Glory For All:  Tales of the Imperial Forces

Chapter Six

[Cloud City, industrial suburb]

Lieutenant Knessel descended from the Imperial shuttle. Her party arrived in a remote industrial sector of the city. In the distance, they could hear blaster and cannon fire. Cloud cars were dropping concussion bombs on the main civic building. That must be where the remaining Imperial garrison was making its stand, she thought.

"TK-4201, keep your squadron out of sight until my signal. Keep your comlinks open! It seems the main spaceport is already in the hands of Bespin partisans, but if we can recapture the secondary spaceport to the west of us ... that should provide a safe spot for more Imperial landings."

"Yes, Lieutenant." The stormtroopers marched quietly to a vacant hangar. Knessel and her squadron began the long trek to Cloud City's secondary spaceport. A smaller port, it would have been used for deliveries and trans-planetary freighters. If we could only have two or three more Imperial squadrons here, the city could be ours, she imagined.

The firefight in the centre of the city remained intense. Plumes of smoke rose from the main civic building where the Baron Administrator once conducted his affairs. Until the fall of the Empire, it housed the Imperial commandant and a garrison of troops. The entire system feared that any resistance would force the Empire to annex the system completely.

The destruction of the Death Star inspired them with other ideas.

"The partisans have already seized many of the planetary defenses -- shield generators and cannons -- under their control. We must capture that spaceport!" Knessel drew her blaster. The squadron was approaching an intersection where a rusted walkway extended across the square.

She heard a shout. A pair of stormtroopers had been squashed by a hulking piece of mining equipment. Stormtroopers began firing into the sky. Knessel looked up towards the walkway.

Ughnaughts! The pig-faced workers of Bespin were hurling equipment, metal blocks and rods at the stormtroopers. Even as the squadron's accurate blasts toppled several of the vermin, dozens more flooded the walkway and pelted them with any number of metal scraps.

This is ridiculous! I'm not going to have a fiasco like that Ewok victory on Hoth. Knessel opened a trooper's backpack, grabbed a thermal detonator and set the timer.

"All troops, proceed to that storage building!" As the stormtroopers fled, Knessel flung the thermal detonator towards the walkway. Then she ran.

TK-7221, the squadron officer, was holding open the door, yelling at her to hurry up. The explosion propelled her to the ground. Two stormtroopers dragged her into the building. She caught a glimpse of what remained in the square. The walkway had completely collapsed, except for shards of metal that hung precariously from the opposite building. Scores of Ughnaught bodies lay strewn across the square.

Knessel coughed as the debris and smoke enveloped the surrounding streets. The ever-present blaster fire was coming closer.

A stormtrooper pointed towards another bridge. Dozens of Bespin security personnel, armed civilians and a handful of white-helmeted Rebel troopers ran towards them. Backed by orders to hold Cloud City until the arrival of the Alliance forces, they intended to hold the spaceport at all costs.

"Alliance soldiers!" Knessel cursed. She had hoped that she was merely facing a lightly armed, poorly-led partisan militia. The presence of professional Rebel soldiers -- among them a few deserters from the Imperial Army -- told her that they were expecting a Rebel force to support their uprising.

The stormtroopers instinctively formed two lines. Those troops with heavy rifles and grenade launchers formed the first line, providing the bulk of the squadron with potent artillery fire. In the rear, the remainder of the regular troops aimed their E-11 blasters.

"Fire!" Knessel ordered. Bolts of lasers criss-crossed the street. The squadron was pinned between the building to the rear and the charging resistance fighters.

Many Bespin guards fired, but missed their mark. The stormtroopers would not miss. Screams soon filled the street. The civilian fighters were the first to retreat. The surviving Bespin guards -- unaccustomed to the disciplined fighting of Imperial soldiers -- formed a defensive line. Their mistake.

A stormtrooper fired a concussion grenade from his rifle. It landed in the middle of the Bespin line, incinerating dozens of guards. Only the Rebel soldiers wisely took cover behind building walls and burnt speeder hulls. One by one they retreated across the bridge, as their comrades hurled grenades at the front lines.

One grenade landed mere feet from Knessel. TK-7221 jumped onto the grenade. The explosion created a hideous crater in his armour. Some troopers hesitated.

Knessel glared at them. "They're fleeing! Keep up the pursuit. We must take that port!!" TK-7222 took command of the squadron. Troopers provided flanking fire as the squadron dashed towards the bridge.

"Lieutenant ... take the city ..." TK-7221 coughed. "For the Imperial Army."

Knessel clutched the man's glove. "By nightfall, the Imperial Insignia will fly atop Cloud City." TK-7221 gasped, then died. He knew his duty. I still have mine. She took his blaster and rejoined her squadron. If we don't retake this spaceport, we may never get out of here alive.

[Bridge, the Avenger]

The communications officer stood up. "Captain Mitan! I think I may have a Rebel transmission!"

Mitan and Veers hurried to the station. It was an open communication. The rebels weren't even trying to scramble the signals.

"This is a general hail from the Alliance fleet. We are notifying all remaining Imperial vessels in this sector to surrender yourselves to the nearest Alliance planetary governor. The war is over. If you choose to resist, Alliance vessels have strict orders to pursue, capture or destroy your ship. Surrender and you will be spared."

"It's a repeating message. Ackbar's trying to demoralize the Imperial fleet." Veers scowled. Quite cunning, he thought. Propaganda to weaken the resolve of our forces. "Block that message! I don't want the Rebels to flood our communication lines with that drivel!"

Mitan interrupted. "General? It's another hail."

General Lando Calrissian appeared on the monitor. "Imperial destroyer. Stay out of Bespin space. This system is now under Alliance protection."

Veers frowned. "This is General Veers, commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army. Bespin is under Imperial jurisdiction. We do not recognize the authority of your petty Alliance. We are merely -- supervising -- a police action on Cloud City. I order you to withdraw at once!"

Lando laughed. "Veers! Your Emperor is dead. This isn't Hoth. You can't simply brush away the Alliance this time!! I intend to take Bespin back ... without your permission. Recall your troops from Cloud City now, or I'll hunt them down myself."

Veers shut down the communications channel. Damn! The Rebellion is now aware of our activities in this sector.

"Is that THE Lando Calrissian? Of the battle of Tanaab?! The battle of Endor??" a junior officer blurted.

"Captain?" Veers needed to know the strength of the Rebels' forces. Now.

Mitan checked the long range scanners. "It's not a ruse. Two Rebel frigates and several starfighter squadrons have just entered hyperspace and will be in orbit around Bespin in about five minutes!"

"We cannot engage Calrissian. It's not merely a scouting patrol. He means to liberate Bespin! To confront a well-armed Rebel assault fleet would be foolish."

"And the landing party on Cloud City?" Mitan wondered.

