Log:Iridonia: Acquisition
Mercenaries try to smuggle 'clients' out of Malidris City
OOC Date: August 18, 2023 (Optional)
Location: Iridonia
Participants: Nerys Greystorm, Kael Greystorm, Rieve Selki, Terek Rosol, Poe Dameron and GM'd by Hadrix Kora
Firebombings in recent days heralded a level of escalation for the violence ripping across Malidris city. Imperial Stormtroopers had been hurled off of a building and descended on by dissidents. Stripped of armor, weapons and strung up to be displayed the next morning.
Kessa's restraint was admirable and the Imperial Military had remained leashed - doing what they could to keep the violence contained and assisting peace keeping forces that had become stretched to the absolute breaking point.
A half dozen of the affluent population had decided it was time to leave, money was offered and the mission to break through the tightening cordon around the starport was on the table. Most had never even known the violence of even a slap across the backside from a parent, or governess as it were, let alone the mayhem of a city at war.
Most vocal among them being a Coruscanti born Zabrak who had come 'home' to Iridonia to establish his family dominance by way of wealth established for generations deep in the core worlds. "I say, this is a dreadful undertaking - I thought the lot of you could have easily flown to my home or merely blasted your way past the blockades! Why all this skulking past 'checkpoints'?! What am I -paying- you for?!"
A complaint birthing grumbling, the work having maneuvered around at least a dozen points set by peace keeping forces to halt the flight of those seeking to reach the starport.
"You're paying us to keep both horns on your head and all of your limbs attached to your body. You hired us to get all of you out intact. If you'd rather try to make it out on your own, I'll gladly give you a refund of your credits." She reached down to pull a credit chit from a pocket on her armor. "If you're lucky, it might be enough to buy your way out of an Imperial detention cell. Or a few cybernetic replacement parts." Nerys' tone was entirely conversational, rather than antagonistic. It was clear the Smaller Greystorm did not care one way or the other whether the people she was helping to escort liked or disliked the methods by which they were being smuggled. "Sitrep."
Kael just chuckles, "You're paying us because you're not able to get it done on your own. You're paying fore decades of experience and skill. If you think you can do it better like she said I'm happy to refund you your credits." His gaze however is still traveling along the various avenues of approach for the group keeping an eye out for any immediate threats while they travel towards the spaceport.
Rieve was, as is increasingly the case, clad in light armour, shrouded in a rather opulent looking poncho that distracted from ther scarring, dents, and other such marks that marred the battered but handy armour. His helm at least obscured his features, while ensuring some measure of enhanced sight when it came to shadows and other dark environs. One hand rested against his sheathed vibrosword, the other steadied the slung blaster pistol that weight heavy on his opposite shoulder. The grumbling was met with a faint twitch of a smirk, high society was fun.
"You are paying..." The words lilted in that distinct Hapan accent of his, head tilting as Nerys speaks. "... for just that oui? As my colleague states so eloquently. Safety. Security. Solidarity. My dear, dear fellow. Plus... lower your voice a little oui? Excellent." Rieve sought to pat the Zabrak on the shoulder, fondly, warmly. Reassuringly. One hopes. The Hapan paused to eye the way behind, staying ever watchful.
"Unbelievable."
A sour look given by the zabrak turns towards another in their midst and the pair share a moment, an expression suggesting the need for the 'fresher following the pat from the armored hapan.
<<"Peace keeper patrol moving up the next block...">> a rasping growl over comms, issued from likely somewhere shadowed and inconvenient to reach.
The alleys had once been the chief source of travel until the increased violence, now they were risky shortcuts branching from dangerous streets. The current position of the half-dozen and their 'protectors' in a small plaza that had peaceful demonstrators gathering and potential rioters stirring themselves up. It was only a matter of time before the patrol got here.
Or worse.
