I am so happy. I have finally watched Top Gun, Bumblebee and The Predator. Awesome movies, I don't care what anyone says.
Glad my last chapter was so well received. I put a lot of thought into it so I am glad you all like it.
Onto reviews.
Sr. Chief 'Maverick': Glad you approve of the idea of using the F14D for dogfighting. I will admit that I also like the F18 when it comes to games like Ace Combat but I think the F14D is a better choice, but should Nick Rye give it an extra cannon?
Spartan-626: The Executor won't appear, just yet and the X-Wings will appear but later. As for Plo Koon helping save Ahsoka and liberate Earth, you will just have to wait and see. Dooku I'm afraid won't be part of that mission, for this is his final moments.
Cronus Prime: First off, good to hear from you again. Second, as a Transformers fan, I recommend you check out the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Prime stories and Cyber Star Wars stories by lyokoMarvelanime. They are Transformers Prime crossovers and are very good reads. Now as to the F-22 and F-35, I will admit that whole both of them are good fighter aircraft, the F-35 carries more missiles and only has one-hundred-eighty rounds for its 25mm cannon. The F-22, carries only eight missiles and has only four-hundred-eighty rounds for its gun. Both Aircraft are good for dogfighting, but remember many PMC and Terrorist organizations on Earth are working with Sidious so there aren't that many being used by the Wolverines. Besides, I think a classic fighter jet like the F-14D, F-15C and F-15E would be a better choice. They may not be stealth aircraft, but they have a reputation as Air-Superiority and Strike Fighters, despite having only a single cannon.
Oh, before I even forget, if any of you are looking for a good Star Wars series, check out SWEUlover2007's stories. They are very good and his new one is approaching the union of our favorite Togruta and an OC.
Now before I begin, for those of us who are fans of the Gundam franchise, should I give the Battle Armor the appearance of the ASW-G-08 Barbatose Gundam Frame, Freedom Gundam or leave it as is?
Time to go to work.
Disclaimers are the same as before, enjoy.
Chapter 31: Sacrifice
May 27th 2020, 19BBY
Coruscant
0900 hours
The entire senate was roaring with uproar. With the revelation that Palpatine was the leader of both the Separatist movement and the one who started the entire war caused quite a bit of commotion. Many senators were saying that this was a trick by the Jedi trying to take control of the senate and the republic. Others were saying the Jedi were just as much to blame for not stopping the war from even starting and should be disbanded and exiled from the Republic.
Others were saying that they should launch an all-out attack on the Separatist Alliance as their leader was now on the run, leaving their capital of Raxus vulnerable. Senators like Lott Dodd on the other hand were saying that it was time for a new Chancellor and nominated himself for the position. That was quickly dismissed as he and several other Separatist affiliated senators were arrested on charges of war-profiteering and treason. The charges against them would make sure they would spend the rest of their lives in prison, striped of their power.
Dodd however was right in saying that a new chancellor should be appointed but one that valued the ideals of the Republic and would restore it to what it truly was, a democracy. Senators of Delegation 2000 who opposed Palpatine's newest laws nominated the likes of Bail Organa, Mon Mothma and Padme Amidala as they were the ones who valued the ideals of the Republic.
Mas Amedda was also unaccounted for. Turns out he was also involved with the plot against the Jedi even long before Palpatine became Chancellor. When Coruscant Guardsmen raided his residence, they found the Chagrian politician had fled the planet, no doubt to the same location that Sidious fled to.
As if things weren't bad enough, dozens of Jedi across the galaxy were gunned down by the troopers whose inhibitor chips weren't removed in time. Those that were lucky were able to escape were almost killed until the order was called off by the Republic Top Brass. Despite this, nothing could bring back the lives that were lost by the clones who were brainwashed.
But the biggest problem came to a shock. According to the intelligence gathered from Sidious's terminal, several legions of Spaarti bred clone troopers were brought to the planet and were preparing to carry out Sidious's plan to wipe out the Jedi that were still at the temple. Unlike clones like Rex and Cody, Spaarti bred clones were not created from Jango Fett's DNA and took only a year to mature, compared to the ten years it took to clone soldiers like Rex. After the Battle of Cartao many of the cloning cylinders were secretly recovered and used by the Sith Lord to create an army that was completely loyal to the chancellor and him alone.
Due to the complete secrecy of these cloning chambers, the Lord of the Sith was able to create thousands of non-Fett clone troopers and had amassed a large army strong enough to take over the entire galaxy. These troopers were now just being awoken and were no heading towards the Jedi Temple.
Along with the dozens of Jedi knights, masters and padawans still at the temple the only clone legion left on the planet was the 501st, along with the Coruscant Guard and Jedi Temple Security. Thankfully, all the Wolf's Dragoons weren't deployed to other areas of the galaxy and at Anakin's behest quickly began to set up defensive positions inside and outside the Jedi temple, preparing for the impending battle.
It came as a shock to many troopers, Rex especially when Robert brought in former clone Sergeant Slick whose knowledge of explosives was needed in order to slow down the enemy troopers before they could reach the temple. Along with Slick, Dogma was called back into military service and reinstated as a private in Torrent Company.
Even still, the battle was going to be a tough one and it was decided to move all the younglings and initiates to the lower levels of the temple for their own safety with Sha Koon, Plo Koons niece, Bene, Whie Marlreaux, Barriss and Lycan for protection.
As the young Jedi were escorted to safety Robert went to the temples prison, unlocked Dooku's cell and handed the Count his Lightsaber. "A battle is coming to the temple. Darth Sidious and Palpatine are one in the same. I doubt anyone would notice you escaping in all the confusion." Robert began, removing his helmet.
