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Chapter 28 - Battle of Nal Hutta New
Hello there,

If you enjoy this story, you can read 15 chapters in advance on my
Patreon page / patreon.com/Samael61.

Anakin Skywalker is on the path to become one of the greatest figures on the galactic scene. If you want to read an original story of greatness, you can check my story, Arrival : Ruptures. Comments, likes and reviews are appreciated. Here are the links for :
AO3, Spacebattles, Royal Road and Webnovel.



—
​

Nal Hutta

The fleet transitioned into the system as one.

Twenty cruisers, a dozen corvettes, the mismatch of smaller ships they had acquired, and, of course, the fighters waiting in the hangars. The fleet around Nal Hutta only had two Gozanti-class cruisers to match them. Its external weapons weren't many, possibly leaving it as a carrier for starfighters.

The desperation of the Hutts was evident. Buckets of rust that had no business in space and outdated ships, which only the most down-on-their-luck pirates would employ, dotted the orbit.

Of course there were vessels in better condition among them. YT-1300s and 2400s were the greatest threats other than the Gozanti. A Lancer-class pursuit craft, a favorite of the pirates for its anti-starfighter capabilities, was screening the Gozanti.

"I am Supreme Marshal Qymaen jai Sheelal. You are outclassed and outnumbered. Surrender and your lives will be spared," Qymaen said aboard the Mystic Strike. His call was on an open channel, but it went unanswered. A whole minute passed by and he had enough.

"Your funeral," he growled, ordering the fleet forward.


—
​

Strange Tides

"This is where the fun begins," Anakin said. While Qymaen made his offer, he was heading for the Gozanti. Ventress was aboard along with a group of soldiers. They would destroy it and the Lancer before making for the planet.

"Ventress, take the helm," he said, getting up as he brought the ship out of the Mirror Dimension. She hopped on the seat without a word.

He retreated a few steps back. His thumbs touched together first, followed by a turn of his wrists. His pinky and ring fingers touched each other. He twisted his hands again, right below and left above, middle and ring fingers facing. His hands moved, the aforementioned fingers touching the palms of his hands.

He slid his right arm forward, index and thumb creating a circle, his left hand gliding over it. Finally, he waved his hands around one another, index and middle fingers stretched, and the rest curled.

His hands glowed golden, reaching all the way to his shoulders. He pulled them apart as if parting a curtain. Seven orbs, each one a miniature star of differing sizes, appeared in the space between his palms. He brought his hands closer, compressing the suns before spreading them wide open.


—
​

The Hutt fleet was shocked when the Strange Tides appeared out of nowhere. They scrambled to shoot it without friendly fire. Every sensor on the fleet went haywire before firing solutions could be acquired. Seven orbs, reminiscent of miniature stars, blazed into existence.

They expanded, blinding the ships and the crews. The Gozanti-class cruiser still had its shields up. It did not stop three of the seven pillars from shattering it in three places. The Lancer-class met the same fate, split into two by another pillar. Two YT-1300s and a single 2400 went down as well.

All without Strange Tides taking a single shot. The remaining ships tried to shoot it down at no matter the cost, but it disappeared into the Mirror Dimension again.


—
​

Mystic Strike

"Marshall, the Gozanti, the Lancer, two YT-1300s, and a single YT-2400 are down. The Gozanti didn't have the time to launch its fighter complement," the sensor operator reported.

The helmsman was the first one to react, jumping to his feet with a scream of delight. His crewmates followed, cheering for the devastating blow. Qymaen let it run for a few moments before coughing pointedly. The crew took their places again.

"All forward batteries, fire," he ordered, watching the fleet enter the firing range. Within seconds, the combined firepower of the fleet cut through the darkness. Each red beam of the turbo laser was a speck of light. Together, they were a lance of destruction raining on the Hutt fleet.

The return fire was… abysmal.

The YT class ships were pulling their weight in credits. They simply weren't able to act as a cohesive unit. The chaos of the instant death of their leadership had thrown the fleet into disarray. The fear that the Sorcerer could return any moment had them chasing at the shadows.

The enemy fleet was targeted based on the danger of the ships. The remaining YT class ships were the highest priority, leaving everything else secondary.

He ordered the comms to connect him to Corlen and one of his Izvoshra. "Bond of Brotherhood and Warlord's Tide, disengage and blockade Nar Shaddaa. I don't want anyone escaping."

"Understood Marshall," Corlen replied, taking his ship away.

"Launch our fighters. Clear the space and begin preparations to land our troops," he said. Anakin was a force multiplier, a hammer that could appear out of nowhere, strike the enemy with unmatched fury, and disappear just as quickly. He made their work so much easier that he felt like he was only cleaning up the remnants.

Regardless, the true battle would start on the surface. The homeworld of the Hutts wouldn't be so easy to take. They owned the planet in every sense of the word. Every single hand that could hold a gun worked for them.

Which meant millions of potential enemies. They had brought fifty thousand soldiers in total. Their job was not to take the planet but to secure landing sites. Anakin's portals would bring the recovered warriors of Kalee to Nal Hutta. He knew Freedom First could not just bombard the enemy combatants from orbit. The civilian casualties made it impossible.

