Shadow of Malevonce
Sounds of the Ion cannon echoed in her ears, screams of death and pain filled the void around her. The sky was red, filled with blaster fire, destroyed cruisers floating in the air, hundreds of dead clones at her feet. Master Plo, Anakin and Obi-wan all slain in front of her.
Across from her stood the dreaded droid General, General Grievous, holding Ahsoka and Amidala by their throats, demanding her to make a choice. Both of them begging to be saved, she couldn’t choose just one. Grievous snarled as she took too long, activating two lightsabers, swing them down towards-
Eyes flashed open, sitting up in her bed panting heavily, fur drenched in sweat, bed scratched to hell. Looking around in the darkness of her room, she calmed her breathing still a bit shaky, tail grabbing the cup of water from the bedside table, drinking it down with some dribbling down her chin.
“It was just a dream.” Catra tried piecing her dream together but couldn’t, rubbing her forehead, ears a bit dull at hearing from suddenly waking up, “If mom was here, she could help explain it.”
It had only been a few hours since arriving at Anakin’s fleet, she gave the report to the council, which was nerve-wracking as hell which she will get Anakin back for. Obi-wan was relieved to see her alright, but was not too happy when Plo mentioned the whole fight in space against the hunter.
After the meeting was done Ahsoka had invited her to get something to eat, she declined as she needed rest, which now she regrets that choice, wishing she had gone to eat. Turning and placing her feet on the ground, she shook off her blankets. She was wearing a tank top and pajama shorts, it was either this or sleep without nothing.
Getting up, she turned on the light and opened the door to the hallway, the breeze was nicer from there. Walking over to the desk where she had all her equipment laid out, her vambraces had taken a bit of a beating, but she fixed them up. The mask was undamaged thankfully, that would have been harder to repair.
“My left vambrace got hit by Blaster fire, but did it damage the grappling hook?” Mumbling to herself as she put it on.
Being a bit too hasty, she pressed the button before aiming, it launched out into the hallway and latched into the metal wall. A few clones stopped as the hard wire blocked their way, she awkwardly waved when they looked at her. Pressing the button to reel it back in, she found out there was a problem, it jammed.
“Well, great.” Huffing in annoyance, stood and walked into the hallway, tail dragging against the floor, not caring about the stares she was getting. Grabbing the wire just below the hook, she started tugging, the clones going on with their business. Well not all of them.
“You alright there, kid?” Looking to her right, Broadside and Matchstick approached her, carrying their helmets by their sides.
“Sure, I always love being stuck to the wall…. Please help.” Catra begged a little, Broadside chucking reaching and yanking the hook from the wall, placing it in Catra’s hand, “Thank you.”
“What exactly were you doing, Catra?” Matchstick questioned, they were two clones who didn’t mind saying her name, and she didn’t even have to ask.
“Checking to see if the vambrace was damaged… it is. That’s why I'm in the hall... wearing pajamas.” Embarrassedly explained to them, both of them laughing
“It’s always best to check on equipment, but perhaps next time you should have someone checking on you at the same time.” Broadside chuckled.
“Where are you two headed?” Catra assumed they were headed somewhere since they didn’t usually carry their helmets around.
“Down to the hangar, General Skywalker has devised a plan that Shadow squadron is taking part in,” Broadside and Matchstick explained to her, “You should probably dress and get your gear ready, figure you’ll be coming too.”
“Well someone needs to watch your back,” She laughed, Broadside patting her head between her ears, walking off with Matchstick, “I’ll be down in time for the briefing.”
Catra went back into her room, closing the door with her tail as she got dressed. Replacing the sheets so nobody could see the damaged ones and question her about it. After getting dressed and collecting her gear, she opened the door, Ahsoka right in her face.
“Ahsoka!” Yelping and jumping back slightly, ears and tail standing, a blush under her fur which could not be seen, “What are you doing here?”
“To bring you for the briefing, I figured you already knew about it.” Sticking her thumb over her shoulder to the hole on the wall, Ahsoka knew about mishaps with Catra’s gear so she knew the signs, “And to see if you slept well.”
“Broadside and Matchstick told me, I was heading down there now,” Catra entered the hallway closing the door behind her, walking with Ahsoka, “And I slept fine.”
