Log:The Irregulars: Hook, Line And Sinker
Dropping mines on asteroids should be a breeze, right?
OOC Date: March 6, 2021
Location: Monto Codru System
Participants: Dyannah Nerus, Jax Greystorm, Nerys Greystorm (GM), Nova Korell, Qadira Suuryet, with Special Guest R2-X9 'Exine'
[Nerys Greystorm]
Get in, drop the payloads, get gone. It had been simple, straightforward, one and done. Not at all the sort of mission the Irregulars were used to, but, there was a first time for everything. The mission has proceeded apace, as the team had hypered into the system, coming out on the far quadrant of the asteroid field, and they had begun their run. They had mined half a dozen of the asteroids, and had half a dozen left to go.
As the Birena Tai approached the next dropzone, there was a crackle on her sensors suite. Not a contact...but a lack of contact, as the system began to glitch. An experienced pilot would recognize it immediately. The Tai's systems were being jammed. That alone was a Bad Sign(tm), given that they were out here where no one ought to be, but moreso because they were out here with no backup. As the Tai came around to approach the far side of the asteroid which was their target, the signal strength grew worse, and the sensors cut out entirely.
Jetpack, that was Nerys, hunkered down next to one of the payloads, looked up as she could hear the frizing of the systems, cursed keen hearing, and she called over the comms, "Sitrep, Corsair?"
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax was sitting in the pilots seat of the Birena Tai, the more things change the more they stay the same. He reaches down messing with lumbar adjustments on the pilots chair. He mutters, "Why does she have to be SOOO tiny? I feel like im in a trash compactor." It's the nineth time he's adjusted the thing and the leg space since the trip started. He's trying to find the sweet spot back when he was the pirmary pilot of this particular ship.
The Tai comes out of hyper space as Jax pulls the level and the team finds themselves in the system in realspace. He looks at the sensors and frowns. Then reaching out with the force and let the pull of the force, it's not long he finds who is jammming them. Just not sure what they are. Then turning on the intercom, << We're being jammed, Jetpack. I don't know by what. I've found them. NOt sure if it's First Order, Pirate, bounty hunter, or what. >>
[ Nova Korell (Nova)]
In the back of the cockpit, Nova is patching a small tear on her Void suit, which she has draped over the back of one of the seats. The last asteroid had a lot of jagged edges; she's patched another tear just before this one. But the sudden glitching from the sensors, followed by Nerys's timely question, has her abandoning the effort and dropping into the co-pilot's seat in a hurry, wincing at the cold cushion on her back. She hastily pulls up a diagnostic of the sensor system. <Moonbeam confirms, Jetpack. It's a wide-band jamming system, probably part of a cloaking effort. Could be someone without the right equipment trying to be sneaky... and doing it really, really badly.>
[Dyannah Nerus]
Flummoxed by the sudden silence interrupted by static, Dyannah looks up from her computer as Jax's answer tells her what she should have known - jamming. She flexes her shoulders, certain there is some wayward fold of fabric under the Void Armor she is wearing, helmet attached to the side of her seat within easy reach. After her initial pause, her pink fingers fly over the keyboard, testing and getting nothing but a confirmation of what Jax said and that Nova underlines. Eyes narrowed, fingers drumming on the edge of the console as she thinks hard. It comes to her.
"Pirates. I've seen this once, someone is masking their presence. I'm pretty sure it's not a ship. Like a base or something."
[ Qadira Suuryet (Kadi)]
Kadi aka Gadget is along for the ride, and maybe for her eclectic skillset. She's not really the type to be a primary agent, but she's got defense down pat. She's in the back settled in a seat and it takes her a moment to pull up the computer and start in on it. She's quiet for a moment, listening. << Pirates sounds right. It looks cobbled together and is definitely not First order as it doesn't have the right basecode. I can probably rework the Tai's signals to get around that jamming, if you want me to try? >>
[Nerys Greystorm]
The trouble with using a jamming suite is it made you as blind as it made the incoming traffic. Jax's knack, we're calling it that now, kept the Tai just on the edge of the band, as the team worked to clear the systems. On the plus side, the spot which had been designated for their landing location was still clear, and did not appear to have any defenses in place. The three manning the computer systems would each begin, between the three of them to get a handle on what they were seeing. It looked to be a, probably more than likely, illegal mining facility of some kind, set under a dome to provide a living atmosphere, the exhaust venting a sure sign that it was both under power and occupied.
