Key:
"Speaking"
'Thought'
"Mystical being speaking"
'Mystical being thought or jutsu'
XxXxX=Scene break
"I understand, it will be done." Tyber Zahn said to the hologram of Naruto.
"We are depending on you, so don't screw this up." Naruto warned.
"Please, do not under estimate us, Naruto. We will complete our mission." Tyber said. Naruto nodded and disappeared from the holopad. Tyber turned and walked into the briefing room of his flag ship.
"What's the plan master?" a mercenary asked.
"We set course for planet 9016." Tyber said.
"And why are we heading there?"
"The Republic uses this planet as a central refueling station for their massive fleets in the area. We have information that the Jedi that are heading towards Naruto's planet are going to make a pit stop there."
"And our orders?"
"Delay the Republic for as long as possible."
"What is the requested method of delaying this massive fleet?"
"Any way we can." Tyber said with maniacal grin. This was also reflected by the others inside the room as well as Naruto gave Tyber and his men a free card to use on the massive Republican fleet.
XxXxX
"Are you sure that was the wisest move? To give Tyber Zahn a free pass to do whatever he wants to the Republic fleet?" Obi-Wan asked Naruto after Narto's discussion with Tyber Zahn.
"I told him of his limitations on the damage that he can deal. He will follow them." Naruto said.
"And why do you say they that?"
"Because I'm his boss."
XxXxX
It took a couple of hours to reach planet 9016, but the Zahn Corporation managed to reach the planet before the Republic. With time to spare, Tyber ordered his men to get to work on any traps, bribery of the locals, and sniper nests that may be of use. But mid may through the preparations a ship landed and several men in uniforms that are slightly similar to the Republics, but darker, stepped out of the ship.
"And who might you be?" Tyber asked in an annoyed tone.
"We are the terrorist organization known as Death Watch and we are here to help in any way possible." A soldier said.
"I see, so you are the people that owed Naruto a debt for his services to you." Tyber said.
"Indeed we are. We are here to help in the delaying of the Republic fleet."
"Help is always welcomed here. We will place you guys in much needed areas. Come, follow me. I'll show you what we have prepared for the Republic scum." Tyber said with an evil laugh. One could tell the the Death Watch soldiers liked Tyber a little more after his nasty comment towards the Republic as they had a bone to pick with them.
XxXxX
"Sir we are prepped for landing." Rex said to Anakin and the other Jedi.
"Thanks Rex. Go ahead and land." Anakin said. Rex nodded and walked off.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Ahsoka said to the other Jedi.
"I sense it as well, something is happening." Windu said as the four looked out over the brown planet. A Republic soldier walked into the room.
"Sir, your dropship is ready." the clone said.
"Thank you. Lets move." Kit said. The four Jedi walked to the dropship and exited the flag ship. After they flew through the thick cloud cover they landed on the makeshift landing pad. The four Jedi, along with eight clones stepped out of the dropship. Dust and dirt blew through the wind as the place looked desolate, devoid of any living creatures. It was true that this was a rather poor part of the city, but to see nobody was strange. The area looked as if it has turned into a skidrow over the past couple of years.
"Master?" Ahsoka asked, getting Anakin's attention.
"What is it Ahsoka?" Anakin replied.
"Have you ever had the feeling you're being watched?" Ahsoka said as they walked towards the town.
"Yes, but I'm wondering where Alpha team is. They landed on the landing pad on the other side of the town." Anakin said as two to three stories buildings lined the area with a tower that was likely used as a watch tower stood up from the center of the town. Masonry and other rubble lined the streets as they continued on their way.
"Alpha. Alpha do you read? Is the area clear?" Anakin said through his mic. Several crackling sounds later a voice protruded through the mic.
"Yes sir. This side of town is clear." The clone said.
"Very well, signal for the rest to come down in the field close to here. We'll stay for a couple hours to check our equipment then it's into the fight." Anakin said as the line was cut.
"Looks like this is a ghost town. Everybody moved out of the area." Ahsoka said.
"But this place just had inhabitants a couple of weeks ago. What could have caused this?" Kit said.
"For some reason I have a feeling that we're about to find out." Windu said as they continued towards the town square.
XxXxX
Dooku and his master sat looking at the same hologram of Naruto's Speck fortress for some time now, but no progress was being made. They have managed to take three of the four outer islands, but the only way for the shield to come down was if they captured all four islands.
"This is taking too long, we must hunt down Naruto and kill him if we are going to take this planet." Dooku's master said as another map popped up, revealing their territory gained in the mountains of Rock Country.
"An land assault is... unlikely right now, but more efforts towards this strip of territory known as Sound will be made." Dooku said as a gray area popped up revealing it to be Sound.
"It will be a matter of weeks before the Republic gets here and stops our plan. Track Naruto down, monitor his every move and we'll strike when the time is right." Dooku's master said.
"Of course, we have insurgents everywhere watching him, we'll know when the time comes." Dooku said with an evil grin.
