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Chapter 109:

My legion was the first to land on Geonosis. 

It was actually my first engagement. Practically got out of the tank and straight into that… that month long hell. 

I was put in Master Windu’s 187th; hadn’t met the man before we deployed.

The surprising thing was just how bloody fast that deployment came. Most of us thought we’d have at least a few more hours or days once we won the initial orbital engagement; planet this important should have had a planetary shield to bomb through.

But the corps went cheap. At least… that’s what the higher ups say.

Me… I think sometimes they wanted us on the ground. Droids and bugs. They didn’t care how many they lost as long as we lost just as much. 

It was a nightmare.

First landing was hell. We picked an isolated stretch of desert. Good place to land, set up a base and some defenses, and push out from there. In theory, anyway.

We were under attack before our boots ever touched sand. 

I heard the 212th under Kenobi and some of the others that landed in different spots were just as screwed as we were, but I can’t say. All I can say is what I saw on my end of things. 

The droids attacked with rapid response units, trying to kill us as we were coming out of the damn gunships and landing pods. Speeders, modified transport tanks, Hailfire tanks- the ones that are just two karkin wheels with rockets strapped onto them! Two bloody wheels!

Feh.

Either way… it was a slugfest from the very first minute. 

Two of my brothers died jumping out of the gunship. One of them didn’t even manage to jump at all.

From there, I just started shooting.

Aim didn’t really matter. You could shoot straight into the sky and probably hit something. That’s how many there were.

It was all madness.

Honestly, if the Jedi hadn’t been there, I’m pretty sure we’d all be dead.

We landed with almost fifty of them. Jedi, I mean. Not sure how many were Masters or Knights, didn’t really bother to ask.

I just noticed Master Windu first. Purple sword is hard to miss, thank the Force or whatever. 

Stuck to him like the white on my armor. 

That’s probably the reason I’m alive right now. 

Let me tell ya, I hear so many of my brothers say that Dallon is the Jedi’s strongest.

I don’t know about that.

Cause if Windu isn’t their strongest, I can’t even imagine what qualifies. 

They threw everything they had at him. 

B1s, B2s, the bugs, the tanks.

Even Vultures. I saw that man yank one of those right out of the sky to crash it into a line of tanks.

He punched one of those Jedi Hunter droids to pieces.

Can you imagine that? Punching a droid to pieces?

Karkin hilarious in hindsight. 

I can’t tell you how long we fought in that pit. I know men kept dropping in behind us, just a constant stream of reinforcements. Eventually we got armor support. Eventually we got a comm link that could cut through the jamming and get orbital support. 

Eventually, they told me the landing battle lasted for three hours.

Three Hours.

If they’d said three days, I’d have believed that more.

  • Recording Interview:

  • Subject:Trooper CT-122

  • Codename Boxer

  • Records of Geonosis

Initial plans said that all troops were to be deployed within three days of taking Orbital from them. 

We were called to drop on day six. 

The Orbital war wasn’t goin to plan. The Jedi, for once, wanted to press the attack. To push forward, and they were. The Corellians though, they wanted to defend their Praetors. Bring em back online. The ships were valuable; they’d lost one. They didn’t want to lose three.

So they were defending em.

The enemy commander was making them, us really, pay for it. 

With the Corellians defending the Praetors until they were fixed, the Jedi could only sortie out reinforcements in chunks. At least that’s how I hear it. One wave, then another and another and another. A million in one wave, three in the next. All dropping onto high priority areas about to break to shore up the damage. Stop the bleedin.

Bleedin; yeah.  Cause even on a ship, with a whole stretch of atmosphere and sky between us, we could still hear word from the ground.

It was hell.

A grind of army against army, bleedin’ for every inch of ground we took. Droids and Bugs. Droids and Bugs. 

I didn’t envy my brothers down there.

Some days I wanted to join them. To help.

Others… selfish as it is, as much as I hate myself for it… better them than me was a thought that passed through this treacherous mind of mine. 

But yeah. Day Six.

We were set to help a Jedi Master named Voss. His 409th were trying to break through a defensive line, finally breach it and take an anti orbital gun that had been absolutely tearing ships apart. 

They were bogged down. A fresh wave of troops from orbit with Jedi support was supposed to be the last hammer blow to crack that shield. 

Simple; straightforward. Right?

Only problem is, literally as I’m steppin on the karkin gunship- orders changed for a few of us.

We were still droppin- still trying to take the orbital gun- only now I get a piece of tech shoved into my chest and orders are to get that beacon within a hundred meters of the target.

No reason given, no explanation. Do the Job. I get it. 

So I strap this thing to myself, no idea if its a targeting beacon or a dinner bell- I just know what my job is; praying that high command didn’t just give me the ONE that they had, ya know. 

I keep tellin myself, I have a job. I have a responsibility. That I can’t fail. Sittin in that gunship, trying to get my head on straight.

