Star Wars: Return of the Sith

Doprekka

*He did not sense ill intent from the Ithorian and kept his hands within the sleeves of his robe at all times, he gave a shake of his head at the Ithorians question and began back up the path he had just concealed though in a differant more round about way.*

(My master lays wounded. I would be grateful for any help)

*He said as he walked them up a path. Eventually leading them to Duu'Raan and removing the makeshift shelter he had made .*

(How far?)
 
Momaw

"Less than a kilometer. This way."

And off he went. The Wookiee didn't seem to require help in transporting his fallen Master, so the Othorians kept watch instead. The led him through massive tangles of Forest, which at times made them have to climb to the lower branches to pass. Of course the Wookiee had no problems with this being from a harsh arboreal world of his own, with trees that would dwarf those in the Forbidden Forest.

Evetually they came to their destination, a large trees with a hollow beneath its root system. The hollow was the entrance to an underground cave system used by the resistance.

Momaw signalled to one of his assistants. "Get a healer here as soon as you are able. We have injured."

"It might take some time, Momaw. We've been hit hard. An Imperial Star Destroyer has just made orbit, and there are Troops heading this way. The Witch is with them."

Momaw hissed. "On the surface?"

The assitant nodded. "One troop is fairly close. We might have to evacuate."

"Is the Witch with that one?"

"No."

Momaw raised his voice to be heard. "All those who are able, grab weaponry," there was great sadness in his voice as he said this. Many Ithorians in the cave looked uneasy.

"You don't mean to attack, do you?"

"I do," Momaw replied. "We can not let the outsiders fight all our battles for us. This is our home."
 
Doprekka

*The large wookie travelled with the Ithorians, himself not having trouble passing this type of land, he held his master gently in his arms easily as they walked, and his eyes scanned the terrain for any signs of hostility along with his senses with the force. He was not surprised however to feel a slight disturbance as the Star Destroyer entered orbit and on it, the disturbance itself. The young female apprentice to the dark side. He gave a slight growl as they moved on, and as they entered into the cave system he looked to Momaw who had summoned aid.*

(I thank you for assisting my master and I. I will do what I can to help, though I must make certain he will be protected and secure at all times.)

*The large wookie looked through the caves as far as he could see from his spot and awaited the answer from the busy Ithorian rebel leader, who was gathering his troops.*
 
Momaw

"He will be cared for, that I swear. My people do not believe in violence, which is why my associates do not wish to take up arms. But they will care for your Master, and will die before giving him up to the Empire."

He looked up at the Wookiee. "I apologise for the lack of introduction. My name is Momaw. Any help you offer would be appreciated."
 
Doprekka

*He gave a nod to Momaw not having any reason not to trust the Ithorian.*

(Very well, I will assist as I am able. As for introductions. I am called Doprekka, and I am padawan to my master there, Duu'Raan.)
 
Mogo

"Where are you going?" I asked.
Orin moved quickly up behind me, wanting to hear her for himself. I realized just then that the mech was no more frightened of the woman than I was, which was a relief. The boy had a good heart. I'd guessed that before, but now I was certain.
"I'm leaving," she answered, turnig to face us, but showing no signs that she saw us as a threat. "My work here is done."
"But the boy...?" Orin trailed off.
"Yes, he's with the Sith," she replied, not even glancing back this time. "That's what they paid us for. Did they pay you?"
"Yes," I replied, seeing that this was going nowhere.
"Then what complaints do you have?"
"The boy is in danger, Nastasia," I said. "It isn't right to leave him here. He could be killed, or worse."
"Worse? What's worse than death?"
I didn't answer, but I guessed I didn't have to. SHe knew as well, perhaps better, than I did, and she was choosing to ignore it.
"You forget, Mogo, who you're speaking to. I'm a bounty hunter. This is a business," she turned to me, the hangar doors right behind her. I couldn't see her eyes behind the visor to her armored helmet, but I knew she was looking me dead in the eye. "More than that, I'm a Fett. My name may not represent that, but I am. My family has a reputation in the universe..."
"And you have to live up to it?" Orin asked, speaking matter-of-factly.
She stared at us for a moment.
"No," she replied. "It isn't as though i feel obligated to do what has been done in the past. It isn't like that at all, Orin. It is what we do, and I'm proud of it, and I happen to be quite good at my job. It isn't a bother, but an honor, to hunt in the way of my forefathers."
"You'll leave the boy?" I asked. "You truly intend to?"
"As I said," she replied, turning and heading toward the door to the hangar again. "I'm a Fett."
The door opened and closed behind her. Orin moved to enter the hangar and I reached out and stopped him with one arm.
"Let her go," I said. "Enough pressure, she just might kill us. The boy is here, we'll stay with him."
 
