War! After the brutal Battle of Geonosis, the Clone Wars have begun to ravage the galaxy. While the Republic's clone troopers hold the line against Separatist droids, several smaller offensives carry the key to victory and defeat. En route to Kalee to liberate it, General Grievous prepares to strategize for his assault...
22 BBY, one day after the Battle of Geonosis
Hyperspace travel had long been used for trade and transport. Yet, with the Clone Wars having broken out, hyperspace lanes now served as routes for warships to pass through. Aboard the Malevolence, General Grievous was busy strategizing for the Separatist liberation of Kalee alongside numerous tactical droids and Nemoidian officers as his fleet travelled to Kalee. Coming back to Kalee was a personal assignment for Grievous. After all, it was where his old life had ended. Grievous hoped that some of his people survived alongside Ronderu.
"General, how should we proceed with the invasion of Kalee?"
Grievous was knocked out of his stupor by a nearby tactical droid. He then looked around the holotable at the other officers.
"Kalee is a backwater world, relatively isolated from the rest of the galaxy. Word of the war's outbreak is unlikely to have reached their people, so we can capitalize on that."
Grievous knew his homeworld like the back of his hand. Kalee was in Wild Space after all, a region of the galaxy known for being a "wild west" of sorts, even more so than the Outer Rim. This worked to his advantage."
"With our ships coming from the Banking Clan, the Commerce Guild, and even the Trade Federation, we can pose as merchants as we enter Kaleesh space...while subtly loading droids onto the ground of the planet."
A tactical droid looked towards Grievous to ask a question.
"General, with all due respect, we would have a ten percent higher chance of victory if we conducted orbital bombardment."
Grievous looked back at the tactical droid, then back to the holotable.
"Orbital bombardment of the Huk capital once we've landed our troops. Then, they'll swarm the ruins and force a surrender."
"Affirmative."
The tactical droids and officers left the holotable right as the Malevolence, and Grievous's fleet, exited hyperspace and found themselves above Kalee. Grievous looked out at the planet briefly, knowing what was to come, until he was interrupted by a battle droid on the bridge.
"Sir, we're being hailed by the capital."
"Put them through."
Immediately, a hologram of a Huk appeared on the bridge. While Grievous was unfamiliar with the Huk language, a nearby tactical droid was able to translate.
"He's asking why your fleet has arrived."
"Tell them we're here to drop off a shipment of spice to the capital."
The tactical droid replied in the Huk language to the hologram, who then replied back.
"He says we can enter the atmosphere and prepare to deliver the spice."
Grievous nodded as the hologram turned off. The fleet then proceeded into Kalee's atmosphere. While most of the larger ships flew above the capital city, they were also subtly releasing droid dropships that would land outside the city, preparing to invade. Grievous's fleet got into position above the capital, to the point where they blotted out the sun more or less. Standing at the bridge of the Malevolence, Grievous couldn't help but feel a sense of pride from this moment.
"You may fire when ready."
"Roger roger."
As soon as Grievous gave the order, the Separatist fleet began to bombard the Huk capital with a barrage of lasers, fighters, and bombers. Buildings exploded as civilians fled from the scene, knowing full well what was going on. Grievous was relishing in the chaos. It was the retribution the Huk deserved. Hundreds of years of war between the Kaleesh and the Huk had ended with his actions.
"Prepare my shuttle immediately."
Within the streets of the city, Separatist battle droids marched on the capitol building. Huk soldiers were capable of contending with Kaleesh warriors, but were no match for legions of battle droids, marching and shooting everything in their path. Rubble dominated the streets, and smoke filled the air.
"The capitol is this way!"
"Roger roger."
The droids marched through the streets towards the Huk capitol, surrounding it on all sides. As they prepared to attack, Grievous's shuttle landed in the central plaza as he neared the capitol.
"We have the building surrounded Huk scum. Surrender and be tried for slavery and genocide, or die."
The droids readied their weapons, preparing for the possibility of a fight. However, the Huk leaders exited the building instead, arms in the air. Grievous couldn't help but walk up to them as his battle droids stood before them.
"The Kolkpravis send their regards."
Grievous made a throat-slitting motion with his hands upon saying those words, giving a signal to the nearby battle droids for them to gun down the Huk leadership.
Kalee was finally liberated.
"The Separatist Alliance has liberated the planet of Kalee from Huk slavers at long last, showcasing the Republic's hypocrisy as they allow slavery to run rampant within their borders. Already Count Dooku has begun establishing offensives against numerous Republic worlds, hoping to show them the light of the Confederacy's cause."
On the Holonet, Grievous's victory was already being reported. Dooku, true to his word, had used the invasion of Kalee as a way of showcasing the Republic's flaws and portraying the Separatists in a positive light. As he watched from the captured capitol building, a nearby battle droid walked into the room.
"General, you have a visitor. It's one of the natives."
"Let them in."
Immediately, the battle droids in the room moved aside as a Kaleesh woman entered.
"General...Grievous, is it?"
"It is. Liberator of your world."
"My name is Ronderu lij Kummar, chieftain of the Kolkpravis tribe of Kaleesh. Our late leader...Sheelal...would have loved this moment. The liberation of our people."
Grievous nodded respectfully as he took note of Ronderu. She seemed...different.
"With the Separatists liberating our world, we owe you a blood debt. A debt that will be repaid in service. I pledge the Kolkpravis tribe to the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
Ronderu kneeled before Grievous, seemingly subservient to the general. Admittedly, Grievous felt honored by her decision to return to his side, though she didn't know the truth yet.
"I accept your pledge chieftain," Grievous replied. "I'm sure that if Sheelal was alive, he would do the same."