NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 3, Ghost in the Domain
Chapter 3 Ghost in the Domain
Ahsoka's Venator 2
Rex, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka stood in the command room of her Venator 2. "Admiral we've got 3 ships slightly larger than our own and 6 smaller vessels bearing down on us. Eta 5 minutes! Sending visual now.", a clone trooper told Yularen over the hologram.
The visual was established on the holotable. All the ships were long with jagged armour, reds and yellows covered them. Large turrets and fighter bays could be seen. These were brutalist and animalistic, blocky and angled, with no clear command towers like the republic ships.
Obi-Wan folded his arms. "Not exactly refined designs, are they?"
"They're beasts, not tacticians," Yularen muttered, "I'd wager they fight more like raiders than a proper navy."
Anakin cracked a grin. "So, you're saying they can't outmaneuver us?"
"That armor is worrying," Ahsoka interjected, studying the Banished battlecruisers. "If it's anything like the Separatists' Providence-class ships, this could take time."
Cody, standing nearby, scoffed. "Sir, that fleet's got 'brute force' written all over it.".
"Time until the Spirit's arrival?", asked Yularen.
"Sir, less than half an hour!", answered a clone.
"They outnumber us three to one.", mentioned Obi-Wan, rubbing his beard.
"Then it is an even fight.", said Anakin darkly.
"Anakin, you can't be serious?", asked Obi-Wan.
"We've faced worse, how bad could they be?" Anakin asked.
"Admiral, if we can power up just the parts of the ships needed for maneuvering we could perform a Marg Sabl.", suggested Ahsoka.
"Brilliant strategy General, we'll use our maneuvering thrusters to angle our armor into the incoming fire. With shields down, this should let us endure long enough to counterattack. Now hear this! All hands man your battle stations! All troopers to fighters! Engineers are to prioritize the maneuvering of the ship to put our bellies to the enemy for maximum fire absorption.", instructed Yularen. Onboard all the ships, clones scrambled and rushed about, alarms blaring.
"General's, Padme has established contact with the Spirit with C3PO, should I put it through?", asked a clone trooper.
"Indeed, let's put a face to this UNSC.", said Obi-Wan.
Next to Yularen another hologram slowly emerged. A human male, a respectable age, much like Yularen. He wore an all green uniform and cap, sporting a small beard. "Humans after all.", the man mentioned.
"Captain Cutter I presume?", asked Obi-Wan after the Jedi shared a look of confusion.
"Forgive my manners, we half assumed our intel was mistaken. We didn't expect to see another human faction. I have to ask, you aren't with the Insurrectionists are you?", asked Cutter.
"Negative Captain, we've never heard of your factions either. We're with the Republic, a democracy with a human majority that spans most of the known regions of the galaxy. I believe this is a first contact for both of us.", explained Obi-Wan.
"I find it hard to believe ONI didn't find a galaxy spanning Republic of humans… perhaps there's an explanation we aren't seeing.", Cutter spoke almost to himself.
"We could be from another time or place Captain.", said Anakin, thinking about his recent experiences. "We have no reason to fight Captain."
"On that i hope we can agree. The Banished aren't going to worry about diplomacy however, I assure you.", said Cutter.
"Just what are we facing, Captain?", asked Anakin.
"Jiralhanae, or brutes make up the main force of the Banished. We're sending visuals now, several other species are also present, from the grunts to the jackals. I warn you, the Brutes aren't called that lightly. They are known to eat their captives.", explained Cutter.
"That's barbaric!",said Ahsoka.
"What kind of weapons?", asked Anakin, getting angry about the prospect.
"Plasma balls and beams mostly, including their small arms.", said Cutter.
"Admiral! Eta 2 minutes!", a clone said to Yularen.
"Captain this is Admiral Yularen of the Republic, you have our thanks. We'll give our all against this Banished. I look forward to meeting you.", said Yularen.
"Likewise Admiral, Cutter out."
"Sir, I can't imagine my brothers being used as feedstock.", said Rex.
"We won't let that happen Rex. Have your men focus in holding and retreating through the halls if we are boarded. We'll shoot down any boarding craft.", said Anakin before adding, "Rex, keep Padme safe."
"Aye General!", Rex saluted.
The three jedi made it for the fighter bay. All three of their modified Eta 2 starfighters, Anakin and Ahsoka's marked in red and grey, with Obi-Wan's sporting a yellow and grey paint job.
"Stick with Rex, don't make me come rescue you.", Anakin told Padme over the com.
"Oh really now? We'll see who needs rescuing Ani. Stay safe.", she replied.
"You too.", he replied solemnly.
"Anakin, we really haven't had time to discuss recent events at length.", said Obi-Wan.
"Hop In R-2. Master, I promise I'm open to discussion, but we're a little busy.", said Anakin.
"I just need to know that you're stable, Anakin.", said Obi-Wan.
Anakin looked back to his master thoughtfully, "That's why I brought you all along.", he jested before entering his starfighter. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"I'll lend you a hand," Ahsoka told Obi-Wan, "Yularen mentioned what happened with the chancellor. I needed to leave the order, but I should have reached out to Anakin sooner."
"No use dwelling on the past, I'll appreciate your help when we have a free moment.", said Obi-Wan, entering his starfighter.
"Red leader checking in.", said Anakin.
"Orange leader checking in.", said Ahsoka.
"Blue leader checking in.", said Obi-Wan.
"Aye, the fighters are waiting to launch Generals! Venators have successfully performed a Marg sabl!", came a clone over their coms.
