Punishment

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack sat at a small table outside of the local bar with a beer in hand. It was on this new deployment that he started to drink, the line between sober and drunk was starting to become blurred for him. He also grew a small beard as the grooming regulations weren't very strict. He looked out toward the fellow colonists and scientists in the colony. There wasn't much to look at as this colony was new. There were only 4 buildings. The community center which contained the bar, gym and other recreational things. The next was the Agricultural Control Center where the scientists worked. The barge that the people arrived on, and then a small dock and landing bay which housed the imperial prison ship. This ship was where all of the troops supplies came from.

This was an agricultural colony. The main purpose for the people and scientists is to grow food. There is a very little chance that any outside ships will come to the planet as there is only one hyperspace lane. Once the colony has survived on its own for 4 months, more supplies would be sent to advance the settlement.

Jack was a sergeant again, in charge of Echo squad which consisted of 10 men. They weren't special in any way, they were convicts who were thrown into military service instead of serving time. The task force consisted as a whole of 50 troops. 5 sergeants in charge of 5 10 man squads. The head of the force was Major Holland with Captain Abalos as his second in command.

Jack had been on Hipoc for only a month in its second month as a colony, getting along was hard but since Jack was a natural charmer he gained a couple of friends. His closest was Sgt. Fillion (Yes, I am bringing in Nathan Fillion so suck it!!) who was in charge of Bravo Squad. He still missed his walkers more so, He hadn't heard from Tarkin or Dab or any of the 30 men he left behind. He knew it was impossible to communicate with them but he would try to find a way soon.

Hipoc was a land filled with plains and lakes, very boring for Jacks taste, in some cases he almost wished he was back on Kashyyyk. He only had to last 2 more months on this lord forsaken rock. After that, he had no plan and for once in his life he could have cared less.

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack took a gulp of his Corellian ale, the new drink he has become accustomed to and shifted in his seat looking out over the people and the plains. Out of the corner of his eye Sgt. Fillion came beside him. "Captains putting us on recon tonight." "Again? We just went, what happened to the rotation?" "Apparently two of the guys on for tonight are in the medical bay for an unknown illness." "And he can't find anyone else out of the 48 healthy men?" Fillion gave him a long stare and chuckled "Nope" "You sleemo" "Hey I think its kinda nice that they keep offering us some action." "What are you talking about, there's nothing out here." "Didn't say combat." "Yea, what time?" "In 4 hours." "Hell" Jack stood up and swayed a little. "You better sober up buddy, don't want you carryin a rifle like that." "You sober up."

Jack got dressed in his olive-dab fatigues, with a green boonie hat and tac vest, along with his E-11 blaster rifle. The empire didn't give them much equipment as they were still regarded as criminals. He stood on line with 5 other troopers, Fillion included. A Tantive IV Landspeeder pulled up with Cpt. Abalos and 2 scientists in the front. "Get in gentlemen." He remarked "Sir any reason why this is recon can't take place in the daytime?" one of the scientists turned around "The the water levels of lake laogi rise during cool temperatures, therefore we go at night." "Any expected resistance?" Abalos chuckled "We've been here for two months sergeant and we haven't found any source of life." With that he pressed the gas and the speeder went off into the night.

(Im gonna stop cause Benn and Molly are making out in my room and I want in.)
Edit from Lents: ^lmfao

[Jack Starbuck]

The company within the speeder was silent as it sped across the landscape. They stopped at a small watering hole that was 3 kilometers north of lake laogi. Abalos turned and gave Jack and Fillion a look meaning 'get out' "Alright 360 perimeter around the speeder!" Everyone hopped out and set up a small circle around the speeder. Jack and Fillion stayed with the two scientists and Abalos as they brought out their observation gear. "This isn't Laogi." Fillion whispered. Jack merely grabbed an extra grenade and attached it to his vest and took a look around "It isn't."

"Were ready to go gentlemen." with that the squad kept the circle around abalos and the scientists as they made their way to the water, the security turned into a 180 degree watch around the border of the hole. Jack looked into his reflection and bent down to place his hand in the water but was stopped hastily by one of the scientists. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Jack merely gave him a questionable look and returned to his security element. "Why are we having such a tight security when there is nothing to worry about?" "Keeps us sharp I guess." Fillion turned to Jack "You do clean up nice." "I try."

