Nariata — Roleplayer Guild

Five hours prior: Where were you?

The last few minutes of the night were quickly giving way to the light of day as a new dawn arrived for the Galactic City.  People on the surface of the metropolis would soon be waking up, ready to start a new day while the citizens who lived and worked beneath them were still hard at work.  The Grand Army of the Republic would be ever vigilant, watching and waiting for anything that might pose a threat to the safety of the people.  Yet even to them this day would be starting out like any other.  Clones and their non-clone counterparts would be watching the skies through the lens of their scanners, carefully watching the incoming and outbound traffic.  If a ship were to come up as suspicious for whatever reason, it would be flagged and escorted to the nearest station for examination.  Everything was calm, tranquil even, until a series of explosions woke the city from their slumber.

Republic Airfield

Sliding his hand across his front, Clone Trooper CT-8498 swatted a rather large fly as his eyes scanned the screen before him.  In front of him stood one of the many long range scanner stations located at the airfield, as well as across the planet, that was able to see in real time the ships entering the system through one of the many small hyperlanes that connected Coruscant to the outside world.  On an average day Clone Trooper CT-8498 would watch as thosuands of ships, raging from a simple transport hauler all the way up to the mighty Republic Warships returning home from battle.  His job and the jobs of hundreds of clones across this sector were to simply observe the traffic coming in.  Often times he would see something that might be classified as suspicous, and have the veichle flagged for  additional  verification.  Usually this happened once a day, if at all, and he would simply wait around for something to happen.   

"Sir?" CT-8498 said as he looked at his screen, his eyes were greeted by the strange site of a Mandalorian Kom'rk class transport shuttle leaving hyperspace.  Standing nearby was his clone commander CC-9915, who heard the trooper and was making his way  towards the scanner station when a series of explosions in the distance shook the control tower, causing the power to go off and on again.

"Report!"  The commander bellowed at CT-8498, rushing quick to his side as an alarm was set off, alerting the base that there was an attack on the planet.

CT-8498 was typing into the console at a fast pace, trying in a desperate attempt to retrieve the live feed from the long range scanner.  His head slightly turned as he spoke "Sir!  The scanners are offline."   The Commander was beginning to walk away when CT-8498 spoke again.  “I noticed something just before the feed went dead.  A Mandalorian transport shuttle, a Kom'rk class, had just exited hyperspace  seconds before the feed went dead.”  

The commander quickly moved away from CT-8498, and opened up a communication link with General Kenobi, who answered in earnest.

"What news do you have to report, commander?"  Kenobi asked as his form was projected outwards from the commanders gauntlet.

“Long range scanners are offline.  Whomever set off those explosives knew how to blind us.  We also recorded a single Mandalorian Kom'rk Class transport leaving hyperspace seconds before the explosions went off.” 

The hologram of Kenobi looked completely shocked.  “Commander, set off the alarm!”  The hologram quickly cut off, and the commander set about alerting the forces scattered across the planet that an attack was inbound.

In space

Charred, fractured chunks of metal twisted and danced through the cold, black vacuum of the space surrounding the lead Kom'rk class transport.  The remnants of a battle long since fought, long forgotten by the minds of the average citizen of the Republic.  Though they had been in system for less than a minute, Ardur could feel that every second that they stood idly by might spell disaster for their plans.  Quickly moving from the cockpit to the midsection of the ship, he quickly opened a message that was being spread across the “The Coruscant Holo Net”.  The news reports were live updates of a series of bombings that struck all across the planet, giving the current death toll and theories on who might have committed it.  A smile crept across the face of the Mandalorian as he quickly grabbed his helmet, fixing it into potion on his head.

A voice to Ardur’s right piped up. “Sir, we intercepted an outgoing communiqué as we entered the system. They know we're here, their ships know we're here,  but they only know of us and us alone.”

“Show me the message.”

The Mandalorian soldier quickly brought up a holographic image of the message currently being sent to all the ships in orbit around the planet.

Attention:  The bombings planet side are believed to be the work of Mandalorian forces.  One Kom'rk class vessel is in the sector, patrols are to be sent out at once.  Prepare for hostile invasion
Note:  Long rang sensors are currently offline awaiting repair from the damages.

