Hi everyone, I'm back! You're not going to believe what happened when I took the computer for repairs on Saturday! One of the fans in the back kept making a strange noise. Thinking it was broken I took the whole CPU to the repair shop. The guys opened it for inspection, only to discover that something was stuck between the blades! A plastic toy soldier! I kid you not! One of my little brother's damn toys! How it managed to get in there is beyond me! I nearly blew when I discovered this was the reason I had to haul an entire computer halfway across the city!
The good part in this whole mess was that I could take it back home and continue writing. :)
Eric2, an answer to your question:You could call it an alternate ending for Episode III. The difference, however, is that "Revenge of the Sith" is only intended as the story's starting point. It will advance far into the future. Sunset of the Republic is the first part and I have the intention of publishing around a total of six parts. It will be a long story, as I have specified in the beginning. Please be patient with this eccentric writer, it will be worth it, I promise!
Anyway, here is the next chapter. The final battles of the war rage on, as the Galaxy slowly reaches its boiling point . . .
Chapter VIII – The World Is Aflame
Planet Kashyyyk
"All troops stand by!"
The voice of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli sounded above the sweeping breeze of the ocean. Atop a metal platform, she surveyed the units spread across the beach.
"Luminara" came Yoda's voice through the comlink, "how the defense goes?"
"The scouts report an incoming enemy wave, due to arrive any moment" she answered, keeping her senses alert.
"Careful, you must be" Yoda advised. "To lose this planet, we do not afford."
"Understood, Master."
Closing the connection, Luminara turned towards the Wookie Chewbacca, General Tarfful's second in command.
"Chewbacca, are the Wookie warriors in position?"
The Wookie answered with a modulated growl. "We are ready, Lady Jedi. The Separatists will not conquer Kashyyyk today!"
Nodding, Luminara took out her electrobinoculars.
"First line of attack approaching" she announced.
"What are they using?" asked a clone commando, setting the aim of his gun turret.
"Hover tanks, by the looks of it" she answered. "They're coming over the water."
"I don't like this" the commando said. "It gives them the advantage of free maneuver, while we're ground to this spot."
"Nonetheless, we must defend the beach" she retorted. "If we lose our hold here, we lose Kashyyyk as well. We do not afford that, soldier."
"Yes, Ma'am" the clone saluted, turning back to the infrared monitors. "Not one single droid will pass through here!"
Lowering the electrobinoculars, Luminara waited, along with the others, her senses registering everything around her. A few long minutes passed, in which the enemy assault force drew nearer and nearer. Everyone could now feel the unmistakable rumble and vibrations of hover engines.
"First line of artillery, get ready!" Luminara ordered.
At her command, numerous clone special units deployed heavy gun emplacements across the beach.
"We're all set, Ma'am."
"Chewbacca, what is General Tarfful's report?"
"He and the warriors will wait behind the ridges. If the droid forces pass through the artillery line, they will charge." the Wookie huffed.
"Good. Get ready! Here, we make our stand!"
The troops set their sites on the advancing enemy lines.
"Artillery, on my mark!"
The troopers swiftly loaded rockets into the launchers, taking aim.
"Fire!"
The rockets were launched with a deafening screech, bursting out from their sockets, towards the hover tanks. Several blasts rocked the beach, as the missiles found their marks, in blooming explosions.
"Here they come!"
The hovertanks which managed to escape the artillery's onslaught burst out of the water, towards the Republican defense force.
"No one passes through here!" shouted Luminara. With a lightning-fast move, she ignited her emerald lightsaber, flinging herself from the platform onto the ground, slashing three droids with a single move.
The troopers followed their commander, launching a volley on blasterfire on the Separatist forces.
"No one passes through here!" the clone troopers chanted in unison, when they managed to destroy yet another hovertank.
Plunging her weapon in the innards of a battledroid, Luminara spun around, severing it in two pieces. Twirling it end over end, she deflected several blaster shots back to their sources.
