Chapter 14: Suicide Run
EEK-176 felt a disturbance in the network. OOM-9's signal had disappeared. A lost signal could have resulted from any number of things: enemy jamming devices, hardware malfunction, or destruction. Momentary lapses in connection were known to happen from time to time, so Commander EEK-176 thought nothing of it and continued on with the fight inside the city of Sayan. After fifteen minutes had passed OOM-9's second-in-command became worried. If it was a malfunction, OOM-9 would have been promptly repaired, given the droid's substantial rank and need to stay connected with his military forces. It was unlikely to be an enemy jamming device, as the central control computer assured EEK-176 that the CIS held the majority of the city of Cayla. That left destruction as the most likely reason for OOM-9 dropping off the grid. EEK-176 personally contacted the droids in Cayla and none of them knew where the general was. EEK-176 then contacted Major Ashley Katen.
Major Katen was still in the confines of the crashed Banking Clan frigate. She pulled out her imagecaster and a small, blue hologram of EEK-176 appeared before her. "What can I do for you, Commander?"
"What is your progress with the crashed frigate?"
"The ship has been secured on the outside and we're mopping up the remaining enemy infantry in the interior. The ship's captain and some of droids have been rescued intact. And we can rebuild the one's that didn't make it."
"I have a strong reason to believe that General OOM-9 has been defeated in Cayla. You and Commander Zako are to report to that city immediately and assume control of the operation. I'm sending air transports to pick you up." Katen's eyes widened in disbelief at what she just heard.
Zako turned to look at the hologram. "What? That's impossible."
"Neither of you two are allowed to do anything irresponsible until I get there," EEK-176 commanded, the wording of his orders implying that the two human officers would be allowed to be irresponsible once the battle droid commander arrived.
"Yes sir," Katen acknowledged. The hologram dissipated.
"Come on let's go." Zako turned on his heel. "We need to be ready the second those transports get here."
"Why do I get the feeling that there's about to be a dramatic ground operation?" Captain Melissa Sledge commented.
"What do you mean General OOM-9 might be destroyed?!" Doctor Quartz demanded.
"That's why we need you to bring down that other weapon you finished," Katen said over the viewscreen.
"He's the best employer I've ever had. He always brought fresh clone prisoners for me to torment and the pay was good too. I will bring the weapon down myself immediately. I'm rather fond of the good general." Gatling Quartz messed with his pressure suit. "I've grown accustomed to his face." Quartz had a good thing going and wasn't about to let it slip away without a fight.
Katen stared at the Skakoan for a moment. "He has the exact same face as every other battle droid."
"You can recognize him at a glance," Quartz said.
"Yeah but I've been around battle droids for a long time."
"I've been around long enough," Quartz declared.
"Just get that weapon down here. And bring the marines and commandos with you."
Neimoidian transports, Trade Federation dropships, VACs, and C-9979 landing craft quickly ferried Zako and Katen's forces to the secured city center of Cayla. Eleven minutes later EEK-176, SSA-719, KJZ-8267, and 3B3-888 had arrived via a Sheathipede transport shuttle.
"I'm going to go rescue OOM-9," Zako declared once everyone had gathered together.
"That's a suicide mission," EEK-176 warned.
"I'm going. OOM-9 would rescue me."
"No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't dare risk something so stupid," EEK-176 was blunt.
"Then I'm stupid. I'm still going. It is every subordinates' duty to serve their leader to the best of their ability, and since OOM-9 is missing, we're not doing our jobs as well as we should be." Zako was adamant, just as EEK-176 predicted he would be. Despite his stubborn foolishness, his heart was in the right place. But the truth was battles weren't won based on an individual's resolve.
"Very well, you have my permission," EEK-176 was a Senior Commander and thus outranked Zako; the command droid tried to remind the human who was in charge. "And I'll accompany you."
"What about the larger battle?" the security battle droid SSA-719 asked.
"Vulpus is doing well against the Republic. Commander Z23-Y75 and Captain Sledge can lead the bulk of our troops for the time being." EEK-176 turned to Katen. "Since I assume the Major is going to be joining us."
