Although Konstatine told Ahsoka to leave the village she decided to stick around and talk to the common people in hopes of getting a better understanding of their standing in the social pecking order. She stealthily hoped this experience would open Jania's mind the different viewpoints as a way not to pass her biases down to her children. Ahsoka could never stand bigotry. She was grateful to come from the Jedi Order, an organization made up of diverse people from nearly every star system in the known galaxy.
Jania's heart soften slightly at the sight of the Geonosians living conditions. Many didn't have huts made of adobe over their heads. Settling for thin tents damaged by the rough winds and occasional rainfall. Ahsoka did not want to cast a premature judgment, but it seemed nobody in the village had bathed in some time. Their stench terrorizes their nostrils. Jania coughs, her throat dry. "I'm going to get some water." The nice old man Ahsoka helped early gave her a wupiupi, a currency robbed of its golden shine by rust and dirt. Tano did not seek a financial reward for assisting the man and refuse, but he persisted. She figured Jania should have it as a form of sincere charity.
However, they could not find a store that served beverages or even food. Ahsoka noticed the crops have all died and the stomachs of the winged creatures have shrunken from what her databanks have showed her.
"Excuse me, miss. We're looking to buy some water." Ahsoka hoped this Geonosian also speak basic. She did not speak the tongue clicking language Geonosians do. Anakin tried to expand her knowledge, only to successfully strain her tongue in the process. People often believe Togrutas share a distinct language amongst themselves when in fact, the speak exclusively in the basic language.
"Water?" The old woman scoffs. "The Separatists provide us the water."
"What do you mean?"
"'Work for Water' is the policy here. We meet our benchmarks for the cause, we get water. And now that the foundries are destroyed, we won't be getting any soon." She mourns.
"It looks like your village hasn't had water for more than a couple of days." Ahsoka points out.
"The C.I.S work us like cattle." She confesses. "But usually when we reach our quota they give us the water. We haven't done that in months."
Why? Could it be they had a change of heart or the foundries weren't as productive as their intel suggests?
"How many droids did the foundry produce?" Ahsoka asks.
"On average, 400,000 a day." She says calmly. The answer shocked Ahsoka and Jania. 400,000? The Kaminoans was only able to produce 200,000 Clones a day.
"And you didn't meet your quota." Jania assumes.
"No. We did. They just didn't give it to us." She states plainly before leaving.
"This is bad." Ahsoka shakes her head. "They need our help."
"We tore down the foundries, we basically liberated them." Jania retorts.
"They don't see it that way. I think they don't know where else to go but here."
(Scene break)
Despite the upsetting living conditions of the average Geonosian, there was work to be done further dismantling the foundries. Irregulars took great joy taking apart the complex contraptions by melting them to scrap metal, some even made makeshift medals to celebrate their victory. Ahsoka ordered the Irregulars to cease, stating these materials are needed as spare parts for the Republic. Jania promised to keep the troops in line.
"You lecture me on how to act, yet you're the one making trophies." Jania chastises Pedro.
"Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't properly acting like a fanboy. Why don't you give me some tips next time." He teases.
"Shut up."
Meanwhile, Ahsoka headed the warnings from her master to prepare for a response from the C.I.S, placing machine guns where the droids are suspected to inject themselves into the battle. Four artillery guns are wheeled in and placed strategically across from one another to cover all their bases. Making sure to hide them so C.I.S recon couldn't detect them. Anakin advises her to hasten their pace, gauging their window to completely dismantle the foundries as one whole day.
Many poor irregulars found themselves wounded and in need of urgent care. It be far too taxing on the Republics assets to transport all of the soldiers back to Coruscant. A makeshift medical ward was designed to accommodate those in need. The horrors of war confined to one area, just in case anyone needed a reminder this isn't one big adventure. It will be at least a day - or even two until help arrives.
"Uhh Commander!" She could hear an officer call for her, though she wasn't sure from here. It was from her com-link.
"Yes?"
"The Separatist are here, their fleet is incoming!" Ahsoka's stomach sank like a rock in the middle of the ocean. "Already? How?"
