We all are pitching in, setting up Resolute Base. It is not so bad, though I miss the luxuries of Balmorra. I have taken it upon myself to try to raise morale - as I spoke to various people throughout the base, they seem to really miss General Niall's tough love and discipline. Quite a few have suffered greatly from the Imperial attack on Arda I.

I finally met Dr. Lauren. She was actually a lot kinder and caring than I thought she might be - once my charming personality softened up her cool exterior. Doctors tend to maintain professional distance just to survive in their difficult profession, but they need friends, too. In any case - as part of my general morale raising duties, of course - we had a few good conversations at the mess hall this week.

Lauren mentioned that meds were in short supply, but that some scouts had come across some natural cures in the surrounding area. Kehri Lilies grow near swamps, and they can be synthesized into valuable medication. Naturally, I immediately volunteered our team. I knew Sprend and I would be glad to do some hunting like we have in the past, and Damaria is usually up for anything that will help the team. Tor, however, needed a bit of convincing - I did not mention that we might have to trek waist-deep through swamp mud.

The journey was a bit annoying - bugs, heat, and massive, carnivorous, quadripedal lizards. We had just discovered a small batch of lilies when we heard ominous clicking, and these crazed lizards attacked us out of nowhere. Sprend was quick on the draw, and dropped one with a single shot. Tor also managed to get a shot in, with Damaria coordinating our attacks as she meditated.

I reached out to the nearest lizards' minds and turned their attention onto their injured compatriot, tweaking their olfactory instincts - “that blood smells like delicious food!” I almost felt bad when one jumped on its brother and started rending it with massive jaws.

But while I focused on those three, I suddenly found myself covered in disgusting poison spit. Thankfully my body held up - apparently I have some natural resistance to this particular poison - and I flicked on my shoto and, together with the others, made short work of the rest.

We walked across to a hillock in the middle of the swamp on a tree bridge, somehow made by Sprend in the firefight, and I helped harvest the iridescent lilies. The rest of the task was quite uneventful, and Lauren was quite pleased at our haul. She has a nice smile. I did not mind staying with Tor and helping him work on synthesizing the flowers.

Later that day I continued to socialize in the mess hall. I met Lordas, the sick pilot we replaced on the scouting run before the Empire arrived - a good thing we arrived when we did. I also did my best to feign interest in the arrogant Torrentz - he seems like a loyal soldier, just a bit full of himself. I found out an interesting tidbit: apparently Lt. Varnarek changed routes last-minute and set up no-fly zones on Arda I, frustrating the pilots and it seemed quite suspicious to me.

At the end of the day, the team reconvened to discuss strategy and gather what we learned. Tor and I decided to break into the armory to investigate the droid there who seemed to be doing some unusual things - I did not quite understand everything Tor said, but he made it sound serious. In hindsight, it was probably not the smartest plan, but at 1 am it seemed like the right thing to do - this traitor business could be very urgent and time is not on our side.

Together we managed to slice the lock, and I covered the hallway while he went inside to do his magic on the droid. He seemed quite pleased, and came out talking about some kind of upgrade and programming problem. I was too tired to understand, and went to bed.

Early the next morning, we were called into C&C, with an angry Lt Quol (the annoying Bothan in charge of intelligence), Maj. Yaelor and Commander Qurno. Apparently some wookiee had seen us enter the armory. I am rather surprised the wookiee did not just rip our arms off instead of tattle, but I will not complain.

I calmly presented our mission (some were still unaware of the traitor), our evidence and rationale behind the covert operation, and they were somewhat mollified. After they were done interrogating us, they sent us on another mission, probably to get us off the base for a bit. Apparently there is a former smuggler base in the Athrorn Mountains that may contain much-needed supplies.

Another speeder trip followed by a hike through nasty terrain. At least I am getting my exercise.