Log:Sith Empire: Denial of Assets - Fuel
The Sith continue ground operations on Coruscant.
OOC Date: December 3, 2021
Location: Coruscant
Participants: Sith Empire: Flex'ka Vana, Midne, Tamsin Cas, as Self/GM, Tarq Najjic
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Mission: First Order Fuel Depot, Alpha Quadrant, Coruscant.
Objective: Secure facility and preserve the stored refined coaxium fuel.
The grimoire, which had been temporarily stripped of any and all markings which might have identified it as a vessel of the Sith Empire, had been refitted with a transponder which sent the credentials of a high-ranking officer on the board of procurements for the Kuati Shipyards. The vessel had set down at the starport near the old Senate Building, and a shuttle had been arranged for the entourage which had been assigned for this mission. White-clad First Order Stormtroopers to the eye, though each was marked with the Kuati Shipyards emblem on their shoulder had been assigned to guard the Kuati representative and his cadre of assistants.
That, was the cover story of the infiltrating sith troupe. The objective was to secure the fuel if at all possible, but to destroy the facility as a last resort. Councilor Najjic was the mission lead. An attempt would be made to infiltrate the facility through back channels. If that proved impossible, then the ruse would be played, and entry would be made to the facility under the guise of an inspection and inventory of the supplies which had been contracted with the shipyards for the ships they were supplying to the ground forces.
Tamsin, who had stripped down her already minimalist robes, had chosen to go sans helmet, her hair pinned up in a style which could only be described as haute couture. She carried a oversized datapad, and would be serving as Najjic's adjunct and general dog's body. "The air taxi will deliver us approximately one half mile from the facility. We will make the approach as stealithly as possible. Should we encounter troopers, we will attempt to evade them. We will engage only if there is no other option, and we will have to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible, so that the security at the depot is not alerted. The secondary team will be moving into position as we do, to assist in elimiating any personnel we do not eliminate first, and to hold the facility until such time as the fuel is removed for the Empire's use."
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
Tarq Najjic sold out.
Standing tall with an attache case in his hand is a man in a top that looks like a military uniform, but with just enough zigs and zags to it to show it is nothing of the sort. Instead, this is the military-esque attire that is never out of fashion on Kuat, heart of the Imperial military buildup. A thick velvet shoulder-cape rests at the top of his arms and upper back, and his boots are polished and black.
His serene 'I don't talk to the likes of /you/' manner is ruined only by one thing: the words coming out of his mouth. "Tarq Najjic feels /ridiculous/. Should not have let you talk me into this." Does he always get a case of nerves before a con job? No one here knows; no one has ever executed a heist with him that involved him being undercover. "Best be lots of coaxium. /Lots/."
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka Vana is among the Sith entourage, similarly dressed down to a tighter tunic, though it comes with gloves and a cape. The cape is tight around his shoulders, and mainly serves to obscure the blaster pistol holstered to the small of his back. He makes sure the weapon is still there by tapping it a few times with the back of a hand, nodding in satisfaction when it doesn't fall down. "Let's hope if there is coaxium, we won't have to blow it up within range." he replies to Tarq. "Ideally we don't blow it at all."
[ Midne (Mi)]
Departing the shuttle alongside the Councilors, SN-6428 walks down the boarding ramp clad in the white armor indicitive of a trooper of the First Order. It's easy for a Marked to disguise. It just takes a new coat of paint and a subtle little Kauti stamp at both of the shoulders and below the collar to identify her to her team as being the 'plant'. "Best not to blow it up at all," she utters as they depart. Some distance behind her is a black and red Seeker droid which, once out of the ship, flies up in to the Coruscant skyscape and out of view of any potential observers. It could easily be assumed that it will be following at a safe distance, thanks to its hover jets.
The trooper glances down at her blaster to ensure the power cell is fully charged and forms up behind Tarq as they begin their operation. "First time on Coruscant. I already like it. I want it."
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"What intel we were able to obtain claims that the amount of fuel stored there should be a great boon to our reserves. And, perhaps more importantly, a greater loss to the First Order." Tamsin was all business, until she wasn't, "As for why you. Because you are, quite literally, the only Kuati I know. And no one else has such an easy cover as you do." Beat, "The attache is a nice touch." The air taxi ride was not a long one, and as they travelled, the team received recon reports from the secondary teams who would be moving into assist once they were needed, and who would handle securing the facility and the fuel once it had been taken.
Once the team was boots on the ground, Tamsin nodded, "If we can infiltrate the facility, the secondary team can handle taking care of the security forces. But this close to the facility, there are bound to be foot patrols we will need to watch for."
