Year: 22 BBY
Location: Space above the moon of Rugosa -
On the second Munificient-class star frigate, the battle droids aboard the bridge get a strange signal.
[zzzz... doid... zzzzz... power core failing... zzzzz... requesting dock-.... zzzz]
"What was that?"
"Seems like our comrades on the second ship have a technical problem, sir."
"It's coming from the tight-beam beacon."
"How did that happen, I wonder?"
"They must have the worse programming than we do."
"We have the same programming, metal head."
"Oh, right."
"So what should we do, sir?"
"Hmm, try to get the signal stronger. I want to hear what they have to say. Something about their power core failing."
"Roger, Roger."
[zzzzz....]
"Not yet."
[zzzzz... failing... zzzzz... you hear us?...]
"It's not getting better."
[need... zzzzz... help...]
"They need some sort of help, it would seem."
"Alright, send the affirmative to them and prepare to have them dock."
"Roger, Roger."
.
The second Separatist frigate approaches her sister vessel slowly. They have received an emergency call and are going to see what happened. However, to do that, they need to get closer and then send out their droids to investigate the issue. A short distance before they reach the first frigate, they slow down.
"We're not getting a signal anymore, sir. Seems like their communications went fully dead."
"Then we have to board them. Who knows what could have happened? Prepare a squad to board."
"Roger, Roger."
"Powering down, deflector shields and sending out our squads."
"Why did you power down the deflector shields?"
"Why not? How else are we supposed to get them-"
"Sir, the frigate is moving again," one of the droids reports.
"Really? That's good news."
"It's moving towards us. Oh, oh."
A loud series of explosions sends ripples through the frigate. The first Separatist frigate has suddenly started firing at the second one, just as they powered down their deflector shields and targeted the very shields. Captain Zak and the two pilots are firing all the weapons they have, which aim forward. Two forward-mounted heavy turbolaser cannons, which are capable of blast-melting an ice moon 1,000 kilometres in diameter or piercing the shields of a 10-kilometre-wide Grade III battle station, send blasts at the deflector shield generator array, housed near the aft dorsal section, just forward of the engine block.
"Sir, our comrades have just taken out the deflector shield generator. We're defenceless over here."
"Idiots! Blast 'em!"
"Oh, right."
"Roger, Roger."
"Roger, Roger."
.
The second Separatist frigate finally starts to return fire at the first one, but they are too late. Captain Zak has already set his plan in motion, and Caleb knows they will win. The clones are working hard to make what they can, while being so few. But it is working.
"Move in, the sensor and targeting arrays are next," Captain Rex tells the two pilots.
"Yes, sir."
They turn the frigate around and move towards the second ship, which is in the process of turning around. They fire the two forward-mounted heavy ion cannons at the long-range sensor tower and the high-performance sensors, which have a range of several light-years, aiming to destroy those and the navigation computer.
"Fire all!" Captain Zak yells.
Two forward-mounted heavy turbolaser cannons, two forward-mounted heavy ion cannons, thirteen port and thirteen starboard twin light turbolaser cannons, ten port and ten starboard turret-mounted light turbolasers, six port and six starboard medium flak guns, and ten dorsal, ten ventral, ten port, and ten starboard turret-mounted retractable twin light turbolasers all start to fire at the second Munificent-class star frigate and deal heavy damage to it.
Explosions can be seen from the frigate, as parts of it start to blow up. There is nothing the droids can do anymore, as they weren't ready for this at all. But Captain Zak and the others don't stop. They turn around again, after the heavy barrage and go in for a second round, just for good measure. Only when they see the ship be wrecked, do they stop.
"We did it!" they yell in relief.
"We sure did. Oh, my."
"Alright, time for celebrations must wait. We still have a mission on that moon. The general and our men are outnumbered and outgunned," the Captain says.
"Time to change that."
.
Yoda and Lieutenant Thire, clone trooper Jek, and Rys managed to escape to Rugosa's surface in an escape pod. As the Republic frigate initially left the system, Asajj Ventress, an assassin trained by Confederate leader Dooku, pointed out to King Katuunko that the Republic was weak because they had to leave the system. Count Dooku planned to demonstrate the Republic's and the Jedi's weakness and, in turn, have King Katuunko join the Separatist cause. To do that, he ordered Ventress to stop Yoda from reaching his appointment with the King.
Yoda, however, contacted Katuunko via hologram and informed the king that he had landed nearby. Ventress suggests a challenge: If Yoda could escape her best troops and arrive at the king's location, then Toydaria will be free to join the Republic. If he should fail and her droids prevail, however, Toydaria will join the Separatists. Yoda agreed to the challenge, despite the king's uncertainty.
To make sure she succeeds in killing Yoda and stopping him from arriving, Asajj Ventress deploys a C-9979 landing craft, sending an entire battalion of droids out to corner and hunt the small Republic group. Despite the young assassin heavily underestimating the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, the droids have the advantage in numbers, and after Thire is wounded, they need to take a rest.
A column of droids and tanks approaches their location.
"Tanks, is that the best they can throw at us?"
"Yeah, but I've only got one shot left."
"Greet them, I will," Yoda says.
"General, you don't plan to take that whole column by yourself?"
Yoda giggles.
"Have you three I do! Outnumbered are they. Know the time to help me, you will," Yoda says and jumps in front of the entire column of droids and tanks.
