THE BERSERKER BOOK FOUR
Chapter 1
The Black Legion
Brentaal IV, known more commonly as Brentaal, was a planet in the Brentaal system of the Core Worlds's Bormea sector and one that occupied what was arguably the most valuable location in the entire galaxy: the intersection of the Hydian Way and the Perlemian Trade Route, two of the galaxy's major hyperlanes. The fourth planet in orbit around the star Brenta, Brentaal had two moons and was located in the Ringali Shell, a string of star systems along the Perlemian that were near the Ringali Nebula. An arid world with warm and temperate weather, Brentaal featured two large polar caps and an equator marked by deserts and steaming oceans; most of the planet's available land was dominated by warehouses, cargo holding facilities, commerce exchanges, and other trade-related structures. Brentaal's capital of Cormond and its Trade Hall were the seat of power on the planet, with the hundreds of Brentaal Houses—the influential families that ran the planet's trade guilds—represented the citizens in Brentaal's democratic government. Or at least it used to be.
"FORWARD!" Commander Alpha shouted to the rest of the 703rd who were charging toward the Brentaal forces. The Clone troopers had black marks on their armor and the Brentaal Separaitst forces were wearing dark leather uniforms with round helmets and goggles over their eyes. Some wore bandanas around their faces to protect from the smoke and fire on the battlefield. They were pouring out from a large prison facility on the other side with cannons and anti siege weaponry bombarding the clones as they advanced.
Alpha was holding his rotary blaster cannon with the best the 703rd had to offer coming up behind them, a clone trooper with black stripes on his armor and an serpent painted on his helmet was behind him with a long blaster rifle shooting at the Brentaal's Separaitst reinforcements. B1 battle droids walked straight toward them taking a majority of the flak while the Brentaal soldiers held back behind cover.
"Where's the General sir?" The clone trooper under his armor asked, he turned away for one second before a battle droid without legs appeared to pounce on him. He was saved by a quick blue laser bolt that took off its head. Another Arc Trooper appeared on each side of him, his helmet and his armor was adorned with V mars one on the torso and others running down his arms and legs. He had two on each side of his battle Kama with a black painted shoulder guard favoring his left side "Watch it Jax, that's seven you owe me." Arc Trooper Dogma said.
Jax laughed shooting behind Dogma to take out another battle droid "If we're keeping score It's twelve to seven my favor."
The two men looked to their eldest brother Alpha mowing down the upcoming battle droids with his rotary blaster canyon "Oh please you wouldn't even come close." Alpha said back to him.
Across the battlefield, inside the Prison Facility turned fortress the commanding separatist forces were watching their army start to crack from the Republic's relentless advance. A group of Brentaal officers with side caps and dark yellow arm bands that had two white slashes on them showing their loyalty and a flag holding the same markings and color scheme on the wall "The Republic forces are relentless, they broke through our fleet like it was nothing." One officer said.
"What do you expect from droid soldiers, the Republic sent their demons after us." Another said fearfully as they watched one of their fronts break through "This is the Black Legion led by the Berserker himself, they've never fallen back, never retreated from a single battle."
"The west front is gone, they're in full retreat." The officer said pointing to it "Damn it, we should have tried harder to convince the other Generals to join us, we could never turn prisoners into soldiers?"
"Silence!" A thunderous voice said from a throne at the back of the command center, two yellow banners hung down on each side. A mountain of a man with a shaved head, blue eyes and a white goatee was sitting there in the same armor of his men wearing a long tunic and metal breastplate he held an halberd in one hand before using it to rise.
"General Tok, you must order the retreat and accept surrender, our men are getting slaughtered?" One of the officers asked up to him.
General Tok walked down from his throne to the officer "Our soldiers are loyal to Brentaal and loyal to me." Their leader said before he stabbed the spear end of his war halberd into the man with one arm lifting him up with one arm like he was nothing making him fall down on the blade ripping up his insides.
The other officers watched in horror as the warlord threw him away "You are not."
"I am Shogar Tok, did you not elect me to lead us away from the corrupt Republic?" Tok barked at them. None of them spoke out of fear of facing the halberd next "But sir, the prisoners we freed here to join us are killers and murderers, we had less than half the Security Force join us, we we were the only officers who joined you without the droid army we aren't even recognized by our own people as the legitimate government." Another officer pointed out before Tok raised his halberd to strike.
Suddenly the door opened and Tok froze looking at the door as someone walked in, "Shogar Tok, in the name of the Galactic Senate you and your conspirators are under arrest." The intruder said.
The separatists looked horrified at the sight of the Jedi walking in "We surrender, we surrender Shogar Tok was behind it all." One of the officers said walking toward the Jedi hands up.
"Coward!" Tok said running up and stabbing the man in the back before he tore it out of the man's back holding up to the Jedi.
"I am Warlord here Jedi, I make the pronunciations and the executions here, so come then and face my blade." Tok demanded holding up to the Jedi.
He drew his white lightsaber walking toward the Warlord, "For Brentaal!" Tok shouted before the Jedi dodged and swung the lightsaber up, Tok caught it with his halberd blade and suddenly felt the Jedi push him back into his command center, the other officers fleeing to the exit "My people will avenge me should I fall." Tok said feeling the heat of the lightsaber over his face.
"Your people despise you Shogar Tok, you killed everyone who defied you in your purges." The jedi said jumping over Shogar's sudden counter slash landing on the holotable "Pardoning the prisoners in this jailhouse to be your army when other soldiers refused." Shogar swung his axe back around and slammed it into the table shattering the holo screen and the hologram vanishing "You let the droid army carry out these crimes until you had a guard of your own, my forces have secured your capital and other cities it's over."
"Lies!" Shogar shouted.
"I don't care." The Jedi said landing on the side "What?" Shogar asked him.
