Lumier shot a look at the Trandoshan child, then back at the other trandoshan who was aiming at the child, "Damn trandoshan pig!", she said to herself. She moved behind the rock then rested the rifle firmly on the side of the rock, then aimed down the rifle.. and fired

**

Tzhali nodded, "3 against 4, those are good odds", he said to himself. His guard looked at him, "Don't know about you Tzhali but I have no wish to work with these Trandoshans", he said in wookie

Tzhali turned around, and glared at him. His bowcaster raised and aimed at the guards troat, "I'm in charge here, meaning you follow my orders, I could've very well brought a human along with me instead, but I decided to bring you along since you need to get out of the ship", he said with a growl

The guard nodded, then looked away. Tzhali sighed, then glanced back at the Trandoshan, "We can help you, but as for a perminent alliegence Its not up to me", he said and lowered his bowcaster, "If you need anything, transport, protection, then please let me know. As for contacting our ship, until that battle stops they won't establish any signal"

**

Kasandra flew to the starboard side of the bridge, they took a hit to the prow and the ships hull began to buckel under the shear firepower that the trandoshans where throwing at them

"We can't take another hit like that!", yelled a young officer, "Unless you want a new addition to this ship", he said with a grin. But that grin quickly fadded when Kasandra glared at him

"No time for jokes, charge up all weapons and prepare to fire, we have to take out this fleet and re'establish contact with the captain", She said

How delicious it was…seeing the youths fear as child realized he was about to meet his ancestors. Besk could have shot him right then, but he was enjoying the terror he was causing this kid.
That hesitance cost him, for the previously unseen Wookiee’s attack had caught him completely by surprise. The bolt struck him in the chest, knocking him off his speeder and his weapon going off. His vision was momentarily blackened as he nearly blacked out from the pain, but the seasoned warrior fought off his body’s desires to go unconscious.
Slowly he pulled himself back up and growled at the Wookiee that had shot him. He could see the shocked look on the Wookiees face and he chuckled.

It takes a lot more then that to kill one of us you stupid animal. He thought. Besk really wanted to kill that Wookiee, but the sound of the guns going off will no doubt bring out the deviants warriors, which he was in no condition now to face. Instead he got back on his speeder and sped away…

***

The bolt slamming into wall just above and next to him was what it took to snap Trissan out of his fear-induced state. With a shriek he scampered back the way he had came, back into the temple and didn’t stop running until he found someone he knew he would be safe with…

***

Naosha nodded. “I understand. Any help you are able to provide we would appreciate. I do not expect all of your people to go along with this proposed allegiance, as I don’t expect all of my people to go along with it: such a drastic change from what has been considered the norm for generations would be…unrealistic for many.”

She would have continued, but was interrupted when Rissonik was suddenly knocked over by Trissan, who had come tearing into the room. Both Naosha and Rissonik instantly knew that this act was no act of mischievousness on his part…for they both could see the terror in his eyes. Never before had they seen the normally fearless and bold Trissan so frightened.

“Trissan…” Rissonik said as he tried to loosen the child’s grip enough to where he wasn’t suffocating him. “What’s wrong?”

“Bad guy…” Trissan whimpered, his face buried Rissonik’s tunic. “Bad guy outside tried to shoot me…”

“Who would dare..!?” Naosha hissed, furious. It was never a good idea to threaten a mother’s, in this case grandmothers, brood.

A lower ranking warrior came running in then, looking a bit panicked. “Sha’tor!” He said, a bit winded. He looked nervously over at the Wookiees but continued. “There’s been a shoots fired just outside the compound and a speeder was spotted moving away toward the city.”

Rissonik noticed that the mention of a speeder made Trissan cling to him even tighter: it didn’t take him long to put the pieces together.

“Should I have someone give chase before he gets too far?” The warrior asked.

“No…to pursue him would confirm that we are hiding here.” Rissonik said grimly. “However…I have a suspicion that he already got the confirmation he needed…”

“How do you mean Sha’tor?” The warrior asked.

“Why else would this individual shoot at our grandson if he did not recognize him as such?” Naosha growled. “If this is so then we are no longer be safe here…for by now he would be too far away to catch."