Localized air strikes would continuously hammer enemy positions instead.


—
​

Nal Hutta

Bilbousa


He didn't look back at the destruction he caused. His sole target was the Hutt Council Chambers. The Hutts would inevitably be looking to escape. The hot and swampy planet no doubt would be the most difficult one to take.

"That's where the chambers are," Ventress said, pointing out of the cockpit, through the broken lens of space. A white dome, massive enough to land a cruiser or two on, dominated the center of the capital. He increased the speed, burning hard towards the building. He brought the ship out just at the safe edge of the torpedo launch distance.

Two of them shattered the top. Slabs of duracrete fell inside, creating an opening. The three Izvoshra and three of the finest men Corlen had chosen followed him. Once Ventress and Artoo were out, he lowered them to the floor on a mandala, sending the ship back into the Mirror Dimension.

Ventress immediately began to deflect blaster bolts. The men returned fire, but they were in a disadvantageous position. Anakin clicked his tongue, drowning out the sound of the battle. He covered the group in a sphere before it extended from all sides. The Hutt grunts were crushed to the walls.

He quickly landed, twirling his hand to open a portal. Ventress and the men were killing the goons that tried to get up. If they weren't going to surrender, then there was no reason to take them prisoners.

Bentilais stood on the other end of the portal, blaster rifle at the ready. He nodded, charging through. A wave of Kaleesh, like the grains of sand in a sand storm, flowed after him.

"Go and do what you have to do," Bentilais said. "We will take this place."

Anakin nodded, flying towards the chambers. He brought his hands together, tips of his fingers touching. Blades appeared around him in a swarm, a shield protecting him in front. The elite security units of the Hutts, the Hutta Guard, were the only ones with weapons permitted inside the building. Mostly composed of Weequays, there was a small army waiting for him. Dozens of blaster bolts impacted on his shield in an instant. It held, and he launched his blades in retaliation. The Force gave him the edge he needed to be on both offense and defense at the same time. His hand sigils kept the shield and the blades up while he guided the weapons with the Force.

It was no different than trying to breach the armor of a tank with blasters.

The dancing blades skewered a guard after guard. Entire hallways and rooms were left chockfull of corpses. He pushed on without a delay, searching for the Hutts.


—
​

When he barged in the council chambers after turning a host of Gamorreans to ash, he found no one. Not a single soul was present. He activated his comlink. "Qymaen, the council chambers are empty. Where could they have gone?"

"The slugs have a landing pad, but we are watching it. They don't dare approach it. They must be hiding."

"I'll keep searching," he said.


—
​

Ventress sent another bolt back to its owner. She was outside the council building, helping the Kaleesh troops hold their ground on the stairs. They had already secured the portal site, pouring out of the council chambers building without losing momentum.

The swarm of warriors was never-ending, and the enemy forces did not seem to have any intention to retreat either.

Still, they were winning.

She fell into a rhythm, letting the Force guide her. She blocked one heading for her head, another to her abdomen, and more. Her attention wavered for a second as the fighters and bombers passed overhead. Starfighter-grade lasers and bombs rained down the wide street heading to the complex. Explosions blinded them, and she had to get to cover.

The enemy fire lost its intensity as the street was blocked by the smoke. Bentilais ordered his troops to cease firing, waiting for their line of sight to clear. The starfighters and bombers were still continuing, hunting down reinforcements.

"Move," Bentilais ordered through the comms. Where hundreds of enemy combatants were advancing on the complex, only craters and corpses remained. The soldiers followed the orders, weapons raised, seeking hostile forces.

She grinned beneath her hood, following them.

Overhead, transports began to land, ready to disgorge fifty thousand more troops.


—
​

He couldn't find the Hutts anywhere. He knew they were in the building. Otherwise, the Hutta Guard wouldn't be. They couldn't leave the planet without the fleet shooting them down. So the council members had to be around, but where? He returned to the meeting chamber to try something different.

He sat down in a meditative position, focusing. He drew the Force to himself. The Mystic Arts would be no help in locating the Hutts. If the midichlorians were present in every living being, then he should be able to track them. At least as the creation of the Force itself.

He opened his mind and soul to the outside, applying the principles of the Mystic Arts. He couldn't cast a spell to track the Hutts, but the fundamentals were similar. He had the Force in him, but it also depended on drawing it from the field that all living beings created.

He drew and drew before expelling it all. His intention was to use it like a scanner, feeling everything as far as the pulse would travel. He had tried it several times on smaller scales and succeeded. This was simply a matter of increasing the area to cover.

He wasn't prepared for sensory overload.

He felt everything. Every living being was like a candle light in the dark. Their shapes were clear to him, like a high-resolution scan. Even the fauna and the flora were visible to him.

He felt tens of thousands at once. The Kaleesh were delighted at the victory. The Hutt loyalists were angry and frustrated and flickered off in droves every second. The civilians were terrified, trying to run. Ventress, a bonfire in the dark, was gliding around a group of Weequays, each swing ending another life.

He also felt several lifeforms below the complex. Five of them were Hutts; the rest were Gamorreans and other races. He got up slowly, the image he created in his mind disappearing. Of course the Hutts would have a place to hide, even in the seat of their power.

