"Ahsoka and Barriss are above orbit fighting the Droid Blockade. Masters Krell and Tiin will be supporting my troops in the south, while Anakin's battalion comes in from the north and takes out enemy reinforcements" Obi-Wan begins. "It is imperative that we conquer the capital city as quickly as possible, and hold it"

"Our biggest problem is gonna be the local militia. The Umbarans have allied themselves with the Separatists and are heavily armed. ARC Trooper Fives will be assisting my units on special assignments." Anakin adds, motioning to Fives.

"Ready to do my part, General Skywalker." His voice was confident, but underneath, he was in pain. Ever since Echo had died, Fives had become more distant. He was more outspoken at times, and often it would cause tensions within the command structure.

"I'll be joining Anakin as well. Things are getting messy lately, the droids are winning more and more, so the more fighting power we have, the better." Vex informs. "It'll be like old times." Obi-Wan and Anakin both smile momentarily at his words, before both returned to their passive expression.

"Remember, Anakin. Cody and I will be counting on you to take out those local fighters, or I'm afraid the capital will never surrender." Obi-Wan warns.

"Does my battalion have to do everything?" Anakin asks dryly.

"You seem to always volunteer." Obi-Wan retorts. "May the Force be with you." The hologram fades, leaving Vex, Anakin, and the 501st to board the gunships. Vex jumps in with Anakin, the gunship taking off without difficulty. As they descend into the atmosphere, green energy bolts dart past, one of the nearby gunships taking a hit and detonating into flames, plummeting down to the surface.

"There's a lot of surface fire." Vex notes in worry, moments later a second gunship is downed by the energy blasts.

"They ain't got nothing we can't handle, sir." Hardcase replies, his rotary cannon at the ready. He reminded him of Hevy, or at least, what Fives and Echo had told of him. The shoot first, talk later, go head first into battle kind of person.

"General Skywalker, I've turned the lights out. Our night vision sensors are having a tough time in this chop." The pilot calls. "I hope we don't overshoot the landing site."

"Just get us as close as you can." Anakin assures.

"Time to lock and load!" Hardcase visibly grins, excitement evident in his voice. The gunship slows, before the doors open and the backdrop of war returns. Hardcase immediately began to open fire, his rotary cannon tearing through enemies in his path. Anakin ignites his saber, the familiar azure hue a calming sight compared to everything else, while Vex fires his usual DC-17m. Rex moves with them, his dual pistols as accurate as ever, finding their targets swiftly, his form ducking when needed.

"We need to take that ridge, but they have heavy weapons emplacements. They are tearing our forces apart." Vex explains to Anakin, as the Jedi protects them from oncoming bolts of energy.

"Relax, sir, we were bred for this!" Hardcase calls to them, having appeared from nowhere, only to disappear once more, the only sound of his being the rotary cannon, that was somehow different to any other.

"Okay, I swear he is hyperactive." Vex states in amusement, while Anakin orders the AT-RT walkers down. The agile two legged vehicles speed through the battlefield, arriving at the stationary emplacements within moments and destroying them. With their heavy weapons gone, the Umbarans begin to fall back, the already thinned down 501st moving onwards. In the distance, Fives blows up a Sarlacc like creature, and Hardcase helping him up, before they rejoined the battalion. With the way somewhat cleared, the battalion moves to the ridge, taking up a resting position. Within half hour of setting up camp, Dogma marches up to Rex, Anakin and Vex, saluting them.

"All platoons have reported in, General." He relays.

"Get some rest." Anakin approves.

"Thank you, sir. I'm fine." Dogma replies, continuing to stand at attention.

"Dogma, he means it as an order. Go get some rest." Vex repeats gently.

"Of course, sir." He replies, and heads off, his posture barely relaxing.

"Poor kid. He's wound up tight." Vex notes in sadness. The war was taking its toll on even the newer additions. With the demand of more troops, the newer recruits were given only the bare basics in training, before being sent off to the front lines two years younger than normal.

"Reminds me of you, Rex." Anakin says, remembering a time from before Vex was around.

"Maybe… back in the day." Rex remarks with sadness. Having realised he hit a sore spot, Anakin drops the conversation, instead using his macro-binoculars to scan the path ahead. Moments later, the hairs on Vex's body stick up, as the air electrifies.

"What the…" His question is cut off as the troops call out.

"Look out! Ambush! They're behinds us!" They turn around simultaneously, raising their weapons.

"I'll call in an air strike. Get everyone off the ridge." Vex orders, both Anakin and Rex nodding before taking off. Within seconds, he opens a channel with a familiar pilot. "Broadside, do you copy?"

"I read you, sir." The pilot responds, his voice tense.

"We need an air strike. Mark my current position and drop the payloads in a carpet bombing run."

"On it. Shadow 1, 3 and 7 will make the run, the rest will cover us." Broadside adds, before the connection is cut. Orders given, Vex begins to clear the ridge, catching back up with both Rex and Anakin beyond the blast zone. Within moments, the Y-Wing bombers of Shadow Squadron drop their bombs, the ridge igniting and decimating the attacking Umbarans, much to the joy of the troops. Vex notices as the shockwave, now harmless, passes through their position, a smile adorning his face.

