Darkness Falls

Setting

Twenty-two years before the battle of Yavin (13:5:12) on the planet Brentaal (Cormond and Cormond plains).

Characters

Official Star Wars characters: High Jedi General Shaak Ti

Flashes of widespread blue illumination lit the sky in a brilliant display of color and destruction as darkness fell amongst the entrenched republic fortress upon Brentaal IV. The city of Cormond had been thrust into a frenzy of chaotic battle as separatists forces relentlessly bombarded the city to prepare its massive armies for a full fledged assault. Night had come, but the town remained brightened from the raging infernos that spawned from the ongoing siege of Cormond.

The face of Colonel Akilist Volkov brightened beneath the ongoing flashes of light before dissipating momentarily back into the shadows of nightfall. Four silhouettes within the main watchtower formed from the various patterns of light that dotted the sky above and around their position from inside the city. A pair of Merr-Sonn micro-binoculars complimented Volkov's eyes, as his hands remained tightly clutched onto the device with a firm grip from his black synthleather gloves. Standing graciously by his left shoulder was the ever so comforting presence of Jedi Master Shaak Ti. Flanking the Jedi Master were two republic sentry guards. Multiple colorful displays flashed amongst the interior heads up display of the micro-binoculars as Volkov observed the brilliant reformation of the massive droid army that began to form ranks from across the large grassy plain.

The Confederation of Independent Systems had deployed its units nearly a quarter of a mile away from the front gates of the republic stronghold. This would allow the large batteries of artillery from the droid army to slowly eat away at the fortresses primary defenses before they started their inevitable march onto the city. The scenery before the four figures within the watchtower displayed what seemed to be never ending columns of droid units stretching across the battlefield beneath the sporadic flashes of light that formed from the ongoing assault.

Colonel Akilist Volkov lowered the binoculars away from his eyes and slowly turned his head towards the face of Shaak Ti. A grim look of astonishment overwhelmed his face as he stared into the eyes of the profound Jedi Master. He then began to speak softly beneath the rippling thundering claps of blasts that were exploding all around them.

"The enemy vastly outnumbers us Jedi Master. It is not a false presumption to believe that we may not live to see another break of daylight."

A small grin formed onto the face of Shaak Ti as the words finished flowing from the mouth of the Colonel beside her. She displayed brilliant resiliency under fire as she remained calm with a look of pure enlightenment. She then replied softly to the Colonel.

"Indeed, you are correct, Colonel," She spoke softly beneath the unfolding turmoil, "But on this night, my saber shall meet the enemy in battle nonetheless."

A small lump could be seen forming on the throat of the Colonel as the words reached his ears. Volkov began to silently think to himself after registering the words that had been spoken to him. How could she be so focused, so calm, so concentrated on the current task at hand? Maybe the force was a powerful ally after all.

Colonel Akilist Volkov would then turn his attention towards the sentry guard that stood quietly by his right shoulder. Volkov nodded his head towards the young man, undoubtedly giving him the signal to make his way to the local garrison to prepare their troops for defense. The young officer nodded in appliance and began to make his way down from the guard post. Volkov then turned his attention towards the other guard that stood idly by the left shoulder of Shaak Ti.

"Prepare all perimeter artillery pieces for immediate defense of the fortress," Colonel Volkov said with a stern mean streak to his voice.

"Right away, sir," was the response that came in return before fast pacing his steps away from the Colonel and the Jedi Master to ready the fortress for all out alert readiness.

Volkov then turned his attention back towards the sight of the massive droid army that configured on the plains before him. He then began to speak out to the Jedi Master beside him in a cool and modulated tone of voice.

"These machines, they have no sense of dignity, morality, compassion, no fear, just an advanced mechanized warfare program that gives them the natural instincts to attempt to accomplish the task at hand. How does a small gathering of three-hundred soldiers compare to the likes of twenty-five hundred battle droids that lack a conscience?"

Shaak Ti turned his face towards the Colonel after hearing his question strike out in desperation of his peoples survival. She would close her eyes momentarily and touch the mind of the Colonel through the force. This would grant Akilist the ability to become at peace with himself despite the outcome of the battle. She then replied with her compassionate wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the ways of life, the ways of the force.

"Colonel Volkov," She replied, "We must not allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with the daunting task that awaits our future. Our fate has already been decided and takes refuge within the force. You must concentrate your efforts on defending the people behind these walls, nothing more. Regardless of what takes place here today, we shall fulfill our duty to the citizens of Cormond."

Volkov allowed himself to take a long deep breath before replying gingerly to the ever so wise Jedi Master, "Perhaps you are right. Always so wise, so clever. Indeed, we will ward of these raiders that intrude on our doorstep. On this night, the path of our futures shall be repaved."

The fortress surrounding the city of Cormond continued to burn late into the night as the confederate army continued their march towards the last standing civilized population of Brentaal IV. To loose this fortress would be to loose the war upon this planet completely. The enemy vastly outnumbered the defenders behind the sacred walls of Cormond, but only the strong will of the people within could save the lives of thousands. The Confederacy had nearly conquered the entire planet with their gargantuan defensive emplacements of magna-guns outlying the key sectors of the planet. Wave after wave of Republican troops had been swept clean from the fields in which they marched from the powerful destruction of the advanced warfare weaponry that the Confederation of Independent Systems had developed. Luckily for the men and women behind these walls tonight, magna weaponry was of no concern and of no factor in the forthcoming defense of the city.

