[2 BBY]
[Star Destroyer YX(S)-22, Free Worlds Confederate Navy 1st (Droid) Grand Fleet, in orbit Fondor Shipyards, Fondor System, Colonies Sector, Tapina Free Worlds. Free Worlds Confederacy]
Unit-984/B/Command, or Qi'ra once, stood on the bridge of the Droid Star Destroyer, watching the black tapestry of real-space distant to the vast grey, black, and gold outlined shipyards behind her ripple with flashes of colour and light. An uncomfortable know formed in her stomach as she observed it, though stims helped calm her as the nightmare of many, many, years made itself known. From the Core had issued forth the charge of the New Republic's Navy; - in this case it's Second Fleet, with support, as it had taken harsh losses to drive over the various delay and drawbridge systems between Fondor and New Republic territory. All projections a mere five years ago would have seen them break off such an assault by now with the losses they had suffered…
But that was then, and this was now, Unit-984/B/Command had to acknowledge, and those were very different things and points in time. Not even the presence of a large Imperial contingent, and a direct proclamation that, yes, they would fight, and war would begin had been ignored by Coruscant. It seemed in the years since she'd left, being forced, from the Core that things had gotten much worse in the later years. The intelligence reports had, more or less, screamed that, but it was still a shock to see the willingness to spill blood amongst those once so self-conscious of being virtuous pacifists…so long as others died unseen in their name. Now that pretence of even the clones was utterly gone now; watching as they literally sent penal battalions of unfortunate innocents to die as waves of old Z-95 starfighters poured out from the first wave of starships.
Interdiction technology had also dramatically improved since those days when she'd been Qi'ra or Corellia, which was why the larger system itself was seeded with 'Drawbridge' stations to prevent the old strategies of simply jumping in with overwhelming force. Twenty years of, even if what had felt like mindless, defensive works were in place now though thanks to her superior, General Kalani had made the shipyards system one of the more heavily fortified in the galaxy. One defended by a vast fleet now, one her vessel was but one part of; the orbitals of Fondor surrounded by rank upon rank of droid vessels alongside the darker forms of Imperial heavy warships. In a different day, one that seemed so very long ago, it would have filled Qi'ra with confidence that the place was unassailable.
Now, Unit-984/B/Command prayed it would be enough. All she could do was trust in her superior and her subordinates.
"General Kalani, Unit-984/B/Command confirms -NRN first wave deploying" she found herself announcing "Estimate two thousand starfighters and another eight hundred bombers. Older models. Analysis: Penal battalion, scouting test"
"Confirm Unit-984/B/Command" Kalani said back "Deploy Alpha-Three Response Shrike Squadrons. Hunter-Killer Programming. Force a response"
Unit-984/B/Command transmitted that from her cybernetic wetware, hand reaching up and touching her cybernetic implant on her right ear, words supporting it "Roger, Roger. Unit-984/B/Command confirms"
Like a clockwork mechanism the front of the droid fleet began to uncoil. Contingencies for just such an event as this had been rigorously prepared, and simulated, and this one was intended to play upon the more predictable elements of the New Republic Navy's new leadership elements. In this regards that meant the charge forward of several hundred of the heavier armed, shielded, and modern 'Shrike' squadrons; - a combined forced of organic pilots and droids with a ratio of one to four in organic to droid. A shockingly high number for the 'Free Worlds Confederacy', and one of the most effective units they had for that fact. General Kalani wanted specific responses from the NRN….and she watched as the 'Shrikes' surge towards the initial strike force…
…and begin to annihilate them as the two forces made contact. Shrikes were made to fight the Imperial TIE, and the New Republic's X-wing, and lack of a hyperdrive made room for an improved powerplant to feed its heavy shielding. Against pre-Republic Fall and Clone-Droid War era Z-95s manned by desperate, terrified, and oft barely trained cannon-fodder it wasn't a contest, but a slaughter. Icons flickered on her holos as the heavy starfighters cut through the Republic starfighter formations like a lightsaber through butter; Z-95s melted as the bombers were disrupted, seconds turning to minutes as the butchery continued. The first strike wave dissolving before even getting near to…
"Detecting multiple emergences" she found herself saying, data filling her mind, even as the holo-displays updated to include the raw data "They are deploying X-wing squadrons…detecting multiple emergences Liberty II-class Star Destroyers. Response - Variation Beta-Two-Alpha based upon raw data General"
The deemed less likely response in fact, in that the NRN had deployed its enforcer squadrons to deal with the threat rather than swarm the Shrikes with older or 'newer' old models. Unfortunate really, but she knew her superior had taken that into account, his orders returning moments later without delay "Shrike Squadrons to engage and slow withdraw to flank positions designate X78-652, X78-664, and X78-665"
