𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘

𝟎𝟎𝟑. 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚

003. DARKNESS ON UMBARA

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THE SHIP LURCHED AND ROCKED, BUT THE SHIELDS CONTINUED TO DO A SATISFACTORY JOB OF PROTECTING THE HULL. However, Arimiya's stomach still flipped with every jolt. A hand gently squeezed her shoulder. She turned her head, half-expecting to see Burst standing behind her; however, it was Ace who had made an attempt to console her.

Master Krell's comm-link crackled to life. It was a bit difficult to understand what exactly had been said as every other word was cut out.

"Outnumber... Airstrike... South ridge..."

Krell tapped the device with little patience, but it didn't make a difference.

"Skywalker's troops... and need... South ridge... Airstrike."

"Trooper," Krell growled and held the device out to Bits, "Get this damn piece of tech working."

Bits nodded his head and quickly tried to get a better signal through all of the interference.

"Skywalker's troops are outnumbered. We need backup on the South ridge. Send in an airstrike team."

Satisfied, Krell took back the device without a word of thanks and gestured for the pilot to turn around. "It looks as if Skywalker needs some help."

Arimiya could feel that her hands had begun to tremble. She'd never been nervous before a battle, but after Devaron she'd lost just about all trust in herself to protect those around her. She'd been told that the fear should not control her. But despite all of her attempts, she couldn't bring herself to wield her fear as a weapon. Instead, it just held her back from acting on instinct and forced her to react.

She noticed Krell staring at her quivering hands. She quickly threw them behind her back as if that would hide her feelings. She raised an eyebrow as Krell was summoned by one of the other troops aboard the ship and he slipped away to take the incoming call in private.

"What's that about?" Bits asked quietly.

Arimiya shook her head. "I don't know."

The call was quick and Krell returned as if he'd never left. Soon after, the ship landed on the surface of the planet. Krell motioned for her to follow, and she did as he instructed, beckoning for the other four to follow her. They didn't hesitate to walk after her.

The area was darker than she thought it was going to be and more so than she preferred. Although she'd gotten a small amount of sleep while traveling, she was still quite skittish. Her senses acted on overdrive and her head quickly turned in the direction of a pair of clones whispering to themselves.

"General Krell's here?"

"Something big must be going on."

"Master Krell," Skywalker nodded his head in greeting and then gestured back toward the ship, "my thanks for the air support."