30 minutes passed in silence. It was broken by one of the scientists whispering in horror. "Dear lord." Jack turned around to see the problem but was faced by Abalos, "Return to your post soldier."

An hour passed and the security was loose, as the scientists and abalos continued their calculations of the water. "I must be getting crazy." "Yea you are." "Would you think that is a pillar of smoke?" Jack pointed over to the only mountain within view. "Hmm it could be, wonder why no ones noticed." "I don't really know." Jack went back to the speeder and pulled out a pair of binoculars and stared at the mountain. "That cloud is definitely starting somewhere behind the mount..." "What?......What what is it?" Jack lost track of Fillions words and the smoke, and was entranced by the grasses movement. His gaze was only a couple hundred yards away. One tuft, one tuft of grass was moving in the opposite direction of the wind. What drew Jacks gaze to that spot was unclear but there was something there. He kept watch, and found the tuft next to that tuft was moving then it looked. Jacks stomach wrenched as he saw what shot him a glaze of dim yellow lights. It was only a dim second and it was gone within the tufts "kriff" "What?!" "Gentlemen" Jack and Fillion turned around to see Abalos and the scientists behind them. "We are ready to depart." "Yes sir." They both along with the rest of the element piled in the speeder and went back to camp silently.

Back at the prison ship where the troops made a makeshift barracks Jack sat on his cot lost in thought, imagining the glancing eyes over and over again in his mind. "What happened back there Starbuck? What did you see?" Jack looked up into Fillions eyes and held it for a long moment "Guess your gonna get to see your combat after all."

[Jack Starbuck]

"You saw something?! Well what was it?!" "I couldn't tell you" " You don't know?! we need to tell Abalos or someone, if that thing is a threat we have to be prepared." "I think Abalos is on it." "What?" "He was staring at the pillar the entire ride back." "You think he knows?" "I'm sure he does." "Well why didn't he mention it to any of us?" Jack stood and hung up his fatigues "He seemed really occupied with those water samples don't you think?" "Well yea, but why does this have anything to do with the creature you saw or the pillar of smoke?" "Abalo's attention is geared more toward the water so therefore the water is more important." "What are you getting at Jack?" "I heard one of the scientists say something and it didn't sound good." "So we got a native problem and an agricultural problem." "Could be" "Well I'm gonna go let Abalos know just incase he was unaware." "I'm not so sure Nate." "Were to report all things up to higher if we see anything unusual, so I'm going to higher." "Colonel Holland?" "Yea, I'll give him a brief." "Do what you want." "Jack you alright? You seem occupied." "Nothings wrong Nate, I just thought it could wait till morning." "I don't think it can, I'll be back." "Okay." Jack watched Fillion walk out the door. When he was gone Jack reached into his locker and pulled out his flak vest strapping it to his torso and slipping a small combat knife into his shoulder sleeve.

(Gonna write for Fillion for a bit.)

Fillion came out of the prison ship and made his way over to the agricultural center as he was sure the colonel would be there. Before he made it halfway through Fillion felt the wind shift near his face, he spun around and saw nothing. He looked into the night sky as if trying to find something but found nothing. He turned to continue on his trek but was blocked by something he's never seen and he stood shocked as the creature stood over him and expanded its scaly wings. It stared him in the eye and Fillion stared back, he never experienced such fear in his life. As quickly as it began a bolt pinged the birdlike reptile in its shoulder. Fillion turned quickly from the squealing creature to see Jack running towards him with his E-11 raised. "There's two more!" "What?!" Two more creatures came down, one landing next to Fillion and the other next to the screeching bird Jack shot moments before. Jack threw a blaster pistol to Fillion, he caught it in time to see the bird opening its mouth to attack. Im pure terror Fillion tripped backwards firing into the birds mouth killing it instantly.
Jack ran toward the other bird who was attempting to pick up its buddy and fly it away, he wouldn't let it. He fired three single shots into the back of the thing as it was just a few feet off the ground making it fall limply to the ground dropping the wounded bird with a large thud. Jack didn't waist time as he slid and kneed the creature in the gut with his rifle pointed at the head. He didn't know the anatomy of the creature but he knew a shot to the head would surely kill it, and he got the notion that it knew that as well. When he looked up, a crowd had gathered around them. "Get back! I said get back! This things alive! Get the guards and take this thing to the brig!" 4 Guards came and strapped the squealing bird-like reptile with heavy binding and took it to the imperial prison ship.

