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Tales From The Clone Wars (A NJO Retrospect) - Updated 1/3/06! (First Fic, Please Reply!)
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Card_Dreamer
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
12/3/05 12:49pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (A NJO Retrospect) - Updated 1/3/06! (First Fic, Please Reply!)
- Date Edited:
1/3/06 5:36pm (19 edits total)
Edited By:
Card_Dreamer
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Hi all. This is my first story posted here, and hope that it'll do well. However, I want to use this first post to explain the concept before getting into it (as it might be confusing with Tales from CW in title.)
This is a collective work of myself and some friends. We originally set out to do the standard collection of short stories found in the other Tales books. However, after some thought, and the completion of the NJO, we thought this would serve as a much better format, allowing us to play off several ideas in one manner.
Each CW "story" is now an "in story" log found by charaters in the NJO setting. So each CW tale will be lead into by and followed up by an NJO segment.
EDIT! (12/2/05): Unless the author is stated, I have written what is posted.
EDIT! (12/4/05): Unfortunately, it's come to my attention that Tara has to drop out. Meaning, that leaves me no story to put between NJO 1 and 2. However, seeing as so many here like to write, I would like to see if anyone would like to add to this project. If anyone has a CW tale they'd like to add to this project, lemme know. Also, the next CW story just needs final revisions and I'll post it!
EDIT! (12/4/05): Posted Part I of 1st CW Story, One Drop In The Ocean by Terin.
EDIT! (12/5/05): Posted Part II of 1st CW story, One Drop In The Ocean by Terin.
EDIT! (12/6/05): Posted Part III (and final part) of 1st CW story, One Drop In The Ocean by Terin.
EDIT! (12/7/05): Posted NJO Segment #3! Things should be heating up now! Also note, Terin has started the final revisions on the One Drop In The Ocean story. As those come across, I will post the revisions!
EDIT! (12/9/05): Posted Part one of 2nd CW Story, Dark Secret of the Jedi by myself.
EDIT! (12/19/05): Posted more of the 2nd CW Story, Dark Secret of the Jedi by myself.
I would also like to apologize this took so long. I had decided to submit the story to a beta, and though he's extremely nice, things just aren't progressing as fast as I'd like (due to my waiting to long to ask, and his busy schedule). So, I'm posting this and will simply let everyone know when a revision is posting. I'm also still awaiting reivisions on the story prior to mine.
Also, just a side note, I wanted to point out that this update will show you at how some of the CW stories were originally designed to "overlap" or play onto each other. I hope you like the added touch.
EDIT! (1/3/06): Posted final part of the 2nd CW story, Dark Secret of the Jedi by myself. I apologize for the late post, but holidays and other things have prevented my full attention to the internet. I hope you all enjoyed the story. It's one of my pride and joys, but I know it needs some work! Feel free to leave comments, I could use them =)
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Card_Dreamer
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Date Posted:
12/3/05 12:52pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (NJO Segment #1)
- Date Edited:
12/7/05 3:23pm (3 edits total)
Edited By:
Card_Dreamer
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Journey To The Center
1 Month After Yuuzhan Vong War
Scared. Despite her best efforts, she was scared. Once again she found herself and her team walking and sometimes crawling deeper in the bowls of Coruscant than most of the former New Republic agents had ever gone. The halls, rooms, tunnels and passages were pitch dark save for the glow rods she and her team wore strapped to their suits. The air was stale and dank, and reeked of decaying flesh. From animals, former residents, Alliance troops or Yuuzhan Vong or something else entirely was anyone’s guess. Perhaps a little of all of the above.
The restoration of Coruscant was going to be a decade long process, even with the help of the Yuuzhan Vong dhuryam at the center of the Capital’s center. The war had taken its toll on everyone at every planet the Yuuzhan Vong had conquered. The Alliance Officials estimate total loss of life at the hands of the Vong to be around 365 trillion people. 365 trillion! She couldn’t fathom that kind of loss.
And it just kept adding up. The three hundred or more capital ships and the eleven thousand starfighters counted as a double loss. Not only was that a severe loss in planetary and galactic defense, but in resources as well. It made her head hurt to think about it and so she pushed the thoughts from her head.
But it was the ghosts of these passed beings that frightened her as she now walked along a passage that looked more or less like the hundreds of passages they’ve gone through since the clean up efforts and restoration had started on Coruscant. To make it worse, it was warned by Alliance officials that, even after a month since the war had ended, that there were still a few renegade Yuuzhan Vong roaming the planet and keeping up their resistance. She and her team had been fortunate not to encounter any of them yet.
When her mind finally settled down from her haunting thoughts, she looked ahead to see the front man waving for them to stop and kneeling down to try and gaze into a narrow passage big enough for them to crawl through.
“What do you see, Chal?” she called ahead. Chal was as clean cut a man she had ever seen. He sported a close shaven haircut, his black hair only an inch from the top of his scalp. His body was kept in peek physical shape and his eyes an enticing shade of blue. He had volunteered for the Engineering Restoration crews from the get go. Machines were his thing and he loved what he did. And once they got into the swing of things here on the ravaged Coruscant, each trip and assignment went quicker than the last one. She was both proud and glad to have him on her team.
“Not too sure, Fosh,” Chal answered as he held his glow rod inside and poke his head in to take a look. No matter what, he wasn’t able to see anything. The darkness swallowed what little light the glow rod gave off. “But the level of darkness inside, even compared to out here is extremely thick. I’d say it’s a very enclosed area.”
Fosh nodded. “Let’s check it out. I’ll go in first,” she ordered as she got to her knees and began to crawl in.
As soon as she did however, she regretted not letting Chal or another member of the team go first. Cobwebs were thick in the enclosed area as if the room had not been disturbed for decades before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Light was finally beginning to win its own war with the darkness as more of her team managed to crawl into the room.
The room was larger than the impression first given to her by Chal and as her team stood up they each moved to the center of the room. Now that everyone was in the room standing, she could see more of the space they had entered. Their lights were starting to reflect off old metal surfaces and the cobwebs managed to catch the lighting as well.
“Set up the portable glow lamps, Xeek. I want to see this room in its entirety,” she commanded her rodian team member. Xeek saluted his affirmative and began to set up the lamps, each one shedding a little more light in the room.
Fosh ran her fingers through her dark reddish hair to clear it of what she could of the cobwebs and turned to who was most certainly the most outstanding member of her team, Das Shim’drak. To look at him still gave her the shakes and she was sure Das knew it. He had learned to expect such responses from people after the war and so he said nothing about it.
Das Shim’drak was one of the small few who remained behind when Zenoma Sekot had taken the Yuuzhan Vong, her long lost inhabitants, into the unknown regions so they could get reacquainted. Instead, he stayed on Coruscant, the Yuuzhan Vong’s former Yuuzhan’tar to help round up the renegade Vong who refused to surrender. He was with the team as much to help restore the planet as he was there for protection. Das had been a high member of the warrior cast.
“Das,” she started, using the short version of his name to help him feel more a part of the team. “Do you know if any member of the Yuuzhan Vong still on planet use this room or been close to it?”
Das looked around as Xeek finished setting up the glow lamps and immediately knew the answer. “No,” he replied.
The room was filled with old rusted and filthy machines and computers. Some were falling apart with their insides exposed for all to see. But they were not destroyed by Vong hatred of the infernal machines but simply of age. The room itself filled most areas with cobwebs and dust. Even he doubted the races of this galaxy had used the room in maybe four to five decades, give or take.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so, but I thought I’d double check.” Das nodded but didn’t say anything.
[These are extremely old mainframes] spoke Xeek in his native tongue as he walked over to two metal towers standing in a corner.
One of them had completely lost the sides of its casing due to severe rust, but the insides looked overall in decent shape, which led Fosh to believe the casing’s side had just recently fallen off.
[I haven’t seen this kind of hardware since I was a child and it was outdated even then.]