The terrain was, in many areas, decimated by the long ago arrival of the citadel, but the FO had made use of the abandoned building, and it was unlikely that the warrens of streets, alleys and warehouses would be completely disused and abandoned.
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
Whereas Tarq is no business until it's all business, when he senses something. "Patrol incoming. Maybe should hide?" he suggests. He shifts closer to one of the walls of the broken building they are passing by, but in his official get-up, glasses and all, he sticks out. Maybe if the patrol has no peripheral vision, or is distracted? He takes a deep breath and adopts his formal pose again.
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Ever the military man, Flex'ka raises a fist as Tarq speaks up, a gesture to make -hopefully- the squad stop in their tracks. "I felt it too." he replies quickly, gesturing at the facility ahead, and then moving his arm just off to the side. "There. Alleyway. It's out of sight, and might have an entrance." He gives the two other Force-users a meaningful look before adding, "Or we can quietly -make- one. If you know what I mean." He glances at SN-6428, calling her over. "Recon, right? What do you think?" he asks of her.
[ Midne (Mi)]
Blaster rifle held in her hands, at a relaxed level, SN-6428's head tilts back to look skyward for the briefest of moments, reaching a hand up to press it to the side of her helmet. "ID's spotted a patrol," she says to those beside her. Without gesturing, as that would give it away, she explains. "First Order patrol group. Hard to say how many. On a direct intercept to us." Her head turns slightly, a subtle gesture toward Flex, responding to his inquiry. "There's a warehouse in that direction. ID's found a route through, should help us avoid the patrol entirely. Probably safer than the somewhat open alley. We start blasting here and now we might -have- to destroy the fuel instead of saving it." The trooper squints at Tarq, even if the squint can't be seen behind her helmet. That may be the most obvious hiding spot of all time!
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Tamsin, who had been moving with the group, fell into line with Flex and Midne, as the team broke off down the left alley, and the trooper lead them towards and into the warehouse which would allow them to move at speed without attracting the open attention of the troopers on patrol. Eye in the sky droid continued to send back a report to his trooper, showing a cache of six troopers all heading towards where the air taxi had dropped off the group. Quite likely, they were on a routine patrol of the area.
The warehouse was the length of a normal city block, and they would have cover for the length of the journey, provided they did not make too much noise or get too close to some of the blown out windows. Silence was the order of the moment.
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
Tarq abandons his 'hiding spot' and follows the others into the building with a swiftness. His steps are quiet, formal boots proving no obstacle to someone accustomed to heels. His greater concern, as he walks through the warehouse, is not getting his boots scuffed or much dust on his clothes. His cover is only as good as he is plausibly someone up in the hierarchy. If there's one thing rich and haughty people hate, it's being dirty.
So he is careful on two fronts. Not only must be be quiet enough for the patrol not to hear him; he must also come out clean enough that if the Ruse becomes necessary, it isn't preordained to fail.
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka ducks into the building, only casting a cursory glance behind him when Tamsin stumbles. "Don't fall behind." is all he says. She's probably fine. He peers around, wondering quietly about how they'll get all of this fuel out. "Hold on, let that patrol pass." he instructs the troopers. "Cover for the ones in black, too." His instructions come out in a rushed whisper, luckily.
[ Midne (Mi)]
SN-6428 isn't preoccupied with dust or getting dirty. A recon sniper who's -clean- is bad at their job. But she does scan some of the bills of ladings on the shipping crates as they pass, looking for some kind of disguise enhancements or weaponry -maybe explosives-. It's all high fashion, and not even the militaristic kind. Shoes, hats, purses. Nothing that's interesting, or, more importantly, particularly useful to her. At one point she even stops looking at them, her attention drawing to the windows as they near the exit of the warehouse. She leans in to one of the windows to check the view outside first, ensuring that it's safe, and then forms up behind Tarq once more, holding her rifle at a relaxed, patrol-like position and putting her body language back in to performance mode.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
The journey through the warehouse was uneventful, save for Tamsin nearly stumbling into a empty set of shelves which teetered, but, thank the force, as the jedi would say, did not fall. They had covered most of the distance to the facility by the time they covered the length of the warehouse, and it was soon possible to see the facility from the vantage of the broken windows on the far north side of the warehouse. Security was high, given the cameras which were everywhere, and the sounds of movement that was audible through the open ventilation shafts that brought much needed air into the building.
Having recovered herself, Tamsin found a spot to do some heavy looking out, "I can't see a patrol yet, but I know they're close." She spoke almost soto voce, making use of the comms they had each been given. "I see a maintenance door at the west lee of the building. It might be suitable for our purposes."
