Frontline - Battle of Bandomeer

[MysticTrunks]

((This is probably one of the more thought out stories I've done and will have several parts. Critique is more than welcome both positive or negative so that I know what I need to work on. Beyond that, I hope you enjoy! ))

 

Part 1 - Until Next We Meet.

 

“I have never seen a more fearsome sight than that day. Twenty-six of us went into the Works below the Jedi Temple that day and twenty-three of us came out alive. The Sith paid in blood for everyone one of us that didn’t make it. That day, I learned what fear was, and it was not because of the Sith.” - Jedi Knight Yuminus Grahn, Survivor of the Sacking of Coruscant’s Jedi Temple

 

 

Everything was slowing down. Perception of time, the throb of pain, the beating of his heart and even the rain as it fell upon his face and mingled with his blood. The advancing Sith, lightsaber in hand, and the troops behind him seemed to take only a step every minute. That was good, at that rate their fifty meter distance would give him a good hour until the end came. Only one thing was not slowing or growing dim around him, the Force.

 

The strands connecting everything were spread out before him. Not just the local ones but the wider strands. Those things that connected time and space, places and people, and all those ways one affects the other. He followed the thread back down the path that led him here. To this point in time. Burned over the left half of his body and slowly bleeding out.

 

Images of places and people, the smells of a hundred worlds and species, flashed across his senses. The smell burning flesh and rubble. A soft hand touching his cheek. The pain of injuries, both physical and emotional before settling in a wide hanger aboard Carrick station.

 

………..

 

“I already took another job,” she said as her violet blue lips pursed together in a tight line. Big lavender eyes looked into his own emerald greens staring back at her.

 

“I know this is difficult. Asking you to fly transport but not to come to the frontlines. I don’t have a choice in this. They need me on Bandomeer to help fight the Sith presence there off permanently,” Xalis put in. This had been putting a strain on both of them for a week now. The Jedi needed a Master with the skill set in combat and survival and had given him and a chosen few other Jedi to lead the charge.

 

“You’re a Master, Xalis. Can’t you just command them to let me go in with you?” Her voice was firm, and slightly miffed, but her eyes were pleading. They had been through so many fights and missions together, that the thought of him going to the front line of this war without her there, was like a Hutt sitting on her stomach.

 

“I am a Master, but I’m not the one in charge of the full operation. What am I going to tell them, “Hey, my former smuggler, Twi’lek, girlfriend is really good with a blaster, so she’s coming with me into battle and not just to run supplies? You know I can’t do that and yet at the same time I know I need you there.” His exasperation was showing.

 

Her expression said it all the fact that he says he needs her there and at the same time can not have her go into a fight with him was going against her grain. The realization that the time to tell the whole truth was all that was left. He stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and took her hands in his.

 

“I’ve been having a vision through the Force. Shadowy figures fighting, holding a violet and red saber as they clash again and again. Slowly the violet light begins to fade and just as it is about to wink out, a great blue hand.” Gently, he kissed the blue knuckles of her hand. “A blue hand raises the violet blade out of danger, allowing its light to grow again and the red to wink out of existence.”

 

They each looked down to the hilt at his belt, both knowing the implications of the violet blade. “I don’t know how or why, but I need you there.”

 

She sighed heavily, “Ok. But I’m not promising anything beyond that. I have to finish this assignment first and I’ll be there. Two days is how long it should take.”

 

Xalis nodded, “Two days is cutting it close to the launch window, but that will work.”

 

It was the best he could hope for. He could see, now especially, why the Order forbade relationships and attachment to others. It made things difficult, complicated, but this wasn’t like that. Not entirely. He wanted her there and knew she could handle danger, they had handled it time and again after all, but in this he needed her to be there. He just didn’t know why.

 

Nodding he stepped up and kissed her, letting himself relax finally and enjoy the moment alone with her, brief though it was. They said their goodbyes and see you soon’s and parted ways.

Sibh left in her ship, Broken Sparrow, and that’s when the call came in.

 

The assault had been moved up, the group was to depart in two hours. With Sibh in hyperspace, he had no way to inform her the situation had changed. The Battle of Bandomeer was to start two days ahead of schedule.

[MysticTrunks]

Part 2 - So We Meet Again.