Chal stepped over to the mainframes by Fosh and Xeek and kneeled down to get a better look inside the metal casing. His eyes immediately grew a little wide at seeing just how old the hardware was.
“I’d say you understated a little there, Xeek. This stuff ended it’s usefulness at around the close of the Clone Wars. And even by then it was somewhat outdated. Though considering what the galaxy had just gone through one can understand why there weren’t updated.”
“Any chance we can get any of this up and running again?” came another voice, Kik’yka, a brown haired Bothan and the final member of Fosh’s team.
Chal chewed the inside of his inner lip while he gave it a little thought. After about a minute, he replied. “I believe so. Despite the outward appearance, the hardware inside is in surprisingly good shape. Although, I don’t recommend bringing everything online at once. We’ll do one system at a time.”
“Make it so,” Fosh spoke as she helped Kik’yka set up the fusion generators they had brought with them.
Fosh watched as Chal connectors the power cords to the two mainframes they had studied and then the computer terminals along the farther wall, across from the opening hatch they’d crawled through. As the systems came on one by one, the room lit up and she was now able to get a good look around the room in full detail.
The low entrance they were forced to crawl through to get inside the room in fact was not that way by design. She noticed that chunks of the ceiling had falling down in front of the doorway but was not blocking it fully, hence the crawlway.
Lined along the opposite wall from the door was a long line of computer terminals. There were two viewscreens, one near each end for communications with other locations around Coruscant as well as with the Senate building which had been located high above this relative position. Now the viewscreens were cracked and shattered, useless to Fosh and her team. Not that there was anywhere on Coruscant to communicate with anymore.
“Why would this room simply be abandoned to begin with?” asked Xeek as he too watched Chal and Kik’yka finish bringing the systems online.
At that, Chal shrugged. “Same reason all the levels below Coruscant got abandoned. In with the new and ignore the old.” No one could argue that point.
“Y’know, most of this galaxy wishes Coruscant back to it’s former glory before the war. But not me. Sure, the planet was one big massive metropolis with billions upon billions living on the planet, but look at the cost?
“Most of the planet’s resources have been used up. And think about the wasted space the undercities took up. Only the desolate lived under there, and later the Shamed Ones and Heretics of the Yuuzhan Vong. That’s no way for any race to have to live. I don’t think the Yuuzhan Vong were too far off when they called this world an abomination,” he said, glancing to Das.
Das gave Chal a glance. I will stand guard in the passage we entered from,” was all he said before leaving the room to perform his duty.
“Something I said?” Chal asked when Das was out of earshot.
“I doubt it. I think he’s still unused to working with other species and then having to work with machines on top of that. I can imagine how difficult that type of adjustment could be. Just then, Chal sat up.
“Okay, it’s online and raring to go. Start downloading what you can into your datapads and hard drives.”
Xeek, Chal, Kik’yka and Fosh all immediately plugged into a system’s port on one of the mainframes or computer terminals and began their individual downloads, careful not to get duplicate information. As the information passed over Fosh’s screen she noticed something curious about the data.
“These are all dated during the Clone Wars. From beginning to end, but nothing before or after,” she stated.
Chal glanced up at her. “That’s interesting.”
Xeek looked at the two of them. [Perhaps this room was a backup support center for use during the war. Once the Clone Wars ended, there was no use for it. That would explain why it got neglected afterwards.]
Fosh stopped the flashing of file entries and began to scroll through the one currently displayed on her screen. Her eyes grew wide when she realized that the files were in fact war reports from those who served during the entire Clone Wars. She told her team as much.
“That’s incredible! The information in these systems is priceless. Even during the reign of the New Republic, they couldn’t find records like these despite their best efforts. They had thought Emperor Palpatine had them destroyed to hide information that could be used against him,” exclaimed Kik’yka.
Fosh shook her head. “Apparently he had at least one backup preserved but simply forgot about it. This report is by a Jedi of the Old Republic!”
Kik’yka, Chal and Xeek all sat down in a semi circle around Fosh. [We’re going to be here for some time. There is a lot of information still stored in these computers. Why don’t you read the report? It would pass the time,] Xeek prompted.
Fosh agreed to read the current report displayed on her datapad and sat down in front of her now captive audience. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then began to read.
<insert CW Tale #1. There is no link for this story as it's an extended version of the Battle of Mon Cal as seen in the Clone Wars toon short. The story is not complete either. So, for a quick fix, just watch the toon. Just as good for now. This story was to be written by a friend, Tara. However, due to time contraints, it might not be done and I'll be scouting for a replacement story>
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Card_Dreamer
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Date Posted:
12/3/05 12:54pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (NJO Segment #2)
- Date Edited:
12/7/05 3:23pm (1 edits total)
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Card_Dreamer
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A Whole Lot Of Shaking
1 Month After Yuuzhan Vong War
Fosh stared down at the datapad in her hand as she finished reading that Clone Wars entry. She was at a loss for words as appeared to be the case with the rest of her team. The report had been detailed, emotional and full of suspense and action. The silence was finally broken by a low beeping sound and Xeek’s voice.
[The files have completed their download into the hard drives and datapads we’ve brought,] he spoke solemnly. No one was in their normal mood after hearing that last tale. It made one look at things a little more retrospectively.
Fosh nodded her understanding. “Let’s get things packed up then. We have other areas to search, more information that needs retrieving and equipment to fix,” she replied, giving individual orders to her team.
Xeek shook his head at her, his antennae style ears swaying side to side. [You misunderstand. We filled all of our hard drives and datapds. We have nothing left to store anymore data on.]
Fosh looked at the rodian curiously. “I thought we were only using two of the hard drives.”
[So did I, but there was much more information that I had thought. We needed it all.]
Fosh sighed in exasperation. “Alright then, I guess we head to the surface. We can talk with the Advisory Council and hand over this information.”
As if to punctuate her orders, the ground began to shake. Dirt from the ceilings began to fall and small cracks started forming on the tops and bottoms of the walls. The shaking stopped and Das poked his head in from outside the hall.
“Is everyone okay?” he asked in his accented basic.
Everyone checked themselves over before replying an okay.
“What was that?” asked Kik’yka, his fur rippling quickly up and down his neck.
“It is the dhuryam. It is correcting something and it is disturbing some old foundations.” Das informed. “It is best we leave this place.”
“Alright, you heard him. Leave anything not essential and let’s move!” shouted Fosh as another quake started.
The four team members packed their bags with what they could and each got on their hands and knees to crawl out of the crawlspace. Xeek was almost out when the quake became worse and dislodged the debris already blocking the doorway. The concrete block that had fallen from the ceiling began to fall toward Xeek when it was caught by two grayish and scarred hands.
“Hurry,” Das wheezed through his teeth.
Xeek crawled as fast as he could and when he was through, Das dropped the slabs.
[Thank you, Das] Xeek exclaimed.
Das nodded but said nothing afterwards. The team started back they way they had come, running whenever the ground was still enough to allow it. They had only made it back up a few levels when they discovered their route was now sealed off.
“No doubt debris from the quakes,” Kik’yka commented.
“We’ll have to find another way,” spoke Chal.
Fosh nodded and took off to the right. The rest of the team followed suit and they traveled the new route, twisting and turning in every which way until Fosh was almost dizzy from it.
When they reached the end of the passageway, they found a small ladder leading to an access way leading up a couple surfaces. One by one they climbed the ladder, passing one, then two levels before reaching the end at a third level. Along the way, a few rungs had broken under the weight of her team. The ladder hadn’t been used in decades and she was surprised it lasted as long as they needed.
Fosh stood at the top of the ladder and surveyed the surrounding area. To the left was a solid wall and therefore no good. The only direction they could proceed in was to the right. However, the hall split at the end, giving one the choice of left or right. Unsure of where they were, Fosh decided against rushing down one of them. Instead, she waited for the rest of her team to gather around. When they awaited her next move, she turned to Kik’yka who had been studying a map on his datapad.