"Perhaps we can provide them with aerial support. That is your arena, Captain."

"Right." Mitan tapped the bridge console. "TIE bomber squadron Alpha. Proceed to Cloud City."

The TIE bomber squadron screeched out of their hangars and into space. If we can't claim Bespin, Mitan scoffed, the Imperial Navy will turn its precious city into a wasteland.

If Lieutenant Knessel could only capture one spaceport, we could turn the tables. If the city fell under Imperial control, Calrissian would have no choice but to accept our possession of Bespin. The city's ion cannons could keep the Rebels at bay until the Imperial armada arrived to chase them out of the system.

"Rebel fleet now in Bespin! Rebel fleet in Bespin!" a bridge officer declared.

Come on, Knessel, hang on, Mitan hoped. The odds were certainly turning against her.

[Rebel command frigate, Resolution]

Great, Lando thought, an Imperial Star Destroyer. One hyperspace jump away from Bespin.

Admiral Ackbar's hologram appeared. "Report, General."

"Admiral, advise the fleet that there is Imperial activity in this sector. Things could get toasty if the Imperial Navy's survivors decide to ignore our warnings and resist us."

"I shall hold the fleet here." Ackbar suggested. "We are about three hours away from the Corellian sector. We could send you supporting vessels."

"I suggest that the fleet continue on its present course. For all we know, the Empire may be setting up the fleet for an ambush. Most of Bespin is in Rebel hands. We just need to dislodge the Imperial garrison from Cloud City."

"Acknowledged. But if we do not hear from you by day's end, I will direct the fleet to return to Bespin." Ackbar's hologram faded.

Lando tapped the bridge console. "Rogue Leader. You have an hour. I've notified our people on Cloud City to evacuate the defenses when you begin your attack run."

"Copy that, General, Rogue Leader out." Wedge was confident. He had a half a dozen squadrons of X-Wing fighters, A-Wings and Y-Wings behind him.

Wedge tapped his comlink. "Squadron leaders, you have your orders. May the Force be with you."

Within minutes, they would be over Cloud City. The Imperial troops were in for a nasty surprise.

Chapter Seven

[Spaceport, Cloud City]

Lieutenant Knessel wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. The combined Bespin/Rebel fighters were slowly withdrawing from the spaceport. As their frontline provided covering fire, the rearguard sprinted to the planetary defense compound. It was heavily guarded. She could tell because, atop the ramparts, Rebel gunners were showering her troops with laser fire.

The rebel forces suffered more losses, but the bulk of the force managed to run to the relative security of the defense compound.

"Where are the grenadier troops?" she ordered. Her party now crouched behind the burning hulls of grounded cloud cars. Half a dozen stormtroopers with concussion grenade rifles knelt beside her.

"Take out those gunners, or we're done for!"

While one company of troops drew the gunners' fire, the grenadiers moved into position. "Fire!" Several grenades launched into the Bespin sky, then landed onto the compound ramparts. After a few explosions, the gunners were finally silenced.

Knessel picked up her comlink. "Avenger, do you copy. We have the spaceport."

"This is General Veers. Report, lieutenant."

"We have captured a spaceport in Cloud City's industrial sector. Awaiting further reinforcements."

Veers glanced at Captain Mitan, who promptly shook his head. It would be too risky to deploy another landing party now. "I regret that your situation has become more dismal, lieutenant. A Rebel assault fleet has entered orbit around Bespin -- with undoubtedly more Rebel reinforcements. The best that we can do is a TIE bomber raid. If you have a target in mind, we can send the bombers in. If they evade the Rebel ships, that is. They'll have one -- maybe two -- attack runs before the Rebel starfighters try to intercept them."

Knessel placed a tracer chip on the defense compound. "We cannot capture the ion cannons until we get into the defense compound. A couple of TIE bomber attacks at this location should weaken the armour shielding enough for a breach."

"Very well, lieutenant. You must get those cannons offline, or the Avenger will not be able to enter orbit. That would mean ..."

"... the landing party would be trapped here. I understand, General. Knessel out."

Her squadron gathered around her. "Our priority is to get those ion cannons offline. The Rebel fleet has blockaded the planet. We cannot expect reinforcements at this time, but the Avenger is sending in a TIE bomber squadron. I've instructed TK-4201's squadron to begin a diversionary attack on the main civic building. Hopefully, that will draw attention away from our mission here."

Knessel did not like her prospects. The attack on the main civic building was extremely dangerous. The majority of the Rebels' forces were concentrated there. They knew that the capture of the Imperial garrison would effectively end the Empire's control over the planet. The fighting would be intense. She would have relished the battle, but she had her orders.

The ion cannons must be disabled, or Bespin may well be our last battle.

[Cellblock 1981, the Relentless]

Commander Kosst paced around his room. He had been in isolation for days. He once thought mess hall food was bad. After nearly a week of cellblock food, he had to revise that conclusion. "Dinner." The door whisked open and a stormtrooper handed Kosst his meal. "I believe you have dessert today, Commander." The door closed shut again.

Dessert? Kosst opened his plate. The same meal as yesterday. But there was Corellian pudding. On the spoon was a coin-sized disc.

He clicked the disc. A small hologram appeared. "Hello, Commander. I trust you are well. This is a short-term holographic message. It will disintegrate at the end of the message. I am Colonel Virett of the Imperial Sandtrooper Corps. We have two battalions aboard the Relentless. The troops are loyal to me personally. I've spoken with members of the Intelligence corps and one or two TIE squadron commanders. Regrettably, most of the naval crew is loyal to Captain Silec. But that could change. I want to assure you that, when that change does occur, we will make our move. Know that you have allies aboard this vessel."

The hologram faded. Kosst dropped the disc, which promptly evaporated in a puff of smoke. That fool Silec is a danger to everyone on this ship. And a threat to the stability of the Imperial fleet. Someone has to warn the Admiral. Soon.

[Above Bespin]

Wedge checked his long-range scanners. Alarms were ringing in his cockpit. TIE bombers!! They were short range bombers. That could only mean an Imperial ship was somewhere in this sector.

"Gold leader. A squadron of TIE bombers is about to enter the Bespin system. Prepare to intercept."

"Copy that, Rogue leader." A dozen A-Wings roared towards TIE bomber squadron Alpha.

Wedge tapped his console. "Bomber squadron. This is Wedge Antilles of the Rebel fleet. Power down your engines and prepare to surrender. This is your last warning. Continue on this course and we will be forced to engage."

"This is TIE bomber squadron Alpha. We have orders to suppress an insurrection on Cloud City. Withdraw your squadrons." One TIE bomber disengaged from the main squadron and fired on a stray Y-Wing.

The Y-Wing tried to evade the TIE bomber. "This is Green Two. I can't shake him." The TIE bomber caught the Y-Wing in his sights and fired. The vessel exploded. The opening shot of the battle.

