Private The Eggman's Shadow

[Amni Kazda]

Location: Mon Cala, Wreckage of the Team Choatix


Across the ocean of Mon Cala lay the Starship Graveyard where the wreckage of multiple Star Destroyers filled the area. The higher ups of the Imperial Confederation decided to have the defunct Star Destroyers intact as a tribute to the men and women who died during the battle of Mon Cala. These weren't any Star Destroyers; they once belonged to the mighty 300th Egghead Fleet led by the late Emperor: Velran Kilran . Two years ago, Emperor Kilran was killed during the battle above Mon Cala when a rebel faction named: The Tingle Arm Coalition boarded his Super Star Destroyer, fighting through battalions of Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers led by the emperor's daughter: Kanni. The rebel forces managed to plant explosives in the engine room causing a massive explosion that took down not only the Super Star Destroyer but the majority of Emperor Kilran's fleet.

Velran's ship as well as the other Star Destroyers crashed into Mon Cala's many oceans and while the remains Velran's Super Star Destroyer eventually sunk, some of the Star Destroyers that were a part of Velran's fleet crashed near the shallow parts of the ocean. One Star Destroyer in particular: Team Chaotix landed near an island heavily damaged but mostly intact. Two years of neglect left the Team Choatix rusted and broken. For a long time, it was assumed that all of the crew of the Team Choatix perished yet inside of the ship deep in the cryo chambers, a lone cryo pod began to emit an SOS signal to nearby troopers and ships.

<After 736.5 days.> A metallic female voice spoke in the shadows. <We are ready to leave, J724 please amplify your signal by 800.67 kilowatts. The Cryo-Pod is quickly losing power. The Emperor does not want Subject 76 damaged in any way.>

Karl Von Strauss

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

The message from Mon Cala reached Karl Von Strauss aboard The Nucleus, cutting through the usual intelligence traffic with a priority flag from the Marshal Commander of the Confederation Guard stationed on Mon Cala. It was a cryo distress signal, unregistered, Lost-Imperial Kilran-grade encryption, originating from within the Starship Graveyard. Highly unusual. The line appended beneath it, stamped with the Commander's seal, earned immediate attention:

Possible survivor. Request immediate oversight.

Karl immediately cancelled the rest of his meetings for the day and requested a reroute to his old stopping ground.

Karl arrived at the Alfheim platform overlooking Mon Cala's churning waters, accompanied by a squad of KXU security droids. Their movements were precise, clunking along behind the Exarch, while C1RC3 shadowed them invisibly, its presence known only to Karl.

The Marshal Commander approached at pace, saluting sharply before falling in beside him as they boarded an Imperial gunship. The craft's repulsors groaned as the side doors slid shut and the interior lights hummed to life.

"Signal originated from the Team Chaotix, sir," the Commander explained while handing the Exarch a datapad. "We've been receiving it intermittently for the past few hours. It's talking about a cryo-pod; it's power reserves failing. No movement detected aboard the wreck, external scans are still inconclusive. I've stationed a platoon around the destroyer."

Karl buckled himself into the forward jump-seat, eyes fixed on the datapad. "You mentioned a survivor? Why weren't they found during initial rescue operation after the battle of Mon Cala? Why now?"

"Unknown, sir. But whatever's in that pod, someone wanted it preserved." Said the Commander as the gunship lurched skyward, banking toward the distant skeletons of the Egghead Fleet.

The Team Chaotix came into view moments later, its ruined dagger hull half-submerged, scarred by rust and sea-salt, yet mostly intact. Confederation Guard had established a perimeter along its fractured hull plating, cutting pathways through metal warped by impact and time.

The Exarch disembarked with the KXUs in tow. The corridor leading inward was narrow, waterlogged in places, and thick with the heavy stillness of abandoned warships. Emergency lights sputtered weakly, illuminating a path toward the ship's lower decks.

"The signal originated from down there," the Marshal's voice crackled over helmet comms. "Deep in the bowels. According to old schematics around old storage and auxiliary labs."

Karl raised a gloved hand. "Then we'll see what Kilran felt worth freezing."

And he pressed on into the ship.


