"Sir," said one of the clones operating the power plant's controls, "we're all set. It'll take a little while longer, but once the reactors overload, this plant will take out the entire city."

Kyle glanced at the dead hostage his subordinates were dragging out. It was a human male, fairly young for a medic…despite himself, a thought pried at his conscience. "And what about the neighboring cities?"

"Some of them will definitely get caught up in the blast. But we have to kill those Jedi."

Kyle put a hand to his head. It ached like crazy since the Chancellor enacted Order 66…he had no idea why…but he shook it off. The trooper was right. Their orders took precedent above all else; and if they had to lay down their lives, or wipe out the entire system to kill the Jedi, then so be it.

"Sir!" exclaimed another clone. "Rasharic is outside the power plant!"

He hurried over to the console. Sure enough, the Devaronian was there, taking cover behind some wreckage with some traitorous clones and droids. Kyle's fists clenched. Allying herself with Separatist filth. He'd make her pay for that. "Tell our forces at the entrance to double their efforts. Convor and I will assemble a strike team in the lobby in case she makes it through, or if this is some diversion for her disciple—"

Movement on the console screen caught his attention and his jaw dropped.

It was a flying droideka.

No…no, it was floating. Rasharic had her hands outstretched as she and a single clone rushed towards the entrance, as blasterfire splattered uselessly against the droid's shield.

"To any and all clones at the entrance!" Kyle bellowed into his comm. "Concentrate all fire on the Jedi—!"

He regretted the order almost immediately. Rasharic's forces took advantage of Kyle's orders and stunned Kyle's clones before they could come close to wearing out the droid's shield. And in no time at all, Rasharic and the clone were at the entrance.

Kyle cursed himself as he snatched up his rifle. "I want this power plant ready to blow before she even makes it to the lobby! One way another, we will eliminate these traitors…for the Republic!"

"For the Republic!" his men shouted back.

As he rushed out, Kyle allowed himself to enjoy a sliver of pride. These were good soldiers to die with. Whoever that clone with Rasharic was, Kyle would make sure he died in disgrace before the power plant could get to him first.

"Let's never do that again," Shrike said shakily, his nerves all but shot.

As soon as Mahi lowered the droideka to the ground, it rolled up into a ball, and charged back outside. "Please," Mahi retorted, and they quickly but cautiously made their way down the corridors. "Not sure how that was worse compared to the suicide runs Skull takes you on."

"That's because I'm protected by nice heavy starfighter armor or have a fast engine for an equally quick getaway."

Mahi raised a hand for silence, so Shrike shut up. As they delved deeper into the plant, Shrike's pulse beat a steady and throbbing tempo within him. Where were the rest of the clones? Which corner would they dart around and try to mow them down?

The Jedi abruptly raised her hand again and Shrike nearly fell over trying to stop. "They're in the lobby ahead," she murmured, her hand pointed to the wide door ahead. "Ready to tell me what your plan is yet?"

Shrike hesitated. This was going to be a tough sell. "I can't, General. Please…you have to trust me. You can't know what it is, or the others are going to see right through it."

He had never noticed how red Mahi's eyes were until now. They seared right into him like two miniature red stars, only Shrike privately felt her gaze burned hotter than any star. "Alright," she replied quietly. "Don't make me regret this, Shrike…or you'll regret it when Tenjarah catches up to you."

Shrike shrugged. "Don't worry, General. We'll both be dead if this doesn't work. Go on ahead, tell them you're here to negotiate."

Mahi's eyes lingered on him a moment longer, but then she began to head to the door, her lightsaber ignited. She raised her comm and said, "This is General Rasharic. I've come to negotiate for the release of the hostages."

The door opened immediately. Two clones came in at the ready, and beyond them, Shrike could see a vast lobby with enormous sets of transparent casing making up the back wall…along with a squad of troopers. "Jedi," one of them growled, "if you're really here to negotiate, you'll allow us to relieve you of—"

Shrike felt like he would rather punch a sleeping Rancor than what he was about to do. But he shoved down his concerns, and with the butt of his rifle, slammed Mahi in the back of her head, sending her sprawling, and her lightsaber clanged to the floor. The clones started and glanced at each other. "I'll take that," Shrike growled as intensely as he could, and snatched up her lightsaber. He grabbed the groaning Devaronian by her collar and jabbed his blaster against her head. "We're taking in her alive," he barked at the duo, "otherwise General Shiny—or rather, the former General Shiny—is going to be a pain to lure in! Well?! Bring me to the officers in charge!"

