Author's note: I know I changed Michael to Mieqel. Pronounced the same just looks different.
Windscar inspected the fighters in the landing bay with a critical eye. The droid brains were set high enough to make the engagement look real though not high enough to actually kill any of his six guests. He slapped the "Engage" button on each of the twelve fighter's control panels before turning to another of the landing bay's control boxes. After entering a complex sequence of commands he pressed a button marked "Send". A few moments later his custom made battle droids arrayed themselves on the roof of the hangar.
The CEO smiled wickedly as he watched the cannons mounted on four legs grip the ceiling. Cargo droids moved crates around to make sure that there was room in the bay for six Stealth X fighters as well as providing cover for the soldiers.
"That should do." Windscar muttered fingering the lightsaber on his belt. "Now let the games begin."
The Lord of the Crimson Law stayed where he was hidden, the droids moved shoving boxes this way and that but none disturbed his surprises and none came close enough to spot him. He instinctively flexed his hand. Once there had been razor sharp claws contained in those fingers but through the miracles of modern science he now had much deadlier tools to work with. The same muscle contractions that extended his old weapons now triggered his new ones so he didn't have to fumble with learning how to handle himself again. Now, however he would finally get to put his enhancements to good use. As soon as those Jedi arrived he would teach them all to respect the Order.
"Fighters inbound." Came Psion's precise voice. "Twelve in all, it appears he either doesn't know we are here or doesn't remember what Jedi can do."
Any doubts of his not knowing there position were dashed however as dazzling red laser blasts flashed past their ships. The attack missed but it did come close enough to darken Elydyn's blast tinting.
"So much for that Blue." The Jedi said into his helmet mounted comlink. "Everyone form up on your respective leader, keep each other covered."
The Jedi split off in pairs drawing four fighters to each pair. The droid brains weren't that smart judging from this alone. It might have been better for their enemies if they would have just overwhelmed them a group at a time, but now this would be too easy. Elydyn eased himself into the Jedi battle meld allowing the voices of the others to fill him thoughts, giving him images of the whole and not just small parts of the struggle.
Lead your tails here. Elydyn directed the thought to Mieqel and his apprentice. The two Jedi gladly responded and Sarick and the squad leader destroyed two of the perusing craft. Elydyn's R2 unit beeped a warning as his own opponents scored a solid hit reducing his rear deflector shields to virtually nothing.
"Watch your back Trike." Psion chided. "Come to point four five."
"Affirmative." The Jedi replied. He jerked in the opposite direction and his two tailing fighters slammed straight into Psion and Rusti's salvo of energy blasts.
Sarick's roar filled the comm. channel as another blip disappeared from the vid display. That was five only seven more to go. His apprentice was doing admirably well. Elydyn thought allowing himself a moment of pride before one of the ships came into firing range. He was finally able to get a good look at it. A central ball with two rings lined with weaponry a support strut ran through the ball, most likely filled with munitions for the forward firing torpedo launchers. It was basically a slightly updated take on an old Clone Wars model Tri-Fighter. Elydyn wasn't impressed his younger brother probably could have designed something better.
Of course he would have loved to have the 20 year old Sacul on this mission but his master Jaina Solo rarely returned to the temple unless it was absolutely necessary. Instead she preformed mission after mission with her husband Zek and their two apprentices. The "Sword of the Jedi" was indeed as sharp as ever. Elydyn's master Nivla Savid on the other hand was nowhere near as reckless. The dark skinned Jedi shared the home planet of Naboo with Elydyn, though his master was a dark skinned man. He wore his curly black hair in a short almost military cut, as opposed to Elydyn's perpetually messy dark brown hair. His master was as patient as the mountains where as Elydyn was a raging river of activity. Thankfully he had calmed sown somewhat over the years.
He was snapped out of his reminiscing by an impatient rasping in his ear. "Master?" Sarick was calling. "Where are you going?"
"Sorry I lost it for a moment." Elydyn admitted sheepishly.
"No by all means keep it up." Mieqel said half amusedly. "Your drawing ff the remaining five as you head toward their base; seems they were programmed to protect it, though evasive maneuvers would be good about now."
A volley of laser fire streaked by, causing his R2 unit to squeal in protest. "E2 shunt all power from the front shields to the rear. Then take whatever power you can from the weapon systems and split it between the shields and engines."
The stomach droid made a few discontented bleeps as it complied. Elydyn then proceeded to send his ship into a gut-wrenching series of loops and twists as the other five Jedi took their time picking off the fighters.
Once he was finally free he let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks guys," The mission's senior Jedi said sarcastically "now on to the main target. Stay alert; we don't know what kind of surprises Windscar might have laid out in advance. He received five solitary clicks as acknowledgement and the group sped off toward the massive mining station.
As it turned out the caution was unnecessary the whole rest of the trip was uneventful. The space station was shaped like a child's toy jack. Hanger bays were located in each of the four arms with most of the living quarters and operations stations positioned in the central column. The group used a slicing signal one of the spies had provided and one of the bay doors slid open.
The interior of the bay was dark only a few running lights cast any illumination.
"Something isn't right." Mieqel announced as the Stealth X's settled onto their landing struts. They popped their canopies in unison and dropped to the floor.
"Of course something is wrong." A voice called from the darkness. With a snap-hiss a silver light illuminated a handsome face. The long hair appeared to be blue-green in the lighting. "Welcome to my home." The man spread his arms and the landing bays lights turned on temporarily blinding the group. All six Jedi drew their own lightsabers.
"By the authority placed upon us by the Galactic Alliance you are under arrest Windscar." Elydyn spat out
"My, my, as quick to the point as always Elydyn Taalar," The magnate replied "perhaps you should be more aware of your surroundings." He snapped his finger and his hidden troopers and battle droids rose from behind their barricades.
"You under estimate us Windscar," Mieqel said "a few dozen soldiers is nowhere near a match for six Jedi Knights."
"My dear, dear Jedi," Windscar replied pointing at the ceiling. Sarick, Dineyl, and Rusti looked up.
"Master, we have trouble." The short avian told his Chiss teacher. Psion looked up in response.
"Interesting design," He commented after a moment "judging from the chassis I doubt that they are much more than slightly mobile cannons. However their numbers have us at a disadvantage."
Elydyn let his eyes lift to the ceiling and indeed the roof was lined with cannons gripping the surface with a magnetic tripod attached to the base of each one.
"Now throw down your weapons." Windscar demanded.
"I don't think so." Sarick bellowed. And the group ran forward as one. Windscar hit a small device on the hilt of his lightsaber and the droids moved to open fire.
The Lord of the Crimson Law tossed a red card into the air. A red energy field sprang to life as he leapt from his hiding place. Windscar was caught unawares and fell to the floor, his lightsaber falling from his grasp. The trap had worked perfectly he would be able to dispose to the manufacturer and then he would take care of the Jedi.
"Lord Windscar," He hissed through his vocoder. "By order of the Council of Nineteen you are scheduled for termination. Please pray to whoever you serve, you will meet him soon enough."
The red clad figure held up one of his hands and a short yellow blade sprang from each finger. He then reared back and jumped forward, ready to tear the throat out of his foe's neck.
