Kashyyyk: 19 BBY
Wookiee Village
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa led the way through the winding steps, attached the trunks of massive trees. Oni and Lesia followed close behind with their blasters drawn. They had been searching the forest for surviving Wookiees for nearly two hours, with no luck.

    In the distance, LAAT gunships roared past, accompanied by Wookiee gunships. Imperial ships chased after them. "The war never really ended here," Les said, noticing his gaze. "I imagine it did for the clones and the Jedi, but not for the Wookiees."

    "What does the Empire want with Kashyyyk and the Wookiees anyway?" Oni asked.

    "Ketei said that most of the Wookiees are being sent to Imperial spice mines on Kessel and other planets."

    Les narrowed her eyes angrily. "They're being turned into slaves."

    "As to what the Empire wants with the planet," Nakoa continued, "I'm not sure. Maybe they just need a place for their factories or they need certain materials found here."

    They reached the top of the spiral and stepped onto a large platform. Several huts and more platforms extended from it. There were tunnels carved into the tree as well. From the looks of it, the village was abandoned. "Let's split up," Les suggested. "We'll cover the village more quickly."

    Nakoa nodded and started off in one direction. Oni and Les dispersed themselves. He flipped his rangefinder down and scanned for heat signatures. None appeared and he flicked the scanner up once more. Nakoa kept a hand fixed above his blaster as he crept forward.

    Ahead lay a heap of scrap metal from a crashed gunship. He approached it and sifted through the metal. Something clattered on the ground behind him. Nakoa whirled just as a young Wookiee lunged at him, a metal bar raised over his head.

    "Whoa!" Nakoa rolled beneath the bar as it smashed to the ground, splintering the wooden platform. He leaped to his feet and raised his hands. "Wait, wait! I'm not here to hurt you."

    The Wookiee roared and stopped moving, but didn't lower his makeshift weapon. Nakoa activated his comm. "Les, Oni, I found someone."

    "On our way," Oni replied. The comm switched off and the Wookiee barked once more.

    "I don't understand you," Nakoa sighed. "It would be nice if I had a translator in my helmet."

    The Wookiee regarded him for a moment, then gestured towards the gunship. He tapped his metal pole on the Republic insignia, scratched into the side of the ship. He growled something that sounded like a question.

    "I'm not with the Empire, if that's what you're asking," Nakoa replied. At least, I think that's what he meant? The symbols look very similar, he thought.

    The Wookiee seemed satisfied and lowered his pole. Footsteps thumped on the wooden floor as Oni and Lesia joined them. "He doesn't look very old," Oni noted.

    "I don't think he is. Do either of you speak Wookiee?"

    Oni tilted her head. Nakoa was sure he knew what expression she wore beneath her helmet. "I do," Les replied. She approached the Wookiee. "I'm Lesia. That's Oni and Nakoa. We're here to help."

    The Wookiee grunted a few words. "He said his name is Trergi and he's 98 years old," Les translated.

    "That's a little old for a foundling," Oni muttered.

    "You want him to join your Clan?" Les arched an eyebrow.

    "That's why Ketei sent us," Nakoa explained. "If we found young survivors, we'd bring them back as foundlings."

    Trergi gave a disgruntled bark and shook his head. "He doesn't want to come with you." The Wookiee spoke again, adding in a few hand gestures. "He says there are other young Wookiees with him. They've been trying to rescue their friends and family," Les said.

    Nakoa crossed his arms as Trergi began speaking again. The black furred Wookiee pointed at him, suddenly, and began to speak rapidly. Nakoa raised his eyebrows. "What is he saying?"

    "He's heard stories about Mandalorians and believes you to be great fighters, like himself. He wants our help."

    "What do we get in exchange?" Oni asked. Nakoa shot her a look and she released a sigh. "I'm kidding. We help those who need us. I remember."

    Lesia flashed a smile at Trergi. "Lead the way." She fell in step with the Wookiee as they started walking out of the village.

    "So much for new foundlings," Oni sighed.

    "Maybe there will be some of them who still want to come along," Nakoa replied.

    "Maybe, but I doubt it." Oni fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I can't explain why I don't trust her, but there's just something about her that I don't like. She feels familiar and not in a good way."

    Nakoa knit his brows. "I know it's hard for you to trust people, but you're going to have to work on that. Les will be here for a while and I don't want the two of you at each other's throats the whole time."

    "She asked me about Mandalorians the other day, specifically the Creed and the Code. She asked who the Mand'alor was too, but I just told her to ask you."

    "It's Bo Katan Kryze right now," Nakoa said. "She didn't ask me."

    "Do you plan to keep searching for Tarek? I know you quit a few months ago when we took a particularly difficult bounty."

    "Yes, I'll keep looking for Tarek, but the Clan is my first priority right now."

    "What will you do when you find him?"

    Anger sparked within his chest as he replied. "I will make him pay for the deaths of my Clanmates." Nakoa recalled the wooden necklace that was currently around his neck, but hidden beneath his black suit and armor. The wood chip had come from the beam Ketei had found him trapped beneath. He had carved the signet of Clan Ralius into it and on the back, three words. "Ni vow skira," he said, his voice soft, but not quite a whisper.

