Author's Note: Dearest readers, I hope you enjoy today's chapter. When you are finished reading, I STRONGLY suggest that you read the note at the bottom. It is incredibly important in terms of this story's development.
Thank you and May the Force be with You,
~ Michael
This week has some special review shoutouts. We launch fireworks on Naboo for Starpottergeek, CJG, Kayman, and Krieg Schnee.
THE FROZEN FORCE 2nd ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Chapter: 97 The Rules of War (Part II)
"Never lecture a soldier on the cost of war."
Battle for the Outer Rim! As General Grievous launches destructive assaults on multiple worlds, the Republic races to stop the bleeding. Jedi Knights Anna and Elsa Dellian have united for a joint operation on Carida. As if the impending Separatist attack wasn't dreadful enough, an anti-Republic riot also broke out at the sanctuary. Although it was suppressed under unorthodox circumstances, the battle for Carida has only begun...
"Behold...The noble Republic our ancestors fought and died for." Barriss Offee's words still haunted Elsa. They plagued her long after she'd left the Mirialan's sight. And as she clung to one of LAAT-5's handholds and braced herself for action, Elsa delved into her own thoughts.
How? she asked within. How did it all come to this?
"War unveils the worst in societies," Evara answered. "It twists the noble to commit the unspeakable...all in the name of peace."
I have to stop this, Elsa thought. We have to save who we can. Evara...may the Light Side flow through me during this dire undertaking.
Elsa snapped herself back into moment and listened to Donz's callouts. "Everybody hang on!" he hollered and accelerated LAAT-5. Donz led the rest of the gunships in a wide V-formation. He kept a firm grip on the controls and called to his copilot. "Toto, how are we looking?"
The young clone checked readouts on his dashboard and said, "Engines are at optimal performance and we're approaching our first given coordinates. ETA: two minutes."
"Two minutes!" Donz reiterated over comms. "Ground units, prepare to initiate evacuation procedures. Quobos is just beyond this ridge. I'm gonna set us down in the square and we'll move in accordingly."
Toto's dashboard suddenly flashed as several hostiles descended from the clouds. "Sir!" he warned. "Incoming!"
"Evasive action!" Donz brayed and rigorously banked left. Everyone in the hold nearly lost their footing as Elsa battled queasiness. She hadn't had time to take her motion sickness pills, but she had to be strong for Stel. Her apprentice looked like he was in some kind of trance and remained unaffected by the ship's sharp turns.
"Stel?" Elsa gulped, holding back her nausea. "Padawan?"
"I'm sorry," he pleaded and blankly stared at her. "I'm so sorry." The youngling winced repeatedly and was on the verge of tears all over again. Their aerial predicament mattered little to him, for his mind was elsewhere. Stel was still warped into the moment of being siezed by that woman. His heart raced as he felt the weight of her cries. As she yelled at him again...and again. The anxiety became so rampant, that he released his grip on the handholds and covered his ears. "Make it stop!" he screeched, only to lose his footing entirely.
"No!" Elsa cried out and lunged from her handhold. Before the youngling could fall to gravity's mercy, Elsa scooped him in her arms. As she too fell, Frost threw himself over both of them. His armored back endured the doors metallic brunt as the trio collapsed.
"We're clear!" Donz announced while leveling out. "For now, anyway. Prepare to disembark!"
Once the turbulence concluded, Elsa immediately saw to her aching commander. "Frost?" she worried and helped him up.
"Are you and the boy alright?" he grunted.
"We're okay," she quickly assured, but focused on him. "Frost...your back."
"I'll live," he huffed as she helped him up.
"And I thought I was the crazy one," Rip snarked from behind them. "Even I remember basic training, sir! Please hold on to the handholds and stay clear of the doors!" His jeer was met with a smack upside the head from Doubles.
LAAT-5 touched down alongside several others. The gunships' hatches opened as hundreds of troopers secured their designated perimeters. From the moment those hatches were released, any silence in the hold was lost. Tufts of soot and ash stained the pale craft. A cacophony of laserfire echoed across the flaming town and set Stel's wide eyes aglow.
"Hey," Elsa intoned and pulled her Padawan close. His master's voice was a muffled blur to him. The young Theelin's eyes couldn't help but wander towards the burning buildings and swirling vulture droids above. "Stel," Elsa said, caressing his shoulders to try and calm him.
"I'm sorry," he blurted again and made her eye twitch.
In the heat of so much chaos, Elsa felt that even her level of patience was wearing thin. There was a part of her that wanted to angrily shake Stel and tell him to 'get it together'. But she could never bring herself to be so harsh. It was her fault that Stel was on Carida in the first place. Accepting her responsibility, Elsa listened to her Padawan's pain and responded accordingly.
"It's okay to be sorry," she said. His head spun away from her, distracted by a citizen's screams. "I'm sorry too," Elsa said. Her apology was enough to draw Stel's focus back to her. "You shouldn't be here. None of us should be in this terrible situation. But hear me, apprentice. We are Jedi." She firmly squeezed the boy's shoulders, hoping to give him strength. "And right now people need us. Can you help me to help them?"
Stel swallowed hard. "I can...try."
"That's all you have to do," she assured while surveying their destructive situation. "I want you to stand at the gunship's edge," she instructed. "As civilians come in, offer a hand if need be. Otherwise just direct them from the side. You can do this."
"Okay," Stel affirmed. "But what about you?"
Elsa slid out of the hold and gestured to a bombed out building. "I'll be right here!" she hollered. "I'll stay in view, just don't move! I'm counting on you!" Elsa didn't get far before her flight sickness returned. She deviated rightward and expelled her sickness behind a pile of rubble. Stel took a deep breath, but only hyperventilated instead. He frantically fidgeted with his braid while Elsa approached the building. Using the Force, she lifted rubble while Frost and his men pulled civilians out. "Get them to the ships!" Elsa ordered while heaving debris. Stel's heart raced as clusters of wounded civilians rushed towards LAAT-5. The overwhelming amount of bloody and ashy faces had him panicking all over again. He clawed at his Padawan braid, making strands uncoil in chaotic directions. And as he sought to flee back into his mind, Elsa's words returned.
"We are Jedi...And right now people need our help." He loosened the grip on his hair. "Your braid is a crucial piece of your journey as a Jedi. It will show the galaxy that the future of the Force is bright and grant hope to those who need it."
