The planet's atmosphere was thick with dust suspended in the high oxygen content, and yellow sand swirled beneath the Republic's troop transports as they skimmed close to the ground, attempting to stay as undetectable as possible. As they neared one of the dome cities of Wualief, the transports began to open their doors. Inside the first ship were Jedi Master Ima Gun Di, Captain Keeli, and Wolves One through Five, while the second transport carried Padawan Barriss and Wolves Six through Ten. Barriss and Ima Gun Di were equipped with protective gear to counter the toxic atmosphere outside the domes, due to the high levels of oxygen.
Ima Gun Di spoke through the comms, his voice carrying the weight of their mission. "Our objective is straightforward: secure a port and disable any potential weaponry nearby. It may not be an easy task, but I trust each of you is prepared. Remember, we're fighting for peace and balance in the galaxy, so don't fear an ending if it must come for us. If this is to be our end, then we will do our utmost until the last breath, so those who follow have a better chance."
The clones listened intently, feeling the gravity of the duty before them. Ima Gun Di continued, now with a gentler tone. "But I do hope that we all make it back alive. And if it comes to a choice between my life or yours to ensure the mission's success, I want you to take it." The clones remained silent, moved by the sincerity in his words. They understood the care Ima Gun Di had for them.
As the Wolf Squad prepared to disembark, one of the pilots chimed in over the comms. "Sir, this is as far as we can go without risking enemy fire."
Ima Gun Di was the first to leap from the still-moving transport, followed closely by Captain Keeli and the other members of his ship. Barriss was the first to jump from her transport, with the rest of the Wolf Squad following, all landing softly in the fine, powdery sand, which cushioned their descent like a pillow of air.
As the squad moved toward the dome city's exterior, the two transports turned back, taking a safe distance from the city before ascending into the atmosphere to return to the flagship. Nearby, Master Pong Krell's ships hovered on standby, prepared to assist if needed. Approaching the dome, Ima Gun Di pointed to a section of black, muddy-looking sand—dry but oddly discolored. Barriss followed his gesture upward, noticing the sewer pipes above. "Our entrance, I presume," she remarked with little enthusiasm. Keeli, also eyeing the pipes, commented, "They're too high for us to reach."
At this, Ima Gun Di chuckled, understanding their concerns. "Barriss, please go first and help me lift each trooper up there."
Barriss nodded, taking a leap that left some of the clones looking on in astonishment. They were still getting used to the sight of Jedi using the Force so casually, even more so to see Barriss reaching the sewer pipe in a single bound. Ima Gun Di then turned to Keeli, lifting him gently with the Force and guiding him up toward the pipe, where Barriss assisted by pulling him in and settling him alongside her.
Wolf Six quickly spoke through the vox, "Is this… safe?" He sounded a bit nervous as he watched Wolf Two being lifted, legs flailing slightly in midair, clearly unsettled. Wolf Ten chimed in, laughing, "Eh, I'd take this any day over fighting battle droids." They shared a laugh, easing the tension.
Soon, all the clones and Barriss were settled in the sewer pipe, which was completely dry as if water hadn't flowed through it in ages. Ima Gun Di made a graceful leap from the ground to join them, taking the lead to guide the group. The clones activated their lights to illuminate the tunnel's interior as they moved forward. Barriss looked around, her voice uneasy, "Something about this feels… off." She noticed the eerie dryness of the pipe, an unnatural absence of humidity.
Wolf Two added, "I'll admit, I was expecting a lot more of shi—" He fell silent abruptly as an unsettling laugh echoed around them. The clones instantly snapped to attention, aiming their weapons at every corner, while Barriss positioned herself at the rear, hand moving to her lightsaber. But Ima Gun Di, calm and steady, refrained from reaching for his own, instead studying their surroundings intently.
Then, a rapid, deep voice echoed from the shadows, just beyond the reach of their lights. "Welcome, welcome, shelled things… you come here to die, yes? To be murdered, hmm?"
Ima Gun Di spoke firmly, "We come in the name of the Republic. Who am I speaking to?" His voice was calm yet resolute. Suddenly, a creature leapt from the ceiling, screaming as it descended. It wore a black hood and had twin blades attached to its arms. Its dense, black fur made a few of the clones think it might be a Wookiee—though it was much smaller. Without hesitation, Ima Gun Di ignited his lightsaber, slicing through the creature's blades and sending it crashing into the wall with a powerful kick.
