No matter how tedious things might become, one look out of the balcony in Varykino was enough to make up for it. The water, the lush vegetation, the pleasant temperatures - for Anakin it truly was the perfect place to enjoy the togetherness with his wife, his angel. And as much as Ahsoka would tease him about that nickname, it was great that she was there as well. It still surprised him how quickly the girl had wormed her way into his heart, and the last two years had nothing but cemented their bond.
So when the Naboo high command decided to berate him for the promotion, he had R2 project the call onto the veranda. This was not an official meeting, those would have come with a Royal summon, so he bore it with the same blank face he had put on for the Jedi council countless times. Although maintaining that mask was considerably harder when he was next to Padmé, who wore nothing but a skimpy two-piece while tanning, and Ahsoka showing up with fruity cocktails did not help either.
Most of Anakin's new command existed on paper only. The two Naboo Army Groups were reserve formations, most of which were not even mobilised, leaving him with a corps of first-grade troops to defend an entire sector with. His space formations were stuck above Kuat, waiting for space dock slots because they needed an overhaul. Scheduled to leave the orbital shipyards in two months, that date would surely be pushed back eventually as more pressing fronts demanded more ships. And his other Clone force had been depleted enough that he just folded them into the 501st, bringing them to five full-strength battalions.
Which was why Anakin didn't understand the whole controversy surrounding his appointment. Sure, when he had read the message, it had sounded almost insane. As if the Chancellor was trying to strong-arm his homeworld. However, the impressive list of formations turned out to be empty husks, and in the end, all that the Chancellor had ordered was effectively for ten thousand Clones to be stationed in the Chommell Sector, and that he was in charge. And after dozens of battlefields, he surely was more qualified than anyone else to be in command. But despite his impressive record and the fact that even Ahsoka had more combat experience than the entire Naboo command combined, they did not believe him capable. Which is why they had insisted on a demonstration.
"Tell me, what are we working with?"
"It looks like this whole thing is a set-up. These manoeuvre weapons are atrocious, their power cells are only good for four shots and they need to be cycled after each round. I honestly would not be surprised if those were taken from some museum. We have no automatic weapons and less than a fifth of our regular heavy weapons. What we have would not be too bad for attacking fortifications, but has too little range to be used on the defensive. Lastly, we don't know anything about our opponent's strength or disposition," Captain Rex summarised and rubbed his shaven head. He looked odd in a Naboo uniform, as did the other Clones. Their off-duty clothes were one thing, but to see them unarmoured in the field just felt wrong. "They want you to fail, General."
"I figured as much, but I can solve at least one problem for you. R2 had been keeping an eye on their communication. We are facing two divisions and the Royal Guard. So roughly 24000 men."
"Six to one odds aren't the worst we have taken on, but I would hope that those soldiers are better than the clankers."
"I would bet on it. What do we have for defences?"
"Nothing. Those generals don't like you, but they have heard of Kinrah given that they put us on the news for almost a week," Rex pointed out and Anakin could have sworn that his cheeks were a little pink.
"At least they put us on the defensive. We can hold against superior numbers, but attacking into them would be a lot harder, especially without tanks and walkers," Anakin grumbled before he looked at the small hill about a mile from them. "Alright, grab your shovels, we are digging in up there. This might be a rigged contest, but we aren't going to make it easy for them."
The next day, the sun was at its highest when the Naboo arrived. Anakin watched the regiments approach in perfect marching order. They arrayed themselves eight rows deep and waited at the other side of a tiny stream, barely deep enough to soak your shoes. There were at least twenty thousand men waiting, which meant that there would be no significant flanking force and therefore he could send most Clones to the dugouts and rifle pits facing the Naboo army.
The next hour passed in tense anticipation as the regiments dressed their lines and began to move forward. However, rather than fanning out in a loose skirmish line or trying to find cover, the Naboo forces advanced in columns, much like battle droids would. They halted a klick from his field works and began to pour fire into the Clone lines. It quickly became apparent that their manoeuvre weapons did not have the same limitations placed upon the 501st, who simply kept their heads down while their heavy weapons were moved to the right side of the hill. The other side had the same idea and opened up with their own artillery, which used smoke canisters to make the manoeuvre more believable.
However primitive the fieldworks might have been, even a hole in the ground gave its occupant a lot of protection. Therefore the whole bombardment amounted to little more than a cloud of coloured smoke. Frustrated by the lack of success, the Naboo commander ordered entire regiments to advance while others continued their barrage. Anakin waited until they had crossed one-third of the remaining distance before he opened a comm channel to both the men in the line as well as the artillery commanders.
"Aim!"
"Fire!"
