(If TIE Fighter attack is compatible with your device please press play)

Anakin: "Ahsoka head for that hanger at the far side of the command ship, it should take us to the fuel cells within!"

Ahsoka: "You speak as if you've done this before, master!"

Anakin: "A long time ago when I was just a kid, look just trust me Snips this will work!"

The two Jedi starfighters raced through the capital ship shooting the interior defense turrets and shield generators that stood between them and the main fuel cells within.

B-1 Battle Droid 1: "I told you before, we are on the safest ship in the fleet and in my opinion that's perfect because I'm just one week away from being commissioned to a safer post in the outer rim and a promotion!"

B-1 Battle Droid 2: "Roger-Roger on that, but I still feel as though we should have added a shield generator for the fuel cells, they seem rather exposed at the moment."

B-1 Battle Droid 1: "Come on, what is the worst that could happen?"

Suddenly two Jedi starfighters buzzed by firing a barrage of torpedoes targeted towards the fuel cells

B-1 Battle Droid 2: "You just had to tempt fate didn't you?"

B-1 Battle Droid 2: "So much for that promotion"

Suddenly column after column of the massive Lucrehulk began to explode in rapid succession

Ahsoka: "We're really cutting this one close master!"

Anakin: "Just keep in line behind me and avoid the narrow corners of the ship, stay calm and we'll get out of here!"

The flames and explosions were quickly gaining ground on the small but agile starfighters, narrowly engulfing Ahsoka. Suddenly two starfighters emerged from the crumbling wreck of the Lucrehulk.

Ahsoka: "WOOOOOO-HOOOOO"

Anakin: "Yeah, great work Snips!"

R2D2: "WEEEEOOOOOOOO"

Anakin: "You too, buddy"

B-1 Battle Droid Technician: "Sir, most of our capital ships have been destroyed by the Republic, including our main capital ship!"

Tactical Droid: "Tell all remaining forces to fall back and make the jump to lightspeed"

B-1 Battle Droid Technician: "Roger, Roger"

Soon the separatist forces surrounding the planet's orbit had retreated, leaving the Republic open to the second component of the recovery mission: Invasion

Yularen: "General Skywalker, this is Admiral Yularen, a rather audacious and assertive strategy I must say, but it paid off in the end. Great work!"

Captain Rex: "It was quite the fireworks display sir."

Anakin gave a smug smirk

Anakin: "It was all in a day's work gentleman, but I really couldn't have done it without Ahsoka, she really showed composure when we escaped the wreckage. Speaking of which, we should really put those flying skills to the test sometime Snips, a race perhaps?"

Ahsoka: "You're on"

Soon Mace Windu and Obi-Wan's starships pulled alongside

Obi-Wan: "Great work Anakin, you too Ahsoka, now let's get back to the hanger so we can get to the real task at hand, I think I've had enough flying for the day"

Upon returning to the main hanger bay, the four starships along with columns of ARC-170 starfighters were met by a rapturous roar of clones cheering and welcoming them back. Anakin then noticed the row upon row of vacant starfighter stations that were once filled. He then glanced at the jubilant clones in the hanger talking to the three Jedi that had accompanied him in battle.

"They truly deserve better than this, they are willing to die for a cause they vaguely understand and most only view them as slaves."

Anakin stopped for a moment, soon the noise that had surrounded him in the hanger bay was deafened. He soon saw desert huts surround him and a long vacant desert street. A small boy with golden blonde hair and a woman in jagged attire with brown hair was knelt down to the boys face with her hands placed on his shoulders.

Anakin: "I can't do it, Mom. I just can't do it."

Shmi: "Ani..."

Anakin: "Will I ever see you again?"

Shmi: "What does your heart tell you?"

Anakin: "I hope so. Yes... I guess."

Shmi: "Then we will see each other again."

Anakin: "I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise."

Shmi: "Now, be brave, and don't look back. Don't look back."

As the young boy slowly walks away, Anakin then notices a familiar face looking at him

Anakin: "Qui-Gon?"

Qui-Gon: "Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment Anakin, let the force guide you and your decisions. Only then can you fulfill the prophecy of becoming the chosen one who will bring balance to the force".

