Legend of the Harp Episode III: The Crucible

by Hemaccabe

The Harp continues to build his own resistance movement with more ships, troops and wealth. However, not every problem can be solved with such tools and some of those problems may test one to the very edge!

18. Chapter 18

Legend of the Harp

By Hemaccabe

Episode III: The Crucible

Chapter 18: Do Not Forsake Me

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

*** Jedi Knight Jors Zaemon, moving to polar orbit Baetar Prime's Star ***

I had the subspace transmitter reaching to Dandoran where Admiral Spruance and the fleet should be. The comms remained jammed. Knowing each second would be paid for in Baetari blood was agonizing. Each second also begged the question, was I still jammed or was I just not able to reach through. We were a substantial chunk of the Known Galaxy apart. The further a transmission had to go, the more likely some blob of galactic detritus or radiation was to get in the way and the less likely one would be able to connect. Even if I got through, how soon could any help get here?

As the minutes rolled by with Bearer at full thrust, which pushed us hard back into our chairs even with grav assist, I got more worried. I reached to the transmitter and put the palm of my hand against it. I reached out and tried to push the Force through the comm. I don't know what I was thinking, was the Force going to stop a supernova, move a black hole or push a nebula aside for me?

After a moment though, a feeling I had never felt from the Force came back through to me. The feeling was much more sentient and alive than the Force had ever seemed and while it gave me a feeling, and not words, it seemed to be saying, "Don't worry, I have you safe in the palm of my hand."

Just as the feeling went through me, the Comm came on, "Commodore Spruance here. What can I do for you sir?"

I wasted no time. "Commodore Spruance, Baetar is under massive attack. I need everything you can scratch together, fast and for you to get here, fast."

"Acknowledged, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask. It could be important?"

All I wanted was to give the command to turn around and dive back into battle, but Spruance's request made sense. He spent, perhaps five minutes, asking me what I knew about what was attacking, what their assets were and positions."

Commodore Spruance ended with, "Also, this is important, make sure the Baetari know we're on the way. Wouldn't want any friendly fire incidents."

While I had already mentioned something along those lines to Chief of Staff Mal Basyah, this would mean a lot of new ships and personnel emerging in-system. It was a good recommendation and I was grateful he had reminded me. "Will do."

I texted down to Chief of Staff Mal Basyah, "I have reinforcements on the way, including a number of capital ships. The Harp fleet is on the way. Please let your people know not to shoot at them. What can we do to help now?"

Chief of Staff Mal Basyah once again didn't make me wait long. Her text came through, "We're grateful for any help we can get. We're used to fighting alone. Would be nice to have some help right now. I'll pass the word. In the time you have been out of system, the enemy has launched a massive assault on Doram station. Doram has taken heavy casualties and is holding on by her teeth. Still, this attack has taken Doram out of the fight. This has allowed a massive landing near Watchtower of Spring. They already have more troops and armor on the ground than were used by both sides in the Clone Wars. Our ground units are holding, but if the enemy can continue to reinforce, it will be a matter of time. If you could do something to reinforce Doram, that would be the most help."

Authors Note: I seem to be implying some pretty big numbers for the attack, is that reasonable? When Syria and Egypt attacked Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syria alone fielded an army with more tanks than had been used by all combatants in World War II. In addition, Syria and Egypt both had SAM-based Anti-Aircraft defenses better than what was fielded against US pilots in Viet Nam, and even by the Soviets on their European fronts. Israel's victory in that war was neither reasonable or rational, which is why they aren't taught at US Service Academies. It seems Israel has the support of a very old version of the Force. Her critics should keep this in mind.

"On our way." I replied.

I gave the necessary orders, "Get us on the station. I'll lead the marine contingent off. Then take this ship and do whatever you can to help the station and slow the landings."

The nervous young Lieutenant in command replied and saluted, "Yes Sir. Will do."

I thought for a moment. I wanted to give every possible chance success, but finally had to add, "Use of H-Torpedoes can only occur with my, or The Harp's direct permission."

"Understood." The Lieutenant replied.

We blasted back into the fight moving as fast as Bearer could, which was pretty fast. Our vultures had a tough time keeping pace. Soon we were at the station and in a gut wrenching, teeth vibrating maneuver, we were through one of the station dock shields. I led the platoon of Harp Militia off the ship. We got down so fast, Bearer never actually stopped moving. As soon as the last pair of boots jumped, Bearer, having executed a flying U-turn in the landing bay was blasting back out into space.

I had one platoon. Second platoon, fourth company, third battalion, or 342. They were some good humans, HX droids and one Ball droid. I was happy to have the heavier HX droids.

We came under fire almost immediately and the well-trained platoon responded by diving behind whatever cover they could find. Cover wasn't hard to find, there was burning wreckage everywhere.

We began to return fire. I reached out with my feelings and found their control nexus.

"Follow me!" I yelled as I came out from behind cover.

I realized there might not ever be a better time for it, so out my saber came.

When my saber ignited, shooting literally stopped for a full second. Baetar's enemies now knew they faced a Jedi. Chances were good, no one in 342 knew they had been fighting for a Jedi. Suddenly, I felt something from them which I saw on their faces. They had been going into this, determined, professional, but fully expecting to die. With my blade, they suddenly felt hope. From our foes, I now, for the first time, felt fear.

I pointed with my saber and yelled, "Speed of Force!"

The platoon leapt from cover to charge. Quickly I was inundated with panic fire which I deflected back. As we reached and destroyed the first concentration of enemy troops, I noticed they were mostly using E-5 and E-7 rifles. That meant the B-300s our troops carried would give them a substantial advantage.

We fought our way across the massive flight deck and had to move through corridors. With each step we destroyed the enemy. We took casualties. We picked up Baetari personnel who had been bypassed and trapped.

