Star Wars: Starkiller

Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko and Foreman Miles Grint had been summoned with Grand Moff Tarkin. Doubts and intrigue quickly assaulted the minds of the 2 officers as soon as they learned of the summons.

The 2 knew that their track record, especially in dealing with rebel insurgents was not the best, so as they were on their way to the meeting, the 2 had already devised multiple scenarios in their heads of the punishments or reprisals Tarkin would give them, probably demote them or worse sentence them to prison for their incompetence in their duties as law enforcement officers.

Once they finished walking the intricate corridors of the Lothal military base, they found the door where Tarkin's office was currently located, once they entered and reported in, the 2 were met with a peculiar sight, Grand Moff Tarkin was being accompanied by the Minister, Agent Kallus and even the Inquisitor of whom they had so far only seen on rare occasions, usually related to Jedi sightings.

Finally it was Commandant Cumberlayne who broke the silence.

"You wanted to see us Grand Moff Tarkin?"

"Gentlemen sit down." Tarkin said without answering the Commanfant's question, to which they immediately responded.

"I understand you have experience dealing with these insurgents." Said Tarkin.

"Yes, sir." Cumberlayne replied.

"And your efforts have been less than successful?" Tarkin challenged which caused the two officers to break out in a sweat.

"Well, I... I wouldn't say..." Attempted to explain himself the officer.

"Commandant, if your efforts had been successful, we would not be having this little chat." Tarkin interrupted, silencing the officer. "Now, when was the last activity reported?"

This made Cumberlayne settle better in the chair standing up straighter and firmer as if pretending to stand erect.

"Sir, we responded personally to an attack last night in one of the outlying towns."

"And the details of this attack?" asked Tarkin to which responded this time Foreman Grint who had kept quiet all this time, to let the Commandant handle the situation, however, seeing that wasn't working, he chose to take the initiative.

"Nothing of note. The insurgents stole some supplies and escaped on speeder bikes. No casualties."

"But you see, Foreman, there is something of note in that report, no casualties. Your rebel cell is more principled than others." Tarkin said surprising the 2 officers.

"Others, sir? You mean there are other cells?" Cumberlayne asked this time.

"Cells, factions, tribes...Call them what you will. They lack the one thing that would make them a credible threat to the Empire, unity." Tarkin said emphasizing the last point by placing his hand on the table. "While your cell seems uninterested in violence, it does present a specific threat." Tarkin added.

"The Jedi, sir?" the Commander asked quietly, fearing retaliation.

"No, Commander. I am not speaking of the Jedi. While he is still a threat, he is not nearly as bloody as this individual," he replied as he activated a hologram showing an image of Galen, his face briefly visible as he moved.

"Gentlemen, I present to you the greatest threat the Empire has faced in this system so far." Both officers analyzed the image closely, but did not recognize the hooded man.

"May I ask who he is, sir?" asked the Commander.

"Well, that's the question, Commander. I thought you guys would know. In fact, the only reason you are still in my presence at this time is because I was hoping you might have some information about this fugitive."

"N-No, sir... I-I am sorry," Cumberlayne replied, barely whispering.

"No, I'm sorry, Commandant." Tarkin replied as he signaled the Inquisitor, who moved forward to position himself behind the two officers.

"This individual, single-handedly, has killed hundreds of our troops. And now I learn that their incompetence is such that they were not even aware of his existence," Tarkin said with a stern tone. "I can tolerate many things, gentlemen. We all make mistakes sometime, but repeated and consistent failure in the ranks of law enforcement is something I simply cannot allow."

With a slight quirk of his eyebrow, Tarkin gave the order. The Inquisitor activated his lightsaber and decapitated the two officers in a single motion. The horrified Minister covered her mouth as an expression of terror dominated her face. Kallus watched, dumbfounded, as the heads rolled to the ground.

"Let this serve as a warning, agent and Minister, from this day forward failure will have consequences." Tarkin said in a neutral, almost robotic tone.

"Agent Kallus, you will dispatch probe droids to every known location of insurgent activity on Lothal. We will discover the whereabouts of these criminals and we will make examples of them." Tarkin said staring at Kallus.

"Minister, you will be responsible for continuing to oversee that the resources allocated are used efficiently. There will be no room for error or excess. Understood?" Tarkin said as he turned to the Minister, whose face still reflected the shock of what she had just witnessed.

"Yes, Grand Moff Tarkin." Replied the Minister, straightening with effort as she tried to maintain her composure.