“Which way?” she asked calmly.
Kik’yka stared at the datapad for a minute, frowning and even once growling at it.
“Um…the thing is, I don’t know where we are,” he uttered after another moment.
“Come again, Kik?” Chal inquired, taking a step closer to him.
Kik’yka looked back at Chal, a look of mild annoyance on his face.
“Hey, it’s not my fault. Only so much of Coruscant has been charted. I seriously doubt a full map of the city innards exist anymore. Remember how far down we are. Before the war, no one had a need to be down this far.”
“So then how do we figure out which way to go?” inquired Fosh.
Without warning the ground began shaking again, this time more violently than the previous quakes. Dirt and dust fell from the ceiling and the team had to fight to keep their balance. Das seemed to be the only one not over exerting himself to stay erect.
Suddenly a loud slam came from behind them and they turned to see large portions of the ceiling had started to come raining down.
[Left. We go left!] shouted Xeek.
Fosh nodded in agreement and they ran off down the hall and into the left passageway. As they ran, the ceiling behind them continued to fall with the ongoing quakes. Down came large and small pieces. They smashed upon impact, scattering around and effectively blocking any way to get back to where they had been.
That hall ended in another choice of left or right but the team didn’t bother to think about which way. They ran down the left passage this time, the shaking seeming to get worse with each step they took. Halfway down the hall, Fosh was forcibly yanked backwards by a set of powerful hands as the ceiling in front of her fell. She turned around to see both Chal and Das standing behind her, letting go of her uniform.
“Thanks,” she shouted over the commotion.
“No problem!” Chal responded. Das simply nodded.
The group continued down the hall, stepping over the freshly fallen debris and running as fast as they quakes allowed them to. The shaking eventually stopped as they reached the end of the hall which came to a dead end. On either side was a dark room, empty of everything except cobwebs and a deep darkness.
[Now what?] Xeek asked.
“Kik’yka?” prompted Fosh.
Kik’yka stared at his datapad intently but ended up throwing his arms down in frustration and defeat.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t able to locate our last position. To locate us now after running in every which direction would be almost impossible,” conceded the bothan.
“Terrific. We can be the first group to get lost in the under bowels of Coruscant since before the Empire,” Chal remarked, frowning.
Fosh stepped between everyone and put her hands out signaling to break it up.
“Alright, let’s stop with the negative talk,” she suggested. She took a look around before continuing. “Let’s set up what camp we can. Xeek, set up what few lamps and glow rods we have left. Das, you can survey the surrounding area; make sure it’s safe.”
With that command, Das began circling the area. He checked for not only dangerous intruders, but also the structural integrity of key points. No one wanted the ceiling to cave on them or the floor to drop from under them.
Xeek was already half done with his preparations, light from the now lit lamps extended into the dark rooms on either side of them. Fosh still couldn’t see well into them. She turned to Chal and tossed him a datapad after typing in a few requests.
“Here,” she said as he caught it. “Try and find any maps of these tunnels in the files we downloaded from those mainframes. It could be a while, but it’s something.” She spun to face Kik’yka and continued. “I want you to go over every recent map you have in your datapad and see what you can find. We’ll cross reference when we find something.”
They got to work on their assigned tasks and it was quiet for a few minutes before anyone spoke again.
“Story time.”
“Come again, Chal?” asked Fosh.
“There’s not much I can do while the datapad searches through the files we retrieved. I can read another story for us while we work. Help keep our minds off being lost.”
Fosh thought it over. She was interested in hearing more accounts of the Clone Wars. And it was true; they were going to be hear a while. She nodded her permission.
“In that case, read on,” she spoke.
Chal sat down upon a large chunk of debris that had fallen and got comfortable. Those able to sit down did so as well while continuing with their tasks and prepared to listen to Chal’s reading.
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Healer_Leona
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Date Posted:
12/3/05 3:57pm
Subject:
RE: Tales From The Clone Wars (NJO Segments)
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A most intriguing fic. After the first post, I really wanted to see what Chal read. Also like how in the first post Fosh had been pulled into what she was reading. Been there, do it all the time. 
I look forward to reading more.
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I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
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Card_Dreamer
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Date Posted:
12/3/05 5:47pm
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RE: Tales From The Clone Wars (NJO Segments)
- Date Edited:
12/4/05 10:55am (1 edits total)
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I appreciate the feedback, Healer =).
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Date Posted:
12/4/05 8:14pm
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Tales From The Clone Wars (CW Segment)
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Okay, here's the first CW Story. It's not the final draft, but it's close. Just needs toucing up, and some things made to fit the next CW story better... Zyne is an OC of Terin's. Tas Chu is an OC of mine. Slaixth is an OC of a mutual friend.
One Drop In The Ocean: The Tale of Clone Trooper #24542
0-7 Months After The Battle Of Geonosis
By Virak Terin
PART I
From the Journal of Sergeant Zyne, Clone Trooper #24542
I am Sergeant Zyne of General Tas Chu's unit. I have volunteered to chronicle my exploits in this journal for purpose of dissemination by my superiors on Kamino and Coruscant. In addition, I have agreed to install a camera in my armor so that my actions in battle can be viewed across a live HoloNet feed. It would not surprise me if someone out there in the galaxy is wagering credits on how well I perform in battle. However, this is not my concern. I am a soldier, not an entertainer. My instrument is a blaster rifle, not a kloo horn. I was conceived, born into this world, and raised to my adult years by the tactics, weapons, and glory of war. I have no other purpose in this world.
Our transport is about to enter the atmosphere of a planet known as Geonosis. When it touches ground, I and my other forty-nine counterparts in my squadron will march into battle. Let the betting commence.
Our transport touched ground with a hiss of depressurized air. A ramp swung down and we formed single-file lines to march out the ship into battle. Tas Chu, our Jedi General, led us out into a battle we seemed to have already won. Our target was a hundred meters to the west: a factory used by the Separatists to manufacture their battle droids, of which a unit of approximately fifty was heading our way.
I raised my weapon without orders to do so. There was no need for such an order; we were trained to respond upon sight of any enemy. Upon acquisition, there was only one directive: elimination.
I raised my rifle and acquired one of the lead battle droids in my scope. I centered on the flimsy neck joint that held up the bird-like head of the metal exoskeleton. I squeezed the trigger, sending off one crimson bolt of energy that struck the neck and shore the droid's head off. Without its head to guide it, the battle droid collapsed. The droid unit returned fire, felling some of our ranks, but we advanced anyway, pouring on more fire and taking out more droids.
Briefly, I looked down, noting the smoldering corpses of some of the other men in my unit. My training was intended to prepare me for the grim possibility that some of my comrades would die. In my training, I was urged not to block out any images of death, but was instead directed to put them in their proper place while there were still things that needed to be done on the battlefield.
Having dispatched the minimal resistance from the battle droids, we advanced on the factory.
“Tread lightly,” suggested General Tas Chu, “there could be forces lying in wait.”
As if summoned by his words, the ground crumbled and multiple platforms raised, each bearing one of the most fearsome types of droids in the Separatists' arsenal. Three of these Destroyer Droids formed a ring around Tas Chu, myself and my comrades. Whereas the Battle Droids were designed for multiple purposes, these droids were designed only for mass destruction. They circled on tripod legs, taking us in as they would size up an animal for the kill.
Tas Chu spared not a moment in responding to the threat. He vaulted himself fifteen meters into the air, attracting a spray of laser fire by the Destroyers as he did so. Taking this newfound initiative, I raised my rifle, put a Destroyer Droid in its center, and fired. My shot struck the droid's shield and was harmlessly absorbed. I fired again. No effect. It swiveled its arms at me now. In desperation, I forced off one final shot at the Destroyer's midsection. The shot bypassed its shield and melted the tough support that kept the droid's tripod legs sturdy. It fell over, its legs kicking harmlessly.
