Log:Array Consortium: Assault on Complex Seven, Part II

Assault on Complex Seven Part II

Location: Jaynat, Sarkhai
Participants: Zerna Gann, Sion, Coren Sym

While many of the other enemy-held mining complexes are suffering punishing bombardment by allied forces, Complex Seven remains ripe for revolution. Consortium agents will deliver pallets of weapons and equipment to anti-Kespanian forces already made contact with during a previous operation, as requested by the organization's leadership, and assist further as required. Complex Seven is thinly-manned at the moment, but heavily armed and equipped; the slightest misstep might bring the whole invasion force down upon them.

Low and fast, a drop shuttle from the age of the Clone Wars is the chariot for the Consortim's team tonight over Jaynat; its hold contains a grav-pallet loaded with weapons, and the team members themselves. While the cold bleakness of the planet's rocky surface stretches out in all directions, the shuttle flies over the landscape in the same maddening way as their previous delivery vehicle had - though at least in a crash, the ship would not collapse quite as quickly.

The pilot of the shuttle keys the intercom. << Fifteen minutes to touchdown, >> comes the flat voice of the Barabel. << Prepare for rapid disembarkment. >> The goal, of course, is simple: get the guns in through the mine entrance, find a way to conceal them, and meet with the rebels in Dome One. This time, mining suits and identification will be waiting for them. They just have to make it through without tipping off the guards.

Coren Sym checks his straps again, slightly concerned at the age of their transportation. His knees are bouncing nervously, and he looks down at the blaster on his hip. Chuckling nervously, he looks to Zerna, "So, boss, do we have keys this time?"

Zerna sighs a bit as she is dressed a bit more lightly....slightly. Licking her lips a bit she looks over then chuckles a bit. "Let's hope so...." Grinning she looks back. "Everyone move fast once we land. WE have to not get caught up on this go round."

Sion, making a last check of the cargo pallet and its inbuilt grav unit, nods in satisfaction. She's used to moving around in fast-flying transports. This ship's old, but that just increases its appeal in her mind: It's time-tested and reliable.

While it isn't immediately clear whether Coren is nervous over the flight or the nature of the mission, his glances toward Sion and her walking around during descent make it plain that he can't believe she's doing that. "Are we stashing the crates when we get in, or do we have to lug them with us?" He scratches at the white spot of stubble on his temple, "I don't think those crates are going to go unnoticed if we're pushing them about." A shrug, "Then again, you never know."

"We have to bring them...help conceal them for transport....perhaps feigning that they're equipment or something." SA shrug is given and she smiles. "Let's see what they have to say the least."

"The idea is that we hide them in the mine tunnels, then meet our inside people. But we've got to get inside the dome on our own, this time," Sion replies. "Hopefully we've got a door-cracker along."

It doesn't take long before the ship touches down; nor does it take long before it takes off again, leaving the team a bit bristled with the sled full of packed guns shuddering in the wake of its repulsors. The door is there in the rock, as it was before, and hile it is powered it is now set with a combination lock panel, a combination code that Zerna has been entrusted with. Easy to get in, easy to lug the sled in with you, and easy to avoid the rockfalls and weak tunnel sections that Mandl has already remarked upon before. After a half an hour of lugging or so, the team makes it to the equipment vault under the idle mining dome.

Time to get their disguises on, conceal the weapons, and get into character.

Coren Sym picks up a couple of the jumpsuits left for them, looking at sizes. He tosses one in Sion's direction, hoping he doesn't insult her. The other, he pulls on over his current clothes. The blaster is still holstered on his hip, and makes a noticable lump. "Huh. I'm guessing we'll have to stash these with the rest, eh?"

Leaving his jumpsuit partially unzipped for the time being, he starts wandering around the vault. "Did they say anything about something for us to use down here, XO?"

Zerna sighs as they arrive, not having that much of an arsenal. Right now she's just got a knife strapped to her inner thigh. Undercover? Gotta go light...or not. She sticks her own gun off for now. Looking over to Coren she shakes her head. "I don't think...we have to be...well....sneaky. We can't start a blaster battle so..." A shrug is given. "Stash it and let's hope we won't need it."

