The city state of Altia was based among the Khashighan central highlands. It was massive and served as a business point. Unlike Ardashir however, it lacked a shuttle port. They had to ship goods there in order to trade galactically. However it was booming with business and vendors. As Cyrus looked around he saw people lurking around shops browsing clothing,food goods, and luxury items. He also saw people dining outside the balconies of restaurants where they laughed and ate. He even passed a few bars with drunken patrons stumbling out. It was a place of business for all those who lived in the Altian state. Outside the city state were villages and towns focused around mining, pastoralism, and agriculture. They brought their goods into the city to sell. And with the resources those goods were turned into clothing, various food products, and the mining provided armor, parts,tools, and the most lucrative industry in the region, microchips. Cyrus passed several labs where highly skilled engineers were hard at work producing microchips. That was where the Altians drew their greatest sum of wealth from. Microchips were essential to virtually every piece of technology in the galaxy. They didn't need a shuttle port. If they simply refused to sell their microchips to Ardashir for giving them unreasonable terms,someone else would give them their terms so they could also profit from the microchip industry. Another reason why Cyrus was here. The GAR and Jedi council may have only shown interest in the federalists. But Republic Intelligence with its senatorial contacts had vested interest in the Altian microchip industry. It should have been no surprise that senate commandos had been sent to train Altian commandos and were currently in the city as well. It should have been no surprise SBI (Senate Bureau Intelligence) case officers were running around the region. And of course no surprise Cyrus, a Republic Intelligence Direct Action operative maintained tight relations and coordination with the Altian leadership High General Pileser Borjid. A man whom Cyrus had slid into the rank of High General within the GAR's structure after pulling a few strings.

He pulled up outside the High General's quarters. Kheshigan marines stood outside the entrance to the building. They were camouflage and scarlet berrets. They were a proud bunch at one point the only professional fighting force in the Federalist cause. Before the civil war they had been the Askarian marines who were mainly recruited from Kheshig. They had a history dating back to the planet's revolution against the trade federation. And having seen them fight Cyrus knew they justified their proud nature.

"Ah Cyrus you've returned," Said CSM Baytr the senior NCO of the detachment of marines that formed an elite guard for the High General, "I got a call saying you've brought a republic commando into our humble city."

"Yes and I was told Borjid would want to speak with me."

"Yes yes,he is awaiting you in his office."

"Right, well I wouldn't keep the High General waiting now would I?"

High General Pilesar Borjid was indeed waiting for the Republic intelligence agent in his office. He was a big man who stood six feet. He had a seemingly normal looking psyche not overly muscular yet not exactly weak looking either. His most noticeable trait was his black curly beard he allowed to run under his chin and his wild green eyes. The man smiled as Cyrus entered. "If it isn't my favorite intelligence operative," he said, "I heard you've brought a republic commando into my city, tell me what is his name? Clones do go by names and not just numbers surely?"

"His guys call him Beskad," Cyrus said as he took a seat in front of the Captain General, "Named after a mandalorian saber."

"Fascinating. I plan to meet him once he's recovered. The idea of a being who was literally born for warfare is rather intriguing. I may say I was born to kill. But that's really just an expression. In truth I could have gone down many different avenues that had nothing to do with warfare," Borjid said as he leaned back, "In fact if I hadn't been voted Captain General when the civil war erupted I probably would be incharge of a microchip laboratory. So the idea that there are beings who were literally born for the distinct purpose of killing people. I want to see what they're like, Agent."

Borjid had a twinkle in his eyes. He truly wanted to see what a clone was like. Cyrus himself had expected them to be organic droids. Cold,calculating, and merciless. In truth they were like that when blaster bolts started flying. But from the short interactions he had with them he was very much surprised to find just how human these bred killers were.

"O I think you'll find them very interesting," Cyrus guaranteed, "But I don't think you asked me here simply because you want to know about clone commandos. So what'd you need?"

"Is that really all our relationship is Agent. Just asking favors from one another?" Borjid said leaning back, "I guess that's how most relationships are anyways." He seemed rather disappointed by his own realization, "First I want to know what is going on in the city state of Ardashir. It is very unlike Timiriud to not return a call about business for ten hours."

"City's being attacked. As well as the other three port cities. Infact Ardashir's the only that hasn't fallen. Our lines of communication have been completely disrupted.

"Agent why didn't you start with that! I was well aware the ACG had somehow poured through the border cities but I assumed their advance was being held by all the port cities. That explains why Timriud hasn't called. He's fighting for his life!"

