My breath came hard and fast; my heart racing as I moved through the forest. Artillery and blaster fire filled the air and explosions rocked the earth sending dirt and smoke into the air. I could hear the screams of confused and scared men both in the air and over the comlinks. Some were requesting backup or demanding a medic. Yet, despite all the chaos around me, I felt strangely calm. I was born for this; raised for it.
Smoke and fire filled the air alongside blaster fire creating a deadly nightmarish lightshow. I moved through the smoke like a shadow, a deadly wraith in the burning forest. But the smoke was a double-edged sword. It reduced visibility down to mere feet allowing me to move freely but I couldn't see an enemy until I was right on top of them.
I slammed up against a massive tree as a Republic walker rumbled by, its cannon belching deadly light into the forest. More fire and smoke consumed the woods as the screams of dying men signified the lasers had found their targets.
I gripped my blaster tighter as I thought about how this whole battle had gone from bad to worse to a total cluster. As soon as the battle began, the Republic had managed to route the Imperial Forces. The Empire had managed to surprise the Republic in a mountain valley, boxing them in by destroying their front and rear walkers, but they hadn't accounted for the small contingency of Guardian Knights the Republic had. They had moved the damaged walkers quickly allowing the Republic soldiers to mobilize. Also the walkers had traveled up the sides of the canyon and quickly gained an advantage.
I took off again as the walker left. I jumped over a fallen tree avoiding the burning branches by the smallest margin. I slide in beside some Imperial soldiers who were taking over behind a fallen old-growth tree. Their standard black and grey armor with red livery was battle-scarred and covered in ash. They took turns exchanging fire with the Republic troops on the other side of the mountain valley, their white and orange armor sticking out amongst the greenery. I steadied my blaster rifle against the tree's blaster-ridden truck and picked out a trooper at random. I breathed slowly and gave the trigger a smooth squeeze. I heard the satisfying thoomp and felt the steady kick of my rifle as it sent a tight red beam of death at a Republic solider seeking cover beside a rock. He jumped out to return fire and catches the bolt in the dead center of his chest. It burned through his armor and dropped him dead.
I slowly rotated my aim to the left and picked off another solider. I kept firing, slowly picking off enemy troops, despite my position being heavily attacked by blaster and artillery fire. I trusted my armor to absorb and deflect the majority of the attacks. I grunted as one particularly powerful bolt hit me in the shoulder, dangerously close to my neck seal where my armor is weaker. I spotted the sniper who had taken the shot and returned fire. The coward ducked and ran from his position. An Imperial soldier next to me shot the sniper as he ran, dropping him.
"This is Bravo Company! We need immediate back-up! Our position is being overrun! I repeat Bravo Company is being overrun!" a voice screamed into the com network.
"Hold this position trooper," I ordered to the men crouched next to me. "Provide some cover fire as I head for Bravo Company."
"Understood sir," a corporal replied. He and his squad mates tossed some grenades and laid down a steady stream of fire as I surged forward and down the embankment to the fighting that was happening to the east. There Republic AT-TEs, large armored tanks that looked like six-legged beetles with cannons on their backs, were overrunning a small group of Imperial forces, their entrenched AA guns smoking and reduced to rubble. I dove into the makeshift trenches and found the nearest group of soldiers.
"Where is your commanding officer?" I snapped at the nearest soldier. His FOF tag labeled him as Sergeant Collins.
"Dead, sir," the sergeant gulped. "Taken out when the tanks fired on our position."
"Who is in command then?" I growled.
"No one. We are in disarray sir," the sergeant replied. He was clearly shaken and his resolve broke. So much for Imperial discipline.
"I'm taking command," I stated. I linked into the comm network and barked, "Bravo Company, fall back to position Alpha-Twenty-Seven. This ridge is lost! Regroup and connect up with Charlie Company! I repeat fall back to Alpha-Twenty-Seven and regroup with Charlie Company!"
As a semi-coherent unit, the remainder of Bravo Company slowly made its way up the ridge side past the destroyed artillery. The Republic AT-TEs continued to fire away at us, but slowly decreased as we fled. The Republic established themselves on the ridge and began to fire away from at a different position.
"Command, this is Mandalorian Lieutenant Jäeger. Bravo Company has lost the Eastern Ridge. They were overrun by AT-TEs. I have them regrouping with Charlie Company before I return to Third Battalion," I yelled into my comlink.
"Understood Lieutenant. This battle is lost; the tide has turned against us. Try and pull as many men out as you can. We have established a rendezvous point north of your position. Shuttles are awaiting troops," Commands replied.
