Have no fear, Grubkiller is here.

HOLY SHIT!

SAW THE TRAILER FOR CLONE WARS REVIVAL. IT WAS EPIC!

But anyway, I just wanted to let you know that in light of this latest trailer, I've decided to make several changes that I've been thinking about for a little while. I'm removing 'A Fallen Jedi' from my timeline, but not deleting it. I'm deleting 'Pushed to the Brink', and replacing it with a different re-edited version that I've decided to call 'Labyrinth of Evil', which will have extra scenes. I'm also going to go back in this story and make a few slight changes to sweeten it up, like adding that sweet-ass Ahsoka action scene from the end of the trailer. I've also made a few other tweaks to my timeline (Go see the timeline in my profile for more details)

Anyway, I'm sure excited about this upcoming season of the Clone Wars.

So without further ado, here's part 21 of my story, 'Rise of the Empire'.

Hope you enjoy.

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Palpatine's full speech to the Republic Senate (Now Imperial Senate).

"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took up arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In so doing, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.

The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their ownas the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.

The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisingson a thousand worlds.

The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution!

By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.

Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and will stand together against attacks from within or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.

We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.

Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come.

The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.

The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shameful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagining.

We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We move forward as one people: the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today."

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Republic command post, Sundari Royal Palace, early morning.

It's been several hours since Torrent Company had completely locked down the palace, in light of the issuing of Order 66. No clones were allowed in or out of the palace grounds. The sun rose over the scorched deserts plains of Mandalore, bringing daylight to the history of war and suffering that covered the surface.

Across the city, the Clones that were still loyal to the Jedi had moved all of their heavy equipment to the docks, and have managed to turn the Shadow Collective arsenal into their own, creating a wall of fire that could be thrown up at any moment to protect the city's outer wall. Across the city, checkpoints were being set up to protect the spply chains that linked the palace to the docks, protecting it from Imperial Clones that acknowledged Order 66, and launched a guerilla campaign against the rogues, as fires continued to rage across the already war-ravaged city.

In the city center, the Jedi-loyal clones had set up a garrison in the palace area to protect the new Mandalorian provisional government, which was led by the new regent, Bo-Katan Kryze.

But in the throne room, everything was quiet, as everyone had just finished watching Palpatine give his speech, creating the Galactic Empire.

Everyone was dumbstruck at what they saw.

Many centuries of democracy and civil liberties were seemingly wiped away like they were nothing.

And the Jedi... the Jedi, who protected the Republic for over a thousand generations, were declared enemies of the state.

"I can't believe this is happening." Ahsoka said, in response to the unprecedented events that they've witnessed for the past twelve hours.

"What are we going to do now?" Lieutenant Vill asked.

"With the Jedi gone, and your Republic uprooted, what will it mean for the rest of you? And for Mandalore, for that matter?" Bo-Katan Kryze asked.

But then Captain Autem, who was reporting from the bridge of the Indomitable via hologram, stepped in, having taken de facto command of all operations inside the system. "Look, we need to find out what's going on back on Coruscant, and find out if there's anyone else that help us make sense out of all this. As soon as we've dealt with Darth Maul, I want to use this system as a staging area for any incursions into Imperial space, and gather intelligence." He then turned to Ahsoka. "So commander, I'm going to need you to-"

He was suddenly cut off when a proximity alarm started to go off in the background of the call.

Everyone was momentarily confused, and slightly alarmed, when the sudden commotion arose.

"Fog, tell me what the hell is going on." He ordered the sensors technician on his bridge.

Then the occupation force's inner circle was horrified by what they heard next.

"Sir. . . . Imperial Warships are coming out of hyperspace!"


Bridge of the RSV Indomitable, low obit of Mandalore.

On the bridge of the Indomitable, Captain Autem, Commander Jaeger, and several clone troopers and naval officers from the bridge crew watched with eager anticipation as they waited for their old allies to drop out of hyperspace.

