Kadira's head snapped up as the sound of an alarm shredded the silence, sending Jett rocketing to his feet. The sound of blasterfire reached their ears, causing Jett to snatch his rifle and pull his helmet over his head grimly. His HUD blinked into existence, different from the kind he'd heard the Mandalorians used, but still effective. It was already registering the damage to the building; leaving him to grimly check his rifle to be sure he had plenty of ammunition.

"Looks like we have some visitors," he said, glancing in Kadira's direction. She was alert, her gray eyes fixed grimly on the door. Strangely, she appeared completely calm, leaving him to wonder how many times she'd been in a situation like this. He supposed it shouldn't surprise him, seeing as she was a Mandalorian. They tended to get themselves into the worst kind of scrapes.

"Give me a pistol," she said, her rasping voice steady as she glanced at him. "Or even a vibroblade, anything to keep me from being just a fancy target."

Jett shook his head, tapping the pistol at his side with two fingers. It was fully charged, and he had a feeling he was going to need every shot. Kadira's weapons were stored away somewhere safe, leaving him with no extras to give her.

"Sorry Kad'ika, can't do that. Stay put and yell if someone comes through the door while I'm gone," Jett slid a magazine into the rifle, bringing it up to his shoulder.

"I can't yell, di'kut," Kadira growled, glaring at his back. The blaster fire continued, causing her to glance at the door again. She looked at him, obviously uncomfortable without a weapon in her hand. Not surprising, of course. Kadira didn't strike him as the type to sit on the sidelines of a fight, which was exactly what he was asking her to do.

"You'll figure something out," Jett responded with a shrug that he knew would irritate her, ducking out the door and swinging the heavy durasteel shut behind him. He had a feeling he'd get an earful when he got back, but that was the least of his worries right now. He tried raising Spike on the comm, but the man didn't answer. Jett guessed he was probably busy with his own problems at the moment. Apparently this was Jett's to handle.

The infrared setting in his HUD informed him that the majority of the invading forces were in the building's main room, just outside the hall. They were mostly bunched together, not nearly as spread out as they should be in a situation like this. Jett slid carefully around the corner and behind some debris, careful to stay in the shadows.

The troopers were all dressed in their usual white armor, making them perfect targets in a building this dark. Especially when they stood directly in the small beams of light filtering in through the few holes in the building's shoddy roof. Jett shook his head wryly, ducking back down to check his rifle once more, just to be safe. He would also have the advantage of surprise; the troopers wouldn't expect someone dressed as one of their own to be firing at them. Their confusion would offer him only a small edge, but it was all he'd need.

Jett turned and took a slow breath, taking careful aim before opening fire. The warehouse was lit up by the red light his shots cast, throwing the troopers into even starker contrast with their surroundings. He continued his barrage even as the troopers began to fall, ignoring their shouts of surprise and pain as their careful discipline broke apart. Jett didn't even blink as he loaded another clip into his rifle. He resumed firing as soon as the weapon was ready, all conscious thought gone. He had been trained to fight and kill, and this was no different. Even if they were wearing trooper armor, it made no difference. His job was to find and help his vod, not worry about a new batch of inferior clones. They had invaded his territory, and it would be the last mistake they would make.

Kadira let out a slow breath, leaning her forehead against the cold bars of her cell. She could still hear the sounds of blasterfire, but had given up on getting Jett to come back and hand her some sort of weapon. Truthfully, she couldn't blame him. She probably would turn a pistol on him as soon as their attackers were repelled. Pity the clone knew it, or she'd be much less worried right now. Listening to an attack was bad enough, but watching a closed door and knowing that whoever came through it next would have no problem killing you was even worse. Especially when she was left with no weapons or armor.

She growled low in her throat, frustrated. Laniff had once warned her that she was too reliant on her weapons and especially her armor and its advanced systems. Apparently he had been right, and she doubted that he'd ever let her live it down once she got out of this mess.

She looked up quickly as something slammed into the heavy durasteel door, causing the metal to buckle slightly. She had a feeling that was not Jett. He would have just opened the door, not tried to break it down with whatever had left such an impressive dent. Her suspicion was confirmed when the entrance was blown open, leaving only twisted metal where the door had been seconds before. A gold armored woman stepped through the newly made entry and Kadira groaned, knowing Coorta would have already spotted her. That was the problem with Mandalorian tech. When it was in your hands it was fantastic. Not so much when your enemy was the one who had it, and Coorta had the best.

