596. Punishment
22BBY, June 21, a month has passed since the clone outbreak.
The army of the Confederation of Independent Systems can be said to be unstoppable. Out of the 17 directions in which they launched their first attack, 11 have been victorious. The fleets that were freed up immediately launched larger-scale assaults.
With a series of early victories, the Confederacy of Independent Systems became bolder in its actions, and the droid army launched a larger offensive under the command of General Grievous. Sometimes they don't even need escort warships, and directly send a team of transport ships to force a landing, and then a large number of robot legions launch a ground invasion of the planet.
This trick is very effective, because many outer-ring planets don't actually have much defensive power. Those troops who usually just pretend to be on a planet in the 21st century may not be as effective as urban management on a certain planet in the 21st century. It is impossible to resist the robots. Legion's attack.
As a result, these planets can only throw flakes of requests for help towards Coruscant, which puts the Republic's Supreme Strategic Command in a dilemma.
On the one hand, they have limited power. After the Battle of Geonosis, only about 110,000 clone troops were left to continue fighting. In subsequent battles, more than 40,000 people were sent out one after another. The remaining more than 70,000 clone soldiers need to deal with fighting in hundreds of places, which is obviously impossible.
In the previous military expansion bill signed by Speaker Sheev Palpatine, the additional 1 billion natural soldiers are already in place and are being trained on more than 1,000 planets. However, it will take at least half a year for these soldiers to become combat effective.
So the Supreme Strategic Command of the Republic could only ask Palpatine for instructions to shrink the defense line and abandon part of the outer ring planets.
But Sheev Palpatine categorically rejected this proposal. He strictly ordered the Republic's military to fight for every inch of territory. Of course, his reasons were high-sounding, "I will never give up every inch of the Republic's territory, every citizen, and even Every planet! In the eyes of the Republic, there is no such thing as giving up! Because every planet and every person is equally important!"
"But we must find a way to deal with it... We simply don't have the power to defend so many planets at the same time..." The Chief of Staff of the Republic had no choice but to spread his hands and said.
Palpatine shook his head, looked at Master Windu aside, and asked, "Master Windu, do you have any suggestions?"
Master Windu was also in a dilemma. He looked at the holographic star map in the center, on which the planets under attack were marked in red. It looked dense and shocking. He took a deep breath and said: "The Jedi Order will fully cooperate with the Republic Army. Maybe we can refer to the situation in the Battle of Naboo."
"The Battle of Naboo?"
Master Windu nodded, "Yes, the Battle of Naboo 10 years ago was the same situation. The planet Naboo had no resistance against the Trade Federation's robot army, but the final victory belonged to the planet Naboo. .”
The chief of staff muttered: "The air force of the planet Naboo destroyed the robot control ship, while Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi captured Newt Gunray, turning the tide of the war in one fell swoop. "
Palpatine sighed and said: "I understand what you mean, Master Windu. But this also means that the leading Jedi Knights will be in great danger."
"Jedi Knights have always walked in danger, and it is our mission to sacrifice everything for the Republic and the people." Master Windu said.
Palpatine was already smiling in his heart at this moment, but he looked very heavy on the surface, "On behalf of the trillions of people in the galaxy, I would like to thank the Jedi for their sacrifice."
…
At the same time, the planet Len-Var.
Bravo Base has been completely captured, but the results are not perfect.
Led by Count Dooku himself, six Rookery Hook-class battleships and 1.6 million robots were dispatched, but in the end at least half of the Republic soldiers escaped.
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi fought bravely. They destroyed all HAG self-propelled mortars and more than 20 AAT assault tanks with just their two Delta-7 fighter jets. This created the last chance for the defenders to evacuate.
However, while covering the evacuating transport ship, Obi-Wan Kenobi's fighter jet was shot down. Fortunately, he jumped out in time, and then Anakin Skywalker made a very difficult move in the air and opened the cockpit. Guy caught Obi-Wan.
Then the two people crowded together in the cockpit, which could only accommodate one person. Their faces were pressed tightly together, and they could smell the sweat on each other's bodies even when they breathed.
They kept doing this for a full hour, until they were out of danger, they returned to the transport ship, and then went straight to the bathroom in unison.
But the fleet of the Federation of Independent Systems did not chase these escaped transport ships. They had more important things to do.
A golden Geonosian solar sail spacecraft landed next to an iceberg 30 kilometers north of Bravo Base. Count Dooku stepped off the spacecraft and entered a very secret cave.
After walking around for a long time, Count Dooku found a frozen coffin in the deepest part of the cave. This coffin is very delicate, but it is simply placed in the cave. There is no decoration around it. There is only a large stone that looks like it has been flattened by a lightsaber as a tombstone, with a very brief line of words engraved on it -
Ulic Qel-Droma, Sith Lord, Jedi Knight.
Count Dooku had read about Ulic's deeds in ancient books, and he knew that the former Sith Lord returned to the light before his death. The words "Jedi Knight" on the tombstone also show the Jedi Order's final recognition of him.
Count Dooku stood very devoutly in front of the coffin, maintaining the posture of bowing and saluting. After a long time, a shadow slowly floated out from the coffin - the heroic spirit of Ulic Quel-Dolma appeared here.
It is unknown what happened after that. Count Dooku talked with Ulic here for more than an hour. When he came out, his face was filled with joy and he said to the T-series tactical robots waiting aside: "Leave half of it behind." The robots will stay here, and we will set off immediately to return to the main planet of Lasax!"
"yes."
Count Dooku had already jumped onto his Geonosian solar spacecraft, sat in the cab and fastened his seat belt, muttering to himself: "I didn't expect that what I long for is actually right before our eyes." Bottom. Hum! It’s time to give the Republic a fatal blow!”
