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After a little searching, Link swept his mask out of the sand where he found it and brushed it off before settling it back over his face.
[This blasted sand has an annoyng knack of getting in everywhere.] he muttered, the synthesizer of the Mask automattically transfering his speech to tusken.

He aproached the jubulant raiders who were taking turns with their gaffi sticks to hack at the creature's stomach.
Ghk'ik turned and held his arms wide in welcome.
[Rk'adk! You have returned alive!good to know we wont have to mourn your loss!]

Link paused and looked at the Tusken leader quizzically. [Rk'adk?]

[Your bravery is unparalled for an outlander! Without your attempt at suicide, we never would have been able to pierce the creature's brain! For your Tusken-like courage, we have awarded you a Tusken name: Rk'adk'rcaulk'utika. "The crazy man who almost killed the Swallower of worlds"]

[Thanks, this one thinks...] Link replied as he eyed what the other tuskens were up to. [What is going on over here?]

Ghk'ik nodded and pointed with his gaffi. [To prove that we have slain the beast, we will take its gizzard stones as trophies. Dragon Pearls they are known as to you outlanders.]

Behind his mask, Link's eyes widdened. He had heard of Dragon Pearls; valuable crystaline spheres formed only in the gullet of a Krayt Dragon. they were worth upwards of 100k each on the market.

That would certainly take care of money problems for a time. He mused as he took up his lightsaber. I could continue my quest and focus on training. And perhaps buy a nice fish...
[Let this one try. It will be more time efficient.] Link drew his saber and ignighted it as the Sandpeople stood back.

[Way of the Star Dragon: Door Breaching Manouver] He stated as he stanced off and closed his eyes, focusing.
His eyes snapped open and with incredible force and speed drew the handle and slashed at the tough hide with three strokes of a dark blue blade.

He continued to cut and slash, working his way through the creature's organs and tissue, shutting his mind off to the eye wattering stink.
then he cut through a membraine and hit jackpot.

The creature's gizzard was the size of a small house.
And there were dragon pearls. Many dragon pearls, some the size of a folded droideka, others the size of marbles, all a glittering array of colors and polished to an incredible smoothness.
Link stared in amazement at the treasure for a moment. He poked through the pile and found a small handful that he could use to finance his expedition.

Then he noted one milky white pearl that stood out some how from the others. Moisture glistened upon its surface as it sat upon the membranous tissue.
Link picked it up, noting it's perfection, it's flawlessness.
It was a real treasure. It certainly had material value, but it's worth was beyond that.
He could use it. He was certain of it.
He pocketed it for now and dug his way out of the Krayt.

Link pulled himself out of the corpse, now coated in gore and stinking of lizard guts.
[Have fun, Rk'adk?] The tusken leader remarked.
Link stepped aside and motioned for the Tuskens to venture in. [Behold the Dragon's horde. Help yourself, for this one merely needed traveling money. He must be off however, for time is of the essence.]

Ghk'ik crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Link. [Take to the stars you must? Already? Thats quite disapointing. We were hopping you would stay for a time. We would certainly enjoy the company of a hardy one like yourself.]

Link clasped his hands together and bowed. [This one begs you understand, but his time is not his to decide with. He must return to the temple to tell the Monks of the beast's demise.]

The tusken nodded then drew a gaffi stick from the pack of his bantha.
[Rk'adk. In the short time we have known each other, you have proven yourself in combat, have faced the harshnes of the world without complaint, saved a bantha's life and battled singlehandedly against the largest krayt the Dune Sea had ever known.] He handed the gaffi-stick to Link.
[ I want you to have my daughter's gaderffii. You will need it. Your kitchen knife is probably worn dull by your little air braking maneuver.]

Link looked at the weapon in his hands, finely crafted from salvaged freighter plating and suprisingly well balanced.
He looked up to Ghk'ik. [Daughter?] He asked.

[Yes. You killed her in Battle and spared her bantha from the krayt's maw. She would want you to take it.]

Link clutched the weapon, the blow of the Tusken's words striking him hard.

He had killed this warrior's child had cut her in two and left her corpse at the doorstep of the Monistary.

And Ghk'ik was so calm about it, even welcomed Link as a hero to his people...

He nodded to the warrior, climbed astride his Eopie, and rode off across the dunes, en route to the monistary.
No matter how much he tried, he would never understand how the galaxy worked.
Perhaps it was for the best.