Much as I tried… I don’t think I could have really changed that sinking feeling I got in my gut… all the pressure; ya know? Even if its just in your imagination, you feel like all your brothers are watching you now. Cause YOU’VE got the job. And if you mess up, its them you’re lettin down.

Almost makes me sick now just remembering it.

Hrn- anyway… Like I said, I wasn’t sure how many of these beacons they handed out, but I remember praying that they weren’t stupid enough to just give out one

Silver lining, we weren’t being cut loose to the wolves. The fleet, not sure if it was the Corellian’s or the Jedi diverted five Acclamators to punch through the atmosphere and provide close range support.

We were still getting on those gunships and pods, though. Had to, couldn’t risk losing everyone on a ship if it went down.

So on the gunships we went. Me, and almost ten thousand of my brothers.

Ten thousand in a single drop.

I can only imagine what that might look like groundside. 

Scary as it might have been on the ground, I can say I was just as damn scared dropping down from above. 

It's a special kind of… helplessly terrified… to be sitting inside a tin can, hoping that their shots miss, that you and yours aren’t the ones to go down in a fireball, never getting to fire a single shot. 

I remember looking out of the side of our LAAT. It was an ocean. An ocean of droids, and bugs against what looked like just, a thin line of my brothers.

I remember thinking ‘Where’s the rest of us?’ Even as I knew that ten thousand of us were dropping right down into this, to add to the insanity of it all.

We were shot at by flak guns comin in. One Lat had its engine hit- Nine-two’s squad. They made it out, mostly. Saw Nine-two the other day. It was because of jump packs and seat belts he says- heh. But at the time I coulda sworn to anyone who asked that they all died. 

Hell of a way to start.

We didn’t touch down in a field, we literally dropped inside the perimeter of the orbital canon defense grid itself. LAAT cutter beams, rockets, even a couple of dozen Jedi and our Mandalorian squad commanders all right there in the mix.

Can’t tell ya if Voss was there- to this day, I don’t even know what he looks like. Never met him. 

I drop in on a rappelling line. Not enough jump packs to go around.

I get shot- mid drop right in my shoulder.

Arm goes limp- I’m not ‘droppin’ anymore, I’m fallin mate. I hit that Geonosis rock hard enough to crack the back plate of my armor. Commander Daven- our Mandalorian CO- thought I was dead, was already barkin orders to Patch to grab my beacon before I started moving again and he realized I was alive.

I didn’t have time to be hurt, he knew that and I knew that. So he just asked if I could still move, I answered by gettin to my feet, pullin out my DC-17. 

It aint much, but when ya got one arm it’s your best frakkin friend. 

The Commander shouts ‘Alright men, Holdout can move so we got one job, get him to that canon’

And that’s where I got my name. Holdout. Not sure if the commander was talkin about my survivin or my pullin out the holdout pistol. Never really wanted to ask. The mystery tickles me- ya know?

Anyway- we just… moved forward. 

Commander Daven led the way- he knew he could take more punishment than us, with his Beskar. Think that was the difference maker for a lot of us. Wether you had a Jedi that would get infront of you, or a Mandalorian CO that wanted to defend you rather than… ya know, use you, like I’ve heard from some of my brothers.

‘Be Grateful’ they say. ‘You know when you’ve got one worth following and when you don’t’

Anyway, we kept pushing; slogging through it, inching closer and closer. Hundred and ninety- Hundred and eighty-two, Hundred Sixty five. I kept checking, hoping that we’d finally be close enough but that was the longest stretch of hundred meters of my karkin life. 

The droids were shootin, of course; we were shootin back, but next thing I know, I see the big anti aircraft guns swiveling around to point inside of the walls. Trying to kill us like worms in a bucket. 

For what it was worth, it let the Acclamators come in closer, turbolasers spraying everywhere.

But that silver lining doesn’t mean much to an army staring down the barrel of a massive frak off cannon suddenly pointing at them. 

I remember hearin some of my brothers calling in strikes. Screaming into their comms. Coordinates, Target priority, Orbital support.

I even saw three Jedi hold up their hands, trying to use the Force I think; maybe to turn it away or tear it down-

Didn’t matter.

That gun shot- and when the blasts hit the ground a lot of people died.

That’s the thing about fightin a droid army-

Friendly fire is literally just a numbers game to them. 

I was knocked clear off my feet with the blast. Can’t tell you how many meters I flew through the air. Can’t tell ya how long I was lyin there either. 

When I came to- the fight wasn’t really a fight anymore-

The Bugs had shown up.

Commander Daven was clubbing one to death with the butt of his own rifle. At least before some… sonic screamer gun tore him to pieces inside his armor.

The Beskar survived just fine.

He didn’t.

Bug turned to look at me, I still had my gun in my hand somehow.

Shot went right through the nasty bugger’s eye. 

