Footage of Kamino's fall played on all screens of the Venator as Obi-Wan made his way to Anakin's quarters. The whole fleet was abuzz with activity, and scores of troopers made their way to the lounges in order to see the chaos unfold. Sensor footage showed Kamino's fleet being swiftly overrun by hundreds of Vong ships, with the creatures descending on Tipoca City shortly after. Security feeds showed troopers fighting desperately at the hangars, and even on the rooftops of the city, rain beating against their armor as they battled against the relentless Vong. Rockets fired from orbit, decimating much of the city's infrastructure, causing portions of it to fall into the ocean. Within minutes the feeds went silent, an eerie sensation of fate sweeping across the troops as to what they were up against.

Obi-Wan tried to pay the news little mind, drawing upon the Force to calm himself as he neared Anakin's room. Troopers of the 212th raced past him just as he came to stand before Anakin's door, all of them likely running to the nearest lounge for confirmation of the horrors done to their homeworld.

The door to Anakin's room slid open, and Obi-Wan stepped inside to find the man sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. Anakin's eyes were closed, and for a second Obi-Wan felt a sense of pride about it all. In recent times, he rarely found his former padawan meditating. "Have you heard the news?" he asked.

"About Kamino falling?" Anakin replied, his eyes still closed. "Yeah. Heard Scarif's under siege as well."

"They're trying to break our strongholds," Obi-Wan surmised, a hand to his beard.

"Maybe," Anakin admitted, and his eyes finally opened. He had a weary expression on his face.

Obi-Wan could tell something was off. "I know that look. Something's on your mind, and it isn't Kamino."

Anakin shrugged. "I'd be more sympathetic if the planet still produced troops," he replied, when his eyes went to the floor. "We can't afford to be rash anymore."

Obi-Wan almost laughed. "Really? Only now have you realized that?"

Anakin smiled at him, then shook his head. "I've been trying to meditate, to focus on the Force, and let it guide me instead of the other way around." He gave Obi-Wan a blank look, as if he did not know what to make of his own thoughts. "I found something."

"Found what exactly?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin shrugged. "I don't know, but when I reached out through the Force, I suddenly felt calm, warm, at peace."

"As meditation goes."

"It was more than that," Anakin argued. "I felt… joy… I was happy. For a moment I forgot about the war, forgot the violence, the bloodshed. All of it. I just don't know where this feeling's coming from."

Obi-Wan nodded his head. "Let us reach out together then. See if we can't unravel this mystery." He took a seat beside his friend, and the two closed their eyes as they journeyed into the Force.

Voices down the hall were quick to disrupt them. Roars of anger, frustration, and rage poured over the troops. Most were clones, and seeing their home shattered was enough to make them pick up their rifles in outrage. The rest understood the consequence of such losses. Morale among the populace would start to decrease when they learned of Kamino's fall, and if Scarif joined the ranks of scorched worlds, the situation would grow worse. The only reason Scarif still stood was because of its planet-wide shielding.

Obi-Wan waved a hand out in front of him, shutting the door before falling back into his dreamlike state. The pair sat in silence, drifting on the winds of peace as they searched for that which Anakin had spoken of. To be alone in such a state was true bliss, like swimming through a warm ocean that was always pushing you forward with its waves. The abyss their minds pulled them through was vast, endless perhaps, yet the Force was there to guide them through it all. They journeyed onward, following the flow of Light as if it were a rope that would guide them to the end of the world if only they'd chase after it. Then Obi-Wan felt it: the warmth, the quiet, the calm, the peace. It felt as if his entire body had sunk into a pool of liquid heated to just the right temperature, only there was nothing around his body. It was just him, and the feeling seeped into his skin. The sensation was so pleasant, so relaxing, so calming that for a moment he had forgotten what he was there for. Obi-Wan could have stood amidst nothing forever, only his subconscious would not allow for it.

He quickly snapped to, and turned to find Anakin by his side. Streets came into view, then skyscrapers, with speeders racing all about. They found themselves standing within a massive city, its buildings jutting up across the entire planet, yet it was not Coruscant. Obi-Wan recognized the world after a moment, when a voice from beyond jolted him from his meditation. His eyes shot open, and he found a trooper standing at the doorway of the room.

"Sirs," the clone reported. "The general is waiting for you on the bridge."

Obi-Wan had a hand to his forehead as he tried to slow his heartrate. It was as if he had been startled from slumber. "We'll be up there shortly," he replied, and took a deep breath. He watched the clone leave, then turned to Anakin, who appeared just as discombobulated as he was. "If it makes you feel any better, I felt it."

"We saw a planet," Anakin said. "Whatever we felt, it's coming from there."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Hosnian Prime."

