Chapter Text
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…
A Galaxy Divided! Two factions: the EMPIRE and THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC. Have a very shaky peace treaty, the ceasefire between the two have led to an extremely lucrative playground for SMUGGLERS and BOUNTY HUNTERS alike, as tensions rise the galaxy is on the brink of war. The EMPIRE grows bolder and the REPUBLIC is under pressure to take action.
The EMPIRE have been stretching their diabolical hands to the many neutral worlds hoping to broaden their already expansive grip on the galaxy, meanwhile other worlds are struggling reaching out to the REPUBLIC in hopes of protection, while others accept the rule of the EMPIRE. Several others are in a civil war amongst themselves.
This has proven to be a good money making scheme for CAPTAIN EDWARD MAREK and his crew of smugglers, who have been making a name for themselves for their reckless and bold moves across the galaxy. Stealing whatever they can get their hands on and reselling it for a profit.
Now the band of smugglers, having just robbed a large IMPERIAL WEAPONS FACILITY in hopes to sell them to the warring world of IONDA, find themselves making a quick getaway from the pursuing EMPIRE. Unawares to the fact they will soon change the course of the universe...
Prolog
An explosion rocks the ship "they knocked out our communications array!" A voice shouts. "Well that's just fantastic" I said, "now we won't be able to call for help" <"when do we ever?"> the wookie co pilot asks, he makes a valid point.. but the option would be nice. "Okay well, obviously we cannot stay here and we can't allow them to follow us. We have to knock out their hyperdrive, and lock in the coordinates for Ionda." I said, avoiding the imperial fighters attempting to blast us into space dust. "Great plan captain, but how exactly do you plan to do that?" A robotic voice asks. "I'm working on it.. for now Z3, you and Jadoo man the turrets, keep those fighters off us, I'm gonna loop the ship around and take out that hyperdrive! Orlay, you ready up the proton cannons we'll have maybe one shot so it has to count!" "OH hell yes!" Jadoo said, eagerly making her way to the turret. "I hope you know what you're doing captain" Z3 said. Yeah, I do too.. I thought.
"Jadoo, Z, are you two in position"
"Affirmative" Z said
"You bet I am Cap'n" Jadoo answered
"Great, hold em off as best you can. This is gonna get risky" I said as I made a u turn heading us directly towards the imperial ship. "Yknow, why does the empire wanna blast us down so damn badly?" "Maybe because we stole over 1000 weapons from them? Just a thought" Z3 said sarcastically. "Yeah but I mean the empire should have a near endless supply of arms. I take it they never learned sharing is caring?" <"I think they did. And that's why they don't wanna share"> Orlay added. "Good point." I said. "HAHA YEAH! I TOOK OUT 3 OF EM, ALREADY. WHAT ABOUT YOU Z?" Jadoo said as she kept firing. "I'd tell you but I don't wanna make you jealous" Z answered. "But I took out 6
, scratch that 7." "I WILL NOT BE BEATEN, 500 CREDITS SAYS I CAN DO BETTER!" Jadoo shouted. "I'll take that bet.." Z said. Hehe, they're really having fun down there. "Okay, we're right on top of the imperial star destroyer. Its gonna get bumpy! Orie, divert any power you can towards the reflector shields, Jadoo, Z, keep doing what you're doing. But watch out for their own turrets, they're much more powerful than ours." I said, okay.. it's do or die, and hopefully not die. Lots of credits laying on getting these guns to Ionda, and I can't collect em if I'm space debris. "AHH!" An explosion rocks the ship causing me to have to spin, "Jadoo! You alright??" I shouted. "Damn it! I'm fine," she started "but the right turret is out of commission.. Z! This is a draw" Okay well at least she's alive. <"we've made it behind the ship"> Orlay growled, right. This is it, I thought.. just gotta fire a proton torpedo at a very small target in hopes it takes out the hyperdrive, easy. "Alright," I say turning the ships guns to the engine of the imperial star destroyer "I have eyes on the hyperdrive, 3..2…1.. fire!" I say and launch the proton torpedo. And boom! The torpedoes hit their mark, "P4-97, can you tell if that did it?" "One moment master Marek, R7, can you get into their communications log?" R7 beeps and whistles affirmatively, "he says you knocked it offline temporarily, this is our chance" "Good enough!" I started "Orlay are the coordinates ready?" He nods "okay then everyone prepare for light speed!" I punch a few buttons on the command comm, and pull a switch, suddenly we are zooming at top speeds, towards our destination.
