After breakfast Mireska was back in her quarters, reading a couple of reports. Ker'see swung by to borrow Mireska's lightsabre tools before heading off with a determined look on her face.

"Good luck!" Mireska wished her.

She then headed for the indoor gym for a quick series of katas with the new, teal-bladed 'sabre. This time the Niman series seemed to go a lot more smoothly than before. Mireska held the final pose for several long seconds, then straightened up and looked at her new lightsabre with a pleased expression. That was an excellent work-out. I do believe that we'll do well together.

Back in her quarters again, she showered and changed into yet another uniform. Thank the Force for laundry service droids!

More reports demanded her attention, then a conference call with Kix and Spanner about Havoc's new arm, then a late lunch tray sent over by the comissary. Somewhere in between there, Ker'see returned Mireska's tools and Mireska vaguely registered a pleased comment from Ker'see about the results and her intent to try out the new 'sabre.

Mireska finally sent the rest of the reports into a rout and took advantage of the opening to do some rounds at the hospital.

"Hello, Havoc," she said after knocking on the open door to his room. "How're you feeling, and are you ready for a new arm soon?"

Havoc grins, "I'm doing okay, General. A new arm would be much appreciated. What's going on with the Separatists? Are they getting ready for another attack, like the Lieutenant said?"

"Good to hear that you're feeling alright," Mireska said as she went through Havoc's chart on her datapad. "Jorin and Spanner are working on your new arm, so it should be ready soon. As for the Separatists, the last report I received stated that there's been increased activity, but no sign of their top brass or that madwoman with the red 'sabres."

Early the next day, Commander Cody comms the three Jedi, "Generals, Commander, we're picking up an inbound shuttle on our sensors. One of ours."

Jorin relays the message to Camouflage, and all four move quickly to the shuttle pad to receive the ship. As Mireska reaches the others, she says, "Our cruiser must be back…"
"Which means we'll be able to get our reinforcements." Ker'see adds.
"That means fresh troops and new supplies, so it looks like our problems are solved." Jorin says, falling into step beside the other two Jedi.
Camouflage follows behind at a safe distance, guessing it's not that easy. Nothing ever is…

The shuttle lands and the front ramp opens to reveal a female Pantoran, recognized by Mireska as Senator Riyo Chuchi, and her Coruscant Guard security detail.

After an initial exchange of pleasantries, the senator says, "Master Tanohdi, I've come to deliver relief supplies in the aftermath of this battle, but I also have another mission, one much more pressing and that I hope you can help me with. It's an emergency, I'm afraid."
Mireska holds up her hand to stop the senator, "Hold on, I'm not sure you've noticed, but we're in a bit of an emergency right here and the battle isn't exactly in the 'aftermath' stage yet. Our communications have been a bit 'unreliable' but we've been calling for help."
The senator frowns, "Master Yoda hadn't heard from you, but he said you had already wrapped up the battle here."
Ker'see throws up her hands, "Oh great, they don't even know we're in trouble!"
"Perhaps you can route a signal through the cruiser escorting the transports?"
Mireska looks towards Camouflage and he nods, "I'll get right on it, General."

The ARC trooper hastens to the command center, plugging his datapad into the main console and working to boost the signal. After a moment’s fiddling, he succeeds in establishing communications with the Spirit of the Republic .

The Jedi, followed by the senator and the commander heading up her escort, step up to the holotable.

When Mireska explains her request, the clone officer on the other end says, "It'll take some time, but I'll try to make contact with the Jedi Temple for you. Standby."

A couple minutes later, a hologram of Grand Master Yoda springs to life over the holotable. "Master Tanohdi, glad the senator found you, I am."
Mireska jumps right in, dispensing with the usual pleasantries, "Master Yoda, we are trapped here, and vastly outnumbered. We are in no position to go anywhere, or do anything. Our support ships have all been destroyed and the Separatists are preparing for another attack that might launch any day now."
"Send reinforcements to you, we will. Time it will take. Hold out until then, you must."
Mireska sighs, "I fear we may not be able to. We repulsed their last assault, but that did little to dent their forces and there is a new complication: A woman wielding twin, red-bladed lightsabers ambushed us. She defeated us easily, and would have killed us if not for Ker'see's quick response."
"No choice in this matter do we have. Hold out you must . May the Force be with you, young Tanohdi."

With that, the transmission fades away.

Mireska turns to the senator, "Senator Chuchi, please excuse our lack of decorum under the circumstances. What is this mission?"

The senator explains that Jabba's son has been kidnapped, and he has reached out to the Jedi for help. It would behoove the Republic to ingratiate themselves with Jabba, as the Hutts control many Outer Rim hyperspace lanes that are crucial to the Republic's war effort. If they can be obtained, they will prove a great boon. But if the Separatists were to secure them instead, it could cripple the Republic's defenses in that region and they might have to pull back from entire swathes of space as defending it would leave them spread far too thin across that region and could result in massive pockets of troops and materiel trapped behind enemy lines and at the mercy of the Separatists. "Republic operatives have tagged a team of bounty hunters that is currently pursuing the Huttlet's location. All we need to do is follow the signal and it should lead us directly to him."

Jorin speaks up, "Camouflage, recon is what you and your men do… Masters, this is starting to look like it will be a line battle, and we currently have no targets that both fit my men's skill set and wouldn't be suicidal. What if I go with Varactyl Squad to track them down and then scout out the location?" After a moment’s consideration, he reluctantly amends, "I probably shouldn't go with them… I might be needed here, and I don't possess the skill set necessary yet ."

Before anyone else can say anything, the holotable flickers back to life, "Generals, we're detecting Separatist warships emerging from hyperspace!"

