[17 BBY]

[Command Bridge, Command Deck, Eriadu Authority Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet, Combined Republic Battle Fleet, Naboo System, Chommell Sector, Mid Rim]

"Well….there goes our trap, getting sprung as it were" I noted as the tactical displays began to light up with masses of angry red icons against our vast swarm of blue. Joining the fun times that was Naboo right now as my fleet, and Zsinj's, moved under the command of Grand Moff and Chancellor of the Republic Wilhuff Tarkin towards the planet. The planet where Rahm Kota's fleet was getting pounded to smithereens thanks to what could only be that war-crime happy kriffer Cavik Toth based on the ships, and what was Admiral Dua Ningo according to intercepts.

"You did not expect otherwise" Asajj stated bluntly as she stood beside me on the bridge of the Stormcrow, all the stations a mass of activity, just like the ship was with double shifts now in effect "That is what you implied earlier, yes?"

"Indeed…but one can live and hope I suppose" I muttered watching the icons flicker into existence on our sensor systems just after our combined fleet had launched just over fourteen thousand droid-fighters at the Confederate forces currently besieging Naboo. That had been the 'Ready Reserve' as it were, all those 'fresh' Vulture droid-fighters, often straight off the factory floor, that had been 'carried' on the hulls of various ships of our three combined fleets. Well, now came serious business I could feel as I turned to my 'command tone' as it were "Power plants to increase to maximum generation. Power to shields and broadcasting strength. Captain Gardan, be ready for Cases Orange through Black being ordered"

"Sir" my subordinated replied with a salute as I nodded, continuing my orders.

"And get me a count on arriving enemy capital ships" I stated letting out a breath, drawing in the Force to me, preparing for what was coming, Asajj at my side "Order to fleet; - maintain current formation and approach vector"

This was the fully assembled strength of what was 'my' Fifth Fleet, about three dozen Venators or Venerables, with another two-dozen and-a-half odd carrier converted Acclamators, representing our 'Republic' designs. But the majority of it was in Lucrehulks, ninety of various standards, backed up by just under two hundred Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers, and another one hundred and twenty-two Invincible-class heavy cruisers. All supported by hundreds of smaller vessels of all makes and sizes, but at least there we had a large percentage of new builds in frigates and gunships compared to the aged 'heavies' of the formation. Just like the larger First Fleet, and Zsinj's more Confederate leaning in designs from Mustafar and Sullust, though she too had a large force of Dreadnaught-class and Invincible-class as the 'majority' composition.

"Moff" came the response from the young sensor officer as the icons illuminated, flashed, and I could see the Confederates arriving following their standard operating procedures and launch droid-fighters "Count is four hundred and forty Lucrehulks battleships, escort count is currently increasing, but systems project over a thousand escorts, with four hundred in the cruiser equivalent range"

"Yay, we outnumber them" Asajj whispered sarcastically to me as I nodded in response to the young officer, though Asajj was technically correct in her statement as more enemies arrived. We did, in ship numbers, outnumber the Confederates it appeared, but our capitals were much older, or variant copies of theirs, and in heavies they had the advantage in numbers. Even excluding all those Mandators and Venators that were in use by Toth's forces, and heavily armed Bulwark Mk.1's battlecruisers forming the core of Admiral Dua Ningo's Bulwark Fleet "They are launching droid-fighters. I do believe you hinted matters would get….kriffin crazy now was it?"

"Moff" Gardan interrupted "Grand Moff Tarkin has ordered Case Crimson across all fleets"

I nodded at him "Begin, all links to full power, oh, and you have the conn Gardan"

Then glanced at Asajj "Yes, yes, it is, and now have a task of our own to perform"

On the holo-displays we saw one of Tarkin's 'rigging the decks' efforts taking place as a truly ridiculous number of droid-fighters were launched by the Confederates. Something that was basically as standard in engagements between our forces and the since the start of the war. They'd reduced the droid-fighter numbers per battleship, but there were still over two hundred and twenty thousand droid-fighters appearing on the displays of my warship. It was concerning, and a shocking number in one system, if not for one, particular, fact.

We too could do the math based on their ship numbers and reduced complements from scouting. And our Grand Moff had done that, and both me and Maarisa Zsinj had confirmed expected numbers should the worst case occur. Like it had now. So, while the Mid and Outer Rim struggled with assembling the same heavy battleline the Confederates had, it could, due to corporate greed with various droid foundries churn our droid-fighters and light vessels in numbers. Numbers that hadn't been thrown into battle quite yet, but now it was with the situation at hand.

The Droid Control versions of the Lucrehulk were older, less well armoured, and less well armed, versions of the more 'modern' Lucrehulk, and these older versions were in numbers in Eriadu's arsenal. Largely in the ORSF, or what been the Tarkin family's private fleet, and not exactly the best on the battlefield…but, here in a mass fleet engagement they were deployed in numbers. Several dozen were distributed throughout the Fleets, all synced up with my Stormcrow, and all were launching their waves of droid-fighters. Which was the difference versus the more modern variants which carried only about a third of the active complement of fifteen hundred droid-fighters the Droid Control ships carried internally. Vulture-droids also launched from the outer hull, and from the hulls of unarmed Quasar light carriers, along with masses of older Scarab models.

