It had been a month since Jango Fett left Sundari, and on this day, Commander Kote was sweeping up some escaped bounty hunters as usual.
In a narrow alley, a Falleen was hiding. His other companions had died in previous sweeps, leaving only him to hide. Death Watch also seemed unreachable, as if they had a major plan recently. They hadn't issued new orders, only telling them to hide if they could, but not to withdraw from Sundari.
"I sense your fear, Falleen. Come out. Resisting will only lead to a worse death. So, come out and I'll make it quick," Commander Kote said, playing with a grenade in his hand.
A heavy silence lasted for a few seconds. Finally, a rustling sound came from behind the dumpster. The tall, thin Falleen stiffly stood up, his long arms looking oddly proportioned. The blaster pistol gripped tightly in his hand was raised high, its muzzle trembling slightly. "You win, Mandalorian," his voice was hoarse. "Take me."
"Good attitude. I'll spare your life this time," Commander Kote prepared to disarm the Falleen.
Just as he stepped into the middle of the alley, only a few steps away from the Falleen—
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
A series of deafening, unannounced explosions suddenly ripped through the air! The shockwave swept through the narrow alley like an invisible giant hammer! Shrapnel, metal fragments, and scorching hot air instantly erupted! Commander Kote's body was violently thrown backward by the powerful force, crashing heavily against the wall. His helmet collided with the metal surface, and he then slumped to the ground, motionless.
"Run!" Commander Kote's last roar before losing consciousness was drowned out by the explosions.
"Commander Kote!" The guards' terrified shouts were distorted by the aftershocks of the explosion. Some of the well-trained guards immediately rushed to where the Commander had fallen, while others instinctively raised their blasters and fired into the smoke-filled area ahead.
In the chaos, a flicker of cunning crossed the Falleen's eyes. He endured the impact of the explosion's aftershocks, suddenly tore a spherical object from his waist, and threw it to the ground.
Poof—!
Dense white smoke instantly burst open, expanding rapidly like a living thing, filling the entire alley. Under the perfect cover of the smoke, the Falleen, like a black lightning bolt, turned and fled desperately into the depths of the alley.
"He's over there! Chase him!" The guards roared, blaster bolts piercing through the smoke, blindly firing at the blurred, fleeing figure. Several muffled groans of pain were heard; at least two shots had hit the Falleen's long arms, but he didn't slow down, stumbling as he disappeared into the labyrinth of smoke and architectural ruins.
"Command! Emergency call to Command! Commander Kote ambushed, severely wounded and unconscious! Coordinates sent, urgent need for medical and support! Repeat, Commander Kote..." The remaining guards frantically checked Commander Kote's condition, shouting anxiously into their communicators. One side of his helmet was removed, revealing Commander Kote's pale, tightly closed face, with faint breathing still present.
However, the only response they received was the harsh static noise on the communication channel.
Rumble—!!!
Almost at the same moment, in the direction of the city center in the distance, a massive pillar of fire, accompanied by an earth-shattering explosion, shot into the sky! Rolling black smoke, like a flag declaring death, surged and spread menacingly across the twilight sky—that was the location of the Mandalore-New Mandalore Joint Command!
In the sky, piercing engine screeches replaced the silence. Several kuat-class fighters emblazoned with the Death Watch symbol, and many Death Watch members with jetpacks, like a deadly swarm of locusts, swooped down from the low-lying clouds!
Dense laser fire, like a crimson rain, mercilessly poured down on weakly defended targets on the ground. The Command building violently shook under the fierce bombardment, its outer walls crumbling, and flames spewing from the windows.
"This is a trap!" Great Master Qui-Gon Jinn's calm and grave voice echoed in the chaotic command center. The green lightsaber in his hand drew reassuring arcs in the dimness and flashing explosions, precisely deflecting scattered blaster bolts that shot through the broken windows, protecting Duchess Satine behind him. "They used bounty hunters as bait to disperse all our patrol forces! The Command is an empty shell now!"
"Great Master, the firepower is too intense! They are everywhere!" Young Obi-Wan Kenobi, using cover at the front, deflected deadly energy beams with his lightsaber while directing the remaining thirty to forty guards to form a fragile defensive line. The roar of blaster rifles and the screech of tearing metal almost drowned out everything else.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon's voice cut through the noise. "Take the Duchess and evacuate immediately! Head to the spaceport, you must leave Sundari! Hurry!"
