Chapter 8

Christophsis Approach, Christoph System

Savareen Sector

Anakin was never good at waiting, but there was a war going on, and half the time war was all about waiting. Waiting for the opportune moment, waiting… waiting…

He resisted the urge to pace the bridge of the Pioneer, locking his knees and flattening his feet against the metal panels. There was, after all, nothing more demoralising for soldiers than seeing their commanding officer anything less than completely in control. It was all an illusion–he knew it, they knew it–none of them were in control, Jedi or not. It was simply more comforting to deceive yourself.

Resolute was gone, Dauntless was gone, and along with them half of the 501st. Ged, Coric, Denal, Rex… all of them, gone. And now, Anakin was staring at their killer, at the cabal of Separatist ships choking Christophsis like a noose. Somewhere in that murder of Munificents was the architect of not one, but two of his worst defeats. It was the exact same person, Anakin knew it, nobody else in this kriffing galaxy used those kinds of tactics.

And the worst part? It was the exact same one. He should have realised quicker, sooner. He should have just disobeyed Obi-Wan and used the stealth corvette to strike their rear… their deaths weighed on his mind. He felt every single one of them.

Hundreds of thousands of klicks away, planetside, and he could feel their anguish, fear, and pain so clearly. It was the single largest loss of his command Anakin has experienced, and it nearly overwhelmed him. If he was still the boy at Jabiim, he would have lost his mind.

But he wasn’t. He was a man now, a Jedi Knight, with his own command, and this was war. He had an image to uphold, and a responsibility to his men. As much as he wanted to hop in a starfighter and take the fight straight to the Seppies… if his clonetroopers could march back into the gauntlet without a single murmur, then he had to do even better.

That was the duty of an officer. That was what’s expected of him.

Anakin glared into the void, implanting each and every enemy frigate into his mind, as if he could coax out that person with sheer force of will alone.

“General, Admiral Yularen needs you in the Battle Room.”

“I’ll be right there, thank you Rex.”

Anakin mentally punched himself the moment the last word left his lips. He could feel the silence on the bridge, like a slime over his skin. The pointed ignorance as officers–clone and otherwise–hastily busied themselves with their implements. He could hear the usual background humming, all the hardware that made the ship possible, brought to the forefront.

“Clone Commander CC-One-One-Nineteen, sir,” if the clone was offended, he didn’t show it.

Anakin took a silent breath, “My apologies, soldier. No name?”

“Appo, sir,” Appo said.

“Appo…” he mumbled–he recognised that name, “From Alpha’s program?”

“Yes, sir.”

Anakin turned around, nodding in respect, “Let’s see what Yularen has for me.”

He hid his discomfort as they walked past the crew pits, attempting to ignore the unfamiliar presence at his flank and hoping it didn’t show in his stride. Anakin knew it was a disservice to Appo, who must have suddenly found himself the commanding clone officer of the butchered remains of the 501st, and was in all likelihood having no easy time of it. Thousands of his brothers were gone, and Appo himself must have leaped several ranks to fill in the command vacuum left by their deaths.

But Rex was simply too familiar a presence for Anakin to ignore, and his stalwart company will be sorely missed. Already sorely missed, as if he was missing his right hand… left hand.

Thankfully, the walk was not too long. The blast doors hissed open to reveal the darkened Battle Room, with a holographic crowd of almost a dozen Jedi and just as many Admirals surrounding the wide holodisplay table. Yularen quietly acknowledged his arrival as Appo slithered out of the scene to observe. Rex would never do that, but it was obvious Appo still didn’t quite know how to handle his new standing.

And it was unfair to compare him to Rex, anyway. Anakin let the tension drain out of his body, gesturing for the Clone Commander to stick close to him.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, “How nice of you to join us.”

Obi-Wan tried to inject the humorous tone he usually had whenever Anakin shows up late, but this time it felt as if he was trying too hard. And Anakin didn’t have the strength to respond with anything other than a polite “Master.”

