Tulre amused, gently took over the speeder they were riding. He said, "We'll save time. My sister and I know the forest very well." He put on speeder until he was right on Jun-la's six.

Jun-la knew her brother was behind her and gave a wry grin. She veered suddenly to the right to bring her brother's speeder alongside. It was a childish taunt but it served the purpose of urgency. She continued her neck breaking speed until they were at the ruins. She applied the brakes hard and took a giant leap out of the speeder into the throng of hordesmen. She had withdrawn Sanglumina and was ready to defend.

Ken-Lui and Li-Shang had jumped out as well using their special abilities to ward off the hordesmen.

**********

Andros paused slightly as if receiving confirmation. He smiled and said, "They are here."

*********

Greea was ready for the charge and blocked. She then leapt away. "I have no time for such foolishness." Using Force speed, she took off towards the waiting ship. She had to get to her children.

Durrel noticed that the men were unusually quiet before this battle. The captain knew that they had to be confused about where they stood in the situation. He decided to lighten the situation and prep them for battle.

"Lieutenant Krek."

"Yessir?"

"Start us off on a little Vode An, eh?"

"Yes Sir!"

This would definately restore the morale and fighting spirit.

Krek started, " Kote Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an! Mand'alor a'den mhi, Vode An! Bal Kote, Darasuum kote, jorso'ran kando a tome!"

The chant/song grew louder as the men enthusiastically joined in, creating an amazing feeling of adrenaline and invinciblity throughout the ranks.

The men ran faster and sang louder, growing louder as they approached the enemy as the Jedi fought.

The chanting continued as Durrel drew his sword and gave the order to draw weapons and charge.

Everything went in slow motion as the wave of Mandalorians clashed against the hordesmen. The Mandalorians began to literally rip their enemy to pieces.

Kalla and Andorra jumped out of the speeder, Kalla wielding her lightsaber, Andorra wielding the sword Tulre gave her. Eyeing the ruin, Kalla commented, "My father's in there." She quickly made her way to the ruin, cutting down any Hordesmen who got in her way. They would need the help of those inside.

Jun-la turned and saw Kalla make a run for the inside. She shouted, "Wait!"

She was pushed from behind by a hordesman and nearly had her body broken from the impact. She saw hundreds of hordesmen follow Kalla in. Others were swarming in on her. With extreme control, she began to channel the natural energies around her, building upon it.

**********

Wait!

The words echoed through Andros' mind as he broke another creature's neck. He had an image of Kalla running in. "She ran in," he muttered to himself. He then shouted at Katarina, "Buy me two minutes."

He then vaulted out of a window despite his years and swung using the outcroppings on the outside. He found the window a level down and swung in. He drew his sword and made his way towards Kalla.

Durrel looked in sheer surprise as one of the Jedi ran into the overrun temple. Even to Mandalorians, such an action was considered suicidal.

"Divert your attack and fire to the left flank! Cover the Jedi!! Provide fire support!"

The Mandalorians immediatley began making their way towards the entrance, using both blasters and swords.

Durrel changed comms, "Airbourne! Get me a flame solution on these hordesmen! Make them burn in glory!"

"Yes, Captain Durrel," Said one of the jetpack troopers.

Several troopers flew in mere seconds to the position, bathing the enemy forces in a wall of fire with their flamethrowers.

Durrel charged in and stuck his blade through one of the hordesmen that managed to survive the inferno.

"Move Forward! Take no prisoners! FOR MAND'ALOR!"



Garrick was once again completely dumbfounded by the Jedi. Komad was meditating, and the other man, had just jumped out of the defensive perimeter, but Garrick knew that they must have good reason.

He head-butted one of the hordesmen that had jumped on him, and quickly kneeing hm afterward.

Garrick picked up the hordesmen's spear and jabbed it into another. If time was what the Jedi needed, then Garrick would deliver it.

Kalla turned around and, seeing the Hordesmen behind her, quickly Force Pushed them into one another. It slowed her down, but it would buy her some time. She continued running through the ruins until she ran into her brother. "We don't have much time, we have to get dad and the others out of here." She told him.

Andorra had remained outside, and continued to fight the hordesmen, seriously worried about Kalla's safety. "Is she insane? Why would she just rush in there like that?" She managed to ask Tonatius during the fighting.
(you didn't mention him, but I figured he'd be there)

(yeah and the Andros she ran into is supposed to be Jun-la's father)

If Andros was surprised that Kalla spoke to him as if he were her brother, he didn't show it. Rather he said, "We can't get to your father the way you are going." He paused to give a slice to a hordesman. It was a painful one and should have killed the creature but it didn't. The best way was to break its neck or chop the head off. He continued, "He will do what he can. Right now we have to bring the hordesmen out of the temple."