 

Jedi Master Xalis stood outside the makeshift command center on the side nearest the landing pad as the shuttle touched down. Air hissed as the rear hatch was unsealed and the two environments equalized. Two figures began to descend the ramp. The first was clad in the standard brown and tan robes of the Jedi Order his human features far older than those twenty-four years of life he had experience. Yaminus Grahns icy blue eyes were sunken from having seen so much during this long war with the Empire. Long blond hair was pulled to a tail behind his head and acted as a stark contrast to the deep tan of dozens of visited worlds.

 

The second figure made more than a few of the soldiers in the area tense and nervous. A couple even going so far as to not only reach for their blasters but pull them. She did not have the facial tendrils common to many of her species but there was a sharpness to her features that was only accentuated by the red tone of her skin. Jedi Knight Ar’yia was a pureblood Sith turned Jedi. The area around her eyes just as sharply outlined by cartilage growth that seemed to accent the shining red eyes they surrounded. She was dressed not in Jedi robes but a tight black body suit that was more function than form and a utility belt were her lightsaber hung..

 

Xalis stepped up to meet them halfway and looked to the soldiers around, “Blasters down men. She’s one of us. Mark her face well and spread the word, I don’t want anyone to forget and put a blaster bolt in our ally.” They took a moment longer before finally relenting and reslinging blaster rifles and carrying on with their duty. Though more than a few kept one wary eye facing her direction.

 

She gave the soldiers around each a withering glare before she looked again at the Jedi Master as they met at the halfway point between transport and command. “Master Xalis, it has been some time since we last met,” Ary’ia said, her Imperial accent thick and her annunciation crisp and precise.

 

Xalis held out his hand, “It has been at that. I heard you made Knight recently and have been doing remarkably well.” Her red eyes looked down at his hand and up again. “Right. You don’t like to be touched, I forgot.” His offered hand moved over to Yaminus and was taken up by both of Yaminus Grahns.

 

“Yes, Sir, Master Xalis, Sir.” There was a nervous tension as he pumped Xalis hand up and down with far more force and many more times than was considered comfortable by most species. “It’s good to see you again, Master. I don’t know if you remember me but I was one of those you took out of the Temple during the Sacking, I’ve always wanted to thank you, but never had the chance because you’re rarely on Tython and always out on missions and...” Yaminus stopped talking and looked down at his hand still shaking up and down. He lowered his head, embarrassment flushing his cheeks, “And I’m rambling, sorry.”

 

Xalis smiled a slightly crooked smile that did not quite meet his eyes. Of course he remembered, he remembered every single one of those younglings and padawans from that day. How could he not? “Of course I remember you Yaminus. I heard you too are a Knight now. Congratulations. Can I ask you a favor?”

 

Yaminus nodded frantically, “Of course master, anything. What do you need?”

 

“For you to let go of my hand before you pull it off my body like a wookie?” Each looked down at the still shaking hands and he released it as if he had forgotten he was holding a live thermal detonator.

 

“Right, yeah… sorry,” Grahn said apologetically.

 

Ar’yia shook her head and rolled her eyes as Grahn collected himself. Xalis could feel the nervous tension in Grahn and the mild irritation in Ar’yia through the Force. He looked to each before asking, “Sorry that you both had to come out on such short noticed. Command had to up the time frame. It caught most of us not already stationed here by surprise. We’ll be down one asset I was hoping to bring to the table at least. Though it shouldn’t affect the overall outcome, it was just a feeling that it was something we’d need. Have either of you gotten a sense through the Force on what is to come?

 

Ar’yia nodded stiffly as she replied, “Only that there will be great struggle and sacrifice ahead. Though I believe we can win the day and push my peo…. the Empire, off this planet once and for all.”

 

Yaminus shrugged, “I honestly don’t know much, Master. I was given the order by the Jedi Council to report here and that the details would be given once on planet since time was scarce. All I could do was read up on the planet itself.”

 

Nodding Xalis asked, “And what do you think given that bit so far before I fill you in?”

