Chapter 10

Battle of Serenno

ARCADIA, DAWN

"Just a moment Grand Master?" Lord Asimov said stepping forward in front of the Council, "It was my understanding that this Council was against sending children to war, I never condoned my apprentice's actions to enter combat, I took him as my apprentice to guide him better, I must know why the sudden change in heart?" Lord Asimov asked.

The Council was cautious to answer, "It is true that we do not wish for padawans to be soldiers, but given young Tano's experience in besting the Empire, and his growing popularity among the Militia we think it prudent." Master K'Kruhk said.

"Prudent?" Asimov asked.

"Popularity?" Ahkilleon asked.

Master Saa spoke up "The Council did not make this decision lightly-" "Nor will we hide behind a vague answer and deny you two our reasons like the old Council." K'Kruhk said.

"This is the New Jedi, we allow emotional connections, we have the families not far from our gates, and we will not hold secrets from our Order." he said looking to his left and right, getting many nods from the Council members. "Lord Asimov, it is clear that Padawan Tano is a far more experienced apprentice than many others, he has suffered much but overcome many obstacles to be here today. Though some actions do concern us, we believe giving him more responsibility will help him understand the burden of his actions now that there will be others under his command and care." Master K'Kruhk said to Asimov.

K'Kruhk looked at Ahkilleon, "You wished to go to war apprentice, and war you shall have."

Later Ahkilleon walked in silence behind his Master, Lord Asimov the had left the council chamber behind and were walking along the walls of the Temple, the cool morning wind was blowing a their cloaks and robes, Asimov stopped and looked out at the valley below and flatlands that in the distance they could see Leopolis, "Master?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Is this what you want?" Lord Asimov asked.

Ahkilleon stopped before he could ask 'what?' and Asimov faced him "Is-this-what-you-want?" he asked again. "Your commissioning as a Captain, goes against one of the key foundations of this Council for children not to enter war, but their reasoning is sound, perhaps when you are leading others into danger you may realize it's not all about you?" Lord Asimov asked.

Ahkilleon opened his mouth but shut it, Asimov was right, he had been selfish in his past actions. He didn't want to charge those tanks on Selucami to save the Militia, he wanted to stop the Empire, to be a hero. He didn't go to save Sigma on Felucia to save the Captain it was so the Captain would maybe like him, get off his back and on Jabiim was did he chase the Governor to help the mission or to get the glory of catching him, all of it was mostly selfish. "So I will ask you one more time?" Lord Asimov asked as Ahkilleon saw Sigma, Turok, Terro and Ventus approaching them from the other sides of the wall in groups of two "Is this what you want?"

"Yes." Ahkilleon said.

Lord Asimov nodded and approached him, "Raise your right hand."

Ahkilleon looked around and saw this wasn't just a random meeting, it was an indoctrination, Ahkilleon stood up straight hand held his right hand up, "Commander." Asimov said and out from behind his belt Sigma produced a small blue leather bound book with the Militia hex, the crossed blaster and sword beneath it "This is the Codex Militant, the founding documents of the Militia, rules of engagement, and our creed. Turok."

Turok walked up to him and took the book and opened it to page one. He took out a small pen and wrote something on it, "Repeat after me." Turok hissed out.

"I, state your name." Turok read aloud.

"I Ahkilleon Tano." Ahkilleon repeated, adding his name.

"Do solemnly affirm that I will uphold and protect the Outer Rim Militia against all who would do it harm." said Turok.

"Do solemnly affirm that I will uphold and protect the Outer Rim Militia against all who would do it harm." Ahkilleon read it back.

"That I will bear faith and loyalty to the Militia; I will follow my comrades and the commanding officers into hell itself, according to the Codex." Turok continued as the others listened, each of them having sworn the same oath.

"That I will bear faith and loyalty to the Militia; I will follow my comrades and the commanding officers into hell itself, according to the Codex." Ahkilleon said it back firmly.

"I will never betray the Militia," Turok continued.

And Ahkilleon said it back. "I will never betray the Militia."

"I will never retreat unless ordered by a superior officer." Turok told him.

"I will never retreat unless ordered by a superior officer" And Ahkilleon said it back.

"I will never give up"

"I will never give up"

"So may the force be with me." Turok closed the book.

"So may the force be with me." Ahkilleon replied for the last time.

Turok gave him a salute with pride in his eyes, "Welcome to the Militia, the real Militia." Turok said, handing Ahkilleon the codex.

"Haha, the boys are blushing." Ventus said, walking up to him and throwing his arm around the boy, and Terro patted him on the back. "Well done little brother, the Empire won't know what hit'em." Ahkilleon opened the book and on the inside cover he saw the creed written down with his name filled in in Turoks handwriting.

I, Ahkilleon Tano, do solemnly affirm that I will uphold and protect the Outer Rim Militia against all who would do it harm; that I will bear faith and loyalty to the Militia; I will follow my comrades and the commanding officers into hell itself, according to the Codex.

I will never betray the Militia

I will never retreat unless ordered by a superior officer

I will never give up

So may the force be with me.

Ahkilleon closed the book and looked up at the War Jedi, he was one now "I will not fail you Master."

"No, you'll die if do, come we must return the front." Lord Asimov said walking on ahead. Ahkilleons touched the codex into his belt "Make sure you read that thing, kid." Sigma told him. He looked at the boom and ran his thumb over the hex, the book was small, less than a hundred pages but it felt heavy.

RAXUS

The Vanguard Fleet

Ahkilleon walked out of the shuttle with Lord Asimov back aboard the Shatterpoint, the two Jedi were followed by Turok and sigma, a small security force was there to greet them. "Welcome back my Lord." Admiral Zygote the quarren with a metal claw greeted them with the Militia salute his claw over his chest, as did the rest of the militia marines. Zygote turned to Ahkilleon "I do believe congratulations are in order to your apprentice, a field commission to Captain by the General himself."

"Thank you admiral." Ahkilleon said still unsure if he could believe it himself.

"Trek!" Zygote snapped, Ahkilleon noticed a tactical droid approach them he was painted in the teal and yellow of the vanguard fleet with Asimov's sigil on its chassis. The droid had green optics and spoke with a female voice "Admiral."

Admiral zygote twirled one of his tentacles and replied "Get Captain Tano to the armorer and set up in the officers quarters."

"Right away Admiral."

The tactical droid led Ahkilleon across the ship and they walked into the armory behind Trek, it was a large room with with wire gate that had a umbaran behind it. "Trek this the new 'Captain'?" The umbaran asked, the gate had a small hole in the doorway to fit weapons through onto a counter.

"Yes Lt. He needs to be properly equipped."

The umbaran nodded before he walked back behind the gate, Ahkilleon saw rows upon rows of blaster pistols, rifles, carbines, rocket launchers, vibroswords, knives, hatchets and more. "Alright, first things first the M7-Revolver standard issue for militia officers." He slid the revolver through it was in a leather holster and Ahkilleon swallowed his pride and took the blaster.

"Next we have the E-7 blaster rifle, standard issue." He fir the blaster rifle through the door. Ahkilleon took it before the man came back with more weapons, "Standard issue officers uniform, dress uniform and body glove… what are you size 10." Ahkilleon was handed three separate bundles of clothing "Size 12 actually." he muttered before the boots were put on the bundle."Next we have your multi tool, canteen, compass, rations pass." The man keit handing him stuff till his arms were full militia vibrosword in its scabbard. Then he noticed Ahkilleon's lightsabers on his chest "Think I'll hold onto this."

Ahkilleon nodded "Good idea."

"Oh one more thing." The man said as he came back with a yellow cloth in his hand "Your officers sash." Ahkillein remembered that the sash was worn not only by Lord Asimov, But Captain Naqia and every other Militia officer he'd seen.

Trek led Ahkilleon out of the armory and into the nearby turbo lift that took them across the ship, "Now that you are an officer Captain you have access to any part of the ship befitting your rank, that includes the officers lounge, bar, training room and of course the officers quarters."

The lift stopped at another door and opened. Ahkilleon followed her into a large corridor with a wide floor plan and many doors, the Officers Quarters, it was far larger than the cadet and regulars quarters and the doors were twice as wide. They passed by a large atrium where he saw grown men and women gathered around not as many as the last place he stayed. But somehow it felt more cramped as he was the only teenager there.

