Chapter 3
Battle of Edwin II
Author's Note # 4 - Reviews
Hey there, I know I uploaded chapter 2 early, but I was done, and I couldn't help myself (ahem). Anyways, I thought I'd take some time to answer some things addressed in the reviews. I can't believe it's only a day or so and I already have almost 500 views. Thanks a lot. Anyways:
FORGEmaster - They have set one up, as they knew about the attack for quite a while now. As to how many ships they cripple, I don't know.
SmokyTinyTom - You are correct in that I used SoaGE as an inspiration. In fact, you can consider this a remake of it. This stories tech for the UNSC and OSG is derived from the now-dormant story - Inheritors of the Mantle.
Slayer10321 - Thank you for the advice, I have implemented some changes.
Alpha Damage/ilovebotdf111 - Thanks a lot, really helps encourage me to continue.
Guest - Thank you
Guest #2 - I really wish I could pm you. But anyways, I waned to save AH for later, as a new part of the plot. So for those who love AH, they will be entering soon. Plus, Mass Effect will soon appear as a bystander to the conflict. I was recently reading some Halo/MLP crossovers, not sure if I'll add those in.
Stormdragon981 - Chaps will be released every week or so, depending on length and importance.
balom - You are entitled to your opinion. But about the MAC gun wankery, there ARE NO MACS in this story, if you bothered to read the first chapter. They are utilizing energy weapons. And as for Spartans, this is taking place almost a century after the H/C War. Spartans would have much beter tech than before, and reverse-engineering this stuff doesn't take centuries. decades, sure. But Centuries? And if I was actually a fanboy, then I would have Pre-war UNSC go against Republic and win. Not Post-War UNSC AND Covenant with a century of advancement. Plus, don't make any assumptions about the story OR the author (for any story). This story is as logical as it can be, and I have done my research (aka - read the books, played the games, watched the movies).
Anyways, on with the show!
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Knight Aayla Secura
For a short moment after the UNSC Admiral closed comms, all was still. The very atoms in the air seemed to have stopped moving.
It was Yularen who acted first. "All ships, forward! I want full burn! Get our turbolasers into range!
With a low hum, the entire Republic Fleet launched forward, engines glowing.
It was then that Aayla felt tbe familiar ripple in the Force warning of imminent danger.
"Admiral, you NEED to stop-." she tried to say before the world around her exploded in light.
Ship after ship in the Republic Grand Fleet was subjected to massive explosions as they hit the Urchin - Class Antimatter Minefield that the UNSC had laid out around the already-known entry point of the Republic in the system. Several ships were completely destroyed, and several others were crippled. Among the chaos, Aayla, staggering on the barely stable bridge of the Venator, heard even worse news.
"Massive Energy Spikes emanating from the UNSC Fleet! They're firing!"
Yularen's expression was one of shock and disbelief. "How!? How could they establish a positive lock at this range?!"
But nevertheless, the evidence was there for all to see. The horrified crews on the Republic Ships could only watch and divert power to shields in a last-minute defense against the swirlinng energies gathering at the almost non-existent barrels of the OSG ships.
And then all hell broke loose.
Dozens upon dozens of scintillating white beams lanced across the void, eager to reach their destintion, ready to obliterate their almost hapless targets.
When they struck, the Republic was not prepared for the destruction that they wrought.
Immediately dozens of ships were rendered inoperable, as the beams cut through the armour and shields of the front line of the fleet. Most ships were hit by several beams, which meant they had little chance of staying in one piece. Yularen and the bridge crew could only watch as ships around them were gutted from bow to stern, and those that weren't had holes punched into them, exposing the crews to the unforgiving harshness of the inky blackness.
The whole process didn't last much longer than 10 seconds, yet that 10 seconds saw a turning point in the military history of the Republic.
As Aayla steadied herself, she realized that the Unstoppable had been spared, as it was located closer to the centre of the fleet. Yularen also got up after being knowcked onto the ground.
"How many ships?" he croaked as he slipped back into his chair.
