Hello there! And welcome back to another installment of this dandy story I've created inside my head! I've finally moved into my own place and have started school again. After a very long game of "do I get to move in this time?" with my new apartment complex, I'm finally settled and getting better at every turn. Some days are still hard, but that's okay! I'm confident I'll come out on top so I just need to keep looking forward. Thank you all for your support and I hope you enjoy! READ ON!!
At this point, I didn't think anything would surprise me anymore. But that did. I certainly wasn't expecting that. I had no idea what to say. I just kind of stood there, staring at the man. I looked over to Taelo who looked, and felt, just as stunned.
"I know all of this is a lot to comprehend, but the leaders are preparing to strike our first targets and we need your help." Morek addressed us. I took a deep breath and looked down to my helmet to grab it and hold it under my arm.
"Well," I started looking to Taelo then back to Morek. "At least I have one brother who I like." As I started towards Morek, Taelo spoke up.
"You don't even know him." He pointed out as he took up step behind me as we followed Morek down the stairs.
"I know I like him more than you." I sassed as we reached the bottom of the steps. We followed Morek past a group of people gathered around a small chart on the wall and came to stand next to Commander Daerk next to a large holotable that people were gathered around.
"General." Daerk greeted.
"Commander." I greeted back with a head nod. Normally, I was the one being greeted as Commander. It was weird, but I had a job to do so I couldn't bring it up.
"This is Admiral Gresb." Daerk motioned to someone across the table.
"Welcome, General. We appreciate your support and would like to welcome you home." A woman said from across the holotable. I nodded again before looking around.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Admiral, but I'm afraid I will not be staying on Mekkef after you have regained your freedom. As I'm sure you all know, the Galactic Republic and Separatist Alliance are at war and I cannot abandon my responsibilities I owe to the Jedi." I announced. "I will stay until things are stable, but I just cannot remain knowing I have friends and family worried about me."
"I see... This saddens us greatly, but we understand. We cannot force you to stay." The Admiral admitted. "And we are extremely grateful for your help." Not like I had much choice, but I nodded and smiled sympathetically nonetheless. "We have been gathering forces and supplies under the radar ever since your parents started this movement. I'm confident enough to say we are prepared to take back our world."
"Show me." I said, standing up straight.
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For the last 7 hours, we had been discussing supplies and gear and manpower as well as targets we needed to hit. We determined the fleet needed to be taken care of first so they could not retaliate with orbital bombardment while we attacked other targets. The airfields needed to be hit at the same time. For years, volunteers have amassed all over the planet and sympathizers to this cause have implanted themselves in the government and military. The spies have made sure that the accumulation of all of these weapons and people went unnoticed by the people who supported the tyrant.
The tyrant, Netro Arundel. My father's brother. He had become so jealous that my father was next in line for the throne that he assassinated his own father and framed my brother, calling for his death as a traitor of the throne. Despite circumstantial evidence, his supporters swiftly moved in and eliminated those that opposed his rule and became a ruthless oppressor. He had a network of mercenaries that had delivered the necessary munitions to cause a forcible takeover.
As for our strength, we had a few squadrons of fighters and pilots that included bombers and attack fighters. A few million men and women stood at the ready to fight against the armies of the seven planets in Mekkef's system. The trick? We didn't have a single cruiser. All we had were fighters and men.
I inhaled deeply, holding it for a while and put a hand to my forehead as I crossed my other arm over my chest. Exhaling slowly, I put my hands on the holotable and looked up at the diagram of the fleet that sat above Mekkef.
"What is it?" Morek whispered from beside me. I bit my bottom lip and continued to study the diagram as I stood up straight and crossed my arms over my chest. I shook my head.
"It's a losing battle." I admitted quietly.
"What? You don't think we can win this?" He asked a little louder, turning to me. Shaking my head, I pinched the bridge of my nose. Turning to him, quickly explaining.
"No, that's not what I meant. Morek, have you ever fought in a battle? Like, a real fight? Where people get hurt?" I asked earnestly. His face morphed from one of concern to understanding. He shook his head somberly. "It's never easy. It's very hard most of the time. Seeing people get hurt, seeing them die." I offered putting my eyebrows up as I put a hand on his shoulder. He let out a dejected sigh.
"General Arundel, is everything alright?" Admiral Gresb's voice pulled my attention away from Morek. I looked around for a few seconds and found the discussion of tactics had hushed and all eyes were on me and Morek. I cleared my throat and planted my hands on the edge of the holotable.
