The scene of the Corellian freighter settling on Korriban was one for the text books. As the repulsors took the load and momentum from the main drive systems only a small dust cloud billowed away from the craft as her landing struts gently took the load and full weight of the craft. Inside the belly of the ship Jedi Master Zane began his final briefing for the assault his new squad was about to commence.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen settle down as soon as Captain Sterling joins us we'll begin." Mark turned to watch the connecting tunnel from the bridge just as Naomi Sterling exited the cockpit area heading in their direction.
Joining the group the space captain simply stood to the side so as not to be in the way of meeting. "All systems secured so far as I can tell we weren't detected coming in. I tried to keep our descent as slow as possible to keep our sonic profile from triggering any alarms."
"Any sonic booms on the way down?" Rachelle knew well how tough it was to make planet fall without triggering at least one.
Shrugging it away as minor the Captain admitted her skills weren't quite that good. "Maybe one or two in the upper atmosphere nothing close enough to the surface to tip anyone off."
"Not bad Captain not bad at all." Zane turned back to his troops so as to get the meeting underway. "Okay we're going to split into four teams for this strike. One will follow Commander Darklighter, One will be under Commander Hunter, the third will follow me. The last group will remain here to man the Dream's guns and support systems under Captain Sterling. My unit will attack head on to draw the attention of the Mandos while Commander Darklighter's and Commander Hunter's units flank the sides quietly taking the opposition from behind. Captain Sterling you're our air support. I need you to take out their fighters and turrets so they can't mount a counter strike through air superiority."
"Shouldn't be a problem." Naomi had a twinkle in her eye that made Master Zane somewhat nervous.
"Any questions?" Mark looked around to see no one had any objections. "Right gear out for desert warfare then muster outside. Naomi a moment if you please."
After the others had disembarked the Dream Mark and Naomi were alone in the small briefing room. "I want you to wait for my signal to lift off. Is your crew ready to face off with the enemy?"
"They will be I just need to do a final check on my gunners and we'll light up anyone who tries to for the skies." Naomi was confident in the crew she had chosen out of the squad. The five individuals had been trained and drilled during the trip out to get them familiar with the ship's systems and weapons. "One question any ideas to when we'll be able to resupply?"
"I don't know. Why?" The Master was afraid they may have missed something important.
"Well we only have so many missiles and torpedoes, I don't want to waste them all if we aren't going to get anymore anytime soon." Naomi's point was a solid point one Mark hadn't thought of yet.
Nodding his understanding till something odd hit to him. "When did we install torpedo launchers?"
"I had the temple techs swap out the aft sonic charge launcher for two torpedo tubes while they were swapping out my holding cells for galley and crew quarter components." Naomi had her reasons aside from having never liked sonic charges. "After all I'm not paying for my munitions anymore and torpedoes are vastly more accurate, plus now we have room back there for a secondary shield generator when it comes in from CEC."
Mark's interest was truly peeked. "Who's idea was all this? and who promised the generator?"
Smiling broadly Naomi was happy to have met Anakin Skywalker since the recent weapons modifications were his idea after all. "Anakin come up with the ideas. Master Yoda approved them. Next time we're on Coruscant the Temple staff will be installing the new generator as well as making any repairs to my ship that will likely be needed."
Nodding once more Mark realized that it all made sense. "Figures that Anakin of all people would find a way to improve a ship that really didn't need it. Okay well I'm off remember wait for my signal to lift off and start your runs."
"Ok General see you when it's all over." Naomi flipped him a mock salute as she headed for her bridge.
Mark, Rachelle and, Commander Darklighter sat on a ridge overlooking the base watching everything. The three noted patrol patterns and hardware. So far nothing seemed out of place for a small out of the way outpost. If anything the soldiers seemed bored though disciplined enough to keep a professional decorum while on watch.
"Okay Rachelle take your team to that outcropping there. Commander you stay here, mean while I'll circle around to the main gate." Zane had the leaders full attention. "Wait till I have the Mandelorian's full attention before you start moving. Likely by the time you get there Captain Sterling should be lighting up there air defenses."
The three nodded before heading back to their respective teams. Master Zane's team was for good reason the most heavily armed. Rocket launchers to the newest model of full auto laser weapons they were ready to dig in and rain hell. Between three of his troopers they carried the newest portable anti-personnel laser cannon something the Clones were calling an E-web blaster. Mark couldn't wait to see what it could do on the battle field.
Mark raised his electro-binoculars to his brow he couldn't believe they hadn't been spotted yet. He watched Rogue three and four sneak up to the gate to set the charges that would blow the front door wide open. To reduce the risk of being caught the two were operating under radio silence till they were clear of the base's line of fire.
"Okay boss we're clear and on route back to our attack positions." The two were scrambling back to where they needed to be.
Watching the two men man the E-web a short distance away Mark grimaced knowing what was to come. "Okay boys blow it."
The fire ball that rose from the gate was spectacular only the shockwave and blast made it all come together into a thing of beauty. Rogue Squad didn't have to wait long before the targets come running out to see what had happened. In that moment the five troopers opened up their weapons mowing down any foolish enough to give them a clean shot.
"Captain lift off." Mark squinted through the dust as he watched as the Mandelorians began mounting a defense.
"Roger that General dusting off to keep the skies free and clear." For the first time Naomi let a touch of her Corellian blood into her voice. The excitement of the assault exhilarated the young woman to no end. The cruiser she had helped to knock out was nothing like being a part of a team all working for the same goal to destroy the Separatist movement and the Sith.
The battle had begun, now Mark's only hope was that all went according to plan...