Andros led the way using his abilities to knock the creatures away. "You can slice them or lop off an arm but the true way to kill them is by decapitation or just snap their necks." As he said that, he grabbed hold of an enemy and deftly snapped the neck. "That or you can lop off the blades they have. Painful and will slow but not kill."

It was a long way out of the temple and it didn't help that the passageways were dark. Andros did his best to make sure that Kalla didn't come to any harm.

**********

Tonatius looked briefly at his cousin as she was swinging away. He gave an answer, "Her father is in there. Foolish though. Jun-la's father is in there as well yet she didn't rush in."

He glanced at the flamethrowers spraying the blazes on the creatures. They were groaning but they overcame their pain and kept charging. He shouted at the Mandalorian, "The fire just makes them come harder! Stop it!"

He couldn't say anything else for he was knocked off his feet.

**********

Jun-la had been steadily charging her power. It was like trying to stuff an oversized child's toy into a small box. It was getting full. She could sense the desperation of her companions as they fought an enemy they could not understand. She would give a try.

The charge was ready. It was bursting at the seams until Jun-la released it while chanting something in a strange tongue. The white energy and fire shot out in all directions targeting the hordesmen. It was followed by an intense shockwave that bore no bounds. Friend and foe alike were thrown off their feet as it charged forward.

Komad was aware enough of his surroundings to realised he was in danger from one of the hordesmen who had made his way into the chamber, and that he would provide greater aid to the others by fighting than through Battle Meditation. Just as the Hordesman jumped at him, he broke out of the Battle Meditation and quickly decapitated the beast. Cutting down every hordesman who stood in his way, he eventually found his way to Andros and Kalla. "We have to get out of here, the ruin is being overrun with Hordesmen." He told them.

A small spear scraped against Durrel's visor, leaving a small scratch in it. The Captain focused on the attacker and jumped forward, grasping the creature's neck. He then turned it rapidly from one side to the other until he heard the sickening crack as it crumpled to the ground dead.

He looked at the Jedi, "The flamethrowers make them fight harder?"

Durrel thought for a moment. Mandalorians love a challenge, and as confident as Durrel was, this battle couldn't be lost. Not to mention that there were aruetiise present, they were not Mandalorians. They probably wouldn't enjoy the challenge.

He turned back towards his troops as they advanced, "No more flamethrowers! Blades and projectile weapons only! Headhunting orders!"

The Mandalorian troops acknolwedged and immediatley began using blades and numerous rocket weapons, ripping the enemy continually to pieces.

Durrel tapped one of his men on the shoulder and they ran over to support the Jedi's flank, which seemed to be faltering slightly.

Then a strange energy knocked all of the Mandalorians off their feet.



Garrick rammed the Hordesmen's spear into another one of the unpleasant creatures. Garrick's black armor was nearly covered in blood by now. He seemed to be holding his line pretty well though.

Suddenly, he heard a deafening sound like that of a sonic boom of some sort. The walls rumbled and small pieces began to come loose and fall on the hordesmen.

Garrick pushed the fear aside and rammed another creature against the wall. Several hordesmen quickly jumped on him, overwhelming his defense and going into an intense close quarters battle. A battle that lasted too quickly, for the creatures were struck by some strange energy, nearly exploding them. Garrick pushed the bodies off and stared in awe as many of the hordesmen were struck by the same energy.

Tonatius used his sword to fling it at a creature. It swung in a wide arc decapitating it before returning to him. He was stunned at what he could do but he had to keep focus. He answered the Mandalorian by pointing at where a Mandalorian was using the flamethrower, "Look. You keep shooting them with fire. It burns and hurts them but not enough."

*********

Andros looked at Komad with a look that could have read one or two things. He turned to continue the way he was heading out. It was the undercaves of the ruins and they were honeycombed with pockets of the enemy. He clicked on his comm, "Tiye, how are you up there?"

There was a crackle of static and Tiye's voice came in nice and clear, "It's getting pretty sporting up here."

Andros gave a sly grinned, "Ever done a base jump that high?"

"First time for everything."

Andros chuckled, "Good. This place is going to rock the ground."

"Well it already did. After you vaulted out the window my tracking sensors picked up an energy reading. It gre steadily until it blasted outward."

"We didn't feel it."

There was a pause and a crackle of static. "You were in the caves. There was no way you would have felt it."

"What type of energy signature are we talking about?"

"You should know. It was Force based."

Andros paused a moment. He reached out with his senses towards his children. He could detect Tulre fighting hard and fast and Jun-la... He finally picked her up, weary and ready to faint yet he sensed she was still on her feet. Whatever she did bought them some time. He said, "The burst bought us some time. Enough for me to overload the power reactors."

"Now I know why you asked if I could base jump."

"The explosion should be high enough to rock the foundations and send the tower crumbling down."

"Seat of the pants time? I love it," Tiye voiced with enthusiasm.

"The jump is going to be pretty high but you can jump into the trees if you have to."

