For what seemed like the thousandth time, Dendro had fallen into a small pit of mud. It would have been excruciating just to get the massive Besalisk out. Getting him out when he had his cannons felt like lifting an overweight Hutt. Zar and the others, save for Nailah, who was scouting ahead, managed to pry him out of the mud after a small eternity, which almost seemed determined to claim Dendro for its own. "We set up camp here, now," wheezed Zar, his hands on his knees. "I feel like someone dropped an asteroid on me."

Tor was lying flat on his back, wheezing. Ru and Bariq went over and sat next to him, panting just as heavily. Dendro was flat on his face, with Kashvi and SN trying to their best to get the mud off of him. "No droid should have to deal with this," complained SN as he wiped another towel across Dendro. "The mud is never going to come off my plating now. You might as well get another empty RA-7 and download me into it."

Nailah walked over; much like them, she was covered in mud, partially from the trip alone, partially from helping with Dendro from his previous trips in the mud. But there was still some vengeful amusement on her face. "Congratulations," she grinned. "You've never survived a real jungle until you've visited Yuca."

"Go kiss a worrt, tailhead," snapped Bariq.

"Still don't know what you're saying," Nailah replied, "but don't really care. Come on, we have to keep moving."

The team couldn't even say anything, except for of course, SN. "I know you Rebels take on conditions and expeditions even the most foolhardy of smugglers wouldn't dare attempt, but now I'm starting to believe you're malfunctioning. Look at them; most of them can't even stand. The only reason I can is I'm not cursed with your feeble flesh."

The Twi'lek shook her head. "Unless you want to get eaten alive by the bugs or something else, we have to keep—"

"Nailah Dvaita!" bellowed Kashvi. Everyone jumped, or at least lurched, in shock. It may have been his imagination, but Zar thought the mild mannered Togruta looked even redder than normal as she shakily rose to her feet. "We have been dragging out a Besalisk carrying two modified X-Wing cannons out of the mud for almost a full rotation now! My lekku are soaked with mud! I've got mud in places no Togruta should have mud or anything else! So stop focusing on your stupid grudge and help us make camp!"

Nailah stared at her in shock, then hesitantly started to get some supplies out. "Benevolent, beautiful, and bold," Zar chuckled. "You are a credit to Togrutas everywhere, my dear."

Kashvi collapsed against a tree, taking deep breaths in reply. "I wish we could just fly right to base, but she's as paranoid as they come. Still, even though I want to strangle her some days, I know she means the best for us."

Dendro groaned as he slowly came back to life. "For you, maybe," he moaned. "Us? Pretty sure she's enjoying making us suffer."

The Togruta patted him sympathetically. "If I find out she's doing all of this just to get back to you, rest assured, I'll make sure she regrets it if I ever fly her anywhere again."

Bariq raised his head in interest. "You're a pilot? Then how come you're stuck with that blue terror?"

Kashvi shrugged. "We really are that shorthanded; she needed someone to go with her to the Paragua Spaceport, and I couldn't let her go alone, so here we are. Starting to wish I was back with the others in my B-Wing—"

The others had regained more of their strength, but currently were staring at her blankly. "A what wing?" asked the Jawa, scratching his head in confusion.

Kashvi looked thunderstruck. "B-Wing. The best starfighter ever created, the crown jewel of the Rebel Alliance. You've never heard of it?!"

Tor wrenched himself from the ground, groaning from the effort. "Is it that long ship that acts as a gunship? Think I've seen a few of them flying away during the more heated battles that we came across while on the job."

"That's a U-Wing," Kasvhi corrected him, looking incredulous. "If the others allow it, I'll show it to you. You've never seen a true starfighter until you've seen it in action. And if you can fly that technological marvel, you can fly anything."

