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Ch. III: Of Separatists and Conquest

Aboard Providence Class Cruiser C.S.S. Ambitious

Phindar was normally a world few bothered to remember and even fewer managed to care about. Situated in the area between the Mid and Outer Rims, it was not lucky enough to have any major trade routes converge upon it, nor did it have any unique features with which to attract tourists. Phindar was, in a word, boring, and its inhabitants had long since accepted this fact.

That was before the Clone Wars.

Now the minor planet suddenly found itself the lynchpin which separated a confederacy from being mostly whole, and the grim expectation that the planet would soon be assaulted was finally being realized.

With complete surprise on their side Confederate ships leapt out of hyperspace practically on top of the Republic forces. While the ships defending Phindar were rather few in number, they had still included three Acclamators among them, and should have been able to hold off the enemy until reinforcements could arrive.

Unfortunately for them, the being in charge of the Confederate ships was no ordinary commander. With no capital ship losses of his own, Vader had reduced the Republic fleet above Phindar to a single badly damaged Acclamator accompanied by a few corvettes firing futilely at their Confederate foes.

"Republic forces are in full retreat, sir," the tactical droid reported to the lone figure standing at the forefront of the bridge. "Shall we dispatch ships to pursue?"

For a moment there was nothing but the sound of droids and some organics working their stations and a deep inhalation produced by artificial breath. Finally, "No, let them flee. We don't have the ships to pursue them and maintain a blockade anyway."

"Very good, sir," the tactical droid said in reply, before rattling off various statistics such as losses.

Vader paid half a mind to the droid's report, choosing instead to focus upon the various holograms displaying the disposition of his fleet. It was nothing overtly impressive; Dooku had given the Sith no more than six ships to command, the Ambitious which served as his flagship, four Munificents, and a single Lucrehulk carrying the majority of his ground forces. In spite of that, for the first time since coming too in that Confederate base Vader had never felt more alive. This was where he belonged, striding the battlefield in triumph over his enemies and leading armies forward into the very face of danger. The intensity of battle, even a minor one such as this, sent a thrill of excitement and childish glee through the Sith lord.

That was not to say there were no downsides however, he noted sourly. While defeating the Republic ships guarding this planet had been mere child's play, the forces he had been given to accomplish his task were not the most stellar in the galaxy. While the ships themselves were of good make and performed well when used wisely, his fighter wings left something to be desired. He was not doubting their craftsmanship, far from it, but the software used to pilot the droids somewhat dulled the advantages in their designs. The chief advantage of the Confederate fighters was in numbers, and while a lone droid fighter still had a chance of taking down its enemy, they often lost more one on one dogfights than they won. This was not much of a problem when numerical superiority lay with the Confederates, but if the Republic were to ever deploy an equal amount of fighters to theirs it would be trouble.

While he had yet to see how Confederate ground forces held up to his standards, he was expecting mostly the same results. The hardware was rugged and could tackle most situations when used wisely, but once again the programming sold it short. Were that he was placed in charge of designing the algorithms that ran these machines, then they'd be a sight to behold…

Realizing that the droid had yet to leave, the Sith lord turned slightly to see it waiting patiently. "Is there something to report?"

The tactical droid nodded. "Sir, the ground forces report that they are ready to begin landing operations. Colonel Gunray asked if there were any additional parameters to the invasion that he should be aware of."

"Tell him to insure the destruction or surrender of Phindar's forces before advancing on any of their major cities," Vader said after a moment's thought. "I would like to keep them as intact as possible. However, let him know that he is to act as the situation demands and use any means he sees fit to see the planet occupied."

"At once, sir," the droid answered before moving off to deliver his message. The Sith found that he liked having the machine around, as it was extremely efficient at keeping everything organized. Though he wouldn't trust too many strategic or tactical decisions to it; privately he thought it was no surprise the Confederates were losing the engagements they were if they used tactical droids in favor of organic officers. He understood the manpower problems plaguing the officer corps, but to rely on a computer to lead an army, even if it was supposed to be able to direct troops at a local level, was folly of the highest order.

That's not my problem yet, he thought to himself. Focus on the matter at hand Vader.

Indeed, he saw that the ships had yet to move into position to give orbital support to the ground forces. That wouldn't do; the Phindarians didn't expect him to give a fair fight, did they?

