The broken limbs of shattered trees provided good fuel for a warm fire that night so Kabaytoth and Daub did not need to exert themselves to find it. A single log, about the girth of a man's midriff, had fallen a few feet from the crash and easily fulfilled their needs. The TIE bomber's power cells started the fire easily enough after cracking them against one of the smashed solar panels. The evening proved to be quite temperate though, so they stayed a good distance from the flames.

"Is the leg feeling better, Kabayoth?" Daub asked.

No, I think it is a more substantial break than I first realized, Kabayoth replied.
I think I can feel the bone trying to pierce the hide. He bared his teeth and gave a low growl. I can bear it. It's those power cells that you broke that worry me. Do you really feel it wise to waste them that way?

"Look that TIE is never going to run under its own power again unless about seventy percent of it is overhauled right down to the last bolt." Daub glared at the twisted wreck with undisguised contempt, "It just about killed us anyway. I would rather be stuck here than try to reach an orbit that the Rebels could find us at in that." He now sounded disgusted with the Rebellion. Despite the great victory gained here, he could not quite shake the feeling that victory would cost him more personally than the Death Star could take.

Kabayoth, however, was jubilant through his pain. They will come for us, my friend. We split a Star Destroyer right up the keel; surely, they can't ignore that.

Daub remained grim. A deep scowl furrowed his brow as he stirred the hot embers, and for the first time, Kabayoth saw the real signs of strain in the human. So to distract himself from the pain and to drag Daub from his malaise he cast his thoughts out aloud. I haven't been home in fifteen years, Kabayoth growled. I wonder what remains of my home, after all this time.

Daub actually grinned for the first time. "I thought you Wookees lived five hundred years or so," he chuckled. "Pardon me for saying so, but that kind of time doesn't seem to compare to fifteen with much severity."

Kabayoth woofed out his own laughter gently so as not to offend his wounded limb. We may see more of it, but time passes slowly for any slave. The years have bent me just as harshly as they have you. He paused and cast a long thoughtful gaze at the stars. My mate was the affectionate type anyway, he said not lowering his eyes. She often told me how sharp my absence was felt, even for a day. He lowered his gaze back to the enormous trees all about them. This may be a fine oasis for me. Stars, I know I could thrive here! But the green forests of Kashyyyk make even this sanctuary a pale, stunted meadow. And Tahnchata calls to me from wherever she is.

It was the first time Daub had heard Kabayoth speak the name of his mate. Wookie society did not allow one to speak casually about family. And to know the names of a Wookie's family members was a courtesy only extended to the closest of friends and the family itself. Daub sensed a certain gravity descend upon his friend, "I can't guarantee that you'll see her again, Kabayoth."

The shaggy figure shook with gentle laughter in the flickering gloom. Then you'd better see to it that I live through this night so I may repay my debt…

Daub cut him off. "No!" he barked sternly, "No, Kabayoth, no," he shook his head wearily. "I will not risk a friend on the whim of some, self imposed, ill advised code of honor." His eyes descended to the flames again. "You will go home, Kabayoth, and see to it that Tahnchata lives to see you again. I won't see the honor you've bestowed upon me rendered meaningless when you die in my service."

The gods, Daub, not I demand it. Tahnchata would not see her mate stain his honor that way. Kabayoth shook his shaggy head in wonder. Besides, he added, the way you live, will insure the swift payment of my debt.

They sat in silence, watching the Mon Calamari cruisers drift above the planet. From here, they were bright specs only slightly larger than the surrounding stars. Daub found himself wondering if the victory achieved would be substantial enough to last. "Imperial class Star Destroyers can be seen almost as a distinct shape at this range," Daub mused. "Super class Star Destroyers can be clearly identified by even the dim sighted."

I know, Kabayoth said. The Mon Calamari ships seem so humble next to the Imperial examples.

Sudden resolve steeled Daub as he spoke again. "I don't think they can stand against them for long."

They succeeded here, Kabayoth reasoned, they can press on to a successful end.

Daub looked skeptical. "I don't know." His eyes focused past the stars into memory. "They thought they had them in a trap that they couldn't get out of, but were too stuck on the plan to modify it when the Rebels pressed into close range. A single man can make that kind of mistake. Imperial commanders would never think to override the Emperor's direct orders." He paused thoughtfully. "The numbers don't add up. Not even a determined opponent can hope to prevail against the kind of firepower the Empire has at its disposal. Tactics and skill can carry battles for only so long. It's only a matter of time before the Rebels can no longer sustain their losses."

You're forgetting the political support they have gained with this victory Kabayoth reminded him. The numbers have changed for the better.

Daub remained skeptical, "There are still a lot of blasters pointed the Rebellion's way." He cast an angry glare back towards the TIE wrecked under the trees. "The Imperial high command won't hesitate to use them either. We can't count on one man's miscalculation to carry the war." His expression froze as an idea formed almost all at once.

Kabayoth seemed to follow Daub's line of thought immediately. What if those blasters were not aimed at us?

"The odds form up in our favor," Daub said completing the thought. "They have tried the same thing on us a number of times." He leaned forward into the flickering light. The flames revealed eyes that glittered with hope for the first time in seven years. Then he slapped the palm of his hand decisively. "Powerful men keep close eyes on each other, and surround themselves with ambitious subordinates."

And all of them can be mislead, Kabayoth finished.

"By their own greed," Daub added.

The two friends grappled with the strategy the rest of the night.

