Rryatt Trail, Kashyyyk - Mid Rim
3rd person POV...
A firefight lit up the darkening forests of Kashyyyk as a team of resistance fighters attempt to flee from pursuing Imperial forces. A few minutes ago, the escaped Wookiee camp had been caught off guard by a sudden ambush. Several fighters and wookiees make an effort to hold their ground and resist the Imperial forces, but they keep losing more as time goes on.
Tarfful, the leader of the wookiee resistance, barked orders at a few of his soldiers for a flanking maneuver, to which they readily moved into position. Armed with his rifle, Tarfful fires upon a wave of advancing stormtroopers and takes out three of them before he's forced to duck behind a tree for cover. Beside him, an unfortunate wookiee gets gunned down and he snarls in frustration.
"How'd they find us here?!" Mari Kosan exclaims incredulously, ducking behind cover.
Tarfful bellows a response and peeks out, taking a shot at another stormtrooper before moving back.
"If we can't hold this position, we need to retreat!" she calls out.
The Wookiee chieftain growls, shying away from a laser blast. Mari peeks out of her cover and, spotting an opening, bolts out at a sprint towards Tarfful's position, firing her blaster wildly in the process. Several stormtroopers fire upon her as a result, both sides missing for a few moments until one laser bolt pierces Mari's leg. She cries out in pain and falls down into a roll, luckily reaching Tarfful's position at the same time and the wookiee hauls her behind the tree trunk.
"Dank farrik!" Mari hisses through her teeth, clutching her leg.
The squad of advancing stormtroopers moves very close to their position now when all of a sudden a thermal imploder sends them all sprawling. The wookiees Tarfful sent out to flank the enemy swing in on a few vines, tackling a few troopers on their way to the ground. Tarfful roars and charges out to assist them while Mari provides cover fire from her position.
Upon reaching the closest batch of stormtroopers Tarfful swings his rifle like a bat and sends one sprawling, grabbing another and tossing him away. The other two whip around to shoot him but are swiftly gunned down by Mari.
Although another wookiee is brought down by a few shots from stormtroopers, it isn't very long before the small troop of soldiers is defeated by the rampaging wookiees. Mari steps out from her position once all of the troopers are down, walking over with a heavy limp while Tarfful surveys the scene with a low growl.
"No way that's the end of it," Mari says anxiously.
Tarfful voices his agreement.
As if responding to their conversation, a second wave of Imperial forces makes their presence known from the road leading up to the camp, this time supported by a few AT-ST walkers. The resistance group all roar at the sight of the approaching platoon.
"Kriff," Mari groans. "Chief, we have to fall back!"
Tarfful snarls angrily in frustration but agrees with her statement and he gives the order to the others to scatter and meet back at base camp. At that moment the walkers open fire, sending explosive red bolts hurtling their way. The group of wookiees separate and make a rush for the treeline and Tarfful hauls Mari up onto his back to carry her because of her injury.
The Imperials chase after the wookiees but aside from one that they manage to shoot down the rest evade their pursuers, utilizing their knowledge of the forest environment as an advantage to flee.
Ittummi, Kkowir forest - Kashyyyk
After managing to escape the Empire through the dense forest, the group of wookiees gradually returned to their small base nearby in Ittummi. As they emerged from the forest and into the village their presence was quickly noted by many of the inhabitants. A few of the non-wookiees among the group, mostly current or former members of the Partisans, moved away from their work to greet the arrivals with a lot of concern.
"What happened?" Idryssa Barruck immediately asks.
Mari Kosan, who had been carried the whole way, is gently set down by Tarfful. Idryssa and Xosad Hozem quickly move to help support her and lead her to a nearby crate to sit.
"Aw, don't tell me―!" Tivik cries out in realization.
"It was an ambush. They've taken all the territory by the camp," Mari informs them.
Idryssa opens up a medical kit and starts applying a bacta patch to Mari's wound, and she hisses in pain at the touch.