 

“Well,” Yaminus’ brow furrowed as he recalled what he had learned and then assumed giving the information, “It’s a strange planet, nearly cut down the middle in it’s landmass to sea ration. One half of the planet is one giant continent and the other half is all ocean. The locals are known as Meerians, and while they’re only a bit over half a standard human height they are very strong. The tend of have pale skin and hair between white and gold.”

 

Ar’yia watched and listened as did Xalis as the young knight continued, “They mine for an ore known as Ionite. A unique material in the galaxy because it doesn’t hold a charge of positive or negative. It interrupts electronic and things like that. I figure the Empire must have found out about it or come up with an alternate use to commit so many resources to a planet this far off the galactic shipping lines since it doesn’t really hold any strategic value as a military stepping stone to the core.”

 

“Not bad. That’s close enough at any rate,” Xalis said approvingly.

 

A shout from behind in a rough voice that sounded like it spoke through a gravel pit came from the open door of the command HQ, “‘Ey! You Jedi gonna sit outside gabbin’ all day? We got a planet to liberate and it ain’t gettin’ any easier as the seconds tick by!” The large armored figure did not give time for a reply as it ducked back inside.

 

Eyebrow arched Xalis turned back to the other two Jedi, “Well, I guess the meeting is about to begin. Shall we?”

[MysticTrunks]

Part 3 - We Have A Plan

 

 

The hologram spun slowly above the display board to those gathered inside the makeshift command center. A topographical map of the area the Imperials near mine DM-45 and the extent of the energy shield that covered the mind and the two and half kilometer area around it. The general buzz and hum of military strategy was interrupted as the three Jedi came through entry way to the mobile command building.

 

“Ah, our Jedi are here, finally, maybe now we can begin?” The voice was that of what Xalis imagined must be the same sound two ore haulers would make if they had a long slow collision head on. The face behind that voice had the look of a man that could chew durasteel and spit out thermal detonators.

 

The other soldiers stood along the perimeter of the room leaving a space for the three Jedi and the officers around the central holoterminal. Most of the faces were covered in helms but the feeling of unease and distrust at the sight of the Sith pureblood was nearly a tangible presence within the Force. Ar’yia, for her part, ignored the feeling and them men, her red eyes focusing on the holodisplay as the other two Jedi stepped up next to her.

 

The commander grunted, the unlit cigar switching smoothly from one corner of his mouth to the other. “Right. What we have here is DM-45. It’s the central hub for Imperial activity. This is where their stores are and the majority of operations spring from. It’s what makes this thing a prime target and since they know it, it’s nearly impenetrable with it’s central shielding station here working at full capacity.”

 

Tapping the center of the base the hologram zoomed into a high shield emitter converted from an old transmitting tower. A softly glowing blue dome sprung from the top more than covering the surrounding area of the mine, the base, and even some of the outlying wilderness. “It’s 3 kilometers in diameter. We’ve shelled until our coils over heated with hardly a shimmer of instability. Which means, it needs to be taken out. For that we got the idea from a local. Hyrit Cwar, get up here. The floor is yours.”

 

A squat gray skinned Meerian male came out from between two soldiers. Short by many species standards he came to stand next to the commander, placing a stool in front of him and then standing atop it. He wore simple miners overalls of a dark blue and golden hair down to the length of his chin that matched the golden color of his eyes. He took his time, not seeming to be in a hurry nor feeling rushed to speak by all the eyes upon him.

 

Turning he looked the commander straight in the eyes and spoke in a slow easy rhythm that matched his pace, “Thank you, Commander Gwall.” He looked out over the officers and the three Jedi, matching eyes with each of them. The Meerian species believing that eye contact at eye level was the only true and equal way to speak to others.

 

Continuing he met Xalis eyes, “There is no way to get through the shield above ground. However, this here.” He tapped a large building that was built into the side of a hill about a hundred meters from the shield generator, “This is an open mine. Through here we can connect to tunnels outside the shield and exit here.”

 

“I had heard that the Imperials had collapsed every mine that lead to the surface outside the shield. Was this not correct?” Xalis asked.

 

Hyrit Cwar shook his head slowly, “This is correct. But they only collapsed the completed mines from within. What they don’t have or know of is this mine here.” The holomap zoomed out, five clicks out was the beginning of another mine. Its long tunnels spanning out in all directions. Cwar indicated one tunnel, “This here, passes near one of the tunnels at DM-45. Only ten meters separates the two walls. We can get through that in a short period of time and you’ll be able to get in from there.”