"Of course." Katen nodded.
A trio of Neimoidian shuttles landed nearby. A squad of marine battle droids emerged from the first ship. A squad of BX droid commandos led by CDC-76 emerged from the second one. Dr. Quartz and a squad of B1 battle droids left the third shuttle. Two of the B1s were carrying an enormous gun.
"Who gets the weapon of mass destruction?" Dr. Quartz asked.
"I wanna try that weapon!" Sergeant 3B3-888 energetically raised up his hand. EEK-176 nodded in approval and the two B1s passed the gun over to the B1 battle droid.
3B3-888 held the massive weapon with one hand. The gun looked like a super deformed version of an E-5 blaster rifle. The black-colored firearm was as large as 3B3-888's body.
"That is the KnKr-1 doomseeker cannon," Dr. Quartz informed the others. "Designed to turn a typical B1 battle droid into an unstoppable fighting force. It destroys everything: heavy vehicles, aircraft, turrets, you could even punch holes in the hull of a Republic cruiser with it if you wanted. And you can imagine what it does to infantry."
"OOM-9's gonna be mad that you didn't hand over that weapon earlier," SSA-719 said.
"It hasn't been fully tested. But this is an emergency," Quartz defended himself.
"I wanna hold it," Katen was childlike with her request. 3B3-888 let her take the large weapon. The human officer could barely hold it off the ground. "This thing's heavy!" Katen whined as she struggled to keep from dropping it. "Take it back! Take it back! Take it back!" the Separatist officer yelled. 3B3-888 resumed possession of the KnKr-1 doomseeker cannon.
After Dr. Quartz was finished gloating about the weapon, the group turned to make their attack plan. A holomap of the section of the city the Republic held appeared.
"Contact with OOM-9 was lost around this general location." EEK-176 pointed.
"We'll have to take the area with infantry. Avoid any large explosions that might destroy OOM-9, wherever he is," Zako said.
"There are four Republic artillery units there! Stop trying to get us killed!" Katen berated him. "OOM-9 failed to take this place, and he had vehicles!"
"I don't like it either but we have no choice," Zako stated.
"What about light reconnaissance craft?" the pilot droid KJZ-8267 asked.
"Yes, STAPs and ASTs should be acceptable for the role," EEK-176 said. "And we'll have a horde of hunter-seeker droids on standby to deal with any starfighters that go after the infantry. Most enemy aircraft have been driven from the area but we can't be too careful."
"I say we have a massive infantry charge from the south," Zako suggested. "There's a lot of vehicle wreckage that can be used as cover."
"It won't last long against that artillery," SSA-719 said.
"We'll have to move fast. It's better than nothing," Zako replied.
"The artillery is the key. Once we eliminate that, we can send in MAFs to safely deploy infantry reinforcements all over the area," EEK-176 stated. "Once the battle is over we'll deploy PK and OX9 worker droids to sift through the wreckage for General OOM-9." EEK-176 turned to Z23-Y75. "But if we fail, you are to use heavy vehicles to take the area."
"Roger roger. If you all fail, I will wipe the Republic scum off this planet," Z23-Y75 promised.
"Don't you think you could use at least one armored assault tank?" Dr. Gatling Quartz asked.
Katen raised an eyebrow. "Thinking of joining us, eh?"
"Yes. I'm not going to spend the entirety of this war in the lab. And I can think of no other mission that requires my greatness," the scientist boasted.
EEK-176 stared at the Skakoan for a second, and then lowered his snout in thought. "All right, Doctor, you're in. Just don't fire the tank's primary cannon all over the place, make sure you hit something."
"Don't worry, Commander. My aim is as sharp and smart as my brain. You will not regret my participation."
"All right, let's get ready to move out," EEK-176 ordered.
Melissa Sledge pulled at Ashley Katen. "Yeah, good luck. Sorry I'm not coming but suicidal infantry rushes aren't really my thing. Take 8EX with you, he's good at surviving impossible odds. He made it through the Battle of Geonosis in one piece." Sledge pat the super battle droid on the arm.
