(no subject)
Ok, I promised a story tidbit, so... here's a story tidbit.
Before reading this though, I gotta get you guys up to speed... at least those of you who haven't read this yet. To give you all a quick recap, there's this war going on at the planet Ve'wapon in the Kranitz system. A Sith overlord named Darth Ichor is trying to take over that system, because if he does, he'll have a strategic point to help him launch a campain against Lord Mal'kith's empire. Mal'kith, catching wind of this and being no one's fool, sent an army of his own to counter act this, and also to show his "good will" towards the people of Ve'wapon. Meanwhile, the Jedi are caught in the middle of this, because of the relief work they had been doing ever since the conflict started. And the Galactic Federation, after stalling to try to get Ve'wapon to join them, have finally decided to aid them after Mal'kith moved in first.
While the Jedi continue to debate whether they should engage in open war against Ichor (some fear that by being on the same side as Mal'kith they'd be "aiding a darksider"), Mich'al of the Earth Jedi Council has charged Sah'ar with a secret mission: form a small strike team of well trained Jedi to land on Ve'wapon, and launch a series of attacks to disrupt and hinder Ichor's war effort behind enemy lines. Sah'ar and his team had met up with and was trasported over by Alcander, a Jedi himself, and also a commander in the Federation Navy, who is leading an attack of his own. He lends his aid by offering a crack team of commandos to go along with the Jedi.
The team was able to land without incident, but shortly after arriving in a small town, Ichor's forces had regouped with reinforcements and attacked several spots at once. The town that Sah'ar's team is at is one of those spots, and they are now trying to fight their way out. This litte snipet takes place in the middle of all that.
You guys might have a problem with who is what and such, so I've provided a little "character" section before the story peice. Some of you Jedi Academy oldtimers might recognize a few of the names: yes, they are based on people who used to go there. I tried my best to keep their characters as true to the originals as possible.
One finally warning to those not familiar with my work at all: this does not take place in the Star Wars universe. This takes place in one I made up. It's around the year 2470 or so, there is intergalactic travel and beings from other systems, Jedi exist, and the Star Wars movies are just that: movies. You might notice that the Jedi in my universe seem a bit more... well human. They have a tendency to actually exhibit some emotion, use deadly force when nessisary without getting hung up about it, and even curse at times. You might also notice they seem somewhat more powerful and/or more skilled than those from the movies. This is intentional; I like it this way, and I think it makes for a more entertaining story. Some people seem to think so anyway. Hopefully you will too.
For those who already read this, I apologize. Hey, at least this one has no typos, and I re-worked the dialogue and wrting in some spots. That's gotta count for something.
Anyways, here's some info on the characters in this segment:
Sah'ar Suntoucher
Jedi Knight, and an instructor at the Jedi Academy of Earth. Took part in defending Master Atem's refugee camp when Khoras attacked it (this took place earlier in the story). Has been charged by the senior member of the Earth Jedi Council Mich'al with leading a covert Jedi strike team against Ichor's forces.
Important notes: A somewhat unorthodox Jedi, in methods, skills, powers, and overall appearance. Highly skilled in lightsabre and other combat arts, and has a mind for war strategy. He'll most likely be employing a lot of guerrilla style hit and run tactics against Ichor's forces during the conflict. Old friends with Alcander and Dan Tam. Married to Jitka Marie Suntoucher.
Jitka Marie Suntoucher
Jedi Healer from the JAE. Took part in defending Master Atem's refugee camp, and helped to turn the tide of the battle. Had worked in it also prior to the attack. Is part of Sah'ar's covert Jedi strike team.
Important notes: Very talented and powerful Jedi Healer; has tapped into abilities few others have. Also isn't afraid to jump into combat, and is skilled in War Blade and Knight Skill Spear styles, the latter which uses a General Kwen style lightsabre. She'll be the one keeping the rest of her strike team patched up after any injuries taken in battle. Old friend of Alcander, married to Sah'ar Suntoucher.
"Joat" Nalysta Isabel Rystal
Jedi Knight at the JAE. Part of the covert strike team Sah'ar assembled. Was one of the Jedi who helped to defeat the Children of Grendok (this is an earlier story I had started writing a long time ago. Never finished it, but it's a very important event in my universe).
Important notes: Joat's another highly skilled sword fighter, learned in the Wudang School of blade combat. She'll be a very quick fighter and zippy on the battle field. However, she's also a skilled hacker, And it's those skills, as well as her combat prowess, that Sah'ar was counting on when he put her in the strike team. Joat has a rather mischievous and witty personality, so she'll be one of the funny people in the squad. She's an old friend of Sah'ar and Alcander, and a good friend of Jitka's.
Monkey
Jedi knight at the JAE. Was one of the Jedi instrumental in defeating the Children of Grendok. Part of the covert Jedi strike team assembled by Sah'ar.