"You never give up, do you?" Kadira asked, lounging against the bars of the cell. Now she really wished Jett had given her a pistol. Not that it would have done much good, seeing as Coorta was in full armor and Kadira was stuck in a cell in civilian clothing. The woman didn't have to be much of a shot to take out a sitting duck, after all. Still, it would have made Kadira feel better to at least go out fighting.

"No welcoming party?" Coorta asked, slipping her helmet off and glancing around the room. "Pity. I was expecting your clone friend to be standing guard."

"He told me to yell if anyone came," Kadira responded coldly, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. "Guess he wasn't too worried about you getting through the door." Kadira craned her neck to view the damage, nodding in mock approval. "You should have been an architect; it's amazing how much that opens up the room."

"Cut the attitude, Sal. You're dead and you know it," Coorta crossed her arms, obviously proud of that accomplishment. She tilted her head, studying Kadira's face, her eyes resting on Kadira's scarred features long enough to make the Mandalorian bristle.

"And all it took was you and a whole troop of stromtroopers," Kadira said mockingly, clapping her hands slowly. Being politic was definitely not her strongpoint when she was cornered. Yet another character flaw she'd probably never get the chance to work on. "I would say I'm impressed, but not quite. Flattered, yes. After all, I'm in a prison cell and you still thought you'd need backup."

Coorta fired her blaster, the round slamming into the duracrete floor of Kadira's cell just inches from the Mandalorian's booted feet. Kadira cursed and jumped back, eying the smoking scorch mark uneasily. Things were definitely starting to get out of hand. Where was Jett when she actually needed him?

"Now that wasn't very polite," she observed. "That or you really need to adjust your sights."

"No one has ever accused me of tact," Coorta responded dryly, fiddling with the sights on her pistol, Kadira suspected for show. If Coorta was trying to make her nervous, it was definitely working. She knew Coorta wasn't going to take prisoners this time. The gold armored woman wouldn't miss again, and Kadira was out of options. Laniff and Ran weren't here to back her up, and she had no brilliant plan of her own to rely on. Bluffing and bravado were obviously getting her nowhere.

"I can see why," Kadira responded through gritted teeth, eying Coorta's pistol grimly. "After all, most people don't try to blow up someone's ship just to say hello."

Coorta chuckled and leveled her pistol again, tilting her head. "It's been an enjoyable game, Sal. But your time's up."

Jett ducked as the sound of an explosion reached his ears. The display in his helmet informed him it had come from behind him, exactly where Kadira was being held. He cursed and glanced over the debris he was crouched behind to see the two remaining stormtroopers with raised rifles, all that was left of the invaders. A blaster bolt struck the duracrete inches from his face, a grim reminder that he shouldn't allow himself to be distracted right now. It was a good way to get shot. He ducked and ran behind one of the building's support beams, letting out a slow breath.

He had to hurry and finish this, before everything spiraled even further out of control. If someone had found Kadira, then the stubborn Mandalorian wouldn't stand a chance. He had left her sitting in the middle of a cell, the perfect target. And he'd been very careful to make sure she was left with no weapons, something he was definitely regretting now. The last thing he wanted was Kadira's death on his conscience and Scorlo hunting him down for it.

Jett shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and focus on the moment at hand once more. He still had two troopers to take down before he could help Kadira, and worrying about her wouldn't get him anywhere. He took a slow breath and glanced down at his rifle, checking to be sure there was still power left. Seeing he was in the clear, he pushed himself to his feet and spun, repeatedly squeezing the trigger and sprinting back the way he'd come as the two troopers crumpled to the ground, unmoving. He didn't bother to stop, knowing his shots had hit home. His HUD's lifescanners only confirmed it, leaving him with a grim sense of satisfaction. Maybe the Empire would think twice next time it tried to double cross someone. They probably wouldn't, but still. It was a matter of principle.

The clone skidded around the corner, taking in the remains of the door with a glance. He wedged his shoulder against the ruined door frame, using the support to steady his aim as he brought his rifle to his shoulder.

"Drop it, Mashiri," he ordered, his rifle aimed steadily at the blonde woman whose pistol was in turn trained on Kadira.