“Good job!” said Tas Chu, but his words did not help our situation. The remaining Destroyers were quickly overcoming our squad. In a spray of blaster fire, they wounded five of our men, causing others to fall back. Tas Chu deflected as many bolts as he could with his lightsaber, but he appeared to be having trouble. One droid laid down all its blaster fire on the General. Suddenly, with one swift stroke, he cut through the Destroyer's midsection, sending its torso flying. A sudden torrent of green blaster bolts struck the final Destroyer and dismantled it.
“Excellent timing,” said Tas Chu to the two men that approached, flanked by two full squadrons of troopers.
“Wouldn't miss this party for the world,” replied the one known as Slaixth.
“Let us make haste,” added Kit Fisto.
The three Jedi led us into the factory. We were met with little resistance as we traveled down dark, smoky corridors. Stray Geonosians attacked here and there, sending off quick blaster shots that were mostly ineffective, except for one winged warrior that cut down a trooper from Slaixth's squadron before quickly being eliminated. After a long walk, we approached the factory floor. Tas Chu ordered a full halt, which was passed down the line to my superior, Uno, and then to me. Along with the order came a bulky device with a timer. I recognized it as an explosive charge with a remote detonator, likely in the possession of the General, Slaixth, or Kit Fisto.
“Put it over there in that crack and stand by,” ordered Uno.
“Yes, sir,” I affirmed sharply and ran to where I was directed. There was a small fissure in the wall, most likely forged by the ages, into which the charge fit snugly. General Tas Chu, surveying the troopers at their work, walked by my position. He seemed troubled.
“General?” I asked. The Caamasi stopped, spun on his feet to face me, and blinked oddly at me.
“What is it?” he asked in a sharp voice that drained all energy from me.
“Is...is something the matter, sir?” I stammered out, fearful of my position now. I am a trooper. Troopers do not approach their superior officers for casual conversation. It was a surprise, then, when the General's expression lightened and he came closer to me.
“What is your name?” he said, raising his eyebrow at me.
“I am Sergeant Zyne, of General Tas Chu's battalion. My designation is #24542,” came my automatic reply. General Tas Chu chuckled.
“What do you find humorous, sir?”
“Trooper #24542?” he repeated with some disgust in his voice. “That's no good. I'll have to change it later.”
“Sir?”
“#24542 is too sterile. I like Zyne, though. Anyway, what do you think of your current orders to set a charge and destroy this factory?”
“Orders are not to be disputed, sir,” I said. “They are to be followed. That is the duty of a soldier.”
“Indeed.” Tas Chu nodded sagely. “You make a good soldier. I fear that is all that you are good for in this world.”
“Sir?”
“I fear that is all I am good for as well,” he said, and then, with a bow to me, he walked away.
His words stayed with me as I prepared my own charge and rejoined my group. We left the factory with little resistance and filed into three gunships waiting outside. As our ships ascended into orbit, a plume of fire engulfed the factory.
Am I really nothing more than a weapon of war? I thought as I watched the factory burn. But that's all any of us are, right? This is war.
It was then that I resolved to make a name for myself in this war. I swore a pledge to myself that I would train to become the greatest soldier, to rise above the ranks of my clone brethren.
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Date Posted:
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Tales From The Clone Wars (CW Segment)
- Date Edited:
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PART II
Our gunship has entered the orbit of a world called Jentessa IV, in the Magramid Cluster, deep in the heart of the Techno Union. As our troop transport departs the safety of the Republic warship Exalted's docking bay into the thick of a battle among the stars, I look back and size up the warriors under my direct command. Each and every one of the twenty troopers sits with their hands neatly clutching their helmets. Their faces are identical. For some reason, this has never bothered me.
Much has changed since the battle at Geonosis three months ago. I have trained harder in order to realize the pledge I swore to myself. General Tas Chu observed and rewarded my efforts by promoting me to First Lieutenant of my squadron. The general has done much more for me as well. In addition to my new rank, he bestowed upon me the name “Atomos,” which, according to him, is the Caamasi word for “strength” and is a great honorific in their society. I am proud of my new name, and I look forward to proving that I am worthy of it.
A volley of laserfire played across the hull of our transport, causing great turbulence in the loading bay. From out my viewport, I watched as turbolaser fire from a Trade Federation Control Ship engulfed a nearby transport in a ball of flame. Our own pilot managed to fly us in between the Trade Federation blockade and into the atmosphere.
Our transport hovered just above the grassy ground of Jentessa now. We exited in pairs, save for Tas Chu, who led us out into battle, his lightsaber drawn and ready.
Across the plain, I saw our quarry. A fortified bunker in the distance shielded us from a Techno Union research and development lab. Among its fortifications was a highly concentrated energy shield that repelled all orbital bombardment. Guarding it was a contingent of Techno Union mechanized combat units. They advanced quickly.
As these machines approached, I realized I could not classify them. Clearly, these units were prototypes of future and far more dangerous war machines. Some of the machines were little more than turbolaser cannons on tripod legs. Before it could fire, I shot one of its legs out from under it.
The cannon droid collapsed, sending a bolt of bright green energy into the sky that would have vaporized our entire line.
“Fire at will!” I ordered now that the immediate threat was gone. Blaster fire from multiple troopers sent shards of superheated metal flying in the air from the corpse of the Techno Union's experiment.
Two more of these cannon droids advanced on us now, flanked by battle droids. As I pumped out shots with my blaster rifle, cutting down several droids, one cannon droid leveled its barrel at me. As I raised my blaster in defense, a lancet of bright red energy struck the droid and consumed it entirely. I quickly found the source of the saving blast: Republic All-terrain Armored vehicles. The monstrous pieces of armor lumbered across the plain behind us, four massive behemoths that rained fire upon the Separatist lines. Numerous explosions set both grass and droid aflame. The last of the turbolaser-bearing machines fired off one shot, the force of it knocking the droid onto its back. The bolt of bright green struck an armored vehicle and brought it to the ground, scattering dirt and dust everywhere. I tried to ignore the anguished cries of those the vehicle's rapid descent crushed, knowing that many of them belonged to my own men.
Tas Chu ran to me from the thick cloud of dust.
“Status report!” he barked.
I checked my transmitter, which had attached to it a signal belonging to each of the men under my command and one for myself. Only ten lights remained, and they were scattered.
“Not good,” I said, showing Tas Chu the display. His face was grim as he produced his comlink.
“Tas Chu to command. I need reinforcements and air cover at these coordinates. We've got to get to that generator!”
“Affirmative, Commander,” said a scratchy voice.
He pocketed the comlink.
“Get your men together! We've got to keep going!”
I nodded assent, producing my own comlink.
“Advance! Full advance!” I ordered my men. We regrouped and headed for the generator, Tas Chu's lightsaber raised as if it were a battle flag. I heard the hum of engines above me as two gunships dropped into the atmosphere. They sent off bright shafts of laserfire, burning everything in front of us. They then crisscrossed and ascended back into orbit, leaving behind the stench of burnt grass.
The Separatists' line seemed to quiet considerably as we neared the generator. From our own line came a fierce battle cry from an unknown source. Within moments, all of us echoed that cry, including Tas Chu and the Jedi that ran alongside him, Ki-Adi Mundi.
Reinforcements in the form of battle droid squads poured from the bunker to meet us.
“Drop!” I ordered my troops, then followed my own order and fell to one knee on the soft ground. I raised my rifle, leveled it on the advancing line. Pressing the trigger, I began cutting down battle droids one after one. We traded blaster fire in the vicinity of the base until large piles of downed battle droids began to clog my view; unfortunately, the same piles existed on our side of the line, though in smaller quantities.
“We must go inside,” said Ki-Adi Mundi.
