As both sides opened fire, the male slaves of Hapan scattered in fear, while some female guards appeared confused, seemingly unsure which side to assist.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the bd-3000 deluxe droid, which was originally well-liked by the palace staff, instantly switched modes, loaded its battle protocol, pulled out its concealed blaster, and began searching for the Second Princess.
Queen Nickrish saw all of this but felt no need to intervene, as she herself had killed her own sister to become Queen, and such scenes had been playing out in the Hapan palace for centuries.
Her job was merely to protect one of them after the other failed, maintaining a balance, and then, when the victor was truly ready to stand alone, allow her to orchestrate the death of her sister. Wouldn't that be interesting?
Kurt also ended his days on Mandalore and quickly returned to the Hyperion, preparing to head to the Hapan Cluster first to meet up with Visa and the others.
The battle at the Spaceport had already ended, as it was only a squad of foolish B1 Battle Droids after all.
"Hurry up, they are starting their move," Visa commanded the first mate and the few remaining crew members to start the ship.
Once the locks on the veronia were opened, the ship immediately began to take off, and the crew members hurriedly jumped aboard the veronia as it lifted off the ground.
Dourde also received news that the B1 Battle Droid squad had been completely wiped out.
"They truly are trash! After all these years, the AI is still so stupid! Immediately dispatch the Vulture Droid to pursue them," Dourde complained incessantly.
"But sir, isn't this Hapan territory?" the B1 Battle Droid Commander asked from below.
"Take off! They are merely Hapan people; they will soon be our new slaves."
"Understood." The B1 Battle Droid pressed the button, and the Vulture Droid in the hangar began to swarm out.
Nickrish, who had been following the situation in the palace, suddenly changed her expression drastically.
"No, Taa Chume has brought in someone significant. I never expected our first contact with the outside world would be with the behemoth known as the Trade Federation."
"Your Majesty, might they covet our resources? After all, our fleet may not be able to withstand theirs," a close retainer asked the Queen.
"Perhaps, something major is about to happen. Gather the military forces here to protect the palace, and have those on other planets start heading this way. The times are changing." Nickrish knew she could not change much at this moment; the entire planet only had a few hundred thousand people, and as for the army? Five thousand soldiers would be considered lucky. She could only consolidate her forces.
Watching the veronia engaged in a chase battle in the sky, Taa Chume let out a sickly laugh.
"My dear sister, just die like this. Your existence is too dazzling. You managed to achieve this level even when mother favored me. If I were to fail this time... but I won't fail, I only want power!"
The surrounding maids trembled as they watched their deranged mistress. Their mistress was now even more insane, willing to sacrifice even the interests of the nation.
Aboard the veronia, Princess Sesayia was experiencing such intense circumstances for the first time. The veronia's shields were under constant attack by the Vulture Droid behind them, and the veronia's turbolasers were returning fire, but the twin cannons alone were completely insufficient to deal with all the Vulture Droid.
Signals flashed inside the veronia; the massive hull was constantly being hit. Below, the lights of Taa Chume Dan City gradually grew smaller.
"Initiate the hyperspace jump immediately! Hurry, the shields won't last much longer!" Visa shouted at the first mate beside her.
"Yes, Captain!" The people at the control panel immediately began setting the destination, preparing to enter hyperspace.
At that moment, the veronia's shields completely failed.
"Captain! The shields are gone!"
"How much longer! Jump!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
Following the first mate's final count, the veronia plunged into the hyperspace lane.
Everyone aboard the veronia immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Finally, we survived," Visa let out a breath.
"That was thrilling!" the Second Princess Sesia shouted, clearly excited. Who knew the princess had this side to her?
"As long as you're happy," the first mate said, relaxing in his chair.
Subsequently, Second Princess Sesia began asking numerous questions.
"Is it always this exciting for you?"
"Are all Mandalore ships this technically advanced?"
However, they were currently traveling through hyperspace. Although a destination was entered, there were inherent uncertainties and errors in the hyperspace lanes!
"Wait, so we entered an unknown route?" Visa suddenly realized.
The first mate nodded. After all, the veronia had entered hyperspace directly from the Hapes atmosphere.
"The destination could be an unknown location, or it could be within the Mandalorian System. Everything is uncertain," the first mate said helplessly.
Kurt, aboard the Hyperion, tried to contact the crew on the veronia, but for some reason, communication was completely impossible.
"Can the adjutant still not connect with them?"
"Commander, this is the fifteenth time you've asked. We still haven't connected, but they likely entered an unknown hyperspace route."
"Damn it, contact Nute Gunray for me."
Hearing Kurt's order, the adjutant contacted Nute Gunray.
"Long time no see, Duke Kurt. How may I be of service?" Gunray asked happily, energized by the good news he had received.
"Governor Gunray, did you send people to the Hapes Alliance?"
"What are you talking about, Duke Kurt? I've never heard of it. The Trade Federation has been busy working strictly within our own territory recently." Gunray instantly felt a panic in his heart.
"Is that so? It seems they are imposters, then. I must help you eliminate these fakes."
Gunray gritted his teeth upon hearing this. Dourde hadn't reported to him that Mandalore was interfering in the Hapes Alliance! Just when he finally found a place untouched by the Republic, that damned Kurt showed up!
"Then I must trouble you, Duke Kurt." He immediately hung up the communication and called Dourde.
"Damn you, Dourde! Why didn't you report that Mandalore was interfering in the Hapes Alliance!" Gunray roared in anger.
Receiving Gunray's communication, Dourde was initially smug, thinking that since he had driven Mandalore away, wouldn't everything left belong to the Trade Federation? Besides, weren't those Mandalore people just merchants?
"Please calm down, Lord Gunray. I have already driven the Mandalore people away. I am now about to support this foolish First Princess. As long as we manage to install her, it will be a legitimate government. If Mandalore invades, it will be considered an act of war, and we can then report it to the Republic, hehehe." Dourde revealed his entire plan.
Hearing Dourde's words, Gunray also thought it was a good idea.
"In that case, the rest of the warships will immediately head out for support. Finish this quickly!"
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