The cantina was one of the more inauspicious establishments that lined the impeccably maintained Tadath streetscape, its general seediness hidden behind a pleasant facade of clean white brick.  Its interior however, was quite another story, the majority of the lime green booths hidden from view by a thick layer of cigara smoke and a few decades worth of grime and dust.

Kami sat upon a battered bar stool which groaned ominously every time she shifted her weight, her hand clamped around a nameless brandy that the bartender had given her. Whilst not usually prone to heavy drinking, she had been getting steadily drunk for the last hour, her mind elsewhere as a variety of seedy customers came and went about her. Her ID badge and rank patch were perched on the bar before her, becoming increasingly blurry with every brandy she downed. Despite her brief respite from paper pushing as a Platoon Adjutant, her love for the army had not reemerged, and for the first time in twenty four years she felt unsure about what is was she should be doing.

Biting back a sigh, she gestured for the bartender to refill her brandy, and then sent the fiery liquid streaming down the back of her throat. Resisting the urge to gag, Kami swallowed another mouthful, flicking her green gaze back to her rank patch. She was tired. Tired, drunk, and sick of the barkeeps goddamn awful brandy. But as no other potential activity to waste time presented itself in her mind as she paused to ponder, she shrugged slightly and drained the rest of her glass.

"You all by yourself little lady?"

Kami glanced to her left, where two men, clad in navy uniform swayed dangerously on their feet. The man who had addressed her raised his glass to point at her face, seemingly unaware that half of his drink sloshed out all over his arm with the movement, "A pretty lady such as yourself shouldn't be here all alone. Could be dangerous, right Hal?"

The man's drunken companion stared blankly at his friend, before catching on and replying hesitantly, "Oh...yeah, right. Dangerous."

The drunken flyboy closest to Kami leaned in close, giving her a full view of his blank gaze and a sizeable whiff of his rotten breath, "We'll do you a favour. And keep you safe." He glanced over his shoulder to leer at his friend, "Ain't that right Hal?"

The larger man attempted to mimic his friend's expression and failed miserably, "Yeah! Do you a favour!"

“No thanks," Kami leaned back on the stool to distance herself from the stench, "But I'll tell you what. How bout I do you boys a favour and buy you a drink for the road?"

The man closest to Kami grabbed her arm as she went to signal the bartender, his fingers digging painfully into the flesh at her wrist. "I don't think you quite understand darling," He hissed, his expression abruptly shifting, "We don't want no drink. We want company."

Kami sighed, glanced wistfully at her empty brandy glass, then brought her free hand fluidly around to slam her fist under the flyboy's chin. His head snapped back, teeth shattering as he stumbled backwards, colliding with his friend. Despite his obvious drunkenness, he recovered quickly; shoving himself off a stunned Hal and lurching himself back towards Kami with a cry of rage.

She dodged his first wild swing, then slid one of her curved knives free of its sheath with a casual flick of her hand, bringing it up to throat level as the pilot made to swing again. He froze as the silver blade stilled bare millimeters from his throat, its jagged edge grazing skin.

"Hey!"

The bartender had only just reacted, so quickly had the fight erupted. A secreted blaster was suddenly in his hand, the barrel leveled at Kami, "Put the damn knife down!"

Kami looked up at the flyboy, who stared back with wide eyes, blood dribbling in a steady stream down his chin, "Only if my friend here accepts my offer of a drink and backs the hell off."

"I wouldn't, the brandy's horrible here." A woman's calm voice interrupted, its owner revealed seconds later as she stepped forward into the dim light of the bar. She looked pointedly at the bartender, "Put the gun down Holt, you're not helping things."

The bartender scowled at the woman as he recognized her, before reluctantly lowering his weapon, "Fine. But get her out of here, I don't want a mess."

The woman nodded, fixing Kami in a green gaze not unlike her own, "Let the drunk go, and come with me."

Kami hesitated for the barest of moments, aware of the ring of command in the woman’s voice. She didn't seem much older than herself, yet she carried herself with a manner of someone who was sure that their orders would be obeyed.  Resheathing her blade, Kami ignored the drunk's audible sigh of relief, sweeping her patch and card off the bar with one hand and depositing a pile of credits in their place with the other. Without a second glance at the scene behind her, she strode after the woman’s shadowy form and into the bitter night air beyond.

The woman paused on the side of the street, regarding her under the muted light of a nearby streetpost, "You're drunk."

Kami returned her stare levelly, "I'm not on duty. I can get as drunk as I want."

"No," The woman tilted her chin slightly, still regarding Kami with a discerning gaze, "I want you sober for what I have to say."

"And what's that?" Kami bit back, her irritation held at bay by her curiosity.

The woman offered her a sudden grin, her teeth gleaming white against the darkness around her, "That it's your lucky day."

*        *        *        *        *        *

It was hours later that Kami sat in a chair opposite an oversized desk, one hand clutching at her head as the initial stages of her hangover began to pound steadily at her temples. The bright light above her was merciless, drilling into her no matter which way she shifted. She had been here for a few hours, given a large bottle of water and the promise of aspirin if she stuck around until the woman returned. Unfortunately, two guards posted outside the office door remained to ensure that she didn't object to the offer.

Kami groaned just as the door to the office opened, revealing the dark haired woman from earlier. She crossed quickly to the chair opposite Kami, folding herself within its confines, "How are we feeling Sergeant?"

"Never felt better," Kami responded dryly, attempting to clear her vision for long enough to read the name displayed on the woman's ID badge.

"It says Tel'sha," The woman offered, "Though I rarely go by that name."

Kami jolted slightly, the movement sending another wave of nausea streaming through her body in protest, "Colonel Tel'sha?"

"Merrick," The woman corrected her, "And I'm glad to see you're not too far gone as to not have your general wits about you."

Grimacing as she realized the severity of her situation, Kami attempted to rise to her feet to salute her superior officer.

"Stop that!" Merrick snapped, "You're not here to get lectured about your off duty behavior."

Lowering herself gratefully back into the chain, Kami regarded the Colonel, "Then why am I here?"

"Because you're wasting away in that office job, and I have need of someone with leadership experience in the field," Merrick opened a drawer and withdrew a file, casting it on the desk.

Recognizing the file as her own, Kami's eyes narrowed, "I don't want a field job."

"Bullshit," Merrick lay both hands flat on the table and leaned forward, "I know a bored soldier when I see one. You took leave because you couldn't stand pushing papers, and you'll work for me now because you don't want to go back. You want action. And I'm offering it to you."

"What command?" Kami asked, calm in the face of the Colonel's manner. Everything she had said had rung true, and her interest was now stoked.

"Jester squad," Merrick replied, giving Kami a moment to recall what she knew about the squad and its history.