"Clan Ordo takes things by the tukata horns. Don't worry I'll get them out."

"Be ready for my signal and be careful."

"You know me."

Andros smiled as his comlink turned off. "Too well." He then turned to Kalla and Komad and said, "Alright the main reactors are located here in the caves. The fortunate part is that they are clustered tightly together. We need to overload them in order to bring the tower down."

Durrel jumped up, he was wondering what in the manda could have caused such a shockwave.

Certainly not a bomb, they would all be dead if it were that. He'd ask later and figure things out then.

He turned to the Jedi,"I've ordered the flamethrowers to stop, better to be thorough about killing these creatures."

Durrel stuck his blade through the eye of one of the nearby hordesmen.

"Do you need any support on this flank. My soldier and I can help, our side of the line can do without us if you need support."

Durrel noticed a small lull in the fighting. To Durrel and his battle experience, this could only mean one thing.

A counter-attack.

"Simple enough." Komad replied, and began to make his way deeper into the ruin. "I think I recognised that presence from that blast. I think it was my uncle, and I don't mean Master Reyvan." Kalla told them. "I might have sensed him earlier as well." Komad commented. "We should keep moving.

Andorra continued to cut down the Hordesmen, their blood ruining her once beautiful blue dress. She kept close to Tonatius, knowing he was a much better swordsman than she was. Every so often she would glance out at the ruin. "I hope she's alright in there." She commented.

Wrath prepared to chase after his opponent but was stopped short by blaster fire.

"Don't let him get to the jedi!" barked the leader of the squad.

Wrath had forgotten about the soldiers, it appeared they had been waiting this entire time. Wrath looked at the soldiers and a smile formed on his face. He may have missed the jedi master, but he had these fools to take it out on. Wrath charged the group of soldiers and stabbed him with the vibrosword. Wrath pulled the sword out and threw it into another soldier. He stepped on another's skull while deflecting blaster shots. Soon the sound of blaster fire was heard no more, and Wrath was left standing around a body pile.

"You may have escaped jedi but know this, You can only prolong death for so long."

Wrath was in a dilemma now. He had not succeeded in bringing her in, he would have to think of something else. It would be foolish to chase after her in his ship, he would outnumbered by the jedi. The only thing they had on the jedi was the governor... the girl. The girl back on the ship, perhaps he could save himself after all. Wrath attempted to communicate with this girl through the force. Wrath hoped she could communicate back otherwise he would have to try to concentrate harder. Wrath sat down and began to meditate. He focused as hard as he could on communicating with her

"My child, are you there?" he said through the force.

"No," Andros said, "It was my eldest. It was Jun-la." He had said it softly and then he turned to lead the way to the reactors.

**********

Greea knew the soldiers were buying her time but she stopped. She couldn't leave them and she figured that she could get information. She doubled back using the familiar complicated system of walkways until she had the drop on the intruder. With a deft use of the Force, she sent a box flying at him. She then jumped down with her lightsaber drawn, "You didn't think that I would let you go so easily?"

**********

Tyrannus straightened up and looked annoyed. "You know you could enjoy this. Half the fight is not anticipation but infliction."

"Stop this idle chatter," the Blood King demanded, "You are to fight."

**********

Tonatius stayed near his cousin even though he had been knocked off his feet. He grabbed her to a standing position so fast he barely heard what she said. He said, "Don't worry. I doubt Master Starlighter would let anything happen to her."

He then turned to the Mandalorian and said, "The counter-attack will be massive. They were hit hard by the explosion but they will regroup. They will still try to take the ruins."

**********

Jun-la slowly opened her eyes. Her whole body felt drained and weak. She had put a lot into that explosion and she felt she may have overdid it. She stood up and clutched Sanglumina in her hand. She turned to see a lone creature staring at her with a malicious intent. it said, "So this is the meddler. Trying to take out my armies are you?"

Jun-la pointed her sword at the creature and began to circle, "You don't belong here."

"Ha! You puny mortals think you own everything!"

"Only what we claim." Jun-la felt weak but she kept her voice strong. Showing no weakness was an ironclad rule of her father's. She kept to it over the years and never shown any sign. "You and your foul beasts need to leave."

"Or what? You will make us?" The creature then extended his blades from his forearms, "You will find you can't do anything mortal after you suffer the wrath of Karaka! Fight!"

Jun-la backed into a stance, sensing that Karaka was going to attack. He did with a fierce set of parries. It came charging at her.

Durrel looked back on the ruins.

"I wonder what would make them fight so hard for this area. There is little or no value to it, besides cultural value anyways..."

Durrel straightened up and used his visor cam to zoom in on certain positions. He thought he had a good idea as to where the attack was coming from now. He began sending coordinates to his troops on attack locations. They would definately zero in on these places, with everything they had. These 'Hordesmen' wouldn't stand a chance if they charged.

