LJ-115
John clutched the rail above him, clinging to it desperately as the deck below him heaved and pivoted. He was in a Republic gun ship over the fields outside the planet's Capitol. They were engaged with the enemy attempting to recapture the City that housed most of the planet's Government, and neutralize the threat.
He gazed out of the open door wearily, over the battlefield as he watched the vehicles and speeders descend on their targets. Watching the infantry gather in their groups and then move out to objectives over a small ridge.
He observed as seven heavy assault speeders soared over the plains. Their mission was to provide close air support to the infantry and the ground forces. He watched as two of them broke off from the group and dove for the deck. They opened fire. From this angle John could not make out the laser beams, he saw the mini explosions decimating the interior lines of the enemy infantry, which appeared to John as small specks. Then hundreds of small energy dots shot forth from the swivel mounts on the swooped wings of the speeder, picking off any of the survivors.
John looked down towards the ground at a humming noise. A column of seven Republic hover tanks appeared in an impression, a tightly compacted path leading up to the rest of the plains.
When the first tank crested the hill its turret swiveled around and its gun shrieked to life. Firing Red bolts of high energy off into the distance.
The gun ship then turned slightly, swooping over the battlefield, pointing the door at the main battle. Red and blue laser shots crisscrossed in the air at a rapid rate against red, green, yellow, and orange shots, mowing the other force down with deadly ferocity.
The ship rocked suddenly causing John to grasp onto the rail with renewed vigor as he could swear his feet left the deck and nearly spilled dangerously over the side.
"Hang on!" The pilot said from the cockpit as he adjusted the course radically, along with the two gun ships that were also in formation.
"You alright?" Galen asked his son, worry etched on his face.
"I am fine father." John smiled uneasily, Galen shot his son a bemused look.
The gun ship settled down as they were getting close to their landing point. The three gun ships noisily roared over head, attracted the notice of all those below.
One of the gun ships exploded in a fireball, the shockwave slammed into John's gun ship as it rocked violently, John felt he might vomit again, thankfully he skipped the three day old rations this morning, which made him extremely hungry.
Once again the gun ship went through a series of maneuvers to try and shake off lock, just as the ship on the right exploded.
"That's not good." Master Windsword commented needlessly.
"We had to expect some casualties on this mission." Death grimly reminded.
"I know." Windsword snapped.
"Five minutes to the landing zone." The chief of the ship shouted in warning, over the noise of the engines, the group of soldiers and Jedi began to check their equipment.
In a slight outcropping a group of enemy soldiers crawled on their bellies sneaking to the edge. As they looked out over the jutting rim and they saw the gun ship in the distance hover slowly to its destination. They were away from the battle, their target would not suspect a thing. They held their weapons to their bodies as they began to assemble the anti air missiles.
The leader nodded, satisfied that they were ready, then mouthed his instructions. "Target that Republic craft over there. Wait for my signal, three rockets to over come their shields."
His men nodded.
The gun ship that John and the others were in lowered altitude quickly, they strafed a position. The gun ship was armed with four multi barreled repeating blasters. The weapons could fire thousands of high yield shots a minute wreaking complete and total devastation on any target that it lit upon. They had rockets for heavier targets as well.
They slid over an enemy infantry formation, all four of them opened fire at the same time. Two of them were mounted in ball turrets on the sides of the ships, and the other two were mounted in complicated seat like contraptions on either side of the troop bay. Within seconds the enemy platoon was decimated, every target either dead or wounded.
But this brought them in the range of the rocket team, who watched helplessly as their comrades fell. But they would be avenged.
Their commander nodded and the three rocket men all depressed their activation buttons, sending three rockets on their way to the target.
Something caught in John's periphery, and he swiveled his head around to gaze at the three blinding points of light closing the distance rapidly approaching them.
"Incoming!" He yelped panicked.
All the crew in the ship came out of their bored stupor and looked around, the guy manning the starboard side cannon swiveled his weapon around and opened fire, but the rocket was faster than he was. He adjusted and the bolts of energy slammed into the casing of one of the rockets, going straight through, and then ripping the rocket to shreds.
He tried to adjust onto the next two incomings, but it was already far too late.
They slammed into the Republic gun ship seconds apart from one another, the weak deflector shield held against the first one, but the second one following so closely behind the first collapsed the shield. The explosion continued right on through the engine casing, destroying both engines.
The gun ship plummeted from the sky. Rolling over. The gunner on the port side was able to separate himself from the falling box like vehicle, bailing out.
The vessel crashed, knocking the crew around, but they got out quickly, one of them pulling out the wounded starboard side gunner as he left. They all knew they were in a precarious position.
The rest of the squad on the hill popped up on the edge and aimed down on the group intending to massacre them, what they got in return dismayed them.
