"Go, go, go!" A clone sergeant ordered as the rest were scrambling across the ship, cannon fire hitting the shields constantly from the outside battle.
"This is ridiculous!" Jack shouted as he stumbled into the wall. "First mission and we're stuck in a fleet battle?"
"You have to get past the blockade before going down to a Separatist controlled planet." Tacs responded as the two were making their way to the command bridge. "You had to of known this would happen, we came with a fleet to take on the whole thing."
"Still, I didn't think it would be by such forces." Jack muttered. "I thought most Separatist blockades can't handle direct force for long."
"They must have a competent admiral."
Soon after, the two entered the bridge, seeing Anakin and Admiral Yularen on the holo-communications with Obi-Wan. "Sir, you asked for us?" Tacs asked as the two stood at attention.
"Obi-Wan here thought you may be able to help us with the blockade problem." Anakin answered as the two noticed the cruisers were turning and retreating.
"Yes, our plan requires a special touch of calculation and your simulation proved you're both risky but smart." Obi-Wan explained.
"If it helps us get passed the blockade, I'll do what I can Obi-Wan." Tacs then elbowed his side, getting a small grunt from the boy. "General Kenobi."
"Good. There's just one more thing I'll have to ask."
"Yes?"
"How good can you pilot a ship that actually works?"
"Well, we're here." Anakin spoke as he and Jack walked into the hangar of Obi-Wan's from a transport shuttle. "Tell me about this new weapon."
"You're looking at it." Obi-Wan answered, confusing the two.
"Um, what exactly are we looking at Obi-OW!" As Jack walked past Obi-wan, he felt his head hit against something. "Ah, what was that?"
"That is our new weapon you've become acquainted with." Obi-Wan chuckled as a long, slim ship phased into reality. "It's a stealth ship."
"Oh man, this has made my day." Jack said as he took his helmet off, grinning like a kid who got a new toy.
"Hopefully it will make our day as well."
"So I assume that scanners can't detect it?" Anakin asked as the three walked around the ship.
"As far as we know, but this is the first real field test." Obi-Wan answered.
"That's encouraging."
"This is going to be awesome."
"See, Jack seems up to the challenge." Obi-Wan smirked as the two turned to the boy, who was sliding his hand across the stealth ship's hull as they walked.
"So, we can sneak through them undetected and attack them from behind?" Anakin asked. "Seems rather small for taking out a whole fleet. Furthermore…"
"No, this is the prototype and you won't be on the offensive." Obi-Wan interrupted. "You'll both being running a mercy mission down to the planet's surface. The ship can hold enough supplies for Senator Organa's headquarters."
"Wait… so we're not going to take on the fleet?" Jack asks, sounding disappointed. "But Obi-Wan, with this ship we could take on that whole fleet no problem. We wouldn't have to risk any more potential casualties and-"
"Jack, slow down." Obi-Wan spoke up. "It's more important to save lives than destroy ships. I need you and Anakin to continue the mercy mission."
Jack sighed in response, his head hanging down in slight shame as he nodded. "I understand sir, sorry for speaking out. I'll… go help with stocking the supplies into the ship."
As Jack placed his helmet on and began to walk off, Anakin turned to Obi-Wan. "He does have a point though. We could manage to take out the fleet if we had the ordnance."
"Anakin, we have to focus on the supplies getting to the Senator's headquarters. If we don't people will die." Obi-Wan responded.
"And what about the kid? You mean to tell me you brought him here just to fly the ship?"
"Jack managed to fly a ship that should have ripped itself apart years before he flew it. And managed to keep himself alive for three weeks while avoiding detection from any planet's sensors." Obi-Wan explained. "If anyone can fly a stealth ship better than the design it's given, it's him."
"What about me?"
"If I want a ship crashed expertly, I'll be sure to let you know."
"Ha ha, very funny."
