[20 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, GAR-South, Exiting Hyperspace into Gamorr System, Galov Sector, Treillus Trade Route, Outer Rim Territories]
"Exit in 5...4...3...2...1...Re-entry complete" Gardan counted down as the display of hyperspace on one of the screens vanished and was replaced by the black of real-space, and the planets of the system distant. Seconds passed by as my flagship's Captain confirmed the position of the rest of the fleet "...all ships in combat position, no problems to report"
"Anything on sensors, enemy vessels, military response?"
"No Captain-General, system is quiet, a few freighters in orbit around Gamorr itself, but I'm not sure they even know we're here yet as we're not detecting any response planet-side or from the space-station"
I nodded "Good, signal the Fleet; bring us in towards the planet, maintain defensive formation and initiate Black Out, just signal them first"
"Copy that Captain-General, Signalling Planetary Authorities and Initiating System Comms Black Out"
Gamorr wasn't exactly advanced anyway so there wasn't much to jam other than the handful of freighters, and the few advanced systems like the station and a few advanced groundside buildings. Despite I'd rather not take any chances, Hutt permission or no, that warning wouldn't be sent out to our enemies now that we were free and clear of Rothana after our sojourn there. The Treillius Trade Route Hyperlane was the current key to our operations, and the less warning the Confederates managed to get the better. Especially with word General Grievous had somehow been captured by the Gungans of all people...
'It's Darth Jar Jar! It's bizzaro universe! Burn it with fire!'
I shook my head at the stray though 'No, he's not, background checks indicate otherwise...despite weird Force luck or whatever he's got. That and he's clearly smarter than he lets on, the wily bastard'
...but that aside; the cyborg was off the table, and other Confederate hunting fleet under Admiral Trench was supposedly near either the Hypori, or Kowak, system where we'd left false trails before ducking in behind the defences of Rothana. Myself and Shesagora had drilled our forces relentlessly during the three weeks there, with two days rest prior to departure, but only time would tell if it was enough to take the edge off the greenness of our newer units. Now we'd use the lesser used trade routes to come in from a surprising direction, hopefully, on the Confederate holdings in the Galactic North-East.
'With a little stop along the way for mercenaries for the ground forces of course' I thought to myself sitting in my command chair as the activity continued around me in the large bridge. Thankfully I could see all the screens from where sat, though I could see better from the tactical display when I was standing, and our formation was...okay, not great, but I'd do for now. Not that let on as I called out orders to monitor the 'problem' cases and ensure correction of formation drift as the sub-lights ignited and we burned fast and hard towards the primitive agri-world technically under the Hutt's control.
I stood up, walking over to the tactical display and glancing at Yulen who was helping coordinate and monitor the operation as Gardan handled the ship "Still no movement"
"No reactions as yet beyond two of the freighters, and that's only to confirm non-hostility to Gardan's hails. Might have to do with threatening to shoot them if they make a break for it of course, and one of them been one of ours as well"
"That would help I'll admit" I muttered in agreement watching the tactical plot "Let's try and be quick about this. Get down, collect our recruits, pay our tithe, and get moving unto actual prey"
"Pirates? Seppies?"
--
[20 BBY]
[Governor's Secure Bunker, Eriadu, Seswenna Sector]
"I'm sorry Sir...we're to what now?" General Locus Geen found himself asking calm, despite the clear disbelief he felt at what had just been told him by the stern faced head of the Tarkin family. The others seated in the room seemed as surprised as he himself was, beyond the Governor's and Moff's brother who had a similar cold and stern face as his man responding to Locus.
"We are being ordered to release General Grievous in a prisoner exchange by the Senate, or, to more precise, by the Supreme Chancellor for...three Jedi, one of them a member of the Council, an, Adi Gallia"
"Oh for..." Locus immediately composed himself, sighing and taking a calm and measured tone "And has the Chancellor and the Senate any understanding of the...difficulties...that will create after the cost of capturing that insane monster? It is going to very difficult to justify this to the public at large"
He endured the withering glare in response "I am well aware of this fact General Geen, and one would expect the Supreme Chancellor to perhaps understand considering his home-world...but of late one has to wonder if there is something wrong with the human population of Naboo as Senator Amidala continues to spout equal nonsense as well. Ah...one had such hopes"
"We're going to have accept these orders of course" Gideon Tarkin voiced "so the matter now becomes a matter of how to manage the fallout of this decision. Quite frankly the Gungan population of Naboo are actually useful, while the human population have proven to be rather...problematically. Unfortunately this decision is going to cause us trouble with the portion we wouldn't want to insult after sacrificing to achieve the capture"
Wilhuff Tarkin gave a sneer, voice hold back...something...Locus couldn't quite guess at "Yes, it is rare to find useful non-human auxiliaries, and our human allies have been less than useful as one would have expected...similar to the Republic forces in Core itself. But my brother is correct, it is clear this will cause difficulties, especially on our firmer military allies amongst the non-humans, and this must be addressed with this order forced upon us"
"If if this to become a continuing problem...I could suggest doing what General Stormcrow method of dealing with that traitor Krell" Locus stated somewhat unhappily, but honestly "...as to Naboo, and perhaps Ryloth. Recruitment is high from Ryloth especially, and the Gungans have essentially supplied the Republic with a veteran army that has won two major victories for us...while not my area of expertise I might suggest attempting elevate Senator Binks and his people's position on Naboo. It would help improve military effectiveness there for one, and it would be something of a consolation with the Grievous situation perhaps?"
