Location: Ertegas
Date: 5 ABY
Time: Late Afternoon
The sun was hanging low over the golden plains of Ertegas, its light casting long shadows across the fertile lands now reclaimed by the people. The once-stable hierarchy of the planet had been overturned, the wealthy elites driven off-world by Hammer's revolution. Land redistribution was well underway, with sprawling farms parceled out to families with multiple children.
Hammer leaned back in his speeder as it zipped along a dirt road, surrounded by half a dozen revolutionaries in identical transports. Dust kicked up behind their convoy, billowing into the crisp evening air. The hum of engines provided a monotonous backdrop to their conversation.
"You've seen the terraforming the Vong have been doing up northeast?" asked Jaze, a wiry man in his thirties, sitting in the speeder beside Hammer.
Hammer nodded, his hand resting on the blaster holstered at his hip. "Didn't have much choice, did we? Apparently it is to grow materials for their fleet"
"Looks unnatural," Jaze replied, scanning the horizon. "You see those farms? I'm suprised families are willing to work on that land."
Hammer nodded, but his face remained unreadable. "Well we didn't do land redistribution alone," he said, voice low. "The Vong... they made it possible."
Jaze's mouth tightened. He didn't reply.
Ahead, the road curved toward a mountain range that loomed in the distance. The convoy slowed, and Hammer glanced around, feeling an unease he couldn't explain.
"Hold up," Hammer called out, raising a hand. The convoy ground to a halt, and the revolutionaries scanned the horizon.
Then it happened.
The first explosion lit up the sky above the mountains, a brilliant flash that turned day to night for a split second. The shockwave came next, a deafening roar that rattled their speeders. Hammer gripped the edge of his vehicle as it trembled under the force.
"What the kriff—?" Jaze yelled, but his words were lost in the cacophony.
More explosions followed, this time striking the valley below. The ground heaved like a beast waking from slumber. A dark plume of smoke rose from the fields, blotting out the setting sun. Fires spread rapidly, consuming crops and farmhouses alike.
Hammer shouted orders, but chaos drowned him out. His speeder lurched forward as debris rained down from the skies. A distant rumble signaled the start of an avalanche, and the mountains vomited a torrent of rock and snow onto the fertile lands below.
"It's the Republic!" someone screamed.
"Stay together!" Hammer bellowed, his voice hoarse.
The ground buckled beneath them as the convoy sped away from the valley. Smoke filled the air, acrid and choking. Hammer's knuckles turned white as he gripped the controls. All around him, the revolutionaries struggled to keep their speeders upright.
By the time they escaped the valley, the destruction was absolute. The golden plains were unrecognizable, buried under smoldering rubble and dirt. Fires crackled in the distance, casting eerie shadows over the devastation.
XX
That evening...
Hammer stood amid the wreckage, his boots sinking into the scorched earth. His eyes scanned the scene, taking in the carnage. Corpses littered the ground—some charred beyond recognition, others mangled by debris. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, and it was all Hammer could do to keep from gagging.
Jaze approached, his face pale. "Hammer, we found families under the rubble... they didn't make it."
Hammer clenched his fists. "Keep looking. There have to be survivors."
Nearby, a speeder rolled up, and out stepped Nom Anor, the Vong agent who had been instrumental in the revolution's success. His tall, imposing figure was silhouetted by the firelight.
"Mr. Anor," Hammer called out, walking to meet him.
Nom Anor's expression was unreadable as he surveyed the destruction. "Hammer," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "My deepest condolences..."
Anor continued, "Our fleet above the planet was obliterated. We've lost every ship, many warriors. The valley farms were struck deliberately. This... this was no accident."
Jaze's jaw tightened. "The Republic."
"It's worse than that," Hammer said. "This reeks of deliberate cruelty—Empire-level brutality."
Nom Anor let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in the night. "And they call us the savages."
Hammer gestured toward the revolutionaries. "I've ordered your surviving warriors to assist our people in searching for survivors. But I fear there will be few to find."
Nom Anor nodded, his throat tightening as he looked out over the valley.
Hammer and his men began to walk among the ruins, their footsteps crunching over broken glass and charred debris. The sight of a child's skeletal remains stopped him in his tracks. Tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
"This is on us," Jaze muttered, breaking the silence.
Hammer turned to him, his voice firm. "No. This is on them. The Republic did this."
Jaze hesitated, then nodded. "What now?"