The first volley was devastating. Whole columns were flashing orange, indicating that they had been hit. Like a well-oiled machine, the Clones worked their weapons and fired off more rounds, even if they lost their synchronisation pretty quickly. They might be unfamiliar with the gear, but the Kaminoans had trained them well. The Naboo soldiers tried to charge the hilltop, but the terrain and barricades placed in their way broke up their formations and cohesion. Individually, they were decent fighters, their marksmanship surprisingly good given the circumstances, but they had no idea how to attack and they relied on the same fixed formations as the GAR had on Geonosis. Uphill, the last stretch would have taken them two minutes, but by then the last strangler had been picked off while Anakin's artillery tore through the regiments kept behind as fire support. The whole manoeuvre was over before anyone got into the range of his sabre. The Naboo had had the numbers, but the Clones had the day.
"... The fall of Ryloth is just the last setback our armies suffered. Jedi Masters Windu and Secura were in charge of the defences and had to be carried off the battlefield when their clone troops were overrun by an unexpected assault. Furthermore - "
" Why are we suddenly losing this war?" Anakin wanted to know as the holonews showed stock footage of Clones fighting on various worlds. "Before that day, we were besieging Confederate Core Worlds. After we left, the GAR stopped winning. And while we were stuck on Kinrah, the Army lost all they had bled for for half a year."
"No one knows. The Senate is getting more and more desperate since there is no obvious turning point. The theories I hear from other Senators are getting more creative by the day."
"Which theories?"
"I've heard pretty much everything by now, although the flavour of the week is that the Sith are to blame. Count Dooku certainly seems more confident nowadays."
"There are theories about the Sith circulating in the Senate? I thought that they dismissed that as Jedi legends," Ahsoka threw in.
"Well, perhaps not as bluntly, but I've heard a lot about them from you two, so I can pierce together what people say and imply. Some of the rumours - I think we can dismiss anything about Sith armies, but a lot of people imply that there was a change of leadership," Padmé explained and looked back and forth between the pair of former Jedi. "Which, given what you said about the Rule of Two, would mean that the Count got rid of his master, or alternatively found a more powerful replacement for Asajj Ventress."
"That - makes a disturbing amount of sense," Ahsoka thought aloud. "If Dooku is moving up the chain, he likely has an acolyte ready. Are there any reports on darksiders on the battlefields?"
"No, only of those Zabrak brothers leading a slave razzia, but that was far from any front line. And that only made the news because there were no units which could be spared until three days after the attack, by which point they managed to enslave more than half a million people."
"Maul is dead, he just doesn't know it yet," Anakin said through gritted teeth and Ahsoka looked equally determined, even if she remained silent.
" - debates. With the Senate stalemated over the funding for more clone units, the Sector Defence Bill is not an unexpected piece of legislation. Although the 57% majority was far from unanimous, it allows sectors to contribute their own militaries to the Grand Army should they desire so. Command remains with the local structures, but strategic coordination will happen through the War Office. Furthermore - "
"What is this all about?" Anakin asked with a nod to the viewscreen. In response, Padmé grumbled since her pillow was not supposed to move around.
"The Senate can't agree on anything in regards to Clones nowadays. Half of them don't even see them as beings, half thinks that they are too expensive and would rather field their own armies, half objects to their use and half wants to raise ten new armies because it means that they don't have to field their own armies."
"I still don't understand how this can be an issue. The Clones are living, breathing beings whose emotional range is greater than that of many senators. How can they be considered anything else?" Ahsoka wanted to know from the armchair next to the couple.
"Because there is no political gain in acknowledging that. The Clones are already fighting loyally, and the agreement with Kamino means that they will never become a problem for the Republic."
"Our men are not a problem."
"Of course not, I'm just trying to explain to you what those politicians think," Padmé replied soothingly and stretched her hand back to play with her husband's hair. "Few senators are really interested in doing what is right for the galaxy. Most work for the good of their sector, although a few use the position to profit personally. None of them gain anything by supporting Clone legislation."
"That's sick," Ahsoka said with dripping disgust. "Our boys fight for them, and they don't even want to grant them citizenship."
"There are enough planets who would gladly do so because it is the right thing to do. On a local level it will not be an issue, but I don't see any bill passing the senate. Many other systems are not so fortunate. Naboo could easily pay the entire Clone Army, or at least their maintenance, but for other planets even a platoon would be too much. Most planets are not populous enough to keep their industry afloat with the war taxes, shipping losses and resource shortages. Internal demand cannot make up for that if you only have a few million citizens," Padmé explained and considered if it was time for an impromptu economics lesson. "Nor are most systems self-sufficient when it comes to food. Compared to the rest of the Republic, the average wealth of Naboo skyrocketed during the war. Not because we got any richer, but because many many systems are plagued by poverty or were devastated by the fighting."
"But there are so many people in the Republic - even a sale tax of half a percent, or something equally minor, would seriously help the war effort," Anakin said, echoing what Brend had pointed out. It definitely left a bad taste in his mouth, but no matter how often he thought about the issue, he could not refute her point.
