Open Space and Hyperspace

For a soldier, training was up there with the favourite activities. So much of the military life amounted to sitting around and waiting for the machinery of logistics and bureaucracy to turn over. Training was fun, you got to do all the soldier's activities, running, shooting, blowing things up, and for the most part, no one was trying to kill you. Clan Australis had training camps on dozens of worlds, none of them particularly hospitable. On Dxun and Myrkr, soldiers fought in the jungles. In the sands of desert worlds, and the snow and ice of frozen worlds, the warriors learned each environment, and its myriad ways to kill an unwary soldier.

Sadly, not all military forces had the professionalism and excellence of the Clan's military. So it was with the Royal Guards of Commenor. Kaine had been asked by his daughter Marit, as a favour, to look over her army. He'd soon identified areas of concern, and with the help of some of his own chosen soldiers, decided upon a course of action to remedy the army's shortcomings. Kaine would be accompanied by one of his trusted sergeants, CSM Goodman, on a semi covert inspection.

His lofty rank made it very difficult for the Field Marshal to get eyes on the real soldiers of his armies without everything being stage managed by officers to show him what they wanted him to see, so he'd developed strategies to overcome such things. Today, he wore a holoshroud, dressing him as a young sergeant, and the sergeant accompaning him wore the uniform of a private soldier. Transfer orders had brought the two, to the unit's official eyes, as two regulars from another company. So, both men came to stand at parade attention while a Captain inspected the unit. A Major stood nearby, watching the Captain, while a sergeant followed the Captain, taking notes as ordered.

As the Captain passed, the sergeant kept his eyes low. Kaine's eyes were a second too slow, and the officer bristled. Then he reached out, plucked a button from Kaine's uniform, and dropped it to the floor.

Uniform violation, one week punishment duty.

Swine, thought Kaine. This explained why this unit had four times as many transfer requests out as any other in the entire army. He had done his best to recruit the best, but sometimes, even the officer corps attracted fools and scum. He kept his mouth shut until the inspection was complere and the company was dismissed from parade. As he returned to his tent, Kaine's sergeant approached.

You really going to do the punishment duty, sir? The sergeant asked.

Someone is. Growled Kaine. I think i've seen enough of the covert. Let's get on with the fun part, shall we?

Indeed we shall, sir. The sergeant removed his own true badges of rank from pockets, and affixed them to his uniform. Kaine kept the holoshroud active for dramatic purposes, and followed the now properly dressed command sergeant major across the parade ground in the direction of the Major and the Captain who had command of this unit. The CSM's voice could have cracked stones several miles away.

FIELD MARSHAL ON DECK. ATTENSHAAAAAN!

The major started at the noise, but only narrowed his eyes in suspicion. The Captain bristled and whirled on the two men. Most of the soldiers around the parade ground came ramrod straight at the unmistakeable tone of command.

What are you playing at here, soldier? The Captain demanded of the CSM. Name and rank, at once.

The CSM came to perfect parade ground attention and saluted.

Sergeant Major Goodman, adjutant to Field Marshal Australis, on her Royal Commenori Majesty's service, SAHR.

The Captain looked around, then smiled down at the CSM, rather unkindly.

Your field marshal doesn't seem to be here, Sergeant. He said, disrespectfully and deliberately emphasizing Goodman's enlisted rank. That was about all Kaine could take, and he deactivated the holoshroud. The Captain, intent on the Sergeant Major, failed to notice. The Major cleared his throat, and Kaine tapped his baton against his belt buckle. His marshal's baton gleamed, which Kaine childishly angled to shine the sunlight reflection directly into the Captain's eyes.

Stand at attention, Captain. Field Marshal Australis said, now standing in full dress uniform. The Captain managed a fairly shoddy attempt at standing to attention, while Kaine let a long silence stretch out, a look of derision on his face as he looked over both officers. The Major had the good grace to look ashamed. Kaine decided that one might be salvaged, though they would both need work. He shared a look with the CSM, who shook his head. Kaine knew the CSM was twice the man of either of these, but he couldn't expect everyone to be of the same calibre.

Your unit has been, up to now, a disgrace. Your soldiers seem well equipped and well trained, so I can only conclude they are commanded poorly. From today, gentlemen, that will improve. Captain?

The Captain looked Kaine in the eye. Kaine snorted. Not you. You shut up and give him your rank badges. He looked pointedly at the former Major.

