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Author	Topic: When Few Stood Against Many [NJO action/thriller; OCs, Mandos, Vong] --- Chapter VI --- 4/6
VIII Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 1/12/07 1:20pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 11/16 \| Chapter I
	Corran_Fett posted: And thanks for posting, VII. Good to see you back, and glad you like it! Do you wanna be on the PM list? (not that there's much to PM, ahem...^^) Yeah that would be great.. -----signature----- Lord of Numbers. Follower of Waru -----signature----- High Inquisitor of the Disciples of Lumiya I see that your Schwartz is as big as mine.
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Corran_Fett Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 1/13/07 9:29am Subject: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1 - Date Edited: 8/7/07 2:42am (7 edits total) Edited By: Corran_Fett
	Chapter II: Pack of Lies, Part I of II Zo'Kalo Plaza, Contruum City, Contruum - about two hours after the meeting Ronan Barec was surprised to see so much activity on the plaza. The place really sprawled with life, and hundreds of species of all kinds were busy doing all sorts of things. It was more than unusual to see such an untouched everyday life going on in these desperate times of war—even on a planet like Contruum that had remained unnoticed and unaccounted for by the Yuuzhan Vong until late into the invasion. Until now, Ronan thought. He and a small group of other Mandalorians—Zerimar, Jiriad, Jiriad's son, Tristan and Gladus—were taking a last walk through the city before splitting up for each their destinations. Most citizens made way for them as they noticed the weapon-laden, armored Mandalorians and parted in awe—some even took to their heels, especially when they saw Jiriad in his Vong-like armor. Ronan wondered how the people would behave if he and the others were walking around without their armor, in plain clothes—he figured that only Gladus with his massive size and grim, scarred face might catch some attention. Or, maybe he and Tristan, Ronan thought sarcastically. Norac Tristan, the sixth Mandalorian in the lot with dark orange-clad armor, was barely more than five and a half feet tall. While Gladus resembled more the Togorian Atross in his size —who was very small for his species, with not even eight feet height—, Tristan was better to be compared to the Noghri Kharritokh in size. Ironically, though, the Togorian and the Noghri worked as perfect partners. "So you still haven't switched to a Verp, eh?" asked Ram Zerimar, who was walking next to Ronan. Behind them, Tristan was chatting with Skira, while Gladus and Jiriad were silently forming the rear guard. "A Verp... yes, a weapon so accurately and magnificently crafted that it can only be made by a Verpine craftsman," Ronan answered. "But with that comes also one of the weaknesses that the rifle shares with its makers: it's way too fragile to be of use when a scarbutt comes up close and personal. It ain't worth its heavy price when it's prone to break apart any second." "Pare sol! I thought your job was to prevent any scarbutt from coming up that close." Ronan couldn't miss Zerimar's mocking undertone. "That's why you're the star sniper, Ram." Ronan chuckled. "I'm just an average marksman." "A marksman with a bias to bayonets." Zerimar pointed at the heavily customized EE-23 sniper carbine Ronan carried over his back. "And you do a blasted lot of good with that, especially with the bayonet." "It gets the job done, and doesn't break to pieces when used as a club," came Ronan's brief reply. In former times, he would have argued for hours and hours with Zerimar about the advantages of their weapons, but right now, he wasn't in the mood. He wondered what was the last time when he had been in the right mood. Probably any time before Dubrillion... he shuddered to think. The events of Dubrillion, especially the high bodycount on their side, had somehow changed him—and not in an especially positive way. "It'd be interesting to see how a brute force marksman like Ronan," Tristan, who had caught up with them, piped up, "and a more... delicate sniper like Ram would team up." "Well, I'm sure Ron'ika and I would work together nicely, but I'm afraid, not this time. My call's to Gyndine." "One question, Ram," young Skira asked, relieving Ronan of the need for a reply. Although already fifteen years old and considered a grown man by Mando reckoning, his father Jiriad said he still had one final trial to pass before celebrating verd'goten—his coming of age, the completion of his training as warrior. "Why is your sidearm double-barreled?" The kid—no, the young man, Ronan told himself—truly showed that he was different than "normal" boys