( Bridge )
"Captain," Grigh reported, "The Marines report they are in position to destroy the last attackers. Jedi Katarn is still with them."
"Good," Corvell said as he focused on the battles outside his ship rather than on the ones inside. The Dreadnought they were fighting appeared to be a C3I version, and as such didn't mount the same weapons or fighter compliment as a normal version would.
And most of its fighters were participating in other battles as reserve. He was damned lucky, or the Force was with him that things hadn't turned out worse. "Order the assault when the Marines are ready, and once this battle is over, I would like to speak to the Jedi at his convenience."
"Understood Captain," and the word was given.
Out the front viewscreen, the Captain smiled as the first lasers started to punch through the weakened shields. "Focus on the Shield generators. Once they're down, they will be ours for the taking!" It was nice to win the first battle in the war, that was for sure.
Deck A Corridor
Kyle hung back, giving the Marines morale by being there and not getting in their way. The Lieutenant had caught up with them just outside the defensive cordon, and thanked Kyle for his hard work.
"Wasn't anything," Kyle said honestly. "Stormtroopers would have been a challenge. Droids are just pathetic."
"What are those?" Harjko asked, confused.
"Never mind," Kyle dismissed the concern. Never heard of Stormtroopers? Another point of evidence in favour of Jan's 'Time Travel' theory, as much as he hated to admit it. It wasn't like this was all an illusion either. Too much was just real to him and his senses. "Where do you want me?"
"Behind, Master Kyle. With your heavy gun to help break up the enemy formations, we can exploit the weaknesses without putting you in the line of fire." The plan was simple again, although by now they had secured the armory and bandoleers of thermal detonators in addition to other heavy weapons had been handed out to the men so that Kyle wasn't the only one with that burden.
"I understand," Kyle said. "Just give the signal."
"We're waiting on reply from the other side." That was the danger of catching the enemy in a crossfire, for even entrenched, there was the possibility of friendly fire passing over the droidekas and hitting the ship's marines.
"Alright," Kyle looked around, giving a casual smile to the marines who looked to him for support and guidance, even with their lieutenant right there. He played the part they wanted - of invincible Savior.
"We have confirmation," the Lieutenant announced to his men and Kyle. "On my mark. Three. Two.. One!"
A dozen thermal detonators were thrown down the hall, and the battle was on.
...
( Raven's Claw )
Jan wasn't worried. Not at all. It wasn't like Kyle was in any danger at all.
"Jan?"
"KYLE!" She didn't quite shout into the com unit. "What's happening?"
"We've busted the last of the droids. I still have that head for you." Kyle sounded relaxed, which meant he probably was.
"What now?"
"Well, the Captain wants to see me, and I think there's still a battle outside. I'll let you know."
"Alright. Bye Kyle."
"Bye Jan."
Jan swore and kicked the chair under her. She didn't like being cooped up like this, and she would be certain to give Kyle a piece of her mind later.
...
( Bridge )
The air was charged with the presence of the Jedi, even as Captain Corvell continued to issue orders to his crew. The Droid Control dreadnought slid out of view of the front window as the Astute turned to bring more broadside weapons into arc, and rotate damaged shield sections away.
With the manoeuvrer in place, he turned back to Kyle. "Master Jedi."
"Please, call me Kyle. If someone on this ship can, please let it be you." Katarn stood at the back of the bridge, away from anyone with something to do.
But Corvell shook his head. "I cannot. You are a Jedi, and with the war, we must all be aware of our positions." Kyle grimaced, but understood where the Captain was coming from. "Thank you for securing our ship."
"I don't suppose you can quietly let me and my ship go, and we can both forget I was ever here?"
"Not with that Trade Federation Dreadnought still active," the Captain apologized. "It seems that the Separatists thought to ambush the fleet at the rally point, however, our delay in picking you up caused us to arrive a little later than expected. We have you to thank for being out of position to attack the command and control dreadnought here."
"Force moves in mysterious ways," Kyle mulled. "What's happening now?"
"Our presence has distracted the enemy forces enough that the Admiral has organized the fleet and is working their way to us to help in destroying the ship."
"Captain!" A man in the navigator's seat yelled out as alarms started calling for attention. "The enemy ship just jumped to Hyperspace! They're retreating!"
