Chapter 34
Outside the walls
Melissa was working on adding sand filters to the intake valve of the scout craft with the help of Canderous. Zaalbar was again submerging himself in the water filled life raft with Carth having joined him in the activity, the man was till snickering after their trip to a pharmacy.
"So what has Fleet so amused?" Canderous asked
Melissa tightened a wrench with gusto as she frowned in irritation
"I took him to the pharmacy to get condoms to put on the weapons barrels to keep the sand out, something an instructor had mentioned in basic for dessert conditions. I took him with as he should have been able to tell me what type to buy." Melissa started to explain
"And you did not think to ask me why?" Canserous asked
"It felt wrong to ask you as you are technically my stepfather still, despite that I should have asked you as it went completely wrong." Melissa muttered
"How did it go wrong?" Canderous prompted
"So there we were standing in front of the display case and a sales girl comes up and asks what size I was looking for. So I told her I was looking for something that was fifty centimetres long and ten centimetres thick that sealed really tightly and strong enough for rough handling." Melissa went on
"I see. How did she react?" Canderous asked, neutrally
"She gave me a look and fainted. When her manager asked what happened I told her. The woman got a nosebleed and told me I was a lucky girl and she would be willing to share if I needed a break. The howling Mynock over there was no help whatsoever." Melissa pouted
Canderous's shoulders started shaking as he tried to control his mirth. Melissa gave him a glare.
"Not you too now." She snapped
"Think really hard… Sorry, wrong word. What is a condom normally used for? And where does it go?" Canderous snickered
The credit dropped as did the wrench in her hand
"What the hell? Just what kind of pervert do they think I am?" She screeched
Canderous rested his body on the craft as he howled in laughter, beating the body with his fist as he laughed. To finish her humiliation Zaalbars mirthful barks joined the noise as Carth obviously had retold the story. She wanted the earth to swallow her whole, then she went ice cold as she realised the fairer half of the crew had not yet heard of her mishap. Mission would be beyond relentless and Terri unstoppable with her innuendo's
"Somebody kill me, please." She muttered, sitting down head in hands
No divine mercy came from above to smite her, in fact the worst thing possible happened as the door opened and four women entered. Melissa groaned and prepared for death by embarrassment. The four swept past without a word, supporting a shaking Bastila.
Melissa jumped up all mortification forgotten at seeing the state of her bondmate, wondering why she did not feel as to whatever went wrong.
Stepping in behind them she followed them to the cargo bay where Terri pushed her onto the bed before moving behind her and pulling her into a tight hug. Mission went to the hidden freezer and unlocked it pulling a tub of ice cream from it and thrusting the tub and a spoon into Bastila's hand.
"We found Bastila's mother." Juhani whispered to Melissa.
Melissa dropped to a knee in front of the couple on the bed and gripped Bastila's knee in support. With a wavering voice Bastila started speaking
"I did not join the order as a youngling, I was seven when I was given to the order by my mother. Before that I travelled the galaxy with my parents. My father was an adventurer always looking for lost treasures and myths. Some of my happiest times was being with him in the libraries of whatever world we were on as he researched his next hunt. My mother was always nagging him to settle down so she could have the life she felt she deserved, living on his wealth."
"Go on." Terri prompted soothingly
"We were on Alderaan when she walked into the Royal library with the Jedi when she gave me up to them. My father tired to protest but the law was on the orders side and he had to give me up. She just stood there as they dragged me away."
Bastila gave a watery smile
"I managed my first force push that day by pushing the senior Jedi through two shelves. As I was running back to my father I … I woke up in the Alderaan enclave. For two weeks straight I tried everything to escape, till the day they showed me a holo message from my father stating I was to stay there and train. He said he could no longer look after me, that was the last time he called me."
Bastila broke down in heaving sobs and the four women surrounded her in hugs, no one knowing what to say. Eventually she fell asleep and Terri laid her down
"She recognised Bastila as we entered the bar and marched up to her. Without as much as a hello she demanded that Bastila go out into the dune sea to search for his body and some artefact he was carrying on him." Terri explained
Mission gave a wry grin
"Terri lost her cool and laid into the woman demanding to know where she got off to demand anything from Bastila and for not having basic manners. It was an epic rant." She stated
"Indeed it was." Juhani confirmed
"And?" Melissa prompted
"She then laid a guilt trip down by saying dead woman have no need for manners and she is nearly dead. She just wants something of her husband with her when she dies." Terri sighed "The thing is she is not lying, you can sense she is sick. So Bastila basically lost her parents in minutes."
