This story is a subplot to 'Dark Lord: Bride of Vader'. It will follow Maxima's cousin, Kristoph, being transferred to a stormtrooper penal unit after the last we see him in the main story, which was in Chapter 8, 'Battle of Rimbor.' There is no current media representation of Kristoph in the DC continuity other than his first and only appearance in 'Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files and Origins' Volume 1 Issue 1 out of 2001. Spoiler Alert: he dies on the comic page where he is introduced. Obviously, this is very little character reference of Kristoph so most of the personalities and traits you'll see in this side story and beyond are made up for compensation.
I do not own any of the Star Wars and DC characters and ideas represented in this work.
Prologue
Conflict, from what I understand, is a state of being natural to the universe and is ingrained by every single organism that resides in the great ether. Cells fight in the tightest microscopic battles, animals fight over food and mating rights in the wilderness, and countless sentient beings conduct the same struggles but under different pretexts. Okaarans do war because they view the practice as the highest expression. Thanagarians make war out of honor and integrity. The arachnids of the Spider Guild spread warfare due to their expansive conquests like a hungry horde.
I fight out for survival. My agency to decide my fate on the battlefield has been taken, and I am not too sure if I could gain it back.
For those who might not know the person writing this, I will properly introduce myself. I am Kristoph, Duke of Tae Tamarac, a member of the royal House of Almerac, cousin of Lady Maxima. I grew up in Almerac with Maxima and considered her the sister I never had. When our parents tragically died, and she was coronated to the throne, I was in the background, watching Maxima's reign. Sidelined, maybe, but I was fine under my position in the house.
I enlisted and went to the Tae Tamarac Naval Academy when possible and was commissioned as an officer after graduation. For a time, I thought of glory and earning honor for me, my house, and my planet. However, things changed—someone entered the fray.
A man of little words and with great action, Darth Vader, a 'Dark Lord of the Sith' married my dear cousin. The man was a towering figure adorned in black armor and a deep, mechanical voice as if he were stuck in a deep abyssal well. Maxima has always had strange taste in men and worthy husbands, but Darth Vader was undoubtedly the most bizarre and dangerous of them all, out of anyone from my experiences with him.
In an action I still can't understand to this day, the Council of Nobles, lead by Count Vitha, supposedly attempted to coup Maxima out of sheer pettiness and disapproval of the changes of the status quo Darth Vader wanted to change. The Dark Lord swiftly dealt with the accused traitors and dissolved the Council and Almerac's governmental institutions altogether. I knew Vitha and I cannot fathom such a betrayal. Whether an actual coup was real and attempted by him, I cannot say nor could find the evidence to dispute it.
What I do know is that all of Almerac dearly loved the new emperor. They did not say a thing or thought of Vader's character when he married my cousin, they were whipped up into a frenzy when he announced himself as Emperor and a new order will be established by their hands alone.
Why should such a person follow this 'man'? That question is simple. Almeracians had once a thriving empire millennia ago, but over the ages, it fell and our domain only contained a few star systems. Warrior kings of that era led Almerac to glory, the nation however couldn't keep up. Maxima, while a great warrior, I should mind you, is not a great leader in aspects that required the role. Vader did, and to the people of Almerac, he was a mythical warrior king of old, coming out of obscurity like a prophesied champion of death and warfare. In the short time he came into power, he had reawakened the Almeracian zeitgeist that slumbered for too long and was guiding it to a higher purpose….or a higher death. He was a leader who they would gladly fight to the bitter end with all of the things he had done for Almerac ,and they scarcely embraced that mentality to my cousin.
I, on the other hand, did not have these views on my cousin-in-law. The Dark Lord is a cold man, a machine almost, and could very well be one. The only rare emotions he seemed to protrude were contentmentuous and hot anger. I was a victim of the latter, but a victim of my own doing.
I had thought of displaying my views to him, how I thought of him being dishonorable and disrespecting my cousin. He, however, did not like those words one bit.
For those who do not know, I am a psychic. I am blessed by this gift due to the bloodline of my house. When Vader heard my words of disgust, he became a raging storm almost too intense to bear. A thrashing quickly followed after my conversation ended with him. I still have random pains in my back, and my arms had to heal for a month or so.
I understood how I nearly died and was unsure why he spared me. Yes, he said how if he did so, he would break a promise to Maxima, but could he keep a promise that seemed to come from love when he was the very same person to bring near death to his family? I thought it best not to think it through.
He had told me that I would be exiled, never to set foot on Almerac again unless told otherwise. That was already punishment as it was, but more came in the form of my military service. He did not exile me in the general sense, but rather he called for my exilement in a way to serve my penance in a different form. He has not officially demoted me or made an actual punitive action against me, but he has done something that most would consider to be worse.
Let me explain my dilemma with context so that whoever reads this may not be confused. The Stormtrooper Corps was a branch under the royal guard, now the Imperial Guard. Doctrines and training were made under General Sh'Kirry, a man I knew for a very long time as he was the captain of the Royal Guard. Though their training cannot be considered equal to that of an Imperial Guardsman, they were far above that of any Imperial Army soldier and sailor and were up to the task of any situation.
In this Corps, there was one division whose reputation precedes itself. The 60th Stormtrooper division, 'the Imperial Fists'. A unit of men and a few women who are known for their fanaticism and commitment to the New Galactic Order. It was a COMPNOR-sponsored unit and was categorized under its armed branch, CompForce. If one wanted to join this elite and highly dedicated unit, one would need to be a member of COMPNOR, embrace its values, and embody the Imperial spirit that new order required the self. More often than not, it was more of an Almeracian-centric spirit rather than the multi-racial band of arms the propaganda claims.
Stormtroopers were known to be highly loyal, as they were trained under the Imperial guard, but the Imperial Fists were an extreme example of that. As the New Galactic Empire formed, not all Almeracians really adapted into the new order. Some believed this to be the rebirth of a new Almeracian empire and saw it as just that. Then others fully believed in the new order of bringing peace and security to not only Almerac, but to the galaxy by any means. The Imperial Fists were the latter.
From what I can ascertain, they have earned victories in obscure battlefields and in worlds few could point out. They were, for sure, the most motivated and successful Imperial units out there. But, as I have stated before, not everyone fully developed good feelings about the new order. There were those who, of course, spoke out against the changes, politically or otherwise; there were criminals and degenerates who still committed crimes; and military individuals who may have made a few mistakes. While a good portion could have been deported to some work facility or camp for their penances, others had the chance to redeem themselves by military service.
Probation battalions were what they were called. They were units in the Imperial Army and sometimes the navy, which consisted of condemned citizens, soldiers, and criminals who could pay their sentences through military services and actions. From that, I know, to the other normal units, they are viewed as cannon fodder sometimes, sent to suicidal missions that other units wouldn't even think of performing. However, most of the soldiers that are in these penal units are thieves, unruly individuals, and other people whose crimes might have been forgiven in a different society.
