PART I

The spaceport Mr. Lucky, which was located in orbit above Taanab, was one of the most popular attractions in that area of the galaxy. Not only was it in the Perlemian Trade Route, but it was also clean, cheap, and fun at the same time. But that all changed in 21 B.B.Y, when the Clone Wars spread around the galaxy. In this period of time, the Clone Wars had been going on for a year now, with both sides having a lot less equipment and soldiers than they started out with. But the new generations of clones were growing up, and the Separatists kept seducing more and more planets to their noble cause. Epic battles for strategic planets were being fought every day, but Mr. Lucky was not one of those planets.

However, the Separatists took Mr. Lucky and captured Taanab from there. The Republic cared about this assault not because of Taanab, but because the Perlemian trade route was the most important trade route in the galaxy, and a minor disturbance in that area could turn out deadly. So Supreme Chancellor Palpatine assigned Jedi Master Plo Koon to lead fifty Jedi and a thousand clone troopers to take Taanab back. He knew that Taanab was important due to its position on the Perlemian trade route, but he was reluctant to go to battle. He, like many other Jedi, saw the Jedi as peacekeepers and should not be used as toys in politicians' little wars. But his first duty was to the Republic which he swore to protect upon entering the Jedi Order, so he would keep his promise, but he cringed whenever he remembered that over a thousand lives were in his hands.

"Relax", thought Plo. "Take a deep breath. Let all the emotion out. Feel the Force flowing within you..."

"Sir", said a Clone Trooper pilot. "We are entering Taanab space."

"Complete stop", ordered Plo. The ship he was commanding, the Intimidator, and all the other ships that carried the clones stopped in front of the planet. The planet seemed like a peaceful mix of white and green from the outside, and the station orbiting it looked like two giant cones on top of each other. But the peace ended once several hundred droid starfighters exited the hangar bays of the Mr. Lucky.

"Order the Clone Fighters to intercept now!" yelled Plo. Surprisingly, the Clone Fighters deployed a few seconds after the command was issued.

"Take the bridge", said Plo. "Duty calls".

"Roger roger", said the highest-ranking Clone Trooper, who took the bridge. Plo then ran to the hangar, where several Jedi Knights and Clone Troopers were being loaded up into Republic Gunships.

"Get ready to deploy", said Plo. "We're behind schedule".

"Excuse me?" said a Trandoshian Jedi. "It's actually quite the opposite."

"We'd have to fight our way to the planet!" exclaimed his Rodian Padawan.

"That's what they expect", said Plo. They will be preparing for us to come, and will deploy once these cruisers get in range. We will get them by surprise before they get us. Got it?"

"Yes sir", said the Jedi.

"Then let's load up!" exclaimed Plo. They then all got in their Gunships, which soon left once the hangar doors opened. The Gunships then dodged the blaster fire from the battle in the skies. Plo made sure that a Jedi piloted each gunship so that they can use the Force to get around the battling starships and into the planet vicinity. All but two of the gunships made it into the planet.

"See that big cluster of buildings?" said Plo. "Land about 15 meters from them".

"Yes, sir", said the pilot. The pilot then landed the gunship, while the other gunships landed right behind. Once they got out, the Jedi activated their lightsabers and the clones upholstered their guns, for a barrage of battle droids and hailfire droids greeted them. But the Clones and Jedi outmatched the droids, for the Separatists didn't prepare for an assault that big. The city was taken in twenty minutes, and the space station thirty. But the hardest part of the battle was not during it, but after, when they searched around for the wounded and orphaned. None were found, so Plo turned to leave. A clone then ran up to him, carrying something in his arms.

"What is it?" asked Plo.

"It's an infant male Bothan", said the Clone Trooper.

"Might as well give it a name", said Plo. "What would be a good one?"

"I don't know", said the Clone. "I don't have one".

"I know", said Plo. "How about.... Voren Fett? For your host?"

"Whatever you say, sir", said the clone. Plo then walked off with the child, who would someday become the tool of his destruction.