I didn’t have the strength to move. I could still hear my brothers all around me, fightin, dyin- trying still to carry the day.

But honestly the thing I heard most were the bugs. Their wing beats. The strange hollow warble of those sonic weapons.

They were swarming us. 

I managed to turn my head, looking at that anti orbital gun.

My helmet read that I was a hundred and eighteen meters away.

‘Good enough’ I thought.

I activated the beacon.

Next thing I know, I’m hearing my comms crackle. 

‘Confirmed- Priority drop on location.’

Let me tell ya. Ya never really understand the words ‘My stomach sank’ until you feel it yourself.

‘Another drop?’ I thought- More of my brothers into the meat grinder?

I thought it was for an orbital strike. Maybe a long range artillery bombardment.

I didn’t mean to drag another ten thousand of my brothers to die with me.

But there wasn’t much I could do besides lay there like a dead man, staring up at the sky, dreading to see however many more gunships or whatever coming down from above.

I didn’t notice them at first. They were so small.

I guess that’s one way to make sure you don’t get hit by anti aircraft fire.

Just- forgo the aircraft. 

By the time I realized it was just seven people dropping on jump packs- they were practically ontop of me.

Even an idiot like me knew exactly who they were.

And I was sure I’d gotten them all killed bringing them here. 

Even the buzzing of the damned bugs was just… overwhelming. Could barely hear yourself think by that point.

They landed next to me, and right then I could hear their weapons let loose, a heavy repeater, blaster carbines.

Noble’s Medic was next to me immediately, chekin my vitals, trying to make sure I was gonna keep breathin. 

He didn’t even pull his gun out. Like… like he just knew nothing was gettin close to any of us. 

I couldn’t see the fight… Honest to god I wish I could say otherwise- but I can’t.

I just remember that by the time one of Noble hauled me to my feet- the Orbital gun was in flames, the metal actually melting as it was swallowed up by an inferno- and that ocean of droids and bugs was replaced by an ocean of flame.

They call her the Infernal… ya know that?

That’s not what I’d call her…

  • Recording Interview: 

  • Subject:Trooper CT-1894

  • [right]Codename Holdout

  • Records of Geonosis

It was eighteen days before we could finally divert enough of our fighter force to attempt to gain air superiority on the planet itself.

Corellians weren’t supposed to actually get in on the action in the ground, just in space; but honestly- if high command kept demanding we defend their precious Praetors there was gonna be a Force damned mutiny in the fleet before long.

That Schutta, Tann, she’d spent the better part of a month bleedin the fleets in space. Hit and run attacks, diversionary raids on the medical fleet- She never actually attacked the medi-transports. I think she realized that if she pulled that then all bets were off by that point and orders or not- Jedi bantha-shit or not, we were going to glass that sand pit she was defending.

But we still had to take the threat seriously. Still had to divert forces there. Had to spread the line too thin, leave weaknesses she could exploit.

I can almost admire the cunt- I’ll tell her that before I blow her up for what she did to Coronet.

Anyway, I’m gettin sidetracked. 

So where was I?

Oh- yeah, right. Eighteen days before we were safe enough to finally divert enough fighters to try and establish air superiority. 

Intelligence hadn’t been painting a pretty picture down on the ground honestly. Without air power the ground pounders had to claw their way through defenses; you know how it goes.

Anyway- we’d learned of Seven High priority targets. Five hangar bay fields  and Two manufacturing plants where the Vultures were getting repaired, and refitted with all the bells and whistles.

So, we were hittin all them targets. Coordinating with a ground push to distract at the same time, and get this, linkin up with those Jedi pilots too. I heard one of them was the reason Tann was out of commission for the initial battle. Wish I could shake that guy’s hand. 

So, I get myself onto my ship with my wingmates, and its off to the races before too long.

The Fleet provided cover for us, launching another full scale attack on Tann’s own fleet, or at least pretending to- got all their eyes looking that way before suddenly they were dumpin what must’ve been like Thirty thousand fighters and bombers down onto the planet with a big ol ‘Frakk you’ sign at the head of em.

Nah, we didn’t actually have a sign, but I wish I did. At least we had one in spirit.

Seps scrambled their fighters to meet us, of course. High command warned us to not get baited into flying too low. If we flew too low, the bugs, the actual bugs themselves would fly up to tear us out of the sky if they could get their grubby paws on us. 

I can tell you; that high command wasn’t wrong on that front.

Either way- next thing I know, I’m in the middle of the most insane dogfight of my life. 

Cause we’re not in space anymore.

Here we got gravity- and anyone will tell ya those are two different monsters.

Turns are harder, the strain on your body feels like its gonna crush your bones- trying to keep up with the vultures.

Cause yeah, droids don’t have to worry about their meat parts, so they can just yank their frakkin turns in ways that would break your own neck like its nothing.

