Earth Date - March 25, 1925
Vader's Castle, Mustafar
The Second Earth War - Day 2,671
Vader watched as the streams of lava flowed throughout the world. His memory of his defeat to Obi-Wan still lingered in his mind. Hatred of his old master has never left him. "Lord Vader." Captain Herege said.
"What is it?" Vader asked bitterly.
"There's been another rebellion claiming that the Earth is killing the Empire." the officer reported and raged engulfed the hateful Sith. For years now several rebellions have formed believing the promise of the Earth. This force the fleet to patrol the Unknown Regions boards more to keep reinforcements from aiding the hidden enemy. The Sith lord knew that the war with the stubborn world has yielded little promise and Vader blames that he is not part of the war effort. His master wants Vader focused on the populace of the Empire.
"Send the 212th battalion and leave no survivors." Vader ordered.
"Yes sir." the officer said before leaving the Sith alone.
Earth Date - March 28, 1925
The Imperial Forager
The Second Earth War - Day 2,674
Grand Admiral Kell was leaning on a cane. He has proven to a danger to the Earth with his tactics but at the same time, the Earth has proven to be his equal. His mechanical leg is a painful memory when he let his guard down at the Fourth Battle of Beran. He focused his attention on the transports and the capitol ships that he let one Japanese fighter dive bomb bellow the bridge of his old flagship. The doctors said he was lucky to be alive. But he vowed not to let it happen again. The Allies as the Earth called themselves have lead Black Operation on Carden stations, cloning facilities, refineries, and factories. Nothing was safe for them and age is slowly taking over the Imperial commander. Soon he'll be useless. But he was already ahead on that.
Earth Date - March 31, 1925
War Floor, Pentagon, Washington D.C
The Second Earth War - Day 2,677
Fleet Admiral Reed was in a meeting to discuss the war effort. For years now the war has engulfed an entire region of space. In that timespan, the Allies have build clone facilities throughout the system. Millions are being created on Mars, the Belt, and several stations near Jupiter and on/in the Earth's oceans. If it weren't for the facilities the Allies may have lost the war to the overwhelming Imperials. "We believe the Empire lost its last clone facility and is now back to losing their troops. It's a matter of time before we destroy the Empire forces in the region." General of the Army Pershing reported.
"Excellent news. I'm glad to report that the activation of the Planetary Shield will be in two weeks." General of the Air Force Richard Moore added. "How are the frontlines?"
"The frontlines are hellish as ever. We take a world the Empire retakes it over and over again. We just won the Seventh Battle of Teesan but Imperial movements show that they are going to launch another attack." Reed answered.
"It seems so hopeless." Moore said.
"So did the First Earth War but we won then, we'll win now." Pershing replied.
Earth Date - May 14, 1925
Fort Barr, Sobek
The Second Earth War - Day 2,721
"Imperials coming from Canyon A!" EAC-234 yelled. His friends call him Prime due to his age. He was cloned on Mars and is one of the original clones from all those years ago. Now he was stuck on a rocky muddy planet with the Empire pushing through one of the two canyons.
"We need EAT-TE cover!" Sergeant EAC-BRE2 yelled over the comms before a blaster bolt went through his head. Prime had seen so many horrors from this war that any sane man would have gone insane but he must do his duty. Minutes later the clone saw an AT-AT marching towards them flanked by two AT-STs. The giant walker blasting away the American troops. Then it aimed at him and for a moment he thought the war was over for him. An explosion engulfed the waker's cockpit and the clone turned to see seven EAT-TE Walkers marching forward. The official name for the six-legged walkers is Earth All Terrain-Tactical Enforcer. They were created back in 1921 and was similar to the AT-TEs of the Republic except the cockpit has a gunner for charging troopers, an Anti-Aircraft gunner on the top end, and the main gun used projectile ammo.
"Attention all troopers! Canyon B has been closed! Charged toward Canyon A!" Commander Shepard ordered and the soldiers did as they were born and trained for.
Earth Date - May 16, 1925
Felucia
The Second Earth War - Day 2,723
It's been a while since Ian became a Knight. Now he has the responsibility of training padawans. Today he was teaching C Group on Lightsaber Combat. "A Jedi's lightsaber is only as useful if the Jedi has the skills needed to wield the tool. If you don't then mistakes can happen and place others and yourselves in danger. Today we are going to practice Form Four." Ian told the small group and they began to practice.
