Episode 09: Whom dogs destroy
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away:
"Reading about a hundred and twenty thousand human lifeforms," the Saurian announced. "Close to half of those concentrated in one city on the island off the coast of the northern continent, the rest are scattered a bit on the island. Nothing presently in orbit, but there are some ships on the ground, including the three-winged shuttle type we saw in the hangar of the
Judgment. We have found our first Imperial world."
"Interesting, Mr. Hoq. Let's make a few orbits before announcing our presence. It's taken us days to find them, and I'd like to get to know them a little better."
Bridge of the Judgment:
"Sir, it would take us ten days to reach Dantooine." The lieutenant had a somewhat plaintive note in his voice. "I do not feel, sir, that it is appropriate for us to abandon the anomaly in order to chase after a stray shuttle, especially with a damaged ship."
"And the longer we wait before starting our pursuit, the more time they will have on the other hand. Your objections are noted and registered."
Junior Commander Elan Daro (promoted just last month and quite proud of it) had determined for himself that he needed to be bold and decisive in his command. With Captain Zhet and Commander Garnik incapacitated and the next most senior of the lieutenants commander dead, it was up to him to take decisive initiative.
Who knew how long it would be until they regained consciousness? The lieutenant saluted and turned sharply on his heel, his face an expressionless mask. Despite the crisp gesture, Daro felt vaguely insulted. A bit of white caught his eye, and an inquiring "Sir?"
A stormtrooper, leading a manacled Farghul. He wondered briefly if it was the same stormtrooper he had dismissed earlier.
"Ah! One of the so-called 'extragalactics.' Rebel Farghul, you should know we've found out where your operation is really based. Dantooine. You're Rebels, not extragalactics." Elan Daro took the confusion in her eyes for terror. "Whatever your plan was, it's ruined now."
The stormtrooper cleared his throat. Elan pointedly ignored him, staring down at the prisoner, enjoying her obvious discomfort. He pulled the bit of gold jewelry off her chest. "I think I'll have that for a souvenir," he said, then gave her a punch to the gut.
It felt good, like he was in control of things. "Take her back down to the brig, soldier."
"Sir, there's something I-"
It must be the same stormtrooper. He sounded similar. Elan's thin veneer of patience vanished. "Brig. Now. Off with you."
The stormtrooper turned and walked out with the prisoner.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, orbiting the planet Miktoraan:
Commander Shovas pulled up the planet on his display. "I read eighty million humanoid life signs on the northern continent. Not human, not anything in our database. Typically 1.4-1.7 meters in height and forty to sixty kilos, males and females about the same size."
An image of a lanky humanoid with four spider-thin arms popped up on the screen. He was clad in flowing robes, gesturing animatedly as he gave a speech. Shovas touched a button on his console and the view zoomed out, showing the alien to be giving a speech in an amphitheater. A pair of bodyguards stood impassively behind him, glittering bronze spears and breastplates polished to a bright shine. One had a blaster pistol in a holster opposite his sword; the other had a blaster carbine slung across his back.
"There's a whole pre-industrial civilization on the northern continent. Mostly bronze age, though there are a scattering of technological artifacts, such as personal energy weapons. The southern continent appears to be mostly uninhabited. We can conclude that the Empire doesn't believe in the prime directive; not only are there scattered technological artifacts in the native population, but they employ the natives as laborers in some of the outlying agricultural areas."
Mr. Hoq nodded, and shared what he had learned. "I've determined that the herds are comprised of non-native creatures called 'nerfs.' That and local gem-mining operations appear to be the Imperials' main economic concern. Of particular interest is that the Imperial presence is not only human. There are close to two hundred different species represented in the capital city, mainly concentrated around the spaceport. The communications I have been able to monitor haven't included any mention of us - not our shuttle, not our persons, and nothing about the
Cheron. Either the
Judgment hasn't been able to report back in to their superiors, or the Imperial military is keeping a close lid on the news."
Commander Shovas shrugged. "Can you get into their information systems directly?"
Mr. Hoq hesitated. "I could try, but that would probably reveal our presence."
"Better to stay anonymous. And those ships won't stay grounded forever. We need to investigate in person." The Andorian frowned. "I need to investigate. You should stay with the shuttle."
Bridge of the IKS Yoj
"There's been an open Federation broadcast coming from their ship for the last two hours." The second officer was rubbing his hands gleefully. "Apparently they have a Federation prisoner. She just made it to the command bridge."
"Put it on," Captain Klarg said, as Elan Daro began his gloating. He nodded to himself. "See if you can't pick out information on where they're going from the bridge chatter."
"Yes, Captain." Snippets of audio began to play. After a while of this, the second office shrugged. "No good, sir, without knowing more about their navigational systems or even drive system. They're planning to head off in about fifteen minutes, but I'm not sure they're using a proper warp drive. We may have trouble tracking them."
"I see." Captain Klarg stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I also believe I understand this Elan Daro. Tactical, I want magnetic clamps and helm control to my board. At the first sign of trouble, decloak and raise shields. I have an idea."
Exterior, Judgment:
The somewhat battered
Judgment turned slowly in space. Emergency repair crews were heading in. The ship was not fully repaired; but all breaches were sealed, temporary plating showing in bright spots in contrast to the scorch marks surrounding them.
A lone droid still wheeled on the dorsal surface of the ship a hundred meters forward from the bridge tower, welding away, the job not fully finished to its satisfaction.
Clang. The droid was knocked sideways and leaped off the ship, then lowered, slowly, back down to the hull, wheels spinning desperately.
Crunch. The droid squealed futilely into the silent vacuum of space as its round body was compressed between the hull and some invisible flat object, deforming, its lateral cross-section looking more like a wedge and less like a circle.
Then the droid was launched into space, victim to having been a round object squeezed too tightly between two not-quite-parallel flat surfaces, and the handful of fragments of it left behind on the hull flattened abruptly.
Clang.
Bridge of the IKS Yoj:
Clang! "Do you think they heard that?" the tactical officer asked furtively, his hand hoverng over his console.
The second officer looked back at him and shrugged, then spoke up loudly. "Clamps are secure, sir. Full contact."
"A perfect touch-down, if I say so myself." Captain Klarg beamed.
Miktoraan
The cantina was poorly lit but had a live band. The hooded figure paused for a moment, waiting for his eyes to adjust, then headed towards the end of the bar. A Trandoshan sitting at the bar turned, and then put an arm out, stopping the figure.
"We don't want any trouble, you understand?" As far as Gissk was concerned, a strange human trying to stay anonymous meant trouble. Possibly Imperial trouble. There was little enough on Miktoraan aside from the native Miktos and nerf-herders.
The hooded figure turned to the Trandoshan. Gissk peered into the hood, and was surprised to see blue skin and red eyes. And antennae. Not a human. Not a Twi'lek. Something unfamiliar to Gissk. The Trandoshan decided not to ask.
"No, we don't," Commander Shovas told the hulking reptilian alien, looking him in the eye.
Slar might fit in better, he thought to himself, surveying the bar. In spite of the fact that the Imperial vessel had been crewed entirely by humans, and in spite of the human lifesigns the computer had picked up from orbit, he didn't see any in this establishment. A wide variety of species were represented - some with fur, some with multiple arms, some with tentacled faces.
Gissk grunted and turned back towards the bar. The hooded figure didn't move on, instead tapping him on the shoulder.
"Say, maybe you could help me out."