Dock 38-Aureck-7 in Sector B-55 was sparsely populated. Only a quartet of service droids circled a small freighter with a flat, saucer-like silhouette and a pair of "wings" composed of auxiliary cargo bays at the stern. The crimson-and-white hull appeared to be in pristine condition, save for a couple of dents and a wide scratch along the port side. All panels and hatches were secured, and the gun turret stared predatory into the far corner, directly at the "office" of the dock master for the near quadrant.
The task given to the mechanical repairmen was simple enough: prepare the ship for flight and eliminate numerous minor malfunctions. The droids were handling it perfectly.
Two figures slowly descended the lowered ramp of the starboard cargo bay. The dock's chief mechanic, a Duros, and a young man in strange clothing reminiscent of Jedi robes.
"So, Mister... whatever your name is," the Duros said gruffly, "fuel cell refueling and basic maintenance will cost you 1,000 credits. As for installing an auxiliary turret and a pair of torpedo launchers... I'm afraid I have to refuse. The Judicial Forces strictly monitor the installation of weaponry on civilian vessels."
Revan merely shrugged in response. He hadn't held out much hope for assistance from "lawabiding" dock workers anyway. It looked like he'd have to rely on his connections with the Hutt Cartel again. The former Sith planned to extract the maximum benefit from their forced cooperation with Jabba.
"Of course, esteemed Tarhkis, I completely understand," the ancient one replied, maintaining an unperturbed expression.
Though he had already persuaded the port worker to give him a discount on maintenance and to not ask unnecessary questions about the ship's owner—for a specific bonus to the man himself, naturally—it was best not to pressure the sentient whose emotions clearly betrayed fear.
"I'm glad we understand each other," the alien nodded, and then suddenly perked up, remembering something. "However, I will still need to indicate the ship's name on the repair documentation."
"Of course," the former Jedi smiled slightly.
Revan turned back to the ship and ran his gaze over the hull elements, the color of which reminded him of the Dantooine sky at dawn.
"Well? What name should I write down?" the Duros asked impatiently.
The ancient one smirked, recalling his and HK's argument the entire previous evening over the ship's name. The droid suggested aggressive titles, such as Bloody Blade or The Ripper. Revan, however, sought something calmer and less conspicuous. In the end, the two agreed that it would be fitting to pay homage to the Ebon Hawk by including a bird in the name. All the more so since the newly acquired freighter, with its "wing" cargo bays, resembled those feathered creatures.
"Dawn's Eagle," Revan said, turning back to the chief mechanic. "The name is already entered in the civilian vessel registry."
The Duros nodded and entered the information into his datapad.
"Work will be completed in three hours."
"Thank you," the former Sith nodded.
After bidding the ship's owner farewell, the dock employee headed to his post.
Revan stood with his arms crossed, watching a repair droid monotonously perform its duties checking the ship's main systems. However, the Jedi's thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn't shake a strange feeling of anxiety and danger. But the threat was directed not at him, but at someone he knew.
The feeling was compounded by the unsuccessful attempts to contact Maul. The self-proclaimed Sith did not answer his calls, which was irritating. Revan, of course, understood that the Zabrak would have immediately informed his master about the encounter with an unknown, powerful Force-sensitive. Yet, the fact that the Sith chose to hide rather than ascertain the identity and intentions of a potential threat was unsettling.
The ancient one tried to concentrate on the sense of danger and trace the source, but nothing worked. The Force refused to send any clear images. The former Jedi suspected this was because he didn't know the person in danger well enough. But one thing was clear: it was someone Forcesensitive.
This was how he felt when those Jedi who ignored the Council's will and followed him to war were heading into battle. It was like the faint bond between a master and student.
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and Revan pulled out his comlink. "HK, connect to the HoloNet and find me where Shmi Skywalker has taken up residence." "Affirmative: I obey, Master," the droid's synthesized voice replied.
The image of Anakin had come to mind completely unexpectedly. Revan had considered the possibility of training the boy, but he hadn't thought he'd already begun to form a Force bond. However, this was natural for him. Even his first teacher noted that the then-young Jedi possessed an amazing ability to attract sentient beings to his side and lead them. It was as if the Force itself helped him earn the trust of those around him and allowed them to embrace Revan's ideals.
"Boastful: Master, I am already finished," HK announced. "Shmi Skywalker is registered in
Sector 230, adjacent to the Jedi Temple. The exact address is Enlightenment Street, Building 4, Apartment 43-B."
"Excellent. Thank you, HK."
"Proud: I am always glad to assist Master."
The former Sith decided it would be foolhardy to look for the boy at the Temple. He had already drawn the attention of the Grand Master just a day ago. It would be more prudent to try to make contact with Anakin through his mother. But first...
"HK, I have another task for you," he activated the comlink again.
"Interested: Yes, Master?"
"Oversee the Eagle's preparations for launch. Pay special attention to the armament and the shield generator. I have a bad feeling. We may need to leave the planet quickly."
"Compliant: Of course, Master. I will monitor everything."
"And contact our Cartel associate. We need decent equipment, and fast."
"Pleased: I obey, Master."
"No fanaticism!" the former Jedi checked the droid. "We don't need portable proton torpedo launchers... yet. Confine yourself to standard infantry gear."
"Disappointed: I obey, Master."