But there was one special penal unit that was like no other. Stormtroopers were regarded as highly loyal and not known to break Imperial laws, but we are all flesh and blood and make mistakes regardless of context. However, it depends on the severity of the crime, whether treason, insubordination, or other high charges; the stormtrooper that committed the crime, if high enough, could either be executed or sent to this one unit. This unit also happens to be the recipient of criminals who were deemed too dangerous to facilitate or sent to a normal penal unit.
Murderers, arsonists, rapists, and other criminals that, if not downright executed and command thought the possibility of redemption there, would be sent to this unit. Stormtroopers with milder crimes were also brought in, for their failure of not meeting the high standards of an Imperial would land them in this Penal Brigade. It is also the same unit that I will have to report to.
The Third Special Probation Heavy Infantry brigade of the 60th Stormtrooper Division. This unit of Stormtroopers is my next station. This is my punishment to have a sound mind. Technically, I have been promoted to 1st Lieutenant as my commission as a starfighter pilot was considered. But this is just salt in the wound.
I am still bitter and defiant about this crime. I will be put in a unit and command a platoon of soldiers whose pasts would make normal men shiver. It is a stain on my family's legacy to be with a gang of lowlifes and bottom feeders that society bunched up as attack dogs. It was insulting and disgraceful in the highest regard, and I wanted blood.
I have thought of getting retribution by fleeing the Empire and reaching Oa, the home and base of the Guardians of the Universe, to report Vader to them. This was so that they could send Green Lanterns and perhaps depose Vader. But as time passed, I was disgusted by the thought and thought it dishonorable. This may have been a personal feud between Vader and me, but bringing the Green Lanterns involved would have created more significant consequences for which Almerac would pay.
To tell everything I knew to the Green Lanterns would have been treacherous and dishonorable. If I were to report to Vader, then the Lanterns would have no choice to fight him and the New Galatic Empire. To betray Vader, I would betray my cousin, my family lineage, and my country.
So I kept that thought to myself and never did perform it.
This is a burden that I put on myself. Was it fate that destined me and men of my caliber to enter moments of ultimate struggle? Was it my own destiny that I chose myself? Or was it a simple happenstance in a universe teaming with them?
Dear reader, I cannot say. I only wish to survive and be the man my parents wanted me to be. Looking back on all the pains and rigorous work, I'm not sure what I've become.
***
Ghan IX Campaign
"The Ghanite Bush War"
Part One
After months of intense training and education in land combat, rather than the aerial fighting I'm used to, and Imperial land doctrine, I exited the Stormtrooper training center on Neu-Almerac. I kept my rank as a lieutenant. Afterward, I was dispatched to the division's current location by a freighter to the naval dockyard orbiting the planet of Thebor. The division was called up to be part of a ground task force attached to the 11th fleet, all ground forces and naval units of this battlegroup were tasked by my dear step-cousin to invade the Ghanite and Yuever star systems.
The ground forces comprised the 36th, 99th, and 7th Infantry Divisions of the Imperial Army with a notable presence of the 4th Imperial Kheran Fusiliers, originally the 4th Royal Kheran Fusiliers before Imperial reorganization. Supporting the land forces was the 2nd Armored Corps, with an attached brigade of Heavy vehicles like AT-ATs and juggernaut tanks. The Imperial Fists were the only stormtrooper unit present on the roster.
The 3rd brigade was transported in an Acclamator-class assault ship, INS Jugholder, where I reported to my battalion commander, Lieutenant Commander Susi. He was an older gentleman with a kind and bushy gray mustache and a prosthetic right arm he received to compensate for a horrible wound he gained many years ago.
Despite the 3rd Brigade's notable reputation and infamy, Susi was the number of Officers and NCOs that weren't in the unit for a past transgression against the state. Divisional command thought that composing the Brigade entirely of dubious characters was problematic. Therefore, a good portion of the Officers and NCOs with clean records were sprinkled throughout the Brigade ranks to ensure rot wouldn't collapse the structure. Susi, though a hardened gentleman of Khera-Almerac, was unfortunate to be in a position to oversee state-sponsored bandits.
I was relieved to talk to the commander, and he was horrified that a member of the Royal House had been transferred to a unit like this. We chatted in his finely made office in the Officer's barracks, and though I did not tell him my story or the cause of my exilement, I noted that the man knew that a member of the royal house wouldn't perform a criminal act unless it were needed. In a form of condolence and sympathy, he gave me the option of secretly hiding my authentic identity in a false name.
For a moment, I was hesitant, but after pondering, I accepted. Susi managed to forge a new identity and name through the powers of being a senior officer. I was to be Khris Vaun Riktofen herring from Teuto-Almerac. On a technicality, I was allowed to wear the white tunic of my Imperial dress uniform to show my membership of a noble house, the highest house, but to keep the gossip of a high nobleman entering service in a penal unit from the public eye; I switched my white tunic to a black one. Wearing the standard stormtrooper officer's uniform, I was a normal man in an unusual unit.
I thanked the older gentleman, and he sent me to my assigned company. The 5th company was in one of the lower barrack sections of the ship, and I met the company commander, Captain Vo'Tan, after Susi informed him of my arrival. Vo'Tan was raised in Drakon and was a lieutenant in one of its defense units before Imperial reorganization.
Vo'Tan issued me to my platoon—2nd platoon—and introduced me to my platoon sergeant—Senior Sergeant Erik Messier. A Teutonik herring from his homeworld's capital, Maxigard. Sergeant Messier and I, after our first meeting, had a chat within my newly assigned quarters. I did my best to convey the personalities and traits a Teutonik should express and inhabit while keeping my identity a secret. I've told Messier that I was the son of a privileged, wealthy farm owner in Tetutonia's principal land mass. Messier seemed to have bought it; if not, I would have to use my telepathic gifts to convince him otherwise.
The following day, Messier correctly introduced me to the rest of the leadership of 2nd platoon by a formation in their barracks. I have talked and made a brief acquaintance with Sergeants Stahl, Ki'Vela, Steina, Bruuno. I've somewhat chatted with the other lower enlisted during breakfast at the dining hall. After we ate, Messier, I, and the rest of the 4th battalion's Officers and NCOs were to have an operational briefing in one of the ship's command centers that explained and detailed the campaign we were to have on Ghan IX.
Naval intelligence by deep scans and probing by droids have yielded knowledge that the Yuevers have multiple garrisoning units within their home systems and the Ghan area. The Ghan Star System, specifically, due to their efforts to pacify and civilize the locals, did not have many combat units stationed on the planet; military police and second-rate troopers were its supposed guardians. This included the Yuever Navy; since the Ghanite insurgency had not expanded outward of Ghan, the Yuevers have only put several light cruisers and a larger vessel as a deterrent against bandit attacks and trade protection.
