Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Star Wars. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not created with commercial aim. I make no money from it.
AN: This part was betaed by Uriel, Mighty Bob and Gatemaster on the Space Battles forums. Thank you very much for the splendid work and the time you took to beta!
=RK=
Phase 19: Operation Anvil
Part 2
=RK=
Senator Dod's Residence
Cato Neimodia
Senator Lott looked over the assembled guests, anticipation shining in his eyes. It was almost time. Soon, very soon his ballroom would be a site of a tragic slaughter. One that will claim certain members of the CIS Council. The weak minded fools who plotted the Confederation's downfall!
Even now, when he had seen certain proof of their treason, he could scarcely believe it. Those beings had to be insane! Couldn't they think about the big picture?! They planned not only a treaty to ban the further use of bio-weapons for the duration of the war, something he could agree with, but to eventually try for a peaceful settlement.
Damned idiots! Didn't they comprehend that after everything that had happened, the Republic wouldn't settle for anything less than death sentences or lifetime imprisonment for all of the current CIS leadership? That was pure madness, even if they were responsible for the debacles on Naboo or Coruscant, the rightful leaders of the Confederacy wouldn't surrender themselves to the enemy's mercy. Considering that they were not to blame for those atrocities, the CIS leaders were not going to take the fall. They now knew that there was a third, shadow player in the galactic war so that was who would be blamed for tonight's massacre.
Besides, at least this way the Council's soon to be vacant seats would be filled with people who knew that the CIS and its leadership had only two choices. Victory or Death.
Dod's train of thought came to a screeching halt when he saw one of the clone honor guards dart through the crowd. Before he could react, one of the ballroom's doors splintered, showering the guests with pieces of carved wood.
"Padme!" someone screamed.
The shout was drowned out by the distinct roar of concussion grenades. Lott was thrown down by a nearby detonation. He hit the ground hard, the overpressure wave driving the air of his lungs. The Senator gasped for air and groaned when he felt sharp pain in his ribs. He cursed quietly and decided that it would be safer to remain down and looked around. Many of the guests were on the ground, stunned or worse, others were paralyzed with shock, while some were trying to escape.
Meanwhile, the Republic Honor Guards and his own security detail, consisting of few Super Battle droids and B1's started shooting at each other and the attackers. The sudden battle looked surreal, a feeling strengthened by the ringing in his ears, which robbed him of all other sounds for the time being.
Pure madness, just as planned!
Dod had a few more moments to stare at the deadly spectacle, before one Commando droid pointed its gun his way. The Senator's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to shout, but his scream didn't have time to manifest. Three rapid energy bolts silenced him forever.
=RK=
If a Force Adept laid eyes upon Anakin Skywalker during the Gala, she would have seen a pillar of smoldering, barely controlled anger. All evening the Jedi had fought against his rising hatred towards Rush Clovis, all the while his heart was being undermined by jealousy. The way that huttspawned bastard was looking at his wife, the way he held her during their latest, slow and sensual dance... It made Anakin see red. The worst of all, was that Padme appeared to enjoy herself. She was constantly smiling, laughing at that kriffing traitors jokes...
A part of Anakin's psyche was whispering that Padme was just playing a role, just as she did countless times as a politician. Yet, there was something else. A darker, alluring presence that was gaining strength within him. Some times he could almost hear it whispering too, though right now he didn't need to know the words it would say in his ears. The dealing coming from the darkness gathering around him were clear. It was pure, undiluted hatred and anger. It would be so easy to stretch himself through the Force and snap Clovis' neck. Though that would be too easy...
Anakin shook his head in attempt to clear his mind. The darkness surrounding him subsided a bit. To Skywalker it looked like it was disappointed that he didn't grasp the Force and obliterate Clovis.
Then everything stilled. Anakin could feel the Force tensing, as if preparing for something. The world around him appeared to slow down, the guests moving like through thick syrup. He could sense approaching danger, though not it precise bearing or target.
Skywalker cursed, while the shadows surrounding his very being appeared to be laughing at him. He had lost his situational awareness while moping under his armor. The darkness had distracted him. Deceived him.
Anakin's eyes few on his wife, who was still dancing with Clovis, though by now they were almost at the other side of the huge room. Skywalker cursed again and strode towards his wife, using the Force to somewhat gently part the crowd blocking his path.
He couldn't believe how foolish he had been. Veil had warned him that while the Dark Side offered great power, to flirt with it brought equally great danger. Especially for someone who had been trained as a Jedi all his life. Yet, Anakin simply couldn't help it. There were dark places in his heart born from his childhood as a slave. More often than not, the anger came to him uncalled and the Dark Side and its temptation followed suit.
