Many of you have been waiting for Grievous. Wait no longer! With this, we end the introductory arc of the story! It's gonna be a long one...
Space might be silent, but the visuals more than compensated.
A lone Providence-class carrier/destroyer sailed across a neon-green nebula at full speed, the ionized gasses making the cyan outline of the vessel's shields flare constantly. Navigating a nebula was dangerous, but the need for secrecy was imperative, and thus more important than the few lives aboard the mighty warship, Righteous Intent.
The Chiss cyborg in command spared one last glance at the galactic landmark, before heading outside the bridge and towards the oversized hangar.
A Sheathipede-class shuttle was waiting for her, all dark blues and whites, slow, but extremely durable. Twenty years past, she'd been just a pilot, ferrying around some Kaleesh cyborg who wouldn't tell her his name or rank. Only Count Dooku's strict orders had kept her from prying. Eventually, she'd realized who her charge was. The Clone Wars had all but ended by then, and the good General had gotten rid of his meddling organic components. He'd approached her, no longer slouching, tall and fearsome and looking like a demon fresh out hell. She thought her life was forfeit, but he'd changed. Perhaps not as radically as many would've liked, but the 'new' Grievous grudgingly appreciated her service and flying skills, and granted her command of a Munificent-class frigate. Now, she led a fleet.
"Shuttle CT-349, you are cleared to land on bay one." -came the voice of a C1 Droid, snapping her out of the past.
The transport tilted towards its destination, an enormous hangar, fitting in size to the warship. The Insolence was a Subjugator-class Battlecruiser, not unlike the Malevolence, if 19 years updated. Her boss was waiting for her there, but it was not his flagship. Grievous didn't like the enormous warships such as the Lucrehulks and Subjugators much, even if he recognized their value. He preferred to lead his fleets from an inconspicuous Providence or Munificent, which would not be immediately prioritized by the enemy. Besides, he could afford lesser protection. It's not like he had any reason to fear death any longer.
The Insolence was, as befit a vessel of its importance, surrounded by a large fleet. Well, large by Confederate standards. At more than two-hundred and fifty vessels, this particular fleet would be considered massive by New Republic reckoning, too large and unwieldy to be efficient in combat.
Of course, they weren't at war...yet.
The shuttle extended its odd legs and landed softly. Two Magnaguards walked up to the swiftly deploying ramp, which she not-so-swiftly walked down.
"Greetings, Captain Mihren. General Grievous awaits your presence in the main bridge." -said one of them.
She nodded. "Understood."
A maglev tram arrived on one of the main rails, which she and the Magnaguards boarded. A couple of minutes later, she was on an elevator going up to the bridge.
The massive blast doors protecting the command bridge, flanked by two lethal Droidekas, parted to reveal a flurry of hard-working C1s, each painted dark blue with white photoreceptors and blaster pistols strapped to their spindly thighs. The bridge was guarded by auto-turrets mounted on the ceiling, a fully armed squad of C1s, and in the case of this particular vessel, two Magnaguards. An impressive display, if standard. There was one particular droid missing in the room.
"Captain Mihren, the General is on the main holotank." -said one of the C1s stationed at communications. Mihren nodded, slightly disappointed.
The all-blue color of the hologram did nothing to detract from the fearsome appearance of the Supreme Commander of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Unburdened by the flesh he'd been born with, General Grievous had replaced the gut sack he once had inside his chest with an advanced quantum computer, used to bolster the processing power of his synthetic brain, and help coordinate the massive fleets and armies of the CIS. Of course, to protect it, he'd upgraded his armor from durasteel to pure cortosis for the plating, and phrik alloy for the joints and inner workings. A blow from a lightsaber to the obviously armored plates on his face, chest, shoulder pauldrons, forearms, and legs would short the weapon out for a short time, while trying to slice the phrik joints would fail unless an impressive amount of force was applied to the swing. While the hologram did not reflect this, Grievous had abandoned the bone white tone, and adopted a matte silver with dark gray accents that reflected his Kaleesh heritage.
"Captain." -he said, standing ramrod straight, predatory photoreceptors boring into her eyes.
The voice of the Confederacy was mostly the same as before, only clearer, colder. Gone was the rasping and coughing, replaced with a paused, methodical intonation.
Mihren bowed. "General. Your will is my command."
Grievous narrowed his eyes. "The meeting with the Jedi. What do you report?"
The Captain cleared her throat. "I am certain I sent a full report…"
"Lifeless words, written out of duty. I wish to know your thoughts on the matter." -he said, dismissing the report with his clawed hand.
Mihren pursed her lips. "Yes, sir. The Jedi arrived at the rendezvous point and boarded my ship, having asked for clearance prior to that. The Jedi in question was Ahsoka Tano, and the Padawan Leia Skywalker. The girl was quite pleasant, if a bit sad. Knight Tano went straight to the point, did not waste time with idle chatter, as most Jedi tend to. They seemed to take the news in stride. and cooperated fully with our troops in their short investigation. Although, I did notice that the elder Jedi would stiffen slightly at the sight of Magnaguards and Droidekas."
If the former Kaleesh could, he would've grinned. "Common, in veterans of the Clone Wars. It is little wonder we received so many refugees from their territory. I seem to recall duelling with a Padawan named Tano during the Wars. Apprentice to Skywalker."
The Captain nodded. "She did mention knowing you, sir."
Grievous crossed his arms. "Interesting. She is clearly talented, since she still lives."
"Indeed. She dressed like a Togruta more than a Jedi, and acted as such. I believe she is an outlier in the Order, but still respected for her skills and accomplishments. This suggests she would be an ideal candidate to become our contact within the Jedi." -she surmised.
The General hummed. "The rest of their government is easily swayed. The Order will not be pleased with our interference, but then again, they will not have a choice."
"Not if they wish to survive the fight coming to them." -she said darkly.
Grievous scoffed. "I do not care for the Order's survival. I only expect them to play their part in our ultimate victory. As I do with you. The vessel you are on is to be commanded by you, effective immediately, as well as its corresponding fleet, which will be supplemented by your existing exploratory task force. Do not fail me, Admiral."
Mihren was floored. Whatever she was expecting when she got the command to jump here, it was not a major promotion and an entire fleet with a Subjugator at its heart. "I will serve to my dying breath, General."
"Make sure it does not come soon. The Republic is hours away from encountering their greatest enemy. Rakel is on Tatooine, as is the Mandalorian. See to it they do not achieve victory over our soon-to-be allies."
MysteriesMysteriesMysteries
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