“Report on the rest of our force.”

The Mandalorian soldier quickly brought up a another screen.  “Sir, the other nineteen Kom'rk transports are all in system and ready, the fifty C-9980 landing crafts are ready as well and awaiting your orders.”

The Mandalorian Commander Ardur quickly opened a secure channel with the other craft in the fleet.  “All ships move out, we're moving fast and hitting hard.  Stick to my ass.  Anything that get's in our way blast it out of the sky.  If you get left behind I will find a way to turn around and blast you out of the sky.  Pilots, engines to one hundred percent capacity.”    The Mandalorian cut the feed as he finished speaking, before returning to the front of the ship.  He sat down next to the pilot and looked out in-front of him.  The mighty Venator class cruisers could be seen dotting the space far in front of them.  The massive bulk of those spaceships grew ever larger as the small flotilla of ships crept closer and closer.  It would only take a minute now for them to hit the atmosphere of the planet, yet Ardur still watched cautiously.  His eyes ever cautious for the signs of any patrol craft.  

From behind, he heard one of his Mandalorian Soldiers manning the communication terminal shout “Sir!  Patrol crafts at ten o'clock high.”  

Ardur quickly opened up another secure channel with the rest of the fleet “Pilots, if you have a shot take it but don't break off!  C-9980's, your defensive guns are free to fire.  I repeat, open fire if you have the shot.”  Ardur quickly sat down in the copilots chair, and motioned for the pilot to give control of the craft to him.  Things were about to get rough

Jedi Temple: Five hours prior

The Jedi temple was alive with activity.

Knights, padawans, and even the civilian security force were all in a rush.  The bombings that had awoke the city just moments earlier had forced the Jedi Council to prepare for an imminent attack.  Anti-air guns could be seen activated on top of the temple, already scanning the air for targets.  Master Obi-Wan Kenobi could be found in the temples main lobby organizing the soldiers into position.  His attention was drawn by an all too familiar voice.

“Master Obi-Wan.”  Anakin Skywalker said in a cheerful tone.

“Anakin?”  He turned his body to greet his former padawan.  “It is good to see you old friend.”  He said as he gave his fellow Master a warm embrace.  Moving backwards, Obi-Wan put his arms on the shoulders of his friend and continued “I had not been told you would be back today.”

“I wish it was under better circumstances, battle damage forced us back for repairs.”  Anakin said as he flashed a smile.  “What news of the attack?”  He finished as the smile faded from his face.

Obi-Wan quickly removed his hands from the shoulders of Skywalker before placing his right hand on his chin.  “Not much.  The bombs targeted our long range sensors.  We're thinking the CIS is making their move.  What's more we are beginning to suspect the Mandalorians are involved as well.”  Obi-Wan finished before turning his head sharply as a clone commander was rushing to them.  

CC-1119 “Appo” hurriedly made his way to the generals, and after giving a salute, spoke in a rushed voice.  “Sirs, twenty Mandalorian craft as well as numerous other transport craft have broken through our defenses.  Their vector suggests they are targeting our staging airfield.  Gunships were sent up but the Mandalorian craft were quite proficient at taking them out.”

“The Airfield?”  Kenobi shout out in surprise.  “If that falls, then we lose access to sending additional forces into space!”  

After a second Skywalker countered.  “No, they must be after the Imperators!” 

“Whatever it is, get the 501st and make your way to the defense.  Re-purpose any clone squads as you see fit!”  Kenobi ordered and began to start off in a run.  “I'll inform the council and send what Knights we have planet side to the defenses.”

“Sir!  CIS fleets just exited hyperspace!”  Appo shouted out.  

“From which lane?”  Kenobi shouted as he stopped in his tracks, sliding for a moment across the smooth floor.

“Numerous.  They're coming from all directions.   Our fleet is reporting numerous C-9979 and C-9980 transport class vessels as well as Droid fighters, bombers, and interceptors inbound.  Current estimates put as many as eighty percent of the transports reaching ground.”

“Anakin, get to the airfield and get those Imperators in the air.  We're going to need every ship possible.”  Kenobi said as he took off again.

