Terminus-2

For Obi-Wan, it all happened in slow motion. The blade pierced Vrak's chest, but it was no ordinary lightsaber. It was a sky-blue, two-edged blade, shiny and deadly, a design he had never seen before in his life. The weapon had a deadly elegance, as if it had been created to cause terror as well as destruction.

But what truly filled him with dread was not the blade... but those who wielded it.

Appearing out of nowhere, four imposing figures emerged, beings he had never seen before. Towering, each over six feet tall, their powerful bodies wrapped in dark, angular armor, almost like predators lurking in the shadows. The armor seemed to have been designed in the darkest corners of the universe, its sharp lines and eerie metallic sheen reflecting the light of the sky-blue blades.

Their heads were the most terrifying thing: four-part jaws that opened like the maw of a hellish beast. Deep, glowing eyes flashed with cold, calculating intelligence. They looked like animals, but at the same time, there was something methodical about their movements, as if they were hunting. No, not hunting... exterminating.

"Vrak!" Obi-Wan screamed in desperation, igniting his lightsaber as he spun rapidly to face his friend's killer.

The alien being, imposing and brutal, withdrew the sword from Vrak's body with inhuman coldness. The glowing blade slid away with a clang, leaving Vrak's body to fall limp to the ground. Helplessness filled Obi-Wan as he felt the darkness around him thicken. The Force warned him of the growing threat, but his senses were clouded by anguish.

"General!" Cody shouted, unleashing direct fire toward the enemies' heads.

The shots struck accurately, but instead of causing any damage, the projectiles were absorbed by some sort of energy shield surrounding the creatures. It was not possible to hurt them with blasters. Desperation was palpable among the clones, but still, they kept firing, trying to hold back the monsters that were now advancing towards them with deadly calm.

Three of the giant aliens made their way towards the clones, their jaws parting in a sneer, while one stayed back, turning his attention to Obi-Wan, his predatory gaze fixed on the Jedi Master.

"Foolish human," the alien growled, his deep, guttural voice echoing through his helmet, before he lunged at Obi-Wan with astonishing speed.

Obi-Wan barely had time to react. Focusing, he channeled the Force and delivered a powerful push, sending the alien reeling back, its sheer size vibrating the ground upon impact. The shield protecting it crackled for a moment, weakened by the force of the attack. Obi-Wan took advantage of that brief moment to attack, lunging forward with his lightsaber glowing, pointing at the alien's torso.

But the being, despite its size, was surprisingly agile. With a quick movement, it regained its balance and deflected Obi-Wan's blow with its double-edged luminous sword. The clash of energies resonated in the room, making the air vibrate. The alien let out a bestial roar and lunged again, moving with a dexterity that did not match its imposing stature.

Obi-Wan could not afford to follow the Soresu's defensive techniques to the letter. The situation was too critical, and his survival instinct drove him on the offensive. He charged forward at the alien, looking for an opening. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw how the remaining clones were slaughtered by the other three creatures; only Cody and two more clones remained standing. Obi-Wan knew that he did not have much time left if he wanted to save them.

With determination, he swung his lightsaber, delivering a vertical thrust towards his enemy, but the alien easily blocked with his dual plasma blade, letting out a throaty laugh. Despite his colossal size, he moved with terrifying agility. He wasn't just strong, he was also fast. He wasn't just slowing Obi-Wan down, he was cornering him.

The alien charged again, attacking with relentless fury, blow after blow, forcing Obi-Wan back. The thrusts were so strong that each impact pushed him closer to the wall of the small room. He was running out of space, and if he didn't end the fight quickly, he knew it would be the end of him.

Taking advantage of an opening, as the alien swung his blade horizontally, Obi-Wan focused all his strength on pushing the enemy's blade back. In one fluid, swift motion, his lightsaber danced in a vertical arc, cleanly slicing through the alien's upper half. The body collapsed to the ground with a rumble as the creature drew its final breath.

Obi-Wan did not allow himself a respite. There was no time to mourn his friend's death. Using the Force, he drew Vrak's fallen lightsaber, ignited it, and held it firmly. With a burst of energy, he propelled his body toward the entrance to the room where the other aliens were slaughtering the clones. The beings never saw what was coming.

In a flash of Force-powered speed, Obi-Wan launched himself toward them, his and Vrak's lightsaber tracing deadly arcs through the air. In a dance of death, he severed arms and heads with surgical precision, disabling their shields as if they were nothing in the face of the powerful Jedi weapons. The bodies of the creatures fell to the ground, dismembered before they could comprehend what had happened.

