Chapter Text
prologue.
Well, fuck.
Commander Fox stared through his viewfinder, watching the red lightsaber deflect blaster bolts - his men's blaster bolts - for a half second longer before his brain kicked back into gear.
"Get us over there," he ordered, gesturing to the pilot as he pulled out his comm and set it to broadcast. "All units! Cease fire on target at the temple! He's one of ours!"
Or at least, Fox thought bitterly, he was one of the Emperor's. The wrinkly old bastard had taken the time to introduce his latest underling to Fox personally, emphasizing the importance of this mission. He had gone on about respecting Vader's authority and all that, giving the asthmatic cyborg free reign of Fox's troops.
Troops that had then turned around and shot at Vader under Fox's orders.
Fox permitted himself a brief sigh as their shuttle touched down - he wasn't going to survive this mistake, not this time. He could already see the fury in the cyborg's posture, ready to brush off whatever half-assed explanation Fox could come up with in the next five seconds… and somehow, Fox thought he might be okay with that.
At least, he thought, barely registering the explanation that tumbled from his lips, Vader would make it quick. At least it would be over.
He felt the bones snap in his neck, catching a brief glimpse of all the warnings on his HUD before everything went dark.