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(I know that, but they don't. As I said, it was a very minimal reading. They'd find out soon just how bad it was. However, the Nighri haven't gotten through yet. If you've been following Detre's posts, then that's my ticket out.)

Mandalore wasn't pleased at all the way things had turned out. He'd made an alliance with a rouge warlord with no promising hopes, and now no way out. Regardless what the Chiss commander knew, they were effectively surrounded, and likely no ship larger than a Carrack-cruiser could possibly get through undetected. The Mandalorian Network was second only to the Bothans.

"Well, we're stuck now," the imposing soldier said at his head of the small conference table. He and the rest of his council sat with Fett and Kenet at the Executive Offices abourd MadalMotors primary station. "They've efectively got hundreds of ships just beyond all our territory blockading us. We can't get anything larger than a corvette through."

The chiss nodded. "My sources weren't reliable enough so last minute. I just found out myself."

"What was General Fett saying about you researching clones?" one of the council members asked.

Elladan knew they were going to reach this subject eventually. He tried avoiding mentioning he had Thrawn's personal records. "Yes, I was, however all I can say is research. I have reliable information I could use to program the device with what we need, and effectively build half the device. We still need a template, and the rest of the technology, and a secure place to build the facility. As of now, even if we managed to get it done, we'd be overun and they'd be the ones to benefit from it."

"Point taken," Mandalore agreed. "In the future, if our situation ever becomes better, we can try helping you establish a secure base. We could also supply the template."

"Oh really? How'd you know I was thinking that?" the rouge commander smiled grimly.

"Well, the obvious choice would be a Jedi," the Mandalorian snorted, unknowingly reporting the same lines as a Kaminoan several decades before. "But your enemy are Jedi too, and will temp them, if I'm mistaken. Last thing we want is an army that can be turned against us."

"Agreed. Does this mean we can rely on you."

"Chiss," Mandalore said knocking his helment. "You supply the tech and the know-how, and we'll give you an army."

After that, the discussion went on to their fleet.

"I've got two Acclamanotrs working," Elladan began. "My ship, and the one shuttling troops between Taris and Wayland. I've got another and a Victory under construction as well. Taris' fleet is gone, and what ships they have left are busy salvaging the destroyed fleet."

"Onderon can't help us," Mynock added. "They're beyond the blockade. We could request aid, but I don't think it'd do any good. They're better help to us outside than inside."

"Agreed," Mandalore said. "Zeltilla's smart. She'll stay out of this. Our fleets, however, are ready for mobilization. Our Kedalbes are on patrol, and we're ready to deploy a few of our new Canderous-class Destroyers."

"Are they worth it?" Elladan asked. "My fleet didn't do too good, though we were outnumbered 3:1."

"Put it this way," Mandalore added. "We have some derelict moons we've been using target practice on, as well as some wasted ISDs. They didn't last long at all. Hell yes they're worth it."

The last sun was sinking low on the second day of the hunt. So far there had been precious littl sign of the beast save for its frightening howl.

While allies for the time being, the Sandpeople did not associate with Link. They kept to themselves, never offering food or water, nor even talking to Link on the long ride save for perhaps the rare statement that they would pause for rest or the like.

Link understood their mistrust. He was an outsider. That fact did not bother him as much as the fact he had killed that tusken.
However sad it was to take yet another life, he had to remind himself of the situation. It was not his society, not his culture. Their values were different. Who was he to change the way someone else lived?
In addition, he needed their aid. The only way to do that was to prove his skill.

He looked up the single file column and noted that the Tuskens were talking amongs themselves, somewhat aggitated.
It was the same discussion the Tuskens had been having for the last 15 kilometers: The Moral ramifications of sacrificing their friend's bantha to lure the beast.

Tusken culture was based around the Bantha. They were sacred animals. And to take a fallen comrade's mount to bait a monster was apparently a hotly debated topic.

Link sighed and mused, trying to search the desert for the Dragon's life force and keep his mind off the heat.
Soon their paths would cross. he was sure of it.

"Like I said before, I have no reason to do this. What I came here for was between your father and myself. Good day," Vaan said as he returned to the clawcraft.

"Allrighty, then," Freya said. Looking to the rest of her entourage, she asked, "Well, then, like, we're totally boogeying outta here,"

"Like, totally good idea," Freya said in agreement.

There came a knock at the door of the
A Stormtrooper's voice, as through from a helmit's speaker came from the other side.
"Admiral Elysn? Ive brought a dispatch from Fleet Admiral Akla regarding Kenet. Priority one. Permission to enter?"

On route to Taris, Detre's command-ship picked up a Distress Code 101; the designated siege codes. Pulling out of lightspace about three parsecs short of Onderon, the commandos took the heavily encrypted message.

"Detre, this is Kenet. I don't have much time, so I'll be brief. The Empire found us out. You'll get news about a convoy raid near Taris soon. Stay away. The entire tri-system has been surrounded, and we can't risk you or your cargo. Report to Dxun for further details."

It was a small wonder they even got the code. If they were indeed blockaded, all transmissions were being blocked. The only possible way it could have gotten through was through the fabeled Mandalorian Network.

"What now?" Jack, the first of the commandos asked.

"The Lord Chiss gives orders to go to Dxun, and this message was sent using Mandalorian heavy encrypts. We follow what he said."

The second, Kyle, agreed. "Right. How should we get back in?"

"I'm guessing we get that EMP working as soon as possible," Jack replied. "They'll be preparing an evac anyway. Mandalore's too heavily guarded even for the Empire, but they'll charge down Taris and Wayland. Can the Mandalorians on Dxun help us?"

"Let's hope," the noghri hissed, refiguring the coordinates to the jungle moon. "At least we know we have some allies."

And with that, they returned to lightspace.

Borill froze as he felt the cold barrel of the blaster pistol at the small of his back, "What do you mean? You're not here to kill me?" He looked up into the cold black T-shaped visor and felt his fur stand on end in a Bothan display of controlled terror. They'd stunned one of his commandos as if it were nothing, what chance could he stand against an army of such foes?