NationStates Jolt Archive

Bradley ducked behind the wall, and just missed getting his head taken off by a laser bolt. "Dammit!" he shouted. "Where did they come from?!"
"It was my fault," replied Demon (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Demon.jpg). "I got through the security and downloaded the star charts. But I seem to have tripped a motion sensor."
"Noooo," Bradley replied sarcasticaly, "You?
"Shut up. I was unaware of the sensor's presense."
"At least we got the charts!" shouter Kate, as she fired her blaster at the guards. "Now, can we get outta here?"
Bradley looked around. The three of them were hiding behind a stone wall, with six local security officers pinning them down with blaster fire from the entrance of the spaceport HQ building. This was the last part of the operation. Earlier that night, Demon had penetrated the building undetected and downloaded classified star charts. However, he triggered a motion alarm, which brought their current situation.
Bradley grabed his COMM link. "Duke! Where are you guys? We need backup here!"

(OOC: basically, my crew is on an adventure, and needed the star charts to continue. anyone is welcome to RP the local guards/government/etc. Area should be a simple, little spaceport on the edge of someone's territory, not a major population center. Oh, and I need my crew to escape in the end...)

"Bradley what the hell have you done"said Duke (http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa17/virgildark/Soldier.jpg) who was with Jenny ,Hunter (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t69/zxc_047/Imperial%20MT%20rifle/Hunter.jpg)and his dog at a bar as he got up
"what should i do"said Jenny getting out of the seat that ws next to him
"stay behind me and do what i say'said Duke to her as they leave the bar
"sir security been tripped and are now all over them"said Hunter
"great so much for he said before we landed here"said Duke

ooc: if i take command of the guards/gov't, can i make up their name, etc?

ic:

"They're currently pinned down," his Second reported. Walking calmly out of the HQ building, Commander Ramuel gave a dismissive wave. He silently commanded the guards to cease fire, and ordered others to circle around in an attempt to outflank the thieves. He ducked a bolt of energy from a defiant blaster.

"You gave us a right good chase," he shouted, his voice like honey, even as it dripped venom. "But you won't make it to your ship alive. Now, why don't you give me my charts back, and I might decide to show lenience...what say you, friends?"

(OOC: yes)

"Lenience, yeah right..." muttered Kate. "You mean you'll be real nice when you shoot us!"
"I could get behind them and take him out," offered Demon.
"Backup should be coming," Bradley replied as he keyed his COMM. "Hey Duke, anytime, man..."

ooc: it'll be an empire (of course) but i'm still brainstorming a name. bear w/ me

ic:

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Ramuel said with what sounded like genuine disappointment. "I'm afraid we'll just have to kill you, then."

With a wave of his hand, several guards came to his side, and Ramuel continued to advance on the thieve's sanctuary. From the stone steps of the building, his Second couldn't understand it. Didn't the Commander know that these were violent criminals he was dealing with? Empress protect him, he prayed.

"You know, if I kill you, I'll get in a lot of trouble by the Empress. She loathes it when I'm violent," Ramuel continued, trying persuasion one last time. Though, his words seemed genuine this time around. From his hip he drew a blaster and leveled it, "Now what say you?"

Imperial Planet

The two brothers entered the Cloister hesitantly. She didn't like being disturbed, and the news they were delivering wasn't good. They found her sitting in the center of the room, absentmindedly petting something in her arms. It must be one of the Tribute offerings, they surmised. Being two parts of triplets, the brothers had a way of knowing one anothers thoughts.

"Empress," the blue haired Camuel began. He backed up as she shot him an evil glare. "Forgive us, Your Grace."

"We bring...terrible news," crimson haired Uruel continued.

"What is it?" her sweet voice asked, its deific sound resonating off of the ivory walls. They could hear the sadness in her voice. The sadness that was always there...

"Brother Ramuel has gotten wind of several thieves-utter lowlives," Camuel reported. "They stole from a minor planet's spaceport HQ, taking several starcharts. It was just blind luck that Ramuel was even visiting the planet."

"Ramuel is going to hurt people, isn't he?" she asked.

"Most likely," Uruel answered. "But it cannot be helped. They stole from the Imperial Registry; they stole from you."

"Tell Ramuel," she began, turning her attention back to her pet, "To let them go."

"Empress..!" they said in unison.

"Carry out my wishes," she glowered.

"Yes, your Emminence," the brothers responded, bowing before retreating from her cold stare.

Planet Geophon, Spaceport HQ

As Ramuel prepared to fire, his Second ran up to him, holding a holo-phone up and begging his master's attention. Ramuel sighed as he holstered his blaster and answered. His face showed silent fury at the message, but if it was what she wished...he called the guards back, retreating back into the headquarters. He gave one final disgusted look back at where the thieves had been, vowing that he would make them beg for death in the end.

ooc: not sure if this is how you wanted it to go, but i suddenly got inspired.

the brothers: http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb224/bleach105/princess%20princess/Princess_Princess.jpg

the Empress: http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/Sakume72392/20030914-1037-444.jpg

ooc now i got nothing to do thanks :(

OOC: I could work with that.

"Hey! They're pulling back!" said Kate.
"I wonder what, never mind," Bradley picked himself off the ground. "Come on!" He keyed his COMM, "Duke, we're heading back to the ship. Be ready for dust off!" The trio ran down the street towards the row of docking bays. After running for 15 minutes, they entered Bay 94 and ran up the ramp into the Fighting Falcon (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Piratecruiser.jpg) . Bradley entered the bridge and sat at the helm, while Kate sat next to him at ops. He keyed the COMM, "Demon, you see anything?"
"Nothing," came the response from the boarding ramp. "We are not being persued."
"Just let me know when Duke and Jen are onboard. Out." He turned to Kate, "Let's get this crate ready to fly..."

The brothers waited outside of the heavy stone doors of the Cloister, impatient as the Empress prattled away her time with the pet. Both agreed that from now on, pets would not be allowed as Tribute gifts. A group of Moreens, visiting the Palace on their pilgrimage. The pet was probably from them. Moreens were known as fantastic breeders. Camuel sent them daggers of hatred from his eyes, while Uruel maintained his calm demeanor. The doors opened behind them at that moment, and they turned to face their Dearest, the Empress. She led the way back to the Reception Hall, and the brothers stayed silent even as questions boiled under their calm masks.

“Don’t worry,” the Empress said, stroking the pet’s dark brown hair. “Everything is all right.”

“Brother will be angry,” Camuel stated.

“He’ll understand in time,” she answered. “I hate distressing the Trinity.”

“We know,” Uruel responded. “In the meantime, we’ll have to deal with Ramuel’s temper.”

“He’s such a child,” the Empress sighed. “Don’t worry. He’ll catch them. I saw their plot, and sent Samael ahead. By now, their ship has a hidden beacon on it, and Ramuel can follow behind at his leisure.”

Geophon

"If you had told me in the first place, I could have done it myself," Ramuel said hotly to the video image of the Empress. It bothered him even more since she was mostly ignoring him and playing with a furry...something. "Will you pay attention?" Ramuel asked. He was the only one of the three who dared speak to the Empres in such a tone. "And you didn't have to send that halfbreed!"

"Get along with him please," she answered calmly. "And I'll only allow you to track them. They may find something for me I find precious."

"Empress..." Ramuel fumed.

"Knock, knock," she said before the screen went blank.

The door opened and Samael walked in, a mischievous smirk spread across his face.

"Ready to go?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Just keep out of my way," Ramuel spat, heading for his transport. Samael fell in step, and several feet back, so did Ramuel's Second.

Samael: http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb224/bleach105/dark%20anime/1e10f37c.jpg

ooc: Mind if i join? Normaly id ask on the OOC thread but i can't find it if there is one.

IC: Above the planet an average sized cruiser glided smoothly into orbit, a frieghter filled with great wealth following.
"We are in orbit captain" called the navigater
"Exelent, open a hailing frequency"
"Yes sir" replyed the coms oficer.
"To who it may concern. I am Captain Bjhart Sklur of the D.E.S. Carak, our FLS drives have experianced technical problems and we are more than a little lost, we request permision to land or beam a group down to the surface of your world to gain information on this area of space. Do we have permision?" The captain said, signaling for the com to be sent.
"Sir im detecting small arms fire on the surface"
"On screen, this could be fun" he replyed, setling into his padded chair in the center of the bridge.

there is no ooc thread

IC

"Bradley just leave with out us as what ever you done made it hard for us to get to the ship with out them knowing we are with you,we meet up with you later in Republic space "said Duke in a Coded message he sent to the ship

OOC: Hope no one minds my jumping in...
IC:
Further away, out of orbit but close to the planet, a ship glided elegantly though space. Silver, freighter sized, with the words Star Snake etched on the side of the bow. The ship was in the shape of an irregular trapezoid, sloped at the bow, with a little strip of yellow indicating the cockpit. It had been watching the surface for some time, and finally the ship was coming up. The Fighting Falcon. As soon as the ship exited the orbit of the planet the Star Snake would have it's shot.
Onboard...
A Xiscapian sat in the pilot's chair, leaning back, running one hand over the stubble on his right cheek. Kartosh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Samuel_Vimes.jpg) had his feet on the control panel and lazily watched the planet before him, awaiting the power signiture that would betray a vessal lifting off from the surface. Behind him an Xiscapian female, named Skyler (http://ionen.deviantart.com/art/Tanake-Trang-Jedi-52363021), pumped a large shotgun and placed it on the bunk beside her, along with a small pile of assorted small arms. Both were kitsune, possessing huge bushy fox tails, fox ears on the tops of their heads in addition to their normal "human" ears, nocternal vision, yellow eyes, sharp, pointy teeth and superior reflexes and grace to that of a humans. Both were successful mercenaries/smugglers, always on the look-out for a job, or fast money. Those star charts were very valuable, and would fetch a price on the black market. These chumps do the heavy lifting, and once they're in space the kitsune mercenaries would just pick up their prize.
OOC2EDIT: Not at all, Isa.

OOC Xiscapia you and your Star Snake :p
mm hey you mind later giving a ride to duke ,hunter and jenny of this planet to Republic space ?

ooc: wow, that's a lotta new ppl...where to start. oh, the Empire is called the Culsu Empire fyi.

ic:

Sitting in the command chair of the Imperial battleship Cul, Ramuel looked at the holographic displays of the newcomers, along with a special display for his prey, this Fighting Falcon. He turned to his Second, who he'd left on the planet's surface.

"Second, take care of this rabble. I have other matters to concern myself with," he said coldly.

"Certainly, m'Lord," his Second answered.

"Keep track of that ship," Ramuel said, turning his attention back to the Falcon.

Geophon HQ

Clearing his throat, Second ordered the communications tech to open a hail.

"Carak, I am the Second. you may indeed land in our spaceport for repairs. Due to a recent security breech, we shall have to keep your ship under surveillance."

CIS Cul

"Commander, there is another ship out of orbit. It appears to be on an intercept course for the theive's ship."

"Let them be," Ramuel responded. "Unless they try to take my prize, they are of no consequence. Activate the cloak and plot a pursuit course."

"We have claerance to land sir" said the com oficer
"Tell the freighter to land first, we'll stay up here and keep an on on thins from up here, i dont like the look of that ship" he said indicating the Star Snake on the sensor readout.
"Yes sir. Captain you are cleared to land at these co-ordinates for repairs."
The com officer said into the intercom.

The freighter tuned towards the planet, its engings glowing pure orange as it began to move into the atmosphere, its sheilds powering up to protect from the intense heat it would encounter on the way down.

OOC: Mind if I join this?

(OOC: everyone is welcome! Isa, you have control of Jenny 'till we meet back up...)

"Got it Duke. Keep Jen safe. Out." Bradley keyed the COMM. "Demon! Secure the ramp and get up here."
"Done."
Bradley activated the engines, "Prepare for liftoff!" The ship slowly lifted off and through the open roof of Docking Bay 94. Once clear, he fired the ion drives and headed into the upper atmosphere. Demon entered the bridge at took the weapons station. "All secure."
"Great," Bradley piloted his ship up into a low orbit. "Allright. Pull up those charts. Let's get a course-"
"Heavy ship in high orbit!" Demon reported, "Make that three ships! Two unknowns and I believe that the third is the Star Snake."
"What are they doind here?" asked Kate.
"Doesn't matter," Bradley replied. "Get me a course..."

"Small ship lifting off from the surface sir, it headed our way!"
"Threght analasis?"
"Low, should we launce a couple of Shrikes just to be safe"
"NO! We cant risk upsetinmg the govening body here, we are lost with out thier help, keep the shrikes on standby and bring a couple of drone launchers online, if they are hostile they wont last long"
"Yes sir" the tactical officer said and began to follow out those orders.
"Com, hail the planet again, request acess to local starcharts so that we can get our bearing again."
"Yes sir" replyed the com officer before carying out her orders aswell.

At the specified spaceport the frieghter tuched down clumsily and a boarding ramp was lowered from the cargobay and several Dragona in flowing, brightly coloured civilian robes exited.

OOC; Can I be a mercenary ship and crew?

Another burst of light and another ship entered the system. This one was smaller than the Star Snake but no less powerfully armoured. Two guns extended beyond the cockpit while three turrets were fixed between her twin tails.

Sitting behind the controls of the ship was Nathaniel T. Barnes (http://www.chocoboheaven.com/coverage/ffxii/img/balthier.jpg), known better as Nathan Barnes. He checked the watch on his wrist and sighed.
"Like vultures to a carcass" he muttered happily,
"Eh? What were you saying?" His first mate, Chloe leant over the controls and frowned, Chloe was a Xiscapian like Kartosh and Skyler. She was in her mid-twenties, even though she looked about fifteen and that had gotten her out of a few problems. She shifted the katana so that she could lean over,
"That our target?"
"Yep, that's 'er"
"Remind me why we're here again?"
"To get us some star charts, those things fetch a small fortune in the Alversian system" He replied thoughtfully as he typed a few commands into the console in front of him. Then his face lit up
"Aha! The Star Snake. Captain Kartosh if I'm not mistaken!"
"They must be here for the charts as well"
"Well good luck to them, a pity we'll get there first"
"Naturally"

"Another ship has just exited FLS travel sir, small but tactical analasis shows it to quite heavily armed for its size"
"Send out 3 shrike squads, tell the the people on the planet thet we'll keep an eye on em."

"Ah, Nathan...you may want to see this" Chloe turned to face a flashing console. Nathan twisted his chair to look at the screen.
"Company" he concluded in a bright voice.
"Three of them," Chloe was tapping on a console, "What do we do?"
"Why, say hello of course" he pressed another button and leant back casually in his chair,

Greetings, Unidentified Fighters
My name is Nathaniel Barnes of the Elixir of Life, how can I
help you on this fine day?

"You can start by stating your intentions in this system. If they are hostile then leave imediatly, else we be forced to take agresive action." Said the lead pilot into his head set then to his wingmen he said "Form up, preper for attack patern Shinzon theta on my signal."

"They've formed into an attack formation" Chloe was staring out the window of the cockpit at the fighters. Although the cockpit was small, it had enough room for four seats and a mass of consoles and control screens. Nathan just tutted and sighed,
"Are these people always so friendly?" He asked himself in amusement as he sent a reply,

We are but a humble traveler's ship and this is a
big and unfriendly universe. We are merely prepared for all
circumstances. As for violent intentions, we would never dare.
We are here to see the sights only.

His own vessel could easily outfight three Fighters, his own skills as a pilot were almost unrivaled, it was their parent ship he was more cautious about. Plus, he genuinely did not like to kill people unless he had to.

"Our target's lifting off from the planet."
"Ah, good-"
"Hmmm."
"What?"
"It's the Elixir of Life."
"Them again!"
"Yup. Looks like they're going after the same target."
"Strike fighters are lifting from the surface."
"They targeting our prize?"
"Nope. Seems they're going after the Elixir."
Kartosh grinned. "This is perfect! They draw hostile fire, and we've got a clear shot at those charts!"
"The target ship is moving away from the planet."
"I'm setting a course to intercept."
The Star Snake darted forward, the front cannons spitting a blue laser. Tractor beam. Latching onto the Fighting Falcon to hopefully hold it in place, the comm unit on the Falcon dinged. Kartosh's lazy, cocky voice came over the comm:
Fighting Falcon, this is the Star Snake. You've probably heard of us, so I don't have to say who we are or why we're here. Lay down your weapons, roll out the charts and prepare to be boarded.

"Kate! Try to send a feedback pulse through the tractorbeam!" Bradley ordered.
"On it!"
"Demon! Get to the port airlock and lay out the welcome mat!"
"Right," in the blink of an eye, Demon vanished. Moments later, he appeared at the airlock. Taking a fighting stanse, he prepared to defend the ship...

"Snake, this is John Bradley of the Falcon. What can we do for you?"

------------------

Suddenly, two more ships poped out of hyperspace. They aproached the planet, weapons glowing, shields raised, ready for battle. Each one fired a pair of warning shots from their massive plasma cannons. The 500-meter long vessels were clearly built for one thing only, destruction...

"This is the battlecruiser Valiant (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Valiant-classBattlecruiser.jpg) of the Chrysler Corporation. We demand that the freighter Fighting Falcon be released ASAP. Any interference will not be tolerated. You have 30 seconds to comply."

CIS Cul

"Open a hail on all frequencies," Ramuel ordered. He stood in front of the AV pickup. "This is Commander Ramuel; Imperial Adjunct and commander of the Three Armies. Your aggression within Imperial space is an afront to the Empress and will not be tolerated. Stand down or all forces will be met by the Cul and our planetary defenses."

Casemates along the 6,000 meter ship opened, revealing the destructive might of the Culsu Empire. Linear cannons and heavy Gauss guns pivoted in their turrets while missile pods revealed racks of munitions, the missiles coming alive in their cases. Along the long axis of the ship, a wide split began to form. In a few more moments it had opened, making the Cul appear as a crocodile, its mouth ready to devour its prey. Within the ship rested its particle cannon, the *'Cherry Blossom.'

"Send a message to the Valiant," Ramuel seethed. "Tell them those aboard the Falcon have sinned against the Empress. We will enact divine punishment."

Imperial Planet

"Ramuel is going to do it," she said, softly so only Uruel and Camuel could hear. They were in the Attendence Hall, and the Empress had been hearing the praises of the pilgrims for over three hours.

"Should we..." Camuel began.

"Let those unbelievers have them for now," she answered. "But there will be no bloodshed."

CIS Cul

"How can this be your wish?!" Ramuel seethed. He couln't understand her reasoning. Recently, he had come to misunderstand a lot about the Empress.

"But it is my wish, so you will carry it out, won't you?"

"Yes, your Emminence," he said with a bow." The screen cut off, and Ramuel turned back to the comm tech. to open another channel. "If all ships will stand down, I will grant safe passage out of Imperial territories. There is no need or want for bloodshed. For the time being, the Culsu Empire recognizes the right of the Chrysler Corporation in seizing the ship Fighting Falcon."

*the particle cannon is rated @ 10.5 X 10^15 joules.

"The Star Snake's going after the charts!" Chloe called to Nathan.
Nathan, still laying back in his chair tutted, annoyed,
"That really is not fair at all. Chloe, I think we've made our point to the fighters, break us off and bring us alongside the Fighting Falcon and the Star Snake."
"Aye, Captain" She stated giving a sarcastic salute, "Would you like a 20 gun salute as well?"
"Nah, those charts will do nicely."

Then the two Battleships arrived and broadcast the message to all ships in the area,
"So the little ship has big brothers!" Nathan exclaimed happily, "Three against two, providing Senior Kartosh would like to stay, which I doubt. Ah well, money comes and money goes. Remain in position here, we can track them for a while and see if an opportunity presents itself"
The Elixir of Life stopped dead in space, now it was just hovering there,
"You know, I'm starving!" Nathan suddenly said from the cockpit,
"We had breakfast two hours ago" Was the reply,
"What about Brunch?"
"It's half nine in the morning!"
"Exactly! Between Breakfast and Lunch, hence 'Brunch'. Now what is there?"
Nathan left the cockpit and headed back into his ship,
Chloe just sighed and took over the controls, watching the ships in front of her.

"This is the battlecruiser Valiant of the Chrysler Corporation. We demand that the freighter Fighting Falcon be released ASAP. Any interference will not be tolerated. You have 30 seconds to comply."
"Hmm, this complicates things slightly." murmured Kartosh.
"Fight Falcon attempting to override tractor beam...override failed. We still have them." said Skyler.
"Right, this is how things are going to work..."

TO: Fighting Falcon
Tell the Battlecruisers of the Chrysler Corporation stand down at once, or we will be forced to destroy the you. They have twenty seconds to withdraw or we will open fire on the Falcon. After transmitting this message lower your shields and prepare to be boarded.

From the planet's surface, two cruisers and a destroyer launched, heading for the planet's orbit and their command ship, the Cul. Onboard the mammoth battleship, Ramuel seethed. It seemed to be his favorite pastime of the moment. On the screen, Second was reporting the latest turn of events and the ETA of the support vessels.

"Will you require anything else?" Second asked.

"Prepare the planetary defenses," Ramuel answered. "We'll show these dregs the penalty for defying Her Holiness."

"Certainly m'lord," Second answered.

Imperial Planet

As the brothers left the Palace, they were joined by their seconds. And while it was fairly easy to discern the Trinity, the Seconds were entirely different. Each was identical, in manner and speech as well as look except for their hair color, which identified which Master they belonged to. They were devoted to the lords, insomuch that they could never-would never, defy an order. If necessary, they would die for the Trinity.

"Prepare our vessels," Uruel said to his Second. Nodding in response, the Second immediately contacted the Homeport.

"We should ask her what's going on," Camuel said as they walked on.

"She wouldn't give us an answer if we did," Uruel replied matter-of-factly.

"These vermin seem to be quite the fancy for Our Grace," Ramuel sighed.

"Yes, but what choice do we have but to carry out her wishes?" Uruel responded. He began a quote from the Testament, *"And I heard the voice of the Empress saying, "Who shall go for us and whom shall I send? And I said, "I will go; send me."

"Blessed is the Mother," Camuel answered.

note:
Second: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/mattboii/Legend%20of%20the%20Twilight/Reki.bmp
Each Brother has a Second, and each has hair matching their Master.

* paraphrased from Isaiah 6: 1-13

"This is the Valiant. Are weapons are on standby, pending the release of the Falcon. We will hold our current position. Out."

