A New Mystery Part 1

Elsewhere, in a galaxy far away, a team of imperial operators type diligently in a base within a planet called Denarum. Denarum is located on the Inner Rim which is located between the Colony and the Mid Rim regions of the galaxy. Locations such as the Colonies and Inner Rim are still within reach of the influential and wealthy Core Worlds within the center of the known galaxy.

Still these regions are less isolated than the Mid Rim and Expansion regions which only seem to receive limited help from the Empire. Even then, those regions are more lawful than the distant Outer Rim regions. This has been the case for centuries, there was a time when the Galactic Republic (which proceeds the current Empire in power) was looking to expand its influence and governance of distant lands.

There was a time when the Mid Rim was in that category, then the Expansion Region. Each time, the location of power did not change. Improvements in technology made it more possible to reduce that difference but eventually, when things got to the Outer Rim, that became less and less of the case.

The Outer Rim was initially a region where rival factions like the ancient Sith Empire would hold influence as they looked to attack Republic bases in the Expansion and Mid Rim regions then retreat. The Galactic Empire has tried to reduce these problems by increasing its military presence, use of corporations, fear tactics, and rapid industrialization to keep the Outer Rim under control.

Still, the galaxy line doesn't stop here, as the 12.7 million systems (each often containing between 3 and 8 worlds) under imperial jurisdiction are incredibly difficult to manage. Several workers click and type on computers in a room with a dark grey marble floor, dark beige walls, a black ceiling, and long yet thin windows that let in sunlight.

Denarum is a desert planet which contains lots of orange sand, several sizeable rocks, and many hills. Denarum also has strong breezes and gusts of winds that prevent it from being extremely hot. The sky of Denarum is a mixture of light blue and dark yellow but also has large white clouds. 

The imperial workers themselves have light grey uniforms with dark grey helmets. The workers have black and white imperial logos on the shoulder portion of their uniforms. These workers helmets are similar in design to the black helmets is worn by imperial navy troopers. They also have black utility belts and slick black leather work boots. 

One of the operators rushes to the intel officer who sits at the back of the room with a black hat instead of a helmet. Operator: "Sir, we've found something in the Devanna Sector, right off Seeno's belt!" 

The officer smiles, "Excellent, the Emperor will be very pleased."

Later that day, the leader of the imperial research facility, Colonel Espon waits outside in a brown uniform. Two army troopers stand beside him as guards. The army troopers have light green uniforms and black helmets to match (also resembling that of the operators and navy troopers). As they stand, an imperial officer emerges in a white uniform, signifying his rank. 

Colonel Espon: "Ah, General Brack, how has your program been going?" Espon is referring to the Imperial Takeback 12th operation. After the Death Star was destroyed over Yavin IV, many followers flocked to the Rebel Alliance's cause. One hundred Mid Rim worlds quickly slipped from imperial grasp. 

Several imperial specialty fleets were constructed to push the rebels back. A few specialty fleets even included specialty armies meant to subjugate any Alliance forms that come in their way. Each one was personally designed by an imperial moff. Moffs were titles held by the governors of each sector.

These governors had political, militaristic, and governmental connotations. Moff Catter personally commissioned this fleet. Espon himself has dark brown hair, light yellow skin, a bald spot on the back of his head, thick eyebrows, round ears, and medium lips. Espon is not known for his height, he is 5'9. Brack has long ears, a thick white beard, white hair, bold eyebrows, light blue eyes, and fair skin. 

General Brack nods, "It has been outstanding, our force is good enough to smash anything the rebels field against us. Even better, it will instill great FEAR which will prevent future conflicts between our opponents." 

Despite being in his early sixties, Brack is completely jacked. The general stands at 6'1. General Brack works in conjunction with Admiral Vandar. Together, their force makes up the 24th Terror Division. As General Brack waits beside Colonel Espon, a light grey imperial shuttle hovers above them.