The clones glanced at each other, clearly unsure of what was going on. Beyond them, Shrike could see clones in the back trying to see what had happened. "Fine," said one of them. "Bring her in. Though Kyle and Convor will probably want to go through with their plan."

Shrike slowly marched Mahi to the doors as they followed the duo in. He wanted to mutter a reassurance, but he didn't dare try to risk blowing his cover. He wasn't sure if he had the nerve to try and talk to her before apologizing anyway.

It was only as he entered the lobby he could appreciate how big it was. The back wall was actually a gigantic pillar, made of both dark opaque and colorless transparent casing, the latter of which was made up countless exotic shapes that climbed all the way up to the top. Behind it, he could see more pillars that pulsed with light, mercifully dimmed by the casing, and around the light he could see other floors that made up the power plant…but he quickly came back to reality as he saw the immediate danger.

Clones in the lobby. Clones on the several stairwells leading to the next floor. All armed and pointing their weapons right at Mahi.

And right in front of them, talking to the duo from the door, were Kyle and Convor.

"You must be new," said Kyle slowly, and Shrike knew that behind that helmet, he was scanning him from head to toe. "So I'll give you the chance to explain yourself, shiny. But first," he added, and tightened his grip on his blaster, "take off your helmet. Nothing personal, have to make sure you're not the renegade, Skull."

"That won't be a problem, Kyle," Shrike replied, and did as he was told.

Kyle and Convor's blasters wavered in surprise. "Shrike?!" exclaimed Convor. "Where have you been?!"

Shrike forced Mahi to her knees, and kept his blaster pointed at her, as she put her hands behind her head. He put his helmet back on as inconspicuously as possible, in case his face gave the game away. "Undercover. It was the only way I could get close. And now that we've got their boss hostage, Skull and Tenjarah will have to come to us. There's no need to blow up the power plant!"

Kyle and Convor muttered to each other. All around them, the clones looked from their superiors to the Jedi. Not for the first time, Shrike begged the Force for help. Skull was going to need it if they were going to get out of there alive.

"Talk to me, General!" said Skull through gritted teeth, as he did his best to not get shot down.

"The medical facility is almost ours!" the Dug replied through the comm. "But their gunships are doing their best to shoot down our evacuation ships! They need more support!"

"General Tenjarah!" interrupted Serket in a panicked tone. "The power plant is reaching critical levels! It won't be long before those clones wipe Arclou City off the face of Cylanar!"

Skull assessed the power plant; though there were still several turrets left, they had taken out a lot of them already… "To any pilots out there, this is Shadow Leader. Fall back to the city and help the evacuation effort. I'll deliver the payload myself."

To his slight surprise, it was the Separatist who objected to it. "You're out of your mind, Captain! Without your squadron, you won't get close to the plant—!"

Skull was so engaged he almost didn't dodge the incoming turret fire. "Sorry, ma'am, but I was sent to Cylanar to save its people, so that's what I'm trusting my squad will do in my place!"

Her sigh rippled through the comm. "At least allow me to provide you with an escort."

He didn't have time to argue. "Fine, but make it fast!"

"Done. And make sure you aim for the ventilation system in the center of the tower!"

As he came around for his attack run, he saw his fellow pilots head to the city…and several droid tri-fighters joined him. "Shadow Leader," said a mechanical voice on the comm. "This is Lylek 1. What are your orders?"

Skull spent precious seconds scanning the power plant. Once his target was marked, he was ready. "Target the turrets; once you've drawn their fire, I'll drop my payload."

"Roger, roger."

Even in this situation, that phrase and the fact they were obeying him made Skull feel awkward…but as the droids carried their orders out to the letter, taking out enough turrets, he got over it.