The Jedi walked around pointing the lightsaber at him "I said I don't care and I'm tired of this game." The Jedi raised his other hand and Shogar Tok felt his halberd try to fly out of his hand. The jedi was trying to disarm him, Tok didn't let go feeling his feet drag across the metal floor toward the Jedi "You want my weapon I will give it to you." Tok said pointing the end of his halberd toward him. Shogar Tok ran toward the Jedi ready to impale him. The Jedi raised his lightsaber. The Jedi paired Shogar's halberd cutting of the tip of the weapon before serving Shogar's right arm up to the shoulder.
Tok fell back howling in agony "My arm!" He wailed.
"You are under arrest." The Jedi said pointing the lightsaber down at Tok's neck, the man pressed his head against the metal floor "No, death before dishonor."
"That will come later, you will be taken to Coruscant to stand trial for your crimes against your people and the Republic." The Jedi said before Alpha, Dogma and Jax came into the command center. They were followed by other members of the 703rd who had overrun the facility with the rest of the Separatists surrendering in droves.
Alpha lowered his cannon and no looked to the Jedi "General Rock, we've secured the fortress."
"Good job Commander, I've secured the enemy commander take him away." Leo you said turning off his lightsaber. Leo watched as Jax and another clone grabbed Shogar Tok dragging him out of the command center, Leo like the clones had also changed his appearance. He was taller now, more developed under his green jedi robe, his dark brown trousers were tucked into clone trooper boots and his forearms were covered by clone gauntlets too instead of his old green vambraces the armor he had once worn. Painted on the white armor like the black stripes of the clones were inverse reuleaux shields with blue in the center and black on the outer edges. Leo was also sporting a new haircut, he shaved off all the white hair around the sides of his head and the back with a short wolf tail sticking out on top from the back.
Leo looked at the busted holotable "Contact the Admiral, tell her we're done here and ask her to relay it to the Jedi Council." Leo said walking over to Tok's throne and sitting in it.
"Right away General." Commander Alpha said, throwing his cannon over his shoulder and walking back to the other clones, "You heard him boys, find us a terminal."
Dogma was then the only higher ranked clone trooper in the room looking at the dead Rendili Separatists, Shogar Tok had slain before he was taken away. "Everything alright General?" Dogma asked.
"Fine Dogma, fine just wondering where we'll be off to next." Leo said as he looked at Shogar's desk and spotted a control panel.
Dogma walked up to him taking off his helmet, his black hair was cut in the usual military fashion with his V tattoo over his face "Well hopefully some place with a beach, getting tired of running through these no man lands." Dogma said smirking but Leo just kept fiddling with the control panel looking for a button "Hmmm there you are." He said pressing a red one.
Suddenly a door in the back of the room opened, all the clones raised his blaster at the secret entrance half expecting something to come out "Five credits its secret commando droids." A clone with spots on his helmet said.
"That only happened two times Spot." Dogma said holding his blaster pistols as Leo walked over, "Dogma you'll want to see this." Leo said as Dogma walked over to see the secret room wasn't a secret room but a secret stash. An entire portion of the prison had been turned over into a wine vault with bottles and capsules of dark purple and clear white liquor corked and ready to be served. "Tok's private stash." Leo said looking at him. Leo patted Dogma on the armor and walked in grabbing a bottle looking at it.
"Wait is that why you wanted him taken alive?" Dogma asked him.
Leo tossed Dogma the bottle who caught it "Among the fact he's wanted for trial for war crimes, he's an enemy of the Republic and a bastard but hey." Leo said, taking out a few more bottles and walking out to the rest of the men "TO OUR VICTORY!" He yelled the 703rd inside the command center cheering before they rushed in starting to grab bottles and more to celebrate.
LATER
As the sun set on Separatist Brentaal IV, the 703rd was starting to pack up their supplies, men and gear at the Republic staging ground. Three Cruisers were gathered around in a defensive circle their larger loading ramps letting tanks, supplies, wounded and so on. A republic gunship descended to the planet's surface landing in the orderly withdrawal opening up and two Cerean jedi walked out, Master Ki-Adi Mundi and his padawan learner and also cerean O-Met. The two of them walked out of the gunship "The reports were correct, General Rocks forces have made short work of the Separatist forces here." Mundi said.
"How many victories is this Master?" Padawan O-Met asked his teacher.
"Since his departure from Coruscant, sixteen, General Rocks record has become surprisingly untarnished as of late." Mundi said walking up to Commander Alpha who saluted him upon his arrival.
"General Mundi, sir, Brentaal is secure we've destroyed the prison complex and our withdraw is proceeding on schedule." Alpha reported to him.
"Withdraw, but what about peace troops?" O-mer asked watching the clones leave.
Commander Alpha looked at him "My Generals orders were once Tok and his forces were defeated, the Brentaal Security Forces loyal to the Republic would assume command of its defenses."
"Why was this not discussed with the Council?" Master Mundi asked as him, "I follow orders General, and my Orders were to begin withdraw sir if you'd like I can take you to General Rock sir." Alpha offered.
The cerean Master looked at the Commander who had a face like stone and hair turning just as gray "Very well, take me to him."
Alpha led the two jedi further into the camp, where there seemed to be a celebration the clones were all holding bottles of Shogar Tok's collection singing and merry. Some were wrestling, others signing and at the center was a large crowd of clones "Does General Rock know your men are acting like this Commander?" Mundi asked.
"He ordered it General Mundi, after every victory the General orders, after every victory no small we celebrate." Commadner Alpha said smirking a bit as they reached the center "And where is the General now?" Mundi asked.
Alpha held up his hand to the center of the crowd where both cerean jedi saw Leo Rock standing on one hand a bottle in the other upside down no less he downed the bottle and tossed it away before he held out his bottle hand toward Jax who was holding a bottle. Jax was suddenly lifted off the air and started to chug with the clones chanting "Go, go, go, go, go!" Leo lifted up an empty ammo crate being used as a footrest by Dogma before he started to lift up his red Astro droid before he dropped it, in fact he dropped everything, even Leo into the mud to the loud moans of the men.
"The third object is always the hardest after that many drinks hahaha." Leo said on his back while the clones came to help him up.
