Peace was a fragile thing to maintain, especially with the war raging across all star systems. Jupiter found it increasingly difficult to keep everyone safe during these times of war, harder still to keep a grip on crime rates in different star systems as they all demanded assistance for different reasons. "Keyes, please tell me you have some good news." Jupiter sighed as he trusted second in command approached her as she looked over battle schematics.
"…should I not speak then, sir?" Hardly surprised that there was no good news to be had, Jupiter waved her hand to allow him to speak as she continued to work. "Our scouts report a full scale assault on the planet Devaron, they have tanks, air support, fully weaponised cannons, you name it they got it." He reported so Jupiter frowned in thought, looking over the information of the planet they were set to liberate. "With all due respect, I advise that we retreat and wait for reinforcements to arrive. There is no way we can launch an assault on those clankers and expect to be victorious, sir."
"I specialise in unexpected victories, Commander Keyes. We have faced worse odds together and succeeded, do not be too quick to lose hope." She cautioned him calmly, holding her chin thoughtfully. "The Temple of Eedit is highly valuable to the Jedi Order and the Devaronian people are have one of the highest percentage of Force-sensitive children. We cannot allow them to fall otherwise it could be a massive blow to the Jedi Order."
"Understood, general." Keyes answered with a nod of his head. "What is it you're planning then? The forests are too dense for an airstrike and we cannot move our walker tanks through them, not without blowing a hole through the forest first." Knowing this to be true, Jupiter thought a moment longer before exhaling.
"The droids have forced their way through by clearing sections of the forest before they captured both the temple and the city close by. We can move our own forces through the lanes that they have opened, however it will leave us exposed and they will fully expect us to attack them in this way. We won't be able to use the conventional method of attack in this case."
"In my experience, sir, conventional is not exactly your style." A flash of a smile appeared and Jupiter nodded her head in agreement, stepping back to place her hands on her hips.
"Precisely. Therefore I have already devised a plan to reclaim the city and the temple as well as send those droids back to the stars." She informed him confidently before starting to relay the battle plan just as Admiral Tao returned from his respite. "Ah, excellent timing my good friend. You're just in time for the briefing." She welcomed him as the admiral rubbed his beard with a slight yawn.
"Always raring to go, general." He said a little sleepily but paid his full attention to the hologram as Jupiter began to explain her battle plan.
"The forests of Devaron are extremely dense in certain areas and is also mountainous with numerous rivers and valleys. I propose that we use this landscape to our advantage and draw the droid army towards us where we can throw them out of formation." She began, highlighting certain areas around the temple and city. "These are our target areas. The droids are not able to adapt as we are and will struggle to move through the forest after us. Now, here is exactly what we are going to do."
Both men listened to the rather insane yet genius plan that Jupiter had devised. Anyone else would pass it off as a suicide attempt, however they knew better. Jupiter would never commit to a plan unless she was certain it would be effective and hey rationalised that if they could pull it off, then it would be one of the most impressive missions they had ever completed. "It's more than just a little bit crazy, I would say you were absolutely insane." Admiral Tao admitted, scratching his chin. "However, if you are successful, I will gladly compose a grand poem to commemorate your success."
"I look forward to it, admiral. Honestly, you should have told me you had such a love for poetry sooner, I had no idea you were so incredibly gifted." Jupiter told him affectionately before she looked towards Keyes who immediately stood a little straighter and broadened his chest, not wanting to be overshadowed by the admiral in front of the general. "Keyes, I'll need those audio devices prepared before we land. Select a few men to create the recordings, make sure that they are believable."
"Right away sir."
"I'll supervise the preparation myself, Admiral Tao, you have the deck." All saluted as Jupiter sailed past, beginning to arrange all the supplies and tools they would need as they gradually came closer to the planet of Devaron. There was no blockade to stop them, however Jupiter suspected that Separatist ships may arrive at any given time, so she cautioned Admiral Tao to be wary and to contact her immediately if there are any issues.
"Sir. All the supplies have been boarded. Shall we proceed to the surface?" A clone trooper nicknamed Felix stood to attention before Jupiter and she turned her head towards him from where she had been speaking to the squadron captains.
