Planet Saleucami, Pef Empire

On board Celestial River

21 BBY, A week later

The Avatar living room on the cruiser was decorated subtly, grey and black walls, with a few Je'daii lines written in Latin. The furniture was just a few low couches and tables, and a few screens and holoprojectors. A Culexus droid was stationed beside the only armored door, the ysalamiri in the backpack enough to prevent a stealthy intruder.

Peffy was muchin on a bowl of popcorn with free hand, and hugging and fondling Aurra Grayshade with his other warm hand.

The Pef holonews were on, with a famous and beautiful Centrality talk-show host narrating the findings of the investigation.

"The massive volcanic eruption that devastated planet Saleucami has finally been contained, with hundreds of ships using tractor and repulsor beams to settle the magma back, while the Immortal Emperor himself has awoken from his meditation and arrived to coordinate the relief efforts. It was only by the inspired decisions taken by Imperial Servants and tactical droids on the planet that the total civilian losses were so low. Civilians were evacuated weeks prior to the Republic's intervention, fearing orbital bombardments.

But, the destruction cause is still uncertain, theories ranging from an orbital weapon fired in anger, to munitions coming in contact with lava, to an asteroid impacting the volcano, or even a natural phenomenon. Radical theories like a force ability able to shatter mountains has been disproved by all the polled scientists just like the fringe theory of seismic charge detonated with malice. Nobody sane would cause a volcano to erupt under their feet, not even a death-cult like the Morgukai.

Estimated military casualties of the liberation of Saleucami place loses as follows: Pef Empire 6.7 million soldiers, majority synthetic. Republic forces 31 thousands, all organic. CIS forces 1 million synthetics and 2 thousands organic.

The Emperor has vowed to allocate funds from his private treasury to rebuild the planet, and also construct planetary shields and orbital fortifications. Truly, the Emperor is generous and merciful. For the Empire!" the host proclaimed, as the commercials began for a host of products manufactured by my companies. What? It's good business.

Aurra stole a few popcorn flowers, and stretched herself, making me admire her generous forms.

"This is all fun and good, but I miss my violet sister. Where is she?" my assassin maid complained, leaning on my shoulder.

"Our violet maid wants to become a galactic class thief and slicer, so she's getting training from the special ops. Not the part with breaking bones though. Just technical lessons" I explained gently, and turned the holonet off.

"Na-Jia could use some self-defense lessons too. The galaxy is harsh, for those who are weak" Aurra muttered, sneaking a hand under my T-shirt.

"Indeed. You could try the black ops program as well. Your lethality and survivability should improve by 100%, in 6 months." I whispered in her ear, as my hands were busy conquering her mountains.

And the popcorn bowl, you wonder? Did it spill? Use the force, Peffy!

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Redbox

Sigh. Enjoy your vacation my Avatar.

"Your loud descriptions of the Avatar's adventures are discomforting, generous Emperor. Try to focus on the fleet movements, for a whole hour at least" Zuckuss muttered upset, although he did enjoy my narration, I was certain.

"What, did I miss something? A dropship was lost on Raxus prime? Oh, poo. The Empire is in peril!" I proclaimed dramatically, shaking my arms at the sky in defiance.

"Maid Aurra will be a worthy asset to the Black Ops. Especially if she uses her old name to pose as a neutral bounty hunter. Partial conditioning then...loyalties preserved for Grayshade family and Miss Zero?" my Third Hand asked, appearing from behind an olbio tree. And wearing some kind of force-negating biosuit.

That was...a Vong soldier emptied out and transformed into a meat suit?

Kinda creepy...

"And keep it subtle. She may have backup memories on her biochip. Perhaps, it is safer to extract the old one and replace it with a chip from generation 7.44, like my Avatar's. Force users are protected by the force itself. We don't want to upset the big dream" I mused wisely, thinking about the warning that Solanus gave when we first met.

"I see, wise droid. Small course corrections, and tiny nudges. And not blowing up freaking nukes and volcanoes, like a kit with fireworks" He answered with an upset tone, throwing a crystal at the floor and vanishing in the multicolored mist.

