Chapter 3:

Hyperspace: Launching bays onboard Echuu's Acclamator Class Trans-Galactic Military Transport Ship the Jedi's Fury

"Are we prepared for launch Commander Eli?' asked Echuu, the Fury was two hours away from the end of its hyper jump and every member of Echuu's crew were preparing for the assault on Sarapin.

'Yes sir!' said Eli, 'All of the AT-TE's and the HAVw 5 tanks are on their Laat/c shuttles and the AT-RT's are stored in the drop pods,"

"Good,' said Echuu as he headed towards the lift that would carry him to the Observation Deck, "Tell your men to be prepared for the drop,"

"Aye sir,' said Eli

Hyperspace: Observation Deck onboard Echuu's Acclamator Class Trans-Galactic Military Transport Ship the Jedi's Fury

As Echuu stepped onto the Observation Deck he could see Naat gazing out the window as they journeyed through Hyperspace. The young woman's thoughts were drifting and Echuu could sense that… she was probably thinking of her brother and how she believed she'd failed him.

Stepping forward Echuu had to remind himself how unique Naat was, unlike her fellow Padawans she preferred to wear a form fitting leather battle-suit instead of the loose Jedi Robes that her pears wore and unlike her brother she was more practiced in the usage of a Lightsaber than her ancestors who had preferred force specialization.

"Naat," said Echuu as he walked up behind his new Padawan, "I sense you are confused young-" Naat turned around and to Echuu's surprise the strong-willed young girl, the one who's teachers had described as one of the most solemn Jedi Padawans they'd ever met, was crying.

Naat bowed her head, ashamed that her newly appointed master would see this show of weakness, she had always thought of herself as a skilled warrior- not an emotionally unstable child.

"Naat,' said Echuu quietly, "Life is filled with comings and goings, that is the way of it,"

"I know master," she sobbed, "But… but Not only did I lose my Master in that battle but I lost my brother,"

"I know Naat," said Echuu as he allowed the young girl to rest her head on his shoulder, "I lost a brother in that battle as well, Stam was one of the most powerful Padawans I've ever trained,' standing up Echuu placed his Cloak on the shelf next to his new Padawan, "And as my brother and as my friend I know that he would never have wanted either of us to become shadows of our former selves," going to the end of the room he ignited his Viridian Lightsaber and grinned, something he hadn't done for two whole months, "Lets not mourn him, he's become one with the force so except his parting and miss him- for a time, but do not forget yourself in the process,"

Naat smiled as she wiped her tears away, activating her Blue blade she took the standard Makashi defensive position and waited for her Master to strike.

Sarapin: Orbit: Bridge onboard Echuu's Acclamator Class Trans-Galactic Military Transport Ship the Jedi's Fury

"Report commander,' said Echuu as he and Naat strode onto the bridge.

"All orbital platforms have been dealt with sir," said Eli, "As we expected they gave little to no fight, the main force, as you predicted, is on the planet,"

"And as we all know they have all of our anti-air weapons activated," said Naat.

"Exactly ma'am," said Eli, "If we intend to take the planet back it will have to be ground based,"

"What of the Ion cannons?" asked Echuu

"They're active as well," sighed Eli, "After Captain Sopat drops our group, sir, the Fury will have to pull back to Sarapin's moon,"

"Meaning we're on our own," said Naat

"Yes ma'am," said Eli, "At least until the next orbital pass,"

"Understood," said Echuu as he and Naat headed for the lift, turning to Captain Sopat Echuu continued "Keep the Republic constantly updated on our status- and make sure to call in reinforcements if we do not return within the next forty hours,"

"Yes Sir!" said Sopat

Sarapin: Naat and Echuu's shuttle

Echuu grimaced as they entered Sarapins thin atmosphere; the turbulence from the volcanic planets gravity was volatile and unpredictable, slamming on the thrusters Naat led the Republic group towards the designated landing site, the ships were led along the only safe path past the anti-air emplacements.

"Is something wrong master?" asked Naat as Echuu grunted in his seat

Echuu shrugged, "I've never enjoyed flying," he said as his face turned slightly green, "I can pilot ships like any Jedi but I've always been better with land-based vehicles,"

Naat smiled at the thought of Master Echuu-Shen-John as a young flight-sick Padawan, "You don't show it master," she said

"In space? No," said Echuu as he continued to read the map, "Its only in land-based procedures that I seem to feel unwell,"

"Okay," called Naat over the comm., "Red wing head back to the ship before we're noticed, we'll carry it on from here,"

With a whoosh the V-19 Torrent fighters whirled around and headed back up towards the Fury while the Laat/c shuttles quickly unloaded their burdens and followed a few minutes later.