(Scene break)
Konstatine watched as the sky became littered with C.I.S cruiser ships eager to retake their foundries. "You know they'll blame us for this place being destroyed in the first place." Pavlovich warns.
"I know." Konstatine moves calmly to his desk and pulls out a pistol. "We have more powerful weaponry in the armory. I see it being used today for one of two sides, for the Separatists in a vain attempt to regain good standing, or for the Republic in the off chance they are more charitable than the opposition. What do you think, Pavlovich?" He asks sincerely. "I do not know."
After taking some time, Pavlovich weighed his options and decided. "I believe it is best to try and make some new friends." Konstatine smiles.
"I couldn't agree more. Send an envoy to the Jedi camp. It's time we socialize."
(Scene break)
Ventress could not contain her excitement. Her standing, her reputation, her future as an aspiring Sith hinged on her being successful. It's no secret Dooku's been disappointed in both her and Grievous' performances as of late. Another failure could push him over the edge and make a chance.
"Ma'am, we've spotted four auxiliary guns below us. Our targets are set!" One droid tells her.
"Then fire."
(Scene break)
Konstatine's people gifted the Irregulars with a rocket launcher, state of the art of the Separatists army. The Irregulars found the technology foreign, as it is a departure from how the Republic's weaponry functions. Which quickly made up for the rapid lost of the artillery posts, and the subsequent deployment of droidekas and super battle droids to strangle the small force of Irregulars and treasonous Geonosians.
"It appears they want a rematch." Jania says jovially to Pedro, loading up her sniper rifle, preparing for the incoming assault.
"Is that what they want?" Pedro didn't seem so concerned. "They always say the sequel is just a rehash of the original."
This battle did not follow the same beats as it's first incarnation. The C.I.S were more strategic and calculating than they were previously. while two C.I.S ships were taken out of the sky, the strength of the Republic even coupled with the help of the Geonosians paled in comparison. Yet, the Separatists hadn't deployed ground troops, only a couple of starfighters.
(Scene break)
At the last minute before the deployment of the battle droids, which would have guaranteed to have driven the Republic out, Tera interjected her small battalion before they could do so and boarded the main Separatists cruiser. The Irregulars lacked sufficient knowledge of the enemy's ship and Tera needed to take out the main cruisers power source. She'd prefer going after Ventress to apprehend the leader of the effort to retake Geonosis, but due to the limitations of her army she couldn't.
"Sir, what class ship is this?" Parlay, a youthful Irregular asks in the quietest tone to not alert anyone to their presence. Regardless, it is irresponsible to pick now of all the times to ask for a refresher.
"A dreadnought. The largest ship in the C.I.S navy. Stick close and don't get lost." Tera signs, feeling more like a teacher playing the role of parent of 30 school children on a field trip than a military general. But it helped having the extra support in case things got hairy.
The blueprints to the dreadnought were placed inside Tera's com-link, its 3D image showing via hologram. Once again, another task usually fallen in the hands of a high ranking Clone - such as Commander Cody, only to fall into the hands of the Jedi as the soldiers available did not possess the necessary experience to understand the complexities of the C.I.S maps.
"Where should we attack?" Groome, an older recruit around the ages of 35-40 contemplated ridding the ship of its communications tower in order to keep the C.I.S from calling for reinforcements. But Tera announced their intentions earlier to take down the shield generator so the Republic fleet can focus their fire on the dreadnought.
(Scene break)
Ventress' calm vanished, replaced by a familiar angsts and teeming with frustration. "I gave the order over an hour ago, why don't I see our starfighters?" She hisses. "If I hear one more 'Uh' or stutter I'll slice you open, you filthy heap of scrap metal!"
"The Republic has infiltrated the hanger bay and have held it hostage." That's all Ventress needed to hear to step away from her post and use her negative feelings for a productive cause. Her intel informs her of a Jedi being on board. Ventress believed liberating the hanger bay was of greater importance. Even without the necessary air support, the Republic's ground troops were teetering on the edge of declaring retreat.
(Scene break)
Three artillery posts have been destroyed, only one remained. The Geonosians quickly went to work repairing them, while Pedro took over for the poor soul manning the lone engine who met his end by a piece of shrapnel hitting his head. Pedro ordered the irregular by his side to tend to the wounded gentleman as he took over the post. Although there wasn't a Separatist starfighter in sight, rows of battle droids ran with their hair on fire, in need of meeting some serious pushback.
