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YODA’S BLADE
CHAPTER I
Fifteen Republic Gunships flew in Block Formation, inside were thirty Clones Troopers with blue and white armor, they hung out of the LAAT/i as they flew high over the largest city in the galaxy...Coruscant. They all stood one hand razed hanging onto the roof net and the other hand held onto their blasters which was either of the two standard GAR rifles, the DC-15A or the DC-15S.
Their current destination was the Outlander Night Club where the terrorist group called the Lords of War, a group of Separatist extremists, had taken over four hundred people hostage. Several loyal Republic Senators and one of Chancellor Palpatine’s political advisors were included in the four hundred hostages. Intel reported over two hundred heavily armed assailants plus another dozen with bombs strapped to their chests. The Outlander was already surrounded by Coruscant Police and Volunteer Militia, Jedi and Palpatine’s Personal Clone Shock troopers.
Negotiations were failing and peaceful solution was out of the question.
The Jedi knew a large scale breach of the building would cause loses to the captives which was to the Jedi unacceptable. They tried a stealthy attack. There had been no word from the Jedi in over two Coruscant hours and the city was transforming into dusk. Their was no time. That’s when they called in the 501st most elite group. Born on Kamino raised on Coruscant they were the best they are known as...
Section 8.
The Airspace was cluttered with flybys of Spy droids, Gunships, ARC-170s, V-Wings, and Holonet News camdroids. So nothing sounded different inside the Outlander when the assault began...
Fifteen Gunships came in from the north. They flew in Block Formation at full speed. As they got closer they broke into random formations. The squadron of fifteen gunships became three squadrons of five. The first five landed right in front of the front doors. The next five landed in the alley ways behind the club. The last five dropped repelling ropes out of the doors and hovered over the roof.
Commander Vic, commander of the Section 8s gave the thumbs up and yelled "Go, Go, Go".
Vic hooked onto the repelling rope and leaped out of the gunship. He felt the skylight shatter under his feet as he fell into the building. A humanoid with a Mek 4.4 blaster pistol was standing under the skylight when Vic dropped in. Now he was sprawled out on the ground with two shots into the back of his head.
Two other troopers dropped in behind Vic. The three Clones were in a small Sabrack Gambling room. The room was dimly lite and four civilians, two humanoids, a Zabrak, and a Quarren laid on the ground dead in pools of their own blood. The three Clone Troopers stacked up on the door. One of the Clones booted down the door while the secound Clone and Vic streamed in first. They entered into the hallway above the main room.
Several Lords of War had pinned down the Troopers who had stormed in the front door. Vic aimed and with controlled bursts the Lords of War were dead and they moved on. They came to the next door. VIP ROOM NO ADMITTANCE read the sign.
"Fier’fek that" said one of the Clones
"Shut it 42" said Vic "Now, blow the door." The Clone put a credit size magnetic explosive on the door lock and stood back. The lock fizzled and spark and the Clone shouldered open the door only to be welcomed by a blaster rifle bolt to center mass.
Vic and the other Clone took out the Four LOWs. There were five others in the room not armed and roped into their chairs. Vic’s helmet analyzed the five men as the captive politicians. Suddenly, a violent quake through Vic off his feet and sent chunks of duracreate on top of him.
Vic got up and called in "What in the siths name was THAT?"
"Sir," came Vics’ voice over the comm "one of the suicide bombers just detonated himself. It’s a mess down here, dozens are dead, Troopers and Civies."
"Alright we found the Senators they aren’t too hurt, were getting them out now, out." Vics’ wrist gauntlet vibroblade popped out and he cut the cord on the Senators chairs and Vic helped each one of them up. "All right sirs, we are leaving follow me, don’t wander away and be quiet. Do what I say and you’ll get out alive."
Vic cleared the upstairs hallway. They all made their way down to the main floor. They walked through the bar and found it in shambles. Blaster burns marked the walls, floors and ceilings of the entire room. Small fires smoldered in and around the bar area. The liquor cabinet was aflame and bodies were scattered all over the floors mainly the bodies were of LOWs but there were a few civilian and Clone Trooper dead sprawled across the floor. They walked through what remained of the doorway. Clone Commandos ran toward them and grabbed the politicians and covered them with themselves for protection. The Outlander Night Club was a blaze and the Coruscant Fire Department was spraying the building to keep the fire under control. Section 8 had a 32% injured with only another 10% was dead. A very low causality for such a high risk mission.
