Fort George B. Meade - Maryland - United States - 7:34am - July 18 1988
"Attention!" the soldiers saluted, standing in a perfect row, rifles on shoulders. About 15 were gathered in front of the drill sergeant. President Reagan, flanked by MacArthur and Obi-Wan, stood in front of the soldiers. "These are the best of the best." Reagan said. "They should do well as commandos." Obi-Wan nodded. "Good, good. I trust they will do well as a strike team." Reagan nodded. Obi-Wan sensed something in one of the men. "You there." he said, pointing at the man. The man stepped forward. "I sense... force in you... Yes, this boy is force sensitive, who are you son?" "Jason Carlton Dawes sir!" the man shouted. Obi-Wan nodded. "President Reagan, I request permission to have this boy trained as a jedi, or at the very least a force wielder." Reagan nodded. "And you, Dawes?" Obi-Wan asked. "It would be my honor, sir." He responded. "Good, good. I have already not yet graduated my apprentice Anakin, so I cannot train you as a full jedi, but a force user, I can."
The rest of the men were to be trained simply as a specialized commandos to fight any Sith or Sith agents Terra encountered, while Dawes would be taught to use a lightsaber and wield the force. "Hmm..." Mace Windu spoke upon learning of this. "I do not like the idea of you teaching an adult Terran only the force and not the ways of the Jedi." "It is all I feel is needed, Master Windu." Obi-Wan responded. "These men have a very strict sense of morals, I feel he is strong enough to resist the pull of the Dark Side." "Perhaps." Mace said.
National Airport - Washington - 7:40am EST
Yoda slowly hobbled off the lander onto the tarmac. He took in the sights around him. Following the elderly Jedi master was a single clone trooper. Yoda walked up to a National Guardsman. "To President Reagan, take me." He said. A bit confused by the short green alien's appearance and speaking pattern, the trooper just said "Uh, sure."
Office - Fort Meade - 8:43am EST
President Reagan sat in the office usually used by the head of the base, but now was a temporary office. Jedi Master Yoda sat in a chair across from him. "President Reagan, glad I am your nation help us has agreed to." Reagan just smiled and nodded, not sure exactly what Yoda just said. The small Jedi continued "Believe CIS will find this system soon, we do. Need to prepare, we do." "I have ordered the military to mobilize, along with the militaries in our client states. Germany is doing the same."
"mmmm, good, good." Yoda said. "Give more ships to you, we shall. Moving our own fleet here for protection, we also are." Reagan nodded once more. "I am also having diplomats attempt to convince the neutral nations here to side with the Republic." Yoda grimaced. "And CIS side with those who?" The President sighed. "I don't know. Our world is not ready for another major world war. I will do what I can, though."
Nuclear Silo - State of Colorado - 6:44am MST
Two technicians pressed buttons on a large computer keyboard. Alarms blared as a silo door opened. Across the country, this happened. The President had ordered nukes to be ready, for the defense of the nation.
CSS Invisible Hand - Open Space - Unknown Time
General Grievous of the Separatist Army stands on the bridge of his ship as his fleet exits hyperspace in this peculiar galaxy. "Have you found anything?!" Grievous shouted at his droid crewmen. "Not yet sir." One said. "We're still scanning." Another said. "Scan faster!" Grievous shouted, angrily storming off while coughing. The CIS had spent the last week searching the western half of the galaxy, and had found little aside from worthless primitive civilizations. Grievous, however, had orders to find advanced civilizations, and leave primitives behind.
Of course, that did not stop the cruel general from glassing multiple planets, slaughtering many primitive species into extinction. The fleet was now heading south, as Darth Sidious had told Grievous to look there. He was eager to find more civilizations to eradicate. He entered his chambers as the hologram system flickered on, revealing the cloaked figure of Sidious. "My lord." Grievous began "Do not waste time on pleasantries." Sidious said. "My scouts have located the system you need to go to." "Really? I will go there at once, my lord." "No. You will wait, two months. Build up your strength, General." The hologram winked out.
Grievous stormed back up to the bridge. Wait? another two months? That was unacceptable to the general. No, he would attack now.
USS Liberty - Above Terra - Unknown Time
Admiral William Q. Penn stood on the bridge of the USS Liberty, the new flagship for the United States Navy as it orbited Terra's glory. The interior of the ship was being remodeled with white instead of the dark gray and black of the original ship, along with new panels in blue instead of red for the ship. An enormous US Flag was going to be painted on the ship's side to symbolize its glory. Penn was a young admiral, and the transition from water to space was a bit jarring, but he would adjust.
