[b]In the life of a Jedi & Friends,
The Antar 4 insurrection saga[/b]

Tohkran and his apprentice-turned Knight Goddor were practicing, lazily clashing their blades together, slowly speeding up as they went through their usual routine with each other till they were almost a blur and then stopped, slowing down and eventually just stood still and turned off their lightsabers. "You have indeed mastered the blade."

The rodian jedi knight grinned and shrugged, "Thank to your teachings master, I hope I can be a good knight as well." He then frowned, "May I ask a question master?"

Tohkran chuckled and shook his head, "No need to be formal anymore, feel free to call my by my name, but yes. Ask your question."

"This system we are getting closer, the world Antar 4, do you really think Antarian Rangers are involved? And if so, what do you hope to achieve?" Goddor asked honestly.

Tohkran placed his saberhilt back to his cane and frowned, thinking. "To be completely honest... I have no idea what I will do if they are indeed Altarian Rangers. However they are a part of jedi history, they used to work with the Order centuries ago, and if they still exist, and apparently a jedi is leading them, or whatever resistance the Antarians are building against the CIS. I feel obligated to venture out there and find out."

At that point Thrall's voice came over the internal comms. "This is your captain speaking, we are about to exit hyperspace at the very edge of the Antar system, please note that we will go into stealth mode and have the cloak activated upon our arrival. There will be no walking through the corridors and please note that the 'do not smoke' sign is lit. Also would a certain beard-face come to the bridge, thank you and have a pleasant spaceflight."

Tohkran rolled his eyes and let out a amused snort. "He takes a curious kind of satisfaction doing that... well then, off to the bridge."

As the Illusion emerges from Hyperspace hre sensors watch and it quickly reveals a not insignificant fleet presence. Three Lucrehulks. A half dozen smaller ships and... the big one.

... Almost out of detection range near eclipsed by the planet was one Subjugator Class Heavy Cruiser. One of the Malevolence's cruel and vicious sister ships. Whoever was in charge of CIS affairs on Antar was no small presence.

Tohkran and Goddor reached the bridge just as the ship left hyperspace and the size of the CIS presence was revealed. Thrall nodded to Tohkran as he slithered around, "Well, they sure are serious, not a token occupational force, that is for sure. What do you want us to do?"

Tohkran frowned and then rose a eyebrow. "You are the admiral and captain of this ship."

Thrall snorted, "Damn straight I am, was just testing you if you still remembered that, worrying about you in your old day and all." He turned to the crew of the bridge. "Right then, take us on a course that makes us stay at a distance of those CIS ships, get us closer so we can make some covert scans of the planet, perhaps pick up some transmission as to explain what is going on on the surface of Antar 4 and this system."

Approaching the planet the scans begin to relay information as the passive systems work to pick up anything of interest. What they discover is... unpleasant... to say the least. The anarchic government has been totally suppressed with droids patrolling the streets in force. After some hours the picture only becomes worse, it becomes clear that whoever is overseeing the CIS interest in Antar has been shipping 'malcontents' and 'subversives' into working vast open strip-mines that have begun to appear. And the population being forced to work it is not small, thousands of men, women... and children as young as seven or eight, being forced to labour the mines.

Continued scans reveal that the vast majority of resources are all being funneled by armoured convoys towards a miniature city of foundries being constructed. It doesn't take the Illusion's bridge crew long at all to realize that they would be Droid and Tank Foundries when completed.

And that was when they got their first glimpse of the anarchist's fighting back against their oppressors when the Illusion detected the detonation of a Baradium Bomb that destroyed three Foundries under production.

Backtracking the sensor data reveals that it was a bomb truck responsible. And all indications are that it was manned by at least one humanoid.

Faces had become grim and worrisome as data started pouring in about the situation on the planet. "They are turning this world in a factory to produce more machines to bring death and destruction in this war of madness." Tohkran muttered, shaking his head. "This is a travesty."

Thrall coughed, "New information... a explosion took place there." He gestured to some of the mapping data they had made and indeed the sign of a explosion was there." Bomb truck... suicide bomber from what it looks like." He said without emotion.

Tohkran took it in silently. "They are either determined or desperate then... or both. Can you find out where that truck came from... or see if the CIS report of a region with the most 'anarchist' activity?"

Unfortunately, Thrall is incapable, or more specifically, the crew, is incapable of backtracking the truck. It had to have been moving down around the buildings outside of casual sensor detection. 

However a review of the original data suggests three potential strongholds in the "rough vicinity" one, a hundred kilometres to the North the CIS reports suggest might be an Air-base for the insurgents, possibly an old illicit spaceport repurposed for the job.

The other two suggest a pair of bases somewhat to the south-west, there is not enough data to get any hard location though scans might reveal more. In the aftermath of the bombing sensors do however detect one of the Lucrehulks altering its stationary orbit and deploying four squadrons of Vulture Droids to overfly the attack. One of these squadrons breaks off and makes Northwards to try and, Thrall is lead to believe, make another sweep to try and find the hidden airbase.

