(Hey everyone, how is everyone doing? I'm sorry for doing this out of order? but since today is the "Fourth Be With You!" I should post this chapter quickly as possible. Also I hope everyone is doing well. For everyone who is a first responder, medical personnel, and everyone who help during this time, thank you.
Before I forget, there's a Poll on my profile page for "The Kaiju King" Story please do what you can to show your support for either myself or Fallenangel5414 on DeviantArt.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Wars and/or Transformers of any continuity. They are the properties of their respective owners.
Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)
It was a dire situation for the Republic as one of the key planets, Felucia, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano have been reported to being trapped with their remaining troops, fighting a large garrison of Droids and a battalion of Decepticon soldiers. Both Jedi are taken heavy losses in their means to hold out until help arrived, unaware that under the command of Jedi Master Plo Koon and Autobot aerial specialist, Wing Saber, and the Ark's pilot, Powerglide leads the assault to break the Separatist defensive line that kept them from reclaiming their allies on the ground bellow. Unaware of the mastermind behind the battle for their enemy.
"Warthog, Wing Saber, protect the gunships! Powerglide and I will deal with the fighters." Plo Koon ordered, as he gets his star fighter ready for combat.
"You heard the general, Powerglide, keep those klankers off our afts so we can get out guys out of the planet!" Wingsaber shot as he fired his guns on the droids.
The Red Starfighter spun in mid flight to avoid being hit by a torpedo and fired back with more precision, "Hey if it ain't broke you don't send me back. And awaa-aa-aay we go!"
He then pulled out a steep turn upwards in mid space, surprising two Decepticon seekers that were attempting to hit him on both sides when he decided to do that little stunt of his. The sudden reveal made it impossible for the two seekers from colliding into each other, causing their parts to explode. Powerglide then made an acute turn downwards with the launching of two rockets, hitting a Vulture droid that was about to fire on a Gunship.
The Red flyer's distracting and stunt like flying allowed him to gain the attention of the droids and Decepticons long enough for Plo Koon and Wing Saber's squad to break through the blockade.
On the planet's surface, Obi-wan and Anakin's remaining troops kept up the good fight, firing at the droids while keeping themselves from being hit too much by use of the AT-AT's legs as shields from enemy laser fire. The Republic gunships and Aerialbots transformed before landing between the Republic forces. While deflecting the fire away from himself and his troops, Obi-wan felt a disturbance in the Force and looked to see a flaming Vulture droid falling towards them. He then grabbed Anakin's arm, crying out his warning, "Look out!"
The two made it out of the way in time as the Vulture droid crashed into the AT-AT walker that was behind their squad, causing the tank to explode.
Looking back to his former master, Anakin breathed, "THAT was close."
"If those fighters got through then that means our gunships can't be far behind." Obi-wan deduced while joining his former apprentice in their continuation of deflecting laser fire back at the droid army.
Seeing that the droids were getting closer and heard the sounds of large footsteps echoing behind the Droids, Obi-wan ordered, "Prepare the troops to evacuate."
The Republic gunships came and opened their hauls to allow troops to enter for evacuation from the battlefield. Several Aerialbots led by Wing Saber were seen swooping in low before they made a turn upwards to transform into their bipedal forms. Wing Saber raised his arms and his hands became multi-barrel blasters that rotated like minigun barrels as he ordered, "Keep the enemy back until the ships have everyone on board!"
"Sir!" The Aerialbots replied, as they took cover behind the downed or abandoned AT-AT walkers. The Decepticon Vehicons marched in one ominous motion as they fired, providing support to the Droid army by firing with more precision and accuracy than usual.
The clone troops began to retreat into the gunships, well those who survived the onslaught from the beginning of the battle.
Seeing this Rex ordered, shouting over the blaster fire, "Come on! Come on, grunts! We are leaving!"
While reflecting the Droid laser fire away from the retreating clone troopers, Anakin spoke loudly to his former master, "Ahsoka should've been back from her jungle patrol by now."
"I'll try to contact her again." Obi-wan said Anakin before activating his commlink, "Ahsoka, where are you?"
No reply, so Obi-wan tried again, "Ahsoka what is your location?"
"About… six clicks east, master." She sounded like she was having as much of a struggle as the Jedi were, "We've engaged the enemy and we've got them on the run."
Obi-wan knew what this meant as he spoke loudly into his comlink, "They're here to extract us. We're leaving!"
"What?!" Ahsoka asked, sounded shocked by this otherwise wise course of action, "What… We can't retreat now, master. I've broken through."
"Hold the fragging line!" Wing Saber ordered, firing a few more rounds from his machine barrel digits, before launching rockets from his wings, at the enemies. As one of his men fell from blaster fire of the Decepticons. He almost bit it himself had he not dodged from it hitting his head and fired back in retaliation.
Explosions went off, causing the Decepticons to take cover behind the overly large plant life around them as they fired back.
Obi-wan began to become very frustrated by this act of defiance that his former apprentice's Padawan was displaying even when she reported, "The droids are retreating."
"We're outnumbered. You must evacuate. That is an order!" Obi-wan almost shouted, trying to get the Padawan from getting herself and her men killed.
Her reply however, did not make the older Jedi feel any better, "Master Skywalker taught me to never let up when the tinnies are on the run."
"They are running back here to regroup with the main force!" Obi-wan said, aggressively.
"Wing Saber, everybody's onboard! Time to go!" Wing Saber and the Aerialbots heard the Jedi Knight say.
