emile fischer

Ryptid: Remember

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[Child of the Empire, stand up and step out of line. Head held high, back straight, and heart pure. Leave fear behind, and walk towards your glory, towards the promise of a better world.

Wear our colours, sing our anthem and transmit our values wherever you go, because the path that awaits you is rough and wild. Wherever the mission takes you, our banner will cover you, and when you fight chaos for order, you'll know who you're burning out for. You will remember your son, your daughter, your bride, your mother,  ̶t̶o̶n̶ ̶p̶è̶r̶e̶ and his ancestors, watching you at all times. You will remember Dromund Kaas, his people, and every being who smiled tenderly at you. You will remember your Emperor, to whom you owe your full salvation, and who will remember you. Whatever your battalion, your motivation or your assignment, he will look at you and love you like a son.

And if you die, in the face of the pernicious enemy, you will die in the glory and honor of a worthy child of the Empire. But while waiting for this intoxicating day, get up and join your rank. Head held high, back straight, and heart pure. 'Cause you know who you cry and bleed and fall for. And only when you know what you are fighting for can you hope for victory.

Glory to the Empire  !

- Office of the Military Offensive -]

[ Tommas Ryptide's logbook – Intelligence Student – Dorn Division ]

[Page 3]

Raxus II, day 2

Since my departure from the capital I have this heavy feeling that follows me. I should be used to it, but here, given the circumstances, it's heavier. The men look at me. They don't bother, don't even pretend to ignore me. They stare at me, threatening, hateful. The aliens here aren't just the freaks, they're the cowards, the poisons, the traitors… especially a young student like me, I imagine. All because of my blue skin.

Writing this little diary will help me in my reports to the Academy. The details of Ryloth and Quesh eluded me, which affected my grade last semester. Anyway, the 1st month on this strange rock promises to be friendly. I'm assigned to Dorn Division this time, so the flames and screams of the action will be distant. (In Aurek Division, it was hot.) Which means more time with the comrades, the very ones who seem to want to spit in my face at any moment. Even though they're almost twice my size, they shouldn't lay hands on me. But I'm not immune to nasty pranks and humiliations. Like last month.

There are still two or three other students with us. Human, but also small compared to the soldiers, who are filled with chaos every day on the front. They are not all good people, but they do their duty, and it is to help them that we are at their side. And to learn. They are the future heroes of our civilization, and we must bring them food, ammunition and mail. One day, long after all these less heroic but yet essential tasks, it will be up to us, future heroes, to hold the gun, the blaster and the standard.

For my free time, I didn't bring anything. In the evening, I will sometimes write in this diary, when I have time. And as far as reading is concerned, I will content myself with this map of our dear office of the Military Offensive. It's well written. A word in the center does not please me, but otherwise I recognize myself there.

Today day visit, orientation and installation, tomorrow, we join the front. I better sleep. The shells rumble far, far away from the base. I have to take advantage of it.

[Page 4]

Raxus II, day 5

Me complaining about the rations on Quesh. How can you do worse than food served on a poisoned planet  ? I already miss the mess halls of Kaas. Even an energy pudding bar would be a delight on the side. Here everything is bland, gray, smeared with mud and carelessness. And yet the soldiers line up. They don't seem to fear my chiss venom anymore. They are hungry, and what I serve them every day seems to be the most delicious part of their day.  : Potato porridge from Fenell's ridge, or as it's called here, Po'ridge …nothing to do with this other dish.

I have already made a few acquaintances to my great surprise. From the second day at the front, a student,  ̶d̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶j̶'̶a̶i̶ ̶o̶u̶b̶l̶i̶é̶ ̶l̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶  <Eyrix, called out to me. We chatted for a while – he seems in accordance with all my principles, a serious and good-natured boy, at first sight – then he introduced me to his friends. One of them is a perch who seems optimistic at all times, another is younger, small and shy, he will have to be pushed a little, and the last is a stutterer. They are not from DK, but they all look correct... On the soldiers' side, I had a little discussion with cadet Skyld, who seems to me a good model for my report... and I met Bog, a very repulsive man. The very cliché of the brute without honor. Against guys like him  : eyes on the ground and rage in the pocket.

Not a lot of action yet, just serve the porridge to the soldiers who come back whole...and "dispossess" those who come back in porridge. All of their property reverts to the Empire. Except for high-rankings with an approved override in their vest. We have seen the masterpieces of war, the abstract paintings of their deformed faces, the improbable scars, the temporary prostheses, although original and sometimes creative.

One of the soldiers is crazy. Nothing is broken except his spirit. He wanders around at night, mumbles, cries, trembles and clutches his arms, his gaze as empty as a blind man. Sometimes the greatest sufferings are not visible to everyone. I hope I never end up like him. …No chance.