He touched the floor, rearranging the stone ground under the speaker's podium. They floated up in bricks, moving and moving until there was a hole. It was dark and he couldn't see the end. Regardless, he jumped down, telling Artoo to hide until he returned.


—
​

The cloak slowed him down until he came to a full stop, feet barely above the elevator. The inside was surprisingly well lighted, giving him away. The Hutts, whose voice he heard a while back on the shaft, fell silent. He created a sword, similar in length to a lightsaber but entirely the product of the Mystic Arts.

A leathery orange-skinned alien with three bone spikes on each side of his head, a Nikto, shot at him. He swung the sword, deflecting it back. His aim was precise, and the alien fell, a hole in his head.

Nineteen guards in total were left.

He approached slowly, senses attuned to the Force. He couldn't deflect nineteen shots at once, so he also created a shield, blocking what he couldn't send back. Each step he took ended with the death of a guard. Ten steps in and a Weequay was in the reach of his sword. He took the alien's head off, deflecting a shot aimed at his back, ducking beneath the punch of the Gamorrean, and slicing him up from groin to neck.

He twirled around once, letting two shots bypass him.

The remaining Gamorreans, just numbering six, were pulling towards the wall, the Hutts behind them. His sword changed. The handle extended, the blade becoming wider and curved at the end. A guandao, a type of halberd from his master's world, would be the weapon to end this.

He twirled it in a circle, deflecting shots away. He thrust it forward, extending the blade. It impaled the guard in the middle by the neck. He pulled the alien towards himself, freeing the blade in the process. An upward slash split the alien's jaw and front of his skull apart.

The cloak gave him a boost, bringing him close to the rightmost guard. A downward slash split the alien's helmet and head in half. He was ready to leap forward when the remaining guards dropped their blasters.

He stood there, blood dripping from the guandao.

"You are under arrest," he said to the Hutts, holding the halberd up, blade pointing at them. The council members raised their chubby little arms, heads jerking up and down in a very enthusiastic form of agreement.

He dismissed the halberd, opening a portal straight into the cells of Mystic Strike. Guards were already instructed to wait for him. They surged forward, creating a line before the Hutts, weapons aimed.

"Sir," the captain saluted him. Anakin nodded back. "Captain, all yours," he said.

"Thank you, sir," the older man said. "Move, you fat hairless banthas!" he screamed to the Hutts. His men spread to the sides, pushing the slugs through the portal.

He pressed his comlink again. "Qymaen, I got the Hutt Council."

His reply was a deep, dark chuckle. "Well done, brother. Those filth stood no chance against you," he said. "The surface battle will continue for a while. You should rest and give the men a chance to earn their freedom or glory."

He exhaled with a smile. "Very well."




—
​


In the next chapter:

Sidious brooded in the darkness. His fury tightly controlled and his power in the dark side masked, he sat in his room. The Sorcerer had struck Nal Hutta, and it did not look good. The records taken as he destroyed a Gozanti-class cruiser showed thermal explosions with heat reaching that of the surface of a star.

He could throw lightning bolts that made the Sith lightning look like sparks from a short circuit, summon stars to strike down his enemies, and more.

He wanted that power.




Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
 
Chapter 29 - Points of View New
Hello there,

If you enjoy this story, you can read 15 chapters in advance on my
Patreon page / patreon.com/Samael61.

Anakin Skywalker is on the path to become one of the greatest figures on the galactic scene. If you want to read an original story of greatness, you can check my story, Arrival : Ruptures. Comments, likes and reviews are appreciated. Here are the links for :
AO3, Spacebattles, Royal Road and Webnovel.



—
​

Coruscant

500 Republica


Sidious brooded in the darkness. His fury tightly controlled and his power in the dark side masked, he sat in his room. The Sorcerer had struck Nal Hutta, and it did not look good. The records taken as he destroyed a Gozanti-class cruiser showed thermal explosions with heat reaching that of the surface of a star.

He could throw lightning bolts that made the Sith lightning look like sparks from a short circuit, summon stars to strike down his enemies, and more.

He wanted that power.

Wherever that infernal child had gotten his hands on his Mystic Arts, he swore to find it. They were being wasted in the hands of the Sorcerer. That kind of power would accelerate his plans by years.

He was still baffled by the restoration of Kalee. By all accounts, the planet had gone back to its previous state before the Yam'rii invaded. All the experts he consulted—either excitedly or terrified—had theorized the same thing.

The planet was rewound back in time.

That kind of power, to control time on such a scale, could make his wildest dreams come true. He could achieve immortality and rule forever.

Grievous, whom he and Tyrannus were grooming to be the leader of the Separatist Droid Army, had pivoted to the Sorcerer's side as well. He still despised the Republic and the Jedi. The reparations could have lessened it, but it did not matter. He was calling the Sorcerer a brother. Already his soldiers were fueling the boy's war against the Hutts.

With a zealous drive that would have been useful against the Jedi.

Reparations were another headache for him. It had boosted his approval ratings, seizing Yam'rii funds to pay back the Kaleesh. He was still dissatisfied at having to give those credits away to his enemies.