"Armored recon?" At Merrick's nod, Kami continued, "You have a roster?"

"It's all set. You're the last piece," Merrick rose from her chair, "You'll be housed with Strom Platoon, but from time to time you'll be asked to work directly under my orders or those from High Command. You will report to me on regular basis. This is my squad, and I want to know what's going on at all times."

Kami was silent for a moment. Besides Merrick's offer, all she had was an administrative role or the prospect of pursuing a career beyond the army, neither of which was particularly appealing. The army was all she had ever known, and ultimately, she knew that she missed the heat of battle, the split second timing of making decisions and the friendship of her fellow soldiers too much to let an opportunity like this slide. She declined her head in assent, "Alright. I'm in."

Merrick rewarded her with another smile, "Good. Now, get yourself to the barracks and sleep off that hangover for a few hours. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

*        *        *        *        *        *

The next morning Kami stood dressed in her new uniform, Jester Squad's gleaming squad patch marring her tunic's left breast.  Before her, arrayed haphazardly around the small briefing amphitheatre of the Jester barracks, sat the members of her new squad. All were still clad in the uniforms of their old squads, having been summoned only hours before from their respective stations.

"You all know why you're here." She began, painfully aware that the soldiers she addressed were veterans and would be bored by the long introductory speeches usually given to green recruits, "You've been personally selected for attributes that will serve this squad and the Vast Empire Army beyond the roles in which you are currently employed. You've seen battle, you've seen death, but perhaps more importantly," Kami paused, meeting each member's gaze before continuing, "You've survived."

She gestured to the patch squad on her uniform, "Jester has been around for a long time, and now that we're back we have the chance to prove once again that it can be one of the finest squads in the VE.  I want you to forget what it is you've learnt about protocol in other squads before here, beyond that which you consider useful. I don't care about your hang-ups, your relationships or your damn personal hygiene. As long as you pull your weight, and kill who I tell you to kill, we'll get along just fine."

She paused again, allowing a moment for her words to sink in before gesturing to Merrick, who stood silently nearby, "This is Colonel Merrick for those of you who don't know her. She'll be joining us from time to time, and you'll be certain to see her lurking around the hallways. Don't bother her with logistics as she's a busy woman. If you have any questions at all, come to me or whoever it is that I will eventually place as my second in command."

Relaxing somewhat now that the formalities were underway, Kami walked forward, stepping down off the podium so she was at ground level and facing her squad, "I respect that you all have experience, and I'm more than willing to learn from each of you as we try to get Jester in working order. No-one's a grunt here, so I sure as hell won't be treating you like one at any stage. We'll be receiving our next mission in a few days, which gives you all some time to settle in and get to know each other."

She offered them a lopsided grin, "You should also be aware that this barracks boasts one of the finest trooper run bars in the army." Seeing a few smiles light up the expressions of the soldiers before her, Kami waved a hand in dismissal, "We'll see you here later this week."

The soldiers of Jester squad came to their feet, making their way out into the barracks, a few already deep in discussion. Kami didn't doubt that they would get along; after all, Merrick had hand selected troopers that had the basic similar interest of gunning down the enemy in cold blooded efficiency.

"You did well," Merrick said, stepping down next to Kami, "Of course the real challenge is keeping this lot in some semblance of order whilst on the field."

Kami widened her smile, "I've always enjoyed a challenge. Any insight as to what it is we'll be doing off the bat?"

Merrick arched an eyebrow in amusement, "You'll know for certain by tomorrow. In the meantime, while the rest of the squad wipes out the bar, you have an ASL to select."

Kami's jovial mood vanished at the prospect of another night spent behind her desk. None the less, she pulled herself up and threw Merrick a casual salute, "I'll get on it." Turning on her heel, she moved quickly from the briefing room, her mind already focused on the task ahead.

Durandal groaned in misery. He could believe that Kami would be so cruel as to lure them all into a drunken fervor one night, only to have them train the next morning.

He got up and went through the barracks, walking with Zafo he smiled and nudged him, “How's the arm sissy?" a large grin overtook Durandal's face as Zafo looked over at him.

“It's fine, what about yours?" Zafo asked, his cool collection breaking into a smile.

"What do you mean my arm?” Durandal asked, slightly confused.

“On Illum, when we assaulted Vaynus’ forces, remember?”

“Ooh yeah!” exclaimed Durandal, the pain, the fear and the cold all coming back to him from that horrible day. The confusion of being in the snow, and unable to tell his friends from foes half the time still haunted his nightmares from time to time. He shook his head and tried to forget that time.

“Nah, it’s alright,” he replied, the smiles slowly leaving his face as he got to his room.

Along with his standard Storm trooper armor, he had been issued a set of Scout trooper armor, its features much more angular and unfamiliar that his old armor, it didn’t bear any of the scars of battle that his old suit did, he walked up to his old suit and caressed some of the scars along his chest, one from the jungles of Vendaxa, where he had been sent with a group of four others as a scout party, how he had survived was a miracle, and it was one place he never wanted to go back to.

He looked over at his new Scout armor and decided to give it go, and see what she was capable of even though it wasn’t required for training he wanted to see how well he performed in it. So he slipped it on quickly, and noticed two things at first, it wasn’t very powered, and it was much lighter than the other armor, which would make him more mobile.

He nodded and played with his gauntlets, trying them with grabbing weapons and after a minute ran out to the training field, hoping he wouldn’t be late. As he and the rest of Jester got out onto the black asphalt of the grounds, they lined up, spaced apart and they began their drills, doing stretches real quick then moving on to the heavier stuff.

It was slightly humorous to see everyone, even himself start of spry as they did push ups, sit ups, curl ups, and pull ups. Then they ran across the compound, to the obstacle courses, and Kami led them through those as well, weaving and spinning, stumbling and pressing on, they all pushed forward.

They crawled through the trenches of live fire ranges, bullets and blaster shots whizzing over their heads and the adrenaline of near death spiking their energy, pushing them onwards, they ran along the next side of the compound, through the mech yards, as vehicles were moved and repaired, troopers on speeder bikes came by, teasing us and racing with us as we ran. Then we turned and ran along the opposite side of the compound from where we started. We ran past trainee’s and grunts, as their C.O.’s screamed and pushed them on, the maggots. Sweat was trickling off of them all in the morning sun, and as they made another turn, following the last edge of the compound, they came to the mine field.

The mine field was filled with wires, strung together, and you were supposed to go through them all as quickly as possible, they were tight enough that if you messed up you would fall, then you would have to get up and keep moving, trying desperately not to mess up again, cause the wired you fell on hurt, not to mention the asphalt.

All of them tripped once, even Kami and Merrick stumbled near the end, but they didn’t actually fall.

