Skyriver Galaxy
Outer Rim Territories
Karthakk Sector
Karthakk System
Nod Kartha
Orbit
USS Hathway
Bridge

The battle continued as Gallia destroyed a second Orbital Defense Cannon, which allowed the Tritus to move in.

"Planetary guns are down. Ready for you, Tritus."

"Moving into position."

Orsai's voice was heard next, but static distorted his voice. "Kethor is barely online…We can't hold out for much longer…Crew are evacuating...Thank you."

"Good job. Tritus moving in. Captain Orsai, can you enter hyperspace?"

"Negative, hyperdrive is destroyed…Orsai moving in."

"Captain, the Kethor is on a direct course for the nearest defense platform." R'Meera called out.

"Lock transporters onto the survivors." Pierce immediately ordered.

"Captain Orsai, what are you doing?" Adi-Gallia's voice spoke next. "You need to leave your ship at once."

"Get out of there, Orsai!"

"Sorry…I still have a job to do. Moving the Kethor into a collision course with the shield generator." Orsai replied.

"You must reconsider." Gallia argued.

"I'm dying…At least I can do this. Captain Orsai, signing out." Orsai cut the transmission.

"Can you get a lock on Captain Orsai?" Pierce asked.

"It'll be close, Captain. We are getting closer to the defense grid; enemy fire is increasing." Lara replied.

That was when a miracle came.

"Captain, Federation ships are emerging from hyperspace…Our Federation!" R'Meera called out in jubilation.

Just as she said, Starfleet ships emerged from hyperspace and began moving towards the Hathway.

"Guess they got your message." Lara said with a smile.

"Put me on fleet wide channel." Pierce immediately said.

"Aye sir…You're on, Captain."

"This is Captain Jeffery Pierce of the USS Hathway to Federation ships. We must clear the defense grid in orbit of this planet. There is a base down on the planet that is producing a weapon deadly to organics that must be destroyed." Pierce stated. "We are sending you data in targets and allies now."

A moment later, the fleet went on the offensive and destroyed two more Defense Platforms in short order.

"Shields are down. I repeat, shields are down." Jinkins, Nym's chief engineer called over the comm channels.

"Beginning my attack run." Nym announced as the ships gathered up.

"Now what, Nym? The defense network is down but Reti-"

"Don't count me out just yet." Reti called out as he came onto the bridge.

"Reti? Is that you?" Nym asked.

"Yeah, our buddies saved me just before I went into hyperspace." Reti answered with a smile. "True, I lost my ship but that bounty hunter's on a wild romp-rat chase."

"Good to know. Let's push forward." Nym ordered.

"The Tritus will remain with the fleet to cover your backs." Jinkins stated. "And scan some of that debris while you're at it. Maybe we could secure one of those cannons."

"Good call, shiny. Now let's move before I change my mind." Nym said, angling his fighter down, followed by the rest of the squadron.

"Better help in that regard." Pierce stated, turning to R'Meera. "Scan the whole debris field and keep an active scan on our friends heading down to the planet."

"Aye sir."

"You guys don't mess around." Reti commented, hovering next to Pierce.

"Not when lives are at stake." Pierce replied, facing the Toydarian. "The Trade Federation is up to its neck in starting a full-scale war, it seems."

"Maybe they think with the Confederacy of Independent Systems backing them, they have a chance." Lara suggested.

"That would be a pretty pig assumption, considering we have made diplomatic envoys to many planets in Confederate space." Pierce muttered. "Still, it's not impossible."

"What should we do?" Lara asked.

"Monitor the situation on the planet. I want a constant scan of the entire party." Pierce answered.

"Aye sir."

Nod Kartha
Surface

Near the factory, Nym landed the Havoc at a distance from the factory and set out with Sixxa and three other commandos on foot to infiltrate and set explosives in the six bunkers to bring down the deflector shield around the factory while Master Gallia covered them from the air in her Delta-7 fighter.

"Nym, attacking the factory from the ground is suicidal." Adi-Gallia spoke from the cockpit of her fighter as it flew overhead.

"We don't have a choice." Nym replied. "My demo team must infiltrate each bunker to blow the shield generators. Until then we can't touch the plant, and Toff will keep cranking out Tri-Hexalon."

"It's your command." Gallia said in resignation. "I'll do what I can to protect you. Wait for my order then move in on the first shield bunker."

"How many bunkers do we need to do?" Nym asked.

"I count six bunkers."

"Let's try to do this without any casualties."

"I'll do some recon to find the first target."