The shadowed voice laughed again, echoing through the pipes, "Shelled thing, good, good! But can you do more—more?!"
As the laughter faded, more creatures emerged from the ceiling. The clones shone their lights upward, revealing these furry beings clawing their way along the pipes toward them. Realizing the situation, Ima Gun Di gave the command: "Open fire."
The clones immediately unleashed a hail of blaster fire, each shot hitting its target with precision. Soon, the creatures abandoned their strategy of attacking from above, launching a full assault from the front. But with Ima Gun Di holding the line, there was little they could do. The Jedi Master aimed to disarm and repel them rather than taking lives unless absolutely necessary. Slowly, a barrier of cowering creatures began to form—a mass of those who had no weapons and were too frightened to continue—blocking the path for their more aggressive kin behind them, who remained eager to attack.
Barriss felt something grab her suit, and she immediately ignited her lightsaber. One of the creatures had snuck up on her, likely aiming to breach the squad's backline. She looked down to find a knife embedded in her leg, coated in some unknown substance. A wave of nausea washed over her, her vision spinning slightly as she steadied herself and slashed the creature. Struggling to stay upright, she activated her comm. "I've been hit. Stay focused on the battle. It managed to pierce me with something… I think it's coated in some kind of bacterial toxin." She noted the strange, brownish-green liquid oozing from the wound.
Ima Gun Di's voice crackled through with urgency. "We need to advance and get you treated. Clones, with me!" Captain Keeli responded immediately, "Roger that, General."
The Jedi Master shifted from a defensive stance to a more aggressive approach, charging through the cowering creatures blocking the path and slicing down those still eager to fight. His lightsaber whirled as he parried every attack, moving forward relentlessly. Keeli and Wolf Six provided cover on his flanks, ensuring none of the creatures could reach him, while the rest of the squad focused on holding off attacks from above. Barriss brought up the rear, her spinning head barely keeping up with the group's pace, but she pressed on, determined to protect their escape.
Holding their formation efficiently, the squad avoided grenades or flamethrowers, mindful of the planet's high oxygen content and the risk of igniting the air. As they advanced, leaving behind piles of bodies, Ima Gun Di sensed something unusual—a disturbing energy shift ahead. Suddenly, a burst of green flame surged towards him. With only a second to react, he raised his hands, using the Force to push back against the blaze. As the flames engulfed the creatures, their agonized screams echoed through the tunnels.
Despite her dizziness, Barriss spotted Ima Gun Di struggling with the flames and rushed to help him, channeling the Force to divert the fire. Wolves Seven, Eight, and Ten, noticing her movements, turned their focus to the rear, where more creatures were now emerging from behind the corpses. Realizing that the Jedi were difficult to challenge directly, the creatures seemed to shift their attention to the clones, seeing them as more vulnerable targets.
Wolf Eight shouted, "Fire, fire, fire!" as he spotted a creature charging toward them. The clones at the rear picked their targets and opened fire, filling the air with blaster bolts as the sewer's heat intensified. Barriss and Ima Gun Di focused on containing the reactive flames fed by the high oxygen, until they saw the creature wielding the flame mechanism burst into pieces, its device overheating and detonating. In that brief moment, the path was clear.
"GO!" Ima Gun Di commanded, using the Force to push the flames back and create a corridor. Though fatigued from maintaining his Force barrier, he steadied himself, leading the way forward as the clone squad ceased firing and began to run. The creatures hesitated, now wary of the spreading flames consuming the corpses around them. A mocking voice echoed through the tunnels, "You'll pay for this! All of you shell-things will pay!"
Barriss felt her body growing numb from the poison, yet she continued drawing strength from the Force. Weakness tugged at her, but knowing she had spared one of the clones from the poisoned blade reassured her, realizing they might not have survived as long.
Ima Gun Di scanned ahead, noticing an air shaft that filtered the outside oxygen. Nearby, he spotted a maintenance door. "There!" he called, pointing it out to Barriss and the clones. With a swift gesture, he opened it using the Force, reaching it first to check for any traps or hostiles. Fortunately, the area was clear.
