On Tython, Jedi Masters Nejaa Halcyon and Quinlin Voss landed within minutes of each other. This would not have normally warranted notice. Except both men had their wives and sons with them. This caused several Jedi to stop and look. Some with accepting expressions on their faces, others that clearly disapproved.
Running into each other in the Temple, the two Jedi Masters decided to speak to the Council together. That was when they learned that several members of the Council were off planet at the moment, doing their best to disrupt Palpatine's plans. Plo Koon, appointed to the position of Master of the Order following the death of Mace Windu, looked at the two Jedi and shook his head. It really was a pity he had to wear his breath mask, he wished both Masters could see the disappointment on his face.
"Masters Voss and Halcyon, you can explain, I take it?"
Glancing at each other, Voss and Halcyon seemed to reach the same conclusion. "We could, Master," said Nejaa. "But would anything we say ever excuse our actions?"
"If the Council is worried about our ability to continue to perform our duty," added Quinlan, "don't be. We both have already proved that we are able to fulfil our duty as Jedi while having a family."
"There is much defiance in you, Quinlan. I fear that it will lead you back to the Dark Side," Plo told him.
Nodding his head at the Council member Quinlan conceded the point. "It is possible. I have walked the line between light and dark for a very long time. I have fallen to the Dark Side before. It holds no terrors for me any longer. But my wife and son keep me rooted in the light. Never would I jeopardize them by falling again."
"You sound like Master Skywalker, Quinlan," said Shaak Ti. "As it turns out, he too has a wife and children." Noticing the somewhat guilty look on Master Halcyon's face and in his Force Aura she turned to him. "You knew, didn't you Nejaa?"
Standing tall and looking directly at the Togruta Council member Nejaa told her, "I did, Master Ti. While we were on a mission together, I sensed something was eating him up in spirit. He confessed his marriage to me then as I did mine to him. Judging by the Council's reaction, he was more than worthy of my trust as he clearly did not disclose my marriage when the Council discovered his."
"No, he did not," said Ki-Adi-Mundi from his seat. Inclining his head toward the twoJedi he said to the Council at large, "This now makes four Jedi Masters that we know of that are all married, including myself. It is high time we revisit our policy on attachment." Having said that, Master Mundi leaned back in his seat to await the inevitable argument.
Jocasta Nu, sitting closest to the two men nodded her head toward the door for them to go about their day while the Council, again, debated the policy on attachment. She, for one, was growing increasingly tired of this argument.
_
On Alderaan, Anakin, Padme and three Jedi Knights with them were racing to their ships. Ahsoka had just commed them and told them both ships were powered up and ready to go the instant they got there. Thank the Force for small miracles, thought Anakin. They were going to be cutting this insanely close. If he did the math right, they would reach their shuttles mere minutes before Sidious landed. All he could do was hope that he didn't send any Stormtroopers ahead of him to physically secure the spaceports. He knew they should have landed somewhere out in the hills. Force, being a fugitive was harder than he thought. He still thought too much like a representative of the Republic. It was something they would all have to learn. From now on, they would have to be much quieter in their movements. Assuming, that is, that they lived long enough to learn from this.
Just as they reached the hanger their ships were in,one of the Empire's new TIE fighters screamed overhead, preceding a Lambda-class shuttle that radiated darkness. "Sidious," breathed Anakin as he watched it fly over head. Seeing the shuttle continue on, Anakin thought that just maybe they weren't noticed, as all the Jedi were heavily shielding their presences and that of the children. The sounds of igniting lightsabers soon proved him wrong.
Quickly looking to his left, Anakin saw two glowing red blades in the shadows. They seemed almost as if they were floating, the darkness around them was so complete. He could practically hear Obi-wan in his head saying, "Oh, not good." Standing side by side, the four Jedi ignited their lightsabers as well and prepared to face their foes. That was when they heard the sound of assault shuttles landing and Clones pouring out ofthem.
