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Via hologram, word had reached Coruscant of Obi-Wan’s discoveries of the Clone Army on Kamino, the Separatists’ war, and the fact that he had been captured.
And so, the Galactic Senate had voted to give the Supreme Chancellor emergency powers to use the Clone Army against the Separatists.
In the middle of the Senate Arena stood Palpatine, ready to speak. “It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I simply care for democracy… …and the Republic. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis is abated!”
A large applause followed.
“And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the Separatists.”
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Simultaneously, Tarisian Drewton recieved a message from Wilhuff Tarkin.
“We have an urgent message! The Separatists have declared war on the Republic. An attack force has already been dispatched to Geonosis for a Jedi rescue mission, and very soon an army found on Kamino. Details of this army will follow.”
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And on Geonosis itself…
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…a war was being fought, starting when the Jedi Knights decided to make a rescue attempt of Obi-Wan Kenobi before waiting for the Clone Army.
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Count Dooku watched, amused. In a few minutes he would unleash the full Separatist Droid Army upon them.
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Kenobi, meanwhile, fought for his life, along with all the other Jedi. It was a much harsher battle than even Naboo.
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This time, it was not an option to run away from Destroyer Droids.
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In another part of the massive Execution Arena, the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett joined the fight…
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…but even he was no match for the powerful Master Windu.
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The Jedi, though, were soon easily outnumbered and many were defeated.
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However, from the sky suddenly came several Republic Gunships of the Republic.
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Landing in the arena, most of the Gunships were carrying the Clone Army discovered on Kamino.
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The Jedi retreated into the ships, deflecting blaster fire as they went, with the clones defending them.
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Far away but still in the same arena, the Peace Keepers arrived on the Gunship Purveyor.
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Neither Tarisian nor Raymus Drewton had ever seen such a great battle or number of battle droids, but that didn’t stop Raymus from commenting: “This place almost makes me nostalgic for Mithus.”
“There are places worse than Dantooine, Raymus,” Tarisian answered.
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Near the wings of Purveyor, Idnum-Ki defended himself from blaster fire while trying to get into the gunship.
“Good to see a familiar face that’s not just another clone,” said Raymus when the Jedi boarded.
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The gunships flew out of the arena, but not fully from the enemy.
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In a battle on the plains of Geonosis, battle droids fired from the defense of AATs.
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But the thousands of clones were not easily challenged.
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Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser led Count Dooku and the other Separatist Leaders into the Geonosis commander center, where Geonosian soldiers could monitor and direct the expanding battle.
“This is not going well at all,” one Separatist said. “We must order all droids into battle!”
“There are too many,” interrupted Dooku. “They will soon have us surrounded.”
“Order a retreat,” said Poggle the Lesser. “I am sending my warriors into the catacombs to hide!”
“I’m going to Coruscant,” Dooku announced. “My Master will not let the Republic get away with this treachery.”
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Count Dooku then took a cartridge from the Geonosian Archduke and played it, showing a planet-sized weapon.
“The Jedi must not find our designs!” Poggle the Lesser exclaimed. “If they have any idea of what we are planning to create, we are doomed.”
“I will take these designs with me. They will be much safer with my Master.”
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Later, when the Peace Keeper gunship landed in the catacombs of Geonosis, the passengers attacked immediately.
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Just quickly, Tarisian spotted a Republic Commando, unit RC-1262, but a Geonosian was a few seconds away from stabbing him in the back.
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Realizing the Commandos’ importance to the Republic, he took aim and blasted the Geonosian.
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When seeing the dead warrior, the commando said to Tarisian: “Thanks for saving my six. You know, if it weren’t for all the guys trying to kill us, this wouldn’t be such a bad place.”
“Don’t worry,” answered Tarisian sarcastically, “saving a highly-trained commando was nothing.”
RC-1262 made an amused sound. “Well, I have to get back to my squad now; one of my squadmates has anger problems and he needs someone to help him other than his DC-17.”
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“These droids have been eliminated,” Kyle Krenis announced to all of them. “Now move on!”
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As they did so, they found a Neimoidian, alone, handling a computer.
“Halt!” one clone exclaimed.
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“P-please,” the green-skinned Neimoidian tried to say, “don’t hurt m-me. I’m only a Neimoidian working for Viceroy Gunray and ordered not to-”
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“Don’t harm him, Captain,” Idnum-Ki ordered to a clone with red markings. “I’ll deal with him.”
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The Jedi Knight then approached the easily-terrified Neimoidian and waved his hand. “You will tell us what you are doing here, and what the Separatists plans are in these catacombs.”
“I will tell you what I am doing here and what the Separatists plans are in the catabombs. I’m organizing an order of sending Geonosian Warriors into hiding, and also a Separatist evacuation. But be careful because there’s security and lots of droids and-”
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PUNCH!
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“We have to stop the Geonosians and evacuations quickly,” said the Clone Captain. “If we get to the evacuating Separatist Leaders, we may be able to stop a war.”
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In a Geonosian Hangar, Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had tried to stop Count Dooku from escaping, but it had turned into a fight.
“I have spent the last ten years learning to use the power of the Dark Side,” said Dooku. “It gives me infinitely greater power.”
“You will have to prove it,” Obi-Wan answered.
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A parry against Dooku’s attacking strike brought Obi-Wan’s lightsaber so close to his face that he felt its heat burning him.
“Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem!”
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“Come, put me out of my misery!”
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Then Dooku swung his sword and cut Obi-Wan’s left shoulder, ending the duel.
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But he had forgotten about Anakin Skywalker…
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“Brave of you, boy, but foolish. I would’ve thought you would have learned your lesson.”
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“I am a slow learner,” replied Anakin, using the Force to pull his injured Master’s lightsaber into one of his hands.
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Anakin Skywalker swung both lightsabers so fast that it seemed he was consumed by their colour. For the first time, Dooku lost his calm smile, and decided it would be wise not to toy with him as much as he had Kenobi.
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They assailed each other and parried their attacks for a long time, and then finally the former Jedi decided that the duel should end.
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He decided to take the young Padawan’s right arm.
’Better to leave the Jedi injured here,’ Dooku thought, ’to send a message to the Jedi.’
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Back underground, the Clone Troopers and Peace Keepers found a grave sign that seemed to prove they were too late to stop the evacuations.
Raymus gasped. “It’s a mess we didn’t make!”
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Pointing to one of the dead bodies, Tarisian said sadly: “This is a Jedi. The wound is one that no blaster could make.”
“Count Dooku was reported to have left a while ago,” said the Clone Sergeant. “But we have to go now. Our only hope is that the Separatist Leaders were taken out when leaving atmosphere.”
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Later, on Purveyor…
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Tarisian Drewton sat down and sighed. Many of the Peace Keepers were very likely killed in the battle; he didn’t even know whether the security group would exist or not now with a war on. Hundreds of Jedi had died, and the Separatist Leaders had been reported to have gotten away.
So this was the cost of victory. He wondered how much defeat might feel.
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The Clone War had begun.
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