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Klaxons ring out as you set foot onto <span class="mu-i">Longest Haul</span>’s bridge, your prisoner, as well as your fellow Separatist general, and Shen-Jon’s corpse, were all sent to different parts of the carrier. Tann went to the expansive medbay in the core ship, Naat Reath was sent in stuncuffs to the brig at the rear of the ring, and the Jedi General’s body was placed in a pod in the carrier’s cold storage, close to the engines. The tactical readout on your console tells you that the Republic’s main task force has moved inside the orbit of Krant’s moon Aereen, and that Shen-Jon’s former flagship and its escorts have moved around the side of the planet, and are almost in firing range. The another screen, on a console manned by one of the bridge droids, displays the Munificents ahead of <span class="mu-i">Longest Haul</span> and the Republic’s Dreadnaughts trading long-range fire, though the shields and gravity well of the planet make the exchange rather futile. One of the Dreadnaughts’ shields are blinking out, courtesy of a lucky shot from a Munificent’s ion cannon.
“Open communications with the Republic flagship,” you request of the communications officer, an actual organic, a Bith.
“Sir,” the bulbous-headed alien complies with a nod, fiddling with his console before connecting with the Acclamator that’s come about the planet. “They’re requesting we contact the Acclamator at the head of the Republic’s task force.”
You nod, and the communications officer switches channels.
“This is Captain Bulus Kroscindal of the Republic Assault Ship <span class="mu-i">Interceder</span>,” the hologram of an uptight-looking military man says after the image flickers to life in front of your console.
“I assume that overall command of the Republic’s forces in-system has fallen to you, Captain Kroscindal,” you offer. The officer inclines his head, which you take as an answer in the affirmative. “I am Lieutenant General Taen-Qyl Tarrag, and I’ve ordered my ships to cease firing on yours.”
The Republic officer grunts, “I assume there are conditions behind your ceasefire.”
“Naturally,” you nod, “you will allow my fleet to leave Bothan Space, or I will be forced to execute my hostage.”
“Hostage? What hostage?” Your counterpart plays dumb.
“Jedi Commander Reath,” you inform him, “though her master did an impressive job in hindering my mission, she was the only one I was able to capture alive.”
“That confirms it then, General Shen-Jon is dead,” Kroscindal scowls, “fine. I don’t have enough firepower to bring down that Lucrehulk anyway, not if you’re that determined to escape.” He looks away, likely to one of his own bridge crew, “we may, however, be able to delay you long enough for the Bothan Civil Defense Force to arrive. I suggest, to minimize casualties to both our forces, that you relinquish Commander Reath to us, after which, you may exit Bothan Space.”
>(1/2)