Hope you guys have a big fucking appetite.
Hello, well it has been a short while thanks to my recent slow writing and spitting my effort between this and my new story. As we can all see now, things are starting to get closer to the end of the clone wars in theory. Some people have put forth some good theories about how the story will end and I have to say more than a few of them have gotten close to it.
In September I am heading back to University but that is nearly a year away and by then I can guarantee that this story and maybe even A New Path will also be complete and by then I'll no doubt start working on a brand new story entirely. We'll just have to wait and see. For now anyway, please enjoy this new chapter.
Replies to CH21 -
PM - The ending to this one has changed like 5 times, every time I thought that somebody had to die and I couldn't deicde who, how or when but in the end I decided to get rid of all previous ideas and episode influences. I hope I made the right choice.
Vitalstratus - Not trying to be a dick mate but If I applied real-world physics to every part of the story then most if not all of it wouldn't exist. I know that if you tried to block a projectile round with a lightsaber it would just become a deadly piece of molten metal but if that was the case then none of the Jedi battles would be very tense. Jack could have just shot Barris and Krell, A simple squad of marines or ODSTs could be sent to kill Grievous and Dooku. Just got to let these things slide.
Scarease - Well, the Office of Naval intelligence will more than likely play a part but by this point, I think we can all tell that Fireteam Resolute, as well as a few tag-alongs, are going to be our final endgame Heros…or will they.
Guest DCDGojira - Cheers Mate, feels good to be back.
L - Good long review as usual buddy. Jack's reaction is definitely stronger than some others when it comes to cloning since it is practically a type of slavery, due to the Mortal Dictata Act of 2165 the practice is virtually non-existent in UNSC-territory now. No doubt the shady behaviour of the Kaminoans, the only difference between them and ONI is they do it for profit, whereas ONI does it more so for the protection of Humanity, despite the questionable ways they do it.
No spoilers but I'll be damned if they leave with absolutely nothing at all, though I'm sure a few readers might have guessed close to how the Kamino section will end. Going rouge does seem like something that would fit Captain Jack's character, as for that executed part, you know I wouldn't tell you if it was right but I will say that faking their deaths with like a flash clone or something was one of the very first ideas I had for this part. Thanks.
DojoYoyo - I am, a much-appreciated friend. Glad the chapter was a nice surprise and yeah I think we somewhat knew that helping Ahsoka wouldn't be the last time that the team or Jack, in particular, did something questionable as well as disobeying direct orders. Believe me, though, only the very tip of the iceberg has been breached.
Hzchb11 - Good to be back, it's gonna get much more intense.
Abyss Reaper - The only Iron Squad I know of was the Rebel Cell formed in 2BBY, I assume you are referring to the small squad of droids of which R2 was a part when they found Gregor, since I haven't written about that then yes, the mission and outcome was the same.
KTTH - You are correct, don't worry too much, I've read all the books and am up to date on my lore. However, just like the Created Conflict never happening in this universe, Rookie was also never executed by Captain Ingridson on Draco 3.
Naotw - Mate really? There is so much that could be answered if you actually thought about it, like yes the Punic was inferior to the new Infinity-Class but those are bloody expensive, big and take time to build. Same with the fighters and other bits, just because something better comes along, doesn't mean you ditch whole fleets' worth of ships that are still extremely powerful. The Reply section is long enough as it is but honestly, most of these are pretty simple questions that could be answered equally easily.
PM (Mariobadia5) - I think they would probably have a similar yet slightly less informed reaction as the crew of the Piller of Autumn.
LegoDoc - Well since this is no longer the plan I will say that you are right as to what was 'going to' happen. I had originally planned so that Fives was going to be swapped with a flash clone and they would let the clone die only for him to be revealed as alive much later. I also had another plan where one of Resolute would have stepped in front of Commander Fox's blaster and taken the shot meant for fives.
Guest - Something along those lines yes, ONI will be involved but just more as the background forensics sort of thing. Didn't want to draw away focus too much from the team and their own discoveries.
Rouge1Bois - Mate, If only you knew how many times I slap myself because of typing and grammatical errors in past chapters that I still don't notice after reading it over ten times before and after posting.
Ltbutterfly287 - That may be but both of them have quite large and developed militaries and also a large part of the Star Wars galaxy has not been secured or explored (The left side of it in particular)
Chapter Twenty-Two: Commissioned
Everything had happened so quickly, from the moment they started running, Captain Jack's senses were on high alert but as he followed his second in command luck seemed to be with them as not a single hostile force had intercepted them in between their escape attempt and now.
Captain Jack kept following Fives as the three of them ducked quickly into the room they had been in just previously where Fives was being held and Tup had died. The alarms still blaring loudly outside the room, Fives slid across the medical table and investigated what looked to be the same case containing Tup's tumour.
Jack looked over to him as he guarded the door, "I knew it," Fives said as he held up a glass container that he and Fives both knew held Tup's tumour, "Nala Se switched the cases, she is trying to hide something," He said, waving the container in front of both AZI-3 and Captain Jack.
"Oh the Tumour," AZI-3 pointed out, "So we are going to continue our research?" He asked curiously.
Agreeing with the droid for the sake of convenience, Fives grabbed the container tightly, "yeah, the research, that's it now come on!" Fives said as he grabbed the droid giving him a shrug before he took the lead out of the room. Captain Jack brought up the rear as the three of them continued their rapid sprint, as they kept up their running Jack noticed something from one of the few signs on the walls. His galactic basic wasn't the best but he was certain of what he had read.
"Fives wait, that's the way to the hanger bay," Captain Jack warned Fives.
"I know, we need a diversion for them to follow while we find out how Tup died, AZI-3 and I will steal a ship and bail out over the ocean," Fives explained.
"Okay, good plan, what exactly am I supposed to be doing during your 'getaway' then?" Captain Jack asked.
"AZI-3 will send you our location when we get back, I know getting my armour back from the ship is too risky and we don't have time, so I wouldn't mind a change of clothes when I get back," Fives said as he and AZI-3 sped off into the distance.
"Great, stuck on laundry duty," Jack joked dryly to himself as he hastily vacated the exposed area.
Even though he had a DC-15 and had it set to stun instead of kill, Captain Jack didn't want to get caught and pinned down in a firefight. His primary objective was to avoid being caught by anyone he couldn't identify as trustworthy which at this point, was almost everyone in his vicinity. The thought of knowing backup was too far away and that nearly half his team was unavailable as reinforcements, doubled Captain Jack's efforts of remaining undetected as he slid through each corridor and hallway like a ghost.
Carefully, Captain Jack avoided multiple patrols as he waited for a signal from the droid they had dragged along with them, after several close calls with multiple clone squads, it started to quiet down. He assumed that Fives' diversion had worked and they assumed that all 3 of them had left the city and were trying to escape the planet altogether. If it weren't for the radio silence he was trying to maintain, Captain Jack would have contacted the ship to let them know extra units might be heading their way.
Instead, though, he remained silent until a small radar-like ping emitted from his HUD. Checking it, he noticed the ping was continuing and it was extremely close. The Captain didn't need to think for more than a second about what it was, while he was admittedly curious about how the droid was able to send a coordinates ping to him without any form of authorisation, he left it to Fives must have figured it out somehow.
Taking every single opportunity to move without being seen, Captain Jack got closer and closer to the location provided to him until he was right on top of it. It appeared to be a small enclosed space with nothing of any value until he looked down and saw a set of hinges. His best guess was that it was a one-way access port from outside the city, or rather underneath it. Jack knew it was where Fives would be coming back in from and now all he had to do was get him something inconspicuous to wear upon his return.
Jack looked around, his luck seemed to be holding on as a pair of two clones were guarding a door to a patient bay just a few dozen meters away. He knew he would need the armour of at least one of them and came up with a plan. As silently as he could, he withdrew one of his small metallic hardlight ammo magazines for his sidearm and crouched down just out of view of the clones. He then slid the magazine across the floor with enough force that it easily skidded over to the two clones, drawing their attention as soon as they heard it.
Aiming their weapons down at it, the two clones looked for the source, "Who's there!?" one of them shouted out.
Walking closer to his location, Captain Jack readied himself and his carbine. Waiting until they were almost right at the corner he was hiding at, he suddenly lunged out at the one closest to him and clocked him right in the helmet with his armoured fist, sending him down to the floor, completely out cold. Simultaneously, Jack fired the small carbine set to stun at the other clone soldier single-handedly. Even though his shields would have been able to shrug off any few shots the second clone might have been able to fire, the stun round from the Spartan's rifle hit him instantly and sent him too right to the floor without letting off a single blaster round.
"Sorry about that buddy, know you're only doing your duty," Captain Jack said as he dragged the two unconscious clones back to their post and laid them down inside the empty room they had both been stationed at. Removing one of their sets of armour, he dragged it all back to the small hatch where in perfect timing, Fives and AZI-3 emerged just seconds later.
"Here," Jack said as he grabbed Fives' hand and helped pull him up. Fives noticed the armour and went about putting it on as quickly as possible.
"Thanks," Fives said as he attached the final parts of the armour after just a few moments.
"No comms though unfortunately, can't risk using anything they might be able to hear," Captain Jack informed.
"Understood," Fives acknowledged as he put on the clone helmet.
"What now?" Captain Jack asked.
"We need to get the Tumour analysed," Fives stated.
"Follow me," AZI-3 said as he took the lead.
Inside the Condor
Despite the rain pounding down heavily against both the glass and metal canopy of the cockpit, Jun turned from the ship's seat and leapt down a level to the entrance to the main cabin. As soon as he had heard his Captain's orders to group up with Rookie and make their way inside, he moved. Jun practically threw himself down the three-foot drop of the shaft between the top cockpit seat and the entrance to the central fuselage. When the door opened he was met almost immediately on the other side by Rookie.
The quiet former shock trooper was standing just a few feet ahead of him, before the door had even fully opened though, Jun noticed that his newly issued hardlight submachine gun was holstered on his back and he had two more weapons in his hands. He took two steps through the walkway before Rookie tossed one of the two weapons he was holding at the Spartan. Instinctively catching it one-handed, it took Jun only a second to analyse the weapon.
