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DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based FICTION
All Installations of Star Wars are owned by Lucasfilm and Disney. All Installations of Dune belong to Herbert Properties, Legendary Entertainment, and Warner Bros. And any other references to other works all belong to their respective authors/companies and whatnot.
Chapter 9:
A Desperate Attempt
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
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Location: Theed Royal Palace Gardens
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 12:03 A.M
"I need to get back to my room. My armor and weapons are in there!" Cade whispered as he, Padmé, the Royal Guard, and the Winged Shield hurried through the palace corridors. They moved as quickly as they dared while still trying to remain quiet, sticking close to walls and checking every intersection before crossing it.
Blaster fire echoed throughout the palace, occasionally joined by distant shouts and the muffled boom of explosions. The sounds dragged Cade's mind back to the invasion only a few months earlier. Back then, it had been endless waves of battle droids. Now it was terrorists and extremists. Different enemy, same problem.
"This brings back memories, huh?" Cade commented with a sardonic grin.
Padmé shot him a look that perfectly conveyed her opinion of that statement. "Seriously?"
Cade shrugged. "As shitty as this situation is, at least there aren't tens of thousands of battle droids marching through Theed this time."
Despite herself, Padmé's expression softened ever so slightly before she shook her head.
"My lord, several of our soldiers have established a perimeter around our rooms," the Winged Shield reported quietly as they continued down the corridor. "Anyone attempting to reach that section of the palace will have to fight through them first."
Cade nodded in approval. At least somebody had already been thinking ahead.
"My Queen," the Royal Guard added, "Captain Mariek and the forces loyal to her have secured the throne room. Governor Bibble and the other council members are inside with them. We should make our way there immediately."
Before Padmé could answer, the group rounded a corner and found themselves staring directly at five armed figures.
Three wore Royal Guard uniforms. The other two were dressed in dark robes and carried E-5 blaster rifles.
For a split second both groups froze.
Then one of the disloyal guards pointed directly at Cade. "There he is!" the man shouted. "The Atreides dog! Kill them!"
The hallway instantly erupted into chaos.
The three traitorous guards raised their blaster pistols and opened fire alongside the two insurgents. Crimson bolts streaked down the corridor, illuminating the polished walls in flashes of red light.
"Get back!" the Winged Shield roared.
Without hesitation, he stepped directly in front of Cade and squeezed the trigger of his M1 Atreides. The rifle barked repeatedly, sending accurate bursts downrange toward the attackers.
Cade and Padmé immediately threw themselves back around the corner as blaster bolts slammed into the wall where they had been standing only moments before.
The Royal Guard fumbled with his blaster pistol for a brief moment, nearly dropping it in his haste. Then training took over. He stepped beside the Winged Shield and began firing down the corridor, adding his weapon's sharp reports to the growing firefight.
For several seconds, the hallway became a storm of crimson blaster bolts as palace defenders and insurgents exchanged fire at point-blank range.
Padmé let out a shriek as the Royal Guard was struck by multiple blaster bolts and thrown backward onto the polished floor. Smoke rose from several scorched marks across his torso as he landed hard and didn't move again.
The Winged Shield managed to stay on his feet, though only barely. One arm hung limp at his side, clearly wounded, while his other hand kept a firm grip on his M1 Atreides. Grimacing beneath his helmet, he leaned around the corner and fired several controlled bursts down the hallway before retreating behind cover once more.
"Here, my lord. Take it," the Shield gasped, extending the rifle toward Cade.
Cade hesitated for only a moment before taking the weapon. The soldier immediately reached down and drew his BM-1 from his belt. Despite the pain he was clearly in, his grip remained steady.
"Go, sir," the Shield said between breaths. "I'll hold them off as long as I can."
Cade stared down at the wounded soldier. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to stay and fight. One more rifle could make a difference. One more body behind cover could buy precious seconds. But when he glanced over at Padmé and saw the fear and uncertainty in her eyes, he already knew what choice he had to make.
Reaching out, he placed a hand on the Shield's shoulder. "I won't forget your sacrifice."
The soldier gave a simple nod.
