Reinforcements

Meanwhile, the Republic fleet was in Hyperspace en route to Lola Sayu to reinforce them against this threat. Anakin stood on the bridge of the Scoundrels Constellation with Obi-wan as the two Jedi Masters debriefed the large group of people. Anakin would be leading the space battle while Obi-wan would be leading the battle on the surface.
"Please remember everyone that this facility is designed to contain Jedi which is why the only people going onto the surface will be Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters," Anakin reminded them in a very serious tone, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly Master," Ashlyn answered.
"I need everyone who is on the surface to be able to really hold themselves and stay safe as the Citadel is surrounded by lava," Obi-wan explained in further depth so that everyone understood why that was the case.
"Did you want any of the Knights to be in space with you Master Skywalker?" Raven asked.
"No, Master Tiin and I have an extensive number of Clone pilots who will be in space but a few of you should take your Starfighters down to the landing platform ahead of the other dropships," Anakin answered confidently, "Plus we will have every available Padawan that has studied piloting in Starfighters," he added.
"Master Skywalker, we will be exiting Hyperspace in three hours," Eric informed him as the Smuggler approached the group from the pilot seat.
"Good, I need all the Smugglers to stay in space on their ships. Mayken and Obi-Paulo will be gunners for you," Anakin ordered and then turned towards the SIS Agent, "Agent Highrock, I need you up on a vantage point with your sniper rifle on the surface," he added.
"Of course, Master Jedi," Mia responded swiftly as she left to go fetch the required weapons that she would need to take down to the surface of the planet. Unbeknownst to her she was being followed to the hangar where she had dropped off her stuff in a crate ready to use when needed.
"Mia," a voice said from behind her as she was going through the crate and removing the items she needed. The Agent jumped slightly as she turned quickly to find Raven behind her with an odd expression on his face.
Mia sighed, "Yes Raven?" she asked as she quickly composed herself.
Raven blushed slightly, "I just wanted to tell you-," he paused momentarily, clearly trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to, "-please stay safe?"
However, as the Jedi Knight turned away from her, Mia did something she never thought she would do ever in her life especially when she was supposed to be focused on preparing for a mission as dangerous as this one. Her hands reached forward and pulled his face down to meet hers in a deep kiss that only lasted mere moments. When the two separated, Raven stood there in complete shock as to what just happened and Mia walked around him, heading back to the bridge.
"Don't get yourself killed, okay?" the Agent requested flirtatiously as she exited the cargo bay, leaving Raven who was still trying to process what had just happened.


Three hours later, the Republic fleet came out of Hyperspace to find a worrisome sight greeting them through the cockpit window and the ships came to a stop from further away as the Scoundrels Constellation fell back behind the Republic warships which were properly equipped for space battle.
"Remind me to make those upgrades when we get back to Coruscant," Eric said to no one in particular.
Starfighters and the Clone fighters began to pour out of the hangar bays in massive numbers as the Republic Starships began raining fire on the closest Star Destroyer.
"Gold squadron, call in," Obi-wan said through the comlink which was proceeded by all the Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters calling in one by one except Anakin Skywalker and Saesee Tiin who were busy with their own call-ins.
"Master Kenobi, where will we be landing?" Master Mundi asked politely as they swerved out of the way of oncoming fire from the Star Destroyers.
"We will need to fly low over the landing platform and jump from our Starfighters, tell your droids to take control right after you jump out," Obi-wan responded.
"Very well," Ashlyn said, "Did you hear that R7?" she asked the astromech that was accompanying her as her Master was using R2.
The droid whistled in acknowledgement of the order and Ashlyn went back to focusing on manoeuvring the battlefield. Then they broke through the atmosphere and saw the Citadel and the landing platform was covered in black-robed Sith. One by one as the hordes of Knights and Masters approached the area above the target spot they jumped out of their Starfighters, only to land on the platform below them. Ashlyn landed in a crouch with her eyes closed as she used the Force to sense her surroundings and then activated her lightsabers as she sensed an approaching Sith. The enemy was quickly being driven back to the entrance to the station where there was a line of cages against the wall, all of which they were protecting. The X5-S9 droids were shooting stun bolts at every Jedi possible but they were not managing to get through their defences yet.
"It was a good call not to let Padawans come down here," Daly mentioned to Raven who nodded in agreement as he deflected a stun bolt back at a Sith who crumpled to the floor unconscious.
"Get to the cages!" Obi-wan yelled over the noise of the battle and several of the Jedi ran forward to meet the line of Sith.


Meanwhile, on a cliff nearby Mia had jumped down from a dropship and she moved closer to try and get a better vantage point. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was someone nearby, so she decided to act casually and wait for that person to find her. The Agent took out a magnetic grenade and threw it as hard as she could at one of the droids on the landing platform below. Then after a few seconds, it exploded, sending Sith everywhere and some even fell off the edge of the platform.
"I forgot how much I miss grenades," Mia said casually to herself.


Up in space, the battle was getting rough as Kai was trying to avoid several of the turrets that were shooting at him whilst also trying to take them out.
"Padawan, you are too close to the Destroyer. Move out of range and then they will have less accuracy," Master Tiin ordered harshly.
"Well that's not what Master Koon told me in class," Kai responded stubbornly.
"These aren't Separatist capital ships, they are Imperial Star Destroyers and are completely different designs in their gun turrets," Master Tiin stated, "Now pull out of there or go back to the fleet."
Kai sighed in slight frustration as he pulled away from the turrets and then started to maneuver his Starfighter around to shoot at the turrets when he was suddenly hit.
"Lescicta," Kai cursed heavily in Nabooian as he desperately tried to stabilise his Starfighter which was beginning to fall into Lola Sayu's atmosphere, "Master Tiin, I think I'm going to crash into the Citadel," he said into his comlink as he began to panic slightly.
"You will have to jump out before it crashes then," Master Tiin responded sternly, "Are you close to the landing platform?" he asked.
Kai looked out his viewport and answered swiftly, "No but I am close to the top of the Citadel."
"Then jump out onto the top and you might as well join the battle on the surface," Master Tiin stated.
Kai nodded as he unclipped the straps that were holding him in the pilot seat and opened the hatch before he walked in a low crouch across to the edge of the wing and waited anxiously. Then when he got closer the Padawan counted down in his head and on the count of three he jumped with his eyes slammed shut. Kai fell to his knees as he landed on the very top of the station and looked to his right as the Starfighter crashed on the other side of the roof.
"That was close," Kai mumbled as he unclipped his two lightsabers from his belt and jumped down into the battle that was unfolding on the landing platform below him. Upon landing, he activated his lightsabers and began fighting the Sith that had surrounded him upon them realising that he was a Jedi Padawan.
"Kai!" a voice called from behind the sea of black robes and red lightsabers. Next thing he knew Kayli was standing back to back with him, "What do you think you are doing down here Snow-top?" she asked seriously but with a tiny hint of flirting included.
"My Starfighter crashed into the Citadel's roof," Kai answered quickly as he used the Force to push the Sith in front of him a few metres back.