Saga No Escape (Clone Wars, Dooku, Mace, Grievous, Saesee, Agen) CHAPTER 5 IS UP 8-20-10

Title: Star Wars: No Escape
Author(s): Master_Jorath Oldin
Timeframe: 20 BBY during The Outer Rim Sieges
Characters: Mace Windu, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar, Some OCs
Genre: Action/Adventure
Keywords: Clone Wars, Dooku, Mace
Summary: THE OUTER RIM SIEGES HAVE BEGUN! WITH THE REPUBLIC PUSHING THE SEPARATIST FORCES OUT TO THE OUTER RIM, IT SEEMS AS IF THE REPUBLIC MAY BE TRIUMPHANT. BUT AS THE REPUBLIC CLOSES IN ON VICTORY, THE SEPARATISTS BEGIN FALLING BACK TO FORTRESS WORLDS THAT THE REPUBLIC CANNOT EVEN REACH, LET ALONE LIBERATE.

AMIDST THE CHAOS IN THE OUTER RIM, JEDI MASTER MACE WINDU DEVISES A PLAN TO CAPTURE TWO OF THE SEPARATIST'S MAJOR PLANETS ALONG THE HYDIAN WAY. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER JEDI MASTER, LUMINARA UNDULI, THEY PLAN ON TAKING THE SHIPYARD WORLD OF SLUIS VAN WHILE SAESEE TIIN AND AGEN KOLAR TACKLE THE COMMERCE GUILD HOMEWORLD OF SULLUST.

AS EASY AS THE PLAN SOUNDS, DARTH SIDIOUS DEVISES HIS OWN PLANS FOR HIS APPRENTICE DARTH TYRANUS AND EVIL SEPARATIST GENERAL GRIEVOUS. ALTHOUGH MACE KNOWS THAT HE IS RISKING A LOT FOR THE REPUBLIC, HE REALIZES THAT A FAILURE COULD PROLONG THE WAR, BUT FALLING INTO SIDIOUS'S TRAP COULD MEAN DOOM FOR THE REPUBLIC.

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PROLOGUE



?Why would I choose sides? If I choose the Republic, then I have to follow their rules and listen to those Jedi. If I choose the Confederacy they would turn our factories into droid producing labor camps. There is no lesser of two evils.?

-Representative from Manaan on why they remained neutral during the Clone Wars.






?And now I bring you, Surl Nost, Assistant to the Chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan.? Nacene Mashayekhi, the Twi?lek news reporter said.

It was another long night for Nacene, who was severely underpaid to be doing this type of show. Tonight?s show was most likely going to be one of the most conversational shows in Galactic history.

Guests tonight included Separatist and Republic supporters alike and, at least what her boss told her, a Jedi Knight will even show up.

But for now, Surl Nost, member of a large Separatist corporation, will probably get into a huge argument with Harkon Dell, a Republic-friendly Senator from a world Nacene could not even remember.

As she took another swing at the caff that she was drinking, Surl took his turn with the niceties.

?Why thank you, Miss Mashayekhi, you look as wonderful as this evening does, my dear.? he said. Surl was, as most of the Banking Clan was, a Muun. With an almost potato-like head, Muuns almost looked like death with their pale pink skin and skinny build. It was obvious that Surl had not looked at the weather forecast tonight for Coruscant as it was raining outside?

?Yeah, okay. Well, Mr. Nost, our other speaker is arriving here shortly, please stand-by.? Nacene said. And, sure enough, the next speaker arrived on another screen hanging from the newsroom.

Harkon Dell looked like he just got out of the fresher a few moments ago. His face was still a little bit red from where he shaved at and, Nacene hoped nobody else noticed, he had a little bit of shaving cream right near the tip of his ear.

She almost chuckled and she introduced him.

?Galactic citizens alike, let me present to you, Senator Harkon Dell of the Vondarc System located in the Mid Rim.? She read from a card she got from a nearby protocol droid.

Nacene put on a fake smile and said ?Well, gentlemen, it seems like we can get started, others will join us, but for now let us start with our first topic: the clone troopers that the Grand Army of the Republic uses.?

She could see the smirk begin to grow on Nost?s face from the mention of this topic, he had something good (or not good) to say about this topic.

But she let Harkon Dell go first, just to annoy Surl Nost.

