What If... Iden Versio Never Defected?

## Synopsis

*Iden Versio, commander of Inferno Squad, never joins the rebel alliance*

## Fan Cast

Janina Gavankar as Iden Versio

TJ Ramini as Del Meeko

Paul Blackthorne as Gideon Hask

Brittany Volcy as Zay Versio... ?

Dan Donohue as Shriv Suurgav

...

## Prologue

After the Battle of Endor, the Imperial Emperor Palpatine is killed, creating a power vaccum. Operation Cinder, also aptly known as a part of The Contingency, is in effect. Operation Cinder uses satellites that produce extremely stormy weather. One of the targets is Iden Versio's homeplanet, the metropolis Vardos. Some agree these civilian casulties are nothing in the grand scheme of things...

## Chapter 1: Avenge our Emperor!

Iden stood in the forest with her squad mates. Something was wrong. She took off her custom-painted helmet, and looked with horror. She saw it first. The Second Death Star, with the Emperor, had exploded. Then, everyone heard it. The distant, deafening, *boom* from miles away. What couldn't be heard from that great distance were the screams of the millions on board the space station, but Iden could sure well imagine it. She knew many stationed there, and quite a lot of perky mouse droids.

## Chapter 2: Return to Vardos and Del's Awakening

Iden had killed a lot of rebels. Without remorse. During Endor and Yavin, above Fondor, and countless other places. Speaking of Fondor, she and her comrades had just successfully stopped the rebel's pathetic attack. They had had to protect the *Dauntless* from this attack, while the Star Destroyer received the new experimental satellites for Operation: Cinder. After the harrowing battle, Del was sent on a quick mission to Pillio to destroy one of the Emperor's personal observatories. It wasn't a mission that needed the full squad. The next one, however, was. Inferno's mission was simple: Extract Gleb from Vardos, before the satellites obliterate the city....

They climbed down the ramp, rain dripping off the sides of the *Corvus,* Inferno Squad's personal light cruiser. Outside, troopers organized in lines, pateintly waiting for something. AT-ATs and the smaller AT-STs headed for the city districts, probably to stifle any uprisings. Iden noted the artillery cannons strategically placed on top of buildings, to ensure civilians don't escape the planet. *Cold,* she thought, *But important. This'll show what the Rebel's actions means for the galaxy. Even if it means civilizations destroyed to demoralize those scum.* Del made a quick glance to her, but with the helmets on, she couldn't tell his expression. Now Hask looked to her, but he gave an affirming nod like he understood, *If he rebels, shoot him*. Above, in the sky with countless swirling storms, Del knew the higher-ups were watching them. And everyone else on this planet, and he knew they relished it. Every scream, sob, and cry for help. And he hated them for that. Del Meeko just couldn't take it anymore, but he clenched his fists and told himself all of it was for a worthy cause; the extermination of few would bring prosperity to many. Iden and Hask both noted the action, but kept moving on. They passed a checkpoint where they were collecting citizens, and most stormtroopers were indifferent.

Some said in a mockingly manner, "No need to worry. You'll all be fine."

Which obviously wasn't true. Under his mask, Gideon Hask silently sneered and put on a twisted smile. He dropped that smile as quickly as he activated it. Looming near was the building Gleb was in; it was time to get to business. As if reading his mind, Iden reminded them they weren't there to view the scenery or take a stroll. "Guys, lock it down. We're almost at the target. Everybody follow the plan, which is get Gleb, and get out. No distractions, and no refugees."

Del didn't like that. "Iden, don't you think this is overkill, cruel, to punish innocent civilians? And the planet too?"

He had stopped, and so had Iden. She turned to stare him under that lifeless mask. "You got a problem with that, Meeko? This was mandated by our Emperor. Good soldiers follow orders. Now I want no more of that Rebel propaganda from you. Stick to the plan, or I *will* shoot."

Del nodded reluctantly. *Not the right time yet.* "Of course, Commander. Just... Want to know what's going on these days."

"We all do, Del. Now, seriously, we have to hurry. Don't want to be standing in a spot that'll be a smoking crater."

The meeting point was a extremely large building. It was grey, red, black, and very dark grey, with a height of at least the *Corvus* standing upright. The doorway was a little too large for a human, but Del supposed it was to accommodate other species. When he walked in, the interior was smaller than he'd imagine. In the center of the room was a beautiful and majestic tree, with green and pink-rose tinted petals. Or, at least, it would have been beautiful, except for all the concrete debris and rubble. Gleb stood there, an Aqualish. The Aqualish species were arachnid-like in appearance, and Gleb had two eyes, instead of the usual four. Upon first glance, Del thought Gleb was a boy. Turns out, she's a she.

"Alright, we have Gleb. Now let's leave," Iden barked.

"Iden, Hask, surely we can't just **LEAVE** these poor people to suffer?"

Hask took off his helmet and so did Iden and Del. Hask looked to Iden, she looked to Del, and he looked to both of them, with shock upon his face that his comrades would let the citizens just die there. Finally, Hask spoke in a chastising manner, as one would to a child.

"Del, no one here is our priority, except for Gleb. No one else," he said, with a shake of the head to add further effect. But Del saw right through that. And through Hask's fake empathy. With the slightest of indication, both Imperial Loyalists raised their blasters and pointed. Pointed their barrels right at Del's traitorous face. But he was ready for that. Del ducked and blasted Gleb straight through her abdomen. To ensure he'd get out, he shot Hask's leg, and Iden's left arm, knocking her blaster from her, landing seven feet away. Meeko, the former Imperial, ushered the people out of that building, and told them to run, run, run. The mob of people was excited, but that happiness was short-lived. Outside were eight, maybe twelve stormtroopers waiting. And each were armed.

## Chapter 3: Refugees

Del was in trouble. Major trouble. Both the Stormtroopers and Del's followers stared at each other for a second, until a trooper shot a civilian close to Del.

"Karabast!," Del yelled. "Everyone, run as fast as you can!"

Del returned the friendly favor of death by lobbing a thermal detonator in the largest cluster of troops, and immedieatly deployed a smoke grenade while he ran in an alleyway. After everybody was accounted for, he closed the gate. Slammed the button hard. That would slow them down. Hopefully.

"Sir, mister sir, thank you for saving us, but there's at least 50 troops over there, accompianed by several AT-ST and AT-AT walkers!," someone said frantically.