Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2015 16:34:51 GMT -5
Medium Weights On
A space Pod was on course with colliding to the Earth's atmosphere, the massive mechanical pod started to cut right through the atmospheric gas which caused a sudden flame to burst around the pod right before it descends into the frozen north. Because of the sudden climate change, the space pod started to freeze from the sudden wave of cold. Heat that engulfed the pod ceased to exist, and with that the pod crashed dead center into one of the mountains. Snippar Sol was just awaking from his slumber, yet still picture his dreams as if they were reality of yesterday. The Saiyan Fleet has gone mobile in an effort to resupply both Planet Vegeta and the Fleet. Traveling along the Earth Trade Route to travel eastward through the gap known as Uncharted space. Alongside the Fleet-class ship is the Prince's personal fleet The Crescent Moon. With the much needed supplies bought and gathered, the sister ships begin their travel back in to the Nebula. However, something curious has caught the attention of Fleet Command. A distress signal nearby has gone out and has been picked up by the Fleet...the leadership is left with a decision to send out a rescue to the strange call of these Saiyans...
Team Sol - Mission Report
Consisting of the Prince Snippar Sol, Thel, Vori, Appule, Nu and Onien, the party touched down and exited their shuttles on an unknown planet. Making their way to the deadly ruins and sea, in the distance across the horizon was a plumb of smoke. Immediately, the party know where they were headed. Leading her team through the hot desert, they arrived at the crash site. Before them sat devastation and death as the ship laid engulfed in flames, pieces of debris and body parts scattered across the sand. A muffled, weak cry for help could be heard from the wreckage and while the group was eager to run to assist, their path was blocked. Scouting and pillaging the wreckage, Pirates threatened the survival of the only known saiyan survivor as they pleaded to anyone and anything for help.
Rushing into the scene, Nu leaps through the sand, blasts blazing and firing off at the Pirates. He fired one blast after the other, sniping into the shoulder of one of the pirates. Their attention was now drawn towards the group. Knowing there was little time for any survivors, the team split the efforts; one side taking on the Pirates as the others pillaged through the wreckage. Snippar Sol, Nu, Onien and Appule began the assault - fighting hard to keep the Pirates at bay. The pirates stood no chance in their small numbers and were quickly blasted down.
Meanwhile, Vori and Onien split their search - Vori seeking out the cry for help as Onien searched the wreckage for any clues as to why the ship had gone down. The cry grew softer and softer...until finally, the seemingly lone survivor was pulled from the wreckage. Frantic, badly burned and battered, the man was dressed in a what appeared to be an Saiyan uniform and clutched tightly to a metal object. As efforts were made to heal him, he pleaded with the group, hysteric and frantic. In his arms sat a metal cylinder. Begging for the group to keep the object save from ‘them’, he slipped softly into unconsciousness.
Confused, the group made the call to return the man to the fleet in hopes of helping him recover from his wounds...and remained to bury the dead and investigate the wreckage. Nu, keen witted and fast to act, was lucky in recovering the ship’s flight recorder. Solemnly, the party return the the ship.
Team Vegeta - Mission Report
On the command of the Prince after receiving a distress signal from the planet unknown planet from a Foreign class ship, a team led by Arch and consisting of Gare, Xen, Strawburry, Sal, and newcomer Bloom were sent to investigate the trajectory of one of the escape pods from the vessel.
Once on planet side, the Arch advised all of her team to dress appropriately for the ruined sea as she scouted out the map and warned of repercussions for neglecting orders. With that the group set off far into the desert by guide of the map and distress signal.
Upon arriving at the crash sight, Arch sent Gare, along with Sal to investigate for survivors. However before they could approach the site, Xen informed the group that he could sense no signs of life. Soon after, Blast made the group aware that the crash site overlooked aan alien flower like pit. As Garehn attempted to pop the hatch of the escape pod to investigate further, Blast’s over dramatic alerts of the terrain alerted the flower to life.
Rai ordered the group to slay the tendrils to it from pulling the pod in altogether, and one by one the team banded together and successfully took out the appendages. Finally able to go back to their investigation, it was soon discovered that there was a corpse inside the pod. Dr. Christomancy ruled that the cause of death was impact and pressure being lost from the vessel as it crashed onto the surface. As the team was able to further explore the pod, Blast made the discovery of a small case containing a thin piece of metal.
With Dr. Christomancy not requiring any further examination of the deceased, Rai ordered the nearest Republic base contacted, and brought her team back to the Ascendant for debriefing.
Team Cresh - Mission Report
A team of Salikk, Mav'shi, Rydlie, and Pike, led by Kalish'a, went planet side to the unknown planet to investigate the trajectories of one of the escape pods and see if there were any survivors from the crash. Eager to get to the site and see about any survivors, the team moved out quickly into the desert, following the crash trajectory.
