Chapter 6
A Gathering Storm
VANGUARD FLEET
Shatterpoint
Ahkilleon pushed off the medical droid as he got dressed "You are not fully functional sir." the droid snapped fighting to keep the young jedi out of his trousers, he was in a wrestling match with two of the droids and one by one they pushed him and he pushed back. "I'm fine." Ahkilleon argued.
"What is the meaning of this?" The droid and Ahkilleon looked back at the doorway to see Lord Asimov was there.
"Warlord, the patient is refusing to cooperate." The B1 nurse said to him.
He looked at Ahkilleon, "He's on his feet, he's fine, Padawan follow, let's see if you can obey that simple order."
Lord Asimov walked out and Ahkilleon got dressed, he followed Lord Asimov back into the ship's hallways, "What are our losses?" Ahkilleon asked.
"We lost four dreadnoughts and over ten thousand men. The Empire had sabotaged the garrison's defenses just before we arrived and we noticed it too late when they had our ground forces surrounded, but that's not why I'm here." Lord Asimov said as they walked into the hangar.
Ahkilleon clutched his side feeling his body wasn't fully healed but mostly he was just stiff, "The Inquisitor."
"Grand Inquisitor Jerec, former Jedi Master who you lost to." Lord Asimov stopped his back and turned to him, "This is the second time you have disobeyed orders to stay out of combat, and the first to disobey me to chase after glory."
"I was trying to save Commander Sigma-" "Then you should have come straight to me to plan a proper rescue, an army is only as strong as its weakest unit." Lord Asimov scolded.
Ahkilleon looked at the floor, Lord Asimov's words cruel but true to him"All that training I did, all that wasted time it was for nothing, I couldn't even touch him."
Sensing Ahkilleons self deprivation Lord Asimov held out his hand and pointed to an open section of the hangar lined with hundreds of metal caskets "Look."
"Those men and women, will never go home, there husbands and wives will never see them again, their children and parents will never hold them again. They are dead, you are not so enough of this self pity you muling child." Lord Asimov hissed.
Ahkilleon looked up the cold words hard as steel, "You are my padawan, I will not see you belittle yourself because you dared to face a stronger enemy, because that is what it means to be Militia." Lord Asimov turned around, the teenager wasn't sure if his Master was being nice or insulting "You are reckless, pedant, and foolhardy. Facing a fallen Jedi Master like Jerec and expecting to win on your first encounter is foolish." Lord Asimov said as the hangar started to fill with officers and crew "We will speak more on this later, for now the General is arriving, and our next move will be planned."
The Vanguard fleet had assembled with The Spider fleet, the remaining ships were down four and a Militia shuttle had dropped out of hyperspace with Dragoon interceptors escorting it to the Shatterpoint. When it landed the entire hangar was filled with the crew of the Shatterpoint who were not on duty, Militia regulars in full armor, naval officers dressed in their dark blues, Lord Asimov and Admiral Trench stood on opposite sides of a walkway their respective officers behind them and commanders of each of their vessels. Ahkilleon had been discharged from the medical wing with light bandages around his arms, and a few patches on his forehead and cheeks the wonders of the jedi healers had repaired all major damage. The shuttle opened and General Freeman walked out with his Azure Guard behind him, two of them walking down the ramp and he wasn't alone.
Coming out behind him in their brown and gray robes were three members of the New Jedi Council, the whipped Jedi Master K'Kruhk, zabrak Master Brood and silver haired Master Jenir, the only human of the group. Ahkilleon looked at Lord Asimov sensing some worry but not enough to make Ahkilleon sweat. "Let's get to it." General Freeman said walking without any greetings the rest of the higher officers followed.
Later they were all in the Shatterpoints star deck the long metal table had everyone seated with their first officers behind them, Commander Sigma and Ahkilleon stood behind Lord Asimov and General Freeman stood looking out at the stars, a place where Lord Asimov would usually stand on his ship.
"This latest counter attack by the Empire was bold, bolder than we're letting people know." General Freeman said arms folded over his white armor.
He looked back at his cape billowing as he turned, "What happened?"
"General click-click-click." Admiral Trench stood up to speak, "The Empire has clearly begun to learn our maneuvers, they are aware click-click-click our droids are the bulk of our forces click-click-click." Trench started to say "A factor the jedi were able to exploit to great effect during the clone wars, click-click-click."
