"Master Jedi, my name is Fife. I am the leader of the Pyke Syndicate in this region of the galaxy. As for the child, I don't believe he has become a member of the Jedi Order. In fact, my sources tell me he hasn't even become a youngling yet. Isn't that why you and the Separatist brought war to this planet? To decide who keeps him?"

General Secura was fl.u.s.tered, and didn't know what to say. Clearly, everything Fife had said it was right.

"But don't worry, Master Jedi. I already gave the boy back to you, didn't I?"

The Jedi wasn't stupid. She knew that the Pyke Syndicate had the means to disappear with Cal Kestis, so that the Jedi Order could never find him or them. Otherwise, the Republic wouldn't have such trouble to extinguish the crime families.

And, since Fife brought this up now, that means he was ready to tell the main reason why he left the child behind.

"Say what you want at once."

Fife smiled. Sometimes he wondered how Jedis could be so powerful, but at the same time so dumb. She had fallen right into his trap.

"Well, since you want to pay back my favor, Master Jedi, I won't decline it."

"I-I... What?"

General Secura was completely stunned, only now realizing that the Pyke had been leading the conversation since the start, all to arrive at this point. Now, he made it look like she and the Jedi Order were in debt with him.

"You see, Master Jedi, I already left Falleen, but some of my sh.i.p.s are still there. Considering there is a war, which you brought, approaching the planet now, I would appreciate it if you let those sh.i.p.s leave without thinking too much. I would hate if the next time we... interacted, we couldn't help each other."

That was a n.a.k.e.d threat, but there was nothing General Secura could do about it. Of course, she could decide to ignore it, and stop all sh.i.p.s leaving Falleen, but it would do no good for them, and would prompt the Pyke Syndicate to be... unwelcoming towards the Republic in the future.

"All right, Fife. We won't stop your sh.i.p.s."

"Thank you, Master Jedi. Then, I shall take my leave. I look forward to many pleasant cooperations in the future. Kekeke..."

"In your dreams..."

"Kekeke..."

The hologram disappeared, leaving behind Fife's laugh. He had played General Secura, and she could do nothing about it. He had to admit, it was a good feeling.

---------------------------

"How was the situation with the Pyke Crime Syndicate settled?"

"Unfortunately, we had to let them go. However, we rescued Cal."

The serious expression on General Unduli's face eased when she looked at the boy that General Secura pushed forward.

"M-Master."

Smiling at the awkward and slightly terrified youngling, General Unduli turned to General Plo Koon and General Secura.

"That is no problem. What is important is that he is safe. You will become an apprentice and, one day, a Jedi, Cal."

Now a true youngling, Cal nodded to the three Jedis, and walked back.

"All right, let's discuss battle plans. Commander Gree, please?"

A clone with fully green armor stepped forward. The 41st Elite Corps fought mostly in jungle planets like Felucia, so their armor was fully camouflaged.

"Generals, commanders. Our plans will be pretty simple. The fleet will keep them on the skies for as long as we can hold. However, considering they have about the same number of sh.i.p.s as they, a few will get past. When that happens, the ground defense will be up to you."

Commander Bly and Commander Wolffe nodded. The 41st had prepared several ground defenses, but since Commander Gree would be in the capital ship, those defenses would be left for the two commanders.

"As for you, Commander Dageer, I believe you already know your assignments."

"Yes, general."

The day before, Dageer had discussed Hell Squad's participation on the battle with General Unduli and General Plo Koon, since they were members of the Jedi Council, and, consequently, the highest-ranking officers in Falleen.

Acknowledging General Unduli's subtle order for him to explain, Dageer stepped forward, and pulled up a hologram of a Recusant-class Destroyer.

"That is their capital ship. The plan is that, while our fleet is locked into a fight with theirs, Hell Squad will enter that destroyer, and take it out. Without it, all droid units on the ground should turn off, leaving only their sh.i.p.s for us to deal with."

"How do we know that the signal controlling their droids is coming from this ship?"

"We don't. However, it doesn't make sense for them to put their controls anywhere else. The destroyer is the strongest and most fortified ship they have. And, if it isn't that ship, at least we will have taken a Recusant-class Destroyer out of the picture."

"And how exactly do you plan on destroying that ship?"

Dageer looked at General Secura, who asked the question, and then zoomed in into the hologram, showing two red spots in the front and back of the ship.

"Those are energy cells. Every big-sized ship has them, and they are highly unstable. We will deactivate the protection mechanism, and the energy cells will do the rest."

"Uhmm... The cells are usually guarded by multiple layers of shields, both to stop invaders and to contain the energy inside them. How will you get past them? And, even if you do, how will you leave the ship? You won't have more than three minutes to get out of it before it blows up."

Dageer grinned slightly. All the worries the Jedi had were true, but that was because she didn't know Hell Squad well. She, like most of the people on the galaxy, treated them as normal soldiers, maybe a tad better than the other clones.

They weren't normal troopers.

"The shields only protect against energy waves. It can stop lasers, not a person. We just have to walk past them. As for leaving the destroyer, it will be tight, but it isn't nothing Hell Squad hasn't done before."

It was a bold statement, one that few clones would dare to make. However, Dageer was one of them. Every Jedi on the room had either heard about or seen Hell Squad's abilities, and although they weren't sure if they could pull this off, they knew they were the best option for the mission.

------------------------

"The reports from our... Spies just arrived, general. Bzzz..."

"Cough... Cough... Hand them over!"

General Grievous looked at the datapad in his hands, and a glint of cruelty flashed through his eyes.

The king of Falleen had joined the Republic, and his troops would fight alongside the Clone Army. That would make the battle tougher, but he didn't care about how many clanckers he lost. In fact, he saw an opportunity.

"Assassin! Cough... Cough... Cough!!!"

"What is it, dear general? Do you want me to put an and to your suffering?"

"Shut up! Cough... Uff... I have a job you are certain to like."

"Ohh? And what is it?"

"Killing a king. Kakakaka..."

Ventress smiled. That sure was a mission she would enjoy.