-Chapter 52: The Pincer-
Location: Kamino Orbit
"All warfare is based on deception."
Separatist Space...
The group of six Munificent-class cruisers and two Providence-class destroyers, floated slowly through the vast darkness of space, assembling into formation as the bulk of an invasion fleet. As they did, a mighty shadow slowly enveloped them all, stretching for many hundreds of kilometers until all of the smaller cruisers were in the dark.
Moving into position, above and before them all, was a mighty Subjugator-class heavy cruiser: the Ruination.
One of the many new ships commissioned by the Separatists, the Ruination was a mirror-image of the very first Subjugator: the Malevolence, as well as it's sister ship, the Dominance. And just like the Dominance, this cruiser was helmed by a Super Tactical Droid. This one, designated 'Taraki', shaded in dark blue and silver with glowing red photoreceptors and a Separatist emblem painted dead-center of his chest, stood tall and foreboding, head and shoulders above all other droids. In position on the command bridge, Taraki stood before a hologram of Fleet Admiral Sereva Shak.
"Ruination is in position, Admiral." The droid reported in its monotone voice.
"Very good, Captain." The Twi'lek responded. "You will spearhead our assault on Kamino. Destroy the defending fleets in their orbit and make way for our invasion force."
"I am aware of my duties, Admiral. Know that I shall fulfill them in a manner most efficient." Taraki cut in. With that, the droid terminated the call, his self-assessed 'superior programming' already busy making calculations in regards to the Republic's downfall. "Have we plotted a course for the Kamino system?" He asked, turning to a navigational droid.
"Yes sir, this should put us right close to their immediate orbit, as the Admiral recommended." The B1 responded.
"Engage the hyperdrive." Taraki ordered, other pilot and navigational droids quickly running though the power-up sequence. Outside, the ship's engines glowed brightly before the Subjugator shot forward into hyperspace, vanishing from sight. Sereva watched the Ruination leave from the deck of her Providence destroyer Inferno's Touch. She couldn't help but watch it's departure with a look of querying concern.
"Something tells me Taraki's processing power is a bit too much for his attitude programming." She mused out loud. So far, the droid's personality component related his nature as a competent, but arrogant and self-assured, individual. She could only hope that he would willingly follow orders and not go rogue on her. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a droid that was far too independent and in need of a restraining bolt.
But that was a matter for another time.
"Wait until Ruination gives us a signal that they've arrived. Then make the jump to Kamino. We'll let Taraki do the dirty work for us... as these heavy cruisers are supposed to do." Sereva ordered her navigational crew, her contrasting red skin and deep blue uniform giving her a very regal appearance indeed.
Elsewhere, Kamino Orbit...
The Venator-class Republic cruiser Vindicator floated in the space above the stormy, watery world of Kamino, flanked by a pair of Acclamator-class assault ships and another pair of Arquitens-class light cruisers. Aboard the Vindicator'd bridge, staring out the viewport into the vast expanse of space before him, Commander Thrawn stood alone as the pit crew around him worked feverishly to triangulate their scanners. The noble-looking Chiss maintained a steady yet distant gaze as his mind flew through calculations and battle tactics. He was anticipating a Separatist assault on Kamino, based on Wraith's escape and the report he would likely give to Count Dooku. He knew the Supreme Chancellor had been hesitant to permit him the opportunity to command Kamino's naval defenders, but if he could prove himself here and now, he would never be doubted again.
But Thrawn wasn't in this to prove himself or establish his reputation. He was here to do a job.
Turning around, Thrawn approached the Vindicator's holotable where a map of their forces flickered in place. By it was the captain of the cruiser; Mors Vorgand. A veteran Republic navy officer, Mors was a tough and reliable man, but one who preferred to totally understand something instead of just following the off-the-cuff orders of someone else... as he was enduring now working with Thrawn. He knew only parts of the whole parcel and it was starting to irritate him, but he didn't let it show.
"Commander, Stellar Fist is in position, as are Day Fury and Broken Lance." He informed the Chiss as he approached. Thrawn acknowledged him with a calm tilt of his head.
