The Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire continue to wage proxy wars as the tenuous peace barely manages to hold. Countless planets struggle to rebuild as civil wars threaten their very existence.
During these turbulent times, it is small groups of mercenaries and privateers that carry out their respective governments’ bidding, performing their sometimes clandestine tasks under the radar and unofficially to preserve the false truce.
Whether their motive is profit or patriotism, it is these individuals who will decide the ultimate fate of the coming conflict, and of the galaxy itself...
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The Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire continue
to wage proxy wars as the tenuous peace barely
manages to hold. Countless planets struggle to
rebuild as civil wars threaten their very existence.
During these turbulent times, it is small groups of
mercenaries and privateers that carry out their
respective governments’ bidding, performing their
sometimes clandestine tasks under the radar and
unofficially to preserve the false truce.
Whether their motive is profit or patriotism, it is
these individuals who will decide the ultimate fate of
the coming conflict, and of the galaxy itself...
Inside the Republic corvette, alarms blare as Republic troops and personnel hustle about their battlestation duties. On the bridge, Captain Galathar barks out orders through that are relayed to all parts of the ship. He is a blond Human in his late thirties and sports an outrageous mustache. His uniform is neatly pressed and he shows no sign of fear in his actions and commands. From the way the crew unquestioningly carry out their duties and orders, it can be easy to see that he is a very respected and endeared leader. His crew on the bridge continuously updates him on the myriad status changes from weapon efficiency to shield levels.
Besides the normal crew stationed on the deck, there are also six individuals not normally present on this vessel: a Cerean Jedi Master and his young human padawan, a Kel Dor Jedi Sentinel and his Miraluka padawan, a Duros SIS agent and expert pilot, and finally a Quarren bounty hunter recently hired to protect a precious cargo. The captain had called them all up to the bridge to update them on their degrading situation…and their newest mission.
”Master Jedi, distinguished…guests. Our situation is dire. The Shadow Reaper got the jump on us and our shields are failing. The Corusca Star won’t go down without a fight, but we have vital cargo and information that must reach Outpost Thesh. The ship isn’t going to make it, unfortunately. However, our SIS representative here knows the location. You’ll have to take a separate transport. The cargo has already been loaded,” the captain says with a grim determination evident in his voice.
Suddenly, the ship rocks hard, nearly throwing everyone to the floor.
”Captain! Shields are down! Engines are down! Reports from Docking Bay Two indicate multiple enemy boarding parties have infiltrated and engaged our forces. The Shadow Reaper has ceased firing on us. It would appear as though they want the cargo intact. We have no, I repeat, no offensive capabilities left. Orders, Sir?” inquired the young, attractive human female officer.
”Damn them! Alright, send all available troopers to waylay them. They must not get to the cargo,” the captain orders before turning to his guests. ”You must get to the cargo bay. There’s a hyperspace-capable assault transport waiting there. The cargo’s already been loaded. You need to get to Outpost Thesh. The fate of the Republic rests on this cargo reaching that station. We’ll hold off the Imperials for as long as we can.”
The Kel Dor Jedi, Master Kloo Sarn interrupted the captain. ”Captain, I sense a powerful Dark Side presence on the vessel. Your troops will not be able to hold them off for long. Master Vedrix and myself will confront this Sith presence.” He turns to his young Miraluka padawan, Irak Rann, and cuts him off before he can retort. ”Go, my padawan. Accompany these fellow patriots to the cargo hold. This is a mission of great importance. Remember, the Force will guide you.” He turns to the rest of you and speaks as well. ”Trust in each other, and trust in the Force. We will catch up with you later, but now you must go!”
Both Jedi Masters nodded to each other and to the captain before rushing off the bridge to confront the enemy forces.
As the Jedi Masters rush off to face the enemy forces, Zagulo salutes, turns to the others and says, "There will be time enough for introductions later. For now, we must hurry to the assault shuttle." Suiting actions to words, Zagulo turns and heads to a different turbolift than the Jedi Masters had taken, intending to make a more roundabout way that would hopefully contain fewer Imperial forces.
" May the force be with you Master. " Kal says as The Jedi masters leave. The he nods in reply to the Duros. " We won't let that cargo fall into the hands of the Sith. " he says to the Captain. Then he heads towards the turbo lift a step behind the Duros.
Viggis's eyes grow wide at the threat. Since leaving the under sea mines of Dac, he has failed in every pursuit to build a life for himself. This job was his breakthrough and no Imp would ruin that.
No one is going to threaten my livelihood.
