Chapter 8: Old Sins, Long Shadows

The doors hissed open as the Grand Inquisitor strode into the room. In the meditation

chamber, three other Inquisitors sat cross legged in their seats, concentrating fiercely in order to increase their prowess in combat. Their eyes opened and they stood up in anticipation for the news he would deliver them.

"Our attempt to secure District Seven failed," he reported with bitter disappointment. "The Mockingjay and her allies have proven resilient once again."

The four agents of Darth Vader mused over this silently. A week had passed since their ambush at District Seven, but even then the news was not any less infuriating.

"So what is our next move?" the Seventh Sister asked curiously.

"If what I've sensed is correct, the Jedi forces will soon attempt an attack here on District One!" the Fifth Brother added,

"Yes, I sensed that as well," the Grand Inquisitor replied. "Another opportunity for us to kill the Mockingjay and eliminate the last of their hope."

"And what of Shadow Soldier?" the Eighth Brother inquired. "He would no doubt take the Mockingjay's place and simply revive their morale."

"Then both of them must fall," the Seventh Sister asserted.

"Correct," the Grand Inquisitor replied. "I will notify Agent Kallus to put our forces in Protection Condition Bravo and stay on high alert. Meanwhile, continue your training regimen."

They bowed their heads in obedience, and the Grand Inquisitor turned on his heel as he strode from the room. Walking through the station's hallways, he turned several corners before arriving at the Intel Operations Room. Agent Kallus and Bo-Katan came to attention when he walked in.

"Good afternoon, Grand Inquisitor," Agent Kallus greeted. "As of now nothing to report."

"Not now yes, but I came here to inform you that our forces here must be put into high alert immediately," the Grand Inquisitor instructed sternly. "Protection Condition Charlie Bravo."

"We will attend to that promptly, Grand Inquisitor." Bo-Katan assured him.

As the Grand Inquisitor departed the room, Bo-Katan and Kallus exchanged a worried but determined glance. Bo-Katan nodded to him, and Kallus went to a hidden room under the station while she initiated the call for the ISSE forces in District One. Agent Kallus knew doing this would mean death, but he did not care. After the many years he'd witnessed of the Empire wreaking death and destruction on the innocent as opposed to bringing the order and peace they'd promised when he enlisted, he could no longer in good conscience blindly follow their will.

The door to the underground storage room opened, and he checked to see if anyone had followed before ducking inside and locking the door. Keying the encrypted transmitter, he prepared his next report.

........................

Clone Sergeant Hunter woke from his sleep and wiped the morning dew off his helmet before shoving it onto his head. Around him, the rest of his squad, Clone Force 99, rose from their sleep and hastily inspected their gear before donning their helmets. Shadow Soldier, the one leading them on their Field Stealth exercise, strapped his lightsaber to his grenade belt and directed them with hand signals to hastily scan the perimeter before they took their field packs and moved to the next point. They nodded in understanding, executed his orders and soon they were slogging through the swamps near District Seven in their reconnaissance mission that doubled as a training exercise.

Even though him and his squad often joked and called their other clone brothers "Regs" Sergeant Hunter was bitter and tormented at the brutal death the men of the 327th had suffered at the hands of Capital's mutt hordes. No clone, no soldier, deserved the undignified death of an ambush by ravenous beasts. And now, he and his squad were scouting the area around District Seven to make sure the swampy environment did not hide any unwanted surprises. If even one mutt had diverted from the horde and taken refuge in the forest during the counterattack, it would be enough to eliminate an entire patrol.

After three hours of trekking through the unforgiving swamp, Shadow Soldier's comlink beeped. Signaling them to freeze, he answered.

"Shadow Soldier, this is ARC Trooper Fives of Mockingjay Squad. You and Clone Force 99 are needed back here immediately," Fives informed them.

"Solid copy, Fives," Shadow Soldier responded. "We're on our way."

Sergeant Hunter's helmet didn't show it, but he was somewhat bewildered. Even with his unconventional squad, it was very rare for higher ups to call off a training exercise when a new mission came in. However, orders were orders and war itself was never predictable, so he saved his questions as they walked back to the restored District Seven Command Center.

