24 Infiltration

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.

The Neimoidian overseers of the bridge crew on board however were severely confused. Where did this man come from? Why hadn't their security measures picked him up earlier?

"We must inform the Viceroy! We've been boarded by an unknown party!" The commander stated, telling his comms officer to hail the Saak'ak.

Just as he did so, he watched on the holographic screen as Valad phased through the door to the central computer systems. "What is he planning...?" The Neimoidian glared at the screen as he inquired to himself before setting of an alarm. Many of the B2 Battledroids and Droidekas made their way towards the Central Control.

"Sir! Communications are no longer responding!" the Neimoidian Commander's eyes widened as he looked over the Communication's Officer. "What do you mean no longer responding!?"

Rushing over to the communication station, both of them stared at what looked like a command blockout. "But how...?" The commander was quite sure in order to access this they'd need quite a bit of security clearances.

...

Nute Gunray was standing on the Bridge of the Saak'ak when they had a sudden hail. However before pleasantries between officers could be dispensed, the Comms man from the Palaa was cut off. "A Jedi infiltrated?" Tey How repeated the only part of the transmission she was able to get.

"What?" Nute Gunray said in a cowardice boom. "When did they infiltrate our blockade?"

Sil Unch who was standing beside Gunray blinked and frowned.

"We must inform Lord Plagueis..." Nute Gunray walked over to the communication station and began calling upon his Lord to make his report. Moments passed and Darth Plaugueis appeared in his cloak.

"Viceroy," He said in a calm tone, staring at the other alien. "What is it you'd like to report?" His tone was unnaturally passionate, as if he was ready to strangle the green man at any moment.

"My Lord. It's the Jedi.. They somehow infiltrated our Droid Control ship. How can this be?"

If he had a jaw, the Muun would have shifted it with a rather cross expression. "What does this Jedi look like?" He asked with his arms folded over his chest. A fierce look in his eye.

"We don't know, My Lord. We lost contact with the Vuutun Palaa soon after receiving their distress." Nute Gunray sounded as if the man was about to cry, he knew he was in deep doo-doo. There was no way he'd be able to continue the blockade in an orderly fashion should one of his ships be taken. Nor would he be able to begin his occupation as planned.

Plagueis upper lip twitched. "Keep me informe–" He and the transmission was suddenly cut off.

There was nothing before Nute Gunray, as if his communications systems were being Jammed. He stared into space for a few moments before looking out the viewport towards the Vuutun Palaa.

...

The overseer crew of the Vuutun Palaa had lost communication with their droids, they couldn't make contact with the other Trade Federation ships, and their internal security systems weren't operating. They couldn't even seal off the bridge.

"I don't get paid enough for this," The Neimoidian commander growled under his breath as he grabbed a weapon from one of his subordinate guards and charged it. "We're under attack. Guard the Bridge until we can regain control!" He barked as he walked over to the rest of the bridge control team.

As planned, Riané and the B2 Battledroids began to sweep through the ship, killing Neimoidian overseers.

"What, this is impossible!" One of the Neimoidian officers screamed as he began to run away from the girl and her small army of droids following behind her.

"Kill him," Riané pointed and ordered the droids, the voice modular of her helmet making her sound like an unfeeling warrior.

It was only a matter of seconds as the droids opened fire. Bolts of red went searing through the sky, giving the (hardly) sweet scent of burning ozone, tearing the officer apart.

"What was that?" One of the bridge guards asked, raising a brow as he looked towards the corridor.

"I'm not sure..." Another one answered, "Sounded a bit like Gruun... Are the droids shooting us?" The last thing he said drilled an immense feeling of dread into the bridge crew.

The second officer of the command crew began to whine aloud. "We're all going to die!"

"We can make it to the esca–" The commander of the vessel was cut off as they heard the activation of a lightsaber and the marching of droids coming in their direction. "It's too late... Prepare to hold our positions!" His voice was cowardly, he knew he was going to die, but he preferred death than flight.

A purple hue came around the corner, and soon in their sights was a little girl with a three foot length blade of molten plasma.

"A child...?" One of the Guards sneered as the remaining crew began to raise their weapons. Yet the sound of the droids marching drummed into their ears. "A mandalorian with a laser sword?"

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? OPEN FIRE!"

The handful of guards and the command crew began to open fire as the droids rounded the corner, charging at their superiors.

Riané deflected the bolts of energy directed at her and redirected them back towards her adversaries with ease with the movement of her hands grasped around her hilt.

Within a matter of moments the bridge was filled with sparks and the scent of burning ozone, accompanied by the smog left behind by the battle. "The Bridge has been commandeered, Master." She said as she accessed the ship wide loudspeaker system.

"Roger," Valad responded using the regular system as he made his way up to the Bridge, commanding the newly loyal droids to man the stations once used by their previous commanders.

"Lets send some Vulture droids into the reactors of one of the other Trade Federation ships," He closed his eyes and moved into a meditative posture on the floor. His influence over the Central Control System was giving him the capacity to send out virtual commands.

The Vulture Droids under the command of the Palaa knew no better than to obey.

With the lack of communications, the Modified Lucrehulk-class LH-3210 cargo freighters of the Federation had no idea that the vessel had fallen into hostile hands.

...

"Viceroy!" Daultay Dofine screamed as he witnessed one of the other Frederation ships exploding. "One of our ships was just destroyed!"

Nute Gunray was without words, just stared out at the vessel which exploded into pieces, the core ship being vaporized by a chain reaction. "We've been given an ultimatum, retreat and regroup or destroy one of our own assets, it seems."

For a few moments the few members of the Saak'ak crew convened with one another before sending messenger ships to the other remaining ships.

That was when suddenly communication between the Saak'ak and the Palaa were restored. A rather vibrant hologram appeared before Nute Gunray and his staff.

"Greetings Viceroy," Riané stated as she was standing in the focus of the message, her Master meditating right beside her on the ground. "Enjoying the fireworks?"