[20 BBY]
[Slave Auction Yard, Zygerrian Royal Palace, Zygerria City, Zygerria, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
'Oh...kriff, what do I do now?' flashed through Anakin Skywalker's mind as the Zygerrian Queen, Scintel, who'd been buying his story announced Obi-wan was a 'special guest' to this event. That was not good, not good at all...
Oh...and there was Obi-wan being shoved out the gates in chains by Zygerrian guards...
E chu ta!
'Okay...okay, Anakin, you can fix this. Free Obi-wan, Again, deal with SLAVER SCUM as well' he told himself as Obi-wan shuffled forward. Point one; he had Ahsoka right beside him, if a bit...under-dressed. Point Two; R2 had their lightsabers hidden and ready. Point Three: he took note of Rex on the far side of the Royal enclosure, looking ready to fight at a moment's notice...
Good, good, he could free Obi-wan, give him lightsaber, have Ahsoka capture the Queen, Rex would give cover, and then they'd flee the Palace using the Queen and her Prime Minister as hostages. Beyond that...he'd figure how to get unto a ship and exiting the system when he got beyond 'Rescue Obi-wan with Snips and Rex, flee Palace' part of the plan. Obi-wan might have an idea of that part anyway...he usually had words and opinions when they got those parts of his plans after all, sometimes they were even useful!
Anakin glanced to Ahsoka, a faint nod to be ready, and Snips glared back but did a faint nod as well back in answer. She was shaken by Obi-wan being captured...and still mad apparently that they'd dressed her up a Hutt's favourite dancer for the mission...but she was an awesome Padawan, just like he himself had been, and would do everything that needed to be done to deal with the SLAVER SCUM assembled here. With a few movements of his fingers, careful so as not to be noticed by the guards, he alerted R2D2 that he might be about to 'do something stupid' as his little droid buddy called it. Anakin personally preferred to call it being a hero.
"My Friends, My Good Friends!" the Zygerrian Queen, Scintel, called out raising her arms as the guards stood prouder somehow, the Force and athmosphere in this dark place reeking of sickly and twisted joy and excitement "...Do Not Fear the Jedi! They Are NO DIFFERENT From Others We Have Forced Into Submission, For They Have Forsaken Their Ideals To Serve A Corrupt Senate"
Anakin hated to agree with SLAVER SCUM, pretty and friendly that she was, but there was an element of truth unfortunately, and he tried to figure out what he could do to persuade her into make free Obi-wan easier. Scintel's joy and sense of triumph was palatable through the Force, and it was strange that it wasn't a Hatefulness he'd expect from a slaver. She was still a horrible person being SLAVER SCUM, Queen of them in fact, and would be dealt with as such as he readied himself, preparing to jump down into the courtyard, or knock out the guards first if need be.
Scintel raised her arms, still talking in the 'Stage' voice attempting to ring with authority "Every Jedi Has Become A Slave To the Republic!"
...something rippled in the Force, a change as he felt panic and death somewhere distant, a sensation of fear and fury outside the growing contentment and avarice with the city. One of the guards turned away, distracted by a console he was answering, a second turning his head to watch. Anakin gestured at Ahsoka to be ready, this could be a good chance to strike once Queen Scintel finished her self-congratulatory speech to the SLAVER SCUM filling the court "THE JEDI ORDER IS WEAK! AND. WE. WILL. BREAK. IT!"
Cheers filled the Court as the Queen picked up an electo-whip...
"Screeeeeeeechhhh"
Anakin, and most present winced as the noise blasted out a second, the guards behind him sudden feeling spikes of fear, almost panic, as suddenly the hologram transmitters in the Court came to life. Flickering an image of an armoured and cloaked figure...before vanishing...
...then appearing again, flicking, a familiar mechanically effected voice coming from the speakers "...hey, this thing working? It is...right..."
