Chapter 7:
We arrived at base several hours later.
"Echobe to HQ, Echobe to HQ come in," I called out over the radio to the Alliance station.
"Echobe, this is Desco, over," Desco answered, he sounded relieved.
"We have secured the base, and downloaded the databanks. Ready for debriefing, it's not pretty. We found survivors, but in far worse a situation than we thought."
Desco's mood soured at my brief description. "Understood. Medical teams will be standing by, I will meet you in my office for debriefing."
"And Desco…I found my parents."
I didn't give Desco a chance to respond, I just shut the radio off. I hardly felt like talking as it was and didn't look forward to going over all that had happened. I banked the Starscream into the landing bay, landed, and deployed the platform. A medical team rushed into the ship carrying stretchers and their medical equipment. The Starscream filled with crying, laughter, and incredible elation, but also wails of pain, and sadness, and horror when the Alliance medical team saw the condition of some of the survivors. I paid little attention to it. I headed straight to Desco's office. He greeted me with a grim look and a gentle pat on the back.
"Please sit down, Echobe. Are you sure it was your Mother and Father?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Burmar helped me identify them. But there's something else. It was not just a prison it was a laboratory of some kind. We found all kinds of experiments."
I was unable to be coherent about what I saw. I stumbled over my own words, stuttered, and choked on them. All I was able to say was, "They were suspended in bacta tanks, mutilated, with robotic parts. They were operated on, experimented on, tortured. We downloaded the databanks, and Burmar ordered me back with the survivors to request reinforcements."
Desco stood there looking at me. His grim look deepened as he listened, but no real shock passed over his face, almost like he expected no less.
"I understand. We will get a team working on the data immediately and will send reinforcements." Desco congratulated me on my first command and for my part in rescuing the survivors, and then he politely dismissed me. His praise felt empty. I didn't see it as much of a rescue, and I wondered if the so-called survivors would be better off dead after what they had gone through. I didn't talk about what I was thinking. I went back to the Starscream in silence, passing the survivors as they were being carefully taken out of the ship by medics. Some of the survivors stopped to thank me, some reached out to me to embrace them. Being a Wookiee and probably looking like some kind of animal to them, I was glad to see that the Imperial hatred of Wookiees had not found a place to live within their hearts. I smiled at them, lowered my head in respect and grasped their hands gently in return while walking towards the cargo bay's refrigeration units where all the bodies had already been removed save for my parents who still lay together on the stretcher.
I made sure they were well covered, though the bacta had soaked through the sheet and pressed itself against their waterlogged bodies revealing their ghostly visage underneath. I wheeled them out and into the landing bay and back to where the other bodies were being stored in a temporary morgue secluded from general areas. I wheeled them inside along with the rest of the dead and left them, passing by a medical droid that was taking pictures of the dead on my way out.
I went back to Desco.
He had just dismissed an Alliance soldier who was preparing to leave for the Imperial station to assist Burmar and the others. I lightly tapped on the door and walked in. Desco motioned for me to sit down.
"Echobe, I have sent a group of B-wings to turn that station into dust." He paused for the door to close and then continued. "I am sorry for your loss, Echobe, and despite it you did well, and you saved a lot of lives today." Desco leaned back in his chair and ran his hands over his face scrunching his wrinkles together, exaggerating every line. "There wasn't much hope, we're lucky that any of them are alive at all. If nothing else, try to take something away from this."
I could think of nothing to say at first that could possibly be of any worth. I got up and turned to walk out when something suddenly came to mind.
"I wish to be involved in the analysis of the data we gathered from the laboratory, and perhaps speak with the survivors." Desco nodded and gave a slight smile to me in approval. I walked out of Desco's office and to the main computer command station.
Small teams of Alliance techs were already busy downloading and filtering through the information from the R2-L7. I stood there and waited while the L7 uploaded, and then sat down at a computer terminal right behind one of the techs and watched. His name was Nudil I think. Him and I spent hours upon hours watching the data scroll through the screen. Little of it made any sense to me. There were mostly diagrams and schematics of the station, some of the names of Imperial personnel, but much of it was bureaucratic formalities and memos and such. And then we got to what did make sense to me.
What I saw brought the darkness back like I felt upon entering the laboratory.
