The giant corporations that started from Night City

Chapter 344: Annihilation of Jedha! Orbital bombardment! Loser eats dust!
“I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know it.”

Paul answered truthfully.

"Is that so? It doesn't matter if you don't know each other. After all, so many years have passed since the war, and many things have changed."

"But I have contacted Karl recently. If there is a chance later, you two can communicate in person."

Grela said this with a smile on his face, but to Paul it sounded like he was continuing to test him.

After all, no matter how well a Jedi Knight is faked, his identity will be instantly exposed when he encounters the real thing!
However, Paul remained very calm. He knew that Jedha could not wait any longer and everything here would be destroyed by the Death Star.

As long as there are no Jedi here, he can continue to use this identity to his advantage.

"Okay, that's certainly good." Paul nodded and agreed.

After confirming Paul's identity, Gerrera noticed Jyn Erso behind him.

The two seemed to have known each other for a long time. The moment Gerrera saw Qin, he immediately revealed a look of surprise and joy.

"Jin! It's really you, this is so great!"

Compared to the overjoyed Gerrera, Jyn Erso's attitude towards Gerrera seemed very cold. She responded in a cold voice:

"Yeah, you're surprised to see me still alive, aren't you!"

It turned out that Qin had carried out a reconnaissance mission on the planet Tamsiya not long ago.

But at that time, the resistance army was betrayed by the traitor Reese, and the Imperial Army sent TIE fighters to bomb the factory, causing heavy losses to the resistance army.

In such a chaotic situation, Saw Gerrera had no choice but to let Jean hide under the bunker temporarily and come to pick her up after the incident calmed down.

But what Gerrera didn't expect was that after bombing the factory, the Imperial Army actually sent Star Destroyers to continue a round of orbital bombing!
If Jyn Erso had not followed a pilot and escaped in time by boat, she might have died in the orbital bombing.

After learning that the Imperial Star Destroyer had bombed the planet Tamsiyah, Saw Gerrera mistakenly believed that Jyn had died in the bunker, so he did not risk sending anyone back to check on the situation.

After all, in an area bombed by a Star Destroyer, it would be impossible for any creature to survive, let alone a bunker, even if they dug a hundred meters underground!

"You are still on our side, right?"

Gerrera asked hesitantly. It was obvious that he felt quite guilty for not being able to go back in time to save Jean.

Since his old friend Galen Erso entrusted his daughter to him, Gerrera also treated Jyn as his own daughter.

It's a pity that fate plays tricks on people.

Facing Gerrera's self-blaming expression, Jean acted very indifferent. She still said coldly:
"The last time we met, you gave me a gun and a knife and told me to wait for you in the bunker, but what happened? You ran away and never came back!"

"I tried hard to come back and save you, but the situation was too complicated. There was a traitor in our team, and the Empire sent a Star Destroyer to conduct orbital bombardment... I, I'm sorry."

Gerrera knew that no matter what he said, it would be useless.

However, he did have some selfish thoughts at that time, which was to let Qin die in the bombing of the empire.

Because once Jyn is captured by the Imperial Army, Galen Erso will definitely be held hostage by the Empire and forced to continue creating more terrifying Death Star weapons!

As long as Jean dies, the rebels will have a lot less trouble, and Galen, who has no worries, can die to show his determination and resolutely refuse to help the Empire continue to develop the Death Star.

This would be good for everyone except Qin, as it's unfair to her.

"You know, since that day, I miss you all the time. I regret leaving you in the bunker, but it's too late."

"Now that you've joined the Rebel Alliance, why did they send you here?"

Gerrera did not regret the past for too long. As the leader of the rebels, he had too many things to focus on. It was enough for him to just do some superficial regret.

Gerrera was a little nervous about Jyn's purpose of coming this time, because in the melee in Jedha City not long ago, Captain Cassian and Jyn killed a member of the resistance.

This made Gerela think that the rebels were planning to challenge him.

Fortunately, Jyn Erso just shook her head and told the real purpose of her visit: "The Rebels want to find my father's whereabouts. It is said that my father sent you a piece of weapons intelligence."

"The rebels asked me to come and help, and they also hope that you can help them."

Hearing this, Paul, who had been watching the show the whole time, suddenly became alert. These two people finally talked about the most critical intelligence information!

It turned out that the pilot that the Imperial Army had been hunting down in Jedha was the messenger sent by Galen Erso to deliver weapons intelligence.

