บท 177: V.2-C.78│Casus Belli III│
Space.
The great expanse of nothingness.
We are not talking about, space where it is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction.
Instead, we are talking about, space, an almost perfect vacuum, nearly void of matter and with extremely low pressure. In space, sound doesn't carry because there aren't molecules close enough together to transmit sound between them.
Not quite empty, bits of gas, dust and other matter floats around 'emptier' areas of the universe, while more crowded regions can host planets, stars and galaxies.
"Right. Let the war begin then." Grievous said as he started to direct everyone within the starship he was within.
The Hutts blockade was also fully in action and both sides started to fire at each other, trying to destroy and or harm the other side in an attempt to get one or the other to retreat.
If one was able to hear anything within space, they would most likely hear sounds that were synthesized because of the shots fired. Laser like sounds and electrical based sounds, everything would sound strangely futuristic while at the same time epic.
From the Empyrean control ship, the pilot droids within their smaller vessels were deployed, heading towards to engage in combat with the Hutts pilot fighters.
The Empyrean control ship was slowly making its way forward, while multiple other ships that weren't as small as the pilot droid ships but instead large enough to hold a few of the synths were also deployed. Their mission was to go in deep, and get the Hutt Cartel's leading families under their control.
Flashing lights, large structures of metal, floating out in the vast nothingness... A war had begun and there would most certainly be some casualties, but for what side? It would most definitely be the Hutts, whom dont have access to the advanced droids of the Empyrean.
Their pilots were real people, real living intelligent beings while they also had access to some ships of their own that would enable them to continue their blockade.
Unfortunately for the Hutts, they had decided to stay within their prime world, Nal Hutta, and as a result they would probably be captured.
Their families and children taken in by the Empyrean synths.
Starfighters and various other star ships went to battle as they were putting their lives on the line for the ideals of either side. Well, the Hutts armies were putting their lives on the line, but of course they had some droid starfighters of their own as well.
They may not be as advanced like those from the Empyrean, but they would do to act as canon fodder, just like the Empyrean was using their droid starfighters to act as canon fodder as well. The difference being that the Empyrean was winning out on the front line easily.
They were winning so easily that the other ships containing the synths were already making their way past the blockade point, meaning that they were well on their way to capturing the Hutt leaders.
Potentially even their family, maybe even their extended families as well.
"Report." Grievous said as a command, waiting for the people carrying out the logistics of the situation to give him the information he wanted.
"General! The droid starfighters have reached behind enemy lines and have started to attack their main control ships." One of the logistics people said.
"Good. This is good." Grievous nodded his head as this was too easy, something that would usually not sit right with him or anyone else, but Anakin had done so much to improve the Empyrean, there was no way that they would be losing an 'equal' fight.
"General, I think that our men are fast approaching their home grounds, but we need to speed up our approach and get around the blockade to provide them with ample backup."
"Then what are you waiting for!? Lets destroy their fleet already and get to capturing those heathens!" Grievous exclaimed as he gestured to everyone within the room to get back to work and to do so hard.
Back within space the Hutt fleet was losing control over their space, and because of the Empyrean droid starfighter being able to push them back, there would be many problems in trying to escape. They were panicking and because of their rather small size, due to splitting off their fleets at different points throughout the Hutt Cartels space, they were limited here.
The Hutts believed that they would be able to stop an attack, but they were wrong to underestimate the Empyrean and their power. They should of figured out by now that the Empyrean was something greater than they could handle, what with their current decadence getting to their heads.
Their arrogance and decadence would be their fall, just as Anakin had planned.
He wouldn't be letting then off easy and while he may not actually murder their families or children because there is no telling if they could be redeemed until they are, Anakin would be making use of them to further his own cause. The freedom and liberty of the slaves and better quality of life for those within the Hutt Cartels space.
Moving ever closer and closer while the battle was still continuing, the Empyrean control ship had finally gotten close enough to the Hutt control ship as their offensive and defensive capabilities had been taken down. The Empyrean droid starfighter had infiltrated and the battle droid carrier ships were being deployed to start the takeover of the Hutt control ship.
Now this point of contention is under the control of the Empyrean. Under the control of Anakin.
"General. We have finally taken control of the heathens control ship. Everyone within have come under our control and have been captured, and so has the control come under our control." A soldier reported to Grievous.
"And their droids?" Grievous asked as he wanted to slowly build their armada dependent on their enemies resources.
Anakin had done so before by taking the resources of the long done for Trade Federation. Their droids, ships and now even more so their resources as they were dissolved and assimilated into the Empyreans control. Grievous was looking to do the same here, but instead of just taking their stuff and then leaving, he wanted to turn the enemies forces against them.
It was ingenious, but it wasn't exactly something that he had come up with himself. It was Anakin that had suggested that he do something like this instead of spending and using many resources for the war.
By taking over the Hutt Cartels armies, whether they be the ships or droids, they wouldn't have to waste their own resources in going after the Hutts.