Pilesar had his own intelligence network of spies. He liked being well informed of ongoings. Most likely this network was struggling to get a message through. Meaning Cyrus was now his prime source of intelligence. Cyrus narrowed his gaze however. What happened to his spy network.

"They hit at around midnight. Artillery, paratroopers, air raids, tanks, the whole nine yards hit Ardashir."

"Then that means my vassal on the border has betrayed me." Borjid clutched a tight fist, "One of my spies must have also been a turn coat resulting in the death or capture of all the other ones. I am blind!"

"But we're not beaten," Cyrus replied, "Ardashir is holding. Look we can repair the spy network and if we move forces quickly we can mount…..'

"You also failed to anticipate the moment of attack," Borjid summerized it in an almost teaching manner, "I admit I too believed they would plan an offensive in Ti'Xian not here.If I'd monitored the situation closely maybe I could have moved forces in time to counter it. And yet there is no way he assembled enough resources to sustain a campaign lasting any longer than a month between the time he moved his eastern forces and the time of the attack."

"Maybe he plans to take the North in that amount of time."

"Ha!" Borjid said, "How utterly arrogant. And yet truly a centralite trait," He laughed at his enemy's flaws, "And yet not unfounded. With CIS air power I can imagine he's thoroughly pounded the port city forces."

"The Ardashirans were putting up one hell of a fight before I left.If you scramble reinforcements soon you might just stop the city from falling."

"Of course the Ardashirans are putting up a fight they are Kheshigan!" Borjid exclaimed proudly, "And yet they will soon be encircled and then they will fall."

"Which is why you need to deploy your forces now."

"That will take time, Agent. I believed an attack would hit Ti'Xian and sent the vast majority of my forces there."

Cyrus froze frustrated. He blamed himself for how he could not have seen it coming. He ignored reports of increased fuel supplies being moved along the border cities. He ignored the reports about field hospitals being built. Regarding it as a strategic mistake and assumed the border Kheshgian forces would hold against any attack. Why hadn't he so much as suspected intrigue was going on behind the scenes.

"The city just needs to hold out then," Cyrus said, "How long will it take to move the forces neccessary."

"I can redirect the Naboo Volunteer starfighter corp easily. However it would be foolish to redirect all of them. I can pull every Kheshigan marine division from Ti'Xian but the rest of the Federalist army forces are bogged down in fighting and loyal to their regional commandants, not me. As you know the army isn't just Kheshigan. Their Generals will not move forces so easily because Kheshigan is in danger."

"But kheshigan is key for their supplies!"

"You are asking soldiers to abandon their home lands to the enemy. I know for a fact that is a foolish idea even if it is for a logical reason! No, fighting in Ti'Xian must be tipped significantly in our favor before I can redeploy their forces here."

Cyrus clutched a tight fist in his hand. Sylor you smart son of a bitch. He thought to himself. He was trapped in a situation from which he wasn't sure if he could achieve victory. Sylor had combined politics, military strategy, and social realities to completely out maneuver him, forming a stratagem that might actually work. Yet he also knew Pallas Assyr would show up with the full commando group. He also knew they still had Captain Druid's brigade which was scattered but could quickly be mustered here.

"Druid's brigade we can bring it here combined with your marines and some air power we can prevent a complete overrun of the region. General Assyr will bring the full Commando group we can mount a fierce counter offensive…….."

"See that's what I like about you Agent. You never recognize when you've been beat. Ardashir will fall. And when it does there will be little that we can do to prevent the advance on Altia and it will not matter if we can or cannot hold this city. They will have the ground necessary to get our airfields and then we will be reduced back to a guerrilla resistance. The Separatist will have won."

No.No. No. Cyrus thought to himself realizing Borjid had a strong point. The clone wars had kriffed him. He'd gotten here and managed to pull together the Federalists in order to win. Separatist start backing the ACG completely out of Cyrus's control and everything goes side ways. And he knew if this mission failed the Agency would turn him into a scapegoat. They couldn't afford to be associated with losing a civil war and getting millions of civilians killed. No it was the fault of one Agent who was overly ambitious and incompetent. No he couldn't lose Askaria and he wouldn't. He was panicking too much. He let out a deep breath and looked Pileser Borjid right in his eyes.

"I can and will fix this." He said pointing at him, "Next time I return I'll have found a way to win just you watch."