Important notes: Monkey's real name is Ech'eikkhurrk'huk Kr'tickikkrill (way too hard for others to pronounce, hence his nickname). He is a Lemian, a monkey like alien species, and is about 5 feet tall. He fights with a scaled down (for his short height) General Kwen lightsabre, a long pole sabre weapon, as well as a standard lightsabre. He's highly skilled with both, and tends to favor airborn attacks. Monkey is also skilled at working with droids; building, programing, and re-programing them, and that will prove useful on the mission as time goes on, along with his scouting skills. Monkey is pretty funny and a practical joker, so he'll be a source of humor. Old friend to most "old timer" Jedi from the JAE.
Caliegh Kemensil
Jedi Knight at the JAE. Played a part in turning the attack on Master Atem's refuge camp. Part of the covert Jedi strike team Sah'ar assembled.
Important notes: Caliegh is a powerful Force user as well as skilled in combat. She specializes in Force generated "mini storms" that she can use to surround herself with, or send flying towards her enemies. They are usually wind based, and the more she concentrates, the stronger the winds. She prefers to fight with a staff over a lightsabre, though she will use that weapon also. Caliegh suffers from a condition that afflicts her with bouts of weakness in her joints and bones on occasion, and during that time, she'll move about while either on a hover chair, or will carry herself telekinetically while sitting in a plain chair. The name "Caliegh" is the one used mostly by people who know her, however, the name "Din'celebnar", "Din", or "Din-chan" is used by those who are very close to her. Has a bubbly and cheerful personality, but is also driven and focused when the time calls for it. An old friend of Sah'ar, Alcander, and Dan Tam. Good friend of Jitka.
Sahaqi'el Suntoucher
Jedi Knight, and brother of Sah'ar Suntoucher. Had wanted to visit him and heard about his brother's involvement in Ve'Wapon and decided to lend a hand. Part of the covert Jedi strike team.
Important notes: Like Sah'ar, he is highly skilled in combat, though at a lesser degree than his older brother. Has a highly tuned "danger sense" that allows him to sense threats not only in the immediate area, but in future events as well. Will be a major asset in plan making and strategy for the team. Is very witty and sarcastic, and has a decent insight into the minds of others.
Alora Yume
Apprentice to Jedi Master Ezra Kye Poh, and one of her top students. Volunteered to join Sah'ar in his efforts to help in Ve'Wapon. Part of the covert Jedi strike team.
Important notes: She's a talented apprentice, skilled in the Poh style of lightsabre combat, and has a deep connection to the Force that gives her insight in various matters. Also is a crack shot with a blaster, and isn't afraid to use one; keeps a small blaster in her boot. Has an friendly, engaging personality, and is driven to help others. Good friends with Sah'ar and Jitka Suntoucher.
Avi Von
Apprentice to Jedi Master Ezra Kye Poh and the other top student. Decided to go with Alora to help Sah'ar. Part of the covert Jedi strike team.
Important notes: the other talented apprentice, Avi's connection to the Force is more intuitive, and everything works with him on an instinctual level. He can be somewhat considered to be the "Anakin" of the Poh apprentices: he has a natural prowess with lightsabre combat, is very athletic and gymnastic, and also has a strong mechanical aptitude (no darkside tendencies though). Just like Alora, he also isn't afraid to use blasters. Avi is very energetic, and at times impatient. and he and Alora tend to bicker at times, though a lot of it is playful. Many think the two will end up romantically involved. Good friends with Sah'ar and Jitka Suntoucher.
Nicho Bastian
Jedi Knight, and instructor at Lowell's lightsabre combat school. Was picked by Sah'ar to be part of the covert Jedi strike team.
Important notes: Nicho is a very cunning Jedi, and is highly skilled in Form II and it's many variants. He was originally trained by Sith, and thus knows something of their tactics. He's been called the "Double Dagger Rogue" because of his penchant for using two dagger like lightsabers in combat. Also can sense any use of darkside Force arts, as well as any Force spirits in the area, or other phenomena. He has a love for the fight, but also has a warm hearted nature and is a very caring man at heart. Also is fond of telling jokes, many of them a bit risque. Lost a leg in the past, and has an artificial replacement, which has a compartment that conceals various lightsabers taken from fallen Sith, plus several grenades. Good friend of Jitka and Sah'ar Suntoucher.
Naeli Twinstar
Jedi Knight at the JAE. An old acquaintance of Sah'ar; has a past with him that she is very reluctant to discuss with anyone. Played a small part during the Children of Grendok event.
Important notes: Naeli is a decent swordswoman, having trained for a time with and by Sah'ar back when they were teens. Her style therefore has some similarity to his own, just not with the same level of skill. She is still formidable though, and very graceful. She also is a mathematician, and can calculate large and varied figures easily in her head. Naeli is very friendly and is generally outgoing, but is very shy around Sah'ar, almost to the point of subservience. Recently there seems to be some animosity building up between Naeli and Jitka, which is strange, considering they used to be close friends. It probably has something to do with her's and Sah'ar's past, and it may prove to be a problem as the mission goes on.
... and now for the story peice.
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As the blasts continued to pound the area around the Jedi, Sah'ar turned to Caliegh, his usual cold determination set on his face.
"Din-chan. I want you to start up another one of your windstorms... but focus it on us."
