Zippy was checking his A280 Heavy blaster rifle as he always did before a mission. Going over equipment, getting supplies ready for a typical landing on yet another planet. This planet of coarse being Dantooine. He continued to ponder as to why the hell he got sent on a mission to a planet reported to be deserted. Reports said that there had been some increased activity in one of the sectors of the planet, but nothing substantial had been confirmed. Zippy always seemed to be assigned to these so called "mystery" assignments.

"Why is it that every time I think I get some down time, it turns into the complete opposite," Zippy said in a quiet toned voice hoping no one would notice.

Zippy looked back through the reports one more time during the hyperspace trip to Dantooine. The reports showed, what seemed to be large, camp looking buildings popping up in an area that was surrounded by large cliffs and had only one entrance going in and out of the valley looking area. Reports also stated that if it happens to be New Republic troops, then any soldiers in the area wait for backup and not engage if non provoked. If anything else is discovered, report back to VE headquarters immediately. What other things could possibly be getting the interest of the VE? The New Republic was the only substantial threat to the VE as far as Zippy was concerned, but then again, it is one of those times where anything seemed possible.

"Why the hell any one would even want to start up a base on this planet is beyond me, Zippy said to himself in confusion. I'm sure hoping there actually is something here worth finding. All this thinking is making me want to have some action. I would love to take my new vehicle out for a test spin."

Zippy figured this would just be a typical Scouting party for some pirates or something. Nothing he couldn't handle, but who knows. Missions lately have been going from normal, to the occasional type of bad, to completely screwed. Zippy went over to his brand new AT-UE and gave it a quick look down. Perfect for a land mission such as this.

"Well, everything checks out alright. Got all my gear plus a few extra explosives for a little extra fun, if need be. Vehicle is set to go, and armor is on and ready to go."

Zippy went back over to a seat in the lounge area and took a seat. He had a weird feeling that this mission was going to be more interesting then what he had been reading, but that was Just Zippy being his paranoid self as usual. As he was about to go over a few more mission specifics, Echelon walked into the lounge.

Zippy and Echelon crash landed on a coast line a few miles away from where they were supposed to land. Zippy threw off a large piece of medal that had came flying off the roof of the ship. He checked himself over to make sure there was nothing wrong with him and managed to get walking without any problems. He rummaged around the what used to be an armory area for a few of his weapons that had scattered during the crash. Zippy then went over to check on his vehicle, which amazingly wasn't in to much damage that they couldn't use it.

"Ech, you alright?! Where are you?! Zippy yelled out in the middle of the wreckage. Come on Ech. You better not have died on me."

"I'm over here! Echelon stated from behind a large pile of rubble. Some help would be very much appreciated if you wouldn't mind"

"Alright good. I knew you wouldn't die me that easy, Zippy said jokingly. So, quick question, what the hell happened? It was going seemingly well for a change. Should have figured it was going to well."

"I have no idea Zip. We need to find a com-link around here some where. If we can manage to even do that. I'm no soldier though, so I have no idea what we should do now."

"Don't worry Ech. First things first. We need to find the working com-link around here, if thats even possible. Its not like this a functioning ship any more. Ech, search around in this scrap heap of a ship and see if you can find the com-link, while I try and get my AT-UE out of this wreckage. I'm sure this isn't going to be easy, but we need to get out of this mess before something decides to drag us out."

Zippy and Echelon went and did the tasks that needed to be done. Both were just as hard, but they both pulled it off. Shockingly, in a matter of just a half hours time

"Alright Zip. I've got the com-link, but its severely damaged and I don't know how long we can use it, let alone try and get a distress signal sent out to the VE for help."

"Well we need to find a place to set up camp first, then we can worry about sending out a distress call. Lets hope in my vehicle and get moving to the west. It seems to be the most open area and hopefully the most promising."

Zippy and Ech hopped in and headed west toward what looked to be a more open area. Little did they know however, that what was on this planet, already knew about the crash landed ship and was closer then they thought.

Zippy sat in front of the fire, poking at it with a make shift poking stick he had found. Thirty Minutes passed, soon a couple hours. He sat wondering if Echelon was alright on patrol or if had gotten lost. Ech seemed like the type of man who was resourceful in any given situation and he was hoping he wasn't wrong. Zippy went over to the com-link Ech had thrown on the ground. It had taken quite a beating and by the looks of it, Echelon had been messing with it as best he could. Even he couldn't think of a better way to fix it. He knew he should have kept one inside his vehicle, but it was newer any ways and its not as though he had thought of every tiny detail. Who would think that a spare com-link was a necessity to have. Guess it was one of those times where it was a big slap to the face for Zippy.

"Where the hell is Ech? There is no way in gods name he could have gotten lost. He knew as well as I did where we had set up camp. Guess I'm going to have to go and look for him."

Zippy grabbed threw another log onto the fire to keep it going for a while longer, just in case he was gone longer then he hoped for. He went along a path of what looked to be Ech's alongside the cliff for an hour or so and eventually came to a grassy looking area. Zippy climber the grass covered hill and noticed what looked to be drag marks in the ground. He went over to the area cautiously with his blaster raised. Dug into the ground was another com-link. Zippy picked it up and activated it.

"Welcome to Dantooine you imperial dog. You will come to find that we have been aware of you and your friend since you crash landed. There is no hope of getting off world or contacting help. All transmissions are monitored highly and we will not allow our newly constructed base to be destroyed by the VE. If you wish to come and join your insignificant partner, you may come to the base of which you can see from a top this hill. Fair well Zippy. We will be looking forward to your arrival. (Evil Laughter)"

"Well, they sure know how to welcome people, Zippy said jokingly as the recorded message went out. Looks like I'm going to have to spring Ech from this New Republic base. Shit just got a lot worse."

