Wraith squad had already arrived back on Tadath several weeks ago, but this was their first day of actual freedom. Several court cases for various crimes had kept them occupied for far, far too long. So much so that the first time their cell door was opened and they were allowed to emerge, they forgot which way the barracks were.

Kanderin was already packing his bag, planning on making the most of their downtime. His sports bag was already desperately trying to hold itself together under the strain of cans of beer, discount tickets to tacky amusements and clothes. He probably wasn't going to be allowed through border control with it all, but he'd consider that when the time came.

He dragged it out of his room and into the main area of the barracks, where several other members of the squad were already waiting, all with far bigger bags than Kand.

"I thought we were saving space! My ship isn't that big!"

"Well, we needed room for the beer, and food, and stuff" RK grinned, still struggling with the zip on his oversized holiday bag.

"Exactly how many of these bags are full of beer then?" Kanderin kicked the nearest bag to him, only to find four cans of ale drop out onto his feet.

"Most of them"

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An hour later, and the squad were finally finished packing. Between 7 people, there were twenty bags, and the back of Kanderin's brand new ship was lurching somewhat dangerously. And someone was still missing.

"Where is Arn anyway?" Specter shouted back from the cockpit.

"No clue, he said he'd catch up with us anytime now. And get your stinking feet off the instruments! I just washed them!"

"Sorry boss"

"I'll call him up now guys, everyone get on board. But carefully, the whole thing could fall over"

Kanderin fished out his comlink from his trousers, only to find it already glowing dimly in the mid morning sunshine. It had been taken from him and turned on silent during his time in the cells, and he had never gotten around to turning it back up again. Five messages welcomed him, all saying the same thing.

'Kand, meet me in Darr's office. Now.'

Somehow, even though each message was written in the exact same way, they seemed to sound increasingly stern. The fact he could see Arn's face when he eventually arrives didn't make it any easier, so he sprinted off towards the main buildings, only sparing enough time to handsign RK the 'I'll be five minutes' through the window.

Sprinting as fast as he could around the maze of cantinas and check in booths that emblazened the front of the complex, he quickly tried to bring up the map in his head. Darr's office, unfortunately, was one of the very few rooms he had been to. The fact Darr even had an office was news to him, so he made a decision on the spot and headed for where Doc's old office used to be. Darr afterall was Wildcard's new Platoon Commander, so he hoped he'd decided to keep the same office.

Crashing through the door and nearly sending Arnaut flying on the other side, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Better late than never Kanderin" Darr sighed, sitting up in his chair and throwing the stress ball to one side.

"I apologise sir, I'm still getting to grips with outside life..."

"Save it, it's no big deal" Darr put a hand up to pause Kanderin, smiling. "Let's just get down to business"

"Since Darr got shifted up, there's been a gap as Wildcard's Platoon Adjutant" Arnaut started, stepping away from the door and to the side of Darr's desk. "That position will be being filled by myself. Which means..."

"Wraith are lacking an SL"

"Give the boy a medal" Arnaut clapped sarcastically. "But also, we cant help feeling that Wraith have gained a bad reputation with what happened with Albatross, and a new management might be the best thing for it. So, for that reason, you're officially being offered the role of Wraith Squad Leader"

The words Kanderin thought he would never hear, had just been said right in front of him. He wanted to grin wildly, but he felt it would not be a wise move right now. Keeping it cool would be far more effective.

"I'd be honored to take over the position, I'll get about to sorting out the Wraith's barracks as soon as..."

"That wont be necessary Kand. As much as hate to throw a new SL into such a demanding position, but you'll be spearheading Wraith's change into a whole new squad"

"Urrm, sorry Darr, but I have no clue what you're on about sir" Kanderin shook his head, stroking his hair childishly.

"Well, let me put it this way" Darr leaned forward and clicked a button on his desk, causing a film to begin playing on a screen behind himself. it was some sort of sports event, only it had turned bad, with rioters throwing stones at fleeing police officers.

"This, unfortunately, is the side of things we feel the VE has left unchecked for some time. Although we're proud of being able to operate outside of the public eye easily, there is times when our presence needs to be felt in order to keep order. That's why I've worked with Lieutenant Riqimo, and authorized you as Wraith's first mounted squad"

"You mean we've just become animal people?" Kand replied.

"Pretty much, any problems?" Arn smiled.

"Well, are you sure I'm the best choice for SL? I'm used to driving speeders and ships, not riding animals"

"Kand, that's why we've chosen you an ASL already. We wanted you as the Squad Leader because of your Leadership experience, we feel you'll do nothing but good for the squad. Leave the care of the animals, and the training of you, in the hands of your Assistant"

"So, who is it?" Kanderin asked eagerly.

"I'm afraid thats a secret"

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Several more hours of packing later, and Wraith were ready for the second time. Their old barracks were not going to be suitable to hold whatever animals they were going to have. And despite the squads complaints, no more information could be given apart from that they were moving all their stuff to the location on the map Darr had given them. He didn't even know where they were going, nor what he was going to find once they arrived. Although they were unhappy, not one of them could wait to jump into the ship the moment Kand started the ignition.

"How far to where we're going?" Jenn called from behind.

"Not far apparently, map estimates this is only going to be a twenty minute flight. Almost seems a waste of fuel" Kand replied, turning the ship around to prepare for takeoff.

"Well, do you want to carry those bags all that way?"

"I did say only almost, Gimp"

The whole ship lurched dangerously back yet again as Kand turned the thrusters up, to the point where he thought for a second it was going to fall right onto its back. It stabilised however as he backed off the speed a little, luckily.

"Make that flight thirty minutes guys, I'm not going to be able to fly this thing at full speed with this much weight"

"Awwh, who the hell snuck a beer in? You spilt it all over the seats!"

