The Brush Fire Wars (Book 2)

[Akirapryde]

Winds of Change (Part Three)
Northern Highlands Region
Baklid 6

As the first rays of morning sunlight crests over the mountains of the Northern Ranges, a lone transport hovers on approach to Castle Base. The armored transport was rushed in to production just for operations on worlds like Baklid 6. Specially designed to carry troops from one battlefield to the next while having more then enough fire power to ensure that the landing zone could be protected by the craft. Unlike most Republic military craft, this was the very first one that was specially designed for down and dirty fighting. Much like the combat on Baklid 6, which has become the standard of how the fighting is starting to be conducted throughout other hot spots of the Brush Fire Wars. It had been three months since the horrific battle of Coreer pass and the very rude awakening of the Grand Army of the Republic.

The Grand Army of the Republic has found themselves in a war that they were completely unprepared for. In wars of the past, they were fought between great armies fighting over entire systems or expanses of space. Here on Baklid 6 and over a hundred other hot spot worlds, the combat zones were normally sections of the world or like in Baklid 6's case, two sections of the world. These wars are nasty, dirty, and normally degrade in to guerrilla actions rapidly. The Rebel Jedi Forces fielded mercenary, Antarian Rangers, or even droid forces. They normally lacked the forces to take a planet out right from the planetary leadership or defend a planet on a traditional battlefield. The Grand Army of the Republic has it own issues with fielding its own forces. Its hands has been tied by the Senate and their Rules of Engagement. Because neither side can achieve a clear advantage, the conflict degrades horribly and ends up like Baklid 6, dragging out.

Further north, deep in to the mountains sits a lone temple nestled in a small valley. This temple had been built by the Sith several thousand years ago. It had been long forgotten by most but the Rebel Jedi. Now it has become a strong hold and a place of Command for Rebel Jedi. From this temple they had been able to counter most of the actions of the Grand Army. As the morning sunlight sunlight slowly illuminates the twin tall white towers of the temple, the morning starts to take on its shape. But the peace of the morning is about to be shattered. The tall wall that surrounds the temple separates a few large droid tanks and the Grand Army of the Republic. They had been moving in to position during the night and cutting of the temple from help. Now as the light starts to shine, the Grand Army of the Republic waits to pounce on its next target. Within the temple, the determined defenders await what they knew is coming each of them has made a pack to not let the temple fall. One more chapter of the Brush Fire Wars is about to be written.

It was largely due to three factors which placed Captain Fiolla Heartman in temporary command of the 121st Infantry Battalion. First was because of the lack of combat experienced Officers within the ranks of the Grand Army or its Reserve forces. The Grand Army had not fought a real war with any foe in almost a hundred years. Second due to the Rules of Engagement, the Grand Army could not use many of the Officers that it did have available. Lastly, it seemed like a logical choice based on her actions in leading the battalion during the battle of the Coreer pass. Since then she had led the Battalion on a number of victories against the enemy. While there had been a few defeats as well, Captain Heartman had shown a remarkable knack for tactics and strategy. The Grand Army needed all the experienced officers it could get it's hands on, so the order was issued and a young Captain was given Command of a Battalion ahead of a large number of higher ranking officers.

The 121st had formed up encircling the Rebel temple during the night. Their orders were clear, attack the temple and secure it from the Rebel Jedi Forces. Because of these order, their commander gave the defenders an ultimatum , 'Surrender the Temple or face attack at dawn!' Talon hated the idea of giving up the surprise but she felt that if given the defenders the chance, they would choose to surrender the temple. Army Intelligence has also indicated that there were a large number of noncombatants within the temple as well. The last thing Talon wanted was a blood bath of innocents. Killing enemy soldiers was one thing that Talon enjoyed and she was really good at it. Killing innocents people and noncombatants was something that sickened her right to her core. It was unwarrior like and a disgrace to any warrior.

Just a few moments ago, she had received the defenders answer to her ultimatum. They would not surrender the temple. She honored their courage and respected it, but felt a great sense of sadness over the coming battle. She was many things, but a murder was not one of them. Even talking with those closest to her (Those within the party) brought no comfort for what had to happen. She had her orders, the Temple had to be captured and that was plan and simple.

The only compromise she could make was to issue the order, 'If any Rebels attempt to flee the combat zone, let them! Do not prevent or engage any fleeing combatants or noncombatants.' Just before the battle was to be joined, Talon did something very un-Talon like. She sent one last message to the defenders. She told them that her units would be attacking within the hour and that she would promise safe passage for any noncombatants to leave the temple before and during the battle. Against the advice of her staff, she held her units back while giving the defenders a chance to let the noncombatants flee the temple. She was sadden when reports came back that none were spotted leaving.

The songs were song by all as they got ready for the combat. Final moves on both sides were made. She was true to her word, one hour to the second the battle was joined. She unleashed all the power of the 121st on the Temple walls and its defenders. The walls and droids offered little defense against the powerful guns of the 121st walkers. Talon had also called in Divarty strikes across the out lining areas of the temple to ensure that fortifications were destroyed before her troops reached them. As smoke and blasts filled the once beautiful and lush gardens Talon unleashed her soldiers. They surged forward with Talon and her immortals leading the charge. Within moments blood and weapons joined at the main gates of the temple. The time for restraint had passed and gave way to what everyone knew Talon was like. She led her troops like the brutal, focused warrior she was.