He put all power into the engines and shot straight ahead. A few turrets began to turn back to him, but it was too late…he hoped. He still needed to close the distance…a laser came within an inch of his fighter. Skull ignored the sweat that ran down his face…a little closer…more lasers started to come his way…

Skull fired the missiles.

"We have our orders, Shrike," said Kyle firmly. "Every moment we spend trying to kill the traitors is increases the possibility that more Jedi will arrive to save their comrades."

"He's right," Convor agreed. "When the plant blows, it'll take them all out at once." He gestured at Mahi. "Now comply with Order 66 and execute Rasharic. Then there will only be two names to scratch off the list."

Shrike almost dropped his blaster. Throughout his time in the war, he had seen his brothers argue, joke, and celebrate with their helmets on. Sometimes it felt like their helmets were stuck to their heads for days, but they always looked alive. Now, they acted like the countless battle droids they had turned into scrap. "So you're just going to throw your lives away—the lives of all our brothers—and take the city with you? All because some old lunatic told you to?"

It took Shrike everything he had to keep standing as he saw every blaster in the room fix on him. Even Kyle and Convor's. "Yes, we will, CT-1641," Kyle snarled. "That 'old lunatic' is the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. For all intents and purposes, he is the Republic. It is our duty to fight for him, and if need be, lay down our lives for him!"

Miraculously, Shrike felt something rekindle his energy, and he stood up straighter. "The Republic," he shot back, "is not limited to any one person, Kyle. We are all the Republic. Us, the Jedi, and the people we came here to protect. And what Palpatine ordered you to do goes against everything we fought for…everything that the Republic stands for!"

Unless it was his imagination, Shrike thought he saw his brothers hesitate for a moment, but then it was gone. "CT-1641," Convor began, "I accuse you of treason against the Grand Army of the Republic, and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Either terminate the Jedi, and revoke your claims of heresy, or we will execute you both!"

"Sir!" interrupted one of the clones in the back. "The reactor is about to go critical!"

Behind the casing, the pillars glowed brighter than ever. Trying not to move his head, Shrike glanced at Mahi. Her fingers moved quickly, but he got the message. Keep it up. "I guess we're all dead anyway," Shrike grunted. "Please…Kyle, Convor, for old times…can we please face the end together?"

Their only response was to ready their blasters. "No, CT-1641," Kyle replied harshly. "You'll die alongside the traitor. Alone—"

Suddenly, all the lights went out, including the ones from the pillars, but were quickly replaced with red emergency lighting. "Sir!" said the clone from before. "Something cut the power, we can't get—!"

Something interrupted him from above. A mix of tearing, grinding, sparks, and…laughter?

Some of the vents popped out and the clones dove out of the way to dodge them. Shrike was more concerned about what was swarming out of the vents like venom-mites.

"Buzz droids!" shouted another clone, and they all opened fire.

Sure enough, the cackling menaces scurried all over the walls, gleefully tearing out or cutting anything they could get their tools on. "No!" yelled Convor, as he tried to help Kyle regain control. "Forget the droids, we need to kill the Jedi before—!"

Mahi got up, snatched her lightsaber from Shrike, and ignited in one graceful moment. "Shrike, stay close to me!"

Kyle and Convor fired a few shots, but as they did so, Shrike noticed something else pour out of the vents. A thick purple gas. In only a few moments, it had almost flooded the area around them. The clones caught in the vapors quickly began to cough, and despite their efforts to resist it, collapsed. Mahi spread her hands out and the gas flowed harmlessly around them. Shrike marveled at their safe little sphere, until he saw two shapes approach. The first was Convor, who fell face-first onto the floor. The second was Kyle, who plodded towards them through sheer force of will, trying to raise steady the blaster in his shaking hand. Not taking any chances, Shrike stunned him, and Kyle fell alongside Convor. "Well done, Shrike," said Mahi. Despite the circumstances, she looked at him with pride. "And what you said to them…I couldn't have put it better myself."

Shrike shrugged. "General, if anything smart comes out my trap, it's only because I heard you say it first."