Tohkran frowned taking it in and then contacted the hangar bays. "Marack, prepare your ship... load up a CIS cargo transport with your transponder array." He then turned to Thrall. "Bring us over the northern hemisphere of the world, keep track of that droid squadron trying to make a sweep there. Make a scan ourselves of that region... and just in case prepare the interceptors and starfighters for launch as well."

Thrall was already giving out the orders as the last word left Tohkran's lips.

The Illusion spends two hours in it's search pattern. And it's productive, incapable of spotting your ship you find the Airbase in the middle of a forest, a large open structure with a retractable roof. Your sensors are able ot easily distinguish the people working around the clock in a hurry. As your sensors indicate that the Vultures are coming close to detecting the base you see the roof of the structure wind closed and men and women rushing to duty stations when... before your very eyes... a forest appears on top of the airbase. 

It only takes a few minutes to realize that they've engaged some form of hologram to disguise the base, and with your sensor resolution it doesn't fool you for very long anyway, but it might, just might, fool the Vultures.

Indeed. It seems to work, but the squadron of Vultures continues to make low, sweeping and methodical search patterns over the area for ten hours before being recalled to the Lucrehulk. The Lucrehulk however seems to show no signs of returning to its duty post and you realise why the deployment of ships seems so erratic.

The CIS simply keeps their ships close to the last strike. But finally the airbase opens its roof once more and a speeder emerges heading east, your sensors can detect it is travelling over maximum capacity on some errand and frankly dangerous speeds for its overloaded weight.

"Thrall, you have the bridge. Follow that speeder and keep it in sight, you are wizened enough to make your own decisions to whatever situation that might arise. I and Goddor will travel with Marack to the surface, see if we can land near that forest and make our way to that base on foot."

Thrall grinned, "Sure thing beard face, just to be sure, if you die, the ship and whole operation back home is mine, yes?"

Tohkran snorts, "That means the paperwork and administrative duties are yours too."

"I see, changed my mind, you better survive old man." Thrall said with a laugh and turned to attend to his duties as ship commander, while Tohkran and Goddor headed to the hangars to board the Killer Whale and head to the surface.

As the Killer Whale begun its descent under the false ID Marack picked up a squadron of droid craft closing, instantly identified as Droid Tri-Fighters... two Squadrons worth. A voice came through the comm panel. "Vessel TV-4930-ETB Swansong, your entry into Antar IV space is prohibited. System records show that you have not been through customs or processing and have appeared too close to the planet without inspection. You will head to the following co-ordinates, or be shot down. You have 20 seconds to comply with course-corrections." The droid voice intoned over the transmitter. They'd been detected.

Tohkran frowned and patted the shoulder of Marack. "Comply, we will find a other way." He said.

Suddenly alarms are blazing as records of multiple missile locks blare over the ships audible alarms and numerous missiles race up from the edge of the forest below. Marack throws the ship into a diving spiral as a quarter of the Tri-Fighters are annihilated by the Barrage, indeed, two of the missiles strike the Killer Whale, only Marack's piloting skills preventing more striking, but still those standing are thrown about the cabin by the unexpected evasive maneuvers...

And suddenly the alarms begin chiming, a second salvo of missiles is launched. It seems that, flying a CIS Transponder Code has the insurgents believing that you're being escorted willingly. Once more Marack prepares to evade.

Tohkran cursed, this was a bumpy ride for sure, "Marack keep evading... drop the transponder signal, let them see this smuggler freighter we really are... Goddor get into the gun turret and open fire at the droids." As goddor ran from the cockpit Tohkran himself went for the communications console and boradcasted to the surface below a simple message both with voice and text. 'Smuggler freighter, jedi aboard.'

The missile salvo killed another two of the Tri-Fighters and they peeled off before Goddor could even reach the turret, Tohkran found himself concerned, Marack still had the nose of the freighter pointed for an inevitable meeting with the ground as the missile Salvo missed striking the Whale. A third salvo was launched and Tohkran glanced at Marack. "What are you doing?" 

"Rapid Surface Deceleration Manoeuvre." Marack answered.

"What?"

"Sounds better than 'deliberately smashing into something hopefully not made of granite to avoid being splattered across the landscape by missiles.' yeah?" Marack replied. And then it appeared, a hillock of rough dirt and the patchiest looking grass you ever did see. "Hold onto your seats and kiss your ass goodbye if this doesn't work." 

...

...

Impact.

The Whale Juddered and her aft end lifted high as Marack killed the power instantly so that the engines didn't drive it any deeper. Fortunately the hillock was simple dirt and with the shields still up most of the damage was little more than a dinged up nose and some severe bruising. But the craft 'landed' after bursting through the Hillock more or less intact, though two of the men in the back had concussions after accidentally headbutting during Maracks Wyld Ryde.

