"Concentrate fire on the Techno Union Cruisers at 155.2, 11.6!
"This is General Fisto to all fighters, form up on me. We need to clear a - "
"General, please repeat the last order."
"Transmission not clear."
"This is the Prevalent Dawn, General Fisto's fighter was destroyed. SAR has been dispatched, but it does not look good. Overall command of the fighters passed over to General Kenobi, command of the 23rd attack flotilla to Admiral Parrick on the Reunification."
" - need a strike on target Beta-49, I repeat - "
"This is Black 3, affirmative, bombers lining up on that battleship."
" - hit, we're losing the containment of the reactor - "
" - Lucrehulk, it must not land its -"
" - everywhere, get them off - "
" - fire in sections 12-47, we lost communication with the engineer-"
"Abort your run Gamma Six!"
"Negative. We have to protect the Chancellor! Try to - "
"They are breaking through the Open Circle - "
"They must not escape!"
Anakin closed his eyes and switched to the comm channel of his squadron, which was assembling outside the Varykino. They had been near Ixtlar, just minutes out from Coruscant, when the emergency channel passed a note about Count Dooku's and General Grievous' kidnapping of the supreme Chancellor. The message also included a warning about mines near the jump points above the capital. So their mothership dropped out of hyperspace near Stentat, a gas giant a few light minutes from the battle. The Spearheads were all equipped with a hyperdrive, so they could jump right into the frey rather than risk the Varykino.
"Our target is a group of Providence-class dreadnoughts which is trying to break the blockade. These ships must be destroyed, otherwise Dooku will escape with the Chancellor. Once those ships are dealt with, we will provide cover for the rescue mission!"
The pilots were running the last checks and only White 16 had to return since her starboard engine was overheating even at minimal power. Everyone else reported to be operational and hyperspace jumps were calculated. Within seconds, the whole squadron was gone. The wall of white blurs faded as quickly as it had appeared and was replaced by the utter chaos of the battle raging above Coruscant.
Hundreds of wrecks were everywhere, the skies of the capital were aflame with the broadsides of thousands of ships and an uncountable number of fighters and bombers were engaged in battles ranging from duels to whole squadrons duking it out at point-blank range. The assault cruiser to their left was firing a torpedo salvo when it was hit by a volley of heavy turbo lasers and became a fireball. And yet, in the middle of the chaos around them, there was one vessel, one small fighter, which immediately drew his attention.
"R2, give me a sensor scan of that Jedi starfighter!" Anakin ordered and cursed when he saw the readout of the flying wreck. He could feel the pilot's distress and pain through the force, which made his stomach drop. "Open a channel."
"Anakin, you truly have the worst timing imaginable."
"Worst? I've arrived just in time to save you. Again."
"And I maintain that you - " an explosion beneath his ship spun the starfighter wildly until the jedi master could recover it, one of his radiator winglets sheared off and left a wake of coolant.
"Where is your wing?"
"That handful of fighters is all that's left of them."
"Then break off your attack Obi Wan, dying here won't achieve anything."
"Anakin, I have to make it to the Invisible Hand - The Chancellor - " his former master coughed.
"You're trailing fuel and coolant, your wing is shot to pieces, there are big holes in your starfighter and one of your engines is about to explode," Anakin summarized. "We didn't part on the best terms, but I don't want to see you die a pointless death here."
"I had an unfortunate encounter - with Buzz Droids - "
"Get out of here master, while you still can! And report to a hospital once you are safe!"
"The mission - "
"We will take it from here. I have a fresh squadron and it is not far."
"I don't like this," Obi-Wan pointed out as he turned back towards Coruscant, the last of his escorts in a similar state as they formed up on him. One of the ARCs was missing an entire wing, another had flames bursting out of its engines.
"And I don't like the thought of you being finished by a Vulture droid. Ventress would be so mad at you!"
"You might have a point there."
"Of course I do. You are forcing me to be the voice of reason, and that role always suited you better than it does me."
With the flick of a switch, Anakin changed back to the Naboo command channel.
"This is Squadron Leader to all flights, the rescue mission has failed. Gold One and I will have to board the Seppie flagship. New targets: Green flight, you take their engines, White flight, take out that destroyer right next to the Hand! Engage secondary targets at will. Blue and Gold, on me!"
"Affirmative!"
"White One, copied. Commencing attack run."
"Gold Flight, we have a wave of Vulture droids incoming, engage with missiles," Anakin ordered before he closed the channel and turned towards his Astromech. "Artoo, assign targets for Blue and Gold flights."
The droid chirped in response and six purple squares lit up on his head-up display. They needed to get through that swarm of Vultures, even if it depleted their ammunition. The telltale beeping of the seekers told Anakin that his weapons had locked on and with the press of a button, they shot out their launchers and into the nothingness of space.