Reaching the crash site, the team surveyed the area of refuse, and soon found track marks, and pairs of tiny feet, alongside them. The team, reasoning pirates had arrived and taken the pod away. They moved to the nearby pirate camp, and saw a team of the scavengers already working to open the pod. Salikk, using his translator, asked the pirates on behalf of the team what the pod was worth. They haggled over a price. The pirate made mention that he had wanted Salikk's eye receptors. Salikk refused the deal, and the team continued negotiations. The team learned that the pod the ship came from was attacked in space, and the pirates planned to sell it to the attackers, reasoning a high price would fetch it. As the team talked, Rydlie stretched out with the Force to try and find any life signs within the pod. There were none. They offered to open the pod for the pirates, and the pirates agreed, provided they could split the funds, 50/50. Salikk tried to haggle for a better price, but they managed to negotiate for 50/50, and the Sol team being able to keep whatever they had found inside.
As they went to seal the deal, a shot rang out, killing the negotiating pirate, and causing the rest to scatter. Descending from a hill was a small squad of Elite Siayans. They and Mav'shi began to converse in there native tongue. The approaching team demanded Sol to leave, while Mav'shi declared that she demanded to speak to their leader. The front man identified himself as such, and they spoke. Eventually the Elites agreed to let Sol open the pod to search for survivors. After which, the Elites could have the pod and its contents. When it was opened, Pike entered and came out with a datapad; the only thing inside. The Elites signaled they wanted it, and Pike refused to hand it over. When the enemy leader pulled their weapon, Kalish'a ordered the Elites killed. Mav'shi refused to fight her own kind. The teams began to threaten each other; the only damage being done was from Kalish'a sinking her blade into the shoulder of a Saiyan. After more threatening, some grabs for the scouter, and one airborne Saiyan medic later, the Saiyans gave up and left.
Kalish'a withdrew her knife and went to the team. After giving them all a chewing out, she stormed off, declaring the mission completed.
Team Lunar - Mission Report
A team consisting of Roskoe, Aeetos, Moregan, Maddii, Ermeli, and Al’zara were dispatched to the wastes of the unknown planet to scour for the last escape pod. After arriving in an unknown Outpost, they headed out on speeders to the location. They quickly find the escape pod in excellent shape, though abandoned. A quick survey of the inside by Moregan discovered a half-full supply bag and a number of scouters. Decoding the scouters let to junk information about maintenance logs and incident reports, all stemming from a single technician on the ship. Outside, Al’zara discovered a pair of footprints leading away from the site, suggesting a lone survivor.
The group set out towards a canyon. As they delved in deeper, they discovered numerous carcasses and cleared vegetation, but yet no sign of tracks other than the lone pair they followed. As they neared a natural awning in the cliff face, the sounds of screeching and blast fire broke the quiet. A Pirate quickly ran out of a cave opening in the rocks, clutching his side in pain as a horde of Sand creatures descended on the group. With little time to lose, the group opened fire.
The first volley, fired by Moregan, unfortunately ‘missed’ and instead struck the already wounded pirate tech. As Aeetos moved to assist the wounded man, Aeetos and Al’zara focused their blasts on the patriarch of the nest. Though grievously wounded, the bat flew into a rage at the death of its young and launched itself after the saiyan. The group fended off the attack, and soon made short work of the patriarch. The mother was soon wounded as well, and sent her young after the group. However, the hostile wildlife was soon killed and the group returned their attention to the wounded tech.
As first aid was being administered, arguments broke out between Al’zara, Moregan, and Maddii over the mission. As insults and threats were exchanged, Aeetos stepped in and demanded that Moregan punch him. After more insults were traded between the two, the bulky saiyan threw the first punch. Moregan quickly responded, and the two fought on as Maddii worked to break it up. After Roskoe began yelling and threatening to throw them all in the brig, eventually the two clashing parties separated.
After a medical shuttle landed to evac the team, Aeetos surrendered his weapons to the Captain and boarded the shuttle along with their wounded pirate technician. Roskoe then approached Moregan and requested him to surrender his weapons, but the man refused. After further probing, the former Saiyan agent announced that he was quitting. Leaving him to then find his own way back to the fleet, Roskoe boarded the shuttle and had what was left of his team return to the fleet. The Pirate technician was sent to the hospital for treatment while the Warden was placed in the brig.
After the various mission, various parties had returned with objects found within the wreckage and from the escape pods, each somehow connected to the other.
The metal cylinder, locked with a unreadable message on it's surface;
The strange metal piece, almost as though it connected to something;
The encrypted holo-recorder; and
The Flight recorder.
Each object played a key role in the ship and it's crew's fall. Intent on breaking the mystery, the Overlord issued the call for all able and willing personnel to assist in figuring out the strange cipher upon the Cylinder. In a stroke of genius, Pagenn returned her request successfully.
PROJECT #BESH3482
DR. STEPH HAWK
"THE DISABLER"
With one secret unlocked, a small group formed within the D.O.I. office, willing to spend hours awake to crack the rest of the cylinder's secrets. Those present were Vorinthia, Nethen, Kalish'a, Pagenn, Salikk, Thelron, Sorrel, Davir and the Prince.
