[21 BBY]

[The Mazariyan, Xagobah, Xagobah System, Mayagil System]

TM-27G continued to survey the data-supplied by forward units as more of the local sentients, the Xamsters, threw themselves against outer defences after harvesting of one of their settlements earlier in the fungal world's solar cycle. So far the situation was proving optimal; B-1 losses were within expected parameters, the harvesting was above estimates, and valuable combat data for the future planetary conquest had been acquired. With major strategic success being achieved in the Core against Republic forces TM-27G was confident in predicting a major offensive to relieve this Sector would be underway in the coming months.

So far the Republic forces on either side of the Hyperspace Corridor had proven unusually aggressive, though this was estimated to decline as resources became less available, and a defensive reorientation of the GAR as a whole. For now though the Corridor Sectors had suffered from constant harassment attacks from Republic forces ranging out of the Eriadu Zone, and from further from forces seeking to link up with them from the Naboo-Ryloth Pocket. In response to these near constant raids significant fleet elements had been set aside for convoy escort, and protecting vital facilities such as the Sluis Van shipyards; The Mazariyan as such an impregnable fortress had become the coordinating facility for that defence.

[Atmospheric distortion detected:76/87K/44L/RT] one of its fellows, TM-23H assigned to planetary aerospace control, reported and TM-27G as senior tactical droid ordered further sensor data before reporting to the organic officers. In this case one of Wat Tambor's military aides, General Yut Khaldut, who merely waved the advisory aside and to focus efforts upon the current operations. Still TM-27G ordered tightening of internal security systems within the living organism that was the Fortress in case this was some effort at sensor spoofing as a prelude to an escape attempt from the prison levels.

Immediately after the report of the distortion all system reports returned to expected report statuses as the gates opened and closed as the convoyed passed into the bowels of the Mazariyan. There was much to be learned from the vast amounts of spores and pollen emitted by the local fungus and trees, potentially weaponisable; and it would allow testing of tactics against the local fauna without significant morale concerns. Already TM-27G was plotting operations against the two Republic holdout regions once the recently freed Wat Tambor linked up with General Greivous TM-27G would have viable operational plans to present to them...

{Alert: Patrol Squad 456D ID Tags Disappeared}

[Confirm: Deploying Squads 478C and 562R. Rechecking all sensor data/Raising alert level] TM-27G replied to the silent alert data-packet from the Senior B-1 Unit on the Western Gate into the Fortress. Following standard procedure all nearby units were reactivated and cycled into Alert Status as this was likely a prelude to another failed 'rescue' effort by the local Xamsters [TM-23H: Be aware, potential ground assault in progress. Recommend raising Alert Status Space Defence Forces]

[Confirm: Raising Defence Fleet Status]

{Alert: Patrol Squads 478C and 562R ID Tags Disappeared}

[Alert: Multiple Hyperspace Emergences. Alert: Broad Spectrum Jamming in Effect] TM-23H announced moments after the report of the disappearance of two more squads on the outer perimeter...no, within the outer perimeter of the Fortress. Standing TM-27G turned to their organic command staff, bringing up the various Alert data-packets to their screens.

"General, enemy space attack in progress with estimated ground support attack"

The organic nodded "Understood TM-27G. All space forces are to engage enemy fleet, fortress shields and ion batteries are to be brought full ready status"

"Roger General. Warning; Unable to contact space forces due to jamming"

General Khaldut frowned, and then gave a dismissive gesture with his hand "Continue with attempts to burn through the interference. This fortress is impregnable, and once we summon the Sector Fleet these Republic scum will learn the consequences of assaulting such a bulwark as the Mazariyan...time to burn through?"

"Nine standard minutes and fifteen seconds General" TM-27G replied as it turned its focus to Base Defence Protocols as more forces were diverted to the areas where any forces that had eliminated the patrols would likely be headed. Lack of track on the sensor feed was concerning, and the switch to individual scanning of the optical and infrared was required despite pollen and fungal spores proving detrimental as always. Sensors were going down, and the biological defences of the Fortress were acting...oddly, outside of expected parameters as they calmed to an unprecedented degree.

{Alert: JEDI! SECTOR 98-eeeeee} alerted TM-27G to the danger at hand. First he notified the organics, then promptly dispatched Droidekas and B-2 Battle Droids to support the B-1's currently holding the area. Optical scans through the internal camera feeds eventually showed the enemy force; perhaps two squads of organics in Mandalorian hybrid armour, with a number of droids of their own, and what could only be a cloak-clad and armoured Jedi in the lead. All were in sealed suits as best could be judged from camera feed could supply before they were eliminated as the enemy cluster swiftly advanced.

