Chapter 43 - Burning sands (1/2)
Part 1
Kelrx'Po
Geonosis
It was just a small village, build around an oasis in the midst of one of this wretched world's deserts. A bunch of stone shacks surrounding a patch of rocky ground, which had a depression housing a well.
It wasn't supposed to be a real obstacle. Just a speed-bump at best.
The locals had other ideas.
The supposedly harmless village now housed a shield generator, covering everything withing ten kilometer radius from orbital bombardment. To make matters worse, the place was situated directly in the route the Caamasi Lancers and their Ryloth Ranger auxiliaries were ordered to clear.
They were facing no light forces meant to simply slow down the Republic advance and that had Colonel Pell glaring through the image enhancer built in his helmet. Even from his position, lying on the top of a tall sand dune, twelve kilometers from the shield's edge, he could see more than enough.
There were hundreds of dug in Sep tanks, at least two divisions worth of the buggers. Trench lines criss-crossed the desert, housing thousands of droids and locals. Groups of the insectoids were patrolling, buzzing overhead their comrades on stubby wings.
The kriffing bastards had artillery too, the barrel's of which bȧrėly cleared the depression in the center of the village.
”Any ideas?” Pell asked the handful of officers and NCOs who were with him.
”Attacking them directly is out of the question.” His XO grunted. ”They will shoot us to pieces before we reach the shield, while we have to cross anything from seven to ten kliks. Whatever remains to actually engage the enemy will be easily dispatched.”
”We can't wait for the navy pukes to our jobs either. It will take days and the whole area will be turned into molten rock.” The most senior NCO of the Caamasi Lancers added his two credits.
No one suggested just leaving the stronghold in their rear areas even if they could afford sufficiently powerful blocking force.
”Major.” Pell turned to the sole clone on the dune.
”Sir?”
”How many of those new stealth armors do you have?”
”A company worth of them, sir.”
”I see.” The Colonel smiled. ”We'll need to create a distraction for them.”
”A commando raid to take out the shield?”
”Or preferably the artillery too.” The Caamasi officer nodded. ”This is what we are going to do...”
Planetary shield generator complex
Geonosis
Shaak Ti rolled forward, just in time to avoid a concentrated beam of coherent light, which tried to cut her in two. The air above her hissed as heavy blaster bolts seared through it, before slamming into the beam turret that was targeting her. The Jedi Master used the Force to brake herself a moment before the ensuring explosion sent a shock-wave down the corridor. Fire and shrapnel rained over the invisible energy protecting her, deflecting or splashing harmlessly over the Force.
Armored boots thundered behind her and the heavy weapons teams advanced towards the next obstacle in their path.
Shaak Ti frowned when a hand was trust at her to help her stand up. She looked up and the frown deepened when she saw the Chiss woman. The Sith apprentice had fought next to her for the past quarter hour, ever since they started the ȧssault into the bowels of the command center itself. The younger woman had fought more precisely and less insane once they were inside.
It didn't help her case much. She still reeked of the Dark Side.
For a moment, Shaak Ti hesitated, before she grabbed the offered hand and the Chiss helped her up. She wasn't going to be the one to act as an uncivilized savage. She was a Jedi after all and they were held to a higher standards.
Two crimson eyes stared at the Jedi Master.
”What's your problem, anyway?” The Chiss asked and went after the clones without waiting for an answer.
Yet, she didn't voice it as a concern. Because it was something that her Togruta nature approved very much of, even if she was usually able to suppress it thanks to her Jedi training.
”Lance Actual, Charlie One. We have a mechanized column approaching. All orbital ȧssets are tasked at the moment. Please advice. Over.”
”Charlie One, Lance Actual. Slow them down. Are there any bomber or gunship units available to soften them up? Over.”
”Negative, Lance Actual.”
”Don't allow them to enter the complex proper, Charlie One. We'll joint you once the Mountain is secure. Over.”
”Willco, Lance Actual. Over.”
”Is there a problem?” The Chiss woman appeared next to Shaak Ti, startling her. The damn Sith had suppressed her Force signature. On purpose, Shaak Ti was sure. A growl emanated from the back of the Jedi's throat, before she could get herself back under control. The fact that the other woman had the gall to smirk at her wasn't helping either.
”We'll have more company soon. We need to take this building, now.”
