The Girl from Corellia Chapter 26: Order 66, a star wars: the clone wars fanfic

"Insulated my ass" Liliana swore tossing one of her outfits aside.

The bodysuit she wore on Jabiim was supposed to be insulated against cold and wet climates, but somehow the smuggler still managed to catch a cold during her rescue mission there.

"You did go out without any protection for your head" Violet told her, "An insulated suit can only protect what it covers".

"I know" Liliana sighed leaning against the wall, "I just can't believe I was so careless that I forgot something like that. I can't even remember the last time I wasn't fully prepared".

Violet replied, "Excluding unknown factors, well over a year ago".

"I'm either getting old or sloppy" the smuggler groaned lightly kicking the footlocker next to her.

"Neither I'm sure" Violet answered, "One lapse of judgment does not count as you getting old or sloppy".

"Maybe so, but that one lapse of judgment could have easily gotten worse. It's been so long since I was sick guess my immune system forgot its job".

"Well I don't think there is any point dwelling on it now" Violet told her, "Your cold has run its course and you are back in perfect health".

Liliana stared at the ceiling, "Which means its time to get back to work. What to do though? I'm out of leads for the Goliath Project and Hondo hasn't heard any good rumors in a while…hmm".

"Perhaps a visit then" Violet suggested, "It has been a couple of months since you last saw him".

"What are the chances he's learned anything though?" Liliana muttered, "My contacts on Nar Shaddaa don't know anything I haven't heard from Hondo in over a week. Have you ever realized that my list of contacts is pretty short?"

"Indeed it is, but your contacts usually come through with good information or at least they used to before".

"Before I became a spy for the Republic" Liliana finished, "I don't regret it though. I helped save Corellia, got the charges against me dropped and I met Alex. I wouldn't want to go back to the old days for anything".

Liliana gasped loudly, her eyes lids flying open blinded by the light directly above her. Her ears pierced by an overwhelming screech as she turned onto her side coughing as her body seized up in pain. Slowly turning her head she scanned her surroundings. Distorted ghostly images moved around her field of vision and the ringing in her ears became sharper before slowly subsiding. She heard blaster fire and a few explosions.

Falling onto her stomach she caught herself with her elbows and coughed again blood shooting from her mouth and onto the ground and as the ringing in her ears died down she heard someone call her name.

"Since you're hearing this…that means I wasn't able to keep my promise to you. I got myself into a tight spot that I wasn't able to get out of. I know it's going to be hard for you especially after I said nothing would ever be able to keep me from you, but this time I won't be able to make it. Alex, I know this will be hard for you, but please be strong and remember…I…"

"Welcome aboard Captain" the ship admiral said to Liliana as she entered the star destroyer's bridge.

"Thank you Admiral Tarkin. I got word that your fleet here is in need of assistance".

Admiral Tarkin nodded, "Yes I am glad you were nearby. We're about to try and break through a blockade around Cato Neimoidia, but our forces on the ground are in desperate need of supplies. Jedi Master Plo Koon is leading our forces on the planet's surface so far they have suffered few casualties, but many of their troops are injured and are in need of a medevac. We have shuttles that will insert replacement troops, but until we break the enemy's blockade we can't risk sending them out".

"So you want to load the supplies into my ship and send me in when you engage the enemy. I can get through their line faster all I have to do is fly down there and drop off the supplies".

Tarkin nodded, "Exactly, but if you have room to bring at least three squads with you we would appreciate that. I've done the math in order for us to extract the clones in the most need of medical attention we would have to make a second run we are short one shuttle".

"A squad is five troops right?"

Again Tarkin nodded, "Yes do you think you can fight fifteen clones onto your ship?"

Liliana nodded back, "Yeah, I can fit most of them into the cargo hold. It will be a little cramped though, but a round trip should only take seven minutes not including drop off and load time".

"The Republic appreciates your assistance Captain Ashford" Tarkin said refocusing his attention on the map of the enemy fleet ahead of them, "Our hangar teams will begin loading the supplies into your ship shortly. Please make haste".

"I'll leave once the cargo is loaded" Liliana told him.

"With luck" Tarkin began as Liliana reached the lift, "The battle for this system will be over by sundown and the sooner we get those supplies down there the sooner we can help make that happen".

