UlicHorn

A-23 stepped next to the captain, a Mon Calamarian. "Sir, what's going on?" The Mon Cal's eyes shifted around the bridge from the crew and back to 23. "We're meeting resistance already, a small group of sepratist war ships are meeting with us and I'm afraid we can't launch the ground ships. If we do we might suffer extreme casuailties. I've called for reinforcements but until they arrive there's nothing we can do." A-23's helmet blocked his face but underneath he was formulating. "Call a full retreat off our ships. We've only got this one and the smaller ones, so we're already out numbered. Call a retreat, let them think they've won and we hook round Geonosis or Ryloth and come around on the planet's other side, near the suns."

"Oh, what now?" Ulic said, "Ok we're coming to dock, just give us some time." Too bad we don't have any left, Ulic thought. Fire was coming down around them again but the TIEs were better organized now and avoiding was becoming a hassle. As Ulic brought the frieghter in he sighed. "Ok, I gotta go check the hull for serious ext. damage."

"Let's hope this works, or we're gonna be taking a short trip to oblivion." Ulic said as he entered the coordinates of the jump. He braced himself and hit the switch. Stars streaked around the cockpit for only a moment before the space around them returned. "Haha!" Ulic said, he embraced Sib, "Look like I kno-" he stopped as the ship jottled in the tractor beam, Ulic splayed on the console. "Ow." was all he cound manage.

The fighters were begining to catch up. "Ok," Ulic said, "If this works then we're in the clear." He said looking forward. "And if it doesn't ?" Sib asked. Ulic looked over, said nothing and closed his eyes focusing. He felt the ship around him and those on board it and felt something in the back of his mind click. That was it. "Ok, let's try this again. Rebellion ship, this is Ulic Horn, I'm gonna make a micro jump and try to emerge at your flank."

A-23 hurried to the elevator and held the door for the young jedi. "I need to speak with the Captain before we can make the drop. If this becomes a naval engagement then theres the risk we won't be able to make it planetside."

"You're a little late to save us from being overwhelmed, Captain, but we could use some help. This hunker is about to fall about and-." Ulic paused and kicked the side of the cockpit and a few lights came back on. "If you wanna help I'd launch a couple of fighters and get ready to move out of the area, I'm gonna try to make a microjump."

"I have very strict orders from the Senate, we are not to touch the Hutts, as long as they aren't directly funding the Sepratists then what they're doing isn't illegal. The Senate and the Jedi are to deal with the Hutts later." He grabbed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. "Now, when ever you're ready I-" An alarm sounded. "I think we may need to delay the drop planet side."

"Well, we had requested someone from the Cestus mission, Masters Kenobi or Fisto, but since this is all we have, then whenever you're ready Commander. I can have my troops ready at a moments notice."

"The droids are similar to the Cestus 'Jedi Killers' seeing that they absorb the engery instead of deflecting it. The best place to hit one, from what we've seen is here, at the knee or under the shoulder for you jedi. As for the Hutts, we aren't sure yet about their full involvment, but thats for intel to find out. Once we're planet side our job is to lead the stirke against the Sepratists and clear this part of the rim."

The trio arrived in the briefing room, a large white holoprojecter sat in the circular room. A-23 entered in a command on the console and the projector simmered to life. "This is the planet Tatooine." he said waving his hand. He removed his helmet and continued, "In a moment we'll be entering hyperspace and within the hour we'll reach the outer rim, from there we head planet side to Tatooine. Our intelligence informed us that we may have another droid problem, another 'smart' droid similar to the JK Droids from Cestus a few months ago. Worse is that we've heard that a Hutt crime boss has been funding the Confederacy and Dooku to manufacture these knew Droids. We haven't gotten any specs yet but from out accounts the droids look like this." He pressed another button and a droid fizzled into focus. It was bipedal and about as tall as one of the Clones, it didn't look like much of a threat but it was more than what anyone saw. "Now, any questions?"

Ulic tried the hyperdrive again and was met with the same whine. The fighters were gaining speed and Afton and Karn were doing their best to hold them back. Sib looked over at Ulic from the co-pilot seat, "Ulic, we're running time, try it." she finished, with a pleading look. "No, thats the last option, I don't even know if I still can." Ulic knew she was refering to his limited touch to the force, the limited touch he didn't even like to acknowlegde. "The last option" he repeated. Not a moment later second Destroyer lumbered out of hyperspace. "Well we just ran out of options," Sib said almost nonchalantly.

OOC: Me too, maybe we should PM him and see if hes still interested.

"That is, if they're still there," he said as he switched off the comm. Ulic pushed the ship farther, "Blast it, the shields aren't gonna hold much longer. Too bad making a micro jump isn't do able, just hold off those fighters and pray." If there was some all powerful force in the galaxy like his father belived, then Ulic hoped it was with them now.