While other ground and naval forces will invade the Yuever Consortium proper, the 60th CF Division and the task force it's attached to will have its responsibilities looked into Ghan itself. As standard, the plan followed a massive jamming operation to cut down enemy communications, have the main line of cruisers and vessels hyperspace deep within the system as far in as possible, and then unleash hordes of droid starfighters to destroy fighters and harass larger ships. At the same time, Star destroyers and other brawling vessels will engage the Yuever Group in broadsiding actions.
The invasion force intended for Ghan IX would be far to the sideline within their transports. Once most of the enemy lines have been either destroyed or incapacitated beyond effectiveness, the transports will be quickly forwarded near orbit, and the 160th Air Carrier group will fly in most of the assaulting infantry downward by LAAT/i gunships; walkers and tanks would also be flown in. The 60th 'CF' Division had multiple tasks within the first few days, but its main objective was to take Ghan's capital city–Rixxa. The division will be supported by armored units. The Kheran Fusiliers and the other regular Infantry formations will have priorities in the lesser cities and countryside.
[Lore Note: This are no current named cities, settlements, and landmasses on Ghan IX, so most of these will be original and will try to reference the comics. The City of Rixxa is referring to the Ghanite girl, Rixx, who was one the few Ghanite characters named in their first and only appearance in the comics which was at Red Lanterns Vol 1 Issue 2 out of 2011.]
During the briefing by Commander Susi and liaisons from divisional headquarters and the navy, I had the opportunity and misfortune to meet with my battalion's other officers and leadership members. I did my best to keep my dialogue in the battalion lines.
I've met fellow lieutenants in the company, like Lieutenant Zieg'Frieg of the 3rd platoon from Maxivelt. My best interaction was with 4th's platoon's cheery 1st Lieutenant Simo out of Khera's capital city—Titaanin Kaupunki. Simo was a school teacher and from the way he talked about it later in our relationship, he loved the profession and dearly enjoyed educating Almerac's youngest children. He never did say how he was sent to this ghastly fate in our first encounters, but I could tell, and sense, he had regret that darkened his heart.
Lastly, I spoke with Lieutenant Juri from Drakon. Juri was, or still is technically, a member of COMPNOR who originally was part of the 60th's genuine units until, at the Battle of Rimbor, he continuously gave out execution orders to civilians who did not swear allegiance to the Galactic Empire when given the chance. Prisoners also saw no quarter from him. He was sent to a judging COMPNOR committee and put into the 3rd brigade for a questionable amount of time to serve a probationary period in the unit.
What Lieutenant Simo, other officers, and my own early experience with Juri said about him; he was a fanatical zealot and follower of the New Galactic Order and a believer that peace and order could only be achieved under the leadership of our Emperor. 'Vaderites' was the name used by others to call very fanatical believers of the Galactic Empire. Not that they didn't believe it themselves, but Vaderites, as though a religious spell was cast onto them, talk about Vader as though he was a prophet speaking in a desert. It has not come to a shock that Juri was a Vaderite as most Drako-Almeracians were the largest group of Ethnic Almeracians to follow Vader's words as if it were gospel.
If my dear reader, you do not know the history and context of what I mean by and are unsure of the true nature of my unsurprised feeling behind these words, and if this was because you are of non-Almeracian descent, then I must inform you of my people's history and ethnic groups in a short manner.
In the early history of Almerac, the people of Almerac were warrior folk as large and strong as they could get on this side of the galaxy. Being the expansionists that we were at the time, we have either exterminated, driven out, or assimilated alien races in our corner of the Milky Way, specifically in the last ends of the Scutum-Centaurus galactic arm. At the end of this galaxy, Almerac had to survive out of sheer blood and willpower to endure such intense savagery and competition in those early days. Though we have this idea of our race being superior to others and, therefore, finding other lesser ones beneath us, we are not entirely opposed to assimilating other races that we find desirable by their strength.
We had the innate ability to breed with our humanoid species thanks to ancient Almeracians dabbling in the sciences of eugenics and genetic engineering. Suppose an Almeracian of either sex would have offspring with a humanoid, who the Almeracian believes to be worthy of such a matter. In that case, the offspring will keep the desirable and strongest traits of either parent. Other races could pass down their genes, with males and females putting half of their genetics to the offspring, thus creating a child sharing half of their parents. The mixed Almeracian child, however, will inherit 80-90 percent of the Almeracian's physical looks and proportions while still gaining the other parent's sought-after traits.
On Almerac, her moons and her sister planets like Neu-Tamarae, Maxivelt, and Almoran; all consist of 'pure-blooded' Almeracians. This also includes the majority of later colonies of moons and planets that had no previous sentients inhabit them. In the cases they did, the races were deemed inferior to be assimilated and cast out or outright destroyed.
In a long multi-generational plan, if a conquered race was found to be suitable for integration within Almerac, Almeracians were to settle the planet en masse and create families with the locals through marriage; consent had no part in this. With the massive influx of Almeracian settlers and how Almeracian traits will dominate the offspring's genes, the conquered people will see their original population dwindle as the planet's gene pool gradually cast out non-Almeracian traits.
In time and inevitably, the conquered people of that planet will be a thing of ancient history, and their descendants will be proud Almeracians with a few characteristics that differ from other Almeracians.
As a result of conquest and tradition, the conquered people's name would be part of the planet's new identity, followed by Almerac. For example, the peoples who once lived in Teutonia, old Teutons we called them, were obviously conquered it, and the ancient Almeracians who were descendants of the assimilated old Teutons became Teuoniks and the planet to be called Teuto-Almerac.
This counts to other planets that have been conquered, like Khera-Almerac, or Khera as it is now called. Old Khera, or the Kherubim, was a powerful race that once rivaled ancient Almerac. It was said that the race had multiple sub-races with a separate unique power to their own caste system, including giant purple-skinned berserkers named Titanthropes. It was also noted that the Kherubim were once ageless and often battled against the recently extinct Daemonites.
Powerful they were, for sure, yet their strength in being ageless seemed to be a genetic flaw as they were notoriously slow at breeding and repopulating as if it was a deliberate drawback intended by nature. So when war came with ancient Almerac, the Old Kherans resisted heavily yet were eventually overwhelmed by the Almeracians who simply could replace their numbers while the Kherubim couldn't.
Draka-Almerac, or Drakon, was another planet where ancient Almerac assimilated and the original inhabitants were no more. The old Draka were obsessed with racial purity and supremacy as they had based themselves in a rigid slave society. The Drako-Almeracians, Drakonier as we also call them, have taken these aspects as well.
With naming conventions like Khera-Almerac, Teuto-Almerac, Draka-Almerac, Helgha-Almerac, and other planets, they are also the reason for the title of 'Leader of all of Almerac' most of the royal family carry. For example, if my cousin were to say she was the leader of all of Almerac, she would be announcing that she was the monarch of all Almerac under her rule, hence why no monarch had ever said 'Leader of Almerac' as there was no single Almerac to be a leader of.
