(ooc: background threads: -...Establish Justice...-, -Separatist Beginnings-)

Trandosha: Hsskhor

In a large city like Hsskhor, the capital city of Trandosha, there are many places one could hide. However for individuals like Rissonik, leader of the remaining members of the K'Satikur and co-leader of the Separatist Movement, those hiding places seemed to be few and far between. While having their group be scattered like it was prevented Hyossk's forces from making any real dent in their numbers, it prevented Rissonik from effectively communicating with them and thus couldn't organize any resistance against their pursuers.

We need to reorganize... Rissonik thought, looking wearily out of the window of the basement he was currently making his 'home'. The problem of course was finding all of his supporters. He knew members of his Clan by sight: he already found two of them a warrior and K'Satikur warrior who were in the room with him, but non clan members were a problem when it came to identification. Very few of them, like the ones in the communications building, he knew he could trust. I need to find at least one of the Ekirta or Keshur we have running around as covert agents...

If he could find them...he would effective become connected to the spy network he and Naosha set up when the movement started. The problem of course was that he couldn't go looking for those individuals very easily: his face was too well known and the Council had eyes everywhere. The two warriors with him wouldn't have a much easier time of it either...

"Sha'tor." He heard one of his warriors call to him. "I hear someone coming."

"Great..." Rissonik grumbled.

A moment later two Trandoshan marines kicked open the door to the basement. At first they could see nothing, but decended the steps to give a more thorough search.

"Someone's been here recently..." One of them growled. "I can still smell their spore."

"Actually...we are still here..." A voice said behind them. As they turned around they both got clobbered over the head by the two warriors. They didn't kill them, at least...not yet. Rissonik had them stripped of their clothing and equipment, then he put on one of the uniforms, the K'Satikur warrior putting on the other. The other warrior then killed the two marines cleanly and wiped his blade clean. Rissonik wished there was a third marine so his second warrior could disguise himself, but knew he couldn't have everything: he was improvising a lot now as is to keep himself alive.

The two of us that would be most recognizable are covered at least... Rissonik thought as he and the two warriors calmly exited the building.


Council of Elders: Hyossk's private chambers

"You mean to tell me...that you haven't found them yet?" A none to pleased Hyossk growled.

"It is difficult to track down rebels that have scattered to the four winds Councilor." Besk said calmly. "But with them scattered as they are...it will be difficult for them to make any moves against us. We have time."

"But not as far as Naosha is concerned." Hyossk hissed. "Who...if I must remind you...was last seen leaving on a Wookiee shuttle!"

Besk had to fight to keep the look of surprise off his face: it would seem the Councilor was better informed then he thought. "The attack on the Wookiee's ship left it heavily damaged Councilor, with it's long range communications systems and hyperdrive disabled according to the scans from the surviving two ships of our fleet we sent in." Besk said calmly. "It would have been too risky for them to try to make a run back to Kashyyyk, which means they likely set down some where close by. It will be only a matter of time before they are found and finished off."

"There is also the matter of the rogue Destroyer Besk." Hyossk sneered. "There has been no sign of where it ran off too...and could reappear at any time to assist them."

Ah yes...the 'Bloodfang'. Besk thought. "I can assure you that I have every put every effort in finding the Bloodfang sir. It's..."

"'Only a matter of time'...Time we don't have Besk!" Hyossk growled. "The public is already restless and there has been growning dissent amoung them. The sooner we can eliminate those threats the sooner we can start to repair the damage. Do not come back here until you've made some actual progess! Like Rissonik's head on a platter!"

"As you command...Councilor Hyossk." Besk bowed and took his leave. Fool. Besk thought bitterly. It may already be too late to repair the damage...


***

Tissuss

It wasn't everyday a Republic Class destroyer was forced to land on a planets (in this case 'moon') surface, so the Triton looked very odd indeed perched as it was, half of it in a forest...the other half over a large meadow. The first order of business was not only repairing the ships communication lines, but 'freeing' the Captain and the rest of the bridge crew from their sefl imposted prison.

The combined effort of the Trandoshan, Wookiee and human engineers aboard the ship managed to get one of the bulkhead doors open: the breeched hull above them now let in a lovely cooling breeze, however the combination of bulkhead and blast door was giving them headaches. They had no doubts the people on the other side were starting to get a bit stir crazy...