"Glad we got off that ridge." Anakin admits. Nothing would be living there any time soon. The hum of engines garners their attention, as a gunship, along with an escort of two Headhunters land by them. Jedi General Pong Krell steps out and moves to the two Force Users.

"Something isn't right about him." Murat's voice echoes in Vex's mind, and even the Null Pyramid seems to hum in agreement with the Turkish soldier, deep within the pocket dimension Vex had recently created from some instructional help by Murat. With the forewarning from a source better than the Force, He raises his guard, mental shielding raised to defend a siege.

"My thanks for the assist, General Krell." Anakin bows slightly.

"It was no trouble, General Skywalker. The Umbarans are putting up a larger resistance than we anticipated." Krell notes.

"But that's not the reason for your visit?" Anakin knowingly asks the Basilisk Humanoid.

"No." Krell admits. "The Council has ordered you back to Coruscant, effective immediately."

"What? Why?" Anakin cries with incredulity.

"I'm afraid a request was made by the Supreme Chancellor, and the Council obliged." Krell explains. "That is all they would tell me."

"I can't just leave my men!" He argues, to which Vex both applauds and face palms mentally. Rex could hold his own, and if need be, Vex could taker command until he returned. What burns within, was the pride that Anakin cares for the men under his command, even after witnessing so much pain and suffering, his heart still bigger than the galaxy itself.

"I'll be taking over in the interim." Krell says.

"Don't worry about a thing, sir. We'll have this city under Republic control by the time you're back." Rex assures him, earning a nudge of approval in the Force.

"Master Krell. This is Rex, my first in command. You won't find a finer and more loyal trooper anywhere." Anakin praises Rex, who stands at attention.

"Good to hear." Krell replies, a hint of disdain and malice etched in his words. Anakin seems to notice it as well, as he slightly narrows his eyes at Krell, before glancing at Vex with an unspoken order of protection. Even without the silent order, Vex was keeping an eye on the Basilisk Jedi. Without any further debate, his shoulders slumped in defeat, Anakin boarding the gunship, leaving Vex, and Rex, to watch as it takes off. "Prepare the men. We depart in fifteen minutes." His order surprises both, but they obey nonetheless, the battalion prepared with five minutes to spare, or so they thought. Krell orders the battalion to march, the moment they report readiness.


The hours tick by, and with them, so does the ire built up over Krell. He was harsh, his words dictating that he was above everyone else, a 'superior' specimen/race/Jedi. No one liked him… well, except Dogma, who was simply following what he was taught, with him being so new to the war, and heavily indoctrinated.

"Quicken that pace, battalion. This isn't some training course on Kamino!" Krell calls to the troops, his voice an equivalent to nails on a chalk board, though more in the mental aspects, rather than the sound. He was also incorrect in his statement, as Kamino training courses were this combined with facing overwhelming droid forces. At least that is when in battalion sized training. It was fun in it's own way though, knowing that you could fight a battle without risk of dying, or well, as big a risk as if it were on the front lines.

"The General has a way with words." Fives notes, his voice dragging Vex from his concerns and thoughts. He nods in response to him, eyeing Rex who neither voices an agreement with us, nor attempts to defend General Krell. A few moments later, and the medic, Kix walks up to them.

"Sirs, we've been keeping this pace for 12 hours. The men need some rest, or we won't be able to fight." He informs, and so Rex and Vex make their way to Krell.

"General Krell, the top of this ridge will make a good place for the men to make camp." Rex offers.

"The men don't need rest. They need the resolve to complete the task at hand." Krell denies, to which Vex stands in.

"Pong Krell, must I force the Medic to pull rank? Or will you let the men rest without issue?" He asks, voice sharp. His body tenses, but the reaction is well hidden. In Vex's eyes, no one messes with his brothers, not even the Jedi, let alone the Sith.

"Two hours. You have two hours to rest, before we keep moving." Krell relents stiffly. With the reluctant affirmation, Vex orders Rex to have the Men set up a camp, as he watches over Krell.


The two hours pass by without mercy, as the Battalion is forced to march for another six hours, reaching the staging point a full day ahead of schedule. Vex and Rex both walk up to Krell.

"Sir, we're ready to bring our forward platoons in for a surgical strike on the city's defenses." Rex informs him.

"There won't be any need, Captain." Krell responds with spite.

"Sir?" Rex asks, confused.

"All platoons will execute a forward assault along the main route to the city." Krell explains roughly.

"But, sir, General Skywalker's plan was to surprise them with multiple attacks. If we come in from the main route, they're likely to engage us in a full frontal assault. We would take heavy casualties." Rex argues politely.

"Change of plans, Captain. I'm in command now." Krell bites back.

"With all due respect, General, we don't know what we are up against. It might be wiser to think first." Rex furthers.

"Are you questioning my order? This battalion will take the main road straight to the capital. You will not stop, and you will not turn back, regardless of the resistance you meet. We will attack them with all our troops, not some sneak attack with a few men. That is my order. And you will follow it explicitly. Do I make myself clear, CT-7567?" Krell asks in anger. Vex has his hand on his saber hilt, ready to defend Rex if need be.

"Yes, General." Rex answers in as controlled a voice as possible.

"Now, engage!" Krell orders. As Vex prepares to head off, Krell attempts to stop him. As his hand moves to grab him, Vex ignites his saber, Krell's reflexes the only reason he keeps his hand.