"Yes, remain in formation and ensure that the rendezvous point is secure before proceeding to land. Take care, Felix." The trooper saluted before marching away to give the orders. Keyes fell into step alongside the general as she headed to the nearest transport carrier.
"I still don't get how you know each and every one of our names." He said to her as they boarded, the troopers allowing more room for their general as she reached up a hand to take grip of the support belts above.
"I make it my business to know exactly who I am fighting alongside. The numbers don't matter, it's the people I care about." She answered as the doors slid shut and a red light came on, the carrier lifting them all out of the hanger and towards the deeply forested planet. Tapping a finger against her thigh, Jupiter counted the moments it took to get from the Sagacious to the surface, not noticing that Keyes was looking rather curiously at her scarred arm.
The burns had faded a little over time however Jupiter wore them proudly, always keeping her left arm bare so that she never forgot the lesson she had learned that fateful day. Glancing at Keyes, she caught his look then glanced down at the arm, giving a slow sigh. Dhea would have been with her right now were she still alive. No doubt Jupiter would have assigned her to the aquatic team to lead them in the fight where she would excel. Perhaps she would be ready for her trials by now. Perhaps not. Jupiter would never know.
"Sir, since General Skywalker has a new padawan, is there a chance that you may be getting a little sidekick any time soon?" Keyes had meant it as a joke, however when the dark cloud fell over the carrier, he immediately realised that he had overstepped a line. Jupiter's eyes flashed dangerously and he swallowed nervously, watching as her head slowly turned and those piercing eyes burned holes into the back of his skull.
"No." She answered simply before turning away. "Prepare to land. We won't have much time before the droid army realises that we are here. Our primary target is liberating the temple, from there we can then attack the city and reclaim it. Keep your eyes open and be mindful of your surroundings. This forest may be the thing that kills you if you are not careful." As they came to land the green light showed and the doors slid open, allowing everyone to jump free and land in the small clearing.
The carrier could barely get down to the surface, so the moment it had dropped off all troopers it moved forwards, returning back to the Sagacious before it became too difficult to navigate. Jupiter used hand signals to direct her squadrons, separating them as planned to being preparing for the strike against the droids. "Sir, these vines are too thick, we can barely move through them!"
"Then climb them, Spotlight. Observe." Jupiter commanded before she sprung up into the air, rising higher and higher before she caught onto one of the vines and began to swing, leap and glide through the forest, using them to her advantage. "I want Squad-D-Four up here and ready to shoot anything that looks even remotely like a droid, understood?"
"Sir yes sir!" For once, Jupiter did not comment and the troops blinked in surprise, confused at why their general did not respond the way she usually did. She was tight lipped and tense which immediately set them on edge, nervously moving forwards to their positions. The air became thick with trepidation and Jupiter sensed it clearly, however as the last preparations were made, she dropped down to the ground and flung out a hand.
"Remain at your posts, be ready to open fire at my command." She ordered before taking off at a run. Keyes reached out after her, making to speak but before he could even open his mouth, Jupiter was already gone.
"She's going to get herself killed one day." He worried quietly, shaking his head slowly. Staring after where he had last seen her disappear, a soft expression came to his features as he inwardly admired her courage.
"If you don't get your head out of the clouds, commander, those clankers will shoot that dozy expression off your face for you." One of his lieutenants sniggered mockingly behind him so he quickly scowled, turning his head to reprimand them.
"Quiet. We don't want those clankers to know we're here!" He hissed before returning to his post, squatting down with his gun ready to fire. Inwardly his heart was hammering, concerned for the general and prayed to all the deities of every religion that her plan would go off without a hitch.
Jupiter was careful as she ran, streaking through the forest until she had made her way to the cleared path that the droids had formed, leading directly to the Temple where she then began to slow, eventually jogging to a halt at the edge of the bridge, not stepping over but knowing full well that the droids now knew she was there. All the same, she flicked out her wrist and her lightsaber jumped to her hand, orange blade burning brightly to make sure that they could spot her.
"Hey look, someone's just standing there." She could hear the droids guarding the door conversing together as they peered closer at her.