They had their warning, Wedge grimaced. "Gold leader, Green leader, keep those bombers away from the frigates. Rogue Squadron, prepare to intercept -- and destroy." A score of X-Wings zoomed towards their prey. If the Imperial Navy wanted to pick a fight with the Rebel Fleet, Rogue Squadron would give them one to remember.

[Bridge, the Avenger]

A radar controller reported to Captain Mitan. "Sir, our bombers have engaged the Rebel starfighters. Should we direct them to attack the frigates?"

"No. Their mission is to provide aerial support for the landing party. I don't want them entangled in a fruitless skirmish with the Rebel fleet!!"

Mitan climbed down into the communications section. "TIE bomber squadron Alpha. Your orders are to proceed directly to Cloud City and commence an aerial bombardment of the defense compound."

"Acknowledged. Squadron Alpha, proceed to target." Mitan watched the radar. The bombers were disengaging -- with dozens of rebel starfighters close behind them.

Mitan glanced at Veers. "If the bombers succeed, the landing party can disable the ion cannons. If not, they and the TIE bombers are trapped."

General Veers clenched his fist. Should I sacrifice the landing party and the bombers and make a hasty retreat to the Imperial armada? No. The battle is not lost. The landing party had excellent troops. And Lieutenant Knessel was a proven officer, hand-picked by Admiral Piett. Soldiers were disposable during the heady days of the Emperor's reign.

They are not disposable now.

"I think we're agreed on our next course of action, Captain."

Mitan beamed. "Alert all commands. Set co-ordinates to Bespin." He noticed Veers heading for the lift.

"General?"

Veers put on his helmet. "I promised the landing party some reinforcements. They shall have them!" He tapped the lift console: transport docking bay.

The stormtroopers were packing away their equipment when Veers arrived.

"Get back on that transport! Your friends on Bespin are expecting you!!"

"Will you be accompanying the landing party, General?" an officer inquired.

"Someone's going to have to show you how to deal with Rebel scum," Veers remarked, to the cheers of the squadron.

The Rebels picked a terrible day to challenge the Imperial Army ...

Chapter Eight

[The skies above Cloud City]

"Commander!" the pilot on his left wing was frantic. "Those X-Wings are closing in on us!"

"Stay in formation!" TIE bomber squadron Alpha's commander barked over the comlink. He heard the blast of X-Wing laser cannons. His left flank was now exposed, as a ball of smoke and flame indicated that the Rogue Squadron had made another kill.

Another TIE bomber joined in the formation. Two more explosions in the sky. An A-Wing and a TIE bomber had collided.

The commander checked the coordinates hologram. The defense compound was approaching. "Prepare for torpedo launch." The torpedo bay doors opened below each of the three bombers in formation. "Lieutenant Knessel, we have commenced our attack run. Take your troops to cover."

"Acknowledged." Knessel replied. The commander could now see the defense compound. The landing party had taken cover behind the burning hulls of cloud cars.

"On my mark. Fire!" Several torpedoes rained onto the heavily shielded defense compound. The first few torpedoes had little effect, but the subsequent bombardment caused the blast doors to crumple and crack.

Success! Knessel instructed her grenadier troopers to plant charges in the breach. They ducked as the explosion caved in the rest of the entrance. As the troops flooded into the compound, Knessel waved in gratitude to the TIE bombers.

"Bomber squadron Alpha requesting further orders, Avenger" the commander inquired.

"Return to the ship. Engage those starfighters only in self-defense. You have done your duty for now. The Avenger will be there momentarily."

"Alpha squadron out." The commander and his pilots broke formation and began their flight from Bespin airspace.

Rogue Squadron had other ideas. If those bombers return, Wedge thought, we'd have to fight them again.

"All squadrons. Intercept and destroy!" Dozens of A-Wings and X-Wings swarmed the retreating bombers.

The commander pulled up his bomber. "All pilots! Do not engage the enemy. We cannot match their speed! You have your orders." Suddenly the Avenger appeared out of hyperspace.

The rebel starfighters were already picking off stragglers from the bomber squadron. The commander spun his bomber over the group of X- Wings and A-Wings.

"Rogue Three, where did the lead bomber go?" Wedge demanded.

"Rogue Three here. He slipped out of radar." Then he looked up. Oh no! The bomber was zooming fast towards them. "Rogue Squadron, evasive action!"

The bomber commander waited for the last of his squadron to escape, then set loose his entire hold of torpedoes.

"Evasive action, Rogue and Gold squadrons!" Wedge shrieked. Many of the fighters streaked away in all directions, but dozens of them did not react in time. The torpedoes soon turned the airspace into a hailstorm of sparks, debris and smoke.

Wedge powered his engines and pursued the TIE bomber commander. Those A-Wing and X-Wing fighter pilots did not die in vain, he pledged. May the Force be with us. The TIE bomber tried to avoid his targeting range, but Wedge persisted. The commander checked his radar. The remaining bombers had returned to the Avenger. My men are safe, he thought. And they will fight again. Alarms rang in his cockpit.

"Captain Mitan, mission complete," he announced over his comlink. If I could only see my wife just one more time ...

"Gotcha!" Wedge locked the TIE bomber in his targeting range. He zapped a wing, then the main engine of the bomber. It exploded, but the Rogue Leader had little time to relish the victory. The Avenger was already approaching, led by a vengeful swarm of TIE fighters.

"All fighters prepare to form a defensive perimeter around the frigates!" Wedge ordered.

So the rumours are true. The Imperial Fleet is still active. And ready for battle.

[The bridge, the Avenger]

Captain Mitan pinched his forehead. Alpha's squadron commander was one of the best in the galaxy. He marched over to the communications officer. "News from Cloud City?"

The officer reviewed the communications logs. "The landing party have captured the defense compound. They are prepared to take those ion cannon offline ... or ..."

The captain raised an eyebrow. "Or?"

"We could turn those cannons against the Rebel fleet. We may be able to force them to withdraw."

The captain glanced at General Veers. "Something's not right." Mitan reviewed the radar again. "X-Wings and A-Wings have assumed a defensive position around the frigates. Were there not Y-Wings at their initial attack run?!"

Y-Wings are slower than the faster X-Wings and A-Wings, Mitan thought. They do, however, have formidable bombing capabilities. Bombing ...

"General Veers. It's a trap! The Rebels ... it was their intention all along to destroy the defensive compound ..."

"Blast them!" Veers cursed. "They were baiting the landing party ... waiting for the opportunity to ..."

Mitan checked the radar. "A squadron of Y-Wings are descending on the defense compound." The captain looked towards the communications station.

The communications officer slammed the comlink button. "Bespin landing party. Evacuate the compound. It's a trap!"