Jack helped Fillion up and looked over to see Holland and Abalos walking there way. "We ain't done yet soldier."

[Jack Starbuck]

"What the hell is going on here sergeant!" Holland roared in terror. "We had some company sir." "And?" "and now their dead." Jack gave a smile to which Holland didn't, he turned to Abalos "How did they find us?" "It must have been our night mission earlier." Fillion seemed to gain his strength, but to their surprise Holland knew nothing of it. "What night mission? What the hell are you talking-" "A small recon around a body of water sir, uh, to find some clean uh water, nothing big." "Nothing big? Nothing big?! how the hell is this not big?!" "Don't you worry sir, I will have this taken care of, I will prepare an assault group by tomorrow and I shall double the guard tonight." "You better Captain, for all our sakes." Holland left the three men where they stood to head back to his quarters.
"Sir, how come Holland didn't know of our night operations? I thought he was the one who gave the go ahead?" "Thats none of you business sergeant!" Abalos said rather harshly. "Get to your racks, your gonna have a big day tomorrow."

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack walked out of the prison ship wearing his fatigues and a small assault pack on his back. The morning sun blinded him momentarily forcing him to don his boonie hat. The rest of the 49 mercenaries and criminals were running around the open grounds gathering things for the raid to come. Weapons checks, water resupplies, all the things Jack was used too. "We'll hold the raid for tonight, Abalos was rather rash and did some rethinking." Fillion greeted Jack from the side. "Not surprised" he gave a chuckle. "Hows the prisoner?" "Don't know, hasn't made a sound since it woke." "Perfect." Jack said sarcastically.

The rest of the morning was spent prepping for the night to come, around the afternoon all the things that needed to be done were done in the adrenaline of the men during the morning hours. The rest of the colony was quiet. "Starbuck, Captains giving his briefing within the hour stand by." a random soldier reported "Copy that." Jack replied with very little enthusiasm. He wondered what crazy idea the Captain would come up with in response to this little native uprising and decided to visit the captive himself. It was held on the prison ship, Jack entered eying the two guards and looked at the birdlike creature. It stared him dead in the eye not refusing to look away. "Do we know what it is yet?".

[Jack Starbuck]

"Hell if I know" The birdlike humanoid opened its eyes as if coming out of a meditation and stared at Jack unblinking. "Does it speak?" The guard merely shook his head. "Kinda freaks me out." "You and me both corporal." Jack turned to leave as the bird placed a claw on the glass and leaned in to stare deeper at Jack, as if pleading. "Don't worry, I won't be gone for too long." With that he unslung his rifle and walked out.

Night finally came, and Jack was more nervous than ever. He liked to understand his enemy and what he was up against, he never underestimated anything. "Squad leaders on me!" Abalos roared. Jack and the others fell into a horseshoe around the captain. "Gentlemen, you already know what were going up against, they squeal when the're shot and die when shot multiple times." a muffled laugh came from the men "They openly attacked us, and therefore they have declared war on the empire. So, we will destroy them." The squad leaders chuckled again, Jack remained silent. "Their village lies just beyond those hills to our east, their huts are camouflaged with the grass so we were unable to detect them through an ariel recon. Keep in mind this is not a hearts and mind mission, this is a rip their karking hearts out mission." "Sir" "Starbuck?" "We have no idea what these things are, shouldn't we find their motive before engaging?" "Were on their karking land sergeant that should be enough for you." "Of Course""The concept of the operation will be sent to your uplink pads. I want alpha, bravo, charlie teams to surround the village while echo and delta teams will move in with me to remove the populace. kriff clear?" Yes sir!" everyone repeated. "Good, get to your speeders and prepare to depart the LD."