"Is there a point to this Admiral?" Fives asked.
The cyborg nodded "Our success in the early months of this campaign click-click-click are due to the wide network of spies we had in the Empire click-click-click and Rebellion, after the war began our spy network in both factions fell apart." Trench said.
"When is Lord Caliban expected back from the Chiss Ascendancy, I'd like to hear his opinion on this matter?" General Freeman asked.
One off the officers rose up "He said he should be returning within ten rotations, he claims the Chiss have reopened negotiations, why he doesn't say."
"Interesting, Lord Asimov, why did you retreat?" Fives asked the Warlord.
Lord Asimov gripped his leather gloved fist tight, "The Imperial War Machine is a greater beast than anyone realizes, we took them head on and as we pushed back into the jungle, we discovered foxholes, entire underground labyrinths dug into the earth, by the eighth hour of the battle it was clear the Empire had been digging into Felucia for months expecting our arrival." Lord Asimov rose to his feet then "With that intelligence, and outdated scans of the planet's terrain, withdrawal was the most potent option we needed for the next campaign."
General Freeman leaned on the table, "Master K'Kruhk you've served in more wars then any man here, what do you think?"
At the far end the Jedi Masters sat, as if they wanted to be the furthest from the conversation they could, "General, as you know, the New Jedi do not condone war of any kind, but we will give council, the hubris of the Militia is thinking the Empire was not prepared, yes for six months you claimed victory but now they are mobilized and the full fury of their might is aimed at you and by extension us." Master K'kruhk said, taking his straw hat off and resting it between Jenir and Brood.
"The new Grand Inquisitor who is he?"
"A traitor." Maris Brood said, "Master Jerec was once a greatly respected archeologist within the Order, we believed he had been killed during Order 66 but instead he survived the Purge and serves the Empire."
"As we believed the Inquisitorius had been destroyed, they have since resurged under this Jerec?" General Freeman said pacing back and forth, "Without our intel we stole from the rebels we might as well be fighting blind, so we will be having a new plan when the Hexagons representative arrives, in the meantime, I will visit the wounded here" General Freeman said before he got up and headed to the exit.
All the officers stood up and when he was out of the room, the eyes went back to Admiral Trench and Lord Asimov, "Return to your duties." Lord Asimov said to them as he scooted out of his chair and walked toward the window. Everyone left till it was just Asimov, Trench, Sigma and Ahkilleon in the room, there were however three who didn't not leave Masters K'Kruhk, Brood and Jenir were still there.
"Asimov we must speak." Master K'Kruhk said staunchly.
Lord Asimov leaned on the window with his forearm one hand on his hip, "Very well Masters, let's get it over with."
"Ahkilleon Tano is my padawan learner, he has sworn himself to me." Lord Asimov told the three Jedi.
"It is not for you to decide." Master K'Kruhk told him walking forward with his cane, "Ahkilleon Tano, you are still a jedi initiate in the eyes of this Council, you came to us at a time of great trauma for one so young. This war is no place for a child."
Master K'Kruhk spoke then to Asimov, "Your apprentice along with the remaining Jedi will return to Arcadia with us, he will be assigned a proper Master, away from this war you send him into."
"I did not send the boy to save Commander Sigma, he disobeyed me, and we have spoke about that." Lord Asimov explained.
"Does he not get a say in this click-click-click?" Admiral Trench asked the Jedi.
Master Jenir folded his arms on his chest and fixed his jaw "This is jedi business Admiral."
"And the boy's well being is mine click-click-click." Admiral Trench walked right up to the man and stood off against him, Jennir was a full head above the cyborg and Brood stepped in "Enough you to, save the bravado for another time, I agree though what does the young one say?" Maris asked, looking at Ahkilleon, despite her red horns and black leathers Maris Brood's voice was the calming, sincere one. Master Jennir and Admiral Trench backed off of one another.
Everyone looked at Ahkilleon, he stood there looking at Lord Asimov and then the Council members, "I… wish to stay with Lord Asimov, he is my Master." Ahkilleon said.
"Unfortunately that is not for you to decide." Master K'Kruhk said.
"Isn't it, didn't the whole order split apart because the Council didn't listen to the Jedi, they kept thinking if they did the same thing over and over it would work and it destroyed us, destroyed everything?" Ahkilleon blurted out walking forward.