Shaking his head, Revan turned toward the hangar exit and set off in search of a speeder.
As it turned out, Shmi Skywalker had followed "Vaner's" advice and rented an apartment quite close to the Jedi Temple. This district had always been quiet, as the criminal element of Coruscant preferred to avoid encounters with members of the Order.
Quickly finding the right door on the sixth floor of a building that was short by galactic capital standards, Revan pressed the call button on the wall beside the doorframe.
"Yes? Who is it?" The woman's voice sounded surprised.
"Shmi? It's Vaner."
"Vaner?!" Skywalker's voice was a mix of joy and confusion. "Come in, of course!"
The door slid open the next moment, and a disheveled Shmi appeared in the doorway. She was clearly not expecting guests. However, the joy on her face was genuine. Revan checked this, by years-ingrained habit.
The ancient one followed the hostess's inviting gesture and stepped inside. The space was airy; the apartment consisted of two adjoining rooms, a sanitary unit, and a small kitchen. Recalling the real estate prices in this district, Revan figured this was the best the woman could find with the funds he had left the Skywalker family.
"Come in, Vaner. Sit down." Shmi led him into the living room, or at least that's what the ancient one would have called the room.
A couch, a couple of armchairs, a low table, and a holovision tuned to a news channel—that was essentially all that was in the small space. Perhaps the minimal amount of furniture created the sense of spaciousness.
"Can I get you something?" the hostess offered. "I haven't quite settled in yet, of course, but I think I can offer you a cup of caf."
"Thank you, Shmi, but don't bother. I won't be long," Revan declined with a smile.
Skywalker hesitated but a few moments later sat down in the armchair opposite him.
"I don't even know how to thank you for what you've done for us," she said with tears in her eyes.
Evidently, the change of environment had caused this undoubtedly strong and reserved woman to slightly loosen her emotional control and relax. Years of slavery could not pass without a trace. And now, finally free from the slave chip that acted as an invisible blade at her throat, forcing her nerves to be constantly taut, the woman would feel out of place for a while, and her emotions would be on a true "roller coaster."
It had already begun. Revan couldn't help but notice the constant tremor in the hostess's hands.
"There's no need for thanks, Shmi. I merely helped a friend," the former Jedi smiled, sending a wave of calm through the Force and watching with satisfaction as his companion gradually relaxed.
"Still, our family is now in your debt," Skywalker insisted. "If it's that important, I'll accept your friendship as payment."
"But..." the woman tried to say something.
Revan didn't let her object, asking the question that concerned him.
"By the way, how is Anakin? Did he get into the Temple?"
Shmi was slightly taken aback by the abrupt change of subject but quickly regained her composure.
"Yes, everything is fine." Despite these words, the ancient one clearly saw that the woman was upset. "Qui-Gon took him immediately after we arrived. Jinn left me his comlink ID, but in these few days, he's only contacted me once. He said Anakin was fine and that the Council would soon make a decision about his training."
"And that's all?" Revan clarified, suddenly feeling sharp indignation in the Force and a growing sense of alarm.
"Yes," Shmi thought for a moment. "Qui-Gon said Anakin needs to be with him at all times, so they will continue to escort the Queen of Naboo together for now."
'Very strange,' the former Jedi thought.
The fact that Jinn intended to drag the boy, who hadn't even been accepted for training yet, everywhere with him, as if he were his Padawan, was odd. Essentially, he could have left the child with his mother until the Council approved the training. And even then, the boy would face the initial training of a youngling, not Padawan mentorship.
The ancient one's reflections were interrupted by the voice of the news anchor.
"...In today's session of the Galactic Senate, the candidacy of the new Chancellor of the Republic was approved by an absolute majority. The new Chancellor is former Senator from the Chommell Sector, a native of Naboo, Sheev Palpatine."
Revan turned his head toward the holovision and saw an image of a gray-haired man with a wide smile on a beaming, kind face. Yet, there was something false about his appearance, and the Jedi couldn't quite figure out what it was.
The sense of anxiety kept growing, and the unseen pressure in the Force became increasingly distinct.
"...The Queen of Naboo, who arrived a few days ago, was the first to congratulate the nowformer Senator on his appointment and expressed hope that her plea for assistance to their homeworld—which she asserts is under an illegal blockade by the Trade Federation—will be considered as soon as possible.
"The Chancellor did not comment on the Queen's request and assured our journalists that the fact he is a Naboo native would not affect the objectivity of his judgment. A Senatorial Committee will be formed to review the Queen's demand, and its representatives will depart for Naboo shortly.
"Meanwhile, we have learned from authoritative sources that Queen Amidala was disheartened by the lengthy period required for her request for support to be considered, and chose to await the decision alongside her people on her homeworld."
A sudden vision washed over the former Jedi.
Before his eyes appeared a planet covered in green plains and beautiful lakes, surrounded by a fleet of massive ships. The uniform "boxes" of a marching droid army, a steel wave advancing on the meager ranks of large-eared natives. A swarm of Vulture Droids tearing apart a pathetic handful of brightly colored Naboo Royal Guard starfighters.
And then he saw what made him clench his fists until the joints cracked.
The crimson blade of a lightsaber plunging into Qui-Gon's chest. A sneer on Maul's face, and the sorrowful cry of some boy. Evidently, Jinn's Padawan.