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Borjid laughed, "Go try your very best Agent. I will repair my blaster pistol for a dramatic last stand to end all last stands. As you know me if I'm going to die it will be in a blaze of Glory! In fact I am having what assets I still have scour the black martket for a mandolorian war era thermal nuclear war head. I plan to set it off right as the ACG has me surrounded they'll go 'Pileser Borjid surrender and you may live and your people will live.' and I will shout 'Eat shit Centralites!' then BOOM!"

Cyrus fully believed that Borjid would do exactly that. The look in the man's eyes said it all. He was completely demoralized. This was the man who once brainstormed the capture of all of Kheshigan with nothing but infantry and some artillery. Cyrus would have once said he was the finest field general in the galaxy. That's why the agent chose him as High General, this was not the time for him to lose hope. The Agent needed to find a silver lining and find one fast.

They could hear the blaster fire screech and echo in the distance. Explosions from tank fire rumbled. But the artillery and aerial bombardments had calmed. Martial and Warlock squad sat in the base they liberated bored.

The corporal frowned as he leaned against a wall. Reserve sucks. He thought. They were highly trained and capable republic commandos. They could be out there infiltrating deep into the enemy rear and wreaking havoc. Kicking ass and taking names. Yet Martial found himself in the barracks writing up a miserable little field report. He sighed as he leaned up against the back of the wall as he began to wonder what Zel was up to. His senate commando lover might have been doing the same exact thing he was right now. That brought him some comfort when he got back they could complain about field reports together. If I get back. He grimly thought.

There was laughing outside the room. Jaster then strolled in waving bye to a commando from Zen squad. Warlock squad's sniper looked around the quarters as if anything had changed. He too had probably grown board with sitting around.

"You still writing up that field report Marsh?"

"Yeah." Martial replied, "It's a pain in the ass."

"Osik Ner'vod hand it to me I can get it done in thirty minutes." Jaster said extending his hand.

"Jaster you're just a specialist. I am the highest ranking trooper on this squad. I have to do it."

"But why?" Jaster asked, "O come on you're not seriously telling me the Correllian is going to respect this protocol. Come on just let me take care of it."

"Why do you want to do this so bad?"

"I'm kriffing bored. Look if I can't go out a shoot some sep puppets least let me write about the time I shot them."

Martial looked at him for a hard five seconds. I could get in serious trouble for this. He then sighed also realizing no one would know Jaster wrote the field report. He slowly nodded his head.

"A kriff it," Martial said and tossed Jaster the datapad, "Knock yourself out Jast."

Jaster smiled and laughed as he snatched the data pad from mid air and jumped on his bunk taking full control over the field report. Several foot steps lumbered outside as Te'Anila emerged in the quarters. He was in full armor. The man removed his helmet placing on a foot locker.

"Fierfek I'm bored," Te'Anila said, "Any new orders. Anything at all. I don't care if it's just patrol duty. The LT tell us to do something or what."

"Not a word," Martial sighed, "We're still waiting for I guess some high value target to emerge."

"This kriffing bantha fodder! I am a republic fierfeking commando. I was trained by a mandalorian mercenary in the ways of war. I am one of the deadliest soldiers in the whole galaxy. And they're just going to have me sit here. Let me kill something!"

"Te'Anila this is how war works," Jaster said rolling his eyes, "We hardly notice because command just kept chucking us around at every little problem non stop. But soldiers spend most of their time doing absolutely nothing but sitting around. It kriffing sucks but that's how it actually is. It's so mind numbing you actually miss people actively trying to kill you. You wouldn't think you'd miss something so horrible. But it makes you feel alive."

Martial raised an eyebrow Jaster actually talked to Te'Anila with out resorting to an insult. He took a genuine interest in trying to make him understand things. Maybe they had finally over come their petty differences.

"Blah, blah, blah," Te'Anila replied, "I don't care how it actually is. I want to blow something up."

"Course you do blaster brains."

Martial sighed to himself. So close. He then sat up getting an idea on how to get them to socialize. "Jast how much progress have you made."

"Half done vod."

"Mother kriffer you write fast."

"Walon Vau said I was a gifted analytic. Then proceed to pound me through the Kaminoan ocean also saying cool hobby won't help you survive nerd!" Jaster said, "And yet he was wrong."

"Did you just say Walon Vau was wrong. I have never head a Vau trained commando ever say he was wrong."

"Ya see, I realized he was wrong after Geonosis. Came back and met a class of soldier us mandos should despise. Staff officers."

"Kriffing suits." Te'Anila said with a laugh.