[Central defense compound, Cloud City]

Knessel and her troops investigated the main command centre. They had already disabled the ion cannons and turbo lasers. Overhead were the screeches of starfighters.

"Repeat, Avenger ... your channel is breaking up," she yelled into her comlink.

"It's a trap! Get out of the compound, now!!" The officer's voice was frantic. On the radar, the Y-Wings were racing towards the compound.

"Everyone out!" Knessel ordered her troops. "Those are Y-Wings beginning their attack run!!" Scores of stormtroopers poured out of the breach in the entrance. Did everyone make it out?

A dozen Y-Wings soared unopposed over Cloud City. "Activate targeting computer." Green Leader ordered. "A few more seconds ..."

On the ground, a stormtrooper interrupted Knessel. "About twenty stormtroopers went to the munitions level to check on small arms, rifles ..."

Knessel looked up. The Y-Wings roared, preparing to deliver death to their squadron. She began to run back to the compound. "Everyone out!" TK-7222, the new stormtrooper squadron leader, held her back. "It's too late, lieutenant!" They ducked behind a speeder as the Y- Wings barraged the compound with their bombs. The defense compound's roof buckled, then gave way. Fire billowed from the breaches in the walls.

Knessel had hoped that they could use the turbo lasers and ion cannons against the invading Rebel fleet. Those rebels knew that and were prepared to destroy those very defenses. Now their invasion would be unopposed. Within the hour, tens of thousands of Rebel troops, vehicles and ships would overwhelm their pitiful landing party. She turned on her comlink.

"Knessel to the Avenger."

"Captain Mitan. Report, Lieutenant."

"The defense compound ... the rebels destroyed it ... most of my squadron survived. Another squadron is providing support for the main Imperial garrison."

"Proceed to the main civic building. We are sending an extraction party. Link up with them there. We will try to extract you and the garrison's defenders before the main Rebel force arrives."

"A retreat? But, sir, if we could just hang onto the civic building, that would give us effective control of the planet ..."

"Lieutenant, you have your orders. Several transport ships have already departed the Rebel frigate. If we don't act -- now -- to rescue the garrison, they will all be lost."

"Acknowledged." Several stormtroopers gathered around for their orders.

"We have orders to regroup with the other squadron and repel the Rebel militias until the extraction force arrives ... for evacuation."

Knessel hated those words. Evacuation. Any thought of holding the planet evaporated when those Y-Wings destroyed the defense compound. Right now our goal is survival. The civic building was across several bridges. Her troops were already under fire from Rebel snipers atop the surrounding buildings and towers.

"Keep going!" she ordered, as she exchanged fire with one of the enemy snipers. At the other end of the city, she could see Rebel transports hovering, then landing. Hordes of Rebel soldiers streamed out. Towards the civic building.

Her squadron advanced over one bridge, losing several troopers to sniper fire. A wide courtyard. Several grenades were lobbed towards them. A few more troopers died. A dozen grenadier troopers neutralized the partisan defenders. One last bridge. A hundred or more Rebel soldiers already rushed across the bridge. Too close for blaster fire or grenades.

The lead Rebel soldier grappled with Knessel. "Surrender, officer!"

Knessel punched him in the chin. "The city is ours, rebel scum!" She climbed over a few fallen rebels and lunged at another soldier -- tossing him over the bridge. By sheer volume of troops, the Imperial force slowly pushed the Rebels back. One by one, the Rebels fell back and retreated across the bridge.

The stormtroopers formed a defensive line, flanked by the grenadier and heavy rifle troopers. Knessel watched as the surviving rebels crouched behind walls, crates and debris.

"Stand down, rebels!" she ordered. "The garrison stays in Imperial hands." If they could just hold on, perhaps the rebels will choose to withdraw instead of fighting.

The rebel commander could simply surrender and allow this landing party free access to the civic building. Those few moments could give the Imperial garrison the opportunity to finally repel the Rebel force. We must give Calrissian's force ample time to arrive, he thought.

"The Empire is finished!" the commander taunted. "On my mark. Fire!" Several stormtroopers in the front line fell to enemy blaster fire.

"Grenadiers!" Knessel ordered. They knelt and fired their concussion grenades. The main plaza before the civic building was soon littered with the charred remains and lingering screams of the Rebels' last line of defense.

A stormtrooper placed a detonator on the main door. A burst of fire and shrapnel, and the civic building's outer walls were theirs. She spotted several hundred troops of the Imperial Garrison of Cloud City.

"We're here to lift the siege. An extraction force will be here in moments," Knessel announced, expecting a sigh of relief. There was none.

She noticed several Imperial and Rebel soldiers -- dead or dying -- throughout the courtyard. The surviving garrison and the reinforcements had huddled together in one last, desperate square. Something at the centre of the room was draped in the Imperial Insignia. "Our commandant fell during the Rebels' final thrust," an olive-uniformed lieutenant explained, "We tried to hold the inner building, but we were overwhelmed."

"My, my, what have we here," a voice boomed from the upper ramparts. "The so-called landing party that was supposed to keep the city ... MY city ... under Imperial control! As you can see, the siege was lifted. We broke it!"

"Lando Calrissian!" Knessel snarled, and aimed her blaster.

Lobot, Lando's confidant and aide, immediately fired his blaster, knocking the E-11 out of Knessel's hands.

"Surrender, now, lieutenant," Lando ordered, "Tell your men to drop their weapons. The garrison commandant forced my hand when he unleashed destroyer droids on my soldiers. Drop your weapons, and I promise you'll be fairly treated, lieutenant ... umm ..."

"Lieutenant Knessel of the Imperial Intelligence Corps. We will not surrender, since we are expecting reinforcements at any moment."

"Don't wait too long," Lando scoffed. "Alliance soldiers have recaptured half of the city. I intend to bring the Bespin system under Rebel protection. Effective immediately. Even now, our starfighters are decimating your TIE fighters. Pretty soon, your Star Destroyer will be defenseless. My two frigates have enough firepower to disable your ship. Permanently!"

Lando had heard the reports about Cloud City under Imperial "protection". The Imperial commandant was ruthless in his suppression of Cloud City's citizens. He had heard tales of torture, imprisonment and executions. Those days end today. Even if he ordered his men to stun these Imperial troops, many would simply ignore the order. They had witnessed the Empire's oppression of their peoples across the galaxy. They wanted revenge and were prepared to shoot to kill.

"For the last time, stand down and drop your weapons." Lando saw that Knessel and her troops were determined to make their stand here. More bloodshed, he thought. Regrettable, but necessary. Cloud City has suffered Imperial persecution for too long.

Lando instructed Lobot to move the prisoners behind the Rebel lines. With the potential collateral damage out of the way, it remained a tense stalemate. Most of the garrison refused to surrender. Knessel's party -- less than a hundred now -- remained in the centre.