Half an hour later, all of the supplies were loaded and Jack was walking up the ship's ramp when he saw Admiral Yularen approaching Anakin. "Thank you for waiting sir. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
"No apologies Admiral. What have you got?" Anakin asked.
"Something about this morning's engagement struck me as familiar." Yularen responded as the two started to walk up the ramp, giving Jack the idea of getting to his post now and setting up. "So I did some research."
"And?"
"I believe the opposing commander is none other than Admiral Trench."
"If I remember my military history correctly, wasn't he vaporized in the battle Now Staring Arrows?"
"I don't think he would have been caught in any explosion." Jack spoke up as the two approached. "I checked the recordings of the battle, and I could recognize most of the tactics that the enemy used. And considering how well the droids had preformed the feats couldn't be much of anyone else."
"You a fan?" Anakin asked as he looked at the arachnid head symbol on the datapad given to him.
"I had to study a lot on ship combat when I wasn't training before you guys found me." Jack answered as he was checking the systems. "That spider faced freak may be one of the worst guys you'll ever meet, but I can't deny he's really smart and beyond most tacticians we have now."
"Are you sure it's him though?"
"If it isn't, this guy is a prodigy that could become even more dangerous." Jack responded. "But I'm certain it's him, he's bold, but when beat he'll tuck his tail between his legs and abandon ship."
"Well, we may be in luck then." Anakin started as he walked up the set of stairs before sitting next to Jack. "My orders are not to engage Trench, just to deliver supplies to senator Organa."
"With all due respect general. I do not believe we will have a choice in the matter." Admiral Yularen responded. "If it is indeed Trench, then he will come for us."
"Us?"
"Yes, I am volunteering my services as consultant general." Jack looked down as he was doing a third check on the systems. He knew Trench's history, and in turn he knew that Yularen had gone through a naval battle against the arachnid tactician. And the amount of casualties he suffered in doing so.
"Welcome aboard." Anakin said, proud in the admiral's commitment.
"Everyone is on board." One of the several clones on station reported over comms.
"Dispatch we are powering up and ready to go." Anakin spoke to the open comms as he and jack set up the final phases and slowly ascended. The cruisers hangar then opened as they took off, starting their travel around Christophsis' moon.
"Going silent in ten."
"Systems green."
"Power core steady."
"Incoming scanning, looking at 12."
Amongst all the comm chatter, Jack remained focused as he kept a steady hand on the controls. He knew the chances they were taking, but in this ship he was certain whatever was to come he and the crew would be ready.
"Engage cloaking device." Anakin ordered, to which jack quickly set in the code across the several buttons and switches. It wasn't long after the whole ship became cloaked, invisible to the eye outside as they passed around the moon.
"Cloaking active, engines remaining at a steady pace." Jack said as he kept the systems in check. "How's the power out put?"
"Everything is working at full capacity." A clone, a new soldier by the name Sparkplug responded over the comms.
"Good, let's show these veterans what some rookie talent can do."
"Yes sir."
"Hm, weird." Jack said as the comms cut, turning to see Anakin looking at him. "What? We're both new, it's weird being called sir."
"Just stay focused, we don't know what to expect." Anakin responded as the two went back to their controls. It wasn't long before they were coming up on the first Separatist cruiser. Jack had to suppress the urge to gulp as they slowly passed it. He had faith in the technology, but seeing the cannons was more than enough to put him on edge.
Once they were passed, Jack let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. "Alright, I think they can't detect us on scanners."
"Yes, but if you fly any closer they may not need scanners to know we're here." Yularen responded, getting a nod from Jack.
"Relax admiral, you wanted to come on this ride." Anakin commented, getting a small chuckle from Jack.
"There's nothing to worry about sir, I doubt they'll get any idea we're here." He spoke up, keeping an eye on the sensors they had. "I've run the chances and I think we have a good percentage of going completely unnoticed."
At that very moment, the sensors projected several bombers with fighters escorting them approaching. "Um… I don't mean to of spoken too soon, but we it looks like we may have some company. They're getting closer by the second."