The Clones and the Jedi filed into the small maintenance compartment, noting the sterilizing agents cleaning their armor and suits, while the indicator lights reassured them that the air inside was now breathable.
Wolf 1 broke the silence after the hiss of pressurized air ceased, "Almost thought we wouldn't make it."
Wolf 6 chuckled, "Please, don't jinx it."
Captain Keeli turned, casting a serious look at both of them. "That was just two corridors. We've got a long way to go, and I'd guess less than half our ammo left."
At Keeli's words, the squad checked their ammunition. For those who had been covering Ima Gun Di's advance, he was nearly right—each had used almost half of their rounds. The troopers at the rear had fared a bit better, but the squad was quickly realizing just how numerous their attackers had been.
Meanwhile, Barriss fought to keep herself steady, the pain in her injured leg searing from the sterilizing agents now in the air. It felt as if her wound was on fire, amplifying the dizzying effects of whatever had tainted the blade that had pierced her. One of the clones noticed and examined her injury. "Is that…?" Wolf 5 hesitated.
Wolf 9 nodded grimly. "Doo."
Keeli broke the silence while they waited for the doors to open. "Nasty little fellas."
Barriss chose not to comment, though she silently agreed, keeping her thoughts to herself as they awaited the doors.
With a hiss, the double metal doors slid open, revealing a dim hallway. Bloodstains marked the gray and yellow floor, and the ceiling was lined with cables sparking erratically, with the lights flickering weakly. There were no bodies, only traces of what had happened. Ima Gun Di signaled the group to move forward silently, with Captain Keeli vigilantly scanning their surroundings to avoid any potential ambush.
The dark corridors were unnervingly quiet. As they moved, Ima Gun Di studied the walls until he located what he'd been searching for: a map. It was grimy and smeared with blood, but still readable. He noted their destination: the air duct close to the city port.
Even in her dizzy state, Barriss managed to focus on the map, her voice coming out low. "Do you think they'd wait to ambush us there?"
Ima Gun Di considered her question. "No, I doubt they know our objective. It might seem like a logical target, but those creatures don't strike me as planners. They act more out of instinct and blind aggression."
Keeli chimed in, "In my opinion, they're more likely to trail us than set up an ambush. But that's just a hunch, and either way, I think we should keep moving."
Both Jedi nodded in agreement with Keeli, and the squad resumed their journey, heading toward the city port through the sewer's air entrances.
As they lifted the manhole cover and climbed up, the scene that met them was chilling. A deserted street stretched out, littered with dozens of bodies, mangled, defiled, and some clearly devoured. The stench of rotting flesh was overwhelming, even with helmets on. Ima Gun Di took a moment to catch his breath, still feeling the strain from using the Force just minutes before. Barriss, visibly weakened with the adrenaline rush wearing off, slowed her pace, now positioned protectively at the center of the formation. The city was almost entirely dark, the buildings stripped of life and their once-bright colors now smeared with dried, darkened blood. Only a few billboards flickered on low power, their faded ads stark against the devastation, but one billboard commanded their attention. Guards—men and women, still in uniform—were pinned to it, their bodies hanging as grim trophies.
Wolf 5 opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. What could be said in the face of such horror?
Wolf 6 muttered, scanning their surroundings, "We need to find the port, but we also have to keep moving. Those things will be on our tails soon enough."
Captain Keeli nodded and turned to Ima Gun Di. "What's the plan, General?" His eyes drifted momentarily to Barriss's leg, now visibly swollen around her injury.
Ima Gun Di gathered his thoughts and replied, "We secure the port as a unit. Pong Krell's team should have medical supplies; once they land, we can get Barriss patched up." His voice carried conviction.
Barriss attempted a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really, Master Ima Gun Di—just a bit worse for wear. I can manage." Her resilience was evident, and Ima Gun Di returned her smile, encouraged by her courage.
The Wolf Squad moved forward cautiously, their armored footsteps echoing through the vacant streets. This city, once full of light and life, now lay in deathly silence. Corpses lay scattered, some half-eaten, and the somber atmosphere weighed even on the Jedi Master. The sheer scale of death and devastation tugged at him; the sense of helplessness was inescapable. Then, they stumbled upon a strange sight—several of the creatures were dead, piled up as if abandoned with their bodys smoking with no fire.
Wolf 3 raised his blaster, his voice tense. "Bodies… these seem recent."
