Slayke held out his hand for Halcyon's comlink. After a second's hesitation, the Jedi handed it over. Slayke spoke quietly into the comlink, then returned it and said, "We'd better go take a look."

They reached the HoloNet transceiver just in time to see Reija Momen's image flash on the monitor.

"I am Reija Momen, director of the Intergalactic Communications Center on Praesitlyn. My staff and I are being held prisoner by an armed Separatist force. The commander of that force demands you order the troops now opposing him to withdraw from Praesitlyn immediately. For every hour you delay issuing that order, one of my staff will be executed, ending with me. I beg you, for the sake of my people, Attack! Attack! Attack!"

The last attack echoed through the totally silent room. Slayke swore under his breath, then ordered, "Play it again!"

"Gutsy woman," Halcyon said with admiration. "She's asking us to attack even though it means her life and the lives of her people. That's like calling in a laser cannon barrage on your own position to save it from being overrun."

"No kidding," Slayke agreed. "So she's the one we came here to rescue. "

Anakin couldn't utter a word. There was something-else - about that woman.

Halcyon looked at his second in command. "Anakin?"

Anakin stood with his fists clenched, the muscles in his jaw working. The monitor was blank now, but he continued to glare at it as if Momen's image were still there.

"Anakin?" Halcyon asked.

Someone behind them was cursing in the most foul terms. Someone else said something softly and the curses stopped.

"Anakin?" Halcyon clamped a hand on Anakin's shoulder and shook it.

"What?" Anakin blinked, as though returning from someplace different.

"Anakin, it's over."

"Y-yes. I-it's just.,." Anakin shook his head again and took a breath.

"That woman, she reminds me of-well, I don't know..."

Slayke stood. "Listen up, everyone," he announced in a voice so loud several officers started. "Listen up," he repeated in a softer tone. "If our comrades who died here fighting these Separatists could see what that woman has done, they would know-" His voice cracked. "-they would know their lives were not sacrificed in vain." He paused and took a breath.

"If we ever needed a cause to keep us going, we have it now!"

He walked over to Halcyon and offered him his hand, then extended it to Anakin and shook warmly. "I put myself and what's left of my army completely at your disposal. What are my orders?"

20.

One of the many hardships of being in an army during wartime, aside from the possibility of getting killed, is lack of sleep. In wartime, the commander who waits to make a decision usually doesn't live until tomorrow. All military movements and operations seem to occur during the night-and to last all night-and anyone who can sleep on the eve of an attack is either a veteran or so tired he just doesn't care anymore. Of course, the constant pumping of adrenaline into the soldier's system will keep him active, but sooner or later exhaustion sets in.

The strategy session that started at strongpoint Judlie continued for hours. Eventually they moved to Halcyon's command post, which was bigger, better equipped, and offered refreshments that Slayke's depleted supplies could not afford.

Drawing up a battle plan is no easy task. It has to be both detailed and concise, but at the same time flexible enough to accommodate the instant changes required by a fluid battlefield situation. Halycon's operations officer was given the task, under Anakin's supervision, of writing the plan. Each staff specialist in Halcyon's army was given a portion of the plan, an "annex" to execute: the personnel chief, operations chief, chief surgeon, intelligence chief, ordnance chief, the artillery, infantry, armor, and air commanders, and last but hardly least, quartermaster and transportation-none other than old Mess Boulanger. Each portion of the plan would be integrated into the whole. Time was short, however, and n.o.body could quite agree on the best course of action.

After several hours it finally got down to two basic approaches.

"Frontal a.s.saults are out of the question," Slayke roared. "You ought to know that an attacking force incurs casualties at a rate of at least three to one against a fortified position. That's what he's hoping for, so he can cut us down to size!"

"I know, I know," Halcyon replied. "I'm just advising a feint at his center while a strong force swings around one of his flanks. Grab him in the center of his line, hold him fast, make him think that's our main axis of attack, and hit him around the flank and come down on his rear."

"How about a vertical envelopment?" Anakin suggested. "We have the transports. We could land a force in his rear and attack from there, while our main force advances on the center of his line."

Slayke c.o.c.ked an eyebrow "What do you think?" he asked Halcyon.

"I don't know," the Jedi Master replied cautiously. "What's his anti-aircraft capability?"

"We've made an a.s.sessment," his intelligence officer responded. "We sent remotely piloted vehicles over his lines an hour ago in antic.i.p.ation of this question, sir. We sent several-none came back - But they transmitted enough information for us to determine that his anti-air defenses are particularly dense. We spotted quad laser cannons, as well as ion cannons that they must have off-loaded from their ships and installed as air defense weapons. We estimate at least thirty-five percent casualties just going in, Sy--and even higher casualties coming back out."

"Prohibitive," Slayke said softly. "I'm sorry, Anakin, vertical envelopment won't work. I think the only viable tactic is to swing around one of his flanks." Which had been Halcyon's opinion from the beginning.

