So, it has once again been a year. This is quite a bad habit I have developed I guess. I don't have much of an excuse, so a simple sorry will have to do. For those that have not yet abandoned this story like I almost did, thank you for sticking around, it really means a lot to me.

The new movies have gotten me into a star wars mood again, and while I can not promise regular updates, I hope to pick this story back up. Have a very nice Life Day everyone!

(This has not been betaed so I'm sorry for any typos. If you spot any please tell me)

~Chapter 14: Shawshank~

It had taken them two days to free the planet. Two days of fighting the remaining rebels and Mandalorians on the surface. Two days for something he would have expected to last at least a week. Oh well, you know what they say about gift horses… the captain of the William of Orange thought as he looked down at the planet through the transparent floor of the observation deck.

He shook his head, the last day had been a hectic one, filled with briefings, reports, paperwork and meetings. To add to that, Cadera was acting pissy about the Death Watch prisoners he currently held in his brig. Didact's balls, he couldn't imagine what it must be like for the admirals of the UNSC. The paperwork on a ship-to-ship basis was bad enough, never mind an entire fleet.

The bright part was that Orion made quite a bit of a bonus by limiting collateral damage on the surface. The extra million credits would go a long way into setting up a more permanent residence in this new galaxy. With what they had in their accounts they could buy the mining rights to a certain system in the mid-rim near Naboo, adding a nice bit of extra income.

In other good news, casualties were relatively light. Mostly walking wounded, some more severe and in need of more immediate surgery, but only three KIAs the entire OP. It would have been worse had his soldiers not been as well equipped. Or prone to calling in airstrikes for that matter.

The captain's musing was cut off as the bulkhead behind him slid open, the clang of metal boots hitting the walkway being the only other sound to accompany the hydraulics of the door.

Andrew turned around, facing someone who could very likely kill him in more ways than he could imagine. Or at least, O'Carrick and Washington's review of her abilities said as much. "Miss Cadera, how wonderful to finally meet face to face. I hope your journey to my ship was pleasant?"

She grunted, crossing her arms over her armored chest. Hallsson couldn't see any weapons on her body, but he did not doubt she could manage without them. "I tried to contact you earlier, but your subordinate said you were busy." she looked around the observation deck, "For your sake I hope you have actually been busy and not just standing here."

The captain frowned, "Well, a lot of paperwork goes with these sort of operations, especially when an allied Commander decides to leave their post to go on a bloody revenge spree." The mercenary was about to say something, but Andrew cut her off before she could, "I understand, of course, but I rather you didn't if we ever work together in the future."

Cadera snorted, "Mandalorians lead from the front, my honour dem-"

"Your honour nearly got a squad of ODSTs killed." He shook his head, "now, can we get to the actual reason of you being here? I highly doubt it was just to exchange barbs."

She narrowed her eyes, "I wanted to talk about the di'kuti you have locked up in your ship." she angled her helmeted head in a threatening way, "I want them handed to me so they can be trialled by Mando tradition."

"Yes, and I'm sure you would do so fairly. Oh don't look at me like that, I work with fully armoured soldiers on a daily basis; I know my body language." a screen to his left sprang to life, showing the few prisoners they had been able to take. They were disarmed and had their armour stripped from them, instead wearing uniform orange jumpsuits, "These are our only prisoners. Most of the Deathwatch soldiers we didn't kill got away when they realised how outnumbered they were."

Her head cocked to the side slightly, "And what will you do with these traitors?"

"I was just going to drop them off on a deserted planet with a rescue beacon, but I might as well give them to you. Believe it or not, I can appreciate your company's combat ability, and ai really don't care enough about them," he pointed to the screen, "to keep you from taking them with you."

The mandalorian seemed surprised, "I thank you, Captain. Don't be afraid to call if you ever need backup."

He nodded, a slight smile on his face, "The same counts for you. I will have Edward send you the prisoner transfer forms; sign them and the assholes in the brig are yours."

-break-

"... I'm te… be care…ul, the sarge said she's very dangerous." Zivle knew something was up when she heard the strange voices. The fight with the large alien… she must have been knocked out and captured. The telltale humming of an energy barrier made her situation quite obvious.

"Pfff, shuddup man, she's still out of it. What's she gonna do, dream me to death? Now open the damn cell so I can cuff her and get her ready for the Hawks." So they were gonna give her to Cadera, then. She couldn't let that happen, Mesh'la would kill her if she recognised her. Which she would.

"Alright, but be careful." The humming stopped and a clang signified her cell being opened. She slowed her breathing. Any second now the guard would be close enough to take down; after that she could find a way out of here.

The clanging footsteps stopped beside her and a gloved hand grabbed her wrist. She quickly elbowed the man behind her and sprang into action. Suppressing a wave of dizziness, she grabbed the man in a chokehold and disarmed him.

"Jakoby!" The other guard yelled, aiming his taser at the woman holding his buddy.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she tried to sound as threatening as possible, "I'll break his neck if you try anything." She missed her helmet vocoder. Zivle had always thought her voice was just a touch too high pitched to be scary.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down there. No need for any of tha-"

She cut him off before he was finished, "Where is my gear?"

"In- in the armoury. It's just down the hall, just… just don't kill him, yeah? You won't get out of here anyway."

Her mind was racing. He could be right. If she was on one of the ships in orbit, it would be a lot harder to get out of there. Bah, first things first. My Beskar'gam. She slowly moved towards the other guard before shoving the one she held into him and taking off in a sprint. Her bare feet slapped against the cold metal of the floors as she dodged around a corner, barely evading a barrage of stunrounds.

The mandalorian was quick to duck into one of the side rooms. She stayed quickly closed the door back behind her and took note of her surroundings.

The room seemed like a cryochamber, a number of black pods against the wall and several screens showing vital signs certainly made it look the part. Must be fellow prisoners too dangerous to keep locked up like the rest of us. Well, they might at least help as a distraction.

Looking at the screens, she pushed a button that looked like it would defrost her distractions and after some hissing and alarms started, left the room to go find her armour. She felt way too naked without it.

see you space cowboys!