Pure bliss. Those were probably the only two words I could use to describe how I felt right now. I reveled in the fresh air as I walked.
My ankles were continuously tickled by the tall grass that my bare feet pressed down upon. The morning dew, still plentiful as it dampened the bottoms of my pants that were rolled up to my upper calf.
*Badump* *Badump* *Badump*
I stopped in my tracks, yielding to a herd of buffalo like creatures. I felt the vibrations in my chest as their heavy stomping shook the ground gently.
Smiling was all I could do. As far as my eyes could see, this was a land untouched by man. The sweet smells of spring, the gentle breeze, the thriving fauna, it was incredible.
Suddenly, the clear skies began to darken, a blanket of dark and ominous clouds rolling in. Within seconds, a curtain of rain rushed across the plains. The heavy droplets of water weighed down the grass, making the entire field flow like an ocean.
*BOOOM*
A blinding flash illuminated the now dark landscape. At the same time, my clothes stuck to my body as a strong gust of wind pressed the wet fabric against my body.
I frowned. My happiness was being soiled. Why did the weather change so suddenly?
*BOOOM*
Then, lightning struck again. This time, much brighter. It startled me to such an extreme that I started coughing.
As I coughed, the scenery changed quickly. From the rolling fields of green, I found myself in a tent, sitting up on a cot while still coughing.
"Achem."
I cleared my throat as I felt a few drops of water land on the top of my head. Glancing up, I noticed that there was a considerable leak in the tent. Water was trickling through and landing on my head.
After sighing, I turned in place, dropping my feet into the floor. My boots hit the damp ground with a squishing sound that was slightly unsettling.
I then stood up and started walking out of the tent. Each step was slow and sluggish. Not because I had just woken up, but because my boots would be gripped by the claws of earth each time I raised my foot.
Raising my right arm, I pushed the tent flap out of the way, revealing the dreary surroundings. The rain was intense, a torrential downpour. Puddles were scattered across the ground, the water splashing about each time a trooper would stomp through it.
"Sir."
I looked to the right of the tent entrance, or maybe I'd call it a tentrance? I don't know. Anyways, there was a trooper waiting for me. "Lieutenant, what is it?"
The trooper nodded. "General Shan requires your presence."
I sighed and nodded. "Very well. I know the way."
I wasn't just trying to dismiss them. I really did know the way. Before my nap, I was actually in the command tent.
We were discussing our next steps. It had been two days since we routed Darth Malgus and his troops. We were recovering our energy and were now ready to move forward.
Something interesting that I discussed with Jace and Satele was how to use the travelers. I insisted that we provide them with a constant stream of tasks such as scouting, labor, cooking, cleaning, basically anything that they could think of that would help in even the most insignificant way.
This idea proved itself within minutes of the announcement from the officers. Every single player was scrambling to do as much as possible. The officers were confused but didn't complain. A lot of the tasks were things that no one else wanted to do.
My mind shifted back to the present as I considered the possible reasons for my summons. Was there a mission? Where would we go next?
Well, it wouldn't take long to find out since I was already at the command tent. I pushed the flaps aside and entered.
Typically, the command tent would have officers moving in and out as well as troopers delivering intelligence or administering orders.
At this time, however, the only people there were Jace and Satele. It quickly became apparent that something important was about to go down.
Satele turned to me with a smile. "Did you enjoy your nap?"
Jace stifled a laugh as I rolled my eyes. "In fact, I did. I had quite the pleasant dream."
Satele chuckled. "Good, you should be in tip top shape then. It's about time we finish this operation, don't you think?"
Oh yeah, this was the juice I was waiting for! What were we going to do? Would we be running some crazy operation where we bomb the shit out of them and then charge in?
Satele pointed at the holo-map on the table. "We have established our foothold and are currently pushing the Empire back on all fronts. However, we aren't anywhere close to winning yet."
She pressed a button on the side of the table and the holomap zoomed in on a city. "This is Aldera, the capital of Alderaan. As of right now, the city is occupied. The Empire has taken the royal family hostage."
Jace slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage. "Those fucking bastards, we have to go in and save them immediately."
I shook my head. "Jace, I don't mean any disrespect but we can't rush this. This needs to be handled… delicately."
[+20 reputation with Satele Shan]
Satele smiled and nodded. "Quite wise for someone your age. But yes, Jace, Soryn is correct. Patience is key. However, that doesn't mean that we will be waiting. I have been closely monitoring the situation in the capital since we landed on Alderaan and now is the perfect time to infiltrate Aldera."
"My scouts have informed me that there has been movement with the Imperial troops stationed in the capital. Due to the intensifying battle in the two theaters, a decent portion of them are being deployed to support their defensive line."
I smirked and nodded. "That's good news. With less coverage, it will be easier to sneak in."
Jace grumbled and started tapping his arm with his hand. His arms were crossed and he looked quite irritated.
Satele shook her head. "Captain, unfortunately, I can not delegate this mission to Havoc squad due to your personal connection with Alderaan. I've heard the rumors about you getting comfortable with one of the princesses. We can't afford to have emotions cause the failure of this mission."
Jace stopped tapping his arm and glared at Satele. "Are you serious?"
Satele closed her eyes and wore a solemn expression. "Yes, Captain. That is an order."
Jace threw his arms out in anger. "Un-fucking-believable. I'm leaving." He then turned and stormed out of the tent. It was honestly a good thing he did so because I was confident that he would have gotten into a fight with Satele. He might be in charge of the most capable group of troopers in the entire army, but he was hot headed and passionate.
I sighed. "I'm sure he means well. I'd be insufferably angry if my girlfriend was being held hostage too."
Satele nodded. "I would hope so, but emotions can be a dangerous thing. They cloud your vision and must be kept in check. It is okay to release them in a safe environment but never when lives are at stake."
I nodded, agreeing with her. "Alright, so what's the plan?"
Satele smiled. It would appear that she liked how focused I was. "You recently proved yourself in terms of stealth operations with that scouting mission. You even displayed your ability to defeat a Sith in combat. Thus, I am trusting you to put together a capable squad for this mission. Although I will be accompanying you, I do not know my troopers as well as you do. We will depart in two hours. Do you have any questions?"
I shook my head. "No, I do not. I'll be going then."
[Quest Received]
[Saving the Royal Family - I]
[Epic Chain Quest]
[Jedi General Satele Shan has designated you as the leader of an operation to infiltrate Aldera and rescue Alderaan's royal family from the Empire. This is Part One of the chain quest and the objective is to infiltrate the capital and secure a base of operations.]
[+1k exp]
Satele nodded. "Dismissed."