The officer stared at his screen in the left pit.
"S sir. That volley, along with the mines, took out 92 ships." He muttered, clearly in shock.
Aayla was almost in disbelief. "How. Such losses are unprecedented. And they did it in less than 30 seconds."
"Lets just hope that those weapons are slow-firing. I want all fighters out, and spin up the turbolasers! Prepare for engagement!"
As the Republic Fleet closed the distance between the two armies, the OSG fleet managed to get out one more volley, taking out 4 Venators, a few Acclamators, and several Praetors. This time, diverting the shieldsto the front managed to lessen the damage. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the the Republic Fleet was in firing range.
"FIRE! Burn their ships to dust!" shouted Yularen.
The deck under Aayla's feet rumbled as the Turbolasers fired, blue streaks of light lancing out towards the OSG fleet.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
UNSC Daedalus Class Warship - Temperament
Master Chief Warrant Officer John 117/Cortana
John 117 almost cursed as the Republic's Turbolaser bolts struck the UNSC Fleet. He could see out of a porthole, as several smaller ships were hit by multiple bolts and exploded as their reactors went critical. The UNSC, while more powerful than before, was by no means invincible, even with the Forerunner upgrades.
"We lost 9 ships in that barrage, John. We need hurry." stated Cortana as John watched the wrecks of once-powerful UNSC wawrships drift aimlessly through space.
"Affirmative. We're here anyways." said John as the duo reached the Spartan drop bay. Waiting for them was a technichian beside a Mark VI Booster Frame.
"Hello, Chief. Ready for the mission?" inquired the techie as he sized up Chief in his Aegis III Armour. Unlike the other's on the ship, the techie didn't seem in awe, or nervous of Chief. MC found it somewhat reassuring.
"Yes sir. Is this what I'll be using?" he asked as he walked around the craft and climbed on.
"Yep. Now, I think you know the mission, but I have orders to tell you it again, just in case. You will be taking the frame to the Republic Flagship, which will be designated on your HUD. Once that happens, you must enter the ships via the main hangar. As to how you enter it is up to you."
Chief nodded as he went over the instruments.
"Once you do that, your mission is to kill, maim, or capture the two Jedi on board, and also procure Admiral Wullf Yularen. A Joint-Species Void- Class Prowler will be retrieving you and your hostages once you confirm that the mission is complete. Clear?"
"Crystal, Sir."
"Then get to it, and show those Republic idiots who the real soldiers are."
"Sir, Yes Sir." Said Chief as the hanger darkened and Chief's HUD lit up with a countdown sequence.
10...
9...
8...
7...
"Ready to face some real enemies, Chief? I know you've been bored for the last few months." teased Cortana, as the timer reached 3 seconds.
"Well, to be honest, I've been anticipating this moment for a while now." joked Chief as the timer read 0.
With that, the bay doors slid open, and the Booster Frame with Chief dropped out. Chief throttled it, and the frame shot out towards the advancing Republic Fleet.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Knight Aayla Secura
All on the bridge of the Venator were highly engaged except for the two Jedi, and Yularen. They watched as hailstorms of pulsing blue turbolaser bolts were pierced by needles of energy from the OSG ships.
As she watched several ARC - 170s race into the battle, she noticed something. A small dot moving towards their ship. it was slightly bigger than the V - wings, and as she watched it, to her surprise, it took out several ARCs, along with a few V - Wings.
"Yularen, what is that?" she said, as she walked over to one of the officers monitering incoming fighters. She requested the officer to zoom in on the strange fighter and put it up on the main screen.
All eyes momentarily turned to the screen, and they all watched, shocked, as they observed a person on the craft. And not just any person. The figure from the bridge. And that figure, on what seemed like a primitve rocket, was taking out ARCs like they were nothing. And that person was heading right for the Unstoppable.
"Who is that?" whispered an officer as they watched it flip over a V-Wing, morph one of it's hands into a long-barreled rifle, and fire a glowing orange round straight through the cockpit of the fighter, killing the pilot. All in under 5 seconds. And travelling at hypersonic speeds.
