Chapter Fourteen:
The Ravaging of Burnin-Konn
There was a time when the city of Burnin-Konn was peaceful.
Now, that peace had been shattered, overtaken by chaos. Thunderstorms raged high across the sky, and lightning exploded violently as Imperial satellites fired their collective rays upon the atmosphere above. Way below, people were fighting for survival against the chaotic onslaught of Operation Cinder.
AT-AT Walkers marched through the districts, opening fire on anyone deemed traitorous by the Empire as commanded by Palpatine's posthumous directive. TIE Bombers swooped in, dropping their payload of bombs upon Burnin-Kon, and decimating the surface.
In the chaos, lives were snuffed out.
Stormtroopers were in action, their blasters finely polished, as they shot at Burnin-Konn security along with other Imperials despite their loyalty. A TIE fighter streaked overhead, and fired on a tower complex, causing it to topple in seconds, and several refugees were smashed beneath it.
Imperial tanks rolled onto an avenue, and an explosive roar shook the street as the cannons opened fire on a pair of towers, causing them to crash to the ground. People huddled together in a seemingly safe space, hoping they would live, even as rubble rained down around them.
A Star Destroyer emerged from the clouds above, and it's cannons began firing on the cities. Burnin-Konn was crumbling, and no one seemed to be coming to help, not even the Rebel Alliance.
Lieutenant Megs Mayfield, an auburn-haired man with a trimmed beard, watched the chaos from afar, watching as civilians were hurt, and as loyal Imperials were killed by their own allies.
One building fell on a pair of Stormtroopers, brought down by TIE Fighters. A pair of AT-ATs attacked each other, with two of the walkers crashing into one another.
While Operation Cinder was an Imperial operation against rebellious worlds, it ended up leading to loyal systems and loyal Imperials coming under attack as well. Mayfield observed the carnage, then he lowered his viewing lenses with shaking hands.
Until today, he'd been loyal to the Empire, and he'd followed orders. Now, he began to question if it was worth it now. The shaken Imperial stepped back, watching the ongoing slaughter, watching as Burnin-Kon was wiped away.
"Long live the Empire." He heard an officer declare.
No more.
Mayfield ran, deserting his post. He found a ship, and, without reporting to any on-duty Imperials, he took off, and flew away from the chaos. It was time for a new life. Far behind the fleeing lieutenant, the plaza of Burnin-Konn was ripped apart by Imperial fire, and the Empire's banners ignited in flames as they fell from the crumbling buildings.
A statue dedicated to Palpatine crumbled, its base obliterated by the explosions from the laser fire, and the head exploded moments later when it hit the ground, as an AT-AT's foot smashed whatever was left of the statue's neck.
Burnin-Konn was burning. And people everywhere were dying...