At least now, he had some concept of what was happening when his emotions ran amok as it was happening that evening. So he had a better chance to resist the darkness within himself and not let it rule him.
All those thoughts came to a screeching halt, when the Force screamed with warning. Whatever was going to go down was happening right now and he was still far away from Padme!
The heavy doors at the far end of the ballroom splintered, wood shards racing on the heels of a raging shock wave. Skywalker had a great view of his wife. Of the way the explosion picked her and Clovis up and threw them on the floor under a rain of smoking debris.
"Padme!" Anakin shouted and raced forward.
The Force and the warning she sent his way was the only reason Skywalker survived in the next few seconds. He found himself charging straight into a killing field. The initial explosion had thrown the nearby guests on the ground, leaving him like a beacon for the attacking droids. Moments after retrieving his lightsaber from a secret compartment on his armor and igniting it, Anakin stepped amidst a barrage of concussion grenades.
In the last moment before their detonations, the Republic General used the Force to shove the explosives away. Instant later they detonated, bracketing him with the edges of their explosions. Even that would have been enough to stun a normal sentient being, however as a Jedi, Skywalker was made of sterner stuff.
He merely stumbled, nearly tripping over a downed Bith couple, before regaining sure footing and continuing his charge.
Straight into the sights of a whole platoon of Commando droids.
Anakin Skywalker was good with his lightsaber. One of the best the Jedi Order had. So it wasn't inconceivable that he could meet the odds stacked against him and live to tell the tale.
On the other hand, it wasn't the first time when the CIS droids had faced Jedi or Skywalker himself. The planners of the attack had known that he might be present and they had planned accordingly.
Mere seconds after the attack began, another Commando platoon entered the ballroom, by rappelling from the floor above, straight through the huge open windows of the ballroom. Ten of them few on Dod's security droids and the just reacting Republic Honour guard.
The rest concentrated on a single target and let loose with their blasters.
Skywalker saw the tide of crimson death heading his way a moment before the new droids opened fire. He had a split second to decide his course of action before being shot to pieces. For an instant he entertained the thought of vaulting forward and trying to reach Padme who was still down. However, even if he managed that, such an action would leave him with his back to the new enemies. Yet, to do anything but, would let the first contingent of attackers to reach her first.
Anakin snarled in frustration. The dark cloud which had surrounded him the whole evening flared with new intensity. The closest Commando droids crumbled like tin cans struck by war-hammer, when the Force eagerly responded to Anakin's desire to see those machines erased from existence.
Yet their fellows were undeterred. Time was up. With a shout of anguish, Skywalker jumped backwards, avoiding the first shots of the droids behind him. He turned in such a way, that he could deflect the attacks from both forces.
A black painted droid towered over Padme. The machine knelt next to her and slammed a small device in her arm just before an invisible force hurled him away with enough strength to shatter it onto nearby wall.
Too far any to be of any more help, Anakin stiffened. He could feel it. Liquid agony racing through Padme's veins. Her body convulsing.
The pain seared all traces of dizziness she still felt and brought her back to the world of the living. Something she didn't appreciate. Her eyes opened wide and she screamed like a tortured soul.
The backslash shook Anakin to his very core. While he was aware of what was happening, it was a cold comfort. Somehow he was able to sense what she was feeling. It was agony beyond measure. Whatever that kriffing machine did to her, all her nerve endings were on fire, shooting pain signals to her brain.
It was pure torture.
"PADME!" Anakin screamed again and charged to her side, despite the droids targeting him.
It didn't matter. He deflected the shots from those near his wife, counting on the shields and the laminated armor he was wearing to tide him through.
That worked. Somewhat. The shields held long enough for him to cover half the distance, before blaster bolts struck his back and started carving up the medium armor he was encased in.
He was not going to make it.
That single thought cut its way through his clouded mind. It infuriated him beyond anything he had felt before. Padme laid over there, just beyond reach! Too far for him to help her... He snarled, the fury coiling around him and exploding outwards. It became corporeal, a manifestation of his raw emotions.
Then few things happened simultaneously. The back plate of his armor finally gave away under the onslaught, a weakened shot biting into his back. Anakin stumbled forward, but immediately straightened up and charged forward. Crimson tendrils of Darkness clung to his figure, absorbing the few shots that managed to hit him. For now he was moving much faster than humanly possible, throwing off the droids aim.
He screamed like a man possessed and struck the Commando droids like a whirlwind. His blade was azure blur, leaving scrapped machines in its wake.