----------

Bradley checked the charge of his blaster for the tenth time. He and Demon waited by the airlock, while Kate remained on the bridge, monitoring the situation. Suddenly, an orange glow filled the corridor. When it cleared, eight SPARTAN Enforcers stood in front of him. Each carried a Type 3 compression phaser rifle, a SMG on the right hip, and a Klingon mek'leth blade on their backs. The leader of the group stepped forward.
"Captain John Bradley. We were sent by the Director to assist you. Please return to your bridge. We will protect the ship."
John was speachless. "Uh, ok. Sure." He glanced at Demon, then shrugged. "Alright. But while you are here, you're under my command, got it?"
"Affirmative."
"Good. And thanks." John headed back to the bow while the SPARTANS took up defensive positions. Interesting, he thought, this is getting weirder and weirder...

There was a flash of light on the Falcon and a droid appeared. Human sized, it was light blue and it's head was shaped like a triangle, with a single glowing yellow electronic eye. The moment it appeared a stationary shield popped up in front of it. The droid sat behind the glowing gold shield emcompassing it as Kartosh's voice once again rang out over the ships speakers.
"Now, I'm going to make this very simple. Your beaming did not go unnoticed. Eight of you on the Falcon, soldiers, Marines probably. The robot you see before you is a XL9 class droid, usually made for deep mining. However, it has been modified to carry a large explosive device, which will tear your ship apart if you force me to set it off. One of you will lay down the star charts just before the shield. I will beam them and the droid onto my ship. If you fail to comply, I will trigger the droid's self-destruct mechanism and it will kill you all. You have fifteen seconds to meet my demands."

ooc: um, Auburn, what's going on? i think i got the storyline confused a bit (maybe it was the influx of ppl). btw, it seems like ppl are ignoring my chars. warnings.

ic:

"This is getting ridiculous," Ramuel sighed, no longer interested in these newcomers. "Charge the EMP."

Just then, a chime from the communications system begged his attention. He activated the screen, and a flustered Second bowed before answering.

"We have recieved an Imperial Dispatch," Second reported. "Camuel and Uruel are coming to meet you aboard their ships Chaluchasu and Celsclan. New orders are to detain the hostiles until Imperial Review is commenced."

"Understood," Ramuel said. He activated the broadcast switch. "Attention agressive forces. You have violated Imperial law regarding the neutrality of foreign powers within our realm. Stand down immediately. Any ship acting in a hostile manner will be deemed an enemy of the state and met with appropriate force. Acknowledge and comply."

ooc: AH, i'm trying to cover your escape, btw.

"More Soldiers have beamed on board the Falcon and Kartosh has sent over an explosive device of some kind" Chole reported from her chair, moving the katana again so that she could lean over to the Pilot's controls, "And there are more warships coming from the surface"

"All this for Star Charts?" Nathan retook his seat in the cockpit and typed a few commands into the pilot's console. The instructions took his ship to alongside the Star Snake

A message was sent to the Mercenary Vessel,

Greetings Kartosh! Fine day to be nicking Star Charts am I right?

OOC: You only said you needed your characters to escape...you never said they had to have the star charts with them. If this IS indeed what you meant I will RP letting you go somehow. However, as characters, these two are very determined. And they are ignoring incoming messages from the government, until those messages become lasers and bullets.
IC:
Greetings Kartosh! Fine day to be nicking Star Charts am I right?
"Strange," he murmured.
Indeed it is. With the recent influx of ships, I propose a deal: If you will distract them for the time needed for us securing the charts, we will split the price we get, fifty-fifty. What do you say, Nathan?

ooc: need us to shoot, fine. btw, i can't rp someone else's chars. i was having my ships there so AH could rp his chars. getting away.

ic:

"Those two, the ones going after the thieves," Ramuel answered.

"Yes sir," the Weapons Officer replied.

Flanking the ships, the cruisers Epior and Tinia moved into position while the destroyer Tages provided cover. The weapons of the three ships opened up, firing on them. High density transuranic slugs fired from the less-powerful Gauss guns while intermediate-ranged lasers fired from mobile turrets. Aboard the Cul, Ramuel waited patiently. If they were so daring as to ignore Imperial decree, he would send them to Judgement. The battleship itself had remained behind, but its powerful weapons had trained on the ships, ready at a moment to unleash their power. The charged Cherry Blossom smiled menacingly, the pinkish tint of its power haloing the Culi in its light.

"Activate planetary defenses," Ramuel ordered before activating a hail. "Respond immediately to our requests or be destroyed. Defiance of our law will not be tolerated."

OOC: You only said you needed your characters to escape...you never said they had to have the star charts with them. If this IS indeed what you meant I will RP letting you go somehow. However, as characters, these two are very determined. And they are ignoring incoming messages from the government, until those messages become lasers and bullets.
IC:

"Strange," he murmured.

Very well then and I want 50% this time! None of it 'goes missing' in transit

Nathan took hold of the joystick in front of him and twisted it so that he was pointing at the warships that were now throwing fire in their direction,
"What the hell are you doing?" Chloe asked in disbelief.
"Earning our pay. Hold on" He twirled the stick again so that the Elixir ducked and dived through the bigger guns weapons. He wasn't firing his own this time, he was only dodging the slower traversing guns.
"There has to be an easier way to earn a living than this?" Chloe shouted as their ship rocked from a near miss,
"You could become an accountant" Nathan suggested, concentrating dead ahead, "But I find Accountants so tedious. This is much more fun!" Their ship rocked again.

"Ready my Scythe," Ramuel said as he left the bridge.

Inside the hangar bay of the Cul, scores of fightercraft, support ships and transports stood ready for launch. Among the fighters was one that stood out. As Ramuel climbed in and activated its systems, the wings extended like switchblades from their inner cowlings. As the canopy lowered and Ramuel connected the neural interlink, his comm link activated.

"M'lord, let us send out a squadron to capture that ship," Second pleaded from his position in the Plantary Station.

"No," Ramuel answered. "This ends now."

The Scythe launched, and despite his orders, a pair of Scimitar fighters followed in pursuit, with orders to protect the High Lord at all costs.

Ramuel boosted his engines, sending the fighter into the fray. It dodged past weapons fire as it increased speed, and in his minds eye he locked onto the nimble vessel. He waited until he had a clear shot, a rule he had culled from an ancient warrior named Boelke from a backwards planet of the Empire. Ramuel thumbed the weapons to his pair of rail guns and opened fire.

"They're doing their job." muttered Kartosh as blasts repeatedly pounded his ship. The Star Snake was infamous for its power: Despite its small size, it could outfight anything up to cruiser size and outrun anything larger, making it an excellent smuggling vessal. Electing to take the higher road, the Star Snake moved itself so, while still locked onto the Fighting Falcon via tractor beam, it had now put the ship in between itself and the cruisers attemping to destroy it. If the Imperial ships wanted to kill them that badly, they would have to blast the Falcon first.
"Respond immediately to our requests or be destroyed. Defiance of our law will not be tolerated."
"Aye go stuff yourselves, you great bloody gits!" yelled Kartosh into the comm. Skyler took up her position at the stern turret, ready to unleash fire on the fighters if needed.

The Merchant Cruiser "Illuminator" limped from the asteroid field into open space, an intermittent, flickering blue corona eminating from its evidently damaged, struggling engines. The crew, nervous for their safety, and that of their cargo, occupied the defensive installations, training their aims upon the glow of fire and battle to their front, as the navigators and captain attempted to determine the location of the beleagured vessel.

"Kate! Give'm the damn charts!" ordered Bradley.
"But-"
"Do it! And get that thing off my ship!"
"Fine," she started to move from her chair, then hesitated, "Wait a sec, you want me to-"
"Yep."
"Got it." She smilled, hit a few buttons, and pulled an data card from the NAV station. "I'll get this down there."
"Right."
Kate left the bridge and made her way to the droid. Moving slowly, she set the card down in front of it. "There ya go. Happy hunting..."

----------

Transmission from the Valiant...

"Captain Ramus to Director Roman. We have been monitoring Bradley's position from the edge of the system. He was attacked upon liftoff, and we have jumped in to assist, as per your orders. Rival warships forced me to hold position, however I was able to transport Blue Team onto the Falcon. We are now waiting, as the other ships apear to be fighting with each other. Requesting orders. Out."

"They're doing their job." muttered Kartosh as blasts repeatedly pounded his ship. The Star Snake was infamous for its power: Despite its small size, it could outfight anything up to cruiser size and outrun anything larger, making it an excellent smuggling vessal. Electing to take the higher road, the Star Snake moved itself so, while still locked onto the Fighting Falcon via tractor beam, it had now put the ship in between itself and the cruisers attemping to destroy it. If the Imperial ships wanted to kill them that badly, they would have to blast the Falcon first.

"Aye go stuff yourselves, you great bloody gits!" yelled Kartosh into the comm. Skyler took up her position at the stern turret, ready to unleash fire on the fighters if needed.

Ramuel pulled his fighter away and went after the Star Snake. The two Scimitars drew fire that erupted from the stern. He opened fire on the tractor beam emitter, all the while relaying firing information to the Epior. The cruiser had ascended 5 km relative and had angled down, keeping itself within a firing envelope of the Snake. Similarly, the Tinia had descended, its stern grazing the atmosphere as it continued its barrage. The tactic of moving a noncombatant into ranged fire was a good tactic, but easily defeatible in three-dimensional space. Without orders, a squadron of fighters had been launched to continue the pursuit Ramuel had given up.

ooc: its so amazing that ppl never think three dimensionally when fighting in space...erm, i'm not being condescending. i mean, everyone does it. just look @ movies/tv

OOC: In fact, in Star Trek II, Spock points out that although Khan is brilliant, he isn't experianced in space tactics. Kirk out manuvers him by having the Enterprise drop down, wait for Khan's ship to pass, then rises up to blast away!

OOC: In fact, in Star Trek II, Spock points out that although Khan is brilliant, he isn't experianced in space tactics. Kirk out manuvers him by having the Enterprise drop down, wait for Khan's ship to pass, then rises up to blast away!

ooc: ok, like one out of two million, but you got me there. i shouldn't have generalized.

"Falcon," Ramuel hailed his nemesis. He hated doing this, but it was his Empresse's desire. "Our ship have them distracted. Leave this system immedately!"

Becalmed with ever diminishing engine power, the captain of the Illuminator, Kyran Glance prepared the following, broadcasting on all frequencies within the immediate area;

"Greetings; I, Captain Glance on behalf of the merchant vessel Illuminator, request aid. We have suffered severe damage in a local asteroid field, and requier either immediate assistence, or conveyence to a suitable location at which this is possible. Regards, Glance."

Nathan watched as the three fighters peeled away to target the Star Snake instead. He gave a frustrated sigh,
"Chloe," he stated from the Pilot's seat, "They're targeting my next mortgage payment. Prepare to target the nearest fighter. EMP Missiles only"

"Aye, as you wish Captain" She gave a sarcastic grin and turned back to the targeting computer in front of her. Within seconds, she had targeted the nearest Scimitar fighter. Eight missiles fired from the launcher just beneath the cockpit firing missiles design to disable ships only, not destroy them.


TO: Star Snake

I'm gonna risk my arse for you, Kartosh but I want a prompt
payment if you would be so kind. Merci

The Scimitar stopped controlled flight and began drifting through the minutaie of weapons fire.

"EMP weapons?" Ramuel asked incredulously. His anger was soon dissipated as he reminded himself of his own decision to activate those weapons. From behnd, a pair of those thrice-blasted missiles streaked towards him. Ramuel activated his turret of paired Mauler ROV-20 lasers. Created as PDWs (Point Defense Weapons) the laser blasts intercepted the missiles before they could detonate. The other Scimitar caught on, but it would still be a right bad scene. As he was thinking that, the first of the squadrons attacked.

ooc: alversia, wat's your ship called. i can't recall.

OOC: It's called the Elixir of Life or Elixir for short

"Right! We have the co-ordinates!" Chloe called as they were suddenly swamped with fighters from a nearby warship.
"Good. He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day! I think we should put that into practice"
He maneuvered through the various fighters until he was in a clear area of space, then he leapt into Hyperspace and away from the attacking vessels,
"Now to collect our pay" Nathan sighed happily, leaning back in his chair.

"Got it!"
Kartosh scooped the card up off the deck where it had beamed aboard. The fighter broke their beam connection, but that was fine. They had what they came for. Fools. The droid never had a bomb in it! It was a simple hauler.
His bluff had worked and the Star Snake, barely scratched despite the fire it received, peeled off and jumped, but not before sending a message to the Elixier of Life:
(Coordinates encrypted enclosed)

"Blast," Ramuel said as the ship jumped, undoubtedly with the starcharts in tow. The only way now would be to find out what had made those charts so tempting. "Falcon. Stand to and the Cul will provide assistance. We will make you an official protectorate of the Empire if yuo desire."

"Finally!" John practically jumped into the helmsman's seat. "Hold on! We're getting out of here!" The Falcon rotated and dove past the 'battle', making a run for open space. "Sparks! My warp engines working?"
"Only on my day off!" came the reply from the engine room.
"Good enough for me! Kate! Give me a course!"
Kate dropped into her seat next to John. "One sec," she worked the control panel. "Course laid in! Punch it!" With a flash, the Falcon jumped to warp on a random course out of the system, but one that would only travel a single light-year. Then, they planned to pause and regroup...

----------

After the Falcon vanished, the two battlecruisers followed suite. However, they didn't follow Bradley, but took a different path out of the system...

OOC: Free US, see TeleGram...

ooc: gotta head home (i'm @ school right now) will respond in an hour, ok?

The Star Snake appeared abruptly in the middle of a deserted system of space, lit by a huge red giant star, the closest worlds to it charred and desert-like, ones further away icy and frozen. As the droid stowed itself away once more, Kartosh punched in the star charts. His plan had not gone as smoothly as hoped, what with interference from planatary officials and this so called "Chrysler Corperation", but the Star Snake had received minimal damage and they had the charts. The data screen illuminated itself to reveal several hundred light years of space. "Why in the galaxy would they want these?" Skyler sat down beside him, also gazing at the charts. "Beats me. I thought it would be a military installation or something, but I don't see the significance of these charts."
OOC: Auburn Hill, are you going to tell me what's on these charts? Or am I free to say? Also, are you eventually going to be wanting these back? You can have them...for a price.

OOC: To All: John Bradley and crew are looking for an artifact called 'Sparrow's Compass'. They needed that charts as a kind of map. I intended this to be a nice, long RP, so that we don't find the compass that quick.

ps: Xiscapia, as Bradley is a pirate at heart, assume that he copied the charts before giving them to you...

OOC: Actually, after I posted, I thought, "Oh shit! He might have put a bomb of his own on that!" but he didn't. It dosen't matter if they have the charts as well, the mercenaries will be able to sell them off to the highest bidder, meaning that John Bradley and crew will be facing some competition.

A brief flash and the Elixir of Life, also undamaged from her wild escapade, appeared in system near to the Star Snake. Aboard, Nathan was quietly satisfied with his days work,

Where do you plan to sell the charts, Kartosh?

The area was deserted enough, they knew they would not be disturbed.

The Star Snake turned to face the Elixir of Life. The Alversian and Xiscapian aboard were not nearly as well known as Kartosh and Skyler, but enough. The relationship between the mercenaries hovered somewhere between rivalry and old friendship.
Where do you plan to sell the charts, Kartosh?
"Why does he always assume you're the one flying the ship?" grumbled Skyler from the co-pilots seat as Kartosh typed a reply. "Cause I usually am." Kartosh winked at the pretty kitsune.
I was thinking that Raxis would pay quite a bit for such charts. You know how he is and "lost treasure." I beleive that's exactly what we've found. Star charts to the middle of nowhere? But now that I look at them, another idea creeps into my mind...perhaps we could go after this, ourselves? Surly they made copies of the charts, but if we were to get there first...
He let that hang in the air. It could be any number of things, the charts. But something deep in Kartosh's brain screamed "treasure!"

Nathan leant back in his chair and thought for a while, true he was not as well known as the two Xiscapian Mercenaries, but the SASM could have had something to do with that. Nathan wasn't a Mercenary in the strictest sense. He was more of a Rogue, an Adventurer, and an Adventure beckoned to him right now.

"What do you think?" He asked Chloe, She sighed and shook her head, allowing her waist length green hair to shake itself apart,
"Does it really matter? I know that look," She smiled, "You're gonna go through with this, aren't you?"
"Would it be me if I didn't?" He laughed and sent a message back

Sounds like an idea to go after these ourselves. I haven't anywhere
else important to be, so why not?

OOC: To All: John Bradley and crew are looking for an artifact called 'Sparrow's Compass'. They needed that charts as a kind of map. I intended this to be a nice, long RP, so that we don't find the compass that quick.

ps: Xiscapia, as Bradley is a pirate at heart, assume that he copied the charts before giving them to you...

"Prepare the fold drive," Ramuel informed Second. A faithful and astute attendant, Second had already boarded a shuttle headed for the Cul.

"Yes, Master," he answered. His eyes shifted nervously. "M'lord, what of the remaining rabble?"

"Leave them to their devices. Have the commanders of the remaining shps to deal with them as they please. Detainment in preferable, but destruction is just as acceptable," Ramuel explained.

"Yes, m'lord."

CIS Cul

"Commander, Fold system is active and the ship has been taken safely away from the planet's gravity field," the Navigation Officer reported as Ramuel and Second made it to the bridge.

"Good. Send a message to the Chaluchasu," Ramuel told Second. "Let Camuel know that we have begun pursuit. Give him our navigational data."

"I hear and obey," Second responded, retreating to the communications station.

From the entryway, Samael walked in with a carefree stride, calmly taking the Command Chair before Ramuel could sit down.

"So, how grateful are you for my tracking device?" he asked lightheartedly.

"If you weren't one of Her Holiness' Revered..." Ramuel fumed, roughly seizing Samael and throwing him from the chair. Samael chuckled as he landed on his feet, taking an adjacent observer seat. Ramuel was about to say more, but time was of the essence. "Helmsman, initiate Fold Maneuver!"

Incandescent motes of non-space began forming along the surfaces of the ship. Electrical discharges sparked and ran along the length of the hull. The discharges grew until an umbrella of unbridled energy surrounded the ship. It solidified into a singular mass of indescribable brilliance. In an instant, the sphere vanished, along with the vessel encapsulated within it.

OOC: To All: John Bradley and crew are looking for an artifact called 'Sparrow's Compass'. They needed that charts as a kind of map. I intended this to be a nice, long RP, so that we don't find the compass that quick.

ps: Xiscapia, as Bradley is a pirate at heart, assume that he copied the charts before giving them to you...

OOC lets not forget the new side story the ties to that
IC

Duke had find a place that he and Jenny could stray at till thng had clam down

"what we do next Duke"asked Jenny sitting on the bed
"we wait for three days to pass ,then find a ship off this rock"said Duke

OOC: Actually I intended for this to be pre-SASM, but meh whatever.
IC:
Sounds like an idea to go after these ourselves. I haven't anywhere
else important to be, so why not?
Kartosh grinned. He knew the man would come around to it.
Alright, this is how things are going to work. We've lost those slugs, so we're safe to plan. I would suggest stocking up and maybe recruiting a few more people. I know of a place near here. After all, we have no idea of what we might find. Is the Elixir of Life stocked with ammunition and supplies?
The Star Snake had a small armory of mostly stolen weapons. Many were of Xiscapian or Alversian origin, but Kartosh had managed to pick up many others. Everything from grenade lauchers to energy swords to sniper rifles to chainguns, weapons for every situation. Equipment wise the Snake stored a single small, compact speeder bike in case recon was needed, and had room for a full sized speeder in it's cargo hold. Thousands of rounds, rockets, power cells and energy crystals of ammunition were also stored in the hold. Food rations, enough for three weeks, with water for up to a month. To hold all this and not be dramatically slowed the Star Snake utilized a tiny pocket universe, only a yard high and some three yards across, white space. But it was incredibly useful.

CIS Chaluchasu

Camuel stood with his arms akimbo, six floating monitors in a half-arc showing various status updates. His composure was broken as the comm chimed a priority message. It might be the Empress, or Ramuel with rendezvous coordinates. He queued up the screen only to be greeted by Uruel, sitting upside-down on his command seat aboard the Celsclan, absentmindedl petting an Alversian cat resting in his lap.

"Hallo," Uruel said jovially.

"Uruel, this isn't a weekend excursion," his brother answered.

"Aw, c'mon Camu-dear," Uruel continued, "I'm bored without Her presence."

"You'll just have to deal with it," Camuel replied, shuddering at the pet name Uruel gave him.

CIS Celsclan

As Uruel looked back at his brother, the screen inverted so it looked as if Camuel were standing on the ceiling, the hatch to the bridge opened in a flurry of activity. Entering the bridge, Princess Uni stepped lightly, followed closely by her two Guardians, Vanth and Vecuvia. She mistepped and tripped, only to be caught in Vecuvia's arms. A nearby tech who had also lunged to assist was met with Vanth's scythe pressed threateningly to his throat. It was a major taboo for men to touch the Holy Princess.

From his seat, Uruel launched himself into the air, landing lightly near Uni and Vecuvia's side. His presence was allowed because of his status. Under normal circumstances, Vecuvia would have had no hesitation in felling an intruder with her sword.

"Are you all right, my Princess?" he asked. His former joviality was gone. This was no place for the Crowned Princess to be, he thought, wondering why Her Grace had allowed her sister to tag along. Of course, Uruel had harbored suspicions that the Princess felt something towards him, but that would violate everything the Trinity was. They could only devote themselves to one woman, after all.

"I'm fine," she said, blushing at the attention she was recieving. "Will we be there soon? I can't stand the view of my rooms."

"The planet was far from the Inner Systems, so travel will take a while," Uruel explained. He understood what she meant; in Void on non-space the ships traveled during a Fold Maneuver, the view could be maddening. But, then again, that's why dropshields were made and holographic views were available.

"Oh, that's too bad," Uni answered, her face growing despondent. "Can I stay here with you?"

"Erm, sure," Uruel answered, gesturing to the Observer seat to his right. "If you please."

note:

Princess Uni: http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s84/Dragon_Master_777/ANIME/q7.jpg

Vanth: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/FluryofDancingFlam3s/anime/20050616_198_sm_saturn150.jpg

Vecuvia: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/BlackNinj4/1112529985_zB_revenge.jpg

OOC: You did? Ah well.

Nathan grinned at the mention of supplies, apart from an ample supply of rockets, enough to fire his weapons for a month, the two Rogues did not carry a vast amount of equipment. Each had their own personal weapon that they prefered rather than tons of equipment. The Elixir also had a small pocket universe but theirs was somewhat smaller and held less equipment. Apart from two Speeder bikes and enough provisions for three months in space, all that the Elixir carried was spare parts, mechanical tools, a tiny medical bay and a few personal weapons.
Chloe carried her katana, a long barreled laser pistol, a smaller pistol and a sniper rifle, with which she was a crack shot. She was also a formidable swordswoman, having been raised in a military family.