<<"No troopers yet. But that may change soon.">>
"Looks like both the ones with shouting and murder on their minds are about to kick off." Nerys, who was still crouched, had taken the time to look between the two groups. "We may be able to move behind them once the patrol gets here." She looked over towards the Bigger Greystorm, the Biggun, as she called him, "Maybe toss a grenade towards the peacekeepers if we can do it quiet like? Get them riled up?" Let's be clear, thr lives of those who she was not being paid to protect were not her priority.
Kael shakes his head a bit, "Not sure. I think we could blend in with the peaceful protesters back there a bit. Either that or take a chance down one of the alley's here and sidestep the initial fracas but don't know what's down there." A pause, <"Got eyes on the alleys?"> A bit of a chuckle as he looks towards the peacekeepers, "I think a stun grenade would go beautifully there but I left that kind of ordinance in my other pants."
Rieve stays rather frosty as he turns and eyes the surroundings. Those watchful eyes scan the immediate area, drinking in little details as he leaves the tactics and guidance to those better suited. The Hapan who might well have bumped into these rich folks, only clad a whole lot differently in a variety of rich silks and fancy fabrics. Softly spoken over the comms, Rieve exhales lightly. <<"Those peacekeepers are carrying ordnance bandoliers... they mean business.">> The Hapan pauses as he takes a step and glances upwards, scanning the upper reaches of the surrounding buildings. <<"Locals are on the roofs, setting up to counter the Imperials, we're in the middle of what is likely to become a serious fight... and six blocks thattaway...">> Rieve gestures with a somewhat martial gesture, a pointy-pointy, <<"Imperial transport speeder... currently in-air, waiting. They're prepared for trouble, and it's coming.">>
<"I think a few of us are a bit too heavily armed to pretend to be peaceful protestors."> comes the reply from the dark armored cathar, as he followed along, weapon still at this side for the moment. As he listened to the crowd, he shook his head, <"Plus I don't think that's going to be peaceful for long. You know how Imperial 'Peacekeeping' works.">
Taking a moment to look over the situation they've found themselves in, he has a couple of thoughts, <"The rooftops have a path we could take, but with the locals setting up there, there's a good chance that Imp air support shows up. Alleys give us the best cover from the air, but we could wind up boxed in if they bring in walkers or APCs."> There's a long pause, as he considers the two paths, <"Honestly, kind of a shit-show either way. What's your call, boss?">
"FREE IRIDONIA! FREE GALAXY"
One of the shouts go up and it begins drawing civilians into a growing mass. Spreading themselves out at about a half-arms length distance, starting to make themselves an obstacle for ground based movements. Among them there are those who are armed with hunting blasters, home-defense civilian weapons or good old fashioned knives. Taking up the call but looking ready to use the cover of the peaceful protesting as their springboard.
"FREE IRIDONIA! FREE GALAXY"
<<"Empire has been using stun equipment and trying to arrest... until the yahoos begin throwing fire or shooting tibanna plasma...">> still unseen, Hadrix's voice added over comms. Wherever Al'Verde Kora was, he was watching and listening, clearly.
It was true. It was peace-keeper forces trying to de-escalate, disburse and ultimately arrest if people wouldn't go home. It was only when things became a real threat that the hammer would come down. Even then Stormtroopers were still considered a rare sight. Called in only when they absolutely had to be.
The likelihood of that, at present, was uncertain. But there was always time to escalate.
"I'm your other pants," Nerys offered to Kael, as she withdrew a small sphere from one of the many pockets of holding built into her armor. Anyone who knew the woman would know the armor made her look much bigger than she actually was. "The alley it is." Nerys gave the gathering storm a few more seconds to roil, before she began to move, "Keep up, all of you." That was to the escortees, "if you fall behind, you'll be left behind." Instructions given, Nerys began to make her way towards the closest free alley that headed in the direction they wanted to go.
Kael looks over at their charges, "We're going into the alley. We can either do it the nice way." He motions towards Rieve who has a pleasant way with words... "Or we can go in there with my blaster to the back of your head but I'm going home at the end of the day." He looks over at Nerys and chuckles, "You are a deadly weapon darlin. If you're gonna toss it make sure it's going to go off just before we break for the alley it'll cause a bit of confusion for our vanishing trick."