Vivid blue flares of exploding artillery shells continued to splash down onto the city walls as the seemingly endless columns of confederate battle droids advanced their march onto the town. A thick haze filled the air around the city as debris flew freely from the impact of the exploding munitions rounds impacting against the exterior walls. The independent forces had tried desperate in their attempt to breach the fortress for immediate takeover and capture of the last standing stronghold of the planet, but the defenses of Cormond held strong throughout the vigorous bombardment.

Colonel Akilist Volkov and General Shaak Ti stood side-by-side as the massive army of the Confederacy eased within firing range of the fortresses artillery pieces. With flawless execution, Colonel Akilist Volkov let his right hand dig within the confines of his pants pocket. As he pulled his hand freely from the depths of his attire, a small black device had become clutched tightly into his palm. The Colonel then pointed the device towards the head gunnery operator from across the city while allowing his right thumb to suppress gently onto the activation stud. A blue light would shine brightly from the device and blink accordingly to the command codes being transmitted to the gunnery sergeant from the nearby watchtower. The orders had been given. It was now time for the republic fortress to unleash its on fury of devastation on the hoard of massed battle droids advancing toward their keep.

Shaak Ti turned her face to allow her eyes to ponder upon the face of the Colonel that stood boldly beside her. The Jedi Master could sense that all previous doubts that had existed within the battle hardened individual had undoubtedly left his senses. She could feel only the high morale and confidence of Volkov's attitude and trust in his people that would lead his men and women to victory on this night.

Simultaneously, Colonel Akilist Volkov would raise his right hand into the air with his fingers evenly spread out amongst his hand. With one swift stroke, his hand would fall back down quickly by his side. The wind began to gust against Volkov as his long dark hair began to sway gingerly along with the flow of the breeze. A grim look seemed to form onto the face of the Colonel as his eyes tightened together. Now they would get theirs.

Suddenly, the darkened sky once again erupted with the brightened lights of the fortresses artillery pieces unleashing their devastating doom into a free floating fall towards the enemy position. The glow of red light was cast onto the face of Volkov through the fall of darkness as the friendly artillery rounds flashed brilliantly overhead. Volkov glanced upwards to track the red firetail that streamed in dazzling display from behind the charge of the airborne shell.

The destructive volley of glaring artillery rounds raced across the sky of the open plains on a direct course to meet with the oncoming forces of the confederate army. The bright flaring shells of disruptive power made their trajectories clear due to the ground lighting and falling back to darkness as the red lights passed overhead. In one abrupt moment, the silence made way to the deafening blasts that were to follow.

The artillery rounds made their rapid descent onto the Confederation of Independent Systems forces before dimming slightly from the long distance of travel along their apparent journey of obliteration. The precision of the republic weaponry had been executed flawlessly as the red glowing rounds descended onto the many various rolls and columns of duplicate battle droids. The plains became brightened with fire as earth ripped upwards from the ground and flew freely amongst the battlefield. Large sections of troop columns could be seen being split into pieces as numerous amounts of robotic limbs launched forcefully into the air from the mere power of the concussion blasts that were taking place all around them.

The normally demoralizing salvo of devastation did not break the will of a robotic mind however. The hard pressed units of the Confederacy continued their march forwards onto the city of Cormond as the sky became vibrant with a mixture of red and blue light from the exchanging fire of republic and confederate artillery shells.

The small gathering of the local republic garrison massed within the insides of the primary gates to the city of Cormond. These few brave cloned minds stood shoulder to shoulder in tight formation with their blaster rifles rested prototypically on their left shoulder plates. Leading in front of the small column of three-hundred republic troops was the dark shadowy cloak of a hooded figure that stood perfectly still before the small group of soldiers. The outline of the darkened silhouette remained rendered in a veil of mystery until the illuminating lights of a nearby explosion on the city cast its gloom onto the figures face.

The unfortunate event had lead to a breach within the primary entrance to the city of Cormond. As the bewildering blanket of smoke cleared from the formation, the face of the hooded cloak was no longer of any secret. Shaak Ti stood in battle ready stance before her battalion of clone troopers while allowing her right hand to disappear within the confines of the many garments that clung to her body. The mass of battle droids had now reached the city gates. It was very likely that each droid would soon begin their execution of slipping through the small contravene that had been created.

The battalion of republic clone troops immediately removed their blaster rifles from their resting positions on their shoulders in order to take aim onto the small gap that had been created from the previous enemy strike. With elegant movement, the right hand of Shaak Ti came freely from the depths of her lingering garments to reveal a silver cylinder clutched tightly in her palm. In one quick stroke, her left them suppressed downward onto the activation switch of the device. Both of her long draping tentacles were illuminated by the green hue of her lightsaber as it was held directly before her face in defensive position. In one abrupt move, she swung her meter long green energy blade forwards to signal the attack. As the first battle droid made its way through the small crevice exerted into the wall, the main entrance of the fortress became glistened in the glow of blue blaster fire.