[Page 5]

Raxus II, day 11

skyld is awesome  ! I will value him as the hero he is during my report for the Academy. He takes me under his wing when I have free time in the evening, and gives me lots of advice on how to become a sniper. I think that's my way. It's fascinating  ! He let me try his old STK-20 sniper rifle against helmets salvaged from the craters. Once away from the camps, in a nearby forest, I can train without fear. The Major would not approve…  :) but he will thank me one day. When I'm as good as Skyld  !

Skyld is a good man, about sixty years old max, gray hair, short, pissed off, worse than no man's land. His lean, burly face has seen so much. He tells me so well.  ̶S̶i̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶r̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶t̶e̶r̶n̶e̶l̶ ̶a̶v̶a̶i̶t̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶a̶ ̶p̶e̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶r̶a̶c̶o̶n̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶a̶ ̶v̶i̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶ ̶m̶ê̶m̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶ç̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶a̶u̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶u̶ ̶d̶e̶ ̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶t̶a̶n̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶l̶e̶ç̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶e̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶r̶r̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶…̶ ̶p̶e̶u̶t̶-̶ê̶t̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶u̶r̶i̶o̶n̶s̶-̶n̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶p̶u̶ ̶n̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶e̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶r̶e̶.̶ ̶A̶u̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶u̶ ̶d̶e̶ ̶ç̶a̶,̶ ̶j̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶v̶i̶e̶n̶s̶ ̶q̶u̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶ ̶p̶o̶i̶n̶g̶s̶,̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶ ̶g̶i̶f̶l̶e̶s̶ ̶e̶t̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶u̶m̶i̶l̶i̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶.̶ ̶E̶t̶ ̶c̶'̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶r̶è̶s̶ ̶b̶i̶e̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶e̶ ̶ç̶a̶.̶ ̶Q̶u̶'̶i̶l̶ ̶p̶o̶u̶r̶r̶i̶s̶s̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶n̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶ ̶h̶a̶i̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶q̶u̶'̶à̶ ̶s̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶t̶.̶ ̶C̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶û̶t̶o̶n̶ ̶s̶a̶n̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶l̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶n̶e̶

Eyrix and I often chat too. His friends - Jo (the perch), Lev (the little one) and Kkkkk-Kwellin - are often sent elsewhere. He wants to join the Navy. He dreams of flying over Coruscant and being the last person able to do so. "  Soar above the flames and smoke with a smile on your face.  as he says. His brother died in one of the bombings on Ord Radama (to be informed) 4 years ago. These dogs deserve the assault we're preparing for them here tomorrow morning.

Bog the colossus is getting into the habit of pushing me around in the trench. I can not answer. He fights well, they say, but he's a puff. I really don't like the way he plays with the tip of his cutlass, staring at me. But he does that with everyone. He overtakes the whole line for the meal, and almost grabbed me by the collar when I told him that I had to serve him an equal portion to the others. Luckily the major was not far away.

Otherwise everything is exciting. Mentor, colleagues, future, experience… I find everything I need here. I look forward to the onslaught...

[Page 9]

Raxus II, day 28

Today, during our round to pick up the bodies, I moved away from the group a little. Arrived at a swamp below the battlefield, I found a soldier, one of ours. He had been stuck in a pile of brambles, probably for days. He was missing a hand, and had received a blow in the chest. But he stood there, kneeling in the mud, his arms and throat tied by the brambles, and stared at me without saying a word. He was alive, but barely breathing. I can't tell if he was clinging to life, or if he was just waiting for death... I left him there. I went back up to join the others, and I helped them with their corpses. He couldn't be saved. take his life  ? show mercy  ? I don't think that's what he really wanted. Suffering is basically natural. It is pain that reminds us that we are alive. That's the beautiful difference between us and our droids.

Eyrix found the lightsaber that one of our sith lost. He is quite proud. Unfortunately, we are too young to receive promotions. We are just students after all, here to learn and serve. Eyrix amuses me. On the way back, he practiced bending the knee to return the sword to its owner with dignity. He must not tell the major, or he will take all the honors in his place. This fat stingy would not be embarrassed. Besides, yesterday he appointed Skyld ensign. It's more than deserved. And me on my side, I'm starting to do really well with a sniper rifle. One kilometer range to be tested soon  ! Too bad, I could have helped in the fight. Instead, it's Po'ridge, ammo, delivery, and pick up + dispossession of stiffs. (I was still able to keep a beautiful little blaster all to myself. A real gem.)

Finally… the month is almost over, in two days we are going home. Work sitting behind our desk at the Academy. And in a month, we all come back more motivated than ever  !