”Then try not to slow us down, oh great Jedi...” The Chiss grinned mischievously and sprinted into the dept of the facility, towards the sound of explosions and blaster shots.
=RK=
Anaxxian Rangers lead elements
Sixty kliks south of LZ ”Kyber”
Geonosis
”Intel said nothing about that!” A young Second Lieutenant shouted from the shallow depression in the sand he was using as a cover.
”I told you… sir. Intel usually can't find their ȧsses with written instructions in hand and an astro-mech to lead the way.” The gunnery sergeant, who was the NCO unfortunate enough to babysit the brand new LT, grunted from behind a nearby dune.
The grizzled old soldier shot a local who flew in his direction. Then he rolled down the dune, bȧrėly avoiding a barrage of the green stuff that the kriffing insects loved so much.
”That” was an apparent network of tunnels which the locals had used to a great effect. The damn critters had appeared in the mid of a Ranger column, announcing their presence with the detonation of a few well placed explosive devices, before they swarmed the Anaxxians. The damn insects were right amidst them, making an orbital or even an air-strike a no go. While there were elements of the other columns swinging their way to help, those soldiers wouldn't be there in time.
At least a third of the APCs in the column were already burning, most destroyed along with the people who they were supposed to protect. The rest had broken from the orderly advance, disgorging angry Rangers in the process.
A group of Geonosians buzzed over the scattering column, shooting at anything that moved. They blasted apart a squad of Anaxxians, before the favor was returned by the turret of an APC.
Then an air-mobile unit appeared, adding to the slaughter. Lances of green light cut through groups of locals, while laser cannons reduced others to chunks of cooling chitin. Armored clones started rappelling down, shooting at any native they could see. A moment later they were joined by General Kenobi, who jumped from a LAAT, igniting his lightsaber in mid air, before landing into a group of natives who were using a pair of burning APCs as cover. Obi-Wan's blue blade danced as he glided through the Soresu forms, avoiding or deflecting everything the Geonosians were able to throw his way.
It was all over as fast as it began. The surviving natives scattered, slithering back into their tunnels. When the last went in, they detonated pre-placed charges, collapsing the entrances.
”Cody, find who is in charge of this mess and give me a sit-rep.” The general paused. ”This is Kyber Command, Kyber Actual. Slow down the advance and intensify recon runs. Be advised, the enemy has build tunnel networks in the AO. I want ground-penetrating scans of the area. Send med-evac to my position. Kyber Actual, Over.”
=RK=
CIS Death Bringer
Third Fleet Flagship
Hyperspace
”Well, that could have gone better.” Count Dooku muttered. He was browsing the last transmission from Geonosis before Republic jamming cut off communications from that system.
Instead… this. Before comms were jammed for good, a report on the situation was sent out. The CIS fleet had been all but annihilated, with low to moderate casualties for the Republic. The enemy had been moving on the fixed defenses, preparing to reduce them along with what little mobile forces remained in system.
Dooku grind his teeth. It was an unmitigated disaster. Oh, not in military terms, despite the great victory the Republic had apparently won in space. Just in a few weeks those numbers would be made up for by new construction. However, the Confederation had lost its momentum. They no longer could afford new offensives, unless they wanted to open themselves for potentially devastating counter-attacks.
At least in that respect, Geonosis was still working. It would tie up the victorious Republic fleet and a lot of their ground forces until it was reduced. And that would take months.
More than enough time for the CIS to leverage their advantages and make sure that the Republic wouldn't be able to make a good use of their own.
That still left Dooku with his real problem. He was en-route to a high level meeting of the CIS leadership, which would decide who actually ruled the Confederacy for the foreseeable future. After his capture and the series of disasters which started with that madness on Naboo, his position was far from secure. While Dooku could simply slaughter the imbeciles who thought that they had an authority over a Sith Lord, that wasn't a viable alternative. It could lead to the CIS fracturing and that would leave them as easy pickings for the ascendant Republic war machine.
As distasteful as it was, the Sith actually needed the sniveling cowards and bootlickers that made up most of the CIS council. For now.
The Sith Lord returned his attention to the computer terminal built in his desk and continued writing the kriffing speech he was to give, while his mind was busy planning how to charm or intimidate the various CIS leaders into supporting him and his master.
=RK=
Republic Assault Cruiser ”Hope”
Task Force Firewatch
En Route to the Outer Rim
Hyperspace
”Are you insane?” One of the new soldiers ȧssigned to her command all but screamed.
