A/N: I know it's been forever and I'm sorry I'm such a horrible human being! It takes forever doing stop and go on an episode. And this past months I've been incredibly busy with my last year of getting my BA in university and it was a lot harder than I thought, then I got this full-time job and it took up time too. But, I really think I'll get the next chapter up soon because it's not one based off an episode, so I don't have to stop and go every second trying to write-up an episode. So, look for the next chapter coming soon about Ana bonding more with some of the clones!
This chapter takes place in The Deserter (S2, E10) of the Clone Wars! Enjoy and please tell me what you think!
Chapter Eleven
Walking down the ship's ramp towards the ground with Obi-Wan and Rex, Ana briefly looked around at Saleucami. She had read about it very briefly in texts back at the Temple, although it was such an obscurer planet in the outer region with no real outlining history or events that there weren't many things to say about it. While some worlds had a couple of pages in "Information of the Worlds, The History", she remembered that Saleucami only had a brief paragraph. It was largely a farming community, even if it was described as barren for the most part, and did have some valuable minerals on the planet, however the percentage was so low that the Republic never bothered to try and mine them. Only a few locals had done that and made a small business on the world, shipping out to some neighbouring worlds, but nothing dramatic. And she remembered that the population number was drastically low, one of the lowest percentage in the galaxy considering it's size.
A few clones were also walking down the ramp to take some diagnosis, but most of them were getting the walkers ready in preparation for a likely battle while a few were already out, slowly making their way, the world almost shuddering from the weight in a pattern as the legs landed on the ground. Cody was the one directing them and starting to lead people out to the wreckage while Obi-Wan was debriefing Rex on the plan.
Seeing Obi-Wan bring his hands up, the redhead immediately came back to attention to stare at him so that she could understand the same message. Although she vaguely knew of the plan from seeing Obi-Wan talk with Cody and Anakin to create it, she still knew it would be best to pay attention. As the three of them began walking down on the ground and moving to be moving beside the larger walkers, the soil feeling solid against her feet. It hadn't rained in a while. Talking as he signed, she watched her Master's hands.
"Instead of scattering our troops, looking for all the escape pods, we shall head towards the wreckage of the landing transport first," Obi-Wan explained, still walking. Turning back to Rex, he told him, still signing for her, "You and some of your company can take your speeders. We may need you for different maneuvers or for different places to look. But I also need you to tell me when the cruisers are back."
In the corner of her eye, she noted Rex's salute before Obi-Wan turned more to look at her so that she could also read his lips. Soon, she watched Rex move back, no doubt going to get his company and to get to the speeders. Cody may be going to meet them on one as well to meet up, either that or follow on a walker. She wished he would keep her in the know about this. Cody was the only other soldier who knew how to speak her language.
Obi-Wan turned so that his face was towards her fully so she could read his lips as he signed "and we, Ana, are going to to be on the Walkers. We need higher ground."
She nodded giving him a smile of assurance before she watched him move, going towards the nearest walker. From it's slow movements, it was easy to move to the ladder and start to climb up the side of the walker. Still walking, Ana watched Obi-Wan secure his hold on the ladder and begin to move up it. When Obi-Wan was up the ladder enough, Ana waited until the walker's four legs were fully down before making her move. As she got her feet up onto a step, she felt the walker rock again with the steps. Keeping her hold, her hair swinging with the weight change of the walker and the wind as she made it to the top, following her Master.
Walking towards the driver, the walker top was surprisingly flat. She recognized the helmet and the presence of Disc controlling the Walker. When he looked up at her, she gave him a small nod and he gave her one back before looking forward again and at the controls. During their quick recalculation before branching out again, Disc had found her by the hanger, trying to brush out her hair before putting it back in the ponytail again after the strands of hair began to annoy her enough. He offered her a small thank you before moving off, but she took the words to heart because she knew that although Disc was a little nervous to say it, she knew that the feelings were genuine. She didn't want to embarrass him by saying hello again, nor did she think that it was exactly socially acceptable to do so during the time of battle.