Hey! You enjoyed the fireworks too...

"So, we take Cadinth and Desevro next, completing the half encirclement of the Tion cluster.

You're leaving Arcan IV in CIS hands?" Zuckuss asked, turning the holomap sidewise.

"Yes, and squeezing on the other end. Funneling ships and troops out. Like puss from a wound. They'll have concentrate all the ships at one point and try to break out, with a pincer movement, from Felucia most likely. And then..." I explained patiently, since it seemed playing chess in 5 dimensions was a bit hard for normal people.

Only the Columi at the Land Warrior company were able to play my strategic scenarios decently. Then again, they had 75% of their body mass as brains.

"I see, devious droid. You aim to take Murkhana, without a shot. Digging out the CIS from that world would be costly, without orbital bombardments." Mujilik added his opinion, after turning the holomap flat again and miming a palm pushing things away.

See, not that complicated, if you really thought about it.

"Yes, all the tionese worlds, my friends. Chandaar and Derellium and Corlax 4 and Folende. Jaminere alone is worth a trillion credits in factories. I don't want to destroy those worlds. I want the CIS is to flee, leaving everything behind. And next month they will say: enough!" I proclaimed, punching my palm with a gloved fist. It did make a great sound, waking the ysalamiri lizards in the trees.

"And come attacking. Very well. Let's hope they won't break through and push us back." Zuckuss muttered, trying to mimic my glorious act, but sounding only fleshy, instead of the mighty metallic sound of my power armor.

"They won't. Have faith in the Immortal Pef. I have a plan...'

"Yesss, when did you not, sneaky droid. You're still playing the game at easy levels, are you not?" Zuckuss asked rhetorically.

Indeed, my friend. Corvettes and cruisers? Droids and tanks? The tutorial levels.

Meteors...okay those were at easy levels already.

Even the Astartes were just a fancy of my old organic self.

Once the true war machine was unleashed...stars would become popcorn.

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Mechtronic Art lab.

There's over 55 types of personal shields in front of me, although I'm leaning towards the Verpine prototype shield .

At 2500 credits it would cost to mass-produce, it's a bargain. Maybe add a Wrist laser ?

My own version is an Arkanian energy shield but these are prone to burn-outs in intense firefights.

The Echani shields and the Mandalorian shields are much weaker though, and do not block sonic

weapons.

And Gungan personal energy shield ? I could sell some of those to clone lancer units. They would fit right in.

Or maybe a Small portable shield ?

The Military Mobility Shield was just acquired from a Republic lab, and not feasible to use openly.

For a year or two. After that, the Republic will be gone.

Other, even stranger types of shields, like Energy blade shields do not even make me smile.

That Riot shield would be marginally useful for frontal assaults though.

And only costs 500 credits.

Okay then, we'll equip our B1 droids with these, and the commando droids and the marines with the more expensive Verpine shields.

But first, I'll send all of them to the geniuses at Land Warrior to go over them and increase their efficiency and reliability.

Okay, enough with these toys.

I went over to look at the brand new Droideka Mark II developed by Baktoid Combat Automatain their foundries on the planet Hypori . Yes, where three Jedi Masters just died trying to stop the droid foundries, and then forgot about it.

Luckily our black ops have captured a Republic transport ship, full of tibanna gas, and are en route to Hypori, to convince the CIS of the wisdom of buying planetary shields. With an orbital drop, that is.

This generation of droideka are better, having no less than 7 blaster cannons and 2 ion cannons. I can keep the top three, once I've turreted them, and replace the arm blasters with a Gatling laser and a PLX-1 portable missile launcher .

And then, give them fingers and thumbs. I mean, it's cruel, to build an almost sentient machine, and deny it basic rights, like thumbs.

Hmmm. And shoes too. And repulsorlifts. And a Laser saw. Sigh.

This droid was still a mess. Small steps Pef.

Just a missile launcher for now.

And for my Astartes, I had LS-150 Heavy Accelerated Charged Particle Repeater Gun which was pretty much a boltgun. The Accelerated Charged Particle Repeater Gun could serve as a boltpistol.

They chewed through shields and living beings with ease, and only had problem with armor.

