Outer Rim – Omman Minor
Many in the galaxy wondered where he had run off to. The few who did knew only that he was a war veteran, and wanted some peace and quiet. They knew he was rich and smart enough to run a mining operation so far out into this corner of the galaxy. They knew he was private, and a bit on the paranoid side. What they didn't know was that he was wanted by Republic authorities. What they didn't know was that he once held the galaxy by the throat, that he defeated Republic forces at every turn, that he slaughtered his enemies by the thousands.
What they didn't know was that he was Cassus Fett, strategist, tactician, and supreme field marshal for Te Ani'la Mand'alor. His master, now dead, was the ultimate warlord to challenge the Republic since Exar Kun. What they didn't know was that Cassus Fett was a war criminal, on the run from the Republic, but still fighting his enemies in his own way.
What they didn't know was that Cassus Fett was still fighting the war, building up strength, numbers, and an army. What they didn't know was that Cassus Fett, unless defeated completely, was still a larger threat than Revan and Malak ever were.
Still, they did know Cassus kept to himself, and didn't like the rest of the galaxy finding him. They knew him as simply a veteran, though they didn't know who he really was. The mining operation he had begun on Omman Minor was a novel thing at best, a joke at worst. A man of his competence had bigger and better goals in mind, so why was he wasting time out in this pit of the galaxy? The mining foreman, Chigg Yagner, thought as much as he walked over to the man's stone hut. It was situated just a short walk from the mining operation, uphill from the quarry and in the woods. The day was ending, the sun was just beginning to set. He knocked on the door.
"Come in." The man said with a forceful tone. Chigg walked in.
"Evenin' sir." Chigg said. Donnigan Reldarry, as they knew him, was at work at the planning table – literally. Chigg wondered what motivated him. Why would a war veteran, after years of fighting, all of a sudden want to run a mine way out here in the Outer Rim? Chigg knew better than to ask such a direct question to a man of his stature. He valued his privacy.
"Mr. Yagner." Donnigan said, without turning around from the table. He was hard at work on…something.
"Just letting you know I'm calling it a day. I'm sending the men home, sir." Chigg began. One of the devices on Donnigan's desk began blaring an annoying sound. Was it an alarm beacon? Mr. Reldarry hid any panic or worry he might have had, and turned the device off.
"Send the men home. Give them the week off. With pay." Mr. Reldarry replied.
"That's very generous of you sir, thank you."
"Was that all?" Mr. Reldarry asked quickly. He wanted Chigg out. Fast.
"No sir. Good night sir." Chigg said.
He left, not wanting to bother his employer any more. He noted that the man seemed rushed, pressed for time. He certainly wanted Chigg out of there. Chigg wondered on this as he walked down the gravel path. It was time to get the men home. In the distance, he saw starships come down out of space. At least two freighters – troop carriers, maybe? Smaller warships, and…a Mandalorian warship? Chigg hurried up. He may have been an Outer Rim miner, but he knew when things were going to "pop off." Chigg's stride turned into a full run.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
We blasted out of hyperspace over the world of Omman Minor. The other bounty hunters all flew together in one freighter. They were probably a team. Rajja's Gank troops flew in a separate ship. The bounty hunter's ship took lead and headed down to the planet's surface. The Ganks and I followed down after them. We broke atmosphere, and took 'er down just over the planet. We were flying above a woodsy area.
"We're making for a forest clearing. We'll touch down there and head out." Palscho said over the comm.
I replied simply with 'Rog' before landing in the open clearing. I set the Basilisk down, while the bounty hunters and Ganks landed opposite me. I equipped my rifle and pistol, did a systems check on my armor, and exited the ship. The others were exiting their ships too as I walked into the middle of the clearing to confer with Irkchik and company. The other hunters were all equipped with a variety of weapons. Palscho the Ithorian had a blaster rifle that sported two barrels, mounted atop it's lower assembly and buttstock. Terran the Human had a blaster pistol and a miniature grenade launcher. The Stereb, Munshaan, had a machine pistol and a vibroblade. Suuvarsh the Ubese sported a long rifle with tri-light scope. Irkchik himself dual-wielded a vibrosword and what appeared to be a Trandoshan fashioned hatchet, while a slugthrower pistol rested in his thigh holster. One of Rajja's high enforcers, a Chev, was commanding the platoon of Ganks that had landed with us. He set them to form a perimeter before joining us in the center.
"We need a plan. What's our move?" The Chev asked. I stayed quiet, and let the team talk.
Terran spoke first. "Simple. Move out. Shoot anyone that gets in the way. Knock off this Cassus guy, identify the body for the Hutt, job is done."
"It's never that simple and you know it!" Irkchik spat back. The Ubese, whose gender I couldn't identify underneath the light armor and mask, spoke in it's native language, which I couldn't understand. Seemed as though Suuvarsh agreed though.
"We need to locate the mine. Gorman," Palscho began, speaking to the Chev, "can you send a squad ahead to scout out the area?"
The Chev, who I now knew as Gorman, replied "can do boss."
"The Ganks can provide recon, and we'll move out in the morning." Palscho said. That struck me as a bad plan. I shook my head.
"And lose any element of surprise? Make a night attack. We can move out after sunset, leave behind some of the Ganks to provide rear security, and use the rest at the mine." I said. The other hunters looked at me, some impressed, others irritated that a newcomer would speak. After a few moments of looking at me and then each other, they all nodded in agreement.
"Yah, alright, we'll go with the Mando plan. No hesitation about going after this Cassus guy, right Fett?" Terran asked with a snide grin. I leveled my eyes at him behind my helmet.
"It's just another target." I replied.
Irkchik nodded approvingly. "Sounds good. Gorman send your men out and leave a squad here. We'll meet with you at the objective at nightfall." Gorman nodded and moved out, gathering most of the Ganks and began moving south-east. One squad remained for security at the landing site. With that, the other hunters began to go back into their ship, probably to sit around and bullshit, or just nap.
I wasn't content to lollygag though. "Irkchik." I said. The Saurin stopped and turned as I walked over. The other hunters watched too.
"What do you want Fett?"
"I'm going with the recon party." I said. The Saurin stared at me and shrugged.
"Alright. Good on ya, Fett. Send us a hail when the time is right." Irkchik replied. He and the other hunters went back into the ship. I met up with Gorman and the Ganks, who weren't far off into the woods.
"You coming with us, Mandalorian?" The Chev asked.
"Yes. Lead the way."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Cassus stood at the bottom of the quarry, just at the foot of the entrance into the underground mine the civilian workers had been chipping away at for weeks. The cliff face looming above the mine was etched by a crisscross trail, leading up to the woods and to his personal quarters. Facing the quarry was a sprawling open bed of gravel and rocks, dominated by a few larger boulders that eventually gave way to more forest. Overhead, sunlight was fading. Down below, his men – the troops – were venturing into the mine to retrieve the cargo.
Fett hoped to have the cargo retrieved that night, and be off world immediately after. Somehow though, he had an inkling that something was wrong. Those starships that landed earlier…had the Republic found him? Curses.
It was that sixth sense, the type one develops being on the run, that was yelling at him in the back of his mind to do something. The men inside the mine needed to continue their work. Precious cargo was inside that needed to be extracted and carried out.
If the threat was real, he needed to be prepared. He only had a handful of men left to defend the quarry. He ordered those standing by to take positions in whatever cover they could find in the quarry. He hated walking away from his troops, but he needed to be ready. He began marching up the cliff trail back to his hut.