"Come on, let's go," he automatically blurted out as if the group had other plans. Clearly, this cargo was important. He grabs his blaster and runs with the others to the bay.
Irak watches his master leave. I shouldn't worry about him. He's a Master after all, a Sentinel one at that. But I always worry that he'll need my help one day.
Irak then responds to his master's orders, striding,with his black and yellow Miraluka robes flowing around him,towards the turbolift, his hand resting on his lightsaber's grip as a precaution.
As you gather into the turbolift and head down to the cargo bay, you are all given a moment to introduce yourselves properly to each other. Over the past few days you had all seen each other around the ship, but other than the two Jedi, you haven't officially met.
"The name's Viggis. Pleased to meet you," the Quarren says to the group. He Outstretched the hand not holding the blaster as a greeting to his new comrades.
Kal nods at Viggis and takes his offered hand in a firm shake. " Kal Berengar. He says shortly. Then looks expectantly at the Duros.
Kal is wearing the standard brown Jedi robes. Though he does have a blaster pistol in a hip holster under his cloak. His blond shoulder length hear is tied back except for the apprentice plait that hangs over his right shoulder.
"Zagulo Maresh. As Captain Galathar said, I am with Republic SIS. With any bit of luck, our mission will go quietly and we will be gone before the Sith even realize we have left."
He is wearing a standard fleet uniform, although he has no rank insignia. A heavy blaster pistol rides at his hip, and a short blade is sheathed on his back, hilt sticking up above his right shoulder.
"Irak Rann." The Miraluka slightly bows, then straightens, revealing his face. His eyes are covered by a black and yellow cloth, and small ends of his white hair are seen hanging near the visor.
The turbolift quickly reached the desired level. As the doors opened, a stray blaster bolt struck the wall inside the turbolift above your heads. Outside in the corridor, a pitched battle was being fought between Republic and Empire Troopers. Fortunately, the side corridor you need to reach is behind the Republic Troopers, said forces holding off the advancing Empire forces at least for the moment.
" We probably shouldn't get tangled up in this. " he ducks low and races for the side corridor.
"Quick, let's get to that cargo," Viggis says as he rushes to the side corridor.
Irak ignites his lightsaber in case he needs to deflect stray bolts, and runs to the side corridor.
Keeping his head down, Zagulo moves towards the side corridor, and seals the door behind them once everyone's through.
As you make your way down the corridor, a loud explosion erupts behind you. Looking back, you see the Republic troopers slumped against the hallway intersection. Empire troops soon round the corner and begin to fire at you.
Ahead of you are the doors to the cargo bay. Two Republic troopers stand there, weapons ready, and motion for you to hurry into the cargo bay. As you rush to the doorway, a blaster bolt strikes one of the troopers in the head, dropping him to the ground. Looking behind again, you can see four Empire troopers, their armor shining black and red, take positions and start to open fire.
Drawing his blaster as he ran, Zagulo fired some random shots behind him, hoping to force the Imperial troopers to take cover while he and the others ran for the cover of the cargo bay. As he got through the doors, he positioned himself next to the door controls so he could close them and seal them behind the little group.
Kal looks over his shoulder and motions with a hand. One of the troopers gets swept up in a sudden whirlwind of force. Kal keeps running a grim look on his face as he concentrates on the force. Once he gets through the doors he dives to the right to take cover.
Viggis also lets loose of a short autoburst, but without even looking back or stopping as he runs into the bay.
Irak deflects any bolts that fly towards him, while swiftly backing up into the bay.
Zagulo yells to the other trooper, "Get in here, now, so I can seal the door!"
Kal draws his blaster and looks around for the transport. " Who knows how to fly one of these? Maybe we should get that warmed up and ready to go. "
"As soon as that trooper gets in here and the door is sealed, I'll get it started."
"Come on fellas, let's get this transport out of here!" Viggis anxiously declares. He prefers to fight once his paycheck is secured.
Amid a hail of blaster-fire, the trooper turned to follow you into the cargo bay...only to be struck from behind by a well-aimed bolt of incandescent energy. As the enemy troopers advanced down the hall, you seal the door and make your way to the waiting transport.
The cargo bay is not as large as you may have imagined it to be, being somewhat smaller and discreet than the primary docking hangars. A quick look reveals that this hangar, and the bay doors leading to space, were not an original design feature of the vessel. In the middle of the hangar resides the aforementioned transport.
It appears to be a heavily modified Rendaran-class assault shuttle with a dorsal-mounted twin laser canon being the most noticeable difference.
