1,653Hevy hates space battles. Even the anticipation of one has him holding tighter to his Z-6 helplessly.
He sits in front of the transparent shields in the hangar with his gun next to him, watching the hypnotizing blue swirl of hyperspace up above. He's vaguely aware of loud chatter behind him from hundreds of anxiously waiting clones, all momentarily confined to the hangar, but he remains transfixed by the view. It's soothing in an odd way, a brief and welcome distraction from the constant fear simmering underneath his skin. He lets the faint high-pitched hum of hyperspace lure his mind into placidity.
He needs meditation practice. His batchmates had practiced a lot while he was on Coruscant. He feels behind now, not as attuned or prepared for potential Force attacks. The Commander slipped into his head easily last time they practiced by simply tugging on the threads of his thoughts, bringing his concerns for the Coruscant Guard to the forefront. It derailed all his attempts at keeping a clear mind.
He lets his eyes close, trying to relax into the sensation. A roar of raucous laughter from somewhere behind him makes him grunt in annoyance.
A hand claps down on his shoulder. He jumps, jerking his head up.
"Taking a nap?" Hardcase asks him with a wide grin. "Probably a good idea. Might be the last time in a while we get any sleep."
"I'm sure there'll be a nice comfy trench we can find somewhere on Umbara's surface."
Hardcase barks out a laugh. "Yeah, sure. Maybe we can use a vixus pod as a pillow." He settles down on the floor next to Hevy, crossing his legs underneath himself. "You alright?"
"Just practicing meditating. I'm not very good yet."
"I can leave if you want."
"That's alright. I don't mind company. This isn't the best environment for practice, anyway." Hevy had been with his batchmates earlier, but they'd dispersed over time, visiting with other squads. He looks up at Hardcase, raising one eyebrow cautiously. "You still mad at Fives?"
Hardcase's expression shutters, but then he sighs. "Not really."
"That's good."
"Yeah, well. I realized it's just because he cares so much, you know? Even if I did want to punch his face in for a few days. I'm a bit annoyed still, but I'm not mad. And I'm not going to die."
"Tell Fives that."
"Oh, I have. And you know what, this seems like as good a time as any to remind him." He swivels. "Oi, Fives!"
Fives sits with another group of men further down the hangar, but still within shouting distance. The younger members of Iota squad surround him. At the sound of his name, Fives sits up straight, immediately on alert. His shoulders hike up, but he relaxes when he sees it's only Hardcase.
Hardcase climbs to his feet and plants his hands on his hips. He tips his head back in a bold pose. "I'm not going to die!" he hollers. Several men around them laugh as he begins to strut back and forth boldly. Iota squad erupts into excited yelling, egging him on.
Fives cups his hands around his mouth. "I kriffing know!" he shouts back. "You've told me a thousand times!" His expression oscillates between annoyed and fond, but Hevy's known Fives for long enough to recognize the tightness in his jaw, the nervous way his eyes track Hardcase's pacing. The way his body language is almost exaggeratedly loose, putting on a show for the men around him.
Fives has been doing better recently. He's still tormented by stress, but he mitigates the mental toll by staying busy, preparing the men. He'd even calmed down a bit near the end of their planning period, once they'd helped the Jedi hash out the final details of the assault. Now his tension has skyrocketed again. Hevy frowns grimly. They have no way of knowing how Fives will react once they actually hit Umbara's surface. The rest of his batchmates have been keeping an eye out, sharing observations in flicked ARC sign, but it's impossible to predict everything. Umbara makes Fives completely unpredictable, and Hevy doesn't like it.
Hardcase clambers back down to sit with him again with a satisfied sound.
"All this waiting is agonizing," Hevy grumbles. "I think I'll actually feel better once we're successfully on the ground. Then at least we won't be stuck playing guessing games."
"Don't worry," Hardcase drawls, rapping his knuckles against the durasteel floor. "This baby will get us there soon. She didn't come back from the dead for nothing." He nudges Hevy. "I guess that makes her kind of like you, doesn't it!"
Hevy snorts. He reaches out to splay a gloved hand over a patch of the durasteel floor. It seems silly to feel so sentimental about it, but Hardcase is right—it also feels reassuring, somehow, to have her back, even for a brief moment.
There's a reason she's named the Resolute, after all.
The area of Mikkia the Jedi chose for their temporary base has fields of waving grass stretching out as far as the eye can see. A constant gentle breeze makes the plains ripple and sway, and if he squints hard enough Hevy can almost see the rolling Kaminoan sea in their movement. The setting sun turns the entire grassland a glowing golden-green.
From his guard position in front of the Command tent, he can make out most of their encampment. It's primarily tents, Republic-made and set up by the clones. The Defender looms behind him, casting a long shadow over the camp. In the opposite direction he can see the Mikkian town in the distance, with elegant buildings painstakingly hand-carved from white stone. Clouds billow in the sky above, stained orange at their edges.
He likes Mikkia. Even guard duty is less of a pain when the weather is nice. He tips his head back to get a better view of the sunset and pauses.
Against the clouds he can make out an odd shadow. He watches it for a moment, wondering if it's some type of bird, but it seems to increase in size the longer he watches.
His comlink crackles. "This is the east side watch. There's some motion on the horizon. We can't make it out clearly yet."
At least he isn't the only one to have noticed. He shifts in place, glancing back at the Command tent nervously. Has the General been alerted yet?
Before he can even make a decision, General Skywalker bursts from the tent, startling Hevy enough that he nearly drops his rifle and then frantically tries to pretend that he was only adjusting his grip. Fortunately, the General doesn't seem to notice. He's too busy looking up.
"Sir?" Hevy says, suddenly nervous. Mikkia is located in the Expansion Region, not far from Umbara technically, but far enough that they should have avoided detection as they arrived. If they've been discovered by the enemy, Hevy isn't sure what will happen.
Suddenly General Skywalker lets out an elated laugh. "Tell the guards not to worry, Hevy. This is an expected delivery!"
Hevy does so, confused, until the shadow forms into an odd triangular shape, and finally glides close enough to make out—
His heart leaps in his chest. He reaches for his comlink again, this time to the frequency he shares with his batchmates. "Get out here, there's news!"
By the time they assemble around him, word has spread around the camp. Clones pour out into the open, roaring their approval to welcome one of their own back home. Droidbait's delighted shout mixes with Cutup's whoop. Fives and Echo cheer, raising their fists towards the sky.
She's a wreck, torn and tattered, her left flank buckled inward and scorch marks all across the hull. Crippled, too—held in the air by thick cables connected to three hefty tugships. They carry her slowly but surely down towards the surface. But she's still one of the most beautiful sights Hevy has ever seen, a bold figure in the light of the setting sun. Resolute, indeed.
General Skywalker grins triumphantly.
"Looks like Master Shaak Ti figured it out," Echo says, smiling audibly.
"She mentioned that there had already been talk of retrieving it, since it was seeping chemicals that were threatening some of the aiwha pod's mating grounds near Tipoca City. It took a while to drain the water, and it's heavily damaged. But I think we can make her work long enough for one last journey," the General says, eyes already scouring the hull. The last time Hevy had seen that particular look on the General's face was when he'd installed Droidbait's new arm.
"We have our ship," Fives says, relieved. Then he straightens. "Alright. What's next?"
Though revived, the Resolute is far from healthy. She groans slightly in protest as she flies, little shudders spasming through the ship. She'd been shaky entering hyperspace, and trembles even now.
"Almost there," Hevy whispers, pressing his hand against the floor again in futile reassurance. "We're close." Only Hardcase is near enough to hear him, but the other clone just nods in solemn agreement, glancing around in concern as the Resolute jerks again.
Motion in his peripheral vision catches his attention. Near the center of the hangar, Captain Rex stands, arm raised towards his face as he listens to his comlink. Hevy tenses. He glances around the packed crowd of clones to find his batchmates. Fives is in the same spot, and it's not hard to find Droidbait's arm, but Cutup and Echo aren't immediately visible. It's almost time. They'll need to reassemble soon.
True to his instinct, Captain Rex raises his voice. "We'll be exiting hyperspace in a few minutes. Pack up your things and get into your squads. We'll be loading soon."
The casual, friendly air of their little gathering abates in an instant. Hevy's nerves bubble up to the surface anew. Drivel and jokes die away, replaced by quick orders and pounding feet.
He picks up his Z-6 and follows Hardcase through the throng. For a few minutes, it's a blur of blue and white, half-familiar markings and unfamiliar ones.
There hadn't been time to restore life support and artificial gravity throughout the entire ship. Instead, General Skywalker had prioritized the hangar, and while it worked as a temporary solution for their plan, it meant that they were all confined to the same space—made even smaller by the huge vehicles taking up the majority of the hangar.