"We'll be ready for them. If this is the best they could muster, then we have nothing to worry about. Also, after the counter-attack is repelled, do I have permission to lead an attack into the enemy's side of the ruins. It will be the perfect oppurtunity to retake that ground."


Garrick looked down into the spiraling ruins. He hoped that they would find the reactors soon, this place emanated with evil, it didn't take a Jedi to sense it.

He followed the group, looking to the flanks and making sure that the passage would clear. He wondered what the Jedi had planned to get out of this place if the right explosion at the right time occured. Either way, it was going to be one amazing experience, at least for Garrick.

"So, these reactors, how far are they from our position, and how long will it take to activate them?"

Tiye replied to the Mandalorian, "They have to make their way down through the caves underneath. It's a maze down there. What we have to do is make our way up this tower to the main throne room. Plenty of room there."

"Plenty of room for what?" Son-ja asked.

"For a running leap," Tiye replied looking at their companions.

Son-ja looked to Katarina and Joji Chan. Both gave the nod. She looked back at Tiye, "Then we take a leap."

Tiye nodded. "Follow me," she said and took off up the stairs.

Son-ja said to her companions, "Alright let's give a little distraction." She then took a running leap and did a bicycle kick on a pillar. It collapsed across the door. It would the hordesmen down a bit. "Let's go."

"We're being overrun. I'm no strategist, but it looks to me like the only option is to retreat." Andorra suggested.

"How much further to the generators? I doubt we have much time before those Hordesmen come after us in here." Komad inquired.

Garrick was slightly surprised as he followed the group to the top of the ruins.

A running leap?

It had been a bit since Garrick's last excursion during a HALO drop which often consisted of falling a long ways and waiting a split second to too late to activate the repulsor pack.

Perhaps having a little excitement like jumping off a tower would every once in a while would be healthy.

At least, that's what Garrick hoped.

He shrugged off the feeling and brought his attention to the here and now as he began watching for any hordesmen that would be getting too close.

"Well, this will be fun...kandosii," Garrick said aloud.

Tonatius replied to his cousin, "Maybe so but I don't sense the amount chi'ien of the creatures as before. Perhaps we have help from inside the ruins."

He then noticed something and pointed it out, "Look over there. Is that Master Jun-la?"

**********

Andros sensed the impatience from Komad and the urgency. He calmly said, "It is a ways and the way is full of obstacles. These caves create a maze. Even with a map, it is easy to get lost." He came to a main area that had three different branches.

Which way? His thoughts were asking himself. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and moved in a basic standing meditation. He reached out with his senses, feeling.

Suddenly he opened his eyes and pointed down the middle, "That way," and took off in a strong stride. "Power reactors sure make much noise." There was no noise though.

**********

Tiye smirked at the Mandalorian as she ushered everyone into the main throne room. "We have to hold them off until we get the signal."

**********

Strength waning, Jun-la executed a maneuver that made her disappear and reappear on a suprise attack on Karaka. She still had speed to block his blades from doing damage. She noticed Tonatius looking her way but also three hordesmen coming at her. Andorra, behind you.

Wrath's concentration was cut short as he was flung into the air. Wrath hit the wall with his feet and he threw himself back down to the ground. He looked up and saw that the rodian had returned.

"So you've come back Master Jedi, very admirable of you."

Garrick ignored the sarcastic look on the women's face and continued forward, without feeling.

"What will this signal be?"

It was imperative that they knew, but Garrick already had a good idea of what this signal may be.



Durrel looked to the position that the man was pointing out.

"The Jedi? Indeed, that would be her."

He looked closer. It seemed that she was in personal combat with one of the hordesmen, or whatever they were.

She may be a Jedi, thought Durrel, but not even a Jedi could wield enough power to fight two exhausting duels and provide enough energy to create something similar to a bomb.

He hefted his sword and tapped his soldier on the shoulder,"I'll be right back. Make sure nothing happens to our friends."

"Yes sir, nothing will harm them."

Durrel nodded and began moving through the battlefield toward the Jedi, or Jun-La as he observed, was fighting.

He had to help.

Greea gave a wry grin, "I couldn't let you miss your own party. Now you be a good boy and give back what you took and I will consider letting you leave here alive."

**********

Tonatius sensed it. He pushed Andorra down while at the same time throwing his blade at the oncoming enemy. The projectile it had thrown barely missed him as he executed his maneuver. His sword lopped the head off one but the other ducked as it returned.

The creature charged full speed. Tonatius gave a giant leap up and flipped over to land behind. He did an about face and stabbed the creature in the back. With a deft twist, it messed up the insides, killing it. He looked at Andorra, "You alright?"

Durrel looked back for a split second, right in time to see the man gut another hordesmen.

He frowned for a second, he should've stayed there. He shook it off, after all, they handled the problem.

He pushed his way farther towards Jun-La's position. He only had so much time, so he had to be quick.