"I am not afraid of ghosts, chances are it's just some legend. But we can use the 'haunted building' to our advantage, it might be a good place to hide out. But if you are right and it is haunted, it could be the place where your 'mother' killed the man. I am ready when you are, but we will need to go back to Paradise City before so I can buy a new ship before we go. Also we will need disguises so we are not recognized by Graka's thugs. I'll be right back" Iust tells Iria, he then gets up from where they are sitting and heads up stairs.

A few minutes later Iust comes back down hauling a large trunk with him Setting the trunk over near where Iria is sitting he opens it up to reveal an assortment of clothes for men and women, as well as wigs and makeup.

"Iust, you know I will support any lifestyle choices that you make, but I wish you would tell me about these things," Sunum says eyeing the dresses.

"Uncle! It's not like that! These are various disguises I have used for infiltration." Iust hastily explain. "You can use anything in here to disguise yourself" he continues on to tell Iria.

"I know, I know, but can't an uncle give his nephew a hard time?" Sunum jokes.

"Whatever..." Iust mutters.

Detre made it through the Imperial blockade with little opposition. Luckily enough they managed to avoid the Interdictors and slip through almost undetected. The Noghri was fairly certain his ship had been spotted, but apparantly the blockade was content staying where they were. Evidently, open invasion wasn't preferable as of now.

Twenty minutes worth of microjumping later, the commando ship was docked safely with Elladan's commandship. Before he went to rest, however, Detre got a briefing from Elladan on the state of matters there.

"We're basically just waiting," the chiss admitted, after the noghri's inquiry. Some techs were off to their flank, intergrating the prootype LT transverter into the ship's systems and power sources. The rouge commander had been informed the fleet would be protected by it within the hour. "They've blockaded us, but seem perfectly content staying put. We have free roam of the systems, and as long as that continues, we can keep building our defenses. MandalMotors and our own port at Wayland is working overtime."

"I'd have thought Wayland would've been evaced, that being the logical choice for them to attack."

"It is," the commander conceded. "And we did for about an hour. However, I thought it best to bunker down instead of fleeing the area. As long as they stay away, our chances at survival increase."

"Sir?"

Elshaek' elaborated. "We're surrounded by effectively two thousand warships, ranging from patrol vessels all the way up to a Pellaeon. All we have is our own little empire, a little over two hundred vessels total, and an EMP. We'd do better off crushing them from the outside.

"For example, MandalMotors has a tertiary port in the back corners of the outer rim, far from prying eyes. We also lie almost smack dab between two of the biggest trade routes. I was thinking it'd be most profittable to raid them from behind."

"And how would we do that?"

The chiss smiled grimly. "The Mandal fleet in the outer rim has almost the same strength of our fleet, ranging from Mandalorian vessels to pirated Imperial warships ranging from an ISD on up; their flagship is a Stalwarth-class they 'found' a bit west of Boz Pity. Given enough time and resources, I want to expand our holdings from there."

The self-appointed admrial pulled up a holographic of the known galaxy, and retrieved his laser pointer. "Without a doubt, the Sith are only aware of our little rebellion here. Uninformed about our back-up fleet, I seek to begin destabilizing planets along the Hydian Way, including Junction, Dathormir, Taprowa, Bandomeer, and Null. South, Iwe will move in for Centares, Tanaab, and Donovira, effectively cutting off their supply routes from the Core."

"How will we man the fleets? I mean, once we get enough vessels built, we'll need resources and populations to command them."

"Precisely why we have Mandalorian space and Taris. For now, we could survive virtually unhindered, and one might even say we should prosper. Taris' tourism might suffer a bit, but with ten million frsh recruits this month, and another ten million in a few weeks, we'll be well here."

"And what about the Mandal fleet? They won't possibly be able to take so many systems without our own reinforcements, and we can't afford to give them the Transverter."

"No we can't, but we do have an Ace up our sleeve."

"And that is?"

The chiss smiled, his eyes glowing red in the semi-dim lights of his bridge. Had he been wearing a white unifrom instead of green, he would be easily mistaken for a wraith. "Clones."

Mandal Shipyards, Mandal, Tingel Arm

If the galaxy was a school, then the Mandalorians was that secret chess organization that always managed to have the right information and people even if it was undermanned. They'd survived through at least seven galactic conflicts, and not withstanding their bid for power now, were in greater numbers than their pre-Empire days (disregarding the ten billion odd clones of Jango Fett).

