Chapter 9- Koonda

Private Treborn Mills had served in the republic army for only a year. This was to be his first battle. He made a mental checklist of his equipment.

Blaster rifle- Check. Concussion grenades- Check. Vibrosword-

Private Mills hesitated, and reached down to unsheathe it. He hated blood. These melee weapons were too messy to work with. Besides he was an excellent shot. He wouldn't need it.

He placed it back into its cover and pulled the cover from his uniform, slipping it back onto his desk. He was nervous.

Just as he was leaving the room he chanced a look back at the blade.

I won't need it

He had to wonder though, who was he trying to convince?

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Mira gave a slight smile. She hadn't expected this. She had assumed they would land and the war would start, that's that.

Got to love the republic

She, Mira, was leading a regiment of troops. There would be two in the strike force, in other words she was controlling half of the army. The admiral was leading the other, Atton by his side. She had Bastila.

Standing in front of the sea of faces though, she actually wasn't the least bit nervous. She had grown up on Nar Shadda, she had deserved her reputation. All she had to remember when she left the ship was that this was just another bunch of bounties to bring in. Another group of Mercs with the 1Q of a Rancor on heat.

"Men!" Bastila began "We received a distress call fro-"

"Excuse me!" Mira shrieked, her face matching her hair "I was under the impression this was my briefing, Soldier!"

Bastila looked taken aback, but sat down

"SOLDIERS!" Mira called "Koonda is under attack by a group of savage mercenaries. Mercenary's intent on taking over on Dantooine! This is a violation of planetary freedom acts dating back before the Mandalorian wars!"

You're making this up as you go along

Mira looked up. Bastila hadn't opened her mouth

Didn't I mention I could do this?

Mira laughed. There was no denying the two were friends. Her troops looked a little worried about her sanity.

"JUST GO OUT THERE, TODAY!" she told them "AND GIVE 'EM HELL"

If she had expected applause, she would have been disappointed. Nevertheless, she hoped she had helped. Bastila shook her head

"I apologise" she told the crowd "She's new at this"

The crowd laughed and Mira blushed

"This battle is more important than you know" she told the crowd "For the Jedi Enclave is on Dantooine"

There were confused whispers

"It is but a shadow of what it was. But that Shadow will reach out. Will grow. Walk and Run" she hesitated "The real war is fought between Jedi on both sides! We have two!"

INSANE!

Mira was amazed Bastila had told them

"Any of you!" she continued "Thinking of defecting, going for my or master Rand bounty, will be slain in the attempt. Do not think of fighting a Jedi you should meet on the surface. Call for one of us"

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Atton was having the time of his life, though he hated to admit it. In the few battles he had taken part in back in the war, he had been scared to death. But now, cutting through Mercenaries like Confetti, the adrenaline was always there.

Is this the 'Dark Side?

If it was, Atton didn't care. He liked to believe he was the rarest of Jedi. A crusader for the light side who wasn't afraid of wielding the dark.

Crossing the empty courtyard with Carth, he stood and waited at the door to the Administration building as troops lay waiting for orders. The Mercs had taken the place just before they had arrived. Mira's force was on their way to the original camp to clear them out.

Carth threw a flash bang grenade in and the troops rush in, Rifles at the ready. A fierce fire fight began. Apparently even Carth had underestimated the sheer size of the army.

As Atton drew his own Sabre, all fire was directed at him. He managed to deflect it well enough though.

What's that?

He felt a disturbance in the force, tremors from the next room along. He threw his arms up and realised a shock wave that probably tripped up most of the republics troops as well, before taking off for the door to his right. Once in he locked it and turned to face her.

You!

Yes, me. You have grown stronger, Atton, though I never pictured you a Jedi

Standing in the room with his was Kriea. Master of Rehla.

She withdrew her Purple blade from her long Robe and walked slowly towards him.

"Odd" she spoke now "You are different. Not just power. Personality. It's no wonder I couldn't feel you landing on this rock with the republic"

"Yeah, that's a second date kind of thing"

Kriea ignored him and leapt forwards in a manner you might not expect from one that old. She took a narrow Vertical swing at him, which he easily dodged, before launching at attack of his own. That didn't go well, and as he withdrew to make another attempt, he felt a singing pain in his hand.

Atton looked down where he had been hit. He was missing part of a finger, which he only spotted because of the force. There was too much blood to see otherwise.

Suddenly he didn't feel like fighting. He was dizzy.

Atton Rand, last hope of the galaxy, fell flat on his face and blacked out.

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Jedi Master Zez-Kai-Ell smiled as he walked into the room confidently. His double bladed light sabre ready to cut. The robed witch looks up from her unconscious opponent.

"You"

"Me" Zez-kai-Ell assured her

"You should have stayed dead"

"So Kriea, can you honestly claim to be the master now? You've lost everything. You're being bossed around by your apprentice"

"What about you, Jedi? Saved by a bounty hunter and a fool"

Zez-Kai-Ell laughed and held his arm to his face "I'm more powerful now, Kriea" Her light sabre started shaking

Though she fought to control it, she was too late. It exploded. The room collapsed in on itself.

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Only an hour later Carth had removed the charred body of the old woman from the locked room. Atton was injured, but would live. Zez-Kai-Ell was lifeless. As though he had died in sleep. Carth hung his head

"Admiral?"

Carth turned to greet Bastila "Yes?"

"We lost no soldiers, but it appears the exile was gone. I myself engaged one of her lackeys at the camp. A woman calling herself Visas. I almost lost my life"

Carth head hurt "Why are you telling me this?"

She hesitated "Vrooks dead"

Carth sighed "I expected as much"

"Now what?"

Carth considered "Theres only Kavar left"

"Admiral, she may b half way there by now. The Sojourn won't make it in time. Let me, Mira and Atton take the pods"

"You, err, you know about the situation on Onderon?"

She sighed "Yes, I fear she has sided with General Vaklu"

"Then I'll HAVE to send in our forces"

"No" Bastila smiled "We've got a reserve"