Terri shook her head.
"A lot of the times I somewhat resent all of you for having your memories intact, no matter how hard that sometimes is. But something like this, I am glad I have no memory of family."
"You have a family, us." Melissa firmly stated
"As Melissa says family is more than blood." Juhani added
"It loses something in translation, you have to say it in mandolorian." Melissa prompted
"Stop trying to convert us. Basic is good for all of us" Mission responded.
Melissa reached over and brushed a strand of hair from Bastila's face
"So what do we do about the demand?" She asked
"We find her father's body and give him a decent burial if we can, that is the least we can do for Bas." Mission stated
"Anything else we can sort out on the fly." Terri agreed
"We have that licence to get out yet?" Melissa asked
"No, but Lorso is out of time even if I have to force choke it out of her." Terri said determinedly
On stepping into the Czerka emporium they were approached by Lorso holding a micro datapad in her hand
"As agreed upon, one hunters licence. I apologize for the delay in procuring it. You will need to register your licence with the hunters guild as well."
Terri took the datapad with a nod and checked the contents, before placing it in her pocket. Lorso waited before speaking
"If you are interested in making credits on the side, we have been experiencing considerable trouble with the Sand People recently, Czerka has authorised a bounty per gaffee stick handed in as proof of extermination. Since you want to investigate the mining vehicle an additional finders fee could be payable if any information is obtained."
As they walked away a Aqualish male followed them out. He grunted out a greeting
"How can we help you?" Juhani asked politely
"There is no need to exterminate the indigenous people." He stated indignantly
"Excuse me? Just how is what we do any business of yours? And just who are you?" Mission snapped
"I am professor Gern Wyllal from the university of Coruscant, and I have been studying the Sand People for decades. Instead of killing them one would have to try and communicate with them. They are merely defending their way of life" He pompously stated
"I assume you can speak their language." Juhani replied
"Don't be ridiculous, there is no record of their language anywhere."
"So how do you communicate with being that will attack you on sight?" Terri asked
"That has been a problem, the local droid dealer has been making claims that he is in possession of a droid that can synthesize their language."
"So why do you not procure the droid and go talk to them?" Mission demanded
"I am an academic not a fighter." He replied indignantly
"In other words he will risk someone else's life and then take credit if it works." Melissa stated
Melissa turned her back on the Aqualish academic and walked away, fully aware how insulting her behaviour is. Canderous fell into step beside her, with the others falling in.
"Shall we look into the droid story?" Bastila asked
"Probably a cantina tale, but we can look into it if it does not take too much time." Terri answered.
Melissa paused as they reached an intersection.
"I am going to get the pouncing shadow and go to the main gates, I can check out the droid dealer on my way there."
"We are not calling it that." Mission reiterated
"I still think both your names are stupid." Terri butted in
"I would suggest renting a swoop bike or two as well" Juhani tried to derail the argument.
"Not a bad idea, we had best get to the hunting guild offices and get registered." Bastila added
The droid dealer came rushing over the moment Melissa stopped outside the shop. Idly she looked over the selection available and was not impressed, that was until she spotted a rust brown shape in the back line. She patiently waited as the dealer went through every droid he had in stock, till he passed the bipedal droid to move to the one next in line
"What is wrong with this one." She asked.
"It never responds to new buyers, a flawed protocol droid from an obscure line." The dealer answered
" Degrading Greeting: Good day potential buyer, would you be so kind as to purchase me?" The droid spoke
"Why would I need a combat droid?" Melissa asked
" Deflective statement: Respectfully speaking, buyer you are incorrect I am but a humble protocold droid well versed in inter species communications." The droid tried to evade
" Does that communication involve blaster bolts to the craniums?" Melissa replied, amused
"Regretfull statement: Unfortunately less than is needed." The droid replied
The droid dealer eagerly stepped forward
"I see you have managed to get a rapport with this one, I can tell you in confidence that this one is a bargain. Its purchase manifest stated it is fluent in obscure languages, even the sand people dialect." He smarmed
"A language that has not been recorded before, so how am I to verify it?" Melissa replied, non committal
The dealer looked around him and potted a bunch of Jawas. Happily he pointed to them.
"Jawas understand their dialect, I will get one of them to verify it for you."
"Very well, but you are paying the Jawa."
The dealer scurried off. Melissa turned to the droid
"Now that we can speak in private. What are you? And don't try to tell me a protocol droid, I am not buying that story." She said
"Intrigued query : How did you spot the subterfuge?"
