The E-wing dropped out of hyperspace above the New-Order-held planet of Wayland. Far enough out to avoid sensors, or so the pilot hoped. This might take some doing, since an E-wing was not an Imperial ship. It might bring back too many memories of the Rebellion. The bounty hunter didn't want to be vaped before he even had a chance to strike at his target.

The garrison on Wayland wasn't extraordinarily large, but his sources told him that his target was among them. Moron Tavles. He'd missed him when the Sub-lieutenant had been on leave due to a complication involving some Ugnaughts and a drunken hanger guard. That wouldn't happen again. This time he came prepared.

A freighter dropped out of hyperspace nearby, and before long the E-wing pilot heard a Twi-lek's voice over the comm. "Bates? You ready to come aboard?"

Jaxon Bates returned his E-wing's seat to its upright position and grabbed the control stick. His R2 unit beeped an inquiry as he began a slow turn towards the freighter. "No, we're not landing in the E-wing. You know better than that; we'd be blasted before we got within 15 kilometers." Another series of beeps and whistles. "Yes, we're going in with the freighter. Remember? We went over this already." Jaxon sighed as the R2 started to scold him for his obvious lack of caution. "Slicer, I'm being cautious. Do you want to get turned into slag? Didn't think so. Now, we'll dock with the freighter and transfer to that ship. The E-wing will remain here in orbit. We'll pick it up when we leave."

***

The two TIEs guiding the freighter in were making Hlarda'lin a bit nervous. He had never had a mission this deep into Imperial territory; heck, he'd never even been in Imperial territory before. And this was Wayland. If the stories could be believed, this was where the Emperor had had his private storehouse. This was where many Noghri had been resettled. This was where Joruus C'baoth had met his demise. A planet full of history; now, a planet full of hate.

Hate, at least for those like Hlarda'lin. As a Twi'lek, Hlarda'lin was considered an undesirable by the Empire. In his worrisome mind, he imagined all the possibilities that could come out of this trip: prison, concentration camp, torture, death. He wondered now how he'd ever let Jaxon talk him into this.

"Stop worrying," Jaxon said, coming up behind the Twi'lek.

Hlarda'lin took a deep breath. "Easy for you to say," he replied. "You're a human. The Empire doesn't hate humans."

"The Empire is also reasonable. They're not going to arrest a hard-working, submissive alien. They have to have a reason to eliminate such a good supply pilot."

"I hope so."

The comm crackled with static for a moment, then a disembodied voice came from the console. "Freighter Star Runner, you are cleared to land at Docking Platform 45A. Follow your escorts in."

Hlarda'lin, despite his fears, reached over and replied, "Confirmed. Proceeding to Platform 45A."

With the course change, Jaxon turned and headed for the hold of the ship. The weapons were masked to avoid scanners. Now all the bounty hunter had to do was sneak onto the planet with them. Then taking out Talves would be no problem.

***

The Stormtroopers boarded the craft, scanners ready. The Twi'lek and his crew stood off to one side, compliant and submissive. Lieutenant Kelanar Joros walked down the line and looked them over. Never before, he thought, have I seen a uglier crew of aliens. Besides the Twi'lek, Joros picked out a Rodian and two Trandoshans. Ugly creatures. Why they weren't all exterminated he had no idea. But that wasn't his call. Searching the ship was.

When the stormtroopers and scanning crews were satisfied, Joros turned to the Twi'lek. "You may proceed. Unload your cargo into warehouse 45A1, and make it quick. We have other work to do." With that, the Lieutenant turned on his heel and led his unit towards another ship that had just docked.

Jaxon moved first. He had a small window, and he was going to be ready. He headed for the smuggling compartments and pulled out his DL-44 and vibroblades as well as a few explosive devices. One way or another, he would finish the job this time.

Hlarda'lin and his crew moved to the hold and began unloading boxes. The Rodian was soon struggling to keep up with the rest of the abnormally large crew. Those boxes weren't light.

Inside the ship, Jaxon heard a commotion. The Rodian had dropped a box, spilling its contents all over the platform. One of the Trandoshans had been in the way, so the Rodian was now cowering away from the reptile's blows. While the attention was focused on the fight, Jaxon slipped out a hidden hatch and away from the ship. Rapelling off the side of the platform, he landed out of site from Imperial guards. Perfect. He was in.