"What's our defenses look like?" Anakin asked.
"I read through the schematics and was given a quick course on everything." Jack responded as he started tapping across the controls. "We have torpedoes and anti-fighter cannons. But once we do we'll be out of cloaking."
"Yeah, and if they didn't know where we were that'd give our position away pretty quickly."
"Yep."
"Have they detected us?" Yularen asked, causing Jack to check the monitors.
"I couldn't say. There's no sign that they're focused solely on us, but there's no doubt they're heading in our direction."
"If we're going on the offensive we must do it soon."
"No pressure." Jack muttered as he kept his hands on the controls, ready to act on a moments notice. He wasn't always certain on how naval battles could go, but he knew that if he couldn't plan it, he'd use his instincts.
"Stay cloaked, power everything else down. Let it drift." Anakin ordered. In a matter of seconds, the clones had shut down everything besides the sensors and life-support, leaving them dead in space as they began to drift.
"They're getting closer." Jack spoke. "1,000 away. 500."
"They're going to hit us."
The next couple of seconds were silent, everyone looking up as they heard the droid ships approach. Almost immediately the fighters passed, causing the ship to rock a bit.
"They didn't notice us. They don't know we're here yet." Anakin announced.
"They're heading towards Bail Organa and the command center. They're going to bomb it." Jack's eyes widened as he saw the bombers' path. There was nothing they could do as the bombers left their sight, likely hitting their target or close and damaging the headquarters.
"No!"
"Stay calm Jack." Anakin ordered, getting the boy to silence himself. "We don't know if they got the headquarters, just stay focused and we'll be able to get their quicker."
"Right." Jack responded as he focused back on his console. It was the one problem he had with flying in a ship. If someone was in a situation, getting to it was limited by the ship's speed and processing time. As advanced as the ship is, it's still a stealth ship, not meant for fast flight or sudden movement.
"Anakin." A small hologram of Obi-Wan then appeared between the two, getting their attention. "I've just spoken to the senator. They're in dire need of our help. Continue with your mission to the planet's surface, I will engage Trench's fleet with the ships I already have."
"General Kenobi, with all due respect you do not have the resources to engage Trench openly." Admiral Yularen responded. "He wants you to attack, we'll be walking into a trap."
"He wouldn't of sent ships after the senator unless he wanted to get our attention." Jack added. "Sir, this is all just a bait tactic. He didn't do it before we showed up and he does it just awhile after we retreated? Even someone who has no position commanding a ship like me can see just how clear of a trap this is."
"They're right master." Anakin concluded. "You won't stand a chance."
"Anakin, I have enough problems without you becoming one of them." Obi-Wan spoke. "Get those supplies to the refugee camp, I'll worry about Trench. Just stay on course-"
"Obi-Wan, I can't just let you go into a battle with suicidal odds like that." Jack interrupted as he turned his head back to Admiral Yularen. "Prep torpedo tubes 1 through 4. I need a fix on Trench's command ship if this will work."
"Private?" Yularen asked, more confused than anything else. A new soldier, one fresh off of training had just given orders to a superior without a thought? Even disobeying a Jedi Master?
"Sorry for giving orders Yularen, but when a ship is on voyage in the middle of a whole enemy fleet, it's pilots take control." Jack responded as he turned back to the Separatist fleet, his eyes narrowing in determination. "Trench wants to try and draw us out? Well he'll get what he wants, just not the way expected."
Anakin smirked at the boy's conviction, turning to Yularen before the admiral could comment. "Well, you heard the kid."
"What are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked as he turned between the two.
"We need to destroy Trench, and this ship has the best chance of doing it."
"I want those supplies on the planet's surface now." Obi-Wan ordered.
"Don't worry, I'm on it." Anakin then turned off the comms just before Obi-Wan could speak, cutting the talk short. "That was pretty gutsy kid, disobeying orders on your first mission."