Without turning from the two lightsaber wielding opponents across from him, Anakin quickly ordered Padme, Nuhj and Huulik to get to their ships. He and Zubain would hold the two Dark Jedi and the Stormtroopers off. While the rest hurried to their shuttles, Anakin and Jedi Knight Zubain Ankonori prepared for their duel. With a shock, they realized that they knew the two darksiders leading the Clones. They were former Jedi Knights Maw and Ameesa Darys.
The two Jedi almost faltered when they realized who it was facing them. Anakin, to his credit, called out to the two fallen Jedi.
"Maw, Ameesa, you don't have to do this. Put your lightsabers away. Turn back from the Dark Side. We can help you." Zubain quickly nodding his head in agreement with the young Jedi Master.
Their only response was the two Dark Jedi lunging at them. The battle that ensured was fast and furious.Though both Anakin and the Zabrak Zubain were better duelists than either Maw or Ameesa, the Dark Side fueled both of them, giving them a rage and strength neither had previously possessed. Blades flashing through the air, the two Jedi battled their two fallen former comrades, blue and green blades crashing against red. As Zubain launched a kick to the chest of Darys, Maw tried to deflect Anakin's blade into Zubain's leg. Anakin though, was quicker. He hit Maw with a massive wave of energy through the Force, literally flinging him across the hanger. Seeing Ameesa down as well, the two Jedi began to run to the shuttles. Just as they reached them, they could feel the dark presence of Sidious arriving.
Screaming for Ahsoka and Huulik to launch, Anakin was not even halfway up the ramp when Sidious entered the hanger. Seeing his would be apprentice in the tans and browns of the Jedi, his blue saber glowing in his hand, his Force Aura radiating light, Sidious' rage flared, his eyes glowing yellow. Raising his hands, lighting blasted out of his fingertips straight at Skywalker.
Anchoring himself with the Force as the shuttle shot into the sky, Anakin was amazed at the power that Sidious wielded. Even with both hands on the hilt of his lightsaber, he was hard pressed to hold the Force Lightning at bay. Pouring everything he had into it, he slowly began to angle his blade down and sent the last of the lightning straight into the face of Sidious. Finally getting out of reach of Sidious, Anakin collapsed panting on the shuttle ramp as it slowly closed.
As the shuttles rocketed into the Naboo sky, both Ahsoka and Huulik put their skills as pilots to good use. Dodging blaster fire and TIE fighters, the two Jedi flew with almost reckless abandon. Handling the two shuttles more like fighters than the glorified speeders they really were. Breaking into Orbit, a massive Imperial-class Star Destroyer dropped out of hyperspace almost directly in front of them. Firing their laser cannons at the Star Destroyer's bridge as they shot past, they had the satisfaction of seeing one of the shield generator/sensor domes explode before the Destroyer could raise its shields. The two shuttles jumped into hyperspace just as the first green lances of energy exploded out from the Star Destroyer's turbolaser batteries.
_
A'Sharad Hett was not a happy man. Getting into the Kyber Temple had not been a problem what-so-ever. In fact, it had gone even easier than he had hoped it would. The Guardians who had joined him in the assault were helpful beyond all belief as they knew every nook and cranny of the Temple. It was getting back out that was the problem. One of the Stormtroopers guarding the Temple had radioed for help as soon as the attack was launched. And oh, how that help had arrived.
Outside the Temple there was now arrayed against them two companies of Clones and three AT-TP walkers. Cursing to himself, Hett was wracking his brain for a way to get out of this mess. He had already spoken to the two Guardians that seemed to be in charge of the rest, Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus, to see if they had any suggestions on what they could do. They did know of several hidden passages that could be used to get out of the Temple, but they were too small to carry the crystals and the other artifacts with them. Hett decided to keep them as last ditch options. He didn't want to abandon what they came here to get. Not unless he had too.
