Child of War

Reactor

I blocked another blaster shot as Tech fumbled with the backpack of detonators. He pulled three out of the bag.

"Pick your targets." Anakin advised. "We need as many of those detonators as possible to blow the base."

Tech crouched halfway behind me. Taking a deep breath, he rolled the detonator across the floor. The bomb phased effortlessly through the shield. The resulting explosion took out the other destroyers' shields. Tech rolled the second detonator and took out the last two droids. He stood and shouldered the backpack of explosives.

"Nice shot." I deactivated my lightsabers.

"This way." Anakin and Rex took the lead, racing down the next corridor.

I rolled my eyes. "Obi wan was right. He's always on the move."

Hawk and I followed after them with the rest of the 476th in tow.
————
We met little resistance as we made our way to the reactor, which proved less difficult to find than I had expected. Tech had been right, it was near the center of the base.

I nodded to my men and they fanned out to place the charges. My breath caught in my throat. Something was coming. I turned towards the door just as an explosion blasted it free of its frame. I caught the door in midair and threw it back at the advancing droids. The metal blast door spun down the hallway, bashing battle droids.

I opened my hand and one of my lightsabers flew from my belt to my palm. I ignited the weapon and lunged forward into the procession of droids.

Hawk moved to join me.

"No!" I sliced a droid in half at the waist. "Finish laying the charges!"

"But..." he protested.

"Now!" I pushed him back towards the reactor with the Force.

Across the room, Anakin fought back more droids entering through the opposite door.

Tech came running around the reactor. "Time to go!"

Hawk, Tech, and the 476th converged on my position. Rex and the 501st fought their way to our aid with Anakin.

With our greater numbers, we escaped the reactor room. Rushing through hallways, we made our way to the exit. The number of droids following us continued to increase. It was becoming infinitely clear that we wouldn't be able to outrun them unless...

"Tech! Blow the charges now!" I shouted over my shoulder.

"What?!" He blasted a droid in the chest. "Are you crazy? We'll never make it out!"

We turned another corner.

"Just do it! That's an order!" I hollered over the din.

He hesitated before pressing the button. A deafening boom resounded from the reactor.

The 501st was already outside of the base. I fell back to defend my men as they retreated.

Hawk stopped when he reached me, firing at the oncoming droids. "I'm with you, General."

The droids forced us back, but the explosions were getting closer.

"General!" Tech called from outside the base.

"Go!" I ordered Hawk. "I'm right behind you!"
We bolted for the door.

A blast shook the corridor. In a last stitch effort, we dove for the door, landing on the grass and rolling to a stop. We'd made it.

Tech helped me up. "Congratulations General. You did it."

I pulled Hawk to his feet. "I didn't do anything." I examined my men. "You guys deserve all the praise." I straightened and saluted the men of the 476th - my men.