“Agreed,” said Tas Chu. He motioned at me and two other troopers. “Watch our backs.”
We ran through the base, its entrance a narrow corridor that spanned a large hallway. Blaster bolts came at us, but were swiftly deflected by Tas and Ki-Adi Mundi's lightsabers.
We fired past the Jedi and cut down battle droids at the end of the hall. Stepping over their bodies, we found that the corridor junctioned off into several corridors.
“Let's split up,” Tas Chu suggested, beckoning to me. “We'll head this way.”
Ki-Adi nodded, beckoning to the other trooper. We split up at that junction. More blasterfire met us as we ran down the hallway. I raised my blaster rifle and fired from behind Tas, taking down several Battle Droids. The rest retreated and regrouped near a large blast door.
“Cover me,” Tas said in a low voice. I threw myself against the bulkhead, leveled my rifle at the cluster of droids by the door, and began spraying blasterfire. As I did this, Tas ran toward the cluster. His feet became a blur as he picked up speed and began to soar toward them. He came upon them, and with a few slashes of his lightsaber, dismantled them. Severed torsos and limbs hit the blast door as I put down my rifle and joined Tas.
“This should do the trick,” he said, jamming his lightsaber through the door and twisting. The thick duracrete glowed red and began to bend slowly under the pressure of the lightsaber. A stray blaster bolt from down the hallway disrupted my observance of this event. I triggered a few shots to dissuade our pursuers.
The door groaned under the pressure of Tas' lightsaber and opened automatically. We stepped into the room, a spacious control room with large computers lining its walls. Technicians in lab suits ducked behind cubicles at the sight of us. One particularly brave technician produced a blaster from his lab coat and leveled it on us. As I raised my rifle, Tas gestured with his hand. The blaster flew from the hapless man's hand and shattered to pieces against the side of one of the computers. The technician fell to the floor, eyes wide in fear, as we approached him.
“Relax,” Tas Chu said. “We're not here to hurt you. We are here to destroy his facility, however. Where's your satellite beacon?”
The technician, still looking at Tas with a look of fear in his wide eyes, raised a shaky hand and pointed to the third computer down the right side of the hall. Tas walked over to it while I kept my blaster trained on the technicians. He placed a small device on the side of the machine and pressed several keys, each of which made a distinct beeping noise.
“There,” Tas said, returning to my side. “This facility is no longer operational. Leave here in peace.”
We departed; leaving the technicians huddled on the ground. The tunnels were empty save for the dismantled corpses of our enemies. Tas keyed his comm.
“All right, we're ready,” he said.
“Good job, General Chu,” came the reply from the other side. We'll have the transport down in ten minutes.”
“Excellent.” Tas put away the comlink. We began to round the corridor when my ears picked up something.
Footsteps. Lots of them. Despite being trained not to panic, I felt my heart sink as I stuck my head around the corner and saw a large contingent of battle droids coming out way.
“Sir!” I hissed. “We're trapped.”
“Relax,” said Tas. “We simply need to examine our options. If I remember right, there's an alternate exit that way.” He pointed the direction we had come. “If we only had a decoy...”
Decoy... Lifting my rifle, I wandered out into the corridor and started shooting.
“Zyne!” Tas yelled. “What in blazes are you doing?”
I saw my men beginning to join me, but I waved them off with my free hand, taking up position behind a large crate.
“Go!” I shouted back. “I'll hold them off!” I started shooting. A few battle droids fell, but the rest formed an impenetrable wall by their numbers and advanced, lighting up the corridor with crimson.
“Zyne, no!” Tas shouted. I ignored him and kept going. Why are you being so obstinate, Tas? I'm doing this so everyone can live.
The battle droids were getting closer. One fired a shot that I knew was going to hit me. I braced myself for the end-
-and was spared that fate. The blaster bolt struck a crate hovering in midair. I looked back to Tas, who appeared to be concentrating heavily.
“Your desire to sacrifice yourself is admirable, Zyne,” said Tas, “but completely unnecessary. This ruse will hold them off so that we may all escape.”
Nodding to Tas, I followed him down the other pathway and to the entrance. A transport appeared on the horizon and descended toward us. Ki-Adi Mundi met us with his troopers and we watched it come closer to us. It circled around and lowered its ramp for us. I entered the transport last and seated myself just as it began to ascend.
As the transport broke the atmosphere, I looked over at Tas and noticed that he was examining me with what looked like a critical eye.
“Why were you so willing to do that for us, Zyne?” Tas asked me in a voice that seemed to be edged with ice.
“It is merely part of my duty, sir.”
“It is part of your duty to refuse my order twice? To give your own life completely in vain?” Tas leaned in closer to me. “I was able to handle the situation easily. What were you trying to accomplish?”
I looked away from Tas. “I-”
“Respond to me directly, Zyne.” His voice was extremely cold.
“I wanted to prove myself.” As I spoke those words to Tas, I found myself ashamed of them, even though they were truthful.
“Prove yourself?” Tas raised an eyebrow at me. “Have you not already proven yourself time and time again? What greater ambition is there for you to take hold of?”
“None, sir,” I answered directly. “I suppose there is no such ambition for a clone.”
Tas looked stricken for a moment, then looked down as if contemplating my words. Finally, he looked back up at me.
“I will consider your words, Zyne,” Tas said, “and as such, I will make no note of any transgressions on your part in my official report. However.” He leaned in very close to me. “Don't do anything like that again. This war is not about personal glory, and I'm not about to see you or anyone else sacrificed to such a stupid ideal.”
“Understood, sir. If I may ask, though-”
“Normally I would say you may not. However, you are definitely not the typical soldier.” Tas chuckled. “You seem to take a great degree of liberty with those higher than you. I sense it is less out of disdain as it is...curiosity, perhaps? Therefore, I will allow your question.”
“What is this war about?”
Tas looked behind him to the other soldiers seated around them, the ones that had been privy to this entire conversation.
“This is a war for justice,” he replied. “What else would it be?” Yet, as I read the look in his eyes, it seemed to tell me, I don't know, Zyne. I really don't know.
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Card_Dreamer
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Date Posted:
12/6/05 12:57pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (CW Segment)
- Date Edited:
12/6/05 1:00pm (2 edits total)
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PART III
What does it mean to be unique? Does it mean anything at all? These are among many of the questions I have pondered in the three weeks since the battle at Jentessa IV. Much has changed in this time. I have grown closer to shedding my old identity as #24542, and fully becoming Zyne. This has been problematic to my direct superiors, the liaisons between myself and Tas Chu, who have fervently resisted my new identity.
“You are #24542. You are a soldier. You know nothing but war,” they say in their attempts to dissuade me. However, I am no longer sure that I believe them. This has been a difficult time for me. I feel as if I am standing in front of a large wall, behind which lies the truth about me. The truth about my destiny. What does it mean to be a clone?
I believe Tas Chu can help me find my answer. He has given me a special responsibility for our next mission. The manner in which he presented his responsibility to me was startling.
“Zyne, would you like to fly?” he asked me, approaching my bunk one day. He then explained his plan to fit several troopers with jet packs and rocket launchers as part of his strategy in the upcoming battle. I was apprehensive at first, but I accepted this position. I am proud to serve Tas Chu and the Republic in this capacity.
I will never forget what Tas Chu told me after he officially accepted me as a Flight Trooper for the battle at Balmorra.
“I considered what you said to me, Zyne.” Tas sighed heavily. “I think the answer is the same for all mankind. It is the same answer for you, a clone in an army of millions with the same face as yours, as it is for me, a Jedi Knight who has spent years training to serve.” Tas drew in a deep breath.
“There is no greater ambition for any of us, Zyne. We are all as one drop in a vast ocean. None of us dictate our own paths; we can only move along with the flow that is intended for us, so that all others may have room to follow the paths that have been prescribed for them.”