As they came up to where they started, Kami motioned for a halt and we all stopped, breathing heavily.

They all took a moment to recover their breath and strength, then Kami spoke up,” We did well today Jester! But I want better next time, as it is, your now to all go and train in your particular fields of specialty, so get to it!”

And before she could say anything else Durandal turned and started to jog very slowly back towards the firing ranges. His muscles were screaming at him, begging for repose, but he wouldn’t give it, pushing his body to the extreme he picked up the pace, his breath ragged and his chest felt cold, his ears were burning. With his suit he was sweating like mad, and his mouth was dry. But after another ten minutes he made it to the firing range, and he immediately got to work, he practiced simple drills, ranging drills, cover fire, he worked with every thing from the E-Web to the M19 Grenade launcher. He admitted his aim wasn’t the best but it was pretty damn good after all he had done and would be acceptable.

For hours he worked on touch ups, micro-adjustments in aim, power recycling with the E-Web, and stability. He worked on quicker methods of aiming with the grenade launcher at longer distances, and he worked with missile launchers, working on bracing himself on each shot.

Finally, as night came he decided that Kami would probably allow for him to finish up his training. He pulled up the missile launcher, stripping some of the parts as he went and set it in the locker, and he walked up to the compound.

As he got to the Jester barracks and walked in he could see everyone there already, he took off his helmet and joined Kami for a drink of water.

It had been only a short time Evis had spent in the Hospital. The surgeons of the VE were quite used to somewhat messy injuries. And if not they would have been now.
Eviscares complete right arm had been severed. Though everybody knew that Bacta could work wonders, there were limits to it. And regrowing a limb was clearly above the limit. So he was stuck with the option of either retiring to a desk job or getting a cybernetic replacement.
For a moment the desk job had sounded tempting. Leaving all the problems of the field behind him and settling into an ordered life. And just when he had been about to tell the doctors of his decision she had walked in.
Of course her name had rung a bell. Who hadn't heard of the infamous Colonel Tel'sha, or as she was most of the times referenced to, Merrick. So there she had been, sizing him up with a long stare neither of them flinching. And then, she had smiled. A smile, not looking down on him and laughing at his wounds, but warm and sympathetic.
“My my my, Corporal. Thats truly some ghastly wound you got yourself there.”, she had said and then continued with the words:”I take that they have told you about your options. And I'm sure that after this experience you are about to quit active duty and get a paper pushers job.”
She had flashed a knowing smile when he had nodded, still startled what she wanted.
“So what if I was about to make you an offer. Place you in a new squad and promise that you would really like it there.”
Finally he had found his voice back and replied:”And what Squad would that be?”. He had been sure that he wouldn't join but as his father had told him, he always wanted to hear everything before he made his decision.
“Jester Squad. And before you start giving me anything about Storm and Wildcard, let me just say:BULL! I offer you a place in newly formed Jester Squad.”, she had gone on still not taking her eyes of him.
“Let us for one second think I'm interested, who would be my Squadleader?”, he had asked. And when Merrick had only told him one name, his decision had been made.
So after she was gone, he called the doctor and told him that he needed a new arm. His funds weren't really that great and he had never spent any money on Impericare, so the replacement he would get would be the standard Army one. He could spare some money though and decided to invest it in some little surprises.
And thanks to the wonders of medicine he had been out of the Hospital in three days time.

*     *     *     *

"You've been personally selected for attributes that will serve this squad and the Vast Empire Army beyond the roles in which you are currently employed. You've seen battle, you've seen death, but perhaps more importantly," Kami paused, meeting each member's gaze before continuing, "You've survived."

He managed to crack a smile. She was right. He had survived and here he was again. Sure, that cyberarm felt somewhat odd, and he occasionally shattered something, but he was still up and running. And, what was even more important, he was in between equals. Unlike Raider Squad this place felt like home again, maybe because he was with Kami again. He hoped that she could teach him some of her nifty tricks this time.

*    *    *    *

“...With the new position, he has also been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Jesters meet your new ASL, Sergeant D’kaleth al bek, better known to the army as Eviscares.”
”That can't be true!”, he thought. Completely confused he couldn't help but stare at Kami, his jaw dropping open. Someone patted him on the back and some congratulated him, but D'kaleth was somehow completely out of the picture in that moment.

*    *    *    *

He had spent most of the day training with the Squad, trying to come back to his old level again. It was odd, but the arm started to blend in better. It became more a part of his body with every new exercise, every jab thrown at sandbags, every shot fired.
After the regular Training, he had decided to throw in some more for himself. Being the ASL of a Squad for him meant that he had to be able to go farther, climb higher, shoot better than the rest of the Squad (with the exception of Kami of course). Even though he was sure that he wouldn't accomplish this as he simply wasn't a Jack of all Trades, he felt that it was his responsibility to at least try.
So he ran another 10 Miles, made 5 more runs on the obstacle course and went through the MOUT course countless times.
Then, when he was almost too exhausted to keep himself on his feet he dragged himself to the showers, washed the sweat off and changed into his normal Uniform before walking over to the Bar.

When he arrived there some of his Squadmates already looked quite smashed. Kami was sitting in a booth with Durandal and seemingly drinking some clear alcohol. So Evis walked over and let himself drop down  next to Kami who gave him a hearty smile and said:”What took you so long? Normally you are the first to hit the Bar.”

“Decided to get some extra training. Gotta be better than you in the future.”, he replied with slight grin.
His Squadleaders answer to that was a mocking punch to his shoulder. But when she hit metal instead of the expected flesh Kami looked at him sharply.
“Evis, what have you done to that arm of yours?”, she asked him, her voice like that of a mother whose son had ruined his best pair of trousers.

“Haven't they told you? I exploded my Arm of while on the mission with Raiders. That's one of the reasons I'm here now.”, he answered with a surprised undertone.

For a  moment he couldn't really tell what was going around Kamis head. But then she said with a calm voice. “Merrick had told me that you had been heavily wounded, but she told me to find out myself what it was. You know what, your drinks are on me tonight. ”

Smiling he said: “You know what I'll take then.”

“WAITER! TWO CORELLIAN WHISKEY!”

"Time to celebrate it may be, but i've got to hit the showers, and get this armor off, its been a long day," with that he leaned over to Zafo and whispered loud enough for Kami to hear, "and knowing the S.L. tomorrow wont be too different."

He winked over to Kami, who tried to hold a look of utter disdain, but Durandal knew her enough to know she was laughing inside, maybe not for the same reasons he was, but she was laughing.

As he got up, and grabbed his helmet, and started to walk out the barracks bar, when Merrick walked in, just as he was approaching the door, he stopped and straitened, instinct that had been bred into him from all his training. He Saluted the officer, and she smiled, shaking her head and taking off her cap.

