The gnawer army is so close that in less than ten to fifteen minutes we run into it. We take cover on a ledge about a mile ahead of them. Deciding that a light will attract unwanted attention I use a combination of the force and echolocation to keep tabs on them.

"Can any of you tell who the leader is?" I ask aloud but at a whisper.

"There are too many rats to tell," responds one and the rest agree with him.

"Well not too many for the force," I respond proudly. I reach out in the force and probe a couple minds. It doesn't take long to find the leader.

"Found them," I whisper aloud, "No it cant be."

"Yes it is, Goldencoat." responds Marble

"I thought I killed her!" I exclaim in a low voice.

"Apparently not," comments a soldier sarcastically. Who gets nothing in response but a cold stare from me.

"Well target identified. How about we attack now?" responds a different soldier.

"We will, once they are directly beneath us." I answer. Ten minutes later the army is directly under the ledge. My entire group swoops down and ambushes them, killing many.

"I'll take the leader!" I announce to my team. With that I jump off Marble and land directly in front of Goldencoat, surprising her.

"General Byford ,I thought I killed you and your bat," She says coming out of her temporary stunned surprise.

"I could say the same thing about you. Oh and by the way, it takes a lot to kill me," I respond drawing my blades.

"That was my sword that you took from me and I would like it back," She says recognizing the Black Diamond sword. With that she lunges at me. The fight somehow finds it's way to the battlefield against the Ssi. Where the other gnawers are already going for the wall. Out of nowhere four diggers tunnel out of the cavern wall outside the east wall followed by another army of Gnawers and many Separatist tank droids. From somewhere on the field Goldencoat picks up a sword and starts coming at me like an experienced soldier and I can tell that I am fighting a whole new level of opponent. Many human-flier teams attempt to help me but wind up sliced and diced by her sword. The republic troops are saving many by going for the tank droids. After a thirty minute fight, and getting many wounds such as a claw to my calf that almost pours blood, I finally knock her out but I don't kill her because she was such a good opponent. Once I mount Marble and get to the wall the Republic troops are unable to destroy a tank droid that is hammering the wall. After the fifth hit the wall crumbles, nearly taking Marble and I with it. Soldiers of both the Ssi and Gnawers pour into the farmlands. The Ssi fight their way through the hundreds of reinforcements. We are helpless as the Ssi plant what looks like C4 on the inner wall and blow it to rubble.

"Take the city!" calls the Second-in-Command of the Gnawers, apparently finding out about the knocking out of Goldencoat. All underland and Republic soldiers start to fight the hardest they've ever fought. Out of the gradually dimming darkness an entire squadron of Republic Aurek-class tactical strikefighters, modified for subterranean flight and combat comes in and starts picking off both Ssi and Gnawers with their laser cannons, saving us all from destruction.

Once they land, wings folded, in the High Hall I ask the nearest soldier whom is just leaving his cockpit, "Who's idea was this? I want to congratulate them."

"It was his idea sir," responds the pilot gesturing to the fighter that landed first with its cockpit still closed.

"Get me him on your fighter's comlink,"

"Yes sir. He is on."

"Soldier identify yourself."

"Well I'm more of a legend," says an unmistakable voice.

"Ripred?"

"Yep it's me."

"Good plan."

"Yeah it was brilliant, wasn't it?"

"Why are you still in there?'

"As embarrassing as it is, I'm sort of stuck."

I barely manage to resist the impulse to start laughing at that.