Tough break with the dying computer man. Its like they know when you haven't backed up stuff in a long while and choose taht exact moment to blow up in your face.

Talking about bad timing, all I can say is where were you a few weeks ago during the fan fic comp eh?

Not got time to read all these right now, just skimmed over your introductions while enjoying my morning brew at work, look interesting though and will definitely give them a read later.

I tend to show up just after the real important events. It's my curse. There's two parts of the Snowtrooper story so you might want to read both before you read the rest.  I might edit my posts so they flow better (instead of having one part on page 1, and one part on page 2).

Thanks. Glad to see people taking the time to read them. I'll likely work on doing at the very least the last part of the trooper story as the ending scene was the best part.

Then we'll see from there.

I look forward to more work.

Talking about bad timing, all I can say is where were you a few weeks ago during the fan fic comp eh?

Not got time to read all these right now, just skimmed over your introductions while enjoying my morning brew at work, look interesting though and will definitely give them a read later.

Well, I found part II of the Stormtrooper story... unfortunately it's not the rest of it. I know I wrote the last bit somewhere... I just have no idea where it might be.

But anyway, here is part II at least. I'll try and compel myself to re-do the third part. This bit is rather short, so it's a small taste. I have no idea how error free it is, not having read it in years:

Throwing his body against the ice, Gavin brought himself to a stop. Taking a moment to gauge the situation they were in Gavin looked around the docking bay. Nearby, troopers were taking cover from the incoming blaster fire and explosions. Off to his right one of his squad mates was rushing over to him, trying to balance himself on the snow and icy patches.

Click. “The Rebels have set up a strong defensive point up ahead, and the Commander wants us to sweep around and try and find another way through.”, three other Snowtroopers had joined them, taking up a position behind Gavin. “There should be an access tunnel towards the rear of the hangar. It’s supposed to be sealed, so we’ll need to breach it.”

Gavin gave him a short nod, as he chanced a look over the large piece of ice he found as cover. Just forward of the furthest squad of troopers was a barricade with a number of Rebel troopers bunkered down behind it. They seemed to be using the transport containers as cover while firing back at the Stormtroopers in short bursts.

The trooper, who came to relay the message to Bakis, was also surveying the situation when the ice was broken up around them from an explosion. Gavin slipped backwards, falling behind a larger portion of the ice, his blaster crashing to the ground with him. Getting to his feet he reached out and grabbed the trooper who was leaning against the ice. Turning him, the trooper fell onto the ice, smoke pouring through an open hole in his helmet. Gavin removed the helmet to see that he was in fact dead realizing that the trooper was also one of the clones, not a replacement.

These clones had been phasing out of the Imperial Army for the past few years, and being replaced by loyal human soldiers. Most commands refused to supplement their forces with clones, looking down on them. The 501st however, was just the opposite. Under the direct influence of Lord Vader, the 501st had always only operated with clone troopers. With the recent loss of the Death Star and most of the Vader’s Fist, the Commanders of the 501st had to reach out and take in human replacements for the upcoming battle on Hoth.

Gavin had always looked down upon the clones. They were unnatural to him. But amidst the battle, carnage, and death, he couldn’t help but feel compassion for the “man” laying on the ground in front of him. Regardless of his origin, he was a soldier, just like him.

A blast behind him, brought Gavin back into the present. Gavin glanced over his shoulder as an AT-ST outside of the hangar fell onto its' side. A Snowspeeder screamed past the wreckage, with troopers chasing after it. Reaching down he retrieved his blaster, then motioned for the other troopers to follow him. Keeping low, he moved between pieces of cover, occasionally firing off a shot or two back towards the defenders. Ahead of him he could see the access tunnel that was partially hidden behind a large pile of wreckage.

I went looking everywhere for the rest of the story to my Trooper tale... I had thought maybe I had saved it on a USB driver (I have three). But, no... it's gone. I think I'll probably work on it, but I'm trying to do a few stories here (non Star Wars related).

One of my goals in the future was to write a Star Wars novel and have it published when I finally had the skills to create something good enough. I know my current skill level and previous skill is nothing short of mediocre. So, it would be something that would happen much further in the future.

But anyway, after re-reading it, I think I just might remake the last bit of my Trooper story even if it turns out differently.

MOAR!
MOAR!

I only found a few mistakes. I liked them a lot though.

Yeah I haven't looked at them for a LONG time. Most of the errors should have been cleared up, but they were posted on the other site so that people could review them and let me know of any problems.