of his age. He seemed to be very mature, although one could argue if being able to fight and being interested and skilled in deadly weapons was an element that made you adult. Yet, his curiosity showed that he wasn't completely through his youth, and apparently, Ronan wasn't the only one thinking so. "You know, ad'ika," Zerimar turned to Skira and replied with a warm voice, "sometimes I think you should be out there looking for a girl and enjoying life rather than joining us in this brutal war, risking your own life. Don't take it as an insult, lad, I know you're quite your father's son; I got a son myself, after all—" He pointed to the small handprint on his helmet. "—but shab, there are better times for a child to grow up." He hesitated for a moment. "Now, to answer your question: before the war began, I had sported a standard-issue blaster pistol. But blasters turned out to be not of much use against the Vongese and their crab-armors, so I went to a weaponsmith with the request of a blaster/slugthrower-hybrid, and here we are." Ronan couldn't conceal a grin. Like Zerimar, he had customized his own sidearm, a powerful and accurate Merr-Sonn P-7 hand blaster, to support slug rounds, in addition to the usual power cells that fed the blaster. Who stole the idea from whom was questionable, because both Ram and Ronan had sniper rifles that already were such hybrids like their sidearms. Concededly, however, the ability to fire both rounds simultaneously, like with Zerimar's double-barreled pistol, was indeed original. "Kandosii," Skira said. "So the upper barrel fires projectiles, and the lower one blaster bolts? I really need to get one of those." "Or a whole shipment, for that matter," Jiriad commented from behind. They were still walking through the plaza, but now heading back to the hotel. "Why is it we can't talk about anything that's not about the war, for once, anyway?" Good point, vod, good point, Ronan thought. Jiriad, although a formidable warrior, was not at all too fond of all the fighting and bloodshed, but he, like pretty much everyone else, didn't have much of a choice. "Then make a call," Gladus Tite's deep, harsh voice broke the silence. "What top—" Ronan swiftly turned around to confront the tall man with his rudeness, but all he faced was Gladus's back. Having drawn his sidearm and his attention focused on something or someone in the distance, the tall man left the conversation as soon as he entered it. In a brisk movement, Gladus suddenly drew one of his knives and threw it at a Wookiee about four dozen meters ahead of them. The tall, hairy alien had already turned around and was just about to make a run, but he was too slow—the blade cut deep into his throat. "Wayii!" Jiriad exclaimed as the body dropped to the ground and pedestrians began to scream out loud in surprise. "What the shab was that all about?!" But Gladus didn't bother and hurried to the fallen Wookiee. All the attention was now on the Mandalorians, and the pedestrians had formed a circle around them with more and more curious onlookers rallying to the scene. Some were gazing in shock, others seemed to be amused and happy about some action in their everyday life. Meanwhile, Ronan and the others had also reached their comrade, who was crouching near the body, apparently taking the Wookiee's pulse. "Di'kut!" It was Jiriad talking, again, and from the sharp tone in his voice Ronan could clearly tell that he wasn't in the best mood. "You can't just walk around and slice up people at your whim. Ronan should've le—" "K'uur, Al'buir!" Skira hushed his father and pointed at Gladus. "Look!" After a sardonic glance at his son, Jiriad reluctantly lowered his head to see what the other was doing. Ronan and the others had already noticed: Gladus wasn't checking for the alien's pulse, he was fumbling around on the Wookiee's face, waiting for something to happen. And then, suddenly, as he touched the creature's nose, skin and pelt started to peel off in a weird fashion. Osik! Bit by bit, it revealed sallow, tattooed and scarred skin on a bony skull—the head of an apparently high-ranked Yuuzhan Vong warrior, counting by his scars and deformations. "Osi'kyr! That's a shabla scarbutt!" came Tristan's exclamation, expressing what everybody was thinking. "It was a shabla scarbutt," said Zerimar, not much less surprised. "And a sly one, too. Cloaking as a Wookiee is new. Mind telling us how you descried that one, Tite?" "Ever heard of the Yuuzhan Vong Hunter Droids?" Gladus posed a counter question. "Those walking skeletons driving any crab-boy mad? I did." Gladus stood up and tapped on his helmet visor. The furry gablith masquer was now lying around the fully uncovered Yuuzhan Vong corpse, the knife still stuck in the