**Chapter 582**
**Scene 1**
**Felucia Surface – Southern Mushroom Forest**
**Colonel Tot Laa POV**
Colonel Tot Laa lowered the binoculars from his belt. He no longer needed instruments to see the enemy. He could hear them.
"They're making a noise like a flock of banthas," remarked Captain Mao Nut, standing nearby.
"Like a herd of stupid, fat banthas," responded the second company commander, Captain Zhen Tang.
"And like banthas, they don't know they're heading to the slaughter," Ping Keow remarked. All three burst out laughing.
"Keep quiet there," Major Nal Too muttered.
"We're getting started," the colonel waved his hand. At his command, conveyed by coded signals, the battalion's soldiers immediately took cover, concealing their presence for the time being. It was easy for the little Gossams to hide, especially here on Felucia...
Felucia was a world almost entirely covered in wild, fantastical forests and equally picturesque swamps. Numerous life forms and plants on the planet were partially or completely transparent, and the sunlight filtered through them, making them resemble illuminated mosaics. No other planet could boast such a riot of colors and shades. However, this beauty had a downside. Felucia was a difficult world to colonize. Due to the defensive capabilities of many native plants — sharp spines, explosive spores, and deadly poison — early attempts at agriculture ended in failure.
It's unknown how many pioneers perished on this planet. However, some managed to establish themselves there. These lucky ones were the Gossam. They actually arrived on the planet early in their interstellar history. The settlers' path was thorny and dangerous, but they eventually reached Felucia. Battling the dangerous environment, they cleared the first footholds and built several cities.
But that's where it all ended. To this day, there were only four cities on the planet: Kway Teow, the former capital, and three others: Har Gau, Jiaozi, and Niango. Their combined population numbered just eight million Gossams, plus half a million representatives of other races. Naturally, the planet had long belonged to the Commerce Guild, and was something of a resort for the rich and wealthy members of the Guild, including Shu Mai herself, who, at the start of the war, chose Felucia as her headquarters.
Naturally, large forces were assembled to defend it, including the elite of the Gossam army — the Gossam Commandos. Although the Commerce Guild, following the example of the Trade Federation, had long ago converted its army to droids, some units remained composed of organics. They were used in special operations in enemy territory, the assassination of undesirable political leaders, and security duties. The commando units were composed exclusively of Gossam males, and service in them was considered honorable.
Now they had to fight on their own territory.
Clone reconnaissance walkers appeared in a gap between two ferns. A foot patrol followed them, and tremors in the ground indicated the approach of a large number of walkers.
The colonel's ears caught the clicking sounds of soldiers activating their blasters. With the onset of the Crisis, the battalions had been re-equipped with the standard CIS weapon — the E-5 blaster carbine. To increase firepower, the commando units were equipped with heavy beam guns operated by two-man crews, as well as E-60R grenade launchers, equally inexpensive and easy to operate.
"Well, well, you guys don't look like regular Gossams. More like elite," a deep, modulated voice said from the shadows. "Well, even though the Commerce Guild uses this as a vacation planet, it is necessary for the amount of bacta. But don't hold this against me."
The next thing the commandos saw was a flash of red and black. Their bodies were then in pieces, partially cut up by an invisible storm of blades and dark energy.
**Scene 2**
**Dagon POV**
**Felucia Surface – Jungle Advance**
Felucia had no continents, so I decided to move the same as on Jabiim — Juggernauts, Grizzlies, and 2m repulsor hover tanks. No walkers except for AT-XT and AT-ST. All slow vehicles stayed at the city as our forward command post.
I had learned new things on this world. Apparently, the roar of the Leviathan Krayt dragon scares away the native Felucia wildlife, such as jungle rancors and acklays. So each walker had a mounted speaker broadcasting the roar we had recorded. Fear is a useful motivator.
Twenty Juggernauts were in my column as we traversed the jungle. Three Braha'tok-class gunships flew above us, looking for enemy forces.
So far we had destroyed 100,000 droids and 5,000 organics in three days. Each Jedi had a different tank group to command. The padawans were left at the city as our command post, mainly because I wanted them to learn how to manage a base without me. They had only commanded a capital ship — the *Grey Wolf* or *Olympus Mons* — so far, and a few fleet groups. An upgrade from just a squadron, but as official rank as Jedi Commander for padawans, I needed them to learn.
"Smooth sailing, wouldn't you say, Puck, Veers?" I asked over the comm.
"Yeah, mostly," Veers replied. "Hold on — another minefield ahead."
"No problem," I said. A powerful Force shove combined with lightning detonated all the mines prematurely in a chain of explosions that lit up the jungle canopy.
"Yeah, no problem," Puck added dryly, "except we've got a squadron of AAT tanks on the scans now."
"Grizzly tanks, Squadron 8 — open fire!" Veers ordered.
The M850 Grizzly main battle tanks broke formation, their independent suspension systems allowing them to maneuver through the dense undergrowth with surprising agility. Their dual 120mm smooth-bore cannons thundered, sending high-velocity shells into the enemy AATs. The lighter Separatist tanks exploded spectacularly, their lighter armor no match for the Grizzlies' firepower. AT-ST walkers moved forward, their rapid-fire lasers cutting down the supporting droid ground forces.
I watched from the lead Juggernaut, the Wrath Shield humming on my back. The Krayt dragon roar broadcast from the speakers echoed through the jungle, causing native wildlife to scatter. Acklays and rancors fled from the sound, giving our column clear paths through the fungal forest.
"Keep pushing," I transmitted. "We take Har Gau's second half by nightfall. The water treatment facilities must be secured before the toxin spreads further."
The advance continued. Grizzlies led the way, their heavy cannons clearing paths through droid blockades. Juggernauts followed, their massive treads crushing everything in their path. The Braha'tok gunships provided air support, their lasers stitching through enemy positions from above.
By evening, the second half of Har Gau was ours. The water treatment facilities were secured, and technical teams began neutralizing the remaining toxin charges. The Commerce Guild's trap had been foiled.
I stood on a ridge overlooking the glowing fungal city, the Krayt Dragon armor still active. Through the bond, I felt the girls' satisfaction and relief.
Another step closer.2