I
The roof-mounted mass-driver canon boomed like a thunderous clap, emanating a blinding flash, like sheet-lightning, and hurling the 20 kg projectile at an extreme velocity. The shell imparted kinetic energy and force upon impact, violently shaking the desolate Geonosian surface and decimating the surrounding droids.
140 clone troopers that made up what remained of Abesh Company advanced through the barren red desserts; the terrain lacked cover and were brimming with legions of B1 and B2 battle droids. The Republic's newly acquired soldiers were outnumbered and slogging through masses of droids on an open ground have taken its toll, but the clones' DC-15A rifles outperformed the droids' mass-produced E-5 carbines by a mile. The All-Terrain Transport Enforcer, its giant magnetic feet creating trails of craters in its wake as it plodded in the rear, made the droids' numerical superiority but a mild effect.
Clone troopers armed with Z-6 rotary blaster canons and the AT-TE's four forward laser cannons fixed their targets in place, rendering them unable to aim and fire their weapons effectively. All the while giving the rest of their platoons a viable space to close in and destroy their opposition.
The clone troopers' highly rigorous training in manoeuvring in the presence of the enemy whilst under fire, combined with their AT-TE's powerful mass-driver canon, was apparent, and for every fallen clone, the bolt-ridden carcasses of over a dozen battle droids littered the battlefield.
The Separatist line had apparently broken in the face of the Republic's company-sized assault force. The droids were now engaging the clones in a fighting retreat, leaving behind cadavers of B1s, B2s, and even hailfire droids.
At the forefront of the assault was Jedi Padawan Reana Korris. Her lightsabre, its hilt emitting a blue beam of coherent energy, were magnet for the droids' blaster fire. Red laser bolts continue to assail Reana, but her mastery over Form V allowed her to deflect and return them to their origin with her weapon. With her troops advancing behind her, they cut a swath through the Separatists' line.
Like the foundations that made up a house, a controlled and serene emotion, free of anguish, is the foundation of a Jedi. Reana tried to keep her purpose intact, but inside, she had begun to crumble. As droids after droids fell at her hands, she felt her rage building up. It tasted bitter and un-jedi-like, yet surprisingly satisfying. Her heart ached as she cut down her enemies in anger, yet the bitterness drew her in for another taste, knowing she would be more awake with each kill.
For years Reana had served Jedi Master Sephjet Josall as a padawan learner, learning from him the ways of compassion of the Jedi, yet at the same time never waver nor be soft in the face of adversity. 'A Jedi is a facilitator of peace and a vessel for the alleviation of suffering', he would always say. And now he is gone.
All of those years, being tested by the worst the galaxy had to offer, and bringing about order and justice in the name of the Republic, faded away in but a moment as he was trapped and gunned down alongside the other members of the Jedi Strike Team in the Petranaki Arena. How dare they.
The thought of Master Josall, gallant and paternal, shot dead by mindless machines tormented Reana, her hands tensed around the hilt of her lightsabres. She wanted nothing more than to bring him back, but could she? Lightsabre in hand and more than a hundred dead battle droids in her wake, for a moment she convinced herself that the war would be over if only she would keep pushing on with grim determination.
Reana threw her lightsabre in the direction of a retreating B2 Super Battle Droid, splitting its midriff in two, before retrieving her weapon back with a force pull. Her commlink chimed in. "Commander", it was the clone captain in charge of the company accompanying Reana, addressing her with the rank bestowed upon her within the Republic Military. The captain's tone was grounded, albeit young, still he exuded authority: "The droids are pulling back. What are your orders?"
Reana answered, "Run them down!"
Reana's mind was given to the single-minded pursuit of her goal to destroy the enemy, like in a trance, to the point of extreme narrowness of viewpoint. As she pressed on and deflected blaster fire left and right, the clone troopers struggled to keep up with their newly-appointed commander. "Sir. Protocol states to never pursue an enemy that retreats unexpectedly", another clone trooper chimed in, voicing his concerns. "I suggest caution and that we hold our ground and wait for the rest of the battalion to assault the enemy stronghold"
"Your advice has been noted, CT-1298." The captain answered, his voice was as if holding back the inclination to scold his subordinate: "It would behove you to seldom, if at all, question a Jedi officer in a company-wide channel." While CT-1298 and the rest of the platoon leaders had the right and obligation to advice and voice their opinion to their commanding officer, so too did the captain have the obligation to execute his commander's orders and plans. "You have your orders, Lieutenant", and so they pushed on towards the enemy, their faith in Reana's forceful abilities unwavering.
