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Chapter 2

The Meeting

Ameryia found herself in the officers' tent followed by Euryia and Ke, almost subconsciously. Master Toue was already seated behind a long desk, seated beside her were the various high-ranking clones, including Bru. Ameryia sat at the end of the table by Master Euryia quietly and began scanning the files on the desk before her.

The tent was large and filled with holocrons, recon reports and scattered weapons fading in and out of focus in the gas floating in though the cracks. Most of those present sat with a strange alertness politely silent, Master Toue however kept looking skyward and turning to search through an utterly messy desk. Ameryia felt a bit out of place, easily the one wearing the least clothes in the bunch and one of the only ones not strictly bound to the Republic through strict training.

A breeze ran through the tent as the door opened as a few clones stepped inside. Durma followed the clones shortly looking serene as ever, though here hands quivered a bit. Ameryia felt the Force emanating in the room, and from what control she had she picked out quivers of excitement from a source she couldn't pin. Although almost immediately ruling out the clones, she paused remembering the Bru was given more free will by the Kaminoans. Before she could ponder further Master Toue cleared her throat.

"Since it appears everyone is here we may start the meeting," as Toue straightened up three holograms appeared in the empty seats, of Kit Fisto, Admiral Tui'kira, and a clone general.

"As in many briefings we have stated this is an essential planet to win, it marks the entrance to a main hyperspace path into the Outer Rim, Master Toue has already sent files claiming an opening for attack at the continent north of here called the Bridge, surrounded by gaseous seas it's the only land route to the Separatist controlled north," said the clone in the hologram.

"Then we must exploit the opening and move quickly," interjected Admiral Tui'kira, the clone commando, Nyk, turned quizzically, as the table erupted in blue light as holograms of ally and enemy positions appeared.

"Perhaps it would be unwise to act so hastily," said Master Euryia

"It wouldn't be smart to act tactless in any case," said Kit Fisto

"You can't honestly let an opening so crucial as access to the Seperatist half of the planet slip away," retorted Admiral Tui'kira.

"The opening does look promising however," said the hologram clone, and many including Bru nodded.

"Then we must do it!" announced Admiral Tui'kira.

"Launching an assault so rashly may lead to unexpected obstacles, we had best be more cautious, Admiral Juuro Tui'kira you must no how rash decision making can cause bloody defeat." Said Master Euryia calmly.

"Rash! Don't you Jedi want to see an end to this abominable war; this is our chance to cleanse this end of the Rim of Separatists once and for all. If we take them here the remaining forces around this sector can be choked out," exploded Tui'kira, Ameryia stared never had he seen him lose such composure, honestly he seemed to come into the meeting with half his usual protocol and twice the arrogance.

"Admiral, calm yourself. Be sensible how do we know the position is not fortified the Separatists are not clueless, they no the close space engagement means neither of us can use bombing runs, that channel is the only way we could attack them by land.

"Why by land then, we should use the gas seas as cover to spring our attack."

"Your not thinking, the gas seas interfere with most of the technology set into our tanks and ships, it can't support us like water and is twice as deadly as drowning to breath in overdose," snapped Ameryia suddenly, she was all for action but as she listened to the argument she knew an attack made to fast was not feasible, and the simple presence of the air-headed bothan did not help his case in her eyes.

"It is our best option, but we can't charge in like a pack of Nexu toward a possible trap, we must wait until the next recon mission returns," said Master Toue, none of the Jedi losing any formalness during the row, the clones still firm like statues, though she notice Ke and Bru fidgeting a little.

"You will regret not taking the risk, we may lose this battle from over thinking," began the Admiral haughtily.

"Enough!" said Euryia in a clearly authoritarian voice, standing up suddenly, shocking most around him. "Admiral, you will be silent and hold your tongue or you shall take the consequences so you outbursts. This insubordination must end now. Your sourness for whatever you hold so strongly against the order is interfering with and reasonable formation of a plan."

Ameryia looked from on to the other wondering what exactly caused the rift between the Jedi and Tui'Kira. The admiral looked quite emotionless, much like the clones around him. But on closed inspection she saw his lip twitching agitatedly.

"Jomme, your point has been understood, now don't fall into the haze of your frustration," said Fisto. Ameryia was shocked mute at the last exchange. Assuming that Jomme could only be Master Euryia, her mind settled slightly. But the remaining thoughts swirled in her mind over the Admirals sourness, though he could not have known his daughter had died until just after Ameryia landed on Allou's surface. Euryia himself seemed to have let go of his composure in response to Tui'Kira's tirade, clearly not all Jedi were of perfect control.

"Well if we are clear that we must think more carefully over this opening," Toue said in seemingly perfect calm, the holograms changed instantly zooming into the know enemy positions in the Bridge.

"If we could still travel along the coastline we could use the cover for a side assault, and hovering vehicles and terrestrial flight vehicles can go over the sea," persisted the Admiral, clearly if he could not completely have his way he'd fight for every scrap he could.

Euryia opened his mouth to respond, and then closed it again in indecision. But before he could form a rational retort the hologram map on the table vanished. The occupants of the tent stared at the suddenly blank, smooth white surface. The room seemed suspended momentarily in motionless silence, and then the table burst into life again, reforming this time as a clone scout. Though the dull fazing blue in the hologram did not show it, he was dressed in a terribly goofy looking misty camouflage uniform, consisting of violent red and purple splotches blended with foggy whites, yellows, and blues. Despite being better for hiding in the planets gassy environment, Ameryia found it still horribly stupid looking.