Lando then cleared his throat. "Rebel commanders, if any Imperial trooper or officer remains armed within ONE minute, order your men to cut them down! For one ... last ... time ... stand down and surrender!"

"Aim your fire at General Calrissian!" she ordered. "If he wants to be a martyr, that's his mistake."

Lobot's trigger finger itched. In a micro-second, he could strike down the foolish young lieutenant with one shot from his laser pistol.

Lando wiped his brow. The Empire has fallen. Why can't she see that? "Rebel commanders, prepare to fire on the Imperial landing party. Use ... whatever force you feel is necessary to subdue them."

Knessel wiped the sweat off her forehead with her hand. A few stormtroopers glanced hesitantly at her. They don't want to die today, she thought, but they're prepared to follow me to hell. I wanted to prove myself to this new Imperial Council. To prove my loyalty. It appears that the Empire is going to lose this round. I hate failure ...

Chapter Nine

[Above Cloud City]

General Veers looked out the transport window. Half of the city was now in Rebel hands ... and more of their forces continued to flood unopposed through every street, intersection, plaza, bridge and courtyard. Even an Imperial foothold in the civic building could not be sustained.

A retreat, he grumbled. It is the only logical option for us.

"General," the stormtrooper commander stated, "it appears the insertion party has been captured."

Veers glanced at the monitor. "Magnify. Factor of fifty." The pilot nodded and flicked a few switches.

Lieutenant Knessel was still alive. And the bulk of the Imperial garrison.

"Land in that plaza." The two transport ships settled a few yards to the rear of the civic building. The soldiers - actually a motley crew of stormtroopers, snowtroopers, sandtroopers, scouts and black-helmeted Death Squad troopers - assembled into two squadrons. Roughly five hundred in total ... hardly the thousands of troops the general had been accustomed to deploying. They will have to suffice, he thought.

"TK-8980, your squadron will circle to the Rebels' rear. Make it appear that you're cutting off their escape route. The rest of you will follow my lead ..."

The snowtrooper commander shook his head. "With all due respect, sir, I suggest that you remain with the rearguard. To cover our withdrawal." He took Veers aside. "You are much too valuable for the frontlines."

A dozen gunnery droids hovered on either side of the two squadrons. Veers considered the commander's suggestion. My capture would be a tremendous coup for the Rebel Alliance. Morale among the rank-and- file would surely drop. Temporarily. The mere presence, however, of the victorious general of the Hoth campaign could inspire the beleaguered garrison to embrace the provisional Imperial Council.

"Commander, I respect your caution," he replied, "but this is a test. A test of our resolve. We may lose Cloud City, but with the rescue of the garrison, the entire fleet will regain its confidence." He stepped up before the squadrons. "The Imperial Navy - thank the maker - has provided the Empire with the firepower to win many battles. It is the soldier - the stormtrooper - that is often overlooked. It is the soldier, I believe, that has earned the glory of those victories. The Empire is surviving on the edge of a knife. One act can revive it, or doom it to ruin. The rescue of our comrades shall give the Army its due rewards as the true standard bearers of the Empire. This battle may be lost, but the war continues!"

The commander put on his helmet. "Stormtroopers, prepare for a frontal assault." Scout troopers scattered along a jagged line to provide covering fire for the heavily armed grenadier troopers and snowtroopers.

"One last order," Veers announced as he snapped on his combat helmet, "Set your weapons to kill. I've received word that Lando Calrissian is heading the Rebel invasion force. We lost millions of loyal soldiers on the Death Star. Their deaths must be accounted for. Now!" He began to sprint to the forward scout troopers' lines. "No prisoners!"

The cheers of hundreds of battle-hungry stormtroopers echoed through the towers and buildings of Cloud City.

On the upper ramparts of the civic building, Lando shuddered. What was that rumble?

A rebel commander ran along the upper ramparts. "General, a squadron of Imperial troops are attempting to outflank us from the rear. If they capture the bridge, there is a chance that we'll be cut off from the main invasion force."

"One squadron?" Lando wondered. "I saw two Imperial transports land!"

An explosion in the rear surprised Lando's Rebel force. Several breaches in the outer walls revealed hundreds of stormtroopers. And one grey-armoured Imperial officer.

"Surrender, Calrissian!" Veers ordered. "Throw down your arms, rebels."

Lando nodded at Lobot. Immediately, the Rebel commanders began to pull back - ignoring the Imperial garrison and Knessel's squadrons.

"We must leave now, General," the Rebel commander insisted. The Imperial squadron to their rear was pressing hard. A few more minutes and they'd be surrounded.

"Green leader," Lando uttered in his comlink, "Level the building. Now!" Lando, Lobot and his Rebel force slowly withdrew.

"They're withdrawing!" Knessel declared. "Squadron! Fire at will!" The streaks of laser fire created a haze of smoke in the courtyard. Some Rebels fell, but the bulk of Calrissian's force retreated methodically - providing covering fire as their comrades withdrew.

"Pursue them!" Knessel ordered, as several lines of stormtroopers began to advance.

"Halt!" Veers' voice boomed across the courtyard. "Listen!" In the distance, a terrifying hum drifted in the air. It grew louder.

And closer.

"Shall we continue the pursuit?" Knessel inquired. The snowtrooper commander glanced nervously at the withdrawing Rebels.

"Both of you - order your troops to withdraw. Now." Veers peered across the horizon. Several Y-Wing squadrons were racing towards them.

"General Veers!" the transport pilot yelled in his comlink. "Withdraw now! The Rebels are going to bomb your position at any moment!"

Veers caught a glimpse of Calrissian's cape fluttering behind a distant tower. He had escaped. The Imperial troops scrambled out of the building and raced towards the transports.

"What of the secondary squadron?" Knessel inquired. "Will they be able to make it back?"

Veers jogged towards the first transport. "We'll wait as long as we can. Once those Y-Wings begin their attack run ..."

"... but, sir ..." a snowtrooper interrupted, "... that's almost three hundred men ... some of whom served with you at Hoth ..."

Veers leaped onto the boarding platform. "The rescue of the garrison - over two thousand survivors - outweighs any personal loyalties we may have."

"Permission to lead a rearguard action ... at least until that squadron returns?" Knessel asked.

The lead Y-Wings were already firing upon the transports. "We must leave now!" the pilot screamed.

Veers pointed forward. "Transports! Return to the Avenger." The troops looked through the rear window as the first dozen troops from the secondary squadron arrived ... only to see their means of escape take flight.

Then the Y-Wings arrived. The torpedoes and bombs obliterated the outer walls of the civic building. If General Calrissian could not capture the civic building, he would deny the Imperial Army the privilege of capturing it.

The snowtrooper commander took off his helmet. "I fought with many of them. We stormed the Rebels' Echo Base together. Now ... they're gone."

"They knew their duty to the Empire," Knessel replied, "We must all make sacrifices." Some stormtroopers glared at her.