...

Outside Silliss and his warriors made themselves useful by hunting for fresh meat for the crew and tending to those that were injured as well as burying the dead. Naosha herself couldn't be of much help in those areas, so helped the nurses keep an eye on the kids instead. Naturally...Trissan was proving to be a handful: Naosha had lost count on how many times she had to get him out of those damn trees....

Tzhali and his crew continued to work on the minor systems on the bridge

"That explosion knocked out more systems than I thought", Tzhali said, "Perhaps blowing the plasma tanks was a bad idea"

"It was either that, or have them take over the ship and end whatever that Female Trandoshan was doing", The com officer replied

"How's the work on the bulkhead going?", Tzhali asked one of the marines

The marine lefted a face plate, "These doors are solid titanium, it'll take us awhile", he said and put the face plate back down and continued to work

...

Merendez and Lumier where still in the imperial outpost, scruging up materials and other items that they could use

"An old ion cannon, its systems are still intact all it needs is a power source", Lumier said

"Can we stick it to the Triton?", Merendez asked

Lumier stood there in thought, "It would be risky, we would have to becareful as to NOT damage the coils inside... but it COULD be done with the right ajustments", she said and looked the cannon offcer, "All we really need now is to find a way to move it"

"Either said then done", Merendez said looking at the size of the cannon, "If one of our shuttles was still fuctional we could tow it out.. but after that crash landing the shuttles engines and nav systems where damaged, the flight crews are still repairing them", she said with a heavy sigh

"We still have the hull to repair, along with some other major systems. This can wait, in the mean time lets get some of those trucks working and start hauling some of this equipment back to the ship", Lumier said and got under the hood of an imperial APC

Merendez nodded and walked over to an Imperial Hauler, she looked it over and found that it still had fuel, just the battery was dead. "Why did the imperials leave this base? I mean it looks like it could still be useful"

"I don't know", Lumier said while connecting some wires, "There has to be a reason"


***

Space warped and a ship appeared, it was smaller than a Republic Destroyer but larger than a Correllien Blockade Runner

"Status?"

"All systems online"

"Scan for any signs of the Triton"

"Scan complete, We can't anything.. there's a trail leading from here to a small moon. Scans of the trail tells us that it IS from the Triton, looks like there engine cores where damaged cause there leaking plasma"

"Set a course then", a womens voice boomed across the bridge, "the sooner we find them the better"

Meanwhile Silliss was exploring another region of the outpost, wondering the same thing as Lumier and Merendez.

It's like everyone suddenly decided to leave. He thought. Which didn't make sense to him. Back in the Old Empire days the Imperials controlled the Kashyyyk system, with the assisstance of his people. It could be that they left because of the Empire's sudden fall due to the Rebellion back then, but no...the equipment would have been in much worse shape then it is if that was the case. This meant the place had been occupied...and abandoned...much more recently.

"Silliss."

Silliss turned to see one of his warriors approach him, what looked like a rock in his hands.

"What is it?" Silliss asked.

"Do you know of any creature that could do this and leave these kinds of markings?"

Silliss took the 'rock' and inspected it, quickly realizing it wasn't a rock...but a human skull...a crushed human skull. On one side he could see two holes, on the other side he saw one much larger hole. What ever it was that killed this human had jaws that were strong enough not only to puncture the skull...but crush it.

"No...I don't." Silliss said. "Advise everyone to not travel alone in the woods. I don't want to lose anyone to a predator like this."

"Yes Silliss." The warrior bowed and ran off. Silliss studied the skull a bit more, unfortunately he couldn't tell how old it was, but going by how overgrown the outpost was it could have been somewhere between five and ten years old. He couldn't help but wonder if the thing that killed this human was at least part of the reason the Imperials abandoned this place....


(ooc: would have written more but...erf...writers block..)

