The war being fought in heaven was brutal. Imperial supremacy was becoming more and more noticeable, and both rebel fighters and droids could barely do anything against the power of the TIE fighters and the anti-fighter cannons of the seven Imoerial battleships, which were increasingly closer to the conflict.

Mirana and Vander led his remaining forces in a desperate resistance. The battlefield was a chaotic dance of explosions and starships, battling in a seemingly meaningless manner.

The physical and mental wear and tear was already taking its toll on the organic pilots. And the droid batteries wouldn't last long either.

This was supposed to be a lightning attack, but this flotilla simply wasn't in the plans. According to Icarus's calculations, it would take another six days for the nearest Imperial response fleet to arrive. How and why seven imperial battleships were in Kergans orbit was a chilling mystery.

Mirana kept her gaze forward. The TIE fighters bore down on their upgraded Trident ship with fury, but their pilot's skill was far superior. But Mirana found herself overshadowed when three squadrons of Imperial fighters came into view, heading toward her position. This was sure to wipe out the few pilots she had left, and she wasn't even sure she would make it out of this alive.

Suddenly, a hail of blasters was catapulted from behind the captain. Mirana saw how the TIEs fell like flies in front of her eyes, and before they could even turn around to know who it was, a swarm of Vulture fighters surrounded her squadron, being the Lance and Typhon themselves, those that were placed right next to them. side of your ship.

Mirana didn't know what was happening, but soon an answer appeared in the form of a holoprojection in front of her control panel.

Doom: - Captain Mirano. -

Mirana: - What's wrong commander!? They're beating us up here! There are too many! I've lost more than half of my men! -

Doom: - General's orders. All pilots must withdraw immediately. The Vulture fighters will ensure their retreat. -

Mirana: - What!? No! If we retreat, they will be overtaken in no time. We must continue fighting. -

Doom: - Negative... Your orders are to retreat. -

Mirana: - But... But... -

The woman gritted her teeth in helplessness. He knew they had no chance, but he refused to simply turn his back and run away. He had fought on so many fronts alongside the Vulture fighters that he practically considered them another member of his squadron. Especially with Lance and Typhon, who could always be seen hanging out with the captain while she stayed in the hangars with her ship.

However... This time was different.

The woman looked up, able to hear the beeps of Lanza, located to the left of her ship and providing cover. The Vulture droid had its head raised, turned to look at the woman through the glass of its ship.

A series of beeps emerged from within. Beeps in binary code that not everyone in this galaxy knew, but that Mirana mastered perfectly. Well, she was the one who taught Toba after all.

The captain's grip on her controls tightened, as did the pressure on her own teeth. He refused with all his being to abandon them there, but there wasn't much he could do about it. It was then that Typhon's binary voice became present.

For those of us who do not understand binary language, there simply would not be much difference between the "comments" of both droids. However, the latter had a somewhat more... challenging character. What the droid said to the human was quite a mystery, but one that forced her to raise her head and let out a reckless laugh despite her crystalline eyes.

Mirana: - You better come back in one piece... Or I'll turn you into scrap metal myself. - Oddly enough, such a threat seemed to amuse the Vulture droids somewhat. - To all the fighters! Withdrawal! -

And as if it were a flower opening its petals, the wake of the fighters piloted by organics, marked the path of the ships towards retreat, while the style of said flower was marked by the dense cloudiness that the Vulture fighters left without stopping. his attack towards the front.

Lance and Typhon once again turned their heads forward. There, where the horde of TIE fighters were bearing down on them. Behind them, the few hundred or so vulture fighters followed closely. The two exchanged a series of incomprehensible beeps, as if they were communicating in some way... And then, both led their final charge against the Imperial forces.

Mirana: - Commander Doom... We approach the ship. Prepare the hangars for landing. -

Doom: - Negative... Capitana. -

Mirana: - What are you talking about!? -

Doom: - Do not land on the frigate under any circumstances. -

Mirana: - On... But... -

Doom: - It's an order. -

---------------------------------------0-------------------------------------

Meanwhile, on dry land:

Holdo: - TR-1. Why is the army front advancing? The general did not order us to approach the fortress. - He was speaking on the telecommunicator.

TR-1: - Captains Holdo and Howser. Take your battalions and withdraw from the battlefield. The Steel Battalion will march towards the imperial fortress. -

Howser: - What are you talking about? Even if he manages to take over the fortress, it is only a matter of time before battleship forces retake it. We must retreat... Everyone. -

TR-1: - Battle droids do not have the capacity to execute a retreat of this nature. Unlike organic ones, our movements would be very visible and we would only compromise the operation. -

Howser: - Then we'll stay with you. -

TR-1: - Negative... All organics must be removed immediately. -

Holdo: - No... If we are going to fall... We will fall together. -

Howser: - I'm with the captain, commander... We will not retreat just because we are outnumbered. -

TR-1: - No... This is not the place where you will die. -

What could a droid know about death? That was a concept that even organics didn't fully understand. The end of everything? A new beginning? Many races and cultures throughout the galaxy asked themselves the same questions. All, minds free from earthly ties.