A methodical plan was laid out spanning across thousands of corresponding documents, audio and video files and transcripts focusing on experimentation on mostly non-humans in order to weed them out and change them into something more useful to the Empire, to turn them into mindless automatons, alter their brains, make them obedient, turn them into soldiers, or thoughtless slaves, or whatever the Empire wished.
There were detailed files on each of the experiments. One was a test subject to see how many robotic limb transplants the body could tolerate before succumbing to the multiple surgeries all while measuring time and cost effectiveness. Another was experimented on chemically to remove the body's pain receptors, and to mutilate the patient's body to see how long the mind would last before succumbing to madness of seeing himself operated on. Prisoner's brains were operated on and experimented with to try and alter their very thought process, to bend their will, to make them something other than what they were. The experiments were ghoulish, sadistic, cold, and cruel.
And then we found my parents' file.
My Mother and Father were two of the many test subjects of mind alteration. They were chosen because they were a couple with quote "strong emotion bonds." The theory behind it was to see if a couple's connection between each other would have any negative or positive affect on the alterations in their minds. My Father's brain was altered with robotic machinery, and my Mother's was altered with drugs, something called neuro-suggestion, and electromagnetic shocks. Final assessment of the experiment, that I still remember word for word, read as follows:
Test subjects responded moderately well for the first week after the final permanent alterations. Opinions, fears, interests were successfully altered with simple neuro-suggestion. However, the "spousal" link between the two subjects could not be altered except for brief moments.
After seven days, two hours and forty-nine minutes, the implants in the male subject began to deteriorate, as well as the soft tissues. Likewise, the mind and soft tissue of the female subject deteriorated nearly in sync, which raises the possibility of cognitive links between certain bodies and minds. Intellectual deficiency, mental illness, motor-skill degradation, was progressive and nearly in sync between the male and female. All cognitive abilities ceased at approximately 1201-3507.
The Wookiee male and female couple subjects died at approximately 1203-3507. They have been selected for dissection and recycling.
Recycling.
I stared at those words. The words are still seared into my eyes, burnt into my very retinas. I still see them in my sleep like the glare of a sun after having looked at it for too long. The only thing that saved me from doubling-over in grief right there was that according to the calculations by the Alliance tech, Nudil, they were dead before Burmar and I had ever arrived.
I continued to read on through file after file on through the night. I felt a crusade of purpose building within me. At first, back at the laboratory, I felt that I had done all that I could have done and still came up short, that I failed. But, the more I read, the more I vowed to myself I would do.
Then we found an encrypted file that the Alliance tech quickly deciphered.
After several minutes, a dizzying barrage of keystrokes, and a few sighs of frustration by the masterful Alliance tech, the encrypted text of the file was converted into something legible. What was an unreadable collection of unidentifiable glyphs became an unofficial Imperial memo mentioning the existence of two other laboratory prisons. The document detailed specific coordinates, and names of two Imperial officers who were assigned with the supervision of the other two prisons. As if the people being captured were expendable commodities that the Empire trafficked across the galaxy like so much ore in an asteroid, or grain harvested from a crop.
The memo's description was cold, and deliberate, lacking even the emotion a programmer gives a droid. Apparently the prisons were being kept secret save for a few Imperial officers and their staff, two of which the document named, but no direct mention of the Emperor's knowledge, or acknowledgement of the prisons' existence. One of the Imperials was a Grahm'tuli Jermar on Tatooine and another was a Jimers Anthalsan on Corellia.
Only a small team of two analysts and I remained after hours of looking over the databanks of the Imperial laboratory. The rest of the Alliance techs had fallen asleep. Burmar also had long since gone to sleep since arriving from destroying the prison. I didn't want to hear anymore about that place. Moving onto the next step was all I could do to try and not let what I saw consume me.
Desco arrived later that night, as that time was referred to, having no sun for reference. He watched the computer screen over my shoulder as the Alliance tech sifted through the data, forcing back a yawn. Desco pulled up a chair alongside of us.
"Why are they classifying this as an unofficial program?" he asked, more to himself than to me. After a few moments, he said, "We have to take those prisons out," again more to himself. He looked to the floor with his arms resting on his knees, his hands dangling.
