Chapter 12 - First Command is Always Hard

It had reached a point where Sulani had lost any hope of returning to Coruscant any time soon, Anakin was called to action too often for there to be any opportunity for her to return to the temple. She was on her way to meet Anakin and Ahsoka in the meeting room in order to get the details on what Anakin needed to do next. When she entered, Anakin and Ahsoka were already talking to the holo-images of Obi-Wan, Chancellor Palpatine and Masters Yoda and Windu. When she was in range of the table, and therefore visible to the ones not on the ship, the Chancellor greets her with a smile, "Mother Sulani, how good it is to see you, it has been too long."

"It has Chancellor, I've been spending most of my time out here," she replies kindly before turning face the Jedi Masters, "Hello Masters."

"Hello Mother Sulani," Master Windu greets in turn, "Unfortunately, this isn't a social call."

"Of course, Master," she says, "What must we do?"

"Around Ryloth, a Separatist blockade there is," Master Yoda says. "A ground assault, Master Kenobi and Master Windu will lead, make a passage for their arrival, Skywalker must."

"We're on our way to Ryloth now," Master Windu continues, "Your fleet is closer than us Skywalker, and you should have enough time to arrive at Ryloth and remove the blockade before we arrive."

"It shall be done Masters, Chancellor," Anakin assures them.

The three images of the Chancellor, Master Yoda and Master Windu fade without any preamble, Obi-Wan hanging around a little longer, "It might be cutting it tight, but I am counting on you to do this Anakin."

"We won't let you down Master," Anakin says.

"I know," Obi-Wan smiles at them before ending his side of the call.

Anakin was just about to turn fully to leave the room in order to get prepared when Ahsoka caught his eye from where she stood to his right, she appeared to be thinking, but of what, he was not sure. He stared at her for several seconds before she noticed and looked at him quizzically, "Is there something wrong Master?"

Sulani simply watched from her place on the other side of Ahsoka, Anakin was staring rather intently at his Padawan before he appeared to come to a conclusion, "I think you're ready to lead your first mission Snips."

"Wait what," Ahsoka says in astonishment, "Do you really think so Master?"

"I really think so," he says. "I'm going to put a squad in your capable hands, and you are going to lead a mission to remove that blockade while Mother and I stay on board the Resolute as tactical support. You'll be leading the mission, but I'll still be calling the shots when necessary."

"You can trust me Master," she says happily, "I won't let you down."

In perfect replication of his own Master's words, he says to his Padawan, "I know."

Sulani was standing next to Ahsoka's very own Jedi fighter while said Padawan was sitting in the cockpit watching her droid being put into place, Admiral Yularen's voice came over the intercom across the ship, "All ships prepare for launch."

Sulani then watched as Ahsoka started talking to her droid, "This is my first time commanding a squadron, R7. Let's make a good impression."

R7 started beeping at her, making her react in exasperation, "Of course I'm not nervous."

"Hey, Snips," Anakin calls as he walks over to lean against her fighter beside Sulani. "This is it, your first command. Don't be nervous."

Sulani tried hard, she really did, but she let out a very undignified snort as Ahsoka responds to her Master, "I wish everyone would stop saying that."

"The men you're commanding are depending on you, with their lives," Anakin says, ignoring both Ahsoka's comment and Sulani's snickering.

"Thanks, that takes the pressure off," she says sarcastically, "If I wasn't nervous before, I sure am now."

"Hey," he says, "I have faith in you. I wouldn't send you out there if I didn't think you could handle it."

He started to walk away, but turned back to say one last thing, "May the Force be with you."

"I won't let you down…" she says to his back. "I hope."

"I have faith in you too Ahsoka," Sulani says, now that the moment between Master and Apprentice was over. "You are more then ready for this and I know, that you will be fine."

"Thank you Mother," Ahsoka sends her a smile.

"And just as Anakin said, may the Force be with you," Sulani says before also making her way out of the hangar.

Sulani had caught up to Anakin, and they both arrived on the bridge in time to see the Separatist fighters rise to meet Ahsoka and her squadron. Anakin made his way towards Admiral Yularen while Sulani stayed a few metres behind to stay out of the way, "Tell Ahsoka the fleet is ready."

"Commander," Yularen says to get Ahsoka's attention, "you're all clear."

"Thank you Admiral," Ahsoka's voice came over the comms. "Keep the cruisers back until we've softened them up."