He took a deep breath, his expression gradually became solemn, and he rethought the conversation he had just had with Ulic's heroic spirit. After a while, his eyes were filled with perseverance again, and he started the engine and ignored the fleet that was loading robots. , a person left alone.
…
On June 22, Tang Xiao was working in the office when the door opened and Severance Tann walked in.
The transformation of her right arm has been completed. Starting from the shoulder blade to the right clavicle, the entire arm has been replaced with a black robotic arm. It is not known whether it was her intentional choice. The fingers of the robotic arm are very sharp and even flashing. The cold light makes people feel a little scary just by looking at it.
"Are you here to report your thoughts on this new robotic arm?" Tang Xiao said lightly, "Don't worry, when you want to take your arm back, I will naturally be able to remove the mechanically modified parts. Let your hands grow back.”
"I received news an hour ago that the planet Sarabin was retaken by the Republic." Severance Tann said.
"Unexpectedly, the fall of Planet Sarabin caused a power outage in one-fifth of the Republic's core worlds. With such a bad impact, the Republic's military will risk their lives to recapture the planet," Tang Xiao said.
"Adela Kaitis, this ignorant guy, actually left a prototype of the extractor to that idiot Zian Fenis! She should know that the stupid civil servant can be a yes man, but Absolutely no military capabilities!" Severance Tann's expression was a little ferocious, "Jedi Master, Jon Shen took back Sarabin in just one day and captured the extractor prototype! Qi Ann Fenice, this stupid guy, didn't have time to destroy the prototype, and he himself became a prisoner of the Republic! I'm going to solve this matter!"
"If that's the case, I think there's nothing you can do about it. The Extractor and Qian Fenis might already be on Coruscant now," Tang Xiao said.
"No, according to the information sent by Mrs. M, the Extractor and Zian Finnis were not sent to Coruscant, but instead headed towards the planet Umbara. We still have a chance to intercept them! I need the cooperation of an elite force, and I want the Fourth Army!" Severance Tann said.
Tang Xiao pushed aside the documents on the table and said: "Now your B fleet is preparing for the next attack on the planet Christophersis. The Fourth Army will also participate in this. It can be said that this is the most important battle since we started the war." Plan. At this time, I don’t want to make matters worse. The original plan was for you to command the battle on the planet Christophersis. You just ran away with the Fourth Army because you wanted to hand over this battle against 35 billion people to Lin Is Nan Yi a fresh graduate of the military academy?"
"This won't take long! It would be best if the Jedi named Shen Jon is there too! I will personally chop off his head!" Severance Tann said viciously.
"You are not suitable to go to the battlefield now. Even looking at your mental state, I don't think you are suitable to command the battle of Christophsis. If necessary, you can switch defenses with Matt Horner and let him do it. Command this battle." Tang Xiao said coldly.
"No! I'm calm now! But the prototype of the extractor must be destroyed! Judging from the current intelligence, the Republic also knows nothing about the extractor's project, so we must destroy this prototype to ensure that this This technology is unique to us!" Severance Tann said.
Tang Xiao smiled coldly, stood up and said, "Then, leave this matter to the deceased angel."
"Mortal Angel? Are you going to..." Of course Severance Tann knew who the Mortal Angel was, but before she could finish her words, her neck was suddenly grabbed by an invisible force, and then she was lifted up!
The expression on Tang Xiao's face gradually became ferocious, "That's right, Death Angel. You know nothing about power. Tann, this time, I will tell you personally what the irresistible power in the galaxy is like!"
He raised his hand and waved, and Severance Tann's tender neck fell into his hands. His strength gradually increased, and Severance Tann struggled, "I'm tired of seeing you showing off that thing." As powerful as a three-legged cat! I thought that if I asked Edela to go with you, you would be a little restrained, but it turned out not to be the case. Find out why I asked you to be promoted to admiral just after joining? What did I ask you to do? Yes! You should know that I never asked you to compare with several Jedi Knights whose lightsaber dance is better!!"
After saying that, he pushed hard and threw Tann against the wall with a bang.
"Poof!!" Severance Tann spat out a large mouthful of blood. The mechanical arm that her right arm had just hit also malfunctioned and made a creaking sound. It was obvious that Tang Xiao had used the Force just now. Destroyed the robotic arm.
Tang Xiao walked over and grabbed Tann's hair, dragging her from the office to the elevator, and then straight to his secret hangar platform.
Bang! He kicked Tann into the Red Comet, the Sith infiltrator, and then took off his coat, revealing the tight-fitting combat uniform he always wore underneath, and covered his figure and face with a black hood.
The person standing in front of Tann at this moment is no longer the Governor of Dawn Planet, but...
Sith Lord, Darth Malthael!
Now Severance Tann looked extremely miserable. She fell to the ground with her hair disheveled. Her right arm, which had just been replaced with a robotic arm, was damaged and she could not move at all. Her originally neat clothes were in a mess, and blood was flowing from the corners of her mouth and nose. It was left along the neck to dye the collar red. Looking like this, there is no trace of the high-spirited and famous general demeanor that he had when he just captured the planet Sarabin. She is clearly a little woman who has just suffered domestic violence.
However, even so, she was so arrogant that she did not dare to resist at all in front of Darth Malthael. When she followed Malthael to learn the skills of the dark side, the powerful power of the dark side It left an extremely terrifying impression in her heart.
It can be said that Darth Malthael is the only person who can scare her in the entire galaxy.
"What are you still doing? Stand up! Fly the spaceship! Are you still waiting for me to find the location of the extractor prototype?" Darth Malthael kicked Tann.
Severance Tann had no choice but to stand up shakily while holding on to the bulkhead, fell down on the driver's seat, and started the spacecraft engine with difficulty with her only left hand.