"No! My people are still here! I will never flee alone!" Duchess Satine's eyes were resolute, her golden hair flying in the explosion's shockwave. She tightly gripped her blaster pistol, stubbornly firing at the enemy ships in the sky outside the window, though it was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"This is not the time for arguments! Go!" Qui-Gon's tone carried an undeniable decisiveness. Obi-Wan didn't hesitate for a moment; he knew every second counted. He decisively turned, grabbing Satine's arm with such force that he almost pulled her off the ground.
"Let go of me, Obi-Wan! I must stay!" Satine struggled fiercely, trying to break free from the Jedi apprentice's grip, her eyes burning with an attachment to her home and a sense of responsibility for her people.
Thick smoke and the fire of explosions illuminated the Command like purgatory. Great Master Qui-Gon Jinn's figure moved rapidly among the shattered walls, his green lightsaber dancing into an impenetrable barrier, blocking or deflecting all blaster bolts aimed at the core area of the command center. Each precise deflection was accompanied by showering sparks.
"Obi-Wan, go!" Qui-Gon's voice, clear amidst the roar of explosions, carried an undeniable authority and a hint of imperceptible concern. He gave a sudden push, and a powerful surge of The Force erupted, propelling the still-struggling Duchess Satine towards Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan Kenobi gritted his teeth. He knew that every second now meant a chance for survival. He no longer tried to persuade, but used the opening Qui-Gon created, exerting sudden force, almost half-dragging, half-carrying Satine towards a relatively intact emergency passage. "My apologies, Duchess! Only by surviving can you save Sundari!"
Satine stumbled forward, pulled by the powerful force. She looked back out the window—the sky was completely obscured by Death Watch forces, energy beams harvested the ground like the scythe of death. She saw thick smoke rising from distant blocks and heard the cries of civilians closer by.
In that instant, the anger burning in her eyes was replaced by a deeper glow, a mixture of pain and determination. Obi-Wan's words struck her like a hammer: survive... for them... Her struggles lessened, and she allowed Obi-Wan to pull her into the dark passage.
"Trying to run?" A squad in the air spotted their target and turned their blasters.
Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed. He did not turn, but simply threw his lightsaber directly, piercing the leader and blocking all remaining attacks.
"Great Master!" Obi-Wan took one last look at the figure standing amidst the smoke and flames from inside the passage.
"May The Force be with you, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's voice came through the smoke. He then actively moved to confront the Death Watch ground troops who were closing in from several directions, the hum of his lightsaber growing more intense.
Obi-Wan and Satine ran wildly through the narrow emergency passage. Behind them, intense gunfire and explosions echoed. That was Great Master Qui-Gon and the guards buying them time for their escape. The lights in the passage flickered, and the red glow of emergency lights stretched their shadows, making them alternately long and short.
"Communications are completely down," Obi-Wan tried his wrist communicator several times, but only received an ear-piercing busy signal. "Death Watch is jamming our communications. We're on our own now." He listened alertly to his surroundings, ready for any potential ambush.
Satine panted, her golden hair covered in dust, and her elegant gown torn, but the confusion in her eyes had faded, replaced by resolve. "The spaceport... that's our only hope. If Omen's forces attack directly, we still have a chance."
"I hope so," Obi-Wan said grimly. "But Death Watch will have thought of blockading the spaceport. We have to prepare for the worst." He cocked his ear; hurried footsteps seemed to be coming from deeper in the passage. "This way! Quick!"
As they rounded a corner, a violent explosion suddenly occurred ahead in the passage! The powerful blast wave and debris violently threw them to the ground. In the swirling smoke, several figures in Death Watch armor, armed with DC-15A blaster rifles, appeared at the breach.
"Target acquired! Open fire!" A cold command rang out.
Obi-Wan reacted incredibly fast. The moment he fell, he had already activated his lightsaber. The blue lightsaber lit up in the dim passage. He quickly rolled to his feet, lightsaber whirling, precisely deflecting the incoming blaster bolts. The blue energy beams bounced back, exploding into sparks on the Death Watch armor, temporarily suppressing the enemy.
"This way!" Satine shouted, pointing to a maintenance duct opening next to them that had been shaken open by the explosion. Obi-Wan didn't hesitate, covering Satine as they squeezed inside. The duct was cramped, filled with the smell of oil and coolant. They could only crawl forward, hearing the sounds of Death Watch soldiers trying to squeeze in and cursing behind them.
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