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
Tarq squeezes in a look at one of the windows. He purses his lips, shaking his head. "Is not most of our forte, going unseen, but we can look military, dangerous, and - like a fop," a moment of self-awareness, "well enough. Especially with actual stormtroopers," he jerks a head at Midne, "with us. Group up."
He waits by the door for people to fall into a plausible formation for a dignitary and his escort. Once people are in what they think is a good position, he waves a hand and the doors jerk open, dumping their dust and detritus payload before they reach it. Then he squares his shoulders and walks out towards the perimeter, his dignified steps showing that he knows where he's going and that he's in no hurry to get there.
People can wait for him, but he's /not/ going to hurry. So pompous. Tarq would want to punch this guy in the mouth. But this isn't Tarq, this is a Kuati inspector, and for him to be one so junior means he has family connections and cashed in on them. Extra pretentious, with a side of 'I don't deserve my status.'
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka does somewhat look like a First Order official, just not the kind that's in favor with current leadership. If anything, he looks like middle-aged Kylo Ren. But better, because have you seen Kylo Ren? The shapeshifter rallies a few troopers to walk with him as he joins Tarq, though the Kuati gets to do 100% more of the talking. Flex'ka is just here to lend credence to his lies.
[ Midne (Mi)]
As they step out, SN-6428 is in-line with the undercover Councilors, herself the image of a First Order trooper. It's only a few steps in to the road that a series of information displays along the lower area of her visor, which she reads over quickly. Her helmet-modulated voice is quiet so that only the group can hear her. "Seems that patrol is patrolling this area specifially. They're going to keep coming back. Further, it's found a comms system up on the roof that links directly in to the facility's security. I'm going up," she explains, glancing upward and making a small gesture to an unseen droid.
The Trooper veers away from the Councilors, switching from a patrol-like performance posture, to a low and hastened sneaking hustle. She rounds the corner of the facility, on her own now, and slings her rifle around her back, quickly making her way to a stair well that's first protected by an emergency ladder, which she ascends fairly quickly, as well as the stairs, making her way quickly and quietly on to the roof. She starts to jog as quietly as she can toward the comms arrays as her droid descends from the sky to join her, its black surface well camouflaged in the Coruscanti night sky. Once in position, she slings one rifle over her back and pulls the other around instead.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
The facility, as the team moved into line behind Tarq was indeed well defended, but little attempt had been made to hide the security cameras, nor to disguise the troopers who were patrolling the area. The groups approach did not go unnoticed, either by the troopers who were on patrol, or, it would seem from those monitoring the facility from within. While the troop on patrol did not veer off course, the doors to the facility did open, a large trooper and their partner making their way out to intercept the incoming group, their steps carrying them in Tarq's direction. Flex, Tamsin and the rest, who were standing behind, were momentarily shielded from inquiry. Their weapons were of course drawn.
Once Midne had made her way to the roof, the lay of the land was neat and orderly. A series of ventilation shafts provided off gassing for the storage facility within, and it was possible to make out at least three that would be large enough to make entry into. The security panel that the droid had identified was also accessible, though it was behind a computer-aided keypad. "I will follow your lead, sir." That was Tamsin. She said no more.
"Trooper Alpha: Halt! This is a restricted area. Entry is not authorized.
Trooper Beta: "Present your identification."
Showtime.
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
"Entry is permitted," Tarq echoes, reaching into his attache case and pulling out a so-official First Order identification card, "to those authorized to be here. Administrator Lewin Hause." There's a significant pause as he proffers the card, as though he expects the name to be recognized. "Kuat Drive Yards."
The trooper isn't going for it, it seems clear. "Our inspectorate identified tainted- you know what?" he interrupts himself. "Never mind. Trishelle, please show the trooper here whatever it takes to get the production back on schedule." He crosses his arms.
'Whatever it takes' is a code worked out for whoever is addressed to intervene somehow. Really they need better codes than this, but this is not usually a covert ops team. "Agent Karis," he glances to Flex'ka, "Get on the comlink and find out why they don't know we're here."
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka, or Agent Karis, nods to Tarq, giving the opposing trooper a glance before turning his back and looking up, just around where SN-6428 is positioned. He raises his arm to his face, activating the wristcom on his gauntlet. The prompt will make a noise on Midne's side, intended to spring her into action, but Flex'ka doesn't speak to her. Instead he goes with the Ruse. "They seem to be unaware entirely of our -routine- inspection arriving today. This is entirely unacceptable, heads will roll when we get back." he starts, moving further away. The shooting should start any second now. Aim for the big one.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Of course, Sir." Tamsin, stepping forward, activated her datapad, fingers skimming the readout there, "This is putting us behind schedule. As Inspector Hause stated, we were made aware of an inconsistency in the fuel which was delivered to your facility. We would be remiss if we did not ensure that your supplies were untainted and cleared for use in our vehicles. I do not imagine you want trouble of that sort. Not at such a critical juncture."