XxXxX
"Thanks for your help Naruto." Gaara said to Naruto after a hard fought battle with some C. droids that pushed deep into Sand territory.
"No problem my friend." Naruto said with a shake of Gaara's hand.
"Where are you off to now?"
"We are heading to an area east in Rock, near Hollow Moutain. They coming under heavy artillery fire which normally means they are preparing for a huge assault." Naruto said.
"Be careful. Some of my troops have gone missing in that area between here and there. So, be prepared." Gaara warned.
"I will, thank you." Naruto said as he jumped into the dropship which held Obi-Wan as well. The dropship lifted off and sped off into the distance.
XxXxX
"Remember fellas, stick to the plan and we'll go home to our friends and family." A voice that was recognized as Tybers voice crackled over the headset.
"Roger that Wolf1." the voice of a Death Watch sniper said as a group of said watchmen crouched behind the walls in the tower at the center of the town. From the tower on could see five streets heading towards the town center where defenses sat. Barriers and the whole lot sat strewn across the ground as everyone prepared for what was to come.
A Death Watchmen sat looking through the scope of his rifle down each of the streets.
"We got movement on street 4, over." A Death Watchmen soldier said as he looked at all who was walking towards the town square.
"Copy that, what do you see Cross4." a voice asked.
"Eyes on enemy Jedi. Counting 2... 3... 4 Jedi. Over." Cross4 said.
"Roger that. Any others? Over."
"We got eight footies covering their six. Over."
"Copy. Street 1, 2, and 3 clear? Over." Wolf1 asked.
"Clear." Cross1 replied.
"Movement here sir. Twenty footies moving up with a tank. Over." Cross2 replied.
"Clear." Cross3 said.
"We got hostiles landing in sir. They'll find out about our trap. Over." Cross5 said.
"Are the big boys down Rouge8?" Wolf1 asked.
"Big boys just landed. Ready to trip whenever ready. Over." Rouge8 replied.
"Okay boys, I want this clean and simple. Cross4, you got first shot. First shot starts mission. Over" Wolf1 said.
"Copy that Wolf1. Taking shot." Cross4 said as he aimed down his rifle. The target was at least a half a mile away. The shanty town was a not such a 'town' once you look at it. It as actually quite big, but a half-mile shot is still tough. But... that is why Death Watch is the best.
XxXxX
The group of four Jedi and eight clone troopers where walking down the street towards the town center, maybe halfway there. Suddenly, Anakin stopped in his tracks. Kit, who was in front turned towards Anakin.
"What's the matter?" Kit asked.
"Something is wrong." Anakin said as he began to look around the area.
"What's wrong?" Ahsoka asked.
"I don't know, but something is... is just not right here." Anakin said.
"Look, everything is fine, please, calm yourse-." Kit said before a yellow bolt struck through Kits chest. Kit was wide eyed. Kit crumpled to the ground.
"NO!" Anakin shouted, but suddenly a blast could be heard from the area where their large ships landed. The ground shook from the blast as most of the soldiers fell to the ground. A voice could be heard over the speakers of the old town.
"Operation Black Thorn is a go. Repeat, Operation Black Thorn is a go." a voice said over the speakers. The area that looked to be empty in front of them was suddenly decloaked and a huge defensive perimeter was shown to the remaining Jedi. Four mercenaries pointed their weapons at them from behind a stack of boxes and rocks. Everyone jumped behind anything that lay in the street. Yellow blasts flew past them as Anakin picked up Kits body and jumped behind the ruble that Mace Windu was hiding behind.
"Those bastards! They got Kit." Anakin said as he peered over the ruble. A shot from the tower smacked the edge, sending pieces of rock into his face.
"That snipers got a beat on us. Get Kit back to the ship where the medics are. We may still be able to save him." Mace Windu said.
"But that sniper is watching. If I get up to run, then I'll get shot down." Anakin replied as blue beams of light rocketed towards where the four mercenaries fired from.
"Don't worry about him, I'll distract him. You get Kit back to the ship." Mace Windu said as Anakin nodded. Mace Windu then jumped up into the middle of the street, looking at the tower. Deflecting a snipers shot is more difficult then it looks. The general sniper rifle that are used uses a higher energy burst then the average rifle or pistol. Even bigger sniper rifles are used by the Specks and the Death Watch. The larger the blast from the rifle, the faster it moves, and the harder the punch. Deflecting these blasts takes a lot of skill and reflexes. When in the right hands, a sniper rifle could easily take down even the most veteran Jedi. Jedi fear two things when it comes to ground combat: other Jedi and snipers.
A yellow blast flew towards him as clone troopers ran by him and to where the boxes where. Mace Windu blocked the blast, making the yellow beam fly into the wall. Another blast flew towards him, this time towards his leg. Mace Windu skidded out of the way. The blast from the yellow beam pierced the ground, ripping up asphalt and rock. Anakin took this chance and darted up the street, Kit in his arms.