So... How could a droid, being so logical and coherent, refer to something so abstract that it surely didn't understand? Still... His words penetrated deeply into those who heard him.

TR-1: - It is very likely that the enemy does not know of the existence of the organic battalions. They must retreat and disperse to the north. There are several cities and towns. They must flee, go unnoticed, and survive. -

Holdo: - But... Our duty is here. We can't just look away and ignore it. -

TR-1: - No... Your duty is to survive to fight another day. -

Both Holdo and Howser were aware of his words. They knew that trying to advance would be a death sentence. But they had sacrificed so much, they had become so rooted in this cause that they considered it a part of themselves. Its purpose of being. But, the droid still had one last order for them.

TR-1: - Captain Holdo. What happened here must reach Senator Organa's ears, no matter what the cost. That is your top priority. Captain Howser, same to you. You must make contact with the known clone Domo Rex and inform him about it. -

The tactical droid was right. If the senator or Rex did not learn of such a disaster, it was possible that the operations of both groups would be affected, as they were unaware of the fall of Gwori's forces.

Both clone and woman looked at the battlefield once more. The fortress looked distant, but not impossible to reach, even with its cannons beginning to open fire against the endless columns of droids that were attacking.

Overhead, the sights of the fighters abandoned the combat zone, as the Vulture droids were destroyed one by one. And at the same time, the frigate Muníficent charging head-on against the imperial battleships. Something that seemed meaningless, but in such a precarious situation, it was impossible to know exactly what was happening on the different combat fronts.

But without a doubt... The most chilling thing was seeing twelve Imperial Destroyers above Kergans orbit... Impossible... There were supposed to be only seven the last time they set their sights on the skies. There was no way they could win that battle.

TR-1: - If you continue forward, your fight will end today. Here in Kergans... But if they back down this once... They may have a better chance of actually winning this war. -

There was nothing more to say. Both of them only had the droid's holoprojection in front of them, but they could feel the weight of its words. He did not look away from them, as if he was silently begging them to obey the order. Let them put their pride aside and act as logically as possible. And somehow, the prayers of a metal body came true.

Howser: - I never thought I would say this to a tinkerer but... It has been an honor to fight at your side... Commander. -

If fate and irony decided to come together for a second, this would be the right moment. In front of him, a clone stood in a military position, and through his holoprojection, TR-1 saw how it gave him a military salute of respect. One that Holdo did not hesitate to join.

Holdo: - Thank you very much for everything... TR-1. -

The droid looked at them and, despite his immovable face, perhaps, both organics could see a faint smile on his metal face. It was then that he returned the greeting.

TR-1: Long live the Separatist Alliance. -

Holdo / Howser: - Wide view of the Separatist Alliance. -

-----------------------------------------------O-- ----------------------------------------------

Kurt: - General. We loaded everything we could into the Kestrel Nova and the Aurora. We are ready to take off. -

Icarus: - Leave immediately. Head west before rising into the atmosphere. Get out of range of the tractor beams and plot a roundabout route to Gwori. -

Kurt: - Understood. We're on our way. -

The situation of Icarus and the rest was not as affable as that of the second group. Pursued by the stormtroopers under the command of Katalina, the droids had to engage in combat inside the enormous warehouse, where Hera, Zeb and Foxely were doing their best to finish unclogging the Phantom's cargo elevator, which had failed due to a weight too great, and it would be impossible to take off in that state.

Commando droids led by Delta soon joined the fray, barely managing to hold the position. The place was much larger than the corridors of the fortress, and the Imperials could seek cover behind the countless containers to try to flank them.

The battle lasted for unnecessary minutes, and by the time they managed to finish off the stormtroopers who had managed to sneak into the warehouse, only seven commando droids remained in operation, including Delta.

Icarus: - We can't keep waiting. Foxley, fix that immediately. -

Foxley: - I do the best I can. -

Hera: - We have to hurry... More must be on the way. -

Zeb: - It's too much weight... The bolts must be locked. -

Icarus: - If you can't fix it, the best thing will be... -

Suddenly, the droid's voice froze. Something had disturbed him, to the point of leaving him paralyzed with fear. Those around him stared at him, confused, but that awkward silence was as chilling as the roar of a battlefield. So:

Icarus: - START THE SHIP! NOW! -

Seeing him act that way scared all the organics present, especially when he lit his lightsaber, turning towards the entrance of the warehouse, at the same time that the commando droids raised their blasters and the magnaguards got into combat position. .

Something was approaching... Something extremely dangerous.

The silence that was interrupted only by the cannon shots of the distant battle was profaned by the slow walk of metallic boots that echoed within the corridors. A being that could only be classified as a calamity was approaching them.

His anger would make any being in this galaxy feel true terror. Its appearance would make even the bravest retreat. Its power would make any style of war pale. No matter how brutal or bloodthirsty it was.

A being black as the abyss. Angry as rage itself. Uncontrollable like the worst of storms. A being that did not hesitate to light up his crimson lightsaber as soon as he saw those rats that were plundering the remains of this empire. A being half man... Half machine.