Chapter Sixteen

   “Alive! Alive!” Galgen roared down the comlink. “I want them alive, sergeant!”

   “But the industrial dignitary just killed seven of my team and that bounty hunter is dropping troopers all over, Grand Moff. I’ve just sent six men into the landing bay,” came the reply.

   “I don’t care! Set your weapons for stun!”

Galgen clicked off the comlink, throwing it with anger at the table where it shattered a glass and sent shards over the floor. Terrov cleared his throat and retrieved his communicator.

   “Grand Moff,” Terrov said, “I understand the need to capture the boy but the Force user... wouldn’t it be simpler just to kill him?”

   “What, and destroy my prize for the Emperor?” Galgen shouted. His eyes were wild and somewhat disturbing to look at, the jowls on his face shook and he pointed an accusing finger at Terrov. “Find them, Terrov! I will not go back to Coruscant empty handed!”

The atmosphere went strained. Terrov checked his anger and waited for further instructions but none were forthcoming.

What has the Force user done to you? he thought, remembering Galgen a hard-edged, methodical leader who had done a good job of securing several systems in the Mid-Rim. A leader respected by colleagues, accepted by his men. The association with Arcc Nedeen had turned him into a wreck, a man now unsure of his capability and his future. A man so terrified of what his involvement with the Force user may lead to sending him into fits of rage and unconsidered decisions. He had abused his power. They obviously weren’t going to get a satisfactory result and he would go with his second plan, which he had already set in motion after a secret call to the Malevolent.

He waited for a minute while the Grand Moff walked backward and forth, backward and forth. He was obviously trying to come up with a fresh plan but his fear was impairing his judgement.

Terrov sighed and started to head for the door. As he did so he saw a vessel blast from one of the mountain bays, flying level with the ground and then lifting up and away from the city. Two TIE fighters left their patrol route and dropped in behind the vessel.

I know that ship, he thought. His comlink buzzed.

   “Terrov.”

   “Sir, the targets have escaped in their ship!”

Galgen’s eyes bulged. As he leaped forward Terrov started to hand the comlink to him but he had it ripped from his hand.

   “You’ll all be executed!” Galgen screamed, his voice breaking pathetically. “All of you!”

Terrov yanked the comlink back and, before he realised what he was doing, he pushed the Grand Moff away from him and onto a couch. Galgen stared at him, too shocked to say anything. Terrov leisurely clipped the communicator to his belt. Another ship roared from a landing bay, then, obviously Queed’s vessel with its domed cockpit and twin rear stabilisers spewing gases as it gave chase to the first ship. Two more TIEs joined their flight path.

   “So they have all escaped,” Terrov murmured, knowing that Arcc would be with Queed, knowing there would be no prize and the mission was over.

The turbolift doors opened and another officer entered flanked by two Stormtroopers. He was a tall man with a menacing air and a sweat-covered bald head. He came up beside Terrov and glared at Galgen.

   “What’s he doing here?” Galgen demanded, still sprawled on the couch.

   “I called him and asked for his presence as a witness,” Terrov explained and turned to the Captain of the Malevolent, whose command had been temporarily relieved of him so that the Grand Moff could utilise the Star Destroyer for his own use.

   “Captain Onyas,” Terrov said. “Have you read my report?”

   “I have,” the Captain said as he took a step closer to Galgen. Behind him Lieutenant Shreems appeared with another two Stormtroopers, looking about the room and trying to fathom what was happening.

   “Grand Moff Galgen,” the Captain said officially, “you have conspired with agents who present a threat to the Empire and abused your station as both Grand Moff and commanding officer of the Imperial Star Destroyer Malevolent. I am relieving you of your command and arresting you for high treason.”

Galgen’s face was shaking, the fear causing him to tremble violently. He pointed a finger at Terrov.

   “But he...”

   “Lieutenant Terrov has disclosed a full report to myself as to your dealings with one Arcc Nedeen, an alien threat and possible Force manipulator. Also, the abuse of Imperial resources to track down your son, one Skeet Jonas. He has detailed the full plan from the time you tried to recruit him as your cohort, detailing his intention to play along with your plans and try to expose a larger ring of corruption, if any. His report was most thorough and well-executed.”

   “Arcc told me,” Galgen hissed, “Arcc told me from the very beginning you would betray me...”

   “Thank you for making my position clear,” Terrov smiled and clipped his heels together, bowing slightly at the waist, “Galgen.”

Captain Onyas signalled to the two troopers who accompanied him and they stepped forward, one producing a pair of wrist binders, which he held out for Galgen to put his hands into. Galgen stood, shaking off his fear and trying to keep himself calm, accepting the sorry state of affairs he had allowed himself to be sucked into. He adjusted his uniform to stretch out the creases and placed his hands in the cuffs. They snapped over his wrists.

   “You’ll be taken to Coruscant for trial and execution,” the Captain said and pointed to the door. Galgen was pulled to the lift.

He gave Terrov one last stare as he was lead away from the room, a lingering look of hatred, which suddenly gave way to a strange twisted smile.