Skywalker himself was exhilarated, revelling in the sudden sense of power. He was an untouchable! The damn droids fell under his onslaught as easy as practice targets! He laughed as he bisected a hapless Commando, deflected the shots of another back at it and decapitated a third.
Just like that, it was over. No one was shooting at him, something that felt rather disappointing. Skywalker frowned. He wasn't finished! He wanted, needed to destroy, to revel at the destruction of his enemies. He turned around, his eyes wildly looking for another victim.
As suddenly as it began, the power trip was over. The tendrils of ruby darkness surrounding him faded away and Anakin felt tired. So very tired. Unnatural cold seeped into his body and he felt chilled to the bones. Then what strength he had left, drained out of his body and he collapsed into a boneless heap.
=RK=
Boss and the rest of Delta squad were on the same floor as the ballroom. When Sev gave his warning, they shouldered their weapons and sprinted forward. Few seconds later, the Commandos turned a corner. They faced a quartet of SB droids, which had opened the door they were supposed to guard and were making their way in the chaotic mess that was the ballroom. Without pausing the Clones lit up the four machines, their new carbines chewing through the armour of the droids even easier than expected.
"The primary is down. I have eyes on a Jedi masking as a honor guard fighting to her position. The enemy platoon is rappelling down."
"We are moving to assist," Boss said. "Scorch, Ion grenades."
"With a pleasure, Boss!" Delta's commander could clearly hear the glee in his subordinates voice.
When the Republic Commandos entered the ballroom, they found a scene of pandemonium. Many of the guests were on the ground, either stunned or dead. Others were scrambling for the exits, obscuring the soldiers fire lanes. Meanwhile, the droids guarding the residence, the Republic Honor guard and a ten or so Commando droids were shooting at each other, while the rest of the enemy platoon that Sev had spotted, were too busy unloading their weapons at the Jedi.
Boss and Fixer opened fire on their enemy counterparts, while Scorch started lobbing his limited assortment of Ion grenades.
"Our ride out will be here in two minutes," Sev transmitted a message from their backup.
"Good. Any sight of enemy reinforcements?"
"None that I can see from here," Sev answered after a moment's pause, "Though that doesn't mean much."
While that chat was taking place, the firefight was going to its sad conclusion. All sides were in the open, with scarce cover to be had, beyond the stray, panicked civilian who ran straight between the combatants. With predictable results.
A Super Battle droid unloaded its blasters in the side of an Honor Guard. Another mowed down a pair of Commando droids, before succumbing to concentrated fire from their friends. Boss and Fixer were systematically shooting up the CIS special forces, glad that only a burst from the new blasters was enough to put them down for good. Scorch lobed his last Ion grenade and raised his own weapon seeking target.
Across the street, Sev marked his sixth kill for the evening and moved his cross-hair onto another droid, when he heard the distinct whine of repulsors. Not just any odd engines at that, but those of LAAT's. He chanced a glance upwards and saw a pair of gunships racing towards Dod's residence at almost perpendicular angle from the sky. The Clone frowned wondering where did they come from, before shrugging and returning to his sniping. He could ask them later.
Thirty seconds, and four Ionic detonations after Delta entered the ballroom, the short but vicious fight was over. The three Commandos were the only troopers still standing.
"Check the Senator and the Jedi. We need to get out of here ASAP."
"Wilco, Sir!" Fixer answered and sprinted towards the far end of the ballroom with Scorch moving on his heels.
"Boss, our ride home will be here momentarily."
"Roger that. Get your ass here."
"No need for that," a new voice, which sounded just like that of the rest of Delta squad interjected on their comms. "One of the gunships will pick up your sniper. Please do hurry up. We need to get out of here before the whole defence grid and fleet are aware that something is happening."
"Who are you?" Boss asked calmly, not letting any of his surprise be heard.
"Commander Tripton of the Shadow Before Dawn. Now move your asses, soldier!"
"Kriff! This is General Skywalker!" Scorch exclaimed after removing the helmet from the head of the collapsed Jedi.
"Pick him up. We are taking him with us. The Senator?"
"In a bad way," Fixer muttered.
Boss looked their way, engaging the zoom function of his helmet. He could see her thrashing on the floor, screaming soundlessly.
"Knock her out. We are leaving."
=RK=
ONI Frigate Shadow Before Dawn
Five kilometres above Dod's residence
Cato Neimodia
"Delta squad and the VIPs are boarding the LAATs. They will be docked in two minutes top," his XO said.
Commander Tripton gave him a nod of acknowledgement.
"Navigation, spin the hyperdrive. We are heading to location Alpha the moment we can safely jump."
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Weapons, I want firing solution on the defensive platforms and that Munificent hanging out in orbit. I want them nailed the moment our cloak is down."