The missiles joined those of the other fighters and within seconds, 327 warheads were closing in on the droid fighters. Most found their targets and the swarm of Separatist interceptors disintegrated in a great cascade of fireballs. The few droids that made it through were picked off without breaking formation.
And while their path to the Invisible Hand was clear, so was the line of fire for the pair of Munificents. Soon enough, a storm of red plasma was coming their way and Anakin had to immerse himself into the force to weave his way through the rain of certain death. Someone launched a pair of proton torpedoes and one of the Separatist pricket ships shook under the impact as half of its guns lost their power supply.
A Venator used the distraction the 303rd caused to open up on the frigates, which shifted fire too late. The already damaged vessel began to list and fell out of formation before a trio of Z-95s carried out their attack run. The star destroyer fired relentlessly and the much smaller ships were destroyed in rapid succession.
"Put all power into your shields and cycle your jammers manually, that will make it a lot harder for them to burn through."
However, while Anakin pushed his fighter through the remains of the Munificents, two flights of droid bombers struck the attack cruiser in rapid succession. Explosions rippled across the hull, mostly along the dorsal hangar doors. A score of V-wings chased after the Hyenas, but the damage had been done. A jet of blue fire burst out of the portside engine before the entire aft section of the ship became one big ball of plasma, the front of the Venator helplessly drifting away from the scene.
"This is Green 1, coming up on the Dreadnought. Beginning our torpedo run!"
It had depleted their ammunition stocks, but the 303rd had blasted their way through the Confederate fleet. They had reached the Invisible Hand as she was about to engage the last Republic flotilla between them and the hyperlane, and barely managed to disable Grievous' flagship. Without thinking it through, Anakin crashed his Spearhead into the main hangar. Not that Ahsoka's landing was more graceful, but she had the presence of mind to blast the hangar guards before she somersaulted out of the cockpit and landed with her sabres drawn.
"This is Blue 3 to Squadron Leader, are you alright?"
"Yes, we made it in one piece, no resistance so far."
"Roger, we will go after nearby targets, but will stick around in case you need us for a quick exit."
"Good Hunting!"
While they made for the hangar entrance, R2 hacked into the systems of the Hand and found out that the Chancellor was kept on the panorama deck.
"This doesn't feel right," Ahsoka observed as they passed an empty barricade. Even after five minutes, there had not been a single soul or droid along their way. "They know where we are, so why have we not encountered a single droid?"
"You are right, this position could have held off a whole company," Anakin replied as he eyed the heavy blaster cannon which stood as abandoned as the rest of the makeshift fortification. "It could be a trap."
"But for what? If they wanted to, they could have captured us here, or simply locked us down in some lift. Instead, they kept every door and bulkhead along our way open. "
"Maybe Dooku feels confident that he can take us both, or Grievous does?" he suggested as they reached a lift which led straight to the top of the ship. "Given that they got to this point, the battle has gone very well so far. Compared to the Coruscant guard and the Jedi at the Temple, we certainly look like easy prey."
"Luckily, we are anything but," Ahsoka said with a predatory grin.
It wasn't a minute later when they stepped out of the elevator and stood in a big, open room with windows all around. Outside, the battle raged and capital ships from both sides were going up in flames while fighters and bombers clashed in countless engagements. And in the middle of it all sat one man, his chair looking like a throne if not for the shackles around his wrists.
"Chancellor!"
"No Anakin, this is a trap!"
"What?"
"Indeed, although I was expecting more from the Republic than a pair of washed-out Jedi. Then again, after the losses they've taken, you two might actually be their best bet," a new voice spoke up, close and behind them as another elevator opened and a bearded man with grey hair stepped out. His fine cloak slid down to the ground as he drew his lightsaber but didn't ignite it yet.
"You will find us to be full of surprises."
"That is what your friends thought as well, before they died."
"You lie!"
"Oh they fought bravely, worthy of recognition in the archives of the temple once they get around to extinguishing the fires there," Dooku echoed his words from Geonosis, and his gleeful tone ignited something deep inside Anakin. "A futile last stand."
"Anakin, don't listen to him, he is just trying to unnerve you!" Palpatine shouted from his chair.
"Now, now Chancellor, you would not want to deprive your wannabe rescuers of the truth. After all, they will soon be as dead as their friend Mace Windu."
"That's not - "
"Silent girl, you have no idea what you're talking about. Your master showed a commendable amount of valor when he stepped up to lead the Senate Guards against General Grievous with nothing other than his blade and a hospital tunic. His actions stopped the good general from taking any other hostages, but due to his injuries, he was no match for my esteemed colleague," Dooku said with insulting smugness. Smugness which goaded Anakin into attacking with a fierce snarl.
