Hello, yes it has been a while I explain why just below but anyway here are the comments sorry if I missed any and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
By the way, I know that Cadmon Lasky was born in 2507 and it is now 2563 so he would be around 70 and too old to be in an effective assault team but don't forget though, a lot of years like those are spent in cryo pods where the body is in stasis.
Guest DCDGojira - Thanks and yes I did read one of his stories I think, I'll have to check since I have read hundreds on this site. Also yes sorry I have not posted an update for a while.
Dragon lord Syed 101z - Yes and yeah it does share a lot of qualities with the conflict.
Guest - There's unpopularity and then there is manufacturing a lie to trick the forces serving under you to kill their comrades. So I don't think Krells fate was unjust at all.
ShaddowNinja10 - Glad you caught up and thanks, I don't think anybody was expecting me to add in Jun or Cadmon Lasky I wasn't sure myself but I just thought to screw it and went with. As for Padme, I hadn't thought about her at all… I'll give that some thought.
Nliochristou - It is still a little ways away but unless the people of the planet in question were being subjugated I doubt that the UNSC would seriously intervene since they are a neutral Planet in the Clone Wars.
Aalinaco - I must have put, frigate instead of a cruiser by mistake, thank you for pointing that out.
ApertureScienceStorywriter - Cheers a lot, I do usually go back over a few times to check things like grammar but sometimes things slip through that and I am not the most literate writer.
Nsydian - I guess it is on me for not rewriting that section which I have tried to point out a lot that even though it is plasma weaponry it is not the same as in the Halo universe which is contained within a magnetic field.
CrossoverArtist117 - Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.
N1cok - I figured there would be some talk about that, even I thought that when I started writing it but it will make sense and also the UNSC aren't really ones to criticise regarding the whole bred/trained soldiers even though it was decades ago.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: I know that despite the fact that there are only eleven chapters up as of this one the story seems to be progressing at a much quicker rate than possible but don't forget that even though not mentioned there are gaps in the chapters where a lot of time passes as well as the clone wars were not made in order with the events of the actual Clone Wars. Also, don't forget the Clone Wars conflict only lasted three years.
Also FInal comment till the end, sorry this chapter is coming out a month after the last I have not only been very busy but recently I was very ill and couldn't do any writing but I am better now.
Chapter Eleven: Hunt for the enemy
Fire Squadron Resolute gathered around the holotank within the body of the Condor as it travelled through slip-space. The coordinates they had been given were for an area within but on the very edge of the Outer-rim near the mysterious Tund System. Recently a secret convoy of UNSC transports protected by Several Starwalt light frigates and two Republic Venators due to GAR advisors and personnel on board, had been ambushed by a large fleet, luckily the allied ships managed to make it out of the system with their cargo.
Upon further analysis of the limited footage of the ambush, the tactics used by the enemy were quick and brutal, attacking without contact or provocation. The lead ship could be clearly identified as a providence-class dreadnought and unfortunately due to the quick escape of the convoy, it was too difficult to find any identifying marks that would have revealed it to be the flagship of General Grievous, the Invisible Hand. It was a Kilometre long and had dual and quad laser cannons all over it. Its bridge was at the front of the ship and was in the eyes of the UNSC Navy Shipbuilders and Captains alike, ridiculously exposed with little armour protecting it, without any forward shielding it wouldn't survive more than a single Heavy Mac round.
"Alright Resolute gather round, In a few minutes, we'll be exiting Slip-Space near the Tund System. A UNSC/Republic convoy was recently ambushed in at these coordinates and even though ONI combed through the footage from the ships external cameras they couldn't confirm the presence of General Grievous and his flagship." Spartan Jack briefed as the group looked on at the holotank display of the attack. Spartan Jun stepped up to the holotank and changed the display to a tactical map of the area.
"Once we arrive we'll scan the area for anything that might lead us to the new location of the enemy fleet, a lone droid or a missing vulture something will provide us with the intel we need," Jun told them, displaying the area of space they would be searching.