The troopers, who did not look at all pleased by this situation, looked between them, and, in true trooper fashion, raised their weapons. They could not verify Tarq's ID, but they also couldn't risk a real problem. So, when in doubt, delegate. "Come with us. You can take it up with the facility commander."
[ Midne (Mi)]
"Hurry up," SN-6428 sneers at the droid through gritted teeth. She reaches a hand to the side of her helmet to key her comm. "ID's working on it, try to stall them just another couple of seconds.." The Mirialan glances toward the edge of the roof - though she can't see them, she knows her team are over there trying to get in and if they're going to secure this fuel, everyone's depending on her right now. Or, really, her droid. She really should go in for that slicer training at some point. The droid lets out a series of binary-tones in the affirmative and she keys the comm again. "It's through. It's authorizing you now. I'm going in to find a vantage point." She turns her head to look at the droid. "Stay plugged in and WARN ME if something comes up." With that, the trooper stands and jogs to a series of ventilation shafts, all of which are projecting warm air from inside to keep some of the areas within cool. One's too small to fit a fully armored trooper through, but she finds another and hops inside, climbing her way through the system to find a good sniper perch to cover her team with.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
The troopers looked ready to go with the old 'move or we'll shoot' routine (second verse same as the first, am I right?) when Trooper Alpha lifted a hand to his helmet, "Yes, sir." It was impossible to tell what his expression actually was, what with the helmet, but his rifle at least lowered to something less than 'I am going to shoot you right now.', "Apologies, Inspector. Come with us." The pair turned on their heels, to lead the representative of Kuat Drive Yards inside and towards the central control station. He could meet the commander there." It was not quite the respect he deserved, but they were clearly trying to make up for lost time.
As Tamsin fell back into like with Inspector Hause, her tone was primly professional, "I have the reports ready sir. As soon as we're inside, I can begin the analysis of the fuel storage system." It would mean a lock down of the fuel system until the analysis was complete, but better safe than sorry, yes?
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
"Thank you." Tarq's voice is icy, superior, supercilious. "Yes, please do invite the commander to join us. The directors will be happy to learn the commander goes above and beyond his duties to safeguard - this valuable /asset/." His stare at the stormtrooper reveals no eyes to him, but hopefully establishes 'Inspector Hause' firmly in the trooper's eyes.
"Thank you, Trishelle. Trooper, initiate the fuel lockdown now. I hope it is in place," he says in a low voice, "by the time we - and the commander - arrive."
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka rejoins Tarq & Co moments after finishing his totally real comlink conversation, offering nothing but a light shrug to Tarq. Things happen sometimes, you know? He follows along with the group, hands by his sides, quietly. Tarq is doing all the heavy lifting, Flex'ka is just along for the ride. A feeling of dread can't help but creep into Flex'ka's mind, though. It's going far too well.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Yes, Sir." The trooper who had been on Tarq's left side broke away from the group, accompanied by Trishelle, moving towards the terminal station where the fuel systems were controlled. This was a Kuat Drive Yards facility. That meant the Inspector had the run of the place. His orders were to be followed. For the safety of all. Also for the protection of profits. Remember who you were talking to.
[ Midne (Mi)]
SN-6428 comes out on an overhead grating of sorts, a service walkway that sees use once a month, if even. Ironically, for routine inspections. She half-jogs along the length of it to keep her footfalls silent and finds a perch near the corner, between two widened beams, where she can get a great overlook of the facility as a whole. As the order comes in, she relays it to her droid. "You hear that, ID? Start the lockdown process." The droid, still outside and plugged in to the security array, sends back a single affirmative tone to its controller and does as asked, the fuel systems locking down immediately.
SN-6428 props her black and red rifle up on the railing, searching for her team. Once she finds them, she looks through the scope, ahead of the group, looking for a sign of hostility from any others within.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
The trip through the facility was short and sweet, more because of the layout of the facility, which was offices in the front, fuel storage in the back, than out of any extra expediency on the trooper's side. The front of the facility was the usual warren of half-walled rooms and computer cubicles, with a central command station, complete with Stormtrooper Commander awaiting Inspection.
As the team headed in the direction of the command station, the trooper, along with Trishelle, aided by the unseen spy droid, managed to secure and lockdown the fuel storage cells. Any FO troopers within the facility would no longer be able to access it, and any damage to the facility would do little to no damage to the shielding. The team had done everything that it had been ordered to do. Now was the endgame.