Even if they didn't know it yet.

His powers had shaken the galaxy so fundamentally that Sidious knew he wasn't the only one after them. The Jedi were considering a trade to offer the Sorcerer something of value in return for his Mystic Arts. Businesses sought a partnership over his ability to restore planets.

His control over hyperspace lanes alone made him the most dangerous being in the galaxy.

But Sidious didn't know how to take that power.

His apprentice was defeated as if he were a Jedi initiate fighting a master. Killing or capturing the Sorcerer wouldn't be simple. It would have to be something he wouldn't see coming. An attack that would catch him by surprise. Unfortunately, most of the famous bounty hunters in the galaxy were either dead or captured by the Sorcerer.

He would have to work on it.

His holocommunicator beeped. He schooled his features and voice, answering it.

"Captain Jayfon, how did your investigation go?" he asked, gathering his hands in front of him, plastering that insipid smile on his face. The fake kindness in his voice was nauseating, yet he didn't waver.

"Chancellor, it does appear to be a sensor malfunction at first. However, we couldn't find any sign of tampering or unauthorized access to the system. Either it is a never-seen kind of fault in the system or whoever did it is a professional," Jayfon said.

"I see." He knew at the very first second that there was no error. Someone had sabotaged the system to trigger the security measures, halting the sanctions against the Sorcerer for his illegal meddling with hyperspace lanes.

Who had the courage to attempt something like this, he didn't know.

"The Senate members are free to return as they wish. There is no danger."

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain Jayfon," he said.

"Good day, Chancellor."

He sent a message to Ameda, ordering him to gather the Senate. This scare had delayed the sanctions on the Sorcerer. He hadn't wasted the time, already taking Nal Hutta. Reports said that the Hutt Council were captured alive.

He would have to purge the Senate. Otherwise, the business relations the Hutts had with certain senators would be revealed to his disadvantage.

Keeping his smile was becoming difficult.


—
​

500 Republica

Padme started her list by eliminating Bail Organa. In the short time she knew him, he didn't have the qualities to be the Sith lord. She would still check his midi-chlorian count to be certain.

Hundreds of names remained on the list.

Of the two thousand and five hundred names in the Senate, two hundred and sixty eight were male humans. She would investigate the corruption, the bribes, and everything she could to find the Sith lord. Whether he was a senator or simply had influence in the heart of the Republic, she would find him.

And put a blaster bolt through his head, somehow.

It wasn't all bad, though. Anakin and Freedom First had captured the Hutt Council alive. They were investigating the databases to gather evidence on corrupt senators. He had promised that as soon as sufficient evidence was gathered, it would be released to the holonet. She couldn't wait for the uproar.

Perhaps it would even open a path into further inquiries.


—
​

Jedi Temple

Council Chamber


"The initial records and scans suggest these miniature stars have the surface heats of one. When condensed, the strike is extremely effective," Jocasta said, lending her expertise on astrophysics. At least as much as it was applicable to the latest impossibility shown by the Sorcerer.

The recording before the Council showed how the Sorcerer had struck a Gozanti-class cruiser down with frightening ease. Each day he was proving to be more dangerous. Politicians and the like were afraid of this power they couldn't control. The ones whose greed ran ahead of their common sense wanted to exploit him.

She had ample proof of what their fate would be, all written in the countless pages of history she had read.

"Currently," Oppo began, breaking the tense silence, switching the recording to the surface of Nal Hutta, "they have most of Nal Hutta's capital, Bilbousa, under control. Master Quinlan is discretely feeding them intelligence on the resisting Hutt forces. Nar Shaddaa is blockaded in space, but Freedom First has not landed any troops on the surface."

It was the prudent course of action in his opinion. Nar Shaddaa would be an absolute bloodbath. The infamous ecumenopolis, the Smuggler's Moon, was a criminal haven. Any battle there would include more combatants at once than it would on Nal Hutta.

"With the Hutt Council captured alive, the remaining Hutts are looking to escape into Republic territory," Master Adi said. Her words brought another tense silence to the chambers.

"Did we find anything on their command structure? What is the influence of the Kaleesh in Freedom First?" Mace asked. The alliance between Kalee and Tatooine was met with mixed results. An alliance that could put an end to the Hutts was welcome. That one side of it had ample reason to detest the Republic, and the Jedi Order did not.

Qymaen Jai Sheelal, otherwise known as Grievous to many, is the Supreme Marshall of Freedom First. His Izvoshra, the elite warriors back on Kalee, serve as commanders at various levels. They have also committed over a hundred thousand soldiers so far. As we guessed, the Sorcerer can open portals between planets. Reinforcements from Kalee are never ending," Oppo said. He went into further details, showing the training offered by the Kaleesh to the initial members of Freedom First. They had rebuilt the rebellion into a standing army, supplemented by their members in great numbers.

An ongoing recruitment drive was taking place in Tatooine in the meantime. Kaleesh contributions to the rebellion were invaluable, as would be their say in the alliance.