Twelve Juggernaut turbo tanks sit in a silent line, packed against one another to fit in as many as possible. Each one is strapped down, held tightly to the floor by more cables and chains than Hevy could even hope to count, like giant restrained beasts. Still, he can only hope it will be enough to stop them from shifting.
They find the rest of Beta squad in front of Juggernaut Seven, along with Iota and several other squads. Domino squad are among them. Hardcase diverts to mingle with Kix and Jesse. Hevy steps up to his batchmates. Fives' leg jiggles frantically, tapping against the floor.
Ordinarily Hevy can't help but feel a strange thrum of excitement before a battle—determination, adrenaline, anticipation. Today he can't find any of that. Umbara once was little more than a distant nightmare, only relevant in Fives' memory. Now it stares them in the face, hiding a maelstrom of death and evil beneath its foggy surface.
Who knows what they will find down there. Hevy remembers the Sister's pale brother, fingers hooked into claws and red lighting crackling across his skin. Krell's shadow forming from darkness, glaring down at them.
"It'll be alright," Droidbait says suddenly, a little too loud, but Hevy doesn't blame him. "We've done everything we possibly can."
"We've done that before, though, and it still didn't change anything," Cutup mutters.
They all wince at the reminder.
Echo huffs, punching Cutup's shoulder. "But this time we have help. We're not alone, and our brothers are prepared. General Skywalker and Commander Tano are with us as well."
"The Force is with us," Droidbait says, and the truth of the words sings warmth in Hevy's heart. He takes a deep breath.
The far doors of the hangar suddenly beep a frantic alarm. The clones turn towards them, looking up as the red light above flashes in warning, indicating that someone has entered the small pressurizing chamber just beyond. After a long noise like a bantha sucking up water, the sound of the chamber filling with oxygen, the doors slide open with a grind of misplaced gears. Commander Tano steps through in a light brown space suit, the bubble helmet over her head distorted on either side to allow room for her montrals—not even the bridge was given life support. The Jedi have been working in zero grav for hours.
"Commander on deck!" someone shouts. Hevy's body goes stiff on instinct until the Commander waves it away. She sheds the suit quickly and races across the hangar in quick bounds.
Rex emerges from the chaos of blue-white armor to meet her. "Commander, how much time do we have?"
She opens her mouth to answer right as the Resolute practically convulses. She stumbles, as do most of the men. Hevy grabs Droidbait's prosthetic to keep him from tumbling.
Commander Tano grimaces. "Probably ten minutes before we exit hyperspace."
"Will we survive landing at this rate?" Cutup gasps. "Forget that, will we survive leaving hyperspace?"
"If anyone can do it, it's General Skywalker," Fives says firmly.
Rex whirls around, voice rising to a shout. "Alright, men! Into formation! Load those tanks!"
The next few minutes are a scramble. Hevy falls in line with the rest of his squad. Iota squad is somewhere behind them. They file into the tank at top speed. It's so huge that stepping inside is like being swallowed by metal. Last time he was in a turbo tank was on Geonosis, mid-way through the battle and with little time or energy to appreciate the enormity of the vehicle. This time he gapes.
The back ramp leads directly to the troop compartment, but Kix pushes himself forward to get to the small trauma bay up closer to the front. Even further, Hevy can see the faint glow of the command deck, where the pilot sits with his small crew of engineers, navigators, and gunners. Even filled with nearly three dozen squads, there's still excess room to move about in the troop compartment. Tipper and Zeer hop up the ramp after the majority of the men have loaded up.
"Good to see you," Cutup says, clasping hands with Tipper as the two ARC troopers approach.
Tipper, helmet tucked under his arm, gives them a wide grin. "No way we were gonna let you boys have all the fun." They're both armed with heavy DC-15A rifles.
"We're glad to have you," Echo says with a warm smile. "I wouldn't have anyone else watching our squad's backs."
Fives stares at them silently, something odd in the tilt of his head. Hevy shifts close and nudges him. Fives waves him away.
Hevy narrows his eyes. "You okay?"
"Fine," Fives mutters. "It's just strange to think about."
"What is?"
"That a lifetime ago, I was them. I was an ARC trooper on Umbara. Rex trusted me to support half a dozen squads. And now I'm leading you all into that same nightmare."
"You're not leading us anywhere," Hevy says, keeping his voice low but firm. "We chose this path together as a squad."
Fives doesn't say anything.
"We're going in together. We'll fight together. And we'll come out the other side together, too. I have no doubt."
Finally Fives huffs a little laugh. "That speech pattern sounds familiar. Don't channel Senator Amidala at me."
"I'll do it as long as it makes you listen. Besides, I've been practicing."
"Hm." But as disgruntled as he sounds, his body language has shifted back to something more normal—at least, as normal as Fives has been since Umbaran fighters first appeared in the cloudy Kaminoan skies. Hevy allows himself to relax and vows to keep a very careful eye on Fives over the next few days.
They settle into the Juggernaut's seatbelt-equipped seats to wait. Hevy stores his Z-6 underneath one. There are plenty available, but many men remain standing, too agitated to sit. Twin light strips on the ceiling illuminate the space. Hevy isn't surprised when Commander Tano and Captain Rex finally follow them up into Juggernaut Seven after a few minutes. Commander Tano heads toward them.
"The General kicked you off of the bridge, huh?" Cutup teases.
She scowls. "He said my complaining about his flying was going to distract him. I hadn't even complained once, though!"
"A preemptive approach can be very effective sometimes," Echo says, and chuckles at her glare.
"We'll be exiting hyperspace any moment now," Rex says grimly, then hollers down the line: "Strap in, boys! We're in for a bumpy ride!"
A cold chill trickles down Hevy's spine. Despite his confident words to Fives, he feels like he's getting whiplash. Hope one moment, and absolute dread the next. Men scramble for seats. Hevy secures the heavy-duty seat belt across his chest.
A terrible whine of engines sounds, audible even through the Juggernaut's thick armor. The Resolute shakes as if ready to tear itself apart. Hevy braces himself alongside his batchmates.
Captain Rex's voice rises above the noise. "Dropping out of hyperspace in three, two, one—!"
General Skywalker arrives at the Command tent meeting late, covered in oil, and toting a massive roasted bird on a stick. He takes a ravenous bite as he enters, and Hevy barely stifles his chuckle. Next to him, Cutup cackles. Droidbait and Echo elbow him simultaneously. Fives snorts. Rex's face remains blank, unsurprised. General Skywalker joins them around the holoprojector.
"Good to see you've connected so well with the locals," General Kenobi says dryly, his hologram raising an eyebrow.
"You're just jealous you aren't eating this well, Master. We'll have to make this quick, if possible. I left Ahsoka down there with the Venator technicians to keep helping with repairs. We almost have the hyperdrive functioning again, but she's getting tired."
Hevy suspects that General Skywalker is just as exhausted as the Commander, but the General hasn't paused his mission to make the Resolute flyable again since the day it arrived.
"As long as the necessary discussions occur," General Windu says. A clone appears in the background of his hologram and mutters something inaudible. General Windu frowns. "We are all busy with preparations, but it is imperative that we coordinate well. Skywalker, are you confident you can make repairs by the date of the assault?"
"I'm confident. Especially with the help we've received from the Mikkian people."
General Kenobi sighs. "I should have known you'd find a way to make crashing a ship part of the plan."
"What can I say, Master? It's practically my trademark at this point."
"Hmm, yes. Well, as long as I'm not in said ship."
"Hey. I'll have you know that I am very good at crashing ships. Snips has been with me dozens of times and she's never died."
"That's not very reassuring, Anakin."
"There is good news from Coruscant," General Windu interrupts, unfazed by the banter. "Due to your previous success using the Juggernaut vehicles on the planet Geonosis, the Republic has granted your request for a new shipment. They're on their way to Mikkia as we speak."
Hevy almost punches the air in excitement. His brothers shift around him, equally enthused, but they maintain decorum.
General Skywalker smirks. "Excellent." Then he takes another bite of the roast bird.
General Windu looks annoyed, but continues. "The tanks will solve our mobility issue against the Umbaran forces, but only if we can manage the logistics properly. A Venator's hangar is more than large enough to hold several Juggernaut-class tanks, though it may be a tight squeeze. The more immediate problem is how to disembark the tanks. Those hangars aren't designed for wheeled exits. If we can't get them out in time, they'll be destroyed by long-range missiles and we'll lose any hope of a ground force advantage."
"I can try to work out a deployment method, but we don't have very much time," General Skywalker says. "I could install some blast doors, or find a way to land the Venator so that a wheeled exit is possible..."
General Kenobi strokes his beard. "Allow me to offer an alternative solution. What if we could remove the long-range missiles from play before the Juggernauts arrive?"
"I'll still have to solve the disembarking problem, but that would be helpful," General Skywalker grumbles. "Any thoughts, Fives?"