They were several lightyears north of Cadomai space, lying on an uncharted hyperspace route so unpredictable, it was 1:950 anyone else would find them.

The fleet commanded by Overlord Seto was large enough to take on a full planetary invasion sevenfold; most invasions of the day were the equivilant of two Star Destroyers, four smaller cruisers, and all the support craft; his forces were his Stalworth destroyer, ten Canderous battleships, twenty Kedalbes, four dozen mixed Lancer and Crusader class corvettes, three wings of various Mandalorian fighters, and the rest pirated ships ranging from Predator fighters all the way up to ISDS and and an ancient MK IV cruiser.

"Orders, sir?" the Mandalorian captain asked Seto. The fleet had suddenly been mobilized and not many knew what had stirred up the Mandalorian network.

The tan-plated overlord faced his first-man. "Orders from the High Council. We'll be assisting in some naval conquests nearby. Specifically Danthomir."

The captain nodded. "How many ships will be deployed there?"

Seto contemplated this briefly. "This ship, two of the Canderouses, two of the ISDs, four Kedalbe, and all the neccesary support craft. Rearrange the fleet accordingly, and prepare to leave."

~

Two hours later, the Mandal fleet arrived outside the said system, imposing in the planet's upper atmosphere. Lacking little in the way of most technology, and only a very small, very old Golan I battlestation, victory here was inevitable.

"Dathomir, this is the Rancor. On behalf of the Loyalist Empire and the Mandalorian Empire, you are under Imperial Jurisdiction."

There was no comment for several moments, but eventually the station did reply. "Rancor, this is Dathomir I. We do not wish to fight, but we ask why you've come."

Seto grunted and answered as a traditional Mandalorian might. "That's not my or your business, and the less questions you ask the better."

"Still, we would inquire why. We want no part in your foolhardy war with the Sith'ari."

Several of the officers on the deck snorted, but the overlord was unamused. "Foolhardy or not, I doubt you'd enjoy them taking over here versus us. Compared, i'd say things pose to be much better than anywhere they are, and you know I'm right."

He could sense her unease. He was no jedi, but he knew she was torn between problems; she probably didn't want occupation, but the Dathomiri Witches weren't Sith-supportive of late, and the last thing they wanted was a repeat of the inquisition at Bastion. They eventually reasoned the Sith would eventually come, and when they did, would be faced with either conversion or death. "At least this way we maintain some selective neutrality. What do you want specifically?"

"Any ships and vessels you can spare, some minor volunteer conscription, and a place to resupply. My superiors also requested the help of your Force Witches."

An hour later, two witches came via shuttle up to the station where Seto was taking over. The two occupants the Overlord would meet at the hangar were High Witch Dreena and a Witch Knight introduced as Kalleen.

"Greetings, Sisters," Seto greeted properly, even though it was awkward coming from an outsider. "Welcome to Dathomir I."

The elder of the two women nodded, her robes hiding her gray hair and green eyes. "We've come as representativess of our people. You said you had need of our aid?"

He nodded. "My commander, Mandalore the Crusader, and his ally Commander Elshae'ken'etnurudu, have need of your abilities in our rebellion against the Sith."

She appraised him, eyes glowing lightly, before replying. "We are no friends of the Sith, and will help as we may, but you did ask for volunteers?"

"Of course."

"Then you shall have them." She made a gesture, and seven more women came from the shuttle, all Witches apparantly. "These seven, as well as my companion Kalleen, shall accompany you to serve your purposes."

Kalleen bowed stiffly, not letting her green eyes wander away from the Overlord's face. "My pleasure, Commander. How may we serve?"

Seto observed them all. He couldn't see that they carried any weapons. "What are your ranks and weapons in possession?"

One of the others spoke up, and they divided into two groups; four surrounded Kalleen, while the other three strayed to the side. "Us and Kalleen are Witch Knights, the equivialnt of Jedi or Imperial Knights. We all wield lightsabers of various colors, and she uses a dual-phase. The others are padawans with their own sabers."

The mandalorian took note, and led them away, torwards his own shuttle. "Some of my forces will be staying here to maintain the station while our new reinforcements will be their replacements, and then some. For now, we will be heading to the next system. Kalleen?"