Rising from his kneeling position, Cade motioned for Padmé to follow him. "Let's go."
"But... Cade..." she pleaded, glancing toward the corner where the Shield was preparing to make his stand.
Cade gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know, Padmé. Believe me, I know. But there's nothing we can do for him right now. Not with just the two of us and one rifle."
For several seconds, she looked ready to argue. Then her shoulders sagged slightly. "...You're right." Taking a steadying breath, she turned and began jogging down another corridor. "C'mon. I know a shortcut we can take to your chambers."
Cade followed immediately behind her, M1 held firmly in his hands as they moved through the palace's maze-like hallways.
"But what about the throne room?" he asked. "Your guard said Captain Mariek was there waiting for you."
"Yes, but..."
Both of them paused as another burst of blaster fire echoed from the corridor they had just left behind. The sharp cracks of weapons fire rang through the palace, followed by a brief exchange from multiple shooters.
Then silence.
Padmé stared back down the hallway for several long seconds, her expression troubled. Eventually she forced herself to look away and resumed jogging.
"I..." she began quietly. "I've come to feel safer in your presence than I do around some of my own guards these days."
The admission caught Cade off guard.
Padmé kept her eyes forward as she spoke, navigating turns and intersections from memory.
"A week ago, I would've thought of my guards and you in the same light," she continued. "But now I don't know who I can trust. We've uncovered terrorists hiding among civilians, criminals funding extremists, and now apparently members of my own security forces are helping them." She shook her head bitterly. "Every day another person I trusted turns out to be someone I shouldn't have."
Cade was silent for a moment as he processed her words. "Then trust me."
Padmé glanced over at him.
His expression was serious, lacking any of the humor or confidence he usually hid behind. "I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.
Something in his voice made her believe him completely.
Padmé smiled faintly before turning her attention back to the hallway ahead.
The two continued through the palace at a brisk pace until they reached a doorway that opened into a large stairwell. Just as Padmé stepped through, both of them froze at the sound of approaching voices. Without needing to exchange a word, they immediately backed away from the entrance and pressed themselves into the darkest corners they could find.
"Captain Mariek said the Queen was last seen in the palace gardens with Lord Atreides. We need to get there and secure them as fast as possible. I fear what would happen to the Queen if they got their hands on her."
"What about Lord Atreides?" another voice asked. "His people and entire sector are heavily militarized. Wouldn't they kill him on the spot?"
Cade and Padmé exchanged a quick glance.
Loyal Royal Guards.
At least, they sounded loyal.
Carefully peeking around the corner, Cade spotted four Naboo Royal Guards moving across the upper landing. Their figures were barely illuminated by pale moonlight streaming through the stairwell's tall windows.
"I would hope not," one of the guards replied. "I fear what his father, the Duke, and the rest of the Atreides military would do if they learned the heir to House Atreides died here on Naboo at the hands of terrorists. Frankly, I fear even the Republic wouldn't—"
"Open fire!"
The female voice shattered the night.
Crimson blaster bolts erupted from somewhere beyond the Guards' field of view, striking all four men before they could even raise their weapons. One collapsed instantly, while another managed half a turn before three more bolts slammed into his chest and sent him crashing to the floor.
Padmé's hand immediately flew to her mouth.
Cade's grip tightened around the M1.
Neither dared move.
Several seconds later, two robed figures emerged from the shadows and approached the fallen guards. They calmly began searching the bodies while a third individual stepped into view.
This one was clearly a woman.
"Anything?" she asked impatiently.
One of the robed men shook his head. "No. Nothing."
"Dammit." The woman kicked one of the dead guards in frustration. "The security around the throne room is stronger than we expected. Surely one of these guards has a keycode or access chip." She let out an irritated hiss. "Tch."
Padmé's expression darkened.
The woman suddenly raised her hand and pointed toward something farther down the corridor that neither Cade nor Padmé could see. "Protocol: Hunter. Priority One. Find those guards."
Both Cade and Padmé stiffened.
A moment later, four black skeletal figures jogged into view. B1 battle droids. The droids moved quickly down the corridor, E-5 blasters held ready as they disappeared from view.