Jania watched over the action, resuming her previous role as the guardian angel on the Republic's side. Equipped with a weapon capable of shooting a canister acting as an ion grenade, disabling the advancing droid army and stunning those near it, as they marched shoulder to shoulder. A sound of a tree branch collapsing under immense pressure alerted her to the presence of a super battle droid.
Though a dull silver, it's color aluminates in the sunlight temporarily blinding Jania. It grappled Jania by the wrists, holding her so tight she feared her bones would become undone. In her hand she held an ion grenade and electrocuted herself in order to regain freedom. It worked, but left her in immense pain and another super battle droid stood above her, towering at seven-feet she stood little chance in hand-to-hand combat. Slowly rising back to her feet, ignoring the calls to surrender, the droid decided to finish off its prey and knock her off the perch. She flew across before rapidly beginning her descent to certain death. Her screams alerted Ahsoka, powerless to help, all she could do is watch. Jania closed her eyes and hoped her end would be a painless one. The mad breeze brushing against her ears suddenly calmed, opening her eyes she found herself in the lanky arms of a Geonosian. He didn't say much, merely placing her down safely before departing. Jania didn't even get the chance to express her deep gratitude.
"Jania!" She turns her head, remembering there's a battle ongoing. "Come on!" The Irregular hands her a weapon as they begin to take their positions.
Pedro overheated the battery in the artillery and needed to give it time to cool down. He couldn't control his trigger finger, the droids kept coming. The Geonosians managed to get one of the other artillery posts up and running again, while the other two remained out of commission.
(Scene break)
Ventress made quick work of the Irregulars, but just when one of her issues was put to bed another rose from the ashes. The Jedi must've have turned off their shield generators. A blast sent her tumbling across the hanger bay, possibly sustaining a concussion during the fall. Ventress demanded the starfighters protect the dreadnought as opposed to attack Geonosis. She ventured to find the Jedi and crush this pesky rodent.
Tera's job was done. Her small band of inexperienced troops managed to make the haunting dreadnought vulnerable. It was the only ship in the Separatists fleet with a the ability to call for reinforcements. Tera always complained about the fact the only ship able to do this was of the dreadnought or the executor classes. Having one lead the fleet is the equivalent of putting all your eggs in one basket. Perhaps if the Separatists leadership wasn't made up of cold hearted, one-track mind droids they'd realize this too.
"Come on, we need to get out of here." The Irregulars handled themselves surprisingly well. Staying in formation whenever trouble arose, swiftly pushing through battle droids and not an ounce of complaining. Captain Panaka was no Rex, but he certainly whipped the soldiers into shape both physically and mentally.
Ventress was hot on their trail. Tera didn't realize it until they were exiting the dreadnought. Before Ventress could catch up to them Tera waives goodbye, closing the entryway and using her weapon to seal the panel shut. Ventress was growing tired of these accumulating failures and feared for her future. But the time for that is later.
Given the green light to fire, the Republic fleet did just that and blasted the dreadnought relentlessly. Tera decided to assist Ahsoka on the ground level by supplying her with fresh troops.
All seemed lost for the C.I.S. The dreadnought was on its last legs. Caring little for the droids, Ventress hightailed it to the escape pod gnashing her teeth at yet another failure. From the window in her pod she could make out a jackknife looking cruiser spanning through the depths of space. It was the first time Ventress laid eyes on the weapon Dooku called "The Malevolence." It's presence could be seen on the ground for all to see on Geonosis. Even Ahsoka was taken aback at its size. Pedro couldn't believe his lying eyes.
"I don't think that's a friendly." Pedro gulps. A massive relay disabling all of the Republics ships (whilst doing the same to the C.I.S) bringing the space battle to a screeching halt. The C.I.S starfighters had made their presence known and bombarded the camp with all their power, leaving little in their path besides destruction and death. Ahsoka looked around and knew she had been defeated. Glaring up at the mystery weapon she swore to destroy it by any means. But as of now, she's a prisoner of war.
