Chapter 7
Erk and Jayko, landed near their base on Coruscant, started going over Erk's plan to take back Kamino. Jayko had a hologram map of the base on Kamino popped up to show the detail. "Summing up the plan, you sneak your ship into the atmosphere, hoping to... no... hoping not to attract attention from any Republic ships; you get to the base, by force if you attract attention; then from the inside, you clean the base from any Republic messes."
"Seems simple enough. What's the worry about having to deal with Republic cruisers?" Erk wondered.
"I've studied the mechanics for the cruisers that are currently guarding Kamino; the main differences, which are all the differences, are that the ships are a lot faster, and have much more powerful firepower. I've envisioned only a small chance that you'll make it by, barely alive; that is, if you don't sneak in."
"I'm sneaking in how?"
"That's quite the question, isn't it?" Jayko replied blankly, stepping over to a device covered in a large cloth. Jayko then yanked the cloth off, revealing a somewhat new piece of technology. "With this." The machine was completely round. The spherical object was covered with metal, and looked as if the metal was splashed onto it. It was sat on a mechanical plate, which helped activate it, and made the inside glow blue.
(See chapter on Archive of Our Own to see the picture to be seen here.)
"Am I supposed to know what that is?"
"Oh that's right. You're a little outdated."
"I'm not. Get to the part where things start making sense."
"This is a cloaking device. They were around during the Clone Wars, but not used very much; research shows that one just like this was used a few times during the era of the original rebellion against the original Empire."
"Interesting. How was this recovered?"
"I found it aboard an old ship, crashed on Lothal."
"What ship?"
"Hard to say. It was buried underground, and I couldn't make out anything. I found this, though, inside and managed to find blueprints for it. That's how this came to be in my hands."
"Well what are you making me wait for?"
"I'm not holding you back. You just need to install it in your ship and get it going."
"Doesn't sound too hard."
"Master Jedi, how are preparations coming along?" Lieutenant Governor Calista inquired, announcing her and Ephraim's presence in the Jedis' hangar bay.
"Everything's coming along well, your honor." Rye answered, going through a checklist.
"What's left for preparations? I need to report the ongoings." Ephraim asked.
"Pretty much just repairs for the ships, including: new dual laser cannon emitter muzzles, laser cannon maintenance panels, engine cooling duct outlets, and laser cannon capacitors. Some need new power converters, and coolant gas hoses... Excuse me." Rye faced some workers in the hangar and shouted, "Everyone, can I have your attention?!" The workers stopped their work and acknowledged the Jedi. "I have just devised a list of supplies we need to prepare for the mission. Now I'll be handing out lists so we can get this done quicker." All the workers then came by and each took a datapad with the list of needed supplies and started their task.
"Excellent work. We might be on top of this in no time." Ephraim complemented.
"Don't get your hopes too high, Ephraim, we have a lot of parts needed. It may take time, and it'll take patience to accomplish our mission with pure success."
"You and your wise mouth." Ephraim complemented again, laughing.
"Well I come with news from the Senate. I don't have time to go over the details, so, to summarize: they want the attack ready by sunrise." Calista explained.
"Does... your husband know of any of this?"
"I'm afraid not. He's been on a rather long trip to Mon Cala to establish a treaty."
"Interesting. What for?"
"Recently, things have gotten a little personal among between them and the Republic. My husband has been doing his best to settle things there."
"What's the problem?"
"Apparently they've barely received any credit for all the work they've done for us."
"Why is that?"
"Even as Lieutenant Governor, that reason is beyond me."
"Well I certainly hope that gets resolved soon."
"Don't we all?"
"Hey, how's the team doing?" Ephraim asked curiously.
"I haven't received any status updates as of yet; Viran should report soon."
"Where are they, anyway?"
"Takodana. They're with an old friend of ours. As far as I know."
"Well thank you for the report, I am needed elsewhere." Calista said, exiting the room quickly.
Ephraim turned back to Rye, "You're really worried about them aren't you?"
"How can't I be?" Rye answered, keeping a low tone. "I tried communicating with them earlier, but the transmission was cut off somehow and I'm under the impression that they were under attack."
"Why would they be under attack? Takodana's been a peaceful planet for a long time."
"Maybe a decade ago, it was besieged by The First Order; I'm sure it hasn't been completely peaceful."
"Maybe you're right. I haven't been there in a long... Come to think of it, I haven't ever been there; I merely know of it."