Breaking the great gates of the Temple was easy enough. The Temple defenders only put up a token resistance at the gates of the temple. However once within the temple, the battle unfolded just as everyone had predicted it would. The Rebel Jedi and their forces had chosen the grand entry hall to make their final stand. Talon had figured that this would be the place that would make or break her victory as well. It was the most defensible location within the temple with great cross sections for fields of fire. Should it fall, the entire temple could be accessed from the entry hall. The Great Hall was truly an epic battle for both sides. The battle for the Great Hall was brutal and the defenders refused to give it up easily. There were great acts of heroism on both sides of the battle. The defenders fought to the last soldier for it and Talon was glad to make them die for their cause.

The last two combatants had to be Talon and the Jedi Knight Oth Grom. The pair joined battle shortly after the gates of the temple were breached. It was a fitting match between the two. Both were the leaders of their respected sides. Both held spend the night before studying each other before joining the battle the next day. Each had mentioned a deep routed respect for the other and under other conditions would have enjoyed exchanging ideas. However the two had been pitted against each other by fate. And now as their forces were joined in mortal combat, the two leaders were also joined in a life or death struggle. Sadly though, Talon had one thing that her Kel Dorian opponent didn't. Talon had a uncanny knack of rolling with any combat situation and turning it to her favor. Just as the defenders thought they would hold the Great Entry Hall, Talon leaped over Oth's lightsaber attack dodging it. She landed on the other side in a tuck and roll maneuver, and as she rolled through her maneuver she snatched up a lightsaber from a fallen jedi. Returning to her feet she activated the lightsaber and welded it in on hand and her vibro-sword in the other. It was acts like this that allowed Talon to throw her enemies off guard and make the best of the change in the combat situation. Oth had been excellent student in lightsaber combat learning from some of the best saber masters in the Order before she left to join Master Bevurn'Age. Today she had met her match and was having a problem in defeating this Republic Marine. In the end, it was Talon's ability to change the nature of her combat which won the day. It filled Talon with a great sense of satisfaction to drive her vibro-sword in to the chest of Oth Grom.

Talon drew out her sword from Oth's chests with a sucking sound from the wound and a gurgling sound from Oth's mask. She couldn't see Oth's eyes but for a moment she looked in to Oth's eyes. Talon lowered her blades and softly nodded her thanks to an honorable and noble opponent. She respected the creature before her dying. Their was no fear of death, just the respect for the battle that the two had to wage against each other. The battle was lost before Oth's body hit the floor of the Temple's great entry hall. Her blood spilled out across the great seal in the center of the hall. Talon looked around seeking another defender, all she saw was her own troops securing the upper levels of the Temple. The battle was over and they had liberated this Temple from the rebel Jedi. The loss of this Temple and its communication hub would have a lasting impact on the Rebel Jedi and their forces throughout the region. However it would be the events after the battle that would have the greatest impact the Grand Army and the Republic.

Talon had kept two of her companies in reserve surrounding the temple. She wanted to ensure that the two assaulting companies would not be out flanked by reinforcements for the temple. Talon knew that there were other rebel forces in the out lining area but she did not know if they would join the battle or not. It was a brash young active duty Major who had caused the crisis during the battle. He largely had issues with taking orders from a Captain let alone a Marine Captain. During the battle, he gave a countermanding order to his company. The end result of this false order left nine unarmed noncombatants and five combatants dead during the battle. They were gunned down by Republic troops while they tried to flee the Temple. There was no clear evidence that those killed posed any threat to the troops who opened fired on them. When news of the killings reached Talon after the battle she hit the roof. She ordered all those involved be arrested as the facts were investigated.

She hand picked two respected Jedi, Daz and Vist, to investigate the killings. She asked only two questions of them. Had her orders been disobeyed and were the killings directly linked that disobedience. Not one of great patience, She only allowed one day after the battle for Daz and Vist to uncover what facts they could. In the end, she ordered that those responsible be held accountable for the killings. Talon knew that the battle had been hard fought and she seemed to hold a personal responsibility to addressing the entire unit. She reaffirmed what they had done for the Republic and how honorable this battle was. She made sure that they knew that their actions had nothing to do with the killings during the battle. Talon explained to everyone about the details of killings and how it had tarnished the honor of the unit. Prior to the formation and the speech of the killings three shuttles arrived at the landing pad of the Temple. Two shuttles had arrived from the Defiance carrying Captain Pryde and a large group of his crew. Then a shuttle from Castle Base with some members of the Leadership of the 9th Army. It was clear that Talon had made no attempt to hide what had happened.

Standing proud before her troops Talon welcomed Captain Pryde and the members of his crew and members of the 501st. Then she welcomed the leaders from the 9th Army, and on that note she ordered the prisons brought forward by members of the immortals and tied to wooden stumps that had been placed there for them. Talon believed in her heart that it was the Captain and those who had fired their weapons on those fleeing which had caused this dishonor to her victory. Each of them were tied to the stumps as they begged for forgiveness, trails, or just claimed of innocents.

