Here is the 37th chapter, the space battle over Ryloth. I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to comment if you like, or keep commenting, your opinions are important to me and I'm open to critics if they are constructive.
LD: I do not own star wars
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The Republican Fleet came out of hyperspace near Ryloth. As expected the Separatist blockade over the Planet was large and the enemy fleet began firing upon the incoming Republican Vessels. Anakin observed the battle with Ahsoka, Obi Wan, Captain Rex and Commander Cody by his side on the bridge of Admiral Yularen's "Resolute" Venator Star Destroyer as the Admiral began giving orders to his crew.
"Snips it is our turn" Anakin told his Padawan with a smile. He then looked at Captain Rex. "Remember you and your men are to go to the surface with General Kenobi and his forces." Anakin told the clone.
"I remember Sir." Rex said confirming he and his boys knew their mission and wouldn't let him down. Anakin nodded and looked at Obi Wan, the man he considered to be his older brother.
"Don't get yourself killed out there Anakin" Obi Wan said as he saw the eagerness to take off in Anakin's face.
"May the Force be with you Obi Wan" Anakin said as he ran out of the bridge with Ahsoka following her Master after bowing in respect to Obi Wan. After the young knight and his Padawan left Obi Wan looked at Rex and Cody.
"Prepare your men" he said. "We'll depart as soon as Anakin and the Fighters make a path for us."
"Yes sir" Both clones said leaving the bridge. Obi Wan observed one of the comm officers on the bridge.
"Contact Knight Jade and tell her to prepare for departure as soon as the situation clears a little." Obi Wan ordered, the operator nodded and performed his task as Obi Wan came closer to stand beside Yularen.
The battle seemed even, both fleets were equal in size and Firepower, none of them would have an easy victory over the other. The battle raged on as the Admiral gave orders to the crew and the fleet, it seemed that even though their numbers were equal the Republic was managing to break through the blockade little by little.
"I'll leave this to you and Anakin admiral, I'll go prepare" Obi Wan finally said after half an hour of battle. "Tell the fleet to prepare the ground troops for deployment."
"Yes General" Yularen replied. Looking at the man Obi Wan saw the light of determination on his eyes and knew that he would not make whatever mistaked lead to his forced retreat on Tatooine.
"Good" Obi Wan thought to himself whatever happened on this battle if the space battle was lost the liberation of Ryloth would be impossible and having such a determined ally brought peace to the Jedi's mind.
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Anakin and Ahsoka flew their Jedi Delta 7 Aethersprite-class light interceptors towards a Separatist Light frigate that seemed to be having troubles. The battle had raged on for Half an hour and them together with gold squadron, who were also flying on some V-19 Torrent Starfighters and the newer ARC-170 Starfighters, took out four Separatist vessels already.
"Master Vultures approaching from our Six" Ahsoka said as she looked at her Radar and her Astromech, R7-A7 beeped in alarm.
"I see them Ahsoka" Anakin said confirming it on his own radar. "Gold Squadron break formation, Ahsoka come with me."
The clones obeyed their leader and Ahsoka followed her Master as he sent several torpedoes towards the enemy light vessel before passing under it with a group of voltures following them and two of the vultures being caught on the explossion. Only three vultures remained in pursuit of him and Ahsoka.
"I'll take care of them" Anakin said. "Keep evading them Snips, don't get shot down!"
"Not funny Master" Ahsoka said rolling her eyes. Anakin chuckled and looked at R2.
"Reducing speed to half" Anakin said as he decreased his Fighter's speed. The Vultures evaded him and 2 seconds later he was behind the enemy group. "Lock onto the droids R2"
The Astromech beeped in agreement and Anakin began firing on the enemy vultures taking 2 of them out while the other broke off Ahsoka's tail and began to retreat, Anakin however had other plans for the enemy Fighter and after a few seconds of pursuit he ended it.
"Ahsoka and Gold Squadron status report" Anakin said worriedly.
"I'm here Master" Ahsoka said forming on his right wing. Soon the remaining members of the squadron formed on him too.
"We've lost Gold 6 and Gold 10" Gold 2 reported.
"I see" Anakin said with a sad expression alright let's choose our next target.
"Sir" Came the voice of Gold 2 again. "Shadow Squadron was asking for a Fighter Escort on their attack on the Malevolence, the large ship that lead the attack on Naboo. It seems it is preventing General Jade and her troops from deploying on Ryloth's Southern hemisphere. With it's ion cannon it has already disabled and destroyed two Acclamator-class ships."
Anakin growled as he was reminded of the attack on Naboo but inwardly celebrated the presence of the ship. From Intelligence reports he'd learnt that it had been general Grievous the one to lead the attack on one of the most Powerful ships of the confederate navy, the "Malevolence". He'd already come with the Idea of destroying the General Grievous and that was why Obi Wan had put him in charge of the Republic navy on the space battle to prevent any vengeful acts on his part. However now he could take a little revenge by taking out that ship. Realizing what he was thinking he chastized himself and pushed those thoughts aside, those thoughts were unfitting for a Jedi, he would take the ship out of necessity more than revenge, he wasn't doing to avenge lives but to safe life.
"Shadow Squadron, this is General Skywalker come in" He called to Y-wing bomber squadron.
"This is Shadow Leader." Came the voice of a Clone pilot. "What is it General?"
"I'm told you require of assistance in attacking an enemy command ship" Anakin said. "Gold Squadron and I will provide Fighter escort give me your coordinates."