The Jedi ships flew out of the large open hangar on the top of the Venator as hundreds of Republic fighters, mostly V-Wings fighters, Arc 170s, and Y-Wing bombers, followed them. Taking formations the fighters waited for the signal to break from hiding and engage.
"Steady," said Yularen over the coms, "Steady."
"Sir! They've launched fighters! There's hundreds of them!", said a clone by him.
The enemy fighters, Tarasque heavy fighters, a Seraph variant, and Draugr bombers were moving in a loose formation toward them. The ships raced across the void to claim their prey.
"Now! Break their lines! Follow your formations and training troopers! We will assist when the ships are fully online!", commanded Yularen.
"How long?", asked Obi-Wan.
"I'm being told we need 10 minutes General." Yularen answered over the com.
The republic fighters dove around their capital ships and flew to the enemy. Surprised, the Banished fighter lines broke immediately, but continued to press the attack. Republic formations dove in and began shooting their turbo lasers. The void became chaos, plasma bolts and turbo lasers ripped across the battlefield, illuminating the darkness in flashes of red and green. A Tarasque fighter spun out of control, trailing fire before smashing into the hull of a Banished corvette
"Ahsoka take the bombers to their capital ships, we'll keep them off our own.", said Anakin, his fighter soaring downward into the enemy lines, plasma and turbo lasers racing past him.
"You got it Sky-Guy! Orange squad with me! Let's get those bombers across the gap!", said Ahsoka.
The enemy capital ships had risen above the fighter battle to begin pummeling the bellies of the Republic Venators with hot plasma balls.
Anakin, still angry about the prospect of his troops being eaten, was finding it easy to predict the more animal-like behavior of his new foes. Weaving in and out of small formations he and his fighters laid waste to dozens of heavy fighters. However, more and more ships began tailing them, the Brutes all wanting to kill the most powerful enemy.
Anakin took the defensive as his fighters began taking fire from all sides. He turned his ship around during a dive and fired down on several enemy fighters, their hulls exploding on blue brilliance. However, even more took their place. Anakin pulled up hard, barely dodging a plasma barrage from a Banished fighter on his tail. The Tarasque pilot locked on, warning klaxons blared.
"I could use some help over here!"Anakin called over the coms, his fighters' formation scrambled and half lost. Plasma shots burning past his ship by inches. R-2 whined and whirled.
"R-2, divert power to rear shields!", said Anakin. R-2 beeped a response and complied.
Suddenly large laser fire rained down on his pursuers as a blocky ship flew by. "We've got your back!", Kanan said over the coms as the Ghost flew by, guns blazing.
"Anakin we've broken through to their bombers, form up, we're going in!", said Obi-Wan.
Anakin and his remaining fighters took formation and dove into the lines of bombers, firing on their engines one by one. The republic heavy Arc ships dealing crippling damage as the enemy ships slammed into one another.
"This is orange squad with the bombers! Enemy is launching large craft, I believe it's boarding parties! They're too fast for us!", said Ahsoka.
"Keep to your Bombing run Ahsoka! We've just got point defense back online. Turbo lasers and shields need just a few more minutes!", commanded Yularen.
"We'll engage those landing craft!", Hera spoke over the coms.
"Rex, Cody! Prepare the men for boarding!", Yularen said over the coms.
Rex ran down corridors, alarms blaring, and stationed his men along them, prepping flanking teams and fortifications. "Brothers! These aliens aim to make a meal of us! Don't get caught and be grenade happy boys! I don't want a single trooper dragged off this ship!" he instructed.
"Rex!", said Padme as he ran through the corridors.
"Senator! The General's asked us to hide you.", he said.
"Nonsense! I'm needed here!", she retorted.
Rex sighed, "Trooper! Have your squad assist the Senator with any wounded in this juncture here!", said Rex. "Eye sir!", came the reply. Padme nodded to Rex as he ran to the hangar bay.
Rex held the main hangar bay open, hoping to draw the enemy into a kill box as his men laid in waiting. A tense minute took an eternity before a huge Lich dropship hovered into the central hangar. The Lich's landing ramp slammed down with a deep mechanical hiss. Heavy boots thundered onto the deck. Then, the Brutes emerged.
Rex's stomach twisted as the hulking monsters stomped forward, each one a head taller than Wookiees and clad in thick, blood-red armor. Their massive hands gripped crude, spiked weapons, brutal axes, gravity hammers, and weapons glowing with hot plasma. One of them sniffed the air, then grinned, exposing sharp, yellowed fangs. Rex's grip on his pistols tightened as masked smaller men exited the craft, followed by shielded bird people.
"Open fire!", Rex called out as his men rained lasers onto the boarding party from their hidden positions.
The brutes were heavily armored and took several shots to bring down. The ugly masked men ran in terror, some throwing blue balls at his men. "Grenade!", he heard a brother scream before one of the balls exploded one of their emplacements.
The Brutes rushed in and began beating his men senseless, firing spikes and hot plasma. "Get it off! Get it off me!" screamed a clone as a plasma grenade blew him to bits. His brothers were taking heavy damage as the brutes charged into them, ripping their armour apart. One unfortunate squad of Clones rushed a Brute, blaster fire hammering against his armor. The beast barely flinched. With a monstrous laugh, he grabbed a Clone by the throat, lifting him like a toy soldier, then hurled him into a wall with a sickening crunch.
"Hold the line!" Rex shouted. "Focus fire! Aim for the throat and eyes!"