"You hold no control over me, Krell. I won't take orders from you even beyond the grave." Vex hisses, stalking off to join Rex, who only manages to gather less than an eighth of the battalion, the rest having been contacted by Krell to stay back. With only three AT-RT Walkers, and 80 men, against an entire planet of armed soldiers, they walk along the main walkway, the fear and the anger, radiating into the air. Not even a kilometer in, an explosion tears through a walker, two men killed in the attack instantly.

"Mines! Nobody move!" Rex calls quickly. With a reason to obey, everyone holds still, except those within the radius of the detonated mine, where it was safe. Kix checks those caught in the blast.

"Oz and Ringo are down. Oracle and Des are pretty badly injured. The rest can fight, but it would be best that they stay away from the front lines." He reports. Rex nods before turning to Fives.

"Can you sweep them?" He asks. Fives doesn't answer, simply taking out a scanner, it's faint glow illuminating the front of his helmet. The ray of energy lights up the explosives that had been laid into the path, showing it's entirety from that point on as armed and dangerous.

"This is a trap." Vex realizes, his point proven immediately as several troopers are gunned down, blaster fire erupting all around the group of troopers, the Umbarans emerging from the shadows. "Fuck. I hate it when I'm right." In this situation, Vex doesn't grab his Advanced Carbine, instead taking his saber and igniting it, defending the men where he can. Using Form III, he manages to deflect bolt after bolt back towards the Umbarans. "Fuck it, Rosepink!" Vex calls, confusing the troopers at his seeming outburst. Roots of darkness swirl around, some grabbing the Umbarans and dragging them through the doorways opening among the battle. One doorway begins to spit out slugs, as the Clones would call them, rapidly tearing through the Umbaran forces, as Murat passes through, a look of concentration on his face.

"Fall back! All of you!" He calls. Rex looks to Vex, who nods.

"Fall back!" He repeats what Murat ordered, as he lays down covering fire. "We need to draw them towards us! If we can lure them out, we can see them! If we can see them, we can shoot them!" With the further words, the troopers regain more morale, as they draw the Umbarans out of the darkness. Once visible, everyone begins to return fire, pushing the Umbarans back, just as they had done to them moments before, with Hardcase laughing maniacally.

"Where are ya going? Get back here!" He mockingly calls out, as the Umbarans fall back, returning to the shadows which they came from, but only within single digits.

"They're pulling back!" Vex shouts in relief. "Good idea Rex. Thanks for the hand, Murat." And then Krell calls out.

"CT-7567! Do you have a malfunction in your design?" He asks rhetorically. "You've pulled your forces back from taking the capital city! The enemy now control this route!" He berates. "This entire operation has been compromised, because of your failure!" Fives then stands up for Rex before Vex could.

"General Krell, in case you haven't noticed, Captain Rex just saved this platoon. Surely you won't fail to recognize that." He spits out in anger, to which Krell takes his saber, ignites it and points it towards Fives.

"ARC-5555, stand down." He says menacingly, Vex moves to step forward and remove the arm that holds the saber pointed at Fives' throat, but Rex stops him.

"Sir, if I may address your accusations. I followed your orders. Even in the face of a plan, that an ARC Trooper, and Vex, who has been training at Kamino wherever he can to understand tactics, and now has more knowledge than most Jedi, found severely flawed. This plan cost us men. Not Clones! MEN! As sure as it is my duty to remain loyal to your command, I also have another duty. To protect these men." Rex argues defiantly, showing the other side of him.

"You have a spark of tenacity, Captain. I'll give you that." Krell says. "I know that I don't command like the Jedi you're used to serving, certainly not like General Skywalker, but I have my way. It may be difficult, but these are difficult times. And it's proven effective. I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. They seem to admire this. That's important for an effective commander. Alright, 'Captain Rex', your opinion has been noted. Dismissed." Krell leaves, his body rigid.

"He's playing with us, Rex. I have never met any Jedi who act like this." Vex warns

"I agree. But I can't do anything about it." Rex responds, before blaster fire erupts, as the Umbarans return in greater numbers.

"Incoming!" A trooper calls out, a little late, as he is shot down. Fives comes up to the two of them, his blaster firing with deadly accuracy.

"You think Krell still intends on taking the capital using this strategy?" He asks.

"I don't know. I'll get back to you if we survive this battle." Rex replies, as once again, they were fighting for their ablaze. Same as before, Vex continues to deflect bolt after bolt, protecting the front line as best he can, using his powers to bring the injured away from the battle, sending them all to Kix and the other medics. The Umbarans continued to push on, their fighters descending to give them support, their weapons causing heavy casualties while they kept low to the ground, using the armoured vehicles to fling troopers away. Vex deflects what he can, but soon, he too has to take cover, hunkering down by Rex and a few others. They open fire on the fighters with no effect, as another AT-RT is launched by the impact, along with a few more troops, before they return to the air, leaving them alone.

"We have got to move before those fighters come back." Rex warns.

"Rex! Rex, over here!" Kix calls, urging Rex and the others to move forward, Vex once more deflecting the oncoming bolts of plasma.

"Jesse, take the right flank. Dogma, take the left flank." Rex orders, the two troopers immediately following his order, firing off their rounds to help suppress enemies. Kix drags the trooper behind cover, as Krell stands watching, doing nothing to help at all. Kix then takes out a pain suppressor and injects it into the injured soldier.