"The Chancellor and my Master were…" Dooku began shocked before Robert interrupted him. "I asked R4 to take you off world back to your home. The Republic is demanding that you be executed without so much as a fair trial. I won't let that happen. My fighter will be waiting for you five miles from the temple. Get out of here and live the rest of your life in peace." The Lone Wolf said, holding back the sadness in his voice.
"I…" Dooku began before he saw the look in Roberts eyes, they reminded the Count of the Lone Wolfs mother.
"Return to Raxus, contact the Republic and issue for peace negotiations. No one else has to die in this damn war." Robert added before his commlink beeped and Wrecker's voice was heard. "Captain. The rest of my squad, Blake and Breach are at the location for the ambush. Tech estimates we have about five minutes before the bad guys arrive. Waiting on you." The gung-ho trooper called over the commlink.
"I'm Oscar Mike." Robert replied, looking back to Dooku. "I don't know how long you have left before you kick the bucket, but maybe it's time for you to do what you know is right." He said to the Count before bolting out of the prison cells and heading for the location of the Bad Batch, leaving Dooku behind.
Meanwhile, at the staging area for the Spaarti clones. A freed Darth Maul looked over the troops with an impressive look in his eyes. After his 'master' had been revealed he was contacted and released from his cell and was given a new mission. Lay siege to the Jedi temple and destroy the Jedi order once and for all. If the Zabrak warrior completed this task, then Sidious would reward him by making his apprentice once more, seeing as Dooku was in Republic custody and Skywalker rejected the dark side.
"Lord Maul," a Spaarti clone said walking up wearing white armor nearly identical to the standard issue Clone Trooper armor only with a more menacing appearance and carrying one of the newest E-11 Blaster Rifles. "Our forces are ready to begin the operation." The clone said as other clones, these ones wearing black flight suits climbed into the cockpits of the hundreds of T.I.E fighters that were smuggled onto the planet, powering them up.
"Good. Finally, the day has come. The Sith will rule the galaxy once more and I will finally return to my master's side." Maul stated before looking back to his men. "Have the men move out. It is time to bring an end to the Jedi order." he added.
With those final words, the non-Fett clone army marched towards the temple while fighter squadrons took off rocketing towards their targets.
Roberts point of view
Had I known the Chancellor and Sidious were one in the same, I would have assassinated the bastard with a .50BMG rifle, no doubt leaving a bloody mess and getting my ass arrested. I should have seen it, no one with that much political power is that honest or clean. All of the time he bypassed the senate and ignored the pleas of the senate should have been a clear indication that he was up to no good.
Just like the Jedi, I was blinded by the dark side obelisk that was beneath the temple. Like the Jedi, I was actually doing the work of a power-hungry monster who disguised his hunger for power by making it appear that he was humble and making false promises. To think that he was also the one who framed Ahsoka for terrorism made my blood boil even more than it was already.
My thoughts of brutally killing the Sith Lord began to make me drift slightly towards the Dark Side. But I then told myself that if I were to do than I wouldn't be the same person Ahsoka fell in love with. Besides, taking down Sidious was Anakin's destiny. Whatever mine was, I didn't know.
By the time I reached Breach's location, the Bad Batch along with Marie were laying IED's along the main road to the Jedi temple. Maverick and Red Squad reported that a large number of ground troops were marching directly towards the temple from a hidden base somewhere in the industrial sector of the city. Not only did they a few armored divisions but they had hundreds upon hundreds of T.I.E fighters of all kinds. As if that wasn't enough, the Top Brass received word that hundreds of droid units that were hiding in the wreckage of the ships that had fallen into the city were activating and had already linked up with secret clone army the Sith Lord had created in anticipation for the event that his plan failed and he was discovered.
The plan was to set up a many explosive traps as possible and knock out as much of the enemy units before they could get within striking distance of the Jedi Temple, especially considering that they had several dozen AT-AT's and Mortar Tanks with them. The amount of firepower they had proved that Sidious wasn't pulling his punches this time and was determined to wipe out the Jedi Order for good.
Unfortunately, the only Mech that was on the planet was a modified Cougar Light Mech. Like the rest of the Cougars, this one was equipped with a second 150mm Autocannon in place of the standard single 150mm.
Despite the extra cannon, the Cougar wasn't meant to take on heavy walkers like the AT-AT and was more suited for using hit-and-run attacks against enemy forces. Rally knew this and upon learning the location of the Mortar tanks, took the light mech in an attempt to intercept and take out the enemy artillery before it could get in position.
That was for taking care of the artillery, but the number of hostiles coming towards us were and the number of explosives we had wouldn't be enough to stop the approaching army, just delay them. Lucky for us, Slick was more than happy to help us with this operation, having developed a realization that he was lied to and didn't strike a blow for his brothers, but only helped the Sith.
"Even when I was in prison, I still couldn't believe that there was a non-clone soldier in the army fighting alongside my brothers, showing the same courage and commitment that we were bred with. Then there's the fact that you've taken on entire platoons of droids single handily with nothing but a bunch of slug thrower weapons, a capture plasma launcher and your own custom-made armor. I have to say, I am impressed." Slick commented, placing the last explosive charge he had on along the route while I covered him.
"And I heard you betrayed your brothers, believing you were striking a blow for all your brothers thinking the Jedi were treating you all as slaves. Truth of the matter is, you were being used like slaves but by the 'Chancellor'." I stated.
"I was a foul." The former traitor stated before he finished setting the explosives. "Alright, that should do it. Once the enemy gets within distance, we'll detonate the charges remotely and we'll be safely at the Jedi Temple. You know I could easily betray you and just sabotage the detonator." He added.