Only one of the aliens remained standing, and seeing that he was at a clear disadvantage, he attempted to flee. But Obi-Wan wouldn't let him. With a wave of his hand, he used the Force to pull the being to him. The alien collapsed to the ground, helpless, as Obi-Wan mercilessly ran both lightsabers through it. The last enemy fell to the ground, dead, and the room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the Jedi Master's labored breathing.

Obi-Wan turned off his lightsabers and stood still for a moment, trying to catch his breath and process the brutality of what had just occurred.

"Are you okay?" Obi-Wan asked, turning to look at Cody and the two clones who had survived.

They both nodded, though visibly shaken and nervous. One of them, still breathing heavily, muttered, "I thought I wasn't counting this time."

Obi-Wan frowned, sharing the sentiment, but it was his duty to remain calm. "We must leave immediately. Cody, contact the ship, have them send an evacuation transport. We cannot stay here any longer," Obi-Wan ordered as he began to leave the room, keeping his eyes alert.

"Aye, General," Cody replied, activating his communicator as he ran after him along with the other two soldiers.

The group moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the desolate structure as the echo of the recent battle seemed to still reverberate in the air. Despite being on the move, Obi-Wan could not shake the disturbing reality from his mind: these beings, so large, so powerful and agile, had been completely invisible to his perception through the Force. It chilled his blood. Jedi were trained to sense the life, thoughts, and even emotions of those around them, but these... these aliens had been ghosts to him.

That inability to sense them had resulted in Vrak's death. Yet another Jedi fallen in this endless war. Obi-Wan felt a lump in his chest, a weight of anger and frustration that rarely came to him. He had always been a master at controlling his emotions, but now, the loss of his friend and the brutality of these beings consumed him.

His mind struggled between sadness and rage. For a moment, he wished he had arrived sooner, that he could have saved Vrak. And although he knew better than to allow himself those thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of threat they faced now. Beyond the Separatists, beyond the known.

Obi-Wan's breathing grew faster and heavier as they ran toward the building's exit. He was exhausted both physically and mentally, but they couldn't stop themselves. However, just as they crossed the threshold to the outside, the group stopped dead.

There, blocking their escape, was a new group of aliens. They were different, but just as imposing. Five figures nearly two meters tall carried round energy shields, glowing with a blue energy that pulsed eerily. The creatures that carried them, with thin but muscular bodies, seemed to be reptilian in nature. Their yellow eyes, sharp and calculating, pierced the Jedi and clones with a fierce glare. The armor they wore was crude in design, but clearly effective, covered in patches of rough metal that gave them an almost tribal look, as if each piece had been stolen from some different civilization.

Beside them walked other smaller creatures, about 1.60 meters tall, with squat bodies and crude orange armor covering their bulbous torsos. These creatures were grotesque in appearance: huge respirators covered most of their faces, leaving a pair of tiny, glowing eyes barely visible behind the thick lenses. They were less intimidating at first glance, but there was something unsettling about their presence.

As soon as the aliens saw the clones and Obi-Wan approaching, they opened fire mercilessly. Plasma bolts streaked through the air like deadly blasts of light. With the agility and precision of a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan ignited his lightsabers, and their glowing blades began to dance through the air, deflecting the bolts in every direction with fluid, accurate movements. Each twist of his body and each sweep of his lightsabers created a choreography so fast that even the clones, accustomed to the speed of combat, could not follow clearly.

Taking advantage of the distraction Obi-Wan provided, the clones took up cover positions, opening fire with deadly precision. Commander Cody, in particular, demonstrated his skill with the blaster, quickly eliminating several of the smaller enemies, the Unggoy, whose grotesque facial masks barely concealed their fear and desperation. The creatures' screams were short, almost inaudible, drowned out by the hum of gunfire and the rumble of explosions. However, the Kig-Yar with energy shields were a greater challenge. The clones' projectiles bounced harmlessly off the energy barriers that the aliens handled with great skill. Only small gaps remained, between the edge of the shield and their weapons, making it extremely difficult to land a kill shot.

"Come on! Concentrate fire on the weak points!" Cody shouted, his eyes quickly assessing the chances of a hit. The clones followed his order, trying to focus their fire on those small spaces between the shields, but the aliens kept advancing, constantly firing at Obi-Wan, who continued to deflect the shots with superhuman skill, protecting his men.