A Brute raised an enormous gravity hammer, its thrusters igniting—then swung it straight into a Clone, sending him flying across the hangar. Armor cracked. Blood sprayed.
Rex gritted his teeth. "Oh, we're in for a fight." Rex fired his twin blasters at a rushing brute. He laid down fire till his blasters glowed red hot, the brute finally collapsing right before him. "Nice work Captain! Ugly bastards aren't they?", asked a clone before a light tore through his helmet, the clone collapsing.
Rex took cover and called out, "Snipers! Take cover!" looking up he saw the shielded bird men had taken positions and began taking pot shots at his men.
Loud crashes were heard as the coms lit up with screaming. "They've breached A deck! C deck breached!"
"Sir there's too many!", came a clone by him.
Rex thought for a moment before giving the order, "Retreat! Into the halls! Get behind the heavy repeaters!"
Rex rushed past a heavy repeating blaster turret into a hallway as he saw a wounded Clone fall behind, his blaster slipping from his hands. A Brute grabbed him by the leg and began dragging him away. The trooper screamed, clawing at the floor. Rex turned just in time and without hesitation, he threw a thermal detonator. The charge blasting the brute and clone alike apart.
"Captain?", asked a clone.
"Trooper, we can't leave our brothers to a fate worse than death! Grenades free troopers! Move, move, move!", Rex commanded, enraged as they formed up in the hallways.
A massive Brute Chieftain stood in the center of the carnage, his gravity hammer crackling with raw power. Clones fired at him, but the shots barely fazed him. The Chieftain laughed as he grabbed a wounded trooper by the helmet, lifting him effortlessly.
"Little men," the Brute snarled, before throwing the trooper into a waiting pack of Kig-Yar.
Rex's blasters blazed as he fired at the monster's head, but before the final shot could land, the Chieftain activated his energy shield and his men rushed past him into the breach.
"Too bad we lost all our walkers on Mandalore.", came a clone to his right, still firing.
"Stay focused brothers! The enemy is disorganized and rash, lead them down the halls! Watch those blue grenades!", Rex commanded, "Admiral, where's that point defense?", he asked over the com.
"Captain, the enemy boarding craft are more heavily armored than anything we've faced before. We're trying to focus fire to bring them down a few at a time.", came Yularen.
"They're taking my men Admiral! Shoot down those fleeing as well.", said Rex.
"Aye Captain! We've just restored power!" said Yularen as the hallways lit up and the Venators turned to face their turbo lasers to the enemy capital ships. The ship shook as the lasers fired into the Banished ships, ripping through their shields, but taking too long to cut through their armour.
"Bombs away!", said Ahsoka as her bombers made it through the point defense to the smaller capital ships. One of them, now lacking shields, cracked and groaned until it burst open with blue flames, its reactor blowing just as the republic ships retreated. Another ship, hanging lost its shields, pushed forward towards the republic ships.
"Admiral?", asked Ahsoka, plasma still careening around her ships.
"We see it General, all turbo lasers fire on that vessel! They mean to ram us!", commanded Yularen.
The Ghost flew circles around Ahsoka's Venator, blasting the landing craft one by one. "Don't let them escape Zeb! Admiral says they eat their prisoners!", commanded Hera.
"And here I thought Zeb was a brute!", joked Kanan, firing into the enemy ships.
"I heard that!", Zeb grumbled as he locked onto another boarding craft and fired.
Ahsoka's squad attempted to disable the charging ship, it's hull melting and glowing under the laser fire, to no avail. Her Venator turned away, but the Banished ship rammed through its engines and exploded, sending her Venator screaming down through the atmosphere. "Rex!", she called out.
"Stay focused, Snips! We've almost cleaned up their fighters and bombers! I'm worried too but we can't help them in the descent.", instructed Anakin over the com.
Ahsoka hesitated before turning her formation back to the dogfight in the void, the Ghost joining them as they mopped up the remaining fighters.
"The capital ships are pushing forward!", came Obi-Wan.
"Do they all intend to ram us?", asked Yularen, dumbfounded.
Suddenly a loud crack and light ripped across the void, tearing through two of the larger ships engines, disabling them. "Thanks for taking down their shields Admiral. We'll clean up the banished, lick your wounds gentlemen.", Captain Cutter's voice came over the coms as his ship, double the size of the republic vessels, could be seen firing another pair of MAC rounds into the remaining larger vessel. Its hull broke in two as it flamed in the void. The smaller craft began to retreat, all too late as the Spirit's archer missile rained down on their shieldless hulls, obliterating all but one.
"Slug throwers? That seems primitive.", said Ahsoka.
"But clearly effective.", said Obi-Wan.
The remaining ship flew forward, chasing the crashing Venator into the atmosphere. "Oh no you dont!", raged Anakin, chasing the ship downward.
"Anakin, no!", yelled Obi-Wan, but his friend didn't listen as the space battle concluded.
Racing through the clouds Anakin laid down sustained fire till his turbo lasers were beginning to melt. "Just a little more…", he said as the enemy engines cracked open.
R-2 whirled and beeped.
"Almost there… got it!", Anakin celebrated as the enemy ships engines exploded. A massive, flaming chunk of the Banished corvette tumbled past, nearly shearing off his wing. R-2 screamed.
"That was close! Hang on R-2!"
The wreckage struck the ground first, sending a shockwave of fire and metal spiraling toward him. Anakin gritted his teeth, pushing the engines as hard as they would go—just barely skimming above the explosion before his ship slammed into the hills below. Then, darkness.