“Now I know you didn’t sleep alright, later you have to spill the truth,” Ahsoka booped Catra on the nose causing her to sneeze, bringing out a bar of food she gave it to Catra, “Figured you would be hungry, sorry I couldn’t do more.”
“It’s fine, I've had worse, sometimes my tribe would go hungry for days at a time.” Catra bit into the bar, it didn’t have much texture or flavour, but it filled her stomach somewhat.
“There you two are, I was beginning to think you both fell asleep,” Master Plo had waited by the entrance to the hanger, “Or perhaps stuck to the wall.”
“Everyone on this whole ship knows, don’t they?” Catra groaned as she heard both of them chuckle.
“It’s not too bad, I knew a Padawan once, who dropped his lightsaber while cleaning it, cutting through his bed, the floor, through the kitchen and a droid.” Plo smiled, taking both Ahsoka and Catra a couple of seconds to figure out he was talking about himself.
“Do you have any more stories like that, Master Plo? Catra was interested in hearing all of them.
“I do, but for now, we have a briefing to attend to.” They entered the hanger together.
This particular hanger was filled with LATT/i’s or an easier name, troop transports, some of them had drawn on designs by the clones that fly them, to make them stand out. Beside one of them, over a dozen clones, all from Shadow Squadron, were sitting down. Anakin stood at attention in front of them, alongside him was Admiral Wullf Yularen and R2-D2.
“This strike force has been commissioned by the Senate to hunt down the enemy’s new battleship,” Catra could hear Yularen speaking as they got close, they waited to the side as he did, R2 showing a hologram of ‘The Malevolence’, “As the bulks of our fleets are engaged on the front lines, we’ll be on our own.”
“General Skywalker has prepared our attack strategy.” He stepped backwards, Anakin moving forward to take his place.
“Thank you, Admiral. While our capital ships are vulnerable to the enemy’s attack, I believe a squad of bombers can outmaneuver their ion weapon,” Anakin was using RD’s hologram to explain, “Our target will be the bridge and General Grievous.”
The nightmare flashed inside her mind at the mention of the head droid’s name, rubbing her eyes to stop tears from even showing. Ahsoka noticed this display, reaching to her belt and handing Catra a handheld holoprojector, whispering, “You can contact Obi-wan with it, I think you need to.”
“Thank you, Ahsoka.” Putting it on her belt as Anakin continued.
“Our bombers will attack at high speed to evade the enemy’s ion weapon. We’ll concentrate our firepower on the bridge superstructure, here,” The hologram display added the bombers which followed the bath to the highest point of the ship, “We destroy General Grievous and the ship will fall with him.”
Hearing the name again, she closed her eyes and calmed her breathing, focusing on the here and now, not her dreams. Opening her eyes, the clones started to hop up and prepare their bombers.
“Skywalker, this is an aggressive plan,” Plo asked after the meeting had ended, skeptical of the whole plan, “ Are you sure your squadron can complete the mission?”
“Let’s ask them. Matchstick!” Anakin called to Matchstick, who was talking with Broadside and Tag, “You think our boys can pull it off?”
“Yes, sir!” Matchstick spoke with confidence turning to face him, “There hasn’t been a mission Shadow Squadron couldn’t complete.”
‘That’s right. Minimal casualties, maximum effectiveness. That’s us.” Broadside was confident as well.
“I admire your confidence, pilot,” Plo allowed them to carry on, looking back to Skywalker, “Even so, minimal casualties may be enough to prevent you from breaking Grievous’s defenses.”
“Master Plo is right,” Ahsoka stepped forward, “With Grievous on that ship’s bridge, it’s bound to be well protected.”
“Don’t worry, Ahsoka. We;ll destroy that bridge, and Grievous along with it.” Anakin proceeds to walk off with Yularen, probably to discuss the rest of the plan.
“Master Skywalker seems to inspire great confidence in his men.” Plo didn’t know to be impressed or worried, probably both.
“He does lead by example,” Ahsoka smiled and shook her head, “What will you do now, Master Plo?”
“I’ll head up to the bridge, see if there’s any more information on that ship, you two stay out of trouble.” Plo gave a short bow to them before walking off.