"I heard that!" Jetpack, though, left it at that, as she considered the reports that were coming back to her from the cockpit, "Let's put down, and go take a look at what's what. We need to get this set up, but if something's going on we need to know about, we need to know about it."
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax flies casually not too casually. The Yt-2400 staying just about perfect for the other members of the team to do their work. "Well they haven't noticed us. The question is what are they minning. I mean there's a lot of small independent operations and It's probably illegal but how so? Becareful out there. Criminals with hidding places don't like being found."
[Nova Korell]
"Nothing like super-competent crewmates to make a girl feel inadequate," Nova quips, hearing Kadi and Dya. "So... illegal facility, trying not to be noticed. They're /really/ going about this the wrong way. Maybe they're new at it? But they're not far from our trap, as well. Not good."
As Jax begins the approach, she hastily pulls her electrobinoculars from her crew bag, left in the back of the cockpit. Moving back to the co-pilot's seat and standing in front of it, she takes a good, long look at the facility they're closing in on. "Looks to be a gas mine, big one. I see a containment dome, frosted, and something moving inside. There's a cargo port, too: I'm seeing containment modules outside, probably being filled for pickup. Old-style gas crates. Busy place, all in all." Hopefully they're not being just as attentive back. The lightly-tanned blonde standing in the cockpit would be eye-catching, especially since she's only dressed in bright purple athletic underwear. Hopefully she can patch that suit before they land, or she'll have to stay on board!
[Dyannah Nerus]
The Zeltron makes a decision. Two can play the jamming game. First, the ship needs to do a workaround which is Kadi's province.
<"Don't mean to interrupt, Kadi. I know you've got this in hand. So, you'll know I've begun the sequence to recalibrate us, so it looks like we're still being jammed."> She leans forward enthusiastic at her next words, <"Then we're going to jam the jammers. Work for you?">
Lips pursed in smile of satisfaction at Nova's compliment, <"Nova, my love, you just need more pirate time is all. You seem to know your mining facilities, I must say. Busy, you say? But not bristling with guns?">
[ Qadira Suuryet (Kadi)]
Kadi works on the computers, in tandem with Dyannah. She grins at the Zeltron and nods. << works perfectly, >> is her return. << It's good to work with you all. >> She is working as she listens and answers, already working on breaking through the jamming. << It's been too long. >> A moment though as she matches the signal - erm - non-signal, and frowns. it takes a little effort and thought, but she manages with a nod. <<Okay, that should do it,>> she says. << I think we're unjammed. Please confirm? >> She doesn't sit back and relax though, continuing to keep an eye on things, and see if she can find anything else to help out with.
[Nerys Greystorm]
The Tai was down, and the team of computer experts were hard at work. It was not long before the system was back up and running. There was no sign of a ship incoming, only the energy signatures from the mining operation. Unfortunately, ship's sensors were only so good, and it would need a visual.
"If the system is back online," this from Jetpack, "We will proceed out to recon the facility. I'd like to make certain of who we're up against, and whether or not we can use what they've got built here to our advantage." A mine was good. A mine and an exploding facility was better. "Anyone staying behind? If we're all going, Exine, can you handle manning the ship?" Better a real astromech than Belate. Sorry Belate. Jetpack rose to her feet, doublechecking that she had everything with her she would need, and that the payload was prepped and ready to go.
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax was wearing his Katarn clone trooper armor. He stands up and takes his helmet. "I am fine with helping the team if you warnt staying in reserves." Then as orders go out to Exine to stay behind. The droid rolls in from the recharging station. Then beeps an affirmative. Jax raises a brow, "I will join the team." Then he shakes his head as he goes to follow Nerys down the hall. He mutters, "he never does anything for me without giving me grief first."
[Nova Korell]
"I probably do, Dya," Nova agrees, moving to the back of the cockpit to try to patch up her Void suit. "But I'd make a terrible pirate, if the holofilms are anything to go by." It's just not /patching/; apparently the tear was only the surface of the problem, and tape's just not going to cut it. "Jetpack, I'll have to stay with the ship. My suit's offline," she says, regretfully. "Though a person should be here anyway, in case of trouble. No offense intended, Exine."