And immediately, the image of a Naboo starfighter flying into the depths of a space station appeared. A terrible realization of the pilot's identity hit him. It was Anakin!
The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun.
Revan rubbed his temples and looked up at Shmi's frightened face.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned.
"No, everything's fine. Just a migraine," the ancient one waved off.
It was not a good idea to frighten the mother with visions in which her son faced mortal danger, and his mentor faced death.
The former Sith asked for a glass of water, and while the hostess was in the kitchen, he tried to recall the details of his vision. The planet was clearly Naboo; there was almost no doubt. There were very few worlds in the galaxy so beautiful, with an abundance of water and greenery.
Jinn was clearly on it. Apparently, he was escorting the Queen, who had suddenly thought that returning to a planet controlled by the enemy was a good idea.
The Jedi glanced at the holovision screen, where the story about the new Chancellor's election was still running, and his gaze was drawn to the "replay" caption.
"Hutt!" the ancient one breathed, comparing the current date with the one in the news.
It turned out the Queen had left Coruscant nearly a standard planetary day ago! And she was likely already approaching Naboo. That's where this growing sense of alarm was coming from! Time was running out! Qui-Gon and young Anakin were in mortal danger. Revan was accustomed to trusting his visions.
The former Sith was not at all interested in the death of these individuals. Moreover, the Force clearly indicated the boy was important. So important that the feeling of anxiety couldn't be quelled even with tested mental techniques. The Great Force was clearly hinting: save him!
But what could one man, even a Force-sensitive one, do in such a short time?
"A lot," Revan nodded to himself, rising from the armchair.
"Are you leaving already?" Shmi was surprised, emerging from the kitchen with a glass of water in her hands.
"Yes, forgive me. Urgent matters have come up," the former Sith replied with a smile. "All the best, Shmi."
Without waiting for the hostess's reply, the ancient one headed for the exit.
"Is Anakin really alright?" the woman suddenly called out to Revan's back as he stepped over the threshold.
The Jedi paused, turned his head slightly, and answered.
"Everything will be fine. I promise."
As soon as the apartment door closed behind him, the man broke into a run.
"HK!" he roared, pulling out his comlink. "Prepare the Eagle for immediate departure!"
"Affirmative: I obey, Master. Irritated: However, we could use an astromech. This freighter's navigational computer is not known for its data processing speed. Even that slacker T3 was more efficient," the assassin droid replied in a cranky tone.
"No time! Start calculating coordinates now. We're flying to Naboo!" the ancient one growled.
"Confident: The ship will be ready for immediate departure upon your arrival, Master."
Deactivating the comlink, Revan pushed some cleaning droid out of his path and rushed toward the speeder bay.
When the ancient one ran into the hangar, the Dawn's Eagle was already warming its engines. Sprinting up the cargo bay ramp and hitting the door-closure panel on the fly, Revan immediately felt the ship lift off the durasteel floor. Losing no time, he rushed directly to the control bridge.
HK-47 was in the pilot's seat and was already guiding the Eagle out of the hangar.
"Clearance for departure obtained?" the former Sith threw out, taking the co-pilot's seat.
"Proud: Of course, Master. Irritated: Although one meatbag took his time performing his duties."
"What are you talking about?" Revan didn't understand, noting out of the corner of his eye that the weapon control system was active. "What have you done?"
"Offended: Nothing, Master. I merely pointed out the dispatcher's incompetence and his unsuitability for the position he occupies."
"And that's all?" the Jedi asked incredulously.
"Thoughtful: Perhaps I also enlightened him regarding the meager armor plating of the control tower, as well as its lack of shields... and regarding the power of the Eagle's laser cannon... and its range... and my accuracy... Master."
Revan groaned and ran a hand over his face.
"Fantastic, now we have the Judicial Forces to deal with," he concluded.
"Sarcastic: I doubt it, Master. That meatbag definitely won't tell anyone anything," the droid chuckled, bypassing a flow of speeder traffic.
"Did you... him—" the former Sith started.
"Offended: Of course not, Master. There was no liquidation order. Gleeful: However, few people risk crossing the Cartel."
"What? The Cartel?" Revan repeated. "And how did he know about our connection to the Hutts?"
"Clarification: At the time of your order to prepare for launch, I was in the process of accepting the ordered cargo from our partners, Master." HK flew past another thoroughfare and pointed the ship out of Coruscant's atmosphere. "Additional clarification: The meatbags from the Cartel offered their assistance in negotiations with the dispatcher. I judiciously agreed, Master."
Revan shook his head but didn't pursue the details further. It was already a good thing that HK hadn't gone to talk to the spaceport employee himself. In that case, he wouldn't vouch that anything salvageable would remain of the control tower.
"Course for Naboo, HK. I'll inspect the gear," the ancient one ordered, standing from his seat.
"Confirmation: Accepted, Master. The gear is in the port cargo bay."
"Good. How long until Naboo?"
"Estimation: With our engine, approximately 12 hours, Master," the droid concluded.
The Jedi nodded and left the bridge.
On his way to the crates containing what HK had deemed necessary to order from the Cartel, Revan pondered his operational options. The vision had been indistinct, complicating the planning. It was unknown where to look for Qui-Gon and Anakin, what they intended to do, and when the whole thing was supposed to happen.
