The Story of forgotten Jedi Owen Sun
Chapter 33: Battle of Castell Pt. I
The entire 501st Legion of the Grand Army had been rallied and were aboard the three huge Republic capital ships on route to Castell, this battle would surely test their resolve and prove if their reputation was as good as it was claimed to be. Any normal clone army would be slaughtered but the 501st were a different breed, they were direct clone descendants from the now deceased bounty hunter Jango Fett's bloodline, they were a nightmare for any enemy and would put up a hell of a fight for their Commanders.
The Republic needed the best and they got the best they got the 501st.
As the three massive capital ships traveled through hyperspace Owen met with Commander Appo.
"Commander Appo I presume" said Owen as he shook the Commanders hand.
"Nice to finally meet you General Sun, I heard about your heroics on Thule" greeted Appo returning the handshake.
"That's in the past, we must focus on the present if we are to succeed" replied Owen.
"Are your men ready?" asked Owen.
"Yes Sir, ready and waiting" answered Commander Appo.
"The fleet?" questioned Owen.
"Stocked and ready to fight Sir" answered Appo.
"Good, this won't be easy" replied Owen with a sinking feeling in his gut.
It was a strange feeling that he had never felt before, almost as if he was preparing for the worst. Owen knew the odds and what they were undertaking was completely suicidal militarily speaking, but he had faith that the force would see him through this and somehow, someway, the Republic would emerge victorious. This thought asserted itself in Owen giving him new hope.
Suddenly over the ships announcer. "General Sun, Commander Appo, please report to the bridge"
Owen and Appo looked to one another. "Let's go" said Owen.
Appo then turned to his Captains and Lieutenants giving them their final orders before he departed.
On the bridge.
The door parted ways as Owen and Appo entered the bridge. "What's our status?" asked Owen.
"Still on our course General" answered the clone navigator.
Owen and Appo then made their way over to the computerized map of Castell City where the clone pilot Captain stood. "Are you ready General?" asked the clone Captain.
Glancing at the Captain resembling the deceased Jango Fett exactly Owen responded. "Yes, let's go through it one last time"
"After we get past the outer defenses our fighters will hit the city taking out its main line of defense, the heavy gun emplacements" informed Owen.
"Be warned those gun emplacements can take out a fighter with one shot" cautioned Owen to the clone pilot Captain.
The Captain nodded confirming the warning. "Once their guns are down we'll take out the many gun towers and heavy turrets" continued Owen.
Owen turned to Commander Appo. "With the heavy defenses down I'll contact you to land all ground forces into the city, we'll do our best to cover you from the air" informed Owen.
"At this point the ground fighting should commence as a majority of their forces should be deployed" warned Owen.
"The trick to this whole operation will be destroying the generators that are powering the droid factories underneath the planet, if we don't take them out we don't stand a chance, our ground forces will be overwhelmed and wiped out" informed Owen.
"I think you underestimate my men General" stated Appo.
Owen moved right along ignoring Appo's comment. "After we've destroyed the generators rendering the factories useless we'll fight our way to the Commerce Guild headquarters here" pointed out Owen on the map.
"From the air our ships should be able to destroy the facility's leaving the ground forces to do the clean up" continued Owen.
"With a majority of their armies destroyed we'll have to fight our way to the center of the city to the Commerce Guild presidents building here" pointed out Owen on the map.
"The fighting will be merciless getting there with the Commerce Guild leaders inside, including president Shu Mai" warned Owen.
"If that's the case then why don't we just destroy it from the air?" questioned the clone pilot Captain.
"The Republic wants president Shu Mai taken alive, if we destroy it from the air we could risk killing her" explained Owen.
"Once the presidents building is captured Commander Appo and his men will mop up the rest of their forces giving us complete control of Castell City…the planet should be ours" ended Owen.
"Questions?" asked Owen.
"Uh yeah, what about the rest of the planet, won't they have other forces besides in the city?" questioned the clone Captain.
"That won't matter, after we destroy the droid factories and seize the city we'll have a strangle hold on the planet, they won't be able to mount any kind of counter-offensive" informed Owen.
The clone pilot Captain didn't look convinced. "Don't worry I've been assured that once we take the city the rest of the planet will fall into Republic hands" confirmed Owen.
"What can we expect to encounter on the surface?" asked Commander Appo.
"Well we know that the Commerce Guild are the main supplier for spider droids so you can expect a lot of them, but other than that I'm sorry…I have no idea" answered Owen.
Appo looked distressed by this. "What about in the air, can we expect to be covered in the battle?" he asked.
"The Captain and his men will do their best to keep the enemy fighters off your back but don't expect complete air cover, we don't really know how many ships they have" answered Owen.
There was a short pause as they evaluated the daunting task in their minds.
Finally Owen spoke up. "This will either be a glorious victory…or a terrible defeat"
"We may disagree with this mission but we have a job to do, so let's get it done" stated Owen.
"Right" replied Appo.
"Yes Sir" replied the clone pilot Captain.
"General, where approaching the planet" interrupted the clone navigator.
Owen glanced at the galaxy map to confirm, he then turned back to the clone pilot Captain and Appo.
"Get your men lined up and ready to go" ordered Owen to Appo.
"And you, get the clone pilots to their ships and have them standing by" ordered Owen to the clone pilot Captain.
"Yes Sir" they both responded saluting their General.
Owen returned the salute. "Now go"
For this battle Owen would need all the defense he could get so he made his way to the ships armories to get fitted and equipped into some standard clone trooper armor, minus the helmet of course, and to distinguish himself from the thousands of other troopers he threw on his Generals cape.
He then made his way into the hanger where the thousands of clone troopers from the 501st were lined up and ready to fight, Commander Appo stood out at the front of them. From the two other capital ships the same formations took place in the hangers, a live feed was set up so they could view their General in his respective ship.
