"And I'm here to support Korré. I don't know how fast the pregnancy is progressing, but she looks pretty close to the end. N]She needs positive female support, and a pair of teenage boys aren't going to be much help there."



"Speaking of the boys, they seemed kinda... off when I was talking to them earlier. Iwan was inside his head the whole time, barely responding to a word I said. And Jude... Jude wouldn't stop typing on his tablet." I think a moment. "Okay, maybe that isn't so odd for a tween, but you get the idea."

"Jude's been real focused on that tablet since we got to Alderaan, only leaving it alone long enough to train with me. If I'm honest, he's likely in come secret communication with someone from the failed Revolution, but I don't pry, since it's not my place." I shrug. "As for Iwan...I don't know, I've been at the base for the last day and a half or so, making sure the Organa forces settled in."

"I feel sorry for him. Being locked away in a lap for most of his life, only to discover his father is a genocidal monster, as well as sharing the face of a notorious psychopath..." I shake my head. "I was skeptical at first, but now I really want that boy to make something of himself. Zar'kun told me how well his training went. Perhaps one day, he can become a true Jedi and finally find peace."

I offer a sad chuckle. "Dad started his training, Becca. We both know there's none among the Jedi who like his view of the Force. It's why he ultimately left the Order."

"I would consider Zar'kun more of a Jedi than the stuffed robes in the order. I use the word "Jedi" more as an umbrella term for any force sensitive who uses their power to protect others and enlightenment."



"So... basically what a Jedi Knight should be. Maybe if more Jedi were like Becca and I, or Zar'kun, the order wouldn't have torns itself apart from the inside, and we'd have been able to stop Sucal much sooner."

"Letting the Sith join them was always a hot topic with the Order, I'm honestly surprised that they didn't tear itself apart sooner. But I think we're getting off topic and off focus." I indicated the contact tower. "I'd try and establish some kind of communication with the few Jedi still hiding out on Coruscant, let them know what's going on. Having some back up wouldn't hurt. We all know how the Mandalorians are."

"Not since the Dark Wars have the Jedi and Mandalorians fought side by side. It would be a sight to see."



"Maybe I'll see if I can meet up with a few while I'm there. I would call Tython, but I get the feeling they need a while to rest and rebuild after that while Civil War thing we helped end."



"I'm sure if they could help us, they would. The fact that Sucal faces zero Jedi opposition does not bode well." I look at Jerus. "But that is a topic for another time. You came here for a reason, and I won't hold you up anymore." I give Jakito a quick kiss on the cheek. "Now you hurry up and get out of here before I change my mind about letting you go without me!"



"If I could take you, I would. But you are needed here on Alderaan, and I guess I'm needed there on Coruscant." I start walking back towards my ship. "And for the millionth time, this won't take long! Be back sooner than you can say 'Mantellion Savrip'." I give Jerus a wink. "Keep an eye on the girls while I'm gone, huh?"

"Shouldn't be too hard, especially since Syn's ready and raring to go mess up some deceitful faces." Chuckling, I watch Jakito take off, noting the angry looking Twi'lek in his co-pilot's seat, before facing Becca, my face becoming grim. "I can't shake the feeling that Sucal isn't going to wait around for Korre to be exposed again. He's going to come after her here. I have a plan, and no one's going to much like it, but it's the only fall back that's going to work."

[END SCENE?]

The Rancor's Den jumps out of hypersapce in the Nanth'ri system, near an asteroid belt. There is a sizable Republic presence in the system, with nearly a dozen Valor-class cruisers orbiting the planet Nanth'ri and scouting the boarder of the asteroid belt.



Flips a few switches on the cockpit overhead, double checking that all systems were green. If I was going to take this clunky ship into a battle, I needed to make sure it could stand up against a few hits. I quickly check the camera feed to the holding cell in the ships belly, in which Huntress is currently sleeping. I didn't feel good about bringing her into this. There wouldn't be a whole lot of space for her to move around the tight hallways of Foundry, but maybe she could prove as a distraction if I let her loose on an assembly line, or maybe she could guard the hanger so no one tries to blow up the ship while we're away.

