Falleen
Port Nowhere
Within the Sith Observatory
"As soon as we're out of this hellhole, I'm going to need a nice, long sonic shower to get those putrid hounds' guts and stench off me! Maybe even a real bath as insurance." Mirta repulsively groaned after she wiped the last bit of Tuk'ata gore off both of her gauntlets' retractable vibro-daggers, everyone else taking a brief breather after finishing off the last Sith hounds, allowing them to reassess their strategy.
"Don't think we're out of this yet, Mirta. This battle's hardly even begun." Vestara sadly spoke up, mournfully glancing at the fallen hounds she killed. Defector or not, she knew these beasts were only performing their ancient duty and wished there could have been a bloodless way to stop them, even as she knew this was only the start of their mission.
"An impeccable assessment, Miss Khai." Akku stoically agreed. "But I feel we need to reconsider our approach towards capturing and bringing down this hellish facility. I doubt even the thirteen of us can do this job all on our own against the small army they have here, along with liberating any poor souls imprisoned down here."
"Then we'll need to head to the command center and shut down the jamming field." Phasma continued that train of thought, before pointing out, "But we might want to create a diversionary team to split their focus and keep as much of the heat off the main infiltration team as we can take."
"A sensible idea." K'Kruhk agreed, with Leia nodding along. Hearing an ear-piercing howl coming from the north hallway, he commandingly ordered everyone, "Here's the plan: Vestara, Ferren, Akku, Leia, and two Noghri will shut down the observatory's defenses and jamming field. The rest of us will hold off the Sith and draw them away from you."
Biting back any protests through remembering how her friends and allies could take care of themselves, Vestara nodded, allowing the team to split up and go through with their separate missions.
Five minutes later, after the Kesh-born Human and her five comrades took a sharp turn to avoid a patrol by Sith-programmed Yuuzhan Vong Hunter droids, Vestara kept a strong reign on her fears and playfully taunted, "We'll have to move fast, so you old fools just try to keep up."
"You can't fool me, Vestara. I know how you're as terrified to be here as all of us." Leia admonished her.
Eyes flashing with sympathy, even as the trio hurried down the hall, the Jedi Master sympathetically pointed out, "I can feel your emotions clearly through the Force and on your face, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out why. You can win this fight and conquer your past. We all believe in you, and you're not as alone as you think this time around. Trust in yourself and the Force, and you'll be able to do just about anything you set your mind to."
Touched by Leia's compassion towards her, Vestara nodded, gratitude obvious to all through her eyes before Ferren interrupted, amusingly advising everyone with a whisper, "Come on. These droids and their masters will be on us soon with all your yammering."
Falleen Orbit
Aboard the Starhawk-class Battleship Mark I Etahn A'baht
Kyrsta Agate, Commodore of the Ailon Repentant, saw the literal giant floating eyeball fly towards the decimated Sith fleet and knew from the intelligence reports Kajin and his Joint Chiefs provided the Dornean Navy from the Galactic Alliance. It seemed the infamous Ship that made a notorious name for itself over the last two decades was entering the fray.
The newly minted warship's sensors also indicated that Malleus's personal fleet was close behind him, a small but lethal fleet of Tof, Ssi-Ruuk, and Ebruchi warships, but the extra ships were at best, a minor annoyance when compared with Ship. Recalling how the sentient vessel could conjure up any weapon by its commander simply imagining it, as well as act as a fleet coordinator for the enemy force.
That would mean that the one-sided massacre between the Alliance and the One Sith, already costing the unprepared latter six battlecruisers and five escort ships, was about to become an even and prolonged slog.
At least, it would have been a drawn-out battle if each of the GA's prized capital ships were not equipped with enough weapons to outfit about five regular Star Destroyers. They could easily destroy the Sith armada if they kept Ship and his commander occupied long enough to avoid tipping the scales back in Malleus's favor.
Which was why moments ago, Kyrsta dispatched the elite Dagger Wing to keep Ship's focus on a more immediate and short-term threat over the overall battle. And she also sent a Starhawk and three Invincible Dreadnaughts to intercept and delay the Unknown Regions raiders long enough to render their help irrelevant.
No matter if Malleus and his followers survived, the Ailon Repentant would be ready for whatever dirty tricks the Sith's would try to pull.