"Sir, the enemy attacked the convoy the second they came out of hyperspace without even attempting communication in any form. Is it possible that they already knew where and what the convoy was?" Lance Corporal JD asked
"Section Zero is conducting an investigation into how their route was compromised but we or the Republic may have a mole that leaked the information" Jun replied
"Section Zero, Sir?" Fives asked confused
Cadmon answered him "It's the Internal Affairs department of ONI, charged with rooting out and eliminating illegal programs though unless we all want to be court-martialed or worse I wouldn't discuss it any more. A lot of ONI is… Discreet." Cadmon told the ARC trooper who looked stern when hearing it.
At that moment the Ships dumb AI, Corsair appeared on the holotanks display. He was a recently developed AI and took the form of a 25-year old man in a suit reminiscent of the late 1940s on earth, he had an upper class but rough accent. "Fire Squadron Resolute we have arrived at the coordinates and are exiting Slip-Space". He said before vanishing again. The squad grabbed their weapons and put on their helmets as they all made their way to the bridge. Fives and Jack took the two front seats while Jesse and Cadmon took the two behind. Kix, Jun and JD stood fanned out behind them all in the cockpit.
Corsair's voice came over the ship again "Exiting Slip-Stream in 3...2...1..".
As he said that they emerged from their Slip-Stream and into the System. It was a vast empty region of the outer rim and was mainly full of rogue asteroids and debris. To their right several million miles away was a star that was tens of millions of kilometres in diameter and shone with a bright white light that illuminated all around it for what seemed like forever. This wasn't of much notice to the Team inside the Condor though as in-front of them was a destroyed Confederate Munificent-class star frigate.
At the rear, the engines of the Condor quickly hummed to life and the ship began to wade through the millions of tiny metallic fragments drifting in open space. Within the cockpit, the team use the scanners on the metal bird to scan the area as well as the disabled ship in-front of them. Cadmon read out what was on his scanner
"Sir, scanners indicate that the main damage to the vessel was caused by large tungsten-based projectiles, I'm guessing light calibre MAC rounds and the scorching around the edges seems to have been caused by heavy laser fire, probably from the Venators". Cadmon said aloud
Spartan Jack looked on "Any lifeforms or droid signatures from the ship?". He asked
"Unclear, there is a signal coming from the ship but it's weak and doesn't have anything to identify. It could be a distress signal or droids with damaged components I can't tell Sir". Jesse told him. Spartan Jack turned to face them.
"Well It's something to go off of, we'll infiltrate the ship in two teams and once inside one will investigate the source of the weak signal while the other heads for the ships communication relay room and see if any orders containing coordinates were received. Fives and JD you're with me callsign Team Alpha, Jesse, Kix and Jun your Team Bravo. Cadmon stays with the Condor in case we need a getaway and monitor the scanners, we don't know what's out there" Jack finished giving out the orders and the groups formed with the 6 at the back and Cadmon in the pilot's seat.
"Sir, How are we getting in?" Kix asked as they walked to the back of the Condor.
"Those MAC holes seem welcome enough, Grab your pack jet trooper," Jun said almost enthusiastically.
With all the group equipped with Jet packs on their armour, they stood firm at the rear. "Alright, Cadmon depressurize and then lower the ramp. I'll mark the path to our entry point so don't miss it. Once inside we split. Alpha heads for the source of the Signal which we should be able to pick up once inside and Bravo heads for the comm relay, Jump on my mark" Jack ordered.
Loud hisses filled the cabin as the room depressurized so that they wouldn't be ripped from the ship by the vacuum of space as soon as the hatchway lowered. Once it was complete a green light shone and lit up the room bouncing off the Spartans Mjolnir and glowing softly against the white armour of the clones. The ramp lowered and Cadmon slowly and carefully manoeuvred the Condor closer to the munificent class-frigate. The Team crouched ready to push off and activate their booster packs.
