Chapter 13: Skirmish in the Rain
Callum eased his way through the trees, his eyes narrowed in concentration as the thundering storm hammered down with a relentless fury. The mist that rolled over him made it difficult to see ahead. Thunder clapped above as lightning flashed through the sky, the dark clouds made it difficult to know if anyone was searching for them.
Pushing forward, he came to a stop before the gapping mouth of a cave. Inside, a small fire burned away while Rayla was leaning against the cavern wall. "Any luck finding help?" She asked, looking up to see Callum.
He glanced down to see his companion watching him closely. "No luck." He replied, sitting down before the fire in the hopes of warming himself before he caught a cold.
A cold wind blew in through the cave entrance, causing the flames to flicker ever so slightly. Rayla payed no mind to the winds, she had spent time traveling with Count Fell to the other Mandalorian worlds, Krownest was one such place where she learned to tolerate the cold.
"We may have to wait until Janai finds us."
She glanced up to looked at Callum, an eyebrow raised in interest. "So, you want to sit around, what if the weather clears up?" She asked in response. "we might have to move so that they can find us."
Callum shook his head. "I did my research before we came here Rayla, this world, it doesn't rain for a single month, the rest of the time it's a non-stop storm." He replied, never pulling his gaze away from the fire.
Rayla sighed. "So this is what we're doing till they find us." She muttered, annoyed at their situation.
In orbit, blocking Tempestas, two Imperial I Class Star Destroyers hovered, alongside them was The Defection, The Trident, The Siren, the Interdictor Cruiser Black Cloud and The Betrayer.
Upon the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer Calamity, Arimar stood tall, her eyes scanning the cloud patterns of the planet, beside her, Captain Atalanta stood, her blonde hair flowed freely along her back, her grey uniform rested neatly upon her lean form. Her emerald eyes moved ever so slightly.
"Admiral Arimar, do excuse my questioning, but why do we have a small task force to capture two rebels?" Atalanta asked.
Arimar stood still, her eyes glued to the planet, the swirls of the storm clouds. "Captain Atalanta, like I told Captain Katina, these Rebels are not to be underestimated. The Grand Admiral has made that clear, the Inquisitors failure has made that clear." She answered.
Atalanta nodded as she Arimar pulled out a small holoprojector. "General Soren, what is the status of the planetary base?" Arimar asked.
Soren appeared quickly, his blue image fading in and out. His reply was muffled every now and then. "The base is operational, though with this weather, we could do with a few walkers, it's hard to see far out."
Arimar nodded. "Very good, additional resources shall be joining you shortly, as will I." She replied.
Soren nodded as the image faded out. Arimar turned to face Atalanta. "Make sure the fleet the blockade strong, no ships are to enter or leave the gravity well." She commanded, leaving the bridge quickly as Atalanta nodded.
Soren turned to see the white of the Lambda Class Shuttle landing, Two Gozanti freighters following not far behind with Sentinel Class Shuttles behind them. As the Lambda Shuttle landed, the two Gozanti each deployed two AT AT's to the ground.
Turning to face the shuttle, Soren walked forward as the ramp lowered. Arimar soon walked down the ramp with two Abysstrooper's behind her. She wore body armour and a helmet. "General Soren, report." She said.
"A single patrol was lost a few minutes ago, I despatched a squad to find out what happened to them." He replied.
Arimar nodded. "We have our All Terrain Armoured Transports now, let's put them to good use. Sweep the area in all directions. This weather will not hinder our efforts."
Callum's eyes opened slightly; he could hear a faint sound behind all the rain. He could sweat he'd heard that sound before, but he couldn't quite place it. Forcing himself up, he glanced over at Rayla, her slumbering form was peaceful, undisturbed by the faint sound of something large moving.
Standing up, he glanced down and check on his gear. A few explosives, a blaster and his lightsaber. Smiling, he turned around, listening to the sound of something large.
Arimar stood behind the AT AT pilots, her eyes narrowed through the small window that offered enabled to see where they walked. "Any sign of the Rebels?" She asked, listening as the rain hammered down upon the metal armour of the walker.
"Not yet Ma'am." One of them replied.
Arimar nodded, watching as a smaller AT ST moved forward with a squad of Stormtroopers surrounding it. The sound of the walker moving was enough to fill her with confidence that they will find what they seek. The walker's searchlights illuminating the path ahead in the darkness.
"Ma'am, we've a series of caves, should we search them all?"
Arimar smirked. "Affirmative Commander, search ever single cave, the Rebels must be found before their friends arrive." She replied.
Soren was having little luck with his search, not only did the rain hinder his vision, one wrong step and he may very well find himself on the ground covered in mud. "Commander, has the Walker found them yet?" He asked.
"No General, but there are rumours going around regarding why this planet was left alone by all life."