"Commodore, the jamming field's just shut down!" A comms officer warned Kyrsta. "The signal's being flooded with terabytes of junk data, and-"
"Spare me the long-winded specifics and work to get it back online!" She cut off the explanation, even as she had two probable ideas on how this setback had occurred, neither prospect promising. "Have all ships form up and prepare for the real battle to start."
Oh, well. Part of her wanted a challenge in this grand return in the first place. Hopefully, it would not cost her people too much in blood and hardware to destroy the rest of this Sith fleet. Conversely, if Malleus and Ship were kept here for too long, then they would be unable to stop the liberation of Port Nowhere and the downfall of their evil monarchical puppets.
Well, it was all up to fate now, but the Ailon Commodore had a feeling that this fight had already been decided for the righteous. Hopefully it would be as glorious a victory as everyone hoped, but she was still going to take a few precautions. Those contingencies would especially be crucial for them when everyone would have to improvise after the plan fell apart, as most battles throughout history had proven.
Aboard the Conquest
"I want a fleetwide damage assessment in my hands in the next three minutes, and a new and secure comm network established in ten!" Danial ordered his officers. With fleetwide comms back online, he and Irola got right to work in regaining control of their devastated disarray of a Force. Nearly a third of their fleet had already been lost before Malleus allowed them to rally, along with at least thirty Sith aboard their capital ships and starfighters, and now they needed to make the most of what they had left to eradicate this terrible menace.
But this was their only chance to deliver supernova-hot vengeance on their newest enemies, and thanks to the surprises the One Sith had prepared for this kind of battle, Danial and his two Sith masters were about to make the most of this newfound opportunity.
"I have damage reports coming in now." A comms officer anxiously reported. "We lost just about every ship in Battle Groups Fox and Delta, Battle Group Beta's suffering twenty percent casualties, and the Devastator's reporting that they're about to be ripped apart by tractor beams off the lead capital ships."
Tractor beams? How powerful were those monstrous hodgepodges of capital ships? Barely recalling the specifics of the brief scans the Conquest could glean off the largest Ailon vessels, Danial decided that their wreckage could teach them enough about their capabilities, if they could bring even one of them down.
And that meant they had to whittle down their opposition, and Danial knew just where to hit them where it hurt the most. Fortunately, he was always willing to accept a bit of help when needed, especially when it was well-armed.
"Admiral, we have a new situation." A sensor officer reported. "The Ailon's Valor cruisers are deploying at least three dozen transports and gunships down to the planet's surface. And we're seeing four of their warships break off to escort them planetside."
Not bothering with a response, Danial curtly advised his superior, "Lady Irola, I need a secure feed with Lord Malleus right away. I have a plan to defeat these interlopers, and I'll need his help."
Falleen's Surface
Ten Kilometers Eastward of Port Nowhere
Aboard the Mon Adapyne
Keyan saw the tactical feed of the ongoing battle for Port Nowhere, and he felt a kernel of anticipation begin to bloom. On both fronts, the Alliance was pressing its advantage against the Sith's allies, decimating the Sith-backed fleets while preparing their insertion teams to free Port Nowhere. The Jedi-backed force continued carrying their momentum with Haxim reaching out to his subordinates in his Resistance to prepare for-scale war against the Axlan monarchy.
But with Malleus and his best fleet distracted by the Ailons, and the latter sending down forces to assist Haxim's weakened armed forces, now might just be the time to jumpstart the final phase of Falleen's liberation.
With the intelligence provided to them by GAS agent Passik on the Sith Observatory and its heinous experiments on over a hundred of Falleen's citizens, coupled with King Redhan's withholding of vital goods in secure storehouses for extortion, Haxim and his private army had everything needed to incite a planetary insurrection against his family.
After the exiled prince finished briefing his commanders on the new plan and convincing any wavering Royal Family leaders to join the winning side, the coalition's elite units would support the besieged units already trapped in the cesspit of a shadowport that lay before everyone. With the three strike teams, Aurek, Besh, and Cresh, being hunted by the city's defenses while doing what they could to sabotage them, they needed help right away.
Keyan's commlink chimed three times, Haxim's signal that he was finished communicating with his followers. Now, the relief efforts for Port Nowhere could truly begin. Contacting the ship's hangar control and each command vessel in the combined fleet, he commanded, "All Port Nowhere teams, launch immediately!"
