Chapter 11: Escape From Atlas

"Jason; Nathan, I'm going to give you this one chance to lower your weapons and stand down." Ironwood called out over the intercom. "You're surrounded, outnumbered, and one of you is exhausted. Surrender now; and perhaps a peaceful resolution can be found to all this."

Nathan scowled. "Peace, huh? Had you asked me before trying to screw me over; I'd be willing to talk. But now… fuck that!"

"Jason; you've always been one to see reason." Ironwood said; anger audible in his tone; but not really well hidden. "You and Nathan need to stand down now; otherwise it's very unlikely you will ever see Winter again."

"What; gonna kill her?" Jason asked.

"If I have to in order to force a surrender out of you." Ironwood responded coldly. "Now stand down!"

Nathan turned to face Ironwood; staring down the man whose thumb he had spent six months trying to wriggle out from under.

He could see Ironwood's anger, his fury, his hatred for Nathan being brought down upon him in such a withering glare that were it a weapon, Nathan would be dust on the wind.

But Nathan also sensed something else: Desperation.

Desperation to not only take Nathan down, but to also save face after being utterly humiliated by Nathan just now.

Smirking, Nathan flipped Ironwood the bird, defiantly saying: "Kiss my ass, Ironwood!"

Ironwood's fists clenched as he said: "Men! Open fire, shoot to injure only!"

At that, Nathan spun around, and with a nod to Jason, reached out with a Force Push that sent all the troops Ironwood had called into the room flying backwards, taking them all down.

Switching off their lightsabers, Nathan and Jason dashed out of the training room.

"Think Ironwood's gonna send Jacques the repair bill for this?" Nathan asked Jason jokingly.

Jason chuckled. "Well; he's going to need someone to take his anger out on."

Nathan smirked. Now to get out of here. But first; someone had to rescue Kanan and Ghira.

The Viewing Box…

Seeing Ironwood was distracted, Kanan glanced over at Ghira, as if to ask:

"Should we take him down?"

Ghira met his son's gaze, then looked to Ironwood, nodding. "Go ahead." He mouthed quietly.

Kanan nodded, and rushed Ironwood, wrapping his arms around the general's waist from behind.

"What-" Ironwood made to say, when Kanan suddenly popped his hips and hurled Ironwood up and over his head, causing the head of Atlas Academy and the military to land right on the back of his head and neck.

Getting to his feet, Kanan rushed Ironwood immediately afterwards and clobbered him with a vicious lariat, once more knocking Ironwood down. Jumping up, Kanan looked to Ghira. "Come on, let's get out of here!" He shouted as they both dashed out of the door.

Within moments, they heard Ironwood's voice over the entire base's intercom:

"Attention all units! Nathan Phoenix, Jason Stone, Kanan Belladonna-Khan and Ghira Belladonna are to be detained on sight! They are around the training room! Find them!"

Kanan looked to Ghira, shrugging. "Not the first time I've pissed off someone I shouldn't have."

Ghira chuckled. "Come. Let's find Nathan and Jason."

"Won't have to look too far." Nathan called out as he and Jason rounded the corner.

Kanan smiled as he strode to Nathan, hugging the Jedi tightly. "Good to see you, Nathan. Think you've got enough fight in you to get to the hangars?"

Nathan nodded. "My bags and that are packed and ready to go in my quarters. But we also need to find and get Weiss. I don't plan on leaving without her."

"Winter was ordered to take her home, though." Ghira pointed out.

"Knowing Winter; she wouldn't have." Jason responded. "Just a matter of finding them. Now come on; let's go!"

At that, two squads of soldiers appeared, one on each end of the corridor.

"Drop your fucking weapons and get on the ground NOW!" One of the soldiers ordered.

Nathan responded by drawing Phoenix's Breath and opening fire, having quickly loaded stun rounds into the pistol. Grabbing his last flashbang, Nathan tossed it at the opposite end of the corridor.

Once both squads were down, Nathan looked to his friends. "Let's go." He said.

