(Hey everyone, I know I haven't been keeping my promise to update but things have become too crazy for me to do so. So until the end of this semester I will not be able to continue writing my stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Wars and/or Transformers of any continuity. They are the properties of their respective owners.
Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)
Onboard the Republic assault ship hovering over the planet of Ryloth, were the two Jedi Masters/Generals walking in the ship's hanger as the ground troops prepare.
"First trick will be getting our troops on the ground." Obi-wan said as he walked with Master Windu to a gunship. Which housed the squadron known as Ghost Company
Looking to the other Jedi master, Mace Windu said, "If you take the city of Nabat first, we'll have our landing zone."
"But what 'bout our boys? The twi'leks might think we're more cons?" Ironhide asked from a hologram provided by an astromech droid. The veteran warrior had a very good point.
Turning to the hologram of the Autobot warrior, Master Windu said, "Then it would be best if you have your troops keep their distance from the citizens until they understand the situation."
Obi-wan entered the transport and looked to the two and remarked, "Well, it's time to meet the natives."
Meanwhile at the square of the village.
"TX-20, you must not allow the clones and Autobots to reach the surface." Wat Tambor said, looking at the tactical droid in charge of the very city that Kenobi is attempting to liberate.
"Our new proton cannon with Cybertronian targeting system upgrades are in the optimum position to prevent that, sir." The tactical Droid, TX-20, said gesturing to the cannons around its command center.
"What-" Tambor paused as he readjusted his vocal synthesizer before repeating his question again, "What if they focus the attack on your cannon?"
TX-20 stood up and stated, watching as its soldiers kept the surviving Twi'lek citizens close by, "I am utilizing the prisoners from this village as living shields. I calculate the Jedi and Autobots will not risk the prisoners' safety with a direct assault. Their sense of morality will prevent them from taking the most prudent course of action for victory."
As soon as they were past the atmosphere, the assault ships opened the hanger bay for the gunships and drop ships to fly towards the city. As they zoomed through the air, both ships activated holograms or comms to see or hear the leaders of their mission speak.
"We need to remember why we're here. We came to aid the Twi-leks, not destroy their home." Obi-wan addressed to the. The Autobots however understood the importance of these orders as they would want the same for their own home planet, Cybertron if they asked the same request for assistance from others.
Looking to his Clone officer, Commander Cody to finish for his general, and asked, "Cody?"
Cody nodded stepping forward as he said to the unit assigned to this mission, "That means we'll be taking it back the hard way. Minimal destruction with blasters and droid poppers only. No rockets or detonators."
"But that's partially where the fun is. We don't know how many of the decepti-creeps are down there but they'll be using any dirty trick in the book to take us out. Those training courses on cooperation between us are important, especially now. The Twi'leks will think we're like the cons since they weren't told about our partnership so give them their space until they're ready to accept us." Ironhide said, his hologram stated for everyone to hear.
"Check your aim. Keep an eye out for the locals." Cody finished before asking, "Are we understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Ghost Company and the Ironhide's squad chorused, standing at attention. While they let their heavy weapons lay on the floor.
One clone, with a rough like beard sighed before muttering to his bald friend, "If we're here to free the tail-heads, the least they can do is get out of our way."
An Autobot trooper turned and asked, "What's your problem? If it was your own home planet wouldn't you want the same thing?"
The clone however muttered, "What would a droid know about home planets anyway."
The trooper glared at the clone through his visor and muttered, "At least I wasn't constructed solely for combat."
The clone glared as his friend said, "Boil, don't. We need them to make sure the mission's successful."
Boil huffed as he put his helmet on and said, "I don't need any giant droids' help. And neither does the Republic, Waxer."
The Autobot soldier huffed and deactivated his hologram as he and his squad got ready. Waxer narrowed his eyes at his friend before putting on his helmet. That was when the air began shaking around them, the pilot called, "We're taking on enemy fire!"
Ironhide turned away from the hologram and ordered to the pilots of the drop ships, "Get our ships in front of the gunships! Our armor are stronger and we can take the beating!"
From the viewports, Ghost Company saw the Autobot dropships flying ahead of them, using their ships as shields as they flew closer to their landing zone. The hits did cause some dents in the armor but the dropships continued to be the shield for the Republic forces.
"General, the enemy fire is penetrating our shields." A Bridge Op reported as the ship shook from the impact of the enemy fire.
"Get me Kenobi and Ironhide." Master Windu ordered, even as his Autobot partner's hologram fizzled a bit from the impact.
The bridge op did as ordered and opened a comms channel to the two leading the mission.
"Master Windu, what's the situation?" Obi-wan asked as soon as the connection was stable.
"The enemy guns are breaking through our shields. We can't risk landing the larger transports until you take out those guns." Mace Windu addressed the situation.