It made so much sense to me when Tas said it. For some reason, I felt a sense of awe at the realization that Tas Chu had just accepted me as his personal equal, even if we shared very different status in the military sense.
“I pray that both of us will survive this conflict,” Tas said. “I look forward to hearing from you after all of this is over.” He departed.
We have just dropped out of hyperspace in preparation for our attack on Balmorra. I feel the weight of the jetpack on my back and the rocket launcher in my hands. However, there is some force in the universe that now exerts an even greater force on me. I think I have a greater sense now of what that force is.
The transport slowed down for our elite unit of twelve strong to disembark. The launch bay door opened in midair, exposing to us a sprawling cityscape that was already under siege from armored vehicles on the ground. Nodding to my comrades, I jumped out first, letting the wind hit me and guide my initial descent, and thumbed on my jetpack to quickly stop my descent and leave me airborne. The transport was a blur in the distance now as it landed and deposited the rest of my unit.
Off to my right, I immediately spotted my first target: A control tower that coordinated the Separatists' efforts in space. I sped toward it, let one rocket fly away and pulled up as my rocket shattered the transparisteel window of the tower's dome and sent debris flying everywhere in the ensuing explosion.
Five left.
From my vantage point in the sky, the Separatist ground forces defending the Republic's advance toward the city looked like mere insects. I descended sharply, putting myself closer to their ranks, and fired several shots from my blaster rifle. Four battle droids fell, incapacitated, while others returned fire at me as I passed. I retreated to the safety of the sky and watched the battle unfold. Our forces seemed to be driving the Separatists toward the center of the city. As our forces advanced, I noticed protrusions in some of the buildings. Enemies began to pour from these openings.
It's a trap!
I flew toward one of the openings, firing my blaster rifle erratically in hopes of destroying or incapacitating as many droids as I could. I did not even look behind me as I passed to see how many I had taken out. I felt the heat of a blaster bolt that nearly struck my leg. I flew up to a building and perched on its roof, fumbling for my comlink.
“General!” I cried. 'It's a trap!”
“I know, Zyne,” came the reply. “Do what you must, but be very careful.”
“I will, sir.” I surveyed the situation below. Some of our troops were completely surrounded by the Separatist forces streaming out from underground. As I examined their entryways into the city, I realized what I should do. I jumped off the building, thumbing on my jetpack as I fell, and flew within range of the entryways. Sighting the first one, out of which troops were still coming, I fired a rocket. It struck the door and collapsed it, flattening all troops underneath and preventing further access.
Four left.
Blaster fire was coming at me in all directions now. I ascended sharply, to avoid all of it, then started firing rockets at any access point I could find. Four more entryways were destroyed, hindering the progress of the Separatist forces but not halting it completely. That task would be up to our other forces on the ground. If ever there is a time for them to fight as hard as they can, it is now.
From up in the sky, I noticed that most of the combat around one area had ceased. Looking down, I saw two flashes of bright light and soon realized what was going on. Tas Chu was in lightsaber combat with another man, presumably the leader of these forces. I could feel the anguish of Tas Chu below as he struggled with the man with the red lightsaber.
No rockets left, I thought to myself as I considered my options. Certainly, it was possible to leave the fight to Tas Chu under the presumption that his strength would allow him to overcome the Separatist leader and ensure our victory. However, the defeat of Tas would ensure our total defeat.
What is this feeling inside me?
I checked my jetpack. It was almost out of fuel.
Is this what it means to be a friend?
I looked down at the battle. Tas had been knocked down and was slow to rise.
This is suicide. Yet, it feels like the right thing to do.
I descended sharply, leveling my rifle on the man. I got him in my sights and began shooting. My blaster bolts were deflected.
So he is a Force user as well.
Tas quickly saw me. Zyne, no! I heard in my mind.
Is this the meaning of it all?
The man lifted his hand and lightning poured from his fingertips. As it struck me, I felt immense pain. Thank you, Tas, for everything. I only wish I could have done more.
The pain was overwhelming now.
Good luck, Tas...
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Date Posted:
12/7/05 3:32pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (NJO Segment #3)
- Date Edited:
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Strangers Among Us
1 Month After Yuuzhan Vong War
Once again the team sat in silence, momentarily forgetting about their work at hand. The grouped looked down at the floor in a moment of silence for the fallen Clone Trooper and the Jedi Master who commanded him.
“They had quite the friendship, didn’t they?” asked Chal after another moment.
The others nodded. [Indeed. It reminds me of us,] replied Xeek.
The others around the area smiled to one another at the compliment. Das was somewhat offset and confused by the whole ordeal and so he simply stood there.
“I don’t want to break up this touching moment, but we still need to find a map of where we are,” Fosh spoke, breaking into the group bonding.
As if the Force was answering her, Kik’yka’s datapad began to chirp its findings.
“Sithspawn, you should have asked earlier, Fosh,” Kik jested as he pressed a few keys to check the new information. A moment later, the map appeared on the screen.
“Got it!” he exclaimed as he pinpointed their location and got the estimate on the distance between their present location and where they need to be on the surface. “But guys, we are way off course,” he informed the team.
[How much is “way off course” exactly?] Xeek inquired.
Kik’yka hesitated before answering. “About three kilometers.”
Fosh’s eyes grew wide slightly at the number and then closed them shut to clear her head. Last thing they needed now was a leader making decisions based on clouded judgment.
“Okay. It’ll be a little rough, but we can handle an extra three kilometers. Chal, I want you to lead for a while. Das, you take rear incase of danger. I’ll go second, followed by Xeek and then Kik. Understood?” Fosh ordered.
The others each looked to her and nodded their understanding.
“Good. Let’s go.”
The others began to follow suit, Chal taking up lead. Chal glanced at the datapad Kik gave him with the up to date map and began heading right.
The room was darker than the archive room they had found. The light from the few glow rods they had was almost completely swallowed by the darkness. After only a minute or so of moving slowly through the new room, Chal bumped into something solid.
“Blast, I can’t see anything. Xeek, why don’t you turn on a glow lamp. We’ll have to leave it here, but at least we’ll be able to see,” Chal suggested as he tried to feel what he bumped into.
The object was solid, but not hard like rock. It was warm to the touch despite the slight chill that seemed to stay at this level of the planet. He pressed his glow rod to it, but most of the object seemed black itself with blotches of dark gray. He didn’t have the faintest idea of what it could be.
“Lamp coming on now,” called Xeek.
Suddenly the room was flooded with the bright yellow light of the lamp. It took a second for their eyes to readjust. After that second, everyone gasped.
Chal finally saw what it was he ran into but did not back away. Infact he did not move and was only one of two to not physically gasp at the site, Das being the second. The dark color object was in fact the vonduun crab armor of the Vong warrior standing almost nose to nose with Chal. The dark gray was the warrior’s skin.
He looked around and saw two warriors blocking the path ahead and two more blocking the way they had come in. They were trapped. Chal cursed himself.
The warriors were obviously leftovers from the war, part of the collective that thought fighting till the end was the only true Vong path. They must have heard Chal’s reading of the Clone Wars report and their entrance into the room and decided to stay quite and surround them to prevent escape.
They were trapped here and had a good chance of dying even with Das’ help. Fosh had to know it. Xeek and Kik’yka surely knew it. Even Das could probably see it. But despite it all, Chal wouldn’t go out doing nothing even if doing something amounted to nothing. So Chal did the only thing that felt right.
He belted the Vong warrior with a right hook. The warrior staggered back from the blow and the suddenness of the move.
“Move! Now!” Chal shouted as he dove into the warrior in front of him, still offset by the force of Chal’s blow.
The move sent the two sprawling to the floor, but the Vong countered quickly, rolling with the momentum onto his back and flipping Chal over. The fall was somewhat cushioned by the backpack he had been wearing and Chal quickly slipped out of it. No sooner had he sat up and got to his feet did the Vong warrior’s amphistaff come crashing down on his backpack, ripping through it and breaking a few of the equipment inside it. The amphistaff recoiled back to its master, poised for another quick strike.