But they were down, and the missiles lost their target detonating some kilometres away.

Groaning Tohkran came to his senses and used a little force healing to nurture his bumps and bruises. "Nice flying... I think."

Marack was still manning the controls and shrugged, "We seem to be mostly in one piece."

He groaned and checked to see if his leg worked, it thankfully did, at that point Goddor walked in, nursing his head. "Are landings like this normal for you?" He asked the Herglic.

"Stay on my ship for a while as I go places and find out." Came the reply.

Goddor winced and said nothing, leaving Tohkran to fill the void. "Well... that could have gone better... Did anyone respond to my message... or in fact any sign of anything? CIS or otherwise?"

Marack shrugged again, "Nothing at all, at least message wise, there are some speeders approaching though from the treeline. If its a welcome committee... well I wouldn't feel welcome."

Tohkran nodded, "Right... Marack power down the ship, but lwoer the boarding ramp." Marack nodded and proceeded to do so while Tohkran motioned for Goddor to follow, with Goddor standing in the ship Tohkran decided to wait outside for the speeders to arrive, but just to be safe he instructed Goddor to get a bubble of protection around himself while he did his more advanced version of force absorb, just in case.

As they closed it became clear there were three speeders on approach, two stopped well back and began setting up what appeared to be mobile launchers, and a pair of Mortars.

The other closed to within 200 metres and stopped, ten men emerging. They carried an assortment of weapons ranging from Blaster Carbines to Sniper Rifles and even a Flechette launcher. They closed on the Whale with extreme professionalism. 

They noticed Tohkran standing outside and came to a half at a safe distance from them. Their leader seemed to pause considering the implications of what he saw. "You work for the tinheads." He finally declared. "Well you're prisoners now. Turn yourselves over and we'll only rough you up a little bit. Make it hard we rough you up more. We don't have time to play games with petty bureaucrats."

Tohkran raised a brow, "I do not work for the tinheads, but I and my crew will come willingly. Goddor get Marack please. No weapons, please hand me yours." There was a moment of hesitation and Goddor tossed his lightsaber to Tohkran who grabbed it, hearing the rodian knight head deeper inside to get Marack.

Turning to the spokesperson he showed the lightsaber and then placed it on the ground.

Tohkran allowed himself to be manacled, and didn;t bat an eye as one of them took his cane, he did spoke up at one point however. "I don't suppose you could get the ship into cover somewhere, out of sight of the CIS? If they bother to investigate. It would also lessen the chances of your own discovery."

Tohkran blinked and saw Marack's eyes bulge open wide and he quickly spoke up. "No, please listen to me. I do not work for the CIS, you must have heard that there was a CIS transport suddenly at these coordinates as if it appeared out of nowhere, look at that ship, it is of corellian design, not CIS. Therefore a smuggler ship of some kind, by the force I came here to offer my assistance, we are already coming willingly and that ship, might be our only way out to rendezvous with our people."

"He begs so nicely." One of the troopers remarked rolling his eyes. "Can we keep him sir. I'll feed him and take him for walks." 

"Shaddup, i'm trying to concentrate." The trooper named Jax remarked before the leader held up a hand. 

"Hold it Jax. Team 2, wire that thing to blow to pieces, then cover it with a camo-net. If this drek's lying to us I'll push the detonator myself. If he's not, well we'll see what the Boss says then."

Tohkran let out a sigh of relief, "You have my thanks." He nodded in, what he hopes it was, a reassuring gesture to Marack who relaxed somewhat but glared at the missile trooper and then the commander before letting out a grunt.

The leader looks at Tohkran. "Shut up, you've convinced me to delay the execution of that ship you arrived in. But speak again and I might just push the force forsaken button out of spite." 

The trip took almost four hours, and despite all the techniques one might use to memorize a route by the time the speeders began to slow Tohkran and his team would have been thoroughly lost, that is if they hadn't already actually known where the airbase was.

Arriving showed cream coloured walls of the airbases interior and the open hatch above looking up into space with a number of ships all hauled back out of sight. Most of them look to be in adequate repair and some look positively as if they were off the showroom floor, though a keen eye would spot that it had more to do with a fresh coat of paint than any quality repairs. Designed to confuse the casual observer. 

Rudely shoved from the speeders the teams captors emerged. "Get the boss." 

Some minutes later a man emerges, a tall muscular humanoid wearing much the same camouflaged armour as the rest of those coming and going. His heavily tanned skin that spoke of much outdoors activity and a thick head of dreadlocks and a stripe that ran across his face below the eyeline. He looked harried, busy and not a little bit angry at being disturbed. His eyes widen imperceptibly as he notices his 'guests' and he turns to the team Leader. "Where did you find these." 

"Beyond Marker 10, They bore a CIS Transponder and were under escort by CIS Tri-Fighters. We considered it an opportunity target, a transport under escort uncomfortably close to the Aerie. On firing their craft crashed and these surrendered to us."

