[21 BBY – Eleven minutes after the Fall of the Mazariyan]

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

I allowed the mentally exhausted Skakoan General fall almost boneless to floor before me as I ended the pressure on his mind at last. It was a rather fatal flaw in the Confederate strategy in having kill switches in-built to their droid armies, an understandable one that we made use of to a lesser extent, but one, which, right now, was going to hurt them in the neighbouring sectors. The others around me were already in motion, led by Braika, as my Battle Mediation continued despite the drain it was putting on my abilities as combined wills worked towards a singular goal.

Some would call it unnaturally fast, and it was, but the Force was a help in this matter and it had been some time since I'd dived so deeply into my power alongside the black-ops combat side of what was ESS. Systems were opened to us now, links up to the Fleet element above under Jurdan as the enemy frigates simply shutdown at the flick of a button. Droid armies attempting to assault our position going inactive, the ion batteries and defence shields switching to our control as a handful of shuttles fell from the sky outside the base. I ignored such, simply pocketing my lightsaber, along with the two I'd taken from Sith ones, and approaching the control panel and bringing up Jurdan Ironhill's avatar after a moment's confirmation the link was secure.

"Secure?"

I nodded as Braika came up to stand beside me, senses watching for any danger in mind even as she focused firmly upon our next move "All objectives secured. Transmitting Sector Shutdown Codes and Command Systems Access Codes...Now"

Timing was now the key. We had access to defence plans thanks to the now unconscious organic staff here, and the loyalty switched droid forces thanks to the codes given by said organic staff. Not that they had access to the systems anymore, merely rote detail giving as our slickers accessed the Fortress's data-files remotely from secured stations aboard the support ships. Sector logistics, response plans, testing documents...a veritable treasure throve of data that we could exploit as I watched it ruthlessly data-mined for immediate needs. One advantage of working with the same droids at the basic levels pre-mod, and a standard cyber-warfare focus since our ESS days.

"Set time"

"Copy" I replied pressing the button on my wrist and synching with the command ship "Countdown; Twenty-five minutes, forty seconds. Standard Time. Mark"

"Time Set" Jurdan's avatar replied gesturing to one of his crew off screen "Phase Two in effect. Transmitting SS Codes to Headquarters in One Minute, Six Seconds, all units reform form for Fire Plan Zeta-Six-Red. Fortress Alert to be sent on my Mark"

"Copy that" I replied, and the image vanished seconds later. Now they would prepare for alerting, and then trapping, the sector rapid response forces here in system. Then the other offensives by our Sector Army flotillas could hit assigned areas where the shutdown codes should, hopefully, work as planned. Still with forces adequate to take down the defenders, but if this effort failed...then the situation would be less optimal than desired.

Especially after risking use of my powers in this way, and taking on the uneasy blast of the Dark Side where needed. Control was the key, the spells of concealment singing, and soon the databases would be wiped, and memories rewritten for the handful of survivors. Everything to back up the story of the two legions worth of droids and troopers being required to take the place alongside a commando assault; and certainly what had actually happened. Then I could destroy this carnivorous monstrosity that they had created; I could feel its hate and hunger, primal, stupid, but requiring a constant diet of prisoners to maintain itself. Something to be dealt with a time...

--

[21 BBY]

[Republic Aegis Guard Lucrehulk-class Battleship Shieldmaiden of Chandrilla, In Orbit Xagobah, Mayagil System]

Admiral Jurdan Irohill stood at the tactical display, watching, waiting. The alert signal had been sent from the captured CIS facility as planned, and now it was a waiting game as they waited just inside the orbit of the purple mist shrouded world below. So far, so good; the four defending Munificents had been taken out with minimal losses, and the fortress taken intact, with Codes captured and sent up the chain of the command. Mission accomplished...time to move unto the next, more dangerous part.