Rieve is ready to herd and with the gentle and soothing Hapan tones that is oft used in high society, gentle urging tones complimeted by Kael's own firmer guidance. The rich are herded, guided, soothed, riled, soothed some more, but none are left behind as Rieve works with Kael to keep the rich sheep oh so together and moving. "That is it cor'tur! One foot after the other oui?" A warm pat upon the back, a gentle guiding shove of the shoulder, the Hapan moves swiftly, gracefully, sometimes leading one of the planet's leading capitalists, another time, following up behind and offering words of gentle Hapan encouragement. "That is the spirit, keep this pace and you'll be safe in no time at all, why keep this pace and you'll be doubling our chits out of generosity and the warmest of regards oui oui?" With his blue hair obscured by his helm, it's unlikely any of them would remember a Hapan of any variety, especially one who often frequents their little soirees. "Excellente! Excellente! Keep moving one and all!"
Terek considers for a few moments as he looks up, and then ignites his jetpack and launches himself up. He lands on the edge of the roof, only to have a blaster bolt sail right past him, as he moves his head to look at where it came from <"Don't do that again."> He warns the shooter, looking at the weapons they've got, <"They're gearing up for a fight. I think they plan on taking it to the peacekeepers when they show up. I'm going to try and see what direction they're moving in from.">
The escorts have moved down the alleyway with their charge in tow; it was in the heart of this shadowy passageway that two figures stood over the nude form of a knocked out or dead(?) military man. The shorter of the pair has wily dark hair brushed back and held in place by the presence of an Imperial officer's hat. The uniform fits his slender form, and the man appears to be looking at his reflection in the darkened glass window of an abandoned building. "Well...?" Poe says to Santos before turning toward the much larger, 8ft tall Wookiee.
Krrsantan is easily the broadest and largest thing in the vicinity, wearing ornate gladiator's armor and carrying a rifle that's almost as large as Poe (albeit strapped to his back). Vivid eyes and an expressive face regard the rogue ace a moment, growling casually to appraise the disguise.
It surprises a laugh from Poe, "What do you mean --it'd look better on you--? You couldn't fit one leg into these, and the hat.. definitely not your...--" Poe turns to regard the escorts and affluent escapees, his brow going up.
An awkward pregnant pause ensues.
Santos roars something, and Poe translates after the fifteen second long growl/grumble/monologue. "He says.. 'Hello.'"
Santos glances aside to Poe with something akin to murder written upon his expression.
The affluent respond to the varied methods to get them moving, though not without grumbling and protest in their native languages as they're herded to the dank alley and not the open, airy, and far more dignified street full of potential violence.
The peace keeping forces move into the small square from the high street as the shouts of "FREE IRIDONIA! FREE GALAXY!" grow in fervor. Blasters drawn in clear anticipation that is written across their faces. Heads turn towards the more heavily armed people in the street but passage is inhibited by the protestors refusing to move.
"Gentlebeings, please disburse and return to your homes. We do not wish to arrest you." an officer in Sith uniform with an amplifier calls over the crowd that only shout more loudly to try and drown out the attempt to wrangle the teeming masses. The one whose arm is raised to fire on the flying cathar being wrestled back by one of his fellows and others are leveling weapons to try and dissuade the crowd.
"HOLD FIRE!"
"FREE IRIDONIA!"
The figures on the roof stare at the landing mandalorian, then among one another as two of their number finish preparing a small crewed weapon, attaching the power supply and preparing to lift its small tri-pod like platform onto the ledge of the building. Wide berth is given to Terek and in the alley more shock goes up.
Rich iridonians looking at the wookiee and the 'officer' all throw their hands up, one of them calling "We can pay you to get us past your checkpoints!"