"Don't forget, he can reinforce every part of his line on a very short axis, while we'll have a much longer way to go to move troops and supplies, especially if we're successful in getting around one of his flanks," Anakin pointed out.

Slayke nodded approvingly. "The young Jedi is becoming a strategist."

Halcyon smiled. "Anakin is a man of many surprising talents."

Slayke laughed. "Anakin, you just may have a future in this trade."

Then we'll follow the plan to attack the center simultaneously with a strong force swinging around his flank," Halcyon said. "But first we've got to know how strong his positions are."

I have just the man," Slayke said. "Omin, front and center! Sergeant L'Loxx is one of the best recon men in the business. He'll probe their lines and find any weaknesses there might be."

The sergeant approached the officers and came to attention. Halcyon stood and shook his hand. "It's nearly midnight, Sergeant L'Loxx. Can you complete a reconnaissance of the enemy line by dawn?"

"I can't do the whole line in the same night, sir," the sergeant answered, "but yessir, I'll reconnoiter wherever you want and be back here well before dawn. I can be ready in fifteen minutes."

"Let's send three probes, then-center, left, and right. But I think we should send clone commandos," Anakin said.

"Begging your pardon, sir, but I'm the best there is for this job, only I can't do the whole line myself. Give me whatever sector you want and I'll get the information you need."

"Very well. Sergeant, you take the right flank." Aside, Halcyon told Anakin, "You select commandos to do the center and left flank," Then back to L'Loxx: "The former strongpoint Izable will be your jumping-off place, and that'll be where you'll come back through our lines. How many troopers will you need?"

"Just me, sir."

"Only yourself?" Halcyon looked at Slayke, who shrugged. "What if something happens, Sergeant? How will we get your report?"

"Nothing will happen to me."

"I'd like to go with him," Grudo said, stepping up beside where Anakin was sitting.

"Ridiculous!" Slayke snorted.

"A Rodian should be good on patrol, sir," Sergeant L'Loxx said. "They're experts at getting into places where they arent wanted-and getting back out again."

Anakin nodded. "Grudo's in, then."

"We want to go, too," someone said. It was one of the guards from the Neelian, Corporal Ram Raders.

Halcyon stood up quickly. "What is this? I send out one man on a recon, and half my army wants to go along. We may as well mount the a.s.sault right now without any idea what's out there. No, and that's final." He sat down.

"Please, sir," Raders pleaded. "That's the sort of thing we're good at.

Besides, all we're doing here is standing around. We can be a great help to the sergeant."

"I'll take them," Sergeant L'Loxx said. "If I'm not satisfied with how they move, I'll leave them at Izable. But that's it. Four's maybe too many as it is."

"Very well," Halcyon said. "Anakin, coordinate all this with the clone commandos. All of you meet back here in fifteen minutes for a briefing."

Anakin turned to the operations officer. "Would you start writing up the operation order? I want to talk to Grudo privately for a moment." He excused himself and went outside with the Rodian. They sat down on some ration boxes in the dark. "I don't want you to go out there, Grudo, but if your mind is set on it, then I won't stop you."

"I'll be all right," Grudo replied.

Anakin didn't speak for a while, not sure what he wanted to say. "Are you married?" he asked at last. Grudo hooted a laugh. "Many times."

"Did you love your wives?"

Anakin could feel Grudo's shrug in the dark. "I was good to them, they to me. But a soldier, just like a Jedi, must put duty learn to live without the things other men yearn for. Why you ask?"

"Just curious."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." Grudo laid a hand on Anakin's shoulder, and the two were silent.

"That woman we watched earlier, do you know her?" Grudo asked, changing the subject. "I saw you. I think you must know her."

"N-no...," Anakin replied. "She just reminded me of my mother, who was killed."

"That must have been hard," Grudo said softly. "But you know, I've watched you, and I can tell you this much; she'd be proud of you now, your mother. I've never seen someone as smart in as many ways as you are.

You're quick in everything: to learn, to decide, to act. You will be a great commander, and I'm proud to have helped you." He stood. "I must go now. The sergeant is waiting, and dawn comes quickly tonight."

"Good luck, then, friend."

"Yes, luck. Every soldier needs luck, but remember, it's skill that counts in battle. But you wish me luck and I take it, with many thanks."

Grudo took Anakin's hand in his own, held it briefly, then turned and disappeared into the night. Anakin was surprised at how silently the Rodian walked in the dark. He stood there for a long moment, then turned and went back into the command post.

