2 years 8 months Before Order 66
Kamino, Tipoca City
"Are you sure this is what you want, Padawan?" Asked the Togruta female.
"Yes, Master. They fought with some who died beside me, and they had just finished training and now saw battle. They need to know that their sacrifice was not wasted." Started the young Luz, a face of confidence, but the shaky legs dismissed the image.
Shaak Ti smiled at the young Padawan. "They know this already, Luz. My next question is are you doing this for them or yourself?"
"Would there be a difference?" Shaak Ti tilted her head in amusement at her. "Okay, I may be doing this a bit for myself, but they need to hear it from me! Not from someone else."
"Then do not let me hold you back." Ti gestured with an arm to the nearby door.
Luz eyed the door nervously. Taking a calming breath for her nerves somewhat helped. She thought about anything that could help in this situation, then realized something important. What was she going to say to them?!
As if reading her thoughts, which may be accurate for Shaak Ti nearly burst out laughing at the predicament the Padawan found herself in.
"Are you worried, Padawan?" Shaak Ti asked, her voice dripping with amusement.
"No! No, I'm good, Master!" Luz said nervously. She gulped down some dry spit and walked through the parting doors.
The door led to one of the city's many starfighter hangers. There, nearly five hundred troopers of the garrison she led stood in a loose formation. Her entry didn't go unnoticed, as one clone saw her entry.
"Company, attention!"
The clones stopped and stood at attention.
Pushing her nervousness to the side, Luz advanced and stopped before them.
Luz bowed low and said: "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!"
Luz couldn't see their expressions due to their helmets but knew she had their undivided attention. She had no idea where that came from, but she was going with it. "After today, no one will question your duty, honor, or loyalties. Tomorrow you go out to the galaxy, not as conquerors but as liberators. We will not fly our flags over theirs. Those who don't wish to go, we do not blame you for choosing so, but for those that do, I expect you to rock their world! Wipe them out if that is their choice."
Off to the side, Shaak Ti looked on in interest at the Padawan. While the clones did not walk off or turn away.
"If they are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnificent in victory. But above all, your life matters. If you take anything you have learned here from all your training, the ones standing beside you count in the end. They will carry you. And if this war continues, whether we're winning or losing, win by living through it till the end and after. Deny them that privilege, keep your chins up high, and smile. Knowing that you have won that over them."
Luz stood up straighter. "Company!"
The men stood stiff. Luz bowed at the clones. "Captain, take charge of the men. Retrieve your new orders and be ready for deployment. Fall out!"
Luz turned around to leave for the door but was stopped by the sound of clapping. Turning right back to the men, she saw them looking at her and clapping. A few even cheered.
A warm feeling penetrated her heart. A sense of happiness that she shared with the clones.
From afar, the Togruta Master watched all this happen with an intrigued look. Luz has only been with her for a few months and has shown promise at her young age. Looking at the Padawan and the clones raised a few things that needed addressing.
But Shaak Ti would put that aside for the time being. Let the Commander be with her men till tomorrow.
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{Play Music: Escape (Beat Saber soundtrack trailer)}
The camera zooms in to see a dirty deadeye Luz walking in the rain, passing many dirt mounds with sticks planted in them with brown cloaks of Jedi robes wrapped around them or blaster rifles with clone trooper helmets hanging on them. The smoking aftermath of a battlefield in the background. Photos of Luz with several clones hanging out in a barracks. Luz on a ship's Bridge. The backsides of a younger Padawan Luz and a human male with short black hair in a Knights robe with thick sideburns and a confident smile. An armored Luz riding on her BARC speeder bike with her lightsaber out with several other clones on speeders following her into a battle.
Luz unknowingly walks through the portal door and falls on her knees. She looks up to see a hand in front of her to take. Looking at the hand's owner, Luz sees a smiling Eda with a happy King on her shoulder. Life is brought back in Luz's eyes, and she smiles back before taking the offered hand.
The door where Hooty was opened as Luz steps outside in her sleeveless yellow vest, with Luz twirling and posing with Eda's staff with one hand and her lightsaber in the other in a low guard. But then Eda took her staff back with an amused grin while Luz gave a sheepish smile. King popped in front with his own pose.
A Boiling Isle mural was seen as Gus, Willow, and Amity are seen briefly before it burns away to show King commanding an army of stuffed toys, which all fall on him. The scene burns away to reveal Luz in front of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, looking at it in sadness. The silhouettes of the Jedi Council, along with other Jedi, stood before disappearing, leaving only their burnt robes and lightsabers on the ground.
Emperor Belos raises his staff as he foreshadows behind his castle as red lighting thunder from the sky. His army of Coven guards, numbering by many at his call, standing ready for a fight.
Now Luz was on her BARC speeder, racing past across the landscape. She zooms down the Boiling Isles passing, Gus waves at her, Willow smiling, and Amity looking surprised before she smiles softly. Passing by several Coven guards as they try to chase her. Then Eda, with King on her shoulder, hops on behind the Jedi. Then they hang on for dear life as a massive, monstrous worm-like monster, mouth wide open, lunges at them. Everyone screamed in horror as Luz turns the throttle up and guns it.
Then the scene changes back to the Owl House, where it's nighttime with stars twinkle in the sky as the three are on the roof and looking up into the sky. Luz opens her hands to reveal a ball of magic light and let it float to the sky.
Several lights flashed of fire and ice before the title appeared.
Jedi of the Isles
Episode 17: Eviction
Just outside the Owl House, Eda was in full potion-making mode as she stood over a big cauldron of another of the special potions from the dead Grimhammer. She reached over to a table next to the pot and plucked the bottle before emptying its contents. Captain Vultan walked over and examined the contents.
