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So… Surprise. This is a Star Wars story. With some vore in it.
In my teens and early twenties, I was quite a big Star Wars fan. I systematically read the novels of the Expanded Universe - which, at that time, were considered canon. I eventually lost interest (grew out of it, perhaps), and in fact I still have quite a few Star Wars novels I bought a decade ago and never read. When Star Wars 7 was announced, my initiation reaction was "Meh". The trailer, though, rekindled my interest.
What inspired me even more, though, was this amazing, short fan film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_CP4SuoTU . Much credit must go to its creator, OtaKing77077, for getting my imagination flowing.
To write this story, I had to look up a lot of background information that I'd forgotten (or never known) about Star Wars. I discovered the groan-inspiringly named but extremely detailed fan-written Star Wars database Wookieepedia, and drew on it for background facts, chronology and sequences of events, etc. I also re-watched a part of The Return of the Jedi, to get a certain sequence of facts right and be able to visualise it.
The result is this. The title is due to the fact that in the films, the rank-and-file soldiers of the Empire are never shown as individuals. In fact, we never even see the faces of stormtroopers or TIE pilots. They're shown as expended mooks - and not even particularly good at what they're supposed to do. Whereas, if you think about it, each of them is a person, with a background story and a reason for being there. What made them sign up in that way? I wanted to see things from their perspective a bit. Humanise them.
Credits: All the planets named or seen in this story, and all the sapient species, were created by the contributors to the various Star Wars films and novels. Except planet Cyesslan and its native inhabitants, the Cyesslani, who are my own creation. Non-sapient animals are my invention. Technologies described here are all part of Star Wars canon or the expanded universe. By contrast, all the characters seen in this story are of my own creation.
Enjoy! And if you don't like Star Wars, don't worry: My next story will probably be a Felarya one. And after that, perhaps one set in the Forbidden Dish. Depending on my mood and inspiration…
Oh and of course, I recommend you read the beginning of this story to the sound of the Star Wars opening theme music!
(part 2 is here: http://aryion.com/g4/view/321336 )
Edit: Even better, you can now read the opening lines in scroll mode, set to the opening music, here: http://www.starwars.com/games-apps/star-wars-crawl-creator/?cid=567bfb37e4b0296943defc73 . (It takes a little while to load, then you need to click "begin".) Or there's an even better one here: http://goo.gl/W0ORY9 .
Edit 2: All five chapters can now be read in one single document, if you prefer. Here: http://aryion.com/g4/view/358308 .
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Posted by TheWiking2000 8 years ago Report
This!
I started with watching the fan film you linked to, which was smartly done of you, setting up and visualizing what you were aiming for. Very clever and engaging.
This is right up my ally! I'm not a Star Wars fanboy per say, just your average nerd getting average nerd chills every time the Imperial March is playing. What I love about his is seeing things from the common Imperials perspective. To them, the rebels are just that; rebels. For all they know, they're anarchists, anti-imperialist scum who bring war where ever they go. To the average Imperial, it was Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi, who attacked the Temple and other Jedi, Joda and Mace Windu, who attacked and tried to kill the Counselor (a democratically elected head of the republic at the time).
And the Imperial soldiers are human beings, just like any rebel, with families, friends and all. They enjoy dinner and dancing, sex and watching a movie, just like anyone else.
I remember that this annoyed me when I first watched ch. 4-6, that the motivation of the average Imperial was never etablished. They were all faceless, hidden behind masks, devoid of any humanity. I kind of forgave those films for that, considering that they were made in a time when these types of brain dead goons were common place in movies. I got really upset, however, when I see the same in newer films. For example, in Guardians of The Galaxy, there is one scene were Groot extends his arm and impales several masked soldiers, tossing them about and killing them in the most gruesome way and the audience is expecting to find this funny. I didn't. I found it repulsive.
You write this very well, as always, and show the importance of comradery between soldiers. That is probably what motivates most soldiers to kill to the enemy; to protect your wing man/wing girl. And the fighter scenes are intense!
Well, on to chapter two!
Posted by Ruler101 8 years ago Report
The original troopers in the movie were clones created for their jobs. They're only motive was to carry out the brainwashing they'd been fed ever since they were born. Certain officers were those that went along with the new order after the establishment of the empire. Some of them had personal connections to Palpatine, like Tarkin, and others were loyal fanatics like Colonel Wolfe.
And to the average imperial citizen, the empire was a fascist state with heavy taxes and strict authoritarian rules. Most citizens supported the rebels, but just kept their heads down, as happens in many real revolutions.
Posted by TheWiking2000 8 years ago Report
Well, not all Imperial soldiers were brainwashed clones and, considering the many tens of thousands of soldiers, lieutenants, generals that served the Empire, not all could have had a personal relationship with the leaders.
Though I do agree with you. Most probably just kept their head down and tried to protect their own skin. The Empire is of course the Nazis of Star Wars universe. I'm just being a bit of the Devil's Advocate above, imagining what could motivate someone, given that they don't have access to all information, like we do. If all you know is that the Senate gave the chancellor his power, that the Jedi attacked Coruscant and Rebels are fighting your families and friends enlisted in the Imperial forces, causing chaos and war wherever they go, you might not view them as the good guys.