They were lucky in how strongly built the Temple was. It would take the AT-TPs awhile yet to break through. Even with their heavy mass driver canons. He was about out of options when the sounds of battle erupted outside. Rushing to a window, he looked out and saw one of the AT-TPs blown apart and as he watched, a second missile streaked in and blew another one to pieces. That was also when he spotted what he should have seen first thing. The fifteen lightsabers of the other Jedi that were with him. With Master K'Kruhk at their head. They had come to the aid of their fellows after destroying the mines. Master Hett, shouting for the Jedi and Guardians to ready themselves, threw the doors open and those inside joined their fellow Jedi in the attack.
In thirty minutes, it was all over. The Clones and their Armor were destroyed. Oh, but the cost! Out of the twenty Jedi that had come to Jedha, only twelve were left. And Masters K'Kruhk and Hett had both been wounded. Of the Guardians of the Whills, only a handful remained. With both Masters Hett and K'Kruhk down with their injuries, Jedi Knight Prosset was left in command of the small strike force.
Turning to the few remaining Guardians, he offered them sanctuary with the Jedi away from the Empire. Warning them that the Empire would be back. And in greater numbers. But that the Jedi could offer them safety and what's more, promised that their skills would be greatly appreciated by the Order in helping to defend the Jedi Temple. Speaking among themselves, the Guardians agreed to join the Jedi, as to remain was suicide. However, they did so on one condition. They could not abandon the innocents that would be left behind in the Holy City to Imperial Retribution.
Speaking to the Jedi left, Prosset ordered them to secure as many hyperspace capable ships as possible and prepare to evacuate the city. That done, he and the Guardians proceeded to gather everyone up that wished to leave and hurriedly boarded the ships. While that was going on, Pablo-Jil and his Padawan cautiously entered the empty Imperial base and searched for anything of value that they could find. What they found was astounding.
Rushing back to the spaceport, the two Jedi found that the ships were just about loaded and ready to go. Thanking the Force for that, they impressed upon Prosset that what they found needed to get back to the High Council as soon as possible. Preferably sooner. Hurrying things along as much as they could, an hour later, the dozen small ships left Jedha and, on a long, roundabout course, headed back to Tython.
_
"Master," Zett Jukassa said cautiously. "Master, it's time."
Slowly opening his eyes, Obi-wan Kenobi smiled up at his new Padawan and thanked him for letting him know. Rising from the cushion he had been meditating on, he gathered himself and prepared for yet another fight. Obi-wan was tired of fighting. He had seen enough death and destruction to last a hundred lifetimes. He consoled himself with the fact that this time at least, he could be certain he was doing the will of the Force.
Entering what served as their command center in the abandoned commercial plaza they had taken over, General Kenobi, as he had to think of himself for this mission, called together the forty Jedi and the officers of the two companies of the 501st that had accompanied him to Carida for their final briefing before launching their attack. Going over their assignments one last time and making sure everyone was ready for whatever came their way. Making sure everyone was aware of their contingency plans and what part they would play in it if needed. Once that had been accomplished, Obi-wan dismissed everyone to their assignments, wishing the Force be with them all.
Turning to the Clone Commander at his side Obi-wan said, "Commander Appo, you know what to do. Smash and grab. Take as many prisoners as you can. Good luck Commander."
"Thank you, Sir," replied Commander Appo. "And Sir, may the Force be with you."
"And with you, Appo."
With that, the Clone Commander and the Jedi General turned to their respective tasks. Obi-wan felt better knowing that the 501st had his back.
An hour later, Obi-wan was more grateful for that support than he could have ever imagined. The academy here had stronger defenses than anyone could have dreamed of. This made the experienced General very suspicious of what was within. No mere academy should be this well defended. Not unless there was something far more important inside it than a school for prospective officers.
Obi-wan's hunch was proved correct when Commander Appo ran up to him two hours later after they had fought their way inside. "Sir! You need to see this sir," he said.