The immortals did not heed their cries or pleadings. They carried out the orders of Talon without questions. It was four who had the duty of making sure Daz remained at the formation and remained on the side lines. This was Azgrad Law in its purest form and Talon would not allow anyone to interfere with it. From this day on, in secret conversations, debates started behind closed doors. Members of the Grand Army were there for the public showing and did nothing to stop it. They stood by and watched while five Army officers and soldiers were executed. Were they not able to stop it because of the influence of the Marines or were they unwilling to stop it because of the very nature of what the Brush Fire Wars have become. For the Marines this was their way of handling what had happened and no one was going to deny them justice.

Captain Pryde took over the formation at this point. His uniform concealed under his colorful robes. He pulled up a book and opened it. The every member of the Marines and some members of the 121st all dropped to a knee and bowed their heads, “The Twelve Testament of Balder” he yelled out before the formations. “Balder was given the commandment of the Far Wanderer. Go forth to the great city of Tyrliss. Lay siege to the city and take Tyrliss with might of your hordes. Within the city you will find the traitor and his family hiding. You are to kill whom you must to take the city yet not by one more life. But the traitor and his family shall not be harmed or soiled. They are to be placed in the center of a great pyre and set up as offering for their crimes. For this shall end the war and bring peace to the realms.”

“Balder led his hordes as the Far Wanderer had commanded. They took the city after a great and glorious battle. However, a few of Balders most trusted found the traitor and his family. Raging from their combat, they killed the traitor and soiled his daughters and wife. They took the traitors son to Balder. They offered the boy as a gift to Balder as a slave. Balder had love for these men as his own brother, but knew what they had done had broken their lords commandments. He built the largest pyre in the city and placed the traitor's body along with this family in the center and set it a blaze. Balder did not know, that all things done are seen by the Far Wanderer. Because Balder and his men defied the orders of the Far Wanderer, a plague hit the city killing over half of his horde. The sky dried and crops rooted in the fields. On the third day the earth opened up and took a third of the city and most of its citizens to Nioavellir.”

“Knowing the crimes that had been done and those who had committed them, on the third day, Balder took his trusted men and set them to the pyre. That night, as their pyre burned, Balder talked to Hilder the Wise. Hilder told Balder that the greater crime was not committed by his men but by him. He said that Balder had tried to deceive the Far Wanderer. That night Balder's brother was taken by the plague. The following morning as his brother's pyre burned, Balder took out his great sword and gave it to Hilder. 'Take this and ensure that my offering continues till the gods are appeased.' On that, Balder cast himself in to the pyre. The mighty Valkyrie Agata who was watching saw the offering of Balder and let his offering continue for three cycles of the night before letting the pyre consume Balder the Great. On the third cycle, she ended the plague and allowed the skies to rain once more.” Captain Pryde finished reading from the book. As he closed the book and cradled it every marine screamed out, “hallow be the name!”

Captain Pryde nodded, “Hallow be the name.” he said then motioned for a group of his crew members. They moved forward with large bowls towards the company that had been given the false orders and did nothing about it. The crew members took their hands and dipped their hands in the bowls. The blood of their victims stain each of their hands. While the members of the wayward company was getting their hands soak with blood, two men did the same for Talon and her own staff. Captain Pryde looked to the 121st, “When we defy the orders of our leaders we bloody our hands and honor. Even when we do nothing and let others fail we where the blood of that failure. Just a couple of days ago, many of you fought with great honor and pride. But a few committed horrible acts while others stood by and did nothing. Now we must cleans ourselves.”

On that note, Talon, Rya, Lefty, Valkyrie and Holiday each stood up and walked over to the five that had been tied down. Some started to cry while others tried to fight for freedom only to be held down by members of the Immortals. Talon led the way as she drew out her sword and placed it on the Captain's neck. He cried out for help from the Jedi their. Vist tried to look away as Captain Pryde said, “Don't look away. You have to watch and witness this. It is almost over.” he said as he made sure Vist could see. Talon brought her sword up while the rest did the same. No one said a word while the swords came down with loud thuds ending the lives of the five. Talon turned and walked over to one of the members of the 501st who held a large bucket. She washed her hands in the fresh water throughly. Once she was sure she had washed the blood from her hands, she dried them with a pure white towel. The soldier holding the towel made sure to show everyone the towel was still white. There were cheers as the other members of Talon's staff did the same. Each one had cleansed their hands of the blood wrongfully shed.

Captain Pryde turned the the soldiers of the 121st and nodded, “Through your actions you have blooded your hands with the blood of innocent people. They have cleansed their hands of your wrong doing. For you, you must led your live free of all false pride. Seek a life of honor on and off the battle. For your crimes only time will heal.” he said then added with an eye on the Jedi, “Even when we do nothing. We let innocent people suffer. We must not become consumed by this war.” On that note he turned and left the formation. Talon called the unit to attention then released them from the formation with orders that the innocent be given respectful Jedi burials while the five murders would be left to root where they lay.