Port Nowhere, Inside the Eastward Wall
Saje Tasha, apprentice assassin and representative of the Anzati people in this Jedi alliance, took a moment to observe the bloody work done by her and her handcrafted daggers. Seeing five security officers, faces contorted in surprise as they choked on their own blood and fear of having their essence sucked out of them by the young woman.
A shame she could not face a worthier opponent now, or offer their Soup up to the ancestors, but there would be plenty of opportunities for such indulgences later down the line. Right now, she had a mission to finish, an unauthorized one her mentor, Rayder Seii, and his wayward Mandalorian nephew, had entrusted her with to sabotage a portion of the enemy's outer defenses for their advance, and overloading the eastern wall's automatic targeting matrix would be an excellent first step. As a master of stealth, she was one of the perfect choices for the Anzati to make a better name for themselves in this changing galaxy.
Setting the power core on a perpetual feedback loop until it destroyed itself while arming thermal detonators to keep her work intact, Saje activated her comlink while preparing to make her move for her next target. But the moment she turned around, she found herself at gunpoint by a middle-aged and blue-skinned Duros.
"Sorry, little brain-sucker, but I can't let you leave. At least, not without being in a pair of stun cuffs and undoing your little work." The Duros smirked with a toothy grin, giving the young Anzati enough time to recognize infamous Jedi hunter Soonpaa Bane from his many wanted posters.
Silently pressing on to buy time, she flirtatiously asked, "You got a name, you wannabee Chiss?"
"I'm going to be your executioner if you don't do as I say and do it fast." Soonpaa growled. "We're both on a tight budget, and I won't ask again."
Noticing the bounty hunter turn off the safeties on his customized silver-colored heavy blaster pistols, Saje knew it was time to get serious. Silently readying herself with her people's ancient assassination techniques for her first true test on this world, she sternly advised Soonpaa, "How about you follow your own advice and get into your stun cuffs before I become your executioner?"
"Great, a comedian assassin. I must have gotten a rookie." Soonpaa rued. "Fine. I'll just have to do it all myself." Preparing to dispose of the intruder, he found himself caught off-guard by the swiftness of Saje launching herself right at him. Mere milliseconds before he fired, the assassin pulled out her vibro-sword to deftly slice through the cartridges of both blasters.
The resulting explosion from the discharge created enough force to blow both hunters away, with Soonpaa barreling out the door, and Saje right out of the transparisteel glass. Taking control of her momentum before activating her jetpack, she directed herself to a roof several stories lower from the wall's command center.
Gingerly lowering herself onto the roof to avoid giving her body any more aches, she thanked the Great Sea for deciding to buck tradition and learn how to utilize more modern equipment in case she could not attain assassination work and had to go into public bounty hunting. Either way her life might turn out, she could always benefit from learning new skills to supplement the fundamentals.
Hearing a familiar sound, Saje turned to see several security droids, appearing to be twelve aerial B-1 Battle Droids from the Clone War, flying right after her, each with a pair of rocket boots. Coward must have called for help. Saje realized.
Before she took aim, she saw a Shriek-class bomber fly right through the droids, and the cockpit was visible enough for Saje to see a familiar Jedi princess wave towards her.
Seeing the loading ramp open, Saje knew she owed Allana Solo and her family a freebie and promised to tip them off to any competitors that came after them before she flew right into the ship.
Mandalore
Kyrimorut
Inside the Starlight Cantina
"Then we agree on all facets of this alliance." Fett closed the discussion between the Alliance's representatives.
"Yes, I believe we have covered everything, Mandalore." Desmond agreed. "You, Parella, and I shall lead a joint command of our armies, with your havens open to our forces to supplement yours, and an equal sharing of intelligence and resources between each force."
The Imperial admiral surprised everyone breathing a giant sigh of relief and anxiously chuckling, "I honestly expected these negotiations to be much longer and involve more hostility from both sides."
"What, that's all? No violence and trash talking to add to the mix?" Goran joked. "Surely you know how we Mandalorians are a very lively bunch."
"Let's not, and say we did." Parella interjected. "I'll save all my energy and new combat strategies for the enemy. Now, if there's nothing else, I want to try some of the Roba Steak I smelt when I first came into this fine establishment before we return to our ships. Hopefully the owner can spare me a meal for the flight back."
"I second that." Ark agreed, eager to have some of that delectable meat himself after the tense deliberations.