It was then that the connection was made for Aayla. "When observing the intel gathered on the OSG, we came across a document about supersoldiers used in their Great War. They were able to turn the tide of a battle easily. One of them, along with his AI, ended the War. Is Sierra - 117, the figure from the bridge, a supersoldier?"
She would have continued until she saw that supersoldier, the greatest in the galaxy, swoop the vehicle into the just closing hanger-bay. It was in the ship.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Master Chief Warrant Officer John 117/Cortana
"You know, as dramatic as it is, I don't think your idea of squeezing in at the last minute is gonna work." siad Cortana as John neared the Venator.
"It works in the movies, doesn't it?"
"Tell me James Bond. How many movies have you watched?"
John chuckled. "None."
And with that, he sped towards the Venator, blasting down a trio of V-Wings that tried to intercept him, and then sent all of the frames missles into a squad of V-Wings, destroying them all. He could see the Venator's hangar doors closing, possibly in an attempt to stop him. But John was much, much faster. Putting all remaining fuel into the afterburners, he raced towards the closing doors, and burst in.
Before he slammed into the ground an possibly killed himself (which would be pretty sad considering what he had been through) he ejected, used the suits repulsor pack to slow his descent, and activated a bubble shield as the world around him exploded into flames and sparks.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Admiral Whullf Yularen
"Shaak Ti, I want you to get down to the hanger, and deal with this supersoldier. Take Captain Rex. He's still on board. If by the time you reach the hangar, the clones have already killed the guy, then just bring him to the lab. Aayla, I want you to get out their and help our fighters. It looks like they're getting ripped apart by those OSG brutes."
The Jedi, along with Rex, immediately complied, with Shaak Ti and Rex taking the elevator to the hangar, and Aayla Secura taking a different elevator to the private hangar on the side of the ship.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Hangar Bay
As the clones entered the hangar, they found the far end to be a mass of roiling smoke and flames. It was when the smoke cleared that they got their first glimpse of their opponent. Inside of a strange shield, was a being that looked like it could make Clone Commandos cry. Almost 8 feet tall, clad in angular black armour, with a single glowing blue eyevisor in the center of it's head. It didn't seem to be carrying any weapons.
"You there! Halt, identify yourself, and surrender. Failure to comply will result in termination!" called out the clone captain, who led the Unstoppable's clone force. The figure seemed to gauge them, it's head turning ever-so-slightly. Then, still inside the bubble-like shield, the figure's arms both morphed into arm guns. They seemed like high-tech blasters. That was enough to tell the clone captain about the intruder's intent.
Sadly, he never even got a chance to raise his blaster. Before any clone could react, the clone captain dissolved into golden particles as the figure fired upon him with the two arm guns, which fired in twin bursts of golden light.
"Have fun." he taunted, and proceeded to systematically wipe out the entire clone group. With one hand in rifle mode, and the other extended in a hardlight sword, he charged into battle once again.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
John 117/Cortana
As John slid behind a piece of wreckage on the deck, he hurled a plasma grenade over his cover, vaporizing several clones. He allowed his shields to recharge and burst up, out of his cover using the repulsor jetpack, soaring dozens of feet into the air, all the while unloading burst after burst from his arm light-rifles. Clone after clone dissolved into golden light as the Spartan fired, never missing a shot. Then, out of an alternate hangar, 5 clones on BARC speeders burst in, guns blazing, hoping to take out the menace that threatened the ship. But the soldier who had braved the Didact was not to be defeated.
He entered Spartan Time.
The world turned to jelly, everything moving like flies in amber. John leaped over one BARC and stuck a plasma grenade to the chassis, and fired a burst into the engine of another. Both were neutralized. He then retracted the rifle and instead morphed both arms into hardlight swords. He lept onto the thrid speeder, stabbed the pilot, and jumped into the other speeder pushing it into the last.
The whole fight was over in under 9 minutes. As Chief scanned the smoldering wreckage for survivors, Cortana piped up.