The Jedi reacted to the threat instantly. Bronze, Green, Purple and Blue beams of light sprang to life instantly. Their four owners held their weapons in defensive postures as the enemy opened fire, hoping to overwhelm the group of Jedi.
That did not work. The Jedi all stepped up, in a single moment, even John Zaun, as they all deflected the shots and moved in. The strongest defender, Galen, advanced and took the brunt of the assault.
John was shocked at just how well he was doing. His arms were pumping furiously in parries and twists, pushing and shoving off all the bolts of light that came his way. In a dizzying display, hardly realizing at what he was doing, making out the bolts just as his Lightsaber came in to deflect them away from his body. It was probably a good thing that he was not taking too much pressure.
One of the Republic troopers peeked his head around one of the Jedi's legs and opened fire. He used his heavy weapon and mowed the group down, as his comrades joined in, pouring fire on the enemy position, causing them to spill off the outcropping.
The small force regrouped, and headed out towards one of their bases.
John wiped the heavy sweat off of his brow, with his Lightsaber hand, without turning it off. He flinched back and his hand swung around violently as the shaft of energy nearly blinded him. Blushing under the accusing gaze of his father and his mentor, he snapped the blade off.
Then he ran off to join the rest of the force.
Republic Supply and Command Base
The Jedi and the Republic troopers all came around a bend in the road. They had been traveling through nearly an hour behind their own lines trying to get to the front.
They had made it to their rally point, which was under severe attack.
All around them bolts of energy blazed in every direction.
Four Lightsabers hummed to life and the clicking sounds of rifles coming to shoulders acquiring targets made themselves heard as the newly arrived group prepared to deal with the threat.
John looked out over the plains and the dirt. The old military base, used by the locals before it was gutted by the enemy, was built directly into the side of a mountain. Huge Metal columns denoted the entrance to the facility. It was used for training and to have upkeep with supplies.
John looked at the few bolts of energy that were being flung at them. They were under a probing attack, the enemy was just testing their defenses before hitting them hard. In the distance John could faintly make out shapes of assault drones making their way into attack positions, preparing to strike.
John's eyes widened as a surge of red energy flew at him, he ducked just as it was going to hit him. The beam scorched his cheek as the heat raked on through him just as he flung himself into the dirt and the dust.
He got up on the knees and touched his cheek, it stung slightly. John looked around as Master Windsword swept his Lightsaber in wide arcs, picking the shots out of the air and deflecting some of them back towards the shooters.
John got up and picked up his own Lightsaber. The firestorm was increasing as it looked as though the enemy was starting their main thrusts.
Startled cries could be heard from the Sergeants who transferred them into harsh orders as the Troopers got ready to hold the line no matter the cost. If they were defeated here the entire flank could be turned.
John rushed forward swinging and twirling his Lightsaber around, spinning it in front of him picking out an ever increasing volume of shots that were breaching the perimeter, and hitting the make shift tents that were set up by the defenders.
His legs pumped as he ran diagonally through the area, but not so fast as to over run his protection from the Lightsaber. He was just a bit scared as the energy hummed over his head.
He swung his Lightsaber down hard, hacking at a passing bolt accompanied with a yell batting it away.
He paused for a second, looking around at where he had run.
He was in the center of the storm, and he had to react quickly to all incoming.
A veritable firestorm was unfolding before him. A blinding array of crisscrossing darts appeared in his line of sight, as the enemy attacked from multiple sides, firing wildly as they pressed their advantage. The bolts picking up an extreme amount of dirt, made it difficult for him to see as they whizzed around him.
A single Republic Trooper was manning a heavy repeating blaster gun turret. Blast shields tried to give him some protection.
John felt terror radiating off the Trooper through the Force as he desperately tried to hold the breach. The gun was positively leaping in his hand as he fired and fired and fired. Spraying a torrent of blue energy at the enemy as a swarm of shots tried to silence him.
John followed the gunner's line of sight at and saw men falling down, screaming, hearing the sounds of exploding and sparking droids.
John swept his Lightsaber up down and then up in the diagonal swatting two green globes of energy out of the sky.
Finally the gunner fell down dead in the dirt, two holes burned into his chest, his helmet blown aside to reveal a face that was not much older than John himself.
John paused and looked at the handsome, now lifeless features of the man, a coldness shook him as he shivered.
A yell of triumph went up amongst the enemy formation as they charged. John knew that someone had to get over there, and he was the closest to the target. He clenched his humming saber in his hand, squared his shoulders, and lowered his body, he let the Force flow threw him. Unevenly because he was not quite good at this yet.
He jolted, and he ran, his legs pumping again. He looked to his right at the constantly advancing enemy, swinging his saber around wildly an in a blue blur as he picked off shot after shot after shot from the air.
