Star Forge (II)

A.N: It's sooooo late... but its worth it, cause I enjoyed reading the comments from all of you regarding the last few chapters. Gave me a rush and hyped me up to push through and finish this today. Hope you all enjoy :)

Lelouch strode calmly amidst the advancing ranks of his soldiers, his white uniform pristine despite the chaos erupting around them. The clones surged forward with determination, their cheers and blaster fire filling the air. His presence alone galvanized them, each soldier standing taller and firing more accurately in his wake. 

AT-TE walkers emerged from the depths of the station's labyrinthine halls, their massive forms a grim reminder of the station's ability to mimic their own technology. The first walker raised its cannon to fire. Lelouch raised a single hand, and the machine crumpled as if caught in a giant invisible vice, its metallic hull screeching as it folded inward. 

"All units, focus fire on advancing droids. Heavy units, form a perimeter around the General!" Thorn's voice cut through the comms, his orders sharp and deliberate. 

The clones moved with precision, their formation tightening. AT-AP walkers joined the front line, their accurate artillery fire tearing through clusters of advancing droids. "Keep moving!" Thorn bellowed. "Don't stop for anything unless you are dead!" 

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More troops poured into the main hangar from various corridors and transport bays, converging with the main force. Over 6,000 soldiers now moved as one, a tide of coordinated strength. Thorn, his rotary cannon slung across his back, keyed his comms. 

"General, these are all the identifiable survivors we've recovered so far. This number does not yet account for our air support or recon teams who are orbiting the station or deeper into the structure." 

Lelouch paused, his amethyst eyes scanning the gathered forces before giving a single nod. "Understood. We march forward. Push deeper into the station." 

His voice, calm yet commanding, echoed across the comm channels. The clones cheered once more, their morale surging. Thorn raised his fist, signaling the advance, and the march resumed. 

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The path beyond the hangar grew more treacherous. The towering ceilings of the hangar gave way to cramped, twisting corridors, not wide enough to accommodate the AT-TEs or AT-APs. 

Lelouch walked ahead, his hands clasped behind his back, unperturbed by the confined quarters. As they advanced, the walls of the hallway groaned and contorted, expanding unnaturally. Metal twisted and shifted, creating a wider corridor. 

The clones exchanged glances, unease evident in their body language. "What's happening?" muttered a trooper. 

"It's the General," Claw whispered back. "He's making room." 

"Keep formation tight!" Thorn barked. "Walkers in front. Infantry follow. Cover your sectors!" 

Thorn raised his hand, then lowered it in a sweeping gesture. "Advance!" 

The walkers moved forward, their cannons firing methodically. The once-daunting resistance of droids and automated turrets seemed insignificant under the coordinated barrage. 

Ahead, an AT-TE's mass driver cannon obliterated a squad of shielded droids. Behind the walkers, clones made sure that whatever was already down, didn't get up again. 

"Keep your eye on the clankers." shouted Grinder, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We want no chances with reactivation protocols!" 

Further down the hall, a massive crab droid clambered onto the walls, its heavy claws smashing through barriers. Lelouch raised his gaze, and the droid froze mid-lunge. With a flick of his wrist, it was torn apart, its limbs crashing down on the advancing droids below. 

"Unbelievable," muttered Captain Tide, watching from his position in the rear. 

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The comms buzzed as Fordo's voice came through, urgent and clipped. "General, this is Fordo. We've received a report from one of our recon teams. They've located the control room but can't access the systems." 

Lelouch arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk gracing his lips. "And the artifact?" 

"Negative, sir. No contact with any other teams regarding it," Fordo replied. 

Lelouch's smile grew enigmatic. "It's likely in the center, then." 

Turning to the comms officer beside him, Lelouch gestured. "Confirm our location with one of the air teams circling the station. I want to know exactly where we are relative to the center." 

The officer nodded, establishing a link. A pilot's voice soon came through. "General, based on scans, your position is roughly 300 meters above the estimated main chamber." 

