Order 66

Year: 19 BBY

Location: Kaller

"Welcome to Kaller! How do you like it so far?" Commander Grey asks. 

The battle on Kaller has been going on for a while, and while the Separatist presence was large, the reinforcements they got were helping them a lot. Master Billaba and Caleb slice through hordes of battle droids, with the different clone factions doing the same. But among the reinforcements, a special group has joined: Clone Force 99, and they were doing work, despite only numbering five members. 

Something is about to change. Caleb can feel it, and it will be big. According to what Tech, a member of Clone Force 99, has told them, the Clone Wars may be over any moment. Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has found and engaged General Grievous on Utapau. 

A large barrage of blaster fire hits their group, and Billaba looks at her Padawan. 

"Remember the basics, Caleb. Assume a defensive pose. Form III, to give the clones a chance to retaliate, while we cover for them," Billaba says. 

"Yes, Master."

Caleb has stopped using Form III, since he doesn't see a reason to remain in a defensive position for long. Instead, he has created a fusion or variation of Form V, Shien, that has the advantages of both Form III and V, but works far better and efficiently. Knowing when to attack and when to block is something Caleb has pretty much mastered, but having to switch between different forms was a bother. So he made a new one. 

"Captain Styles, have your men take the left flank."

"Yes, general!"

"Commander Grey, the right and order the other Captains to move in from the sides."

"Roger that."

"Let's end this," Billaba says. "All forces attack!"

They are in sight of the Separatist fortress and are now pushing for the final assault. Although Caleb doesn't like the tactic, he doesn't say anything. Charging the battle droids on open terrain is suicide for the clones and a poor tactic. Caleb has said it multiple times, but the clones are at their best when more than one-dimensional thinking is required. On open terrain, the B1 battle droids are equal if not more effective than clones. 

But Caleb makes it up with ferocity and by moving into the line of fire and blocking for his friends. He uses the Force to push swathes of droids back and away, clearing the way. 

.

In the fortress, Separatist General Kleeve oversees the battle. 

{General Kleeve, Republic clones are routing our forces.} A battle droid informs him. 

"I can see that. But give no credit to the clones. The Jedi's leadership was more effective than anticipated. We were told she was unstable, and the Padawan was a child. Obviously, that intelligence is now suspect."

{Your orders, sir?}

"Prepare my shuttle for departure," Kleeve commands. 

{Roger, Roger.}

"I'm afraid the Separatists must abandon Kaller for now, Gamut Key," Kleeve tells the village leader.

"If you say so, General Kleeve."

"I do. I know you Kallerans did not appreciate our presence here... we'll see if you prefer Republic tyranny."

General Kleeve boards his command shuttle and flies off. He will have to regroup with the rest of the Separatist command and then assess what they can do to alter the war's outcome. Little do they know that it is about to be over. 

.

Caleb looks up into the sky and sees a ship leave. 

"That is a Separatist command shuttle, Master."

"Indeed, General Kleeve has surrendered this world to the Republic. It is over," Billaba says. 

The battle on Kaller is over. Countless clone and droid corpses cover the ground. Countless lives lost. One can only hope that it was the last time. After checking on the survivors, Master Billaba, Caleb, and the clones, Commander Grey, and Captain Styles make their way to the fortress, where they meet with the village leader Gamut Key. 

"... and will no longer impose upon your village for supplies and labour. Nor will Separatist General Kleeve and his staff billet here at your expense," Billaba says.

"And where will you and your staff billet, General Billaba?" Gamut Key asks. 

"The point Gamut Key is trying to make is... we Kallerans don't see much difference between one general and another," another Kalleran named Janus Kasmir interjects.

"I am told Kaller's climate is mild this time of year. We will spend the evening in the field under the stars," Billaba tells the village leader. 

"As you wish, General."

Billaba takes Caleb with her to a hill, where they overlook their large camp. Due to the reinforcements, there are still a lot of clones left. Their ranks are now larger than when they first went out to the battlefield. 

"Come, Caleb, let us do some training and meditate on things."

They go through the lightsaber forms, one after the other. The sun sets, and only then do they stop. Billaba sighs.

"Describe what you feel, Caleb," she says. 

"My heart is beating fast. I have a bad feeling," Caleb tells her. 

"This is understandable, considering we are at war."

"I am aware, but I have never felt this way, after Kardoa, and neither after losing Stance on Mygeeto. This is new, Master, and I am unsure what it means. I feel as though something is approaching, something large and ominous. There are countless shatterpoints connected to this moment."

"Shatterpoints? Connected to what exactly?" Billaba asks. 

"Well... to the clones."

"Which ones?"

"All of them."

.

Billaba and Caleb arrive at the campfire. There are several Captains and Commanders, even the new ones who only arrived either on Mygeeto or now on Kaller, in their ranks. 

"Where is Clone Force 99? I was hoping I could talk to them," Caleb says.

"They are not very good with the rest of the clones. They are irregular," Grey says.

"Irregular, huh. I suppose that makes sense. Say, Master, why didn't you respond to the accusation of the Kalleran? I agree, should we remain on Kaller, we would need resources to sustain everyone, but we are hardly the same as the Separatists, are we?" Caleb asks. 