Sarapin: Drop point

"Alright," said Echuu to the 6 Arc Trooper commandos, "Your objective is to get to the Ion cannons and take them out of commission while we deal with the ground forces, returning the anti-air emplacements under our control remains a secondary objective,"

"Yes sir," said Eli

"And don't forget that we need to recover the Decimator power supplies," said Naat as she climbed onto her AT-RT

"No Ma'am," said Eli, nodding the two groups split up, the Arc Troopers in their Laat/c shuttle while Echuu and the main group headed for the base.

Sarapin: Trade Federation Main Base

"Report commander," shouted Rul Galdor to the Super Battledroid Commander

"According to our scanners there are six Arc Troopers headed towards the base," said 9-18-78

"Six?" asked Rul, "SIX! The Republic is at war with us and they send six Arc Troopers?!" activating the communicator to his ground forces the Trade Federation General ordered that they finish this pathetic invasion once and for all. Rul was a Nemodian but unlike the rest of his people he wasn't a coward, as a matter of fact, before the war many of his own people considered him to be insane.

"Sir!" said 9-18-78

"Report!" bellowed Rul

"The shuttle they are flying is not long rang,"

"What?" asked Rul confused

"The Shuttle has no Hyperdrive," said the droid annoyed

Rul's eyes opened wide as realization struck, "Get them back!" he shouted to the Droids, "Bring back the ground force!"

Suddenly a blaze of blue laser fire opened on the droid forces as they ran out to meet the shuttle. Huge carbon shields were thrown aside as walkers, rollers, soldiers and two Jedi charged towards the base. Running forward one Jedi Knight cut down a group of LM-432 crab Droids while another, riding an AT-RT, shot a group of dwarf spider Droids and then jumped forward and began cutting down Droids right and left as the droid forces scrambled to get back to the safety of their base.

Sarapin: Battlefield outside the main Trade Federation base

OG-9 homing spider Droids, dwarf spider Droids, LM-432 crab Droids and IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tanks were rapidly being destroyed under the fire of the Clone Troopers and their Jedi Generals. Leaping forward Echuu slammed his force-enhanced fists into a crab droid and then stabbed his Lightsaber into the command module on a homing spider droid. Naat was spinning around cutting SBDs as she went; it was easy to see who was losing this battle.

Sarapin: Arc Trooper Shuttle: Landing Pad on the Ion Cannon Control Tower

Leaping out of the shuttle. 5 of the 6 commandos's fired a volley of missiles into the door that was blocking their entry into the main Ion Control tower. Stepping into the doorway Eli motioned for the commandos to stop, looking back and forth he carefully stepped into the hallway- only to come face to face with a group of four IG-100 MagnaGuards. Spinning around the lead droid went to bring its electorstaff down on Eli's head- only to be stopped by a blast from the Arc Commanders DC-17 repeater hand blaster right into the central processing unit in the middle of its chest.

Grabbing the downed Droids staff Eli used his hand-to-hand combat training to fend off the rest of the Droids while the rest of his clone pod snuck up behind the MagnaGuards and clicked an Ion charge on each of their backs, pretending to surrender Eli and his clone pod ran out of the room and back to the landing platform where they'd set down. Attempting to call Rul and tell him that the intruders were on the run, the lead MagnaGaurd activated his Communicator- and was promptly blown up along with the rest of the troop.

Sarapin: Trade Federation Main Base

Rul's eyes opened wide as he continued to watch the battle play out. All his life he'd been assigned to battalion patrol on the outskirts of Trade Federation space - but he'd never been in a battle in which the enemy fought with such ferocity, "Prepare my shuttle," said Rul, "I must notify general Tann that we've lost Sarapin," he said to 9-18-78, turning to his Grapple Droid Guards he headed towards his private landing pad.

Sarapin: Battlefield outside the main base

Echuu stabbed left and right as he let the force move through him, bringing his saber up and down he cut through another Battle Droid, leaping into the air he used the force to send twenty SBDs slamming into each other.

Suddenly Echuu's wrist-comm. let out a screech as an incoming communication told him that the Arc Troopers were trying to reach him, "Report Eli," said Echuu to the tiny hologram of the Commando.

"We have secured control of the Ion Cannons and we are in the process of removing the virus that has overwritten our codes in the Anti-Air emplacements," said Eli

"Excellent," said Echuu as he pulled a fallen DC-17 Pistol into his hand with the force and fired and fired into a crab droid. Spinning around Echuu saw Naat leaping from spider droid to spider droid, cutting out their guidance modules as she went. After a few moments the young girl jumped onto her AT-RT and rode off with a group of Clones in the direction of the landing platform.

"We should have control of main communications in a matter of moments sir,"

"Good, call in the reinforcements as soon as we have reasserted control of the comms," said Echuu spinning around he cut down a group of grapple droids as they tried to rip the legs off one of Echuu's AT-RT's, "Something doesn't feel right,"

"Aye Sir," said Eli.