"Very good, Captain. Have them remain in formation until ordered otherwise. The first part of our plan is complete, now we must wait for the Separatists in order to continue." Thrawn softly replied in a thoughtful tone as he studied the map before him. Vorgand straightened up and crossed his arms.
"What exactly is your basis for this plan, Commander? I understand Republic intelligence has no information concerning yet another invasion." He inquired. Thrawn was ready with an answer.
"Since the start of this war, the Separatist super-soldier Wraith has been in combat with Clones and Jedi alone. The other day, he engaged and was chased off by a private military company hired by the Republic. The corellation between these two is that the sudden change would force Wraith to assume that there are not enough Clones to supplement the Republic's army, therefore forcing them to resort to mercenaries. To that extent, he would believe that a successful assault on Kamino would be the end of the Clone Army. This, Captain, is our opportunity to prove him wrong and turn back the Separatists." He explained.
"I see..." Vorgand thoughtfully mused as he stroked his goatee. "So this entire plan is based upon supposition?" He gravely surmised.
"It is a logical extrapolation based upon available evidence." Thrawn calmly responded. "Rest assured, Captain, my analysis is not baseless."
"I just hope we're not wasting resources up here, Commander. The Seppies haven't tried anything since Ventress' invasion failed." Vorgand told him, revealing his private concerns.
"But now they have Subjugator-class cruisers at their disposal. And what better way to display their potential then by having them wipe out the Republic's military?" Thrawn countered. Vorgand could simply shrug and reply,
"I guess we'll see if they act the way you think."
They continued to wait, Thrawn patiently, Vorgand tensely, for the Separatists to arrive. Minutes turned to half an hour, an hour into two. There was no sign of any invading vessels, Vorgand's doubts amplifying with every passing second.
But Thrawn was certain. There was no denying his confidence.
Finally, just when Vorgand was ready to call everything off, one of the bridge's pit crew called out,
"Sirs, incoming vessel! It's dropping out of hyperspace, dead ahead!" Thrawn and Vorgand looked out into the vastness of space to see a massive, triangular shape suddenly explode into existence. Many of the bridge crew gaped at the size of the ship, realizing that they were up against one of the deadliest warships ever introduced into the Clone Wars: the heavy Subjugator-class cruiser.
"Just one..." Vorgand realized, "but one with the potential to wipe us all out."
"A longstanding fact. But it will not go unchallenged." Thrawn calmly remarked. "Captain, please stand by on communications, be ready to signal the other vessels." He politely ordered.
"Right away, Commander." Vorgand responded, moving much quicker now.
Aboard the bridge of the Ruination, Taraki quickly analyzed the opposing fleet before him. He had been anticipating resistance, surely the world on which the Republic's army was born and raised would not go unprotected.
But he hadn't been expecting so... little resistance.
"Five vessels in total, one Venator, two Acclamators and two Arquitens." One of the navigational droids reported, quickly highlighting each one of the Republic ships on the Ruination's scanner.
"Is this all the Republic has guarding their most valuable world? How... illogical." Taraki mused. However, he would claim this victory with all possible strength. "Charge up the port ion cannon, prepare to bring the bow around, hard to starboard. We will annihilate them in one fell swoop." He ordered, taking a seat and folding his metallic hands together. The battle droids went to work, bringing all of the ship's vital systems online. Other droids relayed orders to posts deeper within the ship to prep the devastating weapon systems, the true power of the Subjugator ready and waiting to be unleashed.
From his vantage point aboard the Vindicator, Thrawn watched as the hulking Separatist super ship slowly turned to bring its massive, devastating cannon to bear on the Republic fleet.
"Captain, order all ships to advance, throttle up to one-quarter speed." He quietly said. Vorgand obeyed, although hesitant to even draw closer to such a behemoth.
"Understood sir, cruisers Stalwart and Noble are standing by." Thrawn tilted his head in acknowledgment. They may be ready, but he wasn't ready for them yet.
"Uh, sir? The Republic fleet is advancing towards us." A piloting battle droid informed Taraki.
"What is their heading?" The tactical droid inquired from his seat.