"Ready...3...2...1…Mark". As Jack finished they all pushed off and momentarily let the force pull them and then seconds later they all simultaneously activated their jetpacks with the clones producing a blue light stream at the rear and the Spartans/ODST gave off a burning white light. All of them started to build speed and followed the path Jack had laid out on their HUD and blasted towards it. Large debris started to drift into their path and expertly they broke off and all around the hunking piece of metal emerged from behind it unscathed. Closer they got to their target, an entrance to the ship in the form of a massive hole created by one of the light coil guns on the convoy's escort.
Eventually, after much dodging and weaving to avoid hitting many different parts of debris, they made it to within a hundred metres and slowed down by reversing their thrusters and firing them periodically in the opposite direction.
"Split off and mantle on the edge" Jack ordered as they were now practically right next to it.
After they split and were roughly a few meters apart they all grabbed onto one of the edges and lowered themselves into the ship. With pressure in the entrance, they used the jagged and damaged sections of the ship to pull themselves down into the depths. Once inside they stacked up on both sides of a hallway and made their way down it until they reached a set of double doors large enough for a broadsword to fit through. They had met no opposition so far and wondered where all the droids were since ships like these would normally have thousands of droids onboard roaming the halls.
Jack tapped his helmet and pointed two fingers at Jun before then pointing at a console next to the door. Jun stepped over to it as Jack did with the other one on the left side of the doors, the rest of the team covered them as they did. On the console was a barely functioning set of controls but it had just enough power to be usable and they opened the doors immediately stepping back and aiming their weapons at the opening not knowing what was behind it. It creaked and made two small attempts to open creating a two-metre gap before stopping for a second, the team begins to move forward but with no warning, the door fully opens with a loud rush of air and in front of them is a half dozen B1 battle droids and three super battle droids who all turn to see what made the noise and they see fire squadron Resolute but don't even have time to effectively group up and attack.
"Engage" Spartan Jack orders as soon as they see the force and they immediately aim and fire their weapons at the battle droids. Jun, Jesse and JD hug the walls of the entrance and lay down covering fire for the others who rush forward and find cover behind fallen vulture droids. Five of the B1's have been wiped out in the surprise attack and the remaining forces now fire back at the team.
"Jesse, Jun, give me some suppressing fire. We'll go around and flank them" Kix shouted through the comm.
The three of them stopped firing and Jun and Jesse, as well as JD laid down large amounts of fire and the droids, focused on them. Fives went around his cover on the right as Kix and Jack did on the left and they emerged from their cover behind the droids and fired their weapons at them. Being fired from both sides they went down in a hail of sparks from the hyper-speed bullets of the Spartans and burning scorchers from the blasters. With the enemy destroyed they regrouped.
"Well at least we know where some of them are" JD commented
"This is where we split, we know the mission find any information regarding to the whereabouts of General Grievous and his fleet, I am getting a better reading on the signal it is coming from the bridge, Alpha Team will make their way there while Bravo team heads for the Comm relay, let's move" Jun briefed as the two groups parted.
Jack led Alpha as Jun did Bravo and as Jun led his team down one of the many corridors they equipped their weapon-mounted lights to see in the deserted and pitch-black hallways. Spartan Jack led his team up one of the few lit corridors in the direction of the bridge, all of them had their weapons ready to strike at a moment's notice. With Fives in front next to Jack, JD covered their Six. As they walked down the corridor there was no sign of a battle, no destroyed droids or even ones that had been damaged which begged the question where they were on the ship.
Pieces of metal and large crates were all that stood in their way and they easily moved them aside or crossed over and around them. It wasn't long before they reached the access point to the bridge but it was an elevator that had no power and couldn't be used, With JD covering their behind Fives and Jack pried the door to the lift open and looked up then down at the mountainous drop, the elevator must have been at the bottom since they couldn't see more than a few dozen metres below but about one hundred and fifty feet above them was the door to the bridge.
"Suggestions?" JD asked looking briefly at the chasm
"Jetpacks won't be effective enough in regular pressure conditions and it is too confined. We'll have to use ascension cables but It'll be quicker If I go and then I'll lower my cable and winch you two up. Cover me" Spartan Jack told them as he got right to the edge of the opening and aimed his wrist as best he could at a solid round bar just above where he needed to be and fired, the quiet hiss was followed by the whip-like noise of his grabble soaring through the air and latching onto the cylinder tightly. Testing its strength with a tug he began to slowly ascend the long cavity.
