"Are you sure there's no other solution?" Obi-Wan asked looking at the holomap before him.

"With the information we have, only a small strike team can get in undetected." Plo Koon confirmed looking around at those assembled. "The forces within the base are unknown as of yet."

"So the strike team is going in blind?" Ahsoka asked quietly.

"The team could collect more information before the fleet attacks the base." Anakin told his Padawan. "The question is who do we send?"

"We need a group of that can keep themselves from being detected and can stay scarce in a situation." Obi-Wan said looking to Anakin with a certain look in his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing at all."

Captain Rex shared a look with Commanders Cody and Wolffe as he his a grin while the two Generals went back and forth. The bickering went on for a minute until the doors slid open and Captain Shadow walked in with Blade by his side. Both wore fatigues that were black instead of the issued gray or red that most troopers wore when out of armor.

"Sorry we're late sirs." Shadow said taking one moment to look around then looked at the holo. "Ammo, Lee and Brix decided to mess with our, Wic, Glider and Swoop's armor."

"I hope they are still able to do their duty." Plo Koon chuckled.

"They're just a little tied up, General." Blade told the group with a grin.

Plo Koon shook his head as Commander Wolffe gave them a small smirk knowing exactly what the two had done since they had done it several times before. The two members of Night Squad looked at the holo studying it thoroughly while taking in information about the base and moon it was stationed on.

"What do you think Rex?" Anakin asked looking to his Captain.

"General Kenobi has a point about keeping the team small for infiltration and recon of the base." Rex said glancing to Cody who nodded. "The position of the base is the tricky part for whoever we send in."

"The supports keep the base suspended in the air above the ravine that they seem to use for resources." Shadow interrupted. "The team will have to scale their way up from the bottom and enter through the bottom and I think I have an idea."

"Go ahead then Shadow." Plo Koon nodded.

"If we have to go small, I suggest that we split up the force, one group infiltrates while the other takes out vital resources for the base without endangering themselves or the other team."

"Strike team creates a distraction for the stealth team." Blade put simply.

"Exactly."

Shadow and Blade shared a look then nodded having a silent conversation as the others watched them not knowing that was being said between the two.

"Generals, I would request that myself and Blade be sent on this mission." Shadow said after a moment.

"What about the rest of your squad?" Ahsoka asked before anything else could be said.

Shadow shook his head, "Blade and I are the best at this."

"Any suggestions Cody, Rex, Wolffe?" Obi-Wan asked the silent troopers.

"Shadow's right about himself and Blade being part of this mission." Wolffe told the group. "They've proven themselves several times times over with missions of this caliber and higher."

Obi-Wan nodded, "Now who else do we send?"

"I volunteer myself for this mission, General." Rex told the group looking to Shadow who seemed surprised.

Anakin looked between the two Captains before nodding, "Alright Rex."

"I have a suggestion or two." Blade spoke up quietly. "Most squads are made up of four members yet this mission should have at least one more man."

"Who do you have in mind, Blade?" Shadow asked with a grin.

"Those two rookies I've heard so much about may cut it. Echo and Fives were their names if I remember correctly."

Plo Koon nodded, "Shadow I trust you will be on the infiltration team."

"Yes, General and I suggest that Blade be on the strike team." Shadow said ignoring the looks that were directed at him. "He's great at organizing sabotage. Which will be a need on this mission."

Blade chuckled, "Mission on Ando Prime. Never forget it."

Shadow couldn't help but grin at that, "Anyway, Blade will lead the strike team with Echo and Fives as his backup while Rex and I take care of the infiltration part. The rest of Night Squad will be on call incase something goes wrong."

"Are you sure, Shadow?" Commander Wolffe asked.

Shadow locked eyes with his former CO and nodded with a grin on his face while everyone else stayed relatively quiet. Plo Koon watched the silent conversation between Wolffe and Shadow before continuing the discussion with others, having Rex call Fives and Echo to the bridge. The mission was to be secretive that only those present and trusted would know it's true entail though none of the Jadi would be going.

"Glider, Hawk." Shadow greeted as the small temporary squad approached the pilots. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, sir." Glider nodded with a slight grin. "I'm transporting you and Captain Rex while Hawk takes Blade, Echo and Fives to their dropoff point."

"Good. Blade take these three and kit them out or make sure their kit is good for this."

"Gotcha Captain." Blade responded signaling the three others as Shadow headed off on his own.

Shadow had to admit to himself that it was an odd sight to have Rex, Echo, Fives and Hawk there instead of the other members of his squad. Grasping Blade's forearm the two nodded to one another before the group separated going to their ships in order to begin their mission. Everyone was silent as they went on their way, the Jedi stood nearby with the rest of Night Squad and others from the 501st.

"Ready, Captain Rex?" Shadow asked as the doors closed.

Rex nodded, "As ready as I'll every be."

Shadow grinned, though he felt nervous since this would be the first mission that he would be with someone outside the squad since leaving Wolfpack.