I wish I hadn't lost my trooper part II... it really turned out WELL. It basically tied in parts of the movie like the broadcast, "Imperials troops have entered the base, Imperials troops have..." and the scene of the Falcon flying off with Vader entering. It was all included in my story with a much bigger twist.

I was devastated when my computer died... I lost everything I had at the time, stories, baby pictures, videos, everything. I've learned a lot since about storing my important documents elsewhere.

I only found a few mistakes. I liked them a lot though.

If this is the wrong place for the stories, just move them to another forum (I didn't see one fitting). I figured this would do as people had submitted their entries for the contest anyway.

Remember, don't be shy... make sure you let me know what you think of the story. If it's good, crap... whatever. I want to know. Enjoy guys.

CHAPTER 2

THE office was dark with only a single light that bounced off of the walls casting a light blue haze. In the center of the room was a large oval desk from where the light was emanating from. Above the desk was the floating image of a man. He was talking in a soft tone, and the holo seemed to fade in and out with every word he spoke. Behind the man were the faint outlines of a much larger room that had dozens of small objects sitting on shelving units.

“What do you have to report?”

“Well Senator, I can tell you that the test will be conducted today, and once I know the results, I will be in contact with you.”, the middle aged man replied to the flickering transmission. The senator in the holo leaned back into his chair, and nodded.

“Well I sure hope it’s a success Mr. Reece.”

A large smile caught the corners of Evvin Reece’s mouth, “I don’t think I’ve failed you yet Senator Organa. By the way, how are those new X-Wing’s?”

Senator Bail Organa nodded to the man and replied, “They’ve helped considerably, though there’s just not enough ships or pilots to wage a full scale conflict just yet. I still wont ask where you got them from”, a grin followed the comment.

“I’ll see what I can do about finding some more ships for you, the pilots I can’t do much about seeing as how my task force is short as it is. But I’ll keep in touch with you. I may have a friend at the Fresia yards that might have a few “extra” X-Wing’s I might be able to get a hold of.”

“Well, I would be extremely pleased if you could do that. I’ll be waiting to hear back from you about the test. Organa out.” The holo went bright, then faded away as the transmission was ended.

Evvin Reece pushed back into his plush chair and looked around his dark office. The walls were empty, and the room was completely void of furniture. He found that with the problems he was having with the Empire, it was always best to be packed and ready to move should the need come. Never get attached to one place for too long.

His mind began to wander back to the present when the door chime signaled a visitor. He tapped a panel on his desk and the lights returned to normal as the door slid open.

Stepping through the door was a slender man in his twenties, wearing a grey flightsuit with black stripes down either leg. Under the man’s left arm was a large pilots helmet that had its thermal visor pulled down. He took a few steps into the room and stopped in front of Evvin Reece at his desk.

“Sir, the communications center wanted me to inform you that the test is ready to proceed. I was just on my way to the hangar bay.” The man had a comfortable look about him. He carried himself with the confidence of a Rancor, but wasn’t too overbearing.

“Good. I take it that the re-fitting was to specifications?”, was the reply from Reece.

“I personally managed the operation with the direct supervision of the assigned science advisors. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility.”

“Well then Aron, if you’re ready to fly, I’ll head over to the comm center and observe from there. Good luck.” Evvin rose from his desk and shook the pilot’s hand, then started down the corridor as the test pilot continued on to the hangar bay.

For the past few months, Evvin Reece has been working with the Rebellion to supply them with ships, weapons, and ammunition. Under the cover identity of a representative from the Mandal Hypernautics Corporation, Reece has been able to make a small fortune in his dealings. While he has yet to officially “sign up” with the Rebellion, he might as well declare his affiliation soon. The “random pirate” attacks that the Empire has been the victim of recently in the sector will likely find it’s way back to him and his men sooner or later. After all, there’s only two ways of getting the materials he needs... buy them, or steal them. Either way, today’s test just about seals the deal.

The new missile he will be testing is designed specifically against the Empire’s Star Destroyers. Once the weapon is ready, he’ll be authorizing the shipping of a large number of them to the Rebellion. With these weapons in hand, the Empire wont stand much of chance.

He turned a corner passing by a small café, and stepped under a low archway that belonged to the communications center. He had more technology in this single room, than a single Mon Calamari cruiser, or Imperial Star Destroyer.

