Planet Gand, Pef Empire
21 BBY, First month, second week
"New droid general… He's unstoppable… Can't hold out for long… General Gr-(static)- is hunting us… Must hurry."
―Daakman Barrek
All my Voices felt another one, added to my heart, since I kept all of them in constant contact with the Voice partition. Kinda had too, for the essence transfer to work. Soulmates for eternity.
"Another Voice, and not me! You lying, cheating, stupid droid. Why don't I get one as well?" My beloved Vette yelled, and pounded my armor with her own gloved fists.
"Oh, your voice is not loud enough, Miss pirate scourge? Are you not the revered Blue Maiden, worshiped on 31 planets?" I asked amused, since her armor now sported a hundred Force scribe inscriptions, half of them by me, and thus in Latin, others made by Wialu and Nashira and even some Jal Shey. She was pretty loud, banging on my chest.
"You know what I mean. A maid is just a toy. No real power, even an Explorer or a three star Servant ranks higher than me.
They just indulge me, and snicker behind my back!" Vette muttered, taking off her helmet and wiping a tear.
I kinda think it's not your rank, they snicker about, dear maid. Your antics however...
"Give it time Vette. Look, I promise you won't get old for 300 years. Just avoid dying through stupidity and being too rash. Maybe you'll grow to love me in a few decades, and understand what my Empire is for. Go to the garden and speak with my Avatar, before you leave, though. Okay?" I said gently, gliding her helmet back over her leku.
"Understood, my Emperor. I'll give Peffy a chance. But, just one!" she said in a sterner voice, and flying away towards her dropship.
Giving me the cold shoulder, eh?
Poor little pretty blue crazy twi'lek. Just wait till I get you in a warm spring...
"Please keep your musings to yourself, crazy droid. Your Hand is trying to figure out the CIS fleet movements." Zuckuss muttered beside me, calculating travel times and fuel consumption for all the ships that just vanished from a number of CIS sectors.
Let's help out a little then. Hmmm. They all stopped to refuel at Raxus Prime, before heading north. Hey, the Republic is the other way!
The Battle of Krant just took place, the CIS losing 90% of their forces, just like the Republic did as well. 11 Jedi died, by our sources and every senior leader in the CIS including dark jedi Sev'rance Tann
A few LR1K sonic cannon firing concentrated bursts at once, on every Jedi in range might have helped too.
In the Battle of Hypori, a number of B2 droids fired in confusion, killing a few more Jedi than expected. Ki-Adi-Mundi, next time wear a helmet. That head makes a big target.
And K'Kruhk , sorry buddy, these crazy droids kept firing for a whole minute at your head., then at the torso. Then kicked a thermal detonator over the remains. Sigh. He has to be dead now, doesn't he?
It was all Grievous fault, damn droid general. Only two cute Jedi escaped, Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura. Almost like some force protected the cute ones. But, that's impossible, right?
In the Battle of Thule, the Republic sacrificed 95% of their troops and equipment, but no Jedi managed to die. Then again, Anakin and Yoda were there, so the odds were skewed. However, they didn't find a Dark Reaper to kill.
Hmmm. Where could it be, that nice toy using the force to kill millions at once?
Nevermind, I saw two new shinnies I have to get as well. The Protodeka and the Dreadnought battle tank . I mean come on! Why aren't millions of these things around, killing clones? You just saw how effective they are, causing 95% casualties against 5 Jedi Masters and a few clone divisions?
True, the Jedi tactics sucked as well, just running straight forward. Hmmm.
Why do I even bother? My partition finished estimating the composition and intended vector for the Dark Reaper fleet.
"They're coming for us, Zuckuss. Probably at our new conquest, Toola . Defense in depth, and only the Meteor One as a battleship. Droid crews only in the support ships." I ordered, sending the required codes towards the northern 5th fleet.
"Vette won't like us using her ship..." Zuralee added, of course taking the female side.