"Not gonna happen." Iden, calmed down from her earlier outburst before returning alongside Venku for the last leg of negotiations, smirkingly shot down that suggestion. "Mera is very protective of her recipes and doesn't allow anyone outside her immediate family to eat outside her restaurant. Besides, she really enjoys seeing new customers taste her food for the first time. It helps her cope through this kriffing war."
"How would you know that?" Alia wondered.
"Because she had a whole leg of Roba and spoke with Mera before coming back down here." Venku conspiratorially whispered. "She may not look it, but she can eat her weight and then some, as well as strike up a decent conversation when she's not bound by duty and all that."
"Oh, like you're one to talk, Skirata." Iden quipped, having heard the murmuring.
Ignoring the three-way bickering, Daniel advised Boba, "If there's nothing else, Parella and I'll begin landing our reserve soldiers to supplement our defenses. We'll need to work quickly to form a cohesive fighting force from our disparate units before Lecersen and the Sith try to press their advantage on us. So that means we'll have to hit the Sith where they're weak, build up our forces for the inevitable grand battle to come, and do it in a few weeks."
"A good idea." Ghes concurred, pausing to suggest, "Didn't Palpatine Jr. have a few allies of his in reserve helping the Empire recover? Maybe we can call on some of them to help break the blockade."
"The Aquilians and Tarisians, as I recall." Desmond pondered the idea. It would make more sense to have them out on the front lines instead of just playing peacekeepers. Of course, Zakuul was long remembered by the Mandalorians for their Eternal Empire almost destroying all civilization, and only fed their animosity for virtually all Force Users, regardless of creed. And this Aquilian Republic, it was too much of an unknown for everyone's liking, even if they were supposedly friendly with the Jedi's allies out in the Unknown Regions.
There would have to be a few tense negotiations on the finer points, but the admiral saw no problems with calling on a few reserves to help resolve this civil war. Desmond nodded his agreement, "I'll reach out to Head of State Fel, and he'll see who's interested."
"A good start." Fett cordially agreed, hoping a miracle could follow for his followers. For the sake of his people and family, everyone had best come up with many more good ideas coming in the weeks ahead. As dysfunctional as they all might be, the Mando'ade had been good to Fett, and he, a man who always paid his debts, owed them too much to let them die or be enslaved by the Sith's dupes now.
Telona 19th, 59 ABY
Falleen
Port Nowhere
Within the Main Cargo Facilities
How do we constantly keep walking into these ambushes? Ben seethed while fending off a Deshade armed with a phrik-laced dagger before throwing a shipping crate on top of the lethal warrior.
Having already killed four of Malleus's top assassins that were part of this sneak attack, but losing five of his mercenaries in the process, this position was growing increasingly untenable for the Alliance team. Even Kix and Indigo's teams, despite delivering incredibly high losses to the city's defense network and Jedi hunters, at least ten enemies for every one of their teammates killed, were slowly being picked off one after another by their numerically superior foes, especially through enemy snipers that he could not retaliate against.
"Skywalker, sensors have picked up a dozen mortars coming in from the west!" A mercenary shouted out, catching Ben's attention before the Mortars flew right towards the battlefield. Before Ben could try to order a retreat, he noticed something unusual in their trajectory, seeing that they were not aimed for his position.
Still, not wanting to take any chances, Ben swiftly bellowed towards his seven remaining squad mates, "EVERYONE, TAKE COVER!"
Then, to the Jedi Master's abrupt shock, the Mortars flew hundreds of meters above his head to see the mortars impact against the buildings housing the Sith's snipers, blowing creating explosions with a wide enough radius and power to consume anyone in the residence in a blistering and all-consuming inferno.
Before Ben could contact his two fellow squad leaders to try and get an update, a stoic but firm voice came through, "I suggest you and your men evacuate this position, Master Skywalker. This entire district is about to be invaded and devastated by Alliance ships, and it would be a tragedy for you to be caught in the crossfires while your future wife is in trouble."
"How about a name or something, first?!" Ben shouted back to be heard over the fallout of the mortars' impact, ignoring the jibe at his love life.
"Rayder Seii, uncle of Captain Akku Seii II. I believe we met one or two times during our stay in this world." The voice professionally answered.