"Please don't get her started," grunted Nailah as she bit into a ration bar. "She's bored half the fleet to death already about her beloved ship—"

There was a beeping sound. Nailah brought a comlink out of her pocket and spoke into it in Twi'leki. There was some incomprehensible chatter from the comlink and then Nailah looked surprised. She spoke into it again, but after some more chatter from the comlink, she sighed in a resigned manner, and pocketed it. "Good news for you," she said, as she started putting some of the supplies away. "Command is sending us an armed escort and speeders. Apparently, you're more familiar with the Alliance than I thought."

"Of course we are," grunted Zar, as he sat against a tree. "Didn't do your homework on us, did you?"

Nailah glared at him yet again, but didn't say anything. Instead, she took out a canteen, and drank from it. Zar knew better than to ask her if she had any more of those. They had long since run out of their own water.

What looked like a frilled scaly monkey darted down a tree and stared at them from its perch. Ru looked it, and its frills stretched out even more, its teeth bared at him in a snarl. The Drabatan drew his kukri and launched it at the foul creature. It gave a terrified cry and took off as the blade barely missed it. When the blade returned and reattached to his handle, Ru asked Nailah, "Can I go hunt something while we wait?"

A glare was the only reply he got as she chugged from her canteen. "Fine. Can I sing at least?"

Nailah actually choked on her water. "Sing?" she spluttered as she regained her breath. "You?"

Ru gave her a just as frosty glare in return. Nailah flung out a hand in invitation. "This I've got to hear. A crusty amphibian like you, singing?"

The Drabatan took a deep breath, then started to sing in a low voice. Although it contained his usual surliness, it also possessed immense passion, reverence, and sympathy. He sang about Alderaan, the planet of beauty. He sang about its lush forests, vast plains, and tranquil mountains. He sang about its people, whose generosity was matched only by their desire to stand against evil. He sang about the people who had lost their home, and how even though their world was gone, as long as they survived and passed on their memories and love of their lost home, Alderaan would never be truly gone.

When he had finished, the Drabatan bowed his head, and muttered a brief rite for the deceased people that he sang of. For a brief period, the jungle didn't look as wild and dangerous, it sounded like even the wildlife had gone quiet, as if they too had listened to the Drabatan's song. The earlier cynicism in Nailah's face was gone, replaced with reluctant admiration. The rest of the Talons nodded in appreciation, having heard many similar songs from their comrade, and Kashvi wiped a hand across her eyes to get rid of the tears. "Well," admitted Nailah, "you proved me wrong. How come you're with these hunters and not in a professional galaxy trotting band?"

Ru's face didn't regain his usual surly look; instead it was a more intense expression of pain and hatred. "Long story," he answered. "One involving an Imperial that looked like he should already be in the grave and a being more machine than man."

Recognition dawned on the Twi'lek's face, but before she could speak, her comm bleeped and she answered. After a brief talk, she put it away, and said, "They're almost here. Get ready."

Not long later, a few small speeders arrived. Two had plenty of room for them, one was filled with heavily armed Rebels. A bald dark skinned human approached Nailah. "Captain Dvaita," he greeted. "I hope this trip was worth it. You, Kashvi, and those hunters are the talk of the planet right now."

Naliah saluted. "I hope so too, Major Vuis. In the meantime, it is my great regret to introduce you to the crew of the Shyyyo Talon."

Zar got up and walked over. "What a stellar introduction, Captain Dvaita. Not sure why you need us; considering your skill at drawing in naïve recruits, your army surely must rival the Empire's by now."

Vuis frowned. "I see the Admiral wasn't kidding. Well, let's hope he was also right about your skills. Come on, it'll be nightfall soon."

As they rode through the jungle, Nailah kept her eyes on the Talons the whole time, but to her relief, they didn't look they were up to anything…but then again, she could never be too careful with these hunters. Zar appeared to have slept through the journey, but he could just as easily have been taking notes about the terrain and their gear and numbers. Dendro, she knew was asleep; nobody could fake snores that could wake up the entire jungle. In the other speeder, Tor, Ru, and Bariq meanwhile were chatting some more with Kasvhi about her B-Wing, while the droid SN had shut off for awhile. Nailah sighed inwardly. She loved Kashvi like one of her own sisters, but she was still so naïve and overly compassionate. Nailah promised herself she'd make the hunters pay if they did anything to Kashvi.