"So far there haven't been any signs of Decepticon forces in the area but that doesn't mean they aren't on planet." Springer said to the Jedi leading the ground attack, "Be cautious."
Obi-wan took the information and said, "Pull back. We'll take care of it."
His hologram disappeared as Windu gave the order to retreat the republic assault cruisers back into the upper atmoshper
Looking to the assembled squadron, Ironhide said, "So, which of ya'll are up fer a challenge? We're on our own till we take out those guns."
Knowing what this meant, Waxer said to his best friend, "Here we go again."
They kept flying until they reached the drop point. there all of the survivors of Obi-wan's forces exited the gunships before flying back to the cruisers. Ironhide and two Autobot troopers exited their dropship as the others flew back to provide protect for the retreating gunships. from there they hurried through the canopy of trees, closer to the broken wall that used to protect the citizens from the dangers of the local wild life.
"I think I see movement in the trees." A battle droid said, moving one of the gun turrets to face where it saw movement.
Seeing not only the Republic forces as well as three Autobots another cried out, "Fire, fire!"
The droids at the wall of the village began firing at the approaching enemies. The two Autobot troopers with them transformed into vehicle mode and the closes troopers took cover behind them while the rest hide behind trees. Obi-wan used his lightsaber to deflect the laser bolts away from him and his men as he hid next to his commander.
"That bunker is gonna be a problem, General." Cody said over the blaster fire.
Knowing that he was right, Obi-wan said, "Leave the bunker to me. Bring in your troopers on my signal!"
Taking Waxer and Boil with him, Obi-wan moved closer to wall unseen as
"Let's take them out!" Obi-wan said as both clones tossed a couple of droid poppers over at the droids, but because of the height of the wall and the distance they were at their weapons didn't make it.
Obi-wan told them to try again and used the Force to help propel the detonators over the wall to their intended marks as they detonated and electrocuted the Battle droids with the turrets, causing them to shut down. The remaining droids were quickly taken care of the remaining republic forces just when Cody ordered, "Ghost Company. Let's move!"
After making sure that all the droids were deactivated, Rex reported to the Jedi master, "The wall is secure, sir."
Seeing his general going quiet, Cody asked, "Are we moving on to the guns?"
"We need to know what the droids have in store for us." Obi-wan told him as he brought up a good point. Then ordered, "Send your best men to scout ahead."
"Will do, sir." Cody complied as he walked with one of the troops before tell the two, "Boil, Waxer. Come with me."
"I guess we're the best." Waxer commented as the two went with thir commander.
Before they got far, Ironhide said, "Hold up, Cody. Take my best scout with you, just in case. "
Boil was about to protest but Cody nodded, "Appreciated it Ironhide."
The trooper transformed into his vehicle mode and silently hovered along with them.
They continued their way across the village as they had their eyes, or scanners, on alert in case of a sneak attack.
"Buildings are just buildings. What really makes a city are the inhabitants that live in it." The Autobot stated as he drove with them.
"So where are they oh great droid from beyond the galaxy?" Boil asked, snidely. Still thinking Autobots were machines and not sentient beings.
Before another fight broke out, Cody said to the group when they arrived at a fork in the road, gesturing to the path to the right, "We'll check out the courtyard."
Then he gestured to the path on the left "You three, take the south sector."
"Be back at command by 0620." Cody ordered.
"Yes, sir." Waxer said as he led his best friend and the Autobot trooper after him.
Just as they about to get far, Cody ordered, "And try to work together."
Boil groaned, knowing that order was directed at him in regards to the Autobot soldier with them. They continued on their way towards the south sector of the city.
"I tell you, Boil, this is creepy." Waxer finally said after the intense silence got to him.
"You think they've killed all of them?" The Autobot asked, his vehicle mode's camera sweeping across the area. His voice showing worry for the citizens.
"Well, there are no bodies." Boil commented as the three of them continued their way.
"They were driven from their homes." Waxer said, as he began to theorize, "I don't think they had a-"
He stopped when he heard a clatter of some kind and turned his blaster towards the sound he heard it from.
Boil, getting antsy asked, "Had a what?"
Waxer remained silent before finishing, "Choice."
At the courtyard of the village, Cody and the clone trooper, Wooly ducked behind some boxes when a patrol of Battle droids passed by.
After hearing them far away, the two got up from the supplies as the trooper with Cody, Wooley, said, "Not going to be easy getting to those guns, sir."
"There is always a way, Wooley." Cody told the trooper as he looked through his electronic binoculars to get a good view on their opposition.
"Wait, Twi'leks!" Cody exclaimed in a hushed tone, as he said, seeing how all of them were being forced in the center of the yard, "They're holding all the survivors hostage."
"We have to report this to General Kenobi." Cody told his subordinate, before lowering his electro-binoculars.
"At least there aren't any cons here." Wooley commented as the two hurried back to the base.
