The trip to Anten was taking a bit, during that time, Ragnar was contacted by his master Baron Skeel. He figured this would happen as he couldn't remain unnoticed for long. Orion was sitting beside Ragnar listening to him talking to Baron. They were still processing the revelation that the virus outbreak was caused by the Separatists and not the Sith. But that still didn't answer the question as to why the Dark Side was strong with the Zombies. Perhaps the Sith hijacked the Purge Virus and reworked it to serve their twisted game. Whatever the reason, Ragnar now had a clear goal in dealing with the virus. But first, he needs to deal with his master. Ragnar grabs his holographic communicator and from it a hologram of his master Baron Skeel appeared. Baron was a Twi'lek who had blue skin, and he too wore battle armor. Most Jedi wear it now to help protect them from Zombies.
"Ragnar! Are you okay?" Baron asked in a concerned voice.
"Yes, master I'm fine." Ragnar answered with a chuckle.
"Good.... where are you?" Baron asked, his concerned look switching to a stern one.
"On my way to Anten." Ragnar replied casually.
"Anten!?" Baron said in panic. "You're in the Outer Rim!?"
"We were also on Abren not that long ago." Orion casually mentioned.
Ragnar gave Orion a dirty look for that while the ARC Trooper just casually whistles while looking away. Baron, however.
"What!?" Baron asked in alarm. "Do you have any idea how dangerous Abren is!?"
"Yes, I'm fully aware." Ragnar said.
"Then why in the nine Corellian hells did you go there?" Baron asked, somewhat angrily.
"I wanted to figure out what caused this outbreak and I think me and Orion did." Ragnar explained.
This caught Baron's attention who then crossed his arms.
"Go on."
"While investigating the town of Telk we found a canister that had the words Purge Virus stamped on the side along with a Separatist symbol." Ragnar continued. "We believe the Separatists created the virus."
"But that wouldn't explain its connection to the Dark Side." Baron said, filled with curiosity and confusion.
"I think that the Sith hijacked the bioweapon and twisted it for their own sake." Ragnar said.
"But it backfired." Baron concluded.
"That's my theory." Ragnar comments.
Baron then grabbed his chin in thought and considered this new information as the truth.
"Alright then. I'll inform the Council about this development." Baron said. "But why go to Anten?"
"We received a distress call, and I could not ignore it." Ragnar admits. "Are there any ships in the area?"
"Not that I know of." Baron replied. "But if there are people left on Anten, I could try and send evacuation ships to help evacuate those people. Can't promise it'll be much though."
"Better than nothing, master." Ragnar comments.
"Stay safe, Ragnar." Baron said, with a fatherly tone.
"I always am." Ragnar replied with a smile.
Baron smiled.
"That you are." Baron said. "Good luck."
With that, Baron's hologram vanished and Ragnar puts the projector away before turning to Orion.
"Next time, don't tell him something that'll set him off." Ragnar said sternly.
"No promises." Orion said with a grin.
"We've arrived at Anten, General." Manfred said over the intercom.
The shuttle exits Hyperspace and begins its approach to Anten. There was a few Acclamator-Class Assault Ships in Orbit of Anten but they were leaving. Manfred watched as they entered Hyperspace and left the planet behind. Manfred then notices someone on the surface of the planet is attempting to contact them.
"General, we're being contacted from the surface." Manfred reports.
"Answer it."
Manfred does as ordered and answers the call. On the console in front of him, the image of a Clone Trooper appeared.
"This is Admiral Lokar Lanthew, please tell me you aren't the only ones who answered my distress call." Lokar said.
"Unfortunately, we are." Manfred said. "I have General Ragnar Jorgan and ARC Trooper Orion onboard."
"One Jedi and a single Clone!?" Lokar asked in alarm.
"it's better than nothing, sir." Manfred said.
"I... I guess so." Lokar said, sounding frustrated.
Manfred guessed that he's been dealing with Zombies for a while and must be stressed out.
"Just head for the Salhai Spaceport, Commander Jace will be waiting for you." Lokar said.
"Copy that."
With that, Manfred begins to pilot the shuttle further towards Anten and for the city, Salhai.
[Elsewhere]
Within the Council chambers of the Jedi Temple, Baron stood before the Jedi Council. The whole Council wasn't present as some of them were busy elsewhere dealing with the defensive operations against the virus. So, they had their hands full which is why they couldn't be on Coruscant.
"Master Skeel, I hope that this is important." Mace said.
