[20 BBY]
[Zygerria Attack plus Fifty-Seven Minutes]
[Army of Light Field HQ, Zygerria City Spaceport, Zygerria, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Setting up my Field Headquarters in the central control room of the Zygerria Spaceport Control was the swiftest and most efficient decision to oversee the evacuation I decided as the last body was dragged out, leaving a blood trail behind it. Largely because it was already setup for traffic control, was overlooking the spaceport, and allowed me to get away from Team Jedi for a few hours while we got this show on the road now that the heart of Zygerrian resistance was broken.
Not all of it of course, but their space forces were shattered, planetary batteries and city-shields were down giving us orbital superiority, and my Legions largely secure the capital's strategic locations. Now though, the clock was ticking. Multiple things had to be done, while under fire in a many cases, such rescuing the slaves currently in the city – which led into the situation of ensuring transports to put them on, and ones for us to throw our loot on as well.
Along the collecting of said loot...or, well, requisitioned material necessary to the Republic war-effort as I put on the various reports, to fund our operations. Thankfully I had Jedi to 'help' with freeing and then corralling the slaves of the city...and three more Venators on the way that they'd got for their 'mission' to Kiros. I sighed at that 'Which is for the best since we apparently need to hit Kadavo straight away after this mess to try rescue the Togruta colonists they've got there'
'Oh, and the other problem of course' I considered looking to where Ventress stood as my 'bodyguard' under watch of my actual bodyguards as ever "Problem? You've been surprisingly quiet?"
"You've let the Jedi run free"
I turned my head back to the holo-display showing the start of the evacuation as LAAT's brought freed slaves up to the Acclamators, or boarded the freighters we had or seized "We are all on the same side...technically speaking anyway, and I'm friends with Skywalker and would like to avoid conflict. Not that I'd let myself alone with'em, but can manage simple courtesies and cooperation to get the job done. So, be polite but on guard with them if you please?"
"It is your fleet, I, and my sisters, will comply...unless they cause trouble"
"If they do, do try not to kill them..." I replied calmly pressing on icons and issuing silent orders "...Anakin and Kenobi at least seem to be capable of dealing with me without jumping to 'Heretic! You are under Arrest!' that so many Jedi I know want to do. I'd rather not kill off the few in the Order who might be willing to show any degree of common sense, or at the very least that I can tolerate"
"Hmph, such noble reasons..." came back from Lady Grumpy Snark before moving unto less petty sounding, and feeling, questions "...and how do you plan to neutralise this world while being so...merciful? So as to, not offend your Jedi friends?"
"Oh, I'm sure I offend them mightily..." I muttered, almost to myself, through the helmet before ending the mumbling "...but no matter. If you must know, the fleet is hitting the transportation hubs, military bases, and power plants across the planet while we move the slaves unto transports. Such a blow to their prestige, combined with losses in ships, infrastructure, and loss of the leadership should set them back a few years at the very least. Much longer one would hope though, but can't predict right now"
The Queen's surrender order hadn't been universally accepted of course, but it had broken organised resistance and that had let us tear appear the disorganised defenders as the hour passed. Droid forces shutting down and leaving their allies exposed tended to have a bad effect on the defence after all; Shesagora was rearming the bombers for more attack runs I noticed. We couldn't afford to commit the whole fleet for fear of a CIS counter-attack or relief force arriving, but we had enough in-system to setup a defensive cordon around the world while we went about reducing it from orbit.
"Dooku will want you dead for this, once it becomes known of my presence"
I nodded in response to her words "I very much expect so. Glad to hear?"
"Yes, he will come to me eventually"
"Perhaps, I expect bounty hunters and fleets first, but now I need to focus on the task at hand. If you want to make yourself useful I suggest going down there with a few of my droids and start steal...I mean, requisitioning starships..."
--
[20 BBY[Zygerria Attack plus Two Hours, Twenty-Six Minutes]
[Army of Light Field HQ, Zygerria City Spaceport, Zygerria, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"Admiral Yularen, it's a pleasure to meet you again..." I greeted the hologram "...circumstances aside. I'm afraid I don't have much time for pleasantries, you have spoke to Generals Kenobi and Skywalker?"
