"General, we're on final approach to the docking port," Cutter said as they moved under the Venator. Obi-Wan watched as they lined up smoothly with the ventral hangar bay and the larger ships docking gear took over, pulling them up inside. The deck closed below them, and soon they were faced with the long hangar bay of a Venator. He let out a sigh of relief at the sight of non-clone troops and of Master Kota standing nearby with a welcoming detail. He watched as both Anakin's fighter and Padme's ship landed along the main strip, docking in an open hangar bay.

"Well, let's go meet our rescuers." He said. "Cody, Kittani, come with me." He nodded to his second in command and Padawan as he headed for the exit ramp. Master Yoda was waiting with the other assembled Jedi, as were the clone troopers, who'd assembled in formation.

"General, permission to lead the men off in formation?" Cody asked him.

"Granted Cody, but be careful… General Kota is not the most, trusting, towards clone troopers." Obi-Wan warned him.

With them all in line, one of the clone's who'd chosen to crew the ship lowered the ramp. Obi-Wan went down next to Master Yoda and the other Jedi, the clones marching behind.

"Master Yoda, Master Kenobi." Master Kota called out, stepping forward to greet them. "What's going on?" He asked. "I was leading my men over Cato Neimoidia and out of nowhere, we were attacked by the clone units fighting with us. We had to fight our way out… even the Liberation here was damaged… we had to shoot down our own escort ships." He said.

Obi-Wan looked to Master Yoda, who nodded. "Master Kota… We uncovered a plot within the Republic created by Chancellor Palpatine… he was the Sith Lord that we'd been hunting for. We tried to stop him… but he knew about our plan. He was behind the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic as well, and had a control chip implanted in each clone trooper. We were able to remove them from the Two Hundred and Twelfth and the Five Hundred and First units." He said. "But, some of the troopers turned against us when we tried to arrest the Supreme Chancellor. He activated Order Sixty Six, an order to eliminate every member of the Jedi Order."

Master Kota just stared at him for a moment, Obi-Wan could see it all sinking in for the man. "H… how many?"

"We were the only known group to have escaped the temple… we don't know about anyone who was away from it… but, it is likely that any Jedi leading clones was killed when the Order went into effect." He explained.

The older man just shook his head, but then noticed the clone troopers. "You said that clones did this, why are they still with you?" He asked, eyeing the mix of clone troopers that had departed the ship. Obi-Wan noticed he wasn't alone, a lot of Kota's men were eyeing the clone troopers warily, some of the guards gripping their weapons.

"These men are loyal to us Master Kota, they had the control chip removed, and chose to fight against Palpatine with us." Obi-Wan explained. "They are from both mine and Master Skywalker's units." He said.

Master Kota stared at them for another moment, but nodded, "I don't trust them, are you sure…"

It was then that Yoda spoke up, "Trust these men, I do, my young Padawan. Unfounded, your suspicions are not, but traitors, these men aren't. Lead them, Master's Kenobi and Skywalker shall."

Obi-Wan watched the man stiffen some, but then give a short bow to Master Yoda. "Yes, Master." He then looked to Obi-Wan. "There's space for your troops aboard. I'll have a section designated as their quarters." He said.

"Thank you, Master Kota. Now, if I may ask, how did you find us?" Obi-Wan asked. "We'd suppressed our force signature as much as possible to hide from Palpatine. Anakin here wasn't able to detect us until he got into the system." Obi-Wan said, motioning to his once Padawan and his wife as they walked over.

Koda nodded some, "If you'll all follow me, we can meet in my personal quarters. My men here will set about getting quarters set up for everyone." He said.

"Alright. Please, lead the way." Obi-Wan said as the small group set off. This setting was far too familiar to him. The halls of a Venator class, halls and turbolifts he knew from three years of being aboard them. There was little talk as the group made its way up to the bridge, to the ships war room. Obi-Wan gathered with the others around the central table, and a quick motion from Master Kota caused the room to be locked down, all non-essential personnel leaving.

"Comms Officer Lund, patch us through." He ordered. The young comms officer nodded and turned to her computer terminal. The image was static for a moment but cleared to reveal a man dressed in the uniform of the Alderaanian Consular Security. He looked to someone off-screen.

"Sir, it's for you." The man said and stood to be replaced by Bail Organa.

"General Kota, it's good to see you, and good, you found them." He said. "It's good to see you all."

"Senator Organa, it's good to see you. I… didn't know if the Supreme Chancellor would come after you." Padme spoke up from beside Anakin.