Helena turned back towards the ship, a hand was now visible just reaching over it's back. A beer can flew free from one hand, shortly followed by four or five bags, which made a very loud crunching sound as they hit the ground.

"Ah, you must be the new Squad Leader!" Helena called, making her way towards the hand.

"Wait a second" The hand replied "I know that voice!"

The hand disappeared, shortly replaced by Kanderin's slim features. He took one glance at the face of the young girl approaching him, before spitting the mouthful of beer several yards across the dirt track.

"What the hell are you doing here!?" He shouted, pointing a finger at Helena.

"Never mind me, what the hell are you doing here!" She pointed back.

"I'm the new Wraith SL, yourself?"

"I'm the new Wraith ASL, pleasure to meet you"

Helena had been taken away from the rest of the squad the moment they arrived back on Tadath, tried as a separate criminal to the Army squad. Kanderin had supposed that was the last he would see of her. He wouldn't figure for a moment she would actually enlist, then show up as his assistant.

"High Command showed me you'd been transferred to another squad Kand" Helena smiled warmly.

"Well, High Command told me you'd been deported. last time I trust them!"

Helena simply laughed and ran forward to hug Kand, who barely had time to put his beer carefully down before being tackled to the ground.

"You know, in military bases, this is considered sexual harassment" Kanderin winked down at her.

"Ah shut up, where I live this is called greeting an old friend"

Ror nodded as his new Assistant Squad Leader Helena told them where everything was. Ror and Gimp walked towards the barracks together to go change, "So there are two girls in our squad now," Ror commented on.

Gimp smiled, "Yeah, dude I can't believe have to ride animals. To me it seems a little, how should I put it...arcaic? Yeah thats a good word for it, archaic!" Gimp laughed and looked over to the stables right before they entered the barracks.

Ror merely rolled his eyes.

Gimp laughed and went on, "We have At-St, droid, hover craft, we made a freakin Death Star for crying out loud! Why would we ever need to ride an animal in WAR!"

Ror looked around at the beds and saw human cloths on all but one, "wonder which is my bed," he muttered to himself as he walked over to the bed furthest away from him and put his bag down. He grabbed his Ithorian sized riding cloths and put them on. Once he had got it all on he walked over and looked at himself in the mirror; he wore huge heeled boots that barely covered his feet, his pants were faded jeans what he was givin as pants and an basic cloth shirt. Ror sighed in the mirror, "Well it's not fashionable but it wil do I suppose."

Gimp happened to be on the bed next to him and he smirked, "Looking sharp Ror. Well I guess I don't look any better, god do we have to wear these dumb ass cloths as well? I mean god I feel like I am at a child's camp not the freakin army."

Ror laughed, "I wouldn't say that in front of Helena she seems to be into the idea. I wonder if she has done this type of training before..." Ror said losing himself in thought.

Gimp shook his head, "Probably why she wasn't with them for the last mission.....no I should say...adventure?"

Ror raised an eyebrow, "what do you mean?"

Gimp looked at him with shock, "You didn't know she was originally with them but they "took her away" and "tried" her separately."

Ror was shocked, "Really?"

Gimp nodded, "Yeah thats what I heard from some of the others."
Gimp looked at the others leaving the room, "well we probably should go see the new ASL before she throws a fit."

Helena smiled, following Kand into his room. All the rooms were labelled with their names, so no one could get lost. Kand’s room was obviously the biggest; it contained a rather large double bed, a desk and office chair, his own bathroom, and a wardrobe.

Kand’s face lit up as soon as he opened the named door. A smile whipped across his face, and he picked Helena up and threw her on the bed.

“Hey! What was that for?!” Helena giggled, rolling about on the bed.

“Oh, nothing, just glad to have you back” he winked, throwing his bags down on the floor before testing the bed himself.

They both giggled, tickling and prodding each other in the ribs. Helena was so glad to be back, she felt so at home here.

“So, you are going to try your training clothes on then?” she sighed, trying to catch her breath.

“Not when you’re here!” Kanderin snapped.

Helena nodded, before getting up from the bed; she coughed in embarrassment, before placing her hand on the door handle. Kand quickly followed after her, placing his hand on hers.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to leave”

“I think it’s best if I do” she removed her hand from under his, and stood out in the doorway.

“I’ll see you in an hour, outside the stable block. Tell the others, I’ll be in my room if you need me”

She stormed off, folding her arms and sighing to herself, all the way to her room.

After a few minutes, Helena emerged from her room, wiping her eyes. The sound of her heels could be heard all round the barracks. She finally reached the stables, meeting RK, Kand, Ror and Jenny.

"Right guys, sorry I'm late. I'll take you to the stables, I assume you already know what these beautiful creatures are, so let's get started"

She led the group through the stalls and round the back to where 5 stables were, baring 5 amazingly beautiful Dewbacks were. She appointed each squad member with one each. They were given a minute to name them and get acquainted with them.

“Right, I suggest you lead them into the ménage, that way, when you fall off when you first get on, it will be on soft ground” She winked before grabbing Flora, her own Dewback and heading off to the ménage.

She managed to get on just before everyone turned up. She giggled at everyone holding their animals at arms length as if they were about to bite them.

“You do know they won’t hurt you don’t you…”

“I’m not taking any chances” Kand replied.

Helena was still in a mood with him from earlier so she just shrugged him off.

“Right guys, place your left foot in the left stirrup, and hold the reins in your right hand, then just pull yourself up. Got it?”

The laughter coming from Helena in the ménage was unbelievable. RK, just managed to get on, Kand kept losing grip, and Jenny was flat on her back. Ror was the only person to successfully get on. Helena was impressed.

“Right, just walk around for a bit while I think of ways to actually teach you things without you falling off and breaking something” she giggled.