Private Common Ground

[Kallous]

Kallous had been out of action too long. He'd cleared some dissidents when the Diarch's vanished, and he'd seen the Diarch's widow to a safe place. But then he'd slinked away to lick his own wounds, and as far as he was concerned he'd slunk for too long. During his meditations he was reminded why the Diarchy had meant so much to him. It wasn't the system, it was the people. And right now those people were in need. Bidding farewell to his friend in Seren Gwyn he returned to Veradune to retrieve his ship, The Stingray, and returned to what was formerly Diarchy space. Where the shockwaves of a collapsed government was still wreaking havoc on the people that previously relied on that government for stability and safety.

The economy that had once been there was gone, leading the desperate to prey on the weak, and the opportunistic to take their chances in hopes of glory and power. And many of the common people were fleeing for their safety to various places that offered it. And it was here that Kallous knew he would help the most.

He didn't much like that the Mandalorians were stepping in to claim territory that had previously belonged to the Diarchs, but swallowing his pride he knew that it was what was best for the people in those systems. They might not be afforded the same rights the Diarchy gave them, maybe they would have rights they didn't have under Diarchy rule, whatever changes there would be. Mandalore would provide greater safety for them than he could on his own. All he would need to do was keep them safe until the Mandalorians reached this part of space. He began to guide refugees to the planet Phaseera, which was just beyond Mandalorian space and had both enough established infrastructure and resources to house and feed the refugees in question. However it didn't belong to any of the major players yet, so it was still in danger, and one of the former governors had caught onto the hiding place.

A lesser name, and former planetary governor, Cras Zameth, had deployed his rookie army to retrieve the refugees and "return the citizens to their homes". The Zabrak had raised a small army of loyalists, and sent them to establish his control over the Hapes system. And he needed laborers, hence his interest in the refugees.

Kallous watched the first of the few landing ships deliver their cargo. A number of platoons and land vehicles. It was a rather large contingent, but not as large as the ships they brought could support, they intended to take several prisoners after all. He was thankful for that, it meant he wouldn't need to fight off a whole army. And he wouldn't need to do it alone either, assuming his request for aid had been received and accepted by the Mandalorians who's territory they bordered.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

The sound of approaching engines rolled across Phaseera long before the ship itself broke through the cloud cover. Refugees paused in their work and conversations, heads lifting instinctively toward the darkening sky as the low roar of a Kom'rk-class fighter swept over the valley like distant thunder. Dust spiraled across the rocky ground beneath the downdraft as the vessel banked once over the encampment, making a deliberate pass across both the civilian shelters and the growing loyalist deployment below.

The Mandalorians aboard were assessing the battlefield before committing themselves to it.

Only after the sweep was complete did the fighter descend toward the ridge overlooking the valley. Its landing struts struck stone with a heavy metallic thud while steam hissed from the engines into the cold air. The rear ramp lowered slowly, revealing armored figures waiting within the glow of the troop bay.

Veyla stepped out first.

The wind caught the edge of her dark cloak as she moved onto the ridge, matte-black beskar broken by muted crimson accents that faintly reflected in the dying light. Her helmet remained sealed while her gaze swept methodically across the terrain below, HUD markers tracking troop movement, vehicles, and potential firing lanes with practiced efficiency.

The force Cras Zameth had sent was large enough to intimidate civilians.

Not large enough to impress Mandalorians.

Several warriors emerged behind her and spread outward across the ridge in disciplined silence, immediately beginning the work of establishing defensive positions without needing instruction. Veyla remained still for another moment, studying the valley below while the realities of the situation settled into place around her.

Refugees clustered behind temporary barricades. Nervous volunteers pretending not to be afraid. A rookie army trying very hard to look like something more dangerous than it actually was. And standing between the two, almost stubbornly alone despite the chaos surrounding him, was Kallous.

Her attention lingered on him briefly before she finally started down the ridge toward the encampment itself. When she reached him, she removed her helmet in one smooth motion and tucked it beneath her arm, fiery red hair shifting in the cold breeze before settling against the collar of her armor.

For a few seconds, she simply looked out across the valley beside him, letting herself take in the full shape of what he had chosen to stand in front of.

"You certainly know how to pick relaxing places to ask for help," she said at last, dry humor threading softly through her otherwise calm voice.

The remark carried no mockery. If anything, it sounded tired in the way only people accustomed to walking into disasters could sound.

Her emerald eyes shifted toward him then, studying him more carefully now that she stood close enough to do so.

"I heard what happened after the Diarchs vanished," she continued more quietly. "Most people responded to the collapse by looking for territory, influence, or someone to blame. You started moving refugees instead."

There was respect in the observation, understated but genuine.

Veyla understood enough about the Diarchy to know that the fractures surrounding its fall had not been clean. She had not been part of those internal disputes herself, but she had seen the aftermath spread across border systems like fire through dry brush. Entire worlds had been left trying to survive the vacuum created when structure disappeared overnight.

And now opportunists like Zameth were circling the vulnerable parts.

