[u]=Just after Obi-Wan's Warning=[/u]


[color=gold]"Alright, gentlemen..."[/color]

Jedi master Varrik Tharn turned around to face the squad of clone troopers standing behind him. There weren't many, unfortunately, only six. Yet, he had nothing to complain about. Six was better than none. Under normal circumstances, he'd be leading the same squadron that he had in battles prior. They'd been caught in the attack at the airfield, however, and already had their hands full. These six men were the troops he had. The six men afforded to him when what forces were available were split amongst the Jedi. These six men were enough, and they had to be.

[color=gold]"Once we step outside these doors, we're securing as many defensive turrets as possible. We cannot afford to lose this battle; the temple stands [i]at all costs.[/i] I'll be just up ahead, trusting that our Republic's finest -that's you- has my back. Stick together, cover each other, and cover me from behind. Remember that, and I'll be your best friend."[/color]

His last words were accompanied by a flourish of his unlit lightsaber, spun around his finger.

[color=gold]"Are we all clear?"[/color]
[color=lightgray]"Yessir!"[/color]
        
Varrik nodded, and pulled his hood up.

[color=gold]"May the Force be with us all... And good luck, men. Not that you need it. "[/color]

He grinned at the clones, prompting a cheer from them, though it faded almost instantly after he turned around. As cheesy as the line was, he needed to give them just that extra little something. A spark, a light, a [i]something,[/i] of hope, or inspiration. Some last moment of positivity before they went into a battle that very well could be their last. He had a bad feeling about this one.

---

Securing the first turret was easy enough. It was one of the ones on the front side of the temple district's perimeter, one of the closest to their starting position, and one of the most useful. The fight hadn't completely escalated yet, so the travel was quick and not much trouble. A couple droid squadrons, but against a Jedi, let alone a Jedi with backup, they were simply cannon fodder. After securing the position, one of the Knights and their troopers occupied it and stood guard, leaving Varrik and his unit to move on. Not enough of the guns had been fortified yet, though, before the ships started rolling in. 

Soon enough, the streets surrounding the temple were chaos. More droids than before, the occasional Mandalorian... Were the Separatists just throwing everything they had out at once? On the way to the second turret, Varrik started to sense something awful. He couldn't pin it to a certain cause, though. With everything happening all at once, and especially with him on a constant move, it could have been anything. But, suddenly, he saw it: some Jedi was bringing down a building. Was that Master Felicia?.. What was she [i]thinking?![/i] Though in a few seconds he figured that out; an oddly large group of Mandalorians had gathered in front of it, and surely enough, the building took them out. A million thoughts were flying through Varrik's head at that point. First of all, there were, without a doubt, civilians in that building who'd been unable to evacuate safely. He could sense it. Second of all, those had to be the [i]most[/i] incompetent professional killers he'd ever seen. Third of all, who was the second Jedi following her? He'd never seen her before in his life. 

[color=gold]"Did any of you see that?"[/color]
[color=lightgray]"Yessir. I don't know what to think, sir. Should we intervene?"[/color]
[color=gold]"Nothing we can do about it, now. Stick to the plan."[/color]

It was a tragedy, yes, but it would have to wait. Varrik's feeling of dread from before suddenly worsened, almost to nausea; it gnawed at his stomach and head while he remained clueless to the source. It couldn't have been the building, at this point. There had to be something else. 

He arrived at the second turret, and stood against the back wall, letting his troops catch up. Varrik gladly used the opportunity to catch his breath. He'd almost never stopped his forward momentum since they started, and with Force Speed, the activity took its toll.

[color=gold]"Alright... That makes two turrets by ourselves. If the other Masters managed what we just did, then we're set.- HEY, OVER HERE!"[/color]

He flagged over a conveniently nearby Twi-Lek Jedi.

[color=gold]"I need you to hold this position. Where are your men?"[/color]
[color=greenyellow]"Gone. Mandalorians had us cornered. I was able to finish them off, but..."[/color]

Varrik nodded, and looked to his own men.

[color=gold]"6249, 0998, I want you two to stay here and help him."[/color]

He pulled to the side. The moment was quiet, and it would be the best time for him to report. He stood against the back wall of the turret and opened his holocomm.

[color=gold]"Master Varrik Tharn reporting, we're secured points 14 and 15...[/color]

He looked up when one of the clones interrupted.

[color=lightgray]"S-Sir..."[/color]
[color=gold]"Hm? What is it, s-"[/color]

The trooper simply pointed. The dropships were coming faster than they could be shot down, that was to be expected, but the issue was with their contents. They weren't dropping any more droids or Mandalorians. They wore dark robes, some with armor, many with hoods. Varrik watched as several of them ignited red lightsabers and advanced onto the field; he was at a loss for words, and found himself grasping it straws. They were pretty isolated out here, and approaching would be suicide. He had no plans to make a move and get himself killed, but he drew his own lightsaber. It was off, for the moment, but that seemed prone to change.