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[Vithar Megilaglar]

"Yeah, yeah." Fenrir moved past the clones, then entered the arena. Although, arena didn't really describe what was essentially a bunch of mats surrounded by bleachers.

Fenrir approached Casil, who glanced up. "Why do you need...Guardian Fenrir?"

Fenrir inwardly winced, despite the fittingness of the title. "My partner and I," he pointed his thumb at Lina, "Would like to spar with you. Are you game?"

Casil smiled. "I'm game, soldier." Casil glanced at Lina. "You're quiet. You want to tag team me? Or one on one? I'm game either way."

[Lyon]

Fenrir shrugged. "I suppose two-on-one seems fair, given that you're a Jedi. We shouldn't make it too easy for you, after all."

Casil smiled. "Hah. You better be good at this."

The trio headed to the combat ring, and the curious clones parted to let them pass. As soon as they had taken up their positions, the ring closed again. Lina picked up a practice saber and looked at it mournfully. "This really isn't my style," she muttered.

"No backing out," said Fenrir, nudging her with his elbow. Lina caught the hint, and the pair split, to come at Casil from opposite directions. Fenrir gripped his practice saber with both hands, readying it for a heavy blow, while Lina held hers lightly, the tip moving slightly as she calculated where the best strike point would be.

Casil stood in the center of the ring, her blades at her sides and her head bowed as she focused herself. She brought her head up slowly, taking in the field.  :Heh. Likely to be more difficult than those clones. Exhilarating.: She nodded. "Let me see what you've got."

Fenrir moved forward first, taking a solid step that perfectly coordinated the momentum of his blow with the movement of his body. The practice saber whistled through the air as it descended towards Casil's head. Casil retreated fluidly, then sidestepped. She swung her right saber, a blow that would connect with Fenrir's leg.

However, as the Jedi began her counterattack, Lina moved in from behind with a series of stabs. There was no real weight behind any of them, but if one of them struck an opening she would be able to press her advantage.

Casil's face remained passive as she swatted the stabs above and away. Casil pushed Lina's blade further away, then followed with a graceful swing of her blade that connected with Lina's leg. A stinging blow. Lina limped backward a pace, but returned to the attack at the same moment that Fenrir moved in with a broad sweep at Casil's knees.

Casil fell backwards, clearing Fenrir's sweep clearly and avoiding Lina's attack. She recovered, crouching. She studied the pair, waiting for their next move.

Both Fenrir and Lina backed up and began circling once again. Now that their intial attacks had been foiled, they were moving more cautiously. Lina gave a brief nod to Fenrir and feinted at Casil, making her attack appear to be off-balance and deliberately exposing her left side to a counter. Fenrir stepped forward, ready to attempt to disarm one of Casil's blades if he could.

Casil smiled. She dropped her left saber and kicked the blade towards Lina, the blade spinning into a disk of silver light. She jumped at Fenrir, then feinted a slash across his abodmen. She followed the feint with a blur of blows to Fenrir's legs and arms.

Lina cried out in pain and fell as the flying saber took her in the side where she had dropped her defenses. She wasn't ready to give up quite yet, though, and seeing that Fenrir seemed to be holding up well under the Jedi's attacks due to his armor, she decided to try an unorthodox move. Taking two leaps forward and dropping her weapon, she hooked her legs around Casil and deliberately fell, bringing the Jedi to the ground on top of her. Fenrir struck at the same moment, hitting the Jedi in the stomach with his saber-point.

Casil smiled. "Shall we continue? Or shall we call it quits?"

Lina wriggled her way out from underneath the Jedi. "I'd say that's quite enough fun for one session," she gasped, trying to regain her breath. "You're pretty good, as far as soldiers go, although I expect that this is the kind of standard Jedi are held to."

Casil shrugged. "Indeed. I'm hardly anything above mediocre yet." Casil Force gripped her discarded lightsaber. "Perhaps I can refine my skills with you in the coming months."

Fenrir inclined his head in acknowledgement. "That could prove... interesting."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

"We'll have more than few months together, Guardian." Casil shrugged. "I joined the RAS Guardian."

Casil glanced aside, noting a look of surprise on Fenrir's face. "Don't worry, I'm not going to take over or anything. I'll leave that to Captain Terin."

"You will be joining us. Uh, not to be... presumptuous, Jedi, but don't you have more important things to do?" Fenrir asked, his voice assuming a quizzical tone.

Casil sighed. "No. The Council just had me come out here with Master Vey. Then I was to simply find something to do. Guess this is what it is. In any case, I'll be mediating in my assigned quarters."

Casil left the pair to continue on their way.

Fenrir waited until she was well out of earshot. "For a Jedi, she seemed to enjoy that fight a bit. And...I think she's tense or something. Seems distracted, if you know what I mean."