Despite being more of a gentleman, Nathan knew how to handle a sword, although he preferred a long, slender dagger. His own personal weapon of choice was a close quarters auto-shotgun, although he also kept two pistols in his belt.

We have all the provisions we're gonna need, where do you
propose we go on a recruitment drive?

We have all the provisions we're gonna need, where do you
propose we go on a recruitment drive?
There is an asteroid base not too far from here, with ample supply of people just waiting around for a job. It's a hollowed out smugglers den, called Smuggler's Run, and they know us there. We too are set with supplies, so all we have to do it recruit some personnal. (coordinates enclosed)
The Star Snake turned in space to point in the opposite direction from where it just came. The engines glowed in preperation for a hyperspace jump. They flared a bright white and the mercenary vessel disappeared.

Ah, Smuggler's Den! I know a lot of good people there
Let's ge to it

The smaller Elixir now pointed in the direction that the Star Snake had disappeared and within seconds, she joined her in hyperspace. They may have been Rogues, but Nathan and Chloe knew a few good contacts in the Underworld.

"I love this ship," Samael said as he stepped back onto the bridge. "Such delicious meals. No wonder you don't want me in your seat. Afraid I'd take it, I gather."

"Couldn't you amuse yourself somewhere else?" Ramuel asked impatiently. He looked up as the ship folded back into normal space. "We've arrived. Helm, lock onto the transponder and set a course."

"Aye, Commander. Transponder recieved, laying in course," the helmsman answered.

Ramuel let out a sigh. In a few moments, they would meet up with the Falcon and finally learn what made those maps so valuable. And maybe it would shed some light as to why the Empress was so lenient towards them.

Chaluchasu

Camuel sighed. They had recieved Ramuel's telemetry, but it looked like several more days would be required to get there. And in that time, there would be untold amounts of headaches coming from Uruel and his menagerie on the sister ship Celsclan. Princess Uni was a distraction at best, a hinderance at worst. And her Guardians were disruptive as well, assaulting crewmen who were simply fulfilling their shipwide duties. He hoped the voyage would be over soon. Only Ramuel seemed capable of reigning in the other's free spirits.

The Star Snake blasted out of hyperspace a short time later, banking sharply downward. They were at the edge of an asteroid field, being held in place by two opposing gas giants. The location gave the advantage of being close to major shipping routes while still being off the beaten track. A particularly large asteroid was situated at the edge of the field, unremarkable even in it's size, for further into the field were even larger asteroids, the size of small moons, some of them. The one they were headed for was about the size of your average warehouse. Inside there wasn't much: A hanger, a bar, a store for resupplying, a tiny communications center and a few taverns. Kartosh flew the ship close to the asteroid and sent out a message:
Smuggler's Run, this is the Star Snake, requesting permission to land in the hanger bay. The Elixir of Life will be following shortly.
There was a moment of silence as the message went out, was received and understood, and a response sent out.
Star Snake, you are cleared to land in the hanger, as well as the Elixir.
The smugglers/mercenary ship flew for a small hole in the asteroid's side, about twice the size of the Star Snake itself. Smuggling vessels were usually quite small and fast, so there was no need for a huge hanger.

The Elixir appeared seconds later, Nathan sat at the controls and smiled,
"Send a message to the 'Colony'. Tell them that we want to land" He instructed Chloe,
"Would you like your boots shined while I'm here?"

"Yeah, but do that for now and I'll tell you when I'm ready for a shining."

Chloe tapped in the message and received the reply from the little cove,
"We have permission to land in the hangar"

"Good, then let's get to it" He laughed and took the joystick into his hands again.

The Star Snake landed in the hanger. The first thing that hit one who had not been there before was the smell. Shit, rotting corpses and a strange lilac scent. The result of the strange yellow, pulsing, glowing substance that coated the walls. It was a breed of foul leichen, disgusting and utterly useless except for one purpose: It absorbed scanners and sensor beams and sent them back as negative readings. Incredibly effective, they had probably saved the asteroid countless attacks by government forces. In the hanger were arranged at least two dozen ships, ranging from fighter sized to the largest, what seemed to be a Blockade Runner. The Smugglers Run was seperated into three levels: The bar and hanger on the first level, the store and taverns on the second, and the communications center on the third. The whole operation was run by a rugged human named Gomi. He made his money off of drinkers in the bar, customers in the store, patrons of the taverns and a general "admission fee" of fifty credits. Despite the size, the Smugglers Run thrived, with it's own tiny population of permanent residents. Kartosh paid the droid the fee for landing, declined the offer to gas up, and, as Skyler locked the ship, waited for the Elixir to come in.

Kartosh and Skyler bowed back to Chloe. They were among the few, but not the only, Xiscapian criminals in the galaxy. In response to Nathan's question Kartosh shrugged. "A few people. The rest will just be your usual assemblage of thugs and whatnot. I mean, come on. Hidden treasure? There's bound to be traps, and we need cannon fodder." he said bluntly. "Let's go to the one place you can always find people," he winked conspirically at the others, "the bar."

The Elixir was not long in landing soon after and, Nathan was at the door within moments. He smiled at the Xiscapian,
"Kartosh! Long time, no see"
He was then distracted by a Droid.
"Fee? Oh yes, of course. Put it on my tab. What do you mean my tab no longer applies? I paid the money. Once...I think...not."
"Nathan, pay him the damn money and stop being so tight" Chloe had left the ship and bowed to her fellow Xiscapians, "Kartosh, Skyler"
Nathan sighed and fished the money out of his pocket,
"This had better be worth it" He said to the Droid, who replied with a few whistles.

"So," He turned back to Kartosh, "Is there anyone you had in mind for this mission?"

Kartosh and Skyler bowed back to Chloe. They were among the few, but not the only, Xiscapian criminals in the galaxy. In response to Nathan's question Kartosh shrugged. "A few people. The rest will just be your usual assemblage of thugs and whatnot. I mean, come on. Hidden treasure? There's bound to be traps, and we need cannon fodder." he said bluntly. "Let's go to the one place you can always find people," he winked conspirically at the others, "the bar."

"The sport of kings!" Nathan announced as they entered the rather seedy bar. Aliens of all kinds were busy drowning their sorrows and didn't even bother looking up at the small group, "I once met an Alumina who claimed he could drink an entire barrel and still be able to recalibrate a shield frequency. Never proved it though. Cheerful bugger he was" Nathan seemed to be drifting off into his own world until a nudge from Chloe brought him back to reality.
"Still, needs must. Cannon fodder must be found and there is no shortage in front of me" he was still looking around, "Although we will need some talent on this mission. Anyone in particular?"

"Yeah," said Kartosh, and strode up to one of the tables. Standing on top of it he yelled across the bar, unnecessarily loud.
"Oy! Nekko, Downson, Dodger, over here!"
Three different beings looked up from their drinks. The first was a massive alien who had an entire table to himself, dressed in a tattered military uniform from some distant service. He was eight feet tall and scaled red. It looked like a human Devil, but with no tail or pitchfork. Indeed, he only had a single, crystal-like eye, in which no pupel could be seem, in the middle of it's head. In the right light a tiny rainbow glittered from it. The eye never once blinked or showed any sign of movement, apparently fixed in the head. It had a lizard-like snout, filled with pointed, yellow teeth. Muscular arms, legs, and chest betrayed it to be immensely strong. It stood on taloned feet, with huge black claws on it's hands, a massive weapons of some sort strapped to its back. Lumbering over, it spoke in a incredibly deep voice, so deep that it probably transmitted over other frequencys below most species pitch of hearing.
"What is it?"
"Guys," Kartosh stretched up and patted the thing on the shoulder, "meet Downson. Nobody has any idea what the fuck he is, but he's a digger, and also a nasty one in a fight. Definitly an asset."
Downson seemed to gaze at them. "What is this that you speak of?"

ooc: hrm, seems y'all two are leading this thing...i'm basically waiting for AH

ic:

CIS Calsclan

Uruel had finally shooed Uni and her companions off of the bridge, and she sat listlessly in her quarters, the most lavish, reserved only for her or her sister, the Empress. Vanth and Vecuvia sat beside her, brushing her hair and fixing it properly before Uni turned in for the 'night.' The chime of an incoming communication startled her, and Vanth placed her brush aside to answer it for her. A floating image of the Empress solidified in front of her, and the Guardians bowed low in reverence.

"Sorry to catch you like this," her sister apologized, "You certainly look lovely like that. How has your trip been so far?"

"Fine," Uni answered, blushing a bit at the compliment. After all, it wasn't she who was revered across the empire. "Uruel gets so serious around me, though."

"That's why you're a perfect match," the Empress replied.

"Sister!" Uni blushed.

"I don't mean to tease you," the Empress said.

"Why did you have to send me?" Uni complained. "I'm grateful I can be with Uruel...if only for a short while," she said, twiddling her thumb. "But I'm not a capable leader like the Trinity, or a good subordinate like the Seconds...why me?"

"My dear," the Empress' words had become soft and concerned. "I send to as my Emissary. For you alone carry my blood and can recieve the information I am sending."

At that, Vanth and Vecuvia stood and left the room, reading that what came next was not for their eyes.

CIS Cul

"Y'know," Samael started conversationally. "While you're playing with these thieves, I could look around for those star charts."

"Really now?" Ramuel replied, keeping his eyes glued to the sensor array.

"Of course," Samael continued. "As the Empress' operative, I've made many aliases, and several are...less than reputable."

"They would spot you in a Scythe," Ramuel said.

"That's why I don't use one," replied Samael.

"If you insist," Ramuel answered, finding this to be an easy way to get the operative out of his hair.

"Be back in a few," Samael said, walking nonchalantly off the bridge.

In his own ship, a beat-up tug he'd bought off of a smuggler named the Iliria, Samael set course for one of the better-known areas for the dregs of the universe to converse. He plotted a course into the navigational array and Folded towards the Smugglers Run.

"Nice to have a presence amongst us," Nathan, like most Alversians, was no shrimp but even he was dwarfed by the man, "Nice to meet you. As for being an 'Asset' we are planning a high risk venture and are in need of some...help. You appear to be perfect. Needless to say the rewards for success are great and for failure severe. What do you say?" he asked firmly.
Chloe just nodded at the barmen and he instantly handed over a small beer. She took it and started to drink, watching the action in front of her.

"Ba-hah!" rumbled Downson. "This sounds like my kind of operation. High risks, high rewards. As they say," he nodded his huge head, "no pain no game. I'm in." Kartosh nodded enthusiastically. "Great, glad to have ya aboard." The next person came striding up. In comparison to Downson this person was tiny. Five foot and eleven inchs, a human male with dirty blonde hair swaggered up to the group. This was Dodger. He had two blaster pistols stuck on his hips in holsters, wearing a tough cloth and plastic flightsuit, gray and unadorned. A respected smuggler, Dodger was a gunrunner, the most reckless kind of smuggler. A risk taker, always outflying Customs by the seat of his pants, he flew a little freighter called Dodger's Luck. He carried a beer in hand, but was evidently sober. At least, he probably was by the way he made eyes at Skyler and Chloe. "Mmmm, exotic, just what I like," he winked rougishly. Kartosh smirked and punched him on the shoulder. "This is Dodger. He's an expert pilot, tracker and general mechanic."
"And also a crack shot with a pistol." Dodger interjected.
"Yeah, well, that depends on how you look at it," Kartosh grinned. "So we're going on a, ahha, treasure hunt. Stolen star charts from some world out there. You game?"
Dodger laughed. "This had better not be another one of your "precious mining asteroid" schemes again. We barely made it out of that one with our ships and lives!"

Nathan raised his eyebrows and looked at Kartosh but said nothing,
"We need a good navigator and a pistolman would not be amiss either, You willing to take a risk that may set you up for the rest of your life or rob you of it. One of two options, yes or no?" He asked.

Chloe, for her part, merely shook her head and went back to her beer. She was eyeing up cannon fodder for the group, people who would follow orders, even if they were suicidial.

The finder beams locked onto their target. In the shelter of what appeared tobe a planetoid, the Fighting Falcon drifted. Ramuel ordered the Cul to keep a wide berth, so as not to provoke the thieves. Activating the communications array, he addressed them, professional if not amicable.

"Falcon, this is Commander Ramuel aboard the Cul. I am here in the capacity of a representative of Her Holiness, and not as an enemy. It is apparent that you do not possess the charts anymore, and are therefore not under pursuit for possession of Imperial documents. Her Empress desires mutual cooperation between us, and has commanded me to assist you in your endeavor."

Chaluchasu

Vanth and Vecuvia re-entered as the screen shut off. They walked back to their mistress, who now looked very dispondent. Vanth shot a concerned look to her companion, knowing that the discussion had to have been of grave importance. The Princess fought back a sniffle, and Vecuvia offered a handkerchief. Each put an arm around their charge and comforted her. All three startled at the sound of the door chime. In a few seconds, the lock was overridden, and Uruel stood, sillhuoetted in the passageway light. Protectively, the two Guardians stood between him and Uni, letting the Princess compose herself. She finally stepped out from behind them and addressed him.

"I'm sorry, Uruel, I was preparing for bed," she said apologetically. In other instances, she would have been esctatic that he was in her quarters.

"It is I who should apologize," he answered with a bow. "I was informing you that we will soon meet up with Ramuel and the Falcon."

"Oh," was all she managed to say, turning her eyes from him.

"It's all right," Uruel responded encouragingly, "There's still enough time for you to rest."

She smiled in response, a sad sort. So, he didn't understand...that was expected, but she had hoped he would have noticed. Uruel left with a formal bow, and Uni answered it. Each of her Guardians grabbed one of her hands and squeezed it reassuringly.

OOC: sorry for delayed response. Now, to explain the story a little bit...

IC:

The Falcon hung in space, as her crew sat in the bridge, and tried to deside on their next move.
"I say we go to Smuggler's Run and hide out for a while," said Kate. "Let these people get off our backs, then go for the compass."
"And what about Erica?" asked John, "Am I supposed to just leave her with Drakor?"
"I know, I know," Kate shrugged. "But what can we do?"
"Contact Roman."
They both turned, and looked at Demon, who was leaning against the engineering console at the back on the bridge, arms folded accross his chest. He had been silent this whole time, and the humans forgot he was there.
"What do you mean?" asked Kate.
"Roman will know where Drakor is," Demon replied. "He made it a policy to keep tabs on the location of the Black Pearl. Drakor is a loose cannon, and we didn't want him attacking our own interests."
"So," said John, "Roman could have contacted Drakor at any time."
"Yes."
"Dammit!" John punched the bulkhead with his fist, "Then why are we on this stupid witch-hunt?"
"Roman wants the compass."
This silenced everyone. They all knew that Drakor wanted the compass to find some sort of lost treasure. But why Roman? He had his 'Chrysler Corporation', his own ships and resources. So why would he want the compass? John began to pace around the bridge. Suddenly, he paused. "It's the Matrix, isn't it?"
"Correct."
Kate was confused. "What are you talking about? What is the matrix?"
"Something Drakor mentioned to me once," replied John. "He said Roman was looking for it."
"Correct," said Demon. "We learned about it from Dinobot. According to an old Cybertronian legend, the matrix can grant life to any kind of machine. Roman wants to use it to create an army, one powerful enough to take over the galaxy."
"And that's why he wants the compass?" asked Kate, "because it leads to this matrix?"
"Well, not exactly," replied John.
"What do you mean?"
John reached over and activated the COMM station. A holographic image on a crystal sphere appeared. It was about three inches in diameter, with a black arrow suspended in the middle. "This is Sparrow's Compass," John said. "Stories say that it can lead you to whatever it is that you want most."
"And Roman wants this matrix."
"Correct.
John turned to Demon. "Wait a minute. Your work for Roman. Why are you telling us all of this?"
Demon stood silent for a few minutes. "I owe Roman my life, hence my loyalty for him. However, I need your help."
"Our help?"
"I have my own reasons for wanting the compass," Demon replied. "Before we left the Auburn system, Roman discovered information about my creation. Mainly, that I am not alone."
"What do you mean?" asked John.
"It appears that the genetic program that created me had two other successes. I intend to find them."
"I understand." John returned to the helm, and noticed that they were no longer alone. "Alright. Kate, get me a course. Demon, get a charge going on the shields. And open a channel..."

"Cul, this is John Bradley, captain of the freighter Fighting Falcon. I'm not sure what you are talking about. We are on a cargo run, out of the Auburn System. What can I do for you?"

"They dare feign ignorance?" Ramuel asked as he stood on the bridge. "We tracked your vessels' departure from our station on the planet Geophon, where you stole several star charts from our Planetary Headquarters. The charts lead to something, yes? And those others who stole them from you interfered with your capture. But on orders from our Empress, we will grant you pardon for-" he was cut off as a warning siren activated.

"Fold maneuver in progress," the Navigations officer alerted.

From the infinity of space/time, there was a large warp and woof as its very fabric was torn assunder. Flaming debris of subspace flew out from the void, dying from existence as it made contact with the real universe. In a flash, they had appeared, the sister ships Chaluchasu and Celsclan. Immediately, a broadcast came from the Celsclan, the Crown Princess Uni. What was she doing here? Ramuel thought.

"Please, crew of the Fighting Falcon, let us assist you," she pleaded. Her glasses had been removed (only those in the Imperial court knew of the imperfection) and her deep emerald eyes grew large as she continued. "I know of what it is you seek, and why. My sister-the Empress, needs it dearly. She has given me permission to handsomely reward you should the Compassbe brought back to her. Will you at least hear us out? I have already ordered a reception banquet so we may discuss the matter." She looked around, unsure, until someone motioned off-screen for her to cut the transmission.

What fresh hell? Ramuel thought.

ooc: was it out of line to try and bribe y'all? btw, if you do run, you'll only meet up w/ samael @ the smuggler's run.

"We need a good navigator and a pistolman would not be amiss either, You willing to take a risk that may set you up for the rest of your life or rob you of it. One of two options, yes or no?"
"Risk? Man, I invented the word risk! Count me in."
The other patrons of the bar were looking interested now. These were the people perfect for cannon fodder: Tough, ruthless, loyal, smart enough to follow orders but stupid enough not be be able to hatch a plot against their leaders. Humans, Rodians, Gran, Trandosions, Weequey, Klingon, Chimera, Locust, all kinds. Now the last of who Kartosh considered essential to locating the treasure and dangerious enough if they wanted to go after it on their own appeared. Nekko was actually a cyborg, once a Twi'lek but a run in with Customs officials on some planet had torn her apart. Both her legs, her right arm, right eye and both ears were all synthetic robotic parts, machines with fake flesh plastered over them. The effect made her seem normal, her true speed and strength hidden. Where Downson and Dodge were the muscle and trackers, she was a scout and spy, as well as an superior hunter. Her robotic abilities made it easy for her to see things others missed, especially having to do with machines. She carried a viro staff on her back, her only weapons aside from a tiny sheathed dagger on her ankle. Regarding the party silently she scooped up a drink of unidentifiable white liquid from the bar and drained it in a single gulp.

A less dramatic entry than that of the larger ships, the Iliria exited subspace and powered up its sublight engines, arrowing towards the Smuggler's Run. During his travel, Samael had changed into on of his underworld personas, a thief and adventurer by the name of Nataku-the Trickster. He had shrunk his body from the intimidating 6'2" to a more compact and rugged 5'7". His hair had changed color, and lengthened so that he worked it into a trailing braid.

The Iliria approached the Smuggler's Run, and was easily granted access. And why not? Nataku was a trusted, disreputable rogue, and was well-known for his long absences. As the Iliria docked, he girded a sword onto his back and holstered a blaster behind his back. Paying the fee, he walked in, blending into the crowd as easy as pie.

Caluchasu

"You did well," Vanth assured her mistress.

"You did," agreed Vecuvia, a hand on her hip, the other grasping her swords' hilt.

"I just want Sister to be happy," Uni muttered. "But these thieves don't seem like they'll make it easy."

"That's how the real world is," Uruel said curtly from his command seat. He walked over and stood a safe distance from the Guardians. "You seem exhausted. Why don't you take my seat?"

"But..." Uni began.

"Come now," he cut her off, gesturing with an outstretched arm, "It's more comfortable than the observer's seat."

Princess Uni let herself be led to the seat, mentally preparing herself to remain calm. Settling down in the soft cushion, she felt the warmth Uruel had left behind. And while she wanted to shout for joy, she forced a stoic expression upon her face. Maybe, she thought, this wasn't so bad after all, no matter the outcome.

note: samael's persona 'nataku' : http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x245/Jazzy_loves_gaara/anime_chick.jpg

"Welcome aboard then" Nathan clapped him on the shoulder, leaning down to do so. Then he turned to Kartosh,
"A variety of life on this little rock, I have to say," he noted happily, then he heard a message flash into his head from Chloe,
'That Twi'ek in the corner has not stopped watching you from you came in. I would watch her'
Nathan had a quick glance over before turning back to Kartosh,
"Anyone else who should round off our little group?" He asked happily.

"I...see," Nathan was looking at Nekko with interest. He shifted his belt a little bit, "If this works out then we'll have all the compensation we could hope to have. As for crossing her," he looked at again, "I think we'll get along just fine. Now, Chloe," he looked over at his Xiscapian counterpart, "Any sign of fodder on the horizon?"

"Dozens," She replied from the table, "But the most likely seem to be on that corner," She nodded over at one particularly loud and noisy table.
"They claim to be Mercenaries but they will do for our purpose" Nathan realized that, with her more sensitive hearing, Chloe had probably heard every word of their conversation.

"Yeah," said Kartosh, looking at the Twi'lek too. "Nekko! C'mon! Don't be like that, we need you!" He was aware she had heard every word he and the others had said. With a sigh Nekko stood and stalked over. She had a dancer's body, lean and thin, and moved with the predatory silent movement of a hunter. Upon reaching the group she stood slightly back, her head tails twitching. Kartosh watched them quietly for a time, then turned to the others. "Nekko says she will join us, but any attempt to cross her will find us all waking up with our throats cut. She says she expects full compensation for the endevor." Due to her injuries the Twi'lek could not speak, and only communicated in a secondary fashion that was another language to a Twi'lek, though the movement of her head tails. This did not only convey words, but also emotions, the force and coiling of the tails telling as much about the speakers mood as any voice. "Nekko is a hunter, spy, demolitions and general go-to girl for languages. She was fluent in over sixteen languages, but she can't speak them anymore. Still, a regular scholar. And she's got enough firepower hidden just in her bionic attatchments to destroy a light tank. We've got muscle, we've got a pilot and crack gunner, we've got a scout and language decipherer. Now we need cannon fodder."