"It's my ship, Zuralee. Plus Vette will be busy this week. My Avatar is romancing her..." I explained a bit annoyed. Giving someone a ship to use didn't mean it was their property. Still, a military asset, and with a Rakata forcefield on board, a strategic asset as well.
"Very wise, Metal Emperor. Using a remote to handle females at a distance. Your third Hand deeply desires to do the same..." the shadowy Black Ops leader mused, having just decloaked when the conversation became interesting, for him.
"Lu'daal-ud , if you can't handle them, just let them go, keep three or one. Females are meant to be a joy and pleasure, not chores." I explained, a bit confused. Sure, my maids were a handful, but also my greatest joy.
"Ahhhh. That's not what your Hand means. We are very happy. But they argue all the time..."
Hah, of course. There's no equality in a harem, after all.
"Ranks, my friend. First wife, then second...and so on. And give them different areas to oversee. Kitchen, kits, money and so on."
I proclaimed magnifically, my hands in the air, one holding a sphere of water and the other a ball of fire.
"That means Zuckuss is higher ranked than Zuralee? But..." my female Hand muttered, realizing her place in the hierarchy of the Empire. After three years.
"Thank you my friend, and benevolent Emperor. I'm going on vacation for a week, and taking ten more females" Zuckuss announced, and flew away.
"You heard the crazy droid, Lu'daal-ud. You're mine to command. Now bring me the expense accounts" Zuralee said gently, and in her native Gand to the third Hand. The poor guy looked at me dejected and walked away in defeat.
"You can't read those accounts Zuralee. Your mind is not protected. But, we can prank him, and make him shiver in fear for a few days..." I explained gently, once I made sure the sneaky Gand had actually left. Unless he can fool pressure plates already.
"I see, Immortal Pef. Still wise, and just hiding behind layers upon layers of ineptitude and silliness. I should get me a few more mates though, some of those new Claws looked delightful and appetizing..." Zuralee said in a charming voice, rubbing her claws together.
Sigh. What have I done?
At least Peffy is having fun...
Ossus, contested space.
21 BBY, first month
"We just lost the Tibanna colonies on Bespin, Ossus will fall within days."
Mace Windu
Solana is leading our own counterattack on Ossus, not waiting for Republic forces helping.
There are literal tonnes of Jedi artifacts on this world, which was once the center of the Jedi religion. And we want them all.
Her own mastery of the force, and some soul snares, should be sufficient to deal with any dark jedi or jedi still on the planet.
Toola, Pef Empire
On the north front, a Dornean admiral was given the task of defending Toola, then counterattack towards Quermia, and secure that hyper route nexus. He'll have to work from a stealthed freighter at the edge of the system, and direct our tactical droids from afar, with an encrypted com signal, using the ancient tech from Dellalt.
Being alive, in the draw cone of the Dark Reaper was guaranteed suicide, in the best case, and much worse, if the force weapon worked as I predicted, and sucked the souls of living beings to use them as coals in a huge furnace powering the weapons.
Our Meteor One flew at maximum speed towards the Separatist fleet, every single incoming turbolaser bolt being absorbed, then returned at twice strength by the tortured soul inside the Rakata forcefield's reactor.
It had to be sentient, always redirecting the damage, with exact power to never damage the heavy ion cannons. It never used, the masers or the missiles or the Gatling lasers, just the Ion weapons, for some reason.
A dozen, then 2 dozens Recusants and Lucrehulks were simply left listing in vacuum, all their shields and electronics fired.
Then a disc ship, about 100 meters wide flew out from the middle of the CIS ship and fired at my Meteor, a beam of red hate, making the red forcefield react strangely, fueling to become even stronger, and wailing in the Force.
I felt the scream from thousands of light-years away, another pulse of pain in my chest, while Peffy reacted much worse, clutching his temples in pain. Those must be the kyber crystals embedded in his cranium from birth.
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Breathe my Avatar. It's just pain, and not your own.