[Dyannah Nerus]
Playing safe and staying behind might have suited a younger version of Dyannah, pre-Hutt days, pre-Resistance smuggling days. Now, there is no question though she will ask for confirmation. She reaches for her helmet and is seating the O-Rings while listening to Jetpack. A toggle flips her into internal communications allowing her to catch Jax's comment about his bad-tempered droid wrangling at him all the time. She grins and sees a reflection of herself in the face shield.
<"I'm suited up but can stay behind if Exine needs someone to hold his hand? His grappler? You never know."> Frowning, she adds, <"Nova, how long before you get your suit back online?">
[Qadira Suuryet]
Kadi takes a breath and then she says, "Right." She has her void armour and she finishes putting it on. It might still have some glitter on it, even. <<I'm ready for whatever you need me to do - stay or go. >> Her void armour might even be exactly the right armour for her to have with her on missions like this. << Actually, so long as I don't have to shoot anything, I'll come along. If I do have to shoot - I'm sorry in advance, Corsair.>>
[Nerys Greystorm]
"Exine, Nova, you're with the ship. The rest of you, with me." Jetpack was already at the exit ramp, her J9 droid 'Jim' was at the exit ramp, awaiting the team. "Come through so we can seal the bridge and get out of here." They would have to vent atmo to step out. Thankfully, they were all in sealed armor. "I want weapons out, and ready to engage if it comes to that." And then, after a moment, "Button, Bitty, with the team, please." Bitty she knew would do as she was asked, Button wasn't hers, but she trusted that they would not wish to be far from Kadi.
As soon as the team was assembled, the bulkhead doors moved into place, until only the cargo hold was open. The hiss of gas escaping would have brought the smell of space, if they had not all been protected from it. "Let's move. I want a quiet approach. Let's see what we're dealing with."
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax)]
< Gadget, If you do. I am better prepared to dodge.> Jax says as he steps into a shadow and then moments later he's simply gone. The force is his ally as he uses it to bend the light around him so that he dims out and not noticeable.
[ Nova Korell (Nova)]
<Dunno, Dya. This tear's worse than it looks. If I get it working, I can be backup for you guys,> Nova replies, using the ship's com since everyone's leaving the ship. <If not... well, I'm sure not going out there in my underwear! I don't think sex appeal will be much help against vacuum.> She drapes the suit over the co-pilot's seat, so she can stay close to the controls and sensors, and begins the careful work of trying to patch the tear again. Maybe the different position helps: She has it covered with an adhesive patch within a couple minutes, and seal-tested only a minute or so later, working with the speed of long experience with armor. <Moonbeam here. I have a suit again. I'll stay with the ship in case of trouble out there.>
[Dyannah Nerus]
The first step out reminds Nerus of her space stomach, the ship's internal gravity disappears, morphing into the lighter gravity of the asteroid. She is behind Jax who seemingly vanishes as though the lesser gravity bends light. Walking in tandem with Kadi, her foot sinks slightly in the dust that powders the pocked surface. Her hand pats the DL-30 blaster in its holster strapped to her side.
<"Copy that, Moonbeam. You mean my sex appeal won't work out here. Goddess bless me then.">
[ Qadira Suuryet (Kadi)]
Kadi really hasn't done a lot of asteroid walking. I mean, she's an engineer, not a pirate, smuggler or - well, whatever. She steps down and feels the gravity change through her. At least it's not squishy so she doesn't get sick to her stomach. She does wobble a bit, and manages to kick a rock that goes kerthumping off to the west. << Oops. >> An apologetic glance to Nerys, just as Jax disappears, and she scowls at him quietly. At least she doesn't have anything else to say about it.
[Nerys Greystorm]
The approach came without incident, as the team moved on swift feet. As they approached, one of the docking ports opened, venting only a small mount of gas as a pair of droids made their way out of the facility and moved towards one of the transport pods. As droids did not, as a matter of course, require oxygen to function, it was no clear picture of why the facility was enclosed. They carried a hose between then, which they hefted over to, as far as could be seen, make a repair to the delivery system to which the pod was hooked up. Each of the droids appeared to have a pack of some kind bolted to their chassis, a series of lights flickering there that blinked in time to the restraining bolts on their neck. In so far as droids had necks. Perhaps they were being controlled remotely?
