[14 BBY]

[Experimental Mobile Super Fortress Anvil of Coruscant, Grand Army of the Republic 4th Fleet, Tepasi System, The Core, Commenor Run, Galactic Republic, New Republic Alliance]

Gentis waited deep within the bowels of this vast and inefficient investment of resources, standing on the command dais as the holo-displays illuminated with the waiting fleet, along with all the warnings of the incoming one. Tepasi must not fall, and, unfortunately, without deploying such madness as this…it was unlikely they could avoid the Chancellorist traitors pressing on further into the Republic. The fall of Rendilli had broken the back of his GAR's resistance in those southerly sectors, and, now, the Kuat scum had forces to reinforce these advances deeper into the Core. With the nightmare of Uquaine in mind, Gentis could not allow that to happen, and, so, they had deployed one of the 'Special Projects' in hopes that the projections and analysis on it were correct.

'Better than Fird's other piece of salvage' he thought darkly, praying they never had to actually deploy that repaired relic from the Mandalorian Wars. Repaired horror was the more accurate description, and that was without the fact that nobody on said project actually understood how it worked. Just…that it did, and they'd enough understanding to repair to a functional status. Unlike the current battle station, which was a huge waste of resources but was understood down to basic principles much as Gentis disliked the thing. Unfortunately, the needed such a thing as this to force a direct battle to their favour, with their own Jedi assuring him they were shielded in the Force. Just in case Gentis had done as the Chancellor insisted and placed a colony of the strange lizards in a display zone here on the cavernous bridge.

"Multiple hyperspace alerts Admiral" Captain Tohm informed him, the young man with the badly scarred face having proven a loyal and effective commander, and had been just as effective in ensuring this monstrosity was battle ready "It appears the enemy have arrived"

"Indeed Captain, bring all system to Ready status, but to not activate till I command" Gentis replied watching the screens, hating the deaths to come but seeing no other way. Ever since the Coup had failed….well, he was still attempting to fix those mistakes, but even he could not have known the rot was as deep as it had turned out to be. Laurita Tohm gave a smart salute, walking back along 'the line' of command stations and ensuring those orders were followed precisely. On the screens red icons began to flicker and flash, Gentis watching as images began to show Star Destroyers arrive in system, then pressing on towards the planetary defence pickets as planetary shields activated.

The had not notified planetary command of their deployment, and the knowledge had been strictly rationed amongst the defence fleet as. So much as one could hide the arrival of the vast bulk of the battle station at the least, even if the system was under martial law. The problem was that this thing moved slow and sluggish in both sub-light and hyperspace despite its vast power reserves, so it was needing to work as an 'ambush predator' for what was needed. Or as a simple fortress placed in the way of the enemy. Truly ridiculous, but Tepasi fulfilled both conditions to varying degrees and so Gentis and the others had plotted out how best to make use of the Special Project.

"Multiple emergences… confirming it is their Third Fleet with elements of their Fourth from the IFF readings Admiral" Laurita called out and Gentis nodded silently gesturing to prepare to activate. The spearhead of the enemy formation was several of the over mile long Republican-class Star Destroyers, flanked by a large force of Victory-class and then Venators behind them, launching starfighters. A Star Dreadnought, a Mandator II, emerged in the rear along with more Victory-classes and escorts, signalling this was a serious effort as Acclamators followed in typical Kuati traitor doctrine for taking down planetary shields. Considering the fanatics they recruited it was an annoyance that they could throw in such brutal shock waves, but Gentis was ready to exploit that now as he waited.

"Sir?"

"Hold status till commanded" he said at the captain's question, watching as the enemy fleet surged forward towards the planet and defence fleet. Even if they grasped what they were the outer surface and hard points could survive long enough to activate the deflector shields "Patience my friend, patience is needed here"

…because if they didn't know, then there was no reason to give the situation away just yet as the enemy fleet drove deeper into the combat zone, starfighers racing ahead of the screens along with bombers, hitting faster than light to jump…

"Now" Gentis stated as the enemy fleet's starfighters and bombers performed a pin-point jump to the flanks of the Tepasi defence fleet "All systems activate. Bring the Interdiction Drives online"

The so-called Anvil of Coruscant was just a massive asteroid that, once, a very long time ago, been the habitat of some great starship eating leviathan. Supposedly. Gentis suspected that was just propaganda, but what mattered it had a great many caverns within, along with enough of an entrance point to fit the massive engines and drives needed to move the blasted thing. Years of aggressive work, and pouring in resources, had turned the massive asteroid into a massive hybrid space-station/star-dreadnought as its surface was covered in turbolaser and missile batteries. That made, or should make it, a serious beast to overcome as said shields and weapons came active, but the true usefulness was the secondary role for the massive powerplants within.