The technicians at their posts had turned to greet him as he entered, and his Chief Officer, Commander Dalen approached him with a datapad. “The fighter is launching as we speak with two missiles on board. The target is stationed here”, she tapped the screen and the viewpoint zoomed in. “He’ll be making his attack run in approximately three minutes. The console here will provide a technical readout of the outcome.” She leaned over a small black chair and keyed up one of the screens at the station. It displayed the target, and the fighter less than ten kilometers away. Below each were a series of numbers and graphical bars that changed in real time.

“Good, looks like everything is set.”, he paused for a minute while he contemplated what it is that he wanted to say. When he finally found the words, he spoke up loud enough for everyone to hear. “What we do here, could very well change the course of history. All of you have left your homes, your families, whatever you had... for this day. If this test is a success, you all know where that means we’ll end up. But, I would rather fight and die for what I know is right, than to live within a lie”, he looked around the room at all of faces focused on him. This new weapon has been in the works for the past four years, and today very well may mark the conclusion of many long hard hours. “Now, get back to work, and let’s make this happen.”

All of the men and women twisted back in their chairs, and started to finish their tasks. From where he could see, the lone fighter was making its final approach on the target. The pilot, Aron Duran was flying a highly modified Republic era “Aggressive Reconnaissance Starfighter” or ARC-170, that was part of the small fleet of ships owned by Evvin Reece and his “operation”. The ARC-170 is now a fighter on the outdated list established by the Empire, which only made purchasing them in bulk that much cheaper.

Unlike the original variation of the fighter, his were modified so that a single pilot could manage the flight stick, and fire the main forward laser cannons at the same time. The torpedo launcher had also been modified to accommodate other projectiles like the concussion missile, or today for instance, the new RA-7 Flux Missile.

The modifications to the fighters ensured that fewer pilots would be needed to complete a wide array of jobs ranging from defensive patrols, to all out offensive engagements. Everything that was no longer needed had been stripped out of them to help with maneuverability and added durability. Evvin went so far as to build over the co-pilot cockpits that sat behind the controller to give it a newer look.

A small beep came from the panel directly in front of Reece snapping him out of his daydream. He tapped three of the buttons and a direct link was established with Aron. He was slightly garbled with a small amount of electronic static, but his words were clear enough to understand.

“Making my final approach now.” He banked the fighter to the right, then pulled back on the control stick. Glancing between his target and his flight computer, he made a few small adjustments as the lock established itself. He tightened his grip around the stick and added additional pressure to the trigger as he released the two missiles in quick succession.

Once clear, Aron rolled to his left then climbed out of the approach pattern. The two missiles that were sailing through empty space had the resemblance of laser shots. Both were red in color, and seemed to stretch out much like a Turbolaser shot. Part of the design concept was to make them appear to be laser shots so that the enemy wouldn’t know that they were missiles They continued towards the target curving upwards where they impacted with the shielding.

From the observation point in the communications center, Evvin could see the violent burst of purple and red colors. He glanced down to his monitor for the readout, and smiled.

“Direct hit... the missiles penetrated!”, Aron yelled into his helmet. He could see the large dome breaking apart as the missiles made contact. The domed structure that acted as the shield generator for the target was crumbling into pieces and was starting to drift away.

The missiles had been a complete success. As planned, they had impacted the shields, and the energy surrounding the projectile peeled off intermixing with the shield system. It then began to fluctuate opening a gap in the protective barrier allowing the explosive element of the missiles to continue through where they met their target on the other end.

The communications center burst into cheers and laughter. Evvin Reece took a seat at the station, and sighed. He was full of joy, sadness, and gloom because he knew that he was now in control of a weapon that was capable of penetrating the shield system of the Empires capital ships, and ultimately destroying the generators behind it. With this weapon, he was now one of the biggest threats to the Imperial Navy.

The cheers continued throughout the communications center as technical personnel hugged one another or slapped each other on the back. Evvin stood back up, and with a half smile he shook his Chief Officer’s hand. He then shouted above the noise.

“Everyone! Everyone! Listen up!”, the screams and laughter began to subside as the crew turned back around to focus on him. “Today marks a milestone in the history of research and development. We have achieved something here that others have tried and failed. But don’t forget that this new weapon is now a threat to many. They will not hesitate to take your life or mine, to stop us from completing our goals. Get started on the cleanup procedures, and then you can all celebrate.”

The crew quickly returned to their jobs of bringing down the sensor systems, recalling the extra patrol fighters in the system, and arranging for the Star Destroyer to be moved behind the planets moon. The Star Destroyer, purchased by Evvin, had been a testing target for his operation for a long time. Never having enough crewmen to run the ship to full potential, it has always sat in a dark corner waiting to be abused.