“Master Plo is nice, isn’t he?” Catra found it was easy to be herself when working with Master Plo, wondering how it would go with other Jedi Masters.
“One of the best. Are you sure you’re okay?” Ahsoka hoped Catra wouldn’t try to beat around the bush or deflect her question again.
“Honestly, I don’t think so.” Sighing, reaching down for the holoprojector, staring at it before deciding not to, “I’ll call him when the ship is ready.”
“You better, otherwise your mind will be elsewhere during the mission.” Ahsoka pinched her ear making Catra yelp and nod.
“Hey, Broadside!” Catra called out to Broadside before he walked off, “Where’s Shadow 3?”
“Heading to her right now, want to follow me?” Broadside waited for her answer
“Yep, let’s head there right now.” Jogging over to join him, waving back to Ahsoka.
Catra sat on one of the ion engines of the BTL-B Y-wing starship, or just Y-wing bomber. Broadside would be the pilot while she would be his tailgunner, there were two reasons for that, one she is a terrible pilot, but secondly her aim is on point when using blasters or anytype of firing mechanic.
Broadside was off talking to the other pilots and helping their ships to be prepared, giving her alone time. Grabbing the holoprojector, she lifted it up and typed the security code to contact Obi-wan, her claw dancing around the button for a few seconds, before finally pressing it.
For a couple of seconds nothing happened, making her worried that either something happened to Obi-wan, or the holoprojector was broken, but then the hologram of her master appeared before her.
“Catra? This is new, I didn’t know you had a holoprojector,” Obi-wan looked to her, doing a wave to someone that wasn’t on the hologram before facing her, “But I can assume that's not the reason you called.”
“You would be correct, Master.” Sighing, she calmed her breathing, thinking about how to say it.
“Catra, I already told you many times, you don’t need to call me Master,” Obi-wan gave her a gentle smile while rubbing his beard, “Now, what’s bothering you?”
“It might be silly, but, I had a nightmare.”Catra covered her face, tail laying down as she repeated the nightmare to him.
“Hmm, interesting, Jedi rarely have nightmares, even rarer that they become true,” Obi-wan was giving this some thought, “It might just be a normal nightmare, tell me, how many times did you replay your memories before you slept?”
“A lot…” Resting her chin on her knees, hugging them with one arm as she held the projector with the other.
“You wouldn’t be the first then. Back when I was a Padawan, I had similar nightmares as well,” That got Catra’s attention as she looked to him, “My own Master, Master Qui-gon, he would reassure me they were just bad dreams, so i’ll do the same for you now, it was just a bad dream.”
“But why was padm- Senator Amadlia in it?” Catra had that question bubbling in her mind.
“Did someone mention her, or perhaps an item made you think of her?” Obi-wan already knew how to answer that, Catra nodding as she showed her tail ribbon to him, “That’s why she was there, you were worried about the same thing happening to her.”
“You might be right.” Catra finally felt relieved and calm, removing the nightmare from her mind.
“So, what trouble is Anakin dragging you into now?” Obi-wan didn’t even have to ask to know.
“Oh, just that we’re going to be taking out ‘The Malevolence’ with Shadow Squadron,” Saying plain and simple, “It was commissioned by the Senate.”
“It scares me that I know you’re telling the truth,” Sighing while shaking his head, “You’re not piloting one, are you?”
“You know I can’t, I'm going to be Broadside’s tailgunner.” Patting the engine of the y-wing, letting her legs relax and hang off the side.
“We need to find a single relaxing day, no missions, no fighting, just a day so I can give you lessons, your starfighter is rusting away here,” Chucking before a thought comes to his mind, “Who is Anakin taking?”
“Which one’s mine?” Ahsoka’s voice cut her off, looking down she could see Anakin, Ahsoka and RD-D2 entering the hangar.
“You’re with me. You’ll be my gunner.” Anakin responded, getting a weird look in response from Ahsoka, “Somebody’s got to watch my back.”
“He’s taking Ahsoka apparently,” Catra’s voice got both Anakin’s and Ahsoka’s attention looking up at her, she waved before sliding off, landing on the ground next to them, “Not surprising really.”