“On me Appo.  You clones follow me!”  Anakin spoke as he and a group of seven clones made their way to the Jedi Temple hangars, taking a gunship and leaving the temple.  Trying to get to the airfield before all was lost.

The Airfield: Initial assault.

The airfield was something of a marvel on a planet full of them.  It was one of the longest airfields in existence within the Republic, stretching for well over twenty kilometers.  On most days one could find tens of thousands of clones loading onto cruisers that would soon be space bound, ready to join the war all across the galaxy.  Today was unlike those days, however.  Where there was once clones and numerous Venator class cruisers sitting ready for take off today there were few.  One could count seven Venator class cruisers and three Imperator class cruisers standing idly by as a few thousand clones rushed to prepare defensive positions.   Hastily placed heavy gun emplacements as well as anti-air cannons could be seen dotting half the airfield.  

“Sir” CT-8498 spoke as he rushed to the side of the clone commander.  “Enemy ships inbound, flying fast and low.”

“How are our defenses coming.”

“Twenty percent and slowly rising sir.”  CT-8498 said as he placed down a hologram projector.  “We have four of our mobile air defense guns up already here, here, and here.”  With each he motioned to gun emplacements.  “Fifteen static turrets have been activated around half the field.”  He quickly motioned around the image, pointing out a few of them. “Our forces have only secured half the airfield, we will try and get as many defenses up in the other half before they arrive.”

“Don't”  Commander CC-9915 ordered.  “Consolidate strength in these areas.”  The commander pointed out a couple places on the holomap.  “Keep what tanks we have back here.”  He said as he pointed to the areas near the tower.  “Keep them in reserve until we get reinforcements from other Army units.”

“Sir!”  CT-8498 said as he began to leave when the air raid warning began to sing its alarm.  One by one the defensive turrets began to fire out their defensive shots far into the distance.  CT-8498 and CC-9915 both looked to the area at the far end of the airfield.  Even at such a long distance, they were able to see the small silhouettes of the enemy craft approaching fast.  

--------

Ardur still had control of the craft as he opened a comm channel with the rest of his squadron.  “Droids, set down a quarter the way up the  the airfield.  Quickly set up your defensive shields and anti-air defenses; get our tanks and droids into combat."

“Roger, Roger.”  The droid pilots chimed back.

“Kom'rk pilots, strafing runs on the clone positions.”  He paused as he threw the throttle all the way forward.  “Make two passes then quickly exit the area and head towards the rendezvous point.”  

The Kom'rks' engines roared to life.  The crafts quickly lowered their altitude till they were just ten or so meters off the ground.  The lack of enemy craft on the airfield was unexpected, but was a welcome sight.  The automated turrets could not train their guns low enough to hit them, leaving only the clone manned anti air turrets to threaten them, and threaten them they did.  The skies in front of them were a combination of blue bolts and exploding flak shells, each seeming to come closer than then last.  Ardur swerved his ship slightly left and right with each passing second.  

Ardur squeezed the trigger on the flight stick and the twin laser cannons roared to life.  He was not aiming for anything in particular, nor were the rest of the pilots.  

Clones scrambled to find cover as the sheer number of indirect laser fire began ripping into their posisitons.  Sparks shot out from the sides of the Venators, AT-TE's, and their hastily made defensivepositions alike.  The AT-TE gunners quickly joined the barrage of anti-air cannons with their own shots, their six anti-personnel laser cannons and their mass driver cannons adding to the already massive volley.  

Ardur slowly rolled his craft to the right and released his grip on the trigger.   His HUD highlighted the AT-TE tanks that had begun to fire on him and he carefully lined up his cannons before opening fire.

The AT-TE that was at the forefront of the other tanks shook as the barrage of laser blasts began to impact its face.  At first only sparks and large smoke clouds were the only effect.  But after a few seconds of sustained fire, the front of the tank caved in.  The laser bolts quickly began striking the interior of the AT-TE.  After another second passed the back of the beast erupted in a flame filled cloud of smoke and fire, sending molten metal flying around in all directions.  The tank's front legs buckled for a brief second before they collapsed, without power, falling into the ground with the flaming face impacting the ground with a solid thud.

