[3 BBY]
[New Palace, Rwookrrorro, World of Kashyyyk, Kashyyyk System, United Wookie Kingdom, Mytaranor Sector]
"So, it has begun" Grakchawwaa, High King of Kashyyk, said as his general, Rwookrrorro, activated the holo-display from the galactic north "The New Republic Fleet has sallied forth"
"It appears to be a general advance along the Namadii Corridor" Rwookrrorro replied, his hand tracing the line of attacked worlds, and what other information had recached them…days and weeks after the fact "Dorin, Vicondor, Glee Anselm, and even towards Iridonia…."
"I wonder if such have simply pulled forth tomes from history to plan this. For this is a facsimile of the Great Northern Crusade of times in the past"
"That I shall trust you to know general, for such histories were less than pleasant to read" Grakchawwaa answered after a few moments, considering. He did know enough of such histories, but it ended badly for the wrong side in those times far in the past "What is the nature of the advance? It's success?"
"Bloodied, but successful based on all reports we have received" his fellow told him, gesturing at systems along the invasion route, bringing up a footage in several cases "Dorin, briefly besieged, but overwhelming force eliminated the defence fleet, and then bombarded the three largest cities. Evacuations were already underway, and active resistance continues from the Kel'dors. Glee Anselm…fell without a fight, though with terms…terms no proud folk could accept"
"Slavery, safe without the name" Grakchawwaa growled, shaking his head angrily "That it has come to this"
The New Republic banned slavery of course, and how dare anyone accuse them of such they would scream to the Force! Why, they were victims of such dreadful things after all!
'Liars' was his opinion, as the Penal Work Battalions, and the far more worrisome Penal Combat Battalions, were de-facto slave armies, though called 'Justice and Re-education' officially. Slaves? No! Redeemed criminals!
Or debtors repaying debts…
Or criminals being punished…
'Even when those criminals are but younglings' Grakchawwaa wanted to rage, but fear was within as he knew what those monsters had done on Bilbringi and Shilli, and like would do again here. Gene Guilt the New Republic called, the Heritage of the Oppressor/Thief/whatever other maddening terms they used, as they viewed anyone not of the Core, be they human or non-human "That it has come to this…"
'Not that we can criticise, as there are well over a million…exotic pets upon my world now' he thought as he trailed off after repeating his anger at the galaxy in a weary manner. That most had done so willingly, and in areas beyond his direct control, did not help with fighting the moral mountain-ground against the filthy liars the New Republic had in power. Rwookrrorro hooted angrily "The Old Republic was as flawed, but just less direct about it! It never saved us from the Tradoshans! Or others! Now the mask is torn away for all to see my King!"
Grakchawwaa grunted. It…was unfortunately true, but he his role to consider, not the horror about to be inflicted upon millions more innocents "What do you expect to occur?"
Rwookrrorro nodded, motioning…largely unhappily…at the holo-display "That they will not be stopped. They have, yet again, deployed their Super Star Destroyers as spearheads once more. The assault on the Yinchorri…I know they truly care not about the deaths caused, but they bleat it loudly that this is their vengeance. Or…justice…as they call it. No, the have used the bombardment of Yinchorr as an excuse, to fan the flames…"
The general shook his head "Their fleets are a lumbering beast, clumsy, stupid, but vicious…they will smash their way to Anison"
"The great mercenary fleet of GAR-North?"
Rwookrrorro shook his head side to side "Perhaps could stop then, but with Dorin severed…and it is unlikely any are paying great sums to go on the offensive. Not, perhaps, beyond Confederate or Imperial backers. No, those in the Corridor are to be left to the predators to face alone, and Ord Mantell will be fortified and reinforced instead rather than go on the counter-offensive"
The wookie king let out an unhappy growl, hands resting on the table, clenching the hardwood frame "I had feared as much. Now you ask me to take the inducements of the Huttspawn friends"
"I would not frame so, but we must accept the offer of the Feddies and Imperials, and play such against the Confederates" Rwookrrorro answered with his growl of unhappiness lined with disgust "We would not last hours against the assault spoken of here my King! They would smash aside our fleet and planetary shields before we could even warn to flee the cities! No…we, must accept such offers of new, modern, planetary shields and orbital, and anti-orbital, batteries for such little cost demanded in return"
"Ignoring the Hutt's foul trade through our space is no small demand Rwookrrorro" he said, wanted to growl, but there was little he could do. For, in the end, he must accept the wealth the Hutts were said to spend to see about turning Kashyyyk into both Fortress and Shipyard. All because they were astride a hyperlane vital to maintain a war where billions upon billions would die, or if they did not die, then trillions would suffer far worse fates as seen before his eyes on these screens!
