Rushing to the scanner console, Mak was able to identify numerous signals from the neighboring Republic outpost.
"Enemy forces detected, rapidly approaching Cobalt Station."
Kass hurried to the communications array and quickly established contact with Cobalt Station to determine their status.
What she discovered surprised not only her but Mak and Barriss as well.
"You're telling me that Stratus's forces... surrendered?" the young Padawan asked in disbelief.
"We're as surprised as you are, Commander," replied the clone officer on the other end.
"Any explanation?" Kass looked uncertainly at her two fellow Padawans.
"One of them reported that Stratus is dead, or at least missing in action."
"Elaborate."
"He apparently left standing orders for his men to follow the chain of command if he failed to return to their base by a specified deadline. A contingency order, but he never returned from their assault on Choal City. Next thing they knew, Ultron attacked their positions, forcing them to flee for their lives. Their new commander is requesting immediate assistance."
This revelation caused collective shock among the three Padawans.
"Are they requesting our help?" Mak asked incredulously.
"They claim to be the only survivors. All other installations have been either captured or destroyed. They're receiving no communications from any military or civilian sources. They believe they're the only forces Ultron hasn't eliminated, besides us."
The three Padawans stood frozen, and they weren't the only ones to receive this devastating news.
Throughout Shelter Base, it was sobering to hear such reports. Though they'd known they faced a greater threat than ever before with Ultron...
"What do we do now?" Kass couldn't help asking, obviously addressing her Jedi companions rather than the clones on the comm.
"We evacuate this planet," Mak said with finality. "We've been fighting on this world for months, and when priorities changed, we saved as many people as possible. Now it's time for us to leave."
Recognizing there was no point in debating that conclusion, Kass and Barriss simply nodded and returned to Shelter Base's interior, prepared to hold their position until extraction was possible.
A cascade of vibrations ran through the installation as clone troopers, Loyalist militia, and even captured-then-released Nationalists rushed about, preparing to abandon the planet.
It was sobering to face such circumstances, but it was the reality they confronted.
For the clones, this represented something they weren't entirely familiar with.
They'd been created to serve and fight for the Republic—that much they knew with certainty. But Ultron wasn't attacking just the Republic; he was targeting every living being in the galaxy. For them, this represented a rather troubling new paradigm.
The Jedi also faced an entirely unprecedented enemy—one that operated outside the familiar boundaries of the Force and whose objective was spreading chaos throughout the galaxy.
And for the Avengers... for three heroes in particular, this was their past, their failure returning to haunt them.
Here was an old adversary who had nearly caused their homeworld's extinction.
Even though they'd managed to save civilians, Ultron had used his new forces to devastate the planet's population within days.
But they couldn't dwell on that now. However much they might want to, because they needed to survive and ultimately defeat him.
At this moment, outside Shelter Base, Seiro, his Padawan Fay, and several clone troopers stood beside an AT-TE walker. A few dozen meters behind them, an AT-AT maintained surveillance of their perimeter.
"Stay calm, Fay," Seiro said quietly. "Remain aware of your surroundings. We'll get through this."
"I'll do my best, Master," his Padawan replied, her hand hovering near her lightsaber hilt, ready to react quickly if anything unexpected occurred.
The base continued bustling with activity as personnel packed anything deemed essential until transports arrived for evacuation.
The Avengers were scattered throughout the area, apparently watching for the inevitable assault. They knew it was only a matter of time.
Seiro gazed toward the horizon and observed fires burning in the distance—probably another city razed by Ultron.
The Jedi Master's heart sank slightly upon seeing this. When he'd first arrived, the fighting had been confined to battlefields with minimal civilian casualties. Unfortunately, more non-combatants had begun dying in the conflict.
Now... civilian deaths had completely overshadowed military casualties suffered by both sides.
Ultron had arrived on this planet like a plague, promising death and delivering on that promise.
Emerging from these dark thoughts, Seiro glanced at his Padawan momentarily, then looked ahead again.
"Everything appears clear—"
BOOM
In an instant, the situation deteriorated into complete chaos.
A nearby AT-AT simply exploded.
Immediately, every Jedi ignited their lightsaber as shouts erupted from all directions.
"Where did that attack originate?!"
Passing overhead, many clones spotted one of Ultron's aerial drones beginning to strafe the ground below. Within seconds, dozens of clone troopers opened fire on the enemy aircraft.
It was then that other clones noticed something on the horizon.
"More hostiles incoming!"
The warning was drowned out by noise as the scene descended into chaos.
"Back to back formation!" Steve Rogers shouted, moving through multiple clone battalions and legions. "Remember, his droids will attempt to overwhelm us. Watch each other's blind spots!"
All ten Avengers charged headfirst into the approaching wave of Ultron drones that began marching and rolling toward them.
Joining them were Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Ima-Gun Di, Aayla, and Leska, along with Kass and Mak.
The remaining Jedi maintained more defensive positions to hold back the drone assault.
"By the Force," Barriss whispered in awe at the approaching army of automatons and war machines.
"Remain calm, my Padawan," Luminara said beside her. "We've faced him before and survived. We will do so again."
"I believe it's time we utilized our advantages," Plo Koon's deep voice rumbled. "Warthog, Broadside, it's time."
"Yes, General!"
Seemingly from nowhere, dozens of ARC-170s, V-19 Torrents, and Y-wings suddenly appeared at full size, rapidly accelerating toward the incoming assault.
"All right, boys, remember our new formations and tactics. Keep your fingers on those size modulators—let's not waste the Avengers' gift!"
Cheers erupted as the clone pilots flew at maximum speed, while Sam and Rhodes joined Peter in the air, using web-lines to swing toward the approaching attack and hitch rides below.
Moments later, both forces collided and chaotic battle erupted, with blaster fire and energy beams discharged in every direction.
In the mayhem that followed, organic and synthetic beings fell every second, with screams and shouts echoing from every corner of the battlefield.
"On your left—watch those spider droids!"
"We're being flanked! Domino Squad, left flank!"
"Commander Cody, we've lost Valor Squad!"
"Move, move, move!"
"Gree, get your men to the center and hold that position!"
"Copy that, Sam!"
"Watch out for the destroyer droid on the right!"
"Lightning, Cameron, suppress that turret!"
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