Life Of War

Chapter 39

"Echo!" Fives stood to his feet as we all paused for the fallen trooper.

"Come on, Fives" I pat his shoulder to pull him back to the mission at hand.

"We have to go now!" Kenobi sternly told us all. Reluctantly everyone followed the other Generals as we ran to hide for the meantime. I stayed quiet, running behind Kenobi as I thought deeply over everyone lost on this rescue mission.

"Master Kenobi, what has happened?" Plo Koon asked over holocomm as we ran away.

"I'm afraid we've had a situation with the shuttle." Obi Wan explained simply without detail.

"By 'situation,' he means big explosion." Anakin stepped in to clarify. "We're going to need a rescue."

"It will be done. I'm sending our cruisers now." Plo nodded to us before ending the call. We had reached a cave where we decided to temporarily rest and regroup after the attack.

"We'll need to hold out until the Council sends a ship." Obi Wan started.

"Not a problem. We've beat them once, we'll beat them again." Master Piell sounded confident in our ability's against the Citadel.

"This landscape is almost impossible to cross. How are we going to get to the rendezvous point?" Fives voiced an important question as he joined the group after keeping watch on the entrance.

"That is the trap of the Citadel. It was designed so it would be almost impossible for fugitives to get off the surface, even if they escaped the tower." I explained to everyone, tone dark and saddened.

"Lucky we're not just any fugitives." Anakin smirked with confidence, trying to cheer everyone up and give us hope.

"I hope you're right." Piell said before we started to walk further into the cave.

~~~

"We're clear!" Rex reported as he and Fives went to scout ahead.

"What's our next move?" Ahsoka asked, looking to us for answers.

"We're going to have to fight our way off this rock." Anakin stated strongly with some excitement hidden in his tone.

"Contact the Council, see when they plan to rescue us." Obi Wan told Master Piell.

"I'll handle it." The short man stated.

"Master Piell, it's good to see you alive, my friend." Mace Windu appeared from R2-D2 on hologram.

"Likewise, Master Windu. Our escape route has been compromised and there are several squads of droids closing in on us." Piell explained our situation to the council.

"When can we expect your arrival?" Anakin stepped in to ask the urgent question.

"Master Plo is already en route." Windu told us the status.

"Gunships will arrive to evacuate you and your men, but do not delay, only a small window of opportunity shall we have." Yoda spoke. "Your rendezvous point will be this island." A map showed us where the location was.

"Understood." Piell nodded.

"May the Force be with you." Mace left the call.

"I don't like this" I sighed to Ahsoka and Rex as we stood beside each other.

"Me neither" Rex commented.

"Incoming!" Cody reported, falling back as droids entered the cave and began to shoot at us all. Fives had thrown a thermal detonator towards the entrance, closing it off while Rex helped him stand after the explosion went off and knocked him off his feet.