"It'll be okay, buddy. This will ease the pain." He says gently. Rex glances over to Krell, who was communicating with Obi-Wan.

"The Capitol City is too fortified. We need your battalion to help us take it!" The static sound of blaster fire echoes through the commlink, but Vex is frozen still, concern, and confusion written on his features. Obi-Wan didn't leave his troops alone to fight, not even when making a transmission. Here he was, saber not even on his belt, as though it was not on his person, as the sounds of battle echo through. Vex manages to return from his frozen state, before he moves back to defending, his mind whirring until Krell's loud, baritone voice echoes.

"Captain Rex, have those coordinates mapped and all troops ready to move out." Rex opens his battalion channel, relaying the order, before he guides his nearest group around the Umbarans, who had built up a defense that they could not pass through. Vex defends the rear, preventing any sneak attacks, leaving dead Umbarans in his wake, as he catches up to the battalion, its numbers severely reduced. Once certain that everyone left is accounted for, they move on, westward towards the Airbase.


From atop a ledge, both Rex and Fives scout the base, their macros giving them a clear enough view of what lies ahead.

"There's a base there, all right, and it's heavily guarded. At least three tank divisions, plus guns." Rex reports.

"We'll advance along the central gorge and engage their forces in a full-frontal assault." Krell explains, his eyes already taking note of the landscape below.

"The gorge is narrow, sir. We'll only be able to move our platoons in single squads. Perhaps a closer recon will tell us if there's a more secure route." Rex offers, attempting to reduce further casualties.

"Obi-Wan and the other battalions are holding off the enemy right now while they wait for us to take out this base. We don't have time to look for a more secure route." Krell denies, his voice calm, yet hiding a malice that has Vex wary once more.

"Yes, sir." Rex responds, once more rounding up the battalion. "Alright, listen up." His voice is weary, a deep echo of pain and tiredness seeping through. "We'll assemble the squads in two divisions. We'll move straight up the gorge towards the Airbase on the far side."

"The casualties are gonna be high." Kix notes with concern.

"Is Krell trying to get us killed?" Tup asks.

"I wasn't sure that Krell was crazy before, but now, I'm positive." Jesse adds.

"We had to retreat from the Capitol because the General pushed a flawed strategy, now this?!" Fives echoes the worry, the concern, the fury.

"I don't know. Could be fun." Hardcase chuckles.

"I, for one, agree with the General's plan. We're running out of time, and this is the best option." Dogma defends.

"No recon? No air support? We don't know what we're up against! They've got weapons we've never seen before!" Jesse argues.

"A few of General Skywalker's plans seemed reckless too. But they worked." Rex tries to defend, his heart not really in it.

"Yeah, but General Skywalker is usually leading his men up in the front, not bringing up the rear like General Krell!" Fives argues.

"ENOUGH!" Vex shouts in frustration, earning silence from the entire 501st. "I know, that this is fucking stupid. I know this is suicidal. But there is nothing we can do. We can't just disobey Krell, lest he kill us all, or have the entire battalion court martialed. We have no proof that what he is doing is wrong, at least none that can be proven and affirmed in the senate, or the Jedi Order." He looks around to each and every trooper, his gaze lingering on Fives and Rex. "I'll do my best to help out front, but until we have even a sliver of proof, we can do nothing. We can only fight."

"Vex is right." Rex sighs. "I tried to get the General to take a closer look for a better way, but he shut me down. I don't like this plan either, but it's like Vex says, there is nothing we can do right now, other than fight, and follow orders." The troopers all sag slightly, before picking themselves back up, at least happy that someone who isn't a Clone like them understands. They are visible unsettled that nothing can be done, but they understand that they have to fight, and they will at least have the closest thing they can get to a Jedi fighting by their sides. "Get into your squads." Vex follows Fives, who has the least in his squad, as a way to give him back up, a feeling of dread settling uneasily in his stomach, as they move forward. As they march on, a group of 'flying stingrays' pass overhead, completely ignoring the group, which they normally would have gone and attacked, as every other meeting has brought forth.

"They look spooked." One of the troopers notes, moments before the ground shakes. "What the…" Vex doesn't let him finish his question, shoving all within the group away from the epicenter, moments before a massive, mechanical centipede bursts from below ground, it's screech a loud, piercing sound that has Vex running away, narrowly side stepping from it's downward path as it lands on it's spindly legs, laser cannons mounted atop each section spinning in 180 degree or less intervals, reminding Vex of a slug thrower loading mechanism.

"What is that thing?" One of the troops ask, but is left without an answer, as everyone is busy taking cover. One small group attempts to fire at its sides, but another one bursts above ground on their flank, gunning them down with the numerous forward cannons. As even more of the war machines burst upward, the rest of the squad continues to fire, but their shots continue to bounce off the head at which they aimed.

"Its head is ray shielded!" Fives calls out, before opening a channel to Rex. "Mayday, mayday! Rex, we need rocket launchers, now!" Having made the progress they had, and the time between each Squad being sent, Rex was already close by, as he sent the heavy weaponry down. As they moved towards the squad, however, a centipede bursts from below, its weapons gunning them down, before foolishly leaving them. Vex, Fives and a few others who witnessed the massacre, rush to collect the weapons, as the medics get to work on bringing the injured to safety, and helping them, or easing their passing. A lone trooper is left, and Vex moves over to him.

