PIETT: THE MAN AFTER EXECUTOR
Written and submitted by Kevin Carlson

Admiral Piett, formerly of the Star Destroyer Executor, sat at the helm of the Lambada-Class Shuttle Meran. The shuttle on course to the planet Antemeridias, was running out of fuel and if he didn't push it he would be stranded in space forever. The shuttle rocked, and Piett knew it was out of hyperspace.

"Shuttle Meran this is Antemeridia space control requesting authorization." Piett scrambled for the code he had taken off of Executor before the end.

"This is Admiral Piett. Requesting authorization to land?" Where is the damn code? He thought as he scrambled to find it, "Code Alpha-Beta-Cama-Helos." The shuttle rocked and the computer took control, "Shuttle authorization has been granted." the controller said as the shuttle descended.

The man was fat and Piett had to use all his control to stop himself from laughing ,"Ah hah Admiral I assume here because of what Lord Vader told you?"

What is this morons name? Piett wondered while he pulled out the papers. "Yes Commodore Simmons. Lord Vader told me about the installation here, and I have come to take control of it." He handed the papers to Simmons.

"But Sir, I have Lord Vader's instructions." Idiot do you think that Vader knew he was going to die, Piett thought as he thought of a response," Commodore do you think Lord Vader knew he was not going to make it off Executor?" Simmons started to sweat and he finally looked at the papers, "Ok Admiral I guess you can take control of the installation."

The installation was more impressive then Lord Vader could have described, the installation it self was only 300 meters long by 300 meters wide, but it was over a thousand meters deep into the ground. "Commodore do you think that I could see blueprint of the complex?" Simmons pointed to a computer terminal. Piett looked at the layout of the place, it had about a hundred floors, and each floor had from three to twenty rooms. "Commodore this is a very impressive complex." For the first time in days Piett looked at a chronometer, it had about three months since the Battle of Endor. "So has the purpose of the installation changed?"

Rebel agent, no he liked the term New Republic Agent better, Nick Mclean, could barely hear Piett. He just asked if the building has changed purposes. He had followed Piett since Endor and was happy Piett finally showed up somewhere important. With his macrobinoculars he could see the layout of the place. He saw what he was looking for, the communications room. It was on level 78 room 230. Seven levels up, and 13 rooms over. He knew the New Republic could send a small force to take this place out.

"Hey watch out!" the soldier said as Nick bumped into him. Only two more rooms away and he could get rid of Piett and this Imp facility. He sneaked into the room and punched in the frequency of the closest Rebel base. "This is Agent Number 34a dash alpha, and I'm in an imperial facility and I am requesting.."

This is Lieutenant Kolish of the Rebel ship Junkile, and we are sending your request into the New Republic mainframe. We should be able to get clearance in a few days thank you." The connection ended.

"Ok I guess I'll have to do this myself."

Piett was getting tired of Simmons and was about to show it to the Commodore when an Ensign ran up to the two commanding officers, "Sirs a communiqué was intercepted going to the direction of a Rebel base and fleet holding." "Who was on duty during the communication?" Piett was determined to get the trader before he could end the project.

"Uh, sir he is dead."

"Great, it was Sub-Lieutenant Gransok wasn't it?" Simmons asked.

"Yes sir."

"That's enough Ensign." With that Piett dismissed the lower officer. "Get the outpost ready for an attack. Then get the factory to double the fighter production, NOW"

Grant Grag was just a lonely ensign, on the factory floor. He knew what the complex was built for and that was enough for Nick, and he was pressuring him to answer his questions.

"This place is a Tie-fighter and a biological weapons base. It is the biggest base the Emporer built. It is not just what this building is, but a chain of twenty buildings. It has been producing Tie-Defenders and Tie- Interceptors, at a rate of one-hundred every two hours. For about eight months." A blaster bolt flew by Nick's head and then another hit Grant in the shoulder.

"Get up, now and you might live." Nick was now carrying Grant over his shoulders. "If you help me destroy this building you just might not go to a jail for the rest of your life." Grant nodded.

"If you go to…" a blaster bolt caught Nick in the head then another hit Grant in the neck. "Good shot Commodore." Other rounds of blaster bolts covered the traders bodies.

"Commodore, did you prepare the factory for bombardment?" Piett was not happy about these traders. "Uh, not yet sir, but.." a chunk of the ceiling hit Simmons in the back of the head dropping him to the floor. Piett could see the blood on Simmons' head. "Ensign who is the second highest officer on this planet, after Commodore Simmons?"

"Uh, that would have to be Line-Captain Dremmel."

"Good get him and tell him he is in comand." Piett knew he would die if he stayed.

"Admiral, the spacestations are gone and the fighter bays are blocked." Piett didn't listen he was on his was to the Meran, and another day. Finally the ensign left to find the other command officers.

The Meran was untouched, and he crawled aboard and started up the refueled engines and punched it the commands to open the hangar bay, "This is Admiral Piett to all hands the fighter bays are blocked and the Golan Defense platforms are destroyed. Repeat abandon base." He hit the start up button and started to ascend into the atmosphere, when two x-wings came up on him, "This is Green five, to Lambada Shuttle, you must set down now." Piett didn't listen he kept going. He looked at the once beautiful base and saw pure ugliness. He saw Rebel ships surround the planet. He shot a few shots at the x-wings but the shots bounced off harmlessly. He was past the atmosphere and he set course for the closest Imperial Aligned system. He waited while the nav-computer to compute and thought. The nav-computer beeped and he hit the lever to go into hyperspace, and was off.

Captain Fre Greta saw the shuttle inter hyperspace, and she wanted to let it go but had to report the shuttle to New Republic Authorities……