Welcome one and all I hope you enjoy a chapter of my own creation. If you wish to see other great authors such as the champ123 itzgattz aizenthegoat Helghy and dragonfromheaven come down to the discord. /JB9gp7JP
Start
The Mandalorian fleet battered the republic fleet above, tearing them apart and forcing those that lived back into a corner. The ground battle was just as brutal.
Pandeth
The forces under Master Jaro Tapal had arrayed themselves into a defensive position awaiting the Mandalorian advance, many of his forces were untrained or partially trained Taanab Militia numbering roughly 10,000. Jaro himself knew that these forces were necessary to hold the Planet's capital of Pandit and support his clones. The clones Had taken up the premier war fighting positions and had formed the initial bulwark against the soon to come assault.
Jaro Tapal hadn't heard from his Padawan in quite a while, the boy had gone with one of the clone sergeants to an outpost on the furthest quarter of the citadel, one that had been almost completely overrun by the enemies, not the Mandalorians themselves but their auxiliaries. Trandoshans, humans and mercenaries alike, those who either had yet to be accepted into their creed or had just decided to fight alongside the Mandalorians. These forces had pushed the clone defensive line to the limit, wiping out entire companies before they retreated, Mandalorian Artillery covering them and pummelling the republic positions as they did so.
The bunker shook heavily as both Mandalorian Artillery and bombers thrashed the city and crumbling entire causeways, causing both clones and militia alike to stumble and hold on wherever they could. Jaro walked past the underground field hospital that had been set up for those who had been injured in the initial assaults, the cries and screams of the wounded made the jedi master tremble in both anger and sadness however knowing that many of them would join the force and be free of burden soothed his heart somewhat, however he steeled himself and continued past the hospital heading straight toward the commander centre.
3km west of Pandeth
Ursa had prepared for this moment for the past couple hours, drawing together all of her forces that had landed nearby. 146 tanks of the XP90 designation her armoured fist led by Colonel Zhukov of clan Fett, he co led with Major Amun-Ra of clan Rook. These were the best of her commanders and most trusted of her house. These combined with 500 of the vaunted Mandalorian Stormverds and the trusted 31st and 52nd Auxiliary brigades, the former having already engaged and bloodied the enemy heavily proving that even small number of the Mandalorian forces were deadly.
The three commanders sat around a holo-projection of the city, the constant visual updates showing the sheer carnage that their artillery barrages caused to the enemy; their heavy shells shattering buildings and destroying anything that stood before it. However, they were relatively ineffective against the underground bunkers that the clones had set up.
Ursa sat forwards, clearing her throat as she prepared to speak. Catching the attention of both Zhukov and Amun-Ra "Pandeth is heavily defended, they outnumber us but they do not outpower us. However, if we are to take the city we need to approach from this direction using the Varadesh highway," she pointed toward the long winding road which led directly through the city and to the main square and Republic Headquarters. `Alongside the Highway they could see the symbols that represented the enemy emplacements and defences.
"As you can see, the enemy have anti-vehicle and anti-personnel batteries set up across the city at major checkpoints and sections, our tanks and troops would be torn apart if they did try and engage. That is what your commandos will deal with Amun-Ra. Your forces are tasked with destroying the emplacements and allowing our troops to flood in and take control of the city." she paused the men beside her, taking notes and understanding their instructions.
"Do not under any means engage the Jedi head on. Leave the master for me, and me alone." her single eye conveyed no emotion, pure seriousness, the two men nodded and left the bunker, the single eye of their Alor'aan following them as they left. Zhukov nodded to Amun-Ra before walking toward where the tanks were parked, a Rally master in blood red armour meeting and saluting him.
Amun-Ra turned in the opposite direction heading towards the Barracks. His troops would have the hardest battle of them all. They would need to be ready.
