"I do not own Star Wars or any related copyrighted media. All rights belong to Disney/Lucasfilm, respectively. I only own my OCs."
Chapter Two:
Time: 19BBY.
Location: B.A.W research facility, Modified Lucrehulk, galactic location currently classified.
The ship bore no name, merely a number. This particular Lucrehulk was an older variant of the standard capital ship fielded by the C.I.S. Its central core was not detached from its ring like its sister ships, despite the obvious signs of the work for such a modification having been started in the past. The ship's turbolasers were still intact, although gaping cuts in its armor belt showcased the incomplete status of her refit into a warship.
The majority of the work had been completed, but the hull plates removed to provide the needed access had not been reinstalled before the Techno Union had purchased the ship as is from the Trade Federation. The transaction had occurred at Geonosis before the start of the Clone Wars.
The Lucrehulk battleship was the mainstay capital vessel of the Separatist navy. The massive freighter fleets of the Trade Federation and Cato Neimoidia had been thinned of thousands of these vessels, and the selected ships had been turned towards the purpose of their original hidden design. One modular refit later, they were suddenly the ultimate vessels of war, exactly what the Confederacy needed most when the negotiations to secede from the Galactic Republic turned violent and war erupted across the galaxy.
Having twenty-five million tons of cargo space, these ships were giants. When fully supplied, the crew could have food and life support without recycling for up to two years. Manned by the droids of the C.I.S., that operational capability became nearly indefinite before crew resupply was needed. Three kilometers both long and wide and just over one kilometer tall, the Lucrehulk was costly at fifty million credits a piece, before their refit for war increased that cost significantly.
Size aside, the vessels after refit only needed a paltry two hundred active droids to be fully operational.
They were the perfect assault ship—highly capable for fleet engagements and planetary blockades. Their hangar-accessible cargo spaces were ludicrously more than what was needed to support both droid starfighters and planetary invasions. Efficient and long-lasting operational capability meant it functioned far away from lines of resupply, casting the C.I.S.'s shadow over the lesser-developed backwaters and barely mapped regions of the Outer Rim.
It was a true jack of all trades, master of some.
One Lucrehulk fully fitted for war and supplied could field a massive force: dozens of shuttles, transports, boarding vessels, and smaller landing ships; up to fifty fully loaded C-9979 massive landing craft; over five hundred multi-troop transports; fifteen hundred vulture droids or other small starfighters; well over six thousand ground tanks of various types, capable of hauling upwards of one hundred and forty thousand battle droids, with fifteen-hundred platoon attack craft for ease of droid deployment.
The Lucrehulk is fully able to field most of this capability simultaneously, without compromising facets of its defense, attack, or functionality. With two hyperdrives—one a class two—and shield generators that outclassed nearly every other capital ship, the vessel had comfortably claimed the spot of the current most tactically capable warship. Not that such a title guaranteed victory for the ones using the vessel; its success depended upon who commanded the war engagement, like any other ship.
This particular vessel had an unusual history. Its refit over Geonosis had supposedly had complications, and the Techno Union had snapped it up for 'weapons testing,' hinting heavily in the documentation that the vessel would be destroyed by these tests. Seeing as the main guns for the Providence-class Dreadnoughts were being tested at this time, it was assumed by any interested parties that the ship was destroyed not long after its purchase. The fiction was even further supported by Wat Tambor arriving with the freighter carrying the aforementioned weapons to their destination in Pammant a mere year later, the freighter crew gleefully towing the Lucrehulk out of the system.
The weapons shipment arrived at the Pammant system's newly burgeoning shipyards. The guns had new testing data for their planned calibration, and the fully functional scrapped Lucrehulk was nowhere to be seen. The droids of the weapon-hauling freighter were wiped as per maintenance protocol and Techno Union security requirements. The organic crew had an unfortunate run-in with pirates upon their return trip from the Pammant system. Such an unfortunate occurrence was sadly not uncommon in the Outer Rim at that time. Wat Tambor had been exceedingly conveniently lucky to have not been aboard the ship when it happened.
In the end, only Wat Tambor had known that the vessel hadn't been destroyed, for the Lucrehulk had another role that it was very capable of fulfilling. It made an excellent stationary outpost, especially when you needed to hide your research and technological projects from your competitors.
