Anakin maintained a worried expression as he watched the three teenagers disappear into the distance.
"Skywalker, do you not trust your Padawan?" Luminara asked perceptively.
"You believe they're not capable of handling the mission?" Aayla speculated.
Anakin simply crossed his arms and continued staring at the three young operatives who were now considerably further from their staging area.
"I never said that."
"It's natural to worry," Steve told the concerned Jedi Master. "But if we don't provide them with appropriate challenges, they'll never develop their full potential."
Anakin clenched his fists, then released a deep breath. "Fine. I'm worried. Is that what you all wanted to hear?"
"Anakin, we all pretty much figured that was the case," Sam said, with the others nodding in agreement. "Just have faith in their abilities. This won't be the first or last dangerous mission they'll face."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"General, with all due respect..." Rex began carefully. "But we are the 501st Legion. High-risk missions are our specialty."
Anakin gave Rex a rueful smile and turned his attention to the factory schematics.
"Then our assault must be bold and highly visible if we're going to draw the droids' attention away from the facility interior," Anakin declared.
"No cover at all?" Steve wasn't entirely comfortable with this approach.
"It needs to be irresistibly tempting and difficult for them to ignore," Luminara agreed.
"We just need to focus on drawing them out while providing covering fire," Bly added.
With this strategy established, they began issuing orders and rallying their forces.
The time had come.
Soon, the three Jedi Knights and two Avengers were advancing side by side, with soldiers from all three corps formations moving in coordinated units.
As they approached the bridge spanning the chasm, the massive doors of the droid foundry opened and thousands of battle droids marched forward in formation.
"That's a considerable number of droids," Sam observed dryly.
"Well, this is a droid manufacturing facility," Luminara replied with calm composure.
"As long as we can eliminate them faster than they can produce replacements, we'll achieve victory," Anakin stated with determination, drawing chuckles from the others.
"Sometimes the simplest strategies are the most effective," Aayla declared, igniting her blue lightsaber as Anakin and Luminara activated their own weapons.
Sam's wings extended while Steve gripped his shield firmly.
The clone troopers raised their blaster rifles, and the leading five officers charged forward to engage the droid formations.
Descending the cavern wall, the three teenagers finally reached the bottom level amid the sounds of battle echoing from above. Reaching the opposite side of the underground chasm, Barriss carefully examined the wall structure to properly locate their entry point. She paused, ignited her lightsaber, and drove it into the rock face. To assist her efforts, Ahsoka activated her own lightsaber and provided the necessary help to carve their entrance. The two Padawans used the Force to pry apart the stone, revealing the extensive tunnel network within.
"Excellent work, you two," Peter commented, approaching the opening before glancing at Ahsoka and Barriss. "So... who wants to enter the creepy, dark, bug-infested tunnel first?"
Ahsoka gave him a mischievous smile before Barriss volunteered an alternative. "Why don't you lead?"
"...Is this because I'm technically a 'bug'?" Peter narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "For the record, I'm an arachnid, not an insect. Significant difference."
"Right, right," Ahsoka said, gently pushing him forward into the tunnel, with both Padawans following behind.
"Which direction now?" Ahsoka inquired.
"This way," Barriss indicated, taking point with her companions close behind.
As Republic forces initiated their diversionary assault, inside the droid foundry, Poggle the Lesser observed the attack alongside a specially designed tactical droid serving as his strategic advisor.
Compared to standard tactical droids, this unit possessed a more balanced construction. More symmetrical proportions. It lacked the typical gangly appendages, and its appearance was more humanoid, with only its torso and head maintaining the conventional tactical droid design.
"Master Poggle," the tactical droid reported. "The foundry is operating at fifty percent capacity and preparing to deploy ten fresh droid battalions."
Poggle turned toward the tactical droid and produced a series of clicking sounds while gesturing toward the attacking Republic forces.
"The super tank formations will be ready shortly, but most units still require final assembly," the tactical droid translated. "However, once they're deployed, the Republic forces will be overwhelmed. They possess no weapons capable of penetrating such heavy armor."
Poggle nodded approvingly.
"We will not be defeated. I have implemented numerous contingency protocols and backup strategies," the tactical droid assured him, its optical sensors flashing red momentarily. "Victory is assured."
Poggle simply nodded, observing the battle that had commenced below, while the tactical droid maintained the same vigil, specifically monitoring two particular individuals among the Republic forces.