Etan Ipar's Profile »
Smoke and Mirrors
The holonet news channels buzzed with the latest rebel attack on Herto. Victor smiled with a triumph look in his eyes. Hundreds of Imperial storm troopers were killed. Most were killed due to well placed charges, but the holonet was continually playing the footage of storm troopers being lined up, placed on their knees and shot by rebel raiders. It appears that the rebels recorded this as a training video, but that is all smoke and mirrors.
Victor known as VX-3585 in the military arm of the Imperial Intelligence service was the producer, director, and lead actor in the Herto massacre. The deaths were real, but the circumstances being broadcast by the holonet media were one of the finest pieces of fiction ever developed by the Empire.
Several Months Earlier...
"VX-3585 you've pulled a very unique mission. We have reports that a rogue battalion of storm troopers have defected to the rebellion and are providing the rebels with intel and weapons. We need your ethical flexibility to make this operation a success. Your new identification will be TK-9362 and a flag for rebellious opinion will be applied to this id. The battalion commander has been actively recruiting soldiers with this flag and supposedly re-educating them. Grab your gear and make this something for the news to broadcast. IX-08 Out."
The commlink abruptly cut out leaving a blank screen. Victor had all the information he needed. He was among the best of his profession. As anyone would see Victor, they would realize he is completely forgettable. There is nothing striking about him. He is of average height, build, his eyes are a dull brown and his hair matches his eyes. The sense of being forgotten pleased Victor, for he constantly profited from this ability. Many trained military personnel discounted him as a threat, only to find themselves in a jail cell being "critically interrogated" or worse. Victor opened his closet which relieved a multitude of different uniforms and clothing. He secured the pristine trooper gear and reported to his new duty station.
Two months later Victor received notification to report to Herto and receive his inbrief from Colonel Yawek. Herto was a typical arboreal planet. The end of spring was approaching into the summer season. The forests were lush with vegetation. Being towards the outer rim, Herto was a part of the Imperial supply hub for forward operations into the outer rim.
Colonel Yawek was an impressive man. He stood over six feet tall and fit the profile of a successful military officer. Victor quickly realized that this mission was going to be one of legend. Yawek was going to make the perfect Imperial martyr, even if he was part of the rebellion.
"Greetings TK-9362." Yawek boomed over the transport shuttle dropping off Victor and several supplies. "Welcome to Herto. I personally greet all new soldiers to his command. Report to building 387 for an in brief at 1900 hours. I look forward to working with you."
Victor made his way into the barracks mentally taking in weak points in the parameter and troop movements.
The in brief was bold even for the Rebellion. Victor approached the building and as he entered the doorway. The door shut and the lights abruptly cut out. Several men pounced on Victor. Victor found himself secured to a chair within minutes. Obviously this was a practiced procedure.
"Welcome to Herto. You are no longer a number. You have a name and a purpose. We are here against the Empire. The Emperor has caused much suffering and created a galaxy ruled by fear and violence. You know this. We?ve reviewed your file and found that you have shown, repeatedly, a disdain for the treatment of civilians and the unrelenting nature of the Empire. Over the last month, we have been watching you and know that the reports are true. Welcome to the Rebellion. The next step for you is simple. Either join us or we will place you into one of the cells until the Empire falls."
Colonel Yawek's voice was recognizable even in the darkness.
Victor began to sob, "Finally. I'm free," he wheezed. "I hate the Empire. I only stayed in because I was afraid what would happen to me if I tried to leave. What do I have to do now?" Victor had practiced this emotional breakdown to a solid performance worthy of a Twi'lek soap opera.
"What is your name son?" The lights flicked on showing a concerned Colonel Yawek and several other men.
"It?' Oric." Victor now beamed at Yawek and his men with reverence.
"Oric, here's how we operate. We double order supplies and lend man power to support Rebel activities in the Outer Rim. Stay in Imperial uniform while here. We?ve got a set of standard rebel uniforms for you to wear when we go on operations. We'll start your training shortly on how we conduct our operations."
The next weeks the battalion welcomed Victor with open arms. People discussed how they were mistreated and how great times would be without the Empire. Victor internally was sickened by this weakness. He knew he was right to trust the Empire. These sniveling creatures were an insult to existence.
After several encoded radio piggybacks on the supply requisition traffic. Four more VX soldiers integrated into the battalion. Victor knew these men as his brothers, expendable family. His emotions for them were limited in case he had to "dispatch" them in future missions. He knew they felt the same way, which comforted some remote part of Victor's mind.