As Reana went further and further into enemy territory with her soldiers, on either side of them were domes and spires, rocks that arose from the ground as if it reached for the smoke dappled red sky.
Most Geonosian architectures were built like mounds of a colony of insects, integrated into the mesas and buttes that adorn the planet's barren and sandy surface. They were easily mistaken for natural formations, uninhabited and hollow, a great asset of war.
Then from behind the spires they emerged. A deafening, screeching sound cutting through the air as 8 Geonosian starfighters, flying fast and low, home in on Reana like a hawk descending upon its prey.
One of the starfighters fired its laser canon. Reana was pushed off her feet in a pillar of smoke and dust, her robe torn and shredded. A deafening explosion was set off as a fiery ball of orange punched its way out of the AT-TE, as the elite Geonosian caste pilots set off the walker's magazine. Some of the clone troopers lied face down to protect their organs, others never had the chance to as they were splayed like ragdolls in the sun.
As the starfighters finished their strafing run, the sky blackened with the hovering forms of Geonosian warriors, rushing out of their spires and domes to finish off the Reana and the clones.
Reana slowly got up to a knee, each motion a struggle. The rough texture of sand was all over, uncomfortable and confining. But there was also an unpleasant warmth on her body. Adrenaline had hampered the pain, but now it was biting.
The acrid smell of burning metal, the screeches of the encroaching Geonosian warriors and the melody of their sonic blasters, the screams of men dying and being snatched and dragged by the enemy, the erratic cracks of DC-15A rifles ringing in her ears; it was too much. Reana was frozen in place, the ability to move and speak involuntarily absent. This was real, and she was afraid.
An armoured hand reached out and held Reana's shoulder. She looked up to see a clone trooper, his blue markings signifying him as a Lieutenant. Reana reached out with her force sense; CT-1298.
"Commander, are you with us?" The Lieutenant said calmly with a sense of urgency. "We'll get you out of here, Ma'am," he said as she answered him with a silent trembling gaze. The Lieutenant carefully helped his commander up, warry as to not pull a nerve and cause her pain.
Reana, in searing pain and entirely lost to the fog of war, followed the throngs of white-clad soldiers as best she could. CT-1298, assisted by the surviving clone sergeants, rallied the remaining troopers and desperately organized a fighting retreat while being constantly assailed by the encroaching Geonosians.
"Double time it to friendly line!" The Lieutenant cried out as things became increasingly bleak. Reana pushed through the pain for dear life. As Republic line became less distant in the horizon and the vibration of the Geonosians' wings increasingly faint, Reana took the risk of looking back. CT-1298's lifeless body lied on his back, facing the enemy. His hands were holding a still smoking Z6 Rotary Blaster Canon.
II
"Is everything fine?" The medical droid asked in concern, the mechanical tone of his voice had a smooth texture and carried a calming effect to Reana's troubled mind.
The cracks of blaster fire have died away, the shouting of the slaughter was far away from orbit down on the planet's surface; only the silence of the medical bay was present. And yet whilst she was sitting on the side of her bed, she could still recall how every blow jarred her body, how the pain seared her skin, and how they took every bit of illusion she had of being invincible. "Everything is fine," she answered quietly, forcing a smile.
"We have done what we can for your injuries. I will inform you when a bacta tank is available," said the droid. It left Reana to her own devices, having still many more patients that require care.
Reana's thoughts veered towards those who had fell. The captain, whose name Reana had never learned, whom had been steadfast in his deference to Reana's leadership. CT-1298, loyal and selfless, who died in her place making sure that she and what remained of his men live.
This was the first time Reana experienced grief like this. It sneaked up quietly and took Master Sephjet Josall, her teacher and mentor, who meant the galaxy to her, in an instant. She had been in such a denial that she became blind, and over 120 men paid the price. She had failed in the command which she had been assigned to bear, and she now had to make sense of it all.
Reana pleaded so that she could confided in her teacher once more. He always had an answer for her. But she couldn't, for he was gone.
The sobs were stifled at first as Reana attempted to hide her grief, then overcome by her wave of emotions, all her defences were broken as pearl-shaped tears rolled down her cheeks from jade coloured eyes.