By now, Fosh and the others were in motion. Upon Chal’s initial command to move, Fosh immediately drew her DL-44 blaster from the hidden holster inside her jumpsuit and fired. The shot nailed the warrior to the left of the entrance they’d come through square between the eyes as he took a step towards them. However, as she went to fire again at the warrior on the right, the shot was blocked by the warrior’s amphistaff.
“C’mon! Xeek, Kik, Das! We need to push ahead!” Fosh shouted as she tried force the two warriors ahead to abandon the doorway but to no avail. They held strong, their armor absorbing what few shots made it through.
“They’re not moving! What now?” asked Kik’yka as he came up behind Fosh.
[Um, guys…The warrior from behind us is about to be on us!] Xeek shrilled through his tuberous lips.
“I will handle them.”
Fosh, Xeek and Kik’yka turned to Das.
“You can’t be serious. Even as well trained as you are, you can’t take on three warriors by yourself,” Fosh protested.
“There is no choice in this matter. It was…an honor to serve you. This restoration effort has been the least of what I could do to atone for my race’s actions,” Das spoke as he bowed. And with that, Das threw himself at the two warriors ahead.
Fosh and her two comrades were only able to watch.
As Das leapt towards them, he uncoiled his own amphistaff and whipped it at the nearest warrior. The warrior commanded his own staff to harden and raised it to block. Das’ staff wrapped around the center of the warrior’s rigid staff and the warrior immediately pulled, causing Das to move even quicker at them. However, Das had counted on this, and went with the added momentum, extending his leg and connecting with the warrior’s jaw. A loud crack was heard immediately after and the warrior slumped to the floor lifeless.
[Fosh!] shouted Xeek from behind as he dove for cover.
The warrior from behind had caught up and had attempted a strike with his own amphistaff. The staff missed its intended target and instead tore chunks out of the stone floor. Fosh acted completely on instinct then, rolling forward and coming up on one knee. She instantly turned around at the waist and snapped off two quick shots with her blaster. The first shot hit the warrior’s protected shoulder but the second grazed his neck, leaving behind a nasty but non fatal burn.
Chal was barely managing to stay ahead of the warrior. And without a weapon of any kind, that wasn’t going to last much longer. The Vong warrior made his staff become stiff, its edge sharper than any sword, and lashed out sideways for Chal’s head. Chal ducked the blow and came at the warrior with a left uppercut that knocked out one of the Vong’s upper front teeth.
The warrior staggered back, but quickly recovered his footing and entered a stance that could have easy been defensive or offensive. He glared at Chal, baring his teeth minus the one Chal had knocked free. Blood slowly ran from the gap but the warrior seemed not to notice. Or care.
The warrior made the first move, darting towards Chal. Chal went down, performing a leg sweep but the warrior jumped that the last second, lashing downward with this amphistaff which turned into almost a living snake like creature. The head of the staff tore into Chal’s left shoulder and began to sear with a burning pain as the staff’s poison was injected into the wound.
Kik’yka spun at the sound of Chal’s outcry and ran towards the warrior as he was landing on his feet. He dove for the warrior, ramming into his lower back, bringing him down and causing him to lose his grip on the amphistaff. Kik’yka managed to slam the warrior’s face into the floor as they hit but the warrior ignored the pain and easily threw Kik’yka off him a couple feet away.
Chal quickly pulled the amphistaff from his shoulder, yelping in the sharp pain that followed. The living staff squirmed in his hand, cutting him even as he whipped it behind his back and threw it at the warrior to whom it belonged. Acting on pure surprise, the warrior placed his hand up to half stop it, half catch it but only marginally succeeded. The warrior trembled slightly from the intense pain; the only indication he was suffering any at all. The staff had gone straight through the palm of his hand and blood was running down his forearm and onto the floor.
“Everyone!” Fosh shouted over the commotion and that was enough for the others to catch on.
The opening was clear and this was going to be there only chance. She ran towards the way out, Xeek close behind her. Xeek made a quick stop to help Kik’yka to his feet who was fortunate not to have suffered any serious injuries and they both made it out.
She ran over to Chal who was not as lucky but at least still on his feet. She took a hold of his right arm and together they ran out if the room, leaving Das alone with three warrior Yuuzahn Vong to contend with.
“We can’t just leave him alone in there! They’ll kill him!” Kik’yka objected.
“I don’t intend to, but it won’t do us much good if we’re all killed,” Fosh replied. “Xeek, I want you and Kik’yka to get Chal further down this hall,” she ordered, noticing there was only one way to go. She stared down the hall for a second trying to see what might lie ahead, but it was eerily dark and she soon gave up. “Get him safe and as comfortable as possible and then switch your glow rods off. Sit there in the dark and wait for Das and me to return.”
[But…]
“No buts. The less light there is, the less likely any other Vong warriors will be to see you.”
Xeek agreed and did not say anything more. Fosh nodded her silent thanks, checked the charge on her blaster and headed back for Das.
*****
Das only had two warriors to go. The one whom Chal had attacked was standing back and Das didn’t think anything about him for the moment. The second warrior was now circling him, anger clearly seething from his very being.
Das maintained his discipline, not allowing emotions to guide his actions. In the last month, he had learned a few things about the fighting styles in this galaxy. And he had worked hard to integrate some of those styles into his own, making him an even more formidable opponent. He found he had little need to call on those styles as of yet however.
Without warning, Das burst into run at the warrior, whipping his amphistaff in a criss-cross pattern in front of him. As he neared his opponent, he spun around and dropped to his knees. His opponent was quick and immediately jumped to avoid a low blow to the legs. Das had another idea. He swung his staff upward and across, causing it to go solid and sharp. The attack connected with his opponent and his staff embedded itself into his opponent’s thigh. The enemy dropped from the air and landed on his side, clutching his left thigh. He did not rise but glowered at Das from where he lay.
Das turned to the remaining warrior with the intent of another relatively quick battle. But as he took the warrior in, his eyes widened in recognition. That was all the time the fallen warrior needed to spring.
With a battle cry worthy of Yun-Yuuzhan himself, the warrior gathered his strength, pushed though his pain and raised his amphistaff at Das. There was a loud noise and the warrior dropped.
Das sidestepped to avoid being toppled by the limp body and checked the body over to see what had happened. In the warriors left temple was a blaster hole.
“C’mon Das!” Fosh shouted from the archway.
Das glanced to her but shook his head solemnly.
“I cannot. This must be finished. You must go. I will provide additional cover,” he replied, turning back to face the remaining warrior.
The warrior sneered at Das, emitting what could only be the Yuuzahn Vong equivalent of a laugh.
“Go, Das Shim’drak. You are not worthy to face me. You are a disgrace to the gods.”
Das entered a defensive posture, never taking his eyes off the warrior.
“The gods you so hold dear are the same ones who have turned their back on you and that way of thinking. I served your loyally, Krak’rok, but the war should never have happened,” Das retorted.
“No! The war was sanctioned by the gods. Of that, there is no doubt. But we were led by those who were petty, easily deceived and out to serve only themselves. It is them the gods denounced!” Krak’rok spat.
Das shook his head disapprovingly.
“You are wrong. The gods have denounced every action taken by the Yuuzhan Vong since entering this galaxy. And yet, to those who would see the light, they have still blessed us! They have brought us Zenoma Sekot, the planet child of Yuuzhan’tar! And yet you and others choose to ignore the obvious.”
“You are a fool,” Krak’rok replied.
And the fight was on.
Krak’rok swung his amphistaff at Das’ side. Das blocked and countered by jabbing the end of his staff into Krak’s forehead, snapping his neck back. But Krak’rok did not lose a beat and sent Das stumbling with a right to the jaw. He followed with a quick spin around and a backhand again to the jaw.
