[b][center]In the life of two Sith & Their Minions[/center][/b]

Gra'tua was sitting in a Kalikir gunship, ready to be launched, listening to the chatter on the bridge between Kashiir, the bridge crew and Lena's ship captain. "Have you found us a suitable location yet?" He growled.

Kashiir's voice was curt as he replied. "Not yet, be ready to launch while we still search, if you Lena's vessel opening fire then we decided to make a landing zone ourselves."

Gra'tua blinked and let out a guffaw and smirked, "Very well, keep up the good work Kashiir." With that he just leaned back and heard the alarms going off as the signal was given for the ships to launch.

Lena had herself strapped in and was silently meditating, she hated dropping in with a combat force but there might not be another way, one of the CIS transports had survived so there might be quite a hostile force present still. "Verat." She suddenly said and waited for the Givin captain to acknowledge her.

"Yes my lady?" He asked, sounding a bit distracted.

"Scan the surface one more time if you cannot detect the CIS forces that survived the bombardment."

It doesn't take long to find a suitable landing site note even three kilometres from the ruins. Though it also seems to be the only suitable landing site within a thousand kilometres not occupied by wrecked CIS ships. The one potential worrying part was the large cliff surrounding the good landing site, perfect for artillery or armour though there were enough breaches in it to reach the site of the ruins, they would be exposing themselves.

When he heard that, Gra'tua went to contact the Kalikir Gunship with Bo. "Well you are up Bo."

Her voice came over, seemingly eager, perhaps Bo hoped that her somewhat abysmal performance during the battle with the former Black Sun vigo would be forgotten after today. "Acknowledged, we hunt." She grinned and slammed the bulkhead with her fist, a gesture that was followed by her commando squads as the gunship sped ahead of the others to inspect the landing site and scout the surrounding area.

As the gunship descended five walkers emerged from the trees. The pilot of the gunship was busy lighting a slightly narcotic cigarette when Bo recognized the CIS Flak Cannons for what they were, but it was too late, the shields took a massive pounding from the shots two of them being brought down entirely and the third cherry-red with the strain.

Cursing the pilot pulled up and away. "Well that landing site is definitely a hot zone." He muttered as he ignored the cursing and shouting from the back compartments and contacted the ships. "Kalikir one here, landing zone has at least five CIS flak cannons."

Kashiir heard those words and frowned, "Get out of there." He ordered and then turned to the holographic representation of Verat. "Our sensors are still fried, would you take care of this?"

Verat nodded slowly, his Givin skeletal features giving away no emotion as he looked at the data provided by the gunship belonging to Gra'tua. "Prepare to get us closer, down to the upper atmosphere of the planet and ready the ion cannons, let's not ruin the landing zone with turbolaser fire." In response the crew went to work.

Kashiir frowned as he saw what the Shadow's Regret was doing but shrugged, "What sensors we have left... tell me what the Republic is doing. Assuming they are still in the system." He asked out loud.

The sensor operators on the Naast reported that there was little solid information, most being that the other Victory was still with its destroyed cousin.

The Regret meanwhile descended into the atmosphere without difficulty firing on the Flak Cannons with their ion cannons but the shots fell short of the mark as the Flak Guns continued to try and hit the gunship, though their fire went wide as the gunship extended the gap.

"Recalibrate the weapons, we are not firing at another ship in space, we are trying to hit targets on the surface of the planet, take your time, aim and fire when ready." Verat calmly ordered.

The shots land closer but the crew, still unused to firing on vehicles with such precise weapons are still trying to get their aim in.

Finally they manage to get their aim in and the droids are struck by the ion cannon fire, three exploding violently as their shells detonate from the discharge, the other two resting disabled.

The Kalikir pilot, sulking after Bo had confiscated his smokes, was told the zone was clear and returned to make another pass and to open fire and destroy the two disabled walkers.

The Gunship sweeps the survivors up in a curtain of flames. "Can I have my smokes back now?" The pilot asked.

"No." Bo asked icily. "I will keep them and if you survive this you will report to your duty officer or Andrieke for punishment." The pilot groaned and muttered something that sounded like 'Didn't ask to suddenly become a Mandalorian.' Which made Bo give him a backhanded slap to the head. "Just land the ship and let myself and my commandos disembark. We have a scouting party to organize."