O-Mer couldn't help but smile at Leo's type of celebrations, but Mundi didn't care for such behavior. He stood there beaming into Leo who finally noticed the Council Member, sighing Leo got up wiping himself off "Alright, alright that's enough fun's over." Leo said to the groans of the clone who's started to clear out. Mundi walked over to him and looked Leo over, he was covered in mud smelling of wine and was missing his lightsaber no less.
"Such behavior is unbecoming of a Jedi, Rock." Mundi told him bluntly.
"Such behavior is becoming of a general when his men have won." Leo said back wiping some dried wine of his lip.
Then he noticed O-Met, the cerean boy had filled out his once skinny arms under his robes with a hooded tunic like Mundi "O-Mer, good to see you again."
O-met gave a polite bow "Padawan, leave us." Mundi ordered.
The padawan dutifully obeyed his master dispatching himself elsewhere before the two knights could speak "We received word of your victory, but the Council has noticed your absence from the reports." Mundi said following Leo through the camp toward his flagship the Knight.
Leo rolled his eyes at him "I've given you written ones haven't I, they don't suffice?"
"While it is formality Rock, it is one steeped in tradition as we give you these assignments we expect you to heed our council in how you approach them." Mundi explained to him "And has there been error on how I approach them, how many battles have I lost since taking command?" Leo asked turning around arms crossed.
Mundi glared into him "Arrogance is not a quality a Jedi Knight should have."
Gritting his teeth behind closed lips, Leo took a step toward Mundi arms crossed "What do you want Master?" Leo asked.
"Be careful Rock." Mundi said back locking eyes with him, not happy for his tone "You may be a General, you may be a Knight, but I am still a member of the Jedi Council and a Master."
Leo took a deep breath before sighing out his nose "Forgive my impertinence Master, I've been fighting long and hard as always… I live to serve Jedi." Leo said back apologist walking toward a command center. Mundi followed him looking at the 703rds officers and soldiers where manning the coms and overseeing the pack up. Mundi looked to Leo waiting for him to give them the room.
"Alright, everyone out." Leo ordered.
The clones left at his command and the two were finally alone "I sense you didn't fly all the way from Coruscant to scold me about having a few cups of wine, did you Master Mundi?" Leo asked him.
Mundi nodded "That is correct Rock, you are familar with the battle at Ringo Vinda, Republic forces are locked in heated combat with the droid armada on a massive space station that encircles the entire planet." Mundi said walking up to a holodevice bringing up the planet of Vinda showing the ring space station.
Leo looked at the space station, the sheer size a victory in itself "Skywalker is valiantly leading his men against the onslaught, which has lasted several rotations with neither side gaining any ground."
"He's aided by the twin sister Jedi Masters Tiplee and Tiplar, our forces mounted a desperate offensive to break the deadlock… an incident occurred that broke the offensive off." Mundi said, turning grim.
Crossing his arms confused at what it's had to him Leo asked "An incident?"
"One we are not sure of, it would seem that in the heat of the battle one of the clone troopers killed Master Tiplar." Master Mundi told him. Leo's jaw gapped hearing such a thing as "A traitor?" Leo asked. Him.
Mundi shook his head "We are unsure at this time, The Council had decided you will e dispatched to consult with Skywalker on the matter now that they are down a Jedi."
"Down a jedi, one of our sisters has been murdered, you make it sound like we Jedi grow on trees." Leo said up to him.
Mundi didn't rise to the bait Leo was laying out for him "Your fleet will follow you to Ringo Vinda, afterwards we hope that your combined strengths will at last give us the victory we need, unless you are worried about breaking your record?" Mundi asked him.
"Why me, Skywalker can handle himself, why not a Master like Kenobi?" Leo asked, suggesting his old teacher. "It was Kenobi who asked for you in the first place."
Leo didn't say no, he didn't say anything for a long time "I'll have my men prepare to move to Ringo Vinda." Mundi nodded heading for the command center exit "But I want one of my Arc Troopers to come with me, if what you said is true I want one of my own men with me." Leo added.
RINGO VINDA
Republic Zone
Ringo Vinda was a planet located in the galaxy's Mid Rim encircled by a massive civilian graving dock and controlled by the Galactic Republic. It was inhabited by a human cultural group, the Ringo Vindans, who spoke Galactic Basic in a distinctive accent. During the waning decades of the Republic, Jedi Knight Rael Averross hailed from Ringo Vinda. During the Clone Wars, Ringo Vinda was captured by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Anakin and his counter attack to retake the planet had been halted, falling back to the command center they'd taken before launching the offensive.
After falling back to the command center, Anakin went up to Tiplee, who held her dead sister while few of the clones surrounded her kneeling over her remains.
"Why?"Tiplee asked sadly. "Why would he do this?" She asked.
"I'm about to find out."Anakin responded and walked away. Anakin looked at Tiplee with a sad look before following Rex over to a small room they were holding Tup.
"I'm sorry about your loss Master Tiplee, I know how hard it is to move on when you've lost a sibling."She admitted. Anakin went to the room where Rex and Fives were keeping an eye on Tup.
"How's he doing, Rex?" He asked.
Rex knelt down looking at him "I'm not sure, General."Rex replied. "It seems like he just snapped." He then went up to his fellow clone trooper kneeling down "Tup, can you hear me?" Rex asked sincerely.
"Yes, Captain." Tup responded, he was handcuffed behind his back on a chair. His helmet had been removed showing his top knot and the tear tattoo on under his left eye.
"What happened?" Rex asked again.
Tup starred at the Captain with confused eyes "What do you mean?" Tup asked.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Rex asked.
"Good soldiers follow orders..." Tup said deeply with a hypnotized look. "Good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders." He said it over and over looking at Rex, Fives and Anakin his head rolling around on his shoulders
"What is he talking about?"Fives asked.
"I have no idea."Rex answered.
"Good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders."Tup repeated. "Good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders." He kept rambling on and on when he noticed the pink skinned Tiplee in the entrance.
"Kill the Jedi." Tup said under his breath. "Ah!"
He charged towards Tiplee, but the Jedi Master used the force to stop him and pin him against the wall. Anakin placed his hand on Tiplee's shoulder.