Night fell when Ian went to the holo communicator to contact his mother. Every night for the last several years he has done this in secret from Pude. She finds attachments as a bad thing for Jedi, but Ian disagrees. He thinks that attachments are fine because they are still living people with feelings. It would be impossible to separate attachments and feelings. When the image of his mother and sister appeared on the projector he smiled. "Hey mother. How have you been?"
"We've been good. The war is still going on and neither side is surrendering. Some people think it could last for another thousand years." his mother answered.
"It won't. I promise."
"When will you come home?"
"I don't know. I still have Jedi to train." the Jedi Knight answered. And I still have to kill Vader.
Pude was in the Jungle meditating. She could sense the dark side growing stronger than before. Something terrible was going on and she didn't know what it was. In her heart, she knew that war was creeping towards Felucia. She didn't know when or how, but she knew it was on its way.
Earth Date - May 21, 1925
Felucia
The Second Earth War - Day 2,728
"All right everyone. Five-minute break. Stretch your legs and eat some rations." Sergeant Foran Ulysis said to his two scouts. The Sergeant grabbed some of his ration cubs remembering his life in the Coruscant underworld. Starving cold nights during the Republic. When the Empire rose he joined the Imperial Army to restore order and give the struggling children who suffered from the corrupt. Now he was stationed on a jungle world patroling a Garrison. As he was taking a drink of his water one of the scouts walked towards him.
"Sir. I've spotted something you might want to see." the scout said.
"Show me the way." Foran replied motioning his hand towards the scout. The two marched up a hill before they started to crawl. On the top of the hill, the scout handed him some macrobinoculars.
"300 meters." the soldier said as the officer placed the binocular to his face. In the distance, he saw a farm.
"A farm. What's so special?"
"Look closer." the scout said and Foran did. When he did, he saw a frightful sight. Children with lightsabers. Foran gave the scout the binoculars back.
"Stay here while I report back to the Garrison."
Earth Date - May 21, 1925
Vader's Palace, Mustafar
The Second Earth War - Day 2,728
Vader practiced his lightsaber combat as his guards watched. He heard the doors open after an hour pasted. The Sith ceased and the blade went silent as it faded away. "What is it?" Vader said as he turned towards an Imperial officer.
"My lord. We have a situation on Felucia. A patrol party found Jedi younglings training on a farm." the officer answered and the Sith was furious.
"Prepare the 501st for an attack on my command. I will be on Felucia coming up with a strategy to dispose of the enemy." Vader ordered coldly.
Earth Date - May 30, 1925
Felucia
The Second Earth War - Day 2,737
Nuzlu watched as some of the newer padawans practiced their skills with a saber. He thought it was ironic that he was here with Jedi in peace while his ancestors fought the Jedi in wars. Ian walked up to the Mandolorian for his nightly message to his family back on Earth. From what he had heard the war has been bloody. Millions are dying while he's stuck here helping with combat training for the young Jedis. "Ready to call you mother and sis?"
"Yeah. Let me know if Pude comes by." Ian replied.
"Yep. Don't take too long. Some of the others from Earth might want to make a call." Nuzlu said as Ian walked into the shuttle. For the last several years Nuzlu had let the humans from Earth and the Unknown's contact their homes and those few from the rest of the Galaxy had their own means of communication. As the group of forty kids gathered around the ship, Nuzlu saw Pude walking towards them. "Gunnis." he whispered. "Hey Pude."
"What's going on?" the Jedi Master asked.
"Nothing just a bunch of Jedi younglings listening to some old war stories."
"We both know that not's true."
"How do you know that?"
"Because Everyone's attention is somewhere else and not at you. So what is going on?" Pude asked before Ian exited the ship.
"Hello Pude." Ian said.
"What is going on?"
"Calling home." Ian answered boldly.
"You know the rules. We can't form attachments. That includes family." Pude said.
"I understand your point but I disagree about forcing us to leave our families for life."
"They are a weakness. Our judgment will be affected and that could destroy us."
"Like it did at the end of the Clone Wars?" Ian said and Nuzlu could tell that this is going too far.
"I don't know what happened besides we were betrayed, but I know that we lost."
"I that. I know that emotions can block our judgment, but need to change the order so it can survive. If we rebuild the same system, it'll fall apart all over again." Ian said and after long minutes of silence, Ian spoke again. "You believe that if we block off all emotions, we'll be better. But I say that if we have emotions of love we'll be determined to win."
"This is not the way of the Jedi."
