May 14th
20 BBY
3:00 pm UNSC time
Galactic Republic Acclamator-class star cruiser
Corusant
Nobody's POV:
Despite what many were expecting, not much happened in the Clone Wars after the Republic's last battle with the UNSC. Of course, there was the brief time when the CIS tried to capture Mon Calamari again, but nothing too dramatic.
Now, however, a secret mission issued by the Supreme Chancellor himself is being carried out, to learn more about how the UNSC became the military titan they are now. To ensure that this mission succeeds for once, Jedi Masters Yoda, Windu, Kenobi, Skywalker and his padawan will be leading Admiral Kendal Ozzel and an entire ship of clones.
The mission will take a long time, without a doubt, since they will be traversing UNSC territory. Not even the bravest of the Jedi dare go near anything relating to the Sangheili. After all the preparations had been made, the lone ship leaves Corusant. So, as a precaution, Admiral Tarkin and a lone Venator will be on standby to assist the Acclamator if things got serious.
"All technicians, prepare to activate the hyperdrives." Ozzel said to the clones on the bridge once the starship has safely left the city planet. The technicians jump on the order and within seconds, the Acclamator starts speeding up and the very stars around them start distorting as the ship enters hyperspace. The Jedi who are also standing on the bridge start to walk towards their various cabins.
"Master, what do you think we will find?" Ahsoka asks Anakin, a somewhat worried look on her face no matter how much she tries to hide it.
"I don't know, Snips. I don't know." Anakin responds as he continues walking. In truth, Anakin can't help but feel somewhat anxious for what they will discover, mostly because of the visions he's been having. In those visions, he witnessed himself and the rest of the Jedi fighting clones and marines. But something was wrong with them. They were wobbling around, letting out strange gurgling sounds and had 3 strange vines wrapped around their arms. From his talks with Kenobi and Windu, he's not the only one who had that particular vision.
All of the Jedi then return to their various cabins. After Anakin checks to make sure his lightsaber is still working in prime condition, he sits on the ground and starts meditating to clear his mind. The Force has not been kind to the Jedi lately, even Anakin. Even after hours of traveling in hyperspace, the young Jedi never received another vision from the Force.
Soon, the door opens and Obi-Wan walks inside. "Anakin. Your presence is required on the bridge. We are pulling out of hyperspace."
Anakin opens his eyes and stands up, facing his old Master and greatest friend. "Of course. Lead the way." With that, the 2 Jedi leave the cabins and return to the bridge, where the rest of the Jedi are also gathered. Before all of their eyes, the ship pulls out of hyperspace.
"Admiral, where are we?" Windu asks, watching the space outside warily, expecting an attack any second now.
"No idea, sir. We just don't have enough intel on our enemies to…" the Admiral starts, but a technician interrupts him.
"Sir! We are picking up numerous slipspace activity on our starboard side, about 500 klicks from our current position."
"To that sector, turn the ship. Want to see who we're up against, I do." Yoda said, leaning on his cane. The technicians nod, getting to work. Under the Jedi's and Admiral's feet, the ship starts turning to where they can see something strange yet terrifying. About 10 Strident-class warships are floating in the middle of space, and judging by the way they are turning to the Republic ship, the UNSC is also aware of their enemies' presence.
"Everyone, prepare to make the jump to hyperspace! We're getting out of here." Ozzel said. None of the clones needed to be told twice as they immediately get to work, hoping to survive. As the Stridents start raining fire on the Acclamator, causing the ship to rock and forth a little, it manages to jump into hyperspace.
"Something wasn't right about that." Anakin said thoughtfully once he's regained his balance.
"What do you mean, Master? We were ambushed by some UNSC ships." Ahsoka asks, a little confusion on her face.
"No, Anakin's right. Those weren't any normal warships; they were Stridents." Obi-Wan responds, staring at Ahsoka as she puts the pieces together.
"But that variety of ships are always used to defend planets or key facilities. What would they be doing out in the middle of nowhere?"
"We should investigate and soon. Admiral, where are we going?" Windu asks.
