Colossal Haven, 14 BBY

Naat: Anyone have any jobs for us?

Cif: Not since our run in with the Senator and our little heist from the Pykes.

Naat: What were you thinking stealing from the Pykes?

Cassus: Relax. We got paid, the spice was dumped into empty space, and the Pykes are still out looking for the people that hired us.

Grieve: Everyone, to the bridge!

Cassus, Isaac, Cif, and Naat all rush from the hangar to the bridge. They enter the large room and Grieve gives the order to one of his B1 battle droids.

Grieve: Play the message.

???: Is anyone out there!? We are being overrun by pirates!! They've attacked our transport lanes! All Imperial fleets have failed to stop them! Please, send help!!

The crew stand there in deep thought as the message ends. After a moment, they speak up.

Cassus: Where is it coming from?

Grieve: Taanab.

Cassus: That's under Imperial jurisdiction.

Cif: You heard the message. People are dying and the Empire can't defeat the pirates.

Naat: Cif's right, we have to go!

Isaac: And risk being captured by the Imps?

Naat: If we have to.

Grieve: That's suicide.

Cif: We've done worse.

Isaac: We weren't sticking our necks out in Imperial territory.

Naat: What about the Senator?

Grieve: That was a quick job. In and out. No one even knew we were there!

Cif: It was still just as risky!

Isaac: These jobs are very different and you know it.

Cif: We blast the pirate crew, get our payment, and leave. Simple as that.

Isaac: Pirates won't stop until you kill their captain and their ship. We'd also have to wait for them to show back up.

Naat: All the more reason to go now! Cass, what do you think?

The room turns to look at the young Mandalorian. Cassus appears to be in deep thought. Inside his mind, a deep grumbling from a large beast echoes. It's the same rumbling he felt back on Mandalore. The rumbling clears his mind before he hears the roar of a Wookiee. The roar gives him his answer. He looks up at the crew from the floor and speaks.

Cassus: They're right. We can't ignore them. As dangerous as this is, they need our help.

Isaac: You can't be serious. It's a death trap!

Cassus: Have I ever lied to you before, Djarin? We have done deadlier jobs than this and if we overlook their cries, we are no better than the Empire!

Before anyone can argue with him, he turns and leaves the room. He goes to a dark corridor of the large frigate and contacts an old friend.

Cassus: Sinya, you there?

The blue image of the red Twi'lek holding her helmet by her side appears as a hologram. She smirks and rocks to her side a little.

Sinya: What's up, Cass?

Cassus: Do you have any updates?

Sinya: The human is still on Serenno under the name Grayson Tyrannyx. The Wookiee was caught leading a rebellion on Kashyyyk. I went to check on him, but all I found was his lightsaber. The prisoner transport he was on made a stop at Taanab.

Cassus: Then he really is there. Thank you, Sinya.

Sinya: Anytime, Cass. How's the team doing?

Cassus: They're at each other's throats, but we're getting by. We've spent five years hiding out on this ship.

Sinya: If you're answering that call on Taanab about the pirates, be careful. The Mid Rim is crawling with Jedi hunters.

Cassus: All the more reason to get that Wookiee out of there. How're you doing?

Sinya: I've seen better days, that's for sure. Other than tracking your friends, I've been doing some side jobs. Mostly lowlife targets and defense jobs. A girl's gotta make a livin'.

Cassus: I don't think many go about making money the same way you do.

Sinya: Not all Twi'leks are good at dancing. I mean, I am, but that's not the point.

Cassus: Not what I meant. Keep an eye on Grayson. Contact me if the grey coats find him.

Sinya: Sure thing. It was good talking to you, Cassus. Have fun on Taaban.

Cassus: Thanks. Have fun wizard-sitting.

The communication ends and the Mandalorian leaves the corridor. He makes his way over to the hangar where he finds Cif, Naat, and Isaac.

Cassus: Grieve isn't coming.?

Naat: The general disagreed with us going on this mission and refused to be part of it. Instead, he and the old man are going to meet with his brother. They want to test each other's skills in combat. They might go hunting as well.