Padmé looked absolutely furious. Her eyes had widened with disbelief before narrowing into a glare so intense Cade was honestly surprised the droids hadn't burst into flames.
The two remained hidden for several more minutes, listening as the terrorists searched the area before eventually moving on. Only once the sounds of footsteps had completely faded did either of them dare move.
"They're using Trade Federation battle droids," Padmé whispered furiously. "Do they have no honor? No dignity?" she demanded. "After everything those machines did to Naboo? After everything our people suffered?"
Cade slowly exhaled. "Padmé, these are the same people who preach peace while planting bombs and assassinating guards."
She paused. "...Fair point."
"They stopped caring about principles a long time ago," Cade continued quietly. "Now they only care about winning."
Padmé looked back toward where the droids had disappeared, her expression hardening. "Then we stop them tonight."
Cade found himself agreeing completely.
Crouching low, they carefully made their way up the staircase. Every step felt painfully loud despite their efforts to remain silent. Once they reached the top, both paused and swept their gazes across the landing, searching for any sign of movement.
Padmé's expression tightened at the sight of her four dead guards.
Without a word, she knelt beside one of the bodies and carefully picked up the guard's dropped blaster pistol. For a moment, she simply stared at the weapon in her hand. The dead guard had been one of her people. One of the many men and women sworn to protect Naboo. Seeing him lying there, lifeless, sent a fresh wave of guilt and anger through her chest.
Cade walked over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Padmé looked up at him.
The sadness in her eyes was obvious, but it only lasted a moment. The grief didn't disappear. It hardened. The sorrow became determination. Her jaw tightened, and she gave him a small nod before silently mouthing two words. 'Follow me.'
Cade nodded back.
Together they moved through the palace corridors, sticking close to the walls and avoiding the larger hallways whenever possible. The deeper they moved into the palace, the louder the sounds of battle became. Blaster fire echoed through the marble halls, accompanied by shouted orders, screams, and the occasional explosion that rattled the walls.
Eventually, the pair came to a stop at the mouth of another corridor.
Carefully peeking around the corner, Cade immediately understood the situation.
"Shit," he muttered.
A firefight was raging less than forty meters away.
Ten robed men and women were spread throughout the corridor, crouched behind columns and decorative alcoves as they exchanged fire with five Winged Shields. The soldiers of House Atreides were pinned behind a series of support columns on the opposite side of the hall, returning disciplined bursts of fire whenever an opening presented itself.
Bodies littered the floor between them.
Five B1 battle droids lay scattered across the polished marble, their skeletal frames blasted apart by concentrated rifle fire. Mixed among them were eight dead terrorists, their dark robes stained with scorch marks.
Unfortunately, there were still more enemies advancing.
Three B1 battle droids marched steadily down the center of the hallway, E-5 blasters firing as they advanced. Their mechanical nature made them utterly indifferent to the danger around them. While the terrorists stayed behind cover, the droids simply walked forward and absorbed the defenders' attention.
The Winged Shields were trapped.
If they focused on the droids, the terrorists shot them.
If they focused on the terrorists, the droids advanced.
It was a textbook crossfire.
Cade immediately shouldered the M1 Atreides and settled the rifle's sights on the nearest robed insurgent. The man was completely focused on the firefight ahead and had no idea anyone was behind him.
Beside him, Padmé raised her newly acquired blaster pistol.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then they stepped out from behind the corner.
Cade squeezed the trigger.
Padmé fired at nearly the same instant.
Crimson blaster bolts streaked down the corridor, and the first terrorist dropped before he even realized he was under attack.
The first terrorist dropped before he even realized he was under attack.
The second man barely had time to turn his head before Cade's next burst caught him square in the chest. His body slammed against a column and slid to the floor. Beside Cade, Padmé fired twice in rapid succession. The first shot missed. The second struck a robed woman in the shoulder and sent her tumbling backward behind cover.
The sudden attack from the rear shattered the insurgents' formation.
"What the hell?!"
"We're taking fire!"
"Behind us!"
"Droids! Defend us!"
The corridor erupted into confusion as several terrorists tried to turn and engage the new threat while still exchanging fire with the Winged Shields farther down the hall. That hesitation cost them dearly.