"Oh, he most certainly is given how close we were, but, he's not able to do anything beyond that. Given that I was the groups' hostage." He smiled some, but Obi-Wan saw no humour on the man's face. "I wanted to give you all an update. The Clone Wars are winding down, rapidly. The Separatist fleet was practically obliterated over Coruscant once a new line of star destroyers was brought into the battle." He said. "The Supreme Chancellor's support has never been higher… he's claiming that the Jedi were the ones holding the war back all these years."

Obi-Wan sighed and scratched his beard some, "He has near absolute support then." He said.

Senator Organa nodded, "He does, at the very least in the Senate, but also in the streets as well of a lot of notable people." He explained. "My best advice for you all is to lay low… He's making an announcement later today about what has happened. Do what you have to to survive."

General Kota spoke up now, "That's the plan, but currently we're a bit low on supplies. Food isn't bad yet but we will need more eventually, and the main reactor is good on sub-light fuel for years, but we need more for the hyperspace drives, we need to restock on ammo for our small ships and for our troopers." He said.

Bail nodded in understanding, "Well, I can't get supplies to you yet, but I can give you some information on where to find them. Palpatine may be watching for me to be directly involved, but I can aid you indirectly with information." He said.

Master Yoda spoke up, "Grateful for your aid, we are, Senator. But cautious, you must be." He said.

"I will, but, I can't make promises of my fellow senators. A lot of them remember our discussion Padme, and they want to resist him gaining more power." He said.

Obi-Wan looked to her, "No. They can't Bail. Tell them to vote for him, make them if you have to… but tell them to vote for him like good little supportive senators. Keep suspicion away from yourselves. You, and everyone else, keep your heads down Bail… but keep doing all those things you can't talk about too. All those things that must be discussed behind closed doors. Promise me." She said.

Bail sighed, "Okay… I will Padme. But you all need to stay down too. Wait for things to settle down… and I'll try to keep you informed as much as I can." He said. "Look, I'm sending you the coordinates and information my informants have given me on three targets, but I have to go now. Good luck, all of you." He said before sending the information and cutting the connection.

Obi-Wan took a breath, so, this is what they'd been reduced to. Hiding away and relying on what bits of information could be gotten to them from friends. While he wasn't quite as gung-ho as Anakin… Obi-Wan still didn't like it. But, what could they do? Even with the added power of Master Kota's unit and ship, they were still but one ship against not only the Republic but likely the remains of the Separatist Alliance. He watched as Kota's troops brought the data up on the war room table consols, and examined it closely.

"Well, looks like Bail did give us some good targets. All in the Outer Rim, which is nearly empty of Republic presence with most of the fleets called back to protect Coruscant." Master Kota said as they looked the information over.

Anakin nodded, "We have a Separatist supply base tucked away here in space. What looks like a Hutt smuggling operation on Teth…" Anakin paused for a moment at the name of that planet, where the 501st had nearly been wiped out. "And a Black Sun storage facility on a small moon here." He said.

"Tempting targets… but dangerous ones, and each one with supplies we likely need. I feel the Separatists may be the safest option… as strange as that sounds."

"I think so too, Master," Anakin said. "I don't want anything to do with upsetting the Hutts… and the Black Sun, well that's…"

"Part of Darth Mauls group." Obi-Wan finished. He didn't know how to feel about that. If they drew the attention of Maul, it could be just as dangerous as drawing the Empire's attention, and the Hutts were worse, they were working directly with the Republic.

"I say we hit the separatist supply base then. It should be lightly guarded, hopefully. Plus it will have what we need most urgently, fuel, ammunition, and probably enough spare parts to keep our own starfighters up and running." Master Kota said, "Plus, it's the closest of the three, and the one we know best how to fight."

"Then go there. We shall." Master Yoda said, giving the final decision.

Anakin spoke up, "I'll lead the CAS group if that's acceptable Master Kota. Ahsoka could be my second."

"Fair enough, I'll maintain command of the ship and direct its defence. Master Kenobi, I can have a strike group of my men ready for you if you'd like to lead the ground assault."

Obi-Wan smiled, "While I will lead the ground assault I'd like to show you what my and Anakin's troopers can do." He said. Master Kota didn't seem keen on the idea but nodded.

"Okay… I just hope your clones are as loyal as you say Obi-Wan. I say we drop in well outside of the base's detection range. The strike wing can move in first, with Liberation coming in to support. I can offer you two squadrons of V-Wings and a squadron of Y-wings, Skywalker."

"Perfect," Anakin said. "I'll start preparing now."

"And I'll prepare the ground team." Obi-Wan nodded.