Captain. You will ensure your unit's performance improves and your unit morale is raised to some point beyond its current sorry state. The demoted man saluted.

Kaine turned back to the first officer. One week's punishment duty, was it?

The CSM intervened. Begging your pardon sir, but officers can't be made to do punishment duty. Regulations, sir.

Kaine pretended to consider it. You're quite right. He let the Captain's smirk last for all of three seconds before he spoke further.

Your commission is hereby suspended, sir. Sergeant Major, take the Private away to begin one week's punishment duty. When that is complete, he will retain a commission as a second lieutenant, and he will appreciate the duty and responsibility of leading men.

SIR! Come on you. The CSM roughly hauled the private-for-a-week away. Kaine took in the parade ground, the newly demoted Captain, and the rest of the base.

You might earn back your rank, Captain. I expect you will take a far more active role in command here in the future. Dismissed.

It was only one company, but Kaine felt that Commenor's army was going to at least have one unit that was properly motivated to behave as proper professional soldiers. There was more work to do before he could leave satisfied the job was done, but soon he'd be back to the Mandalore Sector, and his own warriors.

Alsakan Orbit - Aboard the Wild Boar

It wasn't easy to disappear when you're the Alor of a Mandalorian Clan and a soldier with the rank of Field Marshal, but Kaine had his ways, usually through blatantly ignoring protocols and overriding security algorithms. He couldn't hide forever, especially not from his own intelligence service, but he could buy himself a day or so before his bogus entries in the logs were discovered. Though he could have gone nearly anywhere in the galaxy, Cerani, head of Clan Intelligence, knew exactly where she would find the old boar, and so she went herself to the Wild Boar, docked at the Rock, and found Kaine alone, in his armoury, surrounded by wargear.

Kaine looked up as the doors opened and Cerani entered. He was seated at a work table, clad in a black bodysuit, working on a large melee weapon. The little twi'lek came across and saw the weapon was a massive sword, almost a glaive, with an oversized grip and a rotating chain assembly, fitted out with razor pointed teeth for an edge. Kaine smiled at Cerani and lifted the blade for her to admire, revving it once to spin the chain and teeth.

Jaro'ciryc. If the vongese are coming, then I mean to greet them with more than a frown and some nasty words. Cerani nodded, knowing that even if she did disagree with him, it was pointless to argue. He'd fought the Yuuzhan Vong with the rest of the galaxy once before, and Kaine Australis was not a being to go into a battle underarmed if he could help it. He stood up and showed Cerani some of the other relic weapons in the armoury, most of which hadn't seen the light of day for years. Jaro'ciryc was a weapon Kaine had hand built to defeat the Yuuzhan Vong amphistaff, combining Cryo-ban tech with grinding sharp teeth to freeze and cut anything it struck. He ran a finger over the newest item in the room, his MandalArms built rifle; Erymanthian.

Erymanthian, dual magazine, massive stopping power. It'll put holes through Vonduun Crab armour and anyone standing behind the Vong wearing it.

The rifle fired shavings off an internal block of Neuranium, making its projectiles some of the densest in the galaxy. A secondary magazine allowed the rifle to also fire a selection of ammunition, including mass reactive explosive rounds, which didn't penetrate as well as the primaries, but blew big once they were inside a target, dealing horrific damage. Cerani met Kaine's eyes.

You really think all this will be necessary?

Kaine shrugged. If i'm wasting my time, so be it. If i'm not, then we'll need everything in this room, and then some. Cerani frowned. She hadn't yet been able to pin down any exact information following up the rumours of Yuuzhan Vong activity. She saw Kaine preparing for another Yuuzhan Vong War, and fully intending to fight it himself. She had to try and talk some sense into him.

If we do need all this, we need you alive. Can you justify fighting in the front lines?

Kaine's smile faded. If I had thought rank would preclude me from fighting alongside those I send into battle, then I never would have accepted. And i'll be damned if i'm going to miss out on the glory of fighthing the enemies of Mandalore just because i'm getting a bit old or a bit too high ranking.

Cerani's facade broke and she smiled, knowing Kaine was only half joking, but also that he was not going to be talked out of it. He smiled too, Cerani's smile was infectious.

Then, let's prepare for war, and dare Kad to disappoint us, eh? Kaine nodded, and Cerani moved towards the door. Do you plan to spend all your time in here? The children miss you when you're not around. Kaine laughed, taking the rebuke in stride.

I'll see you in the morning.