Quickly following the Commander, Obi-wan stopped dead in his tracks when they reached the lower levels. Carida was an academy alright. It also doubled as a prison apparently. For locked away in its depths were hundreds, if not thousands of beings. All of them former officers and NCOs in the Republic Navy, if their tattered uniforms were any guide. What they were imprisoned for, Kenobi could only guess. Freeing them as fast as they could, he was approached by a tall, distinguished man in the remains of a Captain's uniform.
Jarid Sykes had tried to desert from the Navy after Palpatine declared the New Order. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful. That was how he had ended up here. Locked away with other Naval personnel who had objected to Palpatine's take over. He had all but given up hope when suddenly, he was face to face with one of the most famous Jedi to have ever lived. Thanking the Force and every deity he knew, he approached Master Kenobi with as much dignity as he could muster and offered the General a salute.
Returning the man's salute, Kenobi and Sykes introduced themselves. With Sykes then imploring the Jedi Master to rescue them all.
"You need have no fear, Captain. Not one of you will be left behind. Are all the prisoners here men and women who refused to serve Palpatine?"
"Yes, all of us," said Captain Sykes. "We were kept here as a 'reminder' to the cadets of what would happen to them should they betray the Empire. Every day, one of us is chosen randomly to be publicly tortured and then executed by and in front of the cadets."
"That's horrible. We'll get you to safety. You have my word. We have a place that is very secure we can take all of you to."
"Thank you, General Kenobi. We are in your debt."
"Sir," interjected Commander Appo. "We don't have the transport space for everyone. We barely fit everyone in on the way here as it is."
"Hmmmm, quite right Commander. Well, then we'll just have to secure more transport, won't we?"
"Actually, General," said Captain Sykes. "In orbit over this world, there are, or rather, there should be, three Nebulon B-class frigates. They have no regular crew assigned. They are used solely for training the cadets here. Unless they've been changed, I have access codes for all three." Seeing a somewhat doubtful lookon Kenobi's face, Jarid Sykes offered by way of an explanation, "Before I attempted to defect, I was an instructor here at the academy and commanded one of the ships."
With a glint in his eye and a sly grin, Obi-wan looked at Commander Appo, "Well, it would appear that our problems are solved. Radio to your men, see if they can confirm it. I do seem to recall seeing a ship of some kind in orbit."
"Right away Sir," replied the Clone Commander.
Shortly after, it was confirmed that all three warships were in orbit and all were powered down. Quickly utilizing their shuttles, the Jedi and the 501st started transferring the rescued members of the Republic Navy to the ships. Several hours later, the three ships jumped to hyperspace just before a fleet consisting of four Victory-class and two Venator-class Star Destroyers arrived in system. All they found was a ruined academy, several cadets who had refused to surrender and gone down fighting and an empty prison.
Once they were safely onboard the captured Crusader, Obi-wan began to debrief not only his Jedi and the 501st, but the rescued Republic personnel. The mission was undoubtedly a success. But the costs were high. He had lost eleven Jedi in the attack along with the 501st losing almost thirty percent of their strength in both wounded and killed. Fortunately, the captured frigates all had medical suites on board with bacta tanks. Not as many as a true medical ship, but more than what they had before. The worst of the injured were in those tanks now. The Jedi had also managed to secure the new coding computers and the codes being used. While the 501st had managed to capture numerous cadets, some of whom had readily surrendered, having no desire to serve the Empire, but merely being forced to continue their studies due to having been enrolled prior to the fall of the Republic. A surprisingly large number of Clones had been captured as well. Mainly because the men of the 501st had hit them with stun blasts, then as they advanced, administered a powerful sedative to their brothers that ensured they stayed out until the Inhibitor Chips could be removed. They had also captured the academy's senior officers. After being interrogated using some gentle Force persuasion, these were dropped in an uninhabited system in the Outer Rim in a shuttle that was not hyperspace capable and had only an emergency comm system installed. Once that was done, the small Jedi fleet headed home for Tython.