It was at that moment that Sulani felt a gut-wrenching pull on her stomach, something was going to go completely wrong, but she had no idea what. She could see Anakin eyeing her out of the corner of his vision, she had clearly reacted visibly, however she only shook her head at him to say it was nothing. He did not seem to believe her, but turned back to watching Ahsoka through the windows anyway. She continued to watch as well as she faintly listened to Ahsoka talking to her squad. Ahsoka and her squad were doing well, advancing towards the enemy command ship. They were ready to make their move on it when something terrible happened, clearly the something the Force was trying to warn Sulani about. "Admiral, four more enemy cruisers have joined the blockade," a clone calls from his console.

"We've got to warn those fighters," Admiral Yularen says and he gets patched through to Ahsoka. "Commander, we've been caught in a trap."

"You're overreacting Admiral," she replies and Sulani could almost feel her brow start to twitch because of course Ahsoka is arguing. "I can get us through. Blue squadron, stay the course."

Her clones were all for it, but Yularen was getting impatient, "I'm ordering you to return to the ship. We're going to need your help."

"Ahsoka," Anakin joins in, "it's too risky. Get your pilots out of there."

"She's not turning around," a clone beside them says.

Yularen was looking at Anakin, "Did you train her not to follow orders."

It was at that moment that one of Ahsoka's troopers was blown up. "We're far too outnumbered," Yularen calls out, "They're breaking our lines."

"Ahsoka," Anakin calls, "we are in trouble, I order you back here."

When it appeared she might hesitate, Sulani stepped in, "Ahsoka, you have been ordered by two superior officers, one of which is your Jedi Master, you will return to this ship immediately. Am I clear?"

"Alright, Mother, alright," Ahsoka finally relents. "Let's go squad, pull back to the command ship."

"Why are we retreating?" they hear one clone ask.

"We're not retreating," she answers. "We're following orders."

While Ahsoka was doing that, the barrage of enemy fighters was getting intense, Yularen calling out orders, "Intensify deflector shields."

"There are too many," a clone says, "We can't shoot them all down."

"Fighter squadron, where are you?"

"Cool your jets, Admiral," Ahsoka says back, making Sulani's brow twitch some more, "We're almost there."

It was at that moment, everyone on the bridge saw the fighter heading right for them, "It's too late," Yularen calls as they all try to duck for cover.

"Run for it," Anakin calls unnecessarily.

When it finally hit the bridge, Anakin had been able to stay steady on his feet, unfortunately, Sulani and Yularen were unlucky. However, where Sulani only bumped her head on the floor and landed heavily on one arm, Admiral Yularen did not get away with anything minor as he was currently barely conscious. She could hear Ahsoka calling out for the Admiral through the comms, but no one was responding, everyone more occupied with fallen comrades. "Hang on, Admiral," Anakin was saying to Yularen.

"Get us out of here," Yularen replied weakly.

Anakin addresses everyone on the bridge, "Get those fighters on board and prepare for lightspeed."

As the ships were turning around, Rex contacted Ahsoka, "All fighters return, we're preparing for lightspeed."

Sulani listened for Ahsoka's confirmation before looking in remorse at the destroyer blowing to pieces to their left. Ahsoka and her squad were nearly on board when another one blew up, she had lost another man. She vaguely heard Ahsoka announce their arrival and request for hangar door closure, things had not gone according to plan, something she had feared as soon as she had that bad feeling.

Sulani was with Anakin in the hangar, he was talking to some clones while they were on their way over to Ahsoka, "Get your squad together, I need a head count. We need to know how many we lost today."

After this, he walked over towards the despondent Ahsoka who was sitting on the wing of her fighter. "Ahsoka," he says quietly, "I am very disappointed in you. You not only disobeyed the Admiral, you disobeyed me. I was almost worried you were going to disobey Mother Sulani."

"I thought I could knock out those batteships" she tried to explain, "so when Master Obi-Wan arrived, he could get through."

"I know you meant well, Snips, but there's a bigger picture that you're not aware of. First rule of war, listen to your superiors."

"But sometimes you get carried away," she argues.

"All that means," he says as puts his hand on her shoulder, "is that I understand what you're going through."

"But I failed."

"It was a trap, Snips," he tries to reassure her. "It wasn't your fault."

"I lost so many of my pilots," she says sadly.

"Take heart, little one," he says. "That's the reality of command."

"General," Rex says from behind him. "We're approaching our staging area."

"Very good, Captain," Anakin replies while keeping his eyes on his Padawan.

"Master Windu is requesting a report on our progress," the clone captain then informs him.

"Our progress, huh?" Anakin says as he turns to face Rex, "Well, we haven't made any progress yet."

"I'll tel him, sir."

