**Chapter 658: The Gwori Inferno**
**Scene 1**
**Hyperspace – Republic Bomber Squadron**
**Colonel Dietz POV**
This year was known as Year 14 after the Great ReSynchronization, Year 979 after the Ruusan Reformation, and Year 3,632 after the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant. Month 7, Week 1.
"Sir, R-Three says we'll be at the target in five minutes." Colonel Dietz heard the voice of his second crew member, Gunner Naro, in his helmet.
"Acknowledged." The clone stretched, then placed his hands on the control sticks, his eyes scanning the instrument readings helpfully displayed on the helmet's internal screens. Everything was normal: the engines were running smoothly and without interruption; the reactor was supplying power to the ship's systems; the accumulators were fully charged; the cannons were ready to unleash a stream of fire upon the enemy; torpedoes and bombs rested peacefully in their places, ready to rain down upon the enemy.
A little more — and the stars would slow their movement. The bomber would emerge from hyperspace, followed by the rest of its squadron. And to the left, to the right, above, and to the side — other Republic squadrons, launching from an unremarkable, uninhabited system on a strict schedule. Sector Army Command had a vested interest in the operation's success, and so the number of aircraft participating in it exceeded seven hundred. Under its command alone were six bomber squadrons. Numerous squadrons of ARC-170 and Z-95 fighters acted as cover. Avalanches and other fighters without hyperdrives were not used. Unfortunately, there weren't enough new BTL/B fighters to provide the necessary firepower. Therefore, the command used all available vehicles of other brands, equipped with a hyperdrive and capable of carrying bombs and torpedoes, including the outdated NTB-630 and the Kuat "Cloak-like."
Naturally, with such a scale, the target of the operation was appropriate: one of the largest shipyards of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, located on the planet Gwori.
The planet itself held no value: its surface was covered in endless deserts, and only at the bottom of thousand-kilometer-long canyons, whose sheer walls rose to heights of up to two kilometers, was there any semblance of life. Perhaps it had been verdant in ancient times, but either a global cataclysm or, more likely, the activity of intelligent beings brought it to its current state. However, it was precisely this low value that allowed Gwori Revolutionary Industries to acquire the planet and establish its shipyards there, which gradually rose to become the leaders of the Outer Rim, second only to the shipyards of Mon Calamari.
Long-standing cooperation with Hersh-Kessel and the presence of a significant number of Muuns among the company's shareholders determined the company's fate. Several years before the Naboo incident, Revolutionary Manufacturing began producing Bounty-class frigates; they continued to produce them, and at an enviable rate: during the Separatist Crisis, the pace was increased severalfold. The Republic had already attempted to destroy the shipyards early in the war, but failed. Now, in light of recent events, another opportunity has arisen.
The timer counted down the final moments, and the colonel tightened his grip on the steering wheel. The planet's defenses were very strong, and breaking through would be difficult. All hope lay in the speed and mass of the attack.
The Separatists were unprepared for this turn of events. Countless cargo transports flew through the massive orbital structure, shaped like a rectangle with chamfered edges, delivering materials to the planet for ship construction. The station itself was a scanning complex, screening ships for organic matter. If anyone attempted to infiltrate the planet by boarding a transport, they would inevitably be detected. And the station's numerous defensive weapons, positioned along the perimeter, would destroy the ship. There was no other way to the planet: hundreds of Generosity-class frigates blocked the approaches.
It was precisely past them that they had to break through.
"Roll call!" Dietz commanded.
"Alpha is in place!"
"Beta is ready for battle!"
"Gamma, in position!" the squadron commanders responded after a moment's hesitation.
This meant that all bombers had reached the planet safely.
"Forward! Engines and shields to maximum!"