Leaving his braid alone, Stel dared to yell beyond his fears. "Over here!" he shouted towards the civilians. "Come on!" No matter how frightened he was, he joined several clones in pulling injured people aboard.
"I'm a Jedi," he kept whispering to himself. "I can do this...I can do this."
While Stel helped haul citizens into LAAT-5, several other gunships soared overhead. Under direct command from Luminara Unduli, the units headed for the city's center. Just as the Jedi Master predicted, the valley-based settlement received the most Separatist 'attention'. The once lush district had erupted into an all-out war zone as clones of the 41st engaged invading forces.
Anti-air turrets swiveled atop scorched rooftops. Each heavy round of lasers offered enough recoil to shake furniture inside the buildings. Some of the vulture droids they shot down crashed into the streets like steel fireballs. Droid gunships strafed the outskirts and unleashing their own laser barrages against clustered clones. Their green-armored bodies collapsed in sizzling heaps as the dropships deployed droid forces. While swarms of B1 units marched down the streets, they paved the way for super battle droids to bombard from afar. Using their wrist rockets, the bulky machines eliminated several anti-air turrets.
Anna kept a stern and resolute face while enroute to the drop zone. Her vambrace chimed as Master Luminara called in. "My men are losing their anti-air defenses. If they're all destroyed, the Separatists will have aerial superiority."
"Then it's a good thing we're on our way to stop them," Anna affirmed as their gunship descended. Feeling its low-altitude lull, she released her handhold and firmly knocked on each of her men's helmets. "Speedy, you've got this. Come on, Sparx! Blazer, let's go!" Riling her squad up, Anna ignited her lightsaber as the hatch opened. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she yelled "Attack!" and leapt down to Quobos. The Deathchasers followed her in, not even waiting for Luminara and Gree to disembark from their ship. The Deathchasers rushed a line of B1s head on and blasted them to pieces while Anna slashed away.
By the time Luminara sparked up her green blade, she was already observing Anna's handiwork. With more droids inbound, she and her troops rushed to assist. A well-placed wrist rocket struck the gunship directly behind them. It ignited against the engines, causing a massive explosion and setting those aboard ablaze.
"No!" Commander Gree growled. He glanced back, watching as those who weren't killed in the blast came running out of the wreckage. His brothers' bodies were completely aflame, even beyond their broken plastoid. All he could do was watch in horror until the second engine's explosion finished them off.
"Commander," Luminara intoned. "It's too late for them, but we must push on!" On her orders, Gree looked beyond his burnt brethren and pushed against the droid offensive.
Anna rolled to narrowly avoid a wrist rocket. She then carried her momentum into a powerful, upward slash. The attack sent a B1's bisected body clunking to the crisped ground. Blazer went back to back with her, and fired several shots into a flanking line of droids. "Damn clankers are everywhere!" he growled.
"Doesn't matter," Anna scoffed. "See 'em, scrap 'em."
"General!" Sparx shouted. "Report came in! Part of Unduli's regiment is pinned down in the square."
"Let's clean up the mess, lieutenant." Anna huffed. "Speedy, take to the rooftops. Drop some thermals and we'll cover you."
Speedy obliged and sprinted towards a blasted-out shop. Increasing pressure in his cybernetics, he launched himself to its roof and vaulted over. By the time several droids caught on, Anna and the others were already engaging them. Her saber strikes were as swift as they were powerful. Even the bulkiest, super battle droid came toppling over at her feet. Once Speedy was in position, he took a moment to observe the 41st's predicament in the square. Clones were using overturned airspeeders for cover as swarms of B1s attempted to overwhelm them. A droid's precise laser struck the clone in command and sent him spiraling to the ground. A laser hole lay smoking in his visor as one of the troops cradled him.
"Captain Maro!" the soldier grieved.
Acting quickly, Speedy hurled several grenades to cripple their advance. The chiming explosives left gaping holes in the droid battalion and paved the way for Anna's attack. "Charge!" she demanded of the 41st before barreling into the routed droids. The clones she'd rescued looked to one another, uncertain over her orders. "Stay pinned or make up some ground," Anna asserted. "It's now or never! Come on!" At her persistence, the clones joined her and the Deathchasers. Together, they cut down every droid across the street. Smoke billowed from the scrapped corpses as Anna noticed fleeing B1s. "Oh no you don't," she whispered. With a wild jab of her saber, she roared her next command. "Second charge!" Carrying the group's momentum, Anna led the clones around the street corner. They pursued the retreating battle droids directly into a trap.
Anna's eyes widened at the sudden revelation. Her boots skidded to a halt just as multiple droids rolled through the flames. "Kriff," she muttered and raised her blade high. "Hold! Hold!" she frantically commanded to stop the charge.
"Destroyers!" Blazer warned as the droids reconfigured. Upon activating their personal shields, the destroyers unleashed a devastating barrage from their twin laser cannons. Republic blasts haplessly deflected off of the droid's shields, forcing clones back.
Despite Anna's best efforts to deflect laserfire, the destroyers were too numerous. The 'sword and shield' maneuver would prove ineffective under such overwhelming conditions. And as clones fell beside her, Anna gave a solemn order. "Disperse!" she yelled. "Find cover!"
The 41st's line broke apart and the destroyers advanced. Their insect-like limbs punctured the bricks beneath their shields as they closed in on Anna's position. Anna lunged into an alley alongside Sparx while Blazer and Speedy fled the opposite way. Several clones joined them while those who couldn't make it were gunned down.
"General!" Blazer called out.
"We'll be fine!" Anna insisted. "We'll meet you on the other side!"
"She better mean literally," Blazer griped and checked his blaster's charges. As he did so, a series of ominous gyrations sounded from above.
"Are those what I think they are?" Speedy wondered while other clones aimed upward.
"Have I mentioned how much I hate these guys?" Blazer grumbled and readied his pistol. As he looked up, several acrobatic figures flipped into the alleyway. They spiraled from the rooftop and revealed their pale photoreceptors. "Commando droids!" he shouted. "Take 'em out!"
While the commandos kept clones distracted from above, destroyer droids rolled into the alleys from below. "Karabast!" Speedy cursed. "They're boxing us in!"