The Clones from Section 8 that weren’t dead or seriously wounded went back to their barracks. Vic returned to his bunk on the officers side of the barracks. It was just like the normal Trooper barracks except it was closed off and it had a holographic table that could display battle tactics and send and receive top secret information. Currently, the battle scenarios of Geonosis were playing over and over again. Vic dropped his gear on the ground and took a quick shower. Then collapsed on his bunk and almost immediately fell asleep.
Ten hours later Vic woke from a beeping coming from his bunk time and message crono. He wiped his eyes and hit the receiver button
"Yes" Vic asked, Jedi General Ji-Lay Lesso image appeared. Vic was suddenly completely awake and was sitting up straight.
"Commander Vic, do you have plans you have plans this evening?" asked Ji-Lay
"No sir" Replied Vic
"Then report to the Jedi Temple at 17:00 for a new assignment."
"Yes sir, will do"
"Good Day" said Ji-Lay and the connection went dead.
Vic cleaned his armor, signed out a BARC and at 16:00 he was en route to the Jedi Temple. Vic landed in one of the many Gunship landing bays. Dozens of LAAT/i Gunships crowded the broad area. As he turned off the repulsorlift Jedi General and Knight Ji-Lay walked over to him.
"Please follow me"
"Yes Sir." replied Vic.
They walked into the main hall. Vic had never seen a room so large before. The massive columns seemed to stretch vertically forever. They walked into a glass elevator. Ji-Lay pushed the single button on the door turning it from red to green. The golden durasteel door slid shut and the elevator ascended. Vic looked out the glass wall of the elevator to see all of Coruscant descending beneath him. After a minute they reached the top of the Jedi Temple and the elevator doors slid open Vic and Ji-Lay walked to the Jedi Council’s waiting room.
"Wait here Commander." said Ji-Lay.
Vic nodded. Ji-Lay turned and the doors to the Jedi Councils’ chambers slid open. Vic could see Master Yoda and Master Windu. Next to Windu sat a Bluish Ghostly form of Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, no doubt Holoneting in from some far off war zone.
Ji-Lay bowed his head and announced "Masters this is Commander Vic of the 501st legion 8th section. He is the direct commander of over five hundred Elite Clone Troopers stationed here on Coruscant." He raised his hand in the direction of Vic, signaling for his entrance. Vic walked in and bowed deeply to the Jedi Council members. Most of the Council Member were in attendance with two chairs completely empty and another four with real time Holographic images of the Jedi Masters.
"You and your section are to be highly commended for your actions at the Outlander this morning." Master Windu said with a heavy face.
"Thank you General" Replied Vic
"Excuse me" said a ghostly blue Master Oppo Rancisis "May we please get down to the point. I have the battle of Saleucami to win."
"Idea excellent, little time we all have." Replied Yoda
"You and the five hundred members of Section 8 will be reassigned to be directly under the command of Master Yoda. You will answer to Master Yoda and Master Yoda only. You are the best of the best so you are the best for the job. Your mission under Master Yoda is to listen to his direct command. You are Yoda’s Blade. Your section will be receiving upgraded armor and all new barracks right at the foot of the temple. Your new Barracks are ready for you and shuttles are on their way to pick your men up. You must go back and help with the relocation. Any questions?" said Master Windu.
"No Sir."
"Congratulations Commander." said Yoda
"Thank you General. It is an honor."
"Soon off to war, be we will."
"How soon sir?"
"Soon enough, dismissed you are." said Yoda
Vic bowed, right faced and walked toward Ji-Lay who waited in the elevator. Vic stood next to Ji-Lay and about-faced. The Council began deliberating on other topics no doubt concerning the war. The golden elevator door slid closed.