Hammer gestured toward the horizon. "Find the Senator's father."
"If he survived...He'll have a way to contact her. She needs to know what they've done."
Jaze nodded and disappeared into the darkness.
XX
Later that night...
Hammer returned to the heart of the valley, where Nom Anor waited. The fires had died down, leaving the landscape shrouded in smoke and ash. The revolutionaries had gathered what few survivors they could find—mostly children and parents who had been sheltered in the chaos.
Anor's expression was grim as Hammer approached. "This is only the beginning," he said.
Hammer frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The New Republic wants control of this sector," Anor explained. "They'll paint you as terrorists and use this attack to slow down our invasion. We must prepare."
Hammer's gaze hardened. "Then we'll defend. This is our land. We won't give it up."
Anor placed a hand on Hammer's shoulder, his grip firm. "The Vong will stand with you. But you must understand—this is no ordinary enemy. They fight with technology we cannot comprehend. Their hyperspace attacks are a taste of what's to come."
Hammer nodded, his resolve unshaken. "I see."
As the night deepened, Hammer stood in the center of the ruined valley, his revolutionaries gathered around him. The cost of freedom had never been clearer, but neither had his determination.
XX
The horizon was a deep black, speckled with faint stars. Eldren Barani squinted as he guided his speeder along the dirt road. The engine hummed softly beneath him, barely masking the rhythmic buzz of insects from the surrounding fields. The smell of singed crops and smoke lingered faintly in the air, even here, where his farm had been spared.
Eldren was exhausted, his body aching from a long day of hauling supplies and offering aid to nearby families who weren't as lucky. His muscles protested every movement, but he pressed on. The road dipped, and his headlights illuminated the familiar contours of his small valley—a pocket of green nestled between two hills. His house, a modest whitewashed cottage, came into view. The single lamp on the veranda cast a warm glow, a beacon of normalcy in an otherwise shattered world.
As Eldren drew closer, the figures on his porch became clear. Hammer, Jaze, and two other revolutionaries sat at the table, their silhouettes sharp against the lamplight. Hammer was motionless, his eyes closed as if in deep thought or perhaps prayer.
Eldren pulled the speeder to a halt and climbed out. His boots crunched against the gravel as he approached the veranda. "Hammer?" he called softly. "A surprise to be sure."
Hammer's eyes opened slowly. He extended a hand, his expression a mix of weariness and resolve. "Mr. Barani," Hammer greeted, his voice calm but firm. "I assume you know why we're here."
Eldren nodded, though uncertainty flickered in his eyes. "Yes… yes… I've spent the day doing what I could for the nearby communities. I'm saddened such tactics were used."
Hammer leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "We're grateful for what you've done. But we need another favor."
Eldren stiffened, a flicker of paranoia crossing his face. "A favor? I hope you're not here to take me hostage for the Republic's actions."
Hammer held up a hand, his voice steady. "No need for such harsh conclusions. While you've stayed neutral during this conflict, I've respected that. Your age, your connection to your farm… and to your daughter, Senator Lena Barani."
The mention of his daughter made Eldren pause.
Hammer continued, "You've benefited from the revolution—land, resources, tools to grow your farm. All we ask is for your help in informing the galaxy of what happened here tonight."
Eldren's silence was heavy. His gaze flickered between the men before him.
Hammer tilted his head toward Jaze.
Jaze cleared his throat, his tone softer than his leader's. "Eldren, we believe you have a way to contact Lena. We need her to see what's been done here. To know what the Republic did to us."
Hammer cut in, his voice laced with anger. "Fathers, mothers, children—killed. Burned alive, crushed under rubble, buried in avalanches. What we saw tonight was nothing short of a war crime."
Jaze leaned forward, his voice steady but urgent. "Your daughter has influence. Maybe not with the whole Senate, but enough to stir up questions. To make sure the galaxy hears about this."
Eldren rubbed his temples, his exhaustion catching up to him. "And what makes you think the Republic will listen to her? To any of us?"
Hammer's expression hardened. "The Republic claims to stand for freedom. Let them try to justify this slaughter. Let them see the faces of the children they orphaned."
The old farmer sighed, his shoulders slumping. He wasn't a revolutionary, but he wasn't blind to the pain around him. And though his daughter and he hadn't spoken much since she left for politics, he knew Lena wouldn't ignore something like this.
"Very well," Eldren said at last. "I'll reach out to Lena. I'm old, tired… but maybe she can make them see."