"Ok, good deal."
The battle group had a wide variety of soldiers including: battle droids, super battle droids, droidekas, dwarf spider droids, baron battle droids, marine battle droids, grapple battle droids, flame battle droids, droid commandos, and human CIS shock troopers. Dr. Gatling Quartz stood up out of a gray and blue AAT's top hatch, surveying the battlefield with electrobinoculars. "They know we're here. Infantry are moving into defensive positions and the cannons are turning our way."
"Good. Let them see who their killers are." Zako slammed his helmet down on his head. The purple eyes lit up when the helmet was in place. Karl Zako was encased in his jet-black FR-8 shock trooper armor, which made him look like an overweight B1 battle droid.
"And it looks like there's a Jedi near the artillery," Quartz added.
"They better hope they have a hundred Jedi if they're going to stand a chance," Katen boasted as she put on her blue-colored helmet. Her snug black and blue combat outfit made her look nothing like a droid. Katen checked her E-6 blaster rifle. She brought a bigger gun than she usually carried for the important fight. Ashley Katen had an uneasy feeling in her stomach; she was very worried about OOM-9 and the chances of the mission's success. She had the terrible feeling that if OOM-9 really was gone, then they were about to follow him to the Maker.
"All right, no time for impressive battle speeches," EEK-176 was jokingly serious. "Charge!"
The CIS infantry broke out into a run. The speedy B1 and marine battle droids were first. The got to the cover of a number of wrecked vehicles just as some clone troopers started to fire at them. EEK-176 was dual-wielding two ZGD gatling guns and cut down the first two enemy squads on his own.
An AT-XT stood guard near the clone artillery. The walker's height gave it a good view of the battlefield. The all terrain experimental transport fired its chin gun in the direction of the droids, but its aim was appalling.
"General, the Separatists must have gone stupid without that droid leader you defeated earlier," a clone captain told Bultar Swan while looking through a pair of electrobinoculars. "This attack wave only has a single AAT in it. How could they possibly think they could take us with just one tank?"
Swan took the electrobinoculars and looked herself. "Those elite human shock troopers and droid commandos are in the battle group. We should not underestimate them. They may send aircraft at us at any moment," the Jedi Guardian warned.
"I wouldn't worry, their fighter squadrons are currently spread all over the planet; and my men excel at infantry combat," the clone captain boasted. "Without heavy tanks they're doomed, just as all the other attack waves before them."
"Heavy vehicles didn't help the previous waves, maybe they're trying something new."
"Or maybe they're desperate and running out of heavy units. After this wave we might be able to launch our own attack and begin to retake this city," the clone captain added.
A trio of AT-RTs burst out to meet the invading CIS infantry. 3B3-888 blasted them one after another with his doomseeker cannon. Giant red laser beams exited out of the large gun, destroying the walkers in a single hit. Then an IFT-X fighter tank came in after the recon walkers were gone but 3B3-888 blasted the tank in a single shot as well. "Ha Ha! I just headshot a tank! I like this gun!" the battle droid sergeant declared.
The droidekas rolled ahead of the their allies and set themselves up. The clone troopers focused on shooting the glowing blue shields. While the destroyer droids kept the clones occupied, the CIS shock troopers and BX droid commandos ran around and blasted them from the side.
The CIS infantry ranks were advancing at a good pace with Quartz's AAT bringing up the rear. The Republic AV-7 anti-vehicle cannons began to open fire on the Separatist army. The droids were advancing fast enough to the point were the clone artillery was constantly aiming too far, thus the deadly blue blasts crashed harmlessly where the droids used to be, rather than where they currently were.
The group's dwarf spider droids were crawling at top speed, to try and stay at the front of the firing line. The durable droids didn't need to take cover when dealing with clone infantry. DSD-08 was at the very front of the entire group, doing his best to blast as many clones as he could and keep moving at top speed. Suddenly the dwarf spider droid stopped moving, right out in the open where clone troopers had a clear shot at him. The spider droid sent EEK-176 an emergency message.