The perimeter had a distinct break where a drainage pipe flowed over a cliff into a collecting pool far below. Victor placed a charge at the break and several other parts of the perimeter for quality distraction purposes. Additionally most of the barracks were rigged with explosive charges. Holonet cameras were established to capture the event.
"VX-3585 to all purifying elements, don attire and execute plan November 12, now." Victor was dressed in the classic rebel commando attire as were the other elements of the VX. Explosions marked the end of the rogue battalion. The holonet cams caught the glorious mayhem and destruction.
The perimeter explosions caused the roving guard to focus all of the attention outside while the barracks exploded reducing the amount of resistance. The ferocity of the attack caused lethal hesitation. Many came out unarmed and shaken from the vibrations.
November 12 was one of Victor?; prized plans. Three VX soldiers would gather the wounded storm troopers and execute them to show the hateful and evil will of the rebellion. One VX soldier would use the distraction and chaos to gather as much intel on the rebel supporters strung throughout the Empire and find out where the rebel bases receiving the supplies were located at.
Victor had the pleasure of hunting down Colonel Yawek. Yawek had no idea who to attack. If the Imperials were attacking they would look like his own troops. If it was a mistaken Rebel raid he couldn?t risk killing members of his own movement. It wasn?t until Yawek saw Victor approaching him that it became clear.
"Dewback tears. My mother fell for that trick too. I guess I am like her more than I thought. That was quite a performance. I thought you were one of us, but you are the monsters that we will stop." Yawek quickly drew his pistol, hoping that Victor would make his death quick.
Victor placed a bolt from his shortened rifle into Yawek arm causing him to drop his weapon and fall onto the ground.
Victor stood above Yawek face full of disdain. "You are pathetic. Look at what you let your soldiers become. They are weak. We infiltrated you with ease. Your purification will lead to true peace." Victor fired two rounds into Yawek?s chest and one into his head in a cold assassin's style. The holonet camera caught the entire scene with none of the sound.
The VX soldiers quickly boarded a modified Lambda class shuttle waiting for them at the perimeter break. The shuttle was hovering with the ramp down for a quick exfiltration. Rebel bodies from previous battles were being planted at the site by a post attack team. The Imperial units needed to see that the rebellion couldn?t cause this much damage without getting some of their own.
IX-08?s voice quickly filled the interior of the shuttle. "The Emperor is pleased with your work. Your team will return to Corsucant and going through debrief. I look forward to seeing you there. IX-08 out."
Victor quickly punched up one of the hundred holonet news station that was scheduled to receive the live footage. Victor smiled and watched the legend of Colonel Yawek and the massacre of Herto begin.
Victor known as VX-3585 in the military arm of the Imperial Intelligence service was the producer, director, and lead actor in the Herto massacre. The deaths were real, but the circumstances being broadcast by the holonet media were one of the finest pieces of fiction ever developed by the Empire.
Several Months Earlier...
"VX-3585 you've pulled a very unique mission. We have reports that a rogue battalion of storm troopers have defected to the rebellion and are providing the rebels with intel and weapons. We need your ethical flexibility to make this operation a success. Your new identification will be TK-9362 and a flag for rebellious opinion will be applied to this id. The battalion commander has been actively recruiting soldiers with this flag and supposedly re-educating them. Grab your gear and make this something for the news to broadcast. IX-08 Out."
The commlink abruptly cut out leaving a blank screen. Victor had all the information he needed. He was among the best of his profession. As anyone would see Victor, they would realize he is completely forgettable. There is nothing striking about him. He is of average height, build, his eyes are a dull brown and his hair matches his eyes. The sense of being forgotten pleased Victor, for he constantly profited from this ability. Many trained military personnel discounted him as a threat, only to find themselves in a jail cell being "critically interrogated" or worse. Victor opened his closet which relieved a multitude of different uniforms and clothing. He secured the pristine trooper gear and reported to his new duty station.
Two months later Victor received notification to report to Herto and receive his inbrief from Colonel Yawek. Herto was a typical arboreal planet. The end of spring was approaching into the summer season. The forests were lush with vegetation. Being towards the outer rim, Herto was a part of the Imperial supply hub for forward operations into the outer rim.
Colonel Yawek was an impressive man. He stood over six feet tall and fit the profile of a successful military officer. Victor quickly realized that this mission was going to be one of legend. Yawek was going to make the perfect Imperial martyr, even if he was part of the rebellion.
"Greetings TK-9362." Yawek boomed over the transport shuttle dropping off Victor and several supplies. "Welcome to Herto. I personally greet all new soldiers to his command. Report to building 387 for an in brief at 1900 hours. I look forward to working with you."
Victor made his way into the barracks mentally taking in weak points in the parameter and troop movements.