Lelouch glanced at the floor beneath his feet, humming thoughtfully. "Interesting." 

Raising his hand, the air itself seemed to vibrate as his connection to the Force deepened. Slowly, the walls groaned and twisted, the sound a mix of grinding metal and shattering glass. Sections of the hallway folded away like paper, revealing a vast open shaft below. The clones exchanged wide-eyed glances as the floor beneath them reshaped into a massive spiraling ramp, descending hundreds of meters into the depths of the station. 

The spiraling ramp groaned as the immense weight of the AT-TEs moved downward, their metallic legs clanging rhythmically against the reconstructed surface. The dim light from above barely reached the soldiers, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere. The clones marched in silence, their visors scanning for threats as shadows flickered ominously on the walls. 

Thorn's voice crackled through the comms, sharp and steady. "Keep tight formation. AT-TEs, maintain intervals. Infantry, stick close to your squads. Eyes everywhere." 

The air felt thick, oppressive, as if the station itself were alive and aware of their intrusion. Lelouch walked at the forefront, his white attire standing out in stark contrast to the dark surroundings. His presence was a beacon of calm amidst the tension, each step deliberate, each motion exuding an unshakable confidence. 

Suddenly, a barrage of blaster fire erupted from the shadows ahead. Thorn reacted immediately, raising a fist. "Hold position! Return fire!" 

The clones took cover behind the AT-TEs as their weapons roared to life. Blaster bolts streaked through the darkness, illuminating fleeting glimpses of droids swarming toward them. Lelouch raised a hand, and with a subtle flick of his wrist, the incoming fire was redirected, ricocheting harmlessly into the walls. 

With another flick, the hallway closed itself upon the droids, crushing them into pieces before expanding again as the troops resumed their march. 

The ramp twisted sharply, leading them to a massive open chamber below. As they descended, the sound of combat began to fade, replaced by an unsettling hum emanating from the structure itself. The artifact's presence grew stronger, its influence palpable even to those without sensitivity to the Force. 

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The chamber at the end of the spiral ramp was vast, its size staggering. The polished black metal floor stretched out in every direction, reflecting the flickering lights above like a dark mirror. The walls were lined with strange, alien designs, their intricate patterns pulsating faintly with energy. 

In the center of the room stood the artifact—a towering structure, jagged and asymmetrical. The energy emanating from it was unlike anything else. It was ancient, malevolent, and alive. 

"Secure the area!" Thorn commanded, his voice cutting through the silence. "AT-TEs, hold position! Infantry, perimeter around the artifact! Watch for incoming hostiles! Close the gaps of the AT-TEs AND AT-APs." 

The clones moved with practiced precision, forming a defensive line around the artifact. AT-TEs and AT-APs positioned themselves strategically, their legs carefully navigating the uneven terrain to avoid crushing their comrades. The sound of boots on metal filled the chamber as squads took cover behind debris and machinery. 

Droids began to pour in from the entrances, but their tactics were different now. They no longer fired their weapons, instead hurling themselves at the clones with reckless abandon, their mechanical limbs clawing desperately at the defensive line. 

"They're not shooting," Fordo noted grimly, his twin blasters mowing down another wave. "They can't risk shooting the structure." 

"Hold them back!" Thorn barked, firing his rifle in controlled bursts. "No droid gets through!" 

The clones fought with determination, their blasters cutting down the relentless tide of enemies. Explosions rocked the chamber as the AT-TEs unleashed their cannons, creating fiery bursts that lit up the room. 

One droid broke through, throwing its body at an already damaged AT-TE, cracking the glass as the pilot reached for his waist, grabbing a blasted just as the droid's hand breached the glass. A small hole was formed as it attempted to reach the clone, its hand trying to grasp him before it found itself with two holes in its torso. As it lumped in place, the pilot reached for the controls again before the droid suddenly exploded, the AT-TE legs giving out as all control was cut, crushing 3 troopers covering its belly. 