Tohkran held his tongue and so did Marack and Goddor, Tohkran was observing for the moment, waiting to be spoken to.

The 'Boss' went over to the insurgent carrying the confiscated weapons and instantly picked the lightsabre from the stack his eyes glowing as he pulled what knowledge he could from the weapon his face expressionless and now that the man was using it Tohkran could feel a very strong force presence from the man. He turned to face Tohkran with a less certain expression. "Well... Tohkran..." He said as if trying the name on for the first time... "You've bought yourself ten minutes to explain your presence here."

Tohkran raised an eyebrow and let out a chuckle, nodding to the walking stick. "My lightsaber is concealed in there, if you wanted to use psychometry on that as well." He studied the man and nodded. "So you are the jedi I heard rumours about, very well, you already learned my name, and that I am a jedi, so is the Rodian with me. I got some reports recently about this system, that the CIS had taken over and that a insurgency was taking place and that a jedi was leading them, so I felt it required a investigation up close. Hence here I am. And after my ship did some scans of the surface I was considering offering my help, if you want it."

"How incredibly vague of you." The man replied. "Ranger Captain Pierce, take their belongings to secure room 1, Ranger Captain Kensi, inform command that I will have to delay the meeting with the Generals. Ranger Captain Shaundi, escort them to our 'guest quarters'. Ranger Captain Oleg, with me, tell me everything." The man turned away as one of the female insurgents indicated that Tohkran and company should move ahead of her.

*

Two hours later the woman, Shaundi, collected them from their 'guest quarters' which were little more than three metre wide cube with a door that lacked a method of opening from the inside. 

Finally you're lead into a room almost twenty metres in radius, the round room had all the hallmarks of a Jedi's Meditation chamber writ large. And in the centre of it, on a cold marble dais surrounded by a small moat and a rock garden around that, carefully maintained, was the "Boss" that the others had referred to. After being ushered in, and pointedly forced to look at the sign that said 'stay on the path' the door hissed closed.

"You took a great risk in coming here Jedi. For even rumour of me to have spread far enough to be heard I seriously entertained the idea of having you all executed as CIS spies and your ship blown to pieces. I am still not yet certain that is not the wisest cause of action." 

He turned to Tokhran. "I am Quinlan Vos, and you have precisely one chance to genuinely convince me otherwise."

"A question first, your people, did say they suddenly detected the smuggler freighter as if it appeared out of nowhere, correct?" Tohkran said, looking calmly at the force user. "It might validate what I have to say next."

"No they did not. They mentioned detecting your ship after it passed over their duty station on their targeting computers as a CIS Transponder Code and Identifcation with a Droid Tri-Fighter Escort." Vos replied looking into Tohkran's eyes.

"Ah, how unfortunate. Well the ship was launched from a capital class vessel, the Illusion of Grace, a ship with a fully operational and currently active stygium cloaking device. As for the CIS transponder, well your crew have seen the ship, if any of them have ever seen a corellian design they must have seen it was clearly not CIS. It belongs to the Herglic with me, Marack is his name and it has been modified to... well easily change transponder codes. Unfortunately the CIS patrol of droid fighters had no log of our arrival and demanded we had to turn to the capital or shot down, the rest of what happened after you know.

But ask me what you will, I have no secrets, you showed you can read objects, probably enhanced beyond what a Kiffar like yourself can usually do, I have several hundred Kiffu Guardians in my employ as it happens, so our weapons must have showed you that myself and the rodian are jedi."

Vos nodded. "They did. But Jedi working with CIS is not unheard of in these times of trouble." He answered. "Indeed. Talk is ripe that the Jedi and Sith are not concealing themselves as once they were, that they were... making a return. Why have you come here. Why do you want to help us." Quinlan said with a note of almost tired resignation in his voice.

Tohkran raised a brow, "Well I do not support the CIS, if you must know I have a more Republic leaning, if I could I would have shown you some of the republic clones I have in my service but I feared to be caught by the CIS and be executed by them as spies for the Republic, so I do hope you see the irony of the situation that you were considering executing me and my people as CIS spies.

As for the reasons of me wanting to help you, they were twofold at first but sicne arriving here I got three reasons. One, I wish to support any jedi I encounter, we are all in this together and should help each other if possible. Two, I know about the lore of Antarian rangers and their aid to the jedi when they were formed and wished to repay the favour. Three, my ship scanned the surface, I know what they are doing here, what they are turning this world into and are using its population for and I will not stand for it."

