Log:Guilded Gifts
Guilded Gifts
OOC Date: March 18, 2020
Location: Corulus System
Participants: Ambrosia Greystorm(GM only), Nova Korell, Merek Black, Callax Dalso, Elrych Cometburn, Sesti Gath, Jax Greystorm, Aryn Cole, Ban Iskender, The Resistance
[Elrych Cometburn]
The Fair Mynock was a big ship, especially when emptied. Fast for a YZ-775, the Jedi Ace Pilot of Black Squadron Elrych Cometburn, watched as the blue swirls of the Hyperspae tunnel surrounding them washed over his face and reflected in the mirrored lenses of his solar shades. His feet were up on the console, hands held back behind his head, Captain/Pilots seat pushed back. He had some crew around... somewhere. A Sakiyan, a Kubaz, and two humans. Yamo Foss was one of them who was on the bridge at this moment with Elrych. Music played over the intercom. A slow ballad with a crooning female singer who spoke of her lost love and betrayal.
[Merek]
Merek takes time to place on the flight suit equipment which is a nice black with a nice silver-like trim upon it. He then finds a place to settle in with the people on that crew, waiting about, looking to a mechanical hand of his while he works with a machine device.
[Nova Korell]
It's been a lengthy trip by most standards, even on a fast ship like this. Nova's been keeping up with ship chores, not wanting to be a burden on the crew. Still, laundry could've been done sooner. That machine's a tricky one; blasted civilian models! Too many options! So she's clad in white tanktop, sky-blue athletic briefs, and white ship-socks when she peeks into the cockpit via the aft hatch. "Will we be there soon? I just heard something turn off, and I hope it's the laundry!"
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
Why we find ourselves hurtling toward Corulus at a velocity faster than light: Free stuff, free data. More specifically, a list of names of some Republic sympathizers dwelling on Chandrila under the FO's thumb who /potentially/ could be swayed to play ball and offer safe housing or more to infiltrating Res personnel. It's a gift that of course is given with expectation that the Resistance WILL come to Chandrila. Will free it and return it to the Republic's control as with Mon Cal. And as for the 'stuff', well, that'd be the promised cargo of supplies. Rations, medical, and the like.
It was an offer too good NOT to investigate with a quick venture into the Bormea sector. Not quite as dangerous as a foray into the Chandrila system at present, but being spat out from hyperspace into neighboring Corulus system is definitely worthy of a moment's held breath given its proximity. A healthy degree of caution, if you will. 'Keep your friends close and enemy at turret's length' kind of caution.
Won't take much of a scan to realize that their contact is late. Star twinkle warmly in the surrounding emptiness. Solag, Biolag, Garulag, and Corulag are faithfully tracking their course around their sun in company of many, many, MANY moons. So many moons in this system.
But no contact. No one heralding the Fair Mynock or seeking approach. Any minute now though, surely.
[Elrych Cometburn]
"They're late..." Duh, Elrych. THe ships lurched back into realspace at the rondevu that was seemingly empty. Elrych set the ship to a low patrolling speed and ran a sensor sweep. He also reached out with the force to get a feel for the area. His voice comes over the intercomm, and over the music thats playing "So I got two Double Laser Turrets and Two Turbolaser turrets on this bad girl... We're here so who ever wants to grab a seat on a gun, do so now." HE wasn't sure exactly what kind of ships or escourts their contact would be fielding.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax had taken up a place in the lounge of the Mynock. He was mostly staying out of the way. He was looking at his datapad surfing though the information on it. Though he looked up where Sesti was stretched out on the couch with her feet sitting in his lap. "You taking one of the guns?" says as he turns off this datapad and tucks it away, "Elrych, I can take one if somebody else don't want it."
[Sesti Greystorm]
Sesti's feet don't rest on Jax's lap for long once they hear Elrych over the coms. She picks up her helmet from the floor beside where she was lounging and pulls it on so that her void suit is complete and she can speak through the link in her helmet. << I can take a turbolaser,>> her voice more a statement of intent than an offer. She looks towards her husband, then, because her armor hides her face from his view, she lifts her hand to mime blowing him a kiss before she strides in the direction of guns.
[Merek]
Merek looks up from work while he nods to Elrych, and blinks a bit at Nova, "I can work on a few things for you all," he says. Then he's making a way to begin doing a few things.
[Callax Dalso]
Following the larger vessel through hyperspace and into the void is the sleek, dark spaceframe of a TIE Avenger, like a double-terminated jewel of doom with it faceted wings. The fighter arrives off the Mynock's port side as it enters realspace, taking up an escort position with its running lights cut off - no point in making too much of an announcement of its appearance, after all. Over comms, a gentle, half-amused contralto voice sounds from the sleek interceptor, that of Callax Dalso.
<< Mynock, this is Dark Joy. Forming on your wing, and ever watchful. >>
In truth, it's odd flying the Imperial vesel these days; encased in flexible, voidproof body armor, Callax is far more used to flying the slower, less agile E-wing, with Babo in his ear. But there is no room for an astromech in the /Joy/, which is likely proper. It's a murder-ship, after all. Intimacy is the watchword for the day.
[Nova Korell]
"I can take one of the lasers," Nova pipes up, old team-driven habits coming to the fore instantly, and turns to hurry aft. She manages not to run into Sesti as she goes, noting the Zabrak's armor. "As if I don't feel underdressed enough already..." she quips, with a quick smile for Sesti as she slips past, heading for the starboard turret.