40 minutes later
Amun-Ra and his forces were the first to leave, he and his 500 Mandalorian Stormverds had packed into modified Kom'rk starfighters, the 12 transports taking off as silently as possible and leaping away toward the capital city, their fighters disappearing into the daylight using the light refraction technology
Below them the Colonel signalled his forces to begin their movement, the tanks sped forward on their four limbed treads, sitting close to the ground they were heavily armoured and armed. Fast and deadly. Behind them came the lighter AFVs they rolled on a similar chassis to the tanks however they were fast and carried twin heavy gatling cannons within their turret rather than the heavy cannon, with them came the slower heavily armoured and reconditioned ATTEs which carried the bulk of their auxiliary forces.
It was one of these modified AT-TEs that the colonel led from, he was an imposing man of 6'5" towering over most of the other human Mandalorians. He was a veteran of the early Clone wars and pirate wars, as well as the Mandalorian succession crisis. He and his forces as ordered were to wait for the signal and engage the enemy from the front where he and his auxiliaries could do the most damage.
Hopefully that Jedi apprentice they had captured would be able to give them some good intel, the boy hadn't been too Cooperative So Far but the clone defectors were working on him and it was going well from what he'd heard last.
The long column was 1.5km away when they stopped, shutting off all lights and preparing themselves to move when ready.
Now it was a waiting game.
Pandeth
Jaro Tapal sat in meditation, his mind joining with the force to try and locate his apprentice, as well as find any visions that could be useful to him in the long term. However, all he could see was darkness. No matter what he tried to feel, it was as if the force itself was cut off from him.
His heart began to beat faster, the shock and panic of being cut off from the force was almost too much for the master. Thankfully he was broken from the near panic attack when a knock sounded at the door, drawing him from his meditation.
"What is it?" He asked his voice conveying annoyance and none of the relief he actually felt. The clone's chest was heaving from running so far, raising an eyebrow he believed this would be important.
"Sir, the defensive emplacements aren't responding."
Jaros' eyes widened in shock; those emplacements were key to defending the main entryways into the city; if those went down then the entire capital would be lost. He stood and quickly pushed past the clone rushing toward the main centre of command, as he practically jogged toward the station, he saw the multiple clone squads rushing about the base, some manning heavy weapons while others boarded vehicles and headed out into the city proper.
Something was definitely wrong. He had not sensed anything, nor had any alarms been raised. Finally reaching the centre he was struck by silence. Silence and darkness. Something was wrong, he ignited his lightsaber and was horrified by what he saw.
The entirety of the command crew was dead. Bodies strewn about in jumbled piles, limbs cut off heads gone, blood splashed everywhere. Men who Japal had led through countless battles were now dead, veterans of their craft.
In the centre of it all stood a single armoured figure, silver and gold armour stood out against the moon. The man's helmet was Mandalorian in nature and his height and stature was that of a human, Jaro snarled in anger as the Mandalorian turned to him, he lifted up on two jets of flame and the Jedi master prepared to smash him into the ground using the power of the force itself.
But the mama helmet tilted in what seemed to be a mocking display and everything went white for Jaro as the room erupted into flame.
Meanwhile
The clones had been fighting all across the galaxy. Being deployed to Taanab was almost like a holiday for them giving them the chance to relax and recuperate; that was until the Mandalorians had put the entire planet to siege. Many of them did agree with the Mandalorians and many more of them wished to join them, however they were bound by their loyalty to the republic.
This and the fact that many of their rank who were not of the Fett genome kept close tabs on them after the mass defections of their brethren. However, the silver lining to this cloud of depression is that as the Mandalorians took outpost after outpost, most clones surrendered to the oncoming hordes. Those who did were welcomed with open arms and kept safe within detention facilities till their loyalties were confirmed.
And as such when the word had gotten out entire sections of the defence prepared to surrender, leaving their guns conveniently unattended and leaving the codes to the heavily defended command centre out in the open.
So when massive explosions started sounding all around the city , both deafening and alerting the defenders of the citadel, those clones who had already decided their fate began to 'prepare' their positions giving an air of a powerful defensive position.