Marius

We met in the square about twenty minutes later, the only people present were Tynan, the head guards, who'd done the head counts we'd asked for, and myself.
"Some are missing, but most are accounted for. Every that we know of who's capable of such a thing is well-accounted for, and as concerned as we are, I might add," Beegas announced. "You believe it's an inside job?"
I thought on this, then shook my head. It didn't seem to be the case, though i wasn't sure why I felt that way.
"And the Jedi and students, they're all accounted for?"Another of the guards nodded. "We checked with a list of all enlisted students here at the Academy. Everyone on record is accounted for, sir."
I nodded to this as well.
"And the frieghters and other transports?"
"One frieghter has left, en route to Tattooine," a third guard announced, "but other than that, all are accounted for."
"Why was this frieghter allowed to leave?"
"It was a trusted friehgter, sir."
"One that delivers here often?"
"Well, no sir, but the same friehgter that brought Bal Isalias of Rogue squadron back to us, sir."
But something wasn't right. I looked to Tynan, wondering if he sensed the problem there as well.
"You said theyre headed for Tattooine?"
"Yessir," he replied.
I turned to face Tynan.
"Maybe we should send a few X-Wings to bring them back?"
 
Cloud City, Bespin

The boy almost fell, but Vaine paid little attention. His eyes were locked on his master.
"Master?"
Figgas moved his head, the skin on it already seeming healthier. The effects of the boy's healing were almost instantaneous.
"I'm feeling...well," Figgas replied, his eyes opening fully now, while before they'd only been slits, cracks even.
"Good, master," Vaine said. "Can you walk?"
The man on the table slowly sat up, groaning some. His body ached from having been frozen so long. As he reached a full witting position, the sheet fell from his chest and settled in a clump at his waist. He felt his stomach, fingers running along a line on his skin, paler than the gray his skin had become. It was all that remained of the wound. Had Vaine not killed Colme Haringer on that dark planet he would have hunted the Jedi down and severed his head himself, once he felt better.The tentacles on his head swayed slightly as he threw his legs over the edge of the table."Bring me my robes," he ordered.
"Yes, master," Vaine replied, then turned to the boy. "Thank you, young Luke. We are grateful."
Best to keep up the kindness act until they decided what they would do with the boy. If they intended to keep him, he should feel at home, welcome, not threatened.
Vaine disappeared from the room, leaving Luke alone with Figgas, who looked the boy over, considering him.
"Hello, boy," Darth Figgas said. "You have been some help to us. You will remain as our guest?"
 
Tynan

He asked Marius to give him a moment, and pulled the communicator off of his belt, and held it to his mouth. He doubted the boy was involved, but thought it his duty to add his name to the list of students present.

"Luke, this is Tynan, respond."

Silence.

"Luke, this is Tynan, respond."

Still nothing.

He looked at the soldier, a cold feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "Seargent, did you account for any new arrivals? Such as the boy I arrived on Mached V with?"
 
Luke

Luke shrugged and smiled at the man, exhausted. "I'll be here until the others arrive, I suppose. This is supposed to be the evacuation sight..."
 
Marius

I could see concern on the man's face, which looked oddly out of place and barely showed through the man's everyday "poker-face" exterior. It was there, though, right beneath the surface.
I glanced at Beegas, eyes questioning.
"Why...yes, sir. But there were a few that were unaccounted for in general, even on Mached V. Given their sudden arrivals there, we had no time to register them, at least in the computer system. We took our census here from the copies we have on our system computers. You weren't even listed on them sir, nor were the new Jedi arrivals, including Tholin Mod, and the girl Kerra. Is something amiss sir?"
I knew there was, and I guesed Beegas knew it too, but I waited for Tynan's response, thinking, what would a feww friehgters want with a child?
The answer was easy, but still didn't add up. The black market paid well for children, but why kidnap one from a Jedi base, with so much at risk?
 