I look towards the asteroids in the distance. One of the larger ones had to be the Foundry. Next to me sits Hank, grandpa's HK droid. Without looking at him, I say, "Open a channel to Darth Imperious' flagship. Tell her we're in position." Speaking those words felt weird. The Sith had agreed to help assault the Foundry and take the Sith Hunter droids offline. Hank and I would lead a small infiltration team while her fleet keeps the Republic ships busy. If all went right, this wouldn't take long at all. But if all went wrong, as it usually does, I expected we all had a long day ahead of us.

Nodding, I attempt to hail the Sith Assassin. There's no response for a moment, but then her holographic form appears. "Statement: Master HJ and I are in position, Darth Imperious. Begin your assault at your discretion."



I frown at the droid's rudeness, but otherwise ignore it. "And that we will. Helm?" The fleet of Harrower-Class ships, about a dozen now that we were properly mobilizing for the inevitable final battle, jumped to hyperspace, only to arrive and open fire. "Cipher Nine, send the team to rendezvous with the boy. Droid, inform HJ that our distraction has begun."



I nod and cut the channel. "Exited Statement: The attack has begun. We can do our job now."

Nods. "Alright. Let's get in there." Pushes the throttle and accelerates towards the battle. The two fleets are pretty evenly matched, with the Foundry's outer defenses giving the Republic a light edge. As my ship flies closer, weaving between asteroids and ducking canon fire, I notice the Republic is not only scrambling fighters, but also escorting tug ships carrying Sith Hunter droids. As the tug nears one of the Harrower-class dreadnoughts, the tug releases one of the droids, allowing it to float down and magnetically lock it's feet onto the dreadnought's hull. The droid then begins to march across the exterior of the ship, assaulting it at point blank with missiles, high powered blaster shots and even focused laser cutters. "Oh jeez..."

With all of the fighting around us, nobody seems to notice us slipping past the defensive line. I fly the Rancor's Den as fast as it will go towards the hanger built into the asteroid's side, slowing only at the last minute to land safely. "Alright. Hopefully the Imperial team made it in safely." I bring up the comm. "Imp Team! This is HJ! Did you make it?"



"We are called Omega Team, not Imp Team! And yes, we made it in." My team of six is in a different hanger, currently engaging a security team of Republic troopers. "We'll rendezvous with with you as soon as possible. Our goal is the main administration office."



"Copy that, Imp Leader." I end the call before he can correct me. "Alright. You ready to go, Hank?" Outside, I see a security team running to stop us from advancing from the hanger. I hold my hand over the button to open the cargo bay doors, preparing to release Huntress.

"Reminder: Disrespecting our allies will only complicate this mission. Zar'kun-like Suggestion: Have respect for the people who can easily blow us and the Foundry to kingdom come if they wish." I pull my blaster rifle off my back and begin to rev up a heavy shot that would take out the first three troops in front of me. "Answer to actual question: Assassination Protocols active."



As the capitol ships exchange volleys and the droids are dropped onto our hulls, I grin. "Release the Tarentateks." Several bombers soar out of the hangars of the Harrower-class ship and fly above each one, dropping Tarentateks bearing control collars on each ship. Noting the strange look from Fraxus, I shrug.

"A girl has to do something with her spare time."

I take my blaster in one hand and my lightsaber in the other. Mashing the button to open the cargo bay doors, releasing Huntress, Hank and I follow shortly after as she begins tearing through the security team. Those not immediately in her attack range smartly retreat to further into the station. "That was easy, but now comes the hard part. They know we aren't messing around anymore, so they won't hold anything back. Let's hurry before they assemble a proper welcoming party." I look up at Huntress. "You stay here and guard the ship. If we need you, I'll call. You understand? Nod if you do." After a few seconds of blank staring, the rancor lowers her head in an attempt at a nod. "Gaia, you're smart! See you soon!" I wave Hank on as we head off down the nearest hallway.

