Crawling up to the ridgeline, you spot the droid... army might be putting it generously, detachment would be closer- in the valley below. It was clear that the sepratists did not consider this world to be a major threat.

The tank was still there, but as you watch, a B1 climbs out of the hull and shuts a panel, saying something to another, who activates some kind of holocomm.

The locals seem to have gone home for now.

"Alright," Treyan drops back down below the ridgeline, beckoning the others to follow. "Here's what I would do. We've got a tightly-packed infantry phalanx with stationary armour support. I would have our first squad hold here, while the second squad flanks around to hit them in the flank - do you see that gully down there? Should hopefully provide a covered approach. Then we have the gunships come flying over the ridge at treetop level. Have their missiles kill the tank and their laser cannons take the droids. They should only make one pass, to avoid any AA fire coming up from below. It won't matter afterwards, since they'll have cleared out enough of the droids that we can clear them up. We might have to get stuck in, but I doubt that will pose much of a problem. Thoughts?"

Istvan tries to pay attention to Master Vos'Ka's plan, but he just can't focus. All he gets is a mix of words he doesn't understand and some familiar concepts which don't seem to be in the context he would have expected them to be.

-Alright, Master Vos'Ka.

Istvan just hopes the fact that he's going to be in his first battle is not perfectly clear to everyone (even though it's more a skirmish than a battle). Luckily, all what Master Vos'Ka is trying to explain will make sense in due time.

"Seems like a sound plan to me", Darex nods his support.

Jax takes a moment to think over the plan.

"The gunships will make short work of that tank, and without it the droids shouldn't be an issue."

"Master, won't the heavy artillery alert nearby troops? If we move in to clean up after they strike, we'll be forced to face whatever they have alerted in an protracted infantry battle, and any further air attacks will have to be done so with us in the strike path. If there are more droids nearby - we could attract a force larger than what we are prepared for."

"Hmm...a good point. But then the scouts reported these to be the only forces in the area. Nonetheless, caution is perhaps the better part of valour. Might it not be a sound strategy to dispatch a small team to reconnoitre the nearby area for forces that could counter-attack us. They would only have to be in range to reach us before we pull out: a small enough area, to be sure. We would have to wait some time for them to complete the sweep, but does that sound viable?"

Looking to the Sergeant Tabithia nodded, "Sergeant, would it be possible to send a small team to scout past both flanks of the droids?"

Turning to Master Vos'ka, she continued, "Master, if we send a small team along each flank to reconnoiter, they could meet in the rear of the forces and then report their findings. As an added benefit, should one team meet resistance in the aft, then the second scout team would already be flanking the enemy as support. This tactic would accomplish two things, first, it would scout the needed area in half the time, and second, it would create a pincer strike on the droid tank. We could attack from fore and aft should the way be clear."

"We wouldn't need to pincer the tank if we can kill it from the air first. Those scout teams would be cut to pieces if they engaged unsupported. Our gunships are our primary method of attack in a straight-up fight. Any other option would mean death to the men on the ground."

Surprised, Tabithia regarded Master Vos'ka's words. "I understand, Master. I withdraw the suggestion."

"I'm not saying it's a poor strategy, only that it merits a change of tack. Certainly, we should split one squad. I had not considered the greater firepower we would have from firing from an additional angle. However I feel they should only open fire once the gunships have made their run and that tank is so much scrap metal. It's the safest option I feel."

Nodding, the padawan looked to the elder Jedi, "I understand. My grasp of the minutiae of military tactics is still new. The capabilities of the Sergeant's men and the enemies we face is still in the theoretical based off of my studies, I'm afraid. Thank you for the lesson, master."

"Ah, worry not. We'll make a warrior of you yet young one. But what would you say masters?" Treyan asks the others gathered nearby.

"I agree with Padawan Tabitha that we need to be mindful of other hostile forces that may be in the area and be close enough to engage us. However, I think your plan is sound, Master Treyan. If other forces do attempt to converge on us we can use air support to cover our withdrawal or to help in softening them up for our main force to deal with them as well. I do believe time is of the essence - we do not have much more time to deliberate. The longer we wait the greater chance we'll be discovered and this opportunity will be lost."

Darex nodded to the others in respect.