"Just be sure I have a good distraction when I depart" Liliana grinned as she entered the lift, "See you soon Admiral".

Returning to the hangar Liliana watched the crew members loading seven crates onto her ship the last one was marked with the warning symbol for explosive contents. She had hoped that she would just be running medical supplies or maybe food and water, but she wasn't surprised this was a war after all and chances were she was still delivering medical supplies along with some armaments. Of course seeing those crates reminded her of the first time she got close to the Clone War.

A few months before she found herself stranded in the midst of a space battle between the Republic and the Separatists, she was making another routine run. The cargo was supposed to be some high end spice and customized ship parts, but it turned out to be a weapons shipment and the receiver of the shipment was the leader of the Separatists, Count Dooku. Liliana never wanted to get involved in the war she had actively avoided any contested system and waited for the fighting to die down before making any runs, but because of her reputation the Separatist leader had bribed on of her regular clients into tricking her for a shipment.

She destroyed part of the shipment upon learning the truth and threatened to do the same to the rest unless the Separatist leader kept his distance from her. She had managed to get away and once she was at a safe distance used a remote detonator to destroy what was left of the shipment, upon returning to Nar Shaddaa she confronted her client about the shipment and his duplicity, he immediately came clean about the shipment they weren't just conventional weapons one of the crates was filled with viral compounds intended for a biological attack, but it took more convincing for the client to come clean about how much he was paid. Almost enough to buy another freighter, money she confiscated from him as compensation for his double-dealing she let him keep his usual fee for setting up the job, but took the rest.

"Still have about eighty percent of that" she noted to herself as she walked up the cargo ramp of the Forgotten Star waving at the last crew member to get off who saluted her.

She was saving up a lot of money currently she had almost three hundred grand saved up enough to buy a condo on Corellia or Coruscant. She had intended to save up more another year give or take and she would retire early with everything she had, her original intent was to go back to Corellia and take Cynthia and run away with her somewhere, anywhere where they could be together, of course that all changed when Cynthia died in the Separatist attack on Corellia, the same day Liliana met Alexandra. Now she wanted to do the same with her, to retire away to a quiet world far from the war or galactic conflicts.

"I can't do that now" she muttered to herself raising the cargo ramp behind her, "I'm in too deep. I can't retire until this war ends. I thought I would be doing this for a long time, but I was already thinking of retiring".

Making her way to the cockpit she sidestepped her astromech droid Iron as he tried to ram into her leg making his displeasure of their current "job" well known before he went about his work. Falling into the pilot's seat Liliana started up the engines and left the hangar flying to a safe distance away from the Republic fleet and waiting.

"I probably wouldn't fully retire" she admitted, "I would still pick up a few jobs just to make sure we had everything we needed" she stared into space at the many distant stars surrounding her ship, "I really thought I loved Cynthia back then, but after I got to know Alex I just…I can't imagine not having her in my life".

Seeing the Republic fleet moving into position she sat up straight, "I'll go see her again when this war is over" she said aloud waiting for the two fleets to engage each other, "That day can't come soon enough".

The Republic fleet began firing on the Separatist blockade and the space battle began, giving Liliana the distraction she needed. Activating her ship's jamming signal she rushed toward the left end of the engagement zone her ship concealed from the enemy's radar, but she stayed far enough away to avoid any visual detection. It only took her a few minutes to breach the planet's atmosphere and within a few seconds she was locked on the Republic base camp and began making her approach.

The Republic forces had managed to take over a Separatist airfield during their campaign to capture the system allowing Liliana to land and help unload the supplies and assist the critically wounded onto her ship afterward. Once the swap was complete she returned to the pilot's seat and contacted Admiral Tarkin who informed her that the medevacs were enroute to the airfield as well, but before she took off Plo Koon, the Kel Dor Jedi Master leading the campaign asked her for further assistance.

"We could use an extra pilot if you've got time" he told her, "The geological nature of the world limits the ability of our ground forces so we make use of air strikes to soften their defensive positions. We are down a few pilots and could use your help".

"I was under the impression you didn't like me Master Plo Koon" Liliana replied.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't have a problem working with a criminal, but you have proven to be capable and loyal to both the Jedi and the Republic. You're additional assistance could help us take this world today".