The most sensible thing would be to contact the Jedi. Especially since the standard frequency for communicating with members of the Order was known. The former Sith had copied it at the Temple. So, contacting Jinn would be simple... if he answered. And only a complete fool would do that. On an enemy-controlled planet, with hostile ships in orbit... a signal could be traced very quickly.
However, he could trust the Force.
In any case, he would have to act openly, as Revan... which could cause complications. If Jinn was willing to accept the resurgence of an ancient fallen Jedi, his companions might not react so favorably.
The ancient one considered this.
He did have another alias: Knight Avner Van. Even if Qui-Gon knew Vaner Shan's face, they could still negotiate. This adept of the Light Side seemed perfectly reasonable to the ancient one and not afflicted by excessive mental rigidity.
Then there was the Queen's handmaiden... Padmé. She had also seen Vaner's face, and the makeup used to infiltrate the Temple might not be enough for a deception.
"No matter. I have plenty of ways to conceal my appearance," Revan nodded to himself.
Meanwhile, several bulky containers were found in the cargo bay.
"Right, time to see what the considerate HK acquired," the former Jedi sighed heavily.
The first container held several plasma carbines and four DC series blaster pistols. The rest of the volume was filled with military dehydrated rations and more expensive self-heating field rations, apparently for the commanding officers of expeditionary forces.
Revan was surprised, as the Republic did not have a standing army. Where did such "luxury" come from, then? Probably from the self-defense forces of some planet with a reasonable ruler who understood the need for well-equipped armed forces.
"Your electronic soul, HK!" the ancient one cursed, opening the second crate. "In what world is a heavy ACP Repeater considered standard armament?!"
Along with the six-barreled rotary monster, capable of vaporizing the armor of a medium tank with a few seconds of concentrated fire, there were about 50 power cells and compressed gas canisters. The total ammunition supply was around 4,000 rounds.
"This is completely out of hand!" Revan exclaimed, looking deeper into the container.
Four anti-tank missile launchers and two crates of thermal detonators would allow for a small, localized apocalypse. However, the cost of this gear was half the price he'd paid to wrench the Eagle from its previous owner.
The ancient one reached for his comlink to chastise his creation for excessive zeal and overspending, but he stopped himself. The vision of thousands of droids attacking the meager Gungan forces flashed into his memory.
It might turn out that HK had significantly increased the chances of success for the whole operation.
"Well, sometimes your madness works in everyone's favor," Revan mused.
Leaving the crates of equipment alone, the Jedi went to his cabin, where he had already transferred his few personal belongings at the port. But most importantly, his armor lay there. A full set of Mandalorian armor and a pitch-black cloak were neatly spread out on the bed.
Inspecting his familiar "suit," Revan concluded that it was probably best not to unnerve the Jedi by appearing as a Force-sensitive warrior clad in armor that suspiciously resembled the image of the Sith described in the Temple records. Therefore, he decided to limit himself to a chest plate, which he would wear under a simple Order member's robe on Naboo.
His palms habitually rested on the hilts of his separated blades, his fingers tracing the etching on the emitters. The former Sith had no doubt that a fight was coming. The only question was the scale of the impending battle.
"HK," Revan addressed the droid via the ship's intercom.
"Affirmative: Yes, Master?"
"Did you happen to download any information on the Trade Federation's weaponry during your HoloNet searches?"
"Proud: Of course, Master. I strive to keep my tactical databases current and possess information on all weapon systems and combat vehicles utilized by major manufacturers. I will now transmit the information to the terminal in your cabin," the droid reported. The terminal beeped immediately afterward, confirming the receipt of the data packet.
The former Sith sat down at the table and activated the holoprojector. An image of a flimsylooking droid with an elongated head appeared above the small disc-shaped emitter.
"Clarification: The Trade Federation utilizes the services of the Baktoid Combat Automata corporation. The foundation of their ground forces is the lightweight B-1 Battle Droid series," HK-47 began his narrative. "Skeptical: A rather primitive design, in my opinion. Minimal armor and poor joint articulation. And the targeting system is worse than a five-year-old meatbag's.
"Indignant: This is essentially a protocol droid given a weapon in its manipulators! And it has been deprived of the ability to conduct tactical analysis of the situation.
"Irritated Explanation: Primary control is executed remotely from a control station or a planetary bunker. Furthermore, upon losing the control signal, the droid enters sleep mode!"
"How foolish," Revan concluded.
"Emotional: Precisely, Master!"
"But why were these droids put into series production and even adopted as standard armament?"
"Regretful: Price, Master. The reason is their relative cheapness compared to analogs."
"And especially compared to assassin droids?" the former Jedi surmised.
"Compliant: Precisely, Master."
"What else can the Federation surprise us with?"
"Explanation: The second type of droid is far more dangerous in a direct confrontation, Master. These are the so-called Destroyer Droids, or Droidekas, manufactured by the Colicoids."
Revan winced at the mention of the natives of Colla IV.
"Have those overgrown cockroaches not gone extinct yet?" he asked with distaste, recalling a few episodes from his past.
"Regretful: No, Master, they have not yet gone extinct."
"And what monstrosity have they created?"
The holo-image changed to a strange, three-legged, hunched droid resembling the hideous bodies of the Colicoids. Two rapid-fire blasters in place of forearms were cause for apprehension.
"Explanation: The Droideka is a three-legged droid capable of rapid movement in its folded state, but extremely slow and clumsy in combat mode.