Kartosh nodded to himself, idely noting the enterence of what seemed to be a rather young girl with green hair in a long braid down her back. If you were a mercenary, bounty hunter, smuggler, bodyguard, anything that had to do with fighting and running, you did not have long hair. Hair could be pulled, hair could get caught on objects and provided a good place for bugs to hide, both of the organic and mechanical kind. But nevertheless, people had their own strange ways, and Kartosh quickly dismissed her as fodder. The gang of mercenaries Chloe was referring to consisted of a dozen beings: Two green Rodians, five humans, two gray skinned Chimera, a three-eyed, orange skinned Gran and two lizard-like Trandoshans. All male, all well armed, and all looked to be good picks for the loyal-but-stupid catagory. "Who wants the honor of recruiting them?"

Nathan grinned,
"I think a combined effort would be a good idea"
he got up from his stool and headed over to their table, "You coming Kartosh? Or are you yellow?" He smiled at his little jest.

Chloe just continued to watch the group, her hand never leaving the pistol at her belt.

ooc: samael isn't supposed to look like a girl, just a young kid. sadly, that was the only pic i could find.

ic:

Samael walked in, just as the recruitment seemed to be getting underway. One man, whom he decided was a leader of sorts, eyed him before giving a dismissive gesture in his direction. I can work with that, Samael thought, ordering a drink from the bar while waiting on the right moment. If he could ingratiate himself somehow...

OOC i'am lost at what the hell you lot are up too

OOC: Nathan, Kartosh and co. are recruiting for a treasure hunt.

OOC: Nope

OOC nothing for me to worry about then

OOC@FUS: Sorry, I just assumed he had dressed himself to look like a girl for some purpose, my mistake.
IC:
"You coming Kartosh? Or are you yellow?"
"Paint me orange," Kartosh grinned as he strode up to the table, a cocky grin on his face. He was radiating enough badassitude to have his own weather system. Leaning on the table, he inclined his head. "Evenin', gents."
The various arrayed beings had been playing a game of chance, involving three number cubes and several suspicious looking tubes. When Kartosh came they all stopped and looked at him. The noise level in the bar dropped considerably as everyone turned to watch. Mercenaries generally weren't the nicest kind, and the pack of battle-scarred, rugged sentiants before him would hang their own grandmothers for a few extra credits. Kartosh distinctivly heard several different weapons quietly arm themselves under the table. Still he kept the grin on his face. "So, how would you chaps like to buy in to a multi-million credit oppertunity?"
The one who seemed to be the leader of the gang, a human dressed in dark brown blast plated armor with a half helmet covering his hair and eyes took it off, revealing muddled blue eyes. "Are you," he growled menacingly, "talking to us?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. You see, the lot of you happened to catch my eyes as skillful mercenaries. Judging by the amount of scars on your bodies and the well worn grips on those weapons you have pointed at me under the table, I'd say you've been around the block a few times."
The man waved his hand irratibly. "What's your point?"
"I have obtained a few particular star charts pointing to the location of a treasure. However, it is a distance away, and I, along with a few of my other crew, have competition. We need to have able-bodied sentiants such as yourselves to make sure those seeking the same thing we do don't get up again after they go down."
Suspicious eyes. Not good. "What's in it for us?"
"The treasure, of course. It will be split evenly between us, more wealth then you can imagine. The treasure is gold and gems, thousands of pounds, tons of it, waiting to be found. We have the will and the way, now we need the means. Will you come aboard?" Kartosh poured every ounce of pursuasion into his voice. Jedi were not the only ones who could use mind tricks.
"What about transport?"
"That has already been arranged."
The man thought, his eyes glazing over. Kartosh could practicually hear the small wheels turning in his brain. He wondered if they hurt when they turned. Finally the man extended a grubby, gloved hand. "Deal."
Kartosh hid a sneer. All too easy.

ooc: no worries. btw, i will refer to samael as Nataku from here on out

ic:

Samael/Nataku had taken a seat next to an old acquaintance who called herself Raven. Her blonde hair and light complexion contrasted her moniker, but it was her jaded cynicism that made it the perfect pseudonym.

"That seems fun," Nataku purred, twirling in his swivel seat.

"Hey," Raven said, stopping him mid-turn, "This isn't something to fool around with."

"Hrm, but it sounds fun," and with that parting remark, he was off, threading his way through the crowd. He snuck behind Kartosh and tapped his shoulder, "So, where'd I sign up?"

The reaction he recieved was less than he expected, so Nataku gave Kartosh the contents of his pockets as a gift. "Y' want these back?"

Nathan had watched the exchange quietly, he knew that Kartosh could get these idiots to agree to the deal before they could even think about it. Not even the weapons under the table bothered him. They were pointing at Kartosh and, by the time they had killed him, Nathan could have dropped 3/4 of them. He prided himself on his Blaster skills and speed as well as his fencing.

As the two Captains were recruiting, Chloe left her seat and headed over to where Skyler was standing,
"Been up to much lately?" She asked quietly.

"Y' want these back?"
Kartosh turned, surprised. The girl was holding his money pouch and a spare clip of ammunition which had plainly come from his pocket. He snatched them back without a word, noticing that, despite the hair, the person was male. His newly recruited mercenaries were sniggering behind his back, at the ease at which he had been almost stolen from and the strange man's choice of dress and hair style. Not good. He couldn't afford to lose face in front of them, or he'd lose control. Snarling in the way only an Xiscapian can, eyes flashing, he seized the guy by his collar. "What do yeh want?"
"Been up to much lately?"
"Hah," Skyler sniffed. "First there was the whole business with the Imperial components being transported to Alversia, then we got tugged into the SASM mess. Then we're called on again to assassinate Lord Jorga the Hutt, which you probably heard about. Next thing we know we've got three more passengers aboard the Star Snakethen we bargained for, two prisoners and an Alumina, of all things, and we're being persued by the Danaversians. We all get stunned except for two others, and they somehow manage to kill a squad of Danaversians, blow up an entire Barracuda, and escape. Now we all wake up again, and the two pull a fast one on us and threaten to kill us if we don't take them to this one planet. They almost make it to the other side of the DMZ, but they panic at the sight of an Alvo cruiser. The ship jumps, and we are captured by a Xis government task fleet. We finally get to go home, get paid, hava a vacation. All's good, right? Well now we've found out there's a hundred thousand credit bounty on our heads from the Hutts for killing Jorga. Life's just great, isn't it?" She shook her head, dark blue hair swinging slightly, tail whipping in agitation as she spoke.

Nathan raised his eyes at the man's boldness. He was amused but he wasn't going to get involved. He knew how Mercenaries worked and if Kartosh wanted to save face, he would have to tackle this alone,
"So what have you chaps been up to recently?" He asked their new recruits, turning to face the leader.

"Really? 100,000 Credits." Chloe looked impressed, "And there was me thinking 75,000 was large. Hutts don't like it when you take things from them. Prized things, especially Sl..." She stopped and sighed sadly. Then she looked up again, "So. Where did you go on vacation? Anywhere nice?" She asked pleasantly, staring straight ahead.

The man shrugged. "Around," he drawled, "here and there. Got a contact from a bunch of blokes way out on the rim, something about an army, but we turned it down. Bunch of idiots who joined up doomed themselves, they did. Course," he spit, "it means less competition for us, and that's always good, aye?"
"So. Where did you go on vacation? Anywhere nice?"
Skyler ignored the remark. One of the few things she and Kartosh shared with the common Xiscapian was a hatred for slavers. Everyone knew this, and Skyler had been on the receiving end of whips by "masters." "We went to Illesia for a few days, mostly to get Kartosh an operation to repair his hearing from the Server's attack. Stayed with the family of one of the Admirals, saw the sights, relaxed, you know. Nice city, Illesia. Quiet enough." she said thoughtfully.

"Really? Not seen any action then?" Nathan asked as he slipped down onto their seat, "'cuse me mate, budge up a bit there. I reckon I might have a drink. Anyone else want one? On me?" He looked around the table.

"Nice city, Illesia. Quiet enough"

"Yeah? I've never really been there" Chloe admitted sadly, "Only for a few hours and never further than the spaceports. It's funny isn't it? How long have we known the Alversians now? And yet I have never seen their capital city" She took a long drink, the small dank bar was bringing a lot of bad memories back for her and she turned to the drink in front of her to try and drown out those memories. They looked too much like a palace. She shuddered.

"Aye," the whole table cheered. "Beer!" The leader spoke again. "We've seen action, sure, but not recently. Call ourselves the Griffins Squad, actually. Ain't no toughest merc force in the galaxy, there ain't!" he laughed.
It's funny isn't it? How long have we known the Alversians now? And yet I have never seen their capital city"
Skyler nodded as the bartender passed her a drink of her own, a frothing, dark green colored liquid that seemed to be boiling slightly. Xiscapian's, mostly, couldn't hold much liquior at all, and tended to have only one or two drinks unless they really wanted to get drunk. She nursed it steadly as she thought. "'S how it used to be, with us too. Never see the city unless we were landing for a contact, just pick up the guns or spice or disks and make off with 'em. Over a decade, I'd say we've know them Alvos, and they havn't changed. Much," Skyler took another swing.

Nathan clicked his fingers and summoned one of the waitresses that were milling about the bar,
"I want two beers each for the Griffins Squad!" he shouted, bringing up a cheer from the table, "And another for my new mate here" he put his arm around the Leader's shoulder,
"So what Campaign honours has the Griffins Squad to it's name?" He asked as the first beers came.

"I'd say we've know them Alvos, and they havn't changed. Much,"

"I hope We never change" She said miserably, she was deep into her drink now, taking long gulps each time. True she could hold her drink better than an ordinary but she still wasn't great with it.
"How did you end up after the charts?" She asked, slurring slightly.

Taking a beer, the leader took a surprisingly danty sip before answering. "Some planet...don't remember the name, but it was a cold one. Bunch of guys in ancient armor with swords and slugthrowers. Hired by some alien. Then we went from a few Hutts, shuttled around, no problems. This one time, we were guarding a shipment on this ice moon, and there was a bunch of weird blokes there too, trying to make off with something. The enemy attacked, whoever the hell they were, and all the rest of 'em either ran or bought it real quick. I went to hide in one of the crates and you know what they had in their? Eggs," he took another drink, "xenomorphs. Goddamn aliens."
"How did you end up after the charts?"
"We tracked the Fighting Falcon to that planet, 'cause we knew they were up to something. They went down, got in a fight, came up, and the rest is history." Skyler shrugged and she took another long drink. The glass was empty now, and another was placed on her table. The Xiscapian mercenaries didn't need much of an incentive to go after anything they thought was valuable. One could add theiving to their list, although they usually only stole from governments or rich civilians, and gave to themselves.
OOC: See ya.

"Y' want these back?"
Kartosh turned, surprised. The girl was holding his money pouch and a spare clip of ammunition which had plainly come from his pocket. He snatched them back without a word, noticing that, despite the hair, the person was male. His newly recruited mercenaries were sniggering behind his back, at the ease at which he had been almost stolen from and the strange man's choice of dress and hair style. Not good. He couldn't afford to lose face in front of them, or he'd lose control. Snarling in the way only an Xiscapian can, eyes flashing, he seized the guy by his collar. "What do yeh want?"

"It sounds fun...I wanna come with," Nataku said, holding his hands up and beaming an innocent smile at Kartosh. He picked his next words carefully. "Master thief and adventurer extroardinaire Nataku, at your service." After a few moments suspended, Nataku continued, "Um, do you want this back too?" he asked, handing over the firing mechanism to Kartosh's blaster. "I thought you might shoot me...I was just being cautious."

It seemed like Kartosh didn't know what to say. Obviously he was trying to decide when Nataku had lifted it, seeing as his hands had been in plain sight all that time. Nataku decided to show one of his trump cards. A tap on the shoulder made Kartosh look, and waving back to him was a long green braid.

"This really comes in handy," Nataku joked.

"Xenomorphs? Well I never," Nathan gave a loud, exaggerated cry of shock and took a deep drink of his own, "We need good men like you for this mission. It's gonna be tough and we only need the best. Let me see who I'll be fighting with?" he peered around the table at each member.


"We tracked the Fighting Falcon to that planet, 'cause we knew they were up to something. They went down, got in a fight, came up, and the rest is history."

"Good for you. Good for bloody you" Chloe's slur was not as obvious now, she had sobered up completely. Then she looked over at where Kartosh was standing and Nathan seemed to be starting a riot of some sort,
"What was it like?" She asked Skyler nervously, "Fighting the SASM? We never got the chance. We were...otherwise engaged." Chloe took a deep gulp then thought about ordering another drink, thought better of it then waited for an answer from Skyler.

"Xenomorphs? Well I never," Nathan gave a loud, exaggerated cry of shock and took a deep drink of his own, "We need good men like you for this mission. It's gonna be tough and we only need the best. Let me see who I'll be fighting with?" he peered around the table at each member.


"We tracked the Fighting Falcon to that planet, 'cause we knew they were up to something. They went down, got in a fight, came up, and the rest is history."

"Good for you. Good for bloody you" Chloe's slur was not as obvious now, she had sobered up completely. Then she looked over at where Kartosh was standing and Nathan seemed to be starting a riot of some sort,
"What was it like?" She asked Skyler nervously, "Fighting the SASM? We never got the chance. We were...otherwise engaged." Chloe took a deep gulp then thought about ordering another drink, thought better of it then waited for an answer from Skyler.

"Xeno-who?" Nataku asked as he was let down. His braid brought hi drink over to him from its place on the bar, threading its way through the crowd. Reaching his hand out, Nataku took it from himself and held the drink above his head. "Yay, an adventure!" He paused after a long gulp. "By the way, what was it again?"

Kartosh could only stare at Nataku, along with everyone else. "Ah..." he said as he placed the firing mechanism back in his blaster. "A treasure hunt, of sorts. You can come, I suppose." He gave a quick glance at Nathan.
Let me see who I'll be fighting with?"
The assembled beings all looked at him. They had long since put away their weapons, and now displayed their visages as tough as they thought they could make them. Two green Rodians, five humans, two gray skinned Chimera, a three-eyed, orange skinned Gran and two lizard-like Trandoshans. They muttered their names in various languages, nodding and drinking.
"What was it like?"
Skyler felt a momentary shiver run though her. "Terrible. Endless Biodroids, everywhere. Tourturing innocent civilians and soldiers, making them into more soldiers. And they had technology like we'd never seen before. Fortunatly we were still able to desfeat them."

"A pleasure to meet such fine Soldiers," Nathan was wide-eyed in what could ha been mistaken for wonder, "A toast gentlemen, to the HUNT!" He raised his glass and banged his fist on the table at the same time. Then he caught Kartosh's eye,
"Problem, me mate?" He called over from his seat, laughing with one arm still around the leader and a mug of beer in the other.

"Fortunatly we were still able to defeat them."

"Fortunatly," Chloe gave a smile and raised her glass slightly, "To victory, money and friends" She whispered.

"Ya might wanna come take a look at this, mate," Kartosh nodded to Nataku. "Seems we've got ourselves another party member."
The mercenaries had risen to bang their mugs together and were now quickly draining the glasses, chugging it down. Different drinks, different races, all trying to get drunk.
"To victory, money and friends"
"Best words I've heard all day," Skyler clanked her glass against hers and drank deeply.

Nathan managed to pry himself away from the singing Mercenaries and join Kartosh, still holding the beer in his hand, he even sang a few more lines iwth them before he cleared his throat
"I think I'm bonding with our new friends quite well" He said happily then turned to Nataku,
"And what do we have here? Another recruit?"

"Best words I've heard all day,"

"Best words I've ever said," Chloe smiled and took another drink with Skyler, then she looked over at Nathan and sighed,
"I don't know how he does it. That man just waltzes into the toughest bar in town and within minutes, he's in the middle singing and dancing. I don't understand it at all" She looked back over where the Mercenaries were calling for his return to the table.

"All right," Nataku said to Kartosh. He held up his right hand, "And I swear to only steal when I have to...unless I forget," he added with a laugh.

And what do we have here, another recruit?

Nataku turned as the other voice introduced itself. He beamed a huge smile at Nathan and practically jumped on his back.

"You're going too, huh? This'll be fun!" he gushed. "I haven't had a heist this exciting since...well, maybe I shouldn't say." He vaulted away and landed back with Raven.

"C'mon, Ray, you should come with us."

"No thanks," she muttered. "It's obvious they're using those idiots for fodder."

"Well, I know that," he answered. "But I'm not gonna be one of them." His attention turned to the original crews. "I'm gonna be one of them. C'mon, it'll be lonely not knowing anyone."

"Natu-kun," Raven chuckled, "You've never had problems making friends, even among us thieves." She looked over his shoulder, "Watch your braid."

He turned, noticing that it was about to pilfer Nathan's pockets. He called it back and snatched a passed-out mercenary's drink instead. In his mind, he thought, even Ramuel will be pleased to hear this news.

"I don't know how he does it. That man just waltzes into the toughest bar in town and within minutes, he's in the middle singing and dancing. I don't understand it at all"
"Charisma," Skyler winked, "act like you've got it all, and that just might become reality. If not, well, people will assume you do, and that's almost as good."
Nathan and Kartosh were still staring after Nataku. "Kid's gonna die so fast it won't even be funny," muttered Kartosh. "That is, if somebody dosen't go and cut his hair for him first. What do you think? He seems a little," he shrugged, "young."
Downson, Dodger and Nekko were sitting at a table close to Skyler's and Chloe, nursing their drinks and looking around. Downson and Dodger were looking at the mercenarie fodder the way a cat looks at a mouse, but Nekko was staring directly at Nataku, and had been almost the whole time. There was something she didn't like about him, aside from the obvious overenthusiasm and the almost kleptomaniac way his braid kept stealing things.

"I don't know how he does it. That man just waltzes into the toughest bar in town and within minutes, he's in the middle singing and dancing. I don't understand it at all"
"Charisma," Skyler winked, "act like you've got it all, and that just might become reality. If not, well, people will assume you do, and that's almost as good."
Nathan and Kartosh were still staring after Nataku. "Kid's gonna die so fast it won't even be funny," muttered Kartosh. "That is, if somebody dosen't go and cut his hair for him first. What do you think? He seems a little," he shrugged, "young."
Downson, Dodger and Nekko were sitting at a table close to Skyler's and Chloe, nursing their drinks and looking around. Downson and Dodger were looking at the mercenarie fodder the way a cat looks at a mouse, but Nekko was staring directly at Nataku, and had been almost the whole time. There was something she didn't like about him, aside from the obvious overenthusiasm and the almost kleptomaniac way his braid kept stealing things.

"Psst," Raven hissed. "That chick's been eyeballing you for a while," she warned Nataku.

"Should you really use the word chick?" he asked, seemingly oblivious to the severity of her warning. "I mean, isn't that like reverse sexism or something?"

"C'mon, get serious," she whispered.

"I am," Nataku sighed. "Maybe a girl I stood up," he wondered aloud.

"For having such an innocent look, your relationships rarely aren't," Raven sighed.

"Well, I'll never know until I talk to 'er," Nataku said finally, standing up and walking over to Nekko. Before he got halfway, however, a forceful hand grabbed his Braid. He turned around; it was the mercenary who's drink he'd taken.

"Oh, hello, boyo," Nataku said amicably. The mercenary seemed not to notice.

"You take ma drink?" he slurred, obviously still drunk. "Y' better make it up ta me."

"Um, sure," Nataku replied, making a show of looking through his pockets, "But, wouldn't ya know, I used up my last little bit...raincheck?"

"Sure," answered the mercenary, "But I'll take compensation by beating the shit outta you first."

The mercenary pulled the Braid, bringing Nataku closer and in for the kill. The Braid twisted, extending up the length of the man's arm and twisting it in a *'Braid-lock.' With its tip, the Braid pushed off, creating distance between the attacker and Nataku. Pulling out a large clip, Nataku secured the Braid behind him. This was his only hinderance in a fight...but also an asset.

"Look out," Raven muttered to no one. "He put up his Braid. Means he wants to kick your ass himself." She sat back and watched the scene unfold.

As the man reached for his blaster, a stiletto from behind Nataku's back shot out, impaling the man's palm Christ-like. Another hit the man's shoulder, and before he could recover, a roundhouse kick connected with the left side of his face. There was an audible snap as the merc bit down on his tongue, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed in a heap. Nataku looked around. The entire bar seemed to have stopped to watch the 'fight.'

"I'm sorry guys. I didn't mean to ruin the fun," Nataku apologized, retreating his way towards Nekko. He stared at her a long while, returning the favor, before saying anything. "I'm Nataku, thief extraordinaire. My friend seems to think you're eyeing me for some malicious purpose. I bet her that you wanna ask me out," he lied, flashing a wink and one of his 'heartmelting' smiles. He saw her reactin and chuckled, "So, watcha want?"

*basically an armlock, though i can't use that word because its a braid...

(OOC: sorry again for the delay and short post...)

IC:

John listened to the messages. "Great, just great," he said. "How am I supposed to talk my way outta this one?"
"The same way you always do," said Kate. "One word at a time."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." He leaned back in his chair. "Alright, let's get this over with..."

"This is John Bradley of the Falcon. It appears that I am at your mercy. What do you want me to do?"

(OOC: sorry again for the delay and short post...)

IC:

John listened to the messages. "Great, just great," he said. "How am I supposed to talk my way outta this one?"
"The same way you always do," said Kate. "One word at a time."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." He leaned back in his chair. "Alright, let's get this over with..."

CIS Celsclan

"M'lady," Uruel said as he opened the door to her quarters. "We've received a reply. I have taken the initiative to have them land in our forward bay," he explained.

"Oh, thank you, Uru-dear," Princess Uni answered.

"M-m'lady?" he hesitated at her term of endearment for him.

"Oh," Uni startled, realizing what she'd called him. "Have them meet me in the reception hall."

Sometime later...

Uruel walked in front of the two thieves, leading them into the hall. It was a scaled down replica of the one on the Imperial planet, and was decorated with the deep blue banner of the Empress. Sitting uncomfortably on her throne, the Princess awaited them. Uruel bowed, motioning for them to do the same. He stepped aside, and with a sweeping gesture, introduced her.

"Presenting Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Uni, Lady of Leongard, Holder of the Sacred Fire, sister to Her Holiness, the Immortal Empress."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Uni said hesitantly, stepping down from the throne to greet them. "Don't be hesitant, for I bring news of great joy. We have prepared a banquet, so please eat with us as we discuss our venture," she continued.

"Thank you, your highness," replied John. "My name is John Bradley. This is my, associate, Demon." Demon nodded, arms folded accross his chest. he remained standing while John sat at the table.
"So," John began, "what can do for you, your highness?"