The new commander of Havoc squad fixed the man with a look that made him shut the kriff up.
”We have our orders. This 'Republic' has sent a black-ops team to the facility in question. You've all been briefed what's in that kriffing place. We are to eliminate the Commando teams that will attempt to breach the facility, retrieve a sample so our scientist can try creating an antidote.”
”Then we torch the place?” Another of the new members of her unit asked hopefully.
”Yes. We'll be lugging in enough thermal charges to evaporate the facility. Anyway, the Navy will burn the place once we are out. Just in case.” The woman nodded. ”Now go familiarize yourselves with the new equipment. Captain Dorne, stay.” The woman ordered.
When the other eight soldiers were out of the briefing room, only the last two original members of Havoc that remained.
”Ma'am?”
”Don't give me that, old friend.” The other woman slumped back in her chair and nodded Elara to sit. ”You've been briefed on what we are really after, aren't you.”
”I'm the medical officer in the squad.” Dorne shrugged, a ghost of a frown marring her face.
”This is probably the nastiest thing we've ever had to deal with.”
”It makes you think, doesn't it?” Elara looked around, raising an eyebrow.
”The room is clean. I had our mechanical friend sweep it before the meeting and I have a suppressor active.” The Major nodded at the desk she was sitting behind.
”It's a sheer madness. What the general wants...” Dorne trailed off.
”You are afraid that the sample we are supposed to retrieve will be deployed.”
”We gave our oaths to protect the republic and her citizens. What we've been doing lately...” Elara shrugged. ”Even if this is no longer the Republic we swore to protect.” She looked at the ground.
”I've had misgivings for some time. Ever since we lost almost all from Aegis on Naboo.”
”And the whole deploying of bio-weapons doesn't bother you?” Elara snapped.
”You know it does!” The Major grunted in frustration. ”What do you want me to do?! This is no longer our galaxy! It's not like we can defect after what the general did on Naboo and Coruscant! You know how this works! They will use us until we tell them anything of value the we'll be made an example of as kriffing terrorists!”
”I know.” Elara muttered. ”The fact that they made that man a general in their Army is bad enough.”
”Yeah. I never thought that the Butcher of Onderon would be on the 'Republic' side. That by itself is almost enough to justify what we've been doing.”
”Kriffing Sith! He should have died ages ago!”
”Us too, if you want to be technical about it.”
=RK=
Part 2
Coruscant's Pride crash location
Geonosis
”Kriff, what a mess...” Fixer muttered.
The cruiser appeared to be in one piece. Mostly. Twisted shards of the bow armor littered the length of a rather long patch of torn up and burning desert, where the ship first struck the ground and skidded over the sands until it came to a stop. The visible upper hull was blackened and twisted, with nasty looking gorges of molten armor where various weapons had struck the downed ship. One of the command towers was sheared in the middle and burning. The fire's black smoke was acting like a beacon for both the rescue party dispatched by the general and the locals, who were swarming the wreck. Squadrons of spacefighters were dueling with their native, air-breathing counterparts, vying for air superiority. Even from this height, Boss could see a lot of the locals buzzing over the superstructure of the downed cruiser, seeking entrance into the ship. Here and there, pockets of survivors were active, trying to deny the enemy a certain breach into the hull.
”At least a few made it.” Sev noted.
”Task force Dagger, Delta Actual. You know our orders. Secure Skywalker, get as many of the survivors clear and get out of here so the fleet can glass the site.” Boss spoke over the general frequency for his expanded command.
”We have armored column approaching nine o'clock.” The pilot informed them.
”Sick Vega flight on them. Loren Actual, Delta Actual. Third platoon, Loren company, are with Delta. We are landing on the remaining command tower. Use the rest of your company to secure that breach near its base and start SAR from there.”
”Wilco, Delta Actual. Red Three Actual is at your disposal.” A calm voice came over the comm, giving Boss a pause. The speaker wasn't one of his brothers. It took him a moment to remember that half of the people participating in this particular exercise weren't clones.
The Clone commander returned his attention at the holotank built in the middle of the LAAT transport. He zoomed out and could see the whole AO, with the friendly and enemy forces represented by blue and red icons. He saw the bombers from Vega Squadron making an attack run over what appeared to be enemy armor. Moments later a lot of the land locked red symbols disappeared along with those of two bombers after a bunch of enemy craft pounced on them. A few seconds later, a group of interceptors vectored on the enemy fighters and blew them out of the sky.
