Upon a Stormy Bastion Night
Posted on Wed Feb 17th, 2021 @ 6:02pm by Thane & Bomoor Thort
2,355 words; about a 12 minute read
Chapter:
Chapter VI: The Last Bastion
Location: Disra Palace, Palatial District, Ravelin, Bastion
Timeline: Early Evening (Day Two, Week Four)
OLD
"Imperialism is the doctrine of empire," Thane thought aloud, eyes no longer examining the Star Destroyer, but instead appearing introspective, echoing his tone. "Empires must expand or die, just as with enterprises. Petty conflicts with the Mandalorian state, in which neither side really grasps any new ground as trophies of war, perhaps leave a hunger in the stomachs of many of these petty despots garbed in finery."
As he said the word, the Human tugged at the stolen garb that adorned him uncomfortably, their onwards journey still unimpeded. Having mulled both points to his friend following this grand revelation, he settled on the same conclusion as the Ithorian.
"I think you and I have a great deal to discuss with this Grand Moff, Bomoor." Thane turned his eyes towards the upcoming palace, resplendent amongst the towering structures and fortifications that crowned its district. "A great deal, indeed."
NEW
A light rain had broken through the orange evening dusk, dark clouds gathering about the dying sky of the fateful Bastion day. The sea birds that clung to the various shorelines of the Imperial capitol had begun to thin out, returning to their nests, whether they be high on the skyscrapers of the nearby commercial districts, or in the hidden coves that still dotted the island formations.
A stormtrooper, bearing the crimson-stained marks of a lieutenant-grade officer and the secondary red accenting of a regal guard, brought himself to the end of a external stairwell that hugged the west wing of the ornately-decorate and expansive Disra Palace, the official residence of Bastion's Grand Moff Tarses. Through the lens of his visor, the visibly-obscured officer looked across the nearby courtyard to the secure station that served as the palace's local locomotive fairway.
Like the palace, the station was guarded heavily by elite troopers that had spent their life in service to the Council of Moffs in some capacity or another, expertly trained in the lethal arts and well-equipped to handle any manner of threat, terrorist or assassin, that might pose a risk to their head of state.
ST-4599 was one of the commanders of the palatial district's protective platoons and had served for many years as part of the local garrison. During that time, there had only truly been conflicts with the Mandalorians and their exiled brethren, with little coming to close to ever endangering the palace or its inhabitants - save for when the grand moff's fancies led him off-world, which 4599 had frequently joined him for.
In all of that time, 4599 had developed a broad respect for the old Human and his particular ways. Whilst there were muted murmurings amongst some members of the corps about Tarses' wandering attention and farcical notions of grandeur, 4599 was confident in the grand moff's talents, ambitions and talents - even if his own lot in life, for which he was grateful and proud, was to guard Disra Palace. It was not for him to query the grand moff's designs - merely to protect them.
He brought a pristinely-white plasteel glove up to his faceplate and wiped some of the gathering rainwater from his visor, just as he sighted one of the final scheduled carriages pulling into the station. A number of his colleagues in the security force attending to the station were already gathering around its doorways and the station's entrances and exits. A quick glance to the side of the heads-up display in 4599's helmet confirmed one of the palace's rooftop marksmen were already examining the carriage from their discreet vantage point.
"Corporal," 4599 began over the communications system, addressing ST-90911, one of the squad members attending to the silver train. "Spot-checking for identification chits. Three checks each."
90911 issued a muted response by way of confirmation and passed the message onto his colleagues, as they started addressing some of the disembarking passengers, which mostly comprised of officials garbed in crisp uniforms - as expected, for the palatial district. This train, also, should be the last passenger vehicle of the day entering the vicinity of Disra Palace; only commercial carriages or those containing supplies to manage the lofty logistics of the district would now enter, and they should be largely clear of sentient beings.
"Everything is in order, sir," came the final update from the corporal, as he dismissed the final passenger from the platform. "We will preparing for handover to the late shift in next half-hour."