throat. "I got my hands on their photo-filters, figuring it'd be useful to have a visor-mode that detects cloaked Vong. Looks like it is." "Then why—" started Tristan before he was interrupted. "This ain't the right place to talk," Ronan said over their shared helmet comlink channel and nodded towards the growing crowd. The figure of people who had been amused about the fight had highly decreased by now. "Let's get rolling back to the hotel." "What about the scarhead?" asked Skira. "It's just a matter of time before the police show up, and if there are any other Vong spies here, we'd rather not be around." Everyone apart from Gladus acknowledged and retreated from the scene, but the relentless former assassin went back to the body, retrieved this knife and pulled the Yuuzhan Vong up by his hair. With a swift stroke, a bundle of hair and skin was sliced off. The body dropped back on the ground and Gladus caught up with the others. Everyone looked at Gladus, but said nothing—unlike the spectators who sent rude shouts after them as they headed back to Hotel Garridan. Ronan grimaced under his helmet. Taking scalps had become an all-too-common hobby for many a Mando'ad. Showing off scalps on one's armor had a trigger effect on Vong eyes, much like Jiriad's armor, that had literally to scream "blasphemy!" to any Yuuzhan Vong. This is only the first part, I hope I can post the rest (which will be longer) within the next week. Gotta learn for a maths test and after that I should've enough free time. Sorry again for the delay. -----signature----- The other side of the NJO, featuring Mandalorians, Vong, and Peace Brigaders in a thrillride full of betrayal and intrigue... When Few Stood Against Many \| http://boards.theforce.net/b/b10477/25253415/ - http://corranfett.deviantart.com -
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sdhfs Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 1/13/07 10:06am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	nice post. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16229314/?30 Up is obidala at it's best love chooses you you don 't choose it. Death is but death why are you afraid of it ?
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VIII Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 1/13/07 10:43am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Good update, even though not much happened, and I got some trouble to remember exactly who everybody is. And by the way, aint it called Oglith masquer or is it just along time since I´ve read any NJO? -----signature----- Lord of Numbers. Follower of Waru -----signature----- High Inquisitor of the Disciples of Lumiya I see that your Schwartz is as big as mine.
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Kudzu Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 1/13/07 1:14pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Pretty sweet. So they can disguise themselves as Wookiees now? Yikes. Nice post! Looking forward to more. -----signature----- Super Golden Ewok™ Recipient It should be the right of every American to go out and get wasted the day they're told that they're being sent to war. Ron Paul for U.S. President 2008
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 1/13/07 1:53pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Nice to see this back... And no, I didn't forget you. I've got this one bookmarked in my favorites! Like Gladus being small at less than 8 feet. Nice banter, there. Like the verp strengths and weaknesses there. And whoa, nice move there! A Vong posing as a Wookiee. I'm legit surprised any of them are tall enough to pull it off! -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Corran_Fett Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 1/14/07 3:43am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	sdhfs posted: nice post. Yeah, nice thanks. VIII posted: Good update, even though not much happened, Thanks, I'm trying...^^ VIII posted: and I got some trouble to remember exactly who everybody is. Yeah, that's one of the reasons long delays suck... and not only for you readers, believe me, I got some troubles myself having forgotten a few little ideas I had in mind for the story a few months ago... VIII posted: And by the way, aint it called Oglith masquer or is it just along time since IÂ´ve read any NJO? I believe Oglith masquers were only the masquers what disguised a Vong as a human, and gablith masquers were all non-human disguises called, IIRC. Kudzu posted: Pretty sweet. Vor'e! Kudzu posted: So they can disguise themselves as Wookiees now? Yikes. Well, I figured, "why not?" Vong are pretty tall, so disguising as a tall alien appears rather natural... :P Kudzu posted: Nice post! Looking forward to more. Thanks again. Hopefully, that won't be too long.... RK_Striker_JK_5 posted: Nice to see this back... And no, I didn't forget you. I've got this one bookmarked in my favorites! Thank you! I'm flattered. RK_Striker_JK_5 posted: Like Gladus being small at less than 8 feet. Gladus is human, so he's tall, I was trying to say that Atross, the Togorian, was small for his species... ^^ RK_Striker_JK_5 posted: Nice banter, there. Like the verp strengths and weaknesses there. And whoa, nice move there! A Vong posing as a Wookiee. I'm legit surprised any of them are tall enough to pull it off! Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. -----signature----- The other side of the NJO, featuring Mandalorians, Vong, and Peace Brigaders in a thrillride full of betrayal and intrigue... When Few Stood Against Many \| http://boards.theforce.net/b/b10477/25253415/ - http://corranfett.deviantart.com -
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Darth_Garak Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 1/15/07 11:01am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Forgotten you???? Are you joking??? I've been cheking this thread like mad. It's just that I got exams now and haven't have time to look if you updated. Great chapter. I like the banter and I can't wait for more. -----signature----- Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur. Holding the Line http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25728489&brd=10475&start=27377934 Breakthrough http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=27044667&brd=10475&start=27377928
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager Digging out from Fay Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 1/17/07 6:15am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	So glad to see this one updated. Please keep me on the PM list! -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. They call me NANA Vader. At least she doesn't lack confidence...
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-DarkScorpion- Registered: Jun '06	Date Posted: 1/17/07 10:34pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Sweet Vod This is cool, i never thought about having a Vong Cloak as a Wook Before, nice thinking. Keep up the Good Work -DhaScorpion- -----signature----- I Proudly Ship Jacen/Jysella J/K L/M H/L and others i cant think of right now IRL Brother to TnTornado,Spyman290 and...... .... do you really wanna know???
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Corran_Fett Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 1/19/07 3:10am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	Thanks Garak, VaderLVR64 and Scorpion! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's interesting that nobody really caught Gladus's Vong-detecting visor mode... As for the next update, I'm aiming at this weekend... -----signature----- The other side of the NJO, featuring Mandalorians, Vong, and Peace Brigaders in a thrillride full of betrayal and intrigue... When Few Stood Against Many \| http://boards.theforce.net/b/b10477/25253415/ - http://corranfett.deviantart.com -
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Antilles2001 Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 1/23/07 12:32pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 01/13\| Chapter II, Pt.1
	What did I say about posting chapters in pieces, Dave? Ronan wondered how the people would behave if he and the others were walking around without their armor, in plain clothes—he figured that only Gladus with his massive size and scarred face might catch some attention. Ah, reminds me of an old Batman Beyond episode where Terry ponders as to whether "Batman" is the man inside the suit, or the suit itself. Oh, and banter about sniping. Foreshadowing. "You know, ad'ika," Zerimar turned to Skira and replied with a warm voice, "sometimes I think you should be out there looking for a girl and enjoying life rather than joining us in this brutal war and risking your own life. Don't take it as an insult, lad, I know you're quite your father's son; I got a son myself, after all—" He pointed to the small handprint on his helmet. By far my favorite customized detail: a tiny mark of a son. That would have spoken volumes about Jango's and Boba's relationship of Jango had a similar mark on his. Boba's braids >>> Vong scalps. -----signature----- I have defied gods and demons. I am your shield. I am your sword. I know you. Your past; your future. This is the way the world ends. Oly Oly Oxen Free - 2007
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Corran_Fett Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 2/3/07 9:01am Subject: When Few Stood Against Many - CHAPTER 2, Part 2 is here!!!! - Date Edited: 8/7/07 2:43am (4 edits total) Edited By: Corran_Fett