And they did.

A score of warships zoomed and halted out of hyperspace. Among these ships were four Venator-class Star Destroyers, six Arquitens-class light cruisers, and at least a dozen other support ships.

But the thing that got Autem attention the most was what he believed to be the flagship of the fleet.

Stretching 1,600 meters from stem to stern, this new ship bore a faint resemblance to the Venator, and the other triangular ships of the Navy. Gone was he crook near the Venator's stern, however, replaced by clean, smooth, angular lines that gave it a shape like a giant arrowhead. Near the stern and the huge ion engines, the hull climbed in a zigguarat-like pattern, culminating in a large crosspiece tipped with two massive domes. Bristling with turbo-lasers and ion cannons, the entire shape of the ship seemed to have been designed to induce sheer psychological terror in any potential enemy.

Autem heard of a new class of Star Destroyer that was in development. A few have been used in the battle of Coruscant, and were instrumental in driving off the CIS invasion fleet. They were the Imperator-class Star Destroyers, meant to be the next generation in Republic Naval supremacy, serving alongside the much more numerous, and older, Venators, as was originally intended by the higher ups.

All of the new ships were painted all gray to show that they were from the Imperial fleet, while Autem's ships still had their red markings to contrast with them. Both fleets stared each other down. But since the Empire had four times the firepower that he did, Autem was sure that they didn't intend to blink first.

"Sir," Feedback said, "We have an incoming transmission from the flagship."

Autem looked to his XO, who was raising an eyebrow. "If they're willing to talk, then I think we should oblige them," Jaeger said.

"You're right," Autem said, before he straightened his collar, brushed off his shoulders, and walked towards the holo-table, "Patch them through to the bridge and to our people on the ground. I want them to hear what comes next."

The holoprojector warmed up, spitting up a wavering image of a man who stood at about 1.75 meters in height, and had a smug and arrogant look on his face.

Autem recognized him as Captain Kendal Ozzel.

"I take it that you are Sagoro Autem?" He asked in a fittingly imperious tone. "Captain of the Indomitable?"

Autem was tempted to say no. But Ozzel had yet to accuse him of being a traitor, and he wanted to try and avoid that for as long as possible. "I am," he simply answered, in an evasive manner.

"The last time you were contacted, you were in the process of establishing the occupation of Mandalore. But after the issuing of Order 66, we lost all contact with you."

Autem nearly stuttered, we received the transmission, but we were having trouble responding. We were receiving interference and power outages due to a series of Nuclear detonations across the surface. "But rest assured that the Jedi is alive and in our custody, and that all who sheltered her have been killed or captured." Autem lied.

"Well, I'm glad that everything worked out all right. Or, I would be if I were convinced that you were telling the truth." Ozzel said.

Autem felt a knot forming in his gut, as he felt his entire fairy tale coming apart at the seems. "I have no idea what you're talking about. What reason would I have to not tell the truth? And what evidence do you have that says I'm not?"

Suddenly, a hologram of a clone officer appeared next to Ozzel. "This is the newly promoted Commander Bow, the ranking officer of Cascade Company of the 501st Legion. He says that he and his men received order 66, and moved to terminate the Jedi threat. But then Captain Rex and the men of Torrent Company stopped them. What resulted was a firefight that left many clone dead or wounded, and the escape of, not only Ahsoka Tano, but also Darth Maul, the very person you were meant to apprehend in the first place. And then you cut off all communications with Imperial Center."

Autem looked at the image of the clone officer. Then he sighed and scratched his scalp. "Yelp, shit." He cursed.

Ozzel continued. "I'm sure you understand that you've committed several acts of treason against the Empire. You've cut off all communication with Naval command, rendering yourselves AWOL. You interfered in a mission of the Grand Army to apprehend the Jedi Traitor, and you deliberately defied the will of the Emperor himself. And now, you are sheltering the Jedi, and all who shelter her, by continuing to waist my time."