"But you won't. I trust you Slick. Besides, even someone like you deserves a second chance." I said. Slick just smiled before the charges beeped and we bolted back to Breach and Blake who were providing over watch.
"Are those charges set?" Blake asked Slick. Every trooper knew about Slick's betrayal and were hesitant to trust the former Sergeant.
"Course those charges are set. I know explosives, trooper and those charges are primed and ready for detonation." Slick answered. I could sense Slick was being honest and really wanted to fight for the republic.
"You better be right, because I see a lot of hostile units approaching us and its more then we can handle." Crosshairs stated. He was right, approaching our location were hundreds of fake clone troopers and battle droids. I never thought I would see a sight like this during the war. Then again, the war had taken a turn for the worse, now that Sidious had been identified and was now on run. If we were to find him, we had to protect the temple until we could do so.
It was going to be a challenge considering that the entire clone army was scattered across the galaxy and would take a long time for them to arrive back on the planet. Obi-Wan was on his way back, but he wouldn't be back for another four hours along with the main Dragoon fleet.
Lucky for us, we Dragoons are always willing to improvise when the occasion calls for it. This was one such occasion. I had a backup plan. Should the charges fail to detonate, for any reason a repulsor lift fuel tanker was waiting nearby and rigged up with a remote control which would be guided into one of the incoming walkers, which upon detonating would take out more than half the enemies fighting strength with a single blow. That and it would cause the charges to detonate in the chain reaction.
I held the remote control for the tanker in my hand and was waiting to activate the tanker. But that's when things took a turn for the worst.
As soon as the enemy forces arrived several B2-RP rocket droid squads rocketed into the air and soared towards our position, their wrist blasters peppering our position. "BLOW THOSE CHARGES!" I shouted, firing my Morita back at the droids.
Slick pressed the button, but the charges didn't blow up. "I DON'T BELIEVE IT! THE DETONATOR MALFUNCTIONED!" Slick shouted, throwing the detonator over the edge, raised his rifle and fired a back at the enemy forces taking down a few hostiles before returning back to cover.
Raising her XM25 launcher, Marie took aim at a squad of approaching troopers and fired her weapons full magazine taking down the squad and few nearby spider walkers. She ducked back down loading a fresh magazine into her launcher and popped out again firing another full magazine of 25x40mm grenades into the approaching swarm of hostiles. "Marie! Shift your fire to the left. We got hostiles trying to flank us!" I shouted.
"Got it!" she replied and shifted her attention with the left flank with Wrecker by her side and downed enemy after enemy with blaster fire and grenade rounds. Despite the firepower those two had, we were still outnumbered and had no choice but to fall back.
We managed gain some distance from the attacking forces, but we soon found ourselves cut off by several platoons of hostiles that managed to flank us and were soon surrounded. "WE'RE SURRONDED!" Hunter shouted as more hostiles headed towards us.
"There's too many! We're not going to make it!" Blake shouted throwing down his blaster which had just taken a hit and pulled out his pistols.
"Hold 'em off! Just hold 'em off!" I shouted firing another burst from my Morita taking down two more enemy troopers. Ejecting the empty magazine, I quickly loaded a new one magazine and turned to see Blake had somehow managed to slip away from the battle. I knew he wasn't a coward but this was unusual even for him.
"BLAKE!" I shouted over the roar of weapons fire only to hear nothing. But I did hear something over my commlink. "Get outta there! Run!" Blake shouted. I returned to the battle saving Marie from a rocket droid who had her in its sights when I then spotted Blake getting on one of the Speeder Bikes that was with us and started making a bolt for who knows where.
"Blake! Blake! Where are you going!?" I shouted into the commlink, only to get no response. More enemy units arrived and they arrived with several walkers. "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF AMMO!" Wrecker shouted, loading his second to last magazine for his LMMG and resumed firing.
"Blake, what the fuck are you doing?!" I shouted into the commlink yet again trying to get an answer from Kilo's tech support.
"Pulling the plug on em, captain. Run, will you? Do it!" Blake answered back with a more serious tone than before.
The transmission was cut and I then noticed the walkers were getting closer and closer to us then before. It was then that I heard the sound of the fuel tanker coming in at high speeds. "Never thought it would end like this, huh? Huh, Kilo?!" I heard Blake say over the commlink. Those were his last words when I finally realized what he was about to do.
"BLAKE! NO!" I shouted, running just as the tanker collided with one of the walkers and exploded. The explosion then caused the charges to detonated taking the rest of the walkers and enemy units with them. I barely made it to cover and avoided a piece of one of the destroyed walkers from crushing me. By the time the explosions ceased, I was dead set on getting Blake out of the wreckage of the tanker, but Slick held me back as one final explosion erupted and took the rest of the tanker with it.
"Blake." I said sadly, taking one final look at the wrecked tanker before a gunship arrived to pick us up. Turns out, the enemy had flanked us while we were dealing with these assholes. Blake's death would be for nothing if we didn't stop them.
"GET US TO THE TEMPLE ASAP!" I shouted to the pilot who acknowledged my orders and speed towards the temple. The fate of the Jedi Order was hanging in the balance.
Normal point of view
"INCOMING!" A temple security guard shouted as an enemy grenade landed by their feet. The guard moved out of the way, but his comrades weren't so lucky. Of the four others, only he survived. "BASTARDS!" the guard shouted, raising his blaster, letting lose a volley of blaster fire at the enemy troopers and droids. He managed to take down five droids and two troopers before his blaster's energy pack was emptied and he was killed by a precise headshot from a Destroyer droid sniper.
