Call it Moses: Changing Plans

I leave Jarra to her devices and ensure that the other children are fed. They are mostly traumatized, although I have little information on how to treat such conditions. A pair of medical droids stay with them, and I arrange quarters by the suite Jarra is currently occupying.

Damage is being repaired, but my spares and supplies are also declining. It would not be an issue if I had supply points, or if I did not have to worry about combat, but neither is the case. And I have enough for perhaps a few weeks of high-tempo operations, or one or two battles against peer warships.

And I have no information.

Worse, most of the droids are newly built droids. A droid, no matter how much programming and training, gets better with time, as it learns, existing in a physical world, facing the random challenges you can never be programmed to face. B1 droids had a reputation for foolishness, and were mocked by allies and enemies alike—but that was because they were thrown into the fire and expended before they could learn.

An experienced B1 was… quite a different foe.

It is one reason why memory wipes were often only applied when a droid was severely malfunctioning—you lost all of that experience.

It was also the reason why so many droids facing memory wipes went rogue—it was, in essence, the destruction of their personality.

And I have many droid troops—not the same numbers as a lucre hulk, but more than the clone troops normally found on an Acclimator. More importantly, they are mostly advanced B1A, BX, and other prototypes. Count Dooku assumed he would be outnumbered and so had funneled the best prototypes to this ship.

None of which helps without information, and I do not have that. I cannot access the Holonet, evidently due to changes to its handshake protocols. Count Dooku no doubt assumed that he could provide any information I needed, either personally or via dedicated intelligence assets, which I do not have.

And I need information. I need to know where the CIS citizens have been taken. I need to know the total numbers. I need to know if any of the CIS remains…

I need to know a great many things.  And I have a few droids who can help me. A few experienced droids.

I send the order, and BX-12 will soon be activated. Or “Stanley” as I heard the techs refer to him.

But first, we will emerge at the edge of the Lothal system. They have little in the way of defenses or garrison and so—

My processes stutter to a halt as we emerge. Sensors are focused on where Lothal is…

And detect multiple cruiser and star destroyer class ships in orbit.

“Attention, all crew, stand by for emergency jump.” I send a message to Jarra. “The planet is blockaded.”

“But…why?” She asks. “Are our parents there?”

“I do not know. Unlikely. I—“

A droid alerts me that multiple fighters are approaching. Moments later, 12 small craft, launched from three transports, start attacking us. But they are attacking me head-on, not seeking to enter my blind zones.

But this time, my shields are fully operational—as is my anti-fighter weapons.

Four, then eight are wiped out, the remaining four retreating.

Odd. They seem singularly inexperienced in attacking a capital ship. Clone pilots would have not made such an error. Now the transports are desperately evading…

Should I destroy them?

No. The enemy is unaware of my current state of repair, and destroying the ships is not worth revealing that my heavy weapons are functional.

Moments later, I re-enter hyperspace.

****

“What are we going to do?” Jarra asks.

“It is said that the Jedi had great abilities to see the future. Could you not use your abilities to determine a safe destination?”

“I can barely lift a rock!”

“I do not require you to lift a rock.”

“I—“ Jarra pauses as the hatch opens and Bx-12 enters. The commando droid is wearing the cape he had chosen, a tool to allow him to conceal his nature from casual observation. Built before the conflict, BX-12, or Stanley, had a great deal of skill and experience, both as a bodyguard and a commando unit.

“Commander,” he says. Looking at Jarra, he peers down. “A Padawan Learner? Is she our prisoner?”

“Ally. Examine your data packet.”

There is a pause. Stanley then shakes his head. “Unfortunate. I wished to defeat the Republic, and now it is gone.” 

“We must obtain information. You and Jarra will gain it.”

“I will?” Jarra asks.

“You are human. The oldest human available. This will allow you to infiltrate where BX-12 could not. BX-12 and his team will assist you.  We have three shuttles with hyperdrives. You will take one to… Garel.”

“What’s on Garel?”

“During the conflict, Garel had a number of CIS sympathizers, although it was officially neutral. They may still be there. I have a few locations that were mentioned in my presence by various technicians.”

“But… Why not stay in Lothal, in the outer system?”

“That was my original plan as many outer rim worlds barely have orbital defenses, let alone deep system… but there were multiple Star Destroyer and cruiser class ships in orbit, as well as four light ships picketing the outer system. Long before we could make use of the listening post, they would be upon us.”

I am not confident with this course of action, but I fear I have nothing else. Jarra will be cautious, I am certain and BX-12 and the team will be able to assist her, hopefully quietly. “I will supply you with weapons and alloys worth 100,000 Republic credits at my last recorded exchange rate. This may assist you in contacting individuals who will assist us, though I would not flaunt your wealth.”

Is this a good idea?  I do not know. I was never designed for this. I should have a command crew, Dooku, Grievous, someone giving me overall direction.

But I do not. Therefore, I will continue on my current course of action.

“Your primary mission is to contact any CIS remnants. Your secondary mission is to obtain current handshake protocols for the Holonet so I can access it. Your tertiary objective is to locate ships that we may purchase or… requisition for the war effort, preferably models that blend in. You will check in every hour, or leave a message that you will miss a check in time before hand. Do you understand.”

“I don’t… like it,” Jarra states.

“You are a Jedi.”

“I’m not!”

“You are the closest thing to a Jedi we have.”

BX-12 looks at her. “You are shorter than the last Jedi I killed. Do not worry, however, my mission is to protect you.”

Jarra does not look comforted by that comment.

“The shuttle will be ready in 12 hours. I suggest you rest and prepare yourself.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Run simulations based on my sensor readings of the enemy fighter craft. They are of a different design, agile, but very fragile, so I must adopt my combat routines, especially if we encounter any fighters with competent pilots.”

With that, our meeting is over.

But I remain concerned. star destroyers over a minor world, larger than the Venator class that was the Republic’s main heavy warship. That implied a sudden, massive, and expensive reorientation of production resources. If they had defeated the CIS…

Why build larger warships?

I needed more Data. Hopefully Jarra and Bx-12 would obtain it.