The pilot brought down the gunship before suddenly killing power for a second deliberately causing a somewhat rough landing. "Woops." He said convincingly.

Bo cursed as she stumbled, steadying herself against a seat before landing with her face on the deck and cursed incompetent pilots and then gestured to the commandos as if nothing happened to head out and head towards the structure to scout for more CIS presence, the CIS were at least 5 flak cannons less. But who knows what else they got on the surface.

The landing area was however clear, the high sandstone walls smooth and eroded by the water, the passages leading towards the ruins were capable of being traversed by a couple speeders side by side, but the high sides made a perfect ambush point.

Bo looked up at the high sides and gestured to two squads of the commandos and pointed up ahead. "Go up, stay in contact while we move on the ground." The ten Mandalorian commandos obeyed and moved up, engaging their jetpacks to get to the high point. Once they were they moved out, while behind them more gunships and other landing craft appeared to touch down on the surface and disembark their troops.

All three of the groups move up without encountering any enemy forces, meanwhile the pilot sat there getting out the toy Nerf and Rancor. "Yes. Yes, this is a fertile land,
and we will thrive." He said animating the toy Nerf, "We will rule over all this land, and
we will call it... 'This Land.'" He continued.

Well there were no further CIS currently present after the first kilometer of scouting or so. "First click is secure." She reported while motioning for her squads to continue.

Back at the landing zone Gra'tua heard this and nodded, "Good, report back as we agreed." He said and then stepped to the side as several Mando'ade warriors march past, unloading crates of grenades and other weaponry, handing them out to warriors who approached.

He walked past his warriors towards where Lena and her people were disembarking, he frowned and looked at her troopers, her so-called 'Black Sigil' Troopers. They seemed competent, nothing like his Mando'ade but they would do. He approached Lena and nodded to her. "How are your preparations?"

The Lena figured turned to regard Gra'tua and then flickered as the holographic disguise was deactivated, Gra'tua was looking at one of Lena's assassin droids who seemed to look curiously at him. "My preperations are going smoothly, my troops are trained for this and are ready when you are." The voice of the real Lena came from behind Gra'tua and she smiled. "To me." She said and the droid joined it's fellow droid who was moving behind Lena, once it was both of them resumed their holographic disguise of looking like their creator and mistress.

He silently cursed and narrowed his eyes behind Revan's mask as he glared at the droids. "Didn't knew you liked to play with droids... with how you dumped those CIS ones with me."

"They had no use to me, these ones do." She smiled again, the holographic disguises of the droids doing the same. "Now then, I suppose we have to wait for your scouts to report, I can also send my own people after them?"

Goreamas looked around. "Her tin cans aren't that impressive." He remarked. "We getting on with this?"

Gra'tua smirked at Goreamas's words. "Up to you Lena, we move out, depending on what Bo has to report next. Of course." He said as he approached Goreamas. "You be patient... and get your 'pilot'." He said with a light scowl, Goreamas needed to activate the holographic filter that made it appear as if he had a pilot, so his troops, and Lena, wouldn't think they had a rogue Basilisk on their hands.

Lena frowned and stared at the lumbering machine of death and destruction, Gra'tua had claimed that one was a experiment to give his Basilisk War droids more personality and sentience. But it seemed strange to her, even so she turned to Grom and Kwilnae. "Go after the Mandalorians, remember, use stealth." The two Noghri disciples nodded and went off in a run.

Goreamas used what force power he could manifest to begin circling small pebbles around his legs as he started preparing to move on the ruins.

The teams finally reach the ruins site, again without opposition and a new scene was revealed...

Hundreds of droids destroyed, the lower half of the CIS landing ship blasted open as a few B1 droids seemed bent of repetetive tasks, the fresh smell of ozone from a battle stinking up the air with burned plastic and metal...

And yet no sign of their attacker.

Bo blinked and looked at the scene of carnage before her, taking a moment and seeing that the CIS were not a threat anymore. "Alor Gra'tua... you can pack up the army and send them home I think... we reached the site of the ruins... whatever happened here, well it wiped out all the droids in a battle. And it seems the droids were unable to kill any of their attackers because I see nothing besides droid scrap. That or they clean up really well after themselves."

Gra'tua couldn't believe what he was hearing for a moment and turned to Lena, "I assume you heard the same. A shame, I was hoping for a grand battle against the droids, they did not even had the decency to withstand whoever assaulted them." He smirked, "Does mean who or what killed them is even more ferocious however, that I look forward to."