From over fifteen clicks, the droid sniper downed guardsmen after guardsmen before a .50BMG caliber round tore through the exposed sides taking it down along with the four others by its side. Pulling the bolt of her Barret M95, Hitomi chambered a new round into her rifle before aiming at a Spaarti rocket trooper and took the enemy clones head clean off.
Tossing her spent magazine to her side and loading a fresh one into her rifle, the Japanese-German girl fired another round from her weapon and took out three super battle droids. As she targeted another group of droids, her armors motion tracker picked up several contacts coming from her right which were group of three Spaarti clone assassins who managed to get behind the temple's defenses. One of the assassins extended their vibro-blades and sliced her sniper rifle in half, forcing the girl to backpedal to avoid getting her head sliced off.
The assassin's blades were poised to come down on her head, but were intercepted by the Vibro-Katana of Kasumi who then slashed all three assassins across the chest, killing them before Honoka arrived firing her MK107 carbine at the commando droids that accompanied the assassins. Pulling her friend back to her feat, Hitomi brought her HK USC, a .45 caliber rifle version of the UMP submachine gun, modified to fire fully or semi-automatic to bear on three Spaarti troopers that had just arrived and downed them all with efficient accuracy.
Her victory was only short lived as Mission ran up to the three with a Stinger over her shoulder, pointing out that a droid gunship was heading towards them. Aiming her anti-air missile launcher, the Twi'lek ally of Revan fired sending a 70mm rocket streaking towards the gunship. The rocket hit the gunship directly in the head section, but didn't destroy it.
The droid gunship soon began to power up its main cannons, but at the last second a concussion missile slammed into the gunships side, sending the droid ship spiraling down to the ground where it exploded. "What the?" Mission asked before she got her answer. Firing its four blaster cannons and strafing enemy walkers was the Slave 1.
"You people need some help?" Boba called over the commlink before banking his father's aircraft hard right and got in front of pair of enemy powers. Firing his ships cannons again, he downed all four of the bombers before he was joined by Hawk and several other 501st fighter pilots who all broke off and engaged the enemy fighters. A squad of 501st bombers flew over the enemy units, dropping their payload of proton bombs on the enemy forces before pulling away to begin their attack on the enemy fighters.
One bomber got behind the tail of a Scarab fighter and fired a five second burst from its nose cannons, destroying the fighter before it got behind another droid fighter, this one a Vulture droid. Another five second burst from the fighter-bombers medium laser cannons sent the droid spiraling out of control before it exploded in mid-air.
As the pilot scanned the area for a new target, he was shoot down by a surface-to-air missile which caused the bomber to slam into one of the pillars in front of the temple, causing the defenders to scatter in order to avoid being crushed. Sadly, the guards were killed by an enemy mortar strike, further weakening the first line of defense. Blocking shot after shot with his saber, Anakin grabbed one of the Super Battle droids with the force and sent it flying back into another group of hostile forces while medics dragged the wounded back into the temple. "WE NEED TO FALL BACK!" Barney called, running over with his N4 blazing.
"I hate to run from a fight, but you're right Barney. ALL UNITS FALL BACK!" Anakin shouted redirecting more incoming blaster fire back towards the enemy, covering the retreating forces as they ran back into the temple.
As the defenders fell back into the temple, Maul arrived and surveyed the work his forces had accomplished. Two of the Spaarti clones had brought over a wounded trooper who wasn't able to make it back to friendly lines. "Seems that you have been abandoned by the Jedi. I suppose that you would want me to give you mercy." Maul said before he activated his saber and cut the troopers head off.
"Mercy, is for the weak," he stated deactivating his saber and turned towards his men. "Captain, make sure that you eliminate every single Jedi in the temple, leave no survivors. I sense Kenobi is approaching, leave him to me. Those who interfere will pay with their lives." He added before his men marched up the stairs to the temple, fingers on their triggers.
Meanwhile, above Utapau. The forces of the 212th had returned to the ships and were waiting as the rest of the medical ships that had arrived took the wounded troopers to the medical stations. On the bridge of his flagship, Obi-Wan and Lee just received word that all their men were onboard the ships and quickly jumped to hyperspace. "Old Palpy really fucked us all up. Time, we teach that old bastard a lesson he'll never forget." Lee stated, cracking his knuckles.
"First, we have to get back to the temple and help protect it. I do agree, Palpatine does need to be brought to justice for what he did to the galaxy, but we have to find him first." Obi-Wan said in agreement as his forces entered hyperspace.
Back on Coruscant, Robert, Marie, Slick, the Bad Batch and Breach were nearing the temple when their gunship was shot down. Incredibly, all the passengers survived but the pilot wasn't so lucky. "They say any landing you can walk away from is a good landing, but I don't think when they came up with that saying they took into account landing behind enemy lines." Marie joked.
"Is she always like this?" Slick asked in confusion.
"Usually, she's more the teasing type. This time, I don't know." Robert answered, double checking the ammo he had left. He had only three magazines left for his rifle but still had full ammo for his pistols. The last thing he wanted to use up his remaining ammo fighting needlessly.
"We've got to get to the temple. Problem is, our ride's been shot down. Anyone have any…" the Lone Wolf began before Fenrir's Mantis Patrol Craft landed with Erik appearing atop the boarding ramp with the modified MG3 in his hands, bipod unfolded and at the ready.
"Thought you folks could use a lift." Barriss's husband said before looking at the survivors. "Where's Blake?" he asked.
"He gave his life for all of us." Slick answered sadly.
"No, he can't be gone." Erik said in disbelief. The others confirmed it and needless to say, Erik was still trying to get over it. "We can't let his sacrifice go to waste. We need to move, now." He added before he let lose a burst of the modified machine gun taking down several Spaarti clones that came to investigate the crash site.
