Last Stand

Preview 3 - Know Your Enemy!

The Outskirts of Obroas City - Night
The booming cacophony of heavy artillery is muted as Hapunn lets the heavy tent flap fall shut behind him. The Neo-Crusader command tent is huge, over two stories tall and decorated with treasures and loot from a dozen worlds. Snarling skulls hang next to lightsaber hilts and even the helmets of those Mandalorians who dared challenge the warlord, dozens of statues loom ominously in the darkness. The lieutenant quickly looks away as he hurries to the holographic strategic table in the tent's center.
He's not the first to arrive Nus, that old bastard, is leaning over the table, glaring down at the display showing the Coreward Path forces encircling the city. Two of his arms brace him over the table, one operates a tooth pick idly trying to remove stars knows what from his mouth and the fourth remains resting comfortably by his side. He doesn't look up as his fellow lieutenant arrives.
"I thought you pilots were meant to be fast, did yah chip a nail getting out of your ship?"
"Nus, always a pleasure. I suppose you passed out drunk nearby and just happened to wake at the right time." The besalisk chuckles deep and throaty.
"You're funny kid, maybe I'll just take an arm for that."
Hapunn feels his face flush beneath his helmet, one of his hands lowering to sit on the bulky pistol at his hip.
"Your threats don't worry me, Krenna recruited me specifically because-"
"So you're gonna go hide behind the warlord? Like a scared child?"

The two go for their guns in the same moment, and Hapunn is actually a hair faster. But then both their arms are taken in a crushing grip by the white armoured figure who had entered as they were arguing.

"Nus, Hapunn you know you can't fight in here. This is the war room." The voice is light and friendly even as they tighten their hold so hard Hapunn can feel his bones creaking.
"No Krenna. Apologies, our tempers just got the best of us, the siege is wearing us all down."
Nus grumbles but bows his head as well. "What he said."
"Oh good." The two mandalorians are released as the Warlord Krenna Bal'Fortenes steps forward to peer down at the map themselves.
"You know how I feel about infighting that risks the crusade." Despite himself, Hapunn founds his gaze tracking back up to the helmets mounted above.
"Now that we're all here I can begin."
Hapunn glances around before daring to raise the question. "Krenna, are we all here?"
"Yes Hapunn, Haneul got here over an hour ago."
One of the statues moves in the darkness as the figure of Knight Haneul strides out of the darkness pausing only to bow respectfully to her leader before taking up a position at the table.
"Pillars of Cerentii, I hate when she does that." Nus shoots Haneul a glare. Hapunn actually finds himself agreeing with the other man.
"I learnt patience many years ago, now I am learning war."
"And now it is of war we will speak." Krenna points a figure down at the map. "The collapsed hospital on the north side, we could make entry. Hapunn, do you think?"
"My men could land on the roof if they flew in low under the Republic fire."
"And Nus?"
"I'd take mine in through the sewers below, probably haven't even guarded them."
"Mmmmhm, yes. Haneul, I've heard reports of a Jedi operating in that sector."
"I will deal with it personally."
"Good."
The Warlord peers down at the city, staring at something only they can see.
"A few more months and this miserable planet will be behind us. And then, the Core."
Despite themselves the three lieutenants find themselves ginning. The Galactic Core, the riches and the power. Only one last planet and it would be theirs.
Krenna just continues to stare at the city, one of their hands slowly balling into a fist...