In cover near another crate of probably-derelict mining equipment, Sion does manage to catch the suit tossed her way, looking it over for only a moment before laying it down. She's busy keeping watch.

It's a long moment before her turn to change comes. She stashes her own well-loved S5 close to their hiding spot, then switches clothes; her suit won't fit under the mining gear. "Hopefully we can be sneaky enough. Our escorts talked us through last time." She hasn't forgotten the sweaty-palmed, agonizing moment while the goons with guns looked them over semi-suspiciously.

Coren Sym notices a set of grubby crates that might do nicely. He nudges them with a toe as he slides his holster out from inside the jumpsuit at Zerna's suggestion, "These might work."

Opening the top of one with a creak, Coren looks inside to check the state of the unit.

You know what they say about a plan coming together? In this case, the plan has come together exceedingly well. Between the three of them, Zerna, Coren and Sion are able to load the guns from their storage crates into old boxes meant for mining equipment; with found documentation and a holographic seal applicator, the crates are sealed and made to look as though they are meant for an entirely different dome of the complex. It's...pretty convincing, really, at least to the untrained eyes of the three of them - though Sion, especially, is able to really work some magic to make them look extra officious and boring. And filthy, of course, because they're from a bloody mine.

Now they just have to be brought up the lift into the complex, and hopefully past the guards. Who have the heavy combat armor. And the repeaters. And the grenades.

Thank gods for the others! As the rigged stuff up, she was just....glad that wasn't too much of a hot mess. Liking her lips a bit she looks around then rubs her face and everything with dirt. Yes...dirty dirty. Taking a deep breath she looks to the others. "Let's...just stay calm and not let them ruffle our feathers so to speak...." At that she smiles then nods as she leads them to get to the next checkpoint.

You know what they say about a plan coming together? In this case, the plan has come together exceedingly well. Between the three of them, Zerna, Coren and Sion are able to load the guns from their storage crates into old boxes meant for mining equipment; with found documentation and a holographic seal applicator, the crates are sealed and made to look as though they are meant for an entirely different dome of the complex. It's...pretty convincing, really, at least to the untrained eyes of the three of them - though Sion, especially, is able to really work some magic to make them look extra officious and boring. And filthy, of course, because they're from a bloody mine.

Now they just have to be brought up the lift into the complex, and hopefully past the guards. Who have the heavy combat armor. And the repeaters. And the grenades.

Thank gods for the others! As the rigged stuff up, she was just....glad that wasn't too much of a hot mess. Liking her lips a bit she looks around then rubs her face and everything with dirt. Yes...dirty dirty. Taking a deep breath she looks to the others. "Let's...just stay calm and not let them ruffle our feathers so to speak...." At that she smiles then nods as she leads them to get to the next checkpoint.

A quick application of dirt to her suit and herself makes Sion look appropriately mine-grimy; not too much, not too little. "Mine casual... got it," she replies, moving to help move the repulsor pallet with the crates.

Up ahead, she can see the checkpoint leading into the dome. "Goons with guns ahead," she says, and takes a deep breath, silently slipping into character.

Time for some thrillin'... bureaucracy.

Coren Sym gives his lips a twist at the work done on the crates. It looks pretty damn official to his eyes. Taking grime from other crates, he follows suit and mucks himself up.

He helps Sion push the pallet down the corridors. It feels longer this time. Seeing the checkpoint ahead, he nods and keeps his head down.

The guards at the checkpoint are pretty much the same as the last - the armor's identical, although heights are different. Same big guns, same bristling demeanor as the three of them push ahead.

<< All right, >> the first of them says, a woman's voice filtered through a helmet speaker. << Let's see those ID cards. What've you got in here? >> As he holds out her hand for the IDs, the other guard begins to track the three with their helmet visor, watching quietly for trouble.