Camouflage quickly interjects, "Then it sounds like you'd better make a decision quickly, Senator, Generals. Once the fleet is gone, my men and I can't get through. I can take the senator's shuttle and leave in just a couple minutes, I already have my men on standby and we can use the naval battle for cover."
Mireska closes her eyes momentarily, then says, "Do it."
"Agreed." Senator Chuchi gestures to her security detail's Commander, and he shoves a chip into Camouflage's hand. "The receiver for the tracker. Go, Captain." she adds.
"It's Lieutenant , ma'am."
"Just GO!"

Camouflage hastily salutes and tucks the chip into a pouch on his utility belt, "Kid, tell Havoc what's going on." He starts sprinting flat-out towards the shuttle, calling on his men to get their gear and then meet him at the pad.
The four active-duty members of Varactyl Squad were on stand-by in case they needed to roll out on a moment's notice, and so are able to just make a bee-line for the shuttle, already equipped.

As the ARC runs off, Mireska explains the situation to the clone officer, "We need you to hold out just a little while longer, Captain. We have an outgoing shuttle and need you to cover its escape."
"General, the transports can't hold out against this much longer."
Hold out until then, you must . Yoda's voice runs through Mireska's head. "They'll have to, Captain." she says sternly.
The captain furrows his brow, "Yes ma'am."
Mireska doesn't like the idea of sacrificing the transports, but if what she's been told is correct, the fate of the Republic may well hinge on the success of this mission, of which Camouflage is a key part.

The pilots and the rest of the senator's security detail are standing outside their shuttle when they see an ARC Lieutenant charging for them full tilt. They start in surprise and confusion as the officer blitzes past them into the shuttle, yelling, "No time! Stay there." The clones decide it best not to mess with a determined ARC trooper and stand down.

Four ARF troopers sprint past the senator's utterly confused escort, charging up the ramp into the vessel. As soon as the last one is inside, the ramp starts to close and Camouflage begins the shuttle's lift-off process. From the pilot's seat, he yells over comms, "Hawk, get up here. You're my gunner. There's a battle going on up there, we've got to punch our way through. I'll fill you in during the hyperspace trip."

Ghost makes a show of checking his safety harness, "This'll be a bumpy ride."
Shadow laughs, "Scared your luck's going to finally run out?"
Ghost shakes his head, "No, I'm afraid the Lieutenant's flying is going to run out on my luck. Those two never did get along very well."

Hawk steps into the gunner's seat and hits the button to raise it up into the cockpit. All ARF troopers are cross-trained in piloting and gunnery, but that doesn't mean they’re all that good at it. Hawk is better than most, but they'd all rather have their shebs in an AT-RT or their feet on nice, solid ground.

Anakkona ignores the others, mentally running through a checklist of gear and procedures, trying to make sure they didn't miss anything. It then occurs to him that it's too late to turn back and get anything they missed, so he may as well not bother. "Camo's tool kit!" he bursts out.
Shadow looks at him in confusion, "What?"
Anakkona sighs, "We didn't have his tool kit with us, so it got left behind."
Ghost laughs, and Shadow says, "Per regs, there should be an emergency tool kit somewhere in here. Once we're in hyperspace, I'll take a look for one."

When Camouflage clears the atmosphere, he sees three Munificent-class Frigates battling it out with a Venator and four Pelta-class transports. By now, he has the shuttle going at full speed. "Hang on to your shebs, vode! I'm gonna thread the needle straight between the Seppie ships, they can't shoot us without hitting each other. Hawk! We've got Vultures on incoming."
"I see 'em, I see 'em." Hawk warms up the laser cannons and tries to get a lock on the incoming flight of Vulture droids. He blasts away at them when they come in range, managing to take one out in a fiery explosion.

Over the holo-transmission, the senator and Jedi see a clone crew member run up behind the captain. "Captain, more Separatist ships have just arrived. Admiral Yularen has ordered us to pull out now!"
The captain's head droops slightly, "With regret, we cannot hold out any longer. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Mireska nods, "Thank you, Captain. May the Force be with you."

Three Lucrehulk battleships, escorted by another six Munificent-class Frigates, drop out of hyperspace behind the Separatist fleet. Camouflage curses under his breath, "This just got a whole lot harder." He pulls the shuttle into a dramatic maneuver, trying to throw off the Vultures, but the nimble droid fighters stick on his tail.

Hawk says, "Lieutenant, the Torrents are pulling back!"
"That means they're getting ready to jump. Haran I wish I had an astromech."
"You mean I don't count?" Hawk quips.

The shuttle rockets past the first three frigates, but the Vultures are still hot on its tail. A burst of blaster fire from one of the fighters slams into the back of the shuttle, but doesn't do much past the shield. The lights in the passenger bay flicker, but stay on.

"Hawk, I've got to focus on flying. I need you to program the navicomputer!"
Well shab . I wasn ’ t volunteering. This isn't going to go well. Hawk thinks to himself. He relinquishes control of the turrets and starts working on programming hyperspace coordinates. "Where to?"
"Preferably somewhere there aren't any giant Separatist fleets!"
"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying."

A moment later they receive another hit to the aft end and Camouflage grunts, "Any time now…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

As the shuttle shudders under the barrage, Anakkona attempts to reassure himself and his allies, "Hang on, brothers. We'll be out of this soon."
"But will we be in one piece?" Ghost asks, chuckling.
"We'll each be one piece of space-ice." Shadow responds wryly.

"Got it!" Hawk yells. Just as the Venator and the three remaining transports punch out, Camouflage slams the hyperdrive control forwards and launches the shuttle into hyperspace. "You were saying, Shadow?"

Camouflage and Hawk drop their seats out of the cockpit, standing and stretching as they head back to the others. The adrenaline has all rushed out of Camouflage, and the muscles in the backs of his legs are quivering furiously, unused to sitting still while so much is happening.