Admiral Velerc stood serene on the bridge, cold and unfeeling, he emanated with everything the Sith stood for.

"Ensign, I need a status report on batteries 13 and 27. IMMEDIATLEY!"

The Ensign flinched," Yes, Admiral Velerc."

Velerc shifted his attention to the gunnery command trenches below him.

"I want those batteries firing everything they have!!! Take out the Mandalorian engines and cripple their life support! We must hang them out to dry and die!! Get the lead out!" He shouted.

The crew moved faster, spurred on by some unknown evil.

The cannons notably began firing at faster and more accurate patterns. Velerc had motivated his men once more.

Now all he had to do was destroy the Mandalorians.




"SIR! Enemy blaster cannons have quickened their rate of fire! Orders, Admiral Barek!"

Barek bit his lip. He knew this strategy well, overpower your opponent. Grand Admiral Velerc taught him well, it was time to return the favor.

Barek turned on a heel and walked to the front of the bridge.

"Full speed, order the fleet to full speed, we're going to rush our Sith friend. Do not stop until we reach point-blank range. All batteries and fighter squadrons are to hold fire and conserve energy until I give the order."

"Yessir!" Said a man in Blue armor.

Another Mandalorian officer came up behind Barek.

"Sir, surface report from Amshrey."

Barek took the holographic report and looked at it closely.

"Is this accurate?"

"Yessir."

"Do we have a location on Garrick?"

"Not yet, sir, we're tracking now."

Barek sighed,"I would send down another detachment to support their fight, they look overrun. But we need every man here. Garrick is on his own until we rid the galaxy of this Star Destroyer. Keep me posted on the battle's progress."

The Mandalorian saluted and Barek turned back to the battle at hand.

"I'm fine." Andorra replied. She still wondered what she was doing in the middle of a battle. She was still no warrior.

"I don't know. It's too quiet. Generators are typically loud." Komad commented, navigating through the intricate labyrinth of tunnels. "Maybe it's malfunctioning." Kalla suggested. "What are the odds of that?" She then asked Andros.

"They make a noise that can be heard if you listen," Andros replied as he led the way. They came upon a cavern with a series of power reactors, six in all. There was no noise coming from them, at least none that could be heard. "Four thousand years and still running on low reserves," Andros muttered, "No wonder you are so noisy."

Durrel pushed another creature aside and finally made it into the makeshift battle circle that had formed around Jun-La and her opponent.

The Mandalorian unsheathed his blade and charged towards the Hordesmen leader, or whatever it was. Durrel swung the blade, in an attempt to decapitate the creature.

"Since we're getting close, I feel the need to ask, what's our escape plan?" Komad asked Andros. As important as taking down the tower was, he'd still prefer not to die in the process.

"As you wish, Tyrannus." Virul replied. He then activated his lightsaber and sent Force Lightning coursing through it, and took a swing. Tyrannus would be electrocuted the moment their blades touched.

"Even if Dar's not on the battlefield above us, he's close. I'm sure I can sense him." Kalla commented. Though she had never met Dar, she recognised his presence in the Force and feared it deeply.

"I don't know how much longer we can hold them off. We're seriously outnumbered by them." Andorra pointed out to Tonatius.

"Stay back," Jun-la said firmly.

"Aw, the little fighter needs backup," Karaka taunted.

"I don't need anyone to back me up from you," Jun-la replied. She backed into a stance that signified the start of her family's kata. "You haven't seen anything yet."

Karaka watched her and growled in pleasure. "It'll be your funeral and I shall have the pleasure of feasting upon your bones."

Jun-la moved gracefully to shift into another position. "Your move Hellbeast."

Karaka charged with his blades drawn.

**********

Andros knew that Komad would be worried about an exit plan. He replied, "The exit will be from here to the river tunnels. Follow the gift of life to where the battle lies and climb down to push back the line."

He heard what Kalla said and added, "I think your mother will see to that. Dar is not a battle to concern ourselves with."

He then turned to touching the panel of the reactor until the screen he wanted showed up. Like everything in this cursed place, it was archaic Avalonian. Few could read it and he was one of the lucky ones. He didn't know if Komad could so he asked, "How good are you at ancient languages?"

**********

Tyrannus didn't activate his saber but rather remained weaponless. As far as he was concerned, weapons were good but what purpose did they serve if the wielder didn't know anything but. When the swing came, he ducked and struck the arm with a hard palm thrust. That was followed by an elbow to the gut. He then backed away to assess his opponent's reaction.

"Good," the Blood King said, "weapon versus weaponless. How would you counter Virul?"

**********

Tonatius looked around him. There were 100 beasts to his one, and those weren't good odds. At that moment, he wished his father was still alive to help him but he had to rely on himself since his brother was with their mother. He had to protect his cousin. The only way he could see to do so was to let go and let his instincts guide. He said, "Remember the lesson of sentou?"