    "I vow revenge," Oni repeated.

Kashyyyk: 19 BBY
Wookiee Hideout
Lesia Mirri

    Trergi followed an overgrown trail deep into the jungle forest. Les could hear Nakoa and Oni speaking quietly behind them, but she couldn't make out their words. She didn't bother using the Force to accentuate her hearing. She had only used that particular skill a few times anyway and it always gave her a headache.

    "How many of you are there?" Les asked. Trergi gave her a small number. "And you're the oldest one?" He nodded. He launched into a brief explanation of what had happened when the Empire came. "Don't worry. We'll help your family."

    They reached a large hollow tree shortly. Trergi led the way inside and several young Wookiees greeted him eagerly. Nakoa and Oni joined Les after a moment. "There aren't very many of them," Oni said.

    "Trergi told me that a few more of them have been captured recently." Les turned her attention back to the tall creature. He waved her forward and began to speak. Les started translating immediately. "A large number of prisoners are being held in a compound close by. The Empire has a mining operation going on and intends for the Wookiees to work on it."

    Trergi held up a holodisk and switched it on. A hologram of the compound appeared. Lesia frowned, noticing the dozens of stormtroopers that were on guard. "The Wookiees are on the upper detention level. The roof is heavily guarded and there will be stormtroopers in the cell area itself. We'll need to clear the roof and leave a few Wookiees behind to keep the way open. Once inside, we'll grab the Wookiees and leave."

    "How will we escape? We can't outrun them if they have speeders," Nakoa pointed out.

    "Do you have gunships?" Les asked Trergi. He shook his head. "We'll have to use the Mythos then. Someone can do a fly by and pick us up off the roof. We'll get the Wookiees to safety and then leave before the Empire has a chance to capture us."

    "You make it sound easy," Oni scoffed. "I'll fly the Mythos. Nakoa is better at silent takedowns than me."

    "Then you'd better get the ship ready. Someone will contact you as soon as we get inside the detention level."

    Oni nodded and stood. "At least she knows how to make a plan," she said as she walked past Nakoa. He didn't reply.

    Les simply grinned and pulled her attention back to the hologram. "Now, how do we get up there?"

    Nakoa fiddled with his vibroblade. "I think I have an idea."

Kashyyyk: 19 BBY
Imperial Compound
Nakoa Sen

    "Really? This was your idea?" Lesia clung to him desperately as they soared through the air. Nakoa smirked to himself before replying.

    "While we take care of the stormtroopers on the roof, the Wookiees will scale the wall," he said. "By the time they make it up here, we should have the place clear."

    "Right, but couldn't you have brought someone else with you?" Les squeezed her eyes shut. "Someone who isn't scared of heights?"

    "You never said you were scared of heights before. If I remember right, you just said you didn't like flying when you weren't in control."

    "Well, now you know the truth."

    "But you're not scared of heights when we're in the Mythos."

    "That's because I have something solid all around me." Lesia gritted her teeth, giving him an annoyed look.

    "And what about jumping from the roof of Jabba's palace onto the Mythos?"

    "I didn't look down."

    "You were in more danger then than you are now," he pointed out. Nakoa glanced ahead and spied the compound.

    "It doesn't feel that way."

    "Would it help if you could see where we're going?"

    Her eyes widened. "No, don't even think about trying to flip me over while we're in the air."

    He chuckled a bit and shook his head. "All right. Get ready. The compound is just ahead."

    They soared over the wall and Nakoa released Les. She landed in a roll and popped up with a blaster in hand. She took down two stormtroopers quickly. Nakoa saw her wince and her steps faltered for just a moment. He landed and blasted the nearest troopers.

    More were inbound. Nakoa pulled a stun grenade into his hand and launched it. It detonated, rendering five more stormtroopers unconscious. He shot an arm out and wrapped his fibercord around another trooper. Nakoa heaved the man over the side of the wall and retracted the cord. He heard a muffled thud a moment later. Nakoa quickly stunned the last two stormtroopers and turned to Lesia.

    She blasted a few more troopers, her lekku falling over her shoulder. Les turned back, holstering her blaster for the moment. "I think that's the last of them."

    Nakoa nodded and activated his comm. "Oni, we're about to enter the compound."

    "I'll keep an eye out for you," she replied.

    Nakoa switched the comm off. Several grappling hooks embedded themselves in the roof, suddenly. He took a step back. Moments later, the young Wookiees joined them. They retrieved the grappling hooks and Trergi gave an excited roar.

    "Tie up the stormtroopers. Three of you should stay here in case more come," Les ordered. Nakoa watched her as she continued to organize the young warriors. It was as though she were used to giving orders. The Wookiees seemed to realize it too and they quickly obeyed.

    Trergi opened up a hatch in the roof and led the way into the compound. Nakoa stuck close to Les. The hatch closed behind them and they continued on.