Anakkona rattles off a list of the squad's current condition and the state of their gear, explaining that they did not bring Camouflage's tool kit with them. While he's talking, Shadow checks one of the storage compartments in the floor. "Here's the ship's emergency kit. Ought to suffice, right boss?"
Camouflage nods, "It'll do. And I'm going to need it. Some key systems are on their last legs after that barrage, if we're going to get much of anywhere I'd better set things to rights. Hawk, where did we jump to?"
The clone rubs the crest of his helmet sheepishly, "Uuuhh… Herdessa I think…"
"Good. Herdessa is still under Republic control. I think it's about time I fill you in on the mission."

Camouflage explains the current situation and their directives from the senator and Jedi, then plugs the chip for the receiver into his datapad, bringing up a track of the bounty hunters' trail. "Looks like we're headed to Syvris, at least for now. We'll go from Mon Gazza to Manda, then cut down to Molavar. From there it's a straight shot. Should only be about an eighteen-hour trip. From there, who knows?"
Shadow groans, "I hate Hutts…"
"I'm sure the feeling is mutual." Ghost jibes.
"Alright, alright. Pack it in. Shadow, hand me those tools. I'm going to see what I can fix here."

He completes the various repairs just before they drop out of hyperspace in Herdessa. Once they reenter hyperspace, he starts going through the tools and trying to plan how to get just what he needs in as small a package as possible. If he's able to keep the tools on his person, he won't have to worry about them getting left behind in the future.

Their BARCs were ready as soon as they were geared up. The droids were mounting a huge offensive and all the Jedi were called up. The Duchess was coming with her this time and she was harnessed to carry Ker'see's extra gear, the bow and sniper rifle.

As the squad mustered together in the garage the Jedi got them together. "I've separated you from the main squad as we are taking this a little differently," started Ker'see. "We are going to be taking long range shots at larger threats, this may bring the ire on us or not. Your job is to keep the rank and file droids off me. Any questions?"

"No, SIR!" came the clone in unison.

"Good. Sniper Squad let's go."

----------------------------------------

The BARCs were pushed faster and harder than they probably should had. Comms were kept up with the main battle and it was hard for all of them to not turn around to assist. The planning team had found the ideal nest for Ker'see and they pointed their vehicles there. The sound of blasters and explosions sounded all around them and they managed to avoid contact before finding the abandoned sky scraper.

"Hide the vehicles, we're going to need a quick escape."

After stashing the BARCs they made quick time up to the nest and quickly settled in. The view to the battle wasn't the best so Ker'see took her lightsabre out and cut out a hole in the wall and placed the sniper in. Two of the clones took out binoculars to scout of the battle.

"General, we're seeing the advance of droids," explained CT-2999, "Our brothers are holding their own but we can see threats incoming, crab and spider droids at moving up!"

Looking through the sniper's lens Ker'see saw the targets. "Keep me informed of threats CT-2999, the rest of you keep an eye on any threats to us."

Lining up a shot against the first spider droid the Jedi focused and released a blast against the enemy. The blast streaked across the battlefield, almost lost in the hail of other shots and took the droid in its sensors before blasting through and taking it out. The droid collapsed in a heap scattering other B1s and B2s to the ground and giving a brief breather to the onslaught on the clones.

"Good shot, General," came CT-2999's voice.

"It's only the beginning..."

End of Part one...

[“General Tanohdi?”]

Commander Cody’s voice over the comlink broke through Mireska’s focus as she moved through the final moves of the tenth kata for Form VI. I am getting better at this!

“One moment, Commander,” she said as straightened up and walked across the gym floor to the bench to where she’d left the comlink on loudspeaker and ready to receive any priority messages from the Operations Centre. Grabbing a towel, Mireska rubbed it across her forehead before picking up the comlink. “Report, please, Commander.”

“It’s getting lively on the front lines. Hard contact, and lots of it. General Ker’see has already taken her sniper team and ‘gone hunting’, as she put it. Commander Jorin is keeping an eye on the battle. Casualties are starting to come in.”

Mireska’s lips tightened at that last piece of information.

“Alright, it sounds like you have things in hand at the Operations Centre,” she said. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes to get an overview, but then I’ll continue on to the medevac staging area.”

“Yes, sir. The men will be glad to see you there to receive them,” Commander Cody closed the line, but not before Mireska heard another voice in the background.

“- sure! The Green General’s the best sight a vod can see when he’s just been pulled off the battlefield - means that he’ll get to live!”

I wish that that was always the truth. Sorry, Fury.

(End of part one.)

“Clankers!”

Mireska was in the middle of treating those wounded troopers who had just come off the latest medevac transport, focusing first on those with priority triage markings, when she heard the startled shout from the perimeter guards. There must have been a sudden break through the lines - I really need to keep an ear on the command-level coms even back here.

“Scalpel,” she ordered the clone medic with whom she’d been working, “You’ll have to call up a new partner. I need to check the perimeter.”

She left the medic and crossed the several dozen metres between her previous patient and the nearest perimeter post with one Force-enhanced leap.

“ Kandosii! ” she heard an exlamation - probably from a trooper “on the good drugs” - as she went. Sounds like more of the men are learning Mando’a. I should probably do the same.

“Report!” Mireska ordered tersely as she landed beside the startled guard.

He blinked once at her unexpected arrival before his training took over.

“Group of B1s and a droideka, sir,” he reported. “Operations think they’re the survivors from a bunch o’ clankers that made it past the lines at location Dorn,” he nodded in the direction of the closest front in the current battle.

Mireska drew her lightsabre and checked that her portable plasma shield was ready for action.

“I need a squad to follow me, but I’ll be moving fast so they’ll need to play catch-up. If you get a more precise location on the droids, then let me know,” she ordered before heading into the rubble-filled streets around the medevac staging area.

(End of part two.)

Sith-damned pieces of metal! Mireska cursed as she used her teal-bladed lightsabre to deflect a volley of blasts from the advancing B1s and leapt for better cover. They’re clearing the way for that droideka, and I mustn’t let it set up so close to the wounded!

