The Shadow of the Jedi

16. The Shadow's Reach: Malevolence Unleashed

To destroy the malevolence, a vast number of Republic forces joined our one-sided conflict with them. Every fleet that emerged from hyperspace encountered a massive warship and an even larger fleet to defend it, posing a severe threat to the Republic and the Jedi.

I immediately subjugated Knave to Necrom, and because of his previous republic fighting experience in Ord Mantell, Knave respected the "Warlord," a Centurion-class battlecruiser commanded by Necrom. According to my spies and the listening post on Ord Mantell, the Republic is assembling and organising a small task force to destroy the Malevolence cruiser—a moniker Grievous finally bestowed upon me during a recent encounter.

Because of the significance of the Malevolence, Dooku was required as a figurehead elsewhere. However, because of the importance of this ship, Dooku led me to another Super Tactical Droid named General Kalani, advising me that it would be preferable to have one on board in case of an emergency if someone could foil Grievous' reckless plan.

This validates Darth Sidious' allegation that Anakin Skywalker, Plo Koon, Obi Wan Kenobi, and all of their apprentices are confirmed members of the Jedi-led task force. They also confirm that I am aboard this vessel and that, possibly due to what Yoda told them about my recent encounter with him, they are not taking any chances when it comes to attacking me directly.

That being said, I've also been handed a good target for bringing the republic's morals down, causing individuals to act rashly and in despair. Corellia, located close to the core world, is our next aim. An attack on a core world planet will provide us with an advantage by placing the republic at risk and forcing them to go on the defensive.

We are simply focusing on their ship repair station and the damaged Republic ships, not besieging and destroying the planet. Knowing that a full-scale conflict without a very attentive, fully functional fleet repair station will impede the Republic's progress in our region, destroying the repair station may also seriously limit the Republic's capacity to sustain its fleet after each battle.

It would be a mistake to attack Correlia because they had already experienced countless conflicts and divided occupations, most of which were influenced by both Sith and Jedi. Numerous dangerous and formidable freighters for the ancient republic navy—now known as museums—were built on the planet Corellia.

I also understood that their newly constructed CR 70 corvettes would be beneficial to me and the high command, as we require a "friendly" vessel to boost our prospects of developing goodwill and diplomacy with prospective future partners. If properly upgraded, this vessel might be used as an efficient blockade runner as well as a powerful weapon in groups.

Following the agreement on a strategy, I directed all battleships belonging to adjacent commanders along the outer rim to be prepared to reclaim most of our areas if the Republic was seen to retreat, as they would permit. Kalani claims that because Corellia provides the most resources, the republic cannot afford to lose them, based on his calculations and theories.

The majority of them I dispatched to Rendili, where we were to meet with the rest of the forces as the fleet advanced. The Arch-Provost Bengila Urlan requested that I cause as much damage to Corellia as possible in revenge for the republic's rejection of its proposition to Corellia and Kuat Shipyard, which are his rivals. As a result, the republic will be able to offer them the opportunity to construct a ship, increasing their income.

Following that agreement, our forces will gradually gather on Rendili as we prepare to launch an attack on Corellia. Meanwhile, my fleet is gathering a raiding force to grab the recently created CR70, so the republic will require a significant number of venators to damage this ship or break the fleet's fortifications.