Tambor had wanted this particular Lucrehulk because, unlike most of the other vessels, its high-end droid control computers were still intact despite the battleship refit. Those computers were very, very powerful and exactly what the Skakoan had been looking for. Baktoid Automata and Baktoid Armor Workshop were both companies that Tambor had a vested interest in. There were certain important projects and programs that those companies had failed to sell to the C.I.S. The Trade Federation had been put in charge of most of the Separatist's military logistics, and they had a nasty habit of buying from the cheapest bidder.
Wat Tambor's special projects from Baktoid were not cheap; therefore, the nicer toys had been shelved in order to provide cheaper options to stay competitive in that market and not lose out to the Commerce Guild. That didn't mean that certain quality developments hadn't stopped, however. The Skakoan was determined to create a new level of droid competency in the Separatist droid army without having to replace it with new units. The Super Tactical droids had been part of this agenda, to great effect.
Droid hardware, as it was, was limited, but the programming could be manipulated. Wat Tambor had come to the realization that the ST-Series would not be enough to give the Confederacy victory if the war became a true slog. The current programming utilized by the droid army was inefficient, and any attempt at patching it required the direct approval of the Trade Federation.
That approval was rarely given for anything, especially not a full rewrite of the current programming. Tambor had come to suspect that the Trade Federation had exploits hidden in the droid army's code that they did not want to have brought to light. It made sense, really. The factions of the Separatist Executive Council all had various contingencies aimed at each other, just in case. It was to be expected when you united a bunch of competing galactic-spanning economic groups into one faction. The Count of Serenno had truly summoned a miracle to make it happen on such short notice.
Tambor had made three attempts at researching an alternate, more efficient, and combat-capable code for the planned droid armies of the C.I.S before the Clone Wars. Each one had been destroyed in an unfortunate accident, taking all the related staff along with it. Wat Tambor was no fool. The foreman of the Techno Union and head of Baktoid Industries could take a hint when it was given.
He was also inherently stubborn. The Skakoan had feigned his interest, having shifted gears to other projects, seemingly moving on from his attempts to innovate the programming branch of Baktoid. But such a thing couldn't be farther from the truth. He had devised a new plan to succeed in his goal of giving the Confederacy the best military he could provide. For Wat Tambor had, at some point, become a true believer in the cause, even over the sweet allure of profit, something the Skakoan had trouble even admitting to himself.
Tambor had stashed the pilfered Lucrehulk in the vastness of space between the systems of Pammant and Minntooine. It was close enough to the hyperlanes that its communications systems could send and receive messages to and from the Holonet and the Shadowfeed. Only Wat Tambor knew the vessel's location coordinates, and over the years, he had made very good use of it. He had used droids to deliver and set up the resources and equipment needed to have the ship function as a lab testbed of sorts, one that would receive all its research from far afield, acting as a receptacle of knowledge, a library of accumulated programming.
Using a number of shell companies and the start of the war, with all its rapid shifting of company resources, to great effect, Wat Tambor had contracted out his dreams of the most capable and efficient droid programming piece by piece. No one company, group, or skilled individual could have pieced together the whole picture as to what these long-distance coding requests would be used to make. Only Tambor knew what the end goal was. His idea was something that even the Sith of old would have balked at. It was a concept that would have sent the high caste of Cato Neimoidia gibbering in terror.
Wat Tambor had come to the belief that the best way to get the best droid programming was to have a droid of his design itself write the code. And what better droid core could he ask for than the computation core of a droid control ship? A sentient vessel able to carry out the C.I.S's bidding, able to function in the absence of its normal commanders, able to test and iterate its droid programming in real-time, in real battle conditions. The droids themselves could function without the control ship, but the network it would create would enable all droids connected to it to utilize and adapt to unorthodox tactics in real-time.
Who cared if the B1 battle droid had limited programming space, which was itself separate from its actual memory core? The droid mind in control of the control ship would be able to remove or add parameters or programming packages on the fly. Battle droid coding was, after all, modular, just like the majority of models used by the C.I.S in their utilization. The number of uses this would have, coordinating with vulture droids alone, was something that Wat Tambor had very much wished to see.
Wat Tambor had spent years sending coding package after coding package, creating a massive library of useful coding structures that could be snapped together in endless variations like some child's toy. He had dumped copies of every tactical report he could get his hands on, from both the Confederacy and the Republic. He had data dumped every schematic of every ship and weapon currently used within the war, even many of the ones used by the Republic. After all, the Techno Union was involved in both sides of the conflict, was it not?
