An Unthinkable Alliance

Chapter 4

Nal Hutta

The Hutt palace was in great turmoil. News spread quickly about Hosko's downfall and the imminent threat of the Confederacy. Some started to doubt Tabarous leadership and some even fled the planet. However, a heavy fleet was guarding the orbit, armed with 7 flagships containing Ion Cannons. Back in the Command Centre, the Hutt was discussing plans with his majordomo while looking at his dancers preform.
'So, you say, the General will be caught in a trap?
'Even better, my master! With our Ion Cannon hidden from the Separatist Intel for so many years, we have a surprise waiting for that droid.
Shaak Ti was listening closely as the majordomo explained Tabarous his plan.
'We will draw Grievous away from his ships and we will strike him down with the weapon. He will surely die and the Confederate fleet will be in disarray and flee.
'Quite intelligent, Dako.
The Jedi Master smiled internally. She knew things weren't going to go that way...

Nal Hutta's orbit

The defense formation was standing ready for the attack. The ships were aligned in a close formation, more organized than ever. As expected, after a few hours of waiting, the Ion Cannon flagships detected the CIS coming and then the enemy emerged from Hyperspace. Grivous rose up from his chair and walked closer to the forward window of the Bridge. A tactical droid was standing behind him.
'Fire the smaller ships for now. Send boarding parties to their flagships!
'Yes, Sir!
Grievous watched as the battle prolonged. He was sustaining minimum casualties for now, yet something was amiss. The enemy fleet left an open corridor for his flagship to attack their's.
'Are they stupid enough to allow this?
Hah!
He turned at his droids.
'Advance through the breach until we reach the next enemy target.
'But sir, we will be left open to attack.
'They don't have the ships to bring me down! Forward!
On the command deck of the Hutt flagship, Creditorium, a bounty hunter was reporting the battle to his masters.
'My lord, they are falling right into our trap! Their flagship has bypassed our fleet and is coming towards me.
Tabarous grinned.
'Good... good! Prepare the Ion Cannon!
On the other side of the battle, Grievous still didn't understand what tactic where they employing. Where they going to trap him? That seemed stupid given their numbers weren't actually overwhelming. Going for a one-on-one fight? Again, a stupid idea since the Invisible Hand was clearly dominating their flagship. He looked one last time at his enemy before he tighened his fist and shouted:
"All cannons fire!
The battle soon started to turn into the favor of the Separatists. Grievous's flagship dispacthed easily their admiral dreadnought and started firing from behind the enemy lines. The pirates were caught like a sandwich and all over the battle their starfighter exploded and the pilots died...

Nal Hutta

Three hours passed since Tabarous loat command with his fleet. Dako, his majordomo was trying to appease him after the clear defeat.
'My master, someone sabotaged our Ion Cannon. It was a spy that destroyed us from within!
'Who is that mongrel?! I will make him suffer!
'We still do not know, but the Palace is in lockdown.
'It is of no importance. They will bombard us soon.
'Not really, master. Our palace has a powerfull shield generator. They can't attack us from above. Only a direct assault would work and from what I understand, they lack proper numbers as of moment. That gives us time to regroup and flee if necessary.
'Hm...
The room was suddenly bursted open when two gamorreans dragged An'hara and Shaak Ti in the front of the Hutt.
'What is the meaning of this?
The gamorrean reported in his own language that the two were seen entering the Ion Cannon control room.
'Traitors! I will have them...
Tabarous couldn't finish his order when An'hara lunged at him crying.
'Please, master.... I didn't do it! She must have! I was only there to recover a trinket...
Tabarous looked angrily at Shaak Ti.
'So, we have a spy and a stupid woman. Kill her!
She pointed at the dancer.
'The spy will be humiliated first!
He gave a quick look at his guards and they dragged the Jedi Master away. An'hara sobbed until Tabarous pushed a button, and the woman fell screaming in the beast pit. While she screamed, the slimy Hutt glared at Dako.
'Prepare to contact that droid. We may have to open negotiations with him.
'Why would he accept?
'We'll try our luck.

The Invisible Hand

Grievous was still confused after the outcome of the battle. It has been as he was let to win by the Hutt. He was thinling deeply, searching for a reason in his mind when the tactical droid informed him.
'General, we are hailed by someone on the ground.
Grievous ignored the droid. His mechanical brain issued the order to respond and the image of the palace Hall appeared in his face. Grievous glared at the Hutt and was prepared to shout when something caught his eyes. He remained shocked and just looked at them. Eventually the Hutt talked but in his own language. His majordomo translated:
'Separatist commander, your plan may have worked... but we won't surrender. We have caught your spy and we want to negociate.
Grievous shook his head. Things started to wrap up in his mind. Helped by the one who survived him... her appearance made him gasp internally. Shaak Ti sudennly let a gasp for air when Tabarous pulled her chain closer to him.
'Sir, we should open negotiations. The casualties would be zero and victory assured.
Grievous blinked for a few moments then spoke for the first time.
'So, now diplomacy is your answer. Fortunately for you, I am in a good mood today.
The Hutt frowned. The Majordomo said:
'We are awating you at our palace to decide our terms of negotiations. You may come with your droid friends but you won't invade us.
'Droid friends? Are you making me a droid?
The Hutt looked confused. Tabarous started a deep laugh then whispered something in Dako's ears.
'You aren't a droid? Why do you look like one?
Grievous growled and let our a furious snarl. He punched the holo-transmitter and rose up from his chair.
'Sir, what are we going to do?
'Prepare my shuttle. I will personally execute those slimes!

Coruscant

News across the Holonet made it to the Chancellor Office. Palpatine was looking at the news along Mace Windu and Yoda.
'See, my Jedi friends? The Separatists acted and now look like heroes of the Galaxy. Even the monster Grievous gained some notoriety as a liberator of the Hutt control, while we remain here and do nothing!
'Not warmongers , can we be seen. Let the CIS do their bidding we shall.
'Yes, but we are looking like incompetents. In addition to that, they will capture the entire Hutt space.
'Intelligence suggests they bombarded every planet they have been to. That shows they don't intend to set up bases.
'Still... we won't stay any longer and do nothing. I have issued the Fifth Fleet to depart for Kol Dooine. From what I've hear, there are still Separatist Frigates there. Now , if you'll excuse me, I have many things to do.
The Jedi Masters nodded and left the room. As soon as we was alone, Palpatine put on his dark cloak and contacted Serenno. The kneeling image of Count Dooku appeared.
'My master.
'Tell me, when did you infiltrate a spy in the Hutt's palace?
'I didn't, my lord.
'Then who is that that helped Grievous win the space battle?
'That is unkown to me. The General doesn't know.
'Hm... I sense something is hidden from me. I want the spy captured or killed and identified. Send commando droids to retrieve him, but do it without the General's knowledge.
'As you wish, my lord.