"And it requires the Confederacy to trade of course, though I do agree…they likely will"
Because, as far his advisors were confident at least, the Confederacy of Independent Systems had both bit off more than it could chew in its attacking the Mandalorians (yet again!) at the same as deciding to attempt reclaiming their former northern territories. Grakchawwaa could have told them the obvious result of either choice; the United Federal Empire and Trade Federation, had begun massing forces on the border of their enemy in response. Not only had the Imperials placed their two most aggressive fleet commanders on the border, but so had the Trade Federation;- for two polities that loathed each other, the two star nations were increasingly moving into the same orbit in recent years.
Rwookrrorro growled, then grunted wearily "They must, for the Imperials are spending starships as currency now. It is clear their two decades of investment in shipyards had finally yielded fruit. Such that not only are they selling their old Confederate and Republic equipment, but even the civilian grade versions of their newest warships"
It had been a concerning development, mere months ago…
But, now, it was almost a relief. The former Grand Army of the Republic South was creating a powerful fleet on par with the rump Confederacy and New Republic. Something worrying merely a year ago, but now… Rwookrrorro was correct in their need to accept Grakchawwaa knew. Both the Imperials and Feddies were selling off vast quantities of Fall-era war era equipment due to he Hutts opening coffers to pay for such sales…
Something that worried him, as the Hutts would only be doing such things if they were both genuinely concerned about the situation and had the inclination to make it be less of a problem. It stank of the Pius Dea era as even Rwookrrorro recognised, and such was why they would accept such deals as were on the table from secret backers. Master Yoda even encouraged accepting, old and dying as Grakchawwaa knew the old Jedi to be despite the small green creature perhaps still outliving him…
"It is a coin gladly accepted then if it slows the tide of those of twist the Light of the Force" he had to admit them, thought it was not the one he would wish to give. Kashyyk was strong, free, and…making darker choices to see to the preservation of that strength and freedom. For even the cast offs of those stellar powers were on a level above anything they could build themselves in the availably yards of Kashyyk. For the good of the Galactic Republic had died, even as its sins lived on in their most terrible forms "Grakchawwa, I, as King…I give you permission to do as must be done Rwookrrorro"
"About time, my King" came the growl came back, an old discussion, and disagreement, from times that felt like a lifetime ago "Few are to be trusted that are not our kind, especially the Confederacy. They do not even trust themselves!"
'Yes, more than you suspect even I believe' thought the King of the Wookies could not voice that, for their existence dependent on balancing such needs as Confederate, Federationist and Imperial to stay independent and strong as a species "Perhaps, how goes their front with the Mad Mandalorians"
"Poor still, by all accounts" Rwookrrorro answered with a shrug "They have stalled at some system called Yavin, the Confederacy is assembling an advanced base there after their losses. Not the best, but their efforts there will, eventually, draw a response I expect"
'Perhaps. If the strength remains' thought, thought he worried that strength did certainly remain amongst the Mandalorians as various outside forces supplied them heavy forces to turn them into a legitimate threat to the once galaxy-dominating Confederacy of Independent States "Yes, that I worry is correct. But, for now, our biggest danger remains the one that seems furthest from our orbitals. So, whatever it takes, my permission is granted to do what needs to be done. I will support you, publicly, in these matters, and with some effort I believe the Jedi will as well. No matter the cost"
"As you say my King" came back seriously as they guessed what came next, in all its horror and fury "Whatever the cost"