Raine

Moving toward the planet, I felt a presence there that was not just of ill-intent, but almost pure evil. I'd felt it before, when I'd first met with Tholin Mod on Mached V, but not this strong. Not nearly so strong.
A Sith, I thought, but there was something else there, something far too familiar behind it.
"Pilot," a voice said through the com-link. "Identify yourself."
"Jedi Raine DuVal," I replied. "I'm here on Jedi business. Request permission to land."
Silence.
They were nervous, I could sense that. But I thought for a moment, that they were also relieved to know I was coming.
Odd.
"Permission granted. Make your business here quick, Jedi," a voice replied, attempting to sound firm but not quite pulling it off. "We have mining to attend to. And we don't like distractions."
"Understood," I replied, bringing the small shuttle in to the landing pad.
Once landed, I gathered my things, including the handblaster I often kept in the cockpit of my X-Wing, and exited the craft, being met on the landing pad by ten guards and a man standing in the lead.
"Jedi DuVal?" The man asked. He was more nervous than the others, but all fidgeted.
"Who else?" I asked, knowing that I could be no one else.
The man looked at me for a moment, as if the question confused him.
"Jedi, I ask that your business here be brief," he began.
I didn't let him finish.
"I've been given my warning, Mr...?"
"Bennison," the man replied. "i'm in charge of Cloud City."
"Nice to make your acquaintance," I replied. "i will make my business as brief as possible. However, Mr. Bennison, I will take whatever time I need. This is, afterall, Jedi business. You understand, don't you?"
He nodded, knowing my intent with those words: Jedi business. He couldn't force me to leave, and he couldn't stop me from staying. He was trapped. ANd by his reaction, it seemed it was trapped by more than just myself.
They're here, and he knows. I thought.
"I'll be about my business now, Mr. Bennison," i said. "And I'll go about it alone, if that's alright. It would seem as though it isn't a bother to one with nothing to hide."
He looked at me for a moment, then waved his hand, a silent order to the guards to allow me to pass. he swallowed hard as I moved past him, but no one made attempts to stop me as I entered the building.
 
Cloud City, Bespin

Darth Figgas looked at the boy, curious as to what he was saying. Evacuation? What had he slept through?
efore he could question the boy, Vaine returned with his clothes. The apprentice stopped before him, holding out the clothes, then froze, his head turning suddenly, looking at the far wall, but reaching out for something else.
Figgas felt it as well, but his reaction was not so extreme.
"The first of the arrivals?" He asked.
Vaine looked at him, surprised, then remembered the boy's story and shook his head, sending a mental note to his master that the story was mere fiction, invented by the bounty hunter to bring the boy here.
"Then who?" He asked, noting to himself that he felt that whoever had arrived was someone...
He stood, holding the sheet over himself.
"I will dress. Tell me what I've missed."
"But, master..." Vaine argued, clearly wanting to find this new arrival, clearly a Jedi and dispense of him.
"I must be brought up to speed," Figgas replied. "And this Jedi...if they wish confrontatin, they will find us. If not, we'l deal with them when we see fit. No doubt, if they intended to contact others, they have already."
Vaine nodded, still disapproving of his master's decision.
"You're my defense now, Vaine," Figgas said, feeling his apprentice's unease. If this Jedi kills you..."
Vaine glared at him, outraged at the suggestion of being overtaken, but said nothing.
"It may in fact, be a master, like the last we dueled," Figgas argued.
Vaine glanced down at his feet, remembering how difficult it had been to defeat Colme Haringer. Had Figgas not been wounded in the crash-landing, the Sith Master would easily have ovetrtaken him. But given his injuries, it had taken them both to kill the Master off. In his current state, Figgas might as well be injured again, until the carbon sickness wore off and his body gained its former strength.
Vaine nodded.
"Things have changed, Master," he said, remaining where he stood as Figgas moved carefully behind a barrier that Vaine had ordered placed in the back of the room.
"The Jedi are growing stronger," Vaine said, "But not particularly so since you were last among the worlds. As of late, there have been some disturbances in the force, most likely engagements between the Sith and jedi. Some major, some minor. The resistance, however, has grown a good bit stronger. In fact, beneath the surface of this very city, in the mines below, is a Rebel encampment. The intend to attacks us, all of them versus the two of us, I believe..."
 
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Tynan

Tynan cursed. This is what the Force had been trying to warn him about. All of his preaching to Marius about trusting your instincts meant nothing when he didn't do it himself. They had taken the boy. But why? Why him?

"We can assume that Tatooine was not the freighters destination. Any idea where they arrived from before Mached V?"
 