Finally, we emerged onto another flight deck. The nexus was before us. There were also thousands of enemy troops.

We fought. There were just too many. For each one of my troopers and Baetari who died, we took dozens of the enemy down. They just always had plenty more. I went from one enemy position to the next, the Force keeping me between enemy shots and letting me deflect the one's that might have got me. I'd leap behind some piece of cover, destroy the clump of enemy and move to the next. I noticed we were mostly fighting small reptilian Heeshem.

The Ball droid was particularly ruthless, with it's high speed, shields and high power, rapid fire guns it went through hundreds of the enemy.

I noticed we were running out of power. I had only eight platoon members left and a handful of Baetari. Most were already on their last charge pack and those were running low. My saber had been ignited for a long time, it was hot in my hands and I could feel it's Kyber crystal assisted charge running down.

The ball droid suddenly launched itself through the air and landed within the shields of the Heeshem command post where it blew itself up. The Heeshem still in the area threw down their weapons and fled.

We had never programmed the ball droid to do that. We had never trained for a droid to do that. I would never have given that order. It must have decided, on it's own, to give it's life for the cause.

Still, we honored the Ball droid's sacrifice and leapt into the smoking debris of the command post. We had the shields back up quickly and found functional charge spots. I found their comm and signaled a general retreat. That spread some confusion in the enemy's ranks.

Seeing what I had done, a Baetari officer said, "Eventually, the enemy will launch a counter-attack."

"Then we need to be ready. Find any weapons they left behind. Charge all blaster packs. Reinforce the walls." I replied.

We set to, readying this fortified position, our equipment and ourselves to face the coming onslaught.

It took the enemy over an hour to regroup and launch an assault on our position. They came by the thousands. However, during that time, more lost Baetari had rallied to our position. We had full charge packs and we were ready. We killed the vicious Heeshem by the score.

I had been fighting for hours and I was exhausted. I knew the enemy was surrounding us and would soon overwhelm us. There was one last thing I could do, but I was afraid. If I left the relative safety of the captured enemy command post, then the enemy could surround me. Yes, I was wearing the Zillo beast leathers Furry had given me, but they would stop, at most, a single shot? That was the way so many Jedi had died during Order 66. A lightsaber was not proof against a hundred soldiers and blaster rifles. If I could control my fear, I might just give us a few more minutes to live.

I leapt out of the captured enemy command post and continued to jump from enemy position to position. I became a question that they simply could not answer, no matter how much fire they poured into me. Every so often they would try and mass for an attack on the captured enemy command post. I would land in their midst, spreading chaos, destroying discipline. My saber would sweep back and forth through their bodies with the same effort of swinging through empty air, sending vast numbers of them back to the great demon they worshipped.

Still, I had no connection to the outside. Was Bearer still existant? Had the landing destroyed resistance near Watchtower? Would Spruance get here in time?

If they didn't, even with my heroics, it would only be a matter of time.

*** Commodore Spruance, aboard Exxelon, above the Rock, Dandoran System ***

"Yes, you will have to delay going back for The Harp. Master Dodger's orders are clear. I have sent you the recording. You are part of the fleet and if there was ever a time we have need of you, it's right now."

Sky replied, "I am very uneasy about leaving The Harp on that station."

"I would love to have you go get him. It would be very useful to have him in this fight and that ship of yours is deucedly fast. However, the navigation is clear, Harp is in an odd spot in the wrong direction. It would add days to your transit and we don't have that time."

"I agree," Sky answered reluctantly. "Harp should be fine on that station for a few extra days and he would want us to win this battle."

"Good, I want you to take point position for the fleet. As soon as we have a clear scan, I will be sending mission priorities for you to transmit vectors to other fleet ships."

"Yes sir." Sky replied.

"Just like we've drilled."

*** Imperial Admiral Scharn, aboard his flagship, the Star Destroyer Relentless ***

"The battle proceeds just as you planned. If anything, too well. Congratulations." General Borgia commented watching the situation table.

"No congratulations until the battle is complete." Admiral Scharn reprimanded without heat.

"Of course," General Borgia replied then continued, "the landing near Watchtower should take out Baetar's primary surface-based assets and organizational structure. After that, it will only be matter of time. The remaining space-based assets on Suffone are barely enough to hold the station and completely insufficient to relieve the Doram station. Even if they had a surplus, they would be badly placed to support their Doram station, after all that's why they have Doram."

"We have seen other situations where certainties have been undone by help arriving unexpected and unlooked for. We must be cautious." Admiral Scharn responded, trying to be the responsible officer he had been trained to be at Marinschule Keel.

*** And now a word from our sponsor! ***

Please don't miss that this is the third book in this exciting series. Legend of the Harp Episodes 1 and 2 are also on this site! Episode 4 may be on her way soon!

If you enjoy modern urban fantasy and my writing, you may also enjoy a series of three novels I have written in the Dresden Files universe of Jim Butcher, called Warlock of Omaha, Warlock of Omaha Squared and Warlock of Omaha Cubed!

I have also recently released a Star Trek novel. It's called Star Trek: Lost Destiny. Please consider this an invitation to read it.

This writer, like the story teller in the market of old, now has a hat out hoping for a small gratuity. There is no obligation and I'm grateful you took a moment to read. However, if my writing has found favor in your eyes, please take a moment to go to:

Pay

Pal

.me

/Hemaccabe

and throw in a little something, a dime, a quarter, a dollar, etc.

While I love to write, I do have a spouse and a child and a job and many other claims on my time that don't understand why I would spend so many hours banging on a keyboard. A small tangible return would help smooth the way to allow me to provide many more stories.

Please help. Thank-you.