Hunting the Malevolence (I)

Half an hour later, Ploo-Koon received the same treatment Jedi Master Ares Nune had endured days earlier—his warship was destroyed, and he and several Clone Troopers were crammed into a tiny escape pod.

Fortunately, General Grievous had also developed an uneasy feeling. He did not want to get tangled up with the Republic fleet, so he left several salvage ships behind to search the area, locating and destroying the escape pods one by one. The Malevolence, meanwhile, continued onward, preparing to enter hyperspace and leave.

"The Separatist droids are hunting down the powerless escape pods!" Clone Commander CC-3636 said, looking out the window.

"There will be roughly 0.4 seconds between us sending the transmission and that super battleship deploying its electronic interference. Even if only part of the message gets through, that would be enough. It's our only hope," Ploo-Koon said. "Before that, we need to save as many escape pods as possible. How long can your combat armor last in the vacuum of space?"

"It is designed to last thirty minutes," CC-3636 replied.

"Then we need to make a plan," Ploo-Koon said gravely.

"...Our signal monitoring station received a distress call." On Naboo, at the estate where Anakin's mother lived, Padmé Amidala approached Anakin Skywalker with a data storage device in hand.

Anakin Skywalker took the device and activated it. A small holographic projection appeared above it, showing a masked figure obscured by heavy interference.

"...We are in... the Gado system... under... attack... super... weapon... please... bzzzzzz..." After that brief, severely distorted transmission, there was only endless static.

"Was it reported to the Republic Supreme Strategic Command?" Anakin asked.

"It was, but there has been no response. As a subordinate strategic unit, they are under no obligation to reply to us," Padmé said.

Anakin considered it for a