(Jax can have that role.)

"Something tells me this isn't the bulk of their forces. It's probably more of a heavy scout force. But still, I agree that hitting this group while they are disabled is an good idea. The more damage we can do the better."

"Very well. Itzal, can you or someone else lead us to them?"

Itsal nods, and begins gathering her gear. "I hope you can keep up. Make your preparations, and meet me at the gate."

"Hah!" Treyan laughs, clapping the scout on the back. "I doubt that will be much of a problem friend."

"I have a bad feeling about this ..." Tabithia gathered her thoughts, and considered the words of the sergeant. The other Masters seem to be sure that this is going to be a simple process, and she wanted to believe it could, but Master Yoda had often said that war complicates things. That the simplest action, when undertaken under the shadow of conflict, can be treacherous; both politically and mortally.

She understood that taking out a small force would do well to showcase the capabilities of the Grand Army, and it would make inroads to uniting the people of Navarion with our forces, but not knowing the full extent of the Separatist forces was worrisome. Moreover, there were still bound to be casualties - up to this point the people of Navarion haven't been exposed to the true savageness of galactic warfare - their pristine woods haven't been razed and leveled by high yield blasters and thermal grade explosives. How would they react to the sheer horror that firepower of that magnitude carried?

Then there would be the wounded. Despite the skirmish size of the operation, the wounds received would be tragic in both appearance and affect. Tabithia's heart ached for the wounded already, both clone and Navarion alike, they would be forever scarred and never the same again. It was this area that led Tabithia to where her true unease lay; she was confident in her ability to assist in the care of the wounded, but would she be able to wound herself? She had never up to this point used her lightsaber for anything other than practice. Now that she was entering into combat, would she be able to take the life of another if it was needed? If the Nebutuu were to interfere, and she was forced to slay one of them, could she? She knew that returning to the Force was the natural state of things, but to be the one who accelerates the circle of life to its conclusion was to act against the natural order. Would she be wise enough to know when it was the will of the Force to do so? Would she even be able to act in combat at all? What if she froze and through her inaction one of her companions was struck low? These, she knew, were common fears, and presented a dangerous path to the Dark Side.

As the others gathered their gear and began to move out, she calmed her mind and cleared them of these questions, trusting the Force to guide her actions. She opened herself to the greater world and allowed her instincts to touch that deep well within her that was the Living Force. Soon, these questions would be long forgotten, left on the field of battle like expended ammunition. Her mind calmed, her intent clear, Tabithia fell in behind the Masters and Sergeant Jax, ready for war.

"Masters, Padawan, I think before we set out we ought to take a step back and to reflect on what we are doing. I have led troops into battle before, seen the blood and violence that war may cause. Though I persecute it - though I am good at persecuting it - I do not see war as an answer to anything. Often it can create more problems than it solves. I would suggest that we take a moment together, as Jedi, to reflect on our place in this war," he turns to the others. "Brother Istvan, I sense the Force is present in you. If you wish to join our meditations we would welcome you. Is there a place of contemplation near here we can retire to. Sergeant, if calm and a moment of reflection is your wont I'm sure you can be accomodated too."

Jax, anticipating the order to load up, has been meticulously inspecting his equipment - again.

"Thank you General, but I've had about all the calm I can take. I'm ready to move out whenever you are, sir."

"As you wish Sergeant. What of the rest of you?"

Darex paused, and looked at his fellow Jedi.

"I agree there is wisdom in contemplation and considering the best course of action through the Force.

What we have learned so far does not open any opportunities to my mind for peace without violence.

I am open to a deeper examination but would caution that too long a pause will become hesitation in the face of a brutal enemy and perhaps cost us an opportunity to reduce their ability to wage war here."

Darex positioned himself to follow Treyan Vosk'ka's lead.

Tabithia bowed her head to Master Vos'ka, "As you wish, master. Though I understand also Master Nezuma's concern, and agree that every moment spent brings the conflict closer to a larger theatre of scale, I believe it is only through unity with the Force will we be able to end this conflict." Turning again to Master Vos'ka, she stood to her full (if diminutive) height and settled her shoulders, "Will we be communing with the Cosmic or the Living Force, master?"

"Whichever you so wish young one. It is not the place of any Jedi to proscribe to another how he acts; I may only tell you to serve the Force, in what capacity is up to you."

Nodding, Tabithia regarded the situation. "If the purpose of our meditation is to ascertain the course forward, I would say the Cosmic Force then, for my part. The Living Force always leads me into the moment, as I am. Now I think, it would be wiser to commune with what could be."

"I shall focus on the Living Force. To be in the moment is the most important thing in battle, for though we must always see what comes after the battle we should not let it distract us from the perils of the now."

Istvan has been silent for quite long. He is observing the procedures of these Jitt-eyes. They seem to be quite a chaotic people - they respect each other too much, to the point they have a hard time reaching a collective decision. It seems none of the ones here is truly a chief, but they talk about wise Jitt-eyes from far away Worlds who might be their leaders.

It would be a dream to know such people. Istvan master died and, in her final moments, gave him the Amulet. She told her to seek further training. What if these Jitt-eyes could train him?

-I understand I am young and unwise, Masters. My own Master thought me still unsuited to use the Cosmic Power, or The Phors, as you call it. But I truly think that the moment to strike is now. We strike hard and well, and show all Navarion that no Nebtuu or Tink-Demon shall cast fear in our hearts again. We need the people to believe! They have great expectations, you need them to believe in you!

"Of course. We would take no more than a moment, just long enough to commune with the Force and centre ourselves before we must do battle. Ki-Von, what will you do?"

