Chapter 13

Gavin found himself sitting in on the briefing as Skywalker laid out his plan to have a squadron of bombers attempt to destroy Malevolence before it could attack the medical station. As the briefing ended, Gavin and Plo Koon both approached. Plo Koon asked what Skywalker thought and his chances expressing his doubt in the plan. After an interaction where the squadron expressed their confidence, Gavin brought up his reservation.

"This shortcut of yours does it have a name?" Gavin asked.

"Balmorra, run, it's an old smugglers route." Anakin awnsered.

"Balmorra, run?! The Balmorra nebula is the home of the Giant balmorra Mantis! It's highly dangerous!!" Plo Koon exclaimed.

"Indeed, but it is the best hope of getting there before the Malevolence. We need to warn the pilots so they are prepared to evade in case the mantises show up." Gavin responded. He had no problems with the plan war was a risk, and there was no sure way to victory. He had not agreed with Skywalker keeping the name of the route secret. Risks can be mitigated if you are aware, and on such a high-risk mission with such importance, the pilots needed all of the information they could get.

Skywalker was taken aback at the logic before slowly realizing he almost exposed his men to unnecessary danger by failing to divulge the information. (I'll have to do better. A jedi might be able to keep up with me, but the clones don't have Jedi reflexes.) He admitted himself internally.

Gavin nodded to himself. (If I am able to teach him subtly, he should be able to avoid a lot of mistakes he made in the original timeline. I wish I could get him away from Palpatine, though.) Gavin then asked, "Is there room for an extra gunner?" He may not join the war, but what Greivous was attempting was a war crime. Gavin could not sit idly by and let it happen.

"Coming back to the order and republic?" Plo Koon asked.

"No, but that thing needs to be stopped once it is no longer a threat to the medical station, then I'm gone in the wind." Gavin replied quickly. The last thing he needed was the Jedi or Sith keeping track of his movements. He would interfere on his terms, not theirs.

"Unfortunately, we are full up, Does your ship have weapons?" Anakin answered.

"Not enough for this kind of battle, I do, however, have advanced medical facilities. I can get 30 or so wounded on board as well as 2 critically wounded and about 8 seriously wounded if I use the crew bunks and Med Bay." Gavin said, He knew they would succeed, but he wanted to help. Gavin had a personal dislike for Greivous from his previous life. The cyborg was a coward who threatened those too wounded or weak to fight back and had no stomach for a real fight.

Anakin agreed, and Gavin got into the Tempest. It could move far quicker than the fleet. He set a course for the medical station and left immediately.

He was nearly fired upon by the station till he stated his purpose. He was allowed to dock. Meeting a representative in the hangar, he was asked what he needed. " At least 2 medics, I can house 2 critically wounded in the med bay. So long as their not too bad, you can house 8 serious wounded in the crew bunks. For others so long as they don't mind standing, I can take 20 or 30 easily. We need to hurry, though, " Gavin responded. The Kaminoan nodded her head, (Looks a little funny to see such a small head on such a long neck.) Gavin thought to himself. He generally did not like Kaminoans as a rule, but he could respect the doctors who took care of the wounded no matter their species.

He was fully loaded within the hour departing for Naboo. After he dropped off the first load, he took off again. With the Oddessey drive, the Tempest was far faster than any of their ships, and he was using it to his advantage. He made 3 more similar trips when coming back for a fourth load he was told, "General Skywalker crippled the ship. He and the rest of his squadron are on their way back here now. Kenobi showed up, and they are harassing that monster."

Gavin nodded, "What about casulties are Skywalker men, alright?"

"I don't know, sir, but it sounded like a few bombers were damaged, but none were destroyed." The clone reported.

Gavin then went to meet Skywalker and the others in their assigned hangar bay. His advice had worked! He was glad that he could change the future a little. He planned on asking to accompany Skywalker to Kenobi's Star destroyer. He would then find a way to get onto their little rescue mission. The Malevolence should have a record of the other warships and their locations he should be able to begin to plan his "Appropriation" of her sister ships. Hiding them in wild space or dark space would probably be best. He wanted to keep them to use later and would prefer if others did not know he had them.