"This is strike lead, we are away," Anakin said as his fighter launched from the runway, the assault group following him. They'd dropped out of hyperspace a few moments ago and enacted a fast combat deployment, only the Liberations own fighter screen had gone out before his strike force. "Strike Group, be careful of those asteroids." He warned.

"We here you General, no worries." One of the pilots, callsign Red 1, replied.

"Alright, understood. Let's stay close… we don't know what the enemy has until the Liberation gets its scanners in range." Anakin said as he began to navigate the asteroid field, Ahsoka and the others behind him. For a while, it was just the empty blackness of space, dotted by stars with the only defining points being the asteroids around them, but then he began to catch glimpses of lights in that darkness.

"Skywalker, we just detected two large contacts that aren't resembling asteroids. Could be some trouble." Kota warned.

"Alright, we'll keep an eye out. Attention all units. Possibly enemy ships in the area, two contacts." He said. "We're nearing the base now." He added.

The Asteroid field started to thin when Ahsoka called it out. "Master! We've got targets! Two Frigates, they've spotted us, I'm seeing fighters coming out of their hangars!"

"Understood. Red Squadron, Blue Squadron, you are free to engage, keep those fighters off Black squadron so it can make its run! Ahsoka, you're with me, we'll go in with the Y-wings!"

The two fighter groups broke off, rushing to mix it up with the Vulture droids that streamed from the two frigates. Anakin moved into an escort position for the bombers, Ahsoka right behind him, and began to scan for fighters.

"Master, incoming on our left, 10 o'clock high!" Ahsoka warned. Anakin snapped his head to the direction and picked out a trio of vulture droids. Anakin turned his fighter at breakneck speeds into the attackers.

"Ahsoka, break off and engage! Cover the bombers!" He shouted. Anakin opened up the throttle, gauging each of the fighters. He smirked and spun his fighter out of their arc as the droids fired, and responded in kind, clipping one's wing. Anakin kept his head on the swivel, tracking the fighters as they span around to engage him. He pulled back hard on the stick, going into a climb as the two droids gave chase. Anakin cut his throttle and kicked the fighter around, having the force assist him. He fired, his lasers ripped through the two droids and he re-engaged his throttle, pushing back down towards the bombers.

From this high up, he could see the furball that had unfolded as the two Munificent Frigates had begun to manoeuvre, trying to get to a point that they could cover each other with anti-air fire. Anakin dove back in, slashing through another vulture droid with a stream of blaster fire. He fought the urge to just dive into the furball, instead focusing on getting the bombers through. Then something rocked his aircraft.

"Watch out boys, their flak has started up!" He warned. "R2, how we doing bud?"

The little droid responded positively and Anakin nodded. "Let's soften up those targets a bit." He said, spotting two of the flak guns in close proximity. He dove in low towards the ship and strafed them, ending with a proton torpedo.

"General Skywalker, we're on final approach to the targets. My squadron is splitting to hit both." Black 1 told him.

"Roger that, light them up, boys!" Anakin called as he pulled away, the Y-wings came swooping in, gunners firing at targets of opportunity as flak shells burst around them and blaster fire streaked past. Anakin watched as one of the bombers was hit by the fire and exploded in a ball of flame. The squadron of five raked the two frigates with a spread of proton torpedoes, battering the two ships.

"This is black squadron, pealing off and returning home!" the leader called out. Anakin nodded, both ships were burning, but still active.

"Liberation, the bombers have completed their attack run. Both targets are softened up. Two Munificent-class frigates, both wounded." Anakin said as he drove into the furball, acting as a distraction for the bombers.

"Understood, we're assaulting now." Master Kota replied. Anakin scanned for the star destroyer but didn't see it till he looked up. Looming over the battlefield, and upside down to the rest of it, was the Liberation. All eight of its heavy turbolaser turrets opened fire, raking the two CIS capital ships. Already wounded from the bombing run, Anakin watched as both ship's backs were broken and began to explode.

"Good effect, both targets down Liberation. We'll start moping up the remaining fighters, you are clear to send the ground team in!"

It was Obi-Wan who responded this time, "Understood Anakin, we're launching now. Just be ready with any fire support we might need."


"Can do Obi-Wan, we've got your back." Kittani heard Master Skywalker speaking with Obi-Wan. She checked over her EVA suit one last time, making sure the seals were in place and everything was secured.

"Alright, let's load up everyone!" Obi-Wan called out, and the group of clone troopers with them climbed aboard the LAAT's. She still wasn't used to it, seeing a battle from this angle, where all she had to do was look up, or down, or whichever it was. She climbed aboard the LAAT with Master Obi-Wan, along with the mixed units command squad and her own squad of clone troopers.