They reached the base without being spotted or any incident. Obi-wan opened a channel to Mace Windu so that everyone could hear Cody give his report, "We've found the guns, sir. They're in the courtyard here and here."
When he pointed he turned to his commanders, "But there's a complication. They've taken the locals hostage and they're using them as shields."
"Scrapping cowards…" Ironhide muttered when heard that.
"The Twi'lek prisoners will make this difficult but not impossible." Obi-wan said in regards of being relieved that the citizens were still alive. Looking to the others Obi-wan told them, "I still have a good plan for taking out those guns."
Mace Windu then said, changing the mission parameters as par the Jedi Code, "Getting the villagers out of harm's way is our first priority. I have faith in you, General Kenobi."
"Cody, we'll go in with everything we have. Clear those hostages." Obi-wan told his clone commander, unaware that they were being watched by the enemy.
Cody went to tell the men to be ready as Springer asked, "Any signs of the cons in your location?"
"None that we've seen, but according to the scans of the damage our ships got, their cannons' must've been upgraded with Decepticon tech for more firepower and accuracy." Ironhide reported as he remembered the reports he got from the pilots of the dropships that returned to Windu's assault cruisers.
The three continued their patrol through the southern part of the village as they heard more clattering sounds of rocks shifting. Alerting them to an alleyway where, thinking it was enemies, went and got themselves ready for combat. The clones charged in until…
"It's just a little girl." Boil said, sounded annoyed and disappointed in the fact it wasn't a droid. It was a young Twi'lek girl who had teal colored skin, a traditional head wear for female twi'leks and a simple dress and foot wear. She was very thin for her age, as if she hadn't eaten in days.
Waxer, however, asked concerned, "What are we going to do with her?"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Why do we have to do anything?" Boil asked, not really seeing the benefit of doing that.
Walking closer to his best friend, he reminded, "We've got a mission to finish."
"We should do something." Waxer said, getting up before he suggested, "I say we take her with us."
"You can't possibly be serious." Their Autobot ally said, from the street, causing the three of them to turn to the direction of his voice.
Boil then added, "See, even the giant droid thinks that's a bad idea. Besides, she'll only slow us down."
"I never said that." The Autobot soldier said into the alleyway as he began to pick up something on his sensors. He was annoyed that Boil still called him a droid.
Boil rolled his eyes under his helmet as he saw the twi'lek girl hiding behind the crates, commenting, "Look, she's afraid of us."
Waxer however heard a low droning sound as he turned and alerted his best friend, "Not us. Quick, hide!"
The two hid from being seen by a recon droid, the usual spies of the Droid Army. The Autobot soldier had activated a rarely used cloak device that allowed the droid to think he wasn't there. After it left, Boil poked out and said, "That was a recon unit. We'd better get moving."
"We can't leave her here." Waxer told Boil, annoyed by his friend's willingness to leave a defenseless girl alone where the droids would get her or worse kill her.
"Fine, we'll take her." Boil sighed, reaching over to take her by the arm.
Seeing the girl looking at Boil with her eyes growing in fear, his friend said, "Be careful."
"Don't worry, Waxer. I don't think she's armed." Boil reassured his friend as he reached over to grab the girl. Only to receive pain as the girl bit his finger.
With a shout, Boil angrily exclaimed, "The little tail-head bit me!"
"Stop, you're scaring her." The Autobot told the clone trooper.
Waxer, agreeing with the Autobot, added, "She probably thinks we're droids."
He then cautiously lowered himself and his weapon and raised his arms as to show that he didn't mean any harm as he removed his helmet, to reveal his organic features to show the Twi'lek girl that he wasn't a threat, "It's all right. See? I'm flesh and blood, just like you."
"By primus… she looks half starved." The Autobot soldier said, his onboard cameras turning towards what he could see of the twi'let girl.
Boil pulled out a ration and handed it to Waxer, "Here."
Waxer accepted and handed the ration over to the girl who sniffed it cautiously before taking it out of his opened hand and began to eat it. Boil then took off his helmet and watched with a glad Waxer as the girl ate.
The girl looked up at the two, then to where she thought the third being was and said in Ryl, the native language of the people of Ryloth, "Nerra. Nerra. Nerra."
After the girl pointed to the two clone troopers, Waxer told her, "No, I'm Waxer. He's Boil."
"Nerra. Nerra." The girl said again pointing to the two clones.
Boil rolled his eyes as he said, sarcastically, putting his helmet on, "You made a friend. Mission accomplished."
"Can we go now? Come on, kid. Come on." Waxer said, standing up as he offered her his hand, after putting his own helmet on. However, the girl remained where she was and continued to eat the ration.
"Look, she doesn't even want to go." Boil told the two, getting impatient. He wanted to get back on mission. Seeing neither the Autobot nor his friend moving, he said, "Little monster was fine before we came along, so let's move."