Nathan's Quarters, at the same time…

"Looks like we have everything ready for him when he gets here." Weiss said as she set the bags down.

After Ironwood had ordered Winter to escort her home, Winter had instead brought her to Nathan's quarters, where they had proceeded to finish packing Nathan's bags ready for Nathan to come for them.

"I guess all that remains is to wait." Winter said tentatively.

"Is… everything alright, Winter?" Weiss asked, noticing her older sister's expression.

"It should be… but at the same time it isn't." Winter replied. "I've spent eight years serving the Atlas Military… nearly nine, now. To… to act in defiance of it now… it feels wrong."

"It's okay, Winter." Weiss assured her older sister. "We'll think of a way to ensure you still can after this."

Winter gave Weiss a soft smile before suddenly, her scroll started ringing.

A quick glance showed Winter it was Jason calling. Answering within moments, Winter said: "Jason?!"

Gunfire could be heard in the background as Jason said: "Winter! Me, Nathan, Kanan and Ghira are out of the training room! Where are you guys?!"

"Me and Weiss are in Nathan's quarters." Winter replied. "We've been getting his things ready so he's got everything for his departure!"

"Good." Jason said. "We're enroute now!"

Winter nodded before saying: "See you soon!" Before hanging up. Taking a deep breath, Winter looked to her younger sister. "I can't stay here, Weiss. I have to be seen looking for them or Ironwood will suspect my complicity in this escape."

Weiss nodded understanding, taking her own deep breath. Tears were visible in Weiss' eyes as she asked: "Promise me this isn't the last time we speak, Winter."

"It won't be." Winter replied, before pulling Weiss into a warm, loving hug. "Be safe, little sister. Go and be with the woman you chose, and not the man Father chose for you."

Weiss choked back a sob. "I love you, Winter…"

"As I do you, Weiss." Winter said softly before breaking the hug. "Now wait here until Nathan, Jason, Kanan and Ghira join you."

Weiss nodded tearfully as Winter got up and left the room.

As the door closed behind Winter, she sighed, placing a hand over her belly. I have to tell Jason, she thought, before the sound of gunfire drew her attention. Nodding, Winter set off in that direction, hoping to all existing deities that everything was going to be okay.

With Jason, Nathan, Kanan and Ghira…

Rounding a corner, Jason found himself staring down ten different gun barrels. "Get back!" He shouted, jumping back around the corner as a volley of rifle fire bludgeoned the wall behind where Jason would have been stood had he not moved.

Within moments of the volley ceasing, Nathan dashed out from around the corner, snapping off shots from Phoenix's Breath that stunned and took down over half their adversaries' number, taking cover behind the opposite corner as the remaining troops opened fire.

Jason met his close friend's gaze, and they shared a nod, with Nathan holstering Phoenix's Breath and drawing his lightsaber.

As oncoming fire subsided, both dashed out from cover, only to watch as a summoned Manticore barrelled into the remaining soldiers, downing all of them with zero issues.

It wasn't long before Winter rounded that corner, looking relieved to have found them.

"Winter!" Jason shouted, dashing forward and hugging his girlfriend. "Where's Weiss?"

"Still in Nathan's quarters." Winter replied. "If Ironwood saw I hadn't followed his orders…"

"Okay…" Jason said, kissing Winter softly.

"Jason."

Jason looked to see Nathan, who said:

"Me, Kanan and Ghira can go get Weiss. You and Winter say what you want to say to each other."

Jason nodded as Nathan, Ghira and Kanan headed off; leaving Winter and Jason alone in the corridor.

Facing Winter, Jason took a breath. "Winter… you could always come with us." He said, placing his hands on her hips.

Winter shook her head, tears threatening to form in her eyes as she replied: "I swore an oath, Jason… I can't break that oath. Even if I wanted to."

Jason felt tears of his own forming as he responded: "Ironwood will think you every bit the traitor, Winter… He… he'll kill you."

