"Take evasive action!" I commanded.
At that moment, we all split up to avoid getting hit by any of them. I kept my wing ship steady as I flew beside them.
"Those gas-gulpers are huge." Ahsoka gasped.
"Don't shoot, or they'll panic." Master Koon advised.
Areria scoffed. "They'll panic?"
"I'm about to panic!" Ahsoka exclaimed.
"There are so many of them." Mocax commented.
"I'm hit. My stabilizer's out!" Matchstick panicked.
"Pull it together, Matchstick." Anakin urged.
"I'm okay. I got it." Matchstick informed us.
"These things are gonna make a meal out of us." Ahsoka mentioned as we were halfway through the nebula.
R3 began to panic as he let out several high pitch beeps and whistles.
"It's alright, R3. We'll make it out in one piece." I assured him.
"All wings, line up behind Storm and me." Anakin ordered.
"Roger that, boss." Broadside responded.
With that all the wings flew behind us as we cautiously made our way throughout the nebula, trying to get out.
"Hurry, they will not follow us beyond the nebula." Master Koon said.
"That one looks hungry." Areria said.
"Nah, it's just smiling at you." Anakin retorted.
I snickered at Anakin's words. I then glanced over to see us almost out of the nebula.
"We're coming out of it." I commented.
At that moment, all of our wings made it out of the nebula in one piece.
"Let's hope your shortcut paid off." Ahsoka said.
"We're not far behind Grievous now." Anakin assured her.
"Shadow 2, what is the damage to your ship?" Master Koon asked.
"Just a scratch, sir." Matchstick replied.
"We must not take any more unnecessary risks. If we lose even a single ship, our mission is that much closer to failure." Master Koon pointed out.
I nodded. "Understood, Master Koon."
I knew the severity of this mission if we lost ships. It would take us steps closer towards failure, which we couldn't allow.
"But we didn't lose any ships, and we didn't..." Anakin protested.
Broadside then cut him off. "Sir, another contact."
"I thought those things wouldn't follow us." Ahsoka chimed in.
"Not following, coming out of hyperspace." Mocax corrected. "It's a ship. It's the Malevolence."
As we got closer, we spotted the Malevolence near the medical station.
"Grievous." Areria said with a disgusted look.
We then saw a blast of purple light hit the transports and blast them. Before we could anything, fighters approached us. Areria spoke up. "Master, we've got fighters heading our way."
As I flew the ship, Areria took control of the blasters of the ship. I glanced back for a quick second. "How's it going back there?"
"I'm trying to get them off, but your fancy flying is making it difficult." Areria retorted.
Anakin's voice then reached our comms. I could practically see the teasing grin on his face as he spoke. "You think she flies fancy? Then you'll have a hard time flying with me."
"Thanks for the tip." Areria retorted.
"Incoming!" Anakin exclaimed.
We then saw a ray of purple heading towards our way. No doubt it was the weapon that Master Koon talked about. My eyes widened as I pulled up.
"Make towards the edge of the ray, now!" I ordered.
We then flew as high as we could out of the purple ray's reach. Anakin's voice reached us through the comms. "Give it everything you've got."
"Shadow 2, your speed is dropping. What's wrong?" Ahsoka asked.
"Nothing, Commander. Just trying to keep it together." Matchstick assured her.
"You can make it, Matchstick." Anakin informed him.
Hang on, Matchstick." I encouraged.
We made it through, but unfortunately not all of us made it.
"Shadow squadron, check in." Anakin ordered.
"We lost Matchstick and Tag. Shadows 6, 7, and 10 were caught in the ray." Ahsoka mentioned.
"Titan Squadron, check in." I commanded.
"They're all here, Master." Areria replied.
"Good, then let's continue with the plan." I urged.
With that we made our way towards the Malevolence. As we flew, blasts from the Malevolence came towards us. I quickly dodged them as I flew further, determined to see the plan through.
"Stay on course." Master Koon ordered.
"This flak is heavy." Broadside commented.
"All deflectors double front." I commanded.
"Master, are you sure we don't need a new plan." Areria suggested.
"We can make it, Areria. Hang in there." I assured her.
"Watch those towers, boys." Anakin advised.
"We're too close. Loosen up!" Some of the clone troopers exclaimed.
Some of the Y-wings were shot down as the rest of us continued to make our way through.
"Master, we're losing men! We need a new plan." Areria insisted.
"If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grievous tries to fire." Master Koon suggested.
I thought about Areria's words, and quickly contacted my squadron. "Titan squadron, there's new target. We're taking out the starboard ion cannon."
Anakin seemed to have the same idea as he and his squadron flew over to the cannon. We all out power, we fired at the cannon, destroying the cannon before it could fire. Once the ship was damaged, we made our way towards the medical station.