Master Gallia pulled out another document on the holoprojector. "They have signed an accord, the Bond of Brotherhood, signifying the deep ties between Tatooine and Kalee," she said. The Sorcerer's miraculous and mind-boggling restoration of Kalee had made him a hero, a savior. The Kaleesh were willing to die to repay him.

"From the holocron, what uncovered have we?" Yoda asked. The Temple had been agitated since the day the Sorcerer had become known. The contents of the holocron had not helped them.

The council members turned to Vokara Che, Chief Healer of the Temple. She was entrusted to verify the secrets in the holocron.

"The implications are as troubling as the first day. Manipulating midichlorians to accelerate healing and prompting individual cells to replicate has proven to be true. Theoretically, creating a lifeform with this method is possible. We can't know how the Force will react without trying. Which, forgive my bluntness, is something I will never attempt," Healer Che said. Life was sacred. They had no right to create one just to test if it could be done.

"You don't have to worry, Master Vokara. I don't think anyone here will ever consider such a course of action," Windu said.

"After due consideration of his actions, I don't think we should be worried about the Sorcerer's intentions. Even if he were created by the Sith, which seems unlikely, he wouldn't be leading a rebellion to end slavery in the Outer Rim," Master Mundi said. If anyone with the dark side of the Force created life, they would never let it stray from them.

"Agreed," Yarael said. There wasn't much to do with the Sorcerer himself. The Jedi didn't have much to offer in return for his techniques. They weren't about to go and steal it like pirates either.

"One last matter. There appears to be another Force-sensitive with Freedom First, fighting with lightsabers," Plo Koon said. He was the one keeping in touch with Quinlan Vos in Nal Hutta. He brought the recording of her forward. Her gender was the only concrete knowledge about her. She kept herself hidden and didn't seem interested in senseless murder.

Potentially a Jedi who had left the order, deciding to join the fight, but nothing was certain.

"Compared to the Sorcerer's actions, I do not believe she concerns us that much," Windu said. There were Jedi who had left the Order due to various reasons. It was possible this mysterious warrior was one.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Plo said. While training with the initiates, he heard the curiosity of several students about the Mystic Arts. The Knights, those he knew were disgruntled with the Jedi Order, considered defecting. The Sorcerer was not bound to any government. He was free to act for the good of the people.

It was attractive to many.

"What about the scare in the Senate?" Master Trebor asked. They were tasked to investigate it by the Senate. The timing was too suspicious to be a mere coincidence.

"Obi-Wan's investigation yielded no results pointing to sabotage. He believes it is the work of an expert, meant to stop the vote," Master Piell said. He agreed with the knight. This was an expert's work.

Depa Bilba hummed. "No results of sabotage, but he believes it is?"

"The system is state of the art. There are redundancies upon redundancies. It is not something that is going to suddenly break down and give a false alarm. The lack of any evidence is evidence in itself," Piell explained. He too had inspected the system and reached the same conclusion.

Just like the previous meeting, this one had ended with no clear idea on the course of action they should take.


—
​

Nal Hutta

Bilbousa


She was shaken awake by one of the soldiers.

"We will push to take the western side of the city. Commander Bentilais wants to know if you will join us."

"Very well," she said, stretching her arms, legs, and whole body. Sleeping on a coat had made her stiffer than the backs of the Kaleesh soldiers. She was used to the comfort of her soft beds, whether in the Theed Royal Palace or in the quarters assigned to her in the 500 Republica apartment.

Most of the city had fallen. Reinforcements from the rest of the planet had poured into the capital. Those that survived the constant bombardments and Anakin's wrath were holed up in the western side of the city. She knew this battle wouldn't last long either.

In fact, once they had the capital, the Kaleesh had promised to flood the planet with reinforcements to crush the remaining loyalists.

She quickly joined Bentilais and his group. Their destination was the road leading to the Slaver's Market. With so many traders of flesh and their guards holed up there, they had managed to hold out with the reinforcements. Of course this attack would be their end.

"Has anyone seen the Sorcerer?" she asked. Anakin usually acted as their initial striker, crushing enemy spirit in advance.

The target of their assault, the Slaver's Market, lit up with hundreds of orange bolts striking from the sky. She could see the floating figure there, raining death on the slavers.

"Never mind," she said, her tone lightening up. They soon reached the edge of the barricades, waiting. The moment the sky darkened once more, Bentilais gave the signal. A barrage of rocket launchers targeted what remained of the enemy positions.

They charged when it ended, taking cover behind armored vehicles. Neither Freedom First nor the Kaleesh possessed tanks or personnel carriers. Vehicles taken from the slavers had armor welded on them to act as shields for the infantry. She had to give it to the Kaleesh. Years of living in their conditions had made them truly resourceful.

The darkness of the night was disrupted by blaster bolts.

The enemy fire turned into sparks on the thick durasteel. She took the right flank, deflecting shots while snipers took the enemy out in the dark.

The lead vehicle exploded as enemy rockets impacted it. The driver was dead in an instant while the soldiers were flung around. More rockets came from the darkness, ready to tear the vehicles apart. Unfortunately for them, Anakin was close by.

He landed on the second vehicle, creating round platforms with mystical letters on each. Every rocket launcher found one in its way, but there were too many. She left her cover, standing before him, lightsabers at the ready.

