A/N: And now it's officially time for the Rogues to be brought aboard… and if you know anything about the Rogues, well, let's just say Vader's in for an… interesting time. "May you live in interesting times," indeed, hm…
As the shuttle the Rogues had commandeered was dragged in via tractor beam, Vader's own shuttle ahead of it, Luke had decided he may as well practice just a little bit, to see if maybe he could fight off Vader, if only for a short time. As such he'd taken his lightsaber and began going through a kata or two, and even asking a few of them to take shots at him. He deftly deflected his squadmates' bolts for a short while; he began to consider whether this next duel would go any better than their disastrous encounter on Cymoon 1, which had quite successfully proven that Vader was more than willing to annihilate countless civilians and endanger his own troops if it meant capturing a Jedi, if his move to incapacitate a hijacked AT-AT by literally toppling it was any indication.
Eventually, however, the limping lander was brought within one of Executor's presumably several hangars, and as it touched down, the Rogues watched in both terror and awe at the sheer number of stormtroopers crowding this small hangar. Vader had clearly already disembarked his own shuttle, as they could see the black behemoth stood in the center, facing them, and then the ramp was lowered and several squads surged aboard to drag the Rogues outside.
Their stolen helmets were forcibly removed, leaving the captured pilots to stare directly at Vader, with absolutely no way of avoiding eye contact. The menace that was the Emperor's chief enforcer eyed the captured rebels, as if considering what it was he would do with them, before his booming baritone vocoder echoed through the hangar:
"Pilots of Rogue Squadron, you are hereby detained and sentenced to indefinite confinement. Your potential release may be negotiated should you give up your commander."
The Rogues froze, but no one said a word… that is until Luke himself stepped forward. He placed his hand on his lightsaber… but then Vader yanked it from his belt with the Force.
"I see he has chosen your safety over his own. An admirable, if foolish, decision," Vader noted, inspecting the saber for the second time since Cymoon 1, before turning to his most trusted trooper commander within the 501st. Without saying a word, the man ordered the Rogues secured and taken to the highest security prison block aboard the Executor, and an entire platoon came forward to do just that. Before they could leave, however, Vader motioned for Luke to stay with him. Luke, realizing there was nothing for it, stood by the malevolent shadow of a man, feeling the raw hatred and anger coursing through him, but also, strangely… comfort? Care? Protection? What was this?
Vader did not deign to answer the questions when Luke probed, merely stating, "Walk with me, young Skywalker, and all will be revealed. The Force has willed your presence here."
Luke shrugged, and followed Vader to… wherever they were going.
Maximum Security Cell Block Aurek-Varys-16, Executor
Hobbie groaned as he plopped down on the hard metal bench that lined the rear of his cell, having been forcibly stripped and changed, along with the rest of the Rogues, into a bog-standard orange prison uniform. "Where'd Vader go with Luke?"
"Hells know, Hobbie," Wedge sighed. "He took Luke's lightsaber too, so maybe it's some kind of, y'know, Jedi thing?"
"I'd bet you a hundred creds that it's that," said Zev. "Not the first time either, from what I heard. You guys probably heard about the whole thing on Cymoon 1?"
"The one where Vader nearly flipped over an AT-AT!?" Janson said. "Course we did, you kidding?"
"Enough about that, any ideas about an exit strategy?" asked Samoc.
"From Executor?" said Dak. "I like going nuts on a Star Destroyer as much as the next guy but come on, it's Vader's flagship! I'm not risking that!"
"Dak's right," said Cinda. "For one thing, Executor's huge, and for two, Vader would sense us from literally anywhere. I'm not taking my chances, and frankly, I trust Commander Skywalker on this one."
"Yeah, kid's pretty good about worming his way out of tight spots," Janson admitted. "Maybe the Force got him a comm line outta here, and the Alliance can find us?"
"Don't think that's how the Force works," said Wedge. "It'd be worth a shot, though. Either way, I don't think we'll be getting much else done, so personally I'm going to try and catch up on some sleep."
"Same here, Wedge," said Hobbie. "As much sleep as you can get on these things…"
Skywalker Reserved Quarters, Executor…
Luke had followed Vader the entire way, not saying much of anything as they strode through the halls of Executor, until eventually they came across a very particular room, with, oddly enough, Skywalker printed in Aurebesh on the door. "Is this… my room?"
