Journey through the Stars, final chapter, Attack of the Clones, again!
At the end of their journey and having defeated Count Dooku, the treasure of Erebor has been the subject of a quarrel between various people. Despite the restraining influence of droids like See-Threepio, it is only the intervention of Jack that seems to prevent a battle. However, just as matters are settling down, a large fleet of Clones and Pirates arrived to take the treasure, the planet and to destroy any other people there...
Attack of the Clones, again
A large fleet of Clones had entered the Erebor system. Lead by Darth Maul and supported by Pirate vessels. Darth Maul gave an uncompromising message to the defenders. 'Surrender and be prepared for intense interrogation or we will destroy you!' By intense interrogation he meant a similar treatment to that which all Clone prisoners received like the one which the companions nearly suffered earlier in this tale. Quo-Gin hadn't managed to slay him, he just put the Sith lord out of action for a while at the cost of his life.
The Pirate Captain, the infamous Captain Bloodscar gave a more blunt message to them, 'You're going to get your friking heads chopped off! he cried in a more violent twist to the usual chant. But he meant it and this was in keeping with the normal punishment those that fell foul of most pirates received. He finished a bottle of bear and smashed it at the screen.
'See that ship in the middle of the Clones? That's Darth Maul that is! We always knew of some connection between him and the Clones, now we see of him in command of the fleet. That means there will be considerable Dark force power in them!' declared Sam, pointing to a large ship. Some of the Clone main battle ships were very large, many times larger than the largest ship Jack had seen a Corvellian Corvette.
The first Clone ships attacked the planet, dropping bombs. Coincidentally, Clones are a male only species. They were originally men but the old Clone masters found an ancient way of quickly reproducing one man. So, in a rather sexist move the Clone masters considered women to be a weakness and all of the subsequent Clones were male. This means of reproduction was quick but had the effect of removing any kind thoughts of kindness or humanity from them hence their fearsome reputation.
The Pirates were mostly male or non-human some of the leaders were men, but these Pirates didn't consider women worthy of crew membership. Which was quite a relief for women, really! This might even have been bad tactics for the Pirates but their leaders like Captain Bloodscar weren't always renowned for been logical! In fact the only place he liked to see women was at brothels!
There was still time for the defenders to make some kind of tactics. Though it was fortunate that everyone was down on the planet as there was just enough time to enhance the planetary shields to stop the Clone bombs dropping on it giving the defenders at least a kind of base. The Aurions stuck first at the Clones, several hundred ships wedging through the Clone lines firing at every Clone ship they saw.
Ships on all sides exploded in balls of flame, many beings ending their lives in the flames of fire. But the assault by the Aurions on the Clones succeeded after a fashion, forcing the Clones to retreat to the edge of Erebor's system. They were supported by a charge of the ships of Busheymen and Dwarves, Palpatine personally well at the back, though the Clones still managed to make some hits at his ship.
Jack was with Sam, Obi-Wan and R2 in the Adventurer. Dwalin and Fili were in a lead Dwarven ship elsewhere in the battle. Obi-Wan was using the force to make the ship travel many times faster than it might otherwise have done and it took on one of the large Clone ships. Jack's eyes widened as he saw the monstrous vessel, as big as many skyscrapers.
But the Adventurer screamed past the Clones vessel's guns which shot just past it's hull. The Adventurer shot torpedoes at the enemy ship which at first seemed so ineffective against it's size, but Obi-Wan had put a force trick on some of the torpedoes as they exploded so they caused considerably more damage than they would otherwise have done. A part of the Clone ship exploded, causing a fire that spread and disabled the rest of it, the Adventurer screaming and rattling away and on to the next target.
'Won't be much left of this rabble of bolts at this rate,' growled Sam in the Adventurer's cockpit.
'If we win through you can have your choice of any other ship!' cried Obi-Wan in reply.
'Don't worry it'll stay together!' called Goran.
Some dust fell of the ceiling in a nasty bang. 'Baby, stay together!' Sam muttered patting the hull.
'Heh, heh, nice to see this ship finally go fast! Let's cause some more damage!' cried Anakin.
But not everyone was happy to see him, 'What are you doing here, kiddo?' yelled Sam.
Obi-Wan said, 'I thought we told you to remain on the planet?'
'Poof, I'm not staying down there when the battle of the century is taken place up here. Look, les go for Darth Maul!' Anakin explained and suggested pointing at a clone vessel nearby. But there was still a strong bodyguard of Clone destroyers in between. Also behind a whole barrage of ship fire prevented any retreat for the moment.
'We can't go back might as well keep him here!' Sam sighed.
Obi-Wan suggested hopefully, 'He could even be useful!'
Then an alarming message blared over the tannoy, 'More Ships. More Clone ships on the way! Thousands of them! Be wary of a stronger force heading here!' Jack looked out in alarm. More Clone reinforcements had arrived. It seemed that they had dealt with only the first wave of Clones. This new force was stronger than anything the defenders possessed. Victory now vanished from hope. The Clones and Pirates pressed the defending fleet closer to the planet and picked ships off.