"Take it, take it." He rasps, his body slumping from the pain, a hole pierced through his armour and lung from one of the legs, which miraculously missed the launcher.

"I'll use it well, brother." He assures, as Kix dashes over to ease his passing, while Vex moves up to where another centipede walks, firing at it's head, causing a chain reaction that engulfs the entire mechanical creature in fire, destroying it. Unfortunately, the launcher only had a single shot, as ammunition for such weapons were mostly being used against the Capitol. Vex slings the launcher across his back, as he makes his way over to Rex, who was barking orders.

"Everyone regroup! Now! Take cover!" The squad follows his orders well, as they fall back, using the foliage and native trees to block the easy way through, leaving a single entrance for the centipedes.

"We're safe for the moment." Vex sighs, his body shaking slightly. This campaign has been harsher on his body, the bolts of plasma far more powerful, and seeming to cause heavy jolts when he deflects them, jarring his arms, causing some internal muscle damage that he continues to push through.

"Bring up the launchers, spread detonators along that corridor, trap them into the bottleneck. We're gonna blow those things sky high." Rex orders, gesturing to the main entranceway, his voice calm, yet burdened. The troopers gather the detonators and follow his order, littering the area with the explosives. Vex manages to get another rocket pod and loads his launcher, waiting for the centipedes to eventually return. The clattering of their legs is what alerts him first, the screech comes second.

"Hey, come on! Over here! Hey! Hey!" Their taunts earn the attention of the drivers/pilots, as centipede after centipede moves towards them. The moment the first two pass the line of explosives, Rex detonates them, with the entire battalion watching as the chain reaction reaches those that had been pandering behind, destroying the centipedes one by one from close proximity. Vex ensures everyone is behind the slight ridge, before leaping to take cover, the shockwave of the explosion carrying him a few meters more, as he tucks and rolls to dissipate any damage, before Rex helps him up. Once the explosions stop, Rex calls out. The cheers are music to Vex's ears, as the 501st gain the first victory in a number of days, bringing a smile to his face.

"Good job." Rex commends. "Alright. Let's move out. We'll finish off anything that survived." His order final, they scour the wreckage, finishing off any half working centipedes with rockets. An Umbaran stumbles out of the wreckage near us, his helmet cracked, as he tumbles to the ground, disoriented.

"No juice left in him, either." Vex notes, firing two bolts into his head, finishing him off quickly, before they move onward. Another ridge, and Rex scans beyond, as heavy footfalls echo across the landscape, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Vex walks up to see what Rex is staring at, his fear and worry skyrocketing in an instant.

"Oh fuck." He curses. "FALL BACK!" His order is further enforced as an energy blast detonates nearby, arcs of energy heading towards them, to which Vex brings up his hands, absorbing the energy, his left hand aching, as his skin cracks, hardened and ready to fall of and leave only what lies below. Rex helps him to fall back, as he tries to contact Broadside, only receiving static as a response. Once behind cover, Rex's commlink chirps, as Krell calls through.

"Captain, continue your attack!" He orders.

"Sir, we're overpowered. We need reinforcements." Rex reports.

"The rest of the battalion is holding the entrance to the gorge, Captain. They're guarding it so that your troops can break through to the airbase without a flanking assault!" Krell denies.

"Sir, we can't possibly-" He's cut off by Krell, who shouts back at him.

"You must stand your ground! Do you read me? Captain, are you listening? Do not fall back! That is an order!" Vex feels as Krell is about to cut the link, and before he can, uses his powers to stop Krell in his tracks.

"Pong Krell, unless you wish to join us on the front-lines, where we have to avoid a projectile that disintegrates an area of effect on sight, you can fuck off." And without hesitation, he twists his wrist, an audible crack resounding through the commlink, before it too, cracks, shattered by the power that Vex transfers into it. With contact between Krell and Rex not currently available, a burden seems to lift off of Rex, as his mind whirrs into action. "Whatever happens with Krell, follow his orders. If it means sending me to prison, so be it. Just be wary, and keep an eye out for anything unusual."

"Sir?" Fives asks Vex with concern, noticing his left arm, as his words seem to warn of impending doom. Vex shakes his head before speaking up once more.

"I can't get in contact with Broadside, so we don't have any air support, and rockets have no effect against those tanks."

"Why not use your powers against them?" Dogma asks with curiosity as well as scrutiny, having seen what happened when he blocked an attack from killing himself and Rex.

"I would be disintegrated before I could get close enough, and before I could finish one off from afar, another would have fired upon me. If it was only one, maybe, but multiple? I don't have any openings." He explains, before bringing his left arm to show Dogma. "Besides. That is what happened when i blocked the attack. I can't withstand such a power for long, or in multiple instances. I'm lucky to still have my arm." The sound of rocket launchers in the distance garners Vex's attention, as he grabs some macros and scans the battlefield, watching as the Tanks are able to take the rockets head on without damage, until one lucky shot manages to take out on of the disintegrator cannons.

"Then we're finished." Tup, who was another new addition to the 501st, sighs in defeat.

"We've still got some fight left in us." Rex finally speaks. "And I think I have an idea."