And that pilot should be in the rebel base now!
In fact, this so-called weapons intelligence is not the information about the Death Star design drawings, but the location of the Death Star design drawings and the fatal flaw left by Jyn's father Galen Erso on the Death Star.

After all, it is impossible to fit all the design drawings and information of the Death Star into a thin envelope, and it can only convey brief key information.

After learning the real purpose of Jyn Erso's visit, Gerrera felt relieved. As long as she was not here to seek revenge, everything would be fine.

It just so happened that he didn't know what to do with the pilot for the time being.

"Okay, I can give you the information I received, but this may be a trap set by the Empire. You have to be mentally prepared."

After saying that, Gerrera turned around and led everyone towards the depths of the base.

……

At the same time, the Death Star far away in outer space is gradually approaching the planet Jedha.

At this moment, the Death Star's built-in super laser cannon has begun its startup procedure, and the huge calibration system is aiming at the area where Jedha City is located.

Orson Krennic, the director in charge of supervising the construction of the Death Star, and Governor Wilhuff Tarkin, who was sent by the Empire to carry out the suppression operation, were standing in front of the Death Star's central console, examining the nearby planet Jedha.

Facing this Force exploration star that was about to be destroyed, they only felt an unprecedented sense of comfort at this moment, which was much better than relying on the clone army to destroy a civilization.

It’s more satisfying to watch the Death Star destroy a planet with one shot!
At this moment, after receiving the order from the front-line warship, Orson turned around and reported to Governor Tarkin:
"Mr. Governor, our imperial forces have almost withdrawn. We can officially order the destruction of Jedha in three hours!"

"Now, you can choose to start with Jedha City and conduct a round of orbital bombardment."

"very good!"

Tarkin nodded with satisfaction. Palpatine, the chief governor of the Galactic Empire, had issued an order long ago that any area where Jedi Knights appeared must be strictly searched. However, the residents of Jedha City knew about this but did not report it. According to Decree No. 66, these imperial citizens who sheltered Jedi Knights would have to be executed!
"Let's start from Jedda City. Don't leave any one behind."

As for the area of ​​Jedha City, Tarkin certainly knew that there were many rebels hiding there.

But as long as there is no major chaos, they can completely suppress the uprising with the help of the imperial troops stationed on the ground.

But now, traces of Jedi Knights have appeared in the city of Jedha, so Tarkin must do it even if it means that the entire planet will be buried with them.

Otherwise, once the news of the Jedi Knights' return spreads, there will be a crazy uprising in all parts of the empire, and the situation at that time will not be something they can withstand.

After receiving Tarkin's nod of approval, Orson immediately issued an order to his subordinates at the control console: "Target Jedha, prepare to start all reactors."

"Notify the Star Destroyers to prepare for orbital bombing and completely destroy Jedha City!"

"receive--!"

The soldiers in front of the control panel began to activate the Death Star's activation device, preparing to bring down the death judgment on the planet Jedha.

The messenger delivered the order to bomb Jedha City to the Star Destroyer Headquarters.

At this moment, Paul, who was far away in the rebel base, was checking the message from Galen Erso with Saw Gerrera.

It was a holographic projection. In the brief narration, Galen said that he, like the vast majority of scientists, was forced to work for the Empire.

However, Galen Erso was smarter than the researchers who were abandoned. He knew how to use the technology in his hands to make himself an indispensable part of the Death Star construction project.

The original design of the Death Star was almost complete, and even without his help, it could be completed with the subsequent efforts of other engineers.

But Galen Erso also improved the new version of the Death Star based on the first generation, and designed the prototype of Starkiller Base!
In addition, Galen left a hidden and fatal flaw in a certain part of the Death Star, which would allow the entire Death Star space station to be destroyed with just one proton torpedo.

It’s a pity that the Empire did not allow Galen Paul to have the design drawings of the Death Star, so he had no way of stealing the technology and could only guide everyone to the planet Scarif.

In the database there, they can find a complete engineering file. They can use the Death Star design drawings to find the Death Star's weaknesses and obtain new upgraded Death Star design drawings!
And this is exactly what Paul needs. He not only wants to get the drawings of Starkiller Base, but also wants to take out the internal core of the Death Star.

And this file is the resource they must get!

