Thanks to my betas, Firehawk1100 and Kuiil.
The Battle of Christophsis: Part One
"We'll be at the rendezvous in a few hours," Admiral Block informed the three cabinet members of the Resolute.
"Please don't engage the blockade before then, Anakin," Obi-Wan continued. "We will need all star-destroyers to distract the blockade long enough for the corvettes to slip past."
Anakin chuckled, grinning as he crossed his arms. "No promises, Master. You know how unpredictable a battle is."
Admiral Yularen was a serviceman through and through, but having spent a couple of months with him, Ahsoka could spot the tiny cracks in his military visage. All of it was usually due to her master's antics. She heard the admiral grumble under his breath a couple of times about how Anakin would be the death of him, or the reason his hair turned gray if he continued working under the Jedi Knight.
She sympathized with him. Her master was a bit of a handful.
Ahsoka granted the admiral a pat on the back and a sympathetic smile. He replied with a weary smile and a nod of gratitude. Knowing her master, he would charge head first into the blockade, tanking any damage to defeat the enemy and providing much needed relief to the plant's occupants.
And her Master's habits would give her a chance to destroy Trench.
Ahsoka still felt wrong for what she intended to do during the mission. Despite the words of reason Captain Miram Ounessa had reassured her with, she still felt like she was about to make a mistake. She would be breaking one of the sacred tenets of her Order for selfish reasoning. Even those she had learned and was warned about during her time as a youngling had nobler reasoning to commit the deed she was about to do.
It also didn't help the heavy weight of guilt and grievances in her stomach that she cannot tell anyone about her goal. How could she now? It was far too late. She already accepted the information given to her. Miram expected a dead Harch by the end of the campaign. If she was to come clean now, her whole character would be in question. They might even ship her back to the temple, or worse, kick her out of the Order.
She could not imagine a life without the order she was raised in since she was a toddler.
"Remember, Anakin." Obi-Wan's words broke Ahsoka out of her own thoughts. "Our goal is to send supplies to Senator Organa, not fight the enemy."
"Excuse me, General," a clone bridge officer spoke, gaining the four's attention. "We're receiving an incoming transmission from Intelligence."
"Intelligence?" Yularen questioned. "They hardly ever make contact with those on the front."
"You're right," Anakin agreed. "They usually just send us information and nothing else. Could be important." Anakin addressed the clone officer. "Patch them through."
"Yes, sir."
It took a few presses of buttons and turning of dials to connect the incoming transmission. A fuzzy, indescribable blob joined the holo-projection of Obi-Wan and Admiral Block. It took a few seconds until the blob transformed into the shape of a human woman.
Ahsoka was the first to recognize the identity of the woman. "Captain Ounessa?"
Miram greeted her with a simple nod. "Lady Tano, a pleasure to see you again." Despite the lack of emotion on her face, her words carried warmth in it.
Ahsoka couldn't help but wonder why Miram was contacting them. Ahsoka didn't expect to see her so soon after the interview.
"Lady Ounessa, to what do we owe of the pleasure of Intelligence contacting us?" Obi-Wan asked with a teasing smiling on his lips. "I'm sure you know we are about to commence with our mission."
Lady Ounessa? Ahsoka looked to Anakin for some clarification but only got more confused once seeing his amused grin.
Do the three of them know each other?
"It's Captain Ounessa, Master Kenboi," Miram said, her tone annoyed with a playful twinge to it. "As for the reason for my abrupt transmission, it is to inform you that the objective for the task force has changed."
Hope thumped in Ahsoka's chest. Was the Force giving her a second chance? "What do you mean?"
"Distracting the blockade to allow ships carrying supplies to Senator Organa and the inhabitants of Christophsis is now a secondary objective. Your new primary goal is to eliminate the blockade in it's entirely. Once done, relief efforts may resume."
Ahsoka's heart sank.
"What?" Anakin exclaimed, his brows furrowed. "Senator Organa and the locals need these supplies or else they won't survive past nightfall, let alone a full rotation. We can't just abandon them to die."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan appeased. "Captain Ounesa is not saying we are to leave them to die, only that helping them is no longer the prime focus."
"It might as well be the same thing," he spat.
"My sincerest apologies, Master Skywalker, but we've received a report that the Harch of the name, Trench, is the one leading the blockade."