Obi-Wan wasn’t his Master anymore, but word rolled off his tongue without resistance. His once mentor crossed arms and loosened his shoulders, offering a small, but comforting smile.

Another holograph fizzled into view, and the dark form of Master Luminara Unduli took shape. A new contact appeared on a nearby plan positioning indicator projected onto a clear plotting board, right on the edge of the system. Master Unduli’s taskforce.

The Jedi Master herself was known to be quiet, but she held herself with an introspective–almost melancholic–aura, only giving token gestures of greeting to the gathered Jedi, as if for the sake of politeness alone. Something went wrong with her mission, Anakin guessed. It seemed he wasn’t the only one not up to spec today. The thought didn’t make him feel any better.

“Master Unduli,” Mace Windu said gruffly, “A report on your mission?”

Master Unduli’s features tightened, her tattoos twisting, “It was a Separatist trap. We were lured to Teth, where Asajj Ventress ambushed my fleet in orbit. We lost one cruiser.”

Ventress. His eye ached at that name.

“And the mission?”

“Rotta the Hutt has been safely delivered to his father,” Master Unduli said, “Jabba’s demands were exacting, but I have negotiated a favourable outcome for the Republic. We have access–if not full access–to Hutt Space.”

A gaggle of career officers broke into satisfied smiles, while the Jedi themselves remained more reserved. But this was good news, everybody knew. With the Outer Rim hyperlanes in their hands, the Grand Army’s overstretched supply lines could be effectively cut by half.

“Troubling you, something is,” Grand Master Yoda observed, “A great loss, you have suffered. Greater than a cruiser.”

“…My Padawan, Barriss Offee, volunteered her life to rescue the Huttlet,” Master Unduli said slowly, “I did not see what had become of her, but I fully intend on returning to Teth to seek closure.”

The mood sobered quickly. That was war, Anakin knew, and sacrifice was a price each of them will have to pay when the time comes. For Barriss Offee, it came early, but her sacrifice might have just swung this war solidly in their favour. What more can a soldier ask for? But Offee wasn’t a soldier, was she?

Anakin couldn’t imagine how it would feel to lose a Padawan. Soldiers were one thing–they knew death was around every corner in their line of work–but a young apprentice? A child?

Master Leska, waves lapping at her eyes staring to a brilliant ray of light. Aubrie… and Tae and Zule and all the rest he abandoned to a sunless world. A charred helmet of the 501st floating in the vacuum of space, orbiting a lifeless moon. He saw none of this with his eyes, yet seen it all in the Force.

Anakin blinked, and the images faded. He wasn’t able to save any of them, but if there had been even the slightest chance… A complicated emotion stirred in his chest. To say their deaths had been meaningless was to disrespect their sacrifice, but if he could have the chance to save them… He would have never accepted their deaths.

“What if she is still alive?” Anakin let slip.

“Anakin–” Obi-Wan warned, with a face that said ‘I’m tolerating you because of your loss, but you are crossing the line.’

“If I discover any reason to think so,” Master Unduli met his gaze solidly, “Then I assure you I will spare no effort or expense to find her, and rescue her.”

A part of him hoped he too could find a reason to believe Rex–and the rest of the 501st–were somehow still alive. Wishful thinking, he scolded himself not long after.

“Seek, you will,” Master Yoda agreed, “Extend your senses. Still alive, if young Barriss is, then guide you the Force will.”

As Master Luminara adopted a thoughtful look, Obi-Wan cleared his throat, clearly keen on refocusing the strategy briefing.

“I will now explain our strategy for liberating Christophsis,” he said, “We have timed our arrival such that our ground targets are now on the opposite side of the blockade. Admiral Wurtz and Master Gallia will pin down the Separatist fleet while the rest of us manoeuvres to our specified deployment zones.”

A projection of Christophsis burst out of the holodisplay table. Three lines extended out of their combined fleet; one straight to the blockade, and two more branching prograde and retrograde to pulsating red zones on the planetary surface.