"But here's the thing staff officers have a very very high life expectancy compared to us field guys. And they're also very important. They wield significant influence over a General's decision both strategically and tactically. They even influence doctrinal changes. A lot of clones blame the Jedi for heavy causlties. Me, I blame their staff officers," Jaster said, "No one thought to say sir that's kriffing stupid or the infantry and the armor work together or special forces are lightly equipped fast moving units. If you use them like normal infantry they'll kill a lot but they'll also die. See I know this because I talked with them. I asked hey Major it wasn't such a good idea to throw the SF on the frontlines why'd you do it. And this guy looks at me he nods his head." At this point both Martial and Te'Anila had given Jaster their undivided intention. They wanted to know exactly why Geonosis was hell, "He's a bit embarrassed and then he says yeah I didn't think it was a good idea. But the Jedi General believed it was good idea and the way he spoke I didn't think to question him. So it's not entirely the Jedi's fault. No, the problem is boys, they're surrounded by a bunch of kriffing yes men. Well except Song he did get paired up with a pure unadulterated Di'kut our Major was no yes man. But every other staff officers in the GAR is a yes man. So the Jedi who've never fought a war in their whole lives are making assumptions, throwing them out there and expecting feedback open to criticism. And instead they're getting great idea sir nothing will go wrong. Ten thousand people get killed and the Jedi has no clue what went wrong. This needs to change." Jaster said firmly, "My old squad might be alive if someone had told the General it was a bad idea and then offered a realistic method. Same with everyone else's." Jaster said, "Analytical abilities are important and they'll help people survive."

"So Jast you want to be a staff officer?"

"Was I too subtle there." Jaster replied that should have been obvious.

"How do you plan to do it. Their groomed for their roles. The kaminoans seperated clones from the other batches and had them raised for that role. And as you just said they're turn over rate is incredibly low. So how do you a specialist plan to get the rank of Major."

"Things are changing Ner'vod. Jabbiim opened a lot of eyes. The Jedi are beginning to question their decisions and docterine. In fact you here about the Alpha 17 program."

"Yeah but that's for regs who are already officers. Not clone commandos sitting at the enlisted grade."

"No but they need more commanders. Your staff guys sitting at Major are going to find themselves promoted quickly back to field position overseeing whole legions. That's going to create a gap that if I pull enough strings and form enough connections will land me on some General's staff."

"Have you told Beskad about this?" Martial asked, "If there's anyone who can will get you there. It would be him."

"I'll admit I haven't," Jaster replied, "I don't know how he'd react. I don't want him to take it as I don't want to serve under you. Or losing a sniper."

"Beskad cares about us. If you really want to get on a General's staff you need a few promotions first. The only way you're even going to have a small chance of that is for Beskad to one agree to have you transferred to command your own squad and two for him to convince the CO you're officer material."

Jaster nodded, "You're right. I just don't know how to word it."

"O now that's ironic for the self proclaimed analytic." Martial laughed.

He noticed Te'Anila had actually been silent that whole time. The demo Private nodded over.

"Do it," He said, "When the Sarge gets back you need to go for it."

"Look I don't need you……."

"Don't do it because I'm telling do it because some one has to," Te'Anila said, "I despise you because you're better then everyone else here and you don't even try to hide out. All you Vau commandos are like that. You're a bunch of arrogant pieces of Osik who only get more arrogant because of your kriffing performer. You already have the attitude of a high class stuck up officer. If you people were the one's advising Generals you wouldn't be sitting there while clones get killed in droves on bad objectives with badly planned operations. You'd speak up and say it how it is. It's like you said it'd save lives." Te'Anila said as he clutched his right hand into a fist, "You have to attempt it. Even if it doesn't change the course of the whole war. You probably won't get the high up. But less of us would be dead by the end of it and that's worth it."

Jaster said nothing at first. The two men looked at each other. Did they actually reach some kind of understanding? Martial hoped. Neither one said anything at the moment. Jaster then nodded.

"I'll talk to Besk when we get through this. After all nothing really matters if we're all dead by the end of this operation."

"You're right." Te'Anila relied, "We're all thinking about what we'd like right now and not what we have. Which is boredom."

"Well actually I got a deck of sabback cards if anyone wants to play." Martial said in a matter of fact way.

"Deal me in," Jaster said, "Finished your report while we were talking."

"Never played." Te'Anila replied handing the data pad back.

"I'll show ya. Doesn't take that long to teach. It's a pretty simple game." Martial said.

