"The Battle for Agamar"
It had been a full week since Kvetina had been escorted to her ship barely able to walk on her own and in constant, burning pain. Since then her wounds have finally sealed up and the Confederate Captain was longing to return to the heat of combat once again. Four days prior, when Sparks and Wire had returned from their assignment from General Kalani, a rumor among the droid ranks told of the battle coming close to an end but none knew how, when, or where. Regardless of whether it would be with metal heels and boots crunching through the snow or with a thick layer of armor plating separating both sides from the cold, unforgiving vacuum of space that surrounded them, the Confederacy of Independent Systems and their droid army would meet the slave defenders of the Republic head on in hopes of being free from the tyrannical rule of bribed politicians. By now three years had passed since the start of the Clone Wars and it was beginning to show, for whatever reason the more politicians on both sides that longed for peace, the more militarized their people became. Upon asking her droid superior about the situation, Kvetina was told confidently that a Separatist defeat was well under forty percent and with the increased efficiency of production and new droid types would only further decrease this number however, these thoughts were put to rest as the Republic forces on Agamar made more daring moves.
"Greetings Captain, I assume you are fit for service once again?" Asked the growling voice of the Super Tactical Droid, General Kalani. A holotable in front of him projected what looked to be a large gathering of Republic forces. A Bold strategy indeed as their numbers thinned with every minor battle and skirmish.
"At your command General," Responded the brunette who was stretching her arm as it had not had the freedom it had in a long while. "I will command forces to deal with them."
"On the contrary Captain, I shall command droid forces on the ground. I instead have a specific task needed to be carried out." Said the droid still analyzing the growing forces and moving droids to prepare for the attack. Sparks and Wire who looked at one another recalling their previous conversation with the General could almost tell what was coming next. "With the large gathering of Republic forces, I have no doubt that the Jedi will take part in this battle in order to increase their chance of success. I want them eliminated from the equation."
"Yes General?" She accepted with a tone of curiosity in her voice, "Are you wanting my droids and I to deal with them?"
"Negative, a different approach would speed up their demise and mitigate droid losses. You are to instead deploy via Droch along with your droids and a handful of B2-series Super Battle Droids." Ordered Kalani. Taken aback at her new assignment Kvetina could already feel the pain of a hard landing on her body but wasn't sure whether it would be wise to ask for another way down. "Upon greater inspection of your records, battle history, and analysis from your droids I calculate this small team will ensure the highest rate of success." As Kvetina acknowledged her new orders she felt a sense of deja-vu when Kalani called out to her again only this time the tall droid approached her with his red eyes staring down at her, "Do not disappoint me for the second time Captain, I have allowed you a chance to redeem yourself but do not mistake my intentions." Unable to say a word like last time, or even nod, Kvetina left the room with a 'Yes General' and headed to the flagship's hangar bay.
It would be at the vast and open hangar that Vultures and Hyenas zoomed past the droid crews without much care. Hundreds of battle droids were marching into transports while those moving crates and supplies around worked tirelessly to fully equip the troops and vessels for deployment. Back to the trio, Wire commented on how efficient things were moving along while Sparks only admired the vast array of firepower available, behind them were a dozen B2s following along to the Droch bays where the sand colored, claw-like vessels were ready to be loaded into deployment tubes that would shoot them out into space. First were the commando droids and their owner, followed the dozen Supers. Although unable to come along but accompanied his leader, B1-268, as was his name and serial number when not under Kvetina's command, poked his head in by the entrance. "I wish you luck Captain!" The optimistic droid said cheerily, "I advise you to hold on to something as the initial ejection into space is just as impactful as landing!"
"What?" Kvetina asked with worry, looking for Evens but before able to get clarification the Droch's doors sealed and hissed shut and the Captain could feel the ship being put into its place. She expected impacting the ground to hurt of course as comes natural with any kind of vessel or pod landing without much to smooth the descent but never had she experienced it first hand; except that one time where the ship carrying her and few other militia officers crashed back home. Nasty bruises and scratches that one.
From her forearm on the commlink, the rough voice of the General came through with a little static, "Captain, I will inform you of the on goings on the surface. So far first contact with Republic forces has been made." Said the droid, "Unfortunately the Jedi leadership is split apart, only one target can be terminated. From scout and scanner reports it would appear one is at the front of the battle while another is at the back with the heavy artillery." As expected the Republic is willing to throw everything they have in this battle but as to 'why' was unknown. Kvetina could only imagine what it must have been like on the frontlines with such a chaotic battle, while having served in a large battle twice during her service one of this colossal scale was completely foreign to her. "The aft leading Jedi and the heavy emplacements have been designated as priority-one targets, you are to locate and eliminate these threats. We cannot allow the Republic forces to gain a foothold for further southern campaigns."
