Disclaimer: All canon characters belong to George Lucas and LucasArts. In no way do I try to take credit for either the characters, planets or vehicles.
As the shield went down, the clones rushed through with Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi at the front, deflecting blaster shots back at the droids. Many droids fell before the onslaught, but the clones did not go through unscathed either.
The Walkers made short work of the droidekas with their ion shots that immediately took out the Destroyer Droids shields. Ki-Adi-Mundi sped up with the Force, running towards the large open tower containing the energy collector, cutting down the droids that stood in his way. Bacara and Appo, who could not use the Force, ran as fast as they could, firing wildly into the droids, whom, had they been alive, would've backed at the ferocity of their attack. But as they had no feelings, they trampled forward, shooting down and being shot down, respectively.
As he reached the large tower, the Jedi Master ran around it, destroying the three shield generators protecting the core. The shields fluttered and died, and Ki-Adi-Mundi began to cut into the generator with his lightsaber, but it was tedious work, since the lightsaber had a limited range. But the blaster shots from Commander Bacara and Appo crippled the generator swiftly, as they could shoot anywhere on the generator. As their work was done, Appo gave the small energy source of the generator to Master Mundi, who took it without questioning, and began to run away from the generator that now fizzled and crackled, threatening to explode anytime. The droids standing in their way fell quickly, as they were fired on from both behind and in front of them by the clones and their three leaders.
Ki-Adi-Mundi reached the dropship point fast, and there he handed the crystal over to one of the 501:st clones, who quickly took it with him into space. Behind them, he saw the explosion from the generator, that took out many of the droids that happened to stand in the blast-radius.
As Appo reached the point, he bid his farewell to the Jedi Master and Bacara, as he and the rest of the 501:st prepared to leave the planet to help Master Aayla Secura on the wet, fungi-covered planet Felucia. Master Mundi asked Appo to give his regards to the Ruthian Twi'lek Jedi, which the clone promised to do.
Just then a clone trooper spoke through the comm., telling Ki-Adi-Mundi that a Council meeting was to take place right at this moment.
"I'll be right there" he said, and curtly nodded to the Commander as he sped off towards the communications base they had set up.
"Palpatine thinks General Grievous is on Utapau?" he asked curiously, after hearing Anakin Skywalker's opening statement.
"A partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic package from the Chairman of Utapau" he heard Anakin's slightly distorted voice speak. These was good news. If the droid General was to be captured and destroyed, the war would be over.
"Hmm. Act on this, we must. The capture of General Grievous will end this war", the old green Jedi Master said, voicing everyones thoughts, "Quickly and decisively we should proceed."
"The Chancellor has requested", Anakin began, his voice faltering for a second, "That I lead the campaign."
"The Council will make up its own mind who is to go, not the Chancellor" Mace Windu's harsh voice cut in.
"A Master is needed, with more experience" Yoda said sternly, silently agreeing with Mace Windu.
"I concur", Ki-Adi-Mundi began and turned to look at Obi-Wan Kenobi's holographic silhouette, who occupied the seat next to his in the Council Chambers, "Master Kenobi should go." He knew that young Skywalker wanted to go, but something told him that the young knight was not the right one for this battle, he had too much darkness within him.
"I agree", was the only thing Yoda said, and a few seconds later, came Windu's "Aye". Kenobi was the one to chase Grievous.
"Very well, Council adjourned" Master Windu said, and rose to his feet, as Ki-Adi-Mundi shut down the projector and began searching for Bacara.
"General Mundi, good that you showed up. We have to discuss where to strike next. We could go here to this small mining city on the outskirts of this one," Bacara said and pointed on the map, "Or we could continue farther into this city. There are more droids here, but it is also a valuable strategic point for mounting assaults on the other cities, which we probably have to do, in the end."
Ki-Adi-Mundi stared at the map for a few minutes, deep in thought as his mind processed all data he could read out of the map. Then he spoke up, saying: "Very well, we will continue to press into the city. It is indeed a valuable point to take, and we will need it." His voice came out slow and a bit concerned, when he calculated the estimate losses they would suffer, and the numbers were not in their favour. The pair stared at the map for another minute, discussing different tactics and keypoints, before shutting the map down, preparing for the next battle.