"We'll have a briefing in the morning with the COs. Try to get some sleep Echobe, you've had one hell of a night." Desco stood and made to walk away when he stopped and put his hand on my shoulder. "You did everything you could, Echobe. Your parents would be proud of what you've done. Their suffering is over and they are in a much happier place now." He patted my shoulder and walked away.
He only meant well, but no amount of pats or kind words could make me feel better, but I am sure Burmar and Desco knew that, but there is nothing you can say that can really help. Only time. Nevertheless, I took Desco's advice, and decided to go to sleep. My eyes were sore and I could see the image of the computer screen burned into them when I blinked. I had learned my Mother and Father's fate and my quest had completely changed because of it, and I became raveled within a far bigger problem.
I went to the Starscream and plopped down on the bed in my quarters. The ship was empty of people, but the ghosts of the dead lingered on if only in my mind. I lay there looking up at the ceiling. Thoughts of what had happened that day danced through my mind as it subconsciously reviewed everything that had happened in fast forward as if looking for anything we may have missed. It was maddening after a while until I just closed my eyes, and let my mind drift. Everything then went dark and I finally fell asleep.
**********
I woke about an hour before the briefing. I tossed and turned that entire night as my mind kept reviewing the discovery of my Mother and Father. I finally just sat up, and tried to clear my head by shaking my head, as if it would actually help, and then lazily stumbled over to where I had set my coat down. I picked it up, threw it on, grabbed something to eat from the condenser, and went to Desco's office.
I was the first one to show. I sat down in a chair at Desco's huge desk. My head ached from staring at the computer screen all night. I had my hand covering my eyes, shielding them from the lights overhead, and munching on the food when Desco entered and he surprised to see me sitting there.
"Oh, good morning Echobe. I hope you slept well on your adopted ship," he said jokingly.
Burmar and several other officers filed in a few moments later. Desco turned the holo-projector on, and a face of one of the survivors spun slowly in hues of blue over the desk and then switched randomly between other faces of the survivors as Desco spoke. It was a grim, but tempering reminder of what we were doing and why.
"Good morning. You all know of our current situation," Desco nodded to us all in acknowledgement, "and much of the data has been analyzed, but not all of it, so this is a preliminary meeting pending any new revelations."
Desco paused to clear his throat.
"First of all, the survivors that were rescued from the laboratory will be sent to Mon Calamari for their own safety. Many of them are still in shock. A few have agreed to assist the Alliance, and they will be able to decide where to go from Mon Calamari. The others are too scared to get involved, understandably. I will assign a team to transport them after this meeting."
Desco paused and took a drink.
"Like I said, you all know the situation on its surface. What we discovered last night is that there seems to be at least two more of these type of facilities somewhere in the galaxy."
Any smile, or elation over the previous day's victory disappeared.
"I spoke with command on Mon Calamari and they have advised us to do whatever we can to find the remaining Imperial prison laboratories." The dark circles around Desco's eyes, and the way he rubbed at his face with his hands showed the fatigue and lack of sleep. I began to think that the scruffy beard on Desco's face was not a matter of preference, but for lack of opportunity.
"We have the names of the two remaining Imperial officers who are linked to the two remaining laboratories. Jimers Anthalsan who is on Corellia and Grahm'tuli Jermar on Tatooine. I want Echobe and Burmar to spearhead the mission to discover the location of the remaining two laboratories, rescue the survivors, and destroy the goddamn things. Burmar will select a team of four, so recommendations from you all would be appreciated." Desco eyed the others. "Corellia is first on the list. The necessary data packages and resources will be loaded onto the Starscream. There will only be the one vessel for the mission. I will inform operatives on both planets that you are coming."
"I will keep you all updated on the progress of the data filtering. That's all for now. This meeting stands unless informed otherwise. Dismissed." We all left Desco's office, casually saluting on our way out. I went back to the Starscream not wanting to look at a computer screen ever again.
**********
It was not until later that night that the downloaded databanks had been fully screened with no real new discoveries. Desco met with Burmar and I to confirm our mission and departure. We were scheduled to leave the following morning. I slept in the Starscream again that night, though it felt a bit odd knowing that just the previous morning my parents were lying in the cargo hold. I lay in bed wondering what Ulchewbuk would have said, what sage advice would he have had for me. What words of peace and wisdom would he have spoken to my Mother and Father that would send them off into the next world peacefully. I let those thoughts drown me until I fell asleep.
