Star Wars VRMMO: Galactic Expedition

(If you aren't already doing so, please read my new novel Aetheria. Start at the prologue to get the setting for the story. I grabbed portions of various novels I have enjoyed and I am smashing them all into what I think the best possible story is. Join me on my adventure of creating this new world!)

Tyler was standing in the briefing room with Admiral Yularen and Plo Koon. They were currently listening to a report from high command.

The officer giving the report was stressed. "The Separatists have attacked a medical convoy near Ryndellia. It would appear that your concerns were correct, General."

Tyler nodded. "We must hurry. Have all nearby fleets waiting on standby. We can't have them directly attack the Malevolence until that weapon is disabled. I also suspect that they might have backup. Let's make a time gated request for all of the Republic guilds. We can use all of the support we can get."

The officer nodded. "I'll get it done, General." The hologram cut out.

Tyler turned to his two companions. "We need to go inform Anakin immediately. We must set out as soon as we are ready. I've taken the liberty of having both of our fighters prepared, Master Plo."

Plo Koon nodded. "Thank you, Draco. Let's head down to the hangar."

-GE-

Across the bomber bay, countless clones and technicians were preparing the bombers for the mission. Clone pilots were standing on top of their respective bombers, inspecting them before the journey.

Anakin and Ahsoka were walking in between two of the Y-wing bombers. R2 was rolling out in front of them.

Ahsoka turned to Anakin as they walked. "Which one's mine?"

Anakin smirked and spoke in a snarky tone. "You're with me. You'll be my gunner." Ahsoka looked at Anakin with a face that had astonishment written all over it. "Somebody's got to watch my back."

Ahsoka scoffed. "Broadside could do that. Besides, you have R2." R2 beeped in agreement.

Anakin shook his head. "But I so enjoy your company, my padawan."

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow. "Just admit it. You don't like my flying."

Anakin choked on his words. "No, I… No, it's not that. It's just I…"

Like an angel out of heaven, Admiral Yularen cut Anakin off, saving him from this conversation. "Skywalker, the enemy warship has attacked our convoy of medical transports near Ryndellia."

Anakin and Ahsoka turned and saw Yularen, Plo Koon, and Tyler walking over to them.

Ahsoka was shocked. "Medical transports? Only General Grievous would go after clones who can't fight back."

Anakin nodded. "The Ryndellia system, near Naboo. That's where the medical station is that Master Draco mentioned! It looks like you were right, that must be his next target."

Plo Koon nodded. "There are many star clusters in that area. With a ship that big, he will be unable to chart a course that's less than ten parsecs."

Anakin sighed. "Looks like we're gonna have to take a shortcut. Admiral, warn that station what's coming."

Tyler chuckled. "Oooh, a shortcut, sounds like fun."

Plo Koon sighed as Yularen walked away. "This journey may be treacherous. If you lose any ships before you reach the target…"

Anakin shook his head. "We won't lose anyone." He said this adamantly.

Plo Koon sighed. "Draco and I will be your fighter escorts so that should help.

The hangar doors of the cruiser slid open. Tyler was sitting in his fighter, already in space since he had to dock with his hyperspace ring.

A clone officer's voice sounded over the radio. "Shadow Squadron, you are clear for takeoff."

Tyler watched as a line of bombers flew out of the gaping hangar doors.

Obi Wan's voice came over comms. "I hope you know what you're doing, Anakin."

Anakin laughed. "Well, if I don't, I won't be around to hear the 'I told you so.'"

Obi Wan sighed. "That's reassuring."

Tyler laughed. "I'll be there to play your role when shit hits the fan."

Obi Wan laughed. "Well, take your shortcut, and I'll take the long way. But you'd better be there before I arrive."

Anakin scoffed. "I'll be there, Obi Wan. Shadow Squadron, tighten formation. Call in."

The pilots began sounding off. "Shadow 2 standing by." "Shadow 3 standing by." "Shadow 4 standing by."...

R2 beeped at Ahsoka while the clones were calling in.

Ahsoka sighed. "I know, R2ie. This is gonna be a tough one."

Anakin shook his head. "Cut the chatter, Ahsoka."