"So Rex how'd you receive the jai'galaar'la sur'haii'se?" he asked the other Captain who turned his head. "You Jaig Eyes?"

Rex was silent for a moment, "Were you on Geonosis during the first battle?"

The question was just that but out of the corner of his eye Rex noticed Shadow flinch at the mention of the battle. The Night Squad Captain frowned holding himself rigged for a moment before seemingly calming himself making Rex wonder what had happened to the other Captain during that battle.

"I was there." Shadow responded quietly.

"After Geonosis I was trained with Cody and long story short I received the eyes from my training officer." Rex told him not wanting to go into detail. "During that time I got my name as well."

"Sounds pleasant."

"Not really."

They fell back into a relative silence until Glider called back to them, ETA three minutes, be ready to jump."

"Standing by, Glid'ika." Shadow responded quietly.

He smiled to Rex before placing his helmet on his head checking the HUD layout for any new intel. In the corner, he could see that Blade was going over something with Echo and Fives. Turning away from Rex he looked down at his hands which were shaking slightly until he clenched them into fists trying to relax.

"Go, go go!" Glider yelled over the comm as the ship suddenly tilted.

Both Captains were nearly knocked off their feet before they launched themselves out the port side doors. There was an explosion above them as Glider retreated back to the safety of space leaving the two alone and running for cover. They were silent as they slowly made their way to the drop point before they could infiltrate.

"Bumpy ride, Captain?" Blade asked over their private comm.

"Wasn't so bad, Blad'ika." Shadow told him looking around. "You, Fives and Echo in position?"

"Nearly. You sure you two are the stealth team because we had smooth sailing over here."

"Rub it in, vod'ika. We're at the entrance point. Talk to you soon."

"Be careful, Sha'ika."

"No promises but you better stay safe."

The comm went silent as Shadow looked over to Rex who nodded to him beginning to climb to the where they would infiltrate the base.

"Oya." the Night Squad Captain muttered beginning his own climb.

Blade rolled across the ground as he, Fives and Echo headed to their RV point before they began their own assault.

"Stealth team's ETA on infiltration is two standard minutes so let's get to work boys." he told the two with him. "Oya."

"Oya, sir?" Fives asked confused.

Blade chuckled to himself, "It's Mando'a for 'let's go hunting.' Shadow had us learn some words and phrases."

"Sounds interesting sir." Echo said laying prone to scope out the area ahead of them.

"Maybe we'll give you some lessons after we get back. Turn you both into good little Mando'a boys like the rest of us."

"Looking forward to it, Lieutenant."

Blade silenced his end of the comm and sighed having forgotten what it was like before he had joined Shadow. Most troopers didn't know any Mando'a or very little like Vode An because it was something that the Kaminoans thought wasn't needed. He'd only begun to learn the customs from Shadow and others like his Captain just as the rest of the Squad was learning.

Red light flashed on his visor and he grinned, "Time to begin. Echo, Fives sabotage the central places nearest here. I'm going to get as close as possible."

"Sir, we're meant to sabotage the outside of the base without compromising the stealth team. Is that wise, sir?" Echo questioned unsure.

"I'm being thorough and drop the sir, ner vod."Blade told the trooper. "Don't worry."

Blade wondered if Ammo's personality was starting to rub off on him as he made his way to the next major area of the base. Taking over he scanned the area setting his charges to bring whatever was in that base to him instead of Shadow.

"Just like Ando Prime without the others." he told himself.

Backing away, he heard the metallic footsteps of droids coming toward him and stopped pulling his DC-15s out. The Lieutenant shrugged his shoulders entering his 'zone' as Ammo would say before going into a battle.

"Let's go." he thought firing in the squad of droids.

"Lieutenant!" Echo called over the comm.

"Echo, you and Fives get ready to open up." Blade answered him calmly. "I'm bringing some friends."

"Will do sir."

Blade turned back to head for some better cover as red blaster bolts flew around him, just barely missing him. Returning fire, Blade began to focus to the point that he didn't see much except that of the droids coming.

"You're doing it again, Blad'ika." came Shadow's voice.

"It's just who I am, Sha'ika." Blade responded. "Where are you and Captain Rex with the Intel."

"We're about five minutes from complete download. Then it's just getting out of here before we blow this place."

"Sounds simple on your end."

"Not exactly. Rex has his hands full with some tinnies."

"Echo and Fives are having fun now too."

Blade had switched to see what the two troopers were doing and saw them firing on droids that had come out of the base.

"What do you think, Sha'ika?" Blade asked firing once more taking down several droids. "Shadow?"

"Fierfek. Rex!" was all he heard from Shadow before the comm went dead.

"Shadow?

There was nothing but static on his end as he checked the HUD for Shadow's visual then turned to call out to Echo and Fives when there was an explosion. He was lifted off his feet and slammed into the ground, knocking the air from his lungs as debris landed around him.

"Lieutenant! Blade!" he heard voices call out.

Struggling he pushed himself up enough to see the base in flames and begin to crumble away into the ravine below it slowly.