"Please, ship battles don't count for a mission to me." Jack responded as the loading of the torpedoes confirmation was set on his screen. "And with Obi-Wan, I just would prefer that we don't lose a Jedi. I'm willing to face court-martial if that ends up the case."
Anakin smirked at Jack. "There's hope for you yet kid." He then activated the comm and repeated the order for execution. "Prep torpedoes 1 through 4, set the fix on Trench's command ship."
"You do realize that our torpedoes may not be enough." Yularen spoke.
"All I want is for Trench to think of us instead of the people on the planet below." Anakin responded. "It's time to introduce ourselves."
Jack took a calming breath as the clones worked on all of the final preparations. He was willing to go through with this, but setting up a stealth ship against a cruiser, a fleet of cruisers, is near suicide. And as much as he loves flying a ship, he prefers to have his feet on ground when entering such a situation. At least then he's got a chance of not blowing up and dying before he even realizes it.
"Ready torpedoes." Anakin said. "Lock on the primary target." With one final calming breath, Jack followed through as the Jedi gave the next order. "Disable cloaking device."
In the next couple of seconds, the cloak shut down, revealing themselves to the fleet of Separatist fleet. Jack looked at the targeting system, making sure everything was set before ordering. "Fire." Upon his order, the clones released the four loaded torpedoes without hesitation, firing them with accuracy. The fast moving torpedoes took little time before reaching Trench's ship, aiming right at the bridge.
Just before it hit however, the shields came up and protected the arachnid admiral. Jack clicked his tongue in irritation, but knew deep down that it would have been too easy if Trench didn't do something like that and was defeated.
"Well that did little good." Yularen said to Anakin.
"Recloaking in 9, 8." Jack started the process as Trench's ship aimed at them, a pair of cannons prepping to fire. "7, 6, 5, 4." As he did, the cannons fired, two heat seeking missiles being launched at the stealth ship.
"Jack, prep the flares." Anakin ordered, and the boy did so as he continued to count down.
"It's too late!"
"Launching flares." Jack responded as he hit the switch, launching the four heat flares to take the missiles track off of them. "Engaging cloak." As the cloak activated, Anakin took control and turned the ship away, attempting to get as much distance from the imminent explosion as possible. When the missiles hit, they felt little more than a small shockwave, reliving most of the crew.
Jack however, narrowed his eyes under his helmet as he saw the smaller laser cannons change position. His response came up before the hail of lasers began to rain down on them. "Incoming!"
"I see it!" Anakin responded as he began to maneuver through the barrage of laser fire. Jack stared in amazement as the Jedi managed to easily make his way through the storm of fire, while at the same time approaching the source at high speeds.
Jack was, by no means, a bad pilot. His creativity and adaptability was rivaled by few in the past and likely will be equally so in the future. But compared to Anakin? He felt as if he was simply a beginner. There was no way he could've managed to move through the fire they went through, not in this size of a ship anyways. It made him realize just why Anakin was probably the favorite Jedi throughout the Republic.
It was only a few seconds, but to most of the crew it felt like hours before the laser fire stopped. All of the clones, even jack, sighed and slumped in their seats as their adrenaline wore off.
"Now that they know we're here, what's your plan?" Yularen asked the two pilots, getting a groan from Jack.
"I got nothing. Besides, most of my plans get me shot or screwed, so I'm gonna be a follower from here." Anakin smirked at the boy's response before answering Yularen.
"I'll think of something admiral."
"Please don't make me think of a plan Anakin."
"In the meantime, I've got Trench right where I want him." Anakin continued, rolling his eyes at Jack's interruption. "Thinking about us."
"General." Sparkplug said as he ran up next to Yularen. "There's a transmission on an open frequency. It's the enemy." That got Jack's attention, getting him to sit straight up.
"Put it through." Anakin ordered, and in a few seconds the arachnid admiral's hologram formed. Anakin actually appeared to cringe slightly as he saw Trench's appearance. "Hello ugly."