Anakin was quick to rise. "We need to figure this out. Someone or something is there, and they're giving off a feeling so strong the both of us could sense it."

Obi-Wan was slow to rise, and put as hand up as he faced Anakin. "We have war to win, and a battle fast approaching. We cannot go chasing around the galaxy for an array of sensations."

"There is something out there," Anakin replied. "It's calling to us. You sensed it as much as I did."

"You're quite right," Obi-Wan admitted. "All I'm saying is it does not always have to be the two of us who go after these sorts of things." He then gestured for them to step into the hallway, and followed Anakin out. "Besides, this is something Master Yoda should know about."

"Right," Anakin admitted half-heartedly. A pinprick of shame passed over him as he thought about how rash his actions had been. Again. He watched patiently as Obi-Wan activated his holoprojector, displaying Yoda for both of them to see. Anakin raised an eyebrow at Obi-Wan, waiting for the man to give an account of what they had seen. Of the two of them, Obi-Wan had always been the more persuasive.

"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan began, "we've encountered a strange presence on Hosnian Prime. It is not Jedi or Sith, at least to our knowledge, but as we are preoccupied, we were hoping you could lend us your insight."

Yoda took in his words slowly, eyes dilating, when he gave a faint nod of the head. "Felt a disturbance, I have. Republic City, it is."

Obi-Wan shared a glance with Anakin before continuing. "What do you think it is?"

Yoda looked away from the projector for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, his hand shaking slightly. "Powerful, this presence is. Clouded is my mind." For a moment he seemed pained, yet his gaze returned to Obi-Wan all the same. "Send someone to investigate, we must."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Have any knights in mind?"

Yoda gave a shake of the head. "Someone with more experience, we need."

Before Anakin could say anything more, Obi-Wan interjected. "Ahsoka could always help."

Anakin frowned. "She's already on the bridge waiting for us…"

"Yes," Obi-Wan admitted. "And she's been fighting on the frontlines since the start of this conflict. Aren't you worried the chaos of war might be getting to her?"

Anakin shook his head. "She's strong, courageous, and—"

"And tired," Obi-Wan replied. "You of all people know that. Though, I suspect you—"

"Fine!" Anakin stammered. "Fine. We'll have her go."

After a moment, Yoda nodded in agreement. "Send Ahsoka, we will."

Obi-Wan gave Master Yoda a proper farewell before ending communications, but by then Anakin was already several paces down the hallway. "Anakin," Obi-Wan called out, but the man didn't stop. "You wanted to see her again, didn't you?"

Anakin froze.

Obi-Wan sighed. "I know the past few years have been rough for you. You become so attached to others that it's hard to let them go."

Anakin shrugged, as if his former master had it all wrong. "We both know how chaotic things have been at the temple. She's always been off on other assignments. I just—"

"You miss the old days," Obi-Wan said. "But time goes by, and people move on. It's best to accept that." He stepped to Anakin's side before placing a hand on his shoulder. "No one lives forever." He felt Anakin pull away from him without so much as sparing him a glance, and the pair headed to the bridge without another word.

#

The lift's doors opened to reveal General Cody standing by the holotable, with Ahsoka by his side. Ahsoka perked up on seeing the masters arrive, and stepped in their direction with a smile on her face.

"Was wondering what took you so long," she remarked. "Is everything ready?"

Anakin and Obi-Wan shared a glance, with Anakin scratching the back of his neck as he tried to speak. "About that… you're—"

"Master Yoda have given you a new assignment," Obi-Wan intervened after seeing how unnerved Anakin had become. "Something on Hosnian Prime is calling out to us through the Force. We want you, as one our most seasoned knights, to find out what it is."

Ahsoka's jaw fell open. "Are you serious?"

"Ahsoka," Anakin said, his voice calm, yet stern. "We don't know what's down there. It's not a Jedi, yet the Force is strong in it. No ordinary knight can do this."

Ahsoka paid close attention to every word, and a look of unease came across her face. She crossed her arms, thinking of how utterly wasteful it had been to have her join the fleet in the first place if she was just going to be sent off on another errand. She had thought her days in such a role were long past her. She sighed. "Do I at least have a location?"

"Republic City," Obi-Wan answered. "That is all we know."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. Hosnian Prime was another ecumenopolis, and while not as populated as Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa, its megalopolis cities were no small region to comb through. "Fine. I'll get out of your hair," she said, and brushed past the men on her way to the lift when Anakin abruptly stopped her.

"We trust you," Anakin said. "You know that, right? And because of that, we know you're better equipped for this than any other."

Ahsoka tilted her head at him, gave a razor-thin smile, and stepped toward the lift. The last thing she saw was the look of unease in Anakin's eyes before the lift's door closed.