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About mid-morning the Wookie and Daub received some cautious visitors. The leader was short compared to either of these interlopers in his forest, but amongst his own kind, he was an immense specimen. A chieftain from a vast village nearby, he was at first alarmed when the sky-creature had screamed out of the clouds. The creatures had always flown straight and smooth across the sky in the past, but this one twisted and turned in wild gyrations as if it were in its death throws. When it became clear that it was going to drop from the sky, the chieftain had tried desperately to move his village out of its path, but the time was too late for that. No sooner had the creature appeared than it plowed into his forest making the spirits of many trees suffer for its own misfortune in broken branches, limbs, even entire spirits reduced to stumps in a chaotic din of tortured metal. But, mercifully, the creature had fallen just short of his home.

No one, not even the scouts he had looking for the white-clad creatures, had been anywhere near the crash on the ground. But the chieftain had taken care to make sure that all were accounted for before he rounded up every scout, warrior, and hunter he had in the village to get whatever crawled out of the sky-creature's belly.

Now that he could see the thing, he was sure that it belonged to the alien invaders that had caused his people so much grief in the past few seasons. The large regular shape of one of the panels could still be identified. Plus its dull, stone gray color also classified it as one of the hated beasts of the aliens.

Although his first instinct was to attack the beings sitting and chatting at the fire in front of the thing, he held his spear down. Neither of the aliens was in the uniform of the invaders, and neither appeared greatly alarmed at being marooned in the forest. All the white-clad invaders had always appeared disdainful of his homeland or even close to panic. But the most puzzling thing was the larger one. He was enormous. Not only that but he had as shaggy a pelt as the chieftain's own, and the invaders had all been covered in pale, hairless skin. The chieftain from mountain grove village had sent news of a similar being that had helped in a battle against the invaders. "He was of terrific height. More than four times our own, brother," the messenger had repeated. "Covered in long, straight fur the color of heartwood. No words did he speak, nor gestures did he use to communicate, only the softest sounds of the great bears of the deserts passed his lips." The description could apply to the large one in all but color, which was a dirty grey. But the chieftain mused that if his own kind could possess the diversity of fur patterns that it did; then so could any other alien.

The other one still gave the chieftain pause. He was still much larger than any of his kind could ever hope to be, but no more than twice his own size. From his demeanor, he could gather a greatly agitated state of mind. Occasionally he would erupt in loud, short outbursts to no minor effect to his companion. Plus he spoke the same guttural language of the invaders with a great, deep boom of a voice that made many of his warriors shudder. "I swear the hairless one rattles my very bones with his call," his son told the Chieftain.

The Chieftain motioned for the boy to be silent, but no damage had been done. The two beings appeared quite involved with their discussion, and were oblivious to an outburst that would have driven off wild game at twelve lance throws. With motions, his medicine man gathered his attention. "What do you see?" the Chieftain motioned back.

"The larger one is injured," the medicine man told him. "See how he holds his leg? I believe that he broke a bone. You'll also notice he hasn't risen to his feet. This would give us an advantage if we should take them now. I can also tell you from the larger one's pelt and his scent that he is gravely malnourished, and on the verge of being quite ill."

The Chieftain considered this for a moment. Then slowly raised his spear signaling a walking advance. Lances, bows, and stone axes were held forward just as the wind shifted with them.

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I smell something, Kabayoth said suddenly. And just as said this, the Ewoks emerged from the forest.

Daub actually laughed. The creatures held weapons of Stone Age vintage in menacing readiness, but they were short, furry, and about as threatening as any number of pets that humans possessed. There were, however, a great many of them. Daub thought he could overpower a few but not all of them. So he smiled, raised his hands, and wondered what would become of Kabayoth and himself.

The one in charge motioned towards Daub, and spoke a few short, shrill words. About a dozen Ewoks surrounded him; holding spears to his throat. Another one approached Kabayoth. After a few moments, it became clear that this one was a doctor of some sort. Some more of the shrill language was spoken, and some of the smaller ones pitched themselves headlong into the forest. More orders were given and another small one stood next to one of Kabayoth's feet with the apparent intention of handling the injured limb in some way.

Daub stood in alarm. He hadn't fully set the leg, and Kabayoth would be powerless to stop them from doing much. One of his guards screeched out a warning of some sort.

Be patient, Daub, I think… Kabayoth started to say.

But one Daub's guards screeched out another warning, and plunged his spear into Daub's thigh. In a reflex action Daub reached down and yanked out the spear; leaving the stone spearhead in his leg. His guards stepped back a pace just as a bloodcurdling crack and a deafening howl was heard coming from Kabayoth. In the same instant the small Ewok that had been standing by Kabayoth's leg came sailing through the air right at Daub. He had just enough time to raise his hands to catch the furry being before he was knocked to the ground by the impact.

His guards simply stepped out of his way while he was falling, and surrounded him again as he hit the ground. Then, without hesitation, the one who had stuck Daub reached out and yanked the stuck spearhead free of his leg. Daub howled in pain; hurling the Ewok on his chest airborne again. His hands clutched his wounded thigh, and he gritted his teeth in pain. The outstretched paws of Kabayoth grabbed the unfortunate Ewok from the air before he collided with a tree. Kabayoth set the little creature down then set to breathing heavily through his pain just as Daub was.

The Chieftain spoke to the small one for a moment. The small one's reply was followed by a short, absolute silence, then by an uproar of laughter. The Ewoks became quite animated and jabbered hoarsely between gusts of laugher. Apparently, the violent little scene was the funniest thing they had ever seen.

Kabayoth's leg was set in a splint, and Daub's leg was sewn closed and bound. They motioned for Daub to rise without pointing their weapons at him. He managed to stand, but he couldn't walk without an extravagant limp.

He saw them making a litter of some sort. At first he thought they might carry him out of here, but they placed Kabayoth on it. Then they motioned for him to pick up one end of the litter while six of their number held the other end. The one in charge then led them out of the clearing and onto a trail that, unbeknownst to Daub or Kabayoth, led towards the Death Star's shield generator.