"Here we are." the droid said as they arrived at a door with no name on it, the droid held up it's finger and a laser wrote Ahkilleons name in aubresh or galactic basic. With the word Captain over it.

"Will there be anything else Captain?" Trek asked him.

"No, thank you Trek." Ahkilleon replied.

"... you are welcome." the droid said before it walked away.

Ahkilleon opened the door and carrying the bundle of things he walked into a large room, bigger than his dorm with single bed, a desk, open floor plan with a bathroom attached and portside window where he could see Raxus and the Militia flotilla that guarded it. Ahkilleon set down everything on the bed and picked up the sash, he removed his harness before he started to wrap the sash around his waist, but stopped.

He picked up the codex and opened it "Chapter 6, militia dress etiquette.. Hmm wrap twice around the waist and tied at the left hip." he said as he did so and warped it around his waist like the Codex said. He fixed the harness back onto his waist and then looked at the rest of the stuff he had no use for the blasters especially the rifle, but he wanted to show the uniform respect so he opened up the Militia uniforms, the body glove was simple enough so he left it alone. He was about to attach the blaster to his belt but he left it on the bed, he did however like the look of the boots.

They were pointed at the two, ran up just below the knee and made of leather with hard wood soles, Ahkilleon looked at his own jedi boots they were leather, round at the toe and thought about it for a moment before he switched them over. He checked the codex "Officers boots are traditionally worn outside the boot sleeve to differentiate from fascist imperial control."

He flipped through the pages and noticed the section on ranks; from Private to Warlord, private was one single edged triangle pointed left, second Lieutenant was two pointing out from one another, a three was a first lieutenant, the next one was a captain, making five of them to form a star. He read down another one to see a Major was a star with a circle around it, and then a Colonel was a abstract winged bird and so on.

Not wanting to disagree he tucked his boots under his pants and walked around in them getting the feel of the boots, they were a bit stiff so he figured best to get some mileage in them, and headed for the exit Ahkilleon walked back into the officers quarters and passed by the other Militia officers, till he followed signs to a room that read 'Officers Lounge'. He walked in to see the room go deathly quiet, everyone looking at him. They were all older then him, men and women, at the center a billiards board with men shooting balls with metal rods. Some wore navel uniforms, the others wearing their Militia colorless armor. Ahkilleon kept moving when he felt someone grab him and pull him to a table "Sit down."

It was Sigma.

He was sitting with Turok, Lt. Gaser Stratos and Captain Naqia were playing a game of pazaak, Ahkilleon recognized the card game as one of the oldest games in the Galaxy, starting somewhere around the Old Republic, "Deal him in." Turok said.

"Um no thanks, I don't have any credits." Ahkilleon replied.

"We don't have any either." Naqia said as her pointed cat-like ears twitched, Pazaak had two different decks. The main (or "table") deck was composed of cards numbered 1–10. (The total cards in this deck were unbound, though it tended to have four of each number.) There was also one side deck for each player in the game. The players themselves assembled these decks, which had to have exactly ten cards. At the beginning of the game, each player would randomly select four cards from their side deck, making up their Hand. Each player drew a card from the main deck, with the highest card determining who played first. Then the first turn of the first player would start. The player would draw a card from the main deck and play it on the table. After that, the player could either place a card down from their hand or end their turn. Only one hand card could be played per turn, and no more cards were ever drawn from the side deck. The goal was to come closest to 20 without going over. The player with the highest score less than or equal to 20 won the round, and the player who won three rounds won the match. A round in which the two players tied was not counted.

Turok shuffled the deck and tossed Ahkilleon a hand of cards, "Then what do you gamble with?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Nothing, just playing to pass the time." Stratos said as he looked at his cards.

Ahkilleon looked around the room and saw a lot of people looking at them, "Don't stare lad." Turok said eye on his cards, "They're the ones staring at Turok." Ahkilleon replied.

"You got a commission from the General himself, you were hand picked by the Warlord of the fleet, and you've been taking planets left and right, they're jealous." Turok muttered as everyone played a card.

"Or they're upset they got looked over." Naqia said as she sipped a dark black drink.

"That wasn't my intent." Ahkilleon said looking at his cards, two three, a two twos and a one, he was right on eleven, not a very good hand.

Ahkilleon felt more eyes on him then others, his senses were letting him know he was in danger but his training told him not to show it, "Doesn't matter, you read the Militia codex, know how to dress, what about the right to command?" Sigma asked.

"What?" Ahkilleon asked.

Everyone sighed, "You remember when you and those other kids were brought here for the first time, when Captain Yasha stabbed the mando girl?" Sigma asked. Ahkilleon nodded "Yeah well, they haven't forgotten either, words spreading you were with those rebels, and Yasha still has some friends here even after he died."

"We didn't ask Lord Asimov to kill him." Ahkilleon said back.

"We know, most know either but it was a matter of honor, Yasha shouldn't have challenged Asimov, he signed his own death sentence but he had a good reason." Sigma said, setting down cards.

"Watch your back, you'll get a challenge sooner than you think." Sigma said as Turok laid out another card "Twenty." Everyone dropped their cards seeing they'd lost to the one eyed trandoshan, "You have to be the luckiest trandoshan in the galaxy, definitely the oldest." Naqia said, sipping her cup.

Ahkilleon smirked knowing Turok had to be one of the best card players in the galaxy, "You remember when I tagged along and you played that smuggler with the wookiee, he almost had you?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Hehe, he cheated, I just cheated better." Turok said as he reshuffled the cards "Now hold on a second." Stratos said starting to wonder, but he was cut off when the alarm started to go off, it wasn't a red alert but it wasn't a battle station sign, "Looks like we're figuring out where we're going next." Turok said.

Everyone got up and headed to the door, Ahkilleon followed them and suddenly felt a large man push past him with his shoulder, Ahkilleon recognized the two blades on his arm, he was a second lieutenant. With broad shoulders, a trimmed muttonchop beard and military haircut smoking a cigar. "Pardon, 'Captain'." he snickered as he smoked the cigar.

Ahkilleon looked to Turok who just stared back at him, and walked on. These men weren't going to protect him anymore, he wasn't Ezra who needed an entire crew of rebels to look out for him, and then he remembered what Asimov said, when Asimov told him to let the last strike go unanswered.

He knew what answer he had.

Eventually Ahkilleon walked onto the bridge with the other officers to see they jumped to hyperspace, Lord Asimov stood at the helm with the other high ranking officers as Zygote sat in the commander's chair, "We are heading to the planet Sereeno. The Imperial fleet has reinforced its position there, our goal is to break the fleet and lay siege to the Capital city of Carannia." Lord Asimov said to the officers. As the hologram of the planet showed the fleet of over five Star Destroyers and seven asagiri-class frigates then zoomed down to the surface to show the capital.

"What about the civilian population?" Ahkilleon asked.

"The Empire has sealed the city behind a shield wall and they have the planetary shield at the top of the Imperial Center there, so we do this the old fashion way." Lord Asimov said as they all snickered.

Ahkilleon new he'd heard that planet's name before "Nemo and Shark Squadron will lead our Hawk fighters in the opening assault, the cruisers will provide cover and when we punch a hole in the imperial fleet, we will send our ground forces to attack the city." Lord Asimov said.

"We aren't going to wait to take out the fleet?" Turok asked.

Asimov shook his head "Serenno is a key planet on th Hydian way trade route, and is our gateway to the northern reaches of the outer rim, we take Sereeno and the Empire is stretched even thinner."

"And reports of Inquisitors?" Ventus asked next to Terro, "Nothing, the imperial garrison there has been tightening security so much our probes have only shown the exterior, and our older intel on the cities layout."

Commander Sigma set his jaw, "Well no one said destroying the Empire would be easy."

A chorus of chuckles and snickers came from the officers, "Once we've broken through the imperial blockade, it's an all out assault on Carannia, we will attack it from four directions." Lord Asimov said moving the holotable to show the capital of Carannia it was a large city with many domed buildings and towers of the Outer Rim style, in the middle was a large Imperial Center that stuck out with its angular design and at its peak a large satellite dish sticking out of the surface with many guns around it, a large laser shield guarded the city with a kilometer long stretch of no man's land cleared out, surrounding it Ahkilleon could see trenches had been dug and earthworks raised for ramparts. Anti tank spikes were everywhere with barbed wire and overturned earth most likely hiding mines "I will lead the southern front, Commander Sigma will take the north, Captain Naqia will lead the western assault and…" Ahkilleon stood up a bit taller hoping he'd get his chance "Lt. Stratos will attack with his droid armored marines."