"Good work, Shadow and Titan Squadron." Master Koon said.
"Good call, Areria." I praised.
We then heard Obi-Wan through our comms. "Anakin, Storm, do you copy?"
"I'm here." Anakin replied.
"So am I, Obi-Wan." I chimed in.
"Congratulations. It looks like your mission was a success." Obi-Wan stated.
"Partially, but Grievous is still alive." Anakin mentioned.
"The battle was pretty rough on our men." I added.
"We're heading for the medical station." Anakin informed him.
"We'll take it from here, but don't worry. We'll call when we need you." Obi-Wan assured us.
We'll be waiting, Obi-Wan." Anakin replied.
With that we reached the hangars, landing alongside Anakin and Master Koon.
"Great job, Master Skywalker and Ca'ana. Both your leadership skills are most impressive." Master Koon praised.
"You didn't do so bad yourself." Anakin retorted with a chuckle.
"You did great as well, Master Koon." I replied.
Ahsoka then cleared her throat. "Excuse me? I believe it was my suggestion to change the plan."
"I believe I also contributed to that." Areria added.
I nodded. "And so you did, Areria."
"That's kind of true, Snips." Anakin said.
"From a certain point of view." Master Koon commented.
We then made our way inside the medical station to find Nala Se, a Kaminoan doctor alongside a clone trooper.
"General Skywalker, General Ca'ana, I wanted to thank you for your valiant effort today. Do not take the lives you saved lightly." Nala advised.
"We don't." Anakin informed her.
"But we also can't take the lives we lost lightly." I added.
"I see." Nala said, quite shocked with our response.
"If you will excuse us, we must prepare for the coming battle." Anakin mentioned.
With that we made our way back to the hangars. Once Obi-Wan contacted us, Areria, Ahsoka, Anakin, and I boarded the warship along with R2 and R3.
"We must summon reinforcements." Master Koon urged.
We made our way towards the front of the warship, where Master Koon, Admiral Yularen, Jace, and Obi-Wan were.
"That's why we're here, Master Plo." Anakin said.
"Anakin, Storm, were you able to contact Master Luminara?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin nodded. "Yes, Master. She's busy with a fleet of Separatists reinforcements nearby."
"She won't be able to give us support until she's turned them away." I added.
"Then we'll have to make due with what we have." Obi-Wan commented.
We watched as the three Republic warships fired at the Malevolence. Ahsoka and Areria worked on the communications and with the signals.
"Admiral, status report." Obi-Wan urged.
"They're not attempting to jump to hyperspace." Yularen mentioned.
"Their hyperdrive must be damaged." Jace commented.
"This is our chance. All ships, target the bridge, maximum firepower." Obi-Wan ordered.
"Master, I'm picking up a signal near the enemy vessel." Ahsoka informed us.
"Something just came out of hyperspace." Areria mentioned.
Anakin furrowed his brows. "Enemy reinforcements?"
"No. It looks like a Naboo ship." Ahsoka explained.
"Gunners, stand down. What in blazes are they doing out here?" Obi-Wan inquired, rather baffled.
Anakin and I exchanged a look, fearing the worst. I have a bad feeling that Padmé's in that ship. I turned towards Areria and Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, Areria, contact that ship."
"Naboo cruiser, identify yourself." Areria urged.
A hologram of Padmé and Koltav appeared, making my heart drop right away.
"This is senator Amidala." Padmé announced.
"And I'm Koltav Catroe, Diktat of Corellia." Koltav greeted.
"Padmé?" Anakin asked, rather shocked.
"Koltav? What are you doing out here?" I inquired, sounding both angry and worried.
"I was sent on a special mission. The Senate was told the banking clan wanted to negotiate a treaty." Padmé explained.
"I came along to help negotiate a treaty." Koltav elaborated.
I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you wished to remain neutral and out of this war?"
Koltav hesitated. "I'm afraid things have gotten too complicated."
"Get out of there as fast as you can." Anakin ordered.
Padmé wore a worried look. And this didn't go unnoticed by me.
"Padmé, what's happening?" I inquired.
"We're being pulled inside the droid cruiser by a tractor beam." Padmé informed us.
"We will not be made Separatist bargaining chips." Koltav protested.
"Continue your attack. You must destroy this monstrous ship!" Padmé exclaimed.
At that moment the hologram vanished. We can't continue the attack, knowing that coward of a Grievous will use them as hostages.
"Admirals, order our ships to stop firing." Anakin ordered.
Yularen and Jace left to tell the other ships to stop firing. Once they left, Anakin and I turned to leave, making our way towards the door, when Obi-Wan called out to us. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Somebody has to save their skins." Anakin mentioned.