Hesitantly, Waxer and the Auto-trooper followed to continue their mission, while the girl finished eating the ration and followed behind them.
TX-20 entered the structure behind the square and asked the battle droid, "Sergeant, are the creatures ready?"
"I starved them, like you ordered, sir. But are you sure they won't attack us?" The battle droid asked, worried. It knew how difficult it was to catch these dangerous native predators as well as to keep them from eating each other.
To prove that they were starving for food, one of the insectoid predators of Ryloth, a Gutkurr, began to bite on the bars of its cell.
"I will need to only test that validated theory." The tactical droid stated as it pressed the release button on one of the cages, a Gutkurr walked out and began tried to eat the battle droid that refused to feed it.
After not being able to get what it need for nourishment, it opened its mouth to let the droid drop before returning to its cage.
"Just as I calculated, the creatures need organic meat to sustain themselves, so we are relatively safe." TX-20 stated as it turned to leave.
The battle droid that had been released from being mauled, sat in the saliva that covered its armor and said, "Well that's a relief."
Stepping outside, TX-20 muttered, "If only the emir had allowed our position to be aided by the Decepticon forces instead of him keeping them in his position, then we would not need to use such primitive creatures."
Looking around at his command center, the droid officer stated, "Organics… always taking illogical courses."
As the three continued on their patrol, Waxer turned when he heard the familiar pants and steps of the twi'lek girl that he and his group found. He glanced back to see her following them before ducking out of sight. Looking to Boil for answers, he asked, "I wonder what happened to her family?"
"They're probably dead. Hopefully, she'll survive this mess." Boil replied as he kept moving, his eyes looking forward.
Waxer looked back in concern and saw her ducking behind a house' wall before peeking out to look at the two. Turning to his friend he asked, "So what happens to her? I mean, after we leave."
"I don't know." Boil stated, before seeing his friend glancing back at the Twi'lek girl and warned, "Don't get any ideas. We're not taking her with us."
The Autobot soldier, still in vehicle mode, turned his turret, which had an onboard camera system, to look back at the girl and told the arguing clone troopers, "Uh… fellas? She's gone."
The two clones stopped and stared to see the girl was indeed not there. They turned their heads every angle of where they came before Boil commented, "I'm sure the little biter will turn up."
As they turned, the girl was standing close by, surprising the three of them as Waxer knelt down and said, "Hey! There you are."
He then tapped her nose playfully which earned him some giggles from the girl.
"How'd she get in front of us?" Boil asked, confused at how the girl was able to get there.
The Autobot trooper however, said, "Beats me. I didn't detect anything."
Waxer felt something pulling on his blaster as he looked down at the girl calling, "Nerra! Nerra!"
She then pointed in the direction that the droid went and hurried ahead of them.
"No, don't go that way!" Waxer warned.
"Isn't that where the recon droid went." The autobot asked, concerned.
Waxer began to follow the twi'lek girl, but he was stopped by Boil who said, "Waxer, let her go."
"I'm not just going to let the droids get her." Waxer told his best friend before running after the girl.
"That makes two of us." The Autobot stated as he drove after him.
Boil watched the two leave as though they were crazy and called after them, "I'm just trying to keep you alive!"
He then chased after them muttering to himself, "Darned if I know why."
They three continued following the girl who seemed to lead them to a part of the village that had received most of the damage. As she ducked under some of the debris, the two clones jumped over it while the Autobot had to jump transform in order to keep from the droids from picking up his landing. He changeded back into vehicle mode and sped after them.
"Where's she going?" Waxer asked, wondering why the girl was leading them all this way.
The autobot drove up and said, "Where ever it is, it must be important to her."
"Keep your cpu on the mission, droid!" Boil snapped back, blaming Waxer's actions on the Autobot.
Before the Autobot could give a good comeback, Waxer sprinted ahead of the two calling out, "Wait! Hold on, there!"
They kept going until Waxer found the girl stopped in the center of a road that seemed deserted, "There you are."
Boil caught up and said after a sigh, "Good, you caught her."
"Thank Primus she's safe." The Autobot said after stopping himself from crashing into the three of them.
"You know, I have binders if we need 'em." Boil pointed out, earning incredulous looks from both Waxer and the Autobot trooper.
"What?" Boil asked, not understanding why they were looking at him that way.
Looking around, the four remained silent until Waxer felt a small hand enclosed around his as he looked down to see the teal twi'lek point to one of the empty houses. They began to walk slowly towards the house, or in the autobot's case, drove there.
Getting annoyed with this pointless game, Boil asked, "What are we doing here, anyway?"
They entered the demolished house with a large hole in the ceiling and wall. The autobot put himself on park as he watched from his onboard camera as Waxer sets his blaster down and proceeded to take off his helmet. Boil sat on the rocks as they watched the girl standing in the middle of the destroyed building.