Hammer nodded. "Good. I'll send you the images and footage—explicit, but necessary. The galaxy needs to see what the Republic is capable of."
Eldren's face was grim as he nodded again, already dreading the message he would have to deliver to his daughter.
XX
Late Morning, Two Days After the Attack...
The sun hung low in the sky, filtered through a hazy atmosphere heavy with the lingering scars of the hyperspace attack. Dust motes caught the morning light, giving the ruined farmlands a strange, golden glow that contrasted cruelly with the devastation below. Hammer wiped a gloved hand across his forehead, smearing dirt over his skin. He stood near a makeshift command center—a series of crates arranged under a torn canopy—surveying the scene.
Behind him, revolutionaries worked tirelessly, clearing rubble and hauling wounded survivors to the nearby triage station. Every so often, cries of relief or anguish broke the silence as another person was pulled from the wreckage. Despite the tragedy, their resolve was unwavering.
Nom Anor approached quietly, his steps purposeful but unhurried. His dark robes flowed lightly in the breeze, and his face bore that unsettling, unreadable calm that always left Hammer unsure of his intentions.
"Ah, Hammer," Anor said smoothly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as if they were meeting at a social gathering rather than a disaster zone. "The supply ships from my people have arrived. I trust the food and medical care are proving useful to Ertegas."
Hammer glanced at him, his expression neutral. "They are. Thank you for that."
Nom Anor inclined his head. "And now, as promised, I bring you numbers. I thought you'd like an update."
Hammer leaned against a nearby crate, crossing his arms. "Go on."
Anor clasped his hands behind his back, looking almost solemn. "General Pryde and his remnants estimate 300,000 deaths. An additional 400,000 casualties when you factor in missing persons, hospitalizations, and the remains found thus far. All from your total population of 2.6 million."
Hammer closed his eyes briefly, the weight of the numbers settling on him like a stone. When he spoke, his voice was quieter. "Fertile land?"
Nom Anor nodded as if expecting the question. "Twenty-five to thirty percent affected. Fields rendered useless, irrigation systems destroyed, and crops burned beyond saving."
Hammer let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "Where is Pryde now?"
"Above the planet's surface," Anor replied. "His fleet is maintaining a defensive perimeter alongside my people's cruisers."
Hammer gave a terse nod. "That's something, at least."
Anor hesitated for a moment before continuing, his tone becoming more measured. "My superiors have another offer for you."
Hammer's eyes narrowed. "What kind of offer?"
"Terraforming," Anor said simply, a faint smile curling at the edge of his lips. "We can restore the fertile land you've lost. Rebuild the fields, renew the soil. But in exchange, we would ask that a portion of the new land be used to grow materials for our military."
Hammer stared at him, weighing the proposition. The idea of accepting help from the Yuuzhan Vong—especially for military gain—didn't sit well with him. But what choice did he have? His people were starving.
"Fine," Hammer said finally, his voice low. "But we need to balance it. Enough land to feed our people first. Your crops come second."
Anor's smile widened, his sharp teeth barely visible. "Of course. Your needs take priority. We wish to ensure the strength of our alliance."
"Anything else?" Hammer asked, crossing his arms again.
Anor stepped closer, his tone shifting to something almost conspiratorial. "Yes, one more thing. My superiors also suggest you extend your leadership beyond Ertegas. There are other systems under our protection—systems like yours, newly freed from corporate exploitation. They need guidance, training, support to transition into economic independence."
Hammer's brows furrowed. "I'm not leaving Ertegas. My people need me here."
Anor raised a hand as if to placate him. "Of course, of course. I would never suggest otherwise at this time. But once your people are stabilized, perhaps you could consider the larger picture. These allies could prove invaluable."
Hammer looked down, his jaw tightening. He didn't respond immediately, the weight of the proposal pressing against his already burdened mind.
"Think about it," Anor said, clapping a hand lightly on Hammer's shoulder. "When the time comes, they'll need someone with your experience. For now, focus on your people. I will see to the supply distribution."
Without waiting for a reply, Anor turned and strode away, his dark robes trailing behind him like a shadow. Hammer watched him go, then shifted his gaze to the horizon again.
The world around him was broken, but there was still life here—people willing to fight, to rebuild. The revolution hadn't been for nothing, but the road ahead was longer and darker than he had anticipated.
For now, though, there was work to do.