"Not a problem, Gadget." Nerys spoke over their internal comms, "Places like this take some getting used to." Jetpack lifted a hand, halting the approach of the team she could see. Jax was, well, somewhere. He was probably fine. "Any chance we can get a reading on those droids?"
[Exine]
Exine, who had much less trouble fitting in than Jax, uncomfortably large meat--human that he was, rolled over to the pilot's seat, slotting himself into the control system that had been made for him, or one like him there. 'Just leave me behind. Just like always.' His head rolled to Nova, 'You too?'
[Nova Korell]
Nova, busy undraping her suit from the back of the seat, gives Exine a smile. "Not exactly. But someone felt you should have some company," she replies, plainly quite familiar with the Binary language. She pauses to rub a hand affectionately over his dome. "My Jammer's recharging in the back, or he'd be up here, too. He always goes flying with me."
[Jax Greystorm]
Jax slips out of the 'shadows' of the force near a sensor but in a location he doesn't just go setting it off. He opens up a pannel and starts splicing into the wiring of the sensors and security system. He mutters inside his helmet. "Wish Exine was here. He's the best at this." Then moments later. << Corsair here, I'm looking at the system its all slaved. So there's probably a master controller somewhere. If we could set off environmental alarm we might get them to leave the facility or seend something to investigate. >>
[Dyannah Nerus]
They separate. Dyannah resists the urge to leap upward on the airless asteroid. The low gravity gives her steps an exaggerated arc as she finds a pod isolated from the working droids. She unclips a diagnostic kit from her belt to attach to the pod. Lights run over the surface of the little box after she turns it on. Letting it do its work, she turns to keep a watch out for errant droids wanting to attach themselves to the pod. A low beep sounds in her headset, and the diagnostics flash in the HUD.
"Whoa," she breathes to herself before switching to comms. <"I'm surprised there isn't an armada out here. Liquid Rhydomium."> Forehead wrinkled in thought; she resets the black box. At the second chime, she reaffirms the first result. <"I didn't know there was Rhydomium out here. No wonder they only have droids. It's...."> She doesn't say the obvious. It is among the most explosive fuels used in the known Galaxy.
[ Qadira Suuryet (Kadi)]
So keeping the droids away from the cargo pods and where Jax is would be a good thing. Right. Kadi goes to work to get the droids under control, seeing for the moment if she can have them all trundle about in a circle, chasing each other's tails slowly. Button, settled on her shoulder, emits a little droid version of a raspberry at them, as Kadi works to get them under control. << So that's why it's all droids and slaved. I think this will either be a really good spot for a mine. Or a horrendously bad one. >>
[Nerys Greystorm]
Nerys, who had approached close enough to provide overwatch to the team as they worked, took in all of the reports as she settled in, considered their options and then came over the comms, "So, we have a couple of options. Try to smoke out the master controller, if they are inside the facility. Chuck it all in the bin and drop the mine knowing we'll get a really good explosion out of it when the time comes, or, try to get control of the system, harvest as much of the fuel as we can for our own use." The Tai's hold was large enough, "And then drop the mine. But if there's one facility out here, there are likely others, and a operation controlling them. And that might be useful information."
[Jax Greystorm]
<< I'd prefer not to kill an innocent. I know they may not be truly innocent. I say we try to flush the organic from the operation. Team, I'm going to cause the system to think the Rhydomium's about to go crtical. That would be a reason to abandon the base you ask me." >> Jax says as he continues to work. << Gadget or Jetpack, I may need help on this. >> He then shakes his head and then throws the alarm.
[Nova Korell]
Nova leaves Exine to his work and wriggles back into her repaired Void suit. The others might need her, whether to fly or to come to the rescue, so she should be ready for it. Done, she drops into the co-pilot's seat and takes a quick look over the systems' status. "Exine, let's have the repulsorlifts and main drives on standby. If the others need us, they'll most likely need us in a hurry."