"DSD-08's in trouble. Something's gone wrong, his legs are locked up," EEK-176 informed the others.
"I can fix him," Dr. Quartz declared from up in the armored assault tank.
"Doctor?" EEK-176 asked.
"I can do it." Quartz was sure of himself and his masked face showed no signs of fear (not that the mask would have allowed the Skakoan to show any facial expressions whatsoever). The Skakoan scientist and a pilot battle droid exited out of the tank. "We're ready."
"Go go go!" EEK-176 shouted. EEK-176, Zako, and Katen all ran up and got in front of the DSD-08. EEK-176 was in the dead center with Zako on his left and Katen on his right, all of them blasting away in an attempt to keep the clones confined to cover so they couldn't shoot back. A team of four super battle droids rushed in and lifted the dwarf spider droid up so that Dr. Quartz could easily get underneath. Dr. Quartz and a pilot droid carrying a box of tools followed after the four super battle droids.
The Skakoan rolled under and began to work. "Plasma torch!" he called out for the pilot droid to hand him the tool.
A clone managed to shoot EEK-176 square in the chest, but the hit didn't even phase the hardy command battle droid. He kept both his ZGD gatling guns rattling on, providing an unending stream of red laser fire that lacerated the enemy troops.
"Fusioncutter!" Quartz called for another weapon.
"Hurry up Doc!" Katen screeched. The trio of officers defending the spider droid were firing wildly, spraying lasers everywhere.
3B3-888 and 8EX began leading droids past the point where DSD-08 was stuck, turning some of the attention away from the stranded spider droid and his protectors. 3B3-888 was blasting a variety of walkers. Whether it was the clone personal walkers or the better-armored heavy clone personal walkers, they all were destroyed by a single cannon blast.
Riding in on an armored scout tank, KJZ-8267 led a small group of STAPs and ASTs. The swift repulsorcraft quickly caught up to the CIS infantry and passed them up, blasting clone troopers and catching the attention of the Republic walkers.
The STAP and ASTs easily evaded all enemy fire and went through the entire army, coming up on the anti-vehicle cannons. KJZ-8267 blasted several clones, and took a shot at Bultar Swan, who easily deflected the blasts with her lightsaber. One of the STAPs managed to shoot one of the clone gunners, however another clone simply took the place of his fallen brother. The CIS scout vehicles completed their pass and retreated to the maze of buildings in the city.
"Hydrospanner!" Quartz called for another tool. KJZ-8267's lightening strike had given DSD-08 and his defenders valuable time.
However, EEK-176, Zako, and Katen were still fighting off clone troopers.
The clinks and clicks of Quartz's delicate work was drowned out by the sound of a laser hailstorm. A clone threw a thermal detonator that blew up right in front of EEK-176's defensive group, though it wasn't close enough to harm anyone. Katen blasted the clone who came up short with his throw.
After a few more lightening fast adjustments, Quartz started putting everything back together. A whirlwind of movements later the Skakoan cried out, "Done!" The pilot droid grabbed him and dragged him from out under the spider droid. The four super battle droids lowered DSD-08. Quartz have him a pat, "Get going!" DSD-08 turned to his left and started crawling as fast as he could, making it to cover behind a wrecked tank droid. Quartz, the pilot droid, and the four super battle droids soon followed, while EEK-176, Zako, and Katen were much slower in backing off, as they continued to fire at enemy clone troopers.
The sound of LAATs' engines echoed throughout the battlefront. "Enemy gunships!" SSA-719 yelled. Five LAAT/i gunships filled with clone troopers were heading directly towards the droids.
"Targeting aircraft." The baron battle droid E2BA-89 fired his twin backpack missile launchers and hit the lead LAAT/i right in the cockpit, bringing the gunship down. "Easy kill," E2BA-89 stated as he fired at another LAAT/i gunship. The few marine battle droids and CIS shock troopers that were equipped with E-60R rocket launchers started attacking the remaining gunships. 3B3-888 aimed the doomseeker cannon and was able to blow apart two of the gunships all on his own. 3B3-888 then targeted the distant AT-XT, but the walker had the annoying habit of activated its temporary shield generator right before being hit, thereby keeping the walker alive.