Chapter 1, Civil War
Going through hyperspace allows me a small moment of reprieve, I sigh and lean back in my chair. "Damage report?" I ask, Z3K-9 walks in the cockpit "minor damage overall, the communications array and right turret are broken, I can fix them but it'll take time." Not so bad, I thought. "Orie, what's our ETA to Ionda?" <"5 minutes"> he said. Jadoo runs in the cockpit "another narrow getaway from the empire hehe, I love this job" she laughs. "They're quite hard to deal with sometimes, they don't seem to like us, maybe we should start stealing from the republic instead" I said jokingly. "Oh I feel like your brother would have some words about that cap." Z3 reminded me. "He's always got something to say" I added. "We'll we won't be able to contact general Hanu til we arrive on Ionda, hopefully he's holding out well enough." I said "Heh, Ionda in yet another civil war, what's it about this time?" Jadoo started asking. "Eh, one half of the population is against the new king, there's two species on Ionda and the Tortuial people are sick of the king always being a Juazian, makes no difference to me tho, long as we get paid" I replied. Suddenly we arrive out of hyperspace in front of Ionda.
"Alright all, strap yourselves in. We're entering the atmosphere" luckily since its a civil war there's no blockade to bypass, nice and easy. As we broke through the atmosphere on the planet we see the war torn world, cities leveled, forests burning, smoke as far as the eye can see, damage everywhere the people here seem obsessed with war.. just then my personal comlink started beeping, I took it out and a hologram of General Hanu, the Juazian leader appeared. "Captain Edward? Thank the goddess, what took you?" He said "apologies General. The empire has never been too good about sharing their toys, we just arrived. What's your location?" "I'm sending coordinates now, you have full clearance to land in our hangar, hurry! We need those weapons!" He said as he disappeared. "You all ready to get paid?" I asked, the entire cockpit was filled with cheers and shouts, that's what I like to hear, I love this job. I made my way to the provided coordinates and landed our xs stock light freighter down, and was greeted by the general himself.
"Captain Edward! It's good to meet you in person" the Juazian general said as he stuck his hand out wanting a handshake, I took his hand "likewise," we separated our hands "I have 1000 weapons here, including snipers, pistols, rockets, thermal detonators, and rifles. Should be enough to help hold out and maybe turn the tide in your favor" I said as Orlay and Jadoo were removing storage containers from the ship. "Excellent work Captain, we have the agreed upon pay of 4000 credits in my office, however we are being pelted relentlessly by a nearby Tortuial base. If your men can help us fight them off and take that base, you can have a share of the weapons housed there." The general said. Ooh, I like the sound of that, those weapons could make us a profit. And who knows what else is in that base, food, drugs, alcohol, maybe even some credits. I was all aboard, but I should check in with my crew. "Well guys? Down for another scrap?" I asked "I'M ALWAYS READY!" Jadoo said readying her blaster rifle. <"ME TOO"> Orlay roared, readying his bowcaster. "Yes, that base could have something quite useful for the ship too, so count me in as well" Z3 said drawing his sniper rifle. "Well that's that, we're yours until we take that base general." I said drawing my pistol. "I'm glad to have you all, it won't be easy but should be doable. With the weapons you provided" the general said.
Moving out of the hanger and onto the grassy plains of Ionda, shots are flying from both sides, tanks blasting away, luckily no starships flying about so that should make things slightly easier, but by no means a cakewalk. "Alright!" I started, "we need to get to that base, the turrets need to be shut down and the general wants whoever is leading it, dead or alive he said. Makes no difference to me either. Once the base is ours I'll have R6 fly the ship around and we'll take our share of the goodies" I said, to my crew. "NOW let's move out!" I said charging forward, shooting ahead towards the Tortuialan army. "HEH! This is where the fun begins hahaha!" Jadoo exclaimed, blasting down countless Tortuialans. Orlay let out a roar and fired his weapon taking out a couple of men, one of which approached him with a vibrosword, Orlay unsheathed his own and the two engaged in combat, tho as expected Orlay, being a wookie quickly overpowered the man and killed him. I was weaving my way through blaster bolts, firing back, dodging, rolling, looking damn good while doing it. I shot down a Tortuialan but was caught off guard by another who knocked me down, and had his blaster aimed at me about to fire. When suddenly a bolt went through his head, and Zee made his way to me helping me up, "I expect you'll buy me a drink?" He asked, I laughed, "sure thing, buddy." As we kept pressing on we eventually arrived just outside of the base along the eastern wall, the least guarded section a large black building with multiple stories, and seemingly only one way in, that being the front gate. Which was heavily occupied by several men, two tanks, and a couple snipers. "Don't think we're getting in that way" I said, "I'm open to suggestions guys" Jadoo pulled out a detonator, "easy. Everyone step back!" We did as she said, as she detonated the bomb. Creating a big enough gap that we could all fit through. I glanced over at the front gate, seems we were far enough away that they didn't notice the explosion. We are in a battle zone after all, there's lots of explosions. "Alright, nice. Lemme contact the general" I pull out my com "general we've breached the base, fire all the rockets at the front gate and tell your men to storm it. We'll find whoever is in charge and, 'negotiate' a surrender" I said. "Roger that" the general said as he disappeared, suddenly the rockets all launched towards the entrance and we made our way inside. "Okay all, spread out. You find who's in charge incapacitate him if possible. If we can have his men stand down then this'll be easier, if not. Well, whatever happens happens" I said, as they all spread out making their way deeper into the base I continued inside as well. The Tortuialans inside scrambling making their way out to engage the Juazian soldiers, seemingly oblivious to my presence. That's the way I like it, I walk through a four way intersection in the base, and down a hallway, peeking in through the windows of any floor I find trying to find anyone who seems to be In charge, just then I felt eyes on me. "HEY you! Stop right there" a voice called out. I turned quickly and it was a Tortuialan soldier, I pulled my pistol out and shot him, killing him instantly. "As if I'd listen, pssh" I said, making my way further down. I come across a flight of stairs and walk up them and end up at another intersection, to the right is the turret control center, i open the door and roll in a thermal detonator, "greetings from captain Edward!" I say as I pull the door shut to a muffled explosion. At the end of the hallways is a door, that seems to be heavily locked. I pull my com out and contact Jadoo "Jadoo, I think I found something. Where are you?" "I did too. Captain. I found the mess hall! They've got so much food! I'll contact you again soon, I have to uh. Investigate!" She hung up and I rolled my eyes, I contacted Z3 "Zee, you find anything" "I did indeed. There's a surplus of used parts here, some for an xs stock light freighter, I should be able to salvage them, Orlay is here with me, do you need him to come to you?" He asked. "Yea that'll be nice. Idk what I've found, but it might just be the managers office, some backup would be nice.. OH and after you're done go and check on the mess hall please" I said "copy. Orlay is en route now, good luck" he said, as he ended the transmission.