Coren Sym keeps a relatively flat expression, as if this were nothing new. He provides his badge as requested, but otherwise makes no other motion. Simple, quiet compliance.

Ze looks up, smiling slightly as she rubs her brow. Speaking in her native accented tongue she smiles a bit then. "Here you go...." At that she looks around. "Some....what is word....equipment?"

Sion sighs, as her role would, waiting for her turn to pass over an ID card. "Just in. As you can see, it hasn't been opened. Still has the company seals, even," she says to the woman with the voice that would sound great on a Biscuit Baron drive-in order-taker.

Oh, she does not speek zee baseek, does Zerna - but the guard grunts at her accent and her broken words, and isn't convinced. << Save it for the locals, >> she says, giving Zerna a long look from behind her helmet's tinted lenses. << Some of us aren't fooled by that whole act. >> Then to her comrade he guard says, << Check that all out. >>

It takes a few minutes...long...stressful minutes...in which the other fellow goes over the crates with a scanner in hand - examining each holoseal very closely, especially, before eventually stepping back and holstering the scanner. << Looks legitimate, >> he says in his gruff, clipped way, unslinging his rifle once more. << Nothing bad here. >>

<< All right. >> The first guard scans each of the IDs, taking note of names and faces, and then hands them back out. "Truck's out front, make all best speed. Not everyone's as nice as we are. >>

Coren Sym nods assent as his ID is returned, and clips it back onto his suit. Kicking the brake off, he starts pushing it through the checkpoint. After they're through he gives a mirthless chuckle and says quietly, "Too close. Let's take their advice and beat feet."

"Buh-bye now!" Sion replies, definitely cheering up now that they're done with this. Clipping her returned ID back onto her suit, she moves to help Coren maneuver the pallet over to the truck. "I'll drive!"

Zerna just looks at them and nods, giving a wave before they're let through. "Thanks." However she kept that accent. When they were moving over she goes to load up the truck with Coren, giving him a hand. "Go for it."

With the transfer truck loaded and Sion at the wheel, the three of them move through the tunnels connecting Dome 4 with Dome 2, and then finally Dome 1. There are no problems this time; Sion's either done a truly bang-up job making things work or the guards are just /that blind/. Either way, luck is not pressed, and soon Sion enters Dome 1 and does a dogleg just past the checkpoint into the loading zone with the exit that leads into the underlevels. Daro is here, the sandy-haired fellow that was one of the resistance agensts that were met; his broken nose has been set, though the ugly bruise that ringed his eye has not faded.

"Excellent," he calls, clapping a few times for effect as he grins at the parking speeder. "Damned excellent! You made it!"

Coren Sym hops out of the back of truck in a fluid motion, his eyes scanning the area for trouble, "Yeh, we made it. Almost /too/ easy." He says, not quite addressing the man directly. Another glance around, and his eyes settle on Daro. A pause, then he continues, "How are things here?"

Coren rounds the truck to pass by Zerna where he gently taps her elbow and gives a subtle nod toward the resistance agent and tries to make quick eye contact indicating "something's up."

Zerna smiles but her blue eyes are looking around. Feeling the nudge she just quietly acknowledges that as she now turns her gaze to the man. There's no frown as she nods and stays by the truck, her hand moving to Sion if she's near. "Got all that mining equipment for you." She smiles and then glances to Coren and looks to the truck then back to the man ahead. "Want to come over and check it out and make sure it's what you all need?"

Sion, in the driver's seat, slowly climbs down, keeping an eye on Daro. "Step over here, could you? You'll definitely want to look this stuff over," she says. "Not sure what you needed, and you definitely want to make sure it's the right stuff before you accept delivery."

She wants to talk to him, for sure. But she'll have to wait and let him get close, so they can speak quietly. She has an idea that Zerna's wanting the same thing.