KJZ-8267's repulsorcraft squadron appeared back south again, speeding up through the battlefield to make another run against the clones as the droid infantry advanced.
The STAPs blasted a pair of BARC speeders that moved to intercept them. Though the GAR's heavy vehicles put more attention on the swift CIS craft this time around, the still continued to miss hitting them. An AT-TE was particularly focused on shooting them down, though it continually missed.
The AT-TE targeted KJZ-8267 and landed a direct hit with its mass-driver cannon. The armored scout tank was destroyed and the pilot droid was violently flung onto the ground. The explosion had deprived KJZ-8267 of his right leg. The pilot droid tried to crawl away toward his allies amidst the firefight.
"KJZ's down!" Katen warned the others as they made it to cover. Zako bolted from out of cover and ran for the wounded droid. A marine battle droid and B1 battle droid ran with him. "Cover them!" Katen yelled. SSA-719 also sprinted out of cover, but went towards the AT-TE; two droidekas followed the security droid.
Zako ran as fast as he could, determined not to lose anyone on the mission to rescue OOM-9. A blue blaster bolt impacted on his right shoulder, causing him to stumble and fall down right in front of KJZ-8267.
Zako shoved his E-5 into KJZ-8267's hands, got up, picked up the droid and draped him over his shoulder and ran back. Zako, the B1 and the marine droid turned and ran back for cover, blue blaster bolts nipping at their heels. While draped over Zako's shoulder, KJZ-8267 fired back with the E-5 blaster rifle.
The two destroyer droids helped SSA-719 clear out any clone troopers near the AT-TE. SSA-719 planted the time bomb just under the cockpit of the AT-TE and ran back for cover. A clone sergeant had noticed what the security droid had done. "Get that bomb off of there!" the sergeant ordered a subordinate. The TB-47 time bomb detonated before the clone could remove it, destroying the unlucky soldier and the armored walker.
Just as Zako and his small team made it to cover, the Separatist commander was shot in the back. He fell over, dropping KJZ-8267, but they were safely back with the other droids and CIS shock troopers.
"You all right?" Zako asked KJZ-8267.
"I'm missing a leg. What about you?" the pilot droid inquired about him being shot.
"Just impacted on my armor. I'll be fine."
"Don't stop! Keep moving!" EEK-176 ordered. The CIS troops started sprinting in the direction where Zako had just ran from.
The CIS attack group was nearly on top of the AV-7 anti-vehicle cannons now. The clone troopers had suddenly become desperate but were no match for the droid commandos and CIS shock troopers, especially when the flame battle droids were setting the clones on fire. Bultar Swan activated her lightsaber. The AT-XT was the last heavy vehicle separating the Separatist attackers from the clone artillery guns. The walker fired, but still failed to hit its targets, even at close range.
A pair of grapple droids each grabbed on to one of the AT-XT's legs and pulled them apart, sending the head crashing down. The annoying walker that had been shooting at the CIS the whole battle was easily defeated. The clone pilot crawled out of the crashed cockpit only to be pummeled to death by the four grapple droids.
CDC-76 charged in at Bultar Swan and swung his vibrosword hard. Bultar Swan would have been decapitated had she not gotten out of the way at the last second. A trio of BX droid commandos firing their commando E-5 rifles forced the Jedi to back away from CDC-76. GD-79 charged in at the Jedi but Swan was able to flip over the droid to avoid getting tackled.
EEK-176 turned his two gatling guns on Swan. The Jedi Guardian zigzagged back and forth to avoid being hit.
"Quick, but not quick enough," EEK-176 kept firing. However, Swan was just quick enough to escape to a parked 74-Z speeder bike and take off.
The baron battle droids turned their missiles on the artillery units, destroying the lightly armored cannons. The gunners abandoned their stations at the last possible second but were shot up by B1 battle droids and droidekas.
With the artillery destroyed, the mechanized assault flyers came in and started dropping off reinforcements all over the place. The clones were suddenly outnumbered in all directions and were massacred within moments.