"This is not going to be an easy fight." I warned. "And I'm not talking about how many weapons the enemy has. You aren't fighting machines that are programmed. These are living, breathing, people who are fighting for what they believe in. At first contact, there will be blood spilled." I looked around again as I spoke. The room had sombered considerably. "For many of you... for most of you," I corrected. "This will be your first interaction with violence. Are you all ready for this?" I put my hands on my hips and tilted my head up ever so slightly as I pushed my eyebrows up and together. As everyone looked at each other silently, I could feel their emotions. Many of them were fearful of what was to come. At the same time, they all were swelling with courage. And not just courage, but hope. Hope for a better future for their sons and daughters. A future where their children didn't have to fight to secure their freedoms.
"We are ready." Morek said. I turned to my younger brother and nodded, pulling my lips taut and to the side slightly. It was silent, but there was nothing but agreement among them.
"Alright, lets do this." The room erupted in whoops and hollers. They were ready.
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It was nearing daylight. Hopefully, this would all be over quickly and decisively. Prolonged civil war would destroy the system, especially without external support to help rebuild.
I stood outside the cave system with my hands folded behind me as I meditated. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. My thoughts wandered to Obi-Wan. I'm sure he was almost fully recovered by now. Anakin would've taken him back to the Temple to rest and get proper care. The bacta patches and tanks on a cruiser could only do so much.
Reaching out through the Force, I called to him. I wanted so badly to say how sorry I was for everything. I knew how guilty he would feel. He would say he shouldn't have put me in that situation. To have to choose something like that. In reality, it was my fault. I trusted Taelo when he had done nothing up to that point except try to deceive me. Just as I was about to pull back, I felt the familiar comfort of my master reaching back out to me. I huffed out a breath of relief and smiled tightly as my eyebrows furrowed. He was okay.
Realizing it was almost time, I started to pull out of my meditation. I felt another presence, much closer. Morek turned to leave.
"You don't have to go." I offered. He stopped and turned back to me, watching me closely.
"I don't want to interrupt. Taelo said you'd be out here meditating, or something." He admitted, unsure of what I was doing. I opened my eyes and smiled as I turned around slowly.
"I was. Is everything okay?" I could sense a certain unease within him. He hesitated, looking back into the cave then out to the forest I was just facing.
"Do you really think we can do it?" He questioned. I smiled sympathetically at him.
"I do. We just need to play our cards right." I admitted before letting out a dejected sigh.
"You seem opposed to this." I shook my head at his words.
"As a Jedi, I'm opposed to taking life. All life is precious. I'm supposed to be a protector of peace, but for more than a year, all I've been is a warrior."
"You're opposed to war." He said, understanding a little more.
"Yes, in a way, but I'm not opposed to fighting for peace." I explained truthfully.
"All I know is what I'm willing to do for my people's freedom." I nodded at him with another soft smile.
"The dedication of a good leader. Morek, I think you should be the one to take the throne when the dust settles." I offered slowly.
"Me? But I can't." He blurted out. "The prophecy says you have to be the one to lead us to peace. Isn't that your job as a Jedi?" My smile turned to one of a bit of sadness.
"I can help lead you there, but your planet's throne isn't my place. It ceased to be my place when I was given to the larger galaxy. I'm needed out there. I have friends and family waiting for me to come back. To come home. This place... it's always been your home." He nodded with a solemn expression. He put his head down and his voice softened.
"I understand... I guess I was just hoping that maybe you and Taelo could stay and we could be a family again."
"I know, and I'm sorry, but I can't just abandon my duties to the Republic. I'm sure I'll come back one day, though." I told him, trying to give him a shred of hope. "And Morek, I'd be cautious with Taelo. I know he's our brother, but he isn't who the prophecy describes him as. He's hurt my friends before." A twang of sadness washed off Morek. He nodded before motioning to the cave.
"We should go, sun's rising so we'll be starting very soon." I gave a single nod and followed him back down into the base. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, we gave each other a good luck smile and a brief nod before going our separate ways. We each had our missions. My team was waiting for me at the holotable. I walked over and planted my hands on the edge as every pair of eyes fell to me.