Frowning Lena considered the implications, speaking slowly when her thoughts were formed. "I suggest we keep the troops here, as backup. I don't know what happened the droids of the CIS but the information I have spoke of ageless terrors guarding their secrets or somesuch. Perhaps it is best if only a group of our must trusted and capable head to the ruins and investigate it."

"A challenge to be worthy of." Goreamas said as he charged his weapons.

She looked at the Basilisk again. "You have a rather... unique personality, even for a programmed one." She murmurs.

"You're not that pretty either." Goreamas replied.

He snorts but considered Lena's suggestion. "Agreed... you!" He said pointing to a pilot, who for some reason had a toy rancor which he quickly hid and turned around to face his employer. "Go prep your ship to take us to the site ruins." He then turned back to Lena, ignoring the pilot, but expecting him to do his job. "I'll leave Andrieke here with the troops, taking my command crew with me to join up with Bo and the others, can offer you a ride as well."

"I'm a leaf on the wind." The pilot replies with a rushed salute.

Lena almost didn't hear Gra'tua, she was studying the rather rude Basilisk droid but nodded slowly, she had gotten enough of his words to understand what he was asking. "I will take my command crew with me as well, along with my two droids."

"Excellent, we will leave shortly then. After I make sure that pilot was not high or something... Leaf on the wind? I really need Kashiir to check if the pilots are overusing the allowance of light narcotics..." He muttered under his breath as he strode away.

After some minutes the gunship is underway when one of the secrets of why the droids damage was revealed. Walls hinged open and turbolasers and ion cannons attempted to track the gunship but the pilot, a fellow named Wash, managed to avoid it all. "I'm a leaf on the wind. By the way, Bo stole my smokes boss." He said navigating the incoming fire.

Gra'tua let out a short bark of laughter as he heard this and was informed of the defenses. "See if you can take the defenses out and I will consider ordering Bo giving them back."

Lena looked alarmed at quietly informed her people to activate force protection bubbles or personal shields, if that would help in any way if they were about to crash.

Wash moved to engage the defenses unleashing some proton grenades, the salvo was not entirely on target, though it did destroy one of the turbolasers.

However Goreamas stole the show arriving on his limited engine and sweeping the defenses with firepower from his battery of weapons. The defensive face of the ruin was simply obliterated.

Gra'tua shook his head and grinned, he was glad Goreamas was on his side, for now at least. "You did adequately pilot, now set us down."

Setting down and dismounting near Goreamas it quickly becomes clear that Lena's orbital bombardment had been largely unecessary, though utterly ruined enough evidence remains to see that most of the other Landers had been gutted with shots similarly to the intact one. One shattered wing of a landing ship revealed how some of the Flak tanks had escaped.

Gra'tua looked around and surveyed the scene of battle, from the surrounding woods came Bo and her commandos. "I must say, if this was done by three defensive towers, colour me impressed." He said after a moment.

Lena also looked at the scene and nods. "Perhaps, but perhaps Irys can make sure if it was just those defenses." She gestured to the Bothan and then at some of the malfunctioning droids. "Perhaps you can see if their memories can be retrieved? Bodhicai you be there to protect her if the droids are still dangerous."

Irys sighs, "Why couldn't we have done this somewhere more comfortable, I am used to my creature comforts now, ah well you are the one paying my check Lena." The bothan replied with a grin and moved to some of the droids, her slicing tools in hand while Bodhicai followed her.

Going over the memories of the droid Irys watches the Turbolasers gut the Landing ships as the droids had begun unloading, before the ion cannons unhoused and swept the droids, from there the memory becomes scrambled repetitions of the droid picking up and moving the same box...

"Well..." Irys says after a moment, "Seems it was just those cannons."

Lena nodded a little bit relieved but still wary as she glanced at the ruins. "Automated or operated by someone though?" She asked out loud.

"Only one way to find out." Gra'tua said, "But first, Bo, you and the commandos, eliminate the malfunctioning droids. Don't want them to recover their senses and go after us." He turned to the ruins. "Let's find a entrance."

"Or we could just go through that." Goreamas pointed towards a large deep-set door that had been partly concealed by dust and smoke, several blaster scores across its surface...