Zero paled beside Peffy, holding her chest in pain as well. Guess we know what happens now, when a Sith force weapon encounters a functioning Rakata defensive system. It only makes it stronger.
The whole galaxy must have felt this...
The Meteor fired again and again, even faster and stronger than before, reducing 200 Separatist ships to floating coffins in seconds. Then 200 Ion cannons turned on the Dark Reaper and ionized it for good, melting everything conductive of electricity.
'Check for life signs on every CIS ship, then have a droid-only cruiser tractor the Reaper disc to Sol III.' I ordered to my admiral, as our 5th combat fleet began jumping from Florn back at Toola, and then again, towards Quermia.
'Emperor, the commando droids report every single organic on board is dead and desiccated. Our own pirate subjects on board Meteor One are alive, but mad and gibberish.' he reported, and his voice seemed a little shaken.
What, you didn't expect me to use loyal Servants and officers to test some Sith force weapon, did you? Good to know how these things interacted though. Pain and life drain made it stronger.
'Good work Admiral. Dump those organics into the nearest sun, and continue the operation. For the Empire'
I did wonder what admiral did Dooku send? Guess I'll find out, once we finish sorting the corpses.
Planet Gand, Pef Empire
And with the captured ships, I could create another anchor, to hold the sector while the Meteors advanced, inexorably, taking world after world, and bringing civilization and stability...
'And freedom?' Dora asked, interrupting my inner musings.
'Freedom too, of course. Just, not yet. People need to see the Galactic Empire first, before they turn towards me for salvation' I answered, trying to find a perfect solution for this galaxy...
'Knowledge is the solution, Pef. Solana thinks so, even as her droid troops destroy other droid troops on Ossus, and she digs through ruins. Looking for knowledge, then using it. And there it is, a holocron in the hands of a dead CIS general.
See you soon' my Voice said softly in the bond.
Could it be just so simple? Learn everything?
'I'm very disappointed in these Green Jedi, Pef. Only one sensed me, for a second. And the force calls me to follow and protect him, showing me a Sith holocron...sigh. This job better be worth it' Wialu sent from Corellia, with an almost aggravated tone.
Liar. You would chase knowledge to the boundaries of the galaxy, and beyond. And the mere whisper of a Sith holocron got you agitated. If she ever meets Dooku, she'll torture him for knowledge for a decade, just to make sure she drained every bit.
'You exaggerate, my beloved. A mere week will suffice. Darth Maul only took 4 days, after all.' Wialu answered, now a bit more animated.
Huh. Poor man. Being cut in half wasn't painful enough. He must have died screaming.
Oh well. Let's see what Ventress is doing.
'I found a Dark Jedi Hutt, here on Nam Chorios. He's called Beldorion and is so cute. I only cut off his hands and tail, and he still tries to bite. Now, let's see, how did this soul snare work...' Ventress said absently, no doubt concentrating on digesting the knowledge of that Hutt.
'You're all vampires, I swear. Draining the knowledge and the souls of those poor dark jedi...' Lira concluded, her bond stronger than before she died, but somehow weird, like speaking with an echo.
I might have caused that, using Fay's genes. Ever since Peffy trained with Fay and Zero, they formed a student bond, and it resonated with Lira's bond somehow.
Kriff. Let's hope Fay can't listen into the telepathic chat we carry all over the galaxy. That would be a little embarrassing.
Planet Gand, Pef Empire
Redbox
"Master Windu still fights on Dantooine."
―Palpatine
"Go ahead Zuckuss, explain your strategy and I'll approve it, or not. If you had time to think about it during your vacation" I said gently, already having formed over 700 battle plans to conquer this corner of the galaxy, and 21 plans for the entire galaxy.
What? I was bored.
"I propose to wait until every single world we have attacked has been fully pacified and garrisoned and has defenses established. A single push is necessary, to cut off the CIS on the Perlemian Trade Route, blocking 90% of their supplies, once we deploy an interdictor cruiser and a blockade fleet. Centares is the most obvious choice." My first Hand declared, pointing at the easiest and least valuable target.