"Reinforced joints, durasteel casing, slim profile. The give away was attempting to be a protocol droid. Security droid I could have believed." Melissa replied
"Resigned answer: My primary function is that of a protocol droid, but my builders added a second function. A secret protocol for removing problems for my owner."
"What made you so eager to come with me?" Melissa asked
"Truthful answer: You are well armed and prepared for the outside, I deduced that you would be more in line with my programming skill set than the usual farmers and miners that try to purchase me."
The droid dealer came back a Jawa in tow. As he was prodding the creature to speak, Melissa lifted a hand
"No need, I have decided I will take this droid."
The Jawa started screeching and gesticulating to the droid dealer, who stood there not understanding what the creature was trying to tell him. Causing said creature to get more agitated
"Yes, he will pay you still." Melissa replied in amusement
"How do you understand that screeching?" The dealer asked
"Languages is something I just get." Melissa replied shrugging
"Intrigued response: Intuitive language extrapolation. Common to force users but not mandalorians. How curious."
Melissa ignored the droid.
"How much?" She asked
"Two thousand Hutt credits." The dealer responded
"I believe a thousand republic credits should be more than enough." Melissa countered
"Republic credits are only accepted by Czerka and small traders." The dealer insisted
"Republic credits will be fine, Czerka will exchange it for you." Melissa replied
"Yes, you are right. A thousand credits then." The dealer caved
Pulling the credit chips from her utility belt she paid the dealer and took possession of the control pad. The droid strode over to the scout and took the back seat and maglocked in place
"What is your designation?" Melissa asked
"Delighted answer: You are the proud owner of the unit known as HK47."
"And so modest about it too." Melissa snarked
"Condescending answer: Finally a master that can be taught. Shall I get you a treat master?"
The dune sea lived up to its name. as far as the eye could see sand dunes covered the area, in the far distance a shimmering black shape suggested the presence of rocks or a hill, the other feature Tatooine was famous for was the frequent gulleys and caves in the scattered rock faces and mountains. Melissa pulled to a stop well outside the wall and waited for everyone to dismount.
"Everyone this is HK47 our new protocol slash assassin droid. Make it feel welcome and don't cut of its head, I have not checked if it has a self destruct package yet."
"You bought an assassin droid?" Bastila replied shocked
"It was on sale, how could I resist buying it?" Melissa replied
Mission snickered and extended her fist for a bump.
"Respect, can we send it after Malak and stop running around the galaxy?" She asked
"Shamefull answer: My secondary function is currently off line due to damage by my previous owner, only programs active now are bodyguard and protocol functions."
Terri pulled down the muffler she had been wearing and lifted her glasses up.
"Since we are sharing, we have picked up a few extra jobs while we are out here." She said
"Such as?" Melissa asked
"Investigating a potential murder and get to a stranded sandcrawler to ensure the crew is alive, though the emphasis was more on seeing that the sandcrawler does not get destroyed." Bastila answered
"The murder?" Canderous asked
"We met a woman outside the guild building trying to sell a wraith skull plate, she claimed her husband killed it on his first hunt. Then he went out and never came back, she was told by another hunter group he was killed by a wraith." Terri explained
"Hunting is not a safe occupation, why does she suspect murder?" Melissa asked
"Would you believe the story if a bunch of laughing Gammoreans told it to you?" Mission responded
"Not really." Melissa shrugged
"Terri called them out on it, and they made a bunch of subtle threats. Well subtle for Gammorreans." Mission continued
Terri nudged Mission with her elbow.
"Then miss smart mouth had to ask if they had any family on Taris. One responded before the herd leader could stop him, then someone told them that their colony had been wiped out before the decimation and by who. So they will be coming for us." Terri stated
"How many in the swine?" Canderous asked
"I counted twenty, could be more though" Juhani answered
"We are picking up a beacon marker from the woman's husband equipment." Bastila said
"And they will be waiting to set a trap there." Melissa replied
She rummaged in the spare equipment locker and pulled a rifle out with a bandoleer filled with power packs and grenades. She handed it over to HK47
"If it moves and is not one of us, shoot to kill."
"Deliriously Happy: Oh mistress, you say the most wonderful things. I am so glad I let you buy me."
"Melissa, your droid is creepy." Mission stated
"I know, is he not wonderful?" Melissa replied.
