24 Infiltration (1/2)
At the end of a Standard Month the Trade Federation made their move. The defenses of Theed had been set up within its soil, but Sio Bibble refused to grant Valad access to Naboo's energy grid. The defenses were merely for show, only the shields worked.
So when this Blockade showed up, it was time for someone to do something. They had a month until the Jedi would be sent out to the planet in order to make a failed attempt at Negotiations.
The mechanic and the Tolic woman was removed from his transport and relocated somewhere else on the planet of Rori a week beforehand. Valad's conscious was clear. It was time for him to act.
Informing the Queen that he will be absent during this affair, which made her troubled that her sworn guardian was going to vanish during her time of need, she couldn't stop him.
Riané and Valad made their way to the Scimitar Replica in the Hangar of the Royal Palace. Using the force as he always did, the loading ramp lowered and the airlock spread apart for them to enter.
”Welcome Masters of the Scimitar,” the feminine programmed Protocol Droid stayed, speaking for the first time. Her voice was sarcastic, but also rather cheerful for it was the first time she had been activated. ”How may I be of assistance?”
”Strap yourself down somewhere,” Valad stated as he gave the droid a glance before stepping into the lift with Riané by his side, whom was sticking a tongue out towards the droid.
”Ooooh,” If the protocol droid was a woman, she would have squinted and done the same, but wasn't surprised by the teenage actions of the Apprentice.
Once on the upper deck, Valad and Riané fanned on over to the pilot and co-pilot designations and began the ships primary drive. He didn't bother listening in on the conversation being between Nute Gunray and Padmé Amidala considering he already knew what this was about. This was an embargo because of the taxation of the outer rim worlds imports.
His general plan was to allow the events to go as planned. The Queen escaping with the Jedi, going to Tatooine and bringing Anakin Skywalker back to the planet of Naboo after their little gathering on Coruscant.
However he had another plan, one that involved a much different approach. He wanted to get his hands on a Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship and it just so happened that there was quiet a few. One of them being the 'Vuutun Palaa,' in which he knew Nute Gunray was on board.
Before even leaving the ground, the Scimitar vanished from sight as Royal Security Officers entered the Hangar. ”He's leaving, your Highness!” One of the reported into their communicator as he heard the muffled sounds of thrusters and the increased movement of the air.
Moments later they could tell, the Scimitar had left the hangar.
Padmé frowned lightly as she got the news that the man who had sworn to protect her not only left her, but planned on leaving the planet all together? Just what was he up to? He was so adamant about the Defense of the planet and its people, but now he left.
”Is it all my fault?” Her brows furrowed as her eyes seemed to be a bit bigger than usual, glossy. She looked over towards Sio who was conversing with the rest of her advisors. ”Or was this his plan from the beginning?” She was talking to herself, her fingers drumming lightly on the arms of her throne.
”I can't condone his actions should they lead, us, my people to war...” Padmé began to steel herself as her eyes narrowed towards the space in front of her where she had been once speaking with the Viceroy Nute Gunray.
...
Breaking through the atmosphere and entering outer space, the eyes of Riané and Valad were immediately greeted by a larger force of Lucrehulk-class battleships than he remembered before. It was clear that Plagueis wanted to use caution. Sending so much more ships than before, made it seem like Valad didn't know to laugh or cry.
”This is a large blockade...” Riané said as she seemed to be wide eyed compared to Valad who kept a calm and reserved expression. ”...What exactly are we going to do?” She looked over at her Master with a brow arched, she was curious.
”We're going to board their Command ship and commandeer their central command computer and internal defenses.” What he suggested was practically to take the Viceroy hostage with his own forces and use the ships highly capable transmitter equipment to do so.
”You're kidding me right?” Riané laughed as if he was really telling a joke, but then her nervous laugh came to an end. The serious face the boy before her wore, definitely looked like it made an actual statement. ”You're not kidding.” Riané sneered helplessly as she almost palmed her face.