"Indeed it is, young Skywalker," said Vader, with what Luke swore was some kind of fatherly tone.
"OK then… So, how do I…" Luke trailed off, noticing there was no obvious control panel.
"Use the Force; I sensed it within you above the Death Star, and no mere pilot could evade me for any substantial period of time," Vader stated simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the galaxy.
Luke sighed, and reached out into the Force, and he soon heard the tell-tale hiss of the door's locks releasing and allowing it to slide away. With that, he stepped inside, and stood in utter awe at the lavishness of the space he'd been given: This was no mere barracks bunk or officer's quarters, this was an honest-to-goodness VIP Lounge he'd been granted. "Is all of this… mine?"
"It is, of course, property of the Empire, as is everything aboard this vessel," Vader explained. "However, it is, for all intents and purposes, yours. Now I suggest you redress yourself in more appropriate attire, seeing as we have much to discuss."
"Can I get a shower too?" Luke asked offhandedly, only now noticing how sweaty he was.
"But of course," said Vader. "Though I would recommend keeping it relatively short; the matter I intend to inform you on is of utmost urgency."
Luke nodded, stepping into the lavish bathroom, not simply a refresher, but a true bathroom, and almost squeeing with glee when he realized that, unlike the sonic showers Rebel ships and facilities came equipped with, this lounge he'd been given had access to not only a water shower, but a full-on bathtub and jacuzzi. For the Tatooine native, for which so much water in one place was almost an impossibility, had he not experienced it elsewhere, he was awestruck that it could be present. Still, he remembered Vader's tone, and figured the Dark Lord was probably right; he really should get out of his stolen stormtrooper body glove, and get changed ASAP.
And so, after about 10 or so minutes of getting himself properly refreshed, he stepped out of the bathroom and asked, "Well, Lord Vader, what is it, exactly, that you needed to tell me?"
At this, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military, and, unbeknownst to most, absolute drama king, said, in the gravest tone possible… "Luke Skywalker, what do you know of what happened to your father?"
"Obi-Wan told me enough," Luke said, eyes narrowing, though without a weapon he knew confronting Vader was a terrible idea, "He told me you killed him."
Vader shook his head, half disappointed, half enraged. "No, Luke. I am your father."
For a moment, Luke said nothing, his whole worldview having shattered as Alderaan had due to the Death Star; he simply stared at Vader, making full eye contact, as he eventually stammered out, "No, no, that's not true… that's impossible!"
Vader, in turn, stared at the young farmboy, turned pilot, turned Jedi, and responded, "Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"
And Luke, delving deep within himself in a way he had not since he was but a small boy, found that the image of his father, the one he'd always held in his mind, of the dashing, courageous war hero who saved the galaxy from certain doom, morphed into the dark, hateful, mournful visage of Darth Vader, and knew at once that the mechanical monstrosity stood before him, was his father.
The realization, at first, did nothing. But then, he broke, crying out in anguish, pain, fear, and anger; and his cry to the universe rang out like an ancient church bell ringing out in the Force, the raw power emanating from him managing to shake Executor for several seconds, as though it were being torn apart by the gravity of an immense black hole.
Eventually, however, the Force subsided, and Luke, utterly spent, fainted onto the couch in front of him. Vader, immediately, called for a medical droid to ensure he was still well, and to also obtain a DNA sample for some further proof.
Imperial Throne Room, Imperial Center
Sheev Palpatine, Emperor of the known galaxy, seethed as his shields were battered by the bright waves emanating in the Force from within Executor. He initially wrote them off as Vader giving into rage, only to notice that his bond with Vader was as stable as it had always been. No, this assault was from another, and in all his years living in the galaxy, Palpatine knew there was but one person capable of such titanic Force power who was not himself, or in another life, Vader: Luke Skywalker. Palpatine smiled, despite the intense pain; clearly whatever his apprentice had done or said had caused a suitably… adverse reaction, and with every passing minute he could feel the young Skywalker's presence in the Force descending into the abyss of the Dark Side. He tapped his comm and prepared to make the call to Vader, and, at the very least, subtly congratulate him on his success.
Within minutes, Vader's kneeling hologram was placed before him, and the Emperor spoke. "Lord Vader, it is my understanding that the Rebel who destroyed the Death Star, young Luke Skywalker, is in your custody?"