Tasked with decrypting and listening on what could have happened to the Earth Republic vessel, Thelron and Vorinthia immediately got to work. Their efforts, while hindered due to Vorinthia's lack of knowledge in the field of technology were fruitful. Both appeared to work in tandem was the other managed quick work of the flight recorder. The results were saddening. The trip had began like any other along the trade routes of the Outer territories, the personnel on board clearly were worried about something however, and their fears were quickly brought to fruition as another vessel, currently unknown, launched an all out attack on the ship. However, before the attack could be launched, one escape pod mysteriously had launched. Slowly but surely, the ship faltered and the order for escape was made. As expected, the rest of the escape pods launched as the ship crashed into the surface of Tatooine. The findings on the flight recorder roused immediate suspicion of the survivor found unscathed from the crash.
Assigned to find more information on Dr. Steph Hawk, Sorrel and Davir made quick work of their investigatory skills. Sorrel's knowledge of the Physician database and Davir's keen sense of infiltration ensured both would have success in pulling up whatever facts they could. The Doctor, an Saiyan associate, had been assigned and moved to Mars for various weapon testing, his skill in weaponry and machinery development having gained considerable interest from the Republic. The project, having peeked the Saiyan Empire's interest as well, was shut down and moved from the planet. Unfortunately, nothing was known of the man's work on Project 3482. Images of the Doctor were easily found, offering insight to the face behind the mystery.
Designated to decrypting the holo message, Nethen and Kalish'a, though reluctant to work together, began their work on breaking through the holo recorder's barrier. Their findings only shed more light onto the Doctor's work, connecting the pieces between Mars, Project 3482 and the Empire's desire to gain control of the man's work. Appearing frail, the doctor clearly appeared worried and scared.
Finally, the mystery baffling all their minds...the metal cylinder. Pagenn and Salikk worked together, full of determination. Clicking and turning the object, the two men's minds weaved through the object as through it were a holo-puzzle. Both equipped with cybernetics, this only enhanced their ability to crack the puzzle of the object and with a final click...the case opened, revealing yet another datachip within. Baffled, both Salikk and Pagenn conversed on what the chip could possibly be used with - from a datapad to their own cybernetics; neither were quite willing to try it on themselves and risk the chance of taking on something dangerous. Figuring it would be best to wait for a debriefing, the two men awaited the Saiyan's commands for their next move - proud of their achievement.
When the time had come, each group resented their findings, each met with some form of success. Their curiosities turned back to the container and the chip. At first, their effort to view the chip's content failed as they placed it within a datapad. Error. Pagenn, ever vigilant, continued to try and began to split the casing of the chip and slid it into a nearby projector.
The room was lit up with an array of stars.
A holo-map of the known galaxy, the holo zoomed from one point in the galaxy to the next, each point highlighting a particular area and planet of the galaxy until...the map faded and was replaced with the image of Dr. Steph Hawk himself.
"This is Doctor Steph Hawk, Saiyan contractor. I have been working under the Earth Republic on Marsfor some time. If you are viewing this, then I am already gone. The Saiyan Empire --- considerably closer and closer every day, I am not sure how long --- on running. Project 3482 is far too dangerous. It sets the stage for any starship in the galaxy, capable of --- enhancing them. The Republic is slowly, but surely...losing this war. They are becoming desperate. This weapon was intended for use in the war, but I feel neither side deserves this type of power - no, not yet. Too many have been --- seeking it's use.
By now, I have already broken a part the means of finding --- location. The pieces to --- scattered, hopefully lost across the galaxy to all those --- it. "
Images of the supposed metal shrapnel is displayed for a brief moment.
"The only route, the only way to unlock the --- it...is with me, this map. My colleagues possess the others. They are coming. The ---. Soon, they will find me and my ---. It is not safe. Project 3482 is ---."
The message ends.
The group, heavily intrigued but cautious of what may come of their intention to find the device, debates on the next course of action. Opinions raise on worries of both the Republic and Empire seeking the object out, or worse...what they had faced on that unknown planet. The pieces connect together one by one, but their thoughts all lead to one thing - how bad could a good resource hunt be?
Team Sol was slated to head for the planet Mars to search for a piece shown by the map. The team was led by Vance and consisted of Snippar, Wraloa, Rai, Nethen, and Kortan. The team had a small bit of chit chat upon arrival but made their way along the dock where Vance had already placed an order of speeders for the team to use. The speeders weren’t in the best condition and Kortan’s speeder seemed to have ran out of gas. Frustrated that they were already having problems they parked the speeders so they could be serviced and refueled and take a small look around town. A few members of the group over heard a man talking about a successful excavation in the jungle and that a bunch of men were celebrating at the local Bar. Upon further investigation the group deemed it worthy to check out this party instead of sticking to the plan and following the map. Something about it stuck out so they headed that way, towards the party location.
Upon arrival the group noticed a long line outside and a huge looking bouncer sending people away. Vance approached and tried to reason with the guy but was turned away just like the rest. Rai came up with a plan of her own and hooked her arm around Luniara before walking up to the Bouncer. The two women used their feminine wiles to trick the bounce into letting them in side. Vance stepped away and sent a comm to Rai to look for a back door while the men looked for one as well. Nethen took his own approach and said that he was a member of the dig team that found the prize and wanted to be let back in. The bouncer seemed convinced and let him walk in. The women unlocked the back door allowing Kortan, Wraloa, and Vance inside to further the team’s investigation.