"On us?" Caliegh repeated, with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah, just at our location," Sah'ar said, nodding. "And make it mild; I just want you to stir up all the dirt and stuff ... lower the visibility."
"Ah ok. Can do."
Sah'ar then turned to his brother. "When it gets really cloudy so that they start aiming shots wildly, fire one of your big ones at them."
Sahaqi'el flashed a wicked grin. "No problem."
Alora looked at the two with a squint. "Fire a big what?"
Sah'ar grinned briefly. "Oh, you'll see in a moment. After he does that, I want everyone to punch through the opening he makes. We're going to charge."
"You're going to what??" Zavine spat out in astonishment. "Do you see what's out there?!"
"Yeah, and?" Sah'ar replied, the cold stare still on his face.
"There's too frackin' many of them!"
"It's an old Jedi adage," Sah'ar said conversationally, even while his eyes remained hard. "When outnumbered, attack. It scatterers the enemy, draws their energy inwards on itself. Then once you got the flow, you seize control. When you're few, you have the freedom to lash out at just about everything around you. Meanwhile, they have a greater reason to watch who to hit. Of course, the trick is doing it right."
"Oh, and that's just a minor detail, isn't it?" Zavine countered, her body language and voice revealing exasperation. "How exactly are we going to 'do it right'... as if there is such a thing in a plan like this...."
"Well, if you'd listen to what I'm saying, you'd find out, now wouldn't you?" Sah'ar replied. "Look, I don't want to argue with you. I know you are well trained and such, and I know how good you guys are. But I'm no amateur either. So please, trust me on this, ok?"
Zavine looked away in frustration, glaring at the forms out in the distance, every last one of them eager to take their lives, while the ground and various structures continued to be pounded by heavy fire. "It's not like I have much of a choice in the matter, do I?" she finally growled.
"Actually, you always have choices," Sah'ar quipped. "But if you want to live... yeah, you're going to have to trust me."
She turned back to him. "Fine. But if this gets us all killed, I'll shoot you myself before I go down."
"Nice to know we're all one big happy family," Sah'ar deadpanned, while Jitka glared at the Corporal. "Anyway, as I said, when Haqi here let's loose, we move in. We'll go as one, try not to get separated, ok? And though I'm sure I don't need to remind you guys of this, we're in a war here. When we move, fight to kill. Spare no one. All options for Jedi mercy have pretty much been extinguished at this point? Understood?"
The Jedi all nodded, Alora and Avi gulping a little as they did so. True, they had been in life or death situations before, particularly during that whole business with Master Poh's padawans getting kidnapped. But somehow, this felt different. Very different.
Caliegh meanwhile was concentrating her power, focusing her will on the very air around here. Already the dust and dirt were beginning to stir around them all, joining with the dusty clouds already wafting about from the raging chaos of war. Sahaqi'el was also concentrating, though in a different way. His right index finger was raised in front of him, and the Jedi noticed that a great amount of energy was building up in it... at astonishing speed and intensity.
Soon there was heavy dust cover everywhere; save for the Jedi's higher senses and the commandos visual scanners in their helmets, there was no way to really see what was in front of what. Weapon fire became more scattered and erratic. Everyone tightened their grip on their weapons, though Sah'ar held his in a somewhat lighter grip, that icy calm still in his eyes. Jitka looked at him briefly; he nodded at her and took her hand for a moment. She returned the gesture, then composed herself in a similar manner. Sah'ar then cast his eyes on his brother, and nodded his signal.
Without a word, Sahaqi'el suddenly leaped out from behind cover, hurling himself sideways. While in midair, he aimed his finger towards the hoard before them all, and with a burst of light, launched a powerful energy blast from the tip of it.
The surge smashed right into the enemy host, sending broken bodies and rock flying every which way. Rifle fire ceased almost immediately, while enemy troops tried to figure out what just happened, and the Jedi looked in amazement at Sah'ar's younger brother.
"What the hell was that?!" Avi spat out.
"Move!" Sah'ar ordered, as he then leaped over the battered wall, his lightsabres ablaze. While the rest of the Jedi poured out, their own weapons ready, the commandos moved along with them at either side of the group, flanking them and positioned to lend supporting fire as they charged through.
"Head for that tall building in front of us," they all heard Sah'ar say. "We can catch our breath there for a moment, then move to the next point." They knew they heard him say that, but it was without sound. Sah'ar was now relying on mental telepathy for communication; he most likely expected them to do the same. They all mentally gave an affirmative, while the commandos tried to get used to this new development.
They charged into Ichor's forces like a heavy powered weedwacker, slicing up and cutting down any living beings in their way. Sah'ar was at the head, smoothly moving between bodies and passing his lightsabre blades through them with a silky grace, no emotion at all in his eyes. Those he didn't cut down were instead smashed against rock, walls, or buildings by waves of Force power and energy blasts, while shock waves generated from him at various moments knocked them off their feet. Everything was flowing from him without thought, from leaps and spins, to sword attacks and internal power strikes. He was slipping into the dance that he and the Force would engage in when he found himself in heavy battle.