"They won't be foolish enough to attack us at the center of our line,"

Pors Tonith told his a.s.sembled commanders. "They'll send a force at the center, but it'll be a diversion. The main attack will come on one of our flanks. Therefore, I want a strong reserve here-" He indicated a spot near the communications center. "-ready to move to reinforce any part of our line on a moment's notice. Expect probes all night tonight and then an attack in the morning. I want you all out there all night long, checking your positions, registering your weapons, checking your fields of fire. Droids don't need sleep and you do, but tonight no one sleeps in this army. "

"These hills on our left, sir, they command the approaches around that flank and we have troops on them, but they're still only lightly defended. I suggest we reinforce immediately."

"We must wait until the attack develops,"Tonith said. "With a mobile reserve we can reinforce anywhere we need troops. You have your orders.

We must hold this position until our reinforcements arrive, which I am confident will be very soon now."

After his commanders had left the command post, Tonith grinned at B'wuf, still sitting under guard, dozing fitfully. "Wake him up," he ordered the droid guards. "I said no one sleeps in this army, and I meant no one.

Except me, of course. The brain needs its rest." He turned to one of the technicians. "Wake me if there are any developments." And he went to his quarters to sleep.

The briefing went quickly. There were three recon teams. Team one would cover the left flank; team two the center; and team three, Sergeant L'Loxx's team, the right flank. Each soldier on the three teams was given a comlink. "No voice traffic," the intelligence chief warned them. "The enemy is sure to be eavesdropping.

'Everyone, form up at Izable. As soon as the barrage starts, move out.

When you're ready to come back in, press the talk b.u.t.ton on your comlinks; one long and one short for team one; two long, two short for team two; and three long, three short for team three. When you've all reported you're ready to return, we'll lay down some more artillery to cover you, and that'll be your signal to come back in."

"I hate these things," L'Loxx muttered, looking at his corn-link. "They always go off at the worst possible moment."

"All right," the intelligence chief said. "As soon as you're all a.s.sembled at Izable, Sergeant L'Loxx, give me one long squelch on that comlink you so heartily despise and I'll send in the artillery. And don't worry about anyone calling while you're out there. The comm is set on a secure channel reserved for this reconnaissance. Are there any questions?"

There weren't.

Izable was a shambles. The smell of death was everywhere. In one spot a tiny wisp of smoke filtered through a crack in a demolished bunker, a sign of a fire still smoldering; it showed a very bright glow through the infras, indicating that the fire must still be extremely hot. They wondered what was burning, and Grudo shuddered at the thought. The four team members huddled together a short distance from the other two teams, waiting for the barrage to commence.

The plan was that as soon as the attack opened up they would dash forward to follow the dry riverbed around to the right of the mesa and then climb to the top. There were several talus slopes that could be used for that purpose closer by, but L'Loxx had decided to go far around to the right and emerge on the mesa almost behind the enemy line. "They'll be waiting for us, you can bet on it," he told the other three, "and their attention will be to their front." To cloak themselves from the enemy's night-vision devices, the four wore special protective clothing of L'Loxx's own design. It wouldn't give them total protection from infrared scanners, but with all the noise, confusion, and heat of the artillery barrage, it would give them enough cover long enough to get to a spot where L'Loxx counted on the enemy's lack of vigilance to protect them from discovery.

The night was pitch black, illuminated only by the stars above.

"Ooof!" Erk sat up so suddenly he banged his head against the rock.

"Odie, I think I've got it! Give me your equipment belt!"

She handed it over.

"Some light, please?" He fumbled with a pouch, "Aha!" he exclaimed victoriously. "Just as I thought! Odie, this is our way out of here!" He held a vibroblade in his hand. "Mechanics use a version of this same thing to cut the hardest metals while working on starfighters! I think we can use it to-' - cut rock," Odie finished.

"You bet!"

"Are you sure? That's not an industrial version, Erk, it's a vibroknuckler. We use those as backup weapons in case we get into a close sc.r.a.pe. Well," she amended with a smile, "we use them to cut open ration packs, too."

Erk fitted his fingers through the activation rings. "Don't look too closely," he said. He squeezed the rings and applied the blade to a section of overhead rock. After a few seconds the blade's action began to produce heat, and molten rock fragments began dripping down on the floor.

He shut the device off quickly. The rock glowed faintly where he'd used the knuckler to slice a groove twenty-five millimeters long and ten millimeters deep in only a few seconds. "Say h.e.l.lo to the outside world!"

he said softly.

"Whew! That thing produces fumes-how are you going to cut your way through all that without suffocating us or setting us on fire?"

Erk thought for a moment. "We'll take it slow and easy, give the heat and fumes plenty of time to dissipate. Time's all we've got right now. We've got a good airflow in here, so we should be able to keep the oxygen level high enough to allow us to breathe. Here, help me off with this." He shrugged out of his flier's tunic. "Ugh, haven't had this off in days."

He laughed. "These are treated to be blast and fire resistant. All starfighter pilots wear them. We'll use it as sort of a shield while cutting. How much power do you suppose this still has in it?"