	I wonder why nobody has sued me of my procastrination, yet... So, without further ado, the update: Chapter II: Pack of Lies, Part II of II Hotel Garridan, Contruum City, Contruum - 15 minutes later "This womp rat wouldn't have talked, anyway," Gladus rabidly responded to Beviin's confrontation. "There are... ways," Beviin replied as calmly as possible. It was obvious to Ronan that Beviin was utmost irritated about their report. But the older Mandalorian did a great job at staying focused—he wasn't one of Fett's most trusted lieutenants without reason, after all. Some of the younger soldiers even jokingly called Beviin 'al'gaan'—from Mand'alor and gaan for "hand". "The crab boys are pretty much immune to pain," Gladus sighed with a scornful tone in his deep voice. "What about drugs?" Jiriad objected. "Nerve killers worked more or less great against them... well, at least against some Vongese." Only for some, indeed, Ronan thought. The malfunctioning toxic gas had proven to be full of mostly not-so-convenient surprises on Dubrillion. "Fine. Let's start developing drugs that actually work against Yuuzhan Vong, then." Gladus snorted. "It's not like we're short of time, not at all..." For once, Ronan agreed with Gladus. While killing the Vong right away might have been a bit of a precipitous action, there wasn't much else that could've been done. Tracking the disguised alien's movement and eventually razing a whole Yuuzhan Vong underground network had no longer been an option—undoubtedly, the spy had already spotted them; not that wearing full Mandalorian armor suits was the best means of staying undetected in the first place. The other option, rendering the Vong unconscious and later interrogating him, had indeed been available, but it would've been nothing than a waste of time. Time that was better spent on undercover missions to track down other Yuuzhan Vong spies. "I think it's up to us, anyway, what we do with this new gained information," Ronan finally interposed. "And all of you should stop dwelling on things that can't be undone—you should hear yourselves." He looked in the round with a reprehensive look, eyeing the three of them closely. The four Mandalorians weren't the only ones at the table, there was still a part of the group staying on Contruum present, except Ara, her husband Sareth and the dark-complected aruetii Macos, who were elsewhere in the room. The others, like Zerimar, Tristan and Ayden Stone, had already taken their leave, only waiting for Beviin to join them for the departure to Gyndine. "Ronan is right." Beviin finally broke the silence. "It's up to you lot—I shouldn't even be here anymore. Pirunir sur'haaise! Oya!" Everyone raised his fists or mugs in the air and repeated Beviin's exclamation as he parted. "Oya! Oya manda!" Ronan, too, stood up and met with Beviin outside. "Do me a favor and keep an eye or two on Tite," said Beviin, frowning. "I'm not alone saying that I have done lots of things I regretted later. Bad things. But that's nothing compared to what that... man... has done. Nobody should be in company with him." "What is it with you and Gladus?!" Ronan retorted huffishly. "I know you don't endorse my decision bringing him aboard, but there's no need to remind me every di'kutla time! I've had it up to there." He gestured with his flat hand over his throat. "Tite is the one and only instability factor in this group," Beviin growled just as harshly. "If you still live to listen to me when Tite has turned against us, I'll remind you of my words." "You say that every time. Gladus will be as calm as a nerf with me around, that much I can assure you," Ronan added with a little less tension. "I'll take your word on that, burc'ya." Beviin paused, his mind apparently elsewhere. "Watch your back, ner vod, things could get ugly if that Vong armada really shows up." And with a pat on Ronan's back and the farewell "Re'turcye mhi!" he parted. ****** Macos Fenix turned away from the table to the large window, enjoying the view on the green spots and the shiny blue lake in a park just across the street. With interest, he was watching an unfamiliar ball game a group of youngsters were playing on the green. He had been listening to the report of the group of Mandalorians which just had encountered a Yuuzhan Vong, before he left the round as they started discussing about things that didn't really appeal his interest. In the last few hours after the actual meeting, he had been talking to various Mandalorians about all kinds of things that had given him a slight bit of insight into the Mandalorian spirit and their habits. Eventually, however, he felt he needed a timeout—after all, he was the only non-Mandalorian present, and this fact made him feel a little