Meanwhile
Zhukov waited for the signal, whatever it was it had to come soon otherwise with daybreak coming soon they would be clear for republic strike fighters to attack. And so he lay flat next to the turret of the modified AT-TE command tank, the gunner sat low in the seat, a protective screen covering his front half from harm.
He was beginning to lose his patience, when it finally happened.
Like fireworks across the city the explosives sounded, throwing up massive plumes of fire and smoke, at which Zhukov grinned standing up on his tank and placing his helmet on.
"FOR MANDALORE, FOR CLAN WREN. URAAAAA!"
At that shout hundreds of auxiliary Trandoshans, humans and other species jumped out of their IFVS and began to rush the defensive walls - who to their credit began to lay down layers upon layers of suppressive fire.
The clones doing what they could to hold back the advancing forces, their remaining mortars and Rocket launchers working overtime to clear groups of Mandalorian soldiers and tanks; the first line however was forced back when the tanks that Zhukov had brought finally began to roll forward, their heavy treads smashing both rock and strewn bodies beneath their massive bulks- the plasma bolts pinged off of the hull of the tanks as they rolled forward as indestructible bastions of death and destruction.
As the approached the walls the clones watched in muted horror as 4 thick powerful legs unfolded from where the treads had originally been and began to climb the defensive wall breaking through anything that stood in their way. Behind them the IFVS also unfurled their legs as they swept their gatling cannons across the retreating clone lines.
The modified AT-TEs followed them up as the infantry rushed through the now cleared pathways toward the republic lines, droids and auxiliaries combined formed the massive hammer that crushed the republic first lines causing them to crumple in on themselves.
It was then that the screaming banshee rocket systems started. 40+ rockets from 6 launchers fell across the entire defence slamming into what was known to be their command base as well as the surrounding areas.
The wail they released simply broke some of the militia who dropped their arms and surrendered when they could.
Clone lines
Marshal commander Botanika cursed.
His defence was slowly collapsing in on itself. 3 entire companies of clones on the right flank had disappeared giving the enemy an easy advance into the flanks of his best defensive lines, they'd already begun rolling up the line and forcing his men back into the city centre, then the rocket barrages began.
Hundreds of thousands of screaming rockets fell from the sky, their shrieks alone sending shivers down his and his soldiers' collective spines. With every pause in bombardments the enemy bombers would swoop down and target any of the still standing buildings bringing them down on them and the militia.
Botanika turned to one of his advisors, "Tell first lieutenant Pucara to move her platoon to plug the gap in the eastern flank" the clone he'd spoken to rushed off to one of the radio communicators to relay the orders. However, another clone came up to him, his face grim.
"Sir, the entire centre group has collapsed. The enemy is pouring through the breach, and the commander has ordered a general retreat here."
"Frack damnit, prepare the shields we're going to make a stand here. Where the Hell is Master Tapal" a heavy hand placed itself on his shoulder and he turned slightly to see who had touched him.
Only to see the singed and burned Master Jaro Tapal. The man winced as he moved and Botanika could see the small shards of transparisteel still lodged within the lasats body .
"I am here Commander, don't bother trying to contact the western command, they're all dead. Cut apart by a Mandalorian strike force. They were the ones who destroyed our key defence systems and have now allowed those barbarians to reach our fallback lines" his grim voice flowed through the command centre showing everyone how dire the situation truly was. As he spoke the thin blue dome fell around the entirety of the headquarters sealing it off from attack, giving the few remaining clones and militia time to Re-organise.
Mandalorians
3 former Republic now Mandalorian held gunships cut through the air toward where the main army had set up camps, each of the LAATs were heavily armoured and armed more akin to flying tanks than anything else, these gunships were escorted by two gauntlet fighters which weaved and bobbed around the gunships scanning the skies for any sign of danger. Finally reaching their destination the central gunship landed before the main command building, a half-collapsed schoolhouse.
The irony of the building was not lost on Ursa as she stepped off her transport followed by two large Trandoshans that wore the armour and colours of her clan. They were greeted at the entrance by the colonel himself who bowed before Ursa as she walked into the main hall passing by a number of clerks and guards.