"All right Air-Bots, Transform and take off!" Wing Saber nodded with his men and they all transformed, rocketing after the republic gunships.
Inside the gunship Anakin turned to hear Obi-wan reprimand his apprentice even more, "You are putting your troops' lives in danger, young one. You will get on the gunship when we arrive."
"Where's Ahsoka?" Anakin asked, trying to keep his emotions under control.
Looking back Obi-wan replied, "Following your teachings."
"Is she winning?" Anakin asked, putting a little levity into the dire situation.
"For now." Obi-wan answered, he was not in a mood for this.
It took some time but they were able to arrive at the spot where they were. As they slowly flew Obi-wan and Anakin noticed Ahsoka's continued flurry of her lightsaber.
"She's not stopping." Obi-wan told Anakin.
Looking over at the pilot, Anakin ordered, "Land in front of them."
Ahsoka stopped deflecting laser fire when she saw the gunships and Aerialbots landing in front of her remaining patrol party. She even saw that her troops were heading towards the gunships, abandoning their tanks.
"What are you doing?" Ahsoka asked, shocked by this.
Anakin got out of his gunship and ordered, "Get in the ship now!"
"Can't you see they're retreating?" Ahsoka asked, trying to get her master to see what she was seeing, however.
"They're about to overrun you, Ahsoka! You just can't see it." Anakin shot back.
"He's right, snips. If whoever's leading this attack is who I think it is, we need to go now!" Wing Saber, firing on every direction from the droids to Vehicons from the air.
"Now, follow orders and get in the ship!" Anakin ordered, harshly.
Ahsoka glared away from her master as she jumped down from the Juggernaut tank and hurried to the gunship.
Over the blaster fire the surviving soldiers saw battalions of Droids and Decepticons. In the middle of it was a magenta and purple miniature version of their juggernaut tank. Even though it had a similar shape, the Autobots and Reopublic know full well that tank was not on their side. Wing Saber didn't know what was more obvious, the Decepticon symbol on the front of its haul or the fact that it had transformed into one of the Decepticon forces' most powerful and successful general in the history of Cybertron, Strika, Megatron's general of destruction.
As the Republic troops and Aerialbots flew away from the battle field Strika halted her troops from firing on them, she ordered, "Leave the cowards running. Destroy their tanks! The destruction of their weapons will cause them to wallow in their failure."
The droids and Decepticons obeyed without hesitation as they fired on the Republic juggernaut tank until it exploded.
Inside the gunship, Ahsoka saw how the Separatist forces surrounded her patrol's tanks before their explosion. Even before the ship's shielding closed, they could hear the cold, heartless, laughter of Strika echoing.
The gunship made it back to Plo Koon's Cruisers. However, there was some delay as Powerglide found both Hot Rod and Ironhide floating in space. The pair needed some repairs when they get back to the Ark. Ahsoka lowered her head feeling that this defeat was her fault.
"Padawan Ahsoka, do you feel Master Kenobi's description of the incident of your actions is accurate?" Mace Windu asked, after hearing how the battle at Felucia went from the forces that made it back from that death trap.
"Yes, my Masters." Ahsoka said, shame of herself.
Yoda noticed more "More to add, do you?"
Ahsoka then began to explain herself, "I know I was wrong I just got so caught up in my own success I didn't look at the battle as a whole, I wasn't being disobedient I just forgot…"
"Masters this incident is my responsibility" Anakin stated, addressing the council, "Because of Ahsoka's advanced abilities I forgot how young she is. I gave her more freedom than I should have."
"That may be but it doesn't excuse what happened on Felucia." Mace Windu said, he then looked at the padawan and stated, "I think she needs some time away from the battlefield."
Yoda silently agreed as he told the Togurta padawan, "On archive security reflect on your actions, you can Padawan."
"Guard duty?!" Ahsoka asked, incredulous. She then remembered where she was and asked, "For how long?"
Mace Windu stated, narrowing his eyes at the padawan's actions, "Longer now."
Ashamed of herself even more, Ahsoka lowered her head, then both master and padawan were allowed to leave them. Before she left she asked, "How are Hot Rod and Ironhide?"
"Received word, we have. Damage to their bodies, considerable. Need time for repairs, they will." Yoda answered, making Ahsoka feel more as it was her fault for not knowing her new friends were still with them… what she did not tell the council was that she was also adamant about winning, to be sure the sacrifice of both Autobots and their men would not have been in vain. However, knowing that both are still alive made Ahsoka feel like a great weight has been lifted.
Inside the Ark's med-wing, First-aid was working feverishly in the repairs on two of his friends. Because of the… contamination… Hot Rod's repairs are going to take longer, though he is surprised that the contamination he was enduring was helping in the repairs to his inner circuitry. Normally the Autobot's head medic wouldn't be worry but the more that the contamination assists in the repairs, the more it grows so it's going to take longer to remove the contamination without harming the systems aided.
Ironhide's namesake really protected his vitals, but the impact of the decepticon weaponry made on one of the Republic assault cruisers did do damage to the neural relays and some Energon flow to his servos. First-aid began to silently pray to Primus to help him through this, the sections he's working on currently are what allows Ironhide's durable hands to be still useful. Normally he'd have The Ark's automatic repair systems do it but with something this difficult First-aid is the only bot in the entire ship who can do it with the precision.
The next morning, Anakin and Ahsoka walked down the halls of the temple as the padawan began, "I'm sorry. I let you down."