"Alright Chief, no time for watching the sunset. Plug me into that terminal on the wall. Technically, there was no plugging in. All Chief had to do was touch the terminal with his hand, and Cortana would download into it. Quite convenient.
As he did so, Cortana's avatar appeared on the pedestals holo-projector.
"Ok then, I'll be infiltrating the systems, and I'll help whenever possible. It'll take me around 5 minutes to do everything. Plus, your mission will be a little longer. One of the two Jedi on-ship is heading here in the turbolift with a clone veteran with her. Be prepared. I won't be able to help you too much here. Ya got that energy sword the Arbiter gave you?
Chief nodded, and pulled the Newer Type 1 Mark 2 Energy Sword from his back. It featured a more streamlined handle, and a thinner, sharper blade. It was designed for human hands. Even though he had hardlight blades, he preferred to use the sword because of it's greater versatility. Plus, it lasted much longer than the older model.
"Well, I've got a ship to hack, and files to steal, so good luck. And as these Jedi say, "May the Force be with you."
Chief almost snorted. "What Force?"
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Knight Aayla Secura
As Aayla flew out of the Venator's hangar in her Eta 2 starfighter, she was immediately confused. She saw ARC fighters shooting the smaller OSG drones out of space, their burning chassis' leaving fiery comet trails. She had thought that their fighters would be more effective. Plus, their didn't seem to be many of them. The comms crackled and she immediately awoke from her reverie.
"Anyone feel like we're walking into a trap over?" called out a random clone pilot.
Aayla was about to respond when another clone almost shouted over the comms.
"We've got hundreds of tangos coming. Much bigger than what we were facing. Probably better armoured. There is also a few thousand small craft, about the size of hover-cars. Like drones, but bigger."
It was then that Aayla was hit by something in the Force. She heard a voice, emanating from the void inside of her.
The Republic is falling. The Reclaimers and their Protectors are only trying to save your galaxy, and themselves. They will change everything, and you will never see things as they were.
She snapped out of it, sweaty. Before she could dwell on the frightening meditation, she heard a clone scream over the comms.
"Missiles Incoming! Kriff, They're fast! Evasive maneuvers!"
And she could nothing more than dodge as the fighters on either side of her exploded in light.
She weaved her way through the missile barrage, only barely surviving because of her connectivity to the Force. Her scanners warned of an enemy fighter behind her and she turned on the rear camera to get a look at her enemy.
The fighter was much larger than her own. Two thin engines could be seen in the middle of the forward-swept wings. Instead of a typical cockpit, she could deduce that the pilot used a simulated cockpit to better control the craft and provide protection. She heard another alarm, and she looked forward to see an ARC coming in front o take out the fighter behind. The OSG fighter obviously saw, because at the lsat second, in a maneuver that would have impressed Anakin, the fighter flipped upside down, using it's own momentum to keep forward, while using its frontal guns to blow the ARC to oblivion.
Giving it a quick thought, she slowed down as much as possible, causing the OSG fighter to overshoot immediately let loose with the two cannons, blue lances streaking towards the OSG fighter. To her surprise, a golden shield appeared around it, protecting the behind from damage. But it didn't seem to be doing anything other than weaving to escape her. Then, as a the silver blue hull of a OSG ship loomed in front of her, it's PD guns pointing at her, she realized what the fighter was doing.
She turned as fast as possible, and put full thrust She could feel vibrations as Kinetic rounds coated in plasma dotted her hull, her head snapped against the dahsboard, causing her to slowly lose consciousness. As she drearily looked up, she could vaguely process in horror as the OSG ship unloaded a salvo of missiles into a Medstar Frigate, no doubt killing all of the wounded onboard. Then she fell unconscious, and drifted into a troubling black.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Master Shaak Ti
As the turbolift's doors to the hangar opened, Shaak Ti and Rex got their first look at the carnage.
Rex was shocked at what had happened to the clones. "What the kriff happened here? More importantly, who did this?"