Star Wars Rebels X Ahsoka- Grand Admiral Thrawn Theme | EPIC VERSION (Music Starts)

These vehicles are surprisingly fast and move at 850 kilometers per hour (528 MPH). Imperial shuttles are dropships that are known for landing and containing important VIPs. They have anti-tracking systems and are difficult to detect on sensors. Despite their unfrightening appearance, they have four turbolasers including two light rear rotating guns and two front rapid-fire dual turbolasers. Turbolasers are nuclear plasma bolts that are slow yet highly explosive. 

At the lower tier, they are less potent than most Covenant plasma weapons however, both Imperial and rebel vehicles have a unique ability to divert all power to power, shields, or speed. They can also toggle settings to different levels. For light vehicles, when power is fully focused on speed or shields, damage output is in the kilotons.

On average, these vehicles produce damage in the mid kilotons. However, when power is maximized, output can reach high kilotons. The shuttle slowly lands, and a latch drops. Eight stormtroopers exit. The stormtroopers are the offensive specialists and shocktroopers of the Empire.

They are known for their fearless nature and willingness to give their lives for their government. They are more fanatical than the average army trooper and they give less regard for defense. Their armor is ghostly white with black markings which offers protection against low yield ballistic slugthrowers.

Despite their ability to absorb exterior explosions, the armor of these soldiers does not remove the blunt force of the blows. This means that explosions, blaster shots, and low damage grenades typically knock them out or even killing them. Blasters are the plasma weapons used by imperials.

They are generally set to a lower power setting to allow for a higher capacity of shots but similar to turbolasers, these settings can be changed. The size of their armor can slow them down a bit compared to army troopers, but it comes with cooling systems for different weather conditions.

Despite these innovations, stormtrooper armor does not have HUDs and stormtroopers wear basic communicators that are attached to their armor wrists. The very design of their outfits is to instill fear rather than for practical combat uses. The white armor also has the disadvantage of making them easy to see and spot from a distance. 

The stormtroopers stand at attention sideways, left and right as smoke flows from the open latch. Across from both Espon and Brack are 30 of Espon's army troopers standing at attention. Fifteen on the right and fifteen left stand guard with E-10 ranged semi-automatic blaster rifles.

The E-10 blaster rifles are long compared to the short E-11 blaster rifles held by the stormtroopers. A major reason for this is E-10s are made for high capacity and ranged capabilities as they shoot attackers form fortified or defensive positions. Whereas stormtroopers regularly raid bases, hideouts, and ships which creates a need for smaller more manageable weapons in close range engagements.

A heavy breathing voice beckons from the vessel. Loud steps are heard as metal legs covered by black slick leather boots stamp the ground. A mysterious figure that stands at 6'8 with a massive smooth cape, black armor, several sparking electronic buttons at his chest, and a dark helmet emerges. It is none other than Darth Vader. 

Vader is the top government enforcer within the Empire. He servers as Palpatine's Right Hand and is the most feared being in the galaxy. Chills run down Espon's spine and Brack becomes nervous. The elderly general wipes sweat from his forehead as he feels a surge of dark energy from the imperial figurehead. 

Espon kneels in respect and Brack slightly bows. Vader: "On your feet, colonel." Espon stands up. Vader looks Espon in his eyes, "Tell me what your operators have discovered."

Espon: "Sir, our forces have found some kind of ancient Celestial facility in an Unknown Regions moon known a Fuezor II. It is in the Devanna Sector, a land of many mysteries. There are legends that it holds the key to a new universe, perhaps many universes." 

Vader: "Then we have located a new mystery. Brack, I want to evaluate your force."

Brack: "Of course."

Vader looks at Espon, "Colonel, you have done your job." Espon sighs of relief. There are stories of how Vader has mercilessly slaughtered incompetent officers and he particularly has high expectations for those of significant rank. 

