When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 23

“Senators calm yourselves!” Chancellor Valorum's voice, even with it being amplified across the Senate, was not quieting the deafening roar of the countless Senators across the theater chamber. 

Slowly they calm themselves from the frenzy that has consumed them all as the Hutt's atrocities have only grown worse. It was one thing to make major demands and accusations at the Trade Federation but to make matters worse they offered proof which was dubious at best.

Regardless if they were telling the truth the rest of the Senate didn’t trust it for a second immediately scoffing at the idea that the Trade Federation would attempt to undercut them in the spice trade. Even Valorum found it ridiculous but in a corner of his mind, he privately believed it was possible. If it was the Trade Federation it is quite possible. 

They were notoriously greedy, always trying to break into any new market they believed was profitable. Despite what the rest of the Senate would say about him behind his back Valorum was no fool. Just another major incident that affects the wider galaxy he now has to be the one to steer them all through treacherous waters.

“What do you intend to do about this Chancellor?” Orn Free Taas morbidly obese form says as many other Senators make their agreement with Taa known. Finis will never know how Taa has yet to have any health issues with how much weight he puts on. The man could almost pass as a Hutt.

If only it was that easy to be free of that dreadful man Valorum thought to himself as that would be a good day considering how many horrid and evil things he had said about Valorum behind his back despite how much he had tried to work with him on helping his homeworld of Ryloth. The man could care less, more engrossed with stuffing his face or whatever new secretary he has that wears next to nothing, and what they do wear that covers more of their bodies somehow shows more than what it conceals. Yet most of the Senators liked him over Valorum.

Shaking his head at that before getting down to business. He looks over at his confidant and one of the few people he can call a friend, Shiev Palpatine. The man, noticing his gaze gives a calming smile and nods at him.

“My fellow Senators please calm yourselves. Panicking and working yourselves into a frenzy won’t do any of us any good. Orn Free Taa, you know as the rest of us that this situation with the Hutts Cartels is affecting everyone and will not be so easily solved. Chancellor Valorum, what is your plan to deal with the crisis?” Palpatine says helping silence the Senate before it broke out into bickering and arguing once more.

Part of Valorum was thankful for it yet at the same time hoping this could be held off. Little surprise that of all the people to come to him as this conflict escalated and only got worse Valorum had been approached by Senator Runolph Tarkin about establishing a proper military to go and deal with the Hutts. Valorum was against the idea for several reasons and made this known to the man much to his annoyance.

The first is that it violates the principles of the Republic as whoever has control of such power would need checks to keep them and others from abusing said power and to ensure those that are supposed to ensure compliance did so. If they already have issues with Senators and other notable individuals abusing their power and the people that are investigating them are stretched thin as it is or simply don’t even bother doing so then how much worse would that be with someone holding that much power?

Secondly, despite them now having to deal with the Hutts and anything associated with them you almost always go with the assumption that they are the one in the wrong. This is within reason considering their species’ long history of slaving and exploiting anything and everything one would imagine to make a quick credit. 

But in this case, he has suspicions the Trade Federation has been doing something that angered the Hutts. Several Coruscant security agents were keeping an eye on the Trade Federation since they had the foresight to realize that with the free trade zones that don’t tax them, it would only be a matter of time before the Trade Federation along with other groups got greedy and wanted more or tried something under the table. 

To top all of it off the Hutts have never done something this extreme. They are all and will be for the foreseeable future focused on making a profit. This conflict is anything but that. The Hutts will make some profit back out of this but in the long run, it will be a money sink. So then would they do this when it goes against everything they are about and have been about for a very long time since the Hutt's dark age?

To Valorums growing suspicions all of the agents just dropped the investigations and any attempt at getting them to say anything has been met with nothing but silence.

Despite how many called Valorum weak and stupid he was not stupid and far from weak. It’s easy to simply see what everyone else would see as the enemy and just try and destroy them. The Hutts are evil. By all means. But they are also a stabilizing force in the outer rim. In the same part of the galaxy, the core worlds get many of their resources and goods. 

He preferred diplomacy first and foremost but even he knew you can’t discuss options with someone refusing to come to the table. In this case, the Hutts made demands that they couldn’t fulfill like giving them Nute Gunray and his right-hand man Rune Haako for them to be punished as the Hutts see fit. That was simply absurd and going too far.

Standing straighter as he gazed around the Senate before finally speaking. “A plan has been formed to deal with the Hutt threat that has plagued the galaxy as of late. A task force that is composed of both Judicial forces and planetary defense forces headed by several Jedi from their order leading the way. This conflict will come to an end one way or another.”

“You think that will be enough to bring the Hutts to heel? You are an idiot Valorum!” Nute Gunray yells out for all to hear, shaking a fist at him. The Senate falls silent at someone calling him an idiot to his face. 