The Major turned in his seat to talk to her. "You've been with them longer than I have. How bad are they?"

Nailah grit her teeth. "Zar is a loudmouthed, deceitful, womanizing Yucabra—"

"If you must insult me," said Zar without even budging from his spot, "use non-snake related names, please."

Nailah spat spitefully over the side of the speeder. "Case in point, Natron. Dendro is a boisterous trigger happy thug. The Jawa has an overinflated opinion of himself, but it seems he has some skill with technology and sabotage if the cantina is anything to go by. I've seen space slugs more charming than Ru, but he's not to be underestimated in a brawl or a stealth mission. The clanker is the most obnoxious thing I've ever seen, apart from Zar. Tor…I have to admit, Tor is ok. Awfully polite for such a scary looking guy. Haven't seen him lose his cool once."

Natron nodded grimly.

Not long later, they arrived outside the base: a river by a cliffside, with a cave hidden by a waterfall. Everybody got out, with an awakened Dendro and SN complaining all the way. Natron led the way, followed by Nailah, Kashvi, the Talons, and the armed guard bringing up the rear. "If they try anything," she ordered, "feel free to open fire."

"Will you get over the escape pod already?" snapped Ru irritably. "You're starting to make me wish we had gone with Bariq's plan and offered Jabba his new dancer."

The Jawa nodded sagely and jabbered something in Jawaese. The Drabatan actually laughed and they high fived. It took everything Naliah had not to shoot them herself. A few moments later, they walked along a ledge by the cliff wall, careful not to get hit by the rushing water or fall into the river, and they passed by more guards at the cave entrance.

Makeshift lights dotted the inside of the cave, with hastily set up consoles and computers flung about everywhere. They quickly saw other caves, with more temporary areas like the medbay and mess hall that could be packed up in a heartbeat. At the center of the largest cave, several high ranking officers gathered around a holotable, conversing in low tones until they approached. Nailah, Kashvi, and Natron stood at attention and saluted when they were close enough. Then she noticed every single Talon were mockingly copying them in salute. She finally lost it and started to turn towards them with a snarl.

"Captain!" snapped a Tognath, his arms crossed. "We've gone through enough trouble already just bringing them here! Keep falling for their childish pranks and you'll only encourage them more. I'd expect better from one of our best officers."

Nailah felt her cheeks flush and she stood down. "So I take it you call the shots here, sir?" asked Zar, and he and the others dropped their salutes.

The Tognath nodded. He always seemed an intimidating figure to Nailah, with his mask apparatus and unblinking eyes, and scarred black armor and green uniform. But from the way the hunters carried themselves, they seemed unimpressed, as if they had seen dozens like him. "Correct, Zaram Atoll. I am General Haldan Spar. And as you may have gathered, I don't have time to put up with your snide games. So shut up and pay attention. An old colleague of yours would you like to speak with you now."

He tapped a few buttons on the holotable and a hologram flickered into existence. A Mon Calamari, with blue eyes thanks to the hologram instead of his usual orange, regarded the Talons warily. "Zaram Atoll," said Ackbar in his gravelly voice. "What disaster do you seek to bring upon us today?"

Zar crossed his arms over his chest. "We should be asking you that. Captain Dvaita tried scamming us with some fake sobstory, now turns out she wants us to take on the Empire, like almost every other mission we've done for you."

Ackbar closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't know what she asked you to do, but here's what I want you to do. We have received intelligence suggesting that the Empire is looking for an ancient weapon here that will tip the scales of this war in their favor. But luckily, the Emperor is running out of patience. If you disrupt the operations long enough, he'll cease all excavations on Yuca."