She finally reached the main command room. A holo table sat in the centre of the room and a hologram of the situation was easily visible on the table itself. Around the table stood the holograms of the commanders who couldn't make it to the meeting.
"Is everyone here? so we can begin the meeting" they looked around and whispered till Zhukov came up next to and whispered into her ear.
As he did this another Hologram appeared, this time it was a hologram of a large Command throne and on it sat the great armoured figure of Mandalore himself, everyone bowed before his figure only for him to sigh and wave it off.
"You all know that you of all my followers need not bow, we have fought through many battles with each other. Now raise your heads and let us discuss this further."
Ursa nodded as she stood, her single eye meeting that of Zhukov's, he nodded in agreement and tapped the screen once focusing on a particular area.
"This is where the shields are weakest, our Gauss cannon can pierce it however we cannot engage the fortress directly as their defences are too powerful, the Stormverds are still embedded behind their lines, and we could use them to our advantage."
At that all eyes turned to the Hologram of Amun-ra, they could tell by his worn and damaged armour that he had seen combat.
"My men can do what you need but we need time to prepare, a number of them are injured and will need some first aid before we can move in but aside from that you have our support"
Naruto nodded accepting the plan, "Ursa, I've deployed a ship to your position, and it should be enough to help pull through if anything does go wrong"
Ursa nodded as Naruto's hologram faded from view, she turned to her bodyguards as she began to have her armour placed around her body. Zhukov looked at her in a confused manner, feeling his confusion she turned to him.
"I'm going to engage and kill that Jedi master. I'm going to mount his lightsaber on my wall. Now prepare yourself for combat we leave at dawn."
Zhukov nodded and left the room, leaving Ursa and her armourers to continue preparing her.
Next morning- clone fortress
Jaro hadn't slept. Despite the bacta on his wounds and the use of remedial force healing he'd barely even gotten a wink of sleep.
And now he stood at the top of the last bastion of the republic on the planet. The shield managed to hold against anything the Mandalorians had thrown at it so far and had managed to keep them safe. Although now what seemed to be almost the entire Mandalorian strike force now stood outside the shield.
Droids, aliens, humans. All arrayed before them like a wave of pure destruction prepared to slam down on their position, he could hear commander Botanika swearing and shouting down below rousing the troops to their positions.
None would surrender and none would back down, he'd given the infamous order just last night ensuring that they would bloody the enemy force as much as possible. They would become one with the force in the end, so there would be no suffering.
The Mandalorians began to roll forward a massive cannon, it was shaped like an amplifier with three sharp hook like prongs at the end, these cackled with green lightning and the force shrieked. He had to slam his hands over his ears as the force itself in all its glory shrieked in pure anguish.
What was this monstrosity that they had brought with them?
Mandalorian
Ursa watched as the siege gauss cannon was pushed into position by four large heavily armoured B2 battle droids, a young woman sat at the control panel tapping away as the cannon's green lightning began to crackle and pop around its tip.
"Aphra do you actually know what you're doing with that thing; I'd rather not die because you tapped the wrong button" Ursa shouted up to the young woman, who turned to her with a sly smile.
"Don't worry Lady Wren, even if it does explode it'll be a quick death instant in fact. It's just what comes after we have to worry about" She chortled as she continued to tap away and the greenish bolts growing in number.
"All done, now everyone cover your eyes unless you wish to go blind"
And it screamed.
The cannon fired an ear-piercing screaming bolt of energy, it had no recoil yet it cut through the shield as if it were nothing, no hesitation the shield simple crumbled away as if it was never there and the green beam truck the battlements of the fortress like building melting them away almost as quickly as it did to the shield.
Aphra finally shut off the machine, an insane and mischievous glint in her honey brown eyes, " Well i suppose my jobs done now" she said as she jumped down from the command seat looking to walk away, that is until she was grabbed by two large Lasat soldiers, Ursa turned. Her helmeted head nodded slightly in acknowledgement. "Thank you for your work doctor, but i think Mandalore would like to have some words before you disappear."
