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The alarm sounded as a dreadnought appeared in teh system. Tertius's red eyes narrowed. What could be out there? It could not be by chance a ship arrived out of no where. The two escorting transports then turned towards the planet. Whoever it was clearly was here for similar things as Tertius was. He didn't even bother with his force mask. He saw no reason to use such a power to hide himself when the odds of meeting another of his kind was so low. It didn't even matter if he did meet another. No one would know anything about him if they sensed him.

"My lord, observers cannot tell if the dreadnought is powering up it's weapon systems," the clone of Zechs Merquise said. Tertius resisted the urge to smoother the clone. Pathetic the sensors were a shamble of their former selves as well.

Tertius turned and made his way to his command station. "Inform our forces on the planet of possible guests." He then sensed out to the approaching ships. There was something out there, someone or someones strong in the force. "Raise shields. Prepare starfighters for deployment. If they wish a fight, then we shall make it so."

The Black Hand remained still. Her shields went to full power, but that was all. Tertius would wait a little longer before attempting communication. If the dreadnought came any closer, he would have no choice but to attempt to uncover it's intentions. They could not risk the cloning tubes in mindless battle unless there was no other alternative.

Grasping his lightsaber, Tertius waited and planned ways to use his mind to get them out of any conflict. He would not dare disobey his Master.

"They are hailing us, my lord," the clone Captain said. Tertius remained still. "My Lord shall we respond?"

Tertius stood and sat his saber on the chair. He took a few steps forward till he was far away from anything. Perfect place to engage the holo system. They'd see nothing but him standing there. Why hide his face? He had lived in the shadows long enough. But still, he waited.

"Open communication channel." Tertius stood still in his black uniform. He stood there as the channel was opened, but he said nothing. They wanted to talk, so he would let them. After all, knowledge was power.

Tertius remained cold and steady. This Captain felt strange. He used his mastery of the force to break through the distance between them and discover the Captain was what he had felt earlier within the force. Unlike Thrion, he spent no time trying to use the force to learn about the other Captain. His mission was not to seek out others. Tertius made no effort to hide the darkness within him.

"No, Captain. We do not need your assistance. The Black Hand may be old, but it has many years of service left within her."

Polite, gracious almost. Tertius played the role quite well. For now, he had no reason to act any other way. Though he had every reason to ensure the two ships remained far enough apart. Too close and scans would pick up the cloning tubes. Distance was something Tertius rather wished to keep between them.

Tertius needed say nothing. The clones were already turning the Black Hand to bring the hanger bay in line with the incoming forces just in case fighters needed to be launched. Anger flashed across his face. Who could it be this time? More travelers or trouble makers. But Strom did not claim the forces were his and from his voice, Tertius suspected they were not expected allies.

His eyes narrowed even more. The Black Hand was not at it's best, but the force would make an interesting test of the clone pilots and her gunners. If they kept their distance, the shields should take the any incoming fire. "If you are not expecting any guests, then they are likely pirates who wish to borrow our ships." Without cutting off the transmission, Tertius turned. "Prepare to launch fighters." What were cloning tubes worth if the clones they produced couldn't handle a small force such as this.

A pity his transports were on the planet or the ships would have made an interesting test for the troopers to board and claim for the Order. Tertius would wait and see what Strom would do and what these newcomers would do as well before he did much else. Patience was a virtue Kane had stressed upon him. Timing was everything.

Tertius didn't care for this much at all. His first real combat outside of his training, a mere battle of ships and fighters. He would have preferred something more memorable, but he decided it not. He flicked his wrist cutting off the channel. There was nothing more that needed to be said with this Strom for now.

"Launch Saber and Dagger squadrons to escort Rage squadron on bombing runs." The Clone did as they were told. The squadrons had been moved in place as soon as the ship began to turn to launch them.

The two X-wing and Y-wing squadrons stormed out of the hull of the Black Hand. The Y-wings set a course for the Nebulon B Frigate with the X-wings forming a wedge to tear through the enemy lines as well as the blockade runners blocking their path. At least, that was their plan. Tertius would take no chances.

Alpha and Beta Squadrons along with Wraith squadron would be put on standby just in case. Even as such, Tertius would not risk loosing too many fighters or suffer any real damage to his weakened ship. No. No harm would come to the Black Hand if he could make it so. X-wings were too valuable and the Black Hand and the cloning tubes were irreplaceable unlike the clones. No, he couldn't risk loosing too many of his better fighters.

"What is the status of our weapon systems, Captain?"

The Captain checked the board. "6 laser cannons are operational and armed." That was it? Pathetic. Tertius sat in his command chair. The clone Captain knew what his Master was about to do.

Tertius closed his mind and focused deep within the force. He began to meditate on the battle and slowly inched his way into a battle meditation. He used the force to make every mistake the enemy made into nightmares and quagmires. He made every accomplishment of his and his allied forces into triumphs. Everything became exaggerated to favor his side. The meditation was deep, but powerful enough to ensure the Black Hand would not be touched. The Captain prepared the order to launch the reserve fighters just in case.