The five Winged Shields immediately recognized the opportunity.
"Push them!" one of the soldiers shouted.
Disciplined bursts of crimson blaster fire hammered the terrorists' positions. A robed man attempted to rise and relocate only to be cut down halfway through the movement. Another managed two hurried shots before a blaster bolt struck him directly in the throat.
Meanwhile, the three remaining battle droids continued their relentless advance.
"Roger, roger."
The lead droid raised its E-5 and fired directly at Cade.
He ducked back behind the corner as blaster bolts scorched the wall where his head had been moments earlier.
"Droids!" Padmé warned.
"I see them!" Cade leaned out and fired three quick shots.
The first missed. The second struck the droid's torso. The third punched directly through its photoreceptor, causing the battle droid to collapse instantly.
The remaining two droids immediately shifted their targeting priorities and opened fire on Cade's position. Before either could continue their barrage, concentrated blaster fire from the Winged Shields struck both machines from multiple angles.
One lost an arm. The second lost its head. Both crashed to the polished floor. Silence briefly settled over the corridor. Smoke drifted through the air. Bodies littered the marble floor.
Then one of the surviving Winged Shields looked toward Cade and visibly relaxed.
"My lord!" The soldiers immediately emerged from cover and moved toward him.
Cade felt a small measure of relief seeing them alive. The group had clearly taken casualties. Burn marks scarred their armor, and one soldier's helmet visor was shattered, but they were alive.
The lead Shield stopped in front of him and snapped to attention. "My lord, thank the stars."
"Status?" Cade asked.
"Four dead. Two wounded. We've been trying to reach the throne room for nearly twenty minutes."
Padmé's expression tightened. "The throne room?"
The Shield nodded. "Captain Mariek has been holding it with the surviving Royal Guards. Last report said the terrorists launched three separate assaults and failed every time."
A small smile crossed Padmé's face. "That's great! Hopefully they will see the futility of their efforts and give themselves up."
"We can only hope Your Highness." Another soldier approached carrying a familiar object.
Cade immediately recognized it. His armor. "You brought it with you?"
"My lord," the soldier said, sounding almost offended. "We weren't about to let these terrorists steal your armor."
Relief washed through Cade. The black and green combat armor was scratched and scorched in several places, but it was intact.
As he began to put the armor on, he asked, "What of Master Sergeant Jask? Where is he?"
The Shields were all silent for a moment before one replied, "We're...unsure, sir. Last we heard, he had taken the Aurek squad and rushed to an explosion on the south side of the palace. But that was close to fifteen minutes ago, and we haven't heard from him since."
Cade frowned but stayed positive, "Jask is one of the best Second Company has to offer. I'm sure he and his squad are fine and simply too busy kicking ass to let us join in on the party."
A couple of Shields chuckled at his remark and nodded in agreement.
A minute later, Cade felt significantly better. The armor settled comfortably across his frame while his BM-1 rested once again at his hip. Additional magazines lined his belt, and his trusty kukri vibro knife occupied its sheath. He felt whole again.
Unfortunately, the situation remained anything but.
One of the wounded Shields approached. "My lord."
"What is it?"
"The terrorists aren't trying to seize the palace." That got everyone's attention.
Cade frowned. "What do you mean?"
The soldier activated a recovered datapad and displayed a crude map of the palace. "We recovered this from one of the insurgents."
The realization hit Cade almost immediately.
The attacks. The diversions. The scattered assaults. The seemingly random targets. None of them pointed toward conquest. They pointed toward a destination.
"The throne room," Cade said quietly.
The wounded Shield nodded. "The throne room."
Padmé's face paled. "They don't want the palace."
"No," Cade agreed.
"They want me," Padmé said. Silence followed.
Nobody contradicted her. Because everyone knew she was right.
Cade immediately began issuing orders. "Gather every surviving Winged Shield we can find. I want all available soldiers moving toward the throne room immediately."
"My lord."
"Notify Captain Mariek if communications are still functioning."
"Yes, my lord."
