A chorus of ready tones announced that helmet imaging systems, heads-up displays, and weapons had recovered from the magnetic-pulse effects of the ECDs and were back online.

The troopers, also recovered, didn’t waste a moment in arming their rifles and leveling them at the four commandos, who had their DC-17s raised in anticipation of just such a standoff.

Arms outstretched, Commander Salvo rushed to position himself between the two groups before a blaster bolt could be fired.

“Stand down, all of you!” he snapped. “That’s an order!” He glanced menacingly at Climber. “You had better comply this time.”

While weapons were being lowered all around and the first of the reinforcement platoons was arriving—the troopers plainly confused by the scene unfolding in front of them—Salvo motioned the squad leader off to one side.

“Has your programming been wiped?” Salvo asked. “Our orders came down from the top of the command chain.”

“I thought the Jedi were the top of the chain.”

“From the Commander in Chief, Climber. Do you copy?”

“Supreme Chancellor Palpatine?”

Salvo nodded. “Evidently you and your team need reminding that we serve the Chancellor, not the Jedi.”

Climber considered it. “Were you apprised of what the Jedi have done to prompt an order of execution?”

Salvo’s upper lip curled. “That doesn’t concern me, Climber, and it shouldn’t concern you.”

“You’re right, Commander. I must have been misprogrammed. All this time I’ve accepted that the Grand Army and the Jedi Knights served the Republic. No one said anything to me about serving Palpatine first and foremost.”

“Palpatine is the Republic, Climber.”

“Palpatine issued the orders personally?”

“His command was to execute an order that has been in place since before the start of the war.”

Climber took a moment to consider it. “Here’s my take on it, Commander. It all comes down to serving the ones who are fighting alongside you, watching your back, putting a weapon in your hand when you need it most.”

Salvo sharpened his tone. “We’re not going to argue this now. But I promise you this much: if we don’t catch them, you’ll pay for your treason—you and your entire team.”

Climber nodded. “We knew that going in.”

Salvo took a breath and gave his head a rueful shake. “You shouldn’t be thinking for yourself, brother. It’s more dangerous than you know.”

He swung to the members of his platoon and the recent arrivals.

“Platoon leaders, switch your comlinks to encrypted command frequency zero-zero-four. Have your troopers fan out. Grid search. Every building, every nook and cranny. You know what you’re up against, so keep your wits about you.”

“Ever see a Jedi run, Commander?” a platoon leader asked. “My guess is they’re already ten klicks from here.”

Salvo turned to his comlink specialist. “Contact the Gallant. Inform command that we have a situation, and that we’re going to need whatever seeker droids and BARC detachments can be spared.”

“Commander,” the same platoon leader said, “unless the Seps are in on this hunt, we’re going to have our hands full. Are we here to take Murkhana or the Jedi?”

Climber smirked. “Don’t make matters worse by trying to confuse him, Lieutenant.”

Gesturing with his forefinger, Salvo said: “Worse for you if they escape.”

Shryne knew Murkhana City by heart.

“This way … Down here … Up there,” he instructed as they made their escape, using the speed granted by the Force to put kilometers between themselves and their new enemy.

The city was wide open to bombardment now. The energy shields were down and the anti-laser aerosols had diffused. Two additional Star Destroyers hung over the bay, but Republic forces were continuing to show restraint. Most of the intense fighting was still occurring around the landing platform, although the hexagonal field itself was not being targeted, as it and the three bridges that remained were essential for moving troopers and matériel into the city. Shryne figured that once the landing platform was taken, the Separatists would probably blow the rest of the bridges, if only to slow the inevitable occupation, while residents continued to flee for their lives.

In the streets, firefights were undergoing a conspicuous change now that the clone troopers had been issued a new priority. Separatist mercenaries and battle droids were making the most of the confusion. Shryne, Chatak, and Starstone had witnessed several instances when platoons of clones disengaged from fighting, presumably to continue the hunt for the Jedi.

When Shryne felt that the three of them had a moment to spare he led them into a deserted building and pulled his comlink from his belt.

“The troopers have changed frequencies to prevent our eavesdropping on them,” he said.

“That doesn’t affect our knowing their methods for conducting a search,” Chatak said.

“We can avoid them for however long it takes to clear this up. If it comes down to worst cases, I have contacts in the city who might be able to help us escape.”

“Whose lives are we protecting here,” Starstone asked in an edgy voice, “ours or the troopers’? I mean, aren’t we the ones who had them grown?”

Shryne and Chatak traded secret glances.

“I’m not going to start killing troopers,” Shryne said emphatically.

Chatak glanced at her Padawan. “That’s what battle droids were created for.”

Starstone gnawed at her lower lip. “What about Master Loorne and the others?”

Shryne made adjustments to his comlink. “Still no response from any of them. And not because of signal jamming.”

Knowing that Chatak was doing the same, he stretched out with the Force, but no reverberations attended his call.

Chatak’s shoulders slumped. “They’ve been killed.”

Starstone sighed and hung her head.

“Draw on your training, Padawan,” Chatak said quickly. “They’re with the Force.”

They’re dead, Shryne thought.

Starstone looked up at him. “Why have they turned on us?”

“Salvo implied that the order came from high up.”

“That can only mean the Office of the Supreme Chancellor,” Chatak said.

Shryne shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. Palpatine owes his life to Skywalker and Master Kenobi.”

“Then this has to be a miscommunication,” Starstone chimed in. “For all we know, the Corporate Alliance broke the High Command code and issued counterfeit orders to our company commanders.”

“Right about now that would be a best-case scenario,” Shryne said. “If our comlinks were powerful enough to contact the Temple …”

“But the Temple can contact us,” Starstone said.

“And it might yet,” Chatak said.

“Maybe Passel Argente cut a deal with the Supreme Chancellor to spare Murkhana,” Starstone said.

Shryne glanced at her. “How many more theories are you planning to offer?” he said, more harshly than he meant to.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“Patience, Padawan,” Chatak said in a comforting voice.

Shryne slipped the comlink back into its pouch. “We need to avoid further engagements with droids or mercenaries. Lightsaber wounds are easy to identify. We don’t want to leave a trail.”

Exiting the building, they resumed their careful climb into the hills.

Everywhere they turned, the streets were crowded with clone troopers, battle droids, and masses of fleeing Koorivar. Before they had gone even a kilometer, Shryne brought them to a halt once more.

“We’re getting nowhere fast. If we ditch our robes, we might have better luck at blending in.”

Chatak regarded him dubiously. “What do you have in mind, Roan?”

“We find a couple of mercenaries and take their robes and headcloths.” He gazed at Chatak and Starstone in turn. “If the troopers can switch sides, then so can we.”