What? Yeah of course we won anyway. We’re Corellians. No way we’re losing in the sky to a bunch of droids built by the lowest bidder.

Heh- and you know why. That’s the only reason you’re even talking to a shlub like me.

Yeah. I saw her. Can never forget the sight of her. 

General Dallon. 

Heard she flew into the fight in a gunship. Just to break atmo; then, she and her boys joined the fight.

Yeah- her boys. The best of her clones; you can ID em because they all got Mando iron on em and jetpacks. 

Think they’re callin themselves her… Silver wings? White Wings? Something like that.

She flew down with em, -they had Jetpacks, she- had a ‘Can do’ attitude or whatever, hell if I saw a Jetpack or anti grav on her.

I even heard she gave a speech too, they tell me it was a good one; I never heard it. Something about ‘Cancelin the apocalypse’. Honestly I should look it up before I forget again. God knows there must be some pict recording about it floatin somewhere.

Hmm? Oh her men- they were something in the air. Most of what I saw was that they’d fly down from above, landing on a fighter, plant a mag charge and jump off. Risky as all hell, but droids don’t exactly adapt quick.

Dallon didn’t do that though. I swear, I saw that woman rip through vultures with her bare hands, or cut them in half with that sword, literally dancing around them in the air. 

Frakkin hell… but that woman was gorgeous. Too bad them Coruscant Jedi are celibate or whatever. Bloody waste.

Anyway, after; I don’t how how much time, we break through their fighter wing and head straight through to get to the repair bay and factory.

Thought our bombers boys would have some work to do then-

And then Dallon decides to punch her way through the Durasteel walls. 

Cause why the hell not I guess?

  • Recording Interview: 

  • Subject:Corellian Navy Airman

  • ID# 44389

  • Callsign: Liger Tail

  • Records of Geonosis

So- get this- literally day before we’re set to head off on this big operation- Our lovable lunatic of a First Mate, comes down with, of all things Affliceria- sure, declared extinct couple of hundred or thousand years ago but SOMEHOW our captain’s unvaccinated self found it.

So as you can imagine the crew’s in a bit of a lurch, just trying to keep our head down while the first mate’s gettin the necessary meds, all the while We’re transporting injured and supplies this way and that way. Between the fleets- the planet, the troops, every- Hmm?

Yeah I know they said we were never gonna see action on the planet but anyone who heard that knew it was bantha dung. No way you can take or fight a whole planet with just forty million clones or whatever. Math didn’t add up. The Clones and Jedi needed help and that’s what we were there for.

And for revenge. Definitely revenge. 

So anyway There we are, transporting some supplies groundside, when suddenly we hear a pretty heavy distress call coming in from one of the Clone Legion’s- calling for any number of rescue craft that can come in and bail em out after they were suddenly surrounded and cut off.

Clones are scrambling, Jedi are scrambling, and then one of them- guy called Skywalker, walks up to us and asks- ‘Can you help me rescue my men?’

Now how’s a girl supposed to say no to that?

I mean, I know the Jedi have their vows of celibacy and all, but god damn. I see why he's on all the propaganda posters, all I'm saying.

There’s some back and forth with the crew, but by the end of it we, as the First Mate would say, pony up and get our shit in gear.

And we’re off.

I expected Skywalker to take a ship, but he actually didn't. He and a lot of his Clones get on speeders. Just; one man, one seat speeder bikes.

Really really nice speeders too come to think of it. Definitely not standard fare.

And they haul ass.

Honestly they were almost faster than the ships.

I bet the captain could have gotten us there quicker.

Anyway, the Skywalker guy made unbelievable time on those speeders, him and his Five-something something just tore straight through the desert ahead of the rescue gunships and volunteers coming in.

Then they found the droids.

I wondered why they all got on speeders- but honestly, it makes sense now that I think about it.

Sure the ships could get to the Clones that needed evac but someone had to actually give the ships cover to land and pick up the Clones, otherwise we’d probably get shot to pieces by everything. Nevermind the infantry, those tanks and rocket artillery are no joke.

Skywalker though, thought ahead, guess that’s why he’s a General.

He and the Clones on those bikes never stopped moving you know? They would ride their speeders, shoot, keep riding, launch a rocket to down a tank, keep riding, grab one of their Clone buddies, put em on the back of the bike and just keep riding.

It was amazing to watch, honestly.

At least the part I got to see, halfway through I had to drag the First mate back inside after she stumbled out to shoot a B-2 in the face. She passed out after one shot, but hey- A for effort. 

I could only see Skywalker every now and again through the dust when I spotted that blue lightsaber. That’s how I knew he was still alive.

Oh, yeah. And his laugh. I noticed that he started to do that after a little while, after we were getting his men onto the ships and taking off.

Hey wait; is he the one they call the Laughing General?