"Understood. Lieutenant Jäeger out." I closed the channel and left Sergeant Collins to get the remainder of Bravo Company to rendezvous point. I took off, sprinting as fast as I could to return to Third Battalion to help them. I reached down deep into my reserves, my body tiring from the drawn out fighting. I breathed deep, feeling revitalizing energy flooding my body.
I slid down the hill to where Third Battalion was fighting off a large score of Republic forces. AT-TEs, AT-AP walkers, and AT-RTs were heavily intermingled amongst the Republic forces. They were beginning to overwhelm the Imperial forces as I reached the bottom of the hillside. I spotted a nearby soldier's corpse, a rocket launcher lying next to him. I grabbed it as I ran by and checked the ammo count. My proximity alarm started going off and my world turned upside down as a rocket exploded behind me. I controlled my spin and slid down the hill, lining up a shot at the nearest AT-AP. It exploded in a large fireball killing several nearby troopers. I quickly reloaded the rocket launcher and fired upon another attack pod walker.
I fired a third time before the missile magazine emptied. Tossing it aside, I ran forward. My foot caught the edge of a rock and I used it to propel myself into the air. I sailed through the air, feeling weightless before landing on an AT-TE. The gunner froze in surprise and I punched him in the head. Shoving his body out of the gunner seat, I took command of the cannon and turned it on the Republic troops. I destroyed the nearest tanks and unloaded on the ground forces.
My sensors picked up soldiers climbing up the back of the tank forcing me to abandon the cannon. I gripped my blaster pistol and fired down the back of the tank forcing the Republic troopers to stay low and prevented them from returning fire. I slapped two thermal detonators against the cannon and dived over the side of the tank. The cannon exploded and I charged towards an AT-TP. The gunner fired on me forcing me to take cover in a blast crater.
"Give up Mandalorian!" a voice rang out. "You cannot hope to win. Surrender peacefully and I guarantee you as a Guardian Knight that you will be shown mercy."
"Sorry Guardian," I replied. "Mandalorians don't know the word 'surrender'!" I jumped up and emptied a clip into the Guardian. He was young, still in his early twenties, with short black hair and a boyish face. He easily deflected my fire with his ice-blue lightsaber. He gripped me through the Force and threw me against a tree. I grunted as I dropped my rifle and slumped to the ground. The Guardian came over and held his blade mere inches from my throat.
"Surrender. This doesn't have to end in more bloodshed," the Knight pleaded.
"Stand down fool," I growled. "I am Guardian Knight Jäeger. I am under orders to infiltrate the Empire. Killing me or taking me in will only jeopardize my mission."
"You cannot lie your way out of this Mandalorian. I know all the other Guardian Knights. There is no one called Jäeger," the Knight argued.
Damn, thought that would work. I growled and slapped his blade aside with my armored forearm. It burned the black and green paint off my armor. It was made of beskar, a rare ore native to Mandalore that was nearly indestructible. Prolonged exposure to the Guardian's blade however would cut through my armor. I kicked him in the gut causing him to fall backwards and collapse. I jumped on top of him, pinning his sword arm with my knee. I slammed my fist into his soft face breaking his nose.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down," I growled. Instead he managed to get his legs underneath me and kick me off him. I rolled to my feet and yanked out a nasty nine-inch knife from its sheath on my thigh. I swung at the Knight getting inside his guard. He staggered back and Force-Pushed me away. He swung at me and I blocked the strike with my armor again. I punched him in the gut and then kicked his feet out from under him. Slamming into the ground, I pinned him again and held my knife at his throat.
"Now stay down and let me leave. Speak to no one about what I told you. My mission must remain a total secret," I growled so only he could hear.
"Your lie won't save you. The Masters would never employ a mercenary," the knight breathed. I sighed realizing it was futile. I sheathed my blade and pulled back my arm to knock the boy out. Suddenly blaster fire struck me in the chest forcing me off the young Knight. I rolled and grabbed my discarded rifle. I fired at the troops who had come to back up their leader. They forced me behind a tree and surrounded me.
This might be the end of it I thought, bracing for the end. An unsung hero gunned down by his fellow soldiers.
"Incoming!"
I heard a faint whistling followed by the roar of fighter engines. I glanced up to see squadrons of B-28 Extinction -class bombers and Mark VI Supremacy-class Starfighters. They bombed the hell out of the Republic troops and strafed the tanks. One landed danger-close and I went flying for the third time that day. I landed with a grunt, my body hurting. I struggled to get up, the air filling with even more smoke and fire. I crawled forward trying to escape the battlefield. I didn't get far before something wet and heavy fell on top of me. I grunted and felt one of my ribs snap. I barely managed to shrug off the body, my breathing now heavily labored.
