Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
So, let's get to it.
Chapter 30- ARC Troopers
In a system within Republic space, a Republic task force has gathered. It's been only two weeks since the attempted assassination of Padme.
In the CIC of the Resolute, Anakin, Obi Wan, and Major Toshiyuki Yamazaki of the ASAT team, along with Cody, Rex, and a clone intelligence officer are standing around a holotable. Russian intelligence officers working with Clone Intelligence had intercepted a transmission from General Grievous to someone else.
"We are decrypting the audio," the clone intelligence office says.
A moment later, a cloaked figure comes up, and the voice of Asajj Ventress can be heard saying, "The clone planet of Kamino will be a dangerous target."
"Just make sure you hold up your end of the mission. We must stop the production of new clones if we are to win this war," Grievous says.
The transmission ends, and Anakin and Obi Wan turn to each other.
"Kamino," Anakin says simply.
"They're going to attack our home planet," Rex says.
"The Separatist are taking quite the chance even considering this," Obi Wan says.
"With all due respect, General, if someone comes to our home, they better be carrying a big blaster," Rex says.
"I concur with Captain Rex, sir. This is personal for us clones," Cody adds.
"We'll make sure Kamino is secure. Tell your troopers in the 501st they're going home," Anakin says to Rex.
"Yes, sir!" Rex says before walking out of the room.
"I'm looking forward to a rematch with Grievous," Yamazaki says, drawing a grin from Obi Wan and Anakin.
(Kamino)
Two Acclamator class assault ships descend through Kamino's atmosphere, coming down and docking at Tipoca City, the main city of Kamino. From one emerge the 501st and 212th, a total of 15,000 combat ready clones. From the other emerges the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, numbering 5,000 men.
Anakin, Obi Wan, and Yamazaki walk across the landing platform to where Shaak Ti and Lama Su are waiting for them.
"Masters Kenobi and Skywalker, and Major Yamazaki. Welcome to Kamino," Shaak Ti says in greeting.
"Greetings," Lama Su says.
"I wish our arrival wasn't under such circumstances. We believe Grievous is planning a Separatist attack on Kamino," Obi Wan says.
"But the Republic blockade is far too strong. They would not dare," Lama Su says.
"Never underestimate your enemy," Yamazaki says.
"We must begin making preparations immediately," Anakin says, and they follow Shaak Ti and Lama Su into the city.
The clones and Filipino troops begin making safe the city. At the same time, an Indonesian division, 15,000 men total, is reinforcing another major city on Kamino that seems the second most likely target.
Up in orbit, the Republic blockade is in place, waiting. It's not much longer after the armies are landed on Kamino that a Separatist fleet drops out of hyperspace.
"Attack formation, Echo 3!" Grievous orders aboard his flagship.
The droids on the bridge report in that their various areas of responsibility are ready. Finally, Grievous orders, "Commence attack!"
The Separatist warships open fire on the Republic blockade. The Republic warships immediately return fire as fighters and bombers launch both from the ships and from down on Kamino. In the cockpits of some of the fighters are American, British, Russian, Australian, and Indian pilots, ready for their first combat experience flying starfighters.
The fighters and bombers form up around the Republic warships, then press their attack against the Separatists, with Anakin leading the way.
The fighters and bombers begin concentrating their fire on the Munificent class frigates surrounding Grievous' flagship. Not able to handle the punishment, explosions begin to wrack the ships, blasting large chunks free from the ships, which begin to fall to Kamino.
In the command center in Tipoca City, Shaak Ti, Obi Wan, and Yamazaki are all watching a projection of the battle on a holotable.
"Grievous seems to be sacrificing his transports in favor of protecting his command ship," Shaak Ti says.
"Something's not right," Obi Wan mutters.
"I agree. It's too reckless," Yamazaki adds.
As Anakin and his pilots continue their attacks, more Separatist warships begin to explode and blast free debris that falls towards Kamino.
"I'm gonna press the attack, Master," Anakin calls to the command center in Tipoca City.
"No, Anakin. Wait. It's too easy. Not even Grievous would attack so recklessly," Obi Wan says.
"Master, the battle's up here in space, not down there," Anakin replies.
