Chapter 80 - Operation Southern Star (1/2)
Part 1
2ndPlatoon
Black Company
41st Battalion ”The Grim Reapers”
Eriadu's moon
”Kriffing die already!” Hound roared at a Commando droid that attempted to gut him with a vibroblade. It managed to kriff up the sergeant's rifle, forcing the NCO to bash its head with the stock.
He threw the useless weapon away and drew his sidearm. A SB appeared at the torn apart door leaving out of the bunker and Hound put three quick shots between its eyes. The machine spluttered and died, blocking the exit and buying the Clone a brief reprieve.
”Dex, without reinforcements we're all dead and the cannon is lost.” Hound growled. ”I would like to avoid that.”
”Everything's committed, sir!”
”We're actually here.” A deep voice sounded from the exit. The destroyed droids flew away from the door and a tall man wearing an armor identical to Hound's came in followed by a much shorter.. girl?
”Jedi Knight Gared, at your service, sergeant. Come on, we have some clankers to kick out of here!” The Jedi exclaimed and vanished through the door. The kid gave them a shy wave and followed the man.
”Competent ones?” Dex asked.
”They better be or we're all dead.” Hound grumbled. He looked around and grabbed the gun of a fallen local, then followed the Jedi outside.
”It's a good day to die…” Dex muttered. ”Kriff it, I don't want to die!” He shook his head and followed the sergeant.
It was pure hell outside. The enemy was swarming over the bunkers, which had their built in weapons disabled. The only reason why the place hadn't been overran was a GAR company charging the clankers.
Dex ducked under a swing and jumped away from the Commando droid that nearly gutted him. He promptly shot the clanker, then dived for cover when one of the new big droids came behind the corner. The Jedi ran towards it, using their lightsabers to parry blaster bolts coming from weapons built into its side. They were almost upon it, when both jumped back to avoid a shield snapping around the machine. It slammed its legs into the ground for better stability and its shoulder mounted cannons tracked the tall Jedi.
The Jedi landed lightly on his feet, then paused and raised a hand towards the big droid. Dex never knew what the officer planned to do. The Jedi suddenly exploded in action and dived away.
Gared wasn't fast enough. Two white lances shot from a droid no one saw coming and hit less than a meter from the Jedi. He was picked up by the resulting explosion and thrown away like a twig.
Dex winced when the man hit the ground. There was no way anyone, even a Jedi, could walk from something like that.
The girl screamed in surprise, then sprinted towards her master.
The sergeant shouted a warning, but she either didn't hear it or didn't care.
”Draw its attention!” Hound ordered and opened fire on the closest war-droid and Dex followed suit.
The blaster bolts splashed over its shields and the kriffing thing paid them no attention. Instead it leveled its guns at the two Jedi.
”So much for making it through this...” Dex ġrȯȧnėd.
The world flashed in blue and he screamed as like what felt like electricity washed over him. The last thing Dex recalled was seeing nȧkėd lighting dancing all over the that kriffing war-droid, then the pain became too much and he knew no more.
Bridge
Corellian cruiser Freedom
High orbit above Eriadu
Going by appearance alone, Gideon Takin wasn't an impressive man. He was thin, almost sickly looking with receding brown hair. His injuries didn't help matters. The brigadier's right hand was shattered when his flagship ran afoul of two Luckrehulks which were too deep in the gravity well to run.
At least he was alive and would recover in time. The same couldn't be said for Tenant. His Venator was rammed by a light destroyer at the end of the battle. The cruiser was a wreck still combed by SAR teams, who were making their way to the CIC as fast as they could, however there simply wasn't a clear route to that compartment. The rear admiral could be dead or dying for all we knew and there wasn't anything more that could be done.
Tarkin sat in the seat waiting for him and ġrȯȧnėd quietly.
”Brigadier, its good to finally meet you in person. I've heard good things about you and your brother. There were enough wrecked separatist ships here when we arrived to prove those rumors true I see.” I smiled.
”The same goes for you, general. Your reputation precedes you.” Tarkin nodded. ”I'm glad you arrivedin time. The situation was getting unpleasant.” Gideon added dryly.
I chuckled. The man was a master of understatement it seemed.
”Back to the Core or Kamino?” Tarkin asked.
”The latter. Unless I take every relatively intact ship in the system I won't be able to fight my way to friendly territory in the Core without losing everything but the Freedom. Besides, they probably could use any help they could get.” I explained.