Ahkilleon felt his gut sink at not being able to get his own command, "Dismissed." Lord Asimov said.

The soldiers all started to walk out of the bridge, and Ahkilleon waited till most of them were gone and walked up to join Lord Asimov he stood looking at the holotable one hand under his helmet's chin the other resting on his arm. "I noticed the southern part of the city had the most trenches." Ahkilleon said.

"Yes, it will be a challenge." Lord Asimov said.

"Is that why I've not been given a command?" Ahkilleon asked him.

The Warlord turned to him, "Command, where do you think you'll be?"

Ahkilleon stared at him, without answering "You are my apprentice, and you will fight at my side on the front line with the vanguard."

He felt his jaw hang in the air before he put it back, "Thank you Master I don;'t know what to-" "And you must be properly adorned, Terro, Ventus." The two older jedi walked forward and Terro but his hands on Ahkilleons shoulder, leading him out of the bridge.

Led out of the bridge and into an elevator, Ahkilleon hadn't ever been alone with the two jedi for more than a few moments, "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." Ventus said as they headed back to the officers quarters and walked through it. Many of the officers watched the Jedi and passed a group playing billiards at a table. Among them the Lt who had shoulder pushed Ahkilleon who sneered at him. Hitting a white ball with a long stick like a spear before they passed.

Ahkilleon held his tongue but couldn't help it, "I have a feeling not all the officers care for us Jedi?"

"Some like us just fine, others… well we saw mutton chops there in the bar." Terro said.

Ahkilleon turned "You two saw that?" he asked, he wanted to ask why none of them intervened.

"Don't worry about him, you outrank him anyway." Ventus said.

Ahkilleon followed Ventus and Terro away from the officers quarters and into another level of the ship. The hallways were wide like most of them but it had a different style to it. He saw the New Jedi seal on the walls and the floors had carpet like in the temple.

"Over here." Terro led Ahkilleon into another room, it was like a dojo but the walls were lined with training weapons and gear.

Ahkilleon walked over to the chest, "If you're going into battle with us, you'll need more than that leather harness to protect you." Ventus said as he picked up a case and set it on a nearby table in the corner.

"Oh Lord Asimov told us, so we made something we think that meets in the middle." Terro said

"I can't move in armor." Ahkilleon said, having voiced it many times before.

They opened the case and Said "This isn't that bulky infantry armor, this is Jedi Armor, designed by Master Emsa." Ahkilleon stepped forward and looked at it his jaw gapping the armor "Try it on". It was unlike any armor he'd ever seen, the shoulder pauldrons were segmented with leather straps so he could move his shoulders, the vambraces were fit to clamp on his firearms under fingerless gloves and had a comlink built into his right arm. The tassets were made of the same metals and could be clipped onto his waist and strapped around his thighs. Metal greaves were fitted onto his lower legs and segmented like the shoulders he moved around a bit and then Ventus took out the breast plate and Terror its back counterpart. The breastplate coveted his chest and reached down to protect his lower organs; the backplate fitted to his shoulders and had space for the harness he wore to keep his lightsabers clipped against his chest, "You need this to, Lord Asimov's orders." Ventus said, tossing the last piece of armor to Ahkilleon.

Catching it he saw it was a helmet, rounded in the back with cloth hanging down that would protected his neck and had a narrow glass slit visor like Lord Asimovs with a barely noticeable breathing apparatus vents on the lower end, it didn't have the animal jawbone or the blades comb like his Masters, it did have extended ornamental horns, no they were more like wings, or a mix of both? On each side of the face going back was painted with white and blue stripes, no not wings or horns a lekku. They extended down slightly past the jawline of the helmet and it was painted white and blue just… just like his mothers.

"We had it made like armor she wore, to fit the fighting style you're more accustomed to." Lord Asimov said walking in, Ahkilleon looked to the doorway to see his Master. He looked at the helmet and rubbed his thumb over the fins before he pressed his forearm on the helmet, he lifted it up and placed the helmet on his head "I don't know what to say Master."

"There's no need, if you had remained out of combat I would not insist you wear it, but now it's necessary for your own protection. One of the many reasons the Jedi of old were gunned down by the marksmanship of clones was their neglect to wear armor, they became too reliant on their lightsabers, training and arrogance to think any marksman could be them." Lord Asimov said as he walked up to him tugging at the armor and to see how well it fit. He adjusted the pauldron straps and the gauntlets. "This is the same material as our armor, Master Emesa forged it with refined cortosis, making it stronger than durasteel."

Ahkilleon tucked the helmet under his arm, "Will the fighting on Serenno be that heavy?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Yes, and you'll need all the protection you can get. Dog fighting is nasty business."

"Dog fighting?" Ahkilleon asked.

Asimov nodded, "Captain Nemo is leading out fighters to break the imperial blockade, he saw your skill test in the pilot simulations on Arcadia, top of your class, he requested you personally." Ahkilleon felt his chest swell with pride finally getting his chance.

"Go and meet him in the hanger." Lord Asimov said.

Ahkilleon gave a fist over his chest salute "Thank you Master."

"And Ahkilleon." Lord Asimov said "May the force be with you." Lord Asimov said before he left.

Ahkilleon made his way down to the hanger, ignoring the looks from anyone who spotted him in the brand new armor, the helmet under his arm, he must have looked like some fool walking with his head held high, he stopped a window looking out across hyperspace to see his reflection. He pressed his hand on the armor and adjusted the breastplate a bit when he heard a whistle like he was some sort of prize and turned to see Corto with his sister Yumi, Kragger, Urrde and Fatima. "Admiring yourself huh Tano?" Kraggen asked.

Ahkilleon blushed a bit as the young jedi walked toward him, "What are you wearing?" Yumi asked him.

"What's it look like sis, that's armor." Corto said walking up to it, he knocked his fist against the breastplate a few times and whistled again "Snazzy."

"I think you look like a tin can." Urrde grunted.

Ahkilleon bit the inside of his cheek, "Master Asimov insisted, what are you all doing here?"

"The Council has us with Master Uzuma as healers, they think the fighting is going to be bad, you were in the briefing what did they say?" Fatima asked him, all the young jedi were looking at him with curious eyes.

He wasn't sure what exactly he could tell them, they were Jedi but they weren't in the military "... We plan to end the battle quickly, hit hard and fast."

"That means death, lots of it how much more before we get to be peacekeepers again?" Corto said solemnly.

"My Master says that to be a soldier is to fight for a peace we may never see." Ahkilleon said repeating what Lord Asimov had told him after Jabiim.

"Yeah, but are you a soldier or are you a Jedi?" Yumi asked him, arms crossed against her chest.

Ahkilleon looked at her and saw her dark brown eyes were sharp like daggers pointed at him, "I'm what's needed right now, if you excuse me my squadron is waiting on me."

He left them alone, and walked on hearing them mutter behind his back "Maybe lay off him Yumi, some jedi are better fighters than healers." Urrde said to her.

"Those are called Sith." Yumi muttered quietly in a low tone.

Ahkilleon stopped partially but he kept walking, he made his way to the hanger and put what Yumi said behind him and looked around to see the Vanguard were in full motion preparing for war. He saw spider tanks marching, gunships that looked like Old Republic models of the LAAT gunship with longer bodies and wings painted blue were everywhere with Militia regulars in armor preparing. Hundreds of them all with laser shields ready to go. He passed by them to the fighter corp, he saw Hawk fighters lined up in a row before he spotted the quarren pilot, "Captain Nemo!" he called out.

The quarren was wearing his green flight suit with a leather jacket holding his black helmet with the orange visor under his arm. Beside him stood the R5 astro droid of blue and yellow, "Ah, Little Asimov, heard you'd be flying with us today." he said walking up to him he held out his hand and Ahkilleon shook it.

"Beetoo, find him a fighter." Nemo said to his droid beeped and rolled off. "So what kind of fighters have you flown?" Nemo asked

"Nothing too fancy, mom taught me to fly, I was always partial to the jedi interceptors before I joined the Militia." Ahkilleon said.