Interdiction drives, far more than could be fit on massive than on any starship, came alive, warping gravity in the system and threatening to destabilise any hyperdrive computer trying to calculate escape vectors. Like a great wave the interdiction field expanded outwards, along with the activation of the vast array of droid-warfare and sensor-baffling systems within the Anvil. Suddenly the powerful enemy fleet had become trapped, its starfighters separated with no way back as their formation distorted as ships reacted to the Anvil's presence at last. Just in time for thousands of droid-fighters and true starfighters to begin pouring from within the bowels of the miles long and wide asteroid turned battles-station…

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[14 BBY]

[Command Bridge, Command Deck, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet 'The Army of Light', exiting hyperspace over Rodia, Tyrius System, Savareen Sector, Outer Rim Territories, Disputed Territories]

"So, they have hostages?" I muttered as we stood on the bridge after listening to report from the local warlord turned ruler of Rodia "Hmmm…well, that puts paid to blasting them from orbit"

"No, you can't do that Daron" Stass muttered at me "Even without the city shields its….not what you're supposed to do"

"Well, local government are a-okay with me blasting the place to smithereens" I replied with a shrug from out position at the back of the bridge, myself standing with my former Master, Asajj, who just shrugged at my words, Celeste, and Gardan "I expect they don't like the people there. Rodians being Rodians. It might go down as a favour"

"Rodians Sir" Gardan pointed out wisely "This could be a trap"

I nodded "Oh, it is a trap captain, most definitely. They are Jedi and offering surrender in person, to me….which means they are immediately planning on doing a false surrender"

"Dark Jedi Daron" Stass replied primly, glaring at me for the whole Jedi Order probably "They are Fallen, we can feel it from here"

"Still Jedi, and false surrenders that lead into trying to capture enemy leaders in the parley is like Jedi war tactics one-oh-one!" I muttered spreading my arms out "It's why Rahm Kota had to put it in as one of the must not do things in your new regulations"

"Some Jedi, not…"

I shook my head "They totally will Stass. Offering to surrender? Terms? Sure they are"

She frowned at me "I don't like that look on your face padawan"

"What look?"

"The one that says your about to do something very foolish"

I shook my head at her words "No, I figured I'd land and spring their trap, and then kill them. That's what my personal droid bodyguards for after all. That's within the bounds of their oh so honourable request"

Gardan looked concerned "Moff, Sir…you can't be serious"

"Well, we're preparing a strike force to come in and rescue me if I kriff up" I stated honestly hand under my chin, thinking through the situation "But, right now, we need to show Honour. Strength too. So, let them break the deal outright and then deal with the consequences. They don't have air defences after…and this seems all very stupid to be honest"

"Do it" Asajj agreed with a nod "You are capable of dealing with them"

Stass's eyes threaten to bug out "There are five Dark Jedi down there…"

My second wife shrugged "I will be there to aid him if needed. He will not need it"

"Thank you for your support my dear Asajj" I replied "Oh, and ride herd on Karis and Naa'leth while I'm gone would you? They are prone to being rash"

"Says you?" she muttered looking at me "Truly?"

"I'm probably a bad influence" was my stoic answer as I brought up the plans we'd done up on the fly for dealing with this situation "Now, they might simply try and blow up my LAAT and assassinate me, but I think that's unlikely as they knew if they kill me outright they are dead. I expect they intend to capture me, but we can't fixate on that part. Trap as they say. So, best I go down there and remind them why they shouldn't kriff with me or mine, as well as teaching diplomacy lessons. I'm good at diplomacy"

I gave my former master a look of mild reproach for her curses…

--

[14 BBY]

[Equator City, Rodia, Tyrius System, Savareen Sector, Outer Rim Territories, Disputed Territories]

'Huh. They didn't try to blow me up in the air. Weird' I noted as my transport landed and I exited, personal shield active, just as the droids hidden dropped to the ground under the optical cloak. This landing spot wasn't very open, having reasonable cover on both sides, and my eyes in the sky reported the rooftops. The Force was tense around me as I came forward in my armour, black trimmed in imperial white and silver, cloak flapping behind me as Aaron and Abigail flanked me. Before me three Jedi waited….only three though. Seems the other two were playing sneak buggers.

"Greetings gentlebeings" I said calm and controlled, serene in the Force, the Darkness coiled like a spring all around me. The three before me were quite deep into the dark side pit I could tell, one, the female knight to the right awash in emotions that definitely did not spell out surrendering. Pretty little thing, but the bloodlust was barely concealed on her face, let alone in the Force. But, still, we were live, and I had to put on the show of compassion and all that bullshit "You have come to surrender to the Empire and here I have come to take your honourable surrender! Never fear, many have risen to new heights under the Imperial banner once they have proven themselves…"

The Force screamed warnings, my hand raising and using a variant of Protection from Missiles to catch the stun rounds in the air, deflecting them away from me. Then sighed, the noise a wheezing sound through the vocalisers of my mask "Not even letting me finish the speech. So predictable. But I am the Wrath of the Republic made manifest, so, to quote a powerful madman"

Fear and Horror spells ignited, rolling of me in waves as the three made to attack, even as I reached up with my hand in a gesture and grasped the would-be sniper. Feeling them resist my power…but not enough as I tore them from their hiding space four stories up in the air and flung them across the street as I took a step forward, haste upon me. Now there was no more need to play silly little games. Even as my first step forward came the three were igniting lightsabers, but hesitating, fearful as the Light rolled over them. So, I spoke, putting terror into their hearts. Into the hearts of all their pirate servants.

"So?" I asked arms out in a polite questioning gesture, voice raised and clear through my helmets vocalisers, power flowing into the words, into their minds and their very souls "How do you wish to die? Combat? Or on your knees?"

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