One of the clones, noticing the difficulty posed by the Kig-Yar shields, quickly pulled a thermal detonator from his belt. "Launching detonators!" he shouted urgently, and with a firm movement, he hurled the explosive towards the aliens. The device spun in the air before landing just behind the Kig-Yar, between them and the Unggoy fumbling in the rear.

Not even a second passed before the detonator went off with a deafening crash. The explosion briefly illuminated the entrance to the building, drawing screams of agony from the Unggoy and tearing through the Kig-Yar's energy shields in a burst of blinding light. Fragments of alien armor and flesh flew in all directions, while a torrent of purple blood spread across the battlefield, splattering the walls and floor. The echo of the explosion was followed by a momentary silence, broken only by the hiss of overheated weapons and the crunch of collapsing bodies.

Obi-Wan, sweaty but still firm, looked around, knowing that the confrontation was not over yet, but at least for the moment, they had gained ground.

"Good job," the Jedi said, his voice firm but tired, as he put away one of his lightsabers.

"Let's go!" Cody shouted, leading the way with the clones, their weapons ready and their senses alert.

The outside was clear, but they barely made it through the entrance when a low, rumbling sound filled the air. From the sky, several unknown transport ships began to descend, dark purple in color, reflecting the light off their smooth, curved surfaces. The ships were large, with sinister, organic shapes, as if designed to inspire fear. From their undersides hung a series of doors, from which more enemy troops began to unload. These were the same aliens they had already faced: tall Kig-Yar with shields, screaming Unggoy, and some of those deadly giants with energy swords.

"Cody, contact the fleet! Send in reinforcements!" Obi-Wan shouted, as they began to move along the same path they had come.

In the distance, the Phantom transport ships continued to descend with surprising agility for their size, hovering like predators on the prowl. The side compartments opened, and the enemies leapt to the ground, deploying with military precision. The troops advanced rapidly, beginning to fire relentlessly at the clones and Jedi. Plasma projectiles rained down like a swarm of hornets, lighting up the air with each shot.

Obi-Wan, with both lightsabers ignited, stood his ground, deflecting the shots with fluid, calculated movements. Every flick of his wrist, every sweep of his blades, turned enemy attacks into harmless flashes of light. Yet the clones kept firing, fighting with everything they had as they advanced step by step, in a deadly dance of attack and defense.

"They're sending reinforcements, sir! I've called for air support as well!" Cody reported, staying in constant communication with the fleet as he fired his blaster with surgical precision.

"Right, let's go!" Obi-Wan replied, not missing a beat.

Suddenly, with an extraordinary push, Obi-Wan channeled the Force through his body and launched himself forward with superhuman speed and agility, something only a Jedi could do. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before the enemies, almost as if he had vanished from one place and materialized in another. Before the aliens could react, Obi-Wan extended his arms and, with a powerful push of the Force, launched several of them into the air. The Kig-Yar and Unggoy flew in all directions, their bodies crashing brutally against the nearby walls, breaking their armor and bones upon impact. The sound of bodies crashing echoed across the battlefield, and within seconds, many of them lay inert on the ground, mercilessly cut down by the Jedi's power.

With his lightsabers ignited, Obi-Wan Kenobi danced in a deadly symphony. Each stab was precise, each turn deadly, eliminating the enemies who had descended from the ships in a matter of seconds. The aliens could barely react before being cut down, their bodies falling limply to the ground as the Jedi moved forward with determination. The clones, though exhausted, continued to run after him, crossing the streets filled with rubble, dodging destroyed buildings, and fighting the enemies that emerged from the shadows like specters.

They ran at full speed, their footsteps echoing among the ruins, while Obi-Wan used the Force to delay the aliens who pursued them. They did not stop until they reached the outskirts of the city, where the shattered walls barely stood. There, in the distance, they saw their possible salvation: several LAAT ships descending at full speed from the sky, escorted by Republic fighters.

"Great, we're saved," said one of the clones, relieved.

But that relief was short-lived. From the clouds, emerging at impossible speed, appeared unknown enemy fighters. They were a dark purple color, with elongated, streamlined shapes, almost like living creatures. Their curved, sharp wings glistened in the sunlight as they swooped down on the LAATs with deadly precision. Plasma shots slammed into the Republic ships, engulfing them in fireballs before they had time to maneuver. The LAATs fell to the ground, engulfed in flames, while the lightning-fast enemy fighters scattered to attack the escorts.