They haven't landed yet and it was already a bloodbath.
”There is a breach just below the command deck of the tower.” The pilot announced.
”We'll use it. Better than blowing our way in.” Scorch added his two credits. ”That place already took a lot of beating. I would prefer not to blow up any more of it than we need.” The demo expert was looking on a holographic image of the command tower produced by the computer built in the left arm of his new armor.
”Get us as close as you can. We'll lead the way with the regulars moving in behind us.” Boss saidand relied the command to Third platoon.
A large blue symbol appeared near the top of the holotank. A Corellian frigate was rather low, coming in for a strafing run over some enemy position in the vicinity. Her secondaries were busy erasing groups of the local's air-breathers as she passed above the battlefield. A few seconds later, flashes of light and rising mushroom clouds could be seen at various points over the horizon.
”We'll be in position in twenty.” The pilot informed his cargo.
”You heard the man. Ready to deploy.” Boss ordered, removing his eyes from the holotank. He took a position near the sliding door of the transport and removed his blaster for the magnetic clamp on his back.
Moments later, the LAAT came to a halt which was bȧrėly felt thanks to the inertial dampeners. The door slid open and the clones scanned for enemies. Seeing none, they jumped over the meter separating the transport and a jagged hole blown in the side of the command tower. Fixer was first, landing lightly on the armored deck of the cruiser and moving in to make space for his brothers. The rest of the commandos followed suit and their ride flew away, making room for the next bird which carried the first two squads from Third platoon.
Delta Squad didn't wait for the reinforcement and headed for the nearest entrance point for the deck above them. The regulars would secure start securing the rest of the tower while they checked on the obsolete command center overhead. According to the last info they got, Skywalker was likely to be there. Or at leas he was before the cruiser started crash landing.
=RK=
”That's new.” Fixer muttered as he looked over the trashed command center.
”It's a first too.” Boss nodded next to him.
The topic of their conversation was lying on the middle of the compartment in a bloody heap, while Scorch and Fixer were tending to him.
”Fleet Command, Delta Actual. We have the package and need a med evac for him. SAR for the rest of the crew is in progress. Will advice on estimated time frame when available, over.” Boss reported to his superiors.” He returned his attention to his squad. ”As for you, stop tempting fate. We aren't out of this mess yet. Red Three Actual, Delta Actual. We have the package. Sent a squad to secure him at the Command Center at the top of the tower and continue securing the rest of the structure.”
=RK=
Command Center
Planetary Shield Generator Complex
Geonosis
”Master Ti! You finally arrived!” HK-117 exclaimed with what sounded like a disappointment. ”I was just starting to really enjoy myself.” The ȧssassin droid added as an afterthought. ”Master Astra! You survived as well.” The machine added when the Chiss woman waved at it.
Instead of answering, Shaak Ti was struck speechless as she watched the slaughter house in which Veil's pet mechanical psychopath had turned the command center. There were steaming chunks of the locals strewn all over the place, mixed with pieces of destroyed electronics. Not to mention the big armored Geonosians who appeared to have been cut apart by vibroblades.
Noticing the way she was looking around, HK beamed. ”This is one of my better works, I have to admit.” The droid declared smugly. It tilted his head to the side and asked, ”Is something wrong?”
Shaak Ti simply glared at the ȧssassin. She had the feeling that at best he would brush off any objections she had for the way he dealt with the enemy personnel. Besides, the Jedi Master had the sneaking suspicion that Veil would support his pet's course of action and anyone but another Jedi would simply shrug if she started bitching about it right now.
Needless to say, the Sith in the room appreciated the lesson in butchery, destruction and overall mayhem, if her grin was anything to go by. Even worse, the clones who had entered after the pair of Force Adepts were unfazed by the sight. She could feel that the slaughter hadn't disturbed them in the least.
”Well talk about this...” Shaak Ti waved at the smoking remains of the command center, ”Later. Make sure that this building is of no use for the CIS. We'll be either leaving or entrenching this position shortly.”
”I'll make sure the place is trashed.” The Sith announced and left the room, laving a squad of demo experts to follow her.
”I'll go have fun… Ahem, hunt down enemy stragglers in the building.” HK said and cloaked, becoming invisible.