**********
The following day by Alliance time, and Burmar was shaking me awake.
"Rise and shine. It's time to get ready to go," he said and walked away. I stood up and got my usual morning drink and food, and went to the cockpit. Burmar was already running a diagnostic on the ship.
"Hey there captain," said Burmar, without looking away from the control panel in front of him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, sarcastically. "I'm a Lieutenant."
"I thought it was appropriate. After all we took it or rather you took it. The Alliance has no claim on the ship. I don't need a ship…so." I continued Burmar's thought with my own.
"So? Desco won't let this ship out of Alliance hands. I sure as hell wouldn't," I said, taking a sip of my hot drink.
"Actually, Desco has officially given ownership of the ship over to you, with a little persuading of my own." Burmar smirked.
I choked on my drink, but the idea was already in my head to get ownership of the Starscream somehow anyways, still I was shocked.
"Doesn't sound like such a bad idea. Captain, huh?" I repeated the Captain moniker in my head. "I like how that sounds. By the way, you're in my seat," I said clearing my throat as I went to sit down, trying to nudge Burmar out of the way.
"Everything checking out?" I asked, taking another sip and trying to sound captainly.
"Looks good. Supplies packed, data has already been uploaded, and crew is aboard and set. Just need to do a final check. You slept through all the noise."
"Terrible. About our teams? Did you get Yaminul?" I asked.
"He volunteered. He was eager to be on another mission with us. I picked out the other three last night after you went to sleep." He emphasized. "They all can understand you, so that should help. Actually, I better check on a few things before we go."
Burmar stood and walked out of the cockpit. I hollered at him as he walked away.
"You just love bringing up my sleep habits don't you?"
Burmar waved of his hand in the air flippantly. I ignored him and finished my breakfast.
I watched Burmar walk across the landing bay while shouting orders at an unfortunate private. I sat there for a few moments enjoying my hot drink and munching on my food. My mind drifted to my parents. I started thinking about seeing them in the bacta tank again, but I shook my head to fling the thoughts away. It was no time to be in poor spirits. I saw Burmar walk back to the ship after speaking to Desco just outside of his office. He retook his place in the co-pilot's chair next to me.
"What did Desco have to say?" I asked. Burmar ignored my question.
"The crew is all here, L7 is here. Looks like we are ready," Burmar said, looking back over his shoulder and making a quick inventory.
The radio came on, and it was Desco from his office.
"Command to Starscream." Burmar flipped the switch to the intercom. "Starscream here," I responded.
"Just wanted to give you guys a final good luck."
"We'll see you soon, I hope."
"You'll be fine. Just find those prisoners, and try not to get yourselves killed."
"We will, err I mean we won't." I stumbled.
"Starscream out," interrupted Burmar, and then switched the radio's band to contact the control tower. He then looked at me for what to do next.
Hiding my smile of joy from Burmar, I nodded to him for the go ahead.
"This is Starscream, ready to disembark," Burmar said.
The tower operator responded.
"Control to Starscream, you are clear for launch. Good luck."
"All yours, Echobe," he said after shutting the radio off.
I took the controls, and ignited the thrusters. The ship shuddered from the unleashed power of the quad engines. I backed the ship up and out of the landing bay, spun the Starscream around to face the yawning open space, that was being held back only by a force field, flinging everyone's heads on their necks like bobble-head dolls by spinning too quickly. I received ugly looks for that. I allowed the Starscream to drift several hundred yards after we passed through the hangar's energy barrier and away from the base under impulse power before kicking the thrusters into full throttle, then off we went. A few moments later the nav-computer signaled the proper coordinates with a melodic beep and then I put us into hyperspace for Corellia.
We were in hyperspace for about twelve hours traveling to the other side of the galaxy from the outer rim near the unknown regions. I remained in the cockpit while the others were asleep, or playing some odd card game, or cleaning their rifle. I instead spent my time looking through the cataloged wildlife, the fauna and flora of Corellia and Tatooine. I was mystified at what I saw. The creatures I read about seemed like farcical creations from a dream. Much to my delight, though, they were quite real. I started to feel guilty for letting my passion for such things be forgotten. Much had happened in the short time since I left Kashyyyk that there seemed no time for anything else. My mind started to review all that had happened since the bombing raid that night on my home world, but I pulled myself from it again. I was tired of seeing death.