----------

Meanwhile, Kate sat at the helm station, legs up on the console, waiting. "What are we doing here?" she asked outloud. "This is suicide."
"At least you have a view up there," came a voice over the COMM. "All I have down here is metal walls and a warp core," said Sparks, the engineer.
"Whatever," Kate looked over the cards she held. "I call. What you got?"
"Full house."
"Damn." She tossed the cards onto the ops chair next to her. "Ok. One more hand..."

"So, watcha want?"
"Was that," inquired the cyborg, looking down at the K.O.ed mercenary, "really nessicery? Boy, I might be eyeing you for some malicious purpose. It all depends on a great deal of factors, several of which are entirely outside of your control." This was all said with her head tails, and chances were the theif would not be able to tell what she was saying. Most could not understand the subtle ways of the Twi'lek second language.

"Thank you, your highness," replied John. "My name is John Bradley. This is my, associate, Demon." Demon nodded, arms folded accross his chest. he remained standing while John sat at the table.
"So," John began, "what can do for you, your highness?"

----------

Meanwhile, Kate sat at the helm station, legs up on the console, waiting. "What are we doing here?" she asked outloud. "This is suicide."
"At least you have a view up there," came a voice over the COMM. "All I have down here is metal walls and a warp core," said Sparks, the engineer.
"Whatever," Kate looked over the cards she held. "I call. What you got?"
[/I]"Full house."[/I]
"Damn." She tossed the cards onto the ops chair next to her. "Ok. One more hand..."

"Are you sure you're companions wouldn't like to join us?" Uni asked, leading the way to the private galley. Vanth and Vecuvia had rejoined her at her side, and Uruel walked with Bradley and Demon. "But as to the matter at hand...you no doubt know of the Compass' properties already. For the Empress, it presents a unique opportunity. You see, she is seeking Ascension;to no longer being a living goddess and achieving her ultimate goal of rejoining the All-Force."

Uruel stopped in his steps. Was this possible? Of course it probably was, and he knew it was written in the Prophetics, but he'd never expected it to happen in his lifetime. What would happen to the Trinity if their reason for existence disappeared?

Elsewhere, Ramuel had left the banquet hall and gone off twards the forward bay. He didn't like this social event of the Princess', and wanted to get answers right away. Finding the Falcon, he knocked on the hatch. After all this while, the ship was captured...somehow, there was not the sense of completeness he had expected.

John followed Uni, with Demon (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Demon.jpg) at his side. "All-Force?" he asked. "I've never heard of it. All I know is that a pirate named Drakor is holding a good friend of mine, and he won't return her until I get the Compass for him."

----------

The hatch to the ship opened, with a pair of SPARTANS waiting behind it, weapons drawn. "Who are you?" one asked in a static filled voice from his helmet speaker. "What do you want?"

"So, watcha want?"
"Was that," inquired the cyborg, looking down at the K.O.ed mercenary, "really nessicery? Boy, I might be eyeing you for some malicious purpose. It all depends on a great deal of factors, several of which are entirely outside of your control." This was all said with her head tails, and chances were the theif would not be able to tell what she was saying. Most could not understand the subtle ways of the Twi'lek second language.

"Hrhm," he muttered, "Didn't quite get all of that...I guess I coulda gone easy on him. Then again, that's why I tied up Braid-Braid!" he shouted, remembering his companion appendage. Nataku unclasped the clip and the Braid stretched itself to full length before coming back to him. The knotted tip 'looked' over his shoulder at Nekko. "Hey, Braid, you didn't by chance get that, did you?"

The Braid seemed to nod in response, and after several muttering from Nataku, he turned his attention back to her. "Braid says you should speak a more common language; it's rude to use an obscure dialect when dealing with people you don't know...and I guess I'll just have to win you over somehow."

John followed Uni, with Demon (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Demon.jpg) at his side. "All-Force?" he asked. "I've never heard of it. All I know is that a pirate named Drakor is holding a good friend of mine, and he won't return her until I get the Compass for him."

----------

The hatch to the ship opened, with a pair of SPARTANS waiting behind it, weapons drawn. "Who are you?" one asked in a static filled voice from his helmet speaker. "What do you want?"

"The lifeforce that binds all living beings together," Uni explained. "It binds us, penetrates...surrounds. "Lift a stone and you will find me; split a piece of wood and I am there." Or, at least, that's how sister explains it."

"Holding a woman hostage," Vanth said, lifting her scythe for effect, "What scum..."

Meanwhile...

"Ramuel, brother to the master of this vessel, and the Empress' Emissary," Ramuel replied, less than amused, "And I come to speak with those two who remained behind. I want to know why they denied the Princess' invitation."

"Life force, huh?" John looked to Demon, who shrugged. "Well, don't know anything about that. All I know is that I need that compass to get Erica back."

----------

"Very well," the SPARTAN turned and pointed into the ship. "Follow me." He led Ramuel down the corridor and into the bridge, just as Kate slammed her cards down onto the console.
"Ha! Royal flush!" She turned, and froze when Ramuel and the SPARTAN entered the bridge. "Gotta go Sparks," she said and hit the COMM control. "What's going on?"
"This man claims to be someone in control around here," said the SPARTAN. "He wanted to come onboard and ask you why you didn't join Bradley."
"That's all?" Kate looked suprised. "Well, I guess it's because John always handled the talking, while I mind the store." She looked Ramuel over. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Life force, huh?" John looked to Demon, who shrugged. "Well, don't know anything about that. All I know is that I need that compass to get Erica back."

----------

"Very well," the SPARTAN turned and pointed into the ship. "Follow me." He led Ramuel down the corridor and into the bridge, just as Kate slammed her cards down onto the console.
"Ha! Royal flush!" She turned, and froze when Ramuel and the SPARTAN entered the bridge. "Gotta go Sparks," she said and hit the COMM control. "What's going on?"
"This man claims to be someone in control around here," said the SPARTAN. "He wanted to come onboard and ask you why you didn't join Bradley."
"That's all?" Kate looked suprised. "Well, I guess it's because John always handled the talking, while I mind the store." She looked Ramuel over. "So, what can I do for you?"


As they were seated, the Princess said grace.

"Blessed is this food, derived from the love and protection of Our Protectress, the Great Empress. And may she protect us on our mission and watch over the well-being of Erica, captive of Drakor. May he be given your divine punishment and brought into Eternal Judgement. Blessed be."

Meanwhile...

"Though I do not care...the Princess requested all to be present," Ramuel said. "And service to the Crowned Princess is de facto service to the Empress, to whom I am bound."

John and Demon exchanged glances, not sure what to say. "Um, amen..." John muttered after a moment. Demon mearly rolled his eyes...

----------

"Hmm, well, I'm afraid I can't help you there," Kate replied. "Captain's orders. He goes in, I stay with the ship. We're not about to leave her in the hands of strangers, no offense. Or those SPARTANS," she said, not bothering to keep the armored soldier from hearing. "They work for Roman, and I'm not about to leave his goons in control of our ship. Besides, Sparks is making repairs to the hyperdrive. He gets lonely if we all leave..."

John and Demon exchanged glances, not sure what to say. "Um, amen..." John muttered after a moment. Demon mearly rolled his eyes...

----------

"Hmm, well, I'm afraid I can't help you there," Kate replied. "Captain's orders. He goes in, I stay with the ship. We're not about to leave her in the hands of strangers, no offense. Or those SPARTANS," she said, not bothering to keep the armored soldier from hearing. "They work for Roman, and I'm not about to leave his goons in control of our ship. Besides, Sparks is making repairs to the hyperdrive. He gets lonely if we all leave..."

"Now, as it has been explained to me," Princess Uni said as Vanth served her. "The Sparrow's Compass is one of several items that must be brought before the Empress. Only she knows the special properties of each device and how to unlock their secrets. And with the Trinity here..." she paused, turning to Uruel, "Where are your brothers?"

"Ramuel went...somewhere, and Camuel decided to remain aboard the Chaluchasu." he answered. As he said this, a chime from his personal communicator begged his attention. "Oh, Ramuel," he answered, "We were just-what? Three settings? But...? As you wish."

Meanwhile...

Ramuel put away his communicator, putting his arms akimbo as he waited. It didn't take long before there was another knock on the hatch, and Ramuel assured it was a benevolent visit. Escorted to where Ramuel and Kate sat, a crewman wheeled in a cart, loaded with food from the banquet with several place settings to one side.

"I know the Princess will be pleased I hosted you so graciously," he explained. "If your engineer likes, he may also join us for the meal."

"I don't know how he does it. That man just waltzes into the toughest bar in town and within minutes, he's in the middle singing and dancing. I don't understand it at all"
"Charisma," Skyler winked, "act like you've got it all, and that just might become reality. If not, well, people will assume you do, and that's almost as good."

"Yeah, I know all about it" She sighed, looking around, "I don't like this place at all. Brings back too many unhappy memories" Se gave an involuntary shudder of horror, "I spent too much of my life staring at these types of walls"

Nathan and Kartosh were still staring after Nataku. "Kid's gonna die so fast it won't even be funny," muttered Kartosh. "That is, if somebody dosen't go and cut his hair for him first. What do you think? He seems a little," he shrugged, "young."


Nathan shrugged, "The kid's got skills," He said as he looked the kid up and down, "And, while he lacks experience, we all have to start somewhere." In truth, he didn't like bringing such small young people on dangerous missions, but then again he did like the kid and he couldn't turn away someone who might be useful,
"What makes you think you would be useful to us on a mission?" He asked Samuel, looking over the kid.

"Excuse me, your Highness," said John as he stood, "I do not wish to be rude. But I'd like to get moving as soon as possible. Can we just skip to the main point of all this?"

---------------

Kate was speechless. "Uh, I guess I can call him," she said while staring at the cart. Without looking, she reached over and hit the COMM control. "Hey Sparks."
"Ready for another hand?"
"Just get up here, would ya?"
"You had better have a plasma leak up there. Out." A few minutes later, another man entered the bridge. He was shorter, with a round torso and short, scruffy beard (ooc: picture an old, fat, dirty auto mechanic). "What's the emer, oh," he broke off when he saw Ramuel. "Who's the guest?"

"I was born on the Stygion Penal Colony," Nataku answered, "So I'm not as innocent as I look. I've been able to steal since before I could walk," he added. "And I look like a cute and innocent kid, right?" Nataku continued, poking his dimples, "But I'm probably closer to your age...in fact, my friend Raven there is younger than me...but don't tell her I gave you a clue on her age. Girls seem to get mad at that."

"I was born on the Stygion Penal Colony," Kataku answered, "So I'm not as innocent as I look. I've been able to steal since before I could walk," he added. "And I look like a cute and innocent kid, right?" Nataku continued, poking his dimples, "But I'm probably closer to your age...in fact, my friend Raven there is younger than me...but don't tell her I gave you a clue on her age. Girls seem to get mad at that."

Nathan smiled,
"Sure you can steal, I'll give you that. But out in the wide confines of space there won't be anyone to steal from save us. Stealing is not an issue what I want to know is..."
Nathan flicked a pistol from his holster at blistering speed and proceeded to twirl it around his finger, using the trigger guard as a hinge. He spun it so fast that the gun melted into a never ending grey circle. Then he threw the spinning gun into the air and caught it on the index finger of his other hand, then spun the gun so the grip was in his hand again,
"...Can you handle a firearm?" He smiled, for the stunt had drawn, loud applause from an impressed Audience, including the men they were using as cannon fodder.

Nathan smiled,
"Sure you can steal, I'll give you that. But out in the wide confines of space there won't be anyone to steal from save us. Stealing is not an issue what I want to know is..."
Nathan flicked a pistol from his holster at blistering speed and proceeded to twirl it around his finger, using the trigger guard as a hinge. He spun it so fast that the gun melted into a never ending grey circle. Then he threw the spinning gun into the air and caught it on the index finger of his other hand, then spun the gun so the grip was in his hand again,
"...Can you handle a firearm?" He smiled, for the stunt had drawn, loud applause from an impressed Audience, including the men they were using as cannon fodder.

"Sure," Nataku said, his Braid handing him his blaster from the holster on his back. "But a thief doesn't kill if he doesn't have to. In fact, its better that they never notice your thievery to begin with...and I can use this too," he replied, drawing his sword out. Faster than Nathan could react, he'd pressed the blade up to his throat. "Good enough," he asked, resheathing the sword and handing the firearm back to his Braid.

Nathan gave a small jerk of the head to acknowledge the move. He was one of the fastest Alversian swordsmen alive. Faster than the average Kitsune with a weapon and more deadly than any Alversian Bayonet.

"You're good," he conceded, then slowly drew his katana, "But how good?" He twirled the blade a few times through his fingers and pointed the tip at Nataku, "Let me see you dance boy" He chuckled. A few meters away, Chloe drew her own sword slightly but did not move.

Nataku sighed. This was why he hated fighting. People always wanted to test his skills. Braid turned towards Cloe, noticing her reaction but not making a move. Drawing the blade, Nataku brought it up in a common fighting stance. Maybe I should lose to get him off my back, he wondered...or should I win and prove my strength? Either seemed like a good conclusion, so Nataku waited for the first attack.

Nathan started to circle the man, keeping just outside attack distance. The crowd were chanting and whooping at the sight of the entertainment, Nathan had his own weapon slightly to the left as opposed to a standard stance, he was smiling,
"You wanna place, Mate, you need to prove to me you can handle yourself. I can't just take your word for it, can I?" He laughed and maintained his circling.

Nathan started to circle the man, keeping just outside attack distance. The crowd were chanting and whooping at the sight of the entertainment, Nathan had his own weapon slightly to the left as opposed to a standard stance, he was smiling,
"You wanna place, Mate, you need to prove to me you can handle yourself. I can't just take your word for it, can I?" He laughed and maintained his circling.

Braid turned its attention from Chloe, drawing a spring-loaded knife from Nataku's back, whipping in the air menacingly like a scorpion's tail. It fwapped through the air several times, gingerly testing Nathan's reaction and defenses. Nataku twirled the sword lightly in his hand, testing his opponent. He darted forward, feinting to the right before spinning around and slashing to the left. The attack was blocked, but even as it was, Braid lashed out, stabbing at Nathan. For each attack Nataku had, Braid had two or more quick strikes to add.

OOC: TG

IC:
As Nathan parried the sword, he twisted his shoulders so that braid's attack simply passed harmlessly next to his head. He was still circling, maintaining a defensive position. He was no slouch and not even the addition of Braid would guarantee anything against a man schooled by the best swordsmen in the galaxy.

OOC: TG

IC:
As Nathan parried the sword, he twisted his shoulders so that braid's attack simply passed harmlessly next to his head. He was still circling, maintaining a defensive position. He was no slouch and not even the addition of Braid would guarantee anything against a man schooled by the best swordsmen in the galaxy.

ooc: see my TG as well. also, i see this as a *mugen/jin battle, w/ you being jin.

ic:

Nataku jumped in the air, pushing off of the ceiling and aiming once more for a strike. He used Braid to swing a half-circle around the room, flanking Nathan and attacking once again. For someone with no **formal training, Nataku seemed to be holding his own.

*http://youtube.com/watch?v=5QlGVcKSSPs

**technically, samael is one of the best imperial agents etc. but his persona on Nataku has no formal training, hence his fighting style.

ooc: see my TG as well. also, i see this as a *mugen/jin battle, w/ you being jin.

ic:

Nataku jumped in the air, pushing off of the ceiling and aiming once more for a strike. He used Braid to swing a half-circle around the room, flanking Nathan and attacking once again. For someone with no **formal training, Nataku seemed to be holding his own.


OOC: Responded

Nathan jumped backwards as Nataku headed into the air. The result was that Nataku landed on an empty patch. The braid's attack also found thin air as Nathan arched his back and so avoided the swiping attack. Then he was back circling again. He maintained his defensive posture.

The crowd were whooping and banging their fists on the table, they were enjoying this match of swordsmen, the hardened veteran and the seeming novice.

OOC: Nathan has all the training that the swordmasters of Xiscapia can give him as well as nearly three decades of fighting. I think he is quite a match.

OOC: Responded

Nathan jumped backwards as Nataku headed into the air. The result was that Nataku landed on an empty patch. The braid's attack also found thin air as Nathan arched his back and so avoided the swiping attack. Then he was back circling again. He maintained his defensive posture.

The crowd were whooping and banging their fists on the table, they were enjoying this match of swordsmen, the hardened veteran and the seeming novice.

OOC: Nathan has all the training that the swordmasters of Xiscapia can give him as well as nearly three decades of fighting. I think he is quite a match.

Nataku decided to abandon his 'no blood' principle and go for a real strike. He lunged, aiming his sword at Nathan's throat. The two swords clashed, throwing off sparks as they ran along each other's edge. In the end, Nataku found his sword on the ground, Nathan's pressed against his throat.

ooc: i just ate nato, argh, that's the grossest ever ^O^

Nathan held the weapon close to his throat, pressed enough to stop him from making any move. In the end, it had been so easy, Nathan was smiling at the man,
"Not bad, Kid. You fight hard, fast and well. But you are impatient. I think you've proven your worth." He withdrew the sword and tucked it back into his belt. He offered a hand as the crowd burst into raptorious applause for both fighters. Nathan was bathing in the applause and admiration from the crowd. Chloe just relaxed and went back to her drink and Skyler.

Nathan was grinning,
"Not bad at all Kid. You don't truly know someone, until you fight them. Wise words."

Nathan held the weapon close to his throat, pressed enough to stop him from making any move. In the end, it had been so easy, Nathan was smiling at the man,
"Not bad, Kid. You fight hard, fast and well. But you are impatient. I think you've proven your worth." He withdrew the sword and tucked it back into his belt. He offered a hand as the crowd burst into raptorious applause for both fighters. Nathan was bathing in the applause and admiration from the crowd. Chloe just relaxed and went back to her drink and Skyler.

Nathan was grinning,
"Not bad at all Kid. You don't truly know someone, until you fight them. Wise words."

Putting away his weapons, Nataku took the offered hand and shook it vigorously.

"Well, I was gonna leave the fighting up to you, and you can leave the thieving up to me," he assured Nathan. Letting go, Braid replaced his hand, and Nathan stood, shaking a lock of hair.

Nathan continued to shake the hair with a smile on his face, when he was done. He turned and headed over to where Kartosh was standing with the Mercenaries,
"I think the Kid'll be useful" he whispered to Kartosh, "He could tag along"

Elsewhere, Chloe was still sitting with Skyler,
"I hate these places," She sighed, the sigh being replaced by a shiver, "The walls remind me of too much. You?" She asked Skyler.

Nathan continued to shake the hair with a smile on his face, when he was done. He turned and headed over to where Kartosh was standing with the Mercenaries,
"I think the Kid'll be useful" he whispered to Kartosh, "He could tag along"

Elsewhere, Chloe was still sitting with Skyler,
"I hate these places," She sighed, the sigh being replaced by a shiver, "The walls remind me of too much. You?" She asked Skyler.

ooc: this'll be my last post for an hour, at least.

ic:

"See, they like me," Nataku said as he took his seat next to Raven.

"I still think it's too dangerous," she warned. "I worry about you."

"C'mon, are you my sister or something?" he whined.

"Well, I do have a certain sense of obligation towards you," she admitted. "But, you're a big boy...look out for yourself, ok?"

"Don't worry," he reassured her, his next words trailing off at the look she gave him. "Look, you're the one who pointed out my bad relationships," Nataku added.

"After all your womanizing," Raven added, "I just want to know...why'd you never go after me?"

"Are you kidding?" he answered with a cynical chuckle. "I respect you too much for you to be involved with someone as bad as me."

"Braid says you should speak a more common language; it's rude to use an obscure dialect when dealing with people you don't know...and I guess I'll just have to win you over somehow."
Nekko had been about to reply when the human had unexpectedly moved off to fight Nathan for no apparent reason. As he returned she tapped him on the shoulder, noting that his Braid saw her coming well in advance and alerted it's master. At his turn she signed again with her lekku, not at him, but at the Braid, which seemed to understand.
And your Braid reveals it's own ignorance. If I could speak in a normal fashion I would, but injuires I have received make it physically impossible for me to make any sort of vocal communication, even with cloned parts or bionic replacements. As for winning me over...we shall see.
"I think the Kid'll be useful. He could tag along"
Kartosh shrugged once noncommitally. "I've known him for five minutes and he's already annoying. If he comes with us, he flies on the fodder ship," he nodded to the mercenaries, "until he proves his worth with more then just a sword fight."
"The walls remind me of too much. You?"
Skyler glanced around. "Until recently, Kartosh and I pratically lived in places like this. Hell, knowing my parents, I was probably conceived in a place like this. But I can sympathize, it reminds me a bit too much of Jorga's stronghold."

"Until he proves his worth with more then just a sword fight."

Nathan grinned,
"Granted he is a pain in the arse, but a lot of people have said that about me. And as a Xiscapian, I thought you would appreciate the value of sword combat. But you are right, he flies on the fodder ship. Now," He turned back to the table where they were cheering his victory, "You must join us, We have to celebrate two victories tonight"

"Until recently, Kartosh and I pratically lived in places like this. Hell, knowing my parents, I was probably conceived in a place like this. But I can sympathize, it reminds me a bit too much of Jorga's stronghold."

"No," Chloe sighed sadly, "I have spent too many years facing these walls. They do remind me of a Hutt Palace," She shuddered, "Too many Hutt palaces." Then she tried to look upbeat, "This time two months, we could be rich"

"You must join us, We have to celebrate two victories tonight"
The men cheered and Kartosh nodded to himself. "Swordsmanship is only so much. But yes, for now, celebration I think. We'll bed in one of the taverns on the next level," turning around, he cupped his hands over his mouth. "Oy! Barkeep! Another round of drinks over here, on me!" There was more cheers. Mercenaries liked other generious mercenaries.
"This time two months, we could be rich"
"Or dead," said Skyler darkly. "But if you look on the bright side, at the very least we'll be able to sell of the charts to some merchant somewhere. At best, we could be rolling in credits. We were, after the whole SASM affair, but between medical expenses and taxes and equipment mantinence, well, we weren't left with a sixteenth of what we were paid for."

The Mercenaries, Nathan and Kartosh were having a ball, throwing back drinks like nothing ordinary. Alversians were famous for holding their drink and Nathan stood up from the table,
"I think we need a series of toasts" he said somberly, "Each man will make a toast and we shall drink to it. I shall start" He cleared his throat and raised his glass,
"To Wives and Sweethearts" He said sadly, the rest of the men murmured respectfully in reply,
"May they never met" And he burst out with laughter along with the rest of the table.