"Roger General." Confirmed the Captain. Moments of silence later the vessel's occupants were kicked around, Kvetina especially, by the g-force that propelled them out into Space. Inside a dim red light came to life serving as the only source of light within the craft that wasn't the white eyes of the commando and Super Battle Droids. Even while strapped down tightly the tingling feeling of weightlessness could be felt upon the only organic passenger aboard. It was difficult for her to explain as it was the very first time exposed to such a feature of space. Previously there had always been artificial gravity present in the ships she was on but this one had no such feature. During the long silence that was the Droch's navi-computer awaiting coordinates the engines kicked on once again. Without anyway to see where they were headed nor a view of the outside Kvetina only assumed that it was about to enter atmosphere soon to fulfill the ship's destiny as an insertion transport but as minutes passed she began felt a trickle of sweat while the air inside grew warmer. Were it not for the standardization of materials allowing a safe reentry into a planet she feared she would have been cooked alive from the heat but such fears were laid to rest as the cold, dry air of Agamar quickly wrapped around the ship. Along with the air cooling the temperature it had also started violently shaking the Droch as it approached the snowy surface below. Moments before impaling the snow-covered rock the silence that was the ship's interior felt quieter than before, as if there were no wind, no Republic troops, not even the hum of the engine nor droid motors. This noise soon returned though as the impact through the Captain forward and winded her while the once sealed hatch opened up and deployed the dozen B2s. Sparks and Wire, already unhooked, undid their master's safety harness with the latter of which gently putting a knee to Kvetina's back for an easier time to catch a breath. While the two commando droids went on ahead with a wave of their owner's hand, the woman flopped to the snow taking a deep breath of the cold air that lightly stung going from warm air to cold. Propping herself up and finally aware of her surroundings she found several bodies of clones, one unfortunate enough to be impaled but didn't survive, she almost felt bad for them. Almost. Aside from the lines of Republic troopers still marching forward to the front there weren't too many that turned to face off the Separatist task force. Those that did were made quick work of by the B2s and their wrist blasters and rockets while the droids' thick grey armor soaked up the blaster fire with ease. The deafening explosions of cannons were opposite side of their infantry counterparts with the handful of clones guarding them being cut down by Sparks's vibroblade or shot by Wire's E-5. Joining the fray, the Confederate Captain unsheathed her vibroblade and blaster pistol then started after her two droids. It didn't take long to dispatch them, after doing so Kvetina had ordered the two to man a cannon each before jumping in one of her own. The first targets were the AT-TEs that were in range but having never used such a weapon before the officer's attempts were filled with failures until finally managing to destroy one walker, out of the half a dozen or so that she could see through the light, but growing, snowstorm. Following her adrenaline and instinct after seeing a glint of blue light approaching, the Captain hastily jumped out of the gunner's seat just in time for a lightsaber to impale the console. Looking back the way they came she watched six of the dozen Super Battle Droids retreat from a squad of clones and, "A Jedi." She finished her thought aloud with venom through her teeth while anger welling up in her from the memories of home. It was the boy, though her mind told her he was innocent of the crimes against her people her heart, her vengeful, passionate heart called out for his death it still considered the young Jedi a member of the very same order that brought war and all its horror to her world. Once more the fires of revenge filled her and not even the ice beneath her boots could freeze it; let alone calm her. Unhooking the concussive grenade, she waited as he walked closer signaling for his clones to pick another target. Apparently this one had a personal grudge which suited the mid-rim raised Captain just fine. He appeared to have an official eyepatch instead of a makeshift bandage one she had expected but that did not matter to her. Arming the explosive and tossing it she expected her 'strategy' to work but instead, the Jedi apprentice grabbed the grenade with the force and forced it upon his squad which was subsequently disoriented by the blast which Kvetina found to be uncharacteristic of Jedi, realizing her mistake she quickly brought her weapon at the ready just in time to block the first strike from the blue bladed weapon. Both of the duelists met one attack after another moving back and forth trying to force the other on the defensive. Both were fueled with a vengeful rage for differing reasons but it was the same fire that kept them going at one another. It was unclear who had the upper hand, proper battlefield experience versus professional training. The two representatives of their respective factions that were at war locked blades, each struggling to find an opening until finally Kvetina was kicked to the snow with the Jedi overhead.
"An eye for an eye." He muttered with a raised lightsaber poised for a stab. Before being able to do so the body of Sparks stood in the way with a vibrosword to defend against the incoming attack. Unfortunately, the blue lightsaber cut right through the torso of the droid while Wire surprised the Jedi with a tackle to the ground as well before proceeding to combat him with his metal fists. Scrambling to her knees Kvetina held the intact portion of her beloved droid as his eyes flickered and head turned to face his master one last time.
"F-Farewell, Cap-C-Captain," Spark's vocabulator stuttered before the white lights in his eyes went out. She hadn't prepared herself for this. Not even in the slightest had she expected it either. Unable to say a word she felt no fire in her anymore as if it had all vanished from her with the single tear drop from her eye, but she still felt as if she could face the Jedi that was before her. After being thrown off, Wire backed away from the Jedi as he saw his Captain approach, the droid believed this battle would be fought by her alone.