"Guess they heard I was here," Kyle quipped.
...
( Republic Cruiser Astute )
With the battle winding down, Captain Corvell turned his attentions to his ship. Casualty reports were already coming in, as were more damage control updates. He was thankful that the Jedi had chosen to stay back, away from anything sensitive, and he wasn't going to try and 'help' any.
"MedBay has the final report," Grigh said sadly. "89 dead, including 42 Marines." That was a third of their security forces, but they had destroyed five times that many Droids in the process. Lieutenant Hirjko would have his hands full in the coming days. "178 wounded, 14 still in critical condition."
They had won their first battle, but the cost was high. Or was it low? This was thte first real war the Republic had fought in living history. Who knew how the numbers would play out in the long run?
"And the ship?" He asked of his XO.
"Minimal hull damage. If it wasn't for the Boarding Pods, we may have come through nearly unscathed." Yes. The Pods. They were launched so close to his ship that they didn't have time to properly react. And once again, he had to thank the Force that a Jedi was travelling with them, even if he had tried to do so in secret.
"Captain, Admiral Wason wishes to speak with you." The officer at the Communications console announced, giving Corvell another issue to deal with.
"Is it urgent?" Perhaps it was just another status report? The Admiral was something of a micro-manager he had heard, but whether this was the case was not something he had yet experienced for himself.
"If you don't mind," the Jedi, Kyle spoke up, "I don't think there's much I can do around here. Can I take my ship and go?"
He had been quite insistent that he leave. And while the Captain could understand why, there were still protocols and procedures to follow. No one had decided to put the Jedi in charge of everything.
"Your ship has permission to leave, Master Kyle. I do ask your forbearance and patience though before you disembark." It was the best he could do, and he could see that the Jedi understood that, even if he didn't agree with it. "Please, put the Admiral on."
"Aye, sir."
"Captain Jox Corvell speaking, Admiral." He spoke clearly at the short-ranged holocom unit as soon as the image of the Admiral appeared in the flickering blue light.
The hologram smiled. It wasn't a happy gesture on the near-human. "First, I want to offer my congratulations to you and your crew for your timely arrival and well-fought battle. I am told you suffered casualties, and for that you have my sympathies and regards."
"Thank you, Admiral. It was our duty."
"Fall in with the fleet," the Admiral ordered. "You still have those two pods stuck in your side, so I will detail engineers from the Shatterhorn to assist you once they are done their repairs. They were lightly damaged, and should be completed before the hour is done."
"Thank you again, Admiral." Removing the pods would be tricky business at the best of times, they would need to isolate whole sections of the ship to do so safely. "Any and all help is welcome. I do have injured that need treatment as well."
"The starliner Cloudy White is being converted to a hospital ship as we speak. I will have my men communicate with yours and theirs to arrange transport."
"Yes, Admiral. Thank you Admiral."
"On to more pressing matters," the Admiral said, glancing down to a datapad in his hand that appeared in the holo for a second. "Several ships haven't reported in yet, and we suspect that the damned Seperatists have been setting up ambushes throughout the sector."
Corvell didn't speak, knowing that the Admiral wasn't asking for his opinion.
"Once we have repaired our ships sufficiently, I will designate taskforces to search out our missing ships. Based on performance and seniority, I believe I will be placing you in charge of one of them."
"Sir!" Corvell wasn't sure how to respond, except that the words of the Jedi were now prophetic more than anything else. And he knew he had to accept. Orders were orders. "Yes sir. However, my ship may need a couple days to be properly repaired."
"I understand. Yours and a few others. I'm sending you a list of six ships that will be in your task force, all damaged as well. Once you are satisfied that they are combat worthy, brief me and I will assign you a ship to locate, or location to search."
"I understand, Admiral." He looked over to Grigh who was now looking over the information coming to their ship.
"Is there anything else you wish to report, Captain?" The Admiral asked, obviously prepared to accept the information and adjust his plans as needed. Corvell looked over his shoulder at the, who shook his head in the negative. Very well, he couldn't order him anyways.
"No, Admiral. I will have a formal report filed within a day." The Captain saluted, and the Admiral cut the connection.
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