[Episode V - NR][O12 - Gyndine - NR3F] Dock Duty

Snow drifted lazily through the artificial canyons of the Gyndine dock storage area. Massive pillars supported the many levels of warehouses and access tunnels, and formed a sheltered area between the access lanes and the cargo doors. In the cold of a Gyndine winter, it was not uncommon for dock workers to linger in these alcoves out of the weather.

However, dock workers do not need to worry about keeping watch for things like a New Republic strike team taking up positions. Imperial security forces do. Chosing to huddle around an area warmer and slack off was the last bad decision these security troopers would get to make.

"What did we do to get stuck out here?" grumbled one of the troopers. "They won't even tell us what we're guarding. For all we know it's empty!"

"Bror, what did you expect? We're not exactly stormtroopers."

"The stormtroopers aren't exactly stormtroopers." muttered the first trooper. "Not like they used to be."

"Careful. Wrong person hears you and you'll be spending a lot of time having unpleasant conversations with the Double Eyes."

Fleet Trooper Caxor peered around the edge of the support column, blaster rifle balanced in one hand. He couldn't see any coaxium, but the door was sealed shut. This was storage bay Red Five, though, which Fleet Intelligence had identified as where the coaxium was cached before being shipped off-planet. And there were security troopers in front of the doors - unlike any other storage bays they'd passed.

His squad leader stodd behind him, the imposing stone bulk of the column blocking them from the view of the Imperials.

"Anything?" He whispered.

"Three troopers. No heavy weapons. I'll take the one on the left."

The sergeant nodded, then motioned for two more fleet troopers to move up and be ready to take the other security forces out on his signal.