Chapter 62

Somewhere on a random star system with lots of floating rocks...

It's been around 5 days since the offensive has started and the Empire has only seen successes on the systems which the Imperium designated as buffer zones.

The Empire failed to push and eliminate the Imperium on the star systems partly due to them being holed up and mostly because of superior doctrines and military technology.

But the Rebel Alliance wasn't as lucky as the Imperium. The star systems they control fell one by one in front of the unstoppable Empire war machine.

Millions dead, hundreds of millions in credits worth of battleships, weaponry, and many more was wasted as they didn't even stood a chance against the Galactic Empire.

"Fire at will! Fire at will!"shouted an Imperial officer as he commanded soldiers on the deck to fire the mini laser cannons on his part of the large 500 meter battleship.

Imperium battleships stationed at this star system was not numerous per say. It's only 5 ships of varying classes from a cruiser to heavy cruiser.

They're not really here to defend the star system as this star system was of no importance, it only consists of a few planets with little to no economic value.

Because of this, the Imperium made this star system a no man's land type of star system where they directly only serve one purpose. That purpose is to be a buffer zone and provide border security. The ships stationed here are for patrol only, they ensure no rogue starship containing enemies can go pass through this star system.

However, even if they're only here for simple border patrol, they're still battleships, a weapon created for war.

Amidst the countless barrage of the laser cannons from Imperial battleships, these 5 warships of the Imperium held the line.

Getting hit by countless laser projectiles, the foundation shaking but the spirit of human courage held on.

"Captain! Our energy shield generators won't hold on for much longer." said an officer as their battleship got hit by a powerful laser projectile making it shake as some lost balance and fell down on the floor.

The captain who's sitting on his seat just nodded and waved his hand to dismiss the statement.

They got the transmission from the central command to hold the line. Not even the gods shall stop them from completing this simple task.

"How many are they again?" asked the captain as he fell into deeo thought, weighing the consequences of the actions he's about to make.

He remembers that his instructor back in the academy always said and stressed these proverbs. The best defense is an overwhelming offense, and why defend and wait when you can save time by killing them.

"Captain, they're around 35 ships in total with sizes around 100 meters and up to 1 kilometers but no more than that." answered the officer with a calm tone. If his captain is calm then he should be too. He can't be the one who will spread negativity in the staff of this ship.

"I see, order the other ships to have the enemy chase us into that asteroid field. We'll do our counterattack on that asteroid field!" ordered the captain as his subordinates immediately saluted and went to work.

When all of this was happening the reinforcements are already inbound for a massive counterattack.

...

Hoth star system, icy planet of Hoth, a couple of days later after the first attack...

The Rebel Alliance was stranded on this very planet as laser cannon fire after laser cannon fire hit the already brittle and weakened energy shields who has already shown spiderweb like cracks slowly spreading on its surface.

There were no nights where they can sleep peacefully due to their nerves always racking.The daytime was filled with countless colors as the star destroyers in orbit fired shield cracking weapons, creating thick laser pillars.

Inside the Rebel Alliance base, the higher ups was on the peril of deciding what path to choose and take as they'll die if they surrender but they'll also die if they don't for they'll be buried with this planet due to the indiscriminate bombardment of the Galactic Empire.

"We, we can't do this... We can't escape!" a random rebel soldier broke down in tears as he slumped into the ground, his laser rifle fell and did a ringing metal clang as it hit the ground.

This sound attracted the eyes of the people surrounding a circular table with the holographic map of the planet gently floating and rotating there.

"General, we can't surrender! The fires of rebellion shall always burn forever as long as the Empire is oppressing us!" said Leia Organa as she stood up, slamming her palm on the table.

"I share your sentiment Princess Leia but we're not the only one who's lives are at stake here. We should set aside our emotions if we want to save them. The simple soldiers..." said the general calmly as his body was shaking due to unrest.

"But general! Help will arrive! I'm sure of that, our people from other bases will sur-" the words of Leia Organa was cut off as a loud bang on the table as the eyes of the general went bloodshot.

"There's no more help, we can't contact the other bases so I presume they're either completely destroyed or has surrendered. This rebellion, this ends now." the general's revelation made everyone's short circuit as everyone felt their bodies weaken including Leia Organa who still apparently has little optimism left in her body.

"T-there must be a mistake right? H-have you tried contacting them again?" Leia Organa's voice was shaking as her fears are slowly becoming reality.

The general gently shook his head as Leia finally lost her cool and lost her consciousness, luckily Han Solo was there to catch him.

...

Soul Harvester container...

"I see so this is how the material reality is. Amazing, I feel so powerful!" shouted the Dark Side as he tried to move around only to that it's compact here. He felt like a fish in a sardine can, it's too tight to even move.

The spirit was like that too, he was buried deep beneath the collection of souls as she can't even respond properly and only muffled gag noises was heard.

"Wait, this feeling!" the Dark Side did his best to turn around to the source of the weird calming feeling as he turned his body around, he saw the Light Side of the force on a similar predicament as he is.

"You!"

...

The group of One was riding a battlecruiser. This battlecruiser forms the grand flotilla of the Emperor's Bucephalus and Imperator Somnium.

The group of One has a missing member, namely Two. She's sent on a mission a year ago and this mission is a rather special one.

One has attained the rank of a ship captain. Though not high because there's nigh infinite number of ships in the Imperium each has its own captains, it's still a good start. He's currently sitting on his captain's chair right now with Three, and Four at his side. They're standing on guard and became One's bodyguard.

Just then, a staff in charge of monitoring the navigation said something

"Captain, we're entering the Hoth star system! Prepare for return to reality!"