"It's an intercept course, but they're moving at only one-quarter speed." The droid replied, conveying the strange move. But to Taraki, it did not seem strange... it seemed desperate.
"The slow march towards death..." he mused, watching the blips move closer and closer on his screen, "it matters not, ready the ion cannon to fire!"
Arcs of purple energy jumped from center to edge of the massive circular device prominently placed on the side of the cruiser. For the crew of the Venator, it was an ominous sight, one that would surely signify their end.
But it meant nothing to Thrawn.
"Captain..." The Chiss began, turning back to Vorgand, "give Stalwart the signal." Vorgand nodded.
With Ruination perfectly perpendicular to the advancing Republic fleet, Taraki believed he had this battle right where he wanted it to be.
But then a sudden alarm changed his plans.
"Sir! We have a fleet coming out of hyperspace on our port side!" The navigational droid reported. Suddenly ramrod straight and very attentive, Taraki turned to see the five new contacts appear on the holomap.
"On screen." He ordered. One of the droids activated a terminal to reveal the second fleet approaching them form the opposite side. It consisted of one Venator, two Acclamators and two Arquitens-class cruisers.
It was completely and utterly identical to the fleet already in their sights.
Taraki's processing froze and glitched out for a second, giving the droid a twitch in his neck joint. He did not know what to do.
"Sir, your orders?" One of the command droids asked. But Taraki did not respond. As silence ensued, the ion cannon still charging up, both fleets opened fire on the Ruination. "Raise the shields!" Droid's started scrambling to coordinate a counterattack, bringing the ship's battery of five-hundered turbolasers online. They struck back with an immense barrage of red laser fire, but the shields of the Republic vessels managed to sustain them under the heavy fire.
"Cut power." Taraki suddenly said. The nearest droid turned to him, confused.
"Sir?"
"Cut power to port ion cannon and redirect it to the starboard cannon." Taraki ordered. "These are reinforcements. We will eradicate them and kill whatever hope the remaining fleet may have."
"Uh... okay."
"Commander, Stalwart reports the ion cannon facing fleet two is charging up." Vorgand informed Thrawn. Staring out the window, Thrawn watched as the arcs of ionic energy fizzled out as the ion cannon powered down.
"Tell them to maintain course and continue firing," Thrawn calmly replied, "then give the signal for The Noble and The Insurgent to make their jump, upon arrival they are to maintain one-quarter speed and to fire with all of their guns."
"I copy sir."
"Sir! We've got more ships coming out of hyperspace! Above and below us!" Another nav droid urgently called out. Taraki looked to the holomap to see more Republic vessels dropping out above and below the Ruination, attacking its dorsal and ventral sides.
Again, both fleets were comprised of one Venator, two Acclamators and two Arquitens-class cruisers. They were moving at the same speed and were equal distance away from the Ruination.
Neither of them posed an immediate threat. They were with all the others.
"They're targeting our topside relays, how do we counterattack sir?" Another of the command droid reported from his station. Taraki paused again, a twitch jerking his head to the side as the programming went into overdrive.
"Target the nearest fleet." He commanded. None of the droids responded, some of them sharing confused glances.
"Uh, they're all the same distance away, sir. None of them are closer than the others." One of the nav droids explained. They waited for another response... but none came. A burst of sparks erupted from one of the panels on Taraki's helm, a small plume of smoke following right behind. "Orders, sir?" The droid asked. Another twitch.
"Target the nearest fleet."
"They're... the same distance away, sir." The nearly exasperated droid re-stated.
"Sir, they're trying to wear down our shields! Their fire patterns match those logged in the databanks! What should we do?" Another droid suddenly reported. Taraki's neck-joint spasmed, a rather violent twitch rocking his head as his limbs jolted.
"Target the nearest fleet." He repeated. Now all the droids were sharing confused glances.
"Uh... is he broken or something?" One droid inquired.
"I dunno." It said with a shrug.
"Target the nearest fleet." Taraki repeated in the exact same monotone voice.
"Is there something wrong with him?" Another droid asked.
"Who knows? Those ones were always programmed differently." Another replied.