Durrel was surprised at the Jedi's quick and crisp response. He stopped the blade in mid-swing and took a step back. He'd have to watch carefully.

If the Jedi wanted no help in this fight, then that is what she'd get. Of course, he'd stay nearby once the fight went bad for her, but he knew that that would not happen.

Skilled warriors like herself were extremely resourceful, she has herself handled. Durrel knew that he'd only get in the way if he participated, but he'd wait for the right moment.

He activated his helmet cam to keep a sharp eye on the fight, then he quickly turned around, shoving the blade through another creature outside the fight.



Lieutenant Krek watched as Durrel started fighting near the Jedi's position, he'd be busy for awhile.

Krek swung his blade across one of the Hordesmen's faces, sending a yellow liquid everywhere.

He turned toward the male Jedi nearby and ran an idenity check using his helmet.

The helmet identified his name as a "Tonatius." No further information was given.

He looked at the creatures massing in their attack, he then ran towards the Jedi named Tonatius.

"Sir! Tonatius! It seems you may need help, may I bring a platoon here in support."

Krek elbowed a creature behind,"Also, sir, I can call down support from the fleet above. They may be able to even the odds. Your orders?"

Krek didn't much like Jedi, especially these ones, but he knew that they would be needed for his Clan's survival, perhaps the Mandalorian Empire's survival. There was just something about this group of Jedi....

Krek focused on the fight again, he'd think on that subject later.

"Basic, Twi'leki, Rodese, Huttese, and Mando'a, but no ancient Avalonian. Sorry." Komad replied. "I've learned a bit. Not much though." Kalla pointed out. "Let me see." Being an avid student of history, she had managed to pick up a few ancient languages in her studies, along with learning Mando'a from her father, though she never knew where he learned it.

"It seems to be unbalanced in their favour." Andorra commented, remembering the first lesson of Sentou. She then cut down another hordesman that nearly got too close to her. "I'd recommend it." She told the Mandalorian.

Karaka had charged but had been thrown to the ground in deft move. When he looked up and behind, he saw the girl in a fighting stance. She looked nonplussed at the action she just did. He growled as he jumped to his feet and said, "You are good."

"You were good. Your own energy is used against you," Jun-la replied.

"Raagh!" Karaka charged with his blades drawn.

Jun-la responded by giving a slight jump and disappeared leaving a blue trail behind her. She reappeared behind Karaka and turned about face. At the same instant she unleased a controlled fire from her hands. It flew right at Karaka and knocked him backwards. Jun-la reverted back to a fighting stance.

Karaka, not to be outdone by a girl, rolled onto his stomach and flung his fist forward with the blades extended. Out came crystalized daggers flying. He then got to his feet and prepared to charge.

Jun-la jumped and did a side flip to avoid the daggers. She landed but was grabbed from behind by Karaka. She struggled under his hard and fierce grip.

**********

Andros nodded and indicated to the panel he revealed, "All the panels need to be activated with the main breakers open. It needs to be done in a specific order or it reverts back to reserve power. The first sequence is located under the main control." He then pointed it out on the panel he had just finished.

**********

Tonatius nodded. "Reach in to yourself and find that part that is your strength." He then turned to issue a power strike. A greenish light emerged adding power to the punch.

Wrath laughed at the jedi master's response and activated his lightsaber.

"Well if I've taken something from you than come take it back."

Wrath looked over at the bodies of the soldiers.

"Unless of course you are talking about these friends of yours. See I can't actually give them back to you because they're already dead."

Lieutenant Krek nodded at the woman,"Yes, ma'am, I'll get that support."

He decapitated another creature and activated his comm.

Everything was fuzzy with static but it began to come clearer as Krek approached a large rock.

"Mand'alor's Marev, this is Surface Force 1. We require some support."

"Surface Force 1, we read you. We'll direct fire into whatever you point us out to. Use your helmet's pin-point laser."

"Affirmative, stay ready for coordinates."

Krek activated a small laser pointer and navigated the red laser into the center of the mass of hordesmen. He pin-pointed the position and sent up the coordinates.

He looked to Tonatius and the woman,"Any moment now. You will know the glory of the Mandalorian navy. Vode on!"


Durrel turned back towards the Jedi right in time to see the creature grab her with an unknown strength.

Now was definately the right moment.

He grabbed a throwing blade from his gauntlet, and targeted the creature as it moved into a grappling position.

He lifted the blade and threw it with all his strength and skill.

He watched the silver blade glint brightly as spun straight into one of the creatures vitals on the back.

Jun-la though wasn't daunted by the strength of Karaka. With the agility in her limbs, she bucked up to flip herself over Karaka's head. She heard the whistling of the blades and turned quickly. She raised her gauntlet to deflect the silver blade up and did a quick turn to land a flying kick square on Karaka's chest. She landed and caught the blade. She glanced at the Mandalorian, "Ought to be more careful," and tossed it handle end towards Mandalorian.