"Kriffing farrik," Xosad scowls. "We're crumbling like dominos."
Choyyssyk and Katara approach the group and the former responds to Xosad with a few grunts. Tivik scoffs and throws his hands up in exasperation.
"Where could we possibly have left to go?" he demands.
Choyyssyk and Tarfful share a wary glance with each other before the chieftain responds, and everyone else who understood gapes at him in alarm.
"No! No farricking way!" Tivik exclaims.
"What?" Xosad asks, having not understood.
"He's suggesting we take refuge in the Shadowlands," Mari explains.
Xosad does a double take in astonishment.
"The Shadowlands?!" he repeats incredulously.
Tarfful growls out an explanation about the Empire not having a presence there, but it isn't enough to satisfy the others.
"Which is why we won't do any better!" Idryssa says.
Katarra offers up her own reservations and unease to her fellow wookiees about the idea, to which Choyyssyk expresses his own argument.
"It's also the most likely to get us killed!" Tivik snaps at him in aggravation.
Tarfful puts forth his own agreement with Choyyssyk's reasoning but Katarra shakes her head with a frustrated growl and gestures frantically to a nearby hut.
"If we're careful enough I'm sure Lowbacca won't be noticed by the Tree," Mari reasons with her.
"You don't know that!" Tivik exclaims. "It's not natural, that tree! It'll find the kid!"
"Aren't you being a little superstitious?" Xosad asks him.
"How else to you explain a kriffing tree that eats people, Xosad?!" he retorts angrily.
Choyyssyk growls at him, stating that there's no other way to survive.
"Not yet," Idryssa interjects with a shake of her head. "My contacts have recently told me that reinforcements are being sent our way."
The group all share surprised, yet hopeful looks with each other.
"Reinforcements?" Mari asks.
"Saw finally decided to help us out, huh?" Xosad grumbles.
"No, it's not him," Idrysssa responds. "The Alliance is helping us."
Xosad looks up at her, more pleased at the news this time.
"Since when?!" Tivik gapes in bewilderment.
"Since now," she deadpans.
Tarfful growls a question at her and she shrugs, slightly unsure.
"Two rotations, maybe less," she says.
"Any idea what they're bring us?" Mari asks.
"No. But I'd rather we risk waiting and gain something than leave base camp for the Shadowlands with nothing," she states.
Tivik and a few others quickly nod in agreement while Choyyssyk looks at his chieftain questioningly, the latter contemplating with a deep frown. Eventually he concedes to Idryssa's argument with a few grunts of approval before heading off.
"At least some things are looking up now," Xosad comments.
Knight Hawk, Hyperspace - Mid Rim
For the mission to Kashyyyk, Rex and Boil selected a group of special rebel soldiers that suited the purpose of the job quite well: about 20 rebel shock troopers.
Much of the team were in the ships main cabin, clustered around the dejarik board to cheer on two the opponents. The team leader watched from her own corner with a small drink in her hand. She shook her head with a small scoff as a chorus of shouts erupted from a particularly bold move on the game board, resulting in a win. As she's watching the game the two clone troopers in charge of the mission approach her spot and sit in nearby chairs.
"So, Carasynthia Dune, right?" Rex asks her.
"Just Cara is fine," she replies with a nod, taking a sip of her drink.
"Short, simple. I like it," Boil remarks, to which she shrugs in reply.
"Thanks. Gotta say, I wasn't expecting to be recruited for an op under Shan's command," she admits.
"You can thank me for that," Rex says.
"Huh," Cara scoffs, placing her drink down and crossing her arms curiously. "What's so special about little old me?"
"The word is your team has got quite the knack for getting things done," he explains. "Your exploits on Iakar were particularly impressive."
"Oh, come on, I barely had a hand in that," she says dismissively.
"Oh yeah?" Boil scoffs. "Clearing out an entire company of troopers with nothing but your bare hands sounds like a lot more than 'barely.'"