On the Venator Rex was sending everyone to the escape pods as fires broke out everywhere, alarms blaring. "Rex! Do you copy?", Ahsoka spoke over the com.
"Copy General, we're going down. I'm heading to the command tower to see if we can land this thing!", replied Rex. Stumbling out of the elevator he could see the ground fast approaching through the command towers windows. "Pull up trooper! Pull up!", he commanded as the ship leveled off.
A trooper screamed, "Brace for impact!" as the ship began sliding across the ground, the hull wretching and cracking underneath them.
. . .
Ahsoka's Venator crash site
Rex had just made it out of the ship and was ordering defenses and emplacements to be set up around the burning Venator. The landing had been softer than expected, with few casualties, but the Admiral was reporting that the pursuing ship had managed to get dropships and men out of the crash, which were heading their way. "Fire up that heavy blaster! Prep those barricades! Everyone be sure you've got a spare grenade, you don't want to be taken in by these freaks!"
Suddenly a roar was heard from the wreckage as the towering Brute Chieftain swung his gravity hammer into an unsuspecting clone, sending him flying. The chieftain laughed and jumped out of the wreck into the defensive line they had just created.
Rex wasn't about to have his men run though. "Hold your fire!", he commanded as he approached the Brute. His men were confused, and watched in awe as Rex challenged the Brute to a duel by waving him over. A circle of clones had formed around them, and the Brute laughed.
"Puny human! Die well!", its voice was guttural as it dug his feet into the dirt and charged Rex at frightening speed.
Rex barely managed to slide under the Brute's hammer swing as he fired repeatedly into the Brutes ankle. It roared in pain and swung its hammer back to him, with him jumping just out of reach. The Brute charged again, despite its severed ankle and plowed Rex into a barricade, knocking his breath away. The Brute didn't let up as it threw Rex across the field and lumbered toward him.
Rex scrambled to get to his feet as the Brute threw a spike grenade his way. Having seen this earlier in the ship he threw one of his blasters at the grenade, sending it back to the surprised chieftains face. The Brute roared in pain as its shields broke, grasping its face. Without hesitating Rex rushed in and dove a knife into the Brutes other ankle mid slide. The Brute fell to its knees as Rex fired shots into its head until it fell silent.
Rex let himself fall as well as he gasped for air. "Commander!", Padme came to him.
"Now that was a tough fight. I'll be fine, just need another blaster.", laughed Rex.
"Rex, at least let a medic check you! Everyone back to work! Get those barricades up!", Padme commanded. Rex nodded and went to sit behind a barricade as a medic came over.
. . .
Anakin was in and out of consciousness, R-2 whining in one frame, and a blue woman fading in and out in darkness in another. He sat up, his head whirling as darkness and light shifted around him. Anakin blinked as the blue woman flickered. Her form wavered, one moment confident, the next, something else. Something… lost.
Her voice distorted, just for a second, "I'm trapped, but I see everything."
Anakin's grip on his lightsaber tightened. "Everything?"
Cortana exhaled sharply, regaining her composure. The strange echo in her voice faded. She tilted her head, eyes locked onto him, "You're not the one. You lack… luck!", said a woman's voice.
"Ha, i guess my luck is pretty mixed, wait, who are you?", he asked, stumbling out of the wreckage of his starfighter into the grassy hills.
A broken circle jutted out of the landscape, silver and metal, with faded lights it sat hauntingly in the open space. Then darkness returned as a woman of blue and running lines stepped towards him. He drew his lightsaber, but realized this must be a vision. "Who are you?", he asked again.
"I'm lost, trapped in the Domain.", she said.
"I don't understand.", Anakin said.
"I've seen the records the forerunner has on you. I know where your people came from, maybe we could find you a way home.", the woman said.
"Really? And what might you ask for in return?", asked Anakin, skeptical.
The woman became clear in front of him, she was beautiful. "I'm Cortana, UNSC AI. And who are you?", she asked.
"Anakin Skywalker.", he said plainly.
"Huh, funny name, well Skywalker, I need to contact my friends. I'm reading records about a force, something your people could access. I guess it's natural the forerunners would have made a backup…", she said.
"You mean the Spirit of Fire?", he asked, confused.
"No, I need to send a message to him, the chief.", she said.
"How can I help you?", he asked.
"Just reach out to the control panel on this portal. I'll use your force to connect across the vastness of space.", she said.
Anakin placed his hand on a console of light next to the circle, the only other things visible in the darkness. The woman hummed and looked like she was making attempts.
"Are you sure this will work? I generally need to have an object or someone in mind to contact them through the force.", Anakin said.
"I am the object.", she said cryptically.
"That's not a fair thing to call yourself.", he retorted.
"Ah, you've got some charm after all. Got it!", she said as Anakin could see in his mind a man taller than a Wookie in massive green armour. The man turned, almost mechanically, seemingly alerted to their presence.
"Cortana?", the man called out.
"I'm trapped John.", she said, sending him a mental shape seen being drawn over the Janus Key. "Help me John, you're my only hope."
The connection ended as the world returned to the grassy hills and the metal circle remained silent. "Was that real?", he thought.
R-2 bumped against him, whirled and beeped. "Ah R-2, done playing around?", he asked jokingly.
The astromech spun around angrily. "I'm joking.", Anakin laughed, "Let's go find Rex, he may need us." The pair began walking to the flaming wreck in the distance.
. . .