"You do know that you cannot help us overnight." Quinlan said suddenly standing his own lightsabre now hanging from his belt. It was clear it was not something he typically wore about the base, but now wore over his indecision over what should be done about Tohkran. "IF you truly wish to help you will be committing to a significant and lengthy campaign? Because bluntly, we are losing this insurgency, and of late our most effective strategy has been strapping bombs to our most dedicated men, women... and children..." He said finally with a tear in one eye, "And sending them out hoping to hit those damnable droid foundries and slow construction more. Trying to free the people of this world has been even less fruitful!" You could almost feel a seething anger beneath his rough appearance. "Not an hour ago a speeder we sent to try and free a number of our bomb experts that were captured and sent to the mines for their 'sedition' was bombed to nothing by Droid Bombers. Do you have the courage, the conviction... the resources to stand with us until the end?" Quinlan said marching up to Tohkran with long, light strides. "Because if you cannot. We can't use you. If you give us hope and then are called away by whatever else you have going then we will break. My people are not invincible. And without help...."

There is long minutes of pause.

"Without help, this resistance may not last a single month more." Vos said finally.

Tohkran looked at Quinlan, hoping the Kiffar force user could sense the honesty in his words, "For that reason, when I decided to come here, I loaded up some of my best troops on that cloaked capital ship I mentioned, and are ready to be left here and help you fight, as well as a small number of tanks and vehicles. Then when I saw what was happening here I started to consider to make contact, and offer a alternative plan, I still wish to grant you the use of my troops and vehicles, perhaps even a number of squadrons if you can use them, but also that I might see if some of my friends and allies can get together and combine our ships and troops and help out in a bigger way. Not to mention, as I said I have a cloaked capital ship and one of my friends is... well connected in way that might be a bit beyond the law and might be able to send in smuggler to deliver more weapons, ammunition, food, medical supplies."

He raised a hand, "I can't say it will happen but I would promise, on my life and that of the living force I serve I will try my hardest to do so."

Quinlan looked indecisive. "I will accept your offer Tohkran. One one condition." He left it hanging.

Tohkran frowned but gestured for Quinlan to continue.

"You remain here, personally, until we either succeed in freeing this world, or die at the hands of the CIS." Quinlan said dispassionately.

Tohkran rose his eyebrows in surprise, but then slowly nodded after a moment of thought, "Agreed, but Goddor and Marack are free to return to my ship, especially Goddor... I have a number of younglings in my care and if I am to stay here, he has to take care and protect them along with my other eldest padawans. My friend who is in command of my ship can contact my friends, inform them of what is going and perhaps see about more reinforcements. Is that acceptable? And if so, where can a cloaked ship perhaps enter the atmosphere and start offloading troops and material."

Quinlan nodded and left the room indicating that Tohkran should follow. "Bluntly, with this blockade I do not believe it is possible for you to do so at all, we have no access to weather monitoring systems and we do not even dare use commlinks or other transmitters, you were only spotted by the passive fire control sensors on the teams anti-air weapons systems." He said continuing down a corridor. "I do not know how you are going to get your aid to us, but unless we are able to take a weather scan station bringing your capital ship into the atmosphere would be suicide, they would detect it's entry and the Malefactor would speed up its orbit and fire on your ship, from orbit." He entered a mess hall and waved at the chef, a Sullustian, to prepare some food. The alien got to work.

"Then there are the Lucrehulks and the other escorts, the blockade is not even as they send ships to try and scan when we attack, but it is effective enough to give them a virtually total skyscan capability."

"I see." Tohkran said, tracing through his beard. "How well are the weather stations guarded?"

"Very well. They're guarded day and night, it's why our fleet of smugglers is grounded, after the CIS realised we were using the, then unguarded, stations to direct our own smugglers bringing us weapons, they took the facilities and now guard them day and night. We're talking at least a couple of hundred droids per station, more if it's near a sensitive area. Hell if we tried to reach the one in their new industrial park we'd have to pass through a couple thousand droids, just to get a look at it." Quinlan admitted before sighing. "A situation made worse by the CIS getting closer to discovering our strongholds with ever raid."

"Hmm... well I am trained to conceal myself, even from the sensors of electronic surveillance, including droids. I could potentially try and sneak my way into one of these stations but then what would that accomplish after that." Tohkran murmured out loud.

"We need access to at least one of those Weather Stations if we're to bring your ship down at all." Vos said taking a plate with some food on it that had the indecency to still be wriggling. "It'd be even better if we had permanent access to some sort of weather monitoring so our smugglers could operate again."

Tohkran suddenly got an idea though, a Nu class loaded with commando's storming one of the weather stations via a ram-raid. It'd probably be a write off... but if Vos could provide a way to exifiltrate... it might, just might, work. Tohkran frowned, stroking through his beard and turned to Quinlan Vos. "I have a idea... but it is somewhat crazy... I am considering... contacting my ship, load up one of my vessels with a bunch of commandos... and ram it inside a weather station of our choosing, as for permanent access... the commander of my ship is quite a gifted slicer... perhaps he can install a program, that remains hidden... but gives your people remote access to 'blind' or otherwise influence their readings for your purposes."

Vos sits there watching without any overtly obvious reception to the idea. "And what exactly do you need from me."