"The debris from the exploded Separatist ships is the key," Obi Wan says.
"What are you thinking?" Shaak Ti asks.
"I think we'd better send someone in to take a look," Obi Wan says. He then walks to a computer and types in a message reading, "Boston. Debris from destroyed enemy ships has crashed just south of the city. Investigate immediately."
About a mile to the west of Tipoca City, the hull of the attack submarine USS Boston slides smoothly through the water. She had been brought Kamino due to Terran concerns about the security of Kamino. Partly to appease the Terrans, and also to be able to further examine the performance of submarines, the Republic had brought three Terran attack submarines to Kamino: the Boston, the HMS Trafalgar, and the Russian attack submarine Ak Bars. They had been transported to Kamino in the ventral bays of Venator class Star Destroyers, then released into Kamino's oceans.
In the conn of the Boston, her captain, Captain Peter Scala, snaps up the handle on the periscope as it comes down. "Swing around the city, and take her down to 200 feet! Let's figure out what the Seps are up to!"
The Boston turns to move around the city, as the men operating the diving planes take the sub down to 200 feet, her hull creaking a bit in response to the changing pressure.
Within minutes, the submarine has come around to the south of the city, approaching within half a mile of the impact sites.
"Sonar!" Captain Scala calls out.
"Captain! I'm picking up some faint sound, distance 800 yards directly ahead," the sonar officer responds.
"Confirm, sonar!" Scala asks.
"Sir! I can hear very faint noises indicative of metalworking. I can also hear something propelling itself through the water. Does not sound natural," the sonar operator says.
"Alright. Ping 'em! Let 'em know we're here!" Scala says.
"Yes, sir!" the sonar operator responds. He powers the Boston's active sonar up and sends out 4 pings of sound into the water.
"Conn! Multiple sonar contacts! I count at least 8 craft moving through the water, possibly more!" the sonar officer says.
"Flood the tubes! Warm up the weapons and assign targets!" Scala orders.
In the bow, the Boston's four torpedo tubes, each loaded with a Mk48 torpedo, are flooded with water. As soon as they are, the weapons officer calls to Scala, "Captain! Tubes are flooded!"
"Open outer doors and launch the fish!" Scala orders.
Within seconds of each other, the outer doors of the torpedo tubes are opened. Then, two seconds apart, the torpedoes launch.
Scala and the conn crew wait in anticipation as the torpedoes swim towards their targets. Soon, they are rewarded with a loud explosion, indicating one of their torpedoes has found its mark. Three more explosions soon follow.
In her assault craft, Asajj Ventress is stunned at four of her assault craft being destroyed. Then, one of the droids says, "Mistress! Enemy ship detected underwater! 800 yards and closing!"
"Destroy it!" Ventress orders.
Three Trident assault craft and a number of aqua droids head right for the Boston. As they approach, the sonar officer calls, "Conn, sonar, enemy targets are closing in at high speed."
"All ahead flank! Right full rudder! Take her down to 900 feet!" Scala orders.
The Boston immediately turns around, her propeller thrashing at the water to drive her faster, and she dives down to 900 feet. The sub accelerates to about 32 knots, trying to put distance between herself and the Separatist forces. The Separatist chase the Boston for a short distance before giving up.
As the submarine is moving away from the city, Scala gets on his commlink and says loudly into it, "All Republic forces, this is the USS Boston! We have detected and fired on enemy assault craft being prepped in the water just south of the city! We are currently retreating! Recommend you prepare for assault!"
In the city, Obi Wan says loudly, "Order all forces to prepare for assault! Call Anakin back down here!"
Within seconds of Obi Wan giving these orders, the assault craft begin to burst out of the water, landing on buildings in Tipoca City.
In the buildings being boarded by the assault craft, clones and Filipino troops set up defensive positions. However, some receive a nasty surprise as the assault craft drill into the buildings, swinging their tentacles around to take out troops. Then, the assault craft open up, and aqua droids are deployed.
The clones and Filipinos open fire on the aqua droids, who quickly return fire. However, in one hangar, a platoon of clones is taking heavy losses. As their numbers begin to dwindle, General Grievous makes his way out of one of the assault craft.