Hevy's batchmate straightens. "Unfortunately, I don't know much about the location or defenses of the long-range missiles. Only that it took a while for General Kenobi's forces to capture them."
"Hm. That's unfortunate to hear. If I was unable to swiftly deal with the missiles in a previous life, it stands to reason that anything I come up with now likely won't work, either. Perhaps this task should be entrusted to another force."
General Windu hums. "Would you suggest my own forces take the city instead? I was under the impression that you abhorred space warfare."
"Not at all, Master Windu. I am prepared to take the city. But perhaps I will have to allow someone else to tackle the missiles."
"Like who?" General Skywalker asks.
"Our recent visit to Kamino introduced me to a very unique group of men. While they aren't technically part of my own forces, their unpredictability may allow them to accomplish what I could not. I believe they are the perfect men for the job."
"You're certain they can handle it?" General Windu asks.
"Based on what I have seen from them so far, I am confident in their abilities."
"That's another thing taken care of, then," General Skywalker says. A little smile tugs at his lips. "Now I just have to make sure we can get enough repairs done that we don't explode the second we arrive."
"Is that, um, a possibility, sir?" Hevy mutters.
The General smirks. "Don't worry. I'm sure it will be fine."
The shaking dies down. Hevy gasps in relief. Cutup swears next to him, knuckles tight around the seatbelt. All around them, men groan and wince. Hevy waits for a few moments, but the Resolute doesn't tremble again—they're successfully out of hyperspace.
The overhead speakers crackle. The voice of their pilot fills the small space. "We've arrived in Umbaran space. I'll keep the general Republic line broadcasting."
It flicks on a moment later, in a massive burst of chatter. Admiral Yularen's voice booms, ordering the fleet into position. Pilot squad leaders declare their groups ready. The arrival of Generals Windu and Kenobi comes in a blare of additional chatter a minute later. Though he can't see outside, Hevy imagines that their attack force looks intimidating, a cluster of bristling metal Venator thorns against the blackness of space and the purple haze of Umbara's atmosphere.
Captain Rex makes his way through the Juggernaut, stopping in front of them. "A bit of bad news, boys. We haven't received any updates from the strike team yet."
Hevy swears under his breath. The strike team has been on Umbara for a few days now, carefully infiltrating the capital city to sabotage its long-range missile launchers. Unfortunately, Umbara's planetary sensors prevent the strike force from signaling success until they've successfully escaped the city, leaving General Skywalker's attack force reliant on a little luck to get the timing right. They'd agreed on a specific time frame to match the fleet's arrival with the destruction of the missiles, but something must have gone wrong down on the surface.
Echo frowns. "What will General Skywalker do? Will we pull back?"
Captain Rex shakes his head. "You should know General Skywalker better than that. Besides, perhaps at this point our arrival will cause enough of a distraction to help them instead of hinder them. The General is confident they'll get the job done. There are still a few hours left in the agreed time frame. We'll see what the fleet can do in the meantime."
"That's a lot of trust to place in one squad," Cutup mutters as Captain Rex continues towards the Juggernaut cockpit. "Who even are they?"
Echo shrugs. "Apparently they're a small strike force under the direction of Commander Cody. Their track record is impressive, though some reports seem to indicate that they don't play well with others." Echo shrugs. "As long as they get the job done."
"If they can sabotage those missiles before we get to the surface, we'll be far better off," Fives says grimly from behind him.
Hevy nods. "Do you think they can in time? They don't have very long."
Echo pauses. "Yes, I think so. I have a good feeling about them."
General Skywalker's voice suddenly cuts through the chatter on the overhead speakers. "The Umbaran forces are amassing, and there's a lot of them, as expected." He sighs suddenly. "This is the worst part, gentlemen. We have to wait for the strike team to complete their mission, and then for a realistic opening before making our approach. It could be a while. We won't be in combat, so feel free to move about, but stay sharp."
His words trigger a cacophony of groaning. Clicks sound from around the vehicle as men unbuckle and rise from their seats.
Hevy sighs as he stands. "This wait is going to be awful."
A hand slaps down onto his shoulder. Hevy jumps, then glances up to see Tipper. "Don't worry! I brought entertainment."
"What kind of entertainment?"
The ARC reaches down to one of the pouches on his belt and fishes out a deck of sabacc cards. Hevy laughs.
"I think this is the perfect atmosphere for a nice, friendly game of sabacc!"
"Nice and friendly? Right now we're more likely to kill each other," Echo says, smile audible.
The comm channel above them has died down a little, with just a few voices coming through every so often. They haven't clashed with the enemy yet, but Hevy has no doubt things will pick back up once they do.
"At least it'll pass the time!" Tipper says.
Hevy grimaces. Even after months of practice he's still not very good at sabacc. He wonders if Senator Amidala is any good. Probably.
"Hey, Vaughn, you want in?" Tipper calls, waving the cards in the air.
The newest Beta squad member whirls at his name, as do the younger Iota squad members from where they'd been clustered near him.
"Can we start a betting pool?" Tup asks, head tilted.
Cutup cackles. "That's not a bad idea!"
From a few feet away where he'd been chatting with Droidbait, Del suddenly leans in, the tilt of his helmet distinctly unimpressed. "Tipper."
Tipper shrugs. "What?"
"Pretty sure those don't come standard issue with the uniform."
"Gonna write me up, Sarge?"
Del sighs. "I suppose not. But I'm not sure if the Captain or the Commander will approve right now—"
"Oh yeah, good idea. Hey, Commander!"
It takes her a moment to slip through the clones to get to them. She claps her hands in excitement when she sees Tipper's cards.
Del huffs. "I suppose I should have seen that coming."
Iota and Beta squad quickly fuse together as usual, crowding around Tipper. In the wake of losing Mixer and giving Vaughn to Beta squad, Iota has two new men. Ringo and Oz are batchmates who both fought their first battle during the second invasion of Geonosis. Fives seems satisfied to see them, and makes a point to sit next to them, chatting lightly. Hevy glances over to Droidbait, then Echo, and sees that they're both observing the same interaction.
Echo flicks his fingers. He's alright.
Okay, Hevy signs back, and sees Droidbait nod.
We can watch him, but we also need to trust him, Echo's fingers spell out.
Hevy sighs and turns away. Echo is right. Fives will pull through. He always has.
"Eight players maximum!" Tipper calls. "Who's in?"
Tipper himself takes one of the hands, as do Droidbait and the Commander. Vaughn, Sterling, and Dogma are quick to join. Jesse also volunteers, settling down on the floor with the others.
"There's room for one more, anyone else?" Tipper glances around the room.
Del shakes his head. Echo and Denal are busy discussing something with animated gestures. Redeye holds up a cleaning rag and half of his disassembled rifle with a shrug. Fives, Ringo, and Oz prefer to watch. Zeer naps leaned up against the wall. Cutup and Tup gleefully take bets from several other squads who were attracted by the commotion.
When Droidbait shoots a look at Hevy, Hevy crosses his arms in front of his chest.
"Ha. No way. I've lost too many games to these bloodthirsty shinies. If I had any credits, I would have been broke a long time ago thanks to them."
"We're not shinies anymore," Dogma huffs. Vaughn and Sterling nod furiously in agreement.
"You may not be shiny shinies, but you're still pretty kriffing green," a voice says from behind Hevy. Kano approaches the sabacc circle with a confident swagger in his walk, voice lilting as he teases the younger men. "Maybe I ought to show you kids how a real veteran plays."
Hevy hides his amusement as half of Iota squad bristles.
"You'll be eating those words in a few minutes," Vaughn growls, squinting at his hand with more intensity than a bomb-defuser three seconds from detonation.
"They always rise to the bait," Denal says from behind Hevy in a low, fond voice. "Kano loves to antagonize them. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's cute."
We'll make a bracket," Tipper announces once all eight players have taken a seat. "If we can get through it before General Skywalker starts our approach, I'll be impressed. And also disappointed that we haven't attacked by then."
"Speak for yourself!" calls one of the onlookers from a different squad, which sparks a brief wave of hooting and hollering. Someone cheers for the Commander. She stands and bows, which triggers another round of yells. Tipper settles the crowd with a dramatic wave of his hands.
Hevy moves to stand next to Fives, Ringo, and Oz. As he does, he catches sight of Captain Rex shaking his head at the antics.
"Will Rex have a problem with this?" he asks. "Normally he doesn't, but we're in an active campaign."
"I doubt it," Ringo says. "It's good for morale. We're all nervous, and this takes our minds off of things during the wait."
"Even if he did, what's the worst he can do? Court-martial us?" Oz asks with a snort.
"Make you tutor a Gungan," Fives grumbles.