 

Commander Gwall nodded, “With the help of the Meerian miners, we’ll be able to get in a small group to sabotage the generator. We’ll run interference on the far side of the shield. Hitting it with mortar fire while they dig to mask any sound that might be heard. Once through, you Jedi and a small team…”

 

“Will infiltrate the base, take out the generator and our forces will catch them by surprise and demolish their command center on this planet,” Xalis finished, nodding and rubbing his chin and cheek with a hand. “That could work.”

 

The commander snorted, “It will work, if you Jedi are what we were promised and do your jobs.” His eyes and ire were pointedly in the direction of the pureblood Ar’yia. “I don’t often question you Jedi types but, you sure she can be trusted. Ya know what their kind are like and there’s a lot of my men that want nothin’ to do with this because of her. I can’t say I blame them either.”

 

Xalis looks to Ar’yia, her mouth was tense and pulled into a tight line. “I can assure you, Commander, that Jedi Knight Ar’yia has proven herself to the Order and the Republic many times.”

 

“That might be master Jedi, but that don’t mean we…” Commander Gwall began before he was cut of by the amplified sound of a loud slap of Xalis hand atop the holoterminal.

 

“Here me ONCE, all of you. She is a Jedi, regardless of her species. If this is going to be a problem, then you have permission to step away now and take the demotion for insubordination. All of us here are fighting for the Republic. For peace and freedom within the galaxy and its people. If anyone has further problem with this. Stow it. Leave your personal vendettas and feelings here and act like the soldiers you are. Do I make myself CLEAR?!”

 

Xalis looked around and slowly, one by one, the soldiers nodded or saluted. His eyes fell lastly on the commander, who gave a grunt and a nod, “Nice speech. Now lets roll this stang out and take back a planet.”

 

Master Xalis held up a finger to hold the dismissal to ask, “One last thing before we dismiss. Is there any intel on who the Sith are that have been stationed or their numbers?”

 

The commander looked to a thin officer in a uniform who stepped forward, “Only a few names. A Lord Winthin, a pureblood Sith. Another who we believe to be a Saber or apprentice going by Uknoris and the last another Lord named, uhh… here it is G’rey.” On the announcement of the last name both Jedi Ar’yia and Yaminus Grahn looks to Xalis at a sharp pang in the Force. A pang that was just as quickly squelched and hidden. Outwardly Xalis face stayed stoic, but the other two knew what they had felt, each giving the other a knowing look before the intel officer continued.

 

“We know there are two others believed to be Sabers but their names have not come up, or at least with any ability to connect them as Sith, in our interceptions.” He stepped back, having missed the exchange between the Jedi with the rest of the soldiers.

 

The commander chimed in, “Five to three odds, not to mention the Imperial troops, think you can hold out after the shield is down until reinforcements can arrive?”

 

“We can and we will, Commander. Now, lets take back this planet like you said.” Xalis turned and exited the command HQ. His mind whirling at the name that had come up. Was it possible? After all this time and in of all places. Truly the Force worked in mysterious ways.

[MysticTrunks]

Part 4 - Into The Maw

 

The energy shield pinged with a metallic buzz as each one of the energy canons hammered against it. Colors shifting from the blue static of the shield, melting into the orange blossom as the charge detonated, ending in the swirling violet colors as the energy dispersed along the large dome. Then there was the sound as the barrage slammed home. Thunderous roars echoing through the craggy rocks and fissures. After five hours of this constant startling noise nearly every animal that could had scattered in any direction that gave relief to their sensitive ears.

 

Deep below in the underground mines it could only be heard as a distant grumble, as if the planet itself had eaten its fair share of gel meat sandwiches that did not go down agreeably. “You sure you don’t want one?” Master Xalis asked for the third time, holding an uneaten half of a gel meat sandwich. The grayish gelatin substance spread thick between two halves of a roll.

 

Ar’yia inwardly, and outwardly, cringed and shied away from the offered “food”. Her bright red skin paled slightly, “By all that is good and decent, no. Get that away from me.” She watched with a horrified expression as the Jedi Master shrugged a shoulder that said, ‘More for me then,’ and took a large bite. “How can you even eat that?”