"And then what? Say that there is enough money for two new armies. Even disregarding the morality of the Kaminoan rapid-ageing technology, or of using that army, it would still take over a year until they reach the front. The Confederacy will just produce more droids and the overall balance will not change."
"So what are we supposed to do to win?" Ahsoka wanted to know.
"You cannot win this war on the battlefields," replied Padme, shaking her head. "You could lose it on the battlefields though. To win, you need to convince the planets who left the Republic that they should turn back."
"Which would be a lot easier if we had them on the ropes, if it looked like they were a lost cause," Ahsoka piped in.
"It did look like a lost cause for them just a few months ago!" cried Anakin. "How did it change so fast? How did we mess up so badly?"
"Ani, a lot of things have seemed off recently. The GAR has been on the back foot when they shouldn't have been, defensive fleets have been diverted to where they're least needed, and the Jedi are dying by dozens each week. More and more people are questioning their ability to lead, which was why you, despite your record, were snubbed - "
"I was snubbed?" Anakin cut across. "I know about the manoeuvre, but that wasn't really an issue after all. They even threw another pointless parade."
"And yet, the fact that they insisted on that disgrace would be an insult to most."
"So we had to show the Naboo command how a battle was fought. The weather was nice, we had a lovely place to camp, the men got out of their armour for once - that was hardly a chore."
"It was still an unnecessary snub. And they refused your promotion. Army Groups are commanded by a field marshal, even reserve ones. Well, under normal circumstances we would not have more than the Palace guards on active duty, but that's neither here nor there. Your command puts you just one level below the chief of the army, and as your second-in-command, Ahsoka would outrank most career officers before entering adulthood," Padmé explained and tried not to think about how young the Togruta was. She might have been thrust into a conflict at 14, but unlike the two Jedi, she had not gone out looking for trouble. And for all the protectiveness Anakin showed towards the girl who was like a little sister to him, he had no qualms about leading her into the never-ending droid armies of the Confederacy.
"So High Command got offended over something I had no influence on and are now acting childish?"
"A bit brief, but in essence, yes."
"Oh no, what will I ever do without a bigger office and the pilot to fly me there?" Anakin chuckled and turned towards his padawan with all the faux sincerity he could muster. "Snips,I know you might want to leave now, and after this horrible setback, I could not blame you."
"Tough luck, but you're stuck with me. Although it is weird that they went from trying to throw you out to big parades after that one manoeuvre. It's not like their men were a challenge or defeating them proved anything other than their incompetence matching their arrogance."
"I think the only reason they gave in is the units assigned to you. You will not be leading the regular units or any of the new volunteers," Padmé explained, the venom in her voice making it obvious what she thought of the idea of a Naboo military which exceeded ceremonial duties. They were a peaceful people, the poor performance of their armies in that mock battle enough proof of that. "Palpatine's orders did not specify which units you got, so the Queen's advisors shifted them around until you were left with the command no one wanted. Army Group 2 are the formations from Rori."
"The Moon?"
"Yes, and Army Group 3 are nothing but reserves whose mobilisation is not planned until an invasion is imminent."
"What's so bad about the moon?"
"They are unreliable."
"You mean they are cowards?" Ahsoka wanted to know, curious how an entire moon could be considered craven.
"No, politically."
"So they are sympathetic towards the Separatists - "
"Ani, I'm sympathetic towards the plight of the Confederate citizens. Riro is in league with the cooperations."
"What?"
"Shortly before the Trade Federation invaded Naboo, they placed a large order with the Techno Union," Padme explained and turned so that she was looking into his eyes. "And they were the only settlement in the system which was not invaded."
"So you think that they are in league - "
"Yes - No. I had people look into the matter, and they could never find evidence. And if that would be all I would not be mentioning this. But after the crisis, they refused three appointed governors."
"So?"
"Before that, only two appointments had been refused throughout centuries when the moon was a Royal fief. And those two - incapable wouldn't even begin to describe them. The three governors I've sent were people I know and trust, and I had thorough background checks done on all of them. They had distinguished themselves during the invasion, but even that wasn't enough."
"So that moon had been without rule since then?" Ahsoka asked.
"They have local government, which makes the whole refusal nothing but something to spite me. The governor has very few actual powers. Hearing petitions and ensuring that laws are followed are their responsibilities, little more. That's why the Jedi suspected Riro miners of that assassination attempt at first," Padmé explained and buried her face in Anakin's chest. "Look, it might be nothing, but promise me that you will be careful."
The trip to Riro took only an hour, time Anakin and Ahsoka used to make up plans for all kinds of situations. After all, they had to make do with all kinds of militias in the past, many whose only positive trait had been that they had spirit. However, upon landing on the moon, all that went right out of the window when they saw the welcome waiting for them. Lined up in neat rows, several regiments of soldiers stood at attention while their transport touched down on a pad in the middle of the assembly.
