The Story of Talon Chapter 2

Space Battle

Battlecruiser Invincible Hand

Talon, Abyss and Spartacus waited in the command center as the fighters and bombers close in on Grievous fleet. They watch the CIS fleet try to reposition itself to counter the unexpected Republic assault, but where too late. The attack was unexpected and took them by complete surprise.

They flew rings around the slower CIS ships.

The bombers started bombing the heaviest CIS ships as the fighters attacked turrents and when two of the Battlecruisers opened their main hangar decks to launch fighters to intercept, Talon's fighters launched missiles, devastating the inside of the two ships. Secondary explosions ripped through and damaged both Battlecruiser. One of the Frigates were torn apart by explosions that caused secondary explosions. The explosion damaged two nearby Cruiser.

Talon smiled, thinking about how furious Grievous must be right now.

"Should we pull back now"? Abyss asked.

Talon thought about it. They still hadn't damaged any of the two Battleships and four Battlecruisers were still in full action. But the first droid fighters were out and trying to intercept her own pilots. If she held them there for too long she wouldn't have enough to protect her ships once Grievous attacked her fleet across the asteroid field. She couldn't risk losing her squadrons.

"Order them to retreat", Talon decided.

The order went out and the Arc-170 Starfighters started returning home. Two Squadrons of fighters hunted after them. When they flew into the asteroid field the Starfighter Squadrons turned around and engaged. The AT-TEs remained hidden and another reserve Squadron entered the fight and allowed the bombers to return home. Quickly the two droid Squadrons were dispatched and the AT-TEs remained a secret.

"General", Cossack said from the bridge. "Grievous fleet is on the move".

"Understood Admiral", Talon responded.

Spartacus pointed to the holographic fleet.

"There moving straight through the asteroid field", he noticed. "The two bomber Squadrons will easily ambush them along with the AT-TEs placed on the asteroids".

Talon was nervous as she could only hope that Grievous did exactly what she wanted him to do. This far he did exactly that. But if their sensors found the AT-TEs, the crews would be massacred with no chance of escaping. She might have sent her men to their deaths. Same could go for the two undefended bomber Squadrons lying ready to ambush Grievous's unsuspecting fleet.

Four of the CIS Frigates entered the asteroid field. Two Cruiser and a Destroyer led the front of Grievous fleet. The heavier ships was after them.

"Sir, the bombers have returned to our position", Abyss said.

Talon nodded and gently tugged on her left lekku. Tugging on the lower end out of nervousness, hoping she hadn't sent her men to their deaths. Hoping she wouldn't need Anakin to defeat Grievous after all. He would never let her forget this if it came to that.

"Refit the bombers", she ordered. "Quickly."

"On it", Abyss said.

The entire CIS fleet were inside the asteroid field and about to enter firing range. The bombers just barely made it out with time to spare.

Grievous Battleship the Spirit of Vengeance increased speed and approached the front of the fleet. It appeared to Talon that he wanted to be in the thick of the fighting against her outnumbered fleet. He probably wanted the glory of destroying a Republic fleet after the first attack, where they humiliated him and his personal prestige.

"There firing"! Cossack warned.

The ship shook slightly as the enemy barrage hit them.

"Return fire at any time Cossack", Talon suggested casually.

The order was given and the Republic fleet opened up at the enemy.

"Sir, two Cruisers and a Battlecruiser is focusing their fire at a lone Frigate", Abyss said. "Their shields are taking heavy damage"!

The Republic and Separatist fighters sweeped in around asteroids and ships in chase, intercepting each other attacks. They were almost everywhere, flying around trying to destroy each other. The clone pilots as in many cases had an advantage over droids because of the fact they are not droids. The human factor, it was just what Talon might need to succeed in defeating Grievous. But Grievous was just as aware of the human factor as she was.

"Tell them to fall back and assume another position", Talon said.

One of the Corvettes went up in flames as it was torn to pieces. The shields of a nearby Cruiser took some damage from the shockwave.

Battlecruiser Spirit of Vengeance

Grievous leaned out from his command chair with a grim grin over his face. The Republic were barely putting up a fight. But he knew something weren't right. It felt too easy. And secondly, why didn't they retreat? Clearly they were out matched. No one was foolish enough to think they could win this battle. Perhaps Skywalker was but this wasn't his ship. He had been informed that Flagship ship belonged to a Jedi, however they didn't know which one. he or she was probably some unknown Jedi without any actually battle skill or was too green for him to have heard about. Anyway she or he was clearly a nobody in any case.

"Focus all batteries on that main Battlecruiser", Grievous raspy voice ordered.

"Roger, roger", a battle droid by a console said.

His fleet came closer and closer to the Republic ships.

Two of the Frigates were destroyed by concentrated fire from the heavy ships in Grievous's fleet.

He chuckled. This was almost too easy. Just the way he liked it.

"General, Republic bombers approaching our starboard flank from above"! A scared droid warned.

"Impossible"! Grievous spat. "How?! Dispatch our fighters to intercept", Grievous barked.

One of the starboard side Battlecruisers tried to maneuver away from the bombers but couldn't because of the large asteroids around them. With bombs smacking their shields the Battlecruiser was torn in two with help from a pair of Republic ship focusing on them. It broke apart in the middle as secondary explosions tore through what was left.

"Fighters are breaking off from the enemy and chasing the bombers", a droid confirmed.

The clone pilots didn't sit back but chased after the droids into the CIS formation and wreaked havoc. Grievous was slowly running out of fighter cover as they were being focused down one by one.

Grievous flinched at the minor annoyance. The Battleship shook.

"Report"! Grievous spat.

"Someone's shooting at us"! A droid exclaimed.

"Idiot"! Grievous snapped. He got up from his seat in rage as the Battleship shook and threw many droids to the floor.

"General"! A droid exclaimed in terror. "There are Walkers on the asteroids below us"!

Grievous couldn't believe it. They had hid walkers under him. And he walked right into it. He was completely outflanked. This were no regular commander. No, no. He was fighting a Jedi, no doubt about it. No one else could outflank him like this. This reminded him of Skywalker or Kenobi but intelligence placed Kenobi far away and Skywalker's Cruiser weren't among the ships. Who was this jedi?

"Get us out of the asteroid field"! Grievous decided. He couldn't risk losing the whole fleet. If he did, Dooku would be furious.

Many of the CIS ships was torn apart from below. Clone fighters and bombers harassed them all the way out from the asteroid field. Half of Grievous fleet were either damaged, disabled or completely destroyed.