He and Ahsoka might have fought in countless battles, but Count Dooku had been a master of the blade before their parents had been born. With decades of experience, he took them on, one lightsaber against three. Red against blue and green, and despite being outnumbered, he went on the offensive, precise strikes coming faster than one would expect from someone his age. The Sith had a sickly, dark aura which dominated the room and made everyone fight more aggressively. While Anakin and the Count were locked in a quick exchange of blows, Ahsoka took a step back and waited for the perfect opportunity. However, with the Chancellor shouting encouragement from the sidelines, Anakin's attacks became more brutal and reckless. In his singular focus, he left her no way to intervene in the clash of lightsabers.
It was not until the two men got into a blade lock that Ahsoka lunged, but the Sith was too quick. In the blink of an eye, he had ducked and spun around, making her thrust miss everything but his empty hand. She caught his strike with her off-hand blade, but the damage was done. She stood in the path of her masters blade, so all she could do was watch in mute horror as Dooku threw her against a nearby bulkhead and blasted her with force lightning before resuming his duel. Anakin tried to exploit this and disarm him, but rather than his right hand he only caught the top of his lightsaber hilt.
Fluently, the Count summoned Ahsoka's main blade and dropped his destroyed weapon. The duel resumed with more intensity, but no one held a clear advantage. Anakin had improved a lot since Geonosis, Dooku no longer just toying with him. And the longer they fought, the harder he attacked, immersing himself deeply in the force as he struck blow after blow. However, his opponent was still a master of the blade and blocked, parried or dodged every single strike. Blue on green they clashed, each looking for an opening to exploit, an overreach or misstep.
"Hurry Anakin, if they escape to hyperspace it will all be for naught," the Chancellor shouted from the chair he was shackled to. Dooku paused for a second and the Jedi expected a witty rebuke. However, instead the Count's eyes widened slightly and Anakin felt a wave of the dark side sweep through the room. He had to do what his friend had suggested, each moment he wasted was one which helped the Separatists.
Anakin felt anger rising deep inside him, but he had no time to release it into the force, so instead he let it flow through him, fueling each blow he rained down on his opponent, whose smile just grew wider as he caught the strikes with his borrowed blade. Dooku's counterattacks were the opposite of his, short, precise jabs and pinpoint strikes rather than sweeping blows. The old man often fainted, and did not follow up on those half of the time to throw him even more off balance.
Grasping the pillar she had been thrown against, Ahsoka had spent the past minute watching the fight as she tried to see straight. In her state, she couldn't properly join the fray, but that didn't mean she would just sit there. Instead, she laid in wait like a predator, just waiting for the right opportunity. Anakin's eyes met hers and he gave a small nod. With renewed ferocity, he attacked the Sith, the pace draining - it would leave him vulnerable very quickly. But before that came to be, he had pushed the Count near the pillar where Ahsoka laid in wait. Dooku recognised the trap, his eyes wide with surprise, but by then it was too late and she drove her remaining sabre through the hollow of his left knee.
Anakin wasted no time and attacked as the old man's legs gave in, cutting off both hands with a sweeping strike. With his heart hammering wildly, Anakin felt a rush of elation washing over him. This was payback for his own limb, his nemesis who now had a lightsaber below his chin. Three years of war, of brutal fighting, betrayal and death, all culminated in this victory.
"Kill him Anakin," the Chancellor's voice drew the attention of all occupants of the observation deck. It was the same regal, imposing tone Palpatine had used whenever addressing the Senate with important news, both great and terrible. "He is too dangerous to be left alive!"
"He is unarmed!" the former Jedi objected and shivered as the air was thick with the dark side. Even without his sabre, the Count was able to command the force, the blade near his throat the only thing keeping him from lashing out.
"A Sith Lord is never unarmed," spat the Chancellor. "He must have a mastery of vile abilities you can't even fathom."
"We cannot execute prisoners, your excellency!" Ahsoka objected, her eyes on Dooku as she did her best to recover from the attack she had suffered and summoned her main blade back. He looked as if he was trying to say something, but his voice kept failing him. The dark, sickly shadow in the room was getting stronger, which means that the Sith was channelling all of his powers into that twisted force ability. The old man looked winded in a way the duel had not been able to affect him, his forehead slick with sweat and his face redder than ever before.
"His death will help to end the war. Look at how often you have captured high-ranking Confederate leaders, like the Viceroy of the Trade Federation. But they remain free. They must have moles in the Senate, and those would only release him through some technicalities or sabotage his prison cell."
"It is not right," Anakin said and lowered his blade by an inch, yet could not convince himself to switch it off.