  • Recording Interview: 

  • Subject:Corellian Volunteer Militia

  • Name: Klarna

  • Ship designation: Shaker-9

  • Records of Geonosis

Taylor:

I startled awake as the Juggernaut rocked, its massive wheels and frame jumping and rumbling over the rocks and sand of the Genosian desert, driving at full speed towards our destination.

“Its’ alright commander.” Guelzo nodded next to me. “Just the road- or lack of it. Get some more sleep.”

I groaned, shutting my eyes  and trying to do as I was told, for once.

I was exhausted. 

Thirty four days.

Thirty four days of endless, grinding, unremitting war.

The Seperatists kept pushing on every side, even previously cleared sections were under threat because of the Geonosians coming in from above, or below.

That tunneling strategy had worked once, or twice.

Then I got in range of them for their third try.

It had been… a pretty horrible experience- for both sides I’d say.

The Geonosian warriors and droids were buried alive as I had the worker drones collapse the tunnel around them.

And I got to relive the experience of controlling a semi sentient humanoid insect.

I’d had many a private vomiting session and nightmare filled night since.

Still, after that, the Juggernaut transport had become my mobile home. The Jedi were keeping me away from the front line. Because as long as the bugs didn’t know where I was, they didn’t dare attack from underground or even circumventing our lines at all. 

Usurping the hive mind had terrified them.

I’d felt that much.

So I moved around, going from battlefront to battlefront, reinforcing buckling lines wherever needed with my flames, and Noble. Hitting high priority targets and hardpoints, having the native insect species tear through electronics and defenses to soften them up before the infantry, tanks and artillery rolled in for free, just ripping through B-1’s and B-2’s to gain free real estate.

It was becoming harder and harder to do that as the ‘sphere’ of secured territory expanded further and further, but that’s where the other Council members came in. 

All of the Council members, along with Anakin, Vicky and a few more notably skilled Knights  were on similar ‘rotating’ duties. None of them were allowed to remain in ‘fixed’ locations where the enemy opposition might adapt to their tactics or isolate them and cut them off

Granted, it was a bit more complicated for them- they had legions that came with them.

So, I , as you can imagine, had more flexibility and thus, higher demand. 

It felt like I hadn’t slept for an age, and even these few hours here in the juggernaut, torturous as it was to be yanked from it- was probably the best sleep I’d had in a long while.

That said far far too much. 

I groaned again, pulling myself to a sitting position. “How far are we?” I asked.

Guelzo hesitated. “Not far.” He finally answered. “Fifteen minutes or so by my reckoning.”

I rolled over onto my stomach, pushing myself to stand 

“Fifteen minutes won’t make much of a difference.” I half lamented, half protested as I got to my feet, shambling towards the tiny cubicle fresher to wash out my mouth and make myself look at least halfway presentable.

I both wanted and needed a shower. I didn’t even care if it was a stupid, sonic shower at this point.

I took a second to at least wash out my face, lamenting the state of my hair before pulling it back into a loose tail, my mask slipping over my features before I stepped back out into the world, probably looking as though absolutely nothing was wrong to anyone who looked at me.

Sitting down, I kept my eyes open, waiting for the fifteen minutes.

After seven, our destination slipped into range.

Another three and we were there.

A million eyes and ears could see everything outside of the car, Geonosis had an ecosystem of insects for me to draw from, many of them very very dangerous. I wasn’t hurting for ‘swarms’ here. 

Even if I still wanted my goddamn lava worm…

Bastards.

There were two hollow knocks outside the door, Webber and the others gearing up beside the bay doors at the back of the transport.

Guelzo and I stepped out to join them.

We didn’t say anything to each other, I think we were all just too tired. 

The bay doors opened, the giant ramp letting in the red haze and dust of the Geonosian landscape.

It opened to reveal- a base.

The Republic’s base.

After a month of fighting, of ferrying materials up and down from atmosphere, of consolidating and reinforcing- the Republic now had a base.

Several of them even; this was just the largest one.

Watchpoint ‘Imperius’; not exactly creative, but I think the Clones were just happy to have a place that was considered, safe, a place where they could finally rest easy for even just a few hours.

A name that sort of ‘projected’ that air of dominance, of dominion and mastery, I think went with the desire.

The compound itself was actually very strong; what had once been tin fences and barbed wire with point defense, manned turrets; now were towering bulwarks of solid, prefabricated durasteel, a network of interconnected auto turrets with overlapping fields of fire, and miles of electro fences and traps, all shielded by a pretty powerful shield generator, with two backups ready to take over for it in the event of an attack. 

There were other bases, of course; but all of them were smaller, Watchpoint Armory was the second largest and it was still, technically, on the front lines, being relatively close to one of the Geonosians precious hives. They were fighting tooth and nail to try and destroy the base every time they mustered up the numbers.

So far it was holding, and the attrition war math was playing out on the flip side there by now, with the Republic being the defenders and inflicting a much, much higher casualty rate on the attackers.