Momaw

"Excellent, Jedi Doprekka. We will follow your lead in this matter." He shrugged apologetically. "We have not much experience in these matters."

"Unfortunately, we do," rasped the Jedi Master. "I will accompany you."

Momaw was surprised at the sadness in the Jedi Masters voice.
 
Duu'Raan

Duu'Raan opened his eyes, and felt the fear permeating the room. He knew danger was near. And something else...

"Ssssith... here, on the planet."

He pushed himself to a sitting position, and looked at his Padawan. "Once again, I owe you my life, my friend."

He had entered a healing trance when he had been injured, but had not had nearly enough time to heal completely. Still, even injured, he would be more help than the ithorians in battle.

"You musst lead, my Padawan. Use your insstinctss and the Force, and you will do well." He reached out to grab the Wookiees hand, and pulled asking him to come lower, which the Wookiee did. He spoke for his apprentices ears alone to reiterate his most important lesson. One that Doprekka had heard a hundred times, but one that Duu'Raan would repeat a thousand more. "Remember, when a Jedi mussst resssort to violence, he has already failed. Violence iss a tragedy to be avoided at all cosstssss by the true Jedi, and when we are forced into it, it iss a solemn act. One that should be dissspached without passsion, and asss quickly as posssssible. Remember, we do not attack, we sstand in their way."

That was the way of the Jedi as Duu'Raan knew it. To attack was to show aggression, and would lead to darkness. But by standing in the way of an aggresive force, you accomplkished the same thing by defending yourself, and those behind you. A Jedi does not attack... a Jedi stands in the way of evil, and is attacked in return.

"We must go now," he spoke aloud, and pulled himself upright.
 
Marius

"I don't believe this frieghter was..." I trailed off thinking. "Wait. Yes, it was on Mached, but only for a moment. It dropped off Tholin and the girl Kerra, then was gone. I should have recognized the ship immediately...the questin might be, here did it go when it left there? It left Mached well before we did, but only arrived here well after..."
 
The battle of Ithor - part 1

*Doprekka listented to his master and gave a nod of understanding. Though he himself had heard it from Duu'Raan so many times, it never failed to drive home for him the need to abandon his rage..the rage he had been born with and use his strength tempered by wisdom in battle. Doprekka was quite accomplished in his lightsabre skills, known by many for his skill, as well as his power in the force. He was placed under Duu'Raan for that very reason. To master himself, and his power for good. The large wookie looked over the untested Ithorians and gave a low sigh at what would undoubtedly be the end for some of them. But he cleared his mind of such things and turned heading out at his masters urgings. He too had felt the pull of the Dark Side here, and knew that the Sith were upon them. He would not let these peaceful peoples fall to the darkness that threatened to choke them out of existence. Just as his Master would not. He looked back on the Ithorians and gave them an encouraging smile, indicating that they should ready themselves.*

(You know these forests better than they, this gives you an advantage over them. Use the tree's and the land to your advantage. The tree's will grow again my friends. I wish you well.)

*Then the large wookie left the tunnel leading from the root system of the large tree in which they had hidden. Setting out to organize the Ithorians into battle lines, and utilizing guerilla tactics, striking from the unseen and using their lesser numbers for them rather than against them. Instructing them in the use of the land as a weapon, against their attackers. It took some time...some and by then night had fallen, and the enemy was about to descend upon them. Already the lights of scout ships and speeder bikes could be seen as they raced through the trees of the Ithorian forest.*

*Elsewhere, the Stormtroopers rallied themselves for the upcoming battle. Disciplined and experienced soldiers, prepared for the trials to come, they marched forth through the forests, quite wary for the pitfalls and traps of such a landscape, since their histories of recorded warfare had notified them of just such problems as the battle for Endor in which the Storm Trooper contingents were slaughtered by the native forces who used the land against them. Leading the contingent of 300 men was 1st lieutenant Mackie Guardrie, a veteran trooper of the empire, for over a decade, having participated in many campaigns. He was a soldier through and through, he lived for the battle and the win. Though he was a man of honor, and duty. He truly believed that the empire was the only way in which the universe could really succeed as a united people. He was not a xenophobe as many were he simply understand that as a human many other races did not understand them and would be prone to violence. His mission here was to subdue and subvert, by any means necessary. He would carry out his duty to the letter. He then gave the order for the men to march and follow the lines plotted by their scouts.*