Clone CS-1674 wondered briefly what he would do after this battle was ended. According to General Mundi, the Separatist leader Grievous had been found, and would soon be captured and destroyed. But chances of another battle was stronger than a retirement. He'd always imagined that he could retire to Dantooine, an old planet, scarcely habited. Once an old Jedi training facility lay there, during the days of the Mandalorian Wars, but it had been destroyed by the Sith, in a show of strength, along with several settlements. But that had been 4,000 years ago. Now the area around the Jedi Academy had healed, and the old Academy itself had been partially rebuilt. Not that he really cared, for what he really wanted was his own farm where he could grow crops and maybe start a family, before his ultimate demise. As he was a clone, genetically engineered to accelerate the years between infancy and adulthood, he had a shorter lifespan than most normal humans.
Well, hopefully I'll get out of this war alive. Then I'll worry about other things, such as a wife and children and a house on some peaceful planet. I've had enough of war and death, he thought and pictured in front of him a colourful, lush landscape, with domesticated animals and a few wild ones, as well. Far off in his fantasy world, he heard children's laughter, and a clear female voice, but he could not make out any words, nor see her face. Who knows, maybe I will survive. I will most certainly do my best.
He was pulled out from his private world, when his two commanders, General Mundi and Commander Bacara arrived, and began to speak with him.
"CS-1674, we need you to keep contact with the Jedi Council, and make sure that General Mundi is informed of any changes in our plans, or of any Council meetings he is unable to attend to" Bacara said, his military voice neutral, except for a bit of pride that could be heard. After all, how many clones was allowed to tend to Council meetings with the Jedi? General Mundi, however, said gravely: "Do you understand what we are asking of you? You shall be my representative whenever I'm unavailable. You need not say anything, only listen to the Jedi Masters and then report back to me."
The soldier looked between them, trying to see if it was a poorly made joke, but their faces was stern and serious.
"I will do my best, General. Forgive me for saying this, but wouldn't you be able to pause your battles and speak to them? After all, these meetings are for the Council's ears only, right? What if you discuss a Sith Lord, and maybe come up with the idea that Chancellor Palpatine is one", he said ignoring the shocked look on the commanders faces, "Then I would be obliged to protect the Chancellor, since my allegiance lies with the Republic and its leader, not the Jedi."
"Well said. Now, if this would happen, then contact me, and I'll try to make a short appearance, but otherwise, you will have to sit there and listen" Ki-Adi-Mundi said, his forehead creased as he thought deeply.
"It will be done, sir" the soldier said, and ran off towards the communications centre, after saluting them both. Snow fell on the ground, covering holes and scorches from blaster fire.
"What did he mean with the Sith Lord? I know you are looking for one, but the Chancellor?" Bacara said incredulously, staring at his Jedi superior.
The Cerean Jedi wondered for a few minutes how to best formulate himself to the clone commander, then sighed and said slowly: "We have suspected for a while now, that the Sith Lord has been hiding in the Senate, slowly gaining control over it. We suspect that the Supreme Chancellor is under his influence and control, as well, since he has stayed in office longer than possible. That is why we suspect him. But how this soldier could say something like that, even only as an example, is strange indeed," He paused, thinking of how to best end this conversation, when the Clone Commander did it for him: "Well, I am no Jedi, so I cannot feel this 'Dark Side' of yours. But I will not question you or your thinking. Who knows, maybe there is a Sith Lord in the Senate, but that is nothing I can do anything about. Only Jedi knows how to defeat a Sith Lord." His words were filled with honesty and a bit of modesty.
The two began to walk again, towards the army that waited for them to lead the way to the battle that would decide the fate of Mygeeto.
A/N: Well, this chapter I was relatively happy with, but it took some time to get it out.
I hope you will enjoy reading this chapter, as I was writing it.