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
Tick tock, ten minutes or so pass before a pair of ships suddenly blip into scanner range and make a courteously slow but deliberate approach. Said ships include 1 Barloz-class medium freighter and a smaller, unarmed Nestt light freighter - product of SoroSuub.
<<Fair Mynock, this isth Tassis Ilsek of the 'Azurite Scale'>> the broadcast hails from the Nestt <<requessting docking link to your ssstarboard port. I would be honored to deliver thisth data to you in person ssso I may better expresss my mossst ssorrowful condolencess.>>
What for, Tassis doesn't say, but if she is the Republic supporter she is reported to be, then one can guess with ease. My 'Manta' will deliver the cargo. A sssimple inversion maneuver is all that's required to transssfer in vacuum. Does thisss pleasse you?
The 'Azurite Scale' hovers patiently about Fair Mynock's starboard viscinity, maintaining a distance that's equal parts polite and cautious. The Barloz-class 'Manta', by contrast, is already set on passively drifting course to roll belly-up beneath the Mynock. Assuming the position, if you will.
[Elrych Cometburn]
"Roger that dark Joy..." The Jedi responds to their escort fighter. Elrych considers the comm call a moment, before maneuvering his ship to accept the docking. "Mynock accepts docking request, maneuvering now. Mind me asking why you're late, Azurite Scale?" He was curiose but many thing could have caused the tardiness. "Security team to the docking hatch..." He instructs over the comm.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax rises from his seat and rolls his neck and shoulders with a slight pop then acts like he catches the kiss and tucks it into an imaginary pocket above his chest. "Nova, you do you. If you're comfortable. You're comfortable. Just watch your six. I don't want to write an AAR to my Mother discussing you getting shot while in your bloomers." He slips on his helmet hiding his face that grins for amoment. < I think I'll go play security team with the rest. Cometburn, you need me, holler.> THen Jax starts to head towards the docking port. He reaches out to the force trusting it to guide him and his next actions.
[Sesti Greystorm]
Sesti's helmet moves back and forth as she shakes her head with amusement at the scantily clad 'gunner' headed down the hallway. She pauses in the act of getting into her own turret when she hears the call for security. <<Do you still want me in the turret?>>
[Merek]
Merek looks between the people and nods to Nova, while he lifts a brow a bit, then he looks to Jax, "You all been doing alright?"? he asks. Then he stands up with the call for security, making a way about.
[Callax Dalso]
Oh, they're showing their belly already? Such helpful creatures, they. But Callax has a suspicious mind, and so he turns the /Joy/'s electronic eyes upon yonder approaching Nestt. << I read no weapons armed, Mynock, >> Callax reports over comms, << A few fellows on the upper deck, some down by the cargo lift. I don't -- >> There's a moment's pause, and then his voice takes a mocking-sweet tone as he speaks again over general comms.
<< Pardon me, friends, >> he says now, tilting his ship so that the fighter's guns have ready access to the Nestt's ascending belly. << But I'll kindly ask you to stop, and have you do explain what it is you've got attached to your Manta's hull? >> It's /phrased/ as a request, certainly. The guns trained on the /Manta/, however, ensure it's taken as anything but.
[Nova Korell]
"I'll be careful, Jax," Nova promises, and hurries for the starboard turret. She /did/ volunteer, for better or for worse. Once she's there, she swings herself up into the gunnery chair, wincing at the coldness of the seat and restraints. It's the work of only moments to get the servos powered up and energy flowing to the guns' power relay. The targeting array is active moments later. "Starboard hot and ready," she intercoms to the cockpit.
And then she waits. And waits. And frequently wishes she could step away to check on her laundry, but there's the mission to consider. She's on watch, after all; what if something happens and she's not at her post?
And so the minutes crawl by like spilled Bessalian Wax Pudding leaving the bowl. Sometimes you really can be too good of a soldier. And then, suddenly, their rendezvous is there! And chatty. And Callax doesn't seem to trust them. Nova gets on the com. </Joy/, what do you see on the Manta? What does it look like?>
She does have the presence of mind to darken the one-way tinting on the turret's viewport while she's waiting for the reply.
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
<<A small misshap of communication between myssself and one of our sssuppliers ressulted in a regretable delay of load time. My apologies, sssincerely>> And on that apologetic note to Elrych, the Azurite Scale pivots on axis and snugs up to the docking port at an awkward but workable angle.
It's radio silence then from the pilot when the ports maglock together. Connection secure. Systems stable.
<<...>> A brief pause, static, then <<Perhapsss you might be more ssspecific? It isss a merchant vessssel. Sssome armaments are wissse to mount, thessse dayss. Piratesss are a mossst dreadful pessstilence>> Are they bluffing? Hard to tell, with many meters of vacuum and durasteel away and lisssssssssp to boot.
The Manta, meanwhile, halts its advance on Mynock's cargo hatch just shy (fifty meters or so) of the lift's reach. Ever so polite, this craft.