She didn't want to admit it, but she had come to like even enjoy the thought of the mighty Republic and even the Jedi asking her for assistance, but this time she didn't want to. She wanted to help them win, but before she answered something felt strange. Something had tugged at her mind right before she answered and she felt like running away, to just flee from this battle she felt that if she stayed…she might die.

She pushed the thought from her head, "I'll be back as soon as I can Master Jedi" she said taking off from the runway and returning to the Republic fleet.

Dropping off the wounded clones she returned to the captured airfield and ran to the cargo hold of her ship to change some of her gear. She didn't need to change her clothes if they just needed an extra pilot, not that she ever piloted a fighter before, but she had been through enough ambushes that she could evade enemy fire easily enough. Opening one of her many footlockers she found a pair of red shaded goggles and placed them over her head adjusting them to a perfect fit.

Another piece she acquired over the past couple of years, they were meant originally used for hunting by a rich and crazed client that tried to hunt her after her delivery. The goggles had a zoom feature activated by slight twitches in her eye muscles. The goggles also came with a perception enhancement program built into the lenses, the microchips in the sides of the goggles would actively slow down whatever she was observing allowing her to react better of course her actually reflexes would have to be good enough to capitalize on such a thing.

"I'm just piloting a fighter I shouldn't need anything else right?" she asked herself glancing at her equipment lockers, "I should be fine".

Returning to the cockpit she returned to the captured airfield and told Violet and Iron to get the ship somewhere safe activating their basic security and stealth systems to keep the ship out of sight and away from any would be intruders. Running down the cargo ramp she waited for her ship to take off and return to the upper atmosphere, once it was gone she sought out Plo Koon to offer her assistance.

"I'm glad you returned so quickly" the Kel Dor Jedi said to her, "We've just received word that the enemy has sent in several Vulture droid squadrons to destroy this airfield, we must protect it or we lose our main foothold on Cato Neimoidia".

"So what's the plan?" Liliana asked, "Just go up and route the enemy?"

"For now" Plo Koon responded, "I want you to fly with Captain Hammer and his squad".

"Do you have a fighter prepped for me?"

"No" Plo Koon answered, "Before you arrived one of our wounded pilot's was cleared for another sortie so you will be flying with Captain Hammer as his gunner".

"So I won't actually be piloting?"

"Precisely" Plo Koon nodded, "I figured your skills would be better served as his gunner than a fighter pilot anyway".

"Most likely" Liliana answered, "Well which one is it then?"

Plo Koon raised his hand without turning his head from the map of the area, "That one" he indicated a customized ARC-170 Starfighter that had many tick marks carved on its canopy red and blue marks.

Walking over to the clone standing inspecting the fight she inspected the fighter herself as the clone introduced himself.

"Captain Hammer 123rd Fighter Wing Whirlwind Squadron, you must be the smuggler".

"Liliana Ashford" she replied locking her eyes on the hash mark in the canopy.

"My kill counts" Hammer replied, "Well the red ones are anyway. The blue ones are my brothers that died in my missions".

"Forty-two kills and thirteen lost comrades" Liliana said after counting the marks, "Considering how this war has been I'd say that's a good ratio".

"Yeah" Hammer agreed, "I vowed that for every one of my brothers that died I would take down three Seppies. They didn't go down without a fight though. The men in my squadron are fierce".

The clone turned to her and gave her a grin as he reached for his helmet and pulled it over his head, "You ready to go?"

Liliana nodded, "Depends are you ready to end this war once and for all?"

The clone captain climbed into his fighter, "Not sure about the war, but this battle ends today".

Once Liliana and Hammer were strapped in the canopy closed over them and the hiss of air pressuring the cockpit surrounded them. With the cockpit was pressurized Captain Hammer checked his instruments once last time before taking off with the rest of his squadron quickly following suit. Once in the air the clone captain issued his orders and the mission objective to his squadron and they moved out to engage the incoming enemy. Liliana checked the radar next to her, there were dozens of pings at least forty confirmed enemies and there were only five Republic fighters in the air so far.

"I see the rest of them are taking their time getting airborne" she said.

"They're probably running through final inspections of the fighters. Most of our crafts got banged up pretty bad in our last battle. Don't worry though we can hold the enemy until the rest of them get here".

Liliana rotated her seat checking the range, motion and reaction time of the gun she was controlling, "Got a full circle of motion on this thing".

"It's a good gun I keep it in top shape myself".

