In the depths of space, the Republic frigate Tranquility cruised steadily through hyperspace toward Coruscant, carrying its precious and dangerous cargo.
Inside the vessel, Clone Commander Gree and Captain Argyus of the Senate Commandos maintained their vigilant guard outside the interrogation chamber, where three Jedi Knights and War Machine were conducting their intensive questioning of Nute Gunray.
Luminara spoke with calm authority: "Viceroy, your expression betrays your inner turmoil. I can sense through the Force that you are deeply concerned about the devastating losses this war has brought to your organization."
Nute Gunray shifted nervously in his restraints and replied with unconvincing defiance: "I-I have no idea what you're talking about. These are baseless accusations."
Rhodes studied the Neimoidian prisoner with calculating eyes: "Let me take a guess here. Your wealth, your political power, your industrial resources... you know perfectly well that your allies depend on you because of your financial backing, not because they respect you as a leader or individual."
Gunray suddenly became agitated and emotional: "These are nothing but wild speculation and lies! I am merely an innocent victim caught up in circumstances beyond my control!"
Rhodes rolled his eyes with obvious disdain and replied with meaningful sarcasm: "Right, of course you are—"
Barriss Offee interjected with astute observation: "If you were truly just an innocent bystander, you would have eagerly shared whatever 'insignificant' information you possessed, rather than requiring such an exceptional security detail to escort you back to Coruscant for interrogation."
Luminara pressed the psychological advantage: "So tell us, Viceroy, exactly who are you protecting with your silence?"
Gunray responded weakly, his resolve clearly wavering: "Nothing at all. I know absolutely nothing of value to your Republic."
Ahsoka's patience was evidently inherited from her Master, as she suddenly slammed her hand down on the interrogation table and shouted with frustrated anger: "I've had enough of your pathetic lies and denials!"
She abruptly ignited her lightsaber and held the glowing blade mere inches from Gunray's throat: "Tell us everything you know, or I'll show you what it means to experience real pain."
Nute Gunray gasped in terror and nearly fell from his chair, but before the interrogation could continue, the spacecraft began shaking violently as distant explosions echoed through the hull.
All four interrogators immediately exited the chamber to find Commander Gree establishing contact with the bridge: "Bridge, report! What's our status out there?"
On the Tranquility's command bridge, the duty officer used the control console to steady himself as a squadron of vulture droids bombarded the frigate with coordinated attacks.
"We're under assault by droid fighter squadrons, sir!" came the urgent report.
Meanwhile, outside the Tranquility, the vulture droids harassed the Republic vessel with hit-and-run tactics, drawing defensive fire while clearing approach vectors for the incoming landing craft.
Six Separatist boarding craft successfully penetrated the Tranquility's main hangar bay, immediately disgorging squadrons of super battle droids that began establishing defensive positions.
When Gree received the tactical update from the bridge, he immediately issued orders to prepare the ship's internal defenses.
Dozens of clone troopers grabbed their weapons and rushed toward the hangar bay, some already engaging the mechanical invaders in fierce firefights.
The Republic forces used scattered cargo containers throughout the hangar as improvised cover while exchanging fire with the increasingly numerous super battle droids. Despite their tactical positioning and superior training, the clones were gradually being overwhelmed by the droids' numerical advantage.
Several super battle droids opened fire with their heavy laser cannons, targeting the clone positions behind the makeshift barricades.
One clone trooper shouted a desperate warning: "Take cover!"
Only a handful of clone soldiers reacted quickly enough to avoid the devastating barrage, while a larger group were either directly vaporized by the laser fire or thrown violently through the air by the concussive shock waves.
The Clone Captain contacted Gree with increasing urgency: "Commander Gree, we need immediate reinforcements! The droids are—"
CRASH!
The entire hangar bay shook as something massive struck the deck plating with tremendous force, the impact creating a thunderous echo that reverberated throughout the chamber. Many clone troopers temporarily ceased firing and turned toward the source of the deafening noise.
A gigantic armored figure knelt in the crater he had created in the metal flooring, and when he rose to his full imposing height and surveyed the battlefield around him, he radiated an aura of pure menace and violence. Upon spotting the clone troopers, the creature released a disturbing, predatory laugh and began flexing his armored fingers as he moved forward with deliberate menace.
The massive armored warrior roared with savage satisfaction: "Finally... I have returned to the hunt."