In the corner of her eye, she watched as speeders moved around them. Looking back, she saw more walkers leaving the ship, Cody still directing them. She tuned back and looked forward, moving to stand beside Obi-Wan as he used his scopes, eyes searching. Ana also kept her eyes forward, slightly blinded by the sun, but she could still take in the colours of her surroundings.
Despite being in war, she couldn't help but smile. It was the most vibrant, colourful, natural view she had ever seen before.
~.~
Ana had been watching Disc's controls, trying to make sense of them for the past little while as they walked to try and understand the mechanics of it. She could only read so much about it on data, but to see it working was different. She watched the screen, or rather screens. One of how the device was maintaining and then some others with different views around the Walker, one in front with various technical outlays for aiming, and then other views of behind and beside the Walker.
Seeing Obi-Wan lean forward ever so slightly while staring through the scopes, as though that would try and give him a better view. She raised an eyebrow, standing up straighter as she watched his hands fiddle with the distance view. Taking them off, Obi-Wan turned to her, offering her the scopes. Taking them, Obi-Wan signed, "I believe that we've found the main ship."
Nodding, Ana saw him point in the direction and she put on the scopes as well. The sudden greenish-hue and information popping up surprised her slightly, but she focused through the scopes. Finding where he was looking, she could only stare at the broken down metal that only vaguely resembled an escape pod now. However, it was large enough to be the one Grevious probably went in. She tried to zoom in closer to take a better look. Although that was likely the escape pod, there didn't seem to be any life forms around it.
Taking off the scopes, she turned to see Obi-Wan looking down off the Walker. Looking does herself, she saw Rex there on the speeder, looking up at him. Ana looked back towards Obi-Wan, just catching him saying "found Grievous's ship."
Ana raised her eyebrows again before looking forward again. Her brows furrowed slightly as she closed her eyes, trying to reach out in the Force. Letting the flow move from her, she searched around the metal parts, frowning slightly before she pulled back. Opening her eyes, she found that her Master was staring down at her. She hoped she wasn't blushing in embarrassment as she watched him say, "what were you searching for?"
"Grievous," she answered, signing as well. "He's not there."
"You're sure?" Obi-Wan asked, now his gaze gaining a questioning look.
She handed him the scopes back and answered, "I couldn't sense it."
Ana watched as Rex turned around, going back, but among the Walkers he was quickly hidden from view. Ana went to ask Obi-Wan what they were going to do before she felt the Walker moving forward again while Cody moved on a speeder up beside them. Looking up and seeing her close to the side he slowed on the speeder and quickly signed.
"Find anything?" he asked.
"We think we found Grievous's ship around 200 standard units north," she signed back.
He made a nodding motion before talking into the com-unit, informing the others of their findings.
~.~
Following Cody, Ana jumped down to the level down of metal, walking and carefully taking one more step down at the side, keeping her balance as she walked down at an angle, following Cody. Hearing her, he looked back himself before she caught up with him. As he looked up, she asked, "what are you looking for?"
"Trying to figure out how long this has been abandoned," he explained.
It was a good idea. Ana looked forward before recognizing the layout, even if it was partially distorted and destroyed from the crash.
"I think those are the thermal housing intakes," Ana signed as she spoke, pointing to the engine in front of her.
Both of them now at a hurrying pace, they stopped in front of the housing intakes, Ana's brows furrowing for the moment as she placed her bare hand against the metal, a little surprised by the slight warmth coming to her hand. A bit below her, she watched as Cody did the same thing.
"They're still warm," Cody turned his head so she could see his lips.
Ana nodded before taking a step back, looking around the metal for any black soot or smoke evidence.
"Those things can get pretty hot, and they probably overheated slightly from the crash. But it doesn't seem that it was on fire," Ana told him, taking the steps forward again to put her hands on the metal again, her fingertips seeking the heat in the metal as though to be sure.
"This didn't happen too long ago then," Cody commented to her.
She nodded in agreement, "at least within the last couple of hours, depending on how much it overheated, but definitely not more than two standard hours."
