The transports dim interior lights reflected on the rows of troopers white armor, causing them to appear as if they were glowing. Standing at parade rest, they remained motionless per their rigid training, their blasters clipped to their sides.
“Attention!” The battalion’s commander called out as an officer stepped into the cargo hold, his uniform crisp and spotless.
“At ease.” Moving till he was standing at the head of the columns, he drifted his gaze across the soldiers before him. In the shadows to his left, he could barely make out two warriors dressed in black leaning against the metal walls with apparent disinterest. His stomach twisted as they both swiveled their heads to watch him, their eyes like hawks locking on their prey. At their waists they bore those strange energy weapons, the one’s he’d seen cut down dozens of enemy troops in mere minutes, leaving their bodies riddled with scorched cut marks.
“We are approaching Numidian Prime, reported to be a rallying point for the rebellion.” He swallowed deeply, the sounds of the screaming rebel spy echoing in the torture chambers still ringing in his ears. He hated the rebels with a burning passion, but he did not relish watching them expire from the cruel forms of torture those warriors in black seemed to enjoy. “We will search the planet until we have silenced every last reminder of their futile campaign. Troopers, once on planet, you will defer to the Inquisitors,” with this he gestured to the two shadowy forms, one of which grinned evilly, her smile sending chills down the officer’s spine, “we will remind the people of Numidian Prime of the great reach and overwhelming strength of the Empire. We will remind them that we will not tolerate resistance of any form. And finally, we will remind them that we exist to bring order to the galaxy. For the Empire!”
“For the Empire!” The room echoed with a hundred voices in unison.