Many of the Clones that spotted us stopped what they were doing halfway through, I saw more than a few awed faces and overheard some very rapid whispered conversations between the sea of identical faces and voices. 

I ignored them, it was old hat by now with so many ‘shinies’ being deployed alongside us.

Instead I turned to my men “Dismissed, all of you. Guelzo, pratchet, get everyone settled in somewhere, talk with the queartermaster-” I pointed. “He’s down that way, near medical. Goes by ‘Cook’ 

“You sure ma’am?” Guelzo asked, ever worried about me. “You’re not off the clock yet.”

“I will be soon.” I assuaged with a nod. “Don’t worry”

He didn’t look or ‘feel’ very pleased, but he nodded. It spoke to how tired he and my boys really were that they shuffled off to go get some rooms assigned right quick.

I marched away, headed northwards while they headed east, my ‘eyes’ were still on them, just to make sure there were no problems, but I doubted it. If Corellia had made them infamous, Geonosis by now had done little short of outright deifying them in the eyes of their fellow clones; they wouldn’t have problems getting rooms. 

Stepping through the sea of white armored troopers, and even a few of the Corellian volunteers and regular navy men I spotted, I made my way towards the central command post, a squat, square prefab building with a signal tower right at the top of it. Hard to miss in a base full of plastic boxes for buildings and tents. 

Getting to the door, two of the troopers straightened as they saw me, saluting sharply. “Ma’am.” One said, opening the door immediately.

I offered a nod, marching past him and walking in.

As I expected, Master Windu was already here, physically. There were a few others on holo, Master Plo, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Auset, Halcyon and Billaba.

“Master Hebert.” Windu nodded. “Thank you for coming.”

It was a polite greeting, though in my tired state I almost wanted to snark back ‘Where else was I gonna be?’ but I didn’t. Windu was just as tired as I was, if not moreso. 

He’d been fighting non-stop at the speartip of most assaults that gained ground in this ‘sector’ of the planet. 

Say what you want about Vicky, or myself-

But if I ever had to seriously fight Windu; unless I had every tool and advantage on my side, it wasn’t a fight I was sure I could win given what I’d seen the man pull off. 

So instead I simply nodded. “Of course” I answered, pulling off my mask and taking a seat. “How many others are we waiting on?”

The meeting itself was top secret; not an unusual occurrence; many ‘offensive’ missions were top secret. With increased paranoia about the Sith’s presence, which still hadn’t revealed itself; the Jedi high council had decided that the ‘rotating masters’ would be informed of missions and priority targets as close to the day for their deployment to hit those targets as feasibly possible.

After all, it was hard for the Sith to lay a trap if even the Jedi Masters didn’t know where exactly they would be.

“Master Dallon is on her way here as well.” The man answered and I felt my heart flip flop in my chest at the words-

I hadn’t seen Vicky in two weeks.

We talked almost every day through comms. Both making sure the other was alright- but there was a difference between Comms and actually seeing eachother. 

No doubt Windu must’ve caught my feeling in the force but he didn’t comment; instead closing his eyes as if to gather his patience. 

Good thing he did too, because Anakin, unseen to him, waggled his eyebrows rather stupidly in my direction before Obi-Wan elbowed him in the ribs.

I made a mental note to thank the Soresu specialist when next I saw him. 

Windu continued. “Master Yoda, Bulq, and Piel as well”

I nodded, also moving past the ‘issue’ of Vicky as I sat down.

I wasn’t sure how they’d arrive, if it was in person or via holo, but my bugs gave me an answer on Yoda soon enough, watching the little green man waddling up the hill on his tiny legs to join us.

Half way up, like she’d been waiting for her cue, Vicky swooped in from the skies above, plucking up Yoda with a laugh and carrying him like an infant; laughing as she defended herself from multiple thwacks courtesy of  the protesting Grandmaster’s trusty stick. 

Why did I get the feeling that he’d been walking that slow on purpose?

Regardless, after a few more seconds the doors hissed open and both Jedi Masters stepped into the room, Vicky’s face, for lack of a better term, lit up when she saw me.

I can’t say for sure that I was much better.

“Tay!” Vicky flew closer, placing Yoda gently down on the table. The manhandling of the grandmaster made me giggle stupidly. I must really be tired. “Oh I’m so glad you’re-”

“Reunions can wait until after the meeting.” Windu cut in quickly- open secret Vicky and my relationship might be. But that didn’t mean the Council wanted to see it right infront of their eyes. “Please, Master Dallon; take a seat.”

Vicky had the good grace to look at least a bit sheepish- but she did take a seat right beside me, Yoda shuffling quietly past us, still on the table mind you, to take his seat beside Master Windu. 

After another two minutes- Master Piel and Bulq joined us. 