They found the burnt out husk of a sand crawler at the last given position of the crew Griff had been on. Cautiously the stopped at the mouth of the gulley and spread out. Melissa, Canderous and HK stepped towards the husk , weapons ready. Spent blaster packs left a trail to where the last stand had taken place. They found blood and drag marks at the spot.
"They were taken alive." Canderous remarked
He muted his active comlink.
"By now the poor bastards are probably wishing they were dead. Last time someone of the clan was here they came back with stories of canabilism and torture if you were to be caught by these things." He grimly stated
HK gave an electronic screech, a droid version of a whistle
" Excited statement: Found a set of tracks in the opposite direction of the main group."
They followed the tracks till they found a small pool of blood and drag marks, a bandoleer with an unused blaster and a backpack filled with power packs were lying to the side. Canderous balled his fists in anger.
"Bastard tried to run instead of fight. The hutuun still got caught, hope they eat him first."
Melissa spotted a green and red shape in the rocks and reached for it. The amulet was similar to one she saw Mission wear to bed at night
"I think we found where Griff went to." She stated.
They tracked the drag marks till where it met with a main group and the tracks were to obliterated to keep following. Mission was pacing up and down by the scout vehicle as they returned.
"Did you find anything?" She demanded
Melissa showed her the amulet. Mission grabbed it and held it to her chest.
"Where did you find this, is he.. is he dead?" She warbled
"We did not find a body, we did find drag marks." Melissa replied, gently
"So he could still be alive?" Mission asked hopefully
"We can't say for certain. If we find tracks to their camp we can follow it and find out." Canderous replied
Terri looked at them, picking up on the subtext Mission was missing. Melissa used the signs for no talking and danger. Terri nodded.
"We had better get to the second sand crawler, if they attack there we can follow their tracks back to their camp." She suggested.
Mission jumped into her seat in the scout.
"Let's go." She commanded
The second sandcrawler was out in the open a shimmering shape in the sand. They pulled up slowly, and assessed the damage. Carbon scoring indicated that the vehicle had been under attack at least once. A hatch opened and a man stepped out waving them over. The wind started up, creating an eerie whistling sound. The force sensitives felt the warning from the force and extended their senses.
Juhani jumped forward and stabbed her blades into the ground. A figure thrashed under the sand for a moment before stilling. Reaching into the sand Juhani pulled a gaffee stick out.
Feeling a nudge Terri threw a grenade to her left. Plasma flared from the thermal grenade amongst a sound cloud, two figures stumbling away burning. HK started firing short bursts into the ground, using thermal vision to pick his targets.
Melissa and Canderous sprinted back to the scout vehicle and took of for the far side, Canderous firing the repeating blaster into the sand dunes as they went. Leaving the others to have a fighting retreat to the crawler.
Melissa kept a loop around the stranded crawler, firing as they picked up targets. Finaly the attackers decided to pull back. Canderous let the repeater blaster go and went for the grenade launcher. He fired several high explosive rounds into the groups with grim satisfaction.
The two circled the sandcrawler a few times scanning for stragglers before pulling up to the door. Stepping from the scout they took a case of water with them. There were fourteen miners left of a complement of twenty, sitting against the hold walls.
The miners gratefully accepted the water. The foreman spoke after drinking.
"Thanks for the reprieve, we were out of ammunition and water. We just had enough ammunition to eat a bolt when they broke through" She spoke
"How bad is the damage?" Terri asked
"These things are tough, we are stuck because of engine failure. Our mechanics died in the first attack." The foreman answered
"Do you have spare parts?" Melissa asked
"We have the parts and the tools but no one who could use them."
Melissa stepped forward
"Take me to your engine room. Let me see what I can do."
Terri motioned to the outside
"We will patrol the perimeter and check in with Lorso in the meantime, if it comes to worst we get Carth to fly out here and pick us up and mine this thing to hell and back."
Bastila was of to one side tending to a wounded miner. The foreman shook her head. The sound of the wind was picking up steadily
"No one is going outside in that. The sandstorm will mask any approach they make, you will never see them coming."
Terri thought for a moment.
"Canderous, HK. Strip the scout of weapons and ammunition. Juhani and I will grab the medkits, water and emergency packs. Mission help Melissa."
They waited behind a makeshift barricade weapons pointed to the side hatches and loading door, letting the exhausted miners get their first rest in days, the meagre water and food supply barely enough to feed the hungry beings. There came a whine from the engine room lights flickered on, then air started moving as the air conditioners received power. An unsteady throbbing came from on engine, gradually smoothing out, a second started running roughly. An oil covered Mission appeared in the doorway.