Cassus: We don't need to take all of our ships. One should be enough.

Cif: The Starstrider is still damaged from the Pykes' cannons.

Isaac: So's the Razor Crest.

Cassus: The Mythosaur it is then.

The small band of warriors board the Kom'rk fighter and prepare to take off. While leaving the station, Naat leans over and speaks to Mereel.

Naat: What made you decide to agree to this job?

Cassus: Let's just say we know someone in that town that is currently under attack. Plus, it'd be nice to remove the Empire's control over at least one city.

Naat: Yes, it would. Since that Senator was killed, the Imperial Senate has been going crazy. I've checked in on some of the news broadcasts. Disarray and panic are filling the hearts of the Imperials and their sympathizers.

Cassus: Good. The Hutts haven't had many Star Destroyers come through their territory since then either. It looks like the Imps took the hint. For now, at least.

Naat: This friend of ours, do you think he will help us against the Empire?

Cassus: He's currently in slavery because he led a rebellion against the Inps on his home planet.

Naat: How do you know he's there?

Cassus: I have my sources.

Naat: And I thought I was the only one with secrets.

Cassus: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sit back and strap in. We're about to make the jump to light speed.

They launch into hyperspace. Once they make it to the Mid Rim, they slingshot out of hyperspace and above the agriworld Taanab.

The ship flies through the space above the planet carefully, avoiding the large pieces of debris. When they get closer to the planet, they see a Recusant-class frigate in a heated firefight with a Star Destroyer.

Cif: A Separatist Recusant doesn't have nearly enough firepower to drop a Star Destroyer. How are they winning?

Cassus: They must've upgraded it after they stole it. Let's slip by and check on the locals first.

The Mythosaur Mereel streaks past the battle and down to the planet below. While flying through the skies, they see a town filled with smoke. The ship lands on the outskirts of the small farm town. The crew rush out and make their way to the city. Once there, they are created by a young man.

Young man: Come to finish us off!? Huh!?

Cassus: We got your call. We're here to help.

Young man: Call? What call?

An older man hears the conversation and walks over. Judging by the smile on his face, he's the one who made the call.

Old man: You got my message? We're saved! The Empire's sent several ships to stop the pirate blockade, but they can't get through.

Cassus: Their ship is heavily modified.

Old man: How do you plan on beating them?

Naat: We think it's best if they come to us and attempt to attack us on the ground.

Young man: That's funny.

Cif: What do you mean?

Young man: That's exactly what Inmate-784 said. Or at least, that's what the droid said he said. It's audio receptors aren't working as well as they used to. I'm not even sure it speaks Shyriiwook.

Cassus: Inmate-784? He's a Wookiee?

Old man: Yes. One of three. There were supposed to be five, but the Empire kept two and transported them to Kessel.

Cassus: Then they're already dead. Where is Inmate-784?

Young man: In the town square, repairing the damage done by the pirates.

Cassus: Can you take me to him?

Young man: Why? Is he a friend of yours?

The Mandalorian leans forward before coldly stating.

Cassus: Answer the question, boy. I'd hate for the farms to lose a pair of hands.

Old man: There's no need for further violence today. Follow me. I will take you to him.

The group follow the old man through the small town until they reach the town center. A large Wookiee with dark fur can be seen hoisting a heavy wooden beam up onto a house that had been damaged in the pirate attack. The Wookiee turns around, sees the crew, and gets very excited. He lets out a large roar and runs at them, catching Naat and Cassus in a hug.

Cassus: Hey, Arri. We missed you too.

Naat: Arrikkata, how did you get here?

The Wookiee roars and growls, explaining how he ended up on Taanab. A man watching from the distance presses a button on his forearm that causes electricity to flood through Arrikkata's body. As soon as it starts, Cassus, Cif, and Isaac all point their weapons at the man.

Cassus: Turn it off or your crops won't be the only thing burned tonight.

Guard: Stop associating with the inmate!

