"Lord Governor, unauthorized personnel have boarded the ship. Their number is being determined," the tactical droid reported in its flat mechanical tone.
"B'antta po'odo'o!!!" Kamanair Maruk roared, his thin fingers digging into the armrests. "Send the droids to destroy them immediately! Send them, you brainless piles of scrap!"
The Neimoidian collapsed back into his chair, drumming his fingers in agitation. The situation had deteriorated beyond expectations.
Six Republic ships had arrived unexpectedly, smashing through his orbital defenses with humiliating ease. They had deployed troops across a wide front, pressing his positions mercilessly. He had been forced to commit all reserves.
Then saboteurs crippled the anti-air network. Some batteries destroyed, others without power. One of the Republic ships exploited the opening and landed exactly where his defensive grid had thinned.
Worse still — the Republic troops were using captured droids and equipment against him.
Resourceful.
Infuriatingly resourceful.
---
### The Boarding
Our landing on the Separatist vessel went smoothly.
Using the mountain range as cover, we approached almost undetected. By the time the anti-air batteries reacted, we were already inside the hangar. The blast doors had been left open. The shield screens inactive.
Luck — or panic.
I motioned to two captured droid company commanders.
"You. Take your company below decks. Eliminate all droids in your path."
"Roger Roger."
"You. Upper decks. Sweep and distract."
"Roger Roger."
I didn't expect miracles from them — but distractions were useful.
Ethan stepped closer, visor reflecting hangar lights.
"Diversion window estimated at nine minutes, General. After that, internal resistance will consolidate."
"Then we finish before nine," I replied calmly.
Captain Ragnos added, "RC-00-0173 is ready. Grapples primed."
"Move."
Magnetic grappling lines fired upward, biting into the curved hull. We began our ascent toward the command tower.
For Ahsoka and me, the climb was effortless. The Force lightened the body and sharpened balance. The clones followed with disciplined precision.
We reached the tower's base in under three minutes.
My lightsaber ignited — a clean cut through reinforced plating.
We slipped inside.
---
### Interior Assault
Chuck activated the holographic schematic.
"We're here, sir. Target is six levels up."
"Stairs," I said. "We keep momentum."
The corridors were narrow — perfect.
Here, droid numbers meant nothing.
B1s fell in rows.
B2s took longer, but technique and coordination broke them efficiently.
I allowed myself one silent thought:
"As long as there are no droidekas.*
"Attention! Droidekas!"
I exhaled slowly.
"Well. That was inevitable."
The destroyer droids rolled forward, shields flaring to life.
I didn't wait.
The Force surged through me — not wild, not explosive — precise.
A crushing wave slammed into them mid-deployment.
Two were thrown off balance. One crumpled inward under concentrated pressure, its frame imploding. The others hit the floor hard, shields flickering under disrupted stabilization.
"Now!"
Blaster fire struck weakened shield arcs while Ahsoka darted forward with agile precision, slicing through exposed emitters.
Within seconds, the corridor was silent.
Ragnos gave a low whistle.
"Remind me not to stand in front of you, General."
"Good habit," Ethan muttered dryly.
---
### Command Post
We breached the command chamber.
A Neimoidian sat trembling in a lavish chair.
"What an unfortunate face," I thought calmly. "Forgive me, Force."
"In the name of the Republic," I declared, stepping forward, "you are under arrest. Surrender."
He bowed immediately.
Clones secured him.
"Sir," Chuck reported, "explosives are set."
"Then we leave. Ahsoka — with me."
---
### Detonation
We were halfway down the tower when the first muffled explosion shook the structure.
The command center vanished in flame.
Secondary detonations tore apart communications arrays.
Control was gone.
The battlefield would descend into confusion.
Exactly as planned.
# Aftermath Report
Back aboard the *Terminus*, I stood with Ethan and Captain Ragnos reviewing casualties.
"Fifty confirmed dead from the newer regiments," Ragnos reported grimly. "Two hundred wounded. Thirty tanks destroyed — mostly AATs."
"Acceptable losses given the objective," Ethan said quietly. I nodded.
"We held cohesion. That matters."
Ragnos folded his arms.
"Your assault doctrine worked, General. Decapitation strike first. It broke their spine."
"War isn't about destroying everything," I replied. "It's about removing what makes the rest function."
Ethan inclined his head slightly.
"Like Geonosis."
Ragnos glanced at him.
"Is it true, sir? What they say?"
Before I could answer, Ahsoka spoke proudly.
"He was there. At the First Battle of Geonosis. Some commanders called him the 'Mystery Hero.'"
Ragnos raised a brow.
"Oh?"
Ahsoka continued, glowing with pride.
"He protected surrounded Jedi and coordinated counter-attacks when the lines collapsed. Some Republic officers confirmed it. They said the tide turned because of him."
Ethan's voice remained neutral.
"Multiple commanders filed commendations."
I shrugged slightly.
"The Jedi Order and the Chancellor remained silent. They were focused elsewhere."
Politics
Silence often said more than praise.
Ragnos studied me differently after that.
Respect — not blind admiration.
Measured respect.
Spoils of War
We secured what we could before full withdrawal.
Half the captured B1 droids were beyond repair. Only those integrated with clone units remained operational.
The Separatist vessel and its automated factories were rigged for destruction under Master Squater's orders.
Still, Ethan reported success.
"We secured three enemy shuttles. Two C-ROC Gozanti-class light cruisers in cargo configuration — loaded with construction materials and anti-starfighter defense modules."
I allowed a faint smile.
"Enough to refit the Pelta."
"Yes," Ethan confirmed. "We can convert her toward a combat-frigate configuration similar to later Imperial doctrine."
Efficient.
He continued:
"One Sheathipede-class Type B shuttle recovered intact."
That one interested me.
Small. Fast. Discreet.
Useful for operations requiring… independence.
And yes.
During our exit, I trusted my instincts.
An unfortunate Neimoidian's quarters yielded a reinforced wall safe.
Ten million credits.
Uncounted precisely.
War required resources.
### Jedi Council Transmissio
We gathered on the bridge for transmission.
Holograms shimmered to life:
Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.
Master Plo Koon.
Master Shaak Ti.
Master Kit Fisto.
Master Squater bowed deeply and explained the operation.
I added casualty summaries and structural damage assessments.
"For now, return to Va'aart," Ki-Adi-Mundi instructed. "Patrol the Perlemian Trade Route. Pirate activity has increased."
Of course it has.
Shaak Ti added, "Reinforcements will be dispatched. New clone units. Cadets for field training. Supplies and updated equipment."
Cadets. Children grown in accelerated vats.
War does not pause for youth.
"I understand," I replied calmly.
Before the transmission ended—
"Master Plo!" Ahsoka blurted.
Plo Koon tilted his head.
"Little Ahsoka? What are you doing there?"
"I'm Padawan to Knight Dagon Marek!"
There was a brief silence.
"I see," Plo said gently. "When you return to the Temple, come speak with me."
Her joy was immediate and radiant.
After the holograms faded, I gave her a look.
"What?"
"Nothing, Dust," I replied lightly.
She flushed faintly but pretended not to hear the nickname.
Our farewell to Master Squater was brief. His responsibilities were immense.
We did not linger.
The ice planet faded behind us as the *Terminus* entered hyperspace.
The war moved on.
And so did we.