"Did you have a partner at some point?" the smuggler asked him, "This is a two person fighter after all".

"Yeah" Hammer answered, "He was one of the wounded that was evaced to the fleet. Let's see if you're as good as he is".

"What's his kill record for a single engagement?"

"Twenty kills in a single battle. Think you can match that?"

Liliana grinned, "Only one way to find out".

Hammer chuckled, "Now you're speaking my language. Whirlwind 1 to all units separate and engage the enemy at will. Weapons hot".

The battle began and within moments Captain Hammer using the forward guns on his modified starfighter shot down three enemies while Liliana managed to shot off the wing of one passing overhead sending it into a wild spin and causing it to collide with another.

"That counts right?" she yelled to the clone captain.

"Hell yeah it does" he answered before shooting down another.

Three minutes into the battle and together they had shot down a tenth of the enemy forces the rest of the squadron bringing down another fifth, but there wasn't time to feel confident.

"Whirlwind 3 to Whirlwind 1, enemy reinforcements incoming bearing 280 dead ahead".

"I see them" Hammer replied, "All units pair up don't let them pick you off".

"Enemy bomber presence confirmed in their formation" another pilot said, "They're likely going to try and pass us while their fighters keep us distracted".

"Then prioritize the bombers don't let them near the base" Hammer yelled before contacting the captured airfield to tell them of the incoming bombers".

"Roger that whirlwind our anti-air defenses are ready. Be advised reinforcements are taking off now".

"Finally" Liliana said, "Was thinking we'd have to do all the work ourselves".

"More work more glory" Hammer told her as he pulled a large turn giving the smuggler a clear line of sight on a trio of enemies trying to circle around them.

Making quick work on the incoming threat Liliana noted that the clone was a pretty good pilot. Of course they were trained and bred for this sort of thing and all clone pilots likely went through days worth of flight combat simulations, but Hammer was flawless in his executions. Precision turns and near perfect accuracy with his shots it was impressive. Another turn and another group of enemies down they made a good team.

"You're pretty good at this" Hammer called back to her, "Might have to keep you around".

"Glad you approve" Liliana yelled back shooting down another target, "But I'll have to decline you're offer. Places to go illegal things to transfer I've got a lot to do".

Again Hammer chuckled, "I'm sure. Alright looks like the enemy is down to half strength we can leave the rest of them to our reinforcements, let's focus on those bombers".

"Just get me in range" Liliana told him as the fighter turned to chase after the bomber squadron.

Seven heavy bomber craft in total, reinforced armor to take hits, but slow to turn away. Liliana's knuckles turned white from gripping the controls to the gun turret as she counted down the distance between them and her targets. Once they were in range Liliana took aim and pulled the trigger on the turret controls her shot slamming into the hull of the bomber and by the time her second shot hit the squad of bombers began firing back at them. Hammer pulled back on his flight stick turning away from the counter fire from the bombers.

"Dammit, should have expected that" Hammer yelled, "All units be advised the bombers have turrets on the back".

"Can we get around and hit them from the front?" Liliana asked.

"We could" Hammer responded, "Those turrets can't make a full circle and those bombers don't have any forward defenses, but it would take too much time to circle around each of them. We'll have to coordinate with the others and make sure we take them all in one pass".

"Hold that thought" the smuggler said sliding on her goggles. The red shade of the lenses coloring her sight as she squinted her eyes and zoomed in on the rear facing turret of the bomber in front of them, "Move us up just a bit" she told Hammer.

"Think you can hit that from here?"

"Yeah just get me in range".

The fighter moved forward and the bomber's turret open fired trying to deter its pursuer from closing in, but the clone pilot remained calm as he pushed forward. Once they were within range Liliana pulled the trigger and fired two shots striking the side of the bomber's turret destroying it.

"Outstanding" Hammer yelled, "How'd you manage that?"

"I'll tell you later let's take this bomber down before we go after the others".

Captain Hammer ordered his squadron to engage the bombers from the front while he and Liliana tried to pick them off from max distance. Once one turret was down the pilot and his gunner combined their fire on a single point to bring down two out of the seven bombers while his squadron brought down another three. Five down only two to go and they were five miles from the airfield.

"We have to stop them now" one of the pilots yelled, "We don't have time to circle around again".