Before anyone can say anything Gunray continues, “My Trade Federation is far better equipped than your Judicial or Planetary defense forces. The Jedi have been at peace and no major conflict has happened that would make them prepared for what the Hutts can do! Begin the formation of an army to fight the Hutts.” Gunray says as murmuring is heard all across the Senate Valorums blood turns to ice as they all agree with Gunray of all people.

“The Jedi are more than capable of handling this Gunray. Have you all forgotten their aid that had helped immensely in bringing an end to the Stark Hyperspace War? How if it wasn’t for them that conflict would have spiraled out of control?”

The assembled Senators had calmed themselves at the reminder of that conflict that could have become far worse than what it had been. “The Jedi will bring this conflict to an end one way or another.” 

…

After that, the rest of the Senate went on talking about and ultimately not making changes to the status quo as usual that would help the everyday citizen in the galaxy and instead keep it as is so those in power remain in power. Something Palpatine had always been rather grateful for the rich and greedy. It made them simple and easy to manipulate along with being predictable. 

It has helped greatly in hiding the Sith's clandestine operations so much so that if they wanted to they could do the bare minimum of cover for their actions and no one would even notice thanks to the amount of corruption that runs rampant within the Senate. Truly a useful tool but one that will need to be destroyed lest it be used against him when he rules the galaxy after he becomes the master.

This is all going wonderfully with the Hutts and the Trade Federation. With some agents acting for him he managed to get several of the Hutt's employees to turn against them and make it look like slaves are being gunned down in droves as it is shown across the holonet further driving demand for action against the Hutt's deplorable deeds not wanting their slaves to be free so badly they would kill them out of spite.

Valorum the peace-minded fool didn’t know what to do so of course Palpatine donned the mask as he does with so many of those around him of a like-minded and kindhearted friend to give him a sympathetic ear to listen to him and offer what advice he could. The same advice that will see more Jedi die from this coming conflict as they are not prepared for the thousand years of peace has weakened them considerably. 

Any number of ways this works out for him. The Hutts will escalate with the Republic stepping in and depending on how bad the conflict gets the Hutts will bring out and show the galaxy just how powerful they are with their fleets attacking Republic-aligned planets while preventing the core worlds from getting their supplies that the Trade Federation is currently struggling to do.

Further creating tension across the galaxy, particularly between the core worlds and the outer rim which combined with all the issues and conflicts the Republic has had in recent years culminate in the future conflict that will see the ascension of the Sith once again and the end for their old enemies the Jedi. 

Sitting in his office as he relaxes to some music while gazing out the window and seeing the flow of traffic in the distance. Another possibility that he hopes to see is who caused the scream to echo out in the force. It is for that reason the Jedi are so eager to go to Hutt space and find out what had caused it before this conflict had even ignited.

The conflict escalating would already bring them into it but that event in particular more so. Sidious and especially his master wanted to know who did it and how. Plagueis himself viewed whoever did this as a threat that should be destroyed at the nearest convenience. 

In his eyes anyone who could do what was done that day when any who could feel the force felt that scream was someone who held secrets he was interested in. When it was done a foreign and alien feeling was left of the echo before it faded away.

The original plan was to use the new bill that would get passed as a means to use the Trade Federation to invade Naboo. However, that plan was scrapped in favor when Gunray revealed his subordinates' failure in a mad attempt to undermine the Hutts. But for Sidious that could be used and has proven so far to be an even more effective means of widening the gap between the core worlds and the outer rim.

The Trade Federation suffered great losses while flailing back and managing to harm the Hutt's interests enough for the Hutts to escalate. Many Lucrehulks are now taken over or left heavily damaged in different sectors while the Hutts have their businesses dismantled or taken over. 

A vicious grin that shows the sadistic glee he had at so many people dancing along to the strings he has them tangled in. A conflict that is simply going to grow. Just the beginning before the final plan is enacted. Basking in the anger and darkness as the galaxy feels the turbulence of another conflict that stirs up more negative emotions than most others have managed.

Sidious enjoys this for a time before his light smile turns into a frown. A call echoes in the room ruining his mood and he knows who it is. Knowing better than to keep him waiting any longer than necessary. Rising after ensuring the apartment is secure with no one to eavesdrop on this conversation a hologram springs to life. 

“Sidious, how are things going within the Senate…” A Muun asks him sitting at a desk.

Sidious discussed the happenings in the Senate to Plagueis all the while plotting his rare opportunity to eliminate him that will be fast approaching. He needs Maul to help him kill him but for now, he waits and bides his time. That is one of the greatest things the modern Sith have that put their ancient and barbaric ancestors to shame. Patience.

And Sidious can wait a little longer if it means him having all the power at his fingertips.