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych raises an eyebrow as the report from Dark Joy comes through. He hadn't sensed anything out of the ordinary... yet. "Moonbeam, It so much as moves the wrong way you have my permission to turn it into space debris..." He presses the ship to move away from the vessel he was previously intercepting even as it comes to a halt, to gain even more distance, even if just a little bit. <<"Give us a moment, Scale...">> El reaches out with the force, something felt in-genuine about that answer given to both Dark Joy and himself. <<"Dark Joy, can you inspect this object closer please? Give us some detail.">> Said over secure coms before switching, <<"What's the catch here, scale? IF you're trying ot pull a fast one, might as well just level with us here.">>
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax says to Merek, "Fine enough. Though I'm putting my game face on. We'll catch up later. Something's not right here. " His hands moving to sit settle on his holster to grab either blaster or saber. <This is a trap.> He confirms on the com. His mind drawing a shield around him with the force. <We'll be read here.>
[Sesti Greystorm]
Sesti's indecision ends when they hear Callax politely challenging the docking ship and she is in the turret like a flash, her fingers flying as she warms up the power on the turbo lasers. As she waits for the green, she straps herself in and flexes her fingers, listening intently to the rest of the conversations. Her hands on the controls, she brings her own guns around to bear, attempting to take aim on the one underneath as Elrych moves them apart. <<Ready to fire on your mark>> she advises on private comms to those on board the Mynoch.
Drifting past, Callax trains the sensors on the ship - nothing further appears, though he is not one to trust simple electronics. Taking a deep breath, he wills his eyes to change, the simple black dots of his irises twisting themselves into what some might consider horrifying shapes as he lets genetic engineering take over. And yet...nothing. Gray on gray. Only the ghost of the power signature.
<< I saw something a moment ago, >> he explains on the link. << Power sig, about drone-sized. But I can't pick up anything on visual. Perhaps I was wrong... >> But he's suspicious, so naturally he isn't /quite/ convinced. There's certain a question now, though.
[Nova Korell]
<Copy, Captain,> Nova replies, swiveling her own guns to bear on the /Manta/. Jax's words come through seconds later. < I have the /Manta/ targeted now. One false move and they're floating debris. Ready to target the /Scale/ as necessary. Or ordered.>
Her hands tighten on the firing grips. It's go time, and things could go very, very bad in moments. And the adrenalin's singing in her veins, as usual. Sometimes she wishes trouble wasn't so /exciting/...
[Merek]
Merek finds a weapon system to get onto while he begins to scan along in space, waiting for any orders that might be offered while he speaks to a comlink, "I'm preparing."
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
<< It would be eassssier to level on your level, but if it will ssspare my crew...>>
Simple voice transmission is upgraded to a holocall so that they may speak face to face. Sort of. Tassis is a decently attractive representation of her species and is sleekly scaled in two-toned shades of brown. Belly and arm fins are the color of soft, golden sand whereas the rest of her is darker bronze. Ornate, emerald 'eyespots' form twin ring patterns on her cranial hood. Her eyes are round, impassive orbs of black, set beneath sturdy brow ridges and above the slight protrusion of wide, thin mouth. The space between is fairly flat, save for a pair of ridges framing her nares.
Gender's not overtly obvious at first glance (unless you're Sluissi!) but the face and markings appear to match the ID presented to Intel. The clothing is tailored to an exotic body type and has an overabundance of pockets stitched into the sleeveless tunic. There's unquestionable practicality to the outfit, but attention has been paid to delicate detail work. The hunter-green fabric is exceptionally soft, supple leather and fastens with a black-buckled belt at the waist-ish area. What one might imagine to be the waist, anyway. Below the belt, the hem hangs lowly in front and back panels and is edged with black, textured ribbon.
<< I have come bearing greetingsss to you and yours from Chandrila, by way of Corulag...>> Tassis's gentle viperine lisp is just as pronounced over holocomm as it was over ship-to-ship broadcast. Seems there's a forked tongue and not faulty transmission to blame. Said tongue flickers daintily forth to sample her own nervous air as she bows her upper third. The lower third is slithering up against itself in a comfortable S-formation, tail tip piling up over the bulk of it all.
<<Thisss is a portion of what was promisssed,>> she lifts a small data chit into view. <<Encrypted, naturally, for ssssafe keeping. There are ssssixty tons of cargo for you aboard the Manta but ssshe will not reach from current dissstance. Asss for what worriesss you about her hull, I cannot sssay. Perhapsss we acquired a parasssite in transssit>>
Behind Tassis is the shadow of another figure, standing quietly /almost/ out of frame.
[Elrych Cometburn]
<<"Uh-huh.">> Elrych says, the blue hologram of the scaly snake lady in her body suit reflected in those dark shades of his. The Jedi clicks his tongue against his cheek. Jax said it was a trap and he trusted the former Jedi and his ability to sense when something was off or if they were in Danger. <<"So who's the muscle in the military grade body suit who looks like he could strangle you to death and may or may not have actually threatened to do so because of that... I'll level, ya'll look nervous." He clears his throat, reaching out with the force to touch that muscle bound individual. "So who are you, muscles? Come up front and give me your name and organization.">> over private comm, <<"Keep Scanning Dark Joy...">>
[Jax Greystorm]
<Captain, if you can, check to see if they're scanning us? They don't have to be a jedi to be gathering information on us.> He says quietly on the private channel. He was trusting the jedi on this one. Elrych had grown into a jedi since Jax was last out there. He closes his eyes. Then he chuckles to himself, <Should keep my mind on the mission.>
[Sesti Greystorm]
Sesti waits, her entire body still, waiting for the word as she keeps her line on the Manta. A frown appears under the helmet, "sounds like we should be boarding their vessel" she mutters to no one in particular, since there isn't anyone there with her and she doesn't say it on comms.