The Imperial shuttle hovered to a stop over the landing platform of the Imperial military spaceport, and settled down to the surface on it's repulsorlifts. Overheard, the two TIE-2 class starfighters that had escorted the shuttle in curved up and away, heading back into orbit to rendezvous with the Sultan. When the shuttle had settled down safely, the ramp lowered, and a small entourage of officers emerged.

Commodore Brand was foremost of those officers present, commander of the Sultan, which was currently assigned on a shakedown cruise through the outlier systems of the Empire, bringing it's systems up to full specs and transitioning it's fresh crew from the greenies of the academy into the novice status of shipboard men. Others in attendance including the local planetery system commander, an capitan in command of a light cruiser, and some inspection officials from the Inqusitiors office.

They met with the commander of the garrison right there at the base of the ramp, then proceeded into the garrison base it's self. With the exception of the regular people on patrol, those resting from patrol, and the people assisting with unloading the recently arrived supply shuttle, the base's personnel were assembled in full uniform, stormtroopers, officers, gunners for the scattering of anti-invasion weaponry scattered around the site, and the like. With the assemblage ready and awaiting in the local field, the entourage set off from the shuttle and headed for the open air Chariot that would take them to that destination.

Hlarda'lin had managed to calm the Trandoshan down enough to finish unloading the crates. The Rodian, in the meantime, was sent back into the ship to prepare it for a speedy departure. Jaxon would be stuck on the planet for quite some time, at least until the next supply trip. He hoped his friend and associate would manage to stay alive until then. But it was Jaxon who had suggested this trip. The Twi'lek had assumed when Bates had come to him that the human had the backing of Beff Pike, but now he wasn't so sure.

Either way, it was time to head out. The boxes were unloaded and piled neatly in the warehouse, ready for Imperial use. Hlarda'lin caught the attention of the officer on duty. Apparently something big was happening - probably some bigwig Imperial - nearby, so the guard had changed.

"The supplies are unloaded and stacked," Hlarda'lin informed the man. "Now about payment..."

The officer took out a datapad. "I've been instructed to deliver the agreed upon amount into your account." After a few moments, he continued. "Done. Thank you for your service. I'll call in a request for an escort."

Hlarda'lin nodded and bowed slightly in respect, then turned and entered the shuttle himself. The engines were already warm and ready for startup. When the TIE-2s arrived, the supply ship rose from the platform and headed for open space.

***

Jaxon watched from his hiding place nearby as his friend and only way off the planet disappeared into the sky. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to his makeshift camp and continued his task of creating a base of operations.

To say the man was nervous would be a massive understatement. He'd infiltrated an Imperial world, a crime for which the punishment would certainly be severe. He'd smuggled weapons through an Imperial military garrison. He'd come with assassination in mind. The list of crimes ran on and on. Of course, he didn't actually have to kill Talves, but things would go so much simpler if the man was dead.

As he worked, Jaxon went over his target's profile again. Lieutenant Moron Talves (an apt name, thought Jaxon absently) was a communications officer at the military base here on Wayland. The lieutenant was a notorious gambler (though his notoriety for losing was nearly as great as for gambling itself), and he had an unhealthy interest in the opposite sex. As a matter of fact, that was why Bates was here. Talves had, while on leave, raped and murdered the wife of a Vinda Corp Employee. That same employee had hired Bates to assassinate the Imperial.

Jaxon had already gone after the man once. Talves had traveled to the Astral Astoria while on leave, probably to throw away a few hundred more credits. Jaxon never got the chance to find out. A run-in with an Ugnaught gang and a drunk fee collector, as well as station security, made him abort the mission early. It also set him on a path to join the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

He'd never before left a job undone, though, and he wasn't about to do so now. Here and now, on Wayland, he intended to finish what he had started and eliminate the menace. The only thing that he did wonder about was why the Vinda employee hadn't contacted the New Order about their out-of-line officer. If the Empire wanted to keep its reputation, they couldn't have Lieutenants committing such crimes and getting away with them.

