his vest. He stumbled to his knees and then fell to his side as he tried in vain to stop is precious life fluid from leaking out of him.
Kuvira regained her blaster and fired into his face before continuing on. She knew from long lessons that a slowly killed victim could still kill her before he died. In the end, only turn your back to a corpse.
It was a lesson that the scrum in front of her had clearly not learned as he crotched behind a broken wall as he fired at her troops while keeping his back to her. The sound of the explosions and the blaster fire easily masked her approach and she could see that he was lost in tunnel vision. He was so focused on the enemy in front of him that he never considered to watch his other flanks.
She began to raise her blaster to blast the back of his skull into his teeth when she stopped for a moment before holstering her blaster.
If she shot him the noise might make others like him aware that she was in the area. In addition, she like to keep her skills sharp in all areas. As she came up behind him she watched as he gunned down another of her soldiers and her resolve only increased.
Silent as a spirit she grabbed the criminal by the chin and the back of his head. The criminal gave a muffled scream of surprise that was thankfully masked by the background noise and the grip she had on his jaw. Before he could do more than offer panicked struggles which were easy to counter. She has set her grip and twisted with full force. She was rewarded with a resounding crack as the spinal column shattered and the man went limp in her arms.
Satisfied, both with the result and the efficiency of the execution. She dropped the body like garbage and signalled to her troopers that the way was clear and to secure this firing position. Once her soldiers had arrived and resumed firing on the stragglers she moved on. Afterall she had not real interest in exterminating these vermin. She had a much more valuable quarry to locate on this world.
As she continued to move through the ruined courtyard she saw that her stormtroopers were dominating what battles were going on and most of the enemies were already surrendering. She saw Kylo Ren enter the courtyard and survey the situation as she was doing.
She could see he had noticed her as he began to move towards her and she moved towards him. There was something that was very enticing as she watched him move through the fire, smoke and battle as calmly as if he was an immortal shadow, to whom death held no power.
His calmness and composure. Combined with his undeniable power and resolve was something that made it hard for her to think as clearly as normal.
She tried to shake her strange thoughts away as she refocused on the battle. She admonished herself harshly at her lack of focus and discipline. It was lesson one as a soldier. That an unfocused and distracted soldier was a dead soldier.
Still as Kylo Ren and her moved closer together. For reasons she could not explain. It got harder to keep her mind in the moment. In a moment of frustration with herself (and while obscured by smoke) she slammed her blaster barrel into her side near the kidney. The sharp jolt of pain allowing her to dispel her errant thoughts and refocus on the situation.
Pain was a harsh taskmaster. But it was an effective one.
That was when a stormtrooper called out to Kylo Ren as they came to stand within talking distance from eachother. "Sir, the droid was spotted heading west, with a girl."
Kylo Ren looks back sharply in the direction the stormtrooper is indicating. Meanwhile Kuvira comes up beside him. He turns to face her, and even though she cannot see his face. She recognises his stance and posture enough to know what he is thinking.
"Go. Claim the droid and the girl if possible. I can oversee matters here." She states as she gestures to the increasing numbers of surrendered locals. Ordinarily she would have recommended that he simply kill the girl and claim the droid. But she could tell from his stance that he was interested in both members of that party for some reason she could not discern.
Kylo Ren looked at her for a moment then was strictly longer then necessary. Then he nodded and moved out of the courtyard and headed for the tree line to the west. Even as she watched she saw him pull his lightsaber from his belt and hold it (inactive) at the ready by his side.
Satisfied that the droid would soon be in their hands she turned her attention back to the gathering of prisoners that her soldiers were assembling in the remains of the castle courtyard, heavily guarded by her troops.
Finn - POV
"Traitor!"
Finn turned his head at the sound of the voice that sounded so familiar. But the tone of voice and the words use were the kind that he had never expected to be directed at him by this person.
In front of him, as the battle raged around him and the TIE fighters continued to rain laser blasts down on the local resistance, stood a stormtrooper.
But not just any stormtrooper. FN-2199, nicknamed 'Nines', was from Finn's old unit and had been up until recently, Finn's best friend. They along with their other friend 'Zeroes' had been part of the same squad that Finn had been assigned the leadership role before they were deployed to active combat.
He remembered how he and Nines had gone through training together. How they had been assigned to the same details together. How they had sat up late in their barracks talking, laughing, dreaming. And how he had wished he could have said a proper goodbye before he had deserted with Poe on the Finalizer.