There was a smashing party going on inside and there were mandos and women everywhere dancing and drinking. The group met back up stairs and split up to question some of the members. Kortan decided to try and bribe some shady looking fellows at one table with little success and and Rai tried to do her own form of questioning on a buff Mando surrounded by people. Kortans failure at bribery seemed to attract unwanted attention as a bunch more pirates came up from the lower levels. Sol and Wraloa saw fit to continue the exploration of the map so they headed out before things got too heated.
After a bit more time observing the new patrons. The Pirates moved in and halted the rest of the groups chance to leave. They begin to brag and explain how they were too late and that they were stupid for thinking that they would keep the artifact with them as they partied. The head Mando revealed that they had fallen for their trap and that payback was going to be handed out. The party turned into a brawl as the Mpirates’s attacked and Vegeta tried to escape. Vance tried to comm the Overlord for back up but could not reach her for some time.
After struggling to keep the Mando’s at bay, Vance finally got through. He heard Sol mention trap and that they fell for it as well. In urgency to help the Overlord, Vance ordered Rai and Nethen to follow the holomap he was given towards sol’s location and help her. Meanwhile, Kortan and vance stayed behind to try and subdue the Mandalorians. Kortan seemed to have gone berserk and turn into another person entirely but still struggled to take down the Mando’s. The two began to throw their enemies into the structure hoping to take the building down with them.
Meanwhile, Sol and Wraloa had been trudging through the jungle, following the map to the destination where they might find the piece they were supposed to be looking for in the first place. The path had been easy for the most part, leading them into a deep cave. It was peaceful, the hum of the outside world echoing within until...a click emitted beneath their feet. A trap was sprung. Metal wiring entangled itself around the couple’s legs, hoisting them up into the air, leaving them hung above the cave floor. After a moment of bickering, Sol cut themselves free with a swing of her blade...but the trap was far from over. A low growl from the exit of the cave caught their attention as two cages snapped open, revealing two emaciated Alien Cats preyed forth, their attention focused on the couple. Both Luniara and Wraloa backed away slowly and broke into a sprint to escape, the Nexu cats giving chase. Arguing back and forth the entire way, they ran as fast as their feet could take them to gain room to defend themselves. As they exited, both Rai and Nethen stood at the ready, surprised to see their two leaders running right past them. With two new and motionless victims in their sights, the Alien cats turned their attention and attacked. Rai and Nethen were quick to defend themselves. Wraloa and Sol, unwilling to allow their people to stand alone, joined the fight. With the Alien Cats already weakened, the party made quick work.
Back at the Bar, Kortan and Vance narrowly escaped the falling building and sat outside looking back at the destruction. Vance and Kortan nearly came to blows as they fought over if the surviving pirate should live or die. Kortan receded as the rest of the group approached from the jungle and proceeded to drag the pirate away towards the ships. Vance put in a call for mission complete with minor Injuries and the group headed home.
Team Levithan, comprised of R'hys, Exec, Jabil, Sorrel, and Zen'n, led by Pherond, went planet side to Earth, in hopes of seeking out another key leading to Dr. Hawk's mysterious invention known as “the Disabler.” When the team reached planetside, there were no questions, as the team was eager to be off the frigid planet.
After reaching a far away canyon, and traveling along its depths for some time, the team reached a cave on the coordinates. At the entrance, Zen'n seemed suddenly afraid to enter the cave. After reassurances from Pherond, and ushering from the others, he went into the cave. The team explored it for a bit, ignoring its shaking and falling raw diamond crystals, , and found a body, torn to shreds, within the depths of the cave. They explored the body, and found a datapad that was locked. They were curious to its contents when a wampa guarding the cave, and roughly the size of the cave, appeared and attacked.
It seemed to make quick work of the team, impaling Pherond with a raw Diamond crystal, and stepping on Exec, to start. Zen'n, in fear, disappeared quickly, apparently in fear from his past experiences of dying in a cave on Ilum. The fight continued, and the team slowly hurt the beast, but at great cost: Jabil soon found himself hanging on the horns of the wampa for dear life, and R'hys hit with the body of a flying disk at a high speed, knocking him back. Pherond charged the creature to hamstring it, but he ended up getting stepped on instead.
The fight continued for some time, the beast easily handling the team. At one point, it manages to make yellow snow, followed soonafter by a reappeared Zen'n, scarcely capable of fighting, making his own yellow snow after narrowly avoiding being kicked. The beast picked up a rock, and threw it at Sorrel, crushing her with it. Soon after, she emerged, seemingly dark and angry; with a different presence about her entirely. She threw the rock that had crushed her into the beast, hurting it. With that, suddenly the tide was turned.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Pherond stood and called down a crystal formation onto the creature's head, bloodying it badly. R'hys threw his barrage of blasts and cut an opening into the creature, which Jabil promptly threw his entire weight into, rupturing it badly. Sorrel, in her ire, threw her volley, and imbedded it into the skull of the beast, felling it dead.