Mavera comes to her senses yet again and smiles at the boy. Thank you for this opportunity, it is truly one I will not forget. She follows his lead and unfastens her harness and moves back to the cockpits entrance. I should check on my companion, see how Dawntree has managed. The woman nods in understanding as the time of the next meal was relaied to her. I will be sure to at least pop in to say 'hello.' A slight bow is given before she makes her return to the makeshift pen for her Rancor friend. Dawntree had clearly been pacing back and forth, her activity given away by the pattern in the straw. Mavera moved over to her and placed a hand on one of Dawntree's massive arms. The witch began to call upon her powers to calm her friend and give a sense of ease to the mighty beast. It worked and Dawntree stopped her back and fourth march, settling down into a larger clumping of straw. There, there, my friend. Rest. We will need your strength for the hunt to come! Mavera stroked the scaly skin as she too sat upon the pile of straw and continued to wait.

Belgaroth.

A Matalok dropped out of hyperspace and moved towards the planet. The planet of course didn’t like the thought of a Vong cruiser, but the war was over and there wasnt a lot they could do about it. The matalok stuck to a non threatening insertion and aimed for an area that was outside of the cities. It didn’t take long after talking with a few merchants, albeit it took some convincing, that the Vong were there for a short time, and the more help they received the less time they would be there. All they wanted to do was pick up some of the local pests. It didn’t take long and the planetary authorities, the locals, were all too happy to get the warriors away from the planet in record time. Droidbreakers were quickly located, a small herd having been a constant nuisance to a couple small manufacturing facilities and recycling facilities on the edge of the city. It didn’t take long to have a dozen of the beasts rounded up...with some convincing and restraints, and a fair number of bruises, before the beasts were loaded onto the Matalok. In no time the warriors were loading back onto the Matalok and the ship was heading back off the planet, much to the relief of the locals, local and planetary authorities, and a wary thanks from the local businesses.
The matalok encountered no issues with reaching a distance outside the gravity shadow of the planet before jumping into hyperspace.

….

Caamas.

A matalok dropped out of hyperspace near the planet. The captain stared down at the world, once apparently noted for its natural beauty, was in its current state, scarred with toxic and radioactive areas from a battle...or rather destruction by the Galactic Empire. Most species had changed but there were areas that nature seemed to be fighting through. It was a shame that the governing body had chosen to leave the planet a mess rather than clean it up. With their biots it was possible that the...Vong could help save the planet from the horrors of its destruction, even if they likely couldn’t reseed it with the native life that had been overcome.

The ship moved into a stationary orbit and a number of blastboulders slipped out and headed for the surface in an area that seemed to be less effected by the toxins than other areas. The small craft fanned out, looking in areas where the information had said the plants might be, at least originally. It didn’t take long to locate them. The plants were not large, but the circles that they created around them made them stand out from the other plant life. Dead, rotting animals, those that had survived or mutated, were strewn about these circles, many of the animals being scavengers. The warriors studied the problem of retrieving the plants. Many of the animals seemed to have died from thorns shot into them...or through them and plants and stones further out of the circle verified this. If plants had had a war...it looked as if this might be how it happened.

The warriors though, having been survivors of many battles went about collecting the evidence and coming up with a plan. The penetrative power of the hundreds and thousands of thorns were measured where they were embedded where they had missed their target and continued on. Warriors observed the plants from a distance and analyzed what they might be facing. Finally a plan of action was put into motion, and it was as simple as things could get. They decided to throw rocks at the plant. The blast boulders loaded large stones into the cargo area and hovered over the plants, and warriors began shoving the stones out, allowing them to drop for some distance to land in the circle around the plants. The plants responded impressivly, with thousands of thorns firing off with incredible speed and the sound of staccato gunfire mixed with the complaints of wood and vines twisting and shearing from the force of the impacts wined and dust flew from the stone in sprays of impacts. It had the desired effect however. The Thornsniper plant had considerably fewer thorns on that side of the plant. The warriors and blast boat analogs continued to repeat this performance over and over until the plant no longer had any thorns left. The plants and dirt and stones around...looked like they had been placed before an overzealous firing squad with unlimited amounts of ammunition….and lots and lots of time and boredom. Quickly the digging commenced and shapers began taking samples even as several dozen of the plants were literally uprooted, soil and all, and carried back up into space to the waiting matalok.

In short order the matalok moved back in to hyperspace and to its next destination.