Snoops POV

It's been two months since we landed here. It's not too bad, I mean it sucks that the republic has abandoned us to die here. But we are expendable after all, and it's not like there was anyone important on our cruiser. We've started going on hunting trips in Palmer's secret spots. Vargas has started working on some "Top Secret Medical Project" with the medical droid, and Redeye seems to be getting along well with the mechanic droid. Ha, that's something I thought I would never say, 'Clones working with Battle Droids'. Ah who cares, the only thing holding us to the war anymore is our armor, and those droids. We still use our ranks as a formality, but it's seeming more and more like we're civilians now. Dogbreath likes to make fun of how relaxed I've become compared to how uptight I was when we first landed here.

"Hey Snoops!" I come out of my daze and turn around to see Barlax approaching me. "Yeah, whatcha need Barlax?" I asked "Well, Greene and Palmer are on their way back from their hunting trip and they bagged a ketrann!" I hopped up "Really!? Awesome! We'll be eating good for weeks!" We both laughed and started back towards the hatch into the ship. We've come a long way since we landed here. We've built the majority of our new outpost, we've started to grow crops, and we are working on repairing the long range coms systems. Redeye and Sparky have been able to take the generators from the old droid base to power our own. Most of the systems that we need for day to day life have been repaired. Green's been working with Redeye to see if we can get one of the speeder bikes to work again. He hopes to use it on his hunting trips instead of having to walk everywhere. We divided the row of officers' quarters closest the mess hall into our new bunk rooms. Smith had his own room, then the rest of us where paired up and split a room. I was paired with Vargas, which I already know is a thousand times better than bunking with Dogbreath.

About a month ago, we finally got into the last supply room in the stern of the ship. In the process of tossing it for supplies, we located a couple of containers of Phase II armor. When we informed Smith of the find, he gave us the go ahead to change to the Phase II armor if we wished. The majority of us chose to do so, since the Phase II armor was much more comfortable to wear. All of the NCO's painted their ranks onto their arms as sort of a reminder of where we came from. Surprisingly the Lieutenants, Barlax, and Redeye chose to keep the Phase I armor, but used the opportunity to personalize their armor a little more. "Hey Snoops! Check it out!" I turned my head to see green standing next to his game and shaking his rifle above his head. "As sharp a shooter as ever." I laughed as Balax and I climbed down the ladder to the ground below. "Where'd you snag him?" I asked as we approached. By now, Dogbreath, Eddie and the others where all approaching as well. "Down in the gorge about 2 clicks from here." Green said, leaning up against the body of the animal. "But more importantly, there was a huge storm on my tail the whole way back, and it should be getting here within the hour. We should probably get everything inside and bunker down."

Like Greene had said, a huge storm rolled in about fourty minutes later. By then we had mostly everything bunkered down. When we first landed here, this system reminded me a lot of Endor, except with a few more rain storms. Turns out we got here during the dry season, and now we're apparently in the wet season. Once a storm rolls in, it can pour for a week straight. We've already lost a good portion of the remaining equipment and supplies in the bow of the cruiser to water damage, but we sealed off everything past the main cargo bay. Palmer insisted the water can go much higher than that in this area, because the water will flow over a natural dam a few clicks past the droid outpost. We lost the walker in the water, so we're down to only two working vehicles at this point. Also a good portion of the droids are starting to rust because of all the rain.

At evening chow, smith spoke up and said "We're not going to have an exterior guard during this storm, I'm afraid we'll lose the droids in the flood waters or winds. Instead, we're going to post them on the interior of the ship at all the openings and holes in the hull. They'll act double duty as Security and Damage Control. Sound good to everyone?" we all nodded in agreement. "Well Good. Also Greene, good catch today! I'm sure that ketrann will keep us fed for the next month. Now moving onto other matters, Vargas. I believe you had something to tell the group." He said handing the floor over to Vargas. "Thank you Captain. Now the medic droid and I have been working on something that may change all our life's!" Dogbreath then jokingly asked "A way off this rock?" which gave us a good laugh.

Vargas then continued without missing a beat "No, we're still working on that. I'm talking about medically change our life. We think we've found a way to slow down our ageing process. Now I figure it won't do us much good here, but since we're all but dead to the republic anyway, I figure it will help us when we finally get out of here and onto a civilized world." We all looked at him like he was insane and Eddie said "Well if we use that, we would be just extending the amount of time we have to be stuck on this rock." Smith read the room and stood up to say "Alright that's enough of that. Yes, you bring up a fair point Eddie, but this isn't an order im giving. What Vargas needs is one volunteer. If the trial is successful, then I would encourage you all to it, but I wouldn't be forcing you. If it's a failure however, we don't know what will happen, and you could very well die because of it. Knowing this, would anyone like to volunteer?" I looked from him, to the rest of the group. Their faces saying exactly the same thing-"You've got to be as crazy as he is." I sighed and rose my hand "Since none of you are willing, I'll do it. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? I get off this seaside resort a few months earlier?" I chuckled, getting a few laughs from the guys. "Well doc, lets get started."