But it was too much for him. He yelped as he fell in the dirt, tripping over the uneven ground. He held his hands over his head in protection as a full squad pinned him down.
Bolts whizzed and zipped by his head, landing and burying itself in the dirt all around him, even scorching his clothes.
He heard a noise in front of him that made him peek out of his cover.
Someone had used the distraction to man the weapon. And it shrieked to life. He fired short controlled bursts at the enemy, shooting them down. The symbol of Omega emblazoned across his chest.
The shocked and pained screams of the enemy split the air over the din of the repeating blaster, as the rest of the troopers doubled their own efforts.
A sense of serene calm radiated over the new gunner, a sense of determination that came from years of experience and he knew that he was the only person to do this.
John was in awe of the spectacle before him. As the Republic Commando broke the backs of the enemy attack, as they fled the area, leaving their dead, wounded, and droids behind.
John shut his Lightsaber down and carefully placed it back on his belt. He looked around and then finally rejoined the other three of them, they were making their way over to the command bunker.
They entered it and John could not see a thing as the dimly lit interior stood in contrast to the blazing hot sun outside.
"Ah Master Windsword." They were greeted friendly by an unseen voice.
"Major." Windsword nodded in response. "Status?"
The Major stroked the stubble on his chin as he considered his answer. "Well we are advancing." He sighed. "We are facing stiff and heavy resistance all along the lines, seems we are facing a force much larger than originally estimated. Our main force in the center is at a stand still, but the Omega's and heavy support troops on the flanks are making quick progress and ensuring that we are not flanked by the enemy."
"I see, where is the heaviest concentration?" Master Windsword asked.
"Sector three, where our spear point currently is, the Tank Company ran into some heavy reinforcements going to break our advance but they were stopped cold. We still have some transport to deploy you and your men to that sector if you want."
"That will be necessary, thanks Major." Windsword nodded running out.
"You are welcome Master Jedi," the Major responded to Windsword's retreating form.
John sighed wearily, heaving his shoulders before going to join the Master. He was so weary and tired of this. His first taste of combat, of probably many more.
The Front Lines
The hover command carrier was floating over the even plains straight for battle.
The wind whipped through John's hair as they were maneuvering at 20 Kilometers an hour. The main gunner was staring down his sights nervously waiting to make an engagement.
John watched as the two sides moved towards each other. The Republic forces moved slow and considering, stopping to fire with their weapons. The enemy in a swarm, charged at them with a yell and artificially generated noises, only stopping to fire as they were in point blank range, or firing on the move.
John watched through squinted eyes as the crisscrossing energy flew between the two forces that were almost at point blank range. He squinted across the horizon as he saw other formations making their way to their positions. He patted his weapon, secure in the knowledge that with it he had a good chance of making it out alive.
"Hey, kid, its going to be OK." His father gave him a noogie.
John smiled back. "Thanks."
"OUT!" A yell from the driver interrupted them in their moment of father and son.
John sighed again as the sixty Omega, Republic, and four Jedi spilled over the side. He misjudged the fall as he hit the ground hard, causing his knees to buckle, he expertly rolled with the shock, using knowledge that he should not have had, relying on the Force or his built in instinct.
Once he made his way to his feet he turned on the blue rod from his Lightsaber and held in a defensive position, sparks and explosions were happening all around him. A trooper next to him took two hits in the chest, sparking, he sputtered and then fell to the ground dead.
John held his Lightsaber close to his body, only worrying about shots that were coming after him. Swinging in short precise chops, and juking and maneuvering on the ball of his feet, he weaved his way through the combat zone. He deflected one shot right back at the droid who had fired it.
He looked around for a moment as the action against him stopped. The gunner was firing furiously into the packed force charging against it, they were spilling and yelping as they hit the ground from being caught in the shots.
Troopers were covering themselves and sneaking out from behind fire to find targets to shoot, as they were being encircled.
And in the distance Master Windsword was leading a small group of soldiers into battle, pointing out targets with his Lightsaber and deflecting shots against himself.
A sense of dread filled the pit of John's stomach, and it was instantly justified. Two green shots flung into the chest of his Master, he hung there suspended for a second before falling into the dirt.
John cried out unintelligibly as he charged at the fallen form. He slashed his way through two drones leaving their sparking and smoking forms behind. He dodged and ducked between a swarm of bolts that tried to decapitate him.
He finally made it, turning off his Lightsaber and discarding it at his side, falling in the dirt next to the fallen Master of the Jedi.
"Master?" He gasped.
"John." The Master gurgled back at this Padawan. Then he winced as pain wracked his body. "I am sorry, you have made me proud. May the Force be with You. My young Padawan."
A distant expression crossed over his Master's face, as he stared at the sky with lifeless eyes.
