Queen Amidala was talking with Qui-Gon and Captain Panaka while Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Jar Jar looked on. The former slave glimpsed to where Lana, James, and Forex were. The Sith was sitting in a chair seemingly uninterested in the conversion taking place, her sole focus being on the datapad in her hands. James was checking the status of the armaments onboard the ship, including his new out of the box Z6 Rotary Blaster Cannon he bought under the guise of 'Blaster Bolt Deflection by Lightsaber Training' that replaced the one destroyed a few weeks back, his various Rifles and his two Pistols. Forex on the hand was…well being Forex, rambling about how even against all odds, the lone trooper, the two Jedi, and 'a traitor to the empire' will successful retake Naboo.
"I cannot fight a war for you, Your Highness, only protect you." Qui-Gon informed the Queen.
Lana looked up from her datapad and glared at the back of the Jedi Master somehow managing to keep her mouth shut. As much as she would like to point out the flaws in the modern Jedi Order with this situation, she and James were busy trying to formulate a battle plan with what resources the Naboo had to win back their planet. Not an easy task but they both had done more with less. Lana had learned much from both Darth Arkous during her time in the Sphere of Military Offense and her lover over the years about strategy and planning, add that to her own practical wartime experience and the lovebirds were a real danger to the Trade Federation. One they wouldn't see coming.
James continues making sure that his equipment that he chose for this mission was ready. The soldier decided on the Z-6 Cannon, his father's prototype with Daniel's lightsaber attached, his slugthrower pistol, a wrist-mounted flamethrower and his cortosis bladed knife. He was strapping on his flamethrower when he heard something interesting.
"Jar Jar Binks."
"Mesa, Your Highness?" Jar Jar asked the Queen.
"Yes. I need your help. You said the Gungan's have an army correct?"
"Wesa do, Your Highness." The clumsy idiot nodded enthusiastically.
When that damn amphibian mention about the Gungan Army, James literally smacked himself in the head for forgetting about them. The Gungans kindly assisted the Major when he was a young Marine Private during the invasion of Naboo and despite being primitive more or less, they were successful in the hit and run style warfare against the Empire with their Kaadu mounts, unlike the more pacifistic Nubians who did nothing at all. A common joke after the invasion was 'If I had to fight the Imps and chose between a Gungan and a Nubian Guard, I would take ten Gungans over one Royal Guard.'
"Of course! Jar Jar, even if I hate to admit it, we need your assistance." The Major shouted excitedly, almost childlike and Forex joined him.
"Even the mighty Gungans will show the Neimoidians why they should have never chose to invade!"
Lana gave the duo a glare before speaking in a more professional tone. "Your Highness if you were able to gain the cooperation of the Gungan army it will make winning back your planet easier."
"That is my hope Lana but I fear it will not be easy for there is much bad blood between our peoples." The Queen replied.
"The Gungan's will be slaughtered by the droid army." Panaka pointed out "They must number in the thousands."
"No they won't." James said with a devious smile. "The droids are mass produced and rely on sheer numbers to be effective and are managed by the Trade onboard a control ship. If the ship was knocked out or the control signal from it lost the droid army shuts down."
"We have some starfighters." Queen Amidala said, an idea forming in her head.
Lana nodded "Well, I did see the schematics on the Holonet. However, their weaponry likely lacks the power to be a real threat to the control ship but they may still be useful."
"You're forgetting about the blockade fleet Major, Lana." Panaka pointed out as he folded his arms.
The Sith shook her head. "No, we haven't. The Trade Federation doesn't need it since they now occupy the planet and not to mention, the Senate is responding in a typical bureaucratic fashion by forming committees. There will be likely only one ship in orbit: The droid control ship."
"Now let's go liberate Naboo from the Trade's nefarious scheme and turn the cowardly Neimoidians leathery corpses into a fine mush!" Forex declared.
No one in the room knew how to react to the ancient droid's psychopathic ramblings.
Luckily for the liberation team, the Gungans under the leadership of Boss Rugor Ness, the amphibian race agreed to assist the Nubians in fighting a common enemy that threatens the planet that both people call home.
Earlier, unfortunately, the alliance almost never existed thanks to Jar Jar. But with the mention of his life debt, as well as Padme's diplomatic skill, the problem was overlooked and hopefully, with the Gungan Grand Army, Naboo will be freed.