"Since when in all creation do master Anzati assassins rely on such brute force?!" Ben demanded, realizing that Akku must have called in his people for an off-the-books operation to undermine the enemy's hold on this city.
"When it involves the enemy's own weapons and creates panic in their ranks, it serves our purposes well enough." Rayder calmly commented, a hint of amusement entering his voice before he added, "I suggest you get going. General Solo and your Jedi princess of a cousin should be arriving in their bomber soon along with my apprentice. They will take you to where your girlfriend was last sighted and take command of your remaining followers."
"What about Aurek and Besh Teams?"
"Generals Farlander and Haxim have been given the greatest incentive possible to send an influx of reinforcements to the city, now that the Sith's defenses have been damaged enough to spare more strike teams."
Take him to where Vestara was. As much as Ben was tempted to help her now, he knew that was not where he was most needed for the moment. Vestara was still with K'Kruhk, Mirta, and Aunt Leia, and they would do everything they could to help his love withstand the temptations and horrors of the facility below. If Ben got involved now, then it would only distract everyone already there and put his love at greater risk of slipping back to darkness, so he had to trust her to win against her demons this time.
Also, in the larger strategic picture, with the combined allied force still engaged in a multi-pronged war against the Sith's fleets and ground defenses here, he had to do what he could to minimize those casualties and deliver a quicker victory for the Alliance of Light. An ace of his capabilities would be especially valuable if most of the Jedi and commandos were being diverted to liberate the city.
Interrupting Ben's reflections, Allana impatiently shouted through the Force for him to get aboard the Phoenix Whirlwind, and he saw the ship hovering right before him. He must have been musing longer than he expected if his team was just about finished boarding without him.
Hopping aboard the Corellian-manufactured vessel, he felt himself being pulled into an endless abyss of evil, and knew exactly where he was being taken to, the last place he wanted to be right now.
Hurrying to the cockpit, Han welcomed his nephew, "Glad you could make it. We'll get you above the Observatory in three minutes, so be ready to move."
"You can't take me to Ves." Ben began, surprising both Solos. "I need to help the fleet, and that means getting a fighter. I don't want to cause her to fall, so-"
"Figured you'd say that with your stubborn attitude." Allana scolded him as she moved out of her copilot's seat. "But this isn't just about you trying to save Vestara, or even Grandma. There are hundreds of kids trapped down there, and we need every Jedi we can spare to save them from their torment. That means we're both going to help, and don't try to talk me out of this."
"You're okay with this?!" Ben exclaimed to Han, dismayed at his ignoring of Allana's absurd plan.
"She's a grown woman and full-fledged Jedi Knight, and we both know she can't be stopped when she puts her mind to something. You also know that those kids, your aunt, and girlfriend need you, so drop the self-sacrificing act and get ready to move. We're only going to get a few moments to drop you off."
Well, so much for letting Ves prove herself on her own now. Ben quickly lamented. But personal feelings aside, he knew the trapped children would need every liberator they could get to escape the Sith's prison, so he would focus his energies on that noble cause. That would be his focus until he was able to meet up with Aunt Leia and Vestara's team.
Chiss Space
Just Outside the Csilla System
Aboard the Cal Omas
Kral Nevil, longtime fighter and defender of freedom through serving the New Republic and its successor state, had been a witness to many inconceivable instances in his long and distinguished career. From an extragalactic species of invaders bent on converting its targeted galaxy into a bioorganic facsimile of their home, to the return of the Killiks under the command of a Nightsister-turned-Sith, and an entire planet of marooned Sith that briefly took over the Galactic Alliance, he had thought he saw it all.
But hearing from Mirax and Lowbacca how a genetically modified grandson of the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn, had pledged his forces in aiding their coalition had been a surprise the GA commander could never have expected.
Though he had access to the information provided by the Chiss's records on the original Thrawn, validating the prodigy's admirable and boundless devotion to protect his people until his eventual assassination, it was still a bitter pill to swallow from his Imperial service. It was tough enough knowing that his Empire of the Hand, the warlord's personal project, an empire composed of his core network of Imperial loyalists and Unknown Regions denizens, still existed, and was aiding this anti-Sith war. He still remembered in his youth how much grief mere rumors of its existence gave much of the New Republic before its intentions were determined by two brave Jedi.