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Aboard the Republican Shield Sarah observed the battle from the bridge as she tried to lead a group of Acclamators and Venators as close as possible to the planet's Southern hemisphere but the enemy ship "Malevolence" was keeping them from doing so. So far they could only maintain their position and try to defend themselves. But that ion cannon was something that was pulverizing their forces.
"Commander Shadow and Gold Squadrons are attacking the enemy ship and are targetting the Ion cannon" An operator informed her. She smiled, it seemed Anakin had also realized the necessity to take out the enemy cruisser.
"It is moving to attack again!" Another one informed her. She greeted her teeth, they had already lost two ships to that damn thing. 'Hurry up' Anakin she thought to herself.
"Sarah" The hologram of Kiara appeared. "Everything ready on our end."
"We are still pinned down by the Malevolence, Anakin is working on it." Sarah told her. "I hope it won't be long now."
A few minutes later her wishes seemed to come true, just when the ion cannon was about to fire on another ship it exploded provoking several chain explosion and provoking massive damage to the Malevolence. Sarah looked at one of her operators.
"What has happened!" She demanded to know.
"They made it" the operation confirming her hopes. "They took out the Ion Cannon and seem to have ended the enemy ship's primary weapon systems."
She smiled. "All Acclamators head for the planet and drop the gunships! The Venators and Light Cruissers will cover us and then the Venators drop their gunships as well."
"Yes Ma'am!" Shouted one of her operators.
"Report the state of the Malevolence to the whole fleet we have to take that damn ship down here!" She ordered.
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Obi Wan stood on the hangar of the "Resolute" with Commander Cody and Captain Rex and a few clone officers going over the first steps of their mission once they were on the planet. His comm system beeped and he realized it was a the Admiral with information about the battle. He accepted the call and the hologram of the Admiral appeared.
"General General Jade's troops are already deploying on the Southern hemisphere" The Admiral informed him.
"What about the Malevolence?" Obi Wan asked.
"General Skywalker took it's armament down together with Gold and Shadow Squadrons" The admiral reported.
"How longer do we have to reach the northern hemisphere?" Obi Wan said, had he not felt Anakin's emotions at the moment of the destruction of the Cannon, calm and collected, he would have been worried about his young friends and his motives for leading the attack on the Malevolence.
"At least a few more minutes" The Admiral reported. "There are 2 Lucrehulk ships up ahead they will pulverize our gunships if we deploy now."
"Good" Obi Wan said. "Tell me when we can deploy."
"Yes sir" The Admiral said as his image disappeared.
"Where was I?" Obi Wan asked when the conversation ended.
"You were saying that the first thing we should do after getting to the planet we should locate and combine Forces with the remaining Republican Forces under commander Dume and the Twi'lek rebels." Commander Cody said.
"Thank you Commander" Obi Wan said. "That's right one of our priorities once we reach the Northern hemisphere is to locate the rebels and our remaining Forces, so we can coordinate our operations with them. We must then coordinate our efforts with the troops on the Southern hemisphere until we have completely surrounded the Capital where Grievous is."
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General Grievous observed the hologram of the Space battle from the Palace on Ryloth's Capital of Lessu and he didn't like what he was seeing. His blockade was all but gone his ships were struggling against the Republic's Navy, the Malevolence seemed done for, and Clone troopers were already deployed on the Southern hemisphere of the Planet engaging his troops. A tactical droid and the two actice Dark Force Soldiers observed him as he released his anger.
"Idiots!" The General Growled. "They've let the Republic break the Blockade."
"It seems it's up to us now General" Came the voice of a member of the Techno-Union, the Emir Tambor, he was entering the room followed by two superdroids and his own tactical droid. Grievous didn't like the presence of the member of the Techno-union who held the rank of General as well, but the man had merely busied himself in ransacking and pillaging the planet than military affairs. "I must say the Republicans are being very clever, Launching an attack on both fronts"
"It doesn't matter they won't take the planet from us." Grievous growled as he coughed loudly.
"It better not" Tambor spoke. "We still have much profit to gain from this." The emir clicked on the control panel and the images of several tactical droids appeared."
"What's the status of the Republican Forces?" The emir asked the droids.
"Our cannons have inflicted great damage on their gunships and cruissers but they've successfully deployed most of their Forces." One of the Tactical Droids replied.
"They've landed near my position" another one informed him. "But I've been studying the terrain and I think I may be able to win the battle."
"Are you using the civillians as shields like I ordered?" Grievous asked.
"Yes General" The Tactical droids replied in unison.
"Good, the Jedi foolishly believe that every life is worth saving, make sure to make each victory a suffering one." Grievous ordered.
"Roger, Roger" The droids said disappearing. Grievous looked at the Dark Force Soldiers.
"You'll each go and lead our Forces on the Southern and Northern hemisphere." He told them. "I don't care what you have to do but bring me the jedi's heads" Grievous ordered them. They both nodded and exited the room. The cyborg general wasn't sure they would defeat the jedi but hoped they would at least buy him more time or weaken Republican troops. He then looked at Tambor.
"Emir until we've wiped out this large Republic Force from Ryloth I'm suspending your "economic" activities on the Planet.
"What!? Why!?" Tambor asked completely outraged by the decision. Grievous pulled out one of his lightsabers and pointed it at the Emir.
"That's not what you are supposed to reply when you are given an order is it?" Grievous asked.
"No sir." Tambor replied.
"Do you understand my orders?" The General pressed.
"Yes Sir." Tambor replied in a completely military like fashion.
"Good" Grievous said putting the lightsaber down. "Keep that attitude and we might win this battle."