"At ease trooper, i need to remember to keep this cap off when i'm off duty." with that she walked in as Durandal nodded, and relaxed, he moved quickly to the showers, and stripped off his armor and clothes, he was dying.

He took a quick military grade "A" shower, where the faucets were so powerful it felt more like jet engines about to tear the meat right off your bones, and he hoped out, and pulled on a pair of fresh clothes, carrying his armor in a make-shift bag from the towel he used.

When he got to the barracks, it was quiet, but he saw a broken glass on the floor, near Hashi's bed. He didn't know Hashi very well, just a few moments of greeting and getting to know him, but the blood and cup sent alarms in his mind and his adrenaline spiked.

He tossed his armor on the bed and ran up beside Hashi, the glass was merely a cup, and the blood just a cut on his hand, he smiled to himself, thinking Hashi had just fallen asleep with his drink.

He picked it up, and cleaned up the drink before the other troopers could get in and before Kami or Evis saw the mess. After it had been cleaned he got to work on his armor, after today's training he had to admit that he was very pleased with how it worked, and he stowed in in the chest at the foot of his bed. Now, if only it came in the proper camo colors for their ops, then he would be happy, but he would have to remember to ask Kami about that tomorrow.

He locked his chest, and laid down in his bunk, seeing someone else walk in the barracks as well he focused on the ceiling and after a moment he was asleep, and all he saw was the ceiling...

Remluf scratched his scruffy beard.  He stared at his hand, confused for a moment, and then brought his attention back to the present.

"Barkeep!" Remluf barked in a voice that didn't sound used to much use.  "Two more whiskeys for me and my friend here!"

The bartender walked over with two drinks and set them in front of Remluf.  He looked at Remluf for a long second, then shrugged and walked away.

"Just you and me, buddy," Remluf said, patting the air beside him.  The space at the bar was empty, as were quite a few other spaces surrounding the unkempt trooper.

A young trooper started walking towards Remluf with the look of a man that wanted a conversation.  Remluf searched his memory as best he could, and came to the conclusion that this man's name was Zafo. 

"A moral quandary," Remluf said quietly to himself.  "Do I great him as a long lost brother, which admittedly is possible, or do I give him the business."  Zafo came closer and began to sit down in the barstool beside Remluf.

Remluf took in a deep breath, and then did something that Zafo, nor anyone else in the bar expected.  "QUACK!!!!"  Remluf gathered his breath and let out another  "QUACK!!!"  The younger man's eyes filled with confusion and fear and he slowly backed away.  Remluf gave him one more "QUACK!!!!" for the road, and then settled back down to his drink.


-----------------


Remluf made his way to his bunk a bit earlier than he had expected to, but he had to make sure his treasure was safe.  He walked into the space and climbed to the top bunk.  Hashi was asleep in the bunk underneath.  Remluf peaked his head over the side and looked at the sleeping trooper beneath him.

"I guess I could just kill him," Remluf said softly.  "If I don't he'll probably kill me."  Remluf thought about this for a minute until his face started turning red.  Fear struck Remluf as he reached for his knife to finish off the villain underneath him.  "He's trying to drain the blood from my head!" Remluf yelled. 

In his excitement, Remluf fell from the top bunk and landed with a dull thud.  Hashi didn't budge, but Durandal came over to have a look.  "Is everything alright, Rem?" Durandal asked as he helped the older man to his feet.

Remluf didn't say a word as he sheathed his knife and looked on Durandal suspiciously.  Suddenly, his face lit up and he gave Durandal a hug.  "You and I shall be allies," Remluf said jovially.  "Now look at this.  My great treasure which I show to no man."

Remluf jumped up to the top bunk with surprising gracefulness considering his apparent lack of physical conditioning and pulled out a small strongbox from under his pillow.  He pulled two small pieces of metal from his pocket and started working on the rugged lock.  "You never know who's out to get your stuff," Remluf said with a sly grin.

After he worked it open, he stared into the box with a look of complete awe.  He finally gathered his wits, or as much as could be gathered, and turned the box around to show Durandal.  He began speaking very softly.  "It's important that you keep them separated, so that you can keep them from breeding like mad.  This one has a bit of a temper, but he likes me just fine."

Durandal's face turned white.  Inside the box were a small group of rocks that were kept in their places by thin paper dividers.  "Uh... ummm... they're beautiful."

Remluf's eyes lit up.  "I KNOW!"  He gave Durandal a big smile, which quickly turned into a deep scowl.  "You can't have them."  He quickly closed the box and shoved it back under his pillow.  "Get away from me you thieving scum!"

Durandal backed away from Remluf very slowly, and then made the walk back to his own bunk.  "The guy's completely nuts," he said softly to himself.

"The man is completely nuts," Remluf said softly to himself as he looked at Durandal walk away.

Kami dropped back into the booth next to Merrick, picking up her discarded drink. At her commanding officer’s enquiring look, she sighed, “Evi and Zafo’s ‘arm wrestling completion’ involved a fair bit of glass shattering. The staff are not impressed.”

“You repay them damages?” Merrick questioned, glancing over at the booth where the rest of Jester were sitting, laughing loudly.

Kami returned a malicious smile, “The boys don’t know it yet, but they have a few days worth of dish duty when we get back from our first mission.”

Merrick laughed, leaning back in the booth, “You’re a mean one Kams.”

“Another drink ladies?” A waiter stood nearby, glancing nervously over his shoulder as another round of raucous laughter sounded from the Jester booth at his back.

Their response was drowned out as both Merrick and Kami’s pagers beeped loudly. Kami glanced down at the small screen, noting the electronic designation of high command, “That was fast.”

Merrick was already on her feet, “My office.” She paused briefly to drop a pile of credits on the waiter’s hand, “That’s for the future mess my lot will cause.”

Ignoring the gaping waiter, Kami slid from the booth, lengthening her stride as she followed the Colonel across the slick bar floor and towards the rest of the barracks. Their mission was finally here.

*        *        *        *        *        *

“This…” Kami gestured to the small, somewhat mediocre planet that flashed into existence before her, “Is Severin.”

She paused, dimming the lights of the amphitheatre so that Jester, arrayed once again before her, could perceive the projection, “The planet has a booming agricultural economy thanks to an abundance of fertile land located around the central city of Lilith. Whilst Severin doesn’t have a particularly large population, it boasts some state of the art shipyards that act as one of the larger ports on this side of the galaxy. It is not under Vast Empire control. Until recently, we’ve been satisfied to trade with the populace yet unwilling to commit the necessary forces to render it completely under our sway.”

