Jedi Insurgency 327

Level 40 -> 42. 

Needless to say, Corvus had had a very productive week. 

This trip to Axion had put the fear of God into the Imperial troops, but cut off from the wider communications network, the various army groups didn't have a clear picture of what was really taking place. 

Of the five million troops that had deployed onto this CIS held world, Corvus had slain an absolutely disgusting amount of people. He could only describe the process as being like a high speed car driving through a swarm of gnats. It was fast, deadly, and over before either party knew what had happened. 

To facilitate this slaughter, he had had the Starcrusher Corp box the enemy in, and then, once they had established their defensive lines & grouped together, he would swoop in. This massive level of carnage perpetuated by one man hadn't been seen in quite some time, and the Colicoid aliens released a pheromone representing fear every time they saw them. 

Which was kind of funny, because this insectoid race very specifically was incapable of fear. Moving around by rolling-just like the droidekai they developed-this species of disgusting sentient bugs were carnivorous, cruel, cannibals. They were fiercely isolationist, extremely intelligent, and more transactional than a Hutt. 

Additionally, Corvus had learned that this hive-like species hated Jedi due to their ability to read minds, and influence thoughts. Typically, they were difficult to influence or have their surface thoughts read, but with Corvus's [Shadow Reading] ability, glimpsing into their fate lines was an incredibly easy task. 

Furthermore, they had a negative opinion of Jedi because of Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kinobi of all people. The droidekai were developed explicitly to deal with Jedi. When they failed during the invasion of Naboo in the Phantom Menace, the rest of the galaxy took this as a sign, and canceled all their orders. As a result, the Jedi-by nature of surviving-had caused a financial meltdown, and the Colicoids barely scraped by. 

Initially, Corvus didn't have high hopes of allying with them after learning all these facts. Plus, who would really want to team up with vicious bug people who ate their own kind? He considered himself to have a broad mind, and was all too happy to team up with most alien cultures…but cannibalistic bug monsters were almost a line too far. Almost. 

Who could've foreseen that the Jedi Order Master personally slaughtering several hundred thousand people in five days would change someone's opinion? Therefore, whilst he had spent a week on Axion, these last two days had actually been taking time to talk with the Colicoids, interact with their code, and collect their junk so he could produce Beskar. 

He had been considering sneaking into many different central databases, and hacking systems to upload his virus, ahem, improvements, but thanks to his overwhelming victory, and feat of smashing an entire sub layer onto 20,000 all at once, they had gladly opened the door. 

It was…kind of frightening to see these bug people taller than him, and with faces uglier than a preying mantis cower every time he drew near. 

“Pots, am I the bad guy?” Corvus asked his trusted Marshal whilst busy at a workbench. 

Literally every second, he was spamming invisible buttons in his mind, working the System to craft pieces of Beskar, personal shields, ammo, explosives, medical supplies and other essential war materials. At the same time some music was blasting in the background, and a never ending chain of Colicoids were hurriedly delivering pile after pile of scrap metal so tall it had formed a skyscraper sized mountain. After one rolled forward, deposited the goods, bowed low, and rolled away, another showed up. 

Pots-on the side and smoking a fat cigar-puffed away in contentment, squinting his eyes at the piles of junk like they were treasure worth guarding. His Beskar armor was fresh with a few new scars, and he wore them more proudly than even the medals Corvus had pinned on his uniform. 

“We all have a place in the universe, General. Way I see it, I was made for killing, leading my brothers to kill, and following an even bigger bastard to kill other big bastards. Some of my lot talk about retirement & families. That's good, and I encourage them. But then there's guys who live for the action.” Pots said between long puffs, pleased with himself like a work buddy shooting the shit whilst the actual hard worker was getting everything done during crunch time. 

Corvus sighed at the nonanswer, but accepted it for what it was. “Then you don't think you'll retire?” 

Pots paused in his smoke, then shrugged. 

“Maybe the day I catch a bolt betwixt the eyes.” Pots grumbled. “No offense, General, but we're fighting on all fronts in a conflict that dwarfs the beginning of this war. If I make it through this war, you can buy me a fine Twi'lek lass, and a mansion on Eriadu for all I care.” 

“Isn't that the truth? If only this were some fantasy HoloNovel where defeating one big army, and holding the capital city was all it took for the other quintillion residents to fall in line.” Corvus sighed once more this time longer & more intense. 

Why couldn't he live in a reality where killing Palpatine & Vader would equal total victory? Ahh, movie Luke Skywalker was such a lucky bastard. 

“S'not that bad, General. For a clone like me, my life expectancy was to disappear the second my boots hit the ground. I was there for Geonosis. Let me tell you, each breath I draw in is a miracle I cherish. But that doesn't mean I'm some coward. We can only take each day one at a time. Who knows, maybe we'll wake up, and before we know it, the galaxy is are’s?” Pots said, holding his hands out to the side in a ‘what can you do’ gesture. 

“I didn't take a vet like you to be much of an optimist.” Corvus remarked, raising an eyebrow. 