He looked back at Lord Asimov, "I messed up, I wanted to save Sigma, I wasn't ready to go up against Jerec, I knew there was something out there but I didn't know what, now we do. Jerec is training more Inquisitors, and the Empire is about to unleash an all out war if we fight them with the same tactics used in the Clone Wars, we'll lose."
"This isn't about fighting the war, this is about you entering combat against the rules of this Order, come we are leaving." Master K'Kruhk told Ahkilleon.
But Ahkilleon didn't move, "This is not a request, young man." Jennir said, walking toward Ahkilleon before Commander Sigma got between them.
"The kid says he doesn't want to go." Sigma said hands on his blaster.
"You know I've killed clones before, not proud of it, but I've done it." Master Jennir said, pushing his robe back to reveal his lightsaber.
Lord Asimov stepped off his stardeck and beside the Commander "But have killed Jedi, I have, and I am not proud of it." Lord Asimov said over him "The boy stays, take the other healers if you must but My padawan isn't going anywhere. Masters." he replied the respectful tone he had was mocking at best.
"One day Lord Asimov you will not have the General's favor." Das said to him.
Maris rolled her eyes "Oh for the force's sake, would you two piss off with this cockfight." the zabrak said to them, she walked up around the Master and the other two, "Asimov, the Council should have been consulted, you can't just take a padawan like he's a puppy." she said looking at Ahkilleon "No offense."
Ahkilleon opened his mouth to reply that none was taken but Asimov spoke "He is no puppy, he is a King waiting to be crowned."
"Oh so thats what this is all about, that psychotic prophecy you and Caliban are all spouting about anyone want to remind me the last time we had a prophecy, of a certain chosen one?" Das asked hands in the air walking back around to Master K'Kruhk, "Oh thats right, he died in the Jedi Temple, where we should have been."
"Das." Master K'Kruhk snapped, stomping his cane on the floor like a hammer. "Fighting amongst ourselves over what is done does nothing, Lord Asimov, you believe that Ahkilleon Tano is the Jedi King of prophecy?"
Ahkilleon's cheeks felt warm hearing the idea of prophecy and him in it, "Belive no, I know he is."
Asiov reached for him and pulled Ahkilleon forward hand firmly on his shoulder "This boy as you're so often calling him, faced down Darth Vader when he was fourteen, he didn't stand, he didn't run, he charged the monster who threatened to kill his brother and ran him through with his own sword. Still you doubt him?"
"We do not doubt him, only your tutelage of him, seeing Master Jerec- the Grand Inquisitor and he should have known the sith was too powerful and flee?" Master K'Kruhk said.
Sigma cleared his throat "Permission to speak my Lord?" He asked.
"Granted." Lord Asimov replied.
Sigma stepped forward "As embarrassed as I am to admit it, this kid saved my life, and the lives of three cadets with him, if he hadn't drawn the Inquisitors attention, we'd all be dead, instead of him having a few cuts and bruises, Masters." Sigma said with a straight face his back to Ahkilleon.
Master K'Kruhk's wrinkled warthog like face was still as a painting, "Very well, we will return to Arcadia, may your apprenticeship go well Padawan Tano." Ahkilleon breathed easier not that he was staying with Asimov but that there wasn't going to be a fight, the New Jedi masters walked out of the star deck.
When it was just Trench, Asimov, Sigma and Ahkilleon the Warlord sighed walking over to his commanders chair he slumped in it and "That could have gone better."
"You just told the Jedi Council know, the way my mom tells it if any jedi dared to that well… you know?" Ahkilleon said.
"They may disagree with my methods, but appreciate you voicing your desire to stay apprentice, now we resume your training." Lord Asimov said "Sigma, assemble your best, I want them to assist us." Lord Asimov instructed.
Sigma saluted but Ahkilleon cleared his throat, "Some blaster deflection training?" Ahkilleon asked.
Asimov snickered "No."
LATER
Ahkilleon was standing inside the hangar of the Shatterpoint, two dozen Militia soldiers were standing in formation in front of Sigma each one of them armed with a metal lined energy shield. When Ahkilleon and Lord Asimov walked in the two approached the soldiers "Company, salute!" Sigma shouted at them, the Militia regulars all stood at attention and beat their fists to their chests in salutations to the Lord. "Men, this is Ahkilleon Tano my apprentice, you will assist him in learning a valuable lesson." the soldiers were a mix of men and women, a few humans but mostly Umbarns, Quarrens, Nemodians, there was two Saurins; A reptilian species from the Mid Rim planet Durkteel, Saurin had knobby skin, ridges along the length of their heads, and formidable-looking jagged teeth.