Now that I have explored my people's history and the different cultures we could practice, Almeracians like Lieutenant Juri should not be stereotyped as all general Almeracians. However, Juri was just the extreme case, but nonetheless, a huge swath of Almeracians would indeed tolerate and accept or even perform his ideas.
After the briefing, the task force moved out of Thebor and hyperspaced to Murgador. Orbiting around the planet, he ground forces within their transports were given equipment and supplies to prepare for the ground assault within the coming days. Once the orders came, the invasion of the Yuever Consortium commenced, and the invading fleets were dispatched to rush their defenses throughout their space.
A sense of elevated spirit washed throughout the ship when word came in that the fleet's vanguard was engaging in combat against their ships and was winning. I was in the barracks conducting another equipment check with Messier in the platoon. Some of the men were excited for another battle despite their position within the Galactic Empire. Some, I've noticed, were deeply concerned about the approaching invasion. And there were others that hated their status amongst this time and wished nothing more to get this over with.
A good portion of the platoon has been through combat before, but there are a few others like me who have never shot or been shot at before at a ground assault. While the dangers of piloting a starfighter was objectively more dangerous, there was an essence of intimacy in close combat engaged by two beings.
Within space, there could be a million of things; possibilities, outcomes, causes, and consequences that could manifest into the cold void that can bring you to death's veil in another million horrible ways.
Your starship could instantly lose power and your equipment could fail to deliver a cold suffocating death to you. A piece of fast-moving interstellar rock or debris could puncture your shields, penetrate your cockpit, and mash your body into a mushy mess. A spear of deadly energy can target you out of all of your comrades nearby, as if it had a quarrel with you personally, and utterly pulverize your entire being into a burst of superheated light. One wrong maneuver, twist, or turn in the wrong place could mark your end.
Piloting a starfighter, you are compelled to pray to whatever deity or cosmic force that you believe in to protect you in the experience; if not, then you could only ask for a quick death.
Fighting on the ground seems safer yet you are no less vulnerable. But you know where the enemy is at and know that you can kill him. It was a warrior-like situation that many of my ancestors faced, and I could only hope to live through it.
Two days after the invasion started, some men became bored, like caged Almeracian two fanged leopards wanting to strike prey beyond its bars. One of the Corporals, Alberik from Nibe-lunga, was dealing out jokes and comments that made fun of the waiting that we had to endure.
I, too, was nervous and could only stare at the viewport of my private quarters that had a show at the void battle a star system away. Yes, it may have been light years away, but the space battle in the Ghan System was close enough that the explosions of larger ships could have been seen. Within the black backdrop with sprinkles of white dots, occasional bright lights would appear next to them, as though the universe was giving birth to miniature stars, then as quickly as they appear, the explosions from afar disappear. All of this reminded me of fireworks displays but of a dangerous sort.
In the third day of the campaign, the brigade stationed in the Jugholder and other units transported in the assault fleet were ordered to be ready for deployment as the task force prepared for hyperspace. In a mad dash, we quickly gathered all of our gear, and went to the drop bay of the Acclamator. Within the large loading bay of the transport, I've done another equipment check of my men despite their lacking motivations to do so. The command bridge warned us that the ship would enter hyperspace, and we felt a jolting jab around us once we jumped out of real space.
Susi, while there was still time for it, made another briefing for the battalion enlisted and officer leaders about our orders. With the Brigade that of being a penal unit, it was expected that we were to be the first Imperials to step foot on Ghan, mainly its capital city. Deep in the Rixxa's government and financial districts, anti-ship batteries were put in key locations during the Yuever rule. Orbital bombardment was not an option at the moment because the Yuever forces put a protective shield around the city to hinder energy attacks. Still, small craft and shuttles could penetrate the shield.
The brigade was "volunteered" by divisional command to take the assault first to attack these batteries so that the main landing forces could deploy. 4th battalion's objective was a trio of tall energy cannon towers in the city's northwest area.
In the third hour of our hyperspace jump, we were called to board our gunships and shuttles and prepare for launch. Half of my platoon went with me in one LAAT/i, and the other went with Messier in another LAAT behind our own. Companies that were expected to have heavy casualties boarded Gamma-class attack shuttles. I'm unsure if I was supposed to be relieved or scared because of that.
The LAAT/is were put onto the bay's dropping racks and the gunship's side doors closed, sealing my side of the platoon within the belly of the ship. The LAAT/i was such a heavy-looking machine; it had armor similar to AT-AT armor and wide-sloped down wings that made it seem like a vulture always gliding in the air. They were well-armored against small-arms fire, but flak would nonetheless tear it into oblivion. The gunship's weaponry, the fact that we will be escorted by starfighters, and that landing zone will be saturated by supporting HMP droid gunship fire before we land have assured me, but not have calmed my heart.
We felt a shake that told us that the hyperspace jump had ended and the roaring of the Jugholder's engines racing to the orbit was background noise far away. Neither of us spoke as the LAATs troop bay bathed us in red light, and we were dropped out of the Acclamator and into Ghan's atmosphere. Inertia compensators helped with the turbulent descent downward, but not long after we entered Ghan's gray skies, flak explosions bursted near the gunships. Occasionally, they made the LAAT tug this and that way like a bird being dragged by an air thermal. Company comms were still operational, if not filled with buzzing static from time to time.
The more we went closer to the ground, less of the flak bursts were felt and heard. A countdown was initiated by the co-pilot as the gunship's repulsor lift kicked in. My heart raced and my men, new to combat or otherwise, were in the same position. "Thirty seconds!" The voice of the co-pilot warned and I could almost feel the gunshot near the earth. In an instant, those thirty seconds of calm ended and the red glow changed to a green. "Go!" He issued out.
The troop bay doors parted away for us and the chaos of battles unfurled before me and my men. Gunships and attack shuttles came down from the skies like locusts. Small clouds of energy bolts turning into anti-flak bursts polluted the skies just as much as the gunships did. Waves of LAATs dropped off disembarking stormtroopers and quickly flew upward. Some craft were hit by anti-craft fire made by entrenched Yuever and local Ghan collaborator soldiers. Hit LAATs and other shuttles were engulfed in flames as debris and even some Imperials fell from the sky.
Tracers from flak fire clawed to the horizon as passing by TIE-Bombers, and HMP droid ships unleashed payloads of bombs and missiles that atomized Rixxa's defenders who were unlucky enough to be out in the open. Columns of smoke from far in the city curled to the clouds. It was a cacophony of fire and destruction.
All of us jumped off the gunship, one stormtrooper was shot in the chest just right after 2 steps out of the LAAT. He fell face first. Blaster bolts, light and heavy, weaved and flew around us, trying to take our lives in their fiery glow, as we exited the ships. The landing zone was one of the recreational parks for the city.
