BOOM!
Steve Rogers narrowly dodged several blaster bolts fired in his direction and hurled his shield forward toward a squad of Super Battle Droids. After carving through the cluster of clankers, the vibranium disc returned to its owner just in time for him to deflect more incoming fire.
Overhead, War Machine and Falcon soared above the defensive perimeter established by AT-TE walkers from the 501st Legion and 212th Attack Battalion, who were desperately trying to hold back seemingly endless waves of Separatist battle droids.
On the front lines, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker moved like deadly dancers, their lightsabers deflecting every blaster bolt fired their way while cutting down any droid foolish enough to get within reach.
"So this is what you've been dealing with out here?" Steve called out between shield throws.
"Pretty much every day," Anakin replied grimly.
Natasha Romanoff stayed close behind Cap to provide covering fire, her newly acquired DC-17 blaster finding its mark with deadly precision. Rex had gifted the DC-17s to the Avengers as thanks for everything they'd done for the clones and Jedi since arriving in this galaxy. Natasha had taken to the weapon immediately.
The 501st Legion and 212th Attack Battalion were slowly being ground down, and the four Avengers and two Jedi had to cover significant gaps in the line to prevent their hard-fought defensive positions from collapsing entirely.
"If we don't get reinforcements or an extraction soon, we're going to be completely overrun," War Machine shouted, extending both arms and unleashing sustained fire from his shoulder-mounted repulsors to cover a weak point in their defenses.
"Master Plo Koon and his fleet are en route," Anakin said, parrying a vibroblade from a commando droid. "They're working to break through the Separatist blockade to get us out of here."
"Let's hope we're still breathing when they break through," Falcon replied, using his wings as shields to protect himself and nearby clone troopers—including one he'd grown fond of—as they returned fire at advancing battle droids.
High above Felucia's atmosphere, the Separatist fleet engaged the aforementioned Jedi Master Plo Koon and his forces: the newly rebuilt and revitalized 104th Battalion, also known as the Wolfpack.
Plo Koon led a squadron of V-19 Torrent starfighters and LAAT gunships in a direct assault on the Separatist fleet.
"Warthog Squadron, cover the gunships," Plo Koon ordered over the comm. "Everyone else, maintain formation and stay focused. Make sure those transports get through."
With a chorus of "Roger that, General!" from his pilots, Plo Koon accelerated forward in his starfighter, his squadron following in tight formation.
They immediately encountered CIS vulture droids, but punched through the enemy screen with covering fire from the 104th, though the engagement cost them two V-19s.
Meanwhile, Commander Wolffe directed his forces to target the port flank and eliminate a damaged Separatist frigate that was listing badly.
Back on the surface, Republic forces found themselves backed into an increasingly desperate corner as the droid army pressed their assault on multiple fronts.
The Avengers fought alongside the clones and Jedi, but even the formidable spider droids were being overwhelmed by waves of more durable super battle droids and destroyer droids.
War Machine, Falcon, and Cap repeatedly threw themselves forward as distractions to prevent their flanks from collapsing entirely. Anakin and Obi-Wan had to break from the main line several times to clear out breakthrough attempts, but they got some much-needed relief with Quicksilver's arrival.
After repelling several waves, they managed to establish a more stable defensive line, but as more droids kept appearing and blaster fire filled the air, Pietro took several hits without realizing it in his rush to help wounded clones.
"Hold still, sir. Let me patch that up," a clone medic named Kix said, quickly applying bacta patches to Quicksilver's left arm, which had taken the worst of the damage.
Pietro muttered with a mixture of amusement and frustration, "This is the second time I've been shot in this arm. Starting to think it's cursed."
"Don't make it a third," Steve said beside him, holstering his shield temporarily to pick off several B1 battle droids with his DC-17 blaster.
"Cavalry's arrived!" Black Widow shouted, and everyone looked up to see vulture droids being shot down by V-19 Torrents screaming overhead.
"Anakin, any word from Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan asked during a brief lull in the fighting.
"She went radio silent after her reconnaissance team entered the jungle," Anakin said as LAAT gunships began descending toward their position. He continued deflecting blaster fire while activating his wrist comlink. "Ahsoka, what's your status?"
At that moment, Ahsoka Tano stood atop a Republic Juggernaut tank, her lightsaber spinning in defensive patterns to protect the clone gunners operating the vehicle's top-mounted turrets.