"Melissa is not sure how long she can keep the second engine running, she suggests we move while we can."
The foreman had woken the moment the engines had started up. She pulled herself up a ladder to the driver compartment and with a lurch the behemoth started moving. Terri winced as she heard the crump of explosions, marking the extinction of the swoop bikes and the scout craft. Ineffective banging came against the hatches. She felt a warning and dropped below the barricade
"Everyone down." She called
An explosion ripped a hatch apart and the sand people tried to board the crippled vehicle
"Fire at will." She ordered, opening up
Canderous went full cyclic with his rotary blaster, ripping the boarders apart as they tried to get on. The sandcrawler was slowly but surely building up momentum and the attackers lessened as a result. As soon as they reached a steady clip the attacks stopped apart from some pot shots being taken at the hull.
They reached Anchorhead at dawn, the sandcrawler barely made it inside the walls when the engines broke down for the last time, the gate actually scraping against the hull of the sandcrawler. The foreman dropped down from the driving cab and approached Terri and the group
"All of us owe you our lives, the drinks at the bar are on us."
Terri nodded at the woman
"It is a bit early for that normally but after what just went down I am game." Terri said
"Should you not be reporting in first?" Bastila asked
"They can get their debrief in the bar." The foreman replied
There was a moment of surprise as Canderous and Melissa removed their helmets inside the bar.
"I thought you guys never took of your helmets." A miner stated
"How else are we supposed to eat and drink." Melissa replied
"Never thought of that." The miner replied
They were able to escape after a few rounds, the miners barely notedtheir departure more concerned with drinking themselves into oblivion. The paused outside the bar.
"When are we going back out?" Mission asked
"As soon as we resupply." Terri answered
"I will need to go pay for the swoopbikes and see if I can get another form of transport for us." Melissa replied.
Terri cleared her throat and rubbed the back of her neck
"I should have said this before, but I am sorry for losing your vehicle. I know you put a lot of time and effort into it." She said, akwardly
"There was nothing else we could do, though I blame the sand people not you. At least the shadow took a few with her when she blew." Melissa replied
"Self destruct charge?" Bastila asked
"Yes. I figured it might be useful and it was. On the upside I know what to change for the second version. I will just buy a bunch of swoop bikes for now. I seriously doubt the dealer would be willing to rent out again" Melissa replied
"So me and the tin can will go to the hawk and start sorting out munitions. Melissa is on transport, what else?"
"I will go with Melissa." Mission volunteered
"And we three will go get our credits out of Czerka and arrange for the return of our heavy guns." Terri continued.
"Canderous, can you ask Zaalbar to fabricate some broadhead arrows for me?" Melissa asked
"Will do, how many explosive heads do you have left? I saw an armourer on the way to the docks." Canderous answered
""I have five left. The plans for the explosive heads is on a datapad, locked in my cupboard." Melissa said
"No need, I have the plans already. Annaka experimented with your bow and decided she wanted one for herself. The twins got the plans for her." Canderous replied
"And being a good husband you kept a copy in case she loses hers." Bastila joined in
"Of course." Canderous shrugged
"You know, some would call that being hen pecked." Terri commented
"As a mandalorian you know which fights you can win. There is no winning against a mandalorian wife, especially if they are pregnant. The women are the true leaders of their houses" Canderous calmly stated
Mission and Melissa returned to the docking bay hours later, driving a cargo barge heavily laden with scrap. "Carth lifted an eyebrow on seeing this.
"This was the only thing the dealer was willing to sell" Melissa explained
"And the scrap?" Carth asked
"Went to a scrap yard to see if I could find better engines for this thing, got enough to built a better engine and reinforce this thing. If I pull an all nighter, it should be ready by mid morning, there should be a delivery from Czerka of engine parts and metal sheets in the next hour or so. And the scrapyard will be delivering two recently wrecked A wings" Melissa yawned
"You need to get some sleep, we will start off loading as soon as we get some sleep as well. Me, Zaalbar and the droids can take care of the deliveries" Carth firmly stated.
"Not going to argue on that one." Melissa shrugged
She and Mission started walking up the boarding ramp.
"By the way, Canderous said you need to drop your armour in the lounge, he will clean it for you when he wakes up." Carth called after them
"Why not have the droids clean it for you?" Mission asked
"It is a cultural bias, no machine is allowed to touch our armour. Only the wearer and their family or medical personell are allowed to touch the armour without repercussion." Melissa explained.
