From the outer hull of a Venator-class Star Destroyer, positioned at the forefront of the U-shaped formation in Christophis's orbit, CT-9904, known to his brothers as "Cross," scanned the endless void of space. The rest of the squad, comprising hardened veterans of the Clone Wars, stood alongside him, each one silently preparing for the operation they had been briefed on earlier. They had unloaded all their heavy equipment—AT-TE walkers, LAAT gunships, and squads of clone troopers—all lined up and ready for immediate deployment. The anticipation was palpable, even among the most stoic of them.
"Any word from Captain Fordo?" asked one of the troopers, his voice crackling through the comms.
"Not yet," Cross replied, keeping his gaze locked on the dark horizon. "But if the plan's going the way the General said during debrief, we'll know soon enough."
"Feels like we're just sitting out here, waiting for a miracle," another trooper muttered, adjusting his DC-15A blaster rifle.
Cross didn't respond. Instead, he focused on the unusual formation of the fleet. It was a perfect trap, a deadly embrace waiting to ensnare its prey. He knew the strategy behind it—The General's plan was methodical, every detail calculated to ensure success. The troops were stationed along the exterior of the warships, ready to launch the moment the target appeared. It was as if they were waiting for something to just waltz right into their grasp.
And then, it happened.
"Contact! We have incoming!" a voice called out from the command deck, echoing through the comms.
Cross watched as the familiar, gargantuan shape of the Malevolence emerged from hyperspace, right into the center of the U-shaped formation. The super-cruiser was a colossal sight, its massive bulk dwarfing even the largest of the Republic ships. But this time, it wasn't the unstoppable juggernaut that had terrorized the galaxy. The Malevolence was damaged, its hyperdrive offline, and its massive ion cannon no longer operational.
Not to mention with the tactical squads having taken the bridge, the ship's defenses were minimized.
"Looks like the tac-teams did their job," Cross muttered, a faint smirk appearing beneath his helmet.
"General's orders are clear," came the voice of his squad leader over the comms. "We're to engage as soon as the signal is given. We take that ship, and we don't leave until every last droid is scrapped."
As the Malevolence settled into the trap, the atmosphere among the clone troopers shifted. They were no longer just waiting; they were on the brink of action, the adrenaline kicking in as they prepared for the invasion. Every clone knew what was at stake. This was their chance to take down one of the most dangerous ships in the Separatist fleet—a feat that would go down in history with their Legion's name right next to it.
Then, the order came.
"All units, invasion protocols, that ship can take the punishment as long as critical areas are not affected, use of heavy equipment is permitted. Their heavy equipment is powered down and on storage." Lelouch's voice rang out through the comms, calm and composed, yet carrying an authority that commanded instant obedience. "The Malevolence is in position. Begin the operation. Secure the super-cruiser at all costs."
"Let's move, boys!" the squad leader barked, and with that, the invasion began.
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Back in orbit, Cross and the rest of the clone forces launched from their positions on the outer hull of the Venators and Acclamators, swarming toward the Malevolence in their gunships and drop pods. The Malevolence's point defenses were still operational, firing at the incoming waves, but with the Republic fleet's concentrated firepower, those defenses were rapidly being neutralized.
Cross's drop pod slammed into the side of the Malevolence, the impact jarring but not unexpected. The hatch blew open, and he and his squad poured out into the ship's interior, their boots hitting the cold metal floors as they quickly secured their entry point.
"All units, proceed to your designated objectives," came the command over the comms. "We're here to take this ship. No droid is to be left standing."
As the clones advanced through the corridors of the super-cruiser, they encountered resistance—droid squads trying to regroup and form a defense. But the clones were relentless, their training and superior tactics overwhelming the droid forces at every turn.
"We're getting close to the primary reactor," his squad leader called out, the sound of blaster fire echoing around them. "Stay sharp. We need to secure it to ensure the ship doesn't self-destruct."
Cross nodded, moving forward with precision, his blaster ready as they pushed deeper into the ship. The corridors were a maze, but they had the layout, knowing exactly where to go.
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The corridors of the Malevolence were alive with the chaos of battle as clone troopers pushed deeper into the heart of the super-cruiser. The sound of blaster fire echoed through the metal hallways, interspersed with the harsh mechanical voices of battle droids as they attempted to mount a defense. But the clones, seasoned warriors bred for war, moved with ruthless efficiency.
In the vast expanse of the Malevolence's hangar bay, the clash of forces was particularly intense. The massive space, once designed to house countless droid fighters and bombers, was now a battlefield in its own right. AT-TE walkers had been deployed, their heavy legs stomping across the deck as they unleashed volleys of fire from their main cannons, tearing through the ranks of droid soldiers.