The convoy moved again, ignoring the wrecked lead vehicle. Snipers targeted the launchers, reducing the numbers one by one.

"Keep moving," Bentilais ordered, his voice cutting through the noise of the battle. She spun around, sending several bolts scattering around. The soldiers dispersed as the vehicles entered the street through the main avenue. Teams barged into the buildings with confirmed enemy presence, sweeping the inside with blaster bolts before moving in.

It would take time to clear every building, but in this instance, the enemy was the one out of that precious commodity.

Rocket shots died out eventually. Either they had run out of ammunition or they were all dead. The reason did not matter; the results did. The drivers moved the vehicles in a wedge formation, giving the following men cover. Counter fire from the cleared buildings began as Freedom First established an entry point. Anakin retreated after that, tired. He had already done more than enough.

The battle would continue until morning.




—
​


In the next chapter:

Padme watched the news with a smile. Over two hundred senators were arrested on the charges of corruption and breaking the ban on trading with the Hutts. The timing was surprising, so surprising in fact that she found it suspicious. Freedom First was still slicing into the Hutt database on Nal Hutta.

Days before they would be ready, the Chancellor had sprung this up.




Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
 
Announcement - A New Pilot Chapter - Harry Potter SI New
Chapter 30 - Rise for Freedom New
Hello there,

If you enjoy this story, you can read 15 chapters in advance on my
Patreon page / patreon.com/Samael61.

Anakin Skywalker is on the path to become one of the greatest figures on the galactic scene. If you want to read an original story of greatness, you can check my story, Arrival : Ruptures. Comments, likes and reviews are appreciated. Here are the links for :
AO3, Spacebattles, Royal Road and Webnovel.



—
​

Coruscant

"Scandal in the Senate! Two hundred and thirty-three Senators of various systems and planets close to the Outer Rim were discovered to be colluding with the Hutts, going against the core principles of the Republic and democracy. Chancellor Palpatine, through a secretive investigation, has managed to unearth the ghastly conspiracy. Many believe that a bright future awaits the Galactic Republic under his guiding hand."


—
​

500 Republica

Padme watched the news with a smile. Over two hundred senators were arrested on the charges of corruption and breaking the ban on trading with the Hutts. The timing was surprising, so surprising in fact that she found it suspicious. Freedom First was still slicing into the Hutt database on Nal Hutta.

Days before they would be ready, the Chancellor had sprung this up.

She wasn't about to complain, though. Palpatine's initiative was more than welcome. It proved he wasn't completely useless. In fact, she would buy him a present. He seemed to be fond of antiquities. She had received enough as gifts to give away one.

Her holocommunicator found the perfect time to ring.

"Asajj," she said as her friend's projection lit up. "Are you alright?"

"I am," she said, giving a slow bow. "The matters here are under control. I thought I would return now that the Senate will be gathering tomorrow." Her primary task was to guard Padme. She had assisted Freedom First as much as she could.

"Very well."

"It's a pity that we didn't know about Palpatine's investigation," Ventress said. Her mistress and the Chancellor had a great relationship. Both were from Naboo, and it was her vote of no confidence that had led to Palpatine's ascension to the seat of the Chancellor. That he didn't tell her anything at all was puzzling.

"Yes. It was quite unexpected. Still, as long as the corruption in the Senate is cleared regardless of the amount, it is a win for all of us," Padme replied. She would ask him about the investigation later, but a deeper look into it was not a good idea now. Not when everything was so recent.

"True, but isn't this too much of a coincidence? Just as Freedom First was about to expose those Senators, the Chancellors came out with a secret investigation. He might be a friend to you, but there is something wrong with this situation," she said. Logically, she understood why the investigation was a secret. Her instincts and the Force didn't accept it so easily.

"Honestly, it is. It's just that there isn't much to do. Investigating this secret investigation is more trouble than it is worth now. I might look into it once the public attention fades away."

"As you say. I will see you in an hour."


—
​

Nal Hutta Orbit

Mystic Strike


Qymaen marched into the cells, gathering his arms at his back, leaning slightly down. Two of his Izvoshra followed him, steps matching his. Their guests were loud. At first, it was a demand to be set free. He knew it stemmed from their centuries of untouched rule. When they were silenced, the offers came. It was the same drivel he had listened to before.

Credits, fame, glory, even his own moon for a change.

The Hutts had offered everything, but silence was their only response. Then started the blame-shifting. Ziro, Arok, Oruba, Marlo, and Gardulla were all holding one another for the fall of their capital. None were exactly responsible, but once the corpse began to rot, the vultures screamed.

"Well, well, well. The Grand Hutt Council, rulers of the Outer Rim, are imprisoned in our bring. Tell me, how does it feel to know that a single boy led the downfall of your empire?"

"Fortunately for you, we can't just throw you out of the nearest airlock and send the recording to every planet in the Outer Rim. Instead, you will be judged and punished the same as any other criminal."

"I suppose in a way that is a satisfying punishment for you. To be treated just like everyone else."