Moments later, a force of eight Winged Shields, Padmé, and Cade began advancing through the palace. The sounds of battle grew louder with every corridor they crossed. Smoke drifted through sections of the palace, and more than once they stepped over bodies belonging to both terrorists and defenders.
By the time the massive doors leading toward the throne room came into view, everyone knew they were running out of time.
Heavy blaster fire echoed from beyond.
And somewhere ahead, Iayabella Estrange was making her final move.
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Location: Zorbia II
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 2:37 P.M
Kylain Deova watched as the stars snapped back into existence outside the viewport and the swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace disappeared. In its place was the endless blackness of normal space and, dominating it all, the planet of Zorbia II.
The world filled much of the viewport. Its five continents were each wildly different from one another in shape and size, giving the planet a natural, untamed appearance. One massive continent stretched diagonally across the northern hemisphere like a crooked claw, while another sat far away on the opposite side of the globe, its jagged coastline carved by ancient storms and restless seas. A third continent dominated much of the southern hemisphere, broken up by enormous bays, inland seas, and long peninsulas that reached out into the surrounding oceans. The remaining two continents were smaller and more irregular, surrounded by hundreds of islands that dotted the seas like stepping stones.
The terrain itself was just as varied. Vast emerald forests covered huge swaths of the greener continents, while sweeping deserts of gold and red stretched across the drier regions. Endless plains rolled between coastlines and forests, creating enormous expanses of fertile land where cities and settlements could flourish. Here and there, mountain ranges cut across the landscape, their snow-capped peaks standing like natural fortresses against the horizon.
Clouds drifted lazily over the oceans below, casting enormous shadows across the water. Tropical island chains were scattered throughout the seas, some clustered together in sprawling archipelagos while others sat completely isolated in the middle of nowhere.
From orbit, it looked untouched.
Peaceful.
Almost pristine.
You'd never guess that nearly a hundred and ninety-five million people called the world home.
Above the planet, civilization became much more apparent. Several stations orbited Zorbia II alongside a constant stream of merchant traffic. Five large commercial space docks hung in orbit like metallic cities, their berths crowded with freighters, passenger liners, and transport vessels. Nearby, two XQ1 defense platforms maintained a vigilant watch over the system.
Kylain's gaze lingered on the platforms for a moment.
Most visitors probably wouldn't think much of them.
He knew better.
The stations were the only defenses outsiders could see.
What the ship's scanners couldn't immediately detect was the third XQ1 platform positioned near the planet's moon alongside a major communications relay station. Together, they monitored every vessel entering or leaving the system while providing another layer of protection for the enormous construction project currently underway behind the moon and on its surface below.
The calm silence of the bridge was interrupted by the crackle of a transmission.
"HASC Gladius, this is XQ1 Platform Stonewall. Please transmit your clearance codes now. You have five minutes to respond. Failure to comply will result in your vessel being classified as hostile."
Kylain glanced toward the command pit where Shipmaster Daxton Savage stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The veteran officer didn't appear concerned in the slightest.
"Transmit the codes," Savage ordered.
"Yes, sir," one of the bridge officers replied immediately.
The officer's hands danced across the controls as encrypted identification codes were transmitted across the void. Several seconds passed while everyone waited for a response.
The comlink crackled once more.
"HASC Gladius, your codes have been verified. Welcome to Zorbia II, Shipmaster Savage. You are cleared to proceed to XQ1 Platform Vigilance. Representative Karnath is on board and will meet you there."
As the Gladius adjusted course and began its approach toward the nearest dockyard, Kylain found his attention returning to the world below. Somewhere down there were hundreds of projects awaiting inspection, thousands of workers relying on the Research Center's designs, and more opportunities than ever before to turn Cade's increasingly ambitious ideas into reality.
The engineer couldn't help but grin.
Shooting out of the Gladius' hangar aboard a D1 Pelican, Shipmaster Savage, Kylain, and ten Talons made their way toward XQ1 Platform Stonewall. The soldiers were clad in the second version of the armor Cade had designed before departing for Naboo. Though it lacked the refinements of the newer models currently being tested, it was still an imposing sight. Dark green armor plating covered black undersuits, while glowing red visors concealed the faces beneath. Each Talon carried an M1 Atreides blaster rifle across their chest, their posture disciplined and professional even during the short flight.