"Pull it up." I said as I looked over to Daerk. He looked down and pressed some buttons and the fleet's diagram came up. "We all know what's at stake here. As of right now, and until we get the all clear signal hardwired, we have the most important job. We sneak aboard the flagship through this hangar and we get the the broadcasting station and we rewire it. Then, we move to communications and jam it so they can't call for reinforcements once they discover us." I said, pointing to different areas of the largest ship in the fleet as I gave directions. "Are we ready?" A small chorus of ayes followed my question. "Move out." My team dispersed from the holotable and began to move towards the cave exit and head for the stealth ship. Looking down at my helmet that rested on the table, I let out a strong sigh.
Oh, how I longed for Obi-Wan's guidance. And not just his advice, his presence. He was always so sure of himself and his tactics and it gave me a confidence boost.
As I picked up my helmet and began towards the cave stairs, Daerk calling out, "General Arundel," made me slow at the bottom of the stairs. "A word?" I looked around as he seemed nervous to talk to me. I nodded my head up and we ascended the stairs a little bit so we had more privacy.
"What is it?" I asked as I placed my helmet under my arm and looked down to him as I was a couple steps above him.
"There was something I didn't mention about the prophecy when we were in my office yesterday." His hands were together, folding and fidgeting in front of him as he spoke. I tried to send out a soothing wave through the Force. He stopped fidgeting so much and let out a cough into a balled fist before continuing. "It, um, it said your older brother would betray you while you took your place upon the throne." I let out a huff of breath and couldn't help the smile.
"Shocker." My voice dripped sarcasm and this took the Commander aback. I turned to head back up the stairs when his voice stopped me again.
"You're not worried about this?" His voice was full of concern.
Looking back down at him, I answered, "No. Taelo has been trying to kill me since the first time I met him." I'm pretty sure his eyes about popped out of his head. "I'll be fine." I reassured him before turning away again and taking a few more steps up.
"Good luck, General." I paused at his words. My fingers brushed my lightsaber as I turned back around.
"May the Force be with you." Then, I turned and made my way to the stealth ship Taelo had brought me here on. When I made it to the ship, everyone was already on board and waiting for me. I didn't waste any time heading to the bridge and starting the ship up. Once we had touched off the ground, I engaged the cloaking device and soared through the sky into the upper atmosphere.
As I was preparing to gain entry to the flagship's hangar, a familiar presence washed over me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Obi-Wan sitting in the copilot's chair. My breath caught in my throat and my hands stilled over the controls. My head whipped to look in that direction, but when my eyes laid on the chair he wasn't there anymore. I scoffed at myself. "You're seeing things, Kemara." I muttered. Shaking my head, I returned my attention to flying. Bringing us into the hangar, I deactivated the cloaking and opened the ramp before even setting down. My team jumped out and dispatched the guards all around the hangar before I had even set her down.
I grabbed my helmet off the panel next to me and stared into the visor for a moment. "It's go time." I whispered to myself. As I brought my helmet up above my head, I paused, looking to the copilot's chair where I was sure I had seen Obi-Wan moments prior. Closing my eyes, I told myself to get my head in the game. Opening my eyes back up, I slipped the helmet on and nodded to myself. I made my way off the ship and met up with my team who was meeting with an officer of the hangar. A middle aged man with dark brown hair and bright eyes looked up to me as I approached.
"You must be General Arundel. I've been working closely with Admiral Gresb. My name is Fareek." He identified, holding out a hand. I clasped it with both hands and shook firmly.
"I can't thank you enough for what you're doing, Fareek. We'll get your world back." I promised. It became very real in that second. I was leading a war. Fareek nodded with a smile and took his hand back as he reached for a small data pad on his waist.
"I don't doubt it." He affirmed as he pressed buttons and pulled up what looked like a small diagram of the ship. "We are here, in this hangar. You need to get here." A small dot appeared towards the middle of the ship. "This is not the fastest way, but it is the least guarded. Once you have hardwired the all clear, wire this to it and it will act as a trip so you will be notified if someone tries to tamper with the hardwire." I nodded and took the device, putting it in a pouch on my tool belt. "Then, you should follow this route to communications which is nearby." He explained. "I'll stay here, lock the hangar, and keep people out of the hangar bay control room." I nodded curtly at him.
"You heard him, let's move." I ordered, taking my lightsaber off my belt. We all began down the halls, checking corners and stunning people we encountered. It was going smoothly, until we ran into a Guardian.
Guardians were Mekkef's elite protectors. They were Force sensitive and served the throne fiercely. They didn't use the Force like Jedi or Sith. They believed the Force was a gift for serving a higher purpose, like protecting the throne, and acting as a protector of Mekkef.