Only once Ahsoka had gone did the Jedi turn to Cody, whose arms were crossed behind his back as he stood at attention. "The fleets are ready to get underway," he said.

Obi-Wan stepped to his side while Anakin moved toward the viewport. "Link with strategic command. We don't want any communication errors during the battle."

Cody nodded before pressing several commands on the holoprojector, and a moment later, he found himself looking up at several officers. "Gentlemen," he said, "let's begin."

#

The Valiant raced through hyperspace within the Trax Tube hyperlane, closing in on the Randon Run which would lead them safely home.

Arkin had his feet kicked up on the dash, arms behind his head as he snuggled in for a relaxing nap. "Home free, people," he proclaimed before closing his eyes.

Taladon nodded, though a part of his heart felt empty. His first adventure had ended all too soon. There was so much of the galaxy to see, so much to explore, and yet, so many foes. He wondered about the war, about the Yuuzhan Vong, and even about the Jedi. Why would they want him dead? Fear began to leap up his spine, and suddenly he realized how safe home actually was. There he had his family's fleets, their armies, and most importantly, his father.

Taladon's thoughts were interrupted when another sensation splashed against his mind. It calmed his nerves, relaxing him even though his anxiety had been peaked. For a moment he felt at peace, when images suddenly flashed before his eyes. He saw fire, monsters marching across desolated cities, and thousands put to the spear. Yet, amidst all the chaos and destruction, he saw a light, faint but glimmering. The most peculiar thing, however, was the place he stood upon. Though he had never been there before, it was like he had never left it. His jaw fell open, which caught the attention of his protectants.

Lumin leaned forward in her seat. "Taladon?"

The young man's mind snapped back into reality, and he turned to Lumin. "Hosnian Prime," he said. "Something's out there."

Arkin opened his eyes as he glanced over at the pair. "Everything's out there. We're talking about the galaxy here."

Taladon shook his head. "No, I mean there's something… fated… there. Something calling out through the Force."

Lumin cocked her head. "You can sense it?"

"Yes," Taladon said. "I've never felt anything like this." He then turned to Arkin. "We have to check it out."

Arkin raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding me?"

"Not really," Taladon responded. "Come on," he tried to pester the pilot. "We'll make it a short trip. I just need to see what's there."

"Why?" Arkin prodded. "What sort of Jedi mumbo jumbo are you sensing?"

Taladon's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, his jaw hanging open for a second before speaking. "I saw cities burning, Arkin. I saw the Yuuzhan Vong consuming everything, and I saw a faint light among it all."

Arkin rolled his eyes. "And you think going to Hosnian Prime will cure your imagination?"

Lumin put a hand on Arkin's shoulder. "Just indulge him this once, will you? Besides, it could be a fun little trip for the three of us before we head home. Valoris will never know."

Arkin mulled the idea over in his head before sitting up in his seat. "Maybe," he reluctantly, admitted, and moved his hands to the controls. "Alright, fine. You've got yourselves a deal," he stated before tilting his head at Taladon. "But on one condition: we stop by my home planet of Corellia before returning to Sanctum."

Taladon nodded. "Deal."

With that, Arkin changed their flight path, and they transitioned hyperlanes as they redirected to the Hosnian System.

#

Red lights ignited on all decks of the Venator as Cody gave the order for the fleets to enter lightspeed. The Open Circle Fleet, Anaxes Fleet, and Third Fleet merged at Corellia's shipyards before entering the hyperlane. Twenty Consulars, fifty Arquitens, seventy Acclamators, and a hundred Venators fired up their hyperdrives before launching toward the stars.

Aboard the bridge of the fleet's flagship, the Titan, Anakin and Obi-Wan stood by the viewport while Cody communed with the other field leaders. "Admiral Coburn," he said to the most distinguished figure among them. "I'll be running all fleet decisions by you. Naval warfare is something the rest of us could use more experience in."

The chiseled war veteran nodded to him. "There is nothing our foes can do that I won't anticipate."

Cody gave him a gentle nod before looking to the others. "Wolffe, you'll be helping the point-defense systems keep those beasts off our hulls." He then tilted his gaze to the final member of their crew. "Captain Aang, I want the 117th on the ground as soon as we hit the system. The other legions will follow." He gave a faint sigh before addressing all the men at once. "We stop the enemy in the Both System, and we'll be able to free up our garrison at Scarif. With any luck, we'll keep the battle in space, but Bothawui's a tough planet. If the enemy starts making planetfall, I want us to be ready for them." He watched the men nod at him, and a moment later communications ceased. They were all linked up, and the only thing left to do was fight.