Winter allowed a smirk to cross her face. "Not if what I suspect is true." Winter replied. "I… Jason… I… I think I might be pregnant."

Jason blinked as he looked down to Winter's belly, then to Winter. "You think you are; or… are you sure you're pregnant?"

"The signs are there, Jason." Winter replied. "Those bouts of early morning sickness I've been having… it's a symptom of early pregnancy…"

Jason bowed his head, chuckling. "Now I want to stay…" He said.

"You know Nathan will need you in Mistral, Jason." Winter said softly, tears threatening to return. "What matters is that… I'll be alright. Now you go make sure everyone else is alright."

Jason nodded, then pulled Winter into a passionate kiss.

Winter returned the kiss fiercely, putting as much passion and love into it as she could until the kiss was finally broken.

"I love you, Winter Schnee…" Jason said softly.

"I love you too, Jason Stone." Winter replied. "Go…"

Jason sighed and forced himself to walk past Winter, fighting back tears as Winter was heard shouting:

"This is Specialist Winter Schnee! They're heading for the hangars! I repeat; the targets are heading for the hangars!"

The last Jason saw of Winter; she had sank down onto the floor, in tears.

Outside Nathan's Quarters…

Nathan was just shouldering his backpack as Jason rounded the corner.

"Winter gonna be alright?" Nathan asked Jason, seeing the emotion in his friend's face.

Jason met Nathan's gaze and nodded. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."

Nathan smiled sympathetically and patted Jason on the shoulder before looking to Weiss, Kanan and Ghira. "Everyone good to go?"

The three of them nodded.

"Good. Jason; lead the way to the hangars." Nathan ordered. "Kanan, Weiss; you're our rearguard. Keep those fuckers off our asses."

All four nodded, and Jason, wiping the tears from his eyes, led the group away from Nathan's former quarters and on towards the hangars.

Soldiers appeared in their path, but between Nathan and Jason's lightsabers deflecting much of their incoming fire, and Weiss working with Kanan to secure their rear, nothing much could be done by the soldiers.

Until one appeared toting a rocket launcher.

Stopping in their tracks, Nathan shouted: "GET BACK!" Just as the soldier fired.

Within moments, all five were sent flying, Nathan taking the brunt of the blast and flying back into the wall, his aura breaking as a consequence.

Forcing himself to his feet, Nathan saw the soldier reloading the rocket launcher, and so drew Phoenix's Breath, firing the moment the rocket launcher fired his weapon.

His bullet and the rocket met in the middle, causing a massive explosion that rocked the area.

Seizing the advantage, Nathan dashed forwards, refusing to wait for the smoke to clear, leaping out from the smoke and drop kicking the rocket launcher wielding soldier directly in the face, knocking them out.

As the smoke finally cleared, Jason, Kanan, Ghira and Weiss joined him.

"Your aura…" Jason mused, knowing Nathan was now vulnerable.

"We've faced worse odds with little to no aura at all." Nathan said resolutely. "Never fucked us over in the past. Let's keep moving."

Fifteen Minutes Later, the hangars…

"Here we are." Jason said as they all entered the hangar bay. "Now all that remains is to hold here and wait for extraction."

"Extraction?" Nathan asked. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Before Ghost left for Mistral with the rest of the gang; he told me that he'd made contact with some people who could help us in the future." Jason replied. "I contacted them whilst you were fighting the Ace Ops. They're on their way as we speak."

Nathan nodded. "Good. Then we can-"

BANG!

The sudden crack of a gunshot echoed across the cavernous hangar bay, making all of them jump.

Jason looked around, then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Jason…"

Jason looked to see Nathan.

And then noticed the bullet wound in his chest.

"No, no, NO!" Jason yelled as Nathan suddenly sank back, collapsing to the floor. "Kanan; get some pressure on that wound!" Jason ordered, at which the son of the White Fang High Leader dropped next to Nathan, doing just that.

"Don't be so concerned… Nathan will live."

