Chapter Nine; "The General's Mission: Codes"
Grievous was worried. His plan had failed, because the Republic reinforcements had arrived earlier than he expected.
His flagship, the Invisible Hand, was not in danger according to the Pilot Droids. The shields were too strong even for the Republic's warships.
"I want a report!" – said the General.
A Pilot Droid pressed a few buttons, and his console started showing a hologram of a Battle Droid.
"General." – said the Battle Droid.
"What is happening?" – demanded the General.
"Our first wave was completely destroyed. The planet seems to have great defenses. There were Jedi spotted in the battlefield, General." – reported the Battle Droid.
"Jedi? What are they doing in such a pathetic planet?" - asked the cyborg.
The surviving Neimoidian looked worried. He was worried for his life… The General was cruel and ruthless. But he was also worried about the possible failure of the mission. The Neimoidians needed to conquer this planet, because it was very rich in high quality resources as well as a deadly poison that existed in the underground. A poison that could kill in mere seconds. The inhabitants of the planet had to wear protective equipment, when they explored the mines of the planet.
"They must know of its importance to our cause, General." – said the Neimoidian.
Grievous stopped talking with the Battle Droid via hologram and gave the trembling creature an angry look.
"Important? This wretched planet is important? Why is this damn planet so important compared with other planets in the Outer Rim?" – asked the General.
The Neimoidian started to back away. He didn't like the General's tone… It had murder in it.
"Speak, slug!" – demanded Grievous.
"I have a name you know?" – said the Neimoidian.
The cyborg shrugged.
"And I bet that it is a nice name. But quite frankly, I don't care!" – said the General.
The Neimoidian was now mad with rage.
"Well, you should care! You can't win this battle without my support!" – shouted the Neimoidian.
Grievous couldn't hide his surprised expression.
"What?" – asked the cyborg.
The Neimoidian showed the General a snobbish smile.
"The codes remember? The codes to deactivate the security of the mines and fortifications? They were given only to me and my colleague. And since he is dead… You need me" – said the Neimoidian.
"Need you? Why is that, pray tell?" – said the General.
A Pilot Droid whispered something to the cyborg. The Neimoidian wasn't afraid anymore, because he knew that Grievous needed him. He needed his information on how to shut the defenses of the mines and fortifications. The Viceroy had been quite clever not to give those codes to the General.
There was only one problem. Grievous had to conquer one of the fortifications in order to use the codes. That was the only problem in this brilliant plan that the Viceroy had come up with. The computer system of the fortifications and mines were all linked and had incredible protections against hackers, even the talented hackers of the Confederacy. But if you got in the system, you could shut all the defenses. The planet would be easily conquered.
But the Republic reinforcements weren't part of the plan… They were delaying everything. According to the General, the reinforcements wouldn't have been able to reach in time… But he had been wrong! The Republic knew of the attack. The fact that the Jedi had been spotted on the battlefield was the ultimate proof.
But the Neimoidians needed the planet's resources, especially the deadly poison. With it, many planets would fall… including Coruscant, the main government of the Galactic Republic .
Grievous dismissed the Pilot Droid. The General now knew of his importance.
Good, thought the Neimoidian.
"It would seem that I was a bit… harsh in my judgment. Your name, please?" – asked the cyborg.
The Neimoidian continued to show his snobbish smile. He had won; the General would now be a lot more sympathetic towards him.
"Targo Glassnuk." – answered the Neimoidian.
"It would seem that in order to succeed, I will need your help. We have to cooperate. I don't know why the Viceroy didn't give me the codes, but I guess that one shouldn't worry how a brainless fool thinks. In fact, it pains me to know that the Viceroy doesn't trust me." – said the General.
"May I speak off the record, General?" – asked Targo Glassnuk.
The General nodded.
"The Viceroy hates you. It's that simple" – said the Neimoidian bluntly.
Grievous looked at the Neimoidian and tightened his fist. His eyes… His yellow reptilian eyes reflected only hate.
"So… Instead of cooperating with me, he prefers to play these childish games?" – asked the General.
"You would have killed me, General, if I wasn't so important to your cause. Just like you did to my colleague. And the Viceroy wanted to make sure that you were being watched by Neimoidians during the mission." – explained Targo Glassnuk.
"Anyway you were warned by your Droid of my importance. I am the only one to know the codes." – concluded the Neimoidian.
"The Droid said that you knew some passwords and codes. I would have never imagined that you are the only one that knows the codes that are vital to the success of my mission." – said the cyborg.
The Neimoidian shrugged and said: "Life isn't fair, General."
"Yes. And do you know why life isn't fair, Targo Glassnuk?" – asked the General.
"Why is that General?" – asked the Neimoidian.
Grievous tone could have melted ice and burned entire cities.
"Because of people like me…" – said the General.