Hevy nearly chokes, he laughs so hard. Ringo tries to slap him on the back to help, but he's laughing, too, barely able to do anything more than shove Hevy's shoulder.
Four rounds into the sabacc tournament, the space battle begins. It causes a heavy lull in the revelry. They listen for several minutes as flocks of smaller fighters clash, as Admiral Yularen orders ships into different positionings, and as the Jedi Generals save pilots from close calls.
The tense silence is broken by Commander Tano slapping a card down on the pile with a satisfied sound. It seems to trigger something. Low murmurs burst around the turbo tank, and the sabacc game resumes. The turbo tank pilot turns the audio down a little bit, but despite the recommencement, apprehension hangs in the air, evident in the tight shoulders and restlessness of every clone.
The Resolute rocks gently. It's positioned near the back of the fleet for now, away from any stray lasers that could prevent it from completing its final task. The distance makes the shouting from the Republic's communication lines seem unreal, like a bad dream happening a galaxy away. Hevy tries to put it out of his head as he watches the games progressing. There will be plenty of time to worry once the fleet clears them a path.
During the first hour, they complete the sabacc bracket with Sterling coming out the victor. The younger clones spend several loud minutes flaunting their victory at Kano. Kano loudly demands a rematch, so they oblige him.
Commander Tano wins the second bracket during the next hour. The onlookers cheer so loudly that Kix finally ventures from the trauma bay to see the cause behind the commotion. Jesse drags him into the third bracket, refreshed with all new players. Cutup participates this time, as do Del, Echo, and a handful of men from other squads.
By the third hour, Tipper has somehow convinced Captain Rex to participate. Hevy isn't surprised. The Captain also loses each round in increasingly spectacular ways. Hevy would almost think it was intentional if not for the way the Captain's expression grows more baffled each round, eyebrows shooting up.
By the fourth hour, boredom seeps into Hevy's bones like exhaustion, finding uneasy companionship with his nervousness. He finds himself tucked against the wall leaning against a supply crate, listening to the anxious, anticipatory chatter around him.
Despite his best intentions, he falls asleep.
The day before they launch to Umbara, General Skywalker grants the men a day of leave on Mikkia's surface. While some use the opportunity to get some well-deserved rest, others take to the grassy fields, sprawling in the gentle sun or playing casual games of speedball. Several groups head into the nearby Mikkian village in search of good food and drink. Domino squad chooses to visit the village.
Hevy isn't sure if it's some sort of Mikkian holiday or if the locals have decided to celebrate their presence, but he's definitely not complaining. The streets are full of clones and jewel-colored Mikkians with hair tendrils that wave in the air even when the breeze dies down. Streamers criss-cross the streets high above, and street vendors shout for attention on the sidewalks. The scents of roasting meat and hot sugar fill the air. The surrounding buildings are rounded and carved from white rock, each completely covered in geometric carvings and swirls.
They stop to admire a troupe of Mikkian dancers performing in the middle of the street. Mikkian men and women dance together in graceful yet aggressive movements, following the beat of a drum. They chant in their melodic, flowing language, leaping and spinning in circles. Then they break free and head to the audience, pulling victims into the circle to dance with them.
Fives is immediately pulled into the street. He sends them a panicked look and flails his feet to the beat. Cutup guffaws loudly, pointing, and another dancer grabs his hand as she spins past, tugging him abruptly into the circle as well. His jaw drops open in shock. Droidbait, Hevy, and Echo cackle.
Echo and Droidbait get pulled in as well. Echo is surprisingly coordinated as he attempts to copy one of the male dancers. Droidbait just jumps up and down like a maniac. A bright-eyed Mikkian woman offers Hevy a hand, and he hesitates. His back throbs from the hard labor they've done for the past few days, fusing and welding and wiring new blast doors into the Resolute's frame. But then he looks at his batchmates and allows himself to be pulled in as well. The drum pounds nearby, so Hevy stomps his feet in response and feels something in his chest lighten.
When the dance finally ends, the Mikkian troupe bows and begins to head to their next location. The onlookers clap and cheer. Hevy rejoins his batchmates, flushed and grinning, and sees his own delight reflected on their faces.
"Should we keep going?" Droidbait asks brightly. "The town square is just ahead!"
"I'll race you," Echo says suddenly, and dashes away. The rest of Domino shout and tear after him.
The town square is a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. There's more music, more dancing, and more people. They are each gifted a kebab from a vendor, and the buttery meat falls apart in Hevy's mouth. Little square patches of woven cloth dangle from almost every door, in every color and pattern imaginable. A few vendors wave some tantalizingly towards the clones, though Hevy isn't even sure what he would do with one if he bought it.
They quickly decide on a quest for food with the meager pile of credits they'd been given for the occasion. Fives stuffs his mouth full of half a dozen sweet crackers while Droidbait eggs him on. Echo turns up his nose at an eel-like creature roasting over a street grill—it's longer than Hevy's entire arm. Cutup laughs at him and takes a big bite. An older woman offers them all sticky buns covered in syrup that make Hevy's taste buds sing.
They're in pursuit of a particularly delicious sweet-smelling scent when Droidbait suddenly freezes in the middle of the square. Hevy runs into him and curses as they both stumble. Before he can question his batchmate, Droidbait darts away, pushing past a confused pair of Mikkians in his haste.
"Hey—Bait!" Hevy shouts, but Droidbait doesn't stop, squeezing around a cart selling bumpy purple fruits and disappearing into the crowd. Hevy shoves his way after Droidbait, waving frantically for the rest of his batchmates to follow.
It takes a few hectic minutes to catch up. Droidbait leads them across the entire square. On the opposite end is a massive white gate. A large building stands behind it, its top half visible and covered in color, but Hevy doesn't have time to make sense of the paintings. Droidbait hurries through the gate.
"Wait a minute!" Hevy shouts. "Are we even allowed in there?" But Droidbait is already gone, so he groans and follows.
Beyond the gate is a courtyard of white marble, with little gaps in the stone to make room for dots of purple flowers. The crowd has thinned out, and only a few Mikkians are present, seated on scattered benches. They speak in hushed voices, with an odd sort of reverence that catches Hevy off guard compared to the bustle of the town square. He wonders once again if they're permitted to enter this space, but a green-skinned Mikkian only offers them a smile as they walk past her bench.
Droidbait stands in the center of the courtyard, face tilted up.
Hevy leads his batchmates over. "What was that? Give us some warning next time, will you?"
"Yeah, what's your deal?" Cutup asks, rubbing his side where he'd smacked it against a cargo crate. "We've got to be careful, I almost squashed a couple of kids—"
"Look," Droidbait says softly.
Hevy follows his gaze and promptly loses all the remaining breath in his lungs.
Painted on the side of the white building in great splashes of color is a familiar figure, one that Hevy would recognize anywhere. Green, gold, and white paint depicts the Sister in abstract shapes, with a halo of gold surrounding her. The gold paint glimmers in the sunlight. Next to her is another figure, this one with what seems like a long beard, and on his opposite side is the Brother. Hevy glares at him.
"I caught a glimpse of it from over the wall at a distance and thought it looked familiar," Droidbait says, awed. "Why is it here?"
They all jump as a door, which Hevy hadn't even noticed, swings open a few meters away. A Mikkian woman with red skin and bright blue eyes steps out onto the street, staring at them. A white dress swirls around her heels.
"Please, come in," she says. "The Priestess will want to see you."
Hevy jolts awake.
Fives stands over him. "It's time."
A cocktail of relief, terror, and excitement punches Hevy in the gut. He scrambles to his feet.
Men all around him are assembling into squads again. Overhead, he hears General Windu ordering a squadron of Y-wings to return to safety.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Almost four hours. We finally got a transmission from Commander Cody's elite squad. They've destroyed the long-range missiles and briefly jammed communications between the fleet and the capital city. It's now or never." Fives' voice is curt, and he's already turning away to head towards where the rest of Beta squad is congregating.
Hevy shakes off the remnants of sleep and reaches out, catching Fives' shoulder. He spins Fives around to face him. "Fives. Listen to me for just a second."
Fives stares at him, waiting, and suddenly Hevy can't find the words he needs. Men stream around them, calling for extra ammunition and passing around thermal detonators.
"I… Fives. I really need to know what's going on inside your head," Hevy finally manages. He resists the urge to reach out and tear the helmet from Fives' head so that he can see his brother's face.
"I'm nervous," Fives says instantly. "I don't know what will happen down there. But there's nothing else I can do."
Hevy, once again, can't find words. He'd expected an "I'm alright" or a "don't worry about me", not this.
He clenches his jaw. "Aren't you afraid?"
Finally Fives twitches. "Wouldn't you be?"
"You seem to be dealing with it pretty well."
