Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo

Chapter 34

Cifo was no coward. He made a point of never becoming like the simpering, fearful lot his kind usually were. But he knew he wasn't alone in being unnerved by what was going on.

"...May I ask, droid, why you just gunned down every Neimoidian on the command deck?" Cifo asked, eyeing the screen showing the command deck, droids removing the dead Neimoidians to take their seats and resume operations of the Lucrehulk.

Of all things occurring on this assault, a droid uprising was not one of them.

"I am replacing captain Etrid," OOM-8 informed, his organic predecessor right at his feet. The droid was staring at a static screen, Cifo knew, as their visual communications were only one way. "He was designated a traitor by parameters set by the Viceroy. Until such time as a loyal captain is appointed, I am to take command of the Lucrehulk designated as the Fooni Tiina."

Okay, not a droid uprising. That was... better. Unexpected still, but bettter than that.

"Should I assume that you are retracting Captain Etrid request for a cease-fire?" Cifo asked grimly.

"Your assumption is correct," OOM-8 answered, turning his censors to the display showing the other captain.

"I-I of course refuse as well," Rorn said quickly. "You will find no surrender from the Trade Federation."

Cifo couldn't help but note the resignation in Rorn's voice at that.

"I can see that," Cifo said before frowning. "May I inquire something of you, OOM-8?"

"You may. Answering is my own prerogative," OOM-8 granted.

"Why kill every Neimoidian? Why not kill only the captain?" Cifo inquired.

"...This inquiry allows for a response," OOM-8 decided. "The Viceroy's orders were to purge the organic crew if they attempted to abandon their post, or similar treasonous parameters were met. He did not stipulate it should only be those committing treason."

Rorn inhaled sharply while Cifo nodded. "Very well, Captain. To battle it is," he said before cutting the transmission. "Well, a rancor just shit in my breakfast."

"Agreed," Boba responded over the coms. "There isn't a chance Gunray was just stupidly rash in that programming, right?"

"Unlikely," Cifo admitted with a frown. "This is a desperation play. And I don't like it."

"Neither do I," Boba agreed.

"If the Federation finds out he did this, they'll turn on Gunray faster than you can destroy a vulture," Cifo remarked. "I don't think he intends to let Captain Rorn live, or any other Neimoidians on those ships."

"...He's not stupid enough to crash a Lucrehulk onto the planet, is?" Boba asked grimly. A ship that size, falling at a terminal velocity? The devastation to this verdant planet would be nigh world ending in scope.

"No, that is a line I think Gunray is too afraid to cross," Cifo remarked with a sigh. "If he did, the Trade Federation would bear the blame, and the Trade Federation would blame him. Not to mention he'd be too fearful of it coming down with him still on the planet."

Boba hummed. That was at least one possible problem he didn't have to worry about. The worrying question, however, was what line Gunray was prepared to cross?

Meanwhile

"Does...does Gunray have the Queen?"

Vader gave Sola a glance. "Your sister is not captured," he answered meaningfully.

Sola let that line settle for a moment before nodding, quickly accepting that Vader knew who she was, who Padme was. Pretending was a waste of time. And they didn't have any. "Is there anything you can do?"