[“General, sir?”] came Jinx’ voice over her earbud. [“We’re nearing your position, and - take cover, men!”]

The B1s were suddenly directing their attention in another direction, and Mireska could see the flash of white clone trooper armour as her squad took cover.

Well, at least I know where my troopers are now.

Mireska estimated lines and rates of fire, then executed another Force-enhanced leap towards her squad. She landed right beside them, in time to deflect more blasterfire away from them.

“Take down the B1s first,” Mireska ordered. “I’ll keep their fire away from you. Once we’ve got them down, concentrate on the droideka that’s coming until I get a chance to close in on it.” She smiled mirthlessly. “I have a little surprise for it.”

“Yes, sir!”

The troopers settled in for a short exchange of blasterfire with the B1s, while Mireska deflected away incoming fire. With a full squad - and a bit of good fortune when Mireska managed to reflect some of the blasterfire directly back at the B1s - the CIS droids went down quickly with one last mournful “Roger, roger!”

That was good timing, Mireska observed to herself as the droideka rolled around the corner and took up position in the middle of the rubble-filled street.

“Any time, sir!” Jinx suggested as his squad started shooting at the droid.

Mireska gulped, then prepared herself for yet another Force-enhanced leap. She soared across the street and landed right at the droideka’s feet.

“This dance partner’s just been upgraded!” she told it as her teal blade slashed right through its defensive screen and sliced into its guts.

It responded with an attempt to stamp her into the street surface, but she dodged mostly out of its way while parrying its foot well enough that it shied away from her burning blade.

Some blasterfire came over her head, but bounced off the droideka’s screens. “ Haar’chak! ” came from behind her. Mireska suppressed a smile at the heartfelt curse.

She then wove past the droideka’s legs and almost leisurely slipped her teal blade into the hole which she’d already made in the droid’s guts. I may not be a mechanic, but I’m pretty sure that this will hurt it! She swirled the blade around inside the droid and managed to dodge out of the way when it suddenly tipped over and fell down onto the street with a crash.

There was a brief, spasmodic twitch from its legs, then it lay still as smoke issued from the by now large hole in its side.

“ Kandosii , sir!” came from Niner.

Mireska was suddenly aware of exactly how fatigued she’s become. She took a slow, deep breath, then exhaled with an equal amount of control.

“Thank you, and well done to you too,” she said, then added “Let’s go, men. You need to reinforce the medevac staging area’s security again, and I need to get back to healing the wounded.”

Despite my own recent improvement - and the new crystal - I suspect that I was still lucky to take down that droideka on my own.

(End of part three.)

Jorin had sprinted to the main battle line when the call came in. A clone Sergeant was struggling to keep the the line when the young Jedi arrived. Sergeant, what's the situation?

The Sergeant nodded in greeting, Captain Topper is dead Commander, but the boys are managing to hold out! He looked passed the Jedi briefly. Orders Sir?

Lieutenant Camouflage is on another mission, but don't worry.. we can make it through this together. Jorin pointed to points along the makeshift barrier, Let's begin by fortifying those points.. Get a detail together to build another fallback point.. there, there and there..

The Sergeant looked to the areas that Jorin indicated, confidence returned as he began to see the plan. Yes sir!

What's your name Sergeant?

Poe, Commander..

Jorin reached up to the taller man's shoulder, patting it. We have work to do Sergeant Poe, we can do this...

For the next several minutes there was a flurry of activity, Troopers hacked into the hard packed soil along the barrier digging small areas to stand in, effectively making the wall "higher" and receiving more cover from incoming blaster fire.

Jorin moved along the emplacements, worried that the shallow foxholes wouldn't be enough, but outwardly exuding confidence to the Troopers around him. He could feel that they knew that their shallow pits wouldn't provide much protection from artillery fire or from being overwhelmed... But it was enough for now.

As the droids approached, Sergeant Poe came running and spoke as softly as the din of battle would allow, We have most of the work done Sir, but I don't know if it'll hold....

I'll take what you can give me Sergeant! Jorin smiled, The Force will be with us.

Sergeant Poe wasn't too sure, Sorry Sir, but I don't know if it'll be much help against whats incommoding.. Poe whipped his head around to look towards the position that sent out a warning over the comm network. Hailfire droids were racing across the battlefield, launching their rockets, being followed by three massive Magna Tri-droids.

Jorin reached out with the Force, concentrating as hard as he could on the flurry of rockets and pushed. A third of the rockets seemed to loose control of themselves and spiraled back at erratic angles, many impacting in the space between the droid line and the Clone's. One or two managed to hit a Magna Tri-droid's leg, causing it to stagger and fall.

The other two thirds of the rockets impacted in a path leading up to.. and through the fortification line. Jorin watched a whole squad of troops disappear in the chaotic explosions.

NO! Jorin screamed silently. Sergeant, start handing out EMP's.. And bring me some as well.. Time for our own artillery.

Streaks of blaster fire began impacting seemingly random spider droids skittering towards the line, many of them being disabled with a single shot. Master Ker'see!

Sergeant Poe began talking to another clone wearing a long range commlink. Thundering booms from the command post heralded the arrival of incoming artillery fire. Impact explosions appeared along the Hailfire droids advance, some tried to turn, but were engulfed in clouds of dirt and flaming shrapnel.

Jorin called to the medical teams running toward them, carrying a stretcher between partners, pointing to the impact site along the wall.

I hope Master Mireska is prepared for casualties...

Sergeant Poe arrived with a crate half full of EMP grenades. His armor showing signs of near misses and streaks of blood from his brothers. The troops are preparing for the droids to break through Sir.. uh, sir?