From the gunship those nearest it would hear the strange and enigmatic words, "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

Lena looked at the doors, noting the blaster marks and turned to Irys again, "See if you can find a access panel or some such to open those doors."

"There's too much walking for me I feel, can't we get some comfy chairs? No? Ah well, no harm in asking." The bothan said mostly to herself.

"I'd say use some enemy bodies for a seat," Goreamas remarked, "but all the dead enemies are arguably harder than the ground."

Bo frowned, recognizing the Kalikir pilot and snorts, "What are you doing here?" She asked while her people began terminating malfunctioning droids.

"He brought us here." Gra'tua replied as he approached, "Give him his smokes back, he did rather well."

Frowning still she complied and tossed the smokes to the pilot, shaking her head.

Though Irys can't immediately identify an access panel, Gra'tua being more familiar with ancient mandalorian systems thanks to Goreamas manages to spot a very very old style security access panel that would need to be removed to access the computer within.

Gra'tua nods, "Well it is of Mandalorian design at least..." He murmurs and then turned to the Bothan, who was staring at a wall. "Bothan, over here. Hidden in plain sight, you will need to remove the access panel to get to the wiring within, if it even works after four thousand years."

"The name is Irys, Irys Dza and not 'Bothan'." She muttered and went to the specified panel. "Give me a few moments." She said to nobody in particular and got out her tools to carefully remove the panel and then use her slicing equipment to see if she could open these doors and potentially learn more about these ruins and what it contained within.

"Odd. I thought it was moldy flesh popsicle." Goreamas remarked at Irys' indignation.

Lena frowned, "Gra'tua, refrain your droid from threatening or making such comments about my people."She said quietly.

If Goreamas' eyes hadn't been sensors he'd have rolled them at Lena. Meanwhile Irys managed to avoid electrocuting herself and the doors hissed open with, frankly, an unusual degree of apparent maintenance.

Gra'tua glared at the Basilisk Droid and mentally sighed, he had no subtlety whatsoever.

Irys frowned, looking at the panel and then the doors. "Ok that is just not normal, those defenses working, fluke. But these doors and this wiring working so smoothly as well. Even if they ahve droids doing it all and somehow get repaired and maintained over the course of history passing. This just feels wrong." She mutters.

"Your concern is noted Irys." Lena said, looking warily at the entrance. "The two of us lead? Gra'tua?"

Goreamas spoke up again this time... "No dust?" He remarked.

Irys looked at the droid. "The droid is making my point, this feels wrong."

"Let's find out by exploring it inside." Gra'tua said, eagerness evident in his tone of voice as he stepped forwards and into the build, smirking. "Care to join me Lena? Bo your commandos stay with Latesh outside, making sure the perimeter is secure and no battle droid stragglers surprise us."

Bo did not like going in without the support of the commandos but informed her squads they were now under the command of Latesh while she went inside with Gra'tua.

Stepping into the facility the group moved about a hundred yards before encountering a cross-corridor, there continued to be no sign of dust, worse, the word ruin didn't seem to have any real relevance here when suddenly guns unhoused themselves from the ceilings and aimed at the people of Lena's party. "Halt intruders."

Lena obeyed, looking at the defenses, frowning as she saw none of them were aimed at Gra'tua. "I think you need to do something about this... at least they haven't fired already..."

"Do not move." Gra'tua said at once and looked at the defenses, noting that none of them were aimed at his people. Recalling a certain base at Onderon and chuckled. "Well... it recognizes Mandalorians. Allow me to try something." He looked at the defenses and shrugged, "I am Alor Gra'tua, of the Mando'Ade. We fight and die for Mand'alor. Let us and the serfs who have not been worthy of the armour yet pass."

There was a very long pause when suddenly the guns retracted into the roof. Goreamas shrugged. "Well... that was too easy.."

He turned to Goreamas and shrugs, "That or it recognizes when a true Mandalorian announces himself, I suggest we continue heading deeper and look for any terminals or other devices that might tell us what this place is. Hell I will even take wall murals or books."

Lena relaxes when the guns resided back into the roof. "No idea what you said Gra'tua but it worked and I agree, keep a eye out for those... and other defenses, so far I get the feeling the people who built this really didn't want intruders." She glances at the people of Gra'tua wearing their mandalorian armour. "Except other Mandalorians."

