literature

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Knightfall Part 4.

Deviation Actions

TheIrishRogue's avatar
Published:
2.7K Views

Literature Text

Star Wars

The Clone Wars

Knightfall

“Forward Forward!!”

“On your left..On your le…AAHHHH!!”

“MEDIC!!”

“Take them down!! Keep down the suppressive fire! Overwhelm them!”

“AHH!! It burns – IT BURNS!!!” “HOLD it together trooper!”

“Exploit the gap in the pillar!” “Flank em!”

The silent disposition the clones held during the initial minutes of the raid on the Jedi Temple had drastically altered as the conflict reached its peak. Every corridor was filled with utter carnage. The once great halls that radiated the meanings of peace, justice, and serenity were now scorched with blast marks and riddle by craters. The long halls and forums littered with bodies. The walls reverberated with each thunderous eruption. Though the sounds of the struggle echoed, nothing about this fight was familiar. Everything could be used by the force wielders as a weapon. No cover was safe for too long..even breastworks were used to smash the clone troopers that sought refuge.

The clone troopers of Salvo battalion had an uncanny relationship with the Jedi. This mission was especially tough, but there was zero toleration for anyone who dare chose to betray the republic…no matter how many battles they had stood together or prevailed. The majority of the battalion was with Rex off site, but Volley squad was in the thick of it. Being lead by Sergeant Kano, they found themselves in one of the bloodiest passageways within the Jedi Temple. The squad charged forward under the covering fire of three rotary cannons speckling the hall in thousands of rapidly firing blue specks.

Hotsh crouched next to his Sergeant. With their backs against a blown out wall, Hotsh shouted over to Kano, “Toss me a grenade!” Kano tugged at the cover atop a backpack of a fallen brother. Failing to open, Kano’s fingers clutched the flap even tighter before pulling the flap with a swift jerk. With this jerking motion, the trooper’s body moved revealing a slice through the armor..nearly cloven in two. From the pack five grenades rolled out. Quickly, Kano reached down and snatched up two which he rolled to Hotsh. The sergeant also tossed grenades to Pike, Wraith, and Tank. While rapidly firing their rifles and carbines, Hotsh rapidly stood up from his position; winding his arm back as his thumb squeezed the arming button. Spiraling through the air a Twi Lek Jedi saw the incoming grenade. As fast as it was coming towards him he halted its advance with his hand, then returned it back to the clones. Another trooper was climbing over the debris Hotsh and his squad were using as cover.

The trooper’s hand helped to push him over the collapsed wall.

Clink* Clink* Clink*

The small metallic clacks could be heard as the grenade tapped along the floor. As quickly as he had crossed the makeshift wall, he was propelled back across it from the resulting explosion. Various pieces of armor and stone were hurled into the air. The body smashed into a wall sending cracks up the wall, splintered apart the armor, then collapsed lifelessly to the floor atop the debris. What use to be white and battle worn armor was now blackened, smoldering plates.

“Damn Jedi..we fought with you..we can find your shortcomings!” trooper Shine shouted, priming a grenade he pulled from his bandolier. Pressing his thumb into the button the countdown beeps remained audible over the hail of laser fire.

*Beep “….4”

*Beep “…3”

*Beep Beep “..2”

“HUMPH”- With only a moment remaining, Shine torqued his body around the wall and flung the silver grenade toward the Jedi who was preoccupied deflecting laser bolts to even notice the incoming spherical object. Blue lekku rested against his chest, brilliant green eyes darted to the shine of the thermal detonator.

*BEEP *BEEP     PHOOOOM!!!

In that instant the grenade erupted into a glowing ball of flame! When Hotsh stood bringing his rifle to bear, the spot where the Jedi had been standing was only memorable due to a smoking boot that remained. “Ha ha ha, gotcha!” Shine grimly chuckled to himself. Following suit, the brothers in Volley squad held the timing triggers before throwing them towards the Jedi defenders. A rumble shook the floor when shockwaves unfurled ripples of destruction. As the smoke rose and debris settled the clones cautiously moved forward. While creeping their ears remained keen for any voices or familiar humming the Jedi weapons emanated.