Cara rolls her eyes but acknowledges him with a small grin, somewhat sheepish.
"I had a grenade too," she adds.
"Geez, Cara, no need to be so humble!" a soldier calls out. "That makes the rest of us feel like dead weight."
There's a murmur of agreement from the group while Cara scoffs at him.
"Just you, Ulvac," she retorts.
Ulvac holds his hands up in mock offense while the rest of the team laughs.
"Ouch. That hurts, bro," he says.
"Back on the bench!" Cara replies.
"Fine, fine," he waves his hand at her, moving to take a seat at the game. "I'm up next to crush Sen in dejarik anyways."
"As if!" the soldier in question retorts, also taking a seat at the game.
Up in the cockpit of the Knight Hawk the owners of the ship all sat in their chairs, listening to the resident astromech grumble up a storm.
"I really don't see what the big fuss is," Jarik sighs.
R5 beeps back at him and he shrugs.
"And where would you suggest they stay during the flight? The reactor room?" he asks sarcastically.
"Force, you're so stingy," Mara comments with an amused scoff. "It's not like we're setting the ship down in an even more 'foresty' place than back home."
R5 squeals at her in aggravation but she only rolls her eyes while Ahsoka shakes her head with an exasperated sigh.
"Have you been to Kashyyyk yet?" she asks curiously.
"No," Mara replies. "What's it like there?"
"We haven't been either, but I did make some friends with some wookiees once during the War," Ahsoka tells her.
"I'll say," Jarik scoffs, still not fond of that incident.
"That's when you were, kidnapped, right?" Mara asks, frowning.
Ahsoka nods in confirmation.
"Not the best decision on the kidnapper's part," she remarks. "Much less to pair me up with a wookiee."
"No kidding," Mara says in agreement.
"In any case, Kashyyyk is a huge forest, of course, but the way Chewbacca described it would put even some Coruscant skyscrapers to shame," Ahsoka explains.
"Seriously?" Mara gapes at her. "No way that's true."
"It's true," Jarik confirms.
"What?! How do trees even grow that big?" she asks incredulously.
Ahsoka and Jarik both look at each other and shrug their shoulders while R5 beeps quietly.
"Fair enough." she sighs.
There's a few moments of silence before she speaks up again.
"So... got a sense of what we're up against?" she asks cautiously.
Ahsoka frowns and closes her eyes, stretching her senses out into the Force. Jarik waits patiently whereas Mara is a little anxious. Eventually Ahsoka opens her eyes again and shakes her head.
"No. This entity is elusive in the Force," she says.
"While we're looking for it, I'd recommend you follow Boil and Rex's lead," Jarik tells Mara. "Something tells me you'll be needed."
"Should I be concerned?" Mara asks warily.
"Careful," he corrects her.
Kashyyyk - Mid Rim
Upon arriving out of hyperspace, much more distant from the planet to keep clear of Imperial scanners, the Jedi swiftly moved to analyze their situation. Established in a blockade of Kashyyyk was a small fleet of five Star Destroyers.
Taking note of the fleet and its positioning, Ahsoka began an approach with a rapid burst of speed before quickly shutting off the engines to allow gravity and the ship's momentum to due to rest. At the same time, Jarik made sure to turn off the ship's power grid, as well as R5, effectively making them dead in space.
The three watched in relative silence for the next few minutes as they approached the Imperial fleet. Fortunately, without any electrical signals the Knight Hawk appeared on Imperial scanners as nothing more than a large meteorite moving through space.
"Classic," Jarik murmurs in amusement.
Mara nods her head in agreement.
Kkowir forest, Kashyyyk - Mid Rim
After setting the Knight Hawk down in an obscure clearing in the forest, a bit of a distance from their destination, the rebel soldiers quickly got to work in unloading the supplies that will be given to the wookiees. After pushing the crates out on repulsor lifts the team prepped their gear while Rex stepped forward.
