**Chapter 578**
**Scene 1**
**Olympus Mons Bridge – Felucia Orbit**
**Shin POV**
The battle finally ended.
Shin Wren stood on the bridge of the *Olympus Mons*, her white hair slightly disheveled from the long hours of intense combat. The tactical display showed the last remnants of the Separatist fleet breaking apart under the sustained fire of the Republic formation. Burning hulks drifted in orbit, some already falling toward Felucia's atmosphere in long trails of fire and smoke. The blue planetary shield had flickered and died minutes earlier, leaving the jungle world exposed.
Through the Force bond, she felt the collective exhaustion and relief of the fleet — and the sharp strain radiating from Dagon.
He dropped to his knees in the center of the bridge, a thin trickle of blood leaking from his nose. Erictia and Sakura were instantly at his sides, supporting him as he swayed. Shin moved forward quickly, placing a hand on his armored shoulder. The Krayt Dragon suit hummed faintly, but Dagon's presence in the bond was strained, heated, like a star pushed to its limit.
"The battle meld," Shin whispered, understanding immediately. "Three hours connected to so many troops… the strain is intense. He still chooses to bear it alone. If the rest of us tried to link our minds that deeply, our brains would fry. Only a strong mind with decades of experience — like Master Yoda or Master Oppo Rancisis — or a damaged, battle-hardened mind like Dagon's could handle it."
Dagon wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his gauntlet, breathing heavily. "Yeah… that hurts. Droid, get me a bacta patch."
The medical droid hovering nearby scanned him quickly. "Patient, your mind is heated. Literally. The temperature is elevated. You need to cool down immediately."
"Yeah, yeah, tinman," Dagon muttered, waving a hand. "Have the battle plan ready."
His personal captured and reprogrammed B1 command battle droid — now painted in dark gray with red accents — approached with a datapad. "Yes, sir. The statistics are ready. Roger roger."
Dagon took a steadying breath, leaning on Erictia and Sakura as they helped him to his feet. "Very well. Aayla, you and Shin coordinate with Tiplar and Tiplee. First, secure the ships around the planet, then find the cities. Keep your distance — we don't want any surprises."
Shin nodded, her purple eyes meeting his. "Understood. Rest, Dagon. We've got this part."
As Sakura and Erictia helped him walk toward the medical bay, the med droid following close behind, Shin turned back to the tactical display. The bond carried Dagon's lingering pain and exhaustion, but also his trust. She would not let him down.
"Aayla," Shin said, opening a private channel, "form up with Tiplar and Tiplee's group. We'll take the western orbital arc. Precision strikes on remaining capital ships, then ground support for the landing zones."
Aayla's voice came back strong. "Copy that. Let's finish this cleanly."
The *Olympus Mons* and its escorts began their descent toward lower orbit, turbolasers still picking off the last desperate Vulture droid swarms. The battle for Felucia had entered its final phase.
**Scene 2**
**Felucia Surface – Jungle Crash Site**
**Shu Mai POV**
Shu Mai stumbled out of the damaged Sheathipede-class transport shuttle, her ornate Gossam robes torn and singed. Debris from the orbital battle had struck the shuttle during its emergency descent, forcing a rough landing in the dense fungal forest. The air was thick with spores and humidity, the bioluminescent plants glowing in eerie patterns around the crash site.
"Get me communications!" she yelled at the surviving droids scrambling from the wreckage. "And prepare to escort me back to the command station!"
The battle droids clicked and buzzed in acknowledgment, one of them setting up a portable holoprojector. Moments later, the tactical droid's image appeared, its mechanical voice flat and efficient.
"Command, the Republic launched fighters that led a small but effective precision bombing on our command stations. The planetary shield generator is destroyed, as well as several shuttles at the base. I could send you a gunship, but all hyperspace-capable ships are at the cities or forward command stations."
Shu Mai's multifaceted eyes narrowed with frustration. "Just get me out of this wilderness. I don't want to be food for the beasts of this world."
The droid processed the order. "Understood. A ground convoy is being prepared. ETA fifteen minutes."
Shu Mai turned away, staring into the glowing jungle. The plan was already in motion. The poisoned well would activate if the Republic pushed too far. Millions would die, and the planet would become worthless to them. She would escape, leaving the tactical droid to carry out the final orders.
No half-measures.
**Scene 3**
**Har Gau City – Felucia Surface**
**Stella POV**
Har Gau was one of the smaller Gossam-established cities on Felucia, built around several critical water-treatment facilities. The toxin was already spreading through the planet's natural aquatic distribution system. The city had minimal defenses compared to the larger settlements like Kway Teow or Niango, making it the perfect landing zone for the Accumulator-class assault ships.
Stella leapt from her TIE Defender as it hovered just above the outer wall, her yellow lightsabers igniting in a brilliant flash. She channeled **Flower Breathing** — graceful, precise, and deadly.
**Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum.**
Several rotating sword slashes spun outward, deflecting incoming blaster bolts and slicing through a group of massive Octuptarra droids. The tripedal war machines collapsed in sparking heaps as her blades carved through their central processors. Missile turrets on the wall tried to track her, but she was already moving, a blur of yellow light that left destroyed emplacements in her wake.
Puck and Devil landed nearby in a Warden dropship, their armor scarred but functional. Commander Cat led the first wave of clones over the wall, jet packs flaring as they soared above the defenses. The Dark Star troopers opened fire with F-11ABA heavy blaster cannons — deadly rifles that utilized an amplifier barrel to produce powerful explosive rounds. Adjustable J20 electroscopes transmitted targeting data directly to their helmets, allowing for pinpoint accuracy even in the chaotic fungal terrain.
"Push forward!" Stella shouted, her voice carrying over the din of battle. "Secure the water treatment plants! Do not let the toxin spread further!"
Clones and Jedi moved in coordinated waves. Yellow blades flashed as Stella cut down another squad of battle droids, her Flower Breathing forms elegant yet relentless. The militia forces — mostly local Felucians armed by the Commerce Guild — put up a brave but disorganized resistance. Their blaster fire was inaccurate, their formations breaking under the disciplined assault of the Republic troops.
Stella felt the Living Force of Felucia all around her — vibrant, wild, and angry. The planet itself seemed to resist the invasion, vines and fungal spores shifting underfoot, but she pushed on, her connection to Dagon and the other girls giving her strength.
The first water-treatment facility fell within minutes. Clones secured the perimeter while technical teams began working on containment protocols. The toxin was spreading, but they were containing it — one facility at a time.
Through the bond, Stella felt Dagon's quiet pride. "Keep going," his voice echoed in her mind. "We're almost there."
The battle for Har Gau raged on, but the Republic was winning.