?Well, Nacene, let me be the first to applaud th

 

I like this story! Would you please add me to the PM list!!!

 

?All warfare is based on deception.?
-Count Dooku







?I have a plan,? Jedi Master Mace Windu said.

It was a calm, cool day on Eriadu. Though directly next to Separatist territory, the planet had not yet been attacked. Peace reigned. The way things were looking on Eriadu, one would think that there was not even a war going on when eyes gazed upon the beautiful skies and the rolling hills.

Until one looked around.

Clone troopers, by the thousands, marched outside the Republic HQ; emotionless, silent, their armor spotless. The clone troopers that would or had sacrificed their lives to protect a thousand years of peace.

Mace Windu had a plan. A plan that would require some of those troopers to risk their lives in order to preserve that peace.

In the beautifully designed room with him were fellow Jedi Masters Luminara Unduli, Saesee Tiin, and Agen Kolar. All three Masters looked to him as a leader, even though Saesee and Agen were also on the Jedi Council. They looked at him as if he were somehow better than them. Like he ranked higher.

Nobody was ?ranked? higher than anybody on the Jedi Council, of course, except Master Yoda. Nearly 900 years old, he held more wisdom than the entire Council combined.

Also in the room was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and when he looked at Mace, it wasn?t as a leader. It almost seemed like Palpatine saw him as a underling. Curiosity was in Palpatine?s eyes, as if he were thinking that Mace?s ideas were foolhardy or even?childish.

Mace activated the holomap in the middle of the conference room, where everyone was standing around. A map of the entire galaxy appeared, and Mace focused in on the Outer Rim Territories, specifically the Seswenna Sector where Eriadu was located.

?You can see here that Eriadu is between two major hyperspace lanes: the Rimma Trade Route and the Hydian Way.? Mace pointed with a laser-marker where Eriadu was located, and followed by outlining the two hyperspace lanes.

?The Separatists have two major worlds located here,? Mace said, pointing to a spot up a little ways into the Hydian Way. ?And one here.? He again pointed, but this time down to a planet south in the Rimma Trade Route.

?The one to the north is the Commerce Guild factory-world of Sullust and the one below here is the shipyard world of Sluis Van.?

Mace Windu looked at each of the Jedi Masters, who nodded for him to continue.

?I have a plan to capture these two planets simultaneously, using the four of us.? He indicated the Jedi Masters around him.

Palpatine looked at him curiously, a small smile formed on his lips. ?And how, Master Windu, may I ask will you plan on doing this? Our forces are quite thin already.? Palpatine paused, his face looking quite grave. ?Unless, you were thinking of sacrificing any of the forces here??

?That, my friend, will not happen,? a voice boomed across the room.

The Governor of Eriadu, Wilhuff Tarkin, whisked into the room. He was adorned with a red and black uniform bearing the Tarkin family insignia, and walked with his hands behind his back in standard military form. ?The Jedi would not just simply abandon one of it?s longest members now would it, Master Windu??

?Well, Governor, for this plan to work, I?m afraid that some of the task force surrounding Eriadu will need to be used in this operation.? Mace knew he was asking a lot for a little, but the war had lasted two years, and they were so close to winning now with the Separatists being pushed to the Outer Rim.

Governor Tarkin?s face twisted into a snarl, looking as if Mace had personally betrayed him to the Separatists. ?This is an outrage! Supreme Chancellor, you cannot allow him to do this! If we are attacked-"

Palpatine began walking slowly across the chamber, seeming to take in the

 

I like your writing style. I feel something mature from it

 

In a recent survey taking by HoloNet News subscribers, seventy percent said that The Clone Wars started because the Jedi refused to take the necessary steps to prevent the Confederacy?s rising. Twenty percent blamed Representative Binks for giving the Chancellor emergency powers and the significant other being the Military Creation Act in itself showed the Republic could no longer negotiate with enemies without force.

-Recent HoloNet News Article


THE HOME OF COUNT DOOKU

SAFFIA, SERENNO


Count Dooku was a Sith Lord. Right? Well, it didn?t seem like it. Not the way his master, Darth Sidious, had just spoken to him.

Dooku tossed aside a recent report from General Grievous, highlighting yet another failed ?negotiation? trip, this time to the world of Manaan. The droid was becoming predictable in his ability to turn an assured victory into failure. Even his assassin, his idea for an assassin, Asajj Ventress, had reported that she had again lost the trail of Anakin Skywalker. It was just two of the many failures the Confederacy has suffered recently. For Dooku, the failures were all too common.

Ever since the Republic had begun its push into the Separatist-controlled territories of the Mid and Inner Rims, it seemed as if his master had purposely set the Separatists on a course for failure. Failures which ultimately tarnished the reputation of the illustrious Count Dooku. His hatred for losing was only outmatched by his hatred for his master's vitriolic outbursts that placed the blame squarely on his shoulders.

After all, it wasn?t his fault that the people he had put together were losing an unwinnable war. Yes, an unwinnable war.

But now, Dooku was supposed to personally defend one of the Separatists? last shipyard worlds by stopping the Republic and the Jedi before they even reached the planet. It wasn?t a question of how, but why?

For Count Dooku, the why was always harder than the how. He had billions and billions of credits at his disposal and he was a very smart man, wise beyond his years. But despite all that, sometimes he could not understand why. Why would his master set him up for failure and than berate him for it? Why him personally? Why did he have to lead the defense of Sluis Van?

It was a test, of that he had no doubt. But was it a test of loyalty or a test of skill? Perhaps both? The way his master worked, it wouldn't surprise him if the true reason for the test was some kind of third option that no one could ever hope to understand.

It couldn?t be a test of loyalty. Hadn?t he shown his loyalty by quitting the Jedi Order and leading a rebellion against the antiquated mystics and the Republic he once served? Even if the Republic, or more importantly, the Senate, had been corrupt, any feelings of remorse for abandoning the institutions had been squelched. His proved his loyalty to Sidious by joining him.

A test of skill? Hardly. He was one of the greatest swordmasters that the Jedi Order had ever produced. He was able to duel even the Jedi Grandmaster Yoda, a furious battle that pitted a former apprentice against his master. He had tasted the victory, would have surely blotted out the light of the Jedi Order...

Until I ran away.

He didn?t see his retreat as cowardly. He dueled Yoda to prove a point. To prove that he was greater than any Jedi Master, with the power of the dark side flowing through him. He could not afford to simply stay around playing with his old master while his new one was awaiting him. There had been plans to set in motion.

But you still have much to learn. Both Yoda and his master had said this.

What else could he have left to learn? He had studied the holocron of Darth Andeddu, thanks his spy, Quinlan Vos. He learned many ancient dark side secrets there.

 

Good writing, enjoying this!

 

Would you like me to add you to the PM list?

 

Great chapter! I'll try to manage a more in depth reply next chapter! I am soooo tired right now

 

"Six there were for generations of Jedi. The seventh, is not well-known. Powerful form it is. Deadliest of all. But dangerous it is, for its master as well as its opponent. Few have studied. One student alone, to mastery has risen."

?Yoda on the lightsaber forms



REPUBLIC HEADQUARTERS,

ERIADU

Luminara Unduli watched her troops in action, preparing for the upcoming battle at Sluis Van. Once Master Windu had asked her to assist him in the upcoming battle, she had her troops transported to Eriadu almost immediately and they had been practicing ever since.

At Republic HQ, there was a large, circular room that was usually used for parties or other social events. Today, however, it was in use by Master Unduli?s troops. All the seating had been cleared out, leaving open space in which clones were practicing taking on certain types of Separatist droids such as the super battle droids or even the dreaded destroyer droid. These were, of course, holograms, but they looked almost life like. When a clone was hit by a stun laser, Luminara hesitated to go in herself and save him.

But that was just Jedi instinct, saving lives.

The clone would always get up immediately afterwards and shrug it off like Luminara did when she was hit by a training lightsaber during her years as a youngling.

In this latest exercise, ten clone troopers were to take on ten super battle droids with only their blaster pistols and a single ion grenade for the group. The first few clones learned that a blaster pistol wouldn?t shoot past the hologram and when the ?droids? fired their stun laser and hit them, they knew they had to think about this one.

With seven clones left, six of them jumped out behind the cover that the program gave them and ran to the left of the droids firing their pistols to draw their attention while the seventh clone sneaked to the right.

The super battle droids began firing their guns and immediately three clones went down. But before the droids could fire another shot, sparks began flying out of the droids and all ten of them dropped instantly.

The clone that went to the right had thrown the ion grenade at the droids from behind, waiting until they were all grouped together.

He had sacrificed three of his brothers for a small victory.

Even though the clones weren?t in any mortal danger, it did disturb Luminara that they would do this anyway.

The program ended and the holograms disappeared. The remaining clones walked out into the middle of the room and cheered for the one that thrown the grenade.

?Great shot, Hunter! That was one in a million!? said a member of one of the squads that watched.

?It?s so simple, but brilliant,? said another clone.

Mace Windu appeared behind Luminara. ?So how are they doing??

?Far beyond what I?d expect from them, but, of course, they have always impressed me,? Luminara said, continuing to watch the clones praise each other for their good work.

Luminara had worked with the clones for two years now, and had always been astonished by what the clones could accomplish. Whether it was holding a line against overwhelming odds or subtly taking down a power station kilometers into enemy territory, they seemed limitless in their abilities.

At one point, though, her Padawan, Barriss Offee, had mentioned that the clones, under those ?brain worms? things that the Republic had stumbled upon when they retook Geonosis, had boasted that they were skilled enough to "take down a Jedi."

This disturbed Luminara. Her feelings toward the clones began to move toward suspicion, but she eventually embraced the belief that it must have been the brain worms making the clones say it. The Clones had shown the utmost loyalty since the beginning of the war, and showed no signs of stoppi

 

Loved your mention of the Brain Worms.

So, is Greivous still in training at this point? Does that mean this is a slightly different timeline than the Clone Wars?

 

No, he is just sparring with Sora, just to see if he could beat him. Sora is attempting to teach him new things but Grievous doesn't really like the way he is tying to teach him...and Sora personally.

 

?My philosophy is: Never choose a side, because either?s money is good and nobody shoots at you.?

- Herub Grissom




DREADNAUGHT-CLASS HEAVY CRUISER LAST LAUGH

TRITON SYSTEM




It didn't take long for boredom to set in as Herub Grissom and the Star Slaughterers orbited Triton.

There really was no other way to describe the way Herub felt at the moment. He was truly bored.

Triton was not the Great Jewel of the Outer Rim, but rather the flattest and most desolate place in the galaxy. In many respects, this was because of the natives that lived on the planet. The Tritonites. They worshiped a speculator being called Gactimus, and even though the galaxy?s best religious experts could not even figure who or what Gactimus was, one thing was for sure; the Tritonites loved Gactimus.

Stories had been spread before about people that had questioned Gactimus?s existence when they went to Triton. According to some, they were sacrificed to the celestial being through some very disturbing ways. Others claimed that the Tritonites would burn the ships of nonbelievers and leave them stranded on the planet until Gactimus was accepted into their lives.

Of course, common sense ruled that these were just stories that either attempted to either scare people into staying away from Triton or draw the crazy down to the planet. Either way, the stories probably weren?t true. As much as Herub would have liked to believe that, though, he made sure that the small team he had sent to the Triton surface was always in contact with him. A lot could go wrong...

?Not much to see so far, Captain,? one of the members of the squad said over the comlink. This particular soldier was named Royscz, a human that Herub had trusted for any kind of intimidation that was required on any mission. ?I don?t even think the Tritonites know we are here.?

Herub wasn?t a person for combat, and so he made it a rule to avoid it when possible. Although he kept a small blaster pistol on his person, in case of emergencies, he claimed, he never used it unless one of the crew needed a ?lesson in manners.?

?Well, keep me updated. If you run into any natives, let me know,? Herub replied.

Herub could hear the click of the safety going off for the man?s blaster rifle. ?Alright, Capt?n.?

The Gran had sent a small, five-man squad down to the surface of Triton. They were armed, of course. How else could his crew capture the Elder of one of the settlements of Triton?

******

After Count Dooku gave Herub the orders to capture the Elder, he had called up the two members of his crew that had been on Triton before. The two members, a Klatooinian and a Gamorrean, weren?t the smartest beings alive, and couldn?t really give the type of description Herub was looking for.

?You two have been to Triton before, right?? he had asked them.

The Klatooinian and Gamorrean looked at each other, thinking that they were in trouble and that a one-way trip to Triton was their punishment.

