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Taking Brike's info into account, Radomir spoke into his comlink, "There are only thirteen of them!" Several snipers took aim and fired into the forest, taking out five pirates. Soldiers stormed into the forest while the tanks continued to open fire into the now-charred trees.

"This is Besh Squadron," a man said over the comlink, "we have located the pirate base. It is six kilometers from the landing area. Orders, my lord?"

"Level it!" Radomir shouted over the sound of weapons fire around him.

"Yes, sire!" A pause. "They're launching fighters to engage us."

"Belay my last order. Focus on any of their ships. Send the coordinates of the base to the Grand Crusader."

"Yes, my lord."

Radomir changed channels. "Grand Crusader, this is your prince. Besh Squadron should be sending you the coordinates of the pirate base. Destroy it."

"At once," Commander Vaela responded. As Radomir waited for the bombardment to begin, he looked around the clearing and noticed the fighting stopped. Several soldiers were bringing in a few beings in unkempt clothes with binders on their wrists. Radomir nodded his approval.

Several minutes passed and in the sky, green lasers came down from the clouds to an area in the distance.

Valkore looked the trooper up and down. Every nerve in his body was holding him back. He had to say it. The chances of him being extremely insulting were low. "Sir.. The performance was choppy. I mean, why the hell would the CIS launch an attack? And there's no bloody way they could get past us troops. And if you boys are so elite, it's questionable.. How did they get past you? Sir," Valkore blurted out. He tried to hide his smile after hearing a few squad mates chuckle. Part of the reason why Valkore stopped, was to question what was happening. The other part was to check on his men. Obviously they screwed up.

"Didn't you see the turbolaser fire in the sky?" Radomir asked. "That place is surely leveled. However, it'd be wise to check the wreckage and make sure that everything is truly destroyed." An armed speeder approached the prince and Brike, and Radomir stepped in.

It just so happens that we killed these clunkers once, and reprogrammed 'em. No doubt they want to flay us alive, but they can't cause I don't let them.

Nine-Five snapped off his helmet seal and slowly pulled off his bucket. He placed it on the ground next to his feet. He pulled his gauntlets off and put them on the ground next to the helmet. He stood up and truly looked Fraust in the eyes. He pointed to a long scar that branched into two parts and ended in a nasty burn around his ear.

I got this from a B3 as I cut through his head with my vibroblade. If you don't think I'm "elite" enough to do this job, why don't you do something about it? Take me out, if you can.

If the Sergeant wanted to play this game, Teroch would play. It would also let him know what kind of men he was about to have in his command.

Valkore tilted his head to the side. Like a dog would when it was confused. "No, you misunderstand, sir,"Valkore replied. "What I'm saying is... That was a terrible drill. And if I wanted to do something about it, I'd love for it to be out of armor. Hand to hand, boy I love it." Valkore felt foolish, but CQC amused him. He enjoyed being challenged, being beat and learning new fighting techniques.

Brike thoughtfully paused for a moment. "It's been very nice, thank you." She said with a small smile. Turning she looked at the damage they had done, the bodies of pirates littering the black and cratered ground. "Was it really necessary to cause such killing?" She asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Turning her head once more to survey the damage that the prince had done to the small pirate encampment, her heart ached at the sight of smouldered bodies and crumbled buildings. A small movement caught her eye on the edge of the camp, and she focused her gaze on that spot.

When it didn't show again, she dismissed the thought, but as she turned Brike noticed it again on the corner of her vision. Her heart lept into her throat as she realized it was a man, lying prone on the ground struggling to crawl towards them, his armor charred black.

"Radomir, get a medic!" She shouted as she rushed over to the fallen warrior as his arms gave out from under him. Gently she drew him over on to his back, kneeling down and supporting his head with her arm. His chest rose and fell faintly but consistantly as blood leaked from wounds between his cracked armor. His armor must've protected him from the intial blast, but he didn't have much time left.

A visored helm slowly turned to meet her worried eyes, and then it struck her: he was Mandalorian. "Please..." He whispered almost inaudibly as Brike leaned in to hear his soft words. The dying warrior's hand shakily reached up to her, opening his palm and revealing a small device about the size of a lightsaber crystal. "Tell Mantua...." He coughed feebily and Brike didn't think he would be able to finish his sentence.

She almost mistook his next words for the breeze they were so quiet. "...I'm...sorry....." His voice trailed off into silence as she heard him exhale for the last time, body going limp as she grabbed the device as his hand thudded lifelessly to the ground. His Force signature faded into nonexistance and Brike slowly set his cooling body down.

Brike looked distractedly at the dead Mandalorian, and she imagined the eyes beneath his visor staring up at nothing...she shook the image away and responded hastily. "He said to tell Mantua he's sorry. Do you know of anyone of that name?"