When the wampa was dead, the team moved outside of the cave, recovering Zen'n and Sorrel, who was emanating a dark presence. Pherond ordered the datapad sliced into to find its contents. When the team could not find a slicer, Pherond took the datapad and entered a random password, actually managing to open its contents. The Scouter logs, the only thing on the datapad, said,
“Doctor Hawk, encrypted message 12. To ensure the possibility that no one will gain our information or the path to the weapon, you have been tasked with hiding away one piece of the key. The job, while not easy, will ensure neither the Republic or Empire gets their hands on our creation. Once the job has been done, do not contact back with me, as I will be out of the system to avoid tracking. Someone is coming for us...I know it.”
After the message played, Sorrel fainted, the dark presence about her leaving. The team, with extensive injuries from the fight, had what they came for. Pherond ordered Sorrel picked up, and the mission complete. The entire team was to report to the medical bay.
Team Cresh, Made up of Bountehn, Roskoe, Al'zara, Aeetos, Vern'r, and Gwenmael, was sent to Earth to find another of the keys to Hawk's device, said to be hidden away in one of the planet's many dinosaur hives.
It didn't take the team long to reach the location, but the team was surprised to to find not lizrds, but humans about the hive, with large machines for excavation and digging. Deciding to play a ruse, Roskoe spoke to a worker under the guise of a lizard hunting club, there to hunt down the lizards that usually infested the hive. Aeetos discreetely searched the camp as Roskoe spoke with the worker, but found little besides the large excavation equipment. Roskoe's deception had worked, and the worker eventually slipped the name Lord Byron Travenof, who payed for the excavation, and even spoke of some sort of object Travenof found. The team assumed this was what they were looking for and made their way for the Lord's estate.
The team spied the estate's defenses from afar. They took a while discussing plans to infiltrate the base, possibly pretending Al'zara a noblewoman of Earth or having the Pirates of the group chase the others in hopes that the estate would allow them protection. Before they could make a decision, Vern'r took it upon himself, walking to the estate alone with what was likely explosive gum. Deciding that the wouldn't let Vern'r throw off all their planning, Aeetos threw a Ki grenade nearby Vern'r, initiating his plan.
Al'zara and Aeetos chased the team down toward the defenses, forcing the guards to let the rest in while the Pirates fought against them. Roskoe and Gwenmael were able to enter the compound quickly, continuing the ruse that they were the ones under attack by mercenaries. While Travenof's guards continued to move to reinforce their defenses, the two of them obtained a meeting with the noble. The man had clearly been drinking heavily, and was cursing at his bodyguards. Roskoe gave the signal then, and moved to attack the bodyguards while Gwen quickly sedated the drunk and confused Lord Travenof. After knocking the guards unconscious, Roskoe assisted Gwen in discerning the location of the artifact that the man had dredged up from the crazy hive. When Bountehn arrived, Gwenmael had found and taken the object.
After a call in to the fleet, the team brought an unconscious Lord Travenof in for questioning.
Tasked to lead Team Dorn, Agent Davir, worried about the safety of the Fleet while the others go about the business of hunting down the mysterious keys marked by the map discovered by the DOI earlier in the week, requested a team to address the concerns brought up during the decryption teams. Taking Pike and Rydlie Pintay, Pagenn, Vivanna, Nassaand and Devereux, he requested they meet him on Mars. During the briefing at the Mars Spaceport, Davir explained to his team the sensitivity of their assignment. Wanting to get as much information on the mysterious Dr. Steph Hawk as possible, they were to go find the last known location of the Saiyan project he had been working on, attempt to slice any remaining systems for data on the man and, if it was still there, what was being worked on. Davir stressed to the team that they were to avoid causing an incident with the Republic in this matter and that if the SIS appeared they were to withdraw as quickly as possible. Much to Davir’s chagrin, Pike pointed out that he WAS a member of the Saiyans and expressed his desire to see any information on a super weapon destroyed rather than taken. Davir refused, stressing that the safety of the Fleet demanded that they get as much information on whatever it was the rest of the Fleet was in the process of hunting down. As he put it “They’re GOING to find the button, I’d rather know what it did before they push it.”
The team moved out, keeping a low profile until they reached an abandoned factory with signs of scavenging and weapon damage outside. Davir, Vivanna, and Pike remained outside setting up a perimeter outside to cover the slicers as they moved in. Cautious that the Republic had left surprises for anyone seeking to pry, Devereux and Pagenn began to work on the layered security system while Nassaad remained in stealth to guard them and Rydlie crept forward to look further in. Having to first disarm the security cameras still very active, the two went to work. Devereux’s suit allowed him to do a wide scan of active systems and he discovered still running, through dormant, mainframes inside the facility which gave the team hope that they would be able to find at least some information. Pike expressed some annoyance that the scientists would have left such information intact instead of destroying it. After a few problems accessing the systems safely, the cameras were looped. However, as they started to disable the alarms, something was triggered and a small group of armed droids started to advance.
Pike, seeking to avoid a fight, revealed himself and demanded the droids recognize his authority in the Saiyan and step down. The droid’s programming, however, appeared to need a different security clearance than his and the droids leveled their weapons to attack. Before things could come to a head, however. Devereux and Pagenn were able to team up and get control of the security, powering down the droids and any further alarms going into the facility. With a sigh of relief, the team moved in to secure the lab and access the still running mainframe.
