Viridescence maintained a barrier against the oncoming fire, whacking away streaks of crimson. Behind Ikuma, the men of Templar One-Five moved crates of finished ordinance into the freighter whilst returning fire between trips. Any receptacle too large or too heavy to move by hand was instead treated with remote explosives added to its contents. They had loaded almost a dozen crates with no casualties before Ikuma sensed a change in the tides of the force. Their surprise element had run out, and response lurked just beyond the present moment.
"
They've got backup coming!" Ikuma shouted, batting away another spear of plasma to dispatch the last of the initial security team. Seconds later, security droids appeared from several entrances. Volleys of fire saturated the defensive positions of Ikuma and Templar One-Five. His warning gave them just enough time to seek cover against the incoming salvo. This new wave of fire was concerningly heavy, immediately putting the Knight on the back foot as he struggled to maintain denial with his saber. It only took a few seconds for several shots to slip past his visible struggle, one of them striking a Templar squaddie. Ikuma felt pain and fear ripple through the force, a notion beyond his eyes seeing the soldier get hit. Quickly, he pivoted and outstretched an arm to grasp the wounded with the Force. A small wave sent him sliding across the floor toward the freighter.
Once an opportunity presented itself, Ikuma ceased focus on active defense and leapt through the air, force propelling him beyond mundane heights and distance. He whirled in the air, deflecting the few shots that followed him. Landing in the middle of the closest droid team, he began dispatching them with rapid, two-handed swings. A spinning kick introduced his heel to the head chassis of the lead droid, ripping it free from the torso structure and sending it bouncing and skipping across the loading hangar. Then, a long, low stroke severed the legs of the final droid just beneath its kneecap-mounted rocket launchers. Sparks began streaming from its severed limbs as the fuses in the rockets began to tick down. Ikuma lifted the droid with a telekinetic command and tossed it towards the next group. It met its targets just in time for the inevitable detonation, taking out more than half of them with a flash of fire and sparks.
No time to breathe.
Another feeling, this one more portentous than the last. He followed it, allowing it to draw his eyes until they caught the regard of another, red saber at his side. Ikuma met the dark sider's salute with a stance of his own; right foot forward, saber held low in two hands, tip pointed upward toward his opponent's center. His blade rose sharply to meet the first downward strike, though the bind was quickly aborted in favor of an onslaught of precise strikes. Ikuma felt the impression of doom flood over him as he warded off the assault. A forceful parry bought him a precious split-second to backstep from the engagement, gliding a few inches above the floor before sliding to a stop.
A deep breath grasped for his center. Tensity would do him no favors. He raised another pointed guard, higher now, arms outstretched to point the blade at face level. His eyes stared intensely down the length of the blade to lock his opponent's eyes once again. '
Hesitation is defeat.' The words resonated in his mind. Advancing, Ikuma took the offensive this time. His blade moved to the right and feinted low. In contrast to his opponent, his offerings were a collection of broad, forceful strikes. Hitting hard and fast, he sought to seize an advantage through Ataru's aggressive principles.
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Wymar
