Hyperspace whipped past the viewports of The Fragment as it raced towards Kamino, the entirety of the 300th not far behind.
The Kamino system spread out before them as the resounding chime indicated that they were converting to real space, light blues and brightest whites turning to a black to rival his armor. Shard gazed past his reflection, towards their objective.
Kamino; the Clone Homeworld.
Ninety-Nine Percent of all Clones came from that single planet, from dozens if not hundreds of factories and facilities.
The remaining one percent were those different troopers. Trained away from the others or on specific locations off-world by bounty hunters. The Special Forces. The Commando Squads.
The 300th.
The 300th fleet returned to real space alongside The Fragment, causing Shard to lift his helmeted head in acknowledgment.
"Signal them to join up with the main defense. I am taking my ship to defend the outermost defenses on Korasa," he said to one of the deck officers.
"Yes, General." the man said - a Lieutenant if the colors of his rank insignia out of the corner of his visor were accurate.
Shard sighed, moving his hands from behind his back to his hip, where his new lightsaber rested.
He hoped he would not need to use it, but he had trained. He had studied.
He was prepared, to defend his home.
"Shard!" Madam Nureion called upon seeing General Shard step from the shuttle towards her.
"It's so good to see you!" She said kindly, grasping him to her chest in a great hug, lifting the Clone off his feet.
"It is good to see you too, Mam." Shard said politely, charmed by the aging and eccentric scientist.
"What brings you here, Child? Are you bringing the boys for leave?"
"Sadly Mam, I am not. The war has come to Kamino."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"The Droids are coming here?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, Mam. However, I believe they will be more focused on the Planet rather than its moon, but I have stationed my ship within orbit in order to better protect it."
She cooed, reaching one long-fingered hand to the clone and gently caressing his face.
"How brave of you," She said with a smile that seemed to be specific towards the elderly of all races.
As Shard had predicted, the Confederate forces were focusing their efforts on the Clone Factory on Kamino, rather than the genetic laboratory on the moon of Korasa.
Yet, the reports were coming in rather… odd.
"Get me Kenobi." Shard said urgently into his wrist com as his shuttle left atmosphere.
"If that is Grievous, then something strange is going on. No commander wastes his ships like that and all this debris…"
"I agree with you, General." Master Shaak Ti said gravely.
"He has shields upon them, yet has seemed to focus their radius to only encompass vital areas of his ship, including the Blaster Cannons, hanger bay, and bridge. Why he would sacrifice them so… easily, is truly out of the ordinary."
"It must be a trick of some sort. It has to be. I will have my ships provide aid and attack their flanks, and maybe see if we can capture any information about their plans." Shard concluded solemnly to the holograms.
"I don't see why you people are caring about this trash," General Skywalker's voice chimed in from his Starfighter.
"Only Obi-Wan ever cares about the ships I've already blown up. Study to your heart's content, Shard."
Damn it all, Shard had been right. Skywalker thought bitterly as he carved his way towards Ventress.
And it was partially his fault, what with Trident drills being constructed in the sea leaping onto the cities and disembarking troops for an invasion.
The 300th held their own - one of Shard's new toys managing to bring a trident under their control - and held back the western portion of the city with Skull Commandos aiding the surviving ARC divisions of Rancor battalion to destroy the remaining tridents.
And that, of course, led to the current predicament.
In the confusion, none other than Dooku's pet witch had managed to infiltrate the Genetic Library and was attempting to make off with the Fett DNA Cylinder; the one thing keeping the clones in production.
He leaped over the fallen leg of a fallen trident and landed hard on the hanger floor as he began his ferocious duel, going on the offensive as he pushed her farther and farther back towards the edge of the platform.
"Look, it's the General!" He heard a Clone call out, presumably so other troops could come to assist him.
A bit of help he would have Loved to have had a bit earlier, but he was handling things perfectly now.
He landed a kick to the Sith Acolyte's stomach, sending her to the hanger floor as he reached out with the force to seize the DNA Cylinder.
Unfortunately, this act put the crazy bitch into a frenzy as she lunged forward with a yell, nearly knocking Anakin over due to her ferocity and his limited strength; he was after all limited to holding his weapon with one hand now.
With a mechanized yell, a dark figure with a blue lightsaber fell between them, surprising them both and putting Ventress back on the defensive.
Shard had learned his lessons well, fighting with a grace and fluidity attributed to Master Sinube and with a patient strength akin to Master Kenobi, with a powerful presence and deadly ferocity all his own bred from a fight for his people and for his brothers-in-arms.
By this time the regular Clones had arrived, she had crossed her blades in a defensive style and had her ankle nearly off the edge of the balcony.
"I suppose you want me to surrender?" Ventress asked sarcastically, taking a glance at what looked like a blinking red chrono.
"Actually, I was thinking of letting the Clones execute you," Anakin said with no small amount of malice.
"Not this time!" She hissed, using the force to shove the Clones back as she leaped into a Kaminoan Orb ship and made her escape.
Kamino was safe. As was Korsata.
While the casualties were great - and many leaders and well-known Clones of the home guard were lost including a well known janitorial worker who mentored the 501st, Kamino was safe.
But, the cost was high.
And the reason for it?
The Jedi.
It was at the insistence of a Jedi that they attack and break through the Separatist ships. While it was also true that it was also Jedi who found the trident ships, it was still a black mark.
One more reason for Commander Tusk to burn to relive the Jedi from duty.
Another reason for Clicker to show his men the better side of the Jedi.
And another day of contemplation of Shard.
For more battles were on the horizon. And the war, was anything but over.
Okayyyyyyyy It has been an age since I updated I know I know, college and working on my actual book (*gasp* what is this professionalism?) has been in the way of working on this. But, got some free time this week and am currently working on it. Got some stuff in the works, prepare for The Citadel Ark next (AND NOT A CENTURY LATER THIS TIME). Its a bit small because honestly, again the troops would reasonably have a part but the battle would have played out much the same way, just with Shard thrown in for dramatic effect. I will work on the Vampire one as well, but will be focusing on this one right now. Peace all and hopefully I get some stuff out before christmas -Cloaked Writer