[Jack Starbuck]

The village was in flames, and the screams from the reptilian birds were fresh in Jack's mind.

They flew over the village in their speeders whilst dropping in-cinerary grenades onto the huts, forcing the winged creatures out into the open for to be used as targets in a shooting gallery. One bird managed to fly up to one of the speeders and snatched a trooper, Abalos shot the beast in the back making it drop the trooper to an unfortunate death. When the village was littered with bodies the speeders dropped into a perimeter around the huts. Everyone jumped 2/3rds of the men hopped out and surrounded the village while Jack's and Fillions team moved in to sweep clear the houses. Kicking down a twig door Jack saw a reptile bird in the corner huddling a smaller one, before he could react a gunman entering behind him and unloaded his blaster onto the couple as they screamed. "No!" Jack spun and jabbed the man in the throat sending him to the ground gasping for air "You sleemo! we don't shoot innocents!" But it was too late and the birds lay on the floor drowning in their own blood. "How the hell would you know Sarge?" one of his men snapped back "We don't know what the hell they are?" "We know they were huddled in a kriffing corner not doing kriff!" Jack pulled out his blaster and pointed at the questioning soldier "We shoot any other non-combatants, and I will karking gut you! you understand me?! DO YOU?!" At this his men were silent but he knew they got the picture. Jack hadn't lost control like that in a long time, and he knew he couldn't let himself lose it again "Go check the next karking hut."

When the village was cleared his men pilled all the belongings into what seemed to be the village square, there was nothing important except for idols, and straw baskets, but it was something. Abalos appeared out of one of the bigger huts dragging a bird by the neck. It was still alive but it had blaster holes through its wings and was bleeding out fast. "Turns out these barves can talk after all!" Abalos roared in what seemed to be a crazed tone. Jack couldn't help but think everyone was loosing it on this rock. "Come on now, tell him what you told me." Abalos pulled the bird to what seemed to be its knees and pointed the barrel of the gun to its face. "Come on! Tell him what you told me you karking prick!" The bird was silent but gazed into the captains eyes. After a long moment Abalos started to laugh hysterically "Yea?! You and what army ?! I will massacre you! I know there are more of you but there is no way in hell you are going to stop me, ever!" Everyone began to look at the captain in a strange sense "He's loosing his bloody mind." Fillion remarked. "You thought it was safe here, you thought you could hide it, but no, no we found it, and there isn't a single karking thing you can do, nothing!" he hammered the bird hard in the skull with the but of his pistol laughing "say goodbye to your karking health, and planet, you piece of kriff." With that he pulled the trigger sending the creatures brains onto the floor.

"Well, now that's over with." He turned to the group of soldiers "Break the idols." "What?" "I said break the karking idols." A group of men turned and broke the clay idols revealing small blue translucent spheres on what seemed to be made of glass. "Perfect, pack them up and lets get the hell out of here." With that the men packed up the spheres and hoped back into their speeders. "Any idea what just happend?" Fillion remarked to Starbuck as they made for their own speeders "Not a karking clue, but I'm starting to think the captain knows more about the planet and this tribe than he means to let on."

[Jack Starbuck]

What the hell just happened? Jack climbed out of his speeder and walked over to where Abalos's speeder was landing. "Sir, what in-" "Shut up sergeant and get to your rack, this doesn't concern you." With that he shoved past him and walked furiously over to the research center. On intuition Jack made his way to the prison ship and to the reptilian captive. When it saw the blood on Jack's fatigues it thrashed in its glass cage. "Woah! cool it buddy!" The guard's apparently never saw the bird this angry. "Let it be corporal, I just murdered its whole village" Jack waited till the bird stopped thrashing and stared him straight in the eye. "Abalos would not have lost his cool like that, you know how to communicate, tell me what are those blue spheres?" The bird continued to stare. "Tell me dammit." At that moment the bird rushed headfirst into the glass sending a wave that threw Jack backwards into darkness.