"All units team up and focus fire" Hammer yelled, "Take them out".

"I'm hit" one of the pilots yelled, "I'm can't pull up".

"Whirlwind 3 respond" Hammer yelled.

"For the Republic" the pilot yelled before steering his fighter into the bomber's turret the resulting explosion tearing through the bomber's hull exposing its innards.

"Bombers are two miles from the airfield" one pilot said before his transmission cut out.

"Whirlwind 4 is going down, he managed to bail out".

"Hold us steady" Liliana told Hammer her goggles zooming in on one of the last bombers, "Almost in range…just a little more".

"Enemy transports have landed" someone yelled over the radio, "Enemy tanks and troops have landed, what happened to our AA defenses?"

"They used the ridge for cover we couldn't see them".

"Were the bombers just a distraction?" Liliana wondered.

"That or they don't care if they recapture or destroy the airfield. Either way they win so why not attack it from two fronts" Hammer explained.

Acquiring a lock on the bomber in front of them Liliana and Hammer fired bringing down the bomber, but right when the bomber started losing altitude it fired back and released its payload. The enemy's shot tore through the fighter's wing sending Hammer and Liliana into a wild spin as a dozen bombs began falling and the bomber tilted away falling through the sky before turning into a blinding fireball. A dozen bombs in the sky set on a course to the command center on the airfield and with their fighter out of control neither Liliana or Hammer could get a bead on them.

"We're going down" Hammer said, "Brace for impact".

Their fighter slammed into the ground and began rolling before coming to a stop in the middle of the airfield's runway.

"Ashford you alright?" Hammer coughed.

Liliana groaned, "Been better".

"The fighter's trashed we need to get out before it goes up in flames".

Liliana looked around, her canopy was smashed inward and one of the fighter's wings was torn off during the crash another snapped in half and one of the two guns she had control of had been crushed during the impact. Unfastening her safety harness she tried to climb out of the gunner's seat, but stopped when she saw a pair of Separatist tanks moving toward them.

"Tanks incoming" she told Hammer.

"Get out now" the clone yelled undoing his harness and kicking at his canopy to get it open.

Kicking at her own side of the canopy Liliana felt her leg cramp and give way after the third kick she recoiled from the pain clutching at her leg only to feel more pain and something warm and wet. Looking down at her hand she saw a large stain of fresh blood covering her palm and fingers and sticking out of her thigh a piece of jagged shrapnel. A part of the inner plating or part of the seat must have gotten torn lose and impaled itself in her leg during the crash. Shifting around she kicked with her other leg the canopy slowly cracking as she hit it again and again while the enemy tanks got closer.

"Dammit we're not going to make it" Hammer grunted managing to make a large crack in his canopy, but unable to shatter it.

"He's right" Liliana thought, the tanks were too close they wouldn't get out in time.

Shifting again she leaned against what was left of the gunner's seat and tried to turn the turret as much as she could. She was able to line up a shot on one of the two tanks, but she couldn't target the other. This was their only chance to survive, as slim as it was she had to take it. Firing the turret she scored a couple of shots on one of the tanks destroying it, but the other open fired. The first of its shots flying by them on the left as the shockwave moved it of course just a bit, but the second struck the side of the fighter shattering the canopy and rupturing the fighter's fuel tank.

"Get out!" Hammer yelled scrambling out of the fighter with Liliana right behind him.

The tank fired again destroying the fighter, the shockwave sending both Hammer and Liliana flying away from the wreckage and skidding across the ground. Liliana tried to stand, but her injured leg collapsed under her weight and she fell before rolling onto her back staring up at the sky in a daze. She watched another Republic fighter screaming toward the ground thick smoke trailing behind it before crashing on the airstrip somewhere near them. Multiple explosions danced through the sky as fighters were shot down and the ground rumbled over and over as the bombs began falling. Turning her head to the side she saw a squad of battle droids marching toward her the tank closing in as well and as her vision began fading she saw events from her life flash before her.

Meeting the man that would become her father and learning how to fly for the first time. Learning to shoot and learning a new language. The day she met Hondo and the day her father passed away. Then the day she met Emmara and the day she met Cynthia. She wasn't sure if she was smiling as she was seeing her memories, but she felt warm and a strange mix of happiness and sadness as she felt herself getting weaker.

