The interior of the cavern held vehicles of all sizes; from one-seated bikes to multi-seated landspeeders, there was a distinct lack of room for anything else within. Anari could feel the disappointment of a few people at her flank. She heard the relaxing of their weapons in hand as they scanned the area, but the minority among them trusted her senses enough to know that the area held no true danger. The only threat to the small infiltration unit were the explosive charges set along the walls leading to the inner ruins ahead and above. If Anari wasn't worried, then neither were they.

[color=f9ad81][b]“This isn’t much for a raid,”[/b][/color] a female soldier spoke up, resting her rifle against a shoulder. [color=f9ad81][b]“Think this place was for fleeing?”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“Or running supplies,”[/b][/color] said another member of the unit. He peered inside one of the more worn speeders. [color=f7976a][b]“They’re real junkers. Looks like something only a Jawa would sell. Is this what we’re here for?”[/b][/color]

No response came. This caused each soldier around the cavern to look over at Anari. She faced the entryway to the ruins, but didn’t make a sound. Her holocommunicator blared with a combination of blaster fire, calls for assistance, mentions of those who were wounded and trapped across the battlefield, and horrifying reports cut short. Like on the shuttle, the sounds deafened all outside noise and distractions. Those who searched through the speeders continued to do so, but kept their comments to themselves. The others stood and listened with a firmer grasp on their weaponry.

The order to retreat was heard, but the sigh that followed filled Anari with disgust only made worse by the shift in blame that followed seconds later. She shuddered with frustration before turning to the stunned and depressed gazes of her unit, expression serious. 

[color=fff79a][b]“Before Vasha gave the order, a Sergeant Garza called for assistance in the lower part of the temple. It’s too late to do what I came for, but we can still let that Sergeant and some of his men see tomorrow,”[/b][/color] Anari spoke firmly. [color=fff79a][b]“Do not overstay your welcome. Do not be heroes. Suppress the enemy and give our people time to escape. Follow the nearest sound of battle. You'll find them ahead. Be quick!”[/b][/color]

Anari walked briskly to the entryway they entered from. She caught the last transmission of Vasha risking everything before she placed the communicator near her lips. [color=fff79a][b]“Sergeant Garza, my team will cover you from within the temple. A shuttle is on its way. Prepare to evacuate.”[/b][/color] 

She switched channels to her personal shuttle, buzzing the two pilots that were left idle nearby.

[color=f7976a][b]“This is Shuttle Voractyl. Ready for extraction?”[/b][/color]

[color=fff79a][b]“Negative. There’s been a change of plans. Warm up your laser cannons and reach Sergeant Garza’s position. Lower half of the temple ruins. He’ll likely have the only unit left alive in proximity. My men will move to cover them but I need you to be prepared for anything.”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“Understood, but what about you?”[/b][/color]

[color=fff79a][b]“I’ll find another way to our fallback position. If you can extract my unit then do so, but Garza and his men take priority.”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“Roger that Master Jedi. We’re on the move,”[/b][/color] the pilot replied before communication was cut.

The approaching hum of her shuttle’s engines assured her that getting Garza’s men out would be hasty. Glancing over her shoulder, the backs of her unit disappeared around a corner at the far end of the hallway. The glare of light against their backs hinted that their shields were active and ready to spare them the suffering of any stray blaster round. They weren’t here for direct combat, not at first, but they should be just enough of a threat to send the mercenaries that surrounded Garza scattering.

That only left her.

Stowing away her communicator, Anari closed her eyes and focused on her surroundings; the speeder bikes closest to the entrance wobbled and soon rose into the air, carefully being guided outside. As this happened, the explosives set against the cavern exits were delicately severed from the rocks they were attached to. The majority were placed within the largest vehicles the cavern held, while others were scattered on the ground beneath them…

[center]~~~~~[/center]


[color=f7976a][i]Anari’s unit was determined to save Justus, but felt far more vulnerable to any and all dangers without her to lead them personally. They didn’t ask why she chose to stay behind. They placed trust in her, far more than any of them openly admitted. So when she asked them to move ahead to the closest sound of fighting that they could, they rushed through the ruins with faith that the thrill of impending victory would distract any and all remaining forces that remained within the temple and slowly pushed outward to drive their people back.

The sound of blaster fire drew closer. They readied their rifles, double checked their shields were active, and then found a suitable overlook just above the location of interest. Anari was right. Taking aim at the mercenaries still ignorant of their presence, the unit opened fire. The heads of multiple enemies bounced forward before they dropped dead against the cover they relied on, but it wasn’t long before they became aware that they were flanked. Some soon returned fire at them, to which the unit ducked behind their superior cover and made ample use of higher ground.

The roar of the shuttle that dropped them off deafened the sounds of their fighting. Green blasts flew from the mounted laser cannons, sending rock and limp bodies flying. Those that remained sought better cover, or simply knew when to give up.

Shuttle Varactyl opened its doors and set itself down between Garza and what little of the men that attacked him remained. Anari’s unit began to move lower with haste, looking to meet up with the others and aid them in getting aboard.[/i][/color]