The Pelican's engines shifted pitch as it entered the station's hangar. Moments later, the landing gear extended and touched down with a dull thud against the deck. Hydraulic systems hissed as the ramp lowered.
Kylain stepped off behind Savage and immediately found himself staring upward.
The Gen'Dai was enormous.
Karnath stood alone in the center of the hangar, clad in black, green, and gold armor that somehow made him appear even larger than he already was. At nearly ten feet tall, he towered over everyone present. The armored giant looked more like a walking tank than a sentient being.
"Shipmaster Savage, it is good to see you." The deep, masculine voice seemed to vibrate through the hangar itself as Karnath stepped forward and extended a massive hand.
Savage took it without hesitation. "Likewise, General Karnath."
The Gen'Dai let out a low chuckle. "I'm no longer a General, friend. Just Karnath will do."
His attention shifted toward Kylain. To the engineer's surprise, the giant stepped over and extended his hand again. "You must be the young lord's engineer he mentioned. He'll be pleased to know everything is progressing well ahead of schedule."
Kylain suddenly felt very small. "Uhh... yes, sir. Kylain Deova, sir."
Turning around, Karnath motioned for the group to follow. "Come. I'll show you what we've been getting up to while the young lord is away on his vacation."
Savage immediately frowned. "He's on a counter-terrorism mission."
Karnath glanced back. "Vacation."
"It is not a vacation."
"Any mission where nobody is actively shooting at you every day is a vacation."
Savage rolled his eyes. "You and I both know how badly missions like that can go sideways."
That earned a moment of silence from the Gen'Dai. Eventually, Karnath nodded. "True." His expression darkened slightly beneath the gold visor of his helmet. "Those always were the missions that went FUBAR the quickest, weren't they?"
Savage grunted in agreement. "Hard to tell friend from foe when any normal civilian can turn out to be the one pointing a blaster rifle at your back. Or planting a bomb underneath your transport. Or selling your patrol route to pirates. Or poisoning your food."
Karnath barked out a laugh. "See? That's exactly why I prefer conventional warfare."
The two veterans continued exchanging stories as they made their way deeper into the station. Every so often one would say something that caused the other to chuckle or shake his head in disbelief. It quickly became obvious to Kylain that the pair shared years of history together.
While they talked, Kylain focused on observing his surroundings.
For a military defense platform, Stonewall felt surprisingly quiet.
The station was certainly active. Crew members moved throughout the corridors carrying datapads, equipment crates, and maintenance tools. Technicians disappeared into access panels while operations personnel hurried between control rooms. Yet despite all the activity, there were remarkably few soldiers.
Kylain had expected barracks full of Talons. Instead, he mostly saw crew. By the time they reached one of the station's primary observation galleries, he had counted nineteen personnel.
Only four had been armed. The rest appeared to be engineers, technicians, communications specialists, or administrative crew.
His curiosity must have shown on his face because Karnath glanced over and smirked. "Wondering where all the soldiers are?"
Kylain nodded. "A little."
Karnath gestured toward the viewport overlooking the vastness of space beyond. "That's because Stonewall isn't meant to fight boarding actions. If enemies reach this station, something has already gone horribly wrong."
Kylain considered that for a moment. "I suppose that makes sense."
"It does," Savage said. "Most people hear 'defense platform' and imagine hundreds of troops standing around waiting for a fight. In reality, stations like this win battles long before enemy soldiers ever get close enough to board."
Karnath nodded. "Weapons crews, sensor operators, communications specialists, logistics personnel. They're the people who actually make these platforms dangerous." The Gen'Dai pointed out the window at one of the massive turbolaser batteries protruding from the station's exterior. "That cannon can hit targets hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. Doesn't matter how many infantrymen you've got if your ship gets blown apart before you ever get close."
Kylain slowly nodded. When explained like that, the station suddenly felt far more intimidating.
A few moments later they entered a large command center overlooking one side of the platform. Through another viewport, Kylain could see merchant vessels moving toward the orbital docks while freighters departed for destinations across the sector.