"And you're sure this stuff works?" The Clone officer said with much suspicion.
"Don't doubt my potion skills. I may be many things, but my potions are top quality!" Eda waves a wooden spoon at the accusing officer.
"It's just a little hard to believe, is all." Eda gives the clone a deadpan look.
"The other day, you helped stall a fear-reading shapeshifter. What else is it hard to believe?" Eda points out to the clone.
"Fighting monsters is one thing. What this is supposed to do is-." He counters, but Eda interrupts by blowing a raspberry.
"Whatever. Anyway, do you know why the kid wanted me to make as much of this stuff as possible? I've had to put my potion-making business on pause to make this muck gunk already." She gestures to the dirty shack full of potion ingredients, elixirs, and other vile concoctions. Nearby, two squads of clones set up a staging post as they gear up for something.
"On that note. Seeing all these guys here outside my house may attract some unwanted attention. Don't need the Emperor's Coven coming around."
Vultan nodded in complete agreement. "We've got scouts stationed around the forest's perimeter leading to the nearby settlements. If anyone comes looking in this direction, we'll know about it."
"Still doesn't tell me anything about what's going on. Why the sudden action?" Eda pressed.
The clone officer sighed. "Word came in last night from the others on the other side. Drake and the other half of the first regiment are returning to Qiilura from the Wookie homeworld. From there, the Empire plans to dismantle the regiments and spread us out to other units."
"Meaning this is your guys' only chance to break away from this new Empires' control altogether." Eda deduced, to which Vultan nodded in confirmation. "Today is going to be pretty busy for you guys."
"That's only half our problems. What's worse is that Drake is also bringing in a detachment of these new TK-troopers." He looks on in worry before facing his men. "These new soldiers are probably the planet's new garrison, and whoever is commanding them isn't going to like what we're doing."
"Think they'll stop you all from leaving?" Eda made a spell circle to lift the cauldron and pour its contents into an empty container.
"They'll try. But we clones are stubborn, and we've made our choice and will stick to it. The reports from other units and what the Empire is making the other clones do to them are sickening. Even out in the Expanse, where we did most of our work to improve the Republic's reputation, is now on the brink of breaking away."
"Sounds like to me, these guys have the right idea. Was it that important to have these worlds stay with the old government?" Eda asked as she prepared the next potion batch. "Sounds like they would rather strike out on their own now they have a chance. I'd do it."
"Not everyone has magic powers like you and everyone here." Vultan huffed in slight amusement.
Luz then walked out of the Owl House wearing her Jedi robes and strolled up to the two.
"Are the others ready?" She asked her Captain.
"The others are preparing as we speak and will be ready soon. The problems we'll face are the man in charge, his guard detail, and how many new Shinnies are being brought in with Drake and the other half of the first regiment. More importantly, getting them all quickly enough to not allow them to alert the rest of the Empire of what we're doing."
"Then we better not mess up. Eda, how are we with those potions?" Luz asked the witch.
"Got the fifth batch right here. Don't you think that's enough for what you need, Luz? Don't have a lot for supplying more after this is done." Eda asked, concerned about where this was going.
"After what we do today. We need to disappear so the Empire can't track us. Since I doubt they can follow us through dimensions, I'm taking everything I can and leaving them with nothing."
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'Something feels off.' This was the first thought Major Creed Rushton had when he noticed the clone behavior of today.
They seemed more motivated and eager. Couldn't possibly begin to wonder why being out in the hillbilly part of the galaxy. They were clones, soldiers bred for battle, following orders, and that was all they were suitable for in the end.
When the Major received word that he was finally being given command of a decorated clone unit. He was ecstatic, proud even for finally being recognized. Rushton had been constantly pushed aside in favor of the Jedi for the whole war. The Jedi took all the new units and left none for the officers like himself. This unit he took over was a prime example of such, with its former Jedi Commander being a child. A child?!
The officer mentally shook his head at the ludicrous idea and the later messes he had cleaned up. When he got to this nowhere of a planet, the unit was organized so that he didn't believe how it could function. They were quickly corrected under his guidance and made valid when the new Imperial Standard operating procedures.
As for messes, when he saw the strange receive unit on file, he had them assembled for inspection. What he saw he could barely put into words. Clone troopers in various states that shouldn't be in the military. Many had broken limbs that would keep them from the front lines indefinitely. More than a few were missing their limbs and had prosthetics. Some had internal injuries that affected their combat ratings, while others had bodies shaking with strained muscles from standing up from missing chunks of body muscle. Probably from missing death with a deadly explosion.
If a young Jedi Padawan did this to her troops, he did not want to believe what a Knight or Master would do to their soldiers? So like a good leader, he sent them all back to Kamino for evaluation.
Luckily the Jedi and all their evil are gone, like the failed Republic. Now, he can get along with his future.
But before he could, he became wiry of the men around him, specifically toward the clones. Just before the Empire permanently decommissioned the cloning facilities of Kamino. The clones have started to act very distantly from the non-clone personnel he brought to the world. It began with the primary staff before he took subtle notes of the rank and file doing the same. They looked at him with distrust and even anger at times. This unusual behavior prompted him to hasten the order for the new non-clone troopers to replace the current rank. Let someone else deal with them.
Looking down at the courtyard from where he stood at the HQs top balcony, Magor Rushton noticed his clone units seemed to be mobilizing. But why? As clones from the second regiment were geared up and formed into ranks. The lumbering AT-TEs from Fourth were being lined up as if for deployment.
"Lt. Deon." Rushton addressed the com officer nearby. One of the many non-clone officers he brought to replace the old clone headquarters staff. "The clones looked like they are mobilizing for a movement. Did we receive orders that I was not informed of?"