uncomfortable, although none of them seemed to have a problem with an outsider among them. With emphasis on seem, he reminded himself. Those Mandalorians are skilled in pretty much everything, so why not at the concealment of their true feelings, either? A few steps away from him, Ara and Sareth were sitting on a comfortable couch, doing what they had been doing for the last few hours: talking and arguing about all kinds of things. They arguably haven't seen each other for one long time, to have such a long chat, Macos thought. While knowing that this shouldn't concern him, he somehow felt responsible for the tough Mandalorian woman—he couldn't but to think that she was a woman, after all, and he found it somehow ironic that she was risking her life each day in this cruel war, while her husband was doing the job you'd normally expect a woman to do. But what does normal mean in those times, anyway? Behind him he heard a now familiar bellowing—"Oya manda", a Mandalorian expression of solidarity and perpetuity as he had learned from Ara—and as he turned around, he saw the blue-armored Mandalorian, Beviin, rising and pacing out of the room, a moment later to be followed by Ronan Barec, the tall Mandalorian in dark bronze, beige-clad armor. He was just about to turn back to the window as he noticed the gaze Gladus was shooting at Barec. It was the same gaze Macos had seen before when Barec had rebuked the grim swordsman in the meeting. Macos didn't need to be a genius to tell that this was prone to cause trouble in the future—and surely not in the too late future. "It must be quite a bit of a yawn for you here, eh?" Ara's voice surprised him from behind. He turned his head to look at her as she stepped next to him and noticed that her husband Sareth was walking to the table in the background. "Err... quite the contrary, actually," Macos responded, confused. "Things like that don't tend to happen to me every day, you know. Things like being welcomed with open arms by Mandalorians." He pronounced the last word like it was something cabalistic, something awe-inspiring. Ara laughed. "Oh, come on! We're not that... special." Macos already wanted to say something silly to that, but just at that moment, Barec reentered the room, what brought him on another topic. "What's with this guy... Barec?" "Ronan? He used to be quite a talkative and nice guy, but ever since the Battle of Dubrillion he's gotten a bit moody and talks only when he deems it necessary." Barec had now returned to the table, talking with Sareth, and every now and then, they glanced over at him and Ara. "It probably doesn't concern me, but is it because of Gladus?" "Tite? No, he has nothing to do with it—although there is another feud between the two, one that indeed doesn't concern you." Her tone made clear that no further questions be asked about that. "Why do you call him Tite?" "'Cause he's called Tite. Gladus Tite." "My bad. Everybody says just 'Gladus', so you had me there for a moment. Anyhow, you're right, I shouldn't ask so many questions about stuff that doesn't concern me. My big mouth will sooner or later get me killed." This released a bit of Ara's tension as she laughed again. "You bet. The voice is man's most powerful weapon, after all, but many are so unwise to forget the recoil that any weapon causes." At least I'm still good enough at easing the mood, Macos thought, relieved. Arguing with a capricious Mandalorian woman wasn't something he'd like to do excessively long. "What a wise speech." He winked. "Especially for—" He was cut off by a knock at the door. Instinctively, he drew his blaster, only to dazzlingly notice that he was the only one reacting in that manner. Oh come on, ye lazy folk! In the meantime, he had sought cover behind a wall, where he leaned against with his back, and crouched down, carefully risking a few glances around the corner. The Mandalorians still hadn't lifted a finger, but everyone of them was eyeing him with surprise, and even amusement. Fierfek! You can't be serious—you are the ones that should be laughed at! he thought, utterly confused and irritated by the lack of action among galaxy's greatest warrior culture. There was another knock, more forceful and louder this time, before finally somebody else reacted—not in the way Macos had expected or hoped, however. "Udesii, burc'ya," Ara Norvath said in a low voice after approaching the non-Mandalorian. "Ease off, lad, or else you'll lose any chance of getting at least some respect from the others." "But..." "An enemy wouldn't knock. And even if, by now the door would have been smashed open and enemies entered all guns blazing." She was talking slowly, as if he was a small child that still had to learn a lot of things. "No, the only threat is