He used his free arm to grip onto what he could as he rose, it took nearly thirty seconds for him to reach the top and as he was about to pull himself onto what was almost a platform where the closed door as he heard movement directly behind him.
"Identify yourself" Came from behind him
He quickly turned around, still grappled on and saw two battle droids in one of the openings to a floor behind him; they had their weapons raised at him. Jack instantly used the wall behind him and used his legs to launch himself towards them using the tension in his cable to bring his legs forward and heavily kick them both to the ground and then drew his sidearm and out two rounds each in their head plates as they attempted to get back up to fire on him. From below JD and Fives looked through the gap when they heard the gunfire and spoke to Jack through the comm.
"Sir you still there?" Fives asked
"Yeah but I don't know if any droids were nearby to hear that so we need to hurry, here" As Jack finished he lowered his grapple cable down and the two of them used the metal claw at the bottom to gain the footing they needed and used one arm each on the cable itself as they had their weapons in the other one in case of another droid pop up. Luckily though no more droids attempted to stop them and they reached the top in one piece. They pried open the door and walked through. Ahead of them was a large opening, the bridge. What preceded it was a short corridor that was almost an arch.
Carefully but quickly they walked down the hall their weapons ready with their fingers on the trigger and encountered no resistance and when they got to the end they saw the bridge below them and two ramps left and right to get to it but below them was droids in all the seats of the bridge but all of them had been destroyed or heavily damaged and in the command chair was a Neimoidian commander. Fives and Jack made sure the bridge was secure while JD looked over the dead Neimoidian. Spartan Jack and Fives rejoined him.
"Sir, this is lightsaber damage," JD said confusingly to Spartan Jack
"It's the same with the droids, what happened here?" Fives commented
Spartan Jack contacted the others, "Bravo Team, have you found anything?"
Jun came over the comm, "Perhaps Sir, we reached the Communication relay with no opposition and we managed to power it long enough to get a log of all communications during their attack on our convoy but in the last few minutes it all goes dark and no communication comes from the bridge until about three minutes later when a request for a hanger door opening appears, we managed to identify the request and it was made by General Grievous, ship logs also show him piloting a fighter out of the ship" Jun explains
"It still doesn't make any sense though, why would Grievous wipe out the bridge of a ship that wasn't his flagship and then flee in a fighter". JD asks
"Best guess is that he didn't want to risk the commander being interrogated especially since this convoy was meant to be top secret and as for the droid presence apart from maybe salvages and pirates I don't know where they could have gone unless they weren't here, to begin with". Spartan Jack tells them.
"Can you get the coordinates from where the fighter jumped to?" Fives aksed
"Possibly if we remove the data core and bring it back to the ship we can have Corsair go through it and he may be able to find out where Grievous went. I'll send Cadmon the coordinates for the hanger we split up in". Jun said
"Alright we'll regroup at the hanger," Fives said
Soon they all made their way back to the hanger again facing no enemies in ambushes or firefights along the way and once they did meet up in the hanger Jesse carried with him a large data chip containing the entire information log of the ship, everything from ammunition counts to hyperdrive maps. Cadmon brought in the Condor and they all left the frigate. Within the Condor Jesse entered the chip into Corsair's mainframe and despite being a "dump" AI he was still much faster than those a decade prior and it was only minutes before he had something.
"Fire Squadron Resolute, I have finished coming through the information you have provided and I believe I have discovered something. Unfortunately, I was not able to determine the coordinates of the Belbullab-22 starfighter you requested but I was able to uncover something else". Corsair begins to explain as the team gathers.
"Just before its main systems went offline an attempt was made to enter hyperspace and I was completely successful in being able to retrieve the coordinates it would have gone to, a system known as Onderon," Corsair finished.