"Push forward! Secure the hangar!" the commanding officer barked, his voice cutting through the din of combat.
The AT-TEs advanced, their armored hulls shrugging off the desperate return fire from the droid forces. Despite the droids' best efforts, they were no match for the sheer firepower of the Republic's walkers.
Battle droids were sent flying as explosions ripped through their ranks, their metal bodies clattering to the ground.
From the upper walkways and gantries, clone snipers provided covering fire, picking off droids that tried to hold the high ground. Below, squads of clones advanced in tight formation, their blaster rifles spitting out crimson bolts of energy. Every step they took brought them closer to securing the hangar bay, but the droids fought fiercely, unwilling to give up ground easily.
In the chaos, some of the clone troopers were hit, their bodies collapsing onto the cold metal floor. But their comrades pressed on, stepping over the fallen as they continued to push forward. The battle was relentless, each side throwing everything they had into the fight.
The battle was no less fierce in the Malevolence's vast internal railway system, where droids were using the tracks to transport reinforcements and supplies. AT-RT walkers, with their agile two-legged design, dashed through the open spaces, their riders expertly maneuvering through the tight corridors and narrow passages.
"Take the high ground and flank them!" an officer ordered as the clones engaged the enemy.
The AT-RTs complied, weaving through the battlefield, their laser cannons blazing as they targeted droid positions. The speed and maneuverability of the walkers allowed them to outflank the slower-moving droid columns, catching them in deadly crossfires. Droid soldiers were cut down in droves as the clones pressed their advantage, using the AT-RTs to bypass chokepoints and hit the enemy from unexpected angles.
But the railway system was treacherous. As the battle raged, some clones and droids were thrown from the platforms, plummeting down to the lower levels. Their screams and mechanical wails echoed as they fell, their bodies lost to the abyss below.
Despite the danger, the clones pushed forward, determined to secure the railway and cut off the droids' reinforcements. AT-TEs moved in, their heavy artillery pounding away at any resistance.
As the clones pushed deeper into the ship, the battle on the railway intensified. The droids, realizing the importance of the railway to their defense, began deploying heavy units to hold the line. Super battle droids and droidekas rolled into action, their shields absorbing the initial volleys of blaster fire as they returned fire with deadly accuracy.
"Get the heavy weapons up here!" Cross shouted, taking cover behind a bulkhead as blaster bolts ricocheted off the walls around him.
Within moments, a team of clones arrived, carrying rocket launchers and heavy repeating blasters. The heavy weapons team set up quickly, and soon the tide of the battle began to turn. Rockets streaked across the railway, slamming into the ranks of the advancing droids, while the repeating blasters chewed through the droid infantry.
The droids' defenses began to crumble under the relentless assault. Clones advanced from multiple directions, using the cover of the railway's structures to close in on the enemy.
With the hangar bay and railway secured, the clones pressed on to the remaining parts of the Malevolence. The droid defenders, now cut off from their reinforcements and with no escape, were systematically being overwhelmed. AT-TEs rolled through the corridors, their cannons blasting apart any droid resistance, while the infantry cleared out the remaining pockets of enemies.
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Fordo and his team held their positions on the bridge, the tactical readouts showing the Republic forces swarming over the Malevolence like a hive of angry hornets. The ship was theirs—there was no doubt about it now.
"Status report," Fordo ordered, his voice calm despite the tense situation.
"Clankers assault has stopped," one of the clones reported. "The droids have been neutralized and our troops hold the bottom level of the elevator."
Fordo nodded. "Good. Hold this position until we receive further orders." He said as he signaled Spider on the other end of the room who was holding a detonator in hand.
Nodding, Spider deactivated the detonator.
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Lelouch looked from the bridge of his Venator. This was a test for his Legion, not him, so he did not bother overseeing the tactical layout or give any direct orders.
"Report." - He ordered and the clone officer next to him looked inquisitively at the clone commander looking at the tactical readouts on the center of the bridge.
"All critical systems are under our control," the clone commander reported. "The last of the droid resistance is being neutralized. Patching through the team at the core."
The hologram shifted as a clone trooper appeared.
"Cross here sir, our squad lead was taken out on an ambush, I currently hold rank. We're locking down the reactor core now... The ship is ours sir."
Through the force Lelouch could feel the vigor and elation of every clone soldier on the legion at that declaration. This was the Legion's first real operation, an impossible operation... and it was a resounding success.