"I thought you might say that." Obi-Wan replied.
Obi-Wan then followed us. We boarded a ship in the hangars along with R2 and R3. Anakin flew the ship, while I sat in the co-pilot's seat. Obi-Wan sat on the other side.
"I trust you've already formulated a brilliant plan to rescue the senator." Obi-Wan commented.
"As a matter of fact, we have." Anakin confirmed.
"But do we have a plan B? Every operation needs a backup." Obi-Wan pointed out.
I hesitated at his words. "We don't have a backup yet, but we do have a plan for getting on that ship."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused. "Really?"
"The enemy sensors are obviously damaged, so we'll sneak in behind them and dock at the emergency airlock." I explained.
Obi-Wan was baffled by our plan. "That's your plan? Just fly there, land, hope they don't spot us, and walk in the door?"
Anakin nodded. "Basically."
"Brilliant." Obi-Wan retorted in a sarcastic tone. "Let's get going."
I anxiously watched as Anakin took us closer towards the Malevolence, which was heavily damaged. We were so close to destroying it, when they took Padmé and Koltav in. I quickly became anxious at the thought of them. I hope they're alright.
"If they spot us, we'll be pulverized." Obi-Wan mentioned.
"They're too busy repairing the ship." I argued.
"Exactly, they don't have time to notice us." Anakin added.
"Subtlety has never been one of your strong points, Anakin." Obi-Wan reminded him.
"Everything I know I learned from you, Master." Anakin retorted with a smirk.
Obi-Wan sighed. "If only that were true."
Once Anakin landed us in one of the hangars, we took off, making our way inside the ship. We made our way up on the elevator along with R2 and R3.
"Anakin, you're crazy. Spinning is not flying." Obi-Wan scolded him.
Anakin shrugged. "But it's a good trick."
"We do not want to be spotted." Obi-Wan insisted.
"Relax, what's the worst that can happen?" I questioned.
At that moment, the elevator door opened, revealing two droids. One of them pointed at us as it exclaimed. "I knew it! It's them!"
With ease, we sliced the two droids with our lightsabers. R2 and R3 were about to follow us, when we stopped them. "No. You stay here, R2 and R3."
With that we ran down the halls, trying to find Koltav and Padmé. On our way, Anakin's comlink turned on. "Yes."
"Master, we've found the Senator and the Diktat." Ahsoka informed us.
"Well patching them through." Areria added.
"Padmé?" Anakin asked.
"Anakin." Padmé replied with a relieved sigh.
"Are you alright?" Anakin inquired.
"Where are you?" I questioned.
"On the lower levels." Padmé explained.
"We're both fine, but we don't know for how long." Koltav assured us. "There are droids everywhere."
"Obi-Wan, Anakin, and I are on board too." I informed them.
"What?!" Padmé exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to get you off this ship." Anakin explained.
"Ahsoka, how can we get to the senator?" I inquired.
"According to our scans, there seems to be a larger open area in the center of the ship. It should be halfway between the two of you." Ahsoka advised.
"We're on our way." Anakin replied. "Did you hear that, Padmé?
"We'll be there." Padmé assured us.
We then quickly our way to the area where Ahsoka mentioned. It was the ship's transportation system filled with trains. We scanned the area, and though I couldn't see them. I felt them, they weren't too far.
"I don't see them." Obi-Wan said.
"They're here, Obi-Wan. I sense it." I assured him.
"I can sense it too." Anakin agreed.
We then saw blasts coming from an opening. Anakin immediately pointed to the opening. "There!"
We then saw droids from a higher level, firing their blasters at us. We ignited our lightsabers and deflected the blasts, sending them back to the droids, and destroying them. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and I split up as we jumped down onto the trains to reach them. I spotted Koltav on the train. Not too far ahead, the bridge was destroyed by some droids. I called out to Koltav, who looked terrified. "Koltav!"
"Storm, the bridge is out." Koltav stated.
"Jump to me, Koltav." I advised.
Koltav's eyes widened. "What?!"
"I'll use the Force. You have to trust me. I've got you." I insisted.
Koltav then jumped towards my train. Before he could fall, I used the Force to bring him up to my side. At that moment, I heard Obi-Wan's voice. "Nice catch."
I glanced up to see him up on a higher train. "I'll fetch the droid."
Once Obi-Wan took off, I glanced over at Koltav, who looked relieved to see me. "My hero."
"This not better become a routine." I teased. "Although I do enjoy the time alone with you."
"Oh what am I going to do with you?" Koltav asked with a grin.
"You could kiss me right now." I suggested.