"Analysis: The frontal sector of 57 degrees is well exposed to fire. To attack at a greater or lesser angle, the droid is forced to shift its entire body. Low mobility is partially offset by a personal shield that protects against physical and energy attacks."
"Vulnerabilities?" Revan clarified.
"Answer: The power dome does not cover the droid from the underside so as not to expend energy on contact with the floor surface. Also, the shield does not differentiate between a blaster bolt and a solid obstacle. If knocked over, the shield continues to operate and burns out its resource in a matter of seconds."
"Excellent. We can work with that," the Jedi nodded to himself. "What else?"
"Continuation of the Narrative: Infantry troops composed of B-1s are often accompanied by AAT armored assault tanks."
The image changed again, demonstrating a combat vehicle with a wide, flat base clearly designed for repulsorlift movement. The crew compartment was narrower and taller, and it was crowned by a long-barreled laser cannon. Lighter, fixed-forward guns were positioned along the sides of the turret. Several apertures were visible in the base, which the former Jedi identified as launcher ports.
HK confirmed Revan's conclusions with his brief commentary, describing the weapon systems the tank possessed.
"Vulnerabilities?"
"Explanation: Insufficient protection of the stern, weak armor on the flanks, and the inability to reload missile armament in field conditions."
"Hmm, theoretically, it can be destroyed with one precise shot to the flank or stern?"
"Addition: A grenade under the repulsor will also work, Master."
"Good, anything else?"
"Space forces are represented mainly by Lucrehulk-class battleships, as well as C-9979 landing craft. Vulture Droids are used as light air support."
Images and technical specifications appeared sequentially on the holodisplay.
"Excellent, thank you HK."
"Devoted: Always a pleasure, Master."
Exhaling wearily, the ancient one sank to the floor and took a meditative posture. There was much to consider before reaching Naboo.
The message from HK that the ship was preparing to exit hyperspace caught Revan just as he finished dissecting his vision. He had studied every detail, every insignificant little thing he could make out in the indistinct images sent by the Great Force. There were no guarantees of success, but the former Jedi hoped that the knowledge gained would help him save the lives of Qui-Gon and Anakin.
Donning the chest plate and throwing a gray robe over it, Revan left his cabin and joined HK on the bridge.
"How long until we exit?" the Jedi clarified.
"Answer: One minute, Master."
"Judging by the news, a planetary blockade has been established around Naboo by Trade Federation forces. Therefore, after exiting into normal space, we'll pretend we entered the sector by accident. Meanwhile, we'll smoothly shift toward the planet. If we're lucky, we'll manage to enter the atmosphere near one of the poles. And we won't be easily caught there. Naboo has deposits of magnetic ore under its polar caps. No sensor array will help our opponents," Revan concluded, recalling the planet's features.
"Confirmed, Master," the droid nodded slightly. "This plan is optimal for the current conditions."
"Then let's proceed. I'll tell you where to fly on the planet."
"Accepted, Master."
The Eagle shuddered, and the view outside changed from the formless haze of hyperspace to the blackness of space. Several ships hung in Naboo's orbit, including a massive station shaped like a broken ring with a sphere at the center. Or rather, Revan thought it was a station. In fact, as HK47 clarified, it was an LH-3210 Lucrehulk-class battleship, one of the Trade Federation's primary vessels.
The three-kilometer-long behemoth made it clear that approaching the planet uninvited was a bad idea. The battleship was almost six times the size of Revan's former flagship, the Interdictorclass cruiser, and its shape and size were reminiscent of the Republic's Invincible-type tactical command ships used during the Mandalorian Wars.
"Melancholy: As expected, those meatbags are hailing us on an open channel, Master," the droid reported.
"Connect," the former Sith nodded.
"Attention, unidentified vessel!" A squeaky voice of some officer from the Lucrehulk sounded over the bridge speakers. "This is Captain Tun An Rai of the Trade Federation ship Saak'ak. This planet is under a blockade in accordance with the Trade Federation's directive and with the approval of the Galactic Senate. State the reason for your presence in this sector!"
There was no visual, only voice communication.
"This is the freighter Dawn's Eagle, registration number CFV-662584-CRNT. We are en route from Tatooine to Chommell Minor. We apologize, due to inaccurate exit point calculations, we slightly overshot our intended planet," the former Sith mumbled, convincingly feigning a distracted and embarrassed voice.
"Chommell Minor is in an adjacent system!" the speaker objected.
"Yeees," Revan drew out the word, deliberately playing the idiot.
"Leave the blockade zone immediately!" the Federation representative demanded.
"Of course, as soon as the navigational computer calculates the jump."
"You don't have an astrodroid?"
"No, of course not! Where would a poor merchant get one?" Revan nearly wept into the microphone.
Silence followed as the opposing fleet officer processed what he'd heard.
A ship that emerged in the wrong system due to a navigational error was not unusual, and therefore, not suspicious. So, technically, the unknown interlocutor had no reason for aggression.
"You have ten minutes!" he snapped, running through the options. "Calculate your course and get out of here!"
It was simpler to let an obscure vessel go than to have to explain later why the Trade Federation fleet destroyed a freighter registered on Coruscant. The incident could, of course, be concealed. However, a cargo ship that failed to arrive at its destination would be sought out within a few hours. At least, that's what the Federation would do. And the fleet wanted no unnecessary trouble with the Judicial Forces.