When they arrived at the Command Center's War Room (now heavily reinforced at the doors), Sergeant Hunter noted Mockingjay squad along with the other four Panem Freedom Force leaders he'd heard of standing around the reinstalled holoprojector table. With them was Clone Commander Ponds and General Windu. Right away Sergeant Hunter knew something big was coming.

"Are we finally gonna blow something up instead of just looking around?" Wrecker, the biggest clone in the squad asked eagerly.

"Yes, but not as the first thing in this new operation," General Windu said sternly. "Now that we have managed to push closer to the Capital, we have been planning a strike on District One next door to it. This transmission from our spy there came in recently, and we think the time to strike is now."

Gale pushed several buttons, and a transmission with a doctored voice and location stamp played back.

"This is Agent Fulcrum, calling the Jedi command at District Seven. The Inquisitors here are alert and have put our forces in Protection Condition Bravo. Under this directive, it will be at least a week before a good window of opportunity opens for you to launch an attack. Be advised when you do attack, they will fight for every inch on this battlefield. Fulcrum out."

The assembly pondered this for a minute before Commander Finick spoke up.

"So do we really have to put our forces on hold for a week?"

"Why do that when we can easily just rush in there and blast them all?" Crosshair answered with another question.

"Because even if we outnumbered them three to one we'd lose more than half of our troops if we did," Petta replied. "You heard him, they are more than willing to sacrifice one of their men for one or five of ours."

"However, they'd expect us to wait now that they are on higher alert," Tech chimed in. "As we just saw recently here, conventional methods aren't always the best."

"Additionally," Tup spoke up. "If the intel we've received from spies in District One is correct, there is an independent resistance cell there that could help us."

"What would you propose then?" Prim asked.

"With respect, General Windu," Sergeant Hunter began. "My squad and I have never failed a mission conducted with our unorthodox methods. We can easily provide the enemy forces a diversion while another infiltration team goes inside the District to seize strategic points and gain us a victory."

"If we're lucky, the people of the District may rise up and join our attack." Katniss offered.

"That's a big if," Commander Ponds interjected. "Districts One through Three are career districts and infamously loyal to the Capital."

"Be that as it may," Finick responded. "An attack while they are on alert will yield casualties and risk no different than when the Protection Condition is lifted. The longer we wait, the more the Capital can bolster it's defenses."

"

"Shadow Soldier, are you willing to be part of the infiltration team?" Mace Windu asked his apprentice.

"Yes Master, as always." Shadow Soldier replied.

"It's settled then," Windu mandated. "Clone Force 99 along with Mockingjay Squad will create a diversion while my apprentice and the Mockingjay's friends will help seize District One. May the Force be with us all."

Bo-Katan and Agent Kallus convened secretly in Kallus's quarters, making double sure no one was listening before they began reviewing the situation.

"So, what did you tell them?" Bo-Katan asked.

"I told them they should wait a week or more before launching any kind of attack," Kallus explained. "As long as the troops are on full alert, they will protect this position to the last man."

"Sounds like a good call. What if they disregard your advice?" Bo-Katan asked.

"Well, then there's not much we'd be able to do," Kallus answered. "Unless we're absolutely sure we'd take the Inquisitors by surprise, we'd remain hidden."

Bo-Katan pushed the button on her helmet comm, sending a private transmission to the other five Mandalorian Death Watch commandos who were in on the plan.

"For now we have to wait a little more," Kallus reiterated. "But we...you...will have your revenge."

Nodding in understanding, Bo-Katan left the room and retired to her own quarters, where even after unbuckling her weapons belt and hanging her helmet, she still could not sleep easy. Long had she waited for a chance to enact revenge on the Sith, specifically Darth Maul, who had murdered her sister and plunged her world into a devastating period of war and chaos. Even now, three years later, she remembered the Siege of Mandalore like it was yesterday. Though with Ahsoka Tano's help they had won, her home, her people had been nearly destroyed and Maul had later escaped custody. Though the Clone Army never betrayed the Jedi due to the Kaminoans double crossing their Sith masters (she had learned this from the others in Valkorian's Hand when the now Imperial Sith Shadow Empire had decimated the 332nd troops on Mandalore), Maul and the other Sith had simply consolidated their forces and prolonged the war.