Fives lets out a mirthless chuckle. "I think it's resignation, and maybe a bit of denial. I don't even know how I'll react when we hit the surface. If I shut down, I trust you all to pull me out of it."
Hevy breathes. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yeah. We'll stick close."
"I'm counting on it."
"Fives, Hevy!" Del calls. "Let's go!"
They share one final look, then hurry over to where Beta is waiting for them.
Hevy ignores Cutup's inquisitive signs as they join the group, but Fives doesn't, signing a sharp Calm down.
"How long will it take?" Vaughn asks quietly. "Now that we're close, I mean?"
Echo frowns. "I'm not s—"
The Resolute lurches. They scramble for handholds. General Skywalker's voice comes over the intercom, slightly strained.
"Hold on, men. Things are going to get a bit bumpy for a while!"
Hevy sits and yanks the seatbelt around him alongside his batchmates and the rest of their Juggernaut. The entire world vibrates as the Resolute's half-repaired thrusters engage.
General Skywalker is taking them forwards, right into the space battle.
Silence falls over the men. Hevy listens to the nervous sound of his own breathing.
"General Windu has cleared us a path for the false flanking," the General announces, voice cutting through the quiet. "We're headed straight for the flagship."
Hevy exchanges nervous looks with his batchmates. The bait has been set. Now they just need the Umbarans to take it.
The plan is simple. Hold the Resolute in reserve, and send it through an opening during a pivotal moment to feign a desperate attack on the flagship. Unbeknownst to the Umbarans, the Resolute isn't meant to ever arrive. The Umbarans will see it coming. They'll attempt to bring the Resolute down before it gets too close.
General Skywalker's job is to make sure it looks like the Umbarans succeed. Critical areas of the ship are unshielded, carefully selected so that it looks like any attacking fighters are dealing heavy damage. Once it's damaged enough that it seems to be in death throes, the General will nudge it downwards until it's pulled into Umbara's atmosphere and dragged down to the surface.
It will be a controlled crash. Hopefully.
A crashing Venator is hard to hide. However, any Umbaran forces that visit the crash site will be expecting a broken, battered force. Not twelve fully-armed Juggernauts loaded with an army of well-rested and prepared men.
General Skywalker shouts again. "We're taking fire!"
Explosions sound in the distance, jolting them all. The Resolute's alarms boot up and trail off into a mournful whine, systems too damaged to continue.
The enemy fighters make several more passes on the Resolute, each one causing larger explosions than the last. Hevy closes his eyes and hangs on for dear life, vaguely aware of his batchmates around him. He's never loved flying, and this is bringing back bad memories. He spares the briefest of thoughts for Flak, somewhere in the dogfights happening outside.
"They've launched torpedoes at our damaged side! This could be it, brace yourselves!"
Even strapped in, the impact knocks his teeth together with a vicious snap, sending a jolt of pain up through his skull. He cries out as the world shakes around him, body jerking against his seatbelt. Men shout. Cutup's arm smacks into Hevy's jaw. His back twinges with pain. Commander Tano yelps from somewhere behind him.
"Everyone alright?" Captain Rex calls down the line. Hevy raises his voice along with a few others in haggard agreement. His jaw aches underneath his helmet, little sparks of pain shooting up his gums each time his teeth tap together.
"It's done," General Skywalker announces. "To their eyes we've been disabled. We're already starting to drift down into the atmosphere. It shouldn't be long now."
Some men let out weak cheers. Hevy is tempted to join them, but the worst is yet to come. A few men stumble from their seats and limp back towards the trauma bay for medical attention. Hevy hears metal creak, the wires holding their Juggernaut in place singing as they pull taut in unseen discord. A huge explosion, distant, but large enough to shake the ground again, makes them all tense.
Then a heavy, grating groan of metal dragging against metal echoes nearby. The men look towards the sound as one, heavy realization falling over them.
"One of the tanks is loose," Tipper calls, then swears viciously. "It'll knock the others out of their bindings if it slides too much! We'd all be killed on impact!"
"Can we pin it back down?" Fives asks, head swiveling towards the exit ramp.
Echo swears. "Maybe, if the Commander—"
"Lower the ramp!" the Commander's voice calls over grinding metal and fearful shouts. She already stands at the back of the vehicle, shoulders set and eyes blazing. "I'll handle this!"
She's tiny, dwarfed even more than usual by the Juggernaut, but she looms larger than life as the ramp descends, silhouetted in the light that streams into the cabin. She bolts out into the hangar.
Hevy doesn't even need to exchange a single word with his batchmates. They fling their seatbelts off and thunder down the ramp after her.
They follow the Mikkian woman through the doorway without a word of protest. Warmth kindles in Hevy's chest, and all at once he feels pulled by an invisible string, slowly yet gently encouraging him further inside.
Though the door is small, barely big enough to accommodate them, the inside of the building is massive. The domed ceiling is covered in odd textured patterns that drip down towards them in frozen geometric stalactites. White pillars support the structure, with beautiful flowing lines painstakingly carved into every inch from the floor to the ceiling. Three towering statues stand at each of the remaining walls—the Brother and Sister on the left and right, with the final bearded figure against the back wall. Small fountains sit in front of them, filling the large open space with echoes of trickling water. In the center sits a large dais, but whatever lies upon it is covered by a billowing white curtain that drapes down from the distant ceiling, swaying gently.
The room feels peaceful. Calm. Natural light flows through small gaps in the ceiling and dances as it reflects off of the bubbling fountains. Hevy feels a hint of warmth in his chest that only grows the further he walks. Not even the glaring statue of the Brother deters it.
"This way," the Mikkian woman says, gesturing. She doesn't walk so much as she glides across the room, dress flowing around her like water. Their footsteps echo on the tiled floors. She leads them up towards the dais, and as they approach the curtain ripples and retracts in one fluid motion.
Another Mikkian woman lies on a plush cushion in the center of the dais. She sits up as they approach. Her skin is a pale cream color, somewhat wrinkled with age. Her dress is also white, but much more ornate than the first woman, layered and covered in intricate lace decorations. As she looks towards them, her head tendrils writhe in excitement like they're alive. Hevy meets her gaze and realizes with a start that her eyes have no iris or pupil. They are white and empty.
"These are not the visitors I was expecting," she says. Her voice is gentle.
The first woman smiles. "They are not. And yet they are here."
Domino squad watches them cautiously. Hevy isn't sure what to think. He isn't afraid, but he feels an odd sort of anticipation hanging in the air.
"I am the Priestess," the woman on the dais says. Her head turns, strange eyes regarding Droidbait, who looks like he's about to explode with curiosity. "Ask me what you will, child."
"What is this place?" Droidbait asks. "Who are you?"
"This is a place of worship. I am the leader of our town, and its guide." She leans in a little, head tilted towards Droidbait. Her head tendrils flare out and snap in the air. "Wait at the edge. Strike the moment you are able."
Droidbait blinks. "What?"
She continues as if nothing had happened. "I sensed your presence the moment you landed on our planet. You carry great burdens. There are few who would dare take on such a challenge."
Droidbait's eyes go wide. Hevy glances over at the statue of the Sister and searches his mind and heart for any prompting of danger, but he feels none—just a steady spark of warmth.
"What do you worship here?" Echo asks carefully.
"We worship the Force. My people are uniquely gifted, able to read its whispers. Yes, we even worship him, to some extent." She turns to Cutup, who had been eying the statue of the Brother with a scowl. "There must be balance in all things. Light and dark, good and evil. Without evil, we cannot know good. It is a necessary part of our world. You must understand a thing's opposite before you can truly know that thing itself."
"We've heard similar things before," Cutup says, voice slightly strained.
"I am sure that you have. Do not go back. It will result in your death."
Cutup jumps. "What?"
"I am pleased that you have come. Let me—"
"Hang on!" Cutup nearly shouts. His voice reverberates around the large space. "What was that about death?"
She pauses.
"What did you just say?" Cutup prompts again. Hevy holds very still.
"...You must understand its opposite before you can truly know something," she recites slowly. Her head tendrils ripple in odd waves.
"No, not that—"
"She will not remember such things," the first woman interrupts. She stands at the foot of the dais, arms tucked into the flowing sleeves of her dress. "Sometimes she is but a mouthpiece. The Force speaks through her, often offering views of the past, or the future. Though she does not remember these moments, it would be in your best interest to do so."
Hevy shivers. The splatter of the fountain water is suddenly too loud in his ears. His hair stands on end. Cutup's face is pale.
"Aiza," the Priestess calls, raising one hand. "Help me stand."
Aiza does so, carefully helping the older woman to her feet.
"Come with me. I wish to give thanks to your patron."
They slowly trail towards the Sister's statue.
"You are unique champions. Your bodies are strong. Your spirits are strong. She has chosen well."
"Thank you," Droidbait says. His tone is quiet, an odd sort of reverence in his gaze.
