Zafo made sure to sit inconspicuously close to the threat at hand.  They were definitely good at whatever it was they did. Zafo noticed very little direct mention of the squad, but there were quite a few random words thrown in the middle of sentences.  Sam was now seated beside Rizzit, and they were now in deep conversation. There was not yet a window to safely inform the squad the two suspicious characters.

The Dragoon was beginning to grow restless.  The ship was nowhere near as fancy as his Yacht or other transportation ships of the Vast Empire. That, on top of being tuned in non-stop to the Rodian/Human conversation. Usually, one relaxed on the ride to missions as big as this one.

A monotonous voice spoke over the intercom, announcing the end of the hellish ride. As soon as the intercom clicked shut, some turbulence struck the shuttle, forcing everyone to remained seated. Zafo shifted his gaze over to where Rizzit and Sam were seated to find both of them staring right back at him. There was a piece of paper crumpled in his hand, which he then proceeded to throw at Zafo.

He caught it discretely and quickly unfolded it. He quickly scanned over it's contents;

We cannot let these two out of our site,
You will follow the Rodian, I will follow the human, just in case they split.
Rizzit knows what is going on, he's going to rally up with the rest of the squad and let them know whats going down. He's also gonna take your gear for now.
Keep a low profile, our cover is all we got right now.

The turbulence and noise of the engines stopped altogether, indicating the arrival at their destination.

Zafo pulled his hood over his head and rose from his seat, throwing the occasional glance at his target.
It begins...
 
-----------------------
~ZaFo

*DarkDragoons*

ASL/SFC ZaFo/2SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/Tadath/VEA/VE [BC] [EW2]

Live Fast, Ride Faster.

Hector felt the ship descending onto the ground, and the plates around him were a little shaky to say the least while playing cards. Hector was about to say something when ZaFo made the look towards all his squad mates.

"Looks like were going to get into action" Hector replied after ZaFo made the appropriate adjustments to his gear. ZaFo was looking over at Rizzit, and Sam at the time, and when they arrived it was time for them to hit the trenches shall we say.

The ship ramp was making a steady run towards the ground as the ship had already ejected its landing gear. It was long and thin as Hector had thought standard lambda vessels of the imperial caliber would be like in the empire.

He studied them for a while on Coruscant knowing that these ramps lets troops get off ships, and let troops get on. As it was time with logical deduction Hector got his gear, and was properly suited up for the occasion of ground bound combat.

The other troops in the squad looked a little tired but were ready at a moments notice so once they had landed it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Crew compliment was at a good limit with all the good soldiers needed in battle, gear was plenty, because the empire cared for every one of its imperial units so that once they entered into battle they had everything they needed.

Hector walked casually down the ramp with the rest of the squad not knowing where this would lead, hopefully he would not be shot. Either way Hector had his bag with him, and a whole bunch of gear and weaponry in it for the occasion. If there was to be a firefight Hector was ready but for now he would lay low and just walk and learn from his squad companions.

-----------------------
*DarkDragoons*
Rank: Private First Class
CallSign: Hector_Vandaval
Group: Army of the Vast Empire
Platoon: WildCard
Squad: Dark Dragoons - Mechanized Infantry
ID: TRP/PFC Hector_Vandaval/2SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAM/1RGT/Tadath/VEA/VE[LoR]
Gamertag: [VE]Hector_Vandaval

Orobos walked of the shuttle after his squad-mates. Rizzit had informed him shortly before the shuttle had landed that there were people looking for them and to be ready for action at a moments notice. Orobos had shifted everything in his bag around so that his vibro-axe and blaster were in a position in which they could be reached easily.


He walked down the ramp and heard a gentle clacking noise behind him. He glanced over his shoulder at Alater. He seemed to be smiling. He suspected that it was the thought of the seemingly inevitable fight that lay ahead that had him looking so& happy wasn't the word for it& bloodthirsty. Orobos quickened his pace and sat behind Urakai and Tanus who were remenising about the ARC squad.


He listened for a while and then started to fall asleep. He shook himself a little knowing it would be bad to be cought of guard.
He glanced over at Rizzit to catch his attention. He looked back but just shook his head. Orobos got up and started to walk up and down the aisle in between the seats catching snatches of conversations as he walked by.