Kami glanced over at Merrick, who shifted the projection to the next programmed image. Gesturing to the gleaming white city that appeared before her, Kami continued, “The situation has changed. The self declared nobility of Lilith, the very merchants who control the shipyards, have been selling the planet’s agricultural produce for an inflated price for decades, squandering wealth to build upon the foundation of their central city. The majority of the population, farmers all, have had enough. They’ve mobilized, and have recruited an army large enough to overtake Lilith and gain control of the market. While the merchants have a small standing defense force, they have nothing capable of repelling the farmers and preventing the rebellion.

She offered her squad a smile in the darkness, “This is where we come in. The government of Severin has made a deal with the Vast Empire. We subjugate a few thousand incensed farmers, and they agree to become a permanent vassal.”

Durandal’s hand rose, and at Kami’s nod he spoke, “Not to sound completely self-righteous, but is a little bit of booty really worth us killing farmers? I mean, from what you’ve said it seems as though they have a right to be angry.”

Kami nodded, “I don’t disagree with you. The government of Severin has been corrupt for quite some time. If I can offer you any reassurance, it is that once a VE controlled government is in place, the planet’s wealth will be divided equally between public and agricultural works. Unfortunately for the farmers, high command isn’t willing to risk any damage to the shipyards or the city, which is a strong probability if the rebellion is allowed to take place.”

Evis twisted in his seat to look at the others, “Also remember that a few thousand lives are nothing compared to the havoc a rebellion would wreak on Lilith and its urban population. These farmers are very angry, and a lot of innocent people will be caught in the crossfire as a result.”

Duran nodded, his expression unusually grim, “I understand.”

Merrick shifted the slideshow again, bringing a map of the area to life. Kami motioned towards the eastern end of the map, where a mountain range was visible next to the luminous boundary of Lilith, “These are the Lilith ranges. They mark the limit of the city, and the beginning of the agricultural lands which are located just the other side of the mountains. The rebellion army has amassed in the valleys, and is currently only held in place by fierce defensive fighting by the local militia. We’re to be dropped behind their position, while our Lilith allies carry out a feint attack designed to attract attention.

Kami turned away from the projection to face her squad, “We’ll have exactly six hours of darkness to hurt them as much as we can. We’ll hit only crucial targets, and sow enough confusion so that when dawn breaks, the combined force of Lilith militia and VE regulars will be able to stroll in and secure things without any hassle. Any questions?”

“I got one,” Zafo tilted his chin at the map, “That terrain’s not very speeder bike friendly, am I to assume we’re on foot?”

“We are, I’m sorry to say,” Kami responded, “Apart from that; our gear will be the same, although you’ll be issued with appropriately camouflaged scout armor so we don’t glow in the dark.”

“I have another,” Zafo offered a slight smile, “When do we leave?”

Kami allowed Merrick to answer, “Early tomorrow morning. It’s a six hour flight. We’ll then meet up with Lilith forces and transfer to the drop ship. We should be over the Lilith ranges at around 2300 local time, which will give us enough cover to approach unannounced.”

“Any other questions?” Kami said, glancing about the room. As no-one spoke up, she reached out and flicked the lights of the amphitheatre back on, “Alright then, get a good nights sleep. I’ll see you all in the hangar.”

Durandal shook, as a hand waved over him, he looked up to see Zafo, next to his bunk.

"Dude, you were sleeping with your eyes open... freaky." said Zafo, looking kinda weirded out. But Durandal just shrugged and sat up, looking over at Remluf and Hashi in the bunk across the room.

Hashi kinda bugged him, especially after last night, and Remluf, well, he didn't know Remluf at all, he'd never heard of him, nothing, the rock thing had weirded him out a little bit the night before, but he realized that Remluf was the exact image of what Durandal was as a little kid.

He got off the bed and knelt down, grabbing his trunk and started pulling out the things he would need. He looked at the standard issue Stormtrooper two Carbine, and decided to leave it, He had better weapons to take and that wasn't one of them. His best rifle would be his favorite and the one he was most accustomed to, his DC-17M.

He pulled out the package, and set it on his pillow, then grabbed the scout Armor that was on top of his trunk, some one had come by and left everyone a suit of the camo Scout armor kami had promised. It looked beautiful to Durandal, and reminded him of old times.

He quickly put on his armor, clipping the utility belt on his waist he knelt back down and opened the package, closely inspecting his weapon. then began to grab the stacks of ammo then cursed to himself. He undid his chest plates from the side and Zafo smiled looking at him, "Forget something?"

"As per the usual," Durandal replied, and pulled off his armor, setting it on the bed. From his kit he pulled two magnets, and placed them on the back of his armor, then grabbed two more, and placed them on the side of his weapon. The magnets were low enough to not mess with the functionality of the gun, but powerful enough that running wouldn't make the gun fall, it would take either him pulling it or someone else. He then attacked on the back a few little prongs, and snapped the weapon attachment on the back of his armor, making a nice and easy place to store his weapons.

He pulled his armor back on and he slide his DC-17M home on his back, and he let his helmet rest on his bed as he hurried up and stashed what he thought would be enough ammo for the job at hand, 4 normal magazines, 4 sniper magazines, and 3 anti armor magazines.

He then ran to the end of the room to catch up with the others as they started to make their way to the Hangar.

When they got there, Merrick, Kami, and Eviscares were waiting for them, and Durandal stopped a meter or two from them, waiting for the pre-flight briefing.

Julias Martov's arms were golden brown from decades of working the meager fields he tended.

Technological revolution was a promise that was constantly mouthed by the burgeoisise nobles but one that never arrived, so pure muscle and a hoe was still central to Martov's life. Technology was dangerous for the masses. The nobles would not risk modern machinery in the hands of the simple-minded. Who knew what dangerous ideas they might generate. Let them wallow in their ignorance. Let their stupidity flourish. That was a rationale and critical key for safety. Safety for their indecent lifestyles in those ivory towers, surrounded by mistresses and neck-deep in corruption.

Another swing of the hoe cracked open the dry earth, forming disjointed fault lines on the surface of the soil.

"Bastards," Martov spitted bitterly. "The dams will burst soon. And the deluge will drown them."

The veins in his neck bulged and strained under the heavy physical work. Over his shoulder, the sun was withdrawing. In the failing light, Martov could almost taste the tension and barely restrained excitement that hung over the hundreds of farmsteads that dotted the Severin landscape.

A shrill voice tore into the crisp air.

"Julias! Julias! The time has come!"

Martov shouldered his hoe and turned towards the man who had come rushing up to his fields. It was his young excitable brother-in-law, Alexander Ulyanov. Alex was burdened by the weight of a blood red flag, the pole being taller than himself. It bore the symbol of the Severin Revolution; a golden fist clenching a scythe. Over his back, a rifle dangled.

So it has finally arrived.