Due to the surprise attack and general location of the fixed battery tower, Yuever and collaborating Ghanites, hastily, created a trench network that ringed around the laser tower in the forest park. Lacking the foreknowledge of an invasion and only being garrison troopers, the defenders only managed to create a dirt trench that was wide enough to fit two beings side by side while standing in its narrow depth allowing a person to be in a somewhat comfortable position from blaster fire above.
Caught in barrages of fire, instinct took hold of me—took control of all of us—with the LAATs that were in lifting off to get another round of stormtroopers to take—ceasing our way out of here—our only chance of taking refuge was to charge toward the trench line to our front. Like gazelles caught in a sudden, raging typhoon and to escape within the forest for cover, we dashed with desperate vigor to the Yuever trenches.
My platoon and I charged in the trench with a flight and no other purpose only to get out of the fire. Some men managed to unsheath their bayonets to attach them to their carbines and rifles. Some just brought up their bayonets and grasped them in their other hand. I, in my distilled focus on safety, did not get my knife.
The Yuevers shot at us in their trench, but we were fast enough to end the gap between us, jump, and fall onto the trench. We heaped onto each other or crashed upon the Yuevers themselves in the madness. I fell and collided downward on three Yuever soldiers; my unwieldy collision knocked them off their feet. We and the enemy managed to recover, and close combat started.
What savagery we deployed onto the enemy. My stormtroopers took the lives of several Yuevers in one-to-one fights or even attacked entire groups in the confined space of the trench. Bayonets were jabbed into alien chests and throats, some Yuevers tried to wrestle against my men but Almeracians with stormtrooper armor made those attempts short lived and ended in a predictable winner. Blasters were pulled up in point blank range and removed heads or created large gaping holes in their blue bodies.
It was an orgy of blood and warrior spirit.
I didn't have time to gather my bayonet to my side onto the three Yuevers I knocked over, so I aimed my E-90 assault blaster rifle to the hip and pressed the trigger. Flurry of red shots hit the three Yuevers and took their lives.
[Lore Note: The E-90 Assault Blaster Rifle doesn't exist in the Star Wars Universe. This is a weapon that I want to introduce because I think it looks cool. Its design copies the real-world rifle, the HK G11]
Off to the corners of my eyes, I saw Lieutenant Simo and his platoon exit their LAATs, charge a different portion of the trench and conduct themselves as warriors as well. So much blood was shed and ferocity shown. The Yuevers that were left in the trench fled like hares spotting dangerous beasts. They went over the top and ran away from us. I didn't pursue or give any orders to shoot, but Messier, with his own E-90, and some of my men shot the fleeing Yuevers at the backs with no mercy.
I didn't make this choice of killing fleeing enemies a problem at the moment due to the adrenaline rush swirling through my body. I gave order to shoot the trench line that the Yuevers were fleeting to. The Yuever soldiers that were already there engaged with us in a firefight. I commanded Bruuno's heavy weapons squad to place their E-Web heavy blasters to face the enemy trench and they laid devastating fire onto them. The fleeing Yuevers that were caught in between were utterly torn to shreds by the E-webs' bolt fire and some more in the trench that were unlucky enough to not duck in time and, consequently, lost their heads or upper torso.
The E-Webs were such a powerful weapon that I hope we dare not face one day.
I noticed through the chaos that most of my men were covered in blood, which wasn't of their own. Crimson blood gleaned over their white armor that, just a few hours ago, was sparkling clean. Now, blood and dirt caked those protective gear. Corporal Zeelut had the worst of it all; his armor was almost completely drenched in blood as if he entered through a slaughterhouse. His skill at the bayonet knife showed his barbarity.
Enemy blood covered him so much that during his fight against his last victim that lay on the trench floor, the bayonet in his hand slipped to the ground by the amount of blood making it slippery. Instead of grabbing it, he appropriated a nearby, empty Yuever helmet then proceeded to bash the enemy soldier with the helmet till his head was a mess of gore. After the ordeal and amid a firefight between trenches, flies gathered around Zeelut, believing him to be a walking corpse. Alberik and the others joked at the behest of the cursing Zeelut.
The Yuever attempts to retake the front trench failed multiple times and they stopped once a party of them tried to assault our position through the connecting communications trench, only to be killed outright by our detonators. Vo'Tan and the rest of the company boarded out of the LAATs and shuttles and consolidated in the front trench.
Vo'Tan Ordered Juri's and Zieg'freig's platoons to assault through the communication trenches while Simo and my troops laid down supportive fire and acted as reserves. Both Lieutenants haughtily took the orders in zealous pursuit and stormed the trenches in a mad rush; throwing detonators and bombs around trench corners and bends, blasting aimlessly through the smoke. Shell-shocked Yuevers either put up minimal resistance, fled, or surrendered at the first chance they got. The only real threat that posed a danger to us were the Ghanite volunteers who bravely fought to the bitter end for their homeland rather for the patronage of their outer system overlords.
Zieg'frieg and his men let some of the Yuevers they encountered survive and took them as prisoners, but Juri and his men didn't give the defenders a chance to do so.
An hour into trench clearing, Vo'Tan had ordered the rest of the company to line with Juri and Zieg'frieg in a final fight to take the defenses that ringed the laser tower. The tower itself was located at the far corner of the ruined garden park. In a circle, was a trench line that had two casemate bunkers that had, within their narrow openings, one heavy stationary blaster gun. The tower was still operational, its twin heavy cannons sending beams of energy onto departing and landing gunships and craft in the sky.
Simo And I were to take the left bunker and Juri and Zieg'frieg were to capture the right one. My platoon had only a few detonators left. I ordered Sergeant Steina and Corporal Visarik and his fireteam to scavenge the dead bodies of Yuever soldiers for any available grenades and munitions of their own. Minutes passed, and Steina and Visarik's party came back with booty. Many of the stolen detonators were attached to bandoliers.
The platoon restocked munitions with the captured weaponry. In the time we had, I made a makeshift satchel charge with two bandoliers tied tightly with some cable.
The attack order came, Simo's men and my platoon assaulted above trenches. Our charge was masked by a previously thrown smokescreen followed by a mortar fire from the company's mortar teams. Bruuno's E-Web team did their best to lay heavy fire into the gun nests. The barrage lifted and we jumped into the last of the trenches. The Yuevers that took cover in crouches in the trench had barely time to react to our attack and as they perceived what was happening, our blasters and bayonets ended their lives.
I, Messier, Zeelut, Ki'Vela, and Grunkoph crawled in front of the machine gun bunker. I fumbled the detonator bandoliers as the gun inside was blasting away. I quickly activated the Yuever detonator on the bomb bandolier, went up, threw the makeshift satchel charge in the narrow opening of the gun port, and fell to the ground for cover. I heard exasperated voices of terror and surprises inside of the casemate. A second passed and the heavy gun stopped firing. A second after that and a loud, roaring noise was made. Plasma fire birthed out of the gun hole and shook the ground around the bunker.