Looking at the ground, she couldn't find any dragging marks, or footsteps, but the timeline at least helped to bring a piece of the puzzle.
"They'd be on foot," Ana said, looking out towards the trees and hills off around her. "They wouldn't get too far."
Bringing her hands back off the metal, she looked up at the sky, watching the angle of the sun.
"Problem is," Ana told him looking back down at him, her hair blowing in the wind coming off the hills, "it's going to be dark soon."
Cody nodded, looking back at the General. Ana followed his gaze, Obi-Wan with his back to them, clearly investigating something himself. Turning her head slightly, Ana managed to just see Cody shout, "Thermal housing intakes are still warm!"
Turning her head slightly to keep in eyesight of both, Obi-Wan turn around, she spotted Rex and and Jesse walking down from a higher part of the crashed escape pod. Their helmets off as well.
"This couldn't have happened too long ago," she saw Cody continue, now pushing himself off of the heap and standing up as he turned.
Ana followed him as they walked back up to Obi-Wan, watching her Master turn his back to her. She turned to face Cody for an explanation but they were already beside the Jedi Master again.
Stepping on one side of him and beside Jesse and Cody the other near Rex, Obi-Wan caught her in the corner of his eye and brought up his hands to sign as well so that she could follow along.
"We'll split into teams," Obi-Wan decided before looking directly at the Clone Captain. "Rex, take Jesse, Hardcase, and Kix and search those wetlands."
Ana's eyes flickered to Rex as she saw him nod, already moving before she could completely capture what he said, but she could assume that he had agreed with the mission. Watching the two clones in blue leave, Ana's eyes turned back to Obi-Wan to wait for the rest of his plan. He was already signing again as he spoke.
"Cody, Ana," he told them, looking between them briefly as he talked, "we will talk with Crys and pick it up from here."
She saw Cody give the faintest nod before Obi-Wan turned back to Rex. She stared at his mouth as she caught him say, "And, Rex, if you get a visual on Grievous, contact us before you engage." Turning towards the group, she managed to catch Rex's small nod and a grin before the four clones quickly put on their helmets, rushing to their parked speeders, all in formation of how they were trained. It almost struck her odd. After watching the clones rush away towards the more level part of the landscape, she turned back just to catch Obi-Wan nod, "…thinking on his feet". She gave the two a confusing look, but decided to let it go. If it was important then they would have told her about it.
Looking between the two of them, Obi-Wan told them, signing as well, "now, we need to try and figure out where else Grievous could have gone."
"We could try and get information from the escape pods, but I have a feeling that their information systems will be fried," Cody commented. "And I don't think we'll even be able to get to them."
Obi-Wan nodded a bit, lost in thought. Ana was looking at the ground, trying to think as well. They could split up more, but that would leave them open in an attack, and even if there wasn't an attack it would be longer for the main group to assemble to stop Grievous. They were so close. Ana could feel that. And she sensed how determined Obi-Wan was feeling. They almost had him in the palm of their hands. They had the resources and will power over Grievous at this point. All they had to do was get him first before his reinforcements came.
Biting her bottom lip for a moment, she suddenly had the idea. A smile slowly coming to her lips, "the escape pods might not have anything we can get," she told them, "but the Battle Droids might."
Staring down at her as the thoughts slowly registered through their minds, smiles began to slowly form on their faces as well.
~.~
Ana moved past Crys as she looked around the fallen Battle Droid pieces. Despite it almost going to be dark, the sun was hot. As she walked a little ways down from the Walker she had absentmindedly moved her hair to place it in a tight bun to keep it off her neck, her eyes searching at the droids. The Walkers had stopped as they began searching the wreckage, but most of the Droids were in pieces, some with seared metal from the crash or burns. They'd been fried too. It wouldn't even be worth trying for them.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
But at least it was better than nothing.
Eyes scanning, she absentmindedly watched Crys had kneeled down before a piece of the ship, moving a part to catch the droid underneath while Cody went to a body piece, looking it over. Her back was turned to the others as she kept walking forward, eyes searching as she followed Peg as he moved farther down. Her eyes searched around as she moved farther down the path. Moving farther in, she was beginning to see a broken down tree and a pathway.
