TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, and the other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 21
To recap: After the Battle of Geonosis, the Senate of the Galactic Republic declared war on the self-proclaimed Confederacy of Independent Systems (or simply, the Separatists), which was followed by the launch of the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic. In spite of the misgivings of the Jedi Order, this august group of Force users would be placed in charge of the Cloned Army, thanks to the works of the late Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. There were concerns as to how this came about, but dealing with the threat poise by the Separatists took precedence. Meanwhile, Jedi Padawans Ranma Saotome, Usagi Tsukino, Ami Mizuno and Anakin Skywalker are thrust into areas of responsibility, depending upon their expertise and level of competence, resulting in all of them receiving command over their contingent of troops on the behest of their respective masters. Thus far, each campaign that these four had undergone has been a success. Unfortunately, because Ranma had saved more lives than out of the four (particularly after using the "Dragon Rising Ascension" technique to prevent a gas from wiping out all the Gungans on one of the moons of Naboo), Anakin saw this as a threat to his status as "The Chosen One", and began to take more chances to "rack up" more "wins" against the Separatist (especially after destroying a weapon of mass destruction known as the Dark Reaper). Still, in spite of all this competitiveness between the two, the so-called "Fearless Foursome" continued to fight. Even after the seemingly apparent demise of one of their own, Usagi, the rest of them moved on. Still, Anakin's jealousy of Ranma, particularly after gaining full Jedi status, is slowly creating a fissure between the two. Furthermore, there have been reports that Usagi may be alive, although now under the control of the Sith. Hopefully, neither Anakin's jealousy nor Usagi's enthrallment will have any effect on the campaign on Munnilist…
Meanwhile, back on Coruscant…
Senator Padme Kasumi Amidala sighs, as she looks at her face in the mirror, which was generating a reflection that wasn't her own. She really wanted to let those close to her know that she was not whom people see herself as. Then again, this experience was nothing more than a dream, right? Although, truth be known, this 'dream' felt very real, especially the part where she and her new husband Anakin Skywalker had gotten married, followed by a honeymoon…
"Oh, my," Kasumi said with a blush. She has had such a crush on the actor playing the role of Anakin Skywalker, being a "Star Wars" otaku and all, although the role itself should have been a bit…beefier. And yet, she felt sorry for the angry young man, who won her heart, that she thought nothing than to fulfill her movie role by marrying him.
"But it felt so real," Kasumi said. "All of this. Am I dreaming, or am I experiencing another life."
Pause.
"Is this…my true life, while the other life…is THAT the dream?"
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Kasumi looks up to see the reflection of one of her handmaiden Motee, in the mirror of her boudoir.
"Yes?" Kasumi asked.
"Master Yoda is here," Motee said.
"Good," Kasumi said with a gentle smile. "I want to discuss matters of importance with him in private."
Meanwhile…
RATATATATATATATATAT-!
Jedi Padawan Ranma Saotome grimaced, as he dodged and rolled with the attack of the incoming droid fighter, while simultaneously being chased by yet another fighter, in his Jedi starfighter. It was sleek with a delta-wing span and twin engines. The design was also the first to have a built-in star drive. It came with an astromech droid dubbed "R2-WD40". This was a custom-made droid that was given to him by Hoshi as a gift. It was white with red-trim, and had the unique ability to communicate in standard.
And, it had the personality of a girl.
RATATATATATATATATATAT-!
"Hey!" WD-40 yelled. "Watch it, now!"
"Dubya, shut up," Ranma said, as he suddenly dived down towards the planet, allowing the incoming droid fighter and the pursuing fighter to crash into each other.
CRASH-BOOM!
"You don't speak to me like that!"
"I just did, so HA!"
"Humph!"
Ranma checked out the battle status of his air wing. So far, Anakin was doing well against his own contingent of droid fighters, even though he was being aggressive. Both his fighters and the fleet were doing well, which means that the intelligence was either wrong about the level of defenses, or the Separatists were not prepared for the Republic's assault on Muunilist. Still, he would rather be either back on Coruscant preparing the birth of his child, or finding his best friend Usagi.
"Usagi, hang in there," Ranma said to himself, as he continued his mission.
Meanwhile in Haridan, on Muunilist, Jedi Padawan Ami Mizuno and her ARC team were embarking upon their primary mission: to take down the defense grid of the fortified city of Haridan.
"We're in stealth mode, ma'am," said Captain Fordo.
"Good," Ami said, as she spoke through a voice synthesizer in her helmet. "I want us in and out before we are spotted-"
Suddenly, the assault carrier carrying Ami and her team was struck by mortar fire.
BA-WOOOM!
"Ah!" Ami screamed, as the carrier spun out of control, as one of its engines had been blown off.
"Hang on, ma'am!" Frodo said, as he held the Jedi Padawan in her arms.
The troop carrier careens deep within the city of Harridan. However, instead of crashing unceremoniously…
"I have to use what I know to save us," Ami said, as she concentrated to use her will to effect the trajectory of her craft's descent.
Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…
At the last minute, Ami uses the Force to force the carrier into a smooth landing, instead of crashing into a nearby building.
CRASH!
SKRRRRRREEEEE-!
The carrier screeches to a halt, and all was still.
"Ma'am?" Fordo asked.
"Working," Ami said, as she analyzed the tactical information, from my best guest, here are the positions of the droids…
Quickly, Ami brings up a virtual screen of where the droids were, based upon the trajectory of the mortar fire…
CHIRP!
"THAT is their position," Ami said.
"Suggestions?"