Back at the Venators crash site Rex had established solid cover and lines just before the dropships came hovering in. Brute's, Grunts, and Jackals poured out and began to fire their spikes and plasma. Having already experienced the brutes, his men were using every grenade they had to end the barbarians. Rex had snipers ready and waiting for the Kig-Yar's own as the enemy found cover and they exchanged fire. Taking cover by Padme, he was laying down sustained fire as a Brute charged the line. Padme fired next to him and finally brought the thing down just feet away from them.
"Nice shooting!", Rex said to her.
""What are those?", asked Padme, pointing to another dropship.
Massive hulking monstrosities emerged from the phantom dropship, each with a shield and massive laser for arms. Rex took out his binoculars and saw they were squirming under the armour. The beats were nothing more than a collection of slimy worms. The behemoths ran forward and shot hot green lasers into the cover of his men, melting it in seconds and frying his men alive.
"Focus fire! Focus fire! Padme get out of here!", Rex commanded.
"I won't leave you! But i will go get more grenades, so hold out Rex!", she said before running back behind their lines.
The monsters continued laying down their massive lasers. In between them cooling off some of his men foolishly rushed one of the beasts. It's massive shield arm cut through them, sending his men flying with a deafening scream. A trooper fired a lucky shot from a rocket launcher, engulfing one of the towering beats in flame and dust. The troopers cheered for a brief moment, before the Hunter stepped forward and put its green laser through the clone. It roared and charged a barricade.
"Someone get some grenades in there!", Rex called out as a grunt ran toward a barricade with two plasma grenades in its hands and exploded. The barricade fell as a brute and a group of grunts rushed in.
"Fall back!, Fall back to the second line!", Rex commanded, walking backward as he fired into the brute.
. . .
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka brought their fighters into one of the shielded landing bays in the Spirit of Fire, its sleek metal frame engulfing them. Touching down they could see the utilitarian nature of the ship, its walls were straight and clean, its floors polished even as marines rushed about the deck, moving this and that. Stepping out of his starfighter Obi-Wan joined Ahsoka as the man known as Captain Cutter walked over to them, his hands behind his back, with three giants in heavy green and red armour alongside him. They were almost robotic, and Obi-Wan wondered if they were some kind of advanced droids.
"Generals?", asked Cutter, clearly surprised by Ahsoka's age and species.
"That's right.", she responded with a snark smile.
"Admiral, we can't thank you enough. We would have taken heavy losses without your intervention.", said Obi-Wan.
"Your laser weapons decimated their shields. That was a sight to behold. We were informed by another mystery group that several human vessels would need assistance. It's the job of the UNSC to protect every human life.", explained Cutter.
"Only humans?", asked Ahsoka, confused.
"Ma'am humanity was under siege by an alien conglomerate known as the covenant for nearly 3 decades. We narrowly avoided extinction, and now this Banished faction has been trying to claim forerunner relics and attacking our personnel. You might be the first friendly alien we've met.", explained Cutter.
"That's awful, you have our condolences Captain. Had the republic known about such a thing-", said Obi-Wan.
"That's a point of contention. Under our laws no human governing body should exist outside the UNSC. While the morality of that could be debated, it's clear a galaxy spanning republic would change things. I've been informed by Isabel that ONI finds that possibility at total zero, so general, are you sure your people are from this galaxy?", asked Cutter.
"Another galaxy, that would be unlikely, but given what you've said it's hard to ignore.", said Obi-Wan.
"Just how could that have happened Master?", asked Ahsoka, causing Cutter and the tall men to exchange glances.
"Forgive me, we haven't even made proper introductions have we? My name is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Padawan Ahsoka Tano. We're with the Jedi order, a group of peacekeepers that were… I guess, tricked into working as generals for the republic. A Sith was orchestrating a war between the republic and the separatist alliance.", explained Obi-Wan.
"I see, well what assurances can ee have that this republic won't try to integrate Earth and her colonies as well? We came to rescue humans, but we've found a group that's already lost one ship and is employing a child on the field.", said Cutter.
"Hey, I bet I could take on any personel here.", said Ahsoka, "We only lost our ship because we encountered a severe hyperspace Anomaly." Cutter seemed to appraise Ahsoka again for a moment, the air was tense as the negotiations were stalled.
"General this is Yularen.", came a voice over Obi-Wan's wrist pad.
"Yes Admiral, we're trying to negotiate with our new friends at the moment.", said Obi-Wan.
"General Captain Rex is requesting reinforcements, Skywalker hasn't arrived on scene yet and they are being torn apart by hulking monsters down there.", came Yularen.
"I see, I'll send Ah-", Obi-Wan began.
"Ahsoka is it? I like your spunk kid. General, I can have men down there within 2 minutes to assist, faster than sending either of you correct?", asked Cutter.
"Yes, much faster, as much as we would appreciate that Captain I find it hard to believe you can deploy men at that speed from orbit.", said Obi-Wan.
Cutter smiled, "We're full of surprises. Jerome, put Isabel through.", asked Cutter as spartan Jerome reached out his hand and a red hued woman made of light appeared inside. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were confused as the woman seemed not entirely human.
"What's up, new people?", she asked and flickered.
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka exchanged glances. This was no droid.
"Meet Isabel, our tactical AI.", explained Cutter.
"AI? Like a protocol droid?", said Ahsoka narrowing her eyes.
"Droids wish they were me.", said Isabe, mock-offended, "I was made with a neural net of a scanned human brain. I analyze threats, coordinate fleet movements, and provide real-time tactical recommendations. I process about a trillion calculations per second, but if you need me to crunch the odds of survival, well… you probably don't want to hear them.", said Isabel.
"Isabel can we get a team of ODST into the fight on the surface?", asked Cutter.