The in brief was bold even for the Rebellion. Victor approached the building and as he entered the doorway. The door shut and the lights abruptly cut out. Several men pounced on Victor. Victor found himself secured to a chair within minutes. Obviously this was a practiced procedure.
"Welcome to Herto. You are no longer a number. You have a name and a purpose. We are here against the Empire. The Emperor has caused much suffering and created a galaxy ruled by fear and violence. You know this. We?ve reviewed your file and found that you have shown, repeatedly, a disdain for the treatment of civilians and the unrelenting nature of the Empire. Over the last month, we have been watching you and know that the reports are true. Welcome to the Rebellion. The next step for you is simple. Either join us or we will place you into one of the cells until the Empire falls."
Colonel Yawek's voice was recognizable even in the darkness.
Victor began to sob, "Finally. I'm free," he wheezed. "I hate the Empire. I only stayed in because I was afraid what would happen to me if I tried to leave. What do I have to do now?" Victor had practiced this emotional breakdown to a solid performance worthy of a Twi'lek soap opera.
"What is your name son?" The lights flicked on showing a concerned Colonel Yawek and several other men.
"It?' Oric." Victor now beamed at Yawek and his men with reverence.
"Oric, here's how we operate. We double order supplies and lend man power to support Rebel activities in the Outer Rim. Stay in Imperial uniform while here. We?ve got a set of standard rebel uniforms for you to wear when we go on operations. We'll start your training shortly on how we conduct our operations."
The next weeks the battalion welcomed Victor with open arms. People discussed how they were mistreated and how great times would be without the Empire. Victor internally was sickened by this weakness. He knew he was right to trust the Empire. These sniveling creatures were an insult to existence.
After several encoded radio piggybacks on the supply requisition traffic. Four more VX soldiers integrated into the battalion. Victor knew these men as his brothers, expendable family. His emotions for them were limited in case he had to "dispatch" them in future missions. He knew they felt the same way, which comforted some remote part of Victor's mind.
The perimeter had a distinct break where a drainage pipe flowed over a cliff into a collecting pool far below. Victor placed a charge at the break and several other parts of the perimeter for quality distraction purposes. Additionally most of the barracks were rigged with explosive charges. Holonet cameras were established to capture the event.
"VX-3585 to all purifying elements, don attire and execute plan November 12, now." Victor was dressed in the classic rebel commando attire as were the other elements of the VX. Explosions marked the end of the rogue battalion. The holonet cams caught the glorious mayhem and destruction.
The perimeter explosions caused the roving guard to focus all of the attention outside while the barracks exploded reducing the amount of resistance. The ferocity of the attack caused lethal hesitation. Many came out unarmed and shaken from the vibrations.
November 12 was one of Victor?; prized plans. Three VX soldiers would gather the wounded storm troopers and execute them to show the hateful and evil will of the rebellion. One VX soldier would use the distraction and chaos to gather as much intel on the rebel supporters strung throughout the Empire and find out where the rebel bases receiving the supplies were located at.
Victor had the pleasure of hunting down Colonel Yawek. Yawek had no idea who to attack. If the Imperials were attacking they would look like his own troops. If it was a mistaken Rebel raid he couldn?t risk killing members of his own movement. It wasn?t until Yawek saw Victor approaching him that it became clear.
"Dewback tears. My mother fell for that trick too. I guess I am like her more than I thought. That was quite a performance. I thought you were one of us, but you are the monsters that we will stop." Yawek quickly drew his pistol, hoping that Victor would make his death quick.
Victor placed a bolt from his shortened rifle into Yawek arm causing him to drop his weapon and fall onto the ground.
Victor stood above Yawek face full of disdain. "You are pathetic. Look at what you let your soldiers become. They are weak. We infiltrated you with ease. Your purification will lead to true peace." Victor fired two rounds into Yawek?s chest and one into his head in a cold assassin's style. The holonet camera caught the entire scene with none of the sound.
The VX soldiers quickly boarded a modified Lambda class shuttle waiting for them at the perimeter break. The shuttle was hovering with the ramp down for a quick exfiltration. Rebel bodies from previous battles were being planted at the site by a post attack team. The Imperial units needed to see that the rebellion couldn?t cause this much damage without getting some of their own.
IX-08?s voice quickly filled the interior of the shuttle. "The Emperor is pleased with your work. Your team will return to Corsucant and going through debrief. I look forward to seeing you there. IX-08 out."
Victor quickly punched up one of the hundred holonet news station that was scheduled to receive the live footage. Victor smiled and watched the legend of Colonel Yawek and the massacre of Herto begin.
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