@pxdme
His intelligence had suggested that there was a Rebel cell in Coronet on the planet of Corellia. Normally, Vader would have dispatched one of his agents to deal with it, as he had more important matters to attend to, such as finding Skywalker before his Master did. However, the intelligence also suggested that Luke Skywalker was with them. Naturally, Vader led the ensuing raid himself.
The Rebels were poorly trained, and easily defeated by his Legion. He was determined to interrogate them, so he left as many of them alive as he possibly could. In addition, he had his stormtroopers round up the citizens foolish enough to get caught up in the battle, and ordered them to send them to prison camps while he scoured the city for any sign of his son.
Defeating the Rebellion against the Empire, which was the mission the Emperor had given him, was an afterthought. All Vader cared about was finding his son, at any cost. Perhaps, once he did, he could train him to be stronger than Palpatine was, strong enough to help him defeat him. Then everything would be…perhaps not how it should have been, but close—closer than it was now. Maybe then his conscience would find some shattered semblance of peace.
He couldn’t bring Padmé back, nor could he ever atone for how he’d wronged her, but he could protect their son—if only he could get him to see reason, to join him. Surely when he found him, they would—
“Lord Vader.”
He turned to face the officer, whose jackboots snapped together as he saluted him. “Yes, Captain, what have you to report?” his modulated voice demanded impatiently.
“We’ve searched the city and the surrounding area…there’s no trace of Skywalker.”
His mechanical fists clenched beneath his gloves, and beneath his mask, Vader gritted his teeth in frustration. So he had slipped through his grasp once more.
“My troops are awaiting your orders, sir.”
“Burn everything—every building, every house, every vehicle. I won’t have any of this used by the Rebellion. Bring the prisoners to me—I’ll interrogate them personally.”
“Yes, milord. You heard Lord Vader, men. Torch everything.”
It was nothing more than an act of vengeance--the homes that would be destroyed had no military use to either the Empire or the Rebellion, but he was long past caring about auxiliary damage. As far as he was concerned, these people were standing between him and the boy, and their fates meant nothing to him.