Windu gave a solemn nod. “Good. Now that we’re all present- we may begin.” He cleared his throat, the center of the table lighting up with a rotating holo of Geonosis itself.

“As you all know- in spite of the attritional nature of this particular battle, we have been making steady gains against the Separatists on this world over the course of the last month.” 

A ‘timeline’ formed beside the holo, showing an outline of ‘green’ forming around the planet, designating the ‘spread’ of our controlled territory and targets hit over the last month. With the line receding and surging, ebbing and flowing with victories or defeats over the course of the last thirty days before finally settling.

There were Six primary ‘Green spots’, around the planet Many of them were centered around this hemisphere, but three were on the other side of Geonosis itself. While the bulk of the Geonosian’s factories and resources were here concentrated in this hemisphere due to the power concentrated around its primary hive that didn’t mean other targets didn’t exist clear across on the other side. And the orbital war had proceeded well enough that now, if Tann’s fleet tried to target those defenders, the Corellian and Jedi fleets could answer rapidly enough to defend them.

Because yeah. The Void War hadn’t been won yet either.

Tann’s forces were diminished, but diminished wasn’t beaten and the smaller her fleet became the more dangerous she seemingly became. Going from something large and unwieldy, to a force she was in complete control of and could coordinate to a masterful degree.

At least, that was the explanation I’d heard from Dennis the one time we saw each other when he brought some supplies to Watchpoint Bulwark.

‘What is with all the women I meet being fucking scary as shit!?’ He’d half joked before we said our goodbyes.

Still- not exactly my problem. The Void was a job for Tiin and Rancisis to deal with. 

“As of now-” Mace said, “we’ve sustained… an acceptable casualty rate- but we cannot hold it forever. While many targets have been hit- there are still several keys that must be destroyed before we can pull away from the planet and say that we’ve neutralized the war capacity of the Geonosians to continue aiding the Seperatist war effort in a significant way going forward.

A handful more clicks and- the map changed again.

Two, very large, very heavily defended complexes appeared.

“This-” Windu declared pointing to the first- is the single largest manufacturing plant remaining on the planet. It provides… everything. Droid infantry, fighters, bombers, tanks. Even ships. This is where the bulk of their remaining droid forces have gathered to defend.

“And the other?” Obi-Wan asked. 

“The primary Geonosian Hive”

I suddenly had a fairly clear and sinking feeling that I knew where I was going to be sent.

Vicky let out a long, slow exhale next to me. “Okay… two more targets… It uhhh-” She looked around at the room. “Still seems like a bit of overkill, to go with this many heavy hitters on just them… unless you got word that they’ve gone apeshit with preparing for us?”

“Not quite-” The Master of the order deadpanned.

The map changed again showing-

“That is a lot of droids.” Anakin whistled.

He was not exaggerating.

“Millions?” Auset asked..

“At least.” Windu confirmed with a grave nod. “B-1’s B-2’s, Droideka’s Jedi Hunters, everything. They’ve gathered and coalesced the bulk of their army to the east and south of our position. What intelligence we’ve gathered says that they’ll be pushing this entire force in one massive attack to  try and overwhelm us. One last ‘big push’ coordinating with the Fleet above as well.

“And so some of us will be defending while the other teams go on the attack.” Vicky surmised beside me. “So who’s on team defense and offense?”

At that, Windu looked to Yoda, who nodded once in silent confirmation.

The Haruun Jedi Master cleared his throat. “Master Obi-Wan and myself will be taking the battle to the manufacturing plant.”

That made Obi-Wan raise an eyebrow “Just us? With such a high priority target I figured there would be more.”

“A force of around  seventy Jedi Knights have been allocated to this mission as well, but you and I will be in general command.” Mace answered. “Statistically- Your 212th and my 187th are the most effective Legions in terms of mission success to casualty ratio. We are also, two of the most tactically minded commanders.”

“Ahh-”  Obi-Wan nodded, stroking his beard. “So you’re hoping our generalship will make up for the relative lack of numbers and experience.” 

“That is the hope, yes.” Mace Conceded. “One of the fresh regiments from Kamino will bolster our forces but they are still inexperienced.”

“Fair enough.”

Mace turned to Master Plo next. 

“Master Plo- you will be taking command of the eastern defense With you, Knight Skywalker’s 501rst, along with Master Bulq’s regiment. I have yet to receive confirmation of the available numbers but we hope to give you additional support of another fifty Jedi, if, again they are available.

I felt a disquieting thrum in the Force, my eyes darting to Anakin before he quickly tamped down his annoyance.

Odd. Was there a problem with Master Plo or Bulq recently?

Plo-Koon nodded. I understand. Skywalker and myself specialize in fast attack tactics. You’re hoping we can harry the attackers and break up their offense before they even reach us, and Master Bulq’s forces, more suited to had defense will be the anvil to take the softened hammerblow.”

