Part 9 (1/2)
”You think I want Spaarti destroyed?” Roshton asked, his voice icy cal could conceivably turn the wararound in a matter of months, and this is the only place we can fine-tune theproduction quickly enough to get the n possible But atthe saet started,either I' low on options”
”Just aa holoprojector from a belt pouch ”We e of an Iktotchi head appeared over theprojection platfor doard itsshoulders The words were too faint for Tories to hear, but suddenly Dorianas over toRoshton ”Coht Cruiser Whipsaould like a ith you”
He took the chair beside Roshton, holding up the holoprojector so thatboth of the for an invitation, Toriesmoved over to the seat on Roshton's other side Doriana flashed hi
”with ten fully loaded LAAT/i gunshi+ps at your disposal,” General Tiis was saying as Tories sat down
”That's only four hundred troops,” Roshton pointed out doubtfully ”Not
going to do ainst three C-9979s' worth of droids and AATs unless you can knock out their control shi+p”
”Thank you for the suggestion,” Tiis said dryly ”We had in unshi+ps will be dropped in five minutes; ETA your position inthirty We'll commence our own attack on the control shi+p in fifteen” Thei to ith the Cranscoc tied as he consulted his chrono ”Sunset's in about ten unshi+ps arrive, it'll be nearly full dark”
”So we have a chance of getting the Separatists out before they canretool,” Doriana concluded ”Excellent What's the plan froe the ene out his counshi+ps and my own clone troopers, we should beable to cause a fair amount of chaos out there With luck, that et in through the tunnel and retake theplant”
”You can't do that,” Binalie objected
”We'll be as careful as we can,” Roshton said
”That's not what I meant,” Binalie said ”That Neimoidian commander- Ashel-said they'd sealed their end of the tunnel”
”Sealed it so well that a Jedi with a lightsaber can't get in?” Roshton shook his head ”I doubt that very e to Spaarti,” Doriana pointed out ”Whynot wait until the control shi+p has been destroyed? The Neiht once their army's out of commission”
”Two reasons,” Roshton said ”One, because I wouldn't put it pastSeparatists to start wrecking things as soon as they know they've lost Andtwo-” he gri arounddown here The sooner I can get into action, the better”
”That's a pretty poor basis for tactical decisions,” Doriana warned ”And Lord Binalie is right: we don't want any fighting inside the plant”
”Tell that to the Neimoidians,” Roshton said shortly ”As of nineteen minutes from now, that'll be their decision, not mine”
”Just a minute,” Tories said slowly as Roshton lifted his co to swirl around in his ht work for all that ”What if we could get all thedroids to coht?” ”And how do you persuade therowled ”Neiuards away Especially not with a possible tunnel attack to guard against”
”Unless they thought the tunnel was secure,” Tories pointed out ”And thought the factory perimeter wasn't” Binalie blinked ”You've lost hter ”Like I said, they know
a Jedi can probably break through the tunnel They also know, from bitter experience, what it's like to face one in battle”
”So what are you suggesting?” Doriana asked, frowning ”That we put Master Tories outside with your clone troopers?”
”Exactly,” Roshton said ”Leading a charge against, say, the plant's east door They'd have no choice but to throw everything they have at us” Doriana snorted gently ”Sounds suicidal”
”Not for a Jedi,” Binalie said, his voice and sense suddenly tense withcautious hope as he saw a chance of getting his factory back intact ”Youcould do it, Master Tories I know you could”
”Please?” Corf added, gazing pleadingly at Tories ”Just a moment,”Doriana put in ”I'm not at all sure I can authorize an action like this Anattack of any sort will put the plant at serious risk”
”It's that, or the plant stays in Separatist hands,” Roshton pointed out
”Who's side are you on here, anyway?”
”Don't be insulting,” Doriana said coldly ”You want to keep the enemy
busy while the Whipsaw tries to take out the control shi+p, go right ahead But keep away from Spaarti”
”Trust us, Master Doriana,” Roshton said ”Or rather, trust in the Jedi”
Doriana griht” Roshton looked at Tories ”Master Tories?”
”Let's see first if I can get through the droids upstairs,” Tories said, getting to his feet