[Merek]
Merek waits while he listens to the comlink, not doing anything with the orders not given. He settles back to watch the screen while he takes a drink of water with his mechanical hand, a little nod.
[Callax Dalso]
"Aha!" Because like all creatures great and small, everything carries a parasite - and though it took him a few scans, Callax picks up a clear silhouette on the Manta's hull: a spidery machine, a droid, humming away affixed with magnetic grapples. "Well, well," Callax says, violet-painted lips curling slightly in a deadly smile that creeps right into his tone. "Look at you, darling. Look. At. You." With the skill and reflexes baked into his pale frame, Callax targets the machine - and with a single squeeze of the trigger sends a quartet of laser bolts into the transport's hull...or rather, that little durasteel tick that's causing so much worry. It never so much as scratches the /Manta/'s paint when the four powerful bolts converge, like a bright green fireworks flash. The droid is dislodged, and likely evaporated in the process.
<< Dark Joy to all ships, >> Callax says in his satisfied-feline way. << My my, there appeared to be a limpet droid affixed to the /Manta/'s hull. Worry not, friends, I've lanced that particular boil for you. >>
[Nova Korell]
"Wait... our contact has someone else in the cockpit? Something's definitely not right," Nova says into the intercom, her sights still hovering over the /Manta/. Callax's next words, and those well-aimed blasts that hit the /Manta/, only confirm to her that all's not as it should be. < I have no idea what a limpet droid is, /Joy/, but it sounds bad. Keeping an eye on /Manta/... and /Scale/.>
She can look out the viewport and easily see the Nesst, after all. Why waste such a great vantage point?
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
<<Taar Kathos, Perlemian Spears>> The Kiffar steps forward seeming so inclined to make Elrych's acquaintance. Tassis flinches ever so slightly away when the big guy steps up to her station but the oddly glazed quality to his burly glare suggests something is not right. Beyond the obvious, of course.
The Sluissi edges away from the man, one rippling belly scute scoot at a time. Her expression remains as flat and calm as ever, but the break-neck speed that her head swivels back when Callax's voice purrs on comms about the limpet droid suggests more than casual interest. <<A limpet droid you ssay?>> She slithers a half circle around the Kiffar, <<Mosssst curioussss>>
Very cautiously, the reptilian reaches for something out of sight.
The pest is indeed blown clear off the Manta's hull but the firing of those guns did more than obliterate the espionage droid. It caused a commotion inside the ship, as well. Those lifeforms formerly seen by scanners are now scrambling. Those topside, anyway. There is a cluster in the cargo deck that remain unmoved.
A fractured burst of comm relay comes from the Manta then, but there is more than one voice and sounds like there's a fight over the controls that ends with a single *PEW* of blaster before it really has time to begin.
[Elrych Cometburn]
<<"Hi Tarr, I'm Elrych...">> Says the Jedi in a bit of a deadpan, reaching out through the force once more to pry at the mind of the slithering one... <<"Listen... just tell me what's going on good or bad, you can trust me. Why are there Pirates on your ship..">> The com traffic from the mantra draws a bit of surprise. "Well I can't belive I'm doing this... Jax, guys... I think they've been compromised by pirates." He clears his throat, <<"Mantra and Scale, stand down conn and prepare to be boarded. Do not attempt to flee or fight, we will put you down.">> THey had information they needed, or might need...
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax laughs, "Truly an odd day, " He says to Elrych. He says preping his weapons. "Alright Security force, lets do this. I recommend using stun since we don't know who is who. We don't want to shoot one of our potential allies."
[Merek]
Merek blinks a little with the way that Callax works, then he nods a bit while he waits, "Looks like the whole situation is well in hand."
[Callax Dalso]
Ah, yes. Pirates. With a faint sigh, Callax turns his guns on the Barloz's single turret, and with a squeeze of his trigger fingers looses a quartet of neon green bolts at /that/ as well - and, true to form, shears the turret clean from the ship's hull without damaging the rest. Yes, though you would be utterly forgiven for forgetting these days, Callax is Black Squadron, too.
<< I say, darlings, >> says the androgynous pilot, playing up the role of the poisonous rose, << That was your gun turret. Next is your cockpit. Shields on that tub won't help you, so what say you reliquinsh control back to the crew and I won't bloody kill you all? >> Really. He's got a diplomat's heart.
[Nova Korell]
<While you're thinking about /that/, think about /this/: Ace there is outside in a combat ship,> Nova adds to the calls to surrender. <Very shortly, WE will be over there INSIDE WITH YOU! If you don't turn over those controls to their proper owners RIGHT FRELLING NOW, it'll take a trowel and a bucket to clean up all that'll be left of you! If you hurt those people AT ALL, you'll be blotted up with wet wipes! ARE WE COMMUNICATING, YOU WALKING EXCREMENT BAGS?!>
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
Ah, the cost to repair that's gonna cost Msss Ilsek a pretty credit or 100k to replace! The hefty Manta is now without its cannon. Not that the forward-facing, fixed mount was of much use in its current position, but the sting of its loss is felt nevertheless.
A small sacrifice, maybe, in the name of the New Republic. Or a big one, pending what comes next...
The Manta's sublight engine begins to glow like it means to make a run for it. It's got a thick skin, but the tricky bit is putting the speed of that brain at the nav console against the trigger finger of the TIE buzzing around its face. Risk a shot up the nose for a forward charge? Eh? EH??