"Rex, are you sure you can handle this?" She heard Commander Cody ask the Captain.

"I know I can, I took one last dip in the bacta on the way here. Kix cleared me." The Captain retorted.

"I only cleared you because you wouldn't let me do otherwise." Kix protested. "He'll be alright so long as he doesn't push too hard Commander, but it is Captain Rex." The medic joked.

"Ha ha Kix, funny. I think I know who's got the first cleaning duty for the 'freshers."

A hand on her shoulder snapped Kittani out of her eavesdropping. Behind her stood Boil. "You ready for this Commander?" he asked.

"As ready as I can be, Sergeant." It was then that the ships powered up and took to the air, they escaped the confines of the Venators self-generated gravity and oriented themselves to dive at the ensuing battle, the specially designed LAAT's meant to handle space travel. Glancing out through the slats, she could see the station. It'd been partially built into a large asteroid to hide and protect it, with only a landing platform and docking port for larger ships jutting out. It was hard to tell how large the base actually was, or how many battle droids it might hold.

"Get ready! Thirty seconds to landing!" The pilot called out as they moved towards the pad. Kittani took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and released her fears and nerves to the force. The ships touched down. The blast doors opened.

"Go go go go!" Commander Cody shouted. She jumped out on one side, lightsaber ignited. She saw Boil and the rest of Breakout climb out behind her, mixing with the assault group of clone troopers as she rushed forward with Obi-Wan. A few droids had manned defences on the landing pad and fired. Kittani settled into deflecting blaster bolts as they pushed forward.

"Watch out, Destroyers incoming!" A clone shouted. "Get to cover!"

Two of the droidekas came rolling out of the base. Obi-Wan shouted, "Don't let them pin us down!"

Thinking quickly, Kittani reached out with the force and grabbed a crate which she sent flying into one of the droids as it slowed. The droid flipped over onto its side, struggling to get itself righted. The other one stopped and settled into firing at her and her Master.

She deflected bolts as fast as possible, watching the clones keep pushing. The fire finally ended when Hawkeye got close enough to roll a droid popper under the remaining one's shield, stopping it. They couldn't stop though, and Kittani charged forward again at the droid lines. She leapt forward over the barricade, sabre plunging into a B2 like Obi-Wan had shown her before turning it on the nearest B1. Her Master was nearby, clearing his way through a squad on his own. Boil wasn't far behind. Her squad launched itself over the barricade as well, gunning down the droids.

Nearby she saw Rex and Cody pushing up on the doors to the base with the main force, pushing the droids back and eliminating them. The last droids fell to the overwhelming blaster fire. "Platforms clear General!" Cody called out.

"Let's push in then, time is of the essence!" He said. Kittani nodded and hurried over, then plunged her sabre into the door along with her master. They cut through the locks quickly and used the force to open them. The clones moved in quickly, engaging the few defenders at the front entrance.

"Let's push on the control center. We take that and we'll have the base." He said.

"Yes, Master." She nodded, her heart still racing now that she had a moment to realize it. The combat had been so quick. She took off at a jog with her master, their squads behind them as others spread out to clear the base.

It didn't take them long to find the command center, it was at the top of the base after all. Resistance had been light pushing to it, but they hit a snag at the stairs, a group of droids had established a defence and were laying down heavy fire.

"Kittani, I have a plan, but it'll take both of us for this." He said. "I'll give you some cover, but I need you to launch these EMP grenades up those stairs."

"You can trust me, Master." She nodded, accepting the three spears from him. She took a breath, then nodded. Obi-Wan jumped out of cover and began deflecting the blaster fire for her. Kittani jumped out, activated the three Droid Poppers, and with a push of the force, launched them up the stairs. There was the tone of the detonating droid poppers, and then all went silent.

"Push up," Kittani called out, moving up the stairs with the clones. The control center, little more than a series of consoles arranged in a square around the room, was clear, the few droids that had been there lay deactivated.

"Excellent work." Master Kenobi said. "Cody, Rex, what's the situation throughout the rest of the station."

"Sir, our squads have most of the base under control, they're cleaning up the last of the resistance now. It's ours."

"Perfect. Let's contact the Liberation and start transferring what supplies we can." He said before smiling to Kittani, "And well done my Young Padawan. You did well today." Kittani smiled, and for the first time since before the events on Coruscant, she felt that things might be improving.


Well, everyone, I wanted to throw in some action given that the last chapter was much more conversational. I also wanted to try my hand at doing more battles, especially space ones. So, let me know what you guys thought. I may manage to get one more chapter out before Christmas, but I make no guarantee's. As always I hope you enjoyed and,

May the Force be with You.