As she spoke the entire battlefield erupted into combat once again, the thousands of Auxiliary soldiers rushing the now cracked open fortress, they fired as they rushed forward dropping into pre-built foxholes and other cover firing as they moved forward. The clones fired back sniping whatever soldiers couldn't get to cover quick enough, some mounted heavy machine guns and sprayed the oncoming tides of soldiers.
Then they came. From behind the clones hundreds of heavily armoured and armed Mandalorian Stormverds burst from cloaked hiding spots, most carried ancient Vibro axes and gravity maces alongside heavy blaster pistols and carbines, they cut through the backlines of republic defence causing many in the militia to simply surrender alongside some clones while others chose to die rather than surrender, jumping into large groups of the enemy and exploding in devastating suicide attacks.
The clones and their militia allies were being forced back room to room, they were on their last legs. And then Master Tapal arrived.
He fell from the highest point of the tower, crushing two unaware battle droids beneath his enormous bulk, twin streaks of blue burst from his lightsaber as he rushed forwards ducking beneath the swing of a vibroaxe and cutting through the offending user's hand force pushing him away, he twirled the lightsaber flourishing it with skill only a master could have. Striking down any that got close to him and raising the morale of his soldiers no matter how few actually still fought; catching a bolt to the thigh he slashed through the Trandoshan that had dared to wound him.
He spun the lightsaber deflecting two bolts of orange plasma that had been shot towards him, Jaro ducked beneath a solid shot using the force to guide his movements, he swirled around the soldiers that engaged him and struck them down with precise force driven movements. The tide of soldiers finally petered out as they surrounded him, rifles levelled and aimed in his direction however they did not fire.
"I,Ursa of clan Wren, challenge you jedi Master Jaro Tapal to a duel to the death."
The Jedi had no time to answer and merely grunted as the countess jumped over her line of soldiers using her jetpack and slammed her vibroblade against the lightsaber blade. She surprisingly kept up with his movements darting within his guard and flinging almost debilitating strikes only allowing Jaro mere moments to block or deflect the blows, each strike was heavy and incredibly precise, forcing Jaro further and further onto the defensive, he finally grew fed up if the woman's intensity and tried to force push her back, to his confusion she didn't move, nor did she even seem to feel it.
Then he realised why.
the force.
It was gone. No not gone but chained and locked away from his influence, this revelation put him on edge and almost resulted in him losing his hand instead gaining a long cut across his arm then another cut across his chest. He couldn't keep this up.
He swung his lightsaber for her neck aiming to kill Ursa in a singular blow, only for the lightsaber to fizzle out as it struck her neck. In his shock he could not dodge the 4 throwing knives which struck him in his chest, driving him to his knees in sheer agony.
Ursa stood in front of him, knowing the duel was over she raised her blade in preparation to behead the jedi, as she swung down he leapt forward aiming to break her neck in a strike. His face a snarl of anger and his large hands aiming for her throat. He was stopped by a bolt of yellow plasma piercing his eyeball.
A single shot crumpled the wounded jedi, a single shot from the smoking barrel of a young female . She took off her helmet as her mother's single eye welled up in joy.
"Well done, Sabine."
Coruscant
A team of 30 Mandalorians worked together. Some sat at desks with computers plugged directly into their armour while others nearby wrote up reports on data pads and cached them within droids. There was the map of the galaxy on a holotable nearby with what seemed to be the movements of Clone and separatist forces alongside the new Mandalorian crusades.
A single Mandalorian sat at this table, his helmet flashing with information as he continued to tap the table, only to pause. A message from the chancellor himself being intercepted, he exhaled in complete horror and shock, throwing off his helmet and rushing toward the commander at the centre of the room.
"Sir, there's a problem. The clones…."
Thanks to everyone who continues to follow this story, this chapter is one of my own creation and as such it took a bit longer to do, but I do hope you enjoy it.
Praise Neptune and expect an update and possibly a new story.