Accompanying her was Domino Squad—or what remained of it—led by Fives along with his surviving brothers Heavy and Echo.
As she continued fighting, her Master's voice crackled through her comm unit.
"About six klicks east of your position," Ahsoka responded. "We're heavily engaged with enemy forces."
Below her position, clone troopers advanced steadily through the jungle undergrowth, systematically destroying every battle droid in their path.
"Hold your position, Ahsoka," Anakin ordered. "Master Plo's fleet is breaking through. We need to extract immediately."
Ahsoka's lekku twitched with frustration at this news. "What?! But Master, we've broken through their forward defenses!"
On Anakin's end, the LAAT gunship had touched down, and the Avengers were helping Obi-Wan coordinate the evacuation of clone troopers.
"All aboard!" Captain America shouted, moving through the defensive perimeter to ensure no clones were left behind.
Quicksilver, despite his injuries, kept using his speed to ferry distant clone troopers to the extraction point.
"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan's voice came over the comm now, "the droid army significantly outnumbers our forces and we are conducting a tactical withdrawal. Those are direct orders."
"Master Kenobi, please," Ahsoka said, fighting desperately on her front, "We're about to break their entire line! Master Skywalker taught me never to retreat when you have the advantage."
"They're regrouping with their main force, Ahsoka. You'll be cut off and overwhelmed if you don't pull back now."
"Ahsoka," Captain America's voice cut through the comm chatter, "your decision is putting your men's lives at unnecessary risk."
"I want you on that gunship when we reach your position!" Anakin said with stern authority.
"Master, please," Ahsoka pleaded, "I can't just let the enemy escape when we have them on the run."
Once all available clones were aboard the gunship, they lifted off and flew toward Ahsoka's position. When they arrived, they could see her ignoring orders and continuing to push forward with her advance.
"Set us down in front of them!" Anakin ordered the pilot sharply.
The LAAT quickly landed directly in front of Domino Squad's position, with the embarked clones providing immediate covering fire.
Anakin strode out of the transport and fixed Ahsoka with an angry stare.
"Get aboard, Ahsoka. Now."
"Master, what are you doing?! Can't you see they're retreating?!" Ahsoka shouted in frustration, gesturing toward the fleeing battle droids.
"Is that what you think is happening? They're about to counter-attack in force, and you're too focused on the immediate tactical situation to see it!" Anakin snapped back.
Ahsoka opened her mouth to argue, but the AT-TE walker to her right suddenly exploded in a massive fireball as droid bombers swooped in from behind their position. She spun around, and just as Anakin had warned, she saw fresh waves of battle droids—including heavy destroyer droids and spider droids—advancing on her position from multiple directions, with even more reinforcements streaming in to support the "retreating" forces she'd been pursuing.
"Ahsoka, move! NOW!" Anakin shouted.
As their gunship lifted off, Ahsoka watched in horror as the droids swarmed over their former position, the two remaining vehicles they'd been forced to abandon being quickly overwhelmed and destroyed.
She looked back at her Master with shame and fear etched across her features, while Anakin's face showed nothing but deep disappointment.
Eventually, Republic forces completed their withdrawal from Felucia and returned to the capital.
After the long journey back to Coruscant, it wasn't long before Ahsoka found herself standing before the Jedi Council alongside her Master to review the events on Felucia.
"Ahsoka," Master Windu addressed her directly, "do you believe that Master Kenobi and Skywalker's account of events is accurate?"
Ahsoka looked down in shame and replied quietly, "Yes, Master Windu."
Yoda leaned forward slightly and asked, "Anything more to add, have you?"
"I know I was wrong. I didn't see the battle from a strategic perspective—I couldn't see the bigger picture," she explained, her voice heavy with regret. "I didn't mean to disobey orders. I just... I got caught up in the moment and forgot my training."
Anakin took this opportunity to speak up. "Masters, this failure is mine to bear. Because of Ahsoka's exceptional abilities in combat, I failed to remember that she's still young and inexperienced in command situations. The responsibility lies with me."
"That may be true," Mace began carefully, "but that doesn't excuse what happened on Felucia. I don't believe she's ready to lead troops in combat operations anymore. She needs time for reflection and additional training."