A spark in thought was all it took before she picked up her pace a bit as she followed down the short path, not noticing how she caught Peg's attention. Sensing the clone follow her down the path, the dirt under her feet slipped a bit from the slight hill downward and from the loose dirt. The area definitely wasn't as green as the larger fields and open area they were going through before. This was almost just dry dirt.
Skidding slightly as she moved down, she slowed down slightly as she got closer to the banged up space pods, hoping for a prize.
Sensing Peg behind her, she looked over her shoulder at him. Watching him take off his helmet.
"Sorry," he told her, moving his helmet under his arm. Before Ana could even ask, he was already continuing. "What are you looking for?"
Ana was already motioning to the escape pods, not realizing how excited she looked at the possibility, "we might get lucky with the space pods."
His one brow quirked up and he took a glance at the escape pods confused.
"But wouldn't those already be overhe—" he only realized that she was walking towards the nearest escape pod, her back to him. His voice lowered again, realizing she wouldn't hear him anyway. Staring at her for a moment his eyes following her as she moved towards an escape pod, he began to realize that he was following her.
Stepping up to the first escape pod, her eyes trailed along the cracked metal before noticing the opening from the doorway. Using her hands on the edge to help guide her, Ana jumped up slightly before using her arms to lift her the rest of the way up. Looking down the opening, leaning in farther so her eyesight reached all corners, she frowned when she found the empty broken escape pod. Frowning, Ana pulled herself up and swung her legs to the side and slipped down, landing in front of Peg as he stared inquisitively down at her, with a hint of humour in his eye.
"Looking for something, Commander?"
She gave him a light smile before answering, "if there are dead droids in the escape pods, they might be in better shape."
Staring down at her, his own eyebrows slowly lifted in realization. That was a good idea. It was better than trying the burnt and destroyed droids that had fallen or broken out at least.
With Peg walking a step behind her to the next set of escape pods, Ana felt a bit of relief that she could check through the cracked glass. Kneeling down, she cupped a hand over her eyes as they searched into the pod. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Peg move down to look inside as well.
A grin quickly flashed onto Ana's face.
There behind the glass, laid some tossed around, well-conditioned, unresponsive droids.
Leaning back, she looked over at Peg when she saw him lean back as well, looking over his shoulder. Ana's brows furrowed for a moment before she sensed the others closing in. Moving back farther so Obi-Wan could look, the Jedi Master quickly leaned down and moved in to look through the glass as well.
Watching him for a moment, Obi-Wan moved off to the side, his back to Ana. Her brows furrowed as she tried to move and look over his shoulder, trying to catch what he was saying. Realizing Obi-Wan wasn't moving around, her shoulders dropped slightly and she moved back a bit.
Instantly picking up on Ana's body language and miscommunication, he waved his hand to get her attention. Waving his hand slightly to get her attention, Ana's eyes travelled to him.
"Taking droid back to tank to examine," Cody signed quickly to fill in the blanks as Obi-Wan got back up.
Relieved, Ana signed a quick "thank you" to him. Looking down at the escape pods, she moved back to where Obi-Wan took over her position. Unhooking her lightsaber, she aimed it at the top of the window and in the corner of her eye, she watched Peg lean back slightly. Activating it, there was a soft blue glow that reflected on her face as she moved her lightsaber, watching the glass easily start to crack from the second attack to it, though not completely shattering. Finishing the circle, the redhead pushed the glass forward until it fell, feeling the weigh when it hit the ground as it vibrated along the metal pod and the ground. Leaning into the new hole, she reached for the battle droid, willing the Force to bring it closer until her fingers clutched it around the neck almost triumphantly.
Leaning back out again, she brought the droid back out as well. It was heavier than she imagined it would be. They seemed almost weightless back on her first mission as she moved her lightsaber through them.
Moving back and slowly rising to stand, Ana looked over them in the light. Barely a scratch. She turned to Cody and told Obi-Wan, "I'll go with them."