Jorin was sorting the grenades into small piles. Have our artillery concentrate fire on the Separatist heavy guns, have the men trow their EMP's when the droid line approaches close enough... Jorin held out a hand, raising the first group of grenades into the air. I'm going to buy us some time. He said, sending the first group up over the advancing droids, spreading them out.. then activating them. Spheres of electro-magnetic energy washed over the first three rows with the characteristic B'Woowow ! of the detonation.

whoa! The Sergeant breathed, as Jorin raised another group into the air...

(End part one)

Part 2

With her squad finding her targets Ker'see was taking shots every few moments as her rifle cycled through its cool down sequence. Spider and Crab droids were failing to her blasts and it felt good, too good, to be taking targets down from afar. The squad were proving more effective at finding her targets than she would have believed.

"Uh-oh," warned CT-2999, "tactical droid is pointing to out location."

"I see it, thanks Spotter," replied Ker'see naming her first clone. Pride swelled through the trooper. After another cool down Ker'see reorientated her rifle and she aimed carefully and blasted the head off the droid. Looking round for a new target the Devaronian spotted a squad of BX commando droids making across the landscape, moving from cover to cover to avoid fire.

"We've been made, squad," sighed Ker'see. "Spotter, stick to finding targets. 3000 take the rifle and the rest of you protect them. The Duchess, you are with me."

The Jedi and her companion quickly moved down from the nest to meet the droids before they could confirm their location to the main force. Ker'see jumped from a high window to another building followed by The Duchess, moving to flank the droids. Once they were far enough round the Jedi took out her bow and released a series of bolts at the droids. Two dropped quickly leaving 8 more standing. They made her and she waved at them before ducking into cover behind a wall.

"Wait for them to get to us and then we pounce," explained Ker'see to the Nexu, hiding in the gloom of a room.

Moments passed before the droids clanked into view. Ker'see light her blade and this signal The Duchess pounced instantly ripping a head of a droid. Fuelled by the force Ker'see let rip and witho"ut blinking the droids fell into a smoldering heap.

"Position protected," breathed Ker'see. "Let's head back..."

End of Part 2

(Jorin..part 2)

They were running out of EMP's.. Jorin concentrated hard to manipulate the few remaining grenade bundles.. sweat beaded across his brow, and soaking his tunic adding to the dirt and grime that already stained it from the chaos surrounding them. The young Jedi managed to hurl the small devices across the droid line, creating scattered holes. He couldn't maintain enough control to keep them together enough to overlap their EMP pulses. He simply didn't have enough practice with the new skill.

Poe was at his side in moments, Sir, we're out of poppers.. We need to get you behind cover..

Jorin gently pushed the Sergeant back, I can do more.... He strained to lift a section of debris, a Tri-droid leg, about a meter in the air.. and with all the effort he had left, sent it spinning into the formation of B1's, crushing and slicing it's way through, until it it the ground and cartwheeled until it came to a rest a dozen meters away.

Sergeant Poe grabbed the young Jedi before he collapsed from exhaustion. Alright Commander, I've got you! Poe risked being disrespectful, and swung Jorin over his shoulder and ran as best he could to one of the fall-back positions the Commander ordered made. With an extra surprise.. All personnel to fall-back positions, now!!

Commander incoming boys! Poe called , as he pushed the Jedi over the edge of the high wall, Catch him!

Got him Sergeant! came a reply.

Raise them up, field is clear! Poe transmitted over the commlink and ducking.

Across the line, from behind the high walls from the six redoubts rose two E-WEB heavy repeating blasters, each one opened up with thundering barks as they swept back and forth, overlapping their field of fire. The heavy blasters cut swaths out of the advancing droid formations as any clone trooper caught outside pressed themselves into the shallow foxholes or curled up against the redoubt walls like Poe.

Fierfek! Poe exclaimed over the loud buzz of the E-WEB's muzzles, to no one in particular, as he watched the streams of blaster fire cross over his head.

(Jorin, part 3)

Time passed.

Explosions and weapons fire seemed to be far off in the distance. Jorin fought to wake up, to get back in the fight, he had work to do...

Sir?... Commander, can you hear me?

The sounds of combat were getting closer, was he being carried back....?

Commander! Wake up, Sir!

Jorin felt his eyes flutter open, a blinding light shone in his face forcing a groan.

Ah, there he is... Sergeant, he's waking up..

Jorin shielded his eyes from the Trooper's glowrod, the E-WEBs were still firing, but more even bursts, rather than the steady fire he was expecting. Even individual blaster shot were almost random. Sergeant Poe?

Here Sir, the plan worked like you said it would.. the tinnies didn't realize the heavy guns where hidden until it was too late. It's mostly over.. at least on this side of the battlefield, the boys are just picking off the stragglers.

Jorin's eyes adapted to the low light in the redoubt, he was surrounded by troopers, some had their helmets off. He could tell even the faces he couldn't see, they were all smiling. What's our status?

We had to swap out the E-WEB barrels twice, the boys fired until they glowed like your shiny sword Sir.. estimated casualties around fifteen percent, I don't have a complete account, but based on comm-checks. I'm expecting it to go up once we take a roll.

Jorin nodded. Camouflage's voice in his head, Men die in war Commander, you can't avoid that.. You can only try to mitigate them, if you can manage to save more than you loose, I'd call that a win... even if you loose the battle.

I think I'm beginning to understand that lesson.

Sergeant, when the droids are dealt with, begin your roll. I want to know how the men are.

Sergeant Poe gave Jorin as formal salute he could in the cramped space, Yes Sir, Commander.