But for that, there were even better weapons. A shoulder mounted PLX-2M portable missile launcher will be quite enough to deal with armor. And they fired a Gravity-Activated Mode guided missile able to hit tanks and gunship up to 40 kilometers away.

Masers and ion cannons too, for the Astartes, though they wouldn't be so effective as the boltguns.

The tanks at my disposal were starting to look like Rebellion era tanks, like 2-M Hover Tank and

T2-B Repulsor Tank for light tanks and Rebel attack tank for medium tanks.

Only all had wheels beside repulsorlifts, and turreted guns. 4 small wheels for the light tanks, that could be drawn up to the sides for pure antigravity maneuvers and 6 huge wheels for my medium tanks, much like the Juggernauts.

Their main ability was speed and shields, and less armor.

The heavy tanks were pure Baneblades from the start, if somewhat lower profile and turreted.

They worked magnificently in frontal assaults, with Umbaran shields and 1.5 meters of frontal armor.

Their armor was comparable to my Dakka corvettes, so you can figure out how hard it would be for most ground troops to kill them. Sure, they were a bit slow, but with 7 chainlasers and 2 missile launchers, beside the main heavy maser...

In fact, I should test a sublight engine and a repulsorlift and see if they can achieve orbit starting from the ground. That would be pretty cool.

And also, I could push a fleet to Phindar now, and link with Ventress at Dathomir.

Perhaps I'll be in time to become Mandalore with Peffy.

It would only take him a few seconds to beat up that cute Bo-Katan Kryze and make her marry him, as it's the custom with mandalorians. And another wife, yeah, why not?

It's not like my Avatar gets tired anymore.

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Celestial Throne

21 BBY

"So my adorable cute and ravishing blue Maid, repeat my instructions again, and this time, believe your words too" I told Vette while holding her upside down, floating in front of my throne.

"Okay! I get it, you overbearing droid! No more leaving on side missions. Stay in connection to the logistic chain. Secure Phindar and clear nearby systems of pirates. Leave dispense of justice to the Imperial Judge Servants. Leave the treatment of injured and sick to the Imperial Medical Division. The slaves to be remitted in custody of the Imperial Education Servants. Keep my helmet on at all times, except in my quarters aboard Meteor One. And if the furry admiral says we need to run, we run..." my maid proclaimed, punching the floor with her armored gauntlet. Good enough then.

"Come here and give me a hug, my valiant twi'lek" I said gently, depositing her back on her feet, a meter in front of me.

She hesitated for a second, then came to give me a tentative hug.

"And you had better not messed up my ship while I was learning that stupid mind-shield trick. There's nothing of value in my head anyway..." she declared proudly, and her blue leku moved on their own framing her face in an incredibly childish pose of innocence.

Messed up, no way! Just added 1800 more ion cannons, so the ship could fire even more return fire.

That ability did look similar to some Gree tech in my memories...gah. Too advanced to copy, for now.

"Yes, yes. But, bad people might want to plant ideas in your head, like strangling Dora when she sleeps. Or maybe Lira again..." I explained patiently, while updating the armor's semi-sentient droid chip with the latest programming in evasive actions and targeting software. And encrypt the codes in latin again.

"Oh, they can do that...dark jedi and such. Now it makes sense. Just tell me all of this! Crazy piece of scrap, before you have me stuck with my head under a learning helmet for a whole week. While the strange VSS girls do crazy magiks inside my mind, and turn everything I see covered with white contours. I thought I was going insane..." my blue maid complained, and stepped back, then stuck her tongue at me.

"Go have fun, Vette Grayshade. And keep an eye out for power gems." I added with a small laugh, and stuck her helmet back on.

She'll have a surprise, the first time she tries to take it of, possibly to berate some pirates she hasn't captured yet.

The armor won't let her, till she was back in her quarters...

Anyway, the armor had 3 redundant shields, one of them the new military mobility one, tied into her armor's reactor.

Ground based weapons would only bounce her around, and not hurt her pretty ass at all. Hopefully.

