"The Hammer Falls"
Templari Ehoc summoned the order to Balmorra once more. Only a few days prior Fenrir, Athelstann and Azamya had been able to break the prisoners they took on their previous skirmish. Fia, Ivy and Azamya had secured the information they needed, detailed plans and information regarding all currently known activity on Balmorra both friendly to the Empire and hostile. A location stuck out to be the Jedi base of operation, and through interrogation, this information was further validated.
***
A small structure somewhat out of the way from everything was marked, and what neither the Republic soldiers nor the Jedi would know was that in the Imperial database it was marked as a target. A target for an upcoming strike. The order had not been able to ascertain when this strike would take place as that information was not included in the normal tactical database, most likely only entrusted to a select few.
However, this meant the Order now had limited time to ensure their goal. If the Empire got there first, Ehoc and Fenrir had no doubt they would underestimate the Jedi and fail in their strike, prompting the Jedi to scatter once more and be lost to the Order. They could not risk that and knew, if the Jedi on Balmorra were to fall it would have to be by their doing, nobody else.
***
Gathering their forces once again, Fenrir and Ehoc met the summoned troops on their operations campsite. They relayed the information they had in a very straight forward way, making sure everyone understood that they would not be the only ones hunting the Jedi, and that there was a certain rush to this mission. To ensure a stealthy approach and the element of surprise Ehoc had devised a plan. They would do an aerial drop from about 100 meters. The Sith would use the force to slow their decent and jump first, then they would be closely followed by the Ranged troops who would parachute down. Ivy having her jetpack was to provide some aerial support during the drop and get into a favorable position having a greater maneuverability than the others.
***
The day was growing late in the afternoon as they departed the campsite, weapons double checked, shuttles primed and minds focused. With a humming roar the shuttles took off and made a very high approach to the drop location as to not be spotted. Once in position green lights indicated jump time, as planned the Sith lead by Ehoc made the jump first. Closely followed by the ranged troops and almost encircled by Ivy getting into position. With heavy thuds the SIth landed, Ehoc landing too hard broke a piece of his hydraulic leg and was slightly hampered. Azamya also miscalculated and hit much harder than intended, damaging her own legs. Boldex was taking by a gust of wind and throw off target by a couple of meters. Once on the ground however it would appear none of their misfortune would matter much. The site was quiet, recently bombed. The structure indicated on the map they had seen was now little more than a ruin, rubble of smoking concrete. All the crusaders of the Templari had landed and grouped in the ruins of the structure awaiting instruction of what to do now. Another failure, they were too late, this enraged Ehoc, so close but then the Empire had ruined everything.
***
His anger would not last long before sensing the impending attack. Shouting out “Ambush!” he ordered everyone to take up positions. The Jedi had them surrounded in a matter of seconds; having masked their approach in the force the Order had not been able to notice them until it was too late.
Several Jedi attacked from different angels and locations, they had expected a ground force after the bombing, as suspected the Empire had, like so many times in the past, underestimated the resolve and cunningness of the Jedi. Ehocs anger was quickly mixed with a thrilling sensation that always came before a battle. Yet ever fueled by his hatred of the Jedi and their teachings, he charged towards the man he perceived as the Leader of the Jedi, a large man, with a commanding presence.
***
Fia was targetd by a Jedi using the force to assault her, throwing rocks at her location forcing her into cover. Arrtrok was charged by another who engaged him in melee combat. The Jedi master who Ehoc had set his eyes on had already charged inn towards Fenrir probably seeing him as the leader of the Order. From the other side Azamya was attacked from afar by another Jedi knight this one also using ranged attacks. Craft engaged with a Jedi just behind the Jedi master, stopping his advance and taking all of the Jedis focus.
This gave Ivy, Boldex and Da-ryn to stay at range and focus their fire, supporting the rest of the group. The Jedi held their own and almost had the upper hand for a while, fighting like champions. With everyone consumed by the heat of the battle, neither the Jedi nor the Ordo members picked up the thundering sound of an Imperial bomber approaching the location. Having previously bombed the Jedi outpost, it had been launched to verify that all targets were destroyed. As there clearly was a fight going on, the bomber dropped another payload, forcing everyone on the ground to take cover and move.
***
This shifted the nature of the fight, as now the Jedi lost their focus, and structure. The ordo members were quick to reform and target the more powerful Jedi to overpower them quickly. Working together and using the environment to their advantage, the Ordo turned the tide of battle.
***
The Jedi started to fall one by one, the ordo members fighting smart, and tactical. It would not take long however, before the familiar sound of ion engines could be heard again. There were only two Jedi left by now, yet the Ordo members refused to evacuate until they knew for sure, these Jedi were dead. The first bomber had called inn the Jedi sighting to HQ and three more had been sent. As they drew close the Jedi were killed, and the Ordo members hightailed it out of the area just as the bombs started to drop. Fenrir, finishing off one of the Jedi were too late to get out of the area. Using all his focus he wrapped himself in a force barrier, and as the entire valley was turned into a fiery inferno of destruction Fenrir was engulfed. As the dust and smoke started to dissipate, Fenrir could be seen walking out of the valley, steady steps walking like a victor.
***
Ordering everyone to fall back, the Ordo left the area, they were done with Balmorra, the first true victory of the Crusade had been won. Ehoc and Fenrir were pleased.
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