It was the young Guardian Knight.
Poor bastard. He didn't deserve this.
"Halt!"
I turned to see a soldier standing over me.
"I won't surrender," I groaned.
"Don't make me fire on an unarmed combatant," the soldier pleaded.
"A Mandalorian is never unarmed," I sneered. I reached towards the fallen Guardian's saber, the hilt a full meter away from me.
"Please stand down," the soldier pleaded.
I focused harder on the lightsaber hilt and saw it twitched. I felt it in my hand. It jumped forward and into my hand. I ignited the blade and pushed myself off the ground. I sliced though the trooper's barrel and shouldered him to the ground.
"Stay down," I breathed, clutching my chest. The soldier didn't move, so I stumbled down the hill, the Guardian's blue blade illuminating the smoke and casting weird shadows about as the sun began to set on the battlefield. I slowly and wearily made my way back to Imperial territory. I was disappointed to see that heavy fighting was still occurring.
"Sir, the Republic is breaking though our lines and we still have men on the ground!" a soldier yelled as I passed.
"Get me the members of Black Squad," I ordered. "We will hold off the enemy troops as best we can."
"Sir, yes, sir!" the trooper saluted and ran off. I stumble to the front lines and retrieved another blaster rifle. I fired as best I could at the enemy. I focused on the pain and used it to fuel my power. I felt my senses clarify as the pain faded. I fired short controlled bursts as the Republic forces established a foothold. The Republic were prevented from further advancing as five warriors came up beside me and laid down some heat. These were the members of Black Squad, one of the most feared Special Forces squads in the Imperial Army. The squad consisted of Captain Precht, the leader; Lieutenant Chezov, the demolition expert; Sergeant T'Walik, the sniper; Sergeant Chal'wik, the heavy gunner; and Sergeant Dolan, the rifleman.
The five soldiers held off the Republic forces while the remaining Imperial forces clambered into troop transports and retreated to the Imperial fleet hanging in low orbit. I ducked down as a missile impacted nearby throwing dirt and fire into the air. Chezov shouldered a XM510 Grenade Launcher and fired a series of rounds at the Republic troopers.
"Sir, those tanks are going to tear us to pieces!" T'Walik cried. Several AT-TEs opened fire upon the transports and us. One ship exploded as it took off and collided with another. The two crashed back down into the ground and exploded sending shrapnel in all directions.
"Damn," I growled. "We just a little more time." I reached down towards the lightsaber on my hip. "Cover me."
"Where are you going?" Precht asked. I vaulted over the barricade and charged the Republic forces. I focused myself on the task at hand, burying myself in a sense of calm. I felt the Force surge through me as I ignited the stolen lightsaber. I let the Force guide my motions as I deflected dozens of blaster bolts, returning them to their senders. I jumped impossibly high and landed on the nearest tank. I slashed through the barrel before leaping to the next one. I disabled its cannon as well before rolling to the ground. I ran at the legs of the next tank in line and slashed at the joints. They groaned before breaking. The tank crashed into the ground, worthless. I threw out my hands, fingers splayed, and Force-Pushed the tanks into others, preventing them and foot soldiers from moving forward.
I returned to the Imperial forces and ordered Black Squad to retreat as the last transport took off. Running backwards, the Special Forces troopers fired at the Republic troops as they headed towards their own personal ship. The captain reached it first and opened the rear access. Chal'wik climbed inside and fired up the engines. The others covered the entrance as I headed towards them.
"Lieutenant look out!"
My proximity alarm screamed as the world exploded around me.
I groaned as I returned to consciousness. I immediately knew something was wrong because I was no longer in my beskar'gam. I forced myself up and took in my surroundings. The bed I was in was a more of a recliner made of soft black velvet. The room was large and well furnished. Large red tapestries made of silk hung from the walls made of etched black metal. Braziers burned in the corners casting flickering shadows on the walls. An open balcony looked out over a bustling city. A massive thunderstorm raged outside, lightning cracking the sky every now and then.
"You're awake."
I glanced over my shoulder to see a red-skinned Twi'lek with a slave collar around her neck. She wore a black short crop sweater and matching skirt that extended past her knees but was slit up the sides. Like most of the females of her species, she was lithe and seductive.
"I shall inform my master," the Twi'lek stated. She got up in a fluid movement and left through a tall wooden double door. I groaned as I sat up right and ran my fingers through my short hair. The last thing I remembered was being on Alderaan fighting the Republic. Now I was on Dromund Kass, capital world of the Empire. I got up and searched the room. It was only a guest chamber but it was decorated with rare artifacts. I found my armor nestled in a corner. I quickly picked up the backplate and inspected it. It was scorched and scuffed from the explosion but the damage was surficial. I must have been pretty badly rattled around in my armor for me to have remained unconscious long enough for them to transport me from the Core to the Imperial Outer Rim.
