Charting the Stars - Dinluke AU

Chapter Seven: The Confrontation

Warnings (minor, very vague spoilers): Blasters and slug-throwers are used, so are knives and flamethrowers, a character gets their arm dislocated and ribs broken, Force-choking, references to child abuse, thoughts of death/dying (not necessarily suicidal), the use of suicide tablets (as seen in use by Imperial officers in cannon to avoid capture)

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Kamino was more empty than he remembered. The last time he was here, Tipoca City was teeming with life. Millions of Kaminoans lived there along with all of the clones who were either still in training or stationed on the planet.

Now, the Force centered around the last tower standing. It seemed that the Rebels had been using it as their base for some time, rebuilding downward into the underwater portion of the city. In theory, it was a good placement for their operations. After all, this planet has been almost entirely extinct since the beginning of the Empire, save for the life forms in the water, and the city was believed to be entirely destroyed so no one really thought to look here.

That was only theory though. A well-placed strike from a Star Destroyer's NK-7 Ion Cannon at the thin stem of the tower could send the structure crumbling into the water. That was how they had done it before, and they could easily do it again. It would be quick that way.

"Lord Vader, how would you like us to proceed?" one of the Lieutenants asked.

He was a nervous man, though he hid it well enough. He didn't shake and his voice never betrayed him, but he was a few shades lighter than the image from his ID and his skin shone with sweat.

The ion cannon would be quick, but it would also be boring. It would end the fight before it even began and there was a chance he could lose the twins as a result. He was confident that if they survived, Luke would find his way home eventually and Leia could be bent in time. She looked so much like Padme that sometimes it was alarming, he would have to be careful to make sure she didn't die this time.

The Mandalorian was there too, he had seen it in Luke's mind when he had invaded it. It was foolish of the boy to open himself so widely to the Force after holding it close for so long, even Master had noticed and temporarily summoned him back to Coruscant for a Discussion.

No, Darth Vader decided that he would take the base the hard way. He would bring his children home and take his time with the Mandalorian, just as he did with Obi-Wan for taking them away.

"Send out the TIEs and assemble troopers for ground assault. I want my shuttle prepared by the time I reach it." The officers immediately began scrambling and shouting orders to complete his demands as he turned from the bridge's viewport to head to the hangar, but paused before he reached the hallway and called one more order over his shoulder, "And send in the bounty hunter."

His family would be together again soon.

-

Wedge felt like the gods must hate him. It seemed that every time an emergency happened, he was always in the middle of eating. He placed his sandwich in his mouth, gave a mental apology to the kitchen staff for abandoning his tray on the table, and ran to the lockers, taking bites as he went.

"Big or small?" Wes asked, referring to the scale of the incoming battle as he pushed his arms into the jumpsuit.

Wedge shrugged, "Probably big, if they know this is our base anyway." He shoved the last bit of sandwich in his mouth before unbuckling his belt and pulling his pants down.

"Always so pessimistic," Wes teased. "We haven't had big since Endor."

"That was only a month ago," Wedge reminded him, pulling out his own orange suit.