After receiving their orders from the Fleet Commander, Grand Admiral Rapier, the Imperial Star Destroyer Battle Group II, the Hammer, sets course towards the terrestrial planet known as Primea. Led by their Commodore, Admiral Phoenix Berkana, the admiral preps his commanders with the mission details in the war room while en route.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. We are tasked to lead an investigation regarding a disturbance that occurred on Primea. Lieutenant Colonel Narven Task will lead this expedition.” says Phoenix

Phoenix paces around the front of the room, slowly stroking his thick brown beard. He looks over to his Wing Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Narven Task before looking back at the room of seasoned officers.

“Our contacts stationed at the spaceport on Primea have reported a recent string of attacks on the locals by the Ishtari. In their report, they document multiple casualties to the local Primean Defense forces and civilians, as well as multiple thefts of their food supplies from both ground and ship facilities.”

Phoenix grabs a small metal device and clicks a button. Bringing up a holoprojector which displays imagery of damaged buildings, destroyed vendor stalls, and torn apart ships.

“The Ishtari have not spared these poor souls, leaving the locals with no food, they ensured that their infrastructure was damaged beyond salvage. Based on the intel received, the Ishtari seem to prefer hit and run tactics, razing cities and pillaging supplies before hastingly escaping to their next target. The locals will be a perfect source for information, once we land, you and your squadrons will fan out to question the locals about the Ishtari and obtain any vital information that may lead to their whereabouts.”

Phoenix clicks off the holoprojector and briefly looks outside the starboard window. He directs his attention to Colonel Task.

“Ah, Colonel Task, it appears we have arrived above Primean airspace. Everyone, please make your way to the hangar. Tweezer Squadron has our Sentinel-Class Shuttle awaiting departure to the surface. Dismissed!”

The Hammer commanders exit the war room and gather their respective squadrons to the hangar. All officers are situated aboard the shuttle and they begin their quick descent to Primea’s spaceport. Upon landing, the officers exit the shuttle in a single file line, numerous men and women dressed in olive gray attire are lined up with Colonel Task at the forefront. Task begins to walk up and down the lines.

“Attention! We are here to gather information from the locals on the Ishtari. Find out where they went and any clues as to why they are making these attacks. Gamma, Lambda, and Delta, proceed to the western blocks of the city. Beta, Alpha, and Epsilon, you will cover the eastern sections. Communication is key here, use your comms to report information as you discover, time is of the essence. Regroup at the city’s center by 16:00. Is that clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” replies the platoon of officers.

“Alright, get to it!” orders Task

The group of officers begin to file out into the city, making their way across bridges into the streets. Civilians go about their daily routines shuffling through the streets, mothers hide their children at the sight of the Empire parading among the crowds. A pair of officers, Lieutenant Commander Neurotictim and Captain Xye, approach a destroyed marketplace and begin to question its proprietors. They strike up a conversation with a twin tailed Twi’lek.

“Hello, can you tell us what happened here? From the looks of it you were hit pretty hard” asks Xye.

“Ha, that doesn’t even begin to describe what happened here. Those Ishtari bastards keep coming here just as we finish rebuilding our wares. The name’s Darap Jer, glad to see some help has arrived. Are you here to put a stop to these guys?” replies the Twi’lek.

“At this time we’re just here to investigate and find out more about these Ishtari. What do you know?” asks Neurotictim.

“All I know is they’re bad for business. I can’t make any money with them destroying everything. They come back every few months and just tear through the place, making this huge mess for all of us to clean up” Darap says sternly.

“The place does look pretty worse for wear. Say, you mentioned they come back often? Any idea what they’re after?” questions Xye.

“Are you kidding? These bugs just want food! They don’t care whether you’ve got a family or you're a magistrate. Rumor has it they are part droid but I’ve never seen a droid do that.” scoffs Darap. “Now look, if you’re not gonna help me move this rubble then you better move on. Locals aren’t too pleased with the events that transpired and they certainly aren’t happy now that the Empire is here, I’ve got work to do.” says Darap as he turns away from the duo and goes back to his business.

Xye turns to Neurotictim, his face crumpled up with a perplexed look and adjusts his olive gray hat.

“Bugs? Droids? I’ve never heard of such a thing” says Xye.

“Neither have I, but we’ve learned something at least. Hopefully the others were able to find out more. It’s getting late, we should regroup with the rest.”

“Yeah, let's get going.”

Both officers head back to citie’s center along with the rest of Beta Squadron, led by their Squadron Commander Captain Keblaomega, the group shares information they learned from spending time in the area as they make their way to the rendezvous.

“Did you guys get the details on the Ishtari? The locals we questioned said these things are bug droids.” asks Neurotictim.

“Yeah, that's what we were told too, and the residents here aren’t too fond of these things coming back every so often.” says Captain Wildfire.

“One of the older ladies we talked to told us that the Ishtari came in swarms suddenly, and that they just started stealing food. She said that when the local enforcement came in to fight buggers off, the Ishtari started opening fire and people ran for cover back into their homes.” says Lieutenant Kyle Nooneman.

“How terrifying” replies Major Jonathan

“Is that all we found out about the Ishtari? My report to Colonel Task is going to be quite sparse given what I've heard from you lot so far…” Keblaomega dejectedly replies.

“Oh! Commander I almost forgot, there was an elderly man we talked to not too long ago, he mentioned something about the Ishtari returning to the moons of Skye, I didn’t even know Skye had moons!” says Lieutenant Tiberius Duck

“Hmm, Skye eh? At any rate, it's a lead I can mention along with the other details gathered. Alright squad, form up, we’ve arrived to the city's center and every one is waiting”

Beta Squadron files in with the other Hammer squadrons, all six squadrons await for Narven Task to speak.

“Everyone listen up, I gather we’ve learned a fair amount of details from the residents here on Parmea. Commanders, I expect a full report on my desk by 0800 of today’s mission. We’re done here, head out back to the shuttle and ready for departure back to the Hammer” orders Task.

“Sir, yes sir!” salutes the brave officers. All crew return to the shuttle awaiting them at the spaceport and the shuttle heads back to the Hammer.