Something to consider later. After the job was done. For now, Jaxon simply continued setting up camp.

The transport arrived at the field near the garrison several minutes after it had departed the spaceport. The field was big enough to pay host to a small town, and it had the look of artificial creation, probably cleared for an expansion of the garrison that was cancelled. The chariot drew to a halt, and settled down. The ramp lowered, and out emerged Commodore Brand, flanked by a pair of garrison troops. The procession proceeded into the ranks of stormtroopers assembled here, and Brand proceeded to inspect the troops. When he was done, he nodded to the base commander, standing nearby, then walked with him back torwards the chariot.

"Very impressive display of marching power. But unlike the average Imperial commander, I'm less pleased with posh and shine and more impressed with an actual display of power. Do you have something special planned, perhaps?" asked the Commodore.

"As a matter of fact we do Commodore. To the east of here we have set up a camp where some war droids have been programmed to behave as Rebels. One of our detachments will proceed into the base and eliminate it. The droids will be using live weapons, so it will be a true test of capability." said the Commander.

"Very well. Let's proceed with the demonstration." ordered the Commodore. The General did an about face and ordered the twenty second Imperial Jungle division to assemble for duty. Five minutes later a group of one hundred Imperial infantry, dressed down in camoflagued jungle gear and loaded up with a wide variety of weapons, assembled in front of the command speeder. But a second airspeeder came over to escort the Commodore to the scene of the battle. This speeder was loaded up with communications gear. The commodore and his entourage promptley boarded it, where they found one pilot and three communications specialists onboard. Brand nodded to one of the Lieutenants.

"What is your name, Lieutenant?" asked the Commodore in a crisp voice.

"Talves, Moron sir." responded the lieutenant.

"Very good. I trust you will do a good job of keeping order among the soldiers in the field here?" asked the Commodore.

"Yes sir, I will." replied the lieutenant, followed by a salute, which the Commodore replied with one of his own and an approving nod.

Minutes later, with the jungle company filing into the forest to begin their advance, the airspeeder lifted off and headed into the forest.

Jaxon had finally gotten everything set - food was properly stored, water accessable, temporary shelter set, weapons nearby, scanners set up, etc. Now it was time to sit back and relax for the rest of the day. He was on-planet, ready to go, and he had at least a week to make the kill. He'd start his search in the morning.

That was when his scanners started beeping frantically. Crap, Jaxon thought. Not again. He was beginning to think this Talves guy was bad luck. He quickly disassembled everything he could and, grabbing his weapons, sprinted into the jungle.

As he left the clearing, the first Imperial troops came into view. An entire squad in the clearing, which meant at least five or six more in the woods. Great. On the other hand, if he could take one of them out...

He went to ground, and the Imperial troops passed on either side. Stang, I'm lucky, he thought. I didn't get caught - yet. Though the odds of them having jungle exercises today... He shook his head and watched the retreating Imperials. He nearly rose to follow, but the sound of an airspeeder kept him down. It too came into view. A communications craft, or a shuttle for the brass. Now things were getting sticky.

Then one of the Imperials gave up a shout. They'd discovered the camp. Now he knew he was in too deep. Hmm. Thinking quickly, Jaxon tossed his weapons, tore his clothes, and began beating himself on the trees and the ground as quietly as possible. The commotion about the camp drowned out whatever noise he made. By the time he was done, he looked like he could be just a man down on his luck. Lost, confused, broken by the woods...perfect. Now he could only hope that the Empire would be forgiving.

Taking a deep breath, Jaxon stepped out of the woods. "Hey!" he called. "Over here!" He staggered forward, tripping on a root as he moved. Several of the Imperials moved to surround him, and one scanned him for weapons. When the scan came back negative, one queried, "What is your business here?"

Thinking on his feet, Jaxon spun a tale. "I came in on a supply ship a few weeks ago. Apparently I'd made the captain angry for some reason, I don't know why, and after I left the ship to attend to some personal business, the Captain lifted off and left me to my fate. At first I tried to avoid you all if I could, but I was beginning to get hungry, and as you can tell the weeks haven't been kind to me, so I was just coming in to ask for help and shelter, if you can provide it."