*Above it all sitting within her transport, the young Apprentice of the Sith waited patiently as she descended to the planets surface, awaiting her moment of triumph and glory when she would turn this planet for the glory of the Sith. And the new Reign of the Empire of Darkness would begin..She gave a slight chuckle as her transport landed on the forest floor in a secured dock and exited the ship flanked by two elite imperial guardsmen. She paid no mind to them. They meant little to nothing to her. She trusted in her own power and nothing else. This was her mission and she would see it succeed, as she clenched her fist, much like an omen the aforementioned Storm Trooper Battalion descended upon the forests of Ithor prepared to do their duty. And the young apprentice mounted her speeder to meet with the Jedi she had sensed before.*

to be continued....
 
Tynan

What Marius said triggered something in his memory. A chance occuurance that he had dismissed.

"The droid," he whispered. "They must have come with the droid."

He turned to Marius. "We can find out. Come."

Not waiting for a response, he hurried off. Where did he send it? The loading bay. He quickened his pace to a jog, until he came to his destination, and looked around.

"There. You! Goldenrod!"

The droid turned to look at him, startled. "Me, sir?"

"Yeah," Tynan growled, stalking toward the droid. "You came with the Toydarian?"

"Oh yes! Master Mogo! Do you know what became of them, Sir?"

"You're answering the questions. Where did you arrive from?"

"How rude! I'm only trying to find my friends, there's no call..."

"Where." Tynan spoke quietly, but with enough menace that the droid stopped and answered.

"We met Lt. Isalias near..."

"Before that."

"Oh. Cloud City on the planet Bespin."

He turned toward Marius. "That's where they took him, I know it." He knew how absurd it sounded, and wouldn't have been surprised if Marius laughed. It wouldn't have been the first time.
It was all too perfect, after all. They kidnap the boy, and leave a droid behind, who just happens to be able to ell them where they arrived from? It could be another false lead, just as likely it was. Except that his feelings...

"Bespin," he said with certaintly. It was one of his strengths. He couldn't levitate anything much larger than a man, but his intuition had always served him well.
 
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Marius

Bespin.
Not Tattooine, but Bespin, but what was there? Why in that place?
"We have forces there, beneath the City," a voice announced. I turned and saw Master Basaal standing behind us. "They have not reported to us in some time, and we have feared the worst, but we dare not contact them, not if the need communications broken to remain udiscovered. Perhaps it is best that the two of you go there?"
I glanced to Tynan, not doubting for a moment that his intentions were to pursue the boy no matter where that led him, and with or without the consent of the Masters. He didn't consider himself a Jedi,after all, even if the rest of us did.
"It might be wise. We could arrive there, take the boy back from these kidnappers and leave again. Possibly knowing better of what has become of these forces the Masters have not heard from."
"Could I go with you, please?" The droid asked. "It simply must have been by accident that the crew of the Spotted Owl have forgotten me here. They would never have intentionally left a droid of my qualifications. Many times I've been lost by accident by those who wished my service, and it seems--"
"Shut up," Beegas said.
The droid stepped back, as if the Seargent had slapped it.
I looked to Tynan, deciding that the boy's fate should be his decision.
 
Tynan

Tynan looked to Marius, silently thanking him for the offer fo accompanying him. He usually worked alone, but he was no fool. If help was available, take it.

"We go. I agree that a smaller force might be best, at least until we know what might be occuring there."
 
Cloud City, Bespin

"Fools," Figgas said, coming from behind the partitian fully dressed, his clothes beneath being totally concealed by his long black cloak, which also hid his tentacles and most of his face. "Even a batallion of them would be slaughtered unless they trap us in and fire at us from all sides."
Not entirely true, he knew, but his apprentice grew confident when his ego was properly stroked. Vaine's arrogance wa more a strength than his skill with the saber, which in and of itself was not at all unimpressive.
Figgas turned to the boy, yet undecided what he should do with him. It seemed a waste to kill him, or to let him die. The force was strong with this one, but how strong, and did he want to take the time to train the child?
"Hello, boy," he said, kneeling so as to be more to the boys level. His tall, frame might have been intimidating to such a young one as this. Maybe not, but possibly.
"We are in debt to you, young Luke," he said. "Perhaps when the others get here, you can introduce us to your friends?"
 