…

The sound of rain is heard everywhere as the men stay low to the ground in the surroundings. Peering out of a small dugout with a sheet metal roof above her head the cold doesn’t bother her with the dreary muddy surroundings with what little vegetation can be seen across the landscape. 

The Federations AATs move forward shooting their crimson bolts across the way impacting the areas around some of the trenches as the Hutts forces fire back.

Taking one of the snipers that their master and creator had gifted them and peering down the scope seeing one of the higher priority targets as it stomps forward ahead of the B1’s as a rocket launches out of a shoulder-mounted launcher killing a group of Weequay that were shooting it and the B1’s advance further into that now cleared trench.

Taking aim before holding their breath as they were taught to do before pulling the trigger. A blue bolt flies out, unlike the rest of the crimson ones being shot between the two groups. The shot hits the cheap knockoff of their creator's power armor as it shakes and whirs with sparks coming out of it before its movements ground to a halt and it slumps forward falling to the ground easily sinking into the mud.

Shaking her horned head at how many of these guys that worked for the Hutts could have swapped out their blasters for ion ones. A couple of well-placed shots or in my case a modified sniper that has its shots overcharged would take one down if it's head or back where the power source is in one shot. For the regular ion weapons, it would take several hits to be enough to take one down but far more effective compared to basic blasters. 

They are far too simple-minded, like the precursors that came before us when the master had made them. By all means, they are effective in using their strengths such as their single-minded determination to accomplish the task given to them but that mentality is not always a boon. Battering at a wall until either it breaks or their bodies do.

Quickly leaving the dugout three tanks turn in its direction before shooting with the main gun sending mud and water flying all over the place. Besides myself, my brothers and sisters occasionally fire their rifles at the heavily armored droids advancing, taking them down as well while the droid forces try to retaliate and stop the harassment of their heavier forces.

Not just our rifles but also the equivalent of a heavy cannon that fires a charged ion blast that disrupts and destroys the tanks if enough damage from it has accumulated. Our creator had managed to get those distributed out to us under the guise of taking payments to own them. They were hired by the Hutts to fight here like most of their siblings when they showed promise by completing several jobs that got the Hutt's attention.

She has seen some of the other workers under the Hutts and she will quietly admit that unlike the rank and file they hold themselves in a far greater manner knowing how to fight and shoot while pushing forward or falling back without anyone having to tell them. Picking their shots carefully and taking out droids with far greater accuracy than the grunts. She can respect that.

The reason for her and many of her siblings being sent out into this conflict is their creator had ordered them to gain more experience fighting within these battles. Learning from their own and others' mistakes, learning how to better put to use the knowledge and training they had been taught as they picked off more and more of the Trade Federation armored support for the battle droids.

Several of the tanks sinking into the mud further behind the enemy forces can attest to how effective both their newly gained experience but also the weapons granted to them. Even if they take more shots to take them down than they would like, they will take what they can. 

Keeping low as blaster fire is constantly being shot at us as the droids advance on our position but they have been slowed tremendously with the loss of many of the power armor droids that helped them advance and overrun several positions. Combine that with the constant blaster fire hitting far more accurately than the enemy battle droids as the Assaultrons rip through the enemy like a hot knife through butter.

The droids with their various weapons aided the assembled ragtag group of pirates and criminals as they have helped the most in pushing back the enemy's forces. They may not have the weapons necessary to take down the heavy armored threats but they make up for it in mass destruction of the battle droids trying to overwhelm them.

A few of them had gotten destroyed albeit at great cost to the enemy and the ones they had destroyed were the inexperienced ones. The others were either smarter or had enough experience to not get caught in a situation like the droids surrounding them as they focused fire on them holding them back thinking they could destroy more of them before they could do enough damage.

Until their advance ground to a halt when their heavy units from the power armor to their tanks started getting picked off one by one they then stalled since the B1s alone even with their numbers were not enough to overwhelm and take our position. I had heard from others that other places under attack had Droidekas but so far we don’t seem to have any to deal with. A relief to her yet also an annoyance. An infamous droid like that would give her and her siblings far more experience.

The environment of this planet is helping in that the droids couldn’t surround this place from all sides courtesy of it being surrounded by mountains on three sides with the one side that isn’t forcing the droids to come from that direction thanks to the mountains being far too difficult for the droid drop ships to safely land and deploy their forces.

Walking up to a metal blast door banging on it before it opens up. Stepping in with it quickly shutting behind her as rainwater floods in pooling beneath her boots before she takes off the hood on the trench coat keeping the bulk of the rainwater from drenching her. Covered in mud and leaving a trail of it but not overly concerned before storming forward as many different kinds of scum and some of her siblings move around in a hurry in this place.

A Weequay with a bandanna wrapped around the top of his head stands in front of a holotable as the image of the battlefield above us is seen as the droids advance in the form of red dots with the green being our forces. 