"Of course sir, your questions can be easily answered, step this way to the briefing room and I'll show you what we're up against. Dimissed!" he shouted to the other troops, "You and you," he said pointing to two other troops, "Head to the bridge and inform the captain of the Commander's arrival, and you," he said pointing another finger at 1138, "Follow me."

"Ok, I'm gonna try and run us." he said as he pushed the ships engines farther. "Too bad I don't have anywhere to run too. Anyone got any ideas, I'm open to suggestions." Turbolaser fire was blasting around the ship, so long as the deflector sheilds held they could run...but not for long.

The Clones began fileing into the landing bay and into formation. The saluted the Jedi as he walked off of the ship and A-23 took the lead. He saluted, "Greetings General," he paused, "My mistake sir, I didn't see the braid, Greetings Commander. It's an honor to have you aboard, my troops will be at your full disposal once we're planetside."

OOC: That's a great idea Kaja. Having an ARC trooper take orders from a padawan is gonna play out in a good story, espesscially one that sees them as mindless drones. "Attention!" ARC Trooper A-23, shouted to the troops assembled in the landing bay. "I have report that a jedi is on the way, and should be here within the next two hours. In the meantime our launch planetside has been delayed, I went every trooper to eat or rest and be back here in full armor ready for drop and inspection. Move Out!" Sometimes, he thought, it was harder to be more free willed than the others, there wasn't even another ARC on board. How did he keep going, other than his desire to fight for the Grand Army of the Republic. He sighed and removed his helmet as he headed for the bridge.

OOC: If you wanna be a Clone go for it, you want to be the Jedi go for it, it's all your call.

"No!" Ulic shouted slamming his fist down. This couldn't be happening, he thought, not now. "Ulic," Sib said, "We're going to be in tractor beam range in a minute. You'd better come up with something fast or we're in trouble." Ulic hit the switch again as the hyperdrive whined. "I think we're in trouble."

OOC: Sure, we still need a good jedi too though. So if anyone wants to talk over as the General its open. Otherwise I will.

OOC: This ever gonna wrap or move anywhere?

Ulic hadn't wished for his droid co-pilot to be there more than right now. He worked as quickly as he could but this was going to take more time than they had. He slammed the hydro-spanner down and hoped it would work. He slammed the compartment shut as he ran back towards the cockpit. The fighters were giving them a beating, a few more hits like this and the shielding would be out in a flash. Another blast nearly tossed him to the floor but he braced against the hull and moved towards the cockpit again. He moved Sib out of the pilot seat and took over. They were close to atmosphere and the ship's guns were blazing as the bombers fired back. They were in open space and a Star Destroyer moved towards them. In a moment they'd be in firing range so they'd have to make this quick. "Hang on!" Shouted Ulic as he punched in the last navicomputer coordinates. "Punch it!" he said and Sib followed up as the ship lurched forward and the hyperdrive died out again.

"This isn't over yet." Ulic sayed priming the ship for a quick departure. The Engine room of the Corellian frieghter lit up and hummed then quickly died. "Oh wonderful!" Ulic cursed a few Corellian words and slammed his fist down on the console in front of him and it hummed back to life. YT-2400's were supposed to be very sturdy and reliable, unless you take them apart and tamper with the hyperdrive, then the customization really kicks out. "This is gonna be rough, someone get in the gunnery turret!" he shouted as the ship lifted off. Sib limped slowly in. "Sib, take over and try to keep it steady!" Ulic shouted over his shoulder as he was already heading into the back near the engines. He turned on his comlink and opened an access hatch, climbed halfway in, hydro-spaner in hand, and began to work quickly. A blast from a cannon hit the ship and Ulic dropped the hydro-spaner. The ship lurched and did spun. "I said keep us steady!" Ulic shouted into the comlink. "You said try!" Sib quipped back as she piloted the ship. TIEs were begining to crawl all over Bespins's atmosphere and Sib had to use some tricky manuvers, against Ulic's wishes. "What are you doing up there?" he asked. "Trying to keep us alive!" She snapped and followed with a series of curses and such in Ryl, which Ulic seemed to understand most of.

CT- A23-01075 couldn't offically move his troops until a jedi showed up but until then he would keep them drilled and ready to go at a moments notice. He hoped the council wouldn't send him a padawan. A Braid, he thought. OOC: We're over Tatooine, the mission will be explained soon, Soldier.

"They're gonna be on us in a minute, run! Fast!" Ulic shouted over the explosion. He ran Sib over his shoulder once again. His head was pounding from the fall but he ran anyway. He could see the ship up ahead it was sitting on the landing pad on the other side of the walkway. In the open, he thought, why did I land in the open?. They were really gonna have to make this escape count. They made it to the ship and Ulic opened the ramp, he moved to the cockpit faster than Sib had ever seen him do it, just as the Imperial Craft was turning around.