MIGHT OF THE 24th

Darth Vader follows General Brack as points multiple stormtroopers standing at attention. Brack: "Of course, the standard offensive forces of our army are the stormtroopers. They act as the main soldiers deployed by the Empire from naval vessels to ground combat. While that is no surprise to you, you will be happy to hear of my units accuracy rates."

Brack: "The average stormtrooper in the Galactic Empire lands around a third of their shots. However, the rates of our stormtroopers are as high as 38% against moving targets." The duo enter a facility where several stormtroopers fire hot red plasma bolts into targets.

Each stormtrooper hits their target roughly every two shots. Right now, the blasters are set to low power settings as is standard for training. This currently makes them a bit less dangerous than bullets since they cauterize wounds which immediately stops bleeding however at medium power, they can have a similar effect to Covenant arms and at high power they can rival heavy weapons.

Brack adds, "Our stormtroopers tend to hit stationary targets at 50%." An imperial gunner pulls a lever, and several targets move around in an erratic motion. Stormtroopers missing most of their shots but land almost 4 out of 10 times. Vader nods. 

Brack: "Of stormtrooper officers have an even higher landing rate, at around 50% combined." Stormtrooper officers are signified by pauldrons that cover their right shoulders. Brack: "Now witness our scout troopers." A line of scout troopers with semi-automatic blaster pistols takes aim. 

These scout pistols, only have low settings due to their limited size. The scouts fire quickly and hit their targets 85% of the time. One target sways seven feet left but is shot 3 inches from its bullseye by a scout. The target shifts 3 feet up and 5 left but the scout shifts his arm and hits it right in its center.

Scout trooper: "I got it!" 

Vader replies, "The stress of a battle can make live action different than training."

Brack: "Perhaps, but they are still among the most trustworthy sharpshooters in the empire. They land even more frequently than our shadow trooper special task force, which hits at 75% but obviously those forces have more uses than simply hitting their targets."

Vader: "That's still wonderful, death troopers manage 65% but rely more on brute force than precision. Speaking of that, I've assigned a squad to protect you during this mission in case we run into any complications. How do the scouts ride?"

Brack: "Excellently, I've noticed little to no mistakes when they ride at 150 to 230 miles an hour. But obviously, they only plan the press the limits at 300 miles an hour. While driving at normal speeds, they land between 60 and 70 percent of theirs depend on the day, but that only goes down to 50 percent or lower at high speeds."

Vader replies, "I would only expect a force sensitive to do that well, as the maximum speed is a last resort maneuver."

Brack: "Despite this, my stormcommandos can ride admirably at near speed, around 250 with few issues and one set a record at flawless driving at 285. Their accuracy while driving at extreme speeds is 95%."

Vader: "And the droids."

Brack: "Well they are droids, with their targeting computers my KX series security droids typically land 95% of the time. I'd say 93% for sentry droids I've strapped heavy DLT-19 or rocket attachments to their right or left arms."

Brack continues, "This extra weight sometimes causes a slightly delay in their shots, but they are usually strong enough to make up for the difference. I even have three infiltrator droids on reserve as well as some other secrets."

Vader: "Such as? You dare without information from me."

Brack: "Of course not Vader, I will share private files showing the information, but Palpatine requires we be discrete when discussing our most valuable assets within imperial strike divisions."

Vader: "Perhaps, do you think Vandar will require any protection."

Brack: "I don't think so sir, Vandar has Runo, the nova trooper. He protects him. He also shares the special assets with me, which I don't even have authority to use without his joint consent and the only way to override that is if our moff overrides one of us."

Vader: "I outrank your moff. So, after I look at the files, if I feel they must be deployed I can authorize it. However, I doubt it would come to that. If you use the units you have at hand well, there should no need for anything more."

Brack: "I rarely need to use anything more than the most basic specialized forces. Our top tier troops typically wait on reserve or occasionally act alone without any help. If the situation ever came for us to need to use both in conjunction, it would need to be a remarkably formidable enemy."

