Skyriver Galaxy
Outer Rim Territories
Karthakk Sector
Karthakk System
Nod Kartha
USS Hathway
Conference Room

"Captain, Master Jedi, we've managed to get a complete scan of the missiles that were used on Maramere."

Pierce and Adi-Gallia watched as a display of the chemical compound was shown on the wall display.

"According to the Republic database, it is called Trihexalon, a chemical compound that appears to be hazardous to organics." R'Meera began.

"That is perhaps putting it mildly. This chemical was banned from use by the Senate." Adi stated. "The Trade Federation would have to be insane to refine it as a weapon."

"So they are using some form of bio-weapon?" Pierce questioned.

"It appears so, sir. The warheads that were armed with this substance showed something of interest. They were emitting a type of radiation we've heard of before." R'Meera continued.

"We have?" Pierce raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir. A form of Thalaron radiation." R'Meera nodded grimly.

Adi-Gallia shared a look with Pierce who looked alarmed now. "I take this Thalaron is dangerous?"

"Dangerous? Thalaron radiation is deadly to organics, capable of wiping out organic life even on the subatomic level." Pierce muttered. "But we've never encountered a chemical compound that naturally emits this kind of radiation."

"On its own, it wouldn't sir. From what we've discovered, the radiation was formed when the ore for the compound was processed and refined from the ore on Maramere." R'Meera replied.

Pierce ran a hand through his hair. "This is not good. This is not good at all. Starfleet has to be informed of this immediately. A weapon like that could be dangerous for both galaxies, especially if the Trade Federation is planning to start a war with us."

"I have already informed the Jedi Council as well." Adi-Gallia stated. "They have advised me to continue assisting the Lok Revenants."

"Bridge to Captain." Lara's voice spoke over the intercom.

Pierce immediately answered. "Go ahead."

"We are coming up on Nod Kartha. Sensors show it to be heavily defended."

"On my way."

Bridge

Nod Kartha was a desolate, rocky world in the Karthakk system. However, that did not mean there was nothing here. The planet was heavily defended by orbital defense cannons and powerful deflector shield systems. Upon the arrival of the allied pirate ships, cannons in Nod Kartha's orbital defense network opened fire and Scarab-class starfighters prepared to attack.

"That's a lot of firepower." Reti said upon seeing the orbital defense stations.

"It suggests that Nod Kartha is the center of Toth's operation." Gallia stated.

"Okay, then here's the plan." Nym began. "The Mere big ships will hit the platforms hard. Our fighters can take of everything else. We're punching a hole straight through to the planet's surface."

"Nym, I'm also picking up incoming freighter."

"Kethor, moving into attack position." Captain Orsai attempted to move the cruiser Kethor into its planned attack position and was almost immediately hit by fire from an Orbital Defense Cannon.

"The Kethor has been hit." Pierce turned his head to R'Meera. "Damage report?"

"Crippled, sir." R'Meera replied.

"The Kethor…We took a direct hit." Orsai said voice got through before being cut off by static.

"Move us over the Kethor and extend shields around it." Pierce immediately.

"Captain, if we do that, we'll becoming directly involved." Lara stated.

"The Trade Federation has developed a deadly bioweapon that they likely intend to use against us. We cannot sit on the sidelines anymore. If there is going to be a formal reprimand, note for the log I have the direct to join the fight." Pierce stated. "If anyone disagrees, speak now."

No one spoke up.

"Then move us into position. Raise shields and charge phasers."

The Hathway moved over the Kethor, extending its shields over the crippled ship.

"I thought you guys weren't getting involved." Nym's cut in through the speakers.

"Circumstances have changed, Nym. We'll cover the Kethor and beam its crew aboard as long as you can cover us."

"All right, let's see what you can do. You all heard the captain. All fighters form up on my wing, we're going in now." Nym ordered.

The fighters did so and followed Nym's ship straight to the planet.

"Lock phasers and prepare torpedoes." Pierce ordered.

Just as the Trade Federation orbital defenses began firing, the Hathway immediately opened fire, phaser banks letting lose with arcs of organ light, striking down the Scarab fighters and even taking out a C-9979 carrier that was in the process of launching of droid bombers.

"Wow. Look at them go!" Reti exclaimed.

Adi-Gallia remained silent, focusing on taking out straggling fighters and bombers. The first wave was sent after the damaged Kethor; the other headed toward the second Mere cruiser, Tritus. The allied starfighters attacked the bombers and prevented any further damage to the two cruisers. Just as the last bombers of the first two waves were destroyed.

With the Mere cruisers safe from the bombers, the pirates refocused their attacks.

