Part 15 – Medical Assistance – Part 2
The trip back to the Vigilance was rocky as the Vulture droids along with the Hyena-class bombers were trying their hardest to keep the group from retreating to the Vigilance.
Even though there was a blast shield between the occupants of the LAATs and the fight, the explosions were going off so close the concussive forces could be felt not only through the sides, but also in the way the LAATs were bouncing around.
From what Obi-Wan and Anakin could see through the pilot's forward window, the Vigilance wasn't firing its turbolasers, probably out of fear of hitting Obi-Wan and Anakin's LAAT.
Arriving back on the Vigilance was quite a sight as most of the hanger was being used as a makeshift waiting room, clones were lying on the floor on either standard-issue or make-shift stretchers, or were just being propped up by their fellow clones and members of the 7th Sky Corps while medical droids wandered around treating the minorly-injured clones who were being given warm food and water by free members of the Vigilance's hanger crew.
The painful groans of the clones and members of the Tribunal's crew seemed to come from everywhere, but it was Bruce's voice yelling, "ROTATE," that drew Obi-Wan and Anakin's attention. Bruce was standing on a platform made of piled-up crates while Vekkif stood below him with a datapad typing in information.
After Bruce's yell, everyone in the room who was either carrying a stretcher or supporting their brother moved forward, sideways, or sideways and backwards a space as if they were waiting in a queuing line.
"At least we know where to go." Obi-Wan said.
The two of them walked up to their padawans as a clone medical officer ran up to the padawans and spoke something, Bruce replied, the officer ran off, Bruce then turned back toward the crowd, formed a megaphone by cupping his hands around his mouth, and shouted, "ROTATE!"
After everyone in the hanger had moved, the two walked up to Bruce and Vekkif, and Obi-Wan was the first to speak, "Hello there."
"Master Kenobi," Bruce said as another clone medical officer ran up to the crates.
"Another one was moved to the barracks." He spoke.
"Good," Bruce said as Vekkif logged down some more information, he then turned to the crowd, and shouted, "ROTATE!"
"Interesting system you've got here," Obi-Wan said, "What have we missed?"
"Is Ahsoka, ok?" Anakin asked.
"We don't know," Bruce said, "She's still in surgery."
"Surgery?" Anakin asked.
"She was badly wounded when we found her," Vekkif said, "Lieutenant Jesse reports blast and shrapnel damage along with possible concussion damage."
"Almost everyone on the Tribunal was injured in some form or another," Bruce said, "And we're still counting those that are."
"How bad?" Anakin asked.
"All the medical droids can do for her now is stabilize her," Bruce said, "We need to get back to Coruscant so she can get advanced medical care."
"Sith spit." Anakin cursed.
"What about the rest of the crew?" Obi-Wan asked.
"So far the total number of those evacuated from the Tribunal is 372." Vekkif said.
"The Tribunal carried a crew of 7400." Obi Wan said.
"The crash seems to have done most of them in," Bruce said, "We've been treating everyone that has been evacuated."
"And how many survivors have been treated?" Anakin asked.
"Fifteen died on their way to the Vigilance," Vekkif said checking the data on his pad, "Another twenty-two didn't survive emergency surgery, and we have another thirty-four that the medical droid believes possibly won't survive the trip back to Coruscant."
It was then that the sounds of the turbolasers firing interrupted their conversation, "Looks like the droids have arrived." Anakin said.
"Let's just hope everyone made it back." Bruce said.
As they were talking another clone medic ran up to them, "We had to move one to the adjoining hanger." He spoke.
"Alright," Bruce said, pointing at Vekkif, "Mark that down," he turned to the crowd, "ROTATE!"
"That makes 334 survivors so far," Vekkif said, logging the information into the datapad as the clone medic turned and ran off in the direction of the med bay.
"I take it the crash didn't kill them all?" Anakin asked.
"No, master," Bruce said, kneeling down to them, "Most of the survivors confirmed one thing… he's free."
Obi-Wan leaned back against the frame of the hanger shield and exhaled before pinching the bridge of his nose, "So if he's free," Obi-Wan began, "And the droid army is coming after us in force…"
"Then he could be in charge," Bruce said, "And the war could be entering a new phase."
"We should inform the council." Anakin said.
"And the Grand Chancellor," Obi-Wan said, "He should know."
"Alright," Anakin said, "You might want to come with us."
"Sorry, master," Bruce said as another clone medic ran up to them.
"We've moved another to the barracks." Was what he said.
"Good," Bruce said before turning back to the crowd, "ROTATE," he then looked back at his master, "We've got a system going, and I'd rather not leave the men."
"Alright," Anakin said, "We'll go inform the council and the chancellor."
"Also," Vekkif said, "See if you can get the admiral to recall the fighters, we have to get back to Coruscant as soon as we can."
"We'll take care of it." Obi-Wan said.
Anakin and Obi-Wan walked to the bridge where the found Admiral Block monitoring the situation, "Generals," Block said as he turned around to see the two of them enter.
"All the injured are aboard, Admiral." Obi-Wan said.
"The last of our fighters just docked in the hanger," Admiral Block replied, "Coruscant?"