Her gaze drifted back toward the incoming forces below.

"Whatever disagreements existed between Mandalore and the Diarchy don't matter much to the people hiding down there," she said calmly. "They care about whether someone stands between them and the men arriving in those transports."

A faint pause settled between them while the wind moved through the valley below.

"Today that happens to be us."

Behind them, Mandalorian warriors continued to prepare the ridge with quiet efficiency, checking firing lanes and positioning heavy weapons, while others moved to reinforce the refugee perimeter itself. None of them behaved like conquerors arriving to claim territory. They moved like soldiers preparing to hold a line.

Veyla slipped her helmet against her hip and folded one arm loosely across her chest as she continued studying the battlefield.

"Tell me what you know," she said, her voice naturally shifting toward strategy now that the introductions were finished. "How disciplined are Zameth's people? Where are they likely to push first, and how many civilians still need evacuation routes if this turns into a prolonged engagement?"

The corner of her mouth tightened faintly as she looked back toward the approaching army.

"Because if they came here expecting frightened refugees and an isolated Force user, I'd like to make sure their first mistake becomes their last one."

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Kallous had spent the better part of the day observing the landings through his binocs, assessing the enemy and watching their movements with intense interest. It was bleak, but not as bleak as it could have been he supposed. They had ships in orbit, and possibly even some fighters to deploy as much as h doubted they would for something so simple as retrieving refugees and bringing them back in transports. They weren't prepared for a proper fight, which was one of their two distinct, and only, advantages. From the uniforms he had surmised that the vast majority of what they were facing weren't soldiers but conscripted police, which was both good and bad for various reasons.

It was good because that meant they weren't professional soldiers.

It was bad because they were still trained professionals that specialized in handling crowds bigger than they were and apprehending resisting opponents.

They didn't have heavy armor, however they did bring with them what could be considered armored squad vehicles that could prove problematic. Likely brought only to help carry large numbers of people, but definitely wouldn't be easy for small arms to deal with regardless. Thankfully they didn't have much by way of heavy weapons themselves, probably only a few grenade launchers with non-lethal payloads.

And they had numbers.

They weren't a full army to be sure, but they were certainly a sizeable force. He estimated they were facing a small battalion, some three or four hundred people, some eighty of them SWAT units and a good one hundred or so clad in riot gear. Eight lightly armored vehicles were also among their number, and some thirty unarmored transport vehicles. A daunting force for one in so untenable a position as he and the refugees they had come for.

He was quite relieved to hear the whine of engines, and see that the Mandalorian's he'd requested aid from decided to provide it.

The ship touched down, and the ramp dropped to deposit a unit of Mandalorian soldiers and their commanding officer. He couldn't help but feel grim amusement, thinking about how sorry they must appear to these people. A lone sith and some untrained rabble with scavenged weapons, truly a force to be reckoned with.

The Mandalorian Officer approached him, removed her helmet and offered a brief greeting, acknowledgement of his efforts, and went straight then to asking for a sitrep. One he was all too happy to provide her.

"Thank you for coming to our aid Mandalorian." He said to her politely as they approached the ridge to look out on the mustering force. "I'm pleased to see we are on the same page."

"First off they're not soldiers, but they aren't some peasant levy either. Most appear to be police pressed into military action, so they're far from harmless. I count between three and four hundred bodies, eight light armored vehicles, thirty unarmored transport vehicles, Eighty Special Weapons and Tactics divided into assorted teams. A little over a hundred equipped with riot shields. A few grenade launchers, non lethal assumed. They've done some minor probe surveillance so they know where the refugees are camped, though I do not believe they suspect any real resistance."

He continued on the subject of the refugees themselves. "The refugee camp proper is five Kilometers west of here in a clearing at the base of the cliffs. An evacuation to a second location is planned if needed, that second location another ten kilometers north of the current camp. Where the river intersects the cliffs and enters the canyon."

Then he looked back to the Governor's force. "Chances are they will send a vanguard to find and entrap the refugees before moving in the bulk of their forces to move them all at once. And the vanguard is likely to use the path up this cliff to move in bulk before splitting off into splinter groups once they've reached the top. Aside from that I haven't been able to collect any more impactful intelligence."

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla listened intently, her gaze tracking the valley as Kallous detailed the enemy's disposition. She didn't downplay the threat; three to four hundred personnel trained in containment and crowd control were more than enough to overwhelm panic-stricken refugees if they gained momentum.

In fact, their police background made them uniquely dangerous. Unlike soldiers seeking battlefield glory, they focused on pressure, isolation, and efficiency, adapting quickly.

As Kallous spoke, her eyes instinctively followed their projected route up the cliffs, giving a slight nod at his mention of a secondary evacuation point. At least he had a contingency plan.

When he finished, she let the silence linger a moment against the wind and the distant mechanical hum of the governor's forces.

"You've done solid work with limited resources," she noted calmly. "Most would have focused solely on the camp and missed the approach vectors. You're right about the vanguard, too. They'll want the cliffs secured to split pressure across the camp rather than funneling their advance."