Mahi smiled softly. "Then at least you know how to listen."

Through the Force, Palpatine could feel it…the deaths of the Jedi, as the culmination of the Sith and their thousand year-long ambition finally arrived. But there was now a new disturbance…he closed his eyes as he tried to determine what it was. All too soon, he realized what it could be.

He opened his eyes; his office was as he last saw it, and the entrance was flanked by two members of the Red Guard. Palpatine's lip twitched as he relished what their new name would soon be. The door opened, and an officer—a normal human—attempted to rush in, only to be blocked by the guards' force-pikes. Palpatine waved an impatient hand and the guards allowed him in. "Chancellor," the officer wheezed. "We just received the latest updates from the Outer Rim. Kohtalo Egell was confirmed dead on Colys by General Locus. Garvarah and his apprentice Odon Siro, unfortunately, were able to escape their unit. Galgor Sarshan was wounded in battle; they attempted to retreat to Shili to treat his wounds, but he died just prior to Order 66—"

"Yes," Palpatine interrupted sharply, his eyes narrowed. "I can review the details later at my own leisure. Have we heard anything from the 197th legion on Cylanar?"

The officer hesitated. Caught between Palpatine and his guards, he looked like a Nuna about to be ripped apart by a pack of Massiffs. "I…I regret to report we haven't been able to reestablish contact with Cylanar."

This shouldn't have worried Palpatine. It was only two more Jedi out of the ten thousand they were exterminating; they had more important targets to worry about, including the former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Vader's former Master Kenobi, and Master Yoda. Yet…ever since his first call with Skull, Palpatine felt an unknown danger surround this duo, and he couldn't place why. "Do we have any available units to send to Cylanar?"

The officer did his best to regain his military bearing. "…no, Chancellor. All of our forces are currently busy routing the Jedi or the remaining Separatist forces."

Palpatine stared at this miserable servant over the top of steepled fingers. He would have loved to take his anger out on him, to let him know what awaited should he be the bearer of more grave news…but they were stretched thinly enough as it was. And he would need every resource at his disposal for his soon to be Empire. "Leave us," he growled quietly. "And as soon as you are able, prepare a task force to depart for Cylanar. I want those Jedi found and eliminated."

The officer bowed and scampered past the guards. Palpatine leaned back in his chair, and tried to turn his mind to other important matters…but Skull's last words of defiance kept echoing back to him…

By the Skull landed in front of the medical facility, to the dawn of a new day, he felt like he could have slept for a week inside his V-wing. He didn't have a drop of energy left…but despite that, he forced himself to get out. Mahi and Tenjarah were already at the entrance, their wounds being tended to by some free medics, while the rest of the staff carried a small fleet of gurneys inside, each with a clone securely fastened to them.

"I've got several squads in orbit above the planet," he told them. "If another fleet shows up to Cylanar, we'll be ready."

They didn't answer. Had this been another campaign, they would have shown some reaction. If not satisfaction, then relief that the battle was over. Instead, they looked downcast…broken. As if they had lost the battle anyway. "We tapped into the Republic network," said Mahi. She didn't look at him; instead, she stared at the ground vacantly. "Every single Jedi has been declared a traitor to the Republic, and is to be killed on sight…right down the Padawans…"

Her eyes began to water and she buried her face in her hands. Tenjarah put a hand on her shoulder, but even he looked helpless and lost. To Skull's relief, his comm went off. "Captain, this is Crater," said the voice over the comm. "We did a thorough sweep of the city twice over, right down to the catacombs. No stragglers, but we're checking with the medical staff to make sure everyone is accounted for…and rest assured, I've got a few of the boys keeping an eye on our Separatist friends."

"Good work, Crater. After that, go get some rest."

"Will do." There was a pause, but then Crater said, "And Captain…I take back what I said. I don't regret disobeying Palpatine's orders now."

Skull felt a sliver of satisfaction as he remembered how his last conversation with Palpatine went. "Me neither."

He turned back to his Generals. They didn't look like they were ready to give any new orders yet. "With your permission," he said slowly, uneager to overstep himself, "I'd like to organize some sort of memorial service with the rest of the troops…if that's alright, Generals?"

