Chapter 21, Grievous intrigue
Diabolical defeat.Though Republic victorys outnumber their losses, the Jedi have been unable to stop Separatists advances in the Outer Rim. The ever elusive General Grievous is eager for revenge and her sights are set on 2 of her most hated enemies.
General Grievous had targeted Jeci Master Eeth Koth and was launching an all out assault on his cruiser, with an army of Battle and Commando Droids slaughtering the clones attempting to hold them off, along with their female leader joining in the fray.
Sensing that his men were dying, Koth turned to his men. "Quickly. Get to the escape pods, all of you. I'll deal with Grievous myself."
"But General, that could be exactly what Grievous wants." A clone trooper said with concern.
"Maybe. But I value your lives more than my own. Get to the escape pods and hurry." The Jedi Master ordered his men, which after some hesitation, did just that as Koth stayed behind and waited.
In a matter of minutes, a blue lightsaber cut through the door and kicked it in before Grievous stepped in. "Jedi Master Eeth Koth. I've been looking forward to finally meeting you." The cyborg general greeted before she began to cough.
"Grievous." The Jedi Master said with contempt before the commando droids engaged him. While they were formidable, Koth managed to defeat them before MegaGuard droids stepped in and formed around the Jedi Master. "I see your reputation precedes you, general. The reputation of a homicidal witch and traitor who betrayed her own planet and people."
"I had every right to abandon my 'people' and I'm proud to be a murderer. Proud because I'm ridding the galaxy of Jedi who are too weak to provide a decent challenge for me!" Grievous said with anger before she and Koth engaged in a heated lightsaber dual, both being equally matched until her Magna Guards joined in and eventually overpowered the Jedi Master. "Get him aboard the ship. It's time for the next phase of my plan."
Later on Coruscant
Neyla, Shaak Ti, Yoda, Windu and a few members of the Jedi council were in the briefing room, having received a holographic message to them. One if the Droid general and her Magna Guard droids torturing their fellow council member and Jedi master.
"Grievous, release Master Koth, or you will answer to the full weight of the Republic and the Council once we defeat and capture you!" Mace demanded, which earned an emotionless and hollow laugh from the Droid general.
"Listen, Jedi scum, if you want to see Koth alive again, you will give me Cooper and that traitor Qymaen Jai Sheelal!" She demanded, shocking everyone in the room, especially Neyla and Shaak Ti, who looked at each other in concern for their respective loves.
Before they could even argue against her demand, she would ask while signaling for the Magna Guard to continue torturing Koth, "You Jedi claim to care about you precious Clone army and fellow Masters? Here's your chance to prove it: give me Cooper and Sheelal and I will spare Koth! If Jedi scum refuse...his death and blood be on all your hands and conscience, not mine!"
While the hologram was playing and before it ended, Master Plo Koon and Commander Wolfe noticed Koth relaying a message through hand gestures, which Neyla translated. "Saleucami System. Sector J19. 080529."
"Saleucami? But our intelligence reports that Grievous has no ship's near that sector." Master Adi Gallia told them.
"True. But so often inaccurate, our intelligence is." Master Yoda reminded them. "To the council chamber summon Sly and Qymaen. Speak with them, we must."
"Shaak Ti and I will get them, Master. They're in the sparring chamber practicing their lightsaber techniques. We'll be there as soon as we get them." Neyla said humbly as she bowed to her master.
In the Council chamber
After the Jedi sisters found their respective lovers, they brought them before the council and the Jedi master's explained Master Koth's situation and Grievous's demands: that the Council either send them to the Saleucami System or she would kill the Jedi master.
"My master, with yours and the council's permission, I'd like to request that Qymaen and I go to rescue Master Koth." Sly requested humbly, not wanting to lose a friend.
"Absolutely not, Cooper! If you and Sheelal go you'll both simply be giving Grievous what she wants and she'll murder master Koth all the same. We'll think of another way to get him back." Windu argued, not wanting Grievous to just get what she wanted.
Qymaen countered while speaking against Mace. "That is merely your opinion, Windu, not the entire council's!"
Windu countered while attempting to keep his disdain for the former Droid general under check. "That is Master Windu...General Sheelal."
Yoda asked, as he was willing to let Qymaen speak his mind before the Council, due to their friendship. "Different perspective have you, General Qymaen?"
Sheelal answered with deep respect for the green skinned Jedi Master. "Indeed I do, Master Yoda, as I believe I know Grievous's true motive for attacking Koth's cruiser; she's targeting Jedi in order to lure me and Cooper to face her in combat...for revenge."
Master Fisto asked, intrigued by the true motive for the Droid leader's attack on Koth's cruiser. "Revenge against you and General Cooper? For what reason?"
Sly answered for his friend and ally. "After Gunray's escape from our custody, Qymaen and I had followed the tracking beacon to Vassek 3, hoping we would recapture him...but the beacon was in fact a decoy set up by Dooku as he had led us to Grievous's lair. We had also humiliated Grievous, as Dooku had lost faith in her combat and leadership skills and decided to use us as bait to test her...which she no doubtingly failed because we escaped." He said, making the Council were surprised upon what had happened on the 3rd moon of Vassek and had no doubt that Qymaen's hunch was correct; how Grievous sought revenge for her humiliation in her own lair.
Qymaen also added. "Master Yoda, Cooper and I are Koth's only hope of escaping Grievous's clutches. She will no doubt kill Koth all the same if you were to send a different rescue team." He said, making the Council mutter in agreement with Qymaen's words, as his insight of the Sith's military strategies were crucial to their side and thanks to his secret relationship with Shaak Ti, he had somewhat became friends to several members of the Council...with the exception of Master Windu.