"It is, masters." Baron said. "My former padawan, Ragnar, and ARC Trooper Orion may have just discovered the cause for the Virus."
"Wasn't he supposed to maintain his post here on Coruscant?" Plo Koon asked.
"He was, but I fear Anakin's influence is finally taking effect." Baron said.
"What has he discovered?" Mace asked.
"He found evidence that this Virus was created by the Separatists." Baron answered.
"Evidence?" Yoda asked.
"A canister on Abren in the town called Telk. It had the Separatist emblem on the side along with the words Purge Virus stamped on the side." Baron explains.
The Jedi Council members glance at one another. This was indeed a significant discovery.
"Where is he now?" Kit Fisto asked.
"Heading towards Anten, he's answering a distress call." Baron said.
"An Evacuation effort had been dispatched to Anten to get what civilians remain on the planet to safety." Plo Koon said.
"Do you wish for me to recall him?" Baron asked.
"If much like Skywalker, he is. Come back, he will not." Yoda said.
"Then... what's our course of action?" Baron asked.
"For now, try to maintain contact with Ragnar, if he has a lead that could potentially end this outbreak, we need to be ready to support him and his investigation." Mace said.
"But the Republic-"
"May have forbade us from engaging the undead in direct combat, but that doesn't mean we can't help." Kit Fisto said. "After all, Shaak Ti is currently on Kamino and thankfully it hasn't been compromised by the virus unlike some places."
Obi Wan lightly sighs and clenched his fists, remembering something.
"Everything okay, Master Kenobi?" Baron asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Obi Wan said.
"Is it about Mandalore?" Plo Koon asked, showing concern.
Obi Wan didn't answer. Sensing the sensitive nature of it, the Jedi didn't press on. Mace then turns his head to Baron.
"Thank you for your report, you may leave Baron." Mace said.
"Of course." Baron said respectfully before leaving the chamber.
[Salhai, Anten]
The Shuttle containing Ragnar and Orion had arrived at Salhai and when they arrived, they saw smoke coming from buildings, said buildings were not in great shape. Escorting the shuttle were two V-19 Torrent Starfighters. Manfred spares glances at the city, knowing this sight all too well, but this time it had a different feeling thanks to the Zombies. Once the shuttle arrives at the port, Manfred got a good look at it. It was massive, big enough to hold an Acclamator which funny enough one had landed. As the landed Acclamator has its ramp down allowing civilians to be loaded onto it, Manfred pilots the shuttle to a marked landing zone where a few clones were signaling them where to land. As the ship came to land, the wings fold up, and the landing gear deploys. Once the ship touches down the front ramp soon lowers allowing Ragnar and Orion to step off the shuttle. As they stepped off, a clone commander stood there waiting for them with his helmet under his right arm.
This was CT-1552 aka Commander Jace, Commander of the 11th Legion. Ragnar and Orion approach the commander who salutes to show respect to Ragnar.
"General Jorgan, Commander Jace of the 11th Legion." Jace introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you, Commander." Ragnar said.
"Honor's all mine General. We were just hoping to have more reinforcements." Jace said, keeping this professional.
"Wish we could've provided." Ragnar said, crossing his arms. "What's the status of the city?"
"Evacuations are underway, but the Undead keep coming in waves. We're holding out but we need more time." Jace said.
"Any other settlements?" Orion asked.
"They've already been evacuated." Jace answered. "Admiral Lanthew made sure of that."
"Is it just you and your brothers?" Ragnar asked.
"No, we did have a Jedi, but he left to investigate a Separatist Facility that was spotted on this planet." Jace said. "Took a few squads with him too."
"Heard anything from them?" Orion asked.
"No. That's why we sent out that distress call." Jace said. "We feared the worst."
"Where is the Separatist Facility?" Ragnar asked.
"Not far. We still have the coordinates locked in so if you want to go after him, I can give you the coordinates." Jace said. "Though If he really did get infected, I wouldn't recommend it."
"If we can prevent another Jedi from falling to the undead, it's a risk we'll have to take." Ragnar said.
"How many Troopers are present?" Orion asked.
"Enough to mount numerous defenses against the Undead." Jace said. "But our numbers dwindle with each wave."
"Well, what's the status on the evacuations?" Ragnar asked.
"Hard to tell, given how many civilians there are." Jace answered. "But we are trying our best to get everyone off the planet."
"Well, maintain defensive positions." Ragnar ordered. "Me and Orion will head for the Separatist Facility and search for the Jedi and clone squads that didn't come back."
"Very well and.... good luck out there." Jace said.