The sensor officer continued to monitor the sensor scans, ignoring the strench that was in the air due to them being stuck in a place with no ventalation due to the explosion

"I think I got it", yelled the marine who was holding the wielding torch. The marine slammed his foot against the blast door and the part that he had burned a square into came off and clattered, onto the ground

The marine poked his head out, "Man that's a BIG hole", he said looking straight up into the sky, "It'll be a miracle if we can get this thing to fly after that"

"First off we need another plasma tank, then we need some materials to patch up the hole.. one thing at a time", Tzhali said

"Sir, I've got someone on sensors, moving toward us from the northwest, at its current speed it'll take about 6 to 9 hours to get here. it's moving to slow to be a fighter and to fast to be a speeder", The sensor officer said a bit dumbfounded at the scans

"Monitor it, try and see if you can ID it.. in the mean time I'm going to see what the full extent of the damage is", Tzhali said while squeezing himself through the tight hole the marine had made

***

Lumier and Merendez had finally gotten the trucks to work, but a strange noise cause'd both of them to stop what they where doing... literaly

"What was that?", Lumier said sweeping the area with her rifle

Merendez shruged, "Wasn't a peice of a machinery, sounded more like some animal"

Lumier continued sweeping, then she heard it again.. only this time much closer, "Whatever it is its getting closer", she said

***

The sensor officer almost choked on his cup of coffee when the scan lite up with an object near Lumier position, unfortantly the com system was out and he was unable to tell her, "Damn.. if this scan is right.. it shouldn't be to hard for them to see"

***

Weapons fire was heard coming from the outpost, Kasandra was outside when she heard the fire and throw down her clipboard and grabbed her rifle, several marines along with two tanks, which had been stored in cargo had been brought out incase of an attack.. in this case they where now speeding toward the outpost

***

Lumier dodged, and rolled and nearly missed getting hit. "What the hell is that thing!?", she yelled firing her rifle, which had no effect

"Its the base's automated security drone, its resistent to blaster fire... we need the ships weapons or some explosives to blow through its hull", Merendez said firing a few useless shots

"And here I thought it was animal", Lumier said,

"The noise you heard before IS an animal, this thing ISN'T an animal and is unable to make such noise's", Merendez said, But if it didn't come from this tin can... then I have this strange feeling we are not alone.. damn times like these I wish those Trandoshans where around, she said to herself firing off another shot, "Lumier make for the truck's"

Lumier nodded, ran and jumped into the driver's side of one of the trucks that was full of materials and equipment, she started it off and, once Merendez was on top, slamed on the accelerater. "Next stop, the Triton, and hopefully with some defense's set up to get this thing off us"

"Look on the bright, once we take it out we can use the parts", Merendez said

"You always look on the bright side!", Lumier yelled while dodging a laser blast that had hit near by

Meanwhile Silliss was still exploring, having moved into the forest close to the outpost a bit. His experience as a hunter was coming into full play as he started to spot more and more signs of what could have been the predator that killed at least one human when the Imperials were still here.

One sign was a footprint. The print had three distinctive bird-like toes and sharp claws. From the size of the print he guessed the creature to be no more then the size of a large dog. Close by he found shed hairs and feathers, all black: he couldn't tell if they were from the same animal or not.

He heard the call then, which sounded like a mix of a bark and screech. Gripping his vibrolance tightly, he remembered his own advice about not traveling alone in the woods and prompt turned to leave.

Silliss had just reentered the clearing when he saw Lumier and Merendez start speeding away from the outpost with the security drone on their tail. Realizing the drone could start going after him if he stuck around, he pulled a risky manevuer and grabbed the side of the truck and used the sudden momentum to flip himself onto it's bed.

"It's just me!" he shouted, hands raised when Merendez instinctively pointed her rifle in his direction.

"Where have you been?" Merendez asked.

"Exploring." Silliss explained simply.

"Can you do anything about that?" She gestured to the drone that was still chasing them.

Silliss shook his head. "K'Satikur warriors tend to specialize in melee weapons, great against flesh but against a machine....well, unless we got really lucky the most we would do to it is ruin it's paint job." He ducked a laser bolt that only barely missed him. "And I am not feeling that lucky right now."

***

Obvious to the problem at the outpost, Naosha was taking the time to actually relax for once while the ship was being repaired. She was laying out on the grass, basking in the sun while her granddaughters played close by (Trissan was being 'restrained' elsewhere). The only other thing she could have wanted right at that moment was Rissonik by her side, but she didn't let the fact that her mate was absent ruin the peace. She was enjoying it so much in fact, that she didn't hear her granddaughters run up to her at first.