"At once." Anakin said.
The admiral turned around, "Lock in coordinates for the capitol," he exclaimed, "And get us out of here!"
"Copy that," one of the navigation officers said as he turned back to his computer.
"We also need a link to the temple, and to the chancellor's office." Obi-Wan said.
"No problem." Admiral Block said.
The connection took less time to set up than the navigators took to plot in coordinates for Coruscant, "Master Skywalker," Master Windu said as he appeared on the monitor, holding a holo-communicator, probably in the middle of a conversation with someone else.
It was then that the connection to the chancellor came over the communicator, "Master Skywalker, Master Kenobi, Master Windu," Chancellor Amedda said as he joined the conversation.
"Chancellor," Master Windu said, "Thank you for joining us."
"Of course," Chancellor Amedda said, "I take it you've found something if you're all joining this conversation?"
"Yes, Chancellor," Anakin said, "We believe we know who has become the new leader of the separatists. We've found the Tribunal."
"What's the status of the ship?" Chancellor Amedda said.
"The Tribunal has been completely disabled," Obi-Wan said, "Our padawans found what was left of the crew and the 332nd."
"How many?" Chancellor Amedda asked.
"Between the crew and the 332nd," Obi-Wan said, "We lost over 95% of everyone on the Tribunal."
Chancellor Amedda sat back and exhaled, "I'm very sorry for the loss." He spoke.
"So are we," Anakin said, "Ahsoka is critically injured and those that have survived are now being treated for their injuries."
"But they have confirmed the leader?" Chancellor Amedda asked.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said, "We believe Maul is leading the droid army. With Palpatine, Dooku, and General Grievous dead, and the separatist council without a military leader, he could easily fill the role."
"But we don't have a full confirmation?" Chancellor Amedda asked.
"No, sir." Obi-Wan said.
"He would have felt his master's death, and he could have sought out the separatist leaders," Master Windu said, "He knows them from his time as Palpatine's apprentice."
Chancellor Amedda scratched his chin, stayed silent for a few seconds before looking back toward the holoprojector, "I will consult with Republic High Command," he said, "In the meantime, return to Coruscant, and speak to me when the high council has made their decision."
"Yes, Chancellor." Master Windu said.
"Master Windu, may I speak to Masters Kenobi and Skywalker?" Chancellor Amedda asked.
"Of course," Master Windu said, "Obi-Wan, Anakin."
"Master Windu." Obi-Wan and Anakin said together.
As Master Windu signed off, Chancellor Amedda appeared solely on the holoprojector and spoke, "In how much bad shape are the survivors from the Tribunal in?" He asked.
"Very bad," Anakin said, "A few of them died on their evacuation back to the Vigilance, a few more died during surgery, and some of them are in such bad shape they might not make it back to Coruscant."
"And Padawan Tano?" Chancellor Amedda asked.
"Last we heard she was still in surgery," Anakin said, "At most all the medical droids can do is stabilize her."
"I'll have the Grand Medical Center prepare to receive them," Chancellor Amedda said, "We'll give them the best care we can offer."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Anakin said, "We'll need quite a few ships, over half of the over three hundred injured are critical."
"I'll arrange it," Chancellor Amedda said, "You just worry about getting her and the survivors to Coruscant."
"Yes, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said.
"Good work, you two," Chancellor Amedda said, "See you on Coruscant."
"Chancellor." The two of them replied.
As soon as the holoprojector shut off, the navigator in charge of the coordinates spoke up, "Coordinates for Coruscant are locked." He spoke.
"Go for it." Admiral Block said.
Within a few seconds the ship had leapt into hyperspace, and they were on their way back to the Republic, "There's one worry off our minds." Anakin said.
"And another we have to add to our minds," Obi-Wan said, "With Maul free, and the droid army on the attack we have a few other things to worry about."
"Other things to worry about that we can worry about later," Anakin said, "Our padawans could probably use a little help."
"Let's go." Obi-Wan said.
The two of them returned to the hanger where they found the hanger was now mostly full of minorly-injured clones, and a handful that were being supported by their fellow clones. A number of clones wearing the colors of the 332nd also had bandages on their right temples from where they had to have their inhibitor chips removed.
"How are you two coming along," Anakin asked as he and Obi-wan approached.
"Coming along pretty well," Bruce said, looking over his shoulder as a clone medic approached.
The clone simply spoke, "We've moved another one to the barracks," before running back to the med bay.
"Good," Bruce said before looking back at the line and gesturing toward the clone at the end of the line to move up, "Let's go!"
"No more 'rotate'?" Anakin asked.
"That was when this place was packed with severely injured clones," Bruce said, "We're down to only a few now."
"How many more?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Twelve waiting," Vekkif said, "Seventeen died during surgery, and we have another six that got added to the list of those that possibly won't make it."
"From 7400 down to 317," Anakin said, "Maul did a number on these people."
"He'll do a good number on the Republic as well," Bruce said, "If he is in fact in command of the separatists."
"We need to start preparing you two," Obi-Wan said, "If he is in charge, you two need to know how to face a Sith in combat."
To be continued…