"Onderon? They've been aligned with the Separatists since the beginning of the Clone Wars" Fives said
"Most of the droids on the ship we found were deactivated so maybe they were transporting an army but that still doesn't explain their attack on one of our convoys". Jun exclaimed
"Maybe they were given orders to attack the convoy on their way and just weren't expecting any resistance," Cadmon suggested.
"Perhaps Corsair, contact Admiral Lasky. We'll report our findings" Jack told him
Corsair wasted no time and immediately attempted to contact Admiral Lasky, it was not even a full ten seconds before Admiral Lasky appeared on the holotank clearly in his command chair aboard the Infinity.
"What do you have to report Resolute, have you located the fleet?" Lasky asked them
"Not exactly Sir, but we found something. When we arrived at the given coordinates we found a disabled Munificent Class-Frigate and investigated, the Nemodian commander had been killed with a lightsaber we assume by Grievous to lower the risk of him being interrogated and when we had Corsair run through the ships logs we found it attempted to make a hyperspace jump to the Onderon System, however, General Grievous fled the battle in a Hyperspace capable fighter so we are unaware if he is or attempted to also flee to Onderon Sir" Spartan Jack finished his explanation.
Lasky scratched his chin briefly before replying to the team, "I believe you are correct in that the enemy fleet travelled to Onderon though I doubt General Grievous also attempted to go there".
"Why, Sir?" Jun questioned
"Because a few days before I had this team brought together I received a request from the Jedi Council to provide small arms and training officers for a secret op on Onderon to train and supply a freedom fighter group but since Onderon is under Separatist rule through a puppet figurehead and these so-called freedom fighters have no claim to the throne I said no but now if a separatist fleet is there possibly delivering an army to further attacks on Civilian or UNSC targets I am not sure if it was the best decision".
"We have discovered the fleet though Sir, What are our orders?" Jun asked the Admiral
"With such a large Civilian presence on Onderon the UNSC can't and won't risk a broad tactical invasion of the planet due to the risk of innocent casualties but at the same time the decision to fund, supply and train insurgents regardless of their intentions can't be done on such short notice even if I had accepted The Jedi councils request," Lasky told them
JD Stepped forward "Sir, we're investigating the whereabouts of an enemy fleet and the General leading it, so as far as you're aware we don't know about any insurgents or puppet governments. We just happened to arrive on the planet and helped out some friendly locals". Rookie said in a half sarcastic suggestive tone to the Admiral.
"Lance Corporal, your unit does not fall within the normal mission operative rules and protocols do you understand that if you proceed with what you are suggesting there are no extraction possibilities or outside supplies?" Lasky asked the ODST.
"Affirmative, Sir" Jack and Fives replied back
"Then Proceed, I'd prefer if we distanced ourselves from the freedom fighters or insurgents, whatever they're called if you can and once you discover were Grevious report it and await further orders and if at all possible don't let these rebels do something that might consider them terrorist by the brass, Admiral Lasky out". Admiral Lasky finished before cutting off his end of the transmission.
"Alright new orders, we set a course for Onderon with the task of finding General Grievous's location and reporting it. Corsair set a slip-space jump for the Onderon System on a clocked exit". Spartan Jack ordered.
"Do we know who the Republic sent to Onderon Sir?" Cadmon asked the Spartan leader
"I don't think they told the Admiral since he declined to join in on the operation and it didn't sound too much like he wanted us to make contact with them," Kix said
"I think he merely suggested it" Countered Cadmon with a smile
The location was set and a slipspace rupture opened and the ship ploughed onwards through and the short Journey to Onderon began. Onboard the newly modified Condor was four cabins with two bunks inside which gave the vessel its new girthier look and within them Fire squadron Resolute prepared for the upcoming op. In one room Cadmon Lasky held a tablet and was researching the Planet they were on route to, its environment, history and most importantly its occupation as it was called by the Separatists. Across from him was Jun was disassembling his weapons to inspect and clean every single piece. From the glass on his 99C Sniper Scope to the firing pin on his M6D.