Cassus: You shouldn't bark orders without a blaster in your hand. You're gonna release this Wookiee now.

Guard: I don't think I am.

Cassus: It wasn't a question.

The sound of a single shot being fired rings out before the guard begins to scream. He rolls on the ground with his hands covering the burning hole in his thigh.

Cassus: Release the Wookiee or the next one goes through your head.

Guard: Y-Yeah s-s-sure...

He pushes a few buttons on his arm and the collar around Arrikkata falls off. Once it's off, the Wookiee celebrates, but quickly begins rambling. The crowd around them is already back to minding their own business, finishing repairs here and there, so they don't have to worry about being overheard.

Cassus: I know he's on Serenno, but you can't risk exposing him. Who is waiting for you on Dorin?

The Wookiee roars and growls continuously. Cassus does his best to understand, but is struggling to keep up.

Cassus: Jazz? What's a Kenojynn and what's a Chandura?

Naat: Jazz? Kenojynn? They're not things! They're people! Their names are Jazz Chandura and Caleb Kenojynn. They survived?

The Wookiee cheers happily, but goes back to panicking.

Naat: Shhhhhh. I know you need to get back to them. How did they survive?

Arrikkata releases a few, quiet moans and growls explaining everything.

Naat: Didn't get the Order? Fried inhibitors? Okay, so where are they?

Arrikkata groans in response.

Naat: Dorin and Ryloth? I knew he was close to Plo, but half Kel Dor? How is that possible? Kel Dor aren't able to breed with other species!

Cassus: Technology has come a long way. After we finish our little pirate hunt, we'll search those worlds for your friends.

Naat: Thank you, Cassus.

Cassus: No thanks necessary. You were there for me during the siege of my home. It's only right I aid you two in your search for survivors of your order.

While they move throughout the town, Naat continues to ask Arrikkata about Jedi survivors using code. It also helps that no one around really understands the Wookiee. The two Jedi walk through the village unbothered for a few hours.

When dawn comes, Cassus finds Naat dressed for battle. Since Order 66, she's stopped wearing her Mandalorian gear, knowing she'll stick out more that way. Nowadays she wears a brown cloak on top of grey armor, resembling armor worn in the days of the Old Republic. She looks more like a bounty hunter now, which keeps people from speculating that she's a Jedi.

Cassus: Two gunships and a shuttle are making their way down to the planet. Word around the Imperial broadcasts suggests Admiral Obsidian's Igneous Fleet is coming to deal with the pirates.

Naat: Hopefully we can end this whole debacle before the Imps show their ugly faces.

Cassus: Then we need to get to work now. Those ships'll be here any minute.

Naat: Is everyone else ready?

Cassus: Yes. Cif and Isaac are with Arrikkata. Unfortunately, he doesn't have his lightsaber. A friend of mine has it with her on Serenno.

Naat: You've been tracking our friend?

Cassus: To make sure they were, and stayed,  alive. Sinya and Ozzy have been keeping a close eye on Jötunn and Arrikkata.

Naat: Why didn't you tell me?

Cassus: Because I didn't want to get your hopes up if it turned out they were already dead.

Naat: You still should have told me! I'm the only Jedi here!

As she continues yelling, a figure with glowing yellow eyes watches on in hiding. The short creature pulls on the scrappy clothes of the larger man standing next to her.

???: We should help them.

The yellow-eyed female suggests. The larger human kneels down and speaks with her. His mask makes his voice seem deeper than she knows it actually is.

???: They're going to need it. We've been fighting these scum for three months and we've finally got them cornered here.

???: So we're going to help!?

She asks excitedly, but still quiet. She smiles and rubs her fuzzy arm anxiously.

???: Yes, we're going to help. We need to be careful though. If what they said is true, the Empire is on their way. Obsidian always has at least two Inquisitors with him.

???: I wish your brother and the Twi'lek were here. Or Bay Bee.