Pagenn and Devereux again got to work, now seeking to buddy off each other’s slicing to overcome the Saiyan security. While the others covered for them, Rydlie explored the dusty abandoned facility with Vivanna following behind protectively and her husband expressing his desire that she not wander and NOT touch anything. As she searched, she came upon a small personal item apparently left by the fleeing staff of the facility. After a great deal of back and forth between the husband and wife, and with Pike being incredibly annoyed by it, Rydlie secured the item which appeared to be a brightly wrapped child’s present with a card wishing the little girl a happy birthday and that daddy missed her.
Working in tandem, Devereux and Pagenn managed to get through three of the four levels of security, gathering packets of information, before running into trouble at the final layer. Triggering an alarm and frantic to get the group out, Davir gives the go ahead for the two to trigger a meltdown in the system to force access to the data and orders the team to start the process of withdrawing. As the two finished the process, an Saiyan agent uncloaked before the group and announced his intention to destroy the group for breaking into the facility. Pike stepped in, again, and attempted to talk down the situation to keep any fighting. After some heated back and forth, the agent eventually agreed to let the group go and remained behind to do a full wipe of the facility.
Returning to the Fleet, Davir presented the encrypted data to the DOI for decryption and review.
Team Sol, comprising of Thelron, Al'zara, and Kable, went to Mars's main center in an effort to retrieve the hostages captured by the Pirate group. When the team arrived, the leader sent a message from the facility's camera system, giving the team their instructions. Should they not comply, he would kill a hostage. To prove his resolve, the leader executed one in cold blood. Before they went in, Kalish'a told them the priority: hostages freed first, pirates killed second, Naunet last, assuring the team that the Saiyan was safe.
Kalish'a disappeared from view, working support, allowing the team to be unimpeded by worrying about security cameras. Kable worked to take over the droids in the facility, to turn them friendly again, as they were of his design. His access codes worked on the first guard droids, allowing the team to slip past. Through the door, they encountered the bodies of Pirates, unconscious but alive. They were supposed to be the envoy team to pick up the key. While Kable and Thelron were disposing of the bodies after Kable opened their throats, another hostage was killed. Quickly finishing their work, the team moved the security mainframe.
Once inside, Kalish'a disabled the room's comm unit, allowing the team to engage without fear of tripping the alarm. The team engaged the Saiyans, while Kable sliced the two guard droids, turning them back to their side. The now team of five turned on the Saiyans, and it was not long before he lied dead on the ground, Al'zara having shot his head off. The sliced droids were mostly in good condition, and moved to hide the body on Kable's command. As soon as the fight was over, they heard another hostage executed. Wasting no time, Kable sliced into the terminal, and sent his command signal out across the facility. The droids in the room with the Saiyans and hostages turned to Vegeta's side, and opened fire. When Kable tried to turn the rest of the droids, the terminal asked for DNA authorization from Naunet. In response, Kable placed a lock of Naunet's hair in the scanner. The machine accepted it, and the lot of the droids were now friendly.
At this, Kalish'a reappeared, and bid the team to move to the facility's landing pad. With the droids able to take care of the hostages, the team was to move to the landing pad to stop the leader from escaping. When they got there, he pulled an autocannon off his back, and bid the team to attack. Kable fired an electronet at the pirates, but he sidestepped it, and fired a mortar round at Kable. The blast hurt him and Kalish'a both. Al'zara moved to engage while Kalish'a stealthed away, and reappeared, stabbing him in a gap in his armor. Kable took advantage of the opportunity and fired a tracer missile onto the man, putting a tracking device on him. Ranged attacks were more effective against him!
The droids Kable had sliced earlier had accompanied the team into battle, and began their volley against the Pirates, to some, albeit minor, success. Al'zara moved to try and open the cockpit of his ship, and Kalish'a pulled a hand-held scattergun, and fired at the Mando, piercing his armor to some degree. When he turned, the security droids volleyed again, hitting him again. When Kable shot him in the legs, the droids took advantage and used suppressing fire, hurting him greatly. After a mortar volley from the auto cannon broke the glass of his fighter, Thelron took advantage and jumped, ramming the pirate, breaking his ribs. Kable spun, lined up a rail shot, and fired. The shot buckled the pirate's helmet, and he fell to the ground in a bloody heap.
After the fight was over, more droids came up, asking for further orders. Kable ordered the droids to purge the facility of all hostiles – no prisoners, no mercy. The droids walked off to comply with their task. After some quick patch-ups from Kable, Kalish'a had the team return to the fleet. Kable opted to stay and care for Naunet and help the droids with the purge.
Led by Roskoe, Team Besh consisted of Captain Vancett, Praetorian R’hys, Doctor Sorrel Christomancy, and Terask. They were dispatched to help control the damages as the pirates conducted sabotage at a critical gas refinery operated by Mars. When the team arrived, a number of facilities were ravaged by explosions and erupted in flames. With several critical areas hit, the team split up to tackle and solve multiple objectives at once. Vancett and Terask moved to activate the statue sprayers and put out the fires, while Roskoe, R’hys, and Sorrel moved to the administration building in order to find any trapped workers.
