Liquidator: Subject Zero/Chapter 4

Chapter IV

In orbit of Solay, Dominus sector Eight months before the Battle of Yavin

Selwyn Marhanen stood by after explaining to Lord Vader what transpired on Solay just an hour ago. After the treasonous Grand Moff Argon left the planet in the shuttle, Selwyn and his stormtrooper comrade, Rufan Mauryl, took another shuttle to the Executor, where they reported to the Dark Lord of what happened. Argon's shuttle was not spotted by the orbiting Super Star Destroyer, nor did any of the other space traffic report seeing anything matching the description. Nonetheless, Star Destroyers of Vader's fleet were patrolling the system, scouring it for the Grand Moff. That included his flagship. Marhanen was told that has job was done, and he sat on a bunk in the officer's quarters. His stormtrooper friend was reassigned to the elite 501st Legion for his loyalty. The Royal Guard was glad for him, the trooper really deserved it for his skill and devotion.

But now came the part of finding the fleeing Grand Moff. Though Vader told him to go to the officer's quarters, he never said that he had to stay there. Marhanen got up and left the area, which was empty, as every officer was on duty and alert, hunting for the traitor. Leaving the barracks, he headed down to the hangar bay, wanting to take a look at something. On his way there, in a lift, an officer's voice came over the intercom.

"We located a shuttle matching the description not too far away. Moving in to intercept; though it will probably jump to hyperspace before we can get the Executor over there, into firing range."

Well, good thing he was already on his way to the hangar. Marhanen, like all other guardsmen, was a capable pilot. Though all Royal Guards received their required training as pilots, not all were capable of doing it well. Unlike the other Royal Guards, Marhanen actually bothered keeping up on piloting when he could, and thus was considerably capable when it came to starfighter combat.

The lift doors opened, and the guardsman stepped out into the corridor. Now changed out his specialized combat armor, Marhanen was wearing a regular Imperial Royal Guard uniform—a red cloak and helmet, with light armor underneath. Officers, crewmen, and troopers alike stood by and pretended to focus on whatever they were doing, but he could tell they were surprised at the sight of a Royal Guard in the hangar.

Proceeding up onto the catwalks, Marhanen walked past various models of TIE fighters before finding the one specifically he was looking for. The Emperor made sure that Vader's flagship had at least a few of them aboard, just in case.

A specialized Royal Guard TIE interceptor. The variant was a slightly modified version of a regular TIE interceptor, with several noticeably differences—including red paint on the panels and central "eyeball" of the interceptor. His preferred craft.

Climbing inside and shutting the hatch, he activated the systems of the Royal Guard interceptor, and prepared to take off.

"Control, this is the Emperor's Royal Guard. I was told that our friend, the Grand Moff, was going to try to escape. Let's see if we can put a stop to it," he said.

He heard a chuckle from the controller. "Happy hunting, sir!"

Argon, former Grand Moff of the Galactic Empire, and now fugitive and Rebel Alliance operative, could not believe his luck—he had nearly escaped. At a cost of the sector and many lives of men who were also willing to defect, but no matter. Surely a someone with the experience of being a Grand Moff was more important than the rest of those fools. He was a bit sorry about the issue of Major Zelos. Just a bit.

A blip appeared on one of the screens. Another ship was approaching! Taking a look thought the computer readouts, he realized it was a TIE fighter. Damn, looks like I am not out of this yet! Argon then began preparing the turret systems as he neared the point at which he could escape to hyperspace.

There he was.

The traitor's shuttle was just in front of him now. Marhanen's computers told him that the shuttle was preparing to fire; it's cannons were now aiming at him. Too late.

Swerving the TIE interceptor around, out of the locks of the shuttle turrets, he fired shots, knowing they would not be able to hit him, due to the distance. He must wanted to mess with the Grand Moff a bit. The shuttle veered upwards, even though it did not need to. He was definitely scared.

Marhanen flew the interceptor closer, maneuvering around laser fire coming from the turrets. He was close now. And there—a few well placed shots destroyed the shuttle's hyperdrive!

Argon was terrified when he saw the computer display. His hyperdrive was destroyed. Escape was now impossible. And I was so close!

Well, if he could not escape, neither was the Royal Guard that nearly brought him down. Turning the shuttle around quickly, he aimed at the TIE interceptor. He fired several shots from the forward guns.

But too late. The TIE flew up and maneuvered around the laser bolts. Putting the shuttle at full speed, Argon took advantage of the distraction, and aimed his shuttle right at the TIE interceptor. He just barely saw a flash from one of the turrets as a rocket left the interceptor, heading for the shuttle.

Argon had failed. He had a moment of realization before his body, along with his shuttle, was vaporized.