Star Wars: Tie Fighter | End of the War

Chapter IV. End of an Order

Venator-Class Star Destroyer

Liberation

The next day

Admiral Cruz watches from his bridge's window as flashes of lightning ignite out of the Chancellors' office, his Venator fleet hovering in a defensive formation above the building. He sees several glowing beams flash at each other before one closes and gets thrown out of the window.

The bridge door opens up behind him, General Maize, a human Jedi Knight in familiar dark robes, and Captain Shack, Cruz's own brother enter.

"Admiral, congratulations on the promotion." Maize says.

"Thank you, general, I was surprised to make it out of Coruscant myself." Cruz jokes, pondering.

"Well, I must ask how repairs are going, still looked like some of the hull was getting replaced on my way here." He asks.

"Repairs are far ahead schedule, all major systems repaired, minor systems still undergoing minor repairs and the hull could use some work." Cruz says.

"Good to know, do you know what our next orders are?" Shack asks.

"We will likely be re-assigned to the outer rim campaign, no purpose being over Coruscant after half the Separatist fleet was destroyed in just a few hours."

Cruz watches a clone trooper pull up a hologram and feels his comlink buzz. He lifts it up, only to hear the words of the Chancellor, "Execute Order 66." He begins reaching for his hip blaster, turning fully toward the two as the clones raise their blasters.

"Admiral?" Shack asks, confused. "What's going on?"

"Cruz, what are you doing?" Maize asks, reaching for his lightsaber.

"What has to be done." Cruz says, swiftly grabbing his blaster and shooting at the jedi, the clones blasting in every direction, overwhelming the Jedi.

Suddenly, Shack pulls out his blaster and stuns Cruz, before blasting every clone in the room.

Cruz's eyes shut as he collapses, watching the two traitors run out of the bridge, deflecting blaster fire as they ran.

Four hours later...

"Admiral, Admiral!" A Clone officer yells, lifting him up to sit, his back on the console behind him.

"What in... What happened?" Cruz asks, still dreary.

"The Jedi escaped, Shack stole the Liberation and jettisoned you from an escape pod into the senate building."

"How in the force's name did he steal a Venator?" Cruz asks.

"From what we know, he came over the comm that he had killed the Jedi and that you had perished in the fight, likely ordered his ship out of Republic space."

"Then, he'll have gone to somewhere Jedi loyal and gotten a new crew...blast." Cruz curses, standing up, and looking at the hole in an otherwise full formation. "I'm guessing the Jedi lived?"

"Yes... Sir..."

"Then get me a shuttle to the Victor, and get me on my damn way..." Cruz orders, angered.

"Affirmative." The clone says, walking off.