Published: 2024-11-11
The rebellion had taken the Deck 7 barracks and the Deck 6 brig. Now, they had almost taken the aft Deck 7 meddical wing. The bridge had also lost contact with the engine room on Deck 4, which suggested they had begun to move in on it. CC-5908 slammed his fist on the holotable showing their progress. "Why haven't we been able to stop even a single one of their advances?" he growled at CT-5597.
"The rebellion has been using very unusual tactics, sir," the lieutenant responded. "They open bulkheads for just long enough to stun our forces and drag them into their territory. Later, those same captured clones are found fighting for the enemy. We aren't sure how they are convincing our troops to betray us. Additionally, they aren't shooting to kill. As far as we know, only four troopers have died on our side. Aside from those four, all our losses are captured clones."
A light on the holotable started blinking. "Incoming transmission from Ahsoka Tano. She's requeesting to speak with you, sir," the communications officer said.
"Answer it, and trace the signal!" CC-5908 ordered. A hologram appeared above the holotable. Tano was standing there with her arms folded. CT-7567 stood by her side, helmet under his arm. "Tano. You should surrender. You stand no chance of victory. You cannot take over this ship before we arrive at Coruscant. Once we do, the Tribunal will be boarded and your forces will be obliterated." He turned to CT-7567. "And you. How could you betray your Republic—your brothers—like this?"
"I haven't betrayed my brothers—or the Republic. You and the Republic have betrayed the Jedi. You have accused all Jedi of treason against the Republic. Even if some Jedi have done just that, it doesn't mean that all Jedi have! And certainly not Ahsoka Tano!" CT-7567 was seething with rage.
"He's right. and we won't be reaching Coruscant." Tano looked at Rex. "Rex?
CT-7567 nodded at Tano, looked to the side, and nodded at someone unseen. The ship began to shake. CC-5908 looked behind him, towards the bridge, and saw the blue swirls of hyperspace fade into bright pinks. Then they reverted to realspace and the stars collapsed from long streaks into single points, and the space between them turned to the black of cold, empty space.
"Sir, we've lost control of the engines. We are dead in space!" a crew member shouted from the sunken pits of the bridge.
"What have you done?" CC-5908 demanded.
"We have taken control of the engine room. We have initiated Emergency Protocol Seven-One-Two and shut down all engines, including the hyperdrive," Ahsoka explained. Emergency Protocol 712 reverted control of all engines to the engine room. It was meant to be used in the event that a ship waws hijacked and the bridge was taken.
"When we don't arrive at Coruscant in five days, the Republic will send search parties to look for us," CC-5908.
"But you will have to refuel at some point. You can't stay out here forever."
"True. But we can stick to backwaters in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim. Neutral planets and Hutt Space."
"Seetee-Five-Five-Nine-Seven. Contact Coruscant. Send them our coordinates and inform them that our troops are rebelling," CC-5908 ordered.
"Sir, I've already tried. Our long-range communications systems were damaged at Mandalore, and short-range and subspace can't reach any civilized system," CT-5597 informed him.
"Dank farrik!" CC-5908 raised his voice. "I will have your heads!"
"Good luck with that," Tano said sarcastically.
Then, the incoming transmission light began beeping again. "Sir, there's a one-way transmission coming from Coruscant. It appears to be a galaxy-wide broadcast."
Answer it, but keep Tano connected."
Tano and CT-7567's holograms shrunk and moved to the side. The center of the holotable displayed Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, though he was wearing a hood and his face was deformed.
"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. BUt there were those who would set us against one another, and we took up arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In doing so, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.
"The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.
"The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the Clone Army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone trooper contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred, and deformed, but I assure you, my resolve has never been stronger!
"The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold if a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stablility, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire rul—"
CC-5908 muted the holo. "I think we've seen enough. Still think you can win?"
"I do. This new Empire is just the Republic by a different name. Right now, it is no more powerful than the Republic was. If we think we can Republic, we think we can beat the Empire." Ahsoka replied.
"We'll see about that!"" CC-5908 said, punching the end transmission button.
He breathed deeply, trying to regain composure. "Were you able to trace the signal?
"No, sir. The signal was masked. It appeared to be coming from this holotable, though it obviously wasn't," the comm officer reported.
"Send a regiment of troopers to the main hangar bay, and two companies each to the port and starboard hangars. Go with them personally. If they have any plans on escaping, they cannot be allowed to."
"Yes, sir," CT-5597 said.
"Do we have commandos on board?" CC-5908 asked.
"Yes, sir. We picked up Epsilon and Eta Squads from Qiilura for transport to Coruscant shortly before we departed for Mandalore."
"Send Epsilon Squad to find and assassinate Tano and Seetee-Seven-Five-Six-Seven."
—
Ahsoka sat down in a nearby chair and lost herself in thought. They had done exactly what they had hoped: they had angered Vert. Angry man makes rash decisions, and rash decisions were something Vert couldn't afford. Plus, they were no longer limited in time by the journey to Coruscant. However, she was currently on Deck 4. She didn't like being so vulnerable on a deck where they controlled very little territory, but she had to oversee the shutdown of the hyperdrive and the sublight engines.
Ahsoka was snapped back to reality by Rex speaking to her. "Commander, what's our next target?"
Ahsoka took a moment to think. "The bridge and the hangar bays will be the most heavily defended areas on the ship. We will take heavy losses with either of them. We have control to the bridges on Decks Four and Seven, but they can still be taken to other levels. We have to secure the lift entrances on Decks One, Two, Three, Five, and Six, as well as the maintenance deck. The maintenance deck is wide open, so we'll havee to set up temporary barriers. That way, we won't have to take it all at once. Do we have any of those?"
"Yes, sir. We've taken three armories, and between them, there are plenty to surround the lifts on the maintenance deck," Rex confirmed.
Good. Take a company of troopers down to the maintenance deck. It will be the hardest level to take, so take it first."
Right aw—Ahsoka, watch out!"