for_everyone | (no subject)

And then there's what comes after any new plan is announced – preparation. Target practice, assessing equipment and supplies, reviewing skills that could come in handy. Hera has been reviewing what they know of the Empire's primary communications tower on Lothal, distance, surrounding settlements or Imperial installations, routes in and out, likely weather fronts, flight times. She'll know more once they've run reconnaissance, as she considers the prospect of a flying a pickup with the Phantom, and every possible way she could be fired on in the process.

Eventually, once she's learned all she can for the moment, Hera sets this aside. Leaving the Ghost's cockpit, she climbs down, through the ship. Chopper's in the galley, playing Dejarik against the board, and she directs him to run a diagnostic on the Phantom so they don't run into any of the problems they faced on Fort Anaxes. Chopper reluctantly trundles off, and Hera continues onward, down to the cargo bay, its door and ramp already open onto the warm Lothal fields. She doesn't have to look too long to spot a slice of blue light above the high grass, swinging along the tops of the grass, occasionally singeing it. As she approaches, the sounds of it, the blade of the lightsaber sizzling through the air, become clearer.

She keeps up her approach, though she waits until Kanan notices before she speaks to him.

"How's it going?"

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Kanan huffs a laugh, almost a snort.

"It's why every time is a treasure to me."

(He's not lying.)

"All right, dear."

She lets her smile last a little longer, before she has to say -

"But in any case, we should get moving soon."

Kanan sobers quickly, at that.

"You're right, we should keep the momentum going. The holomap isn't going to steal itself."

She nods, blinking down to the lightsaber.

"We probably have a little more time, if you want to practice longer."

"If anything," Kanan says, also looking down at his 'saber, "I should drag Ezra out here for a few more drills. I'm rusty, but he's still learning the basics."

"If you think so."

She glances up toward the sky. "But we'll want to get the recon done before dark."

"Better start now, then," Kanan says, checking that his lightsaber is securely fastened to his belt.

"No sense pushing the clock if we don't have to."

Hera turns, already beginning to head back to the Ghost.

"I'll call in Ezra and Sabine."

"I'll be right there," Kanan says, standing stock-still for three long breaths.

There's not really time for meditation, but grounding himself --

Even that will help keep his mind clear, for what's to come.

(He can't afford to be afraid.)

Hera nods, turning and walking back through the tall grass toward the Ghost.

At the base of the ship's ramp, Chopper's now rolling from side to side, spinning his dome wildly, apparently playing a game with his newly adopted porg friend that involves seeing how long the bird can stay perched on him while he flails.

She stops, watching these antics for just a few seconds, before deciding she'd rather not get involved. Instead, she continues on into the ship, to see if Chop had at least managed to run that diagnostic.

Edited 2018-05-07 07:31 (UTC)