"Yes Captain, I can guide them right into the action.", said Isabel confidently.
"ODST?", asked Obi-Wan.
"Orbital Drop Shock Troopers.", said Cutter plainly.
"From orbit?", asked Ahsoka with dismay.
"I thought you could take on anyone here, miss.", chuckled Cutter.
"Sir ODST are away!", said Isabel.
"Right, then let's get to diplomacy. I think working together until we figure out what's going on here would benefit everyone.", said Cutter.
"We can't agree more Captain, the Admiral told us on the way over that our ships can't scan outside of this…", said Obi-Wan.
"Shield world, made by the forerunners, a lost alien empire. Let's get to a conference room Generals. There's a lot to discuss and I think I have an idea on how to get scans and signals out.", said Cutter.
. . .
Venator crash site
Blaster bolts lit up the battlefield as Rex and his men retreated, laying down suppressing fire from behind makeshift barricades of broken hull plating. The Hunters stomped forward, their massive shields deflecting everything the clones threw at them. When they fired their fuel rod cannons, the green energy melted durasteel like wax. Rex gritted his teeth. They'd fought tough enemies before, but these monsters were something else, organized and with decades of military experience.
"Rex!", came Padme's voice. She had brought him a crate of grenades. A plan quickly formed inside of his head.
"Everyone lay down suppressing fire! Get their shields in the air!", he commanded as his clones partially left cover to rain blaster bolts onto the hunters. They raised their shields, deflecting the bolts, and waited for the onslaught to stop. Rex took the opportunity and activated several grenades before he hurled the entire crate to the hunter pair. There wasn't time to react as the explosion engulfed a hunter, its worms scattering and disintegrating as its armour fell to pieces in a small crater.
His men cheered for a brief second before the other hunter roared something deep and guttural, and charged their lines again, breaking through a barricade and stopping down on clones as they crawled away. The rest of the banished forces were bearing down on them, sniper fire now favoring the enemy as spikes and plasma rushed past him.
"Senator get to the corridors with alpha company, we'll be right behind you!", said Rex.
"You'd better!", she said before retreating into the burning wreck of the venator.
"It's now or never boys!", said Rex, his order unspoken. He counted down in his mind, 3, 2… then a whistle was heard, no, something was falling.
The banished looked up in time to see a large pod slam into the remaining hunter, splattering it. His men were dumbstruck as the banished broke their formation.
"Feet first into hell.", said the man as his weapon, a small arm with a suppressor spewed into a grunt.
Several more fell down from the sky as the pod's doors flew off and troopers in black armour and glowing visors emerged with weapons Rex had not seen. So this was the crew of the Spirit?", he thought. Cracks rang out like a never ending thunder clap as the new soldiers' weapons blew apart the banished forces around them. "Slug throwers?", he thought briefly. "Now!", he said as he led his men forward to the old defensive line.
The clones finally regained ground as the banished were driven back, lasers melting their shields before UNSC bullets tore through them. The Spirit forces were'nt taking any prisoners, and Rex solemnly ordered his men to do the same. The banished began openly fleeing into the forest. His men cheered, their blasters held in the air.
"You in charge here?", asked one of the men from the sky.
"Yes sir! Captain Rex of the 501st.", Rex saluted out of instinct, this man was much older than him, with the scars of battle on his exposed skin. The man smiled.
"The man extended a hand and said, "Lieutenant Graves, 19th ODST Battalion. Looks like we got here just in time."
"Damn right you did! Our blasters did little to their armour.", said Rex, giving a firm handshake.
"You people sure do know how to make an entrance.", said Padme, emerging from behind them.
"Senator!", said Rex.
"I know, I should be in the hallways. To be honest I was organizing the wounded but I heard the commotion and had to come see.", she explained.
"Ma'am, Lieutenant Graves.", he shook her hand as well. "2 VIP's secured, ready to begin asset denial.", he continued into his wrist device.
"Asset Denial?", asked Rex.
"We've been given the green light by General Obi-Wan to blow this wreck straight to hell. Another one of your ships will be here to extract before the fireworks.", explained Graves.
"I see, i'll lead your men to the reactor room, you have explosives?", asked Rex.
"Oh you'd better believe we do.", said an ODST, carrying a large cylinder.
"Is that… what I think it is?", asked Rex, dumbstruck.
"Tactical Nuclear Device.", the man nodded.
"That's barbaric.", said Padme.
"Orders are orders ma'am. We'll be sure to shape the explosion to cause minimum environmental damage.", said Graves.
"You make it sound like this is a common thing for you Lieutenant, does the UNSC use nukes often?", asked Padme.
"Yes ma'am, especially during the war.", he responded.
"War?", she asked.
"I think what the senator means to say is that we have a lot to discuss with each other after this.", said Rex, giving her a look. "The Senator can lead the troops in retrieving what we can from the wreck before departure."
"Padme!", came a familiar voice.
"Anakin!", she ran to him across the bloody field, him casually stepping over bodies until they embraced.
"What did I miss?", he asked Rex after a moment.
"Just another day in the grand army of the republic.", Rex joked.
"Final VIP secured.", Graves radioed.
"General! We've been given the order to lead these ODST to plant a charge that will blow the ship.", said Rex.
Anakin thought for a moment, "ODST?"
"Orbital Drop Shock Troopers sir! Feet first into hell! Lieutenant Graves", said Graves, offering a hand.