The quarren nodded, "Maybe I can request the dragoons for one of theirs, but for now you'll have to deal with the Hawks." Beetoo came back up to them and pointed a claw to one of them, the fighters were a mix of a fighter and a vulture droid with the long nose and wide body with the wings sticking forward and a long tail with two fins.

"Shouldn't be a problem." Ahkilleon said.

"That's the spirit, we'll be going in the first wave so-" a loud alarm started to play and everyone started to move, "Hey, looks like they're playing out song."

A hologram appeared over the hanger and everyone looked up to see a holographic image of Lord Asimov over them, it was broadcasting across the entire dreadnought and fleet. "We are dropping out of hyperspace soon, you have all been briefed on the coming battle. This is Serenno, once a stronghold of the Separatist Alliance, brutally crushed by the Empire in it's earliest days, I know that some of you may even be from here, that this is your home. There are still civilians in the capital city of Carannia, the Empire is using them as shields so we have to go in and take it the hard way. Make no mistake the Empire still thinks this world is there's, that this land is theirs… but no, this is your land, our land." Lord Asimov said as he paced "And we will fight tooth and nail until we take it all back!"

A loud cheer from the Militia before Lord Asimov started to shout "Kikiki! Kakaka!

Kauana kei waniwania taku tara, kei tarawahia, kei te rua i te kerokero! He pounga rahui te uira ka rarapa ketekete kau ana. To peru kairiri mau au e koro e! Hi! Ha! - Ka wehi au ka matakana, ko wai te tangata kia rere ure tirohanga ngā rua rerarera ngā rua kuri kakanui i raro! Aha ha!"

Lord Asimov flung his hands in the air and stomped both his feet. The Militia soldiers all let out a furious sound of war cries and puffed their cheeks or stuck out their tongues, Sigma shouted so fast and so quick Ahkilleon new this was the signal for the War Song and the War Dance. He let out his own growl and got into positon with Nemo beside him spreading his feet and arms to his side and began to chant. Sigma and turok had him practice on down time so he remembered the steps.

"Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!

Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!"

They stood wide, slamming their hands onto their thighs, in loud slaps over and over again repeating the chant, before flinging their hands to the air, then turning right they held up their fists, and did another move all while shouting fists aimed low into the next part of the chorus. .

"Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru

Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā"

They raised their arms next to their head still chanting with Lord Asimov leading the war chant, one arm was flexed fist to the sky the other hand smacking the strong forearm while chanting.

"Ā, upane! ka upane!

Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te rā!"

They froze in a squat, everyone face red or tense from the dance, Ahkilleon had never seen anything like it, "Militia Invictus!" Lord Asimov shouted.

"MILITIA INVICTUS!" The army shouted.

Ahkilleon and Nemo headed to their fighters and got in, Beetoo rocketed into the back of Nemo's hawk and the fleet began to slow down out of hyperspace. Outside the hangar the Vanguard fleet of fifteen ships, a dozen Providence-Class Mk II's and ten Munificent Frigate Mk II's in support, the fleet dropped out of hyperspace to see the Imperial Fleet blockading the planet Serenno. "Reverse vector, full speed ahead." Lord Asimov commanded from the bridge.

The fleet began to move the wings of the fleet pushing on ahead as the imperial fleet moved into position the star destroyers lined up in a row of durasteel. "Launch fighters."

A red light came on in the hangar and Captain Nemo fired up his Hawk's engines, "All fighters, go, go, go." The Hawk's emptied out from the dreadnoughts and frigates forming up into squadrons in front, Ahkilleon flew alongside Captain Nemo in Shark Squadron.

"Alright, Sharks call in."

"Copy Shark Leader." Ahkilleon replied.

"Roger, Roger, Shark 2 here."

"Shark 3 here."

"Shark 4 ready."

Shark 5 locked and loaded." The pilots continued to call in and form around Nemo's fighter with the shark face on it.

Ahkilleon put his helmet between his legs opting for the head set in the cockpit, he looked out at the star destroyers and frigates, swarms of TIE fighters flooding out of them to meet them. "Here they come." Ahkilleon said.

"All fighters, engage." Lord Asimov said aboard the Shatterpoint as the cannons opened fire, and the space battle began, the Imperial and Militia ships moved against one another, the Militia forces held the line and continued to push into the Imperial forces, and the dog fight started. Hundreds of Imperial Star Fighters and hundreds of Militia fighters engaged one another with red and green laser fire mixing across the void, Ahkilleon dove left and then right taking out a tie his ear a barrage of cannon fire and rockets. The com chatter lit up with "I've got two on my tail… I'm going in… we got an opening… follow me down the left side!" Ahkilleon followed a TIE fighter and took off another TIE then he broke through another imperial squadron engaging them.

He twirled his fighter out of a barrage of rockets, "Still alive Tano?" Nemo asked.

"Still here." Ahkilleon said as they flew around one of the star destroyers, "Watch for the TIE's in groups, they strike in groups."

Back on the bridge of the Shatterpoint, Lord Asimov watched the battle from afar, "Admiral Zygote, status?"

"The Imperial fleet is holding formation, our scans of the planet show the imperial ground forces are mobilized and the planetary shield generator is at full force." Zygote said to him, "We should take out the flagship, let the Imperial navy fight over command."

"Agreed, all ships focus fire on the flagship at the center of the blockade, all vulture droids, kettle." Lord Asimov said.

Suddenly all the vulture droids' red eyes started to blink and they broke off from whatever ships they were attacking and swarmed like schools of fish swirling around in multi helix speeds of metal. They all met together in a swirling vortex with a point and aimed at the Flagship, aboard it a fat imperial admiral with white hair looked in shock as the horde of vulture droids rammed into the shields of the bridge tower exploding on impact with sheer brute force, "Shields dropping fast-" the shields broke and from the barrage of literal droid fighters bombarding it and shattered the glass ramming into bridge crew and machinery before they blew out the back of the bridge and sent the flagship back into the planet's atmosphere.

A cheer went up across the Shatterpoints bridge and Asimov turned "The bridge is your Admiral, begin deploying all ground forces to the capital." Lord Asimov said. Back outside Ahkilleon watched the kettle of vulture droids tear into the nearest imperial frigate splitting in half theri numbers barely diminished. "Shark squadron escort the troop transports to the surface."

"Roger, Roger-" Captain Nemo said before his ship was hit, "Captain Nemo?" Ahkilleon saw his wing start to burn but the droid Beetoo shut off power to that section.

"Nothing my wingman can't handle, alright Sharks, the girls are going to the ball let's give them a good show." Nemo said before the fighters started to regroup back with the Militia fleet, the Militia LAAT gunships flocked out of the hangars in a school of gunships that flew quickly down to the planet through the gap in the Imperial lines, Ahkilleon and Nemo's fighters engaged TIE's that were chasing them and when they took out their targets they regrouped with the gunships. The thick white clouds of Serenno obscured their vision for a few seconds before red cannon fire lit up the sky in the night air.

Anti air guns were placed all around the capital city of Carannia, from up above Ahilleon got a good look at the city, the Imperial Center stood at the heart of the city larger than all the other domed buildings and towers, at its peak the orbital shield generator but spouting out from it was a second shield a bright red ray shield that protected the city from any air attacks. Surrounding the city itself were rows of trenches and in them anti-aircraft ordinance lighting up the sky. "Take out those guns." Asimov ordered them.

"You heard him Sharks, light'em up." Nemo said as he and the fighters flew down and lit up the trenches and guns, Ahkilleon saw a series of explosions from the fighters and some went down, "Shark Three and Shark Seven are gone." one pilot said.

"Flak is getting heavy- I'm hit!" Ahkilleon felt a surge of emotions from the pilots and from the soldiers in the gunships that were landing outside the city in the thick forests of Serenno. Ahkilleon focused on his mission at hand he saw a row of cannons aimed up into the sky and flew in a dive bomb before pulling up at the last second to take out three of them but he missed the fourth- BOOM

Ahkilleon looked back to see his engine on fire, "I'm hit." Ahkilleon said as he struggled to maintain control.

Captain Nemo flew next to him snapping "Eject- Eject-Aah!" Suddenly his Ahkilleon saw the quarrens starfighter get ripped apart by a cannon round that tore through from under his ships underbelly and out the cockpit vaporizing him instantly. "Nemo!" Ahkilleon watched the squadron leaders ship fall before he grabbed his helmet and slipped it on pulling the ejection lever, his cockpits glass flung off and he flew out of the starfighter before it exploded and into the sky. His cockpits emergency pod pillow blew up around him in a bright yellow ball.