A burst of 7.92mm rounds gunned down the evil clones, but more started to arrive. "Come on!" Erik shouted at Robert who just stood there looking back at the smoke coming from the area where Blake had perished. He returned to reality when his armors shields were depleted and forced him to board the Mantis.
Once on board, Erik handed him the BFG which was configured into launcher mode. Walking back to the boarding ramp, he charged up the weapon to full power and fired at the large horde of hostiles. No more than a hundred hostiles were wiped out with a single shot.
"It's too risky to land in front of the temple. Head for one of the hangers. We'll fight our way through the forces already in the temple. No explosives, guns only." Robert instructed. The others nodded and Fenrir set a course for one of the temples hangers. By the time they landed, Erik had his MG3 reloaded and a Colt Canada C8 Carbine slung across his back.
Marie opted for the prototype Magpul PDR-C with a thirty-round magazine and red dot sight. She also went for the Pancor Jackhammer shotgun. Hunter opted for the 7.62x39mm version of the ACR which he equipped with a holographic sight and handgrip.
Due to it being close quarters, Crosshairs couldn't use his sniper rifle to its full capabilities so the Bad Batch sniper opted for a pair of MP7A1 submachine guns. Tech choose an ARX-160 assault rifle while Hunter took a pair of FN-P90's.
As for Wrecker, the heavy-weapons trooper choose the HK MG5 machine gun which was equipped with a one-hundred-twenty round magazine, forward handgrip to control the recoil and red dot sight. Slick decided to stick with what he was used to while Robert grabbed the AA12. Once they were all set, the group exited the ship and proceeded into the temple following the sounds of blaster fire.
While the battle for the temple was underway, R4-M8 waited with the Azure Angel as the once proud Count Dooku climbed into the cockpit of the customized Jedi Starfighter. Looking back at the ongoing battle, Dooku gave a silent farewell to his padawans son.
Just before the cockpit of the fighter close, Dooku leapt out surprising the astromech copilot of the Lone Wolf. "My little friend, I cannot leave your master alone to face such impossible odds. If I am to leave this world, I will leave this world as a redeemed Jedi." Dooku said with renewed faith in the Light side of the Force. R4 beeped and told Dooku to hop in. Once the former Sith Lord had entered the cockpit, the fighter headed towards the temple, with R4 blasting away at any enemy fighters that got in its path.
Further away from the temple, a large group enemy armor consisting of six AT-ST's, four AAT's, twelve GAT's and ten HAG's were moving in on the temples right flank, preparing to bombard the temple. Dreadwing, Skyquake along with Red Squadron who were five thousand feet above the enemy formation called out the location to Rally who was one click from the enemy armor.
"You boys better keep those fighters off my ass. I've got my hands full down here with the armor." She called over the commlink. Having already used up all of her missiles on a group of spider droids she only had her cannons and pulse lasers left to use against the enemy armor.
Once she was within range of the enemy, the Indian-American girl pulled the trigger and the Cougars two autocannons roared to life. Six 150mm high-explosive shells impacted the lead AT-ST, leaving only its legs behind. Strafing to the left, Rally sprayed the AAT's with a barrage of pulse laser rounds which destroyed two of them before the Aerial Bots swooped down blasting an incoming squadron of T.I.E fighters, one of which spiraled out of control and slammed into one of the HAG's.
Coming in at over nearly fifteen hundred km/h, Dreadwing and Skyquake dived down firing their concussion missiles at a formation of T.I.E Bombers that had Rally in their sights. The missiles slammed into the bombers, causing them to explode in mid-air. However, one of the bombers was only damaged but veered itself towards the Cougar which had fired the last of its cannon rounds taking down the last spider droid. By the time Rally had noticed the bomber, it was right on top of her. Quickly, she opened up with her pulse lasers trying to shoot the bomber down.
Her rounds did hit the bomber, but the explosion from the craft damaged the mech's axels rendering it immobile. Exiting the mech, Rally pressed a button on her gauntlet and a VTOL arrived. Jumping into the cockpit of the vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, she ascended to three-thousand feet and made a beeline for the temple.
Back in the temple, Spaarti clones and droids continued to advance further and further into the Jedi temple. As they advanced, they met heavy resistance in the forms of placed Browning .30 and .50 caliber machine guns. When they were placed, it was decided that explosive devices like tripwires and landmines were out of the question for they would only end up destroying the temple. Despite this handicap, the defenders of the Jedi temple continued to spray machine gun fire towards the advancing enemy units.
One of the .30 caliber crews had just finished reloading their machine gun when they were lifted up into the air and gunned down by a volley of blaster fire from a squad of Spaarti clones. Looking at the dead bodies, Maul smirked as he charged forwards with his saber ignited and cut down several troopers and security guards that made one last attempt to hold him back.
"Weaklings." He said impaling one trooper through the torso. "If this is the best the Jedi have to offer, then they are truly at the end of their time in the galaxy." He added before he sensed a presence and blocked a twin Niman strike from Anakin.
"Hate to break it to you, Maul. But I won't let you destroy the Jedi order, not while I'm here." the Chosen One stated, parring an attack from Maul before pushing him back a few feet from him. "Don't you get it Maul? Sidious was using you. He planned for you to be defeated on Naboo, so he could find a new apprentice. He did in the form of Dooku, who was also used. That what Sidious does, he manipulates people just to get what he wants. Help us defeat him." He then said to the former apprentice to Sidious.
"ENOUGH! You think I will betray my master because of your lies. No, Skywalker. I will not betray my master, but when I am done here, I think I will pay your wife and children a visit." Maul said with an evil chuckle.