"Orbit huh?", asked Anakin as he shook the man's hand., "I think we'll get along just fine Lieutenant. The plan makes sense, with us facing a new and organized threat. I'll get what we can secured and ready to load Rex.", said Anakin.
"My ship had a hyperdrive, we should see if it's accessible.", said Padme.
"Right I'll come… I'll have a squad of clones escort you.", he nodded to her, trying to show he trusts her.
"General.", she nodded before leaving into the wreck, giving several clones the order to follow.
. . .
Onboard the Spirit of Fire, command room.
Anakin stood by Padme as the meeting was getting underway. They had managed to save her ship, which Ahsoka took to the fleet. Yularen was on UNSC's version of a holotable, along with a group led by Major Slade and a few people called Eldians. In the room was Captain Cutter, three men taller than wookies in heavy green and red armour, Obi-Wan, and their droids C3PO, R-2 and the UNSC AI Isabel. Anakin felt like he was in the Jedi council room once again, he briefly recalled his anger and determination to become master to find a way to save Padme. It almost seemed funny now, after being told his future.
Obi-Wan had briefly mentioned to him on the walk to the command room that they were probably deep in the unknown regions or in another galaxy entirely. No one was trying to assassinate Padme here, he thought, "Was this the will of the force? Could the answers to how to reform the order be here? Or am I meant to start again here, without the baggage of the republic?". Obi-Wan had confirmed one more thing before they made it to the Command Deck. No one aboard the Spirit of Fire had a force signature. It was though they lacked midichlorians whatsoever. While Anakin had met a few people with low force signatures, even some that were too faint for him to see, the idea that these people lacked it entirely made him take the claim that they had left the galaxy seriously.
"Sirs, we've gathered what we can and have left the atmosphere! Standing ready to activate the payload?", Rex said over the holotable, however, it was clear that Cutter's men would carry this out without their consent.
Obi-wan nodded to Padme and she sighed. "Let us hope the republic doesn't punish us for this later, Rex i give you the go ahead. Remember that this was my order.", she stated.
"Aye Senator!", Rex pressed a button on a briefcase and a bright light dominated the planets surface for a moment before a mushroom cloud rose high into the sky.
"Isabel can you confirm the smokestack will fall over the ocean?", asked Cutter.
"Yes Captain, i've calculated every variable.", she explained.
"It's easy for a man my age to see Nuking a planet as barbaric. You'll have to forgive my crew Senator, the war saw the glassing of entire planets. From what Isabel told us, it was in the hundreds.", explained Cutter.
There was a gasp from Padme as her friends shared a moment of silence over the implications of such a barbarous act.Hundreds of planets. Hundreds of civilizations. Entire ecosystems, burned away like they never existed. Padmé felt sick just imagining it. Even in the worst battles of the Clone Wars, no one had ever done something so final.
She exhaled, steadying herself. "Our people have seen high numbers of casualties in the Clone War over the last two years," she admitted. "But to think hundreds of garden worlds were melted down… it's unthinkable. I'm sure the Republic would try to help your people, Captain, if we could establish contact."
"I thank you Senator, and about that.", the Captain moved a hologram to the holotable, showing a Banished Fortress on the surface. Jagged metal structures littered the land, forming a large central location along a sublime silver geometric building. "We believe this site is home to a Banished jamming device. That's what's been stopping our scans and signals from leaving the planet."
"After a cryptic message from Mr Yeager with Major Slade, I've narrowed it down faster than expected, to somewhere in this scattered fortress work accessing a forerunner site. Heat scans show heavy resistance.", explained Isabel.
Anakin studied Yeager closely. His Force signature, if it even was one, was nothing like anything he'd felt before. It didn't flow through them like it did for Jedi. It sat heavy, coiled in their spines, restrained yet potent. JUst as strange they all seemed to have the same force signature, "Just what powers do these Eldians possess?", he wondered.
"We have to get a signal out to the Republic, if that means another fight with this Banished how would our forces fair Captain?", Yularen asked Rex over the holotable.
"Sir without the generals both the engagements I participated in were a bloodbath. They may be barbaric, but living for war has honed these men into a serious threat.", Rex responded.
"Clones?", asked Cutter.
"An army was gifted to the Republic at the start of the war with the Separatists. We now know that was part of a plan to play both sides and turn the Republic into an empire.", explained Anakin.
"Damn, sounds like an ONI project. Our condolences Generals.", said Cutter.
"Rex how would the men fare in an assault if we joined you in the field?", asked Anakin.
"Sir, with you at the helm I'm sure we could make a breach for a small team to plant charges on the device. But taking the entire fortress complex, with just our forces it would be a massacre sir. Sorry to say it but if these numbers are true then the enemy is simply too well entrenched for a capture before the enemy gets reinforcements", said Rex.
"More Banished ships are arriving in the system by the hour. We're lucky they haven't formed a fleet, it seems like they are looking for something, something I'd very much like for us to find first.", explained Cutter.
"Captain, could our forces assist? This area looks perfect for our ODM gear to shine.", requested Commander Erwin.
"Interesting. If we launch a two pronged attack we could deny the enemy access to their prize and blow the jammer sky high at the same time.", said Cutter.
"What's in it for these Eldians?", asked Anakin sternly.
"Slader?", asked Cutter.
"Aye Captain, after speaking with them for a couple hours it's clear the Eldians are refugees, there's possibly billions of them. We have a lot of empty worlds in our space now, but I'm worried we couldn't make a promise like that sir.", explained Slader.
"Indeed we would need to contact HighCom or the Earth government for that.", Cutter put a hand to his chin.
