KK-12-H-9237, captain and commander of the First Company of the Seventh Regiment, whichwas held in reserve, entered the room with ameasured gait. Most of the regiment was scattered across the base, with the First Company assigned to cover headquarters.
"Guys, we need fighters for a dangerous mission—four gunners," he announced.
"What kind of mission, Captain?" KL-12-W-128, lieutenant of the Second Platoon, set his helmetaside.
"The command has decided to put a couple of big cannons right in the clankers' landing zone, so you'll have a fine opportunity for some fun."
"Hutt, that sounds tempting!" The lieutenant brightened noticeably.
"Don't even think about shirking. You're the platoon commander," the captain jabbed.
"Bro, you're too harsh. Fine." The lieutenant sighed. "Thirty-fifth! Seventh! Forty-ninth! Fifty-third! Get over here!"
Soon four clones stood at attention in a row.
"Men! You have the honor of becoming gunnersfor those hefty proton cannons."
"Have the tin-cans completely lost their minds and are going to fly their ships right into the base?" Seventh voiced the general opinion.
"No. The guns will be set up exactly where the droids will land," the captain said.
"Details?" asked Fifty-Third.
"You'll be assigned a company of droid guards. Evacuation will be by speeders."
"Sir, with all due respect, this isn't a dangerous mission—it's a vacation."
"All right, cut the chatter! The guns are already being prepared for transport. Platform Six, move out!"
The clones saluted and filed out of the building.
***
Our impromptu "council in Fili" continued.
"…And yet, can we take the AT-TEs out of the hangars? Their guns would obviously be useful, wouldn't they?"
"These machines aren't as maneuverable as the AATs; they'll have trouble evading air attacks, and we can't provide fighter cover—they'd be very vulnerable during takeoff. Best to keep them in reserve and use them at the decisive moment."
"Not bad. What else can be done? Share yourideas, ladies and gentlemen." I crossed my arms and stared at the hologram, trying to think of something else.
Zabrak hologram, who had been silent until now, asked, "General, what are our orders? If the enemy outnumbers us, we won't be able to prevent their invasion army from landing."
"I'll tell you this, Captain: you don't need to try to stop every threat. Your main task is to guard the fuel plant. Position your ships to block all approaches and prevent its capture. The enemy will be occupied with us, and reinforcements should arrive—be ready."
"Yes, sir."
"By the way, Captain, the enemy will most likely jam communications, so you'll have to make on-the-spot decisions during the battle."
"Wouldn't it be better for you to take your place on the bridge?"
"No, Captain. My place is here. I can feel it."
***
Ahsoka stood beside her Master. He sat upon one of the crates, clearly meditating. The Togruta felt the concentration and confidence emanating from him, but there was something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. However, this problem did not occupy her thoughts for long.
She was more concerned with other things. On the one hand, another battle will soon begin, and it will be possible to have some fun. On the other hand, her Master had strictly forbidden her from going to the front lines. That upset her, and his words that everything had its time did little to calm her.
Suddenly the steady hum in the room was cut by the Jedi's voice: "Attention! The enemy has entered orbit!"
A moment later, Sumeragi —who had taken the place of one of the operators—put on an internal-comm headset and reported, "The enemysquadron has entered orbit. Number of ships…" Everyone froze. "Four Lucrehulk-class core ships, twelve Munificent-class star frigates, one Recusant-class light destroyer."
"It's begun."
"Sir, they're jamming our communications!"
"It's all right. Captain Ragnos knows what to do. Is communication stable within the base?"
"Yes, sir," Mirro replied.
The Jedi approached the communications terminal, gestured for a headset, and paused for a moment after receiving it. Then he spoke. "Open channel."
Waiting for a nod from the second operator, the Jedi began to speak.
***
Sergeant KC-13Q-341 watched the enemy ships hovering in orbit through his binoculars. From the ground their silhouettes were barely visible.
"Four bagels! Ten—no, twelve tadpoles! And another unknown piece of crap." He spat the words out in amazement.
"Normal, Sergeant. Will there be fun soon?" KS-13RT-7041 swung the barrel of the rotary blaster gun on its tripod from side to side.
"You're overly optimistic, Forty-First." KS-13RT-7047 silently arranged grenades into the launcher's niches.
Suddenly a message crackled through the internal comm from headquarters: "Attention—General Vikt will be speaking with you."
After a short pause, the General's voice rang out. "Troopers! I could speak at length about your bravery, courage, valor, honor, calling, and duty. However, you understand these things without me. So I will be brief: the clankers have come to visit. You know what to do!"
Sergeant KC-13Q-341 barked, "Did you hear that, slackers? Beat the clankers to a pulp!"
"Yes, sir!" the clones replied in unison.
"Attention—switching to internal channel! The enemy has begun landing!" the company commander's voice blared in the soldiers' helmets.
Forty-Seventh crouched in the trench, his hand resting on the body of his grenade launcher. Let them come closer, and then we'll take them apart for parts.