LEILANI SERENNO bridged the past and the present, born into a family of cruelty and then groomed to fulfil a role in the grand scheme of things. She was a puppet manipulated by her brother, ensnared in a larger narrative orchestrated by the Force. Y...
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The days passed in a blur of reports, strategy briefings, and the steady pulse of war that never truly faded.
The valley had settled into an uneasy rhythm-long hours spent reinforcing their position, scouting enemy movement, fortifying the ridgeline for the next inevitable assault. The Separatists had not sent another full wave since the first engagement, but they were still there, waiting beyond the rocky horizon, testing the Republic's defences with probing skirmishes, unmanned reconnaissance drones, and precision artillery strikes in the dead of night.
It wasn't a lull. It was a recalibration. And Leilani knew better than to believe it would last.
The command centre was a dimly lit hub of movement, filled with the quiet murmur of strategists, the flickering blue glow of holo-displays, and the faint hum of communication relays linking them to the squads positioned along the valley's perimeter. The air was thick with the scent of ration packs, dust, and the faint metallic tang of overheating equipment.
She stood near the centre of the tent, arms loosely crossed, her gaze fixed on the rotating projection of the battlefield map. The ridgeline was marked in Republic blue, their units holding firm along the elevated terrain, while the red markers of enemy presence flickered steadily in the lower ravines.
Nia leaned against the edge of the table, her expression sharp, her remaining arm resting idly near the hilt of her saber. "They're moving."
Leilani nodded once. "I see it."
Blaze's voice crackled over the comms from the forward outpost. "We've got movement along the southern approach-B1s and a few AATs. Not the main push, but they're testing us."
"Hold position," Leilani instructed, adjusting the map's scale with a flick of her fingers. "Don't engage until they cross into the outer trench line."
Outside, the wind had picked up, howling through the gaps in the rock formations, carrying with it the scent of rain on the horizon. Storms were common in this region-harsh, fast-moving tempests that swept through the canyon at unpredictable intervals. The advantage was twofold. It would mask the sounds of troop movement. It would also turn the valley into a death trap.
Blaze's voice returned, sharper now. "They're committing more droids. Another squad's coming up from the western ridge-tactical formations."
Leilani studied the movements on the map, noting the shifting patterns and the calculated angles of approach. "They're preparing to converge," she murmured.
Nia's brow furrowed. "They're not just testing us anymore."
Another voice cut through the comms-Prophet's. "We've got artillery coming online-confirming positions now. They're setting up at least three turrets near the eastern rock shelf."
