At the Hapes Spaceport, Queen Nickrish had summoned all her military generals. She stood on a high platform, looking at the neatly arranged army before her, her heart filled with unceasing worry.
"My warriors! We Hapan people have always maintained our independence and freedom. We will not allow any external force to invade our homeland. Now, the Trade Federation is attempting to exploit our internal conflicts to control our Cluster, and this is something we cannot tolerate."
A general stepped forward and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, we are willing to follow your command and fight the Trade Federation to the death to defend our homeland!"
Other generals also responded, and a wave of impassioned shouts erupted from the army.
Nickrish nodded in satisfaction. "Good! Now, we will immediately deploy defenses, setting up defensive lines around the Spaceport and the city to prevent the Trade Federation's army from landing. At the same time, dispatch reconnaissance planes to closely monitor the movements of the Trade Federation's forces. Report to us immediately if they show any signs of attack."
The generals accepted their orders and began to nervously deploy defenses.
Meanwhile, in space, the Trade Federation's grand army was already approaching Hapes, the main planet of the Hapes Consortium.
The armies from other star systems, summoned by Queen Nickrish, were also approaching to support Hapes.
General Dourde looked at the defensive perimeter before him, a disdainful smile on his face. "With this backward technology, do they really think they can stop our Trade Federation's grand army? Issue the order: full army attack, break through their defenses, and occupy Hapes!"
As Dourde's order was given, a large number of Vulture Droid flew out from the Trade Federation's warships, charging towards the Hapan Cluster's defensive perimeter. For a time, the space outside Hapes was filled with cannon fire, laser beams, and missiles intertwined.
The Hapes defensive fleet quickly met them, engaging in fierce combat with the Trade Federation's warships. One after another, warships exploded in the gunfire, transforming into brilliant balls of flame blooming in space.
In the battle, the Hapes pilots displayed tenacious fighting spirit, but their piloting skills were extremely poor.
They piloted their fighters, weaving through the Trade Federation's fleet, continuously launching missiles and laser beams, completely unable to penetrate the defenses of the Lucrehulk-class battleships, only to be ruthlessly shot down one by one by the Vulture Droid.
The Trade Federation's warships were numerous and heavily armed, an enemy that the Hapes Consortium's pilots were utterly unable to resist. Many Hapes Consortium battleships disintegrated in space, some even plummeting to the surface of Hapes.
On his flagship, Dourde observed the tactics used by the opposing Commander and had a nearby B1 analyze them.
"Commander, the enemy's tactics and attack methods are at least six hundred years behind the rest of the Galaxy. It's a completely backward, low-level world," the B1 Commander reported, then chuckled.
Dourde nodded; this indeed aligned with his thoughts. They didn't even have turboblaster technology; the new weapons he was researching were already superior to theirs.
Just then, Nute Gunray initiated a communication.
"Dourde, how is our cooperation with the First Princess progressing?" Governor Gunray asked through the holographic communication, his eyes revealing greed.
Dourde bowed slightly, a fawning smile on his face.
"Governor, everything is proceeding according to plan. Princess Taa Chume is completely compliant with our wishes. As long as we help her ascend to the throne, the Hapan Cluster's resources and strategic position will be entirely in our hands."
Governor Gunray nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, but you must be careful. The Mandalorians have already intervened in this matter. Kurt Vizsla is not an easy opponent; we cannot let our guard down."
"I will finish this quickly. If the First Princess doesn't choose us, then I believe there are certainly others who would like to be queen."
"You've done well this time. Keep it up." Nute Gunray then ended the communication.
But in the palace, Queen Nickrish, watching the news, felt her heart die. Less than an hour into the battle, 70% of the fighters and warships dispatched by Hapes had been destroyed. The remaining 30% could no longer hold out. This was completely different from the pirates they had encountered before.
"Your Majesty, our defensive fleet has lost seventy percent! We won't be able to hold on much longer!" a general rushed into the palace, reporting to Queen Nickrish.
Nickrish's face was grim. How could she not know? But this battle had just begun, and the real test was yet to come, though it seemed they were doomed.
"Issue the order: have the ground forces prepare. Once the space defense is breached, immediately enter combat to defend our city! Also, tell the reinforcements from other star systems to hurry and assist; we need the Royal Fleet!"
Meanwhile, in the palace of Taa Chume's city, Taa Chume was deeply conflicted.
She looked at the fierce battle outside the window, her heart filled with confusion. Should she choose power or family?
Watching Hapes fighters plummet from the sky one after another, she finally understood: the Trade Federation was an enemy she absolutely could not contend with. Only submission was the true choice; she had to choose power!
Taa Chume no longer hesitated. She would follow the previous plan and carry out the coup, but this time the target was her own mother, Nickrish!
She took out the datapad Dourde had given her, looking at the commands that could control all the bd-3000 deluxe droids in the palace, and pressed it. The coup began.
3000 deluxe droids in the palace, and pressed it. The coup began.
"In the Hapes Consortium, power is not eternal, and kinship is merely a means for me to obtain power!"
At that instant, the BD droids in the palace began to move, pulling out their hidden blaster pistols. But Nickrish was not unprepared. If it had been before the Trade Federation's attack, she might not have paid attention, but now she was certain that her eldest daughter wanted to replace her, not through political maneuvering, but with the help of outsiders from the outer Galaxy to invade her country and harm her people.
This made her unable to tolerate it any longer. Taa Chume had to die. Perhaps she should have chosen her second daughter back then.
"Royal Guard, immediately kill the traitor Taa Chume and all her cronies, and destroy those droids." Queen Nickrish, currently overwhelmed with problems, did not want her daughter to cause any more trouble.
She opened a button on her throne and pressed it, destroying all the bd-3000 deluxe droids.
Hearing the explosions from outside, First Princess Taa Chume knew her plan had failed, and urgent footsteps were approaching her.
"Your Highness, what should we do? The mission has completely failed. Do you need an escort off the planet?" her personal maid anxiously asked.
Taa Chume nodded, pressing a hidden button by her bedside and calmly stepping in, while the maid contacted the First Princess's allies and loyalists to prepare to leave Hapes, to help them escape to General Dourde's flagship.
×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×
Read Extra Chapter Visit My Patreon
I have only 1 tier
19$ Tier – Access to 40 advance chapters
patreon.com/Lempil
patreon.com/Lempil