[They must be stopped. Seal all bulkheads. Response forces converge on Western Gate] it instructed watching as the heavy durasteel doors slammed down in front of the attackers. This would slow them as behind them B-1's had a chance to deploy into a firing line of sorts; needed as the Jedi advanced with lightsabers floating arount then, then plunging into the thick, but cheaply made, secondary inner doorway and cutting it free. Then flung backwards by that strange Force ability of theirs to tear into the ranks of the B-1's; the rest terminated moments later under impossibly coordinated fire from organics.

[Available Units Deploy Intersection Nine-Nine-G. Maximise Firepower] was the logical response agreed between the three tactical droids as they deployed forces in a semi-circular pattern to focus firepower on the 'outer' entrance gate leading into the area. Again the pattern was repeated despite the camera feed from the attacker's side of the door, the melee energy weapons piercing the weaker sections of the large door and breeching it within seconds. Even before the doorway exploded outwards the defence forces assembled opened fire and...

[Impossible]

Sensors indicated gravity somehow reversed itself within the space. Dozens of droids floated into the air, arms flailing and aim shifting wildly as the two squads attacking them rushed through riot force-shields at the fore as their impossible accuracy continued. Striding forward behind them was the Jedi, energy blades not held in hand but floating around them as armoured hands gestured and the blades flew through the air to spear and slash droid defenders. Chaos filled the ranks as the four heavy droids, with weapons again to MagnaGuards or even a lightsaber jumped from the entrance to smash apart the crumbling droid defences. In a matter of seconds the solid defence had been torn apart...

[Impossible]

...continuing on with barely a pause as the camera feed died again and TM-27G switched to internal feeds further in. Only to see B-1's apparently fleeing in fear as it, and the other tactical droids, noticed heightened fear responses in the organic officers present along with a...odd sensation indicate concerns over its own sense of self-preservation...

[Alert: False Data being entered from unknown source. Recommend; reducing cognitive processors and self-preservation routines on B-1 units. Recommend; reducing self-preservation routines in tactical unit] TM-23H broadcast, and TM-27G confirmed its agreement as some strange haze descended upon the base; almost generated through the biomechanical organism that was the fortress itself.

[Confirm: Disabling Routines. Alert: Organic Personal Compromised. Current Status: Panicked. Assuming direct control] TM-27G responded as the attacking force continued to plough through the defences in the forty-three second period it had taken to restore order. Only two minutes and twenty six seconds had passed, yet two squads of attackers had managed to penetrate mid-way into the Mazariyan. TM-27G struggled to process at such speed, and there being strange breaks in their advance where defences appeared to have been bypassed somehow...

[Impossible]

...as dozens of B-2 Battle Droids were terminated by streams of lightning, almost like a chain that jumped from to another down the corridor undoing a solid defensive position in an instance. Heavy weapons were being used liberally by the attackers now, barely pausing in their advance as...a wall of stone rose from the very ground behind them to seal in relief droid forces. Neither TM-27G nor its fellow tactical models could ascertain the exact method of generation, and the organic command staff were currently babbling and attempting to flee the command centre despite knowing the facility was now sealed.

Drastically increasing the Threat Level a full battalion of internal security droids was deployed alongside the three squads of assassin droids available to the Base Commander. Droidekas deployed in a defensive line with B-1s behind and to the flanks, as assassin droids established an ambush in the gantries and hidden sections within the living walls. In space the battle was only truly beginning, the four Munificent-class vessels assigned to the system being engaged by a significantly larger enemy force based around a Lucrehulk-clas battleship and several apparent Munificent-class of their own. Defeat there seemed inevitable, so all that mattered now was holding the Mazariyan itself till Sector Forces could arrive...

[Impossible]

Fleshy yet shadow tentacles erupted from the walls, the Mazariyan almost screaming according to sensor readouts as the defensive line was torn apart just as the enemy came into sight. The Jedi just...moved, optics seeing it but sensors unable to track it is it sent two red lightsabers flying forward into an assassin droid as it troopers poured fire into the crumbling defensive line. Like a shadow blur it moved, a third lightsaber of purple hue, coming into hand as an assassin droid attempted to ambush it...but only being cut in half with barely a backwards glance...

[Impossible] was all TM-27G and its fellow T-series droids could process as the solid doorway to the command centre was ripped off its hinges and rolling out of the way...

[Impossible]

...as it and its fellow droids were lifted from the ground by some invisible force as the armoured creature strode through the doorway, squads deploying around it as TM-27G struggled against its bonds. To no effect as the alarms around them continued to blare, and the sobbing form of General Yut Khaldut was dragged across the room to hover before the armoured figure with the red lightsabers floated around it, and third more intricate one held in its armoured hand as its purple blade came up to the organic General's throat.

"Now, gentlebeings, there are codes you are possessing that we be needing. So, let us talk quickly on these..."

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