"It's the Jedi! Block his escape! Prepare to fire!" the commanding droid says.
Just as they prepare to fire, they contact Asajj Ventress, and Yoda feels a disturbance. He looks into the sky and sees the Separatist Munificent-class star frigate arrive. The Grandmaster's eyes widen, and he stands up. He uses the Force to reinforce himself and jumps out of the way.
"Ha! Our reinforcements have arrived," the commanding droid says.
However, in that moment, the weapons systems of the frigate start to fire at the column of tanks, B1 and B2 battle droids. The ground lights up with fire as Captain Zak and the other clone pilots unload their fire at the ground forces. After the fire, the battlefield turns silent. Having unloaded the attack that they needed, Captain Zak and the others make their way to the ground, where Yoda and the three clones are waiting for them.
"Arrived just in time, you have. Thank you, we do."
"It was all thanks to the Commander, General. He told us to return, and I agreed to go through with his plan of taking over the Separatist frigate and taking out the other one. I am sure this will go down in history," Captain Zak says.
"You honour me, Captain. But it was only your skill that allowed us to deal the important blow to the second Separatist frigate."
"Talk about your actions, we will," Yoda tells Caleb and makes his way to the meeting with the King.
.
.
Caleb is called in front of the Jedi Council to 'answer' for his actions. Naturally, he didn't do what the Order expected of him, and that has to be addressed. The outcome is irrelevant; only the process matters. If you don't behave as a Jedi should, you have to be reprimanded and need to make efforts to find your path again.
Yoda is the first to speak. Eyes half-lidded, hands resting on his cane, which lies on his legs as he sits on the council seat.
"Courage you showed, young one… but wisdom? Hmmm. That, yet to be determined, it is."
Mace Windu, the stiffest among the Council, leans forward and narrows his eyes. His voice shows his disdain for Caleb's actions.
"Your actions saved lives. Perhaps even turned the tide of that conflict. But you disobeyed a direct order from your superior officer and the Grandmaster himself. You abandoned your assigned position, putting the soldiers on the craft at risk. You were reckless, and that is not the Jedi way."
Windu has never liked Caleb. The reason for this is Caleb's genius in lightsaber combat. Mace has disdain for the ease with which Caleb courses through the Jedi training. But what bothered him even more than that was the fact that Caleb learned Form VII, Vaapad, by simply observing him spar with his former Padawan, Depa Billaba. Caleb was interested in Master Billaba for some reason and saw them spar. That resulted in him learning the lightsaber form. After he found out about it, Mace Windu was almost furious and forbade Caleb from ever using it.
Mace Windu, who developed Vaapad, stated that Vaapad was an answer for his own weakness, allowing him to channel his internal darkness into something positive. Furthermore, he said that he would not permit the use of the form without his permission, a privilege he had previously granted to his apprentice, Depa Billaba. So, when he found out that Caleb had learned it by simply observing him, he was very unhappy. Caleb agreed to never use it, at least officially, but still practised it on his own every once in a while. But ever since then, Mace Windu has had disdain for Caleb and stopped him from progressing at every turn.
"Still, we must not ignore what was accomplished. Taking a Munificent-class ship without support and then destroying the second one with only the help of a Captain? That's more than luck or impulse. There is something in this child that must be guided carefully, not crushed," Kit Fisto says, offering a calm smile.
"Impulsiveness in a youngling is expected. But such autonomy… it echoes the arrogance we fear in older Jedi. Caleb must learn discipline before power. We cannot have him becoming a symbol for rule-breaking," Jedi Master Shaak Ti says in a soft voice, but with piercing eyes.
"He acted to protect others. I believe his heart was in balance… even if his actions were not. We must ask: Was it the Force guiding him? Or was it pride?" Jedi Master Plo Koon's kind voice is heard.
"The war is changing our young too quickly. Eleven years old, and already taking command in battle. This is dangerous—both for him and the Order. I agree with Master Windu, this has to have consequences and can't go unpunished," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi says.
"Ready for such choice, he was not. Yet, make it, he did. The Force strong in him, I sense," Yoda nods his head.
"Bravery alone, the path of a Jedi does not make. From your heart, disobedience came? Or from the Force?" Yoda asks Caleb.
"I didn't act out of pride. I saw the steps I had to take to succeed, so I took them. I know you believe I disobeyed… but Master Yoda only told me to remain on the ship and not to leave for the Jedi Temple. It was the right thing to do," Caleb answers.
...
For a moment, the Council Chamber is silent. None of the members says anything. The pride and certainty in Caleb's voice bother most of them. But they have already come to a decision. The Grandmaster had listened to each member's opinion and input and then chose what to do.
"You will not be expelled. But you will be reassigned to meditation and reflection. No missions. No saber drills. Five moon cycles," Mace Windu says with narrowed eyes. He is the least happy about this.
"A trial, this was. Not of battle of power, but of spirit. Grow from it, you must," Yoda says with a soft voice.
"And perhaps… a Master who can guide that fire," Kit Fisto says.
The Council murmurs. Some consider him far too young still; others nod. Master Windu clenches his fist.
"Hmmm. Watch you closely, we will, Caleb. But in you… a future I sense. One of great light—or deep shadow."
"I understand, Master. Thank you."