"Kill them all!" he orders.
As the aqua droids continue to attack throughout the facility, Grievous takes a squad of B1 battle droids and heads deeper into the city, heading for a very specific target.
A small squad of clones and Filipino troops is waiting for Grievous and the droids as they approach. The troops easily begin to gun down the approaching droids, but start falling as well.
Then, all of a sudden, an ARC trooper suddenly begins to choke as Ventress walks out of a side hallway. She then ignites her lightsaber and drives it through his chest.
The four surviving Filipino troops rush towards Ventress, but she easily dodges their attacks and cuts them all down.
"Your skills are impressive. Perhaps as great as my own, assassin," Grievous says to Ventress.
"Count Dooku may have taught you how to swing a lightsaber, General, but that hardly makes you my equal," Ventress responds.
"And yet I am the general in charge of this assault. Remember, assassin, you are to recover the clone DNA," Grievous says.
"Why not just destroy it?" Ventress asks.
"Because the DNA could unlock new possibilities for us," Grievous says.
"Keep playing with your droids. I'll handle breaking into the DNA room," Ventress says.
She starts to walk away, but Grievous grabs her arm. "Shall I provide you with a droid escort?" he asks, almost mockingly.
"My dear General, there's nothing you have that I could want," Ventress says before walking away.
As she rounds a corner, she hears, "So, that's your plan. Glad I decided to eavesdrop first." Turning her head, Ventress sees Yamazaki standing a few feet away, leaning against the wall.
"How did you know I was here?" Ventress demands.
"Oh, pretty simply. I figured the DNA might be targeted, and in any case, it was too valuable to risk. So, I decided to stake this place out," Yamazaki says. He then rises away from the wall, removing his two lightsabers from his belt and igniting them.
Ventress glares, igniting her own lightsabers. The two glare at each other before rushing each other, their blades clashing violently.
In the command center, some aqua droids get through the door. Shaak Ti ignites her lightsaber, quickly cutting down the droids.
Raising her arm, she says into her commlink, "The droids are spread thin. We must press our attack!"
"I will commit the rest of my troops to the battle!" a Filipino Colonel in charge of the Filipino troops responds.
"Anakin will lead the troops. I am heading to find Grievous. Major Yamazaki, where are you?" Obi Wan responds.
"I need a minute here!" Yamazaki asks, backflipping to avoid getting cut in half by Ventress, then slashing at her with one of his sabers.
Meanwhile, in the barracks, Cody, Rex, Fives, and Echo, along with a number of cadets and two Filipino troops and an older clone, 99, have barricaded themselves, ready to fight against the expected onslaught by the droids.
Grievous, marching towards the barracks with battle droids, orders, "Get those doors open and scare the remaining clones out of hiding."
"Roger, roger," one of the droid says. It blasts one of the doors a few times, and the door opens, revealing Rex and the others, who all start blasting the droids. The droids get ready to return fire, and the clones retreat back into the barracks.
"All too easy," Grievous says.
"Define 'easy', General," Obi Wan says as he walks up behind Grievous.
Grievous turns around, narrowing his eyes as he says, "Kenobi."
Obi Wan reaches down to his belt, pulls his lightsaber off his belt, and ignites it. Grievous responds by pulling out two of his sabers and igniting them, one blue and one green. The two then rush each other.
Meanwhile, Yamazaki and Ventress is still dueling. Ventress is shocked to find Yamazaki to be such a fierce opponent. However, of all the ASAT commandos, Yamazaki actually had experience in swordplay before joining the team, as he had learned to use a katana, primarily as a hobby, prior to joining the Japanese Self Defense Force.
Ventress tries to bring both of her sabers down on Yamazaki's head, but Yamazaki blocks them both with one of his lightsabers, then takes a swing at her leg with the other. Ventress tries to dodge, but Yamazaki just nicks her leg. The wound is still quite painful for Ventress. She growls and resumes her attacks against Yamazaki.