They certainly did not look like rebels or traitors, their uniforms well-maintained but worn, their weapons likewise old. The transports which lined the parade grounds had seen many buckets of paint and even half of the soldiers themselves were old. Not frail or geriatric, but definitely a decade or two above the average soldier. Yet, he could sense nothing but anticipation and eagerness.
"Soldiers, before coming here I had three people warn me that you are unreliable, in league with traitors, turncoats and just waiting to stab Naboo in the back. But in front of me I don't see any of that, I see a fine army, eager to do its duty. So what do you say to those accusations?"
There was a grumbling of discontent, but the wave of anger he felt was more important to Anakin. These soldiers might be able to lie, but thousands of second-grade recruits would be unable to hide malicious intent.
"I don't care about any of that. Whatever quarrel you might or might not have with the government in Theed, that's between you and the Queen. I'm here to make sure that you become the best damn soldiers you can be, nothing more. And to get a better picture of whom I'm working with, there will be a couple of manoeuvres. So grab your packs and ready yourself to march out."
Anakin sat next to Ahsoka in the open loading door of a LAAT they had borrowed from the 501st and watched the spectacle below. Even without the fancy gear Naboo high command had issued for their folly, it was possible to hold manoeuvres. It might not be as immersive, but with enough referees, you could still tell who was doing well. Down below, he saw a regiment pass a few AA tanks which had been left behind, or so it seemed. Their turrets might have been in their transport position, but once their opponents had moved on, the crews spun their weapons around and swept them slowly from one side of the marching men to the other. Had this been a real fight, a thousand would have perished within seconds.
"I hate to say it, but even we could have fallen for that one," Ahsoka grumbled as the defeated unit were told of their deaths.
The former Jedi were not paying attention to the score the command staff awarded, they needed a feel for how those soldiers performed. Hence the random units pitted against each other. Some regiments had natural advantages such as attached armoured companies or artillery, but that didn't matter. It showed how the officers performed when they had an advantage or if the odds were stacked against them. After all, most battles were not fought between equal opponents.
Their marksmanship had been superb, even surpassing the 501st's average when given weapons they were familiar with. That skill would not hold up in combat, Anakin was willing to bet on that, but they performed well at the range. However, these exercises also made a few weaknesses obvious. While the attacks he saw were better than the Naboo regiments', they were still too rigid when advancing, not using the terrain well. And most movements were happening on the company level, lacking the capabilities for and flexibility of platoon or squad-based action. They certainly had their work cut out for them.
He and Ahsoka would also need to look into the whole mess surrounding the moon. Something was different about the people from there, but it was not treason. The songs they sang were anything but, even if Anakin could have done without hearing that Naboo was as rich in water as it was in heroes' blood. The soldiers also had not complained when he had ordered them to spend the night in the field rather than back in their barracks.
However, before they could make any plans in that regard, the co-pilot activated the intercom. "Sir, Flash communication from Coruscant, flagged critical," he reported and Anakin could already feel his stomach sink before he had even heard the message. There were not a lot of reasons why such a thing would be sent, or why a message from the capital would have that priority. "A Confederate fleet dropped out of hyperspace - they didn't see it coming."
"Is there any information about that fleet? Size, composition?"
"At least twelve thousand ships, including General Grievous flagship. The message repeats itself before it is cut-off by static."
"Were there any other messages?" Ahsoka wanted to know.
"On the emergency channel, patching it through!"
"This is Coruscant Command on battleship Unity to all available ships! We are under attack and taking heavy casualties. Code Red, we are in need of immediate aaasssssshhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn - "
"That's it?
"Only static after this, but it looks too perfect - and - let me check the other channels - Yes - I think Coruscant is getting jammed. Which should not be possible given the amount of transmitters there. Something should get through, even if it's just the advertising on Channel 64."
"Could this be a trap, a diversion?"
"The last estimate of the Confederate Battle Fleet is at 11312 ships. If the numbers from Coruscant are accurate, they must have mobilised every piece of scrap they had. We also know that their third and fourth fleets are currently engaged and the Second is being replenished after their failed raid on Kashyyyk. The Fifth is securing Ryloth and the Sixth is guarding Raxus. What's unaccounted for could probably overrun an outpost, but should be too weak to crack any proper defences."
Anakin listened to the report and, based on that and the latest intelligence briefing he had seen, did a few calculations before he looked over to Ahsoka, who nodded after a moment.
"Order the Varykino to begin pre-flight checks and recall the 303rd. Mobilise all of your forces and put them on high-alert in case this is some kind of trap or deception. And get me the fastest ship you have to Naboo."
AN:
Beta'ed by LifeEquals42
A bit of a filler chapter, but necessary to set up stuff, probably more than you realise right now. After all, we are slowly getting to the point where the original plot gets interesting.