"It's a Jedi! Blast them!" She deflected the bolts as they flew towards her, returning them to the droids and shot them down, leaving the doors now unguarded but did not proceed any further. A few moments later, the doors to the temple opened and just as she predicted, the droids sent almost all of their forces out to meet her. They blasted her with dozens of blaster bolts but Jupiter's calm mind allowed her to see them before they struck and she deflected them back, slowly beginning to move backwards before all at once, she turned tail and fled. "After that Jedi! Don't let them escape!"
Jupiter led them on a chase, dodging the blasts from tanks as well as blaster weapons, springing with agile grace back down the path before she led them into the trees where the droids followed but the tanks were forced to stop, unable to make their way through. "Go around and cut them off, alert the general to the situation!" The droid commander ordered some of his troops who bobbed their heads in a nod.
"Rodger-roger." Throwing a look over her shoulder, Jupiter climbed up one of the vines, keeping just within eyesight of the droids as they tried to blast her, however she swung her lightsaber to return them, taking down several droids before she continued to spring from vine to vine. "She's escaping!"
"We don't get paid enough to do this kind of work…" One of the droids complained however the one next to it thumped its head, making it yelp in protest.
"Idiot, we're not paid at all!"
"Oh right." Keeping the droids on track, Jupiter pulled them towards the ambush sight, making them followed her further and further into the forest until finally, she caught sight of Keyes down below so she spoke into her wrist communicator.
"Activate the audio for track one, now." Keyes gave the signal and one of his men used the remote controller to activate the devices they had set up in the trees as Jupiter disappeared from sight, landing in a tree and pressed her back into the bark as the droids looked around in confusion as the sounds began to filter through the trees from a distance away.
"This way troopers, we have to get out of here!" Jupiter heard Keyes's voice and smirked to herself, listening carefully as the droids continued to remain confused. "Leave no man behind, the carrier will leave unless we get there now!"
"Sir! Enemy droids to our south, do we engage?"
"No, outrun them!"
"It's coming from over there." One of the droids pointed, tilting its oddly shaped head. "Do we go check it out?"
"Of course we do you idiot!" The commander droid answered, thumping the same droid on the head again. "Company Four-Zero-Three-Six, go after those clones and blast them!"
"Roger-roger." The group of droids peeled off from the main unit and went to investigate the sound of the audio, leading them deeper into the trees towards the second ambush sight. Peering around the tree to carefully observe, Jupiter spoke into her communicator once more in a quiet whisper.
"Play audio tracks two and four." She ordered and almost immediately more recordings began to play. The droids stumbled towards them, shooting blindly at the sounds to try and locate the troopers, however they all remained hidden in the trees and in the undergrowth, camouflage blankets covering them from sight. "Now play track three." More sounds came from deeper in the forest towards the river so the battalion spread itself even thinner until finally, the time was perfect. "Open fire!"
Blasters instantly hammered down upon the disordered and chaotic droids as they searched in vain for the source of their attackers but with them being surrounded at all angles, they very quickly were shot down before they could even lift their weapons. "Aqua team, take out those tankers!" Jupiter ordered as she dropped down from above and joined the fight, slicing through the droids as they shot wildly, their commander unable to get them back into formation as they had drifted too far apart.
"Oh no the Jedi!" It yelled before Jupiter cut off its head, losing the droids their commander. She was about to relax and assume that victory was theirs for this round when suddenly, a sharp whistling sound came and vulture droids came from above, rocketing over the trees and open fired, pinpointing her troopers and gunned straight for those that had moved out into the open.
"Get back undercover!" Jupiter yelled before taking a running jump, using her lightsaber to slice one of the vulture droids in half as it dipped below the treeline and immediately it became tangled with the vines. "Do not let those vultures catch you out in the open, take them out!" She flung out a hand, lifting up a heavy log that lay covered in moss on the forest floor, making it levitate above the ground before she launched it straight at the droid fighters, taking two out at once as her men open fired upon them.
"Tanks! We got tanks! They're blasting through!" A trooper yelled in warning. "Everyone look out-!" The sheer force of the blast flung Jupiter off her feet and she crashed into the ground, lightsaber falling from her hand as the breath was knocked from her lungs. Keyes saw his general go down and immediately he was full of fear and panic when she did not immediately rise back to her feet.
"General! Cover the general!" He ordered, breaking from his post and ran to where Jupiter lay momentarily stunned, however when Keyes leaped over her and started to open fire at the remaining droids, she blinked rapidly to gather back her senses.