"I know I was a Padawan not that long ago." Anakin said, with an understanding tone. The passed by two Autobot foot soldiers who saluted. Many of the Jedi who remained at the temple to teach or who had returned from their years long assignment where shocked and a little uncomfortable for having the Autobot soldiers standing guard at the temple.
However, with some Autobots not fit for or preferring to not be in the battlefield as much as the clone troopers, they stayed with the Protectobots and other non-combatants within the army. Kup however insisted that while its true majority of their forces will be fighting with the jedi, the fact that the Decepticons, with or without Separatist assistance, would try something to either place of leadership within the republic. Such as the Senate building or Jedi temple and came to an agreement with both the grandmaster and Chancellor.
The duo approached one of the more elderly female human Jedi and Anakin addressed her, "Madame Jocasta Nu."
The head archivist turned as Skywalker introduced his padawan, "This is Ahsoka Tano, she is to be your newest security officer."
"Hello, Madame." Ahsoka greeted, politely as she bowed.
"So good to meet you." Jocasta Nu stated, smiling at the young padawan.
When Anakin let, Jocasta begun her tour for her new security officer of the full archive, "Let's show you around."
As she led the Togurta padawan around, going into the history of the archives. Ahsoka was so entranced by what was being told to her that she almost missed the pride in Jocasta Nu's when she spoke about the archives.
"Even after the Third Galactic War ended which led to a century of peace, There is more knowledge here than anywhere else in the galaxy. Before the Autobots arrived, that is." Jocasta finished her talk about the history of the archives. Though she seemed to have lost her pride of when she learned about the super computer that was brought with the Autobots and had more knowledge of Cybertron and perhaps life forms and other topics of science and technology than the archives ever had.
A thought occurred to Ahsoka as she said, "Master Kenobi says there are even texts here that are forbidden to be read."
This made the aged archivist chuckle at that, "The archives hold a great many secrets it is true."
Jocasta Nu then led the padawan to a door that seemed well protected, with two Autobot trooper guards on either side of the doors, "Beyond this door lies the holocron vault, The holocrons contain the most closely guarded secrets of the Jedi Order."
Looking, she greeted Master Kit Fisto, who approached the vault door with a holocron in hand, "Good morning, Master Fisto."
"Good morning, Madam Jocasta Nu." He grinned back before using the force to open the door and entered. Ahsoka observed before asking, "Can we go inside?"
"I'm afraid not, my dear I haven't been inside myself for years. Not even the Autobots are allowed to enter, despite their altruistic intentions." Jocasta Nu answered, before explaining her reason, "Only members of the Jedi Council are allowed access. Guarding the holocrons is one of the most important duties a Jedi can be given, Ahsoka."
She then asked the padawan, "Do you think you're up to the task?"
"Definitely." Ahsoka answered, confidently.
In one of the lower levels in Coruscant's "Underworld", a Duros stood leaning against the widow sil of his apartment as he seemed to be annoyingly chewing on a toothpick. His holo-communicator next to the apartment's terminal beeped as he turned a hologram of the Sith who orchestrated everything, Darth Sidius, appeared, "Excuse the interruption, bounty hunter. As I was saying previously, I have need of your services."
Flicking the toothpick away, the Duros Bounty Hunter said, his age clear in his voice as he spoke, "I'm listening."
"I need a Jedi holocron." Sidius stated, the shadows of the cloak hiding his identity.
"To get a holocron I'd have to break into the Jedi Temple. It's impossible not to mention deadly." The bounty hunter stated, walking closer to the hologram, as he was doubtful he could pull it off without some sort of advantage.
This made Sidius disappointed, normally he would strike back but his is a situation requiring the best of the best, and only this being had been known to be such, to reach the old age he had.
"Perhaps your reputation has been exaggerated, perhaps I should go to one of the decepticon agents who are more than willing to do the task for me." Sidius said, turning around to end the holo-communications.
That got the Duros who stated, while sitting down, "No need to bring those giant war-machines into this. All I want a rogue-class starfighter with elite weapons cloaking device, the works And triple my usual rate."
"Your price is of no concern, Cad Bane. I will also provide you with the means to get inside the temple, as well as an accomplice from those 'giant war-machines' as you called them."
Cad Bane then said, smirking, "Then you've got a deal."
Meanwhile, back in the Jedi Temple, Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Aayla Secura, and Master Yoda were devising what the loss at Felucia will mean for the war effort in the Felucia system near the planet they pulled away from. Kup and several Autobots were there via Hologram by aid of Astromech droids.
"The setback at Felucia has affected our efforts in the whole sector it'll take weeks, days at the least, before we can-"
"Master Yoda, what is it?" Skywalker asked, while Aayla knelt concerned to the aged master.
"A disturbance in the Force Intruders there will be in this temple." Yoda told them.
Hearing this Red Alert spoke, "You must be on high alert! I'm on my way with what remains of my squad to make sure that the temple is locked down from any form of intrusion."
His hologram disappeared, concerned Obi-wan spoke first, "Not that I wish to judge the… patriotism of one of your troops, commander Kup, but…"
"Don't worry about Red Alert, Kenobi, he may act like his bolts are screwed too tightly in his processor but he's good at his job. Why do you think whenever he's around the Decepticon's sneakiest spies couldn't get far with his pinpoint accurate sensors always on?" Kup assured the human Jedi with a nod, however seeing how strong Red Alert's emotions were when he heard the word 'intruder' made the human worry how close those could turn other Jedi to the darkside…
Back in Bane's apartment, the Duros was installing all the necessary upgrades for the job onto his techno-service droid, Todo 360, while also adding one of his own make... modification, claiming that he was doing repairs for the droid was having memory crashes. Soon the buzzer at the door announced someone was there and Bane ordered Todo to open the door. Revealing a helmeted being, bounty hunter by the looks of their attire, with thin like limbs and a rifle over their shoulders.
