[Closing weeks of 14 BBY]
[Conference Room, Command Deck, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet 'The Army of Light', in orbit Kamino, beyond galactic Outer Rim, United Federal Empire]
"Not going to go down?"
I gave a snort at Asajj's words, Barriss giving a wan smile as my more 'unofficial' council assembled in the room now we were in orbit of Kamino, Maarisa Zsinj having gone on her merry way towards Rothana. The moment our combined fleet had appeared in orbit after exiting hyperspace, not so long after footage of the Rishi Moons had arrived, they'd given into our terms. Much as they despised said terms they were, wisely, afraid of exactly what we were going to do with any signs of resistance. Because we would flatten the place, even if they'd, supposedly, overthrown the Chancellor's remaining forces. So, I could only shake my head, resting back into my chair, hands together before me "No. Best not, least till every micron of that facility has been scanned and scrubbed, and every clone de-chipped and tested"
Then sighed "Simply put. I don't trust these cloners, and I don't trust them not to have Darth Sidious manipulate them into booby-trapping….everything. There's very little here of any significant military usefulness, is that not Gardan?"
My aide nodded from where he sat "Yes Sir, at least according to the data they have supplied"
Barriss glanced at him, then to me "They feel honest in their surrender"
"Course they do, we've a fleet in orbit that could bombard them to rubble" I replied, hands out in a 'what can you do?' gesture "I agree with you, but this isn't going to be a pretty operation, and they also very clearly hate us. With good reason of course"
"Yes, because you're destroying their entire civilization" Asajj offered and I shrugged as she looked at "Well, you are?"
"Aye, we are. Knocking them back to the not-quite Stone Age" I agreed "But thems the orders from on high, ones I'm inclined to agree with at that. This world has had years to surrender, or simply negotiate terms…but they didn't, and after that bio-weapon madness in the Core we can't take chances here. We strip this place down, we free and resettle all the clones, and we bring the war to an end. At least in terms of only having the confederacy to deal with"
The situation here on the Outer Rim was 'working to the benefit of the Empire' apparently. Which meant that the Confederates position was now in flux with Imperial control of the local hyperlanes from Imperial to Hutt space. With Rothana and Kamino eliminated the remaining forces loyal to Palpatine were backwards, or simple less developed, systems that could be crushed with relative ease now the fleets were gone as well. Worryingly we'd lost track of them, but the Republic factions on Corellia and Alsakan clearly were now aware of the situation through the Hutts…so we were where we were. The issue remained till those forces showed up in the Core War Zone myself and Zsinj had to stay on guard should they return for some reason. However unlikely they might be.
"Heh, peace"
"No need to be sarcastic" I murmured back to Asajj kindly with a shake of my head "Peace is often not all that pretty, or it's a lie as certain texts are wont to say. This is a Peace Treaty of We Won, They Lost, and we're stripping them of the capacity to restart a war with us"
'And let the Core kill each other' I didn't bother saying, though that was essentially unofficial Imperial policy in regards the Republic Civil War. Oh, we were much opposed to Palp's, but that didn't mean we wanted to take heavy losses doing that opposition when Corellia and Alsakan were clearly cosying up to each other. Ahsoka was being…okay…at being confined to the library and rooms, and getting VIP treatment, and she'd be able to head back home soon enough. At least as soon as we got the Clones here sorted, along with establish Sector control in the regions around the approaches to this distant, isolated, star system. That and stripping the databases to the bone.
Barriss came me an unhappy look "At least we're freeing the clones"
I nodded "Which will take time….and they're ones that are here are those that weren't viable to take with them on their evacuation, or those the cloners ensured they kept for their planned usage"
Asajj smirked "Not that we gave them a chance to do that"
"True" was my agreement to that, Gardan nodding in agreement "At least we hope they haven't any surprises for us. But it does leave the question of how many got away"
'Lots' was the general agreement on that subject. The Kaminoans had been busy little bees as it were, and it was very beneficial that we hadn't had to fight through the forces that Palpatine had built up here in the various Sectors in the last few years. It had saved deaths amongst my boys and girls, so that was an acceptable price even to be paid even to me, who actively wanted to fight the Sith's forces. Someone else, not on our side, would have to pay it instead. Hopefully in the process of shattering the Kuati forces that the evacuating fleet was going to be linking with. For us though came the long, depressing, operation of dealing with the aftermath of the Sith Chancellor's rule of these systems…
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[Closing weeks of 14 BBY]
[Command Bridge, Venator-class Star Destroyer Flagellant, Grand Army of the Republic Southern Fleet, in hyperspace, headed towards the Galactic Core]
CT-R-6242 watched the shimmering of hyperspace from the bridge of the Star Destroyer, his brothers maintaining the nearly silent, efficient, and focused, purpose of soldiers of the Republic. Good soldiers followed orders, and his brother followed orders to perfect perfection unlike the first, flawed, batches. Instead, they followed orders perfect. The enemies of the Republic would be purged, or they would die in the attempt. That was as it should be. Their loyalty to the Chancellor of the Republic was absolute, and now, at last, they would do their Duty.