"Provide the relatively easiest target, perhaps a combined ground assault if they are distracted by the sudden commando ram-raid in their nerve center, use the weather station for our purposes, install a program so the resistance here can perhaps keep manipulating the weather station through a slicing backdoor and extract us all."

"If we could afford to commit to a ground assault of any sort I wouldn't be strapping baradium bombs to my youngest and most loyal." Vos remarked plainly. "Certainly not against somewhere so well fortified."

Tohkran frowns, feeling there was only one option... he however decided to ask something else, "These CIS droids, are these the one that can act on their own or do these need a central control that gives them directions."

Vos sighed. "The first generation needed a droid control ship. But our jamming and attacks caused enough disruption they pulled all those out. Now they're all independent units."

He was expecting that answer but he still sighed. "I see, unfortunate... well... do you have a secure transmitter at least with which I can contact my ship?"

He shook his head emphatically. "No, after losing four of our strongholds to Hyena bombers due to communications being detected I had runners take speeder bikes and reach each place I have left and...." 

He pauses...

"And I ordered all communications devices destroyed." He finished.

After dishing out some more of the minor details Tohkran frowned and rubbed his temple. "It will be difficult... but not impossible..." He looked at Quinlan Vos. "I need to return to my ship and discuss this with my people." He raised his hand to interupt Quinlan before he could make a object. "I gave you my word and oath I would stay here, and I will, but I know my people, Thrall will not go along with this unless I have told him of this in person and my decision to stay."

Vos looked up from the display that he'd provided. "Remember. When exfiltrating do not retreat southwards, at a minimum there will be three units of AAT's converging towards your position. And upwards of three units of Droideka's, we don't have any exact information, this map is only what we can confirm. The AAA Emplacements are of unknown strength and we're not entirely certain of their position. If resistance on the way out is too intense. I recommend taking up a stealth posture and begin heading for this emergency exfil point, it's a sewer, and we can't support you. Regardless of which you end up using head towards these co-ordinates, we'll try and have some speeders to pick you up." 

Voss looked at Tohkran a moment longer. "But you will have to leave someone here. As proof of your noble intentions. I believe you, but the Jedi are not infallible as the last four hundred years shows, and my men and women will want some assurances."

Tohkran nods and gestures, to Goddor. "Goddor, I'd like to ask if yo-"

Goddor cut him off and nodded, "I'll stay. No need to ask ma-" He paused and smiled, "Tohkran."

Tohkran snorted but smiled back, nodding and turned back to Vos. "Goddor has recently been raised to the level of jedi knight, he wishes to stay. Knowing Thrall he will be back in orbit around the spot we launched the freighter, wondering what the hell has happened and why we haven't made contact with him yet. If you want you can assign a observer with us on the ship." Tohkran paused for a moment. "I don't know if it is a sensitive topic but... I know what the name, the clan name, Vos implies... can't the Kiffar offer assistance if asked? I could have my people ask aid in your name."

"No, this is not their fight." Quinlan said. "You offered to help. As I offered to help these people when the invasion happened. I am one of them now. Shaundi may return with you as an observer." He said and turned as he began preparing to send forces to help them escape.

Some more minor details were discussed and in the end Marack, Tohkran and Shaundi were brought back to the Killer Whale and managed to lift off and dock with the Illusion of Grace without any apparent trouble.

The trouble began when Tohkran explained what happened and the plan they had made with the resistance forces... as well with the minor fact that Tohkran was going to stay if the mission was a success.

Thrall's eyes bulged. "Are you insane!? Well of course you are, you are a frigging jedi but this is a whole other level of crazy." He raised up his hands and groaned, "Why am I even bothering you already made up your mind, haven't you?" He snorted when he saw the guilty look on Tohkran's face and shook his head. "Right I will have a Nu-shuttle prepared for the task.... and I am coming along too... you have any idea how hard it is to make a program like that without knowing the security? I am coming and that is final." With a snort and smirk he turned around and slithered away to set things in motion.

Shaking his head, but somewhat amused by all of this Tohkran turned to their observer. "Will you be coming along too? And if so, what are your specialties?"

"My specialties are killing." She responded without any excessive description. She removed a weapon from the holster on her back. A VES-700 Pulse Rifle.

"Good to know..." Tohkran said evenly and then proceeded to make a few personal and private messages to his various friends and some of his most trusted crew. Eventually Thrall came back, "Nu-shuttle is prepared... and ship is heading to the location specified, let's hope this works."

"So do I thrall, so do I."

The sluissi snorts, "Just so you know, if I die, I may not be force sensitive, but I will haunt your ass even so!" In response tohkran laughed and was still smiling as they all boarded the shuttle. He made a point to thank each of the commandos, who volunteered for this potentially suicide mission and after that it was time for them all to strap themselves in and prepare to be launched.

Shaundi climbed in and strapped herself into place while keeping her weapon on her lap.