"No Rex," Anakin reaches out as he speaks, "I'll tell him myself, thank you. As soon as we tend to out wounded, get me a damage report."

"Right away, sir."

"Now Snips, I'm gonna need you to…" but when he turned around, Ahsoka was already gone.

He gave Sulani a look, but she just shook her head sadly. Anakin looked down in dismay, knowing it would be hard for Ahsoka to get over what had happened, but he was starting to have an idea on how to fix that. "I'm going to give that progress report to Master Windu," he said to her.

"I'll go with you," she says in reply. "I'm not needed anywhere else."

"Thank you Mother," he says with a smile.

It was not long after that Sulani stood beside Anakin as he greeted Obi-Wan and Master Windu before starting his report, "They caught us by surprise, Master. We were outnumbered."

"How many men did you lose?" Obi-Wan asks.

"We lost a cruiser, the Redeemer," he says, "plus, an entire squadron of fighters."

"And your Padawan?" Obi-Wan asks, while sending a quick look toward his sister who was remaining quiet.

"No, uh, Ahsoka is fine," Anakin says, "She's just recovering from the battle. Losing her squadron was hard to take."

"Give her time," Obi-Wan suggests, "but Anakin, you will need her help if you're going to get through this."

"I know," Anakin replies.

Master Windu takes this opportunity to speak, "Your forces have been cut in half, Skywalker. If you can't break that blockade by the next planetary rotation, we will have to postpone the invasion."

"The Twi'leks on that planet can't wait forever, Master. The longer the Techno Union keeps control of Ryloth, the more difficult it will be to free them."

"I agree," says Master Windu. "We don't have much time."

The two Masters nod towards Anakin and Sulani before disconnecting from their end. Anakin quickly turns to Rex, "Rex, see if you can find Ahsoka."

Anakin had decided to check on Ahsoka's fighter while they waited for her, R2 was helping as his assistant, mostly because Sulani would be of absolutely no help in that area. She had decided to sit cross-legged on the floor next to R2, half way between meditating and simply just relaxing. Anakin had asked R2 for something, but clearly it had been wrong because he was then asking for the other one. R2 passed him what was apparently the right one, and this was when Ahsoka walked up to them. "You wanted to see me, Master?"

"Ahsoka," he says, "hand me that socket plug."

Ahsoka takes said socket plug from R2 and takes it to Anakin, "Here."

"Thanks, Snips," he says while taking it from her. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Master," she says, though Sulani was not really believing it. "Just fine."

"Ah that's good to hear," he says, but Sulani did not think he believed it either. "I'm gonna need you level headed if we're gonna pull this thing off."

"Pull this off?" she pulls a face, "Pull what off?"

"I talked to Master Windu," he explains. "We are to proceed with our attack on the blockade."

"What? Uh…we can't. I- I- I-"

"Ahsoka," he interrupts her, "we have to break that blockade. The Twi'leks on Ryloth are counting on us."

"I understand that Master," she argues, "but we've lost so many men. Did we get more support?"

"No," he says, "we have to make do with the forces we have and I need to come up with a plan."

"You don't even have a plan?"

"Don't worry Ahsoka," he tries to reassure.

"No," she protests. "That's what you said last time, and now everyone's gone, my whole squadron."

"Ahsoka," he scolds.

"We can't just smash through that blockade," she says.

It was at that moment his comm started beeping with an incoming call, Ahsoka crosses her arm, raising her eyebrow and Anakin makes a point of lifting his arm and answering the comm, "Skywalker here."

"General," it was Rex, "the Defender is contacting us. There seems to be a problem."

"Alright, Rex," Anakin says. "I'll be right there."

He finishes the call and turns back to Ahsoka, "Go back to your quarters and cool off. We'll finish this talk later."

As Ahsoka walked off to do that, Anakin sat heavily onto her fighter and Sulani stood from her place, "I apologise Anakin, she has been disobedient and argumentative. However, I must ask you to understand, she is just as disappointed in herself as you are."

"I'm aware Mother," he says. "You also have nothing to apologise for, she's my Padawan now, I'm the one that's supposed to apologise on her behalf."

This makes her smile and laugh a little, "Perhaps, but I'll still do it anyway."

"I know she's upset," he says, sombre again. "It was her first command, and to lose men on your first command is never easy. I know she'll be stronger because of it."

"Yes," she nods, "she will be."

"Well," he says as he stands, "time to get this head into some planning."

"I shall leave you to it."

A/N: so now we have the Ryloth arc, hurray, and even more exciting? Three chapters in one day, double hurray, I'll say more in subsequent chapters