"No, the strategy is well thought, but the placement is wrong. The 33rd, 34th and 35th fleets will take Columex, and block off the Salin corridor, then Lianna, blocking 3 trade routes at once. And the 68th and 69th fleets at Rudrig will advance as well, cause we need to take Raxus. The 6th north fleet will descend on Estaria, and block another node. 15th fleet at Brigia will advance to Stalimur."
"Charros is still resisting, Strategic Emperor. We could send more troops..." Mujilik added his opinion. Right, add more chaos to our 100 divisions fighting 1500 enemy divisions. Mostly droids of course, and thus very amusing.
"No, we'll start deploying the E4 and E5 bombs with the Scarabs and Carrions. And push harder with our tanks. They only have a thousand factories anyway. Once we capture the first hundred factories, it becomes a familiar game. And they do not have hero units." I answered, creating a Dota script and sending it to my tactical droids at Charros. The casualties should reach 10 billion droids by the time the planet was taken.
"Okay...not gonna argue with my mechanocidal Emperor, when he laughs evilly." my Sixth Hand muttered softly.
You bet. Where else could I test large army combat in peace? I mean, in war, but safely...and in a very relaxed manner.
Meanwhile, the Battle of Muunilinst takes place, clones and droids battling each other in cavalry charges, with spears. No, really. They ride hoverbikes and impale each other with spears. They're called Clone lancer trooper
Activate the Balance protocols again, and divert the IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tank missiles at wherever they see a lightsaber. Maybe they'll learn...only 2 Jedi died. And 95% of their forces. Anakin was there. Sigh.
In the Battle of Axion, the Republic forces lost 100% of their troops and equipment, with a single survivor, Master Yoda. Good job, little guy. A general though, you are not.
In the Battle of Dantooine (Clone Wars) a fierce swordsman called Master Windu took on a whole droid army and won, by himself. His clone troopers just watched, and thus only lost 30% of their numbers. Why are they even there? Wouldn't be simpler to just send a single Master?
Elsewhere, for example at Battle of Esseles (Clone Wars) the clones fought on their own, a single clone division destroying a few dozen millions droids, achieving victory without a Jedi present. So, they can fight very effectively, on their own.
Good to know, and make sure I never fight clones without a Jedi leader.
In the Battle of Brentaal IV (Clone Wars) , the locals tried to defect to CIS and were summarily executed, along with their CIS friends. Some friendly fire occurred, with spies and counter-spies on both sides. In the end, the beautiful Shaak Ti was victorious, only losing less than half of troops and equipment, and a pair of Jedi helpers.
And Peffy, after enjoying the warm maids and fine food and warm baths for a while, has left on a quest of my own, to obtain some critical knowledge, on the planet Rhen Var, where there's a secret tomb.
"I can teach to harness the power of the Force around you, making you immune to the Dark Reaper's effect, for a short time. But this knowledge comes with a risk."
―Ulic Qel-Droma
I'm no Skywalker, but then I have soul snares and can drain spirits just as well as living beings. And that risk you're talking about...no thanks, I don't need superstition and theology. I just need to know where to twist...no so hard.
Oh boy, this guy was first a Jedi Master, then a Sith Lord, then a Jedi ghost... and he learned from Exar Kun...really loaded with skills and knowledge.
And he knew about the famous Tedryn Holocron ?
I wonder where could that be...on planet Ossus perhaps?
'Yes, yes. It's in Solana's hand. Now shut up and let me learn all this' my Voice muttered annoyed.
Great. Peffy can be on Ossus in 4 hours.
'Gah. Stay away, I found it first!' Solana exclaimed in the bond, almost greedy.
'So...you don't want to have Peffy for yourself, to use his warm, muscled body, for whatever you can think of?' I asked curious.
'Kriff. I do want to see him. Okay, I'll share my holocron too. Solana out' She conceded, with a slight blush.
That's my girl. We share the shinnies, so we can get even more.