A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
INSURGENCY
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They marched the captive stormtrooper into view of the holocam, clad in full armor except for gloves and forearm plates. His hands were bound together behind his back. His helmet was cracked across the brow and visor, eliminating its ability to send or receive transmissions, especially GPS distress beacons.
Zero walked into view and removed the helmet, betraying the frail humanity beneath the expressionless mask that had become a symbol of fear and repression across the galaxy.
"Name," Zero demanded.
The stormtrooper's fear was visible in his wide eyes. "Zax Shumack." The trooper did his best to retain some composure.
"Serial number."
"IC-9983567."
"Homeworld."
"Imperial Center."
"Excuse me?" Zero barked.
"C-Coruscant," the prisoner stammered.
Zero knew then that some part of the prisoner still clung to hope for his life. Zero almost pitied him, until the memory of his dead wife strengthened his resolve and his hatred for the Empire. "What is your unit?"
The prisoner shut his eyes, knowing that repeating the information already given up during several beatings somehow wouldn't help his case.
Zero raised his voice to a near boom. "What is your unit?!"
"S-Second Brigade, F-F-Five Oh First."
"Ah," Zero half intoned and half breathed, "the infamous Vader's Fist. We can see how mighty Vader's Fist really is," he bragged to the holocam. "Tell us why you came to this world."
"T-To apprehend and eliminate dissidents."
"To kill them, you mean."
"Or arrest them," the trooper shot back.
"And what happens to these lucky suspects who merely get arrested?"
"Th-They get taken in for interrogation by the Ministry of Security, or Imperial Intelligence."
"And then what?" Zero patiently asked, eagerly awaiting valuable ammunition for his anti-Imperial propaganda.
"I don't know."
Zero grabbed the trooper by the hair and kneed the side of his face. The sound of the prisoner's cheekbone cracking was audible enough to be picked up in the recording. "You don't know?! You mean to tell me that a member of Imperial Special Forces, with access to more Intel than 99% of the galaxy, doesn't know?! Don't play stupid with me, you criffing Imperial jackbooted bastard!"
"They get executed!" the prisoner yelped as he failed to hold back his emotions. Fearful tears began leaking from his eyes and pouring down his face as the Imperial stormtrooper broke down.
"They get executed," Zero reaffirmed, nodding grimly. "What about the civilians that run from your kind? What happens when they resist unconstitutional arrest?"
"We-- We're ordered to open fire on them. Ordered, I'm telling you. We don't have a choice!"
"You don't have a choice?!" Zero's anger was quickly turning into cold annoyance. "You're not a clone. You weren't bred for war like Palpatine's flesh robots. Nobody put a blaster to your head and forced you to enlist in a postwar army. You had a choice, trooper. Unfortunately for you, you picked the wrong side."
Zero released the captive stormtrooper from his grip and stepped out of the holocam's view for a brief moment. He returned into view holding a vibroblade. Zero ignited the blade and a purple glow drowned out the silver of the metal as the blade came to life, its electronic hum echoing the captive stormtrooper's swan song.
"Now," Zero continued, "every Imperial trooper and recruit will see how free men respond to any government thug who shoots down civilians!" Zero grabbed the trooper by the hair and held the vibroblade up to the trooper's throat. The captive begged Zero, 'No no no!' but his fate was sealed. He choked and gurgled as the insurgent leader sawed back and forth, causing the prisoner sharp bolts of anguish until the rapid blood loss made everything go dark.
In less than a minute, Zero was holding in his hand the stormtrooper's severed head. "As you can see, the Emperor's finest troops are not invincible." He threw the head down and watched it roll before he stepped close enough to the holocam to fill the screen with his face. Fire burned in his eyes. "You're next, Palpatine. If the Jedi could be killed, so can you. Don't think you're safe, you monster!"
The holocam went dark with the end of the recording.
Star Wars: Insurgency
A rebel army forms to challenge the Emperor
Vader's Fist will show no mercy
A student of the Force will turn to the Dark Side to defeat the Empire
Do you like what you read? Do you want to read more? Comment below or email me at politicalzachfoster@gmail.com
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Star Wars is the property of Disney and Lucasfilm. This story is a fan fiction and has not been approved by Lucasfilm Story Group. All images used were obtained from Wookieepedia (StarWars.wikia.com)