"Thank you very much!" the Jedi replied and, disconnecting the line, added, "Five minutes is all we need."
HK's optical sensors flashed to indicate he understood the hint, and he pointed the Eagle toward the planet. Almost immediately, a communication signal came from the Federation flagship, which was promptly ignored.
The ancient one took over the ship's controls, as no droid could match a Force-sensitive in piloting. As he had noted, the ships blockading the planet were prepared to repel an attack from the surface. Apparently, the blockade's main goal was to keep Naboo's ships grounded on their homeworld.
This worked to the former Jedi's advantage.
The Dawn's Eagle zipped past the first line of the blockade at enormous speed, not giving the officer who, a minute ago, had interrogated Revan with such unconcealed superiority in his voice, even a chance to give the order to open fire. Fortunately, the initial hyperspace exit point was virtually right up against the Neimoidian ships.
By the time the first turbolaser batteries spoke, the freighter was already entering Naboo's dense atmosphere, deftly dodging shots. A couple of minutes later, it disappeared from the sensor screens entirely. In the solid haze of interference near the planet's South Pole, it was impossible to discern anything.
Trusting the Force, Revan confidently piloted the ship toward the point where he felt several Force-sensitives. The Force's signature in that location was clearly light, meaning they could only be Jedi.
"Looks like we've broken through," the ancient one said, listening to his senses.
The danger had passed.
"Confident: There is no pursuit, Master. However, I may be mistaken. The Eagle's sensor array is also blinded due to electromagnetic interference in the polar region," the droid added.
"It doesn't matter. I already know where we're going."
Descending almost to the very tops of the trees, Revan steered the ship toward the presence of the Order's Knights.
Locating the gleaming Naboo Royal Starship was easy. Its chrome plating shimmered like a beacon, even in the shade of the giant trees. The Queen's security detail did not open fire on the unknown ship, for which Revan was sincerely grateful. However, this may have been due to the Jedi, who must have also sensed the approach of their brother in the Order. The ancient one did not conceal his presence in the Force, merely adjusting the signature of his aura, hiding the darkness deep within.
As the cargo ramp lowered, several members of the Queen's security detail immediately aimed their weapons, and two Jedi stepped forward and activated their lightsabers.
A few moments later, a figure wrapped in a gray Jedi robe appeared in the doorway. Revan prudently raised his hands, demonstrating peaceful intentions.
"Master Jinn, I am not your enemy," he said loudly.
"Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked, not lowering his blade.
The former Sith slightly bowed his head, the hood pulled down over his eyes.
"I am Jedi Knight Avner Van. I have arrived from Coruscant to help."
Jinn's Padawan clearly relaxed and slightly lowered his blade. But the Master himself was in no hurry to trust the stranger.
"I have never heard your name," he said suspiciously.
"However, we have met before." Revan slightly pushed back his hood, revealing part of his face and looking into Qui-Gon's eyes.
For a few moments, the Jedi scrutinized the ancient one's face, and then he recognized the speaker. It was the young man named Vaner he had met on Tatooine. Although he now sported a neat beard, his facial features were quite recognizable.
"You..." Jinn trailed off.
"You recognize me?" Revan smiled. "I am surprised, as I was wearing armor last time." "Armor?" Qui-Gon asked thoughtfully.
It took the Jedi only a second to put the picture together. Vaner, Tatooine, a man in armor... REVAN! His fingers tightened on the hilt of his blade until they cracked. The Jedi tensed, unsure what to expect from the ancient Force-sensitive.
"Master?" the Padawan asked, surprised by his mentor's behavior.
The former Sith recalled the boy's name, which he had seen in the Order's records. His name was Obi-Wan Kenobi. A rather promising Padawan, though a little too eager to follow the rules. In the ancient one's view, this teenager was too susceptible to the Council's influence.
"Why are you here?" Qui-Gon asked, regaining his composure.
The Jedi already understood that Revan had not come to fight, or he would not have presented himself so openly. Here, he had practically stated his name to a potential adversary. Moreover, if he had wished them dead, they would not be having such a peaceful conversation now.
"I already said. I want to help," the former Sith replied, keeping his hands raised.
"Is this because of the boy?" Jinn guessed.
"If it makes my intentions simpler for you to understand, then yes," the one who called himself Avner nodded.
Obi-Wan shifted his gaze from one man to the other, trying to understand what was happening. By all appearances, a Jedi stood before him and his Master. No trace of darkness, no hint of threat, only power and confidence. Yet, his Master was in no hurry to lower his weapon and looked wary. Perhaps there was a connection between these two?
"Are we going to stand here until the Neimoidians find us?" Revan smirked. "You understand that whatever you've planned, my experience will be useful."
Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes slightly but lowered his blade. Caution and curiosity fought within him. He wanted very much to believe Revan, to stand beside him, to ask about the ancient times, about the former Order. But at the same time, he knew that before him was not only a Jedi but an ancient Sith.
This seemingly young man was, in fact, one of the most powerful Force-sensitives in history, a talented general, and an experienced combatant. Hardly a Knight, he had led an army into one of the past's bloodiest wars. Furthermore, he had achieved the impossible—he had managed to turn the tide of the war and lead the Republic to victory.