Chloe watched them,
"Look at them, drinking for the hell of it. Lucky for some, but I doubt their conversation would include us and I am in no mood to risk the lust of an drunken Merc" Such a Merc would walk away with a broken nose but, as she said, she wasn't in the mood,
"You coming to find bedding?" She asked Skyler, "They'll find their own way home," She pointed at Nathan and Kartosh, "They're like homing Pigeons"

Earlier...

Sorry about that," Nataku said as Braid relayed the message. "But then again, you never told Braid, did you. See ya around," he waved as he walked away towards the bar.

Later...

"They'll probably try to stick me with those idiots," Nataku muttered. Raven didn't answer, she'd grown withdrawn since his rejection. "I guess I'll have to see if I can bring the Iliria...there are a couple of cots I can offer. Plus," he added mischieviously, "A little bit from our last smuggling run," he whispered in her ear.

"You kept some?" Raven asked.

"Yeah...a couple of cases had engine fluid," he answered.

"I feel sorry for the bastards that tried to get drunk off of that," she chuckled.

"Y'know," Nataku said, "Since we won't see each other for a while...why don't we open one together, eh?"

"Are you trying to apologize?" she asked.

"Maybe..." he admitted. "Is it working?"

Without answering him, she payed the tab and led him away to the Iliria.

*Raven: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g316/KendoGurl3/Blonde%20hair/thief.jpg

As the mercenaries laughed Kartosh grabbed onto the shoulder of the Trandoshan and began to sing in a emphatic, raucous voice:
"Please don't burn the shit-house down,
Mother's willing to pay.
My father's drunk and in the jail
Sister's in a motherly way.

Brother dear is mighty queer
Times are fucking hard;
So please don't burn that shit-house down
We'll all have to shit in the yard (shit in the yard)."
By the tome he'd ended the entire group had joined in, singing at various stages of slurred speech and swaying.
"You coming to find bedding?"
"Yes," Skyler said with a look of disgust at the singing mercenaries. "Let's get out of here."

Nathan joined in the with the song, waving his beer in the air, splashing it all over the place, the Mercenaries were having a good time now and all were well plastered for the night. Nathan was laughing, drinking and spending a fortune he didn't have. It didn't matter, he wouldn't be drunk by the end of the night, his colleagues would be though.

"Let's get out of here."

"Boys will be boys," Chloe stated as she got up, "I think the Tavern's the bext place to look for the moment, don't you?" She asked.

Kartosh spilled his beer over the table and collapsed into a laughing pile on the floor, the mercenaries pulling him to his feet, laughing so hard they almost fell too. He was pretending to be drunk by now, playing along, getting the others drunk out of their minds. He saw Skyler and Chloe get up and leave, and nodded in approval. Good for them.
"I think the Tavern's the bext place to look for the moment, don't you?"
"Aye," Skyler confirmed as she rose, looking for that Nataku guy, but he was gone. Nekko had vanished too, and Downson and Dodger were engaged in a game of sabbac with a few other of the bar's patrons.

OOC: TG, Xis

Nathan kept on supplying the beer, assuring those at the table that he wasn't trying to cheat them and that he would be paying for all of the liquor at the end. He too saw, Chloe and Skyler leave and nodded approvingly. This wasn't their kind of atmosphere, especially Chloe,
"Tell you what!" Nathan shouted spraying beer across the table, "You know what we should have? A drinking contest!" That met with loud cheers and roars, "First man to empty his glass and put on his head wins. Winner stays on, so who wants to challenge me?" He looked around.

Outside

The corridor outside the bar was both dark and cramped, the noise from the neighboring bar was all too evident and, as Chloe worked her way up the tunnel, she turned to Skyler, "Why get involved in drinking? They won't remember anything of it tomorrow"

The men jostled for positions but none actually came forward. Then the leader sat down directly across from Nathan, a tall glass already in hand, beer frothing almost over the top. "Aye, you want to call out on that, mate?" he slurred. The rest cheered and lifted their drinks.
Outside...
"Most drink to forget. It's like spice...makes you feel good for a while, and then you're knocked out, and you don't feel anything until the next morning. That's the whole point...not emotions, not thinking, you just are, feeling warm and content. Of course, most of them barf it all back up before they can sleep. It's the ones who barf after they fall sleep that I pity."
OOC: Replied.

"Right then," Nathan smiled as the men started to chant, "On your mark, get set, GO!" Nathan grabbed the nearest bear and gulped it down luxuriously, taking as much as his mouth could hold without choking. He was finished within seconds and placed the glass victoriously on his head with the chant,
"Champion! Champion! Any other challengers?!" He cried to the table, "Anyone?"

Outside

"I know what you mean," Chloe replied as the two Xiscapians shuffled past a man walking the other direction, "They never seem to be able to..."
Suddenly, she became strangely drowsy. She couldn't keep her eyes open and her breath was become shallow quickly. She couldn't talk and her muscles were turning to jelly. When she glanced down, she saw a small needle sticking out of her leg. The man! The man had drugged her as he walked past. He must have done the same to Skyler. She couldn't even see Skyler anymore she dropped to her knees and finally hit the floor.

Everyone stared in amazment. The leader himself was only halfway though, eyes staring at Nathan from over the rim of his glass. He slowly lowered it. "Damn." Everyone else looked at each other. No one was going to challenge Nathan to a drinking contest. Kartosh sniggered as he leaned against the booth wall.
Outside...
Skyler stopped abruptly as Chole fell to the floor in a heap. Her mind felt strangly muddled, her mouth as though it was stuffed with cotton. "Chole...za?" She saw the tiny dart, stinking comically out of her ankle. Oh... was her last thought as she hit the floor.

Nathan grinned and held his empty glass like a crown on his head,
"Ladies! I present to you, the King of Drink!" He laughed and made a clumsy gesture of royalty amidst bursts of laughter and more drink arriving at the table. By the time they were done, the Mercenaries were out cold and Nathan was as sober as could be,
"1,200 credits," he said aloud, safe that none of the Mercenaries would wake, "1,200 bloody credits for a dozen pieces of mutton. A ripoff" he moaned sadly.

Elsewhere

Chloe slowly opened one eye, then the other, looking around her strange new surroundings. She still felt like someone had hit her hard over the head. All she knew was that Skyler was beside her and that both were disarmed. Their weapon's belts had been taken away and any hidden weapons rooted out.

She groaned and sat up, hearing a clank along the ground as she did so. She glanced down and saw that her wrists were encased in thin steel cuffs connected with a slender chain. She rattled them for a few seconds then realized she had a strange collar around her neck and, again it was connected to the wall with a slender chain,
'Not again' she thought as she moved over to the unconscious Skyler, bound as she was.
"Skyler!" She hissed, "Wake up!"

Iliria

Nataku found himself sitting up in bed, Raven lying next to him. They had gotten drunk off of his store of Morian Wine, but it wasn't that much of an excuse. Braid tensed up, noticing something happening farther away...or about to. Slipping into his discarded clothes and boots, he started to head out.

"You really are a scoundrel, aren't you?" Raven stirred, her hand resting on his forearm.

The worst kind, Nataku thought. "I think something's up. I'll be right back."

He slipped silently into the night, blending into the natural shadows. He heard a body slump to the ground, and beaded his way through the darkness. Finding a perfect perch, Nataku witnessed the second woman collapsing from a tranquilizer dart. Then he saw the women's worst enemy. Silently, Nataku followed after them.

ooc: um, i tried to keep this as vague as possible so as not to mess up your storyline.

"1,200 bloody credits for a dozen pieces of mutton. A ripoff"
Kartosh chuckled, equally soft. By now they were the only ones still concious in the bar, aside from the bartender who was cleaning a glass and whisling a little tune under his breath as he counted out the credits that Kartosh and Nathan had pooled to make the charge. "Technically, mate, you only paid six hundred credits," Kartosh muttered, "but it's still a damn lot. This had better be worth it." Kartosh and Skyler had credits to spare, more wealthy then they had been before. Not rich, quite, but well off. He could afford to do this. Although, not for very long.
"Wake up!"
"Ugh...whazzat?" Skyler blurrily opened her eyes, half lidded and dull. Then they sprang open and she sat up, only to be jerked back down again with more clanking as she tried to break away from the chains. On her back, now, she rose again to rest on her buttocks and tugged at the collar with her trapped hands. "Oh no..." she groaned. Looking about her person, she noted the absence of her weapons. Blaster pistol, gone. Holdout pistol, gone. Ankle and hip knives, shurikens, razor wire, grenades, spare ammunition, all vanished.

Were these girls going to war? Nataku asked himself. He had discovered the Lair, as he had named it, and was busy sniffing around, gathering as much as he could before moving towards a rescue. Maybe he should tell those guys Nathan and Kartosh...but he was already so far in, there was no backtracking this time.

Back to his question at hand, Nataku had found the room where the ladies' weapons had been stashed. Looking at the razor-wire, he decided to move on. He hadn't been able to find their location yet, but it was only a matter of time. As Nataku made his way down the corridor, he thought he heard the sound of ruslting chains. Like an old ghost story, Nataku grinned as he followed the sound through the shadows.

"Technically, mate, you only paid six hundred credits," Kartosh muttered, "but it's still a damn lot. This had better be worth it."

"Hold on," Nathan grinned, "I have a better idea."
He took a blaster rifle from one of the drunk Mercenaries and headed towards the entrance. As he did so, another Mercenary entered the bar looking nervous.
"Halt!" Nathan called in his most authoritative voice, "What's your identification?"
"My name's Ra-zo" The man replied, panicking at the challenge, "I'm from the Caspa"
Nathan gave him a rustle down then turned him back, "Good man, head back to your ship and await my commands"
"Yes, Sir" The Mercenary saluted and turned back.
Nathan smiled and headed up to the bar,
"I would like to pay 1,200 credits on the number of," He shifted through a wallet that was not his own, "3204-20495-3834. And I would like to withdraw 4,000 credits"

"Oh no..."

"I know," Chloe had leant on the wall, chains groaning as she did so. She was about to say something else when the door swung open, and standing there was a strange man.
Two of his guards moved forward and forced Chloe and Skyler to their feet. The man was smiling,
"Well well well. What do we have here? Prime Xiscapians I reckon"
"Manda," Chloe said by way of introduction, struggling against the chains, "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Manda laughed, "I am looking for 100,000 credits for two Xiscapian Mercenaries and 75,000 for an Alversian one. Then there's the 50,000 for a certain escaped Slave," he looked at Chloe.
"I'm not going back to that life, you snake!" She struggled hard and was rewarded with a belt across the mouth from one of the guards. She fell to the floor and was quickly forced on her feet again, a small trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth.
He turned to Skyler and looked her over with admiring glances,
"Such beauty," he ran his forefingers gently down Skyler's cheek, "So desirable, You two are gonna make me rich" He laughed as four more guards enter the room.

The bartender nodded. He didn't care where the money came from, as long as he got paid. Typing into an ancient datapad, he nodded to himself as the transaction was made. The bar doubled as a sort of bank, for those who wished to make withdrawls from personal funds stored here. He handed Nathan four thousand credits. "There ya are. Just about cleaned yourself out, I'd say." From the back Kartosh nodded admiringly. "Never afraid to just take, where you?"
"So desirable, You two are gonna make me rich"
Skyler growled, a deep rumbling noise that began at the back of her throat and forced its way up past her teeth. She made a bite at the fingers stroking her cheek and missed, crushing air and swinging slightly in her chains. "What do you want?"

"Never afraid to just take, where you?"

Nathan snorted, "You think I would've gotten this far into space with my own funds? My Bank account's like a Danaversian's head. Empty of anything. Now," They were departing the bar and heading towards the taverns, "I think it's time we caught up with the girls, what do you think?"

"What do you want?"

Manda took a small step back, delighted to have gained such a reaction from the two Mercenaries,
"I want what you want, little lady. I want money and you two feisty one's are gonna make me a fortune. The Hutts will pay a small fortune for a Xiscapian female and such pleasurable one's as well. He'll pay double for you" he nodded at Chloe,
Chloe just lowered her head, making the neck chain rustle.

"I think it's time we caught up with the girls, what do you think?"
Kartosh nodded. "They'll probably be at Vics. That's where we always stay when we come here." They ambled along the same dank halls that Skyler and Chloe had walked before.
The Hutts will pay a small fortune for a Xiscapian female and such pleasurable one's as well.
Skyler strained more against her bonds. "I'll kill you before I go to the Hutt's. No overgrown slug is going to make a slave out of me, or Chloe for that matter. We have friends here. You'll never make it out with us alive."

"They'll probably be at Vics. That's where we always stay when we come here."

"Fair enough, lead the way" Nathan stated as they headed down the dark corridor. Then a gleam caught Nathan's eye and he stopped to pick it up.

"Kartosh,"

Nathan was now standing, holding a small medallion attached to a necklace, "This is Chloe's. She never leaves it behind." he looked worried and whipped a pistol from his belt, looking around.

"I'll kill you before I go to the Hutt's. No overgrown slug is going to make a slave out of me, or Chloe for that matter. We have friends here. You'll never make it out with us alive."

"That is where you are wrong," Manda smiled, "I have a small army all over this rock. At my command they will coming running for your two friends and they will be shredded, I guarantee it. Besides" He pointed at Chloe, "She is still Hutt property and I will get 50,000 for delivering her back to her rightful master"

"No!" She snarled, growling like Skyler, "You won't take me back!"

"Try and stop me" He laughed, "There's no Alversian Gentleman to take pity on you this time"

Eew, Nataku said to himself, overhearing the coversation. And while he may be a scoundrel and a womanizer, the idea of that...he edged in closer, but not before a burly hand landed on his shoulder. Nataku turned to see a guard towering over him, a sneer lining his face. The smile faded as Braid noosed the man and lifted him into the air. Waiting until the man went limp, Nataku let him down and tucked his unconscious body away somewhere inconspicuous.

OOC: How does a braid wrap itself around TWO throats?

Manda simply smiled,

"I was wondering when you would show yourself." Three blasters were suddenly buried into Nataku's back and another four men entered the room,
"Do you really think I would take two Mercenaries prisoner without a guard?" He laughed, "Go ahead, see what happens when you slit my throat." he taunted, "I have an armoured suit on so tough you couldn't blast through it. Especially the neck."

Deciding to go for it, Nataku sent an encoded message to Raven and snuck into the room. Braid slithered around, getting readyto pounce on the two guards. Taking out his knife, he creeped behind Manda. As Braid entwined itself around the guards' throats, Nataku slipped the blade against Manda's neck.

"Yo," he said calmly to the ladies. "Are you all right?" He turned his attention to the one called Manda. "Everyone in this room is dead when I say so, so how 'bout your guards let 'em go?"

Outside the Iliria...

Raven had rushed to get dressed, slinging her pistol on her hip, along with other assorted weapons. She scanned the area, knowing that Nataku wouldn't have sent the message without meaning. She noticed those two from the bar...the one's Nataku had joined and rushed over.

"Nataku's in trouble," she said. "I have his location..." her eyes turned to the chain in one of their hands. "Missing something?"

ooc: it's long enough that one is wrapped by the tip, and the other by the 'body'

ic:

The two captive guards were lifted and thrown at the new arrivals as Nataku dropped a smoke canister on the ground. He darted under Manda's legs and broke the chains on the ladies.

"C'mon," he hissed. "We gotta boogie."

ooc: gtg. you can rp my char a bit. just don't kill him etc.

ooc: gtg. you can rp my char a bit. just don't kill him etc.

OOC: Uh, you realise your character has three blasters up his arse? If he so much as sneezes he's dead. Accept it, you're captured

"This is Chloe's. She never leaves it behind."
Kartosh slowly drew his own pistol, looking around worridly as if a bunch of thugs would jump out of the shadows at any moment.
"Missing something?"
Kartosh almost shot the women as she rushed up. He relaxed once he recognized her as Raven. "Why should we care what happens to him? We've got bigger problems on our hands."
"Everyone in this room is dead when I say so, so how 'bout your guards let 'em go?"
Skyler groaned aloud as she saw Nataku stiffen with the blaster barrels on his back and more thugs entered the room. The fool! Stupid delusions of grandeur, striding in all heroic like that! If Manda was telling the truth, then Nathan and Kartosh would probably be facing off against everyone on the station, or at least most, who were on his payroll. But he had said those two, which meant he didn't know about Downson, Dodger and Nekko. Wether he knew about Griffin's Squad didn't matter, they wouldn't have been much help even if they were concious. For now they had to count on Nathan and Kartosh to come to them. Unless...
Manipulating the Force, Skyler found she could still quite easily use it. However, chained up as she was, there was little she could do discreetly and survive. She'd bide her time until an oppertune moment.

Nathan too almost put a bolt through Raven's head but managed to lower his pistol just in time,
"Frig off, woman!" He snarled, "I have more important things to worry about than that runt" He glanced up and down the corridor, "We need reinforcements, quick"

---

As Nataku was tied into the corner, his braid included, Manda turned back to the Xiscapians,
"Using the force are we?" he asked smiling, there was something in his eyes that didn't seem right. Or the fact that he wore a trilby hat and his pants were very loose fitting, "Use it again and I will crush you with nothing more than a flick of the wrist" He smiled again.

"You look familiar," he was staring at Skyler, "Where you in a harem before?"

"We need reinforcements, quick"
"You called?"
The voice was deep and rumbling, like distant thunder. Downson's huge bulk stretched almost to the roof of the tunnel, a massive weapon of some unknown origin in his scaled hands as he stepped up from a side passage. Behind him, almost hidden, Dodger twirled a blaster, staring at it almost boredly, keeping an eye on the others. Nekko was last to come, from the direction Raven had. She held a long rifle with a serrated, nasty looking bayonet on the end. Dodger spoke, still watching his blaster. "A spot of trouble, eh?"
"Where you in a harem before?"
Skyler looked him up and down. "I may have been," she drawled, "you don't find many kitsune there. But it was probably a meeting with an associate, rather then a, ah, meeting with a customer."

Raven

"Jackass," she muttered, striding off to look for Nataku on her own. "By the way, d'ya know who the hell Chloe and Skyler are? Apparently, he's with them..."

Nataku

The girls didn't look very grateful for his rescue attempt, which he thought had gone pretty well until he got caught. This is so humiliating, he thought. I'm a master thief, a pro at getting in an' out without getting caught...

"So, how've you been?" he asked Chloe as he struggled against the chains. The thing about a xenomorph like Nataku/Samael was the whole change your body thing. He focused for a second and tested it out. Yep, he could slip out easily. Now he'd wait for the right time.

"You could say we're in a spot of trouble but..." He wheeled around at Raven's words, "What did you say?" he snarled fiercely again, "Say that again! Where are they!" he demanded, he had pulled his own pistol out but, for the moment decided that the Shotgun could stay on his back.

"So, how've you been?"

"Been better," Chloe sighed and leant her head back against the wall, making the chains rustle as she did so. Her bottom lip was trembling despite a massive attempt to stop it doing so. She was afraid, there was no other way of putting it. She didn't want to go back to the life that being offered to her.

"you don't find many kitsune there. But it was probably a meeting with an associate, rather then a, ah, meeting with a customer."

"I see," he was still surveying her, "Never been an associate to a Hutt? I could have sworn I've seen you with one. Or maybe it was her" he pointed at Chloe, "I don't know which Hutt you served, which one?" He asked her.

"What does it matter?" She hissed in response, growling still, "They're all the same, fat slugs"

"Who will give me a fortune for returning his prize possession. So who was it?"

Raven

"Well," she said," Look who suddenly needs my help." Raven was going to say more, but the longer they wasted time, the longer Nataku was in trouble. "Follow me," she sighed, handing over the comm device with Nataku's message.

Nataku

"Hey," he whispered to Chloe, averting his eyes from her trembling lips. She would probably be embarrassed or something... "Hey, it'll be all right," he continued. "The cavalry will be here soon. Plus..." Nataku added, slipping one hand out and giving her a clandestine pat on the shoulder before returning it, "There's really no chain that can hold me."

ooc: off to work. rp my char, etc...

Kartosh sighed to himself as he and his little team followed behind Raven, holstering his pistol and taking out his Heavy Imperial Repeater. "Would it kill you to just tell us where they are and let us do the shooting?"
"There's really no chain that can hold me."
Skyler groaned again and closed her eyes. He had said that, and done it, right in front of Manda. Giving away the only advantage they had. Now Manda would secure him with other, probably more painful means. If he was lucky. If not, Manda would just decide to kill him and save his goons the trouble. The Xiscapian hoped the two men were on their way, and fast, because things were about to turn really ugly.

Nathan grabbed the console and swore as he read the message,
"Right!" This time he drew a second pistol from his belt and cocked both of them, "Someone is going to pay BIG TIME for this and I think I know who!" He looked furious, but also guilty as he stamped down to where the three were being held.

---

Chloe watched him take his hand out in terror,
"Put it back in!" She whispered quietly, "If they see you trying to escape, they'll shoot you!" She tried to keep still and so avoid the Guards but it was difficult as they were staring at both Xiscapians with a lustful gaze.

And one of them had seen Nataku's performance.

Manda stared in amusement, as eight Guards piled into the room and rushed to secure Nataku with both blasters and more chains,
"A shapeshifter? I guess I'm going to have to be more extreme with you"

he watched as a strange device was brought into the room, it looked like a vacuum but with many more buttons,
"I just press this" he flicked a switch and watched as a layer of steam washed over Nataku freezing him solid.

"Liquid carbonite" He explained to the chained girls, "Always carry a supply for difficult transports. Now," He looked back at Skyler,
"Which Hutt did you belong to?"

"Who, damn it?" asked Kartosh, keeping up. "He's holding Skyler too, you know."
"Which Hutt did you belong to?"
OOC: Um, are you keeping track of how many guards are in the room? Now there's fourteen, not counting Manda, Skyler, Chloe and Nataku. How BIG is this place?
IC:
Skyler shook her head in exhasperation. "Have you not been listening to a word I've been saying? I was never a slave. I may have gone to harem for a contract, or to discuss business, but I never actually served at one. I have never belonged to anyone." Except the Korr. she thought silently.

"Manda," Nathan stated as he threaded his way through the corridors, "He's a Bounty Hunter for the Hutts and if I find he's hurt Chloe I'm gonna tear him limb from limb with my bare hands" He said furiously, He was almost running now to get to the room.

----
OOC: It's a big room

Manda sighed,
"Ah well. You'll do nicely as a member of the Hutt Harem. Now this one," He indicated to Chloe, "How long has it been? Four years? Five?"

"Seven." Chloe replied truthfully, "seven years in which not once have I looked back in regret"

"I suppose you wouldn't" Manda looked thoughtful, "How many did he kill to rescue you? 10? 11? Something like that?"