 
-----------------------
TRP/PVC Orobos/2nd Squad/ 1st platoon/ 1st Company/ 1st Battalion/ 1st Regiment

Dark Dragoons

Only those who stay vigilent will be rewarded.. those who don't will be left for dead.

Alater's eyes snapped open as the shuttle began its descent, and he headed for the cargo area, but was intercepted by Rizzit on the way there.

"Private, come with me." Was all Rizzit said before turning towards the cargo hold Alater was already walking towards. He followed him inside and over towards some of the squad's spare gear, and Alater's gadgets.

"We've got a problem, but nothing to worry about. There seem to be a pair of troublemakers in the shuttle, maybe you've noticed them? Either way, I am going to ask you and Tanus to shadow ZaFo and Sam, but don't be seen. They are each going to follow one of the pair and keep an eye out." Rizzit finished.

"DeathLord, I have seen the two, a green Noser and a Pinkskin. They didn't smell right to me, but don't you think our DeathLeader and DeathMember can handle themselves? They are just just pinkskins, but the other two don't seem like much of a threat. Why not continue with our objective?" Alater replied as he began to check all of his equipment.

Rizzit smiled only for a second before turning it into a frown, "I know they can handle themselves, but Tanus and yourself are possibly the two physically strongest troopers on this squad, and I have a feeling that a little muscle may be needed. Not to mention, something about this doesn't smell right to me. Oh, and next time Private, do not question my orders." Rizzit made a swift about-face and departed the cargo hold to inform Tanus no doupt.

Alater blinked twice, and returned to inspecting his gear. His explosives were all safed, his guns loaded, and his knives sharp.In an automatic expression he loosed his claws and licked each one before drawing them back in. With a hiss and a prayer to the Death Gods Alater stood. His explosives he would put into his backpack, but his DC-17M and DL-54 stayed strapped to him behind his backpack.

As Alater trudged out of the shuttle he almost ran into Tanus, who was intent on ZaFo and deep in thought. Alater turned to him and nodded before slipping into the crowd. Despite his size and the rarity of his species Alater was still just another face in the crowd. Following Sam, they took a very strange path like one a running prey would to lose its predator, but this predator was going nowhere. When the human entered the door, Alater popped around the corner. Sam was at the far end of the hall, typing on his data pad.

Alater waited a minute or so, and sent a message to Tanus; "At local with DL, awaiting confirm on second Z." Alater scribled messily and sent it off to Tanus.

"Let's move, squad." Rizzit motioned.

Urakai looked up, opening his eyes and then sitting up from the bench of which he was resting on. Hector, Orobos and Giovanni all soon stood and began following Rizzit in their own fashion. Urakai was trailing behind. It was a natural habit of his, to see the entire squad, a habit that didn't go away like the battle sensation. In fact, coming from his month's leave, Urakai wasn't so sure he was ready to fight again, but still, here he was. Urakai was just wondering about Tanus, Alater and the rest when suddenly, a blast could he heard in the distance of the large shuttleport.

Rizzit turned his head to look back at his squad, stopping. Then he gave the nod. Soon, each squad member was moving faster and faster through the crowds keeping up with Rizzit's pace. A few people scurried away from a particular area that Rizzit was leading to, and they began to pick up conversations such as, "&and they ran through that door!" or "&he just fired and then the other guy chased him."

Urakai didn't like the look of things, and neither did anyone else as they began to draw further away from each other, looking around. The life forms were moving away from that area, and soon the crowds were just a trail of voices behind them.

"There's a blast on the edge of that pillar." Gio spotted, examining the black mark on a tall pillar hold the roof.

Then Orobos noticed a door with a jammed panel, and moved over to inspect this. Urakai noticed this too, and moved over. A dull red lone shone from a small dotted light at the top of the door.

"Make sure no one's watching, and let's try and get thought that door, no one's responding!" Rizzit ordered, replacing his com and moving his hand down and lightly resting it on a blaster pistol.

Hector scanned the area while Gio, Urakai and Orobos tried to breach the door.

"The controls are jammed, It's impossible without blasters." Urakai said after the failed attempts.

Turning to Rizzit, the three looked at him, until finally, he nodded.

Withdrawing blaster pistols each, they all aimed at the door, but before they fire, Orobos said, "Wait! Don't you hear that?"

