The jungles of Yavin 4 were a dangerous place under any circumstances. The moon had its own series of natural predators and environmental hazards, and the native Massassi tribals had no interest in letting outsiders pass through their lands without harm. Beyond the natural threats, the jungle moon also had a long history of ancient Sith involvement. Scattered temples and ruins held pockets of malevolent dark side energy, twisting the plant and wildlife into horrendous and corrupt reflections of what they might have been. Madness and death awaited those who wandered too far where they did not belong.
For this day's training, a full two dozen individuals associated with the Halcyon Academy were wandering far from where they belonged. Six teams of four wandered the jungle, each comprised of one new student to the academy, accompanied by a team of three Dawnbreakers each. The goal was to capture an artifact that Haran'buir had hidden deep inside one of the old crumbling temples and return to the Academy instact. This was a live-fire exercise, and the students were encouraged to use any means necessary to slow their opponents down.
What began as a mad dash through the forest quickly slowed to a cautious crawl. The Dawnbreaker soldiers were armed with blaster rifles set to stun, but were only allowed to fire at the command of their team leader. As such, the test became as much a lesson on tactics as it did on prowess. One of Fiachra's team members was the first to go down, struck by a stun bolt from Zhejari's team. Not knowing how to proceed, Fiachra ordered the other two Dawnbreakers on her team to carry the third until he could be revived. This had slowed her down considerably as they slowly crept through the brush.
Khalon and Sesna had reached something of a stalemate about a kilometer inwards. They had each other pinned down under cover, and neither felt that they could get away without losing at least one soldier in the process. As such, both teams were keeping careful watch on each other, occasionally lobbing insults and taunts, each trying to provoke the other into leaving their cover.
No one had seen nor heard from Kaikorero nor Nila-Om since the exercise began. Both had led their teams immediately into the forest and disappeared. Because of this, it was Zhejari who led his team into the ruins and emerged victoriously with the golden idol their Mandalorian teacher had hidden inside. Zhejari approached this victory with his usual humility.
"This is ridiculous! Was there any question who would win?" The young Sith held out the idol and exclaimed "I am Zhejari, a true Sith Lord! You pit me against children and miscreants and expect them to have a chance?" He raised the idol over his head. "I am above this petty tests! Give me a true challenge!"
It was at this moment that a hydraulic piston could be heard firing, and with one smooth motion a grappling claw snatched the idol from Zhejari's grip.
The Sith stared at his empty hand in confusion. One of his Dawnbreaker soldiers chimed in. "Sir? We still have to return the item to base in order to get the win, sir." Zhejari's face twisted to anger and roared in protest.
Kaikorero, however, allowed herself a giggle as she worked the power winch in her cybernetic leg. She had been perched in tree near the temple opening, waiting for her opportunity. The claw released the idol into her hands as the winch retracted the cable, and she called down to her soldiers on the lower branches. "Alright boys and girls, open fire!"
Zhejari and his men were forced to take cover as a maelstrom of stun bolts rained down upon them from the nearby tree cover. Kaikorero quickly descended the tree and made a beeline towards the Academy, leaving her Dawnbreakers behind to cover her exit. This proved to be a tactical error, as she made it no further than a hundred meters.
Kai's earpiece detected movement nearby, and she immediately stopped running, wary of a trap. She tucked her prize away in her knapsack, and palmed a flash grenade in her hand. If she covered her eyes before hitting the flash, she would gain a couple seconds of head start, enough to suss out who was nearby before they could snatch the idol away from her.
Movement the brush behind her. Kaikorero quickly spun around, covering her eyes with her arm and dropping the flashbang. There was a loud pop!, and the world went white. Her eyes still covered, Kaikorero took a step forward, and was immediately struck in the chest, knocking her on her back. She uncovered her eyes to reveal Nila-Om standing above her.
"Right. I didn't think about the mask. Flash didn't affect you at all, did it?"
"It was a calculated risk, you took. It might have worked, had it not been me who ambushed you." Nila-Om's voice emitted from behind the emotionless face of the mask she always wore. "I'll be taking the idol now."
Kaikorero grinned. "Ambush this." Her left foot spun completely around, as no organic limb could do, and a rocket blast slammed against the ground with enough force to flip Kaikorero over completely. Halfway through the somersault, she pulled a taser dart from her belt. However, she underestimated her opponent's speed. Before Kai could even land back on her feet, Nila-Om had passed beneath her and deftly pulled the idol from her pack. By the time Kaikorero was right side up again, Nila-Om was already gone.
"What?" Kai turned around, wondering what she had just seen. "No...wait.. WHAT?"
Nila-Om was fast, and she had warned her team to hang back so that when she recovered the prize, she would not be leaving them behind. They were ready and waiting for her near the edge of the forest when she sprinted through the treeline. As fast as she was, however, there was one thing that was definitely faster.
KRACKA-THOOM!
A bolt of lightning struck the ground before her, sending her tumbling backwards, her robe singed and smoldering. Instinct served her well, and she rolled out of the way of a second blast that blackened and burned the ground she was laying on. From above the treeline, Zhejari came floating around, coming to land between her at the Academy borders. His face was twisted with anger, and he said nothing, but held out his hand for the idol.
Nila-Om's emotion could not be read behind the mask, but when she grabbed her training saber and held it up between them, Zhejari got the intention. He grit his teeth and raised his hands.
"Ke'pare!"
The voice cut through the air. Immediately the Dawnbreakers present snapped to attention. Haran'buir, clad in his customary green armor and helmet, dropped from outcropping above and landed between them. "The contest is over. Sheathe your weapons."
Nila immediately put away the saber, and held the idol with both hands. Zhejari, furious that his victory had been snatched away from him, scoffed and folded his arms. Haran looked to the Dawnbreakers present, and gave a quick nod. "Find the others."
Moments later, the students were reunited in the grass clearing on the outskirts of the Academy. Khalon and Sesna had emerged from the forest with grass in both of their hair, and little extra flush in each of their cheeks. The soldiers that accompanied them seemed annoyed. Fiachra had refused to look up at her classmates, feeling shame at being knocked out of the race so soon. Kaikorero was side-eyeing Nila-Om, impressed that she had gotten the drop on her. And Zhejari, in his usual manner, was fuming.
Haran'buir took the idol from Nila-Om and addressed the team. "Lesson is done for today. You all failed. Tomorrow you will make up for your failure." He paused for a moment, and then continued. "Anyone who can tell me why they failed, tomorrow, will receive partial credit. You are dismissed."
The Mandalorian turned and began to head back to camp. His Dawnbreaker soldiers fell in step behind him, leaving the six students to grumble and avoid eye contact with each other.
After a moment of silence, Khalon piped in, nudging Sesna.
"I guess I know why we failed."