Now, she had spent years under fear of the Sith and not daring to strike back lest her home world be destroyed. But she owed it to her sister to destroy as much of the Sith as she could before she herself was buried six feet underground.

Closing her eyes, she fell asleep, and tried to suppress the nightmares of her sister's death and people's destruction that always came.

Ashley Juno, Hunger Games survivor and leader of the underground resistance cell in District One, surveyed the maps of District One as she pondered an answer to Haymitch's question.

"I'm being serious," Haymitch repeated. "If we rise up without any Jedi help, how can you say we'll be victorious and ignite this great fire among the people of Panem?"

"How about you shut your sarcastic mouth and show some respect, old man?" a young, impulsive young man who worked in a carpenter shop retorted.

"Both of you shut it while I think!" Ashley cut them off sharply. As much as she wanted to respond to Haymitch, a former drunk beggar from the streets, in that manner she knew she owed him her respect. He had risen from the former position to a Staff Sergeant in the Panem Freedom Force and fought in the first failed siege of the Capital. Since then, he had been doing his best to help the resistance cell she'd formed contribute to the PFF's war effort. However, these constant years of stalemate had taken their toll on his morale as well as her own. But she had to stay strong for the sake of those under her leadership.

"If we did do something without any outside help, it'd be along the lines of a hit and run attack," Ashley began. "Or interrogating a stormtrooper and give the information to the Jedi."

"But how long are we to risk lives doing those small attacks?" another woman who led their small Scout Fireteam chimed in.

Ashley mulled that over, not knowing what to answer.

"Until we have a meaningful target, we can hit without wasting lives, our strategy conference is adjourned," she sighed.

They all dispersed to other areas of the large basement underneath the warehouse that served as their makeshift base, understanding her words but still disappointed. Ashley didn't blame them; it was not an easy call to make, even if those in their ragtag group of fifty-five resistance fighters were willing to charge into a machine gun battery.

A Hunger Games survivor from four years ago, she had been inspired by Katniss once she had sparked the rebellion that led to the Panem Freedom Force. Her long black hair reached to the middle of her back and was at present in a ponytail for the sake of professional presence. Her green eyes had a hint of gray in them from the long and bitter years of war against Snow and his regime, but they had yet to lose the glimmer of determined hope she carried. Unlike Katniss, her weapon of choice was a spear and an occasional shield when she could get her hands on one. She still carried the spear she'd survived that year's Game's with on her back, as a testimony to those who dared trivialize the horror of the Hunger Games. Though she had survived, she had been forced to use her favorite weapon against those she called friends.

Even him...

She pushed that memory down. No, she could not let Charleson's unknown fate cloud her present battle. Scanning the maps of District One again, more determined than ever to formulate a plan of attack, she took a sip from her nearby water bottle and continued thinking through every possible scenario she could.

Hardcase firmly gripped the handle on the Marauder shuttle as they approached their target. The plan had been finalized: Katniss, Shadow Soldier and the other four PFF commanders would be dropped onto District One's Sith Listening Outpost under cover fire from the other Rebel gunship they were flying in. Meanwhile, him and the other troopers of Mockingjay Squad and Clone Force 99 would drop groundside beside the Weapons Production Facility in the Northwest corner of the District and cause a chaotic diversion. While they had fun mowing down scores of enemy bucketheads, Katniss and the others with her would cut off the enemy's call for help at the Listening Outpost and proceed to disrupt the production of the District's defenses by ambushing the stormtroopers who oversaw the trench digging workforce. If things went as planned, the resistance cell would jump in and then start a domino effect among the other civilians, causing an uprising. If they remained loyal, they had contingency plan for that situation, that being a quick reaction force of Rebel Marines led by Windu and Ponds swooping and aiding in finishing the battle.

Finishing cleaning his weapon, Wrecker donned his helmet with an eager smile. Hardcase stroked his chain gun, agreeing with Wrecker's sentiment. It was going to be a fun day for them and a lousy day for the enemy. Even if this operation went south, it was enough they'd make a statement to the Sith forces that they were not afraid. The rest of the troopers locked and loaded their weapons, their blood boiling for a fight. Soon, the Marauder shook as blasts from anti-aircraft guns pinged in the air around them. Expertly maneuvering past them, Tech opened the shuttle's side door for them to deploy. Not needing to be told twice, the nine troopers led by Sergeant Hunter jumped out of the door and into the East side of the Weapons Production Facility.