“Sir?”, Aron called out on the frequency channel. “I have three contacts that just jumped in.” Evvin turned his attention back to the console in front of him, and pulled up the new ships on the screen. “T-65 X-Wing’s sir... they're transmitting a rebel IFF.”

Reece narrowed his eyes for a moment, he could see that the three ships were indeed X-Wing’s, and two of them appeared to be badly damaged. He glanced around the comm center and found Commander Dalen standing behind a technicians station.

“Commander Dalen... get those fighters up on our frequency... find out who they are.”

Author's Note: Before including each new updated segment of the story, I'll be posting a short "intro" to explain some of the finer points of how the update came to be. I hope you guys enjoy the story.

For this update, you'll notice a more in depth look at the Captain, Vorec, and his Lieutenant Teja. You'll notice some similarities to Timothy Zahn's Grand Admiral Thrawn. I've always been a person who took the tactical approach instead of brute force. Thrawn, like Vorec both have a passion for skill, and the use of well established tactics. My influence for Vorec was both Thrawn, and World War II's Erwin Rommel.

This next update will close out Chapter One, and Chapter Two will be posted soon. Enjoy guys!

FOLLOWING a large explosion, the engine section of the Rebel Frigate began to drift away from the rest of the structure. Turbolaser batteries were slamming into the hull at just about every possible angle doing massive damage to the ship. Nearby debris from the other Frigate and Corvette were littering the sector like an industrial wastedump.

The Imperial-Class Star Destroyer Malevolent turned to port on a sweeping approach to allow its’ turbolasers a chance to finish off its prey. The main portion of the battle was over. The rest was what the Imperials called, cleanup.

Flight Group Alpha made a short starboard turn back towards the asteroid field where the last of the X-wings had ducked away presumably, to try and use them to cover their retreat into hyperspace. They maneuvered around the solid chunks of rock barely scraping their solar panels past, and watched as three X-Wing fighters winked out of the system. Their mission was complete and had the most brutal of outcomes. All but three ships were completely destroyed between the TIE Fighters, TIE Bombers, and the Star Destroyer. The whole operation was a success by any standard, especially with only the loss of six fighters.

The flurry of activity was beginning to subside on the bridge of the Malevolent as status checks and reports began to pour in. The Captain had retired from the bridge mid-battle while the Lieutenant was left in charge of cleaning up. From where he was standing, the Lieutenant took a moment to close his eyes and listen to his men at work. Each one of them had performed without hesitation, and ensured a victory. He was proud to be wearing the uniform of an Imperial Officer, and proud to be serving on this Star Destroyer. He slowly opened his eyes, and turned to face one of his Officers who had been approaching.

“Sir, the Rebels managed to slip past the Interdictor field with three fighters... however both of their capital ships and their corvette were completely destroyed. Reports coming in indicate only minor Imperial losses.” He straightened his body and stared straight ahead, past the Lieutenant.

“Very good. Instruct the fighters to form a sentry line, and the bombers return to the docking bay. I’m not expecting any other conflicts tonight, but have everyone standby for further orders just in case. You can also pass the word to the turbolaser crewmen to go to fifty percent strength.”

“Yes sir, Lieutenant.” The Officer completed an about face and walked back to his station to transfer the commands. Teja, just twenty-nine years old, now had one more victory under his belt. He turned on his heels and stepped over to one of the control stations and reached over to take a datapad from one of his Technicians. From there, the Lieutenant walked off of the bridge and started down the hall.

The corridors were rather empty, with only a few crewmen moving between posts. Each time the Lieutenant would run into a group of them, they would step to the side to give him more room to move freely. After turning his last corner, he arrived at the turbolift he was looking for. Inside he keyed the floor, and then inserted his code cylinder into the receptor. The lift gave a short chime then began to move.

After a short ride, the doors opened to a short hallway with a large durasteel door flanked by two Imperial Stormtroopers. Each trooper carried a standard issue BlasTech E-11 rifle. As the Lieutenant approached, the two troopers stepped to the side, and the door slid open. Inside the door was a large open room decorated with various holograms, vegetation, and small nick knacks. The Lieutenant took three steps into the room as the door shut behind him.

From a room off to the left came the Captain. He was still wearing his uniform, and the blaster at his side. He nodded to the Teja, as he stepped over and took at a seat at a desk centered in the room.

“What do you have to report Lieutenant?” The Captain had worked the blaster off of his belt, and placed it onto the tabletop.

“Sir, all Rebel vessels were destroyed, short three fighters who managed to slip into hyperspace through the gaps in the interdiction field.” He stepped forward and delivered the datapad he was carrying that detailed the losses sustained, and damage dealt.