Ready to drop their current escort at the chance for what looks better. In the square the shouts only grow louder and mingled with the peaceful protestors, those with less gentle inclination poise, but manage to keep their position despite the momentary chaos the cathar inflicted. But the APC is moving towards the roof where the jetpacking figure landed, rising slowly and it's a matter of heartbeats before the roof mounted dissidents are spotted.
"I'm sure he did." Nerys paused as they came upon the erstwhile Imperial officer and his wookiee friend. "The way you're throwing money around, we should have charged more." Fore the time being, nerys moved ahead, grenade still in hand, as she move to see what lay ahead. "Don't make yourself a target of opportunity, Kora." As she stood down, for the moment, her sitrep came across comms, "Peacekeepers heading our way, coming from the direction opposite the way we want to go. The road to the starport is clear." Nerys looked back to the talkative Zabrak, "You staying or going?"
Kael just turns and glares at the rich Iridonians... "Now we said we'd give you your money back if you had better ideas. But if you go and hire other folks you'll still owe us our pay. And I'll make sure it's paid." As Nerys goes to sneak off he looks back towards Poe and Santos before glancing the direction that Nerys had gone, "Guess we're heading towards the starport on your lead then?"
Rieve grins at Poe and offers the 'Sith Officer' a jaunty and so very not martial salute. "Sir." And a respectful nod directed to the Wookiee too as the Hapan stalks out and beyond, moving silently. Rieve's footsteps graceful and deft, and there's not a noise made as he slips free the surly bonds of the alley, moving in such a way as to avoid detection as he settles in across the ways, nestled into a little nook. The grumbling rich folk are left to the direct and diplomatic Kael. Keeping a watchful eye, Rieve seeks to ensure no untoward threat drifts their way.
Nerys and Kael seemed locked on their mission, and really, the only interactions Poe got were from the affluent escapees, and Rieve, who seemed to recognize Poe through his disguise. At the greeting of 'sir', Poe angled a two-fingered salute from the brim of his officer's cap. "Seems we're all heading to the same place. Santos-- don't kill anyone, yet. Gonna see if --this-- works first." The Wookiee reluctantly follows, and the Sith Officer steps out into the open moving toward the hangar.
Whilst traversing the distance, Poe spends a moment to check the credentials he obtained by stealing the officer's uniform and code cylinders. He needed a rank and name afterall...
From his position on the roof, Terek is able to watch the guys get into position. It's not bad, from what he can tell. He doesn't know how much training these guys have. It might be enough to at least take out the peacekeepers.
Since things are about to boil over, Terek moves and jumps to the next roof along the path, coming to a stop just before the end and taking a knee, peering over to the line of enforcers. Whatever happens next, no one's walking out of here happy.
Behind in the square that the 'packages' had been moved from, a call goes up. Wordless. A sound of someone committing to action despite their fear. Visible from the roofs where Terek is as a young zabrak, still in their teens, breaks from the crowds and makes directly for the Sith officer. Hand raised with an improvised club in their fist.
"Halt! HALT!"
Heads turn and eyes widen when the weapon makes contact. An improvised piece of tech referred to as a Blastaff.
In the alley the report ducks heads and raises cries akin to the shock the wookiee had caused. The urge to run rising but the intention to keep quiet holding firm thanks to Kael. Keeping low and starting to move towards the exit of the alley when Nerys gives her report and Rieve slips out. A pleading look is given to Poe in his attire, even as the iridonians move, a clear 'we have money' expression given. Above, a large silhouette sweeps across the alley and then the main street. Hob nailed boots clattering over masonry as Al'Verde Kora appears, leaping from one ledge to another as he continues high escort.
The officer has a crater the size of an adult's fist in his chest at the hollow of his left shoulder. Pole-axed backwards and sprawled with the young iridonian staring wildly at the peace keepers before crying, "FREE IRIDONIA!" into the blast-visors of the peace keeping forces. Their response halted when the throaty cough of the crewed blaster starts, a long burst of crimson lances raking over their position. Too long a barrage, accuracy going out the airlock and while one is cast to the ground, their head a twisted red mass and what is left if their hair on fire. Their helmet a wreck and the others lifting weapons to fire at the ledge.