"Hmm, Hmm, yes, perhaps..." the senior Tarkin replied after a moment and a nod "...tolerable in dealing more martial species. Though this exchange is hardly worth the cyborg's freedom and danger"
Locus shook his head, sighing "The Jedi are incredible in certain battlefield roles, I had discussed it with both Rahm and Daron its very clear they would make incredible special forces, or the tip of the spear of any assault force. I've worked hard towards ensuring Rahm Kota's interests align with ours, and there has been something of an informal break between him and the Jedi Council over the Ryloth situation. It's unfortunate we don't have our in the ranks outside him, and Daron Stormcrow, as shorn of the religious mumbo-jumbo they are a force multiplier worth the cost"
"No as Generals unfortunately..." and Locus nodded in sad agreement with the Moff's words "...as the Republic is currently losing the war thanks to them, and the Senate, at times. No, I agree they would have a role, but they one they seem unwilling to accept due to their arrogance and need to control the war effort instead of leaving it to professionals such as ourselves. A shame we cannot develop our own, a matter worth speaking to some in the future perhaps...but for now, I do believe it may be time to convene a meeting of regional governors and planetary leaders to protest this recent action"
Gideon Tarkin nodded, perhaps a sign of pre-planned actions in Locus's mind "Yes, we need take a firmer stance on how the war is being fought here in the...
--
[20 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, GAR-South, Planetary System 678P-WT4, Just of Treillus Trade Route, Beyond Outer Rim Territories]
It was cracking a nut with a sledgehammer I found as my fleet emerged out of the dark to engage the pirate 'sanctuary' before us. My voice transmitting their doom to them in a tight beam as the Stormcrow's sensors came alive and cut off outside communication for them "At the request of Mighty Jabba of Tattoine on behalf of the Hutt Council, and for your crimes against the Republic, you are sentenced to death. You may pray to your Gods if you wish"
By pirate fleet sizes it was an impressive force clustered around the ancient orbit station...though it was more a ramshackle thing of an ancient space-station built, or welded, into a large asteroid than a true habitat. Certainly more ships than ESS had three years ago, than many had, but that was the nature of the outer edges of the galaxy for those raiding the Trellius route. Their Capital ship began to move, a big battleship dating back to some old war, but well armed by modern standards according to our sensor suits, with three cruisers and two dozen frigate/destroyer sized craft coming active on the tactical screen along with starfighters.
'Not nearly enough one has to hope' I noted standing at the tactical display as my fleet formation moved to trap the enemy in system. We had the numbers after all, in everything from capitols, to cruisers, and escorts; my own Stormcrow, our two Lucrehulks, one Providence, sending forth their fighters and targeting systems bringing guns to bear. Ion canons for the moment as I wouldn't mind capturing the heavies if possible, but our dozen-odd former Munificents, now Revenants, targeting the three cruisers. Part of me argued using the six Venators against them would be a better use of firepower, but they were new so I sent them and thirty odd escorts, backed up by the three modified Acclamator-carriers, against the enemy light ships.
"It's a slaughter Boss"
I nodded in response to Yulen's comment as the minutes ticked by "Better them than us, but yes. Though...do try take some alive to send back to the Hutts if you please?"
"Course Captain-General"
Centares was our target, well, our ultimate target after hitting two more pirate and slaver groups as part of our payment to two members of the Hutt Council. But once we'd done that, plus the added bonus of blooding the newer squadrons and was sure they knew their equipment over the next few days, we'd strike towards the end of this trade hyperlane in the Mid-Rim. It was reasonably well defended, but even with production of warships being a breakneck speeds by modern standards the simple fact was...there weren't enough to go around, and many were focused against the Core and Colonies and being lost as fast as they were being built.
"Good news, our star-fighter defence grids are working as expected Captain-General"
I studied the display; while my Stormcrow wasn't an artillery ship, she did make an excellent close escort for the heavier ships in our fleet and the bombers and fighters sent after our formation failed to make it though ours and the nearby heavy ships firepower "Looks to be Yulen, though this lot are pretty desperate and ramshackle compared to droid-fighters, and nowhere near the numbers. I don't think we're going to take that battleship intact are we?"
"No, not likely Boss, her reactors are overheating badly looks like, not able to handle this level of fire...though good shields..." Yulen replied, then frowning as we watched the displays; one showing turbolaser and missiles impact the energy blister around the enemy ship. Watched that and the heat flaring out as well, while energy reading flared wildly across from us to show the problems with ramshackle; powerful defensive shields with inadequate heat sinks and reactors to back it up...
The screen flared in a corona of energy and destruction.
...as if too much was brought to bear the whole thing could overload in a terrible way. I pushed away the wave of death I felt as the enemy flagship died and the attempted, and failed, to flee. The base would come next, but the weapons there were minimal despite another set of strong shields. Pressing down on the comms button I alerted my heavy assault squads to make ready to begin breaching the enemy base. Hopefully there'd be a decent cache to raid and slaves to free before we moved to the next stage...
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