Mahi sniffed thickly and wiped her eyes. "Of course…I'll help with that. Tenjarah, please, go keep an eye on the doctors as we finish up the chip removals."

Her pupil nodded and bustled off. "And Skull," she said, as she finally met his gaze. She still looked terrible, but he could see some of her strength return. "I don't think Tenjarah and I are generals anymore…so please…you can call me Mahi from now on."

Skull put his exhaustion aside, stood at attention, and saluted regardless. "Sure thing…General."

As he came to, Kyle groaned as what felt like several daggers stabbed sharply into his head. He hadn't felt this terrible since that 'evening excursion' on Corellia. He had nursed a headache for days after that incident. So why was he feeling so bad now?

"CT-1744 is…one is all yours, Ozoa…"

"Please…have someone else…can't keep doing this anymore…"

The voices gradually became more distinct as Kyle's vision returned. A Mikkian and that moron Jengu were next to him, arguing quietly as other medical staff attended to clones in surgical pods. The Togruta looked irritable and exhausted, the Mikkian's eyes were red and blotchy. Strange…the war was over, so why did they appear so miserable? "What happened?" he groaned, and tried to get off the bed. "Did I get infected too?"

"Something like that," snapped Jengu, and he stalked off.

Kyle didn't like how Ozoa stared at him, as if he a thermal detonator about to go off any moment. Without warning, memories began to come back to him, but they were blurred and unfocused. "Please," Ozoa asked in a thick voice, and raised a shaking hand towards him. "Lay back down…you've all gone through a…a…"

Her voice cracked and more tears spilled down her face. Kyle was about to ask why, when the memories began to come back in full…Palpatine's message…Shrike arguing with him…the hostage—

"No…no! That didn't—it couldn't have, I-I would never—!"

Now the other staff looked towards them, all of them with fear and wariness in their eyes. "Where are they?!" Kyle demanded. "Skull?! Shrike?! The generals?! Are they alright?!"

Not waiting for an answer, Kyle leapt off the bed and ran, and ignored the protests and orders from the others. The halls passed by in a blur, and more shouts followed after him, but he didn't care. He had to make sure he hadn't…didn't…

"Get off me! I said let me go!"

A clone was being held back by several of the staff, as a pod was being taken to the exit. The clone managed to break through and collapsed on the pod. "Chant!" Banter sobbed. "Please…I tried not to…I'm so sorry!"

Kyle stared in horror; more pods were being carried out past his grieving brother…how many were dead because of them? Then Smash came up to Banter and laid a hesitant hand on his shoulder. "Banter…it wasn't your fault…come on, we'll say goodbye to him and all of our brothers soon. Let's get you taken care of first…"

Banter heaved with sobs as Smash took him away. Kyle collapsed to his knees, his hands clenched to his head. This wasn't supposed to happen…the war was over…why did they—?

Then he remembered Palpatine's words.

"Execute Order 66."

Palpatine…he did this…and then Kyle remembered what else Palpatine had ordered them to do. But then…what managed to stop them from—?

"Kyle?"

It was Skull and Shrike; his brothers stared at him with the same unease the medical staff had. "Convor!" Kyle blurted out. "The generals! Please, tell me, are they alright?! We didn't—?!"

"Calm down!" Skull ordered. And for a moment, it was like the old days again, back when Skull reigned them back in when they needed to get serious. "The generals are fine, and so is Convor. The generals are getting a plan together while we get the rest of the chips out."

Kyle got back to his feet, but he noticed Shrike's hand hovered over to his blaster, as if he expected Kyle to attack at any moment. Even though it hurt, Kyle couldn't blame his brother either. "Yes, Captain," Kyle replied. "And please…I'm…I'm sorry. I-I tried to fight it…"

Skull put a firm hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing to apologize for, Kyle. We all know who is really responsible for what happened."

The same dark and furious look in Skull's eyes formed in Shrike's as well. And all too soon, Kyle felt like it sank into his as well. "Yeah," he growled, and his hands clenched into fists. "Palpatine."