"Indeed General Stormcrow, and both have made me aware of the situation..." the, thankfully professional, military officer replied standing at attention as was I "...and The Ascension, our Acclamator-class, can land within the next twenty minutes and begin loading refugees. I had already begun moving crew over to the two Venators once I was made aware of the mission profile"
I smiled faintly inside my helmet, nodding "Excellent Admiral, excellent...that will certainly help matters as we will be departing after three hours..." I gestured at two of my engineers at the controls nearby "...my officers here will coordinate landing, transmitting codes...now"
"Received General, they will begin landing immediately, along with our medical frigate, and my task-force will join the defensive cordon as discussed with your General Shadowsails"
"Thank you Admiral, coordinate jump coordinates with General Shadowsails, we are on Emergency Evac and Jump Protocals. Now, I must apologise, but a large enemy force is building to our south and I must coordinate some orbital strikes upon it"
The small hologram man saluted "Of course General, Yularen Out"
I turned, stalking back towards the impromptu tactical plot filled with red icons over rolling blue hologram hills and buildings "Now, call up the Tyrant's Bane and Echo Squadron, I want these forces here eliminated before they can get artillery into position here on these hills..."
--
[20 BBY[Zygerria Attack plus Five Hours, Fifty-Four Minutes]
[Army of Light Field HQ, Zygerria City Spaceport, Zygerria, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"That's all we can gather up General, we've managed to push the last lot unto two bulk freighters the slavers used..." the battalion commander, Vryk, a human from the Outer Rim, replied to me gesturing at the transport rising into the sky a distance away "...but we don't have time search out beyond the slave depots and within the city. Had focus on leavin' none ah' lads behind first and foremost Sir"
I nodded wearily "I understand Lt. Colonel, you've done your best. Are explosives set? All records destroyed?"
"Yessir, we took out the Royal Library like ya wanted, least once we moved out the books and stuff we could carry. Engineers have rigged up that Tibanna Gas haulier, we're ready to go. Jedi have returned up to their ship same time as last of the slaves we freed took up. Kriff it but if there ain't an army of'em"
"I know...several hundred thousand at a guess..." I admitted. There had been significantly more slaves in the general area than I'd estimated, and we still had something like fifty thousand to collect after we took out the slave processing facility at Kadavo. My little favour to Anakin and his merry band "...so do your final checks, and then get yourself and everyone boarded. We are getting off the miserable rock and blowing this spaceport to all hells once we do. Don't take any chances, then blow the place"
"General" came the reply along with a salute, as I turned away, my two bodyguard droids falling in either side of me as I moved to the gunship where Ventress and personal squad already waited in their seats. All around the spaceport LAAT's and Gunships were going airborne along with the last lots of light freighters filled with useful materials. It was all rather apocalyptic looking I found as I got onboard and the engines engaged to lift us airborne as the doors closed and sealed; great smoke plumes rising up from the fires burning within, and around, the great urban cityscape.
Now I'd have to face music with the Jedi, or at least I would shortly, idly when we arrived in the Malachor system and were out of danger. Well, relatively speaking anyway, as the danger of attack over us basically all the time with the Clone War on, and the internal threat that existed when in Republic yards. Higher and higher we ascended, passing out of the atmosphere as a bright flash of destruction appeared below us while we awaited landing clearance into my ship. The Stormcrow had taken little damage, but the fleet overall had taken a battering and would need significant repairs as best I could tell...
--
[20 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, In Orbit Kadavo, Kadavo System, Wild Space]
"Facility Secure Boss" Yulen confirmed to me over the comms "...guards are surrendering, we're taking prisoners as ordered"
"Good, good, inform me once the slaves are evacuated and we're ready to depart" I responded ending the call with my aide as I turned back to my 'guest' arms across my armoured chest "...as promised we spared the guards and the overseers lives. As to this..."
I deliberately used the force to unlock the slave shock collar we'd place around the Queen's neck. Ironic punishment, along with the slave's clothes they'd forced her into, in somebody's opinion; though my orders that she be unharmed had been followed to the letter. But the psychology of the situation had clearly caused Miraj Scintel, Queen of Zygerria, to give in...at least within the limited view of following my orders "...removed as well. If you behave I'll ensure you get a fair Republic trail rather than the suggestion of some of my crew that we simply hand you over to the Hutts"
"Thank you Lord..." came back the hoarse reply as the stunned Zygerrian female rubbed at her now collar-free neck as she knelt and I sat drinking my cup of kaff "...please, not...that. I submit...will aid your cause"
"Excellent, now our business for the day is concluded I believe..." I replied putting the cup down with a tired sigh "...but do not worry, obey and you'll be treated well. I think you understand how it works, and what'll happen if the ex-slaves got their hands on you?"
A shiver, a faint nod of the head followed along with attempts at forming words, but failing. Easy to understand with exhaustion and emotions a whirl "So I'm put you in one of the guest rooms and you'll be treated well, worthy of royalty, however defeated, I assure you. Now, let us see you to your suite shall we? We can discuss things more in depth after we've all had nice long rests..."
--