The three commandos gathered around in their barracks and began playing cards as the world around them continued to wage a near ceaseless war.

Beskad had been stuck in the hospital ward for hours. He'd staired at the window hundreds times looking outside towards the blue sky. He staired at his vitals as if they would spontaneously and rapidly change out of nowhere. They didnt. Then he just staired straight forward. He wondered what his men were going through or how they were after he went out. He remembered the inesnetiy of it all stabbing some guy. Blaster bolts pounding all around loud thunderous boom and then nothing. Are they even alive? He thought to himself. That possibility hadn't registered until now. His whole squad could have been killed shortly after everything went black and the Cavaliers might have dragged them out. He frowned and squeezed a fist tightly. Wouldn't be the first squad he'd lost.

He remembered Geonosis. The hot tan desert. An LAAT engine howling. Four commandos in back. The sky shuddered from the sound of anti air rounds bursting. The LAAT shook as it continued to fly. Beskad tightened the grip on his DC17M blaster carbine.

"Easy Besk." Sergeant Grey had said.

Beskad simply nodded. "Just hate the idea we get blown out of the sky with out getting to fire a single shot."

"We all do ner'vod." Grey gauranteed.

The gunship stopped. The doors swung open. Ropes were lowered done. The commandos slithered towards the ground. Beskad planted his feet firmly in the hard and hot sandy ground. He looked forward. Blaster fire echoing in the distance. The rest of the squad landed as the gunship pulled up and flew away leaving the commandos. Instincetvely Beskad took point he did so in every training scenario. Grey brought up the rear trusting Beskad to relay any information to him so the squad could react.

They moved quickly towards the attack sight making it with out incident. They saw their target their orders simple. Take out a shield generator which they spotted up ahead. It was under guard by several squads of B1 blaster droids who hadn't spotted them. They moved into combat wit out uttering a single word to each other. Naturally Beskad switched his blast rifle to snipe raugmentation and went down on his stomach zooming in ona droid officer. Grey lead the assault with Jaing they began pushing right. Red pushed lefton his own.Beskad slowly pulled the trigger back.

Blang!

The droid commander dropped. The b1s turned, aiming their blaster carbines. Blaster fire erupted and two squads of B1s dropped. Grey and Jaing stood to their left holding their carbines as they moved over the fallen droids. Another one was taking a knife to the throat from Red. Beskad nodded and moved forward, joining them. Red began setting the charge on the shield generator. Grey got on his communicator confirming exfil. Beskad saw his sergeant flinch signaling something was wrong.

"Well shevick," He said, "We just got a new general and new orders."

"What happened to the old one?" Asked Beskad.

"Wounded from an artillery shell."

"Ok what are the new orders."

"We're to hold position until the infantry moves towards our position to relieve us."

"What? That doesn't make any sense. We're four guys with blasters, how are we supposed to hold……"

"Those are our orders." Grey snapped, "Don't blow the charge. Just disable the generator and dig in."

They dug in. Sat there for a good hour before a loud hum and metal marching clang against the ground. Beskad looked over and saw a tank emerge on the horizon. "Sir that's alot of fire power!" "We hold position and follow orders." Grey affirmed.

The marching continued. The tank stopped. Boom! It fired the super battle droids began to fire. Their furious red bolts flying towards the commandos who fired off blaster bolts,ant material rounds, a PLX launcher, there were screams.

"Sergeant!"

Beskad flashed back to the present in the hospital room. Dashia had returned. His heart rate had increased. He took several deep breaths getting himself steady. Beskad tried to sit up but found it difficult with a broken arm and leg.

"You seemed troubled," Dashia said, "I could sense your anxiety."

"My squad," Beskad admitted, "I realized I don't actually know if they're alive."

Dashia nodded as she took a seat, "When you think about it they kind of have to be. There's no way you'd be here if they didn't survive. After all based on how you discribed things I just don't see a way you could have gotten here alive on your own?"

"You have a point," Beskad said, "But that doesn't mean they all made it."

"Well sergeant," Dashia began, "Can you realy do anything about it right now?"

"No."

"Then why let it worry you so much. There's no way to tell," Dahsia replied, "So why not just believe they're alive and keep your mind at ease."

Beskad looked at her, "It's difficult," He admitted, "I just can't help but think what if they're not. What if I wasn't there when they needed me."

Dashia nodded and she seemed to understand, "Well I suppose we'll just have to get you back into action."

"Right," Beskad replied.