Clones suddenly started surrendering all over the place, including Swan's clone captain. When SSA-719 and two flame battle droids pointed their weapons at him, he quickly dropped his DC-15S blaster and gave up.
The battle had been won. The CIS infantry started to round up the clone survivors. Zako, Katen and Quartz started to search for any signs of OOM-9. An interesting unit caught the attention of Dr. Quartz and Zako. "Maybe it might now where OOM-9 is," Quartz suggested.
Dr. Quartz and Commander Zako blocked the path of a clueless Republic astromech droid that had been milling about the area, apparently oblivious to the dramatic battle that had just taken place. The R3 unit beeped at them.
"I need subtitles for this guy," Quartz said.
"You're a master engineer and you can't communicate with an astromech?"
"The expensive trash cans have never been worth the time. My efforts would be better rewarded in other ventures. Translate for me."
"I can't," Zako admitted.
"I thought you were good with droids." Quartz pointed at the armored officer accusingly.
"Most of what I know are the Separatist battle droid languages: homing spider droids, tank droids, hailfire droids, dwarf spider droids. Never spent much time around astromechs. I only know enough astromech to ask where the escape pod is. I can understand the R1s a little better but an R3 is beyond me," Zako answered.
The astromech beeped at them again. Zako assumed it was an insult. "Stupid bucket of bolts." He kicked the droid over.
"This is just sad. Two smart guys can't figure out how to communicate with a simple astromech," 3B3-888 commented.
"Can you speak it?" Zako challenged, though he already knew the answer.
"No, the central control computer does, I will relay the conversation and it will translate for me."
"I'm over here." Katen heard the familiar voice and smiled.
"I found the General!" Katen called out to the others. Ashley Katen went over and picked up OOM-9's disembodied head. "I seem to remember a similar situation on Raxus Prime. You know, we'll never get ahead in this war if this keeps happening."
"I'm not in the mood for your jokes, Major."
Katen's mouth opened again. "Don't you say a word. No headless jokes Major. Don't you do it. I will make your life a living hell," OOM-9 threatened. "I will make you the head of the next space assault, without a starfighter! Not one more word!"
Even though OOM-9 was incapable of facial expressions, Katen knew he was giving her the evil eye. The CIS officer smiled. "Oh look! There's one of your arms, General." Katen moved to pick up OOM-9's left arm.
"Hey, thanks for giving me a han—"
"Shut it, Major!" OOM-9 cut her off. "No disembodiment jokes! I'm not in the mood for your mouth right now."
"All right, all right. Don't blow a gasket. Hey, Karl! Those CIS emblems you painted on their shoulder plates were good for something! Look how easy it is to identify their arms around the battlefield!"
"That was not my original intention," Zako said.
"I know! I'm surprised you did something useful!"
"Shut up, Ashley. Oh, I found the body!" A random command droid torso Zako happened to turn over bared OOM-9's name on the back.
Shortly after the mission, the CCC confirmed that no droids had been lost in the fight. "Yeah! We just took no casualties on a suicide mission!" SSA-719 exclaimed. "How you like that? Bet you don't!" the security battle droid taunted the clone captain prisoner. In his enthusiasm SSA-719 punched the clone captain in the face and knocked him out cold. After realizing what he had done, SSA-719 laughed.
"What do you mean no casualties? What about this?" KJZ-8267 held up his detached leg.
"Relax, I can have that screwed back on in two minutes," Quartz said as he passed by.
A Neimoidian transport flew in to drop off PK and OX9 worker droids that went about collecting the pieces of battle droids lying around from previous attack waves.
OOM-9's body parts were easily found and Dr. Gatling Quartz started to put the droid general back together again.
After testing an E-5 she found on the ground, Katen realized it was OOM-9's. "I found OOM-9's custom blaster!"
As Quartz worked on OOM-9, Zako and Katen turned their attention to DSD-08 to make sure the dwarf spider droid was still functioning properly.