"Behind you!"
At Chewbacca's roar, Luminara threw herself on the sand, being narrowly missed by a magna droid's electrostaff. Rolling over, she kicked the droid's legs from under it, making it topple to the ground. Gripping the hilt of her weapon, she thrust it into the droid's ocular receptors. They blinked once and faded.
Luminara, however, had no time to feel relief, as another magna droid approached her, electrostaff at the ready.
Gathering the Force around her, Luminara sent a wave that hit the droid head-on, making it fly several meters, only to be impaled on a formation of sharp rocks.
"Are you all right, lady Jedi?" asked Chewbacca, as he fired at the enemy with his bowcaster.
"I'm fine" answered Luminara, brushing the sand from her robes. Surveying the battlefield, she noted, to her dismay that the Separatist's fierce attack had managed to break the defense line in several points. Everywhere, clone troopers were retreating in a general mess.
"Chewbacca, where are Tarfful and the rest of the Wookies?"
"They will come" he answered, using his strength to rip a droid's head off its shoulders.
"I pray that you are right". Luminara deflected another series of bolts. "I do not know how much we will be able to hold our ground anymore!"
In that moment, the harsh sound of a war horn tore through the air. From behind a ridge emerged several hundred Wookies, armed to the teeth, with General Tarfful in front of them.
"For the Republic!" he roared. "No one passes through here!"
The warriors charged, with mighty cries, destroying all opposition that stood in their path.
"No one passes through here!" they sang, with deep growls, tearing through the Separatists.
T o Luminara, it seemed as an entire brown tempest had been unleashed from above, so fierce were the Wookies in their advance.
Seeing their audacity, the Republic troops stopped retreating.
"To me!" called Luminara, her voice rising above the din. "Renew the attack! Push them back!"
Invigorated by the turn of the tables, the troopers gathered behind their Commander, forming a tight group.
"Onward!"
Amongst the infernal noise of blasts and explosions, the Republican force charged alongside the Wookies. the two factions stood unbeatable, as they combined their strength. No matter how the Separatists shifted formations, they couldn't stop the onslaught that was raining atop them. Many watched helplessly, as the joint armies tore through the formation like bread through butter.
"I will not let a feeble Jedi defeat me!" the Separatist Commander growled, a green skinned Trandoshan. He had watched the battle unfold, from the safety of his personal hovertank. Now, however, the enemies were closing dangerously on his position, and he wasn't going to let them win.
"Activate torpedo turrets!" he ordered in his comlink.
"Roger, sir!"
Tarfful gripped two droids, smashing them together with tremendous force. The large Wookie dodged another foe, only to sever him in three with his cortosis blade.
"I'm glad you've joined us, General" Luminara greeted him, finishing another strike.
"It is an honor to fight alongside you, Master Unduli" he answered. "I will be glad when we could meet in much peaceful situations."
"I as well" the woman said. Her eyes kept scanning the immediate vicinity, in search of any possible threats. Then, her gaze shifted towards the horizon, and she froze.
"What is it?" asked Tarfful, noting her rigid posture.
"General" she commanded, slowly, "order all of your warriors to head for cover!"
"What has happened?"
"The Separatists are using their trump card."
Following Luminara's line of sight, Tarfful saw a chain of hovertanks, each deploying several torpedoes, ready for launch.
"Get down!" roared Tarfful, nearly deafening Luminara. "Now!"
The Wookies, sensing their leader's urgency, immediately dropped to the ground, followed by the clone troops.
Rumbling, several torpedoes were launched, screeching towards the Republic lines. Gripping Luminara tightly, Tarfful threw both of them on the sand, as a torpedo sped above them.
With powerful blasts, the missiles impacted with the trees beyond the beach, setting the entire surrounding forest ablaze.
The troopers and Wookies picked themselves up, when the danger seemed to have passed.