[Lyon]

Lina shrugged. "I suppose that all of us are a bit distracted right now. That fight onboard Guardian was something, wasn't it? I haven't gotten more than a few words out of Terin since." The sniper shook her head. "She's torn up about all of the casualties. Thinks it was her fault. Frankly, I think it was a miracle that we managed to survive at all."

Lina paced over towards the door. "Still, it's best not to dwell on these things. Race you back!"

~~~

Republic Starbase at Taris. 277 days after Geonosis.

Terin straightened the collar of her uniform and examined herself critically in the mirror. She sighed irritably as she fastened her rank insignia on her lapel. Bloody uniform won't sit straight...

"Why are you bothering with that?" asked Derad. "She's just a regular Jedi Knight, rank of general or no. Hells, Fen and Lina beat her in a sparring match, and she didn't Force-slam the against the wall. She's not going to zap you with mystical lightning just because your medals are lopsided." He wiggled his fingers menacingly.

The captain rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. You're not the captain of a ship officially meeting her colleague for the first time. Now that General Casil has been assigned to RAS Guardian, we'll need to get to know each other much better."

"So buy her a drink and have a nice discussion over that," said Derad. "There's no need to dress up."

"Unlike people who have been clomping around in a medical tunic--or less--the good captain actually cares about her appearance," Lina supplied from her chair. Derad grinned at her over his shoulder.

"It's the "or less" part that you particularly enjoy," he shot back. "Everyone knows that no Alderaanian woman can resist the good looks and charm of a Corellian pilot..."

Terin walked briskly out of the room before the conversation escalated, shaking her head. I will never understand those two. As she headed down the hall, she mentally ran over what she would say to Casil. I need to make sure she knows I'm still in command of the ship, but in a way that doesn't offend her... This would be so much easier if I understood the blasted Jedi!

Reaching the door to the Jedi's quarters, Terin tentatively raised her hand. Taking a deep breath, she knocked firmly.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Fenrir frowned slightly, thinking on it. "Yeah. Some fight. The Jedi seemed as if she was slightly better on the Guardian. I thought they were always supposed to be...the best of the best or something. Actually, I don't think she used the Force against us at all."

Fenrir laughed, though it was halfhearted sounding. "Yeah, I'll race you. But you'll probably win."

---

Casil woke up slightly before the knocking. She started awake. "Oh my..." she glanced around her quarters, quickly donning her robes. "Thank the stars I live a fairly spartan life." She glanced in a mirror. Casil sighed. The reflection Casil saw was not the best example of "Jedi perfection". Her robes were barely on right, and her hair looked more like a tangled mass of cables.

She raked a comb through her hair, and straightened her robes. While she didn't look like she fell down every flight of stairs in the station, she looked as if she fell down several. Casil sighed again. "Well, appearance isn't everything." Casil crossed her arms and frowned at her reflection. "And I'm supposed to be a Jedi General. Gah."

Casil sighed and went to the door. She was greeted by the impeccable appearance of Captain Terin. Casil sighed inwardly, though she smiled. "Good morning Captain Terin. I do hope you aren't here for orders or anything." Casil turned and stopped,  then spoke over her shoulder, "Oh, come in, find a seat." Casil grimaced. :For a Jedi, I am so utterly incapable.: "So...uh...what did you want to know, Captain? I sincerely hope you aren't looking to me for orders or anything. I don't know if  you've noticed my...utter incapability in certain things."

[Lyon]

Terin was somewhat taken aback, and more than a little embarrassed by her assumptions. "No, I didn't come for orders," she said. The captain followed the Jedi into the room, sitting down somewhat stiffly on the nearest chair. "I just thought that, seeing as we'd be serving together, we should get to know each other better."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Casil nodded. "Yeah. That'd be good." Casil thought for a second. She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Uh...I'm used to working alone, so I'm not much of a conversationalist."

Casil glanced at Terin and smiled weakly, shrugging. "I can tell you that I'm more of a fighter than a leader. So...we shouldn't rely on that at all. Unless you care to give me a few pointers." Casil stood and walked over to a drink mixer. She grimaced, then turned to Terin. Her face was plain. "Tea, Captain? I'm sure I have a variety here you might like."

Casil checked over her supply of tea. "Or maybe not. I thought I had more. Here, take a look. It's limited." Casil inwardly reprimanded herself. She was a poor leader, and, it seemed, and even worse hostess.

[Lyon]

Terin shook her head. "No, thank you, I won't be staying much longer. I don't want to bother you." She smiled. "Truthfully, I'm glad you're not the authoritative type. I had no intention of relinquishing command of Guardian, and I was prepared for a fight." She chuckled ruefully. "I was trying to make a good impression, but seemingly Jedi aren't as concerned with outward appearance as the rest of us mere soldiers."

The captain sat forward in her chair. "Where are you from, anyway?" she asked. "I mean, before you became a Jedi."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Casil blinked. She had not thought of where she came from in a long time. Casik furrowed her brow before she spoke. "Uh...some Outer Rim planet. Derelict. Or...was it Deralia? Ah, yes! Deralia. I...have not had the chance to go back in quite some time, though."

Casil frowned, then smiled slightly as she regarded the captain. "You look like you come from Alderaan. What is it like there? Do you miss it at all?"

[Lyon]

Terin sighed. "I suppose you can't miss what you haven't seen. My parents were Alderaanian, but I was born and raised on Coruscant. What I know of Alderaan, I've seen in holos. Maybe I'll visit there one day, but for now I need to concentrate on my duty." She gave Casil a small smile. "I'd better go check on the progress of the work crews. I doubt it's anything major, but it's good for the men to see that I take an interest in their work. Thank you for your time, General Casil."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Casil rolled her eyes. "Please, just Casil. I don't care to be considered a General. Unless, I suppose, we're in a formal situation."

Casil stood, stretching. "Speaking of checking on work crew progress, I ought to check and see if they finished with my starfighter and moved it to the Guardian yet." She grabbed her lightsabers, though she doubted she'd have need of them here. "Hah. Second nature..." Casil muttered, shaking her head. "Well, I'll be off. Probably in the fighter bay. Unless they got done moving it already."

[Lyon]

"I'll be back in my rooms, then," said Terin, giving Casil a casual salute. "Goodbye, Casil."

When she returned to Guardian Squad's suite, she saw that Lina and Fen were still present, but Derad was nowhere to be seen. "I think he went down to the fighter hangar to take a look at his ARC and get acquainted with his gunners," said Lina, looking up from her holozine. "Quite the charming bunch they are too, from what I've heard."