Before you can admire the ship for too long, a hissing sound becomes increasingly loud. Turning around, you notice the blade of a red lightsaber cutting through the cargo bay door you had closed only moments before.
" We need to get out of here now! " Kal exclaims. He makes for the shuttle's boarding ramp, knowing he'd be no match for the weirder of that lightsaber.
Viggis looks at the Duro and says, "Let's get this transport out of here. We can fight this enemy another day!" Viggis moves quickly toward the transport, stopping at the loading ramp to provide cover fire if needed.
Wasting no time with words, Zagulo sprints up the boarding ramp to the cockpit, and hurriedly begins the startup process to get the shuttle out of the cargo bay. As the engines begin humming to life, he asks, "Does anyone else have any training in operating starship systems - sensors, weapons, and the like?"
A red saber. But I know I shouldn't stay. It's not what Master Sarn would want.
Irak boards the vessel. "I have some piloting skill, though it's not been tested in the field."
" I think I'd be able to handle the sensors. " Kal takes a seat and looks at the computer in front of him and taps a few buttons to boot it up.
While he's doing that he stretches out with the force trying to get a sense of what's going on.
-How powerful is this Sith?
-Can I still sense our Masters.
"Take the copilot's seat, Irak. I may need to transfer controls to you, in the event of an emergency."
"Will do." Irak gets in the copilot's chair and does anything he needs to do to prep the ship for launch.
"Do you know where we are going? " Viggis inquires of the pilots.
"Outpost Thesh? I have the location, but it will do us no good if we get blown up. Bring up the shields."
Firing up the repulsors, Zagulo turned the ship towards the hangar exit.
Kal smiles, he takes a deep breath and opens his eyes and issues the commands to raise the defensive shields. Then he focuses on the sensors, he scans the area outside the docking bay for fighters and such.
"What is it? Did the shields come on?" Viggis asks.
Kal looks to Viggis. " Sorry, just a message from my master. The shields seem fine. "
The assault shuttle shudders as it's repulsorlifts power up, lifting the vessel from the deck. As Zagulo expertly maneuvers the craft towards the cargo bay's doors, a loud explosion rocks the cargo bay and shakes the assault shuttle. Looking through the viewports you see that the door you entered the cargo bay from has been blown outward, leaving a lone figure standing in the entryway wielding a vicious red lightsaber.
The figure's face is hidden beneath an ornate Sith Warmask and clothed in dark, shadowy robes. As your shuttle approaches the magnetic field separating the cargo bay from the vacuum of space, the figure raises a hand and lifts the battered doors from the ground and launches them towards the shuttle. The craft's shields flash as they deflect the thrown objects.
The figure then deactivates the lightsaber and brings up both hands. Suddenly, the assault shuttle stops moving and shudders as the Sith uses the Force to stop it from moving.
As the Sith figure holds the shuttle at bay, the ship’s comm activates and the Captain’s voice can be heard. ”Shuttle Adveri, this is Captain Galathar. You need to get out of here. Empire forces have overrun the vessel. We are going to try and cover your escape using the Valdirik Protocol, but you need to leave… NOW! You have two minutes before we initiate the Protocol. May the Force be with you! Captain Galathar out.”
[B]" We need to blast that guy! Quick!" shouts Viggis, not really knowing what to do.
Irak stares through the Force at the Sith warrior, feeling the darkness emanating from the being. He then uses the Force to sense whether his master and Kal's are still around.
Zagulo reroutes power from the the two laser cannon batteries into the engines, trying to increase the thrust generated by the main engines beyond that which the figure can hold.
"Either shoot him or distract him, but we must get out of here now, or else we shall all perish!"
Kal shrugs and runs for the gun well. He straps in and looks at the controls then without bothering to aim he lights up the landing bay sweeping back and forth in the general direction of the Sith.
Although the blaster fire did not injure the Sith, it did cause enough of a distraction to break their concentration and release the ship. With the boosted power to the engines the ship rocketed out of the cargo bay faster than it would normally have flown, temporarily overriding the inertial dampeners and throwing everyone back into their seats.
Out in space, the damage to the Corusca Star could clearly be seen. Fires erupted all over the corvette as Sith fighters buzz around it like angry bees. Three of the enemy fighters break off from the main force to pursue you and begin to open fire.
Kal returns fire on the fighters. Doing his best but feeling frustrated with the unwieldily weapon.
Viggis inquires of what needs to be done.
"Zagulo, what needs to be done? Is there another laser cannon?"
[b]"There is another laser cannon if you could take it. Try to take those fighters out. Irak, restore power to the shields."[/dice]