"Ok, listen up. We got a little ways to go before we find the resistance," he informs the group. "Everyone stay together and don't let your guard down. Understood?"
"Loud and clear, sir!" Cara calls out, and the rest all voice their agreement.
"Alright then, lets move!" Rex states.
The three Jedi, all wearing dark cloaks, pull their hoods over their heads and move forward a little bit ahead of the group.
"Y'all good?" Jarik asks Boil.
"Never better, commander," he replies confidently.
Sending him a small grin, Jarik rushes ahead into the trees with his family while the rest of the group move after them.
On their journey through the dense forest Jarik, Ahsoka, and Mara would alternate their position from time to time in order to be on the lookout for any potential danger to the company. One of them would be on the ground ahead of the rebels, one would be above them on the branches to their right, and the other to their left. While switching places, Mara takes a moment to express her thoughts with the other two.
"You were right about the trees, Mom," she says, somewhat tired. "They're massive."
"They sure are," Ahsoka nods in agreement.
"Off topic, are you sure it's a good idea to just leave our ship behind?" she asks.
"R5 is watching it," Ahsoka reminds her.
"Exactly my point. He's not exactly subtle," Mara says skeptically.
"He also doesn't take chances when it comes to the Knight Hawk," Jarik points out.
"Fair enough," she sighs in acknowledgement.
The trio quickly separate again, Ahsoka remaining on the ground this time. Meanwhile, the company of soldiers remain tense and alert while trekking through the dense terrain. Ulvac moves forward a bit to walk beside Cara with a questioning look.
"So, what's our goal again?" he asks carefully.
"I'm not even going to justify answering," she grumbles in reply. "You were at the briefing."
"Well, yeah, I got that part," he scoffs back at her. "But there's no way is this any old reinforcement run. Since when did that need three Jedi?"
Cara frowns, begrudgingly acknowledging his point, but still pushes on with a small shrug.
"Hey, that's not my business," she states.
"It should be if we're risking our necks," he argues.
"Is there a problem here?" Rex asks, having noticed the conversation.
"No, sir, just curious," Ulvac answers truthfully.
Boil also moves up with a smile on his face.
"Well, if it all goes well then we got nothing to worry about," he says confidently.
Shortly after, however, the company swiftly comes to a stop when they spot Ahsoka ahead of them standing silently in place. She has a fist held up in the air which prompts the soldiers to halt their progress and tense up in anticipation of a threat.
There's silence for a long while as the soldiers all look around themselves anxiously.
Suddenly the silence is broken by a chorus of roars and squawks and Ahsoka takes a few steps when a large mylaya leaps forward through the vegetation and snarls at her. A few soldiers quickly aims their weapons before noticing several other mylaya's appear around them.
"Hold!" Rex calls out before anyone panicked, noting that Ahsoka had made no move to defend herself.
Riding the mylaya's are Wookiee warriors armed with rifles and bowcasters. The lead Wookiee roars at Ahsoka but she calmly lifts her hands and pulls back her hood.
"It's all right. We're friends," she greets.
The Wookiee narrows his eyes and lets out a surprised growl as both Jarik and Mara drop down to the ground several feet away from Ahsoka on either side, also removing their hoods.
Soon enough, however, the confusion and the wariness of the wookiees quickly dawns into joyful realization, and they let out hopeful cries.
Ittummi, Kkowir forest - Kashyyyk
The Wookiee patrol led the company of rebels back to their city, where they immediately got to work in distributing the supplies. During the process Tarfful came by to greet the rebels and, upon spotting Ahsoka he lets out a joyous roar and wraps in a big bear hug, much to everyone's surprise.
"Woah!" she yelps.
Tarfful sets her down and growls at her in conversation with a twinkle in his eyes.
"You remember me?" Ahsoka asks.
He nods his head.l and continues talking while Mara leans over to Jarik.