When Shaak Ti didn't answer, he looked to her and saw her frozen, looking straight at the heart of the carnage, at the perpetrator of the destruction.
The Figure from the Bridge.
The Supersoldier.
Rex, angry at the deaths of so many of his clones, reacted hastily. "you dare-"
To Shaak Ti's horror, he was cut off as the lines on the figure's arm rifle glowed briefly, before discharging three glowing orange rounds, which slammed into Rex's abdomen. The first punctured the armour, and the second and third vaporized him.
"If you don't want to end up like him, I advise you surrender and drop the lightsaber I know you have.
Shaak Ti smiled inwardly. The soldier was unaware of her abilities.
"OK. Just don't shoot."
With that, she pulled out her lightsaber and rolled it on the floor. Then, just as John tilted to pick it up, she acted.
She Force-pushed him back, although it took some considerable effort to do so, and then retrieved her lightsaber, and activated it.
"I don't think you're ready for us. You cannot stand in the face of the Force, soldier."
The soldier got to his feet, and pulled from it's back a strange hilt, and activated the strangest lightsaber she had ever seen. It had two, thin blades of blue plasma, from which a strange gas emanated, curling around the blades. He raised it, and spoke.
"Quite the contrary. We are immune to the more severe effects to the Force, and I have been ready for quite a while against your cult."
And with that, he lunged forward, ready to face his new enemy.
In previous experiences, she had always had time to react, and gain the upper hand, always had those few precious seconds.
This time she was lucky to have even one second to react.
Almost too fast for her to track, he lept straight for her, supposedly trying to slash her throat. A quick killer. But she had the Force. Using the techniques she had trained in since childhood, she barely managed to dodge the stab of her enemy's lightsaber. Even so, the heat warmed her face, almost blistering it.
She backflipped backwards behind a small group of charred chassis'. She could sense the Warrior slowly approaching, a void in the Force. Grinning to herself, she used the Force to lift a BARC speeder in the air, twirled it a little, and hurled it at the soldier. She fully expected him to be flattened, or at least injured.
That is, until the vehicle screeched to a halt in midair, and rose up.
In the hands of the warrior.
He had caught it, like a toy.
The sheer awe she now felt at this being soon dissapated when the being winded his arm back, and hurled the BARC speeder right back at her. She could only duck under as sparks screamed over her head.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
John 117
As much as he despised the Jedi, he did have to admire this one for her ingenuity and courage. She had lasted this long, which most enemies didn't. Plus, that 'Force' of theirs was a force to be reckoned with. He had already started planning on ways to combat it in the future. He immediately pressed his advantage as the xeno recovered from the throw, and lunged for her again with his Energy sword. She was able to parry his first few strikes, but he knew that she knew that she was on the defensive. Then, just as he thrust forward, hoping to stab her, she purposefully lodged her blade between his two, and twisted, knocking the Energy Sword from his grip. She then Force-pushed him onto the ground and kept him their with the Force. He was trapped.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Master Shaak Ti
She stepped over to him, lightsaber drawn. "You were a valiant opponent soldier. You approach the Sith Lords in power, the few people that we fear. Now prepare to meet your demise." As she stepped over and raised her lightsaber for the final blow.
And then it happened.
First of all, John activated the hardlight shielding, which temporarily unbalanced Shaak Ti, causing her to lose focus and lower her Force bindings on the Spartan. Then, as she regained balance and swung her lightsaber down, she found it stopped cold by a translucent blade of orange light. Just as she realized what had happened, the soldier kicked her.
She knew instantly that it was mortal. The kick shattered her ribs, and punctured several organs. She slid back several meters, and lay at the front of the Turbolift doors.
Out of her blurry eyes, she saw the soldier walk up to her, his own lightsaber drawn, the two blades crackling with energy.
"While the Sith Lords may be one of the few that you fear, there is a new group for you to add to that list. The Spartans. Rest in Peace, Warrior."
