Chapter 19 Fiction by LCP Baker

[Baker]

13 ~ Jansen
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OS Chapter 19
By LCP Baker/ Viper Four/ 2nd Brigade/ Imperial Army

Charlie Baker, in his stark white Stormtrooper uniform gazed upon the even whiter Chimaeria. Under the spotlight of the shipyard, the ship seemed to give off an unearthly glow. It was the pure symbol of Imperial Might.

“Everything Alright?”

Baker turned around. He was face to face with his Executive officer, 2nd Lt. Foley. Foley was dressed in his dress uniform. His medals glowed under the spotlights.
“Anything to report, Baker?” he asked again.
“No, sir. Everything’s fine.”
“I don’t need to remind you that this ceremony is very important to La Forge. Viper is in charge of security. If anything goes wrong, La Forge will have our heads. If you need me, I’ll be inside.”
“Yes, sir. Nothing will go wrong.”
“I hope your right, Baker.”
Baker gave a brisk salute and turned to face the Chimaera. Two of the other stormtroopers were chatting about sabbac or something.
This is going to be a long night. Thought Baker. Why did those Navy seaweanies need us to protect their ship? Hee hee…seaweanies. Baker laughed quietly to himself.

Baker turned back to watch the ceremony through the view port. Admiral Fel was giving his speech. Baker did not notice the movement behind him, nor did he hear the hiss as the door to the Chimaera opened.

As La Forge took the podium, the Chimaera’s engines kicked on. Baker didn’t notice the hum at first. It was only when he saw the general discord in the view port did he turn around. He saw the blue glare of the star destroyer’s engines. The doors of the assembly hall opened and every member of the High Command and Officer’s Club poured out. Baker just stood there, dumbfounded.
“La Forge is going to kill me.” He said.
“Forget La Forge,” said a voice behind him. He whipped around and was face to face with a very angry Lt. Foley.
“Hurry up and get on the shuttle!”
“Where are we going?” replied a still stupefied Baker.
“To get back the Chimaera!”

Several hours later at the briefing given by General Jansen, Baker was there but he wasn’t listening. He knew the plan by heart. He was too busy planning how he was to be the hero of the operation. He could see the headlines now:
“Corporal Baker Single-Handedly Retakes Star Destroyer!”
“LCP Baker Made General For Heroic Actions!”
“Legion of Palpatine Given to LCP Baker!”

A swift kick in the butt brought him back to reality.
“Let’s go, Baker” said Lt. Foley. “Briefing’s been over for five minutes. Did you fall asleep again?”
“We’re leaving?”
“Only waiting for you.”

The Nemesis and the Warhammer finally caught up with the Chimaera. The attack shuttles were launched and aboard one was Viper Company. All the troops were clad in their stark white Stormtrooper armor, except for Captain Chu and Lt. Foley; both were still in their dress uniforms.
Cap. Chu stood up:
“Viper Company,” he said, “I have here a communication from Supreme Command. It reads: Loyal soldiers of the Empire: Today, in an unprecedented at of terrorism against us, our flag ship was hijacked. Your mission is to retake our prized vessel. It is expected that all of you will do your best. You must always be advancing. Do not retreat so much as one millimeter. It is victory or death! This is an insult to the Empire which we must pay back 10 fold. Victory or Death!”

A knock came from the door at the front of the shuttle. Cat. Chu opened the door.
“30 seconds,” said the pilot.
“Alright Viper,” said Chu, “You know your teams. Let’s saddle up.”

The shuttle slowed as it approached the Chimaera. With a loud click, the shuttle docked.
The shuttle door opened and Viper Company moved into the hallway of the star destroyer. It was ominously quiet.
“1st team, go with Lt. Foley and make your way to the bridge. 2nd team, follow me,” ordered Chu.

The two teams split up; Lt. Foley and his team made their way to the bridge white Capt. Chu went to secure the cargo hold.

As 1st team made their way up, the Chimaera’s automatic guns opened fire on them. Several troopers were hit before a well placed shot from LCP Rylan put them out of commission.

“The bridge is right up here,” said Foley. “Orders are to wait until we get the signal from La Forge.”

Foley saw one of his troopers falter a little.
“Are you ok?” asked Baker.

The trooper raised his rifle and fired at Foley. Foley was hit in the shoulder. Baker lounged at the trooper but he was hit in the chest. He fell hard on the trooper. That seemed to bring him back to reality.
“What happened?” asked the trooper.
“I don’t know,” replied Rylan.

Several hours later, after the Chimaera had been retaken, baker lay in the medical bay of the Warhammer. He had medical tape wrapped around his chest. Foley was next to him.
“If you’re well enough, there’s an assembly in the main hanger. La Forge wants you to be there.”
“Me?” replied Baker.
Foley whacked him upside the head.
“No. The other Charlie Baker, you moron.”

Foley helped him out of bead and the two walked, albeit slowly, down to the main hanger. When they arrived, one of the escorts brought Baker up to the podium where La Forge was already addressing the assembly of troops.

“Our final not of business,” La Forge said, “Is to award Lance Corporal Baker of Viper Company this medal for his actions in combat. The High Command would like to award LCP Baker the Legion of the Bullet Shield. We hope next time a gun is aimed at him, he will duck.”
The assembly laughed along with Baker as La Forge pinned the medal, which looked like a bull’s eye, upon Bakers uniform.