"Impressive," Savage said with an approving nod. "Not too long ago, all you had were a pair of merchant ports. Now you have five, along with two defensive platforms carrying enough firepower to take on a small fleet."
"Yes, well," Karnath replied, sounding pleased despite himself. "We've been able to begin mining doonium in significant quantities, along with other valuable resources such as lommite, zersium, and silicax oxalate. And that's not even mentioning what our Agri-farms have managed to produce. Fruits and vegetables so sweet and delectable that we had a merchant vessel travel all the way from the Inner Core just to purchase them."
Savage smiled warmly. "And that's why Lord Atreides put you in charge of this system. Because he knew you were the right person for the job. To improve the lives of the people not only on the planet below, but the lives of everyone within House Atreides."
For a moment, Karnath said nothing.
Then the Gen'Dai's shoulders stiffened. "Yeah, well..." he muttered. "The bastard lost my respect the moment he threw his kid away."
The smile immediately vanished from Savage's face.
The atmosphere within the command center seemed to change all at once. Conversations died. Crew members who had been working only moments before suddenly found themselves listening very carefully while pretending not to.
Karnath either didn't notice or didn't care.
"I was taught that family, duty, and honor came first above all else," the Gen'Dai continued, his deep voice carrying through the room. "He may fulfill his duties as Duke. He may be known far and wide for his honor. But the man abandoned the first and most important principle."
"He lost his wife," Savage replied firmly.
"And his son lost a mother!" Karnath roared.
Several crew members visibly flinched.
The Gen'Dai's massive hands clenched into fists. "Too swallowed by his own grief was he that he cast aside his son as though the boy were some toy he'd grown tired of! He sent him away when he needed him most!"
Savage stepped forward until he stood directly in front of the towering warrior. Though Karnath was nearly twice his size, the Shipmaster didn't yield an inch. "You don't know what you're talking about."
The command center became silent enough that Kylain was fairly certain he could hear the ventilation systems running.
"So drop it," Savage continued. "And even if you did know what you're talking about, now is not the time for this, and it most certainly isn't the place."
For several long seconds, neither man moved.
Karnath opened his mouth as though preparing to argue further. Then his gaze drifted away from Savage and around the command center. Only then did he seem to realize every eye in the room was on them.
Some of the crew looked uncomfortable. Others looked shocked. A few appeared openly angry. The two Talons guarding the entrance had suddenly become fascinated with a section of wall that wasn't particularly interesting.
As for Kylain, he found himself staring very intently at the durasteel floor beneath his boots while gently rocking back and forth on his heels, desperately wishing he were somewhere else.
The silence stretched for several awkward moments before Karnath finally exhaled through his nose. "...Fine." The single word carried enough force that it sounded more like a growl than a concession.
Savage held his stare for another second before giving a curt nod. "Good."
Slowly, conversation began returning to the command center. Crew members turned back to their stations. Officers resumed their duties. The tension remained, lingering in the air like the aftermath of a storm, but at least everyone could pretend the argument hadn't just happened.
"Now, can we get down to the reason he and I are here?" Savage asked, pointing over toward Kylain.
Karnath cleared his throat and nodded. "Ah, yes. Ensign, grab the droid."
"Yes, sir!" one of the officers monitoring a datapad replied. He quickly set the device aside and hurried off toward the far side of the command center.
"Droid?" Savage asked, raising an eyebrow.
Before Karnath could answer, the Ensign returned carrying a small circular probe droid. The machine was primarily white with crimson markings running along its chassis. Carefully setting it down atop the large circular holotable dominating the center of the room, the Ensign stepped back.
Kylain immediately moved closer.
"Yes," Karnath said. "We discovered this attempting to sneak past Zorbia II to Zorbia-Luna a few days ago."
Savage frowned.
Kylain leaned forward, studying the damaged machine. At first glance, it appeared familiar. "It looks like a standard-issue Boa probe droid," he murmured. "The same model used throughout Atreides fleets."
The engineer crouched slightly and examined the outer casing more closely. "Although..." His brow furrowed. "Its identification tag is gone."