It was a DC-15A, Jun also recognised it as the one that Fives had originally brought with him before they were all issued state-of-the-art experimental hardlight weaponry. Bringing his head back up to Rookie, he paid attention to the DC-15S that he was carrying.
"Stun only, we don't want to be killing clones that are only following orders," Rookie said.
Aiming down the fixed metal sight, he looked back to Rookie, "Like I wouldn't have told you the same thing," Jun retorted as he checked that the weapon he had been given was definitely on stun and not kill.
Rookie then gestured his head to the still open ramp at the rear of the Condor, "Come on, I don't think Cadmon's talking can keep those clones stalled all day," He said as he could hear their teammate outside trying to keep the clones away from the ship at all costs without resorting to a firefight.
"Wanna bet," Jun said sarcastically as he walked next to Rookie.
The two of them marched over to the exit and made their way down the sloped exit, the rain coating their armour and forming small pools by their feet less than a second before they had even stepped off. Their exit did not remain unnoticed, however, as the heads of the nine clone troopers perked up and their weariness seemingly increased. Both Rookie and Jun noticed their armour, they all had red markings on it and knew immediately that they were shock-troopers of the Coruscant guard.
As they got closer and closer, the lead sergeant of the squad lowered his blaster carbine and left it facing the floor in his right hand. Holding out his left hand with his palm falling towards the two approaching soldiers he motioned for them to stop. Cadmon, weapon in hand and still standing in front of the clones turned back to see who was approaching.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!" The clone shouted.
Jun decided to allow the clone his order and stop with Rookie following suit with him, they were already almost right in front of them after all. "Head back inside Cadmon, we'll take it from here," Jun said.
Cadmon glanced to and from the clone sergeant and Jun, "Yes Sir," He said, with the sergeant returning the helmeted glare as he walked back inside the ship.
Slowly turning his head away from where Cadmon had been standing, Jun looked back to the clone, giving a rapid glance to the two lines of four clones behind him making up their squad of nine. Though their rifles were aimed downward, all their fingers were on their triggers and they looked on edge as if they had been told to expect a firefight.
Putting his hand back down, the sergeant took a single half-step back. "We have been ordered to escort CT-5597 and CT-6116 out of volunteer service with the UNSC and transfer them back to their proper battalions," The clone explained to them. Already knowing what their objective was, Jun wasn't overly surprised at their lack of attempt at forming a convincing lie.
"I was not made aware of any such orders," Jun said obscurely.
Jun's response didn't seem to convince the white and red armoured trooper, "That is irrelevant, we know that they are on that ship and they are coming with us," He said, making an effort to walk past the Spartan.
In response, Jun wordlessly stepped in front of the clone's pathway, forcing him to stop where he was. Almost craning his neck to look up to the Spartan Warrant Officer, that towered a foot taller than him. As he did so, all of the eight soldiers standing in front of him raised their weapons at both Jun and Rookie. Neither of the two bulky armoured soldiers flinched an inch, they both let their eyes gander between the clones aiming their weapons at the two of them and their sergeant.
"Step aside soldier, this is your last warning," The sergeant said in a monotone voice.
Knowing that the situation wasn't going to be de-escalated through diplomacy, Jun discreetly moved his thumb and finger to the inner trigger guard and got ready to open fire. To his left, Rookie didn't need to receive any orders or signals through his neural implant to know what his comrade was about to do, he too steadied his hands for the fight that was about to happen.
Then, just seconds before the obvious firefight was about to go down, behind them all a single figure exited through the doors of the Kaminoan building. All of them turned around as soon as they had heard the door open and the rapid heavy footsteps of someone sprinting towards them. Jun looked up and away from the clone, he didn't need to focus or use his helmet's enhancement features to know it was Kix running towards them.
However, as soon as he had turned the corner to exit through the clear transparent door, he stumbled slightly when noticed the entire squad of shock troopers still there and waiting for both him and his two clone brothers. The clones too recognised who it was running up on them and the back line of them turned around with their weapons drawn while the front of the squad remained forward with the occasional look over their shoulders.
Neither Rookie nor Jun knew if the clone's weapons were set to stun or not, or as to whether or not the clone Sergeant standing in front of him would give the order to open fire but it didn't matter. The instant that Kix had emerged outside and on the straight path to the ship's landing platform, he made his move.
Using the golden opportunity of half the clones now facing away from them and a few others looking over their shoulder partially distracted, Jun went for it. He pushed all his strength into his trigger hand and while still moving the rear of his rifle, lined it up perfectly with the clone sergeant's head. Moving both of his arms in perfect synchronisation, the stock of the rifle collided with the side of the clone's helmet.
The shock trooper hadn't noticed the Spartan move before it was too late and didn't even have his carbine in two hands before he was rendered unconscious and fell to the ground. With the momentum of the attack still pushing Jun forward, he leant into it and leapt forward into a summer-sault dive, he narrowly avoided the two blaster shots fired by the two clones that had been paying attention to them of the lineup, and they streaked past him and struck the soaking wet floor releasing wisps of steam from the instantly vapourised rain.
Analysing his options at every possible opportunity in what was locally known as Spartan time, Jun's first priority would be to eliminate the two clones shooting him before moving on to the other two beside them that were currently turning around. His designed plan of attack changed though when the two clones were struck with stun rounds by Rookie, who had aimed at the soldiers he knew would be the first to open fire and pulled his trigger in rapid succession, overloading their nervous systems and knocking the targets unconscious.
Wasting no time in turning around to see Rookie firing stun rounds, Jun used his kinetic energy to his advantage and when coming out of his roll let the front end of his long rifle fly into the back of one of the clone's legs. While not incapacitated, the clone fell down to his knees where Jun again used the perfect positioning of his rifle to thrust the rear of his weapon into the front of the clone's helmet vigorously.
Across the platform, Kix had practically run right into the squadron of clones and upon seeing Jun make the first move, made sure to waste no time in getting to the bottom of the situation and followed the Spartan's actions. He had no weapons on him with the capability of stunning the hostile force in front of him so took out his hardlight sidearm and made sure to aim twice as carefully as he normally would.
While he knew that the clones in front of them were after him and his two brothers, they were still just clones following their orders and he didn't want to kill any of them. He made sure to only aim for non-lethal areas before he fired, a decision that allowed the clones several precious seconds to open fire on him and lending several shots before Kix had fired his weapon. Keeping an eye on his shield percentage, Kix shot two rounds at the clone closest two him first and managed to hit one of them in the shoulder without striking any vital organs or arteries.
There was absolutely no cover around him, Kix stood on an empty single-line platform leading up to the ship and decided to ignore his warning alerts that his shields were getting low as there was no opportunity to dive for cover and allow them to recharge. The fighting was fierce on both sides and right as Kix let off the last hardlight round in his pistol, his shields finally depleted from the continued blaster fire of the shock troopers and the last bolt of energy the opposing clone fired right before Kix's hit the clone medic right in the centre of his left shoulder.
Kix went down immediately, not even noticing that he had taken down the last clone in the squadron as his final round had just barely clipped the clone soldier's leg, causing him to collapse to the ground and relinquish his weapon, on the ground, he was quickly stunned by Rookie before he could reach for his or any of the other weapons around him. Clutching at his shoulder, Kix opened his eyes to see Jun looking over his wound before offering him a hand up.
Taking it, he pulled himself up and still being a medic, checked over the two clones he had managed to hit with his lethal weapon. He quickly turned back to Jun and Rookie, "I'll be fine, Sir," He assured them.
Jun nodded acknowledgingly before starting to run to the same door Kix had left through, "These guys will be down for a while, get yourself on the Condor and patch that shoulder, with any luck we'll be back with Fives and the Captain," Jun said before he left Kix's view and ventured inside the building.
"I'll take point, you cover our rear," Jun ordered as the two of them moved tactfully through the black and white lined corridors.
"Copy that Sir, I've got our six covered," Rookie said. Checking every corner and open door the pair of soldiers started moving towards where their HUDs told them where Captain Jack was, or at least the location from where his IFF tag was broadcasting. Never stopping while they moved from room to room was the alarm blaring through the hallways but no clones were to be seen anywhere.
At that moment, Captain Jack's voice came through the comm, "Jun, Rookie, I've got you on my HUD, Fives and I are in the Genetic Records Hall, I think we've been made though, I'll send you our new location as soon as I can," He reported.
Leaving the radio silence, the two of them continued.
With Jun taking point, he had set his motion tracker to a much higher distance to keep an eye on any movement that might come from their Captains signal. The lack of resistance throughout though was somewhat unnerving as the only hostile forces they were encountering was the odd patrol of security forces that they could either dodge by changing paths or activating their armour's active camouflage. However, this was not something either of them wanted to too constantly as no camouflage technology was perfect and the more they moved with it, the more the light had to bend around them to match, revealing themselves more and more.
While scanning every area of the 180 degrees he was responsible for, Jun heard Rookie's voice behind him through his helmet.
"Uh Sir, you know your way around this place better than I do, what's our plan?" Rookie asked, also keeping his weapon up and watching for movement at every given point.
Keeping his eyes forward Jun responded, "Make our way to the Captain's general location and set up in overwatch positions to provide covering fire, should they need it of course," He explained.
Rookie shook his head even though Jun's attention wasn't focused on him but rather on their immediate surroundings, "I didn't mean that Sir, I know we're using these weapons on stun but we just took down an entire squad of clones and I assume the Captain and Fives aren't exactly being pacifists right now either," He said, leading the superior officer to what he was suggesting.
"Are you trying to ask me if you think we'll walk away from this in one piece?" Jun asked straight forward.
Jun heard no reply, indicating that his guess was correct, at that moment the two of them stacked up against the corner. Shifting his eye to his internal HUD and motion tracker, Jun reduced the range and checked the distance to Captain Jack's signal. It was now within half a kilometre and moving very slowly. About to give the silent order to Rookie to move out, a ping of movement appeared on his tracker.
