Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the property created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm LTD. Celeste and Faei are my own creations.
Chapter 21
Continue the Fight
"You've waited twenty thousand years for Celeste?" Fel asked
"Yes. Though not specifically. Our order was created to assist the Chosen One of prophecy when they would need it most" Arei said "That time is now. We have brought a force of two thousand Knights and Masters to help in this conflict"
"Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One" K'kruhk said
"No. He was not" Arei said "He was thought to be, but that is incorrect"
"So Celeste is?" Bruhala asked
"Correct" Arei said "She fits perfectly. But now is not the time to discuss such things. The Sith have retreated?"
"Yes, Master. They have. We believe to Korriban, but they will send part of the Korriban defense fleet to try and retake Coruscant" Celeste said
"Then it is time for battle. This transport is not fit for combat, but our escorts are. They will help in the defense of this world" Arei said
"We welcome the help" Fel said as the group walked towards the waiting shuttle.
"So how did you get that Acclamator?" K'kruhk asked
"It dropped out of hyperspace one hundred and eighty years ago above Tython. We sensed no one on board, so we investigated. It was deemed a worthy transport, so we hid it on Tython. We always knew there would come a time when we would have to leave our sanctuary" Arei replied
"If you like, I can have some engineers look over it. Repair some of the damage" Fel offered
"We would appreciate that, Empress" Arei replied
xxxx xxxx
"So it comes down to the fact that we have to capture the Valley of the Dark Lords" Celeste said, pointing to the holographic map of Korriban "If only for a short time"
"That will take a lot of resources" Fel countered "And no guarantee that we can hold it"
"We don't need to hold it. Just capture long enough for me to get down into those catacombs" Celeste replied
"The catacomb entrance is here" Faei said, adjusting the map "At this end of the valley. Right under the main Sith base in the mountain"
"That won't easy to get to" Celeste mulled
"More like impossible" Faei said "The data from the captured Star Destroyers indicate that the Sith have fortified the base. Mass drivers and flak cannons surround the area. A fighter might be able to get in and out alive, if the pilot is lucky enough, but anything larger will be vaped before it can get close"
"What about at this end of the valley?" Corde asked, shifting the map
"That end has a few anti aircraft cannons and small turrets. It's a good landing site, just out of range of the base defenses"
"And inside the valley?" Celeste asked
"No information" Fel replied
"So we'll assume it has heavy defenses" Celeste said "We'll have to land and go through the valley on foot"
"That's suicide" Faei said
"Is there a better idea?" Celeste countered. Nobody said anything "We should split up then" Celeste continued "Three teams. One on each side of the valley and one down the center. More chance of reaching the objective and covering the other teams"
"I see. That might be doable, but It will most likely take a fleet to breach their orbital defenses, depending on how many ships they send here" Fel said
"Not necessarily, Highness" Yage interrupted
"Colonel?" Fel asked
"Highness, if we send a few heavily armed ships, we might be able to draw off their fleet long enough for the transports to land. It would just be a matter of escaping the full force of the fleet and engaging one or two ships at a time" Yage said
"Landing the transports will be difficult enough. It's not Coruscant with a massive population" Fel protested
Before anyone could reply, an alarm started blaring in the chamber. An officer ran into the room
"Enemy fleet has arrived" he said
"How many ships?" Fel demanded
"Fifty eight capital ships and around thirty smaller ships" the officer replied "Not counting fighters"
"That's half the Korriban defense fleet" Fel said, rushing from the throne chamber.
xxxx
Celeste watched the battle with dread in her heart. All those lives ending before her eyes. All those sentients
"It's time to end this" she announced, standing up and heading for the exit, a scowl on her face
"Cel, wait up!" Faei ran after her.
"Where are you going?" Fel asked
"Korriban. I won't stand here and watch more people die" Celeste replied "Not when I can do something"
"CELESTE" K'kruhk spoke up "Don't give in to your anger. That leads to the Dark Side and you will doom the galaxy"
"I already gave in, Master. Twelve years ago" Celeste said, turned and walked out
"Stay out of this one, Faei" Celeste as she walked down the palace hallway
"Like heck I will" Faei replied, walking closer
"I mean it. Stay here. Last thing I want is you getting killed" Celeste said firmly as Arei and the Sage council came up behind her "What about you?" Celeste asked
"We go where you go" Arei replied
"Then to Korriban it is" Celeste said quietly, looking at Arei and the Sage Council over her shoulder.
"How are you going to get there?" K'Kruhk asked
"The Sages transport will do" Celeste replied
"Think about this. You will never land without the support of the fleet" K'Kruhk said "You, and the Sages will be killed long before you reach Korriban"
"And as long as Coruscant remains under attack, I will keep the fleet here" Fel said, stepping out of the war room.
"Then I'll do it without your help" Celeste said, walking off and leaving everyone standing in the hallway. Cade ran after her.
xxxx xxxx
"I'm not one for speeches" Celeste said, standing on the upper level of the Acclamator-class transport Fury and looking down on the two thousand Jedi warriors as well as several Imperial soliders. Cade, Corde, Nos'tarra and the Jedi Council were also there, looking up at her and Arei "I've studied histories. Battles. Leaders. Successes and failures. No one mission has ever held this level of importance. No one battle has ever had so much riding on the outcome as much as this has" she finished. Not knowing what else to say, she stepped down. The crowd cheered.