Finn had not expected to run into Nines again in the near future. In fact, h had not seriously expected to run into him against at all. It was a pretty big galaxy out there after all. If had expected it, he might have taken some time to figure out what he was going to say to his one-time friend when they reunited.
But it was clear that Nines had no interest in talking to him now. Even as he tried to think of something he could say to reason with his former friend. Niens raised his weapon of choice. A Z6 riot control baton.
Finn reluctantly raised his newest acquisition. The 'lightsaber' that Maz had given him from her collection of junk in her basement and activated the blue blade.
Nines wasted no time and charged into battle swinging his baton like a club and smashing it down on his weakly held weapon, forcing him back several steps. Nines swung at him with a berserker style fury and his blows came down with such a force that he had to fight to make sure his lightsaber was not pushed back into his own face.
And strength was not the only problem.
He was using his weapon like a rank amateur. It was weightless and felt off balance and wrong to him. He was swinging it with the intend of a child and all the grace to match. The simple fact was that without some kind of proper training. He cold not use this weapon effectively.
Nines meanwhile had trained his whole life to wield the baton. He had spent hours and hours honing his skill with it. Finn knew this because he had often watched him in the training rooms. He wielded his cumbersome, heavy weapon with the skill of a Zeltron dancer. And as Finn watched he swung and spun it around the mobile handle before swinging it down on his dead yet again.
Finn was no match for him.
He was forced to stagger back and back. Trying desperately to fend of his one-time friend's attacks with the desperation of a drowning man. All the while trying to make sure that he did not trip or stumble on the endless mounds of rubble that lay around him.
He pulled the only tactic he had left and charged at Nines. He brought his glowing blade down on his lost friend again and again hoping to slip past his defences and bring him down. But Nines was an expert at this king of fighting and every blow was blocked almost casually.
Finn felt his spirits sink even lower, but he pressed the attack. Determined to smash through Nines defences.
That goal became moot a second later when Nines drove the end of his baton into his chest and the resulting electric jolt sent him flying back at least five metres. He landed on his back in the middle of the destroyed courtyard with the lightsaber deactivating as his grip loosened around the hilt.
He struggled to keep his eyes open as the electrical charge sent through his body played havoc on his brain. Meanwhile his limbs were completely using as the voltage had reduced them to jelly. As he lay on the ground, disorientated and helpless be vaguely saw Nines come up to stand over him with his baton sparking and crackling with lightning as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
Finn dearly wished that his tongue was not numb and useless due to the electrical charge he had coursing through him. He wished he could have spoken to Nines one last time. What he would have said he didn't really know. But it would probably be either an apology for abandoning him and Zeroes without any explanation. It might have been a plea to join him in his search for a life free or the First Order and responsibilities in the Outer-Rim. Or it might have been a simple act of begging for his life.
Again, the situation became moot as Nines raised his weapon to deliver the coup de grace. Of all the many ways he had considered that he would seriously die recently. Being executed at the hand of his best friend really had not been one of them.
If Nines felt any regrets. Finn would never know. As Nines began to bring is baton down on Finn's exposed head. A blaster bolt hit him square in the chest and sent him flying to land in a pile of rubble, where he lay still. Meanwhile above him Han and Chewie stood over him while Han carried a still humming bow caster rifle.
As Finn regained control of his muscle movements and functions and he was hauled to his feet, he was torn on how to react. On the one had he wanted to thank Han for saving him. On the other had he wanted to stab him for killing his (former) best friend. The fact that he had been about to kill him notwithstanding.
"You okay, Big deal?" Han asked.
In the end gratitude won out.
"Thanks!" Finn gasped as he clasped Han's hand and gave both him and the Wookie a look of appreciation. But that quickly changed when he heard a very familiar phase being spoken while he turned to find that a blaster rifle was aimed at his face.
"Don't move! TK-338, we have targets in custody!" The stormtrooper commander relayed into his comm as his comrades relived Han, Finn and Chewie of all their weapons.
It was at that moment that Finn was able to survey the battlefield properly for the first time since running headlong into it. And what he saw did not encourage him.
The TIE fighters still patrolled the sky, but they were not firing into the castle anymore. Both to not risk hitting their own troops and because they no longer need too. The locals that remained alive (and there were few) had surrendered and were being marched to where they now stood. And like them they were surrounded by First Order stormtroopers.
The ones who had stayed in the castle were either dead in the many fires that were raging across the fortress. Buried underneath tones of rubble from the collapses and blasted structure. Or they would be rooted out and blasted by the stormtroopers that were even now filing into castle to begin the search. Or hunt might have been a better choice of words.