(End part 3)

While Camouflage goes through the tools, the rest of Varactyl Squad ransacks the shuttle, looking for anything useful. Ghost pulls a large case out of one of the compartments and holds it up. "Huh. Senatorial seal. Interesting... "
"Anything useful?" Shadow asks.
"Probably just fancy robes or other lady things. That, and breaking a senatorial seal is a violation of Republic Law 970-16, which is treason."
"Since when have you been able to recite the penal code chapter and verse?"
"Nope, just made it up. Probably about right though. I heard the last guy to go through old Palps' underwear drawer was never heard from again."
"Well, just to be on the safe side, let's not mess with the senator's wardrobe, alright?" Anakkona chimes in.
"Oh, I don't know. You'd look pretty good in a Pantora-silk gown with a chaughaine cloak. It'd go well with your fair complexion. Oh, and don't forget the ceremonial headdress. Probably worth a death sentence just to see that!"
"Ah, shut up, Ghost. Put the senator's luggage back." Hawk's muffled voice comes from the wall compartment. He pulls his head out, "Besides, what kind of an idiot would put a chaughaine cloak with a Pantora-silk gown? How gauche. You'd be exiled from polite society. Nope, nothing else on this side. Ya know, if we have the senator's luggage, and her ships all left, what's she gonna wear?"
"I'm sure her commander can loan her something. I imagine he'd be far more comfortable with her in a body-bucket." Shadow jokes.
"He would, at that. It's still a warzone down there." Anakkona says.

There's a moment of silence as they think about Havoc, still in the medbay, their commander, still down there fighting, and their other brothers, many of whom will die, and wonder how they are faring.

Anakkona claps his hands, "Alright, inventory. We've got the emergency ration stores, crash survival kit, rebreathers, and tool kit. How much of which? Hawk?"
Hawk gestures to the emergency rations, "Supposed to be enough for thirty-two occupants for one day, so that's ninety-six packs. For our merry band, that oughta be nineteen days at three meals a day. Plenty of rebreathers, of course."
Anakkona picks up from there, having been the one to inventory the survival gear. "Two tents, plenty of thermal cloaks, one hundred meters of microfiber, electrobinoculars, distress beacon, emergency comlinks, glow rods, two fusion lanterns, and a basic medpac."
Camouflage looks up from his datapad and finally speaks, "Good. We won't know what we need until we get there, so you may as well pack it back away."

After dropping out of hyperspace at Manda and rerouting to Molavar, they find that the bounty hunters have just left Syvris, travelling rimward along the Triellius Trade Route.

When they reach Syvris, the tracking beacon shows the bounty hunters as having just reached the Teth system, just over five hours away. "Looks like they have a class two hyperdrive. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to catch up with them." Camouflage says. "No way of knowing what local time will be, but we'll be arriving roughly twenty-four hours after we left Christophsis, so it'll be morning for us. You better get back to sleep, Hawk. I'll take it from here."
Hawk yawns, "No argument here, Lieutenant."
"Lucky our color schemes already fit. Grays aren't ideal here, but it oughta be good enough."
Hawk laughs, "And we can always roll around in mud if we need to..."
"We can, at that."

Six hours later, the Nu-class attack shuttle is zooming low over the night-dark jungle, following the tracking beacon. "There's only one point of interest in this region, a monastery, but it'd be optimistic to assume that's where they're going. I'm going to set down in a clearing about ten klicks away from their ship, we'll have to get there on foot, then track them. It's time consuming, but hopefully we'll catch up. We're about six hours behind. If they are headed to the monastery, it'll take them about twenty-four hours if they stop for a rest. If we march straight through, we ought to catch up to them before they reach the monastery. But again, that's if that's where they're headed."
Ghost rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck. "Sounds de lightful."

When they land, Camouflage gives them their marching orders:
"Four days of rations and a thermal cloak each. Anakkona, you bring the medpac, Hawk, you get the microfiber, Ghost, you take the binocs. We won't be needing the fusion lanterns as those don’t exactly scream 'stealth.' The thermal cloaks will do well for camouflage. We'll get to the landing site in an hour, then pick up their trail and head out. I've got a holo-messenger from one of the compartments, and I've set it to route through the shuttle so we'll be able to stay in contact without lengthy trips to-from."

After quickly sorting out the gear, they strike out for the bounty hunter's landing site. Unfortunately, it's nighttime in this region, but they are still able to move quickly. Camouflage leads the way with his enhanced optics, and when they get to two hundred meters from the landing site, they draw their blasters and fan out, moving forward cautiously.

When they get close to the clearing, they see that it's an Aggressor-class Assault Fighter, one that's clearly been through a scrap or two and has not been well-maintained since. Quickly dashing across the clearing and closing the gap with the fighter, they confirm it's unoccupied.

They easily pick up the trail, discovering to their gratification that their quarries are not particularly subtle. "This makes things easier. Easier is good." Camouflage says. "Now let’s get going."

Camouflage and Shadow lead the way, following the trail left by the bounty hunters. Shadow scoffs in disgust at one point, gesturing to a tree marked by a slash from a vibroblade. "These di'kute have no clue about stealth. A blind cadet could follow this trail!"
Camouflage shakes his head humorlessly, thinking of what happens to "defective" clones on Kamino, "There aren't any blind cadets."
Shadow grunts apologetically, then changes the subject. "Let's see, eight hours ago would've been mid-afternoon here… How long do you think they went before stopping? I doubt these chakaare would've kept on going through the night."
Camouflage nods, "I think we've probably gained roughly five hours' travel on them, adjusting for speed differentials and sleep. That puts us pretty close. We better slow down and take this cautiously."

As expected, they come within sight of the camp about an hour later. Shadow and Anakkona sneak up carefully on the hunters, probing for sentries. The others wait back a ways, ready to eat and then sleep if the two scouts bring back an all-clear.

After a while, Anakkona returns to report back. "Four of them. A Gran, a droid, a Nikto, and a Rodian. The droid is on lookout duty, but it isn't really paying attention. Shadow stayed behind to keep tabs on them, but he would like to be relieved as soon as possible."
"Rule number twenty three?" Camouflage asks.
"You got it."
"Alright, we'll eat, then I'll go relieve him. We'll operate in twos. Anakkona, you'll take first watch here. SOP, rotating out positions. You take my spot, Ghost'll take yours, then Hawk, then Shadow."