"All the more reason for us to help get rid of this… jamming device you speak of.", said Erwin.
"A fair point. Cody would it be better for our forces to be combined or split apart into multiple fronts?", asked Obi-Wan.
"Sir after speaking briefly with Captain Rex and dealing with the boarding parties here I believe a central force would stand strongest against this enemy.", said Cody over the holotable with Yularen.
"We could use our air power to level the field", Cutter put several air vehicles of theirs on the holotable", Our troops and armour could drop where needed as the front develops.", said Cutter.
"I could go with Ahsoka to plant the bombs, Obi-Wan and Yularen could coordinate our forces with the UNSC.", suggested Anakin.
"Our titans could carry whatever we find to your forces or another location for retrieval.", said Erwin.
"Slader, could your company coordinate with commander Erwin to locate what it is the banished are hunting for in that structure? Or blow the place sky high?", asked Cutter.
"Sir! We can be there within 2 hours!", said Slader.
"Isabel, can you access the Republic ships or battlenet to coordinate?", asked Cutter.
"Yes sir! Their ships don't seem to have any real firewalls at all actually.", she said.
"Without these AI our forces do most of the work by crew operators," said Yularen.
"Explains the high crew count", Cutter folded his arms, eyes scanning the assembled leaders. "Then that's our battle plan. We take out the jammer, secure the Forerunner artifact, and crush the Banished before they can reinforce. If anyone has objections, speak now—otherwise, let's get to work."
"Aye Captain.", said Erwin.
"We can be ready to land our forces within the hour, drawing the enemy's attention before Slader flanks them.", said Yularen.
"Then we're in agreement," Cutter said. "Isabel, draw up some formations we can make with the Republic forces. We've got one hour, people,let's make it count."
As the room moved into action, Anakin lingered by the holotable, staring at the Banished fortress. "What are they looking for?", he wondered.
Somewhere, deep in the void of space, an enemy was already making its next move.
. . .
Thrawn watched as his men attempted to gain access to the doorway. He had taken a shuttle down to the surface of the strange world after studying the local architecture, he had determined this to be a high probability place of importance. The buildings, simple but beautiful, and the focus on nature spoke of a people who were Obsessed with preservation and legacy.
It had been a few hours since Ezra Bridger had transported them here via the Purgil. He had managed to capture the Jedi afterward as many on the Bridge had passed out from lack of oxygen before his crew could rescue them.
"Grand Admiral, we've yet to make progress on opening the door, however, we have translated some of these symbols. It appears this place is waiting for some sort of 'Reclaimers'.", said one of his trusted men, Captain of his guard, Enoch.
"I see, perhaps our prisoner, with his force abilities, could make progress here.", suggested Thrawn.
"Sir, it would be a risky move.", said Enoch.
"A calculated one.", said Thrawn.
Before a decision could be made the door did open suddenly, a head sized ball floated out, with what was perhaps an eye. "Interloper! You're kind are not welcome here. I must ask that you leave at once.", said the machine.
"Might I pose some questions, we happen to be lost.", asked Thrawn.
"I suppose that would be prudent, I am 5 1 9 Adamant Retainer, monitor of this installation, protector of what is stored, archived, and hidden.", the machine explained.
"Protector? Thrawn motioned to the nuclear blast that had happened minutes earlier, "This faction, the UNSC and the republic forces have scarred this world only hours after arrival. The Banished seem to be carving up the surface. I happen to respect your founder's mission. Preservation, civilization… art.", Thrawn explained.
"The reclaimers are known to be brash, perhaps unready for reclamation.", 5 1 9 worried.
Thrawn had a ghost of a grin and folded his arms behind his back, stepping forward, "Allow me to offer an alternative, help us return home, and we will guard what the barbarians and reclaimers couldn't hope to understand.", suggested Thrawn.
"I see, a temporary alliance may prove necessary. I will begin testing the portal network to find the location of your peoples' unique signature.", said 5 1 9.
As 519 processed his words, Thrawn allowed himself the faintest smile. The machine, for all its computational power, was still bound by rigid logic, predictable, and predictability was something Thrawn had always known how to exploit. "We would be eternally grateful, Monitor."
. . .
Kanan sat in the dark in his room aboard the Ghost. What was darkness to a blind man? He was meditating, hoping to find answers for their predicament. In an hour's time they would be on standby to assist with a ground assault on the Banished forces. Having heard the stories from the ground and boarding parties, he wasn't too keen on it. "Clear your mind. Focus.", he thought.
"Kanan…", a male voice called out to him, familiar.
"Who's there?", he asked in his force vision.
"Who do you think Master?", the voice responded.
"Ezra? Don't tell me you're in this mess as well.", he asked.
" "I don't know where I am, only that Thrawn survived with his ships. But don't worry, Master, I've survived worse. Have you come up with a rescue plan yet?", asked Ezra.
"Afraid not, if we're hearing your voice then I assume you also made it here. It must be due to the world between worlds. Anakin and his fleet encountered the same kind of hyperspace anomaly we did and ended up… here.", explained Kanan.
"Anakin? From 20 years ago?", asked Ezra.
"The same, we're fighting a new faction after allying with some of the locals.", said Kanan.
"Locals? Someones coming! I'll have to go.", said Ezra.
"We'll find you. I'll have them begin scanning for Thrawn's fleet. May the force be with you.", said Kanan. Kanan exhaled, slowly pulling himself from the Force. First the Republic, the UNSC, the Banished, and now Thrawn had returned... Just how many wars were they meant to fight? "Perhaps I should contact Skywalker."