Marius

"Then it is settled," I returned.
"Gather your things, whatever you might need, and assemble a small team. If we need assistance, I'm certain that those at Cloud City might be able to help, should the need arise," Basaal suggested. "We will meet in the hangar in ten minutes. Before we leave, Marius, I wish to settle something we discussed earlier."
I looked to him, uncertain what he meant, then nodded and followed him to a nearby building.
The children were there, the groups sitting around, playing and talking.
A padawan. He would push this, it seemed, and I understood why, but I wanted to find Raine first.
"I believe you should consider taking one on, Marius, for the sake of the movement. Many of these children are ready for training. If you choose now, then when we discover Raine's fate, the child will already be promised a Master. It is best the children know they have a future."
I scanned the room, displeased with the pressure I was uder to choose.
"Matthew is nearly ready," Basaal said, pointing to a nearby child. He sat with a small group of children, meditating. Others ran around them, but his concentration never faultered. My eyes wandered among the other children, shifting through them to see if the Force told me anything specific. If it did, I would choose today.
"If you consider a padawan, I think matthew would--"
"Her," i said, pointing to a lone child in the back. I did so before realizing I was pointing, then it was done.
She sat alone, the other children all playing or congregating, socializing.
"Her?" Basaal asked. "A good pupil, yes, but perhaps not the most decided in terms of fate, Marius."
The girl's face was still. While the other children ran and played around her, she remained still, not involved, just watching. Her mouth was a sliver on her face. No frown, no smile.
Basaal looked at me, knowingly.
"SHe reminds me of someone," I said. "Now I must go."
"Of course you must, and so must I."
I looked at him.
"i'm going with you. SOmething is greatly amiss. I didn't want to mention it in front of Tynan. I believe the Force is telling him enough. His concern for the boy might interfere with his reasoning. If he turns to the dark side..."
"He will not," I insisted, but as I stood there, I saw what the master meant.
"he is a powerful ally. He will make a more powerful enemy, Marius."
I lowered my head, then nodded.
If I couldn't defeat him, plus whatever enemied might await there...
And it seemed that Tynan, being experienced in the trade of Bounty Hunting and the works of the Jedi, would make far too much of an enemy for me to defeat alone, even if other forces were not present to add to the challenge.
"Yes, Master, but we must leave very soon."
Basaal nodded, and I left him there, heading to the hangar to meet up with the others.
 
The battle of Ithor - part 2

*The Storm Trooper battalion worked its way through the tree's. Previous scans for life signs were innefective as there was simply too much "life" within the forest, even the tree's seemed to emenate enough of a life sign to throw off the scanner. So they proceeded through with caution. Lt. Mackie had set them in a staggered wedge. With three columbs coming together at the "point" with the "point" trooper scouting ahead, in constant radio communication. So far, nothing. Mackie was becoming annoyed slightly, as reports from intel stated that the Ithorians were an un-trained race with no combat experience. It seemed obvious now that the reports were false or else there was more to this forest and its inhabitants than there seemed. Mackie didn't like the unexpected, though he'd learned in his time to always be prepared for it. He'd be more than willing right now to simply burn down these tree's and smoke out the opposition and pick them off as they ran, but the orders were that the lands had to remain mostly unchanged so as to prevent suspicion and provoke attack, both on a local front for destroying religious artifacts and also on a galaxy standpoint. Since Ithorians would never destroy these blasted tree's it would be duly noted by the enemy if they were suddenly burned to the ground. And there was nothing worse than fighting a cadre of religious zealots who were quite willing to die with their precious tree's and could not be demoralized. He gave a slight shake of his head and looked to his leftenant.*

Send out two squads with night flares and illuminate this damned forest. I don't want our men picked off by sniper fire, or anything else in this place, Thermal is no good and IR had never worked right. So lets get those squads moving. And leftenant, as few casualties as possible, understood? *The trooper gave a nod and a salute.* Now move.