"We have to get him back to the medical bay before he hurts anyone else." He stated. Tiplee could still see her sister's body in her head before she released Tup as Fives and Rex went up to their brother.
SERENNO
Far on the world of Serenno, the stronghold of the Sith Lord Count Dooku was talking to Darth Sidious via hologram. His dark master still works his cloak to hide his face even in the safety of the Count's throne room.
"My lord, I have received a report that leads me to conclude we may have encountered a grave complication with one of our assets." He stated to his Master.
"Assets?" Darth Sidious asked. "Yes, my lord." Dooku replied. "A clone trooper has executed one of the Jedi generals."
"And you believe this is indicative of our programming?" Darth Sidious questioned crossing his arms.
"I do, my lord."Dooku answered. "But I cannot be certain?" The Count summarized seeking his wisdom.
"It is pertinent we ascertain if this is an isolated event, a failure in this particular clone's programming." Darth Sidious stated worried. "Otherwise, my plans may be ruined, seize the clone immediately." The Count twitched hearing the Sith Lord say his plans and not theirs, but the old man held his tongue about it; he was the apprentice, for now.
"Yes, my master." Count Dooku answered with a nod.
RINGO VINDA
Back on Ringo Vinda, Anakin,, Fives, Rex and Tiplee went to the medicinal disorders, where Tup was. The rooms were all white walled and floored with medical beds that had wounded clones and Tup strapped down on a table struggling, scared. Tup's brown eyes were darting around the room looking at his brothers and the Jedi.
"Fives, what's happening to me?" Tup asked, horrified at where he was.
The brother he asked for approached his bedside "You don't remember?" Fives said in surprise.
"No." Tup responded quickly, trembling.
Fives got a bit closer putting his hand on the clone's tear drop shoulder piece "You murdered General Tiplar."Fives admitted quietly.
"What?" Tup said shocked. "No, that's not possible, I would never I could never-" he protested shaking his head back and forth frantically.
"Tup, you did." Fives replied.
The Jedi shared exchanged looks of worry "I don't-I don't understand." Tup panicked. "How could this happen? What's happening to me, Fives?" Before anyone could answer him the Medical Droid injected the clone trooper on the neck causing him to pass out.
Fives looked at Anakin then "What do you think happened?"He asked.
"Did you check all of his scans?"Anakin asked the clone medic.
"Well, all of his scans are clear." Kix responded holding a scanner. "As far as I can tell, this is a combat-related stress, it seems he's had some sort of breakdown."
"Kix, you should know better." Rex reminded me. "We were designed to withstand any stress."
"I agree." Fives answered. "We've been through a lot together, he doesn't seem to remember what happened, it's like he's sick or drugged."
"Well, it could be a virus, a toxin." Kix said scratching his chin thinking it over. "I can't be certain."
"Maybe he was controlled by something." Tiplee suggested.
"Let's talk outside."Anakin answered.
The two jedi and the three clone troopers went out of the medical room to talk in private. "You mean the enemy could've made him do this?"Anakin asked.
"It's a possibility." Tiplee replied. "There have been rumors that Separatists have been trying to develop an anti-clone virus biological warfare." She suggested thinking the worst. Kix being the medic on hand spoke next "We aren't equipped for this type of situation, he'll have to be taken back to Kamino, only then will you have your answer." Anakin nodded with a firm look.
"Guess we came all this way for nothing?" A voice said from down the corridor, everyone looked over to see Leo walking in and behind him in his Arc Trooper armor was Dogma. As they walked in the clones of the 501st looked in astonishment recognizing the V sigil of Dogmas armor on his helmet and the fact he was not only back in armor but an ARC trooper no less.
Anakin glared at Leo "General Rock." He said seeing him "Dogma?" Fives asked.
"General Skywalker, General Tiple the Council has sent me to reinforce you and investigate the situation, is the trooper in there?" Leo asked, looking at the door.
"How does the Council know about this?" Anakin asked.
"I contacted them, I didn't expect them to send reinforcements so soon?" Tiplee asked.
Leo stood there hands behind his back as Dogma removed his helmet revealing his face to everyone, looking at Rex and Fives blankly. "And you've brought one of your own I see?" Anakin said, looking at Dogma.
"Yes, Dogma was under your command for a time." Leo said gesturing back to him "I thought you were supposed to be ex-." Fives didn't finish his sentence. "I hand picked Dogma for my command, the 703rd are enroute as we speak to reinforce." Leo said up to them.
Anakin crossed his arms unhappy about the development but knowing they were in desperate need of reinforcements. With so many wounded clones from both Anakin and Tiplee's forces already depleted, Anakin sighed "Very well, we welcome your assistance…" Leo glared back at Anakin with the same disdain, before Anakin walked away "Master Tiplee, we should go over the next assault so when my men arrive we can begin as soon as possible."
"Dogma assist Captain Rex and Arc Trooper fives in preparing the trooper for transport." Dogma nodded "Yes General."
Leo followed Tiplee out of the medical wing leaving the three Arc Troopers in front of the door where Tup was behind, "Captain, Fives." Dogma said seeing the two of them after so long. A long awkward silence filled the air between the troopers all of them remembering what had happened on Umbara and the scars it left behind.
Rex was about to speak "Before you say anything, I know the men may feel strange about me being here but I want you both to know I'm not the same man I was on Umbara."
"I'll say." Fives said, smirking, walking up to him "You're a damn ARC Trooper now, how'd that happen?" Fives said smacking his breastplate.
Dogma actually smiled seeing Fives's warm face "That would involve an ambush on Felucia and one angry rancor." Dogma said before Rex spoke "We can catch up later we better take Tup down to the hanger, prep him for transport."
The two Arc Troopers knew they could catch up later and their duty came first "Yes Captain." Fives replied.
Later, the Arc Troopers were escorting an unconscious Tup on his gerni hovering over the floor toward the hanger. "I heard what happened, is it true?" Dogma asked them. Fives was the one to answer, laying his hand on the metal slab carrying Tup, he was strapped down with a mask over his face to keep him sedated and calm "I saw it with my own eyes."