“Not at all. You’ll be the responsible one, won’t you, Catra?” Obi-wan joked with her with a small laugh, “But in all seriousness, you know what you’re up against, right Anakin?”
“You know me Master, I always have a plan.” Anakin chuckled.
“Do you even know where they are?” Obi-wan crossed his arms looking at him.
“I got part of a plan.” Chuckling a bit nervously, “But Ahsoka is still my gunner.”
“Matchstick could do that, besides, you have Artoo.” Ahsoka complained to him.
“But I so enjoy your company, my Padawan.” He was grinning
“Just admit it. You don’t like my flying.” Ahsoka looked at him annoyed
“I mean, he wouldn’t be the first,” Catra snicked, getting a glare from Ahsoka and a small blush.
“I can at least fly a starship.”
“I’m not saying I can, I’m just telling you my experience when I was your gunner back in training.” Cata kept snickering, Ahsoka just ignoring and looking away from her.
“You might say that now, Catra, but I might have the same reaction when teaching you.” Obi-wan interrupted them with a cough, Catra going quiet now as well.
“Skywalker,” Master Plo’s voice called out to them as he walked alongside Yularen, “I see Kenobi is also here.”
“Master Plo Koon,” Obi-wan and Plo bowed to each other.
“The enemy warship has attacked our convoy of medical transports near Ryndellia.” Yularen relayed the information they received.
“Medical transports?” Ahsoka was shocked and so was Catra, Anakin and Obi-wan weren't all too surprised it seems, “Only General Grievous would go after clones who can’t fight back.”
“He goes after anyone, he doesn’t care who gets hurt in the fighting, he cares more about his reputation.” Catra tailed had flared and stood up.
“I’m afraid Catra is right, he’ll do anything to keep it.” Obi-wan agreed.
“The Ryndellia system. Near Naboo!” Anakin had something click in his mind, “Isn’t that where our medical base is? I’ll bet that will be his next target.”
“There are many star clusters in that area. With a ship that big, he will be unable to chart a course that’s less than 10 parsecs,” Plo explained the flaw of the bigger the ship, the slower it was.
“Looks like we’re gonna have to take a shortcut.” Anakin smiled, the thought of destroying General Grievous on his mind.
“Usually I’d advise from taking your shortcuts, but we don’t have much choice in this matter.” Sighing shaking his head, waving someone over.
“Admiral, warn that station what’s coming.” Anakin turned to Yularen, nodding as he walked away.
“I’ll contact Naboo, get them to send medical transports to transfer the wounded,” Obi-wan helping with what he can, ordering to a clone then facing them again, “I’ll also head my way there now, you better arrive before we do.”
“Count on it.” Catra affirmed before the hologram call ended.
“This journey may be treacherous,” Plo warned them, “If you lose any ships before you reach the target…”
“We won’t lose anybody.” Anakin was determined as he walked off to his ship.
“I will come along and fly fighter escort.” Plo nodded to them.
“Any help is welcome, Master Plo.” Anakin called from the ladder up to the Y-wing, “Just try not to fall behind.”
“I had a feeling you’d be coming along.” Ahsoka smiled climbing up the ladder as well, “Your ship has already been prepped.”
“I should head to mine as well, see you up in the sky.” Catra waved to them, running to her and Broadside’s Y-wing.
“Shadow Squadron, tighten formation. Call in.” Anakin spoke over the comms from Shadow one or whatever you call the lead, Catra didn’t know.
“Shadow 2, standing by.” Matchstick was the next to speak over comms
“Shadow 3, standing by.” Broadside was next, which also included Catra.
“Thank you for not saying ‘Shadow Claws’, Broadside.” Catra chuckled as she looked at him from the gunner seat, the view she had was also amazing.
“Figured you wouldn’t want to be teased again for it.” Broadside chuckled, he was listening to the rest standing by.
“It was embarrassing, but I guess well earned, we did scratch off many more targets than the others.” Laughing a little happily.
“Catra, you know everyone can hear, don’t you?” Ashoka’s voice sounded like she couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“...I forgot.” Catra blushed and rubbed her face groaning, hearing chuckles from all the clones and a little from Anakin and Plo.
