Throughout the city, similar landing operations unfolded continuously, unloading troops, vehicles, and supplies at reinforced and secured positions. The forces in orbit, along with those responsible for intelligence and battlefield coordination, watched as the encirclement gradually tightened around the central building—the city hall.
Although the remaining enemy units consisted of the same droids they had defeated thus far and a handful of tanks, their tight formations were causing more casualties than expected. On the other hand, the performance of the Leopard and Pizarro/Ulano vehicles exceeded the High Command's projections, especially the IFVs. Not only were they capable of rapidly transporting squads from one point to another—allowing parts of the city to be seized swiftly and effectively while repeatedly cutting communications between the central building and scattered enemy units attempting to regroup—but their 30 mm cannons had also proven capable of pulverizing every type of droid encountered and piercing Droideka shields.
A transmission arrived on the bridge, and the image of Assajj Ventress materialized before the admiral.
"Admiral, the capture of the city is practically complete. I will soon lead the final assault on city hall. I need you to coordinate a diversionary attack while I lead another offensive to seize the Directorate office within the building."
"Very well. You'll have your attack on the Directorate shortly. Send the 243rd and 508th Battalions to attack from the north, while the 205th and the 101st Airborne Company strike from the east, cutting off this street here and preventing them from regrouping at the Directorate."
With the orders given, everything now depended on their execution.
On one of the city's main avenues, a Leopard tank adjusted its sights before firing an APFSDS round that pierced the side armor of an AAT, detonating its internal power cells in the process. Elsewhere, not every Leopard was as fortunate. Of course, these armored vehicles did not possess the same armor, materials, or engines as their original counterparts. Even so, two direct hits from an AAT were enough to cripple one and, in the worst case, render it completely inoperable.
On the main street leading to the Directorate, the Wehrmacht troops—specifically the 63rd Regiment under Ventress's direct command—advanced relentlessly. This force consisted of veterans who had served as askaris within the Schutztruppe or fought pirates and criminal syndicates throughout the years. They were armed with FN SCAR rifles in both their L and H variants.
At the forefront of the offensive stood the Force user upon whom Max had placed his expectations. Armed with her former master's lightsaber, Assajj led the attack, deflecting blaster fire while shielding several of her subordinates and, at times, redirecting the bolts back at the enemy.
"This siege has lasted long enough. We take the building now—forward, with me!"
Leaping forward with the aid of the Force, she landed amidst a number of droids and tanks, dispatching them swiftly with agile movements. Suddenly, a rocket fired from behind her struck an AAT, disabling it, followed immediately by intense suppressive fire that eliminated the nearby droids.
The assault force quickly secured the entrance to city hall, with Ventress serving as the spearhead of the offensive, effortlessly cutting down the droids attempting to block her path to the governor's office. At last, only a pair of durasteel doors stood before her.
"Marker out."
A red light appeared on the soldiers' visors, highlighting the silhouettes of everyone inside the room.
"Three organics crouched in the right corner. Two more directly in front of the door—hostile. Four B-2/P droids." (P=Prototype)
"Breach in five."
BOOM
Assajj immediately hurled the droids aside with a Force push while four precise shots brought down the two guards.
"Governor, you and I have much to discuss—but first, the codes," said Assajj as she pulled the governor toward her and lifted him into the air with the Force while the rest of her troops secured the remaining prisoners and finished off the incapacitated enemies.
"Please don't kill me! Everything that might interest you is on my datapad and in my desk. Please—I still have value! My family would surely pay a generous ransom for me. Better yet, I can provide you with highly confidential information!"
"That remains to be seen. You two, confirm his statements, execute the deactivation codes for all droid forces on the planet, and inform the admiral that the cleanup, aid, and cargo teams may deploy immediately. And make sure our guest of honor is secured."
Without another word, she clipped her lightsabers back onto her belt and left what had once been an office, making her way toward her fighter to return to the flagship and report the situation to Maximus.
The journey lasted no more than fifteen minutes. After landing in the main hangar, she took the most direct route to her personal quarters and, after closing the door behind her, contacted Maximus.
The figure of Maximus—the Supreme Commander of all the League's armed forces—appeared on Ventress's personal holoprojector, dressed in his characteristic gray uniform, watching as she knelt before her master.
"Master, the mission has been completed successfully, and all objectives have been achieved."
"I have already been informed of the success of this campaign and of your conduct throughout it, and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised, Assajj. Continue like this, and you may one day attain the rank of Fist. For now, return to the capital aboard the vessel I have sent to retrieve you. More training awaits you here—and, above all, new missions to complete."
"As you command, my master."
Without another word, Maximus's image vanished from the room, leaving behind an Assajj radiant with happiness. Her thoughts were filled with the realization that, after so long, she had finally been acknowledged. At last, she had found her place once more within this vast galaxy.
For the time being, however, all she could do was wait upon this planet until the ship arrived to take her home.