Chapter 13 - Dark Schemes (1/2)

Mobile Ice Planet StarKiller Base

- ”That's all the information we have until the moment, Sir!”- an officer said after finishing his report to General Armitage Hux.

- ”Good”- said General Hux with an emotionless expression which was characteristic on him- ”return to your post and continue gathering information. Inform me immediately when you found out their destination.”

- ”Yes, Sir!”- said the officer and after saluting him, he went away in a quick pace.

General Hux saw the view through the window but there was no beautifu or peaceful scenery, but a cold and desolate desert that extended for thousands of kilometers and which would have no end even if one went to explore all the planet. Such was the planet where this base was located. It had been discovered by the Empire more than 30 years ago wandering around in the unknown territories and once the Empire investigators landed on it, they discovered that the planet was rich in Kyber crystals which was a key material to create the massive energy that made ther Death Star the monster it was. As such, the planet was throughly cleansed of any kind of problematic natives and the mining process started at its fullest.

- ”I can only imagine the smile in the Emperor when he received the news”- thought General Hux smiling coldly at this idea- ”too bad it was for nothing in the end.”

When the Empire fell, the remaining survivors had gone to the Ice Planet and used it as a secret base and after decades of mining and terraforming process, the planet which was now called the ”Starkiller” base was widely recognized as one of the most important headquarters of the First Order and had managed to remain a secret even for the best investigators of the New Republic. They knew of its existance of course, but they did not know where it was and definitely they had no idea of the true might of the base and that was the reason they would fall soon. Hux smiled at this thought and then it was interrupted by another officer who called his attention

- ”Sir, we have received the results from the last test of the weapon”- he said and passed a tablet with the information which Hux snatched with apprehension.

- ”Was this informed to any other high command subject?”- asked Hux whose grin could seemed to be in the border to madness.

- ”No, Sir”- responded the officer who seemed a little scared for how the general was acting- ”as per your instructons, you are the first person to receive the information.”

- ”You've done well”- congratulated Hux trying to retake his composure- ”Tell the engineering team that they will be highly rewarded by the Supreme Leader for this feat. You can go now!”

The officer went away with a wide smile and General Hux felt he could jump in happiness, but he had to remain calm since now he had to meet with the Supreme Leader and inform him of the progress with the information of Skywalker. He had been terrified due to the failing in this but now that he had received such great news from the engineering team, he could go and face him calmly since he had this triumph card that he could use if things went to worst.

- ”I wonder how Ren is doing”- said Hux grinning at the fact that this time he had the upper hand in the situation.

And as if destuny wanted to play a joke on him, he found Kylo Ren already waiting for him outside the communications room where they had been summoned by the Supreme Leader.

- ”Kylo Ren”- said General Hux as a greeting but it was obvious how he pronounced the name lacking of rank which was so important in a military group like the First Order.

- ”We just have to get rid of him”- had said Captain Phasma in that moment and Hux had agreed immediately since it was not the first time they had colluded to move an ”obstacle” from the way.

He had tried to put him into deadly and even impossible missions for him to die but he had returned safe from all of them and he would even say that every time he returned stronger than when he had gone. He even tried to set a trap with Phasma personally ambushing him, but it had been only her who whad returned heavily injured and when he had gone to check on her in the infirmary Hux had been shocked by her words.

- ”I've fought with monsters which would make anyone have nightmares and defeat them”- she had told him and Hux could notice a trace of fear in the eyes of the most powerful warrior he had seen- ”but he was beyond them... do not involve me in your vendetta against him and I recommned you not to cross him.”

Hux had always been cautious and since he knew a direct ȧssault would be ineffective, he decided to compete with him in getting results. In the end, this route proved much more fruitful and Ren and hux were in the same level. Ren was the perfect soldier and Hux was the perfect commander and each one showed their worth by themselves. Of course, when they worked together, there was no way the enemy could achieve victory but due to their diferences these moments were not very common. Theywere in the same team but they were each trying to overshine the other in order to get the Supreme Leader approval.

- ”Let's see if his mystical nonsense can help him now”

He did not understand that mystical thing called the Force and he did not care to do so, he was a practical and realistic man, a man of science and knowledge and the things related to religion and esoterism were of no corncern to him. He just needed thinbgs that could be used as weapons at his disposal. Sebem though he was powerful, he still followed commands and strategies as long as they were logical so he did not control this Force or any of the people who could wield it, then it was just a useless thing.

- ”General”- said Kylo Ren who seemed not to give his tone any importance- ”we should not make the Supreme Leader wait.”