Then she saw the day when she boarded the Resolute for the first time and met Ahsoka and Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The same day when she went to help them defend Corellia and the same day she met Alexandra. The images of her memories seemed to stretch on as her consciousness waned. Her first encounter with Death Watch her fights with Aurra Sing, her mission on Ruusan where they encountered the first goliath weapon then her trips to Dantooine and Korriban. Everything that happened over her life and as her warmth turned to cold her last thought was of the last time she spoke to Alexandra.

She had promised to come back to Corellia when the war was over, she said she would take her anywhere she wanted to go her parents to if they wanted. Just to spend time with her and be happy, but this time she would not be able to keep her promise.

She saw Alexandra sitting at the edge of her bed wearing her favorite royal blue nightgown. The edges of the collar and length of the sleeves stained with tears as she watched a holo-recording of Liliana.

Alexandra hunched forward dropping the projector and curling her knees up to her chest as she cried. Falling onto her side she clenched her eyes shut crying until she had no tears left.

"Ashford you still with me?"

Turning her head she saw a clone trooper leaned against a large slab of smoking metal firing his pistol around the side. Captain Hammer. She remembered she was with him during the air battle, but they were shot down. Looking ahead of her she saw a large squad of battle droids marching toward them and the tank that attacked them a smoking wreck several meters away next to another crashed fighter.

"If you move then get over here" Hammer yelled at her.

Trying to stand Liliana managed a single step before collapsing her injured leg had escaped her thoughts. Looking down she saw the piece of shrapnel had snapped off, but part of it was still wedged inside the side of her thigh and her leg was covered in blood. Some of her skin had been torn away probably from when she was thrown across the ground by the explosion her entire body felt numb.

Ignoring her pain the smuggler began crawling before getting up to her hands and knees and leaping as far as she could toward the clone who grabbed her and helped drag her behind cover.

"Can you still shoot?" he asked.

"Yeah" Liliana responded after a few seconds, "Just help me stand".

Hammer reached for Liliana's arm and helped her up, but before she could right herself he pushed her away, "Grenade" he had yelled before an explosion deafened her.

The force of the blast sent Hammer flying into her knocking her back to the ground and knocking the air from her lungs as she landed on her back. She tried to shift and move Hammer, but he didn't budge the front part of his armor was torn apart and there was blood leaking through the holes the shrapnel went through him, there was no denying that he was dead. She tried to move him, but he was too heavy for her weakened body. She could hear the droids getting closer to them the pounding of their collective steel feet echoing the sound of her impending death, she only had one option left.

Straining she raised her left arm and brought her wrist down against her chin activating the optics scrambler hidden in her gauntlet rendering her invisible to the droids as they appeared around the corner. Reaching for her blaster she pulled it from its holster and held her breath as she fired taking down one of the five droids. The droids began panicking turning in every direction trying to figure out where the shot came from leaving them open for the concealed smuggler to finish them off, the last one falling along with her arm. The last of her strength was gone and once again she blacked out unsure if she would survive or not.

She was faintly aware of being lifted and carried, she heard voices distant ones, but she was unable to discern who they belong to. She fought to keep what little consciousness she had going she was being carried and then she was set down, laid across something hard and cold and then she was moving again before she blacked out again. Her eyes fluttered for a moment and a bright light blinded her. She was surrounded by silhouettes and as she tried to move two of them held her down while a third loomed over her with its hand raised and her vision faded once again.

She awoke again surrounded by water and a breathing mask strapped around her head. She recognized the mild numb sensation she was feeling and the warmth of the liquid she was suspended in, a bacta tank. Placing her hands against the tank she looked around before pushing herself upward breaching the surface of the bacta and grabbing hold of the tank's edge. Climbing out of the tank she dropped to the floor landing on her knees and catching herself as she coughed a few times.

Standing up she brushed her wet hair back and looked around again. On an empty cot nearby was a crate with her name on it and inside was her clothes and equipment all cleaned. Changing back into her clothes she pieced together her situation she realized the Republic must have won and someone managed to save her. Once dressed she walked out of the medical tent and saw the amount of damage that had been dealt to the airfield, but the presence of so many Republic transports and gunship was a sure sign that the Republic had won the day.

"Ah you're awake" a cold voice said from close by.

Turning her head Liliana saw Admiral Tarkin standing nearby talking with another officer before sending him on his way.

