This is just a small update to introduce some storylines and characters. Special thanks to Evaron for inspiration, and there will be a larger update soon. Feedback: I crave it, I yearn for it. Thank you.

Chapter One

The Battlecruiser dropped out of Hyperspace directly on top of the planetoid codenamed 'the Hub'. An ancient spherical asteroid, it had seen miners, smugglers, pirates and then finally Scarlet Dawn.

Lieutenant Tras of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau pored over the smudgy holo of 'the Hub', attempting to discern any ship names, or markings, or anything. But once again his operative had failed.

"Insider once again unable to get clear holo through thick viewports," he noted, "insider will be informed he should attempt to gain use of external holocam for short period of time." Tras sighed. He had been accelerated through the ranks by his father until he had made Lieutenant at the amazingly low age of twenty six. But then his father had died, and then the higher ups had given him this case. Scarlet Dawn! What were they? He never knew what to put on his reports, and his reports were few enough; information gleaned from smugglers and pirates and from his useless insider. Did he call them mercenaries? No, because they were unreachable and didn't work for money. Pirates? Double no, because they seemed to be on some high-and-mighty quest to destroy any pirates who came near them.

They were elusive.

And Tras hated them.

As the young ISB officer seriously contemplated suicide the Scarlet Dawn cruiser had drawn alongside the Hub to dock. As soon as the seal was airtight Kiranus made his way into the planetoid. It was an amazing construction, something he could take pride in. The outer layers were automated turbocannons and concussion missile launchers, but as he walked deeper the defences quickly made way for living quarters, tapcafs, cantinas and even a small park.

Kiranus reached his own quarters, deep inside the Hub. He paused to compose himself, then keyed the door chime and let himself in. A smile broke across his face as he saw his wife waiting. She returned the smile and ran over to him. They held each other for a long moment.

"I heard your deal with the Sullustans went sour," he said, allowing some concern to creep into his features. His wife grinned. "Thalatos?"

"The deal went fine, Kir," she said, flicking one lekku over her shoulder, "they'll sell us the Libs at a ten percent discount."

"Who did you have to twitch your head-tails at for that one?"

"Oh, do be quiet."

Kiranus walked over to their sparse kitchen unit and poured himself a glass of water. He allowed it to pool on his tongue for a moment, then swallowed.

A smile. "Did we get a new water reclamation unit while I was gone? This tastes almost real… no sweat or dead beetles or anything. Although, I do detect a hint of sulphur."

"On the trip to Sullust we picked up an old WaterRec," Thalatos replied, "they said the sulphur couldn't be detected by humans."

Kiranus finished the rest of the water. "Any other changes while I was off buying second-hand Y-Wings and blowing up Star Destroyers?"

If Thalatos was surprised she hid it quite well. A tiny flick of her lekku gave her away though. "Some new pilots joined us," she started, and then gave in. "A whole Star Destroyer? Or just a small one?"

Kiranus smirked. "You know I was never one to brag. Pilots?"

"Bothans. Kasir Hey'Jya and eleven others. 'Whitefur Squadron'. They tracked us down and offered their services."

"Why?"

"They heard we tangle with the Imps. Imps blew up their refuelling station and their families on it when they worked as privateers for the Alliance." Her face flushed a dark blue, "they only escorted medical convoys, and I…" Kiranus knew it was painful for her. But she used the pain, focused it on what she was doing, "it was the Crippler that got them. The same ship that…" she sat down and covered her eyes.

"Thalatos? Are you alright?" said Kiranus, clumsily. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm alright. I'm alright," she said, and looked up at him. She was a little pale, but she was okay, "thank you Kir. Now…" she drew a deep breath, and once again she was Thalatos Kan, warrior, leader. "I suppose you will want to meet the Bothans."

Kiranus followed her out, and hit the lights as they passed through the door.