"Padawan, Padawan, Ahkilleon!?" Asimov snapped in his helmet's comlink, almost sounding worried.

"Didn't know you cared Master, I'm here, falling but here." Ahkilleon joked as he plummeted to the surface from the clouds, the ball fell down further and further before it bounced into the jungle and into the trees throwing Ahkilleon around like a rag doll before it rolled to a stop, popping Ahkilleon pulled himself out of the seat and flung his helmet off puking having his breakfast on the dirt, coughing he looked around and saw Militia gunships landing in the he started to jog toward them wiping the puke off his mouth and his helmet back on he ran into a sprint shaking off his nausea trying not to think of Nemo.

When he made it to a clearing in the woods he saw Militia gunships landing everywhere and Militia ranks forming up, Many of the gunships had large pods attached to the back of them that set down. They were egg shaped with sharp edges and when Ahkilleon saw them open up B1 battle droids were dropped out like hatchlings with their E5 blasters, dark blue almost black paint covered them and they activated forming up into regiments. Besides them Ahkilleon could see Militia regulars with laser shields forming up alongside B5 units carrying extra ammo and supplies. Those that weren't in marching formation were setting up command sections and so on.

"There you are lad!" Turok suddenly appeared throwing a shield into Ahkilleons hands and dragging him along "This way."

Ahkilleon tried to speak but could barely get a word out, "Captain Tano, so nice of you to join us." Ahkilleon looked to his left to see the Lt with muttonchops smoking a cigar, he was with a squad of what looked like battle hardened regulars who were all snickering at him.

"No time for that, come on." Turok said as they headed over to Lord Asimov, who was at the edge of the forest, with Sigma, Ventus and Terro looking out from behind a fallen tree at the open plains of Carannia. The ground had been burned and turned over creating a no mans land.

"Imperial forces are falling back to the shield, my Lord looking to draw us in." Sigma said.

Lord Asimov looked out from a pair of binoculars "They planet mines now doubt, send the droids in to clear them, all other forces from testudo behind, we advance on the Imperial Center and destroy the shield generator." Lord Asimov said getting up he looked back to see Ahkilleon.

"Let's move."

No hi, no how are you, glad you aren't dead, straight to combat. Ahkilleon followed them back to the main force and up above Ahkilleon could see more gunships starting to land, Sigma got on a speeder bike and sped off to join his forces, no doubt Lt. Gaser would be doing the same. Ahkilleon formed up with Turok beside him and looked to see Ventus, Terro and Asimov in front of their own forces. Ahkilleon looked over his shoulder to see nearly a hundred men broken up into groups of twenty five, his men. And among the others the same "Testudo, form!" Lord Asimov shouted.

The Militia forces all held out their shields in front, "Testudo, march!"

The droid army started to march in front of them through the trees, "ADVANCE!" Lord Asimov commanded. The militia shield wall interlocked and the army moved like hundreds of turtles, they moved across no mans land and the Militia sheild formations moved through the gaps to the laser shield Ahkilleon watched the droids pass through first and heard battle on the other side, he poked his head up to see a small sliver of opening in the testudo formation. He could see the battle droids ahead of them, the B1's marching in parade formation getting mowed down as cannon fodder, others clearing out mines by sacrificing themselves. A loud ping ricocheted off his shield and he ducked down to see they were getting closer to the trench and the droids were thinned out to the point the imperials could focus fire on the testudos.

He could see the flash of the e-web turrets ripping up the overturned earth and red canon fire smashed into his laser shield like hammers. If Turok wasn't behind him and hadn't had his arm there to keep them stable Ahkilleon would have been knocked off his feet.

"Hold testudo!" Lord Asimov commanded.

"Hold!" The warlord shouted marching forward as they were close.

"Advance." He could see stormtroopers shooting at the shield, the absorbing yellow laser rippled like heavy rain. "Hood testudo-" lord Asimov teller he saw a stormtrooper throw a detonator at them and Ahkilleon used force push to send the thermal detonator back into the trench second later it exploded "Breakoff!" Ahkilleon tore out his lightsaber and yelled with the other militia they leapt into the trench, and the first thing Ahkilleon saw coming at him was an imperial with their blaster rifle butt he held up his shoulder and blocked him, then thrusted his red saber with his right hand into the stormtroopers chest.

Ahkilleon pulled out his saber and looked back to see Asimov and he were the first ones in the trench; more militia poured in to the trendy engaging the militia in close quarter combat. Turok dropped his shield and unslung his shotgun from around his back and pumped a trandoshan full of lasers. "Get moving lad!" Turok barked, cocking the weapon for another burst.

Ahkilleon saw a few regulars looking at him, "With me." Ahkilleon ordered holding his shield up and moving into the trenches going around a corner he saw stormtroopers had fallen back to another lane, "We can flank them by going over the top!" One Sargent shouted climbing over.

"No wait the buildings have-"

KA-BANG

"-Snipers!" Ahkilleon said a rush all pushed against the wall to hide. Ahkilleon dropped his shield "I'll draw the flak, the rest of you man in front has a shield up the man behind, above their head we've got to get to those buildings to clear out the snipers!"

"Roger-Roger!" He heard the men shout behind him.

Ahkilleon drew both his lightsabers and ran out, they were five storm troopers on the other end of the trench line. It was tight quarters and he didn't have a lot of room to move so we had to focus on the flashing their fire back into the enemy. He's a sniper scope glint from the fifth row of a building floor, Laser, ripped past his head, missing him by a nanosecond. He could hear the shield line being pummeled by snipers and fire from the buildings. Finally reach the line of storm trooper is in Hathaway them with his lightsabers most of them slide back into another of trenches but two of them rushed him, cut off one of their heads the other tackled him trying to wrestle is lightsabers out of his hands, before Ahkilleon used the force of pushing so hard he would flying out of the trench. In the ensuing scuffle, killing at torn a bandolier of what he thought were grenades. He recognized that they were different types: two thermal detonators and two canisters.

Smoke grenades, perfect!

He tossed the two canisters over the trench wall, and the smoke that out too loud pops before you could hear the exhaust of the fumes looking up. He saw big thick blanket of Whitecloud for the buildings. Looking back, he saw the rest of his squad advance. "Again!" He commanded.

He went that way through all three trenches, Ahkilleon would take the flak his forces would follow him. Finally, they had read. It's the end of the trenches where the imperial forces had dug into the city, and underneath the buildings a dark black, shadow doorway lead underneath the first building an imperial glass or fire, pin them near the entrance. Holding up his calm, link the young captain, and said "Master, we reach the buildings, but we're pin down."

Across the battlefield, Lord Asimov and his forces were almost to theirs when his Lordship used the force blast so powerful it tore apart the entire trench. "Well done padawan, hold position or reinforcements are almost here."

Ahkilleon looked back and saw coming to the shield wall or more of Militia forces, it was a full regiment of spider droids, A menacing, tank-like, and gigantic walker utilized by the Commerce Guild and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the OG-9 homing spider droid was the heavy tank variety of spider droid, while the DSD1 dwarf spider droid was an anti personnel variety. Both were manufactured by Baktoid Armor Workshop, and the homing spider droid consisted of a spherical body suspended between four mechanical legs. A powerful reactor was at the heart of the central body, and this center armored reactor core also contained a red photoreceptor optical array and two comlink antennas. The OG-9 homing spider droid, or referred to simply as the spider droid, moved slowly on its long mechanical legs. The legs contained heavy-duty joints, were armored to hide the inner hydraulics, and could straighten to raise the core. On the bottom of each leg was an all-terrain footpad, and at the top were the leg-piston drivers.

These models were bigger than OG-9 homing spider droids with two additional legs that looked more like old republic tanks. With a third additional joint and heavier armor? It had two large weapon armaments on the main main body a rocket launcher and a large glowing red laser cannon, the spiders let loose beams of laser that slashed into the buildings sending chunks of metal and rocks down below "Go, go, go!" Lord Asimov said into the comlink.

