It was times like this where Ahsoka was glad that her master could think of back-up plans on the spot. The Jedi had underestimated the number of droids that were guarding the base, which would make getting inside a lot harder.
The team hid behind a small hill of snow right outside the base as Anakin thought of a solution.
"Alright, I have a plan."
Ahsoka crossed her arms in an effort to warm them. She glanced up at her master's confident face.
"I hope this plan of yours involves a certain degree of logic," Obi Wan commented.
His former padawan glared at him in response, causing Obi Wan to let out a small laugh.
"Perhaps we should focus on the task at hand?" Plo suggested.
Anakin quickly cleared his throat.
"Obi Wan and I still need to take out those guns," he began to explain. "But we'll need some help."
Plo shook his head in disagreement.
"Those turrets are too high off the ground for the clones to reach without jetpacks," Plo said.
"I know." Anakin continued. "Which is why you will assist me and Obi Wan."
Obi Wan stroked his beard as he thought this new plan through.
"So if Anakin, Plo, and I take out those guns, it will be up to Ahsoka and the clones to take care of the droids guarding the base," Obi Wan said.
"That's a lot of droids," Plo commented. "Are you up to the task, Little 'Soka?"
Ahsoka nodded.
"Yes Master, but don't take too long."
Anakin motioned for Obi Wan and Plo to follow him. They began to crawl through the snow towards the guns.
Once the Jedi were out of sight, Ahsoka removed her lightsaber from her jacket and slowly stood up. She and the clones had to distract the droids in order for the other Jedi to sneak around and take out the guns.
"Alright troopers, follow me," Ahsoka commanded.
She raised her lightsaber and activated it. The green glow reflected off the white snow, creating an eerie affect around her and the clones. She heard a blaster fire in the distance and knew that the droids had spotted them.
Ahsoka leapt forward and ran towards the large mass of droids near the front entrance. They desperately began to fire at her, but she deflected each blast with ease as she ran.
"Blast her!" one of the droids cried out.
Ahsoka tucked into a roll to avoid the incoming blaster fire. The clones quickly caught up with her and began firing. The young padawan recovered from her roll and brushed the snow off her jacket. She continued to deflect the droids' fire as the clones advanced.
"Commander, we've got more clankers incoming!" Commander Cody yelled through the sound of blaster fire.
Ahsoka inhaled deeply as she spotted at least fifty droids marching her way.
"Commander Cody, tell you men to retreat back towards the hill!" Ahsoka cried out as she deflected a lethal shot towards her head.
The clones began their retreat as Ahsoka covered them. She cursed under her breath as she began to feel the weight of her jacket slowing her down. The droids continued to fire at her as she struggled to deflect their shots.
Once the clones reached the hill where they had originally been hiding, Ahsoka accessed the force. A barrier of snow appeared between her and the droids, causing them to lose sight of her. In the midst of their confusion, Ahsoka pushed off with her feet and allowed to force to help her jump back towards the hill. The padawan landed hard on her right ankle. She muffled a cry of pain and limped around the small hill to where the clones were waiting.
She leaned against the soft snow bank and slid down into a sitting position.
"Our intel was wrong," she breathed. "It never mentioned that this was a droid warehouse."
Commander Cody knelt next to her.
"How do you know its a warehouse?" he asked.
Ahsoka waited a moment so she could catch her breath. The feat she had just performed with the force had taken more energy than she thought.
"I spotted at least fifty droids marching in perfect formation towards us," she explained. "There's no way they could have assembled that fast within that small base."
"So you're saying that the base is actually larger than we thought?" one of the clones commented.
Ahsoka nodded gravely.
"The warehouse is probably built into the base of the mountain," Cody suggested.
"I need to contact General Skywalker," Ahsoka insisted. "He needs to know that our intel was off."
Commander Cody slowly stood up and shook his head.
"I'm sorry Commander, but the snow is blocking our communications."
Ahsoka rested her head against the snow bank.
"Then I guess they are on their own for now."
Anakin could not stand waiting any longer. He had been sitting in the snow for over an hour waiting for Ahsoka to give him the all-clear. They had originally underestimated the number of droids, but not by too much. It shouldn't have taken his padawan this long to clear them out.
"Ahsoka is taking too long," Anakin commented.
"Maybe we are missing something?" Plo suggested.
Anakin nodded in agreement. He held his arm up and activated his communicator.
"Ahsoka...this is Anakin, come in," he said.
A fuzzy noise came from his communicator in response.
"Ahsoka...?" he continued.
The fuzzy noise grew louder, causing Anakin to turn his communicator off in frustration.
"The snow must be blocking the signal," Obi Wan explained. "We should wait for this storm to pass."
"We should just charge now," Anakin protested. "If our reinforcements arrive before those guns are destroyed, then we don't stand a chance."
"Master Kenobi is right, Skywalker," Plo said sternly.
Anakin sighed in frustration.
"You must have patience, Anakin," Obi Wan insisted. "Your padawan will take out those droids."
"Its not her I'm concerned about," Anakin grumbled.
Obi Wan raised an eyebrow.
"What is it you're worried about then?" he asked.
"The weather."
Everything was perfect. Ahsoka sat around a large bonfire with her people on Shili. Her mother sat next to her, laughing and singing with the others as the fire roared. One of the women recalled her rite of passage several years ago. She had apparently strangled the Akul with her bare hands and ripped its teeth out while it still lived.
"I highly doubt that was the case," Ahsoka's mother whispered into her ear.
Ahsoka laughed a pure laugh as the woman continued her dramatized tale. Despite her rather exaggerated story, the woman's headdress was absolutely beautiful. The Akul teeth she had retrieved were the perfect size and thickness. She had carved a pattern into the teeth herself before assembling her headdress. Ahsoka smiled as she recalled her own rite of passage. She could barely remember it as she was younger than most.
The fire's warmth touched Ahsoka's skin as she was thinking. Her pale orange skin glowed in the fire's light.
"My dear Ahsoka, you must wake up now," her mother said softly.
Ahsoka raised an eyemark.
"Why?"
"Because you are needed."
Ahsoka sighed and took in one last breath before waking up.
"Commander Tano?"
Ahsoka's eyes fluttered as she woke. The snowstorm had passed and only a small amount of snow fell from the sky. The sun had appeared in the sky but the cold air still remained dominant.
"What is it, Cody?" Ahsoka asked, rubbing her eyes.
"We've restored communications with the Jedi team," Cody explained.
Ahsoka smiled and activated her wrist communicator.
"Master, are you there?"
"Ahsoka, what's been going on?" her master demanded.
"Our communications have been down," she said. "But we've just got them running again."
"Good," Anakin said after a brief pause. "We need you to take out those droids. But first, you must use your long distance communicator to contact the Republic ships. They should be here soon, but we need more time to clear the base."
"Yes Master."
Ahsoka turned off her communicator and signalled Cody to bring her a holopad. A few seconds passed and Ahsoka had the holopad in her hands.
The blue hologram outline of a man appeared but quickly turned fuzzy.
"Commander, is there any way to boost the signal?" Ahsoka asked.
Cody nodded and attached a power cell onto the bottom of the holopad. The image cleared up and Ahsoka let out a gasp in surprise.
"Ah, Commander Tano," Tarkin said plainly. "What is it?"
Ahsoka nearly dropped the communicator. Out of all the captains who were qualified to lead the reinforcements, Captain Tarkin had been chosen.
This couldn't be happening.
Not here. Not now.