"I take it we won?" she asked him feeling that she needed the confirmation.

"With great difficulty yes" he said coldly, "Thanks in no small part to you. For a smuggler you have proven to be a very capable spy and soldier. Perhaps you should consider a career in the Grand Army with everything you've done I'm sure you would be promoted to officer right away".

"How many did we lose?" Liliana asked avoiding his suggestion.

"More than I would have liked" he replied, "But we won and this system is now officially under Republic control".

"Where's Master Plo Koon?" she asked.

"He is on a patrol flight around the nearby city to make sure the enemy presence there has been eliminated. He's the one that found you and brought you back here after the battle ended".

"I owe him my thanks then" the smuggler said massaging the spot where her leg was injured.

"He will be back within the hour, if you like you can wait in the mess tent we've set up until his return. You've earned it after all".

"I might take you up on that" she said before he saluted her and went about his business.

Walking around for a bit Liliana got a good look at just how close the Republic came to failing their campaign in this system the airfield was all, but destroyed. Somehow they had managed to win. Contacting her ship she asked Violet for their status, they were still waiting for her signal to pick her up. Looking for a good place for her ship to land she walked behind one of the larger tents and saw an even enough ground for the Forgotten Star to land, but before she told Violet and Iron to come get her she heard someone talking nearby.

Leaning against the back of the tent was a pair of clone troopers one a captain the other a commander and in the commander's hand was a projector showing a blue image of a hooded man.

"Commander Steel the time has come. Execute order sixty-six".

"Yes Milord" the clone acknowledged switching off the hologram, "Who's with the Jedi right now?"

"Captain Jag sir" the captain answered.

"Good he'll have received the order has well. The Jedi won't make it back alive".

"What's that mean?" Liliana wondered deciding to hide behind a few barrels, "Won't make it back alive? Are they planning on killing Plo Koon?"

Raising her comlink she contacted Violet and Iron telling to get a fix on the Jedi Master's location.

"The Jedi is currently ten miles from your current location he is with two other fighters".

"Contact him now" Liliana told the droid, "His clones are going to try and kill him tell him to get out of there".

"Iron is opening a channel now" Violet told her.

"Captain Jag confirmed. The Jedi is dead" one of the clones said.

"There is no response from the Jedi" Violet said, "His craft has vanished from our radar".

"They killed him" she whispered into her comlink, "Get me out of here now something bad is going on".

Remaining hidden until her ship arrived Liliana ran for the lowered ramp and boarded her ship raising the ramp behind her and diving into the pilot's seat to make a swift getaway.

"Captain Ashford may I ask where you are going?" Admiral Tarkin's voice asked over the radio.

"I received a message from a friend of mine" she lied, "I need to leave at once. Please give my thanks to the Jedi for me. I hope to see you both again in the future".

"Very well. Be safe in your travels".

Once clear of the planet's atmosphere the Forgotten Star leaped into hyperspace and fled the system.

"We need to contact someone" she said to her droids, "One of the Jedi we need to find them and warn them, something isn't right".

"But who should we call?" Violet answered.

Ahsoka was the first that came to her mind, but she remembered that the lovely Togruta had left the Jedi Order after being falsely accused of treason. She never got the full details of what happened all she knew is right now she didn't know where Ahsoka was or how to contact her.

"Leon" she said aloud, "Leon he's still fighting this war somewhere. If we can't reach Ahsoka we'll contact him".

"Is it wise to openly broadcast for him?" Violet asked.

"I'm not sure, but we have to risk it" Liliana said reaching for her radio opening an unencrypted channel, "This is Liliana Ashford with an urgent message for Leon Solstice, repeat this is Liliana Ashford with an urgent message for Leon Solstice".

Playing the broadcast on a loop she tried to settle in her seat trying to figure out why the clones turned on Plo Koon. It had something to do with that hologram telling them to execute whatever order sixty-six was.

"What the hell is going on?" she asked herself staring up at the blue flashes of hyperspace.

26 chapters down and only 1 to go. I've been gone for a good long while, but I'm back with chapter 26 and fun fact for the chapter featuring Order 66. This chapter's word count is exactly 6,666 words. (I swear I didn't plan that)

I know it's been a while, but I hope some of you are still following this piece and I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you return for the final chapter which I hope to have out by the end of the month.