Hyperspace
Near Planet Vheradon
Republic Cruiser Resolute, Bridge
As the blue and black streaks of hyperspace flew past the viewports of the Resolute, a few figures on the bridge stood at the central command table. Admiral Yularen, Padawan Ahsoka Tano, and Captain Rex of the 501st Clone Legion were eyeing a hologram of the forested planet they were en route to.
"It doesn't make any sense." Rex said, frustration in his voice. "Three corvettes and a cruiser just...vanish? With no distress signals?"
"It is unfortunate, and mysterious." Yularen agreed. "But we do have our orders."
"We do, but I agree with Rex." Ahsoka chimed in. "I mean, we're going out into deep Wild Space, near the Unknown Regions. Why was the expedition even out there in the first place?"
"They were investigating a massive energy signature." Yularen replied. "It was like nothing we'd ever seen before."
"Indeed." said Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Commander Cody of the 212th Attack Battalion, and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker as they entered the bridge. "But whatever it was, we have to investigate it regardless."
As the three Republic Cruisers exited Hyperspace, the Jedi, Yularen, and Clones gasped.
"Well, I guess we know what happened to our expedition." Ahsoka said dryly.
The Republic corvettes were in pieces, the Venator-Class escort dead in space. Multiple scorch marks lay on its hull and hangar, and all its mounted cannons were gone or blown away. Three Separatist Munificent-class cruisers lay in fragments across the area of the battle. The sight was shocking, to say the least.
"Rex, Cody, get a boarding team together." Obi-Wan spoke. "Hopefully that ship's database is intact, because I can't say the same for much else on that Cruiser or those frigates from out here."
=TF2=
Soon after, the Jedi, Rex, Cody, and a pair of squads from the 501st and the 212th entered the cruiser's access hallways, through a hull breach near the right bridge spire. Ahsoka could see dead Battle Droids strewn about, along with the bodies of both Clone Troopers and other Republic crewmembers.
"Looks like the Separatists did this." she murmured.
"I'm not so sure, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan replied. "These droids weren't killed by blasters, and all the damage done to them was from the rear. Meaning they were ambushed while they were occupied by attacking our fleet."
"But who'd have the firepower to do it?" Cody asked. "The Seppies couldn't have, they only had three ships."
"Yeah, that's not quite enough to eliminate our expedition force at this scale." Anakin said. "Let's check the memory logs from the bridge holotable."
As the teams entered the bridge, they saw more bodies of both Droids and Clones scattered around the area. As the 212th Troopers cleared the dead while the 501st Troopers secured the area, the Jedi activated the holotable. As they watched a recording of the few remaining Clones defend against the Droid onslaught, a sharp series of cracks and blasts could be heard from behind them. The droids spun on their mechanical heels and opened fire, but they were quickly torn apart by their mystery attackers. The droids' armor plating was torn open like paper and their heads were blown apart as they fell. The attackers then opened fire on the Clones.
As the last Clone trooper fell, humanoid figures in strange armor and wielding unknown weapons moved in, each bearing a strange patch portraying a tri-pointed spire and three letters in an unknown language. The recording soon faded, and the Jedi turned to each other in shock.
"What was that?" Anakin asked.
"Whoever they were, they weren't happy to see either our troops or the Droids." Obi-Wan noted, downloading the recording to a datapad. "Let's get back to the Resolute and Admiral Yularen, as it appears we have both work to do, and news to report."
Once the Jedi and their troops were safely aboard the Resolute, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka contacted Chancellor Palpatine along with Masters Yoda and Mace Windu.
"And you're certain they were attacked by an outside force?" Palpatine asked, with a tone of curiosity.
"We are, Chancellor." Obi-Wan replied. "We've managed to recover what seem to be slugthrower rounds from several of the droids. They aren't like any type we've seen before. And the images we recovered from the holotable add further to the mystery."
"The patches on our attackers' armor weren't written in Galactic Basic." Anakin reported. "Not to mention that their weapons certainly were strange. A Slugthrower with that kind of power...isn't something I'd want to go up against."
"Very well." Mace Windu said. "You may investigate further, but be on guard. Whoever it is that we're up against doesn't seem to take discretion between us and the Separatists."
"We understand, Master." Anakin nodded as the connection ended. Ahsoka turned to her master with a raised eyebrow.
"So, where do we start?" she aksed.
"First we need to find out who our new...acquaintances...are." Anakin replied. "Then we find out where they came from, and introduce ourselves."
"Assuming they don't attack us." Ahsoka frowned.
"I think that's not what we should be worried about." Admiral Yularen said, coming forward. "I believe I have the next piece of the puzzle ready."
As Yularen activated the holotable and brought up a diagram of the debris field, he began to speak.
"Our ships were engaged head-to-head with the Separatist fleet around this area here." Yularen reported. "However, the damage incurred by our mystery attackers was concentrated on the starboard side of our own fleet, and the port of the enemy."
"Meaning?" Ahsoka asked.
"Knowing this, I believe I can ascertain where the enemy ships attacked from, and thus calculate their trajectory when they made their move." Yularen continued. As the holomap computer hummed to life, the display revealed the unknown ship's trajectory.
"Straight into the Unknown Regions." Obi-Wan murmured. "Are they any habitable planets near here?"
"Just one, General, and it's not far." Yularen nodded. "If we maneuver correctly, I should be able to guide us to it. As we are going forward, we are now entering the uncharted beyond."