“Cut the chatter ‘Shadow Claws’.” Anakin was never going to let it go.
“This is Admiral Yularen.” The Admiral’s voice cut in over them, “You are cleared for hyperspace jump. Good hunting, sir.”
“Thanks, Admiral.” Anakin responded as the squadron prepared their ships, moving away from the cruisers, “All right, boys, let’s go.”
“Broadside, if we make it through this one, drinks are on me.” Matchstick responded, the last mission Broadside delivered the drinks so it was fair.
“I can already taste it.” Broadside liked his drinks, didn’t matter if it was good or bad, it all tasted nice to him.
“I wouldn’t mind a drink either, just maybe something I can drink though.” Catra laughed and shook her head.
“We’ll have to see when we make it back.” Matchstick laughed as well.
“Didn’t you promise Obi-wan you’ll be the responsible one?” Ahsoka questioned her with a smirk.
“Missions and down times are different things.” Catra deflected the question, hearing all the hums of the ships.
The ion engines all turned up as they blasted into hyperspace, Catra will always love seeing the blue swirling tunnel around her, it was mesmerizing and filled her eyes with wonder. Sure others might get used to it and bored, but Catra will never get bored of this sight.
When coming out of hyperspace, another amazing thing was before Catra’s eyes, a huge nebula, watching the slow swirl of colours in the huge gas cloud. There were plenty of nebulae in the galaxy and they all have stories to tell, she only knows a few by name but never seen them, but nevertheless it was still beautiful.
“Okay, if we can just manage to navigate through my shortcut, we’ll be alright.” Anakin assured everyone as they flew towards it.
“A Nebula can be very unpredictable. I advise caution.” Master Plo has had experience with Nebula’s in the past so Catra didn’t doubt him.
“Don’t worry about us, Master Jedi. We can hold our own, right Shadow Squadron?” Matchstick still had confidence, and with their track record it was fairly certain they’ll be fine.
“Copy that, Shadow 2.” Broadside was the one to respond.
“Does anyone care what the Padawan thinks?” Ahsoka was worried about this whole plan.
“Which one?” Catra snickered over the comms, “Because I know I want to go through the Nebula, it’s quicker, and absolutely beautiful.”
“Of course we care, Snips!” Anakin had a little chuckle of his own, “But we’re still going through that nebula.”
“Thanks, Artooie,” Ahsoka thanked R2 has he beeped and chirped, “Thought Catra would back me up, but it seems not.”
“You know me Ahsoka, when I see something beautiful I have to know more,” Catra was only a little sorry, but still happy about going through the nebula, getting a message on her vambrace from Ahsoka that had her blushing, mumbling, “But I agree we should still be careful.”
They slowly navigated into the nebula, while it was beautiful, but also the gas clouds were too thick making it difficult to see anything, Catra could barely see the whole Squadron, but she could still hear all their ships, even without the comms.
“This soup is thick. Can you see anything?” Matchstick was having problems with seeing as well.
“Just keep your eyes on my thruster, Shadow 2.” Anakin provided assistance, they were the brightest parts on the ship from the active engines so it was the easiest thing to spot.
“They’ll have to, The scanners are useless.” Ahsoka was messing with her scanners but of course they failed.
“This is old-fashioned flying.” Anakin seemed to speak from experience, “You have to feel your way through to stay on course.”
“I have to agree, it's the same when walking on my planet,” Catra looked around, keeping an eye on all their starships to make sure no one gets lost, “You know how tatooine gets dust storms, well half the year we have to deal with snowstorms and the other half poison storms, both make the scanners useless.”
“Your home sounds scary, kid, how does one survive through the poison storms?” Broadside questioned, one that was on all their minds.
“Well there are different types of poison clouds, but it’s always best to wear a mask as it's only dangerous if you breathe it in.” Catra said nonchalantly, “But the prospect is the same, you have to feel your way through the storms without the assistance of scanners.”
“Skywalker and Catra are right, Ahsoka.” Plo knew what it felt like too, “Clear your mind, young one, and you will see the path.”
“RIght now, I can’t see anything at all.” Ahsoka was looking around in her seat, Catra could even see her doing it.
“I always know where I’m going.”