Zar turned to his comrades and they whispered to each other for a few minutes. Nailah drummed her fingers on her arm impatiently. She was sure they were discussing how long they'd play along before they betrayed the Alliance again. Finally, they turned to face Ackbar, and the filthy Jawa strode forward and spoke to Ackbar. The Mon Calamari looked incredulous, and snapped, "Out of the question. 100,000 credits at most and I'm being generous. I'll have to swim through all sorts of hoops to get approval for that payment. Take it or leave it you greedy Womp rat."

Bariq shrugged and nodded. Ackbar looked relieved. "Good. I may be out of contact for some time. From this point onwards, any order from General Spar is an order from me. Understood?"

The Talons nodded. Ackbar nodded and turned to leave, but then Zar spoke up. "Admiral? If you can, give our regards to Raddus, and tell him we'd much rather have him calling the shots here. No offense, General Spar," he added to an irritated Haldan.

A flicker of grief and anguish flashed across Ackbar's face. He closed his eyes and said, "Admiral Raddus is no longer with us. He perished in battle above Scarif when the squad known as Rogue One stole the plans for the Death Star."

The Talons' reactions shocked her. Although their faces were hidden, Zar's fist clenched tightly, and Bariq slowly looked at the ground and raised his hands to his face, sadly murmuring Jawaese. Dendro, Tor, and Ru looked stunned and devastated, Dendro actually angrily blinked away tears. Even SN had lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Admiral," said Zar. "Even though we've never really gotten along well with the Alliance, we had nothing but respect for Raddus. Nobody will ever see his like again, but we'll make sure the galaxy will never forget him. And considering the Death Star and the great Grand Moff Tarkin are currently atoms drifting through the cosmos, I'd say that Raddus didn't die in vain."

Ackbar gave a respectful nod, his expression still firm but grateful, and said, "Thank you, Zaram. And Talons, may the Force be with you."

The hologram faded away. Spar immediately took charge. "We'll need time to choose and prepare our next assault on whichever excavation site is the best one to attack. Until then, Nailah and Kasvhi will make sure you don't do anything stupid here. Dismissed."

They didn't even try and give a smart remark. They just gathered around Dendro, who was openly crying, had all four hands balled into fists, and furiously muttering something in his native language. "I know," muttered Zar, and put a hand on his shoulder. "But at least Raddus went out doing what he did best. How about we get something to eat?"

Kashvi walked over and helped guide them to the mess hall. Nailah followed, still staring at them in surprise. Just who were these bounty hunters?

There were several other groups eating or conversing in low tones as they picked out the table closet to the kitchen. As the others helped Dendro sit down, Zar and Nailah walked over to get food. "How did you people know Admiral Raddus?" she asked. "He wasn't the type who'd let any common bounty hunter walk up and demand credits from him."

Zar was about to reply when his gaze snapped to the mess line. Nailah followed it and gave a start. "If this were my old restaurant," growled the Zabrak owner, wielding a nasty looking kitchen knife, "I'd have given a year's worth of meals for free to the scoundrel who could mount you on my wall. But thanks to you, Twi'lek, it's a mound of rubble."

Just when she thought the surprises wouldn't stop, Zar stepped forward. "To be fair, sir, it was me and my team that blew up the Lazy Rancor. But if it's any consolation, at least we dropped it right on Moff Locus's head."

The Zabrak gave him a beady glare and ran a finger across the knife. Zar reached into his pocket, drew out a handful of currency and a card, and offered it to the Zabrak. After considering it a moment, the Zabrak's glare somewhat lessened, and he accepted it. He glanced at their group and gave some instructions to several Zabraks that looked like they could be his family. They quickly brought several trays to their table. He gave the duo a curt nod and bustled off to start chopping vegetables.

"If he comes after us with that knife," Zar commented as they walked back to the table, "you can handle him first."