"I have their locations locked on passive, sir. All missile tubes full, the birds are armed and ready for launch!"
"Good work Weapons. Engineering, redline the reactor once we lose stealth. I want every possible drop of speed when we need it."
The Wookie chief engineer roared in response.
=RK=
"Emerald Light" Restaurant
Atton' Tower
Corellia
I found Scerra Halcyon to be much more pleasant company than most of the Jedi I've met since coming to this time. The fact that she didn't act as if she had a double bladed lightsaber shoved up her butt like most of the Force Adepts I've met in this era sure helped.
We were amiably chatting about the differences between the Green Jedi and their counterparts on Coruscant, something that both the Dictat and Senator Iblis found interesting. It should be noted that both of then, especially Gram had a lot of dealing with Jedi, the Coruscanti type, during their careers, so they were more familiar than most with some differences.
"If it wasn't for the damn politics, we would have gladly dealt with it!" Scerra glared at me.
"Unfortunately, as Dictat of Corellia and political leader of this whole sector, neither I nor my predecessors could really do much to allow our Jedi to take missions beyond our boundaries," Merricope shrugged.
"Indeed. As you well know, the Council on Coruscant has nominal dominion over all Force Sensitives in the Republic... and all Jedi. While the Green Temple and its Jedi do have autonomy, that will only last as long as they confine their actions to our sector of space," Merricope said.
"Despite that, many of our members had done what they could do help with the slavery situation. While we aren't as free to act as our cousins on Coruscant..." Halcyon huffed.
I snorted at that. It wasn't like they did anything with some rare exceptions. Like Skywalker, though even then they had practically stumbled on him. By accident at that.
The Jedi. The supposed guardians of Justice and Freedom across the galaxy. They did nothing about the slavery beyond the Republic's borders. Because it was outside their mandate. I shook my head in frustration. Sometimes they made me sick.
"...we at least could facilitate routes for extraction of escaped slaves in the Outer Rim, and help them start a new life. Though that is much less than we could do if our hands weren't tied, " added the Jedi.
"Let me guess. If you intervened and acted against the slavers, it would be perceived as aggressive action from the Council. Perhaps even a sign that your way has failed and you are all on the verge of failing."
"Not to mention, that there would be a lot of people in the Senate that would use such a thing to Censure Corellia, spinning it as expansionist actions from our side. That is if I'm able to get sufficient backing to declare open support for such a cause. Fighting slavery outside the Republic, while a great thing in theory wouldn't be as popular once the cost of dealing with the hutts becomes apparent. It simply isn't something we can do alone, not without leaving us open for political and economic attacks from our rivals," the Dictat interjected.
"Well, the situation right now is quite different. After Ryloth, we are in undeclared war with the Hutt cartels," I smirked.
"I was wondering when someone would mention that," the Senator muttered. Small vicious smile was hugging the corners of his mouth.
"While right now we aren't in a position for direct offensive actions against them..." I was interrupted by a sudden tremor in the Force. Its very essence shifted, dropped even further into darkness. Next to me Scerra gasped and stumbled.
"Excuse me. I need to check something," I said and made a hasty retreat.
That rising darkness was familiar. It felt like Skywalker just after Padme was wounded, though so much worse.
I cursed quietly while making my way out of the restaurant. I knew that Padme going to kriffing Neimodia wouldn't end well.
=RK=
Kenobi's Quarters
Jedi Temple
Coruscant
Fear. Rage. Hatred. Darkness rising to choke everything. The screams of man and woman.
Obi-Wan shook awake with a gasp. He shuddered remembering what he just sensed through his bond with his former apprentice. Anakin had felt so much hatred, fear and pain before the connection clamped shut, that it scared Obi-Wan. Something had gone terribly wrong...
Kenobi threw away his blanket and surged to his feet. He needed to find out what had happened with Anakin.
=RK=
Chancellor's Office
Senate Building
Coruscant
Palpatine was sitting in his rebuild office, dealing with his daily paperwork, something even he couldn't get away from, when he felt the Force tremble.
"So it begins," he whispered quietly.
Soon enough Skywalker will be faced with a terrible choice and the Jedi would act as their typical selves, alienating him once and for all. Unless he missed his guess, even Veil's actions couldn't really help the boy. After all, the good General was a competent strategist and tactician. He simply couldn't, wouldn't make the necessary sacrifices to save one single Senator.
Veil was a Sith after all. Sidious was sure that he would grasp the chance to get himself rid of the troublesome Senator.
He smiled. If he guessed right, Veil would make sure that she never got the antidote and blame it on the Jedi, even if he made some effort to retrieve it in the first place.
