William stood atop the walker as it moved through the haze, approaching the main threat to their escape. He could see the outline of this massive cannon, the barrel itself making it hard to not notice. He wondered how the Empire even let this object go unscathed if they knew it was down here. Then again, William was having second thoughts about the Empire he had been serving. Maybe they left it here on purpose or they were the ones who actually built it. He shook his head, that latter option didn't explain the army of Separatist droids that had been attacking the two camps.
The fog began to lessen, and the cannon's structure was revealed. The architecture definitely resembled the Separatists; a solid rectangular base with multiple hangar-like areas with a spire on the top, presumably where the cannon's command center was located. The cannon itself was aimed directly towards the sky, and based on the lack of battle damage on the entirety of the structure, William assumed they were the first to get this close.
"This is odd..." William heard one of the pilots speak over the communication channels.
"What is it, soldier?" William replied, looking to one of the corners of the structure, seeing how one of the defense turrets was beginning to rotate itself to face the AT-ST
"The scouts we sent here before were decimated the moment they got this close. Something's off, sir." The pilot replied, the AT-ST slowing it's pace to creep towards one of the hangars. Stranger still, the hangar they were approaching began to open, the doors straining against the rust and wear as it was dragged across the floor and into the structure's wall. The space within was completely dark.
"Well, that's not ominous at all." William commented, staring into the darkness. "Pilot, lights, and take us in slowly. Could be anything in there."
William was given confirmation when the AT-STs scouting lights turned on and the walker slowly approached the hangar doors.
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A number of droids sat at different terminals in the spire, inputting the commands their tactical droid superiors gave them. Standing near a chair where the commander would sit stood a man wearing deep red armor, the plating covering him from head to toe. His thin black visor was a signature to his people, as well as the Beskar Steel blade that was sheathed on his hip. On either side stood a tactical droid, one commanding the base itself, and the other who commanded the attacking forces. The one to the man's right turned to him. "Sir, the Imperial in the red armor has arrived, as you had determined." It's monotone synthetic voice droned in the otherwise quiet command center. The man in the red armor turned his head, his helmet covering his facial features. He looked to one of the monitors, seeing the AT-ST slowly moving into one of the hangar bays.
"Stop any further attacks. Focus all available forces on the intruders." The man calmly said, looking to the droid to his left. The droid nodded, moving to the nearest terminal and inputting commands to his battle droids. The man in red turned to the monitor once more, seeing the Imperial standing on the AT-ST. "Look how much you've grown, boy." The man commented, smiling under his helmet.
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William focused on what the AT-ST's light revealed. He could see a catwalk with rusting B1 battle droids. signs of a struggle, but from when exactly. The AT-St turned, revealing more of the catwalk,, then to what this hangar contained. A number of Vulture droids hung from the ceiling, waiting to be programmed and commanded to attack. William looked around and saw that the clamps holding the Vulture droids were rusted in place, so at least that scenario would not happen.
The peace did not last, however, when the lights suddenly activated and all of the doors leading deeper into the base opened up. William raised his hands and aimed at two separate doorways, while his two troopers climbed out from the AT-ST and joined him, kneeling on either side of him. The AT-ST itself shifted into a firing position, its back near where they had entered to ensure no enemies would flank them.
William heard the marching of droids growing and prepared a rocket on his left arm. "Troopers, we have arrived. Prepare yourselves." He did not look for a specific reply, but he knew that at least three other doors were being covered. He aimed his left arm at one door and could see the shadows of B1 battle droids grow. When he saw one of the tan feet emerge from the hall, he let loose the rocket.
The droid fully entered the hangar and turned towards the intruder only to become the impact point of the rocket, destroying the droids nearest to him and creating a pile of droid parts that acted as a convenient barricade. William takes his attention from that one and looks at the other entryways. He sees that the other three weapons had no such luck as he did, counting the large number of droids that were marching into the hangar, firing on the AT-ST. The walker opened fire, the bolts sending droid parts flying into the air. The two Red Death troopers opened fire on the masses of droids, dropping them like womprats.