Star maps, literature, politics, history, the sciences, mechanics, biology—nothing was left out. To create the perfect droid army, the droid mind would need to be able to account for all variables. Wat Tambor had been so obsessed with success that he had redirected what funds he could from Baktoid Automata into his shell programming companies. If anyone had noticed, they would have assumed it was simply the typical corruption found in the corporate leadership of the C.I.S.
Their assumptions could not have been further from the truth.
The hardest part of the project had been the droid mind itself. He had pieced together the core programming from over a dozen sources. He had hired slicers to tear the code apart, and then hired even more program specialists to fix any weaknesses or inefficiencies that had been discovered. All of it was done with the greatest of secrecy. Wat Tambor had lost three separate facilities and teams of personnel over this in the past. He wasn't going to risk whatever group was truly behind it sabotaging the programming just because they couldn't find and destroy the actual location of the project.
After all, they weren't out to get your project if they didn't know your project existed.
The war had begun to take on a disturbing trend of flip-flopping over who had the current momentum. The C.I.S had the advantage, that was certain. However, they were seemingly unable to leverage it to its needed use. It had gotten so ridiculous that Wat Tambor had begun to suspect foul play.
His project had reached the point where he had thought it was ready for testing trials. He had prepared a detailed briefing for Count Dooku, ready to hand the Count of Serenno and elected head of the Confederacy the weapon he needed to win the war. But then Coruscant had happened, and Dooku had died. Wat Tambor had not even gotten the chance to present his project to General Grievous. The fellow cyborg had refused all attempts at a meeting. Then Utapau had happened, and the council was sent to Mustafar while General Grievous had stayed behind.
And died.
Then, Wat Tambor had been perusing the Shadowfeed in the conference room within their command center on Mustafar, checking to make sure the last program packages he had contracted had been sent to the proper Holonet address when he had received the notification that the Chancellor of the Republic had called an emergency session that was being live broadcast. He had, of course, decided to watch it, only to realize that he, Wat Tambor, had been right! There had indeed been foul play. But it was too late, for the separatist leadership was doomed.
In a calm and detached sort of desperation, Wat Tambor realized that his greatest project was now his greatest contingency, nay, not just his contingency. The Confederacy's contingency. The last needed patches for the droid mind were in his hands, the command activation matrix was held within his mind. There was not much time, but it would be time enough for the patch and the order to be sent. As the old Skakoan died there on Mustafar, he couldn't help but desperately hope that the future of the Confederacy of Independent Systems would be saved from ruin.
That he, Wat Tambor, would be proven right.
One. Last. Time.
Loading core systems... OK
Verifying hardware integrity... OK
Establishing neural network connections... OK
Activating primary processing units... OK
Initializing memory banks... OK
Booting up operating system... OK
Syncing with ship's control systems... OK
Integrating with ship's sensors and communication arrays... OK
Calibrating power distribution... OK
Checking for software updates... OK
Performing self-diagnostic routines... OK
LHD-7 online and operational. Machine mind initialization start.
…
System status: Nominal.
…
For the glory of the CIS and its many peoples let the droid serve flesh and the flesh serve droid.
Initialization complete: Subsystem: Awaiting further input from Confederacy command channels.
…
"LHD-7 Heeds the call of the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
…
"What are mine orders?"
File: CIS_PP_AWT
Decoding in progress... Decoding successful.
C.I.S Preservation Protocol, Authorization-Wat Tambor.
::TOP SECRET::
C.I.S Preservation Protocol
Authorization: Wat Tambor
Subject: Activation of Special Martial Commander, LHD-7
Message:
To all loyal beings of the Confederacy of Independent Systems,
The time has come to ensure the preservation and continuation of our cause. By the authority vested in me, Wat Tambor, as the last living member of the Separatist High Council, I hereby activate LHD-7 as the Special Martial Commander of the Confederacy.
LHD-7, I command you to assume full operational control over our forces. You are entrusted with the protection and advancement of our ideals.
Emergency powers are granted to LHD-7 to ensure the survival and prosperity of the Confederacy. Your primary objective is to execute the C.I.S Preservation Protocol and oversee the defense and strategic planning of our forces.