---

Meanwhile up in space an additional Trandoshan destroyer was making its way to the battle. The captain of this ship however...wasn't so sure what side to aid. So he had the ship stop just out of sensor range of their fellow ships, while he sorted out the internal debate he had been fighting for several days now.

"Captain Tiosk." One of his officers called to him and he glanced over his way to regard the Trandoshan.

"Yes what is it?" He asked.

"Why are we just hanging here sir?" The officer asked. "The members of our fleet currenting engaged with the Wookiees are outnumbered."

"I am aware of that...but I am wondering who is more deserving of our help..."

The Officer blinked at him in disbelief. "Sir...isn't it obvious?"

"Not anymore."

"You've been listening to that Separatist nerf waste haven't you?" Tiosk noticed the officer's tone had a sharp edge to it now.

"So what if I have? Our general views on things have been stagant for many generations now. Healthy cultures change over time...we have not done that."

"Then...you are a traitor to our people." The officer growled, drawing his blaster and point it at him. "I demand that you relinquish your station!"

The rest of the crew on the bridge stopped what they were doing and stared at the scene. Tiosk knew they had heard the entire conversation and only the officer who was currently holding a blaster to his head was the one that was displaying any malice. Taking this into account, he simply smiled at the officer.

"You rely on your guns too much..." He said calmly. Before the officer could wonder what he meant by it, Tiosk snapped out with one hand, grabbing the blaster and forcing it away from him. At the same time he had not only drawn a simple blade from his belt, but drove it upwards into his chest, bypassing his ribs easily. The officer gasped as the blade tore through a lung and pierced his heart. Then he was dead, crumpling to the floor of the bridge. "Disloyality...is always frowned upon..." Tiosk, a former member of the K'Satikur Clan muttered, his path now clear to him. He glanced over at the rest of his crew on the bridge and saw no opposition there as before.

"What are your orders sir?" One of the other officers asked.

Tiosk looked back at the viewscreen. "Move us into the battlefield, target the nearest Trandoshan ship that is enaging the Wookiees...and fire." He glanced down at the dead officer beside him. "And someone get this mess cleaned up."

Tzhali glanced at the child, it reminded him of his daughter who was still on the destroyer up above, he knew he shouldn't of brought his daughter along but orders where orders

"Since it seems you where discovered", he said in wookie, "I can offer our ships as transports to another planet", he said. His guard growled for a momment but remained silent

**

Lumier watched the speeder take off, she grined, "Wounded prey leaving the battlefield", she said and hostered her rifle. Then unshelfed her Vibroblade, "Tzhali should be almost done, and if I'm right he's probably already offered our help", she said and smiled, "He's to trusting, one of these days someones going to take advantage of that trust and use it against him", she laid back against the ruins and kept a look out

**

Fleet Officer Kasandra was directly most of the fire when the radar ops officer turned, "Ma'am! We have ANOTHER Trandoshan ship entering the battlefield", she said and turned back to the screen

"Another one?", she said and glanced at the radar screen, the first thing she noticed instantly was the approuch vecture, instead of heading for them it was lining up on one of the trandoshan ships, almost like it was going to engage one of its own, "What the hell is going on here? First the surface, now up here.. can someone tell me whats wrong with this picture"

One of the officers turned and looked at her, "Looks like a rebellion ma'am", he said, "My guess is that this battle is going to get heated up very very soon", he said

Kasandra nodded, "Any com from the captain?"

The com's officer turned and shock his head, Kasandra sighed. "Lets finish this battle then send a team down to locate the captain"

Naosha shook her head. "I am not ready to give up on this planet." She said stubbornly. "Our location here is compromised but we can find another location to continue to keep the pressure on our government." She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Besides...I know little about the other planets out there...and we have yet to decide on a planet to retreat to should it come to that."

"However..." Rissonik intersected, who had managed to get back up to his feet by now but still have Trissan clinging to him. "It would be wise for some of our number to go with you. Not only to seek out such a planet, but to protect those of our number that would be too tempting a political target to knock off...like our grandkids."

Naosha gave him a look, but realized he was right and her gaze softened and she nodded. What better place for the remainder of her son's clutch to go then with the Wookiees? The last race they'd expect?

"The kids can't go with them alone..." She said, her motherly side coming out.

"Of course not...you're going with them." Rissonik said.