Tohkran was meditating, or trying to when the command to launch was given and the Nu-shuttle sped away, to make it's ramming approach of their objective.

+++++

The shuttle began its deadly descent the near-suicidal plan was... detected almost immediately but the plummeting course was meteor-straight and powerfully accurate as it ripped down through the atmosphere. The AAA opened fire on it as soon as it entered range, rippled missile fire tearing up towards it, but its terminal path was unbelievable and so the course prediction algorithms failed to lock on properly before, with exceptional skill, the shuttle plunged down in the square and through the front of the weather monitoring station, the armoured walls tearing the fuselage near to ruin. But it was down. And nobody has died.

Tohkran groaned and released the safety harness, getting out, hearing grunts and voices checking in they were ok, Thrall was the loudest of them all. "Still alive! No thanks to this crazy plan!"

Taking a deep breath Tohkran checked in... and then lowered the hatch door, lightsaber in hand and pulled up a bubble of protection around himself to see what might lie in wait for them if the CIS responded quickly.

The reaction was fierce. While the shuttle had "safely crashed" into the buildings the reaction from outside was instantaneous. Fire from the B2 Battle Droids across the street instantly began slashing into the building, of the nearby tanks and B1s there was no immediately obvious response, though Tohkran could feel that they were already responding.
Somewhere in the distance, alarms began to chime.

"Everyone out, I will take point, Trianii, Thrall, Marack and Shaundie follow behind, Cathar you watch our rear! Let's go we are on the clock!" And with that they marched out and headed for the main frame.

Two squads of Trianii remained behind, they would follow but had a other task, booby-trapping the crashed shuttle and placing other obstacles in the way of any droids who would pursuit in the direction the main group had gone.

The Trianii worked to booby trap the shuttle but the B2 Battle Droids fire continued to disrupt the operations, though it was not enough to strike the targets expected, the sounds of B1's moving up and the AAT could be heard.

So far the point team had yet to face any direct opposition yet.

Running out of time the Trianii try to do their best before the CIS became too much of a trouble at their position.

Tohkran was still leading the others, hoping his senses woudl warn him in advance of any trouble as he led the others deeper into the building.

Outside an AAT fired at the building trying to strike the crashed shuttle within as the B2 droids continued firing salvos into the building while the B1's prepared to storm the structure. The commando's fighting around the shuttle too occupied to trap the transport or fire back with much effect.

Meanwhile Tohkran, Thrall and Marack are shoved aside, the first two by commanders, the last by Shaundi, as Droid Commando's burst from the spaces they'd concealed themselves and opened fire. The Commando's return fire, and Shaundi's dropping two of them with excellent skills.

One squad of Trianii urged the other to leave while they remained behind, still rigging up the shuttle to blow but now with the intention of taking as many droids with them as they could while those of the squad not rigging explosives would do their best to snipe targets.

Tohkran ignites his blade and mvoes to attack, Marack wit hhis massive vibro-axe and the cathar commandos following suit while the Trianii and Thrall follow Shaundi's example and fired with their blasters at the commandos who would not be entering the melee.

 As the team ran to catch up with the others, unfortunately the unit of B1 Battle Droids assaulted the entrance killing three of the commandos in their opening. 

The B2s however did not fare so well at the fire that unit had sung out with killing three of the clankers as the Tank fired another shot that came too close to striking the downed shuttle. 

Marack cleaves two of the droid commando's in two as Thrall and Tohkran are pushed back by them your own commando's doing very little more. Shaundi managed to kill another of the droids. 

But precious time was being taken.

The remaining two commandos took a decision, gathering all explosives they had and prepped them, both holding a detonator... and waited, for the right moment as most of the droids seemed about to overwhelm their position.

Tohkran moved back and frowned, reaching otu with the force to perhaps make the commando droids freeze in stasis, giving his people a easier time of neutralizing them.

The commando's remaining at the shuttle nodded in accord before turning out to wait for the droids. "Oh shit." One remarked as the B2's leveled an absolutely devastating volley that cut them apart before a pair of AAT's came into view and blasted the shuttle, and what remained of the two commando's into ruin.

One of the remaining three commando droids was frozen by the stasis and was blasted apart with another of them by Thrall and Shaundi, the last retreated further into the structure it's own fire killing three of the Cathar in as many seconds.

Tohkran frowned as only one squad returned, givign a quick report of what happened and he felt a pang of guilt and shame before shaking it off, he knew casualties were likely. "Right enough time wasted, we continue with the mission, hurry!" He shouted as they resumed their running to the weather station mainframe.

Unopposed so far Tohkran knew it in his bones that outside the Droids would be closing in but it only took them a minute to find one of the main observation centres.

Tohkran turned to Thrall, "You are up Thrall, everyone else set up position... Trianii... set up explosives, as if we were about to blow up this mainframe."