???: I know you were close to the Gungan, but we have to accept that she might have perished...along with my brother and Jazz. Come on, we need to get moving. Once that entitled Neimoidian shows her face, we'll make our move.

???: Careful, Isaiah. You don't want to bleed your crystal again.

The two sprint off and the Mandalorian and Togruta are none the wiser. After Naat and Cassus finish arguing, they meet up with Isaac, Cif, and Arrikkata.

Isaac: The villagers are hiding in their homes. We need to keep this fight away from their homes.

Cif: They were kind enough to lend us some rock they used to make their walls. It should be thick enough to withstand blasterfire long enough to end their tyranny.

Naat: Good. Arrikkata, I heard you lost your saber.

Arrikkata roars in response.

Cif: He has a Kashyyyk long-gun. It was one of the weapons he had on him when he was arrested. He lost the saber during the fight and grabbed the long-gun to continue fighting.

Arrikkata growls and groans before he inspects his weapon.

Naat: Excellent. Everyone, get in your positions. Cassus and I will go meet our new friends.

Across the field from the group, a Separatist shuttle and two droid gunships land. The shuttle's landing gear touch the ground softly while the gunships hover and drops off a battalion of B1 battle droids and B2 super battle droids. The shuttle's door opens and the ramp descends to the ground. Stepping out is a Neimoidian female, three pirates, and two Neimoidian guards.

After they step off of the shuttle, the woman in the multicolored dress speaks.

Koru: Greetings, visitors. The villagers did not alert me that we had guests. I am Koru Gunray, niece to the fallen Viceroy of the Trade Federation and queen of Taanab.

Cassus: Didn't know Taanab had a queen. Would've thought there'd be more pictures of you around within your "kingdom".

Koru: You mean you've never heard of me?

Naat: We heard about your attacks and violent actions against the farmers of this planet.

Koru: Violent!? Are you two here to insult me and my crown!?

The pirates activate their electrostaffs. Yellow lightning cackles around their staffs as they move into an aggressive stance. The droids and the Neimoidian guards aim their blasters and prepare to fight.

Naat: On the contrary, we're here to free the farmers from their hostile work environment.

Cassus: Starting with new management.

He draws his WESTAR blaster pistols and fires twice. He and Naat fall back, both firing their pistols at the droids. They duck in cover as Cif, Isaac, and Arrikkata open fire. Crimson and emerald beams of light fly back and forth with Cif's arrows mixed in the fray.

Isaac: They've got rocket droids!

Cassus: Watch those wrist rockets!!

As they speak, two rocket super battle droids fire rockets at them. The impacts tear into the walls, knocking chunks off at a time.

Cif: Isaac, Arrikkata! Take out those damned droids!

The hooded Mandalorian and the Wookiee pop up from their cover and fire. They fire multiple blasts before the rocket droids fall and shut down.

Cassus: That's the rockets down, but the rest of the droids are still active!

The firefight rages on, with neither side gaining an inch. The droids are too great in number and the band of rogues are too stubborn to back down. Despite their stubbornness, they are beginning to tire. Something the droids are unable to do.

Cassus: We can't hold out much longer, Naat! We need something more than a few blasters to win this fight!

Naat: Understood!

She sighs and puts her blaster in her holster. Cassus looks from her, to her holster, then back to her.

Cassus: Naat, you know if you do this, there's no going back!?

Naat: If I don't do this, we'll die and the village will be damned! I have to do this!

Cassus: Understood! We'll cover you!

The Jedi steps out into the fray, dodging blasts effortlessly. The Mandalorians, the smuggler, and the Wookiee all stand and launch a volley of lasers at the droids as suppressive fire. Blaster bolts slam against stone walls and metal droids. Once close enough, Naat stops walking. She smirks and throws her cloak down. She reaches back and grabs her lightsabers. She holds them and activates them, causing the droids to panic.

B1: It's a Jedi!!!

