In the year 10 BBY, the Galactic Empire is flourishing. The last known Separatist elements have been crushed. Every day, the influence of Palpatine's dream grows evermore. Small rebellions, the prerequisites for the group that would one day form a new Republic, are quickly and methodically crushed by innumerable Stormtroopers and Star Destroyers. The Death Star continues construction, the bones of what would soon become the greatest terror in recorded history. On the galactic rim, a small system by the name of Hel‘am sits, unnoticed by the greater population of the galaxy.
A small system comprising 4 planets: a single mining world out on the rim, a small habitable world, lush with expansive plains of endless green grass. A small population sits here, quietly continuing their everyday lives, under the threat of annihilation from the Imperial forces “civilizing” the local population. The other two planets are unremarkable, useless to anyone but the Imperial Navy, where a small Shipyard and refitting center are held. These are unremarkable, and would have been taken over by a fledgling New Republic many years later.
However, this singular star system, unremarkable as it is, would be the spark that would set the galaxy aflame.
Out near the rim of the star system, an Imperial Star Destroyer, the Shadow Hawk, was patrolling, the turbolasers still cooling from demolishing a small group of pirates. The Shadow Hawk swept the area for the pirate’s hideout. The sensors onboard were at maximum sensitivity, searching for heat, gas, or other signs of a station or docking port. This is the only reason they noticed the newcomer on the edge of the system. On the bridge, the primary Sensor officer takes a long breath before reporting his findings.
“Unidentified ship detected on the edge of the system.”
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The Imperial officer gazing out of the forward viewports snaps his head to the side and quickly strides over to one of the two pits positioned on either side of the bridge. The instant he identifies his sensor officer, he snaps out a question.
“Do you have an identification?”
“No, sir, we are still attempting to identify it.”
“Show me this ship.”
The sensor officer stands up, and gets out of the pit, carrying a datapad, and a small chip. They both walk over to the hologram table centered at the back of the bridge. The click-clack of their uniformed boots echo throughout the bridge. The near silent whisper-clicks and beeps of various machines and crew members doing their jobs fill the room, bouncing off the bulkheads. When the two officers reach the holotable, the sensor officer methodically pushes the chip in, and the display leaps to life. It shows a detailed readout of the unknown ship, with various potential classifications and producers being shown on the side. The sensor officer begins with an overlay, images flashing as he talks.
“The unidentified ship appeared at the edge of the system 15 minutes ago. No hyperspace signature was detected, and their transponder is currently offline. I don’t know why they didn’t just jump straight to a planet.”
“Perhaps they are allied, at least in part, with the pirates. Can you give me their general capabilities?”
“The ship is apparently quite slow, and large. They are using an odd type of shield, one that isn't in our database. We can’t seem to get a reading on the inside of the ship, or any weapons.”
“What do you mean? Kuat told us that the sensors were top of the line!”
The sensor officer stops for a moment, taps on something, and the holotable shifts to showing something: The sensors attempting to pierce the armor of the yet-to-be identified ship. His face contort in confusion.
“They are, sir.”
The captain shifts his hand to his jaw, weighing the next course of action.
“Very well. Notify me of any updates.”
The sensor officer nods and heads back to the pit, tapping on his datapad. The captain turns to his Second-in-Command, preparing to say the words that would turn the tides of history.
“Open a hailing frequency.”