Quickly reacting, I leaped forward and kneed him in the chest, sending him flying back. I reached into my pouch and pulled out a disc, a small portable EMP device, and threw it onto his armor, disabling his communications. He quickly stood up and ran at me, drawing his staff off his back. I ignited my lightsaber and blocked his first strike. Pushing back, I knocked him back a step and advanced, going in for my own strike. He blocked it easily and managed to kick a foot out and nail me in the stomach. I was sent back a few meters through the air before I stopped myself in a kneeling position. As he ran towards me, I threw a hand out and ice flew forward and stuck his feet to the ground, throwing him off balance. He fell forward slightly so I rushed forward and hit him with a flurry of lightsaber strikes, managing to get his weapon away from him. Quickly ducking, I let my team send a few stun blasts to him and he unceremoniously fell to the floor with a thud. Deactivating my lightsaber, we quickly moved forward. We made it to the central reactor where the all clear beacon was placed. Seeing us come in, the security team aimed their weapons before a few of their own turned to stun their own. Well, it certainly was nice not having to fight every single person we encountered. The remaining security guards ushered us in and locked the doors.
"Tweensy, Gaster. You know what to do." I barked as I met with the security guards. Taking out the trip Fareek gave me, I tossed it to Gaster who caught it and got right to work with Tweensy.
"Welcome, General. The admiral of the fleet is on the bridge. He doesn't suspect anything yet, but when his check-ins aren't met, he'll put up red alert." One of the guards informed me.
"How long until the next check-in?"
"Approximately 15 minutes." The other guard answered.
"Alright, we'll say 10 to play it safe." Whistling to my people, I shouted to them as I jogged over to their work area. "Boys, how much longer do you two need?"
"Just 2 more minutes!" Gaster relayed as I stopped next to him.
"You've got 1!" I barked as I rounded up the rest of the team. "Alright, we're splitting up. I'm heading to the bridge to deal with the admiral. Jesker, Derno, you're with me. The rest of you will go to communications with Gaster and Tweensy and jam them. When you're done, you send the signal to the base to let them know they can start their attack on the airfield and send up the fighters to take care of the fleet." They all nodded fervently. "Let's go." I nodded to the two that would come with me and the rest went by Tweensy and Gaster. As we made our way down the hall, we dropped more squads and even managed to surprise a Guardian before he could react. We came up to a corner and the bridge was just around it down the hall. Looking at the chronometer on my wrist, we had 3 minutes left. "Gaster, have you jammed their communications?" I whispered into my wrist comm as I peered around the corner, holding my hand up to keep my two people back. There were two Guardians standing on each side of the blast door
"Yes! We just finished. We're signaling base they're cleared for takeoff now!" He relayed.
"Good, lock it down and make your way to the bridge. We're gonna hijack this ship." I clicked my communicator off and squatted back behind the wall with my men. "Alright, Jesker. Time to show em what you're made of." I teased with a smirk. He brandished his dual blaster pistols with a large smile. "We're gonna rush the bridge. I'll take on the Guardians while Jesker stuns the crew of the bridge. Derno, I need you to take the admiral. He'll have the codes to lock down all the hangars and use the turrets against the other ships." They both nodded as Derno took out his pistol and I ignited my saber.
"On you, General." Derno affirmed. Looking at the chrono, I took a deep breath. 2 and a half minutes. Dropping my arm, I rushed the corner, followed closely by Jesker and Derno firing over my shoulder at the Guardians. The Guards had time to react so they deflected the blasts. Throwing out my free hand, I Force pushed the left Guard into the wall, stunning him while I jumped and spun to strike at the other Guard. He blocked, but I had the momentum so he had to take a few steps back and away from the control panel. Jesker and Derno opened it up and rushed the bridge as I jumped back to the other Guard, regaining his attention as he was about to follow my two. He blocked my flurry of strikes and used his size to push me back with a strong shove of his electrostaff. Sensing a strike coming from behind me, I twirled and blocked the right Guard's blow. The left one was advancing so I activated the other end of my lightsaber, blocking his advance too. I stamped my foot on the ground, covering the immediate floor area with ice. The Guards almost fell off balance, one throwing his hands out to regain his. I pushed my lightsaber up and away, causing the other to slip and fall on his back. I grabbed the first Guard's staff and went low to kick his feet out from under him. While he was falling to the ground, I threw a hand out and Force pushed him into the wall again with enough force to incapacitate him. Turning back to the other Guard, I twirled the staff and brought it down on his chest and stunned him until he went limp. I deactivated my saber and held my hands out and drew them back to me and up, clearing the ice from the floor.
