Part 5 (1/2)
”What do we do?” Binalie asked nervously, looking around as if he expected to see a droid arrilles
”We prepare tohis blaster, he aier
Even amid the loud auditory mosaic of factory noises, the distinctive sizzle of a stun blast easily cut through the noise
Roshton fired three more times, paused, then fired twice
Doriana strained his ears From the next chanal 'The alert's being passed,” Roshton said,putting away his co his blaster in his hand ”Come on-mycommand center's in the next assembly area”
A clone trooper lieutenant and the seniorwhenthe three of the stifflyto attention, and the latter looking alht back and forth between his feet ”Report,” Roshton ordered,glancing at the status schematic that showed troop disposition
”One Trade Federation C-9979 currently hovering over the plant,” thelieutenant replied ”Approxi air support; threehave crashed to the south One Trade Federation Lucrehulk-cass control coreshi+p has appeared over the horizon
No other vehicles currently in detection range”
”How bad?” Binalie le C-9979 can carry eleven MTTlarge-transport vehicles, with a hundred twelve battle droids each, and ahundred fourteen AAT battle tanks
Plus, the core shi+p up there probably has another couple et ione pale ”You're saying there could be over three thousand battle droids out there? Plus all those tanks?”
”Actually, if you add in the AAT cree're talking more like five thousand droids,” Doriana murmured
”So five thousand droids,” Binalie bit out ”And you have, what, nine hundred htly ”I have nine hundred clone troopers,” he corrected 'There's a big diffe renc e Lieutena nt, do we have spotters in position?”
”All doors are being watched,” the clone trooper confirmed
”Whenever they put doe'll know it”
”Fortunately, there aren'tat his status board again 'The east and west doors are the only ones with the kind of clearance outside that a C-9979 needs”
”Agreed,” the lieutenant said 'The troops are currently layering at both of the?” Binalie asked
”They're for successive defensive lines from those doors inward,”Roshton told him ”What about the north and northwest entrances? We're notleaving them unprotected, are we?”
”Wait a ain ”Defensive lines inside the plant? You can't fight in here”
”Well, we sure can't fight outside,” Roshton pointed out ”Not without air support”
”Then you're not fighting at all,” Binalie said flatly 'The equipment in here is delicate and irreplaceable” Roshton snorted ”You'd rather just turn your plant over to the Separatists?”
”If those are my only two options, yes,” Binalie said, his voice icy”Maybe you don't understand what this plant means to Cartao and the rest ofthe sector”
”Just aslightly to the side 'They've lifted the coe on all public channels”
Roshton already had his comlink out”ublic forces,” a typically oilyNeimoidian voice came from the speaker ”You are surrounded and outnumberedSurrender, or ill be forced to destroy you”
”I've heard that before,” Roshton countered, giving a set of hand signalsto the lieutenant The other nodded and turned away, and Doriana could hearthe faint sound of his voice through his helave rapid orders ”ButI'll humor you
What do you want?”
”We want Spaarti Creations,” the Neimoidian said ”You will all step outside the west door and lay down your weapons”