Phindar, Near the Capital, Two Days Later

"AT-TE 700 meters out, looks like they haven't spotted us. Recommend setting A-4 for maximum effect."

"Roger, roger, adjusting gun to A-4. Variables?"

"Lookin good, Rock, humidity is slightly above average but well within parameters. It'll be a turkey shoot."

"Hehehehehehe~, I love the smell of burning bumpkins! Can we go and collect souvenirs after they all die? Pleeeeeeeeeeeease?"

1st Lieutenant Dieter Bauer sighed at his gunner's antics, well used to them by now. "Yes, I suppose, but after we're done with combat ops, that clear?"

"Affirmative, sir."

The sound of muffled laughter reached Dieter's ears, and he spared a brief moment to glance at his right at Corporal Bask Yutani, managing the various non-combat systems of their AAT. Noticing his superior's look, he grinned crookedly. "I don't know what's funnier, sir. The fact that our tin can shifts personality on a dime, or that it's the most efficient droid in the entire Force damned Confederate Army despite that fact."

Dieter heard a sigh from his left, and he knew his other corporal had his own thoughts on the matter. "At least Rock is better than the last piece of junk they tried to shove on us. For that matter the Duros before it also…"

Let it be known that while Alexis Hegel was a reserved man, he was also a man of his opinions, and would freely give voice to them whenever he felt the need. Which was quite often. Not that Dieter minded, he wouldn't trade his crew for an entire battalion of B2s.

"Sir, calculations have been completed, and we are in optimal firing position for a kill shot. Request permission to engage."

Dieter, reminded of what he had been in the middle of doing, cleared his throat. "Right, take them out."

"Hehe, bombs away!"

With that cheerful declaration the main gun of their AAT let loose a single shot, producing a bright flash along with a resounding crack! Dieter watched on his viewscreen as the walker they had been targeting was perforated through its side before being engulfed in a fiery bloom. The crew wasn't even aware of what had killed them. Typical planetary militia.

"Confirmed kill," Dieter called out, a grin on his face. "That makes three today boys! Excellent work!"

There was a cheer from the crew, with Rock adding his own usual brand of, ah, peculiar enthusiasm to the din.

"I need to give Mr. Vader a nice, biiiiiiiiig hug! I get to see all the pretty colors 'cause of him!"

"Don't know about that Rock," Bask replied. "But he sure as hell is a step above the usual S.O.B.s they call officers. That Gunray fella he brought along with him isn't so bad either, for a Nemoidian."

"I wonder where they found him," Alexis mused as the tank began to move forward. They'd split off from their squadron earlier with another tank which had been destroyed earlier by an AT mine. It was time they linked back up. "Figured we would have heard of a guy who could run circles around two Venators and their groupies with nothing but a Providence and some frigates. Ballsy if you ask me."

"I actually saw the guy's hologram when we got our briefings. Creepy as all hell if you ask me," Dieter added his own two credits. That death rattle had been particularly unnerving. "But, he gets the job done, so I can't complain too much."

"So long as it isn't Grievous," Bask said, and the crew shuddered. There was a command no sentient wanted to find themselves assigned to; the cyborg was already infamous amongst the Confederacy's organic rank and file for his hardline stance on failure, not to mention his sadism.

"Come on, come on, come on! Less talking, more shooting!" Rock shouted suddenly. It caught Dieter off guard, but after a moment he smiled faintly. In its own way the glitchy droid was trying to cheer them up. "We have a rendezvous to make and a city to blow up~!"

"You heard him, boys!" Dieter shouted as well, causing Bask and Alexis to look his way. "What the hell does it matter if we have a decent commander or not?! From what I've seen on this piece of shit they call a planet the Confederacy can win this war with its eyes closed, if those militia sods are a measure of anything."

The two other humans sported their own fierce grins. Their commander was right. What did it matter who was leading the charge? So long as they had a tank, plenty of ammo and each other, there wasn't a force in the entire galaxy that was going to stop them from letting the Republic know exactly how they felt about its so called good governance.

With fresh hearts (and newly eager trigger fingers), the crew of the AAT Elise continued on their way, eventually linking back up with their platoon. After that was some well-earned R&R. And after that…

Well, the Blue Star wasn't going to place itself on the capital building, now was it?