For a brief moment, Anakin started to get angry before he let his anger go. "I won't let you harm my family. It's time that Qui-Gon was avenged." He stated and once again clashed blades with Darth Maul.
As the two combatants clashed, further in the temple several squads of Spaarti troopers had made their way towards the Barriss's location. Several other squads of troopers and droids had managed to reach the location, but all contact with the squads was lost. They soon found the remains of their fellow troopers and the droids who were either slashed into scrap metal or laid dead from a blaster bolt to the body.
Among the dead were the temple security guards who fought valiantly to protect the young soon to be Jedi. While many of the temple guards were dead, there were survivors. Among them were Armachar Gercole, Giofred Seversome, Ratan Morar and Alottaa Hyziim who were getting their wounds treated by Barriss while Whie, Bene, Kasumi and Honoka covered her. "You'll still be able to fight, but you won't be able use a rifle. I recommend you use a pistol." Erik's wife said to Giofred who took a blaster bolt to his left shoulder.
"Thanks, padawan Offee." The Korun male said. "I mean, miss Valcara." He corrected himself.
"It doesn't matter. I am still Barriss Offee and you still need help." Barriss replied, chuckling a little bit.
"Maybe you can chuckle later and get back to the younglings. We've got more hostiles heading towards us." Hitomi said as she and Mission arrived loading a fresh magazine into her Steyr SMG. "And there's more than before." Mission added.
"They seemed determined to wipe us out. This what Sidious wanted, destroy the Jedi order while making it look like they were trying to take control of the Republic. We were being used by the Dark Side and were didn't even know it." Barriss said with disbelief.
"We may have been following the orders of a Sith Lord and while we may have had a few of our fellow Jedi turned to the dark side, but the majority of us stayed true to the Jedi's teachings." Bene added. The sound of weapons fire was starting to get closer and closer to them.
"Doesn't matter. You can't change the past so the only thing you can do is work towards a better future where the Sith are destroyed." Mission stated, locking in a new magazine into her AKMSU as retreating guards and Caesar bolted towards them, vaulting over the makeshift barrier they had set up.
"HERE THEY COME!" Caesar shouted as a horde of enemy soldiers appeared and opened fire. Blaster bolts from both sides and bullets flew through the air while the Jedi redirected enemy weapons fire at the hostiles.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the defenders fought with all the determination they had. They weren't about to let the younglings be slaughtered by a bunch of copy clones. A blaster bolt slammed into guard's chest killing him. When the guardsmen fell to the ground, Kasumi charged in with Linda's saber and her katana in her hands slicing apart droids and rouge clones as she went. She managed cut her way through several of the hostile troopers but more kept coming in.
Then much to everyone's surprise, the enemy started taking fire from behind. 7.62mm, 5.56mm, 7.92mm, 5.7mm and 4.6mm rounds devastated the attacking hostiles. "We've been outflanked!" a droid shouted before he took the butt of Slicks DC-15s to the face before a blast from his carbine took down a Spaarti clone assassin that tried to stab him from behind.
"Clear a path." Wrecker said and surged forwards firing his machine gun in short controlled bursts taking down anyone that was stupid enough to get in his way. One droid attempted to shoot him in the back, but the Bad Batch heavy weapons expert turned around quickly and slammed the butt of his machine gun into the droid's head before grabbing the droid and use it as a shield taking the fire from the enemy forces while he moved forwards.
Once he cleared a path, Wrecker threw the droid back towards its fallen comrades. "Damn, I'm good." He said. Crosshairs just rolled his eyes and took up position.
"Alright, we hold the line here. Don't let any of them get through." Hunter said as more enemies arrived.
On the upper levels of the temple library, 99 aimed his rifle and downed droid after droid while Shaak Ti and several Jedi Temple Guards engaged the enemy forces down below. One guard redirected the shots from several attacking rouge clones before he was overwhelmed by blaster fire and killed.
More enemy troopers came pouring into the library but were quickly cutdown by a barrage of blaster fire from the surface. Looking up, the Spaarti clones and droids looked to see Fordo and the Munnulist 10 with Ray and Lincoln arriving and quickly turned the tide of the fight. As the enemy retreated, Obi-Wan, Lee, Cody, Breach and Robert the latter of which fired his Morita at the retreating enemies.
"Your timing couldn't be better, Master Kenobi." Shaak Ti said, who now finally had the chance to catch her breath.
"Well I would have been here sooner, but as Mr. Christmas said 'we were caught in traffic'." Obi-Wan said jokingly. The former padawan of Qui-Gon then looked around. "Where's Anakin?" he asked.
"Skywalker is facing Maul now as we speak. General Ross and Captain Rex are holding the line but they need support." Fordo said as he joined them.
"Then we better get going. All soldiers stick to my ass and follow me." Robert said, before charging forwards with the AA12 in his hands and began to mow down the enemies who stayed behind and attempted a last-ditch attempt to take the Library.
Back at the main entrance to the temple, Barney, Rex, Fives, Echo, Hevy, Hardcase, Jesse, Kix, Treadshot and the remaining defenders along with Kit Fisto were fighting tough and nail against the enemy forces that continued to advance towards them. One moment, it seemed like the enemy was being pushed back but then several enemy dropships crashed through the temple entrance and coming out of the crashed ships were more enemy forces consisting of commando droids, terror troopers and terror droids.
The enemy reinforcements then charged towards the defensive line which made Barney think about the Banzai charges carried out by the Imperial Japanese army during the second world war. "FALL BACK!" he shouted with his rifle blazing taking down a few hostiles.