Meanwhile, Fives made sure that his ammunition was secure and his weapons were ready to deploy at a moment's notice. Next to him inspecting his hung armour was Jack going over every single crease, crack and crevice in the exosuit to check for any serious problems or faults that could lead to serious consequences in battle. Jesse lay on one of the ship's bunks not sleeping but planning for the upcoming action. Behind him just in his field of view was Kix and JD playing cards on the makeshift table they had constructed out of a supply crate.
All of them continued for several hours until Corsair notified them that they were five minutes away from dropping out of Slipspace. They all convened in the cockpit and just like before took their positions for the arrival. Corsair gave a background countdown of three seconds and when he reached zero they emerged completely clear in stealth mode with active camouflage blocking any thermal, electromagnetic, nuclear and any other forms of detection that would otherwise reveal them to the large Separatist fleet in-front of them.
From their ship they could make out some damage on the ships stationed at one of the few orbital repair platforms, at least that's what they assumed they were. Large crane-like arms were in place above and below the ships with droids of unknown make scattered all around them performing what looked like repairs. Kix looked closer, particularly to the large turbo laser batteries of the fleet, "Are you sure they can't detect us?" he asked slightly apprehensive
Cadmon gave a slight chuckle "Relax Kix, To their scanners, we're nothing but empty space"
Quickly the Condor headed down to the planet surface and it was only a matter of minutes before they could visibly see the ground which consisted of a mix of desert and jungle provinces in the area and beyond them was the large capital city of Iziz where the main force of droids and civilians were. "Alright we're clear, decloak and put us down behind those mountains then we'll advance to the city on foot". Spartan Jack said
Cadmon took control of the craft but was only halfway through his approach when his censors started alarming him, "Incoming missile, brace for impact!". Cadmon yelled out and grasped the controls trying to bank as hard as he could to evade it but they were too close to the ground and it was night. Due to the power from the cloak their shields had not yet powered up when the missile struck, as soon as it did a large chunk of the engine broke off and the Condor began to go down with its right-wing partially on fire.
Closer and Closer the ship got to the ground with Cadmon and Jesse pulling on the Centre sticks violently to use what little hydraulic control they had, slowly but fast enough the Condors angle changed and they had climbed just barely enough for them to force a controlled crash. The ship collided with the ground and caused a thrash inside sending Kix and JD to the floor, it continued to pound through the dirt for a full five seconds until finally halting and tilting back as it did. Inside the ship Fire Squadron gathered themselves, they knew whoever fired that missile would be on their location almost immediately and they pulled their way towards the Condors rear exit and manually opened it.
As soon as it opened Jun and Jack were on point on the left and right of the exit followed by the rest of them forming a V formation defence. "Lasky, what's the damage like?" Jack requested
Cadmon immediately rushed around to the right covered by Kix, Fives and Jun. "Looks worse than it is sir, the fuel line is severed and the engine hull is damaged heavily, I can repair it but not without the materials". Cadmon said and was cut off before he could say anymore as red blaster fire appeared in the distance towards them.
"Hostile Targets, clear to engage, use the crater for cover" Spartan Jack shouted as the seven of them dove for the crater and fired from crouched and prone positions. When they were in cover they engaged their night vision visors when they could in-between firing and tried to get a clear view on the enemy but they had deployed mobile cover in the form of large metal sheets and they couldn't get a good look. Jun linked in his comm.
"Rook your with me, rest of you lay down suppressing fire, we'll activate our active camouflage and make a run for that ridge to the west to provide sniper support". Jun ordered.
All of them layed down a hail of fire and the two made a run for it and even without Spartan augmentations JD kept up and within seconds they made it to the ridge and crawled into position. Rookie began spotting targets for Jun's HUD and he aimed at the first one. Despite being in cover they didn't look like droids. His suspicion was confirmed when he fired a round from his Sniper at one of the hostels who emerged from cover, it was a woman who looked human and had a fabric hat one covering some of her faces, she ducked down she stopped firing and the bullet sent by Jun grazed her arm but still left had enough kick to send her to the ground. Jun didn't only want to notice the human combatants and Jack immediately got onto his comm using the ships relay.
"This is Spartan Jack A-127, leader of Fire Squadron Resolute, can any Republic or UNSC forces hear me?" He shouted into his comm while firing back with his M6D in his other hand when a familiar voice came through his comm.