Back aboard the Vindicator, Thrawn and Captain Vorgand watched with renewed interest as the heavy cruiser seemed to struggle in its effort to fend off the attacking Republic fleets.
"It hasn't fired its cannon yet." Vorgand noted. "Guess that's good news for us."
"Indeed..." Thrawn thoughtfully mused, crossing his arms and stroking his chin with one hand. Vorgand suddenly disappeared as a communication pit officer flagged him down.
"Sir, Stalwart reports new enemy contacts dropping out of hyperspace." He reported to Thrawn from his crouched position. Thrawn's gaze peered past the Ruination and past the rear-most fleet and watched as a burst of eight more Separatist vessels arrived on the scene, snapping into existence as they exited hyperspace. "That looks like an invasion fleet." Vorgand observed as he stood up, now very worried.
"It does." Thrawn quietly agreed. He studied the changed battlefield for a moment longer, having anticipated this, and turned to Vorgand. "Captain, contact the Stalwart, tell them to keep their focus on the heavy cruiser and to direct Stellar Fist, Dawn's Edge, Savior of Brendol and Wayward Guard to engage the rest of the fleet if necessary." He ordered. Vorgand gave a quick nod.
"Right away sir."
Standing tall aboard the Inferno's Touch, Sereva watched with a partial frown as she realized the Ruination was beset by four Republic fleets, none of them destroyed yet.
"Droid, the plan was to have the Ruination destroy any and all Republic resistance prior to our arrival, correct?" She inquired of her own nav droid.
"Yes ma'am." The B1 replied.
"Because the Ruination's mega ion cannon would make scrap metal out of any vessel no matter the size, correct?" She continued.
"Uh... yes, ma'am." The droid affirmed.
"Then why the hell hasn't Taraki finished these things off yet?!" She wondered in frustration, even growling a little as she realized this plan was nowhere near complete. None of the droids dared to respond. "Contact the Ruination." The Twi'lek ordered, a channel opened quite quickly and answered by another B1 battle droid. "Ruination, this is Inferno's Touch, just what in the universe is going on over there? Kamino's orbit should be full of scrap by now, not live fleets!" Sereva demanded, her green eyes blazing.
"A-Admiral...! Uh... Captain Taraki is... indisposed right now." The B1 stammered. Sereva crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"Indisposed?" She repeated in a questioning tone.
"Target the nearest fleet." Taraki said in the background.
"For the last time sir, none of them are closer than the others!" Another B1 practically screeched. "That's it! I quit!" It continued, stomping off in the background. The droid answering the call promptly closed it, leaving Sereva alone with her thoughts. Instead of letting her frustration grow and brew, she focused and started analyzing the situation.
"Droid, scan the battle and show it to me on a map." She ordered, an idea forming. Running their fingers over their terminals, a holomap was on presented to the Twi'lek Admiral, displaying the exact positions of the Republic forces. After a few more clicks, mathematical lines calculated the distance between all the ships to reveal a startling conclusion to Sereva. "The Republic ships are all equal size and equal distance from the Ruination." She realized aloud.
"That's... not normal." One of the droids noted. "Is General Skywalker here?" It nervously wondered.
"No... I don't think so." Sereva replied with a shake of her head. Shifting her lekku to over her shoulders, the Admiral grew thoughtful once again. "But someone is... and they know what they're doing." She determined. "Droid, begin recording this battle."
"Commander Thrawn, the ship's ion cannon has powered down completely." Vorgand reported, adjusting his readings. Thrawn gave a soft nod in response. The Ruination was beginning to follow the path of desperation and confusion, having completely and utterly submitted to Thrawn's plan without even realizing it. Everything was going exactly how Thrawn had anticipated it to go. By comparison to the rest of the Republic officers and captains, who were deeply afraid of the Subjugators after the destruction caused by the Malevolence, Thrawn had no reason to fear them, even now he felt no emotion concerning the ship. But there was one thing he was certain of and that was even these ships could be destroyed. The Ruination had arrived with a fearful reputation surrounding it.
Now it was time to put an end to that reputation.
"Captain. Contact the Valiant. Tell them they are cleared to engage." Thrawn quietly ordered, the time for his grand finale at hand.
