A/N: I thought of that teaser as more of a commercial than anything else. And now back to our regularly scheduled fanfiction. Hope you enjoy this one, it's for real this time...

Chapter 22

Battle of Mustafar Part 2

General Kenobi, being part of Skywalker and Keller's fleet, beamed aboard the U.S.S. Agamemnon to hear the plan to destroy the super-lasers. He joined a few MACO commanders and Republic Commando commanders, starfighter squadron commanders in the conference room. Captain Keller stood in front of the group.

"Gentlemen, we can't destroy the super-lasers from orbit. They are too well defended by energy shields and capital warships. However I believe that a group of assault shuttles could get down to the surface and take the super-lasers down with commando strikes. We'll use Republic and Federation starfighters for cover and possibly air support. Once the super-lasers are destroyed you'll activate this beacon which will signal the fleet come in. We'll drop out of hyperspace guns blazing and hopefully finish off the enemy fleet quickly. We will then recover our shuttles and wounded commandos. We're expecting heavy resistance so you'll go in heavy. Any questions?" said Keller

A MACO spoke up. "Sir, intelligence points to General Grievous being on Mustafar. What are our orders if we encounter him." he said

"Good question. Your orders are to withdraw and avoid combat with General Grievous. General Kenobi will be joining the ground operation along with several other Jedi, on the chance that he is down there. The Jedi are to handle General Grievous, but if need be you may assist the Jedi as necessary. Any other questions?" There were none. "Very well, get your teams together and report to your assigned shuttles and starfighters. Dismissed." said Keller

General Kenobi filed out with the rest of the commanders and joined a MACO from the Agamemnon, an Andorian Major named Shellar Kurn. "General, it's good to have you aboard. I look forward to seeing you in action. We'll be departing as soon as the team is ready." he said

"Understood." Kenobi replied.

The Andorian and Jedi took a turbolift down to the shuttlebay and boarded a shuttle with a fifteen other MACOs. A Starfleet pilot named Rabb took the helm, while another MACO manned the gunnery position. The shuttle took off and exited the shuttlebay. From all around the fleet, hundreds of assault shuttles departed from their mother ships.

Federation Assault Shuttles were a recent addition to Starfleet's auxiliary fleet. Designed along the lines of the Republic LAAT, it featured fully operational shields and transporters. It was armed with a single 360o phaser array and an additional phaser turret on the dorsal surface. Some models had additional weapons and functioned as gunships. Another model in development is designed for boarding operations in space. The normal model has one hatch on the back end of the craft. The Federation Boarding Shuttle has a hatch on the front side, along with a plasma torch capable of burning through just about any metal.

Rabb's Assault Shuttle formed up with three other shuttles and a squadron of Republic ARC-170 starfighters. The plan called for the starfighters to make a micro-jump into the middle of the enemy fleet first and distract them long enough for the assault shuttles to follow and make a break for the atmosphere.

Now in formation with his assault group, Rabb waited as the starfighters jumped to hyperspace in advanced of the assault ships. Then a countdown timer beeped and the pilot activated the ship's short range warp drive. Hundreds of flashes signified the exit of the assault ships from the main fleet. Kurn knew the Starfleet officers on the capital ships had the harder job...waiting.

A split second of warp travel ended and the pilot immediately threw the ship into evasive maneuvers as Republic starfighters and CIS fighters swooped about. Nearby, a Munificent-class frigate exploded from a large salvo of proton torpedoes launched from the Republic starfighters. Another frigate exploded near the last one. This frigate was destroyed by a combination of proton and photon torpedoes. The destruction of these two frigates opened a hole for the assault shuttles who immediately seized the opportunity. Hundreds of shuttles flew down into the ash-choked atmosphere. Anti-aircraft turbolasers opened up, hitting a few shuttles but most managed to avoid the heavier defenses of the fortresses around the planet. Rabb's shuttle along with two others landed on a pad just outside a large complex he suspected held a super-laser. The hatch dropped behind the craft and sixteen MACOs and a Jedi piled out. Rabb opened a comm channel. "I'll stay here to provide medevac and air support when possible." he said

"Much appreciated pilot." said Kurn.

Joining Kurn and his MACOs were thirty-two other MACOs and a single Republic Commando team. They all formed up at a hatch leading inside. A MACO scanned the area with a tricorder. "I'm picking up droids on the other side, looks like they're ready for us."