 "He said the Lions in the third house of the Raven and he had brought the ritual sacrifices for the second dawn." Goreamas remared mentally grinning.

Lena looked form the basilisk to Gra'tua questioningly. "I... I see."

He ignored Goreamas but could not help but smirk a little. "Perhaps, I am as eager to get to those secrets like you are Lena." He smiled behind his mask as he looked around. "This is a part of my people's history and I would love to uncover it's secrets." He squared his shoulders, "But that requires exploring, so let's have at it."

"Agreed, but I think I will have myself and my people stay close to your people, in case of more defenses." Lena said, urging caution in her people.

Proceeding deeper into the facility the team would notice numerous blast doors before finally reaching a round round chamber with a blast door in the floor. On entering the chamber the doors closed and weapons deployed. Then a voice boomed through speaking in ancient Mandalorian. "You claim to be an Alor of the Mandalorians. What is your purpose for seeking the Exile Clan of Toreth."

Lena said nothing and looked at Gra'tua. This was getting interested all of a sudden.

Gra'tua looked up in surprise, ignoring the weapons and thought for a moment before he replied in the same, ancient tongue. "My purpose here is simple. I was told of a ancient Mandalorian ruin, from the time of the great Crusades. To find out relics of that great time, so when we came in the system and saw the CIS, the battle droids, to desecrate it. I was going to wipe them all out for such a transgression against what belong to the Mando'ade. That there is an Exile clan of Toreth here... I was not aware. This clan... your clan, survived on this world, cut off from Manda'yaim for four thousand years?"

"You disrespect us by doubting." The voice took on a particular note of anger.

Gra'tua felt a pang of irritation and anger but let it shimmer, remaining calm. "No disrespect was intended, though it also shows no respect to not speak to fellow warriors face to face, but we clearly invaded your home. I was simply... surprised, expecting ruins and no-one living in them. I give you my word, as a Warrior of Manda'yaim that I came here only to seek signs of our glorious past."

She had no idea what was said but scanned the defenses they might possible be up against.

Seeing that there were about 20 blaster barrels pointed their she hoped that whatever Gra'tua was doing was working.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how one would put it the floor hissed open and a platform rose into view. A warrior stood there resplendent in his armour with no helmet upon his head. But the look in his eyes was one of distrust and hate. Within each hand he carried a long blade four feet long, appearing as a reflective blue steel, but Gra'tua recognized the Beskar for what it was.

Swords made of true Beskar were rare enough but as Gra'tua looked at the warrior he was simply stunned and could hear muttering form behind him as Magog, Canderous, Goran and Bo too seemed surprised and stunned at what they were seeing. Magog went as far to go down on a knee and bow his head.

Gra'tua was the first to break the silence. "You are... you are Dha Werda Verda, a Taung. How... how is that possible." He did not care if his wonder and surprise at this were evident. He went for his Mandalorian mask and released it, removing it from his face, speaking slowly. "While it is an... honour to stand in your presence warrior, may I request the honour of knowing your name as well?"

She still had no idea what was going on but when the warrior appeared the reaction of Gra'tua was.. disturbing, she had never seen the Mandalorian Sith act like this, well except those times with Azazel. She had not enough information to go on if this warrior was a threat or not so she kept her hands from her weapons and made sure her people did the same.

"Alor Al'verde Kyr'am." He said examining Gra'tua contemptuously. "You use the force?" He said moving around Gra'tua. Goreamas followed the warrior with his head his weapons fully armed.

Gra'tua blinked, this warrior was named like his daughter, amusing, and he followed the Taung warrior with his eyes. "I can use the force, yes. But in battle I prefer to use my blades, or since recently having been convinced of using it more, a blaster." He answered truthfully.

Suddenly something Gra'tua said seemed to reach the Taung. "What do you mean how is it possible I am Taung?" His voice dripped with contempt. "You dare suggest our race has failed?"

Gra'tua calmly looked at the warrior. "They have not, as evident by myself and my people, the Mando'ade still exist... your culture... still exists. But the last true Taung, according to our history, died in battle thousands of years ago in the great Crusade."

He appeared to engage in some internal conflict for some minutes. "Well then... I have also failed." He said low enough that only Gra'tua could hear. "I am no fit leader... challenge me." He said moving back towards the platform at the centre of the room.