Jitka was by his side, uncannily complementing his movements with the same eerie grace and calm, though her weapon afforded her a longer reach. It never stopped moving, never stopped whirling about, while she and Sah'ar continued to dance around each other, their nimble footwork avoiding enemies and powering their killing strikes as they kept moving forward, their internal rhythms matching each other's. They felt each other's presence at all times without trying to, two beings fighting as one. Jitka's skill was her own though, as her continued effortless efforts were leaving bodies in her wake. Those near her were somewhat taken aback by her actions; they had never seen Jitka fight like this before.
Sahaqi'el was a Force of his own, striking down those around him ceaselessly. If his older brother moved with a silky, wind-like speed, Sahaqi'el was more like lightning, zipping from one foe to the next with a ferocious intensity. He was somewhat more physical than his brother, using more kicks and hand strikes as well as his lightsabre attacks. His style seemed wilder, more chaotic, though there was still a discipline to it. Jitka and Sah'ar seemed to be the heart of the storm; he was the thunderbolt that shot from it.
So was Joat, who also ran all about them with ceaseless attacks with her twin lightsabres. Every now and then she would join the two weapons together to make them into a double bladed lightsabre, changing up her attacks to keep the enemy even more off balance than they already were. Her Wudang based techniques were shining through, relying on her natural speed and talent to keep her alive. Her body crackled with energy as she fought, at times a wild blur on the battle field.
Moneky moved about with her, a small yet powerful wind blast moving this way and that. He made full use of his air-born launched techniques, also adding pressure and keeping Ichor's forces off balance. He was even running upon the bodies of the enemy, striking them down as he did so, and then leaping at or on another. He would at times also telekinetically pick up fallen blaster and pulse riffles and hurl them at foes, their triggers pulled and firing the whole time, causing even more chaos in their ranks.
Caliegh continued to maintain the small dust storm around all them while fighting, hoping to keep the confusion going as the aerial pollution assaulted eyes and limited vision. Every last one of her staff strikes would crack something; bone, light armor, skulls... it didn't matter. What mattered was that something would shatter with every blow. The Force kept her moving, had her performing techniques buried deep in her mind and limbs from constant practice, while she called upon the Force to keep her aware of what was about her. She was aware of the life forces that that meant to do her and her friends harm, and which were also vanishing all about her as the Jedi pressed on.
Liang added his own pressure, the thunderclap of this Jedi storm. Also relying on Wudang techniques, he moved differently than Joat, not like a frantic razor slicing up the landscape, but rather like a tossed leaf in the wind, or one being carried by a great river. This wind or river was the Force, was the battlefield he was in, and he flowed through it, riding it's current, his lightsabre his rudder. Whip strike motions of his free hand would send inner power blasts of energy crashing into the enemy with concussive force, often hurling the bodies into other hapless troopers in the way. All this was performed with a naturalness similar to breathing.
Naeli danced her way through the throng, her purple bladed lightsabre moving about with the same grace as her lithe body. The techniques she used were definitely from Sah'ar, and so was the weapon she wielded, but she had made them hers, wielding them with the force of her will but also with the hidden pain in her heart. Her power was a song in her, and she danced along with it, weaving her own path through the forest that was this battlefield. Still, there was a slight falter to her step, a slight hesitation to her song. Her pain didn't seem to want to let go. Yet she danced on.
Avi and Alora also moved as a unit, similar to the way Jitka and Sah'ar were. However, there was a different feel to their movements, a connection not as deep or passionate, but strong never the less. They moved between each others steps and guarded each others backs, while flowing with the energies of the other older Jedi around them. Alora moved smoothly, using her Poh style techniques in her own particular way, her strikes and cuts moving in wave like patterns. Her power spoke of a quiet strength a never ending tide of relentless will. Avi meanwhile utilized the Poh style in a more vigorous fashion, like a biting wind or piercing lightning. There was a boldness to him, just pure fearless dash that carried him through. It was obvious he was a natural in combat, as everything was completely intuitive to him as he leaped and spun about.
And there was Nicho... the darkest part of the storm cloud blowing through the sky that was the battlefield. He also was a natural in combat, but his power lay in pure ruthlessness. He tore through the field the same way a wolf might tear through a flock of sheep, or a hungry lion through a group of wilderbeasts. His blaster pistol never stopped firing, even while his blade flashed about to pass through a neck, or pierce through a torso. It was not the darkside that he relied on though; no passionate cravings for taking lives or holding power over others fueled him. Rather, he just obeyed what he saw as the rules of all warfare; kill or be killed. And he wasn't about to be killed. Not now. There was still too much to do in this life.
The commandos kept up with it all, never letting their weapons relax from spewing sizzling death at anyone not recognized as an ally. They moved with an efficiency that was almost droid like, maybe even more so. They covered up holes in defenses, they exploited and created holes in their enemy's defenses. They eased pressure against their Jedi allies while pouring on plenty against their foes. They were every bit the elite unit that Alcander said they were.