"Who are you?" The helmeted bounty hunter asked, though by the tone of the voice, it was female.
"I am Todo 360, techno-service droid." The small droid introduced himself, before asking, "Who are you?"
"None of your business." The bounty hunter said as she entered the apartment and putting her rifle to the side
Todo looked and commented, "Everyone is in a good mood today."
Raising her helmet up, the new bounty hunter revealed herself to be a clawdite, a natural changeling in the galaxy, as she approached Bane's terminal as it showed an image of a Rodian in Jedi robes, "Who's that?"
"Bolla Ropal, Jedi, out in the Mid Rim." Bane answered.
Looking over to study this potential target, the clawdite asked, "We going after him?"
"Soon. Right now, we're stealing a holocron." Bane told her as he turned off the image of his terminal's screen.
"Impossible the only place you can get a holocron is-"
"I know. Inside the main vault of the Jedi Temple." Bane answered, while getting a hologram of the entire Jedi temple, "Fortunately, our Sith Lord client has set us up with some help. For one, the map of the temple you're looking at right now. For another, a security chip that I've placed in my droid."
"I have been given all the technical data regarding security systems in the Jedi Temple."
"Both the vent shafts and the vault itself are equipped with all kinds of traps and security measures."
"Not to mention some Autobot aided traps to keep out crooks like myself from getting." A slylish, Australian accented, voice said. The sudden introduction of this new voice made Todo and the Clawdite to turn alarmed to see a purple hologram of a mechanical being with some sort of insect type armor.
"And you are?" She asked, though the symbol on the chest plate gave an indication as to what was communicating to her via hologram.
The Con in question smirked as he stood and approached, bowing dramatically, "Call me Chop Shop. Professional Thief and Decepticon infiltrator."
"A con? Here?" the Clawdite Bounty hunter asked, surprised. She heard of both the Autobots and Decepticons and since the Decepticons attack on Coruscant failed the Republic were adamant to make sure that there won't be another one to appear ever again.
Cad Bane glanced back before he remarked, "Not exactly."
"Wish ah was there in person sheila, but ah'm still on route to yer coordinates via planet fall." Chop Shop said, his hologram flickering.
Cad Bane went back to explaining the plan for all present, "Todo and Chop Shop can take the traps out and cause a distraction, but we still need help form someone inside the Jedi library to distract them systematically. And that's where your talents as a changeling will come in handy, Cato."
Cato stood up before noticing a still shape in the corner of the room, then on studying the male Skrilling's clothing, she told them, "He looks like a Jedi."
"He was." Chop Shop answered with a nasty grin.
"Who was he?" She asked looking back at Bane.
"His name was Ord Enisence." Bane answered, pressing buttons on his terminal to show a diagram of the temple on the screen.
"You can walk into the archive and monitor us without a problem." Bane finished explaining the plan. Cato then approached the Jedi's corpse. When she got close enough, she placed her two dominate fingers on the dead Jedi's hand and began to change into him, her suit activating a hologram that took on the deceased Jedi's attire.
Chop Shop whistled, impressed at the organic Shapeshifter's abilities. The Clawdite chuckled, then said in her own voice, "Now that I am a Jedi-"
Her voice then became the exact likeness of the Jedi she was impersonating, finishing her sentence, "I can do that."
"Good. You're gonna need these." Bane said pulling out what looked like ear buds, Chop Shop looked at them while Bane explained what they were, "They're ear comlinks so we can communicate."
"Not to mention some good ol' Decepticon ingenuity to keep that pesky Blaster from listening in while he's on duty aboard the Ark." Chop Shop added, watching Cad Bane as he passed one to the changeling.
Cato looked over at the diagram of the temple and remarked, "Hmm. The vault is in the library, which backs onto the communications center and all are connected to the central security center."
"Bingo. That'll be my target." Chop Shop said, his hologram approaching the screen as well.
Looking over to her partner, the changeling remarked, "There'll be swarms of Jedi and more of those Autobot things."
"We'll use them to our advantage." Bane assured her as he looked over the diagram again.
As she looked over the diagram again, the Cato posing as the deceased Jedi, unsure about something, asked, "Even, if you do get into the vault, how will you crack the safe?"
"Girl's got a good point. One false move and you're scraped." Chop Shop said, for he too noticed what Cato, the Clawdite, did.
"Let me worry about this particular safe." Bane assured, he then returned his to the plans while going over the plan to get inside the temple.
After getting clearer sense of what he needs to do, Chop Shop smirked, "Reach ya when I make it to planet fall. Expect me by half your hours."
Chop Shop's hologram disappeared, causing the two Bounty Hunters to study the Diagram more thoroughly. While looking over Cato asked, "You sure we can trust that decepticon?"
"Our client assured me that Chop Shop has his own mission and any confusion he has to help us was something he saw as a bonus." Cad Bane said to the changeling.
Cato shivered, "I still can't believe that beings are actually considering them to be sentient life-forms instead of giant droids."
Looking over at Bane, the disguised changeling asked, "Why are you not surprised by this?"
"You get use to unexpected things when you get to be my age." Bane told his recruit in this crime before going back to the schematics. Not really caring about the 'natural order' that most have seem to think when the Cybertronians came into their galaxy. If they're able to do the job, it doesn't matter to the Duros what species they are, even if their organic or mechanical.