As the carnage unfolded down the street, Luminara led her reinforcements towards the square. She paused and furrowed her thin, perplexed brows. "Where's my foothold?" she asked. "Captain Maro was under direct orders to hold here."
"General Unduli," Commander Gree worried and gestured to a series of explosions further ahead.
"Dellian," Luminara scoffed and dashed towards the conflict.
"This way!" Elsa yelled and guided civilians to the gunships. Caridans and immigrated humans alike were loaded onboard until they crammed the holds. Several gunships started to take off as Donz held out for more.
Observing the crowd already inside, Toto ran back to the cockpit. "Donz! It's gonna be too much weight! Even for LAAT-5!"
"She's a tough ship," the old clone remarked and glanced back at the crowd. "One more person," he gauged to his co-pilot's dismay.
Elsa approached the gunship with a weary couple. Ash coated their exhausted faces as Stel helped them aboard. "How are you holding up?" she asked her Padawan.
"I'm a Jedi," he reaffirmed, more so for himself.
She smiled at him until Toto came to the gunship's edge. "We can only take one more if you're coming, Elsa." he warned.
The couple appeared nervous until Elsa assured, "I'll stay. Frost, the others and I will find more civilians. We'll be here for the next drop!"
"No!" Stel panicked, his resolve suddenly faltering.
"It's okay, apprentice." Elsa assured. "You'll be safe aboard-"
Without another word, Stel dropped from the gunship and joined her at ground level. "We can't wait any longer!" Donz beckoned. "Let's go!"
Toto scrambled to the cockpit as LAAT-5 took off for the academy. Elsa was left standing amidst a battlefield, crossing her arms and glaring at Stel. "Padawan," she scolded. "You disobeyed my direct instructions."
"I'm not doing this without you!" he blurted and immediately shrunk down. Elsa's arms dropped. For in both his ferocity and timidity, she saw herself. She saw the youngling she once was, desperately trying to be understood by Master Yelena. "I'm...I'm sorry," he whispered again.
"As am I," Elsa replied as a building crumbled beside them. Dust spewed towards their faces, prompting them to burst into coughing fits. Several muffled cries emanated from within the fallen structure. "There's no time to waste," Elsa said and pulled Stel through the dust cloud. She straightened her posture alongside him and stretched out her hands. "Focus on the rubble," she said. "Pick the biggest piece and we'll lift together, okay?"
Realizing what was happening, Stel hurriedly threw his hands forward. Elsa noted how much effort he was putting into a single slab of roofing and then aided him. As a single unit, master and apprentice lifted the heavy slab. While Elsa did most of the work, the act was enough to boost young Stel's confidence. "It's-...working!" Stel gasped. "I'm doing it!"
"Great, Padawan. Don't get arrogant." Elsa intoned as they shifted the slab. The shouts of those trapped within loudened. "Frost! You're up!"
The commander and his men dashed into the revealed pit. Their armored limbs descended through the darkness and retrieved a number of buried civilians. Frost hauled one over his shoulders while Rip, Doubles, and the others saved more. A group of dust-coated children clung to Rip's body like sand-leeches on a bantha. "Too tight!" the clone croaked as they squeezed on his body.
"Get them to the landing zone!" Elsa ordered. "We need to hold out until Donz and the other gunships return."
Anna tried leaving her alley, but was immediately cut off by a squad of commando droids. "Lieutenant!" she barked while blocking blasts. "Lead the men out behind me and get clear. I'll hold!"
"But general!" Sparx worried.
"Now!" She demanded and took the commandos head on. The advanced droids unsheathed their vibroswords and met her intense charge. Her lightsaber sparked against a droid's buzzing blade while she bisected another. One of her foes scraped their blade against her armored shoulder. The ensuing sparks enraged Anna as she doubled her intensity. While she dueled the droids, Sparx led the 41st's stragglers out of the alley. Refusing to leave his general cornered, he opened fire from afar. Several of his lasers took down one of the commandos and caught Anna's attention.
"I told you to get clear!" she scolded.
"The 41st is clear," Sparx explained. "I, however, am with you." He continued to shoot at the remaining commandos, distracting them so Anna could attack. As she cut down the remaining droids, a series of blasts sounded from the adjacent alley.
Rushing over, Anna and Sparx found the rest of their companions trapped by Separatist forces. Destroyer droids were closing in while commando droids leapt from above. Blazer and Speedy covered each other's backs, but their lasers were futile against energy shields. Members of the 41st lay dead at their feet as the destroyer droids approached.
Suddenly, several explosive rounds ignited beside the droids. Waves of blue laserfire zipped from across the street and into the alley. Anna and Sparx watched as Luminara arrived with reinforcements. The high-powered blasts had come from a squad of AT-RT walkers. The small, yet nimble vehicles darted atop the pavement and blasted away at the destroyers' shields. Such an increase in firepower was enough to coax even the commando droids into a retreat. Blazer, Speedy, and their surviving brothers emerged from the alley as reinforcements arrived.
"That was too close," Speedy huffed, still catching his breath.
"Isn't it always?" Blazer jested and nudged the trooper.
They couldn't reach Anna and Sparx before Luminara stormed over. "Where is Captain Maro?" she asked sternly.
Speedy and Blazer seemed confused at first until a 41st trooper answered. "The captain fell in battle, ma'am," he said. "We tried to hold the square as you ordered. The clankers had us outmatched until they arrived." He gestured to the Deathchasers and Luminara glowered.
"General Dellian," the master spoke oh so formerly. "Did you take charge of my troopers after their captain was killed?"
Anna was devoid of all hesitation and regret. "I did," she affirmed. "The droids had pushed-"
"The droids hadn't pushed them anywhere," Luminara scolded. "They had orders to hold. They were to wait for Gree and I to boost them with heavy artillery! They were defending what anti-air weapons we still had left!" She threw up a hand towards the walkers behind her. Luminara's cold stare observed the smoky carnage in the alleys. "Instead, you took command and launched your own offensive. You led an already broken unit directly into an ambush and now we are at half strength."
"We had to hit back," Anna defended. "More droids are still dropping from above!"
"And now we have even less of a defense to counter them...plus we've lost aerial defenses," Luminara scoffed. "You were called to assist, not overstep. If you ever command my unit without authorization again, I will have you personally reprimanded by the Jedi Council. Do I make myself clear?"
