Shadows of the Past

Chapter 30

Grievous strolled through his bridge, supported at the moment by a skeleton crew. Most of his assets were kept offline to save energy. He knew his resources were limited and not replaceable. He was content on having a competent underling at last however.

'General Kalani, have you managed to update your database with the current political map of the galaxy? 

The SuperTactical droid was scanning a data pad. He looked up having a lifeless stare.

'I have, sir. 

'And what do you think are our chances of success in building our droid forces again on a former Separatist factory world?

Kalani answered quickly:

'0 percent. All important Separatist planets were bombed into submission by the Empire in the following years after the Clone Wars. From my accounts, none remain with the capacity to help our cause.

Grievous felt like punching the bearer of bad news but restrained himself.

'We will have to build our own. I want you to organise a scouting and research squadron. Send them across the Outer Rim to scout for planets outside the Empire. 

'You would have us build the factories from scratch?

'Yes, it is the only way. We need to develop a secret base that can help boost our ranks. Unfortunately we can't produce ships, but droid factories and smelting plants should be within our capaticies should we have the necessary resources planetwise.

'That is correct. I will start assembling a scouting party. Are we going to follow them?

'No, they will pursue this mission on their own. For their own survival, develop their programming to be more independent thinkers. 

'That would be more efficient in their survival. I will see it done.

Kalani left the databank and exited the bridge. Grievous sat down, his mind racing. He needed to find a way to build ships as well, or at least obtain them from somewhere. After developing some secret bases, he would be able to man them enough to be a threat. A very interesting thought occurred to him. He knew a smuggler before that could help him. Maybe he knew where to...

'General! a droid interrupted him.

Grievous raised his glare towards the B1 droid.

'What is it? he answered raspily.

'We caught an Imperial transmission coming from ship A23789-ISD, designated as ISD CHIMAERA.

'Put it through. I didn't expect to decode imperial messages so quickly. Grievous thought. He was suspicious to say the least.

On the holoboard, the image of an Imperial captain appeared. He looked seasoned, yet young at the same time. He appeared to be listening to a message.

"Captain Palleon, we have recovered the artefact as the Grand Admiral suggested. We didn't find anything of importance on the planet otherwise."

"Good, Inquisitor. We will arrive there with a small task force to recover it. The Grand Admiral is very impatient in obtaining this cultural object. Did you encounter any resistance in taking it?"

Grievous was confused by this exchange. He wanted to finish the message and find a meaning to it, but was quite uninspired by it. 

"We didn't. All of the inhabitants were long dead. The planet is quiet."

"Good, stand by for the Chimaera's arrival then. We should get to you shortly."

With that, the transmission ended.

'What is this supposed to mean? Grievous asked while standing up annoyed. Where is the message sent from? Do you have any more information about it? He looked at the nearest droid and stared at him intently. The B1 typed some buttons on the console and answered happily:

'We only managed to decode the coordinates from where it was sent, General! We located them and found a planet there. Putting it through on the screen.

Grievous turned to look at the main screen of the ship. He widened his eyes as he recognised the planet.

'Kalee... Grievous muttered slowly. 

'Correct, sir! You know your planets! the B1 chirped unassuming.

'But, why? He quickly recalled the message. And what did the Inquisitor mean by all inhabitants were long dead? Has Kalee been destroyed? 

The droid actually tried to answer the rhetorical question.

'Databanks show a battle there a decade ago. The Empire probably wanted to get rid of a primitive species perhaps?

Grievous glared at the droid and destroyed it by a swing of his clenched fist. All the droids stopped their tasks and looked at their master.

The General was furious. He turned towards the main console.

'Prepare the ship for hyperspace and set course to Kalee! We will destroy these Imperials and find out what happened there. The General boomed over the bridge.

'What about the rest of the fleet? a cautious B1 droid asked.

Grievous realised his assets were not many out of sudden. He stopped his anger and strategised. If he rushed into this as he always did, he might be lured into a trap. This transmission was too conveniently decoded right now by him. 

'Send orders to all the others ships to await at the edge of the system, where they can't be detected by sublight scanners. And send them to be ready for battle. 

He contacted Kalani who was in the main hangar. His hologram appeared on the bridge.

'Yes, General?

'I need you to get the squadron that you have managed to assemble and start your mission immediately. You will take a Munificent ship and depart. The rest of the fleet will follow me on a mission. When you find a suitable planet, contact me on this channel. With any luck, I will answer. If not, build your forces and contact any Rebel cell and offer your service to them. 

'General, do you expect failure in your mission? This message seems closely related to final orders.

'It is not out of the question. Now go and build my legions!

With that Grievous closed the transmission and sat on the Captain's chair on the bridge. 

'Are all the ships in place?

'Yes, General.

Grievous looked as a lonely Munificent exited formation and jumped into Hyperspace a few minutes after. He was sure Kalani would succeed. 

'General, awaiting your command. A B1 broke the silence.

Grievous returned his glare to the center of the bridge and raised his hand. 

'Proceed!

With that, all the fleet jumped into the blue vortex of Hyperspace, ready for battle.