The droids — or whoever commanded the ships — noticed the enemy, but they were too late to react. When the frigates' laser batteries opened fire, the BTL/Bs were already flying past them. The Vultures from the patrol squadrons and those mounted directly on the ships' hulls had a serious chance of damaging them, but heavy ARC-170s were already rushing to intercept them, and a melee erupted over the planet. But… It wasn't their fault: the colonel's bomber, the lead bomber in the detachment, had already begun to enter the atmosphere.
Since the velocity hadn't been sufficiently dampened, fiery flashes began to spread across the shield: atmospheric friction was quite noticeable, twice the normal level. But the angle of entry was also extremely acute; they were effectively diving toward their target from orbit itself. It wasn't safe, but there are no safe places in war. The enemy would soon get their bearings and begin taking measures to repel the Republic's attack. And then, confirming their thoughts, the first turbolaser bolts rushed toward them from the planet's surface. The shipyards were well protected: dozens of turbolasers and hundreds of blaster and laser cannons lined the edges of one of the canyons, which housed the multi-leveled slipways.
"Get ready! Evasive maneuver!" the colonel smoothly steered the plane to the side. Following his example, the other bombers also dispersed. But there were too many of them.
"This is Beta. Lost one!"
"This is Gamma-Two. The lead ship has been shot down. I assume command."
"It's getting hot!" Naro yelled cheerfully. And he clearly wasn't referring to the temperature.
Four hundred and five seconds. Is that a lot or a little? It depends on how you look at it. For Dietz, the seconds it took his bombers to reach the canyon seemed unbearably long. But time couldn't be stopped, and now they were entering the wide breach, becoming invulnerable to most of the defensive weapons. The Separatists had been overconfident in their defensive construction, believing that no one would ever break through their fleet. And the target — there it was, a few kilometers ahead.
"Attention! Attack!" With these words, Dietz activated the targeting system. Two kilometers to the target, one and a half… His fingers pressed the buttons on the control sticks again and again. Ten torpedoes, in five pairs, rushed toward the slipways. It was impossible to miss. The exploding proton warheads flashed brightly, slicing through the structure, destroying the still-unfinished ships. His torpedoes were followed by others, launched from the remaining bombers.
Somewhere ahead, the Cloaked Ones were attacking a similar target. But these craft were short on torpedoes, so the colonel and his squadrons rushed past the crumbling slipway structure and rushed to the rescue. A minute into the flight, and proton bombs, having bided their time, rained down on the burning shipyards.
"Okay, guys, we're wrapping this up!" Dietz sighed with relief. It's done: on the horizon, along the canyon walls, massive explosions lit up the sky as the heart of the Separatist shipbuilding industry was reduced to molten slag.
**Scene 2**
**Senate Building – Chancellor's Office, Coruscant**
**Chancellor Palpatine POV**
Palpatine sat behind his grand desk, the soft light of Coruscant's evening casting long shadows across the room. A datapad lay before him, displaying the latest intelligence reports. His expression was calm, but his eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.
"The most important and pressing issue for us is that Moff Michael Sol has indeed destroyed the Gwori shipyards," he said to his gathered advisors. "Destroying nearly two hundred and fifty fighters and bombers in the process, but he has destroyed them completely: production was beyond repair. Along with the shipyards, they destroyed nearly a hundred Munificent-class frigates under construction. The Separatists are in a panic, and they have no time for us. Of course, it was the largest — and only — shipyard in the region. While it was operational, the operations of the Eighth Sector Army and its neighbors were hampered. Now, however, the CIS command will have to send reinforcements almost halfway across the galaxy — from Pengalan Four or Dac."
He leaned back, tapping a finger on the desk. "The second piece of news was far more serious. An intelligence informant based on Corellia reported that just yesterday an extraordinary meeting of the Diktat Administration had taken place, at which Corellian Senator Garm Bel Iblis spoke. The meeting lasted almost seven hours — which was odd: there was only one item on the agenda, and the heads of Corellian corporations are precious about their time. And to top it all off, the council's decision was classified. However, the informant managed to obtain notes from the meeting. They were fragmentary, but even from them, it was possible to piece together the overall picture."