On top of the adrenaline of battle, Anna's blood boiled further. Her fists clenched as Luminara scolded her like some insolent toddler. All eyes turned to the knight and awaited her response. With flared nostrils and a mild-mannered sigh, Anna said, "Clear as crystal." Anger festered behind her fraudulent grin. It manifested into thoughts of wanting to Force-push Luminara for speaking in such a way. But instead of giving in to such pettiness, Anna channeled her anger elsewhere. She stepped back as Luminara recovered the rest of her unit.
"Are you alright, sister?" Blazer asked as he Speedy approached.
"Oh, I'm fine." Anna mumbled while activating her comlink.
"Who are you calling?" Sparx inquired.
"If Luminara wants to keep the fighting here, that's her problem." Anna answered. "We, on the other hand...are ending this." She sent out her transmission and spoke to its responder. "Admiral Shang," she said. "The boys and I are gonna need a 'Scorching Scoop'."
"General Dellian," Watcher interrupted, listening in over battlecomms. "Why are you leaving the battlefield?"
"Because this city and Master Unduli are lost causes," Anna answered. "I need Shang to pick us up so we can target the Separatist flagship."
"What?" both Watcher and Blazer asked.
"You heard me," Anna asserted. "All of these droids aren't magically poofing into existence. They've got to be dropping in from a flagship in that space battle. My squad will board and destroy it, impeding the invasion."
"Now hold on," Watcher insisted. "General-...Anna...This is a full dreadnought that we're talking about. The four of you can't possibly-"
"We can and we will," Anna affirmed. "And if we don't make it, we're expendable to you anyway...right?"
Watcher paused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Anna shook her head as the Legacy descended from the upper atmosphere. "You know exactly what it means," she murmured and cut the transmission. Anna's intense gaze only hardened. She was focused on her duty and used rage to fuel her further. Anna recalled speaking with Blazer shortly after the Bespin incident. He'd told her about how Watcher only cared about stopping Maul, even while Anna was incapacitated. Any hope for a close bond with Watcher died with that memory. With no expectations other than her own, Anna prepared to board the Legacy. She and the Deathchasers leapt to its ramp as it hovered by. "It's time to finish this battle on my terms," she growled under her breath.
Another wave of droid fighters soared overhead. They fired indiscriminately into several buildings, hoping to increase as many casualties as possible. While the rest of the 213th gathered civilians at the drop zone, Frost ran towards a newly ravaged structure. "Down here!" a woman coughed beneath a toppled junction box. Frost considered her lucky that it was powered down, but her ankle was snagged on several cables.
"Hold still," the commander said and unsheathed his Echani dagger. Crawling under the junction box, he severed the wires and helped pull the woman out. "I've got you!" he grunted while pulling her into the open air. Relief took hold as the whir of Republic gunships returned.
"Ground units," Donz called over comms. "Standby for pickup." He flew LAAT-5 through the ashy skies and located the civilians below. As soon as the gunships landed, Elsa's team began loading fresh groups of civilians. The frightened crowds poured into each hold until some of the ships reached capacity.
The gunship nearest LAAT-5 loaded its last civilian and then sealed the hatch doors. "We're set," its pilot said. "Taking off."
As the gunship started to gain altitude, a vulture droid glided by and launched a missile. "Get down!" was all Frost could shout before the projectile struck. The ensuing explosion was insurmountable. The gunship burst into flames as a shockwave sent those around it to their feet. Mass hysteria sunk in as those who quickly rose tried to get a hold on the crowds. Meanwhile, a sharp ringing plagued Elsa's ears. She stared at the scrapes on her hands as she struggled to rise. Just seeing an entire gunship obliterated was enough to break her heart. Thinking about how many people had been onboard...trusting the Republic to save them. The harrowing thoughts were accompanied by a single, repetitive word. It was muffled, yet persistent amidst the ringing.
Elsa turned to see Stel knelt at her side. His lips were moving. "M-!...Ma-er!" Elsa squinted and leaned closer until all sounds suddenly returned. "Master!" he yelled betwixt the madness.
Elsa shook off her daze, "Padawan," she murmured.
"We gotta go!" a clone yelled before being blasted down. The strike only prompted more screams as Elsa followed the shot. Because Anna had pushed the 41st away from their designated location, a cluster of droids had slipped through to the landing zone. The relentless B1s opened fire while civilians scrambled to safely board the gunships.
"The zone's too hot," Donz warned. "I need to get us up in the air."
"Frost!" Elsa shouted over the blasterfire. "EMPs!"
He nodded to her and jabbed an arm forward. "Bring up the droid poppers!" Frost commanded. On his and Elsa's orders, several clones tossed EMP grenades towards the droids. Each powerful sphere clattered at their enemy's feet before igniting with vibrant bolts. The chain reaction overloaded the B1s' circuits, shutting them down entirely. With their momentum gone, those who weren't caught in the EMP blasts split off. Riled up in the heat of battle, Stel activated his lightsaber and surged forward.
"Padawan!" Elsa warned, but was too late.
Her youngling lunged at a straggling battle droid and slashed across its midsection. "Got'em!" Stel cheered. But when he glanced back at his master, her face was anything but proud.
Elsa pulled him back and knelt before the droid. Her brows furrowed as she observed its fried components. Placing a hand on its thin and lifeless face, she hung her head in mourning. "I-I don't understand," Stel stammered. "I beat a clanker. Isn't that good?"
"It isn't, Stel!" Elsa accidentally snapped. "Nor was this droid a 'clanker'. He was a soldier, just like any of the men serving in our Republic. He didn't have to perish," she sighed.
Stel gulped, nervous over his master's reaction. "I'm sorry," he uttered. "I was only-"
"Let's just get to the gunship," Elsa lamented. "The zone is no longer secured." The Theelin scurried at her side as they made it to LAAT-5. "That's everyone!" Elsa called to Donz. "You're clear!"
"All gunships-" the old clone reported. "Go! Go!" The squad soared high above the ravaged city.
"Sir," Toto warned as a vulture droid squadron closed in.
"I see 'em," Donz groaned and gripped the controls. "Hold on, everyone!" He took evasive action, rocking the gunship and its passengers. Several lasers struck the hull, but didn't yield any critical damage.