She pointed a gloved finger toward the valley below.

"Those transports concern me more than the armored carriers. They wouldn't bring that many unless they expected a clean, rapid success. They aren't arrogant; they're confident. That distinction matters."

Tapping the side of her helmet, she switched comm frequencies.

"Vorren, launch a recon drone. Wide thermal sweep first, then tighten focus on vehicle crews and command movement. Confirm heavy weapon placement, comm relays, and any hidden reserves."

After a burst of static signaled acknowledgment, she lowered her hand and turned to Kallous.

"We need to fill the gaps in our intelligence before we're blindsided by a secondary push," she continued, looking back down as her technicians prepared the launch. "The good news is they're prepared for crowd suppression, not open warfare. They expect fear and surrender. The moment they hit organized resistance, especially from high ground, their formations will stall."

Her expression sharpened as she turned her full attention back to him, relying on the instinct that had kept her alive through countless battles.

"What I need to know now is what concerns you beyond the numbers and equipment," she said evenly. "What feels wrong about this?"

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Kallous honestly hadn't expected her to ask his opinion. He'd anticipated that the Mandalorians would come in and accept on input from him, confident in their own ability to handle the situation without a former enemy telling them what to do. He was pleased to be wrong. Though he was equally surprised by the actual contents of the question, not what he anticipated, not what he thought they might be hiding, what felt wrong. It was a question that definitely implied a trust in his instincts that he hadn't yet justified to them.

This woman had an astounding amount of faith in a stranger's instinct.

"I feel like this is noncommittal of them." He answered. "Like this is an afterthought, or a secondary problem. I suspect that if we don't win decisively and immediately, they will have reinforcements available to them that will make our precarious position untenable. My recommendation is that we hold them back with what we can while we evacuate the refugees, then leave as soon as the refugees are out of harms way. We won't be able to hold here indefinitely, not against those numbers with that equipment. And a long battle of attrition is something I doubt either of us want."

There was his thoughts. Now all there was to see was how seriously the Mandalorian Commander took them.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla didn't answer immediately, remaining still beside him on the ridge while his assessment settled into place alongside her own instincts. Below them, the faint sounds of preparation carried upward through the cold air as engines idled, commands were shouted, and equipment clattered metallically into formation. This was not an army preparing for a desperate battle, but a force expecting procedure, control, and efficiency, which was exactly what had been bothering her as well. At his mention of the operation, feeling secondary, she narrowed her eyes slightly beneath the fading light.

"I think you're right," she said at last, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "This doesn't feel like a force assembled for conquest, but rather one delegated to clean up a problem someone higher up doesn't consider important enough to personally oversee. And people get careless when they think they're handling something routine."

Her gaze tracked one of the transports below as personnel continued unloading equipment, and a faint pause followed before she looked toward him properly again.

"That's not faith in your instincts," she said quietly, answering the unspoken uncertainty she could practically read behind his expression. "It's pattern recognition. You've been watching them all day, and I've been fighting people like this most of my life, so if both of us feel something is off, I'd rather listen to that than ignore it just because we haven't known each other long enough."

There was no arrogance or dismissal in her words, only pure practicality as she turned her attention back toward the refugee camp below to study the routes he had identified earlier.

"And no," she continued evenly, "I have no interest in fighting a prolonged attrition battle here either, because holding ground only matters if the ground itself is worth dying on. The refugees are the objective, not the ridge and not the camp."

One gloved finger traced briefly across the projected terrain map, flickering faintly from her vambrace, as she plotted their movements.

"So we use the cliffs exactly the way you predicted they will by stalling their vanguard, fracturing their formations before they fully establish themselves on the elevation, and forcing them to commit more bodies than they intended. If they think this operation is routine, then the fastest way to destabilize them is to make them feel like they've miscalculated."

Another short silence settled between them while a recon drone launched somewhere behind the ridge with a faint mechanical whine.

"Meanwhile, the evacuation begins immediately," she continued, glancing sideways toward him again. "We will move people quietly in staggered groups toward the canyon route before the first engagement fully starts to avoid a panic or a stampede. If reinforcements do exist, I'd rather they arrive to find an empty camp and a very expensive embarrassment waiting for them instead of trapped civilians."

For the first time since arriving, a sharper, confident edge entered her expression.

"Because if they came here expecting frightened refugees and scattered resistance, I'd like the memory of this ridge to become the reason their commanders stop underestimating border worlds."

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

"Chances are Reinforcements aren't going to be immediately available. My actual concern is that they'll commit to keeping us here long enough for reinforcements to arrive. They still have their orbital ships, and unless you brought any anti-air with you we won't be able to properly contend their redeployment. And they have the numbers to keep us too busy to contest it on the ground without risking them breaking through the front." He thought aloud. "I found a few places atop the cliffs that could support small landings, not big enough to accommodate the numbers they brought in their entirety, but big enough for them to deliver a few teams on our flank and rear. Which could be a serious problem if they end up doing it. And given the people we're dealing with, they like to prioritize efficiency and results with minimal casualties. I believe they will utilize these landings more or less immediately."