"I am admiral Trench." Trench introduced before his natural clicking of his teeth, getting Jack to roll his eyes under his helmet. "If you are listening, JEDI, then you have made a bold move. And a deadly mistake. I appreciate your decision to face me, ship to ship. To play this little game."
And that's when Jack fully understood what was going to happen from here on out. Trench will likely try to draw them out again, and attempt to figure out their patterns. The game of a hunt. A game of cat and mouse.
"It has been so long since I've had a worthy opponent." Trench continued. "You have an impressive new vessel, yes. But I have dealt with its kind before. Your technology will not save you. And your friends on the planet will parish as a result of your failure."
'He doesn't shut up.' Jack thought as, to his 'utter' shock, Trench spoke further.
"The people of Christophsis and her resources, shall join the Separatist Alliance." He then clicked before adding on. Turn back now and retreat while you can. Or I am, your, DOOM." The communication then cut, leaving the crew to themselves.
"He said he's dealt with this kind of ship before." Yularen commented, seeming confused.
"How though?" Anakin asked.
"Because this isn't the first camouflage stealth ship." Jack spoke up, getting their attention. "I've read just about every battle Trench has been in, even the parts I wasn't supposed to. There are several battles in his past where cloaked ships have been involved. He won those battles with cutthroat efficiency. Even more than his regular battles."
"How did he even find them?"
"Tracking torpedoes." Jack answered. "Whether they were cloaked or not, he'd find a way to hit them. Usually by a process of trial and error, following their movements until a mistake is made. Like a cat chasing a mouse."
"So then he has a way to find us." Yularen concluded.
"Maybe, but I wouldn't say for sure." Jack responded. "Most of the ships he went up against were cruiser-class frigates. He hasn't ran into any cloaked ships as small as ours, so there might be our advantage."
"If he hasn't encountered a ship this small, then he must be tracking the magnetic signature." Anakin brought up. "Jack, send Obi-Wan a message to hold off the attack until we've dealt with Trench. Yularen, prepare to disengage the cloaking and fire."
"Sending the communications now."
"Battle stations!"
It wasn't long after that the clones all confirmed their assignments' completions. Jack went through one final check before looking at Yularen, nodding once to give the clear.
"We're all ready general."
"Fire!"
Soon after, the cloaking was disengaged again as four more torpedoes were fired. The crew then was fast to move, preparing the cloaking much faster than the last time. "We're cloaking in five." Jack reported as the torpedoes moved at high speeds, the ship vanishing from sight.
The torpedoes then hit, doing nothing to the shields of the Separatist cruiser. "Alright, hopefully we'll be able to draw him out soon."
Upon Jack's words, the cruiser's shields lower, and four torpedoes were launched, heading straight for the stealth ship.
"General, I really hope you know what you're doing." Yularen said, getting a smirk from Anakin.
"So do I admiral." As the Torpedoes, Anakin quickly turned the ship around, getting the seekers to follow as he continued through the turn, taking a U-shape pattern as they then headed towards Trench's ship.
"General, cloaking is active, but they're following our magnetic signature." Sparkplug reported, getting a smirk from both pilots.
"Hook, line and sinker." Jack spoke as they moved at the ship's top speeds, just staying ahead of the torpedoes.
"Deactivate the cloaking, forward all power to the engines." Anakin ordered, getting swift responses from the clones as they followed through. The ship soon reappeared as the speed picked up further. The missiles were hot on their trail and Trench's ship was coming up quickly.
"Hold on to your helmets!" Jack said through the comm as they began to pull up, the bottom of the ship just grinding on the cruiser's hull, just past the command bridge. Once they past the ship, the torpedoes had recalibrated and locked on to a new magnetic signature to follow.
Trench's bridge.