Nailah just gave a grunt as they sat down. She wasn't going to be making small talk with him even after that favor. They ate their food in cold awkward silence. Dendro had calmed down, but he still only halfheartedly gulped down his food. Then Zar spoke again. "I first met Raddus and Ackbar when I was a kid, during the Republic era. They were friends of my parents, and we needed their help and permission to explore several important archeological sites—"

"How would your parents be able to talk to them?" Kashvi asked, and she sipped from her drink. "Even before they joined the Rebellion, not just anybody could talk to the former Mayor of Nystullum and the Captain of the Mon Calamari Guard."

"You never heard of the Atoll Archeologists?" Tor asked back incredulously. After scarfing down a chunk of meat, he continued, "Even before my demolition days, my Clan, the Sacred Brotherhood of the Great Tide, held them in the highest regard."

Nailah bit into a jogan fruit. "So, the son of archeologists and a former monk? What's next, a long lost royal Jawa?"

Zar lifted his helmet slightly and slurped down some soup. This was the first time she had gotten a proper look at what could be under the helmet. So far, nothing mind blowing, just a blonde brown beard and ruddy human skin. Why was he still so reluctant to show his face? "After we assembled our scruffy team of scoundrels, we were sorely pressed for credits, so we took a few jobs from various Rebel cells. Rarely worked out well, but two of the few that did, was with Ackbar and Raddus."

"I never got to meet Admiral Raddus," admitted Kasvhi morosely, as she ate a meiloorun fruit. "I did see his ship once though, the Profundity. The Mon Calamari always did make the best ships; that beauty made the Imps' Destroyers look like spice freighters. What was he like?"

"The most stubborn Krakana in the galaxy," spoke up Dendro; while still somber, he had regained some of his old spirit, and was starting to eat with all four hands again. "Blunt, proud, had no patience for small talk or politics, always ready for a fight. He'd have gotten along well with my folks."

"All twenty of them?" asked Ru with a laugh, as he cut apart his food. "I think he would have started a brawl every time he came to visit."

Nailah choked on her fruit. The thought of twenty other Besalisks like Dendro chilled her to the bone. "There's twenty of you?!" she spluttered after clearing her throat.

Dendro was eating more rapidly now; the sizable amount of trays that had been brought over were being picked clean, and he showed no signs of slowing down. "Besides adopting more than one orphan along the way, my brother and other relatives had more than one marriage, but we were still close with our ex-in-laws, so we decided to band together after awhile." He crushed a giant chunk of meat between his teeth with vehemence before he spoke again. "Especially after the Empire came."

Before anyone could say anything else, Nailah's commlink beeped, and she answered it. "Captain," said Spar. "We just received intel on where to strike next, but we need to do it soon. Bring the Talons you think will be best to blow up an excavation site, and leave the rest at base for now, especially Zar. I'd rather trust a starving Nexu not to eat Orn Free Taa than trust him not to try anything."

"Understood," replied Nailah, and put it away. She stood up and barked, "Kashvi, Dendro, Tor, Ru, come with me! We're going to get ready for a mission!"

Zar took a loud sip from his drink. "I take it that means Bariq, SN, and I are to sit meekly here and collect dust while you go slogging through a few miles of mud again?"

She noticed the droid had given a slight start; he must have been shut off or conserving power. "Did you say something about walking through mud again? Have them do it, any more mud and I'll short circuit—"

"Yes," Nailah told him firmly, her old edge back in her voice. "And if you so much as knock over a trash container, forget the General, I will turn you over to Commander Skywalker himself."

All of the Talons looked at her blankly. The Jawa said something in an undeniably confused tone. "Commander Skywalker?" repeated Kashvi, who looked as floored as Nailah felt. "The hero who helped save Princess Leia Organa and blew up the Death Star? The man who's shaping up to be one of the best pilots in the entire Rebel Alliance?!"

More blank stares, but Zar lowered his gaze. "We haven't heard anything about who blew up the Emperor's favorite toy…but Skywalker…now that I think about it, the name does ring a bell…but I can't remember where…"

Nailah shook her head. "Forget it. Just know that you'll regret it if you try anything, believe me. Now come on, all of you."