Every clone, every ship, every transport that could be armed, had evacuated from the galactic southern Rim, now marshalled together and moving with perfect precision. All potential traitors had been purged as per the given orders. No non-clone now lived aboard the fleet. Obedience was Strength. No weakness was to be accepted. This mission was vital to the survival of the Republic, the True Republic, the one all their training had been towards serving. They lived for the Republic. They fought for the Republic. They would die for the Republic. That was their purpose. Their orders. They were good soldiers CT-R-6242 was reminded of once again, and good soldiers followed orders.
Not only that, but there was…a Will. It was with them. As it should be. Victory and Death. For the Republic.
"Captain" was directed at him by the assigned sensor clone "We are detecting hyper-pulses at extreme range, systems project arrival at target destination within projected timeline"
"Affirmative. Continue scanning. Alert all units – Bring to Readiness"
"As commanded Captain" came the calm, monotone, voice that matched his own. Everyone was in their proper place, at the proper time, working like clockwork. Flaws had been scrubbed. Uniformity had been enforced, and now the fleet stood ready to do its duty as CT-R-6242 stood at the holo-displays, watching the ground troopers forming up in precise squares, their white armour immaculate. Sterile and perfect unlike the flawed batches. They were perfect. They were good soldiers. They followed orders. They would prove that to the galaxy no matter the cost. All enemies would be purged. Everything for the Republic and Chancellor Palpatine.
Now they stood on that threshold. No more training. No more fighting pirates or distant raiders from the traitors of the so-called Empire.
Now came their purpose.
CT-R-6242 stood and watched as hyperspace came to an end and the fleet began to emerge in formation through secret routes only to the true defenders of the Galactic Republic. Thousands upon thousands of icons began to fill his tactical displays. Traitor ships. All of them. He and every clone Captain ordered mass jamming of communication as they entered the Coruscant system amongst the piles of traitor freighters and so-called trade port. It was a vulnerability that traitors used. Unarmed transport hauliers from across the galaxy, even from the vile Separatists and Jedi servants – all supplying material to fuel the traitorous war effort.
"Open fire"
"As commanded Captain" echoed back in his/their voice as every Captain followed the Will, followed their Duty to the Republic. They were the tip of the spear. For others would come here soon. The Grand Offensive had begun. The Republic would be saved. Just as they had trained. They were good soldiers, they followed orders, and, in following orders, they would win…even if they died in the process. This was fine. They were expendable. This was their purpose. Good soldiers followed orders followed through CT-R-6242 as the mass of enemy unarmed units panicked, fleeing into the warships in system that they had caught by surprise. Manned 'Fireships' of the True Republic drove forward into those ranks…
Space before him was illuminated as those vessels rammed home and then exploded, taking out those vessels and their escort starfighters. CT-R-6242 gave a mental note of understanding that his brothers on those vessels had done their Duty. They had followed orders. Just as he would. His Star Destroyer drove forward into the confused enemy ranks, codes transmitting, planetary shields falling. Starfighters raced out along with LAATs and their trooper contingents. These units would assault the planetary command and control system, eliminating them as his spaceborne fleet engaged the enemy, pinning them in place. He, they, would die here for the Republic, and in that dying it would throw the enemy into great confusion, the Chancellor himself soon to arrive to bring about a great victory.
Venators and Acclamators clashed with their opposites, the most modern of the enemy Star Destroyers being at the frontlines, being engaged by the Chancellors Grand Fleet. Today was the day of Duty. Of the restoration of the Galactic Republic as a dozen star systems would be retaken, Coruscant most importantly of all. The capital would once again restored to the True Republic. He was following his orders with perfection. He followed perfectly till the last moment when a V-wing crashed into the bridge of the Venator amidst the most furious part of the battle. His last thoughts calm and focused despite the shock. He had been a Good Soldier. He had followed orders….
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