Yularen stilled at the news. "No…" he breathed.
Ahsoka gazed up at the admiral with worry in her eyes. She knew what happened between the admiral and the Harch from Miram explaining every detail about Trench to her. To sum up a long story short; Yularen was one of the few to survive an encounter with Trench in battle and able to tell the horrid tale. She would say he was lucky, but she doubted he viewed it as such.
"And due to Trench being a member of the Separatist War Council, his death would be a significate blow to the CIS." Miram continued, "We cannot let this opportunity slip past the Republic."
That last bit of information was new to her. They must've just gotten it. That would explain the sudden change in objective.
Anakin sighed. Ahsoka knew that sigh. It was one of backing down and accepting orders he didn't agree with.
"Very well, Captain. We'll—"
"There's one more thing I need to announce."
Miram shifted her gaze to Ahsoka. She didn't know if it was the projection playing tricks on her or not, but Ahsoka swore she saw a glint in her eyes. Like back when they had their interview.
"Lady Tano is now the one in charge of the operation."
"What?!" Anakin and Ahsoka shouted at the same time.
Why would Miram make her, a Padawan learner, the leader of a task force?! An operation on this scale was set to be accomplished by Jedi Knights like her master, or those on the council like Master Obi-Wan. Never a Padawan! Someone of her status would be lucky to lead a squadron into battle.
Anakin took a step forward to the holo-projector. "Miram, Ahsoka has only just started taking a more active leadership role a few weeks ago. She is not ready to lead a task force."
Normally, she would be offended by her master's lack of faith in her, but in this instance she agreed with him. She was not ready for this. Her plan to defeat Trench was to use what Miram taught her to give hints to Anakin so that an opening would appear and her dealing the final blow.
Now, she didn't know what to do.
"Master Skywalker, I have, let's say, complete faith in Lady Tano's abilities." The corner of Miram's lips curled upward into a grin. It was odd, and somewhat unnerving to see a change of expression on the woman's face. "She has all the tools and information necessary for the mission to be a success."
Ahsoka was not the type to swear. She found the act to be uncivilized and unbecoming for a future Jedi Knight. But she would make an exception this one time due to circumstances she found herself in.
"Karablast," she muttered into her hands.
As soon as Miram disconnected from the transmission, she immediately excused herself from the room and retreated to her quarters. Her master had called out to her during her hasty departure but didn't pursue. She was grateful for that. She needed time to think.
Speaking of thinking, what possibly went through Miram's mind that made it seem it was remotely okay to put her in charge? She knew that the captain's last order was just a lie to place her in a better position to be the one to take credit for killing Trench. There was no way in hell the Council or the GAR would approve swapping the lead from her master to little old her. She knew Miram's intentions were well and good, and honestly it was nice to know someone had her back like this, but she felt her friend—she used that term loosely since a normal friend wouldn't put her in a situation like this to begin with—didn't fully grasp what she placed her in.
Ahsoka had led before, but not like this. Not with three Republic star-destroyers filled with thousands of lives that anchored on every decision she made.
Oh man, she couldn't do this. She would just tell her master to retake the position he had. He would no doubt accept it.
Ahsoka got up from her bed, rushing to the exit. The door opened and she made to leave but failed to notice a person waiting on the other end, accidentally bumping into them. She took a step backward as recoil from the contact. Her eyes trailed up to see who she accidentally crashed into.
Her head tilted to the left, her nose wrinkled in confusion at the sight of the individual. He never went to her quarters before.
"Admiral?"
"Commander Tano," Yularen greeted. "May I have a word with you?"
Ahsoka shook her head to get out of the confused funk she was in. "I'm sorry, but I need to talk to my master about an important matter."
"Hmm, I believe the matter I wanted to discuss with you is one of the same," he explained.
"Please, Commander, it'll only take a moment."
If Yularen was insistent, she couldn't really refuse. Technically, he outranked her. She did hope this was quick. They have a few hours until they exited hyperspace and begin the battle for Christophsis.
"Of course, Admiral." She gestured to her room, inviting him in. "Is my quarters okay for this discussion?"
"Yes, that'll be fine."
Ahsoka moved to the side, letting Yularen in her room. She had nothing embarrassing or unsightly out on display. Her time as an initiate in the Thranta Clan had sort of made her a neat freak. Seeing Anakin's quarters in passing made her skin crawl. How could someone live like that was beyond her.