"Wait!" Ziro screamed as Qymaen was leaving. He was Jabba's uncle, and the only reason he ascended to the Council was because Anakin turned him into a protein-based juice for wompa rats. "We can come to an agreement. The Cartel has connections in the Senate. I can give them all to you in return for immunity."

Qymaen's chest rumbled. He didn't contain it, letting the laughter echo in the brig. "You fool. The Chancellor already had every senator connected to the cartel arrested yesterday. No one is going to defend you anymore."

He left the brig in a better mood, watching the crestfallen expressions of the Hutts.


—
​

Nal Hutta

Bilbousa


He swung the flail to the right. The spiky ball buried itself into the face of the Weequay, breaking bone and sending splatters of blood to the floor. He swung it to the left, achieving the same results. He created a shield on his left wrist, slapping the pistol in front of him away. The flail morphed into a sword, going through the jaw of the dark, leathery-skinned alien, coming out of the top of his skull.

He cracked his neck, dismissing the constructs, letting the final corpse hit the ground.

The Hutts controlled Sriluur, the homeworld of the Weequay. They had evolved under harsh conditions, making them ideal bodyguards due to their blast-resistant skin. Once Nal Hutta fell and the remaining Hutts were captured, they would free Sriluur. Enemies or not, they too were slaves in a sense.

They didn't have chips in their bodies, but their homeworld and their families all were under the control of the Hutts. Many who did not wish to fight for the slugs had surrendered. Ones he had to kill were the mercenaries and bounty hunters, only interested in filling their pockets.

Seeing Jango Fett's condition—one arm missing and imprisoned like a common criminal—dissuaded many, imprisoned like a common criminal, had dissuaded many but not all.

"Sir, the building's cleared," Bentilais said. His men were already stacking up the corpses for removal.

"Alright. What's next?" he asked, stretching for the next fight.

"Supreme Marshall is getting ready to speak to the rest of the planet. With the Hutts captured and the capital fallen, he hopes they will surrender."

"I'll go see him then," he said, opening a portal.


—
​

Mystic Strike

As he stepped onto the bridge, Qymaen had already finished his call on open channels.

"Marshall, how does it look?" he asked. They had to use the official titles in these public settings. Not that he minded.

"I am having the cruisers pass over the cities to incentivize them into surrendering," he said. The damn slave owners had to choose between their lives and their wealth. He was simply herding them in the right direction.

"Is it working?" he asked. He wouldn't know the fear of having a cruiser fly over the city, ready to unleash terror.

"Mostly."

"And de-chipping?" he asked. While they were free of oppression now, the former slaves still needed to have their tracking devices removed. Which meant the need for a gargantuan amount of medical supplies and a battalion of medical droids.

"It is going as fast as possible, but there are too many." Anakin sighed at the words. At the least, it was proceeding.

"The situation in the Senate. What do you think about it?" Qymaen asked. It had come out of nowhere. The Hutt collaborators were arrested. The Chancellor had framed it as proof of his commitment to democracy, justice, and the Republic. It made him more popular than ever.

"Either Palpatine took the advantage while the Senators working with the Hutts were scared out of their minds or he didn't want us to be the ones to reveal it," he said. He didn't trust the Chancellor any more than he trusted any member of the Senate other than Padme. He wouldn't be surprised if he already had evidence of the corruption.

But he wasn't going to accuse anyone without proof.

"We won't know either way, will we?"

"Does it matter? No intervention by the Senate is the best outcome for us," Anakin said.

Qymaen nodded. "I wanted to shatter their pride."

He chuckled. "Some other time maybe? The corruption in the Senate is deep after all."

"Marshall, Sorcerer." Asajj greeted as she entered the bridge. "I was hoping you could take me back."

He made a follow-me motion with his hand, opening a portal to Qymaen's quarters aboard.

"Before I forget," he turned to them as the portal closed, removing his hood. "I wanted to ask both of you if you wanted to learn Mystic Arts. You might not have the time to learn everything, but just the portals will be a great help to you," he said. Nal Hutta's fall would take much of the fight out of the remaining worlds of the Cartel. Both his friends could afford to spare time for it.

Qymaen crossed his arms. "You want to teach us?" Out of respect, he did not ask Anakin's teacher about the Mystic Arts. He only knew that one did not have to be Force-sensitive to learn.

"I mean, you can come and go as you wish. Also, when our good friend gets herself in trouble, a portal will be extremely useful," he said to Ventress, turning to Qymaen. She nodded, unable to object.

"And you are busy enough as it is. It will cut down on your travel time." Between his constant travels between Kalee and Tatooine and ruling his homeworld, Qymaen was busy. Learning how to open portals would certainly help.

"Very well," the Kaleesh said, laying a hand over his heart.

Ventress smirked. "How can I say no to such an offer?"

"Great. How about a couple of hours each night? Opening portals is relatively easy as long as you can keep an open mind."

They agreed without a thought.


—
​

Once he sent Ventress back to Coruscant, he stood on the bridge. Corlen had joined them, reporting the situation on Nar Shaddaa. The Hutt control over the moon wasn't more than just taking a cut from every deal. The territory was divided between Hutt clans and gangs.

There was no law enforcement, and the population embraced almost every illegal activity.