The human dressed in the new gray imperial uniform looked to where his commanding officer was addressing. Confusion ebbed on his features as he saw the activity too. "We have received no orders from command other than the news that the clones from the first regiment and the new support of TK troopers. Other than those, I do not know..."
His voice was cut off when the door to the HQ opened, and teams of clone troopers in their old yellow and green regiment colors stormed in. They moved towards all the stations; weapons drawn on all the staff Rushton had brought with him. One team is led by a clone Captain from the 4th squadron.
"CT-8225, what is the meaning of this?!" The Major demands of the clone.
Oak responded with a sneer of his rank and calmly drew his pistol on the man. "Major Rushton, you are under arrest and your staff detained due to recent actions."
This angers the Major as he sneers at the clone. "Under what actions? For that matter, who has given you this order?!"
"You'll find out soon enough." Two clone troopers flanked the man and put binders on him and Deon.
The teams moved in and started forcing the imperials out of their seats and handcuffing them with binders. They were all led outside with the others, giving the Major a look at what was happening. Everywhere he looked, more and more people he had brought to this world were being disarmed and rounded up. The clones led him to the tarmac, showing that almost everyone on base was gathering.
"What is going on?" One of his men asked but was left unanswered.
The Major has pulled away from his men to a raised platform erected on the landing pad. His escorts nearly dragged him up the stairs as he resisted almost every step of the way. When he reached the top, he looked out to see all the base's personnel had gathered. Rushton noticed two things: the clones had taken off their helmets and repainted their armor from when they served the Republic. Another thing he took notice of was their displeased or angry expressions, all directed at him. The human officer could not fathom what had gotten into them all.
The presence of the lead clones CT-8225, CT-7311, CT-7559, and CT-3245 made their company known behind him and stood in parade rest.
CT-3245 stepped forward to the stage front. "Form up!"
His order sounded through the air. The clones broke form into their company and squadron formations quickly and efficiently, showing off their military professionalism. Before Rushton could fathom what was happening, they had lined up before the stage and stood at attention. He wasn't the only one confused, as the detained officers and the few TK soldiers on base looked around in wonder.
Then a few soldiers started cheering at the edge of the formations. The cheer soon became a roar as more and more clones joined in. When Rushton saw what they were cheering, his jaw dropped in disbelief.
Walking across the front of the formation was brown cloaked, armored-clad Jedi. But not just any Jedi. Rushton recognized her as the young Jedi Commander he replaced over the clones. This was all wrong. The Jedi were all branded traitors, so why were the clones celebrating her return instead of arresting or shooting her?
The Jedi smiled happily at the cheering clones. She reached the stage and ascended the steps. The clones stood and saluted the Jedi, to which she did the same.
"Oak, Pit, Flash, Vultan." The Jedi happily greeted each clone with their silly monickers. "So good to see you all here."
"Glad your back, Commander."
"Things weren't the same without you."
"Traitors!" The five turned to see the snarling imperial officer. "You're all traitors!"
Luz levels a glare at the Imperial officer. "Major Creed Rushton. Be silent now, as I will address your crimes later after I address my men."
"Your men?! They are imperial property and will release me now and follow my orders! Someone execute that Jedi!" Rushton shouted. The clones stood still. The Major looked worriedly at the angry faces the clones were giving him. "Why aren't you following your orders!"
"You seem confused, Major. How about we clear this up. Captain Oak." Luz addressed the officer.
"Sir!"
"Where do all of our orders come from?" Luz asked innocently.
"From the Galactic Republic, the Chancellor, or Jedi Council."
"Who did you swear loyalty to?"
"The Republic, sir."
"And who did this officer swear to?"
"The Galactic Empire."
"There you have it." Luz turned back to a now red-faced Rushton, much to the amusement of the clones. "By the evidence presented, you have no authority over these soldiers, Major. Making them mute to the point of any instruction or order you give them."
"The Republic is GONE!" The imperial officer shouted. Actually, catching the others off guard. Then he started to rant.
"The Republic is dead! Your Jedi council is dead! And the chancellor is our Emperor! The Jedi are all traitors, and soon all your clones will be, too, if I have anything to say about it!"
When he was finished. The air was silent, and no one made a noise.
"Troopers, lock the Major up and search him again for any com devices or radios. Then Leave him stunned in his cell. I will deal with him later. The men he brought with him can stay for what comes next." Luz ordered.
The clones didn't say anything as they dragged Rushton and his men away to the bases-on-site detention center. None spoke a word as he left. The clone regiment focused back on the stage and waited for what their Jedi leader would do.
Luz breathed out through her nose. She turned to the regiments and walked up to the front of the stage. She stayed silent and waited until she could feel their eyes on her. Off to the side, Eda and King watched the teen in interest as Luz began speaking.
"Brave Rifles!"
"Veterans!" The regiment of clones challenged.
They responded with an intensity that made many of Rushton's men jump in surprise. Luz saw this and felt her heart swell in pride at the men's response. She let them calm down for a moment from the shout of the regimental accolade.
"Men, it's been a long and tough war." She started. She stopped and licked her lips for a moment. "You have fought bravely, proudly, for your nation. You are a special group. Rare before our time. You have formed a bond with one another that could only exist in combat. You shared trenches and held together in dire moments; we've seen death and suffered together."
Luz let her words hang and smiled down at all the soldiers she got to know these last few years. "I am proud to have served with each and every one of you. You deserve to live long and happy lives in peace."
"Sadly, they may not happen. The Republic you fought so hard to protect is gone. The democracy we fought and died to keep is no more. Replaced by someone who's worth he puts above all others. And is now turning your brothers who were once seen as symbols of hope into icons of terror. Something we no longer can control."