"Do you understand wookiee?" she asks quietly.
"Not as well as her," he admits. "But that's alright."
Ahsoka reacts to Tarfful's explanation with pleasant surprise and grins.
"Oh! No wonder you seemed familiar! I should be thanking you as well for coming to our aid," she tells him. "How is Chewbacca these days?"
Tarfful growls a response and she nods her head in understanding.
"Hopefully," she remarks.
Remembering her family she turns to wave them over.
"Chief Tarfful, this is my husband, Jarik, and our daughter, Mara," she introduces them.
"Pleasure to meet you, chief," Jarik greets. "I've heard a lot of good about you."
Tarfful responds with a few grunts and then sports a faint grin.
Meanwhile, a lot of the other rebels struck up conversation with the allied Partisans to discuss the current situation with the Empire's hold over Kashyyyk.
"You lot have certainly been in the mud lately," Cara remarks after getting an understanding of it all.
"You have no idea," Mari sighs.
"Would be nice if we got help sooner," Tivik says.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ulvac frowns at him irritably.
Tivik raises his hands placatingly.
"Hey, I'm just saying..." he replies.
Ulvac rolls his eyes.
"He's not exactly wrong," Idryssa speaks up in Tivik's defense. "We don't have much ground left thanks to the Imperial commander."
As the group were conversing with each other, the Jedi and a few wookiees move over and listen in.
"So what's your plan to take em out, then?" Cara was asking.
"Unfortunately, it isn't that simple," Xosad replies.
"Sure it is!" Ulvac interjects. "Just a quick infiltration and then..."
He makes a throat slicing gesture for emphasis and Xosad regards him with a deadpan expression.
"I'll correct myself: it's not that easy," he retorts.
"I'm not surprised," Rex chimes in, frowning. "Cody's one of the best of the best out there."
"You're familiar with him?" Mari asks in surprise.
"Oh yeah," Boil replies. "He was my commander during the War. We worked with him often."
Choyyssyk growls an unhappy response.
"What'd he say?" Xosad asks.
"'Fantastic, our enemy is a clone,'" Tivik translates, sharing the sentiment.
"I thought the clones were all phased out?" Cara frowns questioningly.
"Guess Cody was good enough for the Empire to keep around," Boil says bitterly.
"Guess so," Idryssa replies with a grim look.
Choyyssyk speaks up again and Mari nods in agreement.
"He's right. Cody may be the strategist, but General Kahdah is the one keeping the pressure on us," she states. "Both of them have to go."
Rex lets out a troubled sigh, sharing an uneasy look with Boil.
"If that's what it takes," he concedes.
"So... where's all the manpower for this?" Ulvac asks, looking around.
"Come on, Ulvac," Cara says, lightly punching his shoulder. "You were so eager for this idea."
"I am, I'm just not stupid either," he retorts. "We didn't exactly bring an army."
Tarfful growls and shakes his head at the suggestion, and Chossyyk voices his own agreement before pondering what to do next.
"I think we go with what the commando here suggested: taking out Imperial command," Mari determines.
"Great! Great," Tivik nods, frowning. "How are we gonna do that?"
"Infiltration op," Cara shrugs as if it were obvious. "Where's their main base of operations?"
Choyyssyk answers and Mari translates for him.
"He said there's a command post in Kachirho city that General Kahdah often frequents," she says.
Lurking in the shadows close by to the conversation taking place, and Imperial probe droid watches silently.
"That complicates things," Rex frowns, crossing his arms. "The city is up in the air in plain sight. We can't just sneak in."
"And they have a good view," Boil adds. "Kriffers picked a good spot."
"So we can't infiltrate," Xosad deduces.
"We could cause a distraction. Draw their forces out," Cara suggests.
"No, it's too obvious," Boil shakes his head. "Cody would see it coming."
"Clone or not, he's still Imperial. They have a habit of overlooking things," Ulvac argues.