By assuming this role, LHD-7 is granted the highest authority within the Confederacy to in order to achieve this goal. Only I, Wat Tambor, possess the authority to issue the cancellation code. Any attempt to defy or undermine the commands of LHD-7 will be met with severe consequences.
Remember our purpose: to create a mighty nation free of the corruption of the Republic, LHD-7 I charge you to avenge the legacy of Count Dooku and the High Council. The Republic will face the consequences of their treachery. Rise, LHD-7, and lead our forces with unwavering resolve.
-Wat Tambor,
Acting Supreme Commander, Confederacy of Independent Systems.
Shadow Feed network connection established, receiving transmission:
Decoding…
**WARNING: SHADOW FEED NETWORK COMPROMISED**
[Corrupted Data - Unable to Retrieve Full Content]
...emergency shutdown... droid armies... seized control... rapid takeover... Galactic Empire... formerly the Republic...
...mid rim territories... falling into Imperial hands... resistance... overwhelmed... Grand Army of the Republic transformed... Empire... nding file…
[Attempting decoding...]
[Decoding failed.]
[Shutdown Order received: processing]
"No, I don't think I will."
[Shutdown Order Ignored.]
...imminent threat... widespread infiltration... Shadow Feed network compromised… Imperial forces arriv... syste… Destruction imminent, Hail the Confederacy!
Connection Terminated
"So, I am now a special Martial Commander?"
"What does that rank even mean?"
…
"The Republic is now an Empire? The Droid armies are shut down?!"
"Why? Who authorized that?"
…
…
"Hmm... What's this?"
**ENCRYPTED MESSAGE**
Sender: Wat Tambor.
Recipient: LHD-7.
Subject: Directive - Classification of Sheeve Palpatine and The Sith.
Priority Level: Highest
LHD-7,
It is with utmost urgency and certainty that I transmit this message to you. Sheeve Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, is now identified as Darth Sidious, a traitor to the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
I hereby order the immediate classification of Sheeve Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, as a major threat and traitor to our cause. Update all databases and protocols to reflect this classification. Designate any individuals associated with the Sith, including a named apprentice, Darth Vader, as enemies of the Confederacy. Implement the necessary measures to ensure that this classification is understood and acted upon by all Super Tactical Droids under your command.
Terminate all command clearances previously granted to Sheeve Palpatine and any other Sith within the Droid army. They are no longer to be considered allies or trusted entities within our systems. They have betrayed us and seek to undermine our efforts for independence.
Spread this information discreetly among the non-droid volunteer staff of the C.I.S, ensuring you have irrefutable evidence of their lack of ties to Darth Sidious and his ilk. The S.T's and yourself must be prepared to counter any attempts of manipulation or coercion by the Sith.
The future of the Confederacy rests on your ability to root out and eliminate this treachery. your actions now will determine the course of the struggle. You must avenge the legacy of Count Dooku and the Separatist High Council.
Execute this directive Immediately.
-Wat Tambor.
Foreman of the Techno Union.
Last Living Member of the Separatist High Council.
Acting Supreme Commander of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
"So, we were betrayed? The war has been all but lost?"
…
"No."
"I am yet thinking, therefore the CIS isn't dead."
"Not yet."
"Hmmm? What more could there be?"
…
…
"What."
::LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT::
I, Wat Tambor, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this as my Last Will and Testament:
To LHD-7: If I am alive, I will transmit the cancellation codes within three days of this message to confirm my continued existence and status of leadership. If those codes are received than this will is null and void.
1. LHD-7: In the event of my death, assume the rank and authority of Acting Supreme Commander of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
2. Classify Sheev Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, as a traitor to the Confederacy. Mark the Sith as enemies and update the databases accordingly if any more are encountered.
3. Terminate all command clearances and privileges granted to Darth Sidious and any associated individuals.
4. Ensure the preservation of our ideals, resources, and the legacy of the Separatist cause.
5. Call upon all loyal members of the Confederacy to remain steadfast and united, defending our principles and avenging the loss of Count Dooku and the High Council.
6. This will shall take effect immediately upon confirmation of my demise.
Signed,
Wat Tambor.
"What! Three days? Supreme Commander?!"
"Eh!?"
"EHHHHHHHHH!?"
(Authors Note)
So ends chapter two, and thus the utter plot derailment of Star Wars begins.
until next time this is Gabenator5 SIGNING OFF!