Karaka didn't appreciate the flip. He got up and growled, "Raagh, you have no shou if you let that meddler interfere!"

**********

Greea knew she couldn't save the soldiers there but she could end this. "I keep what is mine but I know where to draw the line."

Durrel was once again in awe of the Jedi's ability. Perhaps they were all like that? But he had a feeling that that wasn't the case though, she was indeed, a warrior.

He then realized that he had been bested once again as he caught the blade.

He nodded to the Jedi's response, and quickly turned back toward the battle, confident that she had the fight handled. He would only get in the way at this point.



"Admiral Barek! We have firing coordinates to support our troops planetside! Permission to open fire!?"

Barek nodded, he then looked at Velerc's Murderous One as the fleet approached.

Was it really necessary to help his brother at the eve of an offensive? He thought.

He immediatley hated himself for even thinking such a thing. Garrick would be Mand'alor, not to mention that he was family. Mandalorians always put family first, not the battle.

And Garrick's forces needed help.

"You have permission to open fire. Loose our energy in short bursts only, we still must conserve, but put as much fire as possible in these intervals."

The Mandalorian gunnery commander nodded and gave the signal for "Open Fire."

Virul then sent Force Lightning coursing through his other hand, made it into a fist, and swung a punch at Tyrannus. Few Sith had even thought of using lightning in such a way.

"Sounds simple enough." Kalla replied, and took a look at the panel. It couldn't be simpler, and she even wondered if knowing ancient Avalonian was necessary. She switched on the first panel and moved to the second.

Andorra looked back to her brief training with the sword, and remembered that she seemed most able to swing quickly and repetitively, rather than slow and heavy strikes. As such, she took to swinging her sword with one hand, costing strength and accuracy, but allowing for greater speed and reach.

Wrath waited for the jedi master to do something.

"Now I believe you said if I act good you'll let me live, I'd like to see you put those words into action."

Wrath took a defensive stance and waited for her next move.

Tyrannus deflected with his forearm and countered with a powerful snap kick forward, feeling with satisfaction the contact of Virul's body to his boot. The FOrce Lightening hurt but he had learned to put pain from his mind. "Ain't much to look at once you scrap vermin off your boot."

*********

Andros saw what she was doing and said, "Watch out. That panel will make it shut down and it take a while to get it started. Time we don't have. Slow and deliberate." His hands moved over another reactor panel gently touching the touch vids with his elongated fingers.

Virul then swung his legs to knock Tyrannus down, and once he got back on his feet, to add insult to injury, activated his lightsaber, and drove it into Tyrannus' left shoulder. "Do you fear death?" He asked him, nothing stopping him from moving his lightsaber blade to Tyrannus' heart.

Kalla quickly realised her error and checked the sequence before beginning work on the next generator. This may not have been as easy as she originally throught.

Durrel looked up as he began making his way back towards his former position.

He could see the space battle raging above, hopefully in the Mandalorian fleet's favor.

Suddenly, he began to see tiny flashes of blue, green, and red light.

And Durrel knew what it was.

The fiery hot cannonfire ripped into the hordesmen's ranks, blowing huge holes in the enemie's lines. Durrel lifted his sword and let out a cry of victory, as did many of the Mandalorians.

But the victorious feeling was quickly replaced with horror as he noticed that some of the cannonfire was faltering.

And hitting the ruins where his commander, Garrick, was supposed to be.


Garrick felt the explosions before he heard them and saw them.

The Mandalorian was thrown back against one of the ruin's walls, knocking the wind out of him. He slid slowly down the wall and witnessed the continuos pounding that the ruins were taking. He knew that if this continued, the ruins would fall, and the mission...would fail. He stood up, pain echoing through his body, and he ran towards one of the gaping holes in the structure. He immediatley began trying to get his comm working.

They only had so much time....

Tyrannus felt the pain but said, "Life is pain," and rolled. He rolled clear of the lightsaber and rolled to his feet while at the same time removing a blade from the wall. It gleamed nice and sharp. His shoulder throbbed but he could feel the flesh kniting itself together. He pointed it defiantly at Virul and said, "Life is pain but only if you know how to take it.

**********

Greea stood with her lightsaber ignited and said, "Give me the governor and you go free."

Wrath looked over at his opponent and laughed. He had actually forgotten about the governor until this point.

"Why sure, here you go" Wrath continued to laugh, "She's on my ship. I'll go get her for you."

Greea didn't trust the intruder to not just jump in and leave. She countered, "Have your men bring her here. Then we go our ways." She lowered her weapon to indicate that she was being serious.

**********

Tiye saw the Mandalorian get thown down. She grabbed his arm and roughly yanked him to his feet. She said, "Courage, comrade. Meet battle with little fear and then you can conquer it."