So I instead escaped into a world of life, if only through a computer screen. I was fascinated, and hoped for the opportunity to interact with some of the animals I read about. I dozed off in the cockpit hours later, and woke to Burmar shaking me yet again. He had a hot drink in his hand. The steam waved and curled from the cup, riding the breeze generated by the life-support system. I gladly accepted the drink. Burmar called it hot chocolate. I couldn't get enough of it. I shut the computer off and watched the hyperspace tunnel roll and fold about the ship like a tornado painted in hues of blue and white.
"At least we still have the element of surprise," Burmar said in passing while watching the hyperspace tunnel.
"You know anything else about my parents that you haven't mentioned?" I asked after a long silence, hoping for a different memory of them than the final one I was given by the Imperials.
"I'm sorry, Echobe. I don't. We were a bit of rivals, often in disagreement in our voting and policy, I told you. I never got the chance, nor had the desire to know them."
Burmar paused for several moments, sighed and added, "A mistake." He took another sip as if to use the warmth to ward off the cold he felt inside.
"I regret it, Echobe. Had I believed the dissenters, or had any idea things were destined to spiral out of control as they did I would have done things so much differently."
He then looked at me searching for my eyes, looking for some measure of forgiveness.
"Would you have, really?" I asked of the old Senator, trying to hide my bitterness. Burmar looked at his drink instead of my eyes and cradled the cup, sensing my desire to take some of my frustrations out on someone who was, even in his own small way, partly responsible for what had happened.
"I'd like to think I would, Echobe." Burmar then went silent, and it remained that way the remained of our trip.
**********
I brought the Starscream out of hyperspace as we approached Corellia space. The planet rushed up towards us as we exited the tunnel and reverted to normal space and a slower speed. The planet was painted by purple and blue rolling, cloud-filled, skies. Water covered at least half of its surface, but there were huge tracks of land like splatters of mud on a milky-blue ball. There were a few large cities, but no oppressive presence of the Empire there, in fact scant compared to Coruscant. There was no blockade, no multitudes of Imperial vessels, only a small Imperial station hovering a safe distance from the planet. A lookout post if anything. Immediately upon entering Corellian space, an Imperial greeted us over the radio.
"This is Imperial Station Corellia. State your ship designation and business."
Burmar leaned into the radio.
"Landspeeder purchase, ship Starscream," and then he shut off the radio.
"I wouldn't be too worried about this planet. Corellia is not aligned with the Empire, but they do have a small presence here. Let's just hope this ship hasn't been identified on the holo-net as stolen.
"A lot of hope and amazing luck of circumstance is about all that has kept us alive so far, right?" I said, irritated.
We only waited a few moments, and then the Imperial responded.
"Clearance accepted, you're landing bay is 102, Kor Vella."
"Perfect." Burmar nodded in satisfaction as if he knew everything was going to be all right.
"These guys aren't very good with security are they?" I mused.
"With an organization as large as the Empire, it's hard to plug up all of the holes. It's a vital weakness for them, and usually our only opportunity."
We entered the atmosphere of Corellia. The flames of reentry licked at the hull, and slowly died down as we descended and broke from the thick clouds that reformed back into place behind us like the planet's gatekeeper. We went straight into the landing bay 102 in Kor Vella, which was just north of our objective, as luck would have it.
"Ok, Echobe. You're gonna have to do some acting while we're here. You know how it is for Wookiees, and we can't afford to take any chances of running into some Imps." Burmar said, put his hand on my shoulder, and set a pair of binders on the dash before me as I was powered the ship down. I waved him off with my hand. I knew what he meant, and I knew it was our, and my only choice. Otherwise I had to wait in the ship, which would have driven me nuts.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Be the good little slave, I get it." I stood up, pulled my hood over my head, and made sure my blaster and sword were covered. I looked at the binders sitting on the dashboard before me and snatched them up angrily. The bite of the cold metal was all the more painful knowing there were slaves languishing somewhere still. It was even more painful getting my fur caught in the hinge. I used that to temper my determination and to keep me nice and irritable incase we got into a fight. The other four Rebels checked their gear and their civilian clothing to look as casual as possible.
