Episode XXVIII: You Didn't Have to Stoop Solo
After the destruction of the planet Endor, the Rebel Alliance was in terrible shape. Their leader Mon Mothma was presumed dead along with anyone on the planet at the time of its demise, and there was no one left to fill the role of leadership she left behind. With no clear direction, the remaining Rebels turned from a single, coordinated force into a scattered collection of guerilla fighters, each with different methods and goals for the resistance. All across the galaxy these sects were being wiped out systematically by an emboldened Empire. Galactic support swelled for the Empire once planetary leadership realized the capabilities of the new super weapon. In more ways than one, Endor marked the beginning of the end of the conflict throughout the galaxy.
Hoth, a long-time stronghold of the Rebel Alliance, seemed to be their last great holdout. Using the harsh conditions of the planet and their already established facilities there, a select group of Mothma loyalists were able to reorganize and mount an offensive against the Empire, engaging them in a series of bloody conflicts on the snowy surface. The rumor was that Grand Moff Tarkin and the Emperor had ordered that the superweapon Death Star not be used on Hoth, insisting that a decisive victory by Imperial troops was necessary for morale and that the facilities on Hoth would provide valuable aid in tracking down and eliminating any remaining rebels.
Imperial high command was also quite interested to learn how such an organized remnant of the rebel force was able to maintain itself in the harsh climate of Hoth. Their apparent access to necessary resources raised a critical question: Who was leading this resurgence? And so for these reasons, and perhaps some that were far above any Trooper’s pay grade, Hoth was spared the fate of Endor, and the battle for control of the planet was waged. Unfortunately, the rebels holding out on Hoth proved much more resilient than anyone could have anticipated. It was quickly becoming a concern of whether the intelligence offered by taking the planet was worth the long, drawn out campaign that was beginning to unfold.
Once more, The Syndicate was called in to finish the job. They took a shuttle down to the planet’s surface and were briefed on any information concerning a bunker that was believed to be the main operations base for the rebels. Their objective was to breach the base via an unsecured maintenance shaft and slay any rebels inside. Their secondary objective was to arrest the person in charge of the base, given the codename “Runner” by imperial intelligence for their apparent ability to quickly transport resources to the planet without being detected.
As they were approaching the infiltration point however, one of the Syndicate operatives noticed something odd. The cold wind carried the shouting of several voices, and a crowd could be seen at the entrance of the bunker. Aces gave the signal for the team to stop, and he observed the scene quietly through the scope of his blaster. The crowd seemed to be arguing violently about a single person in particular. This person was in the center of the argument and looked from Ace’s perspective to be bound by the hands and gagged. Curious, Aces ordered the Syndicate to take tactical positions and watch his back while he approached to negotiate.
“Hands where I can see ‘em, rebel scum!” He shouted, raising his blaster and simultaneously noticing that no one in the crowd of Rebels appeared armed. They complied after another inaudible spout of arguing, and seemed to almost toss the bound prisoner in front of them.
“He’s the one you want.” One of the rebels replied, pointing at the silent, brooding prisoner. “We surrender, please let us live.”
Apparently the rebel forces on Hoth were less confident in their ability to hold out against Imperial invasion than they originally appeared. As Aces learned by interviewing some of the surrendering rebels, a small but vocal group had agreed to turn over their new leader in exchange for leniency, preferring whatever fate the Empire had in store for them over being blown up or freezing to death. Aces and the other members of the Syndicate assured the cooperating rebels that they would be treated fairly, before massacring them inside the bunker and taking their leader into custody as they’d been ordered to do.
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MacDogall took a handful of popcorn and tossed it into his mouth before contorting his face into a grimace and spitting it back up into Dr Wigly’s face.
“What the fuck is that Wigly? You call this popcorn? Screw you guys I’m going to join DharmaHelper.”
“What was that last part?” asked Matt.
“I said I’m going to bed.” MacDougall replied before slipping out the door quite briskly
MacDougall has been lynched
He was Han Solo
It is now Night 14 (Pretty sure the second and last night on Hoth?)
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