Yoda gave a deep sigh before answering. "Agree with you and General Cooper, I do. Prevent Master Koth's death by Grievous hands, we must. Neyla and Master Shaak Ti will accompany you on this mission."
"Thank you, Master." Sly and Neyla said humbly as they bowed before their master, along with Qymaen and Shaak Ti.
Once the Council had agreed to Master Yoda's answer, Sly and Qymaen headed out to the ship hangar with Neyla and Shaak Ti right behind them. Once they boarded their cruiser and headed out for space, the four of them began to form a rescue plan to save Master Koth.
Neyla made a suggestion. "After we exit hyper-space and board Grievous's cruiser, Qymaen and I will distract that witch and her forces while Sly and Shaak Ti search for Master Koth."
"I agree, Neyla." Sly said with a smile, agreeing with his secret wife.
"Us as well, Neyla." Qymaen and Shaak Ti said as they held hands.
Meanwhile on Grievous's ship
The cyborg general walked into the bridge were Eeth Koth was being held when his tactical Droid spoke to him. "Ma'am, we are entering the Saleucami system."
"Good. Begin landing preparations." She ordered.
"Yes, my lady."
"Um, sir, there are several ship's coming out of hyper-space." A battle droid informed them.
"Republic?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Cooper and Sheelal are here." Grievous said with evil joy, knowing she'd gotten what she wanted. She then turned to her captive. "You see, Koth? Cooper and Sheelal have come to rescue you, just as I knew they would."
"General, 1 of the ships is trying to hail us." A battle droid informed the cyborg general.
"Put it through." She ordered, making the Droid do just that before Neyla and Qymaen appeared on screen.
"Hello, my worthless replacement. I knew we'd meet again." Qymaen said with disgust.
"Hello, traitor. And I see you brought Neyla with you. I told you to bring Cooper but I think she'll do until I get my hands on Cooper." Grievous said as she broke of contact, a little disappointed that Cooper didn't come as expected but could compensate for that with Neyla. Engage the ships but let Neyla and Sheelal board. I want to finish them myself."
The Republic ships engaged the Sith flag ship, with their Clones battling the Droids in space, led by Rex and Cody. While this was happening, Sly and his team boarded the enemy vessel and engaged the Droids shooting at them.
Once they were taken care of, Neyla turned to them. "Remember the plan: once you both get Master Koth, we'll RV at the ship's docking bay."
They all nodded and split into their assigned teams. Sly and Shaak Ti made their way to the bridge where Koth was being held. Once they got to the bridge, they saw a tactical Droid and several commando droids and MengaGuard droids waiting for them.
"The general's description of your tactics have been 100% accurate today. Very impressive, even by my standards." The tactical Droid said before he activated the electrocution controls, shocking Master Koth. "1 more step and your friend will die. Ha ha ha."
Sly quickly Force pulled the Droid to him and quickly cit it in half. He then engaged the commando droids and MengaGuard droids with Shaak Ti, fighting evenly with them until they eventually destroyed all of them and released Koth.
"Thank you, Cooper, you saved my life." Koth said to his friend, grateful to his friends for coming for him, despite the risks. "Where's Grievous?"
"If everything is going according to plan, she's occupied with Qymaen and Neyla." Shaak Ti answered. They quickly made their way to the RV point, with Shaak Ti helping Koth and Sly taking point as he destroyed the battle droids that tried to stop them and got to the Twilight in the hanger bay.
With Neyla and Qymaen
They were searching for General Grievous and quickly found her in a wide area where she was waiting, wielding four lightsabers as the two Jedi drew out and activated theirs. "So, Sheelal, is everything going according to plan?" She asked mockingly.
"Yes it is. Unfortunately for you, witch." Qymaen said as they engaged the cyborg general. The battle was evenly matched, with the 2 allies holding their own against the cyborg general until they successfully disarmed her.
"Qymaen, we have Master Koth and we're waiting for you and Neyla." Sly informed his ally through their communications.
Neyla stated casually. "Sorry General, but Qymaen and I can't play anymore."
The female Droid general snarled angrily at her choice of words and countered. "You three have caused me a great deal of trouble and I intend you present not only your lightsabers, but also your heads as trophies to Dooku!"
Qymaen spat in the female Droid general's mask covered face. "You're a foolish woman to have allied yourself with the Sith! They betrayed and manipulated me into thinking the Jedi were responsible for my fatal wounds that had turned me into a Droid; just like yourself. They betrayed me and they'll eventually betray you as well when your usefulness has run its course."
Grievous growled angrily and snapped coldly. "Silence! I've had enough of both of you!"
The 3 of them continued their duel, with Grievous pulling out 4 spare lightsabers. The duel lasted for several minutes before Neyla and Qymaen Force pushed the cyborg general away. The 2 allies then made their escape and quickly got to the Twilight and they took off to the cruisers, where they quickly docked and after getting free from the space fight and having their fighters land, they quickly entered hyper-space and Grievous roared out in explosive anger at being beaten yet again by her most hated enemies.
In the medical bay
The Jedi were talking to Master Koth. "I'm glad you're alright, my friend. We wouldn't want to lose a great warrior like yourself." Qymaen told his Zabrak friend.
"I know, general Qymaen, but I would have gladly given my life for the chance to capture or end Grievous for good." Koth said with regret that Grievous was still at large.
"We know that you would have, Master Koth, but we value your life more than capturing that monster. Besides, we'll have another chance one day." Neyla assured the Jedi Master.
"I know. Still, all the same, thank you for saving me. All of you." Koth said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Master Koth." Sly said, smiling back, along with his team.
There you go, guys, the Grievous Intrigue episode is complete. Next will be a ptbe Mandalore Plot episode. Which Jedi should I put in that one? Rate and review. See you soon, guys.