Frontier Jedi

Chapter 7: Liberation by Firepower

Ryloth: Approximately 26 Hours into the Liberation

The dead of night settled over Ryloth.

A few hours before Mace Windu would meet with resistance leader Cham Syndulla, the Titan pilots had already arrived at the rebel village. The meeting was tense, Cham's enthusiasm noticeably absent, especially when one of the pilots turned out to be a simulacrum. Nevertheless, the convoy stopped at the village, allowing the team to experience Twi'lek culture and hospitality.

In a quiet corner, Ayla reported to Raz on the current situation through her comms.

"We're steadily approaching the capital, sir. We've also recruited some of the locals to assist us tomorrow," Ayla said.

"Good, very good, Hajjar," Raz replied. "Kenobi and I have secured about 85 percent of the planet's surface. Kenobi's moving to withdraw and let the occupation forces move in. But we've got different orders—the fleet admiral wants me to set up a base in the mountains and caves. While my engineers scout for a location, I'll send you additional support to help conceal that base from... you know, *them*."

"ETA 30 minutes," Ayla confirmed. "We'll arrive by 0300. General Raz out."

As Ayla turned off her comms, the rest of the pilots shifted their attention to her.

"So, reinforcements?" one of the pilots asked.

"In the form of my team, yes," Ayla responded before turning her gaze back to the Twi'lek performance in front of them. After a while, she and her team moved outside. Commander Ponds watched as they left the cave.

...

Lessu City Loading Bay

"So, our transports weren't destroyed?" a droid asked.

"They barely made it out. Two of the four were taken down by those flying clone walkers," another droid reported.

"I want those clone walkers," the commander ordered.

"Sir, our reports show a 100 percent win rate for those walkers. Even our MTTs can't stop them."

"Then figure something out! I want those walkers," the commander barked.

"Roger, roger. Orders for the bombers have been issued. They're about to take off."

"Good."

...

Inside a makeshift command room, holographic footage of Titan combat played out before the Jedi.

"Wow," Anakin said, clearly impressed. "I thought your reaper was something else, but this..."

Liah, unfazed, continued playing a game on her mobile device. "That's what a *pilot* actually pilots," she said with a smirk. "But I'm not surprised you're impressed, General Recklessness."

"Funny, Liah. What are you doing, anyway?" Anakin asked, peering over at her screen.

"Ever heard of personal entertainment? This here is *Pilot Crush*. It's all the rage for girls like me—and the only substitute for cigars. Wish I hadn't died so I could still smoke," she muttered as she failed another level, cursing under her breath.

"The militia are strange..." Rex commented, watching them.

"Hey, at least they're speeding things up," Ahsoka remarked. "I think the war might end faster than we expected."

"Don't get your hopes up," Rex warned. "The Separatists are nothing if not unpredictable."

Yet, unpredictability seemed to run in the militia as well. Later, Mace Windu was surprised by a plan the reinforcements proposed—something that sounded reckless even by clone standards: a direct assault on the capital's front gates. The clones were cautious, but Windu trusted the militia's experience. They had been at war longer than most clones, after all. With that, the forces steadily advanced toward the capital.
....