**Chapter 883: Hydro Thunder**
**Scene 1: Mon Cala Orbital Shipyard – Gial Ackbar POV**
Mon Cala Orbital Shipyard.
Gial Ackbar.
He went through the reports and ship positions so far. He layered 3 ambushes for the Republic fleet that was arriving, along with Admiral Raddus in charge of Mon Cala planetary defense forces and to the remaining Mon Cala fleet.
A quarter of the fleet was lost in the fall of Hutt space.
"And I can't even count on allies as the remainder of Hutt fleet retreated to the Corporate Sector and Hapes Cluster and Hapes they simply vanished,"
Gial Ackbar stood on the command deck of the massive Mon Cala orbital shipyard, the vast blue-green planet of Dac looming below. The water world's oceans sparkled under the distant sun, hiding countless cities and defensive installations beneath their depths. Ackbar rubbed his bulbous head, the weight of command pressing heavily on him.
'How did things come to this? Due to Prince Lee Char's kidnapping, our king Yos Kolina had been forced to ally with the CIS and now we are alone against the Republic now called empire and ever growing under command of Dagon Marek, the demon of the shield who left entire Separatists fleets in destruction,' Ackbar thought, his mind racing through the dire reports.
He reviewed the latest fleet positions, layering three ambushes for the incoming Imperial fleet. Admiral Raddus commanded the planetary defense forces, and the remaining Mon Cala fleet stood ready. A quarter of their strength had already been lost in the fall of Hutt space.
"And I can't even count on allies as the remainder of Hutt fleet retreated to the Corporate Sector and Hapes Cluster and Hapes they simply vanished," Ackbar grumbled, his tentacles twitching with frustration.
Nossor Ri, a Quarren male chieftain, appeared on the bridge delivering his report. The Quarren's expression was grim.
"The other colonies had not reported any Republic ships sighted only the border systems. We lost 3 merchant ships coming from one of hidden mining bases, it was attacked and under Republic control," he reported.
"That is 7th base we discovered and lost, how does the Republic keep finding us," Ackbar cursed, slamming a fist on the console.
"We suspect it's not Imperial but rather Chiss as their ships were also sighted during the Hutt offensive," Ri said, his voice low.
Ackbar nodded, his mind already calculating defensive maneuvers. The water world's unique environment gave them an advantage, but against Dagon Marek's growing Empire, even that might not be enough.
**Scene 2: Ionic, Modified Venator-Class Star Destroyer – Dagon POV**
Ionic, modified Venator class star destroyer, hyperspace.
Dagon pov.
Dagon stood on the bridge of the *Ionic*, the modified Venator-class star destroyer humming with power as it sliced through hyperspace. The Calamari sector's hyperlanes were well-known, but Mon Cala itself had always been a unique challenge.
The Calamari sector had two significant hyperlanes connecting it to the rest of the galaxy. The Overic Griplink connected the sector to the Perlemian Trade Route at Quermia, via Munto Codru and Pakuuni. The Giblim Route connected the sector to the Tion Hegemony at Dellalt. A third hyperlane, Prously's Rim Run, connected the sector to Dornea but terminated at Baros.
Mon Cala—or Dac—was always special. They resisted the Empire until the end, the Empire of the Hand, the Dark Empire, the Yuuzhan Vong, even Darth Krayt's Empire until the latter decided enough was enough and just poisoned the world.
Dagon was not sure if he could fully make them submit, but he at least knew enough to cripple them for the remainder of the Galactic war.
The drill formation he had used at Christophsis had been effective with a few dozen ships, but this was the first time he was attempting a battle meld with nearly 10,000 capital ships and nearly 2 billion soldiers. The scale was staggering, but necessary.
"Prepare the fleet for emergence," Dagon ordered, his voice calm. "Battle meld will commence the moment we drop out of hyperspace."
The officers nodded, their faces tense with anticipation. Mon Cala would be a brutal fight, but Dagon was ready.
**Scene 3: Annihilator, Hyperspace – Shin POV**
Annihilator, hyperspace.
Shin POV.
Shin stood on the bridge of the *Annihilator*, the massive super star destroyer humming with restrained power. The girls had been spread across the capital ships, coordinating their commands, but Zule remained close to Dagon on the *Ionic* for her safety and the child she carried.
'Mon Cala and Quarren, currently they have no Jedi apart from Knight Vebb who died on Geonosis being corrupted, but I do wonder how Master Kit Fisto or the other former council members are. We haven't heard anything from them since they left last year,' Shin thought, her mind drifting to the missing Jedi.
"General, the hyperspace ends in 3 minutes," said Commander Jun Sato, his voice steady.
"Very well Commander ready all weapons," Shin said, her hand resting on the hilt of her lightsaber.
The bridge crew moved with practiced efficiency, preparing the massive ship for battle. The *Annihilator* would lead the assault, its weapons capable of devastating the Mon Cala defenses. Shin felt a mix of anticipation and resolve. This battle would be decisive.
The fleet emerged from hyperspace in perfect formation, the massive Imperial armada bearing down on Mon Cala. The water world's orbital defenses lit up immediately, but the Empire was ready.
"Open fire," Shin ordered, her voice calm and commanding.
The *Annihilator*'s weapons unleashed hell, turbolaser batteries and ion cannons lighting up the void. The battle for Mon Cala had begun.