"Hey there boys, how's it going?!" Wrecker screamed sadistically as they landed in the mud. Immediately, several squads of Peacekeepers opened fire on them, their bullets pinging in the mud around them and grazing off their armor. The nine troopers quickly took an Arrowhead defense pattern behind numerous crates, barrels, and smaller barracks buildings as they returned fire.

Tech firmly kept his return course towards the forest, not looking back at his squad although he wanted to. This was the next part of the plan; while the Rebel Gunship behind him dropped off Shadow Soldier and his team at their objective, he would set down in the forest far enough to be safe but close enough to let the shuttle's communication gear serve as a connection between Sergeant Hunter and General Windu. He could also use their camera feeds to the shuttle to guide them in their fight. Finding a small clearing by a pond, he set the Marauder down and pulled up the camera feeds of the nine troopers on the displays.

Now to watch the fireworks.

In accordance with the plan, the Rebel Gunship transporting Shadow Solider, Katniss and her friends roared in over District One, speeding with ferocity towards the Listening Outpost near the marketplace. Several anti-aircraft guns opened fire but all in vain as the pilot activated the gunship's two miniguns and forward cannons, flattening all opposition and clearing a path through the enemy defenses. The gunship was soon only a few meters from their target, and Katniss and the others rapidly disembarked right as the gunship sped over the roof of the listening outpost. Catching the impact of her fall on a forward shoulder roll, Katniss immediately loaded an arrow into her bow and scanned the area for targets. The other five fighters with her followed suit, surprised to encounter little resistance on the roof. Not waiting for any to come, Shadow Soldier and Gale activated their lightsabers and sliced two holes into the roof. Petta and Finick dropped in first, with the others following immediately as they cleared Peacekeepers from what turned out to be a conference room.

"Let's not waste any time," Shadow Soldier directed. "Prim, pull up the schematics of this station so we can find the Main Communications Room in this station."

Prim did so, and they discovered the room they sought was down the hall to the left, and the fourth door on the right. Rushing through the hall, keeping their weapons up for security, they divided into two teams on the side of the door while Shadow Soldier sliced their way in with his lightsaber. Kicking in the metal, they stormed in to find a team of six Mandalorian Death Watch commandos who turned to them with their weapons raised.

"Hold your fire!" Bo-Katan shouted, and the Mandalorians did so.

Shadow Soldier was initially shocked but soon adapted. "Team lower your weapons!" he shouted.

"What?" Prim asked in confusion,

"That's an order, medic!" Shadow Soldier repeated.

Gale brought his assault rifle down, but still maintained the alert position. Though he was welcome to inside help, he wasn't about to let his guard down.

"Well, I see it took you long enough to overcome your cowardice," Shadow Soldier mocked Bo-Katan.

"Your disbelief will have to wait, apprentice of Windu," Bo-Katan retorted. "We don't have much time if we are to eliminate the Inquisitors and take this District from the Sith."

"Why are you helping us?" Petta inquired, reading the minds of everyone on his team.

"Are you going to let us help you, so you live to find out why?" Bo-Katan responded irritably.

"Yes, we will," Shadow Soldier cut in, correcting his mistrusting tone. "What must we do to ensure victory?"

"We've already disabled any outgoing transmissions from this District, so that's taken care of," Bo-Katan explained. "The next thing to do is add on to the chaos your other squad is creating in order to erode any coherent counterattack."

"Then let's start cutting off reinforcements to the Weapons Production facility." Finick offered.

"My commandos and I can ambush them on the Oak Avenue route," Bo-Katan responded. Nodding to the Mandalorians, they took flight out the windows and sped towards the designated objective.

"Let's see what we can do about those trench digging yards," Gale prompted.

"Oh, I don't think you'll be going there anytime soon," sneered a sinister voice from behind them.

"An opportunity has opened up!" Haymitch announced as he burst open the door. "A force of Jedi troops has begun causing chaos in the city, and one of our spies on Oak Avenue has reported six Mandalorian commandos aiding their efforts!"