But with Thrawn's terrifyingly brilliant intellect still out there, was anyone truly safe? Kral did not know, especially how he now had to be sworn to secrecy to protect the clone- Vurawn, he reminded himself- existence and work from countless potential detractors and enemies. That would be a monumental promise to keep, since he hated this grand level of clandestine work and intricate conspiracies, preferring to fight in the open and with honor over deception and secrecy.
Remembering his old naval disciplines, he knew he needed to take everything he learned in stride and work to prove how selecting him to aid their united efforts to fight the Sith's forces was not a wasted effort. In the memory of his son, killed during Second Galactic Civil War and Caedus's brief and mad rule over the Galactic Alliance, he would continue to fight for all Turl cherished, and the oaths father and son swore to uphold when they each joined the armed forces.
Interrupting his musings, Lowbacca growled to alert Mirax and Kral, bringing the vice admiral back to reality. Hearing that Vurawn and Ba'kar wanted to speak with the two on a group of potential targets for the allied fleets, the navy officer prepared to excuse himself. If the two Chiss military leaders were about to have a secret meeting with their co-conspirators in the Alliance, then it would be unwise for Kral to intrude before they were ready to fully trust him. He could always ask his friends for the play-by-play after the meeting ended.
Mirax took the initiative and advised Kral, "Why don't you stay for the meeting? You know the people under your command better than Lowie and me, and we could benefit from your expertise in selecting a few crews to help the Chiss track down the raiders and infiltrate Vagar Praxut. Don't forget how we're all in this together and all that other mushy bantha poodoo."
The expletive word drawing a hearty laugh out of the aging Quarren, Kral proposed, "Very well. But only if you don't get all sappy like that, ever again." That earned laughs from both of Kral's friends before they accepted the holotransmission.
Just Outside the Batuu System
Aboard the Corellian Dreadnought Aidel Saxan
"How long until our groundside allies start to hold up their end of the bargain?" The Dreadnaught's commander impatiently asked the fleet commander. "It's only a matter of time before the Sith figure out we're here. Perhaps we should-"
"We still have another six hours until our opportunity to attack arises." The Valahari Province native sternly reminded the ship's captain. "Then, and only then, can the entire attack force consider making our presence known to the enemy blockade. Besides, the groundside infiltration teams still need to finish throwing the slave camps into disarray before we can take advantage of their weakness.
"I will not repeat this again, so listen carefully, everyone." The commander warned his crew. "If we are to aid the Jedi's newest coalition in obliterating the Sith's presence here and destroying their anarchist cult, then this operation will depend upon three key factors: cooperation with our allies, focus in defeating the enemy occupation, and patience in working to outmaneuver them.
Deciding to ground the ambitious captain back in reality and have a little bit of fun messing with him, the commander challenged, "Don't forget, if we don't follow these steps, then we'll only damage the Confederation's reputation and allow our rivals to get the better of us in any future negotiations. You wouldn't want our Galactic Alliance peers here to contribute more for the people here than we can do you?"
"No, Supreme Commander." The captain reluctantly agreed with Turr Phennir, the military commander of the Confederation's entire navy and the lower-ranking officer resumed her original task.
Even as he projected an air of confidence and certainty for all to see, Turr was inwardly pensive of the coming battle. The idea of working alongside the Galactic Alliance, a government whose predecessors he once considered illegitimate, was surreal and daunting enough for the onetime Imperial ace.
Unfortunately, although he could work and rally disparate groups to a singular cause, thanks to his work in unifying the Confederation's diverse force into a cohesive fighting unit and age and experience granting him wisdom, the same could not so easily be said for the former and the GA. Even eighteen years after the conclusion of the Second Galactic Civil War, there were still many lingering tensions and rivalries between much of each government's territories.
Greater hostilities still existed between the Hutts and Confederation after the slimy worms left the cause after the war's end when their rivers of profits dried up. Such bitterness could lead to any number of his men attempting vengeance against the Alliance of Light's young Hutt ally, Azzim Anjiliac Atirue, an outcome Turr had to keep from occurring.
While it was true that Turr had selected his crews and officers with care in their competence, psychological profiles, and professionalism to ensure a united front alongside the GA and Azzim, private sympathies and potential mental health issues were often harder to pin down. That was especially true when thinking of the disgraced prime minister Fyor Rodan of Commenor, once a trusted ally of Turr's, after the foolish politician took a tenth of his planet's navy and followed Admiral Daala in a mad exodus from the known galaxy.