Luz let her words sink in for the soldiers under Rushton's command. Some of them with their heads facing the ground, others looked at the clones in confusion, and a few looked surprised at the Jedi.
"The Clone Wars are over, but the fighting has not stopped. Now, our personal freedom is at stake. Our very right to exist."
"I cannot promise personal satisfaction. But should you continue following me, I will lead you to a path where you will not face brother against brother. But for a tomorrow, you can build something to be proud of."
Luz looked among the crowd she trusted and gauged their reaction. The clones looked satisfied at their Commander, and Rushton's men looked uncertain. Glancing to the side where the Demon Realm residents were, they just looked at her with jaw-dropped amazement.
"For those who want to follow, we cannot stay. Qiilura may have become our home away from home, but I will not allow it to be our grave. Report to section chiefs for orders and prepare evacuation plans. Dismiss!"
Luz left the stage with her Captains following her, and they were soon joined by Eda and King.
"Didn't know you had it in you." Eda padded the Jedi's shoulder. "Nice speech there, kid."
"Thanks. Through your collection of data disks may have a small hand in it." Luz's response confused the older witch.
"What are you talking about?" Eda asked.
"That one box in the basement. Found it when cleaning down there after the heist, and it had storage disks full of story tellings like nothing I'd seen before." Luz blushed ideally in embarrassment. "I may or may not have been binge-watching a few of them on and off for a few nights."
Eda thought back to the box she was talking about. Many things were thrown down there over the years from her business. It may be time for her to look through it again.
The clone Captains looked at their Jedi Commander in interest. "Any recommendations?"
"I'll show you guys later. Hey! We could build a theater in the new base. Of course, once we get everything settled down."
Together they entered the HQ building and entered Luz's old office/bedroom. When Luz looked at her old workspace, she felt slightly mad at what she saw.
"I should have seen this coming, but it still makes me mad," Luz grunted as she walked over to the desk and nearly threw herself in the chair behind it. Eda and King looked around in confusion.
The room looked around the size of the Owl House living room. It featured a metal desk, with a black clothed chair that Luz now sat on. Behind the desk had two doors leading to a small bedding/kitchen area and bathroom. Along one wall leading to the side looked like a trophy case containing a few clone trooper helmets of different makes and colors. There were also a few fancy swords, arm-long animal tusks, and some weird looking two pronged barrel rifle.
"What's the matter? The last guy touched your stuff," Eda asked as she looked at the animal parts.
"You can say that. That guy removed all the pictures I had displayed around my office. All the ones I took during the war, and he threw them away, didn't he?" Luz directed the question at the clones.
"Right in the recycler the first week he got here," Oak answered.
Luz's face met the desk as she let out a tired groan. "Those were my favorite... oh well. On to business."
Everyone straightened up as the clones stood up in front of their Commander. "Let's go from the top. Where are Drake and the other half of the First squadron, and when are they coming in?" She directed her next question to Pit.
Captain Pit opened a holo display of the galaxy that highlighted the major hyperspace routes. "They took the Trellen trade route and are confirmed to have jumped onto the Hydrian way. The question is whether they will keep taking the main hyperspace routes."
King moved around the desk and sat on Luz's legs. "Would it make a difference if they did? They're going to be here no matter what."
Luz smiled and rubbed the demon's skull. "Maybe not, but it gives us a times table of when to expect them. It could range from a few days to a week at the rate they're moving."
"And we only have a little time before they get here and figure out something's wrong. Send word to the ships in orbit that are not tasked for anything to head down here for deployment load. Have the construction droids up for dismantling everything they can. Prioritize the motor pools and armories first, followed by the Med centers and barracks. Everything else is secondary. On that note, how many ships did we acquire for our little retirement?" She asked.
"All the original reserve ships are under our control, and then some," Oak responded.
"Show me." Pit directed the holo diagram to a bunch of different classes of ships.
"Final count, 4 acclamators, 27 Gozanti patrol cruisers, 4 consular cruisers, 2 Corellian fuel haulers, 8 Consular Class Cruiser, 6 GR75 medium transports, 6 CR70s, 6 Pelta class support frigates, two of them being refitted with heavier armaments. A handful of confiscated stock freighters." Pit listed off.
"Holy Titan." Eda looked back and forth between the clone and her charge. "How did you acquire so many!?" Oak was the one to answer.
"You can thank the Empire for that. After the war ended, many personnel were put on police duty. Monitoring hyperspace lanes and busting smuggling rings. Many of these ships were seized during inspections and screening details and were used for smuggling or piracy. If we didn't grab them, they would be shipped off to a junk world like Raxus Prime or Bracca."
Eda gave her full attention to the clone as her interest peaked. "Junk worlds?!"
This made Luz think at the mention of the junk worlds. "Bracca... That's where Clone Force 99 had their chips removed. Near Kashyyyk? They went on a decommissioned Venator being scrapped there, one of many laid out on its surface."
"A possible place to gather for lost supplies or equipment?" Vultan asked.
"Something to look into if we need unused proton bombs or spare parts, then yes. But we will think about that tomorrow."
"You dang right we are! Luz, why didn't you tell me about this awesome place? You know how much money we could be swimming in by now if you showed me this place?" Eda pointed at the Jedi, making her rub her head sheepishly.
"Sorry, Eda. It must have slipped my mind. We'll go later to recon it to find a suitable place to look for stuff to bring back. Now, what of Rushton's personal command ship he brought. Do we have it?"
Oak shook his head. "Negative, Commander. His ship, the Stonewall as it is called, wouldn't allow any transfers to his ship; from what I can tell, none of them are clones, and all are loyal to the Empire."