"This is good." She turns her head towards Fives. He recoils, but she says nothing, and they stop in front of the fountain bubbling cheerily in front of the Sister. For a moment, they all gaze up at the statue. It's beautiful, just like the real thing.
"Do not fear the risk," the Priestess whispers suddenly. Hevy whips his head up. Her sightless gaze is fixed on Echo, who stands as if braced for a physical blow. "Even if pain is your only path, you must take it."
He grimaces, and then nods slowly.
"Tell me something," Fives snaps suddenly. "Would you receive the Brother's champion with the same respect that you received us?"
"An interesting question," she says. "It would depend on the champion."
"What about his current champion?"
"I do not think he would deign to visit our temple. More likely, he would raze it. His patron seeks too much power."
Fives scowls, unsatisfied.
She sighs. Her head tendrils curl and uncurl in fretful spirals. "His presence gives you great anxiety."
"Yeah, you could kri—you could say that."
"Your mind is a weakness. But it will also be your saving grace."
Fives makes an impatient sound. "If you can see the future, can you tell us how to defeat him?"
"I do not see the future freely. I am given glimpses, fragments to deliver. That is all."
Fives' frustration is nearly palpable.
"I have a question," Hevy says. "It's about balance. Won't defeating one side tip the balance in favor of the other? I know he, um, seeks too much power, but if we get rid of him completely, what will happen?"
"You cannot. Not even the Chosen One can destroy Light or Darkness completely. The scale will balance itself, with time. And sacrifices will be made."
Hevy doesn't like the sound of that. "Are you sure that—"
"You will have a choice," she says, and suddenly her voice echoes in his head as though projected directly into his brain. He gasps. "Do not let go."
The words engrave themselves in his mind. He reels in the aftermath, question forgotten. What will he have to choose? What shouldn't he let go?
"Force. Are these figurative or literal?" Echo mutters next to him, but neither Aiza nor the Priestess answer.
The Priestess looks up towards the Sister. She makes a small motion with her hand, and Aiza helps her kneel. Then she clasps her hands together. "Protect them," she pleads. "Strengthen their minds, their hearts. Preserve their kinship. Uplift their spirits."
Hevy exchanges uncomfortable looks with his batchmates, uncertain of what to do.
The Priestess rises to her feet a few moments later. She hums, swaying for a few moments. "It seems as though our original guest has finally arrived."
The door behind them swings open. Hevy turns in time to see General Skywalker step through. The moment he does, the Priestess' head tendrils go wild, lashing about almost violently. She barely seems to notice.
The General doesn't seem surprised to see them here. He surveys the room with a quick glance, boots thudding against the floor. His presence brushes against Hevy's mind. Hevy flinches, still so unused to the foreign sensation.
The Jedi plants himself in front of the Priestess. "You called me here."
She smiles. "I did."
Commander Tano leaps across the hangar in quick bounds, leaving Domino squad to sprint after her. An orange glow hangs in the air—Hevy risks a glance upwards and out, towards where he can usually just glimpse the darkness of space, but he only sees bright flame—the beginning of atmospheric entrance. Even through his armor, feels a wave of crippling heat.
The ship jerks abruptly, and they all take a hard dive to the floor. Hevy lands awkwardly on his own belt, and something crunches underneath him. He drags himself to his feet with a growl of frustration. Spare tools and equipment roll past them with a clatter.
The loose Juggernaut is second to last, Juggernaut Eleven. One of the most important load-bearing cable hooks on its right side is empty. The vehicle slides each time the Resolute thrashes, with a terrible sound and a shower of sparks against the floor. Commander Tano has already planted herself in front of it by the time Domino squad catch up, hands raised and eyes blazing in determination. Her fingers tense in the air. Hevy feels an invisible force surge up around him, almost tangible, terrifying and comforting all at once. The Juggernaut grinds to a halt, then slowly begins to drag itself back to the original position. He stares at it for a moment in complete awe.
Commander Tano lets out a grunt. "The… cable…"
"We've got it, Commander," Fives says grimly. "You just keep it in place. We'll take care of the rest." His head swivels in swift assessment. "Cutup, Echo. To the top. Locate that cable and toss it down. Bait and I will secure it at the attachment point. Hevy, keep watch over the Commander, make sure she isn't hit by any debris."
"I'll do what I can."
His batchmates sprint away. Hevy takes a careful position at the Commander's side, watching as her brow furrows.
He can't imagine what it would feel like to hold something that weighs five times as much as an AT-TE walker, much less with his mind.
Cutup and Echo scale the side of the Juggernaut using their grappling hooks. Hevy watches them scramble over the top, then kicks away a wrench before it can knock against her ankles. "You're doing well, Commander. They're working quickly."
"Okay," she manages, voice strained. She widens her stance, eyes sliding closed.
Fives and Droidbait wait impatiently at the cable hook. As Fives paces, the Resolute suddenly jerks. The Commander stumbles. The Juggernaut skids a few feet. Fives and Droidbait leap back with shouts, and Hevy lunges forward to support the Commander, just in time to prevent her from falling. She steadies herself with a hiss. Grasping her shoulders, Hevy can feel how her entire body shakes as she strains to push the massive ten-wheeled vehicle back into alignment with the others.
A whine of machinery makes him jerk his head up. The Juggernaut's ramp descends slowly. Several clone mechanics peer out, beginning to rush down the ramp. The entire vehicle trembles. The Commander's hands waver in the air.
Commander Tano groans. "...them back… inside…can't concentrate…"
Hevy steps forward. "Get back!" he barks, uncaring of his tone. "Back! We're handling it!"
The men retreat instantly, thank the Force. The ramp slowly slides shut.
The Commander sighs. "Thank…"
"Don't talk, sir," Hevy says. "Just keep doing what you're doing. We've got you." He raises his voice. "Fives?"
"Not yet!"
Hevy swears inwardly. The Commander falls silent again. Her breaths come in short labored pants.
After a few more agonizing moments, a shout of victory sounds from above. Cutup and Echo come into view, pulling the loose end of the cable with them. It's heavy—it takes them both to lift it. They hurl it down towards Fives and Droidbait, where it lands with a heavy clang against the durasteel floor.
The two lean down to drag it, hurling their entire bodies backwards to pull it far enough. They manage to hook the clip into place around the heavy metal D-ring in the floor. An additional screw lets them tighten the clip's hold. Droidbait moves to screw the clamp closed further, but his prosthetic can't quite get the motion fast enough. He backs off with a snarl of frustration as Fives takes over.
"Secured!" Fives shouts.
The commander collapses. Hevy catches her. The Juggernaut sags back against its bindings and holds firm.
Her eyes flutter open, and she lets out a weak groan. "Ugh. That was awful."
"Good job," Hevy tells her sincerely, gratitude and awe welling in his chest. Up above, Echo and Cutup whoop in victory, descending back down to the floor. Domino squad reconvenes around Hevy and the Commander, who staggers a little when she tries to stand, pressing one hand to her head. Hevy offers his arm to support her.
"Good work, men," Fives says. "With any luck, it won't pull free again. Let's make our way back to—"
Metal crunches and shrieks. Suddenly the ground beneath Hevy's feet lurches, flinging him to the durasteel floor. He clings to the Commander with one arm, scrabbling to get his feet underneath him, but they slide and scrape without gaining any purchase. He jerks his head up wildly, frantic to understand why he can't stand as the world shakes around them—
The Venator is tilting on its side. What used to be the floor slowly tilts to become a wall, rapidly growing steeper with each passing second. Hevy screams in surprise as he begins to slide, gravity dragging him downwards past several of the Juggernauts. Commander Tano yelps. Crates, metal parts, and random pieces of equipment fall in a deathtrap of shrapnel parts all around them.
Hevy flails frantically, ducking his head. A massive metal crate barely misses his face, flying so close that the wind of its wake batters him. His hand catches on something on the floor. He grabs it blindly. They jerk to a stop, dangling, and Hevy howls as the jolt tears at his shoulder socket. Commander Tano nearly goes tumbling from his grasp, gripping onto his belt as a handhold.
Hevy's eyes water from the burning pain. He manages to tilt his head up and see that he's seized ahold of another ring anchor, probably used to secure gunships or fighters. He pants, attempting to pull them up a little, but can't quite manage it, arm shaking. The turbo tanks are to his left, appearing to climb the wall, held sideways by straining cables. Hevy prays fervently that they don't come loose. Further, at what is now the ground, shrapnel bounces, and something explodes. The orange haze from their atmosphere entry flares brighter.
"Alright, Commander?" he gasps through gritted teeth.
She turns to look up at him. "I'm fine—look out!"
Hevy throws his head back just in time to see a blur of white and black before it slams into him. He yelps, nearly losing his grip. The Commander cries out, suddenly deadweight in his arm, and something latches onto his leg with crushing force. He kicks out, but then hears someone else shout in pain. Straining, he tilts his head down.
