The Story of Talon Chapter 20 Preparations and rescue

Orbit over Ryloth, Invincible Hand

"Come on, come on! Come on, get moving!"

Sly stood in the hangar with weapon in hand and clones with brown markings on their armor buzzing around. An alarm was echoing in the background. In the background clones yelled, last minute orders was given and weapons was readied, positions was taken and last minute preparations was finished up. Watching the chaos-like environment Zataji and Jade was inside one of the gunships heading for the planet.

Sly got onboard the same gunship as them and the retractable door closed behind him.

"Mounted Home to all units, report takeoff," Sly said.

"Mounted 2, ready for takeoff."

"Mounted 3, ready for action."

"Mounted 5, ready."

"Mounted 4 ready."

Zataji listened as the units reporting to Sly. In her opinion it was all taking far too long.

"We are a go, I repeat, we are a go," Sly announced in his communicator.

"Good hunting captain," she heard master Kenobi's voice. "Good luck down there, Zataji, Jade."

"Don't worry master, we'll bring them back," Zataji promised.

"I know you'll do your best," Obi-wan said kindly with confidence.

She felt the gunship lifting off from the metallic hangar floor and she grabbed on to avoid falling over. She heard the troopers talking around her. Two were kidding around about the mission, someone was complaining on going on a rescue mission instead of taking part in the invasion. She clenched her fists upon hearing it. Someone else told him to shut up and reminded him of who they were going after. She glanced at Jade and noticed she looked very nervous. She gently grabbed her hand. Jade looked at her surprised by her sudden touch.

"Hey, she'll be fine, Spartacus will make sure of that. Kay?" Zataji said. She added a warm and soothing smile. The smile was warm enough to soothe someone like even Grievous, Jade thought to herself.

"Okay," Jade whispered, bellow Zataji's hearing.

She arched her eyebrows and Jade broke into a snicker.

"Okay, okay," she conceded.

"What could possibly go wrong, right?" Zataji asked honestly.

Jade frowned.

"Don't say that."

"Why?"

"Something always goes wrong when someone say that."

Zataji giggled.

"Are you superstitious Jade?"

"N-no," she defended. "I just know the facts."

Zataji squeezed her hand tightly and leaned in closer.

"It's going to be fine, I promise," she whispered soothingly.

"I can't help but be worried. I'm so worried about master Talon," Jade said helplessly.

"I know, I'm worried to. But just take a deep breath okay?"

Jade closed her eyes and blocked out the different voices of the troopers around her. Taking a deep breath she breathed out and proceeded to suck in air. She was slightly interrupted by the pilot's voice in the comm.

"We're heading into the atmosphere commander," he said.

Zataji raised her other hand and kept holding tightly onto Jade's hand.

"Copy," she gave a short reply. "How's the escort?"

"Arc-170s holding formation around us," the pilot said.

She returned her attention to Jade again. The the girls were so very different from one another. Jade was calm, nervous and easily hesitant with low confidence in herself and her abilities, relying heavy on others. On the other hand, Zataji was quick to make assumptions, aggressive in combat, wanting to be in the thick of it. Knowing her skill with a saber made her all the more wanting for action. She was confident in her abilities, hotheaded, sometimes overly confident. Master Talon once told her that if Skywalker didn't have a padawan, she'd be a perfect fit.

The gunship shook as they started taking fire. Spider looking artillery pieces crawled out amongst the mountainous terrain and opened up a barrage against the incoming Republic heavy fighters and gunships. A few Squadrons of Vulture droids engaged the larger mass of Republic Arc-170 Starfighters. The spider formed artillery pieces fired large sluggish bolts at the incoming gunships, forcing them to take evasive action.

The artillery pieces, designated as J-1 Semi-Autonomous Proton Cannons-or SAPC-threw a heavy barrage at the Republic gunships and fighters.

"Where the frag they came from?!" A pilot exclaimed over the comm.

"We're going…"

"Zataji to Invincible Hand," she said quickly.

"Commodore Blaesus, I read you commander."