Gra'tua watched the warrior and nods solemnly, gesturing for his warriors to clear the room and stick to the walls, going back to galactic basic he addressed Lena. "Get back and stay to the walls." He said as he placed the mask back on his face and reached for his sabers, igniting them and aimed one at the Taung warrior. "Alor Al'verde Kyr'am. I challenge you to a duel, may your blades strike true."

She wasn ow utterly confused but complied... the strange warrior and Gra'tua were going to fight? Mandalorians... so confusing at times.

The Taung readied his weapons and accepted the ritual challenge charging in for Gra'tua swinging his weapons in a manner that demonstrated time had not dulled the Taung's abilities at all.

Their blades met and yet the Taung failed with a swing and the Lightsabre delivered a punishing blow to his ribs, but not lethal, not yet.

Gra'tua decided to honour this warrior and this duel by not actively using his force powers, this would be settled by the blade as he pulled his two sabers back and started a flurry of movements to further wound and give this Taung a honourable death he deserved.

The Taung responded with a fluid series of movements of his own, each intended to deflect a sabre blade and nick the flesh of his opponent.

But each warrior manages no more than to keep their opponents blades from reaching their target.

He grinned despite the situation, he was fighting a Mandalorian legend! A real, living Taung, the creator species of his culture. That thought lasted a short moment as he felt his battle rush come over him and with a cry he lashed out once more.

The Taung moved to deflect the blades with his right hand coming in low with the left for a stinging thrust to the belly.

But once more the human Alor's blades managed to score his flesh while he failed to land his own hit. Doubt coursed through him, at his abilities and the words of the Alor before.

Sensing the doubt in the warrior before him he decided to become more aggressive and redouble his effort to attack, perhaps his arrogance and overconfidence would be his undoing but at this moment Gra'tua did not care.

The Taung slipped into another style as effortlessly as the breeze through the trees, each movement fluid and designed to deflect all attack away from the body followed by sudden thrusts.

He saw the opening now and pulled the darksaber back, time to end this, he would not make this warrior suffer. "For Manda'yaim!" He growled as he slashed, feinting so his true strike to the opening in the warrior's armour might end this.

"For honour!" The warrior responded his blades moving savagely.

Gra'tua's strike failed to connect as the Cortosis blades opened up his right arm, slickening it with blood in moments. While not lethal if treated it was going to slow down Gra'tua.

He let out a cry of pain and then chuckled, feeling the adrenaline pump through him. "A good fight!" He grinned behind his mask and went to attack once more, minding and testing how the wound would affect his performance.

The Taung moved to try and press the advantage despite his wounds.

But once more both warriors do little but manage to keep each others blades apart.

Gra'tua decided to push forward, trying to unbalance the Taung as he struck out with his blades, again and again.

The Taung moved to avoid the strikes as he swung his right to force the deflection and left for Gra'tua's legs.

This time the blade bit into Gra'tua's right leg punching through the kneecap damaging it badly.

He shouted out in pain and with a growl, viciously started attacking the Taung with both blades, weaving the blades in a blurry pattern.

The Taung looked for a moments opportunity and swept his blades to take advantage of it.

But it seemed the wounds of both warriors was dulling them and no blows landed home.

He shuddered, feeling his leg and arm tremble and gritted his teeth, moving his blades up in salute. Resuming his attack in the blink of an eye after he made a salute to a honourable warrior.

The Taung nodded and leaped to meet the attack with both blades.

The Taung's movements flung the Darksaber across the room Gratua forced to release his grip, or his fingers, as a Cortosis blade left a long angry red slice along the hands length the other blade holding the other sabre at bay.

He gasps, seeing his blade fly off, leaving him with Revans blade, holding it up en garde, breathing deeply as he stood ready. He been in worse situations... granted never against a Taung. Taking a deep breath he let out a cry and attacked, part fueled by anger, part desperation.

The Taung moved in as well roaring a call of fury as he moved to bash aside the blade and attempt to run through his foe.

Gra'tau turned the blades of the Taung and destroyed one of them at the hilt with Revans blade removing the Taung's hand in the process. "Well struck." The Taung said with respect.

He grunted with pain but could nto help but smile at the praise. "Same to you, let us end this. Honour in death!" He shouted the last part as he attacked.

"Death is honour." The Taung replied moving to strike once more.

Again their strikes were skilled to the point no meaningful blow landed.