The clones were still going. "Shadow 11 standing by." "Shadow 12 standing by."

Tyler and Plo Koon pulled up behind them. Plo Koon talked over comms. "Fighter escort ready."

Admiral Yularen's voice then came over the radio. "This is Admiral Yularen. You are cleared for hyperspace jump. Good hunter, sir."

Anakin replied. "Thanks Admiral. All right, boys, let's go."

Matchstick then spoke. "Broadside, if we make it through this one, drinks are on me."

Broadside cheered. "I can already taste it."

-GE-

The Kaliida Nebula is a large nebula in the Outer Rim Territories. Nebulae really are amazing. Aside from being beautiful, they are also the birthplace of celestial bodies. These interstellar clouds of dust, hydrogen, helium, and other ionized gases are as amazing as they are mysterious. Their density makes it nearly impossible to peak inside of them without actually rearing one's head.

Throughout the galaxy, nebulae are home to strange creatures and hectic environments. The Kaliida Nebula in particular is home to the breeding ground of the Neebray mantas. These massive flying creatures feed on the gases that are spread throughout the cosmos. Since these gases are concentrated into nebulae, they can often be found feeding and raising their young there.

Fourteen ships dropped out of hyperspace right in front of the Kaliida Nebula.

Anakin pressed a few buŧŧons on his dashboard. "Okay, if we can just manage to navigate through my shortcut, we'll be all right."

Plo Koon sighed. "A nebula can be very unpredictable. I advise caution."

Matchstick then retorted. "Don't worry about us, Master Jedi. We can hold our own. Right, Shadow Squadron?"

A clone replied. "Copy that, Shadow 2."

Ahsoka scoffed. "Does anyone care what the padawan thinks?"

Anakin smirked. "Of course we care, Snips, but we're still going through that nebula." R2 beeped with concern.

Tyler laughed. "Everyone, keep a tight formation. We can get through this together."

The formation entered the nebula. At high speed but proceeded carefully. They had no time to waste and could not afford any losses. Tyler decided to pass the time by handing the wheel off to R2 and reading an intelligence report.

As he was scanning through it he found something interesting. The only person in the galaxy that he had a personal grudge against had made some waves. Eric of the Forest Group was apparently a high ranking official within the CIS now. The LIA is suspicious that he may have a hand in the possible ȧssault of Scarif.

Plo Koon's voice suddenly came over comms. "Draco, are you reading?!"

Tyler laughed nervously. "Ummm, yeah. Why do you ask?"

Plo Koon nearly choked. "We are navigating through a nebula and you decide now is a good time to read. You're going to get us killed."

Tyler buzzed his lips in denial. "It's fine. We haven't run into any issues just yet. I had just finished anyway."

Matchstick then spoke. "This soup is thick. Can you see anything?"

Anakin replied. "Just keep your eyes on my thruster, Shadow 2."

Ahsoka was frustrated and smacking the scanner. "They'll have to. The scanners are useless."

Anakin smirked. "This is old fashioned flying. You have to feel your way through to stay on course."

Plo Koon agreed. "Skywalker is right, Ahsoka. Clear your mind, young one, and you will see the path."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Right now, I can't see anything at all."

Broadside replied. "I always know where I'm going."

Matchstick chuckled. "Yeah, where's that, Broadside."

Broadside replied adamantly. "I'm gonna blow up that battleship."

Plo Koon laughed. "A clear path if ever there was one."

Ahsoka then spoke after a few minutes of silence. "So, Skyguy, how did you know about this shortcut?"

Anakin smiled. "It's an old smuggler's route. The pilots used to talk about it on Tatooine."

Ahsoka was in disbelief. "Smuggler's route? Huh! That makes me feel better."

Anakin nodded. "They call it the Balmorra Run."

Plo Koon nearly ruined his pants. "Balmorra Run?!"

The scanners in front of Ahsoka started beeping. "I think I'm picking up a contact."

Plo Koon continued. "Skywalker, listen to me. We need to turn around."

Anakin retorted. "We can't. Not if we're gonna catch Grievous."

Ahsoka was panicking. "Another contact. This one's much larger."

Plo Koon then exclaimed. "Skywalker, Balmorra's the nesting ground of the giant neebray mantas!"