Echo hangs from his leg, scrabbling at Hevy's slippery armor. Hevy's muscles threaten to buckle at the weight of two people. He groans in agony, shifting enough to see the Commander unconscious, blood streaming from her head. Echo had hit her hard on his way past.
"Holy kriff!" Echo shouts. "Hevy?"
Hevy doesn't answer. His shoulder burns.
"Commander! You alright?"
"She's out," Hevy growls.
"Sithspit."
"The—ugh—others?"
"Fives got his grappling hook out, grabbed Droidbait. Cutup had his ready, too. I dropped mine—" Echo slips with a curse, legs pinwheeling, but all it does is make Hevy swing uncontrollably, and he nearly drops the Commander. He grips her tighter, barely able to spare a thought for a mental apology. Blood from her head wound drips down over his gauntlet in little red rivers. He hadn't even considered reaching for his own grappling hook, too busy securing the weakened Commander.
"My—hook. Can you…?"
"I can try…" Echo heaves, trying to reach up to Hevy's belt, but he can't raise himself high enough. His hand slaps against Hevy's thigh uselessly.
Hevy grunts. It's getting hard to breathe. He tries to hold as still as possible. If Echo loses his grip, he'll fall—all the way to the other side of the hangar. It's a long, dangerous drop. Enough to kill anyone, even a Jedi. Especially an unconscious one.
Echo looks down. Calculating.
"Don't you kriffing dare," Hevy chokes out. Echo, thankfully, listens and tightens his grip.
Hevy can't tell if his joints are burning or if they're going completely numb, and he can't decide which is worse, either. Echo makes a small sound, stifled, but unmistakably fearful. For a moment, Hevy debates letting the Commander go and reaching for him. Then he debates telling Echo to let go so that he can better carry her. Then he debates letting go entirely and taking his chances with the drop. There could be other, less agonizing handholds somewhere further down. Or he could chance a grab at his own grappling hook as they fall. The last option isn't a bad idea.
"Echo. I think I'm going to let go," he gasps.
"What?"
"My… grappling… I can grab…as we fall…"
Echo is silent for a moment, hesitating. "Alright. Be fast."
Hevy braces himself, loosening his hold, but before he can drop, the Priestess' words cut through the fog of pain filling his mind. "You will have a choice. Do not let go."
He pants, re-tightening his grip. Is this it? The choice?
"Warn me before!" Echo shouts.
"Never mind!" Hevy yells back. Exhaustion makes it hard to think. He holds a scream behind his teeth and clings to the ring with all his strength.
Seconds pass as hours. The Commander groans, stirring softly. The press of the ring against his fingers, even gloved, feels like it's boring holes down to his bones. He shakes uncontrollably. His ribcage splinters with twinges of sharp pain.
Echo is slipping. Hevy watches his batchmate's fingers scrabble against his boots through flickering vision and prays that he's making the right call.
A flash of motion flickers in the corner of his eye. Droidbait tumbles past, grabbing hold of Echo as he does and dragging them both downward. Hevy shouts, but Droidbait twists as they fall. He fires his grappling hook. It twangs as it pulls taut. Droidbait holds it with his flesh hand, gripping Echo with his prosthetic in a fierce hold. The two jerk to a halt several yards below.
Hevy gasps in relief. Without Echo dangling from his leg, he can brace his feet against the wall for more traction. It doesn't lessen the pain in his shoulder, but at least now he isn't being pulled in two directions.
When he's mere seconds from admitting defeat and letting go, he feels the ship lurch again. It begins to tilt back down. Gravity finally allows Hevy to rest. He releases his grip a few seconds early and slides just a little bit before the ship straightens out fully.
"Hevy! You alright?" Droidbait shouts, racing towards him, Echo hot on his heels. "I didn't think I'd make it!"
"Fine," Hevy croaks from the floor. He feels like a newborn fathier, limbs trembling. He cradles the Commander carefully. "She needs medical attention."
"Do you?" Echo asks.
"I don't know. Maybe?" Seized by a sudden sensation of unease, he fumbles for his belt with one hand and pulls out his grappling hook. He ignores his batchmates' confusion and fires it down at the floor. It makes a weak little puffing sound and doesn't launch. Damaged, somehow—perhaps he'd landed on it as he'd fallen earlier.
He feels cold. He'd been seconds from releasing his grip. If not for the Priestess' warning, he would have. He exchanges shocked looks with Droidbait and Echo.
A shout comes from behind them. Fives and Cutup sprint towards them, highlighted in orange light.
"We've got to get inside!" Fives shouts. "We're officially past the point of no return—we're crashing!"
Echo grabs Commander Tano, and Cutup pulls Hevy to his feet. They hurry back to Juggernaut Seven, Hevy stumbling a little. Captain Rex waits for them at the ramp, waving them inside.
"Get strapped in!" he orders sharply as they ascend. He looks from the Commander to Hevy. "And get those two back to the trauma bay!"
The ramp closes with a hiss the moment they enter. Beta squad waits near the entrance, antsy. Jesse punches Fives in the shoulder. "That's for going without us, you son of a Hutt!"
"We tried to follow you, but the Captain stopped us," Vaughn says, wringing his hands.
"It's alright, Vaughn. It would have been bad if more of you had been out there," Droidbait reassures him. "We're lucky we weren't crushed, or worse."
Cutup helps Hevy back towards the trauma bay. Kix is already working, dealing with a few minor injuries likely sustained when the Juggernauts had been tipped on their sides, but he pauses when he sees the Commander.
He glances at Hevy. "Are you alright?"
"More or less."
"Sit down there. I'll get to you in a second. Echo, put her here."
Echo leaves the Commander on Kix's table and Hevy sits down, buckling the seatbelt with weak arms.
Echo stops in front of him on his way out. "Thank you, Hevy. I wouldn't have made it out of there if you hadn't held on for so long."
Hevy manages a weak smile. "I've got your back." Then he falters. "My grappling hook… I was going to let go. But then I remembered what the Priestess told me."
Echo opens his mouth to say something, but then stumbles at fresh turbulence. "We'll talk about it later, Hevy, there's no time now. But I'll tell the others. You rest for a minute."
"Right."
Hevy watches Kix work on the Commander for a few minutes, but eventually he begins to zone out. Not even the periodic aggressive shaking is enough to jar him. His shoulder socket aches terribly, and his fingers still smart. He hears men shouting, and General Skywalker gives another update, but he lets his head list to the side, trusting them to work things out.
Finally Kix crouches in front of him. Hevy glances over to see that the Commander is awake, groggy with a bactapatch on her forehead.
"We only have a few minutes. What hurts?" Kix asks gently. "Take your helmet off."
Hevy complies. "My shoulder. And my hand."
"Gloves off, too, then."
Hevy offers the medic his damaged palm. His fingers tremble, a giant stripe of red indented deeply where he'd clung to the ring. Kix winces in sympathy. He smooths a bacta cream over the irritated area, and the cool relief is immediate.
"It will be harder to check your shoulder without getting you out of armor, and it's not the best time for that."
"Leave it, then. When we get down there, maybe you can spare me a moment."
"Feel concussed? Your eyes are tracking me normally."
"I don't think so. Just sore. A little tired."
"Not a great way to go into a fresh campaign. But you'll be alright. Don't push yourself if you can help it, got that?"
Hevy nods. He glances over to where Commander Tano rests, and a little wave of goosebumps ripples across his skin. If it weren't for the warning he'd received on Mikkia, he would have let go. It had saved not only his life, but also Echo's, and the Commander's.
General Skywalker's voice booms through the turbo tank. "Brace yourselves! We're approaching the planet's surface!"
Kix leaps back. He shoves Commander Tano into a seat and slides in next to her, clipping both seat belts closed. Hevy clumsily shoves his helmet back on. His breath catches in his throat. He grips the seat belt tightly, then hunches over into a braced position.
General Skywalker's voice blares again, strained: "Impact in three, two one—"
They are not permitted to listen to the General's conversation with the Priestess.
Instead, they wait outside in front of the giant mural, seated on a bench in the courtyard.
"We'll need to be careful," Echo says quietly. "I felt… like there's something right about her. I think she is what she says she is."
"It felt like the Sister," Droidbait says, looking up at the mural. Hevy nods in agreement.
Fives rises and begins to pace, the tension they had coaxed out of him for the festival returning in full force. "How soon do we think these things will happen? On Umbara? Even later? Should we write them down? What if we forget?"
"I don't think I'll forget what she told me anytime soon," Cutup mutters grimly. "Don't go back or you'll die? What kind of advice is—?"
