Ewoks

Deep within Lothal's dense jungles, a Lottan jungle unit was resting in its camp.

They all wore jungle camouflage, their faces painted jungle green with waterproof greasepaint. Ropes, multitools, crossbows and bolts, insect repellent, whistles—every tool was at hand. Some of them were processing small animals they had just hunted, their practiced movements marking them as veterans.

Alarm devices and traps had long been set around the camp, while sentries stationed on the perimeter kept constant watch to ensure its safety. Under layers of camouflage, even from a short distance away, it was impossible to distinguish the campsite from the surrounding jungle.

These were elite jungle troops selected from among the Lottans. Together with the activities of the Lottan Smuggler Fleet, they were meant to hinder the Fourth Civilization from two directions.

They refused to submit to the Galactic Republic's rule, and they were even less willing to submit to the Fourth Civilization. The only ones they acknowledged were the Hutts. In fact, if this had happened a month or two earlier, Tang Xiao could have used the connection with the Hutt Alok Besadi to force the Lottans into submission. They might not have become obedient, but at least they would not have caused trouble.

But now, the relationship between the Fourth Civilization and the Hutts was extremely delicate. Tang Xiao would never allow the Lottans an opportunity to contact the Hutts and give them a chance to drive a nail into territory controlled by the Fourth Civilization.

And the Lottans had their own calculations.

The Republic's forces had indeed been driven out by the Fourth Civilization, but that was still far from enough for them to win independence. They needed to borrow the Republic's strength once more and drive out the Fourth Civilization as well. After two rounds of