He watched his beautiful homeworld. From here, it looked so peaceful... so innocent... so perfect. He smiled to himself. Then, the alarms went off. He spun around. "What the hell is that?!" he barked at one of his technicians. "Proximity alert, sir! Something not Republic has entered the system by Neptune." "TURN THIS DAMN THING AROUND" Penn yelled. "ALERT WASHINGTON."
Oval Office - Washington - 12:48pm EST - July 19 1988
President Reagan and Mace were in a discussion over force sensitives on Terra, when an aide burst in. "Mr. President, they're here!" "Who?" Reagan demanded. "The Separatists!" the woman yelled.
The Pentagon - 12:50pm EST
"MOVE US TO DEFCON 2" General MacArthur shouted. The general, along with Obi-Wan, Anakin, Schwarzkopf, and Yoda were gathered around a holodisplay of the system donated by the Republic. It depicted a major Separatist fleet gathering near Neptune. "We've called for reinforcements." Obi-Wan said. "They'll be here soon, for now we have to hold them off."
Every nation in the world was informed. Germany began preparing its own small fleet alongside the Americans, while the Republic's fleet prepared to take the brunt of the Separatist forces. Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin of the Republic Navy was in command, ordering his Venators into a defensive position while fighters were deployed.
CSS Invisible Hand
"What the-" Grievous shouted as he saw the massive Republic fleet in front of him. "This is impossible, how is the Republic here?!" "Sir, fighters incoming!" a droid yelled. "Deploy our fighters!" Grievous yelled. Both navies deployed thousands of fighters combined, as the two masses raced at each other, Penn watched from the bridge of his ship.
First Battle of Sol
July 19 1988
Fighters crashed into each other, blaster bolts were everywhere as capital ships fired on each other, the Republic charging the CIS ships. The battle was inconclusive as of now, with the Terrans being told to stay back and wait, as the Terrans were not strong enough to take on the CIS yet. The fighter battle was mostly inconclusive, with neither side gaining an edge. In the capital ship battle, the Republic managed to bring down two Separatist ships while the CIS in turn brought down a Republic ship.
The Republic launched a major barrage, succeeding in bringing down another CIS ship, however, the CIS managed to bring down three Republic cruisers and one Venator. The fighter battle was beginning to turn to the Republic, while the CIS gained an edge in the capital battle. On Terra, the world watched with bated breath as countries across the world prepared nuclear rockets and readied their air forces.
The Separatists launched a major piercer assault near Saturn, which failed, allowing the Republic to gain the final advantage. Aboard the Invisible Hand, Grievous ordered the CIS to retreat and prepare to regroup. The Battle of Sol was won, but soon it would gain the moniker First.
White House Lawn - Washington - 7:34pm EST - July 20 1988
President Reagan stood on a podium on the White House South Lawn facing a massive crowd of reporters and citizens. Flanking him was General Schwarzkopf, General MacArthur, General Kenobi, and General Skywalker.
"People of America... People of Terra..." Reagan began. "Today, we celebrate a victory, the victory over the invaders, the cruel and merciless invaders. Our friends in the Republic defended Terra from a horrible fate. But, it is not over yet. America, and yes, Terra herself, will expand our navy to combat these horrific, vile invaders and defend our homeworld from now till the end of time." The crowd broke out in wild cheers, chanting "Ray-gon, Ray-Gon" over and over. Reagan smiled and held out his hands for quiet.
"I thank our friends in the Galactic Republic for their help in creating our new navy, as we take our steps forward into the unknown, to defend and protect Terra, forever, may Terra prosper!" the cheers started up again. Reagan saluted the national flag flying above the crowd. Across the planet, people celebrated, but they all knew it wasn't over. Terra had to defend herself.
Hotel Room - Hotel - Washington - 8:02pm EST
Anakin Skywalker entered his hotel room. It was getting dark out, and the young Jedi general sat down on his bed, turning on his small television to watch more "re-runs" of the show Happy Days. Anakin smiled as the show came on. Across the hall, Obi-Wan entered his own hotel room, sitting down at the room's small desk to continue studying a history book on the Second Great War. Obi looked out the window at the setting sun. Today was a victory. Would tomorrow be?
Okay, a bit short of a chapter, and the battle was kind of short and rushed, but that's because it isn't really that impactful to Terra. The next few chapters will be longer, and once the actual war starts, it'll be far more detailed.