In the Jedi Council chamber, Shaak Ti and the other council members watched Aayla Secura's holographic projection materialize clearly in the center.
The blue-skinned Twi'lek Jedi held a data pad and reported solemnly, "According to intelligence provided by Quinlan Vos, the Separatists' next target is Kamino. They plan to deploy nearly a hundred warships, tens of millions of battle droids, and even specially developed aquatic robots adapted for underwater combat."
Shaak Ti's fingers tightened slightly. Since the war began, the Council had tasked her with overseeing the cultivation and training of Clone Troopers on Kamino. This water world ranked seventeenth in terms of defensive priority across the entire galaxy. If it fell, the Republic's entire clone supply line would be severed.
She closed her eyes, sensing through the Force the dormant clone embryos slumbering beneath Kamino's oceans. A profound sense of responsibility welled up within her.
"We cannot let them succeed," Master Yoda nodded, his thoughts resonating with hers. "We must stand and protect this planet."
"We must dispatch as much support as possible to aid Master Ti," Master Windu agreed. "We cannot lose Kamino. Too much depends on this planet."
Yoda fell silent for a moment before turning to Shaak Ti. "We will send you aid immediately, Master. Jedi will be dispatched to support you... Master Feesto and Master Rancisis."
"Even with the three of us, it may be difficult to withstand the Separatists' overwhelming forces," Master Rancisis' holographic projection shrugged, his voice tinged with concern. The Separatists' mobilized strength was sufficient to crush the defense systems of a mid-sized planet.
"Masters Ko Sai and Twi'lek-Joy are currently on Coruscant to collect supplies and can be immediately redeployed to Kamino," Ki-Adi-Mundi added. "Obi-Wan and Anakin have also returned to the Temple. Their battlefield experience will be crucial."
"I'd also like to go and support Master Ti," Aayla Secura stepped forward, crossing her arms. She had previously clashed with aquatic battle droids on the Outer Rim battlefield and understood the threat posed by such weapons.
"Agreed," Yoda nodded. "Leave immediately. Defend Kamino. A reserve clone trooper unit will accompany you."
"Warrior Victor has managed Donovia well and has experience fighting the Separatist fleet. Perhaps..."
At that moment, a Jedi suddenly spoke, offering a suggestion.
Yoda fell into deep thought, as if sensing the guidance of the Force. Finally, he nodded. "Agreed."
The Jedi present silently nodded and rose from their seats.
After the meeting, Shaak Ti shut down the projector and immediately contacted Prime Minister Lama Su of Kamino.
In the holographic projection, the Kaminoan woman spread her hands helplessly. "Our shield projectors can protect the city and factories from bombardment, but we're completely defenseless against ground forces. Kamino currently only has a few garrison units, and millions of clone troopers are still in incubation chambers, unable to fight. Without your help, we're doomed to fail."
"The Republic will defend this place," Shaak Ti said with conviction. "Do you have any other forces you can mobilize?"
Lama Su's eyes flickered. "There are a hundred Alpha-Class ERK clones in cryogenic storage in the warehouse."
Shaak Ti stared at the Prime Minister in surprise. "You never mentioned them before."
"Oh, they were personally trained by Jango Fett—intermediate-generation clones. They underwent rigorous training. Unlike the Zero-Class clones, these are easier to manage and have greater autonomy than ordinary clones."
"Thaw them immediately," Shaak Ti ordered without hesitation. "We need every available force. Let's see how superior these soldiers are."
***
In the night sky of Coruscant, millions of neon lights transformed the city into a dazzling sea of stars.
Padmé stood by the suite window, her gaze fixed on the private landing platform nearby. She had been waiting for a month, and she was finally about to see Anakin.
A two-seater speeder sliced through the night sky and settled steadily onto the platform.
Just as Padmé reached the door, it burst open, and Anakin rushed in, sweeping her up in his arms and spinning her around. The familiar scent of him brought tears to her eyes.
"Padmé! I've missed you so much!" Anakin's voice brimmed with unrestrained joy. R2-D2 followed behind, emitting cheerful electronic chirps.
"Annie, I was so worried about you," Padmé said, clinging to his neck, her voice thick with longing.
"I was even more worried about you," Anakin replied, setting her down and holding her by the shoulders. His eyes were earnest. "I heard about what happened in London. I'm so glad Master Victor saved you. I can't believe I forgot to thank him at the hospital..."
"I don't like that Jedi," Padmé said, frowning. "He's too strange, always scoffing at politics and the Senate. He's not like the other Jedi, who are so gentle."
Anakin smiled and gently tickled her nose. "The only Jedi you know are Master Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and me. The Warrior Order has tens of thousands of members, each with their own unique style. Besides, he saved your life, which is more than enough reason to be grateful."
Padmé paused, taken aback.
She realized her understanding of the Jedi was far too limited.
Just as she was about to say more, Anakin's tone turned serious. "Tomorrow morning, Obi-Wan and I are leaving for Kamino. The Separatists are planning an attack there."
"So soon?" Padmé's eyes dimmed.
"War waits for no one," Anakin said, gently embracing her. "Let's not waste the time we have left."