Tarkin nodded slowly, his calculating gaze scanning both subordinates before taking a step towards the central table where a holoprojector was broadcasting a magnified image of Lothal and its surroundings.

"These insurgents have operated in the shadows for far too long. If the local commanders have been unable to eliminate them, then we will take more extreme measures. I want all access and exits from the planteta blocked. No one is to leave or enter Lothal without our authorization. The rebels must feel that there is no safe place for them," Tarkin continued, his tone unrelenting as he marked strategic points on the holographic map.

"Minister, I demand daily reports on resource allocation. If we find that anything is not aligned with Imperial objectives, there will be consequences. And Agent Kallus..." Tarkin slowly turned to him, his gaze piercing. "I want results. No more reports of minor activities or excuses for lack of captures."

Kallus nodded firmly, regaining some of his composure. "Yes, Governor. The probe droids will be on the move before nightfall."

"Well, know however, that I will not be the only one monitoring your process to find this fugitive, someone high up in the Empire has asked me to personally oversee this operation after all." Which surprised both the agent and the Minister.

"Someone, sir? May I ask who it is?" The Minister asked.

Tarkin held up a hand in a calculated, authoritative gesture, indicating that no one move or speak. At that instant, the door to the room slid open with a soft, mechanical hum, revealing the towering silhouette of Darth Vader. The dim light of the room contrasted with his black armor, which seemed to absorb the brightness around him, enveloping him in an aura of authority and awe. His rhythmic, metallic breathing filled the room, transforming it into a space charged with tension.

The Minister tried to remain stoic, but the stiffness of her movements and the sweat beginning to bead on her forehead betrayed her nervousness. Her eyes blinked rapidly, as if searching for a way out that did not exist. A few steps away, Agent Kallus stood erect, his hands firmly folded behind his back. His military posture could not hide the slight tremor in his fingers nor the gleam of anxiety in his eyes.

The Inquisitor, kneeling in a position of absolute respect, bowed his head so deeply that his mask almost touched the floor. He dared not move beyond the slight sway of his cloak. Meanwhile, Vader advanced with deliberate steps toward the center of the room. His black cloak, heavy and perfectly fitted, moved with the grace of a stalking predator, casting a long, ominous shadow that seemed to consume the space between him and those present.

When he finally stopped, he slowly turned his helmet, surveying each with the intensity of a hunter assessing his prey. His voice rang out like muffled thunder, each word laden with authority and an implied threat.

"The threat we face is no mere insurgent," he declared, looking directly at the Minister and then at Kallus, as if weighing his worth in those instants. "This individual has exceptional...abilities. Skills that, if not handled properly, could compromise the Empire's authority in this sector."

The silence that followed his words was almost tangible, broken only by the sound of his breathing. Then Vader turned to Tarkin, whose posture remained unwavering. The Grand Moff's eyes were fixed on the Sith Lord, and though he remained calm, there was a slight stiffness in his jaw, as a reflex of respect for the hierarchy.

"I have reviewed the reports," Vader continued, his tone cold as steel. "The incompetence that has been demonstrated thus far cannot continue."

Tarkin, with his usual calculating serenity, bowed his head slightly before replying. "That is why, Lord Vader, I have taken steps to ensure that these errors are corrected," he said in a firm, but respectful voice. "I trust your presence will serve as a reminder of the gravity of this situation."

Vader nodded, his helmet slowly turning toward Kallus. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them just enough for the agent to feel the oppressive weight of his presence. Through the mask, Vader's invisible gaze seemed to pierce him, freezing him in place.

Through the mask, Vader's invisible gaze seemed to pierce him, freezing him in place.

"Agent Kallus," Vader began, his tone laden with intent, "you are assigned a new task. Not only must you locate this fugitive, but you must also bring him to me. Alive, if possible."

"Yes, Lord Vader," Kallus responded almost immediately. His voice, though firm, trembled slightly, betraying his effort to maintain composure.

Without turning, Vader directed his attention to the Minister. "You, Minister," he said with a deliberate pause that amplified the weight of his words, "will oversee that all sector resources are directed exclusively to this operation and that no one enters or leaves the planet. There will be no deviations, no errors. Failure is not an option."

The Minister nodded quickly, bowing her head in a show of deference. Her lips moved as if she wanted to respond, but she dared not utter a word. The tension in the room reached its peak, as Vader's figure remained motionless, projecting an unyielding authority that crushed any hint of defiance.

---

I was with Kanan and Sabine leaning against one of the arched structures at the entrance to the communications tower. The mission was a reconnaissance one, but I knew that things could get complicated at any moment. So I insisted on accompanying them, although Kanan seemed somewhat reluctant to my presence.