The clone troopers couldn't help but recoil in terror, completely intimidated by this newcomer's explosive entrance and obvious bloodlust.
The armored giant lunged forward with shocking speed, instantly seizing two clone troopers by their throats and slamming them into the deck plating with bone-crushing force, killing them immediately.
The clone captain screamed tactical orders: "All units, open fire!"
Every available clone trooper turned their weapons toward the armored threat and unleashed concentrated blaster fire, but to their horror and disbelief, the energy bolts simply bounced harmlessly off his armor plating. The massive creature stood there smiling with sadistic amusement.
The giant bellowed with bloodthirsty excitement: "Mandalorian clones! Everything you do is utterly futile—you are merely prolonging your inevitable deaths!"
He charged forward, leaped high into the air, and landed directly in the center of a group of clone soldiers. Grabbing one trooper by the arm, he hurled the unfortunate soldier into his comrades like a living projectile. His assault continued as he kicked several more clones with devastating force, each attack accompanied by the sickening sounds of crushing armor and breaking bones.
"Sir, we need reinforcements immediately! There's something here besides B-2 droids, and we cannot hold this position much longer!" the clone captain reported with desperation.
"They need assistance, and they need it now," Rhodes declared, immediately heading toward the hangar bay at maximum speed.
Luminara also spoke with urgent authority: "He's absolutely right. Gree, we're moving to support the hangar defense."
Ahsoka and Barriss prepared to follow, but Luminara stopped them with tactical instructions: "You and Barriss remain here and maintain security on Gunray. I suspect everything happening in the hangar is designed to draw our attention away from our primary objective."
Meanwhile, Rhodes was flying rapidly through the ship's corridors, systematically destroying several squadrons of super battle droids he encountered, relieving pressure on the clone reinforcements heading toward the embattled hangar bay.
Inside the hangar, the beast-like creature continued his methodical slaughter of the clone defenders.
One surviving clone trooper shouted with desperate courage: "Who are you, monster?"
The armored giant paused his rampage and replied with savage pride: "Who am I? I am the living nightmare of all Mandalorians and their genetic offspring. Now the entire galaxy will remember my name once again. I am Durge."
Just as Durge was about to finish off another helpless clone trooper, he was suddenly grabbed by an equally heavily armored figure who lifted him completely off the ground and hurled him against the hangar wall with tremendous force, then immediately targeted him with integrated arm-mounted weapons systems.
Durge raised his arms defensively, initially prepared to laugh at this apparently overconfident challenger, but when he felt several high-velocity projectiles actually penetrating his armor plating, his expression changed dramatically. He began moving with enhanced speed and agility, but War Machine maintained pursuit with relentless determination.
Durge examined the small holes in his previously impenetrable armor and muttered with genuine interest: "How... fascinating." Then he launched himself forward in a direct assault.
Rhodes deployed an energy staff from his armor systems and flew directly toward the charging bounty hunter in aerial combat.
Durge extended both arms, crimson energy spheres forming around his gauntlets as he prepared for close combat.
The two warriors engaged in brutal hand-to-hand fighting, with Rhodes striking at Durge's arms while each impact sent electrical discharge bursts through the bounty hunter's systems, clearly causing him discomfort and system disruption.
Durge quickly stepped backward, reassessing his opponent with newfound respect: "Perhaps I'll tear you out of that impressive armor and add your technology to my own collection."
Rhodes replied with characteristic confidence: "Sorry, but this armor system is biometrically locked to me alone."
Durge roared with fury and seized Rhodes with tremendous strength, hurling him across the hangar bay. The ancient warrior quickly followed up with a devastating punch to Rhodes' chest that sent him crashing into a parked gunship before falling heavily to the deck.
Several clone troopers who had been engaged with B-2 droids rushed over with concern: "Colonel, are you injured? Can you continue fighting?"
Rhodes groaned in pain and struggled to his feet, noting that Durge had used his superior speed and combat experience to disappear from the immediate area. Fighting through his injuries, he issued urgent tactical warnings: "Seal off this entire ship! All personnel stay clear of that bounty hunter—he will kill you without hesitation if you engage him directly."
"But sir, what if he's attempting to rescue the prisoner?" one of the clone troopers asked with obvious concern.
Rhodes realized the tactical implications immediately: "Contact General Unduli immediately. Inform her that we have an extremely dangerous hostile operative aboard this vessel."
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