I think I have decided to add an "Author's Note," before my story chapters. This Chapter is basically all 100% hard core action. Next chapter, we will slow down again and listen to some wet blankets banter. Any guesses who said wet blankets are? Just a side note, the characters here, if pictured in The Clone Wars style, are based off of the Episode "Heroes on Both Sides."

Mygeeto was cold, cruel. An icy wind swept snow through the air at speeds high enough to sting the face of even a wookie. A barren landscape of strip-mined fields stretched on either side of Jygat. The city itself was built on a large crystal, and was taller than it was wide. Bridges connected it to higher ground , and were too numerous to number.

But bridges were the farthest thing from any sentient's mind.

The awful din of battle pervaded the atmosphere. Torrent fighters arced across the sky, pursuing or being pursued by Vulture droids. AT-TEs lumbered like giant beasts over the bridges, followed closely by the AT-RTs.

A canary yellow Delta-7 screeched amongst the buildings at top speed, close enough to buildings that their windows shattered. A blue R2 unit bleeped in alarm as a vulture droid was vaporized by the Delta's cannons.

The pilot grimaced as the smoke and debris of the ruined fighter cascaded over the cockpit. "I know R2, but give me some credit, that was a good shot."

The astromech bleeped an affirmative, but added on a few choice boops and pings.

Anakin Skywalker rolled his eyes. "At least there aren't any buzz droids."

Once again, the droid beeped an affirmative.

The Jedi at the controls pushed the com-link button on the control panel. "Master, Mundi," he said, "The droid fighters are few and far between. Shall I assist you in your assault?"

A voice crackled over the speakers, small and tinny. "No Skywalker. Your place is up there. Go across the city and do a bit of reconnaissance for us. We could do with a glance at what is coming."

"On my way Master Mundi."

Juicing the throttle a bit more, Skywalker ascended over the top of the city, and was lost from sight.

Master Ki-Adi Mundi watched him go with keen yellow eyes.

Tholothian Jedi master and fellow council member Adi Gallia came to his side. "Why did you send him away? We could use the help down here."

It was debatably true. The droid army was advancing on their position, and both Jedi were actively blocking blaster bolts. The clones nearby were squeezing off rounds as fast as their trigger fingers allowed. This kept the droids from gaining ground, but the Jedi gained none either.

"I sense this battle is going to heat up in the near future," the Cerean said, sending a rather precise blaster bolt back to its owner.

Master Gallia cocked an eyebrow. "But the droids have no reinforcements. How can they possibly gain an advantage?"

"If urban warfare has taught me anything Adi, it is to expect the worst at all times."

"I concur, Master Mundi," said a tinny voice over the com-link. It was Ahsoka Tano, Skywalker's Padawan. She had moved farther into Jygat than the others had dared (she took after her master) with an AT-TE, Commander Bacara, and a platoon of Marines.

"How do you mean, child?"

"I expected a better fight out here than on the outskirts and bridges."

"Be careful what you ask for Padawan," Adi cautioned. "You might not like the fulfillment of the wish."

"But master Gallia, the few droids still here are being hunted down as we speak. I must compliment the Marines Master Mundi. They take care of business."

The Cerean let his chest swell a bit with his ego.

The Tholothian next to him was unfazed by flattery, or she was just jealous that her troops never got that kind of praise. "Stay on your guard Padawan. The Sep-" She paused to swat away a blaster bolt and hew the offending Droideka with a well aimed saber throw. "The Seperatists are full of surprises."

"Which kind Master Gallia?"

Was the Padawan trying to get on her nerves, or was it an honest question?

"Which kind do you think Padawan?" She punctuated the sentence with a battle-droid's call for assistance as it was sliced rather neatly down the middle.

"Patience Master Gallia," Ki-Adi Mundi chuckled. "Anger is not the Jedi way."

Ki-Adi was about to find himself without his pony tail, when something caught Adi's attention. Her com-link was ringing.

She drew the device as she floored a Super-Battle-Droid with a spinning kick. "Yes, what is it?"

"Mast…Gall….ust….eat!"

The static of the transmission puzzled the Tholothian. Why would there be so much static? She was unaware of any magnetic disruptions. "Say again."

"Master Gallia, thi…..Ana…..Skywalker…must retr…."

Near as she could tell, it was Skywalker asking for lunch. "Say again."

That's when the Delta-7 screeched over her head, trailing smoke like a distress signal. Skywalker?

As the smoldering craft zoomed over the side of the bridge, two objects came flying out. It was Skywalker and his R2 unit.

No sooner had Skywalker touched the ground, his lightsaber was brought into the Djem So opening stance and he began to slice through droids like a hot vibro blade through a chunk of animal fat.