The whole squad stormed into the lower entrance and the only light came from Ahkilleon's sabers, they rushed in and Ahkilleon leapt to the second story window crashing through one of the few unbroken windows he hit the ground rolling, "Contact- Contact!" Looking up he saw the stormtroopers had set up defensive positions to a narrow doorway that led into a stairwell. The stormtroopers spun around and opened fire, Ahkilleon deflected the shots just in time to get close enough to attack a stormtrooper with a sniper rifle, the snipers wielded it like a club before Ahkilleon slashed his saber up cutting the gun and man in half. He spun around taking out two more with his blue saber and ran behind a pillar as they loosed the barrage of laser fire on him spinning back around he ran at the bull lightsabers in hand spinning them to catch the blaster bolts just as his squad broke through the entrance.

They cleared out the rest of the floor, and they had a moment to breathe, "What is this place?" Ahkilleon asked, looking around. He hadn't gotten a chance to see it. There were tables and desks all over, small lower wall cubicles and computers at them. "Office building?" Turok said.

As the militia regulars were moving in columns behind their laser shields, Turok came in as they swept the room, "You two with me, we take the next floor." Ahkilleon threw his lightsabers into the ceiling and used the force to spin them into a circle he pushed the hole in the floor to slam up the floor into the next one. Leaping through the hole he made and attacked the next floor of stormtroopers and the militia followed. Drawing their fire for the militia forces to enter through the stairwell and in minutes the floor was chaos. Ahkilleon hacked down the closet stormtrooper he saw and ripped his sabers out of another man he stabbed, all around him he could feel the emotions of the soldiers, their anger, fear, hatred, all of it. No he couldn't focus on that, he was a soldier they were his enemies they would show no mercy, the longer they fought the more destruction would befall the city. "YAAH!" Ahkilleon flung his sabers out impaling tow stormtroopers when Suddenly Ahkilleon saw an imperial officer in who'd behind hiding behind cover jump

out at him, Ahkilleon didn't have his blasters and the man was inches from him dead to right.

KA-BLAM

Turok had blasted him with his shotgun, "Turok-" "Careful lad, your mother still watches over you." The trandoshan barked.

Ahkilleon retook his lightsabers with the force when he heard shouting and the earth shaking. "Artillery we have to get out before we get hit-" Ahkilleon shouted. Before the whole building was rocked "Out- out!" He yelled over his comlink to his men. The men ran out of the room down the stairs back to the ground floor and ran for the exit where the roof itself was starting to cave in. Ahkilleon thrust his hands upward to the ceiling as his men escaped. He watched Turok be the last one who looked back-

KA-BOOM a shell hit the building directly hammering the roof in and ontop of Ahkilleon burying him alive.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Ahkilleon was falling, or was he rising he wasn't sure but he was moving, moving toward something a light. It was calling to him he couldn't feel any malice from it, it was warm, like a fire in a cold winters night, he smiled reaching for it. The light spoke to him in celestial voice of pure peace it said "hello."

He new that voice, he wanted to go to it when suddenly he felt something grab him and pull him around he looked and the light vanished a shadow appeared darkness given form it grabbed him strangling him with claws, it's malice took shape into a creature with two horns that came out from its head, and where eyes should be the there was just white bone with a jaw of fangs no skin, feeding back into its bone like body flaming shadow burning behind it where hair should be, it opened its mouth and he heard it slow an in a demonic voice followed with a forked tongue whipping it said

"No."

"We aren't done yet."

..

..

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..

Turok and the squad kept digging and digging, "Leg- leg!" He shouted as they pulled Ahkilleon out of the rubble, he was covered in dust and ash, they yanked the helmet off him and a medical droid came up flashing a light in his eyes as he came to.

Ahkilleon felt the whole world freeze around him, his battle meditation had been shattered, the rush of an entire city's emotions on fire engulfed him, the fear made him want to run, getting back to the militia base camp. He wasn't supposed to be in combat, he got lucky with them putting him in a Captain's role, he knew it but there were men and women out there fighting, dying. He looked over the demolished wall and saw the inferno of flame, the anti ordinance guns going off in the air lighting up the smoke filled sky to take out the spider tanks. He could feel it all, Ahkilleon's force senses firing in and out like a thousand rounds of ammunition he couldn't hold it in. Even as Turok shouted at him to see if he was alright. Ahkilleon let out a scream so loud he couldn't even hear it, he couldn't hear anything but the thundering 'ba-bump' of his heart ready to break out of his chest. He got up grabbing his helmet and forcing it back on his head, he pushed the squad away from him, ran out from cover lightsabers were in his hands and running through the city streets he rounded a collapsed buildings only corner and he swung them at the first stormtrooper he saw. Ahkilleon was already on the next one he stabbed the stormtrooper in the chest and spun around taking off another's head. An e-web turret opened fire on him, Ahkilleon leapt onto an overturned occupier tank jumping up with the force he stuck his hands out two fingers ripping the turret out of the crows nest and he threw it right back into the imperials using it causing an explosion. But Ahkilleon still couldn't hear anything but his heart pounding like thundering drums.

Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump

Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump

He felt a sense of danger and moved us head left and a blaster bolt whizzed past his head when he moved. He saw more stormtroopers heading toward him blasters firing he ran at them deflecting the incoming fire with his lightsabers, he couldn't even hear what the stormtroopers were shouting.

Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump

This wasn't like Jabiim, he was in control then. But this, no he wasn't thinking he was doing. Something else has taken over him and he was letting it, he ran into the stormtroopers slicing one down and spin kicking another while his other lightsaber cut down another stormtrooper. Red and blue lasers hacked off limbs and deflected the blaster bolt until Ahkilleon smashed his fist into the ground and sent a shockwave of force energy blasting out of him from every direction.

Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump

More.

Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump Ba-bump

More, he wanted more. Looking around he wanted more to come for him, this was what he was here for. He wanted to fight, here it was right in front of him, all around him. He ran through the streets against hails blasters into a stormtrooper trench, cutting them down, slashing and striking. He flung two stormtroopers into a wall, grabbed another one yanking him into his red lightsaber, another tried to outflank him and he stabbed that one in the chest, both blades impaled on his enemies. One brave imperial took his chance, ran at Ahkilleon with his blaster and smashed him in the face with the butt of his rifle.

Ahkilleon looked at him and let go of his hilts and punched the stormtrooper so hard the helmet flew off and Ahkilleon felt his fist break on the plastiod armor. He squeezed it his fist right setting the bones back in place the stormtrooper looked at him an, Ahkilleon locked his hands onto the man's face, he was human, light skinned, brown haired with hazel eyes and Ahkilleon stuck his thumbs right into the man's eyes gouging them out before channeling force lightning into the man's head making the stormtroopers head explode splattering Ahkilleon with blood and brains.

Another one leapt over him wrapping his right arms around his neck and tried to stab him in the face, Ahkilleon grabbed the man's wrist and bent forward leaping to summer salt the two of them so Ahkilleon landed on top, he turned around and grabbed a nearby rock hammering it into the man's helmet. He cracked it open and then slammed the rock down on the man's windpipe.

Helmet smeared with brains and blood Ahkilleon bared his fangs and jumped out of the trench, summoning his blades he hunted for more, he heard fighting not too far from him. He ran to the nearby alleyway still standing and leaky on and off the walls to the top. Prowling the rooftop he looked over the edge seeing another street in combat. One side militia forces pinned down by an imperial all terrain scout walker, he backed up a few steps before ran to the edge leaping from the building sabers aimed at the walker. The militia regulars in cover saw him soaring down like an avenging Angel of crimson and azure when Ahkilleon impaled the scout walkers side like a cannonball before he dropped with his sabers cutting its right leg clean off forcing it down. Rolling out of the way from its collapsing head Ahkilleon fought his way to the imperial side of the street into a sea of stormtroopers. At close range and in the tight confines of the street, their numbers meant nothing. Their screams echoed over the city carrying the sound of horrendous fury he followed them to a large Main Street it was two large roads with dividers in the middle militia spider tanks were marching forward against a row of imperial walkers Ahkilleon saw one of them was walking forward it crushed a spider tank under its massive foot. But Ahkilleon saw a flash of yellow and Lord Asimov slice the front left tanks leg after it crushed the spider tank, then his Lordship swung from the leg up to the top and drove his saber into the neck and ran it over to the top sending the whole tank down on its side coloring into another one behind it and taking both down. "Rally to me, to me!" Lord Asimov shouted.