"Let's take a close look to make sure you're fully operational," Zako told DSD-08 as he started to take the droid apart to look at his innards.
DSD-08 beeped, protesting Major Katen's participation.
"What are you being shy for? You don't got anything I haven't seen before."
"He's just embarrassed about being exposed to such a pretty lady," Zako's voice had a touch of sarcasm. DSD-08 beeped again.
"I'll show you something new."
"Please don't flash the droid Ashley. Sexual harassment is a serious offense, you know."
"It's not sexual harassment if the aggressor is an attractive woman." Katen put her hands on her hips.
"You got me there, I can't argue against that."
After Zako and Katen made sure that DSD-08 was alright, EEK-176 ordered the two humans back to the city center to resume command of the larger droid presence in the metropolis.
"Hey you two. How'd it go?" Captain Melissa Sledge asked Katen and Zako when they made it to the city center via a Neimoidian shuttle.
"We found OOM-9, he's going to be alright," Zako answered as they approached the portable command center.
"We took no casualties on the mission!" Katen exclaimed. "You should have gone with us. It was fun."
"Maybe next time."
"So, how's the rest of the city doing?" Zako asked.
"The Republic's falling apart all over the place. You guys must have really crippled them in that battle. Z23-Y75 took a battalion to chase a convoy of RTTs that was spotted evacuating the city. Not much for me to do right now. The Nationalists are more of a challenge at this point," Sledge explained.
A 74-Z speeder bike came barreling down through the city center. A pilot droid with a BR-1 repeater managed to blast the bike but the rider flipped off and landed on the ground.
"It's that Jedi again!" Katen yelled.
Bultar Swan ran towards the command center.
"Look out!"
"Run!" Unarmed pilot battle droids scrambled to get out of the Jedi's way as she ran towards Zako, who unhooked the ZK-II war-axe from his belt and activated it. "Come on, you Jedi witch!" Zako swiped at Bultar Swan as she leaped over him. She landed behind the Separatist commander and taunted, "your attacks are as lowbrow as your insults." Zako fired his E-5 blaster, "insults are supposed to be lowbrow, that's the point!"
Katen came in with her electrostaff, twirling it around excessively in a show of force. She swiped at the Jedi several times, but Swan was able to meet and counter every strike. Sledge and the weaponless pilot droids quickly armed themselves.
After Katen proved to be an adept combatant, Bultar Swan used the Force to push her into some supply crates.
Swan then turned to Zako, who was now backed up by Sledge and a trio of pilot battle droids. The group charged in after the Jedi. Zako went in first, giving two wide slashes that missed the Jedi. One of the pilot droids fired a RD-4 radiation launcher, forcing Swan to back off away from Zako. Sledge and another pilot droid fired SE-14 pistols, but the shots were simply deflected.
Katen got back up, knocking the boxes around her all over. "You bitch!" She ran up to Swan again, violently striking with her electrostaff. "I'm your opponent!" Katen thundered.
A trio of GATs came in, finally forcing Bultar Swan to retreat. She got back on her speeder bike and fled.
"She's good at retreating, I'll give her that," Katen admitted.
"I really should have destroyed that bike when she wasn't on it." Sledge had a rather sheepish look on her face.
The crew of the three GATs turned out to be OOM-9, EEK-176, SSA-719, KJZ-8267, 3B3-888, and Dr. Quartz.
"What about that Jedi?" Katen asked the battle droids that left the ground armored tanks.
"We've ordered a trio of Vulture droids to follow that speeder bike. She'll lead them to wherever the Republic is congregating now," EEK-176 replied. "And I don't think it will be in this city anymore."
"My neck isn't quite right, Commander Zako will fix it," OOM-9 said to Dr. Quartz as they left a gray and blue GAT.
"Yes, very well, I only brought you back from the dead," Quartz grumbled.
"I was hardly dead, my head still had energy to spare before you pieced me back together."
Zako picked up a hydrospanner and went to work on OOM-9's neck. Twisting his head back and forth as if he were going to snap it off. Zako worked like he was a professional chiropractor for battle droids. Cracking metals sounds came from the movement.