A couple minutes go by and I am joined by Orlay, "Okay Orie, let's do this" we make our way down the hall and come upon a locked door. "Orie?" I said <"stand back"> he replied, as he kicked the door, and the two of us charge in blasters ready "don't move!" I ordered the two In the room put their hands up, one a highly decorated Tortuialan officer. This has to be their leader, and the other a human, one I recognize.. "Gregor??" I asked, "that you?" "CAPTAIN EDWARD as I live and breathe!!" He said and let out a hardy laugh, "how are ya you bastard?" "I'm great, I never figured I'd run into you on this op, you were hired by the Tortuialans I guess?" "That's right! They wanted supplies, they pay Gregor well. You on the Juazian team?" He asked, "that's right Ole buddy, again we find ourselves helping opposing factions" "what are you doing?! GREGOR I order you to kill them! I'll double your pay!" The Tortuialan said, "double??" Gregor said excitedly.. then burst into laughter "I'd never kill my friend! Edward offers something credits don't. You pay Gregor already, I no work for you anymore!" I smile and motion for Orlay to grab the commander. Orlay does and grabs him slamming his head on the console. "Now," I said, casually swinging my pistol around, "you're gonna have your men surrender, or we're gonna kill you on the spot right here." I said, "what's it gonna be?" The Tortuialan commander growled "fine, let me up and I'll order the men to fall back.." he said "good boy, Orlay do as he says" Orlay does and the Tortuialan commander makes good on his word, the others started falling back and letting down their arms as the Juazians came through and started cuffing the soldiers. "Perhaps time for Gregor to leave, Edward, Orlay is good to see you! Come by Mos Eisley sometime, I pay to have us all drunk till we cannot stand!" Gregor stated, "perhaps we will. We'll keep in touch my friend, I'll see ya around." I stated as Gregor and I embraced, Orlay grabbed us both lifting us off the ground, before releasing us "I'll miss you too my wookie friend! Til we meet again" he said and walked out. Gregor and I go way back, they say smugglers have no honor among themselves but I've seen that proven wrong time and time again, especially with him.
The general walks in the room and cuffs the enemy commander, nodding at us and thanking us again for our help. "No problem general, Z3 has told me they have well over 20,000 weapons stored here. We won't need that many, so how's about we take 6,000 and your men have the rest? Plus we take some of the rations and credits. And the supplies in the store room to repair our ship?" I bartered. "Sounds fine to me" the general said, "take what you need, now if you'll excuse me. I have some executions to oversee" He said and made his way off, taken aback by that I began to speak up, but…. It's not my business, "good day then" as I made my way to the store room. The ship pulls around and we begin loading everything on the ship, "Alright. That should be enough, let's get off this planet already. That was quite a struggle we fought through" everyone agreed, and made their way inside. Except Jadoo, who was in the cockpit hunched over in pain "ugggh… I ate… so much…" she said, I never thought a Trandoshen would be able to eat too much. Just then P4 walked up to me "master Marek, you have an urgent transmission, says he has another job for us! Should I tell him you're coming?" Another job? So soon, haha yes! Music to my greedy ears, "yes do, I'll be there soon." "Very good master" the protocol Droid left and made his way to the comm room, and I made my way to the cockpit. "Everything is fully operational again Eddy, we are ready for launch" Z3 informed me, "excellent" I took to the controls and began the launching sequence, from where we were we could see the Juazian general over seeing the executions in the field <"never expected that from him, did we help the wrong people?"> Orlay asked. "I don't know Orie… I don't" we broke through the atmosphere yet again leaving the planet behind.