Thrall moved quickly, but not quickly enough, it took him almost four minutes to get through the CIS military grade firewalls, but they weren't standard, someone had altered the coding to make it harder. But after a good four minutes Thrall finally managed to get in.

Meanwhile the Trianii worked to place the explosives.

Thrall cursed as the re-coding gave him trouble. But it had only taken a minute so far before he hit a block having to start once again.

But now weapons fire sang into the room as the rogue Droid Commando returned.

And it sounded like B1 Droids were only a minute behind them.

Marack, Shaundi and the commandos responded at once to keep the CIS droids at bay while Tohkran drew upon the force to activate his force valor ability to enhance the resistance and fighting prowess of his people.

The Commando's fire suddenly took on a far far too accurate tone, five more commando's fell under its fire before it was itself destroyed by fire from the others and Marack's Vibro-ax.

Thrall however fought to ignore the battle going on and managed to write the program necessary. It was time to bury it, and then remove all trace of access.

Tohkran nodded to Thrall, "Do what you can." He walked out, he would be the first to meet the next wave of hostiles, his lightsaber at the ready while the remaining commanders took up sniper positions and Marack just grunted and lifted his axe, preparing to charge.

Thrall manages to bury the program where the CIS couldn't find it with the tap in the landlines Vos indicated was needed, The Commando's managed to gun down the unit of B1 Battle Droids, but they came very close to wounding the Jedi bringing down his protective abilities.

Tohkran shivered and renewed his protection, that had been close, standing in the crossfire. "Thrall! We are running out of time."

"Oh keep your damned pants or robes on, I am working here!" Thrall shouted back and then ignored the beard face.

Thrall finally managed to disguise the fact that he'd ever accessed the computer. Maybe it'd be wise to trash the room and get out. The sounds of droids closing in grew richer. It could not be wise to go out the way they came in.

Thrall let out a sigh, whipped out his blaster and made some scorch marks on parts he knew wouldn't harm the function of this place but might jsut look liek a desperate last attempt at sabotage. "Right I'm done! Let's go, start running you bipedals, see if you can keep up!" He shouted as he started slithering away... before being roughly picked up by Marack who started carrying the sluissi, while Tohkran and the others also started running, hoping their extraction point was still secure.

The retreat out of the back of the structure seemed to go well, but not unnoticed. "There they are!" 

"Roger roger!" Can be heard as the team emerges from the back of the building.

In response some of the Trianii pulled out droid poppers and threw them down the alley the sounds of droids had come from while they all still kept running. They had not time to waste.

The grenades bounced down the alley as the team retreated, the blast slowing down the droids as half their unit dropped. But it was a fair bet that reinforcements were now closing.

Letting the others lead ahead Tohkran remained behind and watched for signs of pursuit, preparing to once again use stasis if any droids followed, slowing them down further.

As they pulled back and Tokhran held, the Jedi could only bear witness as two units of B1 emerged into the quad. And moments behind them a unit of Droideka deployed and their shields raised. The team retreating also found itself pursued by a unit of Droideka who deployed with a unit of B1's not far behind.

The trianii retrieved more droid poppers, hoping to take out the droidekas with them while Marack put Thrall down, engaged his shield and charge, vbiro-ax raised.

Tohkran looked at the opposition, he had managed to use the force to stop several of the B-1 droids, not liking his odds however he ran to get out of view and use force concealment to shield himself from them.

The Droid Poppers did little good though they did drop the shields on two of the Droidekas, Thrall killed both of them with a single volley and little effort. The other Droideka's return fire failing to do anything of any import whatsoever.

And then, somewhere on the other side of the city a mushroom cloud rose over the structures and the blast shockwave of a Baradium Bomb detonated. And suddenly the majority of the droids had new priorities. 

Tohkran would realise almost instantly that it was near the sewer exit Vos had mentioned. It seemed one of the few men the Jedi could spare as backup to help them get out had sacrificed himself to buy you time.

Tohkran looked back and sighed, shaking his head but ran to try and regroup with the others.

Thrall blinked, "Ok... right enough silliness, Marack, ya big oaf pick me back up, we are running ladies and gents! Really, really fast now!"

Without further pause, the Droideka's recieving recall orders retreated towards the blast.

Tohkran returned to the attentions of his team as they ran for the exit. Seemingly unopposed.

He was glad to be back with the others but frowned, urging them to stop as they made sure they were not followed.

Finally they found the cleft in the wall that Voss had spoken of and number of speeders beyond the wall shrouded by camouflage netting and a handful of Voss's men ready to pull them out.

"RIght everyone out, I will be the last to do so."

Thrall snorted, "Now wait just a mi-"

"Marack drag him out of here, I will be last." With a curse Thrall tried to get out of the herglic's grasp but it was futile as Marack held on and did as he was instructed. The commandos following suit, Shaundi doing what she wanted naturally.

Without further issue, the team, or what remained of it, and the Speeders began their retreat, unwatched.