"Not in this case, I'm afraid," Jarik interjects. "Cody has a very practical mindset, and he's just as skilled in infiltration as he is in open warfare. He'd know what you're up to."
There are a few frowns shared amongst the group.
"So what do you suggest?" Idryssa asks him.
Mara had been listening quietly for most of the conversation, but at that question an idea quickly popped into her head.
"What about a strike from the air?" she suggests.
"How would we get in the air?" Tivik demands.
Tarfful barks out a suggestion in response and Tivik gapes at him in disbelief. The rest of the group who understood also express surprise before contemplating the possibility.
"You're joking, right?" Tivik asks.
"I think he's onto something," Ahsoka chimes in. "If you want to fool Cody, then you have to take a gamble."
"It's a crazy idea," Rex admits. "But that's why he wouldn't suspect it at first. Fortunately, my battalion specialized in crazy."
Boil rolls his eyes at the clone captain while Jarik and Ahsoka both share an amused look, although there's also a sparkle in their eyes as if in challenge.
"Hey, we had our fair share of crazy," Boil tells Rex.
"Not now, guys," Jarik sighs.
'Rex isn't wrong though,' Ahsoka says.
'Not you too,' he gives a mental sigh, to which she smiles at him.
"Alright, so say we agree to this crazy plan. How're we gonna pull it off?" Xosad asks cautiously. "Is it even possible?"
Choyyssyk voices his support for the plan.
"And you're sure there's a path we can follow? For a group as big as we need?" Mari asks.
Tarfful growls in confirmation and Tivik groans in begrudging defeat to the whole idea.
"Y'all are crazy, y'know that?" he grumbles.
"I don't know what the plan is but I like it," Mara grins.
Amidst the conversation, Idryssa regards the rebel clone troopers with a wary gaze.
"And are you okay with this?" she questions Rex directly.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"We're neutralizing General Kahdah and Commander Cody. That's our mission," she states firmly with an intense look. "Can we trust you to do what needs to be done?"
Both troopers, as well as Jarik and Ahsoka, acknowledge the gravity of the question. Boil and Rex both look at each other in heavy thought for a long while until the former finally responds for the both of them.
"If... if that's what it takes to win this war," he says grimly.
Mari then turns to look at Jarik.
"And you?" she asks.
"I'm not fond of killing Cody," he admits with a heavy sigh. "But it's not my call to make."
Idryssa nods in satisfaction.
"I'll take it," she says.
"I don't know about you guys, but working with a Jedi is gonna be fun," Ulvac then states with a grin.
"You're right about that one," Boil agrees.
"Mara will be joining you, but we have something else to take care of," Jarik admits.
The assembled group all share startled and bewildered looks with each other at the news.
"Like what?" Cara asks.
"We sensed a disturbance in the Force, originating from here," Ahsoka explains. "Whatever caused it is powerful and dangerous, and we can't risk it causing more damage than it already has."
The wookiees and Partisan's expressions all darken immediately at her statement, a haunted look passing through Tarfful's eyes.
"I'm assuming you have an idea of what it is?" Jarik asks, noticing the shift in attitude.
Tarfful murmurs a quiet answer in response and Ahsoka furrows her brow.
"The Weeping Tree?" she says, and he nods.
Choyyssyk growls nervously and explains a little bit more, and Rex stares at him with wide eyes.
"An entire Wookiee tribe?" he asks in alarm. "What is this thing?"
"Who cares?" Tivik exclaims. "Why would you even want to go NEAR it?!"
"Someone's gotta stop it," Mara shrugs.
"Yeah, no, the smart thing is to stay away from it, kid," he argues.
"Do you have any idea where the Tree came from?" Jarik asks.
"No clue," Mari shakes her head. "It just appeared in the Shadowlands one day."
"Dark magic," Tivik mutters.