"Tup would never do something like that?" Dogma stated.
"Well he did, and the only way we can find out is by getting him back to Kamino." Rex told the two of them.
"But Captain…" Dogma started to say "What is it?" Rex asked.
Dogma took a breath "I've seen what they do to clones they label… defective, it's not pretty."
"Neither is what he's done." Rex replied "But the doctors on Kamino, there not like the Jedi, the just see us as numbers, machines suppose to work a certain way if they can't fix Tup he's likely to-" "Don't even say it." Fives snapped at Dogma suddenly.
His brother silenced himself seeing that Fives was more than just worried "Easy now." Rex told Fives "We all want what's best for Tup, this is the best way to find out, General Skywalker will be there in the hanger too to see him off." Rex expressed back to him.
They continued on down the hallway "Speaking off the General, you noticed he was acting strange when General Rock walked in?" Dogma asked about changing the subject.
"Not surprising." Rex said.
"Why's that?" Dogma asked him.
Fives turned looking at Dogma with a cocked brow "You serious Dogma?"
The Arc Trooper with the V on his face had more of a question mark instead "Wasn't General Rock under Skywalkers command, same with Commander Tano."
"There's your answer." Fives said.
"What?" Dogma asked him.
Fives rolled his eyes, "You don't know do you?" Fives asked him "Know what, where is Commander Tano anyway?"
"Fives." Rex hushed him, stopping their escort turning around, Captain Rex's face was grim "Commander Tano is gone, she resigned her command and she… she left the Jedi." Rex told him, Dogma gapped at the news.
Fives sighed gathering himself trying to not let it bother him "The General wouldn't want us talking about it, but the two Generals haven't spoken since it happened. It's like there's this hole between them now and nothing can fill it, understand?" Rex asked him.
Dogma nodded seeing the hole wasn't just in the Jedi, but in Rex too "I do Rex." Dogma said before they continued to the hanger. When they arrived a shuttle was preparing to take Tup back to Kamino with medical officers in white, still clones albeit, were waiting for him. Anakin was also waiting at the hanger for them to take Tup away when they walked up to the shuttle its ramp lowered before Fives stopped the gerni from going inside.
"Tup, it's gonna be fine, I promise." Fives assured "They'll fix you up real good, we'll be having a drink together in no time, eh?"
"Good soldiers follow orders."Tup whispered. "Good soldiers-" "You are a good soldier, Tup." Fives affirmed,
Before they could say anything else one of the medical offices took Tup buy the shoulder "It's time to go now." He said.
"Be careful."Anakin warned.
"Yes, General."the officer replied.
Anakin, Rex, Dogma and Fives watched as the Shuttle took off and headed to space with a few pilot ships and an escort squad of the 501st. Elsewhere in the facility, Leo was with General Tiplee who was going over the battle plan for taking the ring from Admiral Trench. The two Jedi were in the command center on the Republic side of the ring overlooking a holomap of the ring it zoomed in on the key struggle point where there was a larger link in the station. "This command module is key to securing the ring, whoever holds it holds the station." Tiplee explained as Leo walked around the table.
"Why is this station so important to the Separatists?" Leo asked her.
"It's one of their last remaining footholds in the mid rim, if we secure it the Republic can begin focusing more into Separatist territory in the outer rim." Tiplee said while Leo looked at the base.
He leaned on the table "Easier said than done, if we launch more troops into the outer rim it could turn the locals against us and for the droids." Leo said.
"But if this helps break the Separatists hold on this sector all the better." Leo looked at her.
"We almost broke through before… the incident." Tiplee said her pink face growing dim, Leo could see the tendrils of her hair shimmer from her uneasiness. "Are you unwell Master?" Leo asked her.
"Fine Rock." She said back.
Leo walked around the table "No you're not, it's your sister." Leo said out loud.
"What happened was unfortunate, yes, but we can't be distracted by grief. We have our mission." She said as Leo stood beside her, he could sense the pain she was feeling and the training she was using to suppress it.
He gave her one last look before turning back to the map "Admiral Trench's counter maneuvers are brilliant, almost as good as General Grievous our Starfighter haven't been able to break through his defense the only way we've managed to gain any ground is by taking the station module by module." Tiplee said.
"I see, then we should focus more on the naval battle outside." Leo started to come up with a plan "Did you not hear me?" She asked.
"I did, and I think I may know the Admirals weakness." Leo said as he pressed a button on the holotable zooming on on the separatist fleet of frigates "The Admiral is prideful, he'll assume we'll continue another counter attack or with Skywalker do something drastic."
Tiplee listneed "My fleet is on it's way, Trench will expect the Republic to bring in reinforcements anyway."
"And your plan is?" She asked him "Oh yes, do tell us." Anakin and the Arc troopers walked in. Anakin approached the two Jedi coming between them "Because you're so experienced in this field."
Leo glared up at Anakin who only glared back "It's simple, Trench will expect us to have some cunning plan to deceive him and that's what we'll not do." Leo said smiling as he started to show them his plan.
Meanwhile In Space, before the shuttle meant to carry Tup to Kamino is ambushed just as it is about to enter hyperspace. The clone heroes rushed to get air masks as the shuttle's hull was breached, and all succeeded except for one of the medical officers. The troopers were quickly overwhelmed by the droids superior numbers and weapons super battle droids with rocket packs and twin cannons made short work of the outer defenses as buzzer droids cut their way inside, making a stand for less than a minute, leaving the last medical officer to guard Tup. He valiantly took out two of the super battle droids, but was killed and Tup was kidnapped.
Back at the Republic command, alarms began to ring and the holotable changed to show Admiral Yuralen "Generals, apologizes for the interrupting but the shuttle heading for Kamino, we've lost contact."
"Lost contact?" Fives said out of turn, fearing for Tup "I don't like this." Anakin said to the other Jedi.
"Dogma prep a shuttle we need to go investigate." Leo told his Arc Trooper "We'll go investigate, Tup is a member of my battalion, Rex, Fives let's go." Anakin said down to Leo, the young Jedi were both stubborn and prideful despite his new appearance Anakin was still towering over Leo in age and experience but not rank, not anymore.