Martov dropped the hoe and rushed to the tool shed. He kicked the door violently open, dropped to his knees and began scratching the earth like a madman. Finally, he uncovered the well-camouflaged trapdoor. Bolting it open, he withdrew a dusty burlap sack and removed its contents. Metallic components spilled out and he began snapping them into place.

A moment later he emerged from the shed with a rusty DC-15 rifle of Clone War origin, smuggled into Severin generations ago. His family, having heard the commotion caused by Ulyanov, had rushed out and assembled themselves quietly and obediently for him.

"Papa, don't go!" wailed his blue-eyed daughter, a pretty thing barely over five.

His wife, robed solemnly in black, remained silent. She look at him with a staunch expression, but her trembling jaw revealed that the facade of strength was merely that, a facade.

"I must go. The winds of change are upon us!"

In the distance, rifle shots tore through the dusk.

Revolution had come.

As the drop ship landed, and the ship hissed, equalizing the pressure, Jester stood, as one. The red safety lights from the ship creating dark shapes from the deepest fears of the night. And as those doors finally fell, and Jester walked out, it wasn't minutes before they were one with their surroundings.

-----

Kami motioned them into a group and Evis spoke up, " Alright everyone, hope your not too tired already, cause we've got about a thirty minute hike, to the southeast, and the nearest encampment. Note thats a three and a half miles, so we'll need to jog to get there in good time."

Durandal made the note and reviewed the map quietly to himself, "So our job is to take out the guys with the guns right? The rebels? And attempt to prevent Civilian casualties or what? Are we protecting them to the point of if a rebel has one in his hands, we don't shoot at them?"

Kami and Evis both looked at Durandal, and he shrugged, "What?
That could mean our lives you know."

Evis shook his head, the helmet creating weird shadows and Durandal shook his head to get rid of the confusing images, and Evis replied, "Yes, shoot any and all rebels you see, and cause as much distortion to their lines as we can, if innocents get in the way, we can't help that, this needs to be done."

-----

As Jester jogged, and the forest engulfed them, they could see the fires from the encampments, and as they came up to the edge of the forest on a hill over looking the closest Encampment, what they saw they weren't expecting.

-----

Durandal hit the magnification on his helmet and looked down into the encampment, and the seeds of chaos brewing within. Many buildings were on fire, and the sound of Gun and Blaster fire came from the city. He could see small pockets of local militia forces get pushed back by decently armed and numerous rebel forces.

The sight brought him chills as it reminded him of the Rebel Alliance, and some of the horrors from those years. Most stories his father had told him, how they had taken down the Empire, and now here was a small painting of a similar picture.

People lay dead in the streets and the pockets seemed to dwindle, and Durandal turned, and looked over at Kami, and the rest of Jester, their expressions indiscernible behind their helmets.

"Everytime I go somewhere, they're shooting at me," Remluf grumbled.

He heard a long "ssshhhhh" from up ahead.

"Piss off," Remluf yelled, his voice echoing in the night.  He clamped his hand over his mouth.  Dead silence followed.  Remluf swallowed and the squad kept moving forward.

"You know what I'm talking about though, with everyone shooting at me," he said to no one in particular.  He was bringing up the back of the squad now, hoping that a sniper would start picking off the people in front of him so he would have a chance to duck for cover.  "Ever since I was younger, they're always shooting at me."  One of the troopers from up ahead broke formation and started coming back towards him.

Remluf mumbled quietly.  The helmets confused him.  All of a sudden everyone goes from having unique faces to looking exactly alike.  He didn't know how they could tell each other apart, but they seemed to do it with ease.

"Would you quiet the hell down," the mask said to him.

Remluf cocked his head to the side.  "Who are you?"

The person standing in front of him took his mask off and he noticed that it was Merrick standing in front of him.  "It's your boss, dumbass.  Now keep quiet or you're going to get us all killed."

Remluf took off his helmet and smiled.  "Hey Merrick, it's me, Remluf!"  He moved forward to give her a hug when a pistol butt collided with the side of his head.  He shook his head and looked at her with a confused look on his face.  "What was that for?"

Merrick sighed.  "I swear Cosmic has it out for me.  Look, just be quiet and stop causing trouble."  Merrick put her helmet back on and jogged towards the front of the line.

Remluf put his own helmet back on and began moving forward, himself.  He was checking he various small compartments in his suit where he kept all of his tools when he felt something... out of place.  He slowly pulled it out and looked at it.

He let out a quiet gasp.  "What are you doing here?  I told you to stay at the base!" he whispered at the rock.  "What?  Revenge?"  He stopped in his tracks.  "No... you don't mean."  Remluf looked towards the head of the column of troopers.  "But... do you really think he has it out for you?  No, of course you wouldn't lie about that, but it's just..."  Remluf sighed.  "You're right, it has to be done.  Let's keep moving, and stay quiet." 

Nine Jesters landed on Severin, but only eight were leaving.

Kami ignored the towering pillar of flame in the clearing before her, as well as the shouts of farmers as they came running to investigate. Jester, secreted as they were a few hundred meters away in a dense clump of vegetation, waited silently for orders at her back.

The frustration in Eviscares voice was evident as he jabbed a finger at the map in Kami’s grasp, “A bunch of dead farmers and a flaming silo isn’t going to make a hell of a lot of an impact on the advance.”

Kami nodded, “I know. Time for a change in plans.” She glanced up at Merrick’s visoured gaze, “I want you to take Hashi and Remluf and make your way to the back of the line where the majority of the rebellion is camped. Kill as many of them as you can, as quickly as you can. I don’t care if you create a freakin’ lightshow, disarray is what we’re aiming for.”

Merrick declined her head in ascent, blending back into the shadows to collect the two named troopers and move out. Kami had left unsaid her concerns about Remluf and his mental stability, but seriously doubted he could get into much trouble with vets such as Hashi and Mer.

Kami turned to Evis, Zafo and Duran, “We’re going officer hunting. Most of this group is rabble, but there must be a select few individuals laying down the rules.” She hefted her rifle, “In all probability they’ll be along the front line, so move quickly, identify targets and stay together. It wouldn’t do our rep much good to get gunned down by an overexcited farmhand.”

Zafo pointed to the clearing beyond Kami, seemingly amused, “Did they steal that thing from a museum?”

Kami looked over her shoulder to where a groaning and substantially battered AT-PT had clumped into the clearing. By the clunky shape of the machine, she judged it an early model, long since abandoned by advanced forces such as the VE. Eyeing the large cannons on either side of the vehicle, she looked back to the others, an smile spreading across her face beneath her helmet, “Think they’ll give us a ride?”