"Movement heading in our direction looks like at least two dozen foot-mobiles, maybe more," Jun said, though he knew Rookie would have seen the same information a half-second later. Quickly, he tried to think of an escape but as he used seconds of their precious time it became obvious that there were no vents large enough to crawl into and no unlocked rooms near enough to hide in.
Past their corner and at the end of the hallway, a large white door opened with the typical pneumatic hiss as the vast white panes slid open. Running out of time, there was only one last place to look, upwards. Rookie noticed where he was looking and had an idea as to what he was planning.
Wanting to reduce the risk of them being discovered, Jun relayed the orders silently without even speaking through a closed channel that only they would hear from within their airlocked armour. He pulled his arm up to his chest and manually set his wrist-mounted grapple launcher into the firing position. Jun knew he could have done it through his neural implant that was linked to the armour but he needed Rookie to know what he was about to do and follow him.
Parallel to him, Rookie also primed his launcher and looked up to where Jun could possibly have fired it, then he noticed it. Amidst the mostly solid ceilings and absence of anything jagged to hook onto and lift themselves up, there was a small gap in between several panels on the roof. It would have been a nearly impossible shot for anyone to make let alone a Spartan and former ODST.
Copying his comrade next to him, Rookie aimed his arm up to the ceiling and relied on every aspect he could to help him make the shot, his training, augmentations, armour and pure natural skill he had refined over decades. Neither of them needed to check their motion trackers to know that the clone patrol was only mere seconds away from them, they would only get one shot.
Simultaneously, they both fired their cables at their target with a several-foot gap between the two of them. Secretly, the two of them breathed a collective sigh of relief when they both tugged on the cable and checked it was secure. Retracting the cable and pulling themselves up, both Jun and Rookie activated their armour's active camouflage system, bending the light around them and hiding them from plain sight.
Hoping that the combination of their newfound altitude and lack of visibility to the naked eye would secure their concealed status, they let the clones approach. Not even a full three seconds after they had grappled up, three squadrons of clone security forces turned their corner and in a double time march, weapons in both hands ready for a fight, marched right past them. As they made their way past, none of them looked up for more than a second, allowing the two hidden super soldiers to remain anonymous.
"Section 20B clear, no sign of them here," The lead clone said as they left the hallway.
Reinforcing their objective parameters of staying undetected, the two of them deactivated their camouflage and slowly descended from the roof panel.
"Let's keep moving," Jun said as he once more held his DC-15A in both hands. "And as for your question," He said leading Rookie on as they moved down the hallway and sprinted through one of the glass-covered walkways where a large part of the cloning process was visible.
"Yes?" Rookie asked.
"Short term, I think we can handle escaping from Kamino in one piece," Jun said.
"And long term?" Rookie asked, expecting his response to not be as encouraging.
Jun made a short faux chuckle, "Depends on how tired Admiral Lasky is at defending our actions," He said.
"Well, when you put it like that Sir," Rookie said, trying to keep the mood neutral as he tried to keep their rear flanks secure.
"Feel free to point that rifle at me and turn me in soldier," Jun said in his flat tone.
Rookie was quick to respond, "We might have both survived Reach Sir but I don't like my chances too much in that scenario," He said.
Remaining silent, Jun checked his HUD, they were now less than two hundred meters away from the Captain, Raising his hand to Rookie, ordering them to stop where they were, the two of them took up crouched positions back to back. Looking around them and on the extended range of his motion tracker, Jun took the risk of stopping and opened a channel to Captain Jack.
"Captain, come in," Jun said.
There were several seconds of silence but a voice came through and both Jun and Rookie instantly recognised it as the Captain. "Receiving you Jun, go ahead," He answered.
"We're in close proximity to your location, what's your status?" Jun asked.
"Alive and kicking soldier, Fives and I are inside one of the early-stage cloning areas," Jack answered him. "We should have some more concrete answers soon as to what the Kaminoans are trying to hide," He added.
"Acknowledged Sir, we're inbound to provide cover, ETA two minutes," Jun informed.
"Understood, alert me when you're in position," Jack ordered.
With their orders clear, Jun turned to Rookie, "I know where to go follow me," He instructed.
While their radar-shaped motion tracker was only two-dimensional on their HUDs, Jun knew that the Captain was below them as well as ahead and in a spot of luck remembered the path to his location from where they were. Using his near-perfect memory and recall, Jun looked out across the hall, it was empty and ripe for the two of them to exfiltrate to but what he was looking for was something else.
Halfway down the path and laying just before yet another transparent glass-roofed corner was the single slip door he was looking for. Silently, Jun turned to Rookie and moved his rifle upwards till the muzzle was completely vertical to balance it enough single-handily in order to gesture to his comrade with a flat open palm. He aimed his palm towards their target, a white and unguarded door that was approximately two dozen meters from them.
Rookie adjusted his gaze and acknowledged his understanding of their target, he got ready to move. As well-trained elite soldiers, they knew never to only trust their gear and equipment so even though both of their motion trackers showed no motion anywhere close to them, checking the corners before moving location was both vital and second nature to them. Poking his head around the wall while Rookie watched his back, Jun made rapid dotting glances left and right.
Wasting no time, Jun made the first move shuffling hurriedly in a half-crouched position towards their target, all the while, checking every possible opening for a patrol of passing cadets to walk through. It took only a matter of seconds for them to reach the door and immediately upon doing so, Jun tried to open it while Rookie stood stacked against the connected wall.
In his attempts to gain entry though, Jun grunted in frustration. "Lockdown is still in effect, I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way," he said as he quickly slung his rifle onto his back holster and removed the front panel of the door controls.
"How long is that going to take?" Rookie asked, darting his head around and keeping his rifle close and ready.
"I suppose you'd rather I blow it open?" Jun said sarcastically as he ripped out one of the wires behind the panel, causing a few sparks to fly out. "Damnit, how did Kat ever manage this," He added quietly.
"Who?" Rookie asked, not taking his mind completely off his task.
"Kat, she was Noble team until Reach," Jun said.
"I take it that tone doesn't mean she was reassigned," Rookie assumed.
Jun stayed silent for a moment, as he twisted the exposed end of two wires together, "Only by a Jackel Sniper," He responded.
"Don't suppose it was New Alexandria," Rookie asked, getting a slight look from Jun. Even behind his helmet, Rookie knew he wanted him to explain his question, "Noble team saved my old CO before he became a Spartan," He added.
"Gunnery Seargent Buck," Jun said factually.
"You know him?" Rookie asked.
"Who do you think recruited him into the Spartan program, I probably would have asked you as well if you hadn't left Alpha-Nine to go solo drop-trooper," Jun explained as he fixed the panel back in position against the wall and pulled his DC-15A out again. Trying the panel once more, he was relieved when his attempt to override the security lockout proved successful and the door opened as normal.
"Hmm, I think Kat would be proud," Rookie commented as the two of them escaped the hallway.
Stepping Inside, the pair scanned their surroundings. They were standing on a metal catwalk platform high above the ground, upon looking down from the observation platform, the two of them saw Captain Jack and Fives below them directly in front of one of the sky-high towers of early-developed clones. Going into prone positions, the two of them sync up their sights and ready themselves for sniper support when needed.
Jun opened a channel between the four of them, "Sir, we have you in our sights and are in sniper positions ready for support," Jun reported.
Looking through his helmet with his enhancements, Jun watched his Captain try to look around and find where the two of them were hiding, though, for all his efforts, Jun and Rookie seemed to remain undetected in the darkness.
"I've got you guys on my HUD, can't see either of you," Captain Jack said.
"I believe that's the idea Sir," Rookie commented, "Any further developments?" He asked.
On the ground, Jack turned back to Fives, he then changed their channel settings to include everyone on the fireteam, "You have no idea, this thing goes deeper than we ever could have thought," Jack said.
"Sir?" Kix asked, just as curious as everyone back on the Condor.
Captain Jack's demeanour changed and started to sound angry, "It was no tumour that caused Tup's breakdown, it was a goddamn Kaminoan chip," He said.
"What?" Kix said shocked.
Without a helmet or comm device, Jack spoke in place of Fives, "Some kind of microscopic chip, it's in every single clone in as early stage as we can see, whatever they are, Tup's malfunctioned and that is what caused him to kill General Tiplar," He explained.
"All of us have this?" Jesse asked in recoil.
Jack answered him, "It seems so, as of right now, the only two clones in the entire Grand Army of the Republic who don't have these chips in their heads and only one is alive, Tup and Fives," He said.
Kix's curiosity heightened just as much as his dismay, "Sir, I understand why you helped Fives remove this chip from his head but we still don't know what the purpose of these chips is or why they are in all clones, all of…us," He said.
At that moment, Rookie interpreted, "I think we're about to Captain, single target moving slowly to the door on you're right," He warned them.
Down below, Jack turned to the door that Rookie had warned him of and not one moment later it opened and in walked Nala Se with her hands already raised as a sign of defenselessness.
"Don't move!" Fives ordered, pointing his captured DC-15S at her as she walked forward slowly. Jack too, kept his weapon trained on the approaching Kaminoan and while he couldn't directly see them, he assumed Jun and Rookie were too.
"Why are you doing this?" Nala Se asked looking between the two soldiers and the small droid.
"We know what you've done," Fives stated.
Halting in front of the two, just below their weapons, Nala Se inquired as to what they meant, "What is it you think I have done?" She asked.
Fives then reached out and grabbed her arm, dragging her over to the dim blue terminal in front of the towering stalk of undeveloped clones. "How do you explain this?" He asked demandingly, keeping his rifle aimed at her back.
Nala Se took one look at the screen before replying, "That is a structural inhibitor chip, which is supposed to prevent you from being aggressive like your source, Jango Fett, Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas instructed us to implant them during your growth cycle," She said, her reasoning sounded truthful to the two of them and knew that she was definitely not lying, not that they could tell.
"The Jedi? The Jedi had this done to us?" Fives asked in disbelief.
Up until now, Captain Jack had listened and kept an eye on their surroundings but his patience was wearing thinner by the second, "I don't believe this, an army of bred soldiers was bad enough but having mind-altering chips put into their brains, when the UEG senate hears about this you can pray to the Mantle that our alliance is finished," Jack said sharply.
