The Way of a Siluan

by heatherxenia

Three AgriCorps Jedi survive Order 66. One is shipwrecked in a remote forest and begins to learn the ways of a quiet sect of Lightsiders known as the Siluans. Another tries to run a farm but is nearly thwarted by the Imperial Agriculture Program. A third takes the path of a Dark Jedi, masterminds Imperial agriculture policy...and sets out to destroy the Siluans. Part I complete.

10. The Takeover of Phosphor

The Way of a Siluan

Chapter 10: The Takeover of Phosphor

Ry Kyver's intention to forcibly capture the planet Phosphor with only a handful of stormtroopers might not seem at all extreme from the planet's ground level. After all, there was nothing there, really, just the central processing facility, which was a maze of massive crushing machines, extended conveyor belts, and huge silos where raw calcium phosphate rock was converted to the fertilizer di-ammonium phosphate. The whole place was staffed by a few hundred droids and a handful of biological workers, mostly Rodians, most of whom were unarmed.

The kicker was the sky-shield. It combined a military grade defensive shield with a laser-activated automatic firing system that was impenetrable without permission and unassailable except by great military might. The Empire, of course, had the resources to simply blast a way in, but Ry Kyver wouldn't have that. The Imperial Agriculture Program was her one chance to prove herself in the new Empire, and she was not going to have the credit for the takeover of a key resource planet go to one of Admiral Tarkin's military minions. And so to Phosphor's sky-shield Ry Kyver came, not with Star Destroyers or stormtroopers, but in a simple passenger starship marked GWSC: Galactic Workers Safety Commission. She too looked the part: uniform, clipboard, safety-conscious scowl.

"State your purpose," a harsh droid voice said over the comm-link as she approached the shield.

"I'm Glena Padwi, with the Galactic Workers Safety Commission. This is an inspection."

"We aren't due for an inspection," a human-sounding voice said, taking over from the droid.

"The legislation governing the GWSC states that workplaces employing biological workers must accept unscheduled inspections if they wish to retain their trade license."

"We're busy."

"I can tell the Imperial Trade Minister that you refused a visit; he might just give you a fine."

The voice growled, "Well, come in then, dammit."

Ry made a smooth landing just outside the boxy administrative office, donned her oxygen mask for the planet's thin atmosphere, and stepped outside. She felt quite pleased with herself. First step accomplished in a plan that was simple, economical, and for her at least, highly entertaining.

"Nothing to worry about, just a routine check," Ry said when the foreman let her into the main office. "Let's start with the Worksite Incident Log."

As the foreman turned to pull up the log on the computer, Ry whipped out her blaster. Before he could cry out, the foreman lay on the ground, stunned.

Ry jerked his arm up and pressed his hand to the biometric scanner on the main security computer. Once in the system, she found she still needed a password. She slapped the foreman half-awake. "You will give me the password to the main computer," she said in her most commanding mind-control voice.

"1395180031," he said, and she stunned him again.

That number was good for access to everything she wanted. She pulled out her communicator. "Xeres, it's all yours," she said with a smile. "Bring them in."

The shield was down, the cannons offline, and without trouble Ry's second-in-command, Nathan Xeres, brought in the stormtroopers. Ry watched from the office window as the stormtroopers picked off the biological workers and disabled the droids. It all took about five minutes.

The foreman came to. "Thanks for your help," Ry said, and shot him again, not using stun this time.