"What?!" Ashley shouted, her shoulders straightening as her ears heard the words she'd been waiting to hear for several long months.

"If we are to start an uprising, the time to strike is now!" Haymitch added.

Hurriedly, Ashley keyed the encrypted code sequence on her wrist comlink that would transmit to the rest of the resistance fighters telling them to mobilize. Haymitch, for his part, entered in a sequence on the keypad that notified the warehouse manager, a sympathizer, to initiate a directive that put the factory at low power and locked all workers in the main assembly area. With the snag of the workers loyal to the Capital potentially interrupting their uprising out of the way, Ashley and Haymitch rushed out of the room and up the stairs towards the tunnel that led to the Main Street of District One. The determined fifty-five resistance fighters, grabbing their weapons and mobilizing in less than a minute, split into several groups among the four stairwells that led to tunnels opening into other areas of District One. With the tunnels they could execute a coordinated incursion, surprise the Sith forces and potentially terrify the cowardly loyalist citizens. Pumping the shotgun she brandished in addition to her spear, she firmly resolved that today would either be a victory or an honorable death for her, for she knew the fate that awaited her if she were caught and interrogated at the Capital. The fighters behind her and Haymitch quickened their pace as they pressed on towards their objective. This was the fight they had been waiting for all their lives and they were going to win.

In just a short matter of five minutes, they had arrived at the hatch that opened into a resistance fighter's house just by District One's main street. These tunnels had been made several years ago originally as a way for Peacekeepers to get the jump on suspects; now they would serve a more noble purpose. Checking her comlink, Ashley waited for three confirmation beeps from the other group leaders and nodded to Haymitch. In determined anger, Haymitch unlocked the hatch and popped it open, enabling them all to climb up and into their entry point to the Main Street.

The house was swept clean and in good order, but Ashley had no time for such trivial pleasantries. Using hand signals to direct three soldiers to go upstairs while Haymitch and the others stayed on the first floor, she took a place at one of the living room windows and observed what was going on. A platoon of Stormtroopers and Peacekeepers were rushing north through the main street marketplace towards the disturbance caused by the Jedi forces. She glimpsed an AT-ST and two Peacekeeper Armored Cars backing up the infantry, but she pushed the thoughts of their superior armor support aside. They had their mission and they would accomplish it. Turning to Haymitch, who pointed to two resistance fighters and then the armored cars, she nodded in understanding and got ready by the front door.

"For the people of Panem!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "For the Districts!" and kicked open the front door. Immediately taking aim at the nearest Peacekeeper, she let loose a blast from her shotgun and watched as the Peacekeeper crumpled to the ground screaming in agony. The other Peacekeepers and Stormtroopers turned in her direction, only to be met with aa flurry of bullets as the other resistance fighters opened fire from windows, a balcony and even the sides of the house that a few had accessed via side doors. She saw the gunner on one of the armored cars turning to fire at her out of the corner of her eye and rolled backwards to avoid a fierce barrage of rounds that reduced the floor where she had stood to shreds. However, it was cut short, followed by two explosions that she heard from an alarmed Peacekeeper had eliminated the armored cars. Smiling with satisfaction, she resumed leading her group of fighters against the enemy forces.

So far so good...now to give it their all until either victory or death.

........................

The four Inquisitors backed by Agent Kallus ignited their lightsabers, smiling with joy at the prospect of destroying both Shadow Soldier and Katniss in the same engagement.

"It appears we are an even five on five," the Eighth Brother mocked as Kallus readied his Bo-Rifle beside him. However, those were his last words as Kallus suddenly turned and impaled him with the electro-point end of his Bo-Rifle, and the Eighth Brother dropped lifelessly to the floor.

"What?!" the Grand Inquisitor cried in rage as he moved his blade towards Kallus's direction.

"I'm Fulcrum," Kallus said nonchalantly to Gale.

"Yeah, you kind of just made that obvious." Gale replied.