"I guess this was her home." Waxer surmised by how the girl led them to this building out of the others.
Feeling sorry for the girl and everything that had happened to her, Waxer said to Boil, "Poor little thing, she lost it all."
He looked around before seeing something similar to a doll on the ground, putting his helmet next to his blaster, Waxer picked the doll up and dusted it off before going over and presented the doll to the girl. Who, through the tears forming in her eyes, took it back and began to cry, hugging it to her.
Feeling even more for the twi'lek girl, Waxer walked around so he was in front of her and said, kneeling down to be in eye level, "It's okay now. We're here to help."
The girl remained silent before running to hug Waxer, sobbing against his armor. He looked surprised at first before hugging her back in comfort.
Boil then went over, knelt down and said, trying to help make the girl feel better, "Don't cry, kid. We'll keep you safe. I… I promise."
The Twi'lek girl wiped the tears from her eyes as she turned to look at the other clone before running to hug him.
From outside, the Autobot soldier watched, feeling his spark aching as he wanted to let her know he will protect her too. However, because of how the Decepticons may have terrorized the citizens into fearing any Cybertronian despite faction, he didn't do anything, but watched. Despite the fact that the clones didn't understand a word of the Twi'lek's language or that she knew the Galactic Basic, she seemed to understand what emotions they were trying to convey to her and that made the Autobot soldier even more determined to help free Ryloth no matter the cost.
Back at the Ghost Company's command, Obi-wan approached his Clone Commander, "The men set, Cody?"
Sensing something wrong, Obi-Wan asked, "What is it?"
"Waxer and Boil are not responding." Cody told his general, "They never returned from scouting."
"Neither is the bot I sent with them in case there were cons." Ironhide told them. He was getting worried about what might've happened.
"That isn't like them." Obi-wan stated, knowing from previous mission on how good the two clones are when they work together. The Jedi Master knew that Ironhide had faith in the soldier he brought with him to secure the town in case of Decepticon involvement. He then theorized, "They may have run into trouble."
Turning to one of the other soldiers with them, Cody ordered, "Sergeant, use the high-powered transmitter, see if you can reach Waxer and Boil."
"Yes, sir!" The Sergeant saluted before going to carry out his order.
Obi-wan turned to Cody and said, loudly, "Let's get the rest of the men moving. The others will catch up."
Back in the town square, TX-20 got the video feed from the recon droid it had sent out to find out what the Jedi planned to do. According to the files on Obi-wan Kenobi, he was known for his deceptive maneuvers as well having a way of getting the tide to turn in his favor.
The information about the Autobot commander with Kenobi, provided by the Decepticons stated that Ironhide had high levels of physical strength as well as mental and emotional strength that made him a dangerous warrior to face in battle. However, the droid was confident that their new cannons would be able to break through the Autobot's tough armor.
"They are on the move." The droid commander stated before opening the comms. "Sergeant, the attack is coming. Release the beasts. It is time to execute my plan."
"Roger, roger." Was the reply it got. The droid sat and waited for its predictions to materialize as it calculated. Maybe then it would receive the Cybertronian upgrades, that a select few droids in a manufacturing series gain, as a reward to improve on its tactical ability.
While the Twi'lek girl continued to hug them, they heard the familiar beeping of their comms going off signaling one thing.
"It's the commander." Boil said as he got up, "We're way overdue, Waxer. We're going to end up polishing R2 units."
Just as Boil was about to reply, Waxer stopped him, "Wait! How are we going to explain all this? About her?"
"You're asking me?" Boil asked, a brow raised, pondering how ridiculous those questions sounded to the republic soldier.
While the two went to retrieve their gear, Waxer thought of something for their cover story, "Maybe if we hurry back, we can tell them we ran into a little trouble.
"Oh, that's for sure." Boil said, dryly.
"And our transmissions were jammed by the droids." Waxer added, picking up his gear.
"It's worth a try." Boil added after slipping his helmet on, "But mark my words, this will end badly."
The two exited the girl's house and began their way back to command. Before they got far, Boil stopped them, getting the feeling something was coming. The girl hid behind Waxer under she heard something that made her grab one of the clone troopers by the hand and exclaimed, "Gutkurr! Gutkurr!"
'Gutkurr?' the three of them thought as they heard hissing coming from the way they came from. Then they saw two of the tall insectoid predators of Ryloth snarling in their direction.
"I think I know why the kid never came back here." Boil said, getting his blaster ready. The girl ran inside the house and hid behind a big rock. Hugging her doll to her.
The Gutkurrs hissed before they charged in at their newly identified prey.
"You see what happens when we don't follow orders?" Boil asked, over the blaster fire, as he shot at the creatures. Groaning at seeing their weapons not doing much good on the Gutkurrs' shell, he shouted, "Let's get out of here!"