Captain Keeli knelt for a closer look, noting the wounds as Wolf 6 pointed out a strange, charred residue from what looked like high-voltage electrocution. But before he could say anything, Ima Gun Di noticed a slight movement in a nearby building—a disturbance in the Force, one that felt different, alive. He motioned to the clones to fall in, then led them toward the building's entrance.
Inside, the lobby was destroyed, with scattered droids damaged and covered in the same filth they'd seen on the blade that injured Barriss. The acrid smell made its way even through their helmets' filters. Near the front desk lay two bodies—a female Wookiee and a smaller figure clutched in her arms. The sight made them turn away in silence, moving quickly toward the stairs.
"Or," Wolf 6 suggested, making a small motion with his head and moving towards the conner of the room "we could try the elevator." He pressed the button at the corner, grinning as the faint hum of an elevator descending reached them.
"I'm sorry, champ," Wolf 9 shook his head, "but I don't think that'll—"
Ima Gun Di moved his hand quickly, pulling Wolf 6 closer to himself and the group with Wolf 6 speaking with small fear ''Sorry si-''
The elevator doors opened with a sharp metallic clang, revealing a lethal trap: a grid of sharp, makeshift spikes fashioned from kitchen cutlery launched forward. Ima Gun Di's intuition had been right, and he turned to the squad. "As I suspected, there are survivors here. They've likely set up traps to defend against the creatures. Follow me up the stairs and stay alert."
Wolf 6 Touched his body and armor, surprising to be alive, he then took a deep breath and followed the group, with Wolf 1 looking at him with wolf 9.
''Nice one, keep like this and we will nickname you 99'' Wolf 9 spoke with a smile.
''Yeah, almost got us there, we would be impaled with you.'' Wolf 1 spoke with a more serious tone.
Wolf 6 shook is head ''Alright, alright, I get it, calm down.'' He understood to not separate himself anymore, even more that he got scared for life.
The squad filed up the staircase, spotting traps at each floor. Strong adhesives covered certain walls, while strings held small fuel canisters above, ready to douse anything that triggered the line. The most elaborate trap involved two counterweights holding a stone bust of Senator Mas Amedda, designed to release on anyone ascending without caution. Ima Gun Di suppressed a hint of amusement as they passed by.
On the top floor, they were met by makeshift barriers and a row of blasters pointed at them. A startled male voice shouted, "Wait, wait! They're with the Republic!"
The barricade shifted, revealing a Bothan with dark fur and nervous brown eyes. Relief spread across his face as he saw the clones and the Jedi. "The Republic came to save us!" he said, and a faint cheer rose from behind the barricade as he motioned for them to enter.
"Yes, we're here to help," said Ima Gun Di. "But one of ours was injured by the creatures. Do you have any medical supplies?"
The Bothan's face fell slightly, his gaze shifting to Barriss's wound. "It wasn't from a crystal blade, was it?"
"Crystal blade?" Captain Keeli asked, looking back at Barriss's leg.
The Bothan nodded gravely. "Those cut by crystal weapons risk becoming... Shined. If they survive, they turn into one of the creatures, controlled by the monsters. We call them Shined because of the crystals that begin growing from their bodies, shining that sickly green light."
Ima Gun Di was surprise that those monsters were able to control those corrupted, this was a troubling information,he needed to report this to the Council. But for now, Barriss's treatment was the priority.
Keeli observed the survivors—fewer than he'd anticipated. Besides the Bothan leader, there were two Gran couples, a young Wookiee whose resemblance to the deceased Wookiee in the lobby made Keeli's stomach turn, a Rodian male, and a Togruta female who wore attire hinting at wealth, likely vacationers caught in the chaos. Judging by their amateurish traps, Keeli realized they were doing their best to survive, even if they lacked combat experience.
While Ima Gun Di marveled at their resilience, Keeli couldn't help but feel the weight of their situation. Their time was limited, and he knew the group would need to move swiftly if they hoped to get these people to safety.
Wolf 6 sat down and saw at one of the doors, a small Rodian girl, a kid ,she was apparently observing all from safety, he just gave a small nod to the girl, reasuring that all would be ok, but she just hid herself in the room, as if afraid from the clone.