After the fire cleared, I went to my feet, set my E-90 to automatic and put storms of energy bolts into the smoking bunker. Ki'Vela and Alberik shot into the bunker hole as well. Then, just as quickly, I had myself, Messier, and Zeelut go to the back of the bunker's main entrance and to get any survivors. Messier went to the bunker door, and just when he was about to pull it open, it struck open itself and a coughing, Yuever trooper caked in dust and went out. I noticed that he was just possibly around my age. He didn't take complete three steps out of the fuming bunker when Zeelut blasted his head off with his DLT-20A
The young boy heaped onto the ground as I was speechless. Zeelut and Alberik made a joke that I didn't hear directly as I couldn't keep my eyes off of the young Yuever. Possibly a conscript, I imagine.
My shakiness ended and comms chatter in my helmet that was of Vo'Tan relaying orders to platoon commanders for another attack on the battery tower. My platoon left the bunker with Simo's men capturing their bunker and participating in the fight to take the tall laser towers. Without the supporting machine gun bunkers, the last trench line that was filled with Yuever soldiers either surrendered with arms high to the air or fled in desperation. This included the gun operators within the tower as they left it by exiting at its entrance at its base. The tower went silent and our company objective was completed.
Simo's, Zieg'frieg's, and my platoons took the Yuevers as prisoners. Juri hid his discontent under his helmet, though he regained his satisfaction by having his men shoot at the fleeing enemy that left the destroyed city park and into the streets. Vo'Tan positioned the platoons in calculated areas to defend the company's section of responsibilities until the rest of the battalion could also fulfill their objectives.
My platoon was to watch the corner of the flak tower, which had a large city street look at it. I had Bruuno's two E-Webs positioned on either side of the street in a ruined building where they could have intersected fire toward the enemy front. The rest of the platoon hid themselves in abandoned and destroyed vehicles and buildings closest to the garden park.
As more LAAT within the city park carried out the men of our Briagde in, my side of the defenses was attacked by a mass of Yuever formation that had to be a battalion sized. Local collaborator Ghanites were also within the group in leased Yuever armor and weaponry. No armor or major support was detected in their ranks. By the looks of things and how they managed themselves, I've believed them to be a quick reaction force that has been scrounge up by whatever Yuever units were still operational in this part of the city. Their hurried pace and overall disorganized presence of the Yuevers was a sign that they were desperate to recapture the flak tower. They knew very well that Imperial ships would only keep swarming down if those laser batteries were not up.
Instead of firing outright, I ordered the men to hold their aim and fire only when I believed they were at range within our blasters to be effective and in sight of the E-Webs where they could mow down the Yuevers at minimal effort. The pause of approaching battle was as intense as the landing drop was. When the front section of the Yuevers was close enough that I could see the expressions on their faces, I unleashed the command to fire. "Blast them!"
Heavy rain of blaster bolts thundered out of buildings and onto the approaching Yuevers and their Ghanite 'allies'. Quickly, bodies fell to the street floor. Yuevers and some Ghanites ran to cover the nearby buildings or destroyed vehicles. Thrown detonators had stopped most of the enemy from entering refuge but otherwise, some managed to get to safety. They responded in kind with fire of their own. The E-Webs chewed up any of Yuevers that failed to reach cover. At least one third of the Yuevers had to be taken out by the initial blasts from the E-Webs.
Spears of crisscrossing energy rain in between buildings; it was a sorry sight to see that a few of the enemies that were caught in the ambush in the street did survive but lay on the ground injured, with their fallen comrades. "Just like pot-shot!" Zeelut bellows out with hearty laughter as chaos zigzags between streets.
We were reinforced with Zieg'frieg's platoon and firmly cemented our hold onto the section of the flak tower. Time elapsed and bodies and smoking native multi-level buildings were smoking husks of their former glory. What was left of the main force dropped all hope of their mission and retreated hastily. Only a few brave Yuevers who denied the cowardly act for themselves and most, if not all, of the Ghanite soldiers with them stayed and fought like lions.
The enemy was pinned toward multiple buildings and I brought the responsibility to clear the houses and buildings to my platoon for the company. Using salvage Yuever detonators and supplied extras by Zieg'frieg's men, we went through house to house, room to room to clear it from the enemy who persistently fought on. By the time we were done, we had very few cartridges left, tired, and the sky was dusking.
In our effort to take the flak tower, the brigade managed to take hold of our main task and the main division has been starting to launch its full offensive in earnest. Vo'Tan said that my platoon earned the first sleep, and we did so. We took up quarters in one of the abandoned machine gun casemates further back in the hastily arranged trench line. We had our rations, and most of us slept.
I chased sleep and found it difficult, but the excitement and horror of war weighed in upon me, finally, and I fell to slumber.
The next morning and it being the second day of the invasion, my men and I regained some semblance of energy from our interrupted sleep and our other set of combat rations we ate. We relieved Simo's platoon that guarded the street entrance where he fought off the Yuever counterattack.
In a short briefing by Vo'Tan; the division overnight and in the pursuing morning captured and did most of their assigned tasks. Swafts of the city had been captured, and either Yuever forces retreated to the inner sections of the city or promptly surrendered.
Again, the Ghanite collaborators put up worthwhile defenses and managed to even repel some Imperial forces from taking the southern suburbs and places of worship. An armor attachment to the ground forces, however, that is mainly composed of HAVr A9 Floating Fortresses, has stomped out the Ghanite resistance of that area, and forced them to retire to whatever position they had left.
In unconfirmed reports, supposedly, majority of the Ghanite units have saw the writings of the wall, believe that their chance of independence can be attained, or both, have gone rogue against their Yuever colonial masters and are fighting them and Imperials forces in a bid for self-determination.
I feel somewhat sorry for them; the people of Ghan IX had not seen great times in the recent decades and I somewhat feel that in the near future, that state would be the same again, if not worse.
At the current time, the blunt force of the division's attention has been focused on penetrating the city's inner defenses and deactivating its shielding. But even then, it was clear that Imperial victory was close and unstoppable. The shield may be up and until its lifted off, surgical orbital strikes and large vessels would not be available for support. Yet, Imperial forces in Rixxa have already encircled major Yuever defense units, and several pockets of the enemy have been made.
The brigade has been assigned not to participate in the main offensive. It was charged in clearing out the northern section of the city and locating any Yuever deserters, and or any Yuever and local units that as of yet has not been destroyed or overrun and are fixed in fighting till the end.
By the wake of the afternoon, the battalion began to seek and destroy patrols for any foe; "Bring them alive if you can, but shooting them would also do so fine as well." Vo'Tan relayed the prisoner engagements from the Brigade command.
The rest of the day, I and my platoon walked through ruined streets and neighborhoods that once may have been lively, maybe even beautiful in a sense of simplicity. But due to the cruel nature of war and violence, places where people who shared the same culture that stayed here for generations are now turned into rubble. Marketplaces and shops that contained fine wares and other decorative goods of the local people were trampled and robbed from looters or burned by the fighting. Playgrounds and other public spaces where children happily played and convened were now bombed out and lost their profound innocence.
