Tol Ado is a cavity in the starlit curtain of space. It is a swarth, somber world entombed in layer after layer of coal-colored clouds. It is a swirling black absence where stars should shine instead it is, at last, the ultimate heart of darkness.
Sebastian Parnell has chosen his prison world well. So black are its clouds that they swallow the light from the system’s weak orange sun and assimilate it like a blackfruit digests a nectarsect. The sight of the prison planet sucks away light. The closer a traveler ventures, the more he fears he has reached at last that dark place of legend – that dark place from which no soul escapes.
Tol Ado seems suitably sinister to Luke. He expects no less of Parnell’s cruelty. The empire places such value on crushing spirit that the mere fact that such a black planet exists guarantees it lies under Imperial control. But Luke has faced the dark heart of the Empire before, and he knows it can be illuminated. If he has his way, before long he will open a pinhole in Tol Ado’s black cowl.
A system of over 100 evenly spaced orbital stations hangs above the planet. Tiny double-winged balls flit from station to station, their exhaust flames creating streamers that look like nothing so much as a silk web. Were it not so menacing, the satellite system might be beautiful contrasted against Tol Ado’s clouds.
Gideon pilots the scow to the largest of the stations, located directly over the planet’s north pole. A rudely efficient voice guides them into a docking bay on the far side of the station. When they finally step off the scow’s entrance ramp, an armed stormtrooper greets them.
“Form a line at the entrance,” he says, pointing at a bulkhead. A dozen other creatures already stand there, nervously awaiting the start of the next tour. Three “Squid-heads,” properly known as Quarren, stand at the head of the line. The humanoid Quarren have leathery skin, turquoise eyes, and fingers with suction-cups. Their heads resemble four-tentacled squids – hence the nickname many spacefarers prefer.
Behind the Squid-heads stand seven members of a Stictex family. The Stictex are not even vaguely humanoid. they have eight legs, any two of which they can stand upon. A shiny carapace covers the back of their cylindrical bodies, and a set of lacy wings protrudes from a slot in the center of the carapace. To a human, their heads are disgusting – and there is simply no other way to describe them. A dozen optic nerves protrude on short, prehensile stalks at all angles from the skull. Six finger-length slits serve as a nose, while a pair fo fully articulated pincers protrude from a jagged maw.
A Twi’lek male and female stand three meters behind the Stictex, their skull tentacles intertwined in an expression of affection. They both smile in anxious anticipation of the tour.
As soon as Luke and his friends assume their places in line, the bulkhead door opens. An Imperial officer addresses the group.
“In the name of Governor-General Sebastian Parnell, greetings. This exhibit has been prepared to educate citizens regarding the consequences of criminal activity in this sector of the Empire. I am Lieutenant Salva, your guide for this tour. Follow me.”
He leads the way into an observation room looking directly down on the black planet. “As you may have noticed, Tol Ado is buried at all times by heavy cloud cover. These clouds contain a mixture of hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfate, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals generally fatal to most life-forms. Aside from its poisonous atmosphere, the planet also possesses another unpleasant feature – a surface temperature of approximately 477 degrees Celsius. This is hot enough to melt some soft metals. In addition, the atmospheric pressure is ten times that on most habitable planets – enough to crush an individual of almost any species. Needless to say, escape from the prison facilities to the planet surface is an impossibility. Follow me.”
He walks into the next exhibit, which contains a holographic display of the planet’s satellite system. “The planet is shielded by a system of 124 orbital sensor stations. Each station guards a designated sector against unauthorized entry or exit. In case someone is foolish enough to penetrate this screen, each station houses on TIE starfighter. We can easily swarm an attempted breach at any point. Follow me.”
The next exhibit is a reproduction of a cell. “Tol Ado consists of 1,400,036 cell-blocks. Each cell-block contains 4000 cells identical to this one.” He opens a durasteel door, then shines a hand-held light inside. “Each cell is precisely three meters long and two meters wide. It contains a bunk such as this -” he shines the light on a sheet of metal suspended from the wall. “As you can see, toilet facilities are located next to the head of the bunk. We do not waste valuable energy lighting cells for prisoners. In order to prevent blindness, each prisoner may open the cover of this 50 square-centimeter grate for two hours out of every 20.”
“Nice touch,” says the female Twi’lek. Both she and the male giggle.
Lieutenant Salva ignores the comment. “Through this access panel,” he points to a thin slot in the bottom of the door, “a Droid serves one balanced meal per day. Follow me.”
The next exhibit is a holograph of a supply barge in a docking bay. “Some of you may have already calculated that we have nearly six billion cells on Tol Ado. At present, we are 90% occupied. This requires a great deal of logistical support. On the surface, we have housing for over 2,000,000 stormtrooper squadrons, 3,000 equipment shops, 10,000 supply docks to accept supplies from our depot on 76, 095 Poe . . .” Salva continues to drone statistics designed to impress the casual tourist with the efficiency of Imperial incarceration on Tol Ado.
At length, the tour ends and the group returns to the docking bay. The Quarren appear uncomfortable – disappointed or possibly frightened. The Twi’leks smile and laugh, apparently having enjoyed themselves a great deal, and who can say what the Stictex feel? Luke climbs back aboard Gideon’s scow.
“What do you think?” Gideon asks.
“There must be a way in,” Luke says.
“Getting in’s easy,” Gideon chuckles. “Just tell them who you are. I reckon getting out’s the tough part.”
Perhaps we could stowaway aboard the supply barge,” Sidney suggests. “We know where the depot is.”
Gideon snorts. “And how are you going to find Erling once you’re inside?”
Artoo whistles confidently.
Gideon eyes the Droid with a mixture of malice and astonishment. “All right, then. Even if you find him, how are you going to get out? With your ship, you’re better off to fight your way in; at least if you make it you’ll know you can fight your way out.”
“May the Force preserve us from the bloodthirsty fool,” Sidney murmurs.
“You got any better ideas?” the prospector demands.
If Luke fights his way into Tol Ado in the X-wing, Click Here
If Luke stows away aboard a supply shuttle, Click Here
If Luke allows himself to be captured, Click Here