Each listened more closely, and they soon made small *peow* sounds. There was no need for explaining, so then they all aimed, and as they pulled the triggers, bolts ripped through the air and chewed away the door in small explosions. Smoke rose and the blasts continued until Rizzit held his hand up. They all stopped, and as they did, louder blaster fire was heard. When the smoke cleared, the door appeared disfigured, and the edges of the holes seamed melted. With a kick, Giovanni knocked down the door and rushed in, with Urakai right behind followed by Orobos, Rizzit and Hector.

A small gunfight was taking place right before their eyes. It seemed to be two bodyguards and a tall, fat, curiously dressed man was firing at a group of people, along with a Rodiana and a Human. The small group was none other than Sam, Zafo and Alatar, but no Tanus. The trio was hiding behind some large ship parts, and the others were behind a small speeder. Lying on the ground, dead, were two humans.

Rizzit's group wasted no time in dispersing and begin firing. Urakai, with his blaster pistol, launched several shots from his barrel before retreating to Sam's position.

"What happened?" Urakai yelled over the blasterfire as he fired another shot.

The squad was beginning to take cover now, as the others seemed very well trained to cover and fire. Then, the Human man screamed as his torso was blasted from a shot by Zafo.

Then, as one of the bodyguards was shot, Sam yelled, "We'll explain later, just shoot!"

Then, the squad noticed that the Rodian, the bodyguard and the fat man had stopped firing and dropped their weapons. One by one, the squad came out from their hiding places, all guns drawn.

Tanus walked through the streets of the slum, having lost track of Zafo in the crowd of degenerates. He kept his pistol in his hand, concealed beneath his cloak and watching for his mark. Tanus continued migrating through the crowds until he came back to where he started, at the ship. He looked around and saw none of the Dark Dragoons around. He commed both Rizzit and Sam to find out where they were, but all that he got was static. Tanus sighed and started to walk away from the shuttle when he heard the sounds of blaster fire in the square below. He ran towards the site, pistol drawn and peering down. He saw the Dragoons laying fire down on many of the criminals, dropping them like flies. Tanus looked and saw that there were some others running towards them from the right flank. Not bloody likely, Tanus thought.

    Tanus saw the crooks as they were running past: they were a motley crew of aliens and humans, ranging from Weequays to the average human. They were all carrying weapons that looked like they either should have stopped working in the Clone Wars or looked like something the Vast Empire could really use in the field. Tanus eyed a couple of Tenloss disruptor rifles, and a single LJ-90 sniper rifle. Tanus eyed the sniper. So there's my target, Tanus thought. Tanus kept at a slowed pace behind them. And then they stopped, and so did Tanus. Tanus raised his pistol at the back of the sniper's head, and fired. The bright blue bolt flew from the end of his DC-15s to the back of the sniper's head, leaving a smoking hole where his face might have been. The body dropped, and the others turned, surprised and angry. They raised their weapons and fired as Tanus dashed behind a metal crate on the side of the ground. Red bolts hit the crate with a distinctive pang as Tanus turned his head around the corner to get a shot. He opened fire with a burst of three bolts, dropping two of the criminals and injuring another. Damn, still three more... Tanus thought. Then he smiled and drew his sword.

    Tanus jumped over the crate in a spectacular flip that landed him neatly in front of his targets. The enemies were stunned, and opened fire, pelting the ground around Tanus with blaster fire. Tanus charged, dodging every bolt he could, until he reached his first target. He brought the blade up in an upward cleave that relieved the man of one of his arms. He fell back, screaming, as Tanus brought the blade across the man's neck, severing his head clean off. He spun around, his blade extended. The man behind him got hit in the torso, sending blood everywhere. Tanus finished him off with a final slice to the spine. Tanus walked over to the wounded Weequay on the ground. He was simpering, begging for mercy in guttural basic. "Mercy?" Tanus asked. "I only give that to those who have earned it." And with that, Tanus brought the blade down, ending the alien's life. He sheathed his sword, drew his pistol and headed down to the square.

    Tanus walked forward in the square, absorbing the chaos of the battle that had just occurred. Tanus had his pistol drawn even as he approached where the Dragoons had taken up residence for the time being. As he came to the door, he belt a blaster barrel come to the side of his head. He looked side ways and its owner. "Hector, relax. It's me, Tanus." Hector lowered his weapon and eyed Tanus. "Good of you to show up. Sam's been looking for you. Where the hell've you been?" Tanus shook his head. "I'll tell Sam that one myself." Tanus walked down the hall to where Sam was with the rest of the squad.