If even one soldier or officer, either for the GA or Confederation, decided to go on a private crusade, then all could be lost for this grand pan-government alliance. At this point, all Turr could really do was hope for the best from his people, and work to set a good example for his fleet alongside the GA's counterpart.
He prayed that his ally in the GA would be able to do the same with her forces. With the GA's newest rear admiral being a decade-long protégé of Nek Bwau'tu, it gave him high hopes for the desired outcome, given the species' brilliant minds and longevity. After all, considering how the last best-known Aporthad was Raze, a leader of a massive galactic information network and piracy gang for decades, Kara had to be treated with great care.
Despite the fears and discrimination poured her way, or perhaps because of this prejudice, Kara was able to summon the courage and willpower to pass every background check thrown her way, steadily rise through the GA Navy's ranks, and earn the trust of Bwua'tu and his virtually impeccable assessment of one's character. With her already impressive efforts in anti-piracy and peacekeeping operations across a dozen sectors in the Outer Rim and Expansionary Region considered by most to be career-breaking postings, he was optimistic that she would not disappoint.
Batuu Surface
Morandi Forests
Aboard the Quarren Eye
Din observed the setup in this yacht, and his trained eye, augmented by his helmet's ID system, saw that the total sum of equipment in Wraith Squadron's longest headquarters. Forty-eight, maybe even sixty highly advanced and likely illegal pieces of technology were scattered around every corner that Din was allowed access to. Quickly crunching the numbers in his mind, the total sum of equipment could probably power a large city with its overall energy output, or maybe buy a small moon if they found the right buyers.
And the squad's biofabricator, a Yuuzhan Vong with an odd nickname of "Scut" who was raised by human parents during his people's war, probably had dozens of his experiments underway in the ship's secure recesses.
Putting all this together with the ship's custom and state-of-the art security system against cyberwarfare, military-grade tactical systems and holotables, multiple weapons systems including a limited arsenal of ion and proton bombs, light turbolasers, made the Quarren Eye a mobile command center any military would be desperate to get its hands on. And all of this was in the hands of a band of misfits under the head lunatic's unofficial command as a secret weapon in the GA's arsenal.
If this squad ever decided to go freelance, Din would make sure they would quickly be sought after by every Mandalorian clan, if only to employ their secrets and invaluable sack of skills to ensure the Mandalore Sector's post-war recovery and continued resurgence. He was even tempted to make the business pitch on behalf of his clan himself after this war ended in a joint victory.
Nevertheless, before any potential offers could be made, there was a Sith-backed blockade to finish destroying, an enslaved planetary occupation to undermine, and eons-old secrets to uncover within this planet's oldest and most mysterious ruins before the enemy got the ultimate prize that they coveted on this world.
With the large-scale mining of several vital minerals, like Doonium and Cortosis, for construction of starships and weapons in the Sith's growing arsenal hitting an all-time high, the Alliance needed to step up their efforts in sabotaging and distracting Dician from her ultimate endgame. That was where their latest plan came into play.
With two-thirds of Wraith Squadron assisting in the liberation of the Sith's four largest slave camps and assassinating a dozen of Dician's top officers, Voort had allowed Din and a select few of the Batuu Resistance to help him and his remaining three members man the essential stations. Typically, an operation of this scale for the secret commando squad would require at least a couple weeks of scoping out the target, gathering intel on any weaknesses in their command structure, patrol routes, equipment, the enemy's infrastructure, and manpower.
Fortunately, their allies in the local resistance having a detailed overview on the nerve centers of the Sith's slavery operations in their cult, giving them all they needed to speed along their timetable. Coupled with their new and intelligent Hutt friend having a steady flow of slicers and credits, eight captured fools hoping to leave Batuu in exchange for information on Dician's enemies, and malleable guards allowing a new batch of recruits to start overseeing the slave efforts in mining lodes of ores, everything was in place to liberate the tens of thousands of innocents from their captivity.
Lastly, with the Confederation and GA fleets preparing to attack Admiral Tonith's already-diminished blockade, it was almost time for the Wraiths and their latest batch of friends to unleash their ultimate surprise on the orbiting fleet. In a matter of hours, all chaos was about to break loose on Batuu, and the war to destroy the Freedom's Riches in their fortress world would come to its climactic end.