”Yes. They will be facing another powerful force.” Gideon nodded. ”I take it this isn't a social call, general?”
”No. With Tenant's situation unknown, I'll be placing all Republic forces that I'm leaving here under your command, brigadier.”
”I appreciate the trust. How many ships will you take?” Tarkin asked.
”Every relatively intact Republic cruiser and ȧssault ship. We'll be leaving as soon as some basic repairs and resupply are complete.” I added.
”That will leave the whole Quadrant significantly weakened.” Tarkin pointed out.
”I'm aware.” I turned around and went to the window.
The space outside was cluttered with dead and damaged ship. Moths of light flew all around them – SAR units doing their best to cut out wounded crew members before it was too late. Too many weren't going to make it anyway.
”If we're lucky.” Tarkin frowned.
”I'll be doing my best to ensure that no matter what happens at Kamino, the Separatist would find it hard to come your way with overwhelming force. At worst I'll lead them on a chase towards the core.” I turned my back to the carnage outside and smiled at Gideon. ”After Geonosis and the last two battles I commanded, I'm sure that our Confederate friends will do their best to remove me as a threat.”
”If things got kriffed up at Kamino, you might not have the numbers to get away, general. Even if you take every ship that's not too badly damaged with you, that won't be a big fleet.” Tarkin said.
”I know. I'll simply have to play the hand I've been dealt. Presuming that we don't get killed in the next few months, I have some thoughts on how best to utilize Eriadu. I would like to run a few ideas past you, brigadier...”
=RK=
Flag bridge
Corellian cruiser Freedom
High orbit above Eriadu
Firmus Piett felt a lot of apprehension. This was the second time this week he had to deliver a report about the devastating losses the fleet suffered. The fact that the enemy was mauled even worse was small comfort for all people who died here and at Gerrenthum.
”Firmus, good. You have the reports?” Veil returned the salute and asked.
”Right here, sir.” Piett offered one of the data pads he was carrying.
He still found it eery how the general thought nothing of using his abilities for little things – like picking the device with his mind and making it float into a waiting hand. The Jedi seldom did such stuff, though Firmus wasn't really sure why.
”I knew it was bad, but this... Kriff it, we got mauled.” Veil grumbled. ”Give us the sordid details, lieutenant. I promise I won't shoot the messenger, nor space him.” Veil jokedgrimly.
”I'm glad to hear that, sir. I'll begin with what we'll have available in two days if that's all right with you, general?” Piett smiled nervously.
”It is. Calm down man, I don't bite unless you're my wife and ask nicely.”
That was too much kriffing information.
”We'll have have five Venators and six Acclamators ready for extended travel and heavy combat as well as a single Dreadnought heavy cruiser. The situation with the escorts isn't much better – just a single light cruiser and fifteen, perhaps sixteen frigates.”
Admiral Vex began cursing in an unknown language. The general answered in the same. The Clone shook his head and slammed a fist in the table.
”Our combined losses are substantial. Thirty two Venators are confirmedas destroyed. Twenty with heavy damage. The rough estimates are for fifty percent crew loss across the board.” Piett reported. Tens of thousands dead just from the cruisers.
”It gets worse, I recon.” The general muttered and waved him to continue.
”You're regrettably correct, sir. Acclamators – thirty six destroyed and nineteen damaged. At least the crew losses are significantly lighter – thirty one percent.” No doubt thanks to the heavier defenses on those ships.
”Gentlemen, we got kriffed up.” Hold declared quietly.
”We kinda noticed.” Veil muttered. ”Do go on, Firmus.”
”We've got a single operational heavy cruiser, twelve lost and five more needing extensive repairs. Their crews fared best – only twenty percent casualties across the board.”
”That's something...” Vex muttered.
”Do I dare ask about the escorts?” Holt asked.
”The situation there is bad. We lost forty seven light cruisers, twenty are fit for either scrap or extensive time in the dock and three are MIA. The overall casualty rate is fifty nine percent.” Firmus winced.
Needless to say, the frigates suffered even worse.
”Thirty six Consular frigates and eighty eight CR90s are confirmedas destroyed. Almost forty are with significant damage and four are missing. Casualties among their crews are the worst – about seventy two percent.”
”It makes sense. When a capital ship hits one of the bugs, usually everyone dies.” Holt sighed.
”What about our esteemed allies?” Veil asked.