And as he watched the scene before him. His eyes caught sight of an individual coming directly towards him and Han. Seeing her made him briefly wish that Nines, had just finished the job.
Han – POV
Han watched as the First Order soldiers that were keeping their weapons trained on him, Chewie and Finn parted and allowed one of their number walk up towards them.
The first thing he noticed about this person was that she appeared to be a female pilot based on the way she was dressed in the standard First Order pilot flight suit. He also saw a TIE interceptor parked just outside the ruined walls of the courtyard. He assumed that was her ship as none of the rest of the enemy goons were wearing pilot gear.
The next thing he noted was that she was attractive, in the military sense. Now that he thought about it she had the same thing going for her that Leia had during the rebellion days. They had the same sense of presence that people gravitated too. They had the same, posture and stance that spoke of a savage defiant spirit that would not break or yield. Even the way they walked was somewhat similar. It was suited to a military situation, but also bore a grace and elegance that was both learned and somewhat inherent. In his private thoughts he wondered if this was what Han and Leia's daughter might have looked like if they had one.
But while Leia had walked with strength and warmth. The strength that assured those around her that she would always protect and be there for them. This woman walked with strength and steel. The strength that told her allies that this was the bulwark they should stand with. And told her enemies to submit or be crushed.
He winced. Thinking about Leia was painful.
He continued to examine the approaching woman. She was quite young. In her late twenties he would hazard to guess. Roughly around Ben's age.
He winced again. Thinking about Ben was even more painful.
However, despite her young age and the fact that she was dressed in a standard TIE pilot uniform. The way the soldiers gave way before her and showed her the utmost respect with the way they saluted and acted around her showed him that her rank was way higher then theirs.
Finally, the blood-stained weapons she was carrying and the large amount of blood staining her suit was a bit unnerving. And based on the ease that she walked, it was not her own blood. He also knew from long days as a smuggler. That people who lost that much blood did not tend to live.
Satisfied that she was both important and clearly dangerous. Han's mind began working his way through the different methods and lines he could use to increase their odds of surviving.
He quickly dismissed the idea of sweet talk.
That tactic had not been nearly as effective these days as it had once been. Possibly due to the vast increase in grey hair he had gathered. Besides he could tell from her cold emerald eyes that she would happily shoot him in the throat if he annoyed her enough.
He seriously doubted that he could fight his way out of this situation. He and Chewie had lost their weapons and they had taken his concealed sidearm after searching him thoroughly. Finn had also lost Luke's lightsaber and was also unharmed. Plus, he was still suffering from the shock baton that stormtrooper had hit him with. His mobility and balance would still be compromised for the next few minutes. Not really the best status to be in when they were in a situation that called for timing, precision and speed.
That fell back to his two least favourite options. Negotiate or Surrender.
He hated negotiating because it generally led to him losing some portion of his profit margin. Or something else that was valuable and therefore he did not want to give it up. But again, looking at the young woman coming towards him. He seriously doubted that he had anything she might want.
At least nothing material.
That left surrender. Naturally he hated that option more then the others for obvious reasons. So, he resolved to wait until the situation changed and allowed a more favourable option to become available.
He just hoped the change in situation would not be the three of them going from alive to dead.
The woman came to a stop in front of them. Though carefully out of reach of the angry Wookie. She studied them for a moment and Han had the feeling he was being X-rayed. Then she turned to her soldiers nearby.
"Is this all of them captain?" She asked the lead trooper who nodded.
"All the surviving prisoners on the surface, Admiral. The rest are taking refuge in the forest or in the lower levels of the castle. Teams are on stand by to press on to subdue them." The trooper reported.
'Admiral?' That set of a warning bell in Han's mind. He had not been part of the rebellion, resistance or whatever it was called these days. But he had kept up to date with galactic affairs. A woman of this age and that held an Admiral's rank could only be Admiral Kuvira.
He would have cursed if he had the chance.
Kuvira turned back to Han and looked him square in the eyes. She then turned to Finn and did the same to him causing the former stormtrooper to turn away from her gaze. Then she turned back to Han.
"Do you have any concerns with us sending our soldiers into claim the entire castle, captain Solo? Do you have any preferences to which course of action we should take?" She asked in a tone one might have used to ask what you were in the mood to eat for lunch.
Han just stared back at her in silence. Partly in defiance and partly because he was not sure what she was after with this line of questioning.
