The rain on Jabiim never stopped.
Gray clouds hung low over the plateau while endless sheets of water turned the surrounding plains into seas of mud. Lightning—if it could even be called that—flashed in strange blue arcs as ion discharges crawled across the sky.
Despite the hostile weather, the base had risen with astonishing speed.
The **HEX construction droids** had worked without pause for nearly twenty hours. Their massive multi-jointed limbs hammered stone, carved trenches, and erected defensive structures with relentless mechanical precision.
From above, the base now resembled a giant geometric fortress.
Six enormous **hexagonal sectors** formed the core of the defensive complex.
Each hexagon was surrounded by thick stone walls reinforced with durasteel plating. Deep trenches cut between them, wide enough for armored vehicles to pass through—and deep enough that even an **AT-TE walker** could stand inside for cover.
The trenches themselves were layered with stone, not just dirt. The engineers had copied a defensive structure I had once studied in Earth's history—something similar to the **Brest Fortress**.
Layered defense.
Kill zones.
Crossfire corridors.
Every hexagon had its own defensive towers equipped with:
* heavy laser turrets
* anti-air cannons
* point-defense blasters
* shield projectors
The towers were linked by elevated firing platforms and underground passages.
At several points along the walls stood armored hangar gates—hidden beneath thick slabs of stone.
Below those gates waited the **Juggernaut assault vehicles**.
Each hangar contained concealed **hydraulic hatches** that could open within seconds, allowing the massive vehicles to surge out onto the battlefield almost instantly.
Further beyond the inner hexagons, the captured **CIS construction walker droids** continued their work.
Huge mechanical cranes lifted stone blocks into place while engineering clones supervised their programming.
Rows of **TX-9 Phalanx IFVs** and **Saber tanks** were parked inside the protected sectors.
Several AT-TE walkers stood partially buried within the trench network, their massive cannons aimed outward like watchful predators.
The base had transformed the plateau into a fortress.
A fortress designed to survive a siege.
---
Inside the command Juggernaut, the tactical display glowed softly.
Sumeragi studied the holographic projection.
"The hexagon sectors are fully operational," she reported. "All trench networks completed. Turret towers are online."
"How many defensive emplacements?" I asked.
"Two hundred and forty-six turrets," she replied. "And thirty anti-air towers."
Mirro whistled quietly.
"That's a lot of firepower."
"Good," I said.
Ahsoka leaned over the table.
"Do you think they'll attack soon?"
"They will."
She looked surprised.
"You sound very certain."
I pointed toward the storm outside.
"Because they already tried."
---
### Orbit Above Jabiim
Far above the storm clouds, the Republic fleet maintained its silent watch.
The flagship **Terminus** floated at the center of the formation.
Its massive hull bristled with weapon systems.
One of the most dangerous among them was the **F-SPAR spinal cannon**, a heavy energy weapon capable of tearing through cruiser armor in a single strike.
Commander Ragnos stood on the bridge watching the sensor screen.
"General Dagon is entering the storm again," an officer reported.
Ragnos shook his head.
"I still don't understand how he does that."
---
### Jabiim Atmosphere
Flying through Jabiim's ion storms was suicide.
Navigation systems malfunctioned.
Sensors failed.
Electrical surges fried ship electronics.
Even experienced pilots avoided it.
But to me…
It felt familiar.
Years ago—back on Earth—I had flown fighters through nuclear ion storms during the war against Skynet.
Compared to those hellish electromagnetic maelstroms, Jabiim's storms felt almost predictable.
Almost.
The Force helped as well.
I could feel the invisible currents around the fighter.
My small interceptor glided between lightning arcs as if the storm itself parted to let it pass.
The storm clouds roared around me.
Yet the cockpit remained calm.
"Still got it," I muttered quietly.
---
### Surface Command Center
Back at the fortress, Ahsoka crossed her arms impatiently.
"He's been flying in that storm for two hours," she said.
Mirro shrugged.
"That's General Dagon."
"That's insane," she replied.
Sumeragi didn't look up from her console.
"Technically both statements are true."
---
### Separatist Command
On another world, far from Jabiim, a furious voice echoed through a holographic chamber.
Alto Stratus stood before the projection of
Count Dooku.
"Count Dooku!" Stratus shouted angrily. "The Republic has landed troops on Jabiim! And right now there are no CIS ships nearby to stop them!"
Dooku remained calm.
"My friend, I never imagined they would attempt such an audacious maneuver."
Stratus slammed his fist against the console.
"You sent a fleet!"
"Yes."
"And now it's gone!"
Dooku's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The fleet was… intercepted."
"Intercepted?" Stratus repeated. "Your ships crashed into the planet! One of your frigates fell near **Golm City**!"
The holographic display behind him showed burning wreckage scattered across the outskirts of a massive city.
Civilians were fleeing in panic.
"My citizens are dying because of *your* fleet!"
Dooku clasped his hands behind his back.
"I will dispatch reinforcements immediately."
Stratus sneered.
"That would be wise."
Dooku changed the subject.
"How many Republic troops have landed?"
"Not many," Stratus said with a dismissive snort. "Perhaps forty or fifty thousand at most."
Dooku nodded slightly.
"Then you have nothing to fear."
He smiled faintly.
"You possess excellent warriors. And the battle droids we supplied are numerous."
Stratus's expression hardened.
"You're certain of that?"
"You will crush them quickly."
Stratus leaned closer to the hologram.
"In the future, Count… I would prefer not to see such *incidents* again."
Dooku's smile widened slightly.
"Undoubtedly, my friend."
His voice carried a quiet warning beneath the politeness.
"Undoubtedly."
The transmission ended.
Dooku remained standing in silence for a moment.
Then he spoke softly to the shadows behind him.
"Prepare the hunters."
Because somewhere on Jabiim…
A Jedi had already begun to complicate the war.
---