Kallous kept his eyes on the gathered army in front of them, thinking about how exactly they would be moving once they realized there was a proper force here to contend with them. Strangely enough, as far as opposing mandalorians went, police seemed strangely well prepared for it. Their use of blaster-resistant shields would allow them to advance in relative safety even when there was no cover immediately available to them. And use of stun grenades, which was a favourite of riot teams, would practically ignore the protection beskar provided against more conventional weapons.

All in all this was not going to be a fully one-sided engagement. They had the advantage to be sure, but it would be foolishness of the highest order to assume they would lay their foe out without difficulty.

"Do you have with you any methods by which to shut those landing sites down?" He asked her. "Mines should be enough to slow them down for a while at least. If not I can lock one of them down on my own. The other one will simply need to be watched."

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla watched the valley as Kallous spoke, the shape of the enemy's operation settling into focus. This wasn't a chaotic assault; it was a containment action built around layered pressure and rapid redeployment. They were treating the refugees like cargo to be processed, a cold mindset that made them far more dangerous than an ordinary military force.

Mentally measuring descent vectors along the ridgelines, she recognized the threat of a flanking maneuver during the evacuation.

"You're thinking the same way they are," she said, her voice calm and analytical. "Most defenses fail because they prepare for the enemy they want to fight instead of the one in front of them. You're right about the redeployment risk—a few coordinated teams on our flank would easily fracture the evacuation and cause panic."

When he brought up orbital support, she gave a realistic nod. "We came prepared for border instability, not a sustained orbital engagement. We have portable launchers, limited ammunition, and a single Fang fighter on standby, but it's not enough to permanently deny them the skies."

Her wrist display flickered, projecting a blue terrain map as incoming drone telemetry highlighted two elevated shelves in amber.

"Which means the landing shelves become our priority," she continued, switching comm frequencies smoothly. "Vorren, redirect the second squad to these two plateaus. Seed remote mines across both shelves and set up observation posts. Prioritize disruption over lethality. I want them slowed and uncertain before boots ever hit the ground."

After receiving a crackling confirmation, she turned back to Kallous. "You won't have to hold one alone unless things deteriorate badly, but I want constant eyes on both sites for early warning."

Below, the governor's units moved with a calm efficiency that suggested people expected total compliance.

"Their biggest advantage isn't manpower; it's certainty," Veyla murmured, a colder edge entering her voice. "Riot-trained units are conditioned for controlled pressure in predictable environments. Tight streets, structured movement, obedient crowds. The moment certainty breaks, their decision-making slows. This ridge is none of those things."

As a recon drone swept overhead toward the highlighted plateaus, Veyla fixed her emerald eyes on him with quiet intent.

"You said there were two shelves suitable for insertion. Show me which one concerns you more and tell me why. The maps matter, but instinct matters too, and yours has been worth listening to."

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

"You have a fighter with you?" He asked, his mind sparking. "Well that's something. They won't have fighters with them, at least not yet. They aren't here looking for a proper warzone, they're here to collect refugees and expect some civilian resistance. Military grade fighters would be overkill, so I doubt they have anything of the sort to field. The most they will have will be armed arial transports. So long as we get the citizens evacuated quickly enough, we won't need to worry about them deploying any truly dangerous anti-air. That might solve the problem on our flanks altogether."

He looked over the map presented and thought for a few moments, before pointing out the one to their north.

"this one is the one that gives me greater concern. We have no line of sight of it from here, so cannot directly contest any landings from the ground without jeopardizing our current position. And there are several routes that can be taken from there to here, so we can't simply plug a hole with a machine gun to keep it locked down. The other one," he gestured to another shelf on the cliff some ways to their southeast, "Is there. But that one we can see, even shoot at if you are confident in your men's accuracy. And there is only one way to get here from there, and that's along the cliff. So they would be approaching under fire. Though that would still divide our attention enough to make it precarious. Especially if they deploy shields."

Looking down on the gathered force beneath them, Kallous would watch as the first several of them loaded up into their first set of armored transports. They were running short on time. They would need to make a decision soon, and finish digging in. Once the element of surprise was used, they would be in for a slugging match where they enemy was packing armor. It would be rough, but it would also be far from a one-sided engagement. Mandalorians were renowned for their skill and discipline under fire, they weren't just professional soldiers they were lifelong warriors, the best of them even able to hold their own against Jedi and Sith. Despite the circumstances... Kallous was confident they would come out on top. So long as the evactuation behind them went smoothly, there would be no reason to stay long enough for the situation to turn sour.

"I recommend you keep your fighter in reserve until they attempt to make their first landings. Don't bring it out until they've made their first attempt. Delay their response to it to maximize the time it will take for them to call in the reinforcements and equipment they will need to deal with it. And if all goes well we should be done and gone by the time their support arrives."