"Then we go in hard and loud." said the Commando's leader. RC/1138 aka 'Boss'.

"Agreed." said Kurn. He nodded to a MACO, who planted a charge on the hatch.

"CLEAR!" he said. The MACOs and commandos covered their heads.

The charge blew the hatch in, smashing a few droids dumb enough to stand right behind it. Two grenades bounced in. A photon grenade and an ECD. The photon grenade vaporized one droid and blew apart three more, while the ECD detonated in the middle of six super battle droids. They were frozen, unable to move until the effect wore off. But before that happened, forty-eight MACOs, four Republic Commandos and a single Jedi swarmed into the hallway. Dozens of droids went down as phasers mixed with blasters. Some MACOs held a new weapon called a MACO Battle Rifle. It fired in bursts of three, or an automatic secondary fire mode. So far it was proving quite effective in taking down standard battle droids with single bursts. However, Super Battle Droids required three or more bursts.

Kenobi was in the midst of the group deflecting blaster bolts back at the enemy and hacking at droids when they got too close. A force to be reckoned with, the group of fifty-two professional soldiers tore through the base, reaching the control room in record time. A large reinforced hatch protected the control room but Federation and Republic explosives were up to the job, blowing the hatch into the room it was supposed to protect. The MACOs, Commandos and Jedi swarmed into the room, taking down controlling droids left and right.

"Destroyers!" said a MACO from behind.

Three Droidekas rolled up to the blown hatch, unfolded and opened fire while raising it's shield. The troops inside took cover, even General Kenobi who knew he couldn't take on one droideka, let alone three. "Concentrate your fire to penetrate the shields!" yelled 'Boss'.

The group obeyed and a mass of withering phaser fire impacted the shields of the droidekas. Ten MACOs went down when their shields depleted and blaster fire tried to burn through the armor. The MACOs continued firing wearing down the shields quickly and destroying the droidekas. The wounded MACOs were treated for blaster burns but no serious injuries.

"Major Kurn, I found a targeting control panel." said a MACO. Kurn couldn't see the MACOs savage grin behind the helmet however. "We can use the super-laser against the enemy fleet."

Kurn put his hand to his helmet. "Hold on, I'm getting reports of other super-lasers exploding. Start planting charges, meanwhile, see if you can't squeeze off a few shots into the CIS fleet. I'll activate the beacon when the charges are set. I'll warn the starfighters to head for the atmosphere and to stay out of the firing arc." Kurn replied.

The MACO took off his helmet, grinned savagely then sat at the targeting control. He tapped some buttons which realigned the laser array to fire into the enemy fleet.

The starfighters quickly cleared the area and the laser fired.

A single green laser emanated from the surface. It impacted and destroyed three Munificent-class frigates, then continued on to destroy a Trade Federation battleship. Another shot destroyed a dozen more enemy ships before power to the base was shut down. "Awwww, I was having so much fun..." said the MACO at targeting control.

"No time for that, let's get out of here." said Major Kurn.

The group exited the base control center and rendezvoused on the landing pad outside. Kurn tapped a button on his forearm and a large explosion ripped through the base, sending chunks into the river of lava nearby. Kurn also activated the beacon which signaled the fleet to move in and destroy the rest of the enemy fleet.

He waited a few moments before looking into the sky and seeing streaks of light, then explosions and knew the fleet was here.

Captain Keller held on to his chair as the Agamemnon rocked from a hard turbolaser hit.

"Report!" he yelled

"Shields down to fifty percent. No torpedoes left. Light damage to secondary EPS conduits." reported Adams

"Keep firing!" he replied

The Excelsior-class U.S.S. Agamemnon swarmed a Trade Federation Battleship along with two dozen other ships. Mirandas, Soyuzes, Centaurs, Ambassadors, Cheyennes even a Galaxy-class were hitting it hard. But the shields were holding and there was only sporadic turbolaser fire.

"They must be routing all power to shields. We'll break them eventually but we need help. Contact General Skywalker, see if he can spare a few ships."

"Aye sir...sir, General Skywalker is dispatching a Star Destroyer and two Acclamators." reported Adams

"Good enough, tell them to come in guns blazing. How's the rest of the fleet doing Lieutenant?" asked Keller

"We've taken some casualties, mainly among the smaller ships. The enemy fleet is down to five percent strength. I estimate roughly one hundred and fifty ships remain...Correction, one hundred twenty-five." replied Adams as several enemy ships blew up.