The sea of carnage around them kept on erupting, as the cannon fire from tank platforms kept hammering away at them all. Buildings began to fall, walls exploded in a shower of stone, the ground shook and cracked with the force of the blasts. Pure hell raged about them, and the threat of death assaulted them all at every turn.
But suddenly, they were at the building. They had made it to their first point. And because of the nature of their sudden counter attack, as well as the nature of the chaos around them, the enemy couldn't track where they were at the moment.
They all stood inside the structure, peering out cautiously through the space where a door and part of the wall used to be, the sounds of heavy breathing escaping their lips. Avi was the first to speak after a moment.
"Damn... now that's what I call kicking ass! You see how we cut through all that?"
"Hell yeah," Alora agreed. "We can handle this... if that's the best they can come up with."
The others chuckled for a while. One had to admire their enthusiasm, even if it was overly optimistic.
"We'll stay here for a bit, then start moving out further," Sah'ar suggested. "Hopefully they won't try to track us down too hard... they do have a town to take."
"I have to hand it to you," Zavine said, a small amount of respect creeping into her voice from behind the helmet. "That crazy plan of yours actually worked. Anyone else, we'd probably be dead by now."
"Yeah well," Sah'ar said with a slight smile. "I kinda have some experience with this sort of insanity."
"Comes with the job I take it?"
"Eh," Sah'ar shrugged. "Something like that."
"He's just damn good at this," Jitka said with a smirk, kissing him on the cheek. "You can get more later, if you finish getting us out of here," she added, only to him in a mummer.
The others chuckled while gathering their energy. Naeli meanwhile, just looked more downcast. "Experience with this insanity. Constantly up against hopeless odds. And many times, with no one to back you up."
She looked up at Sah'ar, who was now looking at her curiously. "No one should have had to go through that," she continued. "No one."
"Naeli," Sah'ar began, wary concern in his voice. "You ok?" He could sense she was somewhat off balance; the others probably could as well. Jitka looked at her with a sideways glance; bit her lip.
"I'm..." she hesitated. "No, I'm ok. Just sort of worn out from all this. I'll be fine... just have to catch my breath."
Sah'ar didn't buy it. "Come on Naeli, what's wrong? Something's been up with you ever since..."
He suddenly turned towards the opening of the building, just as he heard his brother mutter sharply to himself. "Fuck..."
"Everybody down!" Sah'ar cried out. A moment later, it seemed as if the walls spontaneously combusted, as the front suddenly went up in a blast of dust, smoke and stone. Everyone inside had instinctively thrown themselves to the ground, meanwhile Sahar remained on his feet, his hands before him as the protective field he projected around everyone held.
He had properly grounded himself this time.
As the dust settled, the Jedi and the commando squad quickly got to their feet, their faces grim. Apparently, they had been found.
Those Sith were proving themselves to be very pesky.
While one tank was bringing up the rear, several darkside warriors were moving in on them, while rifle wielding troops formed up for support.
"Well, this isn't good," Nicho said, his eyes scanning the area. "No easy way to escape either."
"Now what?" Joat asked, her lightsabres posed. She was sure she could take a few of them down.
"You better come up with something fast man." Sahaqi'el muttered to his brother.
Sah'ar closed his eyes and sighed. He took in the area around him with the Force, tried to sense a new angle they could take, some strategy they could rely on, some weakness to exploit....
"Ah the hell with it," he said in disgust, his eyes flashing open.
Before anyone had a chance to react. Sah'ar swooped down and slammed his hand hard on the ground.
A crackle of energy was heard, and suddenly a geyser of power shot up from it right under the approaching Sith's feet. One was killed out right, his flesh mangled by the sudden burst. Others were badly hurt, the rest just thrown back violently.
While his team stood stunned for a brief moment, Sah'ar shot up suddenly, whipping his arms forwards and upwards one after the other in rapid secession. Two blasts of power flew forwards from him, one from each hand, sending a cloud of dust before them as they plowed right into the troops, scattering more.
"Get the hell out of here!" he cried out to his team. "I'll try to hold them off! You just make a break for it that way!" He thrust his left hand towards the outskirts, pointing ut a suggested escape route, while his lightsabre flashed back into his right.
"Oh hell no!" Jitka responded, igniting her weapon. "I'm staying with you!"
"Jit, they need a healer with them," he spat back, still looking at the enemy. "Lead them out of here!"
"They need their leader too!" she argued. "You can't be left behind; you're the one running this mission!"
"I'm not going either Sar-kun!" Caliegh said, brandishing her staff while her power in the Force charging up caused winds to blow about her.
"What th... can't you people follow orders?" Sah'ar said, exasperated. "Get going, they're going to regain their composure any second..."
"Brother's don't leave each other behind," Sahaqi'el countered, his lightsabre brandished in front him. The others also raised their weapons, not budging an inch. Even the commandos had assumed firing positions.
"Fire on my mark," Zavine prepped her charge.
"Guys...." Sah'ar sighed. He loved these guys, he really did. And he was going to kill them for risking their lives on his account. "Look I appreciate this, but really, you gotta get going. I can hold them off; Sahaqi'el and Jit know what I'm... oh-hell-scatter!!"