The other ships shots found their homes in other targets as well.  A few more AT-TE's fell victim to the well placed shots, while many clones that were caught out of positions were quickly dropped as the spray of laser fire raked their position.  The crafts flew over the smoking Clone position below, allowing the aft gunners to take their own shots.  The ships quickly pulled up sharply and rose back into the sky, anti-air fire following quick in their wake.  A few shots landed true as smoke began billowing from the tail section of one of the Kom'rk.

"Damage report!" Shouted the pilot

"Critical engine damage."  Shouted his copilot "Engine failure in at most thirty seconds."  

The pilot reached for the lever that opened the drop floor beneath the Mandalorian soldiers.  "Get ready to jump, soldiers!  Jetpack as far away as you can and make your way on foot to the rendezvous point!"  The soldiers all stood up and gave a "Sir yes sir!"  before the pilot pulled the lever.  The floor opened and the Mandalorians fell out of the ship.  Their jetpack were ignited after a few seconds, slowing them down to a stop before they quickly flew away from the airfield.  The pilot quickly turned the ship over and lined it up with one of the venators on the airfield before he pulled the ejection lever, causing the canopy above him to blow off and allow both himself and his copilot to escape with their jetpacks.

Soldiers all around scrambled to get clear of the Venator as they spotted the flaming Kom'rk barreling towards the cruiser at high speeds.  The ground shook as the ship collided with the midsection massive cruiser.  An explosion that could be seen for many miles around filled the air as the force of the impact forced clones off the ground.  The Venator moaned and buckled under the impact, ripping apart in the middle, before both the front and rear end fell to the ground bellow with a deafening thud.

“Sir, craft five is down.”  The Copilot spoke quickly as the message flashed across his screen.  

“Casualties?”  

“None”

“Good.”  Ardur spoke as he pulled back on both the throttle and the flight stick, causing his craft to loop over until it was pointing back down on the airfield.  Ardur threw the throttle forward once more and pulled the trigger.  This time the laser strikes forced many clones to find cover underneath their cruisers.  

“Flight of gunships!  Four o'clock low!”  His copilot shouted out as the warning message began blasting across the ship.  “Missiles incoming, evasive maneuvers!”  

Ardur threw the stick hard to the left, while reducing his speed.  Once he leveled out he threw the throttle hard back to full speed.  The gunships missiles had not targeted him fortunately, yet the same could not be said about the other craft.  Many managed to evade the missiles through their defensive maneuvers, yet two were struck by them and smoke billowed from their mid section.  The ball turrets on the gunships were quick to focus the wounded birds; with their lasers cutting through the wings of the ships, sending them falling to the ground below.  One of the crafts crashed into the air control tower, causing it to collapse while the other fell straight into the ground, cartwheeling over the ground after impact before skidding to a rest near a group of clone troopers.   

“They can't give chase, full throttle!”  Ardur ordered as he pointed his bird towards the skyscrapers in the distance Looking over to his copilot he asked “Any survivors?”  To which his copilot shook his head.    The ships flew for a few minutes before they reached their destination, a series of skyscrapers near the far edge of the temple district.  Ardur turned back control of the ship to the copilot.  “Your ship now.  Get the others back to the fleet, restock and bring us more soldiers!”  He shouted as he pulled the lever that opened up the floor.  Soon the skies were filled with a few hundred Mandalorian soldiers.  Each would find good vantage points to cover the sector and await the arrival of their Blackguard commanders.

-------

The droid army had used the distraction caused to advance far up the airfield.  The front lines of droids dove from downed spaceship to blast crater to whatever cover there was on that flat airfield as a constant barrage of blaster bolts from the clone positions constantly rained down.  Some of the droids had packs that could be deployed to form a small sandbag looking fortification that they could hide behind.  These were starting to sprout up everywhere.  Their formation was scattered, and the number of destroyed droids was ever mounting.  Behind them, however, the droids marched in organized lines.  A few were being struck down by the blaster fire, yet they were thus far ok.  On either side of their formation was a line of AAT tanks, that as they drew closer to the clone positions, began to spread across the width of the airfield.  Their cannons always firing on clones and tanks alike.  Even further back was the staging area for the droids.  Thousands of droids were still pouring out of the transports, and a command center had been set up.  Shield tanks and anti-air tanks were active in this area as well with the latter scattered around the edge of the shield.  More transports were landing further back from the original group while ten fast moving small shuttles landed near the command center.