"They want to conquer Kashyyyk at all costs!" Tarfful snarled, pained to see the mighty Wroshyr trees of his homeworld burn and die in the scorching inferno.
"Just as they want to conquer the Galaxy" Luminara whispered, sadly shaking her head. "It does not matter that they will burn and destroy most of it, as long as they are victorious!"
The Jedi-Master's words were drowned out, as a new wave of torpedoes was launched. This one, however, was more accurate, and many missiles landed in the middle of the troops, causing death and destruction on a mass scale.
Luminara tried with all of her might, to contain the rising bile inside her stomach, as she smelt the burned fur and saw the contorted corpses of once breathing-living soldiers.
"Incoming!" roared Chewbacca, snapping Luminara's attention in front of her, to another missile, which was heading straight for her.
Banishing all thoughts from her memory, Luminara closed her eyes, completely immersing herself in the all-encompassing flow of the Force. Molding the energy into her body, the woman focused towards the hurtling torpedo, wrapping it in small tendrils of energy. Concentrating, she focalized her strength on changing the projectile's direction.
All those around Luminara saw a breath-taking scene: the woman closed her eyes, extended her palms outward and, suddenly, the torpedo altered its course only meters from her. Its engines whining against the stress, the torpedo turned around, hurtling towards one of the hovertanks.
"Noi-gitat!" swore the Trandoshan Commander, but it was too late. The missile slammed into his hovertank, vaporizing it in a fiery explosion.
"Te enemy commander is down!" shouted a clone sergeant. "I repeat, the enemy commander is down!"
"Then it is time to finish them once and for all!" Tarfful snarled, gripping his blade with both hands.
"Forward!" ordered Luminara, sharply. "Press the attack!"
It was truly a sight to see, as the beleaguered Republican forces dragged themselves out of the ashes, charging in one last assault upon the droid army. The joint forces fought with such frenzy, that none could stop their advance. With their commander dead, all that the droid troops could do was to try and flee from the onslaught of Republicans were now practically raining atop them, with mighty war cries.
From his platform, high in a Wroshyr tree, Yoda surveyed the final moments of the confrontation. His ears were drooped, a testimony to the pain he felt seeing loss of life on such a scale. His green features were illuminated by the flames of the inferno which had now claimed the entire forest.
The tiny Master placed a clawed hand on his forehead, sighing wearily. How many lives would be lost and how much of the Galaxy would burn before the war's end?
x x x
Planet Coruscant
In his office, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine read the latest reports from the front lines. Or, at least, he pretended to read them, for he already knew all of the details before they were publicly announced.
A small advantage of leading a war on both sides, he thought to himself, smirking wickedly.
His aide, Sly Moore, entered the room, interrupting his dark ruminations.
"Milord" she said, in a cold, chilling voice, "a group of representatives has arrived."
"What do they want?" he asked, not bothering to keep the disdain out of his voice.
"They represent the Loyalist Committee" Moore answered.
At this, Palpatine's face seemed to light up slightly, as he smiled tightly.
"Send them in, Madam Moore."
The woman bowed to the ground, exiting through the ornate doors, only to enter once more, followed by a small group of Senators.
"Come in, come in" beckoned Palpatine, on his smoothest voice. "Leave us."
Sly Moore bowed once more and left the room.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of such an unexpected visit?" he asked, taking note of all the Senators. He saw Terr Tanell of Neelanon, Gilddean Danu of Kuat, Nee Alavar of Lorrd, Male Dee of Uyter, Fang Zar of Sern Prime and, standing in front of them, as the leader, Padme Amidala of Naboo.
"We have urgent matters to discuss, Chancellor" Padme answered.
"Of course" agreed Palpatine, amicably, motioning toward a few chairs. "Do sit down."
When all of the Senators had taken a seat, Palpatine asked:
"I hope no more bad news have been relayed from the front. We have already lost too many planets."
"This does not concern the war" intervened Danu, grimly.
"Then what crisis would bring such distinguished members of the Senate to my office?" he asked, keeping his tone nonchalant.