And in that moment, she saw no ego, pride, or anger in the soldier. She saw cool, hard, ruthless efficiency, but at the same time, respect and loyalty. A warrior beyond measure. Then John plunged the Energy Sword into her skull, and she ceased to be.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
John 117
As the light in the Jedi's eyes died out, John grudgingly took her weapon. He no longer felt just distaste for the Order anymore. He felt genuine respect for their courage. He took her lightsaber for future study, and walked over to the terminal.
"You done, Cortana? We still have a mission."
After about 3 seconds, Cortana's avatar popped up.
"Done. All files concerning the Republic, the war, military strongholds, fleet positions, capital cities. Everything. Their security could have been taken out by a caveman with a rock."
"Good for you. Anything that helps with this mission in particular?" he inquired, looking at the turbolift doors like he expected someone to pop out of them.
Cortana held up a digital finger, and waited. Then, the hum of the engines seemed to die down.
"What did you do?"
Shut down all engines, and comms. Turbolift is still operational, so you can finish it off."
"Then let's get going." said John, holding his hand above the terminal, downloading Cortana again. He stepped into the turbolift, and it accelerated upwards, to the bridge.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
UNSC Daedalus Class Warship - Temperament
Admiral Thomas Lasky
While Master Chief was fighting on the flagship, Lasky and Roland coordinated the actual battle in space. The OSG fleet was down to 43 ships, including the Temperament. The Republic Fleet was down to around 78, thanks to a tactic that one of the Sangheili commanders had pulled off. THe commander had taken several ships and slingshotted himself and several other ships around the moon to the backside of the Republic Fleet. The magnetic fields had prevented detection, and once the small group had launched their nukes, they had transitioned into Slipspace. Republic losses continued to climb, but both Roland and Lasky knew that it came at a large price. 38 ships of various classes had been destroyed in the furious fighting, but when they saw the enemy flagship from out of formation, with its engines dark, they knew that MC and Cortana had been successful in their mission.
"Sir! Enemy seems to be reorganizing what few ships they have left!" called out Roland, who was commanding the fighter squads on the Temperament.
"React as you see fit. Make sure no one aims for the flagship. I don't want Chief going dying when his ship got hit by a energy projector.
He watched as fighters danced through the black, streams of blue/orange projectiles cut by blue lances from the Republic fighters. While they were outnumbered, but they had better fighters. He sighed and continued to lead the dance of death that was playing around him, thousands ready to die for their faction.
All of a sudden, the Republic fleet regained their coordination, and he immediately knew that someone had supplemented command. He traced the ships until he located an Acclamator in the center of the fleet. It was the one coordinating the rest of the enemy.
Lasky grinned. "Roland, see that Acclamator?
Roland's avatar turned from whatever he had been doing.
He looked at where Lasky was pointing. "Yeah I see it. Looks like its in charge now."
"Exactly. We need someone to negotiate surrender. Disable that ship."
"Yes Sir."
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Acclamator - Class Warship - Revolution
Captain Lyett
Lyett was a veteran captain of the Clone Wars. He had fought the CIS across many a star system, routing them as he went. He despised the OSG for their actions, and wanted nothing more than their destruction. When Yularen's ship had gone dark, he had followed protocol and assumed command of the fleet. Sadly, they no longer had thenumbers advantage, and they were outgunned. As his fleet regrouped, the remaining OSG fleets encircled them, main guns pointing right at them.
How do I get us out of this. I can't surrender. I don't want to die. What to do?
He then decided that a 'tactical retreat' was the best course of action.
"Navigations! Plot a course away from here. We need to warn the Republic!
"But sir, the engine still needs to be repaired, after that shot we took!"
"Do it NOW!"
"But-"
Lyett crossed the bridge and grabbed the officer by the neck, shocking everyone on the bridge into silence. "You will plot that jump now, or else we will all die."
The officer cowered under the Captain's glare. "Y - Yes sir."
Still glaring, the Captain crossed back to the window. He heard the nav officer shakily calling out the timer till the jump commenced.
5...
4...
3...
2...
Just before they jumped though, a brilliant white light enveloped the ship, electricity crackling throughout their instruments.
"Report!"
