I.
The silhouets were walking, they never stopped. No matter what. And the environment they were in, never changed either. So simple. So easy. But they would not understand. Couldn't understand. They're not alive. They're images, created by this holo-projector. I needed to remind myself sometimes but the thoughts were easier to enjoy if I chose to forget it. The small device in my hand, how many times have I activated it nowadays. So many. It tends to give me strength, before heading off. The sound of the doors opening was heard behind me. Footsteps getting closer. I shifted my position to make sure the projector wasn't noticeable for anyone coming from the other side of the room. "Commander." I sighed. "What is it, lieutenant?" I asked, without turning."We're almost coming out of hyperspace. No sign of the other ships for the moment. We have 3 Confederacy ships on scanner though, 3 Geonosian Dreadnaughts." With a light whoosh sound, the projector shut off and I put it back in my pocket. "Seems logical. Only fitting it would be Geonosian-made, but why so few, it doesn't make any sense." I pondered as I turned to face the lieutenant. Lieutenant Terna was an example of what a Clone Trooper should be, or so I was told. This conflict, these "Clone Wars" were only just getting started and this would be my first mission as a "Commander". It was all still new. Terna's armor had dark green markings on it. Two running vertically across his helmet. And one big one running vertical over his body-armor. It was hard to make out what they were thinking with their visors on. "What did Master Nyrr say about this?" I asked while crossing my arms. Terna shrugged. "Excuse me, sir. She said I should ask you. As it would be a good test of leadership."My eyes rolled. An amused smile on my face along with a sigh. "Of course she did. Fine, hold your position until the rest of our ships arrive. But keep the fighter squadrons at a ready. They need to be able to take off instantly. And at all times, I want the ARC-squadrons moving before the bombers. I will personally take command myself. Tell ZERO Squadron to be ready and be sure to have someone get my astromech droid for my starfighter."As I took it all in, what I just said, a feeling of pride came about. In my judgement, this was a good call. "Very good, sir." Terna replied, saluted and walked off towards the door. "Lieutenant?" I called him back. He halted and turned his head. "Sir?" - "Was that close to what Master Nyrr thought I was gonna say?".Once again, he shrugged. "Sir, she knows you very well, apparently. To the letter." I shrugged. Right. I glanced outside of the windows of my quarters. Soon, space will appear normal again, not the fast and quickening colors and flashes of hyperspace anymore. And the enemy Dreadnaughts will appear in range. Master Nyrr will take care of the ground assault, as she would like to do, as often as she could. She wasn't one for space-battles. More of a "as-close-to-the-ground-as-possible-kind-of"-Jedi. I didn't mind. Flying made me feel free. Made me feel like I could go anywhere and be anything I wished for. It made me forget things. But nevertheless I would not lose concentration. Cause in times like these, that will cost me my head. Mine, and quite possibly, the ones of my soldiers as well. As I was thinking to myself, the hyperspace-journey came to an end. And I knew it was time for me to go to the command bridge. Nyrr would be waiting there. Along with Commander Lio. Luckily, it was a short walk from my quarters to the bridge. A couple of minutes and one elevator upwards and I was already there. From the view of the bridge, the planet Lok was a dark red pearl. With here and there lighter shades of red. It was a curious planet, full of red deserts, where nothing was able to grow naturally, it only relied on import from other planets. As it was one of the planets closest to Geonosis, I thought there would be more ships here. We all did, probably, or maybe the Confederation just didn't think we would be here as quickly as we were. In any case, the Geonosian Dreadnaughts were circling around, making sure we would be in clear view of their cannons as they would pass us. So much for the element of surprise, after coming out of hyperspace.
Master Nyrr was looking at the helm of the deck. Admiral Vise was standing beside her, talking about something. He turned around first, nodded in a greet. "Commander, I trust you have your battle plan ready?" - "Already informed the lieutenant, admiral, don't worry. I'm just about to go and jump in my interceptor. Doesn't look like we got the drop on them as we hoped, right, Master?" She crossed her arms and sighed. "It would appear that way, my young Padawan but that's good news for you, though, right?" Master Alexa Nyrr, was a young Twi'lek, a Master at the age of 29, she was one of the youngest of the Order. Of course, with the ongoing war, the amount of Masters and Knights that fell in the Arena of Geonosis... Could also be a reason why she was promoted to Master so young. But that didn't take away her skill, with the Force and with a lightsaber. I sighed. The thoughts of all those in the arena came back, some of them my friends, previous mentors. Those waren't the most motivating thoughts to go with into battle. She looked at me, I felt her eyes scanning. "Is something troubling you, young one?" I looked away, back at the Dreadnaughts, still circling outside. "Rain, you're not very good at telling lies, you know that." She was amused and concerned at the same time. I grinned and put my hand on her shoulder. "If the Master isn't any good at it, don't expect the Padawan to be! I'm going now, Master, taking the interceptor and I'll be leading ZERO Squadron into battle, if you need me, hail me on frequency 0-51. I'll see you planetside. May the Force be with you!" I ran off before she could say anything. But I saw her face, she was smiling, she almost always was. And vaguely, I heard "...And you, young one! Take care!" in the distance, echoing through the halls. The way to the hangar was a whole lot shorter if I just Force jumped the way down and used Force speed for the rest of the distance. Although Nyrr always said I was too reliant on my Force powers, they were something I was proud of. My connection to it, always felt powerful, like I could bend it to my will, it always had been. Ever since I came into the temple. My interceptor was standing ready, T7-Z1 was being hooked up, and beeping enthousiastic. "Hello there, T7, you ready?" A few beeps in response. That's a yes.