Pots rolled his eyes. “Please. With the Bantha Shit I put up with on Kuat, and you're seeing me shoot the shit with you here, now. I'm practically mental since I don't have PTSD. Speaking of which, hit me with that green stuff, does wonders for the mind.” 

Corvus felt the corner of his lip twitch, wondering if his most accomplished commander was addicted to [Heal]. Regardless, if it was good for mental health…waving his hand, a healthy minty green glow spread across the land for several miles. 

“Ahh, that's the stuff.” Pots moaned, stretching like someone who just got a 10/10 massage. 

Leaning back into a somewhat softer pile of scrap, the Marshal didn't give a damn about his image, and nearly fell asleep. 

The Colicoid workers who were delivering the goods shivered at this unintentional act of healing, and their fear for the white robed Jedi only intensified. After all, if he could affect so many people with a casual wave of the hand that were out of his line of sight…what would he do if he had malicious intentions! 

And they actually wouldn't be wrong for having this thought. Corvus could now cast [Slow] in a several mile radius. Considering the advanced version acted like a corroding poison, when modified with the [Shadow] prefix, it was an especially agonizing way to go. 

“Going to fall asleep on me, and leave me to do all the work alone, and bored? Where's the famous, stalwart Marshal Pots, the Starcrusher Corp's proudest son?” Corvus taunted good naturedly. 

“Psht, you're fine. You can't see it with your hands spread out on the workbench there, but just now one of those insects had their face turn red. Damned bugs can't appreciate a good cleansing when it pierces not just the skin & organs, but also the soul.” Pots muttered, still lost in the aftereffects of [Heal]. 

Corvus clucked his tongue, and briefly took a look through Pause, and was somewhat amused that their fear of him seemed to somehow been amped up to an 11/10. Who could have ever imagined that a grand act of healing would be viewed as such a threat?...although in retrospect, bad guys never seemed to respect S-tier healers in fiction, which didn't really make any sense. Then, perhaps the Colicoids really did deserve the reputation for their intelligence. 

“Huh. Who knew in this day and age people would come to respect us mighty healers.” Corvus said with a self-satisfied smile. 

“Don't get your Palpatine’s in a twist, sir. You know they're only reacting like that because you pancaked 20,000 SOB's.” Pots sarcastically remarked, as if to say ‘really bitch, I'm your number one follower, and even I don't believe the Bantha shit you're spewing.’

“Ahem. Maybe, maybe.” Corvus embarrassedly coughed into his gloved hand. “Anyyywayyy, this last pile of junk should be the last of it. There's something like 50 million Eriaduans in the military right now, and with this expedition, about ten of them will be fully equipped. I'll have also had enough to arm the other four Legions of the Starcrusher Corp. Those raw recruits from way back on Kamino deserve it after all they've been through.” 

“The lads have certainly bled for it. Even if the volunteers aren't as good as a clone, a battlebrother is a battlebrother. I've met some good men & women amongst that lot.” Pots gruffly, seemingly begrudgingly praised them. 

Corvus had a playful smile on his face, and glanced at the clone as Pots took an angry drag on his cigar. 

“And the Colicoids, don't forget about them.” Pots lazily remarked, as if he really didn't care about his words of praise, and totally wasn't trying to change the subject. 

‘Ah, Pots, ya big softy.’ Corvus thought to himself, comforted that even if this soldier had been complicit in the deaths of millions, he was ultimately not some bloodthirsty dog. Eager for combat Pots may be, but he wasn't a monster. 

“Tch. Ignore me, why don't you. No one cares what Pots thinks.” Pots scowled, waving his cigar in the air like he didn't care. 

Corvus rolled his eyes, and scoffed. 

“Alright drama queen. I already communicated with the Hive Queen. Some of this Beskar will be dumped on their lap to form an alliance even ‘sturdier’ than the one with the CIS. It helps that they're such a transactional people.” Corvus mockingly replied as if his subordinate were slow. 

“Hardee har, har. So you romanced some big bug royalty, am I supposed to be impressed? That white haired student of yours has an entire roster according to the grapevine.” Pots jested. The clone trooper then hopped off his mattress made of junk, and tossed the remnants of his cigar away. 

At the mention of Jax, Corvus first smiled, then sighed. 

“I miss the kid.” Corvus eventually got out, and stared aimlessly into the horizon. 

“He's a big boy now. Eighteen this year, fully grown, and out of the house. You Jedi gain independence when you become Knights. Trust him like he trusts you.” Pots advised, clapping Corvus on the back. 

“Hmph. When did a kid like you get to be so wise?” Corvus smirked, joking back. 

“Oi. Watch it! Or do you want me to call up the Senate, and have your war powers stripped for leading a bunch of child soldiers into combat?!” Pots sternly replied, and slammed his hands on his hips. 

The two men locked eyes for a moment, then busted out laughing. 

“Damn, I needed that.” Corvus chuckled. 

“Heh. So that's Axion. Where to next, General?”