John had to stifle a sob, only succeeding in stopping half of it. Despite the little time they had spent with one another John had come to respect and admire the strength, wisdom, and training of the greatest of Jedi. He did not know what to do, he felt loss. This was his first personal loss, he wondered if this is how his father had felt.
A whizzing bolt burned itself into the ground next to him, making a squirting sound as it impacted with the dirt.
A burning fire raced through his soul. He snapped, rage and pain boiled up in him, and then turned into a torrent. They could not have even given him one second to mourn his loss!
He used the Force to pick up his fallen Lightsaber and turned it on. He picked two bolts out of the air and sent them hurling back at the soliders who fired them, one fell. He then picked up the other one with his hands and pulled back, he used the Force causing the poor man to hurl through the air, and into his waiting blade.
A noise attracted his notice as he saw that a group of enemies were charging at him. He smiled confidently, cockily, more targets.
He charged at them in return, swinging his Saber radically, slicing it through the air. He could feel the Force racing through him, a feeling that he had never felt before. He was on fire, he was using his full energies.
He met with the first group, and with a flurry of slices, dices, cuts, and hacks they were left in the dirt in a blur.
He was running now on pure instinct.
And with sheer instinct he reacted to the enemies around him. He could only just register what he was doing as he slashed and hacked up the opposition. Deflecting all unseen shots as they made their way at him, back at unseen targets who yelped.
Faster and faster, harder and harder, lungs pumping and the energy of the Force flowing through him, he charged through the enemy lines.
All his enemies were brought down into the dust without him even seeing it, and despite him being driven by emotion, there was none at the slaughter he was visiting upon them.
He had no idea how long he had traveled, no idea how much ground he had covered, and no idea how much damage he had caused. All he knew was that he was a whirlwind of activity, destroying anything that opposed him.
But he stopped, a flash of blinding white light engulfed him. He felt the Force surround him as he was showered with the light.
He was then flying, the area looked familiar, the area just seemed to be where he was at, on LJ-15. But it was different. There was a bridge off in the distance, and two figures were crouching down low.
The ground rushed up to meet him, and then suddenly he found himself as one of the figures. Himself.
He looked down at the figure he was cradling in his arms. John recognized him, he seemed so familiar, but older than what he remembered.
"Father?" John asked quizzically.
Pain shot his way through his body as he stared up at his son. "John…do not…." He coughed. "Do not react with rage, with pain, with passion, no matter what. You are such a good boy…you have so much potential. But do not fight with rage. Only calmness and serenity, that is the key, unlock the Force and no opponent can stand before you." His eyes glazed over, he looked so content and happy, as he passed beyond.
"FATHER!" John screamed. Shocked, devastated, he had no idea where he was or how he got there.
He was blinded again by the light, and found himself standing there, frozen, back on the field in LJ-115. His mouth was agape, his eyes felt moist, he was looking around devastated, lost, having no idea how he got here. Holding his Lighsaber out to one side, limply, not even defending himself from any potential attack.
"READY!" Someone screamed off to his left. His head shot around to look at the disturbance, and 12 enemy soldiers bought their weapons to their shoulders and aimed down them at him.
He was stunned, but found himself unable to move, his mind still processing what was unfolding before him.
He was going to die.
But he heard another yell break through the air behind him and again turned.
And there he was, John's father.
"Attack, attack, defensive fire, covering fire, protect him!" Galen ordered as a full platoon of troopers came up out of the sun behind him.
Galen was contrasted perfectly against the back drop of the sun shining behind him, the rays of light arching over his shoulders. He was leaping wildly with excitement and desperation, waving his bronze Lightsaber in a circle over his head, rallying the troops and pointing out the target.
The group before John was shocked, confused, and very unmilitary. Finally some of them leveled their weapons at the new threat, while others stayed on John.
Galen stopped arching his weapon over his head and pointed it straight out at the enemy, bellowing "Fire!"
The Republic weapons came to life picking off the enemy forces.
Galen placed his Lightsaber by his shoulder and held it by his ear. "Charge." He growled.
The troops charged and covered the distance quickly, firing their weapons at any survivors at point blank range.
Sounds of victory broke out all around him. He looked around wildly as he saw Republic troopers dragging around surrendering enemies. Holding them at gun point.
Chants of victory broke out all over the field of battle.
He felt a tapping on his shoulder and shot around, bringing his Saber up to defend himself.
It was his father. He turned off his Lightsaber and placed it on his belt.
"Son, you ok?"
John smiled wanly. "No, but I will be."
"Come here." Galen ordered gently, John did and father and son embraced. John inclined his head burying it in the strong chest of his father as the battle thrashed itself out.
"Jedi, we have victory." A voice reminded them, hardly noticing in its glee that the battle was over.
"We know." Galen sighed, glad that the first major battle of their time was over… but getting the eerie feeling that it was not to be their last.