Having to look out in these dark ruins for the enemy, I felt a sense of melancholy and sorrow. In a different time, I could have come to this world when war had not forsaken it. I could see its unique foods, customs, and traditions that these peoples had for millennia. Could they ever recover from this? If they survived Yuever occupation then perhaps, yet the Yuever Consortium was nothing like the Galactic Empire and its Almeracian appetite it denies having.
I could only imagine cultures such as this that have been destroyed and completely forgotten when my ancestors conquered similar worlds like Ghan. Like a compulsion, ancient Almerac became an empire that took the lives of countless worlds and cultures that otherwise would have bloomed and spread throughout the stars. They died before they could flower.
I fear that Ghan wouldn't be the first world that Vader's new Almerac will ravage in the name of Galactic 'peace and order', and it will not be the last. Almeracians had the potential to rival powerful races like the Thanagarians or even more so, but we faltered and, like going into hibernation, lost our energy many eras ago Now, Vader has reawakened something terrible within Almerac's spirit, and I do not think that even he could understand nor stop it.
In our patrol, we saw some Ghanite civilians here and there, scavenging for food and supplies. The Yuever defenders took whatever they could gather when the invasion started and left the locals with almost nothing. By Imperial decree, these people are not yet citizens and so did not gain the privileges of food, shelter, and medicine in struggling times such as now. However, if they were to swear allegiance to the 'New Galactic Order and its principles,' then their citizenship would be enacted, and the military would be inclined to help its citizenry.
It came as no shock that very few Ghanites did so, as by the looks they gave us, they saw us as nothing but another form of occupiers and colonials. In a sense of shame, I felt the same way.
The third day of the invasion came; the Imperial attack on the city's inner defenses were successful, the division managed to destroy the shield generator and were on the verge overrunning Yuever forces. With the shield gone, heavier vehicles can be airlifted in; Imperial forces can conduct surgical orbital bombardment strikes, which high command fully capitalized on. The 3rd regiment of the brigade had the highest capture rate within the unit; estimates go from at least 4,600 captured Yuever and hostile Ghanite forces.
Machine gun and blaster bolt fire that reverberated their sounds across the city have dwindled from being a constant drowning sound to occasionally being heard. The ground shook in small instances when great spears of emerald fire broke through the clouds and erupted fire and brimstone to any Yuever holdouts. Artillery, regular, rocket, and turbo laser alike have roared off in the distance.
In the southeastern corner of the city, a repulsor-lift company from one armored detachment, the 387th mechanized brigade, has been ambushed by bushwacking Ghanites who surprised them by popping up from the sewers. The company managed to escape the enemy, though it took on a hefty amount of equipment and vehicle losses. A stormtrooper battalion from the division was dispatched to dislodge the enemy but found the cramped spaces of the sewer tunnels to be difficult for such operations, discovered that the Ghanites were not to be scoffed at and inflicted heavy losses on the battalion. Using droids was proven to be difficult afterward.
Apparently, from what Simo told me, the division's chemical unit was ordered to be at the scene and deploy a new weapon called 'defoiler bombs'. No word from the enemy since Simo said. I asked what 'defoiler' meant and what it could do. He replied in his Kheran simplicity, "Don't have a blasting clue."
During a patrol, one of my men heard a noise within the bottom of a ruined house. An investigation later and Steina's squad found 17 unarmed Yuever who were badly injured in the house's basement. They surrendered immediately, and their highest ranked, an NCO, said the basement was used as an injured collection point during the first few days of fighting. Their unit had fled and abandoned them when the Imperials overran their defenses.
I had Steina give prisoners some of our provisions that we could spare and tend to the wounded. Five of the Yuevers were at the precursor stage of death and were beyond help. I ordered Steina and his squad to escort back the 12 to the battalion. When they were gone, I gave myself the unfortunate responsibility and burden to give the five wounded Yuevers a chance of mercy and relief from their suffering. It was simple and clean; my SE-14 pistol was to their heads, and a trigger squeeze pushed them through death's door.
I didn't look at their sickly and frail eyes; I wouldn't have the courage to do so.
Hours later, when the patrol started anew, we were fired upon by Ghanite soldiers who were held up in a three-story, ruined building. None of us were injured thankfully unless you want to count Alberik's composure when one blaster bolt gazed at the top of his helmet.
We got to cover and I myself issued out the plea of surrender for their own sakes. They responded by firing in a meaningful manner. We peppered the inside of the building with detonators and carried on in. A few survived and didn't let themselves or each other surrender. All of them died.
Throughout the day, we encountered Ghanite civilians—young, old, injured, a good portion were women with their men nowhere to be seen—who gathered onto us like desperate animals. They begged and cried for food and other amenities. In these crowds, we attempted to gain order and control over them. Doing my best, I tried to offer these people the only comfort I could offer them and informed them that the only way they could gain food and medical attention was if they allowed themselves to be under Imperial rule as citizens.
Unlike before, the desperate mothers and other poor Ghanites were now suffering from lack of food and injuries from the fighting that their distaste for other outworlders had gone away. Most did pledges with their children crying and walling as they repeated their sworn oaths with dubious loyalty. The majority of the citizens that flocked to us for safety and oathed to be under Imperial citizenship were Yuever colonists. If you are confused as to why Yuever civilians are to be here, then I should deal with your uncertainty with an explanation.
During the Yuever occupation and attempts to civilize the Ghanites, the Yuever government allowed Yuever civilians to settle on the planet. Not only to help the Ghanites to get the taste of civility, but also a way to expand Yuever culture and ultimately colonize the Ghanites so that Ghan IX can have a population that is loyal to the Consortium. Something in a manner that the ancient Almeracians used to conduct themselves though less violent and effective.
Racial tensions between the settling Yuevers and the Ghanites, who have been fed up with off world exploitation have boiled up to some riots and chaotic messes in the past. The Yuever garrison, though had successfully fought against it. During the first and second days of the naval engagements, the Colonial government tried to evacuate as many of Yuever civilians as possible off the planet. When the Imperial fleet won, a sizable population of Yuever settlers were trapped along with their military.
Now the Yuever army had been defeated, escaped, or dead; the Yuever civilians were mostly defenseless against the vengeful Ghanite natives. It wasn't a shock that the Yuever settlers were begging to be Imperial citizens just for protection from the Ghanites.
There were so many civilians wanting our help that I contacted the battalion about the situation and they responded back with how similar situations were happening across the northern and eastern sides of the city. We contained the crowds the best we could and ordered Steina's and Stahl's squads to escort a trail for the newly appointed Imperial citizens to battalion headquarters.
