Jedi Insurgency 302

Debris from the broken Imperial fleet rained down upon Kuat in clumps of blackened molten slag. Across the entire theatre of war, Republic vessels were repositioning themselves to meet the other fleet, whilst LAATs and other transport ships swarmed the planet to rescue their allies. 

Looking through the viewport, Corvus saw one Star Destroyer split down the middle drifting lifelessly through space. Countless escape pods flashed through the planet's atmosphere in an effort to escape the Republic's wrath. 

Yet despite the overwhelming victory they had achieved during this brief engagement, the war was not over yet. His [Shadow Wrath State] was on cooldown, and the enemy fleet was suspiciously holding position on the other side of Kuat. Meanwhile, the driveway-that giant orbital ring-was well shielded, and was a tough nut to crack. As much as he would like to destroy it, the best he could do for now was to leave behind some HK's to cause havoc, and introduce a virus into their systems, delaying production. 

Although this victory was bitter sweet, Corvus did not want to be trapped in a quagmire. Kuat truly was built different. The next time he assaulted this industrial behemoth, he'd arrive with three times the firepower. 

"We've received a signal from the surface, sir." Clips said, gesturing towards a holo image that showed live footage of an ongoing firefight. 

The Admiral stood beneath him in the tactical pit going over some last minute deployments with the other Captains in the fleet.

"Commander Pots." Corvus said with some nostalgia. 

They hadn't met face to face in over three months. Ever since Corvus left Eriadu for Naboo, he had been in search of allies, and following the guidance of the Force. 

The hologram depicted a man leading at the front. His matte black armor was scorched, dented, and in one spot, had a hole revealing a spot of off-color synthskin. Furthermore, one shoulder plate was gone, his personal shield projector hung half-melted from his belt, and the left side of his helmet had been shattered away, exposing a bruised cheek and an eye so swollen it was nearly shut. The Commander had truly given his all for this siege. 

Corvus clenched a fist as he stared  intently at this long time comrade of his fight the good fight. Behind him, an HK & an Ongree were teaming up to brutalize a Dark Acolyte, and the battlefield was full of collapsed buildings everywhere one looked. 

"You get a good enough look, or are you going to say something?” Pots gruffly got out as he dodge rolled a lightsaber blade that missed the crown of his head, and unloaded a blasterbolt into the Padawan-tier Darksider. 

Somewhere behind him, Clips released the smallest breath through his nose, and Corvus smiled. 

"You look like shit, Commander.” 

“Yeah? And I like the new look. White is very-” Pots got out, but a tremendous explosion knocked him off his feet, cutting the transmission. 

The hologram vanished, and Corvus's smile disappeared with it.

"Reestablish the connection.” Corvus said, hoping he wouldn't have to resurrect a friend so soon after their reunion. 

"Standby.” A comms officer solemnly intoned. 

The bridge crew worked furiously at their stations, and a few seconds later Pots returned, crouched behind a ferrocrete barricade as red bolts flew over his head.

"We're at Yard Sector Aurek-Seven, at least what's left of First, Third, and Ninth Regiments that is. We've got maybe 2,000,000 men who can wield a blaster still standing with over 120,000 wounded. I've got men split between three fronts, you can come rescue us last, General.” Pots said, as he simultaneously reloaded his gun, and issued a few quick orders by typing away on a holographic display coming out of a wrist projector. 

“You're certain about that?” Corvus asked. 

"They know your fleet broke through, and they're throwing everything they've got at us before you can reach the surface. The boys in the other sectors have had it rough. I can hold out. Go save them, sir, I owe them that much.” Pots said, a hint of pleading entered his voice as he spoke up for his men. 

Corvus looked toward the tactical display, and the situation immediately became clear. The destruction of Vorru's fleet had opened a corridor, but only temporarily. The second Imperial fleet remained on the opposite side of Kuat, defense platforms were already rotating into position, and the Force was incessantly warning him about something massive coming his way. 

And between Corvus's fleet and Pots's men lay the shattered remains of Kuat's orbital defenses, wreckage, and a driveyard taking pot shots at them from behind one of the strongest shields in the galaxy. 

"We have perhaps twenty minutes before the remaining Imperial fleet can reposition enough capital ships to contest the corridor." Clip added on. “Whatever we do, we must act swiftly, otherwise our shuttles will become caught in the crossfire.” 

Corvus's eyes remained on Pots. "How long can you hold?"

Pots laughter was somewhat mad with delirium, but there was some confidence mixed in. "General, we've been answering that question for thirty-one days."

Behind him, a clone screamed: "COMMANDER!"

Pots twisted, and an Imperial heavy walker crashed through the remains of a wall, its cannons already spitting hot red death down into the Republic line. 

Pots dropped flat, and this time, the transmission didn't reconnect. 

Corvus leaned over the holoprojector, and whispered a promise to himself: "I'm coming to get you, you bastard.” 

“Transmitting his coordinates now. Happy hunting, General.” Clip said, a second later, a ping arrived on Corvus's datapad, revealing Pots's position. 

"Prepare every gunship we have." Corvus said, marching from the viewport towards the elevator. 

"Every one?" Clip asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Every last one of them.” Corvus nodded along. 

"That will leave our fleet without reserve landing craft." Clip said in warning. 

"We won't need reserves. Deploy the majority of them to the other fronts, prepare to land the Venator for emergency evac.” Corvus ordered. 

Clips studied him for half a second, then saluted. "Understood."