C-3PO stood nearby, his joints creaking, but tactfully remained silent.
Every reunion of this couple marked the beginning of their next separation.
***
Inside the cargo bay of the *Star Falcon*, Solo stared at the pile of mangled armor before him, his brow furrowed.
This blue steel armor had accompanied him through countless battles, but during his duel with Ventress, it had been hacked beyond recognition.
The shoulder guard bore a deep burn mark, nearly down to the bone. The chest plate had been pierced by a lightsaber, leaving only the helmet relatively intact.
"It's a waste to throw it away, but repairing it would be a pain," Solo muttered. He picked up the helmet, his fingertips tracing the dents left by Ventress's lightsaber—the physical proof of his "miraculous escape."
He decided to keep the helmet as a memento and tossed the rest of the wreckage into the recycling bin.
Only now did he truly grasp how far he still was from achieving unity with the Force.
Ventress wasn't some training droid; she was a battle-hardened Sith assassin. His survival had been half due to the armor absorbing most of the damage, and half because Ventress had grossly underestimated his resilience.
Solo rubbed his still-aching shoulder, the lingering pain of torn muscles occasionally flaring up, a reminder of his lingering fear.
If facing Ventress had been a near-death experience, how would he fare against Grievous or Count Dooku?
He doubted he'd even have a chance to escape with a severed limb.
This duel hadn't discouraged him, but it had sobered him completely.
"You don't know your limits until you've been beaten," the saying goes. This experience had made Solo acutely aware of his shortcomings. His Force aptitude wasn't exceptional, and while his swordsmanship had improved, it was still insufficient to face high-ranking Sith.
Back in his quarters, Solo sat cross-legged on the floor and began meditating.
Ever since his initial battle with Ventress, he'd sensed something amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Now he had a theory he wanted to test.
The first object Solo examined was his lightsaber.
He scrutinized it carefully, listening to his instincts, but the response he received was... peculiar.
A memory surfaced, providing the key. Solo finally understood the source of his unease: the lightsaber no longer felt like his.
No, it was the Kyber Crystal inside that no longer felt like his.
The hilt's balance remained perfect, custom-made for him, but the Kyber Crystal within now felt alien through the Force.
*Jedi channel the Force into the Kyber Crystal, making the lightsaber an extension of their own Force presence,* Master Non Altor's words echoed in his mind.
Solo suddenly realized that the "union" of this body's Force with his soul had caused the crystal to reject him.
The concept was somewhat vague. After all, as an Earthling, Solo often viewed his Earth self and this self as a single whole, the boundaries between them so blurred that he barely noticed the distinction.
However, for the Force, this difference was immense.
The original owner's lightsaber crystal emitted only pure light, while Solo, carrying the mindset of an Earthling, had a Force aura far more complex than that of a pure Jedi. Naturally, the crystal no longer "recognized" him.
So the crystal no longer belonged to him.
Yet simply replacing the crystal wouldn't solve the problem.
He knew that even with the most rigorous training, his innate Force ability could never match Ahsoka's, let alone that of the Jedi Masters.
Since the conventional path was closed to him, perhaps finding an unconventional approach—achieving victory through surprise—was his only way to survive.
A thought flashed through Solo's mind: forging a special lightsaber.
He recalled the records in the Jedi Temple's archives about a "Dual-Phase Lightsaber." By incorporating multiple focusing crystals, this saber could instantly switch its blade length, extending up to twice that of a standard lightsaber.
However, such a saber required a larger hilt and demanded a two-handed grip. But the ability to rapidly extend its blade would allow him to fully exploit the broad, sweeping movements of Shi-Cho swordsmanship, piercing his opponents' defenses with unexpected strikes.
"One meter in normal mode, two meters when extended. That should catch any enemy off guard," he murmured, a smirk curling his lips.
In addition, he planned to pair the saber with a shoto—a short lightsaber with a blade only 40 to 50 centimeters long, easily concealed in his sleeve for sudden, emergency use.
He could even design it as a modular system, attaching the short lightsaber to the main hilt to create a double-bladed staff like Darth Maul's, or extend the main blade for use as a two-handed sword.
However, this would require precise craftsmanship and the right components. Fortunately, he had previously requisitioned a batch of lightsaber materials from the Temple warehouse, which were now stored in the *Dingyuan*'s hold.
More pressing was the armor. Without protection, he might not be so lucky if he encountered the Sith again.
As for the armor, Solo already had a plan.
"I need at least head, shoulder, and chest protection, along with vambraces for my forearms and greaves for my knees," Solo thought. "And I'll need a personal deflector shield. If Ventress swings her lightsaber again, the shield should at least soften the impact."
His gaze fell on the red lightsaber nearby, radiating a thick, dark aura through the Force.
"I originally wanted to give it to Ahsoka, but now I think I'll pass."
Solo didn't dare take the risk. The power of the Dark Side might influence Ahsoka, and she was still just an Apprentice.
Just then, the cabin door's sensor emitted a soft chime. He waved his hand at the control panel. "Come in, Ahsoka."
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