The tank fired a shot straight into their midst. The Jedi swiftly dispersed at inhuman speeds, already moving into defensive positions. The commandos had also moved out the way; now behind some rubble for cover, they had already started firing, even tossing a few high explosive charges that they had picked up while fighting their way here, scattering Ichor's troops.
The Jedi meanwhile were already moving in to attack, but the Sith warriors were on the feet, and rushing forwards to meet them. Naeli, who had suddenly become very grim ever since Sah'ar had told them to leave, was actually ahead of all her allies, her lightsabre moving about in a complex pattern, a rapid weave of violence about to be unleashed on those in front of her. With a cry, she charged right, engaging herself with three at once. The others, emboldened by her move, followed her lead.
Why the hell can't people just do what I ask without having to argue with me about it? Sah'ar thought to himself. There wasn't much he could do about it now... All he could do was fight and find a way to turn the tables.
He noticed that another tank had moved into position behind them all, and was already prepped to fire. Cursing to himself, he sped towards his friends, Alora in particular. As the cannon fired, he leapt in the air, and grabbing her from behind, twisted himself and her out the way of the blast, it erupting and tearing apart where she was standing just a second earlier. Continuing his twist, he then placed an astonished Alora back on her feet, then as soon as his own touched the ground a split second later, quickly sprung off again, meeting a leaping Sith in mid air with a horizontal slash of his lightsabre, splitting the warrior in two by the waist. With his free left hand, he knocked the top half of the body aside, right into another Sith who was in the middle of fighting Jitka... all before landing. As the warrior stumbled from being hit by the mangled corpse, Jitka took advantage and thrust her weapon through the man's neck, finishing him.
The troops by this time had already started firing. Nicho returned some shots of his own, while looking for some way to flank them; the commandos were trying to do the same. Liang kept trying to deflect the blots back at them, but Sith kept getting in the way. Alora and Avi also tried to rely on defensive tactics, hoping that by deflecting shots they could whittle down the artillery some.
Joat and Monkey had teamed up, hoping that their speed and unpredictable patterns could confound their foes long enough to get them to escape. When they fought Sith, they would attack together, each simultaneously attacking different openings at different angles, usually either killing the foe outright, or at least pushing him back. The troops' fire kept making things more and more difficult though... and now that damn tank was firing again, along with the other one in the front. They dashed in opposite directions to avoid the cannon shots, the other Jedi also dodging in their own way. Sah'ar, leaping over the blast, landed in between the few Sith warriors, and the troops, one of his spare twin lightsabres usually clipped to his back now in his left hand, joining his main weapon in his right, both flashing to deflect shots.
"Guys, the Sith, the troops... Koroshi Toma."
As the other Jedi turned their heads trying to figure out what Sah'ar meant, they saw him in the midst of blaster fire, while engaging Sith head on... and suddenly they got the picture. Moving in quickly, they moved in his direction, each one of them engaging a warrior and leading them to the same spot.
With them all in the same area, surrounded by flying, sizzling death from all sides, Sah'ar flashed a grim smile, then deflected a shot right into the head of a Sith who was busy dealing with the furious lunges of Nicho. Joat knocked a blaster shot towards an enemy fighting Jit, but she had just stabbed him; seeing the bolt flying toward her, she instinctively redirected it to Sahaqi'el, who launched it into the back of another Sith, destroying his spinal chord and leaving him open for a decapitating strike from Monkey. The simian looking Jedi then deflected two shots towards Liang and Caliegh with one quick sweep of his lightsabre. Liang deftly popped the incoming blast to the back of the head of another Sith, while Caliegh whipped her own lightsabre from her belt in a reverse grip, iajitsu style, connecting with and sending the bolt that was coming at her flying to Naeli, who then passed it into the chest of another warrior.
And so it went; the Jedi leaping and spinning in the midst of the chaos that was the blaster fire, while deflecting and passing the energy rifle shots around and to each other in order to make short work of the Sith fighting them. It was an insane, suicidal ploy... and it was working. All because of the extensive training that they got from dealing with Sah'ar and his infamous Koroshi Toma room.
"I can't believe I'm seeing this," Dice muttered to Zavine, as they continued to fire their own shots.
"These guys are full of surprises," Zavine replied. "They're insane, but they're full of surprises."
The plan could have worked better without the interference of the two tanks though; their fire caused them to scatter and try to regroup... all while still being shot at by troops. Sah'ar was sick of the tanks by this time, and as he was running along a ruined wall in order avoid yet another cannon blast, he had an idea.
Normally he would have had his team just zip along side those monstrosities and simply cripple them with slashing runs, but they were too well backed up by troops. So he decided to try something different. As he leapt off the wall, he called out. "Joat, Monkey! Get the attention of the tank in front of us!"
The two wasted no time. They quickly rushed in towards it, as if they were about attack. Of course, the troops in front of it increased their fire, and the two Jedi just deflected it back at them. However, they kept hovering just out of range, as if the troops were doing a good job of keeping them away, and within range of another cannon shot. Meahwhile, Sah'ar had zipped up behind them, clipping his spare lightsabre back to join it's twin on his belt. He was going to have only one shot at this....
