WotH-2 Chpt 3

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 3 / Book 2==
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===Who is going to the Rescue===
Date: Two weeks laterLocation: Serenno, Serenno System, Aubek sector, Confederacy of Independent Systems
"Commodore Frye," Captain Jasiah saluted.
 
"Captain," She nodded at him. "I assume you have your final report ready for me to review."
 
"Yes, ma'am." He set the datapad down on the table. Commodore Jewel ordered me to head directly here and collect what reinforcements I could."
 
"It'll take a week at minimum to get all of the ships patrolling the hyperlanes back here and then another two weeks to get back to Beloria," Frye sighed as she looked through the information on the datapad. "You're certain that this is the group they had?" She passed the datapad over for him to look over the ship counts again.
 
"Well, we did manage to take out one ship on our way out," he modified the number. "But I expect they may have replaced that ship if we don't return soon.
 
The door then slid open, and four figures stepped through.
 
"When do we depart?" Count Dooku sat down at the conference room table.
 
"Pardon me, sir?" Kaylee cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid that I misheard you."
 
"When are we departing to relieve Colonel Hull and his forces?" Count Dooku asked more firmly.
 
"Count," Captain Jasiah shook his head as his montrals twitched in time with his lekku. "You are the head of a Nation, and we cannot allow you to come with us. After all, what would you have us do if you fell on the field of battle? What would become of the Confederacy?"
 
"I am not the foundation of the Confederacy," Dooku's voice seemed to echo through the room. "The founding documents will see to it that it endures beyond my demise should it happen."
 
The Count leaned forward, and his blue gaze turned icy.
 
"I will not be found idle when my friend comes under siege from those who seek to do evil to him."
 
"It'll take a week or two to gather our forces," the Commodore sighed. "Any faster, and we risk pushing the hyperdrives beyond their limits."
 
"Where do you need us to help?" Siri spoke up.
 
"Ensure that the repair yards are ready for emergencies," the Togrutan captain looked up. "The captains will be pushing their ships, and I bet we'll have some issues that pop up."
 
"I will see to it that they are free for use," Dooku replied.
 
"Thanks," Kaylee smiled shyly. "We'll need all the help we can get."
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===Bolstering Courage===
Location: Beloria, Independent world
"Jacen," Satele called for her brother in the middle of the massive repair bays that dotted the Marksman base.
 
"Who're you looking for?" A Twi'lek asked.
 
"My Brother Jacen," Satele replied. "He's joined the mechanics here about a year ago."
 
"Let me check the records," The woman wiped her greasy fingers on her coveralls before grabbing a datapad and flipping through it. "He's at garage number fifteen. This garage is listed as number twelve. So you'll need to follow this route to get there in good time."
 
"Thank you," Satele gave a slight bow and glanced at the map, looking through it and nodding at where she needed to go.
 
Leaving the garage, she jogged a few streets down before noting the number on the side of the repair bay she entered.
 
Thankfully, this was the right Garage, and Jacen poked his head out of a nearby engine when she called his name.
 
"What?" Jacen asked.
 
"We need to talk," Satele gestured for him to follow her.
 
"What is it this time?" Jacen sighed. "I've got to get these fighters back in the sky, I don't have all day to talk."
 
"My unit's getting deployed to capture one of the Feddie ships," Satele sat down on a nearby workbench. "I just wanted to let you know in case something goes wrong."
 
"Hey," Jacen pulled his little sister into a hug as he reached out through the Force and began to radiate waves of peace. "Remember to slow down and listen to the Force," he poked her forehead and then grinned as she rubbed the now sore spot. "You've had good training, rely on that and the people beside you and you'll make it through this."
 
Jacen then pulled the girl in for a hug, his large arms wrapping around her as if a heavy and warm blanket.
 
"You good now?" He asked.
 
"Yeah," she smiled up at her oldest brother. "I'm good now. I just needed a minute to be a scared little girl again."
 
"Everyone needs the chance to be scared," He reminded her. "It's the only way we get to be brave."
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===Reasons for a tactical retreat===
"Alright people," I looked at my consoles and ran through some checks. "Give a status and ready-op. We're playing distraction for Mathis and his crew this time around. So watch your fire, and keep your IFF tuned."
 
<<"I'll be on standby for the IFF jammers they introduced,">> Sheppard informed us. <<"As soon as I've pinpointed one, I'll have arty deal with it.">>
"Copy that," I shifted my 'Mech's sensors to active and began scanning around me. "Alpha Company, let's move."
We had quickly shifted our unit composition after we had pulled off that first ambush. As we had predicted, it didn't work a second time, and even though we had an edge in quality, Trade Federation droids and Tanks were cheap. They could afford to throw bodies and ammunition at us in amounts that we couldn't counter. So our slower units had been grouped together and they relocated and moved with the artillery emplacements.
Of course, the Trade Federation had learned quickly that the counter to artillery was air support. But their air support was trash, and they had no counter for massed Partisans that coordinated fire with the local 'Mechs.
 
After organizing our defenses for our mobile artillery, we had to reform our mixed units, and anything that was able to move at a speed at or faster than 86 km/h had been grouped together. Which all culminated in what was happening now.
 
Drawing on faint memories of a Star Wars scene long ago, I knew that the Droids, even though they weren't entirely controlled by a central brain anymore, were still reliant on the ships in orbit for the advanced tactical and strategic decisions. So we were going to capture one of their ships and have a company of Mathis's best try to eliminate or capture the vessel.
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We broke through the trees, a handful of branches breaking as I pushed through them and opened fire as soon as I had a lock onto an AAT.
Ducking under the dumbfire missiles of a hellfire droid, I moved closer while it cycled through the reloads, my lasers carving away at one of the large wheels and rending the machine only partially mobile.
 
Behind me, the group of Toros, and freshly built Phoenix Hawks began to tear into the forces, the tanks finally responding and hammering into the biggest target they could find.
A trio of AATs focused on me, and I checked the battlefield to ensure that they were entirely focused on the 'Mechs attacking instead of the trio of Maxim hovercraft that were penetrating deeper into their lines and moving towards one of the giant landing craft.
"And now, the droids had our number and their cannons began concentrating fire, the heavy weapons slowly turning armor plates into slag as we fell back in good order, the Pixies moving through and burning their ammunition stores to the ground as we pulled back into the trees once again.
 
(<"Trojan Horse secured,">) Mathis's calm voice informed us. (<"We're in hiding until this ship's in orbit. We'll be comms silent until mission completion.">)
 
"Godspeed," I replied.
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Chapter 2-3