Somewhat expectedly though, Nala Se defended her work, "It is not uncommon to have inhibitors placed in clones," She said.
Captain Jack could have argued the subject for hours but was interpreted in his counter-thoughts by the AZI-3 droid next to Fives and Nala Se, "I have analysed this one and apparently it has failed," He explained as he held up the encased chip.
"Up until this point, there has never been a problem," Nala Se said in protest.
"Sir, we've got movement incoming fast," Jun informed his Captain subtly.
"Well then you have got a big problem," Fives said to Nala Se.
"So do we," Jack told Fives as the two of them turned to the door Nala Se had walked through the opening.
Rushing inside the room was Jedi Master Shaak Ti, a clone officer and several soldiers, "Don't move!" the officer shouted.
Fives hastily shoved Nala Se in front of him and stood behind her, in an instant the Jedi and clones were right in front of them weapons raised and aimed, Shaak Ti had ignited her blue lightsaber upon stopping. Knowing that it would be pointless firing his rifle at her on stun, Captain Jack holstered it and activated his hardlight shield covering his entire left arm for cover while pulling out his own sabre and flaring it up until the green plasma blade stood at its zenith.
Despite the failure of his battle against the sith known as Darth maul, he knew that Shaak Ti was a refined Jedi and wouldn't use brute force anger and strength against her opponents, he would have had a chance if it came to it.
"Drop your weapons!" Shaak Ti ordered.
Both of them refused and Captain Jack, standing in a combat-ready position addressed the Jedi, "Master Ti, I strongly advise you to do just that, our investigation is not without merit, tell her Fives,"
Shaak TIs attention turned to Fives and what he was going to tell her, "Master Jedi, I know what's going on, I have the evidence, the Jedi instructed that inhibitor chips be implanted in us at birth but Tup's malfunctioned, that's what made him lose control," He explained, hoping that she would listen.
None of their weapons lowered and they didn't flinch, "Where is the evidence?" Shaak Ti asked.
AZI-3 came forward, "I have it right here," He said as he showed her Tup's chip, "As you can see, the chip taken from clone trooper Tup is black and rotting indicating a malfunction of some sort," The small droid explained as he held up the chip.
The Jedi master looked between Captain Jack and the droid, "What caused the malfunction?" She asked, neither he nor the Spartan retracting their lightsabers.
Thinking the reasoning to be irrelevant, Fives shook his head, It doesn't matter, the fact is Tup's chip malfunctioned and it drove him insane, these chips have to be removed or the entire Republic Army could be compromised," He explained.
"There is no proof of that, this is an isolated incident!" Nala Se said, challenging the clone's demand, "Besides, when you removed trooper Tup's chip he died," She added.
"Well, that's not gonna happen to the rest of us," Fives told her.
"And how do you know that?" Nala Se asked.
"Because I removed mine!" Fives exclaimed.
Revealing the chip in question, AZI-3 showed it to the Jedi, "Here is clone trooper Fives chip, as you can see, there is no sign of malfunction in either him or the chip,"
While he hoped that Shaak Ti and her accompanying soldiers would lower their weapons, Captain Jack's trust in the Jedi was at its wit's end, he had high respect for a great number of Jedi but every day as more of them became commissioned Commanders and Generals, he started to see small bits of arrogance and the few that would ignore the way things were meant to be done.
Continuing her protest, Nala Se refused to believe any of what she was hearing, "By removing your chip you are a threat, Master Jedi, we must terminate this trooper immediately," She said stringently.
"I am not a piece of hardware! I'm a living being!" Fives shouted at the Kaminoan.
Nala Se shot back at him, "You were created in our laboratories, you are Kaminoan property!" She stated.
"Correction," Shaak Ti countered, lowering her lightsaber but not holstering it "technically he is property of the Republic," She said.
Gripping his lightsaber even tighter, Jack tried much harder to control his anger while left of him, Nala Se continued her attempts, "That does not change the fact that he is a danger and must be terminated," She said.
"I believe that is for me to decide," She told Nala Se before turning to Fives, "Fives, you are coming with me to Coruscant, I think it's time you told your story to the chancellor," Shaak Ti said as she activated her comm device.
Just as before, Nala Se looked ready to protest the Jedi's decision but Captain Jack beat her to it, "No," He said.
"Excuse me?," Shaak Ti asked questioningly.
"What, Sir?" Fives too asked in confusion.
Jack kept his sword and shield steady, "I've allowed the Jedi and the Republic too many chances, this discovery is the last straw, Fives will not be going to Coruscant with any of you," He stated solidly.
Now Shaak Ti's look changed as did a few of the clones as they looked between each other, she casually brought back up her lightsaber, "Captain, you have no authority to make that decision, he is Republic property," Shaak Ti told him bluntly.
"That is where you are wrong Master Jedi, he is a conscious living being and for the sake of this alliance our own government has looked away from this clear violation of both our laws and the basic rights of sentient creatures but no more," Jack said ominously.
Reigniting her lightsaber, Shaak Ti took a slightly more combative stance, "He is coming with us and if you do not stand down now Spartan, a court martial will be the least of your concerns," She said threateningly.
"Sir, what are you doing?" Fives asked.
"I need you to trust me Fives," He told the clone before turning to the Jedi, "I know I'll have the words court-martial thrown in my face before I even step foot in front of a military court but once I've turned in everything I've gathered here, the Republic is finished," Jack exclaimed.
Shaak Ti started to grow tenser in her stance, "You would use that weapon in disgrace to attack a Jedi, Is that what Ahsoka wished when she gave it to you," She stated in an effort to guilt the Spartan.
Captain Jack, however, remained unfazed at her comment as he stood ready for combat, "You don't have any right to use her name as leverage, you and the rest of the Jedi council were willing to hand her to the wolves and leave her for dead without a moment's hesitation,"
Knowing that her mention of Ahsoka's lightsaber would not cause either of them to back down, Shaak Ti edged closer to the Spartan knowing that this would likely end up in combat, "I know you Spartans are skilled warriors but you must realise that you and Fives cannot make it past us," She said, trying one last attempt at persuading them.
"I know, good thing that there isn't only two of us," Jack said.
Both the clones and Shaak Ti looked around the seemingly empty room for signs of an undetected presence. The clones moved their weapons around aimlessly as they tried to scan the high lightless areas where any hostile forces could be hiding. The Jedi Master kept her composure and her lightsaber forward but shifted her eyes left and right.
Internally, Shaak Ti couldn't sense the presence of anybody else except for her, the clones and the Spartan Captain along with Nala Se but she also knew that almost every living being that had come from outside their galaxy so far had little to no midichlorians and therefore was almost completely undetectable through the force. Looking at the Captain, she tried hard to tell if what he said was the truth and from what she knew about him alongside her attempts to read the helmeted soldier, he wasn't lying.
She started to analyse their options, while she didn't know who was lying in the shadows ready to open fire on them, she did know that it could be no more than the three non-clone members of Captain Jack's team.
"Reinforcements are two minutes away general," the clone officer tried to whisper to the Jedi unaware that both Captain Jack and fellow Spartan above him heard him in part due to their augmentations as well as state-of-the-art armour which allowed them to enhance their hearing as well as their vision.
Two minutes, that was what they had. Captain Jack thought to himself for a second on whether or not that would be enough time to subdue to Jedi and clones in front of them as well as escape the room before more forces arrived than they could handle.
Jack made their decision and discretely opened a channel back to the ship, "Cadmon, fire up the engines and divert power from the weapons to increase the shields, It'll likely be a hot exfil," He said.
"Copy that Captain, we'll be ready, I wouldn't recommend taking your time though Sir, they'll be searching for that shock-trooper squad soon enough," Cadmon replied, referring to the still unconscious squad of clones they had opened fire on when they tried to forcibly remove Jesse and Kix.
"Understood," Jack said.
The Spartan captain looked to Fives who returned the look with a stern face, he knew what was about to happen. "Jun, Rookie, focus on the clones, I'll handle the General," Jack said over the comm to his two comrades above them.
Before either of them could protest the order or acknowledge it, Captain Jack grabbed the arm of Nala Se and hurled the Kaminoan doctor forward into the Jedi. Shaak Ti stumbled to get out of the way in time but was not fast enough as she was still pushed back when Nala Se collided with her. Meanwhile, Jack took the opportunity and charged forward, shield and lightsaber in hand.
Upon grabbing Nala Se, the clones trained their weapons back onto him but halted their fire until the Kaminoan doctor was out of their line of fire but then, before any of them could pull their triggers, two blue rings of energy blazed down from the almost invisible overwatch balcony high above them all. Waiting until the moment when the Captain made the first move, Jun and Rookie had lined up the two easiest targets and opened fire with their weapons still set to stun.
Instantly, the two clone troopers collapsed to the ground, the quick thinking of the two remaining conscious clones allowed them to avoid both the next two shots that came almost immediately after the last two as well as several blind stun shots from Fives as all three of them dove for cover against the consoles and terminals solid enough to block the incoming shots.
Across from the ongoing firefight, Shaak Ti had pulled herself out of the way and spun back around just in time to block Captain Jack's first attack, he had kept his shield up but lent it to the side as he thrust his blade forward at the Jedi but it was pointless as she had parried his strike in tandem with her turn. Using her speed to her advantage, Shaak Ti didn't try to force the Spartan's blade against him knowing his strength was too much, instead she re-directed her opponent's blade back out.
Captain Jack noticed what she was trying to do though and let his forward attack be deflected, as his momentum started to carry him forward he rolled with it into a barrel roll, making sure to bring his shield up behind him as he did so to block the incoming sabre strike he knew was coming. As the Jedi brought down her blade she didn't get close enough in time as the Spartan hardlight shield took the brunt of the blow.
Noticing that his shields energy had depleted by more than half when Jedi's slash collided with it, Captain Jack knew he may only get one more strike from her lightsaber before it collapsed and would have to recharge, something that he wouldn't have time for if he needed it again.