"What would an intelligence officer know of sacrifice?" one trooper complained. "The Emperor placed too much faith in the advice of the Intelligence Corps. Endor was a strategic disaster! I lost half of my battalion on the Executor, thanks to them!" Several troopers grumbled in agreement.

"I lost many friends in the Battle of Endor!" Knessel insisted.

"Enough!" the snowtrooper commander barked. "Enough of this bickering! Our foe is the Rebel Alliance, not each other!"

"Well said," Veers remarked. "I don't like leaving men behind - especially those who have served with me in previous campaigns. I was not prepared, however, to lose an entire Imperial garrison. When Cloud City became an occupied territory, the Empire had five thousand soldiers stationed here. They have lost half that number over the past few days. They have made their sacrifices. I am asking all of you to stay focused. Mon Mothma, Princess Leia, Skywalker and their damnable rebellion must be stopped. At any cost - whether it be ten men, ten thousand... or more. Our friends on the Death Star and on the frontlines of Endor paid the ultimate price for their loyalty. If anyone here is not prepared to honour their memory by fighting with the same dedication, I do not wish to serve with you. You should depart for the nearest Alliance planet, betray your fallen comrades and enlist in that blasted Rebellion. The Imperial Army has no place for cowards!"

The stormtroopers remained muted. They had no right to complain. They were the survivors. A few troopers began pounding their rifle butts on the floor. "Veers! Veers! Veers!" Soon, the entire ship rang with the rhythmic pounding and chanting of hundreds of stormtroopers.

"I believe you've won their confidence, General," the snowtrooper commander remarked.

[Rebel command frigate, Resolution]

Lando draped the cape over his shoulders as he returned to the bridge. Had he waited a few moments longer, his transport would have been caught in the naval battle erupting over Bespin.

"Report, Colonel Walekk."

"The Avenger arrived in Bespin a few minutes ago, sir," Walekk replied. "They haven't made any aggressive moves yet, except for their TIE fighters. Dogfights are breaking out all over the place, but it seems they're only trying to keep us from getting too close."

Lando nodded. "Which is what we're doing, too. General Veers just extracted the garrison's survivors before we could complete the capture of Cloud City. We have at least 100,000 troops and personnel fortifying our positions there. Bespin is now ours." Lando grinned as the bridge officers cheered.

Several explosions littered the main bridge monitor. Those fighters are getting closer.

"Colonel, order our spare fighters to capture any Imperial transports that are fleeing the city. We may yet have our chance to take General Veers out of the picture."

Another officer interrupted him. "Sir? We have a priority message from Admiral Ackbar."

Lando clicked the holographic console. "The main Rebel fleet will be approaching the Corellian system in moments," the admiral confirmed.

"Excellent!" Lando smiled, "We'll have those shipyards yet! ... Any reports from Coruscant?"

"As you know, the planet is now in Rebel hands. Princess Leia is overseeing the surrender of Imperial Army and Navy personnel. A provisional Senate will begin the process of POW processing and repatriation. There was a minor skirmish on the Imperial Academy parade grounds two days ago, but that is now over. Any resistance of note on Coruscant ... has been dealt with."

"And my friends?" Lando inquired.

"One or two regiments of the Emperor's Royal Guard escaped Coruscant before the Imperial Governor surrendered. Commander Skywalker is following some promising leads on their whereabouts. General Solo is assuming command of the Corellian Defense Fleet. He will be ready to provide assistance on our next objective. Congratulations, General, on your victory in Bespin ... and may the Force be with you."

Lando saluted. "Thank you, Admiral ... and be careful out there. If we recognize the potential of Sienar's shipyards, so will the Imperial Navy's survivors ..."

The admiral's hologram faded. Lando then tapped the communications console. "Rogue Leader, have you got a bead on those Imperial transports?"

Wedge swerved his X-Wing away from a pair of TIE Interceptors. "Negative. With the firefight out here, I haven't been able to regroup my squadrons. We're barely holding our own out here!"

"Gunnery officer!" Lando barked, "Concentrate our firepower on the Avenger. Perhaps that'll force those TIE fighters to back off." He returned to the communications console. "Wedge, I don't think the Avenger will stick around for long once Veers returns aboard. Whatever you can do to catch him ..."

"Don't worry, General," Wedge answered, "I lost some buddies on Hoth. We'll get him."

Lando watched the monitor. The firefight set the Bespin system alight with bursts of cannon fire and explosions. Those TIE fighters are relentless! Some fighters - disabled by cannon fire - were colliding into Alliance fighters to keep them away from the Avenger. If the rest of the Imperial forces were as determined as these TIE pilots, he thought, we may be in for a longer fight than we anticipated ...

Chapter Ten

[Docking bay, the Avenger]

Veers removed his battle helmet and turned to the transport's crew. "My compliments to you, pilot."

"The honour is mine, General. You just saved two thousand troops! If you ever need a pilot for another mission, you know where to find me."

Veers shook his hand. "I'm envious of Captain Mitan. The Avenger was rumoured to have the finest naval pilots in the Empire. I see now that the reputation is well-earned." The pilots cheered.

Knessel helped an injured stormtrooper out of the transport vessel. Veers walked towards them. "Injury report, lieutenant."

Knessel cleared her throat. "About twenty with combat injuries: broken arms, lacerations, blaster burns. We lost TK-7532 in transit. The wound was too deep."

"The sandtrooper?" Veers remarked. "Inform the Avenger's Sandtrooper commander that his regiment is relieved of their combat duties today." He directed the injured to the infirmary.

The survivors of the Cloud City garrison looked disoriented. "Report to the appropriate divisional commanders for your new assignments," Veers ordered, "You are on stand-by alert. Await further instructions."

Knessel was about to leave when Veers summoned her. "A word, lieutenant."

"Yes, General!" she snapped to attention.

"You may dispense with the formalities. Report to the war chamber in ten minutes." Veers continued to bark out several orders to officers, troops and technicians.

Knessel quickly wiped away the soot and smoke from her face, smoothed out her uniform and adjusted her hair - tucking in the stray locks that dangled under her cap. She marched to the war chamber - once the private reserve of only the Empire's highest ranking officers. Men like Captain Needa. And now Captain Mitan. Service on the Avenger was almost as prized an appointment as one on the Executor.

Veers was looking at the holo-projector. "General Veers, " Admiral Tenvor reported, "the fleet is on stand-by on the perimeter of Corellian airspace."

"Excellent. I regret to inform you that Cloud City has fallen to General Calrissian and his Rebel armada. You may, however, tell your crew that the two thousand-strong veterans of the Cloud City garrison will be joining their ranks shortly."

Tenvor nodded. "Understood. Vindicator out." The hologram faded.

"You requested to see me, General?" Knessel stated.

