"That's excellent news"
"Indeed it is"
Soon enough they knew it was time for the citadel mission and as soon as they received word of Master Piell's capture and started making plans to rescue him
"As you are aware the citadel is their most isolated and impenetrable facility, no one has ever escaped"
"There's a first time for everything"
"Indeed there is"
"Their security has prevented our probes from obtaining recent reconnaissance so we've been forced to construct a crude map based on data from the archives"
"And since the data is extremely old the map will be difficult to rely on"
"So we're essentially going in blind"
"Beg your pardon General, but how do we know Master Piell is still alive?"
"The Separatists won't dare kill Master Piell until they have what they need"
"They'll obtain the coordinates of a secret hyperspace lane known as the Nexus route, which travels into the heart of both the Republic and Separatist home worlds"
"They could prove vital in moving our forces deep into remote Separatist sectors"
"Or the enemy could use them to slip through our defenses and attack Coruscant"
"These hyperspace lanes are of immense interest to both our sides and could tip the scale of the war to whomever is in possession of them that is all"
They leave the briefing room
"Based on the archives schematics we've narrowed down the three possible locations they could be holding him at"
"My greatest concern is infiltrating their outer security the life form scanners will not be easy to fool"
"I've got a thought about that"
"Master, I'm sorry I'm late, I just heard about the briefing we're going to rescue Master Piell right?"
Everyone stops and Plo Koon is the one to speak up
"You two have much to discuss"
"Ashoka I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but you won't be coming along on this one"
"Not coming? But you're breaking into the citadel, no one's ever done it"
"The citadel wasn't designed to hold common criminals, it was created to hold Jedi if any of us lost our way, it's not a place for Padawans"
"You're just being protective again, that's not fair how am I supposed to learn if you won't let me share the risk"
"This isn't a mission for learning you either do or die and that's not a risk I'm willing to share"
In the hanger bay some of the clones were waiting for their Generals and overheard C3PO and R2D2 talk and one of them makes a comment
"We're trusting those droids to get us into the citadel?"
"It's the only way, we're flying right into the heart of Separatist territory droids won't be detected"
Anakin and Obi-wan go over to R2 having already discussed what Ashoka was going to be up to soon and including her in this time so that she knew they were already aware of her plans and approved, they just couldn't act like that in public
"R2 make sure they don't stray from the flight plan"
"It's all under control sir"
"I was talking to R2"
Ashoka heads over to Master Plo who was preparing his ship knowing she actually had the approval of her Master but knew better than to reveal it
"Master Plo may I speak with you?"
"What is it Little 'Soka?"
"It's about the mission, Master Skywalker doesn't want me to go"
"That is his choice"
"I know but I think he's being overly protective, he's picking and choosing which assignments I can be apart of"
"He is your Master"
"Yes but it's not for him to decide when and how I should put my life in danger that should be my choice"
The group heads to the carbonite freezing station and Rex speaks up
"I've never been carbon frozen before General"
"It's the first time for us too"
"This is your idea? Carbon freezing?"
"Hey you wanted to shield us from the life form scanners"
"Are uh, we sure this thing is safe? I don't wanna end up a wall decoration"
"Try to relax we'll be unfrozen as soon as we arrive"
With that all of them were frozen in carbonite and were on their way to the citadel. Eventually the ship lands and the group is unfrozen and that's when the group got their "surprise" which Anakin announced
"Hey Snips"
"Hey Master"
That's when it supposedly clicks in Anakin's mind what he just said, though he already knew she was coming, as did Obi-wan but they couldn't reveal that to the Clones
"I must have carbon sickness because I could swear that's Ashoka" (mental) *looks like she successfully followed through with our plans*
"You're eyes are fine, it's Ashoka's hearing that needs help" (mental) *Indeed she did, good work Ashoka*
"I received orders to join the team, I thought you knew" (mental) *thanks Master, but why are we doing things like before for now?*
"Orders from who?" (mental) *because the Clones don't remember this and were told you weren't supposed to be here*
"I discussed it with Master Plo" (mental) *makes sense then*
"He didn't tell me"
"You were already in carbonite"
"Well I gave you a specific order not to come"
"If there's one thing I've learned from you Master it's that following direct orders isn't always the best way to solve a problem"
"I see that Anakin's new teaching method is to do as I say not as I do, welcome aboard"
They ultimately have to free climb again to get in and then things mostly go the same, until the escape where they actually manage to save both Master Piell and Echo, though to hide that success because there had been an explosion Echo and Piell were hidden away from everyone else and as soon as the shuttle was empty put into carbonite freezing again and taken to Tython as one of the few clone protectors, clones were either being sent to Ossus or Tython depending on not only how close they were to their Jedi Generals but also where they would be the most use, so far there were fifty clones at each location. Obi-wan and Anakin decided to remove Fives sooner and send him to Tython as well because Echo and Fives were the last of their squad and deserved to be together, but they also knew they needed Fives a bit longer before they revealed the surprise. As for Piell his survival couldn't be known either and as such only the Jedi Council and the two Jedi on the mission knew about his survival
"So next is Ashoka getting abducted and her meeting Chewbacca"
"Yeah, didn't you meet him once right before I killed you as Vader?"
"Yes, along with Han Solo"
"You know, I think we're going to need him but I also get the feeling we have to wait until you met him originally"
"Same here, the problem is the fact that he's on Tattooine at the time and we don't plan on being there when he is this time around"
"We'll see how the future plays out, there might actually be a reason we're on Tattooine and meet up with him then"
"Okay then"
The thing with Ashoka went as before as they expected, but this time they also managed to get more intel through Ashoka's observation of the planet she had been dropped off on for sport hunting. A few days later she asked a valid question in her mind the past few days spent debriefing the Jedi Council and also catching up on sleep and getting regular check ups as she got back to her regular meal schedule
"What now Master?"
"Now we go to the Senate because Senator Organa has specifically requested us"
"What about his security chief?"
"John woke up and went back to light duty while we were at the citadel, you weren't told because we had to do the missions back to back"
"Master I felt something through the bond I have with Master Jinn, did something happen to him?"
"Yes, he was actually on the front lines and got hurt pretty badly, but the Healers say he'll be okay within a few months, the worst of it is actually the fact that he broke both his legs and his right arm and unfortunately a Healing Trance won't help this time so for his left leg which is the worst off he'll be having surgery in a few days"
"Isn't he mainly assigned to protect Senator Organa?"
"Yes, but there have been times when Bail himself has told Qui-Gon to be in the front lines, Bail isn't Force sensitive but he also knows that Qui-Gon is needed and he also makes sure that's confirmed with the Jedi Council before he ever actually sends Qui-Gon away from his side"
"Oh okay Master"
The two head to the Senate building and head to Bail's office and were surprised to see another security officer instead of John