Autem snapped back.

"Captain, no one ever told us about Contingency Order 66, and no one ever said anything about turning on our Jedi leaders. Especially one who isn't even a Jedi anymore, and had nothing to do with whatever gave the 'Chancellor' the justification to issue this order. Then all Hell broke loose. I did what I could to stamp out this chaotic situation. You can't expect me to-"

"Yes, I'm beginning to suspect that I can expect very little from you in terms of cooperation," Ozzel interrupted, "But you've raised an interesting point. Ahsoka Tano is not a Jedi, which is why, by order of the Emperor himself, you will turn her over to us where we will then transfer her to the proper authorities on Coruscant. In the meantime, you, Captain Autem, and your men will be relieved of the occupation, and you will be returned to Imperial space to face disciplinary action, and all rogue clones will face court-martial and termination."

Stunned by Ozzel's suggestion, Commander Jaeger watched as Sargoso crossed his arms. "What do you have planned for Commander Tano?" He asked.

"What happens to the Jedi is up to the Emperor." Ozzel said, raising an eyebrow.

"Fine," Autem snorted, "What does the Emperor have planned for the Jedi?"

"That is not your place to ask. You and your men will stand down, or you will face severe punishments for your continued defiance."

Autem looked around at his men, and then he looked at a screen that showed Ahsoka, Rex, and the other ship captains of the task force, watching his every move. He new that what he did next will be the fate for the entire task force, every clone, every officer, every ensign, and everyone of their families, and the Jedi, and maybe even the people of Mandalore.

Put despite the weight on his shoulders, he stood up straighter and looked the hologram of Tarkin in the eyes with a sneer.

"No."

Ozzel frowned. "What?"

"I said, No." Autumn said, a little louder this time.

Ozzel stared at him. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"

"Yes. I am fulfilling my oath. You say that I'm a traitor to the Empire, but I didn't swear my oath to the Empire. I swore it to the Republic Navy, the same as you did. And in that oath, I swore to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the Galactic Republic. Our job is to act as a shield for the Senate and the citizens of the Republic. You, on the other hand, threw all that away to serve an Emperor and rule with fear across the galaxy. You're the traitor, and I swear to you, that one day you will be dealt with as one."

Ozzel stared at Autem with an expression that could kill. "Is that your final decision?"

Autem stared back, matching the intensity of Ozzel's expression. "It is."

After a long pause, Ozzel finally spoke up. "So be it. You have ten minutes to surrender or pledge your loyalty to the Empire. After that, you and anyone still partaking in this foolishness will be punished." he said before his hologram disappeared.

Captain Sagoro Autem, now wanted for treason against the Empire, now a fugitive from the Imperial Navy, turned back to his men, the last bastion of the Republic Navy in the entire Galaxy, and to the hologram of Ahsoka and the men of the 501st, possibly the last Jedi and the last of the Grand Army of the Republic.

They all looked at him with uncertainty.

He then took a look at the display of his battlegroup. He saw that two of his five Venators were moving away from the fleet with two-thirds of the support ships to join up with the Imperial fleet. He then started to hear panicked comm chatter, which reported cases of small arms fire erupting inside of the remaining ships under his command.

"Men, what I just did cost us our lives. We are now fugitives on the run, loyal to a Government that no longer exists. So I need to know that you're with me 100 percent."

"We're with you all the way captain," one of the clones said.

Everyone else began to clap and cheer, making Autem, and even a holographic Ahsoka, who let a single tear run down her cheek, smile in satisfaction.

"Sir!" Fog called out, drowning out all of the cheering, "Imperial ships are powering up their weapons!"

Autem slammed his fist on the ship's PA system. "All hands to battle stations," he said, before he walked over to the tactical display where one clone had already punched in the exact positions of both fleets. The combat alert alarm blared to life, encouraging every trooper, pilot, engineer, technician, ensign, and officer to rush to their positions. All throughout the ship, blast doors rumbled along their tracks, sealing off sections of the ship.