 

“It’s not so hard, you just put it in your mouth and chew,” he replied simply.

 

“You know that stuff is in emergency rations for a reason right, Master Xalis?” Yaminus Grahn asked dubiously sitting on an upside down bin turned chair. “People have been found on planets dead from starvation with everything BUT the gel meat eaten from ration packs.”

 

Xalis laughed mockingly at both of them, “Ha, ha , ha. Well, if you get hungry during the mission, don’t come crying to me.”

 

Ar’yia and Yaminus looked to one another and nodded, looking back and saying in unison, “Deal.”

 

They were waiting at the fork in the mine shaft as the Meerian miners completed the ten meters of drilling to connect to the underground network of tunnels that connected to the Imperial base. Mostly they were just trying to stay out of the way after every offer to help was turned down by the proud miners. In the end they agreed they would likely hinder than help the mining effort.

 

Each was wearing, now dusty, coveralls and a plasteel helmet with a light to see by. Four hours had passed as the miners used the cutting lasers and excavation droids to take the heavy loads of rock away. Xalis pulling back his sleeve looked at his chrono to check the time, when a smattering of pebbles and dust fell atop the display. Looking up he noticed a crack that most definately had not been there earlier.

 

His brow furrowed further as the sound of mining lasers went quiet and the stocky Meerian from the briefing, Hyrit Gwar, came jogging up to them with a worried expression. “Jedi, we have to stop. The shaft is becoming unstable. The bombing has shook loose the area, we did not expect this. We must abandon before….”

 

Cutting him off and tossing his sandwich aside Xalis asked, “How close are we to the other mine?”

 

Hyrit Gward looked down at his datapad, “Only one meter, but we can not do. It will collapse!”

 

“Get your people out of here then Hyrit, we’ll finish the rest.”

 

“But, you are horrible miners!”

 

“Yes, we are, but together we’re also powerful Jedi. Do not waste anymore time, sound the retreat Hyrit.” Xalis finished walking past him drawing the two other Jedi in his wake. “We’ll need use the lasers and the Force to bantha roll our way through the last meter. Can you two keep the cave from falling on our heads as I do that?”

 

“I believe so,” Yaminus answered, nervously looking up at the ceiling at crack that seemed to be racing them down the shaft..

 

“Yes,” was all Ar’yia needed to say as the Meerian miners past them going the other direction.

 

“Good lucks Jedi!”

 

The mine ended with a large rough slab of rock roughly four by four meters in height and length. A large cylindrical mining laser sat upon its treads and several glow panels hastily affixed to the walls light up the area. Xalis stepped up to the wall, taking a slow calming breath and placed a hand on the hard stone. Gathering the Force to him he let his consciousness expand. Searching along the grain of the stone for micro fractures, for areas of weakness and strength. While outwardly nothing changed, in his minds eye a map of the stone was laced with a webwork possibilities.

 

Behind him, standing on either side of the laser, Ar’yia and Yaminus calmed their minds and reached out to the Force. As always, it flooded eagerly to them. Reaching out to one anothers minds, each knew what was needed of them as if it was their own thought. Xalis stepped away from the rock and stood with them as he activated the mining laser once again.

 

A brilliant red and white beam shot out from the emitter and connected with the stone wall which took to glowing with a dim red of its own as it began to heat. A few minor adjustments and the beam moved up by a dozen centimeters. There was no count down to knowing, it was just a sudden feeling of need.

 

Xalis pushed, and pushed hard, through the Force. Shatterpoint. The combination of heat and kinetic force shattered the stone before them. Ar’yia and Yaminus both raising their hands above them as if walking on them, and the debris flowed around them. As the tunnel crumbled they walked forward into the no gaping hole.

 

The dust was blinding and soon even the light of the glow panels was dimmed to only the merest idea of light. Their senses told them where to go, where to step and finally, when they were through.

 

Turning to their left they made their way up the incline quietly, unwilling to open their mouths until the dust thinned. Finally, the air began to clear, “Well,” said Ar’yia, “That was absolutely horrid.”

 

Spitting dust from his mouth, Yaminus replied, “Still better than a gel meat sandwich.”