As the defenders began to fall back, Cassie raised her Kel-Tec SU-16 .223 semi-automatic rifle and sniped several terror droids in rapid succession saving a few 501st and 639th troopers from getting killed. As the troopers continued to fall back, several commando droids leapt over the defenders and went right for Rex's wife. Thankfully, Cassie rolled out of the way, whipped out her ACR and fired a full magazine taking down the advanced battle droids with ease but there were just too many of them.
Then, much to everyone's surprise a large portion of the enemy forces were suddenly electrocuted to death. Looking back, everyone was surprised to see that the one who saved them was Dooku. With their enemies in confusion, the temple defenders launched a quick counter attack. Dooku didn't stay long before he sprinted towards the front of the temple where Anakin and Maul were fighting just as Robert and the others arrived.
The Lone Wolf caught a glimpse of Dooku and bolted after his mother's master with Obi-Wan by his side who wanted to take care of Maul personally.
Back outside the temple, Anakin and Maul continued to clash with each other with neither combatant gaining the advantage. Maul soon gained the advantage when he knocked the lightsaber belonging to Ahsoka out of Skywalkers hand leaving his opponent with only his own saber.
"It seems you are all talk, Skywalker. You are nothing like the Jedi that took you from your mother, your only real family." Maul taunted. Anakin said nothing and clashed his saber against Maul's saber pushing against the Zabrak's blade.
"This coming from the guy that got his own brother killed in attempt to get revenge on Obi-Wan. You're the one who talks a big game, Maul. Those who resist the Darkside are more powerful than anyone like you will be." Anakin said, pushing Maul back with a strong blast of the force. Maul skidded along the ground a few inches before stopping.
"Yes, I was forced to leave my mother behind, but I never forgot her. The memory of her is what gave me the strength to stay true to what Qui-Gon believed and what I learned from my master and all the other Jedi I have met over the years. I will never turn out like you." He added, calling Ahsoka's saber back to him, igniting its green blade.
"Truer word were never spoken, Skywalker." A voice called from the stairs. Both combatants looked to see Dooku standing on the stairs, his saber in his hand which he soon ignited. "I cannot allow my former master and his former apprentice destroy the Jedi order. You are being used, Maul yet you clearly believe that Sidious will reward you. He is using you, surrender and help us end our old masters reign of evil before you are killed." He added.
"YOU ARE WEAK! ALL OF YOU ARE BENEATH ME! I AM THE MOST POWERFUL SITH APPRENTICE IN THE GALAXY! I'M THE STRONGEST FORCE USER THERE IS!" Maul shouted like a madman. A burst of gunfire broke his rant forcing him to slice the bullets in half with his saber.
"You sure about that?" Robert growled throwing down his guns deactivating his armor and unsheathed his sabers as Obi-Wan arrived igniting his own and fallen master's saber.
"Surrender, Maul." Obi-Wan demanded.
"I will not surrender, even its four or four hundred of you Jedi, I will accomplish my mission and regain what I have lost." Maul spat, igniting both blades on his saber.
"No point in trying to talk him out of fighting. The only way this guy going to listen is with our blades." Robert said.
"I'm afraid young Lehner is correct, the time for talk is over." Dooku said in agreement, getting on Mauls right while Obi-Wan got behind the Zabrack, Robert took the left and Anakin stayed in the front. Maul wasn't phased by this and tossed his saber into the air before pulling out his fallen brother's lightsaber and tossed it into air as well.
What happened next surprised all four of his opponents. Shooting out from his right and left side another set of arms tore through the Zabrak's robes which then caught the two double bladed lightsabers which he separated into four individual lightsabers. "Grievous isn't the only one that can use four lightsabers." Maul cackled before attacking.
"What the fuck have you done?" Robert asked.
"I have become the ultimate Sith, the perfect blend of prosthetics and lightsaber combat. I am undefeatable." Maul proclaimed.
"No one is undefeatable." Obi-Wan stated and clashed with his sabers against Mauls.
(I Want to Live Starts)
With is four blades, Maul blocked the strikes sent to him by Obi-Wan and Anakin while attacking Dooku and Robert with his other two sabers forcing the two on the defensive. The odds soon quickly turned to Mauls favor when two dozen MagnaGuards arrived and engaged both Robert and Dooku leaving Maul with only Obi-Wan and Anakin to contend with.
"Scrap heads." Robert spat before slicing two MagnaGuards in half on the torso while Dooku tossed one of the fallen droids' staffs into the chest of another one before sending a stream of Force Lighting towards it, destroying the droid. Parrying a strike from another droid, Dooku thrusted his saber into the chest of another MagnaGuard before countering the attack of a third droid and severed that ones head off.
The remaining droids soon formed a circle around the two trying to box them in and minimize their combat effectiveness. Standing back to back, the Lone Wolf and Dooku looked to each other and nodded before they each performed a Makashi Riposte each taking out two droids before they leapt over the droids and turned back towards the droids.
The MagnaGuards then charged forward towards the two, only to be given a large shock to their systems courtesy of Force Lightning from Dooku and Electric Judgement from Robert. "Shocking, isn't it?" Robert joked causing Dooku to chuckle before the two turned towards the ongoing battle between Obi-Wan, Anakin and Maul.
Speaking of said combatants, both Obi-Wan and Anakin were each able to sever one of Mauls extra arms and getting rid of Savage's lightsaber. Maul retracted his severed limbs back into his body, reconnected his primary saber back into its staff mode and unleashed a powerful Force Repulse, knocking both of his enemies back a few feet from him. Both were vulnerable, but Maul decided to end his feud with Obi-Wan. "So, it ends, Kenobi. A pity that you won't be able to avenge your fallen master. Say hello to him when you join him in the force." Maul gloated.