Giving her a light teasing smile, he looked towards the R9 unit which was piloting the ship.
”We're closing in on the Vuutun Palaa,” He stated as he made his way over to the footlocker by the door to the lift. Opening it up, he pulled a F-11D rifle and attached it to the back of his belt horizontally.
Riané blinked a few times, she was already dressed in her usual armor which he had prepared for her before. Except she now had armor attached to her trousers which made it even heavier.
”Once I gain control of the ship's central computer system, I'll need you to head to the bridge.” He eyed her lightsaber which she had assembled on her hip. She had used a standard purple focusing crystal which she attuned to the force. ”Kill everyone there.”
”Yes Master, Understood.” Riané nodded to him as she was given his role, though she had a heaviness in her chest. However she immediately reacted on reflex as she caught a mandalorian helmet tossed in her direction. It was unpainted Beskar-gam. Heavier than the rest of her durasteel armor.
Blinking a few times, she secured it on her head with a satisfying sound of the magnetic hissing. If she were to be sucked out into space, she'd survive a much longer despite her hands being exposed. It was better than nothing.
After securing the helmet on her head, she noticed that the outside sounds were moot. That was until she clicked a button on the side of her helmet and was greeted by volume control on the visor's hub.
It was an eery thing to hear, as Valad began to hum and partially sing a song. 'No thoughts, no prayers, Can bring back what's no longer there~' He was singing a song from another world, Prayers and Thoughts by Grandson. '...The silent are damned, The body count is on your heads...'
”M-master?” She couldn't interpret his thoughts, the song sounded as if he was blaming someone for countless deaths and losses. Who was he blaming? Or was he blaming himself for what was to come?
The Scimitar successfully infiltrated the Lucrehulk-class droid control ship, landing relatively close to the central reactor which was largely exposed in the vast hangar. Should they be discovered, they'd be idiotic to fire on a ship so close to their reactor. The last thing anyone would want is to be blown sky high.
Riané centered her focus on the force as she sat cross-legged the best she could in the center of the upper deck.
”Do you sense anything?” Valad asked as he looked over his apprentice, watching the domed helmet shake side to side, he grinned. ”Good,” he'd reach over and point her antennae to the ceiling.
Valad walked through the door to the lift after securing a Mandalorian styled carapace on his torso for protection against shots on his central mass. He proceeded to add a groin shield as well. He wanted children eventually in this life, since he didn't in the other. That was a given.
He needed someone to brag about him, to give him pride and further confidence in himself.
Once he made it to the lower deck of the Scimitar, he used the force to phase through and land heroically on one knee upon the hangar below. A light grin forming over his lips as he quickly vanished from sight. Centering his mind upon the Art of the Small. Even if Darth Maul were here, he wouldn't sense him. Even if they had high calibrated and sensitive equipment, he wouldn't be detected.
It was like a casual stroll. The world around him was ignorant of his presence. He slipped passed a small squad of droids as he was making his way through the lengthy halls of the three kilometer in diameter vessel. One giant donut, with a jelly filled center.
His stomach grumbled, but it didn't distract him. His eyes narrowed on a droid which was staring directly at him, or more so, right through him. The door to the central computer was right behind the droid and there was no way for him to enter without temporarily revealing himself.
A small smirk formed over Valad's lips as he glared forward at the droid. Slipping his saber into his hand, he appeared right before it.
”What?” The Droid took a step back and shock, rather personified with programming. ”Hold it right there!” The droid aimed its pea shooter at him only for him to activate his saber.
”Jedi!?” Before the droid could even let out a single shot, Valad used his abilities with the force to augment his speed and slashed it in two. It didn't even have time to send in a report.
Valad smirked down at the dead droid, ”Frosty,” he pursed his lips slightly and turned his head to look over towards the security camera pointed right at him.
...
Viceroy Nute Gunray and his ilk were on the Saak'ak, a regularly modified Lucrehulk-class LH-3210 cargo freighter to act as a battleship. Clearly, they had several defense flaws which he could exploit.