ZERO squad was already loading up and fueling up as well. Their ARC-fighters were customized with a head of a Battle Droid, being knocked off it's body. With a slogan next to it; "Until victory, or the end", it was all painted on the right side of the hull. These guys were good at what they did. And every mission we did up until now, was with minimal cassualties. This one would have to be the same, although we never cleared the way for a landing party. I stepped towards them, as they saw me coming. The dropped what they were holding and saluted. "ZERO Squadron, reporting for duty, Commander!" said Deadlock, sergeant of ZERO. My hands were folded behind my back, I looked them over, from left to right. All the same genes and look on the outside, yet so different in terms of personality. "At ease men," they let their hands drop. "Alright, listen up, our mission today is easy to understand, less so to actually pull of perfectly. We have to clear the main force of fighters, for the landing party to descend down on the planet. We're expecting a lot of Geonosian Advanced fighters, which are very numble and can easily maneuver. But I don't doubt our skills, ZERO is earning a name for itself in the Fleet, I heard, now tell me, is that rightfully so, lads?" - they cheered and yelled the lungs out of their body. "TELL ME, WHO IS GONNA WIN THE DAY?" - I replied in a loud voice. "ZERO!" they shouted back. "Let's take it to them, let's give them a reason to fear ZERO squad, and the Republic." - "Hooh!" These guys were amazing, and their loyalty beyond question. We all got up into our fighters as the bay doors were slowly opening up. The fight was beginning in a few moments. "T7, prep the engines, we're moving out." As I jumped inside the cockpit of my interceptor. It was a normal Jedi Interceptor, dark green with black coloring. The dark green stripes running vertically around the hull. And it was one of the few things I could call my own, along with my lightsaber. T7 beeped again as we were taking off and heading through the shield doors of the bay, heading out into space, with ZERO forming up behind me. "Zeroes, gimme a headcount," I talked into the intercom. Zero Leader, and then counting from 1 until 17 were all sounding loud and clear on the radio. "Alright, let's do this. Open the S-foils in the attack position." The outer tips on my interceptor opened up vertically, which would give me a lot more turning speed and manoeverability. The inner wings on the ARC-fighters behind me were also opening up, the same thing would be true for their speed. I always loved that sight. The first Geonosian ships were coming from their bays as well. "Come and get some!" I yelled while rotating my interceptor throughout the majority of the incoming traffic, with my blasters fully blazing. It was hard to see how many you'd hit. It all happened so fast, but if I'd use the Force to concentrate on the present, I'd have an unfair advantage above regular pilots. Of course, that was what I'd do all the time. The Zeroes were pushing through the enemy ranks as well, flying in our standard V-form now. "Rain, this is Master Nyrr, Rain, do you copy?" Nyrr's voice came through on the channel I told her about. "This is Rain, come in, Master, what's happening?"
T7 bleeping cause he heard Nyrr's voice. He liked people. "We're beginning our descent down towards the atmosphere, seems like you boys are keeping them busy. But nevertheless, Alpha, Omega and Sun-squadrons are coming to back you up. Try and leave some enemies for them if you can?" I grinned and rolled my eyes. Some beeps from T7. "I make no promises, Master. But I'll see what I can arrange with the rest of ZERO. I'll see you down on the planet, take care, Master." - "You too, Rain. See you soon." She was something else. It didn't take long before 3 other squads were joined up in the battle. Poor Geonosians, they didn't stand a chance. "Zeroes, let's go take a shot at the shieldbaydoors from the Dreadnaughts, let's make it impossible to send more fighters into this." - "Commander, Zero Leader here, me, and up to Zero 8 are right behind you, lead the way."