Luckily, the small amount of bounce back created from his blocking of Shaak Ti's lightsaber with his shield caused the Jedi a brief moment of unbalance providing Jack with the opening he needed. He quickly went in for the attack, rapidly striking her in multiple directions while keeping his blade up at all times. Unfortunately for him, Shaak Ti knew that losing balance for even just a second would have been fatal, she quickly backed up and gave herself the time she needed to regain her step when Captain Jack started his controlled slashing.
While the fight between the Jedi and Spartan Captain continued with both of them battening fiercely against one another, the clones were caught in the middle of a cover-to-cover fight, the clone officer and his remaining comrade had managed to fall back to a position where the enemy above them couldn't see, he ordered the clone beside him to keep suppressing fire on Fives who had also taken cover, behind one of the clone batch towers.
Fives was pinned down behind cover and had no line of communication with any of fireteam Resolute, he peeked his head out from cover and looked up towards where he thought the shots of his allies were coming from. Hoping that they could see him from where they were, he signalled to them with his hand to open fire and cover him. Giving them a second to acknowledge his request, Five charged out towards the small terminal in front of the opposite tower.
Feeling pure relief when he saw the stun rounds come down from the still-darkened observation balcony, Fives managed to relocate to cover without getting hit, the rookie clone in cover attempted to emerge from cover and fire his carbine at Fives while he was rushing for his new position but was struck down when one of the suppressive waves of incoming stun rounds hit him right in the chest. His officer had tried to pull him back by his shoulder behind cover but it was already too late and the clone fell to the floor.
The clone officer was becoming outnumbered and struggled to find any openings to fire his DC-17 pistol. During the firefight, however, Captain Jack started to gain an edge over his Jedi opponent, and more and more their fight became one-sided. Focusing on consistent slashes and thrusts, Captain Jack held his ground steadily forcing Shaak Ti to try anything to break his defence and using up her stamina while risking her ground in her inventive attempts.
"Why are you doing this!?" Shaak Ti shouted at the Spartan "Can't you see I'm only trying to help Fives,"
Reaching out her hand, tapping into the force, she attempted to pull up one of the nearby metal railings out of the floor and send it flying towards the Spartan. Swiftly, Captain Jack swivelled himself around to face the incoming projectile round and pushed his hardlight shield outward from his chest. The large improvised spear sped right towards him in an instant and met his shield, using up the last of his energy, Jack braced for the impact.
Upon hitting the hardlight shield, the metal vessel was enough to drain the last of the shield's energy causing it to break down and vanish but not before causing the redirected pipe to shoot off right in the direction of where Shaak Ti was standing.
Just then, Jack heard Jun in his ear, "Captain, I think I have a direct shot on the General, I'm lined up on her right in front of you, as soon as you move I can stun her," he informed the Captain.
Captain Jack didn't look up, attempting to keep their location hidden for the small amount of time they had left before they would have to leave.
Not responding to Jun's information he looked back to the Jedi, "I'm sorry Master Ti but the Jedi have become too blinded by the war to see left from right, there is more behind this war that you don't know…not yet anyway," He said to her.
"Then tell us, nothing can be gained by allies keeping secrets from each other," Shaak Ti said.
Jack sighed and shook his head, "I'm afraid I can't do that General, After everything that's happened, from Krell's deceit to Ahsoka's trial and now these chips…my team are the only people I can really trust anymore, forgive me for this master, please," He said honestly as he lined himself up for one final attack.
Shaak Ti wasted no more time in talk and instead prepared herself for the Spartan's attack. Gripping his lightsaber tightly in both his hands, the green blade of energy eliminating his armour and helmet, Captain Jack rushed the Jedi master. Sprinting directly towards her he watched as she leant her blade forward in an effort to parry his first swing but it never came.
As he came within swinging distance of the Jedi, Jack unexpectedly lowered his blade and left himself completely open. Taking the surprise opportunity, Shaak Ti moved her blade downward and forced it forward at the unprotected Spartan Captain. However, as she manoeuvred her blade to within just a few inches of him, he dove.
Diving backwards, Captain Jack let himself fall to the floor and the momentum from his sprint carried him past the Jedi Master as her blade skimmed right over the top of his chest and face. Clearing her lightsaber completely, Jack swung himself back up and aimed his wrist toward her, firing his wrist-mounted ascension cable at her arm. In the blink of an eye, it wrapped itself around her wrist and arm but Master Ti kept a steady hold of her lightsaber.
She quickly moved her wrist to try and cut the cable until she heard the noise that made her realise the cable was only meant to stop her from using her lightsaber for half a second. From his sniper position and lined up perfectly, Jun had waited until his Captain had cleared the line of sight and then took his chance when he saw Jack use his cable to restrain the Jedi for long enough and give him the window he needed to stun her without Shaak Ti being able to block him.
Jun squeezed his trigger, the ringing sound of the stun round echoed through the room as it pulsated down the open space and struck the Jedi held in place by the Spartans cable. Losing control of her limbs and muscles, Shaak Ti became incredibly weak and fell to her knees, she dropped her lightsaber and it fell to the ground, clattering as it rolled away from her gripless hand. Trying to push herself back up, Shaak Ti exhausted what little strength she had left and collapsed against the floor entirely.
Bearly managing to keep her eyes open, she saw Captain Jack walk up to her. He picked up her fallen lightsaber off the ground and crouched down next to her, leaving her lightsaber next to her. "I hope you can accept my apology next time we meet general," He said just as her eyes closed into unconsciousness.
As Captain Jack stood up he saw the last remaining clone officer fall to the ground after he was surrounded by Fives, Jun and Rookie who fired on him with stun rounds. Lowering themselves down with their own cables, the two backup super-soldiers approached their Captain. Rookie looked down at the unconscious Jedi and sighed, "Yeah, we're screwed," He said.
Looking up at his teammate, Jack knew he was more than likely right, there was no coming back from what they had done and could only hope that command would still listen to what they had to say, "I know Rookie, I didn't want any of this to happen but now…it is our duty to make sure that everything we have seen here gets reported back to command,"
"We need to move," Fives said.
"Agreed," Jack said as they made for the exit. "That means you to AZI-3, we'll need you to help us explain this," He said as he grabbed the droid.
All five of them rushed for the door knowing that reinforcements were only mere seconds away by this point. After sprinting their way out of the area, they took cover behind one of the adjoining corridors and stopped. Pearling his head around the corner they had just dove behind, Jack watched as more than two dozen clone soldiers marched hastily into the room containing the downed clones and Jedi Master.
"To hell with stealth, we need to get to the ship now," Jack said just quiet enough to avoid being heard by the several squads of clones near them. "Fives, stay in the middle, Jun take point while Rookie and I cover the rear," he ordered.
"Yes Sir," The three soldiers said acknowledging.
"Go," Jack ordered.
On his word, Jun moved out at the front of the group with the lightly armoured Fives in the middle with the most protection covering their sides while Rookie and Jack scanned each and every corner after they passed, making sure there weren't any clone forces sneaking up on them or waiting to ambush them from their six o clock. As they got closer to the platform where their Condor was waiting, Jack opened the team comm channel.
"We're on-route to the landing platform, eta is 2 minutes," Jack said, informing the crew on the ship of their impending arrival.
"Understood Sir, engines are hot and ready," Cadmon responded.
Captain Jack was about to reply to him when he heard a voice shout out down the end of one of the white hallways they were passing, "They're over here! Don't mo-" A lone clone soldier tried to shout out before Fives opened fire with a stun round, dropping him before he could finish his warning.
It was too late though, "Multiple targets moving on our location!" Jun warned as they turned another corner, hoping that the clone hadn't managed to warn anybody. Looking at his motion tracker to confirm, Jack too saw more targets than he could count moving in on their location from nearly every direction.
"I can see the exit to the platform, double time now!" Jack ordered as he saw the glass door to the outside and their ship at the end of the corridor they had just entered.
All five of them sprinted to the exit, and multiple clones started emerging from all sides. Dodging incoming shots was not an option as they were surrounded on nearly every front, they started firing on the clones that pilled out of the rooms and halls in an effort to stop their escape. A mix of stun and live rounds filled the hallway, the Spartan's shields starting to become more and more depleted as the concentrated fire from the clones only increased.
Firing a barrage of stun rounds behind them as they ran for it, Rookie and Jack took down several more clone troopers before finally making it to the exit, expecting it to be locked, Jun knew their was no time to waste to try and hack it. He lowered his DC-15 and took out his hardlight sidearm before aiming it at the approaching door. He fired a short burst of several rounds at the door shooting right through it and weakening its structure.
Holstering the weapon after the small hail of rounds, Jun sprinted ahead of the group by several meters and hurled himself through the glass door, shattering it into countless beads of crystal-like glass scattered all across the floor. Diving into a roll after throwing himself through the door, he stood back up without any recoil and kept running as the rest of his team caught up. On the path to the ship, the still stunned and unconscious clones lay on the ground.
Ducking and weaving the near-automatic fire of the clones behind them, the four members of fireteam Resolute made the final push for the Condor. The number of live rounds chasing after the four of them far exceeded the small number of stun shots they were able to fire in return and both Rookie and Jack's shields took a beating, slowly dropping lower and lower until both their warning alerts started to blare.
Hoping that their shields and armour would last just a few more seconds, the two of them crossed the metal Kaminoan bridge to their ship where the rear door was already down and both Jesse and Kix waiting on the ramp with DC-15 rifles waiting. As soon as they emerged and started running towards the ship they started firing stun rounds at the clones behind their approaching comrades.
Firing on both the ship and the fleeing soldiers, the clones started to catch up and many were taking up firing positions along the circular walkways around the entire building. Leaping onto the ship as its shield glowed bright amidst the chaos, the four soldiers barraged themselves inside the ship.
"Cadmon, they're all on board, get us out of here!" Jesse shouted to Cadmon.
Almost immediately, the ship started to rise off the ground and with the clone's fire now focused entirely on the ship, the shields of the Condor started to drain more rapidly as the small arms fire bit off tiny amounts of the shield but took its toll as dozens of blaster bolts were hitting it. As they started to flee and rise up through the air, Jesse hit the Manuel lever for the door, it started to rise and before it shut they could see the fire getting less accurate and less frequent.