"Grandma?"

"Yes hun?" Naosha replied, not bothering to open her eyes at that moment.

"Look at what came out of the forest to play with us." Came a giggly response.

Naosha opened her eyes and sat up to see what the little one was talking about. In the young Trandoshan's arms was a dog-like creature, with brown fur and big green eyes. It's forepaws looked avian, with three primary toes with sharp black claws and two drey claws. The back paws looked more reptilian and had four toes with claws. It's ears were pointed and long, and the jaws looked rather strong for such a small animal, which was panting at her with it's tongue hanging out of it's mouth.

Seeing the 'puppy' and the smiles on her granddaughters faces...she knew what was coming.

"No, you can't keep it." Naosha said before they could ask, bracing herself for the arguement that was sure to come.

Merendez fired several shots at the Drone, which didn't do much more than dent its armor,"I need a better rifle", she said

"More like a bigger gun", Lumier said, the ship came into view... and also the ships two main gun barrels where pointed in there direction, "Umm I hope they can AIM those things without hitting us"

Silliss looked at the two tanks ahead of them, then back at the drone which was still chasing them: talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

"I sure hope so too...being blown up with a security drone is not on my list of things to do..."

***

The gunnery officer was aiming the gun's, and trying to line them up so that they wouldn't hit the truck, "No can do, any other way we'll brush the truck and possibly kill them"

"Take that chance", Can a marine's voice, the gunnery officer lowered his head. He had no clue about the tanks that where out there

He pressed the controls to fire the gun, but instead of the gun firing, the gun's reactors overloaded and exploded.

Two large fireballs erupted from the side of the ship, bellowing fire

"Weapon reactor one destroyed, Reactor two at critical levels, I'm shutting them down", Yelled the engeeneering officer


***

One of the marines on the tank's saw the two explosions, and cursed. "Deep @#%$, looks like we have another thing to repair", he said

He looked at the security bot currently approuching, along with the truck that it was chasing. "Tanks! Prepare to fire!", The marine yelled

both tanks aimed there barrels at the security bot

***

Lumier looked at the vehicles rear view mirror, the bot was falling behind, which she didn't like

"Why is it I have a bad feeling about this", she said as a laser blast flew through the air and hit the ground infront of the truck, Lumier turned the truck to avoid the crater but turned to hard as another laser blast truck the undercarrage of the truck. Sending her through the side door and hitting the ground back first

Merendez was thrown instantly from the truck when the hard turn had been done, she landed on the ground with both legs. But noticed Lumier wasn't so lucky, thats also when she heard the tanks 120mm cannons open fire

Silliss had also been thrown from the truck during the hard turn. He couldn't twist around in time to land on his feet like Merendez, so instead he let himself land on his back and use the momentum to do a few reverse rolls. He stood up with only minor scrapes and bruises, only to flatten himself on the ground agian the moment he heard the tanks fire, covering his head with his arms. He could feel the heat from the tanks laser fire as it past over him.

Fortunately the tanks didn't need to fire again, as the drone was knocked out of commission by the first round with a solid hit.

"Looks like we have some more spare parts." Silliss said with a sigh. "Everyone alright?"

***

"But grandma..." The girls simutaniously whined.

"I said no..." Naosha said sternly. "We don't know what it is...or if it already has a 'home'."

The girls put on pouting faces, their eyes big and pleading.

Naosha sighed, reminding herself she was talking to a trio of two year old Trandoshans, who wouldn't understand the logic behind her reasons for not allowing them to keep it. Plus she was having a hard time ignoring those pleading faces and keep a stern look on her.

Fortunately, their battle of wills came to an end when she heard the explosion at the ship.

"What the heck are they doing?" Naosha grumbled, getting to her feet. "They need to be repairing the ship...not destroying it." She looked down at her granddaughters. "Come on you three...lets see what they are up to."

The girls giggled and, still carrying the puppy, followed their grandmother back to the Triton.