Veers appeared disinterested as he reviewed files on the monitor. "I don't like intelligence officers."

Knessel was taken aback. "Sir?"

"Action should define promotion in the Imperial forces. Deeds tested on the frontlines. Not the political manoeuvrings of glory-bent officers."

"With all due respect, sir," Knessel stated, "the Imperial Intelligence Corps has worked faithfully for the Emperor's cause ..."

"... yes, and often at the expense of the common stormtrooper, TIE pilot and junior officer!" Veers growled. "When the New Order emerged, I had hoped that the professional officer would rise through the ranks on merit. I was sadly mistaken. The grand households of the Old Republic still managed to subvert the chain of command, carving personal spheres of influence with the lives of Imperial troops. My troops! Spare me the idealistic drivel the Intelligence Corps fed you at the Academy." Veers stepped up to Knessel's face.

"You fought with tenacity on Cloud City, while placing the lives of your men ahead of your own. Self-sacrifice is not characteristic of Imperial officers - especially those of the Intelligence Corps.."

"I would never place my men at risk, if I were not prepared to take those very risks myself," Knessel replied.

"The Emperor promoted officers based on their political loyalties. It was rare indeed that an officer gained any command of significance without political influence to support him. Palpatine was a senator in the Old Republic, as you may recall." He glanced at the continuing dogfights above Bespin. He tapped a console. "TIE command. Recall our fighters. Captain Mitan will be jumping into hyperspace shortly."

"Why do you wish to serve the Empire?" Veers questioned. "For promotion? Status? Personal vendetta? Profit? What motivates you, Lieutenant Mira Knessel?"

Knessel watched the intense firefight in space. TIE pilots sacrificing themselves for a cause. Not to impose rule by fear, as Grand Moff Tarkin's doctrine states, but to restore order to an unruly and petty galaxy. Their cause is right. It must be right.

"I serve to repay a debt of honour, sir." Knessel explained. "The late Admiral Piett had saved my family from pirates many years ago. I would not be here today if he didn't have faith in me. I continue to serve because I refuse to accept that he died a pointless death."

"Rest assured, he did not die a pointless death," Veers mumbled, "I lost many good soldiers aboard the Executor. Some I would even consider friends." He chuckled to himself. "The good admiral saved my life on more than one occasion, did you know that?" He gazed wistfully at the skies. The TIE fighters were withdrawing, with X- Wings relentlessly pursuing them.

Veers regained his concentration. "If you're expecting preferential treatment because you're Piett's protege ..."

"No, sir, I would never exploit my ties to the late admiral like that!" she declared.

"As it stands, you have proven the admiral's faith in you. I've been reviewing some of the retrieved personnel files the Executor has transmitted shortly before -" Veers paused again. "He and his crew did not die in vain. That I will assure you!" He pulled out a cylinder. "It's an encrypted holographic message. Dated a few years ago. Our technicians managed to salvage it from the Executor's transmitted files."

Knessel held the cylinder in front of her right eye. A slight flash scanned her retina, which activated the cylinder.

Admiral Piett's hologram appeared. "Personal file. Admiral Piett, the Executor. Authorization - Sigma Five. Greetings, General Veers. I congratulate you on your promotion as commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army. A well deserved promotion. Commander Jerjerrod is devastated. He had hoped that his ties to the Emperor would earn him the promotion. But I digress ... I wish to ask you a favour, Maximilian. A pupil of mine, a Lieutenant Knessel, is serving aboard a gunnery ship on the Kessel route. My sources inform me that elements in the Intelligence Corps are plotting something vile. I'm told they're intentionally letting Rebel spies slip through the naval dragnet. I fear they may frame Knessel for this. Please, will you keep your eyes open and let me know ... if she's all right. She's more than a stellar student ... I regard her as if she was my daughter. I would appreciate any news ..."

Knessel fought to remain indifferent. Piett seemed so alive in the hologram. It was too much to bear. His hologram had turned to an aide. "... we've engaged the Calamari fleet. Alert TIE command ... General Veers, my best regards. Thank you for your help ..."

She reached out to touch the hologram, but it faded into nothingness.

"He sent me a holographic message about half an hour before the Executor was lost," Veers revealed, "I - have yet to look at it. I gave you yours ... so you will understand why. Why we, as officers, must carry on the fight. The Emperor was enraged at the loss of the second Death Star's plans. Piett was right: members of the Intelligence Corps did betray you. Frame you. Lord Vader issued an order to arrest you. I countermanded the order. Piett saved my life. I saved the life of his favourite pupil. Consider your debt of honour discharged. I want officers with commitment, not burdens. If you have any doubts about our cause, tell me now, and I will disperse your squadron amongst the other officers ... Commander."

Knessel blinked. "C-commander?"

Veers smiled and handed her a new rank insignia. "By authority of the Imperial Council - and approved by Admiral Tenvor of the Imperial fleet - I grant you the field commission of Commander. If you do accept, you will be entitled to your own squadron. Which shouldn't be too hard to assemble, since most of the troopers from your past mission have been pleading to serve with you."

"I do accept, sir!" Knessel grinned, "but I request that my crew from the Grenadier remain under my command. They have proven their worth a thousand-fold. I still owe them a debt of honour."

"I don't see any problem with that. Your direct superior is Captain Mitan. But I consider your squadron a special operations unit. From time to time, I'll be requesting your squadron's help on select missions .."

"You will not be disappointed!" Knessel announced.

"Carry on, Commander Knessel. I have many requisition orders, personnel transfers and army-navy disputes to settle before we rendezvous with the fleet. I will be quite angry once I'm through with this bureaucratic mess. I suggest you leave now before that happens!"

Knessel nodded. "Yes, sir, General!" She left the war chamber and ran to the turbolift.

"Commander Knessel! My own squadron!" she smiled. Admiral Piett, you were right to have faith in me. I'll continue the fight for you.

I promise.

[The Vindicator, outside the Corellian system]

"Sienar Fleet Systems' shipyard is a parsec away, Admiral," Lieutenant Reksil reported.

"Good." Tenvor reviewed his bridge console. With the addition of the Avenger, the Imperial Fleet can muster seven Star Destroyers. Roughly 100,000 troops and personnel. Several hundred TIE fighters. A formidable planetary invasion force by any standard.

The Rebel Alliance, however, has at least ten times that. And their numbers continue to grow as more star systems oppose Imperial governance and side with the so-called New Republic. Their forces are stretched out, as they engage in skirmishes and revolutions across the galaxy.

Our Imperial forces - here in Corellian space - are united. The return of Veers will surely boost morale in the rank-and-file.

Alarms rang out on the bridge. Lieutenant Reksil scrambled out of the communications subdeck. "Admiral, you're receiving a priority message from the Corellian Defense Fleet!"

