Mirana and Icarus walked as quickly as possible to the control room inside the Oasis town hall. The woman didn't quite know the details, but Miraj asked her to desperately search for the droid. Something had happened on Ryloth. Something terrible.

As soon as they reached the meeting place, they found Miraj, Wag Too, Boil, Bly and Li Mu, who were looking with concern at the request of an individual who was present for a holo-projection. A very particular Twi'lek.

Icarus: - What happened? - He said as soon as he entered the room.

Miraj: - Icarus... It's good that you came. It is urgent... -

The mayoress had to stop speaking because of a pang she had in her belly. The creature inside her was getting closer to being born, and she could no longer have strong emotions. Wag Too rushed to her aid, and Boil quickly spoke up.

Boil: - Commander. Presented here is Imperial Chancellor Piest Heliot. He has a vitally important request for us.

Icarus: - Imperial Chancellor? - I ask surprised.

Piest: - I'm sorry for the sudden intervention, Commander. But the situation in which my people find themselves is critical. And we need his help. -

Icarus: - You are the enemy. I see no reason to help them. -

Miraj:-Icaro... Please... Listen to him...-She said with a somewhat agitated voice.

Mirana: - Piest has been a great support for the rebel cell in many quarters. Ryloth has been a safe passage for many of us over the years. -

Icarus: - Very good. Senator. Explain the situation.-

Piest: - It is not the first time that the imperial high command orders us to destroy the rebel cells of the planet. But they always gave us the order, and we took care of making them disappear from the sector safely. But this time it was different. They sent a young admiral to end the resistance of the sector. He is a cold blooded killer. He bombarded the shelters from orbit and obliterated a huge part of the planet. Thousands died, the town is under tight military control. At this rate we will not be able to survive. Please, Commander. Let's save ourselves from the clutches of Admiral Crees. -

A sharp blow caught everyone's attention, leaving a deep silence in the room. Everyone looked at Icarus in astonishment, as the droid hit the metal table with such force that he ended up denting it. They had never seen the droid act like this before, and they were a little worried.

Bly: - Commander. Alright? -

Icarus: Yes... excuse me. I just... just... didn't act right. -

Mirana: - That name. Cress. Do you know him? -

The question was direct. There was no way to escape her. The droid thought about it for a second, but there was no point in hiding it.

Icarus: - Cress was responsible for the invasion of Felucia. -

Hearing this, a chill ran through everyone's body. The bloody battle of Felucia brought agonizing and painful memories, each one different, but if he agreed on something, it was one thing. Icarus was already crushed on the battlefield by that admiral. Regardless of the situation and conditions in which the battle unfolded. Would he be able to face it one more time?

Icarus: - Very good. boil. He assembles the organic division and leaves some to defend the Oasis. Bly. I want a full legion aboard the Munifisent. Get ready gentlemen. We leave in two hours.

Boil / Bly: - Yes, sir. -

Icarus: - Don't worry senator. Help is on the way. -

Piest: - There are not enough words to express my gratitude, Commander. I will do my best to contain Crees until he arrives. Miraj, old friend, you don't know how happy I am for your offspring. I hope they grow big and strong. -

Miraj: - Thank you, Piest. I hope we can see each other soon. -

The Twi'lek just nodded and the holo-call ended. Icaron had immersed himself in his thoughts, already planning the best way to act. He didn't want a second Felucia to happen, so this time he was going all out.

On the other hand, Ryloth was too close to a major hyperspace route, so they couldn't delay long or Imperial reinforcements would arrive. This battle was to be a Blitzkrieg-style lightning strike.

Boil and Bly had already left, and Wag Too was about to pick up his equipment to join the mission when Miraj felt a strong pang in her abdomen.

Miraj: - Mirana... take me to the hospital... I think... I think he's coming. -

Wag Too: - What?... What!? Already!? By the Force...

Mirana: - Wag Too. Calm down. I take her to the hospital. You take charge of preparing the attack. -

Wag Too: - But... but... -

Miraj: - My love... don't worry... I... I'll be fine... go... don't worry... about me... -

Mirana helped Miraj out of the compound, leaving the lurmen in total chaos on her head. What was she to do? She couldn't leave her responsibilities aside, but her little ones were about to be born. Maybe they would be born in an hour or a the days. No one could know, and that uncertainty is destroying him inside.

Luckily for the lurmen, a cold, metallic hand came to rest on his shoulder. A helping and comforting hand, which despite its natural logic could understand the reason for living of organics. Let's be so important then was one of those reasons to live.