Colonel Rune Gunray considered himself a patient being. Growing up in the pseudo-aristocracy of Cato Nemoidia's business world had forced him to learn patience, and quickly at that. Otherwise he would have slit the throats of half his relatives by now out of sheer frustration with their ridiculous politics. That same patience had turned out to be an excellent trait in the military, and he had quickly risen through the ranks of the Trade Federation's private army to become an officer of high standing. That patience had won him several battles against supposedly superior Republic forces, earning him great praise from his peers and superiors alike.

That same patience was being severely tested by the idiots called the Phindarian government.

"You scum," the human in the hologram spat, his face contorted in a rictus of rage. "You think you can just waltz into our home and make demands of us? This is an outrage! What gives you the right?"

"Minster," Rune began slowly, as a school teacher would with their slowest student. "Your forces have been thoroughly defeated. Every Phindarian soldier still living is either in your city or in one of our POW camps. I offer you the chance of a dignified surrender and to spare your city any further combat."

"I see through your bluster," the minster said, sneering. "The Republic will come here, and when they do you and all of your bloody droids will be annihilated! Then it'll be you who accepts an offer of surrender, separatist trash!"

Rune's eyes hardened, and he dropped his mild tone. The minister was about to continue on his tirade, but Rune interrupted. "Let me make something perfectly clear to you," he said, his voice cold and firm as a glacier. "I made my offer because I was ordered to preserve your cities as much as possible. Do not make the mistake of assuming you have any real power here. This planet will be occupied by the Confederacy, and we will either do it with your willing submission or over your corpse. What is your answer?"

The bureaucrat looked stunned for a moment, but when he looked like he was regathering himself for another rant, Rune talked over him again. "I see. In that case, the Confederacy cannot guarantee the safety of you or your citizens. You brought this on yourself."

With that Rune gestured to the technician to cut the transmission. Once the hologram cut out he heaved a heavy sigh. "Idiot…"

"Sir," the tactical droid said from behind him. "Our forces are in position as you requested. Shall I have them commence the assault?"

Instead of answering the Colonel strode from his command tent. The sight that greeted him put any warholo to shame. A moderately sized city sprawled before him, small tufts of smoke rising from it like phantasmal fingers grasping for the sky. Surrounding it he could see thousands upon thousands of Confederate battle droids, from this distance looking more like an over aggressive ant hive. One good thing about having an army almost entirely made up of droids was that he could conduct a near non-stop campaign and didn't have too worry about provisions like food or clothing. A clone (or any organic for that matter) may be faster and smarter than a B1, but he also had to eat and sleep. And the time spent by the clones resting and recuperating was time spent by the Confederates gathering ammo, marching forward, and securing new positions. He'd seen several planets fall simply because the enemy forces couldn't keep up with the pace set by the Confederate commanders, who didn't have to worry about sustaining too many losses or resting their troops.

Truly, this was an army that could conquer the galaxy if it was led right.

"Have our artillery begin an hour-long barrage of their lines," he said at last, pulling out a pair of binoculars to get a better look at the city. "And have our bombers make runs on the interior. I want any formation larger than a squad blasted into pieces. Once the hour is up, our infantry will storm their positions from all sides behind another creeping barrage. The armor will sweep in behind them and knock out any problems that come up. We'll push them back all the way to the city center, and if they refuse to surrender then we'll wipe them out."

The tactical droid stood still for a moment before nodding. "Orders have been relayed sir."

Nodding in satisfaction, Rune turned back to his binoculars in time to see explosions begin rising up from the Phindarian lines. A few seconds later a piercing sound akin to a wail shrieked overhead, and he soon saw the predatory forms of Hyena bombers making their way towards the city. Very soon they began dropping their own payloads, and more explosions rang out in the city streets as roads were cratered and buildings collapsed, anyone unfortunate to be inside meeting grisly ends.

Rune knew that any civilians who had fled to the capital would be put in danger by the fighting, and quite a few would likely die. But that wasn't on him. The government of Phindar wanted to cling to their pride, and it would be their citizens who paid the price. Such was the tragedy of war.