Dashia placed her hand around Beskad's arm this time. She closed her eyes and focused. Then began to transfer her life force into the wound. Beskad could almost feel the shattered bone mending itself. It was a warm calming feeling. He sat and back and relaxed. It ended shortly after. Dashia looked as if she'd sprinted fives miles as she huffed and slumped back. Beskad could tell that meant she'd need time to recover. As such he nodded acknowledging that and the Jedi left.

Dral'Alor followed Masara to a meeting between her, Colonel Daidochi and Captain General Seljuk Timiriud. They met in the new Federalist army head quarters for operations in the city having abandoned the Captain General's quarters. They took up residence in the city's power station.

Dral looked around the room it was a drab meeting room with a drab table and a glass window from which he could view the massive generator that powered the whole city. The lights stayed on so long as the generator remained functioning. If Dral through a single thermal detonator into the adjacent room and got in just the right position he could cripple the whole city. The thought was horrifying and yet also struck the Lieutenant with awe. What if the ACG grew impatient and blew it up. After all if they concentrated all their air power here it didn't matter how many they blew out of the sky with anti air it wouldn't matter how many they intercepted one would make it through. The only reason it didn't happen was because they needed the city for a larger operation against Altai but how much patience would the enemy exert. Dral couldn't be certain and that terrified him to his core.

"Lieutenant enjoying the scenery," Cassander said mockingly, "Please sit and join us won't you?"

The man didn't attempt to hide his contempt. He sat their with a frown and a sharp dismissal in his eyes. And his tone seemed to be designed to exaggerate his displeasure with Dral's appearance.

"Welcome Lieutenant and again my gratitude for saving my life," Seljuk said trying to ease the tension, "As if it weren't for your actions I would be very dead. Which would be rather bad for troop morale and continueing operations."

"Yes." Cassander admitted in a sigh, "Let's focus on the present situation."

"The ACG," Masara said immediately, "Has siezed control of several neighborhoods to the south, the space port, the southern market district, the university and its surrounding towns, and skirmishing is occurring in virtually every other sector of the city. Both sides have taken heavy causlties it's estimated ten thousand on both sides."

"Twenty thousand people were killed." Dral spoked baffled the occured in one night.

"Twenty thousand killed, wounded, or captured. And it's an estimate their hardly accurate," Cassander said, "A proper officer is aware of such meanings."

Dral held his tongue back despite wanting to say And where were while all that was happening. However he knew his place and said nothing.

"What about the three industrial plants?" Asked Seljuk, "The steel mill, the speeder factories, and the manufacturing plant?"

"Skirmishing at each. But it's most intense at the steel mill. I've gotten reports of a full brigade of ACG committed to that one location. Grail is leading a fierce defensive with the other ARC troopers there with a group of Kheshigan marines."

"Course he is. Grail's a tough bastard," Cassander said, "I take it that if the steel mill falls the enemy intends to use it."

"They could be idiots," Seljuk jived, "That just happened to throw a brigade at a smart objective."

"Lucky morons are more dangerous than unfortunate genuises." Dral replied.

"Yes," Cassander said, "Defending the steel mill is an obvious objective regardless if the enemy knows what they're doing or not. Do we know what they're advancing with it."

"Grail sent a frantic report in." Masara began, "Tanks, artillery, and mortars all making it impossible for him to attempt a counter offensive. He has infantry and an ATTE. He's been able to deny them the area but not destroy their attack."

"Suppose someone was able to infiltrate into the brigades rear and get at the artillery, the tanks, and reserves." Dral said as a proposal of what his commandos could do.

"We'd need to know where they're precisely positioned. But assuming we did. Then yes that could tip the situation in our favor." Cassander said dryly, "But if you go in without out hood intel. All you're going to do is get people killed."

"He'll have good intel," Masara said with a raised eyebrow, "After we're intelligence officers."

"Para military," Cassander corrected, "Well I'm para military any how. You're what ever intelligence needs I suppose." Cassander sighed and rolled his eyes as he spoke.

They don't like each other. Dral noted to himself. He wondered why. The way he spoke implied something happened that caused him to loath her. Of course it didn't really matter the mission took precedence over everything.

"So Lieutenant, get your men ready. Have them at Grail's position in the steel mill and I'll meet you there and I'll have your Intel."

"May I ask how you'll get it so fast."

"I have my ways," Masara said with a playful smile.

"Right," Dral said, "Next we talk I'll have the steel mill secured."

"If your performance is half as strong your confidence this might actually work." Cassander replied with a mocking grin.