"Sir, it seems like they hit us with an EMP. Non-nuclear, if I had to guess. We're open for attack." said the officer glumly as he slumped back into his seat.
"Sir, all we have left are comms and engines.
Lyett considered his options when the comms officer called out. "Sir, the Enemy Flagship is hailing us! Orders?"
He sighed. A surrender request, to be sure. "Put it on." He said, with an air of defeat.
The screen lit up with a view of the OSG flagship. To Lyett's surprise, while the ship was larger, the bridge was more compact and had numerous holographic displays filling the room. There were far fewer officers, but unlike the hopeless and helpless crew of the Revolution, this crew was of clear, cool efficiency. The young Admiral in the room then spoke up.
"I think you already know what this is about, but I'll say it anyways. Surrender, power down all weapons, and move into the planet's atmosphere. Do NOT attempt anything, unless you want to end up as a cloud of atoms."
Lyett's mind raced. Moving into the planet's atmosphere would make it near impossible to execute a hyperspace jump. He still wanted revenge against the OSG for their crimes. What to do?
Then it struck him. The OSG colony planetside. They would serve for the revenge part. And he had learned that hyperspace jumps were possible in-atmo, but could only be done once, because friction with the atmosphere would damage the ship beyond a second jump. With the plan formulated in his head, he looked up witha mask of sadness and surrender.
"We accept your offer. Just so you know, our engine is damaged, so it will give off some radiation spikes."
The OSG Admiral looked relieved. "Acknowledged."
With that the ships moved into the planets atmo. Once the feed was cut, Lyett turned to the Weapons Officer. "I want you to fire at a target for me. Nav Officer, prepare for a jump to Alderaan. That's the closest system."
"Sir, whats my target?"
The Wep Officer's eyes widened as Lyett pointed to the target.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
Jedi Knight Aayla Secura (Just as Shaak Ti dies)
Aayla woke up from her sleep in the medical bay, and saw Yularen standing over her.
She immediately noticed his forlorn expression. She knew that the battle was not going well.
"What happened?"
Yularen sighed. "The battle is going as well as planned. We lost almost all of our ships. So many fighters are gone. We haven't even been able to land any troops on the ground. Those orbital defense stations are a menace. Plus, an intruder is on board. Shaak Ti and Rex are dealing with him or her.
It was then that a hammer blow in the Force struck her. She had gotten up, but she keeled over again, much to Yularen's concern.
"What happened?!"
Aayla, still shaking her head from the blow, looked up. A sad, somewhat scared look had filled her face.
"Shaak Ti and Rex. They have been killed. That soldier killed them. He's coming.
Yularen's expression darkened.
"Get to the bridge. There are escape pods there. It's also the safest place. Let's go."
5 minutes later
Once Aayla had told the bridge about who was coming, the few clone guards had all lined up in the center of the room, and had pointed their guns at the door to the turbolift. An indicator showed that someone was coming up. Tension in the room was mounting, with several officers hiding in their pits.
Then the door opened.
And there was no one there.
Then, as the clones looked at eachother, one noticed a slight blur in the corner. But before he could do anything, a black grenade with orange lines coursing along it flew out and landed at one of the clones feet. They all knew what it was.
"GRENADE!"
But none of the clones were able to move fast enough to avoid being vaporized by the grenade. Aayla felt heat sweep over her head as she and Yularen ducked under console. When she looked up, the supersoldier was standing in the middle of the room, pointing an arm rifle at her and Yularen.
"As per the Prisoner of War Act, I hereby place you, Jedi Knight Aayla Secura, and Admiral Whullf Yularen under custody of the OSG Military.
Aayla was frightened, but tried to remained calm. "Get to the escape pod. I'll cover you, Yularen."
Then she replied to the Soldier's threat. "Are you sure?"
She used the Force to pull down a panel from the ceiling, which blocked the burst of light from the Spartan's rifle. Yularen leaped to the escape pod, and closed the hatches, and ejected.