The tank fired, and the two swiftly parted, the shot now hurling at Sah'ar. In that split second he had let the Force take over; using his energy manipulation techniques, he had reached out, and used his skill to nudge the blast away from him... and right into the other tank.
With a spin, he landed, just as the other tank went up in a blaze, the explosion taking out the troops supporting it. Instantly he telepathically sent out the signal.
"Now, people! Get going while we still can!"
The Jedi and the commandos didn't need to be told twice. Already they were making a mass exodus towards the burning wreckage of a tank, cutting down anyone in their way while doing so. The fight had now turned into a rout; people were scattered everywhere, and shots were being fired simply for the sake of shooting; as long as you were pulling on the trigger you were still alive. Things were still blowing up all around them, thanks to fire from other parts of the battlefield, and even from return fire flying out from the towns defenders that the strike team had left behind. It was complete chaos, only this time, no one was in control of it. People scrambled this way and that, while the Jedi jumped over rocks and debris, never stopping, always moving, always swinging, and the commandos constantly firing, all while mingling with those who were there to stand in their way.
Because of this, they got separated, if only for a moment. Sah'ar instantly reached out a mental link to his team and the commandos, making himself a hub for all of them to focus on. They moved quickly finding him near an open area with a somewhat clear road. He was hoping that they could rush down that road, and maybe to freedom... freedom and away from this mess.
But his team had assembled. And Naeli was nowhere to be found.
"Oh gods... gods' dammit!" he cursed. "Did any of you see her back there?" He tilted his head as a stray blaster shot streaked past it.
They all shook their heads, but then Caliegh suddenly remembered. "She was tangled up with some darkies back near the busted gazebo."
"That's not too far," Sah'ar said, already moving. "I'm heading over. I'm not even going to bother telling you to get going at this point, but just cover me ok?"
"You got it boss." Joat said with a smirk. They waited a few second after he took off, then started trailing him, ready to pick up anyone who would try to ambush him.
Sah'ar heard the sounds of the battle before he got there. Naeli was fighting for her life; by the time he got there, she was pinned down by three Sith, pulse fire raging all around her. Still she kept on, her lightsabre flashing this way and that, wielded deftly against her assailants.
Sah'ar wasted no time. Using his lightfoot skills, he was at the scene in just a few seconds, having ran along the sides of walls, and leaping off building structures and poles. A head was lopped off before he landed. Turning he threw a kick into another warrior, crushing the rib cage with the blow before he then stabbed the Sith's neck and taking his lighsabre with his free hand. He used it to stab it into the torso of the third, who then lost his head thanks to a strike from Naeli.
A hail of pulse fire descended on them. Sah'ar grabbed Naeli by the arm and leapt away from the lethal blasts, then upon landing started deflecting shots frantically.
"You didn't have to come for me." Naeli protested, defending herself in turn. "You should have left! The mission..."
"Naeli, not now ok?!" Sah'ar spat back "And pay attention to what you're doing! We're being shot at here!"
The other Jedi had by this time shown up, and were moving in to help provide some defensive cover with their own deflections. The commandos were firing back towards whoever was assaulting them, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly where they were; the dust, as well as tons of wreckage and ruins, was everywhere.
"Just keep moving," Sah'ar said, speeding back towards the team. "We'll be out of here in no time,"
"Sah'ar, I," she looked at him, her eyes filled with emotion, her attention wavering for an instant.
Sah'ar snapped his head towards her; a warning screaming out in the Force.
Jit was already running towards them, the same warning in her own head.
Before Sah'ar could yell at her to keep her guard up, another burst of pulse fire ran out. Sah'ar was able to dodge, and Naeli to an extent, moving at the last second.
She didn't move fast enough.
A packet of energy burned through her, hitting her from behind and sent her spinning in the air. Sah'ar had already moved in and caught her before she hit the ground. But the damage was done. There was a horrid burn mark in her flesh, torn through her side. Her eyes were unfocused, she suddenly didn't know where she was.
"What... what..."
"Oh goddess no," Jitka muttered as she reached them. "Dammit dammit dammit!" She placed a hand on her head. "She's been hit hard," Jitka said after a moment. "Not real bad, but bad enough. We need to get her out of here, so I can work on her. I can't do it here.... "
Another explosion rang out. The Jedi and the commandos were rushing towards the three, all with waves of tense concern pouring from them so strongly that any force sensitive would notice.
"They're flanking us," Zavin bit off. "There are too many of these bastards around! They've cut us off again!"
"And one of us is down," Sah'ar muttered. "Perfect."
"Oh no!" Alora ran over to Sah'ar, gazing at the limp body in his arms. "She's gonna be ok right? Naeli's not hit too bad, is she...?"
"Sah'ar give her to me...I gotta stabilize her," Jitka said urgently. "Otherwise..."