The Jedi are gone. We have to rebuild it so the future order will be better." Ian said. "I believe in the Jedi, but we can't make the same mistakes."
"We made no mistakes." Pude replied before walking off.
"That was awkward." Nuzlu said as Ian walked into the jungle.
Ian did not regret what he said to Pude. He wished she'll see things in his way so that their sacrifices won't be in vain. After walking for five minutes he stopped and sat on a nearby rock. "Are you alright?" a voice he recognized easily said behind him.
"Yeah. Have you talked to your parents?" Ian asked Katarina who sat next to him.
"Nein. I wanted to see if you were right?" the German girl said. Her English has gotten better over the years since Nuzlu brought her from Earth. "Pude seemed angry at you."
"Not angry. Frustrated. Pude has been a Jedi for most of her life. So when things change, she might not accept it."
"Seems like everyone is the same." Katarina said as Nuzlu appeared.
"Good job at getting your old master to consider kicking you out of the order." Nuzlu remarked.
"Thanks." Ian replied. "What brings you here?"
"One of my spies reported that his lead on our." the Mando glanced at Katarina. "Our pet project is a dead end."
"Pet Project?" Katarina asked. Nuzlu looked at Ian.
"Might as well tell her. If everything goes to plan, she'll find out anyways." Ian said.
"Okay. We'll trying to find out who Vader is." Nuzlu said and Katarina expression was of shock. Everyone here has heard of the dark man.
"So what have you learned?"
"Nothing. The earliest record of Vader is after the Jedi Purge. Nothing beyond that. No records, other than the casualties counts."
"How have you learned about it?"
"Public records and Imperial records recovered by spies. The best guess is that he was a Jedi before they died." Ian answered.
"He's a Sith and so is the Emperor. Palpatine has been a public figurehead since the Sith popped back up on Naboo with Maul followed by Dooku's Separatist movement and now we have Vader." Nuzlu said. "Just popped out of nowhere like Maul. Sith likes to pop from nothing a lot."
"Maybe you are looking in the wrong place?" Katarina replied and Ian looked at a puzzled Mando.
"What do you mean?" Ian asked.
"You are looking at records. Perhaps look at military command."
"Nuzlu what army does Vader commands?"
"The 501st Legion." Nuzlu answered.
"Weren't they the ones who attacked the Jedi temple?" Ian asked and the Mando grabbed his datapad from his belt.
"Yep."
"WHo lead the 501st in the Clone Wars?"
"Anakin Skywalker."
"Is he dead?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"KIA"
"Where?"
"Courscant."
"Then Vader took command of the 501st." Ian said as he stood up. "I think Skywalker is Vader."
"No. Impossible. Skywalker has a strong reputation as a military command and a hell of a Jedi."
"So is Vader. I feel like this is right."
"Normally I would agree but Vader can't be Skywalker."
"Didn't you spies reported a while back that is searching for a Jedi name Kenobi?"
"Yeah."
"Has Skywalker cross path with Kenobi at all?" Ian said as Nuzlu looked at the Datapad.
"Yes. A lot. He was his Jedi master."
"Too many coincidences for my liking."
"Even if you're right, then the greatest Jedi, General, warrior, and just about everything is the biggest traitor."
Pude sat in her home imagining about her failure to teach Ian the correct ways. She let her dead friends down. Sadness engulfed her, but no tears rolled down her cheeks. "I failed you all."
"You have not failed." a stranger said and the Jedi Master bolted up igniting her saber.
"Who are you?"
"I am a Jedi from the times of old." the stranger said.
"Not possible nor an answer."
"My name is Zaara Kir and the force works in mysterious ways." the voice said as a ghost-like Togruta appeared in front of Pude. "And the only one who has failed is the Jedi Master from the Republic."
"What are you?"
"Just an old Jedi who is here to help you Pude." Zaara said. "See many many years ago the Jedi ban marriage and attachments. While it was to keep the Jedi pure and wise, it destroyed our soul. All we had to fight for was the innocents and we gladly gave our lives up for it."
"I see no problem with that."
"Oh, my poor child. That is why the Jedi lost. Because they lost something more powerful than any Jedi you ever know." Zaara said and Pude looked at her in confusion. "You lost the will to return home for what you fought for. It is impossible to show love but not feel it."
"But the Jedi have for thousands of years."
"And look where it leads. Betrayal, death, destruction, darkness, the victory of the Sith." Zaara said. "Ian may be able to rebuild and fix the mistakes of the past."
"You're a Jedi. How can you say these things?"