Amni Kazda

 

[Amni Kazda]

<L890> A masculine metallic voice spoken from the intercom. <We have received a return signal. The encryption is not from the Empire of the Lost.>

The Brain Droid emerged from the shadows floating towards the cryo pod, her bright red robes billowing behind her as she headed towards the control panel. <Is the encryption of Imperial origin?> L890 asked the persons vital signs reflecting off her glass helmet. <Subject 76 is stable but we are unable to maintain her state. We have consumed the last of Team Chaotix power source.>

<Yes> J724 responded typing on the Holocomputer. <Their IFF signal is hailing from a faction called the: Imperial Coalition. It is possible that the Emperor has changed the name as he was insistent 2 years ago.>

<We will have to update our systems when this Imperial Coalition comes.> L820 said. <We can only hope that the Emperor appreciates the survival of Subject 76. We have sacrificed many Brain Droids to maintain the pod.>

8 brain droids were discard in the corner of the cryo room. L820 began typing on the control pad before turning around staring at J724. <Let these people in and L820?>

<Yes ma’am?>

<Begin the thaw out process.>

<Right away.>

Karl Von Strauss

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

The KXU droids took point, heavy Mahporeem-made blaster pistols held at a low ready. Bringing up the rear was the Marshal Commander and Karl. Unlike the droids, neither man had their weapons drawn; instead, the Exarch worked from a compact datapad, attempting to coax the ship's old systems into cooperation with his override codes from his tenure as Moff of the Mon Calamari Sector.

"The KXU units are able to breach most doors on their own, but..." Karl remarked as he produced a long-unused code cylinder from his tunic. "...if this vessel holds an advanced enough cryolab to keep one pod going for at least two years, then it could have some nasty security. Especially given the late-Emperor's... let's say: inclinations."

He blew a few bits of dust from the cylinder, slotted it into the datapad, and watched as a cascade of old, forgotten Lost-Imperial access keys scrolled across the screen. With a satisfied hmph, he pressed on the pad, several meters ahead, a waterlogged blast door shuddered open. Getting stuck halfway, the lead KXU holstered his pistol and tore the door the rest of the way open.

"That is impressive, Sir." The Marshal Commander admitted. "I don't even have my old access codes. I was one of the last GAL trooper officer-track batches."

Karl let out a brief laugh. "I'm glad you reenlisted after Empress Kanni's death, a good officer is hard to replace. And on the matter of codes: I've found I need my old ones more often than I'd prefer. It would be prudent to find yours, Commander."

~~X~~
​

They waded through shin-deep water before reaching a massively reinforced blast door that refused to yield to Karl's codes. One of the KXUs turned around, optics dimming to combat resolution.

<<Exarch. Movement detected beyond this barrier. Orders?>>

"Stand aside, KX-DU." Karl stepped forward. "There's an intercom. Let us try civil procedure before demolition."

Hepressed a gloved thumb to the panel and leaned toward the corroded speaker grille and politely said, "Cryolab, if someone is awake in there, be a dear and open the door. If you require authentication: Moff-class access code MO-422387; Karl von Strauss, Mon Calamari Sector. It's not current, but it's what the Emperor issued to me at the time."

Amni Kazda​

 

[Amni Kazda]

The door opened and L890 approached Karl Von Strauss and his entourage of men. <Moff Karl Von Strauss.> She announced. <It is the first time we have met. I am Brain Droid L890 created by Emperor Velran Kilran. My team is tasked with ensuring Subject 76 was successful in her mission on Mon Cala. On our way to the planet, Team Chaotix was surrounded by Tingle Arm Coalition forces taking heavy damage from all sides. Admiral Klatt'vaite'mirog wanted to fall back to the Eggman but we..... persuaded the Admiral to press on. Subject 76's mission takes priority above all else. The Emperor does not tolerate failure.>

Her visor began scanning Karl and the company behind him. <The admiral did what he was told.> L890 continued. <He was aware of the sensitive nature of the mission. Our presence alone was enough though the Emperor personally informed of these special orders prior to the battle. While most of Team Chaotix's turbolasers were disabled and shields were down to 20 percent, the Admiral commanded the Star Destroyer to accelerate. As he did so, the Emperor's flagship collided with the Star Destroyer as it careened to the surface.>

She paused her hands folded in front of her. <Team Chaotix went caught in the many explosions caused the Eggman.> L890 said. <And it went down with a calculation of 99.0 percent of the crewman perished. Yet our purpose was to preserve the cryopod and informed the Emperor of our failure.>

L890 then turned around. <Please follow me.> She said. <Subject 76 needs to be awakened immediately.>