[center][h2]Onboard the [i]Evergreen[/i][/h2][/center]

When NED came in, whom Ren recognized vaguely from time spent around the base, the former resident of Nar Shaddaa had already set up a cot in one of the far corners of the bay and had made a makeshift punching bag out of his duffel upon which he was already practicing his strikes. He turned, however, when the Lieutenant called them all to attention, he did as he was asked. Even as a Sullustan and a Weequay nearby quietly made jabs at him and made unseemly comments about his parents.

Now Ren could typically brush the pair off and move on with his day, especially as NED took his lines out of the cargo bay, which was now a lot less crowded as a result of the droid’s presence and mission in the cargo bay, but these two were especially persistent. “Look you two, I get that you had a bad experience with Imperials, but I’m not Imperial, or even former Imperial.” The Weequay sneered.

“One of you monkeys is bad as any other, ain’t that right Jirm?” The Sullustan nodded in agreement.

“Can’t be sure you won’t turn on us first chance you get!” Ren sighed as he turned to return to his corner.

“Tell ya what, when this whole operation is done, how about I buy you drinks of your choices? Bring a couple of your friends if you want. And I’ll bring Cragdor along.” The Trandoshan was a good friend of his and had a reputation for not taking kindly to anyone attempting to hurt his little buddy. And while the human did everything he could to combat the anti-human sentiment that permeated the Scarlet Moons, he wasn’t foolish enough to think that the moment he and these two and their friends were alone, they wouldn’t try and maim him, if not worse.

“Well if you’re paying and it’s not just us three alone, why not?” The Sullustan uttered much the same and the pair left Ren to his training. He resumed with a left hook and continued, thinking of if he could get the officers to approve more than drinks back on the asteroid.

[hr]

[center][h2]Operation: Incalmo[/h2][/center]

Ren had, of course, not really brought anything that it was revealed that the soldiers would need and he made a mental note to pick up one when they had more down time. Nar Shaddaa, and a job on Nal Hutta once, should have taught him that having one when conditions were unknown never hurt. Course, a few of the KNBs questioned the need for masks and grav boots, with another Sullustan asking why they’d need them “in space.”

Of course, the Major set him straight, while Ren set to making sure his NFBs would at least get on the station in one piece. How many would survive...the Corporal glanced around and silently sighed. He’d been with the Moons long enough to know their fatality rates were and the odds weren’t in favor for this group of poor souls. Boarding the shuttle he was assigned with the Major and several others, he pulled his carbine free of its place on his back during the short trip to the station. All Ren could do as the Sullustan called for aid, saying he couldn’t feel his spine, is shake his head.

“Poor bastard…” was all the CQC specialist had time to mutter before a group of Imperials came through one of the doors. The firefight was short between the ill-preparedness of the Imperials for a sudden fight and the fact that most of the troops here had already been prepared for a fight. With the Sullustan back on the shuttle and a map of the station thanks to the Imperial corpses nearby, mission parameters were set and Ren knew exactly what he was doing.

“I’ll head out with you, Major, if you’ll have me. Those other shuttles probably found more heat than us and could use a flanking maneuver to take off some of the heat.”