"Now then, First things first." As he went over the plan that involved the three presently, and had to do this quickly and clearly before Chop Shop arrived.
As soon as the alert was processed through the temple, all the available Jedi in the temple when on patrols. Even with what appeared to be masked Jedi wielding pike like lightsabers added extra security. Anakin and Obi-wan walked together, trying to understand the goal of these intruders. Anakin then asked "Where do we start looking for these intruders? What could they be after?"
"I doubt they've come to hijack Starfighters." Obi-wan stated.
Anakin then asked, "What can they get here they can't get anywhere else? Cybertronian biology?"
"Information." Obi-wan answered.
Anakin picked up on what his master said, "The Jedi transmitter codes and the Autobot decoder."
"Every piece of troop information, in one place. And it's all in the east tower."
"The east tower communications center." Anakin realized, stopping from his walk and looked to his former master.
"I'll head there right away while having the guards be on alert." Anakin told Obi-wan.
Obi-wan then told Anakin of his plan, "I'll monitor the perimeter defenses from the central security station with Master Ciin. Making sure our Autobot allies are on high alert."
Both Jedi went to their positions, unaware of what is happening beneath their feet, in a manner of speaking.
Meanwhile down at the archives, Ashoka Tano looked and walked around to see how she could be of assistance for this time of punishment. She then saw a familiar face. She put on a smile and approached the Skrilling Jedi, "Good afternoon, Master Enisence."
"Good afternoon, young one." Cato stated, using her acting skills to the fullest inside the Jedi Temple.
Ashoka approached and asked, "May I be of assistance?"
"No - No, thank you, my dear I don't want to bother you" Cato told her, mentally wishing for the padawan to leave her alone.
"It wouldn't be a bother at all, Master. Things are slow right now, I could use something to do" Ashoka pointed out, smiling hopefully as the changeling had begun to think of something to say.
"Cato, come in Cato, are you there yet? Cato, come in."
The changeling said, trying to get to her position quickly, "Thank you, I'll be fine on my own"
"You sure?" Ashoka asked,
"Hey you okay?" One autobot trooper asked the other.
He other "Yeah, I think I'm picking up on an unauthorized frequency."
Being pressed for time and to avoid being found out, Cato only had one thing to do.
"Look, youngling I said I was fine. Now let me go about my business." Enisence snapped at Ahsoka, which alerted the two Autobot guards there. From what they read and heard the Jedi do not lose their anger like that.
Before anything could happen another voice went to them, "There you are, Master Enisence."
Those there turned and saw a Weequay Jedi approach. Ahsoka spoke, "Good afternoon Master Bulq."
"Good Afternoon Padawan Tano." The Weequay master said before turning to Enisence, "I know you are tense about the possibility of intruders as well as your need to rest from your latest mission, but please remember that we're all on the same side."
Seeing how this Jedi saved her life, Cato went along, "O-of course Master Bulq."
Turning to the Togurta, the disguised changeling said, "I must apologize, young one. I did not mean to snap at you as I did."
"It is alright Master, I understand. After all, it's how I got to be here in the first place." Ahsoka stated, understandingly.
Both nodded their good-byes before the two masters went about their business. When they were out of earshot, Sora Bulq whispered, "You can thank Count Dooku for my saving your life."
He then went on one way to go on patrol. While the changeling, though stunned, kept walking to do her job.
"Can't seem to do anything right these days." Ahsoka despaired as she went to try and not be a bother. While Jocasta Nu looked suspiciously at the Skrilling Jedi. She knew Master Enisence and his recent loss of control over his anger was not the kind of being he was. Something is going on, especially since the temple is on high alert.
As soon as the changeling lost sight of the two Jedi and Autobot guards overlooking that intersection of the archive, Cato went to a terminal and spoke, "I'm in."
"It's about time. Just tell us where to get in."
"There's a weak point in the shield that Todo should be able to break through." Cato said as she typed some more before adding, "I'm beaming him the coordinates now."
"Okay, I have got it." She heard Todo say through the coms.
"I will jam the temple's scanners." Cato added, though she had to make sure her actions were not detected by the Autobot troopers in the temple.
Outside of the temple came an Autobot dropship as the hanger door opened as a red, white, and grey Autobot came out and told those auto-troopers with him, "fan out, keep optics open for the intruders. I'm going to the center security station. Report if you found anything."
"Yes sir!" the four troopers chorused before heading over search for any signs of intruders. Red Alert got himself into a secure area before transforming and letting his holo-form, a canine based species found in the galaxy, appeared, in a security officer's uniform, as he continued on his way into the temple.
Unbeknownst to them an oak brown insect was climbing up the wall as he would mutter, in a familiar Australian accent, "I told those fleshies not to start the heist without me. Crikey they're hard to understand…"
While in the Security station Obi-wan was checking the security with the head of Security for the temple, Master Cin Drallig, with the droids there when a screen went out for a second, concerning the Jedi abit.
"What was that?" Obi-wan asked as the holoform of Red Alert came by.
The droid with him looked over and answered, "The system is just recycling, sir."
Red Alert however stated, shaking his head, "I do not believe so…" He then used his scanners to find the source of the… 'glitching' in the temple's security sensors.
Soon Anakin's hologram appeared with Saesee Tiin next to him, as he said "Master, I'm in the tower with Master Tiin, No intruders, but something just happened. All the scanners were behaving strangely for a moment."