Ki-Adi relieved a B-2 of its arms and turned his elongate head to look at the Jedi. "Skywalker, to what do we owe this pleasure?"

"We must retreat Master Mundi!"

The Cerean looked as if he had been slapped in the face. Adi would have looked the same, but she was presently fighting a fairly angry commando droid. "What do you mean Skywalker," she said between her dodging the vibro-sword. "The battle is all but won!"

"It looks like the Trade Federation called in a favor with the Banking Clan," he growled, slicing yet another droid into thirds. "I counted about five-hundred Lancers coming our way."

Ki-Adi regarded the man as if he had gone insane. "Five hundred? How did the Clan get five-hundred units past our blockade?"

"How does not matter," Adi Gallia stated. "We do not have sufficient forces to successfully repulse an attack of five hundred lancers. Alert our troops: full retreat."

Mundi was frozen. Retreat was a foreign concept to him. He had not retreated, except on Hypori.

"THAT WOULD MEAN NOW!"

Master Gallia's sharp order brought Mundi back to his senses. He was immediately barking orders into his com-link.

Anakin was about to do the same, when R2-D2 began to beep and hoot hysterically.

"What is it R2?"

More beeping and pinging.

A look of comprehension dawned on the young Jedi's face. "Oh, no… MASTER MUNDI!"

Said Jedi Master was getting a head count of his troops. "What do you want?"

"I need a gunship, NOW!"

"We all need gunships now Skywalker. We are retreating."

"But Master Mundi, you don't understand! My…"

"General Mundi!"

Ki-Adi looked like he was about to pop a vessel. "WHAAAAAAAAT!"

The clone lieutenant seemed ready to pee himself. "We just finished the headcount. We're missing Comander Bacara and a platoon."

Ki-Adi paled first, then he turned absolutely beet red. "THEN WHERE THE HOTH ARE THEY!"

"With my Padawan, which is what I was trying to tell you Master Mundi!" Anakin exclaimed.

Ki-Adi was already two steps ahead. He had called in the nearest gunship and was already trying to contact his Commander.

He faced Skywalker. "The gunship is coming, but our communications with my troops and your Padawan are being jammed."

He nodded. "How long until the lancers reach their position?"

Ki-Adi checked his chronometer. "In approximately fifteen standard minutes."

With a roar, the LAAT gunship descended from the sky. The blast doors opened. Inside, with several members of the 786th Legion, was Adi Gallia. "Get in!" she called.

Anakin was all too happy to oblige. As soon as his boots made contact with the floor, the gunship was moving.

Anakin checked his chronometer. Thirteen minutes left.

The gunship was making best possible speed, but it did not seem to be going fast enough. The seconds ticked by terrifyingly fast.

Once again Anakin found his vision floating to his chronometer. Ten minutes.

He felt a hand on his arm. It was Adi. "Don't worry Skywalker. We will get there in time."

How he hoped that would be true.

No sooner had the Chronometer reached five minutes left, that the LAAT's blast-doors opened. There in the middle of the street was a derelict AT-TE, smoking out of every orifice, ten clones, and one flashing green lightsaber. All around them was a swarm of battle droids somewhere in the region of fifty. On any other occasion, ten clones and one Jedi against all of those droids would be a fair fight, but from the vantage point the gunship offered, Anakin could see the lancers coming around the street corners. "Ahsoka!"

The Togruta Padawan looked up at her master. 'Oh, hi Master! Coming to join the fun?"

"Time's up Snips, we have to go!"

"But Master," she protested, "I have these droids beaten! The Marines are a big help! Just give me five minutes and…"

"AHSOKA! Get in the ship!"

"Master, I can do this!"

The lancers' speeders were audible now.

Adi had had enough. "PADAWAN TANO, IF YOU DON'T GET INTO THIS GUNSHIP WITH THE CLONES RIGHT NOW I WILL SEPARATE YOUR HEAD FROM YOUR SHOULDERS!"

Ahsoka relented. She followed the troops into the gunship with a disconsolate look. 'I don't see what the big deal is Master. We had it covered…"

That was the moment that the AT-TE exploded.

The lancers had arrived.

Ahsoka looked out into the streets and saw the swarm of speeder-mounted droids overrun the area.

The gunship was safely out of harm's way, but the thought of what could have happened hit home.

Ahsoka turned to face the two Jedi behind her.

Her master had his arms crossed across his chest. He was disappointed and angry. And why not? She had just directly disobeyed him.

Again.

Adi Gallia stood stock still, not making eye contact.

All Jedi know what that means.

It means a few days later, you will be summoned to appear before the Jedi Council.