Nodding, Obi-Wan answered, "I'm going to keep checking the area. Maybe we can still find a lead on foot about where they went."
~.~
"What do you have?" Obi-Wan asked, approaching them with calm interest, signing along.
Ana looked over at him, trying to hold the smile she had been having excitedly for the past hour. She bit her bottom lip to keep herself in control, letting the clones explain their work.
Looking over his shoulder, keeping his face and body open for Ana across from him, Crys reported, gently letting go of the droid head, "We've broken the access codes and powered up the droid's power system."
"According to his memory logs," Cody picked up, keeping himself angled for Ana while he leaned towards Obi-Wan, leaning the screen towards the Jedi General, "he fired the emergency thrusters on the escape pod to avoid mid-air collision."
"Collision with what?" he asked.
"Another escape pod," Crys answered.
"There was no time to correct, for the steeper glide path, which is why this droid's pod crashed," Cody added, signing as he saw Ana start to lean her head again.
Leaning back as the three others did, Obi-Wan continued, Ana watching his face as it slowly changed, visibly showing his growing determination and hope as his mind began to process what the information could lead to, "Can you pinpoint the landing zone for the other pod?"
The clones seemed to be picking on Obi-Wan's energy. She could see it in their face, and the rousing sense of determination and excitement in the Force. Ana didn't realize she herself was smiling from its affects.
"I can put us within two to three klicks of it, sir." Cody answered, still signing for her benefit.
Stroking his beard at the quick thought, Ana watched Obi-Wan lean back, a contagious grin beginning to form.
"Alert the men," Obi-Wan commanded. "We've picked up the scent."
Looking up at her, Ana gave him a grin back, nodding in agreement. Obi-Wan's grin had extended to all of them.
~.~
Ana stood by Obi-Wan at the top of one of the front tank Walker, scanning the horizon herself as Obi-Wan looked through his specs. She watched Cody below her drive around the Walker in a speeder, moving beside them. It had been dark for a few hours at that point, the large moon moving higher into the air. They had been searching for Grievous for a couple hours, scanning the horizon and moving in the direction that they were sure the General went from the information they received. It was the only real lead that they had.
In her peripheral vision, Ana watched Obi-Wan's body language immediately change. His shoulders pop up slightly, as though at attention, squaring themselves as Obi-Wan straightened his back and held up his one fist, the motion Cody taught her on her last mission.
Feeling the Walker stop, Ana looked towards Obi-Wan's gaze one last time, her eyes barely brushing the small outline in the distance in the dark. Turning back to Obi-Wan, he gave her a small smile before he motioned down the tank. Ana nodded, following her Master's lead as he jumped down, Cody stopped by their feet as though he knew where they would land.
Stepping up behind her Master, Obi-Wan signed as well as he could with one hand as he spoke, "There's our escape pod."
Moving from behind him to between him and Cody, Obi-Wan didn't turn to look at her as he passed her his binoculars while Cody took his out quickly. Bringing them up, Ana looked out at the green horizon where she noticed the small outline before. There among the bushes, in the green digitized image and lines, she saw the remains of the escape pod, the specs singling it out for her by almost illuminating the outline of the pod. Interesting features these things had.
Besides the specs, however, the escape pod looked completely deserted. She didn't see any other movement near the escape pod, and the specs weren't pointing out any noticeable outlines to follow either.
Moving the specs down, she looked back towards Obi-Wan as he signed, "He must be heading to a second escape pod."
Watching her Master bring up his arm to the com unit, Ana looked around at their surroundings. The large plantation caused long shadows along the land, especially with the two moons casting different light positions. At least it didn't get cold at night. The heat was trapped to the ground. She was sure she'd sense it in the Force if Grievous or any other dangers were around.
Her attention had refocused when the ease in body language of the two men on either side of her immediately changed. She watched them become ridged at the same time, Obi-Wan immediately moving over the com-unit in worry and confusion, his features showing the same while Cody immediately looked up at the General from his specs to listen in.