Daro looks at the three of them, a hunted look rising in his eyes - and after taking a deep breath, shakes his head. "No," he says, "Shavit, shavit! It's no good - we're in it deep, you guys, and I..." He grits his teeth, face flushing red, then draining away pale. "They're on to us. Fragging...Haln...and Tag...they tried to break into the armory. Like we'd planned. Didn't even make it inside before they got shot down."

Halfway down with a crate, Coren hears Daro's tale, and he drops it the rest of the way with a /thunk/ and a muttered expletive. "Sounds like we doubletime it." Looking to Ze, he adds, "Now what, boss?"

Zerna licks her lips and then nods. "Alright...then...." There pause as eh looks around. "....are they holding you all?" She leaves it at that as she looks to the others but then waits for an answer first. "...we need to know before we can do anything...."

Sion stays near the cab of the truck, just in case they need to leave RFN. "How long ago was this, Daro? Do they know you're here? As in /here/ here? Or just that you all exist?"

"No," Daro says with a shake of his head - draining now, e looks...well. Very tired. "This was last night. They haven't been on us, or ...anything. Maybe they're just watching, I don't know, because the only thing they've done is lock the security offices down tight. Alastine's given orders that we take the guns from you all, and just...sit on them, for now, till we know what's going on." A shake of his head, and new anger flashes in Daro's eyes. "So yeah. That's what she wants us to do right now. Sit tight. /Great/."

Coren Sym sighs and looks at the crate he dropped, leaning to the side to see if there's any damage, "Inside with 'em then?" he asks Zerna. He runs a hand through his hair and turns his head to look over his shoulder, half expecting thugs with guns to be waiting for him. Looking to Daro, he says quietly, "Sorry to hear about your friends."

Zerna nods as she hears that and frowns. "Alright. We'll get these loaded in and then we'll head out....and let the captain know." Nodding she then looks to Coren. "Yeah...its best so we don't' start a show."

"Leave them," says Daro with a shake of his head, the spark in him gone again. "We got guys coming up out of the underlevels. You wanna wait and see...fine." Daro lets out a long sigh. "Sorry if we disappointed you guys. I know you were hoping for us to get things going right away. Just...Alastine doesn't want us to give them any more reason to start looking around. Says they might just think they were two guys up to no good on their own, right?"

He shakes his head again, then, and nods to Sion. "Thanks. Just...we need to get these guys out of here. And I mean, we're just one complex, one planet - what about the Crown? I'm not Sarkhaian, but I mean, I grew up here. The Crown and the Circlet have always taken care of us. I can't imagine what it might be like right now, all those people under the shield..." Daro falls silent. "All right. I'm going to go under and get the guys - just go ahead and get back, we'll be all right. Won't make a move without you knowing about it. Honest."

"I know it's frustrating, but Alastine might have the right idea. Give things a little time to cool off," Sion says quietly. "I'm sorry about your friends. But trying to start a fire now, while these thugs are on alert, that'd be making their sacrifice meaningless. We can speak to the heads, try to get you all some more support from our direction."

Coren Sym goes back to hefting crates without a word. Get the job done, and go home. He's too used to /taking/ things, not /leaving/ them. Exploring, not fighting.

"We'll unload and go, then," Sion replies, nodding. "But we'll be in touch. Stay alive and stay safe for now. The proper time /will/ come. I know it's hard, but be patient. It's no easier for us, believe me; we want this system freed as badly as you do." She turns to assist Coren. It looks like the war here just got a little longer.

Zerna smile slighlty and nods. Looking over to Coren she seems to nod before looking bac. "Alright....let's do this..." And with that she helps them unload.

With a faint smile tossed Sion's way, Daro turns to go; a few minutes later, as the last crates are being unloaded, a few more men and droids emerge from the underlevels to pick up crates and start to drag the behind the wall equipment shielding the entrance into maintenance. The time to head out is now, and with Sion at the wheel they make their way out, past the checkpoints and back to the exit - where, after a half hour after Zerna's signalling, the shuttle returns to pick them up. Back to orbit, back to the Business, and away from the paranoia that brews in a place like Complex Seven. The war's gotten longer there, at least. But it never waits for long.