On the fourth day of the campaign, the situation spiraled out of control and the city went mad. No, dear viewer, the Yuever military has not regrouped and counterattacked in a blaze of glory; majority of their forces now were finished and a few pockets, that couldn't be no more than company size, existed in a few places. I am talking about the tensions between the Yuevers settlers and the Ghanites. Unjust cruelty was on the Ghanite agenda.
When most of the fighting stopped, the civilians exited their shelters, destroyed homes that they hid within, and other temporary hovels from the remnants of the city. The Ghanites realized that their Yuever occupiers were no longer in control of their destiny and instead of celebrating in a dignified manner or helping the Imperials reconstruct, they instead resulted in acts of debauchery and pillars, specifically targeted at the Yuever civilians.
Ghanite mobs dragged Yuever men, and the few Yuever soldiers captured out to the ruined streets and either stoned them to death or beat them with makeshift weapons. Some Ghanites started to loot Yuever places of worship and houses. Not even the elderly and children of Yuever were safe from Ghanite blood lusted vengeance. Unspeakable things were done to the Yuever women.
I, with Zieg'frieg went to battalion headquarters for an officers meeting, and the command station was buzzing with orders and commands of the situation. Simo greeted us and his once lively face was deeply disturbed. I questioned his ghostly demeanor, and he recounted the report he and others received not long ago.
Just a few hours ago, a patrol from a squad of the 4th Battalion encountered a ghastly scene perpetrated by a few Ghanite fighters. In one of the basements of a house, eight Yuever women, one was in her early adolescence, were all kidnapped by Ghanite soldiers during the chaos of the invasion and, for almost four days straight, were brutally gang-raped by the Ghanite men and subjected to other horrors. Two of the girls died from their injuries shortly after the patrol found them.
I was speechless, horrified, and sick to my stomach. Zieg'frieg was at the same level as Simo. Juri was close by and had a smile on his face. Simo demanded to know why Juri was doing such a thing, and with a chuckle, Juri replied, "Looks like we're gonna have a contest on who could get the most Ghanite scalps." Raping, beatings, looting, murdering, another crimes were vented out by the Ghanites onto the Yuevers. Sometimes, it was in the streets themselves and passing Ghanites wouldn't stop it.
Rixxa had lost her past and potential beauty to orgies of horrid bloodshed, violence, and anger.
Command did not condone such vile behavior and ordered Imperial forces within the city to quell the chaos. Most of the division now were doing policing duties to stop and prevent any of these attacks. Looters, rapists, known murderers were either shot on sight when the crime was caught or captured and will be transported off world to a penal world. There were cases where the Ghanite crowds were becoming too rowdy and the debauchery and crimes uncontrollable; a stormtrooper sergeant from 1st company ordered his men to unleash their blasters onto the mobs. Eleven were killed, and the Sergeant was given a fair warning.
On the next day, despite Imperial attempts, the Ghanites wouldn't give up their vengeful assaults. The situation didn't seem to change. The brigade commander saw what was happening and issued a meeting for all company and battalion commanders to discuss the ordeal. I was brought along by Susi; he thought how I should bear and witness the brigade commander's great showing of his loyalty to the New Order and the Emperor.
"This is outrageous!" The general said in a thunderous voice within his command Turbo-tank.
"In the first moments of freedom from the Yuever Consortium, the Ghanites are doing vile, savage acts onto the Yuevers and the new Imperial citizens instead of embracing the New Order! With every fiber of my being, I WILL not let this stand any longer! The Ghanites will be shown that these crimes of this chaotic nature will not be tolerated by any means by the Galactic Empire, and I will be happy to command this unit to set an example for those who do so!"
"I want mass executions by firing squads done by your men; then, Company commanders will take out the worst of the perpetrators and degenerates from the execution lists and publicly hang them on the street posts themselves! Furthermore, their crimes will be written on signs and placed onto their chests to show the local population what the Empire does to criminals of the highest caliber! Peace and Order will prevail by any means, and the Ghanites will learn fast to listen and conduct themselves as civilized sentients!"
Afterward, battalions were assigned to either perform the executions by firing squad or help the division's gendarmerie units to round up any criminal and other agitators. My platoon was sent to a courtyard where we would do the executions. I was in my black uniform and would only give my men the orders to shoot. All of this was overseen by a Gendarmerie captain.
In the evening, Juri's men dropped off the first round of prisoners to be executed. All 18 were Ghanite but two, the duo of Yuevers were injured and were deemed 'unfit' to be shipped off world for menial work. The prisoners were all to stand in a line that paralleled the firing squad. Their hands were bound to their backs with cables, and they looked understandingly as they knew what would happen.
All were males of various ages. Most wore civilian clothing except for the one that had the armor of a Ghanite volunteer militiaman. I studied the line of gloom-faced aliens and spotted a young boy who had to be at least my age. I quickly ordered one of Juri's men who dropped off the prisoners to hurry by my side and explain the boy's attendance here.
"He was caught stealing food," the corporal said without sympathy. "Lieutenant Juri grabbed the boy himself when we were rounding up these criminals and made sure he would be here."
I put in effort to hide my disdain for Juri, had the corporal leave, and then went to the Gendarmerie Captain for a removal request for the boy. The Captain said, "What of it?" I further explained that the boy was just that, a boy, and had no right to be here. The Captain, in his own black, stormtrooper uniform, faced me with a hard look. "He's old enough to know better, Lieutenant Riktofen, it's not my problem that he goes hungry until he breaks the law. Now shut up! More is in the way."
I defended the boy in a fury in front of my men, the Captain's own Gendarmerie and the prisoners. The Captain snapped back, "That's enough! Orders are orders and you are bound by the Imperial oath as an officer to follow and enforce them! If the soldier who is assinged to execute the boy doesn't shoot and kill him, then he and you will be up there next!"
In my defeated state, I turned to the side of the firing squad. I stood in silence as the final preparations for the execution were completed. A good amount of the fighting men of the 3rd Penal Brigade had committed such crimes that these civilians were shot for. In the chaos earlier, perhaps some of the men had ideas to do such things again. But knowing full well the consequences, they rather sit on their tight leashes and obey orders.
My leash was tight enough as it is, and got off easily, especially when I infuriated my step-cousin. The prices of individuality. I looked into my men who wore their stormtrooper armor and despite their helmeted gaze, most of them knew my wish and believed it to be futile.
In labored confidence, I ordered the firing squad, "Aim!" Blasters were raised and trained their muzzles onto the prisoners. "Ready!" They charged their weapons. I glanced at the boy; he stared at me. I quickly pulled my eyes to close and struggled to find the last words. "Fire!"
Crackling energies echoes in crisp, loud snaps. All of the bodies fell to the ground. None did get back up. A Genderamie soldier inspected the bodies, and those who survived the initial shot were finished off with his blaster pistol. I stood dazed, unmoving like a statue. Prisoners dragged away the bodies, and another set of executionees was put in a line by Juri's men.
I forgot how many times I gave the order to fire. Dozens? A hundred times? Those following days were a blur of death.
***
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