"That's going to be a problem. If the crew of the Stonewall finds out what we did down here, they will send word to the Empire, and we will be drowning in imperials before we can figure out what to do next."
"Then that's what we need to focus on," Flash said, with others nodding in agreement.
Eda crossed her arms and gave the holo of the Stonewall a raised eyebrow of skepticism. "What's the plan then? Blow it out of the sky with your fleet."
"If we destroy their ship, their emergency beacons will automatically deploy, and every nearby Imperial outpost will hear them," Pit responded.
"Which means a boarding action. Take the ship as quickly as we can. Captain Vultan, you're up." Luz looked at the clone captain.
Said Captain, gave a toothy smile. "Yes, sir!"
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Later on, on the tarmac, Luz walks along with Eda and King. Together Luz gives the two a proper tour of the base. With the base about to be stripped of everything valuable soon. This will likely be the last she or anyone would see this base in full action like it is.
As they moved from one area to another, clones stopped and saluted Luz as they walked by. Luz smiled at each soldier they passed.
"They going to do that hand motion thing wherever we go?" Eda asked just as more soldiers stepped aside and saluted.
"It's how they show respect to others, Eda. Duty, loyalty, and respect are what the clones value." Luz smiled over at Eda. "You've earned a bit of that yourself when you saved me."
The witch waved the Jedi off with a hand. "You just stumbled through my door," Eda said.
"And didn't shun me away after," Luz countered. "By not doing so, you showed me another outlook on life. Something I'm looking forward to."
"Like, spending time with your new girlfriend?" Eda gave the teen a knowing smile.
This made Luz stop in her tracks at the sudden realization. "Oh, cramity! Amity! I can't believe I have a girlfriend. I did not see this coming when I took her as a student. Would this be considered unprofessional teacher/student behavior if we date? Stars, what would the other Jedi think!"
From there, Luz seemed to drift off into her own world, muttering off different hypotheses. All the while, Eda enjoys the silliness while King just deadpans at the teen.
The Demon scuffs at Luz. "Witch drama."
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While Luz was in the middle of her first romantic relationship dilemma. Over a dozen LAATs lifted off, with each a full complement of clones, each wearing EVA gear and armed for the coming action. The dropships soon exited the atmosphere and towards the fleet. One LAAT containing Captain Vultan Readied his DC-15S before opening a private channel to his company.
"Alright, men. Mission up. Today's the day we take our first steps in gaining our newfound freedom. Our target is the Stonewall, the only military ship in orbit not in our possession. We can't let it warn the Empire. If they do, we will have the local sector fleet come down upon us while evacuating the base. I don't need to tell you how bad that is."
"We board via space jump and enter through the hangar and airlocks. The objectives are main engineering, the communications relay room, and the bridge."
"What about the crew, Sir?" One soldier asked. The question hung in the air for a moment before answering.
"Stun and subdue if possible. But if the circumstance dictates, then lethal force is authorized. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
The dropship decompressed the troop compartment with the doors opening up to the void. As they reached the visual range of the fleet, they quickly spotted their target among the group. The Stonewall stood out among the other ships as it speared point up the front of the fleet. The pilots arced their ships around the fleet and approached their target from the rear. As they entered the fleet's formation, the troopers jumped and fired their individual J-12 jetpacks.
On board the Stonewall, the sensor station operator spots something strange on his readout. "Captain, sensors indicate multiple signatures coming from the stern and are on approach where several of our dropships are coming up from."
His alert startles the Imperial officer. "Strange. Maybe there is a system error in the sensors? Cross Reference with the Everfree, and see if they are picking up the same. If not, conduct a restart of the sensors and notify a technician to make an inspection of the sensor modules."
The operator opened a line to the Everfree's sensors and showed the same thing they were seeing. The acting Captain and XO looked over the data, and their confusion became apparent. A holo showed off the incoming clones flying toward them in EVA gear. Was this some kind of surprise pirate raid drill that Major Ruston sprung on them? If so, this seemed over the top.
"I don't know what is going on, but it looks like the clones are in a state of rebellion. If that is the case, sound the alarm and alert the security teams. Reinforce entry points." The XO commanded. "Also... use of lethal force is authorized. After all, they're only clones."
Outside in space, the clones quickly landed on the Stonewall hull and moved toward the ship's entry points. Vultan reached for the main hanger and flew in with the brothers on the flight deck, startling the deck crews. He leveled his blaster at them.
"Sorry boys, but we're taking command of the ship!" He announced.
The deck crew looked confused at the clones. Which quickly turned to terror when a squad of white armored soldiers dressed similarly to the clones arrived. Their armor was plain white like shinnies and lacked any personal utility gear. The main difference to clone trooper armor was the skull-looking mask replacing the T-shape vizier.
"So you're the new guys? Not impressed!" Vultan taunted. His taunts were quickly silenced when the TK troopers immediately used deadly force, killing two of his men instantly. Seeing their brothers killed off also muted the clones' remorse about killing the crew. The firefight began as the clone troopers ducked into the nearest cover or down to the prone position to fire back. Whether due to a lack of training or common sense, only a few of the TKs took any sort of cover to protect themselves, while the rest only took a few steps to spread themselves out. Making them easy targets for the veteran troopers. When the last TK trooper went down with three bolts to the chest, the clones rounded up the deckhands.
"Team two, secure this hanger! Team 3 and 4 head to the aft section and secure engineering! Teams 5 and 6 silence their coms. Team one with me. We're taking the bridge." Vultan ordered the others before taking his team through the door.
On the bridge, the staff watched the spectacle on the security screens as the clones tore through the ship's security with minimal casualties. Some were using non-lethal methods of taking down the ship's crew, but when the TK troopers responded with lethal measures, so did the clones.