"Well you certainly took your time," Kadira remarked, the relief on her face belying the sharpness of her tone. She relaxed and resumed leaning against the cell with her arms dangling casually on the outside, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that she was still staring into the barrel of a pistol held by a woman with a vendetta. Apparently she was willing to trust Jett to keep her from getting killed. "What, did you stop for caf on your way?"

"Not quite. Mashiri, I said put it down," Jett growled.

"Walk away, clone," Coorta replied coolly, ignoring Kadira's sarcastic comments. "This doesn't concern you."

Jett's rifle powered up with a high pitched whine as he flipped a switch on the weapon's stock, silently thanking Spike for the upgrade. "Actually, it does. Now put it down or I shoot."

Coorta glanced at Jett, then back at Kadira. "There's a whole squad of troopers-"

"Dead in the halls, Mashiri. You won't be getting any help from them, so drop it," Jett interrupted. He saw Coorta hesitate, obviously struggling with the decision. To come so close to her target, only to be told to give it up...

Finally, she snarled something in Mandalorian and tossed the pistol aside. Kadira winced at whatever Coorta said, but seemed content to have the pistol out of play.

"I don't think I'll translate that…" Kadira trailed off and straightened as Jett's finger tightened on the trigger. Her voice suddenly became serious as she saw Jett's intent, all traces of relaxation gone. "Don't. Jett..."

Coorta's glanced to him and froze, her eyes flicking from his helmet to his rifle and back again. No doubt she was regretting removing her helmet, for Jett saw the beginnings of fear flicker in the woman's eyes. Still, his aim didn't waver.

"She made her choice, Kad'ika. She chose to come in here and take her chances, and she lost the gamble. Now she pays the price."

"Jett, stop!" Kadira snapped, her ruined voice cracking as she slammed her hand into the bar of her cell emphatically. "There is no honor in this. Quit being such a di'kut and put down the blasted rifle."

Jett hesitated a moment longer before slowly lowering his rifle from his shoulder, not entirely happy about it. He heard Kadira breathe a sigh of relief and Coorta gave the Mandalorian a grudging nod of thanks, though her expression said the score was far from even.

"This doesn't make us friends, Mando, I'll still kill you one day," Coorta remarked, but she raised her hands in clear surrender, obviously unwilling to take her chances with Jett. Kadira simply inclined her head wryly, apparently too relieved to pursue the argument. Jett had no doubt they'd take it back up another time, probably in the near future. Death Watch and Mandalorians could never be civil for long. It simply wasn't in either group's nature to tolerate the other, with good reason.

Jett started to step forward, intending to cuff Coorta when a single shot shattered the temporary peace and Coorta crumpled to the floor without a sound, her expression frozen in one of surprise. Kadira let out a hoarse shout and lurched forward, her gaze immediately snapping to the shot's origin as her shoulder impacted against the unrelenting bars of the cage. Jett also spun, his rifle lifted and as he mentally registered Kadira's shock at seeing Coorta fall without warning. Spike stepped out of the shadows, spinning his pistol and holstering it at his waist calmly.

"You should have taken the shot, Jett," he said quietly, nudging Coorta's body with his booted foot.

"Congratulations, chakaar," Kadira spat venomously, recovering from her shock and falling into outright fury. Jett could see her shaking as she looked down at Coorta's corpse. He was back to being thankful she had no weapon, as he had no doubt she would have used it on Spike just then. He'd never seen her this furious before, and he'd done plenty of things to anger her in the short time he'd known her. "You just shot an unarmed woman. I hope you're karking proud of yourself, you hut'uunla shabuir."

Spike lifted one shoulder disdainfully, looking unperturbed by both Kadira's anger and the body at his feet. "Please. She was your enemy, Kadira. She would have killed you in a heartbeat, and she certainly would never have talked Jett out of shooting you in the skull. I simply took her out of the game. I'd say I did you a favor." He shrugged dismissively and turned to Jett, motioning to the remains of the door behind the clone. "We need to get out of here and to another safehouse. I have a feeling Agent Dain will come looking for her loyal kath hound soon, and I'd rather not be here when she does. Leave the bodies for her to find, maybe she'll take a hint. And make sure Kadira is not conscious when we move her. She tends to be reckless when she's angry, and I'd say we're past that point."