"We're under attack! Unknown enemy fighters! They shot down the extraction birds! Requesting reinforcements!" The pilot's voice echoed over the communicator as the Republic fighters desperately tried to fight back. However, the enemy fighters, known as Banshees, were superior in speed and maneuverability. With a deadly, curved design, their thrusters allowed them to perform impossible turns in the air, while their wings glowed with energy. The Banshees moved like predators, unleashing a rain of bombs that landed with devastating precision, annihilating the Republic fighters one after another.

There were too many of them. What started with a few Banshees became a swarm of dozens, emerging from the clouds like a plague. The Republic fighters barely had time to respond before they were completely cornered. The blue energy bombs, released from the Banshees, fell with deadly precision, exploding and destroying the Republic fighters before they could report their situation.

"Shit," Cody muttered, watching the chaos in the sky as he desperately searched for an option. He turned his gaze towards the city and saw something that could be their salvation. "General, Master Vrak's ship," he said pointing into the distance.

Obi-Wan looked in the same direction and, seeing the ship, nodded. "Fine, that will do. Let's go! Cody, inform the fleet, send reinforcements and prepare to jump to hyperspace."

"Aye, General," Cody replied, as the group began to run again, now with a new hope in mind.

They quickly ran towards the late Master Vrak's ship, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the remains of the devastated city. They met no resistance along the way, but a sense of urgency drove them forward. However, upon reaching the ship, terror gripped everyone present. Something in the air changed. Obi-Wan stopped dead in his tracks, and the clones, looking up at the sky, were paralyzed by what they saw.

From orbit, an immense ship emerged that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It was larger than anything they had ever seen before. Even the Republic's massive Venator ships orbiting above the city seemed tiny in comparison. The enemy ship, a colossal CSO-class superfreighter, blocked out the sunlight and plunged the city into total darkness. Its presence dwarfed everything around it, casting a shadow so vast it stretched for miles.

The ship's hull, a deep purple with shimmering metallic hues, faintly reflected the distant lights of the stars. Its shape was imposing and alien, with curving, organic lines that gave it an almost living appearance. There were no sharp corners, everything was fluid and elegant, but its size was the most terrifying thing. It stretched so far that the eyes of the clones and Obi-Wan himself could not grasp where it began or where it ended. The ship looked like a floating city, a space fortress of enormous proportions.

"By the Force..." Obi-Wan muttered, feeling the dark, oppressive power emanating from this monstrosity. It was as if the ship itself carried the burden of death and destruction of entire worlds.

The Republic Venators orbiting near it seemed like mere insects beside it, insignificant in comparison. This ship was the pinnacle of the enemy's power, a warship capable of razing planets. From its surface, dozens of turrets and plasma launchers could be seen, each capable of unleashing unimaginable destructive power. The lower sections of the freighter held spacious hangars, from which more attack craft, small Banshee fighters, and transports were beginning to emerge.

The city, which had already suffered enough, now seemed at the mercy of this immense ship that blocked out the sky, as if it were an omen that its final destruction was about to fall.

"It can't be..." Cody whispered, feeling the weight of hopelessness fall upon him.

"Are you seeing that? What the fuck is that?! We're dead!" one of the clones screamed, panic evident in his voice as his body shook at the immensity of the ship dominating the sky.

Cody, normally unfazed, could not hide his amazement. "We won't be able to fight that…" he muttered, his eyes fixed on the monster floating above them. That ship not only dwarfed everything around it, but also sowed a deep, instinctive terror.

Suddenly, in the center of the ship, a gigantic hatch began to open, revealing a massive structure that slowly rotated. Obi-Wan felt a disturbance in the Force, a sense of impending catastrophe. The alien machinery began to light up, and in less than ten seconds, an immense beam of energy shot out towards the surface of the planet, straight towards them.

But they were not alone in the path of devastation.

Both Republic Venators, orbiting the planet, found themselves in the line of fire. When the beam hit them, there was no warning. In a split second, both ships were engulfed in a massive explosion. The cruisers, which moments before seemed like bastions of military power, disintegrated like toys, leaving behind a cloud of burning debris.

Obi-Wan's heart was pounding, fear in his eyes for the first time in a long time. The magnitude of what they faced was too much. Face hardened and decision clear in his mind, he turned around. "We must go, or we'll be next!" he ordered firmly.