As the others spoke, Tabithia closed her eyes and reached for the Cosmic Force. Her mind swam through the darkness of silence until it came to a place with cloying patterns of light. She distanced herself from sight via her eyes and instead developed the sight of her mind and connection to the Cosmic Force. Much calmed by her centering on the Living Force, she let go her higher logic and reached out with her instincts. Through the cloying colors and myriad shapes, she waited again for images that would reveal to her the many possible futures that await. She resisted the desire to see success, or failure, as she knew they were constructs of her own desires and fears. She waited instead for images outside of herself, and steeled herself against the impulse to take those images as fact.

Again, the future evaded her, and she remained floating in the seas of the Cosmic Force. The colors and patterns of it's ebb and flow merely that; colors and patterns. She opened her eyes, no more aware of her fate, but one more exercise closer to finally unraveling the mystery of it.

Treyan reached out in the Force, kneeling as he did so. He centered himself, as he always did when he knew he was going to a dangerous place, on a simple thing about him. The lightsaber he carried at his side, the one he had forged when he was first an Initiate of the Order, held at its heart a crystal of the most vibrant glittering emerald, one which shot out a blade that lit up the darkness and brought fear to those who would do evil in the galaxy. He focused now on this crystal, centering his focus upon it. In his mind's eye, he pictured his lightsaber risen up before him. He slowly disassembled it, teasing apart each individual component, seeing how they were worn down by time and use, yet still as functional as when he first brought them together. He watched as the crystal rotated softly in his vision of the deconstructed weapon. saw how that tiny nexus of the Force sent streams of energy out into the world around it and absorbed them in turn. He saw the world around him as it glowed in the Force. Nature was still strong on this world, not silent like some he had been to. He saw the skeins of energy that filled the world around him and linked to the higher energies of the Force that filled all of the galaxy, permeating in every thing, living or dead, that had ever lived and would ever live.

All this exploration of his vast mind's eye took only a moment, but it was a vast moment that spanned eons. Treyan's eyes snapped open, then gently closed again. He took a deep breath, opened his eyes and stood, nodding in acknowledgement to Tabithia and waiting for Ki-Von and Darex to conclude their own meditations.

Istvan sits with the others and meditates. He can feel something, he is aware of the Cosmos, but... somehow, he cannot reach it. It takes a lot of effort to concentrate on it and, in the very last moment, his concentration is always disrupted and the Cosmos avoids him.

Istvan's master said that his approach was not proper. It seems that Istvan has a kind of mental block, or something similar, that prevents him from reaching the state of calmness needed to commune. He was working on it for certain, when all of a sudden...

Istvan shakes his head in helplessness and gets on his feet again. He's filled with discomfort and frustration, a bad state of mind to be if one's about to initiate a conflict, and he is aware of it. He grabs his Amulet and tries to calm down a bit while the Jitt-eyes finish their communion.

These Nebtuu and their Metalskin Beast allies are going to pay...

Darex stood with his eyes closed. He stilled his body and quieted his mind only leaving room for the Living Force - an acute awareness of his surroundings. He let his senses wander but not get fixated on any one thing. After a moment the perception of a turning point came - indistinct but felt. Whatever they decided to do or not do right now would profoundly shape the flow of events to come.

Darex opened his eyes and looked around, indicating he was ready.

(timeskip)

Two LAATs wind their way through a canyon, the scout keeping her marvel in check as she directs the clone pilot. Remaining low to avoid detection was all well and good, but the meandering path made the trip take longer than simple distance would suggest. You can only imagine how long it would have taken on foot.

Finally they set down, the scout explaining that the drid army was last seen over the next ridgeline. The 20 clone troopers accompanying you begin to secure the immediate perimiter.

Dismounting his gunship, Treyan immediately begins calling out orders: "Second Squad, defensive perimeter around the gunships, fifty metre range; First Squad with us, we're going ahead to see what the tactical situation looks like; pilots, keep your engines idling but see if you can conceal the gunships. We'll bring up Second Squad once we have an idea of the situation. Any objections?"

Jax disembarks with the first squad of troopers, weapon at the ready. The LAAT's didn't pick up any enemy movement near the landing zone, but the Sep's have been known to pull off the occasional ambush even when the most stealthy approach is used.

Moving around the LZ Jax makes sure that the perimeter is adequately covered. When he is satisfied he returns to the Jedi.

"General Treyan, the perimeter is secure sir".

Tabithia dismounted the LAAT behind Master Vos'ka, marveling at the precision of the clones movements. No action wasted, unspoken coordination between squad members to secure differing areas of the landing zone, all done with unbelievable speed. Sticking near to Maser Vos'ka, she wrapped herself in the Force, not to achieve any great action, but merely to guide her to where she wouldn't be in the way.

Looking around at her surroundings, she was taken aback by the beauty of the Navarion hills settling upon her as she moved around the landing zone. She quietly lamented the future that await the area, once the blaster bolts and high energy lasers were unleashed. She regarded the emerald light stemming from her lightsaber, it's focused plasma blade capable of rendering the vegetation around her to nothing instantaneously. She felt a tinge of guilt for bringing such destruction to a place of such peace.

These thoughts played about in the back of her mind as she moved along with Master Vos'ka, mimicking his movements, memorizing his orders, and the sequence of priorities he made. If she were to be in this war, she would certainly learn how to wage it correctly.

Darex hopped out of the LAAT, his eyes scanning the ridge line as his hands instinctively went to his lightsaber.

He stood quietly to the side and behind Treyan, his lightsaber inactive but in hand.