Koltav then leaned in for a kiss. However we were interrupted as Obi-Wan contacted me through the comms. "I got separated from your droid, Anakin."
I sighed. "Impeccable timing."
I then heard Anakin's voice through the comms. "I'll take care of it. We'll meet you back at the Twilight."
"No, we can't leave yet." Koltav protested.
I furrowed my brows. "Why not?"
"I overheard Grievous. Their hyperdrive is almost repaired." Padmé explained.
"I'm already headed in that direction, so I'll make certain that the hyperdrive stays offline." Obi-Wan assured us.
Once the comms were off, I turned towards Koltav. "I'm getting you out of here."
With that we made our way up into the hallways, unfortunately we got separated with Anakin and Padmé as several droids came towards us. I used my lightsaber defecting their blasts, and managing to him some of them, I quickly contacted Obi-Wan through our comms as we hid behind a frame of a door in the middle of the hallway. "Obi-Wan? Come in, Obi-Wan."
"Storm, I'm afraid Grievous is on to us." Obi-Wan stated.
"Oh believe me, we noticed." I rebuked.
"We'll rendezvous back at the Twilight. The fleet must engage the..." Obi-Wan began, but faded out.
"Obi-Wan? Come in. Obi-Wan!" I exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Koltav asked.
I groaned in frustration. "They're jamming us. Come on, I have an idea!"
With that, we rushed down the hallways, arriving into the cockpit where the controls of the Malevolence were. Anakin and Padmé quickly joined us. Anakin and I took down the droids with our lightsabers.
"Oh Anakin, ever since I've known you, you've been playing with droids." Padmé teased.
Anakin chuckled. "I used to put them together. Now I only take them apart."
"Don't let R2 or R3 hear you say that." I warned.
"So where do we start?" Koltav inquired, returning to the matter at hand.
"First we need to get rid of these droids so they won't know we were here." Anakin urged.
"Anakin and I will hotwire the ship, and give Grievous a little surprise." I offered.
Anakin and I then made our way towards the controls, proceeding with our plan. Padmé sighed. "I guess Koltav and I will clean up the droids then."
It wasn't long until we finished our little surprise for Grievous. I grinned. I can only imagine the look on Grievous's face when his droids activate the hyperdrive.
"That ought to do it." Anakin said.
"How's the housecleaning going?" I inquired.
"Done." Padmé replied.
"Great. Now, let's get out of here." I advised.
With that we quickly left in the same way we came before the the droids arrived. Once we reached the elevator, we made our way towards the level of which we first arrived on. It wasn't long until we found C-3PO along with R2 and R3.
"C-3PO? Don't just stand there. Let's get back to the ship." Anakin urged.
"Power up the engines, R2 and R3." I ordered.
R2 and R3 let out affirmatives beeps before rushing up towards the ship. As we walked into the elevator, we saw Obi-Wan heading our way with droids blasting in his direction. "Hold the ship!"
We gave Obi-Wan coverage as he reached us. We quickly headed into our ship, making our way towards the cockpit. This time I sat in the pilot's seat, while Anakin sat in the co-pilot's seat with Obi-Wan beside him. Padmé, C3PO, and Koltav all stood behind us.
"I'll contact the fleet." Obi-Wan offered.
"R2, R3, release the docking clamp." I commanded.
At that moment, several enemy ships approached us. Great...just when I thing we're in the clear.
"Now would be the time for some clever tricks, Storm." Obi-Wan advised.
"Looks like you read my mind." I replied with a grin.
With that I began to swerve and flip the ship around to try to get them off our tail. I struggled as they got closer towards us, not planning on giving up anytime. I groaned. "These bastards aren't giving up."
"You know, we have guns. You can shoot back any time." Anakin protested.
"I was just about to..." Obi-Wan began, but was cut off by Padmé.
"I got it." Padmé offered.
"I'll help." Koltav chimed in.
"They seems to know their way around." Obi-Wan commented.
As I flew the ship, flipping around, continuing to avoid being shot at. Fortunately, Padmé was able to take down the ships in just a matter of seconds.
"Nice shot, senator." Obi-Wan said.
"Beginner's luck." Koltav commented.
"Oh like you can do any better, Koltav." Padmé teased.
"Pardon me, Sir, but R2's scan of the enemy's ship indicates their hyperdrive is activating." C-3PO informed us.
"Don't worry about it." I replied.
Obi-Wan furrowed his brows. "What?"
We then watched as the Malevolence crashed into the nearest moon. Obi-Wan immediately turned over towards us. "I imagine you had something to do with that, didn't you Storm and Anakin?
"All part of the plan, Master." Anakin assured him.
"Come on, let's return to the ship and get you both home." I advised.
And with that, I flew the ship back to our fleet.