"Jack? What are you doing on Onderon?" Jack could make out to be the voice of Ashoka Tano, the Jedi he had already fought alongside many times.
"Right now, I'm getting shot at by what I can only assume is these rebels your helping, so for god's sake tell them to cease fire before we have to take them out" Jack shouted in between shots.
"Ok, just do not kill them!". She exclaimed loudly into her comm before cutting the line.
It took several seconds but the fire from the other side slowed then stopped altogether, one of them could be seen clearly raising their arm and they called over in a clear voice, "Hold your fire we're coming out!". As they said it a group of about two dozen individuals equipped with different weapons and clothing emerged from cover and started to approach with their weapons lowered, Resolute kept their weapons down but still had their fingers on the trigger in case they tried anything. "Are you Captain Jake?" One of them asked
"It's Spartan Jack, and for what possible reason did you have for shooting down my team's ship and then firing on us immediately". Jack asked sternly
The person who had asked responded, "I'm Lieutenant Peirson and when we saw your ship appear from thin air it spooked out lookouts who though it was some kind of Separatist ship trying to find us and we didn't see the clones in the darkness so we thought that you were some kind of CIS mercenaries or something, Ashoka Tano contacted us just now and told us you were UNSC". Peirson told him.
"DId the Projectiles, Blue laser fire and Armour not give that away?" Cadmon asked bluntly in Peirson's face
"Again we apologise and we'll supply what we can to help you fix your ship and it is probably none of my business but why are you on Onderon, did your people agree to help us?" He asked
"I appreciate that and I can't discuss our mission, at least not with you, protocol" Jack replies.
"Rook, Fives, stay with the ship. It can't be moved so once the materials and supplies arrive we'll come back and start repairs". Jack told them. They acknowledged as the rest of them headed out.
Riding back on speeder bikes the group rode to a large mountain where primitive fortifications had been made from trenches in the dirt to wooden walkways along the cliffs that led to a hollowed-out cavern inside of one which from the charts and maps along with weapon crates and ammunition was likely to be the command centre of their "operation". The group got some interesting looks as they walked through.
From the opening of the command centre, the five of them could see a larger group of people emerge from the forest in front of them, Spartan Jack used his helmets optics to enhance his view and when he looked in closer it appeared to be more of the rebellion and heading up the rear was Ashoka Tano, The other four followed him as he made his way down to ground level and approached the Jedi who was now at the front of the company.
"Commander Tano," Jack said as he friendly addressed the young Jedi.
"Spartan Jack, Where's your Team?" She greeted while looking at the others behind him who she didn't recognise apart from Kix and Jesse.
"This is my Team, Fireteam Royal can manage without me, Two members of my squad Rookie and the other you know, Fives are guarding the ship we came in until the materials which your friends here so generously provided we need to repair arrive. For now, meet the rest…Of course you already know Troopers Kix and Jesse I presume, they were offered to join and make this a Republic UNSC joint task force" Jack said, Ashoka nodded.
The others came forward. "Cadmon Lasky," He said and shook her hand followed by Jun "Spartan A226 though you can call me Jun, Maam," He said with a quick salute.
Jacks attention turned to the group behind her that finished setting down their gear. "Ashoka, you know these people?" A young woman asked with a tall man on her left and a shorter one on her right. They all began to make their way back up the ramps and steps to the command centre in the cavern.
"Most of them I do, Jack this is Steela and Saw Gerrera and Lux Bonteri Though now I am here perhaps you can tell me why you are here" She suggested
"Our mission was to track down General Grievous and his fleet and If at all possible capture him, we tracked his fleet from an ambush. We hoped that we would find both him and the fleet here but the one in orbit is not the correct size or specifications." Jack finished
"Well, Unfortunately, I can tell you that Grevious is not on the planet but his fleet was, they deployed a large garrison of droids and left, the reports from those on the inside did report that for a moment General Grievous did depart the ship and had a brief exchange of words with the puppet king the Separatists put in place of king Dendub but left soon after."
