Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, its characters or locations etc.

Author's note: Don't ask. I like Grievous. And I' m not a fangirl because I'm a guy.

Aayla Secura found herself staring down the muzzle of a military blaster that had been shoved, rather abruptly, in her face. She sighed and stared at it as she concentrated on the situation.

Standing in front of her were a dozen battle droids, spindly robots designed for combat that held laser rifles in their wiry hands. Their oblong heads bobbed up and down in a slightly goofy manner as they ordered her to put her hands in the air.

Aayla was unimpressed. She looked at the soldiers of the Separatist Union, and raised one eyebrow sceptically. Even with them thrusting their guns into her face, she was not afraid.

She was not of an imposing stature, but slim and elegant, the very essence of beauty that female Twi'leks like her were renowned for. Her skin was a light, pale blue colour, her simple, face smooth and pleasant, two long lekku hung from her head in the shape of hair from a human, and her body was slender and sensuous. She donned leather trousers and a tank top. Many had told her she was stunningly beautiful even among a beautiful race.

But the emotionless robots she faced were unlikely to care for her appearance. They made no move, evidently wary of her confidence. She looked around, at the steaming jungle, the dripping leaves, the lush foliage. And in front of her, the massive, forbidding steel bunker she was trying to enter. The guards had responded as she had suspected to her request to enter.

At last, the lead droid, the commander, squawked in its monotone voice, "This is your last chance".

Still she was not afraid. Because she was not merely a pretty face. She was a Jedi Knight.

In the blink of an eye, her lightsaber had vanished from her belt and appeared in her hand. She swung it up in an arc even as she ignited it, causing a three-foot, shimmering blue blade to burst into existence. It sliced through the commander droid without hindrance, and he fell in a pile of sparking metal and wires.

The other battle droids stared, then raised their blasters and fired. But Aayla was far too fast for them. The laser bolts hit nothing as the Jedi had leapt twelve feet into the air, and even before she landed in the midst of the guards she was swinging her sword in elegant arcs. Droids dropped to the wet rainforest floor in twisted heaps. In four strikes, seven droids had been destroyed. The remaining ones stepped back hurriedly, stumbling over tree roots and their own feet in an attempt to keep a safe distance from the Jedi Knight.

Aayla's gracile hand extended, and an invisible wave of the Force pummelled the battle droids, slamming them backwards into the wall of the bunker behind them, shattering them into pieces.

Another gesture from the Jedi, and the door to the bunker slid open. Aayla stepped inside, and looked around. In front of her was a long, bleak corridor. There was no sign of any activity. She pulled out a commlink from her belt and switched it on.

"Commander Bly?" she said.

There was a pause and a brief burst of static, then the coarse, rough but attentive voice of the Clone Commander replied, "Yes, General?"

"I've gained entrance to the facility. The Western Entrance. Is my beacon transmitting my location?"

As Aayla spoke, she was aware of a clanking noise. She looked up and saw ten hulking figures march down the corridor towards her. They loomed out of the darkness; burly, intimidating super battle droids, steel robots with strong arms, legs and a broad torso, with a sinister head tucked into the chest. Their right arms pointed at her: on the wrist of each droid was a powerful, repeating twin blaster. Aayla watched them warily. In open ground, she could probably have taken them. But in the cramped corridor…

"Yes, General", Bly's voice continued, the clone unaware of the danger the Jedi faced, "We're sending our troops now. Over and out".

The commlink clicked off as the super battle droids fired. Aayla slammed herself against the wall behind a support pillar, sheltering from the firestorm that would have annihilated her in such a concentrated environment. They kept firing for a moment, then the laser fire stopped. Aayla heard a clicking noise as one of the droids approached, apparently to check where she was.

As it got close, she leapt out and hurled her lightsaber at it. It plunged into its chest plate, then was recalled by the Force back to her hand as the droid slumped to the floor. She leapt back to safety before the droids could fire at her.

It was stalemate. The droids could not move down to face her and bring their weight of numbers against her in the narrow corridor. However, neither could Aayla face them in open combat.

The odds suddenly changed when a burst of blaster fire reigned down on the droids, destroying two of them and crippling three more. They returned fire at the arriving clone troopers, and the corridor was consumed in a heavy crossfire.

But the distraction was all Aayla needed. She stepped out from her hiding place and twirled her saber, inviting enemy fire. Two droids took aim at her: as they fired, she expertly blocked the shots with her length of plasma blade. The shots were deflected back at the droids, nailing them both.

The droids were overwhelmed by enemy fire and destroyed. Aayla beckoned to her troops and led them on. Trampling behind her were dozens of white-clad, fearsome clone troopers carrying huge blasters.