Taking it would be more difficult than Nal Hutta. Establishing order, even more so. Its population alone dwarfed the combined numbers of Kalee, Nal Hutta, and Tatooine by eight times.

"How do we take this moon?" Anakin asked.

"By starting a revolution," Qymaen said. "We don't have the numbers, but at least seventy percent of the population is the poor working class. They have no choice but to toil in syndicate-controlled areas just to survive. We will have to convince them to revolt. Otherwise, this will either end in tens of billions dead from orbital bombardments or be a meat grinder for our men."

"You are a symbol to many on the surface, proof that something can change. Your word is the only thing that can make this happen," he said. Orbital bombardment, even without the shields on the surface, was an illogical idea. People of the Smuggler's Moon would have to earn their freedom by blood.

"How many do you think will die?"

"Billions," Corlen said with a wavering voice. The cost of war on their side was not heavy until now. Landing troops on the surface would change it.

"I understand why you are hesitant. If there was a different way to succeed, no matter how difficult, I would take it. We simply have no way of conquering Nar Shaddaa," Qymaen said. His people alone numbered four billion. Even if they were ready to die to the last Kaleesh, they couldn't succeed.

Anakin hung his head, fingers tapping on the console, considering his options. Eighty-five billion people. Twelve to sixteen billion assumed members of organized crime. Almost sixty billion workers, with the remaining population being merchants and the elites.

This would be a bloodbath regardless of how they moved.

"Very well," he said. He walked near the glass, looking to the moon. He opened a portal, bringing the Cauldron of the Cosmos. He would need the artifact to project his consciousness across Nar Shaddaa.

He touched it, channeling the images of Ikonn through. With the cauldron serving as a medium, he pushed the copies through it.


—
​

Nar Shaddaa

The moon of Nal Hutta was in a state of alert. Every single criminal organization was ready to defend their interests. The invaders didn't have the numbers to take the planet. Even the Hutts knew better than to think they could control the Smuggler's Moon.

Shields on critical locations would discourage orbital bombardment, and the sheer numbers would bury the invaders' blood.

Victory would be theirs, they thought. Until the Sorcerer appeared all over the moon at once. He was in the sky, in the streets, on every level of the ecumenopolis, and in the homes and factories. The criminal underworld didn't cower, however, choosing to fire.

The bolts simply went through his body.

"People of Nar Shaddaa," he began. His voice was unusually loud even though he wasn't shouting. "We are here."

"This moon, your home, is ruled by criminals. They exploit you, your labor, your very lives. They might not put tracking devices in your bodies, but they enslave you all the same," he said.

Workers, the very people Anakin was calling out to, stopped to listen.

"It is time to put an end to this," he declared.

The gangsters, patrolling the streets, guarding the factories and managing the workforce, looked around. The broken, tired eyes of the workers suddenly had sparks in them.

"You deserve better, to live as civilized beings. You shouldn't have to worry about your basic necessities because the gangs control them. You shouldn't have to live in fear because the criminals feed on it," he declared.

The workers, tired, beaten, and starving, began to rise. The citizens left their homes, taking what they could to use as weapons. Knives, clubs, pipes, anything that could kill would kill. The same criminals who believed they were in control suddenly found themselves surrounded by advancing crowds.

"Every single one of you deserves better than this. Rise with me today to put an end to their reign. Take your lives back with your own hands."

"I am the Sorcerer of Tatooine, and I call every oppressed soul to fight until freedom is ours," he shouted now, voice echoing across all of Nar Shaddaa.

His final words sparked a wave of violence that would leave the galaxy in fear.


—
​

500 Republica

"He wants to teach you the Mystic Arts?" Padme asked, taking the drink her droid offered, handing one to her friend and guard.

"Just how to open portals since I don't have the time to be a full-time student. He is also teaching Qymaen," she said. His offer excited her. Padmé's Jedi friend Obi-Wan did let out during one of their meetings that the Jedi Order was chasing every lead they had to find more about the Mystic Arts. Old legends, unconfirmed rumors—nothing was off the table for learning more.

"Wait, is he Force-sensitive?" she asked. The Supreme Marshal was amicable in how he treated her. He hated the Republic too much for her to call him a friend.

"Apparently everyone can learn the Mystic Arts."

Padme's eyes widened. "Best if that stays a secret," she said. Anakin's powers already attracted too much attention. If it were ever revealed that there is no prerequisite to learn the Mystic Arts, the target on his back would grow.

"Also, they still sent everything they discovered on the Hutt collaborators in the Senate," Asajj said, fishing the datastick out of her pocket.

She took it, putting the stick in her pocket. "Maybe the details can reveal something interesting. Thank you."




—
​


In the next chapter:

"Sorcerer! Come out and face me," a Trandoshan screamed out in front of Grakkus' palace. Anakin, who was overseeing the transportation of the freed beings to a safe place inside the palace, didn't hear him.

"Sir!" A Kaleesh saluted him, standing at attention. "There is a Trandoshan outside. He is challenging you to single combat for the jagannath points you took from Bossk."

He rubbed his temples. "We are in the middle of a war where millions are dying every hour and he wants to challenge me over some stupid points?"




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