Nah. They gonna consolidate their efforts for what Nova's made blatantly clear. THE BOARDING PARTY.
The sublight engines dim and a quicky transmission passes from Manta to Azurite Scale. Something in Sluissese.
Part TWO
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
The 'Manta' is idling beneath the Fair Mynock, still posed to make the cargo transfer. Transmissions have ceased between it and the Nestt-class smaller freighter - Azurite Scale. Neither of the two contact ships are taking evasive action as of yet, but there's been a small change of dynamic on one of them.
Initiated with a single swing of a spanner.
Four long fingers grip the back of Taar Kathos' slumped head and pull his limp figure off the nav console. A bronze-scaled tail delicately extricates its tip from beneath the meaty heap and Tassis Ilsek resumes her place at the helm of her own ship. A pushed button here, a flipped switch there, and the Sluissi methodically locks down the various compartments of her Nestt. Then initiates decompression. Begining, quite explosively, with her own cargo hold. To some, this ghastly, systematic suffocation and depressurization might be called 'murder'. To the very pragmatic alien occupying the cockpit, it is merely a practically applied tactic to solve her current conundrum. The force of a vacuum is mightier than the sword. Or blaster.
<<Azurite Scale to Fair Mynock...>> the lispy contact reestablishes her interrupted communication. <<Pleassse proceed with caution. My Manta's crew in blamelessss in thisss affair.>>
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych left one of his officers in charge of the Con while he made his way down towards the hatchway. Retreieving a comlink from his belt he patches it through a relay on the Mynock... There is a pause as he senses the loss of life... slowly pulling his saber from his blelt as well but without igniting the deadly Jedi weapon. <<"Manta... what did you just do. Are you alright, I'm... losing life signs.">> He takes a moment to consider as he reaches the hanger where he boarding party is gathering. "We clear this ship... then figure out what's going on with the ohter one.">> quick thinking from Callax had disabled the weapons on the vessel. His crew was manning the guns to make sure nothing surprised them... too badly at any rate.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax was with the other security team waiting to board. He pulls out his Dl-44 checking it and setting his pistol to stun. <Like I said, Stun would be a good way to make sure we're not shooting innocents.> He looks to Sesti for a moment then smiels before readying to board. He reaches out to the force to let it flow through him.
[Aryn Cole]
Near the airlock and prepared for boarding is a young blonde doctor, Aryn Cole. She is dressed in a brown and green tunic of a Jedi, wearing a cape that's wrapped over her shoulders and draped down her back. Tucking her hair back behind an ear, Aryn seems to be mentally preparing herself for what feels like the segue to a boarding party. She raises a gloved hand, calling upon the living force in the first brief second to upend her lightsaber from her belt in the blink of an eye. The item flips of its own accord, seemingly, and lands in the palm of her hand to be gripped a second later.
Aryn Cole depresses the button on her cylindrical lightsaber and with an electric snap-hiss a brilliant blue energy beam rises forth!
[Merek]
Merek has snapped each piece of armor onto his frame, while he places the helmet as well, then activates augmented reality system. He lifts up his weapon with gloved hands while he nods to the party, taking the time to move into position in the front side of the group with a look to the place. His finger clicks on the device to switch the weapon into stun, the charge in the pack beginning to adjust, while he waits to follow the people.
[Ban Iskender]
Ban Iskender turns a wary green eye from Aryn to Elrych, one brow arching in curiosity as the transmissions betray a complicated dynamic. "I daresay that sounds direct enough, master Cometburn." The noble soldier draws his pistol on the right hand, and a stunsaber in the left, exhaling slowly through the nose and gathering himself for the action ahead, with the idle comment, "Never a dull moment."
[Sesti Greystorm]
Returning Jax's smile with a nod of her head, Sesti leaves her sword sheathed to her back and instead draws the stun baton in her right hand, flipping the blade of the vibro dagger in her other hand to hold it more defensively. She waits patiently, in an almost relaxed stance, for the airlocks to open and the boarding to begin.
[Nova Korell]
Nova hastily unstraps from the turret, clambers down the ladder, and... goes to check on her laundry! She'll be a moment doing so, as well as grabbing her carbine. Seriously, there are dumber things to do that stepping into a lightfight without armor (or many clothes), but she can't think of many right now.
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
<<Thi--sarnak--ansssmitter---isabled. Pl-----and by>>
Sonds like Manta's having some difficulty communicating. But Elrych's question might find an answer anyway, when /a/ body goes floating free of Azurite Scale's hold. Glossy scales slooowly frost over, but the presence of four limbs means the corpse is not Sluissi.
<> Says Tassis. And it's true, the 'taint' inflicted upon her Nestt by the pirate lord is slowly but surely washing away. The Sluissi cues up security view of the lounge and twin cabins. Black, unreadable orbs watch impassively as the intruders lurking there gasp their last upon the floor.
Inside the Manta, the energy is less serene. The melee inside the cockpit left considerable damage and two crew members dead - one in pit, one in corrdior - before the unwelcomed guests retreated to reform with the rest of their contingent and meet the advertised threat head-on.
Sort of.
When the airlock doors do open, those leading the way will be met by a solitary figure. It's a Kubaz, hastily shuffling at them with raised arms and flapping sleeves. Quite a voluminous outfit, those robes. "Brzzz-rkt! Brzzz-rkt! Zzzrl zkt t'kzt!"