It was 4599's turn for a curt confirmation, and he finally looked away from the platform to resume his rounds patrolling Disra Palace. Although it would undoubtedly be another night of little consequence, he checked the charge on his rifle's battery pack. Satisfied, he stepped back in from the rain.
"Grandiose," Thane remarked from his Bomoor's perched position atop the monorail station, regarding the palace that dominated their view and served as the central feature to this district of Ravelin.
"Unlike the rest of this place, the palace is an exercise in excess and mock villainy," the would-be Sith continued a little disdainfully, as both he and his friend examined the ornate and exaggerated fashions of the grand moff's residence. "Straight out of a Rebellion fairy tale, even."
“Nobility is synonymous with power,” Bomoor answered the observation, “Even centuries since the last Emperor, the legacy of that throne is still known to most of the Galaxy.”
The tall towers of the palace were reminiscent of the classical Alderaanian-style, albeit with far sharper and straighter corners and edges. Even outside the Republic, the nobles of Alderaan and New Alderaan remained the most synonymous with nobility, even in worlds who would otherwise share no common ground with the peace-loving worlds.
He turned his head towards Thane slightly, “A pity the Caanan styles are not so recognisable to the wider galaxy. I hope the Keep at Vaarthul is still as magnificent as in the holovids.”
"The legacy of our chancellor is doomed to be nothing more than a forgettable series of secessions and corporate takeovers," Thane replied, overlooking the comment his friend made about his childhood home.
He glanced back to Bomoor whilst swiping his dampened hair back across his head, flicking his hand afterwards in a vain effort to get it dry. His expression had maintained a dark scowl since their arrival by the palace, and he was once again withdrawing himself from Bomoor within the Force, keeping his feelings and inner ruminations concealed from the once-kindly Ithorian, but it was clear the Caanan's troubled mind was deep in thought.
"Any thoughts on getting in?" Thane then asked, looking back to the palace.
They had, on several occasions, executed expert infiltrations (and exfiltrations) on a number of highly-defended structures across the galaxy, both during and after their time as Jedi Knights, whether that be against corrupt local officials, drug lords in Hutt Space, or even fighting their way out of pirate star cruisers. Those incidents had not included the official residence of a national head of state, however, and certainly not one managed by elite stormtroopers in the heart of the once-great Imperial state.
"I mean, you're a little tall for a stormtrooper," Thane added, although they had noted a few non-Humans garbed in Bastion military wear - just none of them were Ithorian. "The clueless Ithorian gambit might not pay off here."
"Unfortunately not," Bomoor agreed, taking a moment to ponder their next move as cold specks of rain battered his hump and making him have to resist the urge to shiver, "But there's usually more than one way into an overly-designed palace such as this. Perhaps we can find a lesser-used entrance, where we can slip past the security. At least the weather will make it harder for any guards to see us moving and might even confuse any droids too, not that I have seen an abundance of them around since we arrived."
Thane nodded and carefully continued to examine the visible layout of the palace. The rain and darkening sky interfered with his vision, robbing him of a particularly clear view of their target. Artificial light from halogen-looking lamps reflected against the wet and shiny surfaces, and also reflected off of the various stormtroopers that were parading about the palace's grounds.
Primarily, they were armoured in a white plastoid that was exceptionally reminiscent of the stormtroopers of legend, but with a greater degree of smoothness to the design, with a distinct reduction in dark sections that made obvious any separations between the armour and the undergarments beneath. The helmets had a smoother curvature and a greater degree of technology was clearly nestled within the modern-era armour. Unlike some that they the former Jedi had seen on their journey in, however, these soldiers seemed to have crimson lines denoting some separate squadron that they presumably belonged to - most likely in relation to their role as the palace's defenders.