The Spartan didn't seem very worried. "You realize that a Stealth Prowler is waiting to retrieve him, right? He won't even make it far before capture."
Aayla looked out the window at Yularen's life pod. "You're lying." she said as she watched the pod move farther. She was about to turn back, when to her shock, a ship seemingly materialized in space, with it's bay doors open. Two massive hooks shot out and captured the pod, dragging it back into the stealth ship.
John smirked inside of his suit. "I don't lie, Jedi. Now surrender or be terminated."
Aayla knew that she couldn't let the OSG capture her. So she instead grinned. "Not today.
She Force-pushed him, distracting him. As she dove into the escape pod, John, in desperation, hurled his Energy sword at her. Before she could put her left leg into the pod, the blade lopped off her lower leg.
As she dove into the pod and ejected, she didn't even try to stop the pain. She screamed as she crawled to the bacta pad and slapped it onto the stump that was once her lower leg.
The Unggoy on the Prowler watched angrily as her pod disappeared into Hyperspace, while they were securing Yularen's life pod.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
Republic Venator - Class Star Destroyer - Unstoppable
John 117/Cortana
John banged his gauntleted fist onto a terminal. "Dammit! I let her get away!"
"Oh don't worry Chief. If she doesn't die, then all she can do is warn them. There isn't much of a problem. Plus you still finished the mission." reminded Cortana as Chief walked back to the turbolift to get to the hangar for extraction.
John sighed. "You're right, and I guess it was good to strike a bit of fear into the hearts of those Jedi.
Cortana laughed a little. "Quite true John. Quite true."
Edwin II System, OSG Space
UNSC Daedalus Class Warship - Temperament
Admiral Thomas Lasky
As the remaining Republic ships moved into position in the atmosphere of the planet, Lasky couldn't help but feel a foreboding current ripple through him. He was suspicious of the Republic Admiral who had just surrendered like that. He was planning something, and Lasky didn't like it. As the ships lumbered to their positions, he saw that the now-flagship was shielded by another ship.
As he watched, Roland urgently materialized behind him and almost yelled.
"Sir, MASSIVE ENERGY SPIKES EMANATING FROM THAT FLAGSHIP! THEY'RE GONNA FIRE!"
"Where!? What is the target!?"
But it was too late. As they watched, the flagship unloaded a salvo of blue bolts onto the surface of the planet. Towards the colony. 400,000 people.
They could only watch helplessly as small explosions dotted the planet, thousands of tons of power hitting the colony.
The crew on the Temperament were speechless. Not since the Covenant War had orbital bombardment been used, except on planet's with large Flood populations. Now, they had faced a cowardly commander who had done the same out of revenge.
"Lasky? What should we do?" asked Roland, shock and rage simmering beneath his calm tone.
Lasky's face was a mask of sheer anger. "Burn them all. No survivors."
Multiple suns dotted the atmosphere as the 33 remaining OSG ships shot down all of the Repulic ships, except for 4, which had jumped to hyperspace along with the flagship.
Edwin II System, OSG Space
OSG Joint - Species Void - Class Prowler
John 117/Cortana
John and Cortana had seen the bombardment. John especially, after seeing 30 years of war against genocidal enemies, was angry.
"Don't think this war will differ much in our enemy's attitude." said John as the Prowler flew to the Temperament.
The Sangheili sitting across from them nodded. "Right you are, Demon, but these enemies are without honour. Not that the Old Covenant was."
Edwin II System, OSG Space
UNSC Daedalus Class Warship - Temperament
Admiral Thomas Lasky
"Roland... prepare for Slipspace jump. We need to report back to reach about this."
"Aye Aye Sir."
And with that, 33 silver portals opened, and the OSG fleet moved into the howling black, but to return this time.
Author's Note #5 - Yeah...
Hey there. Sorry 'bout the late chapter. School work and such slowed me. The next chappie will be about reactions to the battle, and will be somewhat shorter. Hope you like it, and this one, and thanks so much for all of the reviews. They really help. Look forward to other universes making appearances. This is PVonTuckIII, happy reading!