"Commander by your command." Lord Asimov said as Commander Sigma picked up a laser shield and turned it on, "Shield wall, ready!" The Militia regulars all turned their laser shields on, "Shield wall, Form!"
The Militia company locked their shields, the yellow hue of their shield forming a wall of energy and metal, behind Sigma's front line a second row of shields appeared overhead covering the front line.
Ahkilleon looked up at Lord Asimov, "Break the shield wall." Ahkilleon held his hand up "Without the force." Ahkilleon looked back at his teacher and then looked at the shield wall, walking toward it he took out two lightsabers and looked at it. He paced around it and struck the laser wall. The energy collided with his blade and it was like slamming a bat into a brick wall.
He looked back at Lord Asimov, he had his arms crossed analyzing Ahkilleon, Ahkilleon tried again probing the wall for any weak points but the wall didn't budge. He swung at Sigma who met his blade smashing into it, which is what Ahkilleon wanted. He kicked his foot up to try and pry Sigma out of the formation but he saw one of the militia regulars holding the shield wall above Sigma had his other arm out grabbing Sigma's armor and pulling him back up. Commander Sigma reformed the shield wall and the Militia held the form, "Shield wall, Advance!" Sigma commanded, the Militia started to march on Ahkilleon and he backed up.
Ahkilleon slowly started to back up until he was pushed all the way back into Lord Asimov who held his hand up to signal the soldiers to halt, "I can't break it."
"No, you can't." Lord Asimov said.
"Then what's the point of this exercise?" Ahkilleon asked.
"To show you that when we are united we are stronger." Lord Asimov said, looking over at the Endeavor, Master Uzuma and the New Council members talking.
"Master K'Kruhk and the New Council do not agree with me being your Master, many will not, but we are on the same side, at the end of the day we a united Jedi like the Militia are invincible." Lord Asimov said. Ahkilleon smiled seeing that even when they disagreed Lord Asimov would still support the Jedi, "We must obey the Council's decree, no padawans in combat."
Ahkilleon opened his mouth to object but he kept his silence, Sigma who had been overhearing their conversation walked up helmet under his arm, "Anything else sir?"
"No, thank the men and give them a bottle from the wine storage." Lord Asimov told them.
Commander Sigma nodded with a smirk "Roger, roger." he looked to Ahkilleon "... Thanks, Felucia kid." Sigma said.
Ahkilleon smirked "I knew you'd warm up to me."
"Don't push it shiny." Sigma said turning back to go return his shield.
Lord Asimov strode a few steps and turned back around "You defeated the first Inquisitor on Saleucami with one blade, you failed against Jerec with two, how would you say your Jar'Kai is?" Lord Asimov asked him, Jar'Kai was a method of utilizing two weapons in combat. Jar'Kai could be employed with two lightsabers; a regular standard lightsaber in addition to a shorter shoto blade, or even two double-bladed lightsabers. Those with exceptional combative application could wield a normal lightsaber in conjunction with a longer melee weapon, be it a bladed staff or a double-bladed lightsaber.
Ahkilleon took out his red and blue lightsaber, "Basic at best." Ahkilleon said.
"We will need to remedy that." Lord Asimov said as he took out his great saber, "Jar'Kai is mean to be fast, to overwhelm your opponent and strike before they know what happens, but it does have weaknesses. Name them?" Lord Asimov asked.
The apprentice nodded, "Jar'Kai can fight many opponents, but your attacks won't be as strong. Both hands held individual lightsabers, two-handed blows were impossible, and the duelist was unable to put all his or her weight behind blocks, weakening the defensive capabilities. Thus, an enemy with a single hilt could simply assault a Jar'Kai practitioners defense with brute force, battering away until the dual-blade duelist's guard can give way."
"Straight from the archives, you studied well, the secondary blade can become a hindrance if not properly disciplined and Jar'Kai practitioners often focus too much on their blade work, we must strive for balance, in speed, strength and dexterity." Lord Asimov said, taking out his lightsaber.