Outside the viewscreen as the ship came about, Keller saw a trio of Republic ships headed his way. Blue turbolasers flashed out and began impacting the reinforced shields of the Trade Federation ship. Eventually with the assistance of the three Republic ships, the Trade Federation ship's shields collapsed and a photon torpedo beamed aboard and detonated near the reactor. The ship began exploding from the inside. Keller ordered all ships to evac the area as the ship exploded.

The Agamemnon and the remaining ships spread out to attack the last of the enemy fleet. With only phasers left, the Agamemnon concentrated its fire on the few droid fighters left. Throughout the battle Republic and Federation fighters had not only been harassing enemy capital ships before the fleet arrived but destroying as many droid fighters as they could as well.

Within twenty minutes the remaining enemy ships were either destroyed or fled the system. On the ground, MACOs and Commandos continued to battle CIS forces, capturing energy production facilities and destroying droid factories.

General Kenobi weaved his lightsaber in a complicated pattern as droids tried to kill him with badly aimed blaster fire. The MACOs were fighting hard and destroyed several droid battalions. Kenobi was amazed at the effectiveness of the MACOs. It would take thousands of standard clones to take this planet. The Federation deployed a single Regiment. He thought.

Before he could move on he heard four distinctive snap-hisses. "It's General Grievous! fall back!" Yelled Major Kurn at his side. "He's all yours Kenobi." Kurn said before joining his men.

Kenobi nodded and stepped between the retreating MACOs and Grievous. "You won't escape this time Grievous."

"That's what you think Kenobi. I have my ways. But first I will dispose of you." Grievous repiled

"You can't win, the CIS has lost the war."

"NEVER! The Confederacy will rise again!" Grievous screamed as he swung his lightsabers. Kenobi blocked three of the blades and dodged the fourth, then sliced one of Grievous' four hands.

The battle raged for ten full minutes as Grievous and Kenobi fought to kill each other. The battle eventually reached a landing pad with a CIS shuttle waiting. Kenobi knew that Grievous would escape on the shuttle so while he fought with Grievous he sent a warning to the Allied fleet.

All of a sudden, Grievous broke off the fight, jumped onto the shuttle's ramp and stomped up into the shuttle. The ramp raised before Kenobi could follow him and he was subsequently blasted to the ground by repulsorlifts. As the shuttle raised, a Federation Assault shuttle came in phasers firing. Grievous' shuttle took hits but returned fire.

Grievous' personal shuttle had been refitted with a capital-ship level turbolaser. A single shot vaporized the Assault Shuttle and Grievous' ship quickly climbed, evading several Republic and Federation ships he jumped to hyperspace just as the last CIS ship in orbit exploded..

Captain John Keller breathed a sigh of relief as the last enemy ship exploded. "All ships, stand down from battlestations. Go to yellow alert, there are still enemy fighters remaining, once we clear them out, we will recover our MACOs and wounded then proceed to Geonosis. Well done." he said. Then he turned to Adams. "How many did we lose?" he asked

"Casualty reports are still coming in sir. But so far we've only lost two hundred ships. Most of our casualties were Mirandas, Soyuzes and similar ships. We only lost a few cruisers and some of those are repairable. Personal casualties are high but not as high as they could be. We lost dozens of starfighters. MACOs are reporting light to moderate casualties." reported Adams

"Very well. Continue to secure the system. I'll be in my ready room. You have the bridge Commander." replied Keller

Keller stood and walked to his ready room. He sat at his desk and turned on the small laptop. He opened a channel to Captain Picard and Admiral Nechayev. Then gave his report when they responded.

"Well done Captain. Convey my compliments to the fleet and to Generals Kenobi and Skywalker. When can you rendezvous with the rest of the fleet?" asked Nechayev.

"Anywhere from a few hours to a day. There are still pockets of droid resistance on the ground and the odd droid starfighter still flying. Once we've absolutely secured the system we'll head out." Keller replied

"And your casualties?" asked Picard.

"Light, in terms of ships. Moderate to heavy in terms of personnel. I'm planning on putting all my wounded on as few ships as possible, then sending them back to Corellia, or Coruscant where they can receive better treatment." Keller said

"Very well. We will await your arrival at the rendezvous." said Picard

With that the channel closed.

Twelve hours later, one Republic Arquentis-class light cruiser filled with wounded jumped to hyperspace for a medical station. The rest of the fleet jumped to hyperspace bound for Geonosis.