"I remained silent in part because our actions will better illustrate that difference than any words," Billaba says. 

"In part?"

"I believe the Jedi Order made a crucial error in taking military titles," she says. 

"No. No way," Captain Styles disagrees. 

"With all due respect, General, I must disagree. We'd be lost, the whole war would be lost, without Jedi leadership," Commander Grey interjects. 

"And believe me, you wouldn't even want to see this battalion without your leadership," another Captain adds. 

"It is not a matter of leadership, but of role and rank," Billaba explains. 

"Again, General, respectfully, I believe you underestimate the value of a clear chain of command."

Caleb thinks about his master's words. He also questioned the decision of the Jedi Council to become generals in a war that wasn't something they believed in. The Jedi were supposed to be peacekeepers, and here they were fighting against a group of systems that had had enough of the favouritism the core worlds showed each other. The Outer Rim was suffering, and the Mid Rim was also no playground. So the reason for this could be considered political in all aspects. The atrocities committed by the Separatists could also have been a result of the war and not something the CIS believed in. 

Caleb thinks about it and looks around. He sees all the new faces of clones who have arrived. He thinks about how they are a direct product of the war, but then again, he asks himself... how did they come to be? And why has no one ever asked themselves this question? If a clone needs roughly 10 years to create and train, at least the initial batch, then that would mean that they were being created 10 before the war started...

*beep*

Commander Grey receives a message. He turns around and takes the call. 

"This is C.C. Dash 10 Slash 994."

The hologram of a hooded figure can be seen, and a sepulchral voice heard. 

[Commander Grey, the time has come... Execute Order Sixty-Six.]

"Yes, my Lord," Grey says and stands up. 

But he's not the only one. All the clones around, Commanders, Captains, and regular troopers, don their helmets and grab their blaster rifles. Caleb, who is lying on the ground, suddenly opens his eyes in shock. He experiences pain... the power of the Force and his connection to all living things rush through him like never before. He experiences Force visions, one after the other. 

Death

So much death and pain. He feels his fellow Jedi dying and sees the images flash across his vision. All over the galaxy, clones turn on the Jedi and slaughter them. The moment has come. 

"Caleb Dume, run!" 

He hears the voice of his master, but he doesn't run. He sees them being surrounded by over thirty clones, and the number is rising as more approach. They are all aiming their blasters at them. 

"Good soldiers follow orders," Commander Grey says. 

"Execute order 66."

"Execute the Jedi!!"

And then they start firing. Billaba blocks the attacks, and Caleb does as well. His body moves automatically, and he pushes everything to the back of his mind. He doesn't understand what is going on, but apparently, they have been ordered to kill the Jedi. Billaba reflects blaster shots at Kaylon and Remo, then she decapitates Mixx. 

Caleb reflects blaster shots as well, taking out Soot and Big-Mouth... his friends. His form is perfect, no matter the situation he is in, and he goes through the motions, concentrating and focusing on feeling when and who attacks, before it happens. But his Essence is helping him in that regard. His body moves around, and he becomes a machine of death himself. 

Together, Billaba and Caleb manage to hold on and use the Force as well to kill more clones. However, their numbers have been inflated by the Supreme Chancellor, transforming their previous battalion into a legion in terms of size, although it does not officially bear that title. Although more than 20 clones have been killed, 30 have already arrived and are attacking. More and more arrive and start firing, having nothing on their mind but to kill the Jedi. 

"There are too many, and they'll soon cut off any escape. Caleb, we cannot win this battle. You must run!" Billaba shouts. 

"I refuse," Caleb says. 

He enters a serious mode and moves fluidly, blocking the shots that Billaba might have missed and becoming a perfect blend of neon coloured death. They block and reflect blaster shots and cut through those clones who come too close. Caleb can see the way to get through this, but he doesn't like it. He refuses to take the most straightforward approach for once and stands his ground. 

"Concentrate fire on the Padawan!" Commander Grey orders. 

The clones still believe that Master Billaba is the bigger threat, but little do they know that the two are only holding up because Caleb is covering her weaknesses. Attacking her is the way to go for the clones. And that becomes apparent soon. 

However, the load becomes too much, even for two Jedi such as Billaba and Caleb. The growth rate of Caleb, which is getting faster as time goes by, can't keep up with the over 70 troopers who are attacking. A shot passes through Billaba's guard and hits her chest. 

"MASTER!!"

She looks surprised and falls to the ground. The large gap, which Billaba's passing has just opened up, is suddenly filled with blaster fire. Caleb's body moves on its own, but it doesn't manage to dodge all of it, and his hit as he feels tremendous amounts of loss and pain. He continues to fight and block the attacks. Using his left hand, he grabs his master's lightsaber and uses Niman combined with Form V, Shien. 

His body moves as if it were on autopilot, while his mind weeps in pain and sadness. And then, he explodes out. 

Caleb jumps slightly and pulls his hands and feet close to him, as if taking a fetal position. Then, he releases all of his pent-up power and feelings and unleashes it in the form of a monstrous Force blast, which seems like Force destruction.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" Caleb roars. 

The wave of energy passes through the surroundings and rips apart the clones, blowing their atoms into the wind.