From our elevated position, the tower loomed imposingly in the distance, a symbol of the Empire's presence in Lothal. The wind blew lightly, ruffling my hood and causing Sabine's helmet visor to flash in the dim sunlight.

"There it is. The Empire's main communications tower on Lothal. It manages all transmissions from Imperial operations on the planet, including the Empire's HoloNet transmissions," Kanan explained as he calmly pointed to the target.

Sabine adjusted her visor, taking in the surroundings closely. "I see bucketheads on the perimeter and at least three anti-ship batteries around the base. It won't be an easy walk to the main entrance."

"Don't underestimate yourself, you can handle this," I said in a reassuring tone, trying to lighten the tension in the air.

Sabine turned her head slightly toward me, and though her helmet hid her expression, her tone betrayed a mixture of gratitude and mild discomfort. "Thank you."

"Let's concentrate on the mission, please," Kanan interrupted, shooting us a serious look that quickly snuffed out any attempt at casual conversation.

"Okay, let's say we get to the front door. What's next?" I asked, trying to keep us on plan.

Sabine was quick to respond. "I could load a data spike into the mainframe and have that transmitter operational in, I don't know, five minutes."

"Be optimistic." Kanan said, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"Five minutes is optimistic." Sabine replied firmly.

"Three minutes would be better." Kanan insisted.

"You can have it done right or you can have it done fast, but not both," replied Sabine with a smile in her voice.

"Okay, scan a holomap and let's get out of here," Kanan concluded as Sabine activated her tools to begin the scan.

The silence had barely settled when an Imperial transport flew past just below us. Its low drone rumbled through the air, and as we watched, we saw it deploy a spy probe. I felt a knot in my stomach as I recognized the danger that posed.

"I don't like the looks of that thing," Kanan muttered, watching as the probe began to move in our direction. "We need to move."

"How? The bikes are next to the road," Sabine said, her tone reflecting the same concern we were all feeling.

I looked around quickly, assessing our options.

"Relax, I've got it," I said confidently, extending my hand toward the probe.

"What do you mean 'got it'?" asked Kanan, with a mixture of confusion and concern on his face.

I didn't respond. I closed my eyes, letting the Force flow through me, reaching for the probe as if it were an extension of my own body. I felt it in my mind, its metallic structure, its vibrating energy. I clenched my fist with determination, and in an instant, the probe plummeted to the ground, crushed by an invisible force.

"Well, that was quick," Kanan commented, his expression surprised, though he tried to maintain his usual stoic countenance.

"Good job, Galen." Sabine said in a warm tone, nodding slightly in my direction. I returned the gesture without saying anything, focusing on maintaining my concentration.

"Yes, now we need to leave before the Empire manages to connect the dots on how their probe was damaged." Kanan said, bringing us back to the urgency of the situation.

The three of us quickly descended from the structure, moving towards the motorcycles carefully but without wasting time. We climbed onto them and accelerated, leaving the communications tower and the destroyed probe behind... or so we thought.

Unbeknownst to us, the probe, although inoperative, had recorded the last moments before its destruction. A fragment of information that would soon reach the hands of the Empire, announcing our presence.

---

Agent Kallus was on his way to the current office of Moff Tarkin and Lord Vader with an important lead he had received from one of the probes. Once he entered the door, he found Tarkin as usual sitting at his desk with a calculating look on his face while Vader was in the back simply looking out the window, as if he was thinking about something.

"Governor, one of our probes seems to have found something." Kallus said as he fed the image into the holoprojector on the desk. "We believe these are the speeder bikes responsible for the rebel activity near Jalath."

"Where was this footage taken?" Tarkin asked.

"Outside the main communications tower." Kallus replied.

"A perfect target for these criminals." Tarkin said.

"We can't risk losing the tower. We should reinforce security..." Kallus added.

"No agent." Vader suddenly said turning around. "Let them believe they still possess the element of surprise. Lure them in, and we shall be waiting." Ordered the Sith lord.

"As you wish my Lord." Said Kallus retreating, down the hallway meeting the Inquisitor who was on his way to Tarkin's office.

"Ah just in time Inquisitor." Tarkin said.

"Governor, my Lord." Said the Inquisitor as he knelt down on one knee.

"Inquisitor, I am giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself. Destroy the Jedi and capture the rest of the insurgents, except for the hooded one, I will deal with him personally. Do not disappoint me." Vader said in his usual stern, robotic tone.

"It will be done my lord." He replied simply.