For some reason, the Admiral bristles and a look of realization strikes his face. "I…I never said."
"Well, then pull us out!" Windu barks, looking really anxious about the result of this mess up.
"Yes, General." The Admiral said, but the technicians also heard the order and are already making the preparations. Suddenly, the ship starts shaking heavily.
"What now? How are the UNSC still attacking us?" Anakin demands, caught off-guard by the sudden shaking.
"Sirs, this is not an attack. We're closing in on a gravitational pull." A clone responds as he continues his work. After several tense seconds, the Acclamator pulls out of hyperspace.
"What…is that?" A clone asks, complete awe in his voice.
Before their very eyes is a strange sight indeed. It's a giant silver ring, about 10,000 kilometers in diameter, floating in space around another planet, with the inside of the ring brimming with entire bodies of water and forests that look like they can sustain life. Floating in the center of the ring are numerous stations and facilities. "Seen anything like it before, I have not." Yoda admits, still staring at it with a look of curiosity and wonder.
"Well, whatever it is, we need to check it out. I sense that the knowledge we seek is there." Windu answers.
But before the ship can start flying to the giant ring, they notice them. Ten Swords of Sanghelios warships and battle cruisers are floating on the inside of the ring, towards the Acclamator. "Generals! My monitors are picking up even more slipspace activity!"
It is with dread filling the hearts of every Republican that they see the same 10 UNSC Stridents they encountered before appearing on their starboard side again, but closer this time. "Those ships were being sent here." Obi-Wan murmurs, revelation on his face. "Whatever that ring is, they don't want us there."
"Then it's more important to their fight than we think." Ahsoka suggests, "Maybe they have ship yards down there, or weapons that would help us."
Just then, numerous alarms go off. "Sirs! The UNSC are firing at us while the Sangheili ships are fast approaching."
"They want to board us. To make sure none of us survive." Anakin said, his eyes widening in realization. Then he gives the first order, "Get Commander Cody on the line and tell him to have all side weapons blazing."
"I also want all clone soldiers to be armed and ready when the Sangheili board our ship. We will hold them off enough to activate the distress beacon to Tarkin we were given and evacuate everyone we can on LAATs to the…whatever that is." Windu adds.
The Admiral only nods, just realizing that both Jedi are right. A single Republic Acclamator, which is not as heavily armed as their Venator cousins, stands no chance against a hardened UNSC and Sangheili battle fleet. Ozzel then runs to the communications device and broadcasts the order all across the ship while below their feet, the Acclamator shakes from the force of the lazer guns firing on the Sangheili ships. But their deflector shields are vastly superior to the Republic's, absorbing every shot like it's nothing.
After a few tense seconds, the UNSC ships stop firing, except for one. The front of that ship starts glowing white. "Oh no. Take evasive action and brace for impact!" Kenobi says, knowing what is about to happen.
Once the ship is charged, the MAC cannon is fired on the Acclamator. But the shot was obviously not charged to full power since the ship held together, but the ship's shields were destroyed. Taking advantage of the stunned moment, a single Sangheili CAS-class carrier flies towards the Acclamator.
"Generals! I'm receiving word that the Sangheili are already cutting into the ship. The soldiers need your help!" Ozzel exclaims, a look of fear crossing his face.
"Aid them, we will. Begin the evacuation to the ring, we must. Lead the 1st wave, I will." Yoda said.
"Well then. Looks like I'll be helping the defense." Kenobi answers.
"Indeed. Anakin, Ahsoka, aid Master Kenobi in his fight. I will help Master Yoda in defending the docking bays so the LAATs and fighters can escape." Windu adds.
"Yes, Master. Let's show them how we can fight." Ahsoka says confidently.
With that, the Jedi leave the bridge to participate in their various roles of the battle. When the 3 Jedi arrive at the chamber where the side weapons are kept, everything is already in chaos. Clones are trying to fire at the army of UNSC marines, completely decked out in their dark green armor, dark red armored Sangheili. The Sangheili, however, are wielding the same energy blades that the legendary Master Chief used, cutting clones down like a lumberjack would cut down trees and the marines are firing their rifles or shotguns with deadly accuracy.