"Oh, Kriff" he muttered as a large holographic avatar of Daron flashed firmly into existence before them all to the confusion of all those present. Fear too in a few cases apparently as a second, then two passed, so the image could solidify and hologram Daron raise his arms to the sky. Someone across the Courtyard started, a Nemodian it looked to, shoved others out of the way, cursing, and headed for the exit.
"GREETINGS TO THE PEOPLES OF ZYGERRIA, HONOURED GUESTS HERE FOR TRADE" Daron's 'General Stormcrow ' voice boomed out "I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS GREAT EVENT OF YOURS! A SLAVE AUCTION AND THE RESTORATION OF THE GREAT ZYGERRIAN SLAVE EMPIRE!"
A pause, more ripples in the Force, flashes in the bright day light sky "A SLAVE AUCTION OF REPUBLIC CITIZENS! A RESTORATION IN BREACH OF TREATIES WITH THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC! SO I SHOULD CALL YOU TRAITORS AND SLAVER SCUM! AND BY ORDER OF THE SENATE YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!
YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN TORMENT AND ENSLAVE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE?
THAT YOU ARE STRONG AND THE REPUBLIC WEAK?
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW WRONG YOU ARE!
I AM THE WRATH OF THE REPUBLIC MADE MANIFEST THIS DAY. NOW PRAY TO YOUR GODS FOR MERCY, FOR WE SHALL SHOW YOU NONE!
SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF LIGHT! TO BATTLE! FOR THE REPUBLIC!"
--
[20 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions Modified Lucrehulk-class Battleship Shield-maiden of Chandrilla, Battle-group Army of Light, Zygerria System, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"Enemy Defence Station IS DOWN!" Elomin Nurg'e'jai Twenta'wouna called out to her from the station in front of her as she stood before the tactical plot and watched as her 'Heavy Squadron' part of the Fleet tore apart the 'Heavy' ships of the Zygerrian Navy. Most before they'd even got their shields of deflector grids up and running...before they even realised they were already dead "...All Attack-wings have entered the atmosphere! Planet's only noticing us now!"
"Press the attack! All TIE Squadrons to focus on eliminate enemy star-fighters and establishing space superiority while the ARCs strike planet-side with the landing forces..." she commanded simply attempting t keep track of the cluttered three dimensional display. The Zygerria systems was positively teeming with traffic, and they'd jumped all the Fleet, bar support elements with picket left in the Malachor system, right in the middle of them. Thankfully they were almost all certainly enemies, so could just blow them out of space should they get in her way "...focus on eliminating their command and control systems! Daron's Stormcrow will keep jamming their comms, but we want to be damned sure got it Nurg?"
"Sure thing Boss" came back as she watched a Zygerrian dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser dying unto the combined firepower of her Lucrehulk and the three of the Venator-class Star Destroyers. They Zygerrians had been on guard...for terrorist abolitionists, slaves trying to escape, and general smuggling duty, for their Grand Event. After all...who'd dare strike at Zygerria itself? There weren't any large enough pirate bands out in this part of the Outer Rim that'd risk it, any local power was just as stripped down in power as the Zygerrians had till recently by the Republic.
Which had led to the unfortunate position for them of having no planetary shield system {yet, it was underconstruction}, nor a truly large modern navy {yet, the shipyards were clearly building one to her eyes}, for fair Zygerria. No, their Navy would easily beat off any pirate assault...but not the fully assembled might of a Republic Battle-group. Shesagora Shadowsails grinned at that; an old pirate turned legit, and now having more fighting ships under her control than she'd ever dreamed of. All while perform a massive pirate raid all dressed up as legitimate implementation of Republic Law and free of slaves – kriff it if she'd didn't like working with Mad Daron, and Jurdan despite the old geezer seeming to have a stick up his ass over piracy at times.