”Brigadier Tarkin's Theater Fleets suffered heavy casualties. We don't have final numbers, however the current estimate is for forty two cruisers lost, over ninety destroyers and over a hundred and ten frigates among the four fleets defending Eriadu. That number includes the ten cruisers and twenty three escorts admiral Lind lost.”
”That's...” Admiral Holt trailed off.
”It puts things in perspective, doesn't it?” Veil asked.
”I honestly never thought I'll witness, much less fight in a battle bigger than Geonosis. The last few days...” Holt shook her head.
”I hope we accounted ourselves well enough?” Veil asked hopefully.
”That's the only good news I can think about right now, sir. We've got only estimates. Proper numbers would need to wait until all sensor logs are checked over and enemy wrecks are accounted for.” Piett said. He glanced at the data padhe held. ”We gutted them all right. Four hundredplus Munificents, over two hundred Recusant light destroyers, between thirty five and forty battleships.”
”That's a lot of scrap.” The Clone admiral whistled. A pleased smile slowly appeared on his face. ”How long could they sustain such losses?”
”At least as long as us.” The general wasn't too pleased at those numbers. ”To put things in perspective, if out friends in intelligence know what they're talking about we've destroyed somewhere between two to three percent of the total enemy navy from before the offensive began. If we keep achieving such victories, both sides would have lost their navies before anyone could achieve a victory.”
”It's not that bad. With all those battleships gone, we're overall ahead in the firepower department, though the raw number of lost ships isn't exactly favoring us.” Holt said, then paused. ”I think.”
”I think that all of us could actually use some shuteye before thinking about the price of this victory. A drink too, when I think about it.”
”Some good Mandalorian spirits per chance?” Vex perked up.
”I might have a bottle or two for special occasions. Surviving the last two battles counts I recon...” The general looked at Piett. ”Firmus, care to join us? You look a bit pale.”
”I...” Ah, why not? Declining the invitation didn't strike him as the best possible idea. ”I'll like to, sir. If it isn't too much trouble.”
The general waved a hand and a bottle appeared from under the table followed by four glasses. Piett shook his head and went to join the flag officers.
=RK=
Part 2
Bridge
Droid Command ship Magnificent Annihilation
Duro
Couple of minutes after the bulk of his fleet exited hyperspace, admiral Tonith was speaking with Trench.
”You're just in time.” The arachnid like alien made a grimace that might have been a smile – before half his face had been replaced by cybernetics anyway.
”We're on the clock after all. I couldn't afford to be late – for all our sakes.” Tonith answered.
”I'm sending you the updated course now. When your ships are ready we're all leaving.” Trench said.
”Naturally. As far as my people could figure out, we've been able to fool the enemy. I've sent the decoy fleet towards Bellassa and then Kuat to aid in Ningo's distraction.” Tonith reported.
”Even if they sent their reserves at Corellia, I have a few ideas on how to handle them.” Even Trench's few remaining natural eyes gleamed at that announcement. ”With a bit of luck, our ”raiding” fleets might slip in unnoticed too. Either way, we've got enough ships and firepower to succeed.”
”That we do.” Tonith smiled.
It took them weeks to clean up the surrounding space from enemy scouts, not to mention the ships expended in taking out listening posts and jamming the holonet in the nearby systems, however they were finally ready… and the fourth and last Sector Fleet meant to hit the Corellia had arrived at
Duro an hour or so before Tonith's own forces.
”I want you and your senior commanders on board my ship for the transit. We'll use the time for some additional training and further refining out plans. You'll get back for the last leg of the journey.” Trench continued. ”This is going to be the biggest battle the galaxy has seen in more than thousand years.” The alien fixed Tonith with all his eyes. ”The stuff of legends, history books and more importantly the one that decides if we lose the war in a few short years or actually earn a chance to win it.”
”I'm well aware of what's at stake.” Tonith shot back.
”I know. It bears repeating. Get your people moving. I'll meet you in the hangar. Trench out.”
=RK=
Confederacy Council Chamber
Raxulon City
Raxus Prime
It was rare to see the whole Council gathered in the same room, Vombra thought. However it was understandable. The offensive was entering its most critical stage and they all wanted a briefing on how it was going – which unfortunately was a mixed bag lately.
Naturally, the damned Sith were to blame.
Sui Main, Ilroth and Hill finally took their seats, joining him, Argente and Nudo at the table. Kleo went over the motions of the inefficient pleasantries everyone exchanged and felt relief when they finally got to the point.