Confused, looking between the two a few times, Ana stopped at Cody and quickly asked, signing: "what is going on?"
"Rex is hurt," Cody signed quickly, almost leaning a bit more to the side to look around her.
Alarmed, Ana took a quick glance back at Obi-Wan before turning back to Cody. This was the first news any of them had received about an incident. Where was Rex now? What about the others in the group? Were any of them okay?
"Do we know what happened? Are others hurt?" Ana signed silently.
Cody seemed to pause a bit, as though waiting to hear for himself so that he could answer. Though she felt he was still looking at Obi-Wan as the Jedi Master spoke, he signed a little more slowly, "Rex is alive, Jesse says he will be fine…they had to find him shelter for the night."
That was a relief at least. Turning to look back at Obi-Wan, she moved her head and shoulders to try and catch what he was saying, realizing within a couple of words that he was almost creating a plan with them.
"We're headed to the west," Obi-Wan told them over the com. "Swing around and we can meet up at the final escape pod. We're going to need all the firepower we can muster."
Obi-Wan paused for a moment, Ana realizing it was a clone answering before her Master replied, "I look forward to your arrival. Hopefully we will see you when the action arrives."
Pressing a button, Obi-Wan lowered his arm before turning to the two.
"Ana, go to the left tank Walker, and Cody, I need you to follow with her. I want to start splitting up now for when we see Grievous," Obi-Wan explained, signing at the same time in case she couldn't read his lips in the dark. "Ana I want you on the other side of the ranks to give orders and Cody I want you to stay with her."
"Yes, Master," Ana agreed. In the corner of her eye, she saw Cody salute as his agreement along with what he was saying.
"Moving forward, then?" she asked.
Obi-Wan nodded and agreed, "forward we go."
She nodded back and he turned almost immediately to step back up the tank. Ana turned herself, facing Cody. "I'll follow you," he signed to her, still not standing from his seat on the speeder.
"Sounds good," Ana answered as she signed.
Moving her eyes, they trailed up to the tank on Cody's other side a few steps away. Walking towards it, Ana walked up it as well, the Walker already moving by the time she made it to the top, seeing Coin in the seat. She gave him a nod, moving to stand beside him as she looked out around them herself, almost mimicking Obi-Wan's earlier motions. If Grievous was close, he or the battle droids may have figured out that they were closing in on them. He might be preparing for a meeting himself.
In the corner of her eye, she could see Obi-Wan a little in front of them, standing at attention as well, completely determined.
~.~
Ana had sensed they were close before Grievous and the Battle Droids made their first attack at the oncoming tanks. The blast had gone between two tanks on the other side of Obi-Wan, but they weren't far off. It was like the first stone was cast and pretty soon more were going to be flying to the air towards them, and one of them was bound to hit.
It was an immediate change in the air, the first spark of fire started. The first electric charge beginning, waiting to connect to something to burn.
Taking Cody's specs, she had quickly spanned the horizon, looking for the specific direction so that they weren't firing blind either. Reaching out in the Force, she followed the charge in the air, soon spotting the movement among the foliage. They would have to keep moving forward to get battle ground, but it was a start.
"Coin! Aim left 14!" Ana commanded him.
Not knowing if he answered her or not, the clone aimed, Ana watched the tank gun move sideways to the left before she felt the Walker take a rough, sudden jolt, making her and Cody sway back as the Walker's shot took flight. Cody was already turning to place orders in his com unit for the other clones. Looking through the specs again, Ana watched the blaster hit close to their target, watching more scrambling on the other side.
Turning on her com, she quickly spoke the coordinates to the other clones before turning to Obi-Wan. He also turned to her, catching her gaze before signing to them, "keep aiming and control the front. Try and block exit routes. I'm moving forward!"
Ana nodded making the "I understand" sign before turning back to look at the rest of the Walkers, steadily moving forward as thought make a wall as the clones on the ground began to move forward as well, finding a place to take cover that would also allow them to aim. Turning on her com again, she ordered, "right flank I want you to focus on moving closer to the mountain range before beginning fire, Longshot I want you to take your tank to the front, give cover to the front shooters and the moving Walkers."