And then... he fell, but he certainly didn't become any less clever. In a short time, he had created an Empire! A real Empire that had almost destroyed the Republic! He was a dangerous adversary... and it was better to be on the same side as him. The main thing was that this side remained the light.
"Very well... Avner," Qui-Gon hesitated slightly on the name. "We welcome you to Naboo."
The Jedi deactivated his lightsaber; his Padawan followed suit. The ancient one lowered his hands with a slight smile.
"A wise decision," he said quietly.
Behind him, unseen by everyone, HK-47 holstered the blaster whose muzzle had been pointed directly at the head of one of the Queen's guards hiding in the shadow of the trees a moment ago. A pair of thermal detonators, prepared to be tossed at the Jedi's feet, were returned to the container secured on the droid's waist. The assassin knew exactly how to attack a Forcesensitive.
"Master Jedi!" A young woman Revan had previously seen with them on Tatooine rushed toward Qui-Gon and his Padawan.
"Padmé," the ancient one recalled her name.
"Your Highness," Jinn turned to her.
Revan slightly raised an eyebrow, surprised by the address.
'So, this is the Queen of Naboo?' he thought. 'Unimpressive.'
"Who is this man?" she asked with a commanding tone in her voice.
"This is Jedi Knight Avner Van from Coruscant. The Council sent him to assist us," Qui-Gon explained, preempting Revan who had opened his mouth to speak. "His experience will be quite useful to us."
"Experience?" the young woman repeated.
"Yes," Jinn nodded. "Avner has extensive experience in strategic planning and tactical command of combat units."
"From a unit of three sentients, to a full fleet," the ancient one quietly added.
The Queen was clearly surprised by this turn of events.
"But we have already approved the plan of attack," she stated confidently.
"Attack?" Revan repeated. "Attack on what? And with what forces?"
A few Gungans emerged from the shadows of the trees onto the clearing, among them an Ankura conspicuous by his bulk, apparently holding some high rank.
"We has already resolve everything with Naboo!" the fat one loudly declared. "The machines gonna get squished by our mighty warriors."
The former Sith spent a few moments grasping what he had heard. Qui-Gon came to his aid.
"Queen Amidala has agreed with the noble Boss Nass on a joint attack on Theed to drive the Trade Federation forces off Naboo," the Jedi explained.
"I beg your pardon?" Revan decided he had misheard. "You intend to attack an army of battle droids with the forces of the Gungans and the Royal Guard?"
"We not need Royal Guard help," Boss Nass waved off. "We gonna break the machines ourself."
"The Guard forces will meanwhile attempt to breach the Royal Palace," Amidala added.
"Stop!" The former Jedi threw up a hand, calling for a halt. "In detail, what exactly have you planned?"
Half an hour later, the "great conspirators and revolutionaries" finished laying out their "genius" plan. The ancient one was clearly displeased. More than anything, he hated needlessly exposing his troops to risk or sacrificing them for nothing. And what these "brilliant strategists" proposed left him in shock.
"All right," Revan sighed heavily, rubbing his brow. "You are planning to field slightly less than a thousand Gungans in an open field against... HK, how many droids does the Federation have?"
"Answer: Based on rough estimates derived from the number of transport ships the Naboo defense forces managed to register, the Federation possesses approximately 6,360 B-1 units, 150 AAT tanks, and an unknown quantity of Droidekas and other equipment," the assassin droid replied. The Queen's guards still eyed him warily.
"Aha," the ancient one nodded. "So, nine hundred-some Gungans with rocks and sticks against six thousand droids with blaster carbines and one hundred fifty assault tanks. And all this so that a handful of guardsmen can breach the hangar near the Royal Palace and launch how many? A dozen starfighters? In the hope of destroying a three-kilometer droid control station? Did I get that right?"
"We not have rocks and sticks!" one of the Gungan generals protested. "We have Boomas! And stinging spears!"
"Rocks and sticks, I said as much," Revan cut him off.
"They will be covered by a ray shield dome," the Queen interjected, preventing the native general from lunging at the Jedi.
"A stationary dome?" the former Sith tilted his head slightly. "The idea would be a good one if it were a planetary fortress shield capable of stopping not only blaster bolts and laser cannon shots, but also physical objects. As it is, you'll only have a couple of minutes before the enemy closes in and moves under the dome."
"We gonna put up impenetrable wall of our warriors with shields!" another general declared proudly.
Revan barely stopped himself from slapping his own forehead.
"Do you even realize what you're facing?" he hissed with unconcealed irritation. "Six thousand barrels firing continuous blaster carbine fire. Every impact of a plasma bolt on a shield is comparable to a blow from a warhammer. How many such jolts can your warriors withstand?
And what if it's not a carbine, but an AAT cannon?"
"Our warriors are strong and ready for sacrifice," Boss Nass declared with bravado.
"When soldiers have to sacrifice or play the hero, it means the commanders made a catastrophic mistake," the former Jedi shook his head. "Don't you understand that a catapult against a tank...
is..."
"Our warriors are strong!" one of the Gungans cried out.
"The Cathar shouted the very same thing before the Mandalorian armies. But Cassus Fett proved otherwise!" Revan roared.
The Gungans fell silent, but their entire demeanor expressed offense and annoyance.
"But there's no other way for us to save Naboo," the Queen perked up. "We must recapture our homeworld from the Federation! My people are suffering!"