“Yeah? Where’s that, Broadside?” Matchstick chuckled.
“I’m going to blow up that battleship.” Broadside confidence in the job.
“I guess I know where I’m going.” Catra just laughed a bit giving Broadside a thumbs up, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it.
“A clear path if ever there was one.” Plo smiled a bit.
“So, Skyguy, how did you know about this shortcut?” Ahsoka asked after a couple minutes of silence.
“How else would anyone know, someone probably talked about it and he overheard it?” Catra smiles, that’s how she learned too, whenever her tribe was near a spaceport she would sneak in and learn whatever she could.
“It’s an old smuggler’s route,” Anakin confirmed what Catra said, “The pilots used to talk about it on Tatooine.”
“Told ya.” Catra was happy to be right.
“Smuggler’s route? Ha! That makes me feel better!” Ahsoka sarcastically said, “You ever learn things about those Catra?”
“About smuggler's routes? Only by accident when learning other types of information.” Catra shrugged.
“They call it ‘the Balmorra Run’” Anakin finally gave the name of the shortcut.
“Balmorra Run?” Both Catra and Plo said at the same time, while Plo was fearful, Catra was excited.
“There were two different reactions there, so I don't know wherever to be fearful or excited,” Ahsoka let out a confused laugh before something showed up on radar, “I think I’m picking up a contact.”
“Skywalker! Listen to me! We need to turn around!” Plo was being serious, but that made Catra a bit disappointed.
“We can’t. Not if we’re gonna catch Grievous.” Anakin stayed the course.
“Another contact! This one’s much larger,” Ahsoka responded again before asking Catra, “Why are you excited?”
“Skywalker! Balmorra’s-” Po was cut off by Catra before he could finish.
“The nesting ground of the giant Nebray mantas!” The reason for Catra’s excitement was revealed as she loved learning of all the creatures in the galaxy, “I always wanted to see one up close!”
Catra ears twitched as she heard a noise, looking to the front where Anakin’s ship was, out of the gas a giant creature with six eyes, giant mouth filled with rows of teeth, an impressive wingspan, and three tentacle things hanging from it’s chin and two tails.
“Take evasive action!” Anakin was on point as everyone flew out of the creature’s way, it not having an interest in them, why would it, it’s so massive.
They flew into a vortex or perhaps somewhere in the middle of the nebula, but looking both up and down Catra could see many more of the flying beasts, eating away at the gases.
“Those gas-gulpers are huge!” Ahsoka was scared and impressed at the same time.
“Don’t shoot, or they’ll panic!” Plo warned everyone.
“They’ll panic? I’m about to panic!” Ahsoka’s worry was even more evident.
“They aren’t a threat to us unless we shoot, think of them like gentle giants, just don’t fly in their way cause they won’t notice.” Catra was amazed as she kept looking around, glad Broadside was piloting because she would be too distracted.
“There are so many of them!” Matchstick was amazed as well, until he got a bit too close with his ship grazing causing him to spin and lose control a bit, “I’m hit! My stabilizers out!”
“Pull it together, Matchstick.” Anakin was worried.
“I’m okay. I got it.” Matchstick sounded calmer now, Catra could see the flaming from his ion cannon died down, but she wasn’t sure.
“There things are gonna make a meal out of us!” Ahsoka was still panicking, but less than before.
“Only if you fly in front of it’s mouth.” Catra could see how razor sharp the teeth were in the mouths, but its mostly used as defense.
“All wings, line up behind me!” Anakin ordered and everyone followed.
It was better with Anakin following after him, he could find perfect spots to fly between all the mantas, there were a few close calls but it was alright. Well except for the droid from Shadow 4 as a tail hit and knocked off it’s dome destroying it, the rest of the ship was fine.
“Hurry! They will not follow us beyond the nebula!” Plo could sense they were nearly out of it.
“Oh look, that one’s smiling at us.” Catra smiled and waved to it
After a few more minutes of dodging the mantas they finally made their way outside of the nebula, everyone was trying to catch their breath from making it through, while Catra was disappointed there wasn’t more, tail dropping in disappointment .
“Let’s hope your shortcut paid off.” Ahsoka’s voice was finally calm.