The Separatists had clearly supplied the Zygerrians with equipment, Vulture droid-fighers and Munificent-class frigates in decent numbers, but it was equally clear they were only learning how to effectively use them. A year ago that wouldn't have mattered, but now her little band of merry legal-pirates were veterans, in modern equipment...now...now, it was a one-sided slaughter in space. Surprise, ruthlessness as a large tibanna gas bulk freighter was destroyed and took half a space-station with it – she and Daron wanted to make a statement here today.
They'd selected only two primary targets to hit with the Legions; the planetary capital and its environs, along with a smaller assault on the shipyards and attendant space stations. Daron, his person squads, the Dathomiri witches he'd picked up, and his droids were leading the planetary assault; a decapitation strike on the government as the other Venators and Acclamators descended into the atmosphere to offer close range fire support. Shesagora watched as explosions, military bases and power plants, flashed in red on her holographic display of the planet to indicate successful attacks.
"I want those Bombers rearmed and back out immediately!" she ordered noting a number of first strike squadrons had already hit their targets and depleted reserves of torpedoes and bombs "...we've plenty of more targets for'em after all, and Nurg, tell the frigates and escorts to maintain formation in case the Seppies send in reinforcements"
She could already see they were going to take loses against this kind of resistance;- though if they were lucky they could limit it to damaged ships and lose of semi- replaceable auxiliary ships and escorts. Something of a cruel calculus, but that was the nature of space combat and mercenary work – better to lose a Pella or modified-Munificiant than a Venator, or even one of the Lucrehulks instead. While the Zyerrians had a lot of ships, fighting ships, in systems the fact was the majority of them doubled as hauliers/transports. Slave transports and raiders essentially...and those we're doing to so well versus heavy warships. Something a few of them had grasped as she watched several break for the hyper-limit...
--
[20 BBY]
[Airborne, Above Zygerrian Royal Palace, Zygerria City, Zygerria, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
'Imma da Rocketeer' some childish part of my mind told me as I jumped from the gunship, igniting the jets on my jump-pack along with the hundreds of others doing the same around me. Thousands across the city, backed up by three whole Legions worth of Troopers and support droids, were doing the same as came down right on top of the government and the slave auction. Spaceport too of course, and I could see the bright flash of an explosion outside the city that was hopefully one of the support military bases for the Royal Guard.
I put that aside, pushing up the power on the jets, flying forward as the others of the squad, and two droids, fell in behind me doing the same. Braika had trained us well and Ventress and her two sisters were...managing...as we flew towards the inner parts of the Royal Palace. Shots flew out from the gunship, eliminating a sniper position on my HUD, and I jerked right, slowing to quasi-hover in the air so my left arm came; touching with the right and letting loose one, then a second, micro-missile. Two explosions ripped through the masonry, sending four Zygerrian guards tumbling down three stories behind me as I ignited my jet-pack again, right hand wielding a blaster.
Movement and agility was life here and now, and I reached out with my Force senses, controlling and targeting as I felt a familiar nuclear engine of power in the Force not too far away, surrounded two other flames. I'd known by the intercepted holo-feed that Obi-wan was here, but the dynamic duo were as well, so this going to be doubly awkward. Awkward especially with the Dathomiri trio in disguise, Aegis Guard armour, but also a reason to have them present if it should come a fight. I didn't think Anakin would turn on me...but always best to be safe than sorry.
The last micro-missile took out a cluster of guards around a slaver as they attempted to defend a corridor not realising we were airborne and could attack them from behind. Drawing my second blaster and gunned down another pair of guards as I charged forward, landing on a balcony roof to get my bearings, then jumped again with a boost of the jets to land on the one across from me to overlook the Royal Courtyard. Where a fight was taking place apparently...ah, yes, there was Anakin...
Drawing on the Force carefully I used my jets again, up into the air, then allowing myself to drop, bracing and strengthening, as I impacted the ground and dropping into a kneeling. Blaster pistols came up, target, aim, squeeze...
I blinked. What the hell had they dressed Padawan Tano in since I'd seen them last?
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