Chapter 27

Pantora – Republic Camp

The first words that Caloc heard were: "So, what's the plan?"

It was phrased by one of the holographic figures hovering around the table when he, A'sharad, Barris and Anakin entered. The tent was overstuffed with personnel. Mace and Kit stood at the main table, leading the meeting, while the Mon Calamari padawan Nahdar Vebb standing patiently behind them. A massive hologram of Pantora's globe hovered before them. Around the table stood their fellow Jedi. Aayla, Stass, Obi-Wan and Luminara, each wearing their long Jedi robes over their uniforms, were spread amongst the soldiers watching on. Beside them were three holograms. Admiral Yularen was standing tall and imposing, stroking his moustache. One of the others was Mark Antilles, his buddy from Taris, dressed down in his old pilot's uniform. The last was a man that Caloc did not recognise.

He had been the one to speak. His voice was low and gruff, and he seemed to slouch against an unseen console in the background. The man had a neatly trimmed beard and long, unkept hair. That was unusual, seeing as he wore a navy uniform. The insignia plague on his breast labelled him as a lowly sergeant. Interesting that he would be permitted to a meeting meant for the top brass.

Yularen spoke in response to the man's question now, "My teams are still searching for the scrambling satellite, Sergeant O'Connelly. We can't find it using conventional methods, but I have faith in Captain Antilles. His men are the best in the fleet, can fly circles around any of the other squadrons."

"You're flattering me, sir.", Mark spoke up. He was in his piloting gear, a green jumpsuit with a life support box attached to the centre of the chest. A heavy helmet was slung under his arm. "I have had my squadrons doing a grid search sector by sector. We are almost done combing through the entire system, with no luck. There are two possibilities that I have come up with. One is that the static shell is actually portable, attached to a ship or a portable droid station. The other is that it is not actually a satellite, but a facility hidden on Orto Plutonia. In the morning, I will be leading a reconnaissance team down there to search the planet, and I would like Torres Squadron to join us. If you would like to join us, sergeant, you are welcome. The Imbredin is always welcome along for the ride."

The Imbredin, as Caloc remembered, was one of the Republic shuttles. The pilot was known for going further into hotspots than advised, and the 'top brass' of the military were always cautious when they had to fly aboard the craft.

"Understood.", Mace acknowledged the pilot with a nod, then turned back to the other uniformed officer standing there. "Yularen, do you have an update on the status of the wounded that will be travelling with you?"

"We can have them on board within the next two days, Master Jedi.", the man bowed slightly before straightening again, "Possibly sooner, but I don't want to elevate any hopes. The unloading of the nonessential equipment is complete, the fighters are now staying at Papanoid airfield in Gronas. Three of the other squads have been assigned to various airfields around the capitol until you can make a fortified airfield nearer to the camp. The more serious cases are being loaded into the Resurrection's hanger as we speak."

"That's good work, Admiral.", Kit nodded, before turning back to the crowd. "We are going to be sending protection details with food to the other communities hit soon. Unfortunately, we have been forced to use the train lines, one of the only available transportation methods for such large convoys. This means that we need to be on guard. I will be placing one or two Jedi with each convoy as they travel, as well as a senate commando with each squad of regular troopers. Captain Taggart, that means that you and your men will need to be separated."

Acknowledgements echoed around the room from the dozen or so soldiers and squad leaders squeezed into the tent. One of the Senate commandos, his armour marked with white, nodded a bit more curtly than the rest, Captain Taggart, Caloc assumed.

"We have one more item to discuss.", Mace spoke to the group collectively now. "The Pantoran Assembly are sending their Senator to Coruscant to ask for more aid and a military presence around this system. I am assigning a security detail, led by Jedi Knight Stass Allie."

"Excuse me?", Stass looked incredulously at him. Clearly, this was the first she had heard of it. "Why me?"

Windu stared at her. "Because I decided that you would be going back to Coruscant with him."

His Master's face visibly fell for a micro second before she got it under control and returned to a neutral smile. Caloc shook his head in disbelief. It wasn't the fact that they were being sent back to Coruscant. He had been expecting one of the Jedi to try and force them offworld ever since the ships went down. Some of his colleagues still saw him as an 'injured' Jedi who should only be given the menial tasks. But what annoyed both him and Stass was the fact that they were being sent back with a Senate entourage. It made it impossible to say no.

Kit cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention, "However, before that, you will be in charge of the first shipment. Luminara and Stass are rostered on to take supplies to Dunlain, one of the closer cities. I have also assigned A'sharad to transport supplies to Turret."

The Tuskenish man had moved back to the shadows across the room. He was conversing with an insectoid Melitto soldier. Their conversation was rather intense, both nodding sagely, but he turned and gave a sound of acknowledgment before turning back to the Melitto's carapace-looking mask.

"Is everyone clear on their duties?", Mace asked. A series of acknowledgement echoed around the crowd, except for two voices, who called a clear No over everyone else. He ignored them and nodded, turning away, "This meeting is adjourned."

The soldiers began to mill about, gradually walking back towards the tent entrance. Each of the holographic officers flickered out, leaving just the orb of Pantora hanging and flickering in the room. Naturally, the Jedi milled into a few groups, all in the same corner of the tent. Caloc hurried over to join Aayla, Fay and Stass as they congregated on the far side of the tent, against the canvas covering. He leapt underneath the large table, sliding across the floor to stand beside his teacher.

Aayla was talking, "What of Bultar and Quinlan? They didn't say anything about them."

Fay answered, shaking her head, "There was nothing to report."

"Bultar would not stay out there if there was nothing to report.", Stass muttered. It went mostly unheard by the others, save for her apprentice.

Caloc awkwardly cleared his throat, getting their attention. "Master, what can I do to get prepared for our journey?"

The three Jedi turned to look at him, and Aayla's face split into a fierce grin. "Caloc! How are you? Feeling well?"

"A little tired and sore, but nothing to worry about, Aaylcura.", he used her Twi'lek Clan name to answer, "How are you going?"

Her grin faded slightly at his response. During her recovery and training sessions with Caloc, she had noticed that his arm's bioelectrical properties had become erratic the more sleep he missed. She listened closely now, and her lekku twitched with concern as she heard the electric crackle through his black, full-arm glove.

'How long has it been since he slept a full night?', she wondered. But she hid her thoughts and simply nodded, giving him a half believable answer before she excused herself. Hurrying over to Rig Nema, who stood with Luminara and Mace, she repeated her concerns.

Rig frowned at the description, "A little tired is indeed concerning, Aayla. Caloc was just away from the planet onboard the Resurrection. Anyone else would be feeling rested. The fact that he doesn't means that he is still feeling tired from either a training session or he might still be feeling pain from the action during our landing. I have learned that it seemed to linger with him."

"Perhaps it could be the emotions he feels on this world?", Mace suggested. "Absorbing the grief of everyone else?"

The women stared at him in surprise, and he shrugged, "What? I read the briefings you send me."

"What would you recommend, Rig?", Luminara asked the doctor. She hadn't been privy to the secure medical records regarding Caloc's condition, but still kept an eye on what she could. The boy fascinated her. With the amount of stress his arm had to be giving his body, it was wonder he could stand at all. "A full scan? Something in the brain?"

Windu and Aayla stared at Rig worried, waiting for her answer. She thought through her responses, "No, I think rest will do for now. Sending him back to Coruscant was a good idea, Mace. A relaxing trip through hyperspace will allow him the rest he requires. I believe that he'll need it."