Jack's eyes widened as Darth Maul's flagship loomed opposite the Adventurer. Darth Maul seemed to sense Jedi's presence and the Adventurer was targeted and shot after shot exploded upon the vessel's hull. The hull was a bit battered in any case and a torpedo exploded a large part of it. The shields kept life support in, but the inside of the ship could be seen by the enemy. The odd blaster bolt did enter the ship. Jack could see the eyes of the Clones in the enemy ship so very close. Jack wasn't sure if the attacker were actually firing at the crew individually but instinctively he put on his glove and vanished from sight.
The Adventurer flew alongside Darth Maul. It was as close to his ship as one can be in a space battle. Only a few hundred metres separated the two vessels. They exchanged fire and the Adventurer shook in explosions. The shields kept going down. Unfortunately for Obi-Wan, Darth Maul used force power of his own to adapt his ships weapons which were more than a match for the young Jedi.
Then yet another explosion rocked the ship and some of the ceiling collapsed, close to were the Jedi's Obi-Wan and Anakin were. A beam hit Obi-Wan straight between the eyes knocking him senseless adding to the general despair in Jack's mind. It would only be a matter of time before the defeat, he was thinking looking out at the debry in the space of exploding and destroyed ships with the others retreating in desperation before the mighty Clone fleet.
The Adventurer shock to an explosion outside the hull. This one threw Jack across the ship and banged his head on the wall. It also knocked Sam to the floor. The last thing Jack heard as he passed out was a message, 'Hello, defenders of Erebor! This is Yoda head of the Republic fleet. Do you require assistance, over?' but had he imagined it? Then he passed into oblivion.
Later Jack woke up. He was still on the Adventurer, but it seemed to have moved back to Erebor's surface. He got up, groaned and looked out. The Ship was empty, but outside a few ships were milling about and were of the defenders. He could also see a few people of Bushey walking around nursing injuries, but not looking too unhappy or desperately defending. So, it seemed to be victory. But how, Jack wasn't sure.
Jack had missed the final stages of the battle whilst he was out cold. But later he had learned that Yoda and his forces from the Republic had reinforced the fleet and together they had managed to push the Clones back. But the Clone fleet was still mighty. It was Anakin that had finally tipped the balance. He had flown the Adventurer right besides Darth Maul's ship. Using the Force to be almost invulnerable to any attack, he had sensed were Darth Maul was and send fires of wrath towards him. Darth Maul was slain and with that the Clones had had enough and the fleet was taken on all sides and broken.
Yoda also had with him quite a number of fully trained Jedi. These force-sensitive people could make quite a difference in a space-battle situation like this one and they headed around to fight the major ships of the Clones. Though Darth Maul had even proved too strong for them and it took the young boy Anakin to make the difference at the end. After Anakin had overwhelmed Darth Maul, R2 found a command panel to many Clones and was able to order a lot of them to surrender which they had no choice but to obey.
Only a very few Clones or Pirates had survived the massacre. Those that had fled and did no damage to the Galaxy for long years hereafter. Jack groggily got himself up and took a look around the Planet. He made his way to the control room were he was seized by Palpatine, 'It's Jack isn't it, that young man that was Dwalin's servant? You are wanted, come this way!'
'Were are you?' asked Fili and Jack realized he was still wearing his glove so swiftly removed it. He was taken to Dwalin. The Dwarf was lying on the floor, his body bleeding from many wounds. Dwalin was dying. Jack rushed towards Dwalin and embraced him. A little to Jack's relief the embrace was returned but Dwalin lacked his old Dwarven strength.
'Ah, Jack!' coughed Dwalin. 'Before I depart this life, I would just like to thank and congratulate you!'
'What in the Galaxy for?' replied Jack,
'Don't be modest, you know only too well! Without you, this quest would have failed on many an occasion. Plus you did manage through your cunning which you do possess to put us all on the correct road. Though a battle did happen obviously. Anyway, good or ill, I must leave this Galaxy now and join with my fathers. Farewell, my brave young man!' and with that Dwalin died.
Jack was a bit upset and shed tears. Though it was only later that a thought occurred to him. How was it that Palpatine had seen him whilst he was wearing his invisibility glove? Oh, well, those political leaders can perform miracles at times, he supposed! The rest of his companions had survived though many others in the fleet had sadly perished, Man, Aurion, Dwarf or Republic citizen.
Sam was probably hurt the most. He had been caught up in an explosion on the Adventurer and survived considerable damage to his body. Medical practices were advanced, fortunately and he would be cured, but for a time he would suffer much physical pain to go with the gold he had won. Only Sam could decide if such a bargain was worth it.
There was now no argument that the treasure of Erebor would be divided up amongst those that had earned it and many had. The companions of the original quest had waved much of their rights though they had received a considerable amount anyway, Jack had only accepted a relatively modest sum, though enough to keep him comfortable for the rest of his life. He wasn't been totally altruistic about this, he was just wise enough to know that great wealth does not always great happiness bring.