”Command, This is...” Shaak Ti started reporting the situation in her AO. She needed to know if relief forces could reach her on time. If they didn't, she and the shock troopers would have to disengage and make it to friendly lines.
=RK=
Kelrx'Po
Geonosis
”Well, kriff.” Colonel Pell muttered.
He could hear the sharp retorts of blasters behind the distant enemy positions. Moments later, that was followed by blue tinted explosions which lit up the night. The officer didn't need his binocular to see the shield covering the enemy slowly dissipating, which only added to the light show.
Now he needed to extract the special forces which were in the middle of the CIS controlled village.
”Soren Actual, This is Theta Actual. Drop the hammer on the following coordinates...” The Colonel proceeded to feed targeting information for the Ion canons of the cruisers in orbit corresponding to the dug in armor and infantry surrounding the village. The settlement itself was to remain largely intact. He wasn't ready to write off his only stealth capable special forces.
Soon enough the desert was lit up by azure lighting as the Ion charges struck the dug in enemy. The trenches were no protection for the Ion radiation which slagged electronics even before the energy buildup in the air started producing lighting which arched between tanks and individual droids, tearing the later apart. The battalion of locals spread through the machine's lines fared little better. The lighting found a lot of them, frying the insectoid aliens where they stood. More than a half of the force stationed there died, with most of the survivors suffering from second and third degree burns.
By the time the Ion energy started dissipating, there weren't enough CIS forces left to slow down a platoon, much less the Caamasi divisions that were ready to jump them.
In the village itself, the situation was different. They were out of the immediate kill radius of the bombardment, yet droids and various other tech on the outskirts were rendered useless with power surges making the life of those in the center difficult. That included both the Clone troopers attached to this prong of the offensive as well as their CIS counterparts.
In one fell sweep, the situation of the infiltrators went from a successful suicide mission to merely rather precautions.
Fifteen kilometers away, colonel Pell waited for a few minutes so the energy from the orbital strike could discharge before he gave the order to advance.
Dozens of heavy tanks roared to life and charged towards the decimated enemy lines. They were followed by their light brethren, which acted as both a screening force and flank protection. A short distance behind them, the heavies were followed by a swarm of APCs and AFVs, ready to provide support when needed.
While his regiment advanced on the weakened enemy, colonel Pell returned his attention to planning the next move of his forces. They still had to cross hundreds of kilometers before reaching their real target.
=RK=
CIS Command Center
Location Classified
Geonosis
”So we are cut off.” Sev'rance Tann glared at the large holotank in the middle of the room.
Her special unit had been dispatched to this dust ball a few weeks ago on a special mission from Count Dooku himself. While their task was successfully accomplished, their number was cut in nearly half and they were stuck here. The fact that the Republic controlled the orbitals and eagerly shot down anyone trying to escape, made her job much harder that it needed to be. She had information that had to reach her master, yet she was cut off with all outgoing transmissions being jammed.
”Well, at least you have control over this sector of the planet.” Forge grunted. Beside herself, the Mandalorian mercenary was the only one who got out mostly intact from the mess they found themselves in. That was a testament of his combat skills and the effectiveness of his custom build armor.
”That's not reassuring. This is the primary target for the Republic forces. If it wasn't for the redundant shields protecting us, we would have been evaporated yesterday.” The Dark sider grumbled.
”Forge, go and check on the defensive lines. I want recommendation on how to improve them. I'll find out what we have to work with.” And try finding a way out of this rock went unsaid. With the destruction of the fleet, it was unlikely that a relief force would be send any time soon.
”I'm on it, boss.” The merc left her with the sorry remnants of her hand picked team.
Besides Forge, only a pair of Commando droids were combat capable at this time… after they were fixed in the shop during the night. The rest of the survivors, while patched up, weren't going to be fighting in the next week or so.
”You two, I want you to bring the prototype droids up to Commando standards programing wise.”
”Roger, Ma'am.” The Droid with Captain's paint on it's head and shoulders answered, before saluting and leaving the command center.
That left her alone with one of the highest ranking locals on the planet.
”It wont be enough.” The being said in it's clicking language.
”Of course not. All defensive plans hanged on keeping at least a part of the fleet intact to harass the enemy space presence if not wining outright. After the debacle yesterday, all we can do is to slow them down, bleed the Republic forces and keep them died down for as long as possible.” Sev'rance stated.
”In that case, I have some preparations to make.” Poggle said and made his way out of the building.
