Amass the Troops Part 2

Valian stood in the strategy room with his top commanders, watching as holographic images of his ships appear in different areas around the Galaxy. The most vulnerable spots of the New Republic.

"Lord Valian, where should we strike?", the captain who currently ran the Imperial Star Destroyer Deadly Alliance said.

"In due time, we hope to attack Courascant, correct?", Valian asked with a small hint of humor in his voice. The officers nodded at his statement.

"Well then, we attack here." He said calmly as he pointed to Corellia. "Amass the troops near Sullust. It is not as close as you would like it, but by doing that, we may be able to trick the New Republic into thinking that's were we will attack!"


Aarma led Ben down a hallway towards the training grounds outside. "What'll we be doing, Aarma?", the young Skywalker asked.

"We will be doing some routine exercises, Ben. Don't worry. You still have that training saber I gave you?"

Ben only nodded. Aarma had to laugh at the young boy's innocence. 'Innocence that would be taken from him by countless missions to planets filled with death and destruction', he thought sadly.

The master and learner continued to walk down the hallway when they ran into Ashley and her padawan, Greth.

"Good morning, Master Antilles!", Ben greeted Ashley.

"Ben! How many times have I told you? You don't need to be formal when your around me, Ashley, or Roa!", Aarma criticized with a laugh. Ben just looked down in embarrassment. Greth laughed at the young boy for getting chastised.

"Greth!", Ashley said threateningly. "You know better!"

Greth looked down at his feet. "Sorry, Ben...", he muttered.

"Kids!", Ashley joked.

"I know what you mean! Ben's been a hand full! Say, we were just about to go to the training grounds outside for some exercises! Like to join us?"

Ashley nodded her head and followed them outside.

As Aarma led Ben to a clearing, he took the time to relax. He had taken a liking to times like this after Al'riti had left the Order.

Ben ran to the clearing, his master following at a steady walk behind him.

"Okay, Ben, I'm going to throw rocks at you. I want you to try to hit them with your saber. Got it?"

Ben nodded and ignited his training saber. It's light blue blade moved gracefully as Ben moved it into a defensive position.

Aarma began to pick up rocks with his hands while he levitated some behind Ben with the Force.

"Ready?", he asked.

"Yeah!", his padawan shouted excitedly.

Aarma tossed one rock and watched Ben deflect it easily. Then he threw another, and another. They continued like this until Ben was finally hit in the back by one of the levitating ones.

"Good job! You managed to block 15 of them! That's actually more than I was able to block when I was training!"

"How many were you able to block, Aarma?"

"Around 5 or 6!", Aarma said with a laugh. Ben laughed as well.

"Hey", Ashley chimed in, "Why don't Greth and Ben duel? I mean, it was helpful for us, wasn't it?", she finished, making a reference to the last duel she and Aarma had.

"That's a good idea! Ben, why don't you and Greth go over to that fallen tree and duel?", Aarma told his padawan while he pointed to a gigantic fallen tree about 50 feet away.

The two padawans run over to the tree and start their duel. Meanwhile, Aarma takes a seat next to Ashley.

"So, how've you been dealing with Al'riti?", Aarma asked her.

"Pretty well, I guess. I can't believe that we didn't notice anything, though! We should've known about it! We should've sensed something!"

"Hey, who says a Jedi has to be perfect?"

"I do! We should've been paying more attention! You know he was jealous of you! He always was!"

"Yeah, that's true. I think it's because-", Just then, Aarma's comlink went off.

"Yeah?", he asked whoever was on the other end. A strange alien language came from the comlink. Roa.

"Okay, Roa. I'm on my way!", Aarma said, and turned off his comlink.

"Sorry, Ashley, but I'm needed in the briefing room."

"I understand. You are the leading Jedi commander, after all!", Ashley said, and smiled. "I'll watch after Ben."

"Thanks, Ashley!", he said and took off towards the briefing room.