Hearing nothing but the gentle crackle of fire, Hotsh and Pike jogged to their next cover position. Bits and pieces of obliterated lightsabers laid about their feet. Assertively Pike spoke to Hotsh, “I don’t hear..anything..” Their eyes scanned weapons darted around corners as they progressed across new tattered terrain. Hotsh’s eyes caught a glimpse of something through the haze; a flowing motion only for a second. His targeting monocle zoomed in towards the area he thought the glimpse had been. Motioning to Pike they moved hesitantly..poised for anything.

“Hotsh, what are we looking for?”

“Shhh..quiet lads..”

Clone troopers stepped over the bodies of Jedi. Wraith knelt down to examine a fallen Jedi with closer detail.. “That’s odd..I knew the blast was concussive…but” The troopers thoughts spaced apart as he processed the evidence he was studying. Kano approached, “Wraith..don’t waste your time on something we just "wasted".” The veteran soldier’s helmet turned to the side in skepticism. Kano nudged the body with the sole of his boot “See?” In shock Wraith leaned forward, “Did you see that breath Sarge?!” Kano was easy to annoy which became evident in the tone of his voice. “Wraith..you’re acting like a shinnie! If you’re that worried…what’s one more blast cost? Take it!” Kano’s boot pressed down on the Jedi’s chest whose eyes promptly opened.  

The sergeant’s finger began to squeeze the trigger, but instead of a laser bolt finishing of the knight…a lightsaber ignited. A burning sensation tore through his chest. The green blade glowed as it searing through his armor!

“Uhg…ckkuh!” Kano’s helmeted face did not have to look down far to see the blade that had him skewered. Wraith regained his footing, but before his blaster could be put to use he was propelled backwards through the smoke. The Jedi, while still lying on the ground, swiftly brought his leg up, kicking Kano off his lightsaber. The sharp crackling of the saber igniting followed by the heavy thud of Kano’s body suddenly brought the clones back to a heightened sense of alertness. From beneath their feet lightsabers ignited severing many unaware trooper’s limbs. Blinding flourishes, disciplined stabs, and debilitating slices: dozens of Jedi rose from the floor where they had acted slain. Cloaked in the smoke, only the sounds of whirring and cutting radiated. Screams echoed: often cut short. Hues of blue and green flourished, but no shapes were certain. No target was definitively identifiable. Wraith stood up and bolted into the conflict…only to be force pushed from the thick cloud, “I’m getting really tired of that!!”

Again he hunkered down behind a piece of debris aside his brethren.

The room drew silent again. Hotsh, now in charge of the squad, made a calculated decision, “OPEN FIRE!!” Without moving forward all blasters unleashed a maelstrom of fire which separated the cloud as they pierced deeper. “AHH!! Frie…ire”a shout heeded. Pockets of smoke began to dissipate quicker.

Hotsh shouted over his comlink, “Holdfire! We will push forward.” Having survived the incident on Umbara, Hotsh was reluctant to endure any instances of friendly fire, preferring to risk casualties at the end of a light saber instead. Again, the clones surged forward attempting to claim any edge over the Jedi; often doing this by popping unpredictably over or around a corner to unveil their rapid fire weapon.

Hotsh crept over the tile fragments, his shoulder pad barely scraping the wall within the fog. A humanoid female Jedi turned the corner, her skin blazoned red. The blue saber she wielded sliced through his DC 15A rifle with ease. Hotsh’s surprised face was masked by his helmet, but his stammered backward steps were cut short; falling backwards to the floor. “Hotsh!! Watch it!” Shine shouted, firing his DC 15S in quick succession, scrambling towards the duo. Deflecting the blue bolts away from herself, one hit his forearm plate toppling him off balance.

Jedi Master Tiplee’s blue eyes pierced him. Her eyes bearing the angst he only saw during the time her sister, Master Tiplar, was murdered by trooper Tup. “Master Tiplee!” Hotsh exclaimed out of sheer surprise. Her “hair” wavered behind her head furiously. Her hand gripped Hotsh’s throat through the force. “I knew this day would come! My sister’s murder was no mere accident..” Hotsh’s back grinded across the fragmented floor while she throttle him.