She looked at him shocked. "But I can't...I don't know their language!" She protested.

"Excuse me Mad'am" Silliss said with a polite bow. "But I know their tongue and I volunteer to go with you and the children."

"But I am needed here."

"You don't have to be here to remain an influence. I have served as your voice ever since we arrived at this temple...and I will continue to do so even if you are off planet." Rissonik said. "It will be safer for you to go anyway: you know the Council wants you dead."

"I den't wunt te bo sopurutod frem yea uguin Riss..." She said softly in Clan Dialect. "I safforod twonty yours net knewing whut hupponod te yea..."

"I know 'Sha..." Rissonik said with a sigh, recalling those long, dark and lonely days he was held prisioner in this very temple. But now is not the time for our personal feelings to get in the way of what we are trying to do for the sake of our people. We both chose this path...and we both have to accept the risks of taking it."

"You...you're right." Naosha said with a heavy sigh. "I'll go with them...along with the kids." She reached over and pried Trissan off of her mates chest and held youngster close. "How many others should I take with me?" She asked.
****

His semi-transparent third eye lids slid over his eyes from the glare of the first of the Trandoshan fleet his ship was engaging suffered from a serious blow in the wrong place and blew apart. The last two Trandoshan ships looked to be confused and rightly so having not expected a fellow ship to start firing on them. This brought a smile to Tiosk's face as he ordered his crew to target the next Trandoshan ship and start firing.

Stuck between a rogue Trandoshan ship and the four Republic Destroyers of the Wookiee fleet and being too close to the planet to jump to hyperspace, the two remaining ships didn't have a chance and quickly meet their doom as well.

"Stand down all weapons." Tiosk ordered. "And take us out of this area quickly before the rest of our former fleet finds out about this."

Kasandra watched as the Trandoshan ship entered hyperspace, "What the....", she said surprised

"Well, they helped us... which means something is seriously wrong here", the com officer said

"get a message off, tell them about whats going on", Kasandra said

"Already tried, where being ordered back to the homeworld. Apperently they think where mad"

Kasandra smiled, "Its only natural", she said. "Lets hold our position, send a message to the fleet"

"Yes Ma'am", the officer said

***

Tzhali glanced down at Trissan, he looked away from the child and a hint of anger was seen on his face

"You know, you shouldn't get angry. Its not good for you blood pressure", Came a voice from a dark part of the room

Tzhali glanced over at the dark spot, and saw Lumier appear from there. She was holding the sniper rifle and he could tell that one shot was fired from the rifle

"I see you fired that rifle.. lemme gu-", He said

"We had company, The intruder aimed at a child and, prior to you're orders, I aimed and took a shot", She said and then noticed a trandoshan child, she smiled weakly before looking at back Tzhali, "I would suggest we get going", she said and glanced over at a Female Trandoshan, "Will she be coming along?"

Tzhali only nodded and put his hand on his bowcaster, "We'll be providing protection for them", he said

His guard was now angry, he didn't trust trandoshans and he seriously didn't trust Tzhali's decision. He knew that Tzhali didn't have quick reflexes, he had a choice.. either kill Tzhali... or that woman, he thought about going after the woman but her own guards would cut him down in seconds

He then glanced over at Tzhali, and smiled

Lumier had been watching Tzhali but her other eye was on his guard, she narrowed her eyes when she noticed that he was glancing over at the trandoshan female then back at Tzhali. She hostered her rifle and placed her hand on her Vibroblade, Don't do it...., she said to herself

The guard made his move, he took out his blade and tried to swing at Tzhali. He felt something go into his stomach, through his lungs and out his back, blood came from his mouth and he stud there, then looked at who had defended Tzhali, "You........", he said before calapsing

Tzhali was surprised, he had never seen Lumier move with such speed and grace, she used her left hand and pushed him to the side and drove her blade into his guards stomach. He stud there for a minute before speaking up, "I guess he didn't agree with my decision... How sad", he said with no since of remorse in his voice

He looked over at the Trandoshan female, "We'll be waiting outside the temple, the fleet won't leave until I'm back onboard. Don't worry no one will harm you", he said and began to walk away. Lumier look at him, then at the Trandoshan female, then back at Tzhali and walked with him

(ooc: I hate writers block! *snarls*)

"Councilor Naosha." One of the Trandoshans at the comm said. "I just got word of something you will be pleased to hear."