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
Tarq nods the stormtrooper waiting for them with something closer to respect. "Commander. Thank you for coming on such short notice." He walks past the trooper to where one set of terminals waits. He touches his wrist, activating his comlink. He taps it with his hand, three times, though not on any button. "Tainted coaxium has killed many. Thanks to all of us - thanks to /you/ - that will not happen here." Pivoting in place, he looks at the commander, and holds up his sleeve, adjusting it slightly, bringing the mic closer to his mouth. "You have something on your helmet, Commander. Let me help you with that." And he clicks the transmit button twice.
He smiles, and it's a Tarq Najjic smirk, not an official Inspector Hause smile. "Thank you - for your service." The terrible thing? They really might have served together. War is messy; defection, even more so.
There's finality in those words. Does anyone need more of a signal?
[ Midne (Mi)]
Things being tense and quiet for the legitimate First Order troopers - after all, inspections were always high stress situations - it may come as a surprise to most of them when a blaster shot rings out from across the facility! The bright red bolt crosses the span of the area, coming just shy of the Commander's skull as soon as 'Inspector Hause' lowers his hand from the man's helmet. It would be easy to blame nerves, or blame the 'Inspector's sleeve for the distraction, but not every shot hits its Mark. It would be embarrassing to SN-6428 if she had time to be embarrassed. The surprise was sprung and the battle was to begin. There'll be time for apologies later. Her scope snaps back to its target, lining up for the next shot.
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Flex'ka notices Tarq's comlink manipulation, the shapeshifter steps aside, sliding one hand under his cape to look for his blaster. He doesn't move it though, making as if he's just walking in a certain stance. Even as he's moving aside, Flex'ka watches a red bolt strike down behind the commander, and he springs into action, stretching out his other arm towards the commander. A moment later, said commander is flying backwards through the air, bonking the back of his head off a low-hanging air vent. As the poor guy is struggling to get up, Flex'ka produces a blaster from under his cape, giving a little shrug. It worked out well, and he's very pleased with himself.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
This truly was the endgame, as it always was, when the blaster fire started. Midne's hot went wide, but Flex had the trooper back, and the base commander went flying, crumpled to the ground and trying to get his head back together and his feet back under him. Having not been armed, as he was expecting to meet the Inspector, he did not have a weapon to reach for.
Trishelle, leaving Tarq Trooper to man the station, shifted her focus, as she allowed her saber hilt, which had been concealed beneath her office robes, to slip into her hand before she leapt into action. One strike cut down the first, the sound of crimson anger sizzling across flesh and plasteel, as she spun. The second strike brought no joy, but she flipped the saber, coming back around for the third strike to put paid to the second of the troopers. They shouldn't have kept her boss waiting, am I right?
As the team fell into action, the signal was given, and the cadre of troopers who had been moving into position began the attack. It was still white on white, as care had been taken not to allow anyone in the area to be able to identify the the Sith as the perpetrators of the attack. Let them think the FO was infighting. "Breeching now!"
[ Midne (Mi)]
Another elongated sniper bolt fires from the corner above, and it strikes where the Commander's head was, moments before he was shoved through the Force. SN-6428 will need to get used to that. Her next shot also shoots wide and if any of the Council were in close proximity to her they could probably feed off the anger she's expressing at herself presently. As the white-armored troopers all begin to fire on each other below, the Mark above continues to take sniper shots at targets through a priority of rank. The lightsabers don't distract her as they would most troopers. She may be on a streak of bad shots tonight but she's still disciplined.
[ Flex'ka Vana (Flex)]
Thinking quick, with the regular troopers dropping left and right (depending on limb damage!), Flex'ka levels his blaster pistol at the groggy commander, filling his head with all types of bad ideas. And two blaster bolts for good measure. He nods at the sound of their accompanying troopers busting in, calling out, "Are we good in here?" He assesses the damage done in the command chamber alone, shrugging and nodding to himself. "Seems about right."
[ Tarq Najjic (T)]
When the shot goes awry, the Kuati blinks in surprise but pulls his lightsaber out from under his short cape. He also undoes the draw string making his cape into a shoulder cape, so that it hangs down its full length. "So easy," Tarq says wryly, comlink still on. "Not even close. First try." He glances up. Midne is supporting the team moving in to secure. "Facility will be ours in minutes. Just need to make sure they do not get in room." He looks at the other Councilors: two lightsabers out and a blaster pistol.
Nothing is getting through. He slaps his cheeks with his free hand: "Ugh, Inspector Hause. Will need to wash him out with alcohol. Good work, all."