Owen made his way over to the front where Appo stood at attention. "The 501st is ready to serve you General" stated Appo.
"Yes…it certainly looks that way" replied Owen quietly.
Owen slowly made his way across the hanger surveying the thousands upon thousands of clone troops, just by looking on he could sense no fear, no doubt, and no uncertainty in any of them, even with Owens faint hope every one of them believed in victory. "They will either be made heroes or martyrs this day" thought Owen.
Owen approached one of the troopers in the front row starring into the clear eye shield of his helmet, the trooper although nervous never even flinched. Owen backed away and cracked a smile. "They are brave, and certainly know battle" he thought probing the clone trooper.
Owen took one last look around and nodded his head. "To many what we are about to do is a suicide mission, the very mention of invading a planet that is the home base of the Commerce Guild seems insane" announced Owen starting his address to the 501st.
"They would say it's impossible…it can't be done" added Owen.
"But you men are here because you've done the impossible…every objective you've been given no matter what the odds you've accomplished, they say you're the best, that you can't be defeated…well now's your chance to prove it" stated Owen.
"Because you will all be tested, beyond any degree of warfare you've experienced so far" added Owen.
Owen began to walk and talk as he observed the 501st. "Many of you will die…but you will die heroes, this is what you've been bred for, this is why you were created, to defend the Republic in its hour of need" continued Owen.
"It is no secret to any of you that we have won many battles, costly battles, but despite our victories were still losing this war…until today" stated Owen.
"We have a chance to turn the tide of this war, to make history, to have people look back on the Clone War and see that this is where everything changed, this is where the tide turned" inspired Owen.
"I can't tell you what's going to happen, because I don't know…but I do know one thing, win or lose we will fight to the end" stated Owen.
"And in the eyes of the Republic, the Jedi, and myself you will have truly earned the right to call yourselves the best" concluded Owen.
Owen stopped glaring at the 501st. "Good luck…and May the Force be with each and every one of you" he finished.
Commander Appo organized his men and gave them their orders as Owen walked off to the fighter assembly area in the hanger, on his way he began to think on what he just said. "I don't know if I believe any of that, but it's my job as their General to lead and inspire these men, I've done the inspiring, now comes the hard part, leading these men to victory" he thought.
The clone pilot Captain greeted Owen as he arrived. "Tremendous speech General, we heard every word"
"Are your pilots ready?" asked Owen.
"Yes Sir, ready and waiting" answered the clone Captain.
"So, how do we engage?" asked the clone Captain.
"The capital ships will hang back while we bring our fighters in, we'll see what kind of strength they have and follow the plan from there" informed Owen.
"They don't know were coming so we should catch them by surprise" added Owen.
"Once we destroy their outer defenses then the real battle will begin" stated Owen.
"Yes Sir" saluted the clone pilot Captain.
"You know what to do, dismissed" ordered Owen.
No Jedi Starfighter would get the job done this time around, Owen needed more protection and firepower therefore he would fly an ARC-170 into battle. He had never flown one before but Owen was an excellent pilot, it wouldn't be much of a switch for him.
Owen climbed up into the unique fighter getting himself acquainted with the controls in the cockpit, after a few minutes he strapped himself in and put his communication headpiece on. Suddenly in front of him the massive hanger doors opened revealing the transparent shield he would fly through, before giving the order Owen lowered his head and clinched his jaw tight giving it one last thought before the chaotic battle would engulf him and his Jedi senses. "The force will guide me" he thought.
Before taking off Owen put the negative thoughts that loomed in him very much still out of his mind, the odds, the trillions of lives in the galaxy depending on this, the fact that this very well could be the end of him, and the countless other worries and concerns.
Owen then nodded to the clone pilot Captain in the docking space next to his giving the order to depart, thousands of fighters rose from the hangers leaving the safety of the three capital ships and into the darkness of space. The entire fighter fleet advanced slowly together with Owen in the lead, in the massive fleet were ARC-170's, v-wings, Republic starfighters, V-19 torrent starfighters, and some Z-95's.
"Keep your squads tight Captain" ordered Owen into his headpiece.
In front of them the golden planet of Castell emerged from the unending darkness and stars of space.
As they got closer Owens heart skipped a beat, this was it, there was no turning back…
Around the planet several stations hovered catching the fighter fleets attention, they were mainly for freight, supply, and distribution of their forces. It was also where most Commerce Guild clients could easily pick up their placed orders from the intergalactic company. "General, what are those things?" asked the clone pilot Captain.
Completing his scan Owen quickly responded. "Their distribution stations…looks like supply and freight for the Separatists" he answered.
"Are they hostile?" asked the clone Captain.
"A few turrets but nothing much" Owen responded.
"This must be where the Separatists capital ships pick up their forces for circulation throughout the entire CIS fleet" thought Owen.
Owen continued to scan receiving thousands of energy signatures throughout the stations. "So what now General?" asked the clone pilot Captain.
"This looks like as good a place as any to start, those stations need to be destroyed, lets get it done" stated Owen.
"Right, so what's the plan?" replied the clone Captain.
"I'll take red squadron in first, you follow on the left with green, blue will come in late from the right" informed Owen.
"Pretty simple, we surround the first station and destroy it, after we get an idea of how strong they are each squadron will break off and take a station and destroy them one by one, you got it?" explained Owen.
"Yes Sir, I'll let the other squadrons know" replied the clone Captain.
The three lead squadrons advanced in on the first station, getting closer Owen was a bit shocked. "Wow, didn't realize how big they were" he thought.
"Destroy the turrets first, then we can take them out with our heavy weapons…wait until I engage" ordered Owen.