~~~

"...so, in conclusion, I'm not sure why exactly we're being assigned an officer as a pilot, but you'd better be damned good," concluded the rear gunner, frowning. Derad could see why he was named Venom: the clone trooper wasn't afraid to speak his mind in the most offensive way that wasn't straight insubordination.

"Stop making that expression, or your face will stick that way," said the front gunner, punching his brother clone on the shoulder. "Although it might be an improvement to your looks."

"You look exactly the same as the rest of us, Zarkaz," said Venom, turning his glare away from Derad.

"The difference is that I can pull off the look," said Zarkaz with a wink. He looked over Derad's shoulder. "Well, well, if it isn't our Jedi General."

"Hopefully this starfighter stays repaired for awhile," said Venom, leaning against the side of the ARC.

"Now then, be nice," said Derad. He raised his voice. "General Casil! I heard a rumor you'd be joining the squadron. Is that true?"

"Please don't be true," muttered Venom. Zarkaz punched him on the shoulder.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Casil walked over to the ARC-170, studying the group standing there as she walked. One of the men, Corellian by appearance, seemed to be observing the other two. Casil sensed agitation from one of the clones. She mentally filed the thought, studying the clone longer.

The last clone, who seemed notably more congenial, addressed Casil. "General Casil! I heard a rumor you'd be joining the squadron. Is that true?"

Casil smiled slightly. "True indeed. Although, I'd rather not be called general, not aboardship, in any case. I'm not replacing Captain Terin." Casil closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. She was itching to move, to do something aside from waiting. "I'm mostly coming along to assist."

Casil looked over the ships in the dry dock. The main attraction, the RAS Guardian herself, filled most of the space, a few ARC-170's dotted the floor. Casil noted her fighter, fully repaired. Next to it was the repair team head technician.

"Well, I suppose I'll be seeing more of you around. I'm going to see about getting a progress report from the head technician."

Casil walked towards her fighter, the head technician saluting as she approached.

"General Casil, ma'am! Pleasure to see you."

"The pleasure is mine, technician."

"I was surprised. Your fighter didn't actually take too much damage, mostly the engines and the commsystem. Easy repairs, when you've got so many spares." The technician laughed grimly. "I'm sure you didn't come to get a report on your starfighter. Which, as you can see, is fully repaired and ready for placement on the Guardian."

"You are perceptive, technician. I would appreciate a progress report on the state of the Guardian herself."

"Ah...I was going to give it to Captain Terin, but I suppose, since you're asking, it'd be ideal to give it to you." The technician picked up a datapad from a nearby table. "Here, this is a list of damages and repairs and their states of completion. I'll upload a new list for you and Captain Terin daily."

"Good work, technician," Casil spoke offhandedly, studying the repairs. She noted the technician's salute, and then walked off.

An uneventful sojourn lead her to Guardian Squad's quarters. She pressed the buzzer, and studied the datapad while waiting for the door to open.