The general explains, "Reality is, missions for a force like this are usually boring, they are painstakingly easy. It is a miracle when we receive the slightest challenge. Because as you know, the alliance doesn't have anything that can direct rival us, those cowards rely on hit and run tactics, espionage, and sabotage to win."

Vader: "Your unit looks impressive. I want them to accompany me as we analyze this new area. I sense a great disturbance in the force and feel this will be a tremendous opportunity to test their effectiveness."

Brack: "Of course, Lord Vader."

Vader: "And another thing, you will work with one of my students, a newer Inquisitor named Zendana." 

The general feel uncomfortable around force sensitives, but he knows he has no choice in this matter, "Of course sir." Later that day, Vader's shuttle takes off as it rises to meet a massive force in space. The fleet includes 72 warships in total. 

At the head of the fleet is an Executor I Star Dreadnaught, also known as a Super Star Destroyer. The capital ship is 19,000 meters long. It holds 2,000 medium turbolasers, 2,000 heavy turbolasers, 250 concussion missile tubes, 250 heavy ion cannons (an emp weapon that disrupts shields), 40 tractor beam projectors, and 500 point-defense laser cannons that are controlled by auto-turrets. 

The auto-turrets have the advantage of being more accurate than organic gunners. While imperial gunners average at landing 80% of their shots due to targeting assistance systems, AI turrets land 95% of their shots and are able to aim faster since they don't have to be physically turned by gunners.

AI turrets really shine against fast fighters, where they land 90 percent of their shots when their enemies aren't performing tricks or evasive maneuvers. Whereas gunners usually land less than 1/3rd of their shots against starfighters and have to wait for them to get closer to do so. 

The exception of this rule applies to gunners who man dual or quad turbolasers which can often be remotely controlled by computer panels within a warship. These guns can be turned quickly and have sensors that detect targets. The dual and quad turbolasers shoot faster and turn for the sacrifice of firepower. 

Because of this, those gunners average at landing closer to 40 percent of their shots. The medium turbolasers average in megatons for damage output while heavy turbolasers fire in the gigatons. Tractor beam projectors can be used to pull in smaller ships close to the attacking imperial vessel. 

In contrast to the UNSC, but in commonality with the Covenant and Rebel Alliance, all of the warships in the Empire have shield systems. On the other hand, imperial vessel armor is not as sturdy as what is used by the United Nations Space Command or what the Covenant Empire uses.

Imperial concussion missiles yield in the mid kilotons of damage but have the advantage of locking onto enemy fighters and being longer ranged than imperial turbolasers. Unlike turbolasers, damage output of imperial missiles can't be altered. 

The damage output of physical hits from weapons likes missiles and ballistics impacts star destroyers differently than energy weapons where the blunt force can impact them more than in Covenant ships but the energy and thermal aspect of them is more easily dispelled by imperial shields. 

Interestingly enough, the Mon Calamari shields of the Alliance are more advanced than what the Empire fields at the cost of being more expensive. Beyond that, the imperial fleet yields 2 interdictor style star destroyers which are not as heavily armed as standard star destroyers but are known for having gravity well generators that stop ship movement within a concentrated area. 

The interdictors have rapid fire 20 quad laser cannons and 4 large gravity well generators. Each is 1,129 meters in length yet only carries a deployment force of 80 troopers. These troopers do not include the crew of 2,807 members which encompass naval officers, technicians, and navy troopers that defend the ship from within.

Another four ships are Imperial II Star Destroyers. Star Destroyers are the backbone of the imperial fleet and are the mainline imperial warship. Most imperial fleets are commanded by these vessels. 

Star Destroyers (SDs) have 60 turbolasers, 60 heavy ion cannons, 8 heavy turbolasers, 6 dual concussion missile turrets and 10 heavy tractor beam projectors. The dual concussion missile turrets due to their heavy nature yield high megatons of damage. These ships are 1,600 meters in length. 