Tiplee could see the two were about to explode over the room "Both of you should go, strength in numbers." She urged them.
"Fine." Leo and Anakin said at the same time before walking out of the room still at odds, but together Later Anakin, Leo along with Rex. Fives and Dogma went to investigate the destroyed shuttle with Admiral Yuralen monitoring their progress from aboard the Resolute II.
"General Skywalker, you're nearing the coordinates where we lost contact with the shuttle." Yularen stated aboard his cruiser.
Anakin was piloting the shuttle as Leo sat in the copilot seat with the Arc Troopers behind them "We can see it now."Anakin replied. "It doesn't look good."
"Look like some buzz droids got on the hull and opened it right up." Rex replied.
"Strategically, this attack doesn't make any sense." Fives added.
"Unless they were after something they needed." Dogma admitted.
Sheer terror spread across Five's face though it was hidden under his helmet "Tup!" Fives said in realization.
"I'm going over there." Anakin stated getting out of his seat.
"We're coming with you." Rex replied. They headed to the back of their shuttle, the clones attaching tubes to their helmets so they could breath before sealing their seats tight. Anakin and Leo put on space suits with fishbowl-like helmets. Anakin was already dressed when he noticed the short pony tail coming out behind Leo's head.
Smirking, Anakin decided to have some fun taking his out and flicked the back of Leo's head making the wolf tail cut jump "What was that for?" Leo asked, feeling the back of his head.
"Just curious what that thing on your head is?" Anakin asked as Leo rolled his eyes "Needed a new cut, why worried I'm not going for the long hair look like you?" Leo asked him.
Anakin just flipped his hair back "You'll never get this kind of volume." He said before he pulled up his suit's cowl around his head "Besides, you'd never pull the look off." The four placed on their suits and breathing helmets to go inside the destroyed shuttle where they saw dead clone troopers floating around. The jedi floated in through the derby and dead bodies looking for Tup when Fives found a clue.
"Over here,"Fives said. "This is Tup's gurney, the restraints have been cut."
"The clankers took Tup?" Rex asked. "Why?" He added.
"They must be responsible for whatever's happening to him." Fives replied. "It's possible." Dogma said looking at one of the dead floating clones.
"All I know is, they went to great lengths to capture him and that means something." Anakin stated.
"We have got to get him back." Fives urged.
Dogma took his brother by the shoulder like many had already done today "Don't worry, Fives, we'll find a way."
SEPARATIST COMMAND
On the other side of the ring station, Admiral Trench was looking over the unconscious clone "You will deliver the clone to me on Serenno without delay." Count Dooku ordered Trench "It will be done my lord click-click."
"Make sure you have our best troops on that shuttle." Trench said to his Super Commander Droid, it looked at the eight eyed harch with its three orange eyes "We cannot get through the Republic blockade." It stated callously.
Trench shoved his command baton into the droid's torso "Oversee it personally Commander click-click-click."
"Roger, roger." The droid replied when another droid approached him.
"Admiral Trench, here is the report you requested. It seems another Jedi has arrived to replace the old one." The droid said handing him a datapad with Leo's picture on it. The Admiral scratched his pincers like they were a beard "Interesting click-click-click."
Outside the Separatist lines of the station the two Jedi and their three clone troopers were sneaking their way to the ring station's main hangar.
"It will be just five of us going in." Anakin stated. "The shuttle will drop us off just short of the main hangar then we space-walk from there." Anakin said as Leo looked out the window not saying a word.
"Are you picking anything up on Tup's locator?" Rex asked.
"I've got a faint signal, but it's hard to track." Fives replied holding a scanner. "It's moving." Dogma said as they started seeing it with the rest of them.
"Then we'd better hurry." Leo admitted finally speaking. The clone pilot opened the entrance of the shuttle so that the two jedi and clone troopers could go out. They walked weightlessly across the lower part of the base letting their boots magnetize to the surface.
"I've got a better signal," Fives said. "Tup is heading this way, they're moving him to the hangar." He said while they crawled up around the bottom of the station toward the hanger. The strike team carefully floated up to get a better look and saw Tup was brought aboard a shuttle, but was heavily guarded to fight their way to the ship. By heavily guarded their was an entire platoon of battle droids inside the hanger guarding just one clone prisoenr
"Are your scopes Jedi-issue, sir?" Fives asked worried.
"Stay focused, Fives." Anakin reminded smirking.
Dogma scanned the crowd of droids before he saw a hover gerny with Tup strapped down on it "There he is." Dogma said next to Leo.
"We'll have to work fast."Anakin said scanning the doiurds..
"There must be a hundred droids in that hangar, not to mention the starfighters." Fives admitted.
Rex looked at Anakin "This is stretching it even for you, sir." He commented.
"Rex, you're beginning to sound like Obi-Wan." Anakin chuckled.
"Eh, I've had worse odds?" Leo said with Dogma snickering at his side.
Rex ignored the 703rds prideful remarks "Look, I don't doubt you and General Rock could pull it off, but I'm just not sure Fives and I would be around to see it happen." Rex answered being realistic.
"I've got an idea." Fives admitted.
"Well, let's hear it, quickly."Anakin responded.
"Grappling gun." Fives said, taking out a part of his belt, attacking it to the barrel of his blaster pistol.
"Good thinking." Anakin remarked seeing what Fives was planning "Dogma you do the same." Leo ordered him, Dogma quickly opened, applying the magnetic grapple cord to his blaster.
"Get ready to hold on." Fives reminded.
"Thats why he's the Arc Trooper." Rex said with a sarcastic smile. Just as the shuttle is about to leave, the clones fired their grappling guns beneath it in order to catch the ride while Anakin and Leo held onto them. The magnets on the grapples locked onto the shuttle dragging them behind it like towing a line. When they connected Anakin and Leo took out their lightsabers to cut inside, when they burst into the haul their were commando droids waiting for them.