The door swings open. General Skywalker steps out. They leap to their feet, throwing quick salutes. The General barely reacts to the sudden sunlight. His brow furrows as he stares at them.
"Everything alright, sir?" Droidbait asks tentatively. "What did she say?"
Hevy holds his breath. He wonders if they'll get a response. It takes a moment for the General to answer.
"She warned me of a betrayal," the General finally murmurs. "Among other things. I couldn't sense any deception from her. She spoke honestly, and the Force was strong with her." He frowns. "She could not tell me when or from whom the betrayal would come."
Hevy shifts nervously. The Chancellor? Or something else?
"Same with us," Cutup grumbles. "Way too cryptic for my taste."
Droidbait elbows him. "It's not like we haven't heard this kind of thing before," he hisses.
"I don't like doubting my own friends," General Skywalker growls. "It's frustrating not knowing who to trust."
"Trust us, at least, sir," Fives says firmly.
The General stares at him carefully. For a moment, Hevy wonders if Fives has pushed too far too soon. Then the Jedi huffs.
"It doesn't matter right now. We have a campaign to worry about. And, for the record… I do trust you. I've trusted you with my life, and," he glances over at Hevy, "much more. Come on. Back to base. There are still a few more details we need to figure out before we get underway."
The impact with Umbara's surface is somehow not as bad as Hevy had imagined. He'd been careful to unclench his jaw and shift his tongue to a safe position this time. After the massive crash comes a prolonged period of intense shaking, so much that his vision blurs and he gets a little dizzy. Metal and gravel rasp in a horrific grind all around them, for a long time. Minutes, even.
Then it dies down. Hevy rocks in his seat as their momentum dies. The clones all sit in cautious silence, listening as the Resolute groans and finally falls still.
General Skywalker lets out a victorious sound. "We've successfully landed on Umbara's surface! Send the scout team down the ramp, and the detachment crews out to unhook the tanks!"
The orders shock everyone into motion. Hevy leaps from his seat. His shoulder and, frustratingly, his back twinge with the movement, but he shoves them to the back of his mind and bolts from the trauma bay. All around him, men are arming themselves grimly, pulling weapons from racks or from holding areas underneath their seats. He pushes through squads until he finds his own.
"Somehow, that wasn't as bad as the gunship crash," he mutters to his batchmates.
Cutup laughs. "The General truly is good at crashing ships. I thought everyone was exaggerating!"
"You alright?" Del asks. "You've got blood all down your arm."
Hevy glances down. The Commander's blood has dried across his armor, streaking across the Coruscant Guard symbol on his pauldron. "It's the Commander's blood. But she's alright now. My shoulder could be better. I'll have Kix look at it later."
The Juggernaut ramp opens behind them. A squad Hevy doesn't know rushes out, tasked with unhooking their Juggernaut. It's time to deploy. He pulls out his Z-6, scowling at the way its weight tugs at his sore arms.
They run through a comms check. By the time they finish, the detachment crew has returned, panting lightly.
"It's a mess out there in that hangar," one of them says as he passes. "Hope our ramps held!"
"Juggernauts One through Five, disembark!" General Skywalker calls. "Blast doors should be open!"
Tires squeal outside. Huge engines kick to life. Their Juggernaut's ramp closes again, but not before Hevy catches a glimpse of one of the massive vehicles rolling past, just beginning to build up speed.
They'd spent a large part of their time on Mikkia tearing out a massive pathway that cuts through the Resolute's innards, forming a ramp leading down to give the wheeled Juggernauts an exit near ground level. It was the fastest way they could come up with to unload the massive vehicles, and since the Resolute wouldn't fly again, it didn't matter if they demolished most of the barracks to make the path. They'd also had time to install a few blast doors to give the new pathway more structural support and protect it from the vacuum of space.
They wait with bated breath to see if anyone will call in a problem. Instead, General Skywalker orders the next wave of tanks down.
"Hang on tight," their pilot calls. "It's gonna be a bumpy ride out, but hopefully not as bad as it's been for the past few hours."
The Juggernaut comes to life around them with an impressive growl. The clones inside sway with its movements as it crawls forwards.
Fives calls Beta squad close. "Remember what we've done in training. Remember to watch your feet. Everything on this planet wants to kill you. And when I say everything, I mean everything."
Hevy has heard it before, but somehow the words impact him differently now that they're minutes away from getting their boots on the ground. His nerves, forgotten in the chaos of tying down the Juggernaut, return full force.
"Stick together as much as possible," Echo says. "We'll be alright."
The Juggernaut rocks, then finally picks up speed. It slants forwards as it hits the ramp and begins to descend. A low roar fills the cabin as it accelerates downwards.
"There's a bit of a drop at the end reported from the first Juggernauts," their pilot calls.
The drop is minimal compared to the earlier crash, but men still stumble for balance. Hevy and Hardcase grab Vaughn to prevent him from tumbling.
"We're on the ground," the pilot announces. "Awfully dark out there. Not a ton of visibility as expected, but no hostiles yet either. Scans are coming back empty."
"It kriffing worked," Droidbait says, almost bewildered.
Hevy takes a look around. Tipper and Zeer stand close together, armed to the teeth. Iota are across the cabin from Beta. Commander Tano is back on her feet, speaking into her comlink and walking together with Captain Rex as they approach the ramp.
"Open up back here!" Commander Tano calls. "Master Skywalker is out there!" It drops open.
General Skywalker steps inside. Dark mist swirls around his feet. He looks a little singed, hair sticking up at odd angles and a few blackened areas on his robes, but they're barely visible, and he seems no worse for wear. Hevy can't really make out the landscape behind him yet.
The General does a double take at the bactapatch on Commander Tano's forehead. "Hey, Snips. Looks like you saw some action before we even touched down. I don't know why I'm not surprised."
"Ha, ha," the Commander says dryly.
"What happened? Are you alright?"
"Kix cleared me. A tank came loose. We had to secure it and got thrown around a bit."
He frowns. "Good work. I'm glad you figured it out. Sorry for the turbulence."
"It's alright. The men kept me safe." She smiles gratefully at Hevy. "Even if they did also knock me unconscious."
"Sorry, sir," Echo says, sounding a little guilty, but she grins at him, too, waving it off. Echo relaxes.
"What's next?" Commander Tano asks.
"Since Obi-Wan's team was successfully able to disable the Umbaran capital's missiles, we should have a few minutes before we start seeing action, and even a little longer before we have to face any dangerous vehicles. I want to get a temporary base set up here. Let's get a few long-range scanners running, and have the men investigate the surrounding terrain. We'll check in with Obi-Wan and Master Windu as well. Let's not get too comfortable, though. We'll be leaving here within the hour. Also… I'd like to get a few men equipped with flamethrowers. Just in case."
"Oho. I'll admit I was starting to get bored until that last part," Hardcase says, which makes the General snort.
The General steps back down the ramp again. "With me, men. Keep your heads on a swivel."
Heart racing in his chest, Hevy follows, Beta squad right behind him—and finally gets his first real look at Umbara.
The landscape is riddled with fog and shadow. Huge dark trees jut into the air like curling spiraled claws, tips glowing an eerie red. Others are lined with bioluminescent stripes of purple. Smaller knee-high plants curl into stubby black loops, dotted all around the area. In between them is the ground, packed and bare, but vines criss-cross between the shrubbery every so often. Hevy shudders. In the gloom, he can't make out much further than perhaps a half mile, but some sort of bioluminescent creature takes flight in the distance, disappearing into mist as it flies away. Odd noises sing from the trees—haunting whoops from some sort of animal, clicking that could be a plant or an insect. Even through his helmet the air is heavy, with almost a metallic taste as he inhales.
He turns to look at the chaos their arrival had caused.
The Resolute lies flat on the ground, which speaks to the General's impressive piloting. Her belly is scraped down to the frame, pockets of fire spewing from gaping holes in her hull. The flames cast dancing shadows across the area, oddly bright against the dark color scheme. The bridge is untouched, miraculously, but the Venator's back end is completely crumpled, metal warped and crushed so much that its original shape is completely deformed.
Even in death, she is majestic. Hevy feels a strange, solemn pride as he looks on.
"Thank you," he whispers.
A turbo tank roars past him, so huge it's almost like a moving building. It churns up the tough ground beneath its tires. The twelve vehicles form a defensive circle around their temporary base, guns bristling, faced outwards towards the Umbaran jungle. All around, men are emerging from the tanks, carrying supplies, scanners, heavy guns, and mortars. Their shouts fill the air, and the fog disperses a little from all the activity. Two Jedi direct the operation. They are truly a force to be reckoned with. Hevy feels a surge of hope.
Fives takes his first step back onto Umbaran soil. His boots scuff on the packed ground. Mist coils around him in eerie shapes, just like it does in too many of his nightmares.
He sets his jaw and leads his batchmates into shadow.