"32"

Manda gave a whistle, "The Gentleman is more of a gunner than I thought he was. Post more guards outside. If he comes, I wanna know"

This last part was to a Guard who nodded and left the room with 8 men.

"So have you any experience before?" He asked, stroking Skyler's hair gently, "I wanna know if I have to train you myself" He licked his lips.

"Only if I don't get to him first," muttered Kartosh. He sensed they were leaving Downson and Dodger behind, but Nekko easily kept up with long, loping strides from her mechanical legs. She gave Kartosh a knowing look, and he shot one right back at her. Twi'leks were commonly found in whorehouses, brothels, harems and Hutt palaces and strongholds across the galaxy, famed for their beauty and dancing ability. Kartosh didn't know or sure, but he beleived Nekko had probably been a slave girl to a criminal, probably a Hutt, at some point in the past.
"I wanna know if I have to train you myself"
Skyler leaned away as far as the chains would allow, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "You say that like you have anything to train me with," she sniped.

Nathan guessed that they were getting close to the area now but he still wasn't sure exactly where they were being held. He felt nothing less than pure guilt as he tore through the corridors. What had he said to Chloe, the first thing he had said,
"Don't worry, I'll look after you"
He could feel tears pricking at the back of his eyes, He swore he would kill every Hutt in the galaxy if he had to get her back, he would get her back.

----

"You say that like you have anything to train me with,"

Manda's mouth formed a perfect 'o' as he looked around at the 4 men still in the room with him. As he turned back to face Skyler, he struck her hard on the cheek with a fully formed punch. Even Chloe gasped at the weight behind the strike,
"We shall see what I have to train you with. I know you'll come to like it" He whispered in her ear, "You'll be begging me for it by the time I'm done with you"

Raven

"His location is displayed here," she informed them. "But there's something screwy with it...as if he's..." Raven tried to put a word to it.

Nataku

My sworn Guardian, to my service you have bound yourself to me. All that is within my realm I share with you; and I follow you, my love and my power march with you to Glory. The powers of mortals are nothing compared to mine. As you journey, may this locket; given in love and trust, protect you.

Empress? Samael asked his mind. No, wait, he was Nataku. How long had it been since he'd sworn away that name? How long since the Empress had freed him from the misery of Stygion? Whom was it he loved more than any mortal woman...? He remembered now; Her, always Her. And the locket She had given him, when he had finally sworn piety to her...still around his neck, the one item he could...would never part from. His body was still encased in the material, but he was aware of his surroundings again. He would wait until the shooting started.

ooc: ok, so i finally decided. raven and nataku grew up on stygion. she has no idea that he came into the service of the Empress. ironically, the penal colony is part of the Empire. oh, and no more of the whole noticing that he's aware stuff. he still looks frozen et al. it's more of a sixth sense yadda-yadda...

OOC: wow, this has really taken off! Oh, and Free US, I'm waiting for a response...

"Excuse me, your Highness," said John as he stood, "I do not wish to be rude. But I'd like to get moving as soon as possible. Can we just skip to the main point of all this?"

---------------

Kate was speechless. "Uh, I guess I can call him," she said while staring at the cart. Without looking, she reached over and hit the COMM control. "Hey Sparks."
"Ready for another hand?"
"Just get up here, would ya?"
"You had better have a plasma leak up there. Out." A few minutes later, another man entered the bridge. He was shorter, with a round torso and short, scruffy beard (ooc: picture an old, fat, dirty auto mechanic). "What's the emer, oh," he broke off when he saw Ramuel. "Who's the guest?"

ooc: so sorry. i got caught up in the other story arc...

ic:

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just trying to make you comfortable," she answered dejectedly. "The point is," Princess Uni began after a few deep breaths, "Is that, while we cannot allow the distribution of the Compass, we wish to help you find it. We will help in retrieving this Erica for you, and monetary compensation is also available."

"In short," Uruel summarized, "You help us and we help you."

Ramuel

"Ramuel, Master of the Cul and head of the Trinity," Ramuel introduced himself. "My brother Uruel is commander of this vessel." He turned to the crewman. "Place the settings quickly." Turning his attention back to the two, Ramuel continued, "My orders," he said with difficulty, "Are to make you comfortable. Don't hesitate to ask any member of the crew for assistance."

Kartosh grimly pressed on, checking his ammunition count once, twice, three times. He knew he had a full clip, but it was a nervous habit of his. All he and the others could do was follow Nathan and Raven and hope that they made it in time.
"You'll be begging me for it by the time I'm done with you"
"I'll die before then, you bastard," Skyler snarled. The blow had rocked her and she'd swung back and forth on the chains, helpless to stop her own momentum.

Raven

She glanced back, noticing how Kartosh kept checking his ammo. Nathan looked more disturbed than anything else, and it reminded her of something...Raven's gaze drifted to a broken glass pane and as she caught her reflection, realized that it was the same expression she wore.

ooc: will post more. on the phone

"I'll die before then, you bastard,"

"Yeah?" Manda gave a taunting laugh, "I wouldn't dare let you kill yourself. Not even with the force. Trust me, you're too valuable to waste away like that"
He knew a knife and advanced towards Skyler,
"Let's see what's under all that armour" He whispered as he started to slice through the seem of her top as Chloe watched, helpless.

Elsewhere, Nathan could see they were getting close, so close. It was only another few hundred meters and they would be on top of the trio. Nathan slowed to a walk and indicated to the others to do the same,
"They'll hear us" He hissed, "I have a plan"

"I'll die before then, you bastard,"

"Yeah?" Manda gave a taunting laugh, "I wouldn't dare let you kill yourself. Not even with the force. Trust me, you're too valuable to waste away like that"
He knew a knife and advanced towards Skyler,
"Let's see what's under all that armour" He whispered as he started to slice through the seem of her top as Chloe watched, helpless.

Elsewhere, Nathan could see they were getting close, so close. It was only another few hundred meters and they would be on top of the trio. Nathan slowed to a walk and indicated to the others to do the same,
"They'll hear us" He hissed, "I have a plan"

Raven

She paused, still holding a tiny grudge against the man, but realizing that they were her best chance for saving Nataku.

"Ok," she whispered, "I'm listening."

Skyler dared not struggle, least he accidentally cut her. Her clothing was a shirt and vest, designed for mobility and comfort, not protection. It would take him a little while to cut though, as the vest was leather, but eventually he would. It was not the potential nudity, per se, that disturbed her, it was the fact that she would be exposed before him. Besides, it wasn't like she went around topless normally. All she could do was pray for Kartosh and Nathan to get to them soon.
Corridors...
Kartosh and Nekko stopped, allowing Dodger and Downson to catch up with them. Kartosh nodded. "Aye. Me too," and the others muttered their affirmatives as Nekko signed a "yes."

Chloe watched in horror as first Skyler's jacket came off, then he was about to start on her vest when they were all distracted by a commotion outside.

--

Nathan peered quickly around the corner and darted back as quickly. he had counted eight guards. Enough for him to do what he wanted to do. He unslung the auto-shotgun from his back and turned to Kartosh,
"Watch this!" he whispered as he twisted the corner and pulled the trigger. Immediately, the whole complex was filled with deafening noise as the shotgun launched full cartridges at machine gun rate into the corridor, which was now full of dust from the debris being thrown from the walls and the ceiling.
Nathan couldn't see what he was shooting at but he kept firing until the magazine was empty. The dust cleared quickly, showing only bloody puddles were the guards had been,
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Nathan roared in exhilaration, "Take that you ugly Bastard!" He dropped the shotgun and pulled his two pistols from his belt, "Let's go!" he called to the others.

Skyler grined widely. She knew that yell.
"Let's go!"
"You call that a plan?" muttered Kartosh as he stepped out and ran down the hall after Nathan, the other three trailing in his wake. The guards had been all but vaporized, puddles of blood and bits of flesh and bone were all that remained. They had been pulverized.

The four guards had been moving to see what the commotion was when Nathan and the others came through the door,
Grinning madly, Nathan raised his pistols and fired at two separate guards both of whom twisted and fell. He looked around quickly to try and find Manda, but he had vanished into the dust and darkness,
"Damn it!" he swore then ducked as the guards sent another volley at them.

Nataku

Hearing the commotion, he decided it was time. The hard shell around his body crackled and expanded, falling off in one moment as he slipped out of his cuffs in that same instant. He ducked under the fire and worked on Chloe's cuffs, freeing her and moving on to Skyler. He glanced in time to see Raven among the others, and she tossed him a spare blaster. Nataku caught it deflty, or rather, Braid caught it and handed it to him. He leveled the blaster, searching for a target. Screw my rules, he thought, these guys don't deserve my mercy. He grabbed Chloe by the arm, hurrying her to the exit.

Chloe snatched her arm away and growled,
"I can handle myself" She snapped as Nathan threw her his second pistol, She caught it one handed and glanced around for anymore enemies. There were none.

She looked at over at Skyler,
"You alright?" She asked, rubbing her wrists where the chains had been attached.

Nataku faked a cat hiss at her before going over to Raven.

"My heroine," he joked, swiveling his pistol in search of targets.

"It's just like the old days," she replied wit a dry chuckle.

"We should really get outta here," Nataku said, suddenly serious.

"Yeah? No shit?" Raven answered sarcastically.

"I mean, remember that liquor we drank? It was the Hutts I cheated out of it."

Her jaw dropped open. Was he really that stupid?

"No, I'm not," he said over his shoulder, as if reading her mind.

Kartosh had unleashed a hail of fire and had managed to nail one guard in the chest, maybe more, although with the combined fire of the other four he was unsure. The point was that, though the guards in the room and outside the hall had been wasted, Manda was not among the dead and nowhere to be found.
"You alright?"
"Hellooo? Still chained up here?" snapped Skyler with no small amount of annoyance. Even as she spoke the chains snapped and fell from her wrists, and she dropped to the floor on all fours, the ridiculous collar still around her neck. Removing it, she glanced around for her weapons, specifically, her katana. "Where'd he put them?" At that moment the little fireteam entered and Kartosh ran to Skyler. "We tried to get here as fast as we could. Are you okay?" Skyler responded with a harsh slap across the face, half spinning Kartosh and making everyone in the room draw a slight gasp. Skyler lauched into a furious tirade, cursing everything from stupid mercenaries to greedy Hutts to slavers to the lack of weapons. Kartosh could only put his hands up defensivly as she raged. "Hey, I said I'm sorry, what more do you want?" The blue-haired Xiscapian female grabbed Kartosh by the shoulders and kissed him, long and hard on the mouth, lasting for several seconds. "That," she said, releasing their embrace. "I thought you'd abandoned us."

"Touching"
It was Nathan by the door, he was crouched at the ready, his pistol in hand,
"We need to get out of here, I think" he said looking again, "Manda'll have men all over this rock. I think we've well and truly outstayed our welcome."

"Wait!," Chloe had thrown Nathan's spare pistol back at him and grabbed one of the rifles off the dead guards, "My Katana! I can't leave without it!"

"Ah come on!! Surely this once..."

"No!" She said fiercely, her eyes burning, "If my sword is here, then so am I"

Nathan sighed and rolled his eyes, "Fine! Any volunteers to guard the ships while we look for the Ladies' possessions?" He asked the others.

Dodger and Downson stepped up. "We'll round up our fodder and secure and warm up the ships. Make it snappy though, I don't want a crapload of extra visitors when you guys come to the hangers." Dodger nodded and he and Downson were gone, off down the corridor. Skyler nodded in agreement with Chloe. "Mine is here too, it needs to be retrieved." Nekko leaned against the wall in the corridor, idely fingering her rifle. She had not gone with the other two, so she apparently wanted to stay.

"Right then" Nathan took a quick headcount, "That makes five, plus whatever the Griffin Squad has to contribute" He looked dubious, most of them were still out for the count, "Let's move"

He had taken both his pistols back and now ran with one in each hand, his sword had been placed back in it's scabbard and now it bumped painfully against his thigh as he threaded through the corridors.
Chloe was not bogged down with equipment, most of it had been confiscated, and all she carried was a rifle and a pistol she had stolen.

"Where would he put this stuff?" Nathan called from the front. For the moment it seemed like they were being left alone. For now.

Kartosh shook his head. They needed the Griffin Squad for later, and he knew Downson and Dodger would round them up and get them on a ship. "There's a million places to hide on this little station. But weapons? I would think either one of the taverns or an unused storage room someplace." Skyler now carried some of her old weapons, supplied by Kartosh, including a blaster pistol, several knives and shurikens and grenades, and several clips of ammunition. Kartosh was behind Chloe, who was behind Nathan, and behind Kartosh was Skyler, followed by Nekko.

"There's a thousand storage places in this bloody asteroid!" Nathan pointed out from the front, "Which one do we start with..."
He was interrupted by the appearance of two guards at the end of the hallway. Nathan fired a shot and threw himself into one of the little alcoves that were dotted all along the corridor. He saw one guard fall before a splatter of laser fire forced him to take cover. Another guard appeared at the end of the hall, then another. Lase bolts were bouncing over every surface,
"Any ideas?" Nathan called to the other alcoves.

"Fire in the hole!"
A stun grenade arched up the corridor and bounced to a stop near the guards as Skyler dove into a doorway. Kartosh, like Nathan, took cover in a alcove and Nekko kneeled behind a handy pile of boxes, popping out randomly and firing her rifle before ducking down to avoid return fire. Kartosh shot blindly from cover, bolts streaking up the hall and ricocheting off surfaces.

There was a lull in the shooting after the stun grenade was thrown, Nathan took the chance to dive out of cover and take aim with his shotgun. The effect was much the same as the previous effort. The rounds flew all over the place and when he was finished, a small pile of bodies lay at the end of the corridor,
"I'm starting to like this thing" He smiled as they tore past the shredded bodies.

"Used one to great effect fighting the SASM." said Skyler as they moved on. "Stun grenades, not so much. Auto shotguns? Grenade lauchers? Viroswords? All very deadly to your average Biodroid, as well as those around it." It was noted that Nekko paused to loot the bodies of anything valuable and intact, salvaging several wallets, a key card and a small gold chrono.

ooc: y'know, y'all coulda rp'ed my char. telling you where the weapons were...

ic:

"Um," Nataku uttered, raising his hand, "I know where the weapons are. I found the room when I snuck in," he explained.

"It's amazing you got as far as you did," Raven muttered.

"Hey," he replied, "I am a thief y'know."

OOC: Sorry, I'm a bit hesitant about anything having do to with another RPers characters.
IC:
Kartosh looked at him. "Do you now? Well, spit it out. We need to haul ass out of here, soon." He gave a meaningful nod to the blood-drenched bodies on the floor.

OOC: Sorry, I'm a bit hesitant about anything having do to with another RPers characters.
IC:
Kartosh looked at him. "Do you now? Well, spit it out. We need to haul ass out of here, soon." He gave a meaningful nod to the blood-drenched bodies on the floor.

"All righty, tighty," Nataku answered. "Follow me."

"Um, I'd cut the jokes," Raven warned him.

"Geez," he replied, "No one's any fun around here..."

ooc: well, it wasn't a drastic revelation. i mean, don't have him do something i might object to (like jumping on a grenade to save the squad) but it'd be logical for him to mention the weapons room.

OOC: My rule #1, I never RP other's characters

IC:

Nathan glanced down at the dead again as the sound of laser fire filled the corridors,
"We'll can we make this quick? I don't wanna be filleted on this rock" he had taken up the back of the group, jogging backwards with the shotgun at the ready.

The sounds of fire were from random groups of Mercenaries that were using breakdown of order to settle old scores and now enemies were actively seeking each other out on the asteroid.

ooc: a good rule. though i did give permission.

ic:

"Sure, it's right here," Nataku answered, opening a door cut into the corridor. He ventured in slowly, making sure there was nothing waiting for him. Leaving the others in the corridor, he emerged moments later, rearmed and carrying the arsenal of the two ladies.

"M'dames, I believe you left these behind, he said, offering a blaster to Skyler and Chloe her katana.

As Kartosh backed away he fired his Repeater down the length of the corridor, bright metallic bolts glowing as they sped to impact their targets. Skyler took the blaster and rummaged though the pile in Nataku's arms. She extracted her katana and properly rearmed herself as blaster bolts winged past. "That's better, now." she murmured.
Hanger...
Downson and Dodger, followed by the grumpy, hung-over Griffin's Squad, entered the hanger. At the moment ships were escaping the chaos on the rock, blasting out though the force field into space. There were four ships that were to go out with the team: The Star Snake, the Elixier of Life, Dodger's smuggling ship, the Streamlined, and the mercenary ship they would be using to transport the fodder, named the Moldy Crow. Nathan and Chloe would travel in their own ship, as would Kartosh and Skyler. Dodger would pilot the Streamlined alone, Nekko would travel with the Xiscapians, and Downson would go with the Elixier. The Griffin's Squad and Nataku would go in the Crow. They each moved to their own assigned ships, ducking random fire ever so often.

"Apparently, they want me to go on this Crow," Nataku told Raven. "Look, in case we get separated...take the Iliria."

"But, you've had it since-" she began.

"I know, but you were right there with me," he said nostalgically. "C'mon, go ahead and take it." he said before slipping a pendant-one she'd given him as a gift during their life on Stygion-around her neck and taking off. "Follow us for a bit. The sooner I can get off of that funeral barge, the better."

ooc: can't nataku take his own ship?

Chloe, fully rearmed and her katana by her side again, ran towards the hangers were it seemed a small war was underway. Two groups of smugglers were engaged in hand to hand combat. One group was using what ever they could find, knives, rocks or broken bottles. The other were using what looked like long pikes and neither side were prepared to back away.
"Here goes nothing" Nathan sighed as he pulled out his sword, Chloe also drew her katana in preparation for the dash.

OOC: ICly, the mercs aren't aware that Nataku owns his own ship. He never brought it up, so they assumed that when he said he'd go with them he was traveling in their accompanyment as well.
IC:
Each of the ships, except for the Elixier of Life, had been powered up. Bodies of various criminals and outlaws were already scattered across the hanger, here and there in various poses of death. Smuggler's Run had degraded into a full-out war, old debts being settled, grudges returning, some trying to escape, some looting anything they could. The Griffin's Squad was already onboard the Moldy Crow, Dodger was in the Streamlined and Nekko had started the Star Snake. Downson, however, was trapped outside, unable to gain access to the Elixier of Life. He was croutched behind the ship with his massive gun, firing off sporadic bursts of flaming green light that burned skin and melted armor on contact. The two mercenary sides charged each other now, bottles and rocks being thrown as the pikemen speared the offenders. Blasters sprang up in hands and a firefight started with the unfortunate majority still trapped in the middle. Those with guns were darting in between the parked ships, taking potshots at the fighters and each other. Kartosh and Skyler were stealthly trying to scurt the battle and make it to the Star Snake, but they were cornered by half a dozen mercenaries. More noticed Nathan and Chloe and came after them, waving a variety of weapons and yelling.

Nathan drew his shotgun and gave a small smile as Chloe threw herself to the floor. The gun banged and filled the hangar with smoke and noise, deafening even the battle which died down to silence. Everyone turned and stared at Nathan who had blown a bloody path clean through the to Elixir with his smoking gun.

Chloe stood up and brushed herself off, while Nathan waved his hand and swore a few times,
"What is it?" Chloe asked, concerned, "Are you wounded?"
"Yeah," He bit his finger gently, "Trigger cramp"

Chloe gave him a small shove as the battle started up again, Chloe and Nathan tore through the crowd to reach the Elixir firing random shots into the crowd as they went.

ooc: ok, no prob.

ic:

"Screw this," Nataku yelled over the cacophony. "Let's get outta here."

He turned away from the Crow and dashed towards the Iliria, which was relatively unscathed as the battle had concentrated elsewhere. As Nataku and Raven were a mere ten yards from the hatch, they were cut off by more than a dozen mercenaries. Nataku hit a button on his glove and dove to the deck, dragging Raven with him. Onboard the Iliria, the computer activated its CIWS ROV-20 laser turrets. Hugging Raven to his body, Nataku prayed the IFF would include her. There was a three-second blast from the four turrets, and the men fell to the ground, the smell of burning flesh in the air.

Kartosh and Skyler hacked their way though those who stood in their way, boarding the Star Snake. The Streamlined had already taken off and now hovered just outside the hanger, Dodger waiting for them. Downson moved forward towards Nathan and Chloe, firing his strange weapons, bringing down those near them and sending the rest scrambling for cover, bolts pinging off the sides of the ships and walls. the Moldy Crow, seeing Nataku run away, lifted off itself and lumbered out of the hanger to join the Streamlined. Nekko positioned herself in the bow blaster cannons of the Star Snake and began blasting away, ships, equipment and men flying into the air. She was careful to direct the shots in such a way as to make a barrier of destroyed mass and flying bolts in between Nathan, Chloe, Downson and the majority of the mercenaries. Hovering above the floor, the Star Snake drew a significant amount of small arms fire, ricocheting off it's armor and adding to the general chaos.

Getting back on his feet, Nataku shoved Raven into the open hatch, following close behnd. The CIWS system covered the Iliria's escape as it back-boosted out of the hangar.

Meanwhile...

Celsclan

"Well, I don't need a quick answer," Princess Uni said after a bit of awkward silence. "I know this is a lot to handle at the moment, so please take your time. We do hope for a pleasant reply."

As she spoke, a crewman entered the hall and spoke softly to Uruel. He stood up and walked over to the Princess.

"M'lady, there is a message from the Empress," he explained.

"Oh, I see," she answered, turning back to her guests. "If you will excuse us, we have an important message to attend to. Please feel free to eat to your content. When you're done, the stewards will be more than happy to show you to your guest quarters. Blessed be," she departed with a bow, Vanth and Vecuvia at her heels.

"Please feel free to roam the ship as well," Uruel said before following. "The stewards can escort you, so please don't get lost. If you find yourself alone, don't go to the Engineering deck. Our energy furnaces and particle cannon are housed there; it is not safe."

ooc: where's auburn?

Nathan and Chloe used their sword skills to fight their way through to the Elixir, it did not take long soon both were at the doorway to the ship, it opened and they were soon aboard. The lower turret came to action and started to rake the mercenaries and smugglers on the ground. They lifted off and headed out into the open area of space,
"Wooo! That was a resourceful trip" He said over the intercom, "What outpost are we gonna wreck next?"

Nathan and Chloe used their sword skills to fight their way through to the Elixir, it did not take long soon both were at the doorway to the ship, it opened and they were soon aboard. The lower turret came to action and started to rake the mercenaries and smugglers on the ground. They lifted off and headed out into the open area of space,
"Wooo! That was a resourceful trip" He said over the intercom, "What outpost are we gonna wreck next?"