Jason immediately drew his lightsaber as General Ironwood strode into view, Due Process in his hand, the barrel smoking as he levelled it at Jason.

Behind Ironwood, an entire platoon of Atlesian soldiers filed in, backed by several more platoons' worth of AK-200s, all of whom surrounded Jason, Weiss, Ghira, Kanan and the fallen Nathan in a semi-circle.

"This is madness, General!" Ghira said. "All this purely for a ego-based grudge?!"

"I would mind what you say right now, Belladonna." Ironwood growled. "I'm not the one with a hundred weapons leveled at them!"

"You really expect us to go back?!" Jason demanded. "You really expect Sienna Khan to be happy with you arresting her son and closest advisor?!"

"Sienna Khan no longer matters." Ironwood responded coldly. "I let her know that the alliance is no more and that Kanan and Ghira are to blame for it. As for you and Nathan… you are both under arrest for insubordination, treason and other charges. You will surrender immediately or me and my men will kill you."

"And you expect Winter will accept that?" Jason asked. "You kill me; she'll renounce any oaths she made to you!"

"Then she will join you in death." Ironwood responded coldly. "As for Weiss… you are to surrender immediately and return to the Schnee Manor. I imagine your father will not be-"

"Fuck my father." Weiss spat. "And fuck you for thinking that just because you are a grown man and commanding officer of an army, you know better than anyone! Jason would be a much better commander than you, and it-"

BANG!

Weiss flew back, crashing into Ghira, and slumping on the floor, stunned but nothing else.

"Weiss!" Jason shouted.

"She'll be alright." Ghira assured him.

Nodding, Jason turned to face Ironwood.

"The choice is yours, Jason. Though it will be much easier if you just came quietly." Ironwood said.

Jason looked down at Nathan; sensing he was still alive, just. Looking back at Ironwood; Jason raised his lightsaber. "I'm sorry, James… but I'm done hearing you act like a child over being proven wrong."

Ironwood's nostrils flared as he roared: "Then prepare to die! MEN! TAKE AIM!"

At this, Ironwood's men all readied their weapons, prepared to open fire.

Steeling himself, Jason raised his lightsaber, staring defiantly at the general, who said:

"MAKE READY!"

Jason could sense every soldier's finger tighten around the trigger, and took a deep breath. I love you, Winter, he thought.

Just as laser fire from outside the hangar sent many of Ironwood's men flying.

"WHAT?!" Ironwood shouted as he spun around to see a large ship entering the empty hangar.

Jason smiled as he recognised it:

It was a customised Nu-Class Attack Shuttle; a ship commonly used by the Republic during the Clone Wars.

"Return fire! Take that ship down!" Ironwood ordered, raising his pistol to fire on the ship.

Jason decided now was the perfect time to dash forwards, and he promptly tackled Ironwood to the floor, mounting him to piston right hook after right hook into Ironwood's face before the general managed to score a hook of his own, knocking Jason off of him.

"Fine. Let's dance!" Ironwood snarled as he got to his feet.

Jason followed suit, but just before they collided, the shuttle flew straight into Ironwood; sending him flying back.

Within moments, the shuttle landed, and the ramp lowered, at which Jason heard several similar sounding voices within:

"GO, GO, GO!"

Jason stepped back as several Clone troopers dashed out from the shuttle, securing their immediate area and laying down fire against the Atlesian soldiers, who were rapidly cut down by the hail of blasterfire.

"Blaze!" Jason called out to one of them; evidently the leader.

Blaze was clad in standard phase two clone armour, with a selection of red markings across the shoulders, the arms, the breastplate and his helmet. Over that was a set of red shoulder pauldrons, and hanging from his belt was a black and red kama. Attached to his helmet furthermore was a rangefinder.

"General Stone! Glad you finally called it in!" Blaze shouted over the din of the fight.

"Glad you made it!" Jason replied.

"What's the situation?" Blaze asked.

