Up on the ridge, Amir and the Mandalorian successfully regrouped, each rushing to their respective ships. There was no sound of the battle f
Up on the ridge, Amir and the Mandalorian successfully regrouped, each rushing to their respective ships.
There was no sound of the battle from here, but in the distance, they could see swarms of starfighters buzzing like sesame seeds across the sky.
"Let's hope we don't get caught in friendly fire," Amir muttered, quickly uploading the data into his ship's computer.
"Preferably not while we're still on this planet." Despite saying that, Amir had a strong feeling that Rango was still here.
Just then, Greeta's transmission came through.
"Amir! The Empire's invading!" she said. In the hologram, she stood on a balcony, gazing into the distance.
Her planet was adjacent to this one. From her vantage point, the planet under attack looked just slightly larger than a moon.
"I see it," Amir replied, eyes darting across the data stream.
"Is he there? Your friend?"
"I'm looking." After skipping countless useless entries, Amir finally found the personnel list.
"Perfect. These mines are all operated by the same company—they've logged everyone."
"There!" He zoomed in on the image of a green-skinned Falleen, with the Wookiee Chewbacca right beside him.
But that wasn't all—above them in the frame were several blond-haired men.
"Could these be Guri'kena's people?"
The mine listed beneath the photos read: Zimru Mine.
"I found them," Amir told Greeta. "They're right near the base the Empire's attacking."
Greeta's expression turned grave.
"I know you won't listen, but I still have to say it: now's not a good time to go," she warned.
"This isn't a choice, Greeta," Amir said, lowering himself into the pilot's seat. "So wish me luck."
"Mando, you still there?"
"I'm leaving."
"Five thousand credits."
"…Six," the Mandalorian replied after a pause.
"Deal."
"Greeta, you should leave too. Your location isn't safe anymore."
"I will." She ended the transmission.
Leaning back in his seat, Amir felt the Force stir within him.
"This is Imperial bastards!" someone shouted from the mining camp crowd.
"There are no ships left! What now? Let them capture us and chain us up until we die?!"
Panic and despair were beginning to spread.
Most of the miners were ordinary people—kidnapped from their homes and forced into slavery. Their spirits had been worn down to the brink.
They had barely glimpsed a chance at hope—and now faced something worse.
"Friends!" a red-skinned brute stood up and shouted toward the remaining guards. "This place is finished! There's no point in fighting anymore. How about we team up and get off this planet?"
"Agreed." A dark-haired man stepped forward from the other side, slinging his blaster over his shoulder.
He was probably the lead guard here.
"There's a transit station south of here. There might be ships. I suggest we scatter into the hills and head that way. The rocks will shield us from TIE fighter scans," the leader said.
"We've got no other choice. Let's move!" The brute gave Rango a look, then bolted toward the exit.
"Move! The Empire already took out our ships. They clearly know we're here!" someone else shouted. The crowd stirred—miners gathered in groups and scattered toward the southern hills.
Rango and Chewbacca gathered the group of blond-haired men and followed the red-skinned brute.
"What now, Wulf?" Rango asked.
"Come here, kid." Wulf pulled him aside.
"I got this," he said, holding up a commlink.
"We can't just trust what that guy said. Even if there are ships, they might already be gone."
"I messaged a friend. He'll come for me. For now, we find a cave and stay hidden for a few days."
"I guess that's all we can do." Rango thought about his friends but stayed silent.
"Chewbacca! What are you carrying?" Rango suddenly noticed the Wookiee lugging a crate.
"Rrraagh!"
"What? You picked it up from the guards?" Rango looked inside and was stunned. "Is this refined mineral product?"
Chewbacca shrugged—he wasn't sure.
"Stop," Wulf suddenly whispered, pressing himself to the wall and crouching. "Everyone down."
Rango and the others quickly followed.
Two TIE fighters roared overhead.
"Let's go." Once they passed, the group kept moving.
"We're not getting out. The whole place is crawling with Imperials," one of the blond youths muttered fearfully.
"Shut it and follow, Kieran," Rango snapped.
They kept moving. Dusk was falling fast.
"Troop transports. Damn it," Wulf growled, spotting several ships heading toward the mine—one of them flying right toward their path.
"Hide! Over there, a cave," Rango said, his pupils narrowing. In the dark, he could see much more clearly than most.
"Rrragh!!" Chewbacca had spotted it too.
Wulf glanced back. Nearly twenty people followed them—too many, too weak, easy targets.
Leaving them behind would increase their own odds, but these were Rango's people.
They rushed into the cave.
"Not bad," Wulf muttered after peeking inside. "Plenty of space."
"Get in!" Rango urged the others through.
"Quick, quick!" The transport was descending.
Once everyone was inside, Rango slipped through last, squeezing into the entrance.
"Sir, why are we doing this? They're just slaves. They're no threat," a stormtrooper said, standing over the bodies of two miners they'd just shot.
"Orders, soldier. Anyone here could be part of the Rebellion."
"But they're not."
The officer turned to face him. "They died for the Empire's justice. We gave them honor."
"We're the invaders. I don't call this justice," the stormtrooper said coldly, staring down his superior.
The officer gave a thin smirk. There were always a few like him—passionate at first, then burned out and left with doubt.
"Follow orders. Or I'll treat you like a deserter. Any questions?"
The trooper hesitated half a second. "No, sir."
"This war's just getting started. We'll conquer this entire prosperous sector for the Empire. We'll bring peace. And the Empire will reward your loyalty."
The squad moved across the yellow soil. Night had fully fallen. One of them flicked on the flashlight mounted to his blaster.
"Is that a cave? You—soldier. Go check it."
"Me?" The same trooper blinked. "Yes, sir."
He'd brought this on himself. He had no choice now.
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🌌 Star Wars: Relics of the Past
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