User blog:KnightReturns422/Shards of Deception

 Kyle Redbreak was asleep on a bunkbed when a holo-message from his comlink beeped. Kyle yawned, slowly got up, and answered the person.

 "Yes?”, he said, straightening himself up.

 "Sorry to disturb you sir", came the voice of James Reeves, his admiral. "But we have arrived in the Hypori system. The blockade is light, and it looks like the gunships will have no problem of entering the surface."

 "I'm not surprised", replied Kyle. "Considering that much of the Separatist fleet was destroyed during Coruscant. Stand by, I'm on my way."

 "Very good sir", Reeves nodded and vanished.

 Kyle picked up his lightsaber and walked out quietly, not wanting to disturb the others. As he walked towards the bridge, Kyle thought back to the battle that occurred on Coruscant a few days prior. A massive Separatist fleet, under the command of Head of State, Count Dooku and Supreme Commander General Grievous launched an all-out assault on the Republic capitol, kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine in the process. Had it not been for the timely intervention of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi and the arrival of the Fifth Fleet, then the attack could have succeeded. Palpatine had been safely rescued; Dooku was killed by Anakin onboard the Invisible Hand and General Grievous had once again escaped. But then something troubled Kyle, something about the assault. '' How were they able to bypass the heavily fortified sector in Corellia? Did they receive inside help? If so, from who? Darth Sidous perhaps? ''He sighed. The Jedi Order had made many attempts to find this elusive Darth Sidious, yet the last investigation was badly interrupted due to the attack on Coruscant. '' Maybe when the war is over can we turn our attention to finding this elusive person. But for now, I need to focus on the mission I've been given. It’s too bad Joch isn’t here with me, '' Kyle chuckled, thinking of his Padawan. ''Of course, he would choose the vast temple archives than go into battle. '' Kyle arrived at the entrance to the bridge, stood as the monitor cameras verified his identity and was granted access.



 The viewport of the  Venator -class Star Destroyer  Consular  was full of black and deep space. A large spherical planet was in front of the center window, and watching was a man with grey hair and wearing a professional dark grey uniform. James Reeves turned when he heard Kyle approaching.

 "I didn't think the Separatists would have a light blockade for us, sir", admitted Reeves. "Then again maybe Hypori isn't all that a major world".

 “Used to be during the first year”, said Kyle scratching his chin. “Remember when Grievous made his first debut on the planet? That was a dark day. At least he’s not there. According to the latest intel, he’s on Utapau, and General Kenobi has been sent there to defeat him, bringing with him a large clone army.”

 “I read it sir. If Kenobi stops Grievous, then the war is won.”

 Kyle was about to discuss Sidious with Reeves, but then decided against it; he didn’t want this ordinary man to be roped into the matters the Jedi were concerned with.

 “Have Thunderbird Squadron prepare to launch, and set turbo-lasers at 98.2 magnetic.”

 “Yes, general”, said Reeves, and passed it on to the naval clones.

 The front part of the cruiser opened its large hangar doors, and squadrons of Y-Wing Bombers, ARC-170 fighters and Z-95 Headhunters launched from the Cruiser’s docking areas to engage the enemy.

 “It’ll be the same as usual”, said Reeves.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Of course the boys will be disappointed that they won’t be fighting against as many droid starfighters as before.” Kyle permitted himself a smirk as he finished the sentence, making Reeves also amused.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Although the surface will be crawling with thousands of battle droids and the like”. He turned and walked to the holo-table, contacting a clone commander Redbreak fought alongside throughout the war. “Branch do you copy?”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> A figure appeared in front of him, with a face that was identical to the naval clones on the bridge. Yet this clone wore a customized armor, a kama on his legs, a pauldron on his neck and he was holding his helmet in his right hand.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “I copy general”, came Branch’s voice.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Ready the regiment, have them get to the gunships. I’ll join you shortly.”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Yes sir”. Branch nodded and vanished from view. Kyle turned back to Reeves.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “I’m trusting you can handle the space battle? I have had faith in you many times before.”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “You can count on me sir”, said Reeves. “That blockade will be broken by the time you cleared out the first wave of the Droid Army.”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> Kyle grinned. Reeves was a master of tactical operations, particularly in space, and nothing impressed Kyle other than the old man’s tenacity for beating the enemy fleet back to the corner. Kyle exited the bridge, and took a turbo-lift down to the hangar, where hundreds of clone troopers were preparing to board the gunships. The 422nd Defense Corps troops knew what to do, having been made veterans during the last two years of warfare. Branch approached him, and said, “All units ready, general”.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Very good. Let’s get underway.”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> The gunships launched and several gunship carriers followed behind. Once inside the gunship, Kyle gave the briefing.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Alright men, we have been entrusted with a mission to clear the enemy stronghold here on Hypori. The battle in space may have been easy, but the ground battle will be a hazard zone. There are several fortresses and each has its own array of heavy fortifications. ARC troopers of ARC Pack will help weaken these defenses whilst the main force clears out the Droid Army that are coming to us.”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “ARC Pack is ready to do their part, general Redbreak”, said ARC Captain Blazer.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Very good, Blazer. Booster Company, arm yourselves and prepare for hard contact. If we can accomplish this mission, we are one step closer to ending the Clone Wars. Understood?”

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> “Sir, yes sir!”, cried all the troops.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> As the clones made final preparations and checks on their blaster carbines, Kyle couldn’t help but look at them. ''So obedient, and many of them don’t think of anything else other than following orders. ''He shook that thought. Not all of them were clones; many of the 422nd Defense Corps troops developed their own individuality, and they were not afraid to voice out their opinions or suggestions to Kyle, which the latter appreciated. If only of the GAR allowed more individual freedom for these clones.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> The gunships entered Hypori’s atmosphere, and immediately the gunships struck down three Vulture droid fighters. Kyle held on tightly onto the handrail, knowing that the battle was near. After ten tedious minutes, the gunship landed. Kyle, along with Branch and Blazer and a few dozen clones jumped out and fired at the enemy. Igniting his lightsaber, Kyle easily deflected the first few shots fired from the B1 Battle droids. So it begins.

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;">

<p style="margin:12pt0in;line-height:16.5pt;"> (To be Continued)