"Slipspace drive is ready Captain, They're probably deploying fighters but we'll be long gone by then," Cadmon explained.
"Destination?" Jack asked.
"Lucazec Sir, Infinity is currently stationed there," Cadmon explained.
"Any response from the UNSC fleet over Kamino," Captain Jack asked further.
"Negative Sir, they aren't deploying fighters or attempting to intercept us," Cadmon reported.
As the rush of the escape started to die down, what he had done and ordered his men to do started to take effect, "Jun, take the co-pilot seat, Fives get back into your armour," He ordered as the two soldiers left to their two locations.
After giving the orders, Jack stood aimlessly for several moments before being addressed by Jesse, "Are you, alright Captain?" He asked.
Shaking himself off Jack looked at the clone, "Fine Jesse," He said before the small medical droid that escaped with them intervened.
"I don't think so," He said floating in front of him, "Scans reveal elevated blood pressure and an increase in heart rate," AZI-3 said.
"Much appreciated AZI," Jack said bluntly.
Kix and Jesse approached the Captain, "Captain, I know we probably won't be all together for much longer or maybe not even soldiers for much longer but we all think you made the right choice back there," Jesse said.
"I appreciate that Jesse, I promise I won't let them send you back to Kamino, not now we know they'll only kill Fives and erase both of your minds," Jack assured the two clones.
From behind him, Rookie took off his helmet, "If this really is the end, Sir, it has been an honour fighting alongside all of you, I'll make sure our court-martial has that on the record," He said.
"Cheer up guys, as long as the UNSC has peach dessert in their military prisons I think we'll be fine," Jesse said, trying to lighten the mood.
Captain Jack took off his helmet and put his weapons aside in one of the holding lockers as a smirk appeared on his face at Jesse's comment.
"Feel free to have mine, cellmate," Rookie replied.
Cadmon's voice then came over the ship's comm, "We've cleared Kamino's airspace Captain, ARC-170s inbound," He reported.
"Make the jump to Slipspace, Cadmon," Jack ordered casually as he strolled to the command table in the middle of the cabin.
"With pleasure Sir, ETA to Lucazec is one hour twenty-nine minutes," Cadmon said as, from the cockpit, he opened the Slipspace portal destined for the UNSC Sierra base on Lucazec.
Slipspace - On route to Lucazec
Sat in two of the seating areas of the Condor, Jesse and Rookie were focused on cleaning their weapons while across from them, Captain Jack took the time to write his report on everything that happened and everything that they had discovered. Paired with the physical evidence and all their own accounts, he hoped it would be enough for command to use and finally make a serious breakthrough in the investigation into the war and the unidentified traitor.
Drinking from a mess tin, Kix sipped his tea he had made from one of the ship ration packs as watched Jesse and Rookie, "So, we're going to be arrested for multiple reasons, not least of which attacking a Jedi General and you two are spending our time to base…cleaning,"
Jesse looked up from his hardlight rifle, "I like this rifle, besides, got to pass the time somehow and this takes my mind off having to spend the rest of my life in prison instead of shooting clankers," He said.
"Yeah and also, it was the Captain and Jun who attacked General Ti," Rookie added sarcastically.
"Really Rookie?" Captain Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't go thinking about throwing the Captain under the bus," Jun said from the co-pilot seat.
"Wouldn't dream of it…although," He commented.
"Ha Ha," Jack said, faining laughter as he continued his report.
"Anybody else? Pin it on the Captain and prey for leniency?" Rookie jokingly asked around.
Jesse shook his head with a smirk, "I think the clone officer and several troopers you stunned probably make it just about even," He said. "Me, Fives and Kix appreciate that by the way, those clones were just following their orders," He said, thanking his crew mates for using non-lethal rounds.
Captain Jack looked to Jesse, "They aren't the enemy and neither was Tup," He said.
"Neither is General Ti Sir, I know you had to do what you did but if nothing else…she cares about all of us," Jesse replied.
"I know Jesse, there have just been too many times I've watched the Jedi turn their backs or betray their friends," Jack said.
"General Krell," Kix said, referring to the Besalisk Jedi Master that already had an appalling casualty rate for his own clones and then went on to force the same wreckless tactics on the 501st clone battalion while on Umbara. Until eventually, directly ordering his own clones to attack each other through a ruse that resulted in hundreds of pointless deaths.
"Onderon" Rookie said. Recalling the so called freedom fighters that the Republic and more specifically the Jedi, had armed, financed and trained which resulted in them taking back the planet but at the cost of countless civilian lives after the local fighters committed acts of terrorism in major population centres. Including destroying a vital power station that powered civilian infrastructure. Homes, Schools and Hospitals all lost power so that the rebels could drain the droid army of their power.
"Ahsoka," Jack said, pointing out the Jedi apprentice and his friend that had been essentially betrayed when she was expelled from the Jedi order with hardly any evidence of the crime she was accused of. His decision to help her after she had escaped Republic custody, against the direct orders from both the Republic military and UNSC high command, was one that he never regretted and would do again in a heartbeat if he needed to.
He sighed, "Hopefully, this will all be worth it," Captain Jack said as he looked over all his evidence one last time before he sent in the Admiral Lasky in the highest level of encrypted communication he was able to without a smart AI. Having sent off everything they had collected from helmet footage to detailed specifications about the inhibitor chips.
With their job done and the battle over, the occupants of the Condor focused on passing the time in various ways, fireteam Resolute awaited the fate they knew was coming once they arrived at the UNSC base. Several hours later as they got closer to exiting Slipspace within UNSC territory Cadmon left the cockpit to alert Captain Jack personally.
Walking down past Rookie and Kix he approached Captain Jack who was standing at the holotable in the centre of the room going over the final details of their arrival. "We're five minutes away Captain," He informed.
Captain Jack looked up, "Thank You Cadmon, inform the Infinity of our arrival and request a landing bay," He said.
"Yes Sir," Cadmon said before turning to head back to the cockpit. Moments later he spoke over the ship's internal commas, "We've been given landing permission Sir, Apparently, Admiral Lasky will be waiting for us there," He reported.
"Can't say I'm surprised, probably wants to deal with us personally after last time," Jack responded audibly.
Standing up with Jesse and stowing away his gear on his holster, Rookie walked to the center of the cabin next to Captain Jack, "Who do you think he'll have with him to escort us to our cells, fireteam Crimson?" Rookie asked.
Jack replied to Rookie's question, "As long as it isn't fireteam Osiris, the last thing I want to see right now is Locke's smug face as he throws us in the brig," He said, picturing the Spartan behind Lasky just waiting to escort them to a cell.
Walking up from behind him, Fives checked the last of his armour systems before putting both his own DC-15S and Hardlight rifle on his back holster and doing the same at his side with his DC-17 on the left and hardlight pistol on the right. Leaving his helmet aside though, he walked up to his Captain and fellow teammates.
"I might have preferred my old armour, but I'm glad I get to wear this stuff one last time," Fives said looking over the forerunner alloy-composed plates.
Finishing off their final touches and leaving nothing behind, all of fireteam Resolute donned their helmets and made their way to the rear of the ship. Sensing a dramatic decrease in their speed, Captain Jack pulled up their ship's location in relative distance to the assigned hanger and as he did so, revealed them to be halfway through the hanger bay doors when Cadmon started to turn the ship around so that they would be able to walk straight out onto the landing platform.
Descending down onto the platform, the ship's landing gear jolted and compressed to a standstill after several seconds. Gently lowering the ship's power until the whine of the engines died down into complete silence, Cadmon shut down the engines. With the ship powered down and their journey complete, both he and Jun left their respective pilot seats and joined the rest of their team in the main cabin by the door.
"Alright guys, no resisting or fighting, You got the samples Fives?" Captain Jack asked.
"Got them right here Sir," Fives said, gesturing to the case in his hand containing both his and Tup's removed inhibitor chips.
"Good, Gentlemen it's been an honour," Captain Jack said as he reached out and grabbed the lever for the door control.
Activating the door control it lowered, letting in all the bright lights of the hanger bays as well as the noise that came from several connected rooms containing several coming and going ships. Exiting the ship with all their weapons holstered, Captain Jack and Fives led the march out of the ship expecting at least one full squad of Spartans on standby to arrest them forcefully.
None of what they expected though greeted them, as they walked out expecting to see multiple Spartans and security for them, they were instead met with Admiral Lasky directly in front of their ship's rear. Accompanying him was Spartan Commander Sarah Plamer, head of all UNSC-based Spartan operations and two marines behind him. Taking the lead with Fives, they approached the two high-ranking individuals and stopped in front of them, raising their wrists and saluting.
In his mind, Captain Jack assumed Lasky didn't expect any of them to resist upon their return and decided to forgo the extreme security measures normally undertaken when apprehending such dangerous sets of soldiers, especially when it involved the safety of a UNSC Admiral in charge of several fleets and installations.
Admiral Lasky returned the salute and fireteam Resolute stood at ease, "Do you have the chips you described in your report?" He asked.
"Here Admiral," Fives said as he held up the case in his hand.
Lasky looked down at the case but didn't take it, he gestured behind him and one of the two marines walked forward accepting the case from Fives.
"And the droid?" Lasky asked, looking behind them to where AZI-3 was hovering in between Jun and Jesse.
Captain Jack looked over his shoulder before returning his attention to Admiral Lasky, "I thought it would be best if AZI-3 came along too Sir, his knowledge of the clones and these chips might prove valuable," He explained.
"AZI-3?" Palmer asked.
"It's part of his Identification number, It is just what people call him I guess, Commander, I had Jun and Jesse check him for any kind of bugging device or tracker before we left, he's clean" Jack said, referring to the small medical droids identification number and status.
Admiral Lasky took another look at the droid in waiting behind Fives and Jack. "Follow me, Resolute," He ordered.
"Yes Sir," Fives and Captain Jack responded as all of them marched at Lasky's pace towards the nearest tram system used on the Infinity.
Marching down the pathway to the tram system behind both Lasky, Palmer and the marines, Captain Jack looked to Fives and then to the members of this team behind him. All of them gave confused head shakes and shoulder shrugs as by now they had expected to have several weapons aimed at their backs as they were escorted to the Spartan-capable holding cells on the Infinity.