Even with the bulk of the droid army drawn away by the Gungans diversionary assault, the central plaza still had plenty of droids and a handful of vehicles for the small strike force to deal with.
The group made their way cautiously towards the entrance to the main hanger. Following them were a group of Nubian resistance fighters, mostly pilots and some guards.
Near the hanger entrance, the assembly stopped as Padmé signaled with a laser pointer across the plaza to the second group led by Captain Panaka and Rabe. As they signaled back Qui-Gon took the opportunity to warn Anakin.
"Once we get inside, Annie, you find a safe place to hide and stay there."
"Sure."
"You better Anakin. Having you stowaway on the ship was bad enough. It's for your safety."Lana chided sternly in a motherly fashion before she dashed into the hanger closely followed by James, Forex , the Jedi and Padmé along with the rest of their troops.
Alarms sounded as Lana closely followed by Major Mayer, the Jedi, Padmé and her troops rushed into the hanger the battle droids present opened fire as the attacking forces sought cover. Lana ignited her lightsaber and threw it, the red blade spun through the before it decapitated at least three droids while James destroyed seven with his blaster cannon.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were not idle for they had been deflecting blaster bolts aimed at Padmé back into the offending battle droids causing them to explode. The Sith looked up briefly and shook her head wondering if the Jedi would actually fight.
Meanwhile, James and Forex lead a squad of the Naboo Royal Guard on the offence, surprising the droids with the bold counterattack.
"FOR THE REPUBLIC!" The old wardroid eagerly shouted as he blasts his cannon wildly at some of the droids with them panicking at the sight.
"Uh oh. Uh oh."
"No! Wait! I'M ONE OF YOU!" Another declared as he was cut down by James with a burst from the Z6.
"Well, Forex, old buddy, old pal it seems like old times."
"You can say that again, sir!"
The two comrades laughed as they went in search of more mindless machines to send to the junkyard.
With her lightsaber returned to her, Lana spotted a group of a half dozen droids that were preventing the pilots from getting to their fighters. Using force lightning, she managed to burn the droids to a crisp that not even a Rancor would eat it.
Padmé smiled and nodded her thanks as she turned to the pilots. "Get to your ships!"
The order given the pilots and astromechs ran for the Naboo fighters.
The fighters began to lift off the hanger floor and steadily flew out the hanger in twos and threes still under fire from the few remaining droids. One of the fighters was shot down just as it exited the hanger.
At last Captain Panaka, Sabe, Rabe, and their troops along with Major Mayer and his squad rushed into the hanger and helped overwhelm the last few remaining battle droids. The three groups joined up and took a rest while they considered their next move.
"My guess is the Viceroy is in the throne room, my throne room." Padmé said annoyed by the thought.
"I'm inclined to agree, Your Highness." Qui-Gon replied.
"Hey wait for me!" Anakin shouted from his hiding place in a Nubian Starfighter with some beeps from Artoo.
"No, Annie, you stay there. Stay right where you are."
"But, I..."
"No buts Anakin!" James added in authority. "This is exactly why Lana and I didn't want you to be in the middle of a damn warzone!"
Suddenly the door to the hangar opened up and the assemblage faced the direction of the sound. Load and behold was the hideous minion. The Major couldn't pass up the opportunity to deride the so-called Sith with a clever remark. Too bad judging by the fight on Tatooine that he was merely an apprentice and not a higher level Sith nor a 'True Sith' according to research back on Coruscant. But at least Forex's bloodlust for dark-siders will be satisfied and the apprentice will learn a thing or two by a 'True' Lord of the Sith.
"And the lackey makes his grand entrance." James mocked as he examined the Zabrak. "I hope you brought acne cream because your face is hideous… Might as well use the 'fresher too."
Maul growled as he let his robes fall to the ground and raised the hilt of his lightsaber activating one end then the other. Lana just rolled her eyes at the display as she ignited her own lightsaber. Meanwhile, James prepped his 'borrowed' Mk.1 Lightsaber-Rifle prototype and Forex powered up his cannons.
"Would you like some assistance?" Qui-Gon asked.
"When was the last time the Jedi faced the Sith?" Lana countered rhetorically. "Stay with the queen, capture the Viceroy, end this." She smiled viciously at the Zabrak. "We will exterminate this... nuisance." Her eyes turning yellow as she spoke.