"What do you have in mind?" Fives asks.

"We can't get air support from up high. So why not get our own?" Rex asks rhetorically. "If we can continue to keep the tanks occupied, the airbase should be easier to infiltrate."

"Fives and Hardcase." Vex states immediately, earning looks of confusion from everyone. "What? Fives has ARC training, so he is suited for the mission, being as adaptable as he is. But, he shouldn't go alone. I wasn't ever an option, as I can still help reduce casualties down here, but Hardcase has shown that he can hold his own with relative ease, Hyperactivity aside. Not to mention, he isn't injured or really that winded from all this constant fighting, unless he can hide it well from my senses." With his words, Rex nods in agreement, motioning for the two to head off. He moves to leave himself, to fight, but Vex stops him. "Rockets don't damage them enough to take them completely out of commission. Have the troopers aim for the main cannons." Rex turns to Jesse, who completes the order, having a working commlink and a high enough rank. "We just need to buy time."

"With weapons that do basically nothing against them? Are you crazy?" Tup asks incredulously.

"Yes, I am crazy." Vex affirms. "But even crazy can do something. I may not be able to take them out from afar, but if their long range weapons are gone, i can get close enough to deal damage with a saber." Vex explains.

"A good plan if Fives and Hardcase are unable to get some fighters in time." Jesse notes.

"Have some faith. I've known Fives since his training. If he can't do it, then no one can." Vex assures, taking his saber and igniting it. The group stick together, mostly helping to get the wounded out of danger, until the last heavy cannon is taken out of commission, allowing Vex to get close and personal. While his saber wasn't able to remove the legs, he was able to destroy several of the underbelly cannons of the Umbaran Tanks, giving the troopers a greater chance at surviving the ordeal, before the familiar whir of Umbaran starfighters garners everyone's attention.

"We're up, guys." Fives assures.

"The big guns have arrived, sirs!" Hardcase adds. Vex takes care to keep away from the explosions of the tanks, which had no way to fight of the starfighters, leaving them as sitting ducks for the laser cannons to tear through their, compared to Capital Ships, light armour and shields. With the tanks out of commission, the 501st has no trouble marching into the airbase, capturing it and imprisoning the Umbarans. It's when Krell arrives that things are more frustrating.

"Vex Hunter!" Krell bellows, multiple troopers, including Appo, following at his heel as he marches over to me. "You are under arrest for attacking a Republic General, as well as completely disregarding orders given!" He yells, the troopers surrounding me with their weapons drawn, the stun setting activated.

"Was wondering whether you had the guts to do it." Vex admits. He signs to Appo, a silent order to stun. The blue bolt is the last thing he sees before being knocked unconscious.


His vision returns, bringing him unto a small lake, flowers and plants littered across the forests that surround it, the cave on the side of the mountain gaped, as a feminine figure walks from within, heading straight towards him. He flares his senses, finding her in his power, surprised somewhat as she flares hers back in greeting.

"Interesting." The figure says, revealing herself. Her body is covered in dragon scales, primarily bronze in colour, with patches of white, blue, green, red and black scattered along her limbs, and tail. Her fingers are clawed, her feet not human, but dragon.

"I get that reaction quite a lot." Vex admits dryly, but wearily, as he examines her, prodding her further with his powers, finding recognition in his mind. "I know you, don't I?" He questions.

"You could say that. My name is Tiamat." The dragon-lady answers.

"The Mother of all Dragons?" Vex questions automatically, the memories of his first life coming forth, of his time as a Reaper and beyond. Creating creatures of Myth behind Asmodai's back, finding a soul, an energy, that was beyond many beings. Talking with her, learning about her, and giving her a new body, bringing her back from death. Becoming one of her children, so to speak, with his acts of care and love.

"The one and only." She grins, her teeth glistening in the ambient light. "Do you... remember?" She asks in uncertainty.

"Yeah. I remember." Vex chuckles. "Is your new body doing alright?"

"It's magnificent." She affirms in joy. "I want to know though, where are you? After a few millennia, you just... disappeared."

"I... think I died." Vex answers with hesitation. "I don't know how, but, at the end of that life, there's this... gap, I guess. Like, something took my memories... stole them."

"Oh." Tiamat visibly deflates. "Where are you now?"

"I don't think I'm in the realm we met in. I don't even understand how I'm communicating with you now." Vex admits. "I think there might be a way to contact you again, beyond this, but, it might take a while. I miss the times we spent together."

"I do too." Tiamat agrees solemnly. "It's been quiet, slow, since you disappeared. Most of my children don't fully understand what they are. They make amazing and beautiful things, but they don't know how to harness their power. And, none of them know I'm there, guiding and protecting them."

"At least they are doing alright." Vex notes. "Better than most people I get close to."

"What happened?" Tiamat questions, empathy in her voice.

"Lots of death." Vex answers darkly, but without any hate or anger. "It either involves my death, or theirs, sometimes both."

"I'm so sorry." Tiamat apologises.

"It's not your fault. I think it's just the cards I'm dealt. Most of the time, I'm fighting in a war, fighting to live, to protect others. Death is inevitable in those places." Vex assures. "When I find you again, please just stay with me for a bit, please?"

"Why not now?" Tiamat questions.