Vance and Terask quickly moved to try and contain the fire at the refinery. The fire had already caused considerable amounts of damage and the mens path was blocked by burning debris. The two of them tried to move the debris in various ways, Vance pushing and Terask attempting to use there ki. Neither man was very successful with Vance burning his hands through his gloves. After a struggle the two managed to move enough debris to squeak through and put themselves into the middle of the inferno. Terask attempted to shield them by surrounding them with the ki but he seemed unable to hold it for long and the flames engulfed them. The fire burned at Vance’s exposed flesh and he ran in the direction of the console hoping to make it it there and turn on the sprayers. He got turned around and never made but Terask was able to reach the console and activate the statue sprayers, putting out the fire. Vance had collapsed and Terask had a little difficulty helping him out of the refinery. Once they were out, Sorrel was called over for medical attention and the doctor deemed Vance unable to continue, calling for him to be emergency medic-evac to safety. Terask and Sorrel then returned to the the rest of the group to continue the mission.
Within the admin building, Roskoe’s team found multiple hallways had been collapsed by the explosions and their way barred by debris. In addition, the security feeds they were able to access revealed that several dozen workers had been trapped in a staff room and were suffocating as poisonous vapors from the refinery seeped in. Using both technology and the Force, the team managed to break through the various debris and collapsed hallways and make their way to the trapped survivors. Roskoe deviated slightly to attempt to slice into a control console and open up the magnetic door sealing the workers in, but it locked him out of the system after numerous attempts. Luckily, however, both R’hys and Sorrel applied their Energy blades and melted the door off its hinges. Oxygen masks were distributed to any survivors who needed it while the rest evacuated the building.
Having saved both the refinery and the workers, the security footage showed that a number of Pirates remained in the facility and were moving to a landing pad. While Sorrel rushed to give Vancett medical attention, the other three intercepted several Pirates moving through a supply warehouse. Two guards shut a reinforced security door and engaged the team in a fight. Although Terask took a blow to his shoulder, they managed to overpower the two guards with relative ease. The team’s force users then took their sabers to the reinforced door and melted it off the bracings. After a brief run, the team caught up to the Pirates in charge of the operation, the man preparing a shipping freighter for departure. He and his two bodyguards opened fire on the team.
A quick grenade by Roskoe threw the bodyguards off their feet, and a shot by Sorrel’s blaster impacted another. R’hys engaged the leader in melee, and Terask intercepted and cut down one of the bodyguards. As the fight progressed, Sorrel tapped into her dark side and began to unbalance the Pirates leader. Soon, the man began to doubt his own resolve and slowly became unhinged, unleashing his flamethrower on both the Pirates attackers as well as his own bodyguard. R’hys took the opportunity and used his sabers to slice open the man’s midsection, and Terask followed up with another attack that brought the Pirates down for good. The final bodyguard made a break for the ship to escape, but was shot down by Roskoe in the subsequent attempt.
As Sorrel attended to Terask’s wounds from the evening, Roskoe and R’hys boarded the ship. They found a large shipment of Mars gas waiting in the cargo hold, and a panicked protocol droid in the cockpit awaiting orders from its now-dead master. The droid was deactivated and brought back to the fleet, and the team departed with the refinery saved and the workers grateful for their lives.
Team Eclipse, lead by Sol and composed of Nethen, Vernir, Gharis and Ka’Lynn made haste to the planet of Earth to meet their destructive opposers. Upon arrival, the party was briefed to be on guard and ready for anything the Pirates may have had up their sleeves. Trusting the more senior personnel to assist in the meeting, Sol tasked Vernir and Gharis in setting up a perimeter around the designated meeting zone within uncharted section. Through the scouters, neither those attuned to it could feel a trap...but they wanted to be sure. Setting out to do as they were instructed, Vernir and Gharis split apart and began their work.
It was not long until things immediately took a turn from the unexpected. Rather than searching the surrounding area for traps or ambushes, Gharis stepped within the meeting zone of the Pirates, quickly finding a blaster pointed against his skull. The team rushed to his aid, but halted immediately as one of the Pirates called out to them, threatening to blast open Gharis’ skull if they tried anything funny. Unwilling to allow the meeting to turn bloody so quickly ,the party entered without violence. Blasters of 3 other Pirates quickly were drawn towards them, but not without Vernir sneaking up behind the Pirates holding Gharis at point blank range.
Seeking to calm the situation, Sol demanded peace and negotiations quickly began...or so they had hoped. However by this time, with the pirate’s base being infiltrated they were very disinterested in reaching any kind of calm, and began making threats to kill those from both Vegeta and Mars. The group led by a Pirates woman ordered her lackies to attack and open fire. However, it was a short lived battle as with the efforts of Ka’lynn, Vern, and Nethen proved too much and they killed all but the pirate leader. As the woman was persuaded by the Force to give up information, she revealed that the Clan had been working for a Darth who also wanted possession of the mystery weapon. After several rounds of hostile interrogation tactics, Sol ordered the woman dead but Ka’lynn’s sensibilities talked her out of it and they took the woman into custody for further information on whom the Clan was working for.