"Your people?" the former Sith arched an eyebrow. "What about the Gungans?"
"I..." Amidala flushed. "We must... for Naboo."
"You would do well to be silent until your hypocrisy becomes even more unbearable," Revan spat.
"How dare you!" the dark-skinned head of the Royal Guard protested. "The Queen is thinking of all the people of Naboo."
"Oh, yes!" the former Sith drawled sarcastically. "I've noticed. Apparently, she's fighting overpopulation in the Gungan cities."
"Why, you—" the man lunged, but was stopped by Obi-Wan, who was prompted by his mentor.
"Everyone needs to calm down!" Qui-Gon stated loudly. "This argument won't accomplish anything!"
The head of the Royal Guard huffed but sat back down. The Queen looked distraught, and Boss Nass puffed up with indignation.
"So, Avner, instead of criticizing, propose your own version of the plan," Jinn suggested.
Revan rubbed his temples and glanced at the holographic map. He silently studied the image for several minutes before replying.
"First and foremost, marching out in formation into an open field would be a monstrous mistake.
A direct confrontation is what we want least of all. We should lure the droid forces here." The ancient one highlighted a patch of hilly terrain. "A portion of forces under a ray shield dome will be the bait between two hills. We'll position the catapults on the high ground behind them. This will increase their range and allow for more precise aiming. The hills will also limit the AAT tanks' capabilities, as their vertical targeting angle is severely restricted."
The onlookers, who had initially followed the Jedi's explanations reluctantly, listened with interest and shifted their gaze to the map.
"Next, use your Kaadu riders as mobile strike teams with classic 'hit-and-run' tactics. Arm them with your Boomas. Let them attack from the flanks and approach the rear under cover of the hills. Don't wait for the enemy to enter the shield dome; fall back and pull the front line backward. Here and here," Revan pointed to the hills on either side of the central plateau, "position two detachments of marksmen. I have a pair of heavy ACP Repeater blasters. I'll show you how to use them. Wait until the droids get closer, concentrating on your brethren under the shield, and then annihilate them with crossfire. The central detachment should then immediately move forward, close the distance, and finish off the survivors. B-1s are fragile enough to be disabled even by a strong blow from a sturdy stick. Pick up their weapons! Fire back!"
"They're too few," Qui-Gon shook his head.
The ancient one exhaled.
"Yes, they are few, but this way they can inflict maximum damage on the Federation army before the droids can respond. We'll hope our tactics cause a mass of problems for the control station's tactical AI. The chances are slim, but they are greater than a frontal attack."
"What about the second part of the plan?" the Queen clarified.
"You mean the attack on the station in space and the capture of the palace?"
"Yes."
"While I consider it foolish, there's no way around it. The station must be destroyed, which means attacking it in space," the former Sith said, as if surprised by his own words. "However, the enemy's air defense systems should be suppressed before launch to minimize losses on takeoff. Split the starfighter group into two squadrons. The first will focus on attacking the station, and the second will provide cover against the Vulture Droids."
"Observation: Master, the N-1 Starfighters lack the necessary firepower to penetrate the shields and armor of a Lucrehulk-class battleship," HK-47 interjected.
"Suggestions?" The ancient one turned his head toward him.
"Tactical Suggestion: The main hangar doors are not equipped with energy shields. The droids do not require maintaining an atmosphere on the flight deck."
"So, there's no defense there?" one of the Royal Guard asked.
"Affirmative."
"Hmm... The hangar and flight deck were designed for the mass launch of Vulture Droids," the former Sith mused. "Their dimensions allow a light starfighter to maneuver freely right inside."
"Addition: According to schematics available for viewing at the Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. company, one of the main reactor's cooling nodes is located in a compartment adjacent to the hangar, Master."
"So, a successful shot could destroy the entire ship?" one of the pilots present at the briefing asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but you could easily break your neck doing that!" the second one countered. "There's only about five meters of space from the side to the wall! One mistake and you'll be splattered across the deck!"
"Ha! I call dibs on the one-way flight volunteer!" the first one smirked. "If it means taking down that monster with one shot and minimal losses, why not?"
Ten minutes of lively debate later, everyone agreed that the option of infiltrating the ship via the hangar would be the most effective. Mentally, Revan noted that he should keep Anakin away from the starfighters. Force forbid the boy decides to play the hero, and his training is cut short before it even begins.
'Good thing he wasn't allowed into the meeting,' the Ancient one thought. 'I'll have to assign HK to him.'
He hadn't met Anakin on Naboo yet. Qui-Gon hadn't let the boy off the Naboo Royal Starship. Apparently, fearing that Revan might simply take him and fly away.
"What about the palace assault?" Amidala interjected.
Qui-Gon gave the former Sith a meaningful look.
"I'm going with you," Jedi Knight Avner Van nodded. "But we will attack from two different points."
"Explain?" Jinn unrolled a map of the palace.
"Initially, we break through here, through the garden behind the palace. Then we split and take two parallel routes. That way, we won't allow the enemy to corner us."
"Sensible. We should coordinate the attack," Qui-Gon agreed.
Nodding, Revan began to explain his idea. By now, none of those present doubted the young Knight's abilities, hanging on his every word.
Developing the new plan occupied the rest of the day.
And in the morning... there would be a fight!
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