Ahsoka didn't even know what to do. "Another. Another!"

Suddenly, a cry could be heard that pierced through the glass of their ships. Turning to the source, a massive creature was approaching them at high speed with its mouth ajar.

Anakin nearly choked. "Take evasive action!"

The squadron scattered, avoiding the manta. Only after regaining their formation did they realize that they were knee deep in shit.

Hundreds of neebray mantas were flying in circles in the center of the nebula. They were close together and would be a challenge to navigate past.

Ahsoka was holding on for dear life. "Those gas gulpers are huge."

Plo Koon came over comms. "Don't shoot, or they'll panic!"

Ahsoka nearly choked. "They'll panic? I'm about to panic!"

Matchstick then pulled down to avoid a manta. "There are so many of them!"

Tyler then cut in. "Matchstick, drop!"

As he said this, Matchstick quickly pushed his controls forward, causing his ship to nose dive. Due to this maneuver, he narrowly missed the manta's tail.

Matchstick screamed. "AHHH! I almost got hit!"

Anakin complained. "Pull it together, Matchstick."

Matchstick pulled up and stabilized his bomber. "I'm okay. I got it."

Ahsoka was freaking out. "These things are gonna make a meal out of us!"

Anakin quickly cut in. "All wings, line up behind me."

Broadside replied. "Roger that, boss."

Anakin began making sharp maneuvers, charting a path through the maze of mantas. Everyone followed close behind him in an orderly line.

The tail of one of the mantas came smashing down and destroyed an astromech in one of the bombers. It squealed as it's head flew away, never to be found.

Plo Koon urged Anakin. "Hurry. They will not follow us beyond the nebula."

A deafening roar sounded across the nebula. In front of the caravan of bombers, a manta was flying near them with its mouth open.

Ahsoka was in awe. "That one looks hungry."

Anakin laughed. "Nah, it's just smiling at ya."

They navigated past the smiling manta and were almost in the clear.

Ahsoka smiled with glee. "We're coming out of it! Let's hope your shortcut paid off."

Anakin was determined. "We're not far behind Grievous now."

Plo Koon then spoke. "Shadow 2, was there any damage to your ship?"

Matchstick replied. "No, sir. Not even a scratch. The General really saved my ȧss."

Plo Koon sighed. "We must not take any more unnecessary risks. If we lose even a single ship, our mission is that much closer to failure."

Anakin nodded. "Understood, Master Plo. But we didn't lose any ships, and I didn't…"

He was cut off by Matchstick. "Sir, another contact."

Ahsoka sighed. "I thought those things wouldn't follow us."

Matchstick retorted. "Not following, coming out of hyperspace. It's a ship. It's the Malevolence!"

The massive Separatist warship dropped out of hyperspace, traveling at full speed towards the medical station. Taking a glance at the bridge, it was clear to almost anyone that they wouldn't be able to put a scratch on it.

Tyler called out through comms. "Anakin, let's change our approach. The bridge is too heavily fortified. Let's try to disable the weapon."

Anakin scoffed. "But then we won't…"

Tyler cut him off. "Grievous isn't the important objective here. We MUST defend the medical station. We are bound to lose the war if it falls."

Surrounding the Kaliida Shoals Medical Station, dozens of frigates were evacuating the injured that could be moved. Some were already jumping to hyperspace.

Just as a few more were about to make the jump, a high pitched, piercing noise permeated through every surface. Looking to the source, arcs of electricity were forming around the ion cannon.

Tyler screamed through open comms. "MAKE A BLIND SKIP! NOW!"

Of the dozen or so frigates remaining, seven of them instantly jumped to hyperspace. As they made it out, the cannon fired. The ring of electricity sped through space, tearing through the remaining frigates. They were now dead in space. The Malevolence opened fire and decimated the frigates in seconds. The turbo laser fire with no shields to hold against it was too much for any ship to handle.

While this was happening, dozens of vulture droids scattered from the Malevolence. They accelerated quickly towards the squadron of bombers.

Ahsoka sighed. "We've got fighters coming in!"

Tyler smirked. "Break through the wall and disable that weapon. We can't let it fire again. Weapons free, boys."