"Lad!" Ahkilleon heard Turok behind him and saw his squad was there too, "Rally to Lord Asimov!" Ahkilleon shouted before they ran to regroup with the main force. He ran up to the top of the fallen tanks with Lord Asimov, to deflect incoming fire drawing the imperial attention away from the Militia, who were amassing behind the cover of both tanks outside the imperial center. Ahkilleon bounded onto the overturned tank to stand by his Master "You're still alive I see." Asimov commented as he deflected lasers with his saber.

Ahkilleon did the same "Not for lack of trying."

"Then let's try harder, you go left, I go right." He said gesturing to the last three walkers, Ahkilleon didn't need an explanation after he saw Lord Asimov cut the leg off one of them.

"Roger, Roger." Ahkilleon nodded

"Go!" Asimov commander leaping off the tank.

Master and apprentice jumped from the tanks and ran to the first tank ignoring the stormtroopers around their legs the sight of two armored juggernaut Jedi charging them gave every stormtrooper pause before shooting, braver ones tried to take the Jedi head on and were summarily cut down. Then both Jedi flew into the air by the legs of the first walker asimov made one great swinging strike to sever the front right leg, Ahkilleon spun taking out the front left leg with his blue and then the back one with his other blue saber.

Charging the second tank they did the same thing only this time the empire had caught on so they had dodge and deflect incoming fire from all directions before they severed the second walkers legs.

The last walker started to back up like a cornered bull caught between a cliff and two tigers. "Switch sides!" Asimov barked. The two Jedi crossed one another to take the opposite sides and cut down the front legs, sending the walker into the pavement face first in a massive explosion followed by Commander Sigma shouting "CHARGE!" The militia forces ran around and over the cover to the Imperial center in an all out assault howling battle cries some had their laser shields out with their vibroswords and hatchets, others carried their rifles to shoot at the now overwhelmed stormtroopers. Without their armor support the imperials had lost the advantage on the wide street. Ahkilleon and Asimov were at the steps to the imperial center that rose up to four large imposing metal columns fighting the retreating stormtroopers who were desperately trying to fall back inside. The Militia following like a sea of iron, the empire's soldiers ran for the gates that slammed shut leaving almost fifty wounded or more troopers outside. Sigma and the regulars shot them in the back mowing them down-

"NO!" All the rush of battle drained from Ahkilleon before he jumped in front of the Militia guns deflecting a few shots before they ceased fire, only a handful of stormtroopers remained blasters on the ground hands up "Get out of the way!" Sigma barked.

Ahkilleon didn't budge "Mercy Master we're at the gates, the imperial forces can't withstand us we've won let's give them a chance to surrender, please." "Mercy for murderers?" They took their helmet off and it was the Lt with mutton chops.

The Lt. stepped forward "What's wrong boy, don't got the stomach for blood."

Ahkilleon had just about enough of him, "How about I show you yours, Lt?" Ahkilleon asked.

The Lt smiled, dropping his blaster and reaching for his own sword, "Enough!" Lord Asimov shouted "Commander Sigma, Lt. Breacher, go secure the other entrances to the imperial center, Lt. Gaser should be here soon. We secure all exits and then- we offer the enemy a chance to surrender, but only once."

Breacher that was his name, Ahkilleon watched the Lt walk off and breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you Master."

"Don't thank me." Lord Asimov said. "If the imperial garrison refuses. You will lead the final assault." Asimov told him as he walked away.

Less than an hour had passed when Sigma returned, and then Lt. Breacher, followed by Gaser the forces were all in position, Ahkilleon stood their at the top step overlooking the city fighting was still raging in the surrounding districts and they could hear imperial sniper fire from atop the centers higher levels where the shield generator was, "We set up a broadcast on all channels and patched into their building intercom system, Lord Asimov." Sigma said as Ahkilleon stood behind his Master.

Lord Asimov turned "Send your message Captain, pray they accept it." Ahkilleon looked to Sigma who held up a comlink with an antenna attached to it to amplify the signal.

Taking it he looked at the small black microphone, he wasn't sure what to say, he couldn't reach the rebels on Jabiim, what hope did he have for reaching Imperial stormtroopers and officers. He gave himself one deep breath and said "This is Captain Ahkilleon Tano, at this moment we have the imperial center surrounded, our forces are ready attack unless you surrender now. You have fought bravely and done your duty, there's no need for anymore death."

A long pause, and Ahkilleon continued "Surrender, I give you my word you'll be treated fairly-" "How about no."

A voice, a mans?

Ahkilleon looked back at Lord Asimov but the woman continued "Captain Tano, is it and here I thought you New Jedi didn't let children enter combat, glad to see you honor some traditions like hypocrisy?"

"Who-" "You may call me Yun, we await you and your barbarians at the top of the Imperial Center, we look forward to giving your head to my Master on a plate."

"Master?" Lt. Breacher asked.

Ahkilleon looked at Asimov who said nothing, Ahkilleon felt it too this was an Inquisitor. His lordship was looking at him, and then Turok said "Prepare to breach"

"Wait, there's still time to convince them to-" "No, they had their chance, the stormtroopers in there chose to fight, to create fortifications to risk the lives of the citizens here, they made their choice padawan, they followed their orders will you, you want this battle to end, end it?" Asimov asked.

Lt. Breacher cleared his throat, "Begging your pardon my Lord, but if 'Captain' Tano doesn't have the stomach for this, I'll-" "No." Ahkilleon snapped with a dark note to his voice, Ahkilleon could sense that if he didn't lead the attack another would, "As you commanded, Warlord." Ahkilleon said, putting his helmet on.

He looked at the gate, "Shield wall, behind me, Now!" Ahkilleon ordered the walking to the front gate he put his helmet on with both hands. He didn't want to do this but he had to, doing hard things no one else could is how you got shit done. The only things that stood bewteeen him and getting to the end of this were the stormtroopers, this mystery inquisitor and the gate. All of them would fall. Ahkilleon pulled his arms back, hands pressed on an invisible ball of force energy. The young man channeled his energy and emotions into it, his anger giving the force firm and power before he unleashed it like a cannonball the blast so mighty it broke down the gates with the strength of a battering ram. Ahkilleon took out his lightsabers and ran in. Sigma and Turok were next to him and when they crossed the threshold the remaining stormtroopers and a handful of officers were waiting for their foes on the other side. The mere seconds of the invaders and defenders passed slowly for Ahkilleon, the force told him the imperials, no these men, new they were going to die, they new there would be no reinforcements, no evacuation, they could have surrendered but something pushed them to fight on, duty? Honor?

Courage?

It didn't matter because they were in Ahkilleon's way.

He couldn't afford to show compassion right now, no quarter would be shown or him or the regulars. The longer they resisted, the longer the fought on the more death there would be they had to die-every-last-one!

The demon he saw in that… that place he could feel it guiding him showing him where the next enemy would be, the next kill and he followed it.

It was all there, all the anger, all the hate, all the pain, all the fear and he was using it, the corridors and hallways of the Imperial center blended together as he cut down stormtroopers and officers who were fighting to the last man, he couldn't even hear Turok or Breacher behind him anymore, he slashed down another door in his way and blinding light from outside hit him. Gasping Ahkilleon looked to see he was… at the top.

Up above him the shield Generator was still powering the planetary and city shield, he'd blanked and spaced out, it was as if he wasn't even in control, he had fought his way to the top of the Imperial Center. "Tano to Lord Asimov im at the top, I need explosives to-" Duck!

Dropping down low, Ahkilleon saw a red saber pass over him he spun around but sensed another.

He leapt spinning in the air to a three sixty landing to see not one, but two red blades. Both were dressed in black imperial leathers with the imperial emblem on shoulder pauldrons. One appeared to be human, light skin, dark brown short hair with narrow eyes and the prickles that started to form a beard. He wore a dark gray tunic over his leathers and his pants were tucked into his boots. The other was a mountain of muscles flesh, reptilian with hard ridged warty skin with fangs and a snout that had two dark yellow eyes above them, dressed in all black leather with pauldrons and metal boots.

One of them was clapping the man and the other was snarling, whatever it was. "Oh bravo, bravo." It was the same voice from the comlink.

"The little jedi knows how to use his anger." The man had dark black hair, strong cheeks, thick stubble and was smiling. Ahkilleon turned to face them, he said nothing, he remembered Lord Asimov's training Sith like to talk, he'd already fallen for it once with Jerec.

The male inquisitor walked around the top of the Center, "I am Yun, and this handsome fellow is Maw." he said gesturing to the reptile Inquisitor, "Maw, say hello."