“Leave it to be those we saved: the marauders of our demise! You…There’s always been something wrong about your kind!”

Hotsh could barely make a sound, “We…didn’t betray the ..(*gasp)..the republic!”

“Can’t you see you are only puppets and THAT is what makes you so dangerous! You are failing the republic! Just wait…”

Hotsh grappled at his throat with one hand while his other touched a familiar portion of his bisected DC15A.

“E..nough…orders…are…hrmph…orders!”

Within his palm and thumb he squeezed a button unleashing the grappling hook attachment which had been hooked beneath the barrel of his weapon. The hook launched in an instant sinking deeply into her collar. The red skinned Jedi cried out in angst as the grappling hook spread its claws beneath her muscle. Master Tiplee reignited her saber and began winding her arm back to deliver a killing blow.

The clone trooper grabbed a hold of the line and yanked harshly! Tiplee's balance was torn as the hooks pulled her bone unsympathetically. Pike lunged at the opportunity Hotsh was providing. Tiplee’s saber fell to the ground. Trooper Pike drew the blade that was locked  on his shoulder blade. The female rebounded off the ground, flicking out her wrist to call her saber to her hand. The metal still warm touched her skin as she ignited the blade yet again Pike weaved his arm with hers immobilizing it while sinking his cold blade through her right side, wrenching the blade up further to ensure her demise. Tiplee’s mini red and blue tails wrenched then fell as her body writhed then went limp.

Pike pulled the blade from her body and dropped her to the torn floor. Extending an arm to help his comrade Hotsh to his feet; the two looked to their feet for a new rifle, which was readily available.

The two looked at each other, took a breath, and then again dove into the fray.

Hotsh and Pike’s brothers had surged further forward during the scrap with the Jedi. The 501st was beginning to pick up momentum – a refreshing feat for the clones who were being cut down at an alarming rate. The new leader of Volley squad’s voice rang-out over the comlink, “Send these traitors to the dark! Boomer we need AT-RT support on the barricades!” In other corridors, AT-RT’s sallied fourth to aid in breaking up the impenetrable sections of Jedi resistance. As the clone barrage increased, knights lifted entire walls to shield themselves from incoming lasers.

The rotary canons chipped away at the hefty slabs suspended in air.

“Where are the rockets? Shine--- rockets STAT!” Hotsh shouted over the comms. “I know sir! Hell…they’ve been put to use in a lateral corridor. Supplies are tight at the moment!”

“Then get creative! More altitude.” – “Sir, there are swathes being cut in our lines! Reinforcements requested! We cannot gain grou…shhhhhhhhhh *click*”

Hotsh then redirected a portion of his patrol to the requested zone.

A saber-master and a handful of his pupils were making short work of clone troopers in a series of nearby hallways. Troopers died in droves. Enough of the rocks had been worn away where a Jedi was felled by a rotary canon’s burst. The stones noticeably dropped towards the ground.

The three clones wielding the rapid-fire weapons were lifted in the air and rapidly pulled over their brothers fighting amongst the debris filled hall. Abruptly they broke through the grey slabs: not stopping before hitting to the floor.

Looking up Hotsh noticed a Jedi with grey and silver,long hair on a platform flanked by his apprentices. Sabers ignited. The entourage leapt down to engage the clones.

“Now is our time padawans! Show these clones how to become one with the force! For the order…”
Link to unfamiliar clone names: theirishrogue.deviantart.com/g…

Next installment: I'm pretty sure everyone knows who is gonna square off next volume ---- May or may not be Cin....Drallig...and Darth....whaaaaa?

Wanted to give yall some close quarter clone action!!

Thanks for reading -- feedback welcome!!! Have some very exciting things coming your way sooon!!
© 2014 - 2024 TheIrishRogue
Comments10
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
shifty502's avatar
Very well done, sir.