By now, Shadow Soldier, Gale, and Katniss had ignited their lightsabers while Prim had readied her twin blaster pistols, Petta his electro staff and Finick his Trident. The three Inquisitors, now outnumbered two to one, stood firmly against their enemies as they waited for them to make the first strike. Shadow Soldier, confident that they would be no match for him, lunged at the Fifth Brother backed by Gale. The Fifth Brother, eager for a rematch since their fight at the Sith bomb factory, lunged forward as well catching both of their blades on his double-bladed lightsaber. Katniss and Petta went for the Seventh Sister while Finick and Kallus squared off against the Grand Inquisitor. The battle was on as the Inquisitors swung, stabbed and parried blows from their respective opponents and Shadow Soldier and his allies responded in kind. Katniss endured several kicks to her knees from the Seventh Sister and Kallus was nearly decapitated several times by the Grand Inquisitor. At one point, the Fifth Brother Force threw several crates at Shadow Soldier and Gale, throwing off their stance and catching them off guard. Gale brought his blade up to protect himself from a crate for a split second. But that was all the Fifth Brother needed to bring his blade across Gale's abdomen and take him out of the fight. Gale gasped and clutched his side, kneeling to floor though every fiber of his being wanted to stand.

"No! Gale!" Katniss screamed in rage, swinging fiercely at the Seventh Sister and forcing her back.

Shadow Soldier was not about to let his enemy get the upper hand, and quickly used the Fifth Brother's opening in his right shoulder to sever his arm. Before the Fifth Brother could even scream in surprise, Shadow Soldier stabbed him through the chest and ended his foe. Jumping to Katniss's aid, he cornered the Seventh Sister allowing Katniss to gut her through the stomach. Finally, the five fighters overpowered the Grand Inquisitor and the fight was over.

Prim knelt by Gale's side, doing everything she could to stop the bleeding from his abdomen. But the dark blood continued to flow, and Gale's face grew pale. The others quickly rushed to his side.

"Gale, stay with me!" Katniss pleaded. "You're going to be alright!"

"We'll get you to a medical bay soon, Gale!" Prim added.

"Don't worry...about me..." Gale gasped.

"Gale, no, come on soldier!" Petta interrupted. "Don't go out on us like this!"

Gale gazed up at the ceiling, a distant look in his eye and a feeling of warm peace washing over his body. For all his life, for the entire war, he had been constantly tensed up in anticipation for the day the PFF would triumph over Snow's regime. Strangely, rather than being angry at no longer being able to fight, he felt a certain gladness enter his mind as he realized what this moment meant. Yes, he would soon breathe his last. But now, he was free from the pain, suffering and destruction that the war had wrought on his mind and body as well as his people.

"Petta...Katniss...it's fine..." Gale continued. "Lead the Freedom Force...save our people. It's all gonna be okay for me soon. I don't...have to fight anymore..."

"Stay with us Gale, come on!" Finick insisted. "Don't give up now"

"The battles...the suffering...it's finally...over." Gale said with a slight smile, and breathed his last.

"No, no, Gale! Stay with me, Gale!" Katniss cried. "Don't go away from us Gale, stay with me! Stay with...oh...oh God." Katniss sobbed and buried her face in her hands as she broke down.

Shadow Soldier observed the events solemnly, saying nothing but recalling the time when his brother had died in his arms during the Hunger Games. Just like Gale, his brother had told him not to worry and to keep pressing on. Along with these memories, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence...could it be...was it...her?

No, that could not be. She had most likely died long ago when he had attempted to save her from the Peacekeepers that were to deliver her to the Capital for experimentation. He shoved those thoughts and emotions deep down, as he'd always done, and proceeded to take charge. Stepping forward, he placed his hand on Katniss's shoulder to console her.

"Mockingjay," he said. "I sense and understand your grief. It is never easy to lose a brother in arms while in battle. But Commander Gale would've wanted us to complete our mission. For his sake and for the sake of our squad, we must press on."

They were all silent for a minute, but soon Katniss straightened up and stood tall like she had done at the start of the revolution all those years ago.

"You're right, Shadow Soldier," She replied. "We must continue to our next objective." She turned to Agent Kallus. "What's our next best move from here?"

Activating his wrist mounted holo-map, Kallus surveyed the current layout of the various firefights taking place in District One. Noting the increased activity towards the District's train station, he presented to them a better solution.

