Location: Kadavo Orbit / Zygerrian Capital Surface
Date: 22 BBY – Liberation Campaign, Day One of the Siege
The darkness above Kadavo split open as the Eternal Alliance Fleet plunged into battle.
The once-gleaming Zygerrian defense lines—hundreds of aging frigates, slave-rigged battleships, and mercenary corvettes—were drawn into defensive formations like frightened prey before a rising storm.
At the heart of the Alliance armada, the Katana Fleet—ancient dreadnoughts reforged by Alliance engineers—moved like slow but unstoppable beasts through space, flanked by sleek Eternal Alliance warships and fast Starfighters.
Over open comm channels, Cain's voice rang like a war-drum.
> "Katana groups Alpha through Epsilon: Wedge formations. Fighters screen the assault carriers. Do not let them flank. All hammer units prepare for the breach."
In the Stars: The Dogfights Begin
In the cockpit of his custom black-and-gold X-wing starfighter, Cain grinned as alarms blared around him. His hands moved over the controls like a musician to strings—calm, quick, deadly.
The stars flashed with light as Eternal Alliance starfighters clashed with Zygerrian squadrons. Lasers filled the void in every direction.
Cain twisted his fighter into a roll, dodging a heavy barrage, locking onto a mercenary bomber headed for one of the Paladin carriers.
He squeezed the triggers.
Two ion bolts lanced forward, the bomber spiraling apart into scrap.
Below, Obi-Wan Kenobi piloted his sleek white fighter with deadly grace, forming up on Cain's wing.
"You always pick the most scenic battlefields," Obi-Wan said dryly through comms.
Cain smirked. "You're just upset because you prefer to fight on the ground."
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Very true."
They split—Cain rolling downward toward the heavy cruisers, Obi-Wan spiraling upward, drawing enemy fire like a dance of fire and smoke.
On the Surface: The First Strike
Far below the orbital battle, Bo-Katan Kryze and John, clad in deep blue Spartan armor, stood inside a stealth drop transport descending like a stone through Kadavo's thick cloud cover.
John checked his modified blaster rifle, golden eyes sharp.
"Final checks," he barked to the squad leaders. "When boots hit dirt—zero hesitation. First priority: sabotage anti-air batteries. Second: breach the royal citadel walls."
Bo-Katan grinned under her helmet. "You heard him. Move like Mandalorians. Hit like thunder."
The transport shook as it punched through atmospheric defenses.
Below, the Zygerrian capital sprawled across the desert plains—a walled fortress city of slave pens, labor factories, and towering spires.
Bo and John's troops—Paladins, Spartan commandos, Mandalorian elites—prepared grapples, jetpacks, and repulsor gear.
"Drop point in 10 seconds!" came the pilot's voice.
John turned to Bo.
"No turning back."
Bo nodded once. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The hatch blew open.
They jumped.
The first wave of Alliance gunships crashed through the lower atmosphere like burning meteors.
Bo-Katan landed first, rolling smoothly and bringing up her rifle. John hit dirt beside her, covering the perimeter. Squads peeled off instantly, setting detonators on the shield pylons guarding the walls.
Explosions erupted along the southern edges of the city, the ground shuddering as entire sections of the wall buckled.
Zygerrian defenders swarmed like hornets—archers, plasma gunners, shock lancers.
Bo grinned inside her helmet. "Now it's a fight."
John lifted his rifle. "For the Eternal Dawn!"
The command spread like wildfire.
Paladins ignited sabers, Spartan units advanced under heavy fire, and Mandalorian jetpack teams rained plasma from above.
John's white saber ignited for the first time in full battle—its shining blade cutting through enemy formations like a scythe. He moved with terrifying efficiency, a perfect blend of Force agility and tactical discipline.
Bo-Katan rocketed over the front lines, raining explosive charges onto clustered Zygerrian troops before dropping into hand-to-hand combat among the surviving slavers.
Back in orbit, Cain and Obi-Wan fought with brutal synergy.
Cain weaved between enemy frigates, opening attack windows for Alliance bombers. Obi-Wan defended the bomber squadrons, deflecting incoming missiles with Force-assisted maneuvers.
"Targeting their flagship's ion generators," Cain transmitted calmly.
"Covering you," Obi-Wan said.
Cain dove low over the command vessel, unleashing concentrated proton torpedoes at the generator nodes.
The Zygerrian flagship's shields flickered and collapsed.
Alliance cruisers opened fire immediately—burning the once-proud battleship into a tumbling wreck.
Waiting for the Signal
Down on the surface, Bo-Katan and John's forces pushed deeper into the city, carving a bloody path toward the citadel gates.
John planted a comm beacon on a half-destroyed plaza and opened a private channel.
"Commander Cain. First breach is achieved. Outer defenses crumbling. Awaiting signal from agents inside."
Cain's voice crackled back through the static. "Hold position. Maul and Seris will trigger the collapse from within."
John turned, watching smoke rise from the burning slave pens.
He muttered quietly to himself.
"They better hurry."
Inside the Royal Citadel
Meanwhile, deep within the royal palace, Seris and Maul watched the chaos unfold from within the throne chamber's hidden corridors.
Maul's yellow eyes gleamed.
The Queen and her court would soon realize they had never truly captured their prey.
They had only invited the lions into the den.