With a nod he lowered himself along with Jitka, who then opened her arms and took the limp Naeli in. As she reached out in the Force, and started to work on the stricken Jedi, she kept muttering softly to her, bitting at the corner of her mouth.
"Dammit Naeli... you stupid, stupid woman... you just can't let go, can you...."
"Do you think we can hold here while Jit works on her?" Nicho asked, checking his ammunition. He still had a few packs left....
"I don't know," Sah'ar replied. "This is a pretty bad spot...."
"Boss, they're beginning to move in!" Dice called out.
"Fire at will," Zavine replied, while reloading. "Snipe as many as you can. Rambo, I want you and that heavy support of yours to do some supporting. Duke, try to make every one of your charges count... take out as many as you can with those explosives. Maybe we can dig ourselves out of this mess."
Sah'ar turned to the Corporal with a slight smile. "You know, you're open to take that shot."
The Jedi couldn't see her face behind that helmet, but he was sure there was a smile on her face, however brief it might have been. "I'll wait a little while longer, ok Suntoucher?"
Sah'ar chuckled, then suddenly turned and whipped his hand upwards, throwing a rock he had picked up a second ago. With a loud crack, it collided with the head of a Sith who was about to decent down upon them. A brief second of pulse and blaster fire from Zavine and Nicho, and the body of the wold be attacker was sprawled on the ground, fallen from the torn building ledge she was originally standing on.
"I'd say they're here," Monkey said, igniting his lightsabre. "Never a dull moment with these people."
"Everybody form a defensive perimeter around Jit," Sah'ar called out, his lightsabre blazing. "Make sure nothing get's though. "We gotta by her some time to stabilize Naeli so that we can try to get out of here."
"That's a very hopeful attitude Sah'ar," Liang said, looking over at him with a slight smile.
"I'm not supposed to give up," Sah'ar replied. "They took that choice away from me a long time ago."
"Well, let's hope that we do pull through," Alora said. "Otherwise Master Ezra Kye is going to be really mad at you,"
"She's not the only one," Jitka said, somewhat distant because of her work. "I'll kick your ass too if you get me killed. and double that if you get killed."
"Put me on the list," Avi added.
"Everyone loves me today," Sah'ar quipped, rolling his eyes. "I got Zavine here wanting to shoot me, you guys threatening to kick my ass, and Ichor's minions trying to finish me off. It's just been a whole bunch of cuddly fun."
The pulse fire started up again, along with the return fire from the commandos. The Jedi's lightsabres starting flashing, deflecting shots frantically. Almost immediately they could tell the situation wasn't good: the incoming fire was coming from just about all directions. In other words, they were surrounded. Even if they survived long enough for Jitka to get Naeli stable enough for them to move, they'd still have to find a way to get through, and with the added problem of having a casualty slow them down.
The blaster fire intensified. Dice called out with a strained voice; she was running out of sniper ammo, and would have to fall back to her pistol. Nicho suddenly took a shot to his artifical leg, spinning hard to the ground, but taking out someone with a quick blaster shot while still falling. Sah'ar was beginning to feel drained. He wasn't sure if he had enough energy in him to go into that destructive mode that he sometimes slipped into in times of extreme duress. And that damn headache that was with him ever since he went flying into that wall was only getting worse.
"S... sorry..." Naeli said weakly, still in a daze. "So sorry..."
"Dammit woman, hold on!" Jitka hissed with clenched teeth.
"Anyone else notice how much this sucks?" Avi asked, also through clenched teeth. "I mean, I could have at least made it to Jedi Knight before being turned into a bloodstain."
"Great optimism Avi, keep it up!" Alora snapped back, while dodging a shot she couldn't quite hit back in time.
"You two start bickering NOW of all times, I'll drop you myself," Sah'ar warned, his tone still even, all while deflecting pulse fire and fighting his fatigue and body pain. Reaching deep inside, he brought out more of his inner power, while calling on the Force to strengthen him... for just a little bit longer.
"You too huh Sar-kun?" he heard Caliegh call to him? "You're not alone... my joints have been being ... well, pains again."
"Theepio should be wailing any minute now," Joat said, wincing as a shot narrowly missed her arm, still burning it..
Another explosion rang from behind, taking out a section of wall that was keeping some of the troops out. With it down, the team would soon be overrun.
"Oh, not another gorram tank!!" Nicho shouted.
"Oh great. This sucks big hairy wookie..." Avi began.
Sah'ar quickly turned around, sighing through clenched teeth. "Ok guys, let's not panic..." he started.
An armored speeder with a mounted pulse cannon suddenly flew into view hurling itself towards them at top speed. As soon as its occupants saw the group, they began to open fire.
The commandos couldn't help but flinch as they heard the cannon go off. But they were even more taken aback as they noticed that the pulsefire was directed towards Ichor's troops. The attack was so sudden, so brazen, that the enemy fire lessened immediately, relieving some of the pressure the strike team was facing.
The vehicle slid to a stop in front of the now shocked Jedi team. As the pulse cannon continue to blaze on, they saw an grim looking Priest gesturing towards them frantically.
"Don't just stand there you idiots! Get in the fraking speeder!!"