As the doors opened it revealed a group unlike the Droids.  Each had their own attire, some ranging from durable battle armor to simple robes.  Yet each carried one item that made them a unit, a lightsaber.  They were the Dark Jedi, both former Jedi and power hungry Sith idealist that were recruited to fight the Jedi.  They were led off their shuttles by nine Blackguard Wilder's and one Elite Wilder.  The Elite Wilder quickly made his way to the command center and asked for a situation report.

“Clone troopers have halted our advance, commander.”  The B1 droid spoke, with the one next to him adding in a “Roger, Roger.”

“It is of no importance.  Have our first line of tanks charge forward.  Once they are destroyed they should provide enough cover for our forces to move up.”  He spoke as he looked at the battle far ahead.  “Keep doing this until we have closed the gap enough for our forces to charge.  We need to secure the airfield before more reinforcements arrive.”  He moved over to the holomap and pointed to the streets surronding the airfield.  “Three battalions on each side of the airfield are to move up and secure our flanks.  Have them take cover in the buildings and set up barricades in the streets below.  One tank each flank.”  

“Roger, roger.”  The B1's chimed back.

“Your move, Jedi.”  The Blackguard spoke as he crossed his arms behind his back.

--------

CT-8498 dove for cover as the enemy AAT's shells began to slam into the position around him and the commander.  The commander quickly joined him as he opened up a comm link with one of the AT-TE pilots.  “Get your tank into cover behind the destroyed Venator.  Peek just far enough out for your mass driver cannon to have shots.”

“Yes sir!”  

“Sir, Gunships have arrived with Jedi Reinforcements.”  CT-8498 said as he pointed to twenty gunships touching down at the rear of the airfield.  Some dropped off additional AT-TE's while most were filled with a mix of clones and Jedi.  The soldiers quickly followed the Jedi into cover all around the area.

“What a glorious battle we have here!”  Shouted the Jedi Knight in a mocking tone.  “Situation report.”

“Sir.  Three AT-TE's knocked out of action, seven remaining.  Their command post is shielded by a shield tank.  Their strafing runs have done some damage but we can recover.”  The commander ducked his head further into cover as more blaster fire hit his position.  The AT-TE's mass driver guns could be heard once more as they opened up on the enemy tanks.  Each hit sent a column of smoke into the air, followed shortly by an explosion that sent numerous droids flying.  “Can our gunships assist?”  The commander asked.

“Their anti-air defense is live, our gunships would get shredded.”  The Knight responded quickly.  “More of those Drop ships have broken through, the Gunships are better use taking out as many of them as they can before they reach the ground.  Skywalker and the 501st are en-route to assist.  We are to hold our ground until they arrive.”

“Sir yes sir!”

Near the space battle: Present time

As Anora looked down upon the Galactic City , she felt what every soul experiences upon their first site of this city. Though everyone shared this experience, not all experience the same thing. Three people, each could be from the same or separate walks of life, upon seeing and overcoming the first feeling of breathlessness at the sheer scale of this planet, will be left with three different impressions. The first could be a poor person, who tries to sneak his way into the city to find a better life for himself rather than keep up the daily struggle for life where ever he came from, who sees this planet as a place of opportunity. The second could a trader, who travels along the many hyperspace lanes searching for cheap goods that he can mark up elsewhere, sees this planet as a place of security. The strict measures that the Republic imposes on all in the system make sure that his goods will meet the market here, without any fear of pirate attacks. But the third person, the third reaction would be that of Anora. As her eyes scan out the front window Providence class Flagship, her eyes being greeted by a massive space battle already in progress all around between the CIS and GAR navies in the skies above the world, she sees this planet as a symbol of oppression. 