---------------------------The Next Morning----------------------------

Zippy woke up to a warm breeze on his face. He threw on his helmet and put out the fire that was burning only slightly. Zippy packed up the campsite and hopped in the AT-UE and found a secluded area to hide the vehicle in, not far away from the New Republic base. He grabbed what gear he could out of the AT-UE and hopped out.

"Sure Glad I grabbed the extra explosives. Never can have to many explosives with you," Zippy said with a smirk on his face.

Zippy set out and ran toward the New Republic base. Trying to be as sly as possible, Zippy ran and ducked behind a bush for cover and peered threw the bush's to look for security patrols. It seemed there was only one patrol heading the opposite direction, and two lone soldiers coming right near him. As the soldiers past him, Zippy  shot one of the soldiers in the neck and then tackled the other guard and snapped his neck. He quickly hid the guards inside a large portion of bush's, outside of the base, and threw on the guards outfit for a quick disguise. Wearing the guards outfit, he completely fooled the security cameras and walked into the main square of the base.

"Alright Zippy. If I was a prisoner facility, where would I put it?" Zippy wondered as he continued to go around the base.

Zippy continued to look around until he came across a building which had two, heavily armed guards in front of it. Thinking the disguise would work, he boldly walked up to them.

"I have been sent here by command to question the prisoner for information about the VE. I will not remind you how impatient the commander is being and I should not be kept waiting," Zippy said with a stern face and voice

"Very well soldier. You may enter, but make your time as quick as possible. This prisoner is to be executed at noon," the tall, heavier guard stated.

Zippy went in the building and found multiple prison cells. Of coarse, the only cell with a prisoner in it was Echelon. He was leaning against the wall in his cell all scuffed up from getting dragged here and probably questioned.

"Ech! Zippy yelled out to him. I'm getting your ass out of here! We need to find a way to signal to the VE for help! Can you walk?"

"I think I'm alright. Its about damn time you got here! Now lets get moving. It won't be long before they figure out we are gone."

"Ech, hang on a second. What are those documents on the guards desk over there? They look like weapon prints of some kind. If this is what they are doing on Dantooine, we need to make sure this doesn't leave this planet. I think we need to do a little, remodeling to this base. Ech, you know how to shoot a blaster pistol I hope?"

"Yes I can shoot a blaster. Its not a science," Ech said in a joking tone.

"Alright good. Its time to get some pay back on this New Republic scum."

Zippy ran along the outside of the medium sized base, looking for the mysterious weapon that was being built by the New Republic. There was so many different looking buildings, that he didn't even know where to start. A few read 'Private' while others read 'Trained personnel only.' He didn't know which building he should try first. Zippy decided to go with the larger of the buildings as his first start. He managed to pry open the door with a large piece of metal lying in the ground. To no avail, it was not the right building. It contained mostly supplies and a couple vehicles, but nothing along the lines of the weapon design he was looking for. In fact, he wasn't quite sure what he was looking for at all.

"Alright Zippy. If I was going to build this newer weapon, where on earth would I build it. I've already checked on the larger of the buildings in this compound. I suppose it could be a vehicle of some sort. All I know is, I have to find this weapon quickly. Ech can't hold out very long, and he can only hold the commander hostage for a short time before he is over run."

Zippy scurried along as fast he could. Searching any buildings he could find that looked as though they may hold some significance. Zippy had raced threw every building he could find. There still was no evidence to a weapon being made. Was it all just a fluke? Was there no super weapon even being built here? Questions Zippy still had to answer. His last building was an odd shaped design. The main entrance was rectangular in view and had two larger, bay looking doors instead of your typical sliding door design. Once instead that section, the building split off into two large areas.

"Well I guess that's where I'm heading next, Zippy exclaimed. As he progressed toward the security panel. I have no idea what access codes are needed for proper clearance here. Ech, can ya read me? How ya holdin up?"

"I've got New Republic troops surrounding me as we speak. The commander is still here with me. I'm not letting him go any where."

"Ech, can you get him to give me the security codes for the building labeled, Classified bay 2?"

"Well, I can try, but it may take some time for me to get him to talk. He isn't in a very talkative mood after being taken hostage ya know."

"Alright Ech, hurry. I can hear more troops coming near my position. I don't know how long I can remain out of sight before I get spotted.

Zippy quickly ducked behind some barrels as a four man squad patrol came running past him. He went to back up and the metal he had been using to open doors fell out of his hand. One of the troopers had heard the noise and immediately turned around.

"Intruder near bay 2! We have found the others accomplice! Blast him!" the patrol officer screamed out.

Zippy quickly got out his blaster rifle and shot two of the guards with ease. One of the guards managed to get a clean shot in and shot Zippy in the left shoulder. He quickly rolled out in the open and took another laser volley, killing the remaining two guards.

"Ech, position has been compromised! Need those codes right now! I can't hold them off any longer and I'm wounded. Have you gotten the codes yet?!"

"Patching them threw now Zip! Hope to god you find what we are looking for here! This whole ordeal has been nothing but trouble and I want to get outta here in one piece!"

Zippy entered in the codes into the security terminal and ran in the door as quickly as he could. He ran through the dozens of storage containers, only to come up on a massive object inside the building unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was a heavily modified super laser, designed to vaporize targets on site. If this machine was to ever get out and and operational, the VE would suffer heavy loses all over.

"This is the last time they will ever get the chance to build a weapon like this on my watch, Zippy announced in an angry voice. They will pay for what they have done here."