Sarapin: Main Landing Platform

Naat and her clones surged over the command center in the center of the landing platform, blasting droids as they went. Jumping off of her AT-RT Naat ran forwards and quickly deflected blaster fire as the clone troopers shot out the power-supply running the base. With the shield down Naat could now access the main control bunker under the platform, stepping into the bunker Naat deflected shots from a group of Battle Droids as she plugged her system override card into the main computer. Accessing the files Naat began to read the transmission list from the last ten minutes.

Suddenly Naat came across something, flipping on her wrist-comm. Naat called her master, "Master?"

"Yes Naat?" asked Echuu as he appeared in the tiny hologram.

"I think you may want to read this," she said as she activated the file-transfer and began sending the information to her Master.

Sarapin: Trade Federation Main Base

As Rul was about to leave the main base and head to his private landing platform the holo-projector activated and who should appear but General Tann.

"Rul," she said smirking, "Leaving are we?"

Rul grunted, "I am no fool, the Republic is running rampant over Sarapin and my Droid forces are rapidly being destroyed,"

"But why leave?" she asked, turning the Grapple Droids leveled they're powerful fists right at Rul's head, "When the shows just about to start?"

"What?" asked Rul as he backed away from the droids

"Commander at this moment General Gaj'en is inbound for Sarapin, he will not give this planet up so easily,"

"Gaj'en? The Geonosian commander?" asked Rul as he reluctantly sat down in the control seat.

"Exactly," she said.

Sarapin: Battlefield outside the main base

Echuu's slammed shut his communicator as he read the transmission, switching it back on he called the Fury, "We have multiple ships inbound for Sarapin," he said urgently, "Call in the reinforcements, now!"

"This is Captain Sopat," said the Clone as he appeared on the hologram, "The distress signals been sent, our reinforcements may take some time to get here,"

"Recall the V-19's and have them refueled, we don't have much time,"

"Orders received," said the captain

Sarapin: Orbit

Suddenly out of hyperspace jumped three smaller Lucrehulk-class core ships, smaller than the Jedi's Fury but still deadly the three ships immediately opened fire on the Fury.

Wheeling out of the Fury's hanger bay the Torrent Starfighters quickly opened fire on the incoming Nantex-class Territorial Defense Starfighters; vastly outnumbered the V-19's rapidly began to be destroyed.

Sarapin: Main Landing Platform

Running out of the bunker Naat smiled as she saw her new Jedi Interceptor land a few feet from her, "Ready to fly shrieker?" she asked the red and green R-2 unit Astromech sitting in its usual socket. Unlike the rest of the Jedi who used the Delta-7 Aethersprite light interceptor Naat had opted for the newly created Interceptor unit and had modified hers to provide a heightened speed capability, easier missile response and a three consecutive Jump memory storage unit.

Beeping a yes Shrieker threw back the cockpit and allowed his master to jump into the cockpit, strapping herself in Naat activated the thrusters and took off towards the fight above.

Sarapin: Battlefield outside the main base

Echuu was fighting full strength now, with the battle going on above he didn't have much time left. Jumping onto an abandoned HAVw 5 tank he jammed the thruster forward and slammed a path through the remaining droid forces, spinning it around he continued to demolish any and all B-1 Battle Droids or SBDs in his path.

Suddenly his wrist-com bleeped again and Eli appeared, "Report commander," said Echuu.

"We've regained control of the AA Emplacements and have them activated, we are preparing to fire a round of Ion shots at the TF Cores,"

"Excellent," climbing out of the destroyed tank Echuu signaled for his clones to finish the base assault, "What of Padawan Naat?"

"She is currently leading our waning V-19's in an all-out assault on the Cores," said Eli as he climbed into the LAAT/c shuttle with 3 of his 5 pod members, the rest would remain behind and operate the cannon.

"Prepare to launch the remote scarab fighters we've captured against our enemies," said Echuu

"They're already in the air sir," just as Eli said those words 24 wings of formerly Trade Federation controlled Scarab-class fighter drones flashed over Echuu's head and quickly flew up through the atmosphere to join the Republic forces.

Sarapin: Orbit

Naat smiled as she saw the wings of Scarab-Fighter drones shoot up from the surface and open fire on the Geonosian fighters, her already exhausted V-19 Fighter wings needed the reinforcement and even though the TF considered the Scarab-Fighter drones to be obsolete she couldn't help but grin as the sleeker more dexterous Scarabs cut through the bulkier and heavier shielded Geonosian fighters.

Suddenly Naat sensed a huge disturbance in the force, "Commander!" shouted Naat over the comm., "Pull our men up now!"