Wag Too: - Icarus? -

Icarus: - Go. -

Wag Too: - But... I can't. You need me... I must... I must... -

Icarus: - You must stay with Miraj.

Wag Too: - But... -

Icarus: - Go. She needs you now more than ever.

The lurmen couldn't stop his glassy eyes from breaking into tears. Not out of sadness or regret. But from all the mixed emotions shaking his head. He couldn't be blamed, as a new father he was not able to contain his nerves on the surface of the skin. He hugged his metallic friend affectionately, deeply grateful for his understanding. A warm embrace that Icarus couldn't feel in his metal frame, but wasn't lost on his core. Feeling affection was something truly pleasurable, no matter what its nature or what it was inside.

Wag Too didn't think twice. He ran out of the premises to reach his wife as soon as possible, leaving the droid with a bit of a dilemma, as he couldn't count on his best mechanic for this mission.

But that was not an impediment to leaving at the assigned time. Inside the Munificent two legions of combatants waited. The thickness and the greater weight varies on the droid army, and the organic ones would have more concrete roles, since Icarus could not predict 100% its performance. All he could do was trust Boil and Bly to rise to the occasion. A clone that would act as a commander for the first time, and another that was returning to the battlefield after so many years. Undoubtedly there were many doubts about it.

Lastly, some adjustments were made to the chain of command. Being Icarus declared Supreme General of the terrestrial and space forces. Immediately under his charge would be Boil in command of the organic division, and the droid TR-1, to which he had spent long days programming and tuning circuits, and would occupy direct control of all ground droid units. In fact, currently that tactical unit could even rival standard tactical superiority. Something unique could be said.

Units stood by, Munificent hovered in orbit warming up engines, soldiers checked cartridges and equipment, mechanics kept machinery running, and operators fine-tuned processes and calibrated circuits. On the eve of departure, one last meeting was held at the command post. Around the map table were Icarus, Mirana, TR-1, Boil and Bly, along with the projection of Wag Too and Li Mu who stayed on the ground, saying one last word to each other before heading into hyperspace.

Mirana: - How is Miraj? -

Wag Too:-She's stable. The doctors predict that shortly she will go into labor. -

Boil: - Wow. Time waits for no one. I hope everyone is born safe and sound. -

Bly: - What do you expect? A girl or a boy? -

Wag Too: - Two girls and three little ones. -

Bly: - Five!? -

Wag Too: - Haha. Yeah. Miraj's species is very fertile. -

Tova: - Dad. Dad!. - The nelvaana slipped into the lurmen transmitter.

Icarus: - What happens, little one? -

Tova: - Uncle Too and aunt Miraj are going to be parents. -

Icarus: - That's right. We're counting on you to help Aunt Miraj and Uncle Wag Too. You can do it?

Tova: - Shi, sir. -The little girl paused slightly, as if doubting whether she would ask something. - You will be back soon... right? -

Icarus: - Yes, little one. We'll be back sooner than you think. -

Operator: - Ready to go, general. -

Icarus: - I wish you the best of luck my friend. May they be born safe and sound. But our time has come. I'm counting on guy and Li Mu to keep the Oasis safe. -

Li Mu: - You can count on me general. -

Icarus: - That's all. May the force be with you. -

Tova: - Bye, daddy. -

Icarus: - Goodbye, little one. -

Li Mu / Wag Too: - May the Force be with you. - And the three aliens disconnected.

Icarus: - Everyone to your posts! We will enter the imperial zone and we will take the Corellian Corridor! As of this moment we are in enemy territory, so be prepared for any unforeseen event! Batteries ready! Turbo-lasers charged! Full throttle engines! -

Everyone present: - SIR, YES SIR! -

The hyperdrive began to make that characteristic sound as it charged up. TR-1 left the command post, followed by Boil and Bly, each to their designated units to review final details before landing on the ground. Mirana and Icarus exchanged one last look, sure that the battle would be bloody, but she could not turn back.

Inside the ship were more than twenty thousand organic soldiers, separated They were divided into two groups of ten thousand each, led by the experienced clones, although it would be Boil who would have the last word.

The droid battalion numbered over a hundred and fifty thousand battle droids of all kinds. From the classic B1 and B2, to more specialized units such as a unit of one hundred droids and a squad of twenty commando droids. The replacement for the Punitive Guard.

Four C-9979 Landing Crafts were waiting in their holds.

All loaded with thirty armored assault tanks that would support the group on the ground. A force by no means negligible.

And so, the Munificent disappeared into the mysterious plane of hyperspace, heading for one of the bloodiest battles the galaxy experienced during the early years of the Empire.