"Something happened to the system down here too, it cannot be a coincidence. Red Alert is here with us and searching for the source of the scanner's irratic behavior."
Red Alert pulled himself out of his scanning and told the Jedi, "I have discovered that those were not the auto-cycling of the internal sensors, but that could only mean…"
"Arrived, the intruders have."
The three beings turned to see Master Yoda entering the security center.
"But if they are not in the tower, what are they after?"
"The communications center, perhaps, their target is."
Master Drallig then theorized, "They must be in the central ventilation system, using it as a means to get to the communications center unnoticed."
"Let me check the system." Obi-wan accessed the system before seeing an intrusion point from seconds ago, commenting to the Jedi human with him, "You're right Master Drallig: there has been a disturbance."
"It's near the top of the south tower."
"We'll meet you up there."
"On high alert place the temple."
Looking over, Red Alert said, sharply, "You should have done that before I arrived."
"Mistaken, we were…" Yoda stated, He then stopped and stated, "Another presence I sense, disturbance coming from North tower."
"Guess Anakin and Master Tiin are going to go searching on their own." Obi-wan told Master Drallig before the two went to where the other entrance was detected.
When he arrived he reached the barrier that lead to one of the larger vents, perfect for his insect form, but hard for him to change into his biped form. He saying, rubbing his finger into his chin, "This'll be a bit hard."
Detecting someone coming, he then activated his onboard cloaker which kept him hidden from detection. Once the patrol left, he went back to work, changing form to keep the cloak going before he placed four devices in locations that would be wide enough for him. He then entered a few commands into the wrist computer, "Now… let's get this party going."
The devices hummed to life before they seemed to have begun to pull the ray shields away from until it the hole in the shields was big enough for the Insecticon thief to change forms and crawl in before they shut down and disappeared from sight, allowing the shield to return to as it was as he kept crawling down the vent, "Now to get to my job. Wonder how those Drongo organics are doing with their part of the caper?"
"The control board for the fan should be on your left." Cato said to them while she heard a few beeps and the fan stopping as Todo piped, "All clear, sir."
"Not quite. The fan you're passing through has a security switch." Cato stated looking at the diagram of the vents they were at.
"I do not see anything. Besides, we have already gotten past the fan." Cato heard Todo say before the sound of the fan starting up again quickly.
Bane was then heard, "Todo, we're getting sucked into the fan! Turn it off!"
"I do not know how!" Todo shouted scared.
"Cato, do something!" Bane demanded while trying to keep himself alive.
"I've got it from here." Cato told the Duros before typing some commands that made the fan turned off.
She soon saw that they were out of that before telling Bane, "Okay, Bane, the next part is relatively simple. Make your way down the shaft until you reach-"
"Excuse me."
The disguised Clawdite turned and saw the elderly Jedi librarian standing behind her as she said, "I don't mean to disturb you, but the whole temple is on high alert."
"Thank you." Cato said before she struck, knocking the aged Jedi out and assumed her identity.
"Cato, come in We are over the vault." Bane said from the comms.
"Give me a moment to check out the security system." Cato said to the Duros. Typing quickly.
"What's wrong with your voice?" Bane asked, sounding confused.
"Change of plans I'm the librarian now." Cato answered though she felt her holo-emitter over her clothes acting up, knowing she needs to quickly finish this before someone else finds out, or worse one of the Autobots with their advance technology.
"Hurry it up, Cato We can't stay hidden for long." Bane snapped back, making Cato wince it was as though he was right next to her. She muttered to herself, "Why did they have to make these coms so accurate…"
"Well, looks like this is where they broke in." Anakin told the legend in the council, seeing the opened gate of the air vent.
"Fortunately, we'll have a less troublesome time." Master Tiin stated before using the force to deactivate the ray shield for them to pursue the intruders.
Meanwhile on another vent port on the opposite side of the temple walls, Obi-wan Kenobi and Ciin Drallig went and saw nothing out of the ordinary until Master Drallig told the younger Jedi, "Do not be deceived so easily Master Kenobi."
Reaching out with The Force, Master Drallig's hand waved and from out of nowhere four identical devices appeared and turned on. Obi-wan stared and asked, "There's another intruder?"
"Yes, we were so focused on one we left ourselves blind to another. Judging by the technology off these devices I would say that it would be a Cybertronian." Drallig said before the two Jedi masters entered the larger vent shaft.
Obi-wan then added, "This will be challenging depending on the sub-species it is."
"Indeed." Drallig said as he followed the council member into the depths.
The two kept walking while were unknowingly being spied upon by mechanical insect that was of miniature size (AN: similar to an insect on our planet).
From where Chop Shop was he would mutter, as he was cutting into a wall that was supposed to lead into the primary processor for the temple, "Inventing those micro drones were a good idea on O' Shockwave's part. Let's 'em be like a private lil swarm of my own and not needing to worry about the whopping headache of the hivemind…"
He was just finishing cutting into the metal before his onboard sensor alerted him to the presence of two organics, "'ello, what's this now?"
Getting a clear visual of the two Jedi, he groaned, "Fragg'n coppas."
He put his left servo close by and said, "Alrighty ya Beauties, do what ya made to do."
Soon hundreds of mirco drones came climbing out of his arm as they scurried throughout the circuitry.
His right arm began beeping and he answered, knowing there could only be one con that could call him, "Yeah?"
"I called to see how your progress is on the task I assigned you."
Chop looked over before saying to Obsidian, the"No Wuckas boss, just about to shoot through after my little ankle biters are done with the taps."