Frost bumped into Elsa as they clung to their handholds. "Donz can only maneuver so much in this thing," he grunted. "If those vultures launch a missile-" Frost didn't have to say anymore. Elsa was already envisioning the decimated gunship from before.
"Commander," she said. "I'm going to need your help."
"Anything," he winced as they took another sharp turn.
"Gather the men closest to you. Have them hold Stel and I steady." Her Padawan looked up in confusion until Elsa elaborated. "We need to work together," she told him. "Using the Force, we're going to safeguard this ship."
"But how?" Stel worried. "I-...don't know what to-"
"I will guide you," she assured. "Just steady yourself with me." Stel nodded while Frost assembled the clones nearest to him. Rip and Doubles each placed a hand on Stel's shoulders, keeping him grounded. Meanwhile, Frost and a medic held Elsa steady. "Close your eyes," Elsa told Stel. He nervously obliged as the gunship shook them. The Theelin almost lost his footing, but the clones kept him in place.
"We've got you, kid." Doubles affirmed.
Stel faintly smiled, still trying to tune out the screams and roaring engines. "Just listen to my voice," Elsa said. "And repeat after me. I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me. I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me."
"I am one with the Force and the Force is with me," Stel reiterated, speaking in unison with his master. His voice cracked when the gunship made another sharp turn. Civilians' shouts distracted Stel, breaking his concentration.
Whether he was helping or not, Frost took it upon himself to join the mantra. "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me," he intoned and motioned for the other clones to join him. Rip and Doubles spoke so loudly, that they sought to drown out the mayhem around them. Their efforts proved fruitful, and Stel's focus returned.
As the group spoke of the Force together, the woman Frost had saved suddenly stopped panicking. She found solace in their mantra and gripped the commander's shoulder. "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me," she declared. With each loudening cadence, the group had sparked a chain reaction. Soon, the frightened wails of those onboard silenced.
Whether they were Force sensitive or not, each passenger was united through shared faith and by placing their trust in the Jedi. "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me," they spoke in a single, bold voice.
The pursuing vulture droids unleashed a cluster of heat-seeking missiles. "Projectiles inbound!" Toto warned. "Deploying flares!" With a thrust of his switch, flares spewed from the gunship's lower hatches. While they hindered the first group of missiles, two remained persistent.
"I can't shake 'em!" Donz growled while pulling on the controls.
Searching through their powers, Elsa and Stel truly became one with the Force. The gathered support of those around the Jedi helped them sense beyond the gunship. They could feel the rushing air outside and saw the incoming missiles. Guided by Elsa, Stel visualized pushing the projectiles away. Their combined powers manifested into an act of redirection. While the missiles should've made direct contact with LAAT-5, they suddenly dipped elsewhere.
"I don't believe it," Toto uttered as he loosened up in his seat. "Missiles dropped. We're clear!"
Civilians cheered throughout the hold as Stel opened his eyes. "M-master?" he stuttered. "Did...we really do that?" She nodded and offered a reassuring smile. Such joy was short-lived, as another sharp whirring sounded outside.
"More missiles?" Rip fretted.
"Not at that speed," Doubles remarked and tried peeking through the hatch's slits.
A group of azure blurs darted by. These gyroscopic craft were easily identified by their narrow nose guns and scarlet photoreceptors. "Tri-fighters!" Toto shouted. "Eleven o'clock high!" The speeding fighters charged up their rapid-fire laser cannons and unleashed a heavy barrage. Acting quickly, Donz turned LAAT-5 so that the hold would take the least amount of hits. A few lasers struck its hatch, but the majority hit the nose. Toto braced as lasers skimmed the top of his cockpit's windscreen. "That was too close!" he gasped and hurriedly checked readouts. "But they didn't hit anything vital. How are you holding up, Donz?"
"Just...fine," Donz grunted, his comm sounding slightly damaged. "Let's hurry these people to the academy. There's bound to be more in Quobos."
High above Carida, the space battle had only intensified. With no reinforcements in sight, the Legacy was forced to maximize its shields in order to make any advance. "Not that I'm questioning your resolve-" Admiral Shang began from the bridge. "-but you do realize that they'll be no turning back from this plan of yours."
Anna's voice crackled over comms in the deployment room. "They'll be no turning back if we leave the decisions up to Master Unduli," she scoffed. "At least I'm giving us a kriffing chance."
Knowing that he couldn't dissuade the general, Shang observed the battle before him. He watched as the surrounding Venators endured heavy barrages and struggled to maintain formation. Republic fighters were being gunned down in an effort to defend their flagships. "Here's hoping you're right, General Dellian." Shang whispered under his breath. He raised an authoritative fist to command his officers. "Transfer all power to thrusters...ramming speed." They nervously obliged as he set his focus on the Separatist dreadnought. The Legacy charged at full speed, and struck the enemy hull with its hammer-headed surface. The impact had those aboard the Legacy clinging to brace. Droids on the dreadnought lost their footing, and even their Neimoidian overseers were shaken.
Shang had specifically targeted the ship's observation platform, putting them in close proximity of the bridge. "We have contact," he called over comms. "Go, Deathchasers! Now's your chance!"
At his words, a boarding pod deployed from the frigate and dug into the platform. "We're in!" Anna called back. "Detach and get clear!"
I hope you know what you're doing, Shang still worried as he pulled the Legacy out.
One of the Neimoidians shook off the impact. His red-orange eyes scoured readouts to ensure that the dreadnought was still operational. "Those Republic fools," he mocked. "Did they really think such an inferior vessel could bring down our warship? This-" A sudden set of alerts had the Neimoidian checking security footage. His wrinkly jaw dropped in disbelief as Anna and her Deathchasers ravaged his corridors. They were unhinged...cutting down any droid who stood between them and the bridge. "Impossible," the Neimoidian uttered to his brethren.
Having dropped off another load of civilians, Donz was already eager to return to Quobos. While other gunships had paused to assess their conditions, he insisted on racing back. "Sir," Toto worried as they soared back to town. "The stabilizers took a beating from those tri-fighters. I don't know if LAAT-5 can keep up this speed."
"She'll hold together," Donz huffed.