Posted by Ruler101 8 years ago Report
The majority of them were, at first. There were millions of clones at the end of the clone war, and most of them served in the empire. (Though that's been retconned as of Rebels) I thought this story took place at the beginning of the war, before they recruited. My fault for skimming.
As far as I know, the turn to the empire was not a popular move. Tarkin in particular had to put down riots all over the Galaxy. so I imagine it's mostly the younger crowd who actually managed to swallow Palpatine's propaganda.
Posted by French_snack 8 years ago Report
As I understand it, the stormtroopers by the time of the battle of Endor were not clones, but recruits. It's almost a quarter of a century after the end of the Clone Wars. So they were individual human beings, with different experiences of life - different motivations and reasons for signing up.
Yes of course, the Empire was a brutal and oppressive state. (Though I think people's experiences of it would depend on what world they lived on.) (And I don't recall reading anywhere that the Empire imposed high taxes… Nor that the New Republic lowered taxes upon taking power!)
Posted by Ruler101 8 years ago Report
Uh, I do think they recruited troops at a certain point, but I don't know when. I skimmed this and mistook it for the beginning of the war.
I wish I could remember where I read it, but I distinctly recall that Palpatine imposed some high taxes on world's who's senators refused to give him "emergency powers" and I believe alien controlled world's. Because the sith philosophy is really racist for reasons that have only been vaguely explained to me. Something about I being started by humans back in the super old republic. The one before the republic of he prequels.
Posted by French_snack 8 years ago Report
According to the chronology, the Rebel Alliance emerged seventeen years after the end of the Clone Wars. Its emergence marked the beginning of the Galactic Civil War. My story begins three days before the Battle of Endor, after six years of civil war.
It's possible that taxes were used as punishment on recalcitrant worlds, yes; though I don't recall reading about it.
The Empire was quite clearly racist, but I'm not sure the Sith philosophy was. There were some non-Human Sith. Including, apparently, Palpatine's (Darth Sidious') own Master. The Empire's racism has never been explained (as far as I'm aware), so I suppose it was due either to Palpatine's own personal bigotry (but then why would his Master have chosen him as apprentice?), or to that of the powerful men of his regime. Or just a nasty, purely strategic "divide-and-rule" tactic.
Posted by Ruler101 8 years ago Report
Oh, my mistake then.
Hmm. I know I read it, though now I suspect it might be one of those small novels that was never really canon.
In most incarnations, the Sith favor Sith Purebloods and Himans, since they were the founding sith races. Though yes, Palpatine was himself far more bigoted than most sith. As far as I know, he had a "you're an exception' attitude towards Pelagius. (I think that's how it's spelled.)
Of course, the Star Wars canon is not a very consistent place, not helped by the various levels of canon being able to overwrite each other on a whim.
Posted by French_snack 8 years ago Report
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :D And yes, exactly: These are ordinary people, doing the things that ordinary people do, while believing sincerely that the Rebellion is a threat to the galaxy, to their loved ones, and to everything that they've been raised to see as normal and right. (As Talana says: It was the Rebels who started the civil war!)
For people who believe that the Empire represents order and security, the prospect of Imperial rule being destroyed by a rebellion must seem like a frightening chaos threatening to engulf them all in uncertainty and violence. Especially for people like Talana who lived on backwater worlds where Imperial oppression was not apparent, and who've always led safe peaceful lives.
I haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy. The trailer didn't appeal to me at all, and now I'm all the more glad I didn't watch it.
And yes, as you say: In the heat of battle, the enemy are trying to kill your wingmate, your friend! So indeed comradeship is going to play a big part in the "us versus them" divide. I'm glad if the battle scenes were intense: I wanted to imagine and convey what it might actually be like, to be piloting a TIE fighter in battle, with *so much* going on all around you, and threats coming from every direction. Trying to evade an incoming guided missile must be gut-churning… No wonder Talana feels fiercely satisfied every time she kills them rather than the other way round!
Posted by Indighost 8 years ago Report
What an avsolutely fantastic and lovely story! Thank you so much for writing and sharing it! Somehow, you were able to achieve that exciting sense of unpredictability and the idea tbat anything could happen next!
Posted by FenrisWolf 8 years ago Report
Excellent Read! I'm a huge star wars fan boy, my friends jokingly refer to me as the "Star Wars Professor". In particular I loved the TIE Fighter and X-Wing flight simulator video games the youtube video is based off of (one of the best fan films of all time in my humble opinion). I loved your line about the missile lock, still gives me a small seizure when I hear it. Wonderfully engaging read though, even knowing how this all plays out it's always fun to write a familiar scene from a different perspective. I approve as well of the attempt to humanize the Empire, who from their perspective would view the rebellion as a collection of terrorists and space pirates. Yes they are essentially Nazi's in space but we forget to often the complexities that motivate humanity, and the lies we tell ourselves to justify insert totalitarian reign X here. In short, great little story that peeks underneath the bucket.
Posted by French_snack 8 years ago Report
Thanks. Indeed: Those poor Imperial mooks we see getting blasted in the films are people too, after all, who most likely do see themselves as the "good guys".
Posted by Adseria 8 years ago Report
*did :)