"Remember we have to this quick, once they realize an attack is underway they'll send their fighters in after us" cautioned Owen.
Owen began to take red squadron in. "Good luck Sir, we'll be right behind you" assured the clone pilot Captain.
Suddenly in the cockpit of Owens ARC-170 a mechanical droid voice came on the comm. "Unidentified fighter, submit your docking codes" commanded the droid voice.
Owen put his thumbs to the triggers. "I got them right here" he answered.
Four shots from his laser cannons connected engulfing the surface of the station in flames, right behind Owen red squadron in a downpour of concentrated fire took out several of the turrets. Both green and blue squadron followed up with heavy fire destroying the remaining turrets, Owen brought his ship back around for another run. "Let's surround it and finish it off, use your fighter's heavy weapons" ordered Owen over the comm. to the squadrons.
Taking red squadron in again Owen fired two proton torpedoes into the crippled station turning its surface ablaze, as the rest of the squadrons came in for their runs and fired their heavy weapons the station began to explode. "Standby, red squadron will finish it off" informed Owen.
With the ARC-170's leading the way red squadron finished the station off with their heavy weapons, in a fire and smoky ruin the station fell out of orbit exploding into space dust. "Good work squadrons, now let's split up and destroy these stations" ordered Owen.
"You heard the General" replied the clone pilot Captain.
The squadrons had caught them completely by surprise as the stations were nothing but hovering targets waiting to be destroyed, it was a pilots dream as it was easy pickings for the 501st…for now.
Meanwhile in the Commerce Guild presidents building on the planet below.
"Your majesty, we've picked up a disturbance in orbit" informed one of the president aids.
"Show me" commanded Gossam President Shu Mai in her alien tongue.
On the massive screen their radar picked up and showed what was happening in orbit. "This must just be a hit and run by the Republic, there's no way they'd be foolish enough to attack us head on" stated President Shu Mai.
"Extend the sensor range" ordered Shu Mai.
Suddenly on screen a few miles away in space their sensors picked up the three massive Republic capital ships, President Shu Mai could hardly believe her eyes. "Their planning an invasion" she stated completely shocked.
Sensing the opportunity to crush a large chunk of the Grand Army of the Republic Shu Mai gave her orders. "Deploy every capital ship we have to their location"
"Every capital ship your majesty?" questioned the Gossam president aid.
"You heard me" Shu Mai replied sternly.
"And raise the stations shields before we lose any more" she ordered.
"The Republic are fools your majesty, there's no way they can defeat us here, we'll destroy their entire fleet" implied a president aid.
"Yes, the Separatists shall praise us for what we do here today" stated Shu Mai.
Back in space above Castell.
As yet another station exploded into oblivion suddenly several massive blue shields came online protecting the remaining distribution stations.
Owen knew exactly what that meant. "They know were here" he thought.
"General, what now?" asked the clone Captain.
"I'm running a scan, standby" replied Owen.
Owen ran the scan and discovered that a power conduit underneath each station was their main weak point, if they fired on the conduit it would cause an explosion that would rupture into each station destroying them. He relayed what he found to the clone pilot Captain.
"So if we hit those conduits they should destroy the entire stations?" questioned the clone Captain.
"According to the scan, yes" replied Owen.
"What about those shields, we can't get our shots through while their up" stated the clone Captain.
"I'm going to bring our capital ships in, were going to see how much those shields can take" informed Owen.
Owen relayed the orders to the capital ships as they moved up into firing range. "On my mark all capital ships open fire……FIRE!" ordered Owen.
The capital ships pounded the stations shields with heavy fire and sure enough they fell. "Squadrons move in and destroy those stations" ordered Owen.
Suddenly several enemy fighters came rolling in above them. "Enemy fighters!" cried the clone Captain.
"Captain, take green and blue squadron and keep them off our backs" ordered Owen.
"Yes Sir" replied the clone pilot Captain.
"Alright red squadron, lets go" said Owen as he led them back towards the distribution stations.
Turning his fighter from side to side Owen dodged the turret fire from the station, dipping his fighter underneath it Owen fired a torpedo into the power conduit indicated on his radar. Slowly the station began to blow up from inside as a massive explosion culminated in its destruction. "Okay it worked lets do the same for the rest of them" stated Owen into his headpiece.
Following his lead red squadron began to destroy each distribution station until only a few remained. "Good work red squadron, now let's finish them off" stated Owen inspiring his pilots.
Suddenly over the comm. "General a few enemy fighters broke through, you can expect some company" warned the clone Captain.
The heavy laser fire from the enemy fighters already began to ring out as a few shots grazed the hull of Owens ARC-170, luckily the ships deflector shields took the brunt of it. "Red squadron break off, half with me and half to those stations" ordered Owen.
The enemy fighters regrouped and came back around again firing mercilessly at a single v-wing, the clone pilot did the best he could dodging the laser fire but he was outmatched. "Pilot, pull up!" yelled Owen into his headpiece.
"AHHHHH!" cried the clone pilot as his ship was destroyed.
The enemy fighters came back again destroying three more fighters in red squadron. "That's it, I've had enough" stated Owen as he watched the last Republic starfighter explode.
Getting himself behind two of the enemy fighters Owen fired his laser cannon blowing the wing off one of the enemy fighter's, it spun out of control into the other one as they both were destroyed.
A shot then grazed Owens cockpit as above him an enemy fighter nearly destroyed his ship, his shield absorbed two more hits as the enemy vessel now chased him throughout the area ticking Owen off a little. "Alright, my turn" he stated.
The aft blaster cannons on his ARC-170 then opened up completely surprising the enemy fighter as it exploded into a thousand pieces. Pulling his fighter back around Owen took out two more stubborn enemy fighters, the rest of red squadron took care of the remaining enemy fighters.