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych blinks, taking Ban's statement in for a just a moment. "Oh... OH, alright." HE hefts a sigh and shakes his head. "This is so not my fault." He tries, he really does. The Corellian Ace puts his hood up, lets the emitter of his saber point away from him and hen finally activates it just as the airlock door opens. He studies the Kubaz a moment, a single eyebrow raising. "Detain them, question them, search them, and if they put up a fight, stun them..." He clears his throat, "That sound acceptabel?"
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax doesn't take the shot but keeps his blaster pulled and raised to target the Kubaz, "He's got a palmed object with a button on it he desperately wants to push. I don't know if he's on our side or not. I'd remove it from his person."
[Aryn Cole]
At the call, Aryn was not keen on taking a chance that this Kubaz would not press the button. Keeping her weapon in an inactive status, she instead locked her eyes with the Kubaz, and raised her gloved hand, gripping the air. The result had the sentient raised up off the ground, hovering in place.
Aryn's subsequent gesture swept the same arm to one side, which slammed the Kubaz against the bulkhead /hard/. Maintaining her focus, she pressed the Kubaz there, pinning them and keeping them from moving. "Remove the object from its hand and apprehend them." She says calmly, keeping her hand up, her arm extended out past her cape.
[Merek]
Merek looks to that airlock, <"Nice accent.">> while he shifts the helmet's system to the faceplate that shows his features, then he's waiting in a corner when he sees the newcomer. He keeps a weapon trained upon them, waiting for orders, while he nods a bit to Cole when the Princess asks of someone to take the device. He does manage to get to it, then it looks like the kubaz wants to keep it. There's a shift while he places his wrist to the man's, then offers a look that says, 'this was not the best idea of yours.' With that, the man points the blaster right at the kubaz's arm, then he pulls the trigger while a charge of crimson spins about. Then he takes the device, nodding to the party. He finds a piece of material which is meant to keep things like that safe, while he places the possible weapon into that device which he offers to the Princess.
[Ban Iskender]
Ban Iskender inclines his head to the Corellian. "None would claim it to be," he notes with dry amusement, when Elrych states it's not his fault. A second short nod at the succinct rules of engagement, and he clicks his pistol to stun, before igniting the white stunsaber. When the airlock opens and the suspicious alien approaches, voluminous sleeves flailing, before being pinned to a bulkhead by Aryn. "Do you understand-" he begins to address the alien firmly, before Merek grapples with their hands and fires a stun bolt. "...That will answer that," he notes, dryly. The soldier lingers over the phone Kubaz only long enough to verify the absence of any obvious explosives, before securing the being in binders, and moving on with the others.
[Sesti Greystorm]
When they are greeted at the airlock by just one, and that one is easily handled by the others, Sesti snakes by those dealing with the one and the device. She walks forward, weapons in hand and at the ready, scanning for more danger.
[Nova Korell]
Nova, now in thorougly dry armor, arrives just in time to see the Kubaz be challenged, grabbed by /nothing/, and taken into custody... and see that he was carrying something. "I guess they decided to try the sneaky way first?" she asks, with a glance at the device. "Handmade... somebody threw this together in a hurry, whatever it is." She moves to take point. "I suggest we don't give them time to realize their little plan didn't work, and cook up more surprises to send our way."
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
"Zwbbbbkt wrrrbl kibbbikt" protested the Kubaz, waggling its prehensile snout most angrily. It's all he could do, pinned to the wall by mysterious forces. Well, that and make Merek work hard for his money. Clingy fingers held fast to the mystery device and stubbornly asserted what little control he had over this desperate situation. Merek negates that with a simple pull of the trigger and their buzz-bibbling friend becomes pretty damn inert. Also bound, thanks to Ban.
With the welcome wagon neutralized, the party is free to proceed /beyond/ the airlock into the belly of this beast. Y'all are entering from portside cargo ramp (tube) into the cavernous cargo hold. The area which earlier scans by Dalso had shown there to be a concentration of lifeform readings. First impressions upon entering, however, won't necessarily corroborate. You could hear the proverbial pin drop. It's all so quiet and so disappointingly empty for a hold that was said to be transferring sixty tons of cargo to the Mynock. The dozen or so crates assembled here around the elevator and the few scattered elsewhere might contain thirteen, at most. The cargo loader is posed halfway between the tidy stack and one of the 'scattered' crates.
[Elrych Cometburn]
"Excellent Work; Corporal, Doc, and Bannana-man." Elrych says quickly, moving past the bound and out Kubaz and into the hold. His lightsaber hummes lowly as he holds it down-ward at a low angle and away. There is a moment of pause as he listens to the silence. Then, he speaks to the others. "Let's head fore to the bridge and clear the rest of this boat."
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax stops rasing his blaster at something behind the Cargo ladder, and calls out, <Hands up and come out where we can see you. I will open fire.> His voice coming through the speakers of his old armor. Then he adds to Elrych, <Might thake this one slow kid. I think we got a bunch of Spukamas on the ship. Might make heading to the bridge tricky.>
[Aryn Cole]
"Thanks," Aryn said to Elrych. Aryn accepts the device from Merek, glances it over, and offers it to Nova for her inspection. The device's purpose eluded Aryn, but it was passed off safely to a member of Elrych's crew for safe keeping. The young Jedi followed after the group then, content to stay near the back where she could see nor hear no evil! Everything seemed fine from back here until Jax indicated something was different. She slowed to a walk, nearing Ban, yet standing behind him slightly.