   “You’ll go far in this Empire,” he whispered to the lieutenant as he walked past him and through the door.

   “Perhaps you would like to pilot this thing!” Eilen shouted as Skeet once again gave another piece of useless advice. “I am not going canyon hopping on the surface!”

   “But we might lose them!” Skeet insisted. He felt a hand on his shoulder as Emag pulled him back and away from the pilot’s chair.

   “This isn’t a speeder chase now, Skeet. Eilen’s the top pilot in my constabulary, let her fly this her way.”

Outside the cockpit window were flashes of light as the pursuing TIE fighters spewed green bolts of energy at the fleeing ship. The rear deflector shields flared and warning lights blinked as the barrage of laser bolts exploded against the energy screens. The ship listed violently and, at last, they broke from the atmosphere of Junduk and headed into orbit.

    “I’ll start making the calculations for the jump to lightspeed,” Emag said and sat himself down in the co-pilot’s chair, flicking switches and turning dials. Skeet looked on, unsure of the vessels controls and feeling utterly helpless.

Eilen’s finger pointed out of the cockpit window.

   “The Star Destroyer,” she said, “it’s trying to cut us off.”

   “More TIEs coming in,” Emag reported as a sensor screen bleeped its information at him. Ahead were faint points of light, which grew into the spherical cockpits and strangely shaped ‘wings’ of the approaching fighters. As they drew nearer, green bolts started heading directly for them.

Eilen jinked and banked to try and avoid most of the fire but a lot of the shots bounced off the shields and weakened their defence. As the TIEs split their formation to avoid the freighter one of them was struck by a volley of red laser bolts, tearing apart the cockpit and rupturing the engine core. It exploded spectacularly, the remnants of the vessel flying past the Happy Contriver and causing the passengers to involuntarily duck.

   “Whoah!” Eilen shouted, followed by Skeet’s own, “Damn it!”

Emag looked at the sensor screens as he finished plotting the hyperspace route. He turned to Skeet.

   “What did you do?” he said accusingly.

   “Nothing!” Skeet said sharply, and then he pointed out of the cockpit window. “Look!”

Queed’s vessel swooped in, red bolts of energy flying from a top mounted turret, which slammed into another TIE, blowing off a ‘wing’ and sending it tumbling away. It banked and fell into the same flight path as the Happy Contriver.

   “Yeeha!” Eilen exulted. “Good shooting! He’s one of the good guys!”

But both Emag and Skeet could feel the presence on that ship, the dark side of the Force seemed to infect every panel. Emag frowned.

   “Why is he helping us?” he said to Skeet.

Skeet swallowed nervously, his face pale.

   “He wants me,” he said, and watched as the stars ahead stretched impossibly long and the whirling tunnel of hyperspace appeared.

They had escaped.

 Captain Onyas took in a deep breath.

   “Lieutenant Shreems,” he commanded, “recall all troops and get them back to the transports. I want to be gone from this sorry planet within the hour. Inform the Malevolent to make preparations to leave a garrison here.”

Shreems nodded and headed for the door, casting a quick glance over at Terrov who gave him a quick rise of his eyebrows. His attention snapped back to Captain Onyas as he was summoned.

   “Lieutenant Terrov, this appears to have been quite a coup for you. You do realise this will carry with it a commendation of the highest order, most likely a promotion?”

Terrov nodded and was about to reply but Onyas continued.

   “On the other hand, Galgen has many friends in the Imperial Senate and they will not take too kindly to your involvement. You being a lowly lieutenant will not aid you much.”

That was a risk Terrov knew all too well and he had considered it as an acceptable gamble. He nodded and neglected to speak.

   “You’re obviously a man of resource, of some skill, and I think it’s about time to you got the chance to prove that. As soon as I speak with Coruscant on this matter I will recommend you forgo the need for lieutenant commander and advise that the higher echelons promote you as a Captain. How do you feel about that?”

It was incredibly difficult for Terrov to contain his joy but he managed to do so with only a small smile escaping his lips.

   “Yes, sir. I mean, thank you, sir, I would be most honoured to serve the New Order in such a capacity.” He bowed at the waist.

   “Very good,” Captain Onyas started for the turbolift doors but stopped as he passed Terrov. “Either way, through the revelation of Galgen’s deceit or through helping him with his plans, you stood to make a great deal from this, Terrov. You must have weighed the options.”

Terrov stiffened, wanting to deny the accusation that maybe he was enticed by Galgen’s offers of instant promotion. He stayed silent and stared straight ahead.

Captain Onyas smiled.

   “Not even a little?”

   “I am the servant of the Empire, sir.”

The smile on the Captain’s face lingered.

   “Of course. Return to the Malevolent and oversee Galgen’s transport back to Coruscant.”

Terrov nodded.

   “Sir.”

As he headed for the doors, Terrov behind Onyas, he stared into the back of his superior’s head with narrowed eyes.

If he does suspect, Terrov thought, then I will have to weigh up my options here, also.

Even as they were leaving the room, Raca City and the planet of Junduk, lieutenant Terrov was thinking about his next plan to try and contain any damage he may have caused to his career through this incident.