"FREE GALAXY!"
The violence inclined members of the crowd charge.
Behind Rieve, who was unnoticed for the moment, the sudden violence has drawn the peace keepers spotted by Nerys who begin to jog for the alley, one raising a hand to a shoulder mounted commlink, pressing a talk stud and starting to report. A another of the quintet calling out "Sir! SIR!" trying to flag down the wookiee escorted officer, Poe, who had suddenly appeared from the alley that they're moving towards.
"We'll have to move in small clusters. See if we can make use of the officer kind enough to have come into our alley." Always nice to have the 'authorities' around when you need them. The wookiee was an added bonus. Because who didn't stare at a wookiee when there was a wookiee to be staring at? Especially one so menacing. "You, you, you, with me. If I can't feel you breathing down the back of my neck, you need to get closer." Nerys looked over at the Hapan, "Stay alive. Get to the next screen." And then to Kael, a hand indicating the other three, before she began to move her small group, doing her best to sneak them past and out of the view of the incoming peacekeepers.
Kael glances over as Nerys begins to sneaky escort some of the Iridonians Kael joins in as well, "Okay we're going to stay low and we're going to follow along exactly where I go when I say to go. That is unless you want to end up in prison." As they begin to move from cover to cover he does take a moment to glance behind him to make sure the rest of the team was heading their way and to at least observe what the Wookie and Sith Officer were getting themselves into.
Trying to keep up with the group, Terek decides to make a leap across to the next roof. It's a pretty far jump, but he thinks he can make it. He takes a few steps back, takes a deep breath, and then breaks into a sprint. He rushes forward, plants a foot on the wall and leaps. And as he leaps, realizes he entirely misjudged the distance.
He quickly fires his jetpack and launches himself up, drawing fire but landing on the roof unscathed. And to the casual observer it'll look like he intended to do that.
Poe puts himself into the role of an officer, straightening his back and walking with an underlying urgency. Imperial officers were known for their poise and discipline, so despite the chaos (or the presence of a massive Wookiee at his side), Poe approaches those addressing and flagging him down. This takes him away from the group moving for the hangar, but if anything, perhaps it gave them a window to sneak inside.
Poe, aside to Santos mutters, "..this should be good..."
Clearing his throat, the officer responds: "What?!"
The Wookiee escort brings up their rifle, priming it with a loud 'CHONK' noise, which is followed by a high pitched whining...
The rattle of stonework being jostled and the tumbling of a bottle bouncing off of an awning to crash on the street. Heads turn and the figure of Hadrix is visible again as he runs across rooftops and leaps into a front flip aimed to give him a little more, much needed, height - only to find himself dropping lower than anticipated and forced to draw attention when his own jets engage, his passage covered by the fire that had been levied against Rieve.
The massive mandalorian not yet interjecting despite his repeated appearances on the roofs now drawing calls of "HALT!" and "YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!"
Below Terek, in the square the melee breaks out in full force. The peace keepers, unable to gain distance due to the surprise attack, drawn to using the butts of their blasters as clubs as they are forced to begin falling back. The crewed repeater still chattering, but now forced to hem in the Imperials in, to reduce their options for escape, but not halt the shot that had gone out when the Cathar's jetpack was engaged again. But those same iridonians don't see the APC lifted level with them.
The panic can be felt down the alleyway, to where the peace keepers approaching Poe and Krrsantan are visibly shaken. The pair who had attempted to bring down Rieve and trying to follow the dark armored mandalorian's movements while the others are drawn up short by Poe's bark.
"Sir! Sir! What's happening down there?" heads instinctively duck when the sound of blaster fire intensifies, "Sir! We need you with us! We have to assist them!"