But clearly he must have had some kind of reaction that she was looking for, because after a few seconds she turned back to her captain. "Seems the reports were correct. The droid is not in the castle. It is not worth losing troopers to claim the castle lower levels. Set charges, collapse the tunnels and bury the criminal scum. Make the castle their mausoleum." She ordered calmly.
The trooper nodded and sent his orders to his troopers who began to carry them out.
Han and Chewie glared and growled respectfully at Kuvira. They had no connection to the people in the castle (except Maz who had already escaped to her pre-prepared shelters), but the callousness and ruthlessness had struck a chord. It reminded them of Vader and other Imperial officers from the 'good old days.'
Kuvira turned back to Han and after a moment began speaking.
"Captain Solo. We have never had the pleasure, but I am well aware who you are and what you have done in your life." She noted
Han could not resist. "Well that is nice, most stalkers are not so open with their secret obsessions." He joked with a smile. He could feel Finn and Chewie rolling their eyes. But Kuvira did not react at all to his bait.
"We therefore know that you are no longer part of the Resistance or affiliated with the formerly illegal organisation known as the New Republic. All our many sources confirm you are a simple spacefaring privateer. (She clearly did not like using such a legal sounding word for smuggler). We are therefore willing to overlook your cooperation with this traitor and these fugitives from the First Order world of Jakku. It was simply a matter of getting your ship back. I can understand that." She said in a voice that was purely factual and devoid of all emotion. Leaving only simple logic in her tone.
"We are not the Empire, captain Solo. So, we do not hold you actions against them against you. We can be very profitable business partners to you captain. We can make use of your skills and you can make advantage of our monetary resources." She concluded
Han did not respond to her sales pitch and after a moment she continued.
"For example, if you were to agree to a contract right now. It would be the start of a long and profitable relationship with the First Order. If you were to help us claim the BB-8 droid unit and the information it carries. We would pay you a sum of five million credits. Payable in what ever form of currency you personally prefer. I can even have an official legal business contract drawn up in case my personal word is not enough."
She took a step closer
"Come now captain. It is a new day in the galaxy and new people in the seats of power. You are business man at heart and I am offering you a deal that very few ever get. Being set up for life with your ship and your friend sitting with you on the beaches of Rishi or the spa's of Maanan. Do not be a fool and reject it for a dying hopeless cause that you cut ties with long ago. Take the deal." She finished and stepped back. He eyes watching him and they seemed almost hypnotic in their willing him to accept her deal.
Han paused for a moment. But it was just a moment.
Yes, all she had said was true. He had cut ties with the Resistance and New Republic years ago. Yes, he was a business man at heart.
But if he was that kind of business man he would have left Luke and the rebels on Yavin to face the Death Star alone. He would have left Hoth the second the Empire showed up to pay of his debt to that fat slug Jabba. And he would never have volunteered to lead a suicide mission to Endor.
He had his faults. Many of them had become more apparent in the years since Endor. His failure as a husband. His appalling failure as a father. His failure to commit to anything without feeling the urge to run away. His inability to stay in one place to build something on what he had gained.
But he liked to thing he had his virtues too. And one of them was loyalty.
Smirking he faced the expectant Admiral. "In the words of a good friend. This is the last mistake you will ever make." He smiled mockingly at Kuvira.
The Admiral signed dramatically. "Well I cannot say that was unexpected. With that in mind you will be deemed an enemy of the First Order and taken for questioning." She paused as if remembering something suddenly. "There is also need to consider the matter of your extensive escape record."
The next thing Han new was excruciating pain and he suddenly found his legs could not support his wait and he fell to the ground in agony. Unable to help himself he screamed as the pain in his knee's seemed to double as the shock wore off. He was vaguely aware of Chewie roaring in rage and Finn calling his name while crouching down to help him.
As the blinding pain faded slightly he caught the echo of a blaster fading into the tree's and looked down at his knees to see both had smoking blaster wounds in the side of his kneecaps. He looked up and saw Kuvira with her still smoking blaster now aimed at an enraged Chewbacca face.
"One more step Wookie and I will use your corpse as my new throw rug." She stated dangerously.
With a lot more snarling and growling Chewbacca backed down. Even a Wookie would die from a blaster bolt to the head at point-blank range. The Wookie also bent down to help his friend as Kuvira relayed orders to her troops.
"Bind them and take them to the transports. The rest of you secure the perimeter and begin a sweep of the forest." With that she walked back to her TIE fighter.
Finn, Han and Chewie are marched/dragged by Stormtroopers back toward a transport, hands bound and Han moaning in agony.