I collected my armor and slowly worked my way into my body suit. My entire body felt like a massive bruise; they must have fixed my rib because my breathing didn't hurt too much. I managed to alleviate some of pain by using some centering techniques my father had taught me. I slowly strapped on my boots, greaves, and thigh plates before moving the rest of my armor to the bed. The doors opened again as I slid my chest and back plates into position.
"I see you have recovered," a rumbling voice that seemed to have ethereal undertones to it that grated on my ears stated. I turned to see a Sith male with long facial tendrils and black scrolling facial tattoos. He wore flowing black robes with the hints of armor under it. A hooded cloak cast shadows over his face and his angry yellow and red rimmed eyes peered out from under them.
"I guess I have you to thank for that?" I asked. I quickly focused on shutting down my Force Presence so that this Sith Lord wouldn't detect just how strong I was.
"Indeed. I couldn't afford to lose such a lovely prospect," the Sith mused.
"Prospect?"
"I received several reports of you using Force skills and a lightsaber with sufficient skill. I've never heard of a Mandalorian who could use the Force," the Sith smirked.
"We don't." I tightened up my chest armor and made sure it was snug; my ribs didn't thank me. I started putting on my left arm vambrace and bicep cover.
"From my reports, you seem unrefined, as if you are acting instinctually. I am offering to train you; teach you how to use that innate power." The Sith stalked towards me like a predator. "You will find no better teacher. Those Guardians would never take someone like you." He spat out the word 'Guardian' like it was poison.
"I don't care for your sorcery, Sith. Mandalorians don't care for the Force. We have done without just fine." I strapped on the armor for my right arm.
"You are squandering such potential!"
I picked up my helmet and secured it with a twist. The seal hissed as my armor pressurized and sealed.
"How did the Battle of Alderaan end?"
"The Republic fought us to a stalemate. The Dark Council has called for peace negotiations. We do not have the resources to continue this war of attrition," the Sith explained with a dismissive wave. "But there are rumors of something else, some surprise attack."
"If the war is coming to an end, my services are no longer necessary. I am going home." I brushed past the Sith Lord and headed for the exit. I didn't get far before he slammed me into the wall and held me there with the Force.
"You do not have my permission to leave."
"My contract is over," I growled.
"You are wasting a golden opportunity."
"I don't care."
"Fine then." The Sith Lord released me. I fell into a crouch as the Sith tossed me a lightsaber hilt. "If you defeat me then you can leave. Otherwise you will become my apprentice."
I grabbed the lightsaber and ignited the ice-blue blade. I smirked when I realized it was the same lightsaber I took from the fallen Guardian Knight. I gave it a few twirls to test out the grip before suddenly charging the Sith Lord. He quickly brought out his lightsaber from within his robes, ignited the blood-red blade, and blocked my strike. I slammed my fist into his gut forcing him back. I spun on my heel and slammed my boot into the side of his head. He staggered back and I pressed my advantage. I hammered away at him with my lightsaber unleashing savage heavy overhanded blows that continued to stagger him and destroy any form of defense.
The Sith Lord unleashed a powerful blast with the Force that knocked me back. He twirled his blade creating an intricate pattern of light that was nearly impenetrable. I struck out with my blade and it collided with the Sith Lord's in a spray of sparks. He snarled and tried to put his weight behind his blade. I shoveled back and then slugged him in the head again. He staggered back and I kicked him flat in the chest. The Sith Lord collided with the bed and fell back. With a flick of my wrist I sent his lightsaber flying.
I held my blade at his throat and said, "I am leaving."
"Damn you Mandalorian. I will not forgive this indignation."
I sneered and flicked off my lightsaber. I clipped it on my belt and left. As I reached the door the Sith gave a mighty roar and unleashed a blast of Force Lightning. I whipped around, ignited my blade, and absorbed the attack. The Sith redoubled his efforts as I slowly advanced on him. He roared, lightning enveloping the room, as I finally deflected the lightning wide and then slammed my fist into the Sith's face, breaking his nose and knocking him back. Tossing the blade aside, I pummeled the Sith's face and chest turning him into a bloody mess.
"Never assume you can defeat a Mandalorian just because you have a special power. We are born and raised as warriors. We fear no one, especially not you Sith. My contract is over. I am going home."
I whipped the blood off my gauntlets with a piece of cloth and left.