Her eyes focused on the orange planet while her mind focused on the situation down below. All over the planet both droids and mercenaries alike descended upon vast swards of the city. Intense battles were being waged between the the CIS and GAR forces, street to street and building to building . Every time the Droids would advance too fast and come under fire from clone troopers hiding in the massive skyscrapers themselves. Countless droids have been destroyed, many clones have fallen and even the civilian death toll is rising in the heated exchanges. Yet, at least to her and the Blackguard, the most important objective has not been touched. Nor has it seen any death since this invasion began a day prior. The Jedi temple still stood proud and her Jedi still clung to the walls and the streets surrounding it as if it were some bastion of hope. This was not by design, no one expected the Temple and Senate districts to have as much anti-air weapons as they did. Any troop transport trying to land and any star fighter trying to destroy them are met by a hail of fire, and quickly shot down. Though they had the numbers in space, if they did not secure this location, as well as the senate, the outcome might become to costly for their CIS allies to continue this assault. A soft laugh escaped her lips as the thought of these bankers and traders turned revolutionaries entered her mind. This battle would not be won by them, it would be won by the breaking of the defenders spirits.

Anora heard her name called from behind, and turning to see Vansk and the Blackguard's leader San'sii nearing a holodeck she realized it was time for her to act her part in the plan. As she began to walk towards the lift that would take her to the hangar of the ship, she gave the pair a nod as she proceeded towards the door. As she neared she heard the holo projector come to life, and as she was passing through the door she heard a phrase which made her smile. “Good evening, Councilmen. Are you ready to hear our demands?” It took her a mere moment to reach the hangar where five Neimoidian shuttles awaited her. Her strike force consisted of her and six blackguards plus around thirty Dark Jedi who were to join them in their assault.  The mercenaries were easy to get involved and the Dark Jedi even easier, the mercenaries were promised money and the Dark Jedi the Sith Holocrons. Almost too easy if you asked Anora for acquiring meat shields.

The strike teams boarded the shuttles, and launched out of the hangar bay and into space where they met their escort fights and bombers.  The swarm of fighters and bombers would prove to be a plethora of targets for the republic to take notice of the small, fast shuttles that broke through the Republic Blockade.  Soon they would be planet side and the fun would begin.

Present time: When our skies burned with fire?

“These terms are outrageous!” Spoke a slightly excited Mace Windu to Obi-Wan, as Yoda and the rest of the council listened on. “Give up the temple, place down our weapons and give up the Sith holocrons?” He was speaking in a hurried fashion, the surprise attack and the chaos that followed obviously caught both himself and the rest of the council off guard. Obi-Wan was quick to add in, yet spoke in a more controlled tone “They must have known we would have shot down their demands so quickly.” He paused as he rubbed his chin with his right hand. “What would they have to gain by wasting an hour and a half of our time?” Silence fell upon the room as the councilmen thought of an explanation. Minutes passed before Yoda, who until now was meditating, opened his eyes and spoke “They created a diversion, our attention from a potential threat drew away.” A new silence fell upon the room, though disbelief hung in the air. Yoda continued with “I sense a strange power nearby, powerful it is. Yes, hmmm.” Mace Windu was quick to respond “Who is it, the Sith?” His tone was very direct, and Obi-Wan's response more so “Impossible, you slew Palpatine before he could take Anakin as his apprentice. With Anakin with us, the Sith are no more.” He spoke as his right hand motioned in the air. Yoda raised a hand and commanded silence over the gathering. He thought for a second before continuing “The Sith, it is not. Presence it is, which I have not felt.” He paused as he looked at Mace Windu, before speaking “In danger, I fear we all are.” He paused as he raised himself out of his seat. He began to walk away as he spoke “To the outlying defenses send some Knights.  Must not fall, the defensive guns.”

The Council quickly departed from their hole-projectors and Windu and Obi-Wan were soon left alone inside the Council Chamber. Obi-Wan began to walk out of the room quickly, though upon reaching the door he turned his head and spoke “I will task some Knights to gather some Clones and head to the defenses, but we must be ready in case they fall.” Windu nodded in agreement and Obi-Wan quickly departed the scene.
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