The aubrun-haired witch stepped forward. "Yes?"

"You will be my liason between my forces and your own. I want you to accompany me on my ship, but you will choose a leader for your picket of ships who will lead through your orders."

"Yes." She motioned to the knight from before, and she left with two of the other knights and padawans, heading for a second shuttle bound to their cruiser, an aged dreadnaught.

They, meanwhile returned to the Rancor while the rest of the defenses were organized appropriately. When they were ready, they set a course for Junction.

Ferno had landed, far enough from the busy spaceport of Mos Eisley to not draw too much attention. Anyone that went prying would not be really in any condition to report his findings anyhow, the sith assassins would take care to that aspect of the ship. Ferno was on a vendetta....

Well, vendetta was not the most accurate term for this journey. He was anxious, and while he had a wish to kill something, he was more excited at what he would find waiting for him.

But first, he had to actually find the prize, the pupil. For that, he would have to bait the trap. He sensed something different. Something tasted foul in the air, a new taste in the force, so minute, yet enough to make one wonder what it could be. The spectre dismissed it - while he was interested in the presence, it would have to wait for later - and returned to the investigation at hand. Small droids searched the streets of the city nearby, as a pair of humans performed the physical aspect of asking around.

Ferno would be too suspicious in this role; he felt disappointed he could not ask in his more "agressive" style. No, the droids and helpers would have to suffice. The Desert hid many things, but he knew that somewhere, something hid that signature. It was a matter of time before the sands either buried it, or revealed it.

I am the god of kingdom come, Just give me the prize...

The Darklighter Residence was one of the few places on Tatooiene that had visible water. Still it was in the middle of a desert wasteland and that most certainly affected the price for the cargo which they'd placed an open market order for.

Bestinian Fish. Loaded in giant tanks sloshing full of water, the creatures were still live in the tank, and their glimmering movements reflected the orange light of a binary sunset as the tank labeled for the Darklighters slid down the ramp and onto an enormous hovering cargo sled.

Revak and Calra walked down the ramp clad in only a pair of Raporan robes and a simple stillsuit. They had nearly elected to do away with the stillsuit, Tatooine may have been a desert but that didn't make it a deathtrap, not to two lizards that had grown up in an environment slightly worse then this one... Tatooine may have been cursed with a binary star system, but Rapor was cursed with a triple star system, one blue giant, one red dwarf, and one yellow star, only Rapor's distance from the stars had made it livable.

Still Calra hobbled forward in the brace as Jenel talked with the Darklighters. Around the depression in which the residence had been laid there were the visible signs of the defenses that had to be there to fend off Tuskens and wild animals that certainly prowled the desert. Revak could see the camoflaged bunkers of a dozen pop-up Turbolaser Turrets and the dark line of a laser fence around the rim.

Jenel smiled at Jamus Darklighter, the Governor of Tatooine, "I think that should fill that order you placed Governor. Two hundred Bestinian Rankla Fish and the water they were nabbed in."

"Yes, I'm surprised the order was filled so fast, our order was comparatively small to warrant a ship's trek from Bestine to Tatooine... of course they don't know the value of fish on a desert planet."

Jenel smiled, "Ah, but I do... and I know a couple other establishments on the planet that would like a piece of my cargo."

Jamus smiled, "You heard the price I placed on the open market... but you want more I take it."

Jenel grinned, "You offered to pay for the fish, not the tons of water they had to be shipped in... I want a fifty percent increase."

"Ten," Jamus hissed.

"Thirty."

Jamus winced, "Twenty, and thats my final offer."

"Fine, twenty it is." Jenel crossed her arms over her chest.

With that he pulled a datapad from his pocket and tapped a series of buttons before tossing it to her. "Base price for that shipment was two million... ten thousand per fish. So, here's your two-point-four. It'll be in your account within the hour."

Jenel took the datapad and smiled, "It's a pleasure as always." She glanced back over her shoulder to the two Reptiles, "Mount up... We'll head to our next delivery."

Aurora sat with the the wookies in the back of the Aldera Ballet. She told them her and Freya's plan to convince the Naboo government to help out the Community, and about the smugling family the Amatruses were honorary members of.

"Even if the Government doesn't agrre to help, the Scions are sure too. And they'll be able to bring in other smugglers to our cause." she explained.