"On the monitor!" Tenvor stood in the middle of the bridge. "This is Admiral Tenvor of the Imperial Fleet. Identify yourself!"

A familiar face smirked at him. "Admiral, this is General Han Solo of the Millennium Falcon." Chewbacca growled beside him. "Turn your ships around and report to the Processing Centre on Coruscant, where we will graciously accept your formal surrender."

Arrogant fool, Tenvor grumbled. The radar revealed that Solo's fleet had seven heavy frigates and a multitude of starfighters. "Reksil! Status of the Rebel Fleet!" Tenvor barked.

Reksil tapped his console. "Admiral Ackbar's fleet will be in Corellian airspace within the hour!"

"Give it up, Tenvor. It's not your fight anymore. I know you want Sienar's shipyards. So does the Alliance. You've lost Bespin. Get out while the gettin's good. My co-pilot doesn't take kindly to stormtroopers."

Tenvor remained confident. "Officer Nemi..."

"Yes, Admiral." Nemi frowned as she looked at Solo's smug face on the monitor.

"Instruct the forward gunners to fire on the Millennium Falcon." A pair of bolts zapped - with one brushing across the Falcon's bow.

Solo steadied himself as the Falcon rattled. "Oh, you wanna fight, do you? Corellian fleet ... deploy your fighters. Attack the Star Destroyers! Bad call, Admiral. We have you outmanned and outgunned. I'd suggest you reserve a spot on an escape pod. You're going to need it pretty soon!" He cut the communications.

Han turned to Chewbacca. "Who does this guy think he is?" Chewie growled. "Yeah, you're tellin' me, buddy. What a sore loser!"

Tenvor saw that the well-armed Corellian fleet blocked their route to the Sienar shipyards. What the Imperial fleet lacked in firepower, he thought, it would make up in discipline.

Determination.

"The Avenger will arrive in moments, Admiral," Reksil reported.

"Alert all commands," Tenvor ordered. Finally - a full naval battle! "Destroyer captains, prepare to engage the Corellians! We will regroup at the Sienar shipyards."

"Do you think we can prevail?" Reksil wondered. "The Corellians will be defending their home system."

"I know we will, Lieutenant," Tenvor responded, "the Empire is counting on us!" Bespin fell to the Rebels. The shipyards will not.

Alarms honked throughout the ship. TIE pilots scrambled to their fighters. Stormtroopers marched to their ready stations - in preparation for boarding any captured vessels.

The Millennium Falcon zoomed towards the bridge. "All hands, prepare for battle!" Reksil announced.

Sienar Fleet Systems remained loyal to the Galactic Empire - even now, when opportunity would suggest that they should cast their lot with the victorious Alliance. Reports indicated that the Corellians intended to capture the shipyards. Or destroy them, if they could not dislodge the heavily-defended Imperial bunker that protected the yards.

We cannot afford to lose this battle, the admiral thought. Lose this fight - and the war is surely over.

EPILOGUE:

[The Avenger's war chamber]

Veers completed the last requisition order. The Imperial Army - what was left of the once-fearsome war machine -- would have its blasters. He tapped a console.

"Report, Captain Mitan."

"We will be in the Corellian system in moments, sir." Mitan replied.

"Prepare my shuttle. I shall be joining the Vindicator. I want to be ready in the event we land troops on Corellia."

"Acknowledged. I'll inform Admiral Tenvor to await your arrival."

He held the tiny holo-disk in his fingers. The late Admiral Piett's last holographic transmission before the Executor impaled the Death Star and evaporated hundreds of thousands of the Empire's finest officers, pilots and troops. He had this disk for several days now.

He placed the disk on the table and clicked it. A pale blue hologram materialized.

"Personal file. Admiral Piett, the Executor. Authorization - Sigma Five. General Veers, I trust you are well. The Rebels are pressing hard. I'm told General Calrissian, the hero of the Battle of Tanaab, commands this Rebel armada. The shield generator on Endor is now down. Damn those Rebel scum! The Death Star is vulnerable. I just wanted to relay this message ... the odds are no longer in our favour ... but we all have our duty to fulfil, don't we? Maximilian, should I fall ..." Piett paused.

Veers took off his cap. Piett continued. "... I'm transmitting everything ... personnel files, classified intelligence reports, archives ... everything we have, including some files we obtained from the Death Star ... the Emperor's intelligence operatives tried to block our access, but the Rebel capture of the shield generator gave us the opening we wanted. I've seen too many lives wasted because of the scheming of a handful of power-hungry opportunists. Weed them out. Show no mercy. None! Should the Rebels prevail, your task will be daunting. Don't trust the governors, the political appointees of the Emperor ... none of them!"

Piett's hologram glanced to his right. "If you receive this message, the Executor must have been captured - or destroyed. Remember the rank-and-file. It's the duty of the officers to give them a voice. I trust - no, I KNOW - that you will uphold that obligation with grace and distinction. By the maker, we shall fight on! You've always told me that you owed me a life-debt. Your friendship has repaid that debt on countless occasions. Maximilian, my friend, I bid you goodbye. Long live the Empire!"

Veers, alone in the war chamber, buried his head in his hands. Rest in peace, soldier. The battle is yours to fight no longer.

The battle is now mine to continue.

Rebel pretenders and traitorous Imperial opportunists, take heed!

Our comrades now join the Empire's fallen in the heavens. Their duty is done.

My duty is to bring Hell to the enemy. With cannon, starfighters, heavy armour and a relentless wave of Imperial troops.

The time for regret is over.

There is but one thought in my mind ...

Death.

And I, General Maximilian Veers, will be its deliverer.

END OF PART I

[AUTHOR'S NOTE:]

"Glory for All" will continue in a story-arc format. Part I established the principal characters and - as you might have noted - several plotlines to be pursued in the future. We all know Admiral Tenvor's fleet is poised for a large-scale naval confrontation with an evenly matched Corellian fleet - and Han Solo as the armada's leader. I haven't forgotten about Captain Silec (son of Admiral Ozzel). He hasn't forgotten his father's shameful death, and neither have I. The seeds of dissent have been sown aboard the Star Destroyer, Relentless. Something's got to give ...

Hopefully I'll go into the backgrounds of the junior officers: Tass Nemi, Lieutenant Reksil and the indefatigable Commander Knessel. Luke Skywalker is pursuing a group of renegade Emperor's Royal Guards: will Veers help the Guards and destroy Luke? Or does the general have more to fear from the secretive crimson guardsmen? Leia has crushed Imperial resistance on Coruscant - or, so she believes. Part II will have plenty of details to work out.

Alert all commands for Part II. In this universe, the epic Battle of Endor didn't end the war ...

It inflamed a new one.

to be continued... 

The fine print (how small can I make this?)... and all the usual disclaimers!  No, I'm not making any money.  It's just for fun.  George, please don't sue me.