=RK=
Part 3
General Veil's quarters
Republic Cruiser Chimera
First Assault Fleet Flagship
High Orbit over Geonosis
Awareness came back slowly. My instinctive reaction of reaching to the Force made my coming back to the world of the living rather unpleasant. Painful even.
Oh, yeah. I overdid it with the kriffing Battle Meditation. That was unpleasant even if it worked.
It did, right?
Ah. Yeah. We won the battle. My mind finally started working and I recalled what happened. Including that very vivid dream of my former Master, who was supposed to be dead. Of the deal we made. I carefully opened my eyes and looked around. Yep, this were my quarters on board Pellaeon's ship.
The only question was why the hell did that dream feelso real? Was the Force or that infernal woman who got me stuck here in the first place, playing games with my head? On a second thought, never mind. The Force has been trying to krifff me up royally ever since I knew her touch, damn irritating Dark Side.
I closed my eyes and carefully touched the Force. This time it was merely unpleasant instead of downright painful. It took me some time to check up onmy shields. The feeling of death, pain and misery that came with a planetary scale war were kind of distracting. A part of me was quite enjoying itself as I soaked the disturbing feeling coming from the world below me. It took me a few minutes to center myself and start reestablishing my shields which were rather frayed after last night's excitement.
The smug satisfaction coming from the Dark Side as it grew stronger from the war didn't make it any easier even if it have me more raw power to work with.
Still, I finally got myself under control and started checking up for Force Bonds.
First I sensed the vague familiar presence of my newest apprentice. Huh. Aria was bored, which was good. It must meant that she and my Shock Trooper regiment managed to do their job. Knowing her, Astra wouldn't be this calm if the mission to take out the Shield Generator Complex was unsuccessful.
Of course, the best news was that my apprentice felt all right, unharmed.
I sent her my approval through the bond and clamped on it on my side so I could continue my search undisturbed by the excitable Sith I was training.
A few moments later I was able to sense another bond, a bit weaker and older.
Whatever Jaybo was doing back on Corellia, the kid was quite excited, downright happy even. So leaving him temporally with the Green Jedi there appeared to be a good decision on my part.
After patting myself on the back for that idea, I continued my search.
This time it took longer, the connection I was looking for was ethereal, almost non-existent thing. If I wasn't specially looking for it, the kriffing thing would have slipped past my attention. It was too fickle, weak for me to follow it, yet that wasn't really necessary right now.
The very existence of that bond was important.
I opened my eyes, returning my attention firmly to the here and now. No apprentice worth their salt, no matter if they were Sith or even this era's Jedi, would fail to recognize the Force Bond with their Master.
Darth Kriffing Zash was somehow alive, if that word could be used for her body hopping state.
It took me a few moments of loud Huttese curses to calm down.
Damn it to all Corellian Hells, wasn't my life complicated enough already?! Kriff!
Zash herself I could easily ignore until this war was over. It wasn't like I haven't done it before, even when she had the power over me to try torturing me to death. It was the kriffing deal we made in that ”dream”. I needed to wrap up this battle and visit the Jedi Temple's Archives. I had to find a few answers about the past before deciding what to do with Zash.
For all I knew, she was desperate and lying through her teeth, even if I didn't recall any deception on her part.
I stood up, too abruptly for comfort and nearly fell on my ȧss. Damn, my balance was shot too. I took a deep breath, steadied myself and carefully made my way to the fresher.
=RK=
A hot shower made me feel somewhat better. At least good enough to drag myself to medical for some self medication. I apparently looked as bad as I felt, if the looks random clones and other ȧssorted Navy personnel gave me while I was shambling through Chimera's corridors.
Soon enough, I was at the blast doors separating the last part of the way and the main medical bay of the ship.
They were conspicuously closed and had a squad of Clones wearing the new medium armors guarding the entrance. That was surprising. Did my boys catch someone important while I was napping?
”Sergeant, report.” My voice sounded like gravel. Joy.
”General, sir!” The NCO in charge of the squad stood straighter, but didn't get to attention, neither moved his weapon from pointing loosely at my midsection. Good man.
”We have Skywalker in custody, General. Per Commodore Pellaeon's orders, the ship is under maximum security while he is on board, sir. I'll need to scan you before allowing you entry, sir.”