“Shadow 2, what is the damage to your ship?” Plo’s voice had Catra concerned as she looked back over, sure enough the flame had returned and was leaving a trail of smoke.
“Just a scratch, sir.” Matchstick voice didn’t waver, but Catra wasn’t convinced.
“Shadow 2, when we get close, break formation and head towards the medical station, it’s too dangerous.” Catra’s voice cut off all of them, leaving everyone in silence.
“Catra?” Matchstick was confused and concerned.
“Nobody ever gets off without a scratch, that was a rough hit on your ship, sure it’s fine now, but in the action it could become worse,” Catra explained her reasoning, “I could be wrong, but please listen to this order.”
“Okay, Catra, but you have to bring Broadside back in one piece, deal?” Matchstick relented.
“Deal.” They could see the medical station in the distance so Matchstick followed and broke off and headed for it.
“Maybe I should have had you lead this mission, Mittens.” Anakin’s voice broke the seriousness in Catra as she became blushing and stuttering.
“I-I am not ready to lead a mission.” Catra stuttered.
“There’s the Catra we know,” Ahsoka smiled a bit, “But what happened there?”
“When you deal with reckless idiots for most of your life, you can see the signs.” Sighing, there were a few reckless idiots back home, they were all fine, but they always got into trouble
“I think Obi-wan would be impressed regardless, young one.” Plo was impressed, but he also knew with one less ship it could be closer to failure.
“Thanks, Catra, for probably saving his life.” Broadside voice was sincere, but then changed immediately, “Sir, another contact!”
“I thought those things wouldn’t follow us.” Ahsoka became confused and worried again.
“Not following, coming out of hyperspace. It’s a ship.” Broadside looked at his scanner, Catra’s ears perking and eyes widening a little as she knew, “It’s ‘The Malevolence’.”
They all watched as the big lumbering ship came out of hyperspace, a sight Catra never wanted to see but this was their target and their mission. Catra calmed her breathing to focus, she’ll know the sounds of the ion cannon are to be expected, she just needed to know when it happens, to be prepared for if it gets close.
It didn’t take long for it to happen as the ion cannon already quickly charged as it fired an ion blast at three medical frigates as they tried to flee, stopping in their tracks before they were bombarded with turbolaser fire. At the distance they would be fine for a while, but won’t be safe until the ship was destroyed.
“We got fighters coming in!” Ahsoka was prepared as they watched a dozen droid starfighters zoom towards them.
“And they’ll be leaving in pieces.” Catra grabbed the controls for the gunner, aiming in their direction before blasting, some shots missing but one spilt a droid in two.
Catra was also used to Broadsides flying so she got into the hang of it quickly as they swerved out of laser fire, shields protecting them from ones they weren’t quick enough to dodge. Catra keep blasting droids to bits, but more seem to be coming and that scares her, sometimes even if you are skilled, numbers can overwhelm even the skilled.
But there was something for fear as the Malevolence had turned and faced them, ion cannon charging, caring little about friendly fire as it fired it’s blast.
“Incoming!” Catra shouted over comms.
“Make towards the edge of the ray! Now”! Anakin’s ship flew straight up, everyone following suit.
“I’ve got droids on my tail!” Catra heard Tag shouting over the comms, turning the turret she could see two droid fights chasing after him, “I can’t shake them off.”
“I just need to focus.” Catra calmed her breathing and fired past Tag managing to destroy one of the droids, but it was too late.
The other droid blasts hits its mark making the engine on Tag’s Y-wing explode into fire as their ship went into freefall. They had died from the initial blast but karama acted as the ball of flaming wreckage collided with the droid destroying it. Catra quickly covered her ears and closed her eyes as the ion blast got close, expecting it to hit, but they just cleared it.
“Shadow Squadron, check in.” Anakin’s voice sounded somber.
“We lost Tag. Shadows 6, 7 and 10 were caught in the ray.” Ahsoka gave the damage report, there could still be hope for the clones in those Y-wings, but Tag and his gunner are lost forever.
They weren’t going to give up now, they had made it close to the ship all the towers firing at them, rocking the Y-wings from the close proximity of the blasts, shields preventing damage from taking place, but the shields were slowly losing their power.