Anakin: "I don't understand what's going on Qui-Gon, I'm so lost, if I cannot save my own mother, how can I become the chosen one? How can I protect those closest to me? Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, the Jedi, The clones, Pad-"

Anakin stopped and suddenly felt an upwell of fear before he stated the last name

Qui-Gon: "Anakin, your inhibitions are only that, inhibitions. Ultimately you decide how your future will play out. Remember, you are strong and wise, the force sent you our way for a reason, you WILL bring balance to the force and restore a long-lasting peace to the galaxy. Remember, your mother and I will always be at your side every step of the way. May the force be with you Anakin Skywalker"

Before Anakin could express any more concerns or questions, he soon found himself back in the hanger bay surrounded by clones and Ahsoka.

Ahsoka: "Master, are you okay?"

Anakin: "Yeah Snips I'm okay, how long have I been out for?"

Ahsoka: "Quite a while, Master Kenobi and Windu took their battalions to the adjacent hanger bay and are waiting to prep for the invasion"

Anakin: "Well we better get moving then, every minute we spend on the ship gives the separatists more time to crack that genetic sequence. Where's Rex?"

Captain Rex: "Right here sir"

Anakin then notices a phase 1 clone with blue tinted armor emerge from the crowd of clone troopers

Anakin: "Have Obi-Wan and Master Windu that we are ready to disembark and land with the garrison stationed on Mygeeto"

Captain Rex: "Yes sir, right away sir!"

Rex quickly sprinted to meet with the garrison stationed at the opposite side of the hanger

Captain Rex: "Master Jedi, General Skywalker is ready whenever you are to commence the landing on the planet's surface"

Obi-Wan: "Very good, and I'm glad to hear that he's doing fine after that incident from earlier, what exactly happened?"

Captain Rex: I-I'm not exactly sure sir, one minute he had exited his fighter and the next minute he's on the ground unconscious"

Windu: "That boy really concerns me sometimes, he lets his emotions take over his mental processes too often and it's draining him"

Obi-Wan: "Master, Anakin is one of the strongest people I've known in terms of mental fortitude, if anybody can stare death in the face and laugh at it, it's him. It's mostly adjusting to the war that's taken a toll on him emotionally, he spoke about it briefly in the temple a few months back while we were documenting in the temple library. He cares for his men and those around him deeply, and I find that admirable and proves that he is making tremendous progress not only as my apprentice, but as a Jedi".

Windu then provides a small grin to show his trust in the words that Obi-Wan just spoke.

Windu: "Well you practically have raised the boy for years now, and he has shown tremendous skill and fortitude in battle. I just fear that his fears can steer him down some very dark paths"

Obi-Wan: "Trust me master, as long as I am here by his side, Anakin WILL not venture down that path."

Windu: "I trust your judgment Obi-Wan, now we have a battle to win and some plans to retrieve here. ARC Trooper!"

An ARC trooper with a red tinted visor approached Windu

ARC Trooper: "Yes sir?"

Windu: "Notify the admirals of the fleet that we are beginning the invasion, and have your squadron board the LAAT gunship with me"

ARC Trooper: "Yes, sir"

Obi-Wan: "Let's go Cody"

The fleet was now scrambling to their gunships preparing for the inevitable battle that lied ahead. One that would see the Republic suffer losses not seen since the first battle of Geonosis.

*Meanwhile on the planet surface of Mygeeto*

Admiral Tonkin: "Count, I understand the importance of these DNA sequences, but why deploy such a miniscule defense presence for such a large Republic fleet?"

Count Dooku: "I can assure you admiral that such large expenditures of resources are not required for what we have developed"

Admiral Tonkin: "Who are you referring to as we in this conversation?"

?:"Me"

The admiral became startled when he heard a voice come from behind him, he had recognized that voice from anywhere. The Toydarian turned around to be face to face with Darth Sidious on a holoprojector.

Admiral Tonkin: "AH! Oh I'm sorry my lord, I jus-just wasn't expecting to hear from you"

Darth Sidious: "A mission as important as this must require my supervision. Admiral I'm entrusting you to do your part in this. We have developed a pathogen that should present certain...vulnerabilities in the clones functionality"

Admiral Tonkin: "What vulnerabilities?