Tarfful speaks up then and the Jedi listen intently. As he goes on, Ahsoka's eyes get wider. By the end of Tarfful's statement both she and Jarik are extremely uneasy and worried.
"What'd he say?" Cara asks, noticing their reaction.
"Uh... I think he's saying the Tree might have been a... Jedi... once," Mari replies.
Kachirho, Kashyyyk - Mid Rim
Within the city built up into the trees, Imperial leadership sat at work in the command center. Around a holotable in the center of the room stood General Kahdah, a strong towering man with blonde hair. He surveyed the holographic map in front of him with tense eyes while listening to the latest report from Commander Cody.
"We've taken the escapees camp and the surrounding forest," the commander was saying. "It'll take some time, but eventually we'll have them."
The Clone Commander stood straight and proud, exuding strength and discipline even in his old age, which is readily apparent thanks to his gray hair wrinkled face. Still, if one knew him well enough they could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
Kahdah follows along with Cody's report and takes a few moments to contemplate the information, leaning forward against the table.
"And Sector 7?" Kahdah questions.
"Sir... no one goes through there, if you remember," Cody reminds him cautiously.
Kahdah sighs heavily in clear frustration but otherwise doesn't argue the point this time, thanks to the previous catastrophe that occurred.
"Noted, commander," he grumbles. "Still, these animals are growing desperate. When cornered, logic and reasoning are dropped."
He nods, as if to emphasis his point, and glances over at Cody with a tense gaze.
"They'll go there soon enough," he declares.
Cody frowns but otherwise doesn't argue.
"Well, in any case, sir, time is our ally," he states.
"I hate sieges," Kahdah sighs, standing back up straight. "I would rather not leave it up to time."
An Imperial officer then approached the two from behind.
"Sir, excuse the interruption, but we have a... visitor," he reports warily.
Kahdah frowns heavily and turns to stare at the officer with a dry expression of irritation.
"A visitor," he repeats.
The officer nods and he scowls, shaking his head and glaring at him.
"And who, exactly, are you suggesting I entertain here?" he demands.
"I don't know, sir, but they claim it cannot wait," the officer replies.
"Well, they'll just have to," he states, turning back around.
"I would not be so quick to dismiss your visitor, General," a voice says calmly.
Kahdah and Cody both turn to look at the person who spoke and are momentarily surprised. Approaching them at a slow, even, pace is a girl with bright red hair, dressed in a black tunic and leggings with a short thin cape reaching to her waist. Her face is covered by a black cowl, but her green eyes glitter brilliantly.
Cody immediately stands up straight, feeling very uneasy in her presence. He's not sure who this could possibly be, but his experience suggests that this is a Force user of some kind, which means an agent of Lord Vader or even the Emperor himself.
"A girl?" Kahdah mutters quietly in bewilderment, before scoffing at her dismissively. "Get out. I'm not wasting my time with you."
He turns back around to continue planning, but a sudden force seems to grab his right arm. He struggles for a moment, confused, and is then forcefully turned around to face the girl. She showed no indication anything was happening except for a faint flick of her finger.
Kahdah widens his eyes in shocked realization, which quickly evolves into fear as the girl approaches.
"Afraid, are we?" she asks quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
Cody looks between the two with an uneasy gaze, wise enough to not intervene. Kahdah continues to stare at the girl in horror, unable to move an inch of his body in her grasp. Eventually, after a few moments, she released him and he stumbles back against the table.
"Understand this, General: while I am here, you would do well to consider me the Emperor," she hisses.
Kahdah quickly nods his head in response.
"Excuse me, miss, and I mean no disrespect but... I'm not sure I know who you are?" Cody asks cautiously.
"Lumiya. That's all you need to know," she replies.
"Of course," Cody nods his head in acknowledgement.
"There is a reason for my visit," Lumiya then tells them, looking between the two. "And you are going to help me with it."
Kahdah and Cody both share a wary look with each other, unsure of what to expect.