One of Sodarra’s troopers approaches Han and Sodarra. With him is a wounded snowtrooper.
Sodarra’s trooper addresses Han and Sodarra simultaneously. “According to the prisoner, his squad stumbled onto us. The main force, consisting of two blizzard force snowtrooper companies with two AT-AT walkers, does not yet know our location. His patrol is expected back in thirty-six hourse. After that time, we can expect aerial reconnaissance. At the moment, Vellam is concentrating the aerial search near the main force, some two valleys and forty kilometers away.”
“Very good, Lieutenant Birdloe,” Sodarra says. “You may release the prisoner.” How Sodarra tells one of his trooper from another, Han does not know. This one stands just shy of two meters tall. Other than that, he is merely an anonymous voice in white armor.
Birdloe points the man toward the far wall of the valley. “You may walk that way. Do not turn back while we occupy this valley.”
The snowtrooper nods, as if in thanks, and starts walking across the ice field.
“Do you think that’s smart?” Han asks.
“Of course,” Sodarra responds. He nods to the lieutenant, who draws his blaster pistol and aims at the snowtrooper’s back. Han gasps as Birdloe pulls the trigger. The bolt strikes the snowtrooper in his right leg. He falls screaming.
“Why’d you do that?” Han demands.
“Because it was smart,” Sodarra replies. The prisoner starts dragging himself away.
Han moves forward to help the man, but Sodarra holds out a retraining hand. “He’ll never survive out here with a leg wound!” Han objects.
“No, he won’t,” Lt. Birdloe says. He aims his blaster and fires again. This time, the bolt finishes the snowtrooper.
“That’s cold-blooded murder!” Han spits. He turns to attack Birdloe, but Chewbacca quickly restrains him.
“Would you rather he reported our position?” Sodarra asks. “In any case, a traitor’s life is of no consequence.”
“Eeeoorgh!” Chewbacca growls, still restraining Han.
Han calms down immediately. “I thought you were deserters,” he says to Sodarra.
“I meant a traitor to sentient freedom,” Sodarra answers without a trace of embarrassment. “Old habits die hard, you know.”
“I guess,” Han responds warily.