"Indeed, my master," Vader intoned. "His Force power, which I had sensed within the meridian trench, is indeed formidable, as you had foreseen."
"Good, good," Palpatine said with a subtle grin. "What of his outburst some minutes ago?"
"I informed him of the truth of his parentage, my master," Vader explained, "I thought it wise to draw on the lingering urge for a true father. Investigations into his background revealed such a presence had not existed for him as a child."
"It is clear he was unable to handle this truth," Palpatine, acting the wise sage, said with a shake of his head. "Even still, his raw pain will serve him well in his path to the Dark Side; I only hope he opts to not unleash it on yourself, my apprentice."
"Now that he knows of our connection, I have much reason to believe he will not," Vader stated truthfully. "Though I hate the man I once was, I have known that he would never deign to strike his loved ones whenever possible; it stands to reason that as with the father, so too with the son."
"Indeed," Palpatine nodded sagely. "Where is young Skywalker at this juncture?"
"He is held in a maximum security facility accessible only to properly trained Force users," Vader explained, and if he was being slightly loose with the true details, Palpatine did not take notice, "He suffered minor injuries from his capture and subsequent use of the Force and is being tended to by a medical droid as we speak. I took the liberty of ordering a sample collected to further prove my connection to him."
Palpatine considered this, and nodded. "Very well, my apprentice. Report to me in two weeks' time on your progress in convincing Skywalker to join you; if there has not be substantial change, given your relation, I will be most displeased."
Vader bowed his head. "Understood, my master. I will do all that I must."
With that, the Emperor of tens of billions of star systems ended the call, and turned his throne to face out into Imperial Center, and let his face curl itself into a truly gleeful smile; today was a glorious day, he knew, and it was the day that would cement himself as true master of all which he surveyed, no pesky rebellions or riotous citizenry able to stand in his way.
Officer's Lounge, Executor
Captain Firmus Piett, formerly of the now scuttled Accuser, and now stationed aboard Executor, had had rather little time to process the magnitude of the changes that had been made to his position. As he was resting within the Officer's Lounge, before Lord Vader properly assigned him, who should he encounter but one Colonel Maximillian Veers, commander of the forces aboard Thunder 2, one of the mighty 501st's elite walker corps; the latest rumors even suggested the upstart Colonel from Denon was in line for a promotion to General, which was certainly something.
In any case, Piett strode over to the Colonel and offered a hand, and his fellow officer shook it. "I am Captain Firmus Piett, and you are Colonel Maximillian Veers, yes?"
The much broader Colonel nodded, and replied, "Captain Piett, it was my understanding you were commanding Accuser. What brings you to Executor?"
"Recent events necessitated the scuttling of my vessel after our capture of Rogue Squadron," Piett explained. "Lord Vader personally commanded I station myself aboard Executor. I suspect he wishes me made captain of his own vessel, though for what reasons I am entirely uncertain."
"Well, if what I know of your service record is true, you'd make a fine choice," Veers stated. "Anti-piracy action in Axxila, then being made Lieutenant aboard Accuser; eventually ranking up to Captain just in time for Accuser's experimental refit with a proton beam cannon." He then realized something didn't quite add up, then added, "Admittedly I figured you might have already been assigned here after Admiral Ozzel took command, but I assume Lord Vader had other reasons."
Piett sighed. "At the time I was not aware I was in consideration for command of Executor, I'm afraid; still I am quite glad to be here. Something about this ship feels… appropriate, for lack of a better term."
Veers raised an eyebrow. "Looking to make Admiral just as quickly as you made Captain?" Then he had to laugh. "You'd be a better fit than Ozzel, at any rate; the man's a blustering, loathsome fool, and everyone in command knows that Vader's just looking for one more excuse to finally be rid of him. Perhaps that's why he assigned you here."
The captain said nothing, lips forming a thin line. Then he stated, "I suppose that could be true; in any case I suppose I should officially begin my duties, Colonel-"
"Max in private company, please, Maximillian if you must be formal," Veers interrupted. "We're the same rank, and technically you even outrank me."
"Well then, Max, I will certainly do so… if you call me Firmus," Piett replied, but then his comm chimed, and Piett nearly dropped it after reading the missive. "Unfortunately, Lord Vader, and duty calls," he said, then adding, "Pleasure meeting you, Colonel, and I look forward to working with you in future."