    Tanus walked in to one of the rooms that was open, where Sam, Orobos and Urakai were interrogating one of the men from the shuttle. Sam turned and saw him enter the room. "Tanus, I was starting to think you were dead. What happened to you?" Tanus told him the entire story. Afterwards, Sam nodded.

        "Well, its good that you're still with us. We're just finishing up with this guy now. Rizzit and the others are working with the Rodian. It appears we have our objective. Several rebel and militia groups, along with some New Republic personnel, are here because they think Thrawn his coming for them. Based on this, they have taken many prisoners that are supposedly allied with Thrawn, but we know that that isn't the case. We're also not the only ones here: several other rebel groups and Vast Empire personnel are here, but they're with us. Other than that, it's really just a question of breaking into a prison facility and saving our guys. After that, we raze the place to the ground. No survivors."

        Tanus nodded. He gripped his pistol and his sword tightly. They were going to be getting a good workout.

Tanus took a back seat in the cargo hauler, preferring to keep a low profile as fire suppressant ships flew to the scene beneath them. Tanus closed his eyes and started to rest when Urakai shook him awake.

“Sam has our target in range, you may want to get ready.”

Tanus looked around and saw that the squad had begun to fan out in different directions, getting their armor ready. Tanus nodded and got up and took his duffel with him. He unpacked it and put on his armor, piece by piece. When he was done, he holstered his pistol and put his blade on his back. He then grabbed his helmet and held it under his arm, looking at the rest of squad. Most of them were ready to go. Sam called them all in to a circle around Rizzit.

“OK, here’s the plan. The detention facility is around here in a cut off section of forest outside of the capital. The plan is to infiltrate it and liberate the prisoners. Now, as I said, these guys are some planetary leaders that have no allegiances. Not with the New Republic and not with the Vast Empire. After we break them out, we turn them back over to their groups, so at the end it will be like ‘Driving Ms. Daisy.’”

The whole squad chuckled and looked from Rizzit to Sam. The situation was virtually bursting with excitement. Rizzit looked over the squad.

“Oh, and while we’re in the facility, be sure to grab some weapons for yourselves. You guys seam... under equipped.”

Tanus looked around: Rizzit seemed to be correct. Most of the squad only brought small arms with them, based on the secrecy of the mission. Then Sam started to speak again.

“Now we’re going to need a diversion to distract a good number of the guards. To that end, we’re going to be lighting a few fires in the forest. But we’re going to have to be cautious; because patrols will be guaranteed based on that we did in the spaceport. Hector is going to take the cargo hauler down and drop us off, then he’s going to retreat to a safe location. When I radio him, he’s going to come and pick us up, and we’ll high tail it out of here. Any questions?”

The entire squad shook their heads in a unified “no.” Sam gestured over to some fuel cans.

“Let’s get started then.”

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

The ship was brought down silently in the forest minutes after the briefing. Tanus hopped out, carrying a can of fuel under his arm, his helmet on. The rest of the squad came out soon after, most of the carrying fuel canisters as well. Tanus ran about 200 meters east and set up his can of fuel. The others did the same. When they all set them up, Hector took off and retreated back towards the city lights. Rizzit gave the command:

“Fire.”

Tanus let a single bolt out of his pistol, sending the fuel in flames and incinerating the tree it was near. The fire spread quickly. Tanus was already gone, trailing behind the Dragoons as the hurtled themselves into the burning night.

The light of the fire burned bright against his back as Tanus slid down the hill. The smoke was generating excellent cover for the squad, as the spotlights swept back and forth along the area. One by one, the squad slid to the facility, taking points near the entrance and close to the guard towers. In the center of the facility stood the checkpoint where the personnel came in and out. Tanus gripped his pistol, just waiting for the mistake that could end his life... A comm channel call broke the silence. It was Sam.