The bota plant treatments had increased all my maids force connection at least three times, but without training, they wouldn't know how to use the gift, and just be carried away be the sentients' of the galaxy common dream.

Very often, directly in front of whatever conflict the force wanted to be solved, one way or the other.

Wialu was already carried away, trying to keep the Green Jedi alive through to Clone wars and defeat the hundreds of dark jedi which appeared, as death and pain broke their skewed training.

Now, Peffy is about to land on Concordia the moon of planet Mandalore, so I'd better add another partition to the Avatar, and enjoy the show.

Moon Concordia, Mandalorian space

21 BBY

Hmmm. Forests and trees. Mountains and mines.

Now where would those pesky mandalorian warriors be?

Hey look, is that a missile, greeting me with a confetti shower?

Boom! Not confetti then.

I pretended to be knocked out, while the cruiser powered up shields, but remained on the ground, and seemingly empty.

A few mandalorians, in armor with the Death Watch prong symbol came out from behind rocks.

Thanks dear force! You made me land exactly in an ambush zone...

"That's not a jedi...even that Kenobi Master only wore a few bits of clone armor. This guy though...is that cortosis armor?" one of them realized with some surprise, after coming close enough.

"I'm Avatar Greyshade, of the Pef Empire. You know....your next door neighbors, now that Phindar is under siege?" I asked aloud, floating myself up and stretching my arms in midair. The rocket depleted just my particle shields by 10%.

Gah, not even a proton torpedo? These guys were still amateurs.

"Errr. Those guys are enemies too, I think. They fight the CIS..." another one said, with a bit of suspicion.

I looked to see which one was missing a rocket from their back launchers, and dragged him to me.

"You know...hitting me from ambush was rude. I'll confiscate your armor as payment" I said in a conversational tone, proceeding to do just that, leaving the poor warrior in his jumpsuit, while his armor was dismantled rapidly with telekinesis.

"Hey, mister Avatar, you can't do this. The armors are what make us mandalorian..." he complained weakly. Oh right.

No armor, no identity...let's test the wrist laser.

Worked just fine, cutting off his head from 5 meters away.

"Well then, take me to your leader, my warrior friends" I demanded politely, as an assassin droid decloaked and took custody of the mandalorian armor.

It looked brand new too, so it would serve as a cheap, mass-produced body armor for my marines, after it was reverse-engineered and downgraded.

A marine shouldn't me cost more than 10k credits, after all.

The decapitated body still floated respectfully a foot above ground, his dead hands cradling the head on the chest.

"This is above our pay grade, I'll let Command know we're bringing a fierce warrior for a visit" one of them muttered, refraining to attempt another attack. Probably since it didn't have any effect the first time, except a body holding his head.

"Great, that's Pre Vizsla right?" I wondered aloud.

"For generations, my ancestors fought proudly as warriors against the Jedi."

―Pre Vizsla

"You already know too much, outsider. We'll see how that armor stands before the Darksaber" the last mandalorian muttered, eying the floating body with calm.

Yes, yes. I wanted to see that myself.

We entered a mining gallery, then an elevator then a huge cavern filled with crates and machines and more mandalorians. Perhaps 50. Not that many.

"My proud warriors. I'm Avatar Greyshade. Just married to Lidia Greyshade of the Commonality. And I came to bring you freedom!" I proclaimed grandly, as a tall mandalorian stepped forward and took out a strange looking lightsaber hilt.

That must be the Darksaber then.

The first one I've seen with a cross-guard, in fact. It looked positively...modern.

"You came here to die, Pef Empire dog. We already have allies, Count Dooku and Tol Skorr have promised us aid, to reclaim Mandalore. Now die !" the man boasted, rushing at me with a crackling black plasma blade.

Ummm. Sleep gas and nerve gas wouldn't work...

Acid would make a mess and possibly ruin the darksaber....

I know what to do!

Let's just grab his dark flashlight. And then, use my vibroblade to decapitate him.

A shower of blood might impress the new recruits more.

Snikt! His helmet rolled on the floor, with his lifeless head inside.

"Like you said: only the strongest...shall rule."

―Pre Vizsla's last words

I could keep this saber though...it was pretty unique.