Leo rolled his eyes "I hate commando droids." Leo grunted "Well then get rid of them." Anakin snapped, the Jedi attacked the droids who dodged and avoided their ligthsabers shooting at them. Both commando droids dropped their blasters drawing out their vibro swords, Anakin leapt over them leaving Leo to deal with them as he went for the Commander.
The Super Tactical battle droids attacked Anakin with unrelenting force, smashing his metal gauntlets into the jedi, but Anakin took each blow fighting him bitterly. Leo caught both the commando droids blades on his single edged lightsaber. The shuttles cramp space making his double bladed lightsaber impractical before Anakin was knocked to the ground by the Super Tactical Battle droid who brought up both his metal arms to smash them down on him. Leo saw if Anakin was struck he's spine would be shattered "Anakin!" Leo shouted, throwing his lightsaber at the Commando droid slicing off its arms.
But the commando droids were now fighting an unarmed opponent ready to cut him down when the Arc Troopers came in blasting them to bits.
After that was done, Anakin grabbed a hold of the super tactical battle droid. "What's going on?"Anakin demanded. "What do you know about this clone?"
"I am programmed to resist intimidation." The commander droid responded before Anakin slashed off the droid's head.
Fives rushed up past them to focus his attention on Tup, checking his vitals "How's he doing?" Dogma asked.
"Not well." Fives answered. "Not well at all, I think he's dying, sir." Fives said over to Anakin
"We have to get him to Kamino." Anakin replied, Leo walked past them picking up his lightsaber and sitting in the pilots chair "Admiral Yuralen come in, we've secured Tup and are returning to the Resolute, have a transport ready to take him to Kamino when we arrive and with more security." Leo said. Anakin watched Leo take the initiative before he walked into the cockpit leaving the clones to look after their sick brother.
Anakin looked at the scanners pretending not to acknowledge the elephant in the room "I could have handled the droid, I didn't need your help." Anakin said as Leo flew the shuttle back to the Republic fleet.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night Anakin." Leo said coldly.
A While Later, they had all returned back inside the Resolute II with Tup, who was going to be taken once again in a shuttle that was heading to Kamino.
"I'll want a full report from Kamino." Anakin ordered Rex and Fives, Dogma and Leo were standing with them, Leo had his arms crossed as Dogma stood arms at his side, his helmet under the right arm. "If Tup is the victim of some Separatist plot, we have no idea of how widespread it already is." Anakin added before he headed back to the command center where Tiplee was overseeing their next offensive. Leo and Dogma lingered as Five turned to Rex.
The Arc Trooper looked at the Captain with pleading eyes "Rex, let me go with Tup to Kamino, he's my best friend."
"Alright Fives, but this has to be done by the book." Rex insisted, Fives nodded in relief "Of Course sir." Fives said before Rex followed Anakin. Dogma watched Fives follow Tup looking with longing eyes.
"I sense you to go Dogma?" Leo asked him.
Dogma snapped back to attention, "Sir."
"You should." Leo said to him "I beg your pardon sir?" Dogma asked.
Leo turned to him and leaned in "I want you to go with Fives to Kamino, watch and report everything they find out about Tup back to me." Leo took Dogma by the arm "Only me, can I trust you?" Leo asked.
Dogma nodded "Yes sir, always sir." With that Dogma ran down the hallway catching up with Fives, while Leo joined the other Jedi and Rex in the command center. Admiral Yuralen was there as well "General Rock, Tiplee has informed me of your plan and I must say… I expected this from Skywalker?"
"Hey?" Anakin grunted.
"It'll work, my men aren't just fearless they get restless very easily." Leo said smiling up at him.
Yuralen looked down at a holopad Tiplee was holding "But these calculations, if you're off by even one number the entire station could be destroyed?"
"Faith Admiral, faith." Leo said looking to the other Jedi "Do you two agree?" Leo asked him. The two Jedi locked eyes before turning to Leo, Anakin grunted "We've been here for weeks, I'm out of ideas, maybe we do need a new perspective." Anakin said giving into Leo's plane, crazy as it was.
Surprised to hear his approval Leo gave Anakin an appreciable smile "I need a ship, one you two begin your assault and get all eight of Trench's eyes I'll do the rest." Leo said.
Later, as Anakin and Tiplees men prepared to go through the blast doors for a second time, their clone forces already severely depleted and tired from all the fighting. They were ready to go back into the meat grinder again. Across the station's modules Admiral Trench was sitting in his command chair when a droid approached him "Admiral, the Republic forces are gathering for another attack."
"Very well, let them come." Trench said when Anakin and Tiplee rushed through the blast doors Rex behind Anakin and, Tiplees green armored arc trooper behind her. The red and blue lasers flew through the hallways while Anakin and Tiplee led the charge taking the flak with their blue lightsabers, soon they had cut their way back into the central module that Tiplee's sister had died in. Admiral Yuralen's Starfighter had engaged the enemy and Trench was watching their advance "Strange, the same tactics as before, most unlike Skywalker?" Trench said watching the clones follow in behind the jedi.
Trench saw his droids engage them, the rocket droids flying in to reinforce the already swelling number of droids "Admiral, we have Republic ships dropping out of hyperspace."
"As I expected, deploy our fleet to intercept." Trench ordered, the Separatists mulificent frigates moved into position in front of the Ringo Vinda fortress when out of hyperspace literally in front of the led Separatist Frigate Leo's flagship the Knight rammed into the frigates bridge smashing it to bits. Trench watched mandibles ajar to see the cruiser had dropped in so close it's guns cutting the other two frigates to pieces. Two more cruisers came in behind it to reinforce Yuralens fleet. The Knight however was heading straight toward Trench's module.
The windows showing the outside space inside the module saw the Republic warship soon overhead what clones and jedi looking up. Admiral Yuralen watched the ship get into position, the Knight started to turn its bow toward the Republic fleet and its guns to the Separatists fleets remaining ships and shielding the Open Circle Fleet "General Rock, please be advised you are entering into a crossfire." Admiral Yuralen reported from the Resolute II.
"The General is about to lead the assault party Admiral, but thank you for the warning." A woman's voice said across the comlink "Who is this?" Admiral Yuralen asked.