"If you have any other troops available to call in, now would be the time," he advised. "From here I can shut off power to the trains so the civilians can't be evacuated to the Capital to bolster their numbers, as well as the District's other border defenses. Then, your reinforcements along with the apparent resistance fighters here can capture all the loyalists in one place."

"Sounds like a plan!" Petta approved, keying his comlink to Tech.

........................

Sergeant Hunter expertly twirled his vibro-knife and thrust it into the chest of the Riot Control Peacekeeper who'd been foolish enough to think taking him head on would work. Removing his blade as quickly as he'd thrust it, he sheathed it and continued laying down swaths of deadly fire at the stormtroopers and Peacekeepers who had been continuously engaging him and the other eight troopers at the Weapons Production Facility. So far, his squad's unorthodox methods combined with the textbook precision of the Regs had held their position, but Gregor and Hevy had been wounded plus they were running out of grenades. He keyed his helmet comm to Tech.

"Tech, where the hell is Windu's quick reaction force?! We're sitting mynocks out here!" he screamed angrily.

"Sergeant, Captain Petta just gave me the go ahead to call them in." Tech assured. "They'll be here in less than two minutes."

Less than two minutes was an understatement, as soon Hunter heard several Republic and Rebel gunships scream in overhead, deploying scores of Rebel Army Rangers and clone troopers led by Mace Windu and Commander Ponds. Windu and Ponds dropped in with Razor, Stak, Boil and Waxer to aid their position while the bulk of the quick reaction force headed straight for the train station.

A half hour later, it was all over.

........................

Shadow Soldier along with his clone trooper squad and Mace Windu stood at the train station, sternly walking back and forth along the train cars making sure none of the loyalist citizens attempted to start a riot. The advantage they'd had in the assault, besides the element of surprise by attacking when least expected, had been the cowardice of the people. For so long had they praised President Snow and his Peacekeeper army thinking themselves safe under his wing. But now, that illusion had been broken and the citizens cowered in fear on the very train they had thought would take them to safety.

"Well, what a glorious day for us ay?" Waxer piped up.

"Not yet, trooper," Shadow Soldier chastised gently but sternly. "Many resistance fighters and troopers died to take this District."

"Yes, of course sir." Waxer replied.

"You four stay in this section of the station while I go talk to the resistance fighters," Shadow Soldier instructed. "With any luck, they'll have some good intel for us about the Capital's defenses."

"Yes sir!" they replied in unison as he turned on his heel and strode to the further west side of the station. As he approached a group of District One resistance fighters, he noticed a girl carrying a shotgun with a long black ponytail and a spear on her back talking with three of the fighters. His pace slowed as he sensed who it was. No...it could not be...

At one of the soldier's pointing to him, the girl turned towards him. Their eyes locked and immediately Shadow Soldier knew who it was. His heart stopped for a moment as he stopped in his tracks.

"Ashley..." he said softly.

Ashley Juno proceeded cautiously towards him, hesitant to accept what was reality but in the end succumbing to her emotions as she strode more quickly towards Shadow Soldier, who she had known as Charleson many years ago. Every instinct inside Shadow Soldier screamed at him to draw his vibro knife or ignite his lightsaber against an imposter agent from the enemy. But he could do neither as Ashley continued towards him, eventually closing the distance of what seemed like miles between as they embraced fiercely, some tears coming to Ashley's eyes.

"Charleson?" she cried. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, Ashley...it's me," he replied not letting his emotions surface.

"I never thought I'd see you again." she added through tears.

"How did you manage to survive?" he asked as he pried himself from the embrace.

"I survived in the forest here outside of District One for a few months until Staff Sergeant Haymitch rescued me following the first failed siege of the Capital." She explained. "Since then him and I have been leading our resistance fighters in various sabotage and spy efforts against the Capital."

"You never lost your spirit, I see." He complimented.

"Neither did you," she responded with a slight smile.

They gazed at each other for a couple more seconds before Shadow Soldier was summoned by his master. Turning to go, he looked back at Ashley one last time then hurried away before she could see the tears that he refused to let fall.

At least one person he cared for had not been taken away.

And the people who had tried to take her away would soon pay with their blood.