"I'll use my powers to create an impenetrable fog bank," Ami said, as she takes out her henshin rod. "I hope that this works, though…Mercury Prism Power!"
FLASH!
One spin later, Sailor Mercury is reborn.
"Nice one," Fordo said, as he turns to face his men.
"Okay, men! We're hit, but not done for. As soon as soon as Commander Mizuno has done her trick, we move in. Clear?"
"Yes, sir!" said the Troopers.
"Good. Ma'am?"
"Right," Sailor Mercury said, as she initiates her attack. "Sabao Spray!"
Outside, the droids were ready to initiate their next move, when the immediate area suddenly fogged up.
WOooOooOooOoo…
"What's going on out there?" asked the Banking Clan member Frell, as he monitored the battle from within the fortress that was the IGBC building. "I can't seem to get a reading in that area."
"Not only that, our droid forces are being taken apart by the Jedi at the city's doorsteps," said San Hill (tall, pink skinned and oblong head), Banking Clan chairman on Muun. He then turns towards a shadowy figure.
"When we sided with you, your Count Dooku assured us of protection. "Where is it-?"
A massive fist reaches out and grabs San by the lapels.
San was frightened by this creature. He was built like a linebacker, and was armored.
"Okay, I see that I offended you," San said nervously. "I'm just concerned about our…position, that's all."
The Gen'Dai known as "Druge" unceremoniously drops San. He says nothing, as he leaves the command post.
San breathes a sigh of relief, as the door of the armored figure closes behind him.
"I got a bad feeling that when all of this is over, I'm going to die," San said with horror. "Either at Druge's hands or a Jedi's!
Meanwhile, the droids continued to search out for their prey, when blaster fire lanced out from the fog bank, and hits their targets dead on.
BLAM!
"Alright," Sailor Mercury said, as she and her group emerged from within the wrecked trooper carrier. "We have to get out of here before the droids can reposition their hover tanks our way-"
"No problem," Fordo said, as he directs his demolition team to move on to the approaching hover tanks.
Two of his cloned troops move into position, taking advantage of the fog bank, before planting charges.
Fordo began his countdown.
"Three, two, one-"
Ba-BOOM!
With the hover tanks done for, Ami and his team proceeds towards the central defense tower. Taking down the tower would shut down the defense grid.
A few minutes later…
WHOOMP!
A droid sentry sees something fast leap from the side of the building.
SNAP! Hzzzzz…
SLICE!
As Sailor Mercury recovers from her attack, by standing up, her droid opponent splits in half.
CLATTER!
Meanwhile, Captain Frodo and the rest of the ARC team climb over the ledge, and began to attack the droids that were alerted to Sailor Mercury's presence.
BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-!
A fire fight ensues, as cloned troops exchanged weapon discharges with the droids, while Sailor Mercury deflects the weapons fire with her lightsaber. Unfortunately for the droids, they were not expecting Sailor Mercury to deliver a powerful magical attack herself.
"Shine Aqua Illusion: Cold Snap!" Sailor Mercury yelled, as she spun around and points her weapon at the droids.
FWOOSH!
By supercharging her attack, with the power of her lightsaber, Sailor Mercury instantly freezes everything in her path, including the entrance to the top of the tower. Unless droid troop were prepared for intense cold, they would instantly shut down.
"Huh," Fordo said, as he walks up to one of the droids, which stood motionless. He then pushes it…
SHATTER!
"Nice," Fordo said. He then turns towards Sailor Mercury.
"I should have this tower wired up for a 'boom' in ten minutes," Fordo said, as he motions towards the cannon."
"Good," Sailor Mercury replied. He then pressed his wrist communicator, which produces a holographic image Master Kenobi…fighting a huge, armored figure.
"Master Kenobi?" Sailor Mercury said, as she watched Kenobi fight Druge.
"I am a bit busy at the moment," Kenobi replied, as he used his lightsaber to block an attack from Druge, who was using "Nth Metal" (in the shape of a battle axe), one of the rare substances that could withstand the lightsaber. "We are dealing with a counter offensive."
"Do you need assistance?"
"No. Continue with your assignment. I will meet you there shortly. Kenobi: out."
CHIRP!
Sailor Mercury then turns towards Fordo.
"I want this structure ready for collapse pronto," Sailor Mercury said.
"Yes ma'am!" Fordo said enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, out is hyperspace, the occupants of a pair of fighters have a conversation…
"Are we there yet?" Usagi asked.
"No," Asajj replied.
"Okay…"
Pause.
"Are we there yet?"
"Grrrrrrr!" Asajj growled. If only she could take this annoying creature's head off from her body-
BLIP!
"YES…we are," Asajj replied, as she looks at her sensor scopes. "You know what to do."
"I know, I know," Usagi frowned. "I have to kill Ranma Saotome. Yeah, yeah."
"And while you do that, I will deal with Anakin Skywalker," Asajj said. "Do NOT fail in your task."
"I won't, okay?" Usagi said. "But I want to be on record that Ranma is not going to be an easy opponent."
"I know," Asajj said, thinking that the best scenario is for both Ranma and Usagi to die from their duel. Still, if Ranma kills Usagi, he will never recover from such an action, and therefore he will no longer be a threat. Best case scenario in that regard is if he falls to the Dark Side. And if Usagi kills Ranma, her descent to the Dark Side will be complete.
"And it's all according to the Master's plan," Asajj said nastily.
"What was that?" Usagi asked innocently.
"Never mind THAT. Just pay attention to your mission."
"Okay."
And, with that, the pair of Sith Acolytes arrives at Muun.
Tbc.