Obi-Wan also led a dozen LAAT/i gunships flying at maximum velocity toward their designated urban target. As they approached the city outskirts, a series of massive explosions erupted throughout the airspace around them. Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne activated their shrinking capabilities and conducted final equipment checks, preparing for immediate deployment.
Obi-Wan tensed with anticipation, looked at the two Avengers with concern, and asked quietly: "Are you both prepared for combat operations?"
As soon as the transport hatches opened, all clone troopers immediately disembarked and sought cover within the forest perimeter to continue their mission objectives, but half of the gunships were shot down by concentrated droid ground fire during the landing operation.
As they advanced through the forest terrain, red blaster bolts began raining down on their position from forward enemy emplacements, with battle droids opening sustained fire on the Republic forces. The clone troopers quickly took defensive positions behind tree trunks and returned coordinated fire.
"I really wish this forest provided better concealment," Scott muttered while assessing their tactical disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Hope drew her sidearm and joined the engagement alongside Obi-Wan, who had ignited his lightsaber for close combat.
Scott had miniaturized and was leaping from branch to branch, advancing toward the droid bunker positions with remarkable stealth.
"That fortified position is going to present significant challenges, General," Commander Cody observed while directing clone fire.
At that moment, Scott had reached the bunker perimeter just as a droid-thrown thermal detonator exploded nearby. Scott positioned himself on a piece of debris and launched himself above the droid defensive emplacement.
The instant he descended, he delivered a devastating kick to a battle droid's neck assembly, destroying it immediately.
Obi-Wan transmitted through his communicator: "Scott, what's your current position?"
"Just penetrated the bunker perimeter and I'm clearing an approach route for you and the others immediately," Scott replied while leaping toward the next battle droid and delivering a powerful strike to its cranial unit.
"Excellent work!"
Meanwhile, Hope had also miniaturized and was flying toward the bunker to assist her partner. As she approached one of the battle droids, the B-1 unit detected her presence.
"Alert: small humanoid entity detected."
"Clarification requested: what are you referring to?"
"There," the droid pointed at Hope's position, "diminutive biological form."
Hope smiled with satisfaction, then delivered a precise kick that severed the B-1 battle droid's head completely.
"Query: what was that phenomenon?" another B-1 droid asked with obvious confusion.
Before the question could be processed, Hope and the clone troopers who had successfully infiltrated launched a coordinated assault that eliminated the entire droid squad.
"Don't worry about me, Scott," Hope transmitted while weaving through the B-1 formations and systematically attacking them, while simultaneously reassuring her boyfriend about her safety.
Concurrently, Obi-Wan led two clone troopers in establishing a breakthrough from the left flank of the enemy position.
Observing that both flanks had been significantly weakened, Commander Cody was preparing to order a general advance when suddenly, the defensive barrier exploded with tremendous violence. This unexpected development caused many clone troopers to seek immediate cover behind available trees.
After several tense moments, they observed an AAT hover tank slowly emerging from the newly created breach in the bunker wall, followed by substantial numbers of B-1 battle droids and B-2 super battle droids.
"Super battle droids deploying!" one of the clone troopers shouted in warning.
"Watch for missile fire!" Cody yelled, ducking just in time as several rocket projectiles streaked over his position.
The droid infantry formations began concentrated fire on the clone positions. Obi-Wan, lightsaber ready for combat, advanced from the left flank with two clone troopers to provide tactical support.
Obi-Wan deflected multiple blaster bolts with precision, simultaneously slashing through two B-1 droids, then executed a spinning maneuver to thrust his lightsaber diagonally through a B-2 super battle droid that had attempted to flank him from behind.
"Cody," Obi-Wan called to his commander, "execute tactical withdrawal and regroup our forces. We cannot afford additional casualties in this position."
However, the AAT hover tank rotated its main cannon directly toward Cody's position, preparing to eliminate the clone commander with a direct hit.
Obi-Wan's eyes widened with alarm as he attempted to rescue his commander, but the substantial number of droids surrounding his position made immediate intervention impossible.
However, the AAT tank suddenly vanished at this critical moment.
The combat ceased momentarily as both droids and clone troopers looked toward the location where the tank had been positioned.
"Query: location of armored vehicle?" one of the battle droids asked with obvious confusion.
"Oh, right here in my possession."
The droids turned to observe Scott casually tossing a miniaturized object up and down in his palm.
"Would you like me to return it to your formation?"
"We have acquired additional assets," Hope added, revealing several shrunken vehicles from her utility belt, including another AAT hover tank.
"Affirmative..." the droids looked at each other with mechanical uncertainty. "Affirmative."
"Then I'll gladly return your property!"
Scott hurled the miniaturized tank toward the droid formation, then immediately threw an enlargement disc at the projectile. The predictable result followed: the enlarged AAT tank crashed directly into the mechanical army. Since the hover tank landed inverted, it was completely disabled and inoperable, with the main cannon barrel severely deformed from impact.
The clone troopers stared in amazement at this demonstration, witnessing Scott and Hope's shrinking and enlarging capabilities with obvious awe for these incredible abilities. They had never observed anything comparable to this technology.
"I had nearly forgotten they possessed such capabilities," Obi-Wan muttered, appearing as surprised as his subordinates.
"Are you uninjured, Cody?" Hope asked, approaching Commander Cody, who remained seated on the ground staring blankly at the tank that had been miniaturized and then enlarged before his eyes.
"Uh... yes, I believe I should be functional," Cody replied with obvious disorientation, experiencing a rare moment of complete bewilderment.
Cody struggled to recover from his shocked state and asked: "General, what are our next tactical objectives?"
"We must learn from this experience and avoid reckless assault tactics. We need to first determine what additional assets the droids have prepared for our advance. Cody, deploy our best reconnaissance elements forward while the remainder of our forces maintain current positions for rest and reorganization," Obi-Wan directed.
"What about our role in this operation?" Hope asked, indicating both herself and Scott.
"If possible, I would appreciate if you could conduct long-range reconnaissance beyond our current perimeter," Obi-Wan requested with genuine appreciation.
Scott considered the tactical situation and said: "Hope, you should accompany the clone scouts on their mission. I'll remain with Obi-Wan in case any unexpected situations develop."
Just after Hope's departure, a Separatist reconnaissance droid detected audio signatures in the vicinity, and while investigating the source, the mechanical unit positioned itself on a nearby rooftop where it observed several clone troopers engaged in conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Scott Lang.
Upon making this observation, the droid immediately began transmitting intelligence to its command structure.
As Obi-Wan, Scott, and Cody engaged in serious tactical discussions, the reconnaissance drone adjusted its optical sensors to zoom in and focused all audio collection capabilities on the conversation below, attempting to acquire the Republic Army's complete battle plan.
However, before it could continue its intelligence gathering, an external force knocked it from the rooftop position.
The resulting sound alerted the Jedi General and several clone troopers below. Looking upward, they observed Scott quickly returning to normal size while holding a destroyed Separatist reconnaissance droid in his grasp.
"Did you really think you could steal our plans? I'm afraid you miscalculated," Scott said while firmly gripping the mechanical spy.
Commander Cody immediately drew his sidearm and carefully aimed it at the droid in Scott's possession to prevent any possibility of escape or data transmission.
The unfortunate reconnaissance unit was ultimately destroyed when Scott hurled it from the rooftop, terminating it instantly. However, this incident made everyone realize they needed to accelerate their operational timeline before additional enemy intelligence assets could compromise their mission.
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