"Shields to full strength," Checkmate reported as the Imperial ships began to close in. The Imperator fired first, Green turbo-lasers the size of buildings streaking across its hull, bearing down on the Republic task force.

"Fire at will," Autem said, and the gunnery crews of the Indomitable responded, followed by the other two Venators, sending a hail of blue fire streaking across vacuum to impact against the shields of the closest Imperial ships. The bigger ships shrugged it off, but the smaller ships took some serious damage, as red-orange fireballs blossmed across their hulls.

At the same time, the Imperial lasers hit, smashing into the Indomitable's shields. The Star Destroyer trembled, but continued on its heading.

As the battle continued, with fighters from both sides being launched like swarms of angry insects moving to protect their hives. They met in the middle, partaking in a dance of death that looked like many tiny little stars igniting and disappearing suddenly.

Autem turned back to the tactical screen, surveying the odds he was up against. The remnants of his task force consisted of three battle-scarred Venators, a quartet of sleek Arquitens-class light cruisers, two Acclemator-class assault ships, a half dozen Consular-class fast attack frigates, and a few supply ships.

Meanwhile, they stood against a squadron of corvettes, four fresh new Venators and two battle-scarred, six Arquitens-class cruisers, and around a couple dozen smaller escorts, and not to mention the hundreds of fighters, another dozen support vessels, and that damn Imperator-class Star Destroyer, which was, by far, the greatest threat of all.

Long odds for sure, but Autem wasn't planning on running them for long.

But he had to buy time for his men on the ground, who he knew were formulating a plan this very instant.

But what that plan was, he had yet to hear of it.


Republic CP, Sundari royal palace.

The clones from Captain Rex's squad were on the roof of the palace, overlooking the plaza. They looked up through damaged holes in the dome above the city to look at the early morning sky. They watched two fleets of triangles slugging it out in low orbit. Green and Blue lights streaked across the sky, and some of the smaller warships on both sides exploded in balls of fire.

"I never thought I'd buy it from our own side." Kix said, as he and his brothers looked up at the sky.

"Yeah, they don't call it friendly fire for nothing." Jesse said.

"Doesn't look to friendly to me," Kix said.

"Cut the chatter," Rex ordered as he walked out onto the palace rooftop, silencing his pessimistic troopers. He then turned to the holograms of Ahsoka and Bo-Katan.

"Look, everyone, we need a new plan. If we stay here, the Empire will eventually come down here and we'll go the way of Maul's regime. We have to evacuate."

The clones started to nod, but the Mandalorians who were present and had their helmets off, stared at her with fury spread across their faces. Bo-Katan Kryze's hologram turned to her, with her helmet tucked under her arm and her shoulder-length red hair flowing freely. "You want us to abandon our home? No! We just liberated this city, and this planet. We can't just run away. Our people will be trapped."

"I'm sorry Kryze. But when the Empire lands, this planet will be theirs. It's up to us, whether we're here or not when that happens." Ahsoka said.

Kryze stared at him in anger, but eventually, her face relaxed and she looked down at the floor, defeated. Then she nodded. "Alright. But what are we going to do? How are we going to move all of these people, and get your men out of here?"

Ahsoka looked at a map of the city. She looked at the defensive batteries that protected the docks on the outer dome, which would make perfect defenses for her men. The docks would also be a good spot for her men to be evacuated by shuttle, and get all of the heavy equipment back into orbit. Then she flipped through the schematics of the city. Specifically for the underground portion, which was a maze of subway and maintenance tunnels, which Maul's forces had used to move his troops across the city, beneath the Republic forces, and sneak up behind them. It gave her an idea.

"Kryze, what if you used these tunnels to move your people around? It would make the perfect place to hide refugees for a short while, and maybe even serve as a base to start an effective resistance against the Empire."