some jumpy ex-bounty hunter with his weapons drawn and about to do something very stupid very soon." Macos opened his mouth to respond to her confrontation, but then decided it was better to keep it shut. He mumbled something through his clenched teeth, silently cursed his stupidity and lowered the gun. Grouchily, he cursed again, this time aloud, as it knocked for the third time. Right now, everybody and everything seemed to have turned against him. "Who is it?" Barec demanded over the comlink on the table. Still nobody made an effort standing up and opening the door. So they are cautious, after all, Macos thought dryly. "Galactic Alliance Intelligence," a male voice responded, a voice that had an unfamiliar guttural sound to it. "We want to talk to you about..." "Enter," Ronan just said and cut him off. He pressed a button on the table and the doors opened, revealing a single casually dressed jet-black Nautolan officer—or was it a Feeorin? Macos had never been able to tell those two species apart. After hesitating for a moment at the sight of half a dozen Mandalorian soldiers, he eventually stepped in and approached the group around the table at slow pace. Macos stepped away from the wall, eyeing the alien officer cautiously as the doors shut behind him. He was holding his blaster easefully, lowered but ready to strike at any moment, his look always following the Feeorin—Macos was now rather sure he was a Feeorin, reckoning that Nautolans wouldn't have black skin. Ara glanced at him, nodding at his sidearm, and he reluctantly holstered the weapon in a loose hold. His hand was still tightly gripping the hilt, however. The man wasn't wearing a uniform or anything that could prove he was from the GAI in the first place—he could easily just be another scarhead hidden under one of their weird organic cloakers. As the Feeorin was close to the table, it wasn't Ronan Barec who stood up, strangely enough, but Altair Jiriad—the Mandalorian wearing the Yuuzhan Vong-imitated armor. Heh. That's clever. If there's a Vong beneath that black skin, then the odds are high he'll literally jump out of his skin. Macos smirked and eased the grip around his gun; a little. Bewildered, the Feeorin halted with surprise and Macos could only guess that shock was written in his face; he couldn't see the alien's face from behind. But the officer wasn't showing the reaction a Yuuzhan Vong would have shown, even if he was most trained in suppressing his hate against the 'infidels', because he recollected himself only a moment's notice later. "Lieutenant Salem Rios," the Galactic Alliance officer said, offering his hand. Jiriad, however, completely ignored the gesture, so the other took it back without complaining. Macos could—now that he had also approached the table—however see that his expression was completely unemotional, what told him that Rios was not unemotional at all. "ID," Jiriad said plainly. "It's standard procedure, don't take it personal, burc'ya," he added as Rios tarried ruminatively, but in a tone that spoke another language than his 'kind' words. Macos's grip tightened again as the Feeorin reached into his jacket and handed his ID-card over to Jiriad, who in turn gave it to his son at the table. Skira inserted the chip into a datapad and after a short time, he nodded to his father, who returned the card to its owner, with a slightly more affable look in his face. Then, Jiriad returned to the table and sat down, leaving Rios standing there alone and once more a little baffled. "You were sayin'...?" Barec took the word, now, sitting in a chair faced at Rios, arms crossed and definitely not having in mind to offer the GA lieutenant a seat. It surprised Macos to see such hostility from the Mandalorians. It was unexpected, especially coming from Barec. "Err... I'm here to talk to you about the murder one of you committed a few hours ago." "What? Don't you approve us taking out a shabla crab-boy?" "Well, to boot, a Vong has never disguised as a Wookiee, before, and then there's the question how you were able to spot that there was a scarhead under the fur in the first place." "Point being...?" "I was just about to get to that," Rios replied irritatedly. "The Galactic Alliance could use your cooperation. Where one filthy Vong spy is lurking around, there's just another whole lot in hiding." Well, we figured that much, Macos thought sarcastically. "And since you apparently have the better resources to detect cloaked Yuuzhan Vong, wiping all Vong activity off this planet shouldn't be too hard a task to accomplish with your assistance." Barec laughed. "You need us to the dirty work for you?! Can you even afford us?" This got the Feeorin hesitating for a moment. "Did I say something about payment?" He looked in