"I was a Jedi. I fell in love and the Order exiled me. When I died, I became one with the force, but in a different way than many Jedi have done. A technique that has been lost to the order."
"Is that how you died? Love?"
"Yes. I died fighting for my husband's world while the Sith ravaged it. We won that war and my family lived because of me. Love is the srtongest power in the galaxy."
"I don't see how."
"You will in time." Zaara said as she faded away. Moments later Ian was in her home.
"Are you alright?" Ian asked and Pude noticed her blade was still ignited.
"Yes. I'm alright." she replied as the blade was extinguished.
"I believe I know who Vader is."
"Who?"
"I believe he's Anakin Skywalker."
"Anakin Skywalker! No. Impossible." Pude said. "He's the greatest Jedi that I have ever heard of."
"Think about it. Skywalker leads the 501st before the Purge. Vader leads the 501st after the purge. Vader is searching for Kenobi, Skywalker's master. Too many coincidences."
"It can't be Skywalker."
"It's only a theory."
"I hope you are wrong."
Earth Date - May 30, 1925
Imperial Garrison, Felucia
The Second Earth War - Day 2,737
"The strike force is ready for the attack. I still don't understand what we are waiting for." Commander Torex said to Darth Vader.
"This threat has been underestimated before. I will not let them slip through our hands." Vader said as he handed the officer a datapad. "This is the attack strategy for tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
Earth Date - May 31, 1925
Felucia
The Second Earth War - Day 2,738
Every morning since being on Felucia, Nuzlu has scouted out the Imp Garrison and noticed little signs of war, but today they had AT-AT, AT-ST, and tanks ready for combat. He knows that the Empire was plannings something like they have against pirates but this is different. Then he saw a man in a black cape and he knew who it was. "Vader."
Ian and Pude had gathered the Jedi padawans for breakfast when Nuzlu raced towards them on a bike. When the Mando got off he ran towards the Jedi. "What's going on Nuzlu?" Pude asked.
"The Imps are planning an assault. Vader's leading them." the Mando answered and the crowd was silent.
"We need to get to the transport and evac to a new site. Any ideas where to Ian?" Pude asked.
"For the time being, I suggest Earth." Ian said.
"Fine. Nuzlu when will they arrive?"
"Depends on their tactics. Vader might be on the battleground." Nuzlu answered.
"Ian, Nuzlu, get the Padawans off-world"
"What about you?" Ian asked.
"I'll try to distract Vader and to prove your theory." the Jedi Master said sorrowfully.
Ian strapped the last Padawan before heading the old cargo ship's cockpit. "Knight to Mando Serpent. Do you copy?"
"I copy Knight. Ready to head home?" the Mando asked.
"Ready." Ian replied starting the engines up.
"Do you think she'll be able to tell us if you're right?"
"Not in the physical force." Ian said as his ship and the Mando's exited the planet and jumped towards home.
Vader stood on an Assault Tank as it rolled towards the farm. A dozen Star Destroyers orbited the jungle world as TIE Bombers dived towards the enemy and explosions followed. When the strike force arrived, the structures were blown to pieces and the crops were burning. In the center of the devastation was a Togruta with a lightsaber in her hands. The Sith Lord jumped off of the tank and marched towards the Jedi. "Where are the Padawans?"
"Long gone Vader." the Jedi said as she ignited a green blade.
"You lost."
"No Vader. I may die here, but seeing you myself." the Jedi said with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I know who you Master Skywalker." Anger gripped the Sith as he ignited his saber and force pushed the Jedi back.
"DIE!" Vader said as he slashed his weapon down and the Jedi blocked it with her blade. The two exchanged slashes and blows to the other, but the Jedi was on the defensive from Vader's aggressive attacks. The Sith grabbed the Jedi blade arm and snapped it before stabbing her in the chest. "Who else knows?"
"The Allies." the Jedi said and Vader knew that the Empire's greatest enemy has the darkest secret in the Empire."
Earth Date - June 1, 1925
U.S.O.S Alexander Hamilton, Earth Orbit
The Second Earth War - Day 2,739
When Ian exited hyperspace, he didn't expect to see several large orbiting stations surrounded by hundreds of stellar ships. He knows that when war arrives here it'll be hell.
Earth Date - June 2, 1925
EarthKiller Base, Unknown Regions
The Second Earth War - Day 2,740
Kell sat in his office when he received the message to began Operation Thundering Death. The Grand Admiral smiled knowing that the enemy days are numbered.