Cody was also speaking, though she didn't know for how long until she noticed. The electric spark a fire now as she could feel the set up coming to the hitting point, feeling blasters begin to fly through the air now on both sides. It wasn't like at her first battle, where the blasters began flying like constant light shows against each others, flashing around. Instead, the blasters were slower, yet steady. One comeback creating the next at a steady rate. They were making more blaster shots on their side, but the battle droids were steadily building it back.
"Go direct the ground front," Ana told Cody.
He made a salute, knowing then that he said "yes sir" before moving off of the walker. Ana felt it rock back again before jolting, feeling the large blaster take another aim.
As Cody's feet hit the ground, the redhead watched him begin to hurry off to the other side towards the grounded clones, many of them already taking cover behind something as they walked forward before taking aim for short fire themselves, aiming for some of the droids that were in close enough range to them.
She began looking back along the horizon as another light caught in the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she watched the Separatist bolt flying towards them. She wasn't exactly sure what came first, her own calculations on the trajectory or the slight prickle of a warning in the Force as the bolt rapidly approached them. Her eyes turning to the walker her Master was on, Ana barely had time to open her mouth to warn him before the bolt hit. Among the shadows of the explosion and fire, Ana let out the breath she was holding as she watched a shadow flip gracefully off the tank. Her relief was only fuelled when she saw the blue lightsaber ignite, showing Obi-Wan crouched in his stance, and when she saw the shadows of clone troopers leaving the fire encompassing tank. No casualties from the explosion.
Watching the light of the lightsaber and Obi-Wan's shadow begin to burst forward, the clones from the tank and from beside it moved to follow him quickly, their shadows both leaving a trail and almost making them invisible.
Taking the specs, Ana was already moving to look for the Separatist line, eyes searching for the larger gun. Watching another light burst from the other side and come flying towards their army, she took note of the position as her view was taken up by a bright light from the explosion to her left, leaving the air charged from the two bolts blasting into each other.
"Coin, take aim at 8 left!" Ana commanded, still looking through the specs, keeping eyes on the position. If they can take out their main gun while Obi-Wan drew closer to Grievous, it wouldn't take long for the battle to end.
Feeling the jolt of the tank below her, she followed the line of fire through her specs and watched the bolt smash the gunner, fire erupting from the ground as the bright lights of the explosion filled the view in the specs.
"Great shot, Coin!" she told him, "we got it."
Pulling the specs away, she commanded into the com unit to the other tanks and clones, "the main gun's down! Push forward!"
Bringing her hand back up to hold the specs to her eyes, she felt the tank moving forward again. Searching the Separatist ground, she saw the blue and green lights of three lightsabers crashing against each other. Not realizing she was also leaning forward slightly, Ana changed the vision length on the specs, watching as Grievous began crashing and making blows to Obi-Wan as her Master deflected and defended the sabers, watching with anticipation as the green labour was flown from Grievous's hand, the light spinning a few times before disappearing, likely as it deactivated when hitting the ground.
She felt the prickle from the Force first, like a light breath of air against the back of her neck before feeling more of a rush of wind. Brining the specs back down, Ana's eyes searched the sky, spotting the ship coming from the west as it flew quickly towards them, low to the ground. Eyes widening slightly as it began to pass over her, Ana brought her arm back up to speak into the com, her hair blowing in the wind the low-flying ship made as some strands moved into her face, gently tickling her cheeks. The Separatist ship, no doubt one Grievous must've been calling for to pick him up.
"Triple-Eight, aim for that ship! The rest of you, keep moving forward. If it gets close to you aim for the ship as well, but take out those droids," Ana spoke into the com before turning to Coin. "Coin, shoot for that ship as well."