So, even as myself and Asajj went so that I could begin the Battle Meditation inside the Ritual Chamber beyond the bridge over three hundred thousand droid-fighters began to launch and form up from our fleet. For probably the first time in the war, the Republic would have the advantage in droid-fighter numbers on the battlefield…

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[17 BBY]

[4th Combat Engineer Regiment, Theed, groundside Naboo, Naboo System, Chommell Sector, Mid Rim]

Theed was burning around Luminara Unduli as she swung her lightsaber to deflect blaster fire as the soldiers of her regiment established a new defensive line as the masses of B1s and B2s advanced. With a gesture, pulling through the Force, she grabbed a broken girder from a damaged construction site, and then flunk it into the mass of advancing droids. Advancing enemy droids, she had to remind herself as three B2s in Republic colours came forward to help her and the squad she was aiding, laying suppressing fire even as Droidekas rolled forward amidst the rubble of a home to do the same, shields snapping into place. It was disconcerting Luminara found.

But, disconcerting or not, she moved, blade humming in the air as she walked backwards in a flowing dance, blaster bolts being deflected towards the enemy. That, at least, was the same, though Luminara now found herself wearing armour now…and modified clone trooper at that. Modified because the clones did not have the same body features as a female Miralian and many hours had gone into make it fit comfortably. Because it was, unbelievably, made of pure Cortosis…just like the insanely built droids now fighting on the defensive line with her and the other organics.

"Spider tank droids!" came the call over the squad-net, not panicked, but concerned. The squad had only one clone trooper, shorn of the mind-control chip and serving as senior NCO, with all the others being humans and near-humans in the equally ridiculous armour "Grid Position: 345-YHN-21, requesting immediate fire support"

"Indirect fire support negative. Striker teams Teta and Yeyvan relocate to provide heavy beam fire. Commando Force Unduli to relocate to provide support…"

"Sentients, that is us. Be ready to move" Luminara commanded over her squad-comms, then directed her words to the unit they had been support as dust and smoke filled the air, plasma shielding illuminating the gloom as the defensive line was established by the other squads "Captain Yhru, is your position secure?"

"Copy that Colonel Unduli, we are secure. Go"

Luminara nodded, tapping the command frequency and summoning her commandoes' squads to reconverge at a point nearby to move unto the next location. Weariness filled her, and a quiet pain at the suffering felt through the Force as yet more civilians suffered, and soldiers died, at the nearness of her padawam, yet the distance also between them now. At the dying Galactic Republic that she served, and had failed, failed and was now desperately trying to, along with other Jedi, that they had a place in the future of whatever emerged from the wreckage of a thousand-year dream ending. It was why Luminara Unduli ran despite exhausted muscles, the Force was so insistent that this something vital. Something that needed to be do – a Shatterpoint as Master Windu would have seen it.

There was barely even time to reform her squads as the positions they were sent to reinforce were breached by a stronger than expected enemy attack. Above her the city shields shimmered brightly as a dying starfighter slammed into it and exploded, illuminating the nine corellian hells that had been a beautiful city only this morning as N-1 starfighters clashed with droid-fighters. Ahead newer model Spider-droids were breaking through, along with the other clone army, the Morgukai clones, those meant to kill Jedi like her. The Spider-droids possibly meant to draw in her or maybe not. It didn't matter. She had to engage for lives were on the line…

Then it rolled over her, the wave of the Force. It was a song. It was a fury. It was a lover's embrace. It was serenity and calm. It was awareness. The world seemed to….blur…for Luminara as she felt the presence…presences…

The Stormcrow and the so-called Sith…

Her squads. The armies. The civilians. Vos commanding miles away. Master Gallia destroying a droid. Grand Master Kota commanding his Star Destroyer. So many others…

Oh, she heard the reports from Aayla Secura and the others, but this…this…

The Force was with her. This Luminara knew with a certainty in that moment. Knew, could see, what would happen, and what must happen. Trusted in that Will. Trusted in the Force. Surrendered herself to it as she moved, charging at the enemy before her, words coming from her mouth, her squads reacting even as she began speaking to them. Before her was an overlay of what would happen, and what was…

Ahead, out of sight was two Morkugai clones, more beyond them, along with a dozen more droids about to overrun the last scraps of resistance there…

With a Force throw Luminara flung her lightsaber in a circular throw to go around the rubble of a half-standing building before her as her legs drove her forward. She would need her hands for this after all. The lightsaber, blade off, went flying, spinning through the air as Luminara jumped up over the rubble, hands rising and grasping a damaged metal just capable enough to support her weight for those few seconds. Then jumping up in a gymnastic action so her feet came to land on it, just as her lightsaber activated below her, killing the first clone as the blade took his head, before slamming into the chest of the other.

In those moments Luminara was already moving, jumping again, ripping out the support out of the wall seconds after she did and throwing it as a spear into the spider-droid. The damaged building began to collapse as she tumbled in the air, a perfect movement of acrobatics as she slammed down with the Force, smashing two B1s to pieces, a shockwave erupting outwards as she did so, arm extending, had out…

Her lightsaber flew to her hand, then danced on the air, deflecting blaster bolts as the squad of jetpack equipped commandos hit the droids from above, and those wearing power armour charged around the corner with heavy blasters just as the droids were distracted by her presence…

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