[Merek]
Merek nods then to El, while he takes a moment to line his weapon up with the main hall from that airlock, and following along with the team. He maneuvers along the corridor in quiet while his suit begins to shift to a light reflect of the matte hull of the ship. While most of them have the Jedi training, he comes from an elite trained force. The man switches the blaster towards the place Jax calls to, taking the time to prepare charge while he begins to shift lower into the floor while he checks any paths they come upon.
[Ban Iskender]
Ban Iskender conceals the worst of a grimace at Elrych's choice of nicknames, only one eye fluttering more narrow that the other offering a clue that he had nearly groaned. Then they move into the seemingly vacant cargo hold. "A moment," he voices in agreement with Jax. "They await inside several of the crates." The soldier in green and grey uses his white bladed sword to point out several canisters for his fellows to be wary of.
[Sesti Greystorm]
As Elrytch begins to move on, and Jax tells someone to come out of hiding, Sesti goes with a more direct approach. She stabs downward at the floor next to a couple of crates twice in rapid succession. Except, it's not the floor she's actually hitting, but two feet sticking out from a hiding place. Without a sound from the Kiffar, it pitches forward and faceplants.
[Nova Korell]
"Confirming that crooks in crates theory..." Nova takes a hold on one of the crates, which appears to have a loose lid, and gives it a pull. It proves to be too heavy to move that way. She gives the lid a pull and a heave, though, tossing it into a corner of the cargo bay. "We know where you are... and that last shocking sound was a stun baton! The next thing'll be blasters, set on Kill! So I suggest you toss out your weapons in the next /five seconds/ and start grabbing sky, 'cuz it's the last chance you'll have to get out of this with your smelly hides /not burned full of holes/!" She brings her carbine to bear on the scattered formation of crates, and snaps her weapon's mode switch to Kill. The sound can be heard all over the cargo bay. "Five... four..." And so on, if nobody takes her advice.
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
Hmmmmm....
Nova's count echoes out in the wake of the Kiffar's sprawl on the floor and for a few counts it appears that this is going to become a shootout. Or is it? Why haven't they shot already??
A couple weapons do pop up from inside the crates, sans wielders. Lifeless objects clattering to the ground outside. Human hands are next to emerge. Slooooooooooooooowly.
A disgruntled hiss comes inside that crate Nova'd yanked the lid from and the sound of "traitor..." growls forth after one of the emerging human pirates volunteers with a shout that he's got info! A burly Trandoshan unfolds from inside the crate and leers over the edge, down, down, down at Nova. His 'weapons click-clack over the lip of the cargo container. Lethal looking claws.
As for the last hold out, it's a nightmarish thing for sure, if ever you enountered its gangly shadow in some dark alley. Here though in the light it just looks...exposed. The lanky, muscled Abyssin rises from its crouch behind the loader. And keeps rising, to the tune of 7 feet tall. The cycloptic pirate lets a hefty looking vibrosword dangle from between two of her freaky fingers. "For /credits/ we have information..." she corrects the jack-in-the-box.
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych pushes his shades back up onto the bridge of his nose, looking towards the Crates as the others point out what he didn't hear or see at first. He really should spend some time learning some more advanced life detection skills. Though, the Kiffar is easily dispatched and Nova is able to convince the others to give up their fight, A smile appears on the Jedi's lips. It's a toothy, sly, grin only a sabbacc cheat could possibly manifest from his days of sleezy card playing. "A'ight... I see how it is." The Female Abyssin draws his attention, both brows raising. "Information, information. Well..." He reaches out with he force to pry the cyclop's mind, "First you're feeling a little humble so drop the weapon... then you can tell us what information you have and what you're doing here, then I'll think about credits, yeah?" His lightsaber humms deadly still held at his side.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax grins as Sesti takes out the hidden threat, <Thanks beautiful.> Though at the appearance of the Transdoshan looking menacingly at Nova, Jax pull the trigger firing a couple stun bolts at the large lizard, <That's no way to make friends.> He says as the middle stun bolt strikes a crate.
[Aryn Cole]
When the weapons were being discarded, they became a chief concern for the young doctor. A discarded weapon was still a weapon, and it could be taken up again if they possessed the mag-lock type feature Aryn had become familiar with when she was visiting an old friend Eilam. Taking command of the force once more, she removed the weapons from immediate proximity, calling them toward her allies to be properly disposed of in quick order. Aryn even slung a sling over her shoulder and rested her hand over an old E-11 carbine.
[Merek]
Merek keeps away from people, while he keeps to the maneuvering away from people's view, waiting for orders as well.
[Ban Iskender]
Ban Iskender observes the effects of Nova's threats with a slight nod and a small smile. "Another triumph for the direct approach," he comments. Elrych handles negotiations, and Ban offers aloud to help keeps things peaceful, "Your cooperation was most wise. Be assured that if you continue with such fine judgement, none shall be-" Jax sends the Trandoshan thudding unconscious to the deck, causing Ban to amend after a short exhale, "No one *else* will be harmed." Aryn gathers the surrendered weapons, and all looks to be well in hand.