"This is no drill. Contact Major Ruston. Warn him that the clones are rebelling!" The XO said to the comms officer.
"We are trying, sir. But no one is responding," the coms station officer responded.
The officer weighed his options. "Alright, let's get a sitrep on the situation. What have they taken over so far?"
"They are pouring through the hangers. The central shuttle bay is overrun, and so is the port side support bay. The starboard side is holding, but they are outnumbered. They've begun going deeper into the ship, securing sections, and subduing the crew. " The man listened.
"Subduing? They weren't meant to come and kill, but I ordered lethal force."
The sound of combat echoed just outside the doors of the bridge. The bridge staff looked at it nervously. Some wondered how this had happened.
"Cover the doors!" The XO ordered. The TK troopers stationed at the door had their blasters out and pointed at the door. The XO and a few armed officers drew handheld blasters and supported them. Soon the sound of combat ended outside, leaving forbearing silences. The bridge staff shifted nervously.
Beep. Beep.
Every head in the room spun around to the comms operator who nervously looked at his terminal. "Sir it's… it's a high priority transmission from the Everfree."
"Put it through then!" The captain barked, trying to keep his unease from his voice.
The comms officer allowed the incoming message, expecting a request for a status report. Instead…
"KOTE!"
Music started playing from the small terminal in a language he hadn't heard before, and it sounded like clones singing. Looking around the room he saw everyone else seemed just as confused.
The officer next to him jumped as his personal Comm unit beeped and the same music started to play from it. Then his own causing him to jump than the next and the next officer until the whole bridge was filled with the sound of the deafening war chant.
Even the TK troopers seemed to have had their own comms hijacked as several threw off their helmets in a panic.
The Captain and XO looked around as the bridge turned into chaos.
Dink! Dink!
The sound of glass taping made everyone turn around to the bridge's viewports. Out in the void were five jetpack clone troopers, weapons drawn and pointed at… breaching charges!
The captain took a step back in fear that he and his crew would be sucked out into space. When another sound caught his attention.
Whirling around to the main door he saw as a line of sparks slowly moved from the top to the bottom with a loud hissing and crackling sound as sparks danced through the hair to the deck.
And all the while that war chant just would not end, meaning an officer was slicing an override to force them to listen to it.
Suddenly the words became understandable. "And… Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame. Our vengeance burns brighter still. Every last traitorous soul shall kneel. Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame. Our vengeance burns brighter still. Every last traitorous soul shall kneel. Forged like the saber in the fires of death. Brothers all!"
As the sparks reached the halfway point his own Comm flashed. Fearing it was just more of that blasted music he almost didn't answer it. Until he saw one of the clones outside tapped the side of his helmet.
Hesitantly he brought his communicator to his lips. "Who am I speaking-"
"Surrender now. Or die."
Clone had cut him off. They intended to kill him. Him, an imperial officer!
"Why you-!"
"We surrender!"
Turning he saw his XO, staring at the same clone, eyes wide with fear, his communicator to his lips. "Everyone stand down immediately!"
The main blast door finally opened as the XOs orders were followed. Clones charging in and ripping blasters from the hands of troopers and crewmen alike.
One such group of clones approached him, pointing their weapons at him.
"The battle is done. Order the rest of your men to stand down." The clone captain's order was directed at the ship captain and XO.
The imperial officers looked at the many blasters pointed at him and his men. The captain sighed in defeat and recognized he had been beaten. He went to one console and sounded the general call to stand down.
The clone waved his men over and began disarming the crew of weapons and cuffed them for transport. When the XO was cuffed, he turned to the clone Captain.
"You are betraying the Empire. Why?" The clone regarded the officer for a moment before giving his answer.
"The first order this new Empire gave me was to kill someone I consider a sister. Worse still, I could hardly stop myself from doing just that. The Empire is doing things we clones don't want and against our beliefs," the clone told the XO.
"And taking this ship is going to help? You are a fool, clone. The fleet around us will board and retake this vessel and the Everfree from you." The Captain and his staff became confused as the clones around them stiffened their amusement. "What are you laughing at?"
"We already control the fleet. Yours was the last one still under Imperial control."
The horror drew up on his face as the clones escorted his remaining crew off to the dropships. Where they would be transported to the planet and put in the base's detention area.
.
.
Later in the jail, Luz walked down and observed the prisoners while the clones stood on guard. The building had seen extensive use during the war, mainly during their outings against pirates and slavers. She had ordered her men not to speak with the prisoners and ensure they were fed appropriately. Sure, they were now her official enemy, but that didn't mean she wouldn't treat them less than living beings.
Arriving at her destination. Luz faces inside the single cell while keeping a neutral look. There the former base commander sat on the metal slab that acted like the cell's bed. The Imperial didn't look at all happy to see her.
"Major Rushton," she greeted the officer.
The officer looked at her with a sneer. "Stow it with the pleasantries, Jedi. You won't get any secrets from me."
This was going to be unpleasant, Luz realized. "I don't want military secrets. I want answers to your actions."
"My actions?"
"How you sent 678 of my men to die on Kamino!"
He had a look of confusion before realization kicked in. "The reserve unit I sent back to be recycled? Something you should have done as I did those clones a favor."
"A favor?!" Luz nearly growled at the man. "Do you have any idea what they did to them? Or what does recycling mean for them? Let me educate you. Because I've got to say, you've got some nerve."
"Kaminoans live in a society where they are dependent on outside trade. Their central marketing resource is their cloning tech, which they use to keep their people alive. When they built the clone army, they saw them as products and property. Not living beings!" Her hands clenched from remembering that day. The one where she found out about the clones.