[Lyon]

Casil had to buzz several times before Lina finally answered the door, wrapped in a towel and dripping wet. She grinned when she saw it was Casil. "General, your visit is an unexpected surprise. Have you come for another sparring match, or did you want to talk to the Captain?" Lina noticed that datapad and rolled her eyes. "Ah, yes, the Captain. She's with Fen in the firing range at the moment... perhaps you could check back later?"

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Casil smiled. "A sparring match would be nice sometime. You, however, don't look like a sparring match would do you any good right now." Casil shrugged. "Does the captain like to spar at all?" Casil laughed. "Maybe we should set up a sparring schedule on the Guardian. Anyways, send me a buzz when the captain wishes to meet with me."

[Lyon]

While it had a section with normal targets, the main firing range was an interesting and ever-changing landscape of walls, blocks, and towers. It took up an area roughly two hundred yards square. The idea of it was to get the clones used to adapting to unfamiliar territory, as well as work together as a team. Three groups of clones used the range at a time, each group fighting against the others to capture a point in the center.

Terin and Fen, along with Shotgun's squad, were currently exchanging fire with another team. Terin fired a stun round, satisfied to see the clone she aimed at freeze suddenly and drop his weapon. She ducked back behind the corner as more practice rounds shot past. She spoke softly into her comms. "Fen, take Shotgun and two others around the back. See if you can get into one of the towers and get a visual on the midpoint."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Fenrir nodded. "Consider it done, ma'am." He moved with savage grace, on the prowl again. He hefted a new weapon, the DC-17m IWS. Normally limited only to the Clone Commandos, General Vey had allowed Fenrir one, despite the cost of the weapon system.

"A costly gift," muttered Fenrir, switching to the sniper attachment. He climbed the tower with ease. "Transmitting visuals. Empty field."

Fenrir aimed the rifle towards the edge of the field. "Clones moving in. Unaware." Fenrir nodded towards Shotgun and the others. "Ready to fire on the captain's mark."

[Lyon]

"Take them down quickly. The last thing we need is another team on our backs," Terin ordered. She smiled slightly: the combat was certainly preferable to inaction. She signaled to one of her clones. "See if you can get visuals on the team pinning us down."

"Right away," said the clone, saluting. He went prone, armor blending with the clean white of the floor, and began trying to make his way towards the enemy unseen. (5) (10 for spot) Unfortunately, his movement was sighted by the enemy, and they opened fire. (4) The stun rounds splashed over the wall and floor all around him, and he had time to yell "Three!" before a stun round took him in the head and he went limp.

Terin winced in sympathy, but she was already calculating the position of the enemy clones from the position of their shots. Deciding quickly, she ducked around the corner and fired three quick shots, aiming for each of them in turn. (8, 17, 7) Two shots hit the wall harmlessly, but the third took a clone about to fire at her directly in the stomach, sending him falling to the floor.

"Fen, how is the operation progressing?" she asked into the comms.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

"Like a well-aimed shot..." Fenrir aimed down the scope. Very little to mess up the shot. The team leader, hidden behind a wall, glanced at the field. He was unaware of Fenrir or his group. The remaining two clones moved carefully around the far edge of the space.

Fenrir signaled at the two clones. "Take them down. Quietly."

Shotgun and the other two clones left the tower and climbed another. They loosed a hail of shots in the direction of the two clones (*1), who also returned fire (*2).

Fenrir, seemingly ignorant of the firestorm, focused to the point that he only saw the team leader. His face was as impassive as the helmet covering it. He waited a second for movement. He watched the team leader only a split second more. He fired, the shot echoing.(*3).

:Bah. This is better than waiting, but it's too...structured. If only they let us kick in the aug reality. This would be more realistic. As it is, no battlefield is this simple or easy to account for.:

---

(*1): Hit chance for the hail of shots. No accuracy mods as they are aiming to hit a wide area.
(*2): Hit chance for the return fire. -2 for firing blind. -1 for minor panic.
(*3): Hit chance for Fenrir's shot. +1 for steady stance. +2 for extremely fine-tuned aim. +1 for the DCm-17 IWS.

[Lyon]

((8, 17, 13 post mods.))

Shotgun and the other two clones, despite the advantage of surprise, seemed unable to hit their enemy. First one, then two of Fenrir's allies fell, and Shotgun was only saved by Fenrir's quick felling of the team leader.

Meanwhile, in the other hallway, Terin was being forced back. She loosed a couple of snap shots, neither of which hit, and was about to dive around another corner when an accurately placed shot took her in the midsection. She fell, cursing quietly as she slipped into unconsciousness. Looks like we'll lose this round...

Shortly afterwards, the red lights flashed, signaling the end of the round. The walls and towers receded, leaving a flat area with most of the members of each team lying sprawled around. Medics came around to revive each of them, and the clones exchanged friendly banter as they headed back to the barracks.

"Bad luck that time, Fen," said Terin. "We were double-teamed. Next time we'll have to let the other two teams take each other out before we move in."