Thinking about opening a private channel to his team inside his armour, Captain Jack thought better of it when he remembered that Roland could easily be listening to their communication channels under Lasky's orders, or even on his own without any direction to do so as Roland was likely to do given his somewhat maverick nature as the Infinity's main AI.
Upon reaching the tram bay, the two system attendants saluted Admiral Lasky and opened the door to the car. All twelve of them stepped inside and as the door closed behind them, they shot off down the long tunnel. Still remaining silent, neither Lasky nor Palmer said a single word the entire journey down the spine of the infinity. Looking upwards, Captain Jack followed the small display above the exit door that displayed thier current location, stop by stop.
His confusion only grew when as they approached the brig, instead of slowing down and stopping, they blew right past it. Although Captain Jack had intended to stay silent when Lasky ordered them to follow him, it was now when he knew something definitely wasn't right and turned to face the Admiral.
"Uh, Admiral Lasky, we passed the detention level several stops ago," Captain Jack pointed out.
"I would certainly hope so Captain, since that is not our destination," Lasky replied back, keeping his eyes forward.
Captain Jack's eyes shifted between Lasky and the display showing their location, he looked over what stations there were left on the path and all he could see that they would approach were the mission briefing rooms and a few main ship armouries. He knew that the armoury couldn't have been their intended location if handing over thier weapons and armour was the intention since they would have to be handed to the science division that created them and not some random armoury weapons master.
Believing it best not to push his chances any further, Captain Jack didn't enquire any further into where they were heading and instead just waited several more seconds until they would arrive. In the few seconds remaining before they reached the end of this tram's tracks, Jack watched as light from multiple different stops and stations shot into the car at a rate of hundreds per minute.
Several silent seconds later the tram stopped abruptly, recoiling slightly against the sudden stop, Jack regained himself and looked back to determine where they had stopped. When he did so, his question was answered but his confusion remained the same.
'Admiralty Briefing Room,"
The doors to the tram opened, Admiral Lasky and his small entourage took point and left the tram first followed shortly afterwards by Captain Jack, Fives and the rest of fireteam Resolute. As they stepped off the tram, they were greeted by a large set of reinforced doors that Admiral Lasky opened using his own classified access code and a retina scan. After Lasky gained access to the room, the behemoth set of doors started to slowly open and clear the path.
At this point, Captain Jack as well as his men, were at a loss. There was no chance that the high admiralty would be brought all the way out to Lucazec just to personally oversee the court-martial of them all.
"Sir, why are we in the Admiralty Briefing Room?" Captain Jack asked.
His question was answered for him as they all entered the large dimly lit auditorium-style hall but not by Admiral Lasky, "Because it's one of the only places on Infinity where we can't be spied on," A familiar female voice said out loud.
Walking past the auditorium seating, Jack saw who had given him his answer. On the right and all stood in line was fireteam Royal and its leader Iona, standing in front of them watching Captain Jack and the rest of fireteam Resolute walk in. Jack looked around the room and instantly realised that they weren't the only ones inside. On his left, opposite where Fireteam Royal was standing, was Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Knight Anakin skywalker.
Completely inside the auditorium, the doors started to close behind them. As the two large metal husks dragged themselves shut, Admiral Lasky walked to the centre of the room. "Let me start this by saying that everything you're about to hear will not leave this room, we are the only people in the entire galaxy, both of them that's is, that are permitted to hear what has been discovered," He said.
Captain Jack felt the urge to ask questions but the protests of the Jedi came first, "Hold on a moment Admiral, we are here because the Jedi council demanded an explanation as to the actions of this…experimental team," Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"Believe me, General Kenobi, by the time this briefing is over, you'll agree with me, you might also come to understand why they had to do what they did," Admiral Lasky told the Jedi. Causing a slight bit of surprise in Captain Jack at what almost sounded like a defence of their actions.
Finally addressing the question that all seven of fireteam Resolute had on their minds, Captain Jack addressed Admiral Lasky, "Sir, I assumed that we would be in a cell right now waiting for a court-martial, I don't understand," Captain Jack said quizzically to the Admiral.
Activating the large holotable in the centre of the hall, Admiral Lasky started displaying multiple pieces of information in every form possible. "If it weren't for what you have brought back here, you would be Captain and that goes for all of you, It would be out of my control and nothing I could say would change it," Lasky said, looking across all of fireteam Resolute.
"Instead, against the judgement of many advisors no doubt, your positions have changed to something…more experimental," Lasky said to the confused looks of fireteam Resolute. "Don't test your luck Captain, this is not a promotion, not for you anyway" He said, staring daggers at the Spartan Captain.
"That wasn't my first thought Sir," Captain Jack commented, hoping that the explanation Admiral Lasky was about to give would alleviate the sense of dread and confusion that both he and the rest of his team were certainly feeling.
"As of about 5 minutes ago, you along with all UNSC members of fireteam Resolute have been unofficially transferred into the SPARTAN V program," Lasky revealed, "The Armour, weapons and to a degree, the clones have all been part of an experiment testing ONI's newest edition to the Spartan Class," He continued.
The team looked at each other, "Sir, we weren't aware there was a Spartan V program" Jun commented.
Lasky looked up as he continued, "That's the Idea soldier, both your hardlight weapons and armour have been in developmental stages since we discovered how to fabricate and re-mould what small amounts of original Forerunner alloy we have," He stated.
"But Sir, why not the clones and why unofficially?" Captain Jack asked, looking between the Admiral and his fellow clone soldiers.
"In reverse order, you have been transferred unofficially for two reasons. Firstly, this is still a highly secretive and experimental choice by those of a higher paycheck than me and Secondly, we can't easily transfer soldiers to new ranks and positions…when they're dead," Admiral Lasky stated, to the split shock and continued confusion of those around him.
"I beg your pardon, Sir?" Captain Jack asked.
Admiral Lasky looked to the Captain, "The official report that I submitted just before you arrived states you were all killed when you refused to surrender upon your return to Lucazec and the Infinity, Of course, we couldn't risk any damage to the Infinity so I ordered half a dozen Rapier missiles launched which didn't leave any trace of the Condor, or fireteam Resolute," Lasky finished explaining,
"Welcome back to the land of the dead, brother," Lasky added as he passed Cadmon.
Captain Jack took a moment to process what Lasky had said, as did his men before asking, "And the UNSC only transfer?" Jack asked.
Turning to face the clones, Admiral Laksy spoke, "You are all officially dead but since you are now neither Republic property nor alive for that matter, what happens next is up to you," He stated.
The clones all looked at each other, "We don't understand, Sir" Fives said.
"If you wish, you could retire to a UNSC colony somewhere quiet and remote where no Republic personnel would recognise any of you, you could just leave all this behind," Lasky said while gesturing to the ship, their gear and the rest of fireteam Resolute.
"Or…?" Jesse put forward.
"Or, you could stay here, with your consent of course, you have been offered to be commissioned into the UNSC as officers and into the SPARTAN V program, the choice is yours, of course assuming that General Kenobi and Skywalker have no objections," Lasky said, glancing over his shoulder at the Jedi, trusting that they would not report back what he had just announced back to the Republic and Jedi council.
Neither Kenobi nor Skywalker voiced any form of protest against what Admiral Lasky was saying, Kenobi's curiosity, however, was heightened, "I hope whatever you are here to show us Admiral is justification for everything that has occurred to now," Kenobi said, arms crossed.
"I have no doubt that it will General but first," Lasky said as he turned back to the 3 clones, "I need their answer, will you go or will you stay," Lasky said.
Their heads turned slowly to meet each other, Fives, Jesse and Kix all knew that they had the same answer and didn't need any words to convey their thoughts to each other about what their choice was.
Fives stepped forward, followed a second later by Jesse and Kix as they all stood at attention in front of Admiral Lasky, "ARC Troopers, Fives, Kix and Jesse reporting for duty Sir," Fives said proudly.
"Welcome to the UNSC, First Lieutenant Fives," Admiral Lasky said as he returned the salute. Looking next to Fives, he addressed the two, "The same goes for you, Welcome aboard second Lieutenants Jesse and Kix," Lasky said as the two of them stood at ease.
After announcing the three new soldiers ranks, Lasky turned and made his way walking to the centre of the room and activating the holotank. Lasky looked around addressing everybody, "Now, it is time to get down to business," He said.
Bringing up several of the pieces of information Lasky addressed everybody in the room, "Several months into the war, the Office of Navel Intelligence started intercepting encrypted communications to and from high-ranking Republic and CIS politicians," He said as he pulled up several transcripts of intercepted conversations, all around, the Jedi and Spartans looked to each other and the intelligence.
Scrolling through them all, Lasky continued his explanation, "At first it was suspected to be the typical corrupt officials working with each other to maximise wartime profits, however, over time more and more transmissions have been detected that we haven't been able to decrypt without the message self-destructing," he said, showing recorded footage of a smart AI trying to crack the message only for signal to cut out completely.
Next, Admiral Lasky showed a timeline of dates that appeared to be battles, some of which both fireteam Royal and Resolute recognised from fighting in, "This is where it gets interesting, almost every time one of these messages or communications was transmitted, a major battle or tactical decision occurred somewhere on a CIS front," Lasky said as he introduced the timelines of captured transmissions, lining them up almost perfectly with the shown dates of CIS military decisions.
"Is this the work of the hidden traitor within the Republic?" General Skywalker asked.
"Affirmative, General Skywalker," Matt confirmed, "After our recon mission to Bomis Kooning IV and our direct interception of a live communication between Count Dooku and somebody located within the Republic senate building, we have all but confirmed that somebody high up in the Republic has been manipulating the war on both sides from the very beginning," He explained.
"And you believe we are closer to unmasking this criminal?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Not just closer General," Lasky said as he pulled up a new document on the display, "The manifest of the traitor's ship that fireteam Resolute managed to 'extract' during their mission to Florrum has been identified, thanks in part to a few trustworthy Jedi, as containing several ancient sith artefacts, their destination was to a privately owned facility on Coruscant and we've been able to determine that the encryption used on the ship, is the exact same as all of these unbroken communications," Lasky detailed, showing highlighted parts of the manifest.
