[right][b]Above Taris Population Centre Seven.
The Defender[/b][/right]


Standing outside on the hull of the Defender, Knight peered down from the clouds onto the population centre as some kind of deity. He could almost feel the tension building from below him. War was coming to Taris and it was to be a bloody one. Millions if not billions of lives would be snuffed out in an instant.

Visions of Knight’s past fell before him. His home planet bombarded by Separatist bombers, his brother’s lifeless body in his arms. The screams... he could still hear them. His hands trembled before him; he could still see the crimson that stained them, an unwashable mark that would plague him for eternity.

[color=fff200]“Sir!”[/color] A man cried out from behind him, wrapping his arms around himself to protect his overcoat from flapping uncontrollably in the high winds. [color=fff200]“Sir!” [/color]He repeated as he neared Knight.

Knight turned, his face recomposed and poised.

[color=ed1c24]“What is it Griffen?”[/color] Knight replied, his stance unmoved by the winds.

[color=fff200]“I was calling out to you for ages! Didn’t you hear me?”[/color] Griffen said, now within reasonable distance from Knight.

Knight paused for a moment to look back down at the city below then back to Griffen.

[color=ed1c24]“I was lost in thought. What was it you required from me?”[/color]

[color=fff200]“I fear that we our open for attack in our current location.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“How long before the Life Support is operational?”[/color]

[color=fff200]“Given our rate of progress, it will be a few days.”[/color]

Knight though for a while, he knew what Griffen was saying had some merit. Then an idea hit him.

[color=ed1c24]“Then we make ourselves an undesirable target.”[/color] Knight responded.

Confused, Griffen asked how that it would be possible.

[color=ed1c24]“It’s simple. We open our doors… well hangers to the public. I remember being a child I always wanted to tour an Imperial warship.”[/color]

[color=fff200]“But sir? Is that wise. It will leave as vulnerable attack from the inside.”[/color] Griffen said, his voice full of concern. 

[color=ed1c24]“It does indeed, but imagine the up cry… Rebels attack a ship full of civilians on board. They would quickly lose their support from the system. In such attack we ensure our troops protect the civilians above anything else. The rebels will then become public enemy number one.”[/color]

Hours later ships would create a taxi service up to the Defender’s main hanger bay. While many were hesitant at first, actual tours were being given, children were allowed to sit in the cockpit of TIEs, wear the helmets and such amusements like that. Any Rebel attack now would completely destroy support for the rebellion in this population centre.