With that, Spike ducked out of the room to gather the supplies they'd need to take with them. Jett glanced at Kadira's face and winced, grateful for the helmet that hid his expression. This was not going to be an easy job, and he had a feeling he was going to regret it later.

"Are you going to make this easy or hard, Kad'ika?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

"What do you think, di'kut?"

Hard it was, then. Jett sighed and loaded a dart into his gauntlet.

Laniff groaned and removed his helmet to rub his face with one hand wearily. He'd been in touch with every one of his contacts and had come up with only one lead, and it was tenuous at best. He glanced up at Ran, taking in the man's grim expression.

"No luck?" Laniff asked wearily, pushing himself to his feet and stretching.

"You wouldn't believe how much security they have around the Vanguard," Ran replied grimly, shaking his head as he stared at the holofeeds in front of him. "If it was any other ship, I'd say we steal another one and let the Imps exhaust themselves guarding it."

"But we need the Vanguard's systems," Laniff observed grimly. "It has some of the most advanced tech I've ever seen, and that's saying a lot coming from a Mando'ade. Kad'ika didn't spare any expense on that hunk of metal."

Ran nodded grimly in agreement, studying the images in front of him as if the answer was lying buried in them somewhere and he had simply been missing it for the past few hours. Laniff couldn't blame the man, they were both desperate for solutions to the problems each had chosen to tackle. At least Laniff had made a small amount of headway in his task.

Laniff suddenly frowned and leaned forward. "How close are those beams to the Vanguard, would you say?" he asked slowly, pointing to the massive support beams in the hangar, an idea forming.

"Too close. We collapse them and the whole structure goes down. They'd land directly on the Vanguard, pinning it," Ran explained. "And I really don't want to be the one to explain to Kadira that we crushed her ship."

But Laniff was shaking his head. "I'm guessing they're made from durasteel?"

Ran nodded, obviously uncertain where the Mandalorian was going with this train of thought. "According to the building plans, yes…"

Laniff leaned back and smiled. "I think I may have just solved our problem, vod. Did Kadira ever tell you about the, ah, special modifications she made to the Vanguard?"

Ran shook his head slowly and Laniff's grin widened.

"She called it a custom security system. Thankfully, I have the codes…" Ran looked completely lost, and Laniff decided to take pity on him and explain. "If we activate this system it releases a wave of electrical energy. Kinda like the whole area got struck by lightning, knocking out anything in range, both electrical and organic. Its range is small, but if those durasteel supports are close enough to both the Vanguard and to each other…"

"Then we can turn the whole thing into one massive lightning storm, knocking the troopers out of play," Ran said, understanding dawning on his face. "Not to mention any electronic security the Imps have on the ship would be fried as well. The roof's support cables are durasteel also, which makes it that much easier. Will the ship give out one big pulse, or multiple small ones?"

Laniff shrugged. "That's flexible, either way can work. There is one tiny risk though."

"Us getting fried?" Ran asked dryly.

"Ah, well, there's that too. I was actually going to mention the fact that if we use the system too much, or if the energy wave is too large, then we'll fry all of the Vanguard's systems. Which would leave us with a dead ship and a really annoyed Kadira when we get her back."

Ran blew out a breath and looked back to the holofeed. Finally he shrugged. "I haven't got a better idea. We'll just have to make sure we don't overload it."

Laniff grinned and grabbed his helmet. He had been hoping for an explosive solution, but this was close enough. Ran chuckled and turned off the holoprojector, looking relieved to finally have a plan.

"Find any leads from your contacts?" he asked, and Laniff winced.

"Uh, yeah… But you're not going to like it. My contact pointed me to a fellow Mando'ade, someone Kadira met briefly in the past."

"Why am I not going to like it?" Ran asked slowly.

"Because he's apparently a crazy shabuir," Laniff answered innocently. "Rumor has it he's a complete sociopath."

Ran sighed. "Nothing is ever easy…" he murmured, shaking his head. He looked up at Laniff, raising his eyebrows questioningly. "What is it you Mandos say before a hunt?"

Laniff smiled and slipped his helmet over his head, blinking to activate the advanced HUD.

"Oya."

A/N: Keep an eye out for the next story, vode :) I should have it up within the next couple of weeks, if not sooner. As always, I absolutely love reviews and would greatly appreciate your input :) Thanks for sticking with Kad'ika's stories so far!