In moments the immediate danger appeared over. The haulers had backed down the road and stopped at the speeder, loaded with wounded workers crying out in pain and sorrow though they were the lucky ones. Half a dozen worker's corpses lay at the side of the road, hastily dragged aside as the burning transport continued to blaze, features contorted in their last moments of agony as their eyes stared blankly.
Corwin finally stopped and stood amid the chaos, finally pausing to look around the scene, his white fist trembling around the side arm down by his side. His heart was racing. He could feel someone watching him, someone filled with hate; it made his skin crawl. He turned, searching the scene for the owner of the eyes.
At Marienna's example and prodding, the still mobile troopers regained their senses and began to help their wounded comrades, though many moved sluggishly; they were still in shock. Nearby patrols were the next on the scene and began securing the area and helping with wounded.
Valaqil watched the figures, nearly ants at this distance to the naked eye, as they scrambled around the glowing fireball that used to be one of their transports. He wondered how many casualties there were. Likely only one or two dozen... not enough. He raised the binocular to his eyes and scanned the scene.
A thought buzzed at the back of his mind like any annoying insect in a dark room. At one time he would have felt sorry for the humans lying broken on the dirt road, but that felt like a lifetime ago now, a different time. Now he only wished their had been more. The team that had set the charges should have split them up a vehicle length apart rather than one hole, and hit the length of the convoy.
He, his species, wanted the humans off of their planet, and they were done with negotiating. They had tried coexisting, but the humans wanted more and more land until conflict was inevitable. Then they had bargained with the Republic to have the settlers relocated, but had to resort to threats before they would keep up their end of the deal. Now this Empire had returned.
Valaqil stopped on an officer dressed in grey, his face streaked with dust and smoke framed by a rust colored beard. The seemed to lock eyes for a moment as Valaqil committed the face to memory.
"Looks like we gave them hell. Now it begins." A male voice beside Valaqil announced, pride in his voice.
"Yes, we should head back and report in." Valaqil replied flatly. The rebels for the time being shared their goals, it was an alliance of convenience, though they didn't know that yet. The boots of the man crunched through the underbrush as they moved back toward their hidden transport.
The Imperial seemed to be searching for something as Valaqil lowered the binoculars and closed his eyes. He focused and reached out in the force.
He felt his mate, a few miles away just beginning the second portion of their plan and a small smile crossed his lips.
The groan of laboring drives filled the air as three shuttles and a wing of TIE's raced toward the scene. The TIE's loosely circled as the shuttles landed. Two squads of troopers rushed out of the first, and medical teams hurried out of the other two. An infantry Captain followed the troopers and Corwin made his way toward the man.
The Captain offered a casual salute in acknowledgement of Corwin's ridged one as he observed the scene.
"What is the situation Lieutenant?"
"An explosion damaged some of the vehicles, all wounded have been moved to a safe distance, and a perimeter has been established , Sir."
Corwin still clutching his weapon, his hand shook.
The Captain smirked. "Has there been any sign of enemy combatants? I don't think you are going to need that."
Corwin opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again his jaw clenching tightly as he re-holstered his side arm.
"You are dismissed Lieutenant, I am sure you have very important places to be and we have this situation under control." The Captain's amusement was shrouded behind a mater-of-fact tone, but not completely.
Corwin snapped a quick salute before turning sharply and marching back toward the speeder. His stomach was in his throat, the only thing holding down his breakfast was his clenched jaw. Arriving at the speeder, he snatched off his cap and moved round to its backside, out of view before emptying his stomach.
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