Naat's smirk turns into a smile as she moves forward. She deflects and counters the droids' attacks with ease. A void in her heart has been filled as she swings the sabers around with great efficiency. The droids focus all of their fire on the Jedi, causing her rustiness to show. As she begins to struggle, a fuzzy wheel rolls past her and a long-haired human with a half mask jumps over her head. The fuzzy wheel unfolds and reveals a young Lurmen woman holding two wooden rods.

She pushes the buttons in the rods and long, flexible beams of energy flow out from them. One in blue and and the other in green. The small Lurmen uses her lightwhips so well, you would think she studied her technique for centuries.

Meanwhile, the long-haired man lands, kicking a droid in the head and knocking it off. When he lands on his feet, he quickly slices through the droids with little difficulty using his crossguard lightsaber, it's white blade shattering the droid forces.

The two gunships return from having escorted the shuttle back to their flagship at the start of the firefight. They fly down as fast as they can, their cannons ready to fire when scarlet blasts fill the air. The Mythosaur Mereel flies behind the gunships and launches several missiles at them while pelting them with laser blasts. Inside the ship, Mereel and Djarin sit, flying the Mythosaur at Koru's ship.

Cassus: Ready?

Isaac: We need to take out those cannons or we'll never stand a chance.

As they approach closer and closer, explosions rock the Neimoidian's ship. From the fires, a ship flies out. Two blue thrusters can be seen as the ship coils through the upper atmosphere of Taanab.

Isaac: Are they with us? I don't remember calling for help.

Cassus: No one called, but I'm not complaining. If they're attacking the Neimoidian, then they're not against us. Scan their ship, let's see who or what is helping us!

The hooded Mandalorian pushes a few buttons and flips a couple switches. After the scan is complete, Isaac speaks up.

Isaac: Cass, the person who's helping us, they're a Jedi!

Cassus looks over at him in surprise. Isaac pushes a button and a hologram of the ship shows up on their console. An Eta-2 Actis-class Jedi interceptor is shown spinning and swooshing around the Neimoidian's cruiser.

Isaac: They've taken out their surface cannons.

Cassus: Let's finish them then.

Isaac: I don't think we'll have to worry about doing that. There's a large ship coming out of hyperspace.

Cassus: How large?

An Imperial Star Destroyer jets out of hyperspace. Then, two light cruisers appear, one on either side of it, before a volley of TIE fighters speed towards the cruiser. Meanwhile, a small black shuttle descends amongst the confusion. Cassus and Isaac are more focused on the interceptor, which is heading straight for a small hyperspace ring away from the battlefield.

Cassus: Fire the homing beacon. We need to keep tabs on this guy.

Isaac nods and fires. A missile follows the interceptor, then shoots a disc off of the front. The disc sticks on the bottom of the Eta's hull. Once they verify that the beacon is active, the Mandos head back to the planet below. While they follow the shuttle, the Eta-2 docks into the hyperspace ring and jumps to lightspeed.

Aboard the Star Destroyer

A reprogrammed Separatist tactical droid named 5H3-RM4N approaches an older human with a robotic eye and robotic hand.

5H3-RM4N: Admiral, their ship has been disabled. They are trying to contact us.

Admiral Obsidian: Answer them. I wish to speak with them.

5H3-RM4N: By your command, Admiral.

The droid turns and points at one of the officers. The officer nods and pushes a few buttons. A screen lowers and shows a scared Koru.

Admiral Obsidian: This is Admiral Alexander Obsidian of the ISD Gridlock, flagship of the Emperor's prized Igneous Fleet. Your ship is in critical condition and my ships await the order to destroy you, but there is a way for you to spare the lives of both yourself and your crew.

Koru: What do you want?

Admiral Obsidian: Jedi. If you can give me information regarding the Jedi interceptor that attacked you, we will ensure the survival of you and your crew.

Meanwhile, on Taanab

The black shuttle lands and the ramp drops, revealing three Inquisitors.

The Inquisitor with red skin looks out at the Jedi and the smuggler with a smile.

Red-Skinned Inquisitor: Look brother, look sister. Three Jedi, a Wookiee, and a pet all for the price of one.