Team Ozuroo, tasked with locating the mysterious Doctor Steph Hawk by the Overlord, Davir selected a small team to infiltrate deep into Vegeta where an aspiring Saiyan was supposedly holding him. Working with Exec, Pagenn Zn’n and Salikk, the group managed to pass unnoticed to the special holding facility the Saiyan had set up. With a quick briefing on the basic security and possibility of other prisoners held, Davir cautioned the group that the goal was a stealthy sneak’n’grab and they were to avoid detection if at all possible. Given their need to traverse the insidious maze that was Planet Vegeta’s underbelly, it was best not to have pursuit hot on their tails. Salikk’s slicing skills allowed the group to enter the facility without any incidents and they discovered an open prison-yard like environment. Repair droids worked around the area but none paid the group any mind, however there were high-flying patrol droids that constantly swept the area. Almost catching the group once, Salikk was able to pull Pagenn to safety while Zen’n ducked and used the Force to conceal himself as one of the droids paused to check out the location.
Now forced to move cautiously, keeping to the walls of the facility, the team tried to time the movements of the flying patrols. Keeping to the left of the compound, they came across two loitering groups of prisoners. A quick debate between members of the group started, some wanting to start a riot to confuse and keep the security busy while Davir felt this would risk too much. The chances of the entire facility being locked down and the Doctor moved were too high for him to want to chance it. Before they could come to a final decision one of the aerial droids spotted the group and stopped its patrol pattern to close in. Thinking quickly, Pagenn called for the group to mingle with the closer group of prisoners, as the droids had not paid them any attention. Startled but amused, the large rough looking group played along and encouraged the patrol to move on.
Exec engages the large Saiyan leader of the group in conversation, attempting to negotiate a deal where they would start a commotion while he hinted that the group would assist them in escaping. The prisoners started to surround the team, some making comments to the effect of wanting to ‘play’ with smaller members of the group while the Saiyan brushed off Exec’s offers, pointing out they would be doomed attempting to escape through the underbelly of Planet Vegeta with the Saiyan’s security alerted. Pagenn noticed the men closing around the team and quietly stealthed back while Salikk shifted away from everyone and began to engage a much more timid member of the other group of men. Zen’n, deciding a show of dominance was needed, demanded information and then head-butted one of the smaller men, breaking his nose. The Saiyan is highly amused by Zen’n’s actions and continues to barter with Exec. Zen’n, pressing his advantage, demands information on the doctor’s possible location. The bloodied prisoner grudgingly admits that the ‘special prisoner’ was located in the back, away from the rest of them, and under tighter personal security. Salikk, bribing the timid man with a smoke and a way to get back at the more aggressive prisoners in the form of a drugged needle, learns that two towers control the security cameras, shield doors, and patrol droids. Exec, aware that information had been gotten, starts Chokes the Saiyan into submission and orders them to wait and then start the commotion he had wanted. Angry but forced to comply, the Saiyan indicates that his group will use the more timid prisoners for that purpose, which Davir brushes off as not mattering and orders the group to continue on.
Coming to the towers, Salikk and Pagenn carefully made their way over and sliced into the systems in tandem, bringing it all down at once to keep anything from tripping an alarm. Free to enter the back, the group is met with a final barrier that the slicers again deftly bring down. Fortunately the well decorated and comfortable looking rooms beyond were indeed occupied by the mysterious Doctor Steph Hawk… but they were also occupied by a large Alien guard with several armed droids. Facing off against the team, while the doctor hid behind his equipment, the Alien mocked them and ordered his droids to attack while chomping on a large cigar. Davir was hurt by the initial fire from the enemy and took a knee behind the group to ready his sniper rifle. Attempting a sneak attack, Salikk leapt at the Alien from behind. The Alien grabbed him and threw him away, denying him the chance to grab his cigar as he was thrown. Taking his chance, Davir takes a shot and strikes the Alien directly in the face with a powerful shot, staggering him but not taking him down completely. He did, however, lose his cigar which Salikk again attempted to grab. Misjudging it, the cigar landed instead directly on his forehead, burning him. Pagenn, using his cloaking device to get close is able to hit one of the droids with an EMP grenade and knocks it out of the fight. As Zen’n bursts from his stealthed position behind the enemies and cleaves the other droid in half, the Alien drops his gun and brings out his blast sword, lashing out at the closest to him. Exec took the hit full across his chest, rending his armor and opening a deep wound. Furious, Exec keeps his footing and puts his Force-enhanced fist through the Alien’s face and out through the other side of his skull, ending the fight.
Doctor Steph Hawk, horrified by the violence, demands the group stay away from him. He claims that he is here of his own free will and that he refused to help either the Republic or the Empire continue the war. Attempting to make the doctor see reason, Pagenn and Salikk soothe him and promise him sanctuary within Vegeta. Much to Davir’s disapproval, Pagenn gives the Doctor his personal word that no harm would come to him if he agreed to come. Convinced not to shoot himself with the blaster he had been holding under his own chin, the Doctor finally agrees to come with Salikk and Pagenn. Davir orders the group out as the prisoners start the distraction in the far end of the yard and calls for an evac with medical assistance for Exec. Snippar Sol started to get out the saiyan issued shuttle, and once that was obtained, he began to spectate around the area, his weights hindering certain movement. Testing out a barrage of kicks and punches. Kicking, and testing out his victory rush, even meditating to suppress ki gains.