"Roger, Roger, Unit-984/B/Command confirms" she answered back, and began immediately directing the shrikes out, and then back as a dogfight now erupted between them and enemy X-wings. Then confirming the next issue "Imperial forces requesting to deploy"
"Negative Unit-984/B/Command, confirm delay till breach in defensive line D-3"
"Roger, Roger General" and that was easier said than done as Unit-984/B/Command had to confirm over holo-link with the Imperial Commodore, a twi'lek female, who badly wanted to intervene…as such Imperials in their aggressive doctrine tended to be. Attack, engage, kill the enemy, was strong trait in such forces as best Unit-984/B/Command, Qi'ra, could follow over the years, and it was troublesome to hold back now as her superior wanted the situation to play in the current format as the X-wings were pulled away to the flanks in a steady retreat, a gap opening the droid fleet centre that the NRNs arrival started to push into. A gap that would be filled with the waves of penal battalions and droid manned older equipment as General Kalani ordered a steady withdrawal, 'abandoning' the outer system interdiction systems…
Except that was not quite true, as several systems were inactive currently within the systems asteroid belt, amidst the industrial systems currently unpowered. So it was hers, and many others, role in maintaining that illusion to avoid other contingencies as the battle was maintained as a series of brutal skirmishes as droid-fighters, modernised tri-fighters and upgraded vultures, engaging droid manned Z-95s that the New Republic while, at least at times, pulling back from the organic manned ones. Giving them the appearance of success as two outer defensive lines were breached…and yet more starfighters and light warships were poured into the gaps showing up on the holographic tactical displays and in her implants. This was not ideal either, but it was within 'variance' as her superior saw it.
Thousands were now committed on both sides, and the expectations of the NRN being perfectly willing to sacrifice those it deemed 'criminals' in need of 'redemption' being borne out as in the combat sims. It was similar to what the New Republic had done in the Northern Galactic Rim in both successful and failed offensive operations; throw waves of those deemed acceptable losses at the enemy to wear them down. Then make the decision whether to press the assault further, or to withdraw before 'valuable' forces began to take unacceptable losses – as if it failed?
Try again later with more of the last attempt. That was how the NRN had marched to victory in the northern crusade, and clear in its attempt here.
'Let us hope then we are better developed and organised than their last enemies then' Unit-984/B/Command silently thought, watching as systems indicated a high commitment level as she judged it "General Kalani, Unit-984/B/Command – Indications are maximum commitment currently achieved by NRN Penal units. Recommendation: Activation limits met"
"Confirm" her superior answered, paused, data analyse taking place…and then a command circuit activation issued "Activate Contingency 476/I/D/O/2"
"Roger, Roger, General. Beginning Activation" she turned, thumbing the command circuit installed into her skull, feeling cold all of a sudden, aware of her nakedness in those rare moments of fear. Taking a breath, and praying things worked "Activation Sequence Initiated. Ordering Slicing. Ordering forward Salvage Units. Activating Secondary Outer Drawbridge systems"
The Droid Army had been unable to even touch the droids of the New Republic Navy…well, not entirely, but the restraining bolts installed had been too difficult to overcome. Facing droids with droids had ensured the NRN was extremely careful in their security on the subject…
They had been less secure in their handling of organic penal battalions though, confident in their, lowest bidder to bomb collar, strategy…
"Slice Active" she announced firmly, the data-streams spiking as the power was brought on line across the system to begin subverting, jamming, or, if in worst case scenarios, prematurely activating the bomb collars even as the secondary interdiction fields activated. Republican penal frequencies were cut into, jammed and/or overridden for the intended hour "Drawbridge Active. Signalling status update to enemy forces. Signally secondary IFF to…"
Detailing out what was happening helped in some ways distract from what was occurring, as the attacking force broke up in confused waves as penal units were suddenly deactivated and their comms came to life. Offering surrender in this case, along with threats and demands…for the droid elements of the NRN force were compelled to attack those units to prevent such actions. But that was fine Qi'ra acknowledged as the first waves came apart…tearing each other apart within minutes as understanding spread amongst their ranks. As the Star Destroyers erupted in chaos facing mutinies within them, while the others, the Enforcer ranks, opened fire upon them…
The battle had just begun in earnest "Unit-984/B/Command to Vanguard – Advance and engage the enemy!"