The old nation of Erebor was restored, Thrain was the leader for the moment but many men of Bushey reallocated over to Erebor and the foundations of a fine nation was beginning. Fili remained there, but Obi-Wan and Anakin were going to the Republic with Yoda. Yoda had taken an interest in the spectacular force abilities of Anakin, 'Stronger than many his age, hmmmm!' the little green alien had said and Obi-Wan was going to the Jedi city on the Republic capital, Coruscant, as well. The Clones were well-nigh all destroyed, Dooku had vanished by all accounts but was a wanted man, and the Pirates were captured, dead, or scattered and of less influence in a more stable Galaxy.
But it was time for Jack to return home and on the Adventurer with Obi-Wan, Sam, Anakin, Goran and R2, went back, back all the way throughout the Galaxy, way back to the system next to Tantooine, bade farewell to his remaining friends who went to the Republic and made it back home. He kept his magic glove but used it rarely, which, coincidentally, wasn't an ancient heirloom with magical powers wanted by a lord of evil to conquer the Galaxy with it was just something to make one invisible! And took up his life in Tantooine again for now.
The entire adventure, though dramatic had in fact only taken up around 6 months. Once he had gotten home, Jack soon returned to his life again though he was perhaps wealthier and had plans to move to the Republic at least for a while to visit. But then Tantooine was home for him so maybe he would always find his way back to the dustbowl as some of it's exiles said.
6 months time as Jack was thinking of writing down his experiences he heard a ring on his doorbell. To his delight it was Sam and Obi-Wan that had come in to visit. 'Come in, come in!' Jack scampered, 'Tea? Or I might have something more substantial knowing your tastes!' It was lunchtime. Jack noticed that Obi-Wan had grown a bit bigger and Sam still walked with a bit of a limp but had no less than 3 mobile phones with him. One of them was a holo one which was very expensive! 'Is that so you can ring yourself and find yourself engaged?' joked Jack.
'Anyway, how are things in the Galaxy?' Jack had of course heard things in the Galactic news, but first hand experiences was always helpful. Sam, it appeared had managed to now gain entry to the Republic but Obi-Wan had spend some more time around Erebor. To Jack's pleasure he had found that the news was mostly very good.
'The nation of Erebor has been restored and is growing,' said Obi-Wan, 'And I would like to offer you an apology of sorts. I think I took a bit of a wrong turn in that quarrel over the treasure we nearly had. Me as a Jedi and all should at least know of the value of negotiations before violence. It took a man like you to show me the way!' Jack did appreciate this.
'Would there have been a battle over the treasure of Erebor?' Jack asked.
'Hard to say for sure!' Obi-Wan replied. 'But one can say that there have been such situations on a smaller scale between species that have turned out very nasty. It certainly seems to me that many there were prepared for a fight, the situation was a powder-keg!' Many historians would later ask themselves the same question. No definite conclusion was found, but most of the subtle ones seemed to think that a battle was very likely to have happened and it was only the contribution of some that argued restraint such as Jack or See-Threepio that avoided it.
Indeed peace and prosperity in the wild had been growing. The Clones all but destroyed and the Pirates surrendered or changing their ways, the Republic had gained more influence. The dangerous signs of instability that had worried Qui-Gon had been eliminated, at a great personal cost to him of course, a new peace descended upon the wild and life was taken on a much healthier aspect for all in that part of the Galaxy . Really!
Some of the Clones had been captured though most had been programed not to surrender and it was found out that under different conditions it was possible for some Clones to have a more reasonable personality and to be reasonable people. But the Pirates that were active were virtually no more to every civilized person's relief.
'The only slight worry is that of Palpatine!' said Obi-Wan. 'Not everyone got on with him, but his popularity has rocketed. The pictures of Clone blasters firing at his ship was beamed all across Bushey.' Before the retaliation against Dooku, Palpatines approval rating stood at 30% a historically low figure. After the battle of Erebor, it rose to 80%+! His re-election as President of Bushey was a formality and he now had a place in the Republic Government due to a treaty with it.
Palpatine, Obi-Wan, and Anakin had done very well out of the events and were household names throughout the Galaxy. So to were Sam and possibly other warriors. One person whose deeds, at least the important ones, were mostly forgotten was Jack himself! Although he did have the respect of any that knew of the events who came by it was only a select few that remembered his real contributions.
But Jack didn't mind. He didn't seek out fame and fortune after all. Though he was thinking of moving out of Tatooine now. Alderaan sounded a nice place, it had been on the edge of the Republic and was vulnerable to Clone attacks but of course now that didn't matter! But he was only one person in the whole Galaxy as Sam had pointed out to him. But he took a swig from his drink and smiled at his friends. 'Actually, I'm quite pleased about that!' Jack said and all four laughed heartily in the warm Tantooine evening as the easy time ticked by.
THE END.