With a growl Gra'tua tightened his grip around the hilt of Revan's blade and pulled it back to thrust it forward as if to impale the warrior upon the blade.

The Taung mirrored the gesture, a last gasp perhaps?

The Taung avoided the lightsabre and rammed the Cortosis blade through Gra'tua's midriff missing the Sith's heart by less than a thumbs breath before he sinks to his knees. "You fought well Alor. You are worthy and so I spare you a fatal blow." Though no doubt Gra'tua wasn't feeling too grateful about a sword so close to his heart. The Taung began whispering to Gra'tua imparting the command codes of the facility.

"Protect my people Alor. Or I will haunt your soul for eternity."

Gra'tua gritted his teeth, reaching up and removed his mask as he started coughing up a little blood but managed to spit out the words. "So I swear, on my life... however long it will last." Which he admitted, right now, he was not sure how long it was.

Staring into Gra'tua's eyes the Taung nodded before the light within them went out.

Gra'tua groaned and grabbed the hilt of the sword, "Magog... Lena... assistance, please..."

The Mandalorian medic rushed forwards to assist his Alor.

Lena also walked forwards, shaking her head. "I do not claim to know what that was about but it seemed foolish to me. You, Magog was it, lets get this sword out of him and treat him as best you can."

Magog is able to remove the blade, but not without causing considerably more pain to Gra'tua than putting it in had revealed. Goreamas watching let out a low chuckle. "No need to wiggle it so much on the way out, didn't you get a raise you asked for or something?"

Gra'tua groaned and shuddered, "Be silent, do not try and enjoy this so much, this had been a honourable fight, a good fight, I shall wear the scars with pride."

"If I thought otherwise do you really think I wouldn't have just smote him with my weaponry?" Goreamas sniffed offendedly.

"It was foolish in my eyes, but I suppose you would know better." Lena said, shaking her head at how Gra'tua now looked.

"You make a excellent point I suppose." Gra'tua said and then looked worried at Magog as he pulled out his medical tools and started to hum a little bit too happy for the task he was about to do.

Unfortunately, as it went on Magog it seemed couldn't do anything about the knee, either Gra'tua would need surgery to replace it with a prosthetic kneecap, or take a chance and hope the Bacta alone is enough to repair the damage.

Though most fortunately, it seems the Taung had been true to his word and Magog was able to patch up the chest wound without any problems. "This will make a fine scar." He even intoned.

"Good, someone help me up so I won't put too much stress on my leg. He gave me the command codes for this base before he passed... and revealed certain things." He was eager to get moving and see if the words of the fallen Taung leader were true. "Canderous, give him the last honours and guard his body. Lena... I think you will be very interested in what lies hidden here..."

Not caring if he would protest she gestured for her assassin droid to pick Gra'tua up and if need to carry him or support him. "Well, glad the fight wasn't for nothing, and I will see about that, whatever it is you are talking about."

They got on the elevator the Taung warrior had used and managed to get down to the lower levels of the base, coming down into a large chamber with sections of the wall filled with pods. Gra'tua looked at them with a look that bordered to reverence. "He was speaking the truth before he died... A lost clan that has survived." He laughed and turned to Lena as the elevator stopped. "He told me, his clan was exiled by Mandalore the Indomitable for cowardly tactics. Those are stasis pods, containing the last of the Taung."

She blinked and looked at the pods. "I see... well clearly not a superweapon then." She noticed a terminal and gestured for Irys to work on that to retrieve whatever information they could. A moment later, when Lena was thinking the fawning of Gra'tua over these pods and their contents was getting tiresome Irys called out to them.

"Good news and bad news... well depends really. Good news, those are indeed stasis pods containing, what were they called, Taung? But yeah those, bad news after four thousand years even the strongest power source fails. That guy muscle guy there fought was their leader and he came out of stasis every few hundred years or so to perform maintenance on the defenses, he discovered that over time the power supply of the stasis pods failed and began shutting some down. Only 90 have survived, the other pods, roughly 10'000 or so, are all dead."

Gra'tua widened his eyes and cursed, stumbling away and groaned, he had already been imaging to return to Mandalorian space in triumph, bringing the Taung species back to life. But it was just a failure. He clenched his fist, no. No he would not allow that, he turned to Magog. "Bring your crews down here and check the stasis pods... revive the still surviving Taung. Those that died, will be honoured." He quickly switched to a private channel in his helmet and then spoke directly to him. "Collect genetic data from the dead Taung... specifically to perhaps clone them." Magog turned around at that, staring at Gra'tua but then merely nodded and went to the surface to contact the ship to bring down medical crews.