“We are holding our own against the droid forces. All we need to do now is beat back their forces while we reclaim the skies with reinforcements coming in and we will regain space superiority.” He says to those surrounding the table and a few flickering images of some Hutts watching the proceedings of the situation. 

It has been like this for some time as the Trade Federation after making a counter-offensive had pushed back. Surprising the Hutt's forces and making them angry, taking them far more seriously than they had before. 

Now the Trade Federation and its attempts at taking any more locations from the Hutts had fallen apart as their forces were pushed back and destroyed and the few that had traitors helping the enemy take over some key locations with smaller ones despite being a setback and an eye opener for her and her siblings she now understood to keep an eye out for treasonous behavior.

Their creator wanted them to accomplish their objectives in whatever job they were given. If a traitor can cause them to fail then that traitor must die. So Lucille made sure to keep herself ready to spot one. 

“Jargon me and my men have managed to take care of most of the heavy armored units. Are we clear to begin the assault on the remaining battle droids?” Lucille asked Jargon as he grins happily knowing that this place will remain in the Hutt's control.

“Alright, Lucille, you and your boys will spearhead the counterattack. Start scrapping those droids. From what the few ships in the system that the Federation hasn’t spotted have told me the last of the drop ships have been sent down. You got to tell me who you got those mines from. If it wasn’t for that initial trap we would have been overwhelmed with or without your help.”

Using the pulse mines their creator had sold to them as they used them along the path for the bulk of the droid's forces, cutting down their numbers greatly. Still, many of them were left courtesy of just how many they could deploy but with constantly picking them off and with next to no armored support they had no chance of approaching. It was just a game of killing them slowly but surely. 

Hearing from the occasional Holocall from her siblings about their battles going similarly but unlike her and the rest of them deployed here and in a few other smaller operations the Hutts are handily pushing back against the droid forces. Harassing their supply ships and sabotaging them any way they can while attacking them when they are in a bad situation with fleets of ships attacking and destroying their ships.

Even a Lucrehulk can be taken down if you can bring its shields down or get a fighter squadron passed its shields. As capable as those ships are with their defenses they have vulnerabilities like anything. As Corvo had taught each of them, no matter how powerful someone or something is they are never invincible. Always a weakness of some kind to exploit.

“Just be ready to break out the drinks when we are done!” She said with a smile on her face getting a laugh out of the Weequay as like the rest of her siblings they had developed personalities over time. Likes and dislikes, things they enjoy to do in their free time. 

A laugh that is cut short as blaster fire and screams are heard further down one of the tunnels that connects to the main hub of operations here. The tunnels have been used to great effect to harass and pick off the droid's forces when they least expect it.

Shouldering her rifle as everyone in the room has their weapons ready, several of her siblings rush to the tunnel with her not far behind. A hum is heard before she sees what is causing it. A brown-robed figure wearing a helmet with a blue lightsaber is rushing at any in the tunnel cutting through them with ease and the few blaster bolts that get close are deflected sending them back at the shooter. 

“Focus on the hilt of the blade!” She yells out to her siblings as they comply along with the few other people in the room who survived so far as they do the same.

The figure is fast and incredibly agile as they leap from wall to wall in the tunnel flipping over blaster shots to then simultaneously abruptly lash out with the blue blade as it cuts down any that get too close. She and her siblings do far better than the rest of the criminals here besides a few bounty hunters with their experience showing.

The figure despite having many bolts aimed for their weapon is far from deterred. Moving and weaving around the blaster fire before a hand is raised in the air in a crushing motion as everyone in the hall is raised into the air before getting thrown back in a mass heap against the wall with most of them now unmoving. 

Lucille and a few of her siblings rise as they ignore whatever damage was done to their bodies, feeling their bodies fight the attempt to stand but they ignore it. Weapons raised they try to keep the figure at bay with their blasters but with so few now to shoot the figure rushes them dodging each shot with ease and cuts through them like a whirlwind.

Quickly realizing they will get overwhelmed Lucille backs away with one of her brothers who realizes the same thing as the rest are cut to pieces as the figure rushes for them. Tossing a grenade at them but too late to realize it was a bad idea.

The grenade stops midair with the Jedis hand outstretched before it flies back at them before it detonates and it all goes black for Lucille. 

The helmeted figure stalks forward killing all within the underground tunnels until none are left and the Trade Federation forces overtake the facility with the few survivors having fled after they got a good long look at the one responsible for turning this overwhelming loss for the Trade Federation into a complete victory.

Stepping into the now darker command room with the bodies of its former occupants littering the floor their killer pulls out a small disc-shaped device as it whirs to life as a blue figure wrapped in a cloak appears. “It is done, my master.” The figure says their voice distorted courtesy of the helmet as they kneel before Sidious.

“You have done well my apprentice. Several more planets require your presence. Just as you have done here, ensure there are survivors to spread what is happening.”