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla studied the map as Kallous spoke, following the routes he indicated while keeping one eye on the movement below. The first transports were already beginning to load, confirming what both of them already knew: whatever decisions they made needed to be made quickly. She appreciated that he wasn't trying to dictate the battle or prove himself right. He was identifying risks, offering practical solutions, and focusing on the people they were trying to protect. That was the kind of thinking she respected. More importantly, it was the kind of thinking she expected from a fellow warrior standing beside her rather than behind her.

"Agreed," she said with a slow nod. "If they expected a military response, they would've arrived differently. Heavier armor. Dedicated air support. Better reconnaissance. They came here expecting compliance and a few frightened civilians with hunting rifles." Her gaze settled on the northern landing shelf he had highlighted. "And that makes the northern approach the real problem." Unlike the southeastern position, it couldn't be monitored continuously from their current location, making it the obvious place for an opportunistic commander to try something clever.

Without taking her attention from the map, she keyed her comm. "Vorren, redirect the recon drone north. Continuous surveillance over the landing shelf and all approach routes. I want immediate notification of any movement larger than a scout team. Deploy two passive sensor packages overlooking the northern paths as well. If they're planning to flank us, we'll know before they reach our rear." A burst of static confirmed the acknowledgment. Lowering her hand, she looked back toward Kallous. "That should give us enough warning to react without spreading ourselves thin."

Below them, another transport loaded personnel. Even from this distance, she could see the practiced efficiency of the operation. Not soldiers preparing for war, but officers preparing for an arrest. "As for the fighter, your recommendation makes sense," she continued. "I'll keep it off the board until they commit to their first insertion. The longer they believe they're dealing with local resistance, the longer they'll continue acting according to their original assumptions. Once they realize they're facing Mandalorians, the situation changes. I'd rather that realization arrive as late as possible." A faint smile touched the corner of her mouth. "Surprise has always been cheaper than reinforcements."

Her attention returned to the battlefield before she glanced back toward him. There was no trace of suspicion or distance in her expression now, only the straightforward trust of one warrior recognizing another's value. "We'll focus on buying time for the evacuation. Nothing more. We don't need to defeat every officer down there. We just need to keep them occupied while the refugees disappear." She paused briefly. "And you've spent longer watching them than I have, vod. If you see something changing, tell me immediately. I'd rather adjust to good information than cling to a plan that's already stopped being useful."

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

"I will be sure to do so." Kallous told her, acknowledging her request that he continue to give her his insight should the situation change. "And before this begins in earnest. Thank you. I wasn't sure whether or not you would actually show up, and I am relieved that you did."

Kallous had endeavored for the longest time to be a sincere man. Ever since he abandoned the dark path he had dedicated himself to truth. And as such when he offered her his thanks, there would be no hint of insincerity there. He meant it. He wanted to see these people safe, and they had answered his plea. It meant a great deal, and it showed.

He glanced down at the advancing column of armored vehicles. They were not the APCs of a proper military, but it would still take more than a standard blaster to punch through it. Nevertheless, he knew that the moment they started clogging the narrow path up to their position with wreckage and dead vehicles, it would be even more time bought for the people behind them to get out. And he also intended to make it particularly bad for this first group. It was a standard military tactic, far from creative. But it worked, and would work here to.

Destroy the lead vehicle to stop the column. Destroy the rear vehicle to trap the column in place. And from there deliver slaughter to all who now remained sandwiched between the wreckage of the two destroyed vehicles that would be too heavy to move with any measure of haste. Assuming they didn't simply fall off the cliff.

The column approached, and Kallous stood ready. Observing for now, simply keeping an overwatch of the situation. Hands clasped behind his back as he stood his vigil. He had determined it best to delay drawing his lightsaber for the time being, much like with the discovery of them being mandalorians, and the existence of their fighter, his presence was best concealed until the last possible moment. The moment news of him reached the enemy's high command, they would deploy real troops with all possible haste. And potentially fill the sky with a few ships that would make the evacuation of the citizens all but impossible.

He could not be exposed too early, much as he wished he could stand at the front.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla's eyes remained on the advancing column for several seconds after Kallous thanked her. The transports continued their steady climb, unaware that every meter brought them closer to a prepared defense. Only then did she glance toward him, her expression calm beneath the shadow of her helmet.

"You asked for help," she said simply. "People needed it."

There was no grand speech attached to it and no attempt to dress the answer up as something noble. To Veyla, it really was that straightforward. Whatever disagreements existed between governments, factions, or Force traditions mattered far less than the civilians currently depending on them. The refugees hadn't asked for this fight. They were simply caught in the middle of it.

Her gaze returned to the valley below as another transport joined the growing column. The narrow approach worked in their favor, turning the enemy's numbers into a liability rather than a strength. She could already see the shape of the engagement forming. One disabled vehicle at the front. One at the rear. Everything was trapped between. A textbook solution, but textbook solutions became doctrine because they worked.