"Keyes, get back to your position!" She rasped, struggling to turn herself over as her winded body struggled to draw in breath.
"You need to fall back, general, I greatly advise that we-AGH!" Jupiter's eyes widened with horror as Keyes received several blaster wounds in his chest and abdomen, causing him to fall from the shock of being hit however Jupiter reacted swiftly, opening her arms and catching him as several troopers yelled and quickly ran to provide cover as she pulled Keyes back towards the treeline, arms looped under his and she did not stop until they were shielded from the blasts.
"Keyes! Keyes answer me, Keyes!" Jupiter pleaded, quickly putting him down and shaking him desperately as his eyes began to flicker, groaning in pain as he tried to focus on her voice.
"General…sorry…guess I…won't be making it back…this time…" The battle raged around her and Jupiter remained poised over her commander, gripping onto him tightly as he struggled to breathe, eyes slowly closing. The ground shook with every blast and her men cried out as they were driven out further into the open by the droid tanks, becoming fast prey for the vultures. It was all wrong. It has all gone wrong. Jupiter refused to accept this defeat, she would not allow anything to ruin the morale of her men!
"Hold on Keyes. Just hold on." She whispered as she pressed a hand over his heart and closed her eyes, slowing her breath as she began a deep meditation. Pale golden light blossomed underneath her hand, the Force trembling around her as Jupiter poured all of her strength into its manipulation. The soil shivered, sending shooting vibrations up through the clone troopers as they felt a strange power overcome them.
"The general…" One of them whispered, pointing and everyone turned to see the general pressing her hand to their commander's chest, the light shining more brilliantly by the second until finally, Keyes inhaled a small breath and his heartbeat began to increase, allowing Jupiter to relax.
"Everyone pull back to safety. Take Keyes and keep him out of harm's way." Jupiter ordered, standing up and striding forwards. "I'll deal with the droids."
"But sir! You're outnumbered, there's no way you can…"
"Did I stutter? I said get moving!" She barked the order again, eyes dangerously narrowed and the trooper jolted sharply, standing to attention before nodding.
"Yes sir. Move out men! Let's get out of here!" Satisfied that no further casualties would occur, Jupiter faced the droid army that had now regrouped itself and was marching towards her. A cannon blasted at her however it struck the ground a few feet away, ripping up the earth but did not cause Jupiter to flinch. Her men retreated as far back as they dared before turning to watch, curious to know what their general would do.
Calming her mind and allowing the fullness of the Force to flow through her, Jupiter slowly lifted her hands upwards, standing her ground even as the droids blasted their way through the forest, clearing away the vines and debris until suddenly, the vines snapped forwards. The droids shrieked and panicked as one of their tanks became wrapped up in the thick vines, the grip tightening as the droids inside wailed in fear before all at once, it was crushed and tossed aside like scrap metal. "Uh…should we be worried?" One of the droids questioned, however before anyone could answer, the vines all snapped forwards and claimed their victims.
For the second time in a day they were sent into a widespread terror, yelling and trying to blast the vines away but they continued to move at Jupiter's command, using the deep connection to the Force to control the vines at her will. The Force wrapped itself around her, connecting her senses to the vines so that they shared her resolve, becoming as alive as she to sweep through the droid battalion, destroying all of the tanks and ripping the battle droids to pieces.
Hearing the hiss of the air Jupiter's eyes darted upwards with a dark expression and her hand rose higher, directing the vines to lift upwards and snapped themselves around the vulture droids, snatching them out of the air and flung them down into the canopy where they exploded upon impacting with the stout and deep-rooted trees.
The clones stared in awe at the power their general demonstrated, taking out over half a battalion on her own until finally, nothing remained but a smoking pile of junk and scrap. They had never witnessed anything quite like it and all at once, they felt an unshakable wealth or respect and awe for their leader as she slowly turned around, her old smile and soft expression appearing on her features. "Come, it is time we finished our job here and took back that Temple. Are you with me?"
"Sir yes sir!" The chant came immediately and without hesitation, everyone standing tall as Jupiter chuckled before shaking her head with a cluck of her tongue.
"I am not a sir."