In their crudely dug foxhole, Remluf was squatting with his knees up to his chest. He was stroking the strange rock that accompanied him in an unnerving erotic manner. Occasionally, he would hiss and gnash his teeth. Strong convulsions would rock his body, after which whimpers and sighs would be emitted.

"My preciousss.."

"What the hell.. Hey!" Hashi rapped on his comrade's helmet. "That's enough! Eyes front! We're fighting a war here!"

"Stupid fat Hashi!"

"Listen, when your sorry ass gets killed, you can go to hell and get drunk as a monkey while smoking all the shit you want, pal. Down here, you focus.. And I am not fat, you crazy son of a bitch."

"At least I'm not the ungracious son of a bitch who farted at me a couple of minutes ago."

"You were squatting with my ass to your face. Now if you would just stand up.."

A soft rustle caught their attention and interupted their bitching. Both men raised their rifles to greet the ghostly threat, but it was Merrick who emerged from the darkness. Breathing out in relief, they lowered their weapons as she slipped in between them. Blood from her axe dripped onto Hashi's armour, staining it.

"Evening Colonel," grinned Hashi. "Had a good hunt, I assume."

Merrick shrugged and got down to business, "There's an encampment up ahead. I deliberately left a trail for them to follow so now it's time to set up an ambush. I'm positive they will sent out patrols to locate their missing commander. Anybody got anything useful?"

"A bag's worth of trip mines. Remluf's rock."

"Right. Set them up. Hashi, get into a flanking position on the right by that mound there. I'll guard our other flank. Remluf, take up an advance position and fall back if and when there's contact. Lead them to us."

"So I'm bait?" pouted Remluf.

"Yes. Not a particularly delicious one. Don't be a git and set off our own mines on the way back. Everybody clear? Right. Go."

The three Jesters climbed out of the hole stealthily to take up their positions, waiting for the enemy to appear.  Only fleeting shadows gave away any indication of their stealthy movement. Deadly as tigers and as quiet too. Noiselessly, they quickly established their hunting territory and marked the perimeter with trip mines. In a more creative gesture, Hashi hung a few grenades on some low branches. The safety pins for these arboreal explosives were carefully connected to a thin indiscernible thread that was stretched taut between the trunks of two trees, running close to the ground. The seconds streched into minutes. The sound of crickets caused a ruckus with which they could shield their building.

Hashi snapped his neck to keep himself awake. He squinted and could barely make out Remluf's dark form crouched behind a tree. Over to his left, Merrick blended herself in amongst the dense shrubbery. Cursing mentally, Hashi took a brief glance at his watch. It was three am and here he was in some forsaken rut. The mosquitoes were driving him insane. And it was cold. Freaking cold. He decided to risk a little danger for warmth and reached for his canteen. The gin that he stowed away slushed down his throat and gave a little extra strength.

Just as he was about to take a second drag, shadows seemed to apparate in the misty haze of the forest. The shapes materialized into solid figures of gun-wielding men. What was strangely disquieting was the silence of these new arrivals. They were just as silent and disciplined as the Jesters, as if aware they had to be careful for nocturnal predators.

"Wait for my signal to open fire," came Merrick's voice over the comms system.

"Affirmative."

"Roger that."

Remluf started to retreat to a pre-designated point, careful to create enough noise to arouse curiosity from their newly found opponents, but not enough to give away their ambush. His retreat paid dividends immediately. One of the group, aware of a disturbance, broke off from the main platoon of men and advanced nearer to their position, his steps careful and deliberate. They were not, however, carefully enough to avoid triggering off a trip mine. The explosion ripped through the night, sending the unfortunate man flying a few feet high and landing with a bloody stump of what had formerly been his foot. Approximately five seconds later the grenades set off, the ball bearings exploding in searing heat and tearing into the flesh of half a dozen men. Pandora's box had been opened at last.

"Open fire! Open fire!"

Hashi and Remluf did not wait for the repeat of the command to rise up to their feet and release a volley of lasers into their hysterical group of victims. Their fire criss-crossed expertly, leaving no ground uncovered. It was indicative of their innate professionalism, the method by which their lines of fire never left anything to chance. The large majority of the enemy did not have time to react. A few managed to turn tail and fled off into the darkness before becoming too entangled in the crossfire. By the time of the last burst of fire more than a dozen bodies littered the ground.

"Good job kiddos," commented Merrick coolly.

Hashi did not bother to hear the compliment. He was busy searching through the bodies of the recently departed. Triumphantly, he found a few packs of cigarettes that belonged to their former farmer owners. When he thought Merrick was not looking in his direction he quickly discarded a few magazines from his ammunition pouches and replaced them with the cigarette packs. Remluf meanwhile, had his rock up to his ear, and looking as if he was listening very intently to what the inanimate rock had to say.

"Lynette said what? Oh that whore.."

Merrick strode over to a man who had a gaping hole in his chest. His mouth was gasping, his eyes wide in pain and shock. The contents of his rib cage were visible. With a heave, Merrick swung up her axe and let it come crashing down, ending her adversary's misery.

The head gently rolled to a stop a yard away.

"Area clear."

There was a neat little pile of bodies a few dozen yards away from the foxhole that was designated as the slaughter zone.  Merrick and Hashi became a little disturbed that they finally found something Remluf was good at.  He took to the hand-to-hand slaughter like a child takes to a new toy. 

Merrick looked over her shoulder and saw Remluf leaning against the earthen wall they had dug with his head sagging.  She silently walked over and smacked him on the head.  "Stay awake, you crazy son of a bitch."

Remluf stared at her through the black eyes of his helmet.  Merrick could almost picture the confused look on his face as he tried to gather what few wits he had.  An audible sigh escaped from his helmet.  "I'm bored," he said in a voice that was better suited for a ten year old.

"Deal with it," Merrick said grumpily.  She was beginning to get concerned with the wait.  The last group they sent was three strong, and they were dispatched quickly and easily.  But the wait meant that they were starting to get suspicious, which meant they were either not going to come back at all, or they were going to come back in force.  Neither of those options filled Merrick with pleasure.

"Alright guys, change of plans," Merrick said to the two men behind her.  "We're going to have to leave this area pretty quickly.  Remluf, I hear you're pretty handy with explosives?"

Remluf's helmet was staring straight at Merrick, but she couldn't tell if he understood the question or even heard her at all.  She walked towards him again and gave him another smack on the helmet.  He fell over with a thud and barely moved.  "I can't believe... this bastard went and fell asleep standing up."

Hashi let out a little giggle and gave the sleeping trooper a kick in the ribs.  Remluf woke with a start and stood and gave a sloppy salute.  "Sergeant Remluf reporting for duty!"

"You idiot, you're only a PFC," Merrick sounded more annoyed than before.  "Look, are you good at blowing things up?"

"Oh most definitely sir," Remluf said.  "I can blow up anything given time and tools."