The rest of the Wolf Squad began to sit down soon after, all finding places to rest their legs from the landing in the sand outside of the city and all the path that they had until there.
Meanwhile, Barriss sat quietly in the makeshift medical room, aparently was the room of a kid before, but Barriss could see the stains of blood in the wall and the broken crib used as a reinforcement in the wall, imagining what happened. The Gran couple carefully tended her leg, applying a thick, pungent salve to the wound. Despite the pain, Barriss managed a small smile, gratitude shining in her eyes as she spoke. "Thank you. You've been braver than many would, staying here, setting up those traps. It's no small feat."
The older Gran chuckled softly, "We just did what we had to. Survival makes anyone resourceful." He paused, glancing at Barriss's wound. "You rest, young Lady. Your strength will be needed soon."
Back in the main room, the Bothan and Ima Gun Di spoke with eachother
''I din't expect that ship would make it.'' The Bothan spoke with happyness as he sat down, giving a makeshift chair to master Ima Gun Di, made of metal boxes.
Ima Gun Di sat down, as he spoke ''A Ship?'' and then proceed to look at the Bothan, curious, looking at the windown soon after and seeing a scene of terror, he could see the port, it was four streets alway, but the port was completly full with those creatures, burning the bodys of their victims in giant pires of green flames and apparently comiting many other acts with survivors.
''Yes, we saw a miner ship lifting earlier this day, we were cheering them from here, and I'm happy to know that all turned alright.'' As the Bothan spoke, he looked a little more serious to Ima Gun Di.
The Bothan continued ''So, master Jedi sir, hm, what is, the plan?'' he asked reluctantly, as Ima Gun Di stood looking for some instants to the port.
''The port, it as any defenses active that you know?'' Ima Gun Di asked curious, seeing how the creatures were so careless in the place and noticing the lack of ships slamed in the port or exploded, they all appeared to have been boarded, making Ima Gun Di have an small hope growing inside of him.
''Oh, well, I know a little, in case of an pirate attack, some canons would be activated on the two main towers, but ,since no pirate alarm was sounded, the turrents din't activate.'' He explained, and Ima Gun Di smiled, now having a glimmer of hope growing even stronger.
Just then, a flickering light on the wall caught Ima Gun Di's eye—a makeshift torch, dim but burning. It was a beacon, a sign of persistence and hope in the darkest of places. With that, he looked to his squad and the survivors, feeling a renewed surge of determination.
Ima Gun Di activated his communicator, and soon, Luminara's voice came through.
"Master Ima Gun Di, are you all right?" she asked, with a note of relief, while Pong Krell let out a curious grunt in the background.
"I'm fine. The Wolf Squad and I have made it into the city," Ima Gun Di replied. "I have some urgent reports, though. It seems we aren't just facing corrupted beings, but an entirely new race. They're crude in their weaponry and tactics—using filthy methods, like coating their weapons in dejects to poison wounds." He hesitated briefly, deciding not to mention Barriss's injury. He felt this was a test from which she could grow independently. "These creatures bear traces of rodent-like traits; they swarm their victims with sheer numbers, unleashing brutal attacks, and they defile what remains. And more troublingly, they seem able to control those corrupted by the crystals." He prefered to not speak about Barriss, not wanting Luminara to be to worried about her padawan.
Luminara fell silent, disturbed but thoughtful. Her mind flashed back to the ominous tendrils she had seen above the planet—a grim sign of something more sinister. Collecting herself, she spoke with a steady voice. "Understood, Master Ima Gun Di. Do you need Master Krell's assistance immediately?"
Pong Krell looked eager at the mention of such vicious creatures, but Ima Gun Di answered with a strategic edge. "Not yet. I have a plan for that. The port's defenses are inactive, but it seems the creatures have made it their base, using it both as a burning ground for their victims and as a camp. I'll attempt to activate the port's turrets to clear out the creatures, securing the area for Krell and his men to land. Once they're on the ground, we'll move forward with securing the site."
Pong Krell considered suggesting a bombardment, but he knew that the fragile dome maintaining the city's artificial atmosphere required a careful approach. "Understood. I'll await your signal for landing," he replied, curbing his inclination for a full-force attack.
Master Luminara's voice, now thoughtful and distant, returned over the communicator. Gazing at the planet through the command deck's window, she added, "Very well. May the Force be with you both."