Having taken over this choke point, what the Empyrean would be doing is using the Hutts control ship as a front. Faking that they had somehow overtaken and beaten the Empyrean which would give them an in with the Hutts intelligence. In doing so they would be able to go into Hutt space and possibly have them surrounded before they even knew.
Most of the stuff happening could be considered the boring part as both side sent their disposable units instead of trying their hardest.
This would also be a mistake for the Hutts in combination with their splitting of their armies to the various choke points of their space. They simply didn't have the same sustainability as the Empyrean even with their semi developed economy.
This is what happens when someone tries to create something that was doomed to fail from the start.
[]
Now that the Empyrean was heading in deeper, the Hutts were none the better in knowing. There was some reports from of their choke points but that was until their reports had stip coming in about the situation at hand and they were worried for a bit.
Thankfully it was only a few hours later did a message be sent in again after their insistence and impatience at waiting.
Someone would have to answer to them once this war was over.
What they were receiving however was that there was absolutely no other presence from within or outside of their spatial borders of the Empyrean. This was both worrying and a bit scary because the Empyrean wouldn't just give up, not after what their Emperor had done and shown them.
It was simply inconceivable and they were dumb to think that the Empyrean just retreat after losing a small exchange but they had sent messages to that choke point in particular and tell them to be prepared for anymore intrusion.
Of course they replied that because the battle was over they were heading back in direct contrast to their orders, which was something unprecedented. No one had ever dared to be defiant against their masters, their lords the Hutt Cartel and the several clans within before. It was ridiculous and also at the same time incredibly suspicious but they would be allowed passage into the Hutts homeworld and capital.
This meant two things, it was either that the Empyrean and Grievous would be able to get in unharmed and no problems or it would mean that the Hutta had somehow found out about what they were doing. They didn't but it was something to be cautious about all the way there as Grievous directed the armies towards Nal Hutta.
Anakin was receiving reports on the situation as well and was attacking commander from the rear. He wasn't on the front lines but that was no reason for him to not be involved especially when his information or wisdom could provide them, the army with the winning path.
It also helped that the army was able to feel safe in knowing that their leader, their God-Emperor was onboard with them in spirit, helping them from behind. It may not be what they wanted where he joined in at the front but that was normal give that Anakin was kind of forced to stay behind.
He needed to compromise somewhere with the girls and that compromise was Anakin not actually participating in the war himself. They would not allow him to leave and join in, so he would take the compromise of them not complaining about him taken massive actions behind their back, without their knowledge and stay behind. Especially for Aayla who was immensely insecure about the future due to being pregnant right now, as it was messing with her hormones making her emotional.
Now that Anakin could at least have some control and direction with what was happening he knew that using Shatterpoint could be the reason for life or death. Choosing wrongly could result in this plan going wrong as Anakin had decided to only send minimal forces.
This was so that if by chance someone or something tried to take advantage of the Empyreans current state they would be stopped by the standing armies within the Empyrean borders. Whether this be within the Arkanis sector itself or otherwise be within other areas the Empyrean was expanding within.
Be that from Dathomir to Naboo and their sectors, Anakin wanted to make sure.they were secured. Anakin took it from the standpoint that having a strong defense was the best offense, but of course he would also put on display his best offense being the best defense as well. It only made sense that he would try to make sure that it was as balanced as possible so people would be unable to exploit the Empyreans weaknesses, whatever they may be.
The Hutts now were moving slowly and slowly, getting reports constantly at the same time to constantly both reassure and worry themselves. They didn't have the best military, especially when it came to their commanders or general, people that hadn't really been in a war of this scale before. So no one knew what to expect.
Well the Hutts and their commanders believed that everything would play out similarly to what had happened to the Trade Federation, but instead of being the Federation they believed themselves to be on the winning side. How wrong they were.
[]
"We are approaching them now, sir." A solider supplied as he told Grievous as he overlooked the windows allowing everyone from within to see the capital of the Hutt Cartel.
Nal Hutta.
A hot, swampy planet located on the Outer Rims and was the homeworld of the Hutt species, now turned into the capital of a sprawling criminal empire that wasn't an empire anymore but simply a republic that wasn't really a republic. It was a cesspool of corruption, maybe even more so than the actual galactic republic that was now under the control of Darth Sidious, otherwise known as Sheev Palpatine.
This planet was a home for criminal activities and elements within the galaxy, given that it is located far from galactic authorities. Now that the Empyrean had been formed however, they have been on the very precise of change for a few years now and as the Empyrean grew the Hutts trade weakened as well on Nal Hutta, due to a crisis known as the Drengir crisis, the planet had been befallen by numerous bogs and greasy rain.
It certainly wasn't a place that Grievous would like to stay but it was the perfect climate for the species know as the Hutts.
Despite it being the capital however, most of everything happened on the moon of Nar Shaddaa and because of this, Grievous and their 'borrowed' forces would focus on locking that first and Nal Hutta second.
Simply because the leaders came first, their families, the entirety of them came second to the leaders, as Anakin could make due with just the Hutt kajidics...
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