Maw just growled, "Maw, Yun, I thought you Inquisitors all went by Brother and Sister?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Ah yes, the old Inquisitorius did have that lousy competitive mindset, my Master Jerec has… different methods, we keep our names." Yun said, holding up his hand.

Ahkilleon gritted his teeth behind his helmet, "Good, something I can write on your graves." Ahkilleon held up his lightsabers.

"Bold last words, begin." Yun said drawing his own lightsaber, the two Inquisitors rushed him and Ahkilleon held his ground before they attacked, Yun went high and Maw low. Ahkilleon backed up deflecting their incoming attacks, Ahkilleonsaw them switch and he jumped into the gap in front of them before he spun around to lock sabers with them. "Oh you have some skill." Yun taunted.

Yun broke the blade lock and went for the kill, then Ahkilleon rushed forward and smashed his helmets forehead into Yun's face knocking him back, he force blasted Maw away almost off the edge. Focusing on Yun who held his nose fearing it broken "You bastard-" "Shut up, I gave you a chance to surrender, you want me- I'M RIGHT HERE!" Ahkilleon shouted going on the offensive. Yun was pushed back and Ahkilleon sensed Maw coming up from behind him "Die." The Maw shouted in a roar like a bear.

Suddenly Maw saw a yellow lightsaber and blocked it, Lord Asimov had appeared and he stood back to Ahkilleon, Master and apprentice together. "Now, a fair fight."

"Double the prize, a head for us both." Yun growled before the two Inquisitors attacked. The blades of Jedi and Sith locked in their battle as old as the galaxy itself, under the shield generator satellite. Ahkilleon fought Yun and Maw with his Master. Lord Asimov held his great saber against Maw, the two the same height, and broke a blade lock before backing up. Asimov bent over for Akilleon to roll over his back and attack Maw, Asimov with one hand swung at Yun with his great saber before sending a burst of force lightning at Yun, the young sith deflected the electricty with his lightsaber. "Graah!" Yun roared, attacking Asimov.

Maw swung heavily and hard at Ahkilleon who had to dodge and parry before he slashed at Maw's arm cutting him, but it didn't even phase the Inquisitor. It roared at Ahkilleon who didn't even flinch, he'd faced red blades down so many times he wanted nothing more than to take the monster's heart from his chest. Ahkilleon drew Maw to the edge and he spun in attack with reverse grip on his lightsabers Maw stepping back, closer an closer to the edge "Kill you." Maw growled before Ahkilleon "How do you figure that, without any legs?"

Maw gasped and looked down to see Ahkilleons red saber pass though his waist and Ahkilleon watched the Inquisitor fall in two pieces down into the burning city below. He looked back at Lord Asimov and saw him fighting Yun, to his surprise the man was holding his own against Lord Asimov. Ahkilleon leapt over his master and swung his lightsabers down on the sith. Yun back flipped off the edge before he saw a TIE Advance slowly rise up. Yun was panting hard, he looked out across the city and saw more Militia ships starting to land around the city, he sighed "Well, I'll be seeing you soon Jedi."

Yun slipped into the Tie and it flew off, "Admiral Zygote, we have a TIE advanced fleeing the planet, shoot it down when you see it." Lord Asimov said before he turned back to the shield Generator.

Ahkilleon followed him, "We should get Turok up here with some charges." Ahkilleon suggested.

"No, this ends now." Lord Asimov declared, "We bring it down, together."

They sheathed their blades and focused on the towering satellite dish, holding their hands up out at the dish. It started to wobble and Ahkilleon felt his face sweat under his helmet, "Bring it…. DOWN!" Lord Asimov bellowed when the satellite dish tilted it's main support pillar caving in before it fell sideways crashing into the Imperial center shattering the shield around the city and the planet, Ahkilleon watched it tumble down to side of the Imperial center crashing into the city with a climatic earth shattering crash. hHe looked over the city and smoke rising from every other building militia forces were in the streets the full vanguard advancing to overwhelm the remaining enemy forces. Panting he walked to the edge but staggered he was so exhausted his legs felt like jelly, kneeling he reached for something to level himself and Lord Asimov caught him.

He led his apprentice over to edge with a raised piece of metal, "Catch your breath, you did well."

"Did well?" Ahkilleon pulled his helmet off, his white and blue hair matted against his scalp with sweat. "Did well, I… we lost Captain Nemo, I lost control, I don't even know how many men I killed, they could have surrendered we-" "Stop." Lord Asimov grabbed his arm.

Lord Asimov reached up and removed his helmet, his scared face clear, his one good turquoise eye looking with a piercing gaze at Ahkilleon. "You fought well today, Captain Nemo did his duty, as did you, you were honorable to give them mercy, and you showed conviction to end this battle quickly, I am proud of you Ahkilleon and so are they."

"They?" Akilleon asked, Asimov picked Ahkilleon off the seat and led him to the edge, they looked out the city to see the Militia had surrounded the city with their reinforcements, blue banners across the buildings and ships descending from the skies.

They'd won.

Lord Aismov raised his lightsaber and Ahkilleon held up his blue one to the cheers of the Militia "MILITIA INVICTUS!"

LATER

Night

The Militia forces had regrouped back in the forest, which was cleared for the frigates to land unloading more droids and forces, who moved into the city to secure it. Bonfires had been lit for the victorious soldiers and man open kegs of ale were being handed around for those who had fought and survived. Ahkilleon walked around without his helmet with Turok and Lord Asimov. "Hail Ahkilleon!" One of the bonfires shouted from a distance Ahkilleon smiled seeing the praise he then noticed Master Uzuma and the young jedi walking out of their Corvette the Vindicator toward the medical tent. He waved over at Corto who gave a weak smile, Yumi rolled her eyes and the other yung jedi were a mix of scrunched up faces under their hoods.

He lowered his arm "Don't worry about them, go, celebrate." Lord Asimov said "You earned it."

Ahkilleon nodded and walked over to the bonfire with Turok when someon bumped past him "Sorry." It was Lt. Breacher.

"Lieutenant, hold!" Ahkilleon snapped, he'd had enough of this.

The laughing and celebrating had stopped, as Turok blew steam out of his pipe when Lt. Breacher stopped, Ahkilleon looked at him and noticed many people were looking at them, "Do you have a problem with me?" Ahkilleon asked.

"No… sir." Breacher said sarcastically

Ahkilleon bit his lip, "Hmm really, permission to speak freely." he said hands out wide leaving himself open.

Breacher thought it over, "I just find it strange that a no name jedi brat like you, suddenly gets a field commision while we've all ben slugging it in mud and guts these past six months?"

"It was a surprise to me too, Lt." Ahkilleon said, walking up to him. "But as for no name, that's not true you want to know who I am?" Ahkilleon asked.

Lord Asimov was watching from his command tent, it was as if the whole camp was watching, Ahkilleon could feel their eyes and he turned his gaze away from Breacher "I'm the son of Jedi, raised by rebels, hunted, and chased all my life for merely being born to come to the Militia to fight for a free Outer Rim, I am liberator and conqueror. I am the thunder in the storm, the fire in the stars. My way is fury and passion and strength-" he beat his chest piece with his fist and held out his arms fists above his head shouting in the mans face "I AM AHKILLEON!"

There was a welcoming cheer from the Militia around him and he turned to the bonfire "Get me a damn drink!" Ahkilleon shouted.

Across from them in the distance Lord Asimov watched in his tent before covered it, he turned back to Admiral Zygotes hologram and Commander Sigma, "Not bad for his first time in combat, officially at least." Sigma said.

"Maybe it's time to bring him in?" Sigma suggested.

"No, he doesn't need to know." Lord Asimov said, Admiral Zygote shook his head "If he's to be your apprentice and if he is the Jedi King, then we should bring him in on the conspiracy?"

Lord Asimov folded his arms against his chest, "No." he said as he walked up to his holotable and pressed a button, "All he needs to know is we liberated another world, and didn't come for the real prize." a hologram appeared showing an ancient Serenno castle, "Palace Dooku." Lord Asimov said.

Sigma scrunched up his face, "I thought the Empire raided it when they first formed, what could be there?"

"They did, but Count Dooku was clever and beneath the palace, a hidden secret that not even the Emperor knew about." Asimov said.

Sigma sighed, "Well it better be some secret, to justify an entire invasion of a planet."