Blocking their way were two more standard battle droids, who did not even have time to look up before Aayla sliced them apart. The Republic warriors arrived at their destination: the reactor core.

Aayla looked at her troops and parted her red lips in a smile, "Do your thing, boys".

Within five standard minutes, the bunker was scattered liberally over a five-mile radius, and Aayla and her troops were back on the Republic Star Destroyer, heading for Coruscant. Mission successful.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Aayla walked slowly and solemnly through the corridors of the Jedi Temple, head bowed. Traditional brown Jedi robes were worn over her tank top and leather pants. She headed down the hallway towards a door that slid open for her automatically, and she stepped inside the Jedi High Council Chamber.

Seated around her were the twelve most senior Jedi Masters in the Order. Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti, Saesee Tiin, Aayla's good friend Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar… each of them a pillar of wisdom and strength, each with their own individual merits and view points.

It was two years since the beginning of the hellish Clone Wars, the conflict that threatened to tear the galaxy into a thousand pieces. Initially, the war had gone well, driving the droid army of the Separatists away from world after world. Then, six months into the conflict on Hypori, the war took a turn for the worse.

A sinister cyborg, calling himself General Grievous, had revealed himself as the new Supreme Commander of the Separatist Army. He had destroyed the attacking clone army force, and then decimated the Jedi that had been leading the attack. Aayla Secura had been one of those Jedi, one of the lucky few who had been lucky enough to be alive when the ARC trooper commanders arrived to rescue them.

Aayla reminded herself not to focus on such memories and walked into the centre of the room and bowed before her seniors, who regarded her for a moment in silence.

At last, Ki-Adi-Mundi leaned forward, "So, the droid tank factory on Inacc is destroyed. We congratulate you and your troops on your success, Master Secura".

Aayla bowed again.

"The Clone Wars finally swings back in our favour", Saesee Tiin mused.

Mace was more hesitant in his reply, "We must still be on the alert. This General Grievous has disappeared: a commander that seemingly confident would not simply abandon the war".

"If I may offer my opinion, Master", Aayla said respectfully, "He may have simply wished to retreat from the investigations of the Jedi".

Saesee Tiin smiled, "You see, Master Windu? I am not the only one who is optimistic about the situation".

Mace Windu returned the smile but said nothing.

"At any rate, to business", Even Piell declared, "We have a new assignment for you, Master Secura".

"Indeed" Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed, "We've received a disturbing report from one of our agents in the Outer Rim. The planet Cosko has stopped all communications with the Republic, and when our agent went to investigate, he discovered a droid army has taken over the planet. Cosko has always been populated by gangsters and criminals, but now…"

As Ki-Adi trailed off, Mace Windu looked at Aayla, "The planet is under siege. There are still many innocent civilians who cannot leave the planet living in fear. We'd like you to investigate and discover the cause of this terrorist takeover".

"Why do you think the Separatists chose Cosko?" Aayla asked.

"That's what we'd like you to find out", Plo Koon said gently, his great muscular form stirring within his voluminous robes.

Aayla nodded and bowed once, "Yes, my Masters".

She turned and left the room.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The Coruscant Base for the Grand Army of the Republic was a sight to behold. A massive fortified building, cavernous and intimidating. Aayla hated going there. It was a symbol of what the Republic had become: a massive warmongering body.

In the hangar for the Legion of the 742nd , the young female Jedi watched as the clone troopers marched into the Republic Acclamator Class Assault ship with infallible precision. The tramping of heavy metal boots filled the hangar as they boarded the ship, followed by various tanks and attack vehicles. Aayla's army, the one she had been designated to lead into war throughout the galaxy wherever she was required.

An unmistakable presence approached her. She turned and bowed respectfully.

"Master Windu, is everything alright?"

The tall, sombre Jedi nodded, "Yes, Aayla. I just came to see you off. You understand, of course, that we cannot afford to send another legion with you at the moment due to the widespread nature of the conflict?"

"Yes Master, I understand".

"Good. If you need assistance, contact me. I will be on Mearvis with the 2nd Legion".

Aayla looked at him, "You think I may require assistance?"

"It is possible. We are wary of this mission, Aayla. We wouldn't have sent you to clean up the situation unless we thought a Jedi of your skills was necessary".

A fact. Not a compliment, a fact. As the starship's engines roared and the blaring announcer declared the ship was ready to leave, Mace placed one hand on Aayla's shoulder.

"May the Force be with you".

"And you, Master", she turned and headed towards the ship, and towards war.