“Good, good.” The Captain began looking over the numbers displayed on the screen. “This is the fourth attack this week Lieutenant. I think it’s about time we brought the fight to the enemy.” He leaned back into his chair, and glanced around the room. “Lieutenant Teja, do you consider yourself a tactician?”

The Lieutenant was a bit surprised by the question, but answered as best he could. “By my training, I would consider myself a tactician. Yes.”

“Have you studied tactics. I don’t mean just those employed by the Empire. I’m referring to the Rebellion, the Black Sun, and even organizations such as CorSec.” He narrowed his eyes as the Lieutenant thought through a response.

“Not that extensively, no.”

“Well Lieutenant, what happened today was not a product of luck. What happened today was a collaboration of tactical minds.” He paused for a moment looking beyond the Lieutenant, then turned to his right and pointed to a painting on the wall. “This painting here, depicts the Battle of Renatasia. Are you familiar with this at all Lieutenant?”

The Lieutenant shook his head as he stared at the mounted artwork. He could make out the images of landing craft, and troopers. But the style was obscured with dozens of different colors and not very detailed.

“Well, eleven years ago, the Imperial Forces engaged in what can be considered the most brutal, bloodiest battles in the history of this galaxy. At first, brute force tactics were employed. Hundreds, if not thousands of men were sent onto the surface of the planet wave after wave, and suffered extreme casualties. From what I’ve found, the estimates were near ninety-three percent for the first group.” He paused for a moment, bringing one of his hands to his chin, and turned back to face the Lieutenant. “It wasn’t until much later on did the Imperial Forces, and allied Centran finally understand their enemy and what tactics they were accustomed to. From that, they were able to capture a victory.”

The Lieutenant wasn’t sure where this was headed, but he nodded anyway.

“You see Lieutenant... these Rebels we’ve been fighting for the past few years, they have a specific style. Every being in this galaxy uses some form of a fighting style. Today, we knew what that was, and overcame it with our own superior tactics.” A smile began to appear on the Captains mouth. “Now, we will take the fight to enemy, and crush them.”

Lieutenant Teja had a sudden urge to straighten his body. “What is it you would like for me to do Captain?”

“Dispatch a flight group of TIE Scouts. Have them plot the trajectory that those three X-Wings took out of this system. They are to investigate, then report back to me. Once we have the location of the Rebel base, we’ll make preparations to conduct an assault. I want these Rebels to understand that the Empire is the ruling body in this sector, not them.”

“Yes, sir. I will inform you of any updates” After receiving a nod from the Captain, he turned and left the room. The corridor leading to the bridge was busier then it had been before. The crewmen were obviously returning from their posts and headed back to their quarters.

The Lieutenant continued towards the bridge, the entire time, he couldn’t get the image of the painting of Renatasia out of his head. All of those lives lost, all because of a lack of information. He understood what Captain Vorec was telling him. To conquer another force, you need to fully understand and grasp their ideals. This was something that the Lieutenant still had yet to do. He came to a stop just before entering the bridge as a thought came to mind. I still have a lot to learn. He reached forward and keyed open the door, and then stepped inside. After he was clear, the door shut securely behind him.

Authors Introduction: This is a story I've been working on for years (time constraints and military deployments kept me from finishing). So, while this is FAR from complete, I have decided to at least give everyone a taste of what's to come. This first post is the first half of chapter one. I've finished the second half, but will be re-reading and re-editing it over the next few days. Expect that everything I post here is subject to edits, and some of the content if not all might change. I will post a message and or send PM's with every major edit or story addition. Just be sure to let me know that you'd like that info. So here goes... enjoy everyone, and feel free to post any suggestions, comments, or criticism as you see fit.

Introduction: It's been eighteen years since the birth of the Empire was forged in combat. Since then, the Imperial Forces have been expanding their grasp in the galaxy in an effort to ensure a constant state of civil obedience. They've fought countless battles against large organized forces, and small pockets of a guerilla-style resistance.

However, in the last year, three main forces have come together under one banner signing the influential "Corellian Treaty". This document threatens to bring down the framework put in place by Empire and mark a turning point in history.

But, the Empire stands ready. Their training is rigorous, their weapons and technology advanced, and with them come experienced leaders capable of stopping the Rebel Alliance in its' tracks.

One of those leaders emerges from the ranks of the Imperial Navy, dead set on putting an end to the unrest in the galaxy. His plan is to use whatever force is necessary to ensure the survival of the Empire.