"Excellent work, Chop Shop. I am pleased to know you still hold the position of the best thief of the Decepticons."
After all the micro drones came back, he commented, rising to his full height, "Still, ripper idea of adding the dets to keep 'em off the real reason for this heist and all… But ya still deadest on not wanting any of the goods in the vaults of theirs?"
"It is only logical to understand more of the enemy from their very own database than rely on the information handed by others. From what I understand, only one who is connected to this 'force' energy, are the only ones who can unlock the secrets within. No, the only 'goods' I want is that of information."
Still not seeing the point, Chop Shop shrugged, "Yer the boss, I'm just the bloody ripper thief. Need an evac though or I'm a catus."
"A shuttle will be provided to you, but you need to convince the organic Jedi of your intentions."
"Right-o." Chop Shop said, ending the communications, shorting out the device that hid his transmission before thinking, 'A True Blue up yourself, that Obsidian bloke is. But a bloody genius in his noggin.'
He then transformed into his insect mode as he crawled away, thinking of a way to convince two 'mind reading' Jedi that he wasn't after anything but to aid the two organic bounty hunters with their heist.
"I don't think they came this way." Anakin told Master Tiin.
Sensing that the human Jedi is correct, Master Tiin activated his comms, and asked, "Master Yoda, are you picking up any other life signs in this quadrant?"
"Deep in the temple, the intruders are." Came the Grandmaster's voice.
Master Tiin looked back to Anakin and asked, "How are they managing to stay out of our way?"
"Possible it is, receiving assistance they are, from inside." Yoda answered.
"I concur." They heard Red Alert stated.
Anakin groaned, "Wonderful…"
Obi-wan and Ciin Drallig were continuing as they saw several hundred insects carrying pieces of a device over, which made the two jedi follow until they found a large oak brown and orange insect looking Cybertronian overseeing the construction of the device, as he spoke to them, "Oi! What's taking yous so long! If I wanted something to take this long I would've stayed on Cybertron with the rest of the hive. Gotta get these detpak in place before the whopping coppas get us!"
Both Jedi remember what a detpak is and knew if they don't stop this decepticon and disarm the detpacks then the entire temple will explode.
Ciin Drallig, as head of security for the temple, walked out of where he was approached, "You there, Decepticon. In the name of the Jedi order and the Republic, I am placing you under arrest."
Turning, the Decepticon growled, "Curses! Ya'll never take me alive coppa!"
He then let out a shriek as the mechanical insects went and swarmed over the Jedi. The two Jedi used the Force to push the insects away as Drallig charged through, activating his lightsaber. Once he got close enough he jumped up and slashed.
Chop Shop cried out and exclaimed, "Crikey! Me arm!"
And there laid Chop Shop's arm as it twitched, his shoulder leaking energon before he covered it with his remaining arm to close to the wound as he said, "Whoa there Guv'nas! Ah knew you knighties were good, but not that good to barbie me. Wat say I show you where does Detpaks are and you let me go? Serve me time and whatnot."
The two Jedi looked to each other, confused as Chop Shop added, "Oh and I can tell yous how those dongos others got through ya security without alarms going off."
Ahsoka walked along the halls when her wrist comms beeped and Yoda spoke to her, "Padawan, alert you must be. Sense deception, I do."
Ashoka was surprised by this before hearing Yoda telling her. "Posing as a Jedi, the intruder is. Find Master Jocasta, you must. Autobot Red Alert, heading your way he is."
As she hurried she heard the voice of Jocasta Nu speaking, "The two Jedi have turned around and are making their way towards you."
As she arrived she saw the real Jedi librarian there as she asked the imposter hostlily, "Who are you, and what have you done with Madame Jocasta?"
"The same thing I'm going to do to you." The Imposter hissed as she activated the Jedi and attacked.
Soon Red Alert and two of the Autobot foot soldiers arrived and aimed their blasters at the changeling, "Freeze right there organic Shifter!"
While Cato was surprised to be caught and not wanting to be vaporized by the Autobot's large guns, she left herself open for Ahsoka to defeat her, commenting, "You may have Madame Jocasta's shape, but not her combat skills."
Obi-wan and Drallig were following Chop Shop to the last of the Detpaks were, which was positioned to be on the outer wall of the temple instead of someplace of value as they deactivated the other two Detpaks.
before they found the last Detpak and he told them, "Ah'll be need'n me arm for this one. Hair trigger this one, needs two servos that know what they're doing for this."
The two were closely guard about letting a Cybertronian like a Decepticon have a limb back, but... since he's adamant about this final detonator being the most dangerous they had no choice but to let him and his mechanical insect like droid reattach his arm to it''s sock as he commented, "Bit of a patch work, but sure 'nough to do the job."
he then got down and began working on it, as he typed in a command before taking out a the tubes of energon as it shifted into its deactivated state.
"There, as I said, bob's yer uncle." Chop Shop said, grinning at it.
The two inspected the device before saying, "Our thanks for your aid, but I am afraid that you are still under arrest."
Both Jedi approached to have the Decepticon come willingly, "Right... the thing is. I sorta expected this dingo backstab, which is why the small amount of energon in that is about to blow in 5 seconds."
The two Jedi quickly felt with the Force that he was telling the truth and moved to get out of the blasting range of the Detpak even with it's small amount of explosion. Through the smoke the two Jedi could hear the Decepticon's body shift into it's alternate mode and fly off with mettalic wings beating quickly.
Sitting up Obi-wan commented, "Anakin is not going to live it down for me."