Bo-Katan studied the image for a few seconds, and after a long pause, shook her head. "It could actually work."

Ahsoka smiled, and then turned to Rex. "Rex, and want you and some of your men to start manning these outer defenses. When the Empire lands, I want you to delay their ground forces for as long as possible, while the bulk of our loyal troopers retreat. And someone contact Captain Autem. Tell him that we need to start evacuating the city, and we need his men to help in the evacuation. And we'll need plenty of transports to start airlifting as much of the wounded and equipment out."

Rex nodded. "Right away, commander." He said before he went away to contact the forces in orbit, and direct his men around.

Ahsoka turned back to the city's schematics and started pinpointing Maul's last known location, thanks to the tracker Kryze put on him. "Oh, and Rex, I want you to send some of your best men Jet Troopers to me."

"What do you want them for?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka smiled when she pressed a couple buttons on her wrist unit, which pinpointed Maul's location at the Sundari Banking Center. "We have to pay a visit to an old friend."

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ISD Reprisal, Flagship of Rear-Admiral Kendal Ozzel, Mandalore System.

Ozzel watched as his fleet continued to carve its way towards the planet Mandalore.

He was originally supposed to come here and apprehend a Jedi brat and then punish a few traitors within the Clone ranks. But that turned into an all-out mutiny, as the lead Venator, followed by half of the rest of the task force, disobeyed the Emperor's orders.

Now, what started off as a simple mutiny, had turned into an all-out brawl for control of the system. At first it was Ozzel's fleet against the Rogue warships. Then the Mandalorians got involved on the side of the Rogues. Several other Imperial battle groups had to be called in to pacify the rest of the system and do battle with the numerous, but weaker Nite Owls ships.

That's when an Imperial naval officer walked up to Ozzel with a datapad in hand.

"If you're here to make a report, Lieutenant, you can tell Imperial Center, we're making steady progress. The Rogue fleet is being constricted by our advance, and their support ships are taking casualties. And with one of their Venators disabled, their excess fighters will have trouble landing again. And we're winning on every active front across the system."

"Well sir, we are winning on every front," the officer said nervously, as Ozzel was still looking out at the space battle, "But there are too many fronts."

The Captain's arrogant smile disappeared and he turned around to look at the nervous officer right in the eye. "And what, pray tell, are you talking about?" He asked.

In response to the captain's unrelenting gaze, the officer used his shaking hand to tap on his datapad's touch screen, before it created a hologram of the entire system. Many of the planets and moons flashed red to show where Imperial forces were engaged in active combat.

"The Mandalorians are employing two strategies against us. The Nite Owls are striking us from several small airbases across the system, and are wearing down our naval forces, spreading us thin. Then there are the local garrisons and militiamen, who are fighting for every inch of ground. Our Stormtroopers are being forced to dig out the pockets of resistance on every planet and their moons, which has rough, and unfamiliar terrain. Yes, we are winning, but at great cost." The lieutenant said.

Ozzel continued to stare into the man's soul with a steely gaze that could kill, but he remained expressionless nonetheless.

Then the nervous officer brought up another image. This time of the Rogue fleet orbiting Mandalore.

"And then there's Captain Autem's fleet, which he has tasked with blocking our approach to the planet itself. And he has devised a strategy that is..." the officer paused, observing the placement of the Rogue fleet, "...Well, I will give him his due. It is brilliant. He has taken the debris from the previous engagement, and is using it to cover his fleet, and when our ships try to navigate it, or go around, Autem's ships are always waiting to blast away at us. And you can see for yourself how effective it is against us."

Ozzel looked at the next image, which showed dozens of fighters being shot down as they went around the debris field, and several destroyed Imperial corvettes and light cruisers. A few larger Imperial warships were limping away, firing a few parting shots back at the Rogue warships. Two of them were acclemators which had blast marks all over them. Another was a Venator, which was trailing smoke from its missing port-side wing.