The clones, still in shock from what they had just witnessed, reacted quickly to their general's words. Wasting no time, they ran towards Vrak's ship. Even though launching into space in that ship seemed like suicide, they knew that staying on the ground was a sure death sentence. Obi-Wan led the way, his mind already calculating the possibilities of escape from this situation.

The ship was not the best option, but it was all they had. As they climbed aboard, the roar of explosions and plasma shots in the atmosphere reminded them that time was running out. As soon as they secured the ship's controls and systems, Obi-Wan took a seat in the cockpit. He activated the engines, having to get them out of there before the next shot destroyed them.

With a roar, the engines of Vrak's ship came to life, and the vehicle took off from the devastated surface, rising into a sky dyed with fire and shadows.

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CSO-class supercargo "Eternal Glory"

From the imposing bridge of the Eternal Glory, the commander looked out over the chaos her fleet had wreaked on the planet. Sitting on her throne, surrounded by the glowing holographic screens and imposing silhouettes of her subordinates, an ecstatic smile spread across her face. The purple glow of the devastated skies reflected in her eyes as she savored the absolute power that had been unleashed under her command.

In just one week, her army had wiped out the lives of 25 million beings. Entire cities had been reduced to rubble, and the few survivors who had been "privileged" enough to be useful had been enslaved, with over 2 million now working as forced labor, powering the machinery of destruction that continued to consume the planet.

The superfreighter hovered over the world like an avenging god, the shadow of its immense structure obscuring all that had once been alive, vibrant. The commander, a woman whose coolness rivaled the vacuum of space, sat back in her throne with an air of satisfaction that was almost palpable. Her gaze slid over the mass destruction readings, casualty reports, and efficiency of her forces with a mix of delight and pride.

The system had been given to her by a god, one who promised her the absolute power to summon an army without equal. And now, she beheld the fruits of that promise fulfilled. The legions that answered her call were not just war machines, they were instruments of her will, sent to turn everything they touched to dust and ash. An army she could summon at will, unstoppable, without respite.

She had found the perfect balance between brutality and efficiency. With a simple gesture, she could unleash a storm that would wipe out civilizations in a matter of days. Her forces did not just invade, they infiltrated, destroyed, and enslaved with terrifying precision.

"My lady," a Sangheili said, approaching the woman with heavy, confident steps, before bowing deeply and kneeling before her. He was her second in command, her loyal commander.

"What is it, my son?" the woman replied, her voice laced with a dangerous sensuality as she licked her lips, her eyes shining with a mix of pleasure and power.

"The destruction of both ships has been a success," the Sangheili reported reverently, "We have blocked all communications and also obtained the maps and information you requested."

A flash of satisfaction crossed the woman's face. She sat back further in her throne, a gesture almost casual, but filled with absolute control.

"Excellent," she murmured, her words slipping through like soft venom. "Begin preparations to claim this beautiful planet as our home. Let the other ships emerge from slipspace." Her tone left no room for doubt; this world would fall completely under her yoke.

The Sangheili bowed his head even further, submissive in his devotion. "As you command, my queen," he replied with a mixture of respect and fervor.

As she prepared to give the orders, something caught her eye: a tiny ship speeding away from the planet. The queen raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Well, it seems there are still some little mice escaping the trap," she said, almost amused. Her eyes followed the ship as it disappeared into the distance.

"I will send the fighters immediately, my queen. I will not allow them to escape," the Sangheili replied, fierce in his determination not to let those few survivors ruin the plan.

But the queen, with an enigmatic smile, elegantly raised a hand, stopping him. "No, let them escape, my son." Her tone was soft but laden with authority. "Let them carry the news of what they have witnessed. Let this galaxy shake in terror. Let them know that doom is near. We will prepare to rule the galaxy... and you, and all your people, will have all that you desire."

The Sangheili regarded her with absolute respect, bowing even lower. "As you command, my queen," he repeated with unwavering loyalty.

And so, as the vast Covenant army swept across the planet, Obi-Wan and the few surviving clones managed to escape, their hearts filled with anguish and horror at what they had witnessed. The late Vrak's ship left the system, and when the coordinates for Coruscant were ready, they jumped into hyperspace, carrying with them the hope of warning the Republic before the new enemy cast its shadow across the galaxy.

End of Chapter 2