Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Emergence [The Red Sith, Part One]

Chapter-13 Battle Damage

Here it is, the second to last chapter! Quite a bit happens here for Ahsoka and she grows a bit more as a Jedi from it. Politics play out a little more as the Galaxy is not as black and white as some make it out to be. Also there is a tidbit of foreshadowing for a character, if you know where to look. So here's Chapter 14- Battle Damage.

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Her comm beeped, startling Ahsoka back into her cockpit. She realized that she was close to the rendezvous with Obi-Wan’s fighter escort and the Senator’s shuttle. She answered the signal and the senator’s image appeared on her console. “Greetings Senator, I am Commander Tano, here to provide your escort.”

“Thank you Commander. I wish to visit the city of Briel first. It is home to several important families and I want to show my support for them during this difficult time.”

A true politician, Ahsoka thought deep inside her. “Of course Senator,” She said, “as you wish.” The transmission ended and Ahsoka took the lead of the escort party surrounding the shuttle. They neared Bothawui and soon entered the planet’s atmosphere.

As they came to their destination, there was a tower of smoke that rose from the ground to meet them, coming from the city. Looks like there was one massive fight there. The party flew closer and Ahsoka could see that the smoke was coming from one big building near the city center, surrounded by several AT-TE walkers. Ahsoka and the shuttle both landed on a platform in the city, while the fighters, rose up and assumed a high altitude standby pattern. Ahsoka opened her cockpit and stepped out into the sunlight. The shuttle door opened and two senate guards came out, followed by Se’lab and another two guards. Ahsoka went over to introduce herself. “Senator, a pleasure to meet you in person.”

Se’lab replied with a grin, which highlighted the rippling of his fur. “I wish our meeting could have been under more pleasant circumstances. Now, if you will follow me.” He headed off towards the city’s center with Ahsoka and his guards following.

They passed by many Bothans and Se’lab talked to a few of them concerning their wellbeing. Ahsoka took in the many sights of this city. The droid occupation had not done much to change the lifestyles of the Bothans, stores were reopening and decorations were being put out again. But as they continued, they faced the first real sight of the battle: destroyed droids were stacked in a pile in the middle of an open square. The buildings around the square showed signs of damage and there was rubble in the street. A few clones were picking up some of the damage when they passed by. The clones gave a quick salute to which Ahsoka replied back by nodding to them. She noticed that Se’lab kept his eyes forward, ignoring the clones.

 The billowing smoke tower was closer now and the Republic presence was stronger here. Buildings were heavily damaged and the wounded, both Bothans and clones, were lying on makeshift cots until better aid came. Moving among the wounded was Jedi Knight Barriss Offee, using her special healing abilities to take care of the injured.

“Barriss!” Ahsoka called out.

Barriss looked up and saw Ahsoka. She waved then went back to healing the Bothan she was tending to. When she finished, she got up and went over to Ahsoka. “Ahsoka, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too.” Ahsoka realized that she needed to introduce Barriss to the Senator and looked around for him, but Se’lab was ahead of them looking out onto the next street. His fur was rippling so much that it looked like he was in a heavy wind. As the two Jedi went over, Ahsoka saw what he was looking at. There was what was once a building there, or she assumed, judging from the amount of rubble in the crater. Pieces of metal and stone were strewn throughout the street and the surrounding area, some sticking out of buildings from where they were flung. Fires inside the pit were what was causing the smoke, and they seemed to have died down a bit due to the amount of residual charcoal. AT-TE walkers were still in the street and clone troopers were moving from place to place cleaning up the ruins.