The two hurried back inside as the closest Gutkurr charged in, its head meeting with the closed door. It snarled as it began slamming its head agaisn the door to get at its new sources of food.
"These suckers won't give up!" Boil stated as it took both him and Waxer to keep the door from opening.
Waxer looked at his friend and said, "You grab the gun and I'll hold 'em back."
Boil did that as Waxer held out before the door was forced open and Boil fired on the Gutkurr's head. Though it cried in pain, it didn't do too much to it due to its hard shell.
As the two soldiers handled the insects, the Twi'lek ran to the rubble away from the hole in the wall of her home and began to move some debris. One of the creatures jumped through. Time seemed to have slowed down as a robotic arm reached inside, grabbed the Gutkurr and chucked it away from the girl. The Autobot trooper slammed his fist into the ground as he said to the clones, "Get her out of here!"
The two did just what the Autobot ordered as the carnivorous insects began attacking the bot and ignoring the organics for now. The girl was at first scared at seeing the large Cybertronian before realizing that the Autobot had saved her. This action made her murmur, "Alema."
Waxer grabbed the girl and hurried her into the underground tunnels as the Autobot finished off the Gutkurr that were after his comrades.
In the other part of the city, Obi-wan, Ironhide's team, and the rest of Ghost Company, began their march towards the square to free the Twi'lek citizens. The Autobots insisted on going with them to help destroy the cannons. So far things were quiet, too quiet… That's when an entire horde of Gutkurrs came stampeding in their direction. This caused Obi-wan to stare in horror. He didn't need the Force to know that they were hungry. Ironhide and the Autobot trooper with him activated their onboard blasters and began firing cover fire for the republic forces.
"Aim for their eyes!" One Clone Trooper shouted after seeing that their blaster fire wasn't penetrating their shells as the Autobots' shots are.
"Look out, look out!" Another cried out as the Gutkurrs came closer, causing the troopers to run from the carnivorous insects.
"Fall back! We'll take them down!" Ironhide ordered as he and the Autotrooper kept firing, their blasts doing more damage to the large insects than the republic forces' blasters. When they saw some of the troopers being surrounded or about to be killed they kicked or swatted the creatures away to save the clones' lives.
"The Republic ground troops have been routed, Emir." TX-20 stated its report to the Techno Union's Foreman. Its attention was to the familiar sounds of an explosion as the droid saw a thick cloud of smoke.
"What was that?" Wat Tambor asked, hearing the explosion from his end of the transmission.
"I calculate the remaining clones are attempting a desperate final offensive." The tactical droid informed his superior, "Their chances of success against us are 742-1."
"You had better be right." Wat Tambor warned, not in the mood for a failure after the captain of the blockade had abandoned his post to save his own hide as well as the Decepticon aerial support.
"I am a droid." The tactical droid stated, before saying, "I am always right."
Wat Tambor narrowed his eyes before stating, "We shall see."
Before ending the communications.
Back with Ghost Company, things would've been worse off if the two Autobots weren't there. Ironhide was able to toss the insects into the thick mountain walls when several began to swarm around one injured trooper. The Autobot trooper was able to shoot at the bugs until they stopped moving, even kicking some away from the Clone troopers that had lost their weapons. However, with there being more Gutkurrs than Autobots, Obi-wan reached out with the force and began to draw the attention of the aggressive creatures. They moved in a drowsy way that suggested that they seemed to have fallen under some sort of queen bee calling.
Seeing some off the troops were about to fire on the compelled Gutkurrs, Ironhide held his arm out front and said, "No, wait."
Obi-wan continued to lead them into a passage way that was somewhat narrow, enough for the Gutkurrs to follow the Jedi in pairs as they kept walking.
"By Primus…" The Autobot trooper said, never seeing anything before. He had heard the stories when he was brought back online from one of the Stasis pods onboard the Ark and was told of the situation.
"Incredible." A Clone trooper said, amazed by what he saw.
Cody looked back and said, "Quiet, rookies."
"Shoot the bridge!" Obi-wan ordered, feeling that he was not going to be able to keep them complacent for long.
Cody pointed at a stone bridge as many of his men began firing at it, trapping the creatures in. The loud crashing of the pieces snapped the Gutkurrs out of their trance, two charged for the Jedi Master. Obi-wan, using the Force, was able to jump over and evade their attacks until he leapt over the high rocky wall that now imprisoned the creatures.
"That was impressive Obi." Ironhide said, glad to see his partner safe.
Obi-wan took back his lightsaber from Cody, and said, "Thank you, Ironhide. But if you both were not here, I fear we would have lost many more lives…"
However, things became tense when all ears heard the sounds of an engine heading towards their way from where the creatures came from. Obi-wan activated his lightsaber when he heard the engines as well as a metal rattling. While Ironhide and his subnordinate took positions to shoot down the assuming sounds of a Decepticon soldier coming, Obi-wan and his men were ready for what they believed to be droids.