Looking to his right Owen caught notice of the last station engulfed in flames as it exploded, all of the Commerce Guild distribution stations had been destroyed. "Good work red squadron" complimented Owen.
It was a small victory compared to what they had to do next. "Let's go give your Captain a hand" said Owen.
"All enemy fighters have been destroyed Sir" informed the clone Captain as Owen and red squadron rejoined them.
"Any losses?" asked Owen.
"A few but nothing to worry about" answered the clone Captain.
"Not a bad start, bring the capital ships in and let's hit the planet" ordered Owen.
"Yes Sir" replied the clone pilot Captain.
As the three huge Republic capital ships got into formation above Castell preparing for the invasion Owen contacted Commander Appo aboard one of the capital ships. "Are you and your men ready?" asked Owen.
"Yes Sir" answered Appo.
"Good, I'll contact you once we've secured…" Owen stopped in mid-speech as his blond eyes lit up, he couldn't believe what he saw before him.
Coming from each side of the planet four massive CIS capital ships came into view shattering all confidence the 501st had gained thus far. "I knew this was too easy" said Owen under his breath.
There was a long delay as everyone was shocked to see such a mighty fleet before them. "S…Sir what are your orders?" asked the clone Captain in shock.
"You boys wanted a fight…now you got one" replied Owen.
Reasserting himself as their General Owen gave his orders. "Deploy the rest of your pilots, have half the fighter fleet protect the capital ships, leave the other half with you and me"
"Sir?" questioned the clone pilot Captain.
"Were going to destroy those ships" stated Owen.
"Right" replied the clone Captain reestablishing his confidence.
The clone pilot Captain gave his orders to the rest of the 501st.
There would be no falling back, they would truly fight to the end, the Battle of Castell had begun.
Owen led the clone pilot Captain and his men directly towards the first two CIS capital ships, suddenly out of their hulls came hundreds of Separatists fighters. The wall of Republic fighters under Owens command were now on a collision course heading straight for the oncoming enemy fighters, Owen sensed several clone pilots start to get critically nervous. "Stay together and don't bunch up, pick your targets wisely" guided Owen.
Now in firing range the Separatists fighters opened up first knocking several of their fighters out of the air. "Engage!" yelled Owen into his headpiece to the entire fighter fleet.
Chaotic laser fire shot back and forth as hundreds of fighters on both sides were destroyed, in an instant both fighter fleets dived into one another. It was close quarters fighting as Owen led the clone pilots through the maze of Separatist fighters, shooting fighters down on his way through Owen and the fighter fleet got closer and closer to the heavily defended CIS capital ships. "Were almost through!" shouted Owen over the wail of heavy fire all around him.
Explosions erupted all around Owens ARC-170 as fighters from both sides were being blow out of the sky, dodging past the final stint of heavy laser fire Owen had made his way to the capital ships. He quickly checked his radar to see how many made it through the blockade. "It'll have to do" said Owen to himself checking his radar.
Suddenly over Owens comm. "General Sun I and most of the squadrons made it through" informed the clone pilot Captain.
"Good, take green and blue squadron and assault the first capital ship, I'll take the other one with red and yellow, go" ordered Owen.
"You heard the General, let's go" replied the clone pilot Captain.
"Okay red squadron, follow me in" ordered Owen.
Owen nose dived his fighter underneath the massive capital ship. "Red squadron take out their life support, yellow you assault their bridge" he ordered.
Owen fired several torpedoes into the life support tank making little damage, he rounded again coming back around to finish off the tank underneath the bulky capital ship but after firing more and more of his fighters proton torpedoes it became clear to him. "Their shields, we need to take out their shields" stated Owen.
"Yellow squadron, have you made any progress?" asked Owen over the comm.
"Little Sir, some minor damage to their bridge but that's all" reported the clone pilot.
"What's your status?" asked Owen.
"Were taking heavy damage, the Separatists have deployed several Belbullab-22 starfighters, their making short work of our fighters" informed the clone pilot.
"Do the best you can to stay in the air were headed topside" replied Owen.
"Alright squadrons listen up, new priority we'll have to destroy the shield generator atop the capital ship to knock out their shields" informed Owen.
"But Sir were barely keeping ourselves in the air" questioned the clone pilot.
"You have your orders, all squadrons destroy that shield generator" ordered Owen.
As they got closer to the generator the capital ships turrets opened up destroying many of their fighters, Owen dipped and spun his fighter every which way dodging the heavy fire. He knew he might only get one crack at this so he threw every torpedo he could at the generator in the flyby but it still wasn't enough. Owen looked back thinking it might have been destroyed. "Damn it" he cursed.
Owen then noticed a clone pilot who's Z-95 was badly hit streaming towards the generator at an uncanny speed. "Pilot, what are you doing?" asked Owen in a panic.
"My controls are shot Sir, I want to finish this thing off right" replied the clone pilot.
"Get your fighter back to the fleet now" ordered Owen sternly.
He got no response as the fighter continued on its course.
"Pilot, this is General Sun, pull up now" pleaded Owen.
There was nothing but static from the pilots comm. "Pilot, I am giving you a direct order, pull up now"
It was too late as the pilot drove his fighter directly into the shield generator destroying the generator but killing himself in the process.
"You 501st pilots are crazy" muttered Owen under his breath.
"Whatever it takes for victory Sir" replied a clone pilot.
Owen shook his head in disgust. "All squadrons move in and destroy that ship" ordered Owen.
Despite heavy losses Owen with red and yellow squadron destroyed the CIS capital ship, they regrouped with the clone pilot Captain, he and his squadrons were just finishing up their attack on the first capital ship as it exploded. "Nice work Captain, I'm beginning to see why they call you guys the best" complimented Owen.