*The leftenant gave a nod and signaled for the order, sending out two squads on their flank positions moving forward, and firing high intensity flares into the sky lighting up the sky and the forest. What they saw as the flares lit up the sky was not what they were expecting.....*


*The Ithorians had previously taken to the tree's with blaster rifles as well as primitive weaponry from, scythes for blading down crop, speas and bows which were left overs from many many years back. Some of the Ithorians even wore piece meal bits of armor from Storm Troopers they had apparently come across, and the plants..they were frightening, huge fanged plants of all varieties surrounded them, with long tenticular appendages for striking and grabbing. The flares unfortunetely for the Storm Troopers only served to awaken and anger the plants into attacking, as the Ithorians themselves opened fire from sniping positions in the bright light, using the flares against their enemies as their backs were to the light. In a manner of seconds they had taken down some 20 troops with blaster fire, it might have been more had the Ithorians any formal training with their weapons. The spears and bows however proved to be little to no use as next to none of the Ithorians posessed enough skill to aim for the soft spots on the Troopers' armor....*

*Sixty seconds, only one minute and Mackie had lost roughly 20 men in that ambush. He was not happy in the least. Moving through his troops he gave a rallying call and had them move into a wide circular formation and cautioned against bunching up. Giving the order for sustained but aimed fire, as well as a volley of sonic shock grenades fired into the tree-tops to stun any snipers and bring them crashing down. At his order the Grenadier's of the squad launched a volley of the sonic grenades which exploded with a pounding light and screaming sonic sound as well as a wide scale implosion of air, causing gravity and the wind itself to convelesece in the one spot that they exploded on and then rupture back out like a typhoon buffeting the Sniping Ithorians and dropping many of them from the tree-tops. Many of them stunned, did not feel the impact of the ground below, though the fleeting moment of intense pain as their sekeltal structure was crushed on impact was the last thing they knew. Some, only gave a last prayer to their "gods" before hitting the ground and hoping for the safety of their families. But still others managed to hold on and remained in position opening fire once more. Mackie heard the reports coming in and directed troops as needed to reinforce locations which needed it. As he pulled in the formed circle to clean sweep the area. Several of his troops had fallen prey to the living carnivorous plants in the region and he gave the order for his troops to fall back on his position by squads and secure their immediate area. He himself had taken up his blaster rifle and opened fire on the tree-tops and tree trunks where he took notice of enemy blaster fire. Calling in two scout platforms to illuminate the area and bring this damned firefight to an end. God he hated rebels.*


*Meanwhile Charis Du'Thar sat on her speeder as she raced through the forest towards the feel of the force that seemed to draw her. She had not battled in quite some time and the need to test her skills again since her and her masters defeat sometime ago at the hands of the lizard man and his fool wookie galled her. Especially since the signature in the force that she was reading felt so familiar. She could not place her mind on it, but she knew she would have the blood of Jedi coating her face this night. Though she had sometime before she would be there she seemed to urge the speeder on. Fervently wishing it would go just a little faster! Damn the machine.*

*Doprekka continued positioning the Ithorian forces into effective ambushing locations, he had heard the blaster fire and screams up ahead at the first location of ambush, and though he was pained by this and the feeling of death from that area he could not abandon the people he was with. It angered him to no small degree, at what he considered the curse of the Jedi. To know what was happening and not having the powers to stop the pain when it needed stopped. He could only hope to assist in preventing the oncoming massacre. Already many of the Ithorian government and citizenry up above had been arrested or subverted for the goals of this blossoming empire. And still in his mind he could feel that force of darkness moving closer. It was undoubtedly clear that he would have to face whatever Sith lord came through those tree's as his Master would not be able to handle such a battle in his current condition. He would not fail. He said to himself as he steeled his emotions and concentrated on the tasks at hand. Sending out a fervent hope to the Ithorians ahead, that they might hold out just a bit longer, that the brunt of the rebels might secure this area and be prepared. He only hoped Duu'Raan was doing well on his end of this battle, assisting the other rebels into positions as well.........*


To be continued.........
 
Duu'Raan

The Jedi Master had shed his robes, and stood only i his reptillian skin, the natural greens and brown blending in nicely with the surrounding forest. He held his lightsaber gripped loosely in his hand, and fought the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him.

Death rolled over him in waves; each fallen warrior on both sides of the battle leaving their indelible mark in the Force and its energies. And each draining him slightly. He truly believed that peace was the way, and felt the failure of that way this day.

He opened himself fully to the Force, and flicked his long forked tongue. They were close, now. And the Sith ws getting closer. He knew what would happen when the Sith arrived, and it troubled him. More, he knew that if he faced the Sith, he would not survive. It was not his death that he feared, but its effect on his apprentice. He knew he was more than Master to Doprekka, just as the Wookiee was more than a simple apprentice. His Padawan was as a son to him.

He sighed, and walked out from behind his concealing tree, and directly into the path of the scout troopers.

"I sssstand in your way..." he whispered.

The Stormtroopers fired.
 
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