[Sesti Greystorm]
<<Anytime>>, Sesti replies to Jax. When the trandoshan comes up, she's instantly on guard, and ready to fight, but then Jax. <<Thanks, handsome>>, she responds. At Ban's pause, she straightens her expression and waits.
[Nova Korell]
Covering the walking suitcase peering down at her, Nova instinctively ducks back as Jax pivots and fills the Trando full of hot blue stun energy! She straightens only after she's sure he's done, looking over the room again to make sure their captives don't get tempted to do something foolhardy and likely lethal, with this many blasters and lightsabers in the same room. "Well, that's one way to calm someone down," she comments. "Nice work, Jax. If we can continue this discussion in a less violent manner now?" she adds, her gaze and carbine muzzle sweeping over the remaining pirates.
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
"You have bested me in combat," says the 'humble' feeling Abyssin in a low, gravelly voice. It's hard to tell if she's slouching under the weight of defeat though, as the gal drops the sword. Already a bit of a hunch to her spine, as it were. "We represent the Perlemian Spears. Taal Kathos has been paid for us to do this task. Place the tracker aboard your ship, smuggle our muscle inside. Disable the ship and all its occupants, then wait. The ones who pay will come, retrieve what they need." A pause while she scratches a sparse shock of hair upon her temple and looks to the human comrades who are still standing in their boxes. Then to Ban. Said humans are eyeballing the presently unconscious form of their team leader there, draped over the edge of the crate like an ugly rug. Probably contemplating how much time they'll have to steal his stuff, presuming they make it outta here with their hides.
Meanwhile, the Azurite Scale has been purged of its unwanted passengers. The hoversled ferries the threesome beyond the bay doors and into space. When Tassis returns to the cockpit, it's to herald the Fair Mynock again. <<Sssstatus report?>> She's half a mind to resume docking with the Res vessel, but the knowledge that there's a TIE hovering about looking for an excuse to shoot stays her hands upon the controls. <<What isss the statusss of the Manta?>>
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych gives a smirk, shaking his head. "It wasn't a half bad plan, you almost had us. I'm not even mad, I'm impressed." He points his saber towards them, "Bind them and get them on the Mynock... Stick 'em somewhere... Then we'll look into the cargo." He reaches down and takes off him comlink as the Scale contacts them once more. <<"We're here. I think we cleaned out the place.">> He turns and heads towards the bridge to go check out the forward area and makes sure there 's no other surprises.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax remvoes his helmet, "No problem. I try to make sure these guys aren't a problem." He says looking at Sesti, "She knows." Then mag lock the helmet ot his waist. "Probably best to see what our first friend was going to set off."
[Aryn Cole]
Aryn is a part of the apprehension team. She secures binders on each, and motions for them to follow the corridor where members of Cometburn's crew await them. The weapons that they collected were stored in one of the crates, to include those on the unconscious form of their team leader. Aryn does not have much to say or offer their prisoners beyond an attentive gaze. She joins them on the Fair Mynock, and takes up a spot in the observation where she can monitor what they talk about and how they act. Her part in this heroic tale comes to a close. If there's to be fighting, she leaves that to the clever Elrych, the daring Jax, the dashing Ban, the beautiful Dr. Greystorm, the mysterious Merek, and the intimidating Nova!
[Sesti Greystorm]
<<It was my fault, after all,>> Sesti replies to Jax quietly. Then she gives a nod towards the departing detainees. <<I will just help make sure that they make it where they are supposed to go.>>
[Nova Korell]
"Perlemian Spears... and they were paid to get a tracker on board and disable us for someone else to collect," Nova comments, frowning. "Sounds like we should demonstrate to these Perlemian Spears that it's a bad idea to take money to work against us, and soon. It might dissuade others from doing the same." She nods to Jax. "My guess is that our Kubaz guest was there to plant the beacon. Not a bad plan, pretending to be one of the crew so we'd just let him on board."
[Ambrosia Greystorm]
The rest of the ship seems almost as empty a ghost town as the cargo bay did, so patrolling its corridors will encounter zero resistance. Three Sluissi are recovered during the search of Manta's compartments. 1 live, 2 dead. Seems Tassis is running a pretty barebones operation. A few efficient workers can maximize profits far better than several, less efficient crewmen! After learning about her losses, it's unlikely Tassis will be thinking much on her profit margin, of course.
It takes some time, possibly some more negotiations, but the whole risky meetup finally bears fruit. Maybe not 60 tons of cargo worth, but there' is at least 1 crate which still contains rations and firstaid supply. More importantly, the datachit is at long last placed into deserving Res hands.
"Our beloved Mon Mothma and then the Princesss Organa," the Sluissi intones with a degree of sadness in her otherwise cool, collected demeanor. She bows her head and reaches into a tunic pocket to produce the chit.
"Your lossses have been many, but it isss our hope that the gain of Mon Cala will be only the beginning of the New Republic's rejuvenation. It isth a sstart, thiss. Encrypted so as to protect, but I am sssure you have the meansss to read it. The namess. Chandrila iss waiting in the darkness for this liberating spark. The perssons here," she folds the chit into Elrych's hands, "are a good place to sstart." The wink of translucent nictating membrane over her eye belies the neutral expression maintained on that flattish face. "I am only ssorry its delivery entailed unanticipated complications."
OOC Notes:
After successful decryption, the file reveals 5 names:
Ric Arden
Paan Beruss
Lanal Fisk
Ora Asaam
Ti Qoro