A laugh from Reti was heard. "Five down! I'm an ace!"

"Nym, the Mere aren't going to be happy about the damage to the Kethor."

"I know, I know." Nym drawled. "So I'm not the safest ally."

The Hathway began firing photon torpedoes on the Orbital Defense Cannons, destroying several with one hit.

"WOW!" Reti exclaimed. "Okay, we got to talk about getting some of those torpedoes!"

The destruction of the orbital guns allowed the Tritus, who had previously been out of the cannon's range, to attack.

"Area's secure." Nym stated. "Good job people."

"Now we can take the fight to the enemy." Jinkins stated.

"Sir, we have unknown ships emerging from hyperspace." R'Meera called out.

"You were warned not to interfere." A new voice suddenly spoke over the comm. channel.

"It's a trap!" Jinkins exclaimed.

Five of frigates, escorted by Sabaoth fighters emerged from hyperspace behind the allied ships and effectively blocked their escape route.

"You are cut off. This time you will not escape us."

"We're cut off." Jinkins exclaimed, mistakenly repeating what the enemy speaker had just said.

Tritus traded fire with the two frigates closest while the opposing squadrons engaged each other.

However, it wasn't just the Sabaoth Squadran that had arrived.

"This is Jango Fett, I'm here for the bounty on the Toydarian. Stand aside or I'll take your heads as well."

"Reti has a bounty on him?" Nym asked incredulously.

"What?!" Reti exclaimed frightfully.

"Open a channel." Pierce immediately stood up.

"Channel open."

"This is Captain Jeffery Pierce of the USS Hathway representing the United Federation of Planets. I don't how much you know about us, Mr. Fett but we don't exactly have a good view of bounty hunters, especially ones that make open threats. The Toydarian Reti is under protection, any attempts to harm or capture him and we will respond immediately." Pierce stated.

Slave 1
Cockpit

In the meantime, Jango Fett frowned as he spotted the Federation ship nearby. "You'll probably have a few problems to deal with shortly, Captain."

With that, Jango pressed a switch and from the rear end of the ship a cylinder shaped device was released close to the Hathway.

USS Hathway
Bridge

"Captain, the bounty hunter's ship has released some sort of device…It resembles a charge." R' Meera informed.

"Divert available power to the forward shields." Pierce immediately ordered.

That order came just in time as the seismic charge detonated, releasing a blue shockwave that slammed into the forward shields of the Hathway. The bridge shook from the shockwave with a few consoles short-circuiting.

"What in the world was that?!" Pierce gripped the armrest of his command chair.

"An explosive device that contained a mix of liquid baradium and collapsium." R'Meera answered.

Baradium was a highly volatile element used in thermal detonators and was used to create some of the most powerful explosive weapons in the galaxy. Collapsium on the other hand was an extremely dense and volatile substance that ignited, it had the peculiar property of creating a powerful and destructive implosion.

"Our shields held but they are by forty percent." Lara immediately spoke up.

"Where is that bounty hunter?" Pierce asked.

"Going after Reti, sir."

Fett had taken the chance attacked and damaged Reti's ship.

"There go my engines! My wings are clipped! AH! It's all over, this guy's got my number!" Reti cried out over the speakers. "I'm doomed!"

"Transporter room." Pierce banged the intercom on his armrest. "Lock on Reti's life signs and beam him aboard."

"Is your hyperdrive still functional?" Adi-Gallia asked as she attacked a frigate that was harassing the Tritus.

"Yeah, and I'm using it." Reti replied. "Here it goes, wish me luck!"

Little did Reti know, the Hathway's transporter had locked onto him just as his ship entering hyperspace.

The ship shot into hyperspace with the Slave 1 following.

"Jango to Toth forces, I'm cutting my losses." Jango Fett's came over the speakers. "You didn't mention about a full-scale fight or a Federation ship. This is your fight, not mine. Tracking his escape route."

"You can't do that! We have a contract!" One of the pilots protested but Fett seemingly ignored them, leaving to pursue Reti, much to the vexation of Sabaoth Squadron.

Pierce tapped the intercom again. "Transporter room, do you have him?"

"Have me?! You guys used that device that disassembles molecules on me?! How do I know I've put back together all right?!" Reti's voice replied.

"We got him sir. Just in the nick of time."

"Nick of time, my ship is lost!" Reti groaned. "What am I going to do now?"

"Take a break, Reti." Pierce smiled. "Just be glad the bounty hunter left, thinking you're still in that ship."

"Well…you got a good point there, Captain. But we need to talk about finding me a new ship or Nym's going to bench me."