However, with the Force, Obi-wan sensed a familiar presence, and ordered at the same time as Ironhide saw familiar colors of the Autobot trooper that was on patrol, "Don't shoot."
The lid opened and Waxer and Boil climbed out around the same time that the Autobot trooper stopped before his relieved commander.
Though glad that his men were unharmed, Cody sternly addressed the saluting clones, "Waxer, Boil. Where have you two slackers been?"
Turning to the saluting Autobot soldier, Ironhide said, "Good Question."
Boil was the first to speak, "Sir, there is an explanation."
"A very good explanation, sir." The autobot soldier added as he saw the look on Ironhide's face.
"We got sidetracked." Waxer explained as the three lead the chorus of eyes to turn to the twi'lek girl who poked out from behind Boil.
Obi-wan smiled as he said, "I think I see what sidetracked you."
Kneeling down, Obi-wan spoke to the child, "Hello, little one."
The girl gasped and hid before looking out at the Jedi while Waxer explained to his commander about how they were able to catch up with the rest of the Company, "She brought us here through the tunnels and knows her way around them pretty good, sir."
Ironhide looked down and saw that the girl was at first surprised to see the Autobot but then smiled to him, causing the warrior to smile back.
Obi-wan spoke to the girl in Ryl, asking if she could lead them to where the Twi'leks awere being imprisoned. She agreed while pulling on Boil's arm. Looking up to his men Obi-wan translated, "The girl can lead us through the tunnel to the prisoners."
"Cody, Ironhide, we're going to need a diversion." Obi-wan said looking at Cody and the Autobots.
Ironhide grinned as he nodded, "You got it, Kenobi."
Obi-wan departed with Waxer and Boil as they followed the Twi'lek girl through the tunnel while Cody and the rest of Ghost Company rode to the square on the Autobots. When Obi-wan's group arrived they could see a few battle droids that had apparently been left to clean the cages.
"Yup, this is about the worst job in the droid army." The droid that was scrubbing the floor said to its fellow battle droids, unaware of their being cut down. Soon it heard the sounds of the Jedi's lightsaber cutting through their bodies.
"What? What?" The Droid asked, seeing the glare of the Jedi and twi'lek girl in his arm, before commenting, "And it just went into overtime."
The Jedi Master used the force to keep the droid trapped in the cell. This caused it look down at the floor in defeat.
The girl pointed to the sunlight at the end of the tunnel and told the Jedi something that made him move the girl over to Waxer, telling them, "I'll take care of this. You keep her here."
He made his way over to the stairs, raising his head a little to get a full sweep of the area as he gestured for Waxer and Boil to follow. Waxer set the girl down and went on ahead; Boil followed behind after giving the girl the "shhh" gesture, which she repeated and waited near the cages.
The three of them silently made their way to one of the statues in the square and waited.
"There they are, let's go!" Cody said, after spotting them, and began the attack.
Ironhide lead the charge on his end as he ordered, "Autobots, Attack!"
The droids began firing back in two directions, one at the Clone Company, the other at the three Autobots that were dealing with the majority of the tanks and droids to prevent more loss of life. The twi'leks in the square were, at first, scared when they saw the three Cybertronians there.
While the battle drew the attention of the droids guarding the Twi'lek prisoners, Obi-wan activated his lightsaber and cut down two droids effortlessly, leaving the last one to be shot down by the two clones. Helping one of the citizens up, Obi-wan used his lightsaber to cut the shackles on their wrists, one by one, until they were all free.
Obi-wan then led them back into the structure. However the battle was not going Cody's way as the AATs fired their weapons at the clones.
"Pull back! Pull back!" Cody ordered as the enemy firepower intensified. A lone battle droid, farthest from the battle turned and saw their prisoners escaping.
"Commander, we have a problem. The Jedi is freeing th- AAAHHHH!" The droid screamed as it was stepped on by Ironhide who spotted the droid squealing to its commander. Ironhide let out a not so innocent, "Oops."
However, it was too late as TX-20 understood what the message meant and had his AAT turned towards the center of the square and headed back.
Inside the structure that led into the tunnels, the twi'lek girl had waited, looking expectedly for someone until one of the Male Twi'leks saw the girl. He called her by her name, Numa, overjoyed to see she was all right. Numa ran to her male relative and they embraced after their long separation.
Once all the citizens were safe inside, Obi-wan ordered, "Waxer, Boil, come with me."
"We're with you, sir." Boil said, following his general as they approached one of the cannons. Obi-wan made quick work with the droids as he removed the droid in the control seat.