She dropped her armour in the lounge as requested. Looking at her bodysuit she decided that it was not worth salvaging, entering her room she dropped the bodysuit by the door and walked to the refresher to take a shower, only to come up short as she noticed two figures already in it. Mission walked into her as she suddenly stopped.
"Why did you just stop?" Mission groused
"Am I seeing things?" Melissa asked, pointing to the refresher.
Terri stepped from the shower, Bastila a moment behind her. Bastila froze as she noticed that she had an audience, slowly going red
"Saving water?" Mission asked innocently
"No just unwilling to wait for Juhani to finish up, she got to the dorms unit first." Terri replied, drying off unconcernedly
"Right, so this was about efficiency." Mission drawled.
Melissa stepped forward to the shower unit.
"The two of you had better not have used all the warm water." She warned
"We were not in their for long. So you should have enough left."
Mission looked at Melissa
"Shower Buddies?" She asked
"No. I don't want your new girlfriend coming after me." Melissa replied
"Spoil my fun, why don't you?"
Melissa was getting settled in bed, the air conditioner going full blast when the door opened and Mission came in dressed in her sleeping clothes. She paused at the foot of the bed
"Can I join you? I don't want to be alone." Mission hesitantly asked
Melissa pulled the sheet back on the far side and motioned for Mission to hop in. After a few moments Melissa noted that Missions shoulders were shaking as she quietly cried. She pulled Mission into a hug and just held her, knowing words would be of no comfort to the distraught girl right now.
Several hours later a still tired Melissa and Mission made their way to the outside where it looked like a junk yard, to find the others seated in chairs in front of a makeshift table; while Carth and Canderous were roasting meat over a grill set over a fire made in a drum. Terri threw a bottle towards Melissa and the another to Mission.
"I really have to wonder, why did you got those two wrecked A Wings?" Juhani asked
"Apart from the wings being wrecked, everything else is fine and there is two up to date combat packages in those." Melissa replied
"Why not just rip them out then?" Bastila asked
"A few reasons. One by buying the two as is the junker does not know the value of what he sold, so I got it cheaper. Two there is two functional ion guns on these which we can add to the Hawk, and one of the main cannons will do well on the new transporter once it has been armoured and the engines can be used for the transport as well." Melissa continued
"You do know we are going to have to leave it behind when we leave? There is now way that that is going to fit on the Hawk." Carth commented, turning over a piece of meat
"We can sell it to a hunter or someone before we leave, and recoup our cost." Mission jumped in
Canderous looked at the pair.
"Not that I want to complain about extra armour or firepower, but why now, you prefer speed over firepower." He queried
Melissa sat down in a chair and twisted the cap on the soda bottle.
"I have been thinking and the conclusions I came to is worrying." She said
"Go on." Canderous prompted
"The way the sand people have been acting is very anomalous. First they move in small groups of up to thirty at most, that is warriors, females and children. In a single contact we killed a clan and a half of warriors. Two they will attack a farm here and there and the uncautious traveller, so why attack heavily armoured vehicles. Third they rarely take prisoners, yet they have from the first sandcrawler and probably would have from the second once they breached." Melissa explained
"There is more?" Bastila asked
"The damage to the first crawler was from fire only, where did the mining explosives go. That is another thing the sand people never used explosives before yet they blew up the shadow and tried to breach with explosives. Where did they learn that? Why do they suddenly change their patterns." Melissa finished
Canderous turned the meat over before sitting down in his chair
"You believe there is a greater force out there, which is why they can ignore their casualties and the prisoners are for more than slaves, entertainment and food." He stated
"Yes, this place is a perfect soft target. No police or militia to defend it, apart from the wall no defences. And we do know they hate anything or anyone that is not them." Melissa replied.
"There is historical precedence for what you are suggesting." Bastila replied musingly
"So you want to be ready to deal with superior numbers." Carth concluded
Melissa pointed to the meat
"You might want to turn that over." She said
Carth jumped up and loaded the meat into a platter before putting it down on the table amid a set of covered dishes.
"How certain are you of your theory?" Juhani asked
"Very, even if I am wrong we lose nothing, getting the Hawk better equipped will only help us in the long run." Melissa replied
"Just how where you planning on adding the ion cannons to the existing armaments?" Carth asked
"I was thinking of adding them and placing a relay to the co pilot seat so that the co pilot could operate the weapons as well as the missile system, right now only the pilot can fire the missiles. Moving that to the co pilot makes more sense, so the second combat package can be installed there."
Canderous reached for the food.
"Then let us eat up, we have another long night ahead of us."