The Strength of Will, a BTL-A 'Super' Y-Wing soared over the Geonosian mountains as it approached the new Republic Command Centre at Point Rain. The ship touched down on a landing pad that was raised above the small hangar that had been deployed from orbit like the rest of the base. Samsterai and Augustau stepped down the ramp extending from the side of the ship. They were greeted by a squad of clones who led them down into the building and then back out towards the Command Centre. Samsterai watched all the clones and some Republic droids running around the base, carrying supplies and other equipment to the other buildings, of which there were six.
Soon Samsterai and Augustau entered the facility's main command room where Jedi Masters Kenobi, Unduli and Mundi stood before a hologram of Geonosis with the positions of clone units on the planet. Augustau stood back by the door while Samsterai walked up to the other Jedi.
"Masters," Samsterai said to the gathering. The Jedi looked over at Samsterai.
"Ah, Master Karmarna," Obi-wan Kenobi replied. "We heard of your exploits in the capital,"
"And so did the Chancellor, it seems. He wishes to award you with the Medal of Valour for you service during the battle," Master Mundi added. Samsterai was taken aback.
"You earned it Samsterai. With you leading our men, we will accomplish great things!" Master Kenobi said to Samsterai.
"Thank you very much masters, but what is the real reason you summoned me?" Samsterai asked.
"You are to return to the Core Worlds as soon as we can guarantee safe passage off-world," Master Unduli told Samsterai.
"Why?" Samsterai enquired once more.
"We have received reports of Separatist movement near Duro. We need you to head back and check it out for us. A Carrack-class will bring a company of men along with you," Master Unduli replied. Samsterai bowed and turned to leave.
"Come on Augustau," he said to Augustau as he began walking out of the room. Augustau saluted Samsterai and they left the command centre together.
Back at Samsterai's base camp inside the ruins of the city, Jameus and Jasper stood watching over the sunset-lit Geonosian plains. They could just about make out the shape of the Strength of Will flying over the horizon. "He's back early," Jameus said to Jasper, who then picked up his compact macro-binoculars to look at the ship flying towards them.
"It's them," Jasper replied. Jameus was puzzled as he was not expecting Samsterai to come back for a couple of hours after what he could only hope was a giant surprise party especially for them.
A few minutes later, the Strength of Will touched down on the red Geonosian sand. Jameus and Jasper approached the ship with a group of clones ready to greet Samsterai, but then Samsterai stormed out of the ship without letting the ramp fully lower. The young Jedi Master walked straight past Jameus, Jasper and the clones with Augustau in his wake. "Samsterai!" Jameus called to Samsterai after he had stomped past him. Samsterai did not respond, forcing Jameus to chase after him. The two Jedi kept walking until Samsterai reached the camp where the elite Knight Company of clone Shadow Troopers had set up their tents and equipment.
"Samsterai," Jameus said when they finally stopped moving. "What's gotten in to you?"
"I'm being re-deployed Jameus," Samsterai replied. "I'm going on a scouting mission to Duro and Corellia because High Command obviously believes that we'll have won as soon as the main Confederate Foundry falls,"
"A scouting mission to the Corellian system?" Jameus asked Samsterai. Samsterai nodded.
"Some tiny piece of evidence to get me out of the way so that Skywalker and Kenobi can get another victory!"
"Calm down Samsterai," Jameus said in reply to Samsterai. "I know that that is a reasonable conclusion, we both know how much they are used as a morale boost, but you're probably just the Jedi that could get there first. I'm sure you'll be back before the fight is over," Samsterai sighed and turned back to his previous destination and walked away from Jameus.
Later that evening, Samsterai had set out with Augustau and Knight Company to investigate the former Confederate command centre. As they approached the Geonosian spire Samsterai noted the security cameras over the building. "Sir," One of the clones said as he reached the doorway of the spire. "The power's out, we can't access the door controls," Samsterai looked over at a squad of clone heavy troopers.
"Blow it," he said to the clones and they knelt down with their rockets over their shoulders. Captain CT-8108, Occt pointed at the door and the five clones fired. The doors collapsed and a squad of Droidekas rolled out from inside. Samsterai ignited his lightsaber and dived to the nearest cover. The clones did the same and the insectoid droids opened their shields and approached them. Augustau jumped up with his jetpack and fired a missile at two of the droids, blowing them up. Augustau dropped back to the floor as the other clones started pushing out of cover. Samsterai joined the clones as Augustau rolled around the droids dropping three thermal detonators inside their shields. The other clones drew their fire as Augustau got back into cover and activated the detonators, sending the Droidekas flying into the air, before crashing down a metre from Samsterai's feet.
Samsterai looked around him and the Droidekas landed around him. "You alright there sir?" Augustau asked jokily as Samsterai stepped over the droid carcases. Samsterai shook his head with a grin on his face as Augustau handed the Jedi Master his cloak. Samsterai's comm on his wrist began to bleep and he activated it.
"Karmarna here," He said.
"Samsterai," The voice of Master Obi-wan Kenobi replied to Samsterai over the comm. "Anakin has begun his final assault on the foundry and I've come to see you off," Samsterai snorted in derision.
"Excuse me Obi-wan, but why? You'll have your victory soon enough. What could have I done that has rendered your former padawan's plight moot?"
"I saw your reaction from the meeting earlier and I'd like to make sure that you know we're not getting rid of you to give the rest of us our own victories," Samsterai watched as a gunship approached the small landing zone the clones had set up. The gunship touched down and Samsterai began to walk up to it.
The doors of the gunship swung open and Obi-wan stepped out with Clone Marshal CC-2224 'Cody' and a couple of other clones. "Nice place you've got here Augustau!" Cody shouted to Augustau, who was walking behind Samsterai.
"Yeah," Augustau replied when the two clones got nearer to each other. "I'm trying to persuade the General to let us re-decorate! Still, it must be better than sitting comfortably inside an Acclamator," Cody laughed and Augustau took off his black and white helmet. Cody did the same as Augustau led Cody to the make-shift bar the clones had built.
"So Duro?" Samsterai asked Obi-wan as they entered Samsterai's command centre inside the city. "What do the Feds want there?"
"Ships and parts we think. The shipyards and orbital cities are a great target for that. Normally for this I'd say they'd be going for Corellia, but Corellia is far too well defended for them to try it," Samsterai nodded as he opened a hologram of the sector.
"Are you sure? If they had another Subjugator-class, they probably could take us,"
"Well let's hope for the Force's sake we don't have to deal with another crisis like that again!"
"I'm sure we could take it this time Obi-wan. If we moved the entire fleet from here it sure would be do-able," Obi-wan shrugged off the idea.
"Let's not think about that shall we?" Obi-wan told Samsterai. Samsterai nodded in agreement and the two masters looked back to the holo before them.
In the evening after the battle, Augustau, Cody and the other clones were celebrating around a campfire made up of droid parts, when Samsterai and Obi-wan finished their meeting. The clones were joyfully shouting and singing with each other while a few more threw more and more droid parts onto the pile. Samsterai turned and headed for his tent when Obi-wan stopped him. "Lighten up Samsterai," He said.
"You're not suggesting..." Samsterai asked tentatively.
"Sure," Obi-wan replied. "You've earned it," Samsterai sighed and the two of them walked over to the clones campfire and joined in the celebrations with a drink.