Despite feeling like a shit I grinned. I doubted that if I ordered them to jut let me in, they would listen… Something that their still brainwashed brethren would do in a heartbeat, considering that I was the ranking officer in the fleet. It was good to see indication that consigning a lot of time and effort to deprogramming the Clones under my command was effective.
One day that may very well save my ȧss.
I stood still while a Corporal ran a hand held scanner over me, confirming that I wasn't someone or something wearing my face.
”Sir, you are free to enter.” The Sergeant sounded relieved.
”Carry on.” I said with an approving smile and passed into the med bay after one of the clones opened the doors.
Inside I found another two squads guarding a single Bacta tank in the far corner of the compartment. The device was pointedly placed in such a way as to be as far from the two entrances to medical as possible.
Going by what I was sensing from the Clones, Skywalker had blown all the goodwill he would ever have with them after his stunt.
I had to pause for a moment to rein in my anger. While initially Anakin did show some forethought by loading all but a skeleton crew no everything but three Venators, in the end he made it pointless by using one of them as a projectile to take out a battle station and the other as a shield for his own ship.
That reminded me, I needed to check up on what survived from 501stamong other things.
I shook my head, which was beginning to pound, and went to a nearby lab station, ignoring the medics who were giving me concerned looks.
”Unless one of you is familiar with treating Force burnout, you can carry on.” I grumbled.
Now what exactly did I need for the kriffing witch's brew I was going to make and then drink?
While most of my attention was on the task at hand, I glanced at one of the Clone medics, who was hovering nearby. Probably in case I managed to poison myself or something.
”What's the status of the casualties? Do you folks have all that you need to take care of them?”
”We've got sufficient manpower and supplies, general. The casualties have been considerably lighter than expected. Actually we have you to thank about that.”
”What did I do?” I asked absent-mindedly while stirring a chemical ċȯċktail and carefully infusing it with the Force.
”Your orders for orbital interdiction of any enemy military target, with disregard for collateral damage. Our casualties are an order of magnitude less than expected.”
”That's the way it should be. Unless you're retaking one of your own worlds, you have no business throwing an army against a planet without a liberal application of orbital firepower.”
Unless you wanted your military casualties for the campaign to get in the dozens of millions… if you had such a manpower to waste in the first place.
I almost missed the good old days before both the Old Republic and the Empire started deploying planetary shields during the cold war. Before that, ȧssaulting a planet was much less bloody for the attacking side if they had space superiority.
Ah, it was mostly ready… I beamed at the bubbling and smoking concoction. It had a nasty gray-green color and the less said about the taste the better.
At least it should make sure that I'll be in my right mind soon so I can start dealing with the battle unfolding down below.
”What in the name of all that's unholy is this?!” Admiral Yularen, who had came in while I was distracted, exclaimed.
”Medicine.” I deadpanned and took a sip, promptly coughing out most if it. The kriffing thing started hissing and eating through the deck.
The Admiral just stared at me open mouthed.
”It needs a bit more stabilizer.” I coughed and started rummaging through the lab station.
”And I thought that the Jedi were bad enough...” Yularen muttered.
”What did they do this time?”
”Besides protesting our conductplanet side?”
”As long as they follow the damn orders and don't get our people killed, they can protest to their heart's content.” I said while liberally seasoning my drink with arsenic.
Ah, there was nothing like kludged Sith Alchemy to make of kriff up one's day.
I took another sip. It was terrible, in top five of the nastier things I've tried though nowhere near the top. Then again, those were the hazards I once had to brave as Zash's ȧssistant slash Guinea pig.
”Is this an elaborate suicide attempt or something?” Yularen was back to his usual self.
”It's necessary if I'm to be useful in a few hours instead of inside a week. What do I need to know?”
The Admiral shrugged, probably dismissing my antics as the price of working with space wizards. ”It's been eventful since you went for your beauty sleep. Which didn't work, if you're wondering. You do look rather terrible.” He gave me a small smile.
”I feel worse.”
Another sip. This time I managed to give Yularen a sick smile in attempt to show him I was already getting better.
He gave me a long suffered look and shook his head, muttering something about kriffing maniacs thinking they're generals. A grumble later and he had his business face on. ”The situation is fluid. While so far we're ahead of schedule, the locals did spring more than a few nasty surprises, which account for most of our losses...” Yularen started explaining.
With a bit of luck, I would have an understanding of the situation by the time I started recovering.
=RK=
Interlude: Resident insane scientists, Part I