Here's the next installment of my story.

I hope y'all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

Ciao!

The Separatist Fortress on Shili

"We've shot down a Republic troop transport, it went down just inside our parameter," Driso Sladner said. He was a Devaronian bounty hunter that had been hired to help defend the stronghold from Republic interference.

"Good, take a detachment of droids and scout the area, if there are any survivors bring them to me," the Nemoidian, Lok Durd, ordered.

Driso grunted, he didn't take orders from anyone and he was making sure his employer knew it.

Lok Durd walked over to the holoprojector and keyed in a command. A hologram of a man wearing a dull brown cloak appeared.

"Lok Durd, I hope you have a good reason for contacting me, has something gone wrong with our mining operations?" Count Dooku demanded.

"No, Count Dooku," Lok Durd said with a bow. "I just wanted to inform you that our defenses have shot down a Republic military transport. I have sent a detachment of droids along with the bounty hunter to check for survivors."

"Very good, hopefully this will make up for your mistakes on Maridun, we lost a lot of droids freeing you from Republic custody," he paused a moment before continuing. "I pray it was the right decision," he finished.

"Yes, Count Dooku, I promise you won't regret it," Lok Durd said hurriedly.

"I'd better not, for your sake," he said, the underlying threat evident in his voice.

Lok Durd cut the transmission and silently prayed that nothing would go wrong.

Canon Squad, the Forrests of Shili

Canon Squad had walked until the sun went down before stopping for a break. Des unslung his pack and pulled out four ration bars, tossing one to each of them.

"Dinner is served, boys, eat up," Des said, biting into his bar.

Bloodbath gave a heartfelt sigh. "What I wouldn't give for a nerf steak right now, or possibly some warra nuts," he said, making a face as he bit into his own.

"I thought you said you didn't mind eating RATS," Ramik said. Bloodbath shrugged. "Normally I don't, but when you've had them five days in a row you'd get tired of them too."

/We have been/ Rever signed.

They finished eating and started walking again. Bloodbath noticed that Rever wasn't acting like himself. Normally he'd be completely alert, noticing every single detail in the forrest around them, but he seemed to be distracted.

"Hey, Rever, you okay?" Bloodbath asked.

Rever didn't turn around as he answered. /We're being watched/ he signed. By this time the rest of the squad had halted.

"What did he say?" Des asked.

"He says we're being watched," Bloodbath answered. Whenever Rever had a bad feeling he was usually right. Des and Ramik raised their weapons a little higher.

"Alright," Des said. "Keep your eyes open."

They walked for another hour before Rever suddenly froze. Caught off guard by his sudden stop, Bloodbath crashed into him. Des and Ramik whipped around at the sound.

"What's wrong?" Des asked, feeling the tension in the air.

Rever ignored him. Raising his weapon, he broke from the ranks and moved towards a giant fern about five meters away. He came within a meter of it and stopped.

"What's he doing?" Des asked Bloodbath, keeping his voice low. Bloodbath could only shrug, how was he supposed to know? Sure, he was the only one Rever would talk to, but that didn't mean Bloodbath could read his mind.

Rever just stood there, watching the fern, then a small furry animal jumped out from behind it. Everyone, except Rever, jumped and raised their weapons. The creature looked at them for a moment before turning and disappearing into the underbrush.

Everyone was silent, then Bloodbath burst out laughing. "Good job, Rever, you saved us from certain death at the hands of a Tooka," he managed to get out between breaths.

Rever looked at him coldly through his helmet's visor. Eventually Bloodbath got control of himself again and was about to deliver another remark on being saved from "death by Tooka" when he felt something grab his ankle.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Bloodbath was suddenly whipped upside down and into the air. "Hey! What's going on?!" He yelled.

The squad dropped into defensive positions around Bloodbath. A twig snapped and Des aimed his weapon in the direction of the sound, Ramik and Rever following suit. Suddenly, a snarling animal jumped out of the foliage at Des, grabbing his Deece by the barrel.

Rever raised his weapon and was about to shoot when a second animal burst from a bush and knocked the blaster from his grip. He drew his vibroblade and was about to lunge at the beast when that too was torn from his grasp, but this time it was by a blasterbolt.

"Harm a single hair on either of my Anubas and you're dead men," a feminine voice, though slightly muffled, called out.

Rever whipped around. Standing there was a woman in Mandalorian armor. She snapped her fingers and both the Anubas broke off the attack and went to stand on either side of her, the one that had attacked Des still holding the blaster in its mouth.

Everyone stood there silently, then the woman spoke. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" She demanded.

"Why should we tell you?" Des asked, his voice calm as ever, but laced with caution.

The woman shrugged. "Because one of you is dangling from a snare and I will not hesitate to shoot any of you if I perceive a threat to myself or my Anubas," she said. "Now, answer my questions or..." she trailed off as she lifted a blaster and aimed it at Bloodbath, who was still dangling helplessly from the snare.

Des sighed. He didn't want to talk, but if he didn't Bloodbath would die. "Fine," he said. "We've been sent by the Republic to infiltrate and destroy the Separatist stronghold here."

The woman grunted. "Republic Commandos then," she stated and Des nodded. "Well then, I guess it's lucky we bumped into each other because the fortress is that way," she said, pointing to the west of them.

"We were supposed to meet someone who would take us there, but we got shot down and missed the rendezvous point."

"What was your guide's name?" The woman asked after a momentary pause.

"Arsenal, you ever heard of him?" This time it was Ramik that spoke.

"You could say that," she replied.

"Do you know where we could find him?" Des asked.

"You already have," she said, removing her helmet. Long brown hair pulled back into a loose braid spilled out of her helmet along with a wave of thick bangs that covered the right side of her face. Scars emerged from behind her bangs and cover the lower half of her face with thin, white lines that stood out against her tanned skin.

"My name is Solus Arin, though most people simply know me as Arsenal."

There was a stunned silence before Bloodbath spoke.

"Hey, I know that this is a really bad time, what with us oooing and ahhing over the totally hot chick standing in front of us right now, but could someone please CUT ME DOWN!" Ending his statement with a shout to emphasize his point.

Please read and review, I don't mind flames if people are not purposely trying to be mean, if you have any ideas for the storyline PM me or leave a review. :)