Darth Sidious: "Through ancient Sith alchemy, my apprentice and I were able to develop a neurological inhibitor that Jango Fett's DNA was susceptible to, particularly the medulla Oblongata, controlling the heartbeat of the clones"

Admiral Tonkin: "You created a biological weapon? Doesn't this seem a bit cruel? In my experience of war, it is more admirable and honorable to give your adversary a quick painless death, rather than prolong their agony".

Before the admiral could persist in his concerns, he was soon lifted off his feet against his will.

Darth Sidious: "Such morals and ethics are irrelevant in the time of war, admiral. Now I have entrusted you with this task and I wish to see it through in all its effects."

The Toydarian was then quickly released by Sidious, gasping for air and holding his throat, trying to comprehend what just occurred

Admiral Tonkin: "I-I-I'm sorry for questioning your judgment my lord it won't happen again, but I have to know, will any other life forms be affected by this virus?"

Darth Sidious: "No, hence why I only sent a small detachment of battle droids to the planet in its defense. I have dispersal units with the virus already loaded on to them, when the clones cross the land bridge to your location at the main spire, I want you to execute them and spread the pathogen onto the battlefield."

Admiral Tonkin: "I understand my lord"

Darth Sidious: "Do not fail me"

The transmission from the holoprojector soon cut out, leaving the count and the toydarian to stare at one another.

Count Dooku: "Come, we must make the final preparations for the dispersal chambers for the impending Republic Attack"

Anakin, Ahsoka, and Rex all stood into the LAAT gunship preparing to take off. R2D2 stayed behind with one of the clone engineers for a maintenance and cleaning check.

Ahsoka: "If I may ask master, what exactly happened?

Anakin: "I really don't want to talk about Snips"

Ahsoka: "I'm always here if you want to talk master, we're friends after all, and we've been through a few battles by now so you know you can trust me"

Anakin: "As long as it's not the same as the incident on Christophsis with a certain wall falling down on top of me"

Ahsoka: "Hey, it worked didn't it?"

Anakin let out a hearty laugh

Anakin: "I guess that's a good point, and yes I can trust you Snips, maybe I'll tell you someday".

The LAAT then slowly began to hover off the platform and slowly began ascending out of the Venator. Dozens upon dozens of LAAT descended down to the planet surface of Mygeeto. The planet was sprawling with spires and and large towers on platforms well above ground. Snow and visibility made the approach to the forward command center treacherous for the LAAT gunships, but otherwise it was casualty free.

Anakin: "Strange to not encounter anti-air battery fire on a planet approach, be on your guard everyone".

Soon LAAT's began landing at the forward command center, where a detachment of clones were already waiting for their brothers in arms to enter the battle against the separatists. Mace Windu then met with the clone commander in charge of leading the strike against the main spire where the DNA sequences were being stored.

Clone Commander: "I'm going to be honest with you sir, we haven't had much resistance down here except for a few scout patrols trying to do reconnaissance on our position, but other than that it's been pretty quiet."

Mace: "Thanks for the report trooper, have one of our squads make a forward advance towards the main spire and scout ahead for anything we should be aware of before making our offensive push"

Clone Commander: "Yes sir!"

A detachment of 501st clones along with Captain Rex were sent to scout ahead and report back anything they encounter

Rex: "Be on your guard men, we don't know what to expect here, and these DNA sequences are especially vital to the Republic war effort, so the clankers will be protecting it well"

Soon a rotational movement was approaching the squad from up ahead, it was hard to decipher what exactly the sound was due to the poor visibility of the blizzard, but the clones were prepared and trained for anything, after all, they were the best of the best, the 501st.

Suddenly the source of the sound soon emerged from the snow: Droidekas

Clone: "Sir, destroyers!"

Captain Rex: "I see em', squad use your EMP grenades and when their shields are down blast them back to where they were manufactured!"

Clones: "Yes sir!"

Soon the quick precision and initiative of the clones bested the droidekas and the squad regrouped.

Captain Rex: "Great work men, now let's return back to the forward command center and tell them the rest of the way is clear"

Undenounced to them, two canisters with the neurological pathogen were deployed underneath the bridge that lay just ahead of them triggered by motion should anyone be unfortunate to cross them...

*END OF CHAPTER*