the round, his look halting on Macos for an instant, before returning to Barec. "I did not. We're allies, remember?" "Of course. You didn't want to have the shab to do with us as we risked our lives trying to feed you with first-hand intel on the Vongese. Now you think it goes without saying for us to meet your demands? What kind of nonsense is this? We're fighting a common enemy, more doesn't need to be said. You want our help, so shoot a bid!" Whoa, Macos thought. This guy's got one serious problem with the GA. "I could arrest each and every one of you of blackmail and collaboration with the enemy!" Rios barked. "You will—" "Don't you shabla dare insult us, mir'sheb," Jiriad hissed back, deadpan. "There are things you can say and there are those you can't. What you just said is not a thing you can say." "Ne'johha," Barec interjected. "We don't want to make a habit of things here; somebody might end up with a hole in his head. It was a test, and you passed. We were planning to do something about the Vong network, anyway, and although we'd still like to do it our way, we wouldn't refuse a hand or two. We could also need camouflage fatigues, our armor suits don't exactly do the best job for staying undetected." The middle-aged Mandalorian didn't cease to surprise or impress Macos, today. Barec shifted so swiftly from different moods and positions that the bounty hunter shuddered to think how the man acted on the battlefield—he had not only to be a most skilled fighter, but also a brilliant tactician. Rios apparently shared his surprise as he exhaled sharply. "Fierfek! This was all just teasing to find out whether 'I am who I pretend to be'?! You guys are..." "Watch it, burc'ya," Jiriad interrupted him harshly, with nearly as much severeness in his voice as before. "My point stands. This doesn't make us best pals." "Alright, alright. You must excuse me, this is the first time I'm dealing with Mandalorians, ever. Anyhow, you'll get your demands, and I'm personally offering my services; if you share your information about how you're detecting cloaked Vong." Macos couldn't but smirk about that. You'll look surprised when you find out that we scrounged that technique from you. He should've better concealed the smile, though, as he embarrassedly noticed that his reaction was out of place. The Mandalorians were probably thinking the same thing, but nobody showed that. And unfortunately, the GA lieutenant noticed that. "What's so funny?" "Err... if I were you, I'd not be offering my services to the very group of people who's just taken me for a ride." Once more, Macos was glad to have the gift of the gab. But he'd talked himself out of more hairy situations before, anyway. "But it's up to you, anyway." Rios just shot him a fierce gaze, before Barec eventually answered. "Let's call it a deal, then?" The Feeorin nodded and shook the hand Barec had offered him. "I'll arrange everything and will be back in...," he said and looked on his chrono, "... one and a half hours, if that's okay with you." Barec acknowledged with a nod, and Rios left. At least I'm no longer the only non-Mando, here, Macos thought as the door shut behind the Feeorin. Yuuzhan Vong warship Undying Agony, darkspace "They took the bait." "Very well," Tzekon Lian replied to the report and cut off the villip connection. "Now we will crush them, both on Contruum and Gyndine." With a satisfied smile he left the villip chamber. To be continued... -----signature----- The other side of the NJO, featuring Mandalorians, Vong, and Peace Brigaders in a thrillride full of betrayal and intrigue... When Few Stood Against Many \| http://boards.theforce.net/b/b10477/25253415/ - http://corranfett.deviantart.com -
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sdhfs Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 2/3/07 11:44am Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 02/03 \| Chapter II, Pt.2
	good psot, can't wait for the next. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16229314/?30 Up is obidala at it's best love chooses you you don 't choose it. Death is but death why are you afraid of it ?
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 2/3/07 5:03pm Subject: RE: When Few Stood Against Many [sequel to Honor Guard; OCs, NJO, Mandos] 02/03 \| Chapter II, Pt.2
	All right! A new post. Cool. Like the little 'matter of fact' convo about developing workable drugs, there. I too wonder what Gladus did, there... Nice little mystery. Like Macos there, scoping out the Mandos. Smart guy, there. And ouch on them not regarding him as a threat. Although good reasons, there. And sounds like some action's coming up. Great! -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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