"Likewise, Captain," replied Veers. "I imagine you will be going places very soon."
With that, Piett turned on his heel and made to leave… before Executor shook.
"What in blazes-" cried Piett as he toppled over, and Veers, who at that moment had been in his seat, rushed to grab the captain; "Thank you, Max," he said as he stood, still unsteady. "Lord Vader had better have a good explanation for this," he muttered, and with that, he straightened his cap, checked his uniform, and stepped out.
Central Briefing Room, Executor
Piett made his way to his assigned seat within the round table common to many an Imperial vessel. On his left, Admiral Kendal Ozzel, overall commander of Death Squadron. On his right, and running counter-clockwise around the table, the various captains of the other vessels of Death Squadron, those being Captain Jhared Montferrat of Devastator, Captain Shaef Corssin, formerly also of Devastator, now captain of Conquest, Captain Lorth Needa of Avenger, Captain Akal Zed of Stalker, and finally, Captain Xamuel Lennox of Tyrant, and finally, Captain Callian Canonhaus of Ultimatum, seeing as its previous commander, Rae Sloane, had fairly recently been demoted to Commodore and reassigned to Vigilance, one of the Home Fleet's numerous vessels.
In any case, with all requisite officers present, all they were waiting on was the arrival of Lord Vader, and indeed, the Dark Lord of the Sith, as well as Supreme Commander, strode into the room. With that, the meeting officially commenced with his announcement.
"Captain Piett has performed a vital service to the Empire this day, having captured the elite pilots of Rogue Squadron aboard his vessel, Accuser, before its necessary destruction owing to their attempted machinations during their escape. As such, I grant him full command of Executor in this transitional period, and thus command of the hunt for the remaining Rebels."
Piett nodded, accepting the new assignment with all expected deference, and then Vader continued.
"Currently, Commander Luke Skywalker is well-secured aboard Executor, but I do not intend to simply have him tortured and executed." Glances of confusion, and mild annoyance. "Rather, it is my intention, with full support of the Emperor, to instate him as Commander of an Imperial squadron; such should be proof enough of his loyalty to the Empire."
Murmurs passed around the table, unsure of this reasoning, but it was Lord Vader, and one never questioned Vader. In any case, he continued, "The threat posed by the Rebels, as of now, is insignificant; without a stable base from which to perform their operations, they well eventually be forced to disperse, particularly if Death Squadron moves to destroy them, as I fully intend to do. Given the likely lacking mental fortitude of the assorted Rogue Squadron members, it will be a matter of time before the Rebellion is isolated and annihilated, for the good of the galaxy." At this, nods of acknowledgement. "I leave the preparation for this final assault to Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett. Do not fail me."
With that, Vader turned and left, leaving the officers in the briefing room. Ozzel spoke first, having been in primary command of this operation until this point, and thus having the krayt share of the necessary information and data. "With the discovery of Rogue Squadron's activities within this sector, I see only one viable option for Rebel fleet massing: Anoat." The system appeared on the projector at the center of the table, and Ozzel continued, "All other systems in this area have little to no viable reserves for key resources, and the only other notable system, Bespin, has far too much tibanna freighter traffic to be deemed a secure location."
However, Piett, having just returned from investigating the area, countered this idea; a risky decision, and one that could be deemed insubordination, but he made the choice nonetheless. "Having been present in the sector within the preceding 24 hours, I have full confidence the only Rebel presence was the Rogues, who have since be successfully detained aboard this very ship. Given their propensity for necessarily disobeying their own command, or simply not waiting for orders, it is highly likely they investigated the sector themselves, away from a larger Rebel presence. In my mind, the larger fleet is further afield, and in particular I have singled out the Juris sector, as well as other sectors along the Five Veils Route, as the likely location of the Rebel fleet."
Ozzel scoffed at this, and said, "And what makes you so sure they are in that region in particular?"
