While all this was happening, Master Seiro approached Luminara as they caught up after a considerable time apart.
"Are you holding up all right, Seiro?"
"Just grateful you're still alive, Luminara," Seiro said, regarding her with an exhausted expression. "Jabiim hasn't exactly been hospitable to the Republic and her soldiers."
"I can see that clearly," Luminara replied, briefly glancing at one of the clones in her battalion who was groaning in pain while medics worked to stabilize him.
Noticing her discomfort, Seiro chose to redirect their conversation. "Your Padawan is exceptionally talented, old friend."
Luminara looked toward her student and found herself smiling peacefully. "That child spends every free moment she has perfecting her abilities and skills. I'm immensely proud of how far she's progressed. How is your Padawan faring?"
"Fay is frustrated about the change in plans. She was supposed to begin advanced training with Master Windu. Quite an honor," Seiro said with a weary grin.
"For her, or for you?" Luminara asked with a knowing frown.
"Both, honestly. But that will have to wait. Tell me about this new threat we're facing," Seiro said seriously. "This Ultron."
The Mirialan Jedi Master's expression shifted to something more grave, though anger flickered behind her eyes.
"Ultron is unlike anything we've ever encountered before, I can tell you that much. And before you make any dismissive remarks, even understating it, words cannot adequately describe how dangerous he is."
"How dangerous are we talking?" Seiro asked quietly.
"I don't think I need to elaborate on his threat level, considering how he announced himself to the galaxy."
Seiro nodded grimly, recalling how just days ago, communication networks had exploded with distress calls from across the galaxy.
Reports of countless fleets attacking multiple worlds simultaneously, until the devastating news that Coruscant itself had been assaulted made everything worse.
It was a horrifying reality to process.
Now... he was here.
Ultron's forces outnumbered both sides of the conflict and were rapidly gaining ground on Jabiim.
The Nationalists had reportedly lost approximately a dozen strongholds, while the Republic had seen half its ground forces eliminated.
The worst aspect was that civilians were being deliberately targeted, forcing the abandonment of multiple fronts in favor of protecting innocent lives.
Seiro was grateful for the reinforcements that had arrived. Some were disappointed that they were here to evacuate rather than defend the planet, but personally, Seiro was more than ready to leave this world.
If he was honest with himself, the planet represented a losing proposition on multiple fronts.
It had become a hopeless endeavor, and the mounting casualties were beginning to weigh heavily on Seiro's mind. If he was completely honest, the Jedi Master feared that one day his Padawan might be counted among those who had been lost.
That was the last thing he wanted to witness.
Elsewhere, a group had assembled in a reinforced command tent. Most consisted of Jedi and clone officers who had emerged victorious from the recent engagement, joined by several others over the past hour.
The group was currently viewing a holographic recording of a man wielding sword and shield while addressing a crowd. He possessed long hair and a matching beard, both arranged in intricate braids.
"Your planet, your home, is drowning in blood! For three thousand years, we have remained loyal to the Republic. But did they provide aid during the Brain Rot Plague? Did they respond when Trandoshan slavers invaded? Where were the Jedi when Lycian pirates murdered your parents... and mine? The Republic ignored our pleas for help until they discovered that beneath all this mud, our world was rich in precious ore!"
Cheers could be heard from the gathered crowd.
"Now they seek to control that ore and prevent us from profiting through trade with the Confederacy of Independent Systems! We will show the Jedi that we fight for freedom! We will fight to defend our homeland! We will send the Jedi home in caskets!"
The recording ended, and Rhodes responded immediately.
"That was quite the inspirational speech. What's this guy's name again?" Rhodes's voice was distinctly dry.
"Alto Stratus, the Jabiim Separatist commander," answered a man dressed in heavy military gear designed to protect against the brutal weather. He had long hair and a braided beard similar to the recording. "He seized control in a coup last year, eliminating most loyalists in the Jabiim Congress. Fortunately, some of us managed to escape."
"Captain Gillmunn has been Stratus's only real opposition," Obi-Wan acknowledged.
"Until you and these reinforcements arrived," the loyalist captain said gratefully.
"Hopefully, Ultron's presence won't complicate capturing Stratus," Rhodes observed. "We locate him, then everyone can focus on evacuating Jabiim."
"We can only hope," Obi-Wan said with a weary sigh. "How is the civilian evacuation progressing?"
"We successfully evacuated one city's population, but it's since been completely destroyed," Natasha reported grimly. "Steve's team is making progress, but it's slow going. He's recently been reinforced by Aayla and Plo Koon."
Gillmunn sighed heavily. "I hope that's the extent of what I need to worry about."
"Let's focus on Stratus for now," Obi-Wan suggested, receiving a nod from the loyalist.
"Who's protecting him?" Natasha inquired.
"He's surrounded by an elite unit of highly trained soldiers known as the Nimbus Commandos," Gillmunn explained. "But his true allies are the CIS. We've learned he's been promised mining rights by Count Dooku in exchange for weapons shipments."
"We've eliminated a dozen outposts so far, but we're still nowhere close to locating Stratus," Seiro informed the newcomers.
Gillmunn quickly produced a tactical map and displayed it for everyone. "Wish I had better news, but we're severely constrained. Every time we 'locate' another target, the assault takes us further from our base at Shelter Base—further from supplies, reinforcements... and replacement walkers."
"How far out is this base?" Steve asked, adopting a contemplative pose.
"What should be a day's march has been extended due to the constant rainfall. Our communications equipment keeps getting waterlogged."
"So what happened next?" Seiro asked.
"The Separatists identified our vulnerability and struck with everything they had, killing numerous clones and Jedi."
"If it weren't for the Separatists..." Rhodes muttered.
"It would be Ultron," Natasha concluded grimly.
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