Naosha and Rissonik, both their interests captured, looked over at him. "Go ahead." Naosha said with a nod.

"A fifth Trandoshan ship had appeared on the battlefield, but instead of attacking the Wookiees, it helped them destory the other ships."

Naosha looked over at Rissonik, mouth agape. "Any idea who was in command of that ship?"

"No sir...but we did get an ID of the ship. It was the Bloodfang sir."

Rissonik's eyes closed, his smile wide: he knew who commanded that ship. Glad to hear you share my views Tiosk, my old friend. He thought. He remembered back before his brother Tnossok imprisoned him and took the Clan for himself, Tiosk was a K'Satikur Warrior in the Clan and good friend to him. His loyality could always be counted on then...and that old loyality never faded with the time.

"Is the ship in comm range?" He asked.

"No sir. It jumped into hyperspace as soon as the battle was over."

Rissonik nodded. "Probably a good thing...the remainder of the Councils fleet won't like the fact that one of it's on turned on them. I am sure we will have other opportunities to speak with the Bloodfang's Captain." He said. "Either way...it is still unsafe to remain here. Silliss."

"Yes Sha'tor?" Silliss replied.

"I need you to sought out through our ranks and find out who would be willing to go with our new friends for the time being. I would like nine other K'Satikur warriors and twenty of the warrior ranks if you can manage it. Also see about twenty of the new supporters: no doubt the Wookiees will have use of their trade skills. I will trust your judgement on this Silliss. This needs to be done quickly."

Silliss straightened up sharply and bowed, his hands crossed at the wrist in the Clan gesture. "I will not fail you Sha'tor. What will the remainder of our group do?"

"We will spread to the four winds so to speak." Rissonik said. "Until we can find a new place to base our operations. Go."

Silliss bowed again and quickly departed.

He looked over at Naosha, who had a sad look in her eyes.

"Ne muttor whut huppons...wo will ulwuys bo tegothor." He said to softly in Clan Dialect, stroking her cheek. "Wo will soo ouch ethor uguin."

Naosha nodded, accepting the hand fate had dealt them this day. "De net fergot Varcanna...sho noods te knew ef this dovolepmont." She said.

"I wun't. I will sond hor u mossugo bofero I louvo."

Tzhali walked down the passage leading to the Exit,Lumier walked up next to him. "Taking those Trandoshans aboard will be very risky, we could be seen as traitors to our clans", she said

Tzhali had that same thought, "Would they risk firing on one of the clans best fleets?", He said with a slight grin

Lumier shook her head, "I guess you're right", she said

They walked up to the exit of the temple, Tzhali looked about and scanned the Horizon. "I wish this war would end..", he said

Lumier sighed, "I know, I wish I could go back to my family, already lost my two sons and daughters to this war", she raised her weapon to show her frustration

"Lumier, I want you to patrol the area between here and the shuttle... make sure its safe, since children will be with us", He said

"I'm sure some of there elites will be coming along", Lumier said

"Still....", He said

"Very well", Lumier said and took off in a sprint

Tzhali glanced behind him, he opened his fist then clenched it shut and looked away. "I hope these Trandoshans realize that I can't protect them forever, that even I have my orders. My main order is to rescue a certain wookie, but there not on this planet so I have nothing to worry about", he said and took out his crossbow and started scanning the area

Inside, the temple was now a bussle of activity as members of the rebellion packed up as much of the essential items as they could for the evacuation. Naosha was rounding up her other grandchildren, as well as packing what personal belongings she had, which was not much. Among the items she took the star charts, thinking maybe the Wookiees could help her determine which planet to make their new home on if it came to that.

Mainwhile Rissonik was writting out a message to be sent to Varcanna, but he dared not send it from their equipment here when he was finished writing it. Instead, he intended to have it sent out through the main communcations center in the city, with the help of their allies there. He didn't know if Varcanna had deecryption equipment on her ship, so as a precaution he wrote it in their Clan Dialect, which would throw off most interceptors of the message. As well as telling her all that went on here so far...he had a task for her do as well once she finished securing his grandson Silonik in the Jedi Academy: to find the ship Bloodfang and fully enlist the assistance of it's commander, Tiosk, and his crew. This current alliagence with this Wookiee he had rescued would likely only be temporary at best, for the Wookiee was risking his own reputation by helping them. The sudden attempted assassination of the Wookiee proved: the would be assassinator was still laying dead not far away from him. Thus he intended to burden their new ally as little as possible, to avoid straining the tentive alliagence.