There was two capital ships remaining but they were still on route from the sides of the planet so the fighter fleet had time to regroup itself, although just a short distance away the space battle was still being waged as the Separatists fighters deployed earlier continued to try and get through their defenses. "How are our forces doing Captain?" asked Owen.
"Their holding out, the enemy fighters are putting up quite a fight but they've yet to break through" informed the clone pilot Captain.
"Just remember to remind your pilots that those capital ships house our invasion force, have them protect those ships at all cost" replied Owen.
Another two capital ships moved into position close by, they were almost in firing range. "We'll never hold out against another attack like this, we've lost too many fighters, we need to be reinforced" stated Owen.
"Captain I want you to return to the fleet and bring back some reinforcements" ordered Owen.
"But Sir you'll never hold out alone" replied the clone Captain.
"Are you questioning my orders?" implied Owen.
"No Sir, of coarse not but what will you do in the meantime?" he wondered.
"You let me worry about that Captain, now go" he ordered.
The clone pilot Captain took off at top speed back towards the fighting by the main fleet, Owen organized his forces as the next two narrow CIS capital ships were almost in position. Owen took what was left of yellow squadron and tied it into red, then placed the handful of fighters he had left in blue squadron into green, even doing so he was short a considerable amount of fighters. He knew there would be no way they'd survive on their own, they needed those reinforcements, but even with the small fighting force they would do whatever it took to defend the main fleet.
The CIS capital ships in the distance then began to open fire, it was obvious they wanted to get at the Republic fleet with their capital ships main gun and Owen with what remained of his depleted squadrons stood in their way. "Alright clones, lets not make this easy for them" stated Owen over the comm.
The remaining squadrons split off into three groups with Owen Sun leading the center group in his ARC-170. "Remember squadrons don't get too close, we don't want to engage them head on only divert their attention away from the main fleet" relayed Owen.
"Left group cover our advance, right group keep those fighters occupied, were heading in" commanded Owen.
Owen turned his fighter every which way dodging the heavy fire while leading center group towards the advancing capital ships, he got close enough and fired a proton torpedo directly into the ships bridge, but despite that the capital ships kept advancing. "Let's try it again" said Owen over the comm. to center group.
Coming back around again Owen and the three leading fighters behind him pounded their bridge but it wasn't until one of the Republic starfighters took out their communications relay that the capital ships began to pay attention to them. Both massive ships suddenly stopped, Owen immediately sensed a disturbance in the force. "Oh no" he said quietly.
"What is it Sir, isn't this what we wanted?" questioned a clone pilot.
Shockingly out of the capital ships came every single enemy fighter on board the ships, hundreds and hundreds came pouring out ready to put a final end to the stubborn Republic fighters, everything from tri-fighters, droid and fanblade starfighters, and the pride of their fighter fleet the Belbullab-22's came streaming at them. Owen was at a loss of what to do, if he didn't give the order to retreat they would surely be killed, but he remembered the main fleet and their capital ships that housed the 501st ground forces, without them an invasion couldn't happen, he couldn't jeopardize the fleet. "All pilots split off from your groups, we'll try and hold out until the reinforcements arrive" relayed Owen.
But it was a faint hope, there were far too many enemy fighters, right group was surrounded and completely obliterated, left group were shot out of the sky one by one and with the capital ships heavy turrets fixed on a disorganized center group they were destroyed as well. In a matter of mere minutes Owen was the only pilot left standing out of over 30 Republic fighters, and he didn't have much time left as the enemy fighter fleet had cut him off now hunting him throughout the area. No matter how many dips and turns he made Owen couldn't evade the fire forever, his deflector shields began to fail as they absorbed the heavy barrage of laser fire, several explosions then began to take place as his ARC-170 had had it.
"I got him in my sights" assured the droid pilot.
"Roger, roger, take him down" replied another droid pilot.
Just as the red crosshair centered on Owens fighter all Separatists fighters chasing him were suddenly destroyed, he couldn't believe it as he heard a deafening wail of sound go by. Owen looked up and to his delight the clone pilot Captain and the reinforcements had finally arrived. "Sorry were late General" apologized the clone Captain.
Owen took a deep breath. "Better late then never" he replied.
"I brought some heavily armed v-wings with us, they should take care of those capital ships in no time" assured the clone Captain.
"Very good Captain, get it done" replied an exhausted and relieved Owen.
Owen sat back in his badly damaged fighter as the v-wing bombers took care of both capital ships, the explosions ruptured space around them as both ships fell out of the skies and turned to space dust.
Another miraculous victory was scored in the Republics favor as all four CIS capital ships and their fighter fleets had been destroyed, it appeared that they now had a clear run to attack Castell. Owen with the clone pilot Captain and the rescuers in the fighter fleet made their way back to the main fleet.
With the space battle now over Owen immediately took his crippled ARC-170 into the Republic capital ships hanger, getting out of his cockpit Owen was greeted by Commander Appo, instinctively he saluted. "Are you alright Sir?" asked Appo noticing some carbon scoring on his face, neck, and armor.
"I'm fine, was there any damage to the main fleet?" asked Owen returning a half salute.
"A little to the third capital ship but nothing serious" replied Appo.
A droid mechanic came from behind interrupting them. "Have my fighter repaired quickly" Owen ordered.
"I need to check our status and see if anything new has developed planet side, I'll be on the bridge" informed Owen as he walked off.
Arriving on the bridge the clone navigator informed him of the situation, not much had changed.
But suddenly the capital ships long range sensors started picking up heavy energy readings coming towards them, on the ships radar two enormous blips then appeared consuming the radar completely. "General, these readings are off the charts, nothing can make this kind of interference" informed the clone navigator.