“OK, the three guard towers are going to make this incredibly difficult for us to get into the facility, Furthermore, we have a security checkpoint to get through. The only viable option we have is cut the power. I’ll create two teams to handle each operation. The first team will be me, Orobos, Urakai and Giovanni. We’re going to cut the power so you guys can get in. The rest of you will get in and free the prisoners. Hopefully when you get out, the power should still be off. If its not, then we will be in a lot of trouble. OK, teams, split up and move out.”

Tanus stayed where he was, as did Rizzit and Zafo. Tanus began to creep along the ground, sliding his way towards Zafo. Zafo barely even looked at him. “You ready kid?” Tanus nodded, holding his pistol tightly. “OK, then lets go.” Zafo nodded to Rizzit. Rizzit started to move with the grace of a dancer, nimbly dodging the beams of light as the swept past. The destination was a group of metal cartons close the security checkpoint.

Zafo and Tanus moved themselves behind another group of cartons, waiting for the right time to go. When it came, Zafo launched himself forward, barely even touching to ground as he landed neatly next to Rizzit. Rizzit ushered Tanus forward, and Tanus waited for his time... and it came. Tanus rolled across the ground, not making a sound as he landed right in front of Rizzit. Rizzit gave Tanus a thumbs up “Nicely done.” Tanus nodded, and continued silently behind Rizzit and Zafo. Rizzit held up and a hand and Tanus came to a halt and crouched down.

From over the crates, Tanus could see the security checkpoint, and he could still see the light sweeping back and forth. And Tanus was just waiting for when it became pitch black.

Urakai had barely noticed that the shine had now faded behind the hills, and the only light was the burning blaze in the distance. Muffled cries and shouts could be heard in the distance as sparks flew from the generator cable, leaving no source of power. Urakai cut it fast and without hesitation, or else he would have been fried.

“Let’s move.” Gio motioned as blasterfire could be heard in the distance.

Urakai grinned, replacing his helmet on top of his head, party time.

It was lucky that Sam had them pack their armor in their packs; else the heavy smoke in their lungs would affect their fighting. Giovanni advanced forward, while Urakai crouched low and dug his vibro blade deep into the dry dirt, cleaning it from the blood. Then, he picked himself and followed Gio, replacing his blade opposite his second blade on the utility belt. As Urakai and Gio walked outside, two shadowy figures emerged from the blaze behind them.

“Nice job.” Sam congratulated, with Orobos right behind.

“What now?” Orobos asked.

Before Sam could answer, the comlink buzzed with static, “Sam, we’ve snuck inside past the guard towers. They’re pretty frantic right now but I don’t think they’ll have a battery system for the spotlights. Proceeding to cells.”

Everyone heard this, and Urakai was the first to speak, “It’s Zafo. Think we should go in?”

“No,” Sam responded, “Better stay out here just in case they have any friends. We’ll be ready if they need backup, though.”

In the follow short minutes, the Dragoons had positioned themselves all over the entrance, waiting to burst through the entrance, or eliminate a backup group. The flames from the fire had dimmed, and fresh air began to come through the helmet filter again as the smoke cleared. Urakai looked up to see thousands of stars, gleaming in the sky. It was not as dark as they all had thought. This became a problem, as the white stormtrooper armor easily reflected.

Soon, Urakai whispered into the helmet mouthpiece, “I think we should take out the guard towers now.”

He was soon responded with, “Okay, but lets be quiet, we don’t need anymore attention.”

Urakai crept over to Giovanni’s position and handed him one of his short vibro blades. Gio took interest in this, as he gripped it and slowly made his way toward the guard tower ladder. Orobos was ordered to keep guard while Sam took the third towed, positioned more like a lookout. Slowly, Urakai crept up the ladder, making sure to be as light as a feather.

He was only a few feet away from the top, when the comlink buzzed, “Guys, there are too many turrets at the security checkpoint. We easily killed the people but the turrets are indestructible-” the comm suddenly switched from what sounded like Tanus, to Zafo, “The turrets have some sort of generators attached to them, but also have some kind of shields protecting them, we’re going to need some heavier equipment to penetrate it.”

Everyone heard this, and the worst part, was that at that moment, the spotlights in the guard towers suddenly boomed on, revealing Orobos, laying in the long grass, stunned. Urakai and Gio pulled themselves up the ladder at incredible speed, getting up and over in a flash. To Urakai, he saw two men, one aiming a rifle at Orobos and another grabbing his own. Quickly, he shot his arm out with his wrist fling the blade through the air and slicing the hand off one. Orobos was already on the move as Gio took out the guards in the tower while Urakai dodged a blast from the other man, giving him a nice hard kick to the jaw, sending him off the platform. To the other man, Urakai saved him the pain of just blasting his head.