Bodies, bodies everywhere to many to count. Jack stepped back to view where he was. There was no one alive, by the look of it he was in a colonial town with a river dividing it into two parts. He guessed the other side was effected as well. He didn't know what to think, he had no emotion. He examined the bodies for signs of bullet holes or stabs but nothing. Exploring this town more he discovered a sign indicating this colonial town was on the planet of Candoria. Jack knew of Cordova, but at the moment he couldn't pin it down, he was drowsy and disoriented almost as if in a dream.

With this he woke with the guards standing over him. "Sarge? Are you ok? Who is Candoria?" Not saying a word he looked to the reptilian to find a bloodstain in the glass where his head had smashed. "Their telekinetic." "What?" He bashed the glass to get one last image to me, ultimately killing him." "Sarge?" Jack stumbled up. "I, I gotta go find... something." Leaving the guards Jack made his way to what information console he had in the recreational center. He looked up the colony Candoria and found out that the entire colony was wiped out by an infection known as the blue shadow virus that was transmissible by water. Remembering his recon to the water whole earlier, Jack was hit with revelation and made his way to Major Holland's office in Haste.

[Jack Starbuck]

He reached and rapped on the bulkhead to the Major's office. The door opened "Starbuck? What the hell are you doing here? If you have something for me you need to send it up the chain of command." Jack stepped inside without a word, closed the door locking it behind him and pulled out his blaster pistol aimed at the major's head. "Sergeant! Whats the meaning of this!" "How long have you known about the blue shadow virus?! How long?!" "The what? Son I have no idea what your talking abo-" "Don't bullshit me! You sent Abalos to kill those things and take the antigen." "Starbuck I sent Abalos to kill those sleemos because they attacked our camp!" A long moment of tense silence passed, Jack still had his pistol aimed to the major's chest "We are here to colonize the planet and to do research on the eco system, I have no idea what this blue thingy is!" Jack still didn't say a word. Could it be he really didn't know about the virus? Was it something Abalos was working on his own? "Then you wouldn't mind if I took a look into the research facility would you?...Sir?" "The facility is closed down for the night, you know that." "I wouldn't be so sure." "You dare question me?" "20 years before the start of the Clone Wars there was a republic colony called Candaria. This colony was completely wiped out by something in their water supply known as the blue shadow virus. On our raid we took what seemed to be a crystalized version of the infection." "What are you sa-" "I'm saying to get your ass over to the research facility and stop Abalos, or I swear to lord I will blast you to karking hell." "So be it sergeant, but if this information is false, consider this your karking death warrant."

The major gathered up his local guard of 8 men and made his way over the research facility with Jack in tow. Seeing the door was locked they blew their way into the building to see the colonies scientists hard at work with Abalos standing over them in dark recon armor. "What's the meaning of this captain?! What is that?!" Jack saw dark blue liquid vials on many of the tables, the vials that were open were seeping a blue gas." "Hahaha this sir, is the empire's new tool for domination, prepare to be amazed! Tell me how did you know? Don't tell me it was Starfuck getting all noble again was it?" "This is unacceptable captain! This is not apart of our mission!" "Is it?! I have contacts in the senate that can overpower any order you give, the real reason were here major is to find the new tool to poison those who would stand against us!" "Your mad captain, and this will be put to an end! Guards! Arrest him!" At this the major's personal guard made their way toward Abalos but were instantly cut down in a crossfire from men hidden in the catwalks on the second floor. Jack only had a second to look as he turned to see the Major get blown back by Abalos's heavy blaster repeater. Jack rolled to the nearest pillar in the room and felt the vibrations of blasters beating on it backside tearing it apart, even the scientists had their blasters out. It was Jack against the whole kriffing colony. "Fillion! get everyone and get into the research building now! Abalos is AWOL! Get in here Sergeant now!" Jack roared into his com. before the pillar gave way and he had to roll to crevice close to the door. He came up and put two blasts into the nearest scientist chest and hid in cover as unlimited blasters pelted at the backside of Jack's cover. Jack came to realize he only had his pistol, he left his rifle in the prison ship without thinking. Never again. He rolled onto his back and gained an angle on a soldier up in the catwalk and fired a shot blowing his quad out completely. Having no time to see his hit scream and fall down a thermal detonator landed close by, instinct made him reach for it and throw it toward his enemy. Blowing up in mid air it caused a brief break in the fire enabling Jack to sprint for the nearest door and close it shut locking it behind him. "Damn Fillion get your ass over here!"