Owen looked up through the bridges massive window, in the distance he could make out what looked like two large ships headed towards them. As the ships got closer and closer they appeared to most to be capital ships but these ships dwarfed the normal CIS capital ships, they even made the massive Republic fleet under Owens command look small. "I can't believe it, more CIS capital ships" stated the clone navigator.
"Those aren't CIS ships, their Commerce Guild capital ships" replied Owen.
The sheer unbelievable mass of the ships made Castell look small, they were obviously the final line of outer defense for the planet. "Ho…how do we destroy those things General?" questioned the clone navigator.
Owen paused looking straight into the clones helmets eye shield. "We've come this far…we'll find a way" he stated.
Appo than contacted the bridge. "Go ahead" said Owen opening a channel.
"Sir, are you seeing what were seeing?" asked Appo.
"Yes Commander I am" replied Owen.
"What can I do to help?" asked Appo.
"Keep your men stable and be ready to fight, we are not falling back" stated Owen.
"Good luck Sir" replied Appo as the channel closed.
Owen got back to the hanger as fast as he could to retake his mended ARC-170 and lead the fighter fleet back into battle, this fight was anything but over.
The clone pilot Captain immediately came on the comm. "General Sun, what are those things, more CIS capital ships?" questioned the clone Captain.
"Not quite, their Commerce Guild capital ships, they won't be easy to take down but it can be done, get all remaining pilots to their fighters, I want every man in the air" ordered Owen.
Owen blasted out of the hanger as a group of one thousand fighters followed his lead towards the oncoming Commerce Guild capital ships. Getting closer to them surprisingly they didn't open fire and kept advancing forward, flying over the gigantic ships Owens breath was taken away, it was like flying over a city. "This is unbelievable" he thought.
Meanwhile on the bridge of the Commerce Guild capital ships.
The Commerce Guild Gossam Captains were talking to one another via holovid. "We have our orders from President Shu Mai, destroy the Republic fleet before it retreats" stated the Gossam Captain in his language.
"It doesn't look as if they have any intention of retreating" replied the other Gossam Captain.
"The Republic is too prideful, they know they can't hope to stand against us yet they continue to persist, we will tear right through them" stated the Gossam Captain.
"Yes, but remember they destroyed four capital ships and not to mention the distribution stations, we should not take them lightly" replied the other Gossam Captain via holovid from his respective ship.
"Those were CIS capital ships, they don't have a chance against our ships" implied the Gossam Captain.
"True, but we should release the fighters to take care of them now so we will have a clear run to their capital ships" stated the other Gossam Captain.
"Very well, release the fighters and let's watch as they obliterate the Republic fleet" replied the Gossam Captain mockingly.
"Even if they somehow break through there's no way they can destroy our ships, we will rule this day no matter what" stated the confident Gossam Captain.
Back outside the city wide ships.
"So General, how are we going to destroy those things?" asked the clone pilot Captain.
"Same as with the others, we'll destroy their systems one by one until the ships are destroyed" answered Owen.
"We'll go after their engines first, that should grind the ships to a halt so they can't reach our main fleet" informed Owen.
"Odd we haven't received any resistance" stated the clone Captain flying over the two capital ships.
"That puzzles me as well, but keep alert, I'm sure their planning something" implied Owen.
The fighter fleet continued towards the rear of the ships still surprised that there was no resistance to speak of whatsoever, the capital ships just kept moving forward as if they weren't there, their gun towers didn't even opened fire. "Alright fighters, cover the v-wings" ordered Owen.
"V-wings, you have a clear run…engage" Owen commanded.
Moving in the v-wings dropped their heavy payload of proton bombs on the engines of the Commerce Guild capital ships but there was no damage to speak of at all, Owen didn't believe the readings. "Damage report" he wondered.
"N…none Sir" replied the v-wing pilot.
"Try it again" ordered Owen.
The v-wings went in for another run but it was the same result. "Still nothing Sir" reported the v-wing pilot.
"What now General?" asked the clone Captain.
"It's obvious we have to destroy their shields, give me a moment, I'm running a scan" replied Owen.
A moment later. "I'm transmitting the data to you" said Owen.
The clone pilot Captain looked over the data on his panel. "So what do you think?" asked Owen.
"Well the shield generators are at the front of each ship and their gun towers are pointed right in that direction, they obviously constructed these things for defense" replied the clone pilot Captain.
"Our losses will be heavy no doubt but we have little choice if we want to take out those behemoths, it's your call General" added the clone Captain.
There was a long pause as Owen evaluated the threat through the force and strategically speaking.
"(Sigh) Lets do it" said Owen hesitating.
"Have half the fighter fleet provide cover fire for us in the rear" ordered Owen.
"Yes Si…" the clone Captain stopped in mid-speech.
Thousands of Separatists fighters of every make and creed came like a wave out of the Commerce Guild capital ships. "You know what to do" stated Owen shooting forward.
The fighting was furious as Republic and CIS fighters filled the sky, frenzied laser fire engulfed the area as both fleets hammered each other back and forth. Heavy fire from the ships gun towers started knocking fighters out of the air all around Owen. "Keep us covered!" shouted Owen into his headpiece.
"Were doing our…(static)…best…(static)…Sir the Separatists…(static)…fighters are ripping…… (static)…us to…(static)…shreds" replied the clone pilot being hammered over the comm.
Owen continued to dodge the gun towers heavy fire as he talked. "What's your status?" he asked.
"Taking…(static)…heavy fire…don't…(static)…know if…(static)…we…(static)…AHHHHH!" cried the clone pilot over the comm.