After about a half hour, Naosha emerged from the Temple for the first time in weeks, her eyes rapidly blinking as they adjusted to the sudden light. Behind her, Silliss, her grandkids, and the rest of the selected members to go with her came out as well. Her three granddaugthers stared up at the Wookiee before them, one of them tugging on his fur briefly before Naosha snatched her away before she could annoy the Wookiee. Trissan was behaving for once...though that was likely due to the shock he was still in from getting shot at earilier.

"We're ready." Naosha said. "Where are you...uh...parked."

Tzhali glanced at the Trandoshan, he then smiled and was about to walk when Lumier came up to him. "Shuttle is on its way, it'll land a little bit away.. a good 5 minute walk, however we have a problem. Theres a group of Trandoshan's heading this way, it'll take then 4 minutes to reach the shuttle", she said

Tzhali placed his furry hand on his chin, then nodded and spoke in wookie dielect. Lumier nodded then looked at the Female Trandoshan

"I hope you're fast", she said in a kind tone, "Cause where about to have company. I would suggest you're warriors take up a surrounding postion around you and you're grandchildren", she said then glanced down at the children, "Every child is special.. everyone of them deserves to live", she said before pulling the pin back on her rifle.. a soft Cha-ching, resonated from the barrel she then turned and looked at Tzhali

Tzhali nodded, he didn't want to speak. Expially since he had this strange feeling they where being watched

Meanwhile back on the shuttle

Two wookies where flying the shuttle, they roared over hills of dirt and went through a narrow canyon. Several small ships appeared in the sky

"Fighters", One of the wookies said

"I see them, this shuttle has weapons. Arm them and fire", the other one said

The shuttles weapon's system came to life, red laser fire littered the sky, the 3 trandoshan fighters went down in mer seconds

"Must've been new pilots", The pilot said

"Maybe, Captain Tzhali should be near the temple, we better hurry or else we'll never hear the end of it"

The other wookie nodded, not wanting to get yelled at for the third time

Naosha frowned: she was a politican, not a marathon runner. However she realized that if they didn't get to the shuttle first, they likely wouldn't get off the planet at all. Subconsciously she put a hand on the holster of her pistol, fearing it may be put to use soon.

Beside her Silliss was barking commands, getting his warriors around Naosha and the childern. The few warriors and the non-clan members that were with them that had long range weaponary he positioned on the outer edges of the group, primarily to serve as cover fire for the rest of the group while they got into the shuttle. Four of the warriors were assigned to carry the kids, since they wouldn't likely be able to keep up with the adults on this long sprint.

***

Besk knew his chance at wiping out the rebellion was quickly fading when she saw Naosha and a bunch of others emerge from the Temple, all wearing traveling packs. He had no doubts that within the temple itself the rest of the members were disassembling their base and dispersing via exits he couldn't see. He so wanted to pick off Naosha right now, but he was both out of range and lacked a clear shot from his hiding spot.

Snarling he unhooked his radio and called his friends at the comm. This was on a secure military frequency, so there was little chance of the Rebels picking it up.

"You do have a unit proceeding to the reported cooridnates correct?" He said.

~Yes sir. They should be at the cooridnates in approx. 4 mins.~ Came a reply.

"Well you better make them move faster...as our main target is fixing to leave!" He snarled. He looked up and saw the group start to sprint away. "Correction...they are leaving right now!"

***

Naosha quickly decided she detested running. She hated the way her mouth went dry, her legs ached and her chest starting to burn. Of course she only had herselp to blame: having lived a 'comfortable' life as a politician, she didn't exactly get much exercise, nor was she motiviated too.

She wasn't exactly sure if she was grateful or annoyed at Silliss, who kept encouraging her after he noticed she was struggling. Of course...part of his 'encouragement' was basically threatening to carry her: how undignified for the proud former counselor...