"Awaiting your signal, Jedi."

Despite having reservations about Nym's plan, Gallia directed Nym to the first bunker. The bunkers were defended by heavy turrets that Gallia took out, clearing the way for the commandos to enter. In the meantime, Gallia led the Revenant starfighters in the defense of Nym and his team from battle droids, Single Trooper Aerial Platforms, Armored Assault Tanks, Scarab-class starfighters, and Vulture droid starfighters.

"Direct hit!" Sixxa called out, having sliced into the bunker and the commandos set their timed explosives.

"We're in the bunker." Nym reported.

"-body, this is Sol Sixxa and I'll update you on our status…And I'm on the network. This is Sol Sixxa, clear the area, this thing is going to blow!"

The demolition of the first bunker alerted Trade Federation forces in the area, which prompted underground barracks to open up and deploy units to stop the commandos.

Orbit
USS Hathway
Bridge

"Captain, I am detecting Trade Federation freighters coming from the other side of the planet. They're heading to the factory." R'Meera reported.

"On screen."

The viewscreen did indeed show Trade Federation super freighters entering the atmosphere and making their way to the factory.

"Can we intercept them?" Pierce asked.

"Affirmative."

"Helm, plot an intercept course. I want phasers locked on those ships are soon as we are in range."

"Aye sir."

In spite of the onslaught they were enduring, Nym persisted, and his team destroyed four more bunkers in the same manner as the first, although Sixxa was delayed at the last bunker, as the droids had changed the codes. Meanwhile Gallia engaged the droid forces to protect the ground forces. The team ran into trouble in the final bunker when the commandos became trapped inside with a group of battle droids after they set their explosives' timers.

"Thought you said these bunkers would be empty. Jedi, we need your help down here." Nym called through the comm channel.

Gallia landed her starfighter outside the bunker and took out two battle droids guarding the entrance. Inside the bunker, Nym and his team were fighting off the battle droids but were being pushed back as the droids had the numbers on their side.

"Those suicide bombers are going to blow." Nym grunted, feeling nervous now.

As the droids grew closer, Nym took a few shots at the door, hoping they could blast it open but sadly the door didn't suffer a single scratch.

"Keep your heads down!" Nym called out, bracing for the explosion.

A flash of blue light pierced the door and began cutting through it which Nym noticed.

"Protect the timers." He called out. "Even if we die, the Jedi can still finish the mission."

The lightsaber sliced open a hole in the door, revealing Adi-Gallia. "I'm not about to let you die. Now move."

She jumped into the middle of the fight, deflecting blaster bolts.

"You heard the lady, everyone out!" Nym stood next to Gallia, blasting at the droids while covering the rest as they escaped out of the bunker before it exploded with the droids inside. The factory was then left unshielded, but Gallia and Nym were left knocked out.

Orbit
USS Hathway
Bridge

"Sir, the shield is down." R'Meera reported.

"Lock phasers on that factory, full charged." Pierce immediately ordered.

The Hathway's phaser banks targeted the factory and with several hits, caused a chain reaction that engulfed the factory in a giant fireball.

"Factory destroyed, Captain."

"Good. The Trade Federation won't be making any more of these weapons, at least in this system." Pierce noted. "Send my compliments to Nym and Master Gallia."

"Sir, Nym and Master Gallia don't seem to be responding to hails."

Pierce raised an eyebrow. "Did they clear the bunker?"

"Yes sir. Scans show that they were well clear of the bunker and factory being destroyed." R'Meera replied. "They must have been close enough that the blast possibly injured."

"Lock ont-"

"Hold on, their ships are taking off."

Pierce sighed. "It's always one thing or another in this galaxy."

"Nym and Master Gallia are hailing us."

"Open a channel." Pierce sat down.

A moment later, Nym's voice came through the speakers. "Well, you Starfleeters sure know how to pack a punch. Still, can't argue with results. That should be the last of Toth's weapons, he's done in this system."

"That's my sense as well and not a moment too soon." Gallia spoke next. "I received wore that another Jedi may be in trouble."

"What are your plans?" Nym asked.

"I'll follow you into orbit and then contact the Jedi Council."

"In the meantime, I have to inform Starfleet of what has happened here." Pierce spoke up. "It's been a pleasure working with the both of you."

"I can honestly say the same, Captain." Adi-Gallia replied.

"Hmph, nice to know you guys are handy in a fight. If you come back here again, I'll promise to say hello politely next time." Nym said in a somewhat sarcastic tone, but Pierce could tell it was genuine.

"Looking forward to it, Nym."