[Page 11]

Racksuck II, month 2, day 1

It's party  ! As soon as we return to Racksuce, our division has won. We pierced their line they backed off-------->  loiiiiiiiiiiiin in their trench, but we won't stop the  ! We're going to crush them even more tomorrow, but cesouar is the PARTY . Normally we're not allowed to drink but I missed Skyld so much he gave us a bottle of water… shhhhhhhhhhhhht_________, it's not water even if it's marked. We finished it with Eyrix and the  ̶a̶u̶t̶r̶e̶s̶.̶ ̶A̶ ̶l̶a̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶u̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶i̶e̶u̶ ̶in the evening Kkkkk-Kwellin hit me I don't know why… I didn't say anything, it's true and more. I like it I like them all it's  my brothers. child  ̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶i̶o̶l̶o̶g̶i̶q̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶i̶ ̶f̶a̶ç̶o̶n̶ ̶d̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶l̶e̶r̶  ̶t̶  nope. Oh no..            my      beaten     the other       day   with   his belt I didn't feel anything hahaha I don't care about that chatuouilyai. Now he is liiiiiiiiiiiiin. Mom  ̶A̶n̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶e ̶m̶'̶a̶ ̶d̶i̶t̶ ̶ "̶t̶o̶m̶m̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶u̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶n̶a̶n̶ ̶j̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶r̶a̶p̶p̶e̶l̶e̶e ̶p̶l̶ He took the second lieutenant's place when the second lieutenant stepped on a mine. Why did he do that  ? It's stupid (to fill in))) [illegible scribbled word] but  ̶m̶a̶i̶n̶t̶e̶n̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶c̶'e̶s̶t̶ ̶S̶k̶y̶l̶d̶ ̶l̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶s̶-t̶l̶i̶e̶a̶u̶n̶t̶ <already said HAH I'm burned________

Good night Thomas <3

[Page 12]

Raxus II, month 2, day 2

Aftermath of a monumental binge. My memories are very fuzzy, but falling back on my notes from last night made me laugh. To be kept preciously… Rather quiet day. I have a headache and I have a black-rimmed eye but the worst part is my stomach. No idea what was in that bottle.

It's getting dark, I'm lying in the infirmary, camp Xesh, waiting for the pills to take effect. The nurse is charming. She keeps my condition a secret. The major could have sent me home if he was only able to walk here. He drank more than the four of us, she told me. The progress of the Republic was almost nil today, we are not stopping hostilities for all that.

Lev and Jo were leaving the infirmary when I entered. Same condition, but Jo pretended to be in great shape. Even the day we bury him he will have a smile on his face. Lev gave me a hug, I have no idea why. He must take me for a big brother, I let him. He's sensitive… I'm also going to have to apologize to Kwellin, or he apologizes to him, I don't really know… And at noon, Bog acted up again. He strangled a guy in the middle of a meal. They had to be separated. Yesterday hurt a lot of people I imagine.

Earlier, a man came to bring back to the capital a few wounded whom he had meticulously selected. A tall, rather pale, bald man in a long white shirt. In view of the look on the wounded, a lot of rumors are spreading. Medical experiments, weird stuff… But I don't believe it. War makes you paranoid, it's well known. In the next bed, a man had his left foot stitched up. He is asleep, but his leg protrudes from the still red sheet. I'm not even sure it's his own foot. The work was sloppy, but here we are, we lack the means. It will replace a prosthesis… maybe. Also, the medical droid broke down a few days ago. His body is sitting, tired, in the corner of the white tent. He stares at me with his three round eyes, like the corpse of the soldier with brambles… But my stomach is already better.

[Page 15]

Raxus II, month 2, day 6

Bog got what he deserved. After pushing me around once too often, I decided to act, for my own conscience. I went to the nurse with a special, somewhat awkward request, and at noon, I mixed a ton of laxative into that bully's Po'ridge. He lost all dignity at the first shell that fell, before he even left the trench. Now he's the laughing stock of his division, and doesn't even suspect me. Eyrix kissed my hand when he found out. We spent the rest of the afternoon chasing womps from the kitchen and laughing.

Skyld then took me on a speeder ride through a remote canyon. I have made tremendous progress in shooting, and it is only thanks to him. I will be ahead next year, on Kaas. I owe him so much. He appreciates me for who I am, and supports me more than anyone ever has. When I am a hero for my people, prejudices will have no place. That's what he told me.

However, when we returned, it was already dark, and the major called out to us. He picked me up by the collar with his cybernetic arm and inspected me like a gorog would his prey. I could see in his eyes the scarlet glint of mine, and the rejection he felt for them. Then he raised his voice to Skyld, who couldn't face him for too long. I saw in my mentor's eyes that he was going to do something to the Major that he would soon regret, so he did well to contain himself. It wasn't worth it. And then in a way the Major was right. No privileges with students. But two steps further, Skyld gave me this wink... The one that only means one thing  : Do not listen to him. Tomorrow we go back.