His exasperated tone raised Toto's concerns. "Sir?" he inquired. "Are you alright to keep flying-"
"Yes," Donz was quick to respond. "Every second we waste leaves a civilian in peril!" As Donz closed out comms, he focused on steadying his shallow breaths. "Come on," he grunted to himself. "Just...one more trip. Let me make...one more." He noticed citizens waving from a crumbled rooftop below and darted downward. Steadying his gunship, he opened the hatches so Elsa and her team could help them. Once the group was aboard, Donz hastily flew them back to the academy. The old clone was in a trance-like state, focusing on his breaths as he piloted onward. He persisted long after parts of his body had numbed. Time became a blur and before Donz knew it, he was already taking off from the academy with an emptied hold again. "One...more...trip," he panted. "Just one more." His bloodshot eyes scanned across his ship's cracked viewport, ultimately finding more civilians on a ravaged street.
Anna and the Deathchasers had no plans of slowing their momentum. Any battle droids that had been scrambled to meet them were savagely scrapped. Anna diced up incoming B1s with her lightsaber while her clones shot any stragglers. The flash of her green blade emerged down the corridor and startled the Neimoidians on the bridge. "Close the blast doors!" one of them yelled. A droid hurriedly obliged and typed away on a monitor. At the B1's command, a pair of bulky doors came sliding between the Deathchasers and the bridge.
Anna didn't waste time and immediately impaled the blast doors with her lightsaber. The blade's thick, pulsing plasma emerged from the opposite end and sent metallic chunks toppling over. Rather than lose time cutting on her own, Anna gave a new set of orders. "Sparx, bring up a charge."
"Yes general!" the lieutenant concurred. He stuck a breaching charge against the weakened door as Anna retracted her lightsaber.
"Get clear!" the knight shouted before Sparx detonated the charge. Scalding, durasteel fragments clanged to the ground as smoke billowed across the bridge. "Take it to 'em!" Anna ordered as her squad rushed in. The Deathchasers blasted away, lighting up every pilot droid in range. Their blue-plated heads spun as blaster bolts struck their bodies. Dashing towards the admiral's seat, Anna slashed her blade across the back of it. The chair's elongated top collapsed, along with its Neimoidian occupant. The overseer fell dead with a surprised look still plastered across his face. Desperate to survive, the other Neimoidians scrambled to scavenge blasters from downed droids. Two swift shots from Blazer's pistol had the remaining overseers collapsing.
Speedy and Sparx finished off the last B1s before reporting in. "Bridge secured!" Speedy hollered.
Anna pulled a dead overseer off of the ship's dashboard. "Lieutenant Sparx," she said. "How much do you know about flying a dreadnought?"
"Very little, general." He confessed. "Why?"
Anna's eyes narrowed on a second warship in their viewport. "See if you can at least turn this thing starboard," she said. "Then maximize the thrusters."
Blazer's eyes widened beneath his helmet. "Are you seriously gonna-"
"Yep," she grumbled. "This ends now."
Realizing what she had planned, Blazer activated his comlink. "Admiral Shang," he beckoned. "We're gonna need a pickup."
"Where's the extraction?" Shang asked.
"An escape pod," Anna thought in advance. "And tell anyone near that second dreadnought to fall back."
"Anna..." Shang uttered. "What exactly are you-" His heart sank as he watched the dreadnought change directions. Using the monitors at his disposal, Sparx had found a way to reroute the ship's trajectory. Shang hurriedly opened up comms and yelled, "This is Admiral Shang of the Legacy! All Republic craft, disengage the enemy now!"
Back aboard the enemy warship, its needlelike nose was now facing its counterpart. Sparx swiped across another screen and found engine commands. "S-...standing by," the lieutenant braced.
"Do it," Anna commanded without hesitation. From the moment Sparx maximized the thrusters, she immediately led her team off of the bridge. The entire dreadnought rumbled as it was propelled on a collision course. "Hurry!" Anna urged as her team ran to the nearest escape pod. She slammed a fist on the corresponding terminal and they poured into one.
"Launch it!" Blazer growled as the ship trembled around them.
Speedy tugged down on the ignition lever and propelled their pod into space. As they got clear of the dreadnought, Anna rushed towards the viewport for a closer look. She gritted her teeth, preparing herself for the tumultuous collision as one dreadnought pierced the other. Such a colossal vessel was enough to smash through the shields. The impact triggered a chain reaction of explosions and sent minor shockwaves rippling over Carida's upper atmosphere.
"Yes!" Blazer cheered while Anna breathed a sigh of relief.
"Karabast," Speedy gasped and dropped against the pod's wall. "That actually worked!"
Anna observed the comforting sight of the Legacy soaring over to retrieve them. "I don't believe it," Shang confessed over comms. "But I should know you better by now, Dellian. You actually pulled it off."
"This is surreal," Watcher added while observing her holocharts. "The Seps are routed. They're retreating!" As if on cue, the Republic's reinforcements had finally arrived. Three spare Star Destroyers rocketed out of hyperspace and solidified dominance over Carida. Like Watcher had observed, the remaining Separatist ships pulled back and made urgent jumps to lightspeed. "This is Watcher transmitting to all Republic comms. The day is ours!"
"I repeat," Watcher's transmission came over LAAT-5's speakers. "The day is ours!"
Civilians and clones alike rejoiced as Donz concluded his final trip. He delivered the remaining passengers to the academy, where Barriss was waiting with aid. As he set the gunship down, Donz finally let himself relax. He allowed his fingers to loosen on the controls as he reclined in his seat. Carida's frigid breeze blew through the cracks in his windscreen and chilled his rugged skin. Donz's mustache quivered as a new sensation took hold. It was one of the very freedoms he'd spoken to Frost about. And as the world numbed like his once aching torso...Donz drifted elsewhere. A blissful smile formed across his lips as the glare against his windscreen brightened. It flashed until it was almost blinding and the academy was no more.
The calming breeze intensified for Donz. Gone was the cramped, yet familiar cockpit of LAAT-5. Instead, he sat atop the cushioned seat of an illustrious starcruiser. His neatly-pressed, white uniform was as pristine as it was soft. He flew beyond the clouds, pushing every limit between speed and altitude. And then he saw it. The most beautiful network of constellations that anyone had ever seen. Stars so bright, they might as well have been crystals igniting across the void. They were all so precious, like the many lives he'd saved since the Battle of Geonosis. Donz didn't know exhaustion nor feel pain anymore. And as he soared through a symphony of stars, he listened for their song. The celestial harmony calling him home.