What follows is a tale of action, intrigue, mystery, and survival. We witness the days of the Empire at its' height, and what happens will leave you begging for more.

Height of an Empire

CHAPTER 1

THE wedge shaped hull of the Imperial ship cast a shadow across the starboard side of the space station as it continued to orbit the platform. The sublight engines kept the ship at a constant distance of one kilometer.

It was late in the evening, and only a skeleton crew of Officers and Technicians could be found on the bridge working at their stations. The soft hum of the electronics and engines had a calming effect on the crew.

Lieutenant Teja, a four year veteran of the Imperial Navy, was walking the crewpit, glancing over the shoulders of his men to see what type of progress they’ve been making. He would stop every few stations, to give some advice or point something out to the Officer or Technician at the computer. Somewhere near the end of his round he paused behind a set of consoles where a young Imperial Technician was seated, looking frantically between screens.

“What is it?” The Lieutenant asked from behind the Technician. Startled, he turned to the Lieutenant and replied.

“Sir, I don’t know. I was scanning the beta quadrant here”, he tapped the monitor with his finger and continued, “...and picked up something. But, then it disappeared.” He was flustered, partly due to inexperience but more so because he was fatigued. Not much of the crew was able to sleep soundly anymore, not with the Rebellion in full swing.

“Ok...” the Lieutenant paused for a second, “... take a breath, pull up the scan from the recorder, and tell me what you’ve found”.

Other Technicians had begun to nervously glance over to one other and then to where the Lieutenant was to see what was going on. Without so much as a turn Lieutenant Teja spoke up.

“If you don’t get back to work, I’ll put you into a Zero-G suit and have you chipping away at one the asteroids in this system.” With that, everyone was back to the attention of their monitors and computers. Teja leaned forward and whispered in the bewildered Technicians’ ear. “Anything yet?”

“Sir, I’ll have it up in 10 seconds, I just need to reconfigure...” before he could finish the Officer cut him off.

“Do it. I don’t need an explanation.” The technician began tapping keys as fast as he could. He began accessing the archived scan logs, and reconfigured them to re-display on his monitor.

From above the crewpit a set of boots stood overlooking the two. Attached to the boots stood a tall man in an Imperial Officers uniform. He had his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the Technician and his second in-command work. Lieutenant Teja glanced up, only briefly and caught his gaze. Then, he looked back down to the screens in front of him.

“I have the scan up. It looks like hyperspace signatures, at least a dozen of them. They appeared here, then vanished behind the asteroid belt here.” The Technician was pointing out locations on the screen, showing the space between them. “Ship signatures, how large?” The Lieutenant was now leaning forward over the Technicians shoulder to get a more clear view of the screen.

“Looks like fighters sir. Rebellion style, Incom T-65 X-wing’s by what the ships database is telling me. I’m also getting intermittent sensor spikes from the belt which tells me that they’re probably still there. ” He glanced up catching sight of the man standing above him, then turned in his chair to focus in on the Lieutenant.

“Ok... launch fighters... two squadrons. Advise all crew to man stations, and have helm stations set a course for this location here.” He pointed to a location a few kilometers from the asteroid belt.

“Not quite yet Lieutenant.” The Technician and Lieutenant looked up at the man standing above them. “Just out of curiosity, how long would it take this ship to get to that very same location?”

The Lieutenant nudged the Technician who ran some numbers through his computer. He came up with a final set of numbers a few seconds later. “Ten minutes for this ship sir, four for our fighters.”

“I didn’t ask for the fighter times. The Interdictor Cruiser Affliction is nearby in the system is it not?”, he asked.

“Yes sir, it is.” The Lieutenant replied unsure of what he was getting at.

“Transmit a message to its’ Captain, and ask if they would come by this sector in approximately eight minutes. Once the ship is in-system, have them activate their gravity well projectors, angle them towards that belt, and then stand by for further orders. For the time being Lieutenant, alert the crew to man their stations and have fighter squadrons standing by in the bay. Start plotting a course as well.” With a nod, he turned from the pit and walked over to the forward viewport. He stood there for a few minutes, watching the asteroid belt.
Rebel fighters were a common sight in this sector due to their constant raids, and attacks on patrols. Looked like the crew would get at least one more fight before the night was completely over.

The Lieutenant had already begun to issue orders to the crew on the bridge, and personally transmitted the message to the Affliction which was currently helping with a supply transfer nearby. He wasn’t sure what the Captain was up to, but he had learned over the past year to trust his judgment and never to question his tactics.
After the orders had been sent, and confirmations began to spill back in, the Lieutenant stepped back to observe everyone, and wait.