“It’s safe now, Orobos!” Urakai yelled, wondering where he had ran to.

Soon, Orobos showed himself as Urakai aimed the high beam spotlight away from his face.

“Damn, man, your lucky Orobos.” Gio commented, sliding down the the tower.

Urakai grabbed his vibro blade and strapped it to his belt, then picked up the two blaster fifles, “Here catch!”

He dropped them to be caught by Gio and Orobos, then he himself slid down the ladder to regroup with them.

“Where’s Sam?” Orobos asked, looking around.

“Right here,” Sam replied, climbing down the last of the ladder, and in hand, he was carrying a heavy blaster rifle, “I think this will take care of those shields.”

Sam and Giovanni stormed in, blasters at the ready. As they turned the corner, they found three guards that had taken shelter in the corner, thinking the turrets would keep them safe. They were wrong, and were quickly put to an end with a few well aimed shots from Sam and Gio. Blaster fire was also heard in the left wing, but thought of nothing to worry about. The detention blocks became visible. A short hall with doors parallel, each sealed with heavy bars. Projectors in the ridges of the doors indicated that the doors must have also been protected by a shield, however taken down with the generator.

“Hold your fire, Dragoons.” Sam ordered as he cautiously moved down the hall.

Most of the cells were empty, apart from a Twi-lek, a Human and what appeared to be an indigenous species of Abregado-rae.

The human became wide-eyed, “Imperials?” he asked himself, “That can’t be.”

Once again, the comlinks buzzed, “Three humans in this part, sir, the bars are thick, what are you intending?” Zafo asked.

“We’re here to free you, that’s all you need to know at this point,” Sam said to the prisoners before returning to converse with Zafo.

Then Orobos pointed out a console at the end of the hall, the glowing blue lights indicating it was functional.

“Wait sir,” Zafo said, “we see some sort of a computer terminal at our end.”

“Yeah, we see it too, it must unlock these jails. Proceed.” Sam responded, then walking up to the console and examining it.

Sure enough, there was a release button. Without hesitating, Sam clicked on the button. All too suddenly, the dim blue lights of the roof turned red as the bars lifted from the cells. A small alarm when off, follow by a strange beeping.

“You think that beeping is radar?” Urakai asked, puzzled at the sudden change.

“No,” Gio responded, who realized what it was, “It’s a beacon!”

“It must’ve been a trap button!” Rizzit yelled through the comlink.

“All Dragoons, forward those prisoners and out!” Sam shouted, grabbing the arm of the Twi-lek and running behind the rest of the squad.

In all the confusion, Urakai just ran with the rest, who soon combined with the other ring, running down the hall, past the two melted turrets. The part of it, though, was that the entrance door began to shut. Without thinking, Urakai darted to the door, grabbed it by the bottom, and with all the energy he had in himself, he pulled the door up. It began to slow in shutting, but it was still shutting. Quickly, Orobos joined Urakai, and together, they held the door enough so everyone was able to crouch under it.

“Go!” Urakai shout to Orobos.

Orobos then dropped and rolled out then Urakai quickly did the same and missed having his head crushed by an inch.

Picking himself up, Sam ordered, “Get them onto that transport, and let’s get out of here.”

Urakai stood as the four humans, the two indigenous Abregado-rae creatures and the Twi-lek were led out into what was left of the forest, a black smoky heap.

Tanus stood at the center of the group, pistol and sword at his feet, watching the spectacle in front of his squad. The squad stood, hands raised and weaponless, surrounded by rebels while a village elder hugged his son. As the elder stepped back, he stared at one of the senior guards.

"Tell the council the seven have returned. And make sure our guests are accommodated.”

The man stared from the old man to the Dragoons and grimaced. He nodded to his men to lower their weapons, and they did, albeit reluctantly. The senior guard nodded at two of his men to come towards him, to provide backup, but from what, Tanus had no idea. None of the Dragoons were stupid enough to make a move in a camp where just about everybody had a weapon. The guard finally spoke after about five minutes of muttering to his guards. Tanus watched as the scurried down to the camp.