The night proceeds without incident. In the morning, Varactyl Squad gives the bounty hunters a head start, then fans out to shadow them, keeping out of sight. Approaching noon, Camouflage suddenly hails the squad over comms, "[Fall back and regroup! We've got incoming.]" After a minute, they all hear it: a sound somewhat similar to a LAAT, but more high-pitched, not as meaty . As they come into view of each other, they see a huge insect wheel overhead, the source of the noise. It has a single pair of iridescent wings spanning nearly three meters and its maw has a pair of large, sharp mandibles. Camouflage gestures for Varactyl Squad to melt, and they do so. Each clone gets into cover, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. "[No blasters, too loud. Vibroswords only, if it comes to that.]" Camouflage says.

Another insect joins the first and they suddenly swoop down on the clones! The first flies straight at Ghost, and he dives out of the way as Anakkona and Shadow leap at it with vibroswords drawn.

The second swoops towards Hawk, grabbing the clone before he can manage to dive out of the way. Camouflage draws his vibroknife and charges at the insect as it tries to take off with Hawk, who's busy trying to fend off the creature's mandibles as they snap at his neck. Camouflage leaps onto the back of the insect's thorax, wrapping his left arm around its neck and his legs around the part where its thorax connects to its abdomen. The creature bucks and shrieks, dropping Hawk as it writhes, trying to throw the ARC trooper off. Camouflage repeatedly stabs the vibroknife into its body, ripping and tearing and slicing in the vicinity of its wing, trying to keep it from taking off. Hawk is tossed clear, rolling over several times before he comes to a stop, jumping to his feet and drawing his sword. As Camouflage continues to tussle with the insect, Hawk carefully approaches, then waits for just the right time, and strikes with his vibrosword, leaving a deep gash across the insect's head just as Camouflage manages to sever its wing entirely. As it continues to writhe, Camouflage throws himself clear, giving Hawk a clear shot to stab it through the head with his vibrosword, killing it.

Anakkona and Shadow cut at the insect's back and it spins back around, only for them to take another few quick strikes, chopping off its legs. It screeches and launches forwards into Anakkona, sending him sprawling. Ghost rights himself and lunges from behind, stabbing it through the thorax and slicing towards the side. It twists violently, pulling the vibrosword out of his hand, but Shadow rushes in and strikes at its head, cutting it diagonally and severing its mandible. A few more slices and it collapses to the ground, still writhing in its death throes.

Anakkona takes another swipe of his vibrosword, severing its head, an action mirrored by Hawk on the other one. "Rule number seventeen." Shadow states as Ghost goes to retrieve his sword.

Camouflage scrambles up on a rise, "[Let's hope those bounty hunters don't come to investigate. We'll wait a while, if they don't come we'll continue on. What's our status? Casualties?]"

Anakkona checks with the men and reports back, "[No casualties outside of some bruises. Hawk's jetpack is a little the worse for wear and his thermal cloak is torn up, but other than that everything is in order.]"
"[Good. Hawk, get up here and take watch. I'll see what I can do about your jetpack. The rest of you drag those carcasses together, nothing lasts long in a jungle and I want the evidence gone in case anyone comes back this way.]"

Twenty minutes later, they set out again, tracking the bounty hunters. The rest of the trip to the monastery, as it has become clear that's where they’re going, goes quickly and they arrive just before sundown.

The monastery is situated on the top of a mesa, seemingly accessible only by air or else by a thin, winding path that travels around the mesa up to the top. "That looks like fun…" Ghost remarks dubiously.
"Those di'kute are going to try it, aren't they?" Shadow asks, barely able to stop from laughing.
"The promise of lots of money can make idiots out of just about any civvie." Hawk growls.
Some. Not Nari Tenau. She had more in mind than credits when she took the Cuy’val Dar job. Camouflage thinks to himself. "Well. Now the hard part. Reconnoitering. Figuring out what forces and how many. From down here, that’ll be no easy task."
Shadow looks at his Lieutenant askance, "Since when has that stopped us?"
Camouflage grins under his helmet, "That's the spirit. Let's contact General Windu."

Camouflage activates the holo-messenger and calls the Temple. After a few minutes, their transmission is received and a hologram of General Mace Windu is displayed above Camouflage's hand.
"[Yes, Lieutenant?]"
"We followed Jabba's bounty hunters to a monastery on the planet Teth. We believe it's where Jabba's son is being held, but it's too heavily fortified for us to do anything alone, sir."
"[Lieutenant, stay out of sight and await further orders.]"
"Will do, general." Camouflage salutes and then ends the transmission.

Hawk cracks his neck, "So, what now?"
"We do what the general said. Stay out of sight and await further orders. Meanwhile, we finish reconnoitering the monastery so we'll have something to report."

Camouflage and Varactyl Squad keep watch for a few hours from several positions around the base of the mesa, seeing a whole lot of not much, until Camouflage finally comms them. "[Alright, time to start night-watch. Same order as last time.]"

Mireska's comlink beeps and she activates it, hearing Cody's voice on the other end of the line. "[General, the fleet has just arrived. Three Venators and six Acclamators. They're about to engage the blockade. If they get through, they'll be able to land reinforcements and we'll be in the clear. The droid offensive is already faltering, we expect them to fall back across the front any moment now, as they have in Commander Jorin's sector.]"
Mireska smiles, in spite of the combat still going on around her, "Excellent news, Commander. The droids are starting to thin out over here too." Another salvo from the artillery sounds not far from Mireska's position, a steady drumbeat that's been pounding out since the very beginning of the battle.