"Because I only came here once I was knocked unconscious. I could be gone any second. I'd rather wait until we know for certain that I can stay for a longer period of time." Vex answers. "Believe me, there is almost nothing I would love to do more than just be with you until my pains are washed away."

"Almost?" Tiamat raises her brow. Vex chuckles lightly.

"I think I found someone. Someone who might be able to understand, to be there for me, when no one else can." He explains. "You'd like her a lot."

"You'll have to introduce us one day." Tiamat smiles knowingly.

"If it can be done, then you can bet on it." Vex assures, as his form begins to fade, to his visual notice. "Seems my time is up. It's good to see you again, Tiamat."

"It was good to see and talk with you too, my child." Tiamat replies, as he fades away, his senses flaring as he finds himself in one of the cells of the Umbaran Air Base. The elevator was descending towards him, his weapons on the platform, along with the armour of Jesse and Fives.

"I'm so sorry. I should have seen it sooner, I should have stopped it sooner." Rex berates himself, opening his cell, along with the one beside him, of which Fives and Jesse step out from. Vex places a hand on the Captain's shoulder, once his restraints are unlocked.

"Whatever happened, no longer matters. What does, is what we do now." Vex assures gently. Rex nods softly, turning to Fives and Jesse and unlocking their restraints.

"We're arresting Krell for treason against the Republic." Rex declares, his face showing his resolve and determination. Once Fives, Jesse and Vex are re-equipped, they march alongside Rex, the 501st, and members of the 212th as they take the lift to the command tower. As the lift opens, the troops from both the 212th and 501st surround Krell, with Vex, Fives and Rex walking out last, their weapons, bar Vex's saber, armed and pointed at Krell.

"General Krell, you are being relieved of duty." Fives moves to Rex's left side while Vex move to his right.

"It's treason then." Krell notes, his voice calm and almost gleeful.

"Surrender, General." Rex orders.

"You're committing mutiny, Captain." Krell states simply.

"Explain your actions!" Rex demands as a response.

"My actions?" Krell questions, sarcasm infused into his 'confusion'.

"For ordering your troops against one another!" Rex reiterates in anger, as the troopers begin to stalk towards the Rogue Jedi.

"Oh, that." Krell chuckles. "I'm surprised you figured it out, for a clone."

"Surrender, General. You're outnumbered!" Rex orders again. Krell responds with a Force push that sends everyone but Vex into the walls, while Vex ignites his saber, as Krell does the same with his own, wincing as his habit has him use the arm previously broken, before he re-adjusts.

"You dare to attack a Jedi?" He snarls in askance.

"You, Pong Krell, are no Jedi." Vex retorts with distaste, his saber held in reverse grip for a Shien Form, as the troopers get up and begin to open fire, with Vex closing in to engage in a saber lock. Krell's brute strength over powers Vex, pushing him away before he freely cuts down numerous troopers, leaving only Fives, Rex and Jesse standing, as the others were all wounded or dead.

"I will not be undermined by a child, nor creatures bred in some laboratory." Krell declares, turning around, he slashes through the window, leaping out and landing on the ground, where more of the 212th and 501st await, and open fire. The sound is a concern to Vex, as he knows that without his help, the only way the Clone Troopers would win is through wit and strategy, but not without taking heavy losses.

"They won't last long, we need to get down there." Vex notes, leading the surviving men back into the elevator, arriving to the main level after Krell had already left carnage in his wake. Dogma swiftly walks up, rifle in hand, as he aims it at Rex.

"Hold it right there!" He orders. Rex, and the others raise their weapons, Vex leaving his saber in hand, a relaxed state, but ready to strike if need be.

"Lower your weapon, Dogma." Rex orders gently.

"I... I can't do that, sir." Dogma hesitates.

"That's an order!" Rex adds.

"It's my duty!" Dogma aims his weapon frantically at all who surround him. "You're all traitors." Rex holsters a pistol, and removes his helmet, a sigh escaping his lips.

"I used to believe that being a good soldier meant doing everything they told you. It's how they engineered us." Rex admits, as Tup moves to aim at Dogma from his side. "But we're not droids. We're not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions." Dogma turns his weapon on Tup.

"Dogma, don't do it." Tup warns. His words, along with Rex's seem to snap him out of it, as he lowers his weapon. Two troopers tackle him to the ground, cuffing him.

"Take him to the brig." Rex sighs. "We'll sort it all out when Krell is in our custody." His words spur everyone on, as they split into groups of five, fanning out and searching the Umbaran jungle like area. Vex leads a mixed group of 212th and 501st troopers, their movements near silent, until a scream echoes, one of the 212th men being dragged away to death, putting everyone on guard. Vex ignites his saber, settling into a Soresu stance for defense, elbows locked to conserve energy in deflection. Another scream, as the other 212th trooper is dragged away.

"Rex, I think we found him. Mark my locators signal." Vex warns through the commlink, activating the tracking beacon within. The ignition of a saber is all the warning they get, before the two 501st troopers fall to the ground, headless. Vex gets little time to react, bringing his saber up barely in time to defend against a heavy blow. Krell strikes over and over, his attacks holding no finesse and technique, just pure power and overwhelming strength. The bones in Vex's right arm crack against the strain, while his left begins to fall apart, a blue hue emerging from beneath, glowing through the widening cracks. The next blow sends him stumbling, before Krell has him against a tree, the Force curling around his neck, cutting off his breathing.