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack jogged down the hallway with pistol in hand, hoping the sealed bulkhead would keep the mercenaries out long enough for him to get a better tactical advantage. He could here Abalos barking orders from the research lobby. "I don't care how its locked! break through the damn door!" Jack tried hailing Fillion again but this time he only used the distress button on his comm. link, he didn't want to waist his breath. He searched the walls and ceiling till he found it, a ventilation shaft. Perfect. He pulled out his knife and pried the bolts out, shooting them would have given his position away. Climbing into shaft he found the ventilation pipes leading up the second floor, he scaled them as quietly and as quickly as possible, coming up to another shaft right along the catwalk in the research lobby. He could see the feet of the patrolling guards along the walk, taking his time he pried the bolts off the window and eased himself onto the cat walk. It didn't matter if he lived, it only mattered that Abalos died. He made his way to the outside of the railings and etched his way to the closest traitor. With his back turned Jack hopped over the railing and jabbed his knife into the side of the guards neck. The guard gave a muffled groan and moved his hands to pull the knife out but Jack applied a sterner force, hoping he died soon. However a guard came exactly parallel to his partner and saw Jack in the act, thankfully Jack saw him too. Both raised their sidearms and fired at the other. Jack hit the guard square in the chest, while his bolt hit the man struggling under Jack's knife. The blast knocked Jack to his back causing his hand to slip from the bloody knife cutting himself. "Kriff!" The bolts attracted the other guards, and Abalos as well. "He's up here you sleemos! get up here!" Before Abalos's men could regain his composure, Fillion stormed in the side entrance of the lobby with his squad at his back, blowing away the opposition. Jack ran along the catwalk to find a firing postion on Abalos, but his former captain saw him first. Firing a blast from his heavy blaster rifle hit the railing to the left of Jack sending him reeling. At this Abalos moved farther back along the catwalk with his last guard.

Jack was in shell shock. Feeling like he did back in the drug cartel mission when he was a lieutenant, every sound rang and every object in his vision was blurry. He pushed himself to his knees as the fighting below him ensued. He felt around for his pistol and realized it fell to the first floor, he then felt for his knife and realized it was still in the neck of the first guard. Time to get personal. Jack hefted himself to his feet and could see Abalos and his other guard firing down at Fillion and his squad. He charged. Jack ran a straight path to his adversary while he was occupied, the other guard was in the way but that didn't matter, with enough force he could ram the guard into Abalos. Sprinting at full speed Jack rammed the guard into Abalos as planned sending all three of them into the railing. The guard fell over onto the first floor as well as Abalos's rifle while Jack banged his head hard on the railing. The shell shock was still very much a problem as Abalos regained his posture and kicked Jack in the chest sending him on his back. "You have to ruin everything don't you!" Abalos pulled out his knife, straddling Jack and tried to find a clean stab, but Jack evaded using all of his focus. Using superior strength Jack was able to push Abalos off. Both soldiers stood up and exchanged blows. All of Jack's training in hand to hand combat came into affect here but it didn't mean he was fatigued and still in insurmountable pain from the blast. Jack made mistakes but so did Abalos. They fought for what seemed like hours, as the went blow by blow not letting one get the advantage over the other. Blood was running down everywhere on both men. A jab from Abalos into Jack's jaw sent him back grabbing some dangling cables from the ceiling to balance himself. Abalos pulled out his knife and went for a straight jab for Jack, quickly jack pulled the cables out and caught the blade in one of the cables sending shock through Abalos. Perfect. Jack wrapped the remaining cables around the captains arms and kicked him back as hard as possible, dislocating both of Abalos's arms. Abalos roared in pain, but it didn't phase Jack. Giving him one last punch to the face Jack then wrapped the cables around Abalos's neck and tied the best noose he could with slippery bloody hands. "You kill me, the empire will still have its prize, I'm not the only one tool in its arsenal." he managed in a weak defiant tone. "Yea, well your the one dying today...sir." With this Jack threw Abalos over the railing. He knew his job was done when he heard the captains neck snap on the cable and saw his body dangling motionless above the lobby.