- ”Of course”- said Hux and the both opened the huge doors and entered the dark room. If someone entered the room they were in right now, they would think of it as a mere cave which was bigger than the rest and would not understand why they had built a bridge to the center of it.

They walked the bridge and placed next to each other with nervous expressions. Soon, the lights of the systems started to appear and they draw the gigantic figure of the Supreme Leader of the First Order but for some reason even though it was a hologram of the best quality, the shadows still covered certain parts of his figure including the face. General Hux saluted in military style while Kylo Ren knelt down.

- ”Supreme leader!”- said the general with a high voice while making his boots sound in a clean hit- General Armitage Hux salute you! All the power to the First Order!”

- ”Kylo Ren humbly greet you, Master”- said Kylo Ren in a simple manner.

The figure of the Supreme Leader moved as if their voices had awoken him but his movements were minimum and relaxed. He just looked at them but for some reason Hux had the impression that he was examining him completely and he wanted to him to start the interaction already instead of just staying there and watch them without doing a thing. However, Hux just stayed there and waited, he felt that maybe this silence was also a test for them.

- ”General Hux”- finally said the Supreme Leader with a deep and ancient voice- ”I was informed that we already have information on Skywalker... Tell me about it.”

General Hux gulped but he knew it was something that could not be avoided and it would be a madness to try to hide anything from this powerful existance so he started to give a detailed recount of the events starting from the attack on Tuanul until the escape of Han Solo from the pirates encirclement.

- ”According to our sources, they seemed to have underestimated Solo and they lost many fleets fleets including dozens of Star fighters and pilots”- General Hux sad while looking at the information he had in his hands- ”The droid which is presumed to be on the Millennium Falcon was lost in that moment.”

- ”Do we know where they are now?”- asked the Supreme Leader and even though his voice seemed to be exactly the same, Hux knew better than anyone that the Supreme Leader was very dissatisfied and he started to sweat and he looked at Kylo Ren s he could say something and share the blame too. However, Ren just stayed in silence since the question had been for Hux.

- ”We still have no information”- replied General Hux swearing at Ren internally- ”but all our sources and agents are in alert... it is only a matter of time before they are discovered and captured.”

- ”Do you ȧssure me that you will not fail as the pirates did, General?”- asked the Supreme Leader with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

- ”We will not fail, Supreme Leader”- Hux repied with an offended tone- ”those pirates were just useless amateurs that can not compare to us. Han Solo may have been a powerful rebel general in the past but as far as we know he had recently settle for a manager in his Garris City so we must presume he's out of shape. The pirates onnly failed because they underestimate him, we willl not commit such mistake...”

- ”What is your opinion, Lord Ren?”- asked the Supreme Leader looking at the man who still knelt before him.

- ”The droid information will be soon delivered to the Resistance”- he replied in a confident manner- ”they will contact Skywalker once again and bring him back to ȧssure the safety of Leia Organa during the voting process in the Galactic Senate in five days.”

- ”Correct!”- said the Supreme Leader but he did not seem happy at all for this answer- ”It was because of this that the iformation of Skywalker's location was so important. If we knew where he was, we could have destroyed him before he was a threat in this critical moment. I must not remind you of the situation in the Senate.”

Hux felt a sour taste in his mouth. According to the information they had, Senator Leia Organa and Mon Mothma had managed to secure many votes for a veto on the First Order. If the veto passed, then the First Order would be branded as a terrorist organization and forced to disband. Even if they continued working in the shadows, it would certainly be more problematic and they would definitely lose many resources and advantages they had until now. They had contingency plans of course, but if Skywalker returned, those plans would be thwarted. However, Hux still was calm.

- ”Supreme Leader”- he said with a calm and collected tone- ”by what we know, Skywalker could be dead already. If he were alive, he would have acted already...”

- ”General!”- said the Supreme Leader with a cold and sharp voice that made Hux felt he was being cut internally- ”Don't ȧssume things... especially with someone as powerful in the Force as Skywalker... he's alive and he will return since we have lost the only chance to know where he is.”

- ”I ȧssume all the responsibility...”- said Hux who knew the blame would go to him anyway.

- ”If we needed to blame someone”- said the Supreme Leader with an exasperated voice- ”I would pick up anyne in the street... I don't need escape goats... I need solutions... do you have any, general?”

General Hux felt a cold feeling on his neck as if someone was pointing at him with a blaster and he knew that his next words would decide his fate. In that moment he remembered the good news he received and he maintained his confident expression.