Palpatine continued, his voice measured. "Thus, Garm Bel Iblis, a staunch opponent of Corellia's participation in the war who lobbied for the adoption of isolationist laws, proposed to the Diktat to begin not only a rapid modernization of the fleet, but also its expansion through the release of existing ship models and the development of new warships, including Star Destroyers from a kilometer and above, to replace the outdated ships of the Corellian fleet."
"But that wasn't all! Iblis acted as a go-between for corporations and certain systems that wanted to purchase new Corellian warships. And this wouldn't lead to 'a strengthening of the Republic.' That's exactly how the senator put it — which was very alarming."
He paused, letting the implications sink in. Corellia had historically rivaled Coruscant, considering itself the cradle of humanity. Hence the numerous "cold conflicts." This was evident in the fact that at the beginning of the war, the Corellian Navy blocked the Separatists' direct route to the Core, which inflated the Corellians' ego. At the same time, they refused to supply the Republic Navy with a large number of warships, particularly CR-90 frigates, citing their shipyards being overloaded with private orders and busy upgrading existing Republic CR-70 frigates to the new ship's specifications. However, the attack on Coruscant demonstrated that their "defense" wasn't so reliable, and the gradual buildup of the GAR began to diminish Corellia's contribution to the common cause, forcing the Diktat to "enter the market."
"Moreover, Sienar's rapid rise — not without the help of that ubiquitous Dagon — spurred many major companies to reopen, including Rothana and Kuat, Rendili, and Corellia. New weapons, the race for government contracts… All of this, oddly enough, had a positive impact on all spheres of activity. After all, the Republic was inferior to the CIS, and the excessive support of the GAR couldn't go unnoticed. Otherwise, the situation was complex, but manageable."
Palpatine tapped the datapad again. "We need to give orders to probe Iblis. And get more specifics about these orders. Who, where, how much, and, most importantly, why? Could it be that Organa and this Mothma's company has decided to act so early?"
**Scene 3**
**Coruscant – Sidious' Hidden Stronghold**
**Darth Sidious POV**
This building didn't stand out from the cityscape — there were plenty of more ornate buildings around — and the architects had done their best. It was… a perfectly ordinary structure, with a cylindrical spire on the roof, topped by a structure vaguely resembling a half-opened flower, four petals bent downward, and four more serving as landing pads for airspeeders and small shuttles. The bud itself was irregular, faceted, with numerous antennas on the roof. And although its height was only half that of Coruscant's tallest building, the Jedi Temple, it was built on the very edge of Galactic City, in a district of more modest buildings adjacent to the former industrial districts — and therefore towered significantly above them all.
One could only guess at the building's purpose: living quarters, a communications center, a rich man's whim… But in reality, it was much simpler. It was a hideout. Darth Sidious' hideout.
The building's lower levels housed a powerful power source, powering not only the building's systems but also a robust energy shield capable of protecting against orbital bombardment and meteorite or asteroid impacts. Concealed behind the curved projections were turbolaser turrets keeping the entire area under surveillance and capable of targeting any ship in low orbit. A specialized communications system allowed contact with any corner of the galaxy — while simultaneously protecting against eavesdropping from any source. It also protected against scanning. Special materials used in the interior decoration helped conceal the presence of gifted individuals.
It was no surprise that Palpatine used this very place for meetings with his supporters and servants. These meetings were rare — the Chancellor of the Republic couldn't afford to disappear frequently. But still, occasionally, under the pretext of a medical examination at a private clinic, he would sneak out here. And he wasn't even partially lying — the building was equipped with the latest medical equipment and the finest medical droids, capable of healing literally anything, even the most severe injuries.
Night was falling on Galactic City. The dim light from the overhead lamps illuminated a small semicircular room with several luxurious sofas. Palpatine himself sat on one of them; across from him sat Sly Moore, Sate Pestage, and Lord Cronal. Near the door, wrapped in a cloak, stood another figure, so far uninvolved in the meeting.