With the shields still recharging, Trench had no way of protecting himself and was powerless to stop the torpedoes from decimating the bridge. With the bridge destroyed, several more systems throughout the ship would go off, causing a chain reaction that completely destroyed the once proud cruiser.
And now that the main threat was done, the stealth ship was making its way to Christophsis, with the clone crew cheering as they succeeded in taking out the arachnid admiral.
"Take that you ugly mugged freak!" jack cheered as his excitement grew. His first real space battle and they took out one of the most infamous admirals in history. He then sat back down, letting out a breath of relief as he looked at Anakin. "I'll tell ya, if we keep getting missions like this, I will never have a regret in joining this army."
"Well, trouble always follows us, so you won't have much trouble with that." Anakin responded with a smile, finding the boy's enthusiasm entertaining. "Just be careful where you disobey orders."
"I'm not disobeying them if I'm following you disobey them."
"Hmph, fair enough."
A few minutes later, Jack opened up comms to Obi-Wan's ship, getting the Jedi Master on hologram. "Obi-Wan, we've taken care of Trench and are on our way for the relief of Christophsis."
Obi-Wan sighed at this, but his voice was of relief. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but good work Anakin. We're beginning our attack on the Separatist fleet."
"Have fun sir." Jack responded, getting a look from the Jedi.
"Jack, please don't pick up habits from Anakin. Dealing with one of him is bad enough, I don't need a second one to have to look after."
"Hey, I pick up all sorts of habits." Jack shrugged. "Let's just hope I actually learn something good from Anakin aside from how to disobey orders and get away with it."
"Hey." Anakin protested, getting a chuckle from Obi-Wan and Jack.
"Whatever the case, just be careful. Anakin is… special in how things are handled with him. Try to avoid making disobedience a common issue."
"Understood Obi-Wan." With the final words spoken, the communication cut and the crew was free to land on Christophsis. Once close enough to the Republic outpost, they found an open enough area and landed, seeing as clones and natives both coming to help with off loading the supplies.
Jack stood up from his seat and started to head to the cargo hold, adding his assistance to the offloading of the supplies. Grabbing a single crate, he picked it up with mild effort and began to walk down the ship's now extended ramp. He looked around in wonder as he saw the unique look of the planet's surface and buildings, but frowned as he saw all the rubble of once great buildings.
"The one downside of war." He sighed as he took the supplies to the outpost, nodding as a clone opened the door for him. Since it was his first time in the base, he had to follow the crowd to find where the supplies went, and was lucky that everything was set for them.
He spent the rest of the day offloading supplies and setting everything up, his adrenaline wearing off as he finished setting the last of the supplies out for final preparations.
He and his squad would have their own quarters, but until the next shipment of troops came in he'd have to wait for them to show up.
So for the next three days, he would rest in the vacant room with nothing but the sound of his own breathing to keep him occupied. Most of his assignments currently were simply perimeter sweeping, checking if there was any droids attempting a reconnaissance on their fortifications.
And when he was off duty, he was helping make sure all of the supply crates' contents would get to the right place. It was a slow three days, certainly not the kind of assignments he signed up for, but he knew that every one might now be the big battle he trained for. And even then, he would want his squad there to back him up.
It was weird to him, being the only one assigned to the mission with Anakin. But he and the squad knew why. He was the only one trained in effective space travel. None of them had the training or experience to keep everything done like Jack had. Still, it was lonely to stay in his room when he had nothing to do.
It wasn't any better since most of the clones don't know just what Jack can do. It's basically the same treatment he had got back on Kamino. With only a single mission under his belt, it's not likely he'll be recognized until he's made it far enough into the war.
And until then, he'll just have to deal with the constant doubt that comes with not being a clone. All he had to do was show them what he could do. And once he does, then they'll see.
"They'll all see."
(A/N): I'm just going to come and say that I felt that this was my weakest chapter that I had made of the story. I just wasn't a fan of Cat and Mouse but figured that it should at least be included. And I can at least say I feel that the story will be much better as it goes on.