LIEUTENANT Teja had been keeping an eye on one of the station computers that was running a countdown clock. Once it reached zero, the Affliction would be arriving into the system as per the transmission sent. The Imperial-class Star Destroyer Malevolent was set to a cruising speed when the countdown first began, and was now closing in on the distant asteroid field.
“Lieutenant, alert the forward launch bay and have two TIE Fighter and one TIE Bomber squadron launch as soon as possible.” The Captain had returned to the spot above the crewpit that he had been standing on earlier.

“Yes... sir.” Teja was a bit hesitant that the Captain was asking for Fighters and Bombers, but he didn’t question his superior. He keyed up one of the consoles and relayed the message.

“In time Lieutenant... you’ll see.” The Lieutenant glanced up and gave a short nod. The Captain was watching over his crew, each man working quietly and quickly at one task or another. He stood squarely with his hands behind his back, which was the standard Imperial fashion. His uniform was a dark grey tunic with Imperial Captain insignia of three red and three blue squares on his left breast. Along with the insignia was a single code cylinder in a small pocket to the left of his rank. On his right hip, uncommon to most bridge Officers, was a highly modified BlasTech DL-22 blaster. The Lieutenant recalled that it had a significant story and purpose behind it, but never asked what that was.

A small chime emitted from the console in front of the Lieutenant, and he looked down to see the clock passing the last minute mark. To his right, he could see the sensor station and the nearing asteroids. Near the middle of the screen appeared thirty-six fighters that had been launched from the docking bay. They were forming up in their flight groups, and began checking in with Flight Command.

Off to the starboard side of the ship was a flash of light, and the Imperial Interdictor Cruiser Affliction winked into realspace. It activated its’ shields then began charging its’ four gravity well projectors as it came alongside of the Malevolent. Due to the nature of how the ship functioned, it was unable to move and project its’ interdictor field at the same time. But, for the time being it continued to follow the Malevolent at a parallel course.

While the Affliction might not be able to move while projecting, it was however, very capable of defending itself. With two squadrons of TIE Fighters, and twenty mounted laser cannons, it was a formidable foe on the battlefield against most of the other ships currently in service throughout the galaxy. Let alone with the help of an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Slowly the Affliction began to peel away from the Malevolent and settle into a stationary position. Once at a complete stop, the four projectors came online extending towards the asteroid belt and encompassing a wide area ahead of the Star Destroyer.

The TIE Fighters turned into an intercept course, divided into their respective flight squads. They kept the point while the TIE Bombers stuck to the underbelly of the Star Destroyer. The Malevolent was still on course, and closing the final gap.

Ahead, the enemy fighters that had been attempting to conceal themselves, now began to appear. Each ship formed up on their leader, locking their S-foils in the attack position in preparation for battle.

The Captain, who had again left the crewpit for a view of the battlefield, watched as his TIE Fighters altered their course, and began their attack run. He had full confidence in his pilots that they would be able to destroy these intruders. Their evaluation scores had been high the last month, and they’ve already proven themselves in combat against the Rebellion.

Without so much as blinking, the Captain watched as three more ships came out of hyperspace directly ahead of him. He knew just by looking at their shape what they were. Two EF76 Nebulon-B Frigates, and a CR-90 Corellian Corvette. The mainstay of the Rebellion’s arsenal. Just strong enough to put up a fight, but never strong enough to win.

“Three new contacts Lieutenant” The Technician called out from the sensor station. “Two Frigates and a Corvette.”

“Instruct the TIE Bombers to target the Corvette, then move on to the trail Frigate. Order all available turbolaser stations to target the lead ship.” The Captain calmly ordered. He didn’t need to see any monitors or hear any transmissions to know that he ultimately had the upper hand. From the moment the scout fighters had entered the system, until now, he knew he would be victorious. It was now just a matter of time... for in the Empire, there is no such thing as defeat.

The Captain turned on his heels to face the Lieutenant, his dark eyes were locked onto him, a short grin was tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Lieutenant, you may fire when ready.”

Whoops, sorry, wrong thread.

The Death of Tarkin

IT'S been four minutes since the battle began. Skimming along the superstructure of the Death Star were dozens of TIE Fighters, TIE Interceptors, X-Wing, and Y-Wing Fighters engaged in a fierce battle. Unbeknown to the Imperial Pilots, a small group of X-Wing's and Y-Wing's have broken away and have headed towards their objective.