The X-wings plowed the field of space of fighters and everything else that stood in their way save friendlies. The Y-wings on the other hand dove through in a tight formation launching their proton torpedoes towards the Frigate. Didn't matter the range, one ship or another would take the hits. They pressed on and deeper into the enemy's personal space firing lasers, ions, and whatever else they had save concussion missiles. Why waste all their valuable missiles when they were not needed as of yet?

Tertius ignored the words of the other force scum in the area. His meditation required his full effort. He continued to drift in the force and create the fabric that would bring victory to their side for sure.

All but 6 X-wings broke from escorting the Y-wings and began to tail the enemy fighters. The Y-wings continued to press the attack and harass every ship as much as possible. They began focusing their fire on disabling the engines of the main frigate wth their ion cannons. Their laser cannons targeted the weapon arrays. The Clone CAG knew the transports on the surface would eventually be free and the forces on them surely capable of capturing the frigate if it didn't explode before then. But as with all things, that was just an afterthought. The Y-wings may have been trying to disable the frigate, but their first role was the obliteration of enemy forces or at least to cause them to retreat.

Chatter bounced around the bridge like ripples on a pound. Tertius heard it all, but kept out of it. He focused all his effort on his meditation.

Space seemed to go well. The frigate was down. The Y-wings and X-wings switched to engage the remaining fighters leaving the capital ships to the dreadnought. So far their shields had taken teh bulk of weapons fire while not a single fighter had fallen. Decimation it was a good word to describe the battle. Tertius wondered how long they would keep up the fight. But he kept focusing on the force. He had to ensure his forces suffered no losses of the valuable ships. He had so few good fighters at his disposals.

On the surface things were starting to heat up. It wasn't everyday the black stormtrooper armored clone troopers had a chance to test their skills. They were alone against a force of unknown size. A pity most the space in the transports was left free for ore and not more forces. Just over a hundred men against many didn't seem the brightest idea, but they'd hold their own. Their armor was strong. Their blasters charged. Even as pirate scum charged towards their ships, the used their training to hold the line. Clones fell, but for each that fell more of the enemy died than anyone actively could count.

"Major, reinforcements to the west flank. Gunners, fire at will," the clone Colonel said. The front was holding as the YT transports powered up their turrets and began to provide what little support they could muster while the ships were grounded. The battle was fierce. Blaster fire filled the air between the forces on the landing platforms. The transport's hull sparked with each stray blaster hit.

War, their first bloody battle, that's what the clones were fighting in. They had no choice in it, but they fought. The center bulked as men shifted around to give the front liners a break. Shifting, warping, fighting, the lines held.

Colonel Vis was impressed by the sudden appearance of the seemingly allies. He had never seen the power of advanced force users before. While he had ran battle drills with Marked, they looked like ants compared to these creatures. Half the clones would have scratched their heads at how easily the newcomers had overcome the opponents, but not one doubted they would have had much trouble at all if they were properly supplied.

"Colonel Vis at your service. Your timing couldn't have been any better," the Colonel said stepping forward. The troopers trained in field medicine began to move through the ranks to tend to the wounded. Vis doubted many had suffered any real wounds. Stormtrooper armor was strong after all.

The clone commander holstered his blaster wondering how long this would delay their departure. His eyes studied the newcomers through the readouts of his helmet. He didn't know what to think, but he was glad to have support show up when they did. If anything it cut down the time they had left on the bloody rock.

The transports were filled with ore and lifted off not to long after. Vis's mind wondered back and forth about what had happened. They had brought with them enough arms to secure their ships from any local force mustered, but who could have foreseen a pirate attack. Not even Lord Kane could have.

Tertius stood on the bridge fo the Black Hand having ending his meditation. The battle was fully in their favor. No point in it anymore. "Signal from the transports. Cargo secured and enroute back," the Captain said.

"Good, recall our fighters."

The Captain took a bold step forward. "Colonel Vis has an interesting report about the forces that came to their assistance." Tertius raised his hand.

"I know, Captain. I felt the disturbances." The Captain remained there beside Tertius. "Have our transports dock, change crews, then randomize their course back to base. Remove only what we require from their holds to patch the hull."

The Captain nodded and orders medical teams to the hanger along with replacement crews. The ore was better off sent to help build the base than repair the Black Hand. They needed a shipyard more than anything and teeth. The Black Hand would remain here for the time being. Something was off. If he took the time to read Vis's initial report, he would have known, but Tertius wasn't trained to be a loving commander. The thought to dispatch medical teams didn't even cross into his mind like the Sith of old. Tertius knew the clones were perfectly loyal due to programing and genetics. Moral would bend itself to their victories, not how he nurtured them.