”We've got both good and bad news from the front.” Hill, who was chosen as a chairman for today, began. ”Most of the secondary objectives of the offensive are complete. Only Mon Calamari still holds in the far Eastern reaches of the galaxy. Our various territories are connected by direct hyperlanes and we're fortifying the key systems on those routes.”
”It's good to get an official confirmation about that, Chairman.” Mai smiled.
”Unfortunately, our efforts in securing the whole Western Galactic Quadrant met unfortunate end.” Hill continued.
”Explain. I've heard rumors of heavy fighting but that's all.” Passel snapped and began rubbing one of his horns.
”Veil. We still lack a complete picture, however it appears that about eight days ago he reached Bespin with his containment fleet. There he linked up with the bulk of the Republic naval forces in the region before moving on Gerrenthum. There he engaged roughly two thirds of the Sector Fleet sent to clean up the Sector and won.”
”Another crushing defeat at his hands?” Ilroth ġrȯȧnėd. ”I hate the Sith.”
”Actually it wasn't if the numbers I've got are correct.” Vombra interjected. ”His fleet suffered major casualties when the situation turned in a general melee. Unfortunately after his victory, Veil conscripted half of Gerrenthum's navy which spent most of the battle on the sidelines and made best speed towards Eriadu.”
”I don't like where this is going.” Nudo hissed.
”You won't.” Hill continued. ”Veil arrived while our forces in the systems were busy reducing the enemy naval forces. He caught them out of position and managed to defeat them in detail. Only a small part of our fleets there managed to get away. However, we've got confirmation from both agents on Eriadu, sensor probes and a few scouts left behind that our forces slated to subdue the Western Quadrant and the GAR naval presence there practically managed a mutual kill. If it wasn't for that Corellian cruiser or the Sith new weapon – there's at least one with Veil, we would have won. ”
”That… actually not so bad.” Ilroth perked up.
”Our analysts believe that once he's resupplied and conducted some repairs, Veil will attempt to reinforce either Kamino or Naboo. The former is more likely.” Vombra announced.
”What forces can he bring?”
”That Corellian pain in the ȧss, ten or so cruisers and ȧssault ships with a few escorts.” Vombra answered.
”That ship can take on a fleet by itself.” Mai pointed out.
”Yes. The Corellian cruiser is the primary threat. We're considering letting them reach Kamino, then concentrate all the forces we can support in that area and crush them.” Vombra said.
”I concur.” Hill agreed. ”There's an interesting piece of information that finally made it back from our agents at Coruscant. It appears that the Republic intelligence services had underestimated our total naval strength.” San smiled.
”How so?” Mai asked.
”They got the total number of our Sector Fleets mostly right and estimate them to be hundred plus.” Hill's smile grew wider. ”However for some unknown reason they appear to believe that each fleet is made of 200 to 4000 ships at the high end.”
Vombra let out an electronic chuckle.
”Are you telling us that they underestimated our numbers by an order of magnitude at least?” The cyborg asked.
”Yes. My guess is that they saw what we've been building up for the offensive and made their conclusions based on those numbers.” Hill shrugged. ”It's too bad that due to logistics we're unable to leverage our full strength against the core.”
”We'll need a lot of those ships to counter the enemy retaliation in a few months anyway and a lot of the older ships are being upgraded as we speak and thus not available.” Vombra added.
”That news is heartening.” Mai said. ”The situation in the Core?”
”So far its going mostly according to plan. There were just two setbacks – Trench lost more forces securing Duro than anticipated, though we could afford them as long as the primary objective is complete. The other problem was how long it took Ningo to capture Antar. The Republic made a stand there behind formidable fortifications. While we're controlling the system and fortifying it in turn, the planet itself is still under siege. There are two army groups down there and they're all dug in around the shield generators.”
”Unpleasant, though not unexpected. Corellia and Kuat – that's whats important.” Argente interjected.
”It remains to be seen. Ningo has been reinforced and should reach Neimodia tonight. Once he gets more up to date intelligence, he'll go after Balmora and from there Kuat. One of our fleets is capturing Bellassa as we speak and go for Kuat too afterward.”
”That makes what? A heavy reinforced Sector Fleet going there?” Nudo asked.