Looking down from the holotanks display, Skywalker turned to Admiral Lasky, "Wait, if we know this Sith is behind the war and a part of the Republic senate, we need to report this to the Jedi council immediately!" He said urgently.
Admiral Lasky shook his head at the young Jedi Knight, "I'm afraid this next part will reveal why that is not a good decision," He said, slowly bringing up a single document and closing all the others, the one he brought up appeared to be a long list of numbers and descriptions.
"This…is the true purpose behind the inhibitor chip planted within every single Republic Clone," Admiral Lasky said before going further, "We've known some kind of artificial device existed in the clones ever since our first medical scan of Lieutenant Banks but we've not been able to try removing one so far without risking killing the clone trooper, now though thanks to Fives's chip we have had our AI's scan it to reveal every bit of data on them," Lasky explained.
"Admiral, what are these?" Captain Jack asked.
"To put it bluntly…Orders," Lasky said, "One-hundred and fifty contingency orders which if issued, the clone or clones in question, would have little to no control over their own actions and would willingly and blindingly obey the order without question,"
"What!?" Fives, Jesse and Kix all shouted out.
"What kind of Orders?" Iona asked.
Lasky read through the list of confirmed contingency orders, "Order FOUR, states that if the supreme chancellor were to become incapacitated, authority over the clone army falls to the vice chair, but I'm afraid they get progressively worse," He said.
"I can't believe this," Jesse said in disbelief, looking at the list alongside his two brothers.
Moving further down the list, Admiral Lasky read several more, "Order THIRTY-SEVERN commands the mass execution or threatened execution of civilian populations for the purpose of finding a single wanted individual, there is one order we've discovered though that has caused this meeting to take place with your attendance though Generals," Lasky said looking towards the two Jedi.
"Which one is that Admiral?" Obi-Wan asked apprehensively.
Silently, Admiral Lasky brought up the order in question, "Order SIXTY-SIX, In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, GAR commanders will remove said officers by lethal force," He said.
The room was completely still and silent, the two Jedi looked to each other and everybody in the room looked at them before Fives spoke up, "Tup, his chip malfunctioned and he was forced to carry out this order," He said in dismay.
"It is the most likely scenario," Lasky said in solemn agreement.
"Admiral, while this discovery is terrible, how does this reveal who the hidden Sith within the Republic is?" Obi-Wan inquired.
Admiral Lasky turned to the Jedi Master, "Because the encryption on the inhibitor chips is nearly the exact same as the one found in the communications, only a slightly weaker version of it, allowing us to hack into it, this means that the traitor within the Republic is the same person who is authorised to activate these orders, I'm afraid to say that there is only one person in the entire Republic with that level of power," Lasky said leading on as he closed the document.
"No, it can't be…" Anakin said in denial as his face wavered into pure whiteness at the thought of who the Admiral was referring to.
"Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine," Admiral Lasky revealed as the list of contingency orders was replaced with the chancellor's official portrait.
Once more, the room was filled with a heavy silence with everybody in the room stunned into submission. All of them bearly able to move their heads to look at one another's reactions, It was only a few seconds but to everyone privy to the monumental discovery, it felt like they were stood there for hours. Out of the less than twenty people that now knew one of the most important pieces of information, Anakin was the first to voice his opinion.
"I can't believe this, I DON'T believe this!" General Skywalker shouted in complete denial and anger about their discovery.
Next to him, Obi-Wan tried to contain his former apprentice, "Anakin calm down! I too am incredibly troubled by this information but nothing will be solved by anger," The Jedi said, causing the Jedi knight to look at him in equal discontent.
"Master, you can't honestly believe any of this!" Anakin exclaimed.
Before General Kenobi tried to speak further, Admiral Lasky interrupted, "General Skywalker, this is not some typical investigation hastily put together over a few weeks," He stated, switching the holotanks display to the stacks of evidence, "We have been trying to find the real culprit behind this war since we knew there was one," Lasky said.
"Anakin, we must face this new reality as harsh as it is," Kenobi tried to convince him, "Look at what has been presented to us, Orders to exterminate the Jedi, Transports filled with Sith artefacts, our minds have become so clouded by the war and the Sith that we were unable to see what was right in front of us this whole time," He stated.
Putting a hand to his head, Anakin hid his face, "I know it's true, I can feel it, I just don't want to believe it," He said, trying to hold back what some might have called tears.
Closing the holotanks, Lasky looked around them all, "As I stated at the beginning, we are the only people that can be allowed to know this information, bringing in anyone else whether Jedi, Clone or Admiral, risks our knowledge of the Chancellor becoming widespread and him trying to bring forward whatever his long term plan is," Lasky said.
"Then that is our next objective," Kate of fireteam Royal said, "To determine what this Sith Lord's plan is and put a stop to it," She said.
"Indeed it is, this is the new path of this task force, but before that, there is one more thing that needs discussing," Admiral Lasky said.
"What is it?" Captain Jack asked.
"Whatever the hell it is that Palpatine has on General Skywalker," Lasky said seriously as he drifted his now deadpan glare over to the further shocked Jedi.
"Excuse m-" Anakin tried to say before he was cut off by the Admiral.
Lasky marched over to the Jedi slowly, "That wasn't just shock or surprise when I told you what the chancellor is, it was downright grief and anger, belive me it is a look I have seen more than enough of, so I will ask this one more time General, What does he have or know about you!" Lasky demanded loudly, displaying an attitude neither fireteams had seen from the Admiral before.
Obi-Wan quickly came to his former apprentice's defence, "Admiral Lasky, surely you can't be serious about this, to imply that Anakin is somehow in league with a Sith Lord," He said confidently.
Getting more frustrated by the minute Lasky looked to Obi-Wan, "I most certainly am Master Kenobi, you think we came to this conclusion based on just this…no we have been monitoring the chancellor for a very long time," Lasky revealed.
The Jedi master's face frowned, "You've been spying on the chancellor? Admiral, whatever your suspicions were, it surely can't justify these types of actions," Obi-Wan protested.
"You know it is the truth General, and so does he," Lasky said pointing at Skywalker, "But scrambled transmissions weren't the only fruits of our endeavours, Palpatine has had more private meetings with General Skywalker than with nearly anybody else, we don't need to be able to hear them to know that the two of them are hiding something," He said assuredly.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Anakin said desperately,
Secretly, Anakin's head was running at light speed trying to figure out what to say next. The Admiral's accusation had hit him like a boulder to the chest and he had no time to wonder how he had come up with such information or whether he believed it was actually true. Of course, he knew what he was hiding, after all, his secret marriage to senator Padme Amidalla on Nabbo all those years ago.
It was a secret he had gladly kept close to his chest, it wouldn't have taken an investigation to determine that he and the Naboo Senator were close but up until now, he was certain that he would have been able to keep thier union undiscovered indefinitely. One thing he knew though, is that it wasn't the discovery of his wife directly that was causing the UNSC Admiral's accusation.
Recently, he had been having nightmares about his wife, rare ones at first but they were all disturbingly similar to the ones he would have about his mother shortly before she was killed by the sand people on Tatooine. It was the nightmares that caused his more frequent visits to the chancellor, sometimes it was for advice, others were when he had been called upon by Palpatine himself on the topic of the war.
Chancellor Palpatine was one of the only people that secretly knew about his wife, while he had never told him himself about Padme, he could tell that it was no secret to the chancellor.
"Anakin, what meetings is the Admiral talking about? Please tell me that he is mistaken," Obi-Wan pleaded, looking more and more concerned.
Admiral Lasky turned his glare back to Anakin, "I don't doubt your power General but there are 12 deadly Spartans in this room and whatever your next answer is will let me know if I can trust you as well as all of them," Lasky subtly threatened, referring to both fireteams Royal, Resolute and the still silent Commander Palmer.
Opposite the Spartans, the Jedi knight had backed up several steps and was going over all his options in his head. Trying to flee would have been almost entirely pointless as the Admiral had pointed out, there are multiple elite and deadly soldiers in front of him not to mention the countless amounts of UNSC marines in between them and the ship that he and Kenobi had arrived on.
Alternatively, he could have tried to lie his way out of the situation but that would be taking a huge risk, if he tried to deny and lie to Lasky then there was a more than likely chance that he or one of his two present fireteams would spot it and expose him for not telling them what they wanted to hear.
However, the one option he didn't want to take was, to tell the truth, especially with Obi-Wan present. He knew that once his secret was out, even if Admiral Lasky didn't care about his marriage, Kenobi would be obligated to eventually report it to the Jedi council and he would be permanently expelled from the Jedi order for breaking one of its most important codes, that no Jedi shall from romantic attachments for worry that fear of losing them could lead Jedi down the path of the dark side.
Anakin looked around at everybody, their glares turning from confusion to suspicion at the young Jedi with every passing second that he delayed, his heart started to race even heavier as he felt more and more cornered until he snapped. Closing his eyes tightly as if he was about to face execution, Skywalker came clean.
"My Wife!" He shouted out blindly with his eyes slammed shut as hard as possible as if to avoid the looks of horror, shame and bewilderment that would greet him when he finally revealed his secret.
How many of you had bet on that as an ending?
Alright, well things are finally getting somewhere now then aren't they and one thing is for sure, this chapter has smashed the record for the longest one so far. As usual, I ask that you forgive any minor little oof moments where something could have been worded better or a point wasn't technically true like with the foreboding romantic attachments part.
So yes, one of the ways this would have gone originally would have been if they had actually gone to Coruscant and somehow Fives would have been swapped with a flash clone who would have died in his place the same way Fives did originally. While this chapter does forgo a further emotional moment with Jack almost killing Commander Fox, I still thought that it would have been just another case of clone wars with Spartans scattered here and there. That is something I've already done just a little too much.
Anyway, Next Episode - Spartans Never Die
Todays Excerpt:
Should Auld Acquaintance be forget, and never brought to mind
Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot and, Auld Lang Syne
For Auld Lang Syne my dear, for Auld Lang Syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne
