Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 284-286 - Pioneering the Way

"Thirty seconds to the drop zone, brothers!" the pilot yelled back into the cockpit, his voice booming through the engine. "Hold on tight!"

The "Bad Cat" jolted violently as a series of green plasma beams nearly grazed the hull, so close they sent chills down one's spine.

The clone soldiers quickly adjusted their stance, their faces hidden beneath their helmets, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

The gunboat broke through a dense cloud of metal debris, and the massive shipyard structure instantly filled the entire field of vision.

Scout held his breath.

Before me lies a vast maze of steel beams, docking bays, and weapon platforms, connected by a network of crisscrossing turbine elevator tracks and suspended walkways.

Six "Generosity-class" frigates were trapped in the dock, but their burning turrets continued to fire, turning them into fixed defensive fortresses.

Commander Cody's voice came through the internal communication, clear and firm: "Check jetpacks! Prepare grappling hooks! Confirm ropes... No one is to fall behind!"

“Remember the plan,” Master Obi-Wan’s voice was calm and powerful. “We land, establish position, hold out for reinforcements, maintain formation, and remain calm!”

"Five-second countdown!"

The gunboat began to slow down, the side hatches opened fully, and the suction of the vacuum immediately came, only the magnetic boots firmly attached to the deck were able to keep the body steady.

Scout unsheatheeded his lightsaber and lightly pressed his thumb against the start button.

The gunboat slowly adjusted its attitude, its attitude control engine frequently igniting to precisely aim at the launch trajectory.

Outside the cabin, the crane is within reach, and the complex structure consisting of steel beams, platforms, and berthing compartments is clearly visible.

“Go! Go! Go!”

"Action!" Commander Cody roared, and the surrounding soldiers instantly sprang into action, leaping one after another into the dark void, their jetpacks spewing blue flames.

"Assemble on Skyhook!" Obi-Wan Kenobi leaped off the gunboat with a fluid and elegant movement, his figure clearly outlined in the firelight.

Scout followed almost instinctively, the cold space instantly enveloping her and throwing her into the chaotic battlefield.

Absolute silence enveloped her like an invisible cloak, her body instinctively tensed, yet she felt no shock as she had anticipated.

No wind cuts through the skin, no air carries sound, and no gravity pulls.

The surrounding area was ravaged by war, yet it was completely silent, as if watching a silent holographic film.

The vacuum amplified her perception of her body; the subtle movements of every finger and every limb drew slow, exaggerated arcs in space.

A sharp, uncomfortable pain shot through her legs, accompanied by an indescribable, surreal sense of oppression.

Behind them, gunboats were turning to retreat, their weapons continuing to fire to provide cover for their landing.

"Scooter!" Master Obi-Wan shouted through the communicator, "Concentrate!"

She gritted her teeth and, with the help of the Force, repositioned herself within that stable and powerful energy flow.

Her breathing gradually calmed down, her hands stopped trembling, and she raised the grappling hook launcher.

Aim and shoot.

The rope shot forward, and the anchor hook firmly caught a protruding steel beam.

The tension of the rope pulled her forward, and controlled momentum replaced the feeling of weightlessness.

The shipyard grew larger in view, its massive trusses and platforms casting long shadows, both distant and imminent.

The sense of space was completely chaotic; the eyes desperately searched for a point of contact, but the brain could hardly connect these enormous objects with the "ground".

As they approached the platform, a strong warning came from the Force: danger was imminent.

Inside the shipyard, figures moved about as combat robots and militiamen scrambled for defensive positions, while turrets spun, tracking the approaching Republic forces.

Scout prepared for the impact as the first wave of soldiers crashed onto the dock deck.

one two three--!
Her boots slammed onto the cold, hard metal deck, the magnetic boots humming as they started, holding her firmly in place.

The unsettling sense of emptiness finally vanished.

In an instant, her lightsaber flashed a deadly neon arc, deflecting a series of crimson energy beams aimed at her.

Hundreds of clone soldiers landed one after another, along with dozens of walking machines and tanks.

In the distance, the main gun of the "Vanguard" roared, providing fire support to resist the warships of the separatist forces. The ARC-170 starfighter squadron did its best to maintain close air support above the platform.

As the troops advanced, Scout instinctively sprang into action, his lightsaber transforming into a glowing shield to deflect incoming fire.

Each parry harmlessly deflects the energy beam into the void or the steel deck.

The Force guided her limbs, and she trusted this power completely. Here, a single bullet piercing the vacuum suit would be enough to kill.

She took a short break in the shadow of a huge AT-TE walking machine before rushing back to the front line!

The clone troop poured out of the landing zone and advanced in staggered lines of fire under the cover of walking machines.

AT-AP and TX-130 tanks were deployed into the battle, and their blast cannons provided continuous suppressive fire, blasting rows of combat robots to smithereens.

"Enemy artillery spotted on the upper deck!" someone shouted into the communicator.

"Requesting suppressive bombardment! Standby!"

As Scout turned around, he saw the main cannon of the "Warning" flashing like stars, and a massive energy beam, as thick as a skyscraper, tearing through the Skyhook's defensive platform.

The Force screamed in his ears, and Leku sensed danger.

She leaped away, dodging the powerful energy beam shot from above.

"Snipers!?" She looked up and saw a squad of assault robots descending from the superstructure, their lightsabers slashing rapidly to deflect the barrage of bullets aimed at the clone troopers. "AT-AP team, assault robots are approaching from port!"

"Roger that, Commander!"

The three-legged AT-AP displayed agility beyond its size, turning its cannon and completely vaporizing the area, the robot's traces disappearing in a flash.

"Good fight!"

Scout weaved between cover and open ground, his lightsaber spinning like a dance of death, carving a bloody path through the robot army.

A squad of super combat robots blocked their path, their wrist-mounted turrets charging up and ready to fire.

She leaped high into the air, spinning in zero gravity, her lightsaber cleaving two of them in two before her boots fell back onto the deck.

The remaining robots were blasted to pieces by the blue explosive firepower of the clone soldiers advancing from behind.

"Advance!" Obi-Wan's voice boomed through the communicator. "Capture the airlock! We need to enter the upper structure!"

Siku nodded, his gaze fixed on the large Dura steel building in the distance, surrounded by roadblocks and crowded with robots.

The Force touched her consciousness again, guiding her.

"Second Airborne Company, follow me!" she shouted, leading her team to the nearest reinforced airlock.

An explosive beam swept past, illuminating the platform with interwoven red and blue flames.

The Force surged within her, and she propelled herself forward with a burst of energy, overturning a row of robots and clearing the way for the clone troopers.

"Plant the explosives!" Combat engineers rushed forward, while clone soldiers guarded the breach.

"Message from 'The Selfless'!" shouted a technician carrying a communications booster. "The 404th Siege Battalion has captured their Skyhook! General Reus is leading 'The Selfless' to provide fire support!"

Scout glanced into the distance, trying to spot the "Selfless".

What came into view was an even greater influx of reinforcements from the separatist forces pouring out of the dock, with a new wave of anti-gravity tanks and robots lined up to meet them.

The deck was littered with corpses.

Scout felt a chill run down his spine.

But the deck suddenly shook violently, and she immediately turned her attention back to the dock.

A massive Dunim alloy behemoth is rising, its shadow engulfing the entire platform.

One of the "Generosity-class" frigates broke free of the restraints and is taking off.

Its ventral gun emplacements were in place, and Scout could see the glow of the gun barrels as they were being charged.

"How long until reinforcements arrive?" Master Obi-Wan asked.

Scout had lost track of his master in the chaos, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his voice.

"At most half a minute!"

“Very good,” Scout said breathlessly, “because a starship is heading our way, and I don’t want to instantly turn from an organism into a fundamental particle.”

"Walking machine, destroy those hard points! Prepare for the explosion!" Scout deactivated his magnetic boots, leaped away, and narrowly escaped death.

The "Generosity-class" frigate opened fire, and red flames swept across the platform. The soldiers were turned to ashes in the intense heat, and their screams came to an abrupt end.

But its rampage didn't last long. Master Killian Reus's flagship, the Selfless, roared out, and a salvo from the side of a Jaeger-class cruiser rammed it aside.

"The airlock has been opened!"

"Charge! Charge! Capture Skyhook! Take the turbine elevator up!"

The Jedi Apprentice struggled to crawl toward the nearest solid ground, watching as more and more army soldiers landed on the Skyhook.

After the clone troop secured their positions, the tide of battle turned in favor of numerical superiority. Large transport planes landed on the platform, unloading tens of thousands of Republic troops.

……

The battle was nearing its end, and Obi-Wan Kenobi could sense it from the Force.

While fierce fighting continues in some of the outer outposts, most of the Botadev shipyard area is firmly under the control of the Republic.

Standing atop the shipyard's command tower, the Jedi Master watched as the once pristine Durasteel platform turned charred and twisted, littered with the wreckage of combat droids, fragments of Republic vehicles, and ruins of Separatist defenses.

Thick smoke twisted and rose in the thin outer atmosphere, eventually dissipating into the endless dark void.

Most of the bodies of the fallen have been removed, but the air still faintly smells of burnt energy weapons and the pungent odor of burning metal.

His apprentice Scout stood behind him, leaning slightly against the railing of the space elevator platform, his gaze fixed on the massive planetary surface below.

It's as if they're already contemplating the upcoming battle to conquer Botajev's main planet.

After all, capturing the Botajev shipyard was only the first phase of this siege. Soon, Master Windu would lead the main force to launch a planetary landing operation.

"Commander Cody, battle report?" Obi-Wan asked, noticing Cody approaching out of the corner of his eye.

Cody stepped forward; his armor was covered in scorch marks and stains.

He held his helmet under one arm, revealing a face etched with exhaustion: "General, Skyhook is now fully under control, and the space elevator is back in operation, but it requires extensive repairs to handle heavy transport. The Second Airborne Company has suffered 37 casualties, with another 12 seriously injured."

"What about the army?"

The clone commander paused, seemingly surprised to be asked about the casualties of the army forces responsible for clearing the orbital platform layer by layer: "...The casualty reports are still being compiled, sir. So far, about 15,000 deaths have been confirmed."

Obi-Wan heard Scout gasp, as if every life lost in the Force had turned into a thorn piercing her heart.

“And this is just a skyhook,” Scout murmured, his voice barely audible. “By the time we set foot on the planet’s surface, the death toll will likely be in the millions.”

Obi-Wan gazed at his apprentice for a moment, his tone calm but firm: "We are at war, and such sacrifices may not be the last, but our duty is to make these sacrifices meaningful, to ensure that every life lost brings peace one step closer."

Scout did not respond, but instead looked back at the planet, his gaze tracing the elevator cable closely, which gleamed faintly in the starlight.

"Do you think this has anything to do with Griffiths?" Scout suddenly asked, turning his head. "We haven't received any news from Talis."

Probably.

Obi-Wan thought to himself, "Master Pierre and Master Luminara are also nowhere to be found, which is truly worrying."

Within the separatist forces, there is no shortage of monsters that devour life.

Obi-Wan sighed softly and gestured for her to follow: "It's hard to say, but we'll know the answer soon enough."

The two walked silently toward the nearest elevator, their military boots making a crisp clinking sound on the uneven deck.

The surrounding clone soldiers were all doing their jobs; some were dragging wreckage, others were treating the wounded, and everyone was hurrying along.

“Fifteen thousand people…” Scout’s voice was almost inaudible.

Obi-Wan slowed his pace and turned to look at her: "Scooter..."

“I know, I know everything,” Scout interrupted, a hint of barely perceptible annoyance in his voice. “You’ve said it so many times, and I’ve seen it so many times, hundreds of times. But I just…”

“That’s good,” Obi-Wan replied gently. “Never lose that feeling. If one day you can be indifferent to sacrifice, and can drive soldiers toward death without any scruples… then you are not far from the dark side. Never get used to death.”

The elevator doors slowly closed, sealing the two people in a relatively quiet space.

As the platform descended, Obi-Wan stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "However... I have a feeling that this terrible war is nearing its end."

"Really? I can't see the end at all."

“You’ve spent your adult life fighting wars,” Obi-Wan sighed. “Once Dooku falls, the Separatists will have to face reality, and then you’ll be able to live in peacetime.”

The elevator beeped, the doors slid open, and the noise from the hangar instantly rushed in.

Amidst the roar of spaceships taking off and landing, the shouts of supplies being transferred, and the hurried footsteps of medical teams rescuing the wounded, a familiar figure stood quietly near the entrance. His tall stature and distinctive mask made him instantly recognizable even from a distance.

“Master Proud,” Obi-Wan greeted him as he stepped forward.

“Obi-Wan, Scout.” His deep, filtered voice carried an unusual gravity. “The Open-Ring Fleet will not participate in the planetary assault.”

"Where are we going?" Scout blurted out.

"The Serranon system, I want you to check its defense status."

“Serranón?” Obi-Wan pondered, his brow furrowing slightly. “That’s where the Ninth Army was defeated by Grievous, isn’t it? As the last major star system leading to Serenno, Count Dooku will surely deploy a large force to block us.”

At this point, Master Procon shook his head and gestured for them to enter the shuttle to discuss the matter in detail: "I want you to confirm whether Serranon is truly undefended and whether the route to Sereno is completely unobstructed."

“This… is simply unbelievable,” Obi-Wan said half-jokingly, but his eyes were unusually serious. “Even Dooku wouldn’t be so… rash. Is this source reliable?”

The furrows beneath the Kyle Dorl Jedi mask seemed to deepen: "It's a message from Admiral Trench."

"General Trench!?" Scout gasped, his eyes widening. "You mean that 'Old Spider' Trench!?"

"It is precisely because of him that we must take him seriously."

"But he's the enemy!"

“Master Ram Kota doesn’t think so,” Pro said in an unquestionable tone. “The ‘Findar Space Station’ has allowed Trench’s fleet to pass through the ‘Salin Corridor.’ While we were attacking Bandomir and Botajev, the Separatist Second Fleet had already taken control of the ‘Cesme’ and ‘Karamis’ sectors leading to Sereno, ostensibly to clear the way for us.”

Ram Kota?

Obi-Wan thought to himself, "That man is indeed unconventional, but he is also an experienced soldier."

It was no coincidence that the Republic sent him to guard the crucial Findal space station.

It just gave someone like Trench an opportunity to take advantage...

"Why?" Obi-Wan pressed, his voice filled with obvious doubt.

“Because the ‘Laxus Confederation’ views the ‘Sereno Confederation’ as a rebellious separatist force,” Prokhorn said with a rare dry humor, “just as the Republic views separatist forces. Our scout ships have confirmed the news, but I expect the ‘Open Ring Fleet’ to monitor these routes, just in case.”

“Masters!” Scout couldn’t help but retort, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. “That’s Trench! This is definitely a trap! What is Master Kota thinking…”

“This is not a trap, Scout,” Pro interrupted her, his voice still calm but carrying an unquestionable authority. “I spoke with Master Kota personally, and he is not one to act rashly. We should not easily question the judgment of a Jedi Master.”

Obi-Wan stood with his arms crossed, his expression seemingly calm, but his thoughts were racing.

The implications behind this are too great, making it difficult for him to feel at ease.

How could such a cunning and ruthless opponent as Trench pave the way for the Republic?
It may seem absurd on the surface, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend, a principle that has always applied in war.

What bothered him even more was why the Republic, or rather Master Kota and Master Pro, would take such a risk.
The Jedi Order has always been wary of separatist forces, especially after the attack on Coruscant.

But now, they are considering taking advantage of Trench's deployment.

A thought flashed through his mind: Could it be that Trench's goal was not to help the Republic, but rather to target the "Opening Fleet"?
Obi-Wan stared at Prokhor, a trusted and reliable senior figure... but what if this really was a conspiracy?

"How many Jedi were involved in this 'cooperation'?" Obi-Wan asked bluntly, his gaze sharp.

"What?" Scout's eyes widened in shock as he looked at his master.

“It’s not cooperation,” Proud corrected, but did not deny the statement. “It’s just that our goals temporarily overlap. To answer your question, Obi-Wan: a lot.”

"How much?" Obi-Wan emphasized, taking a small step forward.

“Several hundred people,” Prokhor said calmly, his eyes beneath the mask fixed on Obi-Wan. “Several hundred Jedi, hundreds of councilors and delegates, thousands of star systems, countless armies and fleets.”

Scout stood frozen in place, staring incredulously at the master who had led her into the Jedi Temple.

"Why?" Obi-Wan's voice trembled slightly as he tried to remain calm. "The war was almost over."

“Because the best way to counter this conspiracy is to build our own alliances,” Prokhor said firmly yet gently. “At the heart of the Republic lies a Sith Lord who is using war to achieve his own ends. Coruscant is no longer the Jedi’s home ground, but a Sith’s lair. Even if we eliminate Dooku, Coruscant might allow the war to continue in order to refuse to negotiate with the remaining Separatist forces.”

"Does the Sith Lord have that much power?" Scout asked in a low voice, his voice filled with confusion and a hint of fear. "Master, if I may be so bold, it sounds like... he's controlling the entire government."

“He certainly can,” Prokhor said solemnly. “After all, he is the Speaker of the Parliament of our Republic.”

(End of this chapter)