”Yes. Admiral Ningo won't have the numbers and firepower to wreck a lot of the industry, much less capture the system, however that was never the plan. His attack is going to tie up the local forces for long enough, including all Mandators which were recalled to Kuat.”
”Oh. That's going to be ugly.” Ilroth winced.
”Corellia?” Argente asked.
”Admiral Tonith reached Duro yesterday and he should be moving towards Corellia as we speak. His Sector Fleet was brought back to full strength with the arrival of his Second and Third Task Forces. In addition, Third Fondor Sector Fleet was dispatched to joint the ȧssault.” Vombra explained.
”That's a lot of ships no matter how you put it.” Nudo nodded. ”Will they be enough?”
”I trust admiral Trench. He's the best we have. However, its an unfortunate truth that a victory can't be guaranteed. Unless we got lucky and the enemy reserves are dispatched towards Kuat, Trench will be facing two full Republic Sector Fleets, Corellia's navy, including five of their big cruisers and the system's defenses.”
”That's… heh.” Nudo chuckled nervously. ”When was the last time such a battle happened?”
”I think there were one or two similar engagements during the New Sith Wars. The last one that's properly documented are from the Great War between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire.”
”We'll have to trust Trench to win, won't we?” Mai asked.
”He'll do it. I'm confident in his abilities.” Ilroth said. ”What's the status of the rest of the galaxy?”
”In the east, only Mandalore holds. However, our advance in Republic space in the Expansion Region is slowing down due to stiffening enemy resistance. We're still not hundred percent sure where the Republic is going to draw the line and attempt to actually stop us. So far they've fortified only the important industrial worlds in our path and falling back unless they can rely on decent system defense to back them up.” Hill answered.
”My guess is the Inner Rim. Depending on how cold blooded and pragmatic their Senate could be persuaded to be. My guess is that we'll hit heavy resistance once we reach the eastern fringes of the Inner Rim. We've got reports of a Sector Fleet being ȧssembled there with another being spread out and harassing our advance all over that Quadrant...”
=RK=
Part 3
Flag Bridge
Republic cruiser Light's Solace
Kamino
”General Rancisis, the enemy is entering the system in strength. Our remaining fleets in the sector are making their best speed here.” A Clone reported. He was Kal, the admiral who used to be in charge of the defense in space before the Jedi Master arrived.
”Any trace of Veil's fleet? We can use any help we can get.” Rancisis asked. His tail coiled around his custom seat and gripped it indignation at what he was forced to do for the good of the galaxy.
”No, general. As far as we know he should be somewhere in the Western Quadrant.” Kal answered.
Rancisis simply nodded lost in thoughts.
While the Jedi Master agreed that the Sith needed to be removed from power, all these lies, deceptions… they weren't the Jedi way. What he found most disturbing was how easy lying turned out to be. It was too easy. It didn't feel like pushing him towards the Dark Side and that more than anything scared Rancisis. Because in the end, even if everything went as planned or even better, the Sith might have won. Not because they would succeed into eradicating the Jedi, but because they made them to destroy themselves from withing. To fall without noticing it.
Rancisis frowned. That wasn't a new thought. He had those doubts for months now, however he simply couldn't see a better alternative. What should he do, betray everything he believed in so he could run and save his own skin while abandoning the galaxy to the Sith? Doing so was simply unacceptable. Another person might have considered running away without doing their best to halt the Sith. That was simply unthinkable for the Jedi, which left them with less than ideal options.
”Launch fighters and keep them under Guardian coverage at all times. I want all ships constantly executing random evasive maneuvers to minimize the chance of ramming attacks.” The Jedi Master ordered.
A single command zoomed out the image in the holotank in the center of the tactical table around which Rancisis and his staff were sitting. The hundreds of Republic ships and thousands of fighters became green symbols as the scale increased. Finally the enemy leading elements became visible. They were coming in cautiously. The closest Munificent divisions were entering real space four light hours from Kamino.
First were scouts which immediately launched Vultures to extend their effective sensor coverage. Soon the Separatist numbers began increasing exponentially until Kamino was surrounded by a red tide. It wasn't long before jamming and general ECM made scanning the enemy unreliable.
”General, I'm glad you got here when you did.” Kal said. ”The enemy numbers are about sixty percent higher than ONI's estimates.”
Rancisis hissed in annoyance. Was this a mistake, a deliberate deception or simply the enemy being well the enemy?
”In conjunction with the system defenses we should be able to hold.” The Jedi Master said with confidence he really didn't feel.
