Part XIX-

The Sanguine bombers formed into their necessary squadrons and set up bombing runs against the warships. With Resolute unloading long-range torpedoes and turbolaser fire, the opposing vessels were quickly destroyed. The bombers and their fighter escorts then proceeded to the planet's surface, to provide air support where needed. However, at least three bomber squadrons were tasked with obliterating the planetary headquarters, defense systems control, and the controls for the planetary SDS – Space Defense System. Rexane entered the room where Kuat's leaders and the family were seated, she had chosen to wear a very classy gray business suit instead of her Sith outfit to maintain the facade she wanted to keep until the last moment. She glanced upon all the faces with a smile, making her presentation about the Spectre brand of shipbuilding equipment, even though all of it was a complete fabrication. Upon finishing she took questions and heard the all-important question, knowing that the troops she had brought with her, her Ghost brigade were all prepared for the takeover to commence, having disconnected the alarms and communications. The Kuati head asked when she could deliver, and she answered, "As soon as you submit to the Sanguine Empire." She reveled internally at the look of confusion and then horror that crossed their collective faces. "We will not submit to you!" The Kuati leader almost screamed at her, "We are a Republic aligned installation and one of the largest shipyards in the galaxy, call the guards!" With that she sighed and the door to the conference room shut as the intercom went dead, the last sight that most of the fearful Kuati's saw was the secretary passed out at her desk. "Now then," she said with an edge to her voice, "Will you comply or must I make examples of some of you?" The leader sneered at her, "You are just a lowly office worker, a delegate or at best a lowly ambassador." he answered in a taunting tone. "And there is no such empire as the Sanguine Empire." He declared triumphantly, still trying to maintain control of the conversation.

Rexane smiled deviously at the leader and walked over to the giant burning fireplace at the edge of the room, placing her hand over the flame as she began to count in her mind, keeping part of the Force focused on healing the minor skin burn she was getting while absorbing the energy from the flame. The leader of the Kuati family continued to rant and sputter about how she would pay for her intrusion and never get away with this egregious act of terrorism and con artistry. She let him go on for about fifteen minutes or so before she removed her hand from the flame and turned back to him, finally acknowledging his ramblings. Her eyes began to glow a brighter purple and she almost had a demonic look to her as she gazed upon him, coming closer, step by step. "You think that a lowly person would bother coming here, to offer you what I have?" She moves her hands behind her back and the leader is force dragged to the wall where a view port looks out upon the shipyard, "You have two options," she stated matter of factly, "Bend the knee to the Sanguine Empire, or I shall depose you and find someone that will." He screamed back at her, red faced, "Never! We are proud to be part of the Republic and will never give in to you and your ilk!" Rexane sighed and then flicked her wrist, cutting off his ability to speak, he could still open his mouth but no sound would come out.

She then turned to the rest of the family, "My Mistress will be here in about thirty minutes, she will accept submission or this entire area, including the planet, shall be razed until there is nothing left but dust. I should prefer to work with you and your talents instead of taking it from your corpses like carrion, however that is based entirely on your choice. Yes, the entire survival of the population of Kuat rests on what your answer is to me. You can save them all, or damn them all. You have twenty-five minutes to decide, feel free to ask for details though if you wish." She then walked over to the head of the conference table and sat down, the leader still pinned to the wall on one side, and the cowering board members on the other. After twenty-four and a half minutes, a young man walked up cautiously to her and cleared his throat, "Ma'am?"

Rexane looked over at the young man, boy even, with a disdainful look, "What is it and who are you?" He stood up tall before answering, showing a bit of backbone, "Miss Spectre, I am the eldest son and heir to the Kuati dynasty, we agree to your terms, but we have one question for you. How will you guarantee our safety from the Republic and the Empire?" The father screamed at the son from his position on the wall, "Don't give into them, you dishonor your family and I shall make sure you are disowned and exiled!" Rexane smiled victoriously, "So you are the smart one of the family, you do not care for his life?" The son hung his head, "I do, but this is about survival, of us and the company, my lady. You did not answer my other question though, about safeguarding us here." Rexane stood up and walked over to the view port, "Give it a few moments," then a fleet began warping in, with Ava's flagship at the helm, she looks back at the son with a smile, "That answer your question, my boy?" The entire group's eyes widen collectively at the size and number of warships while he answers in awe, "Yes, yes it does, Kuat and all of our holdings are under the control of the Sanguine Empire."