"Nathan is wounded; single gunshot to the chest. One of our friends is also incapacitated but no major injuries!" Jason replied. "We need to get them out of here, ASAP!"

"Got it!" Blaze responded. "Ember, Spark, Rook; cover me!"

From there; the other clones; one of whom had completely unmarked clone armour, began laying down cover fire as Blaze followed Jason to where Nathan, Weiss, Kanan and Ghira were.

Much to Jason's horror, Nathan no longer appeared conscious.

"He's losing a lot of blood." Kanan said. "We need to get him out of here, now!"

"Ghira; carry him!" Jason ordered. "Kanan; get Weiss!"

Both Belladonnas nodded as they picked up their respective charges, carrying both into the shuttle.

Before long, Blaze, Ember, Spark and Rook followed suit, with Blaze shouting:

"Jet; get us out of here!"

Before long, Jason felt the shuttle lift off and fly out of the hangar, at which another clone appeared nearby.

"Any wounded, General Stone?" the clone asked, visibly a medic.

Jason nodded. "Commander Phoenix. Get to work on him ASAP."

"Will do." The clone medic replied. "And it's Fix, by the way."

"Pleasure to meet you, Fix." Jason said. "Just help Nathan as best you can." At this, he sank back and finally allowed himself to relax. They were all free.

Back in Atlas…

Ironwood glowered at the carnage surrounding him as medics attended to his head; which was bleeding slightly from a small cut just below his hairline.

Roughly an entire platoon of soldiers lay dead, and many more were wounded.

Some had thankfully escaped with minor wounds and injuries, the result of the men that had extracted Nathan and his friends from the hangar setting weapons to stun.

Ironwood's fists clenched. Today was meant to be one of triumph; one where he would finally teach Nathan Phoenix a much deserved lesson.

But no… Nathan just had to go and humiliate him.

Not only had Nathan successfully passed the test; he had then defeated the Ace Ops single handed when he was supposed to lose, and then… then he had escaped Atlas completely, with Weiss Schnee in his entourage!

Who was meant to be getting married the following morning!

Ironwood knew Jacques would be furious. He could hear the bastard's rant now:

"General?"

Ironwood looked to see the Ace Ops had joined him, all nursing various injuries from their fight with Nathan. "Glad you're all alright. You're the best I have; and I'll need you at your best if and when Nathan and his friends appear again."

"Rules of engagement when they do, sir?" Clover asked.

Ironwood turned to face him, snarling: "Nathan Phoenix and his allies have become more trouble than they are worth. Nathan and Jason are to be killed on sight. I couldn't care less what you do with the others…"

Clover nodded, saluting. "Yes sir."

The Clone's Shuttle, at the same time…

Nathan groaned as his eyes slowly opened, and he sat up, groaning as he clutched the bullet wound in his chest.

Looking down, Nathan noticed the wound had been freshly dressed and bandaged. Was that a bacta patch?

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Nate."

Nathan looked to see Jason sat a few feet away, smiling. "Jason… w-where am I?"

"Our extraction arrived just in time." Jason replied as he got up, helping Nathan up. "We're all on their ship, now."

"Right…" Nathan said as he brushed his hair back. "Who are they?"

"Why not ask us yourself, Commander?"

At the sound of that voice, followed by his rank, Nathan froze. That was one voice he would never forget; even if he was old, grey, and riddled with Alzheimer's.

Slowly, Nathan turned, finding himself face-to-face with a clone trooper:

The clone looked just like any other clone; with black hair styled in a buzzcut, tanned skin and intelligent brown eyes.

Or rather; one brown eye, as his left eye was covered with an eyepatch, likely covering up the aftermath of the ugly scar that ran through it.

Covering most of the clone's body was their armour, completely white save for the blood red markings covering the upper arms, breastplate, forearms, gloves and helmet. Additionally, the clone was wearing red double pauldrons, and a black kama lined with red.

In the crook of the clone's arm was their helmet, covered also with a red visor that came up and over the main visor of the helmet. Additionally, a rangefinder was attached to his helmet.

