Chapter XXV

Titus tails the TIE fighter into Thakwaa's atmosphere, he sways his fighter back and forth until he lines the enemy fighter in his targeting computer before opening fire. The TIE's single rear thruster explodes, causing it to free fall to Thakwaa's surface.

Three more fighters swoop in behind Titus's fighter and opens fire. Titus jerks the yolk to perform a barrel roll and dodge the fighters blasts. Once Titus levels out, he shuts off his engines and angles his bow up. The wind catches under the fighter wings and Titus is repelled towards the TIE's. The fighter flips backwards as the enemy fighters break formation to avoid colliding with the Jedi fighter.

As soon as Titus is behind the TIE's, he starts his engines again and opens fire on the enemy. He takes out two of them, the last one tries to move away, but Titus moves with him and destroys it in two shots.

Bellow, Titus can see the Imperial walkers moving towards the mountain ridge where the battle persists. The last two TIE bombers fly in the direction of the mountain, Titus knows he must take them out before they reach their drop point. He takes out one of the bombers when suddenly his fighter rocks from a hit in the rear.

His fighters screens flash red telling him the thrusters exhaust has been destroyed, and the thrusters are quickly overheating, it won't be long before they blow.

Titus checks his scanners and finds he is being pursued by a TIE interceptor. He knows he won't be able to do the same thing he did on those TIE's back there with his fighter in its condition.

Titus abruptly reduces his speed and waits until he is directly above the interceptor. He slams down on the yolk and sets his fighter down on top of the improved TIE. The fighters wings scratch against the TIE's wings and bend them out of shape. The TIE pilot doesn't realize it, but Titus's has made his fighter into a missile, with its target being the last bomber.

Titus uses all his strength to force the yolk down as he fights the interceptors vein effort to pull up. Titus sees the bomber and angles his course directly at it.

Titus maximizes his speed; over what the thrusters can handle. He is over the bomber, with one good shove on the yolk, he slams the interceptor into the bomber. There are two explosions, one being the bomber and the other Titus's engines.

It is inevitable, Titus's fighter is going to crash. The fighter lines the sky with thick smoke that traces his course. He spots an Imperial walker moving across the plains below, a perfect target.

Titus turns his fighter into a projectile as he glides straight for the walkers side. At the last minute, Titus pulls the emergency ejection lever and is thrown from the craft. He summons the Force to flip through the air and elegantly land on his feet in the walkers path. Titus rises up as his abandoned fighter smashes into the walker in a blaze of fire. The walkers hydraulics groan in agony before falling to the ground with a loud thud.

Titus Force leaps over the burning wreckage and stands before the three other AT-ATs, which have stopped in their tracks. He reaches for his side, pulls out his lightsaber, and unleashes its red blade. He holds in front of him, with the blades tip pointed towards the Empire as if taunting - or challenging - them.

Thrawn's lips tighten and his blue-black eyebrows furrow. "Quite an unexpected development, but nothing that cannot be handled." Thrawn says coolly towards the Grand Inquisitor.
The Grand Admiral reaches for the transports com button. He opens his mouth to speak but is instantly cut off by High Admiral Vince's frantic voice, "All batteries, open fire on the Jedi!"
Thrawn's teeth clench with his fist as he transmits back to Vince. "Vince! What do you think you are doing?" He demands.
"I will not be denied the satisfaction of this kill, you may hold the higher rank, Grand Admiral Thrawn, but these forces are still property of Tenth Army! To which, I command in this system!"
The walkers move into position and aim their cannons directly at Titus.

"Open fire!" Vince orders with a grin.

All walkers fire a single pair of blasts at Titus. Titus, Force leaps into the air as the ground explodes on the blasts impact. He lands perfectly back onto his feet before looking up at the walkers now standing still.
Titus replaces his lightsaber on his belt before rearing back, holds his hands out, and summons the full power of the Force. Lightening - surprisingly, the bolts are tinted a bright red - hurdles at each of the walkers from his fingertips. The walkers are illuminated on contact with red sparks as the lightnings current pulses through them.