[ Dyannah Nerus (dy)]
The group confers, coming up with a plan that relies on Jax's abilities with the Force. They are fortunate to have him for his savvy and coolness under stress. On second thought, Dyannah decides that she is fortunate with all her crewmates.
Rhydonium gives Dyannah the jitters. Something she won't mention aloud. After a series of deep breathes, she begins the process that will disable the fuel pods and allow them to harvest some of the ultra-expensive fuel.
[Nerys Greystorm]
"Alright, we've got incoming," That from Jetpack, who could see a heat signature approaching through the frosted dome of the mining facility. The figure, when they arrived, did not come from the same hatch as the droids had, and there was a huge gust of gas as whomever was running out did not bother to close to seal behind them. Why, when it was all getting ready to blow? Nova and Exine, who were scanning the area, would pick up a signal from an escape pod of sorts. Not a ship, but something that could be launched for future pickup by whomever was running the facility. Which meant...there had to be regular pickup and patrols from the pirates.
"Jax, you're in the system, can you pull data from it so we can get a better handle on whose running this operation and where else they might be? Countess, when those pods are ready, give Moonbeam the go ahead and she can do retrieval. Gadget, let us know once you'd laid the explosives and we can drop the mine and slave one system to the other."
[Jax Greystorm]
<< Alright, I'm going to start copying files. Really wish I had Exine with me. Might help if we picked up the escape pod too. We might save their life. Bosses ain't going to be too happy with them abanonding a perfectly good mining operation. So how are we getting the fuel?" >> Jax says as he he continues to work.
[Exine]
'Shouldn't have left me behind!'
[Nova Korell]
<Guys, that pod's carrying a standard distress signal... but it looks like it's keyed to be picked up only by certain transponders,> Nova coms from the ship. <I've got the signal recorded and analyzed. I'll have to adjust the sensors to pick up the transponders in question, but it's doable. But we'll have to get that pod scooped up fast, before whoever's in there figures out how to override control and launch it!> "You're in exactly the right place, Exine, because I need help, too," Nova says. "You'll have to run the tractor beam while I fly." Sure, they're no weapons, but any freighter has small tractor beams for handling cargo, and it's these that Nova has in mind using. She hastily gets systems online for takeoff, doing the liftoff herself and setting the ship on an intercept course with the escape pod. "Almost time, little guy. Just be ready on that tractor beam..." The tractor beam spears out, catching up the escape pod as the /Birena Tai/ swoops falcon-swift overhead. It's a snag in a million; Nova makes it look easy!
[Dyannah Nerus]
Now that Jax has tricked the one organic running the operation into panicking and leaving at a run, Dyannah has full rein to jump at her leisure. She leaps from pod to pod, unlocking fuel canisters.
<"Which droids of ours can carry canisters? I can manage two. Though I like the motto: Leave no full canister behind."> One by one, she disables the filling mechanism, which will eventually set off a shut-off of the mining operation.
<'Copy that, Jetpack. Nova, send me out some strong arms. I've disabled about half of the pods already.">
[Qadira Suuryet]
Kadi meanders to Jax's spot, and she plugs into the system with the little additions she's had made to her void armour. She continues to work on getting the system in place to work with the mine once it's ready. She's quiet as she does so, though she gets a big grin at the conversation as it continues to go on. She concentrates on the work, eyes flicking over the screen and fingers moving. the connections she's got are quite high end, and there's no doubt they help her out. A little more. And "Button, does that look right to you?" is followed a few moments later by a nod and a "Yeah, me too," as the droid burbles something soft to her. "Okay, this system is about ready for the mine," she says softly. << Ready to go, when you all are. >>
[Nerys Greystorm]
As the facility was not actually going to blow, there was time enough, once the pod was secured, please ignore the guy pounding on it and all, for the Jim to get the truck out and drive it over towards the pods, ready for loading. And soon enough, Jim and his truck arrived, to assist Dyannah with the loading. Jax was able to retrieve the data, and Kadi to set the system. "I'll handle unloading the mine." Which Jetpack did, and brought it over for the final hooray. Now all there was to do was get to getting. "We have five more locations. let's hope there aren't any more pirates waiting for us."