As he took the chair, Waxer and Boil went to the ammo insert port and placed the shell in the cannon, telling the Jedi, "Ready, General."
Once he heard that, Obi-wan fired at the pile of unprotected ammunition, destroying the cannons and any nearby droids.
"Setting Alpha five or six?" The battledroid in the remaining cannon asked, trying to get the cannon back from the human's control, however it didn't have much luck, "Where's the override?"
Obi-wan, guided by the Force, aimed and fired at the front leg of the fourth cannon, which made it fall forward and fired on the fifth, causing the ammunition pile next to it to explode. Just as Obi-wan had begun to feel as though it was a successful mission, a feeling of danger came to him, just as he heard the Autobot soldier that had been with Waxer and Boil, jump down from the square's high walls and warned, "General Kenobi, look out!"
The droid commander had reentered the square, firing at the Jedi master. It was only successful in the destruction of its only remaining cannon. It then fired the side cannons hitting the Autobot soldier in the back of its ankles, causing him to fall forward from the pain.
The twi'leks watched in fear. Unable to go anywhere with the Cybertronian there, still thinking it was the same as the ones that helped the Separatist conquer their planet. The only one who was brave enough to go out was the young girl, Numa.
She hurried to the dazed Waxer and tried to help him up, asking, "Nerra?"
After seeing that he was unharmed, Numa went to Kenobi and tried to help him as well.
"You lose, General Kenobi." TX-20 stated as he prepared to fire the AAT at the pair.
Seeing this, the Autobot soldier got up and cried out, "NO!"
He used all the speed that he could muster, he flung himself over and used himself as a shield when the main cannon of the AAT fired. The impact of the blast sent the Autobot soldier flying against the stone wall, causing his visor to develop cracks and scratches on his armor. Everyone present stared in shock at this. The Twi'leks in particular as they originally thought that the Cybertronians with the Jedi were the same as the ones that aided in the conquering of their planet.
"Alema!" Numa cried out, worried, seeing what the Autobot had done for her and the Jedi. She was held back by the Jedi who did not want her to rush blindly into the line of fire.
The Tactical Droid just gave a monotone evil laugh as it prepared to finish the two at its mercy.
This action taken by the Autobot had been the final step for the Twi'leks to rush out and charged towards the AAT. Their shouts and cries for freedom and fighting was heard by the Tactical droid.
TX-20 seemed to not be able to understand what was happening as it continued to repeat three words, trying to find logic in how its calculations could had been wrong, "Does not compute. Does not compute. Does not compute. Does not compute."
Even as they climbed up to force the droid out of the hover tank and onto the floor, it repeated those words while the mob continued to beat at it until they were able to tear it apart. Obi-wan attempted to shield the young girl's eyes from the violence, but it was to no avail; she saw the droid be torn apart.
Ironhide and Cody's squad came in to check on everyone while the two Autobots checked on their injured comrade. Everyone watched in concern, even as the Republic assault ships began landing around their village.
As the field medic fixed the soldier up, Obi-wan waited with Ironhide for Master Windu and Springer. He saw them approaching with Cody, who had escorted them to meet with his general.
"Great job getting rid of those cannons." Windu said. Congratulating his fellow master, they began to walk forward.
Now we have a more difficult objective. We must take the capital and free this world.
Waxer approached the watching Numa and patted her head affectionately, "See ya later, little one."
"Hey, Numa." Numa turned to see Boil standing there as he said, "...Stay out of trouble."
Numa went over and hugged him tightly. Guessing as to why, Boil told the girl, "Don't be afraid. We'll be back."
After Boil said his good-byes he went and joined Waxer and Master Kenobi as they prepared their march towards their next mission.
Numa was joined by the relative that turned out to be her uncle who knelt down next to her and gave her an assuring hug. She then waved to them calling out the twi'leki words she called the two clones and autobot soldier.
"Sir, what is that she keeps calling us?" Boil asked, still not understanding the Twi'lek's language.
Leaning towards the Jedi, the Autobot trooper, asked, "Yeah, what do those words mean?"
Smiling to himself, Obi-wan looked back and told them, "Nerra and Alema. They mean 'brother' and 'protector'."
The two clones stared at each other surprised by that. Amused, they waved back to the girl before they continued their march. The Autobot soldier, however, stared in surprise. He looked back to the twi'leks. If he had a mouth he would smile. He waved to the girl as he rejoined his brothers-in-arms to do everything he could to free the homeworld of the girl who gave him a name that suited him.
(And now the second part of the Ryloth trilogy is complete. The damage that the Decepticons have done to instill fear into the Twi'leks almost prevented those villagers from helping Ironhide's small team. Lets just hope the rest of the citizens of Ryloth will see the truth about the Autobots.
The next chapter is the finale of the Ryloth trilogy. Find out what will happen next time in: Liberty on Ryloth.)