"Multiple Hyperspace Emergences in Orbit" his senior sensor tech stated as the tension continued on the bridge as he watched the icons appeared one after another. Daron and weird Jedi space magic, always a strange wonder to see according to Braika, had gotten them this far but now it came down to trickery and direction action. It wouldn't be long before the Separatist figured out what was happening here, and then switched their shutdown codes, so they had to be swiftly and ruthlessly exploited. Drawing off the Mobile Response Force should weaken the primary target's defences...if things worked out...

"Confirm numbers?"

His sensor tech took a moment "Reading...two Lucrehulk-class Battleships, eight Munificent-class frigates...Signals being sent from The Mazariyan"

"Enemy Reaction?"

Seconds passed by in an eternity before the response came "Enemy...shutdown codes appear to be successful! Enemy forces going inactive!"

"Full spectrum jamming on those ships, Now!" Jurdan ordered calmly as a few cheers filled the large bridge of the Lucrehulk "All vessels are to advance into firing range, starfighters to eliminate any stragglers while boarding shuttles land strike teams! Phase Three is now in effect. Move it people!"

It wouldn't do for someone to get smart and begin reacting competently after all. Without their droids those ships, mostly like only the Lucrehulks, were likely only crewed by a few dozen organics at best and reactivation would take time with such tiny crews. Time he wasn't about to give them as the Aegis Guard strike-fleet surged into motion, burning hard for their targets as the jamming clicked in and prevented anyone learning of what was happening right now. That and to deal with the enemy fleet as individual ships rather an organised whole in case they had some genius aboard and got them up and running...

--

[21 BBY]

[Republic Navy Venator-class Star Destroyer Selfless, Sluis Van System, Sluis Sector, Rimma Trade Route]

'I don't actual believe it, it's actually worked' Senior General Locus Geen thought to himself as the system defences before him fell into chaos. Less than desired, but more than should be expected as his fleet, spearheaded by two Venators and four of the refitted Acclamators, became to disgorge their strikecraft even as more hyperspace emergences were reported. Outland Regions Security Forces from their IFFs, and they too were deploying star-fighters even as they broadcast shutdown codes.

His forces had surprised, and then shutdown, a large taskforce assigned to defend the hyperlane route to this industrial world and its valuable shipyards. Even more valuable thanks to the disaster still apparently unfolding in the Core as whole companies went into meltdown due to the losses from the attack on Kuat. He wouldn't have supported such a risky plan as provided by the Stormcrow and his allies if not for the desperate need to link up with ORSF, and take whatever logistical support they could. Ryloth and the other Outer Rim worlds like Pantorans, and those they'd beaten into link such the Arkanis Regency.

"Focus fire on the active enemy ships, priority is command and control. Jam their comms as best we can, find high data-traffic ships amongst them and have bombers target them. Clear the orbital defences while they're in chaos...Comms, try patch me through too whoever is in charge on our allies side"

Notifying them had been a last minute decision, only done once he'd been sure the shut-down codes were genuine in their first engagement an hour ago. They were limited of course, but limited in this case was enough to drastically upset the balance in a fight he drove forward system by system along with his subordinates. It was surprise in truth that the ORSF had deployed their mobile strike force so rapidly...or perhaps it wasn't. Locus was finding himself too used to dealing with Republic level movement from allied forces rather than the swift and decisive actions he'd attempted to build into his own Sector Army. Seeing it from forces they were cooperating with...especially with the problem General Krell had brought with his presence and General Tachi's still being in seclusion for healing...then was a minor relief really.

'It certainly makes this easier than it would be' he thought watching as his force hammered into centre of the defensive force around the shipyards, and the just as large allied fleet swept over the defences on the flank to eliminate the orbital defensive station there. Locus sent two wings of bombers back up by two of Headhunter star-fighters to eliminate one of the native Sluis heavy cruisers as it moved to engage his forward firing line; buying time to reactivate the shutdown droid ships he expected. As such it needed to die quickly as he ordered the Venators to advance at full burn.

"General, I have a General Zsinj from allied forces..."

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