"They're disciplined," she observed quietly. "Not soldiers, but organized enough to be dangerous. Once the first vehicle goes down, they'll try to establish order and push forward through momentum. The trick is making sure they never recover it."

A faint crackle sounded through her comm as updates flowed in from her people. The drone was in position. The northern approach remained clear. Sensor packages were active. Everything was unfolding according to plan, at least for now. She relayed a few brief acknowledgments before falling silent again, trusting her warriors to do their jobs.

Standing beside Kallous, she studied the battlefield and the man beside her with equal consideration. He had every reason to leave this problem for someone else. Instead, he had stayed. Organized an evacuation. Called for help. Now he stood ready to place himself between danger and people who could not defend themselves. Whatever path had brought him here, those were the actions of a man she respected.

They were silent for a bit. After several moments, her voice quieter than before, "I'm glad you made the call. Too many people try to carry everything themselves until it collapses around them."

The lead transport finally began approaching the section of road they had been watching. Veyla's attention sharpened immediately, her posture settling into that familiar stillness that came before a fight.

"Looks like we're about to find out how committed they really are."

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

"It's a shame really." Kallous said aloud, almost to himself. "These people aren't soldiers. I doubt they asked to be here any more than the refugees did."

It was more acknowledgement than anything else. His tone didn't suggest second thoughts or hesitation, merely a lament that such ordinary people as police had to get mixed up in this. But such was the nature of a civil war, ordinary people got pulled into a vacuum that was not easily escaped from. And as much as Kallous would like to see the man who'd deployed these people brought down, the situation was still far too volatile and removing an emerging power structure would only make it worse. People were vulnerable enough to criminals and pirates as it was, as much as he hated the fact, chances were the people would be safer under a despot.

At least for now. He would watch this sector closely, and if things took a turn for the worse he would act.

He cleared these thoughts from his head, plotting for the future was not what he should be doing at that moment. Right then they had an enemy to hold off, and people to evacuate.

"How goes the extraction on our back end?" He inquired, "Do we have an estimate for how long it will take?"

He hoped to hear good news, but he wasn't sure there would be any. The place he'd hidden the refugees wasn't easy to find, and there wasn't much space for ships to land. They would have to use small shuttles, and they would only be able to land two or three at a time. And for moving so many people that would take more than a minute or two. And that's without any additional complications.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla's gaze remained fixed on the advancing column for a few moments after Kallous spoke. Below them, the transports continued their steady approach, carrying men and women who likely had little say in how they had ended up here. Police officers. Security personnel. Ordinary people were caught between competing authorities and expected to bear the consequences of decisions made far above their pay grade.

"No," she said quietly. "I doubt they did."

There was no sympathy for the governor's ambitions in her voice, but neither was there hatred for the people carrying out his orders. Veyla had spent enough time around soldiers and warriors to understand an uncomfortable truth: most conflicts were fought by people who hadn't started them. They simply happened to be standing where the line was drawn.

The question regarding the evacuation pulled her attention back to the matter at hand. She activated her comm and waited only a moment before a response crackled through her helmet. Updates flowed quickly. Shuttle manifests. Passenger counts. Extraction progress. Fuel consumption. Weather interference.

"We're moving faster than projected," she reported after listening for several seconds. "The first waves are already clear, and additional transports are cycling through. The terrain is slowing things down, but not enough to stop the operation." Her eyes drifted toward the distant horizon where the refugees had been concealed. Somewhere beyond those ridges, frightened families were boarding shuttles and leaving danger behind one transport at a time. "Current estimate puts us ahead of schedule," she continued. "Assuming nothing changes, most of the civilians should be clear before those vehicles ever reach the camp."

A small pause followed as she watched the lead transport continue its climb toward their position. "Which means our job is simple." Her hand settled lightly against the stock of her rifle. "We buy them the time they need and make sure nothing interrupts the extraction." The statement wasn't bravado. It wasn't optimism either. Just a straightforward assessment of what needed to happen. For a moment, her attention shifted from the convoy back to Kallous. "And if you're right about reinforcements, then every minute we delay them becomes that much more valuable." Then her gaze returned to the road below. The first vehicle was almost in range.

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

The time for talk was over. Their foe was upon them, and the fight was mere moments away. Kallous fell silent, eyes fixed on the approaching convoy. Everything else fell away. His focus was in the moment, watching the column approach at a steady pace. His mind went quiet, and he allowed himself to sink. He'd done this a million times or more by now, allowing himself to vanish into the force, sinking deeper and deeper where its currents were strongest. Where he would find guidance, where he could read the ripples made by the others who were swimming in its waters, whether they were aware of it or not.

He felt, more than saw, the approaching enemy. Ten meters. Eight. Five. Two.

The Mandalorians around him let loose their weapons. Their weapon teams disabling the foreward vehicle, then destroyed the one in the rear. Trapping the vehicles in place, and leaving the people inside in a precarious position. They still had the remaining vehicles and the wreckage to hide behind. But that wasn't an issue. Their objective was time, not casualties. So as long as their advance was stalled for a sufficiently long period of time, it would mean that they would succeed.