"We wish to address you a request" explained Nee Alavar.
"A request? And just what might that be?"
"We hereby formally ask you to renounce all of the executive and emergency powers that you have gained during the war" Padme requested, handing him the datapad, "and to abolish the regional governors which have been appointed throughout the Galaxy."
Palpatine studied the datapad intently, in silence.
"The Petition contains 2.000 signatures, collected from members of the Senate who are very worried by the direction in which the Chancellorship is heading."
Palpatine placed the datapad on his desk, slowly turning towards the Senators.
"My friends" he said, on a warm, fatherly tone, "you do not understand what would happen if I was to renounce my powers now."
"What would happen? Male Dee asked, skeptically.
"All that we have achieved in this war would be for naught! Without a central authority to command and govern the clone armies, we would have chaos on our hands. If I was to give control of the army back to the Senate, it would cause endless disputed, bickering and infighting amongst the Senators. It would be practically impossible to plan our moves against the Separatists!"
"Still, you do know that in using your authority to promote such harsh decisions, as the naming of the regional governors, you undermine the authority of the Republic itself!" Padme argued, not relenting.
"I am aware of that, Senator Amidala" he answered, meeting Padme's gaze head-on. "The regional governors are only intended as a safety mechanism. With personal representatives spread throughout the Galaxy, I can survey the Separatist's every move and ensure the safety of the citizens, bypassing the Senate's endless stalling and birocracy."
"That doesn't change the fact that this decision is a major blow to the ideals of democracy!"
"I have anticipated such a reaction before giving the order" Palpatine sighed. "That narrow-minded Senators would perceive my intentions to be selfish and self-serving, when, in fact, they are a sacrifice made for the Galaxy and the Greater Good."
Fixing Padme with an unblinking stare, he continued, adding a small dose of disappointment into his voice:
"I believed you to be more-open minded and above such petty conspiracy theories, Senator. I was wrong."
"We are not accusing you of any kind of malevolent thoughts toward democracy" chimed in Fang Zar for Padme, who was at a loss for words.
"Then what are your grievances, exactly?"
"We only wish the Republic to follow its own course again" explained Terr Tanel. "With no interference from any kind of disrupting factors."
"Ah, so now I am perceived as a disrupting factor?" Palpatine asked, with an edge in his voice. "You seem to forget that all the sacrifices I have made during this war have been solely for the well being of the Republic and its citizens!"
"None of us doubt that" Padme countered, finding her strength once more. "But, truth be told, everything has gone too far, Chancellor!"
"I agree, Palpatine answered, rising from his chair. "But, as I have said before, my hands are bound!"
Focusing his intense gaze on every member of the group, he said, on a sharp tone:
"And I will not risk the security of the institution which I am leading just because of a few technical details and biased rumors!"
The room fell silent, as the Senators listened to the Chancellor's powerful and charismatic voice.
"I have made a promise three years ago and I intend to keep it! Once this war is over and the Republic is safe, I will renounce my powers. But not a second sooner!"
Palpatine turned away from them and toward the window, making them understand that the meeting was over.
x x x
Planet Utapau
The blue skies of Utapau had once been clear, like an azure sea.
Today, however, they were darkened by the sheer numbers of fighters and gunships descending from space.
Aboard an armored skiff, Commander Cody surveyed the assault with a critical eye.
"Sir, can we rely on the natives for support?" asked a trooper who was standing near the Commander.
"Yes. General Kenobi has contacted the Utapauan Prime-Minister, informing him of the attack. They are to take the women and children to safety, while the warriors aid us."
"Sir, we're approaching the enemy base" announced the pilot of the skiff.
"Good. Keep her steady, soldier!"
Turning to the troopers around him, Cody ordered, opening the side doors:
"Get your cords ready and prepare to rappel down!"
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers swiftly obeyed the order, wrapping steel cords around their waists.