Outside, the Sith Hunter Droids battle the Terentatek on the outer hulls of the Imperial ships. The beasts have brute strength and the Force on their side, the the droids have heavy armor and shielding. It is a rather odd sight compared to the otherwise straight forward naval battle taking place around them.

Despite not knowing the layout of the Foundry too well, HJ and I make decent progress. After awhile, we meet the New Imperial team at one of the intersections. "Query: What is the plan now?"

“We need to find the main control room. From there, we simply access the droid schematics and reprogram then to serve us...” I glance at HJ. “Or, you know, we deactivate them.” Gives a smug smile.



“Oh, is that all we have to do? Where exactly is the control room in this giant facility? You have a map?”



“Not a complete map, but remember the Empire has been here once before. The strike team’s progress through the Foundry was tracked by a team of Intelligence agents.” I tap my data pad, and a hologram appears, showing the basic floor plan of the Foundry. “The control room should be somewhere on the higher levels, above the assembly line.”



I look at the hologram. "That won't be easy to reach. There are bound to be a bunch of security droids, troopers, and maybe even a few active Sith Hunter Droids."

"Thoughtful Statement: They wouldn't risk damaging the production facilities by deploying Sith Hunter droids. Conclusion: There will be no Sith Hunter-model Heavy combat droids." I pause a moment as something occurs to me. "Realization: There may, however, be lighter, less well armed and faster moving Sith Hunter models. Cautionary statement: We should move as one unit."

"Agreed. Splitting up is usually always a bad idea."



"Very well. Stick close, the both of you." With a hand signal, I direct my squad to head down the hall. As we go, an alarm starts to sound throughout the facility, and more troopers come spilling around the corner to open fire upon us. With them are the standard Republic battle droid units. Nothing specially designed as of yet.



I duck into a doorway and fire my pistol, using my sapphire lightsaber to deflect shots back at the troopers and their droids. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the Imperial soldiers taking up very effective positions behind crates or portable energy shields. Part of me is impressed with their skill, while the other part of me feels a bit unnerved. Not even the boys I knew back in SIS were so well trained.

I take up a position in a doorway across from HJ, firing pin-point accurate shots to take out first key components on the droids, rendering them useless, and then moving on to taking out the troopers. Forward momentum towards the control center is slow with the alarm now blaring, but shutting it down would serve no purpose, and the element of surprise had vanished with the arrival of the New Imperial fleet. As we come to the end of the series of halls where a lift was that would allow us to go up, a large droid stepped out and dropped a large barrier in the way, twin heavy laser barrels poking out from behind where it's arms ended.

"Shouted suggestion: Find cover!" I dive into a doorway on my left, barely avoiding the first volley of fire.

I quickly spin my lightsaber to block the barrage as I back towards cover. A couple of the Omega squad soldiers are caught by surprise and torn apart by the rapid fire attack. "Ah! Blast it!" I look across the way at the squad leader, who is ducked behind a portable shield. "Got anything to help?"



"Possibly!" I reach into my belt and pull out three tiny balls. They are Ion Bombs. Droid Poppers, the grunts used to call them. I carefully roll them out from behind my barrier towards the shielded droid.

The ion grenades go off and, for a moment, nothing seems to happen. The droid continues to rain heavy suppressive fire on the group before it begins to slow down. While the shots never stop entirely, they eventually reach such a slow rate of fire that the group can literally sidestep them even without the Force. "Observation: Sloppy hardened circuitry job. Surprising." I step out of my cover and work my way up with the others. However, after a few seconds the fire rate begins to pick up again. "Suggestion: Rush it!" I run as fast as my servos will carry me towards it, firing my blaster to try and damage the rifles.