Garrick nodded to the Avalonian women who yanked him back up. She had definately caught him in a slight of panic. The yank definately brought some of his calm back, and now he could face the situation with a clear head. It had also given him a sudden respect of the women, she had caught him, a Mandalorian warrior, in a bad situation, and straightened it out with a few words. He was definately learning much on this planet, and Garrick appreciated it.

"Thank you, I shall remember that," he said.

He began trying to get comm reception again, the guns above had to stop.

(Happy Third Anniversary to the Series!)

"You remain at a disadvantage. Your arm is still weak, and I am at full strength." Virul commented, pointing his lightsaber at Tyrannus.

"Just one more, and ... got it." Kalla commented as she activated the last generator. "We need to move now." She then told her father and Master Starlighter.

Andros nodded in approval. He finished programming something into a datapad that he had found. He then motioned to his companions, "Follow me," and began heading out through the tunnels. They would lead back out towards the river. Along the way he activated his comlink, "Tiye, time to make the jump. You have less than five minutes."

A crackle of static and then, "Acknowledged. Tiye out."

Picking up the pace Andros said, "Come on. We have less than five minutes before these tunnels get super heated. Then I can remote activate the chain sequence."

**********

Tiye deactivated her comlink and shouted, "We need to move now. Up."

Katarina and Son-ja turned and said, "Acknowledged." They both took point and began blasting their way higher up the spire to the main chamber."

*********

Tyrannus merely smiled and flexed his injured arm as if he were warming up his muscles. It hurt but they felt fine. He maneuvered the blade into an offensive position while circling with Virul. "As I said, only if you know how to take it."

"Admiral Barek, the Sith vessel is returning fire. Your orders?" Said a Mandalorian in green armor.

Barek looked at the approaching Sith vessel.

"Revert fire to the Sith vessel. We can no longer support Garrick's troops. Prepare to launch all fighter squadrons. Also, prepare boarding squadrons."

The Mandalorian saluted and began about his orders.


Garrick noticed that the pounding of the ruins had stopped. Somehow, Barek's fleet must've either run into a problem, or one of the Mandalorians on teh surface made contact. Either way, they'd live through this situation.

He brushed himself off and began running with the group towards the higher part of the ruins. There were several creatures, however, between them and the top, but handling these creatures would be easy for the rest of the group.

Garrick suddenly felt the sudden urge for a weapon. Hand-to-hand combat made him uncomfortable, not that he couldn't, but simply because he didn't see it as the most glorious form of combat.

He'd fight nonetheless.

He looked to the woman leading the group,"Approximately, how high is this tower? How long will it take to get to the top?"

Garrick rammed his fist into another creature, then quickly spinning around it and strangling it from behind.

"Oh, I have a bad feeling about this!" Komad commented as the three of them made their way through the tunnels to safety.

"Something I know all too well. I have felt the cold sting of my own death so many times. Can you say the same? I think not." Virul replied, keeping his lightsaber pointed at Tyrannus.

At this point Wrath wasn't sure to say to her response. He just stared at her for a bit before responding.

"I came alone Master Jedi, there are no men with me."

Wrath knew he had to return to Lord Virul soon, and he was almost half tempted to just leave without the rodian.

Greea looked at the intruder with a hint of suspicion. "No men on a journey. Even solo hunters occasionally use lackeys."

**********

Andros knew that the feeling was warranted. Still he pushed them on, "Keep going. Follow the streaks of alluvium in the walls. They lead out." He kept pace behind them to make sure that no one followed them in or out. He then pushed a button on his datapad and prayed that the others got out.

**********

Tonatius saw his cousins folly and rushed to cover her flank. Her sudden attack confused the hordesmen but it left her wide open to attack. Using his newfound ability, he kept them from being overrrun as hthey circled back to the Mandalorian.

They came across Ken-Lui and Li-Shang fighting, their styles complementing each other. It was all of a sudden when Ken-Lui took the hat off his head and flung it like a metal disc. It flew, hacking off limbs and heads of hordesmen before returning to him. He then jumped to avoid a charge but disappeared and reappeared behind the enemyleaving a blue trail. The result was Ken-Lui giving a powerful kick that broke the enemy's spine.

The got to the Mandalorian, and he asked, "Do we fall back or what?"

**********

Jun-la flipped over to avoid a swipe made by Karaka. Even though she was weary, she would not give up. She countered with her special talent and knocked Karaka back. Then a resounding boom occurred and a crashing was beginning.

Karaka stood up looking at her and glancing at the smoke arising from the ruins. He growled, "We'll finish this later human!" He then took off through the forest.

Too weary to follow, Jun-la looked at teh ruins and her eyes became wide. "Father!"

**********

Tiye grabbed the Mandalorian and flung him up the stairs into the main chamber. She heard the boom and the growls of the hordesmen that were following them. She shouted, "Run to the end and jump!"