Corvus-flanked by the Bad Batch-activated the fleet-wide comms during his elevator ride to the hangar. 

"Starcrusher Corps, all ships. Open up a path, we're bringing our brothers home.” 

A roar of determination rang throughout the Republic hulls as they got to work. The surviving Starcrusher vessels pivoted together, their bows turning toward Kuat with terrifying resolve. Venators, assault cruisers, frigates, corvettes, even the captured Imperial ships joined the formation, then they unleashed hell. 

What mines, defense platforms, or floating wrecks lay in between them and their brothers were shredded into tiny particles. 

A damaged Imperial cruiser drifting towards the surface about to crash on Pots's position was swiftly melted down faster than an iron ingot inside an industrial factory. 

"Corridor secured, General." Clip reported, his voice carrying a trace of static. 

“Let's rock.” Corvus replied from the cockpit of the Falcon. 

Revving the engines, he took her into the air, and prominently led the formation. Behind him thousands of LAATs formed a swarm. Turbolaser fire from the ring shot all around them, prompting Corvus to coat the unit in [Energy Resistance]. The shield of a Tier VII Force Adept was enough to block several turbolaser shots before running dry, easily protecting them. 

LAATs screamed through Kuat's atmosphere beneath a dome of fighter cover, their hulls glowing from entry as turbolaser fire crossed overhead.

From within the Falcon, he shot out several missiles at an AT-TE, crippling it in place, and taking out its main cannon. Meanwhile, Hunter & Crosshair were manning the guns, and using the zoom feature to target several Imperial positions. 

A series of missiles fired from portable rocket launchers began to have the ship's warning lights flash. 

“Waaaah-oooo.” R-4 wailed in concern. 

Corvus simply stared at the rockets, willing them to halt in place. He had evolved to a level where he no longer needed to wave his hand to enact the awesome might of the Force. His mind alone had become that powerful, especially thanks to the max boost in Intelligence. 

Several seconds later, the explosives were returned to the sender, and an Imperial anti-aircraft emplacement disappeared in a blossom of fire.

"Show-off." Wrecker said with great jealousy from one of the seats in the cockpit. 

"Thirty seconds, boys, then you'll get to put those fancy new laser blades of yours to work!” Corvus replied, ignoring Wrecker's moping. 

Emerging through a smoky sky, the endless city revealed itself. Within this sector, the once magnificent industrial towers of Kuat had become blasted skeletons. Factory districts burned from end to end, and endless trenches had been carved through plazas. Tattered Imperial banners hung shredded from buildings, and a handful of Republic & Starcrusher Corp flags were on display as well. 

Then Corvus saw them. His men were holding out in an abandoned factory, forced to dodge heavy artillery, and contend against walkers with infantry. They were a shrinking island of blue fire surrounded by red, one where thousands of Imperial soldiers pressed inward from every direction.

Corvus felt them through the Force. Their exhaustion, pain, and their absolute refusal to die. 

One month of attrition had burned away any unnecessary feelings. They were machines crafted for war, even the Eriaduan's-ordinary men raised to become factory workers-had risen to the occasion. 

With the odds against them, the unwavering loyalty of the HK's & fanatical belief of the Ongree had inspired hope. Then with Pots's leadership, he had instilled brotherhood, and defiance in them all. The clip of him soloing Darksiders had long spread amongst his unit, showing that they could hold out. 

The Falcon and thousand+ LAAT's came roaring onto the scene, blasting Imperials black & red with high powered beam cannons, missiles, and quad turrets. Doing a drive-by, Corvus shot at hundreds of the bastards, forcing them to retreat behind the relative safety of mobile shield generators. 

Landing the Falcon at an inconspicuous point, he emerged down the ramp with his white cloak whipping in the wind.

Corvus ignited his lightsabers, pointing twin jets of black at the shielded position housing tens of thousands of Imperials. 

The Force exploded outward in a cataclysmic display as he unleashed [Shadow Lighting Push]. 

A dense, concussive explosion rocked the defensive line, instantly popping the shield like a soap bubble poked by a toothpick. 

Within seconds the entire Imperial assault line disappeared.

Men, weapons, barricades, and debris lifted from the street and flew backward in a wave spanning hundreds of meters. Windows shattered, then people & walkers disintegrated, turning into calcified shadows upon the ground, like the victims of Pompeii. 

The pavement cracked beneath Corvus's boots, and for the first time in a long time, the battlefield came to a standstill. 

“The General is here!” A man came running out of cover, and stopped just behind Corvus, saluting by slamming his fist onto his heavily damaged chestplate. 

“General! General!” Countless men cried out as they emerged from burnt out foxholes. 

Nearly every man had damage done to their armor, and they were covered in soot. 

At that moment, a distant artillery shell landed, attempting to take them out. Corvus caught the cannon blast against an outstretched palm, twisted his wrist, and sent the bolt crashing into another walker.

"General, the Imperial fleet has begun maneuvering into position. We have eleven minutes before they close the corridor." Clip informed him over the comms. 

“Acknowledged.” Corvus said over the line, then turned to the growing crowd. 

Gunships & large transports began to land nearby one after another as Pots hobbled his way up to him. The man looked like his knees were in a bad sort, that he could barely walk, yet he never once took a break from the front lines. 

"You really came back." Pots said, some emotion creeping into his eyes. 

"There was never a version of this story where I didn't." Corvus said, clapping a hand on the missing shoulder pad in jest, then healing green motes of light spread into the Commander, and the entire unit. 

Pots grinned in relief. 

He was going home.