Merendez looked around, "I'm fine.... hey where's Lumier", she said looking around

"I'm here....", came a voice from the near by tree's.Lumier came limping out, blood flowing from an open arm wound

"What have I told you about you're driving", Merendez said while running up to Lumier and helping her

"Ma'am!", Yelled a group of marines as they ran up to Merendez

"Take Lumier to the medical bay", Merendez said. Lumier then lasped into unconciousness due to her wound

The marines nodded and grabbed Lumier and began taking her back to the ship

One of the tanks then came by, a marine standing on it looked down at Merendez, "Need a lift back to the outpost?", he asked

"What about these parts?", She asked, her question being answered a momment later when a battallion of marines came running toward the pile of parts and began collecting any that could be used

Merendez jumped onto the tank and looked around and saw Silliss, "Hey Silliss! Need a ride back to the outpost?", she said in an almost to kind of a mood

***

"Ma'am sensor's are picking up several trandoshan fighters heading toward the gas giant Tissuss", said the sensor officer aboard an unknown destroyer

"I see", replied a female, "Continue monitoring both the fighters and the Tritons activity, if those fighters get to close.... burn them", she said

"Yes Ma'am", replied both the Gunnery and Sensor officers in unison

Just hang in there guys, the captain said while sitting there

Silliss looked at the tank and replied with a grin. "As long as the driver doesn't drive like Lumier."

Merendez laughed as Silliss climbed on board and the tank rumbled back to the Triton. As they approached the Triton they saw a small group milling around.

"I wonder what the fuss is about..." Silliss heard Merendez say.

The fuss was over the little puppy Naosha's granddaughters brought with them to the site. Everyone thought it was just the cutiest thing: some were even talking about making it the ship mascot. Naosha, having no authority over the humans and Wookiees that manned the ship, could only stand off to one side sulking, realizing her granddaughters had indirectly won this battle.

When Merendez saw it, she too joined in the admiration, however Silliss got that gut feeling and frowned. He picked up the pup to look it over closely: the pup just wagged it's tail friendly and even licked him on the nose. He ignored the pups friendly gestures and studied it's paws and especialy it's jaws. It had two puppy fangs in it's upper jaws and one spike like tooth on the lower: a frontal tooth arrangement he strongly suspected would fit perfectly into those holes he found on that skull if this little guy was bigger.

"I strongly advise not to keep this thing..." He said, putting the pup back down.

"Why not? It seems friendly enough." One of the marines asked.

"Friendly and cute now...but how about when it grows up? I've seen evidence of what the adult could do: namely crush a human skull with those jaws of theirs." He reached into his pack and pulled out the skull he was given earlier. "One of my warriors found this in the forest earlier and it most likely belonged to one of the Imperials that used to be here."

Just then they heard that screech/bark call, from just inside the forest. The puppy...called back...

Tzhali walked out of the ships port doors and noticed the activity and walked over, thats also when he heard the screech. His hand moved over to the rifle he had slung over his back and aimed it in the general direction, several marines who where with him also did the same

Merendez glanced in the general direction as well, "I don't like that sound", she said

Tzhali agree'd, "Even so, we need to get the rest of the parts from the outpost before nightfall", he said, "Sargeant!", he yelled

A marine, who had been looking at the puppy, soon snapped to attention, "SIR!"

"Take a squad of marines and begin setting up a defensive perimater, I want every mobile gun we have out here.. every tank, fighter anything that can fire to be placed here ready to go", Tzhali said with command authority, every marine there had suddenly snapped to attention

The sergeant nodded and turned to started yelling at his marines, calling them all sorts of names and telling them what to do, it wasn't long before the group despersed and went to work

Tzhali then turned and looked at Merendez, "Take a squad of flight eng's and officers with you and start back to the outpost, I'll have that tank join you just in case. Pick up ALL materials in that base, reactor cores.. everything", He then turned and looked at Silliss, "Might be worth having a couple of you're warriors help carry, I know its not what they would like, if you know of something that they can do thats better than this then go right ahead and tell them, otherwise have them help move stuff to the Triton"

Merendez took a small scout speeder and sped toward the hanger, which was on the ground she sped inside. Yelled at her own flight crew, they all understood and got into all the vehicles that they had, they soon joined her