YODA’S BLADE
CHAPTER II
Aboard the Republic Attack Cruiser the Palpatine. Vic laid comfortably on his bunk. Above him laid his second in command. Trooper Ct-472, otherwise known as Ace. He studied a holomap of their current destination. Galhuti. A small and un-strategic world that was only good for ore. Most commanders over looked unimportant planets like this and wrote them off as acceptable losses. But the Jedi had received a message from the planets ruler stating that the Separatist we creating mass Genocide on the planet. So the Jedi dispatched a strike force to liberate the planet.
It was a trap.
The Republic sub stained massive casualties including the loss of four Accumulator Class Capital Assault ships.
Now intelligence reported that the Sep fleet had moved on and left only a small garrison of droids and mercenaries to continue the Genocide. Now it was Yoda’s Blades turn to try and rip Galhuti from the grip of the Separatists.
There came a steady beeping from the holotable in the corner of the room. Vic got up and hit the receiver button. A blue, foot tall, clone, in a grey officer uniform appeared on the holotable.
“Commander Vic, Master Yoda and Grand Admiral Belont request you and the rest of your commanders in the Briefing room now.”
“Yes sir. Thank you sir.” Replied Vic. And the image of the little blue man fizzled out.
“Come on boys to the War Room.” Said Vic and him and his five commanders all started walking to the Briefing room.
When they got to the Briefing room Master Yoda and Grand Admiral Belont were next to one another. While Belont stood Master Yoda sat on a raised chair. Both were over-looking the blue plains.
“Ah Commanders” said Yoda as Vic and his crew strode into the room. The six men came to attention and saluted.
“At ease” Belont said.
“SIR THANK YOU SIR” shouted the clones. Belont started to speak again.
“As you know we are heading for the Planet Galhuti. We have received Intel that the Separatist are conducting mass genocides on the local population. The terrain is Desert like. In a lot of ways it looks like Geonosis. The native and majority of the population is Zabrak. A few years before the start of the war the Mining Guild had a large operation there. Employing most of the population in the mines.”
“Enslavement more like it.” Interrupted Yoda.
“Yes. Anyway there was a revolution and the Mining Guild was kicked off the planet. They came back in force. Killing all that resisted. Again the Zabraks rose up. This time the Zabraks stood no chance and they were slaughtered. The Jedi had to step in and stop the violence before there was no more population left. After that the Senate made the Mining Guild pay huge amounts of fines and many of the higher up officials were arrested. They rotted in Republic Maximum security prison on the planet Ruusan. An Ancient Sith War Battle Ground. Until the planet was invaded by Sep forces. The small Prison security force was no match for the enemy. They surrendered and these heads of the Mining Guild that were in Prison now sit on the Separatist Council. They have come back to Galhuti to finish what they started. A leader of the local resistance was able to send out a message to the Republic telling the horrible tale of the genocide. The Sep fleet intercepted the communication and set a trap. When the Republic Task Force got there they discovered it was an elaborate trap and were overwhelmed by the Sep fleet. We sustained heavy causalities and were barely able to escape. Now Intel reports that the Sep fleet has moved on and we are clear to land. Our first priority is to build a base. Your job will be to protect us while the base is being built. Then you will need to help to defend the base with the normal Troopers that we brought with us. Then you will also be the main assault force of any operations down on the planet. Any Questions?”
“Lots of Responsibilities. Handle it can you?” Asked Yoda
“Yes sir we can. As Master Windu said we are the best of the best.” Said Vic.
“Good” said Belont “We will be in system in under half an hour. Better suit up.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Dismissed”
The six Clones saluted. About-faced and went back to address their men.
After the address of the five hundred members of Section 8 aka Yoda’s Blade Vic went back to his weapons locker and went through his Pre-fight checklist.
“Helmet System status check...Active, DC-15…clean and functional, Duel DC-17 Blaster Pistols…Also clean and functional, Vibroblade Quickjab…Sharp and Smooth, Comm. Check, Check one, two, three…Loud and Clear. Ok. One Hundred Percent.
Then Vic went through his Pre-fight checklist again.
Ace came to attention behind Vic. “Sir all YB is up and ready for action. They are ready for their final brief before Ground Pound. Vic walked up onto the Podium and the anxious Troopers quieted immediately. The auditorium was deathly quiet except for the hum of the engines.