The roar of vehicle mount auto-blasters join the din, overtaking and erasing the roof mounted rebels and stopping their repeater fire.
But the distractions are buying space for the escort group, with clear line of travel to get into the starport with the pickets and patrols distracted.
"Don't look at them, look at me," Nerys hissed, as she continued to move, trying to keep her small group close, even as the peacekeepers starting imploring the officer for directions, and the protesters started protesting, loudly, and violently, and all over the place. "Sitrep. Are the three of you falling back?" This was clearly for the three in the group she couldn't see, namely the two Koras and the decidedly nor Kora but equally (and flamboyantly, dahling) jetpacky Hapan. "We're nearly to our destination." Which was the port. A few more steps, and they were stepping inside. Sneaking inside? Sidling inside? Who cares. It was inside.
The rocket doesn't quite last the course, but Rieve was quick... and down he goes having spotted a little nook somewhere dank and dirty to hole up for a time. <<"This is... your Hapan friend, signing off for now... meet you all on the flip side oui? Good luck!">> Comms cut out abruptly, Rieve drew his attention away, that's all that matters. Into the little nook Rieve bunkers and hunkers, muddying and dirtying himself up somewhat suitably, just as Hadrix slips in and tends to that blasted leg of his. "Gentle! I've still in my prime as a dancer..." Though the words are issued with a mischievous half-smirk as Rieve sets about disguising himself with what is scattered about, before long he looks relatively mussed, homeless, armour packed away and stowed, and quite the alley-dweller. "Thank you, thank you..." Leg kicked out, treated, pain diminished, all is well, aside form the obvious hardship of needing a damn good shower at some point in the next few hours, or couple of days.
Kael follows along after Nerys with his wards tucked in close, "Keep close we're in the final stretch here. This is why you paid us to get you out." He looks over at the scuffle for just a moment to assess but his focus returns to the mission at hand, "Looks like the others are scattering and will regroup later."
The jetpack is drawing too much attention, Terek is almost thankful as he sees the APC open fire. There's always a part of him that feels bad when someone goes like that, but they were fighting for something they believe in. And the cathar is not intending to let their sacrifice be in vain as he will continue to escort their charges to safety from the rooftop, slipping into the shadows again as the APC is far too focused on its current target.
Poe turns from the fretting peacekeepers to look over the situation, his demeanor hardening a bit as a more serious look changes his expression. When he looks back and speaks to the one who had addressed him. "We are going no where. Rally the teams to me; we will form a strategic box.. --there--. Set weapons to stun, and use our charges' emotions to our advantage."
There's a moment a silence as they consider what he's said, and Poe takes that chance to instill some sense of urgency. "Let's go! Move it.. you want to live?! Time is of the essence!"
The Wookiee ROARS, driving the point further home.
Mirroring the calm-collected discipline of a Sith officer, Poe ignores the chaos and moves with purpose toward the location he indicated. Both hands clasp at his back as he awaits the troops to fall in line under his command. A Commander, indeed.
<"Thought my first lesson was 'don't get shot'..."> Hadrix quips while leaning to get part of his helmet in view of the open to use the wrap-around sensors to give him a view of the situation. The street absent of the Greystorms and their charges. No sign of Terek or that imperial with the Wookiee.
<<"Mayhem, Boar-Wolf. Clear here. Going to ground. Three clicks to signal all-clear two hours. Vod, kemir'ur kir'lenedat"> the last in Mando'a, 'brother; walk-silent, no contat' <"Running silent now.">> and with that even the big man's armor transponder winks off over the secure channels.
The orders and tactics given by Poe being rattled out, Sith Stormtroopers above and peace keepers below shifting settings. When the fire order is given its sparkling, blue, doughnuts of dreams unleashed instead of crimson plasma lances. Waves of stun energy smashing into violent and passive protestors alike. Distracting further as the wealthy refugees are led towards the ships waiting to take them to other homes, other luxuries, far from problems they've elected to have no stake in...