Das reeled from the double hit but used the momentum to snap back and uppercut Krak with the end of his staff, leaving a gash on his chin and dribbling blood. Das left no opening and nailed Krak with another blow from his staff across the left side of his face. The move left a large welt already forming from his temple to down across his cheek and jaw.
Once again there was a counter. Krak’rok turned into the blow from Das’ staff and came around with a roundhouse kick to the side of his head and finished with another kick from the opposite direction.
Das tumbled down to one knee, leaning forward and held up only by the support of both his arms. He knew this was going to be a difficult battle going in. There were good reasons why Krak had been his commanding officer during the war. His fighting ability was a main one. But Das had learned since then. He had grown as a being, had seen the truth about his people and their origins and had made himself better cause of it. He would not give up. He would make Krak’rok see the power of the true Yun-Yuuzhan!
Krak’rok stepped back from Das, allowing himself a moment to breathe and gather himself. Das did not miss him favoring the hand Chal had earlier injured. Apparently, his backhand to Das’ head had made the injury worse. Das would keep this in mind.
“Is this how you show respect to the gods? You fall before your opponents so quickly?” mocked Krak as he poised to strike again, this time using his amphistaff as a whip.
“No. But your fighting ability is humorous enough to send me to my knees,” Das goaded, throwing Krak off his guard. “I mean, a mere ‘infidel’ managed to cripple you with your own staff; a weapon specifically bred to obey the will of a Yuuzhan Vong warrior only!”
That drove Krak over the edge and he made a mad dash for Das. Das rose to his feet just as the first whip of Krak’s staff landed. Das did not flinch nor make an attempt to block the assault. This infuriated Krak more and he attacked vehemently. Blow after blow landed on Das, some absorbed harmlessly by his armor, others landing on his shoulders, head and arms. And yet he did not move…
Until Krak had entered into his reach. Das snapped into motion, grabbing Krak by his arm and injured hand and flipping him over onto his back. Never did he let go of Krak’s wrist and he bent it back towards Krak’s body, applying pressure until it was about to snap. Krak let screamed and bellowed curses at Das but the pain was compounding his already injured hand, preventing him from being able to fight back.
“You cannot hurt me, Krak. I know the truth about our people, where we came from. It is that knowledge; that faith that gives me power over you and others like you.”
“Curse you and your make believe gods. You defeated an already injured warrior. What honor is there in that?” was Krak’s rebuttal.
Das frowned. “I would give you this chance to surrender and convert, but I know that is beyond your capabilities.”
Krak’s eyes went wide at that second and all the struggle and fight in him left. He remained silent as he slowly turned his head to the left. There under his arm, where all vonduun crab armor was weak, was now embedded Das’ amphistaff, injecting its poison into his bloodstream. He turned back to Das.
“You will get yours…one day,” he spoke softly as he felt his body give into the poison and abuse it had taken this fight. He let out his breath slowly and life left him.
Das dropped Krak’s hand, letting it lightly thud on the floor. He made no effort to move, remaining silent and contemplative. Only when Fosh came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder did he remember where he was.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Das nodded once and stood. He turned to face her before speaking.
“I am well.”
“Good. Being that you’re okay, we have more pressing matters. The poison from your amphistaffs…does it really kill that quickly?” she inquired, gesturing to Krak’s still body.
Das shook his head. “No. Although it can kill quickly, it usually takes a few minutes to truly enter the system,” he stated.
Fosh went pale. “Come with me. Chal’s been stabbed with one of them,” she informed, taking off at a run.
Das followed suit.
*****
When Fosh and Das caught up with the rest of the squad Chal was not doing well. Fosh noticed his breathing was labored and shallow. He was sweating heavily and his skin was pale and clammy.
Xeek and Kik’yka had remained quite upon Fosh’s return with Das. They noticed immediately Das’s injuries but knew being a Yuzzhan Vong warrior, he’d be okay. They had set up a small portable heater by Chal and were now setting up a single glow lamp.
Das knelt beside Chal and examined the wound.
“Things are not as bad as they appear,” he spoke, carefully prodding near the wound. The staff went clean through, which means not nearly all the poison it would have ejected into the victim was released.”
“So it’s not fatal?” inquired Kik’yka, his hopes rising.
Das closed his eyes before answering. “Enough got into his system that it is indeed fatal. Because it was not a full does, the poison is taking longer to work.”
Kik’yka, Xeek and Fosh lowered there heads in remorse. Das removed the small pouch he’d been carrying from the onset of their journey and took out a small vile. Inside was a dark purplish looking liquid.
“I do have an antidote for the poison. However, because of how long the poison has already been at work, it is hard to judge the extent of damage already done or if it is simply too late to work.
Chal, his hand shaking from the effects of the poison, took the vile from Das and drank its contents. The stuff tasted awful and his first instinct was to gag and spit it out. But if he wanted to live, he’d have to choke it down. He handed the empty vile back to Das.
“Thank you,” he spoke softly.
“He should rest for a couple hours before moving out,” Das commented, putting the vile back in his bag.
Fosh took up a seat next to Chal to help him with whatever he may need and to provide the comfort of a friend’s company.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked.
“How about,” he was cut off by a series of ragged coughs. When they subsided, he tried again. “How about another Clone Wars entry to help pass the time?” he asked in return.
Fosh nodded and took the datapad they’d been reading from Xeek and sat back. She would read this one.
“Of course,” she told him and started reading.
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JoeyCollee
Registered:
Sep '05
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Date Posted:
12/9/05 1:20pm
Subject:
RE: Tales From The Clone Wars (A NJO Retrospect) - Updated 12/7/05! (First Fic, Please Reply!)
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great work man when can we expect the next instalment?
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"HMMMM, WRINKLEY I AM!!"
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Healer_Leona
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Jul '00
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Date Posted:
12/9/05 3:33pm
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RE: Tales From The Clone Wars (A NJO Retrospect) - Updated 12/7/05! (First Fic, Please Reply!)
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I'm so far behind.  So much going on. C_D you are just spinning the posts out! Wonderfully tale.
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I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
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Card_Dreamer
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Aug '03
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Date Posted:
12/9/05 4:48pm
Subject:
Tales From The Clone Wars (CW Segment #2)
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Dark Secret Of the Jedi
7 Months After The Battle Of Geonosis
5,4,3,2,1...
Bursting out of hyperspace on the count of 0, the Delta 7 light interceptor began to decelerate as the pilot detached his fighter from the hyperspace ring, and kicked the sublight engines into full. The triangular shaped fighter performed a barrel roll, rocking slightly, before setting a straight line for Balmorra. The fighter however, wasn’t alone. Behind it came two Republic Assault Transports and four heavily armed and modified Republic Cruisers. The accompanying fighter support was Insight Squadron, a squadron of modified Z-95 Headhunters Mark 2s and Shadow Squadron, a squadron of old, but very well kept up and modified Cloakshape fighters.
If this had been a typical assault mission on a Separatist controlled system, the brown furred Caamasi pilot of the Jedi Starfighter knew he was severely outgunned and outclassed. However, full invasion and assault was not needed here. Hence his “light” escorts here.
Balmorra, though a Separatist controlled system, was located in the sector of space known as The Colonies. Being there, it was on the fringes of Separatists’ control and therefore not the most heavily defended of their planets. Master Yoda had made the call to attack on two sides. While the main push of the Republic was through the “front door”, a few small assault groups were to slip in the “back door” at various systems. The pilot switched on his comm to communicate with his charges.
“This is Tas Chu to fleet. I’m detecting only one droid control ship, already launching fighters. Shadow and Insight Squadrons, form up on me. Vision, I want you to come with me as well.” Tas ordered one of the republic cruisers, then switched over to a direct line with the Contemplative, one of the two assault transports. “Commander Madine, you’re in charge of the rest of the capitals. Concentrate your fire on the control | |