"Admiral Tess Dallin, of the Inverse Reuleaux Fleet Admiral aboard the Knight, at your service." She said, being the helm of Leo's flagship was the dark haired light skinned heir to the House of Dallin. She was wearing a dark grey Admirals uniform with the red and blue badge of rank over her jacket, her dark hair was tied in a bun behind her head as she watched the ship go over the space station.
She looked back at one of her bridge officers "Prepare to open hangar doors"
Down in the hanger the 703rd were all locked, loaded and ready to go. They were all wearing the same packs that Rex and Fives had worn with tubes stuck into their helmets going back to oxygen tanks on their backs. Dogma was at the front of them each of them getting loose as Leo walked through them wearing a different kind of space suit. When they saw him the clones did something they learned on Rendili, it started with Jax. He drummed his fist against his armor, others used their weapons, or stomped their feet while Leo passed them.
The drumming grew louder, not missing a beat as Leo got in front of them. He was dressed in full white clone armor with an oxygen tank like theres on his back but he was wearing a green tunic over it before he lifted up a unique clone helmet. Had no markings except for burn marks from shrapnel and laser fire, smooth over the top he looked at the men all drumming at him but when he raised their hands it stopped.
He looked to one clone "Twister wondering where you were, I remember when you blasted that Vulture droid out of the sky at Antares." Leo said as the clone looked at his brothers, They were indistinct among their brothers in their black and white armor "Broadside." Leo said walking over to another clone who had a shrapnel scar on his chest peace built the armor had held true.
"You were a giant at Heleno, took down an entire battalion of droids with your turret, how many are you going to break today?" Leo asked, using his battle mediation to take away any doubts and fears from the.
Broadside let out a massive yell "All of'em!" Leo could feel the fear shifting away looking for any who were still hesitant to follow, or in mourning.
The other clones around him joined him in a cheer, Leo followed the line of his soldiers to one who appeared somber, his helmet bowed "Slip…" Leo said walking up to him "I still mourn your squad mate Flip, he fought bravely at Brentaal IV when the left side was about to collapse he took two grenades." Leo held up his gloved free hand with two "Leapt into an entire regiment of battle droids to halt their advance without a second thought."
Leo looked back at Slip "Fight for him today." Leo said, taking away his doubt and sorrow, replacing it with conviction and duty through the force.
"You have all proven your metal in the victories we've had, no clone battalion can deny that and I would have no others to fight with me, the 501st has been here spilling their blood and guts to take barely an inch… let's go show them how it's done." Leo said pushing his helmet on and turning around
"Prepare to board!" Leo shouted to them, when the hanger doors opened.
The 703rd let out a furious battle cry that could only be heard over the comlinks they had broadcast on all channels. The Jedi, Clones, and even Admiral trench looked up to see the entire 703rd Clone Battalion led by Leo jump out of the hanger and toward the space station. From Admiral Yuralens view it looked like snowflakes dropping down onto the station blanketing the separatist side with clone troopers who started to overwhelm the enemy guns and shooting at vulture droids while others started to cut into the hull. Leo ran across the outer haul of the base intercepting a squad of rocket battle droids grabbing them in mid air with the force or mid space. He turned them around so the clones could fire down on them.
Above him others had landed on top of vulture droids like buzzer droids would do to clone fighters shooting the vulture droid in its smooth comb before using their jet packs to go after others.
Leo stabbed his white lightsaber down into the metal layer starting cut inside followed by Alpha and Jax up behind him. "Alpha, mop up the droids I'm going for Trench."
Commander Alpha nodded "Yes sir General."
"Hahaha I love this job." Jax laughed as broke into the Separaitst flank, Leo cutting the whole clear and getting inside.
Inside Admiral Trench's command center he could see more of the Black Legion break through his defenses "Call in our reinforcements." Trench ordered when the door to his command center blasted open.
Leo stood there in his clone armor staring down the cyborg harch the spider clicked his mandibles at him while holding his baton, the battle droids in the room rushed Leo with their blasters before he cut them down. Trench ran to the command board and smashed one of his eight arms hands on to a red button sealing the door behind them with blast shields, the windows two cutting off Anakin's view of them. "At last we meet… Berserker click-click-click." Trench said walking around the command center. Leo raised his lightsaber and said out from under his mask "It's over Admiral, you can surrender now with honor, or I can drag you out of here your choice."
"This battle is lost, but not the war click-click-clcik." Trench said looking out his star deck at the droid forces being overrun, he pointed over to a door on the side of he room "That chamber contains my escape pod, the moment it launches a code will be transmitted to all my battle droids ordering them to withdraw click-click-click."
Leo looked at the pod then at Trench who turned around glaring at him with his mostly normal eyes and one mechanical one "Why am I telling you this click-click-click you ask?
"Even under that helmet I can guess you are thinking why, but why play this game we are not pawns click-click-click." Trench clicked at him.
"You are under arrest." Leo said taking a step toward him but Trench slapped his baton into his hand "The clone who killed the jedi is heading for Kamino isn't he?"
Leo stopped "How do you know that?" Leo asked.
"Standard operating procedure-click-click-click, yes?" He asked.
Leo held his guard up waiting for Trench to spring a trap "Obviously?" Leo asked him "To obvious, Count Dooku my Master and once yours… wanted the same thing, the immediate transport of one soldier click-click-click, coincidence is not a word I take lightly in war?" Trench said back to him.
"I pride myself on being a tactician, in being able to predict the outcomes of battles and conflicts and my calculations rarely fail as you know." Trench said walking around the room again. Leo watched him and could see Trench was waiting for Leo to reply, he could sense a mix of emotions coming from Trench. Curiosity, calm, a hint of fear but under control nor did he feel anger, or hatred toward himself from the Admiral.
Leo walked around mirroring Trench's footsteps "I do, you've given the Republic a great deal of trouble Admiral."
"And I calculate this war has gone on for too long wouldn't you agree, someone or something has been playing a dangerous game?" Trench asked him, Leo held up his lightsaber turning it off "I'm listening."