The clone pilot's fighter had been destroyed and the position from the rear was being overrun as Owen neared the front of the city wide ship. Owen did all he could to protect the v-wings in the fighter formation so they could drop their heavy payload on the shield generator, he shot any enemy fighter who got close down. But as they neared the front of the capital ship they passed over the heavy gun towers, the intense fire from them blew a few v-wings out of the air. Owen couldn't do anything about it as it would be suicide to engage the heavy gun towers head on, ships continued to fall from the fighter formation as they pushed towards the shield generator. A heavy gun tower right in front of the generator then opened up on Owens ARC-170 frying a few systems but the deflector shields absorbed most of the damage, he launched several proton torpedoes into the gun tower destroying it. "V-wings you have a clear run, hit that generator with everything you got" ordered Owen.
In an orgy of fire the front of the ship was hammered by every v-wing but unbelievably no damage was done, Owen couldn't believe it. "Let's try it one more time" said Owen coming back around.
Despite losing almost every fighter in the formation from the heavy gun towers they dived head first right towards the generator throwing everything they had left at it but still no damage was done. "For force sakes" said Owen under his breath.
"It's their shields General, its covering the generator itself, there's no way to get to it" stated the clone Captain.
With no way to knock out the ships shields it didn't look good for Owen and the 501st. If things weren't bad enough Owen looked to his left and saw that the rear fighters covering them had been overrun. "Sir we can't cover you any more, the Separatists have broken through, were heading back to the main fleet to protect the capital ships" informed the clone pilot.
Republic fighters continued to be blown out of the sky, the battle was at a critical juncture and as their leader Owen Sun had to decide what to do next. "General what are your orders?" asked the clone Captain.
There was a long standing pause.
Owen almost didn't know what to do, he remembered the feeling he had before hand. Was he right, would this truly be the end of him, his thoughts got grimmer and grimmer as he watched countless clone pilots lose their lives their fighters blown to space dust. "No…no, I will not give up, we will find a way" he thought.
"General?" asked the clone pilot Captain again.
"I said we'd fight to the end and I wasn't lying, split off from the fighter formation…we'll find a way to win this battle yet" stated Owen.
But despite Owens inspirational words the seemingly indestructible Commerce Guild capital ships continued to advance towards the main fleet, it was only a matter of time now. Owen searched through the force for any kind of guidance on what to do next.
Suddenly an idea came to him, it was an extremely risky and definitely crazy one but it was all he had.
Owen opened up a channel and contacted the capital ships bridge. "Get me Commander Appo" he commanded.
Appo immediately reported to the ships bridge. "Yes General Sun, what is it?" he asked.
"How are your men feeling Commander?" asked Owen.
"Their getting restless with those giant ships headed towards us, I just wish there was something we could do" Appo answered.
"Well it's your lucky day Commander because all our hopes on winning this battle now depend on you and your men" stated Owen.
"Sir?" questioned Appo.
"As you can see the fighter fleet has been crippled, there's no way we can finish this fight" informed Owen.
"I need you and your men to infiltrate those ships and find a way to destroy them from the inside" explained Owen.
"I…uh…of coarse General Sun, whatever you wish" replied Appo.
The clone pilot Captain then cut in on the comm. "General, how do you expect to get past their shields, they cover the only way into the ship" wondered the clone Captain.
"I'm going to bring the capital ships up and have them unload on their hanger all at once, even their shields can't take that much punishment" explained Owen.
"Do you really think it will work?" asked the clone pilot Captain.
"It may just knock them out for a few seconds but that's all we'll need" replied Owen.
"But to expose the main fleet…" stated the clone Captain.
"It's a risk Captain, but it's a risk were all going to have to take, if not we'll all be destroyed for sure" replied Owen.
"Commander, get your men into the gunships and have all three capital ships standing by ready to fire" ordered Owen.
"Yes Sir" replied Commander Appo.
In a matter of minutes even with the chaotic battle ragging around them everything was set and ready as all three capital ships were ready to fire and the LAAT's were about to depart.
Meanwhile on the bridge of the Commerce Guild capital ships.
"Were nearly in position Captain" reported the Sergeant battle droid.
"Good, when your ready fire at will" replied the Gossam Captain.
The Gossam Captain smiled as he saw the Republic fleet in disarray and the glorifying victory he would have as he pictured destroying a large chuck of the Grand Army of the Republic, this would certainly give the Separatists a decided advantage in the Clone War.
Suddenly the bridges comm. came alive as the other Gossam Captain in the opposite ship had contacted him. "What is it?" he asked.
"Can't you see it, out of their hangers…look" pointed out the other Gossam Captain.
He then took notice of them. "So what, more fighters, our ships will bat them out of the air"
"Their not fighters, their gunships" stated the other Gossam Captain.
"What…gunships, that doesn't make any sense" replied the Gossam Captain.
"Gunships are only for ground units, they must be planning an attack on us" implied the other Gossam Captain.
"But our shields are up, there's no way they could get inside, why would they send their ground units to the slaughter like this?" questioned the Gossam Captain.
Suddenly the Gossam Captains ship shook from a heavy blast. "What was that?" he asked.
"It's your ship, I can see it from here, they've breached your ships hanger!" replied the other Gossam Captain frantically.
"What!" he yelled in a rage.
Back outside the colossal Commerce Guild capital ships.
Owen, the clone pilot Captain, and the bulk of what was left of the fighter fleet provided cover for Commander Appo and his men as they made their way towards the first capital ship. "Good luck Commander" said Owen as the gunships began to descend into the hanger.
"Thank you Sir, we won't let you down" replied Appo.
Through intense resistance Commander Appo led his men throughout the ship destroying thousands of droids, while they fought their way through Appo ordered his clone engineers to place proton cores in key spots throughout the giant Commerce Guild capital ship. Only one remained as they now needed to fight their way to the bridge.