Kallous did not forsee himself getting directly involved in the fighting for a little while at least. He was needed here on the ridge to hold it in case the enemy made it this far, and his lightsaber wasn't very good at a distance. He could certainly busy himself with drawing fire, but that was not yet necessary. For now the Mandalorians put their expertise to good use, and any who dared peek their heads out from behind cover would have their heads removed by the plasma from Mandalorian blasters.

It was going well, as expected. And chances were that their response wouldn't be immediate. They had no intelligence after all, given how recently the Mandalorians had arrived, there was no real way that these policemen could know anything about where they were or what their composition was. They would be stalled for lack of intel. Though this was no guarantee, given that Police, unlike soldiers, were trained to handle situations where intelligence was limited or not present.

He would have to wait and see. As of yet, the Force was not giving him any feedback that he hadn't expected. For now, all was well.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

The opening volley struck with textbook precision.

Veyla watched from her position along the ridgeline as the lead vehicle disappeared in a bloom of fire and twisted metal. Less than a heartbeat later, the rear transport suffered the same fate. The convoy ground to a halt between the two wrecks, trapped exactly where they wanted it. Years of Mandalorian doctrine and battlefield experience were being applied with ruthless efficiency. The enemy had come expecting to advance. Instead, they found themselves pinned in a kill zone before most of them fully understood what they were facing.

Blaster fire erupted almost immediately afterward.

Brilliant streaks of plasma carved through the air from both directions as the trapped officers scrambled for cover behind damaged vehicles and chunks of wreckage. Some attempted to return fire. Others stayed low, waiting for orders or trying to determine the size of the force opposing them. Veyla found herself feeling no satisfaction in the sight. Relief, perhaps. The convoy had been stopped. The refugees had been given more time. That was enough.

Her rifle remained shouldered as she tracked the battlefield through the scope. Years of Mandalorian training took over naturally. Watch the flanks. Watch the approaches. Watch for the movement everyone else missed. Her attention drifted repeatedly toward the northern landing zone Kallous had identified earlier. The convoy itself wasn't what concerned her anymore. It was what might follow.

A burst of static crackled through her helmet.

"Report."

The response came quickly.

No movement at the northern shelf. No unidentified contacts approaching from the rear. Drone surveillance remained active. The extraction was continuing uninterrupted.

Good.

Veyla lowered the rifle slightly and glanced toward Kallous. The Force might guide his awareness toward dangers still hidden beneath the surface, but her instincts were built from different lessons. Patrol routes. Ambush sites. Supply lines. The countless details were drilled into Mandalorian warriors from childhood. Different paths. Similar purpose.

"They're hesitating," she observed calmly. "Which means they still don't know what they're fighting."

Her gaze returned to the trapped convoy below.

"Let's keep it that way for as long as possible."

The words had barely left her mouth when another officer exposed himself above the wreckage to assess the situation. A Mandalorian marksman somewhere along the ridge immediately dropped him back into cover. Veyla's attention never lingered on the individual. Instead, she continued scanning the wider battlefield, searching for the next move rather than celebrating the current one.

Because if there was one thing Mandalorian training had taught her, it was that the most dangerous moment in any engagement came immediately after the plan worked.

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Before too long, the officers stopped peeking over their vehicles. Too soon. Not enough heads had appeared.

They hadn't gotten all of them, and that meant there would be comms going to their HQ. And that meant reinforcements. That meant more fighting was en route. Things had gone smoothly so far, but they were in a fixed position that they could not move from. And the disadvantage of blaster fire was that everyone could see where it came from. Meaning that the enemy now had their location.

"Brace yourself." Kallous warned. "Things are about to get hairy very soon."

He wasn't wrong. Not too long after the firefight had begun and stalled, there was noticeable movement from the gathered camp further down. From this distance it appeared like a beehive, abuzz with frantic activity from sudden calm. The hornet's nest had been kicked, and now the swarm was agitated.

No plan survives contact with the enemy. This had almost always rung true in every single confrontation he'd been in. Hence why he'd had a number of contingencies in place, and his plan had been incredibly simple. The less moving parts, the less likely it is to go wrong. It's hard to mess up "Stay here and shoot at everything that gets close".

But now the real test was going to start.

Police vehicles, ground and air alike, began firing up their engines, ready to enter the fray. A few aerial vehicles began to approach, small ones, looked like nothing more than squad transports. Still too armored for generic small arms to penetrate, but by no means military grade. Nevertheless they were fast. And they were on their way, presumably to scout out the new threat and provide intel back to their commanders. This was where things would start to get interesting.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla didn't take her eyes off the valley below as Kallous spoke. The warning wasn't unexpected. If anything, she had been waiting for it. The first exchange had gone too well, and battles rarely rewarded optimism for long. The enemy had found their position, survived the initial ambush, and now they were adapting.

That was when things became dangerous.

"Copy that," she replied calmly, settling lower behind a section of rock. "We bought time. Now we make it expensive for them to take it back."