Meanwhile at the Holocron Vault access way, Bane and Todo had been working on deactivating the security door and the laser beams into the vault while Bane had ordered Todo to begin cutting the pipe out of it, commenting as to why he couldn't have the Decepticon help him in this part of the job instead of the droid.
Bane activated his comms and spoke into it, "Cato, come in."
"What has happened?" TOdo asked, approaching.
"Something's gone wrong..." Bane said to himself before asking the droid, "Todo, is the hole finished?"
"Yes, but–" Todo began before being interrupted.
Bane ordered, "Go to the communications center."
"What?" Todo asked, getting nervous.
Bane curtly stated to the droid, "You heard me."
Bane, the communications center will be crawling with Jedi… Why do I need to go in there? –
"Now!" Bane ordered, as Todo did what he was programmed and did as ordered.
As soon as he was away, Bane placed an explosive on the control panel to the vault, moved out of the way before it exploded.
Soon two Bane heard two Jedi enter and notice where his droid had left as one said, "Quick The communications center."
"Let's go." The other said as they went after Todo. Leaving Bane to take his time to find an empty Holocron and take it.
At the Communication Center, many of the Jedi were there with Master Yoda, over looking everything when the vent's duct open up and a small techno-union service droid came out of it. It certainly looked surprised to see all those Jedi there.
"Hey, guys I was just, testing the access hatch Works great–" It began before a beeping was heard, slowly increasing in speed, coming from the droid.
Mace Windu realized what that beeping meant and stated, "Bomb."
"Bomb? What bomb? Is there something going to blow up?" The droid asked asked, confused. Only to be sent back into the vent where Anakin and Master Saesee Tiin were.
Master Tiin noticed and said, "Bomb."
The two made it out of there before the droid exploded.
Back in the Archives, Ahsoka asked, helping the elderly Jedi up, "Madame librarian, are you okay?"
"I think I'm all right." Jocasta Nu said, before regaining her balance and said, leading Ahsoka away, "We must call security."
As the two left they were unaware of a Duro with a cloak over his body holding a holocron in his hands as he walked out of the temple unseen.
Inside the vault the Jedi stood and saw one was missing, even as Yoda confirmed the suspicions of the Autobot who no one seemed to have believed or listened to, "Our war operations, it was never about."
"You don't say." Red Alert stated, as if it was obvious.
Ahsoka then pulled the captured changeling away, "Come on, changeling, we have a new home for you."
"What would someone want with a holocron?" Obi-wan asked.
Red Alert followed as he said, "But did you not say it could not be opened without a Force-wielder to open it?"
That made Cato remember something as she said,"Wait..."
Turning to the Jedi she said the name of the Jedi Bane was going to go after once they had secured the Holocron, "Bolla Ropal."
"What did you say?" Mace Windu asked, his tone on the verge of being hostile.
"Bolla Ropal. That's who Bane's next target is Some Jedi." Cato told them. The room got quiet as the members of the council there looked to each other affected by the news.
Seeing the seriousness of this, Anakin asked, "What's wrong? Who's Bolla Ropal?"
"He is the keeper of the Kyber crystal, the data on which can only be read by holocrons." Master Tiin said as a the Autobot security officer began to see where this was leading.
However, he had to be sure and asked, "What's on the crystal?"
"A list of every known force-sensitive child in the galaxy." Master Drallig answered, sharing a glance with Master Windu.
"The future younglings, The future of the Jedi Order." Mace Windu stated, shocking Anakin, Ahsoka, and Red Alert.
"We have to warn him." Obi-wan told the council members there.
"That's going to be hard to do. He's out of contact, somewhere in the Devaron system." Mace Windu said
Yoda then spoke up about the subject, "Seek him out, you must. "
"Ahsoka and I will set out immediately." Anakin said as he and his padawan left to prepare their army.
"If this Cad Bane is still here on Coruscant, I'll find him." Obi-wan Kenobi said, leading Cato away to be incarcerated.
Feeling things are not as they should be, Red Alert ordered, "I want the grounds of the temple to triple checked to make sure nothing's out of the order. That include the visuals from any security cameras."
The two troopers looked at each other and one said, "Uhh… there aren't any cameras in the Jedi temple sir. Only in the temple's flight deck and the outer parameter."
Red Alert's eye twitch before he looked at the Jedi with him before he held up a hand went behind a corner and instantly the Jedi in the room sensed the level of frustration with a touch of muffled screams and yells. In a moment he came back and said, clearing his throat, "Excuse that but I could not help but feel how your religious order handles security is most likely why things as this happen."
The Jedi though keeping themselves from being insulted by the Autobot's words a few could not help but agree as Cin Drallig stated, "I'm afraid that I must agree with the Autobot, we are simply too lax in times of war. Who knows what else the enemy has in store for us due to our manner."
They all thought of his words, unaware of the true target that the Decepticons wanted.
(Here's the latest Chapter I'm sorry it took so long and so close to the "Fourth Be With You" being close to ending here but I had to do something. Chop Shop is actually a combination of both the RID2015 version and the G1 version already made. Don't worry next time you'll see him in action. Please let mek now what you thought or if you have any questions that I can answer..
And to the people who have been patient thank you for your continued support. I am sorry if I let any of you down.
What exactly is Obsidian wanting with the information in the Jedi's digital info? How will they get the Holocron now that it's in the hands of a Bounty Hunter who is obviously working for the Separatists? Find out on the next chapter of Star Wars: The Transformers.)