"Ok, the name of the Imperial officer we need to locate is a Jimers Anthalsan. According to the memo he is stationed about forty miles south of here."
Burmar paused for a moment reading the face of everyone.
"They must want some kind of deniability in this whole thing. I wouldn't imagine the people reacting to news of this and the Empires' direct involvement with glee, but we can't discount the possibility of a trap either. Especially considering the ghoulish and bizarre nature of these experimentations, but we have no choice. We either make the attempt to save these people, or we leave them to languish in an Imperial, laboratory hellhole."
"Sir?" Asked the familiar face of Yaminul. He was a human with blonde hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, and an implacable accent.
"Yaminul?" asked Burmar.
"After the destruction of Alderaan, why would the Empire fear to be found involved?" asked Yaminul.
"Secrecy. Believe it or not, there are Alliance sympathizers everywhere. However, most of them are just too afraid, but some only need that extra push in our direction. That's the best explanation I can come up with."
We all nodded in agreement with Burmar, but we knew that was just one of the many possibilities concerning the sinister operation the Empire was engaged in.
Burmar continued.
"We capture this Imp and get the hell off planet, simple right? Depending on how much attention we attract, we'll make a split decision on whether or not to return to base to drop him off, or proceed to the next objective. We have been ordered to not make direct contact with base, so in affect, we're on our own. Everyone clear?"
Burmar looked to each one of us, who nodded, or casually saluted in return. Burmar looked at me last with a serious frown and nodded. I knew what he was saying as if telepathically. I handed Burmar the key to the binders. He smiled at me and pocketed the key. Yaminul took point and lowered the platform of the ship. We all filed out, but the R2 stayed behind, plugged into the computer, keeping the ship locked and secure and monitoring the Imperial traffic around Corellia ready to communicate anything back to us.
The lounge of the starport was quiet. There were a few humans standing and sitting about waiting for their transport, and a single R4 droid rolled along to some unknown destination, no Imperials. We walked out of the port and an automated recording welcomed us to Kor Vella as we passed the doors and out into the open city. The city however was the opposite. It was very busy with people, mostly human, walking about on their daily business. Kor Vella was made up mostly of somewhat small, but brightly lit buildings that reached into the sky, but nothing nearly resembling the towering structures on Coruscant. There were more trees, less traffic, and smaller buildings, and even less Imperials. There were a few Stormtrooper patrols, but like nothing I was expecting or used to.
The sunlight turned the early morning sky a purplish red. A storm was brewing on the far horizon, ironically enough, to the south. The clouds as well were very different compared to what I was used to. They looked like a hurricane in the high atmosphere, swirling, and wrapping around each other, and giving off the distinct purple glow that colored the planet. There was plenty of greenery as the city was surrounded by tall grass and brush, and there was a forest surrounding the city on the near horizon. I was fascinated and anxious to see what creatures lived there, but Burmar brought me out of my daydream.
Burmar leaned in and whispered to us all.
"We have to get some transportation. Echobe and I will get a land speeder, the rest of you keep an eye out for Imperial activity, anything out of the ordinary. We meet back here."
Burmar and I walked across the open yard of the city looking for a landspeeder merchant. No one seemed to pay much attention to us. It seemed like mostly farmers, and small businessmen. Lots of tourists and citizens were out and about. We ended up finding a small dealership and bought a used landspeeder, a rather cheap and ailing thing that seemed to lack necessary maintenance, covered in faded blue paint, but with a cozy interior. We gathered everyone else up and made our way across the rolling hills of Corellia south towards the storm. Burmar drove, and I sat in the passenger seat with my knees knocking on the dashboard. The rest sat in the back and were far more comfortable than I.
After we had gotten a few miles from the city Burmar handed me the key to the binders that I happily removed and threw them onto the floorboard.
"How do you plan on getting us inside this place without L7? And won't they wonder what we're doing way the hell out there checking out the place?" I asked as I looked up from the wheat-covered ground I had been idly watching a few minutes. Bugs flew out from their resting place and into our wake of dust.
"We'll have to figure out something. Maybe we'll get lucky. Yaminul can slice reasonably well." Burmar said, shrugging as if he had just thought of it.
"Not very confidence inspiring, Burmar." I went back to watching my surroundings and basking in the energy all around me.