"So if there is any chance of finding his next location, it'll be to interrogate this puppet king then" Jun summarised.
"If he even knows, but don't count on getting close to him at all" Steela said to the Spartan while leaning back against the railing.
"At the risk of sounding egotistical, you haven't seen us in action," Cadmon said to her
"I have no doubt in your abilities but even for you, there are too many droids, blockades and problems to run into if you attempt this" Ashoka responded.
Jack approached the peak of the platform and looked out over the foliage and hills to see the capital city ahead. "So that's the Capital, seems quite, is there some kind of curfew in place I guessed it'd be brighter".
"I think it's going to take more than a few switches to fix that," Saw said with a grin he took a sip from a cup he was holding.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cadmon asked confusedly cautiously
"It was us that caused the blackout, we destroyed the power station and now the droids will have days before they run out of power," Lux Bonteri told him casually.
Caedmon's attitude changed as he approached the three rebels. "What, you destroyed a power station that provided an entire city with energy!" He angrily exclaimed.
Looking slightly confused at his anger Saw returned it "Yes, and now when the droids run low enough on power we can overrun them with ease and take the capital back, what exactly is wrong here?" He asked with the same voice.
"Did you people even think of the civilians that haven't got any power now or what about medical centres? That isn't liberation it's terrorism". He told him to his face. Jun put a hand in front of him before he could get any closer.
"No, its war" Lux said
Cadmon looked towards him, "Kid you don't know what war is, try fighting a war where the only hope you have is that you're still breathing the next day".
He looked like he would have continued but Jack interrupted him "That's enough! Head back to the ship and start repairs on the ship, the materials should have arrived by now if not soon" He ordered.
Silently with his fists clenched Cadmon left
"What's his problem?" Steele asked
"Just like all of us, he fought in the great war but before that, he fought insurrectionists that voiced their hate of the government in a very violent manner and didn't care who got killed in the crossfire, acts like attacking civilian buildings and institutions". Jack finished.
The rebels looked towards each other briefly before Jun ended the silence, "I recommend we all get some rest and in the morning we can discuss our strategy for getting to the king.
Steela showed them where they could rest and try to get some sleep while Spartan Jack for a moment stayed behind.
"Do you believe we made the right decision Spartan?" Lux asked the supersoldier
"I'm not sure, war is brutal, violent and requires choices that seem impossible to make but as much as I hate to say it, civilian casualties are inevitable in war but that doesn't mean they can't be avoided when necessary".
Jack received a transmission "Sir, It's Fives the locals delivered those materials and Cadmon arrived just now as well. He says he can have the ship running by morning though he didn't seem too pleased, something I missed?". Fives reported
"Nothing you need to worry about FIves when the ship is repaired bring it here, I'll send the coordinates, we were too late and Grevious, as well as his fleet, have left the system but he spoke to Sanjay Rash a puppet king of the Separatists so if we can get to him we might find out where he went". Jack replied
"Copy that Sir, we'll have the ship there by the morning, Fives out," He said as he ended the commlink.
Spartan Jack took off his helmet and leaned against the rock wall, "Did the Jedi Council really agree to help fund this...Rebellion?"
"There was some reluctance, but Anakin persuaded them. Clearly he wasn't able to do the same with the UNSC" Ashoka responded
"The UNSC understands there is a very fine line between freedom fighters and Terrorists". Jack said
"I believe they have true intentions, they are loyalists trying to restore peace," She said
"Perhaps, we'll have to see"
Hello again, once more I apologise for how long this chapter took to release and I wish I could say it won't happen again but unfortunately, as well as Work, Universities and Colleges are now starting up again which means I'll be very busy with that, however, I'll do what I can when I can. Also, keen viewers who follow me as well as the story might have realised just before this chapter was realised I accidentally posted it to the wrong story so if you were quick enough you might have already seen it.
Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I know that it is a little inaccurate what with Grevious delivering droids and speaking to the king but I did have to use a little bit of leeway here and also after the next chapter the true plot of the story begins and I think you will find it intriguing.