Bringing his saber up, he prepared to deliver the final blow only for his attack to be blocked by Dooku of all people. "You killed Qui-Gon, that is something I will never forgive you for. Maul, your time has come to end. As the Lone Wolf says, one shall stand, one shall fall." Dooku proclaimed and lunged into to attack the fallen Sith apprentice.
Caught off guard by Dooku's intervention, Maul was angered when Dooku slashed apart his recently rebuilt saber in half, making the battle a fair fight. Both combatants attacked each other using their respective lightsaber techniques with neither one gaining the upper hand.
That soon changed when Dooku suddenly began to feel a sharp pain in his chest and started to cough up a bit of blood. This gave Maul the opening he needed. Using the butt end of his saber, Maul hit Dooku in the chin before thrusting his saber into Dooku's chest.
(End Song)
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Robert shouted as Maul removed his saber from Dooku's body which fell to the ground. Maul grinned as Obi-Wan arrived with Anakin. "You'll pay for that Maul." Obi-Wan said before he leapt over to his opponent while Robert went to tend to Dooku.
What happened next, surprised everyone. Obi-Wan began to channel his own Force energy into his saber and attacked.
(Start Shining Finger Theme)
Drawing on the connection between him, Qui-Gon and Dooku. Obi-Wan made his move. "THIS HAND OF MINE SHINES AND ROARS! ITS BRIGHT CRY TELLS ME TO DEFEAT YOU! HERE I GO, SHINING FINGER!" Obi-Wan shouted and collided his saber into Mauls. Maul could do nothing as his blocks were proven useless and Obi-Wan finally ended the nightmare that was Darth Maul.
(End Theme)
Maul fell into Obi-Wans arms who looked to his rival with his last breath. "Tell me. Is he the Chosen One?" Maul asked Kenobi.
"He is." Obi-Wan answered looking towards Anakin.
"He…will avenge me…" Maul said as the last breath of life left his body. Closing Mauls eyes, Obi-Wan looked towards Robert who was desperately calling for a Medic to treat Dooku's wound. "I'm afraid I don't have much time left." Dooku said weakly.
"Why did you come back? It wasn't suppose to be like this." Robert shouted, tears flowing from his eyes.
"That may be. But I made a promise to your mother. To protect you. Tell me, why would Sidious do this?" Dooku asked.
"He has no heart." Robert simply answered.
"All I ever wanted, when I became his apprentice was to simply find who murdered your mother and serve him faithfully. I may not have been victorious in all my battles, but none was ever more loyal then me. Now it seems, it was all for nothing. Its too late for me, but not for you, my young friend." Dooku said as his strength began to fade faster and faster.
"Save your strength, Dooku." Robert said, clutching the counts hand.
"I can't. Before I become one with the force, take this." Dooku said, reaching into his robes and handed a holodisk to Robert. "Now, you will see how much your mother meant to me. Tell Master Yoda, I'm sorry. Good bye, my young friend." He said before his body finally gave and he ceased living.
"Dooku, NOOOOOOO!" Robert shouted as Dooku's body went limp.
Taking the holodisk, he returned to the Range as the rest of the Jedi that managed to survive the attempt on their lives returned and heard everything. Putting the holodisk into one of the ranges terminals and what he saw moved him to tears.
(Sound the Bugle starts)
The holodisk contained every recorded moment from the day his mother was brought to the temple and placed under Dooku's care. From the day she could first speak and walk, Dooku had recorded it all against the Jedi code.
"He, was like a father to her. I knew he was serious about his connection to her, but not to this degree." The Jedi from Earth said quietly as the recording continued. Each moment in the recording continued to move him to tears as Boomer nuzzled up to his owner, sensing his sadness.
By the time the recording finally to an end, Robert was in tears. "He only wanted to end this war with peace rather than a separatist victory, that's all he wanted. He wanted to pay for what he had done to the galaxy; he didn't have to die like this." Robert cried, slamming his fists into the table the terminal was on.
Boomer walked over and began to lick the face of the most powerful soldier in the galaxy as he continued to cry his eyes out. "This is a message to the Lone Wolf." Dooku's voice said from the holodisk, shocking Robert.
"If you are watching this that means I am dead. I never wanted this war to continue. As it stands, Darth Sidious has manipulated the entire galaxy to do his bidding, all so he can remake the galaxy into his image of a Sith ruled galaxy." Dooku continued.
Robert clenched his jaw at the mention of Darth Sidious, the man who framed the women he loved for terrorism and took hostage. "By now Sidious has been revealed and has most likely fled the known galaxy. I don't know how, but it appears that he has attacked and occupied your home world of Earth. If this war is to end, that the Sith must be destroyed." Dooku's voice added.
"I wish I could have spent more time with you. But I will always be with you. May the Force be with you." He concluded and the message ended.
(End song)
Clenching his fist, Robert knew that Dooku was right, Sidious had to be stopped, no matter the cost. "Sidious, your time is coming to an end." He declared and headed for the senate.
Damn this chapter took me a long time to write, I suffered quite a bit of a writer's block writing this chapter. Hope you all can forgive me.
Now another member of Kilo squad has died, giving his life for his brothers in arms, Dooku died at the hands of Darth Maul, who was killed at the hands of Obi-Wan, avenging Qui-Gon and all the other Jedi that were killed by the Zabrak. The Senate is in the process of electing a new chancellor (who would you like to take over the role as leader of the Republic) and Robert now knows his home planet has been attacked and will do everything he can to liberate it. Will he be alone, or will the Republic come to his aid as way of saying thanks for all he has done?
Tune in next time for another exciting chapter of Lone Wolf End of a Journey. Please read and review.