"Follow the Snake," Nataku ordered Raven once they'd settled into the control seats. "I have something to take care of."

"Hey, I never signed on for this," she said, tkaing the helm anyway as he walked away.

"I can always drop you back there," Nataku replied, indicating the bloodbath of the Smuggler's Run.

He retreated into his quarters, set adjacent to the helm and locked the hatch.

"Set Priority Communique," he ordered the computer. "Encrypt Level Culsa. Message to Ramuel aboard the Cul." Nataku's shape grew, becoming Samael once again. "Ramuel, I have ingratiated myself with the smugglers and am following them in their plot to capture the Sparrow's Compass. I'll send jump coordinates once we've located it."

Cutting the transmission, he resumed his Nataku form and went back onto the helm to take over.

"What was that?" Raven asked.

"Oh, just a guy thing," he answered, to which Raven fell immediately silent.

ooc: the transmission cannot be decoded or triangulated back to the Iliria.

In the chaos of the station and the energy signitures of ships escaping outside, no one noticed the message going out from the Iliria. The Star Snake was now slightly to the top and right of the Moldy Crow, the Streamlined ahead, the Elixir and Iliria on the other side. On the Elixir Downson dropped into the nearest avaliable seat, which groaned under his weight, and commenced cleaning and reloading his gun. Nekk sat in the rear cannons of the Star Snake while Kartosh and Skyler sat in the pilot's and co-pilot's chairs, respectively.
"Wooo! That was a resourceful trip. What outpost are we gonna wreck next?"
"Next," said Kartosh over the intercomm to the Crow, Streamlined, Elixir and Iliria, "we follow the charts. They should lead us to the treasure, whatever it is. As of yet I am unsure of the exact location. It could be on a planet, on a moon, on a asteroid, a starbase, floating out in the middle of nowhere for all we know. But it's there, and we're going to find it."

In the chaos of the station and the energy signitures of ships escaping outside, no one noticed the message going out from the Iliria. The Star Snake was now slightly to the top and right of the Moldy Crow, the Streamlined ahead, the Elixir and Iliria on the other side. On the Elixir Downson dropped into the nearest avaliable seat, which groaned under his weight, and commenced cleaning and reloading his gun. Nekk sat in the rear cannons of the Star Snake while Kartosh and Skyler sat in the pilot's and co-pilot's chairs, respectively.

"Next," said Kartosh over the intercomm to the Crow, Streamlined, Elixir and Iliria, "we follow the charts. They should lead us to the treasure, whatever it is. As of yet I am unsure of the exact location. It could be on a planet, on a moon, on a asteroid, a starbase, floating out in the middle of nowhere for all we know. But it's there, and we're going to find it."

Cul

"Incoming transmission," the Comm. officer reported.

"Display it," Second answered from his seat adjacent to Ramuel's own. As a Second, he would never take the place of his Master.

"Sir, it is incripted for Lord Ramuel," the officer responded.

"I will inform m'lord."

Caluchasu

Ramuel was quiet as he observed the two rogues. They acted nothing like he had imagined. In fact, they seemed to be adequately civilized. Perhaps he was wrong about them...He was about to ask Kate something when his communicator chirped. He opened it to reveal a stern-looking Second staring back at him.

"Second, what is it?" Ramuel asked.

"M'lord, a transmission from Samael. It is enrypted...Culsa Priority," Second explained. He chanced a glance over his Master's shoulder. "M'lord...?"

"It's nothing," Ramuel explained. "I will return to the Cul."

"We await your arrival, Master," Second answered with a bow.

Nathan leant back and smiled,
"So we go on a little hunt," He turned to face Downson,
"So then mate," he pulled the heavy weapon off his shoulder and set it down on the ground, "What brought you into this business?" He indicated to the ship itself.

--

Elsewhere, another ship had joined their formation, one that was using an advanced Alumina cloaking device. This vessel was the Golgotha, and on board, was Manda and his crew. He was smiling as he tailed the vessels.

OOC: Golgotha...place of skulls, the area where Jesus was crucified, by any chance?
IC:
Star Snake...
Kartosh nodded to himself. "I wonder what became of Manda," he mused aloud.
"Hope he got shanked on that rock," Skyler muttered as she stowed the weapons.
Elixir of Life...
Downson looked up from his weapon. He spoke in broken, heavily accented Common, which went unnoticed before because he spoke little.
"Me, I come from war family. I not like ways of clan, go out to make way on my own. Clan not like, try to kill me. I run, become bodyguard, mercenary. I go from planets to planets, with the credits. Clan stopped hunting after I killed eight of clan's best warriors," he laughed, a sound like a oncoming earthquake. "My people meet yours," he pointed a red-scaled talon at Chloe, "long time ago. Fight, many things."

"I see," Nathan nodded, understanding the broken language, "You broke away from your clan and they tried to kill you. Tough luck mate" He said and smiled, "I wonder where Manda slinked off two"

"Manda, bad man," Downson rumbled, "clan probably like, him. Me no like him, he no respect for his superiors." He gave a nod to those in the ship, obviously pointing out who he beleived Manda's "superiors" were. "I break from clan because I superior, but they no like that. Make them feel small, me think that happen here." He nodded again.
Star Snake...
"Those coordinates put in?" asked Skyler.
"Yup. We're all ready."
"Make yourself comfortable, Nekko. It'll be a few hours," called Skyler.
Kartosh keyed into the comm. "Have you all got the coordinates in your nav computers? The trip will take a few hours, so you should just sit back and relax."
OOC: Check TGs.

OOC: Replied

IC:

"Ah, the plot thickens!" Nathan announced from his seat, "You were more powerful than the Clan wanted and so you decided to break away. Sounds like me" He laughed,

"Aye, it does," Chloe replied sarcastically as they jumped into hyperspace with the Star Snake.

---

Manda watched from the Golgotha as the vessels jumped. He simply smiled as his own vessel did the same.

"No more powerful, maybe," mused Downson, "but me smarter, have passion, and brains, thing. Clan scared of compassion, scared of what holder do with passion. Brains," he tapped the side of his head, "lend power over force. Man with knowledge of gun kill three without knowledge. See?"
OOC: Better lay it off until AH tells us exactly what's up with this compass thing.

OOC: Good idea

ooc: yeah, seriously, where is AH? he sorta told me a little, but just from what's been posted in the split-screen posts.

ic:

Automated systems within the Iliria came to life. Even as Nataku and Raven slept while the ship followed the jump coordinates along with the ragtag flotilla, the computer sent another transmission, this one with even greater encryption than the last.

Cul

"M'Lord, another transmission from Samael," Second responded.

"Well, for that wretches sake, he seems to be doing a good job," Ramuel said as he read the jump coordinates.

"Y-yes sir," Second concurred, surprised as this was the first time Ramuel had praise Samael.

"Feed the data into the navigational array, but we won't depart yet," Ramuel concluded after pouring over the data. "Inform my brothers. We will form the *Trimurti."

*In Hinduism, the triplet of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In the RP, the three ships Cul, Caluchasu and Celsclan form together to make one ship, the Trimurti.

ooc: oh, and as a reply to the Golgotha thing, my names have mostly been etruscan, or parallel of judeo-christian figures. just fyi.

OOC;
BTW: While we wait,

Nathan (http://www.fantomcomics.com/FEB072100_hi_DARK_TOWER_GUNSLINGER_BORN.jpg)
and
Chloe (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j108/Lilinu15/Kitsune.jpg)

Iliria

Nataku stirred and rolled over in bed. He stared down at the bare arm draped around his chest. It startled him until he realized it was Raven's. Turning over to look at her, Nataku cursed himself again for getting her involved in his schemes. Of course, if it were just a heist, he wouldn't mind; but this was far greater. He couldn't bear to think what would happen if she found out his true purpose, how he had decieved her all these years. Maybe after this mission he would ask the Empress...

Celsclan

Uruel had been barred from viewing the message from the Empress, and waited on the bridge for Princess Uni to explain what had happened. She walked in after a few hours, flanked by her eternal guard. Her face wore a forlorn expression, and it concerned him. Of course he knew that she already had a weak contenance, and he wondered what the Empress had told her.

"M'lady," he asked as he approached her, "What was the news?"

"Nothing that I can say for now," she squeaked. "But I would like to rest now. I just wanted to tell you that it was good news."

"I suppose if that is all you can say, I will accept your word," Uruel answered. "Go ahead and rest. I will make sure you are awoken should something happen."

She nodded and he returned it with a bow, waiting until she had exited the bridge to turn on his heel and return to his command seat. As he did, the communications screen activated, and Ramuel's Second stared back through the video feed.

"M'lord Uruel," the Second said in salutation, "My Master, Ramuel, has commanded that the Trimurti be formed."

Uruel nodded in response and got the ship underway. What plans do you have, dear brother? he asked.

Trimurti

The goliath spaceship exited hyperspace in a drastically less-dramatic manner than previously. Their calculations had been more exact, the shock to the fabric of space/time reduced as the ship cruised under normal power. At the command center, Ramuel clenched his fists at his side, imagining the confrontation to come.

"Order separation," he commanded. "The Cul will take position in the corona of the nearby star to mask sensors. The Caluchasu and Celsclan will both find similar hiding spots throughout the system. I want one fighter wing from each ship on the ready for launch at a moments notice."

"We hear and obey," Second bowed, turning to pass the orders down the chain.

Celsclan

"I have been given operational authority concerning the mercenaries," Ramuel said through the oerhead viewer.

"I understand that," Princess Uni answered. "But Sister has strictly requested the minimization of bloodshed."

"Leave tactical aspects of this mission to Her Generals," Ramuel answered. "Make no mistake that these fiends would have no qualms about shedding the blood of anyone aboard these vessels."

"I see," Uni responded. "I respect your position and your skill in battle," she concluded. "But please remember that I represent the interests of Her Holiness." With that, she cut the transmission. From his seat, Uruel was impressed. She usually wasn't so assertive.

ooc: may they please not be detected too soon?

OOC: Sorry for the delay. I had to make an emergency work trip to Mississippi. Kind of last-minute, and I forgot to tell everyone on here! Again, sorry, and I will try to get back into everything...

As for the compass, it is a crystal sphere about 3 inches wide. A single black arrow 'floats' in the middle, which points to whatever the holder desires most. As for its location, I have no idea. Roman, my main character, wants to use it to find an ancient 'super-weapon', which I will reviel later.

So, can you give me a sit-rep?

OOC: Sorry for the delay. I had to make an emergency work trip to Mississippi. Kind of last-minute, and I forgot to tell everyone on here! Again, sorry, and I will try to get back into everything...

As for the compass, it is a crystal sphere about 3 inches wide. A single black arrow 'floats' in the middle, which points to whatever the holder desires most. As for its location, I have no idea. Roman, my main character, wants to use it to find an ancient 'super-weapon', which I will reviel later.

So, can you give me a sit-rep?

Sitrep: there are now three parties searching for the compass. the first is the original Falcon crew-who are still in the company of the Empire. The second party is the Empire, given the quest by the Empress for whatever alterior motives she has. Third is the loose alliance of mercs that are on their way in a small flotilla of ships. unbeknownst to them but knownst to us, one of the mercs is actually an Imperial agent in disguise (a xenomorph). so, the Empire reached the system first and is now lying in wait for the mercs to appear.

IC: John crossed his arms. "As for the cash, keep it. All I want is to get Erica back safely. Now, if you have any idea where the compass might be, please share it. I'll head there ASAP and grab it before anyone else..."

IC: John crossed his arms. "As for the cash, keep it. All I want is to get Erica back safely. Now, if you have any idea where the compass might be, please share it. I'll head there ASAP and grab it before anyone else..."

Celsclan

Princess Uni was about to answer when the Messenger chime ringed. She brought up a small projec-beam image and answered it. Uruel was facing her, his face stern and un-Uruel.

"Your Grace," Uruel began, "We have taken our position near a large asteroid. We have coordinated with the Cul and Caluchasu. It is only a matter of waiting."

"That is good news," Uni answered, deactivating the link and turning to John. "My friend, as I have understood the briefing of the Brothers, group of mercenaries has discovered its possible location and is heading towards it. An Imperial agent embedded with the mercenaries has provided us the jump coordinates, which we have already reached. There is additional information regarding the mercenaries. If you know of them, could you provide us with tactical and technical data? We wish to avoid bloodshed."

ooc: getting my taxes prepared, so idk how long i'll be gone.

The little flotilla of mercenary vessals came out of hyperspace into the system. To their left, a star burned brightly, a yellow, medium sun. To the right and immediatly forward, rocky planet's and moons spun about in their dance around the star. A quick scan showed nothing lying in wait, so the Star Snake took the fleet, the three other ships in a loose diamond formation behind it.

OOC: can i join?

(OOC: Kankersaurs, sure, but make sure you know what's going on first...)

John looked at the Empress. "To be honest, I don't know that much. Nothing mportant, anyway. Now, if we have arrived, I should get back to my ship. As I need the compass to get back Erica, I'd like to get moving...

Iliria

Nataku had taken the helm while Raven sat beside him at the Operations console. He kept an eye on the navigational LIDAR.

"Hey," he said finally, breaking the silence that had stowed aboard, "Keep your eye on the TAC-LIDAR."

"You thinking of something?" Raven asked.

"No, just being cautious," Nataku lied.


ooc: Uni is the Princess, her sister is the Empress.
ic:
Celsclan

"I understand completely," Uni answered, standing as they prepared to leave.

Fighting Falcon

Uruel's Second walked over to them in the hangar as they approached their ship.

"Pardon me, sirs," he called out, stepping between them and the Falcon. "My Master has sent me to relay a message from his brother Ramuel. For the time being, all ships are barred from departing the command ships. We are tracking the mercenaries to the location and will capture the Compass only when we have confirmed its existance. He has also asked that I come aboard as liason to your crew. We will provide all navigational data to your ship as well." he bowed.

(OOC: oops, princess. My bad...)

"Not allowed to leave?" John asked. "You tell him that I intend to get that compass, with or without your help! After I trade it for Erica's life, you can chase Drakor all you want and take it from him. Now, excuse me..." He pushed past the man and, followed my Demon who glared with anger at the Second, entered the Falcon. Upon entering the bridge, "Kate! Get ready for lift-" He saw Ramuel. "-off. What are you doing here?"

----------

Meanwhile, another ship was approaching the system, though still a few hours off. Its weapons were primed and ready. Shields were hot and standing by. All torpedo launchers primed and loaded. Roman leaned back in his command chair in the center of the bridge. Soon, he thought, soon I will have the compass. With it and the Keyblade, the Ring will be mine...

"Keep your eyes sharp, boys," said Kartosh over the communications link. The planet of destination lay before them, spinning, green and blue. Kartosh frowned as the ship did a three-hundred-sixty degree scan of the system. Strange, he thought, I'm not getting a reading from the far side of the moon. As though there's an ion storm there, but ion storms don't survive so close to large gravitational forces, so something must...
His eyes widened.
Be blocking it.
Over the communications he said in a low voice, eyes on the readings of the moon, nodding to Skyler at her questioning look. "Guys, we've got trouble."
Skyler strapped herself into the co-pilot's seat, while Nekko calmly got onto the turrets in the stern, watchful.

Nathan had come to the same conclusion as Kartosh. He had sat and pondered why he was getting no readings where he should have done. Chloe was sitting at the Tactical Controls, waiting tensely for a sign of the enemy.
"Come on, come on" He sang to himself, "Where are you?"

(OOC: oops, princess. My bad...)

"Not allowed to leave?" John asked. "You tell him that I intend to get that compass, with or without your help! After I trade it for Erica's life, you can chase Drakor all you want and take it from him. Now, excuse me..." He pushed past the man and, followed my Demon who glared with anger at the Second, entered the Falcon. Upon entering the bridge, "Kate! Get ready for lift-" He saw Ramuel. "-off. What are you doing here?"

----------

Meanwhile, another ship was approaching the system, though still a few hours off. Its weapons were primed and ready. Shields were hot and standing by. All torpedo launchers primed and loaded. Roman leaned back in his command chair in the center of the bridge. Soon, he thought, soon I will have the compass. With it and the Keyblade, the Ring will be mine...

ooc: it's ok, it happens to the best of us. btw, ramuel returned to the Cul. idk, i don't think i explained that well enough...

ic:

Cul

Damn, Ramuel thought as he monitored the approach of the mercenaries, they're on to us. On a side note, he was pleased; they weren't the disorganized rabble he had thought of them. He looked up as the image of Uruel was brought up. He looked flustered.

"Brother, the thieves have pushed past my guards and are preparing for take off. Should I stop them?"

"No," Ramuel concluded. "They will make a fine distraction for us. And perhaps for a while the mercenaries will mistake the Falcon as the ship after them. It surely won't hurt to throw a wrench in their plans."

"Yes sir," Uruel responded.

"Prepare to launch the first attack wing!" Ramuel barked as he deactivated the comm screen. "Get the rest of the pilots to their ships!"

Hangar-Celsclan

"Please, if you will just cooperate a bit," Second called out as he chased after the two. He made it into the ship before the hatch closed. He stopped as the messenger chimed on his belt.

"Second," Uruel addressed him. "They may leave. The hangar will open on their mark. Stay with them."

note: since the Falcon is on the Celsclan (the ship i'm assuming you have detected) when the falcon departs, this is the ship the mercs will see coming from that position. just fyi.

OOC: Got it.
IC:
Kartosh muttered to himself. "A blockage of that size could easily be a Battleship, or a Carrier. Probably nothing smaller than a Destroyer, but a ship of anything larger then a Cruiser was bad news. Anything bigger meant military presence, which meant they were expected here, which probably meant that the Imperials had already found their treasure. Or, possibly, that they were lying in wait for the mercenaries to lead them to it. Either way, Kartosh wasn't having it. "Moldy Crow, peel off and head for the planet. Streamlined, provide cover for them. Elixir of Life, Iliria, with me. If they send out attack teams, we're all going to have to cover each other's backs. If they attack head on, well, we'll need all the firepower we can get."

OOC: Triple Post, Xis :p

IC:

The Elixir formed up with the Star Snake just hovering behind and above the Xiscapian vessel. Nathan sat calmly and patiently, hoping that whatever they were facing was no smaller than a battleship. A battleship they could outrun. A Battlecruiser, no chance.

Cul

Monitoring the situation, Ramuel quickly realized that if they made a run for it, the battleships would be of no use. He should have requested a few escorts to tag along. But the fighters should prove fast enough to keep the mercs occupied while the ships closed the net. The dreadnoughts had the advantage of a slew of weapons at their disposal, including turret-mounted particle weapons dubbed *Saku.

Iliria

"Got it," Nataku answered, bringing his ship alongside. "Activating PDLs." He glanced at Raven and she nodded, setting up the teactical console. The trap was set, and not for the first time he felt somewhat of a scoundrel.

*saku=blossom. the larger version is called 'cherry blossom,' so the smaller ones are simply blossoms.

Come on...where are you...
Kartosh used all the scanners at his disposal, scanning everything from the star to the smallest asteroid. They had at least one capital in system, but with the amount of heavenly bodies, they easily could have concealed another five. And small craft? A million fighters or patrols could have easily hidden out here, and be waiting even now to swarm out and overwhelem him. Fortunatly, the Star Snake was no stranger to fighter attacks. Capitals, however, were another problem. While the Star Snake had the firepower to destroy or cripple any ship under the size of Cruiser, he had never actually done so, except on a few, select ones. No sense, he'd reasoned, in destroying a big ship of a government and making himself a smuggler, thief and a murderer, never mind the "destruction of government property" charges.

Bradley turned to face the Second. "Take a seat! I'm launching this tub! Sparks, why are you still up here?"
"Good to see ya to, boss," Sparks replied as he headed for the door. "I'll be in the engine room."
"Good. Kate, ready for liftoff?"
"All systems green!"
"Weapons online," Demon replied from Tactical. "Shilds standing by."
"Launching now!" cried Bradley. With a burst from her main engines, the Falcon blasted out of the Celsclan's hanger. She headed out around the moon, and towards the M-class planet. "Ok," said Bradley, "Now, let's get started. Kate, bring up the map we got from Roman-"
"Unknown vessels in system," reported Demon. "Four ships, possibly modified freighters. One recogized as the Star Snake."
"Crap! What are they doing here?" asked Kate.
"Looking for the compass, same as we are," John replied.
"Shall I target them?" Demon offered.
"No! I want to avoid shooting each other if we can." He reached fot the COMM controls. "Let's try this..."

"Star Snake, this is John Bradley. Let me guess: were all after the Compass. How about we cut a deal? Let me take it to Drakor, get back Erica, then you can raid his ship for whatever you want. Sound good to you?"

----------

Moments later, another transmission floated through the area...

"This is Roman, Director of the Chrysler Corporation. To all mercinaries, privateers, and others in the system. I am looking for an object called 'Sparrow's Compass'. Which ever ship brings it to me will recieve 100,000 credits, per crew member. This is a one-time-only offer. I will arrive in the system in about one standard hour. You have until then to find the Compass."

Roman leaned back in his command chair on the bridge of the Challenger (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/Challenger-classDreadnaught.jpg). "Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm," he chuckeled to himself, "That will stir the pot a bit."
"Are you really going to pay that much?" asked the exec officer.
"Of course not. But they don't know that," he replied while pointing to the tac screen. It showed a sensor view of the system ahead, with markers for the merc's ships and the Falcon. "Besides, once we have the Compass, we will be leaving the system anyway."
"Yes sir."
"Good." With a flash of his red eyes, Roman sat back and prepared to watch the fun...

Fighting Falcon

"That was Master's reason for saying to wait," Second couldn't help but interjecting. He held onto a railing as the ship pitched down. "Don't worry about the mercenary ships. The Cul and the rest won't let the Compass come to harm."

Cul

"M'Lord, what should we do about this Director Roman?" Ramuel's Second asked from his station.

"Let them come, our weapons are more than a match for that ship. Try to triangulate their entry point," Ramuel answered. "The closest ship will engage while the other two cover the Falcon."

"A hundred grand each?" Nathan raised his eyebrows and looked at Chloe, "Well? That sorta money can't be turned down everyday."
"No," Chloe was silent, "But I don't wanna do anything with Kartosh and Skyler's permission. They have the compass, after all"
"True, true," Nathan was silent now as he thought, "I suppose we haven't much to lose. There's only two of us so only 2 hundred grand. Plus I'm not in the mood for a fighting match the with the Star Snake. This director bloke can come if he wants. He's getting sweet feck all if I get my way"
So the Elixir remained where she was, waiting for the Compass' currant owner to make a decision on her fate.