Outside the ship Owen did the best he could to lead what was left of the fighter fleet but the enemy fighters vastly outnumbered their own. Suddenly what Owen feared worse began to happen, the second Commerce Guild capital ship that wasn't under attack started to fire at the fleet with its main gun, if that wasn't bad enough out of the ships hanger came hundreds of CIS strike bombers. "All fighters take out those bombers, do whatever you have to but protect our capital ships" ordered Owen.
"Commander Appo, what's your status?" asked Owen transmitting to Appo's communicator.
"All proton cores are almost in place, we just have to set one more on their bridge…that should destroy the ship" reported Appo.
"Were fighting our way through some heavy droid resistance but we should arrive at their bridge soon" added Appo.
"Keep me posted" replied Owen switching off the comm.
The sleek and deadly CIS strike bombers continued to pound the Republic capital ship focusing all their fire on one ship at a time, Owen and the clone pilot Captain led the fighter fleet against the strike bombers shooting several down but their were so many of them it made it impossible to protect the capital ship. With the continued hammering by the strike bombers and the Commerce Guild capital ship firing its main gun the Republic capital ships shields began to fail, massive explosions began to take place all over the ship as the unending fire had now pierced the ships shields. A large chunk of the capital ship then blew right off engulfing the ship in flames, it began to fall from orbit now exploding all over from the inside, Owen had no choice but to evacuate. "All hands on the capital ship evacuate now" he ordered.
Some escape pods made it out but most were shot out of the sky by enemy fighters, after minutes finally the inevitable happened…the ship exploded dealing a huge blow to the invasion force, the Separatists had succeeded in their task but two ships still remained. "All fighters protect the two remaining capital ships with your life, we cannot afford to lose another one" commanded Owen.
Meanwhile on the under sieged Commerce Guild capital ship.
Though heavily outnumbered and through the thickest of fighting Commander Appo had led his men to the bridge, a close quarter suicidal firefight now took place on the capital ships bridge.
The Gossam Captain trembled from the fighting as he never imagined this would happen, his droids through their programming defended the Gossam ship Captain with their very being. But the droids were no match for the battle hardened 501st, Appo tossed a thermal detonator into the bridges control room destroying the final few droids, Commander Appo then waved a few of his men into the room.
The simple blaster pistol trembled in the Gossam Captains hand as he hid underneath one of the control panels. "I won't be taken alive" he thought.
Suddenly surprising Appo and his men the long necked Gossam Captain sprang up from behind the panel and with the only thing he had to defend himself fired several inaccurate shots totally missing them. Appo and his men brought up their blaster rifles and laid a few shots into the Gossam Captain killing him, his corpse smoldered as Appo and his men had taken the Commerce Guild capital ship.
After his engineers placed the final proton core Commander Appo then gave the order to evacuate, as he ran with his men through the city wide ship he contacted Owen. "General Sun we've placed the final proton core and are about to evacuate" he relayed.
"Excellent work Commander, get your men out of there and destroy that ship" replied Owen into his headpiece.
Appo did just that as the LAAT's left the Commerce Guild capital ship under heavy fire, in the gunship Appo watched as the behemoth of a ship became smaller and smaller traveling back to the main fleet. "General Sun, do I have permission to detonate?" asked Commander Appo.
"Yes, destroy that ship" confirmed Owen blasting one of the remaining enemy bombers out of the sky.
In a maze of truly massive explosions the Commerce Guild capital ship began to break apart as an inferno erupted across its surface, finally in a blinding blast the city wide capital ship blew up into several huge pieces rupturing space around them.
In his fighter the clone pilot Captain cocked his fist in the air. "Alright we did it!" he stated overjoyed.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves clones we still have one more to destroy" reminded Owen.
Appo then took notice of one of their capital ships missing. "General where's the other capital ship?" he wondered.
"It's been destroyed Commander…it was bombarded with heavy fire by their capital ship and bombers, there was nothing we could do" explained Owen.
"Did any make it out?" asked Appo with concern in his voice.
"A few escape pods but nothing else…most pods were destroyed by the enemy fighters, the rest fell into the planets atmosphere" informed Owen.
There was nothing but silence over the comm. as Appo grieved for his fallen men. "I'm sorry Appo…I know how much you care for your men" said Owen.
"Let's avenge them by destroying that second ship" stated Owen.
"Right" replied Appo reasserting himself.
The gunships turned back around and headed for the second Commerce Guild capital ship, they would use the same plan as before with this ship. After the Republic capital ships knocked out the ships hanger shields Appo took his men in for a second attack on their capital ships.
While Commander Appo made progress inside the city wide capital ship Owen and the fighter fleet took out the remaining strike bombers that were harassing the main fleet, they then turned their attention to the Separatists fighter fleet. In huge dogfights both fighter fleets engaged one another, with Jedi Knight Owen Sun leading the charge the Republic fighter fleet knocked enemy fighter after enemy fight out of the space battle until only a handful remained.
The tide of the battle had definitely turned as Appo reported in. "General, just a few more proton cores and we'll be out of here" he informed.
Owen knew then as their leader what he had to do.
"Captain, I'm taking red squadron with me, were going to hit the planet and attack Castell City" informed Owen.
"Are you sure that's wise Sir?" questioned the clone pilot Captain.
"With the space battle still going on they won't expect an attack so soon, we'll divide their forces and confuse them" explained Owen.
"Whatever you want General we'll stay up here and make sure Commander Appo and his men are safe for the ground campaign" replied the clone Captain.
"As soon as that ship is destroyed I want you and what's left of the fighter fleet to catch up with me and red squadron, I have a feeling we'll need all the help we can get once they rally their forces" stated Owen.
"You got it Sir, good luck and May the Force be with you" replied the clone Captain.
Owen broke off from the space battle and took red squadron with him, as they descended towards the golden planet Owen had a disturbing feeling that after the pure hell they fought through to get here the Battle of Castell may have only just begun…