Lena meanwhile had been going over other data Irys had found and called Gra'tua over. "Irys found a storage list of some kind, they had some ships but apparently they degraded over time and were destroyed. Some stacks of weapons and armour, more useful to you I imagine... some artifacts and other plunder that could be sold for quite a sizable amount of credits. Seven Basilisk war droids, of the rather ancient design. But more importantly, you said they were exiled for cowardly tactics? I assume that is where the Stygium cloaking device comes in, the only piece of technology they found worth salvaging of their cruiser."

Gra'tua looked at Lena and thought she would begin drooling, he snorted. "I don't mind keeping the ancient Basilisks, they make good ornamental pieces... you keep the Stygium cloaking device. I have no use for such a device, at least not now."

Lena beamed, "Excellent, my thanks Gra'tua. Let's have our people transport the items to the surface and prepare to leave, don't want to stay too long for the CIS to return or the Republic to ask more questions than we want to answer."

Gra'tua was about to reply when Magog approached, "We revived the Taung alor... they are demanding answers, I think the only reason they haven't started to fight us is because we wear Mandalorian armour but they are getting to a boiling point."

Gra'tua nodded and turned to Lena, "Do what you must, I will address some people of my heritage." He grinned and with the help of Magog and another Mandalorian warrior was brought away to were the Taung were gathered, they were muttering and talking to each other but went silent as Gra'tua approached. He took a deep breath and looked over them all, "Warriors of Manda'yaim, Taung... the Dha Werda Verda. Your clan was exiled, your Alor Al'verde Kyr'am told me so, much has changed in the years that have passed the Taung species... have died out, at least in the known worlds but your culture, your legacy lives on still. When your leader heard this he said he failed in his task, I challenged him to honourable combat and defeated him, the strongest prevailed, I. Which means your clan is no more, you are now all part of clan Gra'tua, my clan. I am alor Gra'tua and I will keep you safe and together we will show the clans of Mandalore and the galaxy that the Taung... are still very much alive and able to fight.

What say you all?"

The Taung looked at each other and then at the stasis pods they and their clan went into so long ago, one of the throng stepped forwards. Speaking slowly, "We will fight for you, for ourselves, for glory, for honour and for Manda'yaim, our home."

"Excellent, follow al'verde Bo who will take you to the surface and our ships that will take you to my ship. We are heading to Mandalorian space, to home." At those words he saw some of the Taung relax, perhaps even anticipating to see their home even if it had changed. "Well then, Magog, take me to my ship... I have a appointment for surgery I believe."

Magog nodded and gestured to the warrior to now help Gra'tua back on the ship. After a moment Magog talked to Gra'tua on a private channel. "Alor, I have done as you asked, I and my people have gathered the genetic data you requested... I am afraid only 5831 samples are suitable for cloning."

He stiffened and turned to Magog, "I do not care... over five thousand... those samples Magog, have just become more important than anything to you, you will guard them with your life and keep them optimally preserved."

Magog nodded, "As you wish, alor." He then turned off the private channel. "Now then, time to cut you open and see how your insides are alor." He laughed and Gra'tua just let out a indignant growl.

She watched from the sidelines, shaking her head and then turned around, raising a brow as the two noghri disciples stopped using the force to conceal themselves. "What do you have to report?" She asked quietly.

Grom looked at Kwilnae who shrugged, her first Noghri apprentice bowed his head. "That doctor of his, did more than reviving those living Taung, he and his people, they took something from several hundreds of bodies of the dead Taung. We do not know what or why."

She frowned and nodded slowly. "I see, thanks. We will be heading to the Regret soon enough." She put on a smile, "All in all this mission was very fruitful for us all." She looked at Gra'tua and raised a eyebrow. "Though for some reason, even if I got the cloaking device, Gra'tua seems to be the one who seems happier about what he got." She shrugged, "At least he bled for it." She kept smiling and ignored the odd looks of her disciples and walked to the elevator to also get out of here. Gra'tua had said he was heading to Mandalorian space before heading to Korriban, she was considering offering to give him a ride or just travel along. 

But that would have to wait...