**********
We arrived at the outpost after a short and uneventful trip, uneventful for everyone but me. I couldn't believe how alive I felt on Corellia, away from the city, away from a cold, metal space station in space. There was life everywhere and I could feel it.
We stopped on a tree-covered hill a few miles from where the Imperial Jimers Anthalsan's post was supposed to be. When we looked through the long-range viewfinders, what we found was a small, square, and wholly unimpressive, gray building, forty miles south of Kor Vella just as the memo indicated. The small building had a communications array protruding from the top like antennae, and a solitary door in front. Burmar sent the others to scout around the perimeter. When they returned they found no motion sensors, no cameras, and no apparent security. They deduced that the whole of the outpost was underground considering the communications array atop such a small building, and that we had no choice but to go ahead with our plans. At the very least I figured, we would stir the nest, and perhaps something would lead us from there.
We decided to wait the through night to observe. We made no campfire, keeping our weapons at the ready as we watched the outpost. Ultimately, after hours of watching and waiting for something to happen, we made camp just inside the trees. By the time the morning sun was about ready to break on the horizon, it was my turn to watch the building when I felt a grouping of life near us. I readied my blaster. Everyone stirred from their light sleep by the sound coming closer. They grabbed their weapons and took aim at the same area as I when something came bursting from the brush. It was an ikopi. A hoofed and horned, herbivorous creature native to Corellia. That's when I got my idea.
I told the others I would be back soon, and I followed the ikopi a little ways into the woods to his herd. I returned to the camp a little while later with a small herd of about twenty ikopi in tow, enthralled. Everyone stood there looking at me, opened mouthed and unbelieving of my ability to control the creatures. I explained my plan, which we quickly put to use.
With a simple wave of my hand in the direction I wanted them to go, and using that strange language inside my mind, they did as I asked. We crawled through the brush among them as I directed them to the door. That, and with the darkness of night, we made it to the door seemingly unnoticed. Yaminul went to work immediately on the door, but compared to L7, whom I desperately wished was with us at that moment, Yaminul took forever, but did finally slice the door open. I scared the ikopi out of harm's way, and we prepared ourselves for blaster fire that never came.
We all rushed in and took up positions on the inside of the outpost that immediately turned into a narrow flight of stairs heading deep into the ground as suspected. When we finally reached the bottom there was another door that opened without needing to be sliced. The door slid open, changing the air pressure inside, forcing a thick layer of dust to rush towards us. It was like a grave. The room was small, and before a small chair was a wall of computer terminals. We scoured the room. The equipment had been disabled and wiped clean of any data, and even the chair looked like it hadn't been used in years.
The thoughts of a trap rang like an alarm in our minds. We backed out, up the stairs, and exited the gray, now ominous, looking outpost with our weapons drawn, jerking at any slight noise. We got back into the landspeeder and cautiously, but quickly, drove back to the city keeping at eye out for an ambush at any moment, gripping our weapons in white-knuckled anticipation the entire time. None of us said what we were all thinking.
Nothing happened on our way back. No Imperial patrols stopped us, nothing. It had us all on edge. We entered the city and went to the bay where we hoped the ship still waited. We all felt as if we were to be set upon at any moment by Stormtroopers. When we entered hangar the Starscream sat where we had left it, apparently unmolested. The R2 lowered the platform when Burmar contacted him, and with weapons drawn we parked the landspeeder inside and still nothing. We wasted no more time with caution. I went straight to the cockpit and brought the ship online, ignited the thrusters, and blasted us off and away from Corellia unimpeded. We transmitted our security clearance to the Imperial guard, and went into hyperspace. We set course back for the base. Shared palpable worry made for a tense, silent trip.
**********
It was not until evening - going by Alliance Time - when we got close to our destination, Desco's space station. Burmar was in the cockpit with me, sitting in the co-pilot's chair, the rest of the crew was in the lounge talking quietly amongst each other in an attempt to deflect their fears. We kept radio silence for fear of giving away any location. We spent the last several hours trying to come up with conclusions as to what had gone wrong, trying to keep ourselves calm, trying to convince ourselves that maybe it was just a fluke, or the intel was bad, or something other than the horrible possibility we dared not speak. I began to feel strange the closer we approached, and couldn't understand what my feelings were trying to tell me.