*Mos Eisley*Tattoine*1534 standard time*

"Ah, the capital of Tattoine" Stax kicked a corpse aside, an unfortunate human upstart, "Never be said that we don't like places like these."

"I hate this place" Alema said, shooting an insect that wandered too close to her, the poor bastard dropping faster than a ship without engines.

"So you've said," Loki spared a look at the corpse, noticing the scavengers ripping into it, "Oi, wise leader, can we stop by the tavern?"

"After we go buy the parts to make the core they gave us into a proper battle droid," Brick answered, asking himself if he should have made everyone wear the helmets.

The Mos Eisley Market Zone was no better than the rest of the city. Owners walking around, paying for stuff while making the slaves they had with them carry it, in other cases the owner parading them around like they were animals.

The whole crew, Alema and Tronk more than anyone, wanted to kill every owner, if they did not know that it would get them in trouble with the Hutt, unofficial rulers of the sector, and being always willing to pay for bounty hunters.

Ten minutes later they came across a stall that sold what Brick was looking for.

"What do you mean eight thousand credits, that's what a whole protocol droid costs!" The insect glared at him, and Brick was sorely tempted to shoot him and be done with this scammer. The crew was looking around, "I'm not even asking for a skeleton, just the bloody parts!"

"And you'll only find them here, unless you want to go to the trade federation," the bug said, sounding smug.

"Listen here," Brick hissed, going against his personality by pulling out his vibroblade, "You either sell me these parts for what they are actually worth, or I'll tell Jabba that you've been avoiding taxes."

Brick had no doubt that the insect would be afraid not only for his life but for his freedom, because Jabba would have him put on a cell before feeding him to the Ragnok, "That will be three thousand credits," the insect gulped.

"I knew you would see reason," Brick smiled.

Seriously, trying to sell robot parts for three times their price.

The tavern was on the end of town opposite to where they had landed, but that was another reason they had gone to the parts supplier first.

The tavern was close to the Hutt docks, making it one of the most popular places for bounty hunters, especially those that could claim they had worked with the leader of the Hutta before.

"OI, STRUM" The captain looked at the corner booth, where a man with a familiar light blue armor was sitting by himself.

The crew of the Dusk Bringer went over, ordering as soon as they sat down, "Been a while, Strum, you out of job in the Core?" Jango Fett was the best bounty hunter in the trade, and could easily retire if he had anything else that held his pride other than his reputation.

"I would prefer the Core to here," Alema said, "Less chance of being captured."

Jango looked at her and then at Tronk, "Understandable, although I am surprised you got the full armor rather than just the chest," he pointed at Aela.

The Zeltron scowled, "The swine here would try to grope me if wore anything else."

"Yes, few people respect others here in Tattoine," Jango took a swig from his glass, tapping his helmet absently, "Despite that, there are few places that pay better than here."

They all nodded, "What brings The Mandalorian to Hutt Territory, anyway?" Brick asked.

"A bodyguard job, with the pod race that Jabba sponsors coming, he wants someone to guard his slimy ass," the hunter sighed, "After that, I heard that the Kaminoans wanted a military sample in exchange of refuge."

"Thinking of retiring?" Lydia said.

"Not at all," Answered the Mando, "But a home base would give me benefits, and Kaminoan poisons and venoms are quite useful in the trade."

Tronk growled at a patron that tried to get a collar on him, making the slaver flinch and leave.

"Why do the Kaminoans want a DNA sample from a soldier?" Asked Brick, "I thought they were neutral in all conflicts."

"What little info they gave me, they were commissioned to create an army," Jango shrugged, "They wouldn't say for whom, but I don't think it's for a private benefactor."

"So what, you thinking there's war on the horizon?" Lydia stared at the hunter.

"Perhaps, but if what my gut is telling me is correct, then I have no doubt there will be plenty of profit for hunters in the future."

And silence fell.

Bounty hunters were always more successful in times of war, because they could usually perform things that not even commandos could, thanks to the stealth most, if not all hunters, were capable of maintaining.

This made them valuable for sabotaging, and their skill leagues above the common soldier made more than perfect for the battlefront.

The Mandalorian stood, "Well, the assignment starts soon, until we meet again, Strum and company."

And as he left, silence reigned in the small booth of the bar.

After all, it was not every day that you were told war was just around the corner.

Extract from the Encyclopedia Galactica, The Hutta, Jabba the Hutt

The slug responsible for the peace, as fragile as it is, in the planet of Tattoine. This hermaphrodite comes from the long established line of Hutt, originally of the planet of Hutta, and then expanded across the outer rim.

Jabba the Hutt is one of the greatest tradesman, slave master, bar owner, gangster, sponsor and business owner of the outer ring. With hands almost everywhere, both in the underworld and in the public eye, not that he hasn't covered his tracks enough for his more shady deals to be noticed, if you want either a job, to be rid of your free will, or wish for a very big loan from a shark, then Jabba is your man.

However, as every other member of his species, his mobility and communication capability are both very much limited, so it is a strange sight to see him without a protocol droid by his side, and a mobile platform under him if he is making a public appearance.

His position, however, has made him as targeted as he is powerful, so it is also not uncommon to see him with a protection detail that can range from a single bounty hunter, to a full platoon of soldiers for hire.

This, amongst many other things, discourages attackers from making a hit against the tycoon, and it is rumored that when it does happen, there is a very big congregation in his palace, which leads this scribe to believe that he usually makes an attraction of captured hit men and people that go against him.

The biggest event...