The walkers circuitry is fried along with the drivers and crew inside. The voltage even overloads the comlinks receivers built in each of the troopers helmets, causing the deafening high pitch screeching in the Stormtroopers ears. The walkers groan as the knee joints give way and collapse beneath itself.
Every Imperial walker sent to destroy the Rebels, now lie as individual metal heaps in a near charred battlefield.

Vince slowly puts his macrobinoculars down and to his dread, he hears the monotone ring of transports comlink. He knows exactly who it is. He desperately tries to regain his composure as his shaken hand moves to the receiver button. He pushes it.
"Yes...Grand Admiral?"
The com is eerily silent for a moment, sending chills down Vince's spine.
"High Admiral Vince, do you know the role of sub-leveled officers?"
Vince swallows the lump of air in his throat, "To oversee military operations in the lower ranks, Sir."
"And to interpret orders given by their superiors, precisely."
A holoimage of Thrawn suddenly appears on the projector. Vince forces himself to stare into the Chiss cruel red eyes.
"You are aware then that all actions performed by the lower ranked officer is a reflection of their superiors? Is it not your duty to represent your superiors?"
Vince can feel his hand throbbing at his side, "Yes, it is my duty, Grand Admiral."
"How do you feel Fleet Admiral Screed will favor your actions today based on your blind arrogance?"
Vince tries to think fast, "This battle can still be won, Grand Admiral, I have the men to-"

Thrawn gestures for Vince to stop talking with the raise of his hand.
"This fight is lost." Thrawn coldly says, "There are more conventional ways of dealing with this apparent Jedi. However, without the support of the armor units, this has allowed a break in the formation which has given the Rebels an opportunity to escape."
Vince realizes the fatal error in his judgement, and that his rank - or his life - may be on the line. "And." he coughs, "Your report to..."
"The Emperor." Thrawn finishes, "Yes. I assure you, your actions will not go unnoticed, High Admiral Vince."

The hologram of Vince disappears as Thrawn turns to face the Inquisitors. A cunning smile creeps across the Grand Inquisitors rugged face.

"The Jedi is at your will, Grand Inquisitor." Thrawn motions out the viewport to Titus.
The Grand Inquisitor gleams, "With pleasure, Grand Admiral Thrawn."

"Their walkers are down!" Saw yells amongst the roaring applause of his partisans.
Saw looks to his right to find Ahsoka suddenly appearing beside him. Her face, strangely, showing very little emotion. Something in her eyes is very off, as if behind them hold caution and concern.
She looks to Saw, "Now is our chance to evacuate."
"Evacuate?!" Saw laughs, sounding astonished of Ahsoka, "Their heavy armor are destroyed. My men's morale is at its highest. We can win this battle and take back Thakwaa!"

Ahsoka takes Saws arm as he tries to walk away to rally his troops. "Saw, no. The mission was never to take Thakwaa. We may be able to win this battle, but with the little numbers we have now and Thrawn at the Empires command, it is certain, he will quickly be back for retaliation. If anything, we would have the planet for a day. Now is our opportunity to get off the planet with their troops withdrawn and armor down."
Saw turns around slowly, he knows his old friend is right.
"Very well. I can't say I support not ceasing the moment, but I know what we agreed to on Jedha. I will respect and follow through with your decision, Commander Tano. I will ready my ships for evacuation."
"Thank you, Saw."
Ahsoka turns and walks away as Saw activates his comlink. "Benthic? Do you copy?"
Benthic's voice comes through asking what Saw needs followed by an enthusiastic remark to the downed walkers.
"Get the ships primed and ready. We're doing a pickup at the mountains base."
Benthic utters his disbelief that they are not going to finish the Imperial forces.
"I can't believe it either, but not this mission my friend."
Benthic complies saying he will be ready for the evacuation in ten minutes. It is time to get off Thakwaa for good.