Rune continued to watch his forces work, from the beginning of the first barraged all the way to the final storming of the parliament building. Within a few hours the Blue Star was flying from the mast, and soon after that the remaining enemies within the city had surrendered. The minister who had raged at Rune before the battle began was brought before him at gunpoint, bearing the documents confirming the planet's unconditional surrender.

After a mere two days of fighting, Phindar was now in the hands of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Aboard C.S.S. Ambitious

The mood among the organic crewmen of the Ambitious was a celebratory one. They had conquered a planet in two days and at minimal cost to themselves. The only thing that could have been better would have been an outright surrender from the start. The cafeteria was hosting a party, and someone had even managed to whip out some Corellian Ale. While that was technically forbidden by regulations, Vader would allow them a pass this time. After all, victory was always a thing to be celebrated. Otherwise war would be quite a dreary thing indeed.

On the bridge Vader regarded the image of Rune Gunray, the ground commander of the operation. He had delivered a swift and spectacular victory, considering that the forecasts for the battle had been on average a week. Even if his enemy had fielded mostly militia forces, it was a remarkable feat worthy of praise.

Rune concluded his report to the Sith, and he paused a moment to give a reply. "While it is unfortunate that you were unable to preserve the capital, you have still performed beyond expectations. I will be sure to note your performance in my report to Command."

The Nemoidian nodded, humbly accepting the praise. Vader hoped that they would be able to work together again in the future; such competence was hard to come by.

"Thank you, sir. When can I expect to transfer out? I can't imagine that I'll be kept on occupation duty for too long."

"Most likely when the Ubiquitous arrives with the administration they plan on setting up for the planet. I can ask for you if-"

Suddenly a droid called out to Vader from its terminal. "Sir, you have a priority one message from Raxus. It's from the Presidential Office."

Vader glanced at Rune, who nodded. "I'll contact you later sir. Good luck." With a salute that Vader returned, Rune's hologram flickered out. After a command from Vader, the image of Dooku replaced it.

"President," Vader said with a nod of acknowledgement, using the count's title instead of his name. In this situation Dooku was unequivocally his superior and deserved at least some modicum of respect.

"Lord Vader," Dooku said with his own nod. "Our intelligence has acquired information that is of vital interest to your operations in the Phindar system. A Republic task force has been confirmed to be making its way towards your position. Their numbers are sadly unknown."

Vader frowned under his mask. He had expected some sort of response, but this was rather fast. The Republic must have scrambled the first available ships. "Do we have an ETA, or is that unknown as well?"

Dooku nodded. "Yes, if the report handed to me is accurate then they should be there in about twenty-six hours. We won't be able to get any reinforcements to you before then sadly."

Vader's frown turned into a scowl at this bit of news, but there wasn't much he could do about it. He'd known this had been too easy. "No worries, President. I will hold here and drive them off. The enemy will not take Phindar."

Dooku smirked. "I'm glad to see you're confident, Vader. You will need that bravado before long. There is one piece of information that I think will work to your advantage. Apparently, a Jedi is in command of the battlegroup. Considering your own situation, I thought you might be able to use this to your advantage. Good hunting."

With a nod, Dooku's hologram flickered out of existence, leaving Vader staring out the viewport towards the slowly rotating form of Phindar.

It was strange to the Sith Lord that Dooku would contact him personally to deliver this information, considering that he should be busy managing a country at war. It could be that he was simply concerned about the investment he had made, but even then, it still struck Vader as odd. Surely it would have been simpler to just have an intelligence officer deliver the message so that Dooku could focus on other matters.

Yet more and more questions, he mused. I wonder if I will ever find answers?

"Sir, your orders?" the tactical droid said from behind him. It had been listening to the conversation from the beginning.

The Sith shook his head. He could worry about such things later; he had to get ready to welcome his uninvited guests. He turned to the tactical droid, hand on his hip.

"Alert the crew at once; we have work to do."

Author's Note: Hello all, it's good to be posting for you again. I must say that I'm very glad to finally be out of school for the Summer, as it seems to have coincided with a new burst of inspiration. The pace of updates should pick up now that I have time (and will) on my hands to write.

Sorry if you guys were expecting a more action packed chapter, but this is really just a stop gap for the real action which is coming up. I hope you're all looking forward to being treated to a good 'ole fashioned space battle!

As always leave a review or pm with your thoughts, I enjoy hearing what everyone has to say!

Til next time