“Grab your weapons and follow me. No funny business, or you’ll be dead faster than you can blink.”

Tanus rolled his eyes, and reached down for his pistol and sword. He holstered his pistol and secured his sword before moving out. He was at the back of the group with Gio and Urakai. Tanus eyed the camp. It looked positively ancient. It was in what appeared to be a dead grove of some kind, was there were still trees here and there. From all appearances, it looked like a Tusken Raider camp. Tanus continued forward, getting very strange looks form the locals: a mixture of hatred and awe.

The senior guard stopped short, bringing the little trip to a halt. He turned to face the rest of the squad. His face was contorted in a look of disgust. He then addressed both Rizzit and Sam directly.

“These three tents are your quarters for the time being. You can explore the camp as you wish, but if you or your men do anything, we shoot to kill. Just remember that.”

Rizzit gave a curt nod. Sam just grunted his answer.

Then the guard turned and walked away. Sam turned to the Dragoons.

“OK, well, we can’t do to much here. As it is, we have to convince these rebels to help us as much as possible; that will be Rizzit and mine’s job. As for the rest of you, just keep a low profile. I don’t want you doing anything that will hurt our chances of using their aid. And now, to divide the troops to their quarters; Rizzit, Zafo and I will take this one,” Sam pointed to the tent directly behind him. “Orobos and Hector will take that one. And Gio, Urakai and Tanus will take the last one.”


Tanus walked in to the tent, and realized how much these people must hate outsiders. They had cots that were probably held together by duct tape or less, and probably should have been burned after the Clone Wars. Tanus shrugged and dropped his duffel on the ground. He unzipped it and pulled out his regular clothes; he figured that if he walked around in his armor the entire time, people might get anxious and just make a move. When Tanus was finished, his armor was at the foot of his bed. His pistol was still holstered at his side, his blade slung across his back. He looked to both Gio and Urakai; they had decided to sit down for a bit. Tanus told them he was just going for a walk. They both nodded and fell back on the ancient mattresses they were given. Tanus lifted the flap of his tent and walked outside for a while.

--- --- ---

When Tanus got back to the tent area, he saw the rest of the Dragoons all talking. He moved in closer to hear the conversation better.

“...Well, we do need to talk to them. If we can get them to help us, it’ll make our lives a whole hell of a lot easier,” Sam said. He turned and saw Tanus walking forward. He nodded at him and gestured him forward.

“Hi, Tanus. We’re just discussing what we’re going to do when we have to leave. We want to try and get the elders on our side, maybe send some support, so we can get to our next objective.”

Tanus nodded. He had thought that they would be leaving the camp soon, but he wasn’t aware that it would be this soon. Sam looked back at him. “Put on your cloak. We’re going to meet the elders now.”

--- --- ---

The elder’s tent was a gigantic, almost circus tent in the far corner of the camp, with the setting sun behind it. Tanus trudged along, still getting the same looks as when the Dragoons had entered the camp. Tanus merely ignored them; this was going to make or break the mission for them. As the Dragoons walked forward, they were stopped my some of the guards.

“We have business with the elders. Stand aside or meet the dirt.”

The guards moved out of their way, and the Dragoons entered the tent. There was a fire in the center of the room, with eight old men and women seated around it. As the squad entered, Sam ordered them to stop at the door.

“Let Zafo, Rizzit and I handle this. Just stay here and look pretty.”

Tanus smirked as the three of them walked forward. The men and women eyed over the members of group with a detached interest. Finally, after what seemed like hours, one of the elders finally spoke.

“Well, soldier, you have done us a great service in returning those people to us; without them, the resistance may not have survived for much longer. We are in your debt.”

Sam nodded. “Thank you for your praise elders. But the reason we’re here is to pick up that debt you just mentioned. It seems that there is a list of targets that our superiors are interested in having. It is a list of targets and schedules and things of that nature. Do you happen to have something like that?”

There was quite a bit of murmuring among the elders. Tanus could feel it; the tension in the room was palpable. Then a surprising answer came: “Yes, soldier, we have that document. You may have it. It seems like you need it much more than we do.” The elders rose. “Good luck and God speed.”

The entire squad bowed, and then left the tent. Now this is where it was going to get interesting...


OOC: End of Phase I