The buzz and glow of the blue lightsaber igniting sends a rush of adrenaline through the Clone Troopers around her. If it were not for their training, her small four person squadron would be bouncing in anticipation. Suddenly, dozens of blaster shots shoot past them in the open desert ravine, all missing their targets.
Without a signal to her squadron, all five fighters charge into the mass of Separatist droids at the same time, destroying all in their path. The fighting goes by in a flash as all droids end in a heap of spare parts, the ground and walls singed around them.
"That's the last of them General." Commander Wist turns to his general, pulling the helmet from his head as the other three troopers, Ten, Giv, and Rider do the same. She smiles at them appreciatively, knowing the difference between them despite them all having the same face.
"Are they still jamming us?" Wist looks down at the comlink installed in the right wrist of his armor and shakes his head.
"No, General." Wist confirms the information she already sensed was true and the rest of the squadron smiles.
"Those clankers didn't stand a chance!" Giv cheers victoriously and she cannot help but smile at his enthusiasm, which she knows has not dimmed in the slightest after a decade of battle. Ten and Rider cheer with him while Wist turns to survey their surroundings, attempting to hide his own smile.
"We should contact General Kenobi. He will be eager to know our destination." She nods in agreement with her commander and holds out her arm to use her own comlink while simultaneously clipping her lightsaber onto her belt with the force. After pushing several buttons, a hologram of Obi-Wan Kenobi appears hovering above her palm.
"Kate! Where are you?" Relief is evident on his face.
"I don't know. Somewhere in the Outer Rim. Our ship was too damaged to get a location after the crash. I'll turn on my tracking beacon." Kate looks down and taps a button on a bracelet placed on the inside of her arm. When she turns it back over, Obi-Wan is listening to someone behind him.
"Did you locate their signal?" The other's voice cannot be heard but Kate can tell by the expression on Obi-Wan's face that they did. "We're coming, Kate. How is your squad?" Kate smiles at the affection her friends seem to have for her squadron.
"They're fine, Master. Nothing can kill these guys." Kate turns to the four clones behind her. "Right boys!" Their cheers are so loud that she is sure he can hear it on the other end. Her trooper squadron quietly starts talking behind her after their whoops of joy quiet down. Obi-Wan smiles and suddenly turns around. Kate immediately tenses at the alert look on her master's face but laughs when two figures come into view. "Ahsoka! Master Skywalker!"
"Thanks goodness you're alright. Are you hurt?" The relief in Anakin's voice is comforting as she realizes they are no longer stranded.
"We're fine. A little tired but other than that, ready to win a war." She laughs quietly at a joke the squad made about Anakin's new lopsided haircut but quickly clears the amusement from her face. "What are you doing back? I thought you were on a mission off-planet?" Ahsoka's excited voice comes through first.
"We were but Master Windu sent us back when he lost contact with you. If anyone can find a lost Jedi, it's us." Kate could not stop smiling, these people were the closest she had to family and everyone, including Master Windu, knows that. The sudden silence from her squad makes her freeze and realizing this, Obi-Wan speaks.
"Kate, what's happening?" Kate turns to look at Wist who had walked up behind her.
"Commander?" Wist backs a step away to not let Obi-Wan hear and whispers.
"Sir, there are multiple Separatist ships entering the ravine." Tensing, the squad members put their helmets back on and hold their blasters a little higher, ready for anything.
"Kate?" Obi-Wan's voice pulls her focus back to the hologram. She notices that both Ahsoka and Anakin have disappeared but takes no notice of it, assuming they were called away. Taking her lightsaber off her belt, she ignites it in her non-dominant hand, keeping the hologram out in front of her.
"There are several Separatist ships approaching." Kate relays the information to Obi-Wan and waits for worry to cross his face but it does not.
"Not to worry, General. There are no Separatists aboard those cruisers." Anakin's voice transmits from behind her through Wist's comlink. Confused, Kate turns to the commander.
"We're on our way down to you, Kate." Ahsoka's excited tone makes all of them relax and lower their weapons. A hiss releases from Kate's lightsaber as the blue beam disappears but she keeps the weapon in hand. Kate turns back to Obi-Wan whom is smiling mischievously through the hologram.
"A little warning would have been nice." His smile grows even larger at her remark and her heart warms at the sight she had not realized she had missed so desperately over the past three months.
"Where's the fun in that?" His form disappears as he ends the call and Kate turns back to her squadron. They have lost their calm and collected demeanor and have once again taken off their helmets, revealing their anxious faces.
"Ready to go home, boys?" By home, they all know she is referring to Coruscant where the entire squadron is given special quarters in the Jedi Temple per her request. Hers is the only squadron in the entire army that was given private quarters in the temple and they all accepted the honor immediately.
"I am so ready to get off this godforsaken planet." Giv replies happily and the others, even Wist, murmur their agreement. In front of them, the three Separatist troop carriers land in a puff of sand and when the ramp of the closest carrier lowers, Ahsoka runs down it. Forgetting all formalities after nearly three months of being away, she runs straight into Kate's arms with a satisfied sigh. Kate happily hugs back.
"Hey, squirt." Kate can feel a smile against her chest as she looks up to see Anakin walking towards them. Kate leans down to whisper in Ahsoka's ear when she sees the scowl on Skywalker's face. "Uh oh. Angry master approaching." Ahsoka immediately releases Kate and stands straight-backed beside her. Also noticing his approach, Wist, Giv, Rider, and Ten wait stand at attention, waiting slightly behind the two female Jedi. Kate bows deeply as Anakin comes to a stop in front of them.
"Master Skywalker. How good to see…" Kate stops mid sentence as she is embraced in a tight hug. Surprised, it takes her a moment to hug back but she does so happily. After several moments, Anakin releases her and keeps one hand on her shoulder companionably.
"Let's get you home." Anakin is looking solely at Kate, but the troopers know it is also directed at them. Wist nods and leads the way back to the ships. Kate, Ahsoka, and Anakin follow closely behind.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! This is going to have a fair amount of chapters and I plan to post one every Sunday. I may miss a week every now and then but plan to do my best to stay on schedule. I also have an account under 'hogwartspuckle' on AO3. Hope you enjoy!