Ahkilleon got ready, "In his reports Turok Skell said you favored Form IV; Ataru, given your smaller statue at the time of your mothers instruction we will focus on these forms for your duel wielding training."
Lord Asimov turned on the yellow blade and held it up, "Attack me."
Ahkilleon leapt into the air switching the blue blade into a reverse grip and striking, Asimov's defense then coming back around to attack with the red one, Asimov blocked it and went on the attack. Ahkilleon flipped over Asimov and tried to swing down on him, and like Asimov told him the Warlord blocked it with one blade and flung Ahkilleons attack back without him being able to throw his full strength at him. Landing on the ground with his feet Asimov went on the offensive, "Your wrists are too loose, firm grip." Asimov said as Ahkilleon backed up. The Warlord's greatsaber was a sledgehammer against him "Forget taking the attack I'm physically stronger than you, redirect it my momentum don't let me control your central line."
Ahkilleon flipped his other saber into a reverse grip and started to side step the way the strikes came and they started to move in a circle of left and right. Ahkilleon had to listen, think of his feet and guess where the next attack was going to be. "Do not run, look for my openings." Asimov said.
The apprentice continued to deflect and dodge before he saw Asimov over extend his swing, Ahkilleon dropped low and slashed Asimov across the lower back but Asimov was there "Good, good." Lord Asimov said as they resumed the training.
Across the hangar, the Jedi Masters were watching, "Well at least he's taking the lightsaber training serious, maybe the kid will rub off on Asimov, Master K'Kruhk?" Maris asked K'Kruhk.
"I think we're more worried about the other way around?" Das said, arms against his chest "He's training him in combat right in front of us, if that's not a giant F-" "Master Jenir, Lord Asimov has his ways as do you." Master K'Kruhk said.
Das glanced at him, "And you're just going to let him have it, K'Kruhk, you're the Grand Master?"
"Yes, I am, and do not intend to ignore my predecessor's mistake of thinking I know best, we are at war, and Lord Asimov is our greatest warrior, if we turn on him then the War Jedi and many of the Knights will side with him." Master K'Kruhk said looking over at the two of them, Asimov and Ahkilleon had stopped, Lord Asimov started to adjust Ahkilleons form positioning his arms one above his head and one low showing him how it works as a guard.
Das wasn't convinced, "He tried to kidnap that kid before, and another padawan if I wasn't mistaken?"
"That discussion is closed, the padawan Ezra Bridger and his Master Kanan Jarrus were welcome to join us but they refused. We must embrace as the New Jedi that we cannot control every aspect of our Order unless it breaks again." Master K'Kruhk said to them.
"Maris, what do you think?" Das asked.
"I think if we want to keep Leo Rock's son safe, it's better we keep him close to one of Rock's most loyal followers, Petro- I mean Asimov wanted to be Leo, being the master of his son may give Asimov just that?" Maris asked.
Master K'Kruhk stroked his white beard with his claws "Well said, hmm I see the Hexagons representative has arrived." Flying into the hangar was a heavily modified HWK-class freighter with extra engines and long wings, and walking out in his brown trench coat with his metal arm was none other than Turok Skell.
STARDECK
Militia War Council
General Freeman had returned to the star deck with Asimov's crew and the Jedi Masters, along with Tai Uzuma this time. Turok was smoking his pipe standing in front of the glass window the embers reflecting on the glass as he huffed out glass "Well you all made fucking mess of Felucia." the trandoshan said looking back with his bad eye, showing he wasn't even looking at them. He flicked out his match and walked over to the table "I spoke with Caliban recently, the Chiss aren't going to help us, he's begun the journey back to Militia space."
"A wasted effort click-click-click." Admiral Trench said.
"True, but with Caliban back I can return to my duties as a field agent, Warlord of Shadows not my thing." Trench said many of the officers giggling, Ahkilleon looked to Sigma having never heard that title before.
Sigma learned in "Head of intelligence."
Turok continued, "Knowledge is power as they say, so we need to stop acting like we know everything, we need intel and I know the best place to get it." Turok said, huffing out smoke from his nostrils.
"And where would that be, pray tell?" Lord Asimov asked as General Freeman smiled already knowing the answer.
"We have to go back to the rebellion." Turok told them.
There was silence, nothing but cold dead silence, Lord Asimov stood up "I say this with all do respect to the many years of sacrfice that Turok Skell has given us, over my dead body."