Luz was having some time off and wanted to explore more of the floating sea city. She ultimately got lost and felt too proud of herself as a Jedi to ask for directions. Which eventually led her to another cloning lab. Being the curious girl that Luz was, she went and explored it. She found an open terminal and read the entries on it. Entries that sparked a new motivation to train the clones harder and later lead them.
"So... what's your point?" Rushton rebuts. Not understanding the Jedi's point.
Luz's teeth gritted under anger. "When the Kaminoans get clones who can no longer perform what they were made to do, they get recycled. Recycled like a broken droid being thrown into a smelter to be reprocessed. Only instead of a fire, it's a knife to their guts. They harvest all their working organs and parts before throwing the rest into a recycling vat. I'd made this aware of all the clones the Republic had sent to me over the war. The Republic did a great job handling the clone's welfare as they were the primary fighting force. Fighting to live and not seeing your body in a tube that will disintegrate is a good motivator to not die. Now think, Major. How would the rest of the clone troopers around you feel when you order a whole unit to be served up for just that?"
The Imperial scuffed at the notion, but then he began thinking about the strange behavior of the clones around him. They would turn away in another direction when they saw him entering an area. Or when they give him short verbal reports followed by a hasty leave.
"You see it now. Don't you?" The grim face of the Jedi seemed to make the Imperial begin to panic.
"They want to kill me." He realized his situation.
"Homefront company was my project to help broken clones integrate peacefully into society. One where they would no longer have to face the hardship of battle. From my last reports that were most likely ignored or tossed aside, things were progressing in both long-term recovery and mental stability. Some even started their own lives, such as farmers and businessmen, and started a trade." The Jedi's hands clenched, wanting to unleash the full might of her power on this man. "...even families."
The anger for this man to suffer was great, and Luz could feel the Dark Side wanting her to punish him.
"I would like nothing more than to kill you myself. But it will not be me that will be one..."
Her eyes nearly flashed yellow but retained brown before leaving the frightened officer.
.
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A few days later, Luz, wearing her school uniform, entered through Hooty and flopped on the couch with a tired sigh. After they removed Ruston from power and started evacuating the base. They set the portal down at the new base location, where the clones began flowing in and out with materials for the new headquarters before Eda flew the three back to the Owl house.
"What a day," she said.
Eda walks in to see this and smiles. "Trouble in paradise?"
Luz gave Eda a weird look. "Paradise? Um, no. Just drama from school, Beast Keeping got a little hectic when another student mistook a proud hippogriff for a lazy griffin and received a swipe to the nose. That wasn't pretty. Then Gus and the H.A.S. wanted to know more about me and how I defeated Grom. Oh yeah. I'm also extremely popular now with the other students, asking me questions and wanting to get to know me. A few even asked me if I could teach lessons to learn the sword." Luz rubbed her chin in thought about that. "Something I'm not truthfully against."
"Finally, Principal Bump called me to his office for a chat."
"What did Bumpkins want?" Eda inquired.
"He asked about the clones, wondering if they may be interested in being school security like they did at Grom. I'll have to ask the captains if any would be interested, I'm okay with the idea, but it would be a volunteer thing. It would also provide an opportunity for a few jobs to bring in income and experience."
"Speaking of the clones, are you sure they will be alright on that island those guys found?" Eda joined Luz on the couch and softly rubbed the girl's hair, comforting her.
The island she was referring to was one of the places the probe droids scouted out. After looking the place over for any local inhabitants and finding none. They set the portal down and let a bunch of construction drones through to start the construction of a new base. A few hundred troopers have already begun to scope out the area for any raw resources to consider and property for base expansion, like additional outposts and farmland.
"They'll be fine. The place had no significant dangers like predators or plant life." Luz adjusted herself to a better potion.
"Luz, this is the Demon Realm. Danger and trouble will find you if you don't see it first. Who knows what they could be up against." The witch warns.
The Jedi couldn't fault the witch's wisdom. This world had as many dangers as the fungus ridden planet of Felucia. Not a fun planet that many would go willing to live on.
"Good point. I should change and go check up with Flash. He and his men are supposed to set the new base defenses. I also need to go back to the old base and wait for the rest of the 1st. They got a transmission saying they were one jump point away. Which means we have a few hours till then."
"Let me know when you're ready to go."
Luz quickly changed out of her school uniform and into armored robes before the two hopped on Eda's staff a few minutes later and were off. It took them a little over an hour to travel there. When they arrived on the island, changes were already visible. Prefab buildings were built up, and several simple fortifications were erected.
Despite all that's been done with the clone's hard work, Luz knew that more would need to be done soon if they needed to disappear. "Is the potion ready yet, Eda?"
"Almost, Luz. It should be ready by the end of the day if the clones haven't messed with it. Otherwise, you'll have to wait. The potion was complicated enough, but what you have me do to it may backfire." Eda warned.
"Hopefully, that doesn't happen."
The two flew down and landed in the camp, where the portal was stationed. The clones were still bringing materials and supplies through the portal door, but only things they could carry, limiting everything they could pull.
Walking through and exiting the other side, Luz and Eda were greeted by many troopers as they made their way to the base's HQ building.
Entering the OPS center, they saw Oak and Flash at a holo table and greeted them when they got close.
"Good timing, Commander. Drake and the rest of First should be here any minute. Pit and Vultan have the fleet on standby just in case things don't go according to plan," Flash told them.
Eda raised her hand in a student-question fashion. "Um, for those of us who don't know. What is the plan?"
"We're expecting Drake to appear with a few troop transports or an accumulator." Flash pressed a few keys and the images of several different starships appeared. "From there, we make them land one at a time and undergo a medical review. Like if they're carrying any viruses or diseases, things of that nature. All of this is standard procedure when entering or returning from a hostile world."
