[b]Auora [/b]

As the firefight intensified by the vault, the Republic troopers were making their final stand. To retreat into the vault would have been suicide... the vault had hardly been accessed to and they would have been retreating into an area with no cover, no tactical advantage. The increased use of explosive arms consistently threw smoke, dust into the air as vision started to become increasingly difficult. Facing multiple enemies at multiple angles, it was becoming rapidly apparent that the Republic and their smuggler allies were facing an imminent death.

However through the sand storm, powerful laser cannons fired indiscriminately at the approaching Fallen and Covenant as a small opening in the firefight allowed for a pair of Republic tanks to squeeze through. With the tanks rotating their heavy main guns at the approaching hordes they consistently fired in the hopes of slowing their advance. "This is it boys! All you got! Make everything count!" Mason shouted in his comlink as a reminder that there would be no more reinforcements, this was it. Positioning itself several feet before the entrance of the vault the tanks formed a small defensive perimeter allowing retreating Republic troopers and smugglers to fall behind and use the tanks as cover. Through a small hatch, Jedi Master Kavern exited through the lead tank ducking his head to avoid an incoming plasma bolt as he reached for a heavy assault riffle that hung on the side of the tank. Peering quickly through the scope the master Jedi fired several quick bursts of accurate firepower into the enemy ranks but with the Covenant advancing with such heavy shock troops in the Brutes while another enemy advanced with void shields and heavy sniper fire. The arriving of the tanks serving as the last line of defense of the vault would prove valuable but they could only hold for so long.

Taking cover behind the tanks, Kavern manuvered his way through blaster fire as he linked up with Sergeant Mason.
"Good to see you sir!" Mason shouted trying to ensure their conversation was loud and clear.
"Use everything, hold nothing back" Kavern replied calmly as he took another peak into the fire fight.
"Multiple hostiles from multiple angles, hopefully they'll start shooting each other!" Mason quipped, a smoke joke in a serious situation. 
"It would make this easier. Is there anything in the vault? Anything we can use?" Kavern questioned but Mason shook his head.
"You have to ask Garuda's fat ass himself! The vault is ancient, nothing nobody has seen before." Kavern nodded. "I'll check, Mason it's been an honor" It was almost like there was a silent acceptance they both acknowledged but they would not speak of it. 
Mason simply nodded his head and shook the Jedi's hand firmly as they both repeated the words that created a strong bond among the Republic forces. "For the Republic"

Kavern raced into the vault, watching what was left of Gardua's men race towards the battle armed with rocket launchers and other advanced weapons leaving the Hutt by himself. Garuda turned after examining a wall to take note of the Jedi and cursed in Huttese knowing full well he might have just forfitted his entire army for secrets and weapons he would not live to enjoy. 

"I didn't anticipate this to happen... yes I'm aware. Look unless you got more men somewhere or have any idea to get something useful out of here, it's over." Kavern explained. It was fortunate he understood the Hutt though the Hutt himself found himself too proud to learn Galactic standard. Suddenly Kavern turned his head back at the entrance and gritted his teeth... the Sith were here, he could feel it. 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At a small ridge that overlooked the fire fight Dragos stood with his men watching from afar trying to analyze the situation. 
"Sir this range is rather optimal. We're clear to go." A trooper stated as he readied his weapon.
"No need trooper" Dragos explained. "It will be too risky if we all went in at once. Stay here and provide my opening and exit" Dragos replied as grabbed a pair of grenades in his hands.
"Sir?"
"The vault is lost. I just need to make sure Kavern dies." Dragos stood up fully as he prepared to slide down the hill. The Sith then eyed the task's force 2nd in command and raised his wrist and tapped it twice, an informal signal to the silent commando who nodded his head. Dragos nodded in reply as he slid down the sand hill and sprinted towards the firefight. 

Adoring his Mandolorian T shaped visor helmet the Sith's HUD provided a full 360 degrees of vision along with a variety of useful advantages such as being able to magnify his vision or an infrared scanner. As the Sith closed in towards the fire fight, Dragos hurled the pair of smoke grenades in his hands, the thick grey smoke instantly exploding outward covering the Sith's entrance into the fight. With his task force safety out of the fight, any figures that saw the Sith arrive were downed immediately by cover sniper fire.

Activating his crimson lightsaber Dragos swiftly moved through the battlefield like a shadow, closing in on the vault using the chaotic battlefield conditions and what was left of the ruins to cover his movements. With a swing of his lightsaber any lone stragglers were cut down instantly as Dragos closed in toward his destination. Taking position behind a downed pillar Dragos took another quick observed view... the tanks were focused on the alien hordes providing him a small gap. With such heavy firepower focused on the enemy, they would be impossible to ignore, now it was a just a matter of when to make his advance.