“Master Mundi and Master Koth will lead the assault here, in the northern hemisphere,” Obi-Wan pointed, and the projection zoomed in on the red zone to reveal a vast manufacturing sector, “Master Mundi?”

Ki-Adi-Mundi received the reins, “Our battlegroup’s primary objective is to secure the planet’s crystal refineries. Christophsis’ strategic resources are vital to our war effort, and we must not allow the planet’s industry to remain in Separatist hands.”

Master Barrek, K’Kruhk and several other Jedi Knights and Padawans nodded in affirmation.

Crystal. A nebulous, modest word for one of the most priceless ingredients for victory. It could be argued that Christophsis’ crystal industries were even more strategically important than its location straddling the Corellian Run. Crystals could be found in just about every weapon system in the Grand Army, serving as focusing mediums for turbolasers to electronics in missile warheads.

And not only that, Anakin knew all too well. If fuel was the lifeblood of a warship, then crystals made their brain and nervous systems. Multiphasic diode relays, cognizant crystal interfaces, sensor rectennas, crystal bio-anode circuitry–even basic holoprojectors. Almost every type of sophisticated electronic system possesses crystal components. Anakin lived and breathed this stuff, and he knew better than most there was no overstating the oft-overlooked permeance of crystal tech.

“At the same time, Master Unduli and I will lead the assault on Crystal City, in the southern hemisphere,” Obi-Wan continued, “General Whorm has heavily fortified the city, and it will take our combined forces to break his defences. Should Master Mundi take the planetary industries ahead of schedule, his forces will redeploy to support us. Let’s make sure we don’t get ground down into a prolonged siege.”

“Anakin,” Master Plo Koon regarded him, “Our forces will remain in orbit. Our troops will serve as a rapid reaction force to support the boots on the ground. Only when immediate reinforcements are requested, will we deploy.”

No doubt out of consideration of the deplorable state of the 501st. Anakin chafed to avenge his men by bringing the fight to the tinnies–whether on the ground or in orbit–but surrounded by Jedi, he had little choice but to grit his teeth and nod.

“Recapturing the Christoph System is of the utmost importance,” Master Windu stressed, “Once orbital supremacy has been established over the planet, I will lead a fleet to Ryloth and relieve Master Di’s resistance. Master Barrek has also uncovered the existence of extensive droid factories on Hypori, which can only be accessed with this system in our hands.”

“Clone Intelligence has also reported rising local resistance on Geonosis, and an informant has revealed plans for an invasion of Kamino,” Master Shaak Ti crossed her arms, “I fear Count Dooku is exploiting our distraction here to launch a renewed offensive all across the galactic south. Possibly to improve his strategic position before the effects of our new Outer Rim spacelanes turn the tide of the war in this theatre.

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“Then we have a long campaign ahead of us,” Master Windu said grimly, “May the Force be with all of you.”

The projections winked out one by one as everybody moved to separate channels in order to hammer out the final details of the campaign–the kind of tactical specifics that didn’t warrant a strategic conference–until only he, Obi-Wan, Master Koon and Master Unduli remained.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan hid the worry in his tone, but Anakin knew him too well to mistake it, “I need you to stay focused for this mission. Your role is just as important as–”

“I know, Master,” Anakin offered a small smile to reassure him, “I know.”

“…I hope so, Anakin,” Obi-Wan and Master Unduli left.

“Admiral,” he said as he turned to leave, “Stay in contact with the Triumphant and coordinate our fleet movements.”

“Will do, General.”

Commander Appo silently tailed him back onto the bridge, right up until the blast doors clunked shut.

“The men want to fight, sir,” the clone told him quietly, “Staying all holed up on the ship– no-one wants to admit it, but we’re all on edge.”

“So do I, Commander,” Anakin sighed, “So am I. But we have a role to carry out, and if we do have to deploy, then things have taken a turn for the worst… well, worse than it already is.”

Before him, the crystal surface of Christophsis continued to glimmer brightly in the light of its star. From afar, the planet was serene, tranquil–and ignorant of the impending slaughter. All over that crystal crust.