"On my mark!" Cody said, surveying the landscape below him. "Three . . . two . . . one."
The troopers tightened the grips on the cords and their weapons.
"Now!"
In an instant, twenty men, clad in white armor jumped from the craft, lowering themselves on the steel ropes.
Seeing the descending invasion force, the droids below began to open fire.
"Return fire!" ordered Cody, blasting a droid with his disruptor rifle.
The men obeyed, launching such a thick barrage of blasterfire upon their enemies, that no droid was left whole on the landing pad when their feet touched the ferrocrete.
Watching other teams follow his example and rappelling the soldiers inside the sinkhole, Cody turned to his team:
"Let's move, men! The others will take care of the enemy defense force. Our targets are Grievous and the Separatist Leaders!"
Following their Commander, the troopers started clearing a path toward the command center.
"Boss? I think they're up they're up there" a scout pointed to a ledge two levels higher. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Get them out of the hole in which they're hiding" Cody answered, smiling behind his mask.
Ripping the cork of a frag grenade, he tossed it up, on the ledge.
"This should brighter things up!" he said, smirking.
General Grievous was pacing in front of the Separatist leaders. From the tight squaring of his shoulders, it was quite clear that he was very tense.
"The Republic has managed to find us" he said, on his raspy voice. "For your safety, I am sending you all to the Mustafar system . . . "
"Grenade!" shrieked Viceroy Nute Gunray.
Grievous whirled around, only to see a frag grenade in the middle of the floor. Using his legendary reflexes, the droid General dropped to the ground, mere seconds before the grenade went off. The Separatists, however, weren't so fast.
The grenade blew, with a deafening sound, hurtling bits of shrapnel everywhere. The Separatists, not having time to evade, were hit in full and screamed in agony as the pieces of razor-sharp metal tore through them.
After the first grenade came another three, going off in succession and devastating the platform.
Taking advantage of the general pandemonium, Grievous broke into a sprint for his starfighter, concealed by the heavy smoke.
Mere minutes after the General's departure, Cody and his team managed to blast through the doors and onto the wrecked platform. Everywhere they looked, they could see charred droid parts and dead or dying Separatists.
"Commander, behind you!"
Cody turned, coming face to face with the bloody, crumpled form of Nute Gunray, who was trying desperately to crawl away.
"No you don't!" huffed the soldier, pumping several bolts in the Viceroy's chest, to make sure that he was dead.
"It's all clear" announced a trooper. "They're all dead."
"Any sign of Grievous?"
"None, sir."
Cody swore under his breath, loading his weapon. "We've lost him!"
"Hands up, Republic scum!"
The troopers turned to see several dozen magna droids enter the room, armed with electrostaves.
"Any ideas, Boss?" asked a soldier.
"We fight to the death, trooper" Cody said, fiercely, gripping a thermal detonator from his belt.
"Not if I have anything to say about it!"
Many droids were pushed off the ledge, as a man dressed in brown robes and wielding a blue lightsaber landed neatly alongside the troopers.
"Obi-Wan!" Cody exclaimed, not hiding his relief. "You seem to make a habit out of saving my skin!"
"All in a day's work, old friend!" Obi-Wan said, slicing down another droid.
Cody turned to his troops.
"Fire at will, men! Let's give the General a helping hand!"
Soon, through the joined efforts of Obi-Wan and the clones, the platform was devoid of any magna droids.
"I'm afraid we lost Grievous" Cody told Obi-Wan, but his words were drowned out by the loud whine of repulsor engines as a large, gray starfighter began its ascent.
"It's Grievous! He's getting away!"
"I'll stop him!" Obi-Wan said, jumping off the ledge and into the cockpit of his starfighter. Gunning the engines, he threw the craft into a wild chase, hot on Grievous' heels.
Cody watched the two ships climb through the atmosphere at breakneck speed. The red light of sunset reflected off the fuselages, making it seem as though the craft were a pair of phoenix birds, set aflame.