The war was moving as planned, hundreds of B1 droids ready to match was given the order and dozens of bombers ready to begin their flight.
More droids had been transferred towards the planet to secure its other cities, even if their General had given up on them.
The citizens however could still try and put of a fight which was something they did not want to deal with, a second regiment was brought in tasked with this.
Their arrival helped free up the the first regiment as they could divert all their droids to the battle and quickly end it.
Once word had been received that their forces had successfully withdrawn and regrouped together, the new campaign started.
10 squadrons of hyena bombers were launched at the city, they would move in two waves and once their cargo had been unloaded. The infantry would advance.
This planet had not been built up for a possible military invasion and such proved lacking in vital areas that could even if for a short while, prolong the battle.
With no anti air defenses and fighters to counter the incoming bombers, they left and arrived in full force as they rained death upon the sector.
Buildings tumbled and crumbled in their hundreds, an inferno drowned the cries of the dying and the dead.
Then the order came to advance, armoured units took point on the assault. MIT's were the first in land due to their armour and complement, behind them were the tanks which shall provide constant fire on the move.
Then the infantry came behind them, marching with their blasters untouched. The chaos brought about from the bombing left the defenders unable to mount any conceivable attacks.
It was nothing but a walk and constant death brought about by the shells of the tanks, many broke and ran for their lives.
Fleeing and screaming, but none shall escape for this sector was to be wiped out from the face of this planet for good.
It was already surrounded by droid forces slowly closing the circle, killing anything or anyone they saw.
Tunnels, buildings, holes, bunkers. All were searched and cleared of any living being, it was more of a hunt than a battle.
Once considerable advance into the sector was made, the droid ground infantry were sent out to do their job of combing the area and clearing everything out.
Any place with considereable defense was simply marked and target by either tanks or bombers. Wiped clean off before the droid forces advanced further.
As if to make a point, the main palace of the leading figures of this planets was left in dust and stone. One of the key places marked for bombing Without stop, the planet was taken and now the expansion would begin.
[POV]
High command had received word of the update, which pleased everyone in their own ways. Especially those whom wanted to expand and conquer, they saw this as a step to domination.
Though the news of what the planet really was for left a sense of distate amongst their ranks, a testing ground for weaponary and their forces.
The true purpose of this planet was simply an experimental ground which would not survive past this war. A set of order were sent by the Supreme commander, detailing what to do.
The facilities to set up, the use of the populace for resource extraction and weaponary testing yet the odd things about this was that...those resources were not to be used but rather preserved.
Many wanted to believe it was for their own good, perhaps the Supreme leader wanted to expand their forces after they had finished perfecting strategy, others believed he wanted to send them.
Their resources to the feeble Confederacy to help supplement their own forces which was something they did not take lightly too. Those whom survived the battle were taken and scavenged, many were lost permanently.
This manner of troop replacement was something odd yet recieved well by so many droids. Constant experience and fighting without memory wipe allowed droids to develop a personality trait.
This further created a droid army with a sort of semi sentience as there was a limit to these, those whose memory cores were damaged were lost forever.
[POV]
Jedi General Ki'padmu was left in charge of the fleet and was tasked by the Jedi council to establish their position at this system.
The republic needed a staging ground to not only launch assaults but also prevent the seperatist from moving into the mid rims in the outer rim.
This system was a key point for hyperspace travel with hundreds of ships using this place to enter the mid rims daily, it was also a neutral ground.
Well was, the Jedi managed to convinced them to join with the republic. Which they did not out if loyalty but out if fear of the seperatist allaince since this was one of those systems that profited while other planets suffered.
Cleary those whom would rebel would try to give them payback and so they decided to join the republic. A major force was sent here to defend it.
" Approaching system Cardaku " An officer said aloud.
" Exiting hyperspace in 5, 4, 3.." A countdown begun as the Venator soon reached its destination.
" Picking up multiple Frigates and ship!. " Someone reported as they were soon greeted by the sight of a seperatist fleet.
" Launch Fighters!" General Ki'padmu said aloud as the separatist ships opened fire.
" Venators take point, acclamators should stay in the back. I want out fighters screening out those droid fighter. " He orders as several droid fighters approached them with incredible speed.
" Sir, we are picking up General grevious command ship along with the ship signatures of the seventh fleet.! " Someone reported.
" The seventh, I believed they were reported to be at the other side of this place. They shouldn't be here!" He said suprised at the Information.
" Master, more ships!" His padawan pointed as more seperatist ships jumped into the system.
" Padawan, join the battle and help defend our cruisers!" He said towards his apprentice.
" Yes master" He replied before running towards his fighter.
" Contact the Jedi council. We must inform them of this development. "
" Sir, multiple ships are changing course....their attempting to jump. " A clone officer reported surprised at this development.
Now this seemed to favor them as these ships seemed to withdraw but they were facing the wrong way. Their current flight path was blocked and would cause their navigation system to enact its safety protocols.
But those whom had read about the battles of the 7th fleet felt a sense of dread, this fleet of theirs contained Acclamators with thousands of troops in them.
It only contained supply ships not made for battles like this, prime target for the 7th fleet. Jedi General Ki'padmu had once been in a fleet fighting against them.
" Tell our Acclamators to jump out NOW!!" He screamed.
" Padawan, find the ship transmitting those coordinates to them. It must be neat us. " He said to his padawan over the coms but it was too late, the ships jumped.
With the flash of a second, 5 seperatist Frigates arrived at their backlines, side to side with those Acclamators. Before they could react, dozens more fighters launched from the ships as they themselves begun their true mission
Seperatist Frigates were not made for micro jumps and so the pressure on their hyperdrive would cause it to overload and explode from within thus losing the ship.
But this itself had been turned into a benefit by the 7th fleet, usually fitting such ships with hanger bays and setting them on a crash course.
Once arrived, their simply there to cause chaos and crash into republic ships. Their target were usually Acclamators with huge amounts of machinery and troops in them.
Such loses from said battles were too big for comfort. This fleet in particular was not even expecting a seperatist force to be waiting for them, much less such an aggressive fleet.
The sudden arrival of said ships caused chaos in the republic lines as ships attempted to intercept or get out of the line of fire from their own ships.
The Frigates pushed themselves even as Flames ignited upon them into the acclamators and then it happened, a series of crashes and then explosions utterly decimating whatever ships not strong enough to withstand the blast.
The droid fighters went for the bridges of the republic ships causing several more fighters to try and intercept them leaving them exposed to the main fighter force from the front.
It became less organized and more simply a fight for survival, Grevious cackled at the sight as he pushed his ships forward and sent word to the 36th fleet.
" Follow them" He said in a fit of laughter and coughs.
" All ships, retreat. We are pulling back into republic space immediately. "