Ahsoka motioned for the admiral to take the sole chair in the room while she sat on her stiff bed.
"So, what is it that you want to talk about, Admiral?"
"I have...past experience with Trench. I know his tactics and how he operates."
I already know.
"The upcoming battle will be tough, but I know we can succeed if we plan properly." He reached inside his pocket and fished out a holo-projector. With a press of a button, the planet of Christophsis and its moon appeared. "I thought of a strategy I want to run by you Comman—"
"Thank you, Admiral," she quickly cut in before he could continue. "But I won't be leading the task force anymore. Master Skywalker will."
"Oh." Though sounding surprised, his face said otherwise. "When did this change occur?"
"A few minutes ago," she answered. "My master was right, I'm not ready for this type of responsibility yet. I was about to tell him my decision until I bumped into you."
"I see." He deactivated his device and put it away. "That's unfortunate."
"What do you mean?"
"I respect and admire General Skywalker. When news of war broke out and you Jedi would be in charge of the bulk of our forces, I was skeptical of our chances of winning. After all, your Order advertises itself as peacekeepers, not soldiers."
She could understand his reservation about trusting her kind in battle. Jedi were trained and taught to keep and maintain the peace in the galaxy—to use violence as an absolute last resort.
"But, in the short span of us working together, the general has proven himself in my eyes. That being said, he is not without fault. He is brash and too emotional when issuing orders."
"Well, that's because he cares," she defended, her voice having a slight bite to it. "He is unlike any other Jedi I have ever seen. He's probably the best of my Order."
"Perhaps, but a soldier needs to think less here," he pointed to where his heart was. "And more here," he pointed to his head.
Ahsoka tightly grasped her knees, her lips sealed shut in order to not say something she might later regret. She knew her master was a bit rough around the edges, but he was still her master, damn it. If Yularen wasn't an admiral she would promptly teach the old man the rudeness of bad mouthing someone behind their back.
"Admiral, if all you came here for was to talk bad about my master, then I suggest we end this conversation now," she said, her voice tense.
Yularen cleared his throat, his cheeks reddening. "I'm sorry, Commander, that wasn't my intention."
"Then what is your intention?"
He sighed. "All I was trying to say is, if it was between you or the general in charge of the task force, I would choose you."
That…was not what she expected to hear. "R—really? But I'm just a Padawan. I don't know how to lead like you or Master Skywalker do."
"And you never will if you don't take the first step." His eyes softened. "Leading others in battle is terrifying. All those lives trusting you to bring them back in one piece."
Yularen sighed, relaxing his upright posture. His eyes directed to the steel floor. "The first time I ever was placed in control of a fleet was during the Battle of Malastare Narrows. And… let's just say I lost a lot of good men that day."
Ahsoka felt a pang of guilt for already knowing about the battle Yularen was referring to. It was the one that Miram told her about to prepare her for her clash with Trench.
"I'm...sorry to hear that."
Yularen flicked his eyes to hers'. "One thing you need to know about leading others into battle is that; no matter how well-thought out your orders may be, or time you used to prepare, or even attaining the best of Special Forces, there will be casualties with your decisions. All we hope to do is minimize the losses we are about to receive."
Ahoska snorted a humorless chuckle. "Is this supposed to be a pep-talk to motivate me into leading the assault on Christophsis? Cause no offense Admiral, you're failing."
Yularen chuckled, returning to his proper posture. "In a way, yes. You're too bright Commander for me to sugar coat it. That being said, you were chosen for a reason."
Ahsoka huffed. "Yeah because Miram—"
"Lied, yes I know," Yularen finished which caused a surprise look from her. "It was obvious that it was. The general also came to the same conclusion after the transmission."
She eyed the admiral with a raised brow. "If you know, then why do you still want me in charge?"
"I worked with Captain Ounessa a couple of times on joint training exercises between the Senate's Judicial Forces and Coruscant Planetary Defense Force. She is terrifyingly intelligent for someone her age, and her analysis on people as well as staging plans are almost always on point."
"What I'm saying is that, Ounessa hardly ever makes mistakes. If she chose you to lead, that means you're our best chance in succeeding. I trust her judgment and you should do the same. I never heard of Captain Ounessa doing this for anyone else."