Soren rolled his eyes; off course they'd be gossiping about the reasons why the planet was never colonized. "Tell them to focus on the hunt or they will answer to me." He replied.
"Will do General."
Coming to a stop, he glanced up at the large rock formation before him. "We need to find another path, with any luck, we might find them." He said, turning around.
TW-855 glanced over the final incomplete defence platform. The skeletal structure extruding from the side made a weak point if anyone were to attack. Turning around he glanced towards one of his men. "Inform the Grand Admiral that we've applied the technological gains from Darth Elarion's archives into the Aaravos Defence Station with success." He ordered.
He watched as his trooper vanished, leaving him to focus upon the defence station before him. He narrowed his eyes as he watched a few more freighters arrive with resources. "Commander, we've received information from spies that there is dissent on the surface, particularly in the Elven and Dragon lands."
TW-855 rolled a fist, beneath his helmet, he narrowed his eyes. "Does the Grand Admiral know about this?" He asked, turning to face the trooper.
"No sir, he ordered that all military operations be left with you till General Soren returns."
TW-855 nodded in understanding. "I see, have The Typhon move in over Lux Aurea, perhaps the presence of an Imperial warship will convince theses dissident's that rebellion isn't open for discussion."
Callum glanced up as he heard the sound of footsteps. Widening his eyes, he listened closely, only to hear the chatter of Stormtroopers. Moving silently towards Rayla, he shook her awake. "Callum, what do you thin…" She was cut off when Callum placed a finger to her lips.
"We've got company." He whispered, reaching for his blaster.
Rayla understood what he meant and quickly put her helmet on, grabbing her own blasters as she moved closer to the cavern wall.
Callum rested beside her, reaching out into the Force as he felt around, attempting to determine how many troopers were headed their way. Closing his eyes, he could fell the presence of at least a dozen troopers, outside, he felt another dozen, including five others, one of them he recognised as Arimar. "We've got a dozen troopers inside with us, another dozen outside and five others." He whispered.
Rayla nodded, moving out ever so slightly before turning around the corner and pulling the trigger. The troopers were quick to return fire, some of them turning around and moving to escape the cave. Rayla took a few shots to her armour, she could feel the impact pain, but otherwise, her armour had absorbed the heat and protected her body.
Callum soon emerged from behind her, firing at a few of the troopers who remained behind to distract them.
Arimar stood below the walker, watching as a few troopers emerged from a cave, firing their blasters back. "We found them!" One of them cried. She smirked.
"Commander, have your men surround that cave entrance." She ordered, watching as a group of troopers moved in towards the cave entrance, their blasters at the ready. Watching closely, she heard the screams of those inside before a sphere rolled out.
An explosion sent the troopers flying in all directions. She was quick to draw her blaster as Callum and Rayla rolled out for the cave, firing their weapons at those who stood tall. Smirking, she walked forward. "Walker 228, target the Mandalorian, Walker 341, target the Prince. But do not fire." She ordered.
Coming to a stop, she spoke. "Prince Callum, we meet again."
Callum turned to see Arimar. "Arimar, last time we met, you tortured me." He cried back.
Arimar nodded. "A decision I have come to regret. But you are outgunned, surrender and I might consider convincing the Grand Admiral to let the others go free."
Callum narrowed his eyes as he held two explosives. "I know your game, you won't harm either one of us, Viren wants us alive." He said.
"Interesting theory, care to talk about it?" Arimar asked.
Callum smirked and threw his explosives. The first made contact with the AT ST, sending it tumbling to the side in flames, the second made contact with the AT AT, causing it to lose balance as its forward legs gave way.
Arimar dived to the side, avoiding the AT AT before standing tall. "Clever tricks Prince Callum." She said, walking forward as another explosive made contact with the AT AT's head.
"What makes you think I want you praise?" Callum yelled out.
Arimar came to a stop. "Admiral Arimar, An unidentified Ship is headed your direction." She ignored Atalanta's notice, instead she focused upon the two rebels before her.
"I think you do; I mean, I wouldn't praise you or congratulate you on anything if we didn't have a deep connection." Arimar said, coming to a stop as The Ambler hovered overhead, its ramp lowered. She watched as Rayla boarded, Callum running forward. "Did Amaya ever tell you who your godmother was? Who your other aunt was" She asked.
Callum paused in his movements, turning to face Arimar. "What would you know about my family." He hissed.
Arimar put her blaster away as she smiled. "I'll take that as a no then." She replied. "I am your godmother, your other aunt." She said.
Callum shook his head. "No. I refuse to believe that." He cried out, forcing his hands forward as he pushed Arimar to the ground. He then turned and ran up the ramp.
Arimar slowly got up, watching as The Ambler took flight and flew away. A small smile planted upon her lips.
Hmm, a few things happened between chapters I'd say regarding Arimar's Task force such as arriving at Tempestas and something's regarding Nyx and Janai. But they will be cleared up next chapter.
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