The next blast could be barely seen and Mace Windu's eyes widened. The sniper shot at Anakin.
"Anakin!" Mace Windu shouted as the beam drew closer, Anakin glanced at the yellow beam and closed his eyes, but no pain came. Ahsoka stood, lightsaber out and ready with a big hole in the wall near her.
"Good job Ahsoka! Keep Anakin covered!" Mace Windu shouted as he charged towards the Mercs lines. Blocking both the snipers fire and the fire from the Mercs was going to be tough.
XxXxX
"Give me a sit rep. Over." Wolf1 said over the headset.
"This is Cross4. One Jedi down and wounded. They are taking him to the evac point. Over." Cross 4 said as he took at shot at the running Jedi, only for it to be blocked again.
"This is High L. For the most part, it seems that they are now coming in from all directions. Over." High L said from the top of the tower.
"How about you Rouge8. Give me a sit rep." Wolf1 said.
"The big boys are immobile and we have opened fire. Only the dropships are up and running and they have sent more troops to town." Rouge8 said over the firing of heavy flak and machine guns.
"Archer9. Are the guns up and ready?"
"Guns are online and prepped for firing missions. Over." Archer9 replied.
"Rouge7 you keep the hostiles away from Archer9, do you copy." Wolf1 said.
"Roger that. Forming defensive perimeter around the heavy guns. Over." Rouge7 said.
XxXxX
'Something isn't right.' Mace Windu thought after slicing down the closest Merc. 'These guys are fighting in complete unison. Suppression, counter attacks, flanking, ambushes from buildings. These aren't your normal mercenaries. There are only a few organizations out there that uses these sort of tactics. Specks, Death Watch, and the Tyber Corporation. This must be the Tyber Corporation because I see none of the others here.'
Mace Windu was broken from his thoughts as more clones ran by, but where immediately gunned down by an MG nest. The Jedi then dashed around the corner and dodged another blast from his favorite sniper and blocked the blasts from the MG, reflecting them back into the sender. Said mercenary fell to the ground, lifeless. Mace Windu dived behind the cover that the MG used.
After calming down, Mace Windu overheard something from the headset that was on the dead mercenaries head.
"This is High L, that tank is giving our boys hell. Requesting rain on grid 14-61. Over." a voice said over the headset. Mace Windu's eyes widened.
"This is Archer9. We copy that loud and clear. Fire mission is a go. Over." another voice replied as Mace Windu was on his headset in a second.
"Cody! Get that tank out of there!" Mace Windu shouted. Loud booms could be heard in the distance, signaling that the artillery has already fired.
"Why?! We are pushing them back!" Cody shouted over the loud gunfire of the tank, but before Mace Windu could respond explosions could be heard from the street on the other side of town.
"Cody! Cody do you read!" Mace Windu shouted, but there was no response. The voice from the headset from the dead mercenary was brought back to life again.
"Fire mission has good hits. The tank has been eliminated. Good shooting Archer9." the voice that called the artillery said.
"Mace Windu. We are trying to clear the hills next to our cruisers of enemies. We can't retreat until we take out the flaks that scattered about the area. And on top of that out engines on most of our cruisers have been damaged along with whatever else was close to the explosives that where placed here." Anakin said.
"They where prepared for this. Why do you think they did this?" Mace Windu asked from inside a building. Fire could still be heard outside as more clones joined the battle. They did have an enormous army, they outnumber them 15 to 1, but even a bad commander knows that if the enemy has time to prepare for an invasion that he has the advantage and Tyber knows that.
"Maybe Naruto paid them off?" Anakin suggested.
"I don't know, but first things first. You take care of the enemies near the hills next to our cruisers. I'll try and clear the town." Mace Windu said.
"Roger that, but should we call for reinforcements? We are going to sustain heavy losses and we need more before moving to our next target." Anakin said.
"Agreed, call them in." Mace Windu said as the line went dead.
'Naruto... what are you planning.' Mace Windu thought.
XxXxX
Naruto stood in a dropship holding a holopad with giant 3-D map of a town and a nearby chain of hills. Blue figures where seen surrounding a town that was full of yellow figures. A large circle of yellow was far off to the side of the town along with random smaller circles as well. Also a large yellow presence was on the hill as blue figures where moving against it.
"It seems our friend Tyber is doing well." Obi-Wan said.
"Indeed, they have fallen into his trap. The Republic will be delayed for a god amount of time." Naruto said as he put the holopad away and looked out over the ground that passed underneath them and off into the horizon.
"It's amazing." Naruto said, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?"
"It's amazing that a battle like this has spread to other parts of the galaxy. But... hopefully this battle sends a message and reveals hidden flaws in everybody that fights in all the wars to come."
XxXxX
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but life has grabbing me by the hair and dragging me away. Well, here you go hope you like it.
Also, I really would like a beta reader to look over my Golden series. Pm me if you're interested!