"If you'll observe the galactic map," Piett put forward, and the official Imperial Atlas' latest edition appeared in the holoprojector, which then zoomed in on Eriadu. allowing Piett to point to the key positions. "Death Squadron is currently stationed at Eriadu, and the Accuser's task force had just returned from the Greater Javin region along the Nothoiin Corridor," he pointed to a hyperlane linking Gerrenthum, the unofficial region capital, and Eriadu, "and if one continues from Eriadu along the Hydian Way," the captain pointed to a bright line from Eriadu, aiming toward Malastare, "A vessel could break away at Darkknell, or, in the Rebels' case, jump to the Hydian at Darkknell," here he pointed to the named system, roughly halfway between Eriadu and Malastare, "then join the Duros Space Run, after which they could run all the way to New Cov, which I deem unlikely, given its position along the Corellian Run." The system in question lit up along another bright line, running essentially due southeast on the galactic map, and then Piett pointed down. "The alternative is that, at Enarc," Piett pointed to a system directly at the point where the Duros Space Run bent north, "They switched to, or rather from, the Triellus Trade Route," a line pointing east from Enarc lit up, "which would lead them to Farstine, and eventually the Arkanis sector."
Needa spoke up then. "What makes you certain the Rebels are not occupying the Arkanis sector, rather than any of the sectors along the Five Veils?"
Piett responded, "Commander Skywalker is a Tatooine native, and until rather recently, Conquest was stationed in the sector to identify any suspected Rebel presence and eliminate it. I imagine the Rebels would choose to avoid such an obvious presence."
Corssin nodded. "Captain Piett's statements are true; indeed I only rendezvoused here at Eriadu within the preceding week, far too early for any mass fleet movement."
Needa nodded in turn. "I see. Continue, Captain Piett?"
Piett did so, pointing to Farstine, the northern head of the Five Veils Route through the Outer Rim. "As I was saying, at Farstine, the Five Veils Route begins, and given its relative isolation, being in a sparsely populated region of the southern Rim, I view it as the most likely holding point for the Rebels; there is enough local trade to access to fund purchase of key components and materials without attracting undue Imperial attention, particularly after the leakage of COMPNOR scandocs at Qiemet."
At this, Montferrat gave his thoughts. "I assume you would have Death Squadron move to Farstine and begin investigating there? How are you so certain the Rebels have not simply escaped your presence within Greater Javin? The Ivax Nebula would prove rather vexing for sensors, no?"
"Some minor coercion of the current Baron Administrator of Cloud City provided Accuser with the most up-to-date information of movements within the sector," Piett explained. "Not a single capital-grade vessel other than those fielded by my own task force was recorded; I had my own vessels run their own scans and launch probes, and they did not detect anything of the sort either."
"So, we move to Farstine?" confirmed Zed. "If so, when?"
"We will indeed move to Farstine, but I should like at least 24 hours to acclimate myself with the greater capabilities of Executor; you may return to your vessels, in any case," Piett stated.
"Very well, Captain Piett," said Montferrat, speaking for the others as ranking captain among the Star Destroyer captains. "I look forward to seeing the results of this strategy."
"As do I," Piett replied. "Meeting adjourned."
With that, the holoprojector shut off, and the officers stood, saluted, and left. Ozzel, who had been, in his mind, unduly sidelined, shuffled out last, realizing that his days may very well be numbered; as such, he wished to make absolutely sure that the mission went off with absolutely no issues; and once it did, that he received the credit, rather than this upstart Captain from the pirate haven of Axxila. As such, he began communicating with various other officers aboard the assorted vessels of Death Squadron; he wished to make sure that if it came down to it, they would follow him, a humble believer and executor of their glorious Emperor's will, rather than the upstart pawn of the malevolent shadow Vader, who would likely execute them for supposed failure at, quite literally, the drop of a hat.
A/N: And here's the first of many Imperial perspectives, as well as the first inklings of the namesake of this fic: Reaper Squadron, formed from the Rogues and certain elements of a particular Legendary fighter wing; if you know your Rogue Squadron lore, you may see where this is going. As well, there's some nods to the actual Legends timeline; in this case, Piett not having moved to Executor in 1 ABY, which is what actually happened when Ozzel was promoted.
In terms of other major plot stuff, Ozzel is planning… not a mutiny, or a coup, exactly, but just… minor disobedience. For the good of the Empire, of course, that's how he'll sell it, but it's all just to keep himself propped up. Let's see how well that goes for him once Death Squadron converges on where they believe the Rebels to be…
In the meantime, Skywalker family drama abounds, and the Rebels still have not had any word from the Rogues; I wonder what will happen when they do…