Just as everyone was listening to Galen Erso's message, there was a sudden commotion among the people outside. It turned out that there was a "solar eclipse" in the sky.

The entire star is shrouded in a huge black shadow, leaving only a dim edge halo that can provide some illumination.

"How is this possible... Jedha doesn't have a satellite that can produce a solar eclipse. What on earth is that thing?!"

Seeing this scene, Sow Gerrera's eyes were full of disbelief. The essence of a solar eclipse is that a satellite moves between a star and a planet, blocking the light of the star.

But Jedda does not have a satellite like the moon, so how could such a solar eclipse occur? What exactly blocked the light of the star?
Soon, everyone learned the truth about the Death Star from Paul. The ultimate weapon of the First Galactic Empire was heading here, and if they didn't leave, the only outcome would be death.

"It seems that the Imperial Army's actions are faster than the headquarters expected!"

Paul felt the situation was becoming increasingly tense, and he urged everyone, "We have to leave here. We can't delay any longer."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Star Destroyer's orbital bombardment of Jedha City had begun.

When dense beams of light fell on the distant city of Jedha, the entire earth began to tremble and shake, and ripples spread in all directions.

Countless rocks and soil flew into the air and turned into stone rain that fell on various places. In the blink of an eye, the former Force pilgrimage site disappeared.

"The Empire's Star Destroyers have begun bombing!!"

The rebel soldiers who had seen the power of the Star Destroyer let out a cry of horror. They had witnessed this terrible orbital bombardment before.

After one round of bombing, all the buildings in the city will be reduced to ashes.

After realizing that the Imperial Army really intended to completely destroy Jedha, all the rebels began to board the spacecraft, preparing to quickly leave this place that was about to become hell.

Paul and Chini called back the Transformer spacecraft through communication and began to leave Jedha.

Since they have already obtained accurate clues, there is no need to trouble the headquarters to arrange the Sojourner Dreadnought to stop the destruction of the Death Star.

But when everyone was boarding the spaceship and preparing to leave Jedha, only Saw Gerrera remained indifferent, as if he was ready to live and die with the rebel base.

Jyn Erso pulled Gerrera to leave together, but Gerrera smiled and shook his head, saying:

"I am already a dying man. I will not run away this time. Jean, you must complete your mission with the Jedi Knights and fight against the Empire with the Rebel Army and the Jedi Order."

"I will stay here and witness the last moment of Planet Jedda!"

Gerrera knew that he didn't have much time left. Even if he escaped in a desperate situation, he wouldn't live long. It would be better for him to stay with his uprising group and go to "eternal life".

After persuading Jyn Erso to leave, Gerrera and a very small number of rebel subordinates saw the scene of the Death Star launching the super laser cannon.

The moment the beam of light fell on the ground, they felt that the ground beneath their feet had become extremely soft, as if magic had been cast on it, as if they would sink into it in the next second.

In fact, the Death Star's laser cannon will reach deep into the earth's core, destroying the core and causing the entire planet's structure to collapse and disintegrate.

When Paul and Chinnie drove the transforming spaceship out of the atmosphere and into space, they witnessed with their own eyes how wide the damage range caused by the Death Star's attack was.

The entire planet's crust began to collapse inward like a broken eggshell, and hot magma gushed out from the center of the earth.

Just like the blood gushing out from the aorta and spilling into outer space, the planet Jedha is about to come to an end!
But the light beams emitted by the Death Star were still accelerating the process of the planet's breakup. The collision of the continental plates caused major earthquakes and tsunamis with waves hundreds of meters high inside Jedha.

Countless shocking cracks in the ground began to emerge, and sea water poured into the deep cracks, emitting bursts of white smoke.

At this moment, the planet Jedha finally couldn't hold on any longer, and began to rapidly collapse and disintegrate from deep within the core. Matter on the planet began to spill outward, forming a thick cloud of dust.

Fortunately, the transforming spaceship that Paul and Chini were riding on had a superluminal engine, which allowed them to quickly shake off the rocks and soil behind them and escape the range of the planet's explosion.

At this moment, the planet Jedda has turned into countless broken debris, with only a large number of rocks thrown outward. The spacecraft that escaped slowly can only be forced to "eat dust".

Die together with Jedda!
Soon, the planet named Jedda completely ceased to exist, leaving only a sparse asteroid belt that could vaguely outline the planet's former shape.

(End of this chapter)