He ran a finger across a section of scarred metal. "And somebody deliberately scraped off the engraved serial number." Kylain glanced up at the others. "That's not easy to do. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were trying to hide."
His attention shifted back to the droid. There were additional signs of damage as well. Several access panels looked warped, while sections of the internal framework had partially melted together. "It looks like half the internals were cooked too."
"Yes," Karnath replied grimly. "One of my technicians attempted to dismantle it and retrieve the black box."
Savage folded his arms. "And?"
"It exploded." Kylain and Savage looked alarmed at the info. Thankfully, Karnath raised a hand before anyone could speak. "The technician survived. He's currently undergoing bacta treatment and is expected to fully recover."
Savage visibly relaxed. "Good." The Shipmaster stepped closer and studied the damaged probe droid himself. "Hmm. Any ideas who's behind this?"
Karnath snorted. "Tch. You know who."
Savage sighed. "Karnath."
"Don't play coy with me." The Gen'Dai crossed his massive arms. "It's that bastard Acheran. Trying to spy on what the little lord is building while he's away."
To Kylain's surprise, Savage didn't immediately disagree. Instead, he slowly nodded. "You're probably right."
Karnath looked pleased with himself for all of half a second.
"However," Savage continued, "we have no proof."
The Gen'Dai's expression soured.
"While this is certainly suspicious, it isn't enough to accuse him of anything. It's a bad look, sure, but Acheran isn't technically violating the Codex by gathering intelligence. As far as galactic law is concerned, this falls into a rather annoying gray area."
Karnath muttered something under his breath that was probably not complimentary.
Savage ignored him. "Besides," the Shipmaster continued, a faint smirk appearing on his face, "when exactly did you and Lord Cade get so close anyway?"
That question earned an unexpected silence.
Kylain noticed several nearby officers subtly slowing their work. Apparently, he wasn't the only one interested in the answer. For a few moments, Karnath simply stared at the damaged droid.
Then he spoke.
"...He explained his vision to me."
The room fell noticeably quieter. Karnath uncrossed his arms and gestured toward the viewport overlooking the stars beyond. "There is currently a third XQ1 platform positioned behind Zorbia-Luna. Alongside it are a half-completed repair, service, and refit station, two starship construction platforms, and the primary relay station for this entire side of the sector."
Kylain blinked.
He knew about the projects. What surprised him was hearing Karnath speak about them with something approaching pride.
The Gen'Dai looked out toward the distant moon. "He doesn't think in years."
Savage remained silent.
"He thinks in decades." Karnath's voice had softened slightly. "Most nobles think about their next election, their next contract, their next shipment of goods. Most military leaders think about the next campaign." The giant shook his head. "Cade thinks about what House Atreides will look like fifty years from now. He showed me plans for shipyards capable of producing entire fleets. Agricultural worlds feeding billions. Colonies connected by infrastructure and trade instead of fear and military occupation. Defensive networks strong enough that pirates and slavers wouldn't dare approach our territory."
Karnath's gold visor reflected the distant stars outside. "He has a vision for House Atreides that I want to see become reality." The Gen'Dai slowly turned back toward the others. "And I will see it happen."
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A/N: Welcome to the Ninth chapter of my fic: Star Wars: House Atreides!
Now, I do have a few questions for all of you. When I first began this fic, the main love interest I had in mind for Cade was Padmé. However, the more I've kind of thought about it, the more I've become sort of wishy-washy about it.
So, Question 1: What should the romance be?
❤️ Single Romance?
💖 Harem?
If the majority votes for Single Romance, we'll move on to the next question.
Question 2: Who should be Cade's love interest?
❤️ Padmé Amidala?
🖤 Bo-Katan Kryze?
💙 Aayla Secura?
To be honest, those are the only ones that come to mind at the moment. If you guys have any other suggestions, please feel free to drop them below!
💕 OCs? Female Anime Characters or Female Characters from other Media?
The poll will be open until I get around to posting the next chapter, which means it will most likely stay up for a day or more, at the least. And if Harem does win, then I will post some more questions for you guys at the end of the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed this one, and I'll enjoy reading your feedback. I'll see you in the next one! Peace!