"Hey guys! Those damn Jedi are here!" a marine shouts. Their attention turns to the newcomers. The Sangheili roar in challenge and charge at the Jedi, only for Anakin to activate his lightsaber and parry a Sangheili slashing at him and cut the alien down.
That only serves to anger the enemy soldiers even further, evident by how they are fighting back more ferocity than before. However, while the Jedi couldn't directly use the Force on them due to their immunity, it still gives them the edge they need. Obi-Wan parries the Sangheili sword strikes, Ahsoka uses her speed to barely deflect the UNSC bullets back at them, wounding the marines and saving any last wounded clones while Anakin jumps into their ranks, cutting them down like no one's business. Even if Anakin's reluctant to kill them, he also knows that if they are spared, they will just kill more soldiers of the Republic.
Within minutes, the skirmish is over and the soldiers lie on the ground, dead or dying. The blood of UNSC, Sangheili and clone soldiers are quickly spreading across the ground. "You inbred sons of bitches will lose." A voice said. All 3 Jedi turn to a speaker, who is a marine in full battle armor, holding his chestplate where blood is seeping out. "I've seen your type before, and bastards like you always lose. You will never reach Halo. My people will see to that." He laughs weakly, coughing up a little blood before his head falls back onto the floor.
"Let me check, Generals." A surviving clone soldier said, walking up to the marine and places 2 fingers at his neck. "He's dead."
They all look at the giant ring, now known to them as Halo. "Whatever this Halo this, it must be important if they are going through this much trouble to make sure we don't land there." Obi-Wan murmurs. The Force is whispering to him, telling him that it is much more dangerous than they already know.
"Well then. Let's get out of here and figure out what exactly is going on." Anakin says, deactivating his lightsaber.
"This way, Master." Ahsoka responds, looking down a long hallway. Even though none of them could see the battle, the sounds of battle in the docking bay can be heard by all. The enemy soldiers had obviously come down this way, judging by the scorch marks produced by blaster shots and the bodies of clones littering the ground. All 3 Jedi and the last 3 clones march down the battle-torn hallways, past the hastily made barricades, and make it to the docking bay.
There, the rest of the Jedi, the Admiral and the remaining clones are boarding the LAATs and fighters, fighting off the surging UNSC and Sangheili troops, firing their strange weapons at the Republicans. Above their heads, the docking bay doors are opening. As one, the Jedi leap over their ranks, deflecting the shots as the last 3 clones run as fast as they can through, firing their blasters behind them as a distraction.
"Good to see you alive. Pilot, get us out of here." Windu commands as the 3 Jedi jump onboard the LAAT, and the last of the clones doing the same and slamming the blast shields closed.
"Yes sir." The pilot said, firing the ship up and flying it out. As one, the ships soar out of the Acclamator and make their way down to Halo. But they aren't in the clear yet. The secondary weapons on the UNSC ships start firing, destroying numerous fighters or destroying the wings of a few LAATs, causing them to spin out of control.
Nothing could stop the Republic as they fly down towards the planet, the ships going in separate directions. But then the problem starts. A UNSC Longsword ship flies up from the forest on the ground and fires on the LAAT. Most of the shots miss, but one hits its mark.
"Generals! Those shots severely damaged our right wing. Our ship's starting to burn up and we're going in too hot." The pilot shouts up to them.
Obi-Wan lets out a sigh, having been through this during the Chorusan Massacre. "Everyone, brace for impact!" He then grasps the handlebar next to him.
Seconds later, the burning LAAT gets closer and closer to the ground before smashing into it.
And for all those inside the gunship, the world goes black.
AN: Hello everyone!
I'm sorry for skipping last week, but I have no regrets since I was so busy. So to compensate, I'm going to give this chapter to you a day early.
Yes, the Republic accidentally stumbled on a Halo ring and it's majorly important for the upcoming parts of the story.
Next time, a new yet familiar (to all Halo fans) enemy will appear.
See you then!