Chapter 3: Containment

TK7642 raised his arm and waved his men forward. As the group of Stormtroopers headed out across the barren landscape he took a look back towards the Sentinels cockpit. A face in the window watched the group move off and the trooper gave a salute before following his men. In the middle of the group of Stormtroopers walked the science group, guiding their cargo sleds and occasionally glancing at datapads. He could see that none of them knew which direction they needed to go in, despite the occasional gestures indicating a new direction.

“Perhaps we could be of more assistance if we knew what you were looking for.”

“Captain,” answered one of the scientists, frowning and looking at his companions, “we’re not sure what exactly we are looking for. That is to say, we know what it may look like, but we don’t know where it will be.”

“I see.” Answered TK7642, his voicy tinny and impersonal through the helmets voice modulator. “Well if you could give us some kind of idea, perhaps our scanners may be of some use.”

“In this case, I don’t think they will.” Answered another of the group, “This area was destroyed by aerial bombardment, we suspect that what we are looking for may have survived but we are not sure. In any case, it has the ability to hide itself from standard scans.”

“So it’s some sort of creature or sentient being?” asked the Squad leader, starting to become a little annoyed by the scientists’ cryptic answers.

“Captain, the best I can tell you, is that we will have to check any standing structure or object in this area.” With that, the four scientists began moving across the plateau once more. As TK7642 turned to follow them, one of his stormtroopers shouted and waved before pointing towards the edge of the plateau. Everyone turned to see what he had spotted, some of the troopers also dropping to one knee and raising their weapons. TK7642 raised his hand to the side of his helmet and activated his macro binoculars. It took a second or two for the area to come in to focus and he carefully moved from left to right before spotting it.

“Over there,” he indicated, “ATST wreckage.”

“I believe that would be a good starting point,” the lead scientist spoke up, “when we reach the area Captain, you and your men are to take defensive positions around us, do not approach the wreckage until we have cleared you to do so.”

“Aye sir.”

It took five minutes to reach the walkers wreckage. Not much remained and it was a miracle they had noticed it from so far off. Only half of the cockpit could be seen, the rest of it lay buried and fused in the ground where molten rock had swept over it. The group stopped a few metres away and TK7642 motioned to his men to circle around it. As the troopers carried out their orders and took position, the four scientist’s began removing equipment from the cargo sleds. Masks and containment suits were soon visible on the floor and the men wasted no time putting them on. With their protective gear in place they approached the ATST husk. TK7642 and the other Stormtroopers took another step backwards as the men got closer. No-one had mentioned anything about containment suits.

The first of the four scientists reached the ATST and carefully examined the ground around it.

“No signs of leakage on the floor.” He said as the other men took position around him.

“It may not even be here. We have nothing to suggest it survived.” Said another.

“It survived, it always survives.” The Chief Science Officer squinted at the sun then looked round at the Stormtroopers. Even behind the safety of their white helmets they appeared agitated, nervous.

“It’s here alright,” He continued, “waiting for us to take it somewhere else to feed.”

“Ross, nothing could have survived this, not even this super virus.” The man spoke as he raised himself back up from the surface and dusted off his suit, carefully checking for any leaks.

“Listen. There are no birds, no rodents. This happened weeks ago, so why is it so quiet?”

They all noticed it then. Here on top of the plateau, they were the only living things.

“Open the hatch.” Ordered Ross, “Sivon, you got here first, you take the honour.”

Sivon blew out hard before stepping forward and grasping the locking ring that would open the ATST’s entry hatch. He turned it sharply anti-clockwise until it stopped then pulled back. It refused to open at first so he gave another hard tug and it started to give with a sickly squelch. He let go of the hatch and it swung down on the hinges, clanging heavily against the hull. Thick black strings of liquid pooled here and there and began to run down the walkers heavy armoured casing.

“I think we found it.” He said, carefully stepping away and checking his hands for droplets.

Ross motioned another of the men forward, “Check inside. Sivon, go bring the sled over.”

One of the men moved towards the hatch and shone a bright torch inside. It appeared to be empty, though here and there more of the strange black fluid seeped and ran down the walls. He poked his head through the hatch and looked down. A large puddle of the stuff had pooled and white bones could be seen reaching out from it. One area of the black pool appeared to ripple more than the others, something was moving in there.
“It’s here.” He said, pulling himself back from the dark confines of the walker.

Ross nodded, looking round to watch as Sivon brought the cargo sleds across. “Ok, begin extraction. Cover the walker, no one outside this group is to see anything.” He looked round at the Stormtroopers as he spoke. He stopped as his gaze fell on TK7642 and the Squad Leader gave him an imperceptible nod. “You unfortunate souls,” murmured Ross, “you don’t even know you’re already dead.”

It only took a few moments for the four men to assemble a heavy dark tent around the walker, cutting them off from the Stromtroopers protctive gaze.

“What have they found?” the voice echoed inside TK7642’s helmet and he looked round for the source. One of the men opposite him raised a hand slightly, TK1911.

“I don’t know. Whatever it is needs some pretty heavy protection.” Answered the squad leader. “Keep your distance from them though, these suits aren’t rated for that level of protection.”

As he finished speaking two of the scientists emerged from the tent carrying something between them. It too was covered up to prevent unwanted looks from the troopers. Whatever it was, it looked to be held in some kind of storage container judging from the way the heavy material was draped over it. They placed it carefully on one of the sleds and began moving it away as the two remaining men stepped out from the containment shelter. One of them stopped to press something before throwing it back in the tent and waving at the Stormtroopers to follow them.

Ross opened a clear com channel so that every one could hear him, “In a few moments that device will destroy everything, I suggest we move quickly.”

“Sir, is there anything we should know about your mission?” asked TK7642.

“I assure you Captain, you will find out soon enough.”

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!