Chapter Seventeen:
Assassination on Nevaro
TIE Fighters flew over the city, their engines roaring loudly enough to shake the windows and make the skins of many a Nevaro inhabitant crawl.
Stormtroopers marched around the districts, their blasters ready, their armor polished and clean. A few tanks rolled through the plaza, and people stood aside, quivering anxiously. Fear kept the population in line, fear of Imperial brutality, and the Nevaro sect of Imperial command knew that well.
Grand Moff Kn'noa stood upon the balcony of his headquarters, silently observing the population and his forces. His cape flapped in the wind, and his hands gripped the railing. A pair of Death Troopers stood at his side, sporting polished black armor that gleamed under the moonlight.
Only a week had passed since Empire Day, and Kn'noa had little concern about local insurgencies.
The citizens were closely monitored, and rebel activity in the region was low. Nevaro was under control, and the Moff had The Emperor's full favor. He hadn't seen Palpatine in the last few years, but Kn'noa was well-assured that he was highly valued in The Empire.
Halfway across the city, well-hidden from Imperial eyes, the Shadow was prepared to strike. Maul observed Kn'noa, smiling coldly, and the Zabrak had the operation planned to the letter.
Another one of Sidious' prized followers was about to be removed from the equation, with chaos about to follow.
A TIE Fighter rolled over, and the former Sith made sure he was invisible to the pilot, and the other pilots. A few Stormtroopers passed by, with the rogue Dathomirian making sure he wasn't seen, just as his agents had made sure they weren't easily caught. Maul kept his lightsaber close, prepared to bring it out when he had the chance.
Humming filled the air, and the Zabrak sensed a Probe Droid nearby. It was close to his hiding spot, but the chance of him being spotted was nil, especially with the power of the Force. Maul closed his eyes, and his fingers twitched.
Moments before the probe could approach the Zabrak's position, a pair of crates shot up, and smashed the unit, causing whatever was left of the droid to collapse in the streets below.
"What was that?" A stormtrooper inquired.
"Eh, some sort of malfunction." Another remarked, "We got plenty of more droids in good condition."
'Your foolishness makes for an ally.' Maul thought. He was ready to strike, and there would be no backing away. It was time for chaos to crush order, even for a slight moment.
The Zabrak pressed the com button on his wrist, and spoke in a cold, clear voice; "Kill the butcher."
His orders were clear, and his associates were well-trained, just as Maul had been.
Upon his very command, a Zabrak sniper in full militant armor with cybernetic enhancements emerged on the rooftops of a building that was a block away from the Moff's residence, aimed for Kn'noa's head, and squeezed the trigger with full-on intensity.
A loud burst of blaster fire resonated through the streets, alerting several Troopers, and Kn'noa toppled to the ground as a bolt struck his head. The Moff sank into darkness, and his guards scrambled.
At that moment, Clone Wars era bomb droids took to the streets, and a pair of them began to swarm the Moff's residence.
The droids took their positions near Stormtrooper posts and in various rooms. Some Imperials looked at them with confusion, and a handful of others ignored the suspicious activity unfolding in their midst.
Maul left the rooftop, and climbed onto a speeder bike in a nearby alley, then he drove away with his face well-covered by his hood. He smashed a few probes, ensuring that his identity wasn't exposed to Imperial command.
Maul departed the city, heading to his ship on the outskirts, just moments before chaos erupted in the streets. The bomb droids blinked, and then, they all detonated in their designated spots.
Debris flew, troopers scattered, and citizens screamed as some of them were caught in the blasts, with loved ones being torn asunder by death itself.
Surprised Imperials fired off several shots from their blasters, attempting to find more attackers. Plumes of smoke and dust covered the Nevaran districts, and another explosion shook the Imperial-occupied city as another bomb droid went off near a row of tanks, wiping them out.
In the midst of the chaos, Maul's agents revealed themselves, taking Imperial troops by surprise, and Crimson Dawn unleashed their brand of terror, slaughtering the Empire's men before retreating to parts unknown.
