A small fleet of four Star Destroyers arrived almost at the same time as a tiny vessel the shape of an embroidery needle. The steely sliver slid into the atmosphere without any issue and landed neatly beside the caves. It hummed for a moment as its systems wound down, and then the gangplank slid out to allow its pilot access to the sandy ground. A figure clad in dark armor and a black half-cape flung over the left shoulder descended at an even pace and stood, arms akimbo, surveying the landscape.
---
"Governor Tarkin, I've reached the surface." A deep, clipped voice crackled over the Executrix's comm system. "May I proceed?"
"By all means." Tarkin stood on the bridge, hands clasped behind his back. "Alert me when you're clear of the tunnels and we'll begin the attack." He had set a countdown in his mind; the attack would begin in two hours whether Vader's Inquisitor was clear or not.
The journey here had been a blur; Tarkin had found himself drifting to sleep in his office chair and waking up seconds later, so he retreated to his quarters and forced himself to lie down. He'd tossed and turned for four hours, then dozed for another two. Now he was awake and as alert as he could be after a couple stim pills. The glaring white surface of Atoa gleamed below, just as it had looked the first time this ship had journeyed here.
---
The figure clicked off the comm, looking up briefly at the faint triangular outlines hovering above the planet, then strode into the tunnels.
