All around, Jedi and Temple Security Forces scurried around. Jedi pilots rushed to starfighters in the hangar while others took speeders to get to the military installations that dotted Coruscant or towards the transports that were landing or already landed with droid forces moving out of them.
Taran and Ahsoka, Taran shedding off his cloak on the way, ran to find Master Windu. Luckily, they were able to catch him on the first floor of the Temple about to leave the Temple with the other high-ranking Jedi generals.
"Master Windu, wait!" said Taran. Windu heard him and turned to see what the problem was.
"Taran, say what you have to quickly," said Windu.
"Master Windu, I want to help," said Ahsoka.
"You don't have to fight anymore Ahsoka," said Windu.
"But I can't just sit back and watch all you go out there and risk your lives. This invasion is planet-wide, and there aren't enough Jedi to go around," said Ahsoka. Windu took a deep breath, weighing his option.
"Your specialty was always in persuasion," said Windu.
"I had some good teachers," she said, glancing over to Taran with a smile on her face.
"You're old lightsabers are in the storage vault near the Construction Chamber. Re-equip yourself and check in with Master Shaak Ti before she goes to the Chancellor's Office. Hurry, there's no time to lose," said Windu.
"Thank you Master Windu," said Ahsoka.
"May the Force be with you master," said Taran.
"And to the both of you," said Windu, turning to leave with the other masters. At once, they took off to the lightsaber storage vault on the top level of the Temple. Ahsoka could feel the fear emitting from everyone as they hurried in various directions. She too had been seized with fear when she and Taran had first spotted the Separatist ships. Yet, their initial panic was replaced by determination. They had two years of battlefield experience under their belts and knew how to counter droid forces.
Even when they were heavily outnumbered.
They were able to reach the storage vault after ten minutes of ceaseless running, daring not to take the elevator in case the Temple was directly attacked, which for some reason hadn't been hit despite the Separatist droid starfighters that flew by in formation from time to time. Ahsoka searched for her name amongst the hundreds of lightsabers until she came to it. She opened the storage box and slid out the tray. Her two lightsabers, her regular saber and shorter shoto. She gazed at them for a long moment.
"Something wrong?" said Taran.
"It feels like a lifetime since I last picked them up. I thought when I handed them over, it would be the last time," said Ahsoka, still looking at them. She reached in and held the two metal hilts up. She placed the box down and held each hilt in a different hand. She pressed the button on each to ignite them at the same time. She spun them in a whirlwind fashion, testing their weight and if she still had the skill to wield them.
"Just a little rusty, but nothing I can't handle," said Ahsoka.
"Good," said Taran. They left the vault immediately, preparing to get down to the hangar.
"Wait, I should get my other lightsaber," said Taran. They took a detour towards the Padawan Quarters. Even from inside the Temple they could hear the blasts outside. They could even remotely feel the concussive effects of the blasts. They stopped outside his room, Taran rapidly going in once the door slid open. He grabbed his lightsaber, stopping for a moment to look at it. He had made it specifically to counter Ceran's lightning-fast attacks, having one lightsaber ready in case one of his got past.
"Ceran," he thought. Another blast from outside snapped him out of it, clipping it to his belt alongside his original lightsaber. He also took his staff with him as well. Once outside and Ahsoka hurried to the hangar.
Inside the hangar, Jedi of various ranks from Padawan to Master were rapidly boarding gunships that would take them to military installations. Any fighters, the Eta-2 Actis-class Interceptor, had already flown out and were probably outside fighting the relentless waves of droid starfighters. As they rounded a corner, they ran into the younglings.
"Taran, Ahsoka, what's going on?" said Petro.
"The planet's being invaded. You six go to Master Sinube," said Taran.
"But we can help," said Zatt.
"Absolutely not. Stay in the Temple," said Ahsoka.
"But we've fought before," said Katooni.
"I know, but you're not old enough or ready for this. This is a full-fledged battle. Thousands of people are going to die in various ways. Please stay here, for us," said Ahsoka. The six of them nodded.
"We will be back, you can count on that," said Taran, flashing his reassuring grin.
"Take care, and stay safe," said Ahsoka, the two of them heading back towards the hangar.
In the hangar, Bruck and Tia had just arrived. Shaak Ti was helping to coordinate the movements of the Jedi, giving them where to go out and hold the Separatist forces. Her own shuttle was waiting patiently nearby, Jedi Masters Roron Corobb and Foul Moudama inside with a large group of clone troopers to protect the Chancellor.
"This is like a nightmare come true," Tia said to Bruck.
"I'm still trying to figure out how they got in to the planet without detection," said Bruck. At that moment, Taran and Ahsoka came in.
"You're fighting?" said Bruck to Ahsoka.
"Yes, why wouldn't I?" said Ahsoka.
"You three, get to...Ahsoka?" said Shaak Ti.
"Master Windu gave me permission to fight," said Ahsoka. Though still surprised, the Togruta Jedi Master smiled.
"I need all four of you to get to the southern military base. Once there, go to wherever help is needed the most," said Shaak Ti.
"We will master," said all four of them.
"May the Force be with you," she said. They immediately embarked on a gunship with some clone troopers and other Jedi inside. Suddenly, a flurry of beeps and whistles caused the passengers to look in its direction. R3 was hurriedly making his way to the gunship.