They got up to go, but Zar spoke again. "There's something you should know too, Captain."

She stared at him resolutely as he slowly stood. But as he walked closer to her, she felt a chill pass over her. When he was a foot away, he stopped, and locked his gaze on hers. "The Talons are my team, my comrades, my family. If I found out you threw them to the wolves, or left them to face an army of Imps, you'll wish I had left you for Locus. Understood, Nailah Dvaita?"

For once, she couldn't muster an answer, so she simply nodded and walked off with the team following her. She chanced a glance back, and saw the Jawa, the bug eyed droid, and ominous Mandalorian watching her go.

Locus glared out at the excavation site high up from the control tower. This was the latest of the countless sites on Yuca, but it was also by far the most successful. With any luck, this would be the breakthrough they were waiting for. And if not, his spies would find Zar soon…

"Moff Locus? It's Lord Vader, he's contacting you from the Executor."

It was Brogan; the lieutenant was standing next to the holotable looking weary. Locus grunted and trudged over in his tank suit. A moment later, Vader's hologram flickered to life. Not as big as the man himself, but just as intimidating nonetheless. "Moff Locus," greeted Vader. "I've obtained the full files on Zaram Atoll and his team. Prepare to receive them now."

Zar's file showed up first, his crew members in smaller captions on the side. Brogan's jaw dropped and even Locus was surprised. "We have them," Locus told Vader. "I say…no wonder these weren't in the official record. I'm surprised Zaram has managed to evade the Empire for so long considering all of this."

Vader pointed an authoritative finger at him. "Don't underestimate the Talons. As you can see, they're greedy, crafty, and cause destruction that the Rebels can only dream of."

Locus bowed, his suit's knees bending for him. "Of course, Lord Vader."

He turned to leave, but the Emperor's right hand wasn't finished. "I have spoken to the Emperor about Project Uraeus."

Locus turned back, uneasiness now gnawing at him. He saw some of that same feeling on Brogan's face. Vader let the silence stretch for a few more uncomfortable moments before continuing. "You have two weeks. Should the excavations fail to turn up anything of importance, the project will be put on hold until the Rebel Alliance has been crushed, and you will be helping us sweep through the rest of the Outer Rim for the Rebels' new base from Yuca."

Locus felt his jaw drop. He didn't say it out loud, but internally, he wondered how in the galaxy did the Emperor think this was possible? "Two weeks?!" Brogan burst out, and then bit his lip before he could say anymore.

Vader turned towards him, that chilling breath sounding all the while. "Perhaps you wish to be reassigned to the Executor? After all, it has the highest rate of promotions in the Imperial Navy."

Brogan's face drained of all color and Locus couldn't blame him. Vader had said the truth; promotions happened almost at lightspeed on Darth Vader's personal flagship, because he kept killing all of the personnel who failed him. Luckily for the lieutenant, he didn't fall for the obvious death sentence, and shook his head quickly, clearly not trusting himself to speak. "Good," said Vader. "I would hate to rob Locus of a promising subordinate. And Locus…"

Locus straightened at attention, doing his best to seem like a proper Moff, but came apart when he felt Vader focus the full force of his menace and intimidation at him. "The Emperor wishes to remind you that you may unleash a force upon the galaxy that could wipe out entire systems should you make a careless mistake. And if you do, pray that it is your life that is snuffed out first, because it is nothing compared to what I will do to you."

Locus fell to his suit's robotic knees as he knelt before the second most terrifying being in the galaxy. Much like Brogan, he couldn't find his voice, so he nodded furiously instead.

There was a slight noise informing Locus that the hologram had turned off. But he still waited a few moments longer before rising up again. He saw the same terror that he felt in Brogan's face. Locus didn't even bother pretending he had recovered, he just waved a hand at Brogan telling him to get on with his work, before heading to the turbolift. He'd make sure the workers worked twice as hard even if he had to use some of them for target practice.