"Understood sir." Vorgand replied, then paused and asked, "What of the Allegiant?" The other Venator had been positioned beforehand in case the Ruination had swung to port and not starboard, ensuring Thrawn always had a response to the Separatist cruiser's moves. Thrawn considered it for a moment before turning to Vorgand and replying,
"Tell Allegiant to wait for my signal. We will need its tractor beam eventually."
Emerging alone from hyperspace, directly behind the Ruination, the Venator-class Valiant opened its bay doors almost immediately. It did not engage the cruiser as the other fleets did, for it had a different role to play.
Two full squadrons of Y-wing fighters emptied out into space, quickly forming up as they made a beeline for the Ruination.
"Gold leader, this is Blue, you readin' me Atmos?"
"Loud and clear Bric."
"We'll handle the engines if you wanna take out their shields."
"Copy Blue. Gold squadron, form up on me. We're gonin' after the shields!"
"Gold two, we're right behind you Gold leader!" Splitting up into two equal groups of twelve, the Y-wings made their attack run.
The first group flew around the bridge that jutted out from the top of the ship and quickly unleashed a battery of proton torpedoes, ion torpedoes, and proton bombs along the dorsal relays, destroying the entire topside of the ship and setting it ablaze, including the Ruination's shield generator. Without the protective energy field, the assaulting Republic fleets were now able to do some real damage, their turbolasers quickly tearing through the ship's armor and superstructure, exploding deep within the vessel and starting to rip it apart. The mega ion cannon on both sides was destroyed within moments, pieces of its structure shorn away from the ship after multiple explosions brought on by the concentrated barrage.
But the downed shields also opened up another opportunity.
The Gold squadron fighters dove straight for the Ruination's engines, unleashing their payload of ion torpedoes right into them. The ensuing explosions of blue energy caused the ship's engines to fizzle and short out, turning dark as the core systems were overloaded. Without basic power, the ship began to lean sharply to starboard, having lost all ability to maneuver. The Y-wings departed as soon as their work was accomplished, the Venators moving into position almost as soon as the Ruination started to roll. From the bridge of Inferno's Touch, Admiral Serena watched as one final Republic cruiser emerged from hyperspace and all six of them lined up along the Ruination's port side. Using their tractor beams in repulsion mode, they successfully pushed the hapless heavy cruiser into Kamino's orbit where gravity, and the extreme heat of an atmospheric re-entry, finished off the once mighty cruiser. The entire ship began to glow red hot and bend inwards as it was slowly torn to pieces by the fall, a true deathblow if Sereva had ever seen one.
"Droid, order the fleet to turn around and plot a course back to Separatist space. This invasion is over." The Twi'lek ordered. The she sighed. "Count Dooku is not gonna be happy about this."
Aboard the Vindicator, Thrawn watched as the remaining Separatist forces turned and left, escaping into hyperspace. The attempted invasion had been stopped and the Separatists were now down one of their Subjugators. A good day for the Republic for certain.
"Well Commander, I'm not sure what else to say other than thanks. Your superior tactics have won the day." Vorgand remarked, willing to give credit where credit was due.
"The praise is not necessary, Captain Vorgand. I was merely doing my part to protect the Republic." Thrawn humbly replied in his usual calm tone.
"If I may sir, how did you know this would work against that cruiser-crusher?" Vorgand inquired. Having had his doubts beforehand, the veteran captain as now very curious about how Thrawn had approached this.
"A super tactical droid was observed aboard the Dominance when General Windu encountered it for the first time." The Chiss informed him. "Hypothesizing that there would be one commanding this Subjugator, and knowing that such tactical droids work on the premise of threat evaluation, making all of our forces equal in power and distance would prove detrimental to its programming, therefore rendering it useless in the face of battle." Thrawn explained. "Given the results of this skirmish, I should say that I found his abilities quite... lacking. Disappointing, really." With that, Thrawn turned and made to leave the bridge, Vorgand watching him go.
"He's one to watch," he thoughtfully mused, "he's got what it takes to make a Grand Admiral someday."