Chief Officer Bast had been watching the monitors closely since the conflict began and was calculating the size of the enemy and the way they maneuvered. They were quick, able to avoid most of the Turbolaser emplacements on the surface of the Death Star, and because they were so small, they also were also able to slip around the structure without being noticed by the squadrons of Imperials. He knew from his years of experience in dealing with the Rebels that they had a plan up their flightsuits. The question was, what is it?

The crew in the Death Star's control room were working frantically to coordinate with the flight groups, and the weapon platforms to bring the fighters down. One of the technicians was working quietly with the Chief Officer to evaluate the attack patterns to see what it is they were up to so far from the main force.

Standing quietly in front of the main viewscreen monitor was Imperial Grand Moff, Wilhuff Tarkin. He was a crabby old man in the eyes of Bast, and very arrogant when around other Imperials. He had an air about him that reminded him of his Rancor hunts, and the way that the males displayed their dominance over the others. Bast shook his head and brought his attention back to the task at hand. The technician in front of him clapped his hands together and turned around.

"Sir, see this point here...", he tapped the monitor with his right hand and continued. "... it's an exhaust port for the main reactor of the battle station. From what I can tell, the Rebels are able to slip past the trench turrets and are attempting to fire into the port itself. Lord Vader is already in the area and has engaged the fighters. But, from the readout, there is a risk here." Chief Bast was silent. He was contemplating what the technician had told him, and was trying to weigh the possibilities.

"How vulnerable are we?", he asked.

"Sir, I'd say that if enough fighters continue their attacks, they may just get a lucky shot that will likely bring down this station." The technician began to nod, and the smile he once had on his face slipped away at the realization of what he just told his superior.

"Let me inform the Grand Moff." The Chief stepped away from the panel and approached the old man standing before the viewscreen stepping to his left. "We've analyzed their attack sir, and there is a danger. Should I have your ship standing by?"

The Grand Moff couldn't help but laugh inside as he turned his head towards the Chief, "Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances." He turned back to the monitor and continued with his thoughts about the success of the battle. What might the Emperor give him after he destroys the bulk of the Rebel's forces? Vader's position. He laughed again within.

One of the controllers at his station leaned forward and spoke into the intercom system, "Rebel base, three minutes and closing."

Chief Bast took a step back from the Grand Moff and considered what he had said. In his mind, he saw it as the Grand Moff who was underestimating their chances. Arrogant fool, he thought. I've worked far too hard to get where I am only to be killed at the hands of someone like this. Bast turned and walked back to the console where the technician who had found the flaw was sitting.

"Get to the docking bay and ready a shuttle for launch. I want you on it. I'll be there in two minutes." He quickly turned and began to leave the control room, stopping short of the blast doors as another Officer entered. He grabbed him by the arm and spoke quietly to him. "I want you to stand with the Grand Moff, and do what he asks. I'll be right back." But he knew he wouldn't be back, the Empire was spiraling out of control at the hands of Tarkin, and he knew that the safest place was far from this station. He let go of the Officer and walked off of the bridge.

Glory, victory, wealth. The Grand Moff had images spinning through his head as he watched the Death Star getting closer and closer to clearing the planet and aligning itself with the Rebel Base. These pitiful beings were no match for the might of the Empire and the power of the Death Star. Power, he thought, and then smiled.

"Rebel base, one minute and closing", the intercom announced.

The Imperial Officer who was stopped by Chief Bast turned away from one of the stations in the control room, replaced his hat, and then stepped up next to the Grand Moff. He clasped his hands behind his back and waited for the Moff's orders.

"Rebel base, 30 seconds and closing", came the announcement from the controller again.

The Grand Moff placed his hand up to his mouth, the anticipation was growing and he could see the end of the Rebellion just in front of him. Lord Vader would finish off the last fighters, and would return to congratulate him. Then, he would see the Emperor and be rewarded. The smile returned again.

"Rebel base, in range", was the final announcement given.

The Grand Moff turned to his new subordinate, and gave his final order, "You may fire when ready".

Launching from the bay, the Imperial Shuttle carrying Chief Bast and his closest staff were moving away from the battle station at a high rate of speed. He told the pilot to plot a course for Coruscant, and to engage the hyperdrive on his order.

Behind him came a deafening sound. It was a massive explosion and the co-pilot turned around quickly with a shocked look on his face to report that the Death Star had just been destroyed.

Bast closed his eyes, and lowered his head, "Engage the hyperdrive".

The shuttle winked into hyperspace, as debris from the Death Star passed behind it.