?Well, not particularly?but we did end up on one of its moons,? the Klatooinian said.

The Gamorrean continued the story but the Klatooinian had to help translate for Herub.

?He says that it is dull and boring there. They allow no stimulants, and settlements are spread throughout the planet one every five hundred kilometers or so.?

?Is this on the planet or the moon?? Herub asked.

?Both, I believe. The moon is just as bad as the planet, except for a small spaceport where we got stuck at,? the Klatooinian said, no longer translating.

The Gamorrean?s voice changed, becoming a high-pitched squeal that sounded as if he were recalling a bad memory.

?Yes, the spaceport," the Klatooinian told his companion. "That is where we meet Trit

 

Hmm, I wonder what is going on on this planet.

Good job

 

?Leave Agomar?s defenses weakened. I want the bulk of your forces to remain near Sullust?and have the Jedi think that they have won control of that planet?fools??
¬-Count Dooku to General Grievous







VENATOR-CLASS STAR DESTROYER IMPAVID
AGOMAR SYSTEM



The stars finally returned for General Saesee Tiin as his ship exited into the Agomar system. The other nine Venator-class Star Destroyers and the Legion also exited hyperspace at the same time, forming a very long line of capital ships.

?Commander, any enemy ships out there?? Saesee asked the clone, knowing the answer already.

?Yes, sir. The largest ship we have on radar is a Trade Federation droid control ship and three Techno Union Hardcell transports. They are already unloading starfighters.?

Saesee turned to Agen Kolar, who was right beside him on the bridge, looking out the viewport at the swirling planet beneath them. ?Well, Agen, let?s go join the fun.?

He and Agen began walking out of the bridge, the clones saluting them as they passed. ?Commander, launch all fighters, but only from this ship. I don?t want to lose too many people out there.?

The Commander nodded. ?I?ll put the Impavid on stand-by and have her ready to attack whenever you are ready, sir.?

?Very good, commander,? Saesee said as he entered the elevator on the other side of the bridge. Along with Agen, he rode it down to the hangar bay. The elevator wasn?t that big, but it was able to fit Saesee and Agen both without having it be a tight fight.

?Are you sure, Saesee?" Agen asked over the hum of the elevator. "One star destroyer against a control ship and five escorts??

Saesee smiled. ?Oh, I?m quite sure. I am going to be in the Sharp Spiral and I?ve never lost a mission with her yet.?

The elevator doors opened and the Jedi walked out into the hangar bay. ?Besides,? Saesee continued. ?We are using the Y-wing starfighters that General Skywalker put to good use.?

The hangar bay of the Impavid was large. It was located directly in the middle of the ship, with hangar bay doors could open up quickly to let starfighters or even small transports in or out. Inside the hangar bay, there were over 50 ARC-170 starfighters, which were now the base starfighter clone troopers used now, and about two squadrons of Y-wing starfighters.

Y-wings weren?t used very often, only seen in the beginning of the war as the V-wing starfighter quickly took over the bomber role for the Republic. General Tiin had always liked the Y-wing and decided to have them on-board the Impavid. "Just in case," he had said.

It seemed the order to launch all fighters had already been received, as there were only a few clones remaining in the hangar. The rest were already in their starfighters, waiting for General Tiin?s order to launch.

One of the clone engineers approached Saesee and saluted. ?General Tiin, we have your ship prepped and ready to fly!? he said. Looking at Agen, he added, ?General Kolar, we have a reserve Eta-2 Actis for your use as well.?

?Well, at least it beats that old starfighter I was using,? Agen sighed. He walked across the hangar to the blue and white striped fighter sitting across from Saesee?s Sharp Spiral.

Saesee thanked the engineer and proceeded to his specially made fighter. The Sharp Spiral was a customized Cutlass-9 patrol fighter that a group of Duros had given to him as thanks for a daring rescue he had performed. It was his most cherished prize, even more cherished than his lightsaber - for he could always build another one of those.

Jedi Master Adi Gallia had once complained that Saesee had talked to his fighter more than to her, a fellow Council Member, and Saesee had replied that she hadn?t saved his life countless times in impossible situations.

The Shar

 

Busy. Will reply in a day or two hopefully. I will edit this post with my reply