"Oh, and that Venator is reporting that its hanger door is jammed shut, so now our fighters have one less place to land." the officer said, subtly responding to the veteran officer for the report he wanted the young officer to give earlier.

"I am well aware of the situation, Lieutenant?" Ozzel asked, emphasizing the young man's rank in subtle way of ordering him to not step out of line. The young officer backed off and stepped back, before Ozzel turned back to the viewport. "We need to destroy the enemy fleet, and then deal with the rogue clones on the surface. Their fleet will soon be surrounded and cut off from escape, but their army is preparing for a protracted siege. And every moment they continue to defy us, they continue to galvanize resistance across the system. We cannot allow that word to spread outside of the system. The Emperor's New Order doesn't need to be embarrassed just a day after its formation." Ozzel said. "We need to begin the ground war and then finish it quickly."

The officers at the table all nodded in agreement. That's when the holotable they were standing at started to blink and chirp. "Sir, we're getting a transmission from the surface. It's Clone Lieuten-, I mean Commander Bow."

Ozzel walked to the control room at the back of the bridge and looked at the holotable with interest. "Patch it through."

An officer's fingers danced across the keypad, and a hologram of a clone officer flared to life. Ozzel noticed that he was still wearing that ridiculous orange helmet with Tano's face design on it, in addition to his blue 501st armor.

"What is your report, Commander?" Ozzel asked the clone, who was standing at attention.

"Sir, we've been scouting out the city. It appears that many of my brothers are still loyal to us, and are ready to serve the Empire. But quite a few more are in control of the city. The traitors appear to be reconfiguring the cannons used by Maul's regime to defend against the upcoming ground assault, and they are manning checkpoints to guard streets that connect the royal palace to the Outer Dome." The loyal clone officer said.

Ozzel nodded. "Hmm, very well, Commander. We will start our ground assault. In the meantime, spread the word to the rest of the loyalist. Find a way to disrupt the enemy's movements, and shut down those heavy cannons."

But before the transmission could be terminated. The clone officer spoke up.

"Oh, and one more thing, Sir, I have someone here who would like to speak with you." Bow said, before he stepped aside to let someone else enter the holo-recording.

Ozzel raised an eyebrow when he saw who it was, recognizing him from the reports he read before entering the system. It was Gar Saxon, Lord Maul's right hand man, and top field commander, who's brutality on the field was matched only by his loyalty to Mandalore. . . and himself.

"Greetings, Captain Ozzel. My name is-" Saxon started off.

"I know who you are, Mandalorian," Ozzel said with a touch of superiority, and carelessness.

"Well then, my reputation proceeds me. I would like to offer you a deal, Sir. In light of your recent transition into an Empire, and with the death of the weak Jedi, I would like to offer you my services. If I join you, and help you take Mandalore, I want you to put me in charge, as Viceroy of Mandalore." Saxon said.

Ozzel continued to just look at him with disinterest spread across his face. "And why should I agree to that? After all, you did fight for Maul against our forces, and your not even with the provisional government."

"Maul no longer controls Mandalore, and therefore, no longer controls me. And besides, Bo-Katan's government has sided with the rogues clones and the Jedi brat. And I couldn't help but overhear that Commander Bow is a bit lacking in manpower. They cannot possibly help take this city on their own. But If I were to join them with my remaining warriors, then our victory will be all but assured. And then your forces can just march into Sundari, and claim it in the name of the Empire, with me as the local ruler, of coarse."

Ozzel began to mull over what Saxon had just offered, and he came to the conclusion that he was right.

"Very well, Saxon. I will bring this information forward to my superiors, and see what they make of it. And once Sundari is ours, you and your followers will be well compensated for your services."

And just before the transmission cut out, Saxon smiled.

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Well folks, that was part 21, hope you enjoyed.

Hopefully, part 22 will be up and loaded soon.

Anyway, until next time, as always, this is Grubkiller, over and out.