"Blaze…?" Nathan asked, looking him over.

Blaze saluted, saying: "Reporting for duty, commander." Looking behind him, Blaze shouted: "Ember! Spark! Get down here! The commander's awake!"

Behind Blaze came two more clone troopers, followed by another two.

The first two to join them were clad in ARC Trooper Armour, one with yellow markings, the other with orange markings.

One half of the second pair bore markings traditionally denoting him as a medic, whilst the other had completely plain armour that almost looked good as new.

Nathan felt tears begin to blur his sight as he saw the two ARC Troopers: "Ember… Spark…"

"Reporting for duty." Both responded before saluting.

The medic then stepped forward and saluted: "Medical Officer Fix, reporting for duty, Commander."

"Rook, reporting for duty, sir!" The clone wearing almost new armour added, saluting himself.

Nathan chuckled and wiped the tears from his eyes, before asking: "But… how? I thought you'd all followed Order Sixty-Six."

"Most of us did." Blaze replied. "But me, Ember and Spark looked into what Fives was saying a month or so prior, and discovered that he was right about the chips in our head. So we had them removed shortly before our last mission; same with most of Inferno Company. Unfortunately when the order came in; that turned our whole ship against us." Sighing, Blaze added: "Many of them died fighting their way to the hangars so we could escape. More died fighting off more of our brothers as those that did survive got away. As it stands… me, Ember and Blaze are the only survivors."

Nathan took a deep breath. "And what about Rook and Fix? They new recruits or something?"

"Fix joined my squad before the mission; so I ordered his be removed as well." Blaze replied. "The same for Rook here. He's a shiny who joined us the same with Fix."

Nathan nodded, before realising there were others on the ship. "Fuck, where are my manners?!"

"There is no need for that, Nathan." Ghira called out as he, Kanan and Weiss joined them. "Your former subordinates have been very welcoming to us."

"Good." Nathan replied. "Right... who's piloting the ship?"

"That would be me; commander!" A voice called out from the cockpit.

Nathan's face broke into a massive grin. "Jet! I should have known they'd keep the craziest fucking clone pilot around!"

"You're right on the money!" Jet called out.

Nathan chuckled before looking to Blaze, who now eyed him inquisitively.

"Questions aside… what are your orders, Commander?"

Nathan nodded, then took a deep breath. "Jet; chart a course for Bar. Small village few miles east of Vale." He ordered. "I have a family to liberate."

"Yes sir." Jet replied.

Well; Nathan is now free from Atlas, and is now on his way to do all that he said he would do upon leaving Atlas.

Also; Winter's possibly pregnant!

Also; clones from Nathan's old clone division have arrived! They are: Clone Captain Blaze (Leader), ARC Troopers Ember and Spark, Medical Officer Fix, Jet (Pilot), and finally, Rook (Shiny).

Anyway; let's answer some reviews, shall we?

april-551: Glad you could finally join us; your presence has been missed. As for your questions:

- Yes, but not kill them. The dead are from the clones blasting their way in using the ship's cannons. So blame Jet.

- Unshielded; Atlas warships won't stand a chance against an Imperial Star Destroyer. Shielded; there's at least a chance. Slim, but it's there.

- You'll have to wait and see about the beskar.

- Perhaps. Will they have time for that, though?

- ALL THE DAKKA IN THE GALAXY! FOR GORK AND MORK!

Firem78910: Jimmy dun goofed indeed.

Guest: I personally think Blake's bisexual, given she was in that relationship with Adam and did have some romantic interest in Sun. But that's just me.

keybladelight: He's always had a green lightsaber.

Sharnorasian Empire: Winter kinda complies, kinda doesn't. Besides, her possible pregnancy will save her... I hope.

vmoneywashere: It certainly did my friend. It certainly did.

That said; thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you enjoyed it... you all know what to do.

I shall see you tomorrow with Chapter 12: Operation Emancipation.

T-Rock14