Operation Nightfall

[Park Kraken]

'They descended out of the sky' said the journal entry, dated to a point of about a week ago...

'Hundreds of them, no... more like thousands, weird looking bugs...' the entry went on...

'They ate everyone and everything that they could get their hands on, the people, the animals, even the plants...'

There the entry ends, and another one begins, dated to several hours after the previous one.

'We throw everything we have at them, blasters, grenades, we kill them, but for each one we kill, ten of them take their place. It never ends!'

'Evacuating planet now. Setting coordinates...oh ****, they're on board!'

'We think that's the last of them...they bite pretty painfully. My arm feels numb. Anyways, I think we are the only survivors to make it off world.'

There the journal ends for good.

Private Jenson of the Imperial Navy logged out of the datapad, then set it aside, handing the journal datacard to the man with the evidence bag.

Jenson looked around for a moment, before exiting the sleeping chamber that had held the grisly remains of the journal's previous owner. He walked out into the main corridor on the freighter, past several...things that their blasters had scorched into pieces on the floor.

"Private Jenson reporting as ordered sir." the private saluted as he met his superior officer.

"Have you found out anything yet, private?" asked Major Hurdin.

"Well, we found a journal that told of where the...bugs...came from sir. Apparently from the last planetfall they made. The author spoke of the whole planet being attacked by these things, and overrun. They speak as if they are the only survivors." reported the private.

"I see." it was clear that Hurdin didn't see, but Jenson didn't really know if he himself did or not.

"Well, I'll fire this off to my superior. In the meantime, continue your investigation." ordered Hurdin.

"Yes sir." saluted the private as he moved back into the sleeping chamber.

Hurdin turned away from him to gaze out the forward viewport of the YT-2400 freighter called the Lazy Saxon. Out in front of the freighter sat the Adz class Patrol Destroyer Claymore, the warship that Major Hurdin commanded. What had started out as a routine intercept of a ship trespassing in un-authorized space had now turned into something much more...interesting...to say the least.

[Park Kraken]

Planetery System Labelled U19H

The Adz type patrol destroyer Claymore dropped out of hyperspace at the edge of the gravity well projected by the system's single yellow star. Upon reversion, and the fading away of the cronau radiation, sensors started pulsing their energy outwards, away from the ship and jumping across the system in mere seconds.

The information gained from these sensors was then analyzed by advanced computers and displayed on several screens, all overseen by a single officer sitting in his chair on the bridge of the destroyer.

After looking the information over, the officer turned in his chair to face his superior officer, the commander of the ship, who was looking in his direction with an expecting gaze.

"Three derelicts detected within the system, all just under captial ship sized, they are cold and adrift, with scattered debris fields around two of them. No other signs of manmade objects within the system. There are three planets, one of which is capable of sustaining life, and none of them have moons." reported the sensors officer, before awaiting his next orders.

The commander turned away from him and polled the other stations, ensuring that the ship had reverted into the system with all systems still functional, and that communications outside of the area would be possible without any jamming detected.

"Okay," began Major Hurdin, "Let's move torwards the second planet, the one that is capable of sustaining life. All ahead, one third sublight speed, weapon stations on full alert, shields up, and let's deploy two birds to scout ahead."

A pair of TIE Fighters deployed out of the small hangar bay of the destroyer, and went ahead of the capital warship, flying into the orbit of the planet.

"Report from the flight leader captain, no sign of life in orbit of the planet." reported the communications officer.

"Okay...have them descend into the atmosphere, and search the planet for signs of life or former signs of life. Alert them to be on their guard. Any sign of native life is to be considered possibly hostile. Have them fire on anything that approaches to within one kilometer of their fighters." ordered the major, with several of the bridge officers turning to look at him with weird expressions on their faces.

"Yes...sir..." stammered out the communications officer, turning to relay the orders.

Major Hurdin stood on the bridge, hands clamped out in front of him, his left eye twitching. Right now, he really would feel more comfortable if he was commanding this situation from the bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer.

* * *

Corellia, bridge of the Victory Star Destroyer Mark-II Decimator

Park Kraken wiped the remaining sleep from his eyes as he entered into the bridge of his flagship. He had been summoned from his sleep in the middle of his usual nights by one of his officers, a communications specialist, having recieved a fax from one of his subordinates.

"Okay, okay, what is this all about?" asked the Vice-Admiral, addressing the communications officer.

"We've recieved an intercept sent from a patrol destroyer. The Claymore reported a derelict freighter with dead crew. Was going to investigate coordinates stored in the freighter's navigation computer of a planet, requested backup." stated the communications officer.

"Hmmm, they could have been part of a smuggling or pirate ring. We've been investigating smuggling problems along the Corellian Trade Spine for quite some time now. Are the coordinates listed with the message?" asked the Admiral.

"Yes sir. I'll bring them up on the projector." replied the communications officer.

An image popped up on the screen, a localized section of the galaxy, with the coordinates beeping on the map. Kraken's lips slowly turned upwards into a smile.

"This could be the break we've been looking for. In any case, we haven't had much luck lately. Order the crew to general quarters, we'll go personally to give the Claymore backup." ordered the admiral.

"Yes sir. Sounding general quarters now." spoke up the bridge officer, as alarm klaxons began ringing throughout the vessel.

Soon, the Decimator broke orbit, away from her companion vessels, and began heading out torwards the edge of the system. Within two hours she would be in hyperspace, bound for the unknown system.

[Park Kraken]

U19H Orbit

"Sir," spoke the communications officer softly. Major Hurdin glanced in his direction and nodded his head, giving permission for the officer to proceed.

"Report from the TIE Fighters. No sign of life on the planet. But there are signs of previous inhabitants. Cities, both large and small, and modern looking. They report seeing spacecraft sitting on some of the starport docking pads. All older types though," reported the communications officer.

The Major took a few moments to mull this over in his head. No sign of living life, and these TIEs are equipped with thermal and heat scanning devices. But there are signs that inhabitants recently lived here. Perhaps there was some kind of mass extinction, maybe a new virus or some other threat. He made his decision as to what to do next.

"Recall the TIE Fighters. Keep us in an orbital pattern, but prepare a shuttle for launch. I want four stormtroopers and six enlisted crew men to head down to the planet below. They'll land in one of the cities and take samples. Have them use protected gear. In the meantime, send off an update to local command, letting them know of the situation," Hurdin ordered.

The hangar doors of the Claymore began opening as the two distant specks that represented the TIE Fighters left the atmosphere of the planet and headed in their direction. While the fighters were recovered, the shuttle crew would be preparing to launch. Once the birds were onboard again, the shuttle would launch and the hangar bay doors would close again.