“Troops, today we fight for the Republic that we were created for.” Boomed Vic. “We have the special privilege of fighting side by side with the Great Jedi General, Master Yoda. This is the first day that we will see REAL action. We aren’t taking down Terrorist or playing Cop. We are fighting for are right to Live. We are fighting for our Home. But most importantly we are fighting for our REPUBLIC. Its time we take the fight to those traitorous Separatist. We will be killed but there is NO greater honor than dying for mine and your Republic. If this mission is my last then it would be no better time to go. NOW come with me to rid this planet of our Enemy. Come with me to kill oppression and Evil. Come with me to DESTORY the Confederacy of Independent Systems. TO YOUR SHIPS!”
Vic’s troops let out a loud WHOORAA! They turned and marched toward their designated ships.
“Great speech was that.”
Vic turned around to see a little green alien standing behind him. Instinct brought his hand down toward his sidearm.
“Oh I’m sorry General Yoda; I did not see you there.”
“Apology not needed Commander. You are a great Leader, your Instructors should be proud.”
Vic felt himself grow red. “You’re the Great Leader General. You lead this Republic in this war and it must be a great burden.”
“Go you must your troops await.” Said Yoda
“Yes sir.” And Vic turned and ran to his waiting Gunship.
The Palpatine was now inside the atmosphere of Gulhuti. The Gunships’ side doors closed and a second later the ship lurched and dropped from the underbelly of the giant Republic Star Destroyer.
The fifteen Yoda’s Blade’s Gunships were painted Green and had symbols of the Jedi Order and the Republic painted all over. They flew over the barren desert wasteland. Pillars of rocks stuck out of the ground and seemed to be as tall as some of Coruscant Skyscrapers. The pilots head turned around and looked at Vic.
“Sir, we got enemy on scanners. They are squatting right in our LZ. We are going to take them all out with rockets and strafing runs. It might get a little rocky hang on.”
Vic’s grip suddenly got tighter on the roof net. As the Gunship came over a ledge Vic could see the LZ. It was filled with Separatist AATs and a wide variety of Battle Droids. From the fragile Trade Fed. Standard Battle Droid to the tough Super Battle Droids to the dreaded Destroyer Droids which were known to take out full platoons of Troopers.
The Gunship shook as the first volley of rockets were launched from the Gunships. Vic could see the rockets impacting on the surface, which sent debris and droid parts everywhere. Now they were coming in fast and low for the strafing run. The side cannons bristled. The sound would be deafening without his helmet noise dampening systems.
The Gunship turned sharply and hovered for a moment while locking onto a Trade Federation AAT Tank. Once the targeting systems got the lock the pilot fired two homing missiles right into the Tank engulfing it in a cloud of flames. Vic saw some of his men firing furiously out of the hold taking down dozens of droids. One Clone CT-133/563 was screaming.
“GET SOME, GET SOME!” as he fired his DC-15 Rife. Vic made a mental note to have CT-133/563 get some “reconditioning” as the Kaminoians like to call it. The pilot turned around to talk to Vic again.
“Sir, the enemy is in retreat. We are letting you off here and then going after them.”
“Good. Have fun.”
“Will do sir.” Reply the pilot with a big grin on his face.
Vic hopped off his Gunship and ran over to a crashed Republic Gunship that was smoldering among the charred remains of droid parts. He kneeled down in the empty hold and called over his communications Officer, CT-294/783c.
“Relay perimeter order Force Shield to all Sergeants and send word to the Palpatine that we’ve touched down and have secured the area. But request immediate reinforcement.”
“Right” replied CT-294.
Vic watched his Troops disembark their Gunships and run to their positions. After an hour Clone over a thousand Clone Troopers had landed backed by the huge AT-TEs, Turbo Tanks, and AT-RTs. Clone and Droid engineers had begun digging trenches, building Bunkers, Command Buildings, Barracks and a massive landing platform for the Palpatine to land.
Gulhuti was theirs for the taking.
YODA’S BLADE
CHAPTER III
Coming Soon….
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