A short time later, Mireska hears the distinctive thrumming of incoming LAATs, prompting cheers and cries of "Kandosii!" from her clone troopers. The droids repulsed, she takes a moment to look at the sky triumphantly, watching wave after wave of gunships fly overhead.
One of them wheels and comes to a stop in front of the general, a Sergeant hopping out and walking to her. "General, we're to bring you back to the garrison, rendezvous with General Yoda."

Having already wrapped up his sector of the battle, Jorin is in the clean-up phase when the LAATs fly overhead. Having not heard that the fleet was back, seeing the gunships is a welcome surprise. Poe cheers and chucks him on the shoulder, "Looks like our troubles are over, commander!"
Jorin nods, feeling very drained. "Hopefully we get to rest after this…"
A trio of empty LAAT gunships swoop down and land just short of Jorin's position, a Sergeant hopping out of the nearest. "Commander, we're to bring you back to the garrison. The other two gunships are for your men and your wounded."

By now Ker'see has withdrawn, having done all she can. She's in the garrison base when the reinforcements arrive, and steps outside to see what the ruckus is about. The Duchess pads along behind her, sharing her master's relief and excitement. A trooper runs up and salutes, "General Ker’see, you're to report to the command center immediately, ma'am."

Ker'see looks down at The Duchess, who purrs softly and flicks her tail. "I guess we'll have to wait a little longer for that nap." Ker'see says, stroking her nexu's head.

Jorin's gunship swings down near the command center, and he sees Mireska and Ker'see conversing with Grand Master Yoda. After an initial exchange of pleasantries, Yoda says, "Going well your training is, I hear."
"Yes, master, Masters Mireska and Ker'see are excellent teachers."
"Good, good. Then accompany them to Teth, you will. Your Lieutenant, good work he does." He turns his focus back to the group as a whole, "The huttlet, tracked to a monastery has been. Rescue him, you must. Explained to you the situation, Senator Chuchi did?"
Mireska nods, "Yes master, this is a significant opportunity."
"Then delay, you must not. With you, Commander Cody with go. Take over from here, I will."

Within the next twenty-four hours, they are already loaded up into an Acclamator and on their way to Teth, following the same hyperspace route traveled by Varactyl Squad. With their faster hyperdrive, travel will only take about fifteen hours. Before leaving Christophsis, they send Camouflage a message telling him their ETA and sending him coordinates for a rendezvous.

On Teth, Varactyl Squad has passed a couple pretty uninteresting days. They stay out of sight, reconnoiter the monastery, and estimate droid troop strengths.

When they receive the ETA, they immediately pack up and start hoofing it back to the shuttle so they can reach the rendezvous in time. By now, the carcasses from their fight are long gone, leaving no trace of their combat. Once at the shuttle, they stow their gear and take off, flying up to meet the incoming Acclamator.

Camouflage flies, with Hawk in the co-pilot seat, and they arrive about an hour early.

Hawk whistles quietly when the Acclamator drops out of hyperspace, "Now that's a sight for sore eyes… Hot showers, hot food, comparatively comfortable berths…"
Camouflage shakes his head, "Don't count on it. We'll be joining the assault."
He flies straight for the hangar bay, glad to see Jorin waiting for him at the edge of the landing zone. The ARC sets down the shuttle and drops down out of the cockpit, opening the ramp. The five clones walk towards their commander, smiling under their helmets. Good to see you, kid.

"Commander." Camouflage and his men salute, waiting for Jorin to make the first move.

Jorin gives a quick look at the datapad in his hand as the men approach.

Commander. Camouflage greets him as he and the squad salute.

S-..Sookuay-gar, nair Vaird-day Jorin says uncertainty.

Camo grins under his helmet, "Su cuy, al'verde. You're pretty close. Just need a little practice."

Jorin held out a data stick towards Camouflage, Final details on Christophsis with a report from a very capable Sergeant named Poe. If there is a way to promote, or reward him... I'd like to make that happen.

Camouflage accepts the datastick, weighing it in his hand, then pocketing it for later.

"Noted, commander. Battlefield promotions are rare, but not unheard of. Shall we deliver our report to the generals?"

They are waiting on the bridge, Jorin said, indicating that they follow. They rode a turbolift for a few moments and arrived at the antechamber at the rear of the command bridge and entered the mission brief room, between the antechamber and the main bridge. Standing at the table were Masters Ker'see and Mireska.

"Welcome on board, Lieutenant!" Mireska greeted Camouflage with a smile. "I see that Jorin found you. Now, I know that you'll be wanting some hot food, showers, etc., but first we need your report on Teth."

"Right away, General." He holds out the holo-projector, displaying a B'omarr monastery sitting atop a mesa. "They've got about two battalions of droids down there, and are too fortified for us to just swoop in on gunships. The only other way up is a narrow, winding route up the side of the mesa, and I doubt I have to tell you just how suicidal that is. We're pretty certain the Huttlet is there, but positive confirmation is hard."

"This will have to be a small infiltration team then," confirms Ker'see. She turns to her Nexu and adds: "You'll have to stay behind on this one girl."

"What distance can we approach from?"

"With respect, general, a small infiltration team isn't going to cut it. There are too many droids and they are too dug in. We wouldn't stand a chance."

"This is more your forte not mine. Any recommendations?"

Couldn't we just bring the ship along side and deploy directly to the monastery? Jorin asked, We can have a fighter screen and gunships to chase down anyone escaping...

Camouflage exhales, looking at the hologram. He eventually says, "Well, my specialty is small infiltration teams. I admit I'm not sure where to go from here. Normally, with something like this, we'd send in gunships escorted by fighters. The fighters would pick off any AA or triple-A, then the gunships would swoop in strafing, disgorge the troops and tanks, and then take off again so we can land the second wave. We can't do that here because we don't know where the Huttlet is and we can't risk killing it. So we can't land gunships on top because they'd be sitting ducks for any AA or heavy weapons, and in a tightly-packed area like that, the loss of a single gunship could cause serious issues."