“Stay on course!” Plo shouted his starfighter was able to out maneuver faster than the rest, but even he was having difficulties.
“This flak is heavy!” Broadside shouting, doing his best to dodge as well, Catra helped by blasting out towers here and there as they glided just above the surface of the massive ship.
“All deflectors, double front!” Anakin wasn’t giving up, still determined to destroy the droid general.
“Master! We need a new plan!” Ahsoka shouted her doubts across the comms, everyone was having them.
“We can make it, Ahsoka. Hang in there.” Anakin tried deflecting but even his resolve was cracking a little.
“They're charging up their ion cannon again!” Catra shouted as the target this time would be the medical station, watching as another Y-wing got shot down.
“Master! You can make it, but everyone else is getting shot down! Master!” Ahsoka kept pleading to him to change the plan.
“Anakin, not everyone is as great a flyer as you. The plan needs to change or we will fail.” Catra ears were already filled with loud static from being so close to the weapon, looking out for any new targets, “The Ion cannon should be the priority, not General Grievous.”
“If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grievous tries to fire.” Plo’s starfight pulled up besides Anakin’s trying to reason with him.
“Shadow Squadron, new target. We’re taking out the starboard ion cannon.” Anakin finally saw reason, his voice returned to normal as he set the new target.
All fighters followed his lead as they had to swerve around the base of the large defended tower to turn around and reach their target, the droids confused as they tried to re aim the towers back on them. The static getting even louder that before, a sound Catra will be happy to get rid of.
Flying across the side of the ship they made their way under the large gap between the Ion cannon and the ship, their target in sight of the supports or where they connect, either way this is where it ends.
“Torpedo’s away!” Anakin fired his torpedoes first.
All the torpedoes fired one after another all colidding in the same or close to point of impact causing huge explosion after explosion, and if you looked closely you could see the huge ship swaying slightly. They cleared the area after all torpedoes fired, getting away from it and heading towards the medical station, hoping it worked.
Catra watched as the weapon made the usual noise and glow of when it fired, but this time it was internal as the weapon blasted itself apart rocking the ship side to side as the a connected explosion destroyed it on the other side as well, destroying the dreaded weapon and leaving the ship crippled.
“Good work, Shadow Squadron.” Plo congratulated everyone as they headed for the station.
“We’re about to have some friendly faces.” Catra smiled and sighed looking at her scanner, then up as three republic cruisers entered the system.
“Anakin, do you copy?” Obi-wan’s voice was pleasing to Catra, calming her after what seemed like hours of fighting.
“I’m here.”
“Congratulations. It looks like your mission was a success.” Obi-wan was pleased and impressed.
“Partially, but Grievous is still alive.” Anakin was still sore about not doing in the droid, “The battle was pretty rough on my men. We’re heading for the medical station.”
“Actually, if it’s alright if Broadside can drop me off at Obi-wan’s cruiser first?” Catra asked curiously not knowing if she could, but Broadside backed her up.
“I don’t mind, I can meet back up with Shadow Squadron at the medical station after, General.” Broadside waited as well.
“You can do what feels best, and Catra, good work out there today.” Anakin confirmed it as the ship detached from the squad.
“We’ll take it from here. But don’t worry we’ll call you when we need you.” Obi-wan then shouted a command before focusing on Catra, “I’ll meet you down in the hanger, Catra.”
The cruiser opened up its hanger doors allowing Broadside to glide his ship into the hanger bay, gently touching down, the lazer field activating to let her get out safely.
“Good work today, kid, you get some rest,” Broadside watched Catra climb down the stairs of the ship, “I’ll tell you if Matchstick is okay.”
“Sounds good, Broadside, and thank you.” Catra quickly waved and ran out of the hanger bay, allowing him to leave.
Before fully walking out of the hangar bays and into the corridors of the large vessel, her eyes passed over her starfighter in the corner, it’s yellow and blue design easy to spot anywhere. It was next to Obi-wan’s which was far cleaner than hers from it having been used more than hers.
“Welcome home, Catra.” Obi-wan greeted her in the hallway.
“It’s good to be home, Obi-wan.” Catra smiled her body finally relaxing.