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2.19.4787 Republic Reckoning

As dawn breaks (shortly before Quindo and Igashu talk mentally), those with radios begin to pick up some disturbing chatter. "Den, this is Tiger 3-1 actual. We are under sporadic light arms fire, over." "Tiger 3-1, Den. Confirm you are under attack?" "Den, Tiger 3-1, under attack, light arms fire at depot three niner four. Looks like workers. Over"

(sounds of fighting in background) "Hello? can anyone hear me?" "This is Den, who is speaking?" "Private Noc here... we're under attack. They just swamped us. The lieutenant was the first to go, I... I don't know if there's anyone else left." "Private, where are you? What is your unit? We'll get help to you as soon as possible" "I'm with Panther 1-2, we're at the arms factory. Oh no, they're coming. You gotta help me" "Private, we have units on their way. Who is coming?" "Private? If you can't talk, just cycle the talk button on and off." "Private?"

"Den, Tiger 1-1. It's already five minutes after shift start and we have no workers at our plant. Do you have any word on worker movements?" "Tiger 1-1, be advised, hostile worker acts are occurring across the op-zone. Sit tight and challenge all who approach." "Den, Tiger 1-1 acknowledges."

"Den, this is Local 8-2...actual. We are seeing increased movement of vodran and nikno workers in our vicinity. Some of my people report seeing them with weapons. Advise." "Local 8-2, if you see workers with weapons, you are free to engage under this morning's ROE. If you are attacked, you are free to engage."

Dabai, Bro'jen, and Elbram were gathered up to go to a weapons factory where some non-Vodran/Nikto workers were hidden with a radio. Heavy resistance, but no fatalities. After retrieving workers, orbital strikes leveled the factory and anyone left inside.

Heading back, Dabai goes off again to assist in retaking a food depot, and after an afternoon of fighting, they withdraw, burning the depot behind them when mass attacked by thousands of psychotic Vodran. Massive enemy casualties, moderate Hutt casualties.

Quindo is presented with a delicate situation. A battle in progress over a weapons depot is going badly, and it looks like many will be killed on both sides unless someone intervenes. Slaves are pinned down and will be exterminated unless they can fight a way out. Laut claims that tactics is not his strong suit, and offers command to Quindo. Quindo must either command the enemy against the Hutt forces (and possibly his friends) or sit back and watch people die. Quindo takes a hand and does the best he can to minimize casualties on both sides. Nothing is gained, the Hutts pull out and bombard the slaves from orbit.

Meanwhile, Elbram and Bro'jen are hanging out with the detainees and escapees as they're interrogated. It seems like the Nikto and Vodran have "changed their songs" at least a few weeks ago, but nothing happened until they all just snapped, more or less at once, this morning. Bro'jen thinks it might be something like Alter(TM) in the water supply, so he is going to get samples and head out to chemical plant down on the coast. Elbram watches the military trials of the detainees, where they're sentenced to death by firing squad. Dabai and Elbrahm successfully argue to the head of the military court that they might be useful alive, but only in time to save 2. The others are killed. (Kaleb Corvan, Metarie Chin, and Tornek Graf)

In all of this, Igashu passes out while running across the desert in the daytime after being up all night. It seems To'iir had decided to take a break or was tracking him, so she pulls him out of the sun and yells at him, and they eventually set off at sunset to go after the detainees...