Escapism

[Hazledine]

[align=center]Chapter 1 - First Contact[/align]

Faces stared up at the grey triangle moving slowly around in the clear blue sky above them. Other shapes could be seen as well. Small white and black dots were weaving around the larger object. They slowly started to get closer to the village and a few mothers ran inside with their children. Only one man had a look of fear on his face. As soon as he’d seen them he ran for his life. However, most of the people stayed outside in awe of these mysterious happenings. As the shapes began to get closer they could make them out in more detail and as they were studying them green flecks appeared from the larger object. These were travelling a lot faster than everything around them and, all too soon, were right on top of them.

After the first one hit, there was no more peace. All that could be heard were the screams of people as they ran in a blind panic. More of these green spears of death hit down and obliterated the ground people were running on. Only about five hit down around this village but it was enough to leave it with only fire and smoke. Others could be seen hitting down on other villages and townships around the area. As the few survivors of this massacre managed to find each other, the smaller ships touched down around the place and troops marched out of them. As this was happening, above them, the smaller black objects screeched across the landscape.

“Round up the survivors!” one man, in a smart uniform, ordered. The soldiers under his command moved instantly as the words left his mouth. It was not a hard job however as most of the people were gathered in the centre clearing. The troopers encircled them as others searched the surrounding debris.

The officer walked over to the group in the clearing and stared hard at their frightened faces. “He’s not here.” Another man, much older in years than the officer, who had previously been lurking in the shadows, stepped forward. “I know he is. Search the area immediately. And if he gets away I am holding you fully responsible Captain.” The man growled at the officer, who quickly got his men to search the surrounding area. As they all hurried off, the older man walked back to the transport ship flanked by two troopers. “Leave me.” He told them, and they walked away back to the Captain.

This man did not look comfortable. As he walked, he couldn’t help thinking that, if he failed in finding this one man… He shuddered and quickened his pace. With one glance at him you wouldn’t take him as one that showed fear, but he’d heard about the General’s response to his disappearance.

“Pardon?” gasped the then Major General.
“There’s no trace of him sir. He’s just… gone sir.” replied the soldier.
The General bunched his fists and stood up. He walked to the window and stared out into Elrood. After a while he turned around. The look on his face made the messenger shudder. “Get OUT!” the General screamed. The messenger turned and ran out of the office not stopping till he was back in his quarters. The General sat for some time, pondering over this disturbing news. This messed a lot up. How could he continue now?


The Lieutenant Colonel stepped onto the ship and sat down. “Lets go.” He ordered and they took off towards the Star Destroyer. As he sat in his chair he thought about the man he’d been tasked with capturing. Why he was so important was a mystery, but orders are orders.

“Lieutenant Fewrfreyut, thank you for coming to see me. I trust you are well?”
“Yes sir.” replied the Lieutenant.
“Good, good. I believe you may already have an idea of why you are here. So let’s just cut to the chase shall we? Due to the recent, departure, of the 2nd Brigades Commanding Officer I’d like to inform you that your request to transfer to the army has just been granted. Congratulations on your promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer for 2nd Brigade. I’m sure you’ll make everyone proud.”
“Why thank you sir.” Replied the now Lieutenant Colonel, “but isn’t this all a bit, rushed? He’s only been gone for two weeks.”
“Without a trace and with no message? I believe that, if he does return, it is too late. He has forfeited his right to command and will be severely punished. Or are you saying you don’t want to take on this position?”
“No sir. It will be an honour!”
“That’s settled then. I’ll send you the details of your position shortly.”


[align=center]To be continued...[/align]

[Hazledine]

[align=center]Chapter 2 – The Mighty Wrath[/align]

The building creaked from the rain outside. Captain Viper and his men had been searching all day, and he was beginning to get irritable. The troops were searching a new village they’d come across, and were moving from building to building, late into the night. The Captain called to one of his men, “Call for my shuttle, I’m going to get some rest.” The men all looked towards him hopefully, “But you shall all continue, for now at least.” He walked to the door and opened it as one of the men called to him that it would take five minutes for the shuttle to arrive.

The rain splashed against his face and his overcoat seemed to offer little protection. He walked to what he believed was roughly were the shuttle would be landing and sheltered in one of the buildings. After a few minutes he heard the faint whine of the shuttle, and headed outside. Looking up into the sky he saw nothing, as the storm now raged harder than ever. He was freezing and cursed the shuttle for not being quicker. In the distance the faint outline of a ship was in view and it slowly grew larger. However, instead of stopping close to where he was it carried on a couple of hundred metres.

Mumbling all the way about the Navy’s incompetence Viper headed over towards it. On his way he heard a noise, separate from the storm. He turned to his right and saw what was just a shack shaking around in the wind. He heard the noise again and slowly headed over. “Trooper?” he called out, but there was no response. Again he called but there was still no answer. “Damn it, why now?!” he said and jogged towards it. He pulled out his blaster and opened the door.

--

Lieutenant Colonel Fewrfreyut walked out of the shuttle and onto the Imperial Star Destroyer Nemesis, his unfortunate home these past few months. Instead of going straight to his quarters like he wanted to, he first had to report to the General, who had also decided to tag along for the ride. When he first heard about this the Colonel would have been reported to say some rather, uncivilised talk, if his officers had the guts to speak about it. One turbolift and he was close to the General’s office.

He knocked on the door as he arrived and the General greeted him with a smile. “Good evening Colonel, please have a seat. How is that wretched weather down there treating you? Well, I don’t care, unless of course you’ve found him?” The General eyed Fewrfreyut.
“Basically no, sir. We are of cour-“
“No, stop.” The General interrupted and held up his hand. “I do not need any of your petty excuses. Find him, Colonel, soon, or there will be hell to pay. Need not I remind you of how important this is?”
“No sir.”
“You may leave now.”
“Thank you sir.” Fewrfreyut stood up and left, and just before leaving he turned to the General and said, “We will find him, I know we will.”
“That had better be the case, Colonel.”

Fewrfreyut didn’t often enjoy his encounters with the General of late. Ever since the previous Brigade commanders absence he’d been, well, angry. Due to his strange disappearance a lot of the General’s plans had to be put on hold, or cancelled all together. He’d really messed a lot up, and without even a note, no one knew where he’d gone. Thinking about it, how did they find out he was here? Imperial Intelligence most likely, but this didn’t stop him still wandering how everyone, including himself, seemed so certain that he was here. Another thing bothering him was the fact that the Admiral’s had allowed for him to set about on this mission, given the Empire’s need to stretch it’s limited resources. Seeing as he’d arrived at his quarters he felt he should make the most of his free time and he settled down to sleep and ignore all the voices telling him things were wrong in his head.

--

Captain Viper lay face down on the floor, blood running from his nose and mouth. He opened his eyes slowly and all he could see was his own blood covering the mud he lay on. He tried getting up, but his body was too weak. He vaguely recalled what had happened after he’d arrived, although it hadn’t seemed much. As he’d opened the door he’d peered into the dark, calling out in the hope it was just a trooper again. After this seemed to be of no use, he stepped instead hesitantly. After that he just remembered a loud crack, and then waking up here. Just after he moved someone started speaking behind him. A voice that he knew the owner of. “Hello Viper.” It said, “How are things going in the good old Empire?”


[align=center]To be continued...[/align]