"…Count Dooku reported that he has already launched the operation. The attack could take place within the next 24 hours. Since I will be very busy in the near future, I will relay orders through my assistant." Palpatine nodded toward the Umbaran.
"Master, may I inquire how your business with Skywalker is progressing?" Pestage asked.
"I met him a couple of days ago when I sent him on a diplomatic mission. When he returns, he'll be obliged to report back to me; then we'll talk again. But even that brief time was enough for me to read his emotions — jealousy, mistrust, envy — directed against the Jedi and… Dagon. He seems concerned about our 'General's' increased fame."
"Your idea of using Dagon as a 'banner' was brilliant, and yielded even greater results than we predicted," Lord Cronal said, smiling slightly. "Patriarch Kadann and Senior Prophet Jadgarr spent countless hours in meditation to discern possible futures. And as we see, fortune favors you, Lord. However…"
Palpatine gestured for him to continue.
"We are certain that the Jedi must be eliminated as soon as the opportune moment arrives. However, only when the opportune moment arrives. And it would be best if the general at that moment had the highest possible popularity and rank. Perhaps even Supreme Commander of the GAR."
Palpatine glanced disapprovingly at the old man. "Are you confident in your conclusions, Cronal?"
"Absolutely. On the one hand, it will distract the Jedi from you. On the other… The assassination of the Supreme Commander at the hands of the Separatists… It will spark an unprecedented popular uprising. And if both the masterminds and the perpetrators are non-humans… The army will be on our side entirely. Although even now, his death will leave a significant imprint on the future. However, it will be too small."
Sidious looked out the window thoughtfully.
"I recommend you examine your options more thoroughly. I need more precise predictions, Lord Cronal. And… Perhaps Anakin should be the one to do this?"
"Absolutely not. It would be futile. He would ultimately kill him without a second thought or regret. It would be far more productive to task him with eliminating his apprentice. Only then will he be able to comprehend the power of the dark side," the Prophet replied.
"Then who'll deal with him? This young man has exceptional luck. The blow must be fatal."
At Cronal's signal, a young woman stepped out of the shadows, throwing back the hood of her cloak. Palpatine recognized her immediately. Sariss was one of Cronal's lieutenants, who often accompanied the Prophet to such meetings and conferences.
"With your permission, I will handle him, Master," the girl bowed. "I have studied this man well and I am confident that I know his weaknesses, which means I can defeat him with ease."
"Commendable enthusiasm," Palpatine allowed himself to clap his hands, as if applauding. "Youth is sometimes so uncompromising."
"Lord," Cronal motioned to his charge, and she retreated to the wall again, "I will personally ensure that everything goes smoothly."
"I will not tolerate failure in such an important matter." Palpatine picked up the datapad from the couch and glanced at the screen. "There is progress in the search for Darth Maul."
"Not a single lead," Pestage replied. "Our agents have checked numerous locations, but to no avail. Are you sure he's alive?"
"Yes."
"Then all we can do is look for…"
When the meeting was over and the sentient beings had left the room, Darth Sidious turned to Sly Moore.
"It seems like you want to say something."
"No, Master. I can only silently admire the game you're playing," the Umbaran woman replied respectfully. "What do you think about Cronal?"
"He's scared, Sly," Sidious explained after a pause. "I see," the man chuckled, "he doesn't understand, and that's why he's afraid. How bad. And, the power Dagon wields as Demon of the Shield, his Padawans defeated Grievous, Dagon killed Gen'dai and Nightsister mutated warriors, not to mention stopped a nuclear attack on Coruscant," Sly mentioned.
"Yes, Dooku says that wasn't the CIS plan, but nevertheless the outcome is better. As soon as we can force the last of the neutral systems to join or fall," said Palpatine.