"There is an open window," Thane finally said, having closed his eyes and reached out with the Force, carefully seeking to touch upon the minds of the warriors patrolling the area. As he opened his eyes, he pointed a pale hand out towards an area on one of the upper levels. "There is a sniper protecting a quadrant from just above that area; she has a companion that she exchanges roles with that has left a nearby window open."
As he explained the discovery from his careful application of their shared preternatural talents, Thane wondered if all of these new-age Bastion stormtroopers were as easy to 'read'. It had been his experience that a great number of officers, especially those in specialist roles, either had a natural talent for concealing their minds, or had taken great pains to shield themselves from mental interlopers.
Not as conscious of the Jedi as they should be, he mused, actually considering that he might be a little disappointed.
"I think a distraction would put them on too high an alert," he added to Bomoor. "Stealth and speed?"
“Agreed,” Bomoor nodded, “We should exploit the moment and get as far as we can without detection. If we sense we are about to be discovered, then distraction is still an option. For now, keep your thoughts open to me so we can keep our movements in sync.”
The Ithorian was not as innately fast as his Human companion, but that genetic shortcoming was more than compensated for by his ability to hasten his muscles through the Force. He brought himself into a ready position alongside Thane and they both plotted the precise motions and timings for them to launch themselves upwards towards the open window.
Without exchanging a word, they felt the moment when the sniper at the window swept her gaze away from their position and dashed out towards the palace, with Thane only slightly leading the pair. They drew closer before jumping a considerable height against one section of the wall, before pushing off again towards the open window. Before the next crack of thunder could sound outside, they were both in cover again within the walls of the palace.
From their new position, they could sense more troopers in motion, patrolling the corridors. They set off again, shadowing one patrol on this level before peeling off into a stairwell to gain access to the next level. While harder to detect through the Force, neither Jedi had noticed any alarm triggers or cameras active around them. In fact, the security door to the stairwell had been left open not just on their starting level but on the level above also.
They paused before stepping out onto the next floor, Bomoor needing a moment to gather more strength, quietly breathed, “So far, so good. A little too easy, in fact.”
"Never look a gift bantha in the mouth," Thane replied with a tone that betrayed the fact he was having the same curious thoughts as his friend.
As he pressed himself up against a well-decorated wall, faintly reaching out with the Force as he also kept his senses present on their current location, he glanced back to Bomoor. "Master Sotah also said you and I had a knack for overcomplicating things when, sometimes, it really is that simple." He looked back the other way, a faint conversation barely audible from another corridor. "These soldiers are diligent, but they're not expecting any sort of incursion. I don't think this planet has faced any real invasive threats for hundreds of years. That sort of comfort could make you lazy."
Even as Thane said the words, it seemed almost like he was trying to convince himself, a youthful hint of optimism colouring his words in a way that made it plain he did not quite embody what he was preaching.
"There is a lot of focus around a central point near us," Thane added, without vocalising a shared concern the pair had experienced innumerable times, of the Force guiding them more consciously to locales than they usually realised. "A meeting chamber, perhaps; security seems more present there." He spied around the area. "If we can find a way above it, some manner of vantage point, I'd be particularly interested in observing this Tarses."
“As would I,” Bomoor agreed, “I am getting the sense that he may be nearby so let us find a way to get a little bit higher so we can observe safely”.
They crept swiftly but silently onwards towards the focal point Thane had indicated. They were breaching further towards the centre of the palace with their routes of escape slowly narrowing. They pressed on regardless, eventually coming stopping a short way from a large doorway guarded by two troopers who held elegant electrostaffs.
Their armour, unlike the others that had light colourings to set them apart from their white-clad kin, was entirely produced in brilliant crimson, bringing back more than a mild echo of the ancient empires that once claimed dominion over the galaxy. Striking red-and-black capes swept down from their shoulders and their helmets were differently-designed.
The appearance carried more than a hint of the demonic.
But, of course, Thane and Bomoor, fallen heroes of the Reborn Order, were not so easily deterred.
TBC
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