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack sat up against the railing bleeding, dazed and exhausted. When Fillion reached him he was a mess. "Jack, what the hell man? Is this your idea of a debriefing?" He sprayed Jack's hand with some spray bandage "*cough I just stopped a massive genocide Nate, your welcome." "Well hell, you managed to kill the captain and the major can't say that's and easy task. Some of Abalos's guards opened fire on the colonists, its a mess out there." "Who's next in command?" "Lt. Vasquez, the man you rammed off the catwalk." Jack gave a painful laugh. "Well then I guess that leaves me in charge huh?""I have no problem with that." "Whats the SITREP on the colonists?" "4 dead, and the rest are shaken pretty bad." Fillion helped Jack to his feet "Nate, we need to get these people off this rock this colony was used for bringing back the blue shadow virus." "A virus huh? Why was Abalos looking for that?" "For control over the populace, we were a damn excavation team." "Best we get back to Coruscant? Or some friendly space?" Jack came to the realization that if he wanted too, he could no longer be under control of the empire. If he wanted too, he could start a life out in the outer core worlds and not have anything to do with the empire's damn experiments or... he could be a variable. "Nathan, I need you too take me to Abalos's office."

Upon reaching the dead captains office Jack sat in the chair and scrolled through Abalos's old files. He mentioned the senate, that has to mean something. He found an operations order from senator Creed Feela, a bothan within the imperial senate well known for his views on increasing internment camps and an increase in military control in the outer rim. Scrolling through the orders, Jack discovered that Feela had other colonies in the unknown and outer rim regions searching for infectious substances or ways in which to cause genocide that can be used for the empire. Included was a list of other captains and their colonies and the substances they were to require. "lord Damn" "What is it Jack?" "Nathan... I don't think I'm going to go back to the empire, in fact, I... I may mean to end it." "What are you talking about Jack this is nonsense." Jack turned the console to Nathan and showed him the list of requirements. "Holy Hell." "I don't know about you sergeant but this isn't a government I'd want to be under." "And how are you gonna stop it Jack? Hang them with electric cables?" "Why not?" "The Sith are too strong for blasters you know that. "The Sith." Jack was brought back to his memories at the academy, it was a longshot but he knew their tactics and their methods. "Anyone can be killed." "Your one crazy son of a murglak, but your the only friend I got in this galaxy so why not go out with helping a couple of people huh?" "I'm flattered sergeant, help me up and lets get this to the public."

Nathan lead Jack outside to see the research facility in flames, and the 200 colonists standing outside in a panicked calm. The two soldiers limped over to a speeder with a microphone. "People of the Hipoc colony!" It hurt to speak after Abalos's punch to the jaw. "What you see is not a mutiny, but an act of treason!" Everyone glanced at each other in confusion. Jack gave a speech concerning Abalos and the other captains assigned by Feela to search for infections. "I mean to inform you that I intend to go after these research colonies and destroy them. With what and how? I don't know, what I do know is that the empire has no right to do this to its people! If you want to go back to the imperial worlds so be it, there are enough ships for all of us." paused "But if you want to keep your loved ones out of harms way and their loved ones and theirs too, I intend to give them what they diserve, a life devoid of fear. Its a longshot hell I know but I am not leaving these Captains to finish what they started! I promise you I will not rest until every one of those sleemo's heads are sitting on the emperors desk!" Surprised, a cheer came up from the crowd, apparently many felt the same way "I can't promise you it will be an easy journey, but it will be worth it, and for those of you who will return to the empire. Tell your peers what you have witnessed today, you may still have a chance to help." Jack looked over the crowd one last time "For Freedom!" "FOR FREEDOM!" the crowd roared back. With this Jack left the speeder and started making his way up to the prison ship's ramp, when he turned he saw 20 leaving toward the recreation center's shuttle, while the other 180 were following right behind him. For the first time in his life Jack was in charge of his life and his course, along with 180 dudes with guns.