"Droid artillery's making short work off us," Zataji alerted. "We need bombers to deal with them."

"I'm sorry sir, all bombers are being fueled, armed are is already used in the invasion. I have none to spare, Constantine explained apologetically. "I'm sorry but I have my orders."

Zataji cursed under her breath. The gunship shook and she was almost flung across the open space into the troopers across from her. Jade held onto her and kept her standing on her feet.

"We're hit, we're hit! We're going down!" She heard a gunship pilot over the comms.

"Listen here Commodore," she snapped angrily. "We're getting torn apart here!"

"I'm sorry but if you can't land…I'll get General Kenobi for you," he offered.

Zataji scoffed. She cut off the transmission to the fleet.

"Pilot!" She yelled. "Land here! Contact all ships and tell them to land!"

"Yes commander."

"We aren't there yet," Jade protested.

"And we ain't getting there if we get shot down!" Zataji shot back.

Heavy Cruiser Roaring Thunder

A droid approach Grievous as he sat in the command chair on the bridge.

"Excuse me general, but we're getting a transmission from Ryloth, its Lord Zil'nigar," he informed.

Grievous groaned annoyed.

"Put him through."

The droid nodded.

"Roger, roger."

A blue hologram chimed to life and the Twi'lek stood before Grievous.

"General," he greeted politely.

"What do you want Zil'nigar?" Grievous asked rudely. He didn't care for the fake politeness the man showed.

Zil'nigar didn't seem very happy over his tone but moved on.

"Very well…I want to remind you about my cousin's fate," he said. "You are not to harm her. She can't join us if she's dead. I hope you understand that."

"Don't lecture me," Grievous growled. "I have no obligations to you. The only reason you matter to me is because Count Dooku commands it. Don't you have better things to do than pester me? I heard Wat Tambor shot her down."

"It…it isn't…we're not sure if it was her but we are searching for them," Zil'nigar said with irritation. "It appears the Republic is landing their land forces soon so I would suggest you get her quick. Wat Tambor's forces can't hold them back for long, not even with my help."

"Just do your part Twi'lek," Grievous sneered.

He keyed in a command and the transmission was cut.

Orbit over Ryloth, Invincible Hand

Obi-wan leaned over the holotable. It held a map over Ryloth and the surrounding space. The Republic and Separatist fleets was both visible. The Republic fleet was larger but the Separatist had a good defensive position. Anakin's fleet was placed between the main invasion fleet and the Separatists. Under Anakin command Republic bomber Squadrons had started bombing Separatist bases on the planet. He had managed to force a skirmish between his forces and droid fighters. With Ahsoka and Anakin leading the battle from their own fighters they had won handsomely and crushed the droid fighter force.

Several airfields had been smashed beyond repair by Republic bombers. Something that worried Obi-wan was that suddenly the Separatists-instead of engaging in every Republic advance towards them-had started choosing their battles. Wat Tambor wasn't a strategic mastermind of any kind. He knew strategy but he hadn't shown this skill before. He was worried that someone new had arrived and assumed command of the droid forces defending Ryloth.

"General," Constantine appeared.

"Commodore."

"I've been in contact with Commander Zataji," he explain.

"Is, something wrong?"

"They have been forced to land a few clicks from the search are because of Separatist artillery hidden amongst the mountains. The regiment are separated in the mountains and Separatist ground forces are moving in against them."

Obi-wan nodded subtly.

He looked at the holographic map again. This suggested even more than someone experienced was leading now. But who? Rex was preparing to land the 501st on the eastern side of the planet and secure the remaining corpses and cites. Several bases on the eastern side was producing food for the Separatist military instead of the Twi'lek people. Windu's 187th Legion was prepared to land. Their mission was to go for the capital province and free the capital and if possible take Wat Tambor. Talon's 81st Legion would land and take a population area while his own 212th Attack Battalion would assume control over the largest airfield on Ryloth's northern side.

He also had to assume Separatist reinforcements was on the way. Master Yoda had told him that Republic intelligence believed that Grievous was in a nearby sector. If that was true, he might already be on his way here.