We-elll, obviously, little old me owns no SWCW characters – though I would like to lay claim to Leilani, at least.
Leilani Odelia, Padawan to Jedi Master Yaddle, Commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, was not having fun. She was crouched beside her clone captain, Scratch, which wasn't so bad. No, the really horrible thing was what they were watching.
There aren't many B1s here, and no B2s, spider droids, or Octuparas at all. There's a Droideka on every corner – no surprise there; the Collicoids make the kriffing things – and there's that weird mantis-looking droid, she thought, attention on the cold durasteel factory before her. Scratch? What do you think? She had a habit of asking questions like that in her mind – and then giving them a teensy Force nudge.
Either that mantis is a whole lot worse that it looks, or we're here on bad intell, the Captain speculated.
"Enjoying the view of our target, Commander?" hissed a familiar voice behind her. Leilani tilted her head, feeling her scout's Force presence. He was worried – about the droids, probably. The scout – nicknamed Hiss – slipped into the thicket of native undergrowth that hid Leilani and Scratch from sight. Leilani narrowed her eyes as she peered through the leaves, hoping they wouldn't give her a horrible, itchy rash like the one she'd hidden in on their last recon mission had. At least this vantage point was dry, unlike the rash-giving one. The huge, unforgiving factory dominated the clearing it rested in and loomed over the surrounding marshy forest.
"Points of entry?" she asked.
"Bay door on the west side where they've been unloading parts for their killer droids," Hiss answered immediately. He continued before Leilani could tell him even she could see that. "Ventalation and cooling shafts look like a tight fit, but they could work if we go in minus armor."
"No way. You guys aren't leaving your armor behind. Even with it, those new guys Master Yaddle sent with us to reinforce Master Kenobi will be shredded if we don't work fast and plan right." Scratch shook his head at the Padawan's words.
"Well, there are a few side doors the Collicoids use. Static could probably get us in those," Hiss offered.
"Sounds like our best bet. Let's get back to Master Kenobi," Leilani decided. Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't her Master, but he was stationed with her on Colla Four while Yaddle tidied up on Barab One. Leilani had been sent ahead with Hiss and a few squads as reinforcements and to scope out the situation before the old Jedi arrived.
Leilani shifted cautiously, preparing to make her way with Scratch and Hiss back to Swoop, waiting with their gunship. She froze. Something immense, ugly, and evil reared its head. The Force twisted painfully. She gasped.
"Commander?" Scratch whispered. Hiss scanned their surroundings for threats, but found nothing. She tried to leap to her feet but stumbled. The captain reached out and steadied her.
"I'm fine. Let's hurry," she muttered. The twisting intensified. A shuttle streaked through the sky overhead, on course for the Seperatist landing field on the other side of the factory. Her comlink bleeped softly as another wave of dark energy washed over her. Grimly, she turned away, shoving the Force disturbance to the back of her mind and activating her comlink.
"Padawan Odelia, do you have any idea what is going on out there?" demanded Obi-Wan Kenobi's semi-familiar voice.
"No, Master, but we're headed back with what we've got. We can always come back, right? It's not like even the Collicoids can move a factory."
"Right. Return to base camp immediately. That disturbance I'm sure you felt means someone strong in the dark side is here."
"I saw a shuttle land a minute ago."
"Get back here right away." She could hear the worry in his voice.
"As if this day couldn't get any better," the Padawan muttered.
"Let's get out of here, before Swoop comes looking for us," Scratch urged.