"A child. That is all you are, and all you will be as I end you." Krell taunts, as Vex manages to switch hands, using his left to hold his saber, right to claw and scratch at the invisible grasp, managing to make a slight difference with his powers, pushing the invisible hand away from his throat, further angering Krell. Using the Force, the Besalisk brings the cracking hand up, using it against it's wielder as he brings the Saber closer and closer to Vex's neck. He struggles as much as he can, forgetting about the invisible grip around his throat, using his right hand to push against the controlled limb. As the opposing forces battle for control, the cracks increase, large chunks of nearly petrified flesh, muscle and bone chip away. Noticing this, Krell laughs with glee. "Your body is falling apart. You can't withstand my power."

"Your power?" Vex chokes out in askance, before a gurgling laugh erupts from his throat. "No. This wasn't from your so called 'power'" A gateway opens behind Krell, as tendrils of darkness erupt, taking a hold of the Fallen Jedi, releasing Vex as his left forearm continues to disintegrate, all while he gulps in the air that he can, as Krell struggles against the tendrils. The fall of footsteps assure Vex, as Rex and dozens of 212th and 501st troopers arrive, taking in the situation, before Tup stuns the Besalisk.

"That is for using Dogma." He spits. With Krell out of commission, Vex recalls the tendrils, letting the body drop, as the troopers cuff him, and begin to carry him back to the Airbase. Along the way, the rest of Vex's hand and forearm disintegrate, leaving behind just a bit beyond the elbow. He silently thanks Tiamat that he didn't lose more than just his arm.


With Krell in a cell, and everything coming together, with Obi-Wan stating the successful capture of the Capitol, there was nothing left, but to confront Krell and gain a confession. Rex, Fives, Vex, Jesse, Tup and numerous other troopers, both 212th and 501st, rode the elevator to where Dogma was locked up. The shield is deactivated, and a cuffed Dogma is brought out, before they move to where Krell sits by, a hidden glee and assuredness within him.

"Why, General? Why kill your own men?" Rex asks curiously, yet filled with fury.

"Because I can." Krell chuckles. "Because you fell for it. Because you are inferior."

"But you're a Jedi." Rex notes with distaste. "How could you?"

"A Jedi? Krell laughs again. "I am no longer naïve enough to be a Jedi. A new power is rising, I've foreseen it. The Jedi are going to lose this war, and the Republic will be ripped apart from the inside." Krell explains with glee. "In it's place is going to rise a new order. And I will rule as part of it." Vex takes out the device recording the conversation, showing it to Krell as he deactivates it.

"I'm so glad you decided to share." Vex taunts. "I would say thank you, but you are far from deserving." He opens a gateway behind the Fallen, who begins to thrash and scream bloody murder, while Vex turns to Rex. "I know someone who would love to use him as a chew toy. You don't mind, do you?"

"After what he's done, go ahead." Rex affirms with a defeated, yet 'pleased that the situation is over', sigh. "I just wish I could kill him myself." As soon as the tendrils take Krell away, Vex places a hand on his shoulder. "You wouldn't have been able to, and to be honest, that's a good thing." Vex admits. "I would be more worried if you would be able to do so." He then moves to Dogma, and releases his cuffs. "You'll probably have to earn the trust of everyone again, but you learned from your mistakes." Vex assures the newer trooper, who whimpers.

"He used me, used us all. And I was so gullible to believe in all that he said." He cries quietly, Tup coming over to bring his brother close.

"Sometimes, this kind of thing happens. You're lucky to have Anakin as your General, and Rex as your Captain. Not everyone is as understanding and kind as the two of them." Vex explains gently, signing to Tup to make sure he stays alright, before he walks off, figuring what to say to the council.


With the report, and recording, presented to the Council, there was absolute proof of Krell's actions, and 'court martial' during the campaign. The Jedi didn't need to know Krell's true fate, only what would suit them best. All throughout, Anakin was with the 501st, apologizing profusely for leaving, even noting that the Chancellor was confused about his arrival, and that he never asked for him, such an important battle being fought. While he didn't tell this to the Council, he felt extremely bad for leaving them behind.

Vex, after the report, managed to find Tiamat again, her form awaiting knowingly, though surprised at his lack of a left arm.

"I was wondering how long it would take for you to returns." She admits. "Though that will need a replacement.

"Sorry, I was out getting you a new 'chew toy'." Vex answers, opening the gateway, which brought forth a still restrained Krell, who continued to scream bloody murder at the sight of Vex, before he froze at Tiamat's form, as she smiled darkly at him.

"'Chew toy', huh?" Tiamat muses. "Normally, I'm not one for such things, but from the sounds of this one, I might just enjoy all the squeaks it makes as I chew through it's flesh."

"I thought you might agree. This is more proof of why he's the perfect gift." Vex tosses her a copy of his confession, letting her listen to it, her features darkening with rage, as she glares into Krell's soul.

"Leave him with me, darling. And give these troopers my condolences." She states.

"Will do. And I already have a replacement on the way. Have fun, both of you. I'll be back in a few days." Vex bids adieu, leaving the way he came, the screams of Krell fading into nothing as he smiles at the sweet revenge. Just this once, he indulged in a darker satisfaction.