When he decided to withdraw the Plague from Kato Neimoidia, Tang Xiao had effectively made his choice.
Between the Trade Federation and the Plague, he chose the former. He might even lose his loyal disciple, Darth Lilim, as well as Sefrans Tann, arguably the most powerful commander in the entire Milky Way Galaxy.
But none of that was more important than the Trade Federation.
If he could secure the Trade Federation's loyalty, it would be worth more than a hundred Plague warships. Talented commanders were indeed rare, but there was no other way.
That did not mean he would do nothing.
On October 32, 22BBY, the Fourth Civilization's Plague Titan warship was forced by pressure from the Trade Federation to leave Kato Neimoidia alone.
Having received the news long before, the Galactic Republic fleet had also made full preparations. Although warships were scarce everywhere and the vessels gathered from various places were not numerous, the Galactic Republic still assembled more than a hundred warships to surround Kato Neimoidia once again, swearing to completely destroy this immensely threatening Titan warship while it was alone.
And there was also that Separatist commander who had twice threatened the Republic Core Worlds—Sefrans Tann!
Yet when the Plague Titan warship emerged from the near-orbit spaceport of Kato Neimoidia, the sight stunned every officer and soldier in the Republic fleet, including Master Windu.
The enormous Titan warship's hull was covered with Vulture droid fighters, packed so densely that there were already more than 5,000 of them! The Trade Federation had played a word game. After all, the Plague had merely come to resupply, but no one had said it could not hang several thousand fighters off its exterior while doing so, right?
The instant the Plague Titan warship charged out, the Republic fleet stationed beyond the