While the battle raged, Lelouch strode calmly toward the artifact. The oppressive energy it radiated seemed to grow stronger with every step, wrapping around him like an invisible shroud. The clones closest to it felt its presence too, their breaths quickening, their hands tightening on their weapons. 

Lelouch placed his hand on the cold, crystalline surface. The moment he made contact, the air seemed to vibrate, and the chamber was bathed in a faint, malevolent glow. The Force surged around him, and the artifact's presence lashed out, probing his mind with dark whispers. 

It offered power, control, dominion over the galaxy itself. It promised him victory, a future where no one could challenge him. But Lelouch's lips curled into a mocking smile. 

"How pathetic," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the din of battle. 

Through the Force, he saw it clearly now—a swirling mass of darkness, writhing and howling in defiance. It was ancient, predatory, and cunning, but it was no match for his will. Lelouch extended his hand within the Force, grasping the entity as if it were a physical object. 

The entity screeched, its wail echoing in Lelouch's mind as he clenched his hand tighter. It squirmed, trying desperately to escape, but his grip was absolute. The darkness shrank, folding in on itself until it was nothing more than a small, trembling ball of malevolence. 

"You are mine now," Lelouch said, his Geass flaring to life in his eyes. The command was irresistible, an unbreakable chain binding the entity to his will. 

The ball of darkness shuddered one final time before going still, hovering docilely before him. 

The moment the entity submitted, a ripple spread through the Force, radiating outward from the artifact. The droids stopped mid-assault, their mechanical limbs freezing in place. Then, as if responding to an unspoken command, they straightened and fell into perfect formation, standing motionless around the perimeter of the chamber. 

Thorn lowered his weapon, staring at the silent droid army in disbelief. "What… what just happened?" 

Fordo approached, his expression a mixture of awe and skepticism. "General?" 

Lelouch turned away from the artifact, the glowing energy around it now dim and subdued. He looked at his soldiers, his purple eyes shining with authority. " This station, its facilities, its power… it all belongs to the Zero Legion now." 

A cheer erupted from the clones, their voices echoing through the chamber. The sound was a stark contrast to the silence that had preceded it, a triumphant roar. 

Lelouch cast one last glance at the artifact. The ball of darkness hovered obediently at his side, its malevolence now harnessed to his will. 

"Have our fighters dock, take a team to the control room and transmit the following codes on an open channel for 15 minutes in 5 min intervals." he ordered, passing a small holo-disk to Fordo as the steadfast loyal trooper nodded and grabbed the comms officer with him. 

'It's ours.' A familiar voice whispered within. 

'Nearly two years of dragging our feet across the galaxy, from one end to another. While I had no idea of what awaited, this has more than paid off, assuming it isn't simply a massive factory.' 

'It's not. Factories can be built with ease. They have no need for the immaterium, for the force. This thing is far more than just a shipyard.' 

'Then we better head to the control room as well.' 

'And your troops? They all saw what you have done here today. It would be much easier if they simply... disappeared.' 

'They are needed for after the establishment, they are my witnesses.' Lelouch commented, continuing on. 'This game is coming to an end. They will be stationed in this station until that moment comes. Oversight will be needed and a couple of thousand might impact the Legion, but not the war itself. Either way, I can't come up with a feasible cover to what happened here, at least not fast enough. I'll have to facilitate an emergency situation. It'll allow me to execute emergency deployment protocols and bypass the core worlds and head to the outer rim and possibly remain there until the time is right.' 

'Our toy general will have a busy day. The feedback from his new equipment was extremely positive, so I doubt he'll refuse to any tasks you put him up to.' it whispered once again. 

'He won't. He has a rare quality. He knows his place.' 

'A rare quality indeed. One that the chosen one does not share. In due time, he will become an obstacle...' it was almost as if it whispered right next to his ear. 

'In due time... he will be inconsequential.' A cold glint passed in Lelouch's eyes as Tzeentch's laughter ringed in his mind.