"You should visit sometime, it's got some luxurious resorts now."
"If work wasn't in the way." Ephhraim sighed, then continued, "Well, I'll see you later."
"You too."
Viran had already landed and camouflaged his Republic fighter deep in the forest, in his search for his team. It was nighttime where he was, and he knew he couldn't search for them then, so he had to wait until morning to start. He pulled up a premium Republic hologram and contacted Rye.
"There you are! Do you have any news on the team's whereabouts?" Rye asked.
"I landed in the forest and just escaped it, only to find out that it's nighttime. The trees hide a shocking amount from your eyes. Anyway, I'm afraid that I'll have to delay the start until morning."
"Understood. I'll expect a report on your next-coming evening."
"Is it afternoon there?"
"Now, you need to get proper sleep."
"Alright, fine. 'Night chief." Viran saluted sarcastically. Rye grinned, rolled his eyes, then shut off his hologram. Viran lost his playful mood as he then looked off into the distance, and started looking around, then asked, "Where might you guys have gone?"
As the night came, Exar, Aang, and Jo had set up a camp with supplies Maz gave them (after their encounter with Anson). Three tents circled a campfire, and the trio sat around the fire. There was quiet for several moments, then Jo decided to speak his mind. "Aang, you made that casino, and the rules. Why do you make such a big deal about weapons? It's a casino for crying out loud."
"Exactly. Those of higher class who spend themselves there shouldn't have that many weapons for any reason." Aang replied swiftly, raising his voice at the last three words.
Exar and Jo traded suspicious gazes, then Exar turned to Aang and asked, "Did something, involving a 'weapon carrier', happen to you?"
Aang, realizing he wouldn't win a potential arguement, confessed, "It was before I met you guys. I decided to bring my family to visit my accomplishment, and it was a lovely time." An almost non-apparent tear traced Aang's eye and chin as the memories flooded his mind. "We had a blast there. We, well, just my parents, played some of the games, earned more credits than they lost-I-" Aang fumbled around a little bit. "It was the first time in a long time that we were all happy."
...
"Then what?"
"Then a terrorist." Exar and Jo's intrigued faces beckoned Aang to continue. "A terrorist invaded... and killed my mother."
Exar and Jo were at a loss for words for a moment, then Jo asked, "Then you established the weapon rule."
"Yes. Casinos are attractions for people of several kinds. Even criminals sometimes attended them; with what I filled mine with, I was sure to lure some in. And with how disrespectful many are today, I knew they would purposefully try to break the rule."
"So the whole point was to attract criminals to a fun-house they don't know is Republic bait?" Jo asked.
"Mostly."
An awkward silence passed for several minutes. Yawns were heard every few minutes, then-
"Alright enough! Long silence among us means 'goodnight'." Jo uttered.
"Fair enough. 'Night dudes." Exar replied.
"Goodnight." Aang added.
Calista was about to retire for the night in her quarters; the second she stepped into her room, her personal hologram began to beep and she got curious. She let the transmission go through, but saw nothing. "Who's there?"
"Calista, is that you?"
"Bolen! What is it?"
"I don't have time to talk! Something's... happened on Kamino. The faction that was sent to guard the station is under attack." The stranger (to you) informed.
"By whom?"
"A demon. I haven't seen the likes of it before. It fights like a sith, and moves like a poisonous mist."
"Strange description." Calista suspected who it might be, then started asking, "Did the 'mist' take a human form? If so, what did he-"
The transmission was interrupted.
"Bolen? Bolen can you hear me?"
Buzzing was all that was heard. Becoming anxious, Calista faced her head towards the ceiling ,with her eyes closed, and whispered, "The force is with him, the force is with him, the force is with him-" And so on.
Jayko returned to the dark room, hiding the body of his and Erk's boss. Stopping in the center, he kneeled. "The plan is back on track. We will make our move shortly. The attack will surely deplete their forces, and we will come out on top."
...
Silence.
...
"Master?"
"I sense a disturbance in the force, General Jayko."
"What is it?"
"Weeks ago, I peered into the future and saw an already-shortened Republic army by this point."
... "The wraith?"
"Yes. I believe it's at fault for changing the timeline. I looked into the future after another disruption, then saw yet another change."
"What change?"
"A successful attack."
"You mean we're going to win?"
"Only time will tell. Time, will tell."