"General Toue, we have a problem. We have completed the assigned recon mission to the Separatist outpost at the Bridge. Unfortunately since our last mission a couple weeks ago to the main land channel they have moved to fortify the position. Sources indicate that they have moved the majority of their terrestrial forces to the position; using the city a holding point they have gone to solidify the defenses along the greater portion of the land channel. It has come to our attention that the seas have been mine laced and the coastlines under heavy turret defense. They have expended the main body of their artillery and troops leaving the back sections basically bear of fortifications.

"We also believe General Ilsan Ferm is overseeing the forces personally. They clearly understand our inability to make bombing runs leaving that passage as our last reliable chance," said the clone scout said impassively, and immediately appearing on various computers scattered at random around the tent displayed the technical and precise data of the report. Ameryia turned her chair at a computer directly behind her and skimmed the contents briefly. Another silence fell, broken only by the gentle humming of the electrical equipment.

"This… unfortunately changes everything," said Master Euryia eventually.

"How does it change almost anything? We still have only one chance and that is to take the Bridge; we can't just drop the idea all together. We can't wait for the chance that bombing possibility will open up," said the admiral suddenly. Well someone decided to wake up rather fast, thought Ameryia.

"The attack plan must change, we cannot launch a full scale attack on that fortress," and the hologram shifted the clone scout vanished replaced by an updated map of the enemy position.

"Ferm is there, we can't pass the chance to cut their leadership off at the head," continued the admiral.

"But we haven't the artillery for a full-scale attack."

Ameryia lost track of the argument at that point. She was fairly sure that a full-scale assault would carry the day, however leaving both sides desperately crippled, and there was always the chance they would lose. Risks usually weren't a big deal but she felt it unacceptable in this battle for some reason, in the end she was sure the Jedi would not approve anyway. In the end it all depended on who would survive with more troops.

"This is getting nowhere!" exclaimed Ameryia in frustration. Everyone turned to face her.

"Well as it stands we cannot make a offensive move, we must continue to prepare defensively, and rethink how we will proceed later. Dismissed," said Master Toue standing up. Euryia sank into his seat, as the holograms disappeared, his face turning red. Ameryia felt she missed something interesting. Herself angry at the events of the meeting she left herself out of the tent silently.

The air was abnormally crisp and clean as she stepped outside, the sour gas clouds seemed to have move far beyond the boundaries of the encampment. Walking until she found herself standing besides several labor droids busy shoveling out a trench, she paused and sank into the half finished hole. She had expected this to be a fairly quick battle, the Jedi had seemed confident as did the Admiral before the meeting, but that seemed to overturn any hope of finishing this fast and painlessly.

The soft dirt stuck to her skin,, but she ignored it the feeling itself of the warm dirt was oddly pleasant.

"I really need a drink," she mumbled to herself, wondering if there even was a cantina on the planet.

"Then I take it the meeting went wrong, I remember on Hypori you drank so much the alcohol started to work through the anti-influence shot. Mind you drinking only makes me more stressed," said an odd whistling voice. She looked up to see Iieaea standing above her with two thermoses. "There is a town farther inland where I'm sure you can get a drink other than that I only managed to find some light drinks."

Ameryia stood up, leaving a clear imprint of her body marked in the dirt, and opened one of the thermoses, the odor was oddly pleasant, but clearly a weak drink. The fizzing green liquid went down smoothly enough, leaving her slightly better than before.

"That was terrible," said Iieaea her ear flattening sadly to her head.

"I didn't fin it so bad, it helped rather," Ameryia said laughing slightly and recounted the events of the meeting.

"Well we'll just have to make do won't we its not the last time we were stuck, I'm sure it can be worked through, considering they placed almost the entirety of their army there it will be a glorious day when it falls," said Iieaea glancing at the setting sun in the distance.

"My friend we may have a gloriously bloody victory in our future."

"I at least will be glad to see these heathens off my homeworld, you know our people make much better drinks," she took another swig of the green liquid and decided it was bet to just dump the rest.

The sun passed halfway down the horizon and the planet was lit in a beautiful display of color as the sky turned a brilliant pink and caused the many gases to glow eerily, over the now rich orange dirt. Ameryia sighed staring at the landscape the dirt in particular so much like that of Ryloth, and suddenly she kicked it causing a large clump to fly in a high arc and hit Ke in the face.

"Oi!" Ameryia just laughed as he rubbed the clump out his hair and eyes. "Well before you assaulted me, I was going to tell you that Toue decided to sent a large amount of recon missions to help out with planning an attack, so your suppose to form a plan from them."

"Ah, so you just came here to give me more work, I think I need another drink," she said, Ke smirked and Iieaea's ears flapped in amusement. It was only a short while before the planets sun fully passed under the horizon line and the glowing colors slowly evaporated into the darkness, Leaving only pitch blackness faintly lit only by the twin moons and assorted lights glowing from behind then in the camp.

The three left in the darkness to their separate tents, Ameryia entered the tent she had to herself to find her computer terminal glowing. She walked over and glanced into the screen to find a series of recon reports, she sighed placing her blasters away and sat down to skim over the reports.