Toto took a deep breath and unbuckled from the co-pilot's seat. He removed his helmet and observed those celebrating in the hold. "I've met some persistent clones, sir," he huffed. "But your tenacity is unmatched." Toto's mild chuckle was short-lived under the pilot's heavy silence. "Sir?" he called to no avail. Setting his helmet down, Toto approached the pilot's cockpit. "Donz?" As he entered the chamber, he was immediately met by a chilling breeze. Toto stiffened at the sight of shattered glass and torn seating. As he tried to comprehend what had happened, the distinct holes in the windscreen fed his imagination. Toto recalled how the tri-fighters had strafed their gunship. And while Donz had said he was fine, the contrary was true. But unwilling to give up on trapped civilians, the old clone had kept flying...despite his injuries.
"Donz!" Toto gasped and practically threw himself at the pilot's seat. The ensuing commotion was enough to halt festivities in the hold and gather a crowd. "S-...sir?" the co-pilot uttered as he looked over his lifeless mentor. Several lasershots had traveled through the windscreen and into Donz's torso. The old clone's head rested back and his lips were slightly curled upward. Whenever his final moments had been, he looked as though he'd found peace. He'd be the only one to as tears swelled in Toto's eyes. "No...no, brother no...don't-" He could hardly utter another word as he teared up against the pilot's chest.
While Stel waited in the hold, Frost and Elsa went to check on the situation. Grief gripped them both as they observed the somber scene. Frost was as frustrated as he was saddened. Hanging his head in sorrow, he clenched his fists and uttered a series of sharp hisses. His shaking knuckles were soon met by Elsa's calming touch as she took his hand in hers. Comforting Frost just as he'd done for her, Elsa let the commander feel. He squeezed her hand before removing his helmet in anguish. Frost looked upon Elsa with reddened eyes, and only let the tears flow when she pulled him into embrace. Elsa clung to Frost as he cried against her shoulder. She would've held the commander as long as she needed to for him to feel whole again. And as she succumbed to the bonds around her, Elsa felt mournful to. She thought of how much Donz had done for them and already missed him so.
Commander Frost had assembled as many available members of the 213th as possible. Even Admiral Taka had taken it upon herself to leave the Deliverance and join the unit in a moment of grief. "Donz was a true...and dedicated brother," Frost lamented. He held the pilot's helmet close and ran his fingers along its sides. "Faithful, valiant...and selfless to the end." In accordance with Jedi mourning tradition, Elsa and Stel pulled their hoods up as Frost continued. "I spoke closely with Donz before he died," Frost said. "He told me how he'd served in many units since the start of this war, but none of them had ever become like a family. Not like the 213th. We were his closest brothers-..." Frost looked at Taka and Elsa. "-and sisters. So my only wish for all of us, is that we can live to earn his sacrifice.
Frost passed Donz's helmet to Toto. The newly-promoted pilot cradled the headgear like it was his mentor himself. The sense of grief around Elsa was overwhelming. She observed her somber troopers as they took part in a moment of silence for Donz. After hearing a sniffle from Stel, she knelt down to check on her Padawan. "I'm sorry that you had to experience the war this way," she whispered to him.
"Does it get any easier?" Stel asked and stared longingly into her eyes.
"Honestly?" Elsa began and bit her lip. "No. But you will endure. Just as we all shall. We'll get through this together." She gently rubbed his back and noticed the surrounding observers. While Luminara appeared unfazed, her Padawan seemed troubled. Elsa could sense a deep confusion within Barriss amidst such turmoil. The battle had taken its toll on each and every one of them. Yet despite the grueling conditions, Elsa had to ensure that their faith hadn't faltered. In order to do so, there was one answer she still needed to hear.
The city of Quobos lay in ruins. What hadn't been destroyed by the attacking droids was obliterated from Anna's endeavor. Although crashing two dreadnoughts into each other had led to the enemy's retreat, it'd also sent heaps of fiery wreckage raining down on the city below. Anna sat atop a ravaged observatory. Once a center for knowledge, the building had been reduced to nothing more than a ramshackle lookout point. She stared out at the ruined landscape as Sergeant Blazer approached from below.
"Gunship's here for us," he beckoned.
"You go on on ahead," Anna said. "I'm in no rush to get back. Victory or not, I'm sure Luminara has some choice words for me." Blazer tilted his head concernedly until Anna glared at him. "I'll be fine," she asserted. "You boys go ahead. I just...need some time." As Blazer and the other Deathchasers approached the gunship, they soon realized that it wasn't merely there to pick them up. As they boarded, Anna's sister disembarked.
Anna's Force senses were growing, and she'd come to better detect those closest to her. As Elsa's footsteps shuffled up the observatory's dusty stairs, Anna took a deep breath. "Here to lecture me?" she murmured and jabbed a hand at the destroyed city. "To tell me that this all could've been avoided if I offered the droids an oil bath?"
Elsa shook her head and dared to sit beside Anna. She took a moment to better compose herself and said, "We lost Donz. He was good man."
Anna pursed her lips and continued to observe the destruction. "I'm sorry to hear that," she whispered. "We lost a lot of good men to achieve victory today."
"Can we even call it that?" Elsa asked. "So much...death. Even if we saved thousands. Even if we still stand here ourselves. Can we truly say 'victory?'
"What else should we deem it?" Anna retorted. "How else can we possibly move on from this taking it any other way?"
"So it's about what you call it," Elsa deduced. "And that somehow justifies the destruction."
Anna's lips twitched into a scowl. "Sis, what exactly are you getting at here? What do you want from me?"
"The truth," Elsa said sternly. Those two words were enough to have Anna rising from her seat and tugging at her hair. "You're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve victory, but what does that mean?" Elsa pressed on. "That day on Ahch-To-" Anna winced as her sister continued. "-Dr. Morzetti...what really happened?"
"I told you she died."
"How? And don't tell me she killed herself because we both know that isn't true."
"Why is this so important you?" Anna scoffed.
"Why isn't it to you? That disregard frightens me. I am scared for you, Anna."
"Disregard?" Anna growled. "You're making me out to be some cold-blooded killer! Morzetti was a traitor and a terrorist!" Anna's intensity faltered when she noticed the teary look in Elsa's eyes. "What?"
