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| - “I still can't believe we pulled it off, sir,” Carth Onasi was saying to the captain of the Endar Spire as the two officers, flanked by the two Jedi who had accompanied the warship from Coruscant, walked toward the captain's wardroom aboard Stalwart Defender. “When the Sith showed up, I was expecting a bloodbath.” “I've never seen such a one-sided victory, either,” Captain Fullar replied. “Not even the Mandalorians were able to overpower an enemy with such seeming ease.” In the day following the Republic's raid on the Sith fleet supply base and subsequent rout of a superior force, Admiral Hetton's task force had changed tack. Instead of demolishing the base and retreating as originally planned, he had turned it into a staging area, sending the newly-redesignated Saber Battalion, reinforced by the rest of the task force's ground troops and armored vehicles, out to liberate the planet itself. Despite its strategic location, the Sith presence was limited, with only a few hotspots remaining; these were swiftly taken care of by strafing runs from the Aurek squadrons. The Iridonian government, impressed with the resounding victory, had readily accepted the return of Republic troops and defenses. What was more, Captain Laera Reyolé's Marines had secured an intelligence coup after having sifted through the Sith computer network. This was why the two senior officers from the Endar Spire were now aboard the flagship, to hear what had been learned and to find out what was next for the flotilla. “We know what happened,” said Wellir, the Mon Calamari Jedi Master, whose tone was somber despite the circumstances. “My Padawan and I are hoping to shed some light on the battle.” “Of course,” Fullar deferred. “I look forward to hearing what you have to say.” Carth turned toward the young woman who strode at the back of their small column. “I don't think I ever got your name, Miss...” The Padawan dipped her head in a small bow as the quartet continued to walk. “Shan,” she replied modestly. “Bastila Shan, and it was my honor to have been able to help.” “From what I hear, you did more than help,” Carth said with awe. “I'd never heard of—ah, here we go.” Captain Laera Reyolé, resplendent in her dress reds, was just emerging from the wardroom. “Commander Onasi, Captain Fullar, there you are,” she said, holding the hatchway open. “We were just about to start the briefing.” “What's this about?” Wellir spoke up as he and his Padawan hurried to keep pace with the Republic officers. Laera said nothing, only gesturing for the four of them to enter the room, which they did. Inside, at the far end, a holographic star map had been set up. At a table in the center sat Admiral Hetton and Captain Melao, along with the captains and executive officers of Delta Dagger and Horseshoe, as well as Captain Tyr, head of the task force's starfighter wing. A Bothan ensign sat near the head of the table, looking nervous in the presence of so many senior officers and Jedi. Shutting the door behind the newcomers, Laera strode purposefully toward the head of the table, where she sat opposite the ensign. Admiral Hetton then stood up and regarded the projection. “Rodia,” he announced. “This was where the Sith reinforcements were headed, and they were to be but a part of a larger attack force. Ensign Dan'kre here was able to pull their entire operational plan during Captain Reyolé's assault; thanks to him, we'll be able to stop this offensive cold. I've already forwarded this data to Republic Intelligence, and we're to meet up with the Second Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Dodonna, at the edge of the Tyrius system as soon as possible after securing Iridonia and dropping off all non-essential personnel. “There's just one thing I have to know,” he asked, regarding the two Jedi at the far end of the table. “What exactly happened that allowed us to execute such a devastating attack with almost no casualties?” “I'd like to know, as well,” Laera put in, regarding the two Jedi who still stood, flanking the hatchway. “It's called Battle Meditation,” Wellir supplied, his voice gravely. “A rare ability, it can influence entire armies, calling upon their inner strength and willpower, while at the same time demoralizing enemy forces and causing them to make mistakes. I had been training with my Padawan here in order to develop its presence within her. Like the rest of you, I'm just as glad—and surprised—that she was able to master it so suddenly.” Hetton nodded, then met the Mon Cal's gaze. "Do you think Padawan Bastila will be able to help us in defending Rodia?" "I have no doubts at all, Admiral," the Jedi Master replied firmly. — — — Leaving behind most of Saber Battalion, along with six thousand of the task force's Army troops and three of its Aurek squadrons, including the 23rd Marines along with the 51st and 52nd Navy fliers, Admiral Hetton and his task force had set a hyperspace course toward the outer edges of the Tyrius star system. The trip would take at least two days, during which the crews of the four warships did what they could to patch up the relatively minor damage that had been incurred during the short but vicious battle. In her darkened quarters, clad in her BDUs and utterly exhausted, Laera sat on her bunk, opposite Master Wellir and his Padawan, Bastila Shan, who had brought in a pair of stools. "I felt your struggle with the dark side," the Mon Calamari said, his far-set eyes reduced to amber crescents, his voice gentle. "You nearly lost yourself in that duel against your former comrade." Laera looked from the Jedi Master to his apprentice, the young human woman who was only about half her age. and back. "The dark side," she sighed heavily, wiping her brow. "I guess no amount of forewarning can ever really prepare you to meet it, especially within yourself." "Precisely," Wellir replied. "Bastila's Battle Meditation helped you to understand what was going on within you, but it was you who made the choice to let go of your anger and your rage, and to go forward as a servant of the light." "I don't feel particularly light at the moment, though," Laera shrugged. "He, that is to say, Acaadi, said some things, things that have been eating at me ever since we met in combat." "Whatever he told you, you must not take it at face value." Wellir said, his aura indicating frankness. "The dark side is beguiling, misleading; deception, secrets and lies are its dominion. You will rarely, if ever, meet an honest Sith, and certainly not among those allied with Darth Revan." Laera nodded, then looked back at the Jedi Master, meeting his gaze. "Which means that now, more than ever, we should be doing what we can to fight the darkness, whenever and wherever it is revealed." "Such is the way of the Jedi Guardian," Wellir agreed, his barbels quivering. "Such is the way of the Jedi Marine and her Saber Battalion..." Fin
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