Jumping down from the tank, Ana was already running towards the Separatist ship as it stopped over what remained of the Separatist fleet, moving to help Obi-Wan subdue Grievous or at least stop him from entering the ship before they could take it down. Eyes searching as she clipped the specs to her belt, she ran faster as she could see the small images of Obi-Wan being kicked away from Grievous as the cyborg began to jump up a broken ship, lightsabers disengaging as they fell.
Igniting her own lightsaber, Ana pushed faster, taking as long of strides as she possibly could to reach them, bolts from the clones and tanks aiming towards Grievous and the ship decorating the sky in blue and yellow light.
Rushing up the broken ship, Ana quickly passed Obi-Wan as he began to slowly push himself up.
Gritting her teeth, Ana leaped as Grievous hooked a line to the ship as it quickly lifted up, aiming to cut it and bring him back down. Watching as Grievous ignited his own saber, Ana could only block and defend as he brought faber down on hers instead of the attack. Turning a bit mid-air, the Grievous attacked blocked any attack Ana could've made as she was falling back down from the jump. Feeling her knees hit the ship, she grimaced slightly before letting herself slide down slightly until her shoes caught on a metal pillar from the ship. Catching her balance, she looked up to the ship as it kept lifting up, Grievous slowly being pulled back up to it to leave the atmosphere.
Moving quickly back over to the other side of the ship, she looked down at Obi-Wan as Cody and Longshot rode up quickly to them as Obi-Wan held himself to the side of the ship.
"Are you alright Sirs?" Cody asked, quickly signing as well.
"Master?" Ana asked, sliding down carefully to move closer to him. In the darkness she could barely see his lips when he was facing away from the light of the moons.
"No," he answered, his fist hitting the metal, irritation clearly visible on his face more than his lip movements before he explained, signing for her, "We're right back where we started."
When Ana looked up again, she saw the ship flying away, Grievous no longer visible. She sighed and looked back down at him and asked, "do we have any ships in the air?"
Obi-Wan sighed irritably, but not towards her. Turning back to Cody slightly, he told him as he signed for her benefit, "Call the cruisers. See if they can stop that ship." However, it seemed that Obi-Wan didn't have a lot of faith in that idea. It was a last attempt, like a last word, as a way to try but seemed to know it wouldn't do any good.
"Right away, Sir," Cody answered, signing as well.
Obi-Wan sighed, his face not as contorted in annoyance as before, but more in disappointed irritation. "And tell them to send someone to pick us up," he answered, his shoulders deflating slightly.
Ana looked towards Cody, but then realized that there was nothing left to be done. If Obi-Wan was giving up now, after how determined he was, they knew that this battle was lost. Her shoulders deflated slightly and she disengaged her lightsaber. Hooking it onto her belt, she slid down the side, her feet hitting the ground softly as she watched Obi-Wan already walking back to the others.
Turning back to Cody, he gave a small shrug and signed silently to her "can't win them all."
She gave a slight nod, watching as the two clones immediately turned around to spin away. Turning back to Obi-Wan, she saw her Master looking up at the ship Grievous left on. Frowning a little, she asked gently, "Master? Are you okay?"
He turned to look at her and sighed, nodding. "Yes….I just hate it when we get so close only to have it slip through our fingers."
Sliding back down, Ana's feet hit the ground softly as Obi-Wan pushed himself off the side and slid down as well.
"I'm sorry, Master. I should've ran over to help you faster. We could've kept him occupied while the clones had more time to shoot down the ship," Ana admitted, hoping her voice didn't sound as small as it felt in her throat.
But he was already shaking his head.
"You did exactly what I told you, Ana. And you did it well. The last attempt to get him was a … heroic attempt," Obi-Wan told her, a gentle smile on his face as well. "The first thing you're going to have to have to learn Ana is how to fall and how to lose. Unfortunately, we cannot win every time, or else we would've won the war the first day. You have to take both the wins and defeats."
He sighs and then tells her, "all we can do is prepare for the next one and do our best. We'll get Grievous, eventually."
She nodded, a smile tugging at her lips.
He patted her shoulder, "lets get going. We have some cleaning up to do. It'll be light in a couple of hours."
She nodded, beginning to walk with him, "yes, Master."