Thyferra had changed since the last time Bhindi Drayson had seen the world. Then, it had been a lush world of mostly undeveloped jungle, inhabited only by the native Vratix aliens that were somehow so adapt at producing Bacta.
That had been before the Jutrallian Empire, and their invasion of the world. They had crushed the Vratix like the bugs they resembled, unheeding of their need to produce the Bacta, and had slowed production for the galaxy at large. What they had managed to dredge out was of inferior quality, and this they hoarded for themselves.
It was only part of the reason for their downfall. When the Jutrallians had fallen and their empire splintered, Thyferra fell under the dominion of one Marx Russeul, a dictator with as much brain power as Emperor Fearsons… which is probably why Fearsons had made him one of his most trusted servants.
Russeul drove the Thyferran economy into the ground, bankrupting Xucphra Corporation, who had been in charge of Bacta Production, and turning the world into the half-rotted hulk it was now. In an effort to restore his own power, he had ordered his soldiers to round up the remaining Vratix and force them to produce Bacta.
The result had been a substantial drop in his number of soldiers, and the burning of half the planet’s forests, which further slowed Bacta production until such point that the planet stopped exporting and began to hoard what was left for themselves.
That was where the Empire’s intelligence ended. Some months prior all word from the surface had stopped, and Bacta slowly began to make its way back onto the market. One could only assume it was a change in leadership that had resulted in this change, but there was no way to know short of invading the planet.
“Admiral, hyperspace reversion imminent.” The report came from the helm station, and with a nod Bhindi Drayson gave her understanding.
The fleet emerged from hyperspace on a course that would put them directly above the capital city, formerly known as Xucphra City. There were no ships in orbit, save for a small number of Bacta tankers in orbital parking positions.
“Thyferra. This is Admiral Bhindi Drayson, of the Imperial Navy. This world once was ruled by the Empire, stolen from them by the Jutrallian Empire. Today, we come to reclaim what was once ours.”
The fleet moved in, taking up orbital positions to prevent the escape of those who might try and flee. Troop transports were launched shortly thereafter, making the surface and deploying Stormtroopers.
There was little doubt as the troops spread that the planet would fall quickly, and so it did, with word coming in a matter of hours that the cities were taken and the planet belonged, once again, to the Empire.
“Prepare my shuttle.”
Thyferra had changed indeed since the last time Bhindi had seen her surface. The forests around the city were blackened by fire, the communities of Vratix that had once resided there destroyed utterly. Once, the city had been busy with vehicles and pedestrians, today it was empty, save for a few landspeeders. It was clear as they passed that a great number of the buildings were empty, and still more were boarded up as if condemned. These were the former barracks’ of Russeul’s soldiers, since killed or driven from the planet by the Vratix.
“How could they have done this alone?” Bhindi asked, watching as they entered an inhabited section of the city. Here Vratix, and some humans, lined the street to watch the Imperial vehicle pass.
“I cannot imagine they did it alone.” Godridge replied. “They have to have had help from somewhere…”
The speeder stopped in front of a large building. Once, the symbol of the Xucphra Corporation had been seen hanging above the doors – now there was naught but the stains of its mounting.
This had become the capital of the Imperial presence there, and the standard of the New Order flapped beside that of the Ubiqtorate in the wind.
“Caamas and Thyferra… both dead ends.” Bhindi swore.
“Perhaps not, Admiral. We may yet find an answer here.” Godridge smiled thinly. “Imperial Intelligence hasn’t arrived yet.”
That had been before the Jutrallian Empire, and their invasion of the world. They had crushed the Vratix like the bugs they resembled, unheeding of their need to produce the Bacta, and had slowed production for the galaxy at large. What they had managed to dredge out was of inferior quality, and this they hoarded for themselves.
It was only part of the reason for their downfall. When the Jutrallians had fallen and their empire splintered, Thyferra fell under the dominion of one Marx Russeul, a dictator with as much brain power as Emperor Fearsons… which is probably why Fearsons had made him one of his most trusted servants.
Russeul drove the Thyferran economy into the ground, bankrupting Xucphra Corporation, who had been in charge of Bacta Production, and turning the world into the half-rotted hulk it was now. In an effort to restore his own power, he had ordered his soldiers to round up the remaining Vratix and force them to produce Bacta.
The result had been a substantial drop in his number of soldiers, and the burning of half the planet’s forests, which further slowed Bacta production until such point that the planet stopped exporting and began to hoard what was left for themselves.
That was where the Empire’s intelligence ended. Some months prior all word from the surface had stopped, and Bacta slowly began to make its way back onto the market. One could only assume it was a change in leadership that had resulted in this change, but there was no way to know short of invading the planet.
“Admiral, hyperspace reversion imminent.” The report came from the helm station, and with a nod Bhindi Drayson gave her understanding.
The fleet emerged from hyperspace on a course that would put them directly above the capital city, formerly known as Xucphra City. There were no ships in orbit, save for a small number of Bacta tankers in orbital parking positions.
“Thyferra. This is Admiral Bhindi Drayson, of the Imperial Navy. This world once was ruled by the Empire, stolen from them by the Jutrallian Empire. Today, we come to reclaim what was once ours.”
The fleet moved in, taking up orbital positions to prevent the escape of those who might try and flee. Troop transports were launched shortly thereafter, making the surface and deploying Stormtroopers.
There was little doubt as the troops spread that the planet would fall quickly, and so it did, with word coming in a matter of hours that the cities were taken and the planet belonged, once again, to the Empire.
“Prepare my shuttle.”
Thyferra had changed indeed since the last time Bhindi had seen her surface. The forests around the city were blackened by fire, the communities of Vratix that had once resided there destroyed utterly. Once, the city had been busy with vehicles and pedestrians, today it was empty, save for a few landspeeders. It was clear as they passed that a great number of the buildings were empty, and still more were boarded up as if condemned. These were the former barracks’ of Russeul’s soldiers, since killed or driven from the planet by the Vratix.
“How could they have done this alone?” Bhindi asked, watching as they entered an inhabited section of the city. Here Vratix, and some humans, lined the street to watch the Imperial vehicle pass.
“I cannot imagine they did it alone.” Godridge replied. “They have to have had help from somewhere…”
The speeder stopped in front of a large building. Once, the symbol of the Xucphra Corporation had been seen hanging above the doors – now there was naught but the stains of its mounting.
This had become the capital of the Imperial presence there, and the standard of the New Order flapped beside that of the Ubiqtorate in the wind.
“Caamas and Thyferra… both dead ends.” Bhindi swore.
“Perhaps not, Admiral. We may yet find an answer here.” Godridge smiled thinly. “Imperial Intelligence hasn’t arrived yet.”
To Be Continued…