At the same time, Obi Wan and Grievous are exchanging blows. Obi Wan slashes and parries with all his strength, but Grievous is able to block all of his blows. Then, Grievous separates one of his arms, and he uses the hand not holding a lightsaber to grab Obi Wan by the face and throw him. He tries to stomp on Obi Wan, but Obi Wan rolls out of the way. However, Grievous grabs him again and throws him into the ceiling before kicking him away.
Obi Wan groans as he tries to get back to his feet. Grievous walks up to him and says, "Kenobi, Kamino has fallen. Your clone army is doomed."
"I beg to differ, Grievous," Obi Wan says before using the Force to throw Grievous into the ceiling, then down the hallway. Grievous growls in anger, then scuttles away. Obi Wan pursues the droid general.
Meanwhile, outside the city, the Boston is now circling the city at a depth of 60 feet. In the conn, Captain Scala is shouting, "Weapons! Do we have a lock on the droid ships?"
"I'm trying, sir! But given that they're attached to the buildings, it's a little difficult!" one of the weapons officers responds.
"Agh! Is there anything on sonar for us to hit?" he calls to the sonar officer.
"Nothing, sir!" the sonar officer responds.
Scala scowls. Then, the weapons officer shouts, "Captain! I have a faint lock on two of the droid ships!"
"Fire!" Scala orders.
In the bow, the four torpedo tubes are all loaded with UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and the doors are open. At Scala's orders, two of the Harpoons surge out of their launch tubes. Seconds later, the Harpoons break the surface, and their rocket motors ignite. The missiles climb into the hair and head straight for two of the Trident class assault craft. Seconds later, the Harpoons find their mark, their 487 pound warheads detonating and ripping the assault craft apart, destroying the remaining droids inside them.
At the moment the missiles broke the surface, Obi Wan and Grievous had been fighting on a bridge not far from the two craft. As the missiles find their targets, Obi Wan and Grievous stop their duel and watch the wreckage fall.
"Well. Looks like the Americans have another toy they hadn't shown yet," Obi Wan says. As he says this, a third Harpoon breaks the surface and heads right for a Trident class craft heading for Obi Wan and Grievous. The missile finds its target, but in the process, the half destroyed craft breaks off the bridges and sends Obi Wan overboard.
As Obi Wan falls, the XO of the Boston sees him falling. "Captain! General Kenobi in the water! Dead ahead!"
"All ahead flank!" Scala orders. The Boston's propeller begins thrashing the water, pushing her to 28 knots and she heads right for where Obi Wan hit the water.
The XO keeps an eye on Obi Wan through the periscope. As the submarine gets close, he says warningly, "Captain!"
"All back full!" Scala orders. The engines are shoved into full reverse, slowing the Boston. As her speed drops to just two knots, Scala orders, "Surface the ship!"
Second later, the Boston breaks the surface, slowing to a full stop in the water. Rescue personnel flood out onto the outside of the ship, and a diver who had prepped slides over the side of the sub and into the water. The diver quickly finds Obi Wan, who is treading water, and pulls him back towards the submarine. Crewmen through ropes to them and haul them aboard.
"Thank you, my friends," Obi Wan says.
"We'd better get below, General," one of the men says, and everyone hurries to get back into the submarine. Once everyone is below deck, Boston dives again, just in time to avoid being fired on by a Trident class craft that spotted her.
As the Boston dives, the battle is nearing its end. Clones armed with rocket launchers begin destroying the remaining assault craft. As the Tridents are exploding and falling into the sea, Ventress races out of one of the buildings, with Yamazaki in hot pursuit. Ventress, unable to best the Japanese commando, had decided to give up on getting the DNA and retreat. Ventress runs up to the edge of the platform she's standing on and leaps off, just in time to get picked up by Grievous in his escape pod he stole from the Kaminoans.
By now, it's clear the battle is over. Once Grievous and Ventress return to the fleet, the remaining Separatist ships retreat.
The Battle of Kamino is over. Several thousand clones, and almost a thousand Filipino troops, were lost in the battle. But, Kamino was held.
And, I'll end there.
I'll be honest, I found this one harder to write than I thought. So, I know it's probably not my best chapter, but I hope it was still okay.
Next chapter will be up tomorrow. It'll actually not be based on any episode from the show, but it will be highly important.
Until it's up, leave a review, and stay tuned!