"I never said you were any kind of killer," Elsa replied as Anna realized her slip. The youngest Dellian sulked while Elsa shook her head. "I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I really did."
"Look," Anna huffed. "I promise that it's not what it looks like." Elsa furrowed her brows as her sister elaborated. Anna's eyes trailed off as if searching for the memory. "Think of what that pale Hutt was planning. The race against time we had even with knowledge on our side. Knowledge I only acquired through questioning Morzetti."
"And how exactly did you question her?" Elsa asked.
Anna hung her head. "You've seen those Revenant cultists, Elsa. A devout member like Morzetti wasn't going to surrender. If I didn't push her, she was never going to tell us anything. About Scarif, about the hyper-nukes..."
"Anna," Elsa worried. "...what did you do?"
Her sister's eyes relaxed, sinking back into the grim moment. "I used the Force," Anna said with a sigh. And when she looked at Elsa, her unblinking stare was haunting. "It was slow," Anna spoke up. Her voice was cold and monotone. "I let her get just enough air to keep it going, hoping she'd talk. But her silence just brought more pressure. And so I squeezed again...and again. I squeezed until her body made all sorts of sounds. I was almost begging for her to say something. And with each strain, she started to break. I kept pushing for more information. As much as I could gather until-" Anna swallowed hard as Elsa looked on in horror. "-until I crushed her windpipe." Anna stood up once more and added, "Blazer tossed a thermal detonator to mask the scene. But sometimes if I don't distract myself enough, I still hear Morzetti's neck snapping. Her broken wheezes echo across my mind, and I only get by knowing how many people are alive because of my actions."
"Anna," Elsa barely uttered. "You...murdered her."
"Don't," Anna insisted, her voice cracking. "Not with this. Come at me with everything else but not with this." She raised a firm finger to her big sister. "Because I guarantee you that anything you have to scold me with about Morzetti...I've already told myself ten-fold. What happened was ugly. I'll be the first to tell you that. But it had to be done. We never would've learned about the hyper-nukes and millions would've died."
"You don't know that," Elsa intoned.
"I do!" Anna snapped. "Because if I don't, how the hell am I gonna sleep at night? What kind of kriffing torture is that?"
"We all have choices to make."
"You're right," Anna concurred. "And I made a damn difficult one. I took one life...in exchange for millions. What part of that do you not understand? Sometimes there isn't another way, sis. You want to live in this perfect world where everyone settles things with a handshake and no one dies. Where we can send a box of assorted cookies to Aren and that somehow ends planetary genocide." A single tear rolled down Elsa's cheek as Anna continued. "Believe it or not, I've come to respect your method of going about things. But that doesn't change the fact that someone has to get their hands dirty. If you tell anyone about what really happened to Morzetti, they'll probably still agree with me. Look at the riot back at the academy! Those people were never going to listen until someone pulled the trigger."
Elsa shook her head. "You're wrong," she whispered and Anna scoffed.
"Then keep living in your fantasy world, Elsa. Raise that Padawan of yours to believe the war hasn't become our way of life and see how well he copes in wartime. He's only okay because Blazer and I stopped the riot." Anna stomped up to Elsa and brought her voice down to an aggravated whisper. "He's not you," she added and stepped away.
"No," Elsa mumbled to herself. "He's better."
URGENT AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force" and the conclusion of the second anniversary special! Your support is always appreciated as readers and fans. And this why I trust you all to understand me with my current situation. I've entertained you all for 97 chapters now. From the moment a chapter premieres, I begin working on the next week's. I put a lot of time into these chapters, as the word count typically falls into nine thousand words or higher. This is the most I've ever written for a story and it's necessary to convey the adventure I have planned. If you're waiting a week to read the next chapter, you deserve a quality installment. This being said, here's the situation.
I won't sugarcoat it and I also don't mind being clear about things. 2022 has really been putting me to the test. My father has had Alzheimer's for some time, but his conditions have only worsened. So much so, that he can no longer live by himself and we've had some scares. I write these words as someone who is no stranger to loss. I've watched my mother and grandmother pass. When my brother passed, I don't think anyone was ready. I'm all my father has left in terms of a protector and guardian. I've been driving between cities to come and take care of him, all while trying to figure out a new living situation for him. Between this, managing a job I still need to keep, and of course being with my wife...let's just say it's been a lot. I'm a long term planner, but these days I really do have to take things one step at a time.
Because life is so unpredictable, my friends. So cherish it with who you have and how you live it. I literally just went from the COVID issue right into this, but someone has to do it. I'm telling you all of this because I want you to know who I am and how this story comes into play. My biggest pet peeve with fanfiction is seeing incomplete stories with no plan. And I do not, nor have I ever abandoned a story in my writing career. I will make contingencies, but I will never stop. I won't reveal this part for spoiler reasons, but "The Frozen Force" conclusion has already been planned since Season 1. And we have plenty of story to tell until then.
Now given my current circumstances, I have been bouncing between family members, medical consultants, and barely any time for my own life. Sadly, this means that I do not have much time to write. And I REFUSE to release an unfinished chapter or something I didn't put full effort into. If you've been reading this story for a while, you know that I will never sacrifice quality for quantity. Especially when other things come up. So for the time being, I would like to initiate a contingency plan.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT FROZEN FORCE CHAPTER WILL PREMIERE IN TWO WEEKS ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH.
Under this plan, it will give me at least two weeks to find whatever time I can for myself. We did this when I had to undergo work training last year as well. Now hopefully a spare week with my father is all I need. Because If I'm being honest with you, I don't want to update every other week. I want to do every week because I need to write. Writing is as much my therapy as it is my happy place. So while I put this plan into action now, I can only hope that those reading this have a better understanding of me. I have nothing to hide. I'm doing my best to accommodate everyone and everything without sacrificing a story I love so much. I appreciate all of you. If anyone is still confused or has any questions about what's going on, you can message me in these ways and I'll be happy to talk things over:
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No matter what is happening, I will tell you this...we will endure. No matter the trials of life, we will endure. The only way "The Frozen Force" stops before its time is if something really bad happens to me. *knocks on wood* I will never abandon it and I'm here to entertain all of you.
May the Force be with us all. Cherish your lives, one breath at a time...
~ Michael