[b]"[i]Shabla[/i] droid."[/b] The rally master commented mostly to herself as she watched 2020 come in for a landing with the subtly of a Firaxan shark. She still wondered watch bastard she had offended to have gotten to have the bucket of bolts assigned to her squad but she couldn't do much about it now, she would make do as was their way. She listened as the rest of Mynock began to check in everybody seemed to at least made it through the descent, more than could have been said for some others the smoke still rising in the sky from the remnants of crashed transport shuttles. A few minutes passed as they all began to began to gather in the clearing, they came out of the literal woodwork some with a little more blood on them and a few added scorch marks but nothing that Rika had to address as they were still alive and that was what mattered at the moment. They were going to need all hands on deck to even have a chance at taking down the installation so any unnecessary deaths early on would just put a wrench in the machine that Rika really did not feel like dealing with. 

Once they were all gathered together with a hand she gestured them to center of the clearing signaling them all to take a knee as a she produced a small circular disk - a portable holoprojector which upon contact with the ground shuddered to life casting a blue glow as it produced an image. It was a topographical map of the surrounding area showing a variety of information small triangular shapes with labels above them each for the different shock trooper squads sent in on the first landing some were already on the move, others stationary like them going over orders, and some strangely absent from the map having been killed before they could even touch down. Lines traced the map in a patchwork pattern marking predicted Republic patrol routes and garrison locations. For all that the Neo-Crusaders image was of violent raiders coming down almost upon savage whims each and every raid had careful planning and weeks of intelligence gathering backing it before the main event, to know your enemy was to win the fight as the saying went. She slowly pressed some commands and the holoprojector zoomed in showing the immediate area, their objective in the far northeastern corner of the map and a slow wandering line to the installation.

[b]"Alright I feel I shouldn't have to reiterate this but I'll explain our current state just as well, in case some of our members are too busy with their dreams of glory or plans to assassinate comrades. Remember, I can hear everything you shabiirs decide to say whether you like it or not my privilege or rather punishment of being the boss. Or at least have the common sense to take off your helmets before you start talking so that I don't have to listen to your crap."[/b] She explained with a dry tone that sounded much more along the lines of distinrest than chastising in nature. [b]"We have been assigned the task of taking out a Republic Planetary Defense Cannon located on the Ersu Plateau to the northwest of here. Problem is the cannon is in the center of a very heavily guarded Republic outpost. We got dropped off about as close as we could get without being instantly vaporized by anti-air installations. Meaning we are going to be outgunned, and outmanned every step of the way just as we like it. We have to exit this forest and make our way across a wide expanse of open fields with little to no cover after that we sweep through the Village of Loust at the Ersu Plateau's northern face crippling the communications array set up there. From there we start climbing up the northern face and right up to the target, hope none of you have any problems with heights."[/b]

[b]"Understood? Great, because you don't get a say in the manner as you all know."[/b] She explained rising to her feet the smirk on her face almost visible beyond the helmet. [b]"Alright everybody form up on me. Dredd your on point with me, Russ and Enu you two hold the center, 2020 go with Mar and watch our flanks stay about six meters out from us on either side but keep radio contact, and Ryleer hold the rear make sure no bastards get the drop on us. Let's move."[/b] And without further commands or orders they all began to fall into their respective positions. They left the clearing behind them and entered the forest proper. The grass hung high and the trees clustered close together provided a decent level of cover with them. As they got closer to one of the more well established and travel worn paths that snaked through the forest, a snapping of a branch was heard and a flicker on her HUDS motion sensor. She made a hand signal quick ordering them all to drop to the ground hoping 2020 and Mar on the edges had enough sense to drop down without witnessing the gesture. 

Out from further down the path a group came at a moderate walking speed. These soldiers were different from the militia that some had encountered up to this point, with battle hardened faces and scorched and dented armor it marked them as Republic soldiers veterans at that skilled or lucky enough to have lived as long as they had. They hung in tight uniform positions footfalls all falling in line with one another as they moved through the forest. Leading the pack was two robed figures both male one a Cathar and the other appeared to be a Zelosian. They were talking amongst themselves seemingly without care to the amount of noise they were making as they drew closer to where Mynock was lying upon the ground. As they drew closer Rika was able to pick on what the Zelosian was saying [b]"Did you see how he screamed when I stuck him? What a[i] baby[/i], I thought these Mandalorians were supposed to be feared warriors. Or maybe that was just another lie from the council they said this was supposed to dangerous and that is why they forbid or action but this is just a joke.[/b]

[b]"Dangerous in battle maybe not Nar, but for the mind the temptations of the darkside come greatest in the height of battle. You do best to remember that."[/b] The Cathar responded his voice sounding tired and old as he ushered his small group forward passing right by where Mynock was laying right off the path among the shrubbery and fallen leaves. As they passed the Zelosian known as Nar stopped moving as if a grand stroke of inspiration had just hit him. He held his hand up ordering the troops to stop and getting an inquisitive look from his Cathar companion. The zelosian ignited his lightsaber a pure blue the color signifying that of a Jedi Guardian as he stepped near to where Rika and the rest lay hidden. He used the lightsaber to ignite the darkness around him as he stepped forward getting closer and closer. The whole time Rika remained still and umoving laying closer to the ground as the Jedi stopped almost within lunging distance of them. Rika whispered into her comms one message to her squad.

[b]"Do not engage... Repeat do not engage. "[/b]