"Come on R3," said Taran. The droid whistled again, rapidly moving and getting into the gunship. Once at full capacity, the shuttle doors closed shut and the gunship moved into a hover before it was off. The doors were tightly closed, no one able to see the conditions outside.
The sounds of multiple explosions and blasts echoed throughout the ship. They could hear the tell-tale sounds of Interceptors, V-wings and ARC-170s fly by, as well as Vulture droids and tri-fighters. The sounds of dogfights echoed around them, including a passing missile or two. Some of the occupants, Padawan-learners by the look of of them, would flinch with every blast. They clearly had not been in a battle before. Everyone else was quiet and stone-faced. They were veterans of countless campaigns and battles.
A nearby explosion careened the gunship sharply to the side, making everyone lose balance for a split-second before they regained their footing. R3 whirred in alarm before he too settled down.
"Touching down in 30 seconds," said the clone pilot over the intercom. Below them, Taran could feel the masses of countless beings running in confusion, or else fighting for their lives. He could also feel the cold precision of the droids as well. For once, he was thankful the doors were closed. However, he knew that soon he would be in the thick of it.
The clone pilot in the gunship could see everything outside. A gunship immediately in his 11 o'clock position was hit by laser fire from a passing Vulture droid, exploding in mid-air as the wreckage plummeted to the surface. He took a calm, relaxing breath, putting the gunship's engines to the max. Up ahead, he could see the military complex. The complex had both a barracks and a naval yard built into each other, starfighters of all kinds flying out as fast as they could. He brought the gunship to an steady altitude-decreasing dive, along with any other ones that had flown with them.
"10 seconds," he said. Bringing the gunship steadily down, he brought down to the ground as gently as he could, opening the shuttle doors. The gunship touched down, everyone racing off towards the barracks. Once the pilot knew everyone was off, he brought the gunship back in a hover and took off. He didn't get far though. A lone tri-fighter flew through, it's blasters opening up on the transport. It exploded in mid-air, falling back down to the surface.
Inside the base, there was was madness as clone squads formed up and were sent out to sectors of the planet that needed aid the most. Walkers of all kinds were sent out, the most abundant being AT-RT walkers that raced off when orders were given by their squad leader. Inside, a human Jedi Master was coordinating movements, a large 3D map scan of the surrounding area on display.
"Who's covering the bridge to the Senate District?"
"Last I checked, Master Yoda was heading towards the area," said a clone captain.
"And others?"
"All units are still scattered," said the captain. "The enemies blocking transmissions on the HoloNet, so we're forced to use short-wave radio signals."
"Have all available starfighters scramble and try to clear up those Separatist starfighters." The Jedi looked to see the four of them enter.
"I need two of you padawans to pilot and assume command over a squadron and two of you to lead a squad on the ground," he said. "Deliberate on it and report to Captain Fort here."
"I'll take the ground," said Taran.
"So will I," said Tia.
"Wait, I want to go with you," said Ahsoka.
"So do I," said Bruck. The two couples split off a short-distance away to deliberate between themselves.
"Why do you want me to go into the air?" said Ahsoka.
"Because in all honesty, you're a better pilot then I am," said Taran.
"So now you admit it?" said Ahsoka, a small grin on her face. Taran and her shared a small smile.
"Okay, but be careful," said Ahsoka. A small distance away, Bruck was conferring with Tia.
"I'd feel a lot better if you flew," said Bruck.
"I know you do, but out of the two of us your strength is with flying. Besides, I have Taran with me. We'll both be fine," said Tia. Though he still hated it, Bruck nodded anyway. The four of them went towards Captain Ford, identified by his red markings and extended shoulder pauldrons.
"Alright, we have two Interceptors for your use. Hurry and get in them. Ground team will move out in five minutes," said the captain. They nodded and went to the starfighters. Ahsoka's starfighter was a blue-color, Bruck's dark-red.
"Take R3 with you. I'll feel a lot better knowing you have him helping you," said Taran.
"I will," said Ahsoka, climbing into the cockpit. The astromech droid moved to the socket, hopping in with no difficulty and integrating himself into the system. Ahsoka turned on the starfighter.
"Be careful." said Ahsoka.
"Aren't I always?" said Taran. The two smiled, leaning in to kiss lightly before they leaned away, pressing their foreheads together and closing their eyes as if in deep meditation with each other. They spent a few seconds like this before they pulled back. At Bruck's fighter, the two of them were kissing repeatedly before they hugged one last time.
"Good luck," said Tia.
"You too. I love you Tia," said Bruck.
"I love you too," said Tia. At that they pulled apart, reluctantly going to their duties. Taran and Tia watched as the two starfighters hovered before they made their way to the center and took off into the skies of Coruscant. They watched them leave, feeling a part of themselves go with them,
"They'll be fine. They usually are," said Taran.
"Can't help but worry though," said Tia.
"Always," said Taran. They their way to one of assault units about to be sent down.
"Commanders, I'm sending you with this company composed of two AT-TE walkers and four AT-RT's. At the moment, we can't guarantee air support. Try and hold off the droids in the south," said Fort.
"Will do," said Taran. As they set out for the men, they were well aware of what was going on. If Coruscant were lost, it would spell the end of the war, with a victory ensured for the Separatists. The Jedi Order would be extinguished and the Sith would win it all.
"As long as I'm alive, I'm not letting them through," Taran thought.
And so, the Battle of Coruscant for the four of them, began.