Had she really had that much effect on the older woman? They only spared at most an hour talking to one another, and most of that was asking questions and answering them.
"I want to give you the chance like I was given a long time ago."
I guess she really wants me to have that chance, she thought.
"You have potential, Commander. The general already picked up on that. That's why, even if you ask him to take your place, he will refuse. We all trust you and your abilities to lead us."
They trusted her? They trust someone who was about to ship off to never become a Jedi?
She shook her head. "I—I can't. It's too much, too soon. I'm not ready."
"No one ever is, Ahsoka." His voice was kind and gentle, like a father soothing a child.
He called her by her given name. He had never done that before—not even to her master. He always referred to her by rank or her surname.
"Unlike my first time leading a task force, you will have people by your side, guiding you along the way." He smiled at her. "General Skywalker and I will not steer you wrong."
"I…"
She didn't know what to say. Her master believing in her was one thing. It was an obligation between a Master and their Padawan. But Yularen and Miram believing in her was a completely different matter.
They make their living in leading others. They knew the dos and don'ts of leadership. Ahsoka could probably check off a lot of the don'ts on the factor of her leadership abilities. And yet, they still trust her to lead the mission.
"I...I would like to hear the strategy you had thought up, Admiral."
Yualren's smile widened. "Of course, Commander."
Anakin arrived in front of the door leading into his Padawan's quarters. He had left her alone about an hour after she ran away from the meeting with Miram. She was quite distressed about the news about taking command of the task force, and honestly speaking, so was he.
Though Ahsoka was progressing far faster than what he anticipated, she was still a Padawan with some experience on the battlefield. He was worried about her. She already wormed her way into his heart, viewing her as a little sister. And like an older brother he viewed himself as, he was a bit protective of her.
That being said, just because he was protective of his Padawan didn't mean he didn't trust her to get out any scrap she may have found herself in. Already there had been multiple times she surprised him by proving victorious in battles that would even cause him to break a sweat in, but, even his ambitious student was blind to her own limits.
Ahsoka receiving a leadership role was an opportunity that was bound to happen, and one he was looking forward to issuing the command to her. He just thought her first time would be leading an escort, or transporting an important dignitary or something boring like that. Not a task force ordered to destroy a blockade.
He was scared and furious at Miram for relaying the change of command, but then it dawned on him. It took a few minutes after the transmission with the woman but the realization did come to him.
Miram wanted Ahsoka to lead the task force. So much so she was willing to lie by stating it was an order.
Anakin didn't know much about Miram, only having a few conversations in passing when he came to meet with her adoptive father, Palpatine. He did know that she was, above all, efficiency oriented.
She wouldn't place Ahsoka in command without a good reason. And since Admiral Yularen trusted her, he would too.
His Padawan needed time alone to come to terms with the situation, just like he did. Ahsoka had two vices; her pride and fear of failing. Her pride was something that was easy to overcome, already working on ending the bad habit since the Battle of Dantooine. Her fear of failing though, well, that was certainly a mentality that was proving challenging to break.
He knocked on the door. "Ahsoka, it's me, Anakin. Can we chat for a moment?"
He heard some shuffling on the other side before the door opened.
"Yularen?" Anakin was beyond confused to see the admiral. "D—did I get the wrong room?" He was sure he took the right at the last intersection. Or should it be the left?
"Ah, General. Perfect timing. I was about to call for you."
"You were?"
"Hey Master, come on in."
Anakin peeked inside the room to see Ahsoka staring intently at the projection of Christophsis. She tore her eyes away from the image to stare at him with a cheeky grin.
"The admiral and I thought of a plan of attack against Trench and I want your input on it."
He shifted his gaze between the two. "You guys did?"
"Yup. I am leading the task force after all. Not having a plan beforehand is poor leadership."
"She is right, you know," Yularen commented.
Anakin chuckled. He guessed Yularen beat him to the punch. Sucks. He had a whole grand rousing speech prepared too. With how things were going with Ahsoka, he would probably have a chance to use it on her—with little alterations—when she becomes a Jedi Knight.
"Alright, let me hear what you have Snips." He entered the room with a proud smile on his face.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Deployment and the mission and BS. I hope you like the chapter.
Till Next Time