… to end report. Operations with Bravo Company of the 121st have proceeded as planned. All operations run smoothly with casualties never straying above acceptable mission parametres. Mission brief for Operation #2142.5 will commence at 1200HRS Coruscant time. It will once again be re-iterated to all squad leaders that ‘callsigns’ or ‘nicknames’ are against protocol and that surnames, rank or serial numbers are to be used at all times.
Next report scheduled for 0830HRS tomorrow. KT-124 signing off.
The stars were silent as an Imperial warship,
Tempest, hovered calmly above the ruined world of Lotho Minor. A pair of TIE fighters rocketed over the horizon, making their way back to the orbiting vessel as they finished their routine patrol around the world having discovered no anomalies in the space around the colossal collective trash heap. The planet was covered with junk and trash accumulated from all over the galaxy where it was simply dumped on the surface. Toxic sludge mountains of garbage rose high into the skies of the planet, as disgusting stench filled fog made visibility difficult on the surface. But the great Galactic Empire has made use Lotho Minor, establishing a facility designed to collect any useful metals scavenged from the trash filled world.
Inside the
Tempest, boots of Stormtroopers sounded against the floor of the starship as activity filled the halls. This was the home of two hundred of the 121st Stormtrooper Battalions finest. Some troopers went through routine training, keeping themselves in top shape and form. Others chatted amongst themselves, strong brotherhoods and bonds established between many of the soldiers. In the deeper inner workings of the ship, within the conference room gathered the various squad leaders of Bravo Company seated around a table. Each of them had their helmets off, awaiting the briefing they had been summoned for by the ranking officer aboard the
Tempest.
Sergeant Kavis Vytuia sat silently in one seat, grasping a cup of water between his hands though he was otherwise motionless. Around him some of his fellow Stormtroopers made idle chitchat, killing time until their Captain made her entrance and their briefing began. Kavis lifted the cup gently to his lips, and took a long sip. As he set the cup down his hand scratched his stubble covered chin, his thoughts were of his family. It had been almost eight months since he had last seen his son Kylain, and his wife Wina. It wouldn’t be long until he would get to see their faces, lift his son up in his arms and hug Wina tight. But for now duty was the most important thing, they were orbiting this filthy junk world for a reason.
Captain Loretta Raidne walked into the room. Uniform crisp and ironed. Boots shone black in stark contrast to that of the white stormtroopers. She wore the white shirt of an ISB Officer, black trousers creased perfectly as they should be and her hair flat and straightened to perfection. She wasn’t oblivious to the whisperings and the looks she received on behalf of her looks, she merely had no interest in anything anyone aboard the Tempest had to offer.
Loretta's first command the Tempest wasn’t the most impressive ship of the line. A Vigil-Class Corvette it was the smallest vessel created by Kuat Drive Yards that was part of the Imperial Star Destroyer family. 255 Metres long, but armed to the teeth for her size. She had to be glad for it however, not every ISB officer got a command so early on in their career, let alone a command of their own ship and detachment of Stormtroopers. She looked out on the junk infested world of Lotho Minor. Thousands of years of junk had been dropped onto the planet, making it an inhospitable wasteland.
Vast machines crawled the surface burning down the junk, and it was the brainchild of some Imperial analyst that there had to be valuable resources somewhere on the planet. A facility had been constructed, piles of junk sorted and burnt down into resources that the Empire could use to further its expansion and solidify its hold on the galaxy. Turning from the viewport Loretta paced out of the bridge. Upon leaving the room her escort made a move to join her and she waved them dismissively. Unlike some higher echelon individuals she didn’t feel the need to be `guarded` on her own ship. To do so would convey weakness, and her guards knew this. Datapad secured under her arm, she inserted her keycode to the briefing room and walked in. Instantly troopers stood at attention.
“At ease.” There was the sound of rustling as they all returned to their seats.
“You’ve all read Mission Dossier number two-one-four-two point five. So I won’t bother you with the intricacies of the mission again. Lieutenant Stanza has failed to report in for four rotations. Initially this was believed to be a communication error however we are still receiving automated signals from the relays in orbit. Our job is simple, we’re going to deploy on the surface and secure the facility. After that is done we’ll bring the facility online while reinforcements arrive to take responsibility for the facility. First Platoon will lead the way.” She nodded her head over at Second Lieutenant Quee. Since Bravo Company's inception of the 121st there had been no position with a higher turnover than that of first platoon lead. Loretta merely hoped that this one would last a bit longer than the previous one. “Followed by second and third. Fourth will remain aboard ship as a reserve.” She nodded to Major Shep. A grizzled looking woman, butch and built like most of the men in the room.
Major Shep being the official Company Commander, despite it being attached to Loretta and her `task force` if it could be considered such a thing. Shep took a step forward, taking over the central podium as Loretta backed off. Clearing her throat. “Now listen up shinies…”
As the commanding Major Shep gave her pep talk, the assembled squad leaders listened, fires lighting up in their eyes. She also detailed a brief plan of battle, Kavis’ and his soldiers would deploy to the south of the facility, moving with haste and smoothness in order to secure it no matter the situation was down there. The sergeant didn’t know what knocked the base out of communications. The natives to Lotho Minor were filthy, nomadic beings who stayed out of the way of Imperials’ operations on the world. He wasn’t sure they would be able to take over a fortified Imperial facility but he wasn’t discounting anything. Still, he had a bad feeling in the back of his head about this mission, but shook that away as simply pre mision jitters.
Kavis knew his squad was good, damn good for just about any operation handed to them by command. He wasn’t going to be frightened by some junk thrifters, even if they had decided to organize a revolt against the Empire. They’d pay dearly if that was the case. Of course there were other potential explanations, Slavers were one, they were all too common in the Outer Rim. But they normally weren’t stupid enough to tangle head on with Imperial forces, especially not a base on such a disgusting, unappealing world. He knew whatever they faced down there they would easily crush and move on. He didn’t want to spend too much time down there, on that filthy little junk heap.
Then the squad leaders were dismissed, their meeting finished. Each of the troopers rose to their feet and left the room, Kavis was one of them. He pushed his chair in, then quickly cracked his neck and stretched. He exited the room behind a chatting group of his fellow sergeants, then turned down the hallway. Kavis slipped his helmet on, then after ensuring it was on securly he reached activated his communicator, speaking to his squad.
“Alright troopers, I need you each ready and willing, then assembled in the hangar, we have a mission to go on.”
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