Pax Empirica/Chapter 2: Escalation

'Chapter II. Escalation'''

Hansor and Garek sped through the streets on their military 74-Z speeder bikes, causing people to jump out of the way. Their comm links sudden activated again.

"This is Lieutenant Kelmont. We are under attack by unidentified gunmen, all units report to the sensor array!"

Another voice came on. "Sorry sir, but we are under attack here at the spaceport. This is Sergeant Targon," another voice said.

"Indeed, sir, we will try, but we are also under attack in the western neighborhoods. This is Corporal Reynol," a third voice pitched in.

"Ugh! Just make it here when you can!" Kelmont replied. "I will try to contact Colonel Noda."

the two scout troopers entered the northern side of the city, which was not as fully of people as the southern district, and was easier to navigate through. The duo made their way towards the complex. They could already hear blaster fire coming from the north, much to the confusion of the locals.

As they drove past a mining company office building, the pair noticed a number of people walking in with blaster rifles. Hansor stopped his speeder bike, and went back towards the building. Garek joined him.

"What is it? We need to get going!"

"A number of gunmen just walked into that building. We need to stop them," said Hansor.

"We can't just stop and help everyone!"

Hansor looked back at him. "They're citizens of the Empire. We are supposed to serve them."

"Fine."

The two pulled out their blaster pistols and snuck around to a side window. Looking into the lobby, they could see a number of thugs, led by a Devaronian female, enter the lobby. They approached the clerk at the front desk, and after a short exchange of words, they shot him.

The two scout troopers opened the window and snuck inside, coming in a small hallway on the side of the lobby.

"How go the operations?" Selid was a bit nervous, but he tried to calm down. It seemed odd to him that it would be this easy.

"Xexus and his team were killed by Imperials," came the reply through the comm.

Now that was interesting. "What?"

"Yes, two scout troopers shot them in a cantina."

Selid couldn't help but suppress a laugh at that. "Alright, send some more operatives there way if you can spare some, Margan."

"Very well. We almost have the sensor facility under our control. However, the guards actually put up quite a fight, we lost a few of our number."

"Damn. Well at least we have taken it," Selid replied to his fellow Devaronian. "Good work. Hopefully the other teams are successful."

The two scouts watched as the female Devaronian leader left with several of her compatriots, and left two guards. They were dressed in light armor, very insurgent-looking, and holding blaster rifles. Hansor turned to Garek.

"Let's take them out."

The two troopers spring into action, entering the lobby from the side hall. The two insurgents were slow to react. Their pistols were up before the insurgents' rifles were. Two shots were fired, one hit the first thug—a Rodian—and the second hid the other—a Human. Both were now dead, as they hit the floor, with a few screams of pain.

"Good. Now, let's—"

Garek was interrupted as a different insurgent entered the lobby from the door that the rest of them took. He had his blaster raised, but did not know where exactly the troopers were in the lobby.

Before he could notice, a shot was fired by Hansor, dropping him.

"Damn. Why aren't you a storm commando?"

"I don't know," said Hansor. The thought of being a commando did appeal to him.

The two scout troopers proceeded inside the next room, which had three dead office workers. Those bastards, he thought. They continued up the stairs and to the top floor of the building. In front of the top office doors were two insurgents. As Garek and Hansor entered from the stairs, they each took out one.

Upon doing so, they broke down the door. Inside, the female Devaronian from earlier was pointing a pistol at a businessman, sitting in a chair behind a desk on the side of the room opposite to the door. He looked terrified, and now showed relief as he saw the Imperials.

"Hands up! Your colleagues are dead, and unless you want to join them, drop the weapon!" Garek yelled.

The female Devaronian turned around and smiled. But instead of dropping it, she quickly pulled up the pistol and tried to shoot them. However, the scout troopers fired first. They didn't miss.

The businessman looked relieved. "Thank you. This person told me she was a Rebel, and that all major facilities are under Rebel control and I had best cooperate."

Garek spoke up. "A Rebel? What would they be doing here?"

"I don't know," he replied. "But she was asking me about selling my company and its assets to the Rebellion."

"Well, we need to get going. Be careful," Garek told the businessman, who nodded in response.

"Good luck, soldiers."