Supporting the larger star destroyers are 5 Victory II Star Destroyers, 6 Acclimator Assault Ships, 8 Arquitens Light Cruisers, 5 Gladiator Star Destroyers, 8 Raider Corvettes (which have stealth systems), 3 Quasar Light Carriers, 6 Broadside Cruisers, 12 Tartan Cruisers, and 12 Gozanti Cruisers. 

Tartan Cruisers act as anti-fighter and gunship vessels which are faster than the larger imperial warships. Whereas Gonzantis are support ships that help bigger ships in a number of ways, however they can also be used to deploy larger imperial vehicles on the ground and for quick surface bombardment.

Arquitens and Acclimators are also capable of quickly traveling into the surface of planets and performing a range of duties. The total size of the imperial force includes 159,012 ground troopers, 6,000 droids (half are combat programmed and the other half are not), and 481,998 crew members totaling in 647,010 combat personnel. 

Vader's shuttle docks and lands in the Star Dreadnaught. Several stormtroopers wait and stand at attention alongside Admiral Vandar. An advanced stormtrooper with black armor and gold markings stands beside the officer. That is Vandar's novatrooper guard.

This trooper also has a gold pauldron over his right shoulder, a heavy black backpack, and two high yield thermal imploders strapped to his belt. While thermal detonators are the typical destructive grenades of imperials, that yield a 5-meter damage radius, thermal imploders are even more powerful and are only given to elite imperial forces.

The radius of these grenades covers 8 meters, twice that of even a Covenant plasma grenade. The guard has rapid fire DLT-20A blaster rifle. Behind him are two dark novatroopers, these are advanced combat droids that report to the novatrooper.

Both stand at a whooping 8 feet tall and weight roughly 260 pounds. The are armed with DLT-20Bs. Runo's rifle is made to fire standard red blaster bolts while the novadroids weapons are a larger, heavier guns that shoot blue ion bolts similar to what clone troopers fired in the Galactic Republic.

These guns are particularly good at damaging other droids and shielded opponents and are still capable of dispatching living enemies though at a slightly less effective rate. The armor of the droids makes them incredibly strong and durable. 

Admiral Vandar points at Runo, "This is Runo, my personal guardian. He keeps me under a safe watch." 

Vader: "That is fine with me, but it is assuming that your bodyguard needs bodyguards."

Vandar: "We'll he's more than just a bodyguard, he is also an elite enforcement officer. If I need protection, I have stormtrooper marauders under my command." 

Vader: "I also have someone I would like to introduce." An advanced tie interceptor lands inside of the vessel. Unlike most interceptors, this one is equipped with personal shields and has lock on missiles installed within it. 

The latch opens and a female Falleen inquisitor exists. Falleen are an alien race that is known for their strong pheromones. These pheromones can be used to attract, entice, and seduce other beings. 

While most Falleen have green skin, Zendana's is light blue. Zendana has light green eyes, small lips, curved ears, shining white teeth, and dark brown hair. She stands at 5'7 making her tall for a female in Star Wars but short compared to those from the UNSC. 

She has perfume that smells like lavender and raspberries which immediately captures the attention of the men onboard. She also conceals admirable strength compared to the typical Human female. Her skin appears as smooth as silk. 

Zendana speaks with an enchanting voice, "What is your bidding, master?" 

Vader glances in her direction then looks back at the admiral across him, "Zendana will act as the active imperial enforcer on my behalf. I will merely monitor her progress from a distance and remained stationed on this ship until or unless I change my mind." 

Vader adds, "If anything falls out of place, I will intervene, personally. And of course, if you or any of your agents fall out of place, I expect my student Zendana to do the same." 

Zendana lightly kneels, "With pleasure..." 

Vader: "You both may now deliberate, my only order is to ensure you arrive at the Fuezor II within 3 days, I have little patience and we need to get this fleet moving."

Vandar: "It will be done right away."