Her rifle remained trained downslope as movement spread through the enemy camp. Vehicles were starting. Troops were reorganizing. What had been confusion was rapidly becoming purpose. Years of Mandalorian training taught her exactly what she was looking at. The enemy wasn't breaking. They were gathering information and preparing their response.

The approaching aerial transports immediately drew her attention.

"Contacts airborne," she reported across the local comm net. "Light transports. Fast movers. Looks like reconnaissance and deployment."

Her scope tracked one of the incoming craft as it rose above the rest of the formation. She didn't fire. Not yet. Kallous had already identified the value of timing, and she trusted that assessment. Shooting too early would only reveal additional positions and waste the advantage they still possessed.

Instead, she keyed her comm.

"Vorren, maintain drone coverage on the northern shelf. I want immediate warning if anything larger than a shuttle lifts off."

An acknowledgment came back instantly.

Only then did she glance toward Kallous.

"Looks like your prediction was right," she said, her tone steady despite the growing tension. "They're testing us before committing the rest."

Her gaze returned to the sky where the transports continued their approach.

"Let's see what they learn."

There was no bravado in the statement. Only the quiet confidence of a Mandalorian warrior preparing for the next phase of the battle. The first move had belonged to them. What mattered now was how they answered the enemy's response.

Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Kallous and Veyla seemed to be on the same page when it came to the state of their operation. They still had the advantage, they still had some measure of surprise, they had some measure of anonymity, and the enemy was not yet prepared to give them a true response yet. Kallous doubted this would be enough to make them call home. But this was definitely enough to make them take this a lot more seriously.

The first to take to the sky were four vehicles. They were standard police patrol vehicles, a driver, passenger and then space in the back for apprehended criminals to be kept en route to their designated precinct. No more than four or five people inside at any given time, most likely only one or two. They weren't looking to deploy, not yet, these were only being used as scout vehicles. To find where their foe had been.

And while these were circling overhead, the remaining officers on the trail began to make haste back down the way they had come.

"Hold your fire." Kallous advised, their goal was to stall, not kill. And right now their biggest stalling advantage was keeping their foe guessing about where they and how many they had. They already had a idea, but didn't have enough to actually pinpoint exactly where they were. And their foe was intelligently having their fellows retreat while the area was being very closely watched. If they fired on the retreating officers, they would give them all the information they would need to pinpoint exactly where they were. And after that they would be able to bring out specialists to deal with them.

Kallous had no doubt that they had police snipers among their SWAT squads. And that would be troublesome to deal with if they were foolish enough to give away their position.

It was back to the waiting game for now, they would need to lay low as best they could for as long as they could to deny their foe the information they needed to continue their advance. And right now that meant that they would need to remain as concealed as was feasible to buy the evacuation the time it needed.

It wouldn't last very long, but however long it could last mattered immensely.

Veyla Krinn

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Veyla watched the patrol craft rise into the sky through the scope of her rifle, tracking their movement as they spread outward from the main force. The instinct to engage came immediately. Four airborne vehicles circling overhead represented four opportunities for the enemy to gather intelligence, coordinate responses, and narrow the search area.

Then Kallous gave the order. Hold your fire.

One eyebrow rose beneath her helmet before she exhaled quietly through her nose. It wasn't the choice she would have made instinctively, but the reasoning was sound. Shooting down the scouts would feel satisfying for approximately five seconds before every officer in the valley knew exactly where to look.

Without argument, she lifted a hand and signaled her nearby warriors to stand down. Several had already begun settling weapons into firing positions. The silent gesture was enough. Muzzles lowered. Triggers remained untouched.

"I was prepared to shoot them down," she admitted quietly, her eyes never leaving the nearest patrol craft. The vehicle banked across the valley, scanning the ridgeline. "You're right, though. The second one falls from the sky, and every sensor they have turns toward this position."

She shifted slightly behind cover, minimizing her profile while continuing to observe the aircraft's search pattern. They were being cautious. Professional. Not charging blindly into the unknown. That alone made them more troublesome than a reckless opponent.

After several moments, she keyed her comm at a lower volume, her gaze flicking briefly toward Kallous as she considered the patrol craft overhead. "If they push closer, we can try disabling them instead. Engines. Repulsors. Sensor packages." A small shrug followed, the suggestion offered as a practical alternative rather than a certainty.

"No guarantees. At this distance, a clean disable is harder than a kill shot. But it's an option."

Then she fell silent again. For now, patience was the weapon being used.

The Mandalorians remained hidden among the rocks and ridgelines while the patrol craft continued their search overhead. Every minute the enemy spent guessing was another minute the refugees gained. Every unanswered question forced their commanders to hesitate. And hesitation, Veyla knew, could be just as valuable as firepower when time was the true objective.

So she waited, watching the patrol craft sweep across the valley, counting their routes and noting every pattern in their movements while quietly preparing for the moment when concealment would no longer be enough, and action would become unavoidable.

Kallous