“Precisely.” Mace concurred, before turning away towards his own former Padawan. “Master Billaba, you will be in command of the southern  defense. Under your command will be Master’s Piell, Auset and Dallon to hold that ground. “

“I understand-” She answered easily. “And Jedi support?’

“With Dallon present- I’m afraid those resources would best be allocated elsewhere, but I can confirm at least you will be receiving thirty or so as of current allocations.”

I felt my hackles rise, suspicion and Master Plo’s warning back on Coruscant swimming in my mind.

His reasons were… reasonable, and the math was adding up in my headbut Vicky wasn’t actually invincible; or a fucking hammer for every nail.

Worse, they were sending her with Piell and Auset, two Council members that probably wouldn’t piss on her if she were on fire. 

I took a breath,ready to speak when Vicky’s hand slipped into mine, squeezing. I looked at her and saw her quietly shake her head.

I wasn’t sure if anyone noticed; Mace didn’t seem to, turning as he did, towards me. 

“The Geonosian hive is the last target. “Master Hebert… as you likely guessed, you’ve been deemed the most efficient choice in dealing with said target alongside Master Yoda.”

My eyes snapped towards the little green man, who half nodded, half bowed 

“Hmmm.” The Grandmaster began. “Neutralize we must, the Genosian queen, reach the depths of the hive we must. For that, Two Clone Legions under our command they will be, a Jedi strike force, two hundred, shall be deployed.

I balked;

I certainly wasn’t the only one.

“Two hundred?” Obi-Wan’s jaw was on the floor. “That is… a significant commitment of resources.”

“This war must be brought to a close.” Mace declared firmly. “I said at the beginning of this meeting; that our losses were acceptable. I did not say they were sustainable.”

I swallowed. “Still-” I finally found my voice. “I don’t think we’ll need that much. Send some to Billaba, or even yourself or Master Plo.”

The man shook his head. “I will not risk it. We have paths of retreat, if we fail. Fallback positions. Reinforcements. You and Master Yoda will be going down to the Geonosian tunnels themselves, deeper than many of us ever have- to neutralize a Geonosian queen. We only have a single attempt at this and I dare not risk failure.”

He looked around the rest of the room. “You all have your missions and preparations to make. Let's bring this to a final close.

The others nodded, several holo’s shutting off, leaving the room more dim, Master Yoda hopping off of his seat, Mace doing the same.

Vicky moved to stand too before I grabbed her arm, holding her in place.

Mace cast a sideways look our way but didn’t seem to know how to call us out without making it awkward so, instead he quietly marched out the door, Yoda behind him.

As the doors hissed shut- Vicky leaned over, whispering in my ear.

“Ya know- I can give points for the cojones, but I think if we actually fuck on their fancy table we really will get kicked out, war or no war-”

I snorted; rolling my eyes. “You’re such an idiot.”

“You know you love m-oh?”

I planted my head on her shoulder

“Tay?”

I took a breath, shutting my eyes to rest them before I mustered up the strength to get back up. 

“Spoke to Karla and Iskt.” I mumbled. “They’re in Watchpoint Mantua. Overseeing supplies and transporting injured off world now. They’re ok.”

“Yeah- I know, I called them too; most of the Padawans are there. Better that they be helping in support rather than frontlining. Hey, ya know maybe later tonight I can fly us over there. It's like- ten minutes away, right? We could totally go see them!”

“Hmm” I nodded, stifling a yawn.

“I’m glad you're here.” I finally said, feeling her fingers of her free arm threading through my hair. 

The last thing I heard before I fell dead asleep was-

‘I’m glad I’m here too baby”

(X)(X)(X)

So this chapter's "format" as you can probably guess was inspired a bit by the original Battlefront 2's Clone narrative format.

I really wanted to give the war for Geonosis a sense of 'scale' that I felt was always really lacking in canon. Battles in the cartoon show were flashes in the pan, things over and done with over the course of a few hours or days; really missing that grueling, "grind you down" nature, of long term combat.

Now, I'm not saying its been done perfectly here by any means but I hope I did convey a sense of time passing for our heroes. and just how... 'unending' this war can feel when you're stuck on a single planet fighting what feels like one continuous battle for thirty days

But yeah, here's to hoping I didn't muck it up.

Next chapter as you can imagine, we'll be getting into the more traditional format of multiple POV's multiple engagements and of course- multiple duels.

Very excited to see it all happen so we'll see you all next week :D

Comments

Aria Raney

I love the running joke of Vicky stealing movie speeches for her soldiers.

Pv2

2 weeks without sleep is fatal - in and of itself, you actually die. May want to clarify Taylor's sleep schedule since as is it takes me out a bit to hear "34 days with near zero".

ld1449

I never said that she went 32 days straight. I said that she FELT as though "I hadn't slept for an age" but its very clearly her "feeling" not actual fact. Its pure hyperbole