"There, how's that?"
"Excellent, I feel much better."
"Better than new," Zako patted OOM-9 on the shoulder.
"I see your leg's back on," Katen said to KJZ-8267.
"Under two minutes, just as I said," Quartz interjected.
The next day it was revealed that Bultar Swan had gone to Abridon's capital city, where a good many Republic vehicles had been sighted. The Republic was doing poorly and now seemed to be focusing on winning a showboat victory.
OOM-9's army set out, they did not have to travel far as the capital was close to Sayan. Vulpus' forces were nearby and were going to join with OOM-9's at the capital city.
Vulpus' forces was receiving most of the Republic resistance as the droid armies neared the city, making it much easier for OOM-9. OOM-9 sent in heavy STAPs to scout out Republic locations, and was able to send his bio cannons to destroy several sentry posts and turrets before the Republic ever realized OOM-9's army was even approaching.
Eventually the GAR answered OOM-9 with TX-130 fighter tanks and A5-RX battle tanks. OOM-9 sent his hailfire droids against them, as they would not be as useful inside the city, considering the amount of civilian casualties their missiles might cause.
OOM-9 sent EEK-176 to assist Commander Vulpus in taking out a command center the GAR had erected right in front of the city. The rest of OOM-9's army continued toward the government buildings.
A squadron of gunship fighters came to harass the droid armies, only to be shot down by AMLs and Scarab starfighters. OOM-9 soon realized why the fighting had been so easy; the Grand Army of the Republic was already bogged down in an intense standoff with the Abridon Nationalists. The CIS had shown up at the perfect time to mow down everyone.
A few turret towers guarded the bridge leading to the government mound. The HAGs and bio cannons made short work of the defensive structures. The droid army marched across the bridge unopposed. Shortly after the bridge, OOM-9 ordered his army to halt, and they simply watched as the Nationalists and Republic tore at each other. Once it was clear that the clones were winning, OOM-9 ordered a charge, and NR-N99 tanks droids came in and rolled right over most of the enemy troops, leaving little for the AATs and GATs to shoot.
OOM-9 spotted a familiar green lightsaber amongst the fighting. He turned his AAT to the Jedi and charged in. "I'm back!" the droid general thundered.
Bultar Swan recognized the voice (if only because it was so distinctive). "You again?" The Jedi Guardian ran up the tank to strike down the battle droid general. OOM-9 blocked her lightsaber with a ZK-II war-axe. "Don't be so surprised. Droid don't die," OOM-9 pointed his E-5 with his free hand and fired the shotgun function. Swan was able to fall away but OOM-9 kept firing at her, OOM-9 seemed hateful as he continually switch the firing functions of the E-5 trying to hit the Jedi with everything his custom E-5 offered.
OOM-9's armored assault tank fired it laser blasters and shell projectile launchers at the Jedi. Bultar Swan ran into the gardens out in front of the government mound.
Nationalist infantry were hiding amongst the pretty flowers. SSA-719 and 3B3-888 led B1 and B2 battle droids through the gardens, blasting Nationalists and looking for Bultar Swan. KJZ-8267's STAP squadron flew over the gardens to blast a pair of personal clone walkers that were on the far side of the gardens, protecting the government mound.
Guarded by armored scout tanks, an MUT drove right up to the government buildings and unleashed BX droid commandos and flame battle droids to capture the buildings. Plasma battle droids stood guard to make sure no hostiles got in or out of the government facilities.
EEK-176 reported in to let OOM-9 know that he and Commander Vulpus were successful in destroying the Republic base.
OOM-9's AAT sat idle in front of the gardens, protected by a pair of ASTs and STAPs, and a squad of super battle droids, just in case. SSA-719 appeared from out of the flowers. "We lost the Jedi, General. She got away again."
"It does not matter. She will not stay hidden for long."
Author's Note: The KnKr-1 doomseeker cannon is the weapon the battle droids have in the Attacktix Battle Figure Game.
The BR-1 repeater appeared in Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, where it was used by the Trade Federation's 'repeater trooper' class.