Finally, when I went back to my tent, after working late at the dish for three hours, I ran into the nurse again. She was so nice, I invited her inside for a hot drink. We talked all night… She's a beautiful young woman, so sweet, so caring, but strong. That she was a dozen years older than me didn't stop us from having fun.

[Page 22]

Raxus II, month 2, day 17

Reinforcements are here  ! We were all starting to worry little by little, but they happened. A chariot full of new soldiers, three fresh walkers, and five Sith Lords. The Republic better watch out. She had quite a head start for some time, but these monsters will quickly understand. They deserve no pity.

Lev came back... He left early yesterday morning, for a patrol with his group, recovering ammunition from the ground, and no one saw him come back. Then today, at the end of the afternoon, our men found him, wandering alone on no man's land, his right arm amputated. He spent the night with those damn dogs, who had to sew him up like the barbarians they are. They may have tortured him… He doesn't speak to us anymore, his eyes are livid, as if he had seen death over there. They probably released him to get a message across... or out of fear of keeping a sensitive hostage. I imagine it was his father who offered us the reinforcements. To find him. His father is someone important if I understood correctly. A great general, with the reputation of a butcher. So much the better. I hate our enemy. I hate him with strength  !

Right now I'm sitting in the mud, with my back to the camp that lights up the dark night, facing the roar of lightsabers, cannons and bombs that echo a few kilometers away. I see the red, orange, yellow lights piercing through the darkness, the fog and the lie on the side of the Republic. Let them ALL die. May our flames finally reveal to the galaxy the evil of which they are capable, as well as the arrogance and hypocrisy of which they display.

What a strange evening. In my anger, I remember my father's words, at the first meals when he came home. I finally feel the same burning passion, the same fire whose words I could only hear crackle in his mouth. Everything for which my parents prepared me with vigor, this resentment to correct me at all times, to push me to be the perfect model of the Empire… I would never be grateful enough to them. At the end of the trip, my father did what he had to do, and I was arrogant to deny him in every aspect. We are connected on this point, and I will remember it…

He is the worst of good men.

[Page 32]

Raxus II, month 2, day 29

My second month is almost over on Raxus, and I don't know with what  ̶f̶o̶r̶c̶e̶ motivation I will manage to come back for my third. I want to go home, I want to meditate, and above all, I want to be away from all this history. Away from this pain, and this rage.

Skyld is gone. My old friend, my mentor, for whom I had so much affection, respect, admiration… was an agent of the Republic. He played us from the start. Just two days ago, he had just been promoted to lieutenant. For saving the major's life. One more heroic act, before the ultimate revelation. Our spies saw him, armed with his shotgun, shoot down the two soldiers who were accompanying him for the talks, and join General Mon Calamari opposite. We think he gave them all kinds of information about us, our stocks, our numbers, our tactics, everything… and then he left the planet. It is because of him that the enemy was often one step ahead.

I feel empty.

[torn footer]

[Page 34]

Raxus II, month 3, day 32

While I'm packing up my things, and getting ready to join the others to climb into the tanks that will take us back to town, to finally take off from Raxus Secundus for good, I come across you… little brown notebook, forgotten in my bag.

I think back to what I've been through here, the experience I've had, the knowledge I've acquired and the lessons I've learned. I remember the best days, as well as the worst times. Of my friends, those who die, those who remain, and those who are long gone. I remember the Major, whom my report will praise. I remember the mud, the Po'ridge and the sweat, but also the treasures, the laughter and the fun that went with them. I remember the courage of the men forged by this conflict, marching proudly through adversity, and the patriotism singing in our ranks on peaceful nights. I can't forget the loathing branded in our minds, the cowards and traitors who let us down.

And when I finally read this sweet letter from the Office of the Military Offensive, I remember why I fight, and I will fight, every day of my life, until my last breath.

I love Empire. I love the values, family and friends he gave me. I love its anthem, its colors and its supreme leader. And thanks to him, thanks to the Empire, I love myself, because I know that one day I will be essential to him. No matter the race, branch or generation, one day I will rise, and my people, forever happy and grateful, will be proud.

Glory to the Empire  !

Tommas Ryptid

[Page 35]

Year 12 ATC, 15 years later…

PS  :

Today I was promoted to Lieutenant Ryptide. Higher than my father ever was, more worthy than Skyld will ever be. I look forward to meeting you on the battlefield, my old friend. 'Cause I know you're still waiting for me there. The monster you helped create in spite of yourself is getting impatient….