"General!" I turned around to see Gaster leading the others to me.
"Good job." I commended and let a hand rest on Gaster's shoulder as they all stopped next to me. I turned back to the bridge and speed walked up to the from viewport. Unconscious bodies littered the floor and seats and a very unhappy admiral sat cuffed in the middle of the floor.
"He won't tell us anything, General." Derno told me, crossing his arms over his chest, looked to the admiral then back to me. I nodded and turned back to the admiral and took the few steps toward him and knelt down in front of him, slipping my helmet off and setting it down next to me.
"So, you don't want to help free these people from this tyrant? That is what I'm hearing, correct?" I asked nonchalantly as I looked him in the eyes then down to his chest that held his rank.
"Tyrant? Is that what you people see him as? He is the true liberator of Mekkef. He took the throne from the stuck up noble family." He scoffed. The ship shook with incoming laser fire and I turned to look out the viewport as a battle ensued with our small fleet of fighters and the surrounding cruisers. I smirked as I turned back around.
"Netro was part of the royal family. He was just a power hungry man who killed his own brother to take the throne."
"And he doesn't even have children he's going to pass the throne to. He's making sure only those worthy will inherit the throne."
"Oh yes, I'm sure appointing a puppet King will make him so worthy." I smiled at the Admiral as I looked back down to his shoulder. Lifting a hand, I brushed imaginary lint off his shoulder. I began to raise my hand to persuade the admiral to tell us what we needed to know, but he spoke again, freezing me.
"You're the Arundel daughter." He realized. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment. I closed my mouth and tilted my chin up. "You're the daughter of Meekra and Jarro Arundel. Here to take back the throne for killing your parents."
"I don't want to take the throne." I said honestly, calmly.
"You're the only one who can." He taunted through a smile.
"You know, everyone keeps saying that. Why is that? I'm sure any of these men or women could sit on that glorified chair and do a better job of leading the people than me."
"Only she who has understood the cold can tame the fire." He responded, obviously reciting something. "It all came to fruition. When you were born, everything started happening according to prophecy."
"I believe you make your own future." I dared.
"Then you really aren't one of us." He challenged back.
"No, you're probably right." I teased with a smirk. "And you will give us access to the ship." I suggested as I waved my hand in front of his face.
"I will give you access to the ship." He repeated. I rolled my eyes as I stood up, turning to Derno.
"He's all yours." I said to Derno as I stood up and turned back to the controls of the bridge. Derno started asking the admiral questions and telling people what to input and where. The flagship's blaster cannons started firing on its fellow cruisers. "Gaster, can you get me a line to all the ships in the fleet?"
"It'll take a moment since we blocked the frequency the ships use, but I can do it." I nodded and stepped back so he could get to work.
"General, the fleet has been completely engaged and the boarding transports are on their way." Jesker reported.
"Good work, all of you." I commended. I felt them all swell with happiness and hope. If we kept this momentum, we could have the capital by the end of the week.
"General, I have your line for you." Gaster said. I turned back and stepped up to the console. "Just press this button." He advises and pointed to a button. I nodded at him and he stepped back. I took a deep breath as I looked out to the stars and pushed the button.
"Attention Mekkef Fleet. My name is Kemara Arundel. I led a strike team onto the flagship and now have possession of all controls and aspects of your flagship. Currently disabling your weapons is my fleet of fighter pilots and your own flagship. I have ships boarding every cruiser as we speak to retake control of the fleet. I mean you no harm and urge you to surrender. I do not intend to take your throne just to replace the current tyrant of Mekkef, but to give the power back to the people. That's where the power belongs. With you." I paused, looking at all the cruisers, some of which immediately powered down their weapons, while others took a little bit longer. The flagship's bridge chorused with whoops and hollers and I myself had to smile.
"Nice." Jesker said as he came over to me, holding out a fist.
"Heh." I laughed and put my own fist against his.
"You know, your parents would be so disappointed in what you've become." For some reason, the admiral's words caused an anger to surge through me. "They were all about tradition. They'd be so appalled at what you're doing to Mekkef." I turned on my heel and knelt down to get in his face.
"I'm not changing anything. Mekkef can decide what its future wants to look like."
"If you don't want the throne, what are you doing here?" His smugness really sent me off. I stood up and balled my fists together, looking down at him.
"I just really don't like bullies." And my fist connected with his cheek, effectively knocking him out.