"So, they won't argue if you make them take a check-up? Convenient. And here I figured you'd ambush them right off the bat like y'all did the other day."
Luz nodded along with that. "Agreed, but if we choose to fight openly and board them like we did the Stonewall, then we're in for a more tough fight if we try to do things nonlethally. This way, we can get the control chips out without resorting to drastic measures."
Up in orbit on the bridge of the Everfree, Pit looked over the shoulder of the sensor station. The troopers console flashed, alerting everyone around him. "Sir, multiple ships coming out of hyperspace, Imperial IFFs confirmed."
"Drake and the rest of the 1st." Pit concluded. He looked out the viewport just as the ships exited. When he got a good look at them, his breath hitched. "This just got interesting. Transmit to the surface and give them our scans and everything. The mission just got complicated."
Back down at the base, everyone looked at the image of the new arrivals. Not liking the situation.
"Blast it. This might be a challenge."
"That's underselling it. We need a new plan."
"Don't have time. We'll have to improvise."
Eda looked between the three. Wondering why they were so worried as she looked at the ships that came out of hyperspace. Wondering why it was such a big deal. It was just three ships, and if she could understand the description under them. They were called Venators.
Three Venators.
That doesn't sound bad, was it?
.
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Omake: Home Improvement
"Hya!"
Amity slashed down with her practice sword and hit nothing but air. She followed up with a slight sidestep to the right with a sideways upper body block before going for a downward diagonal slash. Amity finished by stepping back and reversing the previous attack with an upwards diagonal slash. Holding the pose for a second before dropping it together with a tired sigh. She was out in her backyard practicing the katas Luz taught her the other day.
"This is an interesting development, Amity."
The teen tensed up at the voice while silently cursing her lack of awareness. She turned and faced older women approaching her.
This was Amity's mother, Odalia Blight, a natural green hair witch with a thing for oracle magic.
"I had no idea you presented an interest in swordsmanship. Not a very worthwhile practice, but it could prove helpful to your training when you join the Emperor's Coven. Is this a recent development?" Odalia inquired.
Amity put up a mental mask to hide her facial expressions. "It is. I faced someone with a sword and used it in a way that got me fascinated by them."
Odalia raised an eyebrow. "Did it? Well now, they must have left an impression if you are practicing. By the looks of things, you've received some training. Did you use your allowance for lessons?"
Around Amity's neck, a round pink stone glowed. Her eyes soon took on a pinker hue as oracle magic softly influenced her mind. "No, she offered me training, and I accepted. She is a powerful person that I'm honored to know."
Odalia's expression did not change. As if she was silently judging her daughter. "If that's the case. I will have to meet this new trainer for the free lessons. Inform me if she ever comes over, I will gauge this person's talents myself. Now, take this training into account your schoolwork and your studies. If you stay caught up, you can continue this training. If not...well, you already know."
With the silent threat made, Odalia turned and left her daughter.
When she was out of sight. Amity sighed in relief as she didn't like dealing with her mother. Putting a hand on her head before glancing down and eyed her necklace. Amity didn't say Luz by name but realized it was only a matter of time before her mother would demand a meeting with her "trainer." She almost dreaded when Odalia would find out they were dating...
A blush crept up her face. She was dating Luz.
Amity shook her head. Now wasn't the time for such daydreams. No matter how happy she felt about it.
The teen picked at her necklace and rotated it between her finger and thumb. The unique presence of the Force melded with the magic and how it felt when it touched her mind and influenced her. It reminded her of a Force technique Luz told her in one of her lessons. How you can be used to influence and even control a weaker mind.
She dropped her necklace and readied her practice sword.
"I'm not ready, not yet."
.
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AU: Stop! Breaching Time
"Men seal the doors!" The Xo ordered. The TK troopers stationed at the door had their blasters out and pointed at the door. The XO and a few armed officers drew handheld blasters and supported them. Soon the sound of combat ended outside, leaving forbearing silences. The bridge staff shifted nervously.
Dink! Dink!
The sound of glass taping made everyone turn around to the bridge's viewports. Out in the void were five jetpack clone troopers, but what drew their attention was the clones started to... dance?
Yes, they were dancing.
One shaking his hips and doing the finger guns at them. Another was rolling their shoulders while leaning back and forth. Two clones fist-bumped each other before making jazz hands motions. The last clone had his legs pressed together and shook his lips from side to side while holding his hands back up to the forehead part of his helmet, and each time he moved, his hands would flap like animal ears.
The sight was so ridiculous to the military staff that any negative feelings they had were dashed away and replaced with confusion.
"What in the world?" One officer summed up their expressions.
Their confusion didn't last as the doors to the bridge opened up with clone troopers storming in with Vultan leading. The clones came in guns blazing caught the imperials off guard. Three Tk troopers were instantly shot down before the others could react. The others tried to fight back, but it was over before it began as more clones showed up with their blasters drawn on the remaining crew.
"The battle is done. Order your men to stand down." The clone Captains order was directed at the XO.
The imperial officer looked at the many blasters pointed at him and his men. He sighed in defeat and recognized he had been beaten. He went to one console and sounded the general call to stand down.
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This party is getting crazy!
Another chapter coming to you now!
The clones are free and have set up shop in the Demon Realm. To clarify, they are not on the Titan but on a neighboring island. Rushton and his men are imprisoned, and things are about to get interesting with these new guys coming in next chapter.
Sorry for not having any lack of LuzXAmity moments in this chapter. There will be more in the future.
Like to give thanks to Ghost-G339 and Wesley9516 for cleanup and editing. As well as giving some good suggestions to make this chapter a lot better.
Be sure to hit that Follow and Fav markers and be sure to leave a review at the end.