”They probably can call more reinforcements. We aren't so lucky.” Kal pointed out.
”Then we'll have to fight harder.” Rancisis shrugged.
It was true, what he said. It was another deception too. One of the last communiques from Coruscant contained a coded message for his eyes only using a one time ancient Jedi cypher. Practically unbreakable if you didn't know the key, which he was given before leaving the Temple.
The message was short and to the point. The Council had proof that the Clone army was a Sith invention and would in all likehoodback up the Sith when this whole charade was over. There were no instructions sent. Just that bit of information.
Rancisis closed his eyes. What was he supposed to do?! Wasn't it enough that he had to lie to and deceive everyone under his command?!
No, there were no instructions. Nor suggestions. He was left on his own devices, so he could follow his conscience. The Jedi Master almost laughed bitterly at that. The Sith had all but won unless something radically changed. They had the ear of the Senate, their popularity was soaring while the Jedi were hated and mistrusted by the ordinary people. Now he learned that the bulk of the Republic army was actually a Sith one simply waiting for an order to turn upon the nation they were supposed to protect and transform it into an Empire.
Rancisis hissed quietly. Kamino was the primary source of the Clones. There were a few new smaller facilities, though in the great scheme of things they were of no consequences. Besides all of them were cut off behind enemy lines anyway.
If Kamino fell, the Sith would lose one of their greatest weapons. Without a source to replenish their numbers, by the end of the war the Clone army would be a shadow of its former self at best. The only question was could Rancisis do it? Could he betray all the men under his command in such a way?
Could he dare not do it? Could he risk leaving an intact Clone army in the hands of the Sith if the Jedi at Coruscant failed?
The Force was quiet. The Light Side didn't guide him. The Dark Side didn't attempt to sway him. Rancisis found himself alone with his thoughts and for the first time since he could remember, the Jedi Master found himself despising the Force.
What was one more deception, one more betrayal, when it was to protect the whole galaxy?
”We're going with Blue One.” Rancisis finally ordered. ”May the Force be with us all.”
The Separatists swarmed forward and the battle was finally joined.
=RK=
Bridge
Droid Command Ship Death at Dawn
Kamino
Ever since he got his updates, TK-51 had experienced many new emotions. The sheer frustration he was feeling after a week of slamming into the Republic forces defending Kamino and bouncing back was a new and most certainly not welcomed emotion.
Loses on both sides had been steadily mounting. Kamino had acquired two brand new orbital rings made exclusively by destroyed ships and shattered battle stations. While the enemy was slowly, surely losing, the price was proving almost too heavy. While the Confederacy could afford to spent incredible amounts of resources in order to neutralize this planet once and for all, TK-51 couldn't help it but notice that only droids were thrown in the first four ȧssault waves. They did their jobs, shattered the enemy's outer defensive rings and all but a lucky few were destroyed in the process.
For the first time since being built, he found that fact worthy of resentment. TK-51 paused at that revelation and activated his self-diagnostic sub-routines before concentrating on the task at hand. He was part of the sixth ȧssault wave and this one was going to break through to the planet. In fact, TK-51s role was a vital one. All the ships he had captured in previous engagements were repaired and chock full with advanced droids and the Confederacy's new allies. He was to simulate a running engagement while those ships attempted to seek safety with their friends protecting Kamino. Once in positions, they were going to disgorge all the ground forces they had and ram the closest juicy target.
That little deception was going to happen while the fifth ȧssault wave was busy throwing itself against the last defense line and all remaining enemy ships, which were still too many for comfort.
It was a good plan. A few Republic battle groups evading CIS forces in the sector were able to reach Kamino in the last few days. Two actually fought their way to the planet losing most of their numbers in the process. One such incursion was the primary reason why the fourth ȧssault wave got gutted instead of achieving its mission with acceptable loses.
There was just a single problem – TK-51 had qualms about the Confederacy's new allies. Jedi of all things. That they were supposedly from the Old Republic – well that bit of data didn't make him feel any better. Still, TK-51 was a Confederate Tactical droid with a mission and he was going to do it to the best of his abilities.
An alarm sounded. The plot updates showing ten Republic cruisers exiting hyperspace in a zone reasonably far away from CIS forces. TK-51 began issuing orders, including a calculation of hyperspace insertion coordinates in front of the new enemy. Letting them plausibly get away was going to be tricky.
=RK=