Merrick and Hashi both were confused with Remluf's sudden... trooperness, but they both silently agreed that anything was an improvement.  "Alright," Merrick said to him, speaking slowly to make sure he understood what she was telling him.  "I want you to mine this place with what few explosives we brought with us, so when the bigger search party comes, they go boom, got it?"

Remluf nodded earnest and began rummaging through the small sack they had brought.  "Uh, if I may make a suggestion?"

"Go for it, Private," Merrick said to him.

"We're here to wreak havoc... why don't we array the bodies in a fashion that would cause alarm and disgust... then mine the bodies?"

Merrick was silent for a second.  It was a good idea, although more grotesque than standard procedure allowed for.  But Jester wasn't here to follow standard procedure.  "Do it."

Remluf lined up the bodies of the fallen farmers and laid them side to side at the front of the foxhole.  Using his knife with almost disturbing efficiency, he cut there mouths to look like an inhumanly large grin.  He then pulled on their tongues so they were sticking out past their chins, and cut off their eyelids so they had a revolting wide-eyed stare.  Under their shirts he cut open their chest cavity and stuck a thermal detonator in each that would go off if the bodies were jarred.  Hashi and Merrick were wary of the efficiency and joy that Remluf was taking with his work.

After he was done he wiped his hands off on the ground and stood up.  Merrick could almost see the smile on his face.  She cleared her throat.  "Alright, let's move out."

The man's face was more bruised than not, and he ceased speaking in coherent sentences and instead spoke in whimpers.  Hashi cursed loudly as he motioned to Remluf to finish the prisoner.

"He didn't know anything," Hashi said to Merrick over the sounds of Remluf's macabre game.  He sat down on what was once a piece of the outer hull of a Z-95 Headhunter.  "Now what?"

Merrick had taken her helmet off and was rubbing her temples.  Getting back into the field had been a refreshing change from her desk, but the stress was giving her a migraine.  "It beats dealing with those damn pencil-pushers," she said out loud.  Hashi gave her a confused look.  "Nothing, nevermind.  Alright, this is going to draw attention to us," Merrick said.  "We've got to keep moving.  Rem!  Are you done yet?"

Remluf hopped over a pile of rubble with what looked like a piece of the man's small intestine in his hand.  "Sure, let's go."

Merrick sighed.  "Put it down, you're not taking that with you."

"Why not?  I can wear it as a headband."  The insane older man began to bring the tendril up to his head before Merrick caught his arm.

"Drop it and let's go."

"Aye aye sir," Remluf said, dropping the intestine.  He seemed sad at first, but seemed to get over it rather quickly.  "Where to next?"

Merrick was looking at her datapad and scanning the surrounding area.  "Over there," she said pointing in the distance.

Hashi nodded and began hefting his equipment, but Remluf didn't move, and was looking in the opposite direction.  "Come on you crazy son of a bitch," Hashi said.  Even his patience, which was considerably greater than Merrick's, was wearing thin dealing with the crazy man.

"No, I think I'm going to go this way," Remluf said and began walking in the opposite direction.  Hashi grabbed his arm before he went four paces. 

"And why is that, nutjob," Hashi said in what didn't seem like a question.

"Because of that guy over there hiding behind those bushes," Remluf said, pointing to a cluster of thick hedges a few hundred yards away.

"You saw someone?" Merrick asked, hefting her ax.

"Well, I didn't see him first," Remluf explained.  "But I see him now.  And he's over there."

"Come on Merrick, he's full of it," Hashi said. 

"Maybe... maybe not," Merrick said slowly.  "But I don't have any better ideas, so let's see if he's right."

Hashi sighed and the three Imperials marched off into the shadows.  They eyed the hedges closely as they got nearer, and sure enough, when they were less than twenty yards away, an audible whimper was heard from behind them.  The troopers burst into a full run with their pistols drawn as they surrounded the bushes. 

Huddled in his own filth was an older gentleman with considerably nicer clothes than anyone else they had seen on this part of the planet.  But the most interesting part wasn't his nice clothes. 

"What the hell is a Twi'lek doing here?" Hashi asked as he kept his pistol trained on the quivering male. 

Merrick looked at Remluf and then back at the Twi'lek.  She took out her ax and grinned underneath her mask.  "Let's find out."

The AT-PT clanked forward at full speed, tearing into the small encampment as a group of men emerged from the largest of the tents, looking sleepy and irritated. One took a step forward, a reprimand clearly at the forefront of his mind until he perceived the two green clad troopers perched upon the top of his patrol vehicle. One offered a wave, and a thumbs up, whilst the other calmly lifted their rifle and let off a single volley, drilling a neat hole through the officer’s chest.

The other two men reacted quickly, turning to run to the meager cover offered by the radar station. Zafo veered the AT-PT after them, crushing the two beneath the vehicles metallic legs with a crunch of bone and a pair of inhuman wails of despair and pain. The AT-PT swayed to a halt long enough to allow Evis and Kami to leap down to the sodden earth, before swiveling around to deal with whoever inhabited the two remaining tents. Gesturing for Evis to swing his rifle to ready, Kami took a few steps and kicked out with an armored foot, smashing the small bolted door of the radar station inwards and off its hinges.

She swept into the station, Evis at her heels, following a winding concrete hallway that branched into a larger control room filled with control panels, where a dozen or so farmers lounged about at technician stations. Two armed men to the left of the room were only just beginning to react, pulling battered pistols free from holsters as the two Jester members swept into view.

Evis barely faltered in stride as he gunned down the two men, leaping up onto the nearest console and sweeping his rifle around in an arc to cover the breadth of the room, “Nobody move!”

Kami lowered her rifle, stepping forward so she commanded the attention of everyone in the room, “For those of you who are unaware of how this works, I’ll take the time to explain. Stay where you are. Give us what we want. Or...” She paused, her rifle point abruptly leveled at the man to her right, who had unsuccessfully attempted to trigger the alarm switch a few centimeters away with his hand. The farmer’s eyes widened in terror, before Kami squeezed down on the trigger, blowing a hole through his forehead at blank range. The farmer’s body catapulted backwards in his chair to land in a bleeding heap at a comrade’s feet.

“Or...” She continued, turning her attention back to the stunned rebels, “I shoot you in the head. Capiche?”

The room was deadly silent, until a woman near the front of the room came slowly to her feet, her hands held up in a gesture of surrender, “I command here. We’ll do whatever you want.”

Kami declined her head towards the officer, “A wise choice. Evis, kindly instruct the rest of our prisoners on how to tie secure bonds would you? Perhaps one of them might even be inclined as to provide you with an accurate map showing the deployment of their forces” She leveled her rifle at the officer, “You’re coming outside with me.”