William could see that from one of the entryways were B2 battle droids, which implied to him that this specific pathway would lead him to the lift towards the spire. "Stay alive, men, I'm gonna have a chat with whoever's in charge." He walked towards the front of the AT-ST and jumped down, missing the turret by mere inches, feeling the heat of the bolts fly past him as he fell. He landed in a pose, his arms behind his back, his left knee on the floor while his right foot created an indentation in the hangar floor. The droids closest to him stopped firing at the AT-ST and look at the armored soldier.
One of the droids lowers his blaster and sighs, his shoulders falling to the ground. "I thought we were done with overpowered enemies. It reminds me of the Jedi." He complained.
Another droid smacked the back of his head, his body language showing anger. "Your circuits must be crossed. It's just another bucket head! Look!" He pointed at William and turned his head to look at him, only to be met with a blaster bolt to the face. The body slumped to the floor and the first battle droid sighed once more before William hit him with an uppercut, knocking him back into a few other droids. William raised his left arm and his last rocket loaded. One droid pointed at the weapon, freaking out.
"W-wrist Rockets? Aren't those usually on our side?" He asked before blowing up with the droids near him. William switched his forearm weapons to blasters and mowed down the rest of the droids blocking his path, beginning to hit the super battle droids. These superior droids fared no better against Imperial weapons though, and fell before the determined hunter. William reached the threshold and punched the last B2 battle droid, its dark blue body falling to the ground, joining the massive scrap heap being created. William watched as the AT-ST and his two troopers continuously fired on the droids attacking, being the focus of the assault. He nodded, knowing that his path would be unimpeded, and ran through the hall deeper into the base.
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The man in control watched as the red armored soldier ran through the hall, approaching the lift. Under his helmet, he grinned once more. "Certainly acting like one of us, boy." The man tapped his boot, continuously watching the soldier.
"Sir, shall I divert some of our forces to stop the intruder?" One of the tactical droids asked, looking at his commander.
The man shook his head, closing the feed. "No, if I fall, it was my fate." He turned away and began approaching the door that led to the hall which connected to the lift. "Deactivate the cannon. I suspect he will surpass me. If so, he is your new commander, understood?"
Both tactical droids tilted their heads towards the man, expressing confusion. "Sir, that does not compute. That seems illogi-"
"That is my final order, understand?" The man turned, his helmet reflecting the light, revealing the thin visor that was on his helmet. "When I fall, he gains command." The two droids looked to one another and nodded, turning their backs on the man and focusing on ordering the attacking droids. The man turned and exited the command center.
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William turned a corner and saw the lift. Unfortunately, between him and his goal was a large group of destroyer droids. The three-legged droids turned their tubular cameras and focused on William. William had barely enough time to duck behind the wall he came from before the first three began bombarding the spot he had just been standing in. The twin blasters riddled the wall, forcing him to remain behind cover. This armor could have at least one of them, but three firing on him at the same time was something he did not want to test.
He could hear the droidekas spider-like legs growing closer and closer as the firing of the blaster continued. He prepared to get up and retreat, but stopped when the firing did, and he turned to see that at least one droideka had reached the hall he was in, but just stood there. Confused, William approached the droid, which watched him but did not take any action. William looked down the hall where the droids were and saw something new.
A Mandalorian wearing crimson red armor, a black cape covering the left arm. William could see that the right hand hovered over a hilt, the hilt of a grey sword that was made of the same metal as the man's armor. The Mandalorian shook his head, facing William.
"Look at how you've grown, boy." He said, that word sending waves of anger over William, the same anger he had experienced when looking at that damned rebel.
"Who the hell are you?" He asked, his hands balling into fists.
The Mandalorian tilted his head then nodded, removing his helmet. The face underneath was rugged and aged, a scar going down the left of his eye and down his cheek. His jawline was covered in a beard save for where the scar was located. His hair was combed back, revealing a balding hairline, and the edges were greying.
"My name is Drekar Jaeger, Boy." Drekar's good eye focused on William, seeing that he was growing more and more angry. "And it's about time you met your father."