"It is for the Greater Good! Kill him and the Confederacy will collapse. Then you can deal with Gunray and repay him for what he did to Naboo - "
Dooku's eyes widened a split second before the crack of a weapon echoed through the observation deck. And twice more as Anakin spun around, bringing up his lightsaber up to block the barrage which never came. Blocking the doorway stood General Grievous, a high-power slug thrower in his hands, surrounded by his guards and dozens of B2 droids.
"Thank you for justifying your own execution, Chancellor," the cyborg mocked as what was left of Palpatine collapsed forward, his arms still chained to the chair. "I would love to stay, Jedi, but thanks to your efforts, my ship is unable to manoeuvre. So we will have to postpone our duel."
"You will pay for this, Grievous!"
"I might, but not today. Kill them all!" the general replied calmly as Anakin turned towards him and took the first step of a charge. As ordered, Grievous' droids opened fire and underlined his words with a barrage of blaster fire.
"Skyguy!"
Anakin was already jumping in their direction, cleaving through the B2s like a man possessed. Another door at the other side of the lounge hissed open and a new wave of super droids poured in, catching them in a crossfire. Ahsoka pulled the remains of a freshly destroyed super battle droid to her and launched it into the arrivals. A chunk of metal was not enough to damage them, but it brought her enough time to summersault up a level where the machines would have to come up a staircase to get her.
Down below her master was tearing through a platoon of battle droids, unleashing powerful attacks with the force and cleaving through them, his blade nothing but a blue blur. Giving up the high ground, Ahsoka leapt down to take the pressure off him as more opponents stormed into the observation deck.
The fight raged on for some time when Ahsoka noticed that something had changed. The sickly presence of the dark side was fading and between blaster shots she had to deflect, a quick glance at the Count made her realise that he had died. But as Anakin reached the door Grievous had fled through only to find a dozen Magna Guards waiting, she had no time to ponder just what had caused that death.
It took them valuable minutes to deal with the advanced battle droids and their electrostaffs, but suddenly they were alone on the deck, panting heavily and surrounded by silence and a mountain of scrap metal. Anakin took one look at the Chancellor and felt his anger rising. The man had been a mentor to him, he had led the Republic through those tiresome years. He did not deserve to die, and certainly not in such a gruesome way. Modern medicine could work wonders, his own robotic arm underlined that, but those projectiles had shattered the old man's skull and turned it into a mess of blood and gore which pooled below the chair he was still chained to. Even at a state of the art hospital, those wounds would have likely been fatal, on a hostile warship there was nothing to be done.
At the same time, it did not feel real. They had won the duel, Dooku was dead, the Invisible Hand disabled, the attack on Coruscant beaten off. And yet, they had not won. His dark thoughts were interrupted by the chirping of his comm unit as R2 patched Plo Koon through. And it did not bode well that he was the frequency of Coruscant Command.
"Anakin, what is going on up there."
"The mission failed. Ahsoka and I defeated Count Dooku, but General Grievous executed the Chancellor. He snuck in and used our fight with Dooku as distraction to put three slugs through the Chancellor's head. It is not a pretty sight."
"Understood. This is a black day for the Republic, for all - "
Suddenly, the deck shook under the impact of heavy laser fire. A flotilla of Confederate frigates had formed up and was charging towards the stricken flagship, guns blazing. Under regular circumstances, the Invisible Hand would have been able to swipe them aside like insignificant insects, but with its weapons, shields and engines disabled, it could do nothing but take the punishment.
Explosions swept across the hull as armour plates turned into molten slag. A few of the towers atop the foredeck were blasted apart and a gaping hole appeared at the base of the panorama tower. Republic cruisers quickly shifted their fire and blasted the frigates to oblivion, but at that point, their attack had already been lethal.
"This thing is coming apart! We will have to abandon ship!" Ahsoka shouted as more explosions shook the Invisible Hand. And despite the lack of incoming fire, the intercom was spitting out warnings at an alarming rate.
"The hangar?" Anakin suggested and cast one last look at the dead body of his mentor, promising himself that he would make Grievous pay once more.
"No time. We will have to use the life pods - and hope that they have not been booby-trapped. I saw some near the lift which got us up here!"
AN:
Beta'ed by LifeEquals42
Ok, who saw that one coming?
Before you ask, I don't think Grievous could have won a fair fight against Windu. After all, in canon Grievous barely managed to escape with the Chancellor and got the worse of their fight. And I don't think Grievous was in on the Palpatine/Sidious secret, so all he sees is a political leader asking for his superior to be executed. Overall, I hope this chapter felt different than canon but stayed believable.
Therefore, you don't honestly believe that this is the end, do you? If anything, this is where the fun begins.