"But sir-" the bewildered clone started

"Do it now!" she shouted as she pulled her fighter around and quickly headed back towards the Fury. Wheeling around the clones followed their commander- just in time for three CR90 Corellian Corvettes to shoot out of hyperspace where Naats ships had been a few seconds earlier.

Sarapin: Orbit: Jedi Knight Qu Rahn's CR90 Corellian Corvette Pathfinder

"This is Jedi commander Qu Rahn to the Acclamator-class ship Jedi's Fury, we heard you needed some help and thought we might lend a hand,"

With a fizzle of static Sopat appeared on the holo-projector and nodded, "Commander good to see you, I see you brought the Corellian's science project,"

Rahn nodded, "This will be the Corvettes first battle test,"

"Good luck, sir," said Sopat as he fizzled out

Sarapin: Orbit

With the combined effort of the newly reinforced Republic fleet the Trade Federation Cores quickly began to fall apart, pulling their fighters back the Cores began hyperspace procedures.

Suddenly the lead Core's sensors picked up a tiny fighter flying towards it, to Gaj'en's surprise it was nothing but a tiny Jedi Interceptor, ordering the Geonosian fighters to dispose of it he was quickly surprised when the Fighter, instead of engaging the Geonosian, flew straight into the Cores hanger bay.

Naat twisted her fighter left and right as she avoided the droids trying to shoot out her fighter's engines, spinning around she pulled, what her teachers called a 'Skywalker maneuver' and shot a group of three torpedoes right into the cores main reactor, spinning around the young Jedi used her Starfighter to quickly clear the deck and head back into open space.

"One down!" shouted Naat over the comm. as she shot out of the exploding core.

"None to go," said the V-19 Squadron leader as the three Blockade-runners reduced the remaining cores to dust.

"Woo-hoo!" shouted Naat as she rocketed back to the Fury.

Sarapin: Trade Federation Main Base

"You've failed General!" shouted Rul angrily.

Sev'Rance smiled at the Nemodian, "You don't get it do you?" she asked contemptuously.

"Get what?!" he bellowed, "All you're cores have done is destroy a few fighters!"

Sev'Rance laughed, "This was never about Sarapin!"

"Then what-" suddenly Rul's limited imagination managed to grasp what she meant, "You only wanted the power supplies you needed to build more Decimators!"

Sev'Rance clapped her hands together and chuckled, "Well done commander, thanks to you we now have every power supply on the planet," snapping her fingers Tann grinned as the Grapple Droids moved to finish their jobs, "Well done,"

"Now wait a minute," said Rul stepping back, "We can work something out,"

"Oh," sighed Sev'Rance, "I think not," with a click her hologram vanished.

"No!" shouted Rul defiantly as the Droids grabbed him, with a 'smash' Rul defiantly flew out the window and defiantly smashed into a slimy defiant mess on the ground outside the base.

Hyperspace: Launching bays onboard Echuu's Acclamator Class Trans-Galactic Military Transport Ship the Jedi's Fury

"Well," said Naat as she climbed out of her starfighter, "All things considered that went well,"

"You mean considering we lost the power supply's and most of our fighters and pilots?" asked Eli as he polished his helmet.

Naat thought for a moment and nodded, "That sounds about right,"

Eli rolled his eyes and stood, "I'm going to my bunk and I suggest you do the same, commander,"

Naat mock-saluted Eli as he headed towards the clone barracks.

Sarapin: Orbit: Bridge onboard Echuu's Acclamator Class Trans-Galactic Military Transport Ship the Jedi's Fury

"We ascertained that the Decimator plans are indeed in the hands of the Separatists," said Echuu to Yoda and the council as they appeared in the hologram, "We even managed to find a destroyed Decimator on the planet,"

"And the Power supplies?" asked Mace

"Gone," sighed Echuu, "Every… Last… One"

Yoda nodded, "Feared this we did," he said shaking his head, "Keeping this knowledge from the council, wise it was not,"

Ki-Adi-Mundi sighed, "I agree, bad enough that the Hutts knew of the design plans but to make things worse the Jedi Council wasn't informed of the Decimator designs until after they were stolen,"

"What should be our next course of action my masters?" asked Echuu

Yoda stood and darkened the room in which the council was seated, pointing to the holo-projection of Tatooine inside the council room he explained, "To Tatooine you must go